Airports step up security

'The extra measures will apply throughout the world on all flights to the United States for an unlimited duration,' the office of the Dutch national coordinator against terrorism (NCTB) said. -- PHOTO: REUTERS

PARIS - WORLD airports stepped up security on Saturday in the wake of an attempt to blow up a US airliner on a flight from Amsterdam to Detroit, authorities said.

'The extra measures will apply throughout the world on all flights to the United States for an unlimited duration,' the office of the Dutch national coordinator against terrorism (NCTB) said.

The NCTB said in a statement that US authorities had asked airlines to take extra security measures. 'It will involve, for example, frisking passengers and extra checks on hand baggage,' NCTB spokesman Judith Sluiter told AFP. The extra measures came into force on Saturday morning in the Netherlands, which received a formal request from the US authorities during the night, she said.

A Nigerian who reportedly claimed to have links with Al-Qaeda tried to detonate an explosive device aboard the plane as started its descent to Detroit on Friday before being overpowered by fellow passengers and crew.

The European Commission in Brussels said on Saturday it was investigating if proper security measures had been followed in Amsterdam, as checks were tightened in other major airports, including Paris, Rome and London.

In London a British Airways spokesman said, 'The United States government has revised its security arrangements for all passengers travelling into the US. 'This includes additional screening of all US-bound passengers and hand luggage before they board their flights. This applies to all carriers. Passengers travelling to the US will only be allowed to carry one item of hand luggage. -- AFP

Source:straitstimes

NZ, Netherlands protest start of whaling season

New Zealand Australia and the Netherlands have issued a joint statement, calling for "responsible behaviour" as Japan begins its whaling season in Antarctica.

The joint communique said the three nations remained "resolute in our opposition to the so-called scientific whaling" but condemned "dangerous or violent activities" by whalers and protesters.

"The Southern Ocean is a remote and inhospitable region where the risk of adverse incidents is high and the capacity for rescue or assistance is low. Our Governments jointly call upon all parties to exercise restraint and to ensure that safety at sea is the highest priority," the communique said.

The statement, issued by Foreign Affairs Minister Murray McCully, said the three countries would be using diplomacy and the International Whaling Commission to fight for whale conservation.

The Japanese whaling fleet has recently left Japan for the Southern Ocean while the protest group, the Sea Shepherd, set sail in the Steve Irwin from Australia yesterday.

Greenpeace is not sending a vessel to the Southern Ocean.

Greenpeace New Zealand oceans campaigner Karli Thomas said the organisation will be campaigning for an end to whaling in Japan by taking a case to the Japanese Supreme Court.

Source:nzherald.co.nz/

Netherlands seeded for 2010 World Cup

The Netherlands is one of the eight top seeds for the 2010 World Cup draw.

Football’s world governing body FIFA announced the seeding on Wednesday. It means the Dutch team can’t be drawn against one of the other seeded teams, Brazil, Argentina, Spain, Italy, Germany, England and host country South Africa.

The seeding system is aimed at spreading the top teams across the groups so they don’t meet each other at the outset of the competition. The top seeds have been selected on the basis of the October world rankings

In the group phase the Netherlands will come up against one country from Europe, one from Africa or South America, and one from Asia, Oceania or North America. The draw will take place in Cape Town on Friday.

Experts disagree on the pros and cons of being among the seeded countries. The Netherlands might get away with playing the likes of Slovakia, Algeria or Honduras, but it could equally have to contend with Portugal, Nigeria or Australia.

The groups will be drawn from four pots, the first of which contains the top seeds:

Pot 1: Netherlands, South Africa, Brazil, Argentina, Spain, Italy, Germany, England
Pot 2: Japan, South Korea, North Korea, Australia, New Zealand, United States, Mexico, Honduras
Pot 3: Nigeria, Ivory Coast, Cameroon, Ghana, Algeria, Paraguay, Chile and Uruguay
Pot 4: France, Portugal, Denmark, Slovakia, Slovenia, Switzerland, Greece, Serbia

One team at a time will be drawn from each pot to produce eight groups in the first round.

Illustration: flickr / shine 2010


Source: .rnw.nl/