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[OMEN]

This document, marked 'Protected B,' describes ways that intruders could hack into an Environment Canada intelligence and enforcement database called NEMISIS. It was found lying on an Ottawa street corner. (CBC)
A sensitive government document detailing a classified computer database has been given to the CBC after it was found lying on an Ottawa street in a rain-stained, tire-marked brown envelope.

The document is a risk assessment of an Environment Canada classified environmental enforcement database. It details a number of the system's failings and describes exactly how the data could be attacked and corrupted, the CBC's James Cudmore reported.

The so-called NEMISIS database is used by officers to track and prosecute polluters and environmental law-breakers.

The acronym stood for National Enforcement Management Information System and Intelligence System when it was unveiled in 1999. However, the title page of the mislaid document calls it the National Enforcement and Emergency Management Information System and Intelligence System, adding the words "and Emergency" to the name.

The assessment described in detail exactly how the database could be attacked by industrial hackers and organized crime, as well as environmental activists.

If someone were able to shut the system down, or hack inside and delete or corrupt the information, officers might not be able to prosecute their cases, which would seriously interfere with the enforcement of the law, the risk assessment said.

"NEMISIS is operating at high risk," the analysis determined.

The document — spotted by a passer-by on Castlefrank Road in Ottawa's Kanata area — is marked "Protected B" at the top of each of its 131 pages.

While documents labelled Protected B are not top-secret, they must be handled with special care for security reasons and not left lying around for just anyone to see, said Christian Rouillard, an expert on public administration and associate professor at the University of Ottawa's school of political studies.
'No justification for losing a document'

"It is taken very seriously," Rouillard told CBC News. "There is no justification for losing a document, regardless of its security level, regardless of the classification."

Environment Canada spokeswoman Sujata Raisinghani told CBC News the department will look into the incident.

"We take document security seriously," she said, but refused to give any more details about how the papers came to be on a road.

Although the enforcement database has attracted little public attention, its existence is not a secret.

In a report to Parliament in 1999, Environment Canada said: "A new enforcement tool has been put in place. The National Enforcement Management Information System and Intelligence System (NEMISIS) tracks and manages national enforcement activities for the environmental and wildlife legislation enforced by Environment Canada officers. The system provides accurate and timely statistical information and detailed reports on enforcement efforts.

The database "is being provided to provinces as part of the sharing of enforcement-related information amongst enforcement agencies," it said.

CBC

[JohnCenaFan28]

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[JohnCenaFan28]

Members of Nepal's parliament have overwhelmingly elected the Maoist leader Prachanda as the country's new prime minister.



The 53-year-old won 80% of votes to defeat his only rival, the Congress Party candidate, Sher Bahadur Deuba.

Maoists won a surprise victory in April elections, and two other key parties supported Prachanda in the vote.

Last month, Nepal swore in a mainly ceremonial president, Ram Baran Yadav, after the monarchy was scrapped in May.

'Lenin or Napoleon'

It is only two years since Prachanda emerged from more than two decades underground as a militant communist leader.

"I am very happy and very emotional," he said as he left the constituent assembly after the vote, reported AFP news agency.

What the Maoists called their "people's war" had left 13,000 people dead, tens of thousands displaced and much of the country's infrastructure destroyed.

The BBC's Charles Haviland in Kathmandu says that now the former guerrilla will be the most powerful politician in the Himalayan country, after 464 lawmakers gave him their vote and only 113 rejected him.

The Maoists' deputy leader, Baburam Bhattarai, said: "Today is a day of pride and it will be written with golden letters in the history of the nation."

He predicted earlier that Prachanda would be a leader "for a new era", comparable to Lenin or Napoleon.

Friday's ballot ends months of political deadlock that had followed the sacking of the unpopular King Gyanendra and the abolition of the 240-year-old monarchy.

Our correspondent says that Prachanda's elevation had long seemed inevitable after his party scored its convincing win in April.

Prachanda was almost guaranteed victory because he had the support of three parties - his own, the Communist Party of Nepal (United Marxist-Leninist) and the MJF (Madheshi Janadhikar Forum).

The Maoists' Congress Party rivals accused them before the vote of plotting to set up a totalitarian communist regime, a suggestion they strongly denied.

A former agricultural science teacher-turned-revolutionary, Prachanda was originally named Pushpa Kamal Dahal, but he still uses his guerrilla nom de guerre.

BBC News

[JohnCenaFan28]

If you are looking for a holiday home on the French Riviera, the stock of available properties just got smaller.



With grounds so grand that it takes a reputed 50 gardeners to tend them, the Villa Leopolda in Villefranche-sur-Mer has been snapped up by a mystery Russian billionaire.

Built by King Leopold II of Belgium in 1902, the sumptuous villa has been graced by world leaders and superstars.

The previous owner, the late banking billionaire Edmond Safra, is said to have entertained Ronald Reagan and Frank Sinatra there.

With the credit crisis causing turmoil in the world's financial community, and property values falling generally, you would expect the price to have tempered a little.

But no, the mysterious buyer is expected to hand over a whopping 500 million euros ($736m:£397m) for this luxury home on the Côte d'Azur.

Hotspots

It is all down to a shortage of supply and rising demand from rich business people, according to luxury estate agent Jonathan Hewlett, who has recently sold a London pad for more than £100m.

"The increase in the mega high net worth individuals globally is on a march," the Savills director told BBC News.

"And they are very specific about where they want to live."

Central London and the French Riviera are the current hotpots for Russian buyers, according to Mr Hewlett.

With the recent surge in commodity prices, there are still people in the market looking to purchase a very exclusive address, he added.

The Villa Leopolda price-tag smashed the previous record of £117m ($217m), which Britain's richest man Lakshmi Mittal reportedly paid this year for a home on London's so-called Billionaires Boulevard close to Kensington Palace.

But even the latest record may not last long. Asia's richest man, industrialist Mukesh Ambani is expected to move into the 27-storey property he has built to house his family and offices in Mumbai next year.

With a value reported to be up to $2bn, the design was said to have be inspired by the Hanging Gardens of Babylon.

BBC News

[Black Widow]

Russia has warned Poland that it is risking an attack - even a nuclear one - by accepting a US missile interceptor base on its soil.

The threat represents Moscow's strongest language yet on the controversial plan.

US and Polish officials have stuck firmly by their deal, signed on Thursday, for Poland to host a system the US says is aimed at blocking attacks by rogue nations such as Iran.

Moscow is convinced the base is aimed at Russia's missile force. The deal comes as relations already are strained over the recent fighting between Russia and US-backed Georgia over the separatist Georgian region of South Ossetia.

General Anatoly Nogovitsyn, deputy chief of staff of Russia's armed forces, was quoted as saying: "Poland, by deploying (the system), is exposing itself to a strike - 100%."

He added, in a reference to the agreement, that Russia's military doctrine sanctions the use of nuclear weapons "against the allies of countries having nuclear weapons, if they in some way help them".

Gen Nogovitsyn said that would include elements of strategic deterrence systems, according to the Interfax news agency.

President Dmitry Medvedev said the deal "absolutely, clearly demonstrates what we had said earlier - the deployment has the Russian Federation as its target".

However, speaking at news conference with German Chancellor Angela Merkel, he appeared to take a softer position than General Nogovitsyn's, saying "it is sad news for all who live on this densely populated continent, but it is not dramatic".

US officials defended the missile defence deal, and have said the timing was not meant to antagonise Russian leaders amid the fighting in Georgia.

Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice, on a trip to Georgian capital Tblisi, said: "Poland is an independent country. And it's an ally of the United States.

"And it's a democratic country, to whose security the United States is committed.

"Russia should welcome having democracies on its border, not threaten them."

Polish foreign minister Radek Sikorski said Poland was willing to let Russia inspect the future missile base to give Moscow "tangible proof" that it is not directed against Russia.

Asked about Russian threats against Poland, US Pentagon spokesman Bryan Whitman said: "I think the Russian behaviour over the last several days is generally concerning not only to the United States but to all of our European allies."

Moscow effectively ruled Poland from the end of the Second World War in 1945 to the collapse of the Soviet Union in the early 1990s.

sky news

[Black Widow]

A Florida man has died after being repeatedly 'shocked' by a police Taser gun.

aKenneth Oliver, 45, of Miami-Dade, was targeted after causing a commotion at a friend's house.

It is reported he had been shouting and banging on a front door in the early morning.

Mr Oliver's friend Johnnie Mosely said he had considered letting him into his home, but his daughters were frightened by Mr Oliver's behaviour.

He called police and said officers, who arrived several minutes later, used a Taser gun at least four times.

Miami-Dade police say Mr Oliver went into shock while he was in custody and was pronounced dead at a hospital later that morning.

Force spokesman Bobby Williams says the death is under investigation.

The use of Taser weapons by police has caused controversy in the US.

In September 2007, a Florida university student was restrained on the ground, Tasered and arrested after asking questions at a political forum.

Earlier this year, it was revealed an American motorist - who became a celebrity after video of him being stunned with a police Taser gun appeared on YouTube - will receive about £20,000 from Utah State.

Jared Massey, 28, was arguing against a speeding ticket when he was shot.


sky news

[OMEN]

A woman watches President Pervez Musharraf announce his resignation on TV an electronics shop in Karachi, Pakistan, on Monday
ISLAMABAD, Pakistan - Pakistani President Pervez Musharraf announced his resignation Monday to avoid impeachment charges, nearly nine years after the key U.S. ally in its campaign against terrorism took power in a coup.

An emotional Musharraf said he wanted to spare the country from a perilous impeachment battle and that he was satisfied that all he had done "was for the people and for the country."

"I hope the nation and the people will forgive my mistakes," Musharraf said in a televised address, much of which was devoted to defending his record and refuting criticisms.
Musharraf said he will turn in his resignation to the National Assembly speaker on Monday but it was not immediately clear whether it would become effective the same day. The chairman of Pakistan's Senate, Mohammedmian Soomro, will take over as acting president when Musharraf steps down, Law Minister Farooq Naek said.

It also was not clear whether Musharraf would stay in Pakistan.

With Musharraf's utility fading, Western concerns appeared less interested with his ultimate fate than about how the clamor was affecting the halting efforts of the new civilian government against terrorism and the gathering economic woes.

President Bush stressed the importance of U.S.-Pakistan relationship in a statement by the White House after Musharraf announced his resignation.

"President Bush is committed to a strong Pakistan that continues its efforts to strengthen democracy and fight terror," White House spokesman Gordon Johndroe said.

The spokesman said Bush appreciates Musharraf's efforts "in the democratic transition of Pakistan as well as his commitment to fighting al-Qaida and extremist groups."

U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice praised Musharraf as “a friend to the United States and one of the world’s most committed partners in the war against terrorism and extremism.”

In Pakistan, Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi said leaders of the ruling coalition would discuss later Monday whether to prosecute Musharraf in court on charges that that were being planned for the impeachment process.

'Victory of democratic forces'
Musharraf's political foes celebrated.

"It is a victory of democratic forces," Information Minister Sherry Rehman said. "Today the shadow of dictatorship, that has prevailed for long over this country, that chapter has been closed."

Musharraf dominated Pakistan for years after seizing power in a 1999 military coup, making the country a key strategic ally of the United States by supporting the war on terror. But his popularity at home sank over the years.

Many Pakistanis blame the rising militant violence in their country on Musharraf's alliance with the United States. His reputation suffered blows in 2007 when he ousted dozens of judges and imposed emergency rule. His rivals won February parliamentary elections and have since sought his ouster, announcing impeachment plans earlier this month.
Impeachment charges
Musharraf, who has been largely sidelined since his rivals came to power, had resisted the mounting calls to quit, even after the coalition finalized impeachment charges against him and threatened to send a motion to Parliament later this week.

The charges were expected to include violating the constitution and gross misconduct, likely in connection with the ouster of the judges and the declaration of emergency rule.

In announcing he would quit after all, Musharraf mentioned the many problems facing Pakistan, including its sinking economy. He said his opponents were wrong to blame him for the mounting difficulties. "I pray the government stops this down-sliding and take the country out of this crisis," he said.
Allies and rivals of the president said talks had been under way to get him to step down by possibly granting him legal immunity from future prosecution. The second biggest party in the government has said he should be tried for treason, which carries a maximum punishment of death.

Afghan reaction
In Kabul, the U.S.-backed Afghan government welcomed Musharraf's resignation, saying he "was not someone good for Afghanistan" and his departure will have a positive effect on the region.

Afghanistan has accused Pakistan's Inter-Services Intelligence agency of being behind an April assassination attempt on President Hamid Karzai and the July bombing of the Indian Embassy in Kabul, which killed more than 60 people.

Karzai's spokesman, Humayun Hamidzada, reiterated a standing Afghan government demand that Pakistan's military intelligence service cease its activities in Afghanistan.

Afghan Interior Ministry spokesman Zemeri Bashary said that Musharraf was an ally of the United States in name only. He said Afghanistan wants a Pakistani president that pursues peace by his actions, and not only through words.

Musharraf "was not someone good for Afghanistan," said Bashary. "We hope that someone good will replace him."

Speculation over next leader
Who will ultimately succeed Musharraf is an open question. There has been speculation that both Nawaz Sharif and Asif Ali Zardari, the leaders of the two main parties are interested in the role.

But the ruling coalition has sought to strip the presidency of many of its powers. Sharif spokesman Saiqul Farooq recently dismissed the idea that his boss wants the job because the presidency would likely be reduced to a ceremonial position.

Qureshi would not say whether Musharraf might be granted a "safe exit" — speculation has focused on whether he might go into exile in Saudi Arabia or Turkey — or dragged through the courts.

"That is a decision that has to be taken by the democratic leadership," Qureshi, who is from the main ruling Pakistan People's Party, told Dawn News television. The leaders would assess the speech and the political situation, he said.

MSNBC

[OMEN]

A stranded rafter is lowered to shore from a helicopter after being hauled across the Colorado River on Sunday.
PHOENIX - Days of heavy rains around the Grand Canyon created flooding that breached an earthen dam Sunday and forced helicopters to pluck scores of residents and campers from the gorge. No injuries were immediately reported.

The weather and dam breach caused flooding in a side canyon containing a village where about 400 members of the Havasupai tribe live and where some of the evacuations occurred, said Gerry Blair, a spokesman for the Coconino County Sheriff's Department.

There were no confirmed reports of damage in the village, Supai, which is on high ground, Blair said. Many residents and campers chose to stay there, Blair said.
"We're not as concerned about it as we initially were," he said.

The dam breaching was only one factor in the flooding, Blair said. The dam isn't a "huge, significant" structure, he said.

Still, a flash flood warning remained in effect, and search and rescue teams planned to stay in the village overnight as a precaution. Blair said authorities were still trying to contact some people known to be in the canyon, though the majority were accounted for.

Some hiking trails and footbridges were washed out after the dam breach about 45 miles upstream from Supai, said Grand Canyon National Park spokeswoman Maureen Oltrogge. Trees were uprooted, the National Weather Service said.

About 150 people had fled by helicopter, and evacuations continued until dark for those who wanted to leave, Blair said.

The effort was initially intended to include about 200 campers and possibly 200 village residents, Blair said, but he didn't know how many them were taken out.

As much as 8 inches of rain since Friday caused trouble even before the dam was breached. A private boating party of 16 people was stranded on a ledge at the confluence of Havasu Creek and the Colorado River on Saturday night after flood waters carried their rafts away, Oltrogge said.

The boaters were found uninjured and were rescued from the Grand Canyon, whose floor is unreachable in many places except by helicopter.

Rescuers tried to find visitors staying at the Supai Campground and escort them to safety, Oltrogge said.

Evacuees were being flown to a parking area 8 miles from Supai and then, if needed, bused to a Red Cross shelter in Peach Springs, about 60 miles southwest of Supai, said Tracey Kiest, a spokeswoman for the Red Cross. She said about 30 people were there as of Sunday night.

The area got 3 to 6 inches of ran Friday and Saturday and got about 2 more on Sunday, said Daryl Onton, a National Weather Service meteorologist in Flagstaff.

"That's all it took — just a few days of very heavy thunderstorms," he said.

Supai is about 75 west of the Grand Canyon Village, a popular tourist area on the South Rim. Havasu Creek feeds the Colorado, which runs the length of the canyon.

The flooding came on a weekend during the busy summer tourist season, when thousands of visitors a day flock to the canyon for spectacular views, hikes or to raft its whitewater.

The helicopters lifting residents out were from the National Park Service, the National Guard and the Arizona Department of Public Safety, Oltrogge said.

In 2001, flooding near Supai swept a 2-year-old boy and his parents to their deaths while they were hiking.

The Grand Canyon has been the traditional home of the Havasupai for centuries.

NBC

[Black Widow]

One man has died and more than 60 people have been injured after a double decker coach careered off a bridge in a Staffordshire village.

Two people critically injured in the incident have been flown from the scene in Alton by air ambulance to nearby hospitals.

The crash is understood to have occurred when a coach travelling from the nearby Alton Towers theme park collided with a number of vehicles on a bridge over the River Churnet before crashing into a garden.

Emergency services said a 20-year-old woman in a critical condition has been airlifted to a hospital in Selly Oak, Birmingham.

Another victim seriously hurt has been taken to the University Hospital of North Staffordshire in Stoke on Trent.

Chief Inspector of Staffordshire police, John Maddox said the bus had "careered down a steep hill, collided with a number of vehicles, before falling off the bridge onto a private garden".

Murray Macgregor from West Midlands Ambulance Service confirmed to Sky News that one man had died.

He said the tour coach had been carrying around 70 people following a visit to the nearby Alton Towers theme park, approximately half a mile away.

Forty-four 'walking wounded' were taken to Alton Towers hotel, half a mile away, for examination.

It is thought that many of the victims do not have English as their first language.

A spokeswoman for Staffordshire Fire and Rescue service said 25 firefighters were at the scene.

She said: "The heavy rescue team has just arrived and they are now going to attempt to lift the coach."

Two helicopters, eight ambulances, four rapid response cars, a doctor and two first responders were sent to the scene after the emergency services were contacted at 5.53pm.


sky news

[Black Widow]

A teenager and a man have been charged with the murders of honeymooners Catherine and Ben Mullany in Antigua, police have said.

The couple, from the Swansea Valley in South Wales, were both shot in the head in a suspected bungled robbery at the Cocos Hotel, on the Caribbean island, on July 27.

Detective Superintendent Keith Niven said: "Evidence was put before the Director of Public Prosecutions last night and the decision was taken to charge two men, a 17-year-old and a 20-year-old."

Police on the island had previously said they were questioning three people in connection with the shootings.

A total of eight people have been arrested throughout the investigation.

Some of the arrests led to drug-related charges unconnected to the Mullanys' deaths.

Two women, aged 32 and 22, appeared before magistrates in the Caribbean island's capital of St John's on Thursday last week. The charges they face are understood to relate to property stolen from the Mullanys' holiday cottage.

In a statement, police said: "A number of individuals were detained and questioned this week as a result of a proactive police operation.

"Consequently, some have been charged with drug-related offences unconnected to the Mullanys' murder.

"At this stage, we are not in a position to disclose any further information regarding these individuals.

"So far as the two females arrested and charged last week... they are still remanded in custody at Her Majesty's Prison.

"Again we are not in a position to disclose any details regarding their arrests and charges except to say they are linked to the other three persons presently in police custody."

The statement said the Director of Public Prosecutions would be consulted when inquiries were complete.

Local police are continuing to work with a team from Scotland Yard who have flown out to assist with the investigation.

Mrs Mullany, a doctor, died instantly when at least one gunman burst into the couple's isolated cottage as they slept.

The attack left her new husband, a physiotherapy student, with a bullet lodged in his head.

He died at Morriston Hospital in Swansea on July 3 after being flown home.

The 350-strong Antiguan police force has no computers, no crime database and only one forensics-trained officer.

And the force has been battling a rising tide of violent crime on the island in recent months.


sky news