Concern raised for the safety of civilians in Somalia after fresh clashes

Following fresh clashes in Mogadishu, the capital of Somalia, the United Nations refugee agency has raised concerns over the thousands of displaced civilians who might find themselves caught up in the conflict.

The UN is calling for armed groups to protect the safety of civilians. More than 7,000 Somalis were forced to flee the Afgooye corridor north-west of Mogadishu and more than 400,000 internally displaced persons (IDPs) are currently living in the settlements and camps, according to the UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR).

Civilians had fled to the Afgooye corridor to escape the insecurity of Mogadishu and other areas of Somalia. Some no longer feel safe there because of the recent outbreaks of violence and are heading back to Mogadishu, the UN says.

In a press release, the UN says that earlier this week 150 buses and donkey carts were observed by the UNHCR bringing displaced people to exit points. Some of the displaced people had been unable to bring their possessions with them and aid agencies are acting to provide shelter, food and water.

Bruno Geddo, UNHCR's Representative for Somalia, said:

"One-third of Somalia's internally displaced population lives in the Afgooye corridor."

"Many are now on the move again. We urge all armed groups and forces to prioritise the safety and protection of these vulnerable people and the residents of Afgooye."

This is all part of the much larger problem of displacement in Somalia. Figures from the UN show that more than 1 million Somalis are displaced and close to a million live as refugees in surrounding countries.

The failed state of Somali has made the news many times in recent years largely because of the problems of piracy. Without a government since a civil war in 1991, Somalia remains a lawless and unstable country. To add to its people's woes, Somalia was struck by a famine in 2011. Earlier this month the UN issued a statement saying that the famine was over but the Horn of Africa remains vulnerable. 31% of people in Somalia are in need of emergency humanitarian assistance and more than 300,000 children acutely malnourished.

Libya militias 'Out of Control' according to Amnesty

In 2011, a bloody uprising in Libya eventually led to the fall of Gadaffi and his regime which had ruled the country with an iron fist for 42 years. A year on and a new report from Amnesty International says that Libya militias are out of control. Amnesty gathered the evidence obtained within the report when they visited 11 detention centres in January and February 2012.

The new report details human rights abuses including torture and illegal detainments. Amnesty also says that war crimes are also being committed by militia against people suspected of being Gaddafi loyalists.

The 38-page report details how militia captured 1000s of suspected Gaddafi loyalists and how many of them were either tortured or otherwise ill-treated, some died as a result of the torture. Revenge attacks were also carried out by militia, say Amnesty, and the homes of some of those thought loyal to Gaddafi were looted and burned.

12 months on, the detention of people continues. Amnesty says that this is done "outside any legal framework" and those detained are held "in secret detention centres before handing them over to other facilities run by officially or semi-officially recognized military or security entities".

Earlier this year, Amnesty interviewed some of the victims of the torture. The detainees were held in the capital Tripoli, al-Zawiya, Gharyan, Misratah, and Sirte. Amnesty also spoke to the families of people who had died during their detention. Details of the torture inflicted against those suspected of remaining loyal to the Gaddafi regime are horrific.

Detainees told how they were whipped for hours with everything from whips to metal chains. They also say that they were given electric shocks and Taser-like weapons. Amnesty says that medical reports verify the use of torture on detainees who had died and the injuries observed are consistent with the testimonies given.

Amnesty also details how sub-Saharan Africans foreign nationals continue to be detained. They also say that they were tortured. Amnesty has notified the National Transitional Council about the reports of torture.

In one account detailed in the report, a former soldier gave this account of what happened to him when he was detained:

"...they forced me to lie on my back on a bed and my hands and legs were tied to the frame. In this position was beaten with fists on my face. Then they beat me with a plastic hose on my feet. Later, I had to turn around face-down and was tied again to the bed. In that position, I was beaten again with a hose on my back and on the head. I was also subjected to electric shocks to various parts of my body including my left arm and chest. The instrument they used was a black stick about 50cm long. My cousin was also subjected to electric shocks.

“The torture lasted until about 3am. Then they put us in a vehicle and drove us back to the road to Tripoli, where they left us.”

Pictures of the injuries were received as results of torture were given to Amnesty. Amnesty International is calling for an end to arbitrary detentions and for the closure of all of the places where unofficial detentions take place. They also call for the families to be notified where someone has been detained and for the humane treatment of detainees.

Amnesty International Senior Crisis Response Adviser Donatella Rovera said:

“Militias in Libya are largely out of control and the blanket impunity they enjoy only encourages further abuses and perpetuates instability and insecurity.

“A year ago Libyans risked their lives to demand justice. Today their hopes are being jeopardised by lawless armed militias who trample human rights with impunity. The only way to break with the entrenched practices of decades of abuse under Colonel al-Gaddafi’s authoritarian rule is to ensure that nobody is above the law and that investigations are carried out into such abuses.

“Militias with a record of abuse of detainees should simply not be allowed to hold anyone and all detainees should be immediately transferred to authorised detention facilities under the control of the National Transitional Council.”

245 kilogrammes of cocaine seized en route to Puerto Rico

The Caribbean Corridor Strike Force (CCSF) has seized 119 bricks of cocaine. The drugs are estimated to weigh 245 kilogrammes and are worth approximately $4.9 million.

Multiple agencies were involved in the operation including the Marine Patrol Aircraft (MPA) and Customs and Border Protection’s (CBP); an agent from the Puerto Rico Police Department (PRPD) also took part.

Agents noticed a suspicious vessel as it travelled east to Puerto Rico with two people aboard. A second vessel was observed travelling west towards the Dominican Republic. The close proximity of the two vessels led agents to believe that contraband was about to be transferred at sea.

A CBP marine interceptor was launched to intercept the vessel as it closed in off the coast of La Parguera. The crew where then told to sail to the Mayaguez Marine Unit where agents and officers could carry out a further inspection, this is when the cocaine was discovered.

Special agents have taken custody of the seized narcotics and two brothers have appeared in the court; the investigation continues.

U.S. Attorney Rosa Emilia Rodríguez-Vélez, said:

“We will continue maximizing all of our combined resources to investigate and prosecute those who in flagrant disregard of our laws and try to smuggle and transport illegal contraband in our jurisdiction."

One dead, others injured following coach crash in France

Pupils and teachers from Worcestershire were involved in a coach crash in France in the early hours of Sunday morning.  The passengers on board were returning from a skiing trip in the Aosta Valley when the coach came off the road and hit a verge.  There were 48 people on the bus at the time including members of staff from Interski, who had chartered the coach, and two bus drivers.

One man died as a result of the accident and 27 are injured, four seriously.  A second coach which followed behind informed the emergency services and helped with evacuation of passengers and rescue efforts.

The injured passengers were taken to hospitals in Rheims and Charlon.  27 of them were admitted into hospital and others were taken to a community centre where the French Red Cross helped assist passengers caught up in the accident.

The Foreign Office are helping to get passengers home and local news reports said that one of the coaches had arrived back in the UK.

In a statement, Interski said they were saddened and distressed to report the death of a party leader.

The man has been named as Peter Rippington.  A statement issued by the family through the Foreign office said:

"We ask that our privacy is respected and that we are left to grieve with our friends and family."

"We, as a family, are devastated at the tragic loss of Peter, a wonderful husband, father, son, brother, son-in-law, brother-in-law, uncle, friend and teacher.

“We are still extremely concerned about the health of his wife, Sharon, who was injured and is still recovering in hospital in France. Sharon is accompanied by her daughter Amy, who escaped the incident with minor injuries."

“Until they are safely home we ask that our privacy is respected and that we are left to grieve with our friends and family.”

Stars turn out for the funeral of Whitney Houston

The funeral of Whitney Houston was held at the New Hope Baptist Church in Newark, New Jersey on Saturday.  Houston used to sing at the church as a young girl and her mother, Cissy Houston, has led the youth choir based there for the past 50 years.

Security was kept tight as many celebrities attended the funeral.  Among the guests were Mariah Carey, Stevie Wonder, Alicia Keys and her Bodyguard co-star Kevin Costner.  Costner delivered a moving eulogy and appeared to struggle to hold back his emotions at times.  Houston's godmother Aretha Franklin did not attend due to ill health.

Bobby Brown, the singer's former husband, did attend the funeral despite rumours that he may not be made welcome.  He was said to want to be there to support his daughter.

The funeral was a private one with just a single camera filming the service.  The service was streamed online so that fans could watch it.  The streets surrounding the church began to fill with fans ahead of the service and some are said to have been selling t-shirts as a "tribute" to the star.

The news of Houston's death broke on Saturday, 12 February.  The singer was found dead at her hotel.  The cause of death is yet to be determined.

Honduras prison fire leads to calls to curb overcrowding

A horrific fire which swept through Granja Prison in Comayaguain, Honduras has led to calls from the UN to address overcrowding.  Human rights groups have also spoken out against the prison conditions in Honduras.  The prison, which was built in the 1940s, was designed to hold 400 people; there were more than 800 inmates when the fire started.

The prison fire is the worst for a century.  Unable to escape from their cells, more than 300 prisoners died in the blaze and others were left injured.  Other prisoners remain unaccounted for and some are said to have escaped.

There was speculation that the fire was a result of riot but this has been denied. Some reports say that a prisoner may have started the fire which engulfed the overcrowded jail. A full investigation is to be carried out and prison officials have now been suspended.

The disaster highlights the issue of overcrowding in prisons in Honduras.  There are 24 prisons in Honduras.  They have a capacity to hold 8,000 inmates and at the moment they are holding 13,000, according to Human Rights Watch.

In a news release, Human Rights Watch called for an overhaul in prison overcrowding.  José Miguel Vivanco, director of Human Rights Watch's Americas division, is a general expert on Latin America, said:

“The tragic deaths of hundreds of inmates, one of the worst incidents of its kind in the region, are ultimately the result of overcrowding and poor prison conditions, two longstanding problems in Honduras."

“Given that Honduras has one of the highest homicide rates in the world, authorities have been locking up convicted and suspected criminals, but failing to address the conditions in which they are being held.”

Opinion: Speculation isn’t Journalism

Since the moment the news broke that singer Whitney Houston had been found dead speculation has been rife.  People have been only too quick to point the finger and try and find someone to blame.

Less than an hour after her death was announced the question who is to blame? was already being asked and people were all too willing to give their theories.  Now we’re hearing claims that she went on a 48-hour drugs binge shortly before she died because sources -  so confident of what they are saying is true- say so and that's presuming the sources exist, of course.  How can anyone prove that it is true? Unless you can prove it, then you should not be writing it: It’s speculation not journalism.

We’ve also been treated to a variety of other rumours including the one dating from a while back which claimed that the singer had already died.  Her death on Saturday, the cause of which is still unknown, rather lays the previous rumours to rest doesn’t it?

The latest speculation is that Whitney was a secret lesbian and this is what led her down the path to self-destruction and onto her habit of drugs and drink, which to her credit she tried hard to fight and on the face of it had seemed to be turning her life around.  Addictions are far more complex than that and those are just repetitions of old rumours with little substance.

There was the same speculation surrounding Amy Winehouse’s death.  The Internet is still awash with speculation from news sources that she too had indulged in a drugs binge before she died, according to sources, only for the autopsy to find that there was no trace of illegal drugs in her system at the time of her death.  Since so many newspapers got that wrong you would think that they would tred a little more carefully before making unsubstantiated claims about Whitney Houston.
The Internet has led to a voracious appetite for gossip, speculation and untruths, and unfortunately there are too many people out there willing to believe almost everything they hear or read.  The other day, I heard somebody say that they knew some salacious celeb gossip was true “because they’d read it on the Internet” and of course, the people writing these stories on the Internet always tell the truth don’t they?  Are people really that naive?

Remember the Kate Middleton is pregnant story?  Most people could see through that one and even the most unreliable news sources in the UK didn't run with it and state it as fact.  Another rumour circulated that child actor Macaulay Culkin had died.  Recent pictures of him show that he doesn’t quite look his healthiest but he is still very much with us.  There are plenty of similar rumours about and I do wonder if some people feel a little bit silly once they realise that a story that they believed was untrue.  Does that not make them doubt the source of the story and does it not make them question some of the gossip that some websites tout?

Whitney Houston was somebody’s mother and somebody’s daughter.  There are many other people who have lost a close friend, a person that despite her personal demons, was loved and respected.  At what must be an excruciatingly difficult time for them wouldn’t it be good if ‘journalists’ concentrated on facts, not speculation?

Opinion: Whitney Houston: Didn't she almost have it all?

Shortly after 1.00am UK time the death of soul singer Whitney Houston was announced.  Whitney Houston was aged 48 at the time of her death.

The singer first became known in the UK in 1985 as a teenager with a voice that sounded like it came from a woman much older, full of depth and soul.  A glittering career lay ahead of her with Emmy, Grammy, Billboard Music Awards and American Music Awards.  Houston broke records when it came to music sales, The Bodyguard soundtrack became the biggest selling soundtrack ever.

With her squeaky clean image no one would have guessed that later in her career she would be struggling with a well-documented drugs and drink battle - a battle which would last for more than a decade and remained with her.

Sadly, Whitney isn't the first singer to find their lives blighted by addiction and she won't be the last.  It doesn't matter how famous or talented you are, drugs and drink have the same affect, and it was sad to see a woman with one of the most amazing voices the world has ever heard lose years of her career to her addiction.  It was even sadder to see someone with such talent being ridiculed in the media for not having the voice that she once had or for not being the person that she used to be. Addiction is an illness and the addiction that marred her life should have been treated as such.

Despite her personal struggles, Whitney Houston seemed to be getting her life and career back together.  Her 2009 comeback album I Look To You did well even if her comeback tour wasn't quite the success it could have been.  She was in talks to work on the X Factor USA and had recently completed  a movie.  She was also set to appear at the Grammys. The show will now be a very different one than the one that had been planned; artists will be paying tribute to the singer and rightly so; as one of the world's biggest selling female artists, she paved the way for a lot of them.

Some are saying they aren't surprised at the news but I am.  Her worst battles had seemed to be behind her and while some stars do seemed destined to have their lives end in tragedy, I didn't think Whitney Houston would be one of them.

Her death is a sad loss to the music world, to her family, and to those closest to her.  Beautiful, talented, and for many years living a life that most people can only ever dream of, it seems that having everything going for you isn't always enough.

Ban Ki-moon calls for Argentina-UK to settle dispute

The UN Secretary-General Ban-Ki moon has met with Argentine Foreign Minister Héctor Timerman to discuss the continuing dispute between Buenos Aires and London.  During the meeting in New York he urged the two governments to settle the disagreement peacefully.

HMS Dauntless was recently deployed to the South Atlantic and the Duke of Cambridge arrived in the Falklands in the first week of February.  The deployment has been seen as provocative and Argentina has lodged a dispute with the UN over what the Argentine Government describes as a "militarisation" by Britain.

Tensions are riding high between UK and Argentina and with the 30th anniversary of the Falklands War there are some concerns that the clash between could worsen.

Ban-Ki moon has spoken of his concerns about the escalating exchanges between Argentina and the United Kingdom and has urged the two governments to settle the dispute diplomatically.

The UK has said that it would defend the Falklands and during a recent press briefing, Prime Minister David Cameron stated that he didn't think the deployment of HMS Dauntless was provocative.  The Prime Minister also said that he was not planning on visiting the Falklands in the near future.

There is a long-standing debate over the sovereignty of the Falklands and Argentina still lay claim to The Islands.  Argentina invaded the Falklands in 1982.  The war lasted two-months and left 255 Britons dead and almost 800 injured.

Foreign Secretary issues statement on unrest in Maldives

UK Foreign Secretary William Hague has issued a statement regarding the situation in the Maldives.  President Nasheed stood down this week after what he described as a bloodless coup.

Since the unrest, Britons have been advised against all but essential travel to the capital Male after protesters supporting Nasheed clashed with police.  William Hague expressed concerns over attacks on members and supporters of Maldivian Democratic Party and some reports say that Nasheed suffered some minor injuries in the protests.

The Vice President has now been sworn in as President and a team from the British High Commission are set to travel to the Maldives.

A statement from the Foreign office said there was concern about the developments and called for groups and institutions to find a peaceful way forward.

Speaking in parliament, William Hague said:

"I just want to register our concern about developments in particular the reports of attacks on members and supporters of the Maldivian Democratic Party."

"...It is for the new leadership to establish its legitimacy with its own people and with the international community with an independent review of the circumstances leading to what has happened earlier this week, and we hope that the new leadership will demonstrate its respect for the rule of law, including peaceful demonstrations."

Odyssey Marine Exploration gift HMS Victory to maritime musuem

Deep-sea shipwreck exploration company Odyssey Marine Exploration, Inc. has gifted HMS Victory to the Maritime Heritage Foundation.  An agreement between the two organisations means that artifacts from HMS Victory will go on exhibition and an archaeological survey will  be carried out.  The agreement will also cover the conservation of the warship, the excavation and the financing.

HMS Victory was the flagship of Admiral Sir John Balchin.  The 100-gun warship was sunk in 1744 with 1000 aboard and has remained under the sea since.  The warship was discovered by Odyssey Marine Exploration in 2008 off the coast of Guernsey.

An extensive project design has been drawn up and once approved by the Maritime Heritage Foundation, fieldwork will begin in 2012.  The Maritime Heritage Foundation will now take over the irresponsibility of the site.

Greg Stemm, CEO, Odyssey Marine Exploration, said:

“We are honored to work with the Maritime Heritage Foundation on the Victory project, an important piece of British naval heritage. Since our discovery of HMS Victory, we’ve continued to monitor the site and have sadly noted significant changes to the site including four ton cannon that have been dragged and damaged, as well as the illicit recovery of a cannon by another salvor, signs that the idea of preserving the site in situ is clearly not practical."

“We plan a phased approach which will include an initial non-disturbance survey and expect to begin the archaeological excavation as soon as practical.”

74 left dead after Egypt football riot

The unrest in Egypt continued on Thursday as protests go on following the deaths of 74 football fans during a match at the Port Said stadium. 

The intense rivalry between fans of al-Masry and al-Ahly is well known and on Wednesday trouble flared after fans began to invade the pitch at the end of the match.  TV footage showed flares being thrown during the match and some say that the violence had been planned.

Egypt is now a country in mourning with some of the funerals being held today.  As well as the loss of lives, 1000 people are reported to have been injured in the riot.

In a statement on the FIFA website, President Sebb Blatter has described the riot as a "black day for football".  FIFA has also requested that Egyptian authorities provide them with a full report and the Egyptian Football Association has been disbanded following yesterday's deadly riot.

Commenting on the riot, Minister for the Middle East and North Africa Alistair Burt, said:

“We were deeply shocked and saddened by the scenes of violence at a football stadium in Port Said last night. Our thoughts are with the families of those who were injured or lost their lives. We understand that the Egyptian Parliament is holding an emergency session and Field Marshal Tantawi has announced three days of national mourning in Egypt."

"We urge the Egyptian authorities to set up a transparent enquiry to uncover the causes of the tragedy and hold those responsible to account.”

WCS complete campaign in China to clear snares

The Wildlife Conservation Society (WCS) has recently completed a campaign to clear the Heilongjiang province in China of illegal snares.  The snares are left to catch wild animals such as rabbits and Roe deer but Siberian Tigers have been known to get caught up in them.

The Siberian Tiger is already an endangered species but they do have a small population in China and they also found in Russia.  There are 3,5000 tigers left in the wild and 1,000 of them are breeding females, according to WCS.

The team from WCS worked with  more than volunteers to clear the Heilongjiang province of the snares.  162 traps were removed during the six-day period and the team endured freezing temperatures and thick snow in order to complete the campaign.

Joe Walston, WCS Director of Asia Programs, said:

“It's heartening to see a new generation of environmentally committed young Chinese willing and able to volunteer their time to do something challenging but important for their country's natural heritage."

“Tigers need our help whether it’s from grass roots efforts like these or governments putting more funding toward enforcement.”

The Wildlife Conservation Society has a long history in the conservation of wildlife and 115 years after the organisation first started, their work continues.  To find out more about their work visit: http://www.wcs.org/about-us.aspx