US base move to Okinawa

January 22, 2014 / By Armoured Cars / In security

Japan’s government says the relocation of a US military base on Okinawa island will proceed despite the re-election of a city mayor opposed to the plan.

Tokyo and Washington want to close Futenma airbase and build a new one in Henoko, in Nago city.

But Nago Mayor Susumu Inamine, who won a local election on Sunday, has vowed to block construction at the new site.

Okinawa is home to around 26,000 US troops. Many residents associate the US bases with accidents and crime.

Afghan Taliban launch attack on Nato base in Kandahar

January 21, 2014 / By Armoured Cars / In security

Nato officials in Afghanistan say one of their soldiers was killed when insurgents attacked a base in the southern province of Kandahar.

The attackers detonated a car bomb at the entrance to the Zhari base south of Kandahar city, before other militants opened fire.

Officials say nine gunmen took part in the attack – Nato said all were killed.

Nato-led combat troops are due to leave Afghanistan at the end of 2014 after 13 years fighting the Taliban.

Foreign spies to blame for Kabul restaurant attack

January 21, 2014 / By Armoured Cars / In security

Afghanistan’s National Security Council has accused “foreign intelligence services” of being behind Friday’s deadly attack on a Kabul restaurant.

It said such “sophisticated and complex” attacks could not have been carried out by “ordinary Taliban”.

The Taliban claimed responsibility for the suicide assault in central Kabul which killed 21 people.

The victims included the local IMF chief and citizens of at least nine nationalities.

The National Security Council is chaired by President Hamid Karzai.

Ukraine’s President Yanukovych in talks after clashes

January 21, 2014 / By Armoured Cars / In security

Ukraine’s President Viktor Yanukovych has agreed to negotiate with pro-EU protesters and opposition leaders after violent clashes in the capital Kiev.

He said a cross-party commission would be set up on Monday to try to resolve the deepening crisis. Opposition leaders confirmed this.

Earlier, a group of protesters – trying to reach parliament – clashed with police. Dozens of people were injured.

The US and EU called for an end to the violence and urgent political talks.

Suicide bomber kills 13 near Pakistan army HQ

January 21, 2014 / By Armoured Cars / In security

A suicide bomber has killed at least 13 people near Pakistan’s army HQ in the city of Rawalpindi, the military say.

Those who died included eight military personnel and five civilians, three of them schoolchildren. The blast in a crowded market left 29 others injured.

The attack came a day after 20 soldiers were killed in the north-west when a bomb blast struck an army convoy.

Pakistan’s Taliban claimed both attacks, which follow weeks of relative calm since their leader was killed.

Hakimullah Mehsud died in a US drone strike in November and was replaced by Mullah Fazlullah.

Deutsche Bank reports loss as legal costs mount

January 13, 2014 / By Armoured Cars / In security

Deutsche Bank has reported a surprise loss for the fourth quarter of 2013, after releasing its latest results before they were expected.

Overall Deutsche said it posted a pre-tax loss of 1.153bn euros for the final quarter of 2013.

The bank said that litigation costs and restructuring had weighed heavily on its financial performance.

Litigation costs mounted up to 528m euros (£435.3m) for the period, while revenue fell 16%.

At the end of last week the company’s shares closed down 3% in New York after reports of a profit warning rattled already anxious investors.

Mexico Knights Templar leader captured in Michoacan

January 13, 2014 / By Armoured Cars / In security

Mexican security forces have arrested 38 members of the Knights Templar drug cartel, as part of an operation to restore order in Michoacan state.

Jesus Vasquez Macias, 37, whom officials described as a leading figure in the gang, was among those detained.

Hundreds of troops were deployed last week after violent scenes as groups of vigilantes clashed with gang members.

The vigilantes accuse the government of not doing enough to protect locals from extortion and violence.

Many members of the so-called self-defence groups are refusing to heed the government’s call to disarm.

Hit-man

Sheikh Hasina is sworn in as Bangladesh PM

January 13, 2014 / By Armoured Cars / In security

Sheikh Hasina has been sworn in as Bangladesh’s prime minister for her second straight term after a election marred by violence and boycotts.

Her party won a clear majority, but many seats were not contested by the opposition who demanded a neutral caretaker government to oversee voting.

The new cabinet was also sworn in, during a televised ceremony in Dhaka.

The international community has called for a re-run of the election amid fears of more unrest.

Egypt army chief al-Sisi may run for president

January 13, 2014 / By Armoured Cars / In Egypt

Egypt’s army chief Abdel Fattah al-Sisi will run for president if the people request it and the military supports the bid, state media quote him saying.

“If I nominate myself, there must be a popular demand, and a mandate from my army,” state paper Al-Ahram quoted him as telling Egyptian officials.

The general feels he could not stand aside if there was palpable demand for him to run, an official told AFP.

Recent local reports have suggested the general is eyeing a presidential bid.

Photojournalist Ahmed Fardan released from Bahrain

January 13, 2014 / By Armoured Cars / In security

The authorities in Bahrain have released a photojournalist who was detained last month, officials say.

Amnesty International said Ahmed Fardan was tortured during interrogation after being held on a charge of “intending to participate in gatherings”.

The public prosecutor had ordered that he be detained for 45 days pending investigation on 1 January.

However, a government spokeswoman said Mr Fardan had been freed two days after a campaign demanding his release.