Virgin to halt Heathrow payments

Virgin Atlantic says Christmas airport shutdown due to huge snowfall has cost the company millions of dollars in losses. Last Modified: 10 Jan 2011 12:14 GMT

Heavy snowfall and freezing conditions triggered the Heathrow airport to shutdown before Christmas [AFP] Virgin Atlantic Airways has made plans to withhold landing fees from Heathrow after the chaos caused by the airport's shutdown last month. A report said on Monday that Richard Branson, the Virgin Group has stopped making payments to BAA, the operator of London's Heathrow airport, because of the severe disruptions of flights during the massive snow storm that struck Europe in December. The chairman of the company made the decision to stop paying bills due from January 1 until the results of an internal inquiry into the disruption, due to be published in March, will be made public. Tens of thousands of passengers were stranded when the Heathrow airport closed down for several days before Christmas after heavy snowfall and freezing conditions iced up the runways and jet stands. The shutdown dealt a heavy financial blow to airlines as they bore costs such as ticket refunds and rescheduling of flights. Airline hits back Steve Ridgway, Virgin's chief executive, told the Financial Times: "While we accept, and indeed we did, step up to our responsibilities to look after our customers, we feel [BAA] should also feel some of that accountability." One day of heavy snowfall on December 18 triggered chaos at Heathrow, all but closing one of the world's busiest international passenger airports for several days and leaving thousands of angry passengers to bed down in terminals. Ridgway expects the chaos will have cost Virgin Group a minimum of $15.5 million dollars. Heathrow earns more than $1.5bn a year from its airline clientèle, which amounts to half the airport's total annual revenue. While the amount Virgin could hold back may not cause any immediate damage, BAA, the country's largest airports operator, could potentially suffer a long-term financial dilemma if the rest of Heathrow's 90 airline users follow suit. The BAA, which is owned by a Spanish infrastructure group, said in response to Virgin's move: "Heathrow's conditions of use do not provide any basis for Virgin Atlantic or any other airline to withhold airport charges."

Source: Al Jazeera and agencies

Tunisia 'to respond' to protests

Government agrees to make concessions after weeks of deadly clashes and unrest that left at least 14 people dead. Bilal Randeree Last Modified: 10 Jan 2011 11:51 GMT The Tunisian government has said it will listen to protesters, after weeks of unrest over high unemployment and the cost of living left dozens of people dead and raised the tensions. Samir al-Obaidy, the country's communications minister, told Al Jazeera that the government was responding to the unrest. "The message has been received by the government and all political channels," he said. "With the backing of the president, we have already put in place urgent measures and allocated $5bn for the development of various areas." Government officials reported that 14 people were killed since Saturday in clashes between the security forces and protesters in the towns of Thala, Kasserine and Regueb. However, Tunisian union sources said that the number was at least 20. In a statement, several political parties and movements, including the Progressive Democratic Party and the Renewal Movement, called on the government to stop the violence. They called for "a ceasefire and the return of all military and security forces to their compounds", as well as the "release of all detainees including political ones". The opposition also demanded more freedoms and asked the government to respect the political will of the people. More deaths Lina Ben Mhenni, a Tunisian blogger and university assistant, told Al Jazeera that "a lawyer confirmed that more than 20 people were killed in Thala and Gassrine alone". Nizar Ben Ibrahim Slimi, 22, was killed during Sunday's protests [Lina Ben Mhenni] "Last night I went to the hospital in Regueb, a town that is 38km from Sidi Bouzid, and can confirm that at least five people were killed," she said. "Among them was a young woman of 26 years old, who is a mother of two children. I went to her home and her family said that she was not taking part in the demonstration - she was just walking past the area." Al Jazeera was unable to independently verify the death toll in Tunisia. Belgacem Sayhi, a teacher and trade union activist, said that the victims in Tala were between 17 and 30 years old, and were killed when the police opened fire on the crowd. Protesters had set fire to the offices of the ruling political party, and the government said that police only fired back when warning shots failed to disperse the crowds. Ben Mhenni told Al Jazeera said that she tried to visit Kasserine as well, but police had cordoned off the town and did not let her in. Spreading east The clashes were reported to have also spread to the town of Sousse on the eastern coast of the country. More on the story on Al Jazeera's Tunisia spotlight page "In Sousse, students organised a rally that ordinary citizens also joined, and the police were very violent towards them," Ben Mhenni said. She said she knows two students who were detained during that rally and subsequently released. Samir al-Obaidy, the government minister, also told Al Jazeera that the government was ready for a dialogue with young people. "We are going to review what needs to be reviewed, we are going to correct what needs to be corrected, but the violence is a red line," he said. Rapper released Authorities on Sunday released Hamada Ben-Amor, a 22-year-old rapper, known to fans as "The General". He was arrested after posting a song on the internet titled "President, your people are dying" that talks about the problems of the youth and unemployment. "After three difficult days my brother has returned to us safely," the rapper's brother, Hamdi Ben-Amor, said on Sunday, without giving further details. Zine al Abidine Ben Ali, the Tunisian president, has said the violent protests are unacceptable and could harm the country's interests by discouraging investors and tourists who provide a large part of the country's revenues. Protests traditionally have been rare in Tunisia, which has had only two presidents since independence from France 55 years ago. The US state department last week expressed concern about the demonstrations, as well as the hacking into emails and Facebook by the Tunisian government. Lina Ben Mhenni confirmed that her hacked Facebook and emails were still blocked. Source: Al Jazeera and agencies

Police killed in Afghan bombing

Suicide bombing leaves three officers dead in southern Kandahar, site of second suicide attack in four days. Last Modified: 10 Jan 2011 07:59 GMT

Spin Boldak was the site of another attack, on Friday, in which 17 people were killed [File EPA] Three policemen have been killed in a suicide bombing in Afghanistan's southern Kandahar province. Police were tracking the bomber when he detonated his device in the city of Spin Boldak on Monday. Further details were not immediately available. The attack was the second suicide bombing in four days against police in the Spin Boldak area, near the Pakistan border. At least 16 civilians and a police commander were killed in an attack in a public bathhouse in the city on Friday. More than 20 others were injured in that blast, for which the Taliban claimed responsibility. Bloody year The south has traditionally been the Taliban's stronghold but suicide attacks targeting civilians in public places are relatively rare. The attacks come after the end of the bloodiest year of a war that has now dragged on for more than nine years. The United Nations has said 2,412 civilians were killed and 3,803 wounded between January and October last year, a 20 per cent increase from 2009. A record 711 foreign troops were killed in 2010, according to monitoring website www.iCasualties.com , compared to 521 for 2009. Afghan security forces have been hit even harder than foreign troops. A total of 1,292 Afghan police and 821 Afghan soldiers were killed in 2010, according to the Afghan government.

Source: Al Jazeera and agencies

Spain's ETA in permanent ceasefire

Basque armed-separatist group announces "a permanent and general ceasefire" in its fight for independence from Spain. Last Modified: 10 Jan 2011 11:49 GMT

ETA is considered a terrorist organisation by the European Union and the US [EPA] The Basque separatist group ETA has declared a permanent ceasefire after more than three decades of fighting for a homeland independent of Spain. The group announced the truce in a statement published on the website of the Basque-language newspaper Gara on Monday. "ETA has decided to declare a permanent and general ceasefire which will be verifiable by the international community," the group said. "This is ETA's firm commitment towards a process to achieve a lasting resolution and towards an end to the armed confrontation. "It is time to act with historic responsibility. ETA calls upon those governing Spain and France to end all repressive measures and to leave aside for once and for all their position of denial towards the Basque Country," it said. Alfredo Perez Rubalcaba, Spain's deputy prime minister, rejected the ceasefire, saying it did not go far enough. Scepticism Guy Hedgecoe, editor of the news website Qorreo.com in Madrid, told Al Jazeera the announcement is a significant development, but that people in Spain are sceptical. "We have seen ceasefires before, the most recent was in 2006," he said. "The reason people might be a little cautious today despite this announcement is that they'll look back to 2006 when ETA announced their ceasefire then. "They unilaterally ended that one by planting a bomb in Madrid-Barajas airport, which killed two people. "But seeing the fact that they've said this is permanent and internationally verifiable by outside observers is encouraging." Change in strategy ETA has been fighting for a separate homeland for Basque-speaking people in northern Spain and southwestern France for more than three decades. It is considered a terrorist organisation by the European Union and the US. It has killed more than 825 people since the late 1960s. The group had been pressed for a change in strategy by some members currently serving prison terms for violent acts. Hedgecoe told Al Jazeera that Monday's announcement was triggered by a great deal of pressure on the group to declare a ceasefire in recent months, including from its own political wing. "They've been publicly pressurising ETA to move in the direction of a peaceful solution and to end its violent campaign," said Hedgecoe.

Source: Al Jazeera and agencies

US charges Arizona shooting suspect

Federal prosecutors file five charges against 22-year-old Jared Loughner for murder and attempted murder in Tucson. Last Modified: 10 Jan 2011 06:16 GMT The man suspected of killing six people and seriously wounding a US congresswoman in the state of Arizona has been charged with murder and attempted murder a day after a shooting rampage. Prosecutors filed five separate charges against Jared Loughner, 22, in the federal court in Phoenix on Sunday over the attack. The US justice department said Loughner, who is due to appear in court on Monday, is suspected of shooting more than a dozen people including Gabrielle Giffords, a US congresswoman, at a political event hosted by her in Tucson. John Roll, a US federal judge, and Gabriel Zimmerman, one of Gifford's aides were among the six people killed in Saturday's incident. Giffords, 40, who represents Arizona's eighth congressional district in the House, is said to be responding well to treatment after being shot in the head. The Democrat was "able to communicate" by following simple commands, but had not yet spoken, one of her trauma surgeons said on Sunday. 'Cautiously optimistic' Noting that the bullet did not cross through the centre of Giffords' brain, Michael Lemole, chief of neurosurgery at University Medical Centre, said: "[She] is able to communicate with us this morning through following simple commands. "We're very encouraged by that. We are still in critical condition. Brain swelling at any time can take a turn for the worse. But I am cautiously optimistic." Daniel Hernandez, one of Giffords' interns who was present at the time of the shooting, went to her aid after she was shot. "When I heard the gunshots, my first instinct was to see how the congresswoman was doing, because I knew if there was a gunman the likely target would probably be the congresswoman," he told Al Jazeera. "I noticed the congresswoman had been shot in the head, and I made her my first priority. "I applied pressure to make sure the congresswoman did not bleed out. So I had someone else grab clean linens, which I used. But until that point I was using my bare hands to apply pressure to make sure the congresswoman did not bleed out." Message from suspect Earlier, investigators said they carried out a search at the suspect's home and seized an envelope from a safe with messages such as "I planned ahead", "My assassination" and the name "Giffords" next to what appears to be the man's signature. Saturday's shooting has shocked politicians in Washington, where congress postponed a vote on healthcare reform later this week. Arizona authorities say a second man has been cleared of any involvement in the attack. Jason Ogan, Pima County sheriff's deputy, said the man "came by, and we talked to him and we determined he was not involved". He also said authorities were not ready to say if they are confident the armed man acted alone. 'Dark place' Following an acrimonious campaign in the run-up to last November's midterm congressional elections, some commentators were quick to cite a shrill climate of political vitriol might have played a role in the shooting. Giffords, who is married to Mark Kelly, a NASA astronaut, represents Arizona's eight district [AFP] "We are in a dark place in this country right now and the atmospheric condition is toxic," Democratic representative Emanuel Cleaver told NBC's Meet the Press. The suspected attacker opened fire with a semi-automatic pistol at point-blank range outside a supermarket. Six people, including a US federal judge and a nine-year-old girl, were killed in the attack, with Giffords and 13 others wounded. Police seeking a motive for the shooting spree were looking at a trail of anti-government messages on the internet left either by Loughner or someone writing under that name. There was no coherent theme to the messages. John Boehner, the US House of Representatives speaker, ordered flags at the US Capitol in Washington lowered to half staff in memory of the victims. 'Inhuman act' Boehner said the incident was a reminder that public service comes with a risk. "This inhuman act should not and will not deter us from our calling to represent our constituents and fulfil our oaths of office. No act, no matter how heinous, must be allowed to stop us from our duty," Boehner said. In Tucson, Clarence Dupnik, the Pima County sheriff, said the suspect "has kind of a troubled past and we're not convinced that he acted alone". He said he believed Giffords was the intended target of the shooting. Dupnik said the suspect had made threats to kill in the past but not against Giffords. Barack Obama, the US president, has put Robert Mueller, the FBI director, in charge of the investigation, with a team heading to the scene of the murders. Source: Al Jazeera and agencies

South Sudanese vote for second day

As referendum on whether to split from the north continues, Khartoum "pledges" to assume country's $38bn foreign debt. Last Modified: 10 Jan 2011 14:48 GMT

About four million voters have registered for the referendum that may lead to the partition of Sudan [Ranjit Bhaskar] Voting has taken place for a second day in Southern Sudan's landmark referendum to determine whether the region will become an independent nation or continue to be part of Sudan. Monday's proceedings were much quieter than the first day, during which crowds thronged polling stations in Juba and other towns. However, fresh clashes in the disputed border region of Abyei have left at least six dead. The situation in the region was tense on Monday, a local official told Al Jazeera. Against this backdrop, Jimmy Carter, the former US president, announced that Omar al-Bashir, the Sudanese president, had assured him that the north would take on all of Sudan's nearly $38bn debt even if the south decided to secede. Carter, who is in the country as an international observer, said that "in a way, southern Sudan is starting with a clean sheet on debt". Polling process More security personnel in south Sudan could be seen voting on Monday after the previous day's heavy deployment of forces to secure Juba for dignitaries visiting to observe the beginning of the referendum. "As many people could not vote yesterday in Juba centres, there is a proposal to extend the polling by an hour till 6pm," Abuk Nikanora Manyok, public outreach director at the South Sudan Referendum Bureau, said. She said the decision whether or not to extend polling hours will be taken by the South Sudan Referendum Commission in Khartoum by Monday evening. “Women are now going from house to house to mobilise those who have not voted to go out and vote," Manyok said. She said voting is slowly picking up in remote areas as people have to walk long distances to reach polling centres. The number of people who have voted will be known only towards the end of the process, Manyok said. Al Jazeera's Haru Mutasa, reporting from Juba, said that voter turnout of southerners in the north was very low on the first day, possibly because many people travelled to the south to vote. Violence in Abyei While the situation was peaceful in much of the south, 23 people were reported to have been killed in three days of deadly clashes in Abyei, the border region which is claimed by both the north and the south, according to local officials. Charles Abyei, head of the local legislative council, told Al Jazeera that the situation was still "tense", and that a joint security meeting was being held between authorities from neighbouring Southern Kordofan and Abyei. Abyei residents are not voting in the south's referendum. Officials said the deadly violence involved the Arab Misseriya nomads, loyal to the Khartoum government in the north, and the Dinka Ngok tribe, which is associated with the south. Al Jazeera's Mohammed Vall, reporting from Abyei, said clashes in the area had been going on since Friday. He said that at least six people from the Misseriya side were killed when they clashed with armed policemen from the Dinka side, belonging to the SPLM. "According to our source, Misseriya people are getting ready for more clashes by way of revenge." Peace efforts Our correspondent said leaders from both sides have met to calm down to situation, and make sure the unrest does not escalate into "all-out war". A referendum on whether Abyei should stay part of the north or join the south had been scheduled to take place in parallel with the secession vote in the south, but it has been delayed. About 1,400 international observers are deployed across Sudan to see firsthand that the referendum passes off without any incident. Prominent among foreign poll observers are Carter and Kofi Annan, the former UN secretary-general. Visiting a polling station at the St Bakitha Kator Primary School in Juba, both Carter and Annan said they were impressed with conduct of the poll and the enthusiasm shown by the people. "People have had enough of war. They want to avoid conflict," Annan said. Additional reporting by Ranjit Bhaskar in Juba, southern Sudan.

Source: Al Jazeera and agencies

Minister: Smoking to be banned in Egyptian public spaces by 2015

Mohamed Gharib

Mon, 10/01/2011 - 18:51

Photographed by Mohamed Ibrahim

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Smoking will be officially banned in all public places in Egypt by 2015, Health Minister Hatem al-Gabli announced this week.

Violators, he said, would be subject to fines of LE1000 for taxi drivers, LE15,000 for coffee shop owners and LE100 for everyone else.

At a recent session of parliament, al-Gabli noted that Egyptians smoke a total of 80 billion cigarettes annually, adding that the ministry aimed to reduce this figure to a mere 70 billion by 2015.

Al-Gabli also pointed out that 9.8 percent of Egypt's population was infected with the hepatitis C virus, noting that the ministry's goal was to reduce this percentage to 6.8 by 2015.

The minister went on to warn that the number of diabetes patients was set to rise from a current 4 million cases nationwide to 9 million cases if public awareness about the disease was not substantially raised.

Translated from the Arabic Edition.