In the news today...

Following up on the news item in the "One step forward, two steps back" entry:


Last Updated: Thursday, 22 November 2007, 00:00 GMT
BBC: Saudis back rape victim sentence

Authorities in Saudi Arabia have defended a judicial sentence of 200 lashes for a rape victim.

The justice ministry said in a statement that the sentence was justified because the woman was in a car with an unrelated man.

The case has aroused controversy at home and condemnation abroad.

US presidential hopeful Hillary Clinton said the sentence was an outrage and urged President Bush to put pressure on Saudi King Abdullah.

The 19-year-old, who has not been named, was travelling in a car with a male friend last year, when the car was attacked by a gang of seven men who raped both of them.

She has become known as the "Qatif girl", a reference to the largely Shia town which she comes from.

Four of the men were convicted of kidnapping - but the court also sentenced the woman and her friend to receive 90 lashes each for the crime of "illegal mingling".

Last week the court increased the woman's sentence to 200 lashes and six months in prison.

It also banned her lawyer from the courtroom and took away his licence.

Democratic reaction

The Saudi justice ministry has defended the verdict and warned against "agitation through the media" - a sign of how sensitive the authorities are to the fact that the woman and her lawyer have sought to use the media to highlight the case, says BBC Middle East analyst Roger Hardy.

Meanwhile, Mrs Clinton, the frontrunner for the Democratic nomination in the US presidential elections, strongly condemned the Saudi sentence.

"The Bush administration has refused to condemn the sentence and said it will not protest against an internal Saudi decision," she said.

"I urge President Bush to call on King Abdullah to cancel the ruling and drop all charges against this woman. As president I will once again make human rights an American priority around the world."

Other Democratic candidates joined in the criticism, with Barack Obama writing a letter to Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice, urging her to condemn the ruling.

John Edwards said in a statement: "I am outraged that President Bush has refused to condemn the sentence"; and Joseph Biden called on King Abdullah to overturn the court's decision.

A state department spokesman on Tuesday called the verdict "astonishing", but said it was not its place to call for the ruling to be changed.

The US-based Human Rights Watch said it sends victims of sexual violence the message that they should not press charges.

Disturbing. I didn't know that the male companion got raped too. This story is still wrong on so many levels. It's nice to know that Hillary and Obama are condemning it, but would they have done so if they were president?


Last Updated: Wednesday, 21 November 2007, 20:57 GMT
BBC: Jellyfish attack destroys salmon

A jellyfish invasion has wiped out Northern Ireland's only salmon farm, killing more than 100,000 fish.

A Northern Salmon spokesman said last week's attack could cost more than £1m.

Billions of small jellyfish, known as Mauve Stingers, flooded into the cages about a mile into the Irish Sea, off Glenarm Bay and Cushendun.

The jellyfish covered an area of up to 10 square miles and a depth of 35 feet. Rescuers tried to reach the cages but the density of fish made it impossible.

Managing director John Russell said he had never seen anything like this in 30 years in the business.

"The sea was red with these jellyfish and there was nothing we could do about, it, absolutely nothing," he said.

"It's a disaster for this company - you cannot legislate for something like this."

He says the firm could take at least two years to recover.

The company has some high-profile clients, with Irish chef Richard Corrigan serving Glenarm salmon to the Queen on her 80th birthday last year as part of the BBC's Great British Menu programme.

The Department of Agriculture's fisheries division has carried out a full investigation, and talks with NI Agriculture Minister Michelle Gildernew have taken place to try and rescue the farm and save the jobs of 12 staff.

Also disturbing.


Last Updated: Tuesday, 20 November 2007, 14:43 GMT
BBC: Policeman hijacks payroll plane

Police in Papua New Guinea have shot dead one of their own reservists after he hijacked a plane carrying nearly $2m he was meant to be guarding.

Two other alleged robbers were caught, and another two are being sought. Most of the money - payroll cash for a mine in Western province - has been found.

The two Australian pilots flying the money were found handcuffed to a tree in a mangrove swamp, but safe.

The authorities were alerted by an emergency signal from the plane.

The drama began on Monday when the pilots set out in a light plane from the capital, Port Moresby.

Minutes into the journey, the two armed escorts - both police reservists - pulled their guns on the pilots and forced them to land on a nearby island.

Three other men were waiting for them. The five then reportedly set off in a getaway boat for the mainland, leaving the pilots handcuffed to a mangrove tree.

But police had already begun a huge sweep after air controllers noticed the plane had left its flight path. It also sent out an emergency signal.

In the manhunt, police shot dead one of the armed men and captured the second, who is said to be the brains behind the plot.

A third man was also caught, leaving two at large. They are being hunted by more than 100 police.

"My men are searching the hillsides and mangroves," said police commissioner Gari Baki. "It is only a matter of time before the other two are captured."

Exciting! A manhunt! And you thought our police were corrupt.