BRUSSELS - Gangster and former state policeman Robert Beijer says he is willing to disclose details about the murder of Francis Zwarts 25 years ago. He will only talk however if the justice ministry agrees to give him a new identity.
Beijer was linked in the past with the Nivelles Gang, responsible for 28 deaths and a series of robberies and attacks in the first half of the 1980s.
Beijer is in Thailand and wants to return to Belgium. In exchange for a new identity he will tell authorities where to find Zwarts' body.
"Give me a new id and I'll tell youse where da stiff is."
The gangster wants to negotiate with Justice Minister Laurette Onkelinx (Socialist Party PS) but she has refused so far.
"Nope."
Beijer is threatening to go to the press and reveal the location of Zwarts' body if Onkelinx continues to refuse to make any concessions.
"Listen, if you don't give me a fake id, not only will I not tell you where the body is buried, I'll tell the press! That'll show you!"
Posted by: Steve ||
05/11/2007 13:51 ||
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#1
go ahead and tell the press; the police will read it, dig him up and then the reat of the gang will come down on your sorry ass like a ton of bricks and you will be pushing poppies....
A radio-controlled vibrator made in Britain has been banned in Cyprus after it was branded a threat to national security. The Cypriot military are concerned the sex toy's electronic waves will disrupt the army's radio frequencies on the island.
A spokesperson for makers Ann Summers confirmed its Love Bug 2, a small, egg shaped device operated by a remote control, was on sale for use everywhere in Europe - except Cyprus. "The remote control only has a range of six metres. We have still been selling them in Cyprus, but with a warning urging Cypriots not to use it unless they travel abroad," said the Ann Summers spokesperson.
In its promotional literature the company describes the device as a "deceptively powerful matt silver love egg", later adding: "Not for use in Cyprus".
Military officials refused to comment on the reasons for the ban, but the government's Communications and Works Ministry said it had been a purely military decision. "We never even saw them, they were banned before we even had a chance to check them, but if issues of national security are at stake then that is not surprising," a spokesperson said. "The military does operate on a different frequency to the general frequency, but they do not share that information for obvious reasons, only they would have been able to decide what SRD's (Small Range Devices) might be a threat and what to do about it."
Lizzie Eddleston from the Ann Summers press office in the UK said: "It is a shame but we have to honour the request and have made it clear that the Love Bug is not for sale in Cyprus.
"We have been told the electronic waves given off by the 'Love Bug' would affect military frequencies, but we have told locals that we have a lot of other devices that are not banned which will satisfy their needs. After all, it's better to make love, not war."
#3
A spokesperson for makers Ann Summers confirmed its Love Bug 2, a small, egg shaped device operated by a remote control,
In the comfort of his favorite recliner, Lionel can finish of the London Daily on-line, sip a pint, and entertain Doris at the same time! Only a true Pommie could appreciate the economics of such an arrangement.
#5
Think of the fun you could have if you went to the local silver love egg-o-porium, and ripped the frequencies from the remotes: then plug them into a garage door opener and then just start driving up and down various streets and see who's door pops up, so to speak.....
On Wednesday, nine Colombian policemen were killed by a roadside bomb in another part of the country. The military blamed both attacks on left-wing Farc guerrillas, who have been fighting government and right-wing paramilitary forces for decades. Valle de Cauca is a centre of Colombia's lucrative cocaine trade.
Army commander Gen Hernando Perez Molina said Thursday's attack on an army patrol took place at 1245 local time (0545 GMT). "We know this is Farc because it fits their modus operandi and historically they have operated in this zone," he said.
Wednesday's attack took place in Santander province, north of the capital, Bogota. It was, until Thursday's bombing in Valle de Cauca, the deadliest such attack in Colombia this year. Nine policemen were killed, including the brother of top Colombian footballer Luis Yanes, who plays for Santa Fe in Bogota.
Posted by: Steve White ||
05/11/2007 00:34 ||
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ANKARA - Turkish lawmakers on Thursday voted for a constitutional amendment to elect the president by popular vote, the key provision in a package of electoral reforms that still needs to be approved in its entirety.
A total of 37O legislators in the 550-seat house voted in favour of the amendment to change the current system of election by parliament, while one voted against it. An overwhelming number of lawmakers also voted in favour of an amendment authorising the Higher Electoral Board to organise the popular vote.
Both measures are part of a set of major constitutional amendments proposed by the ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP) to resolve a deadlock in parliament on who will be the countrys next head of state. The whole package needs to be adopted by parliament before being sent to President Ahmet Necdet Sezer for approval.
Posted by: Steve White ||
05/11/2007 00:00 ||
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Yes, I see their point. Much easier to manipulate a popular vote. Start lying now boys, don't wait for the last minute!
An excellent article in the Burlington (VT) Free Press. I hope Howard Dean read it.
H/T Lucianne
WILLISTON -- It's easy to engage middle school students with questions after a presentation that includes a 15,000-pound helicopter landing in the back yard of the school.
Students of the Verve team at Williston Central School peppered three members of a Vermont Army National Guard medical evacuation unit with questions for more than an hour Wednesday afternoon after the ambulance team arrived at the school flying a Black Hawk chopper to talk about their recent Iraq deployment. The presentation closed a two-week interdisciplinary unit on the Middle East that students completed before spring break.
"We chose this unit of study because of the current challenges and conflicts that exist in the region and because the students had limited knowledge of the area," Verve teacher Ann Steinmuller said.
Students chose three seminars out of several offered, including art and culture, economics, natural resources, religion, and women's rights, Steinmuller said. Each student then picked one topic and created an in-depth project that was presented in a Middle East Fair held the last day of the unit.
Sixth-grader Avery Caterer said he changed his view of the region after he learned the Middle East was not all about a "boring desert." Fifth-grader Matthew Howell agreed. "The oil production there is amazing," the 11-year-old said.
Seeing an actual helicopter and real crewmembers who served in Iraq was the most amazing learning experience for the two boys, they said. "I liked the most that I can actually see it and ask questions about what they did in Iraq," Matthew said. The best for Avery was being allowed to climb into the machine, he said.
Fifteen minutes before 1 p.m., the loud, huge flying machine circled the open field behind the school and landed in the green. Once Capt. Doran Metzger of Milton, Chief Warrant Officer Keith Roy of Williston and Flight Medic Sawyer Alberi of Eden descended and turned off the blades, about 80 children ran from the playground toward the helicopter.
Metzger gave a short presentation on the operation of the noncombat unit and the helicopter's technical details. Then, the three Guard members answered the many questions of students and residents who stopped by to see the machine.
In response to a question from a student, Metzger explained medical evacuation units help U.S soldiers, Iraqi civilians, war prisoners and anyone in need of medical treatment and transportation.
"The exact same treatment, the exact same care," he said.
#1
Just to top off the day, they should've painted it black, made some slow passes over Burlington, and watched them run screaming in terror in the streets below.
#2
And of course, lean out of the chopper wear full chem gear and pretend to be spraying something. Then float the rumor that the area was treated with something that makes Liberals sterile. Mind games are fun, especially when the toys you can play with are kooky like libs and morons;)
Shouldn't the headline read " ...Lands in Williston School(yard)?" Sounds like they fell through the roof,
and second, as an experienced rotorhead, just how does one 'turn off the blades?' You might shut down the rotor system or disengage the head, but it ain't no friggin' microwave....
just askin, is all.
NEW DELHI - India, which placed an Italian satellite into orbit last month, plans to launch three more foreign satellites, a government minister said on Thursday. The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) has already signed agreements for putting into space three more foreign satellites, Prithviraj Chavan, a minister in the prime ministers office, told parliament.
Chavan did not elaborate on the agreements or disclose when the satellites would be launched, but said ISRO was focusing on such commercial ventures. ISROs marketing arm, Antrix Corporation, is being encouraged to promote the commercial use of capacity available on Indian space systems, Chavan said in parliaments upper house.
On April 23, an Indian-made rocket launched with Italys Agile astronomical satellite and put in into orbit in ISROs first commercial venture aimed at carving a slice of the global multi-billion-dollar space launch market.
India wants to compete with the US, Russia, China, Ukraine and the European Space Agency in offering commercial satellite launch services, a market worth up to 2.5 billion dollars a year. However, Chavan said ISROs capabilities and developing alliances for global marketing will be considered only after meeting national needs.
ISRO has designed and built launch rockets to reduce its dependence on overseas space agencies, but has only recently begun exploring commercial spin-offs.
All the while quietly building expertise, quality control, and systems to ensure that Indian IRBM and ICBM missiles will be completely up to Western standards.
Posted by: Steve White ||
05/11/2007 00:00 ||
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#1
One of these foreign satellites is the Israeli synthetic aperture radar spy satellite Polaris (formerly TechSAR).
There are reports that an "unnamed" country has co-funded TechSAR development in exchange for one of the birds. It seems this country is India. Other reports claim that India bought one of the Israeli Ofeq optical spy satellites and that Israel and India will share imagery from their birds.
Posted by: John Frum ||
05/11/2007 6:10 Comments ||
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On April 23, an Indian-made rocket launched with Italys Agile astronomical satellite
Photos of the bird and launch vehicle assembly here
While the international rates for launching a satellite ranged between $10,000 and $15,000, Antrix charged $ 29,000 a kg because Agile had to be put in a specific orbit of about 550 km at a low inclination of 2.5 degrees to the equator, said Mr. Sridhara Murthi. This was a difficult orbit and inclination to achieve, and hence the premium rates.
G. Madhavan Nair, ISRO Chairman, said the accuracy of the PSLV-C8 mission could be gauged from the fact while the vehicle was to put Agile into a circular orbit 550 km above the earth at an inclination of 2.5 degrees, what was achieved was an orbit between 549 km and 551 km at an inclination of 2.46 degrees. "For any launch vehicle, it is a remarkable achievement," he said. It proved the performance of the PSLV-C8's navigation, guidance and control systems.
Posted by: John Frum ||
05/11/2007 6:19 Comments ||
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India may delay its own launches to accommodate the foreign customers..
it seems the 2007 AstroSAT launch has been dealyed to 2008.
ASTROSAT is currently proposed as a multi-wavelength astronomy mission on an IRS-class satellite into a near-Earth, equatorial orbit by the PSLV. The 5 instruments on board cover the UV(1000-3000 A), soft and hard x-ray regimes (0.3 - 8 keV; 2 - 100 keV). This will be the first dedicated Indian astronomy satellite.
Posted by: John Frum ||
05/11/2007 6:32 Comments ||
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UNITED NATIONS (Reuters) - The United States and Europeans intend to circulate a resolution that would grant independence to Kosovo at the U.N. Security Council on Friday, despite a fresh hint from Russia that it could veto the plan.
U.S. Ambassador Zalmay Khalilzad said on Thursday he expected a draft text to go to the 15 council members urging implementation of a U.N. proposal giving the province effective independence from Serbia under European Union supervision.
Khalilzad was speaking after his Russian counterpart, Vitaly Churkin, refused to rule out a veto of the plan, saying Moscow needed to keep all options open on a proposal strongly opposed by its allies in Belgrade.
Following a Security Council debate on Kosovo, Churkin also spoke of irreconcilable differences between Western and Russian ideas for next steps on the mainly ethnic Albanian province. But Churkin made no specific veto threat and despite his uncompromising tone, Western envoys suggested Russia was being more flexible in closed-door negotiations on a resolution to follow up the plan proposed by U.N. mediator Martti Ahtisaari.
Khalilzad, who earlier said he believed a majority of council members supported the plan, told a group of reporters the issue was whether Russia would abstain or veto. "At this point they have not indicated whether they have made up their mind on this," he said. "They have a real problem with the reference to independence."
The draft resolution is based on a U.S.-European working paper of 13 points, distributed last week. But a rival Russian list says conditions for minority Serbs in Kosovo are not yet in place and negotiations should continue.
Kosovo has been under U.N. administration since 1999, when NATO bombing drove out Serb forces who had killed 10,000 Albanian civilians in a two-year war with guerillas.
ALL OPTIONS
"There are some points in those elements which clearly cannot be reconciled," Churkin said, referring to the two skeleton drafts.
Asked whether Russia was considering a veto, he said: "This is certainly a threshold situation in terms of international law ... so ... it does require the need to use all options available in case strong views need to be protected."
Churkin's statement was the latest from Russia to dangle the threat of a veto without any firm commitment to use it, a tactic Russian officials have hinted could strengthen their hand in the talks over a resolution.
Following Thursday's debate in the Security Council, which heard a report by Belgian Ambassador Johan Verbeke on a council trip to Kosovo last month, Khalilzad said he judged that a majority of members supported Ahtisaari's plan. "I believe the votes are there for supporting the ... plan, assuming there is no Russian veto," he said, later adding about 11 were in favor.
To pass, a resolution needs nine votes and no veto by the United States, Russia, Britain, France or China. In the debate, apart from Russia, China also called for continued negotiations.
#3
Next thing you know the UN will adopt a resolution calling for independence for those three southern provinces in Thailand. At least the Russians seem to understand the situation, at least in Serbia. It's too bad they still think they can make money dealing with Iranians.
RAMALLAH, West Bank - Rusaila Rabee grabbed her stomach in pain during a long wait at a hospital emergency room in the occupied West Bank, where most medical workers have been on strike for months for their full salaries. Does a strike mean that people like me should be left to die? said the 70-year-old woman.
People die in the West Bank for all sorts of reasons.
Suffering from a liver disease, Rabee made the difficult two-hour trip to Ramallah Hospital through several Israeli military checkpoints in hope that a doctor would drain a dangerous buildup of fluids in her abdomen. Doctors at the facility referred a number of patients to private hospitals but Rabee said she could not afford a bill that could be as much as 4,500 shekels ($1.135).
Government-paid medical workers went on strike in February. They stepped up their protest this week, deciding not to treat emergency cases such as Rabee.
The European Union and other aid groups have partly alleviated the fund shortage by paying partial salaries billed as allowances to health workers. But many of the employees are threatening to shut down Palestinian hospitals completely by May 14 unless their wages are paid in full.
There's gratitude for you.
Eileen Daly, health coordinator for the International Committee of the Red Thingy Cross, said the strike could have long-lasting consequences. The longer the strike continues, the greater the likelihood of long-term health effects because of the drastic reduction in services such as vaccinations, medication for the chronically ill and for mother and child clinics, Daly said.
Yup, that's generally what happens when there's no medical care for a long enough period of time. Sucks to live in Paleo-land, doesn't it.
The majority of some 4 million Palestinians living in the West Bank and Gaza Strip rely on public health services that account for 62 percent of clinics, and which employ about 11,000 doctors, nurses, therapists and emergency personnel. Most other clinics are paid for by the United Nations, non-governmental groups, private companies and religious-based charities, including some with ties to Hamas.
A senior health official who declined to be identified, told Reuters: We are witnessing a catastrophe in the health sector. They should find out a solution quickly.
There's an obvious one, but you won't like it ...
Palestinian Information Minister Mustafa al-Barghouthi has urged health workers to continue to provide emergency care, saying the government was trying to find funds to pay them.
Without giving in to the crusaders and zionists, of course. That would never do. Everyone will just have to die before that happens. Sorry 'bout your liver, granny.
Posted by: Steve White ||
05/11/2007 00:00 ||
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Does a strike mean that people like me should be left to die? said the 70-year-old woman.
Suffering from a liver disease, Rabee made the difficult two-hour trip to Ramallah Hospital through several Israeli military checkpoints in hope that a doctor would drain a dangerous buildup of fluids in her abdomen.
if givin the choice of, 'death by liver failure' or 'death by baseball bat',
#5
You know, I used to be a nice person. A long time ago, I felt kinda sorry for the Palestinians, in that they had been used, screwed and abused by their so-called "friends" in the Arab world, and wound up on the fuzzy lend of the lollipop as far as the Israelis were concerned.
But all those mildly sympathetic feelings just sort of drained away, bit by bit by bit. Arafat's corruption and violence... the counterproductive stupidity of the intifada... cheering on of 9/11, and mob murders, bus bombings, the trashing of the greenhouses, and the constant river of duplicity and propagands. The murders of the pregnant woman and her four small children was tne ultimate last straw.
There is no shred of sympathy left. Not a scrap, not a single particle. If I heard on the news tomorrow that every single Paleo in Gaza and the West Bank had suddenly dropped dead of some virulent toenail virus, I'd shrug and change the channel.
I don't even care enough to despise them. I just don't give a damn.
#6
Sgt. Mom, I sure you are still a nice person. You are just expressing what many Americans feel. I feel the same. I might not change the channel. I would probably keep watching, crack open a beer or several in celebration of toenail viruses.
#7
People usually get what they deserve. When you offer nothing, eventually folks wake up and give you nothing in return.
Too bad they're too friggin dense to realize that. But that's not my problem...
#9
Why are they bitching? I mean don't they have a top-notch sanitation system. I heard their sewage was wide spread. Oh, you mean that's NOT a good thing?????
Following the announcement of the new Flying-HK-style "Reaper" death machines for the British forces, the prophetic nature of the Terminator movies has been further confirmed. Not only will the UK MoD deploy airborne cyber-gunships remarkably similar to those in the films, the flying robot assassins will be controlled by an IT project named "Skynet".
I've seen the movies. It doesn't end well.
This latest case of life imitating art (well, kind of art) was revealed this morning, with the news that the first of the Skynet 5 satellites has gone operational and is now successfully carrying data to and from British forces fighting in Southwest Asia.
"This important milestone is very good news for the armed forces," said Lord Drayson, the Minister for Defence Procurement. "Skynet 5 will supply about 2.5 times the capacity of the old system and generate a very significant improvement for our global communications systems - allowing us to pass more data faster. It is an excellent example of a successful Private Finance Initiative (PFI) deal."
This PFI was the largest ever signed by the UK MoD, around £3.6bn in total. The Skynet 5 satellites are run by Paradigm Secure Communications and were built by EADS-Astrium. Skynet 5A was launched into space aboard an Ariane 5-ECA rocket from French Guiana in March, sharing the ride with an Indian TV platform. Skynet 5B and 5C will follow later this year and next.
It seems pretty clear that the Reaper flying kill machines will be run using the Skynet satellites, not any other comms channels. "Take for example the capability of unmanned air vehicles. These generate a lot of imagery and that has to be passed over a secure communications link," according to Bill Sweetman, technology and aerospace editor for defence analysts Jane's. "The practice is to offload mundane traffic on to commercial satellites and then to use a complementary, secure proprietary system for the traffic that has to be protected."
And it may not just be the Reapers that are controlled by Skynet. There's no word yet of any plans to cloak Asimo robots in living flesh cloned from large Austrian bodybuilders, but it can only be a matter of time. "Ground control segments for the new system have been upgraded," reported the Beeb today. "Ships, planes and land vehicles are being equipped to make the best use of the upgraded Skynet."
Or for Skynet to make use of them. ®
Be afraid. Be very afraid.
Posted by: Steve ||
05/11/2007 14:22 ||
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"Sarah Conner?" (Somebody had to do it.)
Posted by: Jonathan ||
05/11/2007 16:28 Comments ||
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I think we're still a few megs of SDRAM short of self-awareness.
#3
These things have a way of creeping up on us fast. People went to the moon and back several times with "stone knives and bear skins" (nods to Mr Spock).
#9
I am more nervous about the prospect of these things tied into the camera's throughout Great Britain. I have visions of some litterbug getting slammed after ignoring the camera speakers telling him to pick up the trash.
Wasn't there some story a while back about using Airborne vehicles to carry out remote surveillance in California? No word of a Skynet clone in the U.S. yet.
(AKI) - A student in Malaysia, Ikhwan Nazri Mohamad Asran, has created software that will allow the Muslim holy book, the Koran to be downloaded onto Playstation Portable (PSP) consoles, which are normally used for vidoegames, listening to music and surfing the Internet. "It is a way to make young people interested in the Koran and appease parents fear that Internet is all about pornography and games," Ikhwan told Adnkronos International (AKI), explaining his motivation for creating the game.
The software will be ready on 19 May when an English version, with certain Arabic words, will be available for downloads on the website of the Islamic magazine, The Raise, which was also created by Ikhwan and is compatible with PSP. "The reason for the magazine is to provide information on Islam and clearing misconceptions going around about Muslims," he said.
The software was first demonstrated at a dinner organised for the 1 May at the Usrah Institute of Kuala Lumpur, the university where the 21-year-old Ikhwan will graduate next year from a creative multi-media programme. "The attendees were amazed," said Ikhwan, adding that his professors were sceptical when he proposed the idea of the magazine and the softwar for the first time, in January. "But then, with their help, we found 10 volunteers to help me. Currently we have 2 teams: one team is responsible for the Koran project while another team is directing ideas, and Islamic content for PSP," he said.
"We work on the project during our free time, but soon we will have exams and so we will will have little time available for this," said Ikhwan, who considers himself "a Muslim who wanted to start changing to be a better person."
Posted by: Fred ||
05/11/2007 02:28 ||
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"all about pr0nography and games"
So the Koran, with all its soxual obsession and violence, should be easily adapted to a 'Grand Theft, Auto' style video game.
DAMASCUS - The Syrian parliament on Thursday unanimously agreed to nominate President Bashar Al Assad for a second term with the formal decision expected to be announced Friday.
Parliament Speaker Mahnoud Al-Abrash told the parliament after Al Assad delivered his speech that the Baath party had sent the parliament a letter nominating President Al Assad for a second term and asked them if they agreed to include the letter on the parliamentary agenda. Voting was through a show of hands ...
"gitcher mitts in da air and give it up for our Glorious Leader!"
... and the issue was agreed unanimously. The parliament formed a committee to discuss the letter and present a report to be discussed in parliament.
Al Abrash said that he decided to open an extraordinary session on Friday to discuss this issue and is expected to formally announce the nomination of President Assad as sole candidate for the second term. It is being widely reported that Syria would hold the presidential elections on May 27.
Posted by: Steve White ||
05/11/2007 00:00 ||
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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.
BRUSSELS - Gangster and former state policeman Robert Beijer says he is willing to disclose details about the murder of Francis Zwarts 25 years ago. He will only talk however if the justice ministry agrees to give him a new identity. 
On Wednesday, nine Colombian policemen were killed by a roadside bomb in another part of the country. The military blamed both attacks on left-wing Farc guerrillas, who have been fighting government and right-wing paramilitary forces for decades. Valle de Cauca is a centre of Colombia's lucrative cocaine trade.
ANKARA - Turkish lawmakers on Thursday voted for a constitutional amendment to elect the president by popular vote, the key provision in a package of electoral reforms that still needs to be approved in its entirety.
NEW DELHI - India, which placed an Italian satellite into orbit last month, plans to launch three more foreign satellites, a government minister said on Thursday. The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) has already signed agreements for putting into space three more foreign satellites, Prithviraj Chavan, a minister in the prime ministers office, told parliament.
RAMALLAH, West Bank - Rusaila Rabee grabbed her stomach in pain during a long wait at a hospital emergency room in the occupied West Bank, where most medical workers have been on strike for months for their full salaries. Does a strike mean that people like me should be left to die? said the 70-year-old woman.
Following the announcement of the new 
DAMASCUS - The Syrian parliament on Thursday unanimously agreed to nominate President Bashar Al Assad for a second term with the formal decision expected to be announced Friday.
