Covid-19: Câmara dos EU aprova 1,9 trilhões de dólares em ajuda

Por VOA News

A Câmara dos Representantes dos Estados Unidos (EU) aprovou o pacote de ajuda covid-19 de US $ 1,9 trilhão do presidente Joe Biden, que visa dar ajuda a governos, empresas e milhões de americanos cujas vidas foram destruídas pela crise do coronavírus.

A Câmara, controlada pelos democratas, votou na manhã deste sábado, aprovando a medida por uma votação de 219–212. A aprovação coloca Biden no caminho de sua primeira grande vitória legislativa desde que assumiu o cargo em 20 de janeiro passado.

O pacote de alívio agora segue para o Senado, cujos 100 membros estão divididos igualmente entre democratas e republicanos, mas onde a vice-presidente Kamala Harris tem o voto de desempate.

Os democratas, que controlam de maneira restrita a câmara, argumentaram que a medida era necessária para reanimar a economia e combater a pandemia, que já ceifou mais de 510.000 vidas nos EU. Os republicanos, que apoiaram amplamente os pacotes de alívio anteriores, dizem que outros US$ 1,9 trilhão são simplesmente caros demais.

A medida cobre os custos de vacinas e outros suprimentos médicos e fornece pagamentos diretos [espécie de {{p|auxílio emergencial] de US$ 1.400 para a maioria dos americanos. Também oferecerá alívio financeiro de emergência para governos municipais e estaduais, bem como setores empresariais afetados pelas consequências econômicas da pandemia, como os de restaurantes e companhias aéreas.

O projeto de lei estende o seguro-desemprego de emergência até agosto, aumenta os incentivos fiscais para menores assalariados e famílias com crianças, e dá ajuda financeira a pequenas empresas.

Aumento do salário mínimo

O aumento do salário mínimo de US$ 7,25 para US$ 15 por hora proposto pelos democratas está na versão final do projeto de lei, no entanto, essa cláusula provavelmente não será aprovada no Senado. A parlamentar no Senado Elizabeth MacDonough - assessora da Câmara para a interpretação de suas regras e procedimentos, que também vota o pacote - disse quinta-feira que a proposta deve ser retirada do projeto, conforme determina o regulamento da Câmara.

A decisão da parlamentar força os democratas a buscarem outros caminhos para que a proposta do aumento do salário mínimo seja aprovada em face da dura oposição republicana.

A presidente da Câmara, Nancy Pelosi, disse na sexta-feira que os democratas não desistiriam do aumento. “Se não prevalecer por causa das regras do Senado, vamos persistir ... não vamos parar até que muito em breve aprovemos o salário mínimo de US$ 15”, disse ela em entrevista coletiva.

Os democratas estão aprovando a medida no Senado sob regras especiais que contornam a oposição, o que significa que eles não precisarão de nenhum voto republicano se permanecerem unidos.


US President Bush nominates Michael B. Mukasey as Attorney General

United States President George W. Bush has today nominated Michael B. Mukasey as Attorney General. If confirmed by the Senate, Mukasey, a former Chief Judge for the Southern District of New York, will replace Alberto Gonzales.

"He knows what it takes to fight this war effectively and he knows how to do it in a manner consistent with our laws and our Constitution," Bush said, while announcing Mukasey's nomination in the Rose Garden.

"I look forward to meeting with members of Congress in the days ahead and, if confirmed, to working with Congress to meeting our nation's challenges," Mukasey said in his comments.

New York Senator Chuck Schumer, who was among those who sought the ouster of Gonzales, said Mukasey "is certainly conservative," but "seems to be the kind of nominee who would put rule of law first and show independence from the White House — our most important criteria."

Meanwhile, Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid said: "A man who spent 18 years on the federal bench surely understands the importance of checks and balances and knows how to say no to the president when he oversteps the Constitution, but there should be no rush to judgment. The Senate Judiciary Committee must carefully examine Judge Mukasey's views on the complex legal challenges facing the nation."

Michael B. Mukasey was nominated as a federal district judge in Manhattan by President Ronald Reagan in 1987. He took the bench in 1988 and served in that position for 18 years, including a 6-year tenure as Chief Judge of the Southern District of New York from 2000 to July 2006.


Bush nomina a Michael B. Mukasey para Fiscal General

17 de septiembre de 2007Washington DC, Estados Unidos —

El Presidente de los Estados Unidos de América, George W. Bush, ha nominado hoy a Michael B. Mukasey como Fiscal General. Si es confimardo por el Senado, Mukasey, un ex Juez Jefe del Distrito Sur de Nueva York, reemplazará a Alberto Gonzales.

"Sabe lo que se necesita para luchar esta guerra efectivamente y sabe como hacerlo en una manera consistente con nuestras leyes y nuestra Constitución", dijo Bush al anunciar la nominación de Mukasery en Rose Garden (Casa Blanca).

"Espero una reunión con los miembros del Congreso en los próximos días y, si es confirmado, trabajar con el Congreso para enfrentar a los desafíos de nuestra nación", dijo Mukasery en su discurso.

El Senador para Nueva York, Chuck Schumer, quien estaba entre los que pedían la renuncia de Gonzales, dijo que Mukasey "es ciertamente conservador" pero "parece ser el tipo de nominado que pondría un estado de derecho y mostraría independencia de la Casa Blanca – nuestro criterio más importante".

Entre tanto, el Líder Mayoritario del Senado Harry Reid comentó: "Un hombre que pasó 18 años en un tribunal federal seguramente entiende la importancia de los chequeos y balances y sabe cómo decir no al presidente cuando sobrepase la Constitución, pero no debería haber apuros para juicios. El Comité de Magistratura del Senado debe examinar detenidamente a los puntos de vista del Juez Mukasey en los complejos desafíos legales de la nación".

Michael B. Mukasey fue nominado como juez de distrito federal en Manhattan por el Presidente Ronald Reagan en 1987. Tomó el tribunal en 1988 y sirvió durante 18 años, incluyendo una ocupación de 6 años de Juez Jefe del Distrito Sur de Nueva York de 2000 a julio de 2006.


US secretary of state Hillary Clinton says America helps fuel illegal drug trade

United States secretary of state, Hillary Clinton stated in an interview on Mexican radio that Americans are helping to fuel the illegal drug trade between the U.S. and Mexico. Clinton was on a two day tour of the nation.

"Our insatiable demand for illegal drugs fuels the drug trade. Our inability to prevent weapons from being illegally smuggled across the border to arm these criminals causes the death of police officers, soldiers and civilians. I feel very strongly we have a co-responsibility," said Clinton.

Clinton also gave thanks to and praised the effort Mexico was putting forth to stop the flow of drugs over the border. "Clearly, what we have been doing has not worked and it is unfair for our incapacity...to be creating a situation where people are holding the Mexican government and people responsible."

Mexico's president, Felipe Calderón responded by saying that "binational cooperation in this area should be strengthened." Mexico has used troops in some towns in an attempt to regain control of the cities, which has resulted in many gun battles with drug cartel members and Mexican troops. Ongoing trucking disputes between the U.S. and Mexico have also contributed to an already tense situation.

Increased drug related violence in towns and cities on the Mexico – United States border has claimed more than 6,000 lives since 2008.


Hillary Clinton annonce une aide pour lutter contre les cartels de la drogue au Mexique

Publié le 25 mars 2009   Le chef de la diplomatie américaine, Hillary Rodham Clinton, est arrivée aujourd’hui au Mexique pour une visite de deux jours axée sur la coopération entre les États-Unis et cet important voisin du sud. Les deux pays sont particulièrement préoccupés par le trafic de drogue en provenance du Mexique et la sanglante guerre que se livrent les cartels mexicains pour contrôler ce commerce lucratif, qui a fait quelque 5 300 morts en 2008

Mme Clinton se propose de démontrer le soutien de Washington à la campagne menée par le président Felipe Calderón contre ces cartels et dissiper certaines craintes concernant la stabilité de ce pays. Les entretiens du chef de la diplomatie américaine vont notamment porter sur l’Initiative de Mérida – un effort des autorités américaines et mexicaines pour combattre la criminalité liée à la drogue, dans la zone frontalière. Dans ce cadre, le président Calderon a déployé 36 000 soldats sur son territoire. Les États-Unis ont un appétit « insatiable » pour la drogue et de ce fait, ils sont en partie responsables de la criminalité endémique au Mexique, à la frontière américaine, a déclaré déclare la secrétaire d’État Hillary Clinton. Preuve de l’importance que Washington attache à ses rapports avec Mexico : la secrétaire américaine à la Sécurité intérieure, Janet Napolitano, doit se rendre en visite au Mexique avec son collègue de la Justice, Eric Holder, la semaine prochaine. Elle a fait savoir que les États-Unis vont fournir, cette année, 700 millions de dollars au Mexique, notamment des hélicoptères pour aider les forces mexicaines à appréhender et poursuivre en justice les trafiquants. Le président Barack Obama a dit, hier, que Washington est prêt à « faire davantage » pour aider le Mexique à confronter la violence liée au trafic de stupéfiants à sa frontière avec les États-Unis. L’administration Obama a annoncé de nouvelles mesures pour réduire la violence à la frontière, les transferts illégaux de fonds et d’armes. Ce plan prévoit le déploiement d’un plus grand nombre d’agents fédéraux, d’experts et de matériels dans la zone frontière. Pour le secrétaire d’État adjoint Jim Steinberg, la nouvelle administration américaine voit ses relations avec le Mexique comme un partenariat d’une importance critique. « Le président Obama a déjà noué des liens avec le président Calderón et il se rendra, lui-même, au Mexique, avant le Sommet des Amériques, ce qui donne la mesure de l’importance qu’il attache à cette relation », a fait valoir M. Steinberg. Avant la visite du président Obama, le mois prochain, les responsables de l’administration américaine cherchent à trouver une solution à un différend au sujet de l’accès des poids lourds mexicains au territoire américain : des frictions qui ont amené le Mexique à imposer, en représailles, des droits d’entrée sur les biens et marchandises venant des États-Unis.


US Senate votes no to expanding detainee rights

Detainees, or individuals in United States custody considered to be suspects connected to terrorism, will no longer be able to protest their being held in custody or their treatment while in custody, otherwise known as the "writ of Habeas Corpus," at least not in U.S. federal courtrooms.

Democrats, who sponsored the bill, needed at least 60 votes in order for the bill to allow detainees to fight but received only 56, which included six Republicans. 43 Republicans voted against the bill.

"[The bill's failure to pass] calls into question the United States' historic role of defender of human rights in the world. It accomplishes what opponents could never accomplish on the battlefield, whittling away our own liberties. This is America?" said Democratic Senator for Vermont, Patrick J. Leahy.

In 2006, the U.S. Military Commissions Act limited the rights of detainees at Guantanamo Bay, the U.S. run detention facility in Cuba for the most dangerous individuals in the world, accused of acts of terrorism. The act also included smaller U.S. prisons around the globe.

Opponents of the bill claim that to allow detainees those rights, the U.S. would potentially be engulfed in an endless line of lawsuits.

"To start that process would be an absolute disaster for this country. I cannot think of a more ill-advised effort to undermine a war that I think will be a long-standing effort," said Republican Senator from South Carolina, Lindsey O. Graham.

Some Senators are planning on debating and voting on the bill again, but it is not known when or if that will happen.


Senado de EEUU vota no expandir los derechos de los detenidos

19 de septiembre de 2007Washington DC, Estados Unidos —

Luego del rechazo de un proyecto de ley, los detenidos, o individuos en custodia en Estados Unidos considerados sospechosos vinculados al terrorismo, no podrán protestar a ser retenidos en custodia o a su trato mientras continúe la custodia.

Los demócratas necesitaban al menos 60 votos para que el proyecto de ley permitiera a los detenidos protestar, pero recibieron tan solo 56, en los que había 6 republicanos. 43 republicanos rechazaron el proyecto.

"[El fracaso de que pasara el proyecto] busca la reflexión del histórico rol de los Estados unidos como defensor de los derechos humanos en el mundo. Consigue lo que los oponente nunca pudieron conseguir en el campo de batalla, disminuyendo nuestras propias libertades. Esto es América?", dijo el Senador Demócrata Patrick J. Leahy de Vermont.

En 2006, el Acta de Comisiones Militares de Estados Unidos limitó severamente los derechos de los detenidos en la Bahía de Guantánamo, la prisión americana en Cuba para los individuos más peligrosos del mundo acusados de los actos más horribles de terrorismo. El acta también incluía a varias prisiones estadounidenses en el globo.

Los republicanos declararon que conceder esos derechos a los detenidos, Estados Unidos tendría el potencial de ser tragado en una línea interminable de demandas.

"Comenzar ese proceso sería un absoluto desastre para este país. No puedo pensar en un consejo más imprudente para socavar una guerra que creo será un largo esfuerzo", dijo la Senadora Lindsey O. Graham (Rep, Carolina del Sur).

Algunos senadores planean debatir y votar nuevamente el proyecto, pero se desconoce cuándo ocurrirá.


US singer Will Loomis sues UK singer Jessie J over alleged copyright violation

Will Loomis, lead singer of the US music group Loomis & the Lust, is suing UK singer Jessica Cornish, known by her stage name Jessie J, and Universal Music Group, Lava Records, and Universal Republic Records for allegedly using elements of his 2008 song Bright Red Chords in Cornish's 2011 track Domino without his copyright permission. In a written statement to Billboard, Chris Arledge, Loomis's lawyer, said Loomis "never consented to the use of his song" and the prosecuting side "look forward to obtaining an appropriate remedy from the court for this clear infringement".

On Loomis & the Lust's Facebook page, Loomis wrote: "When I wrote this melody in my garage I never imagined it would be sung for the King and Queen of England", adding: "I especially never imagined it would be sung by Jessie J." Loomis, of the US state of California, placed a YouTube video of Bright Red Chords with Cornish's vocals overlaid on it, to illustrate the apparent closeness between the two songs, in April. The video was subsequently banned from the website on "copyright grounds" by Cornish's record label.

Cornish, Łukasz Gottwald, Kelly Claude, Martin Sandberg, and Henry Walter are attributed as the writers of Domino. Representatives of Cornish and Gottwald have not commented on the case, although Cornish has previously said about the song: "People have heard Domino and said, 'It's nothing like you.' But I'm like, 'Well, the album's really eclectic anyway, and I never go into the studio and say, "I wanna do another song that's like Price Tag or another song like Do It Like a Dude." ' "


Americký zpěvák Loomis žaluje anglickou zpěvačku Cornishovou kvůli porušení autorských práv

Americký zpěvák Will Loomis, vůdčí osobnost americké kapely Loomis & the Lust, žaluje britskou zpěvačku Jessicu Cornishovou vystupující pod jménem Jessie J a hudební společnosti Universal Music Group, Lava Records a Universal Republic Records za údajné porušení svých autorských práv. Toho se měly dopustit použitím částí jeho písně Birth Red Chords z roku 2008 v nahrávce písně Domino nazpívané Cornishovou v roce 2011. Loomisův právní Chris Arledge napsal časopisu Billboard, že „Loomis nikdy nedal souhlas s použitím své písně“ a že žalující strana „očekává od soudu patřičnou náhradu za tak jasné poškození“.

Na stránkách skupiny Loomis napsal: „Když jsem ve své garáži psal tuhle melodii, ani mne nenapadlo, že bude zpívána pro krále a královnu Anglie“ a dodal: „A už vůbec mne nenapadlo, že by ji zpívala Jessie J.“ Loomis, který je z Kalifornie, už v dubnu umístil na YouTube videonahrávku, kde obě verze smíchal, aby ilustroval, jak jsou podobné. Nahrávací společnost Cornishové ovšem nařídila video odstranit, ironicky právě na základě autorských práv.

Kromě Cornishové se na písni Domino měli autorsky podílet další čtyři lidé, mimo jiné Łukasz Gottwald.

Tato zpráva byla založena zčásti nebo zcela překladem zprávy US singer Will Loomis sues UK singer Jessie J over alleged copyright violation na anglických Wikizprávách.


US soldier arrested for rape and four murders in Iraq

U.S. federal prosecutors have charged a former U.S. soldier who served in  Iraq with the rape and murder of an Iraqi girl and the murder of three members of her family, including the girl's sister believed to be five years old.

The rape victim, Abeer Qassim Hamza, was 14 years old. Although an FBI affidavit (based on soldiers' accounts) estimated her age to be 25, Reuters obtained documents that gave her date of birth as August 19, 1991. The other victims have been identified as Fikhriya Taha, the girl's mother; her father Qassim Hamza, and her younger sister, Hadeel Qassim Hamza.

The charges follow a military investigation into the involvement of as many as five soldiers in the rape and murders committed in the town of Mahmoudiya, 30 km south of Baghdad, on March 12.

Steven D. Green, a 21-year-old former Army private first class in the  101st Airborne Division, appeared in a federal magistrate's courtroom in Charlotte on Monday. FBI agents had arrested Green on Friday and he is being held in Charlotte without bond pending a transfer to Louisville, Kentucky. He was honorably discharged from the Army in May 2006 because of an alleged "personality disorder."

In an affidavit, FBI special agent Gregor J. Ahlers said Green and three other soldiers from the 101st's 502nd Infantry Regiment were on duty at a traffic checkpoint when they conspired to rape the female who lived nearby.

According to witness testimony in the affidavit, the soldiers changed their clothes before going to the victims' home to avoid detection. Green took three members of the family - an adult male and female, and a girl estimated to be 5 years old—into a bedroom. Shots were heard from inside the bedroom.

"Green came to the bedroom door and told everyone, 'I just killed them, all are dead,'" Ahlers wrote in the affidavit.

The affidavit is based on interviews conducted by the  FBI and investigators at  Fort Campbell with soldiers assigned to Green's platoon. One of the soldiers said he witnessed Green and another soldier rape the girl.

"After the rape, (the soldier) witnessed Green shoot the woman in the head two-to-three times," the affidavit said.

U.S. officials and others had previously claimed the Iraqi family was killed in sectarian violence.  Abeer Hamza's uncle, Ahmed Taha, told AP Television News that the family had believed insurgents had carried out the killings until the US military made public its investigation last week.

"Some said it was insurgents, and in fact, we ruled out the American troops," Taha said.

The news of the killings and rape was met with a wave of anger in parts of Iraq and the Iraqi government directed at the nature of the current US military presence. "We believe that the immunity given to members of coalition forces encouraged them to commit such crimes in cold blood (and) that makes it necessary to review it," was the opinion of Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki during a visit to Kuwait, July 7.

One Baghdad resident, Hussein al-Shimmari, said that the incident "shows the barbaric and aggressive nature of Americans." The Americans themselves claim they are in Iraq to help the government protect its democracy and are reported to have reviewed the way soldiers deal with Iraqi citizens.

Gen. George W. Casey Jr., commander of U.S. forces in Iraq and Zalmay Khalilzad, ambassador to Iraq, issued a joint apology Thursday.  "We understand this is painful, confusing and disturbing," they said, "not only to the family who lost a loved one, but to the Iraqi people as a whole."


Ex-soldado americano é acusado de estupro e assassinato

Promotores federais americanos acusam um ex-soldado americano que serviu no Iraque de estupro e assassinato de uma jovem com idade estimada em 25 anos, e do assassinato de outros três membros da família: um homem, uma mulher e uma menina presumivelmente de cinco anos.

O americano acusado pela Promotoria é Steven D. Green, 21 anos, ex-soldado primeira-classe designado para o 1o Pelotão, Companhia Bravo, 502 Regimento de Infantaria, Equipe de Combate da 2a Brigada, 101a Divisão Aérea. Não faz muito tempo,  Green foi dispensado do Exército sob a alegação de "transtorno de personalidade", depois de ter servido durante 11 meses.

O crime teria ocorrido na cidade de Mahmoudiya,  30 km ao sul de Bagdá, no dia 11 ou 12 de março de 2006, época em que Green era soldado das Forças de Coalização que estão no Iraque.

Uma investigação militar está em curso para apurar o suposto envolvimento de Green e outros três soldados. As identidades e nacionalidades dos soldados suspeitos não foi revelada pelos oficiais.

A prisão de Green foi feita no último dia 30 de junho  por  agentes federais do FBI. A participação da agência veio depois de um pedido da Divisão de Investigações Criminais de Fort Campbell, Kentucky, que por sua vez atendeu requisição da Divisão de Investigações Criminais de Camp Slayer, no Iraque.

A Divisão de Investigações Criminais no Iraque apura denúncia feita por três  desconhecidos iraquianos do sexo masculino que chegaram por volta das 17h30, em 12 de março de 2006,  ao Ponto de Controle de Tráfego 1, na saída da cidade de Mahmudiayah e relataram que uma família tinha sido assassinada na própria residência em que morava.

O documento anexado ao inquérito e pedido de prisão do ex-soldado traz o depoimento de  4 das cinco testemunhas (T1, T2, T3, T5),  cujas identidades são conhecidas dos investigadores e do juiz.

Em 25  e 28 de junho T1 foi interrogado e explicou que T2, T3, Green, e um outro participante conhecido (P1), todos da mesma companhia 101a Divisão Aérea,  trabalhavam no Ponto de Controle de Tráfego 2  em 11-12 março, a cerca de 200 metro da residência onde teria ocorrido o crime. A testemunha T1 disse que eles (T2, T3, Green e P1) conspiraram para estuprar uma mulher  e instruíram T1 a monitorar o rádio enquanto entravam na casa.

Antes de deixar o Ponto de Controle de Tráfego e entrar na casa,  T2 e P1 trocaram de roupas, com exceção de T3 que continuou com o seu uniforme militar. O grupo levou três rifles M4 calibre 0.223 e uma pistola. Um dos rifles pertencia a T1.

Mais tarde, T2, T3, Green e P1 retornaram com as roupas sujas de sangue e atearam fogo nelas. Então cada um deles contou a T1 que nunca mais dever-se-ia discutir aquilo. T1 lembrou que  a família fora morta com um rifle de assaulto AK-47, que já estava dentro da casa.

T1 discutiu o incidente com outra testemunha: T4, em Camp Striker.  T4 contou a T1 que  ouvira falar sobre o que tinha acontecido e perguntou: "Quem fez isso?"  T1 disse para T4:  "Todo mundo que estava lá".

Em 26 de junho T2 foi interrogado e explicou que na manhã de 11 de março, Green e P1 falaram sobre estuprar uma mulher. A mulher morava numa casa atrás do Ponto de Controle de Tráfego. Green e P1 já tinham estado anteriormente na casa.

Depois da conversa do estupro, T2, T3, P1 e Green foram até a residência da mulher. T2 lembrou que ele (T2), Green e P1 ingeriram bebida alcoólica antes de ir até a casa. T2 trocou de roupas para que "não pudesse ser visto". Green cobriu o rosto com uma camiseta marrom.

Assim que chegaram à casa, T2 disse que Green foi ao quarto para manter o resto da família lá. P1 jogou a mulher no chão. Depois que Green fechou a porta do quarto, T2 ouviu tiros vindos de lá de dentro. Green em seguida apareceu e disse: "Acabo de matá-los, todos estão mortos".  Imediatamente depois disso, T2 testemunhou P1 e Green estuprarem a mulher que T3 havia agora jogado no chão.

Depois do estupro, T2 testemunhou Green atirar na mulher, na cabeça, duas ou  três vezes. T2 acredita que Green matou as três pessoas no quarto com um rifle AK-47. De acordo com T2, o AK-47 já estava na casa quando eles chegaram.

Em 27 e em 29 de junho T3 foi interrogado. No seu depoimento de 29 de junho, T3 disse que ele (T3), Green, T2 e P1 ingeriram bebida alcoólica em 11 de março. T3 ouviu P1 e alguém mais falar sobre em ter sexo com uma mulher.  Pouco depois, T2 e P1 vestiram roupas pretas.

Depois, T3, Green, T2 e P1 partiram para a casa. Lá, T3 testemunhou Green colocar as pessoas num quarto nos fundos, então fechar a porta. T3 ficou de guarda na porta da frente da casa.

Depois que ouviu tiros vindos do quarto, T3 perguntou a Green se estava tudo bem, tão logo Green saiu do quarto.

Segundo T3, Green e P1 fizeram sexo com a mulher. Depois que Green terminou de fazer sexo com a mulher, T3 testemunhou Green ficar de pé com um rifle AK-47 na mão. Green caminhou em direção à mulher e atirou nela várias vezes.

Depois que voltou ao Ponto de Controle de Tráfego 2, T2 instruiu T3 a livrar-se do AK-47 num canal ao largo da rua e ele fez isso.

T3 forneceu aos investigadores da Divisão de Investigações Criminais um diagrama esquemático onde detalhou a planta da casa e a localização dos corpos.

No dia 26 de junho T5 prestou depoimento.  Em 11 de março T5 estava no Posto de Controle de Tráfego 1 quando um adulto iraquiano apareceu.

O iraquiano lembrou que havia uma casa atrás do Posto de Controle de Tráfego 2 que havia sido queimada.

O iraquiano declarou que havia quatro pessoas mortas na casa e que uma mulher havia sido estuprada. Depois de cerca de uma hora, e depois que um grupo de soldados iraquianos já tinham sido enviados até a casa, T5, T2 e outros dois soldados dirigiram-se até o local e observaram a cena do crime.


US Supreme Court overturns ban on videos depicting animal cruelty

The US Supreme Court yesterday overturned an eleven-year-old law banning videos that depicted animal cruelty, ruling that such a law violated free speech rights under the First Amendment to the US Constitution.

The court's 8–1 ruling overturns a law enacted in 1999 that banned the trade of "depictions of animal cruelty," including "conduct in which a living animal is intentionally maimed, mutilated, tortured, wounded or killed."  The case was prompted by the prosecution of Robert J. Stevens, who had filmed and sold videos of dogfights, and subsequently was sentenced in 2005 to 37 months in prison, although he has yet to begin his sentence; his case has remained on appeal.

According to Chief Justice John Roberts Jr, the law overturned by the court had been "a criminal prohibition of alarming breadth."  The law had been defended by the US government, which had argued that videos of cruelty to animals had no value, and should therefore receive no protection by the First Amendment.  Roberts argued the point in his written statement on the ruling, saying that "The First Amendment means that government has no power to restrict expression because of its message, its ideas, its subject matter or its content."  According to Roberts, the law had been too broad, and the court was therefore unwilling to place it outside the protection of the First Amendment.

Reactions to the ruling were mixed.  A group called the Media Coalition supported the ruling, saying that "If the court were to rewrite the First Amendment every time an unpopular or distasteful subject was at issue, we wouldn't have any free speech left."  The US Humane Society called for a new law to be written by Congress, this one more narrow in scope.  The society's president, Wayne Pacelle, said that "Congress should act swiftly to make sure the First Amendment is not used as a shield for those committing barbaric acts of cruelty, and then peddling their videos on the Internet."


Nejvyšší soud Spojených států amerických zrušil zákon proti filmům s týráním zvířat

Nejvyšší soud Spojených států amerických na svém úterním zasedání zrušil jedenáct let starý zákon zakazující filmy zobrazující týrání zvířat, a to na základě toho, že daný zákon porušuje svobodu slova ve smyslu prvního dodatku americké ústavy.

Rozhodnutím 8-1 došlo k zneplatnění zákona z roku 1999, který zakazoval obchod se „zobrazeními týrání zvířat“ včetně „chování, kdy je živé zvíře úmyslně mrzačeno, mučeno, zraňováno nebo zabíjeno“. Podnětem k projednávání byl případ Roberta J. Stevense, který nahrával a prodával videa se souboji psů a následně byl v roce 2005 odsouzen k 37 měsícům vězení. K trestu ovšem ještě nenastoupil, neboť dosud probíhalo odvolání.

Podle vyjádření předsedy nejvyššího soudu Johna Robertse byl zákon „zákazem alarmujícího rozsahu“. Státní správa zákon hájila s odůvodněním, že filmy s týráním zvířat jsou nehodnotné a jako takové nejsou chráněny prvním dodatkem. Roberts na to reagoval tím, že smyslem prvního dodatku je, že státní správa nemá právo omezovat vyjadřování kvůli jeho obsahu, myšlenkám nebo pojednávanému předmětu. Podle něj byl zákon příliš obecný a nejvyšší soud tedy nebyl ochoten pohlížet na něj jako na něco, co nezasahuje do ochrany svobody slova dané prvním dodatkem.

Reakce na rozhodnutí byly souhlasné i nesouhlasné. Ze strany ochránců zvířat zaznívá požadavek napsat nový zákon, který by zabránil prodeji filmů s týranými zvířaty a zároveň byl vytvořený lépe, aby nebyl napadnutelný s odkazem na ústavu. Naopak skupina Media Coalition byla s rozhodnutím spokojená a vydala prohlášení, že „Pokud by soud měl přepisovat první dodatek pokaždé, když se dostane na přetřes nepopulární či nechutné téma, žádná svoboda slova by nezbyla“.


US Supreme Court rules DC gun ban unconstitutional

The US Supreme Court ruled Thursday in a 5-4 decision that a Washington, D.C. ban of personal firearms possession is unconstitutional.  In a majority opinion written by Antonin Scalia, the court found that "[t]he Second Amendment protects an individual right to possess a firearm unconnected with service in a militia, and to use that arm for traditionally lawful purposes, such as self-defense within the home."

Justice John Paul Stevens delivered a dissenting opinion that acknowledged an individual right protected by the Second Amendment, but disagreed about the "scope" of that amendment, writing, "[w]hether it also protects the right to possess and use guns for nonmilitary purposes like hunting and personal self-defense is the question presented by this case."

The case, District of Columbia v. Heller, stemmed from a lawsuit brought by special police officer Dick Heller against the Washington, D.C. city government after it refused to issue a permit for him to keep a handgun in his home for personal protection.  The District of Columbia had based this refusal on the Firearms Control Regulations Act of 1975.

The Supreme Court decision upheld a 2007 ruling by the D.C. federal appellate court that had nullified gun possession restrictions and trigger lock requirements in the 1975 law.

D.C. Mayor Adrian Fenty expressed disappointment in the outcome of this case, but stated that he will order the district's police department to provide a means for citizens to register handguns within 21 days.  "It is important to respect the court's authority and to act quickly," Fenty said.


בית המשפט העליון של ארצות הברית: איסור נשיאת נשק נוגד את החוקה

32 שנה בדיוק לאחר שבמועצת העיר של מחוז קולומביה (למעשה, עיר הבירה וושינגטון) אושרו תקנות המגבילות את נשיאת הנשק בתחום המחוז (1), נפסק בבית המשפט כי איסור זה נוגד את התיקון השני לחוקה.

בפסיקה שהוכרעה היום (יום ה') על חודו של קול, השופט אנטונין סקאליה ציין בעמדת הרוב (של חמישה שופטים מן ההרכב) כי "התיקון השני לחוקה מגן על זכותו של הפרט להחזיק ברשותו כלי נשק בלי קשר לשירותו במיליציה, וכן להשתמש בו למטרות חוקיות, כמו הגנה עצמית בתחומי הבית". את דעת המיעוט של ארבעת השופטים הנותרים הציג השופט ג'ון פול סטיבנס.

פסיקה היסטורית זו (2) היא הפסיקה הרביעית של בית המשפט העליון של ארה"ב שעוסקת באופן ישיר בתיקון השני לחוקה בהקשר של הזכות לנשיאת כלי נשק, ולמעשה מדובר בדיון משפטי הראשון (3) מסוגו מזה 70 שנה (הפסיקה הקודמת-ארצות הברית נ' מילר (4), פורסמה ב-1939). פסיקה זו היא למעשה פסק הדין הראשון שמבטל חוק על בסיס התיקון השני לחוקה.(5)

הדרך למשפט זה נסללה עם הגשת תביעה מצד דיק אנתוני הלר כנגד מחוז קולומביה, בשל דחיית בקשתו לקבל רישיון לנשק לאחזקה בבית. יש לציין שהלר, כשוטר שעבד במתחם של מערכת המשפט, הורשה לשאת אקדח בשעת משמרת.
בפברואר 2003 הלר נמנה על שישה אזרחים שתבעו את מחוז קולומביה. ששת האזרחים נבחרו על ידי עורכי הדין כמיצג של מגוון הדמויות הנמנות על אוכלוסיית נושאי הנשק-אחד מהם היה טום פאלמר, שהותקף ככל הנראה על רקע היותו הומוסקסואל מוצהר וחייו ניצלו בשל הנשק שנשא עימו.
לאחר דחיית התביעה בבית משפט מחוזי והגשת ערעור, הוחלט בבית משפט לערעורים כי מבין כל התובעים רק המקרה של הלר יעמוד לבחינה. ב-9 במרץ 2007 הוכרזו מספר חלקים בחוק כנוגדים את החוקה, על ידי הרכב של שלושה שופטים בבית משפט לערעורים. ב-20 בנובמבר 2007 נשמעו טענות התובעים והנתבעים בבית המשפט העליון של ארצות הברית.
יצויין שמעמד מועצת העיר של מחוז קולומביה אינו כשל מועצות אחרות, והיא למעשה נתונה למרות הקונגרס-זאת בשל היותה עיר הבירה של ארצות הברית (6). מסיבה זו נדרשה פנייה לערכאות משפטיות גבוהות לשם שינוי חוק עירוני לכאורה.

האיסור שהוטל ב-1976 אסר על אזרחים לרכוש אקדחים, כלי נשק אוטומטיים, או כלי נשק חצי אוטומטיים בעלי קיבולת גבוהה של תחמושת (כשהיוצאים מן הכלל הם שוטרים ובעלי נשק שקיבלו רישיון נשק טרם קביעת התקנה). התקנה גם הגדירה את אופן אחזקת הנשק בבית-מרוקן מתחמושת וכשחלקיו מופרדים או כאשר על הנשק מורכב מנעול הדק או התקן דומה. תנאי החזקה אלו למעשה פגעו בזכותם של האזרחים להשתמש בנשק להגנה עצמית בביתם. מדיניות זו נחשבה למחמירה ביותר מכל המדינות בארה"ב. כאמור, החלטת בית המשפט העליון נגעה לפגיעה של איסור רכישת הנשק ואופן נשיאת הנשק בבית ומחוץ לו בזכות האזרחים להחזיק נשק ולהשתמש בו להגנה עצמית. מסיבה זו נותרו על כנן מגבלות אחרות כמו איסור אחזקת נשק בידי עבריינים או חולי נפש וכן הגבלת נשיאה מוסלקת.

ראש העיר וושינגטון, אדריאן פנטי, הביע את אכזבתו מהחלטת בית המשפט, אך ציין כי חשוב לכבד את סמכות בית המשפט ולפעול ליישום ההחלטה במהירות. פנטי הודיע שיורה למשטרת המחוז להתארגן תוך 21 ימים כדי לאפשר רישום אקדחים של תושבי העיר.


USA: la Corte Suprema dichiara incostituzionale il bando delle armi

La Corte Suprema degli Stati Uniti d'America ha decretato oggi, con una sentenza 5 a 4 (i giudici sono in totale 9) che il bando sul possesso delle armi da fuoco ad uso personale imposto nella città di Washington D.C. è incostituzionale.

Nell'opinione di maggioranza, redatta dal giudice Antonin Scalia, si legge che «il Secondo Emendamento protegge la libertà individuale di possedere un'arma da fuoco, non connessa con la prestazione del servizio militare, e di usare quest'arma per scopi tradizionalmente legali, come la legittima difesa personale all'interno della propria abitazione».

Il giudice John Paul Stevens ha espresso un'opinione di dissenso, riconoscendo il diritto individuale di essere protetti dal secondo emendamento, ma esprimendo disaccordo circa la "portata" di tale emendamento; il giudice chiede infatti se «la domanda di questo processo è l'effettivo riconoscimento (grazie all'emendamento, n.d.r.) al legittimo utilizzo delle armi da fuoco per usi non militari come la caccia o la legittima difesa personale».

Il caso, District of Columbia vs Heller, derivava da una causa promossa dal funzionario di polizia Dick Heller contro il governo cittadino della capitale statunitense, che aveva rifiutato a questi di tenere una pistola in casa per la difesa personale. Il Distretto di Columbia aveva giustificato la sentenza di rifiuto dicendo di aver applicato il Firearms Control Regulations Act del 1975.

La decisione della Corte Suprema conferma così una decisione del 2007 della Corte Federale del Distretto di Columbia di annullare la sentenza per motivi costituzionali.

Il sindaco di Washington D.C. Adrian Fenty ha espresso disappunto sull'esito della sentenza, ma ha dichiarato che ordinerà al dipartimento di polizia della capitale di offrire ai cittadini i mezzi per poter registrare le pistole nell'arco di 21 giorni. «È importante rispettare l'autorità della corte e agire rapidamente», ha affermato Fenty.


美裁定禁槍令違憲

美國最高法院周四裁定，美國國民有權在自身防衛和打獵的用途情況下擁有槍械。

裁定引發自去年維吉尼亞理工大學校園槍擊案以來，社會各界再次關注禁止槍支的爭議。

一些民間團體於法院門前，組織了小規模的示威抗議，反對最高法院的這一裁定。

美國首都華盛頓自1976年起實行禁槍，但在2003年有6名居民代表提出上訴挑戰，這次裁定，是最高法院9名大法官，以5比4通過裁決，並同時推翻華盛頓的禁槍令。

裁決指，持有和攜帶武器，是美國公民不可剝奪的憲法權利。這裁決是根據二百年前通過的憲法第二條修正案規定而作出的。該憲法規定：「人民擁有和攜帶武器的權利不容侵犯」

少數持反對意見的大法官指出，這條修正案是指在參與民兵組織的特定情況下，才有個人持槍權利，並不是指在任何情況下每個人都有持槍權利。

美國平均每年有約3萬人死於槍擊案，導致民間一直有要求禁止個人使用槍械。自去年維吉尼亞理工大學校園槍擊案發生後，民間團體更不斷游說國會民主黨一些議員，推動全國的禁槍法案，但卻受到「來福槍協會」反對，該協會通過影響力，令禁槍法案連國會的小組討論程序都無法開始。


US Supreme Court upholds ban on partial birth abortions

United States Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit

The Supreme Court of the United States on Wednesday April 18 has upheld the federal Partial-Birth Abortion Ban Act of 2003.  The 5-4 vote reflected the change in vote count resulting from the retirement of Justice O'Connor and the confirmation of Chief Justice Roberts and Justice Alito.

The Intact dilation and extraction procedure, also known as partial birth abortion, involves removing an intact late-term fetus from the womb via the cervix. While it is a relatively rare operation - 0.17% of all abortions in the US in 2000, it has become a focal point in the abortion debate.

The Partial-Birth Abortion Ban Act bans the procedure in cases where the fetus is terminated during the operation, unless it is performed to to save the life of the mother.

Justice Kennedy wrote in the opinion of the court: "respondents have not demonstrated that the Act would be unconstitutional in a large fraction of relevant cases." Further, he said, "Respondents have not demonstrated that the Act, as a facial matter, is void for vagueness, or that it imposes an undue burden on a woman’s right to abortion based on its overbreadth or lack of a health exception. For these reasons the judgments of the Courts of Appeals for the Eighth and Ninth Circuits are reversed."

In a concurring opinion, Justice Thomas stated that he joins "the Court’s opinion because it accurately applies current jurisprudence, including Planned Parenthood of Southeastern Pa. v. Casey, 505 U. S. 833 (1992)."

In dissent Judge Ginsburg wrote: "Today’s decision is alarming. It refuses to take Casey and Stenberg seriously. It tolerates, indeed applauds, federal intervention to ban nationwide a procedure found necessary and proper in certain cases by the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists."

Justice Kennedy's words also recall the complicated issues of standing related to such cases. An issue in Roe v. Wade was the impossibility of any individual having standing in a court proceeding regarding abortion rights, since court proceedings take more than the 9 months of pregnancy, retiring any individual plaintiff's standing before an appeals process can take place. The criterion of "a large fraction of relevant cases" may effectively deny standing to any plaintiffs who wish to litigate particular restrictions in some relevant future cases.


États-Unis : la Cour suprême valide l'interdiction de l'« avortement par naissance partielle »

La Cour suprême des États-Unis a validé, mercredi 18 avril 2007, par 5 voix contre 4, la loi d'interdiction d'« avortement par naissance partielle » (Partial-Birth Abortion Ban Act) [1], une loi adoptée en octobre 2003 par les deux chambres du Congrès et promulguée le 5 novembre suivant par le président George W. Bush, qui interdit sur tout le territoire des États-Unis la méthode d'avortement tardive (au-delà d'un délai de douze semaines de grossesse) consistant à extraire en premier les jambes et le torse du fœtus, puis à aspirer chirurgicalement le contenu de la boîte crânienne de l'enfant pour permettre le passage de la tête.

La décision de la Cour a été acquise par cinq voix « pour » émanant des juges :

La décision de la Cour annule toutes les décisions des cours de rang inférieur qui avaient toutes conclu à son invalidation, argüant dans chaque cas l'absence de dispositions de remplacement en cas de menaces sur la santé de la femme.

La Cour a estimé que la loi de 2003 ne constituerait pas une violation du droit constitutionnel des femmes à l'avortement, soulignant que des méthodes alternatives existent et que la restriction imposée par cette loi ne concerne qu'un nombre très limité de cas. Dans sa décision, le juge Kennedy a souligné par ailleurs que la validation de la loi interdisant cette méthode d'avortement ne constituerait pas une remise en cause des précédentes décisions de la Cour suprême en matière d'avortement.

La Cour suprême, dans une précédente composition où les « conservateurs » bénéficiaient d'un rapport de force moins favorable, avait elle-même invalidé, en 2000, une loi comparable adoptée par l'État du Nebraska.

Les quatre juges de la minorité sont :

Fait inhabituel, alors qu'il est ordinaire que les juges opposés à une décision de la Cour suprême publient leurs opinions dissidentes en annexe d'une décision prise à la majorité, l'une des juges, Ruth Bader Ginsburg, s'est publiquement exprimée aussitôt la décision rendue, pour déplorer que la plus haute instance judiciaire américaine « donne sa bénédiction à une interdiction qui ne comporte aucune exception si la santé de la femme est menacée » et souligner que cette méthode d'avortement, qui ne touche que quelques milliers de cas parmi les 1,2 million d'avortements pratiqués chaque année aux États-Unis, serait vue comme « nécessaire et appropriée dans certains cas » par les gynécologues et obstétriciens.

Roberta Combs, présidente de la Christian Coalition of America, a estimé que « ce n'est qu'une question de temps avant que la cour n'abolisse l'« infâme » décision Roe contre Wade de 1973 ».

Roy Newman, président du groupe Operation Rescue [2], a vu dans la décision de mercredi « la première lézarde » dans l'édifice constitutionnel né de la décision Roe contre Wade, et la première étape « vers l'interdiction de la terrifiante pratique de l'avortement dans cette nation ».

Le président George W. Bush, pour sa part, a vu dans la décision de mercredi
« une reconnaissance des progrès faits au cours des six années précédentes dans la protection de la dignité humaine et le soutien au caractère sacré de la vie » et annoncé sa détermination à « travailler pour assister au jour où chaque enfant sera accueilli dans la vie et protégé par la loi ». Il a rappelé en outre que, selon ses vues, cette loi constituerait « un engagement pour bâtir une culture de la vie » aux États-Unis.

Barbara Boxer, sénatrice démocrate de Californie, déplore le fait que, selon elle, « la santé des femmes ayant des grossesses à risque (soit) désormais fortement menacée » et regrette l'impact des plus récentes nominations à la Cour suprême [3]

Eve Gartner, s'exprimant au nom du Planning familial américain (Planned Parenthood Federation of America) [4], a vu dans la décision de la Cour une remise en cause de 30 années de jurisprudence sur l'avortement et du droit des femmes à la santé et à la sécurité.

Le journaliste français Yves Daoudal, opposant notoire à toute forme d'avortement,
se félicite de ce qu'il considère comme « une première victoire de la culture de vie, due à la récente nomination à la Cour suprême d’un juge “conservateur” », mais tempère aussitôt son propos en déplorant que les juges aient souligné l'existence des pratiques alternatives, comme celle du démembrement du fœtus avant extraction, ou celle de l'injection létale sur le fœtus avant extraction, et conclut en estimant que, selon ses vues, « la barbarie demeure quasi intacte ».


US Treasury Department unveils new ten-dollar bill

A new redesigned US $10 bill was introduced at a ceremony yesterday on Ellis Island. The new bill adds three new background colors; red, yellow and orange. It continues to feature Alexander Hamilton, the first Treasury Secretary. The $10 bill is the third US bill to switch from the traditional green. The $20 and $50 bills were redesigned to feature color within the past two years.

The improvements in digital technology have made it much easier for counterfeiters. "Ten years ago, 1 percent of (counterfeit) bills were produced on digital equipment. These days, 56 percent are produced on digital equipment, and the technology is more accessible to the general population," said Eric Zahren, spokesman for the Secret Service.

According to the Treasury Department, to be able to keep ahead of counterfeiters currency will need to continue to be updated every seven to ten years. The $10 bill was last redesigned in 2000. "The intention was not to create a counterfeit-proof note—which is basically impossible—but one that's harder to duplicate and easier to authenticate," said Zahren. This new bill includes many new and enhanced security features such as color-shifting ink, a watermark, microprinting and a security thread

Dawn Haley of the Bureau of Engraving and Printing said in a statement "The new $10 note design continues the U.S. Government's efforts to make our currency safer, smarter, and more secure."  The new $10 bill is expected to go into circulation in early 2006.


Le trésor américain édite un nouveau billet de 10 dollars

Un nouveau billet de 10 dollars redessiné a été présenté lors d'une cérémonie le 28 septembre à Ellis Island. Le nouveau billet a trois nouvelles couleurs en arrière plan: rouge, jaune et orange. Alexander Hamilton, le premier secrétaire du trésor, restera sur la nouvelle version.

Le billet de $10 est le troisième billet américain à trancher avec le vert traditionnel. Les billets de $20 et $50 ont été redessinés il y a déjà deux ans.

Dawn Haley du Bureau de gravure et d'impression a déclaré dans un article : « Le nouveau billet de $10 note un design continuel sur l'effort du gouvernement américain pour rendre nos billets plus sûrs , sympathiques et plus sécurisés ». Le nouveau billet sera introduit en circulation d'ici à 2006.


アメリカ財務省、緑、オレンジ、黄色を使った新しい10ドル紙幣を発表

アメリカ合衆国財務省は28日、新しい10ドル紙幣を発表した。ニューヨークのエリス島で式典があった。この紙幣は2006年のはじめから流通する。

米国財務省によれば28日朝、エリス島で行われた式典にはでは、ジョン・スノー米国財務長官が出席し、「最も新しくて今までで最も精巧な形を持った通貨を祝うのを誇りに思う。」と、述べた。

NHKなどによれば、紙幣の表側には、従来通りアレクサンダー・ハミルトン初代財務長官が描かれている。また、これまでの緑色に加えて薄いオレンジや黄色、赤などを使っている。憲法からWe the People（われわれ人民）が引用されている。また自由の象徴として、自由の女神像のたいまつが描かれている。

また、偽造防止策が図られ、数字の色が光によって変化したり、紫外線にあたると色が変わる特殊な糸が縫い込まれたりしている。


Uzbekistan protesters under fire after prison break

Protesters in the city of Andijan, Uzbekistan have been fired on by government troops after taking over the Mayor's office and releasing some 2,000 prisoners overnight. Voice of America news is reporting nine dead, and 34 injured, while ten police officers are being held as hostages.

Uzbekistan president Islam Karimov arrived in Andijan this morning to oversee operations, and is expected to make an announcement on national television. Security forces are being deployed, and sporadic automatic gunfire was reported in the city.

President Islam Karimov claimed Saturday that authorities tried to negotiate a peaceful end to protests, but that troops were forced to open fire when insurgents seized the government building and attempted to break through an advancing line of Uzbek police and soldiers.

Thousands are said to have taken to the streets of the city to protest the unfair trial of Muslim activists and draw attention to human rights abuses. A trial of 23 local businessmen on charges of religious extremism triggered the protests. Amnesty International reports that the government uses the law to crack down on activists.

The Ferghana Valley region of the Andijon province is viewed as restive under the rule of Islam Karimov.  Russian officials have stated concern that the protests and unrest may spread in the country. Neighbouring states Tajikistan and Kyrgyzstan have closed their borders with Uzbekistan.


Zamieszki w Uzbekistanie: 200 osób nie żyje

W uzbeckim mieście Andiżan, położonym w Dolinie Fergańskiej na południu Uzbekistanu w nocy z czwartku na piątek wybuchły gwałtowne zamieszki, w których zostało zabitych nawet ponad 200 osób.

Zamieszki rozpoczęły się w nocy z czwartku na piątek od opanowania więzienia, z którego uciekła cześć skazanych. Agencje donoszą, że szturm na więzienie miał na celu uwolnienie 23 ekstremistów muzułmańskich z organizacji Hizb-ut Tahrir. Atakujący skandowali "Wolności i sprawiedliwości!", domagali się także uwolnienia ich przywódcy Jułdaszewa, znajdującego się w wiezieniu w Taszkiencie.  Następnie rebelianci opanowali ratusz, ponad to spłonęło kilkanaście budynków w śródmieściu. Na ulicach trwała strzelanina z policją i wojskiem, w wyniku czego, nad ranem Andiżan i Dolina Fergańska zostały otoczone przez wojsko. Rano na miejscu walk odbyła się kolejna demonstracja.

W oficjalnym komunikacie uzbeckich władz, prezydent Islam Karimow przyznał, że zginęło dziesięciu funkcjonariuszy policji oraz dużo więcej buntowników - około 2000. Na konferencji prasowej stwierdził, że nie było rozkazu strzelania do demonstrantów. Sytuacją zaniepokojony jest Kreml. Oficjalny moskiewski komunikat mówi o telefonicznej rozmowie prezydenta Putina z Karimowem.

Uzbeckie stowarzyszenie praw człowieka "Apelacja" mówiło wczoraj o 200 ofiarach nocnej rebelii. Według sobotniej wypowiedzi aktywisty z regionalnej organizacji praw człowieka liczba ofiram mogła wzrosnąć nawet do 500.


Valuable paintings stolen from Greek gallery

Art thieves in Greece broke into the Athens National Gallery on Monday and stole three valuable works of art.

Among them was a painting by famous Spanish painter Pablo Picasso, dated 1939, called Woman's Head which was a gift to the Greek people for their resistance to the Nazis during World War 2. The other two works were Mill by Piet Mondrian and a sketch of St. Diego de Alcala by Guglielmo Caccia. A fourth painting, Landscape, also by Piet Mondrian was dropped by the thieves when pursued by security. All three works stolen were stripped from their frames.

The police stated multiple alarms during the evening of the heist in other parts of the building had distracted the gallery guard. Investigating yet another alarm, he saw the shadow of a fleeing individual. Citizen's Protection Minister Christos Papoutsis apologized for the loss, citing that the security at the gallery was "non-existent".

The value of the works stolen was not yet determined by gallery officials. The artwork in question was on display at the gallery as part of an exhibition called "Unknown Treasures", including works of Albrecht Durer and Rembrandt.


Roubado "Head of a Woman", de Pablo Picasso

Agência VOA

10 de janeiro de 2012

A Galeria de Arte Nacional de Atenas, na Grécia, foram roubadas duas pinturas, incluindo um dom de lona Grécia, pintada pelo famoso pintor Pablo Picasso.

A polícia disse que os ladrões entraram no museu na manhã de segunda, através da varanda e roubaram o trabalho de Picasso feito em 1939 de "Head of a Woman", que o artista deu a Grécia em 1949, em deferência do desdobramento do movimento de resistência do país, durante a ocupação da Alemanha Nazista na II Guerra Mundial.

Os ladrões também roubaram a foto do artista Pieter (Piet) Holanda Cornelis Mondrian de 1905, caneta tinteira do artista italiano do século XVI, Gulielmo Caccia. Os ladrões também tentaram roubar a pintura e o quarto, mas deixaram cair na pressa, fugindo dos guardas.

A polícia disse que os ladrões estavam na Galeria de Arte Nacional por 7 minutos.

O roubo ocorreu no último dia da exposição de gravuras de Albrecht Durer e Rembrandt van Rijn Harmensz.

Galeria de Arte da Grécia planejava para começar a trabalhar na segunda-feira para expandir e renovação do museu.


Украдена «Голова женщины» Пабло Пикассо

Из Национальной художественной галереи в Афинах украдены две картины, включая подаренное Греции полотно, принадлежащее кисти знаменитого художника Пабло Пикассо.

Полиция сообщила, что злоумышленники ранним утром в понедельник проникли в музей через балкон и похитили работу Пикассо 1939 года «Голова женщины», которую художник подарил Греции в 1949 году в знак уважения к развернувшемуся во время оккупации страны гитлеровской Германией движению сопротивления в годы Второй мировой войны.

Грабители также «прихватили» с собой картину 1905 года нидерландского художника Питера Корнелиса (Пита) Мондриана и рисунок пером и тушью итальянского мастера 16-го века Гулиелмо Качча.
Воры также пытались украсть и четвертую картину, но в спешке уронили ее, убегая от охранников.

Полиция сообщила, что похитители находились в Национальной художественной галерее всего 7 минут.

Кража произошла в последний день выставки гравюр Альбрехта Дюрера и Рембрандта Харменса ван Рейна.

Национальная художественная галерея Греции планировала начать в понедельник работы по расширению и ремонту помещений музея.

10 января 2012 года


Vermont legalizes same-sex marriage

Vermont is now the fourth state in the United States where same-sex marriage is legal.

Vermont lawmakers overrode Governor Jim Douglas' veto on Tuesday to permit gays and lesbians in the state to marry.  The state Senate voted 23–5 in favor of overriding the Governor's veto and the House followed up with a 100–49 vote.  Two Senators were not in attendance and House Representative Sonny Audette did not vote. Vermont's constitution requires the votes of at least two-thirds of the House and Senate to override a veto.

Governor Douglas spoke out about his position on the bill in front of the state Senate last month saying, "I've made my position quite clear that I believe marriage is and ought to remain the union of a man and a woman, that our civil unions law affords equality of opportunities and rights under state law and that that should suffice."  Governor Douglas vetoed the bill last night when it arrived at his office.

Today's decision came nine years after the state was the first in the country to adopt a civil unions law.


Le Vermont légalise le mariage homosexuel

Publié le 11 avril 2009   Le Vermont, un État du nord-est des États-Unis a légalisé le mariage homosexuel. Il s'agit du premier État à accorder ce droit par la voie législative et non par une décision du pouvoir judiciaire. Les élus des deux chambres ont voté pour la mesure, outrepassant le veto du gouverneur de l'État, Jim Douglas. Au Sénat, le vote s'est conclu à 23 voix pour et 5 contre. À la Chambre des représentants, 100 élus ont voté pour et 49 contre. David Peterson, le gouverneur de l'État de New York, a déclaré qu'il apporterait son soutien à un projet de loi légalisant le mariage homosexuel devant la législature.

Aux États-Unis, la législation sur le mariage dépend des États fédérés. Barack Obama a affirmé qu'il était favorable aux unions civiles homosexuelles. L'exécutif a également l'intention d'abolir la loi imposant aux homosexuel de cacher leur préférence sexuelle dans l'armée. Le 4 avril 2009, l'État de l'Iowa, dans le Middle West, avait déjà officiellement rendu légal le mariage entre deux personnes du même sexe.


Violence at Cronulla Beach as 5000 people gather

Cronulla Beach in Sydney, New South Wales was the scene of racist mob-violence yesterday. In what has been described as disgusting, un-Australian and shameful behaviour, participants in a 5000-strong mob assaulted people suspected of being of Lebanese origin. The angry, alcohol-fuelled crowd also turned on anyone who tried to help the victims, including police, security guards and ambulance officers.

Following an attack on two lifeguards earlier in the week, allegedly by men of Lebanese descent, a protest had been organised via text messages and a small number of usenet postings.

Sutherland Shire Mayor Kevin Schreiber says inflammatory text messages calling for revenge attacks fueled the violence. Mr Schreiber said the heavily-circulated messages ensured troublemakers went to the southern Sydney beach looking for a fight. Police had patrolled the area all weekend after text messages began circulating among the community calling for vigilante responses to unwelcome visitors on the beach.

"The sending out of that text message was foolish and irresponsible and ensured that people from all over Sydney came to Cronulla looking to cause trouble and this was further fueled by alcohol," said Mr Schreiber.

Sydney's popular talk-back radio station 2GB also promoted Sunday's event. Breakfast announcer Alan Jones has been accused of "fanning the flames." Callers who recommended vigilante action were not discouraged to take the law into their own hands. Mr Jones, notorious for inflammatory comments, repeated the text message for Cronulla residents to defend their territory several times.

As the crowd marched along the beach and foreshore area, waving Australian flags, the crowd chanted racist slogans, with many wearing clothes bearing racist sentiment.

Middle Eastern men were openly targeted and assaulted. A young Muslim woman wearing a veil was chased into a kiosk on Cronulla beach. Police tried to move her away from the chanting crowd but were unable to reach the security of the command post. While the woman and police officers hid in the kiosk, a crowd surrounded the kiosk and shouted "Kill the Lebs", while others climbed on top of the kiosk.

As police horses and special operations officers formed a line and pushed the crowd away, they were bombarded with beer bottles. After half an hour, an ambulance arrived at the kiosk and people were loaded into it. The ambulance, transporting six injured youths, escorted by police and police horses, was also bombarded with beer bottles. One struck an ambulance officer on the head. His colleague suffered lacerations to the arm.

A total of 25 people, including two ambulance officers, were injured and about 40 cars were vandalised at Maroubra as the unrest spread to other beachside communities. Police said 16 people had been arrested and charged with 41 offences. Locals said today they were in shock and many refused to be named, too scared of retribution for their comments.

Those charged were from Mortdale, Cronulla, Bondi Junction, Kareela, Granville, Lugarno, Greenacre, Mascot, Northmead, Jannali, Sutherland, and Riverwood. Offences included malicious damage, resist police, hinder police, assault police, resist arrest, possess prohibited drug, offensive manner, threaten violence, affray, possess knife in a public place, and driving in a manner dangerous. All of those charged were men between 17 and 40 years of age.

A Police strike force had been established to track down those responsible, NSW Premier Morris Iemma said today. Mr Iemma said video and photo evidence would be used to catch the offenders following incidents which he said showed "ugly face of racism in Australia".

He said the Government would examine what extra police powers would be needed to combat further outbreaks of violence. A meeting of community leaders would be convened to discuss the problem.

"Let's be very clear, the police will be unrelenting in their fight against these thugs and hooligans," the Premier said. A series of apparent revenge attacks – including two stabbings – occurred overnight following the unrest at Cronulla.

Prime Minister John Howard, at a separate press conference, condemned the violence. He said attacking anyone on the basis of their race or ethnicity was unacceptable and should be repudiated. He has refused to call Australians "racist". He himself created racism-related controversy when in 1988 he claimed that the rate of Asian immigration into Australia was too high.

Kuranda Seyit, the director of Forum on Australia's Islamic Relations (FAIR), an Islamic think-tank, was disgusted by the weekends violence. "The Cronulla police must send a loud and clear message to others who are potentially considering vigilante action against fellow Australians," Mr Seyit said. He also condemned the previous violence that was allegedly committed by Lebanese men, but said that this does not justify yesterdays violence. "I realise that the initial behaviour by the thugs who beat the lifeguard was unacceptable but to take it out any anyone who the mob think are not one of them, is not the solution," Mr Seyit said.

He suggested that a number of people in Sutherland Shire were racist, and this contributed to the violence. "Obviously the underlying racism and intolerance in the shire is now bubbling to the surface."

NSW Deputy Police Commissioner Andrew Scipione says police believed neo-Nazi and white nationalist groups were among the crowd. "That in fact is something that we're following up," he told the Nine network.

Skinheads wearing boots, braces and neo-Nazi emblems were among the protestors. Three far-right organisations: "Australia First Party", "Patriotic Youth League (PYL) and the Newcastle-based "Blood and Honour" - all handed out pamphlets. PYL describes itself as a "radical nationalist" group with links to the German-based skinhead group Volksfront, British Nationalist Party and the New Zealand National Front.

Australia First's Dr Jim Saleam, who was jailed for 3 1/2 years in 1991 for possessing a firearm and organising a shotgun attack on the home of the African National Congress's Australian representative, said: "I wouldn't condone it, but I wouldn't condemn it," Dr Saleam said his members had recruited up to 120 people for the rally but denied they were involved in violence.

Anti-race hate campaigner Matt Henderson-Hau, who runs the Fightdemback.org  website, claims only one skinhead at the rally came from within the Sutherland Shire. "The rest came from the Central Coast, Newcastle and other parts of Sydney," he said. Mr Henderson-Hau said neo-Nazis had manipulated the crowd at Cronulla. "If you remove the Nazis from the equation, you will go a long way to dousing the flames and hopefully some cool heads will emerge on both sides," he said.

White Nationalist website, Stormfront Downunder, yesterday featured messages from people in the US, Britain and Canada supporting the Cronulla attacks.

Most bloggers were in agreement that anyone committing acts of violence should be arrested and punished, regardless of race, place of residence, or justification for their actions. Some are purely critical, whereas others are pointing to previous acts by Lebanese youths to explain the violence.

"Round ‘em up—all of them, from both sides—charge ‘em, convict ‘em, jail ‘em," Tim Blair said.

"Are we living in Tsarist Russia where peasants with pitchforks chase Jews down the street?" said Jason Soon of catallaxy. He made a distinction between these riots and previous riots, such as Maquarie Fields. "The denizens of Cronulla do not even have the excuse of poverty and deprivation for their actions. The infamy of disgrace will be heavier on them than on the people of Macquarie Fields."

One blogger said that he did not support Sunday’s violence, but argued that it was understandable after what he described as years of violence and intimidation by Lebanese youths.

"This episode is an absolute disgrace. I, however, absolutely refuse to condemn the people who took that action yesterday, especially given the pattern of wilful inaction from the authorities over the last two years. Far from demonstrating intolerance (arguably, quite the opposite has been demonstrated here, given the facts), put quite simply, everybody has a limit," said James Ozark of "A Western Heart".

Another blogger, who goes by the name "AnonymousLefty", issued a challenge to right-wing bloggers and mainstream pundits, asking them to explain how recent events should have been handled.  "What precisely should we be doing differently in order to prevent flare-ups like Cronulla? (If Andrew Bolt and Piers Ackerman are going to devote their next columns to Cronulla - and I'd bet you the shiny biro on my desk that they will - perhaps they'd consider, instead of simply attacking 'multiculturalism' as a vague concept, actually suggesting what they'd do differently.)"

Splat Guy criticised the use of the national flag and anthem during the riot. "... the ugliest thing of all was the use of symbols of the unity of Australians - all Australians, not just Anglos - like the flag, national anthem, and sports cries as a sort of racial identifier. Really unsavoury, really unacceptable, really unaustralian."

Racism in post-invasion Australia dates back to the White Australia policy, which started as government policy in the 1880s, became a national law with the creation of Australia as a state in 1901, effectively was stopped in 1973 under the prime ministership of Whitlam, and was completed by further reform in immigration law under Fraser in 1978. For more depth, see:


Rassistische Ausschreitungen in Australien

Canberra (Australien), 12.12.2005 – Bei rassistischen Ausschreitungen in Australien sind am Wochenende des 10. und 11. Dezember 30 Menschen verletzt worden. Nachdem sich etwa 5.000 Menschen auf dem Strand von Cronulla versammelt hatten, die Nationalflaggen schwenkten und rassistische Lieder sangen, griffen sie fremdländisch arabisch aussehende Menschen an.

Daraufhin wurden 16 Menschen festgenommen. Der australische Ministerpräsident John Howard lehnte es in öffentlichen Stellungnahmen ab, die Teilnehmer an der Zusammenrottung Rassisten zu nennen. espace.ch zitiert ihn mit den Worten: „Das ist ein Begriff, mit dem so oft um sich geworfen wird, dass ich das nicht auch tun werde.“ Der Oppositionspolitiker Kevin Rudd wirft John Howard vor, den Kopf in den Sand zu stecken. Er kritisiert vor allem die Aussage Howards, die rassistischen Ausschreitungen würden das Ansehen Australiens nicht beschädigen. Peter Beattie, der Ministerpräsident von Queensland, sagte, dass sich die meisten Australier für die rassistischen Ausschreitungen schämten. Die Regierung von News South Wales will die Ausschreitungen mit der Anwendung eines Notstandsgesetzes, das der Polizei zusätzliche Rechte einräumt und zuletzt während der Olympischen Sommerspiele im Jahr 2000 angewandt wurde, beenden.


Disturbios raciales estremecen a la ciudad de Sydney

Graves disturbios raciales se presentaron el 11 de diciembre en Sydney, Australia cuando jóvenes anglosajones decidieron atacar a la policía y asaltar a toda persona de apariencia árabe que se aproximara a las playas de Cronulla y Maroubra al sudeste de la ciudad.

Los disturbios se originaron a raíz de la noticia de que un joven de origen libanés había golpeado a uno de los salvavidas de la playa de Cronulla el fin de semana inmediatamente anterior. Los jóvenes de la localidad de Cronulla decidieron entonces formar patrullas para impedir que "forasteros" se aproximaran a las playas del sector y atacaron a dos jóvenes de origen libanés que se acercaron a la playa. Este hecho fue ampliamente difundido por la televisión australiana, causando estupor en la comunidad libanesa cuyos jóvenes reaccionaron concurriendo masivamente al sector generando una escalada del conflicto. El día domingo, aproximadamente 5.000 jóvenes que cantaban lemas racistas se habían agrupado para impedir el paso de los "wogs", como despectivamente se denomina a las personas no anglosajonas.

El primer ministro, John Howard, inmediatamente condenó los incidentes advirtiendo que "atacar personas con base en su raza, apariencia o su origen étnico es totalmente inaceptable y debe por lo tanto ser objeto de repudio por todos los australianos sin importar su origen ni su afiliación política".

Existe temor entre las autoridades de que se dé un empeoramiento de los desórdenes al detectarse que los jóvenes de uno y otro bando se están enviando mensajes de texto vía celular en los cuales se planea de un lado atacar la mezquitas y del otro extender los disturbios a otros suburbios para vengar los asaltos a la comunidad libanesa.


Raskravaller chockerar Sydney

Sydney – Omkring 25 skadades och 16 greps efter kravaller i Sydney i Australien. Kravallerna inleddes av omkring 5 000 vita ungdomar som samlats på en strand i Cronulla söder om staden och där uppmanade till våld mot människor med arabiskt utseende. Oroligheterna spred sig till en förort där arabiska ungdomar gick till attack mot människor och poliser och slog sönder omkring 40 bilar.

Våldet har fördömts av politiska och muslimska talesmän. Invånarna i Sydney brukar betrakta staden som en kulturell smältdegel och för dem kommer våldet som en chock. Morris Iemma, premiärminister i New South Wales, kallade vid en presskonferens våldsamheterna "oaustraliensiska". Han kommer att möta representanter för de utsatta grupperna och den förort där våldet ägde rum för att diskutera hur man ska hantera de oroligheter man förväntar sig under kommande vecka.

Kevin Schreiber, borgmästare i Sutherland Shire där Cronulla ligger, sa i ett meddelande till Bloomberg att han var förkrossad inför vad som hänt och han uppmanade den federala regeringen att visa handlingskraft. Oroligheterna har varit förstasidesstoff i alla landets tidningar som haft bilder på öldrickande ungdomar iklädda den australiensiska flaggan på framträdande plats. Sydney Morning Herald uppger att det inträffade är de värsta rasoroligheterna sedan två kineser dödades 1860.

Polisen har upprättat en specialstyrka som ska ta fast anstiftarna till upploppen. Nynazistiska grupper har lyckats mobilisera sina anhängare genom att sprida meddelanden via mobiltelefoner. Polisen ska nu gå igenom bilder från upploppen.

Antiarabiska stämningar har blivit vanligare i Australien efter terroristattackerna i USA 11/9 2001 och bomberna på Bali 2002. Australiens premiärminister John Howard tillbakavisat kopplingen mellan debatten kring de nya vittgående antiterroristlagar som han drivit igenom under hösten och raskravallerna. För några veckor sedan arresterade polisen ett tjugotal personer med islamisk bakgrund, personer som nu är åtalade för flera terroristrelaterade brott.

Stranden där kravallerna ägt rum är en populär destination för surfing som de flesta australiensare associerar med sol och party.


Violence breaks out in Washington, DC at pro-Trump protest

2020 United States presidential election

Violence broke out on Saturday when several thousand people rallied at Freedom Plaza in the US capital city of Washington, DC in support of US President Donald Trump to protest the results of the 2020 US Presidential Election, where former US Vice-President Joe Biden has been projected to have defeated the incumbent in both the popular vote and the electoral college.  The demonstrations were initially peaceful, but clashes with counter-protesters broke out by the evening hours.

Video captured two factions pushing, punching, and throwing projectiles. A report alleged fireworks and flash bangs were used.

As a result of Saturday's unrest, according to a report citing the mayor's office, twenty people were arrested, and two police officers were injured.  President Trump lashed out at the capital city's Democratic mayor Muriel Bowser on Twitter, accusing her of "not doing her job". The president has blamed Democratic leadership for violence and unrest in various US cities throughout 2020.

The president has not yet conceded the election, and has claimed widespread voter fraud with mail-in ballots, and made various legal challenges. State and federal election officials have stated there is currently no evidence to support the President's claims of widespread voter fraud.


特朗普支持者與反對者在華盛頓爆發暴力衝突

週六，數千人在美國首都華盛頓特區自由廣場集會，支持美國總統特朗普，抗議2020年美國總統大選結果。美國前副總統拜登在普選和選舉團投票中均擊敗現任總統，點票結果公佈後全美暴力事件爆發。今天在華盛頓的示威活動起初是和平的，但到了傍晚時分，特朗普支持者與反特朗普示威者發生了衝突。現場拍攝的影片記錄了兩派人推搡、拳打腳踢和投擲物體的情景，據報有人使用了煙花和閃光彈。

據媒體援引華盛頓市長辦公室的報導稱，由於週六的騷亂，有20人被捕，兩名警察受傷。特朗普總統在推特上抨擊華盛頓的民主黨市長穆里爾·鮑澤（Muriel Bowser），指責她「不務正業」（Not doing her job）。川普並指責民主黨“領導了整個2020年美國各個城市的暴力和動盪”。

特朗普尚未承認總統選舉的結果，並聲稱郵寄選票存在廣泛的選民欺詐行為，並提出各種法律挑戰。州和聯邦選舉官員表示，目前沒有證據支持總統關於大範圍選民舞弊的說法。


Violence in Rio ends in 30 deaths

Brazil —
From Thursday through Friday night in a sad spectacle of savagery, 30 innocent men, women and children were killed in Rio De Janeiro by criminals.

The killings occurred randomly at several places around the metropolitan region of Rio de Janeiro. The same death squad of criminals is suspected in all the killings. According to Rio's Public Security Secretary Marcelo Itajiba, outlaw police officers may be responsible for the crimes.

The criminals' actions might be a retaliation against recent arrests of policemen involved in fighting corruption and criminal activity.

In the victims' list released by the police include six children from ages 13 to 16, and three victims older than 50. The remaining were aged 18 to 45. Some of the victims were just walking in the street, 11 were in a snack bar, and one boy was playing pinball when attacked. Other victims were found at random places around the city.

On Wednesday a group of outlaw policemen killed two people, beheading one of them.
The head was hurled in a direction towards the patio of the police station, the  15º Batalhão de Polícia Militar de Caxias, in Rio.


Escuadrón de la muerte asesina a 30 personas en Río de Janeiro

En un triste espectáculo de violencia en Río de Janeiro, 30 habitantes de la ciudad murieron en la noche del jueves e inicio de la madrugada de viernes, 1 de abril, según todos los indicios, asesinados por un mismo grupo de criminales armados. Las personas que murieron eran habitantes que se encontraban en diversos puntos de la región metropolitana del Río. Once de ellas estaban en un bar en Nova Iguaçu, seis personas andaban por la Carretera Presidente Dutra, las otras fueron halladas en diversos otros locales de la ciudad.

Murieron hombres, mujeres y niños inocentes. En la lista de víctimas suministrada por la policía se cuentan seis niños con edades entre 13 y 16 años y 3 personas con más de 50 años. Las demás víctimas tenían edad entre 18 y 45 años.

De acuerdo con el secretario de seguridad pública del estado de Río de Janeiro, Marcelo Itajiba, es posible que policías estén involucrados en el crimen. Ellos habrían actuado en represalia por la detención de otros policías sospechosos de estar envueltos en actividades ilícitas.

El miércoles, dos personas fueron muertas y una de ellas degollada. Uno de los criminales cogió la cabeza y la jugó en el patio de la central de policía del 15º Batallón de Policía Militar de Caxias, en Río de Janeiro. Los principales sospechosos también son agentes policiales. Una cámara de vídeo de seguridad filmó la acción de los policías sospechosos cuando éstos vinieron en dos coches de la policía y degollaron una de las víctimas.


Violência no Rio: 30 cidadãos mortos

Em um mais triste espetáculo de selvageria no Rio de janeiro, 30 moradores da cidade morreram na noite de quinta-feira e início da madrugada de sexta-feira, 1 de abril,  ao que tudo indica, vitimadas por um mesmo grupo  de criminosos armados. As pessoas que morreram eram moradores que estavam em diversos pontos da região metropolitana do Rio. Onze delas estavam num bar em Nova Iguaçu, seis pessoas andavam pela Rodovia Presidente Dutra,  as outras  foram achadas em diversos outros locais da cidade.

Morreram homens, mulheres e crianças inocentes. Na  lista de vítimas fornecida pela polícia estavam seis  crianças com idades entre 13 e 16 anos e 3 pessoas com mais de 50 anos.  As demais vítimas tinham idade entre 18 e 45 anos.

De acordo com o secretário de segurança pública do estado do Rio de janeiro, Marcelo Itajiba, é possível que policiais estejam envolvidos no crime. Eles estariam a agir em retaliação a prisões de outros policiais suspeitos de estarem envolvidos em atividades ilícitas.

Na quarta-feira, duas pessoas foram mortas e uma delas degolada. Um dos criminosos pegou a cabeça e jogou-a no pátio da central de polícia do 15º Batalhão de Polícia Militar de Caxias, no Rio de janeiro.  Os principais suspeitos também são policiais.  Um câmera de vídeo de segurança filmou  a ação dos policiais suspeitos quando estes vieram em dois carros da polícia e  degolaram uma das vítimas.


2005/04/02: Våldsvåg i Rio kostade 30 livet

Under de senaste dagarna har 30 oskyldiga män, kvinnor och barn dödats av kriminella i Rio De Janeiro i Brasilien.

Morden tycks vara helt godtyckliga och har ägt rum på flera olika platser i Rio. Enligt staden säkerhetsansvarige Marcelo Itajiba kan kriminella poliser mycket väl ligga bakom dåden som kan vara en hämndaktion efter att poliser arresterats för korruption och kriminella handlingar.


Violence in Somalia displaces over 27,000

The Elman Human Rights Organization reported on Tuesday that heavy fighting in Mogadishu, the capital of Somalia, has left 113 people dead over three days and forced a further 27,000 to evacuate. 345 people have been injured in the fighting.

The fighting is between al-Shabab, an insurgent organisation wanting to oust Somalia's current government and install an Islamic state, and pro-government fighters.

"They [the rebels] are anarchists. We will continue the fighting until we eliminate these elements," National Security Minister Omar Hashi Aden said to the Associated Press, pledging to crack down upon the rebels.

"The fighting erupted in the most densely populated areas," Ali Shaykh Yasin from the Elman Human Rights Group told a local radio station, HornAfrik. "The number of people killed who we saw were 123, while 312 others were wounded." He said that the outburst of violence in the capital had taken residents by surprise.

War in Somalia (2006–2009) on  Wikipedia.


Humanitäre Lage in Somalia durch blutige Kämpfe, Dürre und Piraterie prekär

Mogadischu (Somalia), 15.05.2009 – Nach Berichten einer Hilfsorganisation wurden bei drei Tage andauernden Kämpfen in der somalischen Hauptstadt Mogadischu 113 Zivilpersonen getötet, 345 weitere wurden den Angaben zufolge verletzt. Mehr als 27.000 Bewohner sind vor den Kämpfen zwischen islamistischen Aufständischen unter Führung von Hassan Dahir Aweys und Kämpfern der von Sharif Sheikh Ahmed geführten Übergangsregierung geflohen.

Sicherheitsminister Omar Haschi Aden erklärte gegenüber Associated Press: „Wir werden die Kämpfe fortsetzen, bis wir diese Elemente ausgeschaltet haben.“ Der Sondergesandte der Vereinten Nationen für Somalia, Ahmedou Ould Abdallah, wies die Schuld für die blutigen Auseinandersetzungen dem Führer von al-Schabab zu. „Die Angriffe der letzten paar Tage, alles was sich in Mogadischu kürzlich abgespielt hat, ist ein Versuch, die Macht durch Gewalt zu ergreifen, es ist der Versuch eines Staatstreiches“, sagte Abdallah auf einer Pressekonferenz in Addis Abeba.

Scharif und Aweys hatten 2006 einen Großteil Somalias unter ihre jeweilige Kontrolle gebracht, wurden dann aber von der Übergangsregierung mit Unterstützung äthiopischer Truppen verdrängt. Sharif stellte sich schließlich auf die Seite des von den Vereinten Nationen initiierten Friedensprozesses und wurde im Januar 2009 zum Präsidenten Somalias gewählt. Der Friedensprozess wird von Aweys abgelehnt.

Der Angriff der Aufständischen wurde nach Angaben des Sicherheitskommissars der Afrikanischen Union abgewehrt. Al-Schabab kontrolliert mit seinen Verbündeten einen Großteil von Südsomalia. Ein prominenter Sprecher der Organisation bestätigte, dass ausländische Kämpfer die Aufständischen unterstützen. Die Zahl der ausländischen Kämpfer, die seit Anfang des Jahres nach Somalia einsickerte, wird von ausländischen Geheimdienstkreisen mit etwa 500 angegeben. Das Land hat seit dem Sturz Siad Barres im Jahr 1991 keine funktionierende Regierung. Die Übergangsregierung kontrolliert direkt nur einige Straßenblöcke in der Hauptstadt und eine Grenzstadt, konnte aber seit dem Beginn ihres Bestehens im Jahr 2004 nicht die Souveränität über das Staatsgebiet erringen. Dadurch wurde die Piraterie vor der Küste Somalias begünstigt.

Russland hat inzwischen bekanntgegeben, dass somalische Piraten künftig in Russland angeklagt und verurteilt werden sollen, wenn russische Schiffe involviert waren. „Die Übergabe von solchen Personen in die Hände der Somalier ist nutzlos“, so der stellvertretende Generalstaatsanwalt Alexander Zwyagintsew. Trotz der Anwesenheit einer internationalen Militärflotte kommt es in den Gewässern am Horn von Afrika immer wieder zu Kaperungen von Schiffen. Derzeit werden 17 Schiffe mit etwa 300 Besatzungsmitgliedern von somalischen Piraten festgehalten.

Der EU-Schiffsverband hat in den letzten Wochen vier sogenannten Mutterschiffe aufgebracht, von denen aus die Schnellboote der somalischen Piraten versorgt werden. Dabei wurden nach Angaben des britischen Admirals Philipp Jones 52 Piraten festgenommen, von denen 38 zur Strafverfolgung an die Behörden Kenias übergeben wurden. Admiral Jones dementierte Pressemeldungen, wonach die Piraten Informationen über lohnende Beuteziele aus Europa erhielten. Allerdings würden die Piraten untereinander Informationen über Schiffsbewegungen austauschen. Die EU-Kriegsschiffe haben 23 Frachtschiffe mit Lebensmitteln und Hilfsgütern für Somalia an ihren Bestimmungshafen eskortiert.

Nach mehr als zwanzig Jahren Bürgerkrieg sind 3,2 Millionen Einwohner Somalias von solchen Hilfslieferungen abhängig. Die Situation kann sich in naher Zukunft verschärfen, da das Land derzeit von der schlimmsten Dürre seit mindestens einem Jahrzehnt betroffen ist, so der humanitäre Co-Koordinator der Vereinten Nationen für Somalia, Mark Bowden. „Etwa 45 Prozent der Bevölkerung leiden an mäßiger Unterernährung.“
Nach UN-Angaben leiden allerdings 24 Prozent der Kinder in der Mitte und im Süden des ostafrikanischen Staates an akuter Unterernährung. Mehr als 1,1 Millionen Somalier sind vor den Kämpfen zwischen der Regierung und militanten Islamisten geflohen und leben in Flüchtlingslagern.

Die Zivilbevölkerung wurde von der jüngsten Eskalation überrascht. Bei den Kämpfen wurden nach Regierungsangaben 15 regierungstreue Kämpfer getötet. Unter den getöteten Aufständischen waren zwölf Pakistaner und sieben Kämpfer aus dem Jemen. Besonders die Vereinigten Staaten befürchten, dass sich Somalia zu einer Brutstätte für den internationalen Terrorismus entwickelt.


Virginia Governor commutes 1,000th US execution

Virginia Governor Mark Warner commuted the death sentence Tuesday of convicted murderer Robin Lovitt, preventing him from becoming the 1,000th person executed in the United States since the Supreme Court reinstated the death penalty in 1976. Lingering doubt over Lovitt's guilt was a key factor in Warner's decision. Lovitt's sentence has now been reduced to life imprisonment without the possibility of parole.

This is the first time Warner has granted clemency in his four years in office. All eleven previous clemency petitions have been denied. Warner chose this petition to be his first, and likely last, granted, noting that clemency should only be used in an "exceptional circumstance. Among these are circumstances in which the normal and honored processes of our judicial system do not provide adequate relief - circumstances that, in fact, require executive intervention to reaffirm public confidence in our justice system" [1].

Lovitt was sentenced to death in 1999 for the murder of a pool hall manager. His defense team, including former Independent Counsel Kenneth Starr, argued that DNA tests could have exonerated Lovitt, but weren't performed due to a mistake by a court clerk which resulted in key evidence being thrown away after the trial.

Due to the commution of Lovitt's sentence, Kenneth Boyd, who is scheduled to be executed in North Carolina on Friday, will likely become the 1,000th person executed since 1976.


Le gouverneur de Virginie commue la millième exécution en prison à vie.

Le gouverneur de Virginie Mark Warner a commué la sentence de mort de Robin Lovitt en prison à vie, l'empêchant de devenir la millième personne exécutée aux États-Unis depuis que la Court Suprême a ré-institué la peine de mort en 1976. La décision de Warner a été guidée par un doute persistant sur la culpabilité de Lovitt. La sentence a été réduite à de la prison à vie sans possibilité de libération sur parole.

C'est la première fois que Warner accorde sa grâce en quatre ans de mandat. Les onze demandes précédentes de clémence ont été refusées. Warner a dit que cette grâce a été sa première et sera sans doute sa dernière, indiquant que la clémence ne devait être utilisée :" ... que dans d'exceptionnelles circonstances,..."[1].

Lovitt avait été condamné a mort en 1999 pour le meurtre d'un directeur de refuge pour personnes démunies ("poor hall"). Ses défenseurs, incluant l'ancien avocat indépendant ("Independent Counsel") Kenneth Starr ont plaidé que les tests ADN auraient pu innocenter Lovitt, mais n'avait pas pu être menés à la suite de l'erreur d'un ("court clerk") qui a détruit une preuve clé à la fin de la procédure.

Kenneth Boyd, dont l'exécution était programmée vendredi, serait donc probablement le millième condamné à mort depuis 1976 à la suite du changement de sentence de Lovitt.
(Due to the commution of Lovitt's sentence, Kenneth Boyd, who is scheduled to be executed in North Carolina on Friday, will likely become  the 1,000th person executed since 1976.)


Tusende dödsdomen blev livstid

30 november 2005 Guvernören i delstaten Virgina, Mark Warner, beslutade under tisdagen att stoppa avrättningen av vad som hade blivit de tusende personen som avrättats i USA sedan Högsta domstolen återinförde dödsstraffet 1973. Warner omvandlade straffet till livstid utan möjlighet till nåd sedan en tjänsteman vid domstolen förstört bevis i målet.

Demokraten Warner har tidigare nekat nådeansökningar i de elva fall han handlagt. Warner räknas till en presumtiv kandidat i presidentvalet 2008 och dödsstraffet i USA är av tradition en betydelsefull valfråga. En av presidentkandidaterna i valet 1988, Michael Dukakis, betraktades till exempel som mjuk vad gäller brottslighet sedan han i en dabatt sagt att han inte ville se dödsstraff för någon som våldtagit och dödat sin hustru. Inför avrättningen, som skulle ha ägt rum onsdag kväll, har Warner tagit emot omkring 1 500 begäran om nåd.

Den dömde, Robin Lovitt, anklagas för ett mord 1998 och dömdes till döden följande år men nekar till brottet. Han menar att han skulle kunna bevisa sin oskuld om inte inte bevis i form av två blodiga saxar hade förstörts. Enligt en aktivist som engagerat sig i fallet var det politiska hänsyn som räddade Lovitt, en vanlig företeelse i USA.


Virginia law bans mobile phone use by teen drivers

Virginia governor Tim Kaine signed a bill into law on Friday last week that prohibits the use of mobile phones by newly licensed drivers under the age of 18 while operating a motor vehicle. Mobile phone users must pull off to the side of the road, or into a parking lot, to use a phone. The law takes effect July 1.

The newly signed bill by Virginia's governor makes it the 14th state in the U.S. to enact a partial ban on mobile phone use. The age group affected, 16 and 17-year-olds, need consent from their parents or guardians to obtain a driver's license in the state.

"I believe this is a common-sense restriction on those new drivers who may be tempted to pay more attention to phone calls and text messages than the road, endangering themselves and other drivers," said Governor Kaine.

State legislative proposals to restrict mobile phone use while driving have failed in 17 U.S. states where similar bills were introduced. There are currently four U.S. states, California, Connecticut, New Jersey and New York, that have passed laws limiting mobile phone use as an on-road hazard while driving. For example, both New York and New Jersey classify use of a handheld mobile phone without an earpiece as a moving violation.

California governor Arnold Schwarzenegger signed into law mobile phone use limitations that will take effect on July 2008. It imposes of fine of $20 for, "... anyone caught driving and using a cell phone unless the driver uses a headset, ear bud or other technology that frees both hands." according to Matt Hamblen of ComputerWorld.com.

45 countries currently ban use of the hand held devices while driving. Botswana and New Zealand are debating similar measures.


La Virginie restreint l'utilisation du téléphone mobile par les jeunes conducteurs

Le gouverneur de l'État de Virginie, Tim Kaine a signé un projet de loi, vendredi 23 mars 2007, visant à interdire aux nouveaux conducteurs âgés de moins de 18 ans l'utilisation d'un téléphone mobile pendant la conduite d'un véhicule automobile. Cette catégorie de conducteur devra impérativement, à compter du 1er juillet, date d'entrée en vigueur de la loi, se ranger sur le bas-côté de la route ou être à l'arrêt dans une aire de stationnement, avant de pouvoir faire usage d'un téléphone.

L'adoption de cette loi fait de la Virginie le 14e État, aux États-Unis, à adopter des restrictions à l'usage des téléphones mobiles. Dans l'État de Virginie, les jeunes conducteurs âgés de 16 à 18 ans doivent en outre justifier d'une autorisation expresse de leurs parents ou de leurs tuteurs pour obtenir le droit au permis de conduire.

Le gouverneur Kaine a estimé qu'il s'agit d’« une restriction de bon sens » destinée à protéger de nouveaux conducteurs qui, pouvant « être tentés de prêter plus d'attention aux appels téléphoniques et aux SMS qu'à la route », font encourir un danger aux autres conducteurs et à eux-mêmes.

Précédemment, 17 États américains ayant présenté des projets de loi visant à restreindre l'utilisation du téléphone mobile au volant ont vu le processus législatif ne pas parvenir à son terme. À l'heure actuelle, quatre États, la Californie, le Connecticut, le New Jersey et l'État de New York, ont adopté des lois limitant l'utilisation du téléphone mobile, durant la conduite, en raison des dangers. Par exemple, dans l'État de New York et dans le New Jersey, l'utilisation d'un téléphone mobile tenu à la main, sans recours à un écouteur, constitue une infraction au code de la route.

Matt Hamblen a rapporté, sur le site of ComputerWorld.com, que le gouverneur de Californie, Arnold Schwarzenegger, a promulgué une loi, qui entrera en vigueur en juillet 2008, infligeant une amende de 20 dollars américains à tout conducteur surpris à faire usage d'un téléphone mobile tout en conduisant et qui ne recourrait pas à une technologie (casque, écouteur, etc.) permettant de téléphoner sans contraindre le conducteur à retirer une main du volant de son véhicule.

45 pays interdisent actuellement de se servir de la main, durant la conduite, pour faire fonctionner un téléphone mobile ou tout autre dispositif électronique comparable (iPod, GPS mobile, etc.). Le Botswana et la Nouvelle-Zélande ont mis à l'étude des mesures comparables.

Sur Wikinews anglophone :


Virginia reporter, cameraman killed on live TV, alleged shooter commits suicide

Two members of a news crew for Roanoke, Virginia station WDBJ were shot and killed on live television this morning. The suspect, a former reporter for the news station, later shot himself after a manhunt of several hours, authorities said.

Reporter Alison Parker, 24, and cameraman Adam Ward, 27, were conducting an interview at a local outdoor shopping mall when a gunman opened fire at approximately 6:45 AM local time (1045 UTC). Around fifteen shots were reported fired. Parker and Ward were killed, while the interviewee, Vicki Gardner, was transported to hospital and underwent surgery for her injuries, later listed in stable condition.

The gunman, later identified as 41 year-old Vester Lee Flanagan II, fled the scene. A brief police chase ensued several hours later when law enforcement attempted unsuccessfully to pull Flanagan over on Interstate 66 in Fauquier County. Shortly after, Flanagan pulled off the road and shot himself. He was pronounced dead at a Fairfax-area hospital around 1:30 PM local time (1730 UTC).

Flanagan, who reported under the alias "Bryce Williams", was fired by the station in 2013. According to WDBJ president and general manager Jeffrey Marks, speaking to CBS News, Flanagan was "an unhappy man" and "difficult to work with". "Eventually after many incidents of his anger coming to the fore, we dismissed him. He did not take that well".

A video of the shooting, which appeared to have been captured from the point of view of the shooter, was posted on Bryce Williams' Twitter and Facebook pages several hours afterwards.


Estats Units: dos periodistes matats per trets durant una retransmissió en directe a Virgínia

Una periodista i un cameràman de la cadena de televisió WDBJ-TV han estat matats per trets aquest matí mentre que feien una intervenció en directe a Moneta, a Virgínia.

Les imatges difoses deixen entendre detonacions abans que la càmera caigués al sòl i filmés les cames del tirador. La cadena ha escollit no difondre aquestes imatges. Al principi de la tarda, WDBJ-TV ha confirmat la mort d'Alison Parker (24 anys) i Adam Ward (27 anys). Segons un periodista de CNN, la persona que entrevistaven, Vicki Gardner, ha estat ferit a l'esquena i ha estat hospitalitzat.

La policia està cercant el tirador que ha fugit desprès de la matança.


États-Unis : deux journalistes tués par balles pendant un direct en Virginie

Une journaliste et un caméraman de la chaîne de télévision WDBJ-TV ont été tués par balles ce matin, alors qu'ils faisait une intervention en direct depuis Moneta, en Virginie.

Les images diffusées laissent entendre les coups de feu avant que la caméra ne tombe à terre et ne filme les jambes du tireur qui fait feu sur la journaliste. La chaîne a choisi de ne pas diffuser ces images. En début d'après-midi, WDBJ-TV a confirmé la mort d'Alison Parker (24 ans) et d'Adam Ward (27 ans). Selon un journaliste de CNN, la personne qu'ils interviewaient, Vicki Gardner, aurait été touchée au dos et serait hospitalisée.

Le tireur est en fuite et est recherché par la police.


美国两电视台记者直播中被枪杀 凶手放出视频

当地时间本周三早上，美国哥伦比亚广播公司旗下媒体WDBJ7的两名记者在弗吉尼亚直播时遭枪击身亡。凶手饮弹自杀但未成功。目前此案还在侦查中。


Virginia Tech gunman sent package to NBC

According to police, Cho Seung-hui, the gunman who killed 33 people including himself on Monday at Virginia Tech., sent a package containing pictures and video to NBC, in between the first and second shootings at the campus. The package was timestamped by the United States Postal Service at 9:01 a.m., just under 30 minutes before the second shooting.

"This may be a very new, critical component of this investigation. We're in the process right now of attempting to analyze and evaluate its worth," said superintendent of Virginia State Police Colonel Steve Flaherty.

The package, which contained a DVD, allegedly contained "rants against rich people" and "warns that he wants to get even".

"[The package contained a] rambling, manifesto-like statement embedded with a series of photographs" and the material was "hard-to-follow ... disturbing, very disturbing — very angry, profanity-laced," said Steve Capus, the president of NBC News.

At least 23 videos are reported to be inside the package, in a QuickTime format, where Cho speaks about religion and how he hates rich people. No specific names were mentioned in the video. The pictures of Cho show him holding both guns believed to have been used in the shootings, and in some cases he is leaning against a white wall. There are also pictures of him showing hollowed out bullets and holding a knife. It is not known where the pictures or videos were taken.

No images of the either of the two shootings were inside the package, but it did include "vague references" to the shootings and asserted that "things like this didn’t have to happen," added Capus, who also said that the package had an incorrect address and ZIP code.

All of the material that Cho sent to NBC was immediately handed over to the FBI by NBC security guards wearing gloves for further analysis.

NBC plans to air some of the material on NBC Nightly News on Friday. However, the video is also being discussed on NBC's 24-hour news channel, MSNBC.


バージニアの銃乱射容疑者がテレビ局にビデオ送付

アメリカ合衆国のバージニア工科大学で16日(UTC-4) に起きた銃乱射事件で自殺した容疑者が事件当日、アメリカのテレビ局NBCにビデオや写真の入った小包を送付していたことがわかった。読売新聞などが伝えた。

読売新聞によると、NBCに届いたのは28のビデオクリップ、43枚の写真と、約1800語からなる文書。小包はウェスト・アンブラー・ジョンストン・ホールでの事件と、工学部の教室棟ノリス・ホールでの事件の合間、16日午前9時1分に投函されていた。NBCに届いたのは事件後の18日だった。

ビデオの中で容疑者は「おまえたちが私を追い込んだ」などと語っているほか、富裕層をののしる場面もあった。実際に録画された時期は不明。写真には、ナイフや銃を手にした姿が写されていた。また、時事通信によると文書の中で1999年のコロンバイン高校銃乱射事件に言及し、2名の少年犯を「殉教者」と呼んだ。

NBCはこれらの物品を直ちに連邦捜査局 (FBI) に提出した。