China 'Trafficker' Gouges Out Boy's Eyes

A six-year-old boy has had his eyes gouged out in an attack believed to have been carried out by an organ trafficker in China.

The child was found covered in blood three to four hours after he went missing while playing outside, according to a television report.

"He had blood all over his face. His eyelids were turned inside out. And inside, his eyeballs were not there," his father told Shanxi Television.

The boy was drugged and "lost consciousness" before the attacker removed his eyes, state broadcaster China Central Television (CCTV) said on its account on Sina Weibo, China's version of Twitter.

It was claimed that the boy's eyes were found nearby but the corneas were missing.

The boy was reportedly drugged before his eyes were removed

Police in Fenxi, in the northern province of Shanxi, have offered a 100,000 yuan (£10,500) reward for information leading to the arrest of the suspect, believed to be a woman.

Pictures showed the heavily-bandaged child being taken from an operating theatre and being placed in a hospital bed as family members stood crying by his bedside.

About 300,000 patients in China need transplants each year, but only about 10,000 people can get them due to a lack of donors, state media said.

Seven people were jailed last year when a teenager sold a kidney for an illicit transplant operation and used the proceeds to buy an iPhone and iPad.

Children's organs are usually more expensive on the black market, an organ trafficker told Sina Internet news portal in 2010, as "most people think the younger the donor is, the better the quality of organs".

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Gaddafi's Son Seeks UK Help Over 'Show Trial'

By Lisa Holland, Foreign Affairs Correspondent

The lawyer representing Colonel Gaddafi's son, Saif al-Islam, is urging the British Government to do all it can to prevent him facing trial in Libya and deliver him to the International Criminal Court (ICC) in The Hague.

John Jones QC told Sky News he fears his client, who faces charges of war crimes and crimes against humanity, will be subjected to a 'show trial' and sentenced to death.

He said: "Executing Saif Gaddafi would be a complete violation of the ICC orders so it's logical and right, and a moral and legal obligation on the UK, to intervene."

It follows a Libyan court's decision to sentence to death Colonel Gaddafi's former education minister Ahmed Ibrahim.

The ICC has also raised concerns about the ability of the Libyan authorities to hold the trial and the charges they plan to present against Saif al-Islam.

Saif al-Islam pictured after his capture

Fadi El-Abdallah, a spokesman for the court, told Sky News: "There is no legal representation for him on a national level and the operation of gathering the evidence and protecting the witnesses is not secured."

But the process of transferring Saif al-Islam from Libya to The Hague is proving to be a complex one.

He was captured by rebel fighters from the Libyan city of Zintan in November 2011 and has been held there, in solitary confinement, ever since.

The Libyan Government is struggling to exert its influence over large parts of the country and can't transfer him without the permission of Zintan's militia leaders.

John Jones, QC, says it's further evidence that Mr Gaddafi must be handed over to the ICC.

He was once tipped to lead Libya towards democracy

He said: "Libya's central authorities don't have control of his custody. That proves the point that if there's no control of is custody, if there's no rule of law in Libya, he should be tried in The Hague".

Saif al-Islam Gaddafi was once tipped by western governments to lead Libya towards democracy.

Educated at the London School of Economics and considered by many to be the country's de-facto prime minister, he refused to abandon his father when protests sprung in several Libyan cities in early 2011.

He was found by fighters from the Zintan brigade trying to cross into Niger just a month after his father Colonel Gaddafi was captured and killed.

His last public appearance was in May when he briefly appeared in court to answer separate charges of endangering national security after he was accused of providing an ICC lawyer with 'sensitive' documents.

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Russian Politician Calls For Gay Blood Ban

A Russian politician has called for a ban on blood donations from gay people amid the continuing row over a ban on homosexual propaganda.

The lawmaker, who is also a candidate for Moscow mayor, said that move was necessary to combat the spread of HIV-Aids.

However, opponents say that Russia's high drug addiction rates posed a greater HIV threat.

According to Interfax news agency, Mikhail Dyegtyaryov said: "We will suggest an amendment to the law on (blood) donations on the order of the Health Ministry that returns homosexuals to the list of contra-indicated donors."

Stephen Fry has joined protests over Russia's anti-gay law

A law passed in June that prohibits spreading "propaganda of non-traditional sexual relations" has sparked criticism from Western governments and led to calls for a boycott of the 2014 Olympics in Sochi, Russia, in February.

The comedian Stephen Fry has been a vocal and staunch campaigner for the boycott.

But the measure has been popular with many Russians and with the powerful Orthodox Church and President Vladimir Putin draws strong support from conservative rural parts of Russia.

Protests against his 13-year rule have mostly been confined to big cities.

Gay activists say the propaganda law has increased discrimination against them and emboldened vigilante-style attacks.

Yelena Kostyuchenko, a gay rights advocate who said she regularly gives blood, wrote on her Twitter blog on Monday that she had been asked to donate that very day.

"Next time I'll say - I'm sorry, I'm a lesbian, I don't deserve to give blood for your family members. Keep looking," she wrote.

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China Internet Hit By 'Largest-Ever' Attack

China has been hit by the "largest ever" attack on its internet structure, crashing servers across the country, according to a government agency.

Websites with a Chinese address - ending in .cn - went down for around two hours early on Sunday, the China Internet Network Information Centre (CNNIC) said in a statement.

The cyber attacks work by overloading servers with a huge number of requests to view internet pages - so much so that the system cannot cope and freezes. 

After the first attack, a second wave was described as "the biggest of its kind ever", CNNIC said.

"The resolution of some websites was affected, leading visits to become slow or interrupted."

The organisation did not say who might have been responsible.

Washington has repeatedly accused China of trying to hack the websites of US government agencies and businesses.

But Beijing has always denied the accusations, saying China itself is a victim of internet attacks.

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Syrian Crisis: Morality Of War And Jungle Law

Morality and law are closely related, but is there a link between morality, law, and war?

The morality of dropping large quantities of high explosives on cities is debateable, but if there were no "laws of war" then, leaving morality to one side, legally there would be no difference between shooting people and gassing them.

As we know, there are "laws of war" - the Geneva Conventions, the treaties on chemical weapons, and others.

Gassing people clearly breaks those laws. Does it therefore follow that action can then be taken by outside actors under international law?

Here it gets complicated.

Firstly you have to prove which side broke the law.

In the Syrian example, the US, the UK, and France say they are certain the Assad regime is responsible.

So far the hard evidence has not been produced, and those three countries are using the "common sense" argument - that it is obvious President Bashar Assad's forces used chemical weapons.

Smoke over Baghdad after US-led air raids in 2003

For various reasons Russia, and others, fail to see the "common sense" view and will therefore block any country which tries to get a legally binding UN Security Council resolution authorising action against Syria. 

This leaves taking action without the UN.

The Russians and others will argue that this would be illegal and tantamount to the law of the jungle in which any state can attack another on a pretext without proof or international agreement.

Moscow is already citing the Iraq fiasco to bolster this view.

If it comes to action, albeit limited, the British, French and Americans are likely to fall back on a number of arguments to legitimise the use of force. 

Among them are the breaking of the Geneva Conventions, various treaties reacting to chemical weapons which date all the way back to 1925, and a concept known as R2P - Responsibility to Protect.

In 1999 US President Bill Clinton justified the bombing of Serbia on the grounds of the moral responsibility to protect large numbers of civilians.

He assembled the Nato countries to give "international cover" on what was a US-led operation.

In 2005, the UN adopted R2P as an "international norm" but there is fierce debate about whether it can be invoked without a UN Security Council resolution.

Bill Clinton sanctioned the bombing of Serbia in the 90s on moral grounds

This brings us to the credibility issue.

If the Western countries really believe in R2P, and more importantly wish to be able to really influence events, then if a red line has been crossed, it could be argued they have to intervene in Syria whether or not they get legal cover. 

Failure to do so, it will be argued, will embolden dictators and strong men around the world.

They will act in the most heinous manner with impunity having seen the US's pronouncements as those of a paper tiger.

Iran, North Korea, and China are all watching with keen interest.

At this point, the lines of legality, and to a lesser extent morality, begin to blur and we are into theory.

For example, it would be argued that failure to act now will mean pain later, that future foreign policy will be negatively affected, that international coalitions would begin to fray, and that the real law of the jungle would be ushered in. 

It would also be stated that the standing of the commander-in-chief of the world's most powerful armed forces would be diminished.

None of this is provable today as they are predictions of the future - but the argument is real.

In the White House this week they are debating law, morality, war, and an equally powerful concept in international relations - credibility.

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Chile's Atacama Desert Sees Rare Snowfall

A rare snowfall in Chile's Atacama desert has delighted visitors to one of the world's driest areas.

Residents of San Pedro de Atacama say the weekend snow was the heaviest in three decades for the desert city, which is 750 miles north of the capital, Santiago.

But local officials say they are concerned that the snow and rain that fell over the weekend could cause some rivers to flood as has happened in the past.

The national tourism office says the road to the city was temporarily blocked due to the unusual weather.

Officials have not ordered any evacuation, although they expect more rain in the area.

The desert is described as the driest hot desert in the world.

It is made up mostly of salt lakes, sand and felsic lava.

Its average rainfall is less than one inch.

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UK-US Couple Held In China For 'Selling Data'

A British corporate investigator and his American wife have been arrested in Shanghai on suspicion of illegally buying and selling personal information about Chinese citizens.

Former journalist Peter Humphrey and his wife Yingzeng Yu are accused of obtaining people's addresses, as well as information about their families, homes and cars, and selling the details to lawyers, manufacturers and financial companies.

Police in Shanghai claimed the pair had "seriously violated the legitimate rights of citizens" and said they were formally arrested earlier this month.

Humphrey, speaking in Mandarin as he appeared on state television with his face blurred, said: "To obtain this information, I sometimes used illegal means. I want to apologise to the Chinese government."

A spokesman from the British Embassy said: "We are aware of reports in the Chinese media relating to Peter Humphrey.

"We were concerned to see that Peter Humphrey was interviewed about the details of a case which is currently under investigation and has yet to come to trial.

"We are continuing to provide consular assistance to Mr Humphrey and his family."

Humphrey and Yu run a company called ChinaWhys, which offers services including the screening of potential employees or business partners.

Chinese companies use such firms to protect themselves against fraud, embezzlement or misconduct by employees or business partners.

Humphrey, who worked as a foreign correspondent for 20 years, studied at Durham University and founded ChinaWhys in 2003.

Humphrey is led down a corridor by police officers in Shanghai

He was detained as police investigated bribery allegations against drugs company GlaxoSmithKline, one of the companies he worked for, Reuters said.

Chinese police have detained four GSK executives claiming they organised a scheme to funnel bribes to doctors in return for buying its products.

It is not clear whether Humphrey's arrest is linked to the probe.

A report last week claimed that western firms were warned about illegal practises at a meeting in a Beijing hotel in July.

China's National Development and Reform Commission (NDRC) held a closed-door meeting with representatives from around 30 foreign firms, including Siemens and General Electric.

At the meeting, the firms were reportedly warned about corruption and violating Chinese law.

One source claimed the Chinese official had said half of the companies in the room were either being investigated or had been probed by the NDRC.

Sky's China Correspondent Mark Stone, in Beijing, said: "Over the past few months, the Chinese operations of a number of foreign companies have been subjected to probes by Chinese investigators, ostensibly as part of a country-wide crackdown on corruption.

"The focus on foreign firms is seen as being increasingly aggressive and could threaten foreign investment in China.

"Given how important the Chinese market is to foreign companies, none will want China to become too risky a market in which to operate."

According to a profile on his company's website, Humphrey's achievements include eliminating fraud in the buying operation of a well-known chain of stores, uncovering fraudulent deals for a global appliances manufacturer and helping recover a kidnapped child in China.

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Syria: US Says Military Is Ready For Action

The US defence secretary says his country is "ready to go" if President Barack Obama orders action in Syria, as the UK recalls Parliament over the crisis.

Britain's Armed Forces are drawing up plans for a potential military intervention in response to an alleged toxic gas attack in Damascus, which is believed to have killed hundreds of civilians.

Rebels in Syria have also handed Western powers a list of suggested targets for a strike, according to a Reuters source.

US defence secretary Chuck Hagel said Mr Obama asked the Pentagon to give him "all options for all contingencies".

Mr Cameron says the Syrian attack was "absolutely abhorrent"

"We are prepared. We have moved assets in place to be able to fulfil and comply with whatever option the president wishes to take," Mr Hagel told the BBC.

US secretary of state John Kerry said there was "undeniable" evidence of a large-scale chemical attack, with intelligence strongly pointing to President Bashar Assad's government.

And he said the regime would be held accountable.

France's President Francois Hollande said his country was prepared to "punish" those who gassed innocent people last Wednesday and it seemed certain that forces loyal to Mr Assad were behind the attack.

Prime Minister David Cameron, who is back in London after cutting short his family holiday, says a clear motion on the crisis will be put before MPs on Thursday.

Mr Hagel says the US is "ready to go"

He wrote on Twitter: "Speaker agrees my request to recall Parliament on Thurs. There'll be a clear Govt motion & vote on UK response to chemical weapons attacks."

Foreign Secretary William Hague has declined to rule out action, such as targeted air strikes, being launched within days.

But Mr Cameron - who is holding a National Security Council (NSC) meeting on Wednesday - is under pressure to be able to legally justify any intervention.

A build-up of military aircraft at Britain's base on Cyprus, RAF Akrotiri, suggested that planning had reached a developed stage.

Sky's Foreign Affairs Editor Tim Marshall said any potential action "would be a punch on the nose for the Assad regime. I don't think the US is ready for Assad to go because they are frightened of who would take his place."

But Syria insists it will not submit quietly to an attack.

Mr Muallem says any foreign strike on his country would be "delusional"

"We have two options: either to surrender, or to defend ourselves with the means at our disposal," said Syrian foreign minister Walid Muallem.

"The second choice is the best: we will defend ourselves."

Mr Muallem also claims Tuesday's UN inspections of alleged chemical attack sites had to be scrapped because of disputes between rebels.

Snipers shot at the UN team on Monday, but the inspectors still managed to collect some "valuable" samples.

One of Britain's bases, RAF Akrotiri, is in southern Cyprus

The UN inspections will take place on Wednesday instead, Mr Muallem said.

Syria denies using the chemical weapons and Russia - which supplies arms to Syria and is the regime's most powerful ally - has backed claims that video footage of victims could be opposition propaganda.

"I challenge those who accuse our forces of using these weapons to come forward with the evidence," Mr Muallem said.

The Arab League has accused the Syrian regime of carrying out the suspected gas attack and Saudi Arabia has called for "firm and serious" action against the state.

The US postponed a Syrian crisis meeting with Russia that was scheduled for this week because of America's ongoing review of the attack.

Snipers shot at UN inspectors on Monday

Russia said postponing The Hague meeting was a "serious disappointment". Moscow also warned that any use of force against Syria would have "catastrophic consequences".

"We call on our American colleagues and all members of the international community to show prudence, strict observance of international law, and above all, the fundamental principles of the UN Charter," the Russian Foreign Ministry said.

And deputy prime minister Dmitry Rogozin claimed western countries are behaving in the Islamic world like a "monkey with a grenade".

Russia's emergencies ministry has told Sky News that it is sending a plane to Syria today to take in humanitarian aid and is planning to bring around 150 of its citizens out.

It is unclear whether Obama would seek authority from the UN or Congress before using force. But it is likely Russia and China would block US efforts to authorise action through the UN Security Council.

Meanwhile, wary investors have exited world markets because of the talk of potential military intervention.

They moved towards safe havens such as gold and bonds while the uncertainty has driven oil prices to a six-month high.

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Online Escorts: Vancouver Police Probe Deaths

The suspected murder of two prostitutes in the same building in the space of a fortnight has sparked a major investigation in Canada.

The bodies of Jill Lyons and Karen Nabors, who both worked as online escorts, were discovered in an apartment building in Vancouver.

Ms Lyons, 45, was discovered dead in her own apartment on August 12 but autopsy reports have proved inconclusive, local media has reported.  

The body of Ms Nabors was discovered on August 25, also in her own apartment, and police are believed to have found evidence suggesting the 48-year-old was murdered.

"Investigators know both women were engaged in a high-risk lifestyle and were working as online escorts," Royal Canadian Mounted Police spokeswoman Sgt Jennifer Pound said in a statement.

"The Integrated Homicide Investigation Team's priority is to reach out to all escorts and remind them of the risks involved and to take extra precaution as it is unclear at this point why, or even if, they are in fact being targeted.

"There are similarities between the two deaths, but it is still too early to link them conclusively."

Both women were known to bring clients back to their apartments after posting adverts online. 

"They were just earning money to pay for their rent. They weren't ladies who would work the street or anything like that," neighbour Martin Piasta told Canadian paper the Globe and Mail.  

As police searched surrounding bushes, residents of the apartment building reacted with shock to news of the death of Ms Nabors. 

Neighbour Shannon Hecker said Ms Nabors was a considerate and friendly person. 

"She's a good person. Despite what people may think about what she did for a living, she didn't deserve that," she told the Province paper. 

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Perpignan: Missing Benitez Women's DNA Found

Traces of blood belonging to a woman who went missing in the south of France have been found in a freezer used by her father.

Allison Benitez, 19, and her mother, Marie-Josee Benitez, 53, vanished following an argument with Fancisco Benitez who hanged himself after leaving a suicide note protesting innocence in their disappearance.

DNA belonging to the girl's mother has also been discovered in the family washing machine, focusing suspicion that Mr Benitez may have been involved in his family's disappearance.

Mr Benetiz was found hanged at the offices of the French Foreign Legion

Detectives in Perpignan have also revealed that after his wife and daughter went missing, Mr Benitez washed carpets and took the freezer to his army barracks to be scoured clean.

Although emptied and scrubbed from top to bottom, minute traces of blood belonging to his daughter have been found.

Police hypothesised that Benitez could have washed his clothes in the washing machine if they were stained with his daughter's blood, though an investigation source advised it is still too early to draw conclusions.

Officers found a letter next to Mr Benitez's body in July at the barracks of the French Foreign Legion, where he worked as a recruitment officer, proclaiming his innocence.

According to local media reports, he was wearing his military uniform and left information in the note on who to contact and said that he wanted to be cremated.

He had protested his innocence in a suicide note

Mr Benitez's suicide came a day after he gave an emotional interview to Paris Match magazine, saying his daughter was "his life" and she would "never leave like that without giving news, it is impossible".

Sobbing throughout he told the magazine, they were "a family like any other, with ups and downs".

He also responded to what he described as violent attacks on the Internet connecting him to the disappearances. "The hardest thing is to read what people comment without knowing our private lives," he said.

Mr Benitez and his wife were in the process of separating when she and her daughter disappeared, though it had been agreed the women would move in together and Mr Benitez would pay their rent.

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