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Archives for June 2015

CIA declassifies 9/11 documents on al-Qaeda

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A firefighter breaks down following the twin tower attacks in New York, September 11, 2001. (AFP/File)

A firefighter breaks down following the twin tower attacks in New York, September 11, 2001. (AFP/File)

by Andolu Ajansi

The CIA has declassified documents running to almost-500 pages ten years after the completion of an investigation into purported flaws within the intelligence community which may have led to a failure to stop September 2001 attacks.

The Office of Inspector General’s investigation, prompted by a joint Congressional inquiry in 2005, uncovered several systemic problems within country’s intelligence agencies which missed warnings about the 9/11 plot to attack US targets.

Al-Qaeda operatives crashed passenger jets into the World Trade Center towers in New York and the Pentagon headquarters in Washington DC, killing thousands.

“Concerning certain issues, the team concluded that the CIA and its officers did not discharge their responsibilities in a satisfactory manner,” the report read.

The inspectors, according to the report, also found out that intelligence agencies had “no comprehensive strategic plan” to thwart the al-Qaeda threat.

The inspector general’s report also accuses George Tenet, the former head of the CIA, of failing to develop a strategy against al-Qaeda “despite his specific direction that this should be done”.

Angry correspondence between the then CIA Inspector General John L. Helgerson and Tenet who rejected Helgerson’s critical draft report in 2005.

“Your report challenges my professionalism, diligence and skill in leading the men and women of US intelligence in countering terrorism,” Tenet wrote to Helgerson.

Although there has been speculation that some Saudi Arabian officials might have supported al-Qaeda leader Osama bin Laden, the investigators note a lack of evidence to support such a claim.

“The team encountered no evidence that the Saudi government knowingly and willingly supported al-Qaeda terrorists,” the report read.

The document is a compilation of the full version of the 2005 Office of Inspector General’s investigation plus several other related documents in addition to two other reports from the Counter Terrorism Center which were released in 2005 and 2010.

Six Yemeni inmates sent from Guantanamo prison to Oman

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Detainees transferred to Oman for resettlement as part of US plan to close controversial prison.

The resettlement follows the release of another five Yemeni inmates on January 15 from Guantanamo [AP]

The resettlement follows the release of another five Yemeni inmates on January 15 from Guantanamo [AP]

by Al Jazeera

The United States says it has sent another six Yemeni detainees from its controversial Guantanamo Bay prison in Cuba to Oman for resettlement.

In a statement issued late on Friday, the Pentagon said it had transferred Idris Ahmad Abd Al Qadir Idris, Sharaf Ahmad Muhammad Masud, Jalal Salam Awad Awad, Saad Nasser Moqbil Al Azani, Emad Abdallah Hassan and Muhammad Ali Salem Al Zarnuki from the detention facility.

“As directed by the president’s January 22, 2009, executive order, the interagency Guantanamo Review Task Force conducted comprehensive reviews of each of these cases,” the statement said.

“As a result of that review process, which examined a number of factors, including security issues, these men were unanimously approved for transfer by the six departments and agencies comprising the task force.”

The statement said the US coordinated with the Omani government to ensure the transfers took place in a way that was “consistent with appropriate security and humane treatment measures”.

The resettlement follows the release of five Yemeni inmates on January 15 from Guantanamo, at least six years after they were cleared for release.

Four of those inmates were sent to Oman, while one was sent to Estonia, the first time either nation had accepted Guantanamo prisoners for resettlement.

Friday’s transfer of the six men leaves 116 inmates at the remote prison, more than 13 years after it opened and seven years after President Barack Obama promised to close it.

The prison was set up to hold alleged terror suspects after the September 11, 2001, attacks, but human rights groups have condemned the jail as a “legal black hole”, where inmates languish for years without being tried in court.

Is Airtel spying on you for Israel? Bengaluru techie exposes secret 'code'

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Thejesh GN

Bengaluru: Bharti Airtel has been now accused of spying on its 3G mobile Internet subscribers in India by using programming from an Israel-based firm that offers monetisation solutions to telecom operators round the world!

The snooping came to light on June 3, when Bengaluru-based programmer Thejesh GN tweeted that Airtel was injecting lines of code into users’ browsing sessions over its 3G network without their knowledge.

The development has angered consumers, coming in the wake of widespread criticism for the Airtel Zero scheme that users and activists said violated net neutrality.

Using a web-based IP tracker, Thejesh was able to confirm that the code was originating from an IP address that belonged to Bharti Airtel.

Thejesh dug further and revealed that Airtel had partnered with Ericsson, which in turn was using the services of Israel-based Flash Networks to inject the code into web pages that users were browsing.

There’s more cooking in here. Thejesh also received a legal notice (Cease & Desist) from an Israeli company named Flash Networks Limited for exposing proprietary code.

The firm contended that his action was a criminal offence under the Indian Penal Code and the Information Technology Act.

Thejesh’s files on GitHub too were taken down under the US Digital Millenium Copyright Act.

Experts contend that Airtel is using the Israeli firm’s code to make money by using the consumer’s browsing history.

Flash Networks describes itself on its website as the “global leader of mobile Internet optimization and monetization solutions, enables operators to boost network speed, optimize video and web traffic, and generate over-the-top revenues from the mobile Internet”.

In reaction, Airtel issued a statement saying that the code is part of a tool it is working on to help users keep track of their data consumption but has now stopped using it.

According to Rohin Dharmakumar, a Bengaluru-based startup founder, Flash Networks enables mobile operaters to intercept their subscriber’s browsing and insert their own content or advertisements.

Experts said if this is true, Airtel is guilty of violating the privacy of its users by spying on their online behaviour. When questioned about this, an Airtel spokesperson said: “This is a standard solution deployed by telcos globally to help their customers keep track of their data usage in terms of mega bytes used. It is therefore meant to improve customer experience and empower them to manage their usage.

“One of our network vendor partners has piloted this solution through a third party to help customers understand their data consumption in terms of volume of data used. As a responsible corporate, we have the highest regard for customer privacy and we follow a policy of zero tolerance with regard to the confidentiality of customer data.”

(Agencies)

Six dead, 100 injured in ammonia gas tanker leak in Punjab

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punjab-ammonia-gas-leak

Ludhiana: At least six persons were killed and around 100 others were injured when an ammonia gas tanker leaked early today in the district, police said.

The leak occurred when the tanker got stuck under a flyover on the Doraha Bypass Road along a canal, about 25 kms from here, they said.

Six persons died due to inhaling of the gas, Doraha Police Station’s SHO Rajnish Kumar Sood said, adding, the bodies have been shifted to a hospital in Ludhiana.

He said that around 100 other persons complained of breathing problem due to inhaling of the gas.

The residents came out of their houses when the gas from the leaking tanker spread in and around Doraha, police said.

The affected people have been admitted to different hospitals in Doraha, Khanna and Ludhiana, the SHO said.

The tanker, bearing registration number of Gujarat was going from Ludhiana side, the police said.

Details were still awaited and identities of the victims yet to be ascertained, police said, adding, senior civil and police officers have rushed to the spot to take stock of the situation.

(PTI)

India end at 462/6 in rain-marred day

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BANGLADESH CRICKET

Fatullah: Following an uninterrupted morning session, heavy showers first stopped play twice in the post-lunch session and then completely washed out the final session of play as India ended the third day at 462/6 in their first innings of the lone cricket Test against Bangladesh here on Friday.

Just after lunch, heavy showers delayed play for about an hour after which India came out to bat. The visitors had only scored 25 runs when the skies opened up again. When play resumed, only 6.2 overs could be bowled further when rain struck the Dhaka suburb again, forcing the players back to the pavilion and umpires to call tea.

The players remained in the pavilion as rain did not stop, forcing the third session to be called off at the Khan Shaheb Osman Ali Stadium. Overall, India scored 223 runs with the Bangladeshi spinners taking full advantage of the conditions to claim six scalps after having gone wicket-less on Day 1.

Keeping in mind the rain, the Indian batsmen went all out to score at more than a run-a-ball in the second session at the same time losing three wickets.

Opening batsman Murali Vijay perished immediately after getting to his 150 when he was adjudged leg-before off ace spinner Shakib Al Hasan (4/105). Wicketkeeper-batsman Wriddhiman Saha (6) also did not last long as he was bowled by 19-year-old leg-spinner Jubair Hossain (2/113).

Ajinkya Rahane (98) continued his charge and went for his shots, scoring boundaries around the ground, totalling 14 fours. However, Shakib struck again, bowling out the right-hander two runs short of what would have been his fourth Test century.

Ravichandran Ashwin (2 not out) and Harbhajan Singh (7 not out) were at the crease when the skies opened up again.

Earlier in the morning, the rain gods finally allowed play after heavy showers curtailed the match on the first day and completely washed out the second.

The first session of play was shared by the hosts and the visitors as Bangladesh finally managed to break the opening wicket partnership between Vijay and Shikhar Dhawan (173) and also bag two more vital wickets — that of ace batsman Rohit Sharma (6) and captain Virat Kohli (14).

At lunch time, Vijay and Rahane looked solid at the crease with India batting at 398/3.

India resumed the day at 239 for no loss and Dhawan, who had scored his third Test century on Wednesday, went about his business in usual fashion. The left-hander was aggressive from the start and attacked the Bangladeshi bowlers — spinners and pacers alike. Vijay also looked good as he brought up his sixth Test hundred.

While trying to accelerate, Dhawan went down the track but ace spinner Shakib read him and pitched to his foot. Dhawan top-edged and offered a catch to the bowler. The caught-and-bowled finally broke the first wicket partnership of 283 runs with Dhawan going back to the pavilion after scoring a brilliant 173 which included 23 boundaries.

Shakib was at it again as he clean bowled Rohit in his next over. The Indian batsman, who replaced regular No.3 Cheteshwar Pujara, totally wasted his opportunity by completely misjudging the delivery which pitched on off and straightened to rattle the off-stump.

Five overs later, skipper Kohli was also walking back to the pavilion as he played on a Hossain ball which rolled on to hit his stumps. Suddenly from 283 for no loss, India were 310/3. But, thereafter, Rahane and Vijay consolidated the innings, taking India close to 400.

(IANS)

Australia pays off smugglers to return migrants to Indonesia

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The country’s navy paid about US$30,000 in cash to people-smugglers to turn their boat packed with 65 migrants back to where they came from.

Australia has adopted one of the toughest stands against asylum seekers trying to reach its shores by boat. | Photo: Reuters

Australia has adopted one of the toughest stands against asylum seekers trying to reach its shores by boat. | Photo: Reuters

The Australian navy has paid a group of people smugglers thousands of dollars to turn around their boat carrying 65 migrants and head back to Indonesia, and while the controversy heats up surrounding this case, Prime Minister Tony Abbot Friday refused to deny this was true.

“We don’t go into the details of operational measures to fight crime, we don’t go into the details of operational measures on national security, and I’m certainly not going to go into the details of operational matters on the water now,” Abbott told reporters.

The fact is Australia has vowed to stop the flow of asylum seekers reaching its shores when possible, adopting one of the harshest stances against migration. But critics and activists have criticized the method of paying off smugglers, a case that is now being investigated by Indonesia. The Australian government is sending those asylum seekers who do arrive in the country to camps in Papua New Guinea and Nauru for long-term detention. Australian and Indonesian news reports revealed earlier this week that the people-smugglers were paid about US$6,000 each to abandon their journey to Australia and return to Indonesia after being intercepted at sea. The Australian Foreign Minister Julie Bishop and the Immigration Minister Peter Dutton have denied the reports, but Abbott has declined to do so, citing operational security, according to Reuters.

In Indonesia, the country’s foreign ministry spokesperson Armanatha Nasir said the captain of the asylum-seeker vessel that was paid to return was being detained on charges related to people-smuggling.

Nasir said the captain and his five-member crew told him that they were each paid about US$6,000 to turn back the ship.

Pakistan orders international charity to leave

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Government accuses Save the Children aid group of working against national interest and seals its offices in Islamabad.

A spokesperson for Save the Children confirmed that its office in Islamabad had been sealed off without warning [AFP]

A spokesperson for Save the Children confirmed that its office in Islamabad had been sealed off without warning [AFP]

by Al Jazeera

Pakistani authorities have sealed off the offices of the international aid group Save the Children, saying the charity was “working against the country”, police and government officials say.

Government officials accompanied by police arrived at the charity’s office in the heart of the capital Islamabad on Thursday after working hours and placed a lock on the compound gate.

“We have sealed the office of Save the Children on government instructions,” Kamran Cheema, a senior government official, told the AFP news agency.

“We don’t know the reasons behind this order. We were sent a three-line notification by the interior ministry saying that this office should be sealed and all the expatriate staff be sent back to their countries within 15 days.”

The government did not make any formal announcement but an official from the interior ministry told AFP that the agency was involved in “anti-Pakistan activities”.

“Their activities were being monitored since a long time. They were doing something which was against Pakistan’s interest,” said the official without giving his name because he was not authorised to speak to the media.

Strong objection

A spokesperson for Save the Children confirmed in a statement that its office had been sealed off without warning.

“Save the Children was not served any notice to this effect. We strongly object to this action and are raising our serious concerns at the highest levels,” the spokesperson said.

“Save the Children has worked in Pakistan for more than 35 years and we currently have 1,200 [Pakistani] staff members working across the nation.

“All our work is designed and delivered in close collaboration with the government ministries across the country, and aims to strengthen public service delivery systems in health, nutrition, education and child welfare.”

Al Jazeera’s Kamal Hyder, reporting from Haripur in Pakistan, said on Friday that the suspicion against Save the Children started after the successful US mission to find al-Qaeda chief Osama bin Laden.

In 2012 a Pakistan intelligence report linked the aid group to Pakistani doctor Shakeel Afridi who was allegedly used by the CIA to carry out a fake vaccination programme as they searched for bin Laden.

The charity’s expatriate staff were forced to leave Pakistan after the accusations emerged.

Save the Children has always denied it had any links with Afridi or the CIA.

Our correspondent said the crackdown on the charity have come amid government efforts to introduce stricter controls on nongovernmental organisations and charities through the legislature.

“There has been deep suspicion with the government that [these groups] have colluded with foreign powers,” he said.

Lottery scam-tainted IPS officer Alok Kumar's posted to Internal Security Division

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alok_kumar

Bengaluru: The state government on Friday placed Alok Kumar, the Additional Commissioner of Bengalru West in a IGP level post in the Internal Security Division (ISD).  Alok Kumar, an IGP rank officer, WAS suspended for his alleged link with the main accused in the single number lottery scam.

At the same time, the government transferred Pratap Reddy, IGP of CID (Administration) as Additional Commissioner of Bengaluru West in the existing vacancy due to suspension of Alok Kumur.

Alok Kumar was suspended on May 24 by the Chief Minister SIddaramaiah after his call details proved his link with the single number lottery scam accused Pari Raran. However, Alok Kumar had said that he has friendship with Pari Rajan and does not have any connection with the single number lottery scam. Later the investigation was handed over to CBI by the Siddaramaiah government following the demand from the opposition parties and public.

KV Sharath Chandra,Inspeclor Generat of Police, Administration (Chief Office) Bengaluru is transferred as Inspector General of Police, Criminal Investigation Department, Bengaluru.

S Rangaswamy Naik, Superintendent of Police, Chamaraianugar District, Chamarajanagar has been transferred as Deputy Commandant General, Home Guards & Ex-officio Deputy Director of Civil Defence, Bengaluru. Kuldeep Kumar R.Jain, Commandant, First Battalion, Karnataka State Reserve Police, Bengaluru is transferred as Superintendent of Police, Chamarajanagar District.

(Agencies)

Zimbabwe offers new exchange rate: $1 for 35,000,000,000,000,000 old dollars

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Central bank discards local currency after years of hyperinflation which at one point reached 500,000,000,000%

An old Z$100tn note, pictured in 2010. Photograph: Tsvangirayi Mukwazhi/AP

An old Z$100tn note, pictured in 2010. Photograph: Tsvangirayi Mukwazhi/AP

by The Guardian

Zimbabweans will start exchanging “quadrillions” of local dollars for a few US dollars next week as President Robert Mugabe’s government discards its virtually worthless national currency.

The southern African country started using foreign currencies including the US dollar and South African rand in 2009 after the Zimbabwean dollar was ruined by hyperinflation, which hit 500 billion per cent in 2008.

At the height of the country’s economic crisis, Zimbabweans had to carry plastic bags bulging with banknotes to buy basic goods. Prices were rising at least twice a day.

From Monday, customers who held Zimbabwean dollar accounts before March 2009 can approach their banks to convert their balance into US dollars, the governor of the Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe, John Mangudya, said in a statement.

Zimbabweans have until September to turn in their old banknotes, which some people sell as souvenirs to tourists.

Bank accounts with balances of up to 175 quadrillion Zimbabwean dollars will be paid $5. Those with balances above 175 quadrillion dollars will be paid at an exchange rate of $1 for 35 quadrillion Zimbabwean dollars.

The highest – and last – banknote to be printed by the bank in 2008 was 100tn Zimbabwean dollars. It was not enough to ride a public bus to work for a week.

The bank said customers who still had stashes of old Zimbabwean notes could walk into any bank and get $1 for every 250tn they hold. That means a holder of a 100tn banknote will get 40 cents.

The bank has set aside $20m to pay Zimbabwean dollar currency holders.

25 electrocuted after live wire falls on bus in Rajasthan

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Rajasthan

Jaipur: At least 25 persons were electrocuted Friday when a bus in which they were travelling came in contact with a live wire in Pachewar area of Tonk district of Rajasthan, officials said.

15 deaths are confirmed and several others also received burn injuries, district collector Rekha Gupta said.

Police and district administration officials have reached the spot, the DC said.

The death toll is likely to increase, the SP Deepak Kumar said.

(PTI)

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