News: Iran summons US hiker Sarah Shourd for spying trial

An American woman who spent 14 months in an Iranian jail has been summoned to Tehran to stand trial for spying, an Iranian government official has said.

Sarah Shourd and two American men were arrested as they hiked near the Iraq border in July 2009.
They maintain they were tourists but Tehran has charged them with spying.
Ms Shourd was released on bail in September and returned to the US. Her fiance Shane Bauer and their friend Josh Fattal remain in prison in Tehran.
Ms Shourd has said the trio were hiking in Iraqi Kurdistan and did not intentionally stray over the border with Iran. more here

News:Microsoft warning over browser security flaw

31 January 2011 Last updated at 13:54 GMT

Microsoft has issued a "critical" warning over a newly-discovered flaw in Windows.

In a security advisory, the company warned of a loophole that could be used by malicious hackers to steal private information or hijack computers.
The bug potentially affects every user of the Internet Explorer web browser - around 900 million people worldwide.
Microsoft has issued a software patch to defend against attacks, and said it was working to develop a long-term fix.
The security advisory, which was published on Friday, details how the vulnerability can be used to manipulate users and take over their machines. more here

News:Gang injunctions launched in England and Wales

30 January 2011 Last updated at 23:59 GMT  By Dominic Casciani BBC News

Powers to restrict the movements of people accused of gang membership have come into force in England and Wales.

Gang injunctions can now be used to ban people from wearing certain colours - or even walking aggressive dogs.
The powers are similar to Anti-Social Behaviour Orders and were conceived by the former Labour government after appeals from councils for help.
Ministers say the injunctions should not replace prosecutions of gang members involved in violent crime.
Police and local councils can seek gang injunctions in the county courts against adults who they believe are involved in gang-related violence and crime.
more here

News:Somalis accused of piracy are flown to South Korea

A group of Somalis suspected of piracy have been flown to South Korea to face possible criminal charges.

Five men were seized when South Korean special forces stormed the Samho Jewelry, a cargo ship which had been hijacked in the Arabian Sea.

South Korean officials say eight of the 13 pirates on board at the time were killed during the rescue mission. more here

News:Climber found reading map after 1,000ft fall

A climber who fell 1,000ft (305m) down a mountain and survived was found by his rescuers standing up reading a map.

The 35-year-old lost his footing at the summit of Sgurr Choinnich Mor near Ben Nevis in the Highlands and plummeted down the near-vertical eastern slope.

Lt Tim Barker, from the helicopter rescue crew, said: "It seemed impossible... he must have literally glanced off the outcrops as he fell."

He added that the climber was shaking from "extreme emotional shock".

Lt Barker, the Royal Navy's Sea King helicopter crew's observer, said: "We began to hover-taxi down the slope and spotted a man at the bottom, standing up.

"We honestly thought it couldn't have been him, as he was on his feet, reading a map. Above him was a series of three high craggy outcrops.
A climber who fell 1,000ft (305m) down a mountain and survived was found by his rescuers standing up reading a map.

The 35-year-old lost his footing at the summit of Sgurr Choinnich Mor near Ben Nevis in the Highlands and plummeted down the near-vertical eastern slope.

Lt Tim Barker, from the helicopter rescue crew, said: "It seemed impossible... he must have literally glanced off the outcrops as he fell."

He added that the climber was shaking from "extreme emotional shock".

Lt Barker, the Royal Navy's Sea King helicopter crew's observer, said: "We began to hover-taxi down the slope and spotted a man at the bottom, standing up.

"We honestly thought it couldn't have been him, as he was on his feet, reading a map. Above him was a series of three high craggy outcrops.
more here

News:Dutch freeze contacts with Iran over hanging

29 January 2011
The Dutch government has frozen all contacts with Iran in protest over the hanging of a Dutch-Iranian woman.

The Dutch foreign ministry said it was "shocked, shattered by this act by a barbaric regime".

Sahra Bahrami, aged 46, was hanged for drug smuggling early on Saturday, Iranian officials said.

Her family accuses Tehran of fabricating the case against her after she was detained for taking part in anti-government protests in 2009.more here

News:Sub-Antarctic reserves to be created

Published: 5:15PM Saturday January 29, 2011 Source: NZPA
Three massive marine reserves - covering more than 435,000 hectares - are to be created around the sub-Antarctic Islands, the Government announced today.

A marine reserve will cover the entire territorial sea - out to 12 nautical miles, or 22.2km - surrounding Antipodes Island.

Two further marine reserves around the Bounty Islands and Campbell Island will cover 58% and 39% of those islands' territorial seas respectively, said Minister of Conservation Kate Wilkinson and Fisheries Minister Phil Heatley.

New prohibitions on Danish seining will be introduced in the remaining territorial sea around the island groups, ensuring the entire area - 688,548ha - achieved Marine Protected Area status, they said. more here