Free Republic

“MI5 hiring Asian teenagers to fight cyber terror” London, September 21, 2009 First Published: 00:09 IST(21/9/2009) Last Updated: 02:44 IST(21/9/2009) SNIPPET: “MI5 head Jonathan Evans has told his staff that the recruits were essential to combat cyber terrorism which has been traced to China, Russia and Pakistan — the hackers have also intercepted messages from terrorists in Belmarsh maximum security prison, the newspaper said. In a report to Lord West, the Security Minister, Evans has revealed that during the summer over 1,000 hits were made on computers in Whitehall. Other targets have been air traffic control, power stations and the...

President Obama and the US Secretary of State fuelled a fierce American backlash against Britain, claiming Abdelbaset Al Megrahi should have been forced to serve out his jail sentence in Scotland – but a senior Whitehall aide said their reaction was ‘disingenuous’. British officials claim Mr Obama and Mrs Clinton were kept informed at all stages of discussions concerning Megrahi’s return. The officials say the Americans spoke out because they were taken aback by the row over Megrahi’s release, not because they did not know it was about to happen. ‘The US was kept fully in touch about everything that...

The Foreign Office mounted a fightback yesterday against allegations that Jack Straw and Colin Powell had expressed serious doubts about whether Baghdad possessed weapons of mass destruction before the start of the Iraq war. As Tony Blair faced allegations from a former Cabinet colleague that he had "duped" the British people over Saddam Hussein's weapons capabilities, the Foreign Office issued a detailed rebuttal of allegations, made in the Guardian newspaper, that were seized on by news media around the world. The paper said Mr Straw, the Foreign Secretary, and Mr Powell, his United States counterpart, had privately expressed serious doubts...

Minutes south of Interstate 10 and Sealy, the pastures along FM 1458 are their own silent world in the morning. Mists lift to reveal black cattle, brown and spotted horses, snow-white egrets underfoot in lush green grass. Then a concrete mixer comes churning down the blacktop. Just up the road is a small subdivision. More are sure to come as city dwellers, including weekenders and retirees, move out in search of a quieter, simpler life — and relief from city traffic. Although the gradual influx may bring greater changes in the long run, what disturbs residents most is the planned...

Plastic bags and mud art join Whitehall old masters By Nicole Martin(Filed: 17/01/2005)The walls of Government offices are usually adorned with traditional oil paintings and portraits.However, pictures of empty carrier bags and mud smeared on paper could now appear alongside works by Gainsborough and Hogarth.   Grayson Perry with his work at Tate Britain after winning the Turner Prize in 2003 They are among more than 50 works of art that have been bought by the Government Art Collection (GAC) in the past two years to hang in Whitehall offices and British embassies around the world.The new purchases, estimated...

<p>At least three men reportedly were taken into federal custody in two Pensacola malls as the FBI and the federal Immigration and Naturalization Service initiated a nationwide sweep Wednesday.</p> <p>Witnesses said plain-clothes agents closed Intrigue jewelry vendors at Cordova and University malls, Wild Things at University and possibly other shops.</p>

Intelligence chiefs fear terrorists could try to topple Big Ben onto the Houses of Parliament creating hundreds of casualties. A report by MI5 will today call for a raft of radical new security measures to protect Parliament - including a ring of steel around the Palace of Westminster. As part of the security measures, MI5 is reported to be planning to deploy agents to bases around the UK. The move is designed to combat the threat of home-grown Islamist terrorists linked to the al Qaeda network. Teams of intelligence officers, surveillance experts, analysts and computer specialists will be permanently...

For Immediate Release Office of the Press Secretary November 19, 2003 President Bush Discusses Iraq Policy at Whitehall Palace in London Remarks by the President at Whitehall Palace Royal Banqueting House-Whitehall Palace London, England 1:24 P.M. (Local) THE PRESIDENT: Thank you very much. Secretary Straw and Secretary Hoon; Admiral Cobbald and Dr. Chipman; distinguished guests: I want to thank you for your very kind welcome that you've given to me and to Laura. I also thank the groups hosting this event -- The Royal United Services Institute, and the International Institute for Strategic Studies. We're honored to be in...

<p>Thank you all. Thank you very much.</p> <p>Secretary Straw and Secretary Hoon, Admiral Colbold (ph) and Dr. Shipman (ph), distinguished guests, I want to thank you for your very kind welcome that you've given to me and to Laura. I also thank the groups hosting this event, the Royal United Services Institute and the International Institute for Strategic Studies.</p>