Russia's state security service, the FSB, has accused British diplomats of spying in Moscow. It backed claims made in a Russian TV report which showed footage of what it said was British agents retrieving data from a fake rock planted on a street. The programme also said a UK diplomat made regular payments to Russian non-governmental organisations. The UK Foreign Office said it was "concerned and surprised", and denied any improper conduct with Russian NGOs. Reuters news agency quoted an unnamed FSB spokesman as saying that "everything that was shown [in the programme] was true and based on our information". The programme said four officials from the UK embassy and one Russian citizen, allegedly recruited by the British secret service, downloaded classified data from a transmitter in the rock onto palm-top computers. According to the programme, the Russian citizen was later arrested. Hidden camera footage appears to show individuals walking up to the rock. ... http://news.bbc.co.uk censor News |
Editor - 10:57:00 01-23-06 |
Case of brain-damaged girl gets independent review |
Saying "errors in judgment were made," Gov. Mitt Romney on Monday announced an independent investigation into the state's handling of the case of a brain-damaged 11-year-old girl at the center of a right-to-die battle. Haleigh Poutre was allegedly beaten into a coma last year by her adoptive mother and stepfather, who fought the state's efforts to disconnect the girl from her life support. The state's highest court granted the state permission last week to disconnect her from her ventilator and feeding tube. But the next day, the Department of Social Services revealed her condition had improved and was breathing on her own. Romney, a Republican who is considering a run for president in 2008, said he will establish a panel to review the girl's entire 10-year case log with the Department of Social Services. ... http://www.usatoday.com/news/nation/2006-01-23-lifesupportstruggle_x.htm?csp=34
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Editor - 10:54:00 01-23-06 |
Ford owners not told of ways to reduce fuel-tank fire risk |
North Carolina (CNN) -- The parents of three sisters burned to death in a rear-end crash are asking Ford Motor Co. to install the same gas tank protective devices in regular models as it did for its police cars.Tara Parker, 29, Mysti Poplin, 24, and Megan Howell, 16, died two years ago inside a Lincoln Town Car limousine that burst into flames after it was caught in a traffic jam and hit from behind by a speeding pick-up truck in Greensboro, North Carolina.Ford settled out-of-court with the families last week, days before their lawsuit was to be heard. The terms of the settlement were not disclosed.In 2002, after a dozen police officers had died in fiery rear-end crashes over a decade's time, Ford created rubber and plastic shields to cover sharp parts around the fuel tank of the Crown Victoria police car to help prevent punctures and fires.... http://www.cnn.com/2006/US/01/23/ford.fires/index.html?section=cnn_us
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Editor - 10:53:00 01-23-06 |
Swiss bank UBS AG cancels business with Iran, Syria |
Swiss banking giant UBS AG said Sunday it has stopped doing business with Iran because of the company's economic and risk analysis of the situation in the country. UBS will no longer deal with individuals, companies or state institutions such as Iran's central bank, company spokesman Serge Steiner said. A similar policy is also being implemented in the case of Syria, he said. All existing business with customers in Iran will be canceled, but Iranians in exile are not affected by the decision, Steiner said, confirming an article in Swiss weekly SonntagsZeitung. ... http://www.buffalonews.com/editorial/20060123/3026649.asp
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Editor - 10:45:00 01-23-06 |
Building collapses in Nairobi; at least 11 killed |
A five-story building collapsed Monday in central Nairobi with more than 280 construction workers inside, killing at least 11 people and injuring more than 70, witnesses and officials said. Rescuers dug into the rubble with their bare hands while the injured were loaded into any available car to be taken to hospitals. The hand of one trapped person could be seen waving for help from under a concrete beam. Tens of thousands of people ran to the site, clogging roads and climbing atop the debris to watch the rescue. Riot police used truncheons to beat back the crowds and to clear roads for emergency vehicles At the same time, however, police called for anyone with emergency training to come to the scene and help the rescue. Kenyatta General Hospital appealed for blood donations. Dozens of soldiers, firefighters, police officers and Red Cross workers responded, using crow bars and metal cutters to free those trapped. ... http://www.usatoday.com/news/world/2006-01-23-kenya_x.htm?csp=34
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Editor - 10:41:00 01-23-06 |
IAEA chief: no broad Iran report for February meeting |
The International Atomic Energy Agency chief on Monday refused EU and U.S. requests for a broad report on Iran's disputed atomic work in time for a February 2 IAEA crisis meeting, saying he needed more time to prepare one.Mohamed ElBaradei's response, whose text was obtained by Reuters, said he had given Iran until a regularly scheduled March 6 board session to answer questions about its nuclear program, which the West suspects aims to make nuclear bombs. "Due process, therefore, must take its course before (we) are able to submit a detailed report," ElBaradei wrote.... http://abcnews.go.com/US/wireStory?id=1533260
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Editor - 10:33:00 01-23-06 |
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