Turkey plagued by largest outbreak of 'sea snot' on record as mucus hits Sea of Marmara coastline - Sky News

A thick layer of "sea snot" thought to be the largest on record has hit the Turkish coast, endangering marine life and fishing trade.

The marine mucilage is a slimy layer of grey sludge that forms when algae is overloaded with nutrients as a result of hot weather and water pollution.

It was first found in Turkey in 2007 but has also been discovered in the Aegean Sea near Greece.

Turkey's recent outbreak along its Sea of Marmara coast is believed to be the biggest in history and is causing chaos for local communities.

Image: Underwater images show how the 'snot' forms

Studies show that the slime stretches up to 100ft (30m) deep, threatening to poison mussels, crabs and other shellfish.

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Experts blame pollution from household waste, the neighbouring Black Sea and Danube River, as well as higher-than-usual water temperatures caused by climate change.

Local filmmaker Tahsin Ceylan is making a documentary about the sea snot.

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"The Sea of Marmara's plight is the outcome of what humans did. This is the outcome of household waste and pollution," he said.

"The only thing to do is not to throw your waste into the sea. I think nature does not deserve this."

Ferries and other boats that travel along the Sea of Marmara, which stretches between the Bosporus and the Aegean, have to navigate the grey sludge.

Image: The snot overwhelms a harbour south of Istanbul

The coastline, south of Istanbul, is densely populated and home to several industrial sites that are also adversely affected.

Turkish environment minister Murat Kurum has acknowledged the issue and sent a team of 300 people to assess the damage.

But opposition leaders claim President Recep Erdogan is not taking the issue seriously enough and are urging him to approve the Paris Climate Agreement to facilitate changes.

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2021-06-05 07:57:20Z
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Microsoft blames 'accidental human error' for Tank Man censorship on Tiananmen Square anniversary - Sky News

Microsoft has blamed "accidental human error" for its search engine Bing failing to produce any results for 'Tank Man' on the anniversary of the Tiananmen Square protests.

Users in the UK, US, Germany and Singapore were met with the message "There are no results for tank man" when they searched for it on Friday - the 32nd anniversary of the demonstrations.

'Tank Man' refers to an image of a lone protester standing in the path of an oncoming tank during the suppression of student-led protests in Beijing's Tiananmen Square in June 1989.

Although the man was never identified, it has become the defining image of the military crackdown, which many refer to as the Tiananmen Square Massacre, and killed between hundreds and thousands of people.

It's one thing for Microsoft's Bing search engine to censor material inside China on Beijing's orders, but it is a whole new level of censorship for Bing to censor this iconic image of "tank man" in Tiananmen Square for searches conducted overseas. It did. https://t.co/STv3hU8OoK pic.twitter.com/dU4zLghg3M

— Kenneth Roth (@KenRoth) June 5, 2021

Microsoft has been accused of censoring the image and co-operating with China, which refers to the suppression as the 'June 4 incident' and bans any discussion of it.

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Although China applies censorship to search engines operating in its jurisdiction, it has no power to ban content beyond its borders.

A large number of Microsoft employees who work on Bing are located in China.

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Image: Tiananmen Gate in Beijing is pictured on 4 June. Pic: AP

Kenneth Roth, of Human Rights Watch, tweeted to say the "inadvertent error" was "hard to believe". "Outrageous," he posted.

David Greene, civil liberties director at the Electronic Frontier Foundation said that content moderation often poses challenges for search engines and "egregious mistakes are made all the time".

But he added: "At worst, this was a purposeful suppression at the request of a powerful state."

Image: Protesters in Hong Kong still gathered despite restrictions. Pic: AP

Chinese communities across the world gathered in solidarity to remember those lost in the protests, who were fighting against rapid socio-economic change in the post-Mao era.

In Hong Kong, where China passed national security laws earlier this year, protests were less busy than usual after authorities banned them. People wore masks and held up their smartphones in lieu of the usual candlelit vigil.

The organiser barrister Chow Hang Tung, 36, was arrested hours before it took place.

Microsoft said in a statement that the issue was "due to an accidental human error" and the site was "actively working to resolve this".

The 'Tank Man' images had returned to the search engine in the UK early on Saturday.

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2021-06-05 06:50:21Z
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Vladimir Putin warns head of MI6: 'Just live your life and don't try to spoil Russian-British relations further' - Sky News

Vladimir Putin has shrugged off criticism from the head of MI6, saying the UK spy boss will "probably revisit his assessments" of Russia.

The president said that Richard Moore is "new" to the role, following Mr Moore's description of Russia as an "objectively declining power economically and demographically".

Mr Moore moved into the top job at MI6 in October.

During a recent interview with Times Radio, he voiced frustration with Russia's behaviour, including the novichok attack in Salisbury, allegations that Russia's military intelligence agency was behind a blast at a Czech arms factory in 2014, and the country's actions in Ukraine.

Mr Moore said: "When you get that pattern of reckless behaviour, of course you then look at what is happening around Ukraine and of course it worries us.

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"It is why we have coordinated so closely with our allies to make sure we are getting firm messages back to President Putin.

"It is an extremely challenged place.

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"And clearly the treatment of Alexei Navalny as we saw with the thousands of protesters on the streets of well - not just Moscow - of a number of cities shows that there is a deal of disaffection with Mr Putin."

Image: Richard Moore is head of Britain's spy agency MI6

Mr Putin was asked about the comments during a news conference.

He responded: "You said that the new head of MI6 has given these assessments, so he is new and I think he is going to get some experience and he will probably revisit his assessments (on) if Russia is a declining power.

"So why bother? Why be concerned? Just live your life and don't try to spoil the Russian-British relations further."

Mr Putin noted the two countries had seen increased trade last year, adding: "So if you don't try to interfere into this process then everything is going to be good".

The relationship between London and Moscow has been tense since the novichok attack in 2018, which is believed to have been conducted by two Russian agents aiming to kill Sergei Skripal, a former Russian spy turned double agent for MI6.

Mr Skripal and his daughter Yulia survived but Dawn Sturgess, 44, died after she sprayed herself with the chemical, thinking it was perfume. Her partner was seriously ill.

British Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab recently said Russia played a part in the forced diversion of a Ryanair flight to Belarus, which allowed authorities there to arrest a journalist and his girlfriend.

Mr Raab said it was "very difficult to believe" the incident had happened "without at least the acquiescence of the authorities in Moscow".

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2021-06-05 04:49:08Z
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Vladimir Putin refuses to rule out hijacking passenger planes with Kremlin foes onboard after Belarus... - The Sun

VLADIMIR Putin has refused to rule out using a warplane to force a flight from London carrying an opponent to land in Russia. 

The Kremlin strongman was quizzed about Belarus dictator Alexander Lukashenko using a fighter to bring down a Ryanair plane so he could detain his political foe Roman Protasevich.

Putin was asked if he would force down a plane carrying an opponentCredit: SPIEF

Roman Protasevich has appeared on TV sobbingCredit: Reuters

The plane was diverted just two minutes before it was due to cross into Lithuanian airspace, so that armed guards could arrest the 26-year-old journalist.

He later appeared on television to confess to playing a role in organising mass disturbances last year, at the end of which he began crying and covered his face with his hands.

During a TV interview, Putin was asked at the St Petersburg International Economic Forum: “Russia has its own list of wanted criminals. 

“Would Russia land a plane - let’s take London to Thailand, for example - if a wanted person was on board?  The plane from London to Thailand flies over Russia.”

Putin thought momentarily and answered: “I won’t say.”

His answer provoked laughter and applause from his audience and the interviewer, Russian presenter Stas Natanzon.

The Ryanair plane at Minsk airport after being forced to land

Putin was also quizzed on whether Russia had played any part in the Ryanair incident to which he replied: “Of course not.

“Some Roman Protasevich, I have no clue who he is, and don’t want to know. Let him do whatever he wants, to fight Lukashenko’s regime.”

Later on RT’s Talk Show, Natanzon explained how he interpreted Putin’s answer.

“This is the signal to those residents of London, which reads ‘worry’. Do worry, guys. 

“Do fly, but fly with sweaty hands. In an ideal world this is a signal not to steal - and do not to escape to London, but live by the law. 

“But if they’ve already done that, then fly with sweaty hands.”

Earlier this year it was reported Putin has drawn up a kill list with six of the targets living in the UK.

He is said to be planning a post-pandemic assassination campaign, saying “no scum can hide from us”, a Russian intelligence officer warned one of the targets.

Lukashenko has been condemned with sanctions imposed by the West for the act of “state piracy” in forcing down the tourist flight from Athens to Vilnius, as it overflew Belarus. 

Protasevich and his girlfriend Sofia Sapega, 23, are now held in a jail notorious for torturing political prisoners. 

He has annoyed "Europe's last dictator", Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko, for daring to speak out against him.

Outside the pandemic, British Airways and Thai Airways are two airlines that normally fly direct between London and Thailand, overflying Russian airspace. 

Dissident Belarusian journalist Roman Protasevich appears to praise Alexander Lukashenko saying he has 'balls of steel' in interview on state TV

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2021-06-04 22:30:00Z
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'Kidnappers' send pic of 'torture victim' to his family demanding $100,000,000 - Metro.co.uk

Dillon Mancuso was allegedly abducted at gunpoint and taken to a warehouse in Sydney

This photo of a bloodied and gagged ex-motorcycle gang member was sent to his family on the night he was allegedly kidnapped in Australia. 

The gang was reportedly demanding AU$100 million (£54.6 million) for the release of Dillon Mancuso, 37, who was allegedly abducted at gunpoint and driven to a warehouse in Sydney, where he was held for six hours. 

Mancuso, a former member of the Lone Wolf gang, was photographed with duct tape covering his eyes and mouth, while blood streamed down his face and swollen lip. 

A text message accompanying the image read: ‘Hello brother’, followed by three smiley-face emojis. 

It goes on to say: ‘Send to his friends who value his life and will negotiate’, the Daily Telegraph reported

But the extortion plot failed when armed police stormed the building as it was allegedly set on fire by the gang, before Mancuso was rescued wearing nothing but his white underwear.

According to police, a group of men, one of them armed with a gun, had forced their way into a property in Bringelly at around 3am on Tuesday and dragged Mancuso into a waiting vehicle outside. 

A picture of Mancuso was sent along with the message ‘Hello brother’ and three smiley-face emojis

They were tracked by expert investigators to an industrial warehouse some 28km away in Revesby, where hostage negotiations took place. 

He was freed after police stormed the building while the gang allegedly set fire to the warehouse as they entered. 

A nearby office worker told Daily Mail Australia: ‘I looked out the window and three cop cars were blocking the driveway and calling for the people in the unit to come out.

‘We sort of saw it coming. Those guys had been rolling around for a few months bringing in motorbikes and exotic cars and making a lot of noise.’

Detective Superintendent Andrew Koutsoufis said: ‘At this stage it appears there are some organised crime and bikie-related links’. 

Armed police stormed the warehouse as the gang set it on fire

He added: ‘The level of violence towards the alleged victim was quite severe and concerning. We believe it was completely targeted.

‘The incident was exceptionally dangerous and could have been even more severe, or even fatal.’ 

Seven males – two 23-year-olds and the others aged 16, 19, 22, 26 and 27 were later charged with kidnapping with intent to ransom resulting in actual bodily harm, break and enter, tampering with evidence, and participating in a gang.

Mancuso is facing several gang-related charges after Federal Police seized more than $1million (£547,000) cash and three luxury cars valued at more than $100,000 (£55,000) each last year.

Inquiries into the incident are continuing.

Get in touch with our news team by emailing us at webnews@metro.co.uk.

For more stories like this, check our news page.

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2021-06-04 20:29:00Z
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G7 nations close to historic deal to tax tech giants in plan that would 'change the world', says German finance minister - Sky News

The world's leading economies are on the brink of announcing a historic deal to tax the tech giants, the German finance minister has told Sky News.

Olaf Scholz said the plan to reform the taxation of tech companies and introduce a minimum level for business tax rates would "change the world", bringing in billions of pounds in tax revenue which would otherwise have been shifted to low tax countries.

The comments came as ministers from the Group of Seven (G7) industrialised economies met in London for the first such face-to-face summit since the onset of COVID-19 over a year ago.

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G7 nations 'close' to reaching historic tax deal

In part because of pressure from the Biden White House and US Treasury secretary Janet Yellen, the G7 ministers are understood to be on the brink of announcing an unprecedented set of reforms.

The plan would help combat profit shifting, where companies - including tech giants and multinational brands - can shift profits to low tax jurisdictions.

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The deal entails two "pillars": First, there will be special rules to change how much tax some large companies will pay, and where those taxes are paid.

Hitherto business taxes were based purely on company profits; in future a chunk of those taxes will be calculated based on sales.

The second pillar involves the creation of a global minimum corporate tax rate, designed to encourage countries not to cut their business tax rate below 15%.

Speaking on the fringes of the London meeting between the US, UK, Japanese, German, French, Italian and Canadian finance ministers, Mr Scholz said: "That we've made progress on both pillars is what we have worked on so hard.

"It looks as if we will now make it, and it will change the world.

"We've worked very hard in the last few years to make progress step by step, we discussed with many people and many experts on this question and with many other countries, but now we are at a stage where an agreement is feasible.

"This is a historic moment, and it will help us to do our job: to serve our people. It's about fairness and justice."

Image: Chancellor Rishi Sunak at a meeting of finance ministers from across the G7 nations

Asked about the implications of a deal for the tax revenues of developed countries, which some experts calculate could be boosted by many billions as profits are shifted back from tax havens, Mr Scholz said: "This will help finance our countries.

"We will profit very much from an agreement like this. But it's also a starting point for more fairness - that's what this is what it is about."

According to others close to the negotiations, the technical talks are still ongoing, with "sherpas" from G7 nations expected to carry on discussing details through the night.

However, Mr Scholz's comments represent the clearest sign yet that the G7 is likely to seal a deal on tax avoidance on Saturday.

That deal would be highly significant since it would encourage finance ministers from other, smaller countries to sign up to the deal.

But, there are some nations - most notably Ireland - which are holding out.

With its 12.5% corporate tax rate, Ireland would be directly affected by the global minimum rate, and would have to decide whether to increase its level or to face penalties from those economies committing to the new pact.

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2021-06-04 19:22:46Z
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Belarus journalist Roman Protasevich 'forced into tearful confession' - BBC News - BBC News

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2021-06-04 15:45:40Z
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