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Veterans Of Israeli Intelligence Refuse To Spy On Palestinians

Dozens of veterans of an elite Israeli military signals intelligence unit have said they will no longer serve in operations against Palestinians.

Forty-three past and present reservists signed a letter about Unit 8200, which carries out electronic surveillance.

They said the intelligence it gathered – much of it concerning innocent people – was used to “deepen military rule” in the Occupied Territories.

Israel’s military said it held the unit to ethical standards “without rival”.

Israel has occupied the West Bank and East Jerusalem, since 1967. It pulled its troops and settlers out of Gaza in 2005, though the UN still regards Gaza as under Israeli occupation.

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CIA – IS Fighter Estimate Triples

The CIA says the Islamic State (IS) militant group may have up to 31,000 fighters in Iraq and Syria – three times as many as previously feared.

A spokesman said the new estimate was based on a review of intelligence reports from May to August.

IS has seized vast swathes of Iraq and beheaded several hostages in recent months, leading to US airstrikes.

US Secretary of State John Kerry is visiting Turkey, seeking more support for action against IS.

US officials say retired Gen John Allen will be tasked with forming an international coalition to fight IS.

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Scores Feared Drowned As Libya Migrant Boat Sinks

Many migrants have drowned while trying to reach Europe after their boat sank off Libya, the Libyan navy says.

Navy spokesman Ayub Qassem said 36 people had been rescued after the vessel – which carried 250 – went down near Tajoura, east of Tripoli.

“There are so many dead bodies floating in the sea,” Mr Qassem told reporters.

Reports are also emerging of another sinking, in which up to 500 people may have drowned last week off the coast of Malta.

The International Organization for Migration (IOM) quoted two Palestinian survivors as telling them that the traffickers deliberately sank the boat after an argument on board.

The Maltese authorities have not yet commented.

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Millions Seized In Los Angeles From Raids On Drug Money Laundering

Police in Los Angeles have arrested nine people and seized around $70m (£43m) in cash during mass raids on a series of businesses.

Officers said they suspected the money was being laundered on behalf of Mexican drug cartels.

In the dawn operation, dubbed Fashion Police, about 1,000 officers searched dozens of businesses in the city’s Fashion District.

Police found $35m in cash in one warehouse alone.

Narco-Dollar Hotbed

Assistant US Attorney Robert E. Dugdale said that Los Angeles had “become the epicentre of narco-dollar money laundering with couriers regularly bringing duffel bags and suitcases full of cash to many businesses”.

“The Fashion District in particular seems to be where this is thriving at the moment,” he explained.

But LA Fashion District Executive Director Kent Smith said most businesses in the area were legitimate.

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Giant Amazon Observation Tower Built By Brazil

Construction has begun on a giant observation tower in the heart of the Amazon basin to monitor climate change.

The Amazon Tall Tower Observatory is expected to rise 325m from the ground.

Its instruments will gather data on greenhouse gases, aerosol particles and the weather in one of the largest continuous rain forests on the planet.

Brazilian and German scientists hope to use the data to better understand sources of greenhouse gases and answer questions on climate change.

The tower is being constructed out of steel that was brought thousands of kilometres from the south of Brazil to the site, about 160km (100 miles) from the Amazonian city of Manaus.

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