Head Of Taliban's Political Office Resigns

August 6, 2015 / By Armoured Cars / In security

The head of the Afghan Taliban's political office in Qatar has resigned, in the latest sign of a split in the group following Mullah Omar's death.

In a statement, Syed Tayyab Agha said he would step down, and criticised the way in which Mullah Omar's successor, Mullah Akhtar Mansour, had been chosen.

Mullah Mansour was named leader on Thursday after Mullah Omar's death was confirmed.

However, some Taliban members said they had not been consulted on the decision.

Tayyab Agha, who previously served as Mullah Omar's personal secretary, said he was stepping down to avoid "expected future disputes".

Court In Australia Overturns Approval For Coal Mine

August 6, 2015 / By Armoured Cars / In security

An Australian court has overturned government approval for Indian company Adani's giant coal mine in Queensland. The Carmichael mine, approved by the government last year, would have been one of world's biggest coal mines.

Critics challenged the decision in the Federal Court of Australia because of a range of environmental concerns. The court said on Tuesday that the environment minister had failed to heed advice about threats to vulnerable animal species. The decision means the mine could not legally operate until fresh approval was granted, according to Sue Higginson, the principal solicitor…

Croatia Holds Military Parade To Mark 20th Anniversary

August 6, 2015 / By Armoured Cars / In security

Croatia has held a big military parade to mark the 20th anniversary of a key offensive in its independence struggle, while Serbia mourns the victims.

The Zagreb parade featured thousands of soldiers, military vehicles and jets, to celebrate Operation Storm in 1995.

The massive campaign saw Croatia's army retake the Serb-held Krajina region during the break-up of Yugoslavia, forcing many Serb civilians to flee. Serbia is holding an official day of mourning on Wednesday.

Forgiven Not Forgotten

Germany - Harald Range Sacked By Justice Minister Over Treason Investigation

August 6, 2015 / By Armoured Cars / In security

Germany's justice minister has sacked the country's top prosecutor, who had accused the government of interfering with a treason investigation.

Heiko Maas said he no longer had confidence in Harald Range, dismissing his statements as "incomprehensible".

Prosecutors are investigating whether the Netzpolitik website revealed state secrets in articles about plans to step up state surveillance. News of the case sparked street protests last week over press freedom.

Haulage Firms Owe More Than Four Million In Fines For Carrying Migrants

August 6, 2015 / By Armoured Cars / In security

Haulage firms and lorry drivers have been fined more than £4m after migrants were found in their vehicles - with the number of fines up 50% on last year.

More than 3,300 fines were issued by UK Border Force staff in 2014-15, up from 2,177 in 2013-14.

The fines can be as much £2,000 per migrant and can be levied against both drivers and their employers.

German MP Helps Two Eritrean Refugees

August 6, 2015 / By Armoured Cars / In security

A German conservative MP, Martin Patzelt, has taken two Eritrean refugees into his home and is helping the young men find jobs locally.

Mr Patzelt, of Chancellor Angela Merkel's Christian Democrats (CDU), lives near Frankfurt (Oder) in eastern Germany. The Eritreans have been staying with him for a month. Such initiatives help to "get rid of the polarisation and hostility" towards migrants, he told German ARD TV. Many Eritreans have fled to Europe. The country in the Horn of Africa has an authoritarian government which forces citizens into military service - often for many years and in deplorab…

Russia Lays Claim To 463,000 sq Miles Of Artic

August 5, 2015 / By Armoured Cars / In security

Russia has renewed its efforts to get the United Nations to recognise 1.2 million sq km (463,000 sq miles) of the Arctic shelf that it lays claim to.

It made a similar move for the resource-rich territory in 2001, but that was rejected by a UN commission because of insufficient evidence. Russia's foreign ministry said the fresh bid is backed by scientific data. But all other countries bordering the Arctic - Norway, Denmark, Canada and the US - reject Moscow's claim.

Mexico Police Seek Three Men For Mr Espinosa's Murder

August 5, 2015 / By Armoured Cars / In security

Mexican police are searching for three men shown on surveillance video leaving the building where photojournalist Ruben Espinosa was killed.

The bodies of Mr Espinosa and four women were found in a flat in the Narvarte district of Mexico City on Friday. They had been tied up and shot dead.

Mexico City prosecutor Rodolfo Rios Garza said the three men were the prime suspects in the murder, which has shocked Mexico City residents.

Helicopter Crash In Colombia Kills 16 Police Officers

August 5, 2015 / By Armoured Cars / In security

A police helicopter has crashed in a jungle area of north-west Colombia, killing at least 16 officers.

The policemen were on an operation to try to arrest one of the leaders of the Usuga Clan, a powerful drug-smuggling gang that operates in the region.The Black Hawk helicopter crashed in a remote mountainous area of Antioquia.

Colombian Defence Minister Luis Carlos Villegas said it probably "crashed against the side of the mountain, possibly due to low cloud cover".

Drug Tunnel Found On US - Mexico Border

August 5, 2015 / By Armoured Cars / In security

Security forces in Mexico have discovered an underground tunnel aimed at crossing into the United States.

The unfinished tunnel, in the border city of Tijuana, is believed to have been built by the Sinaloa cartel with the aim of smuggling drugs into the US.

Last month Joaquin "Shorty" Guzman, the leader of the Sinaloa cartel, escaped from a maximum security jail through a 1.5km-long (1 mile) tunnel. Guzman, one of the world's most wanted drug dealers, is still on the run.