STOCKHOLM (AP) — Several people were shot inside a restaurant in
the city of Gothenburg late Wednesday and some of have died, Swedish
police said.
Police said in a statement that an automatic weapon is believed to have
been used in the shooting. They had no details on any suspects but said
an investigation was under way.
Gothenburg is located in southwestern Sweden and is the country's second biggest city.
The shooting happened in an area of the city with a history of
gang-related violence, police spokeswoman Ulla Brehm said. She said it
was too early to speculate on the motive but said there were indications
that the shooting was gang-related.
"There is absolutely nothing that indicates terrorism," Brehm said.
One witness told Swedish broadcaster SVT that two men entered the restaurant and started shooting with automatic weapons.
"I didn't have a chance to think about what happened. Then I saw that my
friend was bleeding. I tried to stop the bleeding as good as I could
with my hand," said the witness, who didn't give his name.
Sunday, March 22, 2015
No Execution Of Foreigners In Near Future: Indonesian Officials
JAKARTA: -- High-ranking government officials said on Wednesday
that no executions of drug convicts would take place in the next few
months, as the country’s judiciary was still processing their appeals
and case reviews.
Attorney-General M. Prasetyo said that although all preparations for the drug convicts’ executions had been completed, prosecutors were still waiting for the final verdicts on their appeals.
Prasetyo went on to say that all death-row convicts in the second batch had to be executed simultaneously, including Mary Jane Fiesta Veloso of the Philippines and French inmate Serge Atlaoui, whose case reviews are now being handled by the Supreme Court.
“If they were not executed simultaneously, it would create further problems for us,” Prasetyo said at the State Palace on Wednesday before a Cabinet meeting presided over by president Joko “Jokowi” Widodo.
Prasetyo claimed the AGO had no deadline for the executions, adding that it was waiting for the ongoing legal proceedings to wrap up.
“There are several ongoing legal proceedings. We must wait for them [to reach their conclusion],” he said, adding that the appeals and case reviews included those filed at the Jakarta State Administrative Court (PTUN) by two Australian drug smugglers on death row, Andrew Chan, 31, and Myuran Sukumaran, 33.
Prasetyo maintained that the executions’ delay was not due to foreign pressure.
Attorney-General M. Prasetyo said that although all preparations for the drug convicts’ executions had been completed, prosecutors were still waiting for the final verdicts on their appeals.
Prasetyo went on to say that all death-row convicts in the second batch had to be executed simultaneously, including Mary Jane Fiesta Veloso of the Philippines and French inmate Serge Atlaoui, whose case reviews are now being handled by the Supreme Court.
“If they were not executed simultaneously, it would create further problems for us,” Prasetyo said at the State Palace on Wednesday before a Cabinet meeting presided over by president Joko “Jokowi” Widodo.
Prasetyo claimed the AGO had no deadline for the executions, adding that it was waiting for the ongoing legal proceedings to wrap up.
“There are several ongoing legal proceedings. We must wait for them [to reach their conclusion],” he said, adding that the appeals and case reviews included those filed at the Jakarta State Administrative Court (PTUN) by two Australian drug smugglers on death row, Andrew Chan, 31, and Myuran Sukumaran, 33.
Prasetyo maintained that the executions’ delay was not due to foreign pressure.
Bangkok’s Don Mueang Airport Reports Growth Of 46.7%
Among the top 10 busiest airports in the region, half showed positive growth while the rest reported decrease in traffic from last year.
In Asia, Beijing (PEK) continued to lead as the busiest airport in the region serving close to 7 million passengers in January 2015. New Delhi (DEL) grew at +17.5% in the month and is likely to surpass 40 million by the end of 2015. Bangkok Don Mueang (DMK) recorded the highest growth rate (+46.7%) among all reporting airports.
In the Middle East, the strong passenger volume was contributed by double digit growth in the following airports: Kuwait (KWI) +22.2%, Abu Dhabi (AUH) +20.7%, Doha (DOH) +18%.
In terms of air freight traffic for the month, Asia Pacific reported growth at +3.4%. Among the leading cargo airports in the region, Tokyo Haneda (HND) reported highest growth from last year at +21.4%.
The Middle East continued to deliver strong performance at +9.6% with several airports reporting double digit growth year over year: Dubai (aggregated DXB & DWC2) +16.3%, Doha (DOH) +11.8% and Abu Dhabi (AUH) +11%.
Myanmar Woman Arrested In Phuket For Drug Dealing
PHUKET : -- A woman from Myanmar was arrested for drug dealing after being found in possession of methamphetamine (ya bah) and crystal meth (ya ice).
Immigration police arrested Thi Car Myint (Chu), 35, at a workers camp in the the Vichit district. She had in her possession 60 ya bah pills, .2 grams of ya ice and 15 B100 bank notes.
Immigration Policeman told The Phuket News, “We have followed a group of Myanmar workers we believed were involved in drugs for two or three months.
“An undercover officer managed to buy 10 ya bah pills from one of them yesterday for B2,500.
We found the workers camp they lived in and decided to carry out a raid. When we raided the camp some of the workers runaway but we managed to apprehend Chu, and when we searched her she had 60 ya bah pills and .2grams of ya ice in her possession.
“We believe that Chu has been supplying drugs to a number of workers in the area.”
Chu is now being held at Vichit Police Station where she is to be charged with possession of Category 1 drugs with intent to sell.
Monks Close To Abbot Testify To DSI Probe Team
TWO MONKS close to Wat Dhammakaya abbot Phra Dhammachayo yesterday testified to the Department of Special Investigations (DSI) about money donations they received from Supachai Supa-aksorn, former president of Klongchan Credit Union Cooperative, who was accused of embezzling more than Bt10 billion from the credit union.
Phra Khru Palat Vijahn Thirangkuro and Phra Montri Sudapaso at 1.30pm met with Pol Lt- Colonel Pakorn Sucheewakul, who heads a DSI team probing the Wat Dhammakaya transactions.
Phra Montri, who reportedly received a cheque for Bt100 million, told reporters prior to the police meeting that he wasn't close to Supachai, who donated Bt5 million from 2009-2010 for novices' training materials.
He insisted that he was testifying to the DSI as a witness not as a suspect. Phra Khru Palat Vijahn, who reportedly received Bt119 million for the construction of a youth centre in Lop Buri's Khok Samrong district, didn't make any comment to the reporters.
Abhisit And Suthep 'Must Explain Dispersal Of Red Shirts
National Anti-Corruption Commission chairman Parnthep
Klanarongrarn has told former prime minister Abhisit Vejjajiva and his
former deputy Suthep Thaugsuban they must clarify their decision to
order the dispersal of red shirt demonstrators in 2010.
Abhisit and Suthep have been accused of mishandling the bloody crackdown on supporters of the red shirts' United Front for Democracy against Dictatorship.
At least 99 people were killed over a two-month period.
Parnthep said Abhisit and Suthep must either make their clarifications in person or in writing by Wednesday.
He said if the men want to use witnesses in an attempt to bolster their cases, the NACC will scrutinise the request under the law and determine if it is necessary to the case.
Abhisit and Suthep have been accused of mishandling the bloody crackdown on supporters of the red shirts' United Front for Democracy against Dictatorship.
At least 99 people were killed over a two-month period.
Parnthep said Abhisit and Suthep must either make their clarifications in person or in writing by Wednesday.
He said if the men want to use witnesses in an attempt to bolster their cases, the NACC will scrutinise the request under the law and determine if it is necessary to the case.
US Opens Criminal Inquiry Of Resigning Lllinois Congressman
WASHINGTON (AP) — The Justice Department is investigating the
congressional expenses and business deals of Illinois Rep. Aaron Schock,
and FBI agents have begun issuing subpoenas to witnesses, a person
familiar with the case told The Associated Press on Friday.
Investigators were focusing on Schock's House office expense account, expenditures by his re-election campaign and his personal investments with long-time political donors, the person said. Schock, 33, a young, media-savvy Republican, abruptly announced his resignation Tuesday after weeks of mounting media reports about questionable expenditures and personal finances.
The government was convening a federal grand jury in Springfield, Illinois, according to the person, who was not authorized to publicly discuss the case. The person also said that FBI agents were visiting people close to the Republican congressman who were being compelled by subpoena to testify. The grand jury was hearing testimony in early April, according to the subpoenas.
A spokesman and lawyers for Schock did not respond to repeated phone calls and emails Friday from AP.
Schock's sudden resignation followed revelations over six weeks about his business deals and lavish spending on travel, personal mileage reimbursements and office redecorating in the style of "Downton Abbey." Congressional ethics investigators had begun probing Schock's conduct in the days before his announcement, but that probe was expected to shut down because of the federal investigation.
Questions have included Associated Press investigations of Schock's real estate transactions, air travel and entertainment expenses — including some events that Schock documented in photographs on his Instagram account. On Monday, the AP confirmed that the Office of Congressional Ethics had reached out to Schock's associates as it apparently began an investigation.
The owner of an air charter service in Peoria confirmed Friday that he had been contacted by an ethics investigator interested in Schock's extensive flights on planes owned by campaign donors. Harrel W. Timmons, owner of Jet Air Inc., was not a Schock donor but said the investigator wanted to know about the lawmaker's flights on a plane owned by D&B Air, a Peoria aviation firm owned by a prominent Schock donor.
AP previously reported that Schock's use of the D&B plane appeared to violate congressional rules in place at the time prohibiting the use of office accounts to pay for private flights. Schock had used office expenses to pay $24,000 for eight flights in 2011 and 2012. Since mid-2011, Schock's office and campaign expenses paid for more than $40,000 worth of flights on planes owned by his political donors.
House ethics investigators typically stand down open inquiries once federal authorities open their own probe or when the House Ethics Committee orders a halt in the inquiry. The OCE had been authorized to continue its inquiry until Schock's planned March 31 resignation. His decision to quit has no impact on the FBI investigation.
Earlier this week, Schock's father, Richard, told an ABC reporter: "Two years from now he'll be successful, if he's not in jail."
"If you're going to investigate his real estate dealings, etc., then find out the facts," Richard Schock said. "The facts are what are going to convict him or exonerate him."
The AP reported last week that much of Schock's personal wealth, estimated at about $1.4 million, grew from a series of real estate deals involving other long-time political donors. Schock's political contributors built, financed and later purchased a house the lawmaker owned as an investment in Peoria. He owns a stake in a Peoria apartment complex involving other contributors. And he pushed for a federal appropriation that would have benefitted a donor's development project.
Schock's expenses came under scrutiny last month after the Washington Post reported that Schock had paid $40,000 from his House expense account for a lavish office redecoration modeled on decor depicted in the TV serial "Downton Abbey." Reports by Politico and other news organizations also singled out Schock's unusually high, personal reimbursements for auto mileage.
Schock responded to the growing scrutiny by paying back his office decorator $40,000. The day of his resignation, Schock also paid back his mileage expenses, but his spokesman did not say how much he had repaid.
In resigning abruptly on Tuesday, Schock cited a "heavy heart," following six weeks of revelations about his business deals. He said in a statement that the constant questions about his spending and business dealings had made it impossible to serve effectively as congressman.
House Speaker John Boehner was not informed of Schock's resignation before it was announced but has said he supported the decision to quit.
A spokeswoman for the Federal Elections Committee also confirmed Friday that staff lawyers were reviewing a complaint from a liberal-leaning watchdog group, Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington. The group complained Feb. 26 that two political committees associated with Schock paid more than $9,000 for flights on donor planes. The FEC does not investigate complaints until the full committee votes on the matter. That has not happened, the spokeswoman said.
Investigators were focusing on Schock's House office expense account, expenditures by his re-election campaign and his personal investments with long-time political donors, the person said. Schock, 33, a young, media-savvy Republican, abruptly announced his resignation Tuesday after weeks of mounting media reports about questionable expenditures and personal finances.
The government was convening a federal grand jury in Springfield, Illinois, according to the person, who was not authorized to publicly discuss the case. The person also said that FBI agents were visiting people close to the Republican congressman who were being compelled by subpoena to testify. The grand jury was hearing testimony in early April, according to the subpoenas.
A spokesman and lawyers for Schock did not respond to repeated phone calls and emails Friday from AP.
Schock's sudden resignation followed revelations over six weeks about his business deals and lavish spending on travel, personal mileage reimbursements and office redecorating in the style of "Downton Abbey." Congressional ethics investigators had begun probing Schock's conduct in the days before his announcement, but that probe was expected to shut down because of the federal investigation.
Questions have included Associated Press investigations of Schock's real estate transactions, air travel and entertainment expenses — including some events that Schock documented in photographs on his Instagram account. On Monday, the AP confirmed that the Office of Congressional Ethics had reached out to Schock's associates as it apparently began an investigation.
The owner of an air charter service in Peoria confirmed Friday that he had been contacted by an ethics investigator interested in Schock's extensive flights on planes owned by campaign donors. Harrel W. Timmons, owner of Jet Air Inc., was not a Schock donor but said the investigator wanted to know about the lawmaker's flights on a plane owned by D&B Air, a Peoria aviation firm owned by a prominent Schock donor.
AP previously reported that Schock's use of the D&B plane appeared to violate congressional rules in place at the time prohibiting the use of office accounts to pay for private flights. Schock had used office expenses to pay $24,000 for eight flights in 2011 and 2012. Since mid-2011, Schock's office and campaign expenses paid for more than $40,000 worth of flights on planes owned by his political donors.
House ethics investigators typically stand down open inquiries once federal authorities open their own probe or when the House Ethics Committee orders a halt in the inquiry. The OCE had been authorized to continue its inquiry until Schock's planned March 31 resignation. His decision to quit has no impact on the FBI investigation.
Earlier this week, Schock's father, Richard, told an ABC reporter: "Two years from now he'll be successful, if he's not in jail."
"If you're going to investigate his real estate dealings, etc., then find out the facts," Richard Schock said. "The facts are what are going to convict him or exonerate him."
The AP reported last week that much of Schock's personal wealth, estimated at about $1.4 million, grew from a series of real estate deals involving other long-time political donors. Schock's political contributors built, financed and later purchased a house the lawmaker owned as an investment in Peoria. He owns a stake in a Peoria apartment complex involving other contributors. And he pushed for a federal appropriation that would have benefitted a donor's development project.
Schock's expenses came under scrutiny last month after the Washington Post reported that Schock had paid $40,000 from his House expense account for a lavish office redecoration modeled on decor depicted in the TV serial "Downton Abbey." Reports by Politico and other news organizations also singled out Schock's unusually high, personal reimbursements for auto mileage.
Schock responded to the growing scrutiny by paying back his office decorator $40,000. The day of his resignation, Schock also paid back his mileage expenses, but his spokesman did not say how much he had repaid.
In resigning abruptly on Tuesday, Schock cited a "heavy heart," following six weeks of revelations about his business deals. He said in a statement that the constant questions about his spending and business dealings had made it impossible to serve effectively as congressman.
House Speaker John Boehner was not informed of Schock's resignation before it was announced but has said he supported the decision to quit.
A spokeswoman for the Federal Elections Committee also confirmed Friday that staff lawyers were reviewing a complaint from a liberal-leaning watchdog group, Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington. The group complained Feb. 26 that two political committees associated with Schock paid more than $9,000 for flights on donor planes. The FEC does not investigate complaints until the full committee votes on the matter. That has not happened, the spokeswoman said.
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