Wednesday, January 31, 2018
Inside Shin Bet
An investigation into the methods used by Israel's controversial internal security service.
Israel's internal security service, Shin Bet, or Shabak as it is known in both Hebrew and Arabic, is one of the three branches of the Israeli General Security Service (GSS).
Through personal accounts - from two former Shin Bet detainees, a former agency officer, Palestinian-Israeli lawyers and Israeli legal experts and politicians - Al Jazeera World examines the controversial organisation's methods, powers and history.
Six In The Morning Wednesday January 31
Trump State of the Union address promised unity but emphasized discord
The president’s ‘new American moment’ speech stirred Republican applause while Democrats showed thinly disguised contempt
Donald Trump has promised a “new American moment” in a State of the Union address that sought harmony but succeeded only in underlining the deep discord at the heart of the country’s politics.
The US president preened over a growing economy and pledged a return to national greatness with a nostalgic appeal to family, faith, law and order, the military and the national anthem. “Tonight, I call upon all of us to set aside our differences, to seek out common ground, and to summon the unity we need to deliver for the people we were elected to serve,” Trump said.
Yet from his vantage point at the dais in the House of Representatives, the split screen nation that is America in 2018 was writ large.
Afghanistan earthquake: One dead as strong 6.1 magnitude quake strikes near Pakistan border
Young girl killed in housing collapse as seismic shock felt in Kabul, New Dehli and Lahore
Afghanistan has been struck by a 6.1 magnitude earthquake close to its border with Pakistan, according to the US Geological Survey (USGS), killing one and leaving at least five injured.
Tremors from the quake were reported in Kabul and felt in a number of other densely-populated locations in the region including Islamabad, Delhi, Lahore, Bahawalpur, Kashmir and Abotabbad.
A young girl was killed and five others wounded in the village of Lasbela in Pakistan's Baluchistan province when the roofs of mud-brick homes caved in, according to local government official Izat Nazir Baluch.
Are Turkey and Russia at odds in northern Syria?
Turkey's incursion into Afrin has raised questions about the prospects for peace in Syria. Kristian Brakel of the Heinrich Böll Foundation in Istanbul talks to DW about the conflict, and the role Russia plays.
DW: Turkey has launched a military offensive against the Kurdish-held enclave of Afrin in northern Syria. Meanwhile, there are reports on Tuesday of clashes involving Turkish forces advancing on the province to the south, Idlib. What interests does Turkey have there?
Kristian Brakel: The Syrian army is currently conducting an offensive in Idlib. Turkey has a stated interest in keeping the Syrian army from taking control of this enclave. Idlib is one of the few enclaves held by rebel groups. Some of those groups are Turkish allies. Turkey hopes to keep this area on the table to leverage future peace negotiations in Sochi.
How a Sudanese man in France saved his kidnapped brothers in Libya
Abou Bakr Ibrahim
Libyan police freed eight Sudanese migrants in a raid on January 23. The men had been kidnapped by an armed group 10 days prior and subjected to horrible torture in captivity. Several prisoners were relatives of Abou Bakr Ibrahim, a Sudanese man who lives in France. Two were his brothers, and one was his cousin. Ibrahim told France 24 about his conversations with his relatives’ kidnappers and explained how an outcry on social media resulted in their release.
It all started when two videos showing Sudanese migrants being tortured appeared on social media.
It all started when two videos showing Sudanese migrants being tortured appeared on social media.
Because of the extremely violent nature of these videos, France 24 has decided to publish only screengrabs.
In the first video the torturer melts small pieces of plastic onto the end of a stick and then pours the burning liquid onto his victim’s back, making the man twist in agony.
North Korea to parade dozens of long-range missiles before Winter Olympics
Updated 0715 GMT (1515 HKT) January 31, 2018
Cypriot children's 1974 journey into the unknown
by Teo KermeliotisNine-year-old Mihalis Mihail had never seen a ship before, let alone been on board one. Yet there he stood, anxious and confused on the deck of The Patra, about to embark on a journey that would change his life forever.
The port of Limassol in southern Cyprus stirred with unusual commotion that hot September day in 1974.
It was a disorderly scramble as scores of children, some as young as six, buzzed around their solemn, gloomy-eyed parents in the shadow of the large passenger ferry tied to the dock.
Dangerously Low on Water, Cape Town Now Faces ‘Day Zero’
It sounds like a Hollywood blockbuster. “Day Zero” is coming to Cape Town this April. Everyone, be warned.
The government cautions that the Day Zero threat will surpass anything a major city has faced since World War II or the Sept. 11 attacks. Talks are underway with South Africa’s police because “normal policing will be entirely inadequate.” Residents, their nerves increasingly frayed, speak in whispers of impending chaos.
The reason for the alarm is simple: The city’s water supply is dangerously close to running dry.
If water levels keep falling, Cape Town will declare Day Zero in less than three months. Taps in homes and businesses will be turned off until the rains come. The city’s four million residents will have to line up for water rations at 200 collection points. The city is bracing for the impact on public health and social order.
Monday, January 29, 2018
Why danger symbols can’t last forever
A war on witches
As witch-hunts and sorcery killings spread across Papua New Guinea, 101 East investigates shocking human rights abuses.
The naked woman is tied to a stake and burnt alive, tortured to death before an entire village.
Her alleged crime: Witchcraft.
This is not a scene from the 16th century. Such violence is taking place today in Papua New Guinea, where sorcery killings are spreading with a frequency and brutality that has drawn global condemnation.
In this disturbing investigation, 101 East exposes several unreported killings and the attacks on those who dare to help victims.
Six In The Morning Monday January 29
German scientists involved in toxic diesel fume tests on humans
Humans were exposed to the toxic fumes in experiments requested by a group funded by German carmakers, according to media reports. The shocking revelation came after tests on monkeys became public over the weekend.
Reports by German newspapers Stuttgarter Zeitung and Süddeutsche Zeitung said humans had been exposed to a gas found in diesel fumes during an experiment "sometime between 2012 and 2015" requested by a group funded by German carmakers.
Auto manufacturers said they had an interest in proving that the use of modern technology made diesel emissions more or less harmless.
The tests were requested by the European Research Group on Environment and Health in the Transport Sector (EUGT) — a now defunct organization founded by German carmakers Volkswagen, Daimler and BMW.
Bruno Mars grabs (nearly) all the Grammys - but where were the women?
Bruno Mars and Kendrick Lamar stole the show, and most of the awards, at the 2018 Grammys.
Mars provided the night's big upset, taking the album of the year trophy that most critics assumed would go to Lamar's rap tour de force, Damn.
In the end, voters found Mars's crowd-pleasing R&B more palatable, while Lamar dominated the rap categories.
Alessia Cara won best new artist - making her the only female artist to win a major prize.
Stars like Lady Gaga, Kesha, Lorde and SZA were overlooked, with only 17 awards (out of a total of 86) going to women or female-fronted bands.
The bureaucracy of evil: how Islamic State ran a city
E very day, early in the morning, the former missile scientist would leave his house in Mosul. Riding buses, or on foot – he could no longer afford petrol – he’d call on friends, check on his mother or visit his sister’s family. Sometimes he’d hunt for cheap kerosene, or try to score contraband books or cigarettes. Most often, he’d meander aimlessly – a traveller in his own city.
In the evening, he’d sit at his old wooden desk, bent over his notebook, recording the day. Most of what he wrote was banal: the price of tomatoes, a quarrel with his wife. But he also wrote his observations of the remarkable events unfolding in Mosul.
“I must live this moment and record it,” reads one entry, from August 2014, two months after the fall of the city. “We live like prisoners serving long jail sentences. Some of us will come out having finished reading dozens of books. Others will be devastated and destroyed.”Fitness map 'reveals location of military bases' by tracking US soldiers' movements while jogging
Global Heat Map, published by GPS company Strava, inadvertently exposes position of sensitive facilities by recording progress of troops as they work out
An interactive map found online can show the locations and activities of people who use fitness devices such as Fitbit, raising security concerns about soldiers and other people who are at military bases in sensitive areas.
The Global Heat Map, published by the GPS tracking company Strava, uses satellite information to map the locations and movements of subscribers to the company's fitness service over a two-year period, by illuminating areas of activity.
Strava says it has 27 million users around the world, including people who own widely available fitness devices, as well as people who directly subscribe to its mobile app.
Syria talks: Could Sochi bring peace via new track?
by Farah Najjar
Russian-sponsored diplomatic talks over the future of the Syria are set to begin in the Black Sea resort city of Sochi, but experts predict the summit will merely attempt to enforce a political solution that is in line with the Syrian government's agenda.
The two-day conference - starting on Monday - has been given the name "Congress of the Syrian National Dialogue". It will be the first round of negotiations to take place in Russia, Syrian President Bashar al-Assad's main ally.
The United Nations envoy for Syria, Staffan de Mistura will be attending the talks, along with representatives from the Syrian, Iranian and Turkish governments.Over 110,000 volunteers needed for Tokyo 2020 Olympics, Paralympics
The Tokyo metropolitan government and the Tokyo Organising Committee of the Olympic and Paralympic Games have announced that they will be calling for over 110,000 volunteers to assist in the Games, an increase of 30,000 from the initially anticipated number.
Details of volunteer positions will be unveiled in July and applications will begin in September, Tokyo Gov Yuriko Koike said over the weekend, while actual face-to-face interviews with the applicants will be held from February 2019, Fuji TV reported.
Volunteer work will be needed in various areas related to the Games, including guiding visitors at train stations and airports, supporting athletes and staff at the athletes village, event venues and other areas. Foreign residents of Japan may also apply.
Sunday, January 28, 2018
Duterte vs Rappler: Media on notice in the Philippines
As Filipino news site Rappler battles with authorities, media feel the chill. Plus, climate sceptics and the news media.
Media on notice in the Philippines
Rappler, a popular online news site in the Philippines has long been a thorn in the side of President Rodrigo Duterte because of its critical reporting.
Duterte has repeatedly accused Rappler of being run by Americans, which is illegal under Filipino law. Now the site is facing a possible shut down over that allegation.
Duterte has made many thinly veiled threats against journalists since 2016, but does this official move against Rappler amount to the Duterte government issuing a formal declaration of war against the Filipino media?
Six In The Morning Sunday January 28
Kabul mourns 100 dead after ambulance bomb
More than 100 people are now believed to have been killed in a suicide bombing on Saturday in Kabul.
Attackers drove an ambulance past a police checkpoint to get to a crowded street in a district full of government buildings and embassies.
Afghanistan's government has declared a day of mourning for Sunday, as funerals take place and relatives search hospitals for survivors.
The Taliban - a hardline Islamist group - said it was behind the attack.
It was the deadliest attack in Afghanistan for months and took place a week after an attack on a Kabul hotel in which 22 people were killed.
Made in North Korea – a unique glimpse of life inside a closed society
Sweet wrappers and posters are among graphic art to be shown in London for the first time
Glimpses of normal life in North Korea, something few outsiders ever sample, are to go on show in a London exhibition next month, including many items on display for the first time outside the communist republic.
The House of Illustration exhibition, Made in North Korea: Everyday Graphics from the DPRK, is to offer an unprecedented insight into the look of common objects, such as posters, sweet wrappers and stamps, all collected by Nicholas Bonner, author of the book Made in North Korea (Phaidon) and a guide who has led tours to the country for 25 years.
Bonner’s collection of ephemera reveals a graphic tradition that, although not entirely uniform in style, has developed in near isolation inside a closed society. It also sheds light on the daily activities of North Koreans, from buying food to going to school or watching sport.
Poisoned toothpaste and exploding phones: New book chronicles Israel’s ‘2,700’ assassination operations
Intelligence correspondent Ronen Bergman persuades Mossad agents, Shin Bet and military personnel to disclose their stories on state-sponsored killings
Poisoned toothpaste that takes a month to end its target's life. Armed drones. Exploding mobile phones. Spare tyres with remote-control bombs. Assassinating enemy scientists and discovering the secret lovers of Muslim clerics.
A new book chronicles these techniques and asserts that Israel has carried out at least 2,700 assassination operations in its 70 years of existence. While many failed, they add up to far more than any other western country, the book says.
Ronen Bergman, the intelligence correspondent for Yediot Aharonot newspaper, persuaded many agents of Mossad, Shin Bet and the military to tell their stories, some using their real names. The result is the first comprehensive look at Israel's use of state-sponsored killings.
50 Percent for 5 PercentA Look at Germany's Extremely Unequal Wealth Distribution
European Central Bank statistics show that wealth distribution in Germany is extremely unequal. But a new analysis by the German Institute for Economic Research shows that the situation is even worse than initially thought.
The gathering of global political and industrial leaders in Davos each year leads many observers to wonder: Who benefits in the long term from economic growth and corporate profits? Society as a whole or just a select few at the very top? One way to approach that question is by looking at how the entire wealth of a given society is distributed among individual members of that society.
The problem, though, is that it isn't so easy to calculate that distribution. Official data does, of course, exist. In Germany it is compiled by the Federal Statistical Office, and the European Central Bank (ECB) has been doing the same for the eurozone over the last few years. That data shows an extremely unequal wealth distribution.
SpaceX sets Falcon Heavy launch date
Falcon Heavy is a brand new rocket that's set to launch for the first time ever on February 6, SpaceX announced on Saturday.
The buzz can be attributed to the Falcon Heavy's size: It will be the most powerful rocket in the world. It's built by SpaceX -- the industry-disrupting rocket maker started by billionaire Elon Musk.
If you're just catching up to the action, we've answered all the questions you need to know before next month's launch.
Why does it matter?
The Falcon Heavy will become part of spaceflight history.
LOSING SIGHT
A 4-Year-Old Girl Was the Sole Survivor of a U.S. Drone Strike in Afghanistan. Then She Disappeared.
THE VALLEY OF DEATH
The driver was a 26-year-old father of two named Abdul Rashid. Because the road into Pech Valley toward Gambir was famously treacherous, a kind of buddy system had developed among cab drivers. That morning, Abdul Rashid had been trying to coordinate the journey with his friend and relative, Mohibullah, but by early afternoon, he had decided to go ahead without him. The four children — including Abdul Rashid’s daughter, Aisha, age 4, and her baby brother, Jundullah, 18 months — were growing restless with the wait. Just after 3 p.m., the truck began to move.
Abdul Rashid stopped in the east end of Asadabad to pick up one last passenger, a woman traveling alone, before heading west. For the last three days, the drivers servicing the Pech had staged a strike to protest poor road conditions. September 7 was Rashid’s first day back on the job.
Saturday, January 27, 2018
Is Myanmar 'whitewashing' the Rohingya crisis?
Former US diplomat accuses members of Rohingya advisory panel of being a 'cheerleading squad' for the government.
Frustration over Myanmar's handling of the Rohingya crisis has boiled over into an argument between Aung San Suu Kyi and her former friend, now critic, Bill Richardson.
The former US ambassador to the UN resigned from an advisory panel set-up by the government after accusing members of trying to 'whitewash' the crisis.
And in his resignation letter, Richardson accused members of being a 'cheerleading squad' for the government.
Officials reacted by accusing Richardson of having his own agenda.
Six In The Morning Saturday January 27
Paris readies for floods as Seine surges higher
Riverside homes and businesses in Paris are on high alert as the swollen River Seine threatens to overflow its banks.
Some basements in the city have already sprung leaks after the river surged following heavy rainfall, reports said.
The Seine is forecast to swell even further this weekend, adding several metres of water above its normal level.
Many roads in the region are already waterlogged. Boat traffic - including the capital's famous tourist cruises - has also been interrupted.
The water level in the river is expected to peak at around 6m (19ft 6in), which is at least 4m above its normal level.
Hong Kong authorities block pro-democracy candidate from byelection
Demosisto member Agnes Chow had reportedly renounced her British citizenship and deferred her studies to stand for legislative council
Agnes Chow, a 21-year-old activist, had hoped to help her Demosisto party regain a foothold in the city’s 70-member legislative council, or Legco, after a number of pro-democracy legislators, including her party mate Nathan Law, were forced from office in 2017.
However, on Saturday authorities announced that Chow – who, like her party, supports Hong Kong’s right to “self-determination” – would not be able to run in byelections set to be held in March.
How did food from the West Midlands end up in Isis-controlled territory in Syria?
Exclusive: I’m the first western reporter to reach this second battlefront in Syria – and it’s clear that the battle against Isis on the ground is far from over
It’s below zero degrees on the vast dirt hillside above Totah but through the mist and freezing rain, I can see the Syrian general’s target, a small Isis-held village across a valley of mud. There’s a crash of artillery fire from his Shilka guns, and you wait several seconds before the shells fall behind a clump of hillside trees. The smoke billows into the cold air and it takes another few seconds before the sound of the explosions reaches back to us. Then another few seconds before Isis shoots back at the Syrians. Heavy machine gun fire that echoes and thumps up the wadis. Isis is not beaten yet. It still has food. From the UK, no less. Of which, more later.
The general, I should add, is nicknamed “Caesar”. Military headquarters in Damascus have now forbidden officers to give their real names – because, they say, several have been assassinated after appearing by name in the Syrian media.
Educating against anti-Semitism: German students visit concentration camp
Anti-Semitism has been the subject of intense debate recently in Germany. Do mandatory visits to concentration camp memorial sites help curb the problem? DW's Daniel Bellut joined students on a school trip to find out.
Ahead of International Holocaust Remembrance Day on Saturday, class 10C of Rostock's Don Bosco School is on an obligatory visit to the Sachsenhausen concentration camp, just a few kilometers north of Berlin. When the students step off the bus, they seem relaxed and in good spirits. Some of them are happy to not spend the day in a classroom. The history teacher, however, seems a little tense. He obviously wants his students to acknowledge the seriousness of this place.
Tour guide Karl Kröhnke comes to greet the class. He first takes the students on a tour of the concentration camp's exterior grounds and tells them its story. Then, the students approach the gate at the entrance. The closer they get, the more somber the mood becomes — no more laughter, no more teasing. The students stand in front of the gate in silence, concentrating on what Kröhnke is saying.
Philippine strongman told Myanmar leader to ignore 'noisy' rights activists
Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte said Friday that he told Myanmar's embattled leader, Aung San Suu Kyi, to ignore the complaints of human rights activists during a recent meeting in India.
Speaking to a business forum in New Delhi, the strongman said he pitied Suu Kyi, who has been criticized in recent months over accusations her government is deliberately killing minority Rohingya Muslims.
"She's been complaining that 'We are talking about our country, the interest of our country, our own country,' and I said, 'Don't mind the human rights (activists), they are a noisy bunch actually,' " Duterte told the forum.
THE 156 DEATH row inmates in Pennsylvania state prisons go to sleep every night the same way they wake up: in an 8-by-12 foot cell illuminated by artificial light around the clock. On weekdays, they are allowed out of their cells for a maximum of two hours to exercise in a small, enclosed space. They leave their cells thrice a week to take showers and are occasionally allowed to go to the law library. Every once in a while, a death-sentenced prisoner gets a visit with clergy or a family member – without being able to touch them. On weekends, they cannot leave their cells at all. For most of their lives, they sit alone in a suffocating cage the size of a parking space.
The American Civil Liberties Union on Thursday filed a lawsuit challenging these conditions, alleging that the Pennsylvania prison system’s mandatory solitary confinement for death-row inmates is unconstitutional, as it constitutes cruel and unusual punishment.
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