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NATO Chief: Ukraine Not Our Responsibility

Written By Unknown on Sabtu, 14 Maret 2015 | 10.52

The conflict in eastern Ukraine is not NATO's responsibility despite Russia's "violation of international law", the alliance's Secretary General has said.

Jens Stoltenberg also told Sky News the UK must maintain its military contributions to the organisation, which is set at 2% of GDP.

But, asked if NATO would do anything stop Vladimir Putin's forces in Ukraine, he said: "Our main responsibility is to defend and to protect all NATO allies and no NATO ally has been attacked.

"So deterrence is working because everyone sees that NATO is a very strong alliance and we are now implementing the biggest reinforcement of our collective defence since the end of the Cold War.

"Ukraine is not a member of NATO, so there is a difference between Ukraine and NATO members, because the security guarantee is for NATO allies.

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  1. Gallery: Ukraine: The Rubble Of Donetsk Airport

    A Ukrainian army tank destroyed in fighting with the separatist self-proclaimed Donetsk People's Republic army lies outside a terminal at Donetsk airport

The once-gleaming Donetsk airport has been one of the most fiercely contested spots in east Ukraine

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Fears Dozens Killed By Powerful Cyclone Pam

Powerful winds from Cyclone Pam have caused widespread destruction in the Vanuatu islands with unconfirmed reports saying dozens of people have died.

The Category Fire storm struck the South Pacific archipelago with winds of up to 167mph, threatening more than 267,000 residents.

The storm blew roofs off houses, uprooted trees and downed power lines.

Officials in Port Vila say there is no power or running water in Vanuatu's capital.

There are reports of entire villages being destroyed in more remote areas, according to Chloe Morrison, a World Vision emergency communications officer.

"It's still really quite dangerous outside. Most people are still hunkering down," she said.

"The damage is quite extensive in Port Vila but there are so many more vulnerable islands.

"I can't even imagine what it's like in those vulnerable communities."

Australia is preparing to send a crisis response team to Vanuatu if needed, Australian Foreign Minister Julie Bishop said.

"There are destructive winds, rain, flooding, landslides, sea surges and very rough seas and the storm is exceedingly destructive there," she said.

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  1. Gallery: Red Alert In Vanuatu Ahead Of Cyclone Pam

    A satellite image of Cyclone Pam. Pic: Japan Meteorological Agency

Pic: Japan Meteorological Agency

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Drone Strike Kills Kenya Mall Attack Planner

Written By Unknown on Jumat, 13 Maret 2015 | 10.52

A senior member of the al Shabaab militant group who helped plan the Westgate Mall attack in Kenya has been killed by a US drone strike.

Adan Garar and two other people are believed to have died in the strike near the town of Bardhere in Somalia, US and Kenyan officials said.

Garar was also suspected of planning failed attacks on Kenya's coastline and in the Ugandan capital of Kampala, according to a Kenyan official.

Kenyan authorities said police foiled a planned attack in the coastal city of Mombasa in March 2014.

Al Shabaab militants had planned to carry out simultaneous attacks on the city's airport, a ferry crossing and a supermarket.

The attack was foiled when anti-terror police intercepted a car packed with explosives.

Al Shabaab has vowed to carry out violent attacks in Kenya and Uganda in retaliation for the countries' contribution to the African Union force supporting Somalia's government.

Some 67 people, including six Britons, were killed in the Westgate Mall attack in September 2013.

The attack was the largest in Kenya since the 1998 bombings by al Qaeda of the US Embassy in Nairobi.


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Islamic State Accepts Allegiance Of Boko Haram

Islamic State has accepted a pledge of allegiance from the Nigerian terror group Boko Haram and called on Islamists to fight in Africa.

Abu Mohammad al Adnani, a spokesman for IS, announced in an audio message the group's leader, Abu Bakr al Baghdadi, had accepted the loyalty of the Nigerian militants.

"Our caliph, God save him, has accepted the pledge of loyalty of our brothers of Boko Haram so we congratulate Muslims and our jihadi brothers in West Africa," he said.

It comes after an audio statement attributed to Boko Haram leader Abubakar Shekau was released on Saturday through the group's Twitter account.

The statement urged "Muslims everywhere to pledge allegiance to the Caliph".

The apparent alliance highlights increased coordination between the two terror movements across North Africa and the Middle East.

IS has declared a caliphate and captured large swathes of territory in Iraq and Syria.

The group has also faced global condemnation for killing or kidnapping members of ethnic and religious minorities, as well as Western hostages.

In his audio message, al Adnani called on Muslims who could not join IS in Iraq and Syria to enter combat in Africa instead.

He added that Boko Haram's pledge had opened a "new door for you to migrate to the land of Islam and fight".

"We are calling you up for jihadis, go."

The group, which rejects all but its own limited interpretation of early Sunni Muslim theology as heresy, also issued a threat to Jews and Christians.

"If you want to save your blood and money and live in safety from our swords... you have two choices: either convert or pay jezyah," he said, referring to tax for non-Muslims under Islamic rule.

"(Otherwise) you will soon bite your fingers with remorse."


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Australia's 'Jihadi Jake' In Suicide Attack

Written By Unknown on Kamis, 12 Maret 2015 | 10.52

Australia's 'Jihadi Jake' In Suicide Attack

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A Melbourne teenager who went to Iraq to join Islamic State has reportedly been killed carrying out a suicide bombing.

An image from video apparently released by the group, which controls large areas of Iraq and Syria, showed a white four-wheel-drive with an inset image of a young man who looks like Jake Bilardi sat behind the wheel.

Another image posted on Twitter showed the 18-year-old sat beneath an IS flag with a caption that suggested the Australian had been involved in a "martyrdom" operation.

Militants carried out 13 suicide car bombings on security personnel positions in Ramadi, the provincial capital of Anbar province on Wednesday.

Two soldiers were killed and eight others wounded in the near-simultaneous attacks, Sabah Karhout, head of Anbar's provincial council, said.

In a statement posted online, IS said the suicide blats had been carried out by foreign fighters from Australia, Belgium, Syria and Uzbekistan.

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  1. Gallery: Iraqi Forces Enter Tikrit

    Members of Iraqi government forces drive on the outskirts of the city of Tikrit as they prepare to launch a military operation to take control of the city from Islamic State (IS) group fighters

The Iraqi forces enter a northern neighbourhood of Tikrit, marking a new stage in the operation launched 10 days ago to wrest the city back from jihadists, army officers said

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Members of Iraqi paramilitary Popular Mobilisation units, which are dominated by Shi'ite militias, carry a box loaded with weapons on the outskirts of the northern city of Tikrit

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Some 30,000 Iraqi soldiers, police and the increasingly influential paramilitary Popular Mobilisation units, which are dominated by Shi'ite militias, have been involved in the operation

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Iraqi fighters in north Tikrit. The city has been one of the jihadists' main hubs since they overran large parts of Iraq nine months ago. Continue through for more pictures

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Australia's 'Jihadi Jake' In Suicide Attack

We use cookies to give you the best experience. If you do nothing we'll assume that it's ok.

A Melbourne teenager who went to Iraq to join Islamic State has reportedly been killed carrying out a suicide bombing.

An image from video apparently released by the group, which controls large areas of Iraq and Syria, showed a white four-wheel-drive with an inset image of a young man who looks like Jake Bilardi sat behind the wheel.

Another image posted on Twitter showed the 18-year-old sat beneath an IS flag with a caption that suggested the Australian had been involved in a "martyrdom" operation.

Militants carried out 13 suicide car bombings on security personnel positions in Ramadi, the provincial capital of Anbar province on Wednesday.

Two soldiers were killed and eight others wounded in the near-simultaneous attacks, Sabah Karhout, head of Anbar's provincial council, said.

In a statement posted online, IS said the suicide blats had been carried out by foreign fighters from Australia, Belgium, Syria and Uzbekistan.

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  1. Gallery: Iraqi Forces Enter Tikrit

    Members of Iraqi government forces drive on the outskirts of the city of Tikrit as they prepare to launch a military operation to take control of the city from Islamic State (IS) group fighters

The Iraqi forces enter a northern neighbourhood of Tikrit, marking a new stage in the operation launched 10 days ago to wrest the city back from jihadists, army officers said

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Members of Iraqi paramilitary Popular Mobilisation units, which are dominated by Shi'ite militias, carry a box loaded with weapons on the outskirts of the northern city of Tikrit

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Some 30,000 Iraqi soldiers, police and the increasingly influential paramilitary Popular Mobilisation units, which are dominated by Shi'ite militias, have been involved in the operation

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Iraqi fighters in north Tikrit. The city has been one of the jihadists' main hubs since they overran large parts of Iraq nine months ago. Continue through for more pictures

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The Climate Of Fear Stalking Russian Opposition

By Katy Stallard, Moscow Correspondent

As the investigation into Boris Nemtsov's murder continues, friends and former colleagues have warned of the dangerous climate of hatred and fear they say Russia's opposition now faces.

Pussy Riot singer Nadezhda Tolokonnikova, who spent more than a year in a prison camp after her band's protest against Vladimir Putin, told Sky News she gets threats every day, and that Mr Nemtsov had recently urged her to hire a bodyguard.

She blamed what she said was propaganda whipped up by Kremlin-controlled media, vilifying opposition leaders as 'national traitors' and 'fifth columnists' - a term used to denote agents provocateurs - citizens supposedly working against the Russian state.

"I think this aggressive mood is the first reason why Boris Nemtsov was murdered," she said.

"I'm not an investigator, and I can't say by who, but my version is that it is a strict consequence of all these propaganda words."

"They create an image of the enemy and it is the Ukrainian people, or people who support Ukrainian people, who are against this war - so this is the 'fifth column', this is us, this is liberals."

"Every day they listen to this, and they want to kill us. I have to say that we don't only have a war in Ukraine, but we really have war here."

Ilya Yashin, co-leader of Mr Nemtsov's opposition party, said political responsibility for the murder must lie with the Russian president.

"It was Vladimir Putin who introduced the term 'national traitors'," he explained.

"It was Vladimir Putin who was inciting and provoking hatred towards Boris Nemtsov and people who are like him. In the end Putin's hatred has materialised in those bullets, which took Boris' life."

He showed Sky News the material Mr Nemtsov had been working on at the time of his death, including the handwritten notes he had been using to communicate because he believed his offices were bugged by the security services.

He was gathering evidence he said would prove Russia's military involvement in Ukraine.

Yashin vowed to continue the work in Nemtsov's name and said he would not be intimidated into silence.

"Putin feels like he can do anything," he said. "He is sure that he can do absolutely anything without punishment. Putin must be stopped."

But voices like Ilya Yashin's are increasingly marginalised and denied access to the state-controlled TV channels, from which an estimated 90% of the population say they get their information.

Instead they feature 'patriots' like Yulia Berezikova - Russian mixed martial arts fighter, world champion kick-boxer, and one of the leaders of new pro-Kremlin movement 'Anti-Maidan'.

She says their movement is entirely independent of the government, and made up of ordinary citizens determined to stop those who would try to foment a Ukrainian-style colour revolution in Russia.

"The goal of the Anti-Maidan movement is to prevent colour revolutions," Berezikova explained.

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  1. Gallery: Boris Nemtsov: Funeral Of Murdered Putin Opponent Held In Moscow

    People stand in line at a memorial service before the funeral of leading Russian opposition figure Boris Nemtsov in Moscow

Several hundred Russians, many carrying red carnations, queued to pay their respects. Mr Nemtsov was shot dead by an unknown gunman last week as he walked with his girlfriend

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IS Defector: I Saw Jihadi John Kill Hostage

Written By Unknown on Rabu, 11 Maret 2015 | 10.52

By Stuart Ramsay, Chief Correspondent

Sky News has spoken to a former member of Islamic State, who claims he witnessed the man known as Jihadi John murder Japanese hostage Kenji Goto.

The former translator said that the masked man in the video was indeed Mohammed Emwazi, the 26-year-old Londoner who has become the face of the world's most notorious terrorist organisation.

"Saleh" said Emwazi is employed as the chief killer of foreign hostages for Islamic State's media wing and that his murderous influence among the group is feared and respected.

Speaking from Turkey, where he fled to escape IS, Saleh explained in broken English how he was employed by the group to convince foreign hostages they were safe. He is the only person to admit seeing Emwazi kill.

He said: "When he killed Kenji Goto I live showed this [saw this] but not near, from a little [distance].

"After he was killed him, three or four person come and take over the body and put in a car. After that, John went on a different road.

"The big boss was there with them. Turkish man say 'put this camera there, change place there' but John [was] the big boss. All time, all time say to all 'fastly, fastly, fastly, we should finish'. So respect him. Only he talks orders – others do."

Saleh suggested Emwazi commanded such respect within the group because of his willingness to murder foreigners. 

"Maybe because he use the knife," he said. "I cannot understand why he is so strong. One man can kill and all people will respect. A Syrian man anyone [in IS] can kill. But strangers [foreigners], only John."

Saleh claims foreign hostages captured and murdered by the group were subjected to numerous mock executions until the procedure became normal. It could explain why many hostages appeared calm in execution videos published online by the group.

He said: "He would say to me 'say to them, no problem, only video, we don't kill you, we want from your government [to] stop attacking Syria. We don't have any problem with you; you are only our visitors'.

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  1. Gallery: Jihadi John's email exhanges with Cage and a reporter

    This email Mohammed Emwazi sent to a Mail On Sunday reporter in 2010 revealed his first encounter and his fear of MI5

He later made contact with the campaign group Cage and told them about clashes with border control officers

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IS Video Shows Boy Killing Israeli 'Spy'

IS Video Shows Boy Killing Israeli 'Spy'

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A video posted online by Islamic State militants has shown a boy killing an Israeli Arab accused by the group of spying for Mossad.

Published by the group's Furqan media outlet, the footage shows Muhammad Musallam talking about being recruited and trained by the Israeli intelligence service.

He is then shown being escorted to a field and shot in the head by a boy, described by an older, French-speaking fighter as one of the "cubs of the caliphate".

The 13-minute video's authenticity, which also appeared on Twitter feeds used by Islamic State supporters, could not be verified.

The older fighter is heard in the footage stating the group's verdict on Mr Musallam.

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  1. Gallery: Fighting IS Militants In Iraq

    A Shi'ite fighter launches a rocket during clashes with Islamic State militants on the outskirts of al Alam

Iraqi security forces and Shi'ite militia fighting IS took control of the centre of a town on the southern outskirts of Saddam Hussein's home city Tikrit

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A member of the Iraqi security forces prays in the town of Tal Ksaiba, near the town of al Alam

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IS Video Shows Boy Killing Israeli 'Spy'

We use cookies to give you the best experience. If you do nothing we'll assume that it's ok.

A video posted online by Islamic State militants has shown a boy killing an Israeli Arab accused by the group of spying for Mossad.

Published by the group's Furqan media outlet, the footage shows Muhammad Musallam talking about being recruited and trained by the Israeli intelligence service.

He is then shown being escorted to a field and shot in the head by a boy, described by an older, French-speaking fighter as one of the "cubs of the caliphate".

The 13-minute video's authenticity, which also appeared on Twitter feeds used by Islamic State supporters, could not be verified.

The older fighter is heard in the footage stating the group's verdict on Mr Musallam.

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  1. Gallery: Fighting IS Militants In Iraq

    A Shi'ite fighter launches a rocket during clashes with Islamic State militants on the outskirts of al Alam

Iraqi security forces and Shi'ite militia fighting IS took control of the centre of a town on the southern outskirts of Saddam Hussein's home city Tikrit

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A member of the Iraqi security forces prays in the town of Tal Ksaiba, near the town of al Alam

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IS Defector: I Saw Jihadi John Kill Hostage

Written By Unknown on Selasa, 10 Maret 2015 | 10.52

Sky News has spoken to a former member of Islamic State, who claims he witnessed the man known as Jihadi John murder Japanese hostage Kenji Goto.

The former translator told Sky's Stuart Ramsay that the masked man in the video was indeed Mohammed Emwazi, the 26-year-old Londoner who has become the face of the world's most notorious terrorist organisation.

"Saleh" said Emwazi is employed as the chief killer of foreign hostages for Islamic State's media wing and that his murderous influence among the group is feared and respected.

Speaking from Turkey, where he fled to escape IS, Saleh explained in broken English how he was employed by the group to convince foreign hostages they were safe. He is the only person to admit seeing Emwazi kill.

He said: "When he killed Kenji Goto I live showed this [saw this] but not near, from a little [distance].

"After he was killed him, three or four person come and take over the body and put in a car. After that, John went on a different road.

"The big boss was there with them. Turkish man say 'put this camera there, change place there' but John [was] the big boss. All time, all time say to all 'fastly, fastly, fastly, we should finish'. So respect him. Only he talks orders – others do."

Saleh suggested Emwazi commanded such respect within the group because of his willingness to murder foreigners. 

"Maybe because he use the knife," he said. "I cannot understand why he is so strong. One man can kill and all people will respect. A Syrian man anyone [in IS] can kill. But strangers [foreigners], only John."

Saleh claims foreign hostages captured and murdered by the group were subjected to numerous mock executions until the procedure became normal. It could explain why many hostages appeared calm in execution videos published online by the group.

He said: "He would say to me 'say to them, no problem, only video, we don't kill you, we want from your government [to] stop attacking Syria. We don't have any problem with you; you are only our visitors'.

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  1. Gallery: Jihadi John's email exhanges with Cage and a reporter

    This email Mohammed Emwazi sent to a Mail On Sunday reporter in 2010 revealed his first encounter and his fear of MI5

He later made contact with the campaign group Cage and told them about clashes with border control officers

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Olympians Among TV Cast Killed In Mid-Air Crash

Two French Olympians were among 10 people killed after two helicopters collided in mid-air during filming for a reality TV show in northern Argentina.

Camille Muffat, who won an Olympic gold medal in swimming at the London 2012 games, Olympic boxer Alexis Vastine and champion sailor Florence Arthaud were filming for the series "Dropped" near Villa Castelli in La Rioja province.

They were in two helicopters flying over Quebrada El Yeso and Quebrada Condado in the mountainous region when the accident took place.

Police officials confirmed that eight French nationals and their two Argentine pilots were killed.

Ms Arthaud, 57, was considered one of the best sailors in the world and had won the 1990 Route du Rhum.

Ms Muffat, 25, won gold in the 400-metre freestyle in 2012 along with two other medals.

Mr Vastine, 28, won a bronze medal at the Beijing games in 2008 in the light welterweight category.

Cesar Angulo, secretary of security for the province, told TN television: "An explosion occurred and it's believed that they must have collided.

"Aeronautical experts will have to determine that."

The reality show Dropped involved eight sports stars being dropped into inhospitable environments.

The provincial government said a cast and crew of around 80 people were in the area to film the series.

Shooting began in February in Ushuaia, at the southern tip of Argentina, before moving north to La Rioja.

Police and firefighters were still working to recover bodies from the wreckage of both helicopters.

An official at the scene of the crash said: "It's been four hours since the collision and (the wreckage) is still on fire. There's smoke rising from the helicopters."

TV footage showed the wreckage of the helicopters in dry scrubland in the mountainous area.


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Man Admits Involvement In Nemtsov's Murder

Written By Unknown on Senin, 09 Maret 2015 | 10.52

Two men have been charged with the murder of Russian opposition leader Boris Nemtsov.

Zaur Dadayev and Anzor Gubashev, both of Chechen origin, are accused of shooting Mr Nemtsov, 55, near the Kremlin in Moscow on 27 February.

A judge said Dadayev has admitted involvement in the killing and will be held in custody until 28 April. 

Dadayev was a deputy commander for a battalion attached to the Chechen interior ministry, while Gubashev worked for a private security company in Moscow, RIA Novosti news agency said.

Three other suspects also appeared with them in Moscow's Basmanny court  on Sunday.

Court officials said the three men - Gubashev's younger brother Shagid Gubashev, and two others named only as Bakhayev and Eskerkhanov - have not been charged, and their case will be handled by a separate judge.

Mr Nemtsov, a former deputy prime minister and long-time critic of Russian President Vladimir Putin, was shot four times in the back as he walked with his girlfriend along a bridge in the heart of the capital.

No information has emerged as to the possible motive of the suspects.

Mr Nemtsov's allies believe his assassination was ordered by the Russian government to silence dissenters.

The allegation has been strenuously denied by the Kremlin.

The killing sent shockwaves through the country's opposition and sparked international condemnation.

Investigators have suggested the killers wanted to destabilise Russia, which is facing its worst stand-off with the West since the Cold War.

They are investigating several motives, including possible connections to Islamic extremism and Mr Nemtsov's personal life.

The chief witness to the killing was Mr Nemtsov's Ukrainian girlfriend, Anna Duritskaya, who has now left Russia.

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  1. Gallery: Boris Nemtsov: Funeral Of Murdered Putin Opponent Held In Moscow

    People stand in line at a memorial service before the funeral of leading Russian opposition figure Boris Nemtsov in Moscow

Several hundred Russians, many carrying red carnations, queued to pay their respects. Mr Nemtsov was shot dead by an unknown gunman last week as he walked with his girlfriend

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Awestruck Cycling Chiefs Accused In Doping Report

Cycling officials turned a blind eye to doping so Lance Armstrong could cheat his way to becoming the sport's much needed superstar, according to a scathing report.

Although the Cycling Independent Reform Commission (CIRC) report found no evidence to sustain allegations Armstrong paid the International Cycling Union (UCI) to cover up a positive doping test, it revealed it acted favourably towards "cycling's pop star".

The UCI is criticised in the study for its lethargic attitude towards Armstrong and other riders in an era "infested" with the use of the blood-boosting hormone EPO.

"UCI saw Lance Armstrong as the perfect choice to lead the sport's renaissance," the report said, adding: "The fact that he was American opened up a new continent for the sport."

The investigation concluded: "Going after the cheaters was perceived as a witch-hunt that would be detrimental to the image of cycling."

In 2012 Armstrong's use of performance enhancing drugs was exposed by the US Anti-Doping Agency (USADA) and he admitted he used blood transfusions during all seven of his Tour de France wins.

In an interview with Oprah Winfrey, the 41-year-old said it was "not possible" to win the gruelling race so many times without doping. He subsequently had his Tour wins taken away and was banned from the sport for life by the USADA.

Although the year-long probe by the CIRC turned up no major revelations it suggested doping is still rife in top-level road cycling.

"One respected cycling professional felt that even today, 90 per cent of the peloton was doping," the report said.

The UCI hopes publishing the findings will help turn the page on the doping era, prove it is serious about stamping out cheating, and instil confidence in the sport.

"I am grateful to CIRC for seeking the truth and allowing me to assist in that search," Armstrong said, adding he was "deeply sorry for many things I have done".

The cyclist was among 174 witnesses from across the sport interviewed by the panel chaired by Dick Marty, a Swiss politician who formerly investigated the CIA's use of secret interrogation prisons in Europe.

"No rider came forward to voluntarily admit an anti-doping rule violation," the report said.

Though Armstrong wants to reduce his lifetime ban imposed by the USADA the report did not include such a recommendation.


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MH370 Search Could 'Go Back To Drawing Board'

Written By Unknown on Minggu, 08 Maret 2015 | 10.52

By Mark Stone, Asia Correspondent, in Kuala Lumpur

A year since MH370 disappeared, the Malaysian transport minister has said his country remains committed to finding the plane but refused to pledge that the search would continue beyond May.

In an interview with Sky News, Liow Tiong Lai said that when the current search of the southern Indian Ocean is completed, "we will have to go back to the drawing board".

Families of those on board MH370 are holding the Malaysian government to a previous pledge to "never give up" in the search for the plane.

The ongoing search of a "priority search area" of some 60,000 square kilometres of seabed is due to be completed in May.

Four ships from the Dutch firm Fugro, jointly funded by the Malaysian and Australian governments and coordinated by the Australian Transport Safety Bureau (ATSB), are scanning a mountainous seabed.

Mr Liow said: "Beyond May, if we have completed the 60,000 square kilometres, if we still cannot find the plane, then we have to go back to the drawing board, we have to go back to the expert group and discuss further what we should do next."

Pressed on whether he would give up or continue, the minister said that the next of kin needed answers but was not explicit in committing to a continued search.

"These are important issues not only for the next of kin but for the world and we are trying our level best as you can see and we stand guided by the expert search group.

"We are in the same shoes as the next of kin. We are together with the next of kin. We want to find the plane."

On the first anniversary, the minister again offered his condolences to the families.

"My heart goes out to the families and loved ones," he said.

"My thoughts and prayers are always with them. Malaysia together with others stand together with the families at this difficult time. I would like to commit to the families that we will continue the search."

The Malaysian government and Malaysia Airlines have been continually criticised for their handling of the tragedy.

Family members have complained of a lack of compassion, a flow of misinformation and have accused the authorities of knowingly misleading them.

In an open letter, published this week, one group of families said they were "subjected to a disorganised barrage of information from varied sources, much of which later proved to be incorrect".

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  1. Gallery: Vigils Take Place To Remember Missing Flight MH370 One Year After Disappearance

    A Chinese relative of passengers on board the airliner attends a gathering to mark the one-year anniversary of the disappearance in Kuala Lumpur

A child is comforted by her mother during a vigil to remember the victims

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Boko Haram Militants Ally With Islamic State

Nigerian militant group Boko Haram has pledged allegiance to Islamic State in an audio statement, according to SITE.

The monitoring group said part of the message, which has been translated from Arabic, read: "We announce our allegiance to the Caliph of the Muslims Ibrahim ibn Awad ibn Ibrahim al-Husseini al-Qurashi and will hear and obey in times of difficulty and prosperity.

"We call upon Muslims everywhere to pledge allegiance to the Caliph."

The pledge of allegiance has been attributed to Boko Haram leader Abubakar Shekau​, and was released through the group's Twitter account.

Ibrahim ibn Awad ibn Ibrahim al Husseini al Qurashi - better known as Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi - is the leader of Islamic State.

He has already accepted pledges of allegiance from other jihadist groups in the Middle East, Afghanistan, Pakistan and north Africa.

Boko Haram has staged a military campaign to establish its own Islamic caliphate in northern Nigeria over the last six years.

Shekau was not pictured, but did identify himself in the recording.

The group has begun releasing videos in recent months which resemble those made by IS in Iraq and Syria where hostages, including British aid workers Alan Henning and David Haines, were murdered.

This month, it released footage purporting to show two men being beheaded.

Nigerian government spokesman Mike Omeri said: "(The audio) is confirming what we always thought. It's sad, it's bad.

"It's why we are appealing to the international community... hopefully the world will wake up to the disaster unfolding here."

Rita Katz, director of the SITE Intelligence Group, said: "Boko Haram is now being elevated from a local jihadi group to an important arm of the Islamic State.

"With Boko Haram's wide network in North Africa, the Islamic State's projection of creating an Islamic Caliphate is gaining headway.

"Furthermore, Islamic State's infrastructure, resources and military capabilities will enable Boko Haram to expand its operations and control even faster in North Africa."

On Saturday, four bomb blasts killed at least 50 people in the city of Maiduguri in some of the worst attacks since Boko Haram militants tried to capture the town in two major assaults earlier this year.


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