Viktor Bout, convicted in a US court of conspiring to sell weapons to Colombian FARC rebels, is being moved to an Illinois prison, say his lawyers. Bout was notified of the upcoming move on Tuesday, and the Brooklyn prison where he was held now declares that it is not housing the man. Earlier the US Bureau of Prisons said Bout would serve his 25-year term in a medium security prison in Illinois, not in the USP Florence supermax in Colorado, where they wanted to place him originally.
Muslims suing NYPD over surveillance
Eight Muslims have filed a federal lawsuit to force the New York Police Department to stop surveillance and other intelligence-gathering practices targeting Muslims. The plaintiffs claim that the police activities were unconstitutional because they are based on religion, national origin and race. It is the first lawsuit to directly challenge the NYPD's surveillance programs, AP reported.
Chinese dissident dies in hospital, suicide questioned
Chinese dissident Li Wangyang was found dead in a hospital in central China’s province of Hunan, his relatives were told Wednesday. Hospital authorities say he hanged himself on a bandage, but Li’s family and human rights activists suspect that security personnel may have faked a suicide after beating him. Li was a labor activist who spent over 20 years behind bars after the 1989 crackdown on the Tiananmen Square protests in Beijing. In 2011 he was released, but remained on constant security watch.
Annan to present life vest measures for Syria peace plan
UN-Arab League envoy Kofi Annan is to present a new proposal to rescue his peace plan for Syria to the UN Security Council on Thursday. The 15-member council will hear the plan, providing for the creation of a "contact group" of world and regional powers, during a special session. The group is to work out a "political transition" for Damascus that would lead to Assad stepping aside and the holding of free elections.
US Defense Secretary says drone attacks will continue in Pakistan
Defense Secretary Leon Panetta said the US will carry on with drone strikes against terrorist threats as long as it is necessary to protect America’s security. His comments came two days after a US drone strike killed al-Qaeda’s second in command. Panetta’s comments are likely to further strain relations between the US and Pakistan amid continued drone attacks. Panetta dismissed out of hand accusations the strikes were a violation of Pakistan’s sovereignty.
Papal spokesman says time needed to restore trust in Scandal-rocked Vatican
Only time will return trust within the Vatican city-state following the “Vatileaks” scandal that prompted the arrest of Pope Benedict’s butler, the pontiff’s spokesman said on Wednesday. Paolo Gabriele, the Pope’s butler, was arrested on May 23 after papal documents were found in his Vatican apartment. Gabriel was questioned by the Vatican Tribunal for the second day straight on Wednesday.The leaks scandal was first sparked after private Vatican correspondence was published earlier in January.The documents pointed towards corruption in the Vatican’s business deals with Italian companies.
Nine Russian paratrooper firefighters die in forest fire in Tuva
Nine Russian paratrooper firefighters have died extinguishing a forest fire in the Republic of Tuva, officials said on Wednesday. The incident occurred in the Baitaginsky district, as 13 paratroopers were trying to put out the crown fire. All the paratroopers were professional and experienced firefighters, the Federal Forestry Agency said. A state of emergency was declared in Tuva on June 5 due to the blaze.
American novelist Ray Bradbury dies at 91
The science fiction master and American novelist Ray Bradbury has died at the age of 91.His family and biographer confirmed his passing at his Los Angeles home.Bradbury was best known for penning several highly influential novels, including Fahrenheit 451, The Martian Chronicles, and The Illustrated Man.
Newly found body parts sent from Montreal – Canadian police
Body parts mailed to two Vancouver schools were sent from Montreal, Canadian police said on Wednesday. They believe the parts are linked to the killing and dismemberment of a Chinese student, AP said. The suspect in the dismemberment case, Luka Rocco Magnotta, was detained in Berlin on Monday and is expected to be extradited to Canada.
France says new Syrian government ‘masquerade’
France's government has accused Syrian President Bashar al-Assad of a “masquerade” in naming a new prime minister amid the conflict. French Foreign Ministry spokesman Bernard Valero said the Syrian leader “remains stubbornly deaf to the demands of his people,” AP reports. Riad Farid Hijab was appointed prime minister on Wednesday. A new government will be formed following parliamentary elections. Valero called the elections a “pretense,” adding that the appointment of a new premier “constitutes a new evasion, a masquerade.”
Afghan officials accuse Taliban of poisoning schoolgirls
The Afghan government has said the Taliban tried to poison students at girls' schools, causing outbreaks of sickness. The authorities arrested 15 suspects, including 12 identified Taliban insurgents, AP reports. The insurgents allegedly bribed students and workers to sneak poison into drinking water or spread it around school grounds, intelligence service spokesman Latifullah Mashal said on Wednesday. Under Taliban rule, girls were banned from going to school.
US Treasury Secretary to warn Syria of tough UN move
US Treasury Secretary Timothy Geithner is expected to call for countries to exert “maximum financial pressure” through sanctions on the Syrian government. In excerpts of remarks to be delivered on Wednesday he says however that sanctions alone cannot achieve the political change necessary in Syria, AP reports. Geithner warns that unless Syria demonstrates “meaningful compliance” with current UN efforts to end the violence, the US and other states will take actions “including, if necessary, Chapter 7 action in the UN Security Council.” This authorizes actions that could include the use of military force.
Bomb targets US embassy in Benghazi
A bomb has targeted the US embassy offices in the eastern Libyan city of Benghazi. An embassy official said the improvised explosive device hit outside the gate of the offices late on Tuesday. No one was injured, Reuters reports. The Libyan government was asked to increase its security around US facilities. The US main embassy is in the capital Tripoli.
Health of Egypt's Mubarak deteriorates – reports
Former Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak's physical and psychological state is deteriorating, the country’s media say. He has been suffering severe depression since his arrival at the Tora Prison Hospital, according to sources at the facility. Mubarak, 84, was admitted to the prison on Saturday, following his life sentence for complicity in the killing of demonstrators.
2 NATO service members killed as coalition helicopter crashes in Afghanistan
The US-led coalition has said one of its helicopters has crashed in Afghanistan, killing two NATO service members. No other information was released about Wednesday’s crash in eastern Afghanistan. The cause of the incident was not immediately clear and is being investigated.
Russian, Chinese leaders oppose use of force, threats against Iran
Moscow and Beijing oppose threats or use of force against Iran, President Vladimir Putin and his Chinese counterpart Hu Jintao have said. The leaders signed on Wednesday a joint statement on the results of the Russian president’s visit to China. The two countries do not approve of pressure on Iran or adopting unilateral sanctions against it. Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said earlier on Wednesday that additional sanctions against Iran would be “absolutely counterproductive.”
Russia urges broader international meeting on Syria
Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov called on Wednesday for a broader international meeting on the crisis in Syria. Bodies with real influence on different opposition groups should take part in the meeting, he noted, specifying Turkey, Iran, the Arab League, Organization of the Islamic Conference and the EU. The goal of such a meeting would be different to the Friends of Syria meetings which are devoted to supporting Syria's National Council and its radical demands, and would focus on fulfilling Kofi Annan's peace plan, Lavrov stressed.
Nigeria rescuers end search for victims of plane crash
Nigerian officials have ended the search for bodies in Sunday's plane crash that killed 153 people onboard and more on the ground. Yushau Shuaib, a spokesman for Nigeria's National Emergency Management Agency, said on Wednesday searchers had completed their work at the scene. Officials are now trying to determine how many people were near the site of the crash when the plane went down, AP reports.
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