Monthly Archives: November 2015

ISLAMIC State has shared photos of a homemade bomb it claims it used to bring down a Russian passenger plane over Sinai in Egypt last month, killing 224 people.

The latest edition of propaganda magazine, Dabiq, claims an improvised explosive device was hidden in a can of Schweppes Gold pineapple juice. The picture’s authenticity could not be confirmed.

According to the publication, the militants smuggled the bomb on board the airliner after discovering a “way to compromise the security” at the Egyptian airport, but did not elaborate.

They claimed they had initially planned to down a plane belonging to a country from the US-led coalition targeting militants in Iraq and Syria.

They instead decided to target the Metrojet airliner departing the Red Sea resort of Sharm el-Sheikh on October 31 after Moscow began an air campaign in Syria in late September, the magazine said.

Another photograph purported to show passports belonging to Russian passengers killed in the bombing, with the documents allegedly obtained by Islamic fighters.

Entitled “Just Terror”, the magazine’s cover shows the victims of last week’s Paris attacks being treated by the emergency services.

The Russian Federal Security Service announced on Tuesday that a terrorist attack caused the A321 plane en route to St Petersburg to crash in Sinai.

It claimed traces of explosives have been found in the wreckage, which included passengers’ belongings and parts of the plane.

“During the flight, a homemade device with the power of 1.5 kilograms of TNT was detonated,” FSB chief Aleksandr Bortnikov said, adding that “traces of a foreign-made explosive substance” have been found.

Although Egypt has not confirmed the findings, President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi has agreed to co-operate with Russian President Vladimir Putin.

“In the context of the efforts to find the criminals involved in the terrorist act against the Russian airliner, close co-operation was agreed on between the security services of Russia and Egypt,” the Kremlin said in a statement after the leaders spoke by phone.

The intention is to put in place “additional measures to assure the maximum security of air traffic between the two countries in order to re-establish it as soon as possible,” the statement said.

Cairo has insisted it is waiting for the results of an Egyptian-led probe before giving a definitive verdict on what caused the crash that killed all 224 people on board.

Egyptian authorities said that they were enhancing security in airports around the country over the possibility the plane was “targeted by a terrorist attack.”

Moscow suspended all flights to Egypt on November 6 citing the need to bolster airport security, but at the time it played down growing Western suspicions that a bomb had blown its plane out of the sky.

Mr Putin has pledged to find and “punish” those responsible for the attack — the bloodiest against a Russian target since the Beslan school massacre in 2004 — and his security service has offered a $50 million reward to help find the culprits.

While Moscow has not explicitly blamed any specific group for the attack, jihadists linked to the Islamic State group claimed responsibility and Russian jets stepped up air strikes against IS targets in Syria after confirming the bombing.

Moscow launched a massive operation to repatriate tens of thousands of stranded holiday-makers after cutting air links with Egypt and Russia’s state tourism agency told TASS news agency that the last of those planning to come back would return home on Wednesday.

source:news.com.au

THE suspected mastermind of last week’s Paris attacks has been killed in a blitz-style raid, according to two senior intelligence officials.

Washington Post reports Islamic State Abdelhamid Abaaoud was killed overnight after more than 100 police and soldiers stormed a building in Saint-Denis during a seven-hour siege that left two dead.

During the siege, a woman suicide bomber blew herself up and another militant died.

Investigators raided the building following reports the fugitive was hiding out north of the capital and possibly plotting another attack.

“The police forces were looking for terrorists who were preparing another attack on the basis of information from the (local) counter-terrorism services and overseas,” a source close to the investigation told Reuters. “This new team was planning an attack on La Defense.”

The French interior ministry declined to confirm or deny the information.

Officials said police had been hunting Abaaoud, a Belgian Islamist militant accused of ordering the November 13 attack.

Seven people were arrested in the operation including three people who were pulled from the apartment, officials said.

“It is impossible to tell you who was arrested. We are in the process of verifying that. Everything will be done to determine who is who,” Paris prosecutor Francois Molins said at the end of the operation.

He said the Paris raid was launched after information from tapped telephone conversations, surveillance and witness accounts indicated that Abaaoud might be in a safe house in the district.

A US official briefed on intelligence matters said the 27-year-old was a key figure in an Islamic State external operations cell that US intelligence agencies have been tracking for many months.

Abaaoud was believed to be in Syria after a January police raid in Belgium, but bragged in Islamic State propaganda of his ability to move back and forth between Europe and Syria undetected.

Speaking at the scene of Wednesday’s raid, Molins said the operation began with a pre-dawn shootout and resulted in the capture of three people inside the apartment, the death of a woman who set off an explosive charge, and the death of “another terrorist … who was hit by projectiles and grenades” in the initial assault.

He said two people were detained while trying to hide in the rubble, and two others were also arrested, including the man who had provided the apartment and one of his acquaintances. Police at the scene were seen escorting away one man who was naked from the waist down, and another wrapped in a gold emergency blanket.

“As things stand, it is impossible to give you the identities of the people detained, which are being verified,” Molins said. “All will be done to determine who is who, and based on the work of forensic police, we’ll tell you who was in the apartment — and what consequences it will have for the development of the investigation.”

‘Terror threat’ shuts down Copenhagen airport

Terminal 3 of Copenhagen Airport and the airport’s train station were evacuated overnight due to a terror alert sparked by a suspicious bag.

Armed officers were called to the airport, the main arrival and departure terminal for the Nordic region’s hub, along with bomb experts to investigate the possible threat. Commuter train and subway lines to the airport also were halted.

Danish police revealed on Twitter that the evacuation was triggered by “an overheard conversation about a bomb.”

The terminal and station was shut down for about an hour while police investigated. It has since reopened, withdelays expected.

Turkey kills ‘IS militant’ on Syria border, detains 21

Turkish security forces killed one suspected Islamic State militant seeking to cross into Turkey from Syria and arrested 21 others, the army said.

The suspected IS militant killed on Tuesday was part of a group seeking to illegally cross the border neighbouring the Kilis region of southern Turkey, the army said in a statement.

“Twenty-one people, including nine children, were detained,” it added, giving no further details or the nationality of those arrested.

The incident comes as Turkey seeks to step up efforts to crack down on IS jihadists crossing its border, amid signs Ankara is taking the security threat posed by the group increasingly seriously.

France, Paris strikes IS in Syria

French fighter jets attacked Islamic State targets in Syria for a third night. The French defence ministry said 10 jets had hit two Islamic State command centres in the militants’ base of Raqqa, Syria.

Hollande said French aircraft carrier Charles de Gaulle had left to support military operations against IS in Syria. He called for a “large coalition” against IS militants to destroy a group that threatens the whole world and “commits massacres” in the Middle East.

The Paris attacks have galvanised international determination to confront the Islamic State group in Syria and Iraq, bringing France, Russia and the United States closer to an alliance.

Russian President Vladimir Putin ordered the missile cruiser Moskva, currently in the Mediterranean, to start co-operating with the French military on operations in Syria.

source:news.com.au

Μοιάζει σαν ένα μέρος που έχει βγει από τα παραμύθια. Κι όμως υπάρχει στην πραγματικότητα.

Πρόκειται για το λεγόμενο «Στραβό Δάσος» που βρίσκεται στην Πολωνία και έχει ένα ιδιαίτερο χαρακτηριστικό. Όλα τα δέντρα έχουν μια περίεργη καμπύλη στην βάση του κορμού τους.

Πάνω από 400 πεύκα που έχουν φυτευτεί περίπου στη δεκαετία του ’30, έχουν αυτή την ιδιαιτερότητα στον κορμό τους, σχηματίζοντας το γράμμα C. Τα δέντρα μεγαλώνουν κανονικά χωρίς να επηρεάζονται από την ιδιομορφία αυτή.

Πηγή:in.gr

Rolls Royce, traditionally the plaything of the well-to-do man about town, hopes to attract more women.

The car maker on Wednesday took to Sydney Harbour to launch its new convertible Dawn’ as it moves to get more females behind the wheel of the world’s most prestigious car brand.

Sydney car enthusiasts were the first in the Asia Pacific to catch a glimpse of the new soft-top, two-door prototype, with the car unveiled to the media on top of a luxury super yacht sailing the harbour.

The car is a departure from the formal models Rolls Royce is known for, like the Phantom and Ghost.

As a result, the customers that are lining up to buy Dawn aren’t your usual Rolls Royce faithful.

‘What we see from early indications is that almost two thirds are really new to Rolls Royce as a brand,’ Rolls Royce Asia Pacific general manager Michael Schneider told AAP.

‘So they might have considered Rolls Royce previously, but now they’ve made that decision, made that step to order Dawn because it gives them what they see as essential in a car.

‘Marketed as a ‘social’ car – a car for everyday use, Dawn will be fully customiseable, offering customers a chance to be a part of the process.

Dawn project manager, Jonathan Shears, says he’s had customers look through their family photos and try to recreate memories through their car modification team Bespoke.

‘The customers really latched on to that, and said actually I really want to tell my story.

‘Last year, all of the cars sold in Australia came with some sort of customised item.Considering the base ticket price for Dawn is $749,000 on road, the modifications won’t come cheap.

The British car maker, who is owned by BMW, is keen to expand its female customer base, saying for the first time, there is an equal share between male and female customers coming to the dealerships.

‘Rolls Royce is not a man’s brand anymore,’ Mr Schneider said.’They (women) won’t shy away from driving a car like this.

‘While the company is staying tight lipped on how many pre-order buyers it has already secured for Dawn since its September global launch, it is saying sales are above expectations.

Since 2009, the company’s global sales have more than quadrupled.

Rolls Royce Dawn in numbers: Price: $749,000 on road 0-100km/h in 4.9

seconds Top speed: 250 km/h Engine: 6.6L V12 Horse power: 563 hpAAP

source:skynews.com.au

Greece has struck a deal with its creditors to unlock €12bn (£8.4bn) to the country, its finance minister announced today.

“We have reached agreement on everything, including the 48 additional measures,” finance minister Euclid Tsakalotos told reporters. The funds are expected to paid out on Friday.

Jeroen Dijsselbloem, president of the group of Eurozone finance ministers, said the money would be paid to Greece once Greek parliament adopts fresh reforms on Thursday.

“Upon the completion of the agreed conditionality and the implemented legislation, the Eurogroup [group of finance ministers] stand ready to support the disbursement,” he said.

Most of the funds will be used to recapitalise the country’s banks. The cash is part of a major bailout agreed to in July after months of tough negotiations during which the newly elected Syriza government tried to reverse some of the strict measures imposed by the European Commission, European Central Bank and the International Monetary Fund.

Austerity measures were only eased once it became clear the economy was weakening due to a state-inspired mass cash-withdrawal from the country’s banks.

The European Central Bank said last month that Greek banks need €14bn of extra cash to stay afloat while Greeks are still restricted to cash withdrawals of €420 a week.

source:cityam.com

H Μακεδονική γιορτή στην ελληνική γωνιά του Oakleigh

Με το Μακεδονικό Γλέντι στην ελληνική γωνιά του Oakleigh στη Μελβούρνη, ολοκληρώθηκαν οι εκδηλώσεις του φετινών «Δημητρίων» την περασμένη Κυριακή.

Το Φεστιβάλ «Δημήτρια», που διοργανώνεται κάθε χρόνο από τη Παμμακεδονική Ένωση Μελβούρνης και Βικτωρίας, αποτελεί θεσμό για τα παροικιακά δρώμενα της Μελβούρνης και κάθε χρόνο προσελκύει πλήθος συμπαροίκων, κάτι που επαναλήφθηκε και τη φετινή ολοήμερη εκδήλωση.

Χορευτικά και μουσικά συγκροτήματα διασκέδασαν όσους παραβρέθηκαν, ενώ το παρών στην εκδήλωση έδωσαν βουλευτές της Πολιτείας και ηγετικά στελέχη οργανισμών της παροικίας.

Επιγραμματικά να αναφέρουμε ότι τον πρωθυπουργό της Πολιτείας Daniel Andrews εκπροσώπησε ο ομογενής βουλευτής Στηβ Δημόπουλος, τον αρχηγό της Αντιπολίτευσης Matthew Guy, ο πρώην υπ. Υγείας David Davies, ενώ στο Γλέντι παραβρέθηκε και ο δήμαρχος Monash Πολ Κλεισάρης, αλλά και ο πρόεδρος της Ελληνικής Κοινότητας Μελβούρνης, Βασίλης Παπαστεργιάδης.

Πηγή:Νέος Κόσμος

Η Ρεβέκκα Χατζή

Έκκληση στο κοινό απευθύνει η οικογένεια και η Αστυνομία της Βικτώριας προκειμένου να εντοπισθεί η 17χρονη Ρεβέκκα Χατζή, η οποία είναι 7 μηνών έγκυος και η τύχη της αγνοείται από την Κυριακή το απόγευμα.

Η Ρεβέκκα εθεάθη για τελευταία φορά στις 3 το απόγευμα της Τρίτης, 10 Νοεμβρίου, στο σπίτι της, που βρίσκεται στην οδό La Trobe, στην περιοχή Box Hill.

Στη συνέχεια, η 17χρονη επικοινώνησε με μέλη της οικογενείας της, πληροφορώντας τους, ότι εκείνο το βράδυ της Τρίτης, αλλά και της Τετάρτης, θα διανυκτέρευε στο σπίτι του πατέρα της στο Clayton, κάτι που όπως επιβεβαιώνουν οι δικοί της συνέβη.

Σύμφωνα με σχετική ανακοίνωση της Αστυνομίας της Βικτώριας, την Πέμπτη το πρωί, η 17χρονη εγκυμονούσα, έλαβε τηλεφώνημα από τον 29χρονο φίλο της και αμέσως μετά απ’ αυτό έφυγε από το σπίτι του πατέρα της για άγνωστο λόγο.

Όπως προαναφέραμε, η οικογένεια της 17χρονης ανέφερε την εξαφάνιση της Ρεβέκκας στην Αστυνομία την Κυριακή το απόγευμα, καθώς μετά την αναχώρησή της από το σπίτι του πατέρα της και, παρά τις συνεχείς προσπάθειες των δικών της να επικοινωνήσουν μαζί της τηλεφωνικώς, αυτό στάθηκε αδύνατο.

Η Ρεβέκκα έχει ύψος γύρω στο 1,65, μακριά μαύρα μαλλιά και όταν εξαφανίστηκε φορούσε τζιν παντελόνι, καφέ ζακέτα και μαύρα παπούτσια.

Η Αστυνομία αναφέρει ότι το κορίτσι σύχναζε στα ανατολικά και βορειοδυτικά προάστια της Μελβούρνης και, κυρίως, σ’ αυτά του Hadfield, Jacana, Meadow Heights και Broadmeadows.

Αν κάποιος είδε την Ρεβέκκα ή γνωρίζει κάτι για την τύχη της, παρακαλείται να επικοινωνήσει με την υπηρεσία Crime Stoppers τηλεφωνώντας στο 1800 333000.

Να προσθέσουμε, τέλος, ότι η οποιαδήποτε πληροφορία του κοινού στην υπηρεσία Crime Stoppers παραμένει εμπιστευτική και η υπηρεσία προστατεύει την ανωνυμία αυτών που κάνουν σχετικές αναφορές.

Πηγή:Νέος Κόσμος

Στόχος του η δίκαιη εκπροσώπηση των Αυστραλών μουσουλμάνων

Ένα νέο κόμμα ιδρύθηκε την Τρίτη στην Αυστραλία, με στόχο να δώσει φωνή στους Αυστραλούς μουσουλμάνους. Το Μουσουλμανικό Κόμμα Αυστραλίας (Australian Muslim Party – AMP) σχεδιάσει να κατέλθει στις επόμενες ομοσπονδιακές εκλογές με υποψήφιους σε κάθε Πολιτεία, ελπίζοντας να κερδίσει μία έδρα στην Γερουσία. Ιδρυτής του είναι ο 34χρονος επιχειρηματίας, Diaa Mohamed, ο οποίος στο παρελθόν ήταν επικεφαλής της ομάδας MyPeace, που είχε στόχο την ενίσχυση των δεσμών μεταξύ των μουσουλμανικών και των υπόλοιπων κοινοτήτων της Αυστραλίας.

Ο ίδιος τονίζει ότι η αναγγελία δεν έχει σχέση με τα τραγικά περιστατικά στο Παρίσι, αλλά η σύμπτωση τονίζει την ανάγκη δημιουργίας του κόμματος.

«Είχαμε σχεδιάσει εδώ και εβδομάδες την αναγγελία και το Σαββατοκύριακο συζητήσαμε κατά πόσον πρέπει ή όχι να προχωρήσουμε, υπό το φως της πρόσφατης τραγωδίας στο Παρίσι, αλλά αυτός είναι ακριβώς ο λόγος για τον οποίο δημιουργήσαμε το κόμμα. Για να δημιουργήσουμε μία πλατφόρμα. Έπρεπε να γίνει. Βρισκόμαστε στο 2015 και υπάρχουν τέσσερα κόμματα στην Αυστραλία που έχουν δημιουργηθεί με ειδική ατζέντα την αντίθεση με τους μουσουλμάνους και το Ισλάμ. Οπότε σκέφτηκα να τους δώσω κάτι να αντιπαρατεθούν. Έτσι δημιούργησα το Μουσουλμανικό Κόμμα». Μιλώντας στην SBS, ο κ. Mohamed τόνισε ότι πολλά μέλη της μουσουλμανικής κοινότητας προσπάθησαν να τον αποθαρρύνουν, καθώς πολλοί φοβούνται, ο ίδιος όμως δεν πτοείται.

«Δεδομένων όσων έχουν συμβεί την τελευταία δεκαετία, μία από τις πιο έντονες επικρίσεις που δεχόμαστε είναι ότι δεν μιλάμε καθαρά, αν όχι εντελώς. Αυτοί ανάμεσά μας που θέλουν να εκφραστούν δεν έχουν την ευκαιρία και τώρα τούς δίνουμε αυτήν τη δυνατότητα».

Μέχρι στιγμής, πάντως, δεν έχει αποκαλυφθεί η πλήρης πολιτική πλατφόρμα του νέου κόμματος, καθώς αυτό είναι κάτι που ο ιδρυτής του θα δημοσιοποιήσει αφ’ ότου καταφέρει να στρατολογήσει 500 μέλη. Οι εγγραφές είναι ανοιχτές σε όλους τους Αυστραλούς πολίτες, μουσουλμάνους και μη.

«Όλοι είναι ευπρόσδεκτοι, καθώς ο στόχος μας είναι να ενώσουμε και όχι να διχάσουμε. Οι αρχές μας είναι αυτές όλων των Αυστραλών: η ειρήνη, η ισότητα, η δικαιοσύνη και η ελευθερία στις προσωπικές επιλογές».

Ωστόσο, υπάρχει ένα ζήτημα που θα προωθήσει ο νέας φορέας: την αντίθεση στην ξένη επέμβαση στην Συρία.

«Δεν θα υποστηρίξω ποτέ την εισβολή της Αυστραλίας σε κάποια άλλη χώρα, όποια κι αν είναι αυτή, όχι μόνο μία μουσουλμανική χώρα» δήλωσε ο κ. Mohamed, τονίζοντας ότι οι δυτικές επεμβάσεις στην Μέση Ανατολή μετά την 11η Σεπτεμβρίου έχουν κάνει την κατάσταση χειρότερη στην περιοχή.

Πηγή:Νέος Κόσμος