timesonline « The Irate Nation

Chinese espionage threats

THE security service MI5 has accused China of bugging and burgling UK business
executives and setting up “honeytraps” in a bid to blackmail them into
betraying sensitive commercial secrets.
A leaked MI5 document says that undercover intelligence officers from the
People’s Liberation Army and the Ministry of Public Security have also
approached UK businessmen at trade fairs and exhibitions with the offer of
“gifts” and “lavish hospitality”.

The gifts — cameras and memory sticks — have been found to contain electronic
Trojan bugs which provide the Chinese with remote access to users’ computers.

Hamas abusing European law to demand arrest of Israeli leaders for war crimes

clipped from www.timesonline.co.uk

The Islamist group Hamas is masterminding efforts to have senior Israeli leaders arrested for alleged war crimes when they visit European countries including Britain, a top Hamas official involved in the effort has told The Times.

The claim comes amid continuing diplomatic fallout after a British arrest warrant was issued last week against Tzipi Livni, who served as Foreign Minister during Israel’s Gaza offensive last winter. The warrant was withdrawn when it became clear that Ms Livni, now leader of the opposition, was not in the country. Its existence apparently prompted her to cancel a trip to attend a meeting in London.

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Iran seizes five British sailors

clipped from www.timesonline.co.uk

Diplomatic tension between Britain and Iran deepened yesterday with the news
that Tehran is holding five British sailors after their yacht apparently
strayed into Iranian waters.

The seized yacht, a 60ft Volvo, is owned by Sail Bahrain, a personal project
of King Hamad of Bahrain to promote his country’s seafaring ancestry. It had
only recently arrived from Southampton and was competing in Sail Bahrain’s
first offshore race.

“The boat may have strayed inadvertently into Iranian waters. The five crew
members, all British nationals, are still in Iran. All are understood to be
safe and well and their families have been informed.”

By:itnnews

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The President of Brazil legitimising a pariah regime

clipped from www.timesonline.co.uk

By inviting Mr Ahmadinejad to make the first visit by an Iranian president to Brazil, Mr Lula da Silva also undermined Western attempts to force Iran to abandon its nuclear programme, critics said.

Mr Lula da Silva was unapologetic, arguing that it was better to engage than isolate Iran. “It’s important that someone sits down with Iran, talks with Iran, and tries to establish some balance so that the Middle East can return to a certain sense of normalcy,” he said in a radio broadcast hours before Mr Ahmadinejad’s arrival.

Campi Flegrei caldera volcano

clipped from www.timesonline.co.uk

After lying dormant for 4,000 years, one of Europe’s most powerful volcanoes, Campi Flegrei near Naples, is showing signs of life.

Instinct would tell you to stay away, but an international team of scientists are doing exactly the opposite. They are preparing to drill a 4km hole into the heart of the volcano to investigate beneath the surface.