Submariners World News SitRep

Israel says it killed Arafat deputy al-Wazir in 1988

Israel has admitted it killed the deputy of Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat in a 1988 raid in Tunis. Palestinian leaders have long accused Israel of assassinating Khalil al-Wazir, also known as Abu Jihad. Israel’s military censor cleared Yediot Ahronot daily to publish the information and an interview with the commando who killed the deputy, AP said. Abu Jihad founded the Palestinian Liberation Organization with Arafat. He was blamed for a series of attacks against Israelis.

Baghdad opens biggest trade fair in 20 years

Iraqi Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki opened on Thursday the country’s biggest trade fair in more than 20 years. More than 1,500 companies from Iraq and 21 other countries are taking part in the Baghdad International Fair, AFP said. The event will be run until November 10 under heavy security. Iraq’s energy sector accounts for around two-thirds of gross domestic product, but it only accounts for 1 per cent of employment. Baghdad has also looked to invite foreign companies to rebuild infrastructure.

Two Socialists quit Greek coalition ahead of austerity vote

Lawmaker Michalis Kassis and Mariliza Xenogiannakopoulou, a former health minister, on Thursday quit their Socialist Party, delivering a blow to Greece's coalition. The move was taken ahead of a vote next week on US$17.5 billion in additional spending cuts and tax increases over two years, AP reported. The government has chosen to pursue the same policies “that have had such dramatic financial and social consequences,” Xenogiannakopoulou wrote in a letter to the party leadership. Kassis' resignation reduces the coalition's representation in the 300-member parliament to 175. Center-right Prime Minister Antonis Samaras formed a three-party coalition with the Socialists and the Democratic Left party after June elections.

Russia remains 39th in WEF Financial Development Report ranking

Russia has been named 39th again in the World Economic Forum (WEF) Financial Development Report ranking this year. The WEF thinks Russia still lacks the necessary level of commercial access to funding and other weaknesses include institutional reform, a weak banking sector and banking system, Interfax reported. Among the country’s strengths the business environment, financial markets and non-banking financial services were mentioned. The report covers 62 countries with the most developed financial systems and capital markets and ranks them by 120 criteria.

Georgian PM appoints special envoy for relations with Russia

Georgian Prime Minister Bidzina Ivanishvili has introduced the post of a special representative of the PM for relations with Russia, the Georgian government said. Ivanishvili also appointed a leading diplomat, Zurab Abashidze, to the post. “We know Zurab Irakliyevich well. He spent many years here as an ambassador, and often came on various missions in later years,” Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Grigory Karasin told Interfax on Thursday.

IOC starts investigation into Armstrong’s Olympic medal

The IOC is launching a probe that could result in Lance Armstrong losing his Olympic bronze medal for doping. The IOC will "immediately" look into the Olympic involvement of Armstrong, other riders and officials implicated in the US Anti-Doping Agency report, AP said. Armstrong was formally stripped of his seven Tour de France titles by cycling's governing body last week. He was third in the time trial at the 2000 Sydney Olympics. Levi Leipheimer, who won the time-trial bronze at the 2008 Beijing Games and has admitted to doping, is also under scrutiny.

US allocates $26mn for Jordan's air control system

The US Air Force has awarded Lockheed Martin Corp. a $26 million foreign military sales contract to modernize the Jordanian air force's air command and control infrastructure. The US Embassy in Amman on Thursday confirmed the development, AP said. Lockheed Martin's system, known as Omnyx-tm, provides an integrated, real-time air picture across command centers and remote sites. US and British military experts have been helping Jordan boost its military capacity as the conflict in Syria is continuing.

Beijing floats new plan for ceasefire in Syria

China has proposed a new initiative on a ceasefire in Syria. It includes proposals such as a “ceasefire region by region and phase by phase, and establishing a transitional governing body,” Foreign Ministry spokesman Hong Lei told reporters on Thursday. The new plan was proposed to international envoy on Syria Lakhdar Brahimi, who was visiting China on Wednesday. Military option “offers no way out,” Hong said, commenting on the plan.

Argentina lawmakers lower voting age to 16

Argentina’s Chamber of Deputies has approved a law to lower the legal voting age from 18 to 16. The bill was sponsored by President Cristina Kirchner's former chief of staff and had already passed the senate, AFP said. Voting is compulsory for Argentines aged 18 and older - some 29 million people. It will be optional for those aged 16 and 17, some one million people. The move could strengthen Kirchner’s populist bloc ahead of next year’s legislative elections. Critics say lowering the voting age is aimed at winning a majority to change the constitution in order to allow the president to seek a third term.

China democracy advocate sentenced to 8 years for ‘subversion’

A Chinese court has sentenced democracy advocate Cao Haibo to eight years in prison on the charge of inciting subversion. The court in the southern city of Kunming notified Attorney Ma Xiaopeng Thursday that Cao, 27, had been sentenced in a secret hearing the previous day, AP reported. Cao's wife, Zhang Nian said he “did not take any substantive action” and only “expressed his opinions on the internet.” Cao had started several online groups and participated in political discussions. His sentencing comes as Beijing prepares for a leadership transition that kicks off November 8.

Russian-US agreement on adoptions comes into force

The agreement between Russia and the US on cooperation in inter-country adoptions came into force on Thursday. It enables Russia, among other things, to monitor the life of children adopted by US families. Moscow initiated the signing of the accord after a number of incidents with Russian children adopted by US citizens. Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov and US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton signed the agreement in 2011, and it was ratified in both countries in July 2012.

Kuwait Interior Ministry warns of harsher measures against protesters

Kuwait’s Interior Ministry said Thursday its forces will use harsher measures to crack down on anti-government protesters defying bans on mass gatherings. The statement followed clashes between security forces and thousands of protesters demanding the release of an opposition leader, Musallam al-Barrack, AP said. He has been accused of allegedly insulting Kuwait’s emir. The ministry said a “number” of protesters have been arrested, including a driver who allegedly attacked four policemen late Wednesday. Kuwait last week banned any public gathering of more than 20 people.

Several wounded in shooting at California college Halloween party

A gunman opened fire at a Halloween party at the University of Southern California in Los Angeles, injuring several people, media reports say. At least three people have been reported wounded in the incident at 23:30 local time (06:30 GMT). Police are searching for the gunman. The university has shut down the campus.

Russian Defense Ministry has no plans to directly support Mali operation

The issue of Moscow’s direct support for a planned military operation in northern Mali is “not on the agenda today,” Russian Defense Minister Anatoly Serdyukov said on Thursday. Moscow could help restore the combat potential of Mali's army by providing it with weapons, he said, as cited by Interfax. Mali “is willing to acquire weapons,” the minister said. Western countries will also provide military assistance for a planned African-led operation against Islamist militants who have seized a vast region in northern Mali. The Russian foreign and defense ministers discussed security issues with their French counterparts in Paris on Wednesday.

Sri Lanka to impeach chief justice in conflict with govt

The Sri Lankan government has started the process to impeach the country’s chief justice. The papers to impeach Shirani Bandaranayake were handed to the speaker of the parliament on Thursday, AP said. The proposal has reportedly received the approval of more than 75 lawmakers as required. She has been accused of overstepping her limits in a drawn-out conflict between the judiciary and the government. The authorities did not specify the charges.

Myanmar govt says violence was planned

Myanmar’s government has claimed it has evidence that some individuals and organizations instigated the recent deadly violence in the western state of Rakhine. The office of President Thein Sein said the suspects include a group or groups that previously signed a ceasefire agreement with the government, AP reported. The government’s statement said 89 people were killed, 136 were injured, and 32,231 were made homeless between October 21 and 30. More than 5,000 houses were burned down in violence between Rakhine Buddhists and Rohingya Muslims. No new clashes have been reported.

Cyclone weakens in India as 150,000 displaced

A tropical storm weakened on Thursday after bringing heavy rain and a storm surge and displacing 150,000 people in southern India. Six deaths have been reported in India and Sri Lanka, AP said. An oil tanker with 37 crew ran aground off Chennai just before the storm made landfall Wednesday and one crewmember reportedly drowned. On Thursday, two helicopters searched in the Bay of Bengal for the four missing crewmembers. Andhra Pradesh state said two people died there when their homes collapsed. The cyclone had maximum winds of 75kph after landfall but had weakened to a tropical depression.

Russian, Estonian sailors released from Nigerian captivity

Crew members of the Bourbon Liberty 249 anchor handling vessel, who were kidnapped in Nigeria’s oil-producing southern region in mid-October, have been released on Thursday, the Estonian Foreign Ministry said. There were six Russians and an Estonian among the 16 sailors. No details were available about how the release was effected. Nigerian militants regularly target foreign workers involved in oil production, taking them for ransom.

Oil tanker explodes in Saudi Arabia

An oil tanker has exploded in a gas station east of the Saudi Arabia’s capital Riyadh. The blast was strong enough to shatter windows of several nearby windows. It also damaged a number of cars. No casualties were immediately reported.

Iran offers aid to hurricane-battered NYC

­Iranian rescuers and aid workers are on standby for deployment in the New York City to help the US tackle the consequences of the Hurricane Sandy, the head of Iran’s Red Crescent Organization announced. They will fly to the US once America accepts the offer, Mahmud Mozaffar said. Washington did not immediately comment on the news.

Libyan parliament approves new government

Libya's parliament has approved in a vote of confidence the country's Cabinet proposed by new PM Ali Zeidan, AP reports citing the parliament spokesman. This comes a day after the General National Congress postponed the vote as a group of demonstrators stormed its building protesting against some of the nominated members of Cabinet. They claimed some of the nominees had ties to the deposed Gaddafi regime. The new government was approved on Wednesday with 105 votes in favor, nine against and 18 abstentions. Meanwhile, armed protesters cut the main road leading to the parliament, vowing not to leave until members of the ousted regime are excluded from political life. They tried to storm the parliament again on Wednesday but were turned back by security forces firing into the air. Parliament spokesman Omar Humidan said five of the 27 ministers would be reconsidered after concerns were raised over their ties to the Gaddafi regime, AP says.

Bahrain must allow political protests - Amnesty International

­Human rights group Amnesty International called on Bahrain to lift the ban on public demonstrations it introduced on Tuesday. Bahrain’s interior ministry previously accused political protesters of “repeated violations” and calls to overthrow ”national leaders”, threatening anyone who organized a rally with jail. The Persian Gulf state has been locked in a stand-off between its ruling Sunni minority and the Shia majority for more than a year.