Web helps people locate loved ones in Japan quake

A South Korean passenger watches TV showing Japan's Fukushima No. 1 atomic plant spewing fumes amid reports that a meltdown is feared after a massive quake, at a railway station in Seoul on March 12. Searching the Internet on sites such as Google, Twitter and their local variants has become more effective in finding loved ones than sifting through wreckage following Japan's devastating tsunami.

AFP - Searching the Internet on sites such as Google, Twitter and their local variants has become more effective in finding loved ones than sifting through wreckage following Japan's devastating tsunami.

Frantic friends and relatives leapt onto their computers to find information about people who had not been heard from since the mighty wave crashed ashore Friday.

Global web giant Google's person finder service had notched up over 45,000 records of people leaving messages seeking information on friends and family, or providing information about people in the disaster zone, by 1130 GMT.

The site was updating, in English and Japanese, by the hundred every few minutes.

A random search for the common Japanese surname "Sato" brought up hundreds of results, many of them for people living in Sendai -- the city that faced the brunt of the thunderous body of rolling water.

Gunduzhan posted a message seeking Aki Sato, a dentist from Sendai who studied at Ohu University in Koriyama. A photo of the young woman was also posted on the site.

"Looking for Aki Sato," the post read. "Last heard from after earthquake but before tsunami."

Another post seeking Fatima Sato had some good news -- "Mom is ok. She is on her way home."

The international and Japanese Red Cross also set up a similar site.

People in Japan and abroad can register names on the website or consult the list, while those in Japan can inform family and friends that they are safe and provide contact details.

And micro-blogging site Twitter was updating every second with messages of good will, of condolences and offering aid.

Hashtags, or labels that allow people to share and locate messages around a specific subject, #prayforjapan and #tsunami were soon joined by one named #radiation.

People used the new hashtag to update information on fears of meltdown following an explosion at the Fukushima nuclear plant.

"Radiation's growing, they are collecting iodine. If wind blows too much may move it all to Russia, China, Phillipines & over the Pacific. But come on! It's not Chernobyl yet," wrote fabrykamagazine.

A service was also being shared on Twitter enabling people to donate to the Red Cross via text message, the donation being added to phone bills.

Some tweets were posted by international celebrities such as the American singer Lady Gaga, who launched a bracelet campaign to support the relief effort.

She asked her legion of fans -- whom she calls "Little Monsters" -- to buy a bracelet on her website with the message, "We Pray for Japan". All proceeds will go to relief efforts, she said.

Other pop stars offered condolences. R&B icon Alicia Keys wrote on her Twitter account: "My heart breaks for Japan."

And Canadian teen idol Justin Bieber called Japan "one of my favorite places on Earth".

On Facebook, the largest Japan Tsunami 2011 page had over 2,600 people saying they "liked" the page and scores of messages, plus links to some of the astonishing videos of when the tsunami hit.

But US computer security authorities warned that online scammers may seek to exploit the quake.

The US Computer Emergency Readiness Team (US-CERT) told computer users to be wary of "potential email scams, fake antivirus and phishing attacks regarding the Japan earthquake and the tsunami disasters".

"Email scams may contain links or attachments which may direct users to phishing or malware-laden websites," US-CERT said in a statement.

"Fake antivirus attacks may come in the form of pop-ups which flash security warnings and ask the user for credit card information," it said.

"Phishing emails and websites requesting donations for bogus charitable organisations commonly appear after these types of natural disasters."

Phishing refers to attempts to steal user names, passwords and other personal information from unsuspecting victims, mostly through email or instant messages.

Useful links:

The English version of the Red Cross website was being set up at www.icrc.org/eng/familylinks-japan

The English version of the Google friend finder service can be found here: japan.person-finder.appspot.com/?lang=en

Facebook's Japan tsunami page can be found here: www.facebook.com/#!/japan.tsunami.2011

Activists: Hundreds protest in Hofuf, Qatif on Saudi 'day of rage'

From Mohammed Jamjoom, CNN

March 12, 2011 -- Updated 0204 GMT (1004 HKT)

A photograph of Saudi King Abdullah bin Abdul Aziz adorns a bridge in Riyadh -- protests are expected in Saudi Arabia Friday.

STORY HIGHLIGHTS

• NEW: Scores of people protest in Hofuf and 3 are arrested, two activists say
• NEW: Another protest takes place in the eastern city of Qatif, an activist says
• The protests came a day after three people were hurt in other demonstrations
• An analyst says the Saudi king is still popular and he doesn't expect a revolt

RELATED TOPICS

• Saudi Arabia
• Qatif

(CNN) -- Hundreds turned out in two Saudi Arabian cities Friday to protest on what had been billed as a "day of rage," according to activists, though a planned demonstration in the Middle Eastern nation's capital failed to materialize.

The protests -- both made up largely of Shiite Muslims calling for the release of Shiite prisoners -- occurred despite a Saudi government ban on all kinds of public demonstrations.

Demonstrators in Hofuf, a city about 300 kilometers (185 miles) east of the Saudi capital of Riyadh, began their march after Friday prayers, two activists told CNN . They asked not to be identified because of security concerns and fear of reprisals.

Three demonstrators were arrested by Saudi security forces, the activists said.

The streets of Qatif, a predominantly Shiite city in eastern Saudi Arabia where several protests have taken place in recent days, were quiet early Friday.

Ibrahim al-Mugaiteeb, a Saudi human rights activist, told CNN that he saw "no people in the streets and virtually no security presence."

But by Friday night, about 200 people were out demonstrating near Qatif, according to a Shiite activist. Saudi security forces were out and observed them, but there were no apparent arrests as the march ended peacefully.

In the Saudi capital, Mohammed al-Qahtani, who heads the Saudi Civil and Political Rights Association, told CNN that authorities had set up checkpoints on roads leading to the planned staging ground north of Riyadh near a courthouse.

"So far, I'm seeing no protesters out there," he said earlier Friday.

These demonstrations came a day after more than 100 people had gathered in Qatif, according to two witnesses and an activist.

At some point, the witnesses said, Saudi security forces shot to disperse the crowd. It was unknown if the forces fired rubber bullets or more lethal ammunition. Those injured were taken to Qatif Central Hospital for treatment, the activist and witnesses said.

A human rights group in Saudi Arabia condemned the action, calling the use of force by police "deplorable."

"(The group) condemns, with the loudest and clearest words, the use of all kinds of force to disperse demonstrators particularly when live ammunition was used last night against the demonstrators in Qatif," the Human Rights First Society said in a statement released Friday.

Last week, about 24 protesters were detained in Qatif as they denounced "the prolonged detention" of nine Shiite prisoners held without trial for more than 14 years, Amnesty International said.

The protests in Saudi Arabia come as unrest brews in parts of the Middle East and North Africa and has caused major changes in places like Egypt and Tunisia. Some in the majority Sunni kingdom have followed similar demands across the Arab world for more freedom and democracy.

Still, one expert said he would be surprised if the demonstrations gained traction among the Saudi majority, noting that there does not appear to a high level of animosity toward the nation's rulers as there are in other countries.

"The big difference is that people in Saudi Arabia don't want a revolution to happen -- they just want more reforms and liberalization," said Christopher Boucek, a Saudi expert with the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace think tank.

"I really think the vast majority of the people there, no matter what they think of the government, they probably like the King," he added. "King Abdullah is still very popular."

CNN's Elise Labott contributed to this report.

Japan earthquake: Tsunami reaches US West Coast

Tourists in Honolulu fled to higher ground as the alarm was raised overnight

Tsunami waves caused by the huge quake off Japan have reached the US Pacific coast, hours after bowling past Hawaii, but it was largely spared major damage.

Thousands of people had been ordered to leave coastal areas in the US state of Hawaii ahead of the waves' arrival.

Evacuation orders were also issued in some coastal areas of the western US and Canada's British Columbia province.

At least five people in California and Oregon were swept out to sea, and some boats were torn from moorings.

Waves of over 6ft (2m) struck Crescent City in California, damaging vessels and harbour docks, while Santa Cruz sustained about $2m (£1.25m) in damage, emergency officials said.

The tsunami warning has now been downgraded to an advisory in Hawaii but officials urged people still to stay away from beaches.

The West Coast and Alaska Tsunami Warning Center has also downgraded its warning to an advisory, California Emergency Management Agency spokesman Jordan Scott said.

"Things seem to be settling down at the moment," he said.

'Fragile life'

Earlier, US President Barack Obama said he was monitoring the threat to Hawaii, his home state, and the US West Coast.

Speaking at the White House on Friday, he urged Americans to heed orders to leave their homes if they were given.

Tsunami-generated waves crashed ashore along the California coast

"Let me just stress that if people are told to evacuate, do as you are told," he said. "Today's events remind us of just how fragile life can be."

About 30,000 residents live in Hawaii's coastal inundation zones.

The first wave of the tsunami passed through Midway Island - a small atoll at the north-western end of the Hawaiian archipelago, about 500 miles (800km) from Hawaii's main islands - at about 1125 GMT, bringing a wave of more than 8ft (2.4m), the local Star Advertiser newspaper reported.

But waves were measured at 1.6ft at Nawiliwili on the island of Kauai and 2.3ft on Barbers Point on Oahu, local officials said.

Earlier reports suggested waves of up to 6ft might hit Hawaii's main islands.

The main airports on Maui, Kauai and the Big Island of Hawaii were shut down, and the US Navy ordered all warships in Pearl Harbor to remain in port in case they are needed for rescue missions.

'Difficult situation'

Waves generated by the tsunami reached the west coast of the US at 0830 local time (1630 GMT) but had significantly diminished in strength.

Several beach towns in Oregon were on high alert, and four people were rescued from the water in the coastal state.

One man who had been taking photos of the waves in northern California was still missing on Friday afternoon.

Some surfers on the West Coast were determined to make the most of the conditions.

"The tides are right, the swell is good, the weather is good, the tsunami is there. We're going out," surfer William Hill, an off-duty California state trooper, told the Associated Press.

No damage has been reported from a 5ft wave that hit Alaska's coast.

In the US Pacific island territory of Guam, two US Navy submarines were pulled free of their moorings by powerful waves but were recovered by tug boats.

Wall of water

The tsunami was triggered by a massive earthquake which hit the north-east of Japan, at 1446 local time (0546 GMT).

Japanese television showed cars, ships and even buildings being swept away by a vast wall of water after the 8.9-magnitude earthquake.

Seismologists say it is the most powerful earthquake to hit Japan since records began.

A tsunami warning was extended across the Pacific to North and South America.

Police: Ambush kills 7 Iraqi soldiers

AP

Sat, 12/03/2011 - 14:06

An Iraqi municipality employee cleans on July 03, 2010, a blood stained public garden, where al-Qaeda fighters killed five policemen at a Baghdad checkpoint on Tuesday and planted the black flag of the terror network's front group in Iraq, an interior ministry official said.

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Photographed by AFP

Archived

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Baghdad--Police say seven Iraqi soldiers have been killed in an ambush in a former Al-Qaeda stronghold.

The off-duty soldiers had just ended their shifts outside the northern city of Mosul when gunmen ambushed their car Saturday morning.

Two police officers said the gunmen fled after the attack. They spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to release the information.

Mosul is a former haven for Al-Qaeda insurgents and Iraq's third-largest city, located 360 km (225) northwest of Baghdad.

Insurgents have been trying to regain strength in the city after losing it to American and Iraqi forces in clashes years ago.

ElBaradei warns of danger facing 25 January revolution

Arabic Edition

Sat, 12/03/2011 - 10:06

الدكتور محمد البرادعي، المدير السابق للوكالة الدولية للطاقة الذرية، يتحدث إلي وسائل الإعلام لدي وصوله مطار القاهرة الدولي ، 27 يناير 2011، قادما من فيينا للمشاركة في مظاهرات «جمعة الشهداء».

، التي ستنطلق في اليوم التالي عقب صلاة الجمعة، حيث تدعو القوي السياسية لاستكمال مظاهرات «يوم الغضب» في جميع محافظات مصر لليوم الرابع علي التوالي، والتي بدأت يومها الأول بالتزامن مع عيد الشرطة (25 يناير)، احتجاجا علي تردي الأوضاع الاجتماعية والسياسية.

" title="وصول «البرادعي» قبل «جمعة الشهداء»" class="imagecache imagecache-highslide_zoom" width="536" height="402">

Photographed by محمد معروف

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Mohamed ElBaradei, former International Atomic Energy Agency head and potential candidate for the Egyptian presidency, warned of the “grave danger” facing the country's 25 January revolution.

On Twitter, ElBaradei wrote "Suspicions are mounting and the revolution is in grave danger without the immediate arrest of the leaders of the gang."

ElBaradei said the upcoming referendum on proposed constitutional amendments must be canceled, and called instead for a clear and careful map. He said this would be the only way to transform Egypt into a genuine democracy, for half solutions will only drag it backwards.

Senior officials within the state-run media should be immediately dismissed, he said, adding that this is necessary to protect the revolution. "What are we waiting for?” he wondered.

In a TV interview on ONTV two days ago ElBaradei said that he intends to announce himself as a candidate for the presidency once the door is open to nominations. "I'm already taking steps and I intend to run for the presidency," he said.

ElBaradei's statements came less than an hour after two members of the formerly ruling National Democratic Party were arrested for inciting the killing of protesters during the uprising and for financing and planning the 2 February attack on them in Tahrir Square which involved the use of camels and horses.

Former state security chief admits ordering destruction of documents

Staff

Sat, 12/03/2011 - 11:36

Protesters reading state security files after storming the building in Nasr City

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Photographed by Heba Afify

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Hassan Abdel Rahman, former head of state security, has said to investigators that he ordered his subordinates to shred and burn state security files, said the official spokesperson for the Public Prosecution, Adel Al-Saeed.

Abdel Rahman justified himself by saying that he feared that secret documents would fall into the hands of foreigners or dangerous elements who may have infiltrated the ranks of Egypt's pro-democracy protesters, and could be used to harm the country.

He added that he made the decision because the documents exist also in digital format, on CDs and on the main computer at state security headquarters.

Meanwhile, Public Prosecution has also started investigating the destruction of 120 tons of state security files in an isolated area near Suez. Investigations have revealed that Suez state security officials planned to get rid of documents at the site, approximately 45 kilometers to the west of of the city.

Stock market to resume trading on Wednesday

Staff

Sat, 12/03/2011 - 13:00

The Egyptian Exchange, Cairo Downtown Area

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Photographed by Amr Abdalla

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The Egyptian stock market will re-open on Wednesday, said its head, Khaled Serri Seyam. Trading has been suspended since 27 January.

The resumption of trading will allow investors to test the market on Wednesday and Thursday, and then use the weekend to consider the correct decisions to make.

Officials from Misr for Clearance, Depositary and Central Registry (MCDR) and the Egyptian stock exchange will meet on Sunday to lay down procedures for the injection of the Finance Ministry's assistance of LE250 million into the stock market.

Mohamed Abdel Salam, the president of MCDR, said the Egyptian cabinet has permitted the use of the Non-Commercial Risks fund--LE850 million--for loans to companies facing tough circumstances.

Awni Abdel Aziz, the head of the securities sector of the Federation of Egyptian Chambers of Commerce, said the amount of the loans will be approximately LE250 million.

Meanwhile, Standard & Poor's (S&P) took a step back from a potential downgrade of Egypt's long-term foreign currency credit rating on Thursday, citing improved prospects for political transition and saying that risks to the government's credit standing have receded.

S&P said "if the political transition falters or if concessional external financing does not materialize to finance fiscal deficits--which we forecast to be in the range of 9 percent to 11 percent of GDP for the next few years--then we could lower Egypt's ratings later this year or in 2012."