Árbitro brasileiro da FIFA disse que manipulava resultados de partidas

O árbitro brasileiro de futebol Edílson Pereira de Carvalho foi preso pela Polícia Federal neste sábado (24) em Jacareí, interior de São Paulo. Segundo o Ministério Público de São Paulo ele praticou arbitragem tendenciosa de partidas de futebol para fazer com que determinadas equipes vencessem.

Além de Carvalho, foi preso em São Paulo o empresário Nagib Fayad. O árbitro e o empresário são suspeitos de participar de um grupo, apelidado pela imprensa de máfia do apito, que manipulava resultados de partidas de futebol para lucrar com apostas milionárias feitas em websites de apostas.

A Revista Veja desta semana disse que fazem parte da quadrilha donos de casas de bingo de São Paulo e Piracicaba, interior de São Paulo.

O Promotor de Justiça Roberto Porto, do Grupo de Atuação Especial de Repressão ao Crime Organizado (Gaeco), disse que tem 20 mil horas de escuta telefónica gravadas, desde outubro de 2004, e que não há dúvidas de que Pereira de Carvalho fraudava resultados de partidas de futebol. As autoridades acusam tanto o árbitro quanto o empresário de crime contra a economia popular, falsidade ideológica, estelionato e induzimento à especulação.

Segundo o delegado do setor de inteligência da Polícia Federal e lotado na Delegacia de Repressão a Crimes Financeiros em São Paulo,Victor Hugo Rodrigues Alves, depois que um árbitro era escalado para apitar um jogo, ele ligava para o empresário Nagib Fayad, o qual informava qual time deveria ser favorecido. Em seguida, Fayad fazia as apostas em websites da internet. Parte do dinheiro era usada para pagar o árbitro. Com as partidas fraudadas a favor dos apostadores, o lucro destes era de aproximadamente R$ 400 mil reais, e o árbitro recebia aproximadamente R$ 10 mil por cada jogo manipulado. O delegado também admitiu que há mais pessoas envolvidas.

O árbitro disse no sábado para a Polícia Federal que manipulou resultados de partidas do Campeonato Paulista, Campeonato Brasileiro e da Taça Libertadores da América. Pereira de Carvalho, que atuou em partidas do Campeonato Brasileiro de Futebol que ainda está em andamento, é árbitro do quadro da FIFA. O presidente da Confederação Brasileira de Futebol (CBF) Ricardo Teixeira disse que pedirá à FIFA o afastamento do árbitro.

Em entrevista para o portal UOL Esporte, o Presidente do Figueirense Futebol Clube, Nortom Flores Doppre, admitiu a possibilidade de entrar na Justiça caso seu time seja rebaixado no Campeonato Brasileiro.

Numa das conversas gravadas pela polícia, o árbitro Edílson Pereira de Carvalho disse: "Vou marcar falta no meio-de-campo e se o cara reclamar, boto pra fora". A partida a qual o árbitro se referia foi uma em que o Vasco da Gama, supostamente favorecido na arbitragem, venceu o Figueirense pelo placar de 2 a 1. O Figureirense, com 26 pontos, ocupa atualmente a penúltima posição na classificação geral das equipes que disputam o Campeonato Brasileiro. Pelo regulamento, quatro equipes devem ser rebaixadas para a Segunda Divisão.

Segundo últimas informações, o Promotor José Reinaldo Carneiro de Bastos, do Gaeco, disse que o árbitro Edilson Pereira de Carvalho aderiu à Delação Premiada, que é um recurso jurídico que prevê redução da pena para os envolvidos que fornecerem informações úteis às investigações.

Os jogos em que atuou o árbitro Edílson Pereira de Carvalho em 2005 são:

23/02 - Banfield 3 x 2 Alianza Lima

19/04 - Santo André 2 x 1 Palmeiras

22/01 - Marília 1 x 0 Corinthians

27/01 - Mogi Mirim 2 x 4 Santos

02/02 - Ituano 1 x 0 União Barbarense

13/02 - Santos 3 x 0 Corinthians

06/03 - Palmeiras 3 x 1 Santos

12/03 - São Caetano 2 x 2 Internacional

23/03 - América 4 x 1 Palmeiras

31/03 - Guarani 0 x 2 Corinthians

09/04 - São Paulo 1 x 2 Ponte Preta

08/05 - Vasco 0 x 1 Botafogo

02/07 - Ponte Preta 1 x 0 São Paulo

16/07 - Paysandu 1 x 2 Cruzeiro

24/07 - Juventude 1 x 4 Figueirense

31/07 - Santos 4 x 2 Corinthians

07/08 - Vasco 2 x 1 Figueirense

10/08 - Cruzeiro 4 x 1 Botafogo

14/08 - Juventude 2 x 0 Fluminense

21/08 - Internacional 3 x 2 Coritiba

07/09 - São Paulo 3 x 2 Corinthians

10/09 - Fluminense 3 x 0 Brasiliense


Brazilian shot by police on London Underground was not acting suspiciously

Documents, reportedly leaked from the investigation into the death of Jean Charles de Menezes, the Brazilian electrician shot dead by British Police on the London Underground on 22 July reveal that Mr de Menezes was not acting suspiciously and was already restrained when shot.

Furthermore, the documents reveal that the original report given by the police and recorded on the coroners report contained many false statements. The reports suggest the police shot Jean Charles de Menezes because they mistakenly identified him as Hussain Osman, and had agreed to shoot him if he ran. Hussain Osman was suspected of having placed a faulty or mock explosive in a train.

The original reports claimed that de Menezes was acting suspiciously, was wearing a padded jacket, and ran when challenged, even vaulting the ticket barriers. However, the leaked documents, which include statements from officers involved in the operation and photographs of the scene, show that he behaved like any other commuter, used his travel pass to enter the station, even picking up a newspaper on his way. He was not challenged by police, and appears to have been unaware of being followed until after he entered the train. Photographic stills show he was only wearing a light denim jacket. It appears that he only ran in order to reach a train that was about to leave the platform.

The leaked document describes CCTV footage, which shows Mr de Menezes entered Stockwell station at a "normal walking pace" and descended slowly on an escalator.

The document said: "At some point near the bottom he is seen to run across the concourse and enter the carriage before sitting in an available seat."

An eye witness, who was sitting opposite de Menezes on the train, is quoted as saying: "Within a few seconds I saw a man coming into the double doors to my left. He was pointing a small black handgun towards a person sitting opposite me. He pointed the gun at the right hand side of the man's head. The gun was within 12 inches of the man's head when the first shot was fired."

This report is considerably different to initial reports that claimed de Menezes tripped as he fled onto the train, before being restrained by pursuing officers and shot. Photographs leaked to ITN appear to corroborate this new witness's report as they clearly show blood on the seat in which de Menezes is said to have been sitting.

Other statements suggest that the Brazilian was seated before being pinned down by a plain-clothed police officer. Plainclothed armed officers had entered the carriage at this point. Several shots were then fired and de Menezes was hit seven times in the head and once in the shoulder. Three further shots missed Mr Menezes.

A community officer's report (one of the leaked documents) confirms that Mr. de Menezes was seated and restrained at the time of being shot:

"I heard shouting which included the word ‘police’ and turned to face the male in the denim jacket.

"He immediately stood up and advanced towards me and the CO19 [the armed unit] officers …I grabbed the male in the denim jacket by wrapping both my arms around his torso, pinning his arms to his side.

"I then pushed him back onto the seat where he had been previously sitting … I then heard a gun shot very close to my left ear and was dragged away onto the floor of the carriage."

The leaked documents confirm that Police had been given permission to shoot if a suspect was non-compliant, having been told that "unusual tactics" may be required and if they "were deployed to intercept a subject and there was an opportunity to challenge, but if the subject was non compliant, a critical shot may be taken." It is thought that when he ran for the train officers felt this was suitable evidence of "non-compliance".

The Independent Police Complaints Commission (IPCC) said its priority was to keep Mr de Menezes family informed and refused to comment on the details of the leak.

The commission said the family "will clearly be distressed that they have received information on television concerning his death".

In an interview with the Guardian Newspaper, Asad Rehman, spokesman for the family's campaign, called for a public inquiry. "This was not an accident," he said. "It was serious neglect. Clearly, there was a failure both in police intelligence and on an operational level."

Harriet Wistrich, the family's solicitor expressed concerns, during an interview with ITN, that the Police had withheld information from the investigation for a longer period than was permitted under UK law. Ms. Wistrich also claimed, in a separate interview with the BBC, that the documents suggest that the original information given to the pathologist who carried out the post-mortem examination on Mr de Menezes was incorrect and that the information the leaked documents contained was "shocking and terrifying".

"What sort of society are we living in where we can execute suspects?" she asked in the BBC interview.

An unnamed senior police source told the Guardian that the leaked documents and statements give an accurate picture of what was known so far about the shooting. Former Flying Squad commander John O'Connor told the BBC "had the normal procedures taken place in which a warning is given and officers wear specially marked clothing then this young man may not have been killed."

The IPCC statement added: "The IPCC made it clear that we would not speculate or release partial information about the investigation, and that others should not do so. That remains the case."

Mark Oaten, Home Affairs Spokesman for the Liberal Democrats, said: "If true, these preliminary findings will create obvious concerns. It is in the best interests of the police and the community for the full report and any recommendations, to be published as quickly as possible."


Zweifel an Polizeiversion nach Todesschüssen

London (Großbritannien), 17.08.2005 – An der offiziellen Darstellung der Londoner Polizei nach den Todesschüssen vom 22.07.2005 kommen neue Zweifel auf. Fotos und Videoaufnahmen vom Tatort widersprechen nach einem Bericht des britischen Fernsehsenders ITV den Angaben der Polizei und früheren Augenzeugenberichten.

Am 22. Juli war der Brasilianer Jean Charles de Menezes im Rahmen eines Anti-Terror-Einsatzes von der Londoner Polizei erschossen worden.

Nach offiziellen Angaben der Londoner Polizei war Menezes durch ungewöhnliches Verhalten aufgefallen, als er das Haus eines Verdächtigen verlassen habe. So habe er einen dicken Mantel getragen und auf mehrfaches Zurufen der Polizisten nicht reagiert. Stattdessen sei er zum U-Bahn-Zug gerannt und über Absperrungen geklettert.

Allerdings zeigt ein Überwachungsvideo, wie der 27-Jährige Menezes eine leichte Jeansjacke getragen und sich in der U-Bahn-Station nicht auffällig verhalten habe. Er habe die Haltestelle ruhig betreten, eine Gratiszeitung entgegengenommen und sei mit dem Aufzug zum Bahnsteig gefahren. Erst dort sei Menezes zu einem Zug gerannt und habe in einem Wagon Platz genommen.

Eine Obduktion hat mittlerweile ergeben, dass Menezes durch sieben Schüsse in den Kopf und einen weiteren Schuss in die Schulter gestorben ist. Darüber hinaus hat die Polizei noch drei weitere Schüsse abgegeben, deren Projektile jedoch noch nicht gefunden wurden.

Die unabhängige Untersuchungskommission der Polizei wollte den Bericht zunächst nicht kommentieren. Angehörige fordern jetzt eine öffentliche Untersuchung des Falles.


Break-in attempted at mortuary housing remains of Kim Jong Nam

Malaysian police yesterday reported an attempted break-in at the morgue where the body of Kim Jong Nam was being held. Kim, the half-brother of North Korean leader Kim Jong Un, was killed on February 13 in Kuala Lumpur International Airport in what authorities are treating as a murder case. The police have increased security at the morgue.

"We knew there were attempts by someone to break into the hospital mortuary. We had to take precautions. We will not allow anyone to tamper with the mortuary," Inspector-General of Police Khalid Abu Bakar told the Malay Mail. He went on to say that the officers investigating the break-in knew who had done it but declined to share that information with the Mail: "We know who they are.  No need to tell you," Khalid said.

Malaysian police official Noor Rashid Ibrahim announced on Sunday authorities were cooperating with Interpol in the search for four other North Korean nationals suspected of involvement in Kim's death.  According to Ibrahim, the four left Malaysia the day Kim Jong Nam was killed. Yesterday, Chief Khalid said two other people, an Air Koryo employee named Kim Uk Il and a North Korean embassy employee named Hyon Kwang Song have "been called in for assistance."

Ibrahim cautioned listeners against assuming Kim Jong Nam's death was necessarily ordered by his half-brother's government: "the four hold North Korean nationality, that is all."

Four suspects have already been detained: Ri Jong Chol, a North Korean; Siti Aishah, an Indonesian; Muhammad Farid Bin Jalaluddin, a Malaysian; and Doan Thi Huong, who was carrying a Vietnamese passport.  According to CCTV footage, two women, ostensibly Aishah and Doan, approached Kim Jong Nam in Kuala Lumpur International Airport.  One of them distracted him while the other administered a fast-acting poison.  Kim fell ill and died before he could reach a hospital.  One was wearing an "LOL" t-shirt at the time.  Aishah told police she thought she had been hired to play a prank for a television show, but Chief Khalid disputed this, saying the two had been trained for their mission and told to wash their hands after handling the liquid.

Kim Jong Nam had once been his father Kim Jong Il's heir apparent but fell out of favor and has been living in Macau with his family.

The Indonesian consulate requested access to Aishah but was refused.  According to Malaysian law, no one may speak to the suspects while the investigation is ongoing.  The North Korean government has called for the release of Ri Jong Chol and issued a statement saying the two women are also "innocent" and should be released as well. The North Korean ambassador to Malaysia has questioned both the identity of the dead man and the reliability of the Malaysian investigation. Malaysia recalled its ambassador from North Korean on Monday amid increasing tensions between the two countries.

Inspector-General Khalid continued to refer to the deceased as "Kim Chol," one of two names on passports he had with him.  Malaysian authorities have refused to release Kim's body to North Korea without a DNA sample from a family member.  Khalid has promised police protection for any relative coming to Malaysia to do so.


Polícia da Malásia e Interpol procuram mais quatro suspeitos no assassinato de Kim Jong Nam

O oficial da polícia da Malásia, Noor Rashid Ibrahim, anunciou hoje que as autoridades estão procurando por quatro norte-coreanos suspeitos de envolvimento no assassinato de Kim Jong-nam, meio-irmão do líder norte-coreano Kim Jong-un. De acordo com Ibrahim, os quatro deixaram a Malásia no dia em que Kim Jong-nam foi morto.

Ibrahim advertiu contra a suposição de que a morte de Kim Jong-nam foi ordenada pelo governo de seu meio-irmão: "os quatro detêm a nacionalidade norte-coreana, isso é tudo". A Organização Internacional de Polícia Criminal (Interpol) está ajudando na procura de pessoas que as autoridades acreditam poderem ajudar na investigação

Há três suspeitos já sob custódia, Siti Aishah, um indonésio, Muhammad Farid Bin Jalaluddin, um malaio, e Doan Thi Huong, que estava carregando um passaporte vietnamita. De acordo com a filmagem da CCTV, duas mulheres, presumivelmente Aishah e Huong, se aproximaram de Kim Jong Nam no Aeroporto Internacional de Kuala Lumpur. Uma delas o distraío enquanto a outra administrava um veneno de ação rápida. Kim sentiu-se mal e morreu antes de chegar a um hospital. Aishah disse à polícia que ela achava que tinha sido contratada para fazer uma brincadeira para um programa de televisão. Uma das mulheres estava usando um "LOL" t-shirt no momento.

Kim Jong Nam foi o herdeiro do seu pai, Kim Jong-il, mas foi afastado quando o seu irmão assumiu a presidência. Ele vivia em Macau com a sua família há muitos anos.

O consulado indonésio pediu acesso a Aishah, mas foi recusado. De acordo com a lei da Malásia, ninguém pode falar com os suspeitos enquanto a investigação está em curso.


Brisbane woman charged with Sizzler poisoning

Queensland, Australia police have charged a 57-year-old woman with the alleged contamination of the salad bar at two Sizzler restaurants.

Rat poison pellets were found in food at Sizzler restaurants at Toowong on January 20 and the Brisbane Myer Centre outlet last Sunday. Yesterday Sizzler closed salad bars nationwide, but they did not report the incidents to the Queensland Health Department until last Monday.

Queensland’s Health Minister Stephen Robertson criticised the restaurant chain for delaying reporting a possible incident of food contamination for 37 days. "I think this is a case that - a real life case - that we should perhaps learn some lessons from,” he said.

Queensland Police Inspector Bob Hytch said the woman is the same woman police asked to come forward after she told Sizzler staff she had found pellets in soup at the Myer Centre restaurant last Saturday.

The woman is expected to face Brisbane Magistrates' Court tomorrow charged with two counts of contamination of goods and four counts of an act intending to cause grievous bodily harm.


Kvinna åtalad för att ha förgiftat mat

Polisen i Australien har åtalat en 57-årig kvinna för att ha förgiftat sallad på två restauranger som ägs av den australiska restaurangkedjan Sizzler.

Råttgift hittades i maten på två Sizzlerrestauranger i Toowong den 20 januari och på Brisbane Myer Centre förra söndagen. Igår stängde Sizzler sina salladsbarer runt om i australien men de rapportrade inte händelserna till hälsomyndigheterna i Queensland förrän i måndags.

Queenslands hälsominister Stephen Robertson kritiserade restaurangkedjan för att de väntade i 37 dagar med att rapportera förgiftningarna. "Jag tycker att detta är en händelse - en verklig händelse - som vi borde lära oss något av", sa han.

Queenslands polisinspektör Bob Hytch sa att kvinnan är samma person som polisen ville skulle framträda efter att ha anmält till Sizzlers ledning att hon hade hittat små kulor i soppan på restauranger på Myer Centre förra lördagen.

Kvinnan ställs inför domstolen i Brisbane i morgon anklagad för två fall av förgiftning av varor och fyra fall av uppsåt till kroppslig skada.

31 oktober 2011: Qantas återupptar flygningarna
7 januari 2008: Häftiga översvämningar i Australien
1 maj 2006: Ronaldinho tror på guld
31 mars 2006: Australien samlar sig inför cyklonen Glenda
23 mars 2006: Australien beviljar papuanska flyktingar visum
21 mars 2006: Queensland städar upp efter cyklonen Larry
19 mars 2006: Queensland förbereder sig för kategori 5-cyklon
18 mars 2006: Trilateralt säkerhetssamtal om Iran och Östasien
15 mars 2006: Storslagen ingvigning av samväldesspelen i Melbourne
12 mars 2006: Drottning Elizabeth inledde femdagarsbesök i Australien

• Australien

Händelser 1 mars • mars • 2006 • kvartal 1 • vecka 9
Publiceringar 1 mars • mars • 2006 • kvartal 1 • vecka 9

Denna artikel är en kort telegramartikel. Vet du mer om ämnet den beskriver kan du hjälpa till med att utvidga den.


British hacker may face Guantanamo, 60-year sentence

Beleaguered British computer hacker Gary McKinnon has vowed to fight U.S. extradition proceedings through the European Court of Human Rights. This follows on from yesterday's rejection of an appeal to the U.K's Law Lords.

American prosecutors who have pursued the case against McKinnon are offering a stark choice for the ex-systems analyst who allegedly broke into 97 US military and NASA computer systems. Some reports describe his UFO-related hacking efforts as, "the biggest military hack in history"; his lawyers have used alarmist language to describe the attitude of American prosecutors pursing him on six indictments, "American officials involved in this case have stated that they want to see him 'fry'. The consequences he faces if extradited are both disproportionate and intolerable." The plea-bargain offer on the table would see McKinnon face four years in jail if he accepts two of the charges. Estimates on how long a sentence he may face if he refuses this and is successfully prosecuted on all six charges go as high as 70 years. For the 1966 Glasgow-born man this is an effective life sentence.

With terrorism being bandied about as a motivation, and allegations that McKinnon deleted files and disrupted the operation of systems he is alleged to have broken into, an additional concern from his lawyers is that under such circumstances he could be detained at the Guantanamo Bay facility. McKinnon describes himself as a "bumbling hacker" who believed he was working in the public interest to expose a U.S. coverup of files and other information on UFOs.


Gary McKinnon bude vydán do USA

Britský hacker Gary McKinnon, který v letech 2001 a 2002 pronikl do sítí americké pozemní armády, letectva, námořnictva, Pentagonu a NASA, dnes ztratil poslední možnost odvolání proti své extradici do USA. Britské soudy sice o jeho vydání rozhodly již v roce 2006, avšak McKinnon podal sérii námitek a odvolání. Poslední z nich dnes zamítla Sněmovna lordů coby nejvyšší soudní instituce Spojeného království. McKinnonův právník se chce proto odvolat k Evropskému soudnímu dvoru. McKinnon tvrdí, že v počítačích pouze pátral po důkazech o existenci UFO. Američané však prohlásili, že šlo o zastrašování a vydírání amerických vládních orgánů. Dle nich hacker krátce po útocích z 11. září 2001 vymazal mnoho dat a ochromil důležitý počítačový systém armády. Jeho čin je proto nutné považovat za terorismus.


British ISPs restrict access to Wikipedia amid child pornography allegations

Wikinews has learned at least six of the United Kingdom's main Internet Service Providers (ISPs) have implemented monitoring and filtering mechanisms that are causing major problems for UK contributors on websites operated by the Wikimedia Foundation, in addition to 1,200 other websites. The filters appear to be applied because Wikimedia sites are hosting a Scorpions album cover which some call child pornography. Scorpions are a German hard rock band who have used several controversial album covers and are perhaps best known for the song Rock You Like a Hurricane.

The measures applied redirect traffic for a significant portion of the UK's Internet population through six servers which can log and filter the content available to the end user. A serious side-effect of this is the inability of administrators on Wikimedia sites to block vandals, and other troublemakers, without potentially impacting hundreds of thousands of innocent UK contributors who work on WMF sites in good faith.

The filtering is in response to the Internet Watch Foundation's list of websites that host content reported to contain inappropriate images of naked children. The IWF considers those images child pornography. However, in the United States, where the websites of the Wikimedia Foundation are hosted, it is not considered obscene under the criteria of the Miller test, which requires that an obscene work lack "serious literary, artistic, political or scientific value" - as album art is used to "brand" the album, it is considered to be artistic.

Contributors or individuals attempting to view an affected image or file, depending on their ISP, may get a warning saying, "we have blocked this page because, according to the Internet Watch Foundation (IWF), it contains indecent images of children or pointers to them; you could be breaking UK law if you viewed the page." Other ISPs provide blank pages, 404 errors, or other means of blocking the content. Due to a configuration mistake at one Internet service provider, some users have reported being totally unable to access Wikimedia sites to the Wikipedia technical help desk.

"The Protection of Children Act 1978 as amended in the Sexual Offences Act 2003, makes it an offence to take, make, permit to be taken, distribute, show, possess with intent to distribute, and advertise indecent photographs or pseudo-photographs of children under the age of eighteen. The 'making' of such images includes downloading, that is, making a copy of a child sexual abuse image on a computer, so, in the UK, accessing such content online is a serious criminal offence," says the IWF on their website in an article updated on November 28. The IWF say there are at least 800 to 1,200 websites on the list of those who host or contain offensive material. The list is not public and the IWF never notified Wikimedia Foundation about the blocking of Wikipedia content. The affected page does not display any message informing the user about blocked content on most ISPs, instead, a technical error message is shown.

However, Demon Internet redirects users to a block message on the IWF's site explaining that the page was blocked as the organization suspects child porn or links to it to be present. The IWF states that, "we do not notify site owners that their websites are on our list."

The concern for Wikimedia is for some images like an album cover from a 1976 record of the Scorpions titled Virgin Killer. It displays an underage girl, posing nude, with a lens crack crossing over her genitals, but nothing blocking out her breasts. The girl appears to be around ten years old. In the U.S., the band later replaced the image with one of the group. The cover was uploaded to Wikipedia in 2006, but Wikinews learned that on May 9, 2008 at  (21:17 UTC), despite a result of strong consensus to 'keep' in a deletion request, the image was deleted, however for a different reason. It was deleted due to a claim by an administrator that it violated Wikipedia's policy for dealing with copyrighted images, which require that any images used under the doctrine of fair use must alongside other criteria, "significantly increase readers' understanding of the topic, and its omission would be detrimental to that understanding", with the administrator claiming that the article "lacked meaningful discussion" of the album art. This result was overturned using the deletion review process. Earlier, on December 6, the image was put back up for a deletion request, but it was later closed as Wikimedia "does not censor".

Another image that is questionable could be a screenshot from the 1938 film Child Bride. Its goal was to bring to light the attempts at banning child marriages. In the article on Wikipedia, a screenshot appears of then 12-year-old Shirley Mills partially naked after skinny dipping. In the photo, at least one of her breasts can be seen.

Other albums featuring nudity below the age of sixteen have previously caused controversy; Blind Faith attracted criticism as did Houses of the Holy, and Nirvana's Nevermind.

Multiple companies have gone public stating that they implement the recommendations of the Internet Watch Foundation. Not all of these are known to have implemented measures against Wikimedia sites; the major UK ISPs thought to have affected Wikimedia sites are Telefonica O2/Be Unlimited, Virgin Media, Easynet, Plusnet, Demon, and Opal Telecommunications (TalkTalk).

Wikinews has contacted Wikimedia's legal counsel, Mike Godwin and the IWF for a statement, but neither have replied as of this time.


Britští poskytovatelé internetového připojení cenzurují Wikipedii

Od 5. prosince brání šest největších poskytovatelů internetového připojení uživatelům z Velké Británie v přístupu ke článku o albu Virgin Killer z roku 1976 německé heavymetalové skupiny Scorpions.

Tento článek byl označen organizací Internet Watch Foundation (IWF) jako stránka obsahující dětskou pornografii – na obalu desky je totiž zobrazena nahá dívka, která vypadá na 10–12 let.

Britským uživatelům, kteří mají o zmíněný článek na Wikipedii zájem, se nyní zobrazuje prázdná stránka s hlášením „Chyba 404 - stránka neexistuje“ nebo podobné hlášení. Ale to je jen část problému.

Protože oněch šest poskytovatelů nyní přesměrovává veškerý provoz na Wikipedii prostřednictvím transparentní proxy, u velkého množství editorů Wikipedie to může vyvolat dojem, že se připojují ze stejné IP adresy. Takto je pro administrátory Wikipedie velmi obtížné bojovat proti vandalismu (dosud bylo běžnou a efektivní praxí zakázat editaci stránek uživateli přistupujícímu z určité IP adresy).


Wikipedia in Großbritannien gesperrt

Vereinigtes Königreich, 07.12.2008 – Durch eine Sperre gegen Kinderpornographie wurde der Zugriff von Nutzern der britischen Provider O2, Virgin Media, Easynet, Plusnet, Demon und TalkTalk auf den Artikel des Scorpions-Albums Virgin Killer in der englischen Wikipedia blockiert. Initiator der Sperre ist vermutlich die Internet Watch Foundation.

Vermutlich ist die Sperre auf Grund des Album-Covers erfolgt. Dieses ist allerdings durch direkten Zugriff für die Benutzer weiterhin zugänglich.


Regno Unito: censurata Wikipedia per un album del 1976

Nel Regno Unito, a seguito di una segnalazione dell'Internet Watch Foundation (Iwf), un ente privato, numerosi provider hanno deciso di inserire tutti i siti Wikimedia nella loro lista nera, filtrando il traffico diretto verso di essi per rendere inaccessibile la pagina di Wikipedia che parla del disco  Virgin Killer del gruppo heavy metal tedesco Scorpions.

Sulla copertina del disco, risalente al 1976, è ritratta una giovane nuda, un'immagine che, secondo la Iwf, è da considerarsi potenzialmente illegale e potrebbe essere collegata all'abuso di minori.

Secondo un portavoce dell’Iwf (organizzazione che comprende tra i suoi membri: Bbc, Aol Uk, Ask e News International) attualmente il 95% degli internauti del Regno Unito non può accedere alla pagina Virgin Killer.

Numerose contestazioni sono state sollevate dagli utenti di Wikipedia, sconvolti sia per il fatto che non è stata oscurata l'immagine ma solo la voce che la contiene (compreso il testo) e la sua pagina di descrizione, sia perché si è intervenuto nonostante i numerosi almanacchi di musica e siti web che hanno riproposto la copertina in questi anni senza alcuna contestazione legale.

Come effetto collaterale, gli utenti che dipendono dai principali fornitori d'accesso britannici (anche all'estero) sono soggetti a una navigazione fortemente rallentata nei siti Wikimedia, e non possono modificarne le pagine se non sono registrati.


ISPs britânicos restringem o acesso à Wikipédia por acusações de incentivo à pornografia infantil

Reino Unido • 7 de dezembro de  2008

Pelo menos, seis dos principais Internet Service Providers (ISPs) do Reino Unido têm implementado mecanismos de acompanhamento e filtragem que estão causando grandes problemas para os contribuintes britânicos de websites operados pela Wikimedia Foundation, que chegam a quase 1200. Os filtros parecem estar sendo aplicados porque os sites da Wikimedia estão hospedando uma capa de um dos álbuns da banda Scorpions, que foi proibido em alguns países por alegações de ser pornografia infantil. A banda de rock alemã Scorpions é uma banda que já utilizou várias capas polêmicas para seus álbuns, e são, provavelmente, mais conhecidos por sua canção, "Rock You Like a Hurricane".

As medidas aplicadas incluem o redirecionamento de tráfego de uma porção significativa da população do Reino Unido através de seis servidores que podem fazer logon e filtrar o conteúdo que está disponível para o usuário final. Um efeito colateral grave desta situação é a incapacidade dos administradores nos sites da Wikimedia para bloquear vândalos e outros editores problemáticos, além de prejudicar outras centenas de milhares de contribuidores que estão ajudando os sites de boa-fé.

Tal filtragem se deve à inclusão da Wikipedia na lista dos sites que hospedam imagens inadequadas de crianças nuas, lista essa produzida pela Internet Watch Foundation. A IWF considera tais imagens como pornografia infantil. No entanto, nos Estados Unidos (onde o site da Fundação Wikimedia estão hospedados), tais imagens não são consideradas obscenas nos termos dos critérios do teste Miller, que exige que uma obra para ser considerada obscena tenha alguma quebra "grave de valores literários, artísticos, políticos ou científicos"(a capa de um álbum que é usada como "marca" para tal álbum é considerada como artística).

Editores ou leitores que tentam visualizar uma imagem ou um arquivo afetado, dependendo do seu provedor, pode receber um aviso dizendo, "we have blocked this page because, according to the Internet Watch Foundation (IWF), it contains indecent images of children or pointers to them; you could be breaking UK law if you viewed the page." (Nós bloqueamos esta página porque, de acordo com a Internet Watch Foundation (IWF), ela contém imagens indecentes de crianças ou de ligações para elas; você poderia estar violando o direito britânico se vizualizasse esta página). Outros ISPs fornecem páginas em branco, erros 404 ou outros meios de bloquear o conteúdo. Devido a um erro na configuração um provedor de serviços de Internet, alguns usuários relataram estar totalmente incapazes de aceder aos sítios Wikimedia.

Tal bloqueio em sites da Wikimedia se referem a uma capa de um álbum de 1976 da banda Scorpions intitulado Virgin Killer. Ele exibe uma criança nua, de mais ou menos dez anos, com um efeito de um vidro quebrado sobre as genitais, mas com os seios descobertos. No Reino Unido, a banda mais tarde substituiu tal imagem por uma do grupo. A capa foi carregado na Wikipedia em inglês em 2006, sob os termos do fair use. Ela já foi apagada duas vezes, e recentemente passou por mais um processo semelhante, no qual foi mantida sob a alegação de que "A Wikipédia não é um censor".

Outros álbuns que apresentam nudez infantil e que causaram polêmica são: Blind Faith (da banda de mesmo nome) e o álbum do Nirvana Nevermind.

Várias empresas têm ido público declarar que não implementarão as recomendações da Internet Watch Foundation. Alguns dos provedores britânicos com restição de acesso aos sites da Wikimedia são O2/Be Unlimited, Virgin Media, Easynet, Plusnet, Demon and Opal Telecommunications (TalkTalk).


維基百科一條目內容刊有女童裸照 遭英國網絡供應商封殺

11月7日開始，英國的非政府民間組織互聯網觀察委員會（IMF）將維基百科的部分內容列入了黑名單。主要是因為維基百科中的一個條目《Virgin Killer》中含有涉嫌兒童色情的內容。英國的六大主要網絡供應商——Virgin Media、Be/O2/Telefonica、EasyNet/UK Online、PlusNet、Demon和Opal隨即對維基媒體的部分條目進行了屏蔽，所有英國用戶都無法看到禁止的內容，一進入該條目，就會顯示出以下的內容：

不過要突破封鎖並非難事，只要使用維基百科的secure服務器，或者在頁面網址上添加一些參數即可。

《Virgin Killer》（可參見英文版條目Virgin Killer）是1970年代德國著名的重金屬音樂組合蝎子樂隊的第四張專輯，當年正是這張專輯使他們風靡全球。不過這張專輯的封面卻飽受爭議。最開始的封面是一個10歲左右的全身赤裸的小女孩，坐在地上，封面的一處撕裂的效果稍微遮住了其外陰，但是她的雙乳卻毫無遮擋。當時由於太多的批評，所以專輯的封面在隨後在美國發行時使用了替代版本，是蝎子樂隊的成員合照。

這張圖片於2006年上傳至英文維基百科，作為條目的合理使用圖片。其後同樣由於其爭議性而曾經被提議刪除，不過因為維基百科有不會過濾內容的政策方針，最後還是共識保留。

英國互聯網觀察委員會的黑名單會列入他們發現的包含有不適當的18歲以下兒童裸照的網址，他們認為這些是色情資訊。不過在美國，維基媒體的總部所在地，這張圖片並不符合米勒規條對於「淫褻」的定義，米勒規條中規定淫褻內容是沒有「嚴肅的文學、藝術、政治和科學價值」的內容，而鑒於此圖片作為其專輯藝術的一部分，因此並非色情內容。今年年初FBI還曾經研究過這張圖片，但是最終決定不採取任何行動。

維基媒體的法律顧問邁克·戈德溫表示：「我們沒有任何理由相信這個條目或者這個條目中包含的蹄片觸犯了世界上哪個地方的法律。要記得這張圖片在Amazon中很容易找到，英國居民可以隨時自由購買這張專輯，甚至它在英國人還可以隨時登錄的數以千計的網站都可以找到。」他也表示，維基媒體正在和互聯網觀察委員會磋商如何解決問題。

不過維基百科中還有一些其它的可能涉嫌兒童色情的圖片也引起爭議。而很多網絡供應商已經表示他們會執行互聯網觀察委員會的建議。


British man dies five days after wife in honeymoon shooting

Benjamin Mullany, the British man who was shot along with his wife while on holiday in Antigua has died. He and his wife, Catherine had been on the last day of their honeymoon when both were shot during what seems to be a botched robbery on July 29.

Catherine died instantly while Ben fell into a coma. Doctors were unaware if he knew that his wife did not survive the attack. Ben was flown back to Britain on August 2 after a 22 hour operation to try and save his life. He died at Morriston Hospital, in Swansea, Wales where he remained unresponsive.

The couple married on July 12 and later flew out to the holiday island. With the death of both Catherine and Ben the murder figures for Antigua have been placed into double figures. Prime minister Baldwin Spencer has asked for Britain's help during the investigation. The suspects are still at large.


5 ימים לאחר אשתו הטריה - נפטר בריטי שהותקף בעת ירח הדבש

בנג'מין מלאני, הבריטי שנורה לצד אשתו במהלך חופשתם באנטיגואה, נפטר. הוא ורעייתו, קת'רין, היו ביומו האחרון של ירח הדבש שלהם בעת שנורו במהלך מה שנראה כשוד מזוין שארע ב-29 ביולי.

קת'רין נפטרה באופן מיידי בעוד שבן שקע בתרדמת. הרופאים לא ידעו האם הספיק להווכח במותה של אשתו. בן הוטס בחזרה לאנגלייה בשניים באוגוסט לאחר ניתוח בן עשרים ושתיים שעות שנעשה בנסיון להציל את חייו. הוא נפטר בבית החולים מוריסטון אשר בסוואנסי שבוויילס, בו נותר בתרדמת כל העת.

בני הזוג נישאו זו לזה בשנים עשר ביולי ולאחר מכן טסו לאי לחופשה. עם מותם של קת'רין ובנג'מין, עלה מספר הנרצחים באנטיגואה למספר דו-ספרתי. ראש הממשלה המקומי, בולדווין ספנסר, ביקש מהרשויות הבריטיות סיוע במהלך החקירה. לא נעצרו חשודים ברצח עד כה.

4 באוגוסט 2008


British national Akmal Shaikh executed in China

Akmal Shaikh, a 53-year old British national, has been executed at 10:30 China standard time (02:30 GMT) today. He was arrested for carrying drugs in September 2007. Shaikh is said to have suffered from bipolar disorder and pleas for clemency were made by British Prime Minister Gordon Brown and actor Stephen Fry.

Shaikh's condition reportedly caused him to suffer from delusions, and he had unrealistic ambitions to become a pop star. In his quest for stardom he travelled widely, first to Poland and then through Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan, where he associated with supposed music producers who promised to help him launch his music career. On 12 September 2007, Akmal Shaikh flew from Dushanbe, in Tajikistan, to Ürümqi, in north west China, where he was arrested by Chinese authorities for possession of 4kg of heroin.

Shaikh's family claims that he suffered from mental illness and was tricked by Polish smugglers into carrying drugs in a suitcase which did not belong to him, with a promise to make him a pop star in China. The Chinese buried his body in China and it will not be returned to his family in the UK.

Chinese state media say western news outlets are "politicizing" Mr. Shaikh punishment and that the Chinese officials have ruled that there is insufficient evidence of Mr. Shaikh alleged mental illness.


Le ressortissant britannique Akmal Shaikh exécuté en Chine

Akmal Shaikh, ressortissant britannique âgé de 53 ans, a été exécuté selon l'heure d'hiver chinoise à 10 h 30 (02 h 30 GMT) mardi. Il avait été arrêté pour transport illicite de drogue en septembre 2007. Shaikh semblait souffrir de troubles bipolaires, et plusieurs interventions en sa faveur ont été faites par le Premier ministre britannique Gordon Brown et l'acteur Stephen Fry. Il s'agit du premier Européen exécuté en Chine depuis Antonio Riva, en 1951.

L'état mental de Shaikh lui a valu de souffrir de délires, et il avait par ailleurs l'ambition irréaliste de devenir une popstar. Dans sa course au vedettariat, il a beaucoup voyagé, tout d'abord en Pologne, puis au Kirghizistan, et enfin au Tadjikistan, où il s'est associé avec de prétendus producteurs de musique qui lui ont promis leur aide pour faire démarrer sa carrière. Le 12 septembre 2007, Akmal Shaik s'est envolé de Douchanbé, capitale du Tadjikistan, à Ürümqi, dans le nord-ouest de la Chine. Il y a été arrêté par les autorités chinoises pour détention de 4 kg d'héroïne.

La famille de Shaikh clame que, souffrant de déficience mentale, il a été dupé par des trafiquants polonais, qui l'ont convaincu de transporter la drogue dans sa valise contre la promesse de faire de lui une popstar en Chine.

Les autorités chinoises ont procédé à l'inhumation du corps, qui ne retournera donc pas auprès de la famille du défunt, au Royaume Uni.

Les médias chinois d'État estiment que les réactions occidentales à cette nouvelle sont « purement politiques ». Le jugement appliqué par les autorités chinoises s'est appuyé sur le fait qu'il y avait « insuffisance de preuves » concernant la maladie mentale dont aurait souffert Akmal Shaikh.


Chiny: egzekucja na Brytyjczyku

W Chinach we wtorek rano o 10:30 czasu lokalnego (3:30 czasu polskiego) wykonano pierwszą od pół wieku karę śmierci na obywatelu kraju europejskiego. Mimo wielu apelacji władze chińskie nie zgodziły się na ułaskawienie.

53-letni Brytyjczyk Akmal Shaikh został stracony w Chinach. O jego ułaskawienie starał się nie tylko rząd w Londynie, ale też liczne organizacje broniące praw człowieka. Szef rządu brytyjskiego Gordon Brown wielokrotnie rozmawiał na ten temat z premierem Chin Wenem Jiabao. - W najostrzejszych słowach potępiam egzekucję Akmala Shaikha; jestem wstrząśnięty i rozczarowany, że nasze wytrwałe apele o łaskę nie zostały rozpatrzone. Szczególnie niepokoi mnie to, że nie skontrolowano stanu zdrowia psychicznego skazańca - napisał w oświadczeniu Brown.

Akmal Shaikh 11 lat temu przyjechał do Polski. Został oskarżony dwa lata temu za przemyt czterech kilogramów heroiny. Rodzina twierdzi, że był on wykorzystany przez dilerów, którzy wmówili mu, iż zrobi karierę muzyczną w Chinach. W celu wiarygodności ich planów dilerzy nawet nagrali z nim kilka nagrań, a potem dali walizkę, z którą wyjechał do Chin.

Shaikh do końca utrzymywał, że jest niewinny. Według jego zeznań nie wiedział co jest w walizce.


பிரித்தானிய நபருக்கு சீனாவில் மரணதண்டனை நிறைவேற்றம்

போதைப் பொருள் கடத்தியதாகக் குற்றம் சாட்டப்பட்டுக் கைதான பிரித்தானிய நபர் ஒருவருக்கு சீனாவில் மரணதண்டனை நிறைவேற்றப்பட்டுள்ளதாக பிரித்தானிய வெளியுறவுச் செயலகம் உறுதிப்படுத்தியுள்ளது.

லண்டனைச் சேர்ந்த 3 பிள்ளைகளின் தந்தையான 53 வயதுடைய அக்மல் ஷைக் என்பவர் தான் எக்குற்றமும் இழைக்கவில்லை எனத் தெரிவித்திருந்தார். அவர் மனநிலை பாதிக்கப்பட்டவர் என அவரது குடும்பம் தெரிவித்திருந்தது.

அக்மலுக்கு மன்னிப்பு வழங்கும்படி அக்மலின் குடும்பமும், பிரித்தானிய அரசும் பலமுறை கேட்டிருந்தும் சீன அரசு மரணதண்டனையை நிறைவேற்றியுள்ளது.

பிரித்தானியப் பிரதமர் கோர்டன் பிரவுன், "தாம் மிகவும் ஏமாற்றம் அடைந்துள்ளதாகத்" தெரிவித்தார். ஆனாலும் சீனத் தூதுவர், "திரு அக்மல் முன்னர் மனநிலை பாதிக்கப்பட்டதாக எங்கும் பதியப்பட்டிருக்கவில்லை," எனத் தெரிவித்தார்.

பாகிஸ்தானில் பிறந்த அக்மல் குழந்தைப் பருவத்தில் பிரிட்டனில் குடியேறினார். உர்முக் இனத்தைச் சேர்ந்த இவர் மீது சீனா நடந்து கொண்ட முறையால் இரு நாடுகளிடையே கருத்து மோதல்கள் எழுந்துள்ளன.

செப்டம்பர் 2007 இல் வட-மேற்கு சீனாவின் உருமுச்சி நகரில் 4 கிலோகிராம் எடையுள்ள போதைப்பொருள் அடங்கிய பையுடன் அக்மல் கைது செய்யப்பட்டிருந்தார்.

சுமார் 50 ஆண்டுகளுக்குப் பின்பு சீனாவில் மரணதண்டனை பெற்ற முதலாவது ஐரோப்பிய ஒன்றிய நபர் அக்மல் ஆவார்.

செவ்வாய், திசம்பர் 29, 2009


British police detain 2005 London bombings suspects

Three men suspected of involvement in the July 7 suicide bombings in London have been detained by terrorist police, in the first major arrests in the case following the attacks following a lengthy police investigation.

Two of the suspects were detained at Manchester Airport while they were attempting to board a plane to Pakistan, while the other was found in Leeds.

The arrests in Manchester occurred around 1300 GMT while the arrest in Leeds took place around 1600 GMT.

Fifty-two people were killed in the 2005 bombings on three London Underground trains and buses.  The devices used were detonated by four bombers.

Police are able to hold the suspects for twenty-eight days under the new anti-terror laws.  The four men have been held on the suspicion of the commission, preparation, or instigation of terrorist acts.


Attentats du 7 juillet 2005 à Londres : arrestation de trois suspects

Trois hommes soupçonnés de participation aux attentats du 7 juillet 2005 à Londres sont retenues par la police antiterroriste britannique, ce qui constitue les premières arrestations dans cette affaire, après une longue enquête de police.

Deux des suspects ont été arrêtés, jeudi 22 mars 2007, vers 13 heures, à l'aéroport de Manchester, alors qu'ils s'apprêtaient à embarquer dans un avion à destination du Pakistan, tandis que le troisième a été interpellé à Leeds, le même jour, vers 16 heures.

52 personnes avaient trouvé la mort, le 7 juillet 2005, dans trois attaques à la bombe quasi-simultanées (deux explosions survenues dans des rames de métro et une explosion survenue dans une station) suivies, une heure plus tard, par une explosion dans un autobus à impériale. Les quatre explosions avaient été déclenchées, dans chaque cas, par un terroriste qui s'était fait sauter en même temps que l'engin dont il était porteur.

En vertu de récentes lois visant à lutter contre le terrorisme, la police est habilitée à détenir les suspects pendant une période de vingt-huit jours. Les quatre hommes sont soupçonnés de préparation, d'instigation et de participation à l'exécution d'actes terroristes.


British sailors detained, released after yacht accidentally crosses into Iranian waters

Five British sailors traveling in a yacht in the Persian Gulf were detained and released by Iranian authorities after they accidentally crossed into Iranian waters. The sailors were on their way to a race then they suffered propeller problems and drifted into Iranian waters.

Iranian authorities interrogated the sailors and released them after they found no evidence of "bad intentions." They earlier warned that the sailors would face prosecution if they suspected any wrong doing.

"[There was] certainly no question of any malicious intent on the part of these five young people," stated the Iranian Foreign Ministry to the IRNA. The Revolutionary Guard stated, "after carrying out an investigation and interrogation of the five British sailors, it became clear that their illegal entry was a mistake."

Team Pindar composed of David Bloomer, Luke Porter, Oliver Smith, Oliver Young and Sam Usher, were travelling to the Dubai-Muscat Offshore Sailing Race, a 360-mile (580-kilometer) race when they were arrested on November 25. The race took place on November 26. The sailors were met by team representatives and are being escorted in their yacht out of Iranian waters.

David Miliband, the Foreign Secretary for the UK denies that the unconditional release was not a political move calling it a "human story" and that it had "nothing to do with politics. It's got nothing to do with the nuclear enrichment program."

A similar incident took place in July, but on land. Three American hikers, identified as Shaun Gabriel Maxwell, Shane Bower and Sara Short, were arrested on July 31 in the country after they crossed into Iranian territory. Reports say the hikers accidentally crossed into Iran while hiking between Halabja and Ahmad Awa in the Kurdish Region of Iraq.


ஈரானில் தடுத்து வைக்கப்பட்டிருந்த பிரித்தானிய பாய்மரப்படகுப் பயணிகள் விடுதலை

பிரித்தானியாவைச் சேர்ந்த ஐந்து பாய்மரப்படகு பயணிகளை ஈரான் விடுவித்திருக்கிறது. இவர்கள் ஈரானியக் கடற்பரப்பினுள் பயணித்த பின்னர் ஒரு வாரம் தடுத்துவைக்கப்பட்டிருந்தார்கள்.

துபாயில் துவங்கவிருந்த 580 கிமீ துபாய்-மஸ்கட் பாய்மரப்படகுப் போட்டியில் கலந்து கொள்வதற்காக அவர்கள் பாரேனிலிருந்து கடலில் பயணம் செய்து கொண்டிருந்தபோது ஈரானியக் கடற்பரப்பினுள் நுழைந்துவிட்டனர். இவர்கள் நவம்பர் 25 இல் கைது செய்யப்பட்டனர்.

அவர்கள் இரானிய கடற்பரப்பினுள் தவறுதலாக வந்துவிட்டனர் என்பது தெளிவாகிறது என்று ஈரான் தெரிவித்துள்ளது.

ஈரானியர்கள் இப்போது இந்த பாய்மரப்பயணிகள் மற்றும் அவர்களது சேதமடைந்த படகை பன்னாட்டு கடற்பரப்பினுள் இழுத்து வந்துகொண்டிருக்கிறார்கள். அவர்கள் அங்கு ஒரு கப்பல் மூலம் துபாய்க்கு கொண்டு செல்லப்படுவார்கள்.

பிரிட்டிஷ் வெளியுறவு அமைச்சர் டேவிட் மிலிபாண்ட் கருத்து வெளியிடுகையில், இந்த பயணிகளின் கஷ்டம் முடிந்துவிட்டது என்பதில் மகிழ்ச்சி அடைவதாகக் கூறியிருக்கிறார்.

வியாழன், திசம்பர் 3, 2009


British schoolboy found guilty of racial harassment of schoolgirl

A 15-year-old schoolboy was found guilty in Lincoln Youth Court in England yesterday of racial harrassment of a 14-year-old schoolgirl.  The case is regarded as a landmark case, the first such case of its kind.

Raymond Wildsmith, prosecuting, described the events. The boy had for a period of several months taunted the girl with racial epithets including "wog, coon, nigger, gorilla, and golliwog". He had told her to "Go back to your own country. You don’t belong here.", and chanted "White, white, white is right, kick them out, fight, fight, fight."

Unidentified sources told the Daily Mail that the boy had supported the British National Party, and had attempted to enlist other youths as supporters as well.

The girl, who was of mixed English and African heritage, had already changed schools once to avoid racial abuse.  She initially did not report the abuse at the new school, for fear that the boy would turn violent. The girl's parents first learned of it when she attempted to commit suicide, in January, by taking a combination of stress pills and painkillers. Her suicide note requested that people not wear black at her funeral.  She ended up in hospital, and then "sectioned" (involuntarily committed under the provisions of § 4 the Mental Health Act) to a psychiatric institution for several weeks.  She will now change schools again.

The boy was found guilty after a six-hour trial.  He is scheduled for sentencing on August the 13th. Another 15-year-old boy charged with the same offence was found not guilty.

Under § 45 and Schedule 2 of the Youth Justice and Criminal Evidence Act 1999 and § 49 of the Children and Young Persons Act 1933, it is illegal in England and Wales for news reports to identify either of the children involved in the case.


Британский школьник признан виновным в расовом домогательстве школьницы

Пятнадцатилетний школьник признан виновным мировым судом Линкольна в Англии позавчера в оскорблении по признаку расы по отношению к четырнадцатилетней школьнице. Дело признано вехой в судебной практике, не имевшей прецедентов ранее.

Рэймонд Уилдсмит, поддерживающий обвинение, описал события в суде по делам несовершеннолетних Линкольна. На протяжении нескольких месяцев мальчик дразнил девочку расистскими прозвищами, включая «местная рабочая, черномазая, ниггер, горилла и чучело». Он сказал ей «Убиратья в свою страну. Ты здесь чужая» и пел «Белые, белые, белые правы, вышвырните их, бейте, бейте, бейте».

Неназванный источник рассказал Daily Mail, мальчик поддержал Британскую Национальную партию и пытался привлечь к поддержке и других молодых людей.

Девочка англо-африканского происхождения однажды уже меняла школу, чтобы избежать расистских ругательств. Изначально она не сообщала о ругани в новой школе, боясь, что мальчик может стать более агрессивным. Родители девочки узнали об этом, когда она предприняла попытку самоубийства в январе, приняв горсть таблеток от давления и обезболивающих. Она просила в предсмертной записке не надевать чёрное на её похороны. Девочку доставили в госпиталь, а затем поместили в психиатрическое лечебное учреждение на несколько недель. Теперь она снова сменит школу.

Мальчик был признан виновным после шестичасового заседания. Исполнение приговора назначено на 13 августа. Другой пятнадцатилетний мальчик обвинялся в схожем правонарушении и был признан невиновным.

Согласно § 45 и приложению 2 Акта о молодёжном правосудии и документах о преступлении 1999 года, а также § 49 Акта о детях и молодых людях 1933 года, в Англии и Уэльсе является противозаконным для новостных репортажей идентифицировать детей, вовлечённых в дело.

24 июля 2009 года


British teacher convicted of insulting Islam in Sudan

Gillian Gibbons, the British teacher arrested in Sudan on Sunday for naming a teddy bear Muhammad, was charged on Wednesday, and tried, convicted, and sentenced yesterday to 15 days imprisonment for "insulting religion." The 54-year-old mother of two avoided a possible 40 lashes, but will be deported at the end of her sentence, which will run from the date of her arrest.

Following the speedy trial, British Foreign Secretary David Miliband summoned Sudanese ambassador Omer Siddig to the Foreign and Commonwealth Office to explain the verdict. During the 45 minute meeting Mr Miliband expressed "in the strongest terms" the government's concern at the sentence, and spoke by telephone to the Sudanese acting foreign minister.

According to early reports, parents had complained that Ms Gibbons had insulted the Prophet Muhammad, but when she was charged on Wednesday, this was revealed to be false. It was Sara Khawad, a secretary at the Unity High School where Ms Gibbons taught, who had complained to the Education Ministry and provoked Ms Gibbons' arrest last weekend.

Early Thursday morning, as vehicles filled with riot police watched the area and the press and colleagues of Ms Gibbons were denied access to the criminal courthouse in Khartoum, the trial got underway. The head of her legal team, Kamal Djizouri, was also denied access for a time.

Ms Khawad was one of four witnesses from the prosecution. Also testifying against Ms Gibbons was an accountant from the school.

Gillian Gibbons wept as she testified that she never wanted to insult Islam. She had allowed her six and seven year old pupils to vote on the name for a teddy bear that was part of a class project. The children had voted by 20 votes to 3 to name the bear Muhammad.

At the end of a seven-hour trial, the court found her guilty of "insulting the faith of Muslims". The Judge, Mohammed Youssef, rejected prosecution calls for a harsher sentence on the charge of "inciting religious hatred", which carries a punishment of up to 40 lashes, six months in prison and a fine.

After the trial, Ms Gibbons was taken to the crowded women's prison in Omdurman to begin the remaining 11 days of her sentence. Although the prison is more comfortable than many in Sudan, conditions are not good, and Ms Gibbons will have to rely on wellwishers to supply her with food and water.

An appeal against the sentence is expected.

The Assembly of the Ulemas, a body of Islamic clerics, said on Wednesday that Ms Gibbon's action was "another ring in the circles of plotting against Islam", and called for the harshest penalties to be applied. After Ms Gibbons was charged, a pickup truck drove through the Sudanese capital calling for protests against the alleged insult.

Some members of Ms Gibbons' defense team reported receiving death threats.

The authorities quickly scheduled the trial, and issued instructions to clerics not to deliver inflammatory sermons at Friday prayers about the case or against foreigners.

Major General Abdeen al-Tahir of the Khartoum police stated that protests would not be permitted.

After the trial, Ms Gibbons' chief lawyer described the verdict as "not bad", and her colleagues expressed relief that the sentence was not harsher.

The lawyer stated that the complaint was an act of revenge. Isam Abu Hasabu, director of the school's Parent-Teacher Association, claimed Khawad had been arguing with the principal before the incident.

The school, which according to press reports has issued a public apology and sacked Ms Gibbons, has been closed for security reasons since her arrest. The director said he was happy with the verdict: "It is fair. There were a lot of political pressures and attention."

Omar El Faroug Hassan Shumena, a legal consultant in Khartoum, said that he believed the judge had concluded the trial in a single day to reduce the chance of disorder after Friday Prayers.

Catherine Wolthuizen, chief executive of Fair Trials International, said Mrs Gibbons' punishment was still "harsh". She said: "It was a very speedy justice process.

After Ms Gibbons was charged, the Muslim Council of Britain (MCB) stated that they were appalled at the decision and called on the Sudanese President, Omar al-Bashir, to intervene to secure Ms Gibbons' release.

After the sentence, they further stated:

Ibrahim Mogra, also of the MCB, stated: "I'm utterly disappointed with this decision... The question that I would want the judiciary there and the authorities to ponder over is: How does this help the cause of Islam? What kind of message and image are we portraying about our religion and our culture?"

Mike Blakemore of Amnesty International said: "The sentence is a mockery of justice and Amnesty International consider Gillian to be a prisoner of conscience. She should be immediately and unconditionally released."

Dr Rowan Williams, Archbishop of Canterbury, said: "I can't see any justification for this at all. I think that this is an absurdly disproportionate response to what is at best a minor cultural faux pas. And I think that it's done the Sudanese government no credit whatever."

According to the BBC, the press in Sudan and the Middle East have largely ignored the case, but bloggers from Sudan have heaped scorn on the Sudanese authorities.


Teddybeer Mohammed levert Britse lerares 15 dagen cel op in Soedan

Afgelopen zondag werd Gillion Gibbons, een 54-jarige onderwijzeres uit Engeland, in Soedan gearresteerd omdat ze haar leerlingen een teddybeer Mohammed liet noemen. Omdat zij de islam hiermee zou hebben beledigd werd ze gisteren veroordeeld tot vijftien dagen gevangenschap. Eerder werd bekend gemaakt dat Gibbons mogelijk veertig zweepslagen zou krijgen, maar deze straf zal nu geen doorgang meer vinden. Aan het einde van de celstraf zal Gibbons het land worden uitgezet.


Buddhist UNESCO World Heritage site in India suffers terrorist attack

A 'terrorist attack' took place yesterday in the form of reportedly at least four explosions at the Mahabodhi Temple in Bodh Gaya, India. Four other explosions took place in the vicinity, including one near an eighty-foot tall statue of Buddha and three at Tergar Monastery. Three other bombs were discovered and all were diffused. Early reports claim little damage was done to the temple. Two Buddhist monks were injured. Police commented that Sundays are quiet days at the temple, or more could have been injured. One suspect has been arrested based on closed circuit television that recorded two men placing bombs at the temple.

Mahabodhi Temple is considered one of the holiest sites in Buddhism and in India. Totaling twelve acres, it is a designated UNESCO World Heritage Site. The temple is located next to the Bodhi tree, where Buddhists believe that Buddha achieved enlightenment. The bombs were described as "low-intensity but not crude," according to police. The bombs used comprised of a small container with gas, a detonator, and an analog clock. The bombs were timed to explode at 5:45 AM local time, when Buddhists start praying in the morning. The bombs actually went off starting at 5:25 AM and ending at 5:58 AM local time. Early reports state that while the temple suffered little damage, the staircase near the Bodhi tree suffered damage and windows were broken. The Bodhi tree suffered no damage. 200 monks live at the monastery, where daily classes take place during the times when the explosions happened. However, no classes were being held the morning of the attack.

The Ministry of Home Affairs has declared the explosions an act of terrorism. In October members of the Indian Mujahideen claimed to have visited Mahabodhi Temple to plan a terrorist attack. That led to the arrests of four suspects involved in the Indian Mujahideen, who were believed to have been involved in the 2012 Pune bombings. The four suspects named other members of the terrorist group and claimed that they planned to attack Mahabodhi Temple. The police in Delhi claim to have told the police in Bihar about the potential of a terrorist attack. Political conflict has risen in the wake of the attacks between the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and Indian National Congress. BJP is accusing the United Progressive Alliance, which is under the umbrella of the Indian National Congress, of ignoring the Indian Mujahideen's threats about attacking the temple.

The Ministry also believes that it could be tied to conflicts in Myanmar between Buddhists and Muslims, despite the rarity of violence against Buddhists in India. Additional security has been placed at Buddhist temples and Tibetan communities in India after the explosions. One suspect, Vinod Mistri, was arrested on Monday morning in Patna.


На месте просветления Будды в Махабодхи произошло 5 взрывов

Серия взрывов произошла сегодня — 7 июля 2013 года в буддийском храме Махабодхи в городе Бодх-Гая (индийский штат Бихар), где по легенде Гаутама Сиддхартха достиг просветления и стал Буддой. Пострадали два человека.

Первый взрыв произошел в 05:30 по местному времени. За ним последовали ещё четыре взрыва внутри храма и два на территории храмового комплекса (по другим данным всего взрывов было девять).
На место происшествия сразу прибыли полиция и сапёры.
Они обезвредили еще две бомбы. Пострадавшие — буддийский монах и паломник — доставлены в близлежащие больницы.

Все взрывы были малой мощности и не нанесли урона ни самому храму, ни святому дереву Бодхи. Оно было выращено, якобы, из семени дерева Шри Маха Бодхи на Шри-Ланке во времена царя Ашоки.
Это растение, в свою очередь, произошло от дерева Маха Бодхи, под которым медитировал Будда.

На место взрыва прибыли главный министр штата Бихар Нитиш Кумар и представители Национального агентства расследований (англ. National Investigation Agency), которое занимается делами, связанными с терроризмом.

Ни одна из организаций пока не взяла на себя ответственность за теракт.
Однако по некоторым данным, накануне взрывов полицейские получили информацию, что индийские моджахеды готовят атаку на буддистов в Бодх-Гая.
Якобы, они тем самым хотят отомстить за притеснение мусульман в соседней Мьянме.

Атаку осудил премьер-министр Индии Манмохан Сингх, заявив, что «нападения такого рода на религиозные святыни не допустимы ни в коем случае».

Храм Махабодхи расположен в 96 км от столицы штата Бихар, города Патны, и с 2002 года получил статус охраняемых объектов Всемирного наследия ЮНЕСКО.

7 июля 2013 года


புத்தகாயா மகாபோதி கோவிலில் குண்டுவெடிப்பு, இரு துறவிகள் காயம்

இந்தியாவின் பீகார் மாநிலத்தில் அமைந்துள்ள பௌத்தர்களின் புனிதத் தலமான புத்த கயாவில் நேற்று நடத்தப்பட்ட தொடர் குண்டுத் தாக்குதல்களில் இரண்டு பௌத்த துறவிகள் உட்பட ஐவர் படுகாயமடைந்தனர். இக்குண்டுத்தாக்குதல்கள் தொடர்பில் சந்தேகநபர் ஒருவர் கைது செய்யப்பட்டுள்ளார்.

தலைநகர் பாட்னாவில் இருந்து 60 மைல் தூரத்தில் அமைந்துள்ள மகாபோதி கோயிலில் வரிசையாக ஒன்பது இடங்களில் நேற்று ஞாயிற்றுக்கிழமை இக்குண்டுவெடிப்புகள் இடம்பெற்றன. கோயிலுக்குள் ஐந்து குண்டுகளும், கோயிலைச் சுற்றியுள்ள பகுதிகளில் மூன்று குண்டுகளும் சுற்றுலாப் பயணிகளின் பேருந்து ஒன்றின் அடியில் ஒரு குண்டுமாக மொத்தம் ஒன்பது குண்டுகள் வெடித்தன. மேலும் இரு குண்டுகள் வெடிக்காத நிலையில் செயலிழக்கப்பட்டுள்ளன.

நேற்று அதிகாலை 05:40 மணியளவில் சிறப்பு வழிபாடுக்கான ஏற்பாடுகள் நடந்து கொண்டிருந்த வேளையில் முதலாவது வளாகத்தினுள் வெடித்தது. இதனை அடுத்து கூடியிருந்த பக்தர்களிடையே பதற்றம் ஏற்பட்டது. இதனை அடுத்து மேலும் குண்டுகள் துறவிகள் மடப் பகுதி உட்படப் பல இடங்களில் வெடித்தன. மியன்மாரைச் சேர்ந்த இரண்டு பௌத்த துறவிகள் காயமடைந்தனர்.

இக்குண்டுவெடிப்புகளினால் மகாபோதிக்கோ, புனித அரச மரத்திற்கோ சேதம் எதுவும் ஏற்படவில்லை. எந்த இயக்கமும் தாக்குதலுக்கு இதுவரை உரிமை கோரவில்லை. குண்டுகள் வெடித்த தகவல் அறிந்ததும் பீகார் முதலமைச்சர் நிதீஷ்குமார் உயரதிகாரிகளுடன் உடனடியாக புத்தகாயா சென்றார்.

பல்லாயிரக்கணக்கான மக்கள் உலகெங்கிலும் இருந்து இங்கு வந்து வந்து வழிபடுகின்றனர். யுனெஸ்கோ இப்பகுதியை உலகப் பாரம்பரியக் களங்களில் ஒன்றாகப் பட்டியலிட்டுள்ளது.

இந்தியாவில் பௌத்தர்களுக்கு எதிரான தாக்குதல்கள் மிக அரிதாகவே இடம்பெறுகின்றன என செய்தியாளர்கள் தெரிவிக்கின்றனர். ஆனாலும், அண்மைக் காலங்களில் பர்மா, இலங்கை, வங்காளதேசம் ஆகிய நாடுகளில் முசுலிம்களுக்கும், பௌத்தர்களுக்கும் இடையே முறுகல் நிலை இருந்து வருகிறது.

திங்கள், சூலை 8, 2013


Bush nominates Harriet Ellan Miers for U.S. Supreme Court

President George W. Bush today nominated Harriet Ellan Miers to replace Sandra Day O'Connor as Associate Justice of the Supreme Court of the United States, who announced her retirement intentions July 1, 2005.

Bush originally nominated John G. Roberts, Jr. to replace O'Connor, but following the death of Chief Justice William Rehnquist, Roberts was renominated and confirmed as Chief Justice of the United States.

Bush's nomination was not totally unexpected because senators from both political parties reportedly suggested her as a potential nominee, and because she had lead Bush's search team for his second nominee. That mirrors Dick Cheney's selection as Bush's Vice Presidential candidate in 2000 after Cheney led the search team for that post.

Miers attended Southern Methodist University. She earned a bachelor's degree in mathematics, and a law degree. She was in private law practice from 1972 to 1999, served one term as a member of the Dallas City Council, and as Chair of the Texas Lottery Commission. Since Bush's 2000 election she served in a variety of roles in his administration, and is currently White House Counsel.

Some critics have opposed Miers' nomination, noting that she has never served as a jurist or argued a case before the Supreme Court. The White House in response noted that neither the late judge William Rehnquist nor 35 other past Supreme Court nominees had judicial experience before being named to the Court. It also noted that 10 of the last 34 justices appointed since 1933 were appointed directly from positions within the respective sitting presidents' administrations.

Senate hearings on the nomination are been scheduled for Thursday, Oct. 6, 2005 at 2:30pm

Chief Justice Roberts was confirmed with 78 to 22 favorable vote. In recent decades confirmation hearings have been more contentious because politicians have attempted to maintain a perception of balance on the court. While Associate Justice Ruth Bader Ginsberg was confirmed easily in 1993 following a 96 to 3 vote, Justice Clarence Thomas was confirmed by a 52 to 48 vote — largely along party lines.

The website justicemiers.com, which is running banner ads supporting the nominee, was registered September 29th, 2005 to Progress for America. The registration was made several days before the nomination was announced. According to SourceWatch, Progress for America is a non-profit organization closely associated with the Bush administration.


ブッシュ米大統領、マイヤー氏を米連邦最高裁判事に指名

ブッシュ米大統領は3日、ハリエット・エラン・マイヤー氏をサンドラ・デイ・オコナー前連邦最高裁判事の後任に指名した。オコナー元判事は今年7月1日に引退を表明していた。

ブッシュ大統領は元々ジョン・ロバーツ氏をオコナー元判事の後任に指名したが、ウィリアム・レンクィスト前連邦最高裁長官の死去に伴い、ロバーツ氏を後任の最高裁長官に改めて指名した。ロバーツ氏は先頃最高裁長官に就任したばかりである。

マイヤー氏の指名はそれほど驚くべきものではない。上院の民主党・共和党の両党はマイヤー氏を指名候補として提案していたと報道されている。またマイヤー氏はブッシュ大統領直属の指名候補選定チームの座長を務めていた。これは、2000年にディック・チェイニー氏が副大統領候補に指名されたとき、副大統領候補選定チームを率いていたことによく似ている。

マイヤー氏は、南メソジスト大学卒。数学と法学で学士号をとり、1972年から1999年まで弁護士として活動した。ダラス市議会議員およびテキサス州宝くじ委員会の議長を一期務めている。2000年にブッシュ大統領が当選して後は、行政府のいろいろな役職を経て、現在は大統領法律顧問を務めている。

マイヤー氏の指名には批判もある。マイヤー氏が判事としての経験がなく、連邦最高裁での裁判の経験もないことが指摘されている。これに対して大統領側は、レンクィスト前連邦最高裁長官を含め、過去36人の最高裁判事は、最高裁判事に指名されるまで司法職の経験がなかったことを指摘している。また大統領側は、1933年以来任命された連邦最高裁判事34人のうち10人が、政府内での仕事を前職としていたことにも触れた。

上院での聴聞会は、10月6日東部夏時間午後2時半から開始の予定である。

ロバーツ長官は上院で賛成78、反対22で承認された。ここ数十年の連邦最高裁判事の聴聞会は、最高裁を構成する裁判官の立場が偏らないようにしようと政治家が考えることで、どんどんと論議を呼ぶものになってきている。1993年のルース・ベーダー・ギンズバーグ判事は賛成96、反対3で承認されたが、1991年のクラレンス・トーマス判事は賛成52対反対48で承認された。この票差は議会内の共和・民主両党の議席配分にほとんど対応している。

ウェブサイトjusticemiers.comでは、指名されたマイヤー氏を応援するバナー広告を出している。このサイトは9月29日に保守系政治団体サイト「プログレス・フォー・アメリカ」[1]に登録された。登録は、マイヤー氏の指名が発表される数日前に行われた。ソースウォッチの調べによると、「プログレス・フォー・アメリカ」はブッシュ政権と非常に関係の深い非営利団体である。

英語版ウィキニュースからの翻訳です。


Bush signs historic Schiavo bill into law

President Bush approved a historic bill designed to keep brain-damaged Terri Schiavo on life-support, shortly after it was sent to him by the US House of Representatives.

"Today, I signed into law a bill that will allow federal courts to hear a claim by or on behalf of Terri Schiavo for violation of her rights relating to the withholding or withdrawal of food, fluids, or medical treatment necessary to sustain her life," said Bush's written statement.

Bush waited at the White House for the bill's arrival and signed it into law after returning early from a vacation at his Texas ranch.

The House passed the bill by a vote of 203–58 shortly after midnight in a rare Sunday session called at 9pm that night. Democrats objected to a call for unanimous consent earlier in the day. Although most members had left for the Easter break, 261 of the 435 House members returned for the vote.

Representatives debated the measure in the House from both sides.

Rep. James Sensenbrenner, a Wisconsin Republican, said of previous rulings in Florida that they were "enforcing a merciless directive to deprive Terri Schiavo of her right to life." He continued that the House should "reinforce the law's commitment to justice and compassion for all Americans, particularly the most vulnerable."

Democrat Robert Wexler of Florida disagreed, saying "Tonight this Congress is about to commit a travesty. Tonight congressional leaders are poised to appoint this Congress as a judge and a jury."

The US Senate had passed the bill by unanimous consent earlier in the day.

Terri Schiavo has been on life-support for over 15 years, and is currently cared for at a Florida hospice. She is considered by physicians to be in a "permanent vegetative state", while her parents contend that she is viable and that there is hope for recovery. Schiavo's feeding tube was removed on Friday after Florida courts ruled in favor of her husband, Michael Schiavo, who acts as her legal guardian in the matter. Terri Schiavo's siblings, and her parents, Bob and Mary Schindler, challenge this decision.

"We are very very thankful to have crossed this bridge," said Suzanne Vitadamo, Terri Schiavo's sister. "We are hopeful, we are very hopeful, that the federal courts will follow the will of Congress and save my sister's life."


Terri Schiavo będzie żyła

George Bush, który specjalnie wrócił wcześniej z pobytu na swoim rancho w Crawford w stanie Teksas, podpisał poprzedniego dnia rano uchwaloną przez Kongres USA nadzwyczajną ustawę, dzięki której sprawa Terri Schiavo zostanie skierowana do sądu federalnego Stanów Zjednoczonych.

Aparaturę podtrzymującą życie Terri Schiavo odłączono w piątek wieczorem zgodnie z wyrokiem sądu stanowego na Florydzie.


Bush uses his first veto ever on stem cell bill

U.S. President George W. Bush has used the first veto of his presidency on a bill for federal funding of scientific research which uses embryonic stem cells. The bill aimed to increase the number of stem cells lines in federally funded science. Despite the veto, the destruction of embryos to extract stem cells will still take place in scientific research; the research will simply not be funded by the federal government. It is illegal in the United States to create (through conception) embryos for the purpose of scientific research.

The bill had passed in the Senate 63-37, four votes short of a 2/3 majority needed to override the President's veto. The bill will go back to the House and Senate.

Bush had previously announced that he would veto this bill.

Bush described it as a step that would cross a "moral line". "This bill would support the taking of innocent human life," Mr. Bush said at the White House while surrounded by parents and children that were born as part of an embryo-adoption programme. "Each of these human embryos is a unique human life with inherent dignity and matchless value. These boys and girls are not spare parts."

Nancy Pelosi, House minority leader, said "the veto amounted to saying 'no' to hope. It is up to members of Congress to represent their constituents and vote to override the veto."

Many high-profile organizations — such as the Christopher Reeve Foundation and the Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson's Research — were actively advocating the passage of the bill.

The U.S. House of Representatives failed to override Bush's veto. The final vote was 235-193, which was 51 short of the 2/3 majority needed for a veto override.


Bush stoppt neues Gesetz zur Stammzellenforschung durch sein Veto

Washington D.C. (Vereinigte Staaten), 20.07.2006 – Durch sein Veto hat der US-amerikanische Präsident George W. Bush erstmals eine Gesetzesvorlage gestoppt. Dabei handelte es sich um ein Gesetz zur embryonalen Stammzellenforschung.

Am Dienstag hatte der Senat, eine der beiden Kammern des US-Kongresses, mit einer großen parteiübergreifenden Mehrheit von 63 zu 37 Stimmen beschlossen, die 2001 beschlossenen Einschränkungen für die staatliche Förderung der Stammzellenforschung wieder aufzuheben. Befürworter dieses als zukunftsträchtig geltenden Forschungszweiges verwiesen auf die möglichen Perspektiven bei der Heilung solcher schwer zu behandelnden Krankheiten wie Diabetes, Krebs, der Parkinson-Krankheit und Alzheimer. Für den US-Präsidenten stellt ein solches Gesetz, das auch von vielen Republikanern befürwortet wird, jedoch eine moralische „Grenzüberschreitung“ dar: „Dieses Gesetz würde Leben zerstören, um anderen vielleicht zu helfen.“

Bush begründete sein Veto heute vor der Presse im Beisein adoptierter Kinder und ihrer Eltern. Die anwesenden Kinder seien bereits als tiefgefrorene Embryonen adoptiert worden. Sie seien nicht als „Ersatzteile“ für die Stammzellenforschung zu verstehen.

Auch prominente Republikaner waren auf der Seite der Befürworter der Gesetzesinitiative zu finden wie die Frau eines ehemaligen Präsidenten, Nancy Reagan, deren Mann an Alzheimer gestorben war. Auch der kalifornische Gouverneur Arnold Schwarzenegger hatte an den Präsidenten appelliert, seine Einwände gegen das Gesetz zu überdenken. Mit seiner Linie stand Bush schließlich in einer Front mit Abtreibungsgegnern und den Vertretern der religiösen Rechten in den USA. In Umfragen war in den USA jedoch eine klare Mehrheit von Befürwortern der embryonalen Stammzellenforschung gefunden worden.

Nach Expertenschätzungen sollen 400.000 Embryos in Familienplanungskliniken lagern, deren Vernichtung absehbar ist, weil die Spenderpaare keine weiteren Kinder mehr wollen. Die Befürworter der embryonalen Stammzellenforschung argumentierten, diese Embryos könnten noch der Stammzellenforschung dienen, anstatt sie ihrer Vernichtung preiszugeben. Nur 128 dieser 400.000 Embryonen in den Kühlanlagen der Kliniken seien von nicht-blutsverwandten Paaren adoptiert worden.

Die von Präsident Bush vor fünf Jahren verfügte Einschränkung der Gewährung finanzieller Fördermittel für die Embryonenforschung hatte die Fortsetzung der Forschungsförderung für die Arbeit mit Stammzellenlinien erlaubt, die bereits vor August 2001 entstanden waren. Ebenso ist die Forschung in diesem Bereich weiterhin für Institute erlaubt, die sich dabei auf private Gelder stützen können. Kritiker wenden auch ein, es sei kein Unterschied zwischen dem Mord an Embryonen für Forschungszwecke und dem Töten der Embryonen, weil sie von den Spenderpaaren nicht mehr gebraucht werden, zu erkennen.

Die Gesetzesvorlage ist mit dem Veto des Präsidenten wahrscheinlich endgültig gescheitert, da zur Aufhebung des präsidialen Vetos eine Zwei-Drittel-Mehrheit im US-Kongress erforderlich wäre.


Bush veta lei sobre uso de células-tronco embrionárias

Na quarta-feira (19), o Presidente dos Estados Unidos da América, George W. Bush usou o primeiro veto a que tem direito na sua presidência em um projeto de lei federal sobre  pesquisa científica que usa células-tronco embrionárias.

O projeto de lei visava  aumentar o número de linhagens de células-tronco em pesquisas científicas fianciadas pelo governo.

Apesar do veto, a destruição de embriões para extrair células-tronco ainda se realizará na pesquisa científica; a pesquisa não será simplesmente financiada pelo governo federal. É ilegal nos Estados Unidos  criar (através da concepção) embriões com o objetivo de pesquisa científica.

O projeto de lei já tinha passado no Senado por 63 a 37. São necessários quatro votos de uma maioria de 2/3 para evitar o veto presidencial. A lei agora  voltará agora ao Congresso.

O Presidente Bush já anunciara  anteriormente que  vetaria esta lei.

Bush descreveu-a como uma etapa que cruzaria "uma linha moral".  "Esta lei  apoiaria a tomada de vida de pessoas inocentes",  disse o sr. Bush na Casa Branca, enquanto estava rodeado de pais e crianças que nasceram como  parte de um programa de adoção de embriões.  "Cada um desses embriões humanos é uma vida única com dignidade inerente e valor incomparável. Esses meninos e  meninas não são restos."

Nancy Pelosi, líder da minoria da Câmara, disse que "o veto é equivalente a dizer  "não" para a esperarança. Depende dos membros do Congresso representar os seus eleitores e   votar para ignorar o veto."

Muitas organizações conhecidas— como a Fundação de Christopher Reeve e Michael J. Fox para a pesquisa do Mal de Parkinson — defendiam ativamente a aprovação da lei.


Bystanders foil knife-weilding man on London Bridge with fire extinguisher, whale tusk

On Friday, 28-year-old Usman Khan stabbed reportedly several people at Fishmongers' Hall in London with a large knife, then fled up London Bridge. Members of the public confronted him; one man sprayed Khan with a fire extinguisher, others struck him with their fists and took his knife, and another, a Polish chef named Łukasz, harried him with a five-foot narwhal tusk. Khan was pinned to the ground. Police arrived and shot him dead. By reports on Saturday, two of Khan's victims died, and three others were seriously injured.

According to police, they received the first call about the attack at Fishmongers' Hall around 2:00 p.m. local time. Khan reportedly started attacking people there, and one of them died inside of the hall, according to The Times. Police reported the attacker exited the Hall and continued to attack others.

At the London Bridge, members of the public stopped Khan. According to videos posted on social media, people approached Khan armed with the fire extinguisher and the narwhal tusk and forced him to lie on the ground, after which a third person removed his knife. According to these videos and NPR, the police then surrounded the attacker aiming at him with their guns, moved a last bystander out of the way, and shot Khan.

The University of Cambridge had been hosting a program about criminal rehabilitation at Fishmongers' Hall called "Learning Together". According to a Twitter post by Amy Cook, director of the Learning Together event, the five-foot (one and two thirds meters) marine mammal tusk came from the wall in Fishmongers' Hall. Łukasz, who reportedly works at Fishmongers' Hall as a chef, having thus armed himself, participated in the chase and sustained a stabbing injury to his hand before the police arrived. Broadcaster Piers Morgan commented, "The guy with the whale tusk is a Polish chef named Luckasz. Worth noting this for the next time someone says, 'we've let too many Eastern Europeans into this country'."

Police also said Khan had appeared to be wearing a suicide vest, though it was later found to be a harmless fake.

One of the men who held Khan down was James Ford, 42, a convicted murderer approaching the end of his sentence at an open prison.  Another was tour manager Thomas Gray, 24, who cited only his experience with the sport of rugby: "'one in, all in'. I did what any Londoner would do and tried to put a stop to it."

"I am in awe of the people who ran towards danger to keep us all safe" tweeted Mayor of London Sadiq Khan (no relation). "The bravery of the emergency services and ordinary Londoners is incredible."

Khan was convicted of terrorism years ago for his participation in a London Stock Exchange bomb plan and served eight years of a sixteen-year sentence. He was released in 2018 and has been out on license, also called parole, and living in Staffordshire.

Lucy Fischer of The Times told NPR, "[Khan] had been released a year ago on the provision that he had agreed to wear an electronic tag, submit to curfews and restrictions to his movements".

"In the US there is a phenomenon 'suicide by cop'", Birmingham City University criminology professor David Wilson told the press. "[I]ncreasingly what we are seeing is some attackers wear pretend suicide vests as they prefer martyrdom than getting a sentence. I wonder if what we are seeing is another version of suicide by cop."


Un atentado terrorista en el Puente de Londres dejó como resultado al menos dos muertos

Por lo menos dos muertos a la fecha y más de cinco heridos es el resultado de un ataque perpretado por un terrorista en el Puente de Londres. El autor de los ataques fue abatido por las fuerzas policiales.

El ataque fue mediante apuñalamiento, las fuerzas policiales londinenses fueron alertadas a las 14 hs (hora de Londres) de que una persona estaba atacando con un cuchillo a las personas que caminaban por el lugar. Cuando arribaron los policías abrieron fuego contra el atacante que resultó muerto. El agresor tenía puesto un chaleco antiexplosivos falsos.

Al principio se reportaron varios heridos, más de cinco personas y con el paso de las horas y en consecuencia de la gravedad de las lesiones dos de las víctimas fallecieron. Los heridos fueron trasladados fueron trasladados a dos hospitales de la capital inglesa. Las autoridades están tratando de identificar a todas las víctimas, tanto las fatales como los heridos.

Como consecuencia del ataque la estación de tren del Puente de Londres se encuentra cerrada y los trenes no se detienen.


Londres : une attaque au couteau fait deux morts

Publié le 29 novembre 2019   Une attaque au couteau survenue à Londres, la capitale britannique, a provoqué la mort de deux personnes. L'assaillant portait une fausse ceinture d'explosifs selon la police. L'attaque s'est déroulée sur le London Bridge, où avait déjà eu lieu un attentat à la voiture-bélier en juin 2017. Les passants ont maîtrisé le suspect qui a été ensuite abattu par la police, comme l'indique Neil Basu, porte parole de l'antiterrorisme britannique : « Je peux confirmer que le suspect est mort sur place ». Boris Johnson, le premier ministre britannique, a « salué l’héroïsme des passants […] c'est un symbole de ce que le pays a de meilleur ». La scène a été filmée par plusieurs témoins. Trois personnes ont été blessées et emmenées à l'hôpital, dont une grièvement. Les deux autres personnes blessées sont mortes, a indiqué Cressida Dick, chef de la police de Londres, déclarant : « C’est le cœur très lourd que je dois vous informer que, outre le suspect, qui a été abattu par la police, deux des blessés de cet attentat […] ont tragiquement perdu la vie ». Le couteau utilisé serait en réalité une défense de narval, un animal marin, mesurant environ 1 mètre 50.

L'assaillant, dénommé Usman Khan, un homme de 28 ans, avait déjà été condamné pour terrorisme. Il était depuis un an sous bracelet électronique.

La police indique avoir été alertée à 13h58, heure de Londres (UTC). Le pont a ensuite été mis sous zone de sécurité par la police.

Neil Basu, déclare enfin : « Je suis maintenant en mesure de déclarer qu'il s'agit d'un acte terroriste […] les policiers sont en train de vérifier qu'il n'y a pas d'autres dispositifs. Les cordons de sécurité vont rester en place pendant un certain temps ».


Mierder gewónde bie sjtaekpartie op London Bridge

Veurblaad - Lètste verangeringe, Willekäörige pazjena, Veur pagina's in, Alle artikele - De Kaffee, Zandjbak, Hölp, Spellingshölp - Nuujseuverzich

De Britse pelissie haet 'ne manskaerel doedgesjote op London Bridge in 't centrum vanne sjtad. Det bevestig de pelissie vanne Britse huidsjtad aan Sky News. Aanleijing veur de pelissieinzet waor 'n sjtaekpartie woebie mierder gewónde zeen gevalle. De pelissie behanjelt 't incident es 'nen terreurdaad, zoe meldde ze aan 't begin vannen aovend. De verdachte zouw 'n nepbóm óm zeen lief höbbe gebónje.

Twie vanne gewónde zeen later gehiemeld.

Dit artikel besleit aad nuujs en maak deil oet van oos arsjief van nuujsberichte.


Steekpartij bij London Bridge, drie doden

Bij een steekincident in het centrum van de Britse hoofdstad Londen zijn vrijdagmiddag drie doden (inclusief de dader) en drie gewonden gevallen. De Londense politie heeft laten weten de zaak te behandelen als een geval van terrorisme. Terreurgroep IS heeft inmiddels de verantwoordelijkheid opgeëist. IS heeft verklaard dat de dader "gehoor gaf aan onze oproep om burgers uit alle landen die deel uitmaken van de internationale coalitie [tegen IS] te treffen".

Het incident gebeurde om 13:58 plaatselijke tijd bij Fishmongers' Hall (en), in de nabijheid van London Bridge. Vanwege Black Friday was het er juist extra druk. De dader stak willekeurig in op een groep mensen. Twee slachtoffers overleden aan hun verwondingen. De dader zou een vals bomvest hebben gedragen. Hij werd na zijn daad overmeesterd door omstanders, waarna men hem het mes afhandig wist te maken. Een van de mannen die de dader overmeesterden gebruikte een narwalslagtand die hij uit een restaurant had gehaald. Toen de dader zich bleef verzetten, werd hij door de politie neergeschoten en bezweek later aan zijn verwondingen.

Inmiddels is er meer bekend geworden over de dader; het gaat om de 28-jarige Usman Khan, die in 2012 ook al was veroordeeld wegens "aan terreur gerelateerde" misdrijven. In december 2018 werd hij voorwaardelijk vrijgelaten. Hij zou zijn geïnspireerd door Al Qaeda. Zijn woning in Staffordshire wordt doorzocht.

Vanwege het gebeurde hebben sommige Britse partijen hun campagne in aanloop naar de verkiezingen van 12 december stilgelegd.

Tweeënhalf jaar geleden was er op nagenoeg dezelfde plek ook een aanslag.[1] Opvallenderwijs was er vrijdagavond ook een steekpartij aan de Grote Marktstraat in Den Haag, daarbij vielen drie gewonden.


Cairo court retrial: Al Jazeera journalists sentenced to three years’ jail

Al Jazeera journalists Canadian Mohamed Fahmy, Egyptian Baher Mohamed, and Australian Peter Greste were sentenced yesterday to three years in prison by judge Hassan Farid following a retrial of the 2013 case in Cairo.

The three men were accused of and charged with aiding banned Egyptian organization the Muslim Brotherhood, broadcasting false information, and operating without a press license within Egypt. Fahmy and Mohamed were present at the courtroom in Cairo's Tora Prison, while Greste was deported to Australia in February following an overturned conviction, and as a result was tried in absentia after an ordered re-trial.

Australian Minister for Foreign Affairs Julie Bishop has commented on the court's decision, saying she would use all diplomatic means available with the Egyptian minister of foreign affairs to clear Grestse's name. Al Jazeera continue to deny the accusations.

"The situation is a challenge to journalism as a whole. If this stands unchallenged, this formula will be repeated elsewhere. Journalists should not be imprisoned for doing their jobs. Journalism is not a crime", stated Al Jazeera online.  They indicated intent to appeal the verdict to the Court of Cassation.

Peter Greste tweeted on the verdict: "Shocked. Outraged. Angry. Upset. None of them convey how I feel right now. 3 yr sentences for @bahrooz, @MFFahmy11 and me is so wrong."


Jornalistas do Al Jazeera são condenados à três anos de prisão no Egito

Os jornalistas da Al Jazeera, o canadense Mohamed Fahmy, o egípcio Baher Mohamed e o australiano Peter Greste foram condenados ontem a três anos de prisão pelo juiz Hassan Farid seguido a novo julgamento do caso de 2013 no Cairo.

Os três homens foram acusados de ajudar a organização egípcia banida Irmandade Muçulmana, transmitir informação falsa e operando sem licença de imprensa dentro do Egito. Fahmy e Mohamed estavam presentes em sala do tribunal na Prisão de Tora, no Cairo, enquanto Greste foi deportado para Austrália em fevereiro, após uma condenação revogada e como resultado foi julgado in absentia (à revelia), após nova ordem de julgamento.

A ministra de Relações Exteriores da Austrália, Julie Bishop comentou sobre a decisão do tribunal, dizendo que ela iria usar todos os meios diplomáticos disponíveis com o ministro de Relações Exteriores egípcio para limpar o nome de Grestse. Al Jazeera continua a negar as acusações.

"A situação é um desafio ao jornalismo como um todo. Se isso permanece não desafiado, esta fórmula será repetida em outros lugares. Jornalistas não devem ser presos por fazer o seu trabalho. Jornalismo não é um crime", afirmou online Al Jazeera. Eles indicaram intenção de apelar o veredito para o Tribunal de Cassação.

Peter Greste twitou sobre o veredicto:


California judge jails Michael Jackson doctor

Dr. Conrad Murray, the doctor of the deceased singer Michael Jackson, has been given a four year prison sentence by a judge in the US city of Los Angeles, California, based on a charge of involuntary manslaughter, the maximum sentence he could receive for this offense. Steve Whitmore, a spokesperson for Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department, told CBS News that Assembly Bill 109 would automatically halve the sentence to two years.

In November of this year, after a six week trial, a jury found Murray guilty of providing Jackson with an excessive amount of propofol, which caused his death in 2009. Judge Michael Pastor condemned Dr. Murray's actions, calling his behavior a "continuous pattern of lies and deceit" and him a "danger to the community", having committed a "horrific violation of trust". Murray may also lose his medical license.

In the aftermath of the sentencing, Katherine Jackson, the mother of Michael Jackson, told KTLA: "Four years is not enough for someone's life. It won't bring him back but at least he got the maximum." Jackson expressed thanks to the prosecutors and the judge, calling the latter "very, very fair". Meanwhile, Jermaine Jackson, Michael Jackson's brother, said "[o]ne hundred years is not enough".

The defense had requested probation as Murray already faced "a lifetime sentence of self-punishment" and life-long reputation as "the man who killed Michael Jackson". The judge refused to allow probation, saying it wasn't justified by Murray's actions.


Lekarz Michaela Jacksona skazany na 4 lata więzienia

Osobisty lekarz piosenkarza Michaela Jacksona, Conrad Murray, został uznany winnym nieumyślnego spowodowania śmierci piosenkarza i skazany na cztery lata więzienia oraz pozbawiony prawa wykonywania zawodu.

Sensacyjny proces trwał sześć tygodni. Sędziowie już drugiego dnia obrad doszli do porozumienia uznając Murraya winnym podania Jacksonowi, w dniu 25 czerwca 2009, zbyt dużej ilości propofolu – silnego leku usypiającego. Tego samego dnia piosenkarz został znaleziony martwy w swoim domu w Los Angeles.

Murray został uznany winnym nieumyślnego zabójstwa króla muzyki pop już 7 listopada 2011. 29 listopada 2011 wydano wyrok, nie zgadzając się z prośbą obrońcy o karę w zawieszeniu.


Лекару Мајкла Џексона четири године затвора

29. новембар 2011.Лос Анђелес/ Калифорнија (Beta) - Амерички лекар Конрад Мари, који је почетком новембра проглашен кривим за убиство из нехата поп певача Мајкла Џексона, осуђен је у уторак на четири године затвора за то дело.

Судија Мајкл Пастор рекао је, изричући казну, да је за то дело било могуће одредити и условну казну, али да он није сматрао да је Мари заслужује, преноси Би-Би-Си на сајту.

Пастор је навео да се у судском поступку више пута показало да Мари следи „доследан образац лагања и извргавања чињеница“.

Маријеви адвокати тражили су условну казну, наводећи као аргумент да је њихов клијент већ осуђен на доживотну казну „самокажањавањем због тога што се догодило“.

Суд ће у јануару поново заседати, а тада ће се расправљати о захтеву тужиоца за обештећење Џексонове породице.


California student arrested in criminal threats made on Wikipedia

A student at Glen A. Wilson High School in Hacienda Heights, California was arrested Friday on suspicion of making criminal threats against students. The student arrested, described as a male minor by Hacienda La Puente Unified School District police, confessed to making threats against students at the high school via a post to the Wikipedia article about the school.

The student was arrested on Friday at approximately 11:30 a.m. PDT, according to a statement from Hacienda La Puente Unified School District Department of Police and Safety Chief Al Vasquez made to Pasadena Star-News. The student made "a complete confession", said Superintendent Barbara Nakaoka to the Whittier Daily News. She also said that "Our police officers are continuing to work with the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department to determine the validity of the threat."

Sheriff's Lt. Victor Sotelo told the Whittier Daily News that the police filed a "detain petition" which recommends that the minor not be released to his parents, and be held at Juvenile Hall. The California Youth Authority will decide what happens next to the boy. Lt. Sotelo said that law enforcement searched the student's home and recovered evidence.

A Wikipedia administrator by the username Dreadstar notified others about the threat in a post to the "Administrators' noticeboard" on Wednesday at 8:58 p.m. PST, saying: "Can someone review this threat to see if any action should be taken?" John Reaves, another Wikipedia administrator, contacted local police in Los Angeles at 9:40 p.m. PST, and was in contact with a detective in order to work with the Internet service provider to find more information on the IP address that made the threat.

Los Angeles County sheriff's officials contacted Hacienda La Puente Unified School District police and informed them of a threat made against Glen A. Wilson High School posted to its article on Wikipedia. Two threats were made via posts to the Wikipedia article: an initial post, and a subsequent threat when the first post was removed by a Wikipedia editor.

The Los Angeles Times quoted a portion of the threats: "This is a warning. Do not remove this from this page. On Friday, April 18, 2008, there will be a shooting at this school. Current list of victims to be shot on this day: ...", said the initial post. The post named a hit list of specific students, and also said a shooting would affect "a good majority of the badminton team and almost every single fob." The poster threatened: "Take this text down and it will guarantee their death..."

While police were in the process of contacting the specific students named in the threat, a second threat was made on Wikipedia: "You removed my last edit. I gave you a fair warning. Now the people listed in my previous edit will be victims in the Glen A. Wilson Shooting to occur this Friday. Your lack of attention to the seriousness of my warning will now be the reason as to why you will receive all fault of this event." The threats were later removed from the edit history of the article by Wikipedia administrator Persian Poet Gal, at 9:08 p.m. PDT on Friday, after the student had been arrested.

All students' backpacks were searched before classes began Thursday. At the time Hacienda La Puente Unified School District police told the Pasadena Star-News that the random checks were a precautionary measure related to the upcoming anniversary of the Columbine High School massacre, which took place April 20, 1999. Eric Harris and Dylan Klebold killed 12 students and a teacher and wounded many others in Columbine High School in Colorado before committing suicide.

Classes were canceled at the high school on Friday. In a statement to the Los Angeles Times, Chief Al Vasquez explained the decision to close the school: "If I had not thought it was credible, we would not have closed the school. I mean, not one but two threats." Chief Vasquez said that the high school would be open for classes on Monday.


תלמיד תיכון מקליפורניה נעצר לאחר שפרסם בוויקיפדיה כי יבצע טבח בבית ספרו

תלמיד בתיכון גלן א. וילסון בעיירה הסיינדה הייטס שבקליפורניה נעצר ביום שישי בחשד כי איים לפגוע בחבריו לספסל הלימודים ולבצע בהם "טבח". התלמיד, קטין תושב המקום, התוודה בפני חוקרי המשטרה כי אכן ביצע את האיומים בערך על התיכון בוויקיפדיה האנגלית.

הפרשה נתגלתה על ידי מפעיל מערכת בוויקיפדיה האנגלית אשר שם לב לאיום בערך על התיכון וביקש עצה משאר מפעילי המערכת כיצד לנהוג בדבר. האיומים צוטטו בלוס אנג'לס טיימס, בלשון: "זוהי אזהרה. אל תסירו דברים אלו מעמוד זה. ביום שישי, ה-18 באפריל 2008, יפתחו באש בתיכון זה. רשימת הקורבנות הנוכחית ליום זה היא:...". האיום כלל רשימה של מספר תלמידים ספציפים וכן "רוב נבחרת הבדמינטון וכמעט כל הרמאים". הטקסט נחתם במילים כי הסרתו מהערך "תבטיח את מותם".

לאחר שאחד מעורכי ויקיפדיה הסיר את הטקסט הפוגעני, הועלה איום נוסף בלשון: "הסרתם את דברי הקודמים. נתתי לכם אזהרה הוגנת. עכשיו האנשים שהופיעו ברשימה שפרסמתי יהיו קורבנות "הטבח בתיכון גלן א. וילסון" שיתרחש בשישי הקרוב. חוסר ההתייחסות שלכם לרצינות אזהרותי תהיה עתה הסיבה לכך שתקבלו את מלוא האשמה באירוע זה". גם עריכה זו הוסרה ולבסוף אף נמחקה כליל מרשומות האתר.

ג'ון ריבס, מפעיל מערכת אחר בוויקיפדיה האנגלית, יצר קשר עם כוחות המשטרה בלוס אנג'לס ופעל יחד עימם לאיתור מקורה של כתובת ה-IP ממנה נכתבו האיומים. לבסוף, כאמור, נעצר הצעיר, ובמקביל נערכו חיפושים בתיקי התלמידים בתיכון הקליפורני. חוקרי המשטרה ממשיכים לחקור את האירוע ואת אמינות האיומים, ובינתיים הגישו בקשה לבית המשפט לשכן את הצעיר בבית מחסה לקטינים והמליצו שלא ישוחרר לחזקת הוריו.

ביום שישי, התאריך המיועד של הטבח, ביטלו מנהלי בית הספר את הלימודים מחשש לחיי התלמידים. האירועים התרחשו בסמוך למועד בו בוצע הטבח בתיכון קולומביין, בו ירו אריק האריס ודילן קלבולד בתלמידים בבית ספרם ורצחו 12 אנשים.

19 באפריל 2008


Student arresterad för hot gjorda på Wikipedia

Publiceringar 20 april • april 2008 • kvartal 2 • vecka 16


California's same-sex marriage ban ruled unconstitutional; appeal expected

United States Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit

A federal judge in San Francisco has ruled that California's Proposition 8, which bans same-sex marriage in the state, violates the Equal Protection Clause and the Due Process Clause of the 14th Amendment to the United States Constitution.

"Plaintiffs challenge Proposition 8 under the Due Process and Equal Protection Clauses of the Fourteenth Amendment," wrote U.S. District Chief Judge Vaughn R. Walker. "Each challenge is independently meritorious, as Proposition 8 both unconstitutionally burdens the exercise of the fundamental right to marry and creates an irrational classification on the basis of sexual orientation."

Proposition 8, which was passed by California voters by referendum in November 2008, banned same-sex marriage in the state, which had been legal after a California Supreme Court ruling on May 15, 2008. The proposition's passage did not reverse the marriages of thousands of same-sex couples who had gotten married in the state in the interval.

The case, Perry et al. v. Schwarzenegger et al., was heard by Chief Judge Walker. Anticipating a defeat, the pro-Proposition 8 coalition of "defendant-intervenors" filed this morning a "motion for stay pending appeal", asking the court for its ruling to not take effect unless the decision is upheld by the 9th Circuit Court of Appeals; both sides in the case say an appeal is inevitable.

Speaking for LGBT rights group Lambda Legal, Jennifer C. Pizer said, "In holding that Prop 8 cannot stand because it violates the equal protection and due process rights of California’s lesbian and gay couples, this decision adds to the growing consensus in courts and legislatures across the country that there are no good reasons for excluding same-sex couples from marriage." Courtenay Semel, an actress and LGBT activist, told Wikinews "today marks another day in history! A big win for equal marriage. It's about time that progress is being made towards equality for all."