Submariners World News Sitrep

Sebastian Vettel wins Singapore Grand Prix

Sebastian Vettel of Red Bull Racing has won the Singapore Grand Prix, after McLaren’s Lewis Hamilton was forced to retire early in the race. Hamilton was ahead from the start, but a gearbox failure dealt a major blow to his world title hopes. Jenson Button's McLaren took second from Ferrari's Fernando Alonso, who leads the championship from Vettel by 29 points.

­Ten suspected foreign militants arrested by Indonesia’s anti-terror squad

Indonesia’s anti-terror squad, Detachment 88, have arrested 10 Islamic radicals, uncovering a dozen homemade bombs and plans to attack the government and security forces. Nine were arrested in Solo, central Java island, and another was caught in Melawi in central Borneo island. The two in Solo had been recruiting young men and instructing them on how to make bombs. Since March, more than 30 foreign militants have been arrested in Indonesia.

Russia’s ex-defense minister dies in Moscow

­Russia’s former Defense Minister Pavel Grachev died in Moscow hospital on Sunday. The cause of his death has not been revealed. Grachev was hospitalized on September 12 in a critical condition. Pavel Grachev served as defense minister from 1992 until 1996.

Two killed, 45 injured as suicide bomb hits Catholic church in Nigeria

A suicide bomber has blown himself up in St. John’s Catholic Church, Bauchi, in northern Nigeria. Two people have been killed and 45 have been wounded in the incident. The blast happened around 9am on Sunday morning, as the congregation attended early morning mass. It was reported that the bomber had been stopped at the church’s gates before detonating the explosives. A radical Islamist sect named Boko Haram has been blamed for many church attacks in Nigeria this year, killing over 680 people.

Four killed, 6 injured in Iraq bombings

­At least four people have been killed and another six injured in two separate bomb explosions in Iraq. The first explosive, placed under a minibus, went off in Sadr City north of Baghdad, claiming the lives of two people. The second blast took place in the city of Mosul after the roadside bombed exploded near the patrol car killing two soldiers.

Nine climbers killed, 6 missing in an avalanche in Nepal

­A German, a Nepalese, and seven other climbers have been killed, following an avalanche in the Himalayas. A further six are missing. Rescue pilots spotted the seven on the slopes of the world’s eighth-highest mountain, Mount Manaslu, shortly after recovering the bodies of the first two. Ten other climbers who were on the same team survived the incident, but are suffering from injuries. They include three French citizens and two Germans, who have now been transported to Nepal’s capital, Katmandu. The avalanche hit the climbers at a camp 22,960 feet up.

Anonymous takes down Eritrea embassy website

­Anonymous has taken down the website of the embassy of Eritrea in the US as Sunday marks the 11th year since Swedish-Eritrean writer and journalist Dawit lsaak was imprisoned without trial in Eritrea, the hacktivist group said on Twitter.  Swedish Foreign Minister Carl Bildt has said recently that the government is working to free Issak, arrested and imprisoned after writing articles that were critical of the Eritrean regime. The journalist gained Swedish citizenship in 1992.

Israel’s foreign minister rejects Camp David Accords revision

­Avigdor Lieberman, Israel’s foreign minister, has publicly rejected the possibility of making any alterations to the security annex of the Camp David Accords. Cairo has not yet asked Israel to make the changes, but is expected to submit proposals in forthcoming days. Lieberman told Israeli public radio that “there is not the slightest possibility that Israel will accept the modification of the peace treaty with Egypt.” Tensions have become more strained, owing to recent attacks in the Sinai region, and Egypt would like to increase its military presence in the area to counteract the terrorist presence.

Pakistan distances from minister’s filmmaker bounty

­The Pakistani prime minister’s office said the government has nothing to do with the bounty which Railway Minister Ghulam Ahmad Bilour is offering for the death of the filmmaker behind a contentious anti-Islam movie. The move is his personal initiative, which does not reflect the official position of the cabinet, a spokesman assured. He added action may be taken against the minister, but the issue is still being discussed.

Islamist militant group claims responsibility for deadly attack on Sinai border

­A jihadist group based in Sinai claimed responsibility for Friday’s border attack which left an Israeli soldier dead, and another wounded, SITE intelligence group reported on Sunday. Ansar Bait al-Maqdis (Partisans of Jerusalem) termed the attack a “Disciplinary Invasion Against those who Dared Against the Beloved Prophet.” The group accused the recent prophet film of having Jewish backing. Israeli military killed the three men involved in the assault which took place on the Sinai Peninsula, between Egypt and Israel. It was the second of its kind in less than two months. The same group has claimed responsibility for a previous attack on a pipeline delivering gas to Israel, and rocket attacks on Israel.

Belarus opposition boycotts parliamentary elections

­The two main opposition parties in Belarus are boycotting Sunday’s parliamentary elections amid suggestions of electoral fraud. The parties, United Civic and the BPF, have urged the population not to participate in voting, claiming that Belarus’ parliament is merely a rubber stamp chamber for President Aleksandr Lukashenko’s commands. The elections will only be considered legitimate if the turnout is higher than 50 per cent.

Explosion strikes Catholic church in northern Nigeria

­An explosion has occurred in a Catholic church in St. John’s Catholic Church, Bauchi, in northern Nigeria. The blast happened around 9am on Sunday morning, as the congregation attended early morning mass. It is currently unknown whether there have been any casualties. A radical Islamist sect named Boko Haram has been blamed for many church attacks in Nigeria this year, killing over 600 people.

Hacker jailbreaks iPhone 5 on release day

Grant Paul, a San Francisco-based software hacker and open-source enthusiast, claims he has beat iPhone 5 software restrictions, which is called a jailbreak, less than 24 hours after the smartphone’s release. He posted photos of an iPhone 5 with Cydia, an open-source app not available at the Apple store, installed on his Twitter account. The hacker told All Things Digital that it took him just half an hour from first tuning it on to a jailbroken device.

Iran ex-president’s daughter reportedly jailed

Faezeh Rafsanjani, a former member of Iranian parliament and daughter of ex-President Akbar Hashemi Rafsanjani, was sent to prison to serve a six-month term for anti-state propaganda, Iranian media reported. She was convicted in January. Faezeh Rafsanjani and her father both played a part in 2009 protests in Iran, which followed the presidential election in the country. At the time she was briefly detained. Akbar Hashemi Rafsanjani, one of the key figures of the Islamic Republic, lost his position as the head of the state clerical body, the Assembly of Experts, in March 2011.

Two climbers killed and 13 missing in Nepal avalanche

­A German and a Nepalese have been killed, and 13 others are missing following an avalanche in the Himalayas. The missing climbers are said to include Germans, French and Nepalese individuals. Ten other climbers who were on the same team have survived the incident.

China suspends ceremony honoring diplomatic ties with Japan over isles row

­China on Sunday postponed a ceremony marking the 40th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic ties with Japan, over an ongoing territorial dispute, Xinhua news agency reported. "Due to the current situation, the Chinese side has decided that the reception commemorating the 40th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations will be postponed until an appropriate time," the agency cited one official as saying. The ceremony was scheduled for September 27. Tensions are running high between the countries since the Japanese government purchased from a private owner three islands in a tiny uninhibited archipelago between the two, which China also lays claim to.

First official Chinese visits Afghanistan since 1966

­China’s domestic security chief Zhou Yongkang has become first senior Chinese official to visit Afghanistan in nearly 50 years, despite sharing 76 km of border with the country. The four-hour visit took place on Saturday and has not been made known until now, on account of Chinese security fears. Since 1966, Afghanistan has been afflicted by military coups and two major wars involving the United States and its allies, and the former Soviet Union. The visit is evidence of increased foreign interest, and diplomatic relations between the two countries are developing as the withdrawal of coalition forces in 2014 draws nearer.

Egyptian President Morsi urges US to change policy towards Arabs

­Egypt’s leader Mohamed Morsi has called for the US to change its approach towards the Arab world, in an interview to New York Times. The Egyptian president has pointed out that America should respect Arab history and culture while carrying out its diplomatic relations with Muslim countries. The statement came on the eve of the leader’s first visit to the US as Egypt’s president.

Egypt’s Islamist leader calls for criminalization of Islam contempt

­The head of the ultra-conservative islamist Salafi Nour party has called for the Egyptian president and other Muslim leaders to address UN with a demand to criminalize the contempt of Islam. The Nour party now ranks as the second-largest party in the Egyptian parliament, playing an important role in the country’s political life. The statement of its leader comes amid the massive anti-US protests following an American-made movie insulting the Prophet Mohammed.

Saudi Arabia cancels National Day festivities in solidarity with Syrian people

­Saudi Arabia’s King Abdullah has canceled festive opera performances within the 82d National Day celebrations across the country. The King’s decree was intended to show the kingdom’s solidarity with “the brothers of Syrian people,” reported the Saudi Press Agency (SPA).The UN estimates that around 20,000 people, mostly civilians, have been killed since the uprising against Syrian President Al-Assad began some 18 months ago. About 2.5 million Syrians are in urgent need of humanitarian assistance.

Shelling across Syria leaves 220 dead – opposition

­The Syrian Local Coordination Committees, an opposition organization, claim that 220 people have been killed across the country in the aftermath of shelling during the weekend, allegedly by government troops. The attacks left 66 people killed in the capital Damascus, 60 in Aleppo province, and 43 in Hama province, the opposition sources say. The bloody conflict in Syria has been going on for over a year-and-a-half, claiming around 20,000 lives, according to UN estimates.

Prostitute in Strauss-Kahn sex case retracts allegations - report

­France is to shelve the inquiry into accusations of group rape by former IMF chief Dominique Strauss-Kahn and three other men. French newspaper Le Figaro reported on Saturday that a prostitute considered a crucial witness has changed her deposition, saying the sex was consensual. The investigation began in May, with Strauss-Kahn accused of connections with an alleged prostitution ring in the French city of Lille.

Egypt’s Supreme Court upholds dissolution of parliament

Egypt’s Supreme Court has upheld last summer’s decision to dissolve parliament.  The 2011 verdict deemed the legislative body  unconstitutional. The court ruled against an appeal by a former lawmaker who wanted the court to reinstate two-thirds of the People’s Assembly, only excluding the third that was deemed to have been elected illegally in the November 2011 elections. The High Constitutional Court had earlier ruled that the elections law that voted-in members of parliament to the lower house of parliament was unconstitutional. The assembly was consequently dissolved by the Supreme Council of the Armed Forces. Days after president Mohamed Morsi was sworn in, he attempted to reinstate the assembly, but his order was found to be legally flawed.

Sectarian clashes in Yemen kill 12

­At least 12 people have been killed in ongoing clashes between Shia tribesmen and ultraconservative Sunnis in northern Yemen, AP reports citing Yemen security officials. Fighting between former Hawthi rebels and Salafi Islamists claimed nearly 200 lives last year. The Hawthis, who are Shia, fought a six-year war against former President Ali Abdullah Saleh until a cease-fire was reached in early 2010. Since Saleh stepped down as president, the Hawthis have aligned with the former president's loyalists to fight the Salafists, who are members of the opposition Islah Party.