UK Submarine Service report uncovers misogyny, bullying and other unacceptable behaviours

'We must be better than this and do better than we have,' said the head of the Royal Navy (Picture: MOD)

The head of the Royal Navy has apologised after an investigation found misogyny, bullying and other unacceptable behaviours had taken place in the Submarine Service.

The First Sea Lord, Admiral Sir Ben Key, said he had accepted all 37 recommendations of the investigation in full.

Adm Sir Ben apologised to the whistleblower who raised the alarm about alleged sexual harassment and abuse on board the UK's submarines.

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He ordered an internal inquiry into the claims made in a newspaper interview in October 2022 by Sophie Brook, a former naval officer, and other women about their treatment while serving in the elite Submarine Service.

Adm Sir Ben confirmed that misogyny, bullying and other unacceptable behaviours did happen and described it as intolerable.

He accepted all of the recommendations in the report including the formation of a new Head of Culture team and a review of submariner leadership training.

The First Sea Lord also commended the courage of Ms Brook in coming forward.

'We must be better'

Adm Sir Ben said: "As the Head of the Royal Navy, today I also offer a public apology, both to Ms Brook and to any personnel – past or present – that have been subject to any form of unacceptable behaviour during their time in service.

"I am truly sorry."

The Royal Navy chief alluded to how the service would go forward to improve the experiences of personnel in the Royal Navy while understanding "there is more to be done".

He added: "Poor practices and behaviours in the past that may have been normalised in some quarters should never have been considered acceptable, and they have no place today.

"We must institute a culture that does not allow space for this behaviour to exist, and we must deal with perpetrators swiftly, without fear or favour, which I can confirm we have now done.

"Internal action has been taken against a number of individuals, up to and including discharge from the service."

Adm Sir Ben concluded his statement by saying: "We must be better than this and do better than we have."

The allegations

BFBS Forces News understands some of the allegations were reported to the MOD's serious crime unit, but there was insufficient evidence to bring prosecutions. However, it is also understood that three people were discharged as a result of the investigation.

The investigation's report has now been published, but much of it is heavily redacted.

The allegations included several reports of sexual misconduct, including the assault of a woman in her bed by a man of higher rank who tried to kiss her. She was then discouraged by the XO from reporting it.

Another of the allegations made was that a "crush depth rape list" is common across the service in which women and men are marked in the order they would be raped in a catastrophic event.

The specific allegation made to the investigation, their consideration of the evidence and their conclusion on the balance of probabilities were all redacted.

But the report does say the allegation led to several recommendations, one of them being administrative action as a result of the findings.

Another allegation was that bras were stolen from the laundry, leading to a recommendation that personnel be given the resources to wash their own underwear.

Royal Navy whistleblower who raised alarm about abuse on UK submarines tells of relief after investigation

Sky News
Fri 4 October 2024 


A whistleblower says she feels relief after the Royal Navy apologised for misogyny, bullying and unacceptable behaviour that she experienced while serving.

A long-awaited investigation into sexual harassment and abuse on board the UK's nuclear-armed submarines found "intolerable" behaviour - and it said more needs to be done despite the Royal Navy's recent attempts to improve the experience of personnel.

Sophie Brook - who raised the alarm in 2022 - spoke to Sky News following a meeting with the head of the Royal Navy, Admiral Sir Ben Key.


She said she welcomed the Navy's apology to her but she wants to see meaningful changes.

"I am appreciative of the full and unreserved apology that the First Lord Sea has given me," she said.

"That means a lot to have had that both verbally and in a written letter and acknowledgment of everything that happened.

"I have relief that it's finally come to an end."

Ms Brook first spoke to Sky News in October 2022 when she detailed misogynistic abuse and bullying that she said led her to self-harm, including finding a serving officer naked in her bed and having an officer stick his tongue in her ear while she looked through a periscope.

Describing her ordeal, she said: "I was punched in the kidneys while I was on the periscope, I had someone lick my ear while I was again on the periscope and the same person put their penis in my pocket.

"It ranged from quite minor to serious incidents but even the minor ones - when they're repeated or sustained over a number of months or years, actually they start to weigh you down."

Ms Brook previously told Sky News she initially raised concerns internally about her alleged mistreatment. But she claimed that the Royal Navy turned on her, accusing her of fraud and of revealing information about the movement of a submarine.

She was formally dismissed from the service in June 2022 and handed a five-month prison sentence, suspended for 12 months. By that time, she had already resigned and left the navy.

On the fraud charge, Ms Brook said she decided to plead guilty at court-martial because she had not been allowed more time to produce bank records that she claimed showed she had made car journeys that she had claimed petrol money for.

On the litigation, a Royal Navy spokesperson said previously: "All court martial trials are independent and presided over by a judge advocate, who is appointed in the same way as judges in other courts and ensures that matters are handled fairly and in compliance with the law."

Admiral Key ordered an internal inquiry into the claims made by Brook and other women about their treatment while serving in the elite Submarine Service.

In a statement, Admiral Key said: "The conclusion of the investigation into misconduct in the Submarine Service marks an inflection point for the Royal Navy.

"The investigation has confirmed misogyny, bullying and other unacceptable behaviours did occur during the investigation period, and this is intolerable.

"As the head of the Royal Navy, today I also offer a public apology, both to Ms Brook and to any personnel - past or present - that have been subject to any form of unacceptable behaviour during their time in service. I am truly sorry."

The number of women serving in the Royal Navy remains low and even more so in the Submarine Service where women were only allowed to serve from 2014.

Sky News understands in the last two years alone, there have been nearly 30 investigations into misogyny and sexual offences, and more than 20 individuals have been discharged.

Ms Brook said she hopes the Navy's response is not just a token gesture, but a starting point for real, substantive change.

She said: "I think all that really matters is that the actions in future change...

"Certainly everything that the government was saying they are doing in the Royal Navy to improve things in the submarine service sounds like they should work and should improve the lived experience of people.

"Hopefully as long as these things do happen, it will make life better."

Anyone feeling emotionally distressed or suicidal can call Samaritans for help on 116 123 or email jo@samaritans.org in the UK. In the US, call the Samaritans branch in your area or 1 (800) 273-TALK


Royal Navy chief apologises after investigation finds ‘bullying and misogyny’ in submarine service

Jane Dalton
Fri 4 October 2024 

A Royal Navy investigation found ‘misogyny, bullying and other unacceptable behaviours’ in the submarine service (Getty)


The head of the Royal Navy has apologised after an investigation found “misogyny, bullying and other unacceptable behaviours” in the submarine service.

There was at least one report of rape, and women suffered lewd comments and sexual gestures, an official report has revealed.

The first sea lord, Admiral Sir Ben Key, ordered an investigation two years ago into allegations made by former lieutenant Sophie Brook, who had described a “constant campaign of sexual bullying”.

The report found numerous cases of abuse, lewd comments and ‘at least’ one report of rape (Getty)

Sir Ben said on Friday: “The investigation has confirmed misogyny, bullying and other unacceptable behaviours did occur during the investigation period, and this is intolerable. During the investigation process, Ms Brook made several requests for redress.

“Those that are within my gift to offer – I have. When I met with Ms Brook this morning, I apologised to her personally and unreservedly, praising her courage in coming forward.

“As the head of the Royal Navy, today I also offer a public apology, both to Ms Brook and to any personnel – past or present – that have been subject to any form of unacceptable behaviour during their time in service. I am truly sorry.”

He added: “We must be better than this and do better than we have.”

Ms Brook said she was still concerned about ‘the navy’s commitment to delivering meaningful change’ (Getty)

Ordering the investigation in 2022, he branded the allegations “abhorrent”, promising: “Anyone who is found culpable will be held accountable for their actions regardless of their rank or status.”

A heavily redacted final report of the investigation into allegations across the submarine service listed numerous incidents of abuse and harassment by male submariners, some of whom were senior officers, against their female colleagues.

Among the most serious were at least one report of rape, while others included lewd comments and sexual gestures.

Administrative action, “up to and including discharge from the Royal Navy”, has been taken against “several individuals”, according to an executive summary published alongside the full report.

Ms Brook told Sky News she was still concerned about “the navy’s commitment to delivering meaningful change”.

She said: “It is my hope that this report is not just a token gesture but a starting point for real substantive change.

“I came forward not just to see justice for myself but to shine a light on a culture that for too long has been permitted to thrive within some of the most elite branches of the armed forces.”

The Ministry of Defence said it was improving reporting mechanisms for sexual offences and that it had a zero-tolerance policy for sexual offences.


Women in UK's submarine forces suffered bullying and abuse by male colleagues, probe finds

PAN PYLAS
Fri 4 October 2024

LONDON (AP) — Women in the submarine forces in the U.K.’s Royal Navy suffered multiple incidents of abuse and harassment by male submariners, some of whom were senior officers, including of “at least” one report of rape, according to an internal investigation published Friday.

The heavily redacted report arose from allegations by former Lt. Sophie Brook of a “constant campaign of sexual bullying” she had endured while in the service.

The head of the Royal Navy apologized to Brook personally as the investigation's findings were made public while praising her "courage" in coming forward.

Admiral Ben Key, who ordered the probe in 2022 after the allegations came to light, said the “investigation has confirmed misogyny, bullying and other unacceptable” behavior.

"This is intolerable," he said. "Today I also offer a public apology, both to Ms. Brook and to any personnel — past or present — that have been subject to any form of unacceptable behavior during their time in service. I am truly sorry.”

Brook, who has since left the submarine service, said “multiple people” had contacted her with similar concerns after she first went public with her accusations.

After leaving the Royal Navy in early 2022, Brook was subsequently given a suspended jail sentence for sharing in an email sensitive information about her experience in the submarine service.

The report stated that there have been sanctions “up to and including discharge from the Royal Navy” against “several individuals.”

In a statement provided to Sky News, Brook said she “remains concerned about the Navy’s commitment to delivering meaningful change."

“I came forward not just to see justice for myself but to shine a light on a culture that for too long has been permitted to thrive within some of the most elite branches of the Armed Forces," she said.

Women make up about 10% of full-time Royal Navy personnel and have been eligible to serve on submarines since 2011, with the first women joining three years later.

Chagos diaspora angry at lack of input on islands' fate

Marie HEUCLIN
Fri 4 October 2024 

Diego Garcia in the Indian Ocean is one of the most important 

US military bases and was used for wars in Afghanistan and Iraq 

Raymonde Desiree was 25 when she was forced to leave her native Chagos Islands as Britain emptied the Indian Ocean archipelago of its inhabitants to make way for a strategic military base.

Fifty-one years later, the petite matriarch says she, like many Chagossians living in Britain, is angry at not being given a say in the islands' fate as they are now handed over to Mauritius.

Britain announced Thursday that it would transfer sovereignty of the remote archipelago but keep the joint American-British base on Diego Garcia island, an agreement US President Joe Biden hailed as "historic".


But in Crawley, a town south of London that is home to a large Chagossian community, members of the diaspora described the announcement as the latest in a long line of injustices.

Desiree recalled giving birth to her first child on the boat that took her to the Seychelles from the Chagos Islands, as Britain emptied the archipelago of its inhabitants shortly after granting independence to Mauritius -- but not the Chagos -- in 1968.

From there, she was sent to Mauritius, where she "suffered", especially from discrimination, she told AFP through an interpreter, speaking her native Creole.

Granted British citizenship, like the other roughly 2,000 Chagos inhabitants who were expelled, she eventually moved to Britain in 2004.

She said the new deal left her "saddened".

"When I was born, the Chagos Islands weren't under Mauritius," she said.

"I will never be Mauritian," said Jemmy Simon, 36, whose grandparents were among those expelled from the Chagos.

Despite her British passport, "I'm Chagossian," she said.

"Going back to the Chagos Islands under Mauritian rule, that's not going to happen. We were not consulted... They should have given us the right of self-determination."

- 'Uprooted' -

The deal aims to put to rest half a century of legal battles over the islands.

It comes after the International Court of Justice recommended in 2019 that Britain hand them over.

During the hearings, Britain apologised for the "shameful" eviction of islanders. But it ignored the ICJ ruling at the time.

Under the agreement, members of the Chagossian diaspora will be allowed to return -- though not to Diego Garcia, the largest of the archipelago's roughly 50 islands.

But "that's where my parents are from", said Marilyn Ladouceur, 65, adding that the deal had left her "extremely angry".

Born in Mauritius, she recalled an impoverished childhood there before moving to Britain in 2004.

The deal, she said, will turn the Chagos Islands "into another Mauritius".

United Nations human rights chief Volker Turk on Friday urged Britain and Mauritius to make sure the ensuing treaty cementing the deal will "fully embrace human-rights driven solutions to the outstanding issues of remedy and reparation of the wrongs of the past".

It should "enable the Chagossian people to return to their ancestral territories... (and) build sustainable and prosperous futures", he said in a statement.

But beyond the difficulties of repopulating a remote archipelago and despite the promise of financial assistance under the deal, a return looks unlikely for many Chagossians now living in Britain.

Louis Vivian Marie, 72, said he had felt "uprooted" ever since leaving the islands at seven or eight years old.

"How can such a thing happen?" he says he still wonders.

But he says he plans to stay in Britain with his Mauritius-born wife, who is applying for British citizenship.

Desiree, meanwhile, has abandoned her dream of returning.

"I'm too old," she said, adding she was also unsure in what kind of condition she would find her long-deserted island.

mhc/alm/fjb/jhb/js

UK cedes Chagos Islands to Mauritius in deal securing Diego Garcia military base

NEWS WIRES
Thu 3 October 2024 




The UK agreed on Thursday to renounce sovereignty of the Chagos Islands, an archipelago of more than 60 islands in the Indian Ocean, but agreed a deal with Mauritius to secure the future of a UK-US military base on the island of Diego Garcia.

The British government agreed Thursday to hand sovereignty of the long-contested Chagos Islands, an archipelago of more than 60 islands in the Indian Ocean, to Mauritius, in a deal to secure the future of a strategically important U.K.-U.S. military base.

British Foreign Secretary David Lammy said the agreement will secure the future of the base at Diego Garcia, the largest in the chain of remote islands off the tip of India that has been under British control for over 50 years.

The base, which is home to around 2,500 personnel, mainly Americans, has been involved in military operations including the 2003 war in Iraq and the long-running war in Afghanistan.

Britain's Labour government said without the deal the secure operation of the military base would be under threat, with contested sovereignty and legal challenges, including through various international courts and tribunals.

The agreement also paves the way for the potential return of the few people still alive who were forcibly displaced from their homes on the islands decades ago.


Where are the Chagos Islands, why has the UK given them to Mauritius and what about the Falklands?

William Mata
Fri 4 October 2024 

Where are the Chagos Islands, why has the UK given them to Mauritius and what about the Falklands?


The UK Government has reached a political agreement to allow Mauritius to take sovereignty over the Chagos Islands.

The historic agreement struck this week means Mauritius will assume sovereignty over the archipelago while the joint US-UK military base remains on Diego Garcia island.

Reaction to the deal was mixed, with some hailing the end to a bitter and long-running dispute over Britain's last African colony.

But others, including Tory leadership candidates, suggested it could undermine UK security.

Here is what it means.

The Chagos Islands (Google Maps)
Where are the Chagos Islands?

The chain of Indian Ocean islands are claimed by Mauritius but are actually more than 2,000km away from the African nation.

Chagos has seven atolls and around 60 islands; of these, Diego Garcia is by far the largest.

Mauritius is an island off the east coast of Madagascar, also an island, which is off the coast of south-east Africa.

Chagos archipelago is a strategic point in the Indian Ocean between Africa and India, which is why it is a useful spot for nations seeking regional influence.

Around 3,000 people live on the islands, who are mostly British and American servicemen.

Britain is giving up sovereignty of the Chagos Islands in the Indian Ocean in return for securing the long-term future of a strategically important military base (John Parker/Sylvia Cordaiy Photo Library Ltd/Alamy/PA)

How did the UK come to have the islands?

The islands were home to the Chagossian people before they were expelled in the Sixties and Seventies by the US and UK governments as they established an airbase on Diego Garcia.

The Chagossians mostly then settled in Mauritius and have not been allowed back since, although the new agreement paves the way for their return.

There is a joint UK-US military base on Diego Garcia, part of the cluster of islands in the Indian Ocean that makes up the Chagos Islands (PA Media)

Why has Britain handed it to Mauritius?

Human rights campaigners, who have called for full reparations to generations affected by the forcible displacement of islanders, argued the deal does not go far enough to address the wrongs of the past.

Chagossians were forced to leave the central Indian Ocean territory in the Sixties and Seventies to make way for the military base.

The expulsions are regarded as a shameful parts of Britain's modern colonial history and Chagossians have spent decades fighting to return to the islands.

The United Nations' highest court, the International Court of Justice, previously ruled the UK's administration of the territory was unlawful and must end.

A joint statement from the UK and Mauritius governments said the new deal will be subject to a treaty that will "address wrongs of the past and demonstrate the commitment of both parties to support the welfare of Chagossians".

The Foreign Office said the agreement means the status of the base will be undisputed and legally secure.

Former Downing Street chief of staff Jonathan Powell (PA Archive)
Could China now develop a base?

There have been concerns raised by Labour’s political opponents that the agreement will allow China to develop influence in the area.

Former foreign secretary James Cleverly described the move as "weak, weak, weak" while former security minister Tom Tugendhat suggested it risked allowing China to gain a military foothold in the Indian Ocean.

Jonathan Powell, the prime minister's special envoy for negotiations between the UK and Mauritius, said China would not be able to develop a base in the Chagos Islands.

He said United States officials have been "intimately involved" in the negotiations, telling Times Radio: "Every single sentence and paragraph has been through an inter-agency process, all of the agencies in Washington. We've secured all of their red lines in that negotiation.

"When you come to see the detailed treaty, which is really quite long with the exchanges of letters, you'll see that this idea of a Chinese base is just hooey. It can't happen, won't happen.”

The treeless landscape of the Falkland Islands (PA Media)
Will the UK now hand back the Falkland Islands to Argentina?

After the UK agreed to return the Chagos Islands, the Argentine foreign minister, Diana Mondino, said it is time to take steps for the Malvinas (as the Argentinians call the islands) are returned.

"We welcome this step in the right direction and the end to outdated practices,” she said.

“Following the path we have already taken, with concrete actions and not empty rhetoric, we will recover full sovereignty over our Malvinas Islands.

"The Malvinas were, are and will always be Argentine."

Argentina has long wanted back the Falklands but residents of the islands voted 99 per cent in favour of remaining part of the UK in 2013.

In a statement earlier on Thursday, Falklands governor Alison Blake sought to reassure residents that Britain's commitment to the South Atlantic territory was "unwavering".

She said the historical context of the two territories was "very different".
What other territories does the UK have?

British overseas territories are listed by the government as:

Anguilla


Ascension


Bermuda


British Virgin Islands


Cayman Islands


Falkland Islands


Gibraltar


Montserrat


St Helena


Tristan da Cunha


Turks and Caicos Islands

Gang jailed over 'shocking' McDonald's slavery case

Leigh Milner
BBC News, East of England
Reporting from Southwark Crown Court, London
Brian Farmer
BBC News, East of England

BBC

Three gang members who trafficked 12 people from eastern Europe have been jailed after being convicted of trafficking and modern slavery.

Men and women had been forced to work in various places including McDonald’s in Caxton, Cambridgeshire, and at a bakery in Hertfordshire, prosecutors said.

Zdenek Drevenak, 47, was given a 13-year jail term, Jiri Cernohous, 49, a nine -year term and Martin Slovjak, 46, a four-year term at Southwark Crown Court.

All three, who come from the the Czech Republic and lived in Enfield, north London, were found guilty at Southwark Crown Court in May.

Crown Prosecution Service
(left-right) Jiri Cernohous, Martin Slovjak and Zdenek Drevenek have been convicted of trafficking, forced labour and servitude offences

"The victims, who spoke little or no English, were forced to work in various roles at a bakery in Hoddesdon, a car wash, a McDonald’s restaurant, as well as carry out domestic household tidying and cleaning," said a spokeswoman for the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) after Friday's sentencing.

"The wages earned were routinely withheld from the victims aside from the occasional release of a derisory sum."

She said "vulnerable" people from the Czech Republic and Slovakia were "often selected" from "poor or rural" backgrounds with a "view to being exploited".

They had been housed in Enfield, she added.

'Invisible handcuffs'


Specialist prosecutor Kate Mulholland said victims were "controlled and manipulated" in the "most despicable way".

She described the case as "shocking... [they] may not have been under lock and key, but their ability to escape was undermined by the various methods of control – and as a result they remained trapped in ‘invisible handcuffs’".

The CPS said victims had passports and identity documents confiscated.

Gang members went on trial after an investigation by the Metropolitan Police.


A recent BBC report told how signs of modern slavery, including paying the wages of four men into one bank account, were missed and victims were exploited for more than four years.

McDonald’s UK said it had improved systems for spotting "potential risks", while the British Retail Consortium said its members would learn from the case.

Crown Prosecution Service
Monika Daducova is awaiting sentence for similar modern slavery offences


The CPS said a fourth gang member also convicted of similar offences, Monika Daducova, 44, also living in Enfield, would be sentenced on a date to be fixed.

Israel acting with impunity in Middle East, says former Irish President

MEMO
October 4, 2024 


Former Irish President Mary Robinson attends a press conference after the first meeting of the International Working Group on Environmental Consequences of Military Actions held in Kyiv, Ukraine on June 29, 2023. [Vladimir Shtanko – Anadolu Agency]

Former Irish President, Mary Robinson, on Friday accused Israel of acting with impunity in the Middle East, highlighting what she sees as a lack of restraint on the part of global powers, particularly the US, Anadolu Agency reports.

Her comments came amid heightened tensions in the region, with Israeli air strikes reported in southern Beirut and the Occupied West Bank.

Speaking on RTE’s Morning Ireland, Robinson, representing The Elders—an international non-governmental organisation founded by Nelson Mandela and Richard Branson—emphasized the need for de-escalation from all parties involved in the conflict.

She stressed that The Elders condemn violence on all sides and are in no way anti-Israeli or anti-Semitic.

“All parties need to de-escalate and recognise that military aggression and retaliatory attacks cannot solve this conflict,” she said. “Civilians are paying the price for the pursuit of military approaches over dialogue and political solutions.”

READ: 1 year of Gaza genocide: Pro-Israel bias pervades Western media, says expert

Robinson highlighted the contrast in the international community’s response to Israeli and Palestinian civilians, criticising Israelis’ protection from potential Iranian attacks while accusing global powers of failing to provide any form of protection for Palestinian civilians in Gaza and Lebanese civilians.

This disparity, according to Robinson, illustrates a broader imbalance in the international response to the crisis.

She added that The Elders have long called for the US to restrain Israel’s military actions through measures such as the suspension of arms transfers.

“Arms transfers, especially of offensive weapons that are not required for legitimate self-defence, cannot be justified in a context where international humanitarian law is being violated,” she argued.

Robinson specifically criticized US President, Joe Biden, for continuing to supply arms to Israel despite widespread harassment of violations of international law. “International humanitarian law is being horribly transgressed,” she said, referring to the impact of Israel’s recent attacks in Gaza.

In her strongest remarks, Robinson condemned what she called Israel’s “overreaction” in Gaza, which has resulted in the deaths of nearly 42,000 people and countless injuries, particularly among children.

She warned that the current escalation, which includes strikes on Lebanon, has the potential to spark further conflict with Iran.

“This bad right-wing government of Israel has decided it can now attack aggressively,” Robinson said. “It has over-reacted in relation to Gaza and decimated Gaza with not just 42,000 killed, but think of the injuries, particularly to children, life-affecting injuries. Now the people of Lebanon and the potential for retaliatory attacks on Iran.”

Regional tensions have escalated due to Israel’s brutal offensive on the Gaza Strip, which has killed over 41,800 people, mostly women and children, following a Hamas attack last year.

The conflict spread to Lebanon with Israel launching deadly strikes across the country, which have killed more than 1,100 people and injured over 3,000 others since 23 September.

The international community has warned that Israeli attacks in Lebanon could escalate the Gaza conflict into a wider regional war.

Religious fundamentalism in Israel threatens road to peace: Ex-UK envoy

MEMO
October 4, 2024 

Palestinians walk near debris of destroyed buildings as the scale of destruction, caused by Israeli attacks, comes to surface following the withdrawal of Israeli army in Khan Yunis, Gaza on September 29,2024. [Abed Rahim Khatib – Anadolu Agency]

As Israel continues its major offensives in the Gaza Strip and Lebanon, while also striking Syria and Yemen, a diplomatic breakthrough toward peace seems more distant than ever.

Prime Minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, and his right-wing Likud Party lead the Israeli government, but it also includes figures positioned even further to the right, many with a strong religious agenda that some, like retired British diplomat William Patey, might label extremist.

Patey, a former British ambassador to Saudi Arabia and Iraq, is concerned over the growing influence of religious extremism in Israeli policy-making, which he believes is a major obstacle to peace between Israelis and Palestinians.

In an interview with Anadolu, Patey emphasized that religious ideologies, particularly among fundamentalist Jewish groups, are complicating negotiations and obstructing progress toward a two-state solution.

“When religion is brought into political argument, you’re dealing with fundamentalists, dealing with fundamentalist Jews,” he said, highlighting the difficulties this brings to negotiations.

Despite these challenges, he affirmed that Britain remains committed to supporting Israel’s right to exist within secure borders but warned that this should not come at the expense of Palestinians’ right to their own State.

“We now have a problem of 40,000 Palestinians being killed in Gaza and many people are growing up with unprecedented hatred toward Israel,” Patey noted.

He also discussed the evolving stance of Arab states, many of which have expressed a willingness to normalise relations with Israel through the Arab Peace Initiative if a Palestinian State is established.

“The majority of Arab states have made it absolutely clear they are more than willing to accept Israel as a normal, friendly partner within the Middle East if there’s a Palestinian State,” Patey explained.

READ: PA President Abbas says peace, tolerance cannot coexist with occupation

He stressed the need to gain wider acceptance in Israel for any peace initiative, warning that without it, peaceful co-existence between Israel and Palestine would remain elusive.

Reflecting on the UK’s current diplomatic approach, Patey described British policy as a “balancing act”, reiterating the UK’s support for Israel’s security while also being committed to the establishment of a Palestinian State.

“Britain will never abandon Israel if there’s an existential threat,” he said, but emphasized that this support must not undermine the Palestinians’ right to a secure and sovereign State.

Patey called for renewed efforts to convince Israelis of the merits of a two-state solution, cautioning that failure to do so could perpetuate instability in the region.

Israel has continued its brutal offensive on the Gaza Strip following an attack by the Palestinian group, Hamas, on 7 October last year, despite a UN Security Council resolution calling for an immediate ceasefire.

Nearly 41,600 people have since been killed, mostly women and children, and over 96,200 others injured, according to local health authorities.

The Israeli onslaught has displaced almost the entire population of the territory amid an ongoing blockade that has led to severe shortages of food, clean water and medicine.

Israel faces accusations of genocide at the International Court of Justice for its actions in Gaza.

KINKY

Netanyahu planted listening devices in former UK PM's toilet, Johnson claims

October 4, 2024 

British Prime Minister Boris Johnson meets with Benjamin Netanyahu at No. 10 Downing Street, in London, United Kingdom on September 5th, 2019. [Kate Green – Anadolu Agency]


Former UK Prime Minister, Boris Johnson, has made a startling claim in his memoir “Unleashed”, alleging that a listening device was discovered in his personal bathroom at the Foreign Office following a visit by Israeli Prime Minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, in 2017.

Johnson said that Netanyahu, whom he refers to as “Bibi”, excused himself to use the facilities during their meeting. The former PM states “it may or may not be a coincidence but I am told that later, when they were doing a regular sweep for bugs, they found a listening device in the thunderbox.”

The allegation comes amid a history of similar accusations against Israel. In 2018, Mossad, Israel’s intelligence agency, was accused of placing listening devices near the White House to eavesdrop on then-President Donald Trump. According to Politico, three former US officials claimed that Israel had been identified by the FBI as the culprit behind the placement of several miniature devices in Washington DC, designed to monitor mobile telephone traffic.

The recent allegations have reignited discussions about Israel’s espionage activities against its so called allies. Historical cases include Jonathan Pollard, a former US Navy intelligence analyst, who was convicted of passing classified information to Israel in the 1980s. Another notable case is that of Ben-Ami Kadish, an American mechanical engineer who pleaded guilty in 2008 to providing classified US military documents to Israel. Additionally, Arnon Milchan, a Hollywood producer, admitted to being an Israeli spy in the 1970s and 1980s, helping to acquire technology for Israel’s nuclear weapons program.

Although not directly connected to Israel, the case of Jewish-Americans, Julius and Ethel Rosenberg, is relevant to the broader history of espionage involving US secrets. The Rosenbergs were convicted of passing atomic bomb secrets to the Soviet Union during the Cold War, an act that significantly advanced Soviet nuclear capabilities. The Rosenbergs’ case is often cited as one of the most famous instances of espionage during the Cold War and resulted in their execution in 1953.

In 2016 British intelligence labelled Israel as a “true threat” to the security of the Middle East. The revelations were reported by French newspaper, Le Monde, based on top secret documents obtained by whistleblower, Edward Snowden.

The latest case of alleged espionage targeting Johnson has sparked a conversation about whether Israel is a genuine ally of Western nations. Notably, after World War II, Zionist extremism became British spies’ biggest enemy, as revealed in an article by the Foreign Policy magazine.

Britain’s Prime Minister, Clement Atlee, was among the targets for assassination as was Foreign Secretary, Ernest Bevin, who was regarded in 1946 as the main obstacle to the establishment of a Jewish state in the Middle East. The Stern Gang hit list included MI5’s new director-general, Sir Percy Sillitoe, who warned Atlee that “an assassination campaign in Britain had to be considered a real possibility”.

Users of X took to social media to highlight Zionism’s long track record of conducting terrorism. “Revisionist Zionists conducted a campaign of terror against British targets in Palestine, Germany, Italy, Egypt and in the UK in the 1940s” tweeted Professor David Miller.

Miller went on to list a number of Zionist terrorism in the UK specifically:

“The Stern Gang invented the book bomb and used it for the first time in the UK to attempt to kill Major Roy Farran in Wolverhampton. They killed his brother Rex, instead. The bomb was inside a hollowed out copy of Shakespeare’s plays”.

“They also tried to kill many of the Cabinet with 21 letter bombs targeting every prominent member of the Cabinet, including Prime Minister, Clement Atlee, Stafford Cripps and Sir Anthony Eden.”

Bahrain loses bid to block dissidents' spyware lawsuit in UK

October 4, 2024 at 6:41 pm

Justice Law concept. [Getty Images]

Bahrain cannot claim state immunity to block a lawsuit brought in Britain by two dissidents who say its government hacked their laptops with spyware, London’s Court of Appeal ruled on Friday, Reuters reports.

Saeed Shehabi and Moosa Mohammed say Bahrain infected their computers with surveillance software called FinSpy around 2011, which allowed agents to monitor their work with political prisoners in the Gulf Kingdom.

The men, who both live in Britain, are seeking damages for “psychiatric harm”.

Bahrain denies hacking Shehabi and Mohammed’s laptops. Its bid to claim state immunity was first refused by the High Court last year.

Its appeal was dismissed on Friday, with Judge Stephen Males saying in a written ruling that “a foreign state which hacks a computer located in the United Kingdom interferes with the territorial sovereignty of the United Kingdom, even if some of the acts in question take place abroad”.

Shehabi said in a statement that the ruling was “a victory for freedom, justice and the rule of law”.

His co-claimant, Mohammed, added: “This is our second victory, and it will send a clear message – not just to the Bahraini regime, but to any government that spies on dissidents on British soil.”

A spokesperson for Bahrain’s government said in a statement: “We maintain that the allegations are baseless.”

“The matter is still before the English courts, and no final decision has been reached, so it would be inappropriate to comment further at this time.”

IMPERIALISM IN THE DESERT

ECJ ruling: Morocco's trade deals cannot include Western Sahara

October 4, 2024 

People walk away from the entrance of the European Court of Justice in Luxembourg, on October 5, 2015. [Photo credit should read JOHN THYS/AFP via Getty Images]

The European Court of Justice (ECJ) has declared that trade agreements between the European Union (EU) and Morocco cannot include goods or resources originating from Western Sahara. The decision, which underscores the status of Western Sahara as a disputed territory, has significant implications for ongoing economic relations and trade deals between the EU and Morocco.

The ECJ emphasized that Western Sahara is considered a “non-self-governing territory” under international law and, therefore, it is distinct from the Kingdom of Morocco. As such, any trade agreements that include products from Western Sahara must explicitly recognise this status and cannot be automatically considered as part of agreements involving Morocco.

This ruling follows a long-standing legal dispute over the exploitation of resources in Western Sahara, such as fisheries, agricultural products and phosphates. The ECJ’s decision aligns with previous rulings that similarly found it unlawful to treat the territory of Western Sahara as part of Morocco for trade purposes.

The ruling has sparked reactions from various parties. The Polisario Front, the Sahrawi liberation movement that seeks independence for Western Sahara, hailed the decision as a victory for the rights of the Sahrawi people and their control over the territory’s resources. On the other hand, Moroccan authorities expressed disappointment, maintaining their stance that Western Sahara is an integral part of the Kingdom, and arguing that the ruling may hinder economic development in the region.

The EU will now have to re-evaluate and adjust its trade agreements with Morocco to ensure they comply with the ruling. The court emphasized that any future deals involving resources from Western Sahara must secure the explicit consent of the people of the territory, rather than assuming Morocco’s authority over it.

The ruling has raised questions about the future of EU-Morocco relations, as the two have closely collaborated on trade, security and migration. However, the ECJ’s decision sends a clear message on the importance of respecting international law and the rights of people in non-self-governing territories, setting a significant precedent for future trade agreements involving disputed regions.

Australia billionaire Andrew Forrest donates $10m for Gaza aid

MEMO
October 4, 2024 at 7:28 pm

Palestinians in Rafah, Gaza, queue to receive food distributed by aid organizations on March 15, 2024. [Jehad Alshrafi – Anadolu Agency]


Australian billionaire, Andrew Forrest, announced an additional $10 million donation on Friday through his Minderoo Foundation to support urgent humanitarian aid efforts in Gaza, Anadolu Agency reports.

With this latest contribution, Forrest and his wife, Nicola Forrest, have increased their Foundation’s total aid to almost $28 million, focusing on partners delivering critical meals to those facing famine.

Of the new funds, $5 million will go to World Central Kitchen to fund over 1.5 million meals in Gaza. An additional $5 million will be allocated to the UN World Food Program (WFP), which is providing food assistance in the region.

READ: Social media platforms face accusation of censoring Gaza content

Since October 2023, Minderoo’s financial support has helped deliver safe water, sanitation, medical supplies, medical consultations and food aid to tens of thousands of people in Gaza, the Foundation said.

“Minderoo Foundation will not sit on its hands while children starve to death,” Forrest stated, calling for greater response from philanthropies and the private sector to address the humanitarian crisis in Gaza.

“We are one of few philanthropies in Australia giving to the humanitarian needs in Gaza. We want to see the philanthropic and private sector respond more strongly to the humanitarian needs in Gaza,” he added.

The Israeli offensive, which began on 7 October, has displaced nearly the entire population of Gaza, leaving the Territory in desperate need of food, clean water and medicine due to the ongoing blockade.

Sir Keir Starmer defends UK decision after Argentina vows to retake Falkland Islands

The Prime Minister spoke out

Benjamin Blosse
Richard Wheeler and Nina Lloyd

 4 OCT 2024

Welcome to the Falkland Islands sign to greet tourists arriving by tender at Stanley. Visitor centre behind.


Sir Keir Starmer has justified relinquishing UK control of the Chagos Islands after the move led Argentina to vow it would seek to reclaim "full sovereignty" over the Falkland Islands.

The South American county's vow to retake the Falklands came after the UK agreed to relinquish control of the Chagos Islands, remote archipelago in the Indian Ocean, to Mauritius yesterday. The Prime Minister stated that the arrangement with Mauritius secures the "single most important thing" - the future of the collaborative US-UK military base on Diego Garcia, the largest island within the group.

US President Joe Biden praised the "historic" agreement, emphasising its role in maintaining the "effective operation of the joint facility on Diego Garcia into the next century". The UK and US are expected to extend their military presence on Diego Garcia in a deal lasting 99 years, with Britain contributing an annual sum.

However, critics suggest the move might enable China to establish a military presence in the Indian Ocean, sparking additional concerns about the prospects for other British overseas territories.

And following the announcement, Argentina's Foreign Minister Diana Mondino greeted the UK Government's move towards discontinuing "outdated practices", and pledged "concrete action" towards transferring control of the Falklands, which Argentina refers to as the Malvinas, back to the South American country.

The Falkland Islands (Image: Getty)

Ms Mondino said: “The long dispute between Britain and Mauritius came to a conclusion today, with Mauritians successfully regaining their territory of Chagos.

“We welcome this step in the right direction and the end to outdated practices. Following the path we have already taken, with concrete actions and not empty rhetoric, we will recover full sovereignty over our Malvinas Islands. The Malvinas were, are and will always be Argentine.”

Falklands governor Alison Blake issued a statement on Thursday, emphasising the UK's steadfast commitment to the South Atlantic territory, noting that the historical situations of Diego Garcia and the Falklands are "very different". In 1982, the Falklands conflict resulted in the loss of 255 British service personnel while repelling Argentina's invasion.

When pressed to assure that no further British overseas territories would be surrendered under Labour's governance, Sir Keir informed journalists: "The single most important thing was ensuring that we had a secure base, the joint US-UK base; hugely important to the US, hugely important to us.

"We've now secured that and that is why you saw such warm words from the US yesterday."

But former Prime Minister Boris Johnson criticised the idea of relinquishing control over the Chagos Islands as "crazy".

In an interview with Camilla Tominey on GB News, Johnson remarked: "Why are we doing this? Sheer political correctness, desire to look like the good guys, desire to look as though we're unbundling the last relics of our empire.

"It's nonsense. It's a bad idea in hard geopolitical terms, because the base in Diego Garcia is of huge strategic importance for the US, for the West, and it's a key component of the Anglo-American alliance. It's one of the things we bring to the table, has been for decades."

Amidst concerns from Conservative Party leadership candidates, the Prime Minister's special envoy for UK-Mauritius negotiations assured that China would not be permitted to establish a base in the Chagos Islands.

Jonathan Powell has revealed to Times Radio that US officials have been deeply involved in the recent negotiations, stating: "Every single sentence and paragraph has been through an inter-agency process, all of the agencies in Washington. We've secured all of their red lines in that negotiation.

"When you come to see the detailed treaty, which is really quite long with the exchanges of letters, you'll see that this idea of a Chinese base is just hooey. It can't happen, won't happen.

"And also the fact that some of the newspapers have suggested Mauritius is an ally of China it could hardly be further from the truth. Mauritius is very, very close to India and the Indians also have welcomed this agreement because they see it as so important for security in the Indian Ocean.

"Mauritius is one of only two countries in Africa that's not a member of China's Belt and Road (Initiative). So this notion that we've somehow given the Chagos Islands to an ally of China is rubbish, and anyway the negotiations were started by the previous Tory government."

The plight of the Chagossians was also highlighted, noting their forced removal from the central Indian Ocean territory by 1973 to make way for a military base, an act now widely seen as a dark chapter in Britain's modern colonial history. The Chagossians have since been engaged in a lengthy battle to return to their homeland.

The International Court of Justice has previously ruled that the UK's administration of the territory was "unlawful" and must end, adding legal weight to the Chagossians' claims.

Negotiations between the UK and Mauritius to reach a consensus started under the former Conservative government in 2022.

1 year of Gaza genocide: Pro-Israel bias pervades Western media, says expert

MEMO
October 4, 2024 

A view of the British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) Headquarters in London, United Kingdom on July 14, 2023. [Raşid Necati Aslım – Anadolu Agency]

Pro-Israeli bias has been overwhelming in UK media coverage of what has been happening in Gaza over the past year, Anadolu Agency reports.

Issues ranging from lack of context to use of language have raised questions about ethics in reporting and analysis since the 7 October attacks by Palestinian Resistance group, Hamas. Many critics argue that mainstream Western media has given a platform to pro-Israeli voices that downplay the catastrophic situation in Gaza or use headlines that ignore Tel Aviv’s responsibility in Palestinian civilian deaths.

Rizwana Hamid, Director of the Centre for Media Monitoring (CfMM), told Anadolu that much of the coverage on Gaza had an “overwhelmingly pro-Israeli bias and narrative” across all UK media outlets.

This lopsided reporting is evident in “how the war was being framed”, Hamid explained, either as “a war between Jewish people and Muslims, or Israel versus Hamas”.

READ: Gaza and a ceasefire slip out of focus as Lebanon conflict rages

She noted that the absence of context continued in terms of “what the war is actually about, and that it’s an over-76-year conflict of occupation.” While this improved subsequently, it was largely absent at the beginning.

Hamid pointed out that “emotive language was very much being used towards Israeli victims, as opposed to Palestinian victims”. This trend continued for months, even though Palestinian casualty figures had far exceeded those of 7 October.

“That continues now as well, to very much refer to when Israelis are victims as it being brutal or barbaric or slaughter or horrific, etc.,” said Hamid, adding that, on the other hand, there has been a reluctance to use such emotive terms for Palestinian casualties and deaths.

Referring to a report by the CfMM, she said Israelis were referred to as victims 11 times more than Palestinians in the first month’s coverage.

She also pointed to a “constant emphasis on Israel’s right to defend itself” over Palestinians’ right to self-defence, noting that this was also clear in the current war against the Hezbollah group in Lebanon.

“We found that when it came to Israel-Palestine, the ratio was five-to-one in terms of them speaking about Israel’s right to defend itself,” she said.

‘Discrepancy’ in coverage

Hamid went on to say that, in the first months since 7 October, more pro-Israeli voices were being platformed than Palestinian voices.

“When and if Palestinian voices were brought on, the ticket to enter the discussions was always, ‘do you condemn Hamas’, challenging them whenever they tried to bring context in, or just shutting them down completely,” she said, adding that conversely, the pro-Israeli speakers were not made to condemn Israel’s actions and deadly attacks.

Highlighting a “discrepancy” in how interviewees were treated, particularly when Israeli voices expressed unverified claims, Hamid called attention to the widely circulated stories of beheaded babies and babies in ovens.

“When Israeli spokespeople were brought on, whatever the question was, they would first kind of spout these untruths and then go on to answer, there was a lack of challenge there as well.”

Hamid observed a similar biased approach in US media, whether in the use of language, how the war has been framed, or the lack of context and challenge. “So I think we can broadly say that the Western media, by and large, has approached it from a pro-Israel perspective,” she emphasized.

However, she noted that these tendencies have somewhat changed, although similar examples persist.

“There’re examples when a Palestinian person is brought on and they’ve been questioned at the end of the interview, the presenter will be very diligent in saying, ‘well, the Israelis would reject this, and this is the Israeli position’. So they’re very, very conscious of presenting the Israeli perspective.

“And yet, we don’t find that when there’s a pro-Israeli spokesperson on, they don’t necessarily over-emphasize that. ‘Look, this is not necessarily true. Or Palestinians would say this’,” Hamid explained.

“Language, platforming, lack of challenge, context framing, I think they’re ongoing issues,” she said.

Some online conspiracy theorists don't even believe the lies they're spreading

By H. Colleen Sinclair, Louisiana State University

Oct. 4, 2024 


It's important to be cautious and not believe everything you read. Opportunists don't even believe everything they write -- and share. But they want you to. Photo by Pixabay/Pexels

There has been a lot of research on the types of people who believe conspiracy theories, and their reasons for doing so. But there's a wrinkle: My colleagues and I have found that there are a number of people sharing conspiracies online who don't believe their own content.

They are opportunists. These people share conspiracy theories to promote conflict, cause chaos, recruit and radicalize potential followers, make money, harass, or even just to get attention.

There are several types of this sort of conspiracy-spreader trying to influence you.

Coaxing conspiracists -- the extremists

In our chapter of a new book on extremism and conspiracies, my colleagues and I discuss evidence that certain extremist groups intentionally use conspiracy theories to entice adherents. They are looking for a so-called "gateway conspiracy" that will lure someone into talking to them, and then be vulnerable to radicalization. They try out multiple conspiracies to see what sticks.

Research shows that people with positive feelings for extremist groups are significantly more likely to knowingly share false content online. For instance, the disinformation-monitoring company Blackbird.AI tracked over 119 million COVID-19 conspiracy posts from May 2020, when activists were protesting pandemic restrictions and lockdowns in the United States. Of these, over 32 million tweets were identified as high on their manipulation index. Those posted by various extremist groups were particularly likely to carry markers of insincerity. For instance, one group, the Boogaloo Bois, generated over 610,000 tweets, of which 58% were intent on incitement and radicalization.

You can also just take the word of the extremists themselves. When the Boogaloo Bois militia group showed up at the Jan. 6, 2021, insurrection, for example, members stated they didn't actually endorse the stolen election conspiracy, but were there to "mess with the federal government." Aron McKillips, a Boogaloo member arrested in 2022 as part of an FBI sting, is another example of an opportunistic conspiracist. In his own words: "I don't believe in anything. I'm only here for the violence."

Combative conspiracists -- the disinformants

Governments love conspiracy theories. The classic example of this is the 1903 document known as the "Protocols of the Elders of Zion," in which Russia constructed an enduring myth about Jewish plans for world domination. More recently, China used artificial intelligence to construct a fake conspiracy theory about the August 2023 Maui wildfire.

Often the behavior of the conspiracists gives them away. Years later, Russia eventually confessed to lying about AIDS in the 1980s. But even before admitting to the campaign, its agents had forged documents to support the conspiracy. Forgeries aren't created by accident. They knew they were lying.

As for other conspiracies it hawks, Russia is famous for taking both sides in any contentious issue, spreading lies online to foment conflict and polarization. People who actually believe in a conspiracy tend to stick to a side. Meanwhile, Russians knowingly deploy what one analyst has called a "fire hose of falsehoods."

Likewise, while Chinese officials were spreading conspiracies about American roots of the coronavirus in 2020, China's National Health Commission was circulating internal reports tracing the source to a pangolin.

Chaos conspiracists -- the trolls

In general, research has found that individuals with what scholars call a high "need for chaos" are more likely to indiscriminately share conspiracies, regardless of belief. These are the everyday trolls who share false content for a variety of reasons, none of which are benevolent. Dark personalities and dark motives are prevalent.

For instance, in the wake of the first assassination attempt on Donald Trump, a false accusation arose online about the identity of the shooter and his motivations. The person who first posted this claim knew he was making up a name and stealing a photo. The intent was apparently to harass the Italian sports blogger whose photo was stolen. This fake conspiracy was seen over 300,000 times on the social platform X and picked up by multiple other conspiracists eager to fill the information gap about the assassination attempt.

Commercial conspiracists -- the profiteers

Often when I encounter a conspiracy theory I ask: "What does the sharer have to gain? Are they telling me this because they have an evidence-backed concern, or are they trying to sell me something?"

When researchers tracked down the 12 people primarily responsible for the vast majority of anti-vaccine conspiracies online, most of them had a financial investment in perpetuating these misleading narratives.

Some people who fall into this category might truly believe their conspiracy, but their first priority is finding a way to make money from it. For instance, conspiracist Alex Jones bragged that his fans would "buy anything." Fox News and its on-air personality Tucker Carlson publicized lies about voter fraud in the 2020 election to keep viewers engaged, while behind-the-scenes communications revealed they did not endorse what they espoused.

Profit doesn't just mean money. People can also profit from spreading conspiracies if it garners them influence or followers, or protects their reputation. Even social media companies are reluctant to combat conspiracies because they know they attract more clicks.

Common conspiracists -- the attention-getters

You don't have to be a profiteer to like some attention. Plenty of regular people share content where they doubt the veracity, or know it is false.

These posts are common: Friends, family and acquaintances share the latest conspiracy theory with "could this be true?" queries or "seems close enough to the truth" taglines. Their accompanying comments show that sharers are, at minimum, unsure about the truthfulness of the content, but they share nonetheless. Many share without even reading past a headline. Still others, approximately 7% to 20% of social media users, share despite knowing the content is false. Why?

Some claim to be sharing to inform people "just in case" it is true. But this sort of "sound the alarm" reason actually isn't that common.

Often, folks are just looking for attention or other personal benefit. They don't want to miss out on a hot-topic conversation. They want the likes and shares. They want to "stir the pot." Or they just like the message and want to signal to others that they share a common belief system.

For frequent sharers, it just becomes a habit.

The dangers of spreading lies

Over time, the opportunists may end up convincing themselves. After all, they will eventually have to come to terms with why they are engaging in unethical and deceptive, if not destructive, behavior. They may have a rationale for why lying is good. Or they may convince themselves that they aren't lying by claiming they thought the conspiracy was true all along.

It's important to be cautious and not believe everything you read. These opportunists don't even believe everything they write -- and share. But they want you to. So be aware that the next time you share an unfounded conspiracy theory, online or offline, you could be helping an opportunist. They don't buy it, so neither should you. Be aware before you share. Don't be what these opportunists derogatorily refer to as "a useful idiot."

H. Colleen Sinclair is an associate research professor of social psychology at Louisiana State University.

This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license. Read the original article. The views and opinions expressed in this commentary are solely those of the author.

Google threatens to cut New Zealand news site links if it has to pay for news content


Google Friday told New Zealand unless it can keep using news content without paying for it, Google will stop linking to all New Zealand news sites. Google's threat is an effort to stop the Fair Digital News Bargaining Bill from becoming law. The bill taxes Google for using news content produced by journalists. File Photo by John Angelillo/UPI | License Photo

Oct. 4 (UPI) -- Google on Friday told New Zealand it will stop linking to news sites from the country if it passes a bill that would tax the search engine for using news content.

Google said in a statement that if the Fair Digital News Bargaining Bill becomes law it will "stop linking to news content on Google Search, Google News, or Discover surfaces in New Zealand and discontinue our current commercial agreements and ecosystem support with New Zealand news publishers."

Communications Minister Paul Goldsmith told RNZ that government officials have met with Google and will continue to discuss their concerns about the bill.

He said while the final number depends on negotiations, the bill could generate as much as $30 million "possibly being at stake around the Google agreement."

The bill notes that Google uses and monetizes news content along with huge volumes of personal data without paying for it, adding that digital platforms have siphoned advertising money away from news outlets that create news content worldwide while continuing to make money off of the news content created by journalists.

"Online digital platforms aggregate and display news content to attract attention to their sites, and make money through advertising and other services, but do not effectively share that monetization with the people who create the news content," the bill states.

Attempts by news media entities to bargain for the value of their news content are often unsuccessful, according to the bill's statement.

As it threatened to disconnect users in new Zealand from news content, Google claimed in its Friday statement it is "a significant longtime supporter of New Zealand's news industry."

"We are proud of our long-standing contribution to New Zealand's news industry," Google's statement said. "Our services help connect New Zealanders with quality journalism every day, driving valuable traffic to publishers."

Japan to search for unexploded bombs at airports after Miyazaki airport blast

Japan Transportation Minister Tetsuo Saito is seen at a press

 conference in Siracusa, Italy, on April 23, 2009. 

File Photo by Claudio Onorati/EPA

Oct. 4 (UPI) -- The Japanese government will search for potentially unexploded bombs at airports throughout the country after a World War II-era bomb detonated at Miyazaki Airport earlier this week.

Japan's transportation minister Tetsuo Saito on Friday ordered an urgent search that will focus on runways, taxiways, and other locations at airports that were the target of heavy bombardment by American and British forces during the war.

"This is something that could affect the safety of flights," Saito said, according to Kyodo News. He said searches will also target airports at Fukuoka, Naha and Sendai.

The explosion of a dormant 500-pound U.S.-made bomb on the taxiway at Miyazaki Airport on Wednesday morning stunned Japanese officials but luckily did not result in any injuries since it was not being used at that time.

Officials said inspections had been done at the Miyazaki Airport during the construction of its runways and taxiways because it had once served as a base for Japan's Imperial Navy, which was a target of the Allied Forces during World War II but missed the bomb that exploded this week.

A search after the Miyazaki Airport incident by the Ground Self-Defense Force found and removed an undetonated bomb at Naha Airport on Thursday.

Japanese officials believe that more than 1,800 tons of live ordnance remain underground in the Miyazaki prefecture.