Ahmed Farah Ilyas Somaliland Journalist killed

October 30, 2012 / By Armoured Cars / In security

A journalist in the breakaway republic of Somaliland has been killed by gunmen as he returned home.

Ahmed Farah Ilyas Shot Outside His Home

Ahmed Farah Ilyas was a reporter in Las Anod, the main city of the volatile Sool region, for UK-based Somali station Universal TV.

Before he was shot, he had been covering the story of a landmine explosion blamed by the authorities on al-Qaeda-aligned Islamist militants.

Ilyas is the 16th journalist to be killed in Somalia this year.

Beirut Blast Kills Intelligence Official Wissam al-Hassan

October 30, 2012 / By Armoured Cars / In security

Lebanon's head of internal intelligence has been killed in a massive car bomb attack in central Beirut.

Blast Kills Intelligence Official

Wissam al-Hassan was among eight people who died in the attack. He was close to opposition leader Saad Hariri, a leading critic of the government in neighbouring Syria.

Dozens were wounded in the blast, which Mr Hariri blamed on Damascus. Syria's government condemned the bombing.

Tension in Lebanon has been rising as a result of the Syrian conflict.

Russian President Vladimir Putin To Cut Motorcades

October 30, 2012 / By Armoured Cars / In security

Russia's President Vladimir Putin and Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev have said they will work from home more to cut the disruption caused by their motorcades in Moscow.

Russian Presidential Motorcade

Every time top officials travel across town police close the roads, forcing drivers to wait in long traffic jams.

Recently, motorists in the capital have begun to show their displeasure by honking their horns.

The president and PM will now try to work at home or travel by helicopter.

Human Trafficking To UK Is Rising

October 30, 2012 / By Armoured Cars / In security

The number of people being trafficked into the UK is rising, latest government estimates suggest.

Human Trafficking On The Rise

Last year the authorities learned of 946 victims, compared with 710 in 2010, the inter-departmental ministerial group on human trafficking said.

Trafficking gangs in China, Vietnam, Nigeria and eastern Europe now pose the biggest threat to the UK , it said.

The government said better co-ordination between its departments and with authorities abroad was key.

But anti-slavery groups warned government "failures" had led to "significant steps back" in the fight.

Greece Hit By New General Strike Over Austerity

October 30, 2012 / By Armoured Cars / In security

A general strike is under way in Greece in protest against the next round of spending cuts, required in return for another bailout instalment.

Protestors In Athens

It is the country's 20th national stoppage since the debt crisis erupted two years ago and comes as EU leaders meet in Brussels.

Taxi drivers, ferry workers, doctors, teachers and air traffic controllers are among those taking part.A small stand-off between police and demonstrators in Athens has ended.