Mainstream News

UK to double number of drones in Afghanistan

"The UK is to double the number of armed RAF 'drones' flying combat and surveillance operations in Afghanistan and, for the first time, the aircraft will be controlled from terminals and screens in Britain. Pilots based at RAF Waddington in Lincolnshire will fly the recently bought American-made UAVs at a hi-tech hub built on the site in the past 18 months. The most recent figures from the Ministry of Defence show that, by the end of September, the UK’s five Reapers in Afghanistan had flown 39,628 hours and fired 334 laser-guided Hellfire missiles and bombs at suspected insurgents." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingUK to double number of drones in Afghanistan

Crew Demonstrates Technology Aimed To Pinpoint Terrorists At Large Events

"This technology has been used in the military but is now available here at home. Tulsa police sniper Perry Lewis was perched on top of the Case Center at the south end of TU's Chapman Stadium. The sensors triangulate and almost immediately, a dot appears on the screen to show where Perry is and the information could pop up on every officer's smartphone and pad in the stadium, so they know where to go. If cameras are hooked up, they could get a picture of the sniper, beam it through satellite to the Federal Bureau of Investigation, and if he's in the system, police have the guy's name and an address within minutes." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingCrew Demonstrates Technology Aimed To Pinpoint Terrorists At Large Events

Crew Demonstrates Technology Aimed To Pinpoint Terrorists At Large Events

"This technology has been used in the military but is now available here at home. Tulsa police sniper Perry Lewis was perched on top of the Case Center at the south end of TU's Chapman Stadium. The sensors triangulate and almost immediately, a dot appears on the screen to show where Perry is and the information could pop up on every officer's smartphone and pad in the stadium, so they know where to go. If cameras are hooked up, they could get a picture of the sniper, beam it through satellite to the Federal Bureau of Investigation, and if he's in the system, police have the guy's name and an address within minutes." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingCrew Demonstrates Technology Aimed To Pinpoint Terrorists At Large Events

Counterfeit Perth Mint gold sold in China

"An Australian mint has called in the Federal Police after being shown evidence by Seven News that its gold bars are being counterfeited. An Australian mint has called in the Federal Police after being shown evidence by Seven News that its gold bars are being counterfeited. The investigation uncovered Chinese 'forgery factories' that will churn out fake bullion and even Australian coins, for a fraction of their face value." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingCounterfeit Perth Mint gold sold in China

Iraq issues arrest warrant for ex central bank chief, other officials

"Iraqi authorities issued arrest warrants for the former central bank chief and other bank officials after a probe into corruption, a spokesman for the high judicial council said on Friday. Iraq's cabinet on Tuesday ousted director Sinan al-Shibabi over a parliamentary charges bank officials were abusing dollar sales. His dismissal will do little to ease investor worries the government is undermining the bank's autonomy." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingIraq issues arrest warrant for ex central bank chief, other officials

Middle East oil companies targeted in cyber war

"Middle Eastern oil and gas companies have been targeted in massive attacks on their computer networks in an increasingly open cyber war where a new virus was discovered just this past week. US Defense Secretary Leon Panetta also referred publicly for the first time about the 'Shamoon' virus that hit Saudi Arabia’s state oil company Aramco in August, disabling more than 300,000 computers. The virus also hit Rasgas, a joint venture between US oil firm Exxon Mobil Corp and state-controlled Qatar Petroleum. Panetta warned of the possibility of a 'cyber-Pearl Harbor' to justify a policy of moving aggressively against threats." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingMiddle East oil companies targeted in cyber war

Millions affected after cyber attack on HSBC

"An unknown group launched a so-called 'denial of service' attack on Britain’s largest bank on Thursday evening, crashing web-based services for about seven hours. At its peak, HSBC was deluged with internet traffic 500 times its normal level, five times higher than the amount of traffic that hit the bank in a similar attack earlier this year. US financial group Capital 1 is also understood to have been hit by a similar denial of service attack at the same time as HSBC. Several parties have claimed responsibility for the attacks, which have been linked to Islamic groups protesting against controversial film The Innocence of Muslims." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingMillions affected after cyber attack on HSBC

South Korean Activists Send Leaflets to North Korea

"South Korean activists floated balloons carrying tens of thousands of anti-Pyongyang leaflets into North Korea on Monday, eluding police who had disrupted an earlier launch attempt due to threats from North Korea. North Korea's military warned last week that it would strike if the South Korean activists carried through with their plan to fly balloons carrying the propaganda leaflets across the border. South Korean police, citing security concerns, had sent hundreds of officers Monday to seal off roads and prevent the activists and other people from gathering at an announced launch site near the border." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingSouth Korean Activists Send Leaflets to North Korea

Kuwaitis protest electoral law changes

"Police in Kuwait have used teargas, stun grenades and baton charges to disperse tens of thousands of demonstrators protesting against changes to the electoral law, which the opposition has called a 'constitutional coup' by the government. Protesters gathered in various parts of the capital, Kuwait City, to march towards the government's headquarters, but riot police swiftly surrounded some groups and used teargas and stun grenades to disperse them. The government - which is dominated by the ruling al-Sabah family - announced last week it was calling elections for December 1 and would change the electoral law." Continue reading →

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Spain To Ban Photos of Police on Duty

"Deputy Prime Minister Soraya Saenz de Santamaria said after months of television and Internet scenes of sometimes violent clashes between police and demonstrators, a balance had to be struck 'between citizens' right to protest' and the need 'to uphold the integrity of state security forces.' The government's plans were unveiled a day after Spain's director general of police, Cosido Ignacio, said efforts are under way to secure such a ban. Television images of clashes near Parliament on Sept. 25 showed several protesters bloodied and in need of medical attention." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingSpain To Ban Photos of Police on Duty