Steven Seagal Defends Putin's Crimea Actions

Steven Seagal has called the actions of Russian President Vladimir Putin in Crimea "very reasonable".

In an interview with a state-run newspaper the action star said the politician is "one of the great living world leaders" and that he "would like to consider him as a brother".

Seagal, who is thought to be an acquaintance of the politician due to their shared passion for martial arts, also criticised America's "idiotic" foreign policy on Ukraine.

President Barack Obama has labelled Russia a "regional power" that is threatening its neighbours out of weakness, not strength.

Seagal told the Rossiskaya Gazeta Mr Putin's "desire to protect the Russian-speaking people of Crimea, his assets, and the Russian Black Sea military base in Sevastopol … is very reasonable".

It is not the first time the Under Siege star, who is currently filming a movie in Romania, has weighed into the debate over the Ukraine crisis.

Last month he appeared on Russia Today as an "expert" panellist.

Russian forces have gradually seized control of Crimea since voters agreed to join the Russian Federation in a swiftly arranged referendum following Ukrainian president Victor Yanukovych's removal.

In March 2013 Seagal, 61, and Mr Putin appeared together at an event aimed at promoting healthy lifestyles among young people.

In what seemed to be a choreographed incident, Seagal rushed into a crowd of children trying to pose with Putin and pulled him out, as if acting as his bodyguard.

The star's action films are popular in Russia and he has met the president several times.

23.31 | 0 komentar | Read More

Japan Frees Longest-Serving Death Row Inmate

The world's longest serving death row inmate has walked free from prison, hours after Japanese authorities granted him a retrial.

Iwao Hakamada, 78, appeared unsteady as he emerged from prison alongside his sister, Hideko, who has long campaigned for his release.

Hakamada has spent 45 years in solitary confinement waiting to be executed after being convicted of murdering his boss and the man's family.

Shizuoka District Court has now ordered a fresh trial over concerns that the original investigators may have planted evidence.

In his ruling, presiding judge Hiroaki Murayama said: "There is a possibility that (key pieces of) evidence have been fabricated by investigative bodies."

Court prosecutors have three days to appeal the decision.

Hakamada had been a professional boxer prior to his arrest

Hakamada initially denied carrying out the 1966 murders, but later confessed. He claimed his admission followed a brutal police interrogation and beatings.

Despite retracting his confession the supreme court confirmed his death sentence in 1980.

There have long been doubts about the evidence used to convict him.

Prosecutors used bloodstained clothes which came to light a year after his arrest.

However, the clothes did not fit him and the stains appeared to be too new to have come about during the murders.

His supporters have since claimed that DNA tests do not link Hakamada to the clothes and the blood stains.

Even one of the judges who was on the panel that originally convicted him said the decision was wrong - but he could not convince his two colleagues of Hakamada's innocence.

Hakamada's sister thanked supporters outside Shizuoka District Court

Following the announcement of his retrial, his sister Hideko, 81, thanked those who have been campaigning for his freedom.

"This happened thanks to all of you who helped us. I am just so happy," she said.

A spokesman for Amnesty International said: "Time is running out for Hakamada to receive the fair trial he was denied more than four decades ago.

"If ever there was a case that merits a retrial, this is it. Hakamada was convicted on the basis of a forced confession and there remain unanswered questions over recent DNA evidence."

Japan and the United States are the only major industrialised countries to enforce the death penalty.

Hakamada is just the sixth person since World War Two to be awarded a retrial after having the death sentence confirmed.

23.31 | 0 komentar | Read More

Questions For Pistorius In The Witness Box

Oscar Pistorius will go into the witness box knowing he needs to provide answers to a string of vital questions.

An unconvincing performance by the' Bladerunner' athlete could lead to his conviction for pre-meditated murder and a 25-year jail sentence.

The backdrop to the case is a fear of armed intruders that is shared by most wealthy South Africans.

In his bail application last year Pistorius said he was "acutely aware" of violence used by burglars and had been a victim himself, as well as receiving death threats.

That's why he kept under his bed at night the 9mm automatic pistol he used to kill his girlfriend Reeva Steenkamp, who, he claims, he mistook for an intruder locked in the toilet.

Pistorius will need to explain fraught texts from Reeva Steenkamp

His lawyer said this week that Pistorius, 27, had been a victim of crime many times.

But is that true? Pistorius will have to provide details, because prosecution witness Warrant Officer Hendrick Maritz told the court his name had never appeared in the police records of reported crime, "unless his name was misspelt or someone got his ID number wrong."

Prosecutor Gerrie Nel is bound to press the sprinter over his claim that the couple went to bed at 10pm and fell asleep five hours before the 3am shooting.

Professor Gert Saayman testified that Reeva had probably eaten food two hours before she died and a police phone analyst suggested Pistorius was surfing the internet around the same time.

In his plea explanation at the start of the trial Pistorius said he had spoken to Reeva beside him in bed just before he went out to the balcony to bring in two fans. It was then he heard a noise in the bathroom, grabbed his gun and went to investigate what he thought was an intruder posing an imminent threat.

But if he "felt a sense of terror rushing over me", as he stated in his bail application, why not simply wake up his girlfriend, get out of the house and call security?

Why did he fire four shots through the door of the tiny toilet? Whoever he thought was in there was almost certainly going to be killed.

And why didn't he observe the country's strict self-defence laws instead of using lethal force on an "intruder" he hadn't even seen?

Gun licence examiner Sean Rens told the court that Pistorius had easily passed tests in which he demonstrated he knew what he could and couldn't do to deal with a burglar.

Pistorius is certain to be asked to explain more about his relationship with Reeva, 29, the model he had been dating for three months.

If it was the "loving relationship" he claimed, why was she sending him fraught text messages accusing him of being angry and jealous, treating her badly and even scaring her?

There are many more questions that will probably keep Pistorius in the witness box for several days.

23.31 | 0 komentar | Read More

Ukraine Crisis: IMF Agrees $18bn Bailout Fund

The International Monetary Fund has agreed rescue funds of up to $18bn (£10.8bn) for Ukraine in return for strict economic reforms.

Under the conditions of the proposed deal, Ukraine's interim government has announced a 50% increase in the price of domestic gas from May 1.

The IMF has pushed for a cut in energy subsidies which accounted for 7.5% of Ukraine's GDP in 2012.

Ukraine has said it needs the bailout to avoid a possible debt default.

The so-called Stand-By Arrangement (SBA) with the IMF will not be ratified until the executive board meets next month.

If it is agreed, it could open Ukraine up to further financial support from the US, EU and Japan amounting to a total of $27bn (£16.3bn) over the next two years.

Ukrainian Prime Minister Arseniy Yatsenyuk said on Thursday the price for Russian gas could reach $480 (£290) per 1,000 cubic metres from April 1. The current level is $268.5 (£162).

He added that if the reforms required by the IMF were not adopted, GDP could fall 10% in 2014 and the economy could default.

The country's finance minister had predicted Ukraine's economy will contract 3% this year after years of mismanagement and political turmoil.

Yulia Tymoshenko says she will run for president

A statement from the IMF said: "Following the intense economic and political turbulence of recent months, Ukraine has achieved some stability, but faces difficult challenges.

"The mission has reached a staff-level agreement with the authorities of Ukraine on an economic reform programme that can be supported by a two-year Stand-By Agreement (SBA) with the IMF.

"The financial support from the broader international community that the programme will unlock amounts to $27bn over the next two years.

"Of this, assistance from the IMF will range between $14-18bn, with the precise amount to be determined once all bilateral and multilateral support is accounted for."

The agreement will help Ukraine to meet debt payments after months of anti-government protests which saw President Viktor Yanukovych flee the country and Russian troops enter the Crimea region.

Meanwhile, former Ukrainian prime minister Yulia Tymoshenko has said she will stand in presidential elecitons in May.

The 53-year-old was released from jail last month following the fall of Mr Yanukovych's government.

She had spent three years in prison after being convicted of embezzlement and abuse of power, charges her supporters say were politically motivated.

A heroine of the 2004 Orange Revolution which overthrew Mr Yanukovych during his first term, Ms Tymoshenko is a divisive figure in Ukraine, seen variously as a fearless standard-bearer of democracy and as a self-interested oligarch.

23.31 | 0 komentar | Read More

Egypt's Army Chief To Run For President

The head of Egypt's army will run for president of the beleaguered country after stepping down from his post, a vote he is widely expected to win.

Wearing military fatigues, Abdel Fattah al Sisi announced the step in a nationally televised speech.

Standing down was required by law as only civilians can run.

The 59-year-old said he was "answering the demand of a wide range of Egyptians" and pledged to build a "modern and democratic Egypt".

A woman celebrates al Sisi's announcement

"These recent years of our nation's history have conclusively shown that no one can become president of Egypt against the will of the people."

He said the country faced "monumental challenges", including a "weak economy" and high unemployment.

"I cannot make miracles. Rather, I propose hard work and self-denial," he added.

The poll anticipated next month is expected to restore a tradition which has seen Egypt have presidents from a military background for all but one year since 1952.

The country has been in turmoil for much of the past three years. Mass protests got rid of autocrat Hosni Mubarak in 2011 and elections followed a year later.

Mohammed Morsi assumed office as Egypt's first freely elected and civilian president. But he was in office for little more than a year when he too was removed.

Since then the military-backed interim government has waged a crackdown on the Muslim Brotherhood, the party of Mr Morsi, declaring it a terrorist group.

Students shout slogans in protests at Cairo University

On Monday, more than 500 Muslim Brotherhood supporters were sentenced to death.

Protests against the interim government continue. On Wednesday students in several universities held demonstrations that developed into clashes with security forces.

An 18-year-old student was killed at Cairo University, the health ministry said.

Magdy Karkar, a senior member of a Brotherhood-led coalition behind anti-government protests, said: "His running will not achieve stability in Egypt. It's true he has many supporters who love him or even worship him.

"But on the other hand, there are those who hate General al Sisi and hold him responsible for the blood that has been shed."

Egyptian media have been portraying al Sisi as "the savior of the nation" for removing Morsi - and touting him as the only person capable of running the country.

Only one other person has announced they will stand - leftist politician Hamdeen Sabahi - who came third in 2012.

23.31 | 0 komentar | Read More

Baggage Handlers Held In Airport Sting

Police have arrested scores of people as part of a months-long investigation into baggage theft at Los Angeles International Airport.

The probe involved officers going undercover among baggage handlers and began after a string of reports of luggage thefts from terminals, runways and planes.

Police captain Ray Maltez told local station KABC-TV: "We believe that there has been a culture of being able to take property that wasn't theirs, and that's what we want to be able to put a stop to."

Many of those held are contractors hired to handle luggage

It was not clear exactly how many have been arrested.

Police said they had served warrants, raided airport terminals and seized property at 25 different locations in Los Angeles-area cities.

Those arrested were primarily employees or ex-employees of contracting companies hired to handle luggage and do not work for the airport itself, police said.

Some of the suspects were wearing yellow reflective safety vests and were in handcuffs as they were being taken into custody by police.

Most of the police activity was at the Tom Bradley International Terminal and at Terminal 4, which houses American Airlines, American Eagle and some Qantas flights.

23.31 | 0 komentar | Read More

Actress Wins Damages Over Hollande Affair Claim

Closer magazine has been told to pay damages to actress Julie Gayet over claims she had an affair with the French president.

The court, in the Paris suburb of Nanterre, ordered Closer to pay €15,000 (£12,400) for breach of privacy after it published photos of the 41-year-old actress and Mr Hollande, 59, arriving separately at a Paris apartment for alleged trysts.

Ms Gayet had been seeking €50,000 (£41,650) in damages and €4,000 (£3,330) in legal costs.

The magazine was also ordered to publish the court's full ruling on its front page.

Mr Hollande split with partner Valerie Trierweiler in January

Mr Hollande split with partner Valerie Trierweiler, 49, following the scandal but both he and Ms Gayet have refused to comment on their private lives.

Ms Trierweiler, a journalist, was admitted to hospital in January with depression after the allegations about Mr Hollande first emerged.

During the hearing, Ms Gayet's lawyer Jean Ennochi said his client had been "hunted" by the press.

He said: "She was assaulted by swarms of photographers... it was like the hunt of a wild animal."

Delphine Pando, representing Closer magazine, told the court the publication was justified because it was in the public interest and raised questions about presidential security.

The magazine pulled the story from its website following a request from Ms Gayet's lawyer, but did not order copies to be withdrawn from newsstands.

Ms Gayet has also made a criminal complaint for breach of privacy against Closer over separate photos taken inside a car and another against paparazzi photographers for allegedly pursuing her.

23.31 | 0 komentar | Read More

MH370 Search: Satellite Spots '300 Objects'

Thailand says satellite images show 300 objects floating in the ocean in the hunt for wreckage from flight MH370, which has been scaled back due to bad weather.

The items, ranging from two to 15 metres (6.5 to 50 feet) in size, were scattered over an area about 1,700 miles southwest of Perth, according to the country's space agency.

Japan is also reported to have captured satellite images of 10 objects, which may be plane debris.

The latest satellite evidence comes as search aircraft were recalled to Perth due to poor weather conditions, which are expected to last 24 hours.

But eight ships will stay in the area and attempt to continue scouring the remote southern Indian Ocean where previous satellite images showed what could be a debris field.

Another weather system is moving in to the search zone. Pic: bom.gov.au

The operation has already been suspended once this week because of the weather.

International teams set off early on Thursday morning local time to continue the search, but by early afternoon the Australian Maritime Safety Authority, which is coordinating the hunt, said all planes had been forced to leave the search zone due to heavy rains, strong winds, low clouds and reduced visibility.

On returning to Perth, Captain Mike MacSween, who is on attachment with the Royal Australian Air Force, said poor visibility meant he had to fly as low as 200 feet to keep the ocean surface in sight.

He told a news conference: "The conditions are definitely difficult.

"With the rain showers and reduced visibility, and the concentration required to try and pick up something visually made it difficult for the crew."

New satellite images continue to provide clues in the hunt for MH370

It took four hours to reach the search area and the crew had up to two-and-a-half hours search time before having to head back.

He added: "The crew are still motivated and hopefully we are going to be able to find something soon."

Before the weather deteriorated, crews were trying to find signs of the Malaysia Airlines Boeing 777 in an area around 1,550 miles (2,500 km) southwest of Perth, Western Australia, after a French satellite spotted 122 objects, suspected to be debris.

Malaysian officials said the items, between one metre and 23 metres in length, were in an area measuring around 155 square miles (400 square kilometres).

There have been five separate satellite leads - from Australia, China, France, and now Thailand - showing what could be debris.

But it is not currently known if any of the objects are connected to MH370, which disappeared on March 8 on its way from Kuala Lumpur to Beijing with 239 people on board.

Search aircraft have been grounded in Perth because of severe weather

The plane is thought to have crashed with the loss of all 239 people aboard after flying thousands of miles off course.

The Australian Maritime Safety Authority (AMSA) said crews had seen objects while they were searching on Wednesday, but the items were later lost.

"Three objects were spotted on Wednesday by two aircraft but were not able to be relocated despite several passes," it said.

"They were unrelated to the credible satellite imagery provided to AMSA."

The failure to find and recover any possible debris despite the growing number of satellite images highlights the logistical difficulties of the search area.

It has some of the deepest and roughest waters in the world, battered by the "roaring forties" winds that sweep across the sea.

The winds are named for the area between latitude 40 degrees and 50 degrees where there is no land mass to slow down gusts which create waves higher than six metres (19ft).

"It's a nasty part of the world simply because there's no land to break up any of this swell and waves - it's uncomfortable to be there any time," marine scientist Dr Rob Beaman told Sky News.

"You really need a strong stomach to work in that area, so I really feel for the people who are out there doing the search."

In the meantime, anger and frustration has continued to mount among distraught relatives of the 150 Chinese passengers at Malaysian efforts to find the plane.

Chinese insurance companies have also started paying compensation to the families of passengers aboard the missing plane, according to the state news agency.

23.31 | 0 komentar | Read More

Ship Mistaken For Plane Crash In Gran Canaria

Emergency services have mistaken a ship for a plane crash near Gran Canaria, it has emerged.

The vessel that caused the confusion. pic: Controladores Aéreos

Officials in Spain's Canary Islands had said an aircraft had come down in the sea, two miles off the coast, before correcting the error moments later.

A spokeswoman for the Canary Island emergency services said: "It's not an airplane, it's a big tugboat pulling a ship."

Authorities had initially said a passenger plane had crashed and that they did not know how many people were on board.

Controladores Aéreos, which issued a photograph of the ship, said: "As you can see, the confusion was even logical, but it is a boat. All planes were controlled and safe."

23.31 | 0 komentar | Read More

'Sharp Spike' In People Put To Death Worldwide

There has been a "sharp global spike" in the number of people put to death, according to Amnesty International.

Almost 100 more people were executed in 2013 compared with the previous year - a rise of almost 15%.

There were at least 778 executions carried out in 22 countries, according to the London-based rights group.

Amnesty secretary general Salil Shetty said: "Only a small number of countries carried out the vast majority of these senseless state-sponsored killings.

"We urge all governments who still kill in the name of justice to impose a moratorium on the death penalty immediately, with a view to abolishing it."

Iran (369 executions), Iraq (169), Saudi Arabia (79), the United States (39) and Somalia (34) are top of the list.

However, the figures do not include the thousands of people who are put to death in China, where such information is a state secret.

The report follows a decision this week by a court in Egypt to sentence 529 alleged supporters of the Muslim Brotherhood to death, a decision Amnesty called "grotesque".

The global increase is partly down to more executions in Iran, Iraq and Saudi Arabia - which account for 80% of the total.

"Credible sources" have reported an additional 335 executions in Iran, Amnesty said.

The rights group said it could not confirm the number of executions in Syria and Egypt.

Reasons for executions included adultery in Saudi Arabia, blasphemy in Pakistan, economic crimes in China, North Korea and Vietnam, and reportedly in North Korea for pornography, escaping to China and watching banned videos from South Korea.

Methods of execution included beheading in Saudi Arabia, electrocution in the US, and lethal injection in China, Vietnam and the US.

Other countries were listed as using hanging and shooting, although there were no reported executions by stoning.

According to Amnesty, more than 23,000 people were recorded as being on death row in 2013, and at least 1,925 people were sentenced to death in 57 countries.

But amid the high numbers, the rights group pointed out that only around one in 10 countries carry out executions and 140 are against the death penalty.

23.31 | 0 komentar | Read More