Tag: InternationalNews

{{A volcano erupted late on Thursday night on the heavily populated Indonesian island of Java, sending a huge plume of ash and sand 17 km (10 miles) into the air and forcing the closure of three airports.}}

Mount Kelud is 140 km south of Indonesia’s second biggest city Surabaya, a major industrial centre.

The cloud from the eruption was seen as far as 9 km to the west, and forced the shutdown of airports at Surabaya and the cities of Yogyakarta and Solo.

“Areas to the west of Mount Kelud, including central Java, Yogyakarta, Cilacap, Magelang, Temanggung and Boyolali are still experiencing showers of ash because last night the biggest eruption … threw sand and ash 17 km into the air to the west,” National Disaster Mitigation Agency spokesman Sutopo Nugroho said by telephone.

Cilacap is home to a major oil refinery, but there was no immediate word on whether its operations had been affected. Its refineries supply about a third of the country’s fuel needs.

The agency later said the cloud was dissipating and that the volcano was no longer erupting.

Nugroho said the agency was still trying to confirm reports that two people had died.

“We don’t have data yet on how many people have been evacuated in total. We can say 200,000 people were affected. We received reports of deaths but we have not verified them yet,” he said.

The eruption caused minimal damage to buildings, Sutopo said, but had left 3 to 5 cm (1 1/2 to 2 inches) of ash and sand on roads.

An estimated 200,000 people live within a 10 km radius of Mt Kelud, one of nearly 130 active volcanoes in the world’s fourth most populous country.

At least 11 people were killed earlier this month in the north of the island of Sumatra when Mount Sinabung erupted. The volcano has been spewing lava and ash for months, forcing thousands to flee the area and destroying crops.

President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono wrote in a message on Twitter that he planned to visit the area near Kelud.

{agencies}

{{Economic growth in Germany and France, the euro zone’s two largest economies, marginally exceeded expectations in the fourth quarter and offered hope of a more robust 2014.}}

The euro zone number is due at 1000 GMT and forecast to show quarterly growth of 0.2%. Given the performance of its biggest constituent parts, that could be exceeded.

German growth accelerated to 0.4% on the quarter thanks to a rise in exports and capital investment, up from 0.3% in the previous three months.

The French economy expanded by 0.3% and statistics office INSEE revised up the third quarter figure to flat from -0.1%.

That meant France grew 0.3% over the course of last year, more than the government’s estimate of 0.1%.

The German Statistics Office saw “mixed signals” from the domestic economy, which has driven growth throughout most of the year, with public expenditure stable and private consumption slightly below the level of the previous quarter.

“Capital investment developed positively,” the Statistics Office said. “However a strong reduction in inventories put the brakes on economic growth.”

The German Economy Ministry said on Wednesday it expected gross domestic product (GDP) growth of 1.8% in 2014 – more than four times faster than in 2013 as a whole.

“The rise in capital investment is very positive and signals that the German economy is starting the new year well,” said Johannes Mayr, an economist at Bayern LB.

The European Central Bank kept policy steady earlier this month with President Mario Draghi declaring more information was needed before deciding on any action.

He cited fresh ECB staff forecasts which will be ready for the March policy meeting and the fourth quarter GDP numbers.

Spain has already reported fourth quarter growth of 0.3%, its second successive quarter of expansion.

The government now expects growth this year of close to 1%, compared with an official forecast of 0.7%.

The Dutch economy grew by a solid 0.7% on the quarter.

The French government expects growth will accelerate this year to at least 0.9%, driven by a rebound in corporate investment.

President Francois Hollande’s unpopular government was able to claim the first quarterly net creation of jobs since the start of 2012, recorded by non-farm payroll data from INSEE on Friday.

Finance Minister Pierre Moscovici nonetheless described the economy’s strength as “unsatisfactory” and said faster growth was needed to create more jobs with unemployment at nearly 11%.

After hiking taxes during his first year in office, President Francois Hollande last month offered to phase out 30 billion euros ($41 billion) in payroll tax in exchange for commitments from businesses to hire and invest in France. ($1 = 0.7317 euros).

{A worker collects items to pack into boxes at Amazon’s logistics centre in Graben near Augsburg December 16, 2013}

{reuters}

{{Last June, a 27-year-old Frenchman from Paris who goes by the name of Salahudine left his home to join a jihadist group fighting in Syria. Over the past few months, he spoke to french media about his experiences on the frontline.}}

Salahudine agreed to talk to FRANCE 24’s Charlotte Boitiaux on condition of anonymity since they have known each other for several years.

The Frenchman of Moroccan origin from the Saint-Denis suburb of Paris was severely wounded in early February in the northern Syrian province of Aleppo. Salahudine sent his last message on February 8. He has not been seen or heard of since then.

Here is a first-person account of his experience garnered from email exchanges and phone calls over the past few weeks:

“I am going to die in Syria – surely quite soon. I would say I have only about seven more months on this earth. Jihad is a way of living – and dying – that not everyone understands. But before joining Allah, I would like to leave a mark of my short time on earth.

I set foot on Syrian soil on July 11, 2013, if I remember correctly. Here, we forget the dates and time. I took the nom de guerre Salahudine al-Faransi [Salahudine the French]. We fighters never use our true identity.

I’m 27 and I’m from Saint-Denis [a suburb of Paris]. My wife Khadija – who’s also French, but of Tunisian origin – and her two daughters, Mariam, 8, and Fatima, 6, left with me. [Names have been changed to protect identities at the request of the interviewee].

Besides them, I gave up everything to come here. I had good professional prospects. I earned about 3,000 euros per month. I had to let go of everything. This is how Allah judges our sincerity.

I’m not sure what was the trigger – when exactly I chose to become a terrorist under French law. Everything happened gradually. Early in the Syrian conflict, in 2011, I resented the world’s indifference toward my Muslim brothers. At first I did not know what to think. In French mosques, you cannot talk about it.

They just teach you to perform your ablutions. They ask you to be respectful. They never talk about the context of confrontation.

Islam calls for an eye for an eye, a tooth for a tooth. I only learned that on the Internet, when I started watching videos and listening to [Osama] bin Laden’s sermons.

He was a billionaire who dropped everything to defend his concept of the world. I was moved by his speeches. You can call it “religious radicalisation” – I call it “awareness”.

I did not join any network or group, believe me. I did not know anyone. I prepared for my journey alone.

A month before my departure, I could not sleep anymore. Allah made me realise that my land was no longer here in France. I had to go to Syria to atone for my sins.

Before that, I used to go to nightclubs, I drank alcohol, I was a man of this world – only interested in possessions. Now, jihad has become an obligation. For an entire week before I left, I withdrew 1,000 euros per day from my bank account.

Then the big day arrived. We left home on the last week of June. From [the central French city of] Lyon, we flew to Istanbul.

From there we went to Antalya and Hatay [in southern Turkey] before taking a bus to Kilis on the Turkish-Syrian border.

{{Meeting the ISIL and training in jihadist camps}}

“The first time was not easy. I had no contacts. We had to hurry, I did not want to put the girls at risk. We went to the Salahuddin district of Aleppo [in northern Syria].

This is where I quickly met some fighters of the ISIL [the hardline Islamic State in Iraq and the Levant]. They were my neighbours.

To be quite honest, when I approached them, I did not even know who they were. I had never heard of them. All I wanted was to fight alongside those who wanted to establish an Islamic state in Syria and impose Sharia law.

I was not very interested in joining the Free Syrian Army (FSA) – we share the same enemy but not the same goal. Their goals are democratic, I think.

I quickly realized that when you’re a foreign fighter, you are not welcomed with open arms. People are suspicious of you, they think you are a spy. Confidence is only won on the battlefield.

The ISIL trained me in a military camp in the Sheikh Suleiman region [near Aleppo]. For a month, I learned to shoot, to crawl, to kill. Then they sent me to the front – in the Aleppo region each time. I was never sent to work in the “kitchen”.

That’s a common myth. The media portrays this idea to discourage foreign fighters from joining the battle.

Just a few days after my arrival, I saw, for the first time, [Syrian President] Bashar al-Assad’s helicopters dropping barrels of TNT on the population. At one point, 17 barrels fell in one day. I do not know how to describe what I felt.

Shortly after that I shot one of Bashar’s soldiers in Aleppo province. It was a beautiful September morning. We had been fighting for three days. The soldier was behind a wall. I was behind a wall.

We were shooting until one of us fell. It was him. I remember this incident, because it was a first. I confess I did not feel guilty for a second. You should see what Bashar’s army is doing to the people. Here, most fights are not face-to-face, they are mortar and sniper attacks.

For five months, my days were the same: fighting during the day and keeping watch for hours in the watchtowers at night. Free time is reserved for cleaning weapons and reading the Koran. It often rains. Sometimes, I have cold, wet feet.

{{Switching from ISIL to the al-Nusra Front}}

“In November 2013, I switched sides and joined the al-Nusra Front. I did not feel very comfortable with the ISIL. I did not know that the Islamic State in Iraq and the Levant was also fighting against FSA soldiers.

I personally don’t have any problems with the [FSA] rebels. I will not say much more. I don’t know anything about the French hostages [in ISIL captivity]. I’m just a fighter. They do not share such information with me.

No, I was not considered a traitor when I went from the ISIL to al-Nusra. The two groups are not enemies. You are free to choose on which side you want to fight.

My daily life in my new al Qaeda “family” has not really changed. But my battlefield experience has expanded. I have fought in Aleppo, Homs and Damascus. I have chosen to train in explosives, sniper instruction and commando training on the ground. Al-Nusra provided me the third option.

{{The children ‘miss Nutella’}}

“Between battles, we often encounter civilians. They are not afraid of us. The children often laugh when I speak French… even when I speak Arabic! I have not yet mastered the language.

Every month, we get paid 8,000 Syrian pounds (about 50 euros). It’s enough to live on since housing, weapons and food are provided by al-Nusra. I bought my own Kalashnikov on the black market. It cost me $1,200.

It’s expensive, but at least it’s mine. I made an explosive belt too. If ever I run out of ammo and the enemy is going to get me, I will use it.

The girls are not unhappy. Their lives are in God’s hands. They are not in danger. They stay with the women and children of the other fighters away from the fighting.

Actually, I hardly see them. When I go to the front, I’m away for weeks. I can’t reveal much detail, all I can say is that they miss Nutella.

When an area becomes too dangerous al-Nusra moves them on. A month ago, they were in Harithan [not far from Aleppo] and because of the increasingly violent clashes between the ISIL and the FSA, they were displaced.

Al-Nusra moved them to the Turkish-Syrian border. When I cry, Mariam and Fatima are amazing – they call me Superman! It makes me laugh every time. It’s amazing how well they adapt to all situations.

I don’t care if I am being identified and monitored on social media sites by the French intelligence services. I will never return to France. My parents, my two brothers and my sister know nothing.

They think I’m travelling. Perhaps they suspect something. I do not know. But what could I tell them? They would not understand.

On Friday, January 30, I lost my best friend in Talbisseh, near Homs. He was also 27 years old, from Belgium. A sniper shot him at a street corner. I went to find him. He died in my arms.

The arms we have are paltry compared to the regime soldiers. We only have light weapons. They, for instance, have night vision goggles. We dig trenches to protect ourselves – that’s all we can do to hide from the enemy.

That may be why some jihadists are turning to suicide operations. I have the opportunity to enroll on a list to become a suicide bomber. I do not know if I’ll do it. I have not yet decided. But it does not worry me. Death is a reward for me.”

({This piece was published in partnership with the French daily, Libération.})

A man who killed his son at a cricket ground in Australia and was then shot by police has died in hospital.

The 11-year-old boy was found with fatal head injuries at a sports ground in Tyabb, Victoria, on Wednesday.

Police confronted his father and shot him after pepper spray failed to subdue him.

Police said they were not looking for anyone else in connection with the death of the boy, who media identified as Luke Batty.

According to Australian media reports, Luke had just finished cricket training when his father attacked him. Reports citing witnesses say a cricket bat was used but this has not been confirmed by police.

Paramedics tried to revive him but he died at the scene.

“A confrontation with the 54-year-old man then took place and OC [pepper] spray was deployed,” Victoria Police said in a statement.

“This was unsuccessful and the man was subsequently shot in the upper body.”

He was airlifted to hospital, where he later died.

“I confirm that the male shot by police is the father of the child who is deceased and we’re not looking for anyone else,” police commander Doug Fryer told media.

“It’s a shocking time for everyone down there. The family, the community.”

The father had a history of violence and was living in his car, local reports said. His wife, Rosie Batty, told Australian media he had a history of mental illness.

agencies

{{Belgium’s MPs are expected to vote on whether to extend a euthanasia law to terminally-ill children.}}

The bill seeks to allow children to ask for euthanasia if their illness is terminal, they are in great pain and there is no available treatment.

The lower house is likely to back the bill, correspondents say.

To become legal, it then needs to be signed by the king, making Belgium the first country in the world to remove any age limit on the practice.

The signature of the legislation by King Philippe is seen by analysts as a formality.

The proposal has already passed a number of legal hurdles, and appears to have wide support across Belgium.

Belgium passed a law decriminalising euthanasia for terminally ill people over the age of 18 in 2002.

{{Doctors’ letter}}

On the eve of the expected vote, lawmakers clashed sharply in parliament.

Campaigners against the change said vulnerable children could be put at risk, as they were not capable of making such a difficult decision.

Meanwhile, supporters argued that it would allow terminally-ill children to be relieved from endless pain.

The bill – which was already backed by the Senate in December – stipulates a number of caveats on euthanasia:

It says the patient must be conscious of their decision and understand the meaning of euthanasia

The request must have been approved by the child’s parents and medical team
Their illness must be terminal

They must be in great pain, with no available treatment to alleviate their distress

Last November, 16 paediatricians urged lawmakers in Belgium to approve the legislation in an open letter.

“Experience shows us that in cases of serious illness and imminent death, minors develop very quickly a great maturity, to the point where they are often better able to reflect and express themselves on life than healthy people,” said their statement.

In 2012, Belgium recorded 1,432 cases of euthanasia in 2012, up by 25% from 2011.

Most adults opting for euthanasia were over 60 and had incurable cancer.

BBC

{{Italian PM Enrico Letta is due to present the government’s 2014 programme as speculation mounts he is to be replaced by party leader Matteo Renzi.}}

The two men held face-to-face talks on Wednesday about Italy’s latest political crisis.

Mr Letta, who formed a Democratic Party-led (PD) coalition last April after an election stalemate, has been publicly criticised by Mr Renzi.

Mr Renzi, the mayor of Florence, became PD leader last December.

Their meeting on Wednesday morning lasted around an hour at the prime minister’s office, the Chigi palace, before Mr Renzi left without making a statement, reports say.

Italian media reports speak of crucial hours for the future of the government, with a Democratic Party meeting scheduled for next week brought forward to Thursday morning.

The 39-year-old mayor of Florence has already said he favours early general elections.

The prime minister, whose coalition includes small centre-right parties, has said his reform programme, entitled “Commitment 2014”, will focus on “economic revival”.

President Giorgio Napolitano, who appointed Mr Letta as prime minister, said a decision on the fate of the government was up to the PD.

One centrist MP in the coalition, Andrea Romano, told Italian TV he hoped the prime minister would show “generosity” and allow the PD leader the chance to govern.

But Renato Brunetta, a leading opposition politician with former Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi’s Forza Italia party, complained on Wednesday that Italy was returning to an era of unstable government.

{agencies}

{{Experts from around the world are gathering in London to discuss “the global crisis” in the wildlife trade.}}

Conservationists say animal trafficking is reaching unprecedented levels and species such as rhinos, elephants and tigers are under threat of extinction.

The aim of the meeting, hosted by the Zoological Society of London, is to find new ways to protect animals and reduce demand for wildlife products.

An action plan will be fed into another meeting hosted by the UK government.

This will take place on Thursday at Lancaster House, with international leaders gathering to discuss a global response to animal poaching.

They will be joined by Prince Charles and Prince William, Duke of Cambridge. They have jointly released a video campaign urging people to “unite for wildlife”.

Prof Jonathan Baillie, director of conservation at the Zoological Society of London (ZSL), said: “It’s clear that illegal wildlife trafficking is completely out of control, and we need to bring the best minds together to really identify some clear solutions and show clear leadership and direction.”

He has organised the two-day conference with other NGOs, which include the Wildlife Conservation Society, WWF, Traffic and Conservation International.

Wildlife poaching has seen a recent boom, and it is worth an estimated £12bn ($19bn) each year.

In South Africa, in 2007, 13 rhinos were killed for their horns, but in 2013, 1,004 rhinos were slaughtered by poachers.

With ivory fetching up to £40,000 ($65,000) per kilo, elephants too are suffering dramatic losses. An estimated 20,000 of the giants were killed in Africa during 2012, according to work carried out for the International Union for Conservation of Nature

Prof Baillie added: “I was working in central west Africa a little over 10 years ago – and more than half the elephants I saw would now be gone.”

The meeting will also look at the trade in other species, including tigers, which are thought to number just 3,200 in the wild, and pangolins, which are traded at high volume.

The conservationists at the conference will discuss ways to stem the growing markets for wildlife products.

Naomi Doak, from Traffic, said the demand for animal products in Asian counties such as Vietnam was growing.

“There is still a very strong underlying belief in rhino horn’s medicinal value, but we’ve seen a move away from that towards its use as a reinforcer of social status; a validation almost of people’s emerging position in an economy that is growing incredibly fast,” she said.

The meeting will also look at how conservationists can better protect animals.

Prof Baillie said: “People on the ground need to have the tools, the technology and the money to implement conservation effectively. They are up against massive crime networks that are extremely well resourced – and they are outmanned and outgunned.”

wirestory