Submariners World News SitRep

German police ban nationalists from using anti-Islam cartoons in rally

Police in the German city of Bonn banned the nationalist Pro-NRW party from carrying anti-Muslim cartoons during a rally planned for Saturday. The demonstrators were also denied permission to gather at an Islamic academy, media reports said. Police did not ban the rally, but will deploy a thousand officers to patrol the venue. Around 100 participants are expected to protest for “freedom of speech” and against “Islamists’ extremism,” German media reported. The nationalists claimed their action is a response to Islamist attacks against Western diplomatic missions in Muslim countries.

Starbucks to open first cafe in India next month

Starbucks, the world’s biggest coffee chain, announced on Friday it will open its first outlet in India next month. The firm is entering India in a joint venture with the nation’s beverage-to-steel Tata conglomerate, making an initial $78 million investment, AFP reported. Starbucks initially planned to open 50 outlets in India by the end of 2012 when it first announced the venture in January. Analysts expect the company will use the first cafe as a test run for further expansion in a country famed for its love of tea.

Russia proposes October summit between six nations, Iran

Moscow has proposed an October meeting between Iran and representatives from six international mediators, Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Sergey Ryabkov said on Friday. He noted that so far, “there is no understanding that this meeting is possible within this timeframe.” Moscow hoped that “there will be no strike on Iran either this or next year,” Itar-Tass quoted him as saying. Ryabkov did not specify a venue for the proposed summit.

Del Ponte may join UN Syria war crimes inquiry – reports

Carla del Ponte, the International Criminal Court's former chief prosecutor, will likely be tapped on Friday to join a UN investigation into war crimes in Syria, diplomats said. Switzerland proposed that del Ponte, a former Swiss attorney-general, join the panel as a commissioner, Reuters reported. On Friday, the UN Human Rights Council extended the mandate of the Syria inquiry by another six months.

Christian Egyptian families flee town after threats

Several Christian families fled their homes in Egypt's Sinai Peninsula after receiving death threats from suspected Islamist militants, officials and residents said. Last week, flyers began circulating in the town of Rafah on the Gaza Strip border demanding that its small community of Coptic Christians leave, AFP reported. Authorities took no action after being informed of the threats by officials from a local church. One family left Rafah after a shop they owned was fired upon. There were conflicting reports on whether Rafah’s Christians left voluntarily or were evicted. A local official revealed the families had asked the governor of North Sinai to be transferred to the nearby town of Al-Arish.

371 killed in Pakistan floods

Monsoon flooding in Pakistan has killed 371 people, the Pakistani National Disaster Management Authority reported on Friday. The agency also said that the floods impacted nearly 4.5 million people, AFP reported. The hardest-hit areas are in the country’s southern province of Sindh, where 2.8 million people were affected. Flooding also swept the southwestern province of Baluchistan and the southern part of Punjab province.

Greek electricity workers to hold 48-hour strikes

On Friday, Greece's electricity workers announced they will begin rolling 48-hour strikes next week to protest austerity measures pegged to an international rescue loan. The strike at state-controlled utility PPC will begin as early as October 1 if the government submits new austerity measures to parliament next week, Reuters quoted representatives of labor union GENOP-DEH as saying. If the vote takes place later in the month, the strikes will be postponed until then. Previously, similar strikes led to rolling power outages across the country.

Marseille residents force out Roma

Residents of a suburb in the southern French city of Marseille forced a group of Roma (Gypsy) families to leave their temporary encampment. An estimated 35 Roma peacefully moved from the site in Marseille’s 15th district, police said. Residents later burned everything left behind by Roma, local media said. Residents of a housing complex reportedly forewarned authorities of the action, alleging that the Roma “had tried to enter buildings.” France’s Socialist government has been criticized for continuing the policy of dismantling Gypsy camps and “repatriating” Roma to Romania and Bulgaria, first enacted by conservative former President Nicolas Sarkozy.

UN human rights group extends Syria war crimes inquiry

The UN’s top human rights body extended the mission of a panel of independent experts investigating alleged war crimes in Syria. The panel's mandate was due to expire at the end of the month. On Friday, members of the 47-nation Human Rights Council voted 41 to three in favor of a resolution put forward by Arab states, the AP reported. The panel, led by Brazilian Paulo Sergio Pinheiro, blamed Syrian government forces for the majority of war crimes committed during the ongoing conflict.

Disgraced Chinese politician Bo Xilai accused of multiple crimes

On Friday, China's ruling Communist Party accused former senior politician Bo Xilai of abuse of office, accepting bribes and other crimes. Bo will be handed over to police for criminal investigation, Reuters reported. Bo's wife Gu Kailai was jailed for the murder of British businessman Neil Heywood in the southwestern city of Chongqing, where Bo served as head of the local Communist Party branch. “Bo Xilai's actions created grave repercussions, and massively damaged the reputation of the party and the state,” the government statement said. Bo was previously expelled from the party, as well as the Politburo and Central Committee.

China leadership succession congress scheduled for November 8

On November 8, China's ruling Communist Party will hold a congress to appoint a new generation of leaders, Xinhua reported, citing decision by the Politburo made on Friday. President Hu Jintao, Premier Wen Jiabao and other longtime leaders are expected to step down at the 18th Party Congress. The new leadership will likely be led by current Vice President Xi Jinping. The handover will then be formalized at the annual meeting of parliament, likely in March next year, Reuters said. Xi is rumored to be the top candidate for China’s presidency, and Li Keqiang for the premiership.

Ex-Finance Minister Steinbrueck to challenge Merkel in 2013 - reports

Germany's center-left Social Democrats tapped former Finance Minister Peer Steinbrueck to challenge Chancellor Angela Merkel in next year’s election, German media reported, citing party officials. Steinbrueck, 65, helped the country navigate the 2008-2009 financial crisis. This week, Steinbrueck presented a plan for “taming financial markets” that is expected to be the centerpiece of the Social Democrats’ campaign. Two other potential candidates for the race are ex-Foreign Minister Frank-Walter Steinmeier, and party chairman Sigmar Gabriel.

Two G4S officers resign over UK Olympics contract debacle

Two leading officials at G4S resigned following the company's mishandling of security at the 2012 London Olympics and Paralympics. G4S announced Friday the resignations of COO David Taylor-Smith and Managing Director of Global Events Ian Horseman Sewell, the AP reported. However, a performance review did not uncover “significant shortcomings” in CEO Nick Buckles’ performance, and he will keep his current position. The board’s review said the scope of the Games led the company to fail to “recognize the challenges the Olympic contract would impose,” and that ineffective monitoring of the security workforce also “led to problems.”

Google loses Brazil court battle over mayoral candidate video

Google was forced to block a YouTube video that allegedly slandered a mayoral candidate in Brazil after the company lost a court battle that saw the brief arrest of its head of operations in the country, AFP reported. Google announced late Thursday that it had restricted access to the video, which the court deemed slanderous against Alcides Bernal, a candidate for mayor of Campo Grande in Mato Grosso do Sul state. Google Brazil director Fabio Coelho said that his arrest warrant was issued while the company was waiting for their case’s appeal to be heard. On Tuesday, a Sao Paulo court gave Google ten days to remove any video on YouTube containing scenes from the infamous ‘Innocence of Muslims’ video that sparked protests across the Muslim world.

12 police officers killed in Iraq prison attack

At least 12 police officers were killed in clashes at a prison in the central Iraqi city of Tikrit, 160 kilometers north of Baghdad, officials said on Friday. Some 83 prisoners escaped after militants seized the facility on Thursday night, and the prison has since been retaken, AFP quoted Salaheddin province’s deputy governor Ahmed Abdul Jabbar as saying. Other sources in the province’s police department reported that 15 officers and seven prisoners were killed in the violence, and around 100 prisoners escaped.

Slovenia ‘does not need EU bailout’ – PM

Slovenian Prime Minister Janez Jansa said that his country does not need an EU bailout, despite its crippling banking crisis. Slovenia will overcome the threat of bankruptcy on its own, he told the AP. Possible solutions to Slovenia’s crisis could include reforms to the country’s banking laws, and the purchase of 3 to 4 billion euros in bad debt from state-owned banks, Jansa said. Slovenia, once the richest of the six former Yugoslav republics, is in the grips of a severe recession. The country’s debt-to-GDP ratio is under 60 percent, compared to Spain’s 75.9 percent.

Kenyan military captures Somali rebel stronghold of Kismayu

Kenyan and Somali government troops captured Somalia’s southern port city of Kismayu, a Kenyan military spokesperson said on Friday. The city was considered to be the last stronghold of rebel militants of the Islamist group Al-Shabaab, Reuters said. Spokesperson Cyrus Oguna confirmed that reports of Kismayu falling to Kenyan and Somali troops were “indeed very true.”

4 killed in blast at South Korea chemical factory

Four people were killed and eight others injured in an explosion at a chemical factory in South Korea on Thursday, police said. The incident occurred in the southeastern city of Gumi at an industrial complex where TV and other electronic components are manufactured, news agency Yonhap reported. The cause of the blast has not been identified. As a precaution, police ordered 600 residents to leave the area.

At least 19 dead, 3 critically injured in Nepal plane crash

­At least 19 people have died and three people have been critically injured in a plane crash in Nepal, Xinhua reports. The Sita Air twin-engine propeller plane crashed near the Manohara River while en route to Lukla, in Nepal's Mount Everest region just after takeoff, killing sixteen passengers and three crew members. Police said firefighters were battling flames at the crash site.

Iran 'reserves full right to retaliate' against Israel and allies

­Iran has responded to Israel's "red line" speech at the UN General Assembly by saying it has the right to a full-force retaliation if attacked. Iran's representative to the UN said that Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu had made "baseless and absurd allegations against [its] exclusively peaceful nuclear program." and added that Israel "on a daily basis, threatens countries in the region, particularly my country [with] military attack," in a written statement. Earlier on Thursday, the Netanyahu tried to convince the world that Iran might have enough enriched uranium to build a nuclear weapon by next summer. He urged the UN General Assembly to draw a "red line" for the Iranian nuclear program.

Japan “stole” disputed islands - Chinese FM

­Speaking at the UN General Assembly in New York, Chinese Foreign Minister Yang Jiechi has accused Tokyo of "stealing" disputed islands in the East China Sea that are claimed by both countries. "They can in no way change the historical fact that Japan stole" the Diaoyu/Senkaku islands, which have been at the center of violent protests in China, Yang said in a speech.

Plane with 19 onboard crashes in Nepal

­A plane with 19 people onboard has crashed in Kathmandu while en route to Lukla, in Nepal's Mount Everest region. The Sita Air twin-engine propeller plane crashed near the Manohara River on the southwest edge of the Nepalese capital just after takeoff. Police said firefighters were battling flames at the crash site. The plane’s three crew members are Nepalese. The identities of the passengers are not yet known.

Four killed in chemical factory explosion in South Korea

­At least four people have been killed and eight injured in a South Korean chemical factory explosion at an industrial complex in the city of Gumi.  Authorities fear that the toll may rise due to the severity of injuries caused by the flames. Several people living near the factory were also treated after inhaling toxic gas. The cause of the explosion in the television and electronic components manufacturer is still being determined. Six hundred people have been evacuated as a precautionary measure.

Two dead, three in critical condition in Minneapolis office shooting

­At least two people have been killed, and four are wounded after a workplace shooting at a Minneapolis sign business, police and hospital officials said. Three are in critical condition. Local media report that the shooter arrived at the Accent Signage Systems office after being fired from his job that morning. It is alleged that the gunman may have been targeting specific employees. He was also known to police prior to Thursday's incident, reports MyFoxTwinCities.com. It is also alleged that the shooter has shot himself in the corner of the basement of the office.

California signs social media protection laws

­California's governor has signed two bills that increase privacy protections for the state's social media users. The laws prohibit universities and employers from requiring applicants to give up their email or social media account passwords. “The Golden State is pioneering the social media revolution and these laws will protect all Californians from unwarranted invasions of their personal social media accounts,” said Governor Jerry Brown. Employers are currently barred from firing or disciplining staff who refuse to give up information related to their social media accounts.

Clinton urges “cool heads” in Sino-Japanese border dispute

­Washington is urging China and Japan on to keep "cool heads" in dealing with the dispute over islands in the East China Sea. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton told Chinese Foreign Minister Yang Jiechi on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly meeting that it was important to reduce the tentions over the Diaoyu/ Senkakus islands, and that Japan and China should engage in a dialogue. China and Japan both claim the islands and have been in a stalemate after Japan purchased them from a private party. The dispute has sparked nationalistic sentiments and has seen both countries send patrols to the islands, raising concerns that an unintended collision or other incident could escalate into a broader clash.

Pentagon reviews mine-detecting drone after successful exercise

­The Kingfish, a sonar-equipped American submarine, is being assessed by the US State Department after a prototype underwent vigorous tests during US military exercises in the Persian Gulf this month, says Vice Admiral John W. Miller. Miller says the drone sub was used for the first time internationally during maneuver exercises including more than 30 nations that concluded this week. The Kingfish could be deployed with the Bahrain-based 5th Fleet and in other places around the

Hackers in Philippines attack government sites over new cybercrime law

­"Anonymous Philippines" has hacked several government websites in retaliation for a cybercrime law put on the books earlier this month. The hackers posted messages denouncing the new legislation on the sites of the country's central bank, the Manila water service and other agencies, saying the law violated people's rights. "The Philippine government has just passed a bill that effectively ends freedom of expression in the Philippines," their message read. The new law can jail anyone who commits libel on the Internet including tweets, blogs or Facebook messages. Other acts prohibited are “cybersex,” online child pornography, illegal access to computer systems or hacking and online identity theft.

NASA finds signs from Martian water history

­Traces of a once-existing stream on the Red Planet have been discovered by NASA. Scientists estimate the water ran somewhere between ankle- and hip-deep. The Curiosity rover’s images support scientists’ speculation that Mars was once warmer and wetter. Evidence of water has been found on the Red Planet in the past, but this is the first time stream bed gravels have been discovered.

US evacuates Tripoli Embassy staff

­Washington is temporarily reducing Foreign Service and other personnel from its embassy in Tripoli, Libya for security reasons, the US State Department reports. Officials said the move will be reviewed by next week with the possibility of returning the embassy's staff as soon as possible. The temporary reduction in staff follows the death of the US Ambassador to Libya and three of his staffers in Benghazi on September 11 of this year.

Smolensk crash victim families responsible for initial body mix-up - Polish prosecutor

­Relatives are being blamed for wrongfully identifying the bodies following the Smolensk plane crash tragedy, which resulted in wrongful burials, Polish Attorney General Andrzej Seremet has told the country’s parliament. The plane crash in Russia that killed Polish President Lech Kaczynski and 95 others in 2010 caused new outrage after Polish military prosecutors confirmed through autopsies and DNA analysis that the bodies of two people were switched and consequently buried in the wrong graves. Four more bodies feared to be misplaced will be exhumed. Seremet hopes further analysis will determine who was responsible for the confused burials.