I didn't think there was anyone left alive who was schtoopid enough to respond to a Nigerian email. Just goes to show you...
MADRID: Spanish police said yesterday they had smashed a Nigerian fraud ring which tricked some 500 people out of more than a million euros in a year by convincing them they had won a lottery jackpot. In a case mirroring many others from recent years, police detained six people in Torrejon de Ardoz, near Madrid, and Malaga in southern Spain, on suspicion of working the fraud.
Police said the network fished for victims by mailing out letters, mainly to Italians, claiming the person had won a million euros but needed to advance 4,000 euros in administrative fees to claim the jackpot.
"In 2012 alone nearly 500 victims, mainly Italian citizens, handed over various sums of money," the police said about the network, which they had been investigating since late 2011.
If the Italians have money to give to Nigerians, then they have money to repay German bankers. Though the Nigerians might offer a better return...
In total, more than 600 people took the bait and called the number on the letter. At the other end a man in Malaga would explain how to proceed with the bank or postal money transfers. The alleged fraudsters collected the money at the post office with the help of forged passports bearing Internet photos of famous stars, including American songstress Alicia Keys. The network then broke off all contact with the victim.
Police seized "800 Nigerian letters ready for posting, 700 envelopes, lists of possible victims" in their search, along with 100 photos destined for passport forgery.
Posted by: Steve White ||
07/07/2012 00:00 ||
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Describing the Human Rights Watch ... dedicated to bitching about human rights violations around the world... report on rights violation as "totally false, baseless and imaginary," the government has said the rights body made the allegations as part of an international conspiracy.
In a statement, the home ministry yesterday demanded that the HRW withdraw the report that called upon the government to immediately halt the February 2009 BDR mutiny trial and disband the Rapid Action Battalion.
Meanwhile, three ministers in separate programmes on Thursday and yesterday said the HRW report amounted to "interference in the internal affairs of the country".
On July 4, the New York-based rights body in a report said the mass trial of the BDR mutiny suspects was fundamentally flawed and that the accused were subjected to gross human rights violations.
It also demanded that the government form a special independent commission to investigate the custodial deaths and torture of BDR (now BGB) soldiers and take action against human rights violations by the members of Directorate General of Forces Intelligence (DGFI) and other intelligence agencies.
Two days after, the home ministry in its official reaction said, "The government hopes the Human Rights Watch will withdraw its report and remarks so that those responsible for the heinous murder of 74 people, including 57 army officers, can be punished through a fair trial."
The mutiny trial is being hold in a "fair and transparent manner" under the existing law of the country and the accused are enjoying all types of legal support, including rights to appoint lawyers to defend themselves, the ministry said.
It also termed "totally baseless" the HRW allegations that the accused mutineers were abused and tortured by the Rab, saying that the elite force was not involved in any process of the trial, including investigation.
Meanwhile, Law Minister Shafique Ahmed on Thursday said "We reject this report right away...it's false and baseless.... This is meddling in the internal affairs of a country."
After a meeting with a three-member HRW delegation led by its Asia Executive Director Brad Adams at the ministry, Shafique said no non-government organisation can make any remark on the internal matter of any county, reports UNB.
"We believe in the rule of law and urged them [the delegation] not to release such reports in future," the minister was quoted by the UNB.
On the HRW's suggestion to disband Rab, Shafique said, "It's completely our own affairs whether we'll continue Rab or disband it."
There is no miscarriage of law in holding the war crimes and the BDR mutiny trials, he added.
Asked about his discussion with the delegation, Shafique said he had been able to explain the real situation to the HRW members as they had no clear idea about many things. "They made this report because of their lack of knowledge about many things in Bangladesh."
Also on Thursday, Home Minister Shahara Khatun termed the HRW report an "intervention" and said, "Such interference by the Human Rights Watch was not fair."
The government and the people of the country hail Rab for its role in checking militancy and criminal activities, said Shahara at a police programme in the capital.
Yesterday, Suranjit Sengupta, minister without portfolio, said the HRW report was "mischievous and an intervention in the internal matter of a country".
Addressing a discussion organised by Bangabandhu Sangskritik Jote in the capital's Public Library, Suranjit said the BNP-led government had formed the Rab and the US had trained the elite force.
"The Human Rights Watch has all of a sudden called upon the government to disband Rab. Who has given them [HRW] the right to raise such a demand," said the veteran leader of the ruling Awami League.
It was for the government to decide whether or not to disband Rab, he noted and hoped the rights body would maintain internationally recognised norms in making comments in future.
Rab and Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) also criticised the HRW report.
It may be mentioned that a Dhaka court is holding trial of over 800 border force jawans and 23 civilians on charges of killing, arson, theft, looting, disposing bodies by dumping or burying in mass graves during the February 25-26, 2009 mayhem at Pilkhana in the capital.
On mutiny charges, about 4,000 BDR members have so far been sentenced to different terms in jail ranging from three months to seven years by special courts. Trial of some 2,000 jawans on similar charges is going on in four special courts set up at the BGB headquarters.
According to the HRW report, at least 47 detained border force members died in custody. Some of them might have died of natural causes but others succumbed to custodial torture, said Brad Adams, executive director of HRW in Asia.
Posted by: Fred ||
07/07/2012 01:04 ||
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Amidst news reports of vote buying by the Partido Revolucionario Institucional (PRI), the triumphant return of PRI to the presidency of the Mexican republic appears to be tempered by one very underreported fact: PRI failed to gain a majority in the Chamber of Deputies.
On the Sunday Morning Coffee Pot, Rantburg.com correspondent Chris Covert examines the politics of the 2012 elections and the likely rough ride president elect Enrique Pena Nieto is about the experience in the next three years before the midterm elections in 2015.
#1
Unless I've slept (or been in a drug induced stupor for 24 hours) it's Saturday.
Posted by: Deacon Blues ||
07/07/2012 17:32 Comments ||
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#2
that's what THEY want you to think, DB....
Posted by: Frank G ||
07/07/2012 18:13 Comments ||
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#3
It's our usual Saturday preview for the next day's SMCP, Deacon. ;-) Do feel free to visit the Club for a strong cup of fresh coffee, though - or any other beverage of your choice, courtesy of the mods.
#1
Sounds like a scare tactic, I remember reading the Radioactivity had Gone down to nearly normal.
Low radiation, Low chance of a fire spreading it.
Posted by: Redneck Jim ||
07/07/2012 0:17 Comments ||
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#2
Plants & trees have taken up radioactive isotopes and incorporated them into their structure. In a fire they would be released and dispersed in the smoke. People breathing downwind - like the firefighters - would be exposed to potentially risky levels.
#3
All the short term isotopes are gone, and their radiation too. Now it is the longer term cesium and strontium mostly. It would take a lot to be harmful. And the smoke would disperse and dilute it.
It is not good to breathe smoke in the first place and radioactive smoke is probably worse, but not a crisis either. And it is plausible that a little radiation provides some benefits.
The Russian lower house of parliament has given initial backing to a contentious bill forcing internationally-funded non-governmental organisations to carry a "foreign agent" tag. Friday's speedy crucial first reading of a bill sponsored by the ruling United Russia party comes after Vladimir Putin, the country's president, accused opposition activists demonstrating against his 12-year rule of being in the payroll of the US Department of State.
Under the wide-ranging bill, all Russian NGOs funded from abroad and ruled to be involved in politics, or acting in the minterests of foreign states and other international donors, will have to carry a "foreign agent" tag and submit to more rigorous checks by the authorities. A breach of the law would be punishable by hefty fines or jail terms.
Russian officials say the bill is aimed at preventing foreign states from influencing Russia's domestic politics. Critics say it is part of a broad crackdown on the opposition that followed unprecedented winter protests against Putin as well as a throwback to Stalin's time, when nearly everyone deemed to be in contact with foreign nationals was branded a spy and a foreign agent.
Irina Yarovaya, one of the bill's authors, said the measure would not hinder the work of NGOs involved in charity work as opposed to politics. Ilya Ponomaryov, a lawmaker with A Just Russia, said the legislation would further polarise Russian society.
The label "foreign agent" in Russian does not necessarily implicate the individual or organisation in espionage but does have a negative connotation, implying they are acting in the interests of a foreign power. Tatyana Morshchakova, one of the authors of the Russian Constitution, said that if the law was passed and enacted, the ministry of justice would be able to shut down scores of NGOs if they refused to comply.
The second and the third readings of the law are expected next week.
#4
The label "foreign agent" in Russian does not necessarily implicate the individual or organisation in espionage but does have a negative connotation, implying they are acting in the interests of a foreign power.
A committee under the Japanese prime minister has issued a report saying Japan should be allowed to exercise its right to "collective self-defense," meaning its troops could intervene to help its allies even when it is not directly attacked.
According to Japanese broadcaster NHK on Thursday, the committee under the national strategy council said, "In order to deepen cooperation in security guarantees with countries including the U.S. that share the same values, it is necessary to boost the value of Japan as a cooperative partner." It added, "Related interpretations [of laws] should be changed to allow collective defense, in order to uphold proactive pacifism in the long-term."
The council is headed by Prime Minister Yoshihiko Noda and also includes the country's foreign and finance ministers, as well as the chairman of pro-business lobby Keidanren, Hiromasa Yonekura. Noda attended the latest meeting on Thursday afternoon.
Noda is increasingly unpopular; wonder if this is a way to divert the public or it's something that he thinks is needed given China and North Korea...
Most countries assume a right to collective self-defense, which is authorized by the UN Charter. But in view of Japans responsibility for World War II, Article 9 of the Japanese constitution says the country "forever renounces war as a sovereign right of the nation and use of force as a means of settling international disputes." The Japanese military is therefore called the Self-Defense Forces.
At present, the U.S. can intervene if Japan is attacked but not vice versa, which is why the Washington-Tokyo alliance is sometimes referred to as a "half" alliance.
But there are growing calls within Japan to assert its right to collective self-defense.
Something sovereign states have without question.
The immediate reason is a growing sense of threat from China's rising military might together with the dispute over the Senkaku Islands, or Diaoyutai in Chinese. In order to keep China in check, Japan is strengthening military ties with the Philippines and Australia, but the lack of a right to collective self-defense makes it virtually impossible for Tokyo to boost its military alliances. Over the long term, Japan also wants to form military ties with Korea in order to keep China in check.
Though that proposal just died this past week, as the SKor opposition parties accused the ruling party there and the Japanese of pulling a fast one, which in fact was just what they were doing.
The U.S., which is cutting back on defense spending amid the economic slump, apparently wants Japan to play a more active military role. An investigative group within the U.S. Congress has concluded that the Japanese constitution is an obstacle to closer military ties.
This is going to happen more. As the US cuts back its military (something I don't see Romney totally reversing even if he wins), other countries are going to look to strengthen their own, make new deals and alliances, and otherwise accommodate themselves to the new world situation.
Posted by: Steve White ||
07/07/2012 00:00 ||
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New jobs numbers for June released Friday show that Americans 18-29 years old continue to suffer under the Obama administration with a 12.8% unemployment rate.
The jobs report shows that there are now 1.735 million young Americans who are no longer counted as "employed" because they have given up looking for a job and have left the labor force all together.
The real unemployment rate would be about 15% if all the people who left the market were counted. Even the MSM would have to notice that...
Generation Opportunity -- a conservative non-profit focused on young Americans -- notes that if "the labor force participation rate were factored into the overall 18-29 youth unemployment calculation, the actual 18-29-unemployment rate would rise to 16.8 percent."
There's an opportunity here for Republicans to gain the votes of a generation, if it's played right.
#1
A lot of these are privelaged princes and princesses who have been raised and educated to think they are entitled to 'good' jobs, like teaching victims study classes in universities or doing 'performance' art or being expert 'consultants' in some area they've never actually DONE the work. They will stay unemployed until they decide to flip burgers - where they will have a tough time competing. I suppose it's unfair to paint a whole generation with that brush, but it is too true to ignore.
#3
That's true of some, Glenmore, but perhaps not of all. And one needs burger-flipping jobs to apply to.
I've seen 40 & 50-yr-old college educated former white collar workers hsutling to bring sandwhiches to tables at delis in northern VA, which is not exactly a hotbed of unemployment compared to the nation as a whole.
#4
Glenmore: Yes, it is unfair to paint a whole generation with the same brush. I've been watching our adult kids either working their tails off at jobs that don't require the degrees they have, or working and working and working to find jobs that aren't there. Eldest Son did well at his job, and they said they would increase his hours; but the workload turned out to be so slack they gave him less than six hours a week.
The "princes and princesses" do exist, but from what I have seen of our kids' classmates and other young people in our area, the snobs you refer to are a noisy, pompous minority.
#5
C'mon now. Obama's Stimulus plan created pleanty of Green Jobs. Of course, a job sweeping sawdust qualifies as such. But hey...if all you little buggers would just get off yer millenial-asses the President wouldn't look so bad.
#6
My kids are of this generation and looking at them and their classmates the reality of the new Carter is writ large in their reality. They will be the next Reagan generation.
Posted by: regular joe ||
07/07/2012 13:31 Comments ||
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#7
MY kids are of this generation. They seem to prefer to be career students to working outside of their chosen field. Finished undergrad, moved out, got married, before starting to pile up the student loans. On the plus side, they get affordable student health insurance...
#8
Age aside, can anyone explain to me "given up looking for work"?
I don't doubt it for a minute, but how are these people living? They can't all have unemployment forever, or make $50,000 tax-free cash dollars a year standing on the corner begging for money.
What do they do for money/food/housing? I know some moved back in with/never left Mama, some are dependant on a spouse, etc., but how do most of them survive?
Posted by: Barbara ||
07/07/2012 14:10 Comments ||
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Apply for any and all gov, private, and religious payout programs even if it does not necessarily apply to them.
Theft.
Show up for interviews so bombed or otherwise unhirable they do not get hired but can prove they are still looking.
Selling stolen goods/drugs.
Get so eff'd up food and shelter is not a priority.
Double up on house capacity.
Trade sex for stamps, either voluntarily or by using a partner; getting knocked up = more benefits.
Rinse, flush, repeat every 12 year old.
Against the law to shut of electicity, gas, given free phones. With the right math, I believe they have more purchase power/hour worked than three of me.
#13
Also knew a guy who like to get eff'd, sure it interfered with his good job, got him fired. Found out with the severence he could make rent and dues and get eff'd...so why work?
#14
did anyone notice that the disability rate increased @ the same amount as the employment rate? A lot of skateboard accidents in Obamanation
Posted by: regular joe ||
07/07/2012 15:11 Comments ||
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#15
When I was a teen I made money weeding gardens for neighbors, etc. I spent all yesterday weeding my garden because I can't find a teen willing to sweat and get bitten by bugs for minumum wage (and I wasn't planning on paying SS either.) Unless I practice my Spanish and hire a Mexican teen.
You're probably right, grom. I didn't even think of that.
Guess that shows how far out of the mainstream I am. :-(
Posted by: Barbara ||
07/07/2012 15:25 Comments ||
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#17
I doubt if I could still legally mow neighbors' yards fo enough money to go to the movies.
Posted by: Deacon Blues ||
07/07/2012 17:37 Comments ||
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#18
My oldest is in this generation and he and his friends are too lazy to pour ravioli out of the can. most of them get by by hooking up with some baby-mama and eating her foodstamps and sleeping on her couch till she gets tired of them. about %10 have a decent work ethic and do have jobs - which leaves them with moochers on the doorstep most any day they are off work.
my 20yr old step-son with an advanced EMT license thought turning one online app a month was 'looking for a job' till i kicked his ass. unfortunately, his mom went and petted him till his tears dried then he announced 'I am taking class in the fall for paramedic' and considers that his contribution to humanity for then next 2 years.
he and his friends collectively are not worth a pinch of owl shit tho there are a handful of stars among them. problem is that so may are so worthless that the few good ones are not worth the sorting to find.
Posted by: abu do you love ||
07/07/2012 21:22 Comments ||
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[Dawn] A policeman booked for killing one of his colleagues managed to escape from the city courts soon after his plea for the confirmation of a pre-arrest bail was dismissed on Thursday.
Constable Noor Alam was booked for allegedly killing another constable, Mohammad Shafiq, on May 26.
Through his lawyer, the suspect had moved the pre-arrest bail application in a sessions court which had granted an interim bail to him and asked him to appear on July 5 for its confirmation or otherwise.
On Thursday additional district and sessions judge (south) Abdul Razzaq dismissed the confirmation plea after hearing arguments from both sides.
However, a poor excuse is better than no excuse at all... as soon as the judge pronounced the order, the suspect made an easy escape despite the presence of the investigating officer and other coppers.
According to the prosecution, the two constables were on duty on May 26 when Noor Alam attacked and killed Mohammad Shafiq with a hard object.
Posted by: Fred ||
07/07/2012 00:00 ||
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MANILA: The Philippines, which is now embroiled in a territorial dispute with China, is set to acquire new warplanes in two years to upgrade its poorly-equipped air force, the defense minister said yesterday. Attack aircraft, lead-in fighter-trainers, attack helicopters and light and medium transport aircraft were all expected to be delivered within two years, Defense Secretary Voltaire Gazmin said.
Hawk-class advanced trainers would be plenty good enough, as would some Hueys and Pumas. The key thing is, who's going to do the training, and will the training budget survive the next round of cuts?
Speaking at the 65th anniversary of the Philippine Air Force, Gazmin said these aircraft shall once and for all, erase the ironic and naughty commentary that our present airforce is all air, devoid of force.
The defense department also plans to sign contracts by July 31 to implement 138 military modernization projects over the next five years, he added, without saying how much the contracts would cost or who would supply such equipment.
The Philippines has one of the most poorly-equipped militaries in the region, having retired the last of its fighter jets in 2005. The Philippines has looked to its main defense ally, the United States, to help it upgrade its armed forces but President Benigno Aquino said in an interview in May, that it was looking for aircraft from outside the US as well.
Posted by: Steve White ||
07/07/2012 00:00 ||
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#1
They did not retire their last fighter. It ran out of gas and crashed into a school.....
Posted by: 49 pan ||
07/07/2012 11:34 Comments ||
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#4
1 Gallon water
8 ounces sugar
1 teaspoon yeast
1 cup black tea
1/2 teaspoon lemon juice
4 pounds figs
packet of yeast
remember to at least pour boiling water over all equipment, and boil any water used in the production. Be sure to wash everything, only as good as starting ingredients. Create a airlock where the gas can escape but air cannot enter.
Posted by: Abu Uluque ||
07/07/2012 13:41 Comments ||
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#6
Why, theres more smak in Afghan than smakin in an Afghan dancing boy club.
Its all about crowd control. When's the last lofty idea out of the land of mohammatons? A croup of naked kiddies feeding peeled grapes? You know the individual dreams of better things than doubling as a hefty commercial.
#7
swksvolFF, thanx for the input. It did occur to me that probably only Rantburgers would be informed enough to even catch the point I was trying to make.
#8
TW, I vary rarely post an image that I have not either completely redrawn or at least altered a great deal to suit the point I try to express. This one is no exception.
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.
Describing the 
A committee under the Japanese prime minister has issued a report saying Japan should be allowed to exercise its right to "collective self-defense," meaning its troops could intervene to help its allies even when it is not directly attacked. 
New jobs numbers for June released Friday show that Americans 18-29 years old continue to suffer under the Obama administration with a 12.8% unemployment rate.
