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Wikinews Shorts: February 10, 2012

Fri, 10 Feb 2012 03:40:45 GMT

A compilation of brief news reports for Friday, February 10, 2012 .

1 Russian scientists contact Lake Vostok
2 New U.S. airport program provides speedy security check
3 Somalia's rebels align with Al-Qaeda

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Russian scientists contact Lake Vostok [edit]

Lake Vostok cross-section.
Image: U.S. National Science Foundation.

Russian scientists say they have made first contact with Lake Vostok, one of several hundred subglacial lakes beneath the solid ice surface of Antarctica. It is estimated the lake has been separate from outside conditions for about 20 million years. Its size is comparable to Lake Ontario. The lake is located in the East Antarctic Ice Sheet with one of the lowest recorded temperatures on Earth.

Scientists believe the study of such subglacial lakes can provide them with an in-depth look into the White Continent’s history, as well as the possibility of finding live microorganisms that can live under extremely cold conditions.

Sources

"Russians drill into Lake Vostok, begin search for life under Antartica’s surface" — The Washington Post, February 9, 2012

Jonathan Amos. "Lake Vostok drilling team claims breakthrough" — BBC News Online, February 8, 2012

New U.S. airport program provides speedy security check [edit]

The Transportation Security Administration is to allow 35 U.S. airports to operate a faster way to get through airport security screeing.

The new Pre-Check program allows air passengers to keep on their shoes, carry-on their computers, and wear a light jacket. Passengers participating in the Pre-Check program are screened before reaching the security point on their way to the plane. To participate in the program, travelers are required to be citizens of the U.S. and pass a background check.

The program is already in place at seven national airports, such as Atlanta, but is to expand to 28 more large city airports like New York's three airports, Chicago, and Boston this year.

Sources

Hugo Martín and Ian Duncan. "TSA to expand PreCheck program to speed up airport security lines" — LA Times, February 9, 2012

Jason Ryan. "New Airport Security Rules: Keep Your Shoes, Belt and Shampoo" — ABC News, February 8, 2012

Somalia's rebels align with Al-Qaeda [edit]

Somalia's Al-Shabaab formally allied itself with Al-Qaeda in separate audio and video announcements.

Rebel leader Mukhtar Abu al-Zubair praised Al-Qaeda's leader and congratulated the organization on its victories in its wars with the United States in Iraq and Afghanistan. Ayman al-Zawahiri, leader of Al-Qaeda, acknowledged the development and said, "The Arab region is slipping from America's grip".

UK defense think tank Royal United Services Institute, and US House committee on homeland security chairman Peter King, warn that Somali terrorists may try to strike inside both countries.

Sources

"Al-Shabaab joining al Qaeda, monitor group says" — CNN, February 9, 2012

Martin Daly. "Britain, US concern over Somali militants" — The Sydney Morning Herald, February 9, 2012

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Kenya troops enter Somalia after kidnappings

Wed, 19 Oct 2011 18:10:46 GMT

Wednesday, October 19, 2011

Kenya

Sources [edit]

"Kenya sends troops into Somalia to hit al-Shabab" — BBC News Online, October 17, 2011
BBC News Online. "Kenya sends troops into Somalia to hit al-Shabab" — Daafeet.com, October 17, 2011
Daniel Howden. "Kenya sends in troops to Somalia in pursuit of al-Shabaab militants" — The Independent, October 17, 2011
Associated Press in Nairobi. "Kenya troops move into Somalia" — The Guardian, October 16, 2011
David McKenzie. "Kenya vows to hit Al-Shabaab across Somali border" — CNN International, October 16, 2011
Jeffrey Gettleman. "Kenyan Forces Enter Somalia to Battle Militants" — The New York Times, October 16, 2011
"Foreign Office changes Kenya travel advice" — BBC News Online, October 2, 2011

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Drought stricken Somalia nears famine

Fri, 15 Jul 2011 17:13:38 GMT

Somalia

Other stories from Somalia

10 February 2012: Wikinews Shorts: February 10, 2012
19 October 2011: Kenya troops enter Somalia after kidnappings
15 July 2011: Drought stricken Somalia nears famine
11 June 2011: Somali interior minister killed by bomb attack in own home
24 February 2011: Pirates kill four American hostages

...More articles here

Location of Somalia

To write, edit, start or view other articles on Somalia, see the Somalia Portal

Friday, July 15, 2011

Drought
Image: Dl91m.

The African Union made a plea on Tuesday for the international community to come to the aid of Somalia. This is a country where one in three, (ten million people) is suffering from a severe drought, a situation complicated by warring rebel factions. In 2009, UNICEF discontinued air deliveries to areas controlled by the Islamic insurgent group al-Shabab due to militant threats.

Last week al-Shabab said it would welcome the presence of humanitarian groups, provided aid groups did not have a "hidden agenda".

On Wednesday, the United Nations airlifted supplies to a part of the country controlled by al-Shabab, flying five metric tons of medicines, food and water supplies to Baidoa, a rebel-held town, 155 miles south of Mogadishu. Maulid Warfa, UNICEF emergency officer, in an interview with state-run Radio Mogadishu, said a very critical humanitarian crisis exists in rural communities where people have lost their livestock and farms after the worst drought in six decades. The aid is to help them and their children who are extremely malnourished.

	[Somalia's crisis is] the most severe humanitarian emergency in the world.
—UNICEF

When Warfa, was asked about the arrest of two aid workers by al Shabaab, one with UNICEF, Warfa did not confirm or deny it. Instead he emphasized the desperate need of Somalians for assistance.

Although some feared a new Kenyan camp would result in more Somalis fleeing to Kenya, Kenya has announced in will open a new refuge camp near the Somalian border within ten days which will hold 80,000. Kenyan Prime Minister Raila Odinga said, "Although we consider our own security, we can't turn away the refugees."

	We are no longer talking about a humanitarian crisis or a humanitarian emergency. We are seeing this as a humanitarian catastrophe.
—Jens Oppermann, the country director of Action Against Hunger

In a nearby refugee camp in Kenya where 370,000 people are squeezed into a space set up for 90,000 people, conditions are desperate aid workers said.

Somalia's Prime Minister Abdiweli Mohamed Ali in an interview with the BBC said a refugee camp has opened in Mogadishu, but that the government had "meagre" resources to help drought victims. "We are appealing to the international community to take the matter seriously and to act quickly to save as many lives as we can," he told the BBC.

On Thursday, UNICEF said Somalia's drought and refugee crisis is "the most severe humanitarian emergency in the world."

On Friday, Jens Oppermann, the country director of Action Against Hunger (Action Contre La Faim, ACF), told AFP: "We are no longer talking about a humanitarian crisis or a humanitarian emergency. We are seeing this as a humanitarian catastrophe."

This is the second consecutive year the summer rains have not come, and according to the BBC, the current drought threatens the lives of at least four million in Somalia.

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Sources [edit]

AFP. "Somalia faces drought 'catastrophe'" — Modern Ghana, July 15, 2011
Associated Press. "300 Somali children left for dead in drought" — SFGate, July 14, 2011
"Horn of Africa drought: Kenya to open Ifo II camp" — BBC News, July 14, 2011
Abdi Hajji Hussein. "Somalia: UNICEF to resume operating in al Shabaab regions" — AHN News, July 14, 2011
"UNICEF Resumes Airlifts into South-Central Somalia" — VOANews.com, July 13, 2011
Anissa Haddadi. "African Union makes aid appeal for drought stricken Somalia" — International Business News, July 13, 2011
Andrew Hosken. "Somalia famine 'not far off'" — BBC News, July 13, 2011

External links [edit]

"Somalia's Drought, America's Dilemma" — The Atlantic, July 15, 2011

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Somali interior minister killed by bomb attack in own home

Sat, 11 Jun 2011 01:07:32 GMT

Saturday, June 11, 2011

Somalia

Other stories from Somalia

10 February 2012: Wikinews Shorts: February 10, 2012
19 October 2011: Kenya troops enter Somalia after kidnappings
15 July 2011: Drought stricken Somalia nears famine
11 June 2011: Somali interior minister killed by bomb attack in own home
24 February 2011: Pirates kill four American hostages

...More articles here

Location of Somalia

To write, edit, start or view other articles on Somalia, see the Somalia Portal

File:Mogadishu 2006.jpg

Hassan was killed in the capital, Mogadishu
Image: Scoobycentric.

Abdi Shakur Sheikh Hassan, the interior minister of Somalia, was killed in a bomb attack at his home in Mogadishu on Friday. The suicide bomber was a veiled woman said to be his teenage niece and a member of the militant al-Shabab, an Islamic group. According to the BBC, his niece was a frequent visitor and no security check was performed. She was killed instantly and the minister died on his way to treatment.

This is the third suicide attack in as many weeks in Somalia's capital city.

Senior police chief Nur Farah said he believed that a second bomb may have been placed under Hassan's bed. He said to Reuters that "[t]he minister was killed by a relative from inside his house, it was unfortunate and unexpected. A big bomb must have been put under the minister's bed. The explosives on the suicide bomber could not destroy the concrete room that way."

Ahmed Mohamed, the minister's driver spoke about the attack, saying that "[s]uddenly, I heard a loud explosion. I saw the flesh of the suicide bomber in the balcony near the minister's house. I went into his room and saw him lying injured."

At the time of the attack Mogadishu, as well as other parts of Somalia, have been hit with two days of political protests. Citizens have been protesting against a deal to extend the mandates of the parliament and President.

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Sources [edit]

"Veiled bomber kills Somali interior minister" — MSNBC, June 10, 2011
"Somalia Interior Minister Killed in Mogadishu Suicide Blast, Police Says" — Bloomberg, June 10, 2011
"Somali minister Abdi Shakur Sheikh Hassan killed by niece" — BBC News Online, June 10, 2011

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Pirates kill four American hostages

Thu, 24 Feb 2011 13:49:17 GMT

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Somalia

Other stories from Somalia

10 February 2012: Wikinews Shorts: February 10, 2012
19 October 2011: Kenya troops enter Somalia after kidnappings
15 July 2011: Drought stricken Somalia nears famine
11 June 2011: Somali interior minister killed by bomb attack in own home
24 February 2011: Pirates kill four American hostages

...More articles here

Location of Somalia

To write, edit, start or view other articles on Somalia, see the Somalia Portal

Thursday, February 24, 2011

According to CBS 3, the four Americans taken hostage after their yacht was hijacked by pirates off the coast of Oman in the Indian Ocean have been killed. Pirates hijacked their yacht, named The Quest, on February 18.

The U.S. Naval ship that was following the yacht, which was traveling off the coast of Somalia, heard gunshots and attempted a rescue operation. Naval personnel had been negotiating with pirates when the incident occurred. After boarding the vessel, soldiers killed 2 pirates and detained at least 13 others. During the process they discovered that the pirates had shot and killed all four hostages.

"The forces discovered all four hostages had been shot by their captors. Despite immediate steps to provide life-saving care, all four hostages ultimately died of their wounds," said a statement issued by the U.S. Central Command.

The hostages were identified as Scott and Jean Adam, husband and wife who owned the yacht, from Marina Del Rey, California. Their two friends were Phyllis Macay and Bob Riggle from Seattle, Washington. Two other bodies were found on the yacht, believed to be pirates. The party was taking place in a race with other boats, which started in Thailand, when they decided to leave it after scheduled stop in Mumbai, India. Reports say they spent some of their time distributing bibles around the world. They changed course and were hijacked by the pirates off the coast of Oman.

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Sources [edit]

"Pirates kill 4 U.S. hostages off Somali coast" — CTV News, February 22, 2011
"Reports: All Four Aboard US Yacht Killed by Somali Pirates" — AOL News, February 22, 2011
"4 American hostages killed by pirates" — MSNBC, February 22, 2011
"4 Americans on hijacked yacht dead off Somalia" — CBS News, February 22, 2011
Kyw-tv (cbs 3). "BREAKING NEWS: The 4 Americans aboard the pirated yacht off the coast of Somalia have been killed" — Facebook, February 22, 2011

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Teen charged over 'bomb attempt' at US Christmas celebration

Sat, 27 Nov 2010 14:26:11 GMT

Crime and law

Sources [edit]

"US teenager held in Oregon over Christmas 'bomb plot'" — BBC News, 27 November 2010
"Somali-American accused of plotting to bomb Oregon tree-lighting event" — CNN, 27 November 2010

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Somali piracy: Kenyan navy kills three, Chinese ship hijacked, British couple freed

Mon, 15 Nov 2010 01:33:14 GMT

Monday, November 15, 2010

Somalian piracy

Sources [edit]

Paul Redfern. "Record number of seafarers to fall into pirates' hands in 2010" — The East African, November 15, 2010
Hilary Whiteman. "British couple's plight as pirate captives" — CNN, November 14, 2010
"Somali pirates free UK couple Paul and Rachel Chandler" — BBC News Online, November 14, 2010
Hazel Baker, Sarah Gordon. "Freed Yacht Couple Fly Out Of Somalia" — Sky News Online, November 14, 2010
"Somali pirates hijack ship with 29 Chinese crew" — Times of India, November 13, 2010
"Somali pirates hijack ship with 29 Chinese" — Shanghai Daily, November 13, 2010
Celestyne Achieng. "Kenya Navy kills three suspected Somali pirates" — Reuters, November 13, 2010
Agence France-Presse. "Three pirates shot dead" — IOI, November 13, 2010

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Kenyan court jails seven pirates for 2009 attempted hijack of Maltese ship

Fri, 24 Sep 2010 23:26:55 GMT

Kenya

Sources [edit]

"Somali pirates sentenced to five years in Kenya" — BBC News Online, September 24, 2010
Sarah McGregor. "Kenya Convicts Seven Somali Pirates for Attempted Hijacking of Cargo Ship" — Bloomberg, September 24, 2010

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Seychelles sentences Somali pirates to ten years in prison

Tue, 27 Jul 2010 03:18:49 GMT

Tuesday, July 27, 2010

Related news

Piracy on Wikinews

24 February 2011: Pirates kill four American hostages
11 February 2011: Tankers taken by pirates in Indian Ocean
24 September 2010: Kenyan court jails seven pirates for 2009 attempted hijack of Maltese ship
31 August 2010: As increase in digital music sales slows, record labels look to new ways to make money
27 July 2010: Seychelles sentences Somali pirates to ten years in prison

Collaborate!

Location of Seychelles.

The Republic of Seychelles has convicted eight men of piracy and three others for aiding and abetting piracy. All eleven men each received a ten year sentence in jail. Four of the convicted were under eighteen years of age.

The office of President James Michel states this ruling is in response to a hijack attempt on a Seychelles coast guard ship.

This ruling by Seychelles' Supreme Court in Victoria is the first time the state has convicted Somali pirates.

Seychelles set up a court for the sole purpose of trying Somali pirates earlier this year, in response to hijackings of ships in Seychellois waters.

A Seychellois government statement said that "[t]heir conviction is a historical milestone as it is the first time that a piracy trial is successfully prosecuted in the Seychelles."

Pirates attacked ships more than 200 times in 2009, including 68 hijackings, and made around US$50 million (€38.5 million) in ransoms.

Seychelles and Kenya are the only African countries on the coast of the Indian Ocean with signed agreements with the European Union to prosecute Somali pirates.

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Sources [edit]

"Seychelles Prosecute Somali Pirates for the First Time" — Voice of America, 26 July 2010
"Somali pirates sentenced to 10 years in Seychelles" — BBC News Online, 26 July 2010

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New 'failed states index' report published

Wed, 23 Jun 2010 02:46:33 GMT

Wednesday, June 23, 2010

Politics and conflicts

Sources [edit]

"Pakistan is world's 10th most failed state: Report" — Sify, June 22, 2010
"Somalia,the Worst Failed State" — Suna Times, June 21, 2010
"Somalia tops 'failed states index'" — Al Jazeera, June 22, 2010

External links [edit]

2010 Failed States Index - Interactive Map and Rankings (Foreign Policy magazine)
Failed States Index Scores 2010 (Fund for Peace)

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Deadly clashes in Somalia between police and government troops

Mon, 14 Jun 2010 14:33:54 GMT

Monday, June 14, 2010

Somalia

Other stories from Somalia

10 February 2012: Wikinews Shorts: February 10, 2012
19 October 2011: Kenya troops enter Somalia after kidnappings
15 July 2011: Drought stricken Somalia nears famine
11 June 2011: Somali interior minister killed by bomb attack in own home
24 February 2011: Pirates kill four American hostages

...More articles here

Location of Somalia

To write, edit, start or view other articles on Somalia, see the Somalia Portal

Heavy fighting in the Somali capital of Mogadishu between government troops and local police has killed at least thirteen people and injured another fourteen.

The clashes began yesterday in the Hamarjajab district when a dispute started between the police and army. Abdullahi Mo'alim Kerow, a police officer, described the incident to Reuters; "[t]he clashes came after some of the government troops started to rob a civilian car and the police were trying to stop it. We have collected bodies of nine government troops [...] and three unidentified civilians."

However, conflicting accounts claim it was police attempting to hijack trucks carrying food aid, and the army were intervening to prevent the theft.

According to Kerow, the injured were hospitalised, and the clash stopped shortly after. Ten of the wounded were civilians, and one later died, said Alie Muse Abdi, coordinator of ambulance services in the capital.

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Sources [edit]

"Somali forces in deadly clash" — Al Jazeera, June 13, 2010
"Clash Between Somali Government Troops And Police Kill 13, Wound 14" — All Headline News, June 13, 2010
Mohammed Ibrahim and Jeffrey Gettleman. "Somalia Experiences New Type of Fighting" — New York Times, June 13, 2010

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Russian forces storm oil tanker seized by Somali pirates, crew freed

Thu, 06 May 2010 22:49:37 GMT

Thursday, May 6, 2010

Related news

Piracy on Wikinews

24 February 2011: Pirates kill four American hostages
11 February 2011: Tankers taken by pirates in Indian Ocean
24 September 2010: Kenyan court jails seven pirates for 2009 attempted hijack of Maltese ship
31 August 2010: As increase in digital music sales slows, record labels look to new ways to make money
27 July 2010: Seychelles sentences Somali pirates to ten years in prison

Collaborate!

Russian special forces aboard the Marshal Shaposhnikov warship have stormed an oil tanker that was recently seized by Somali pirates.

The forces boarded the Moscow University ship, where they freed the 23 crew members, who had been hiding in a secure room in the ship after disabling the vessel's motor. There was a shootout between pirates and special forces, in which one pirate was killed. Ten other pirates were taken into custody.

"Pirates have released the tanker [...] All crew on board the tanker are alive and well," said a spokeswoman for the tanker's owner Novoship. The company said the decision to take the ship over by force was made because "the crew was under safe cover inaccessible to the pirates". The Moscow University is carrying 86,000 tons of crude oil, valued at US$50 million.

Pirates currently are holding over 300 hostages and twenty vessels in various locations around Somalia; international warships patrolling the Gulf of Aden have been unable to entirely halt the hijacking of ships.

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Sources [edit]

"Russian forces storm tanker seized by Somali pirates" — BBC News Online, May 6, 2010
"Russian special forces storm oil tanker, free ship" — CTV.ca, May 6, 2010

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Tanker seized by Somali pirates; Russian warship en route

Wed, 05 May 2010 21:10:19 GMT

Wednesday, May 5, 2010

Related news

Piracy on Wikinews

24 February 2011: Pirates kill four American hostages
11 February 2011: Tankers taken by pirates in Indian Ocean
24 September 2010: Kenyan court jails seven pirates for 2009 attempted hijack of Maltese ship
31 August 2010: As increase in digital music sales slows, record labels look to new ways to make money
27 July 2010: Seychelles sentences Somali pirates to ten years in prison

Collaborate!

Somali pirates seized the Moscow University, an oil tanker bound for China, earlier today, prompting a Russian warship to be dispatched to the scene, reports say.

The hijacking occurred about 900 kilometres (560 miles) off the coast of Somalia, according to officials. The vessel's owner, Novoship, says the pirates, armed with automatic weapons, shot at the ship from two speed boats early in the day.

There were 23 Russian crew members aboard the tanker; all are said to have locked themselves in a secure room in the ship. The crew sent out distress calls to the Marshal Shaposhnikov warship before communications were cut off, Novoship said. A reporter with the BBC, however, commented that the warship probably would not intervene, as it may put the lives of the crew in danger.

The Associated Press reports that the ship contains 86,000 tons of crude oil, worth around US$50 million.

Pirates currently are holding over 350 hostages and twenty vessels in various locations around Somalia; international warships patrolling the Gulf of Aden have been unable to entirely halt the hijacking of ships.

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Sources [edit]

"Somali pirates hijack Russian China-bound oil tanker" — BBC News Online, May 5, 2010
Katharine Houreld, Associated Press. "Somali pirates board oil tanker; warship en route" — Yahoo! News, May 5, 2010

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Bomb blasts in Somalia kill at least 30

Sat, 01 May 2010 19:36:58 GMT

Saturday, May 1, 2010

Somalia

Other stories from Somalia

10 February 2012: Wikinews Shorts: February 10, 2012
19 October 2011: Kenya troops enter Somalia after kidnappings
15 July 2011: Drought stricken Somalia nears famine
11 June 2011: Somali interior minister killed by bomb attack in own home
24 February 2011: Pirates kill four American hostages

...More articles here

Location of Somalia

To write, edit, start or view other articles on Somalia, see the Somalia Portal

Two bomb blasts at a Somali mosque have killed at least 30 people and injured upwards of 70 more, according to reports.

The explosions occurred in Somalia's capital, Mogadishu, shortly before the beginning of noon prayers. Reports said the explosions had occurred at a mosque with ties to the Islamic insurgent group al-Shabaab, although no group had claimed responsibility for the attacks. The location is often used as a venue for speeches by the insurgents.

According to one witness of the attack, "[t]he blasts happened while people were sitting inside Abdala Shideye mosque, waiting for noon prayers. Most of those killed and wounded were worshippers" and another said "[t]he blasts went of within minutes of each other...I saw dead bodies lying on the floor [that] I could not count."

A high-ranking member of al-Shabaab was reportedly inside the mosque when the explosions occurred. The official, Fuad Mohamed Qalaf, was, according to some witnesses, the target of the attack. Al-Shabaab has been fighting against UN forces, which are in control of only parts of the capital, and has been reported to have ties with al-Qaeda.

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Sources [edit]

"Somali blasts kill 'at least 30 at militants mosque'" — BBC news Online, May 1, 2010
"Two Bomb Blasts kill at Least 30 in Somalia" — Voice of America, May 1, 2010

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Somali al-Shabaab group seizes three towns

Sat, 24 Apr 2010 22:19:57 GMT

Saturday, April 24, 2010

Somalia

Other stories from Somalia

10 February 2012: Wikinews Shorts: February 10, 2012
19 October 2011: Kenya troops enter Somalia after kidnappings
15 July 2011: Drought stricken Somalia nears famine
11 June 2011: Somali interior minister killed by bomb attack in own home
24 February 2011: Pirates kill four American hostages

...More articles here

Location of Somalia

To write, edit, start or view other articles on Somalia, see the Somalia Portal

According to witness reports, three towns in the Galgudud region of Somalia have been taken over by the counter-government group al-Shabaab, taking them from a rival group, the pro-government Ahlu Sunna.

The three taken towns were El Der, Galad, and Masagaway; they were taken over without any resistance from Ahlu Sunna. All three are on the road to the Somali capital Mogadishu.

Senior al-Shabaab official Sheik Yusuf Kabokudukade commented that "[w]e have overrun the militants who tried to stop the efforts to spread Islam in Somalia. With the power of Allah we have taken control of three districts in Galgadud region. We will not stop until we take control of the whole region from the enemy of Allah."

Al-Shabaab group controls large portions of southern central Somalia, and part of of Mogadishu.

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Sources [edit]

"Somali fighters seize three towns" — Al Jazeera, April 24, 2010
"Hardline Islamists seize three Somali towns" — Agence France-Presse, April 23, 2010

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