Up to 25 people attempting to cross the Mediterranean are feared dead following a search operation off the coast of Libya that ended with the rescue of 115 others, according to local authorities.
Libya’s coastguard said the victims’ rubber boat sank around 3am (05:00 GMT) on Friday, some five kilometres off Tajoura, just east of the Libyan capital of Tripoli, because it was overloaded and taking on water.
Apparently the NGOs got the coordinates for the pickup rescue wrong...
“Our coastguards carried out a search operation in that area off Tajoura in attempting to find the missing ones, but no one was found,” naval forces spokesman Ayoub Qassem told the Reuters news agency.
Those rescued, including six women, were mostly from sub-Saharan African countries, the coastguard said. One of the survivors was from Bangladesh, Qassem added.
That's a long way from the coast of Libya. How'd she get there?
Libya is the main human smuggling point for people hoping to reach Europe by sea, usually crossing in flimsy inflatable craft loaded with small amounts of fuel in an attempt to get them only as far as EU rescue vessels stationed in international waters.
Last month, the bodies of 74 people were found washed up on a beach in Zawiya, western Libya, after the engine of their vessel was stolen.
Hundreds of people have died en route to Europe since the start of 2017, according to the United Nations. More than 4,500 people died attempting the crossing last year.
In early February, European Union leaders agreed on a controversial plan to help stem the flow of people from Libya. Under the agreement, the bloc would provide Libya’s government with funds to increase efforts to stop boats from crossing territorial waters and to “break the business model” of people traffickers who helped 181,000 refugees enter the EU through Libya and Italy last year. The announcement was strongly criticised by human rights groups which said such plans increased risks and the chance of abuses.
Perhaps because it also breaks THEIR business model...
Posted by: Steve White ||
03/05/2017 00:00 ||
Comments ||
Link ||
[2 views]
Top|| File under: Moslem Colonists
[GEO.TV] On March 2, 36 years ago, TV screens flashed with a news item that shook Pakistain, damaged its democratic struggle against military dictatorship and created an irreversible split in the Pakistain Peoples Party, as well as the Bhutto family.
The year was 1981. A passenger aircraft of the Pakistain International Airlines, on its way from Bloody Karachi ...formerly the capital of Pakistain, now merely its most important port and financial center. It is among the largest cities in the world, with a population of 18 million, most of whom hate each other and many of whom are armed and dangerous... to Beautiful Downtown Peshawar
Continued on Page 49
Posted by: Fred ||
03/05/2017 00:00 ||
Comments ||
Link ||
[0 views]
Top|| File under: Govt of Pakistan
#1
One of the activists was Altaf Abbasi, who is said to have a role in the 1972 hostage incident of Israeli players.
[DAWN] As the civil and military leaders vowed on Friday to continue "indiscriminate" counterterrorism operations with "full might", they also stressed maintaining national consensus on the fight against terrorists.
This resolve was expressed at a high-level national security meeting, which was the first huddle of its kind since the army announced operation Raddul Fasaad last week after a spate of terrorist attacks across the country that brought into question the sustainability of the ’successes’ achieved through the military’s operation Zarb-e-Azb ..the Pak offensive against Qaeda in Pakistain and the Pak Taliban in North Wazoo. The name refers to the sword of the Prophet (PTUI!)... and over 26,000 intelligence-based and combing operations.
Continued on Page 49
Posted by: Fred ||
03/05/2017 00:00 ||
Comments ||
Link ||
[2 views]
Top|| File under: Govt of Pakistan
#1
"except those on our ISI payrolls, of course"
Posted by: Frank G ||
03/05/2017 7:14 Comments ||
Top||
[DAWN] A US State Department report released on Friday labelled the Altaf Khanani group as a money laundering organization and accused it of laundering billions of dollars for organised crime and terrorist outfits.
US Assistant Secretary of State for Bureau of International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affairs William R. Brownfield told a briefing in Washington that the State Department had delivered its 32nd International Narcotics Control Strategy Report to Congress on Wednesday. "It is, however, the first time that we are discussing and rolling this report out before the media in nine years," he added.
In its section on Pakistain, the report notes: "The Altaf Khanani money laundering organization (Khanani MLO) is based in Pakistain. The group, which was designated a transnational organised crime group by the United States in November 2015, facilitates illicit money movement between, among others, Pakistain, the United Arab Emirates (UAE), United States, UK, Canada, and Australia."
The group "is responsible for laundering billions of dollars in organised crime proceeds annually. The Khanani MLO offers money laundering services to a diverse clientele, including Chinese, Colombian, and Mexican organised crime groups and individuals associated with designated terrorist organizations", the report adds.
It describes Pakistain as strategically located country at the nexus of south, central and western Asia, with a coastline along the Arabian Sea. The report notes that Pakistain’s mostly non-existent borders with Afghanistan, Iran and China facilitate the smuggling of narcotics and contraband to overseas markets.
"The country suffers from financial crimes associated with tax evasion, fraud, corruption, trade in counterfeit goods, contraband smuggling, narcotics trafficking, human smuggling/trafficking, terrorism and terrorist financing," the report points out.
Posted by: Fred ||
03/05/2017 00:00 ||
Comments ||
Link ||
[2 views]
Top|| File under:
[DAWN] Afghan Ambassador Omar Zakhilwal on Saturday said Pakistain does not have a justification for the continued closure of crossing points on the Pak-Afghan border, and that his country might send in chartered flights to airlift stranded Afghans in case the border is not reopened soon.
In a message posted to his Facebook page, Zakhilwal said he had talked with Pakistain's de facto foreign minister, Sartaj PrunefaceAziz ...Adviser to Pak Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif on National Security and Foreign Affairs, who believes in good jihadis and bad jihadis as a matter of national policy... , to convey that if an opening was not allowed for the return of stranded Afghans within two days, he would ask his government to send chartered flights to lift them.
"This, however, would reflect very poorly [for Pakistain]," he added.
Zakhilwal said the argument presented by Pakistain -- that the border closure is intended to stop Death Eaters from crossing over -- does not carry any weight, as "these points such as Torkham and Spin Boldak have been manned by hundreds of military and other security personnel" and have all the necessary equipment and infrastructure in place to prevent such a possibility.
"Continuous unreasonable closure of legal Pak-Afghan trade and transit routes cannot have any other explanation except to be aimed at hurting the common Afghan people," the envoy said in his social media post, apparently in breach of diplomatic protocol.
Posted by: Fred ||
03/05/2017 00:00 ||
Comments ||
Link ||
[0 views]
Top|| File under: Govt of Pakistan
[ENGLISH.ALMANAR.LB] Iran announced it had successfully tested S-300 air defense system in Damavand military drills on Saturday.
"The S-300 air defense system has been tested... in the presence of government and military officials," state television ... and if you can't believe state television who can you believe?
said.
A number of high ranking Iranian military officials also were present in the drills which was held in an unnamed air defense base, IRNA news agency reported.
The operation was aimed at evaluating the performance of the S-300 system in targeting a wide range of missiles and drones as well as assessing the human performance in operating the system.
Iranian military personnel completely operated the system according to simulation scenarios which replicated detection, identification, tracing, and targeting of the potential aerial threats.
The system also fully managed to target and destroy aerial vehicles successfully.
Iran’s activation of the defense system comes amid mounting tensions with the new US administration of President Donald Trump ...New York real estate developer, described by Dems as illiterate, racist, misogynistic, and what ever other unpleasant descriptions they can think of, elected by the rest of us as 45th President of the United States... , who imposed sanctions after Iran tested a medium-range ballistic missile in January.
The deal to buy the S-300 system was originally signed in 2007 but Russia suspended it in 2010 citing a UN ban on arms sales to Iran.
Posted by: Fred ||
03/05/2017 00:00 ||
Comments ||
Link ||
[8 views]
Top|| File under: Govt of Iran
#1
So, did they actually shoot something down, or just squirt one off into the blue? It only counts if you hit something.
Posted by: ed in texas ||
03/05/2017 11:49 Comments ||
Top||
#2
the S-300 has never been tested in an actual combat situation
it has done well in tests
Posted by: lord garth ||
03/05/2017 12:38 Comments ||
Top||
[ARA] The US-led coalition is sending more armored vehicles to the north of Manbij city near the Sajur river in order to deter hostile acts between the the Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) and The Sick Man of Europe Turkey ...the only place on the face of the earth that misses the Ottoman Empire.... , and to ’keep the focus on ISIS’, a coalition spokesperson said on Saturday.
Also, a Russian aid convoy arrived to western Manbij for the same goal.
"[The US-led] coalition has taken this deliberate action to reassure Coalition members and partner forces, deter aggression and keep focus on defeating ISIS," Air Force Col John L. Dorrian Spokesman for Operation Inherent Resolve (OIR) said.
"[The coalition] has been active in and around Manbij since Summer of 2016, when the city was liberated from ISIS [ISIS]," he tweeted.
The US-led coalition has also "increased force presence in, around Manbij to deter hostile acts, enhance governance & ensure there’s no persistent YPG presence," according to Colonel Dorrian.
While the Americans are positioned north of Manbij, a Russian aid convoy arrived west of Manbij on Saturday, with pictures shown online of a fighter of the SDF-linked Manbij Military Council (MMC) hosting a Russian flag.
This comes after an agreement between Russia and the Kurds, to hand over some villages to the Syrian government to create a buffer zone in order to prevent festivities between the Turkish-led Euphrates Shield operation and the Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF).
"We have noticed and observed and are aware of the fact that these humanitarian convoys sponsored by the regime [of Hereditary President-for-Life Bashir Pencilneck al-Assad Leveler of Latakia... ] and Russia have been moving into Manbij, and that they have some armoured equipment with them," Pentagon front man Navy Captain Jeff Davis was quoted by the Turkish government outlet TRT.
Posted by: Fred ||
03/05/2017 00:00 ||
Comments ||
Link ||
[5 views]
Top|| File under: Sublime Porte
[IsraelTimes] Tehran is set to capitalize on removal of international sales restrictions under nuclear deal, according to new US intelligence.
Iran is likely to capitalize on the expiration of an international arms embargo in 2020 to purchase new warships, submarines and cruise missiles, according to a new assessment by the US Office of Naval Intelligence.
The February report noted that, with restrictions on conventional arms sales under the 2015 nuclear deal ending in 2020, Tehran will be able "to pursue foreign acquisitions that have been inaccessible since sanctions were imposed on Iran’s nuclear program."
The report said Iran sees its naval forces as critical to warding off threats, and its defense strategy is thus highly focused on the development of its navy.
"Acquisitions will continue along established trends with an emphasis on smaller, faster [vessels], equipped with sophisticated weaponry, and acquired in large numbers," it assessed.
The Islamic republic will likely seek submarine-launched anti-ship cruise missiles and new torpedoes.
"After 2020, Iran may look to foreign acquisitions of ships and submarines with a wide array of weapons suites. Reportedly, Iran has entered into negotiations with Russia to acquire the SS-N-26 Yakhont coastal defense cruise missile, as well," the report said.
On Monday Iran announced that it tested two missiles during a series of naval drills in the Persian Gulf. One was fired from a submarine, it said.
Iranian Defense Minister Hossein Dehghan said the Nasir missile, which he described as Iran’s latest submarine launched cruise missile, "successfully hit its target" during its test launch, the official IRNA news agency reported.
The most recent Iranian missile firings follow the launches of a ballistic missile and cruise missile in late January -- both of which are nuclear capable -- with the former resulting in new US sanctions on a number of entities involved in Iran’s ballistic missile program and a warning from US President Donald Trump ...New York real estate developer, described by Dems as illiterate, racist, misogynistic, and what ever other unpleasant descriptions they can think of, elected by the rest of us as 45th President of the United States... that the Islamic Theocratic Republic had been "put on notice" and that "nothing is off the table" in terms of a military response to perceived Iranian provocations.
In January the outgoing B.O. regime said that on the one-year anniversary of the implementation of the nuclear deal, Tehran was seen to be "upholding its commitments" under the accord.
The White House said the deal had achieved "significant, concrete results," such as subjecting Iran to an intrusive inspection and verification program, reducing its uranium stockpile by 98 percent and dismantling more than two-thirds of its centrifuges.
The accord paved the way for Iran to reenter the international finance system, freeing up Iranian assets estimated to be worth $100 billion to $150 billion, although the administration insisted that figure is, in reality, much lower. In April 2016, US Secretary of State John F. I was in Vietnam, you know Kerry Former Senator-for-Life from Massachussetts, self-defined war hero, speaker of French, owner of a lucky hat, conqueror of Cambodia, unsuccessful presidential candidate, and utterly failed Secretary of State... said Iran had received, by then, roughly $3 billion.
Posted by: trailing wife ||
03/05/2017 00:00 ||
Comments ||
Link ||
[3 views]
Top|| File under: Govt of Iran
#1
I thought you were totes capable of building them yerselves given your Medes and Persian racial and societal superiority
Posted by: Frank G ||
03/05/2017 7:16 Comments ||
Top||
#2
Yeah but they painted them pink, Frank.
Posted by: Mullah Richard ||
03/05/2017 11:20 Comments ||
Top||
#3
I imagine the French and Germans will be happy to sell them all that they can afford. And more. With NK designed upgrades.
Posted by: ed in texas ||
03/05/2017 11:45 Comments ||
Top||
A multi-volume chronology and reference guide set detailing three years of the Mexican Drug War between 2010 and 2012.
Rantburg.com and borderlandbeat.com correspondent and author Chris Covert presents his first non-fiction work detailing
the drug and gang related violence in Mexico.
Chris gives us Mexican press dispatches of drug and gang war violence
over three years, presented in a multi volume set intended to chronicle the death, violence and mayhem which has
dominated Mexico for six years.
Rantburg was assembled from recycled algorithms in the United States of America. No
trees were destroyed in the production of this weblog. We did hurt some, though. Sorry.
[DAWN] As the civil and military leaders vowed on Friday to continue "indiscriminate" counterterrorism operations with "full might", they also stressed maintaining national consensus on the fight against terrorists.
...Adviser to Pak Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif on National Security and Foreign Affairs, who believes in 
[ENGLISH.ALMANAR.LB] Iran announced it had successfully tested S-300 air defense system in Damavand military drills on Saturday.
Hereditary President-for-Life Bashir 
