Greek court postpones trial on teen killing

Ringed by riot police and an anarchist demonstration, a court in central Greece on Wednesday postponed the trial of a policeman accused of shooting a teenager a year ago, sparking major violence.

The court in the small town of Amfissa, where the trial was relocated for security purposes, moved the trial to Friday as the main lawyer of accused officer Epaminondas Korkoneas was occupied with another trial.

Korkoneas, 38, is accused of fatally shooting 15-year-old Alexis Grigoropoulos during a December 2008 night patrol in the bohemian Athens district of Exarchia. The incident sparked several days of riots.

Around 200 anarchists marched through the centre of Amfissa on Wednesday, chanting anti-police slogans and demanding that the process be moved to Athens.

Korkoneas is on trial for voluntary homicide, while his partner Vassilis Saraliotis, 32, is accused of complicity.

One far-left extremist group has threatened to kill Korkoneas, prompting authorities to send more than 400 police to Amfissa, which is 200 kilometres (125 miles) northwest of Athens.

Greece's Supreme Court has rejected bids by the teenager's family to move it back to the capital. The court was told Wednesday that Grigoropoulos' mother Gina Tsalikian was also unable to attend the trial opening as her own mother is in grave condition in an Athens hospital.

Tsalikian, who has also appealed to Greek Prime Minister George Papandreou, argues that holding the trial far from Athens hampers the presence of key witnesses.

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Ishmael Reed on The BART shooting, Oakland & police

Oakland's Poet Laurette Ishmael Reed took time to share his view on the BART Shooting, Oakland, and police brutality against Black men.

War tax resistance, trailer for 'Death and Taxes'

This war tax resistance video was shot throughout the US through interviews with well known war tax resisters. The 30 min. final film explains why you should resist taxes to war, methods for doing so, and the possible consequences for your actions. Very informative and intended to be used before a discussion on war tax resistance. Post production by Carlos Steward, Asheville NC. Check out the entire film at http://www.nwtrcc.org

US set to discontinue depleted uranium in medium calibre ammunition

It has emerged that the United States is seeking alternatives to depleted uranium for the future development and production of medium calibre bullets for its armed forces, although US government sources have declined to confirm the reasons behind the decision.
15 January 2010 - Dave Cullen

The dramatic change in policy will affect the future development of 25 mm and 30 mm rounds, which at present are used in the Bradley Fighting Vehicle and the A-10 Thunderbolt Aircraft. The A10 Thunderbolt was responsible for the majority of depleted uranium contamination in Iraq, and almost all the contamination in the Balkans.

ICBUW has confirmed with Maneuver Ammunition Systems - the US government body which manages ammunition procurement for the US military - that a strategic decision has been made to move away from uranium in medium calibre rounds. To this end, a $2 million clean-up programme of the facility used to test fire the 25mm M919 DU round for Bradley vehicles is nearing completion. However, another range has been retained for future testing of the 30mm PGU-14/B DU round, which is used in the A10 Thunderbolt.

Any site in the US where radioactive materials are present needs to obtain a Radioactive Material Handling License, usually from the State Government. For ranges where uranium rounds can be tested, licenses are significantly more difficult to obtain than those for handling or manufacturing ammunition. It is not clear whether the capability now remains for either round to be manufactured, or whether the US is confident that it has sufficient stockpiles of them to cover its future requirements. Whatever the answer, the clean-up makes further development of uranium rounds considerably less likely.

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Wikileaks see Iceland as an offshore information center - a 'Switzerland of bits'!

They also discuss U.K. as the world's worst liberal democracy with roughly 200-300 secret gag orders.
Part 4 of 7. View other parts here.

26th Chaos Communication Congress