Thaicom, a Thai satellite company has begun airing Hezbollah network Al-Manar, much to Israel's discontent. Al-Manar now can be viewed in Asia, Australia, Africa, the Middle East, and most of Europe, a blow to Israel who is trying to fight Hezbollah. Many fear this will increase support and recruiting for Hezbollah, which the United States, Israel and some other countries consider a terrorist organization. Thaicom considers Al-Manar programming as "news and entertainment."
Al-Manar was designated a 'terrorist entity', and banned by the United States in December 2004. It has also been banned by France and Spain, and has run into some service and license problems abroad , making it unavailable in the Netherlands, South America and Canada while it has not officially been banned in any of these regions.
The station was launched by Hezbollah in 1991 with the help of Iranian funds. By 2004, Al Manar was estimated to hold 10-15 million viewers daily worldwide. Critics claim al-Manar's agenda is influenced by Iran by virtue of the "significant portion" of Hezbollah's budget shortfall that is covered by Iran, via some of the "US$100 and $200 million a year" Iran provides to Hezbollah itself. Al-Manar officials strongly deny this, saying they are subsidized by the Hezbollah party and donations from other Muslims, not by Iran. Al-Manar calls itself the "Station of the Resistance" (qanat al-muqawama) and is a key player in what Hezbollah calls its "psychological warfare against the Zionist enemy"
"It's a war. Al-Manar is Hezbollah's main communication tool, through which it spreads anti-Israeli, anti-Semitic, and anti-American incitement. It spreads Hezbollah and Iranian values of radical Islam," Dr. Reuven Erlich said. Erlich is the head of the Terrorism Information Center in Herzliya, Israel. He added that the fact that Al-Manar can now be seen in south-east Asia, means that Indonesia and Malaysia, two countries with a large Muslim population, are open to its messages of hatred.
Thaicom said it is considering its response and will only offer a formal reaction over the weekend adding the decision to transmit Al-Manar broadcasts was a "purely business decision, which had nothing to do with politics."
Thursday, January 10, 2008
Alabama father throws children in river
Lam Luong, a 37 year old shrimp fisherman from Irvington, Bayou La Batre, Alabama, United States, has confessed to throwing his four children off an 80 feet high bridge after a fight with his wife the day before. Police have charged Luong with 4 counts of capital murder.
Family members and friends told Fox News that the couple had been fighting over several things, including Luong's girlfriend, on Sunday evening and Monday morning. Luong later drove off with his four children, whom he reported missing to the police and claimed he had left them with his girlfriend who lives in a hotel. Police however became suspicious due to "holes in his story" and he later changed his story. The Associated Press say that the authorities believe that Dauphin Island Bridge is where Luong threw the four children, of which he was the biological father of three, into the water.
Initially the family had feared that Luong had traded his children to fund a drug habit. Luong's wife, Ngoc Phan, is at the family home which they shared with her mother. She was not available to comment to the media, but other family members said that they still have hope that the children are alive.
Police and other authorities are using divers, dogs and helicopters to search for the bodies in a 100-square-mile area with a total of 70 people on the case. The search had to be called off on Wednesday due to fog. Luong is scheduled to appear in court on Thursday January 10, 2008.
Family members and friends told Fox News that the couple had been fighting over several things, including Luong's girlfriend, on Sunday evening and Monday morning. Luong later drove off with his four children, whom he reported missing to the police and claimed he had left them with his girlfriend who lives in a hotel. Police however became suspicious due to "holes in his story" and he later changed his story. The Associated Press say that the authorities believe that Dauphin Island Bridge is where Luong threw the four children, of which he was the biological father of three, into the water.
Initially the family had feared that Luong had traded his children to fund a drug habit. Luong's wife, Ngoc Phan, is at the family home which they shared with her mother. She was not available to comment to the media, but other family members said that they still have hope that the children are alive.
Police and other authorities are using divers, dogs and helicopters to search for the bodies in a 100-square-mile area with a total of 70 people on the case. The search had to be called off on Wednesday due to fog. Luong is scheduled to appear in court on Thursday January 10, 2008.
2008 Taipei Game Show preview highlights computer industry
The 2008 Taipei Game Show, organized by Taipei Computer Association, supported by Bahamut Gamer Community, will begin on January 24 and then close on the 28 at the Taipei World Trade Center. This exhibition is sponsored by FamilyMart and titled the official motto with "Where You Are One of the Gamers" (in Chinese: 全家都是玩家) to invite the public to visit the show.
Not only the main show and the votes of the 2007 Taiwan Digital Contents Award, but world-class experts from the gaming industry like Yoshiyuki Tomino and David Gould will share experiences about gaming developments at the 2008 Taiwan Digital Content Forum.
Crowded visitors.
Crowded visitors.
According to the organizer, the award ceremony of the Taiwan Digital Contents Award was held before the main show in the past, but due to the schedule and arrangements of the Industrial Development Bureau of Ministry of Economic Affairs, the organizer decided to exhibit nominees from the 2007 Taiwan Digital Contents Award and postpone the award ceremony to February.
For the issues on noise and flow of people, the organizer will bring some security policy by the venue owner TAITRA into practice during the show hours to prevent disorders of the show. Minors under age 12 also will be allowed to visit the show.
Not only the main show and the votes of the 2007 Taiwan Digital Contents Award, but world-class experts from the gaming industry like Yoshiyuki Tomino and David Gould will share experiences about gaming developments at the 2008 Taiwan Digital Content Forum.
Crowded visitors.
Crowded visitors.
According to the organizer, the award ceremony of the Taiwan Digital Contents Award was held before the main show in the past, but due to the schedule and arrangements of the Industrial Development Bureau of Ministry of Economic Affairs, the organizer decided to exhibit nominees from the 2007 Taiwan Digital Contents Award and postpone the award ceremony to February.
For the issues on noise and flow of people, the organizer will bring some security policy by the venue owner TAITRA into practice during the show hours to prevent disorders of the show. Minors under age 12 also will be allowed to visit the show.
Alabama father throws children in river
Lam Luong, a 37 year old shrimp fisherman from Irvington, Bayou La Batre, Alabama, United States, has confessed to throwing his four children off an 80 feet high bridge after a fight with his wife the day before. Police have charged Luong with 4 counts of capital murder.
Family members and friends told Fox News that the couple had been fighting over several things, including Luong's girlfriend, on Sunday evening and Monday morning. Luong later drove off with his four children, whom he reported missing to the police and claimed he had left them with his girlfriend who lives in a hotel. Police however became suspicious due to "holes in his story" and he later changed his story. The Associated Press say that the authorities believe that Dauphin Island Bridge is where Luong threw the four children, of which he was the biological father of three, into the water.
Initially the family had feared that Luong had traded his children to fund a drug habit. Luong's wife, Ngoc Phan, is at the family home which they shared with her mother. She was not available to comment to the media, but other family members said that they still have hope that the children are alive.
Police and other authorities are using divers, dogs and helicopters to search for the bodies in a 100-square-mile area with a total of 70 people on the case. The search had to be called off on Wednesday due to fog. Luong is scheduled to appear in court on Thursday January 10, 2008.
Family members and friends told Fox News that the couple had been fighting over several things, including Luong's girlfriend, on Sunday evening and Monday morning. Luong later drove off with his four children, whom he reported missing to the police and claimed he had left them with his girlfriend who lives in a hotel. Police however became suspicious due to "holes in his story" and he later changed his story. The Associated Press say that the authorities believe that Dauphin Island Bridge is where Luong threw the four children, of which he was the biological father of three, into the water.
Initially the family had feared that Luong had traded his children to fund a drug habit. Luong's wife, Ngoc Phan, is at the family home which they shared with her mother. She was not available to comment to the media, but other family members said that they still have hope that the children are alive.
Police and other authorities are using divers, dogs and helicopters to search for the bodies in a 100-square-mile area with a total of 70 people on the case. The search had to be called off on Wednesday due to fog. Luong is scheduled to appear in court on Thursday January 10, 2008.
British troops may have received contaminated blood from American donors
Several British troops who received blood transfusions from American emergency front-line donors face the risk of infectious diseases such as AIDS, the Ministry of Defence confirmed, but said risk of infection was low.
Eighteen troops who fought and were wounded in Afghanistan and Iraq are being tested for HIV as well as Chagas, Hepatitis B, HTLV and Syphilis.
The British military says that the unscreened transfusions were needed to keep the troops alive when they were receiving emergency treatment for their wounds.
The U.S. says that all of the donors have since been found not to be infected with HIV or hepatitis B, but does say that the donors did not receive the proper testing that is required for donating blood.
"These 18 service personnel would almost certainly have died without receiving an emergency blood transfusion at the front line. We are working with the appropriate health authorities to do all that we can to test and reassure the people involved. We continue to do all that we can to support them and their families through this uncertain time," said British Defense Minister,
Eighteen troops who fought and were wounded in Afghanistan and Iraq are being tested for HIV as well as Chagas, Hepatitis B, HTLV and Syphilis.
The British military says that the unscreened transfusions were needed to keep the troops alive when they were receiving emergency treatment for their wounds.
The U.S. says that all of the donors have since been found not to be infected with HIV or hepatitis B, but does say that the donors did not receive the proper testing that is required for donating blood.
"These 18 service personnel would almost certainly have died without receiving an emergency blood transfusion at the front line. We are working with the appropriate health authorities to do all that we can to test and reassure the people involved. We continue to do all that we can to support them and their families through this uncertain time," said British Defense Minister,
Moderate earthquake strikes off the Oregon coast, US
According to the United States Geological Survey (USGS), a preliminary magnitude 6.4 earthquake has struck off the coast of Oregon in the United States.
The quake struck at 01:37 (UTC) and its epicenter was located 242 kilometers (151 miles) west, northwest of Barview. It registered at a depth of 10 k.m. (6.2 miles).
So far there are no reports of damage, injuries or deaths and no tsunami warning has been issued, but small waves could be locally generated by any possible landslides.
"The magnitude is such that a tsunami is not expected. However, in coastal areas of intense shaking, locally generated tsunamis can be triggered by underwater landslides," said the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's Pacific Tsunami Warning Center in a statement on its website. No further messages will be generated it adds.
Firefighters in Bandon report that they didn't even feel the temblor and police say that no one has yet called to report any quake related incidents. Bandon is also located within 150 miles of the quake's epicenter.
The quake struck at 01:37 (UTC) and its epicenter was located 242 kilometers (151 miles) west, northwest of Barview. It registered at a depth of 10 k.m. (6.2 miles).
So far there are no reports of damage, injuries or deaths and no tsunami warning has been issued, but small waves could be locally generated by any possible landslides.
"The magnitude is such that a tsunami is not expected. However, in coastal areas of intense shaking, locally generated tsunamis can be triggered by underwater landslides," said the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's Pacific Tsunami Warning Center in a statement on its website. No further messages will be generated it adds.
Firefighters in Bandon report that they didn't even feel the temblor and police say that no one has yet called to report any quake related incidents. Bandon is also located within 150 miles of the quake's epicenter.
Hollywood "Mayor" Johnny Grant dead at 84
The death of longtime Los Angeles civic personality and honourary mayor Johnny Grant, who often presided at the installation of new stars at the Hollywood Walk of Fame, has been reported. He was 84.
Grant, who had lived at the Hollywood Roosevelt Hotel, was found dead in his bed by members of his staff around 7:00pm Wednesday evening. Police say he died from a natural cause.
"He was supposed to appear at some kind of function and they checked on him and found he passed away on his bed," said LAPD spokesman, Officer Jason Lee.
Grant, who had lived at the Hollywood Roosevelt Hotel, was found dead in his bed by members of his staff around 7:00pm Wednesday evening. Police say he died from a natural cause.
"He was supposed to appear at some kind of function and they checked on him and found he passed away on his bed," said LAPD spokesman, Officer Jason Lee.
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