Gerüchte über Behandlung von Mubarak in Wien
DIE PRESSE: Eine arabische Internetzeitung spricht von einem möglichen Aufenthalt des gestürzten Präsidenten im Rudolfinerhaus. Aus saudi-arabischen Kreisen hieß es hingegegen, Mubarak bereite sich auf seinen Tod vor.

Die Gerüchte um den gestürzten ägyptischen Ex-Präsidenten Hosni Mubarak und seinen schlechten Gesundheitszustand erreichen nun auch Österreich: Der "Kurier" zitierte in seiner Donnerstagausgabe die arabische Internet-Zeitung "Youm7", wonach der 82-jährige in das Wiener Rudolfinerhaus, einem Privatspital mit gutem Ruf im Mittleren Osten, einziehen könnte. Mubarak leide unter "starker Erschöpfung und Bluthochdruck" und sei vor allem in psychisch schlechtem Zustand. >>> APA/Red. | Donnerstag, 17. Februar 2011

Why Are People In Bahrain Demonstrating?
Central to the crisis is a Sunni/Shia split which goes deeper than an island off Saudi Arabia, writes Sky's Tim Marshall

Arab Protest Unleashed In Libya And Bahrain
Hundreds of anti-government demonstrators take to the streets of Libya and Bahrain as Arab unrest spreads through the Gulf region and North Africa

Army Sorry For Sacking Soldiers By Email
The military apologises for after 38 troops were sent emails telling them they had been fired

Jordan Faces an Ethnic Divide
Jordan faces a demographic dilemma. Palestinians here, most of whom were born in the West Bank but are now naturalized Jordanians, are starting to outnumber the country's indigenous tribes and it's causing tensions. WSJ's Don Duncan reports

Gorbachev Warns of Egypt-Style Russian Revolt
THE WALL STREET JOURNAL: MOSCOW—Former Soviet President Mikhail Gorbachev said he is "ashamed" with the way Russia is run today and warned the Kremlin could face an Egypt-style uprising.

Nearly two decades after his reforms led to the collapse of the Soviet Union, Mr. Gorbachev denounced Russia's "ruling class" as "rich and dissolute," in an interview published Wednesday in Novaya Gazeta, the opposition newspaper of which he is part-owner. "I'm ashamed for us and for the country," he said.

He lambasted the Kremlin for eroding the free media and elections that he introduced in the 1980s, and warned that its grip on power could be threatened.

"If things continue the way they are, I think the probability of the Egyptian scenario will grow," he said in a separate radio interview released Tuesday, referring to the popular rebellion that ousted longtime President Hosni Mubarak last week. "Here it could end even more staggeringly," he said.

Russia's foreign minister, Sergei Lavrov, on Tuesday, warned the West against supporting the popular uprisings in the Middle East in what some analysts saw as a sign of the Kremlin's concern.

At present, public support for the Kremlin appears strong. Opposition parties, many of which have been banned by authorities, are small and weak. Police regularly disperse antigovernment demonstrations.

Mr. Gorbachev, who gets limited attention in the state media in Russia, has been speaking publicly in recent weeks ahead of his 80th birthday on March 2.

Still reviled by many Russians for bringing about the collapse of the Soviet Union, Mr. Gorbachev is probably more popular in the West, where he is credited with bringing an end to Soviet totalitarianism and the Cold War. Read on and comment >>> Gregory L. White | Wednesday, February 16, 2011

Related >>>

Is Democracy Possible?
Joel Rosenberg on 'America's News HQ'

Exclusive Interview With Israeli Defense Minister
Ehud Barak on Iranian warships

Clashes Rock Bahraini Capital
AL JAZEERA ENGLISH: Armoured vehicles seen on the streets of Manama after police storm protest site in roundabout, killing at least six


The Bahrain capital of Manama was rocked by sporadic clashes, hours after riot police attacked a makeshift encampment of pro-reform protesters in the centre of the city, killing at least six and injuring dozens of others.

An Al Jazeera correspondent, who cannot be named for security reasons, said on Thursday that "clashes were no longer limited to one place...they are now spread out in different parts of the city". He said that the hospitals are full of injured people after last night's police raid on the pro-reform demonstrators.

"Some of them are severely injured with gunshots. Patients include doctors and emergency personnel who were overrun by the police while trying to attend to the wounded."

Another Al Jazeera online producer said that booms could be heard from different parts of the city, suggesting that "tear-gas is being used to disperse the protesters in several neighbourhoods".

Latest reports, however, indicated that a tense calm had descended on the capital with troops patroling the streets. There were also reports of dozens of armoured vehicles moving towards the Pearl Roundabout, the protest site that was raided by the riot police.

Heavily-armed police stormed the traffic circle while the protesters camping overnight were asleep.

Speaking to Al Jazeera from Salmaniya hospital, the main medical facility in Manama, Maryama Alkawaka of Bahrain Centre for Human Rights, said that she saw dozens of injured demonstrators being wheeled into emergency rooms early on Thursday morning.

Nazea Saeed, a journalist with Radio Monte Carlo, said hundreds of people had gathered at the hospital.

Speaking to Al Jazeera from the scene, she said the crowd is chanting: "Down with Al-Khalifa", in reference to the country's ruling family.

"People are also chanting that the blood of the victims will not be in vain," she added. >>> Al Jazeera and agencies | Thursday, February 17, 2011

Bahrain Crackdown: Riot Police Storm Protest Camp on Manama Pearl Square

Anti-government Protesters Killed in Libyan Clash
THE GUARDIAN: Libyan protesters seeking to oust longtime leader Moammar Gadhafi defied a crackdown and took to the streets in four cities Thursday on what activists have dubbed a "day of rage," amid reports that at least 14 demonstrators have been killed in clashes with pro-government groups.

New York-based Human Rights Watch said Libyan internal security forces also have arrested at least 14 people. Hundreds of pro-government demonstrators also rallied in the capital, Tripoli, blocking traffic in some areas, witnesses said.

An opposition website and an anti-Gadhafi activist said unrest broke out during marches in four Libyan cities Thursday. Organizers were using social networking sites like Facebook and Twitter to call for nationwide demonstrations.

"Today the Libyans broke the barrier or fear, it is a new dawn," said Faiz Jibril, an opposition leader in exile.

Opposition website Libya Al-Youm said four protesters were slain by snipers from the Internal Security Forces in the eastern city of Beyida, which had protests Wednesday and Thursday. It's not clear when the protesters were killed. The website also said there was a demonstration Thursday in Benghazi, Libya's second-Largest [sic] city.

Switzerland-based Libyan activist Fathi al-Warfali said 11 protesters were killed in Beyida on Wednesday night, and scores were wounded. He said the government dispatched Army commandos to quell the uprising. >>> Salah Nasrawi | AP foreign | Thursday, February 17, 2011

FRANKFURTER ALLGEMEINE ZEITUNG: Berichte über Tote bei Protesten in Libyen: Bei Zusammenstößen zwischen Gaddafi-Gegnern und der Polizei sollen bislang sieben Menschen getötet worden sein. Die Proteste konzentrierten sich bislang auf die Städte im Nordosten Libyens. Oppositionelle haben zu einem „Tag des Zorns“ aufgerufen. >>> dpa | Donnerstag, 17. Februar 2011

Arrest Triggers Libya Protest
Feb 17 - Demonstrators demand the release of a detained human rights campaigners in a rare show of unrest in the eastern city of Benghazi. Paul Chapman reports

Bahrain Protest Crackdown
Feb 17 - Video footage shows the moment police move in on protesters camped out in Manama. Paul Chapman reports

Steve Jobs Receiving Treatment At Cancer Clinic Where Patrick Swayze Was Patient
RADAR ONLINE: Steve Jobs - who is on another medical leave of absence from Apple, the company he co-founded and manages as its longtime CEO - is receiving treatment at a cancer clinic where Hollywood star Patrick Swayze was a patient in his final days.

RadarOnline.com has confirmed Jobs, 55, has been attending the Stanford Cancer Center in Palo Alto, California, where Swayze sought radical chemotherapy for pancreatic cancer before his death in September, 2009.

The skeletal-looking Apple boss was photographed outside the clinic in images set to be published in the next edition of The National Enquirer. >>> | Wednesday, February 16, 2011

Ben Ali victime d'une attaque cérébrale
LE POINT: L'ex-président tunisien est réfugié en Arabie saoudite après avoir fui son pays à la mi-janvier.

L'ex-président tunisien Zine el-Abidine Ben Ali a été victime d'une attaque cérébrale, selon des sources militaires et gouvernementales tunisiennes interrogées par Le Point.fr. L'information avait été révélée sur le blog de Nicolas Beau, journaliste spécialiste de la Tunisie et auteur, avec Catherine Graciet, d'une biographie de l'épouse de Ben Ali, Leïla Trabelsi. >>> Par Aziz Zemouri | Jeudi 17 Février 2011

Le blog tunisien de Nicolas Beau : Un blog dédié à la Tunisie et au monde arabe, ainsi qu'aux filouteries des bandits qui nous gouvernent. >>>

Exiled Tunisian Ruler Ben Ali Reported to Be in Coma
NEWS.COM.AU: DEPOSED Tunisian leader Zine el Abidine Ben Ali suffered a stroke a month after fleeing the country and was in a "worrying" condition in a Saudi hospital, French media have reported.

Ben Ali, who fled to Saudi Arabia on January 14 in the wake of a popular uprising against his decades-long rule, suffered a stroke earlier this week, Le Monde reported, citing the blog of French journalist Nicolas Beau, a veteran reporter specialisng in Tunisia.

Ben Ali was rushed to the hospital in Jeddah reserved for Saudi princes and was admitted under a false identity, the newspaper reported. >>> NewsCore | Thursday, February 17, 2011

THE GUARDIAN: Zine al-Abidine Ben Ali in a coma: Former Tunisian leader in hospital in Saudi Arabia after suffering a stroke two days ago, according to French agencies >>> Angelique Chrisafis | Thursday, February 17, 2011

LE FIGARO: Ben Ali serait dans le coma, selon un proche de sa famille : D'autres sources non-officielles évoquaient déjà son hospitalisation en Arabie saoudite après une attaque cérébrale. L'opposant Marzouki craint une manipulation. >>> Par Tristan Vey | Jeudi 17 Février 2011

King of Bahrain Speaks After Two Deaths During Wave of Protests
Speaking on Bahrain TV, Hamad bin Isa al-Khalifa promises an investigation into the deaths of a demonstrator shot dead at an anti-government rally and another man who died in clashes between police and mourners at the protester's funeral

Iran's Crown Prince Calls on West to Support Anti-government Protests
THE DAILY TELEGRAPH: The exiled heir to the Iranian throne has called on the West to seize an opportunity to assist pro-democracy protests calling for the overthrow of the Islamic regime.

Violence erupted in Tehran on Wednesday as a group of pro-regime militia attacked mourners at the funeral of a man killed in protests on Monday. The demonstrations, reportedly inspired by the mass revolt that overthrew the presidents of Egypt and Tunisia, were the first serious challenge to the Islamic regime since the opposition was brutally crushed in 2009.

Also the defeated presidential candidates Mir-Hossein Mousavi and Mehdi Karroubi, who had spearheaded the 2009 street protests vowed to defy government moves to “hang them” for fermenting unrest.

Sane’e Zhale was killed in a “day of rage” protest on Monday, the regime said it would mobilise its supporters to crush future dissent.
Reza Pahlavi, Crown Prince of Iran, said Iran’s youth were determined to get rid of an authoritarian government tainted by corruption and misrule in the hope of installing a democracy.

“Fundamental and necessary change is long overdue for our region and we have a whole generation of young Egyptian and Iranians not willing to take no for an answer,” the American-based campaigner for Iranian democracy told the Daily Telegraph. “Democratisation is now an imperative that cannot be denied. It is only a matter of time before the whole region can transform itself.

“But when people are facing a brutal regime it is much more difficult without the help of the free world. The movement could fall back and if people are abandoned it really will be a very ugly development.” Mass protests paralysed Iran in the wake of the June 2009 presidential elections but a vicious response from state-backed militias in which dozens were killed and thousands arrested crushed the opposition movement.

The Prince is now using his base in Washington to ensure that Hillary Clinton, the US Secretary of State and President Barack Obama do not “fluff” a second opportunity to align America with the freedom-seeking youths on Iran’s streets. >>> Damien McElroy, and Ahmad Vahdat | Wednesday, February 16, 2011

Libya Braces for 'Day of Anger' as Protests Continue throughout Middle East
THE DAILY TELEGRAPH: Libya is to be hit by a "Day of Anger" on Thursday as protests mount against the rule of Colonel Muammar Gaddafi, the latest leader to be engulfed by a wave of unrest spreading across the Middle East.

Security forces in Libya's second city, Benghazi, were confirmed to have clashed with protesters who staged a sit-in to highlight the arrest of a lawyer. One hospital said 38 people were injured, none seriously.

The lawyer, Fethi Tarbel, represented some of the families of inmates killed in a notorious prison massacre in which more than 1,000 men died 15 years ago.

But the protest came shortly before a demonstration already announced on Facebook to commemorate the fifth anniversary of another incident, when 14 people were killed in a rally by Islamists, also in Benghazi.

According to one page, the day has been named "The February 17 Intifada: A Day of Strikes in Libya". According to another, it is a "Day of Anger" akin to ones which have already convulsed Egypt and Bahrain.

It is being publicised inside and outside the country, including by an internet rapper known as Ibn Thabit, whose YouTube video calls for an end to the "ignorant colonel". >>> Richard Spencer, Middle East Correspondent | Wednesday, February 16, 2011

Four decades of Gaddafi >>>

Roman Abramovich Declares Assets
THE DAILY TELEGRAPH: Roman Abramovich, the Russian oligarch, has declared his assets for the first time in more than a decade, disclosing that he has 16 properties, seven cars, 22 bank accounts, six companies, and one football club.

The 44-year-old businessman and owner of Chelsea Football Club made the declaration as part of a campaign to run for re-election as a local MP in Chukotka, a remote region in Russia's far east which he used to run on the Kremlin's behalf.

The disclosure is part of President Dmitry Medvedev's anti-corruption drive as he pushes all politicians to declare their assets.

Mr Abramovich's declaration listed seven properties in Britain, two in the United States, three in France, and four in Russia.

They are known to include two houses in Lowndes Square, Belgravia, which are together estimated to be worth up to £150 million; a house in the South of France once used by Edward VIII and Wallace Simpson which he is thought to have spent £30 million; his main Moscow residence, two properties in Aspen, Colorado together worth £30 million, and a luxurious residence in the Caribbean worth £56 million.

The publicity-shy tycoon also disclosed that he owned seven cars, mostly a mixture of high-end Mercedes and BMWs that would altogether cost an estimated £650,000 to buy new. >>> Andrew Osborn, Moscow | Thursday, February 17, 2011

Related >>>

Unrest Spreads as Bahrain Cracks Down on Protesters
REUTERS: Bahrain police stormed a Manama square on Thursday to clear activists camped out there as anti-government protests in the Middle East and North Africa, inspired by revolts in Tunisia and Egypt, gathered pace.

Clashes were reported in tightly controlled oil producer Libya, sandwiched between Egypt and Tunisia, as people there prepared to take to the streets for a "day of rage" after new protests erupted in Yemen, Iran and Iraq.

The demonstrations against old rulers came after U.S. President Barack Obama commenting on the overthrow of Egypt's Hosni Mubarak, said: "The world is changing ... If you are governing these countries, you've got to get ahead of the change, you can't be behind the curve.

Authoritarian governments have reason to fear contagion with young people able to watch pro-democracy uprisings on satellite television or the Internet and to communicate on social networks hard for secret police to control.

In Bahrain, police firing tear gas and rubber bullets cleared hundreds of people from the central Pearl Square in the early hours as they tried to end three days of protests. >>> Cynthia Johnston, Manama | Thursday, February 17, 2011

Police Teargas Bahrain Protesters
Feb 17 - Deaths as Bahrain police teargas protest camp in a central Manama square. Marie-Claire Fennessy reports


Bahrain: Riot Police Fire on Protest Camp
THE DAILY TELEGRAPH: Riot police have stormed a protest camp in Bahrain's capital, killing at least three people, as the government tried to quell three days of protest.


Hundreds of security forces used batons, rubber bullets and tear gas on demonstrators who had been camped out in Pearl Square calling for political reform.

In the clashes that followed, an estimated 100 people were injured.
After the police had cleared the square in the capital Manama, 50 tanks were deployed to patrol the city's streets in a show of force by the authorities.

"Police are coming, they are shooting teargas at us," one protestor said amid the chaos. Another said: "I am wounded, I am bleeding. They are killing us."

Demonstrators had gathered in Pearl Square in the hope of emulating the protest in Cairo that led to the fall of Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak. >>> | Thursday, February 17, 2011

Oil Rises as Mideast Tensions Flare
Summary of business headlines: Oil prices rally on new Suez Canal concerns; Fed raises forecasts, but inflation shows up in January; Borders files for bankruptcy; Wall Street ends at new multi-year highs

Anger in Pakistan over US Diplomat
Feb 16 - Senator John Kerry is pressing the case for the U.S. as he meets with Pakistani officials in an effort to secure immunity for an American diplomat. Deborah Lutterbeck reports

More Clashes Erupt in Yemen Capital
Feb 16 - Anti-government protesters and regime loyalists clash in Yemen's capital Sanaa as unrest continues to sweep the region. Travis Brecher reports

Bahrain Protesters Rally for 3rd Day
Feb 16 - Thousands are camped out in the centre of the capital while mourners bury a demonstrator killed in clashes. Maryam Ishani reports

Berlusconi "Not Worried"
Feb 16 - Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi says he is not worried about standing trial for paying for sex with an underage girl. Deborah Lutterbeck reports

Analysis - Arab Uprisings Overturn Clichés on Democracy
REUTERS: Arab uprisings against unpopular Western-backed rulers have undercut the arguments of some Western intellectuals about passive populations who are not prepared to fight for democracy.

During the 2003 U.S. invasion of Iraq, neoconservative cheerleaders for war who had direct access to Western policymakers said force was the only way to take down Arab dictators. A minority of Arab intellectuals agreed with them.

Many writers, especially in the United States, suggested there were characteristics peculiar to the region that could explain why Arabs had not been touched by the democratic wave that toppled East European regimes two decades ago.

Often they cited Islam, or implied there was something wrong in the Arab psyche. Those who suggested more of a focus on U.S. policies and backing for unpopular regimes have had less access to mainstream media and policy makers.

Bernard Lewis, one of the intellectual giants of this trend, wrote in 2005 that "creating a democratic political and social order in Iraq or elsewhere in the region will not be easy," as if "creating" democracy required American tutelage.

The uprisings that removed Tunisian President Zine al-Abidine Ben Ali on January 14 and Egypt's President Hosni Mubarak four weeks later have shown the people are capable of doing it themselves, even when up against huge odds. >>> Andrew Hammond, Cairo | Wednesday, February 16, 2011

Islam: The Enemy of Democracy and Freedom >>> Mark Alexander | Friday, April 20, 2011

«Libyen ist ein Pulverfass»
SCHWEIZER FERNSEHEN: Nach der Niederschlagung der Proteste gegen das Regime in Libyen stellt sich für Politologin Elham Manea eine Frage: Wie lange hält sich der libysche Staatschef Muammar al Gaddafi noch an der Macht? Mit Brutalität gegen Oppositionelle kann Gaddafi sein Ende nur noch hinauszögern.

In der libyschen Bevölkerung brodle es schon lange: «Es fehlt den Menschen an einem ganzen Paket von Grundrechten und Demokratie», erklärte die Dozentin am Institut für Politikwissenschaft Zürich zu «tagesschau.sf.tv».

Öl-Geldsegen ist nicht für alle

Ausserdem gebe es eine grosse Zersplitterung in Libyen. Gewisse Regionen profitierten vom Öl-Reichtum des Landes, während dem in andern Teilen nichts von diesem Reichtum zu spüren sei.

In Bengasi, wo in der Nacht zum Mittwoch die Proteste ausgebrochen sind, spüre die Bevölkerung nichts vom Geldsegen aus dem Ölgeschäft. «Gaddafi und seine Elite sind dort verhasst.» >>> Franziska Engelhardt | Mittwoch, 16. Februar 2011

Protestwelle erfasst Libyen
Seit 41 Jahren regiert Muammar Gaddafi Libyen oppositionslos mit harter Hand. Jetzt fordern Demonstranten auch in Bengasi lautstark den Rücktritt des Staatschefs

Ahmadinedschad gibt sich unnachgiebig
Trotz heftigen Protesten gibt das iranische Regime von Präsident Ahmadinedschad keinen Zentimeter nach. Hohe Geistliche fordern erneut die Hinrichtung von Oppositionellen. Einschätzungen von Ulrich Tilgner, SF-Korrespondent, Teheran

Where Are the Moderates?
YNET NEWS: Op-ed: Obama in for rude awakening if he thinks groups like Muslim Brotherhood are moderate

In 2008, I had the opportunity to travel to Tunisia and meet with private citizens and public officials to discuss American foreign policy towards the Muslim world. It was fortuitous time to be in a Muslim country. It was during the height of the race for the US presidency and all three candidates, Obama, Clinton and McCain, were still in the running. The direction of where the next US president was on the minds of the local Tunisians as well.

The overwhelming majority of the individuals I spoke to all saw Obama as the best thing that could happen to US-Muslim relations. The locals identified him as the candidate who best understood the Muslim mindset. Furthermore, as far as the Middle East at large is concerned, Tunisia saw itself as a model for moderation and believed that they could export this model to the Middle East. This belief included Israeli-Palestinian relations where Tunisians believed they could play instrumental role in bringing peace.

This somewhat naïve sentiment was something I was willing to entertain, given Tunisian acceptance of its Jewish minority. The Jewish community of Djerba is today unique in a Muslim country. But it is key to stress here that when questioned about what Tunisia is doing to promote these aspects of “moderation,” it was assumed that the global community should “of course” know who and what they stand for. Moderation was defined by moderates, and the reverse. What it really meant in terms of attitudes or behaviors could not be quite specified.

History shows that Tunisian moderation has many sides. Recall for example that after Israel went into Lebanon in 1982, Arafat and his “kitchen cabinet” were evacuated from Beirut and with the help of the US were able to set up shop in Tunis. Sympathy for the PLO and Arafat were great, and in recent decades this has solidified in Tunisia. One of the major roads is named Yasser Arafat Boulevard. >>> Asaf Romirowsky | Wednesday, February 16, 2011

Jordan: Muslims Demand Ban on Nightclubs
YNET NEWS: Group of 109 Jordanian scholars, clerics also want 'laws that fight all anti-Islamic acts'

Dozens of Muslim scholars are demanding the closure of nightclubs and discotheques in Jordan, saying such entertainment erodes the nation's morals.

Jordan's largest opposition group, the Muslim Brotherhood, has made such demands in the past. However, Wednesday's call was joined by dozens of independent clergymen, a sign that the idea is becoming more popular in Muslim circles.

The appeal is not binding for Jordan's pro-Western government which says nightclubs and discos are necessary to maintain a flow of foreign tourists, a key source of revenue.

"We demand the government close all nightclubs, which work under the pretext of promoting tourism," 109 clerics, among them a former cabinet minister, MPs, Islamist leaders, university professors and mosque preachers, said in the joint statement.

"We also demand the authorities combat prostitution and brothels, and introduce laws that fight all anti-Islamic and unethical acts which destroy our society," the statement said. >>> News agencies | Wednesday, February 16, 2011

'Queen Rania Is a Corrupt Thief'
YNET NEWS: 36 Jordanian tribal leaders break silence with unprecedented letter criticizing King Abdullah's wife; accuse her of 'serving own interests, stealing money from treasury', warn of uprising similar to Egypt

Will Jordanian Queen Rania Al-Abdullah and her husband be next in line to flee their homeland, as was the case with the leaders of Tunisia and Egypt? In a letter published this week by 36 Jordanian tribal leaders, who represent nearly 40% of the population and play an important role in the kingdom's politics, the Queen was criticized relentlessly.

In the letter, Rania was accused of "corruption, stealing money from the Treasury and manipulating in order to promote her public image – against the Jordanian people's will."

The tribal leaders compared the queen to the wife of former Tunisian president Leila Ben Ali, who stole from her country's treasury for years, giving her family members vast sums of money and land at the expense of the Tunisian citizens.

"We call upon the King to return lands and farms given to the Yassin family (Rania's family). The land belongs to the Jordanian people," they wrote. Such a letter criticizing the royal family can lead to a three year jail sentence in Jordan. >>> Roey Simioni | Monday, February 14, 2011

Related >>>

Shimon Pérès : le peuple fera tomber le pouvoir iranien
LE POINT: Le président israélien affirme : "La plus grande corruption politique et morale au monde se trouve aujourd'hui en Iran."

Le régime au pouvoir à Téhéran "sera stoppé par son propre peuple", a affirmé mercredi le président israélien, Shimon Pérès. "La plus grande corruption politique et morale au monde se trouve en Iran aujourd'hui", a déclaré Shimon Pérès devant la conférence annuelle des présidents des principales organisations juives américaines à Jérusalem. "C'est le peuple iranien qui fera tomber ce pouvoir. Ce que l'actuelle direction iranienne fait aujourd'hui est une honte pour l'histoire de ce pays, sa culture et les souffrances de son peuple", a ajouté Shimon Pérès. >>> Le Point.fr | Mercredi 16 Février 2011

Une large majorité de Français ne veut pas d'une seconde candidature de Sarkozy
LE POINT: Selon le dernier sondage Ipsos/Le Point, 63 % ne souhaitent pas que le chef de l'État se représente en 2012.

Une large majorité de Français (63 %) ne souhaite pas que Nicolas Sarkozy se représente en 2012, contre 34 % qui le souhaitent et 3 % sans opinion, selon un sondage Ipsos pour l'hebdomadaire Le Point à paraître jeudi. Lors d'un précédent sondage réalisé par le même institut en août 2010, ils étaient 62 % à ne pas vouloir que le président de la République brigue un second mandat, contre 35 % qui y étaient favorables (3 % étaient sans opinion). En mars 2010, ce chiffre était de 58 % de personnes défavorables à sa candidature, contre 33 % qui l'appelaient de leurs voeux (9 % sans opinion). >>> Le Point.fr | Mercredi 16 Février 2011

Hosni Mubarak: The Last Pharaoh

Singapore Then and Now

Curveball Could Face Jail for War-mongering, Says German MP
THE GUARDIAN: Agent whose lies about Saddam's weapons capability led to Iraq war has broken German law, says Green MP

A German politician has warned that the agent known as Curveball could go to jail after telling the Guardian that he lied about Saddam Hussein's bioweapons capability to "liberate" Iraq.

Green MP Hans-Christian Ströbele said that Curveball, a 43-year-old Iraqi dissident named Rafid Ahmed Alwan al-Janabi, had arguably violated a German law that makes war-mongering illegal.

He also said that Gerhard Schröder, chancellor of Germany at the start of the Iraq war, should also reveal what he knew about the quality of evidence Curveball gave to Germany's secret service, the BND.

Under section 26 of German constitutional law, it is a criminal offence to do anything "with the intent to disturb the peaceful relations between nations, especially anything that leads to an aggressive war", said Ströbele. >>> Helen Pidd in Berlin | Wednesday, February 16, 2011

Why Yemen Isn’t Egypt
CNN's Mohammed Jamjoom reports on rising unrest in Yemen and what that could mean for the country's future

Libyans Clash with Police over Detained Lawyer, Source Says
CNN: Libyan police clashed with protesters chanting anti-government slogans and demanding the release of a human rights activist early Wednesday, an independent source in the country told CNN.

Up to 200 protesters in the coastal city of Benghazi were supporting human rights activist and lawyer Fathi Terbil, who had been detained earlier, the source said.

Several people were arrested after police confronted the protesters, the source added.

However, a highly placed Libyan source close to the government sought to downplay the reports of unrest. The source asked not to be identified because he was not authorized to talk to the media. >>> Tim Lister, CNN | CNN's Zain Verjee contributed to this report | Wednesday, February 16, 2011

Battling Bedbugs
CNN's Ayesha Durgahee looks at a some of the unconventional ways to detect and kill bedbugs

Related here

Egypt: US Reporter Sexually Assaulted in Tahrir Square
THE DAILY TELEGRAPH: A female CBS News correspondent is recovering in a US hospital from a sexual attack and beating she suffered while reporting on the tumultuous events in Egypt last week.

Lara Logan, who has also worked for GMTV, was in the Cairo's Tahrir Square on Friday after Egyptian president Hosni Mubarak stepped down when she, her team and their security "were surrounded by a dangerous element amidst the celebration," CBS said in a statement.

The network described a mob of more than 200 people "whipped into a frenzy."

Separated from her crew in the crush of the violent pack, she suffered what CBS called "a brutal and sustained sexual assault and beating." She was rescued by a group of women and an estimated 20 Egyptian soldiers, the network said.

Logan returned to the US on Saturday. >>> | Wednesday, February 16, 2011

THE GUARDIAN: Egyptian activists condemn brutal attack on CBS reporter in Tahrir Square: Serious assault on Lara Logan of CBS took place in middle of crowd at height of celebrations after Hosni Mubarak resigned >>> Jack Shenker in Cairo | Thursday, February 17, 2011

Cuba Experimenting With Capitalism
Communist regime allows small business

'Mubarak Must Return Money,' Says Castro
THE GUARDIAN: Hosni Mubarak is suspected of squirrelling away a fortune running into hundreds of millions abroad. Former Cuban president Fidel Castro has backed Egyptians' demand that the cash be clawed back to help alleviate poverty in Egypt

Watch video here | Wednesday, February 16, 2011

Secrets of the Dead | Escape from Auschwitz
Two Auschwitz prisoners were determined to expose the horrors of the Nazi genocide

Watch the full episode. See more Secrets of the Dead.

Gorbatchev a "honte" de la Russie, 20 ans après la fin de sa perestroïka
LE POINT: Le dernier dirigeant soviétique, contraint de quitter le pouvoir en 1991, dénonce l'autoritarisme du régime actuel.

Le dernier dirigeant soviétique Mikhaïl Gorbatchev a vertement critiqué, mercredi, une Russie aux élites "dépravées" où la vie politique se résume à une "imitation", disant avoir "honte" de son pays, près de vingt ans après la fin de la perestroïka qu'il avait lancée. Dans un long entretien accordé au journal d'opposition Novaïa Gazeta dont il est l'un des actionnaires, Mikhaïl Gorbatchev, qui fêtera ses 80 ans le 2 mars, a notamment raconté que le chef adjoint de l'administration du Kremlin, Vladislav Sourkov, considéré comme le principal "idéologue" du pouvoir russe, l'a empêché de créer un parti social-démocrate.

"J'avais l'intention avec mes amis de créer un parti. Quand Sourkov l'a appris, il m'a demandé ça vous sert à quoi ? De toute façon, nous n'enregistrerons pas votre parti", a-t-il révélé. "La classe dirigeante se conduit de manière révoltante. Ils sont riches et dépravés. Leur idéal c'est (Roman) Abramovitch", milliardaire, propriétaire du club de football londonien Chelsea, de yachts et de villas luxueuses, estime Mikhaïl Gorbatchev. "J'ai honte de cette riche débauche" >>> Le Point.fr | Mercredi 16 Février 2011

Gorbachev Criticises Russia' Ruling Elite
NEWS 24: Moscow - The last leader of the Soviet Union, Mikhail Gorbachev, on Wednesday launched a stinging attack on Russia's ruling elite, claiming the Kremlin had banned him from setting up a political party.



In an interview with Novaya Gazeta newspaper ahead of his 80th birthday on March 2, Gorbachev said he wanted to set up a social democratic party but the Kremlin's chief ideologue Vladislav Surkov warned it would not be registered.



"With my friends, I have an idea to set up a party. When Surkov found out, he asked: 'Why do you need this? In any case, we are not going to register your party'," Gorbachev said.



Surkov, Kremlin first deputy chief of staff, is credited with creating the centralised power system that has marked Russia under the rule of Vladimir Putin as well as coining the phrase "sovereign democracy".



"I replied: We will create a movement," Gorbachev said. "And we created it. But a movement is not a party and does not take part in elections. We need to have a social democratic party that does not depend on the authorities."



He accused the ruling class in Russia of showing indifference to its people and also lashed out at billionaire Roman Abramovich who has built up his fortune while staying well away from politics. >>> SAPA | Wednesday, February 16, 2011

South Koreans in Anti-North Rally
Feb 16 - South Korean protesters in Seoul say they're hoping the popular uprisings of Tunisia and Egypt will spread to North Korea. Paul Chapman reports

North Korean leader turns 69
Feb 16 - North Korea marks the 69th birthday of leader Kim Jong-il as TV footage emerges of one of his sons attending an Eric Clapton concert in Singapore. Marie-Claire Fennessy reports

LE POINT: La Corée du Nord célèbre, dans la pénurie, le 69e anniversaire de Kim : La Corée du Nord célébrait mercredi le 69e anniversaire de son dirigeant Kim Jong-Il mais, selon un groupe de transfuges, les festivités étaient plus réduites qu'à l'habitude en raison notamment de la pénurie alimentaire chronique. >>> AFP | Mercredi 16 Février 2011

Egypt-inspired Protests Gain Pace Across Region
REUTERS: Anti-government protests inspired by popular revolts that toppled rulers in Tunisia and Egypt are gaining pace around the Middle East and North Africa despite political and economic concessions by nervous governments.

Clashes were reported for the first time in tightly controlled Libya, sandwiched between Egypt and Tunisia, while new protests erupted in Bahrain, Yemen and Iran on Wednesday.

The latest demonstrations against long-serving rulers came after U.S. President Barack Obama, commenting on the overthrow of Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak, declared: "The world is changing...if you are governing these countries, you've got to get out ahead of change, you can't be behind the curve."

With young people able to watch pro-democracy uprisings in other countries on satellite television or the Internet, and to communicate with like-minded activists on social networks hard for the secret police to control, governments across the region have grounds to fear contagion. >>> Paul Taylor | Wednesday, February 16, 2011

Plagiatsvorwurf: Guttenberg soll bei Doktorarbeit abgeschrieben haben
DER TAGESSPIEGEL: Verteidigungsminister Karl-Theodor zu Guttenberg (CSU) muss sich gegen Vorwürfe wehren, er habe bei seiner Doktorarbeit getäuscht. Die Dissertation soll an mehreren Stellen "ein dreistes Plagiat" sein.

Nach Informationen der "Süddeutschen Zeitung" gibt es in Guttenbergs Doktorarbeit einige Passagen, die wörtlich mit Formulierungen anderer Autoren übereinstimmen, ohne dass er dies gekennzeichnet hat.

Die Dissertation sei an mehreren Stellen "ein dreistes Plagiat" und "eine Täuschung", zitiert das Blatt den Bremer Juraprofessor Andreas Fischer-Lescano, der die Parallelen dem Bericht zufolge bei einer Routineprüfung entdeckt hatte. Fischer-Lescano lehrt an der Universität Bremen Öffentliches Recht, Europa- und Völkerrecht. >>> dpa | Mittwoch, 16. Februar 2011

THE DAILY TELEGRAPH: German minister accused of plagiarising thesis: Germany's most popular minister on Wednesday denied he was guilty of plagiarising his doctoral thesis as his former university announced a probe into accusations made in a daily paper. >>> | Wednesday, February 16, 2011

Egypt Faces Economic Instability Post-Mubarak
Citizens in search of work

Iranian Lawmakers Call for Execution of Opposition Leaders
Protests growing increasingly violent

Violent Protests Break Out in Libya
Clashes reported in eastern city of Benghazi as security forces and government supporters confront demonstrators

Tensions Rise Between Sides in Yemen
In Yemen, thousands of people returned to the steets for a fifth day demanding President Ali Abdullah Saleh steps down. At the same time, swelling numbers of government loyalists occupied strategic locations in the capital, chanting slogans and saying they won't allow pro-democracy protesters to drive the country towards instability and chaos. Al Jazeera's Hashem Ahelbarra reports

Hosni Moubarak, le pharaon déchu
LE FIGARO: PORTRAIT - Après trente ans de règne sans partage, le président égyptien est victime du verrouillage d'un système de pouvoir qu'il avait lui-même mis en place. La révolte du peuple a eu raison de cet autocrate jusque-là intouchable.

Hosni Moubarak avait promis à son peuple «une société égalitaire, non une société de privilège». Alors qu'il s'efface de la scène après 30 ans de règne, jamais l'inégalité et les privilèges n'ont été aussi flagrants. La corruption sévit à tous les niveaux, du bakchich obligatoire pour toute démarche administrative au racket organisé par le pouvoir. Le régime règne par la surveillance, la peur et l'humiliation. La torture est banalisée, comme en témoignent des vidéos sur Internet montrant de simples quidams martyrisés dans les commissariats pour avoir simplement rencontré une patrouille de police au mauvais moment. Le système politique est sclérosé, réservant la candidature à l'élection présidentielle au seul candidat du parti au pouvoir.

On a peine à se souvenir que l'intronisation de Hosni Moubarak avait suscité l'espoir des Égyptiens, même si elle était la conséquence d'une catastrophe: l'assassinat d'Anouar el-Sadate, le 6 octobre 1981, par un commando islamiste. La rupture de style fut complète. Ses deux prédécesseurs irradiaient le charme. Les Égyptiens surnommèrent Moubarak «la vache qui rit» à cause de son sourire figé et de sa ressemblance supposée avec l'emblème du fromage fondu, populaire au Proche-Orient. Mais, au fond, le peuple et la classe dirigeante se sentirent rassurés. Après le flamboyant Nasser et l'imprévisible Sadate, qui avait lancé l'Égypte dans la guerre avant de signer la paix à Jérusalem, les Égyptiens étaient fatigués des héros. «Moubarak, c'est “Monsieur Moyen”. L'Égypte avait besoin d'une baisse de régime. Il est arrivé au bon moment», écrivit l'intellectuel Saad el-Dine Ibrahim. >>> Par Pierre Prier | Lundi 14 Février 2011

GB: étrangers à hauts salaires bienvenus
LE FIGARO: Les étrangers venant travailler au Royaume-Uni avec un salaire annuel de plus de 150.000 livres (près de 180.000 euros) seront exclus des nouveaux quotas migratoires afin de ne pas priver le pays des "meilleurs talents", a annoncé mercredi le gouvernement.



La mesure, qui répond à une demande pressante du monde économique, s'appliquera aux immigrants pouvant justifier d'un contrat de travail, a précisé le secrétaire d'Etat chargé de l'immigration Damian Green. Elle permettra aux avocats, banquiers ou chercheurs étrangers de haut niveau d'échapper aux règles mises en place à compter d'avril pour juguler l'immigration, à condition toutefois que leur casier judicaire dans leur pays d'origine soit vierge. La Grande-Bretagne doit attirer pour son économie "les meilleurs talents et les professionnels les plus brillants", a expliqué M. Green, tout en estimant que "cela ne doit pas se faire au détriment des travailleurs déjà présents". >>> AFP | Mercredi 16 Février 2011

Des manifestants opposés à Kadhafi dispersés par la police
LE MONDE: La police libyenne a dispersé par la force, dans la nuit de mardi 15 à mercredi 16 février, un sit-in contre le pouvoir à Benghazi. Des centaines de partisans du dirigeant libyen, Mouammar Kadhafi, ont, quant à eux, défilé peu après dans plusieurs villes du pays, a-t-on appris de sources concordantes. Au moins quatorze personnes auraient été blessées dans ces affrontements.

Des membres des familles de prisonniers tués en 1996 dans une fusillade dans la prison d'Abou Slim, à Tripoli, se sont rassemblés devant un poste de police à Bengazi pour réclamer la libération de leur coordinateur, l'avocat Fethi Tarbel, a rapporté le journal en ligne Al-Manara. D'après un habitant de la ville, cinq cents à six cents personnes ont manifesté leur colère. >>> LEMONDE.FR avec AFP et Reuters | Mercredi 16 Février 2011

Amerika ist fast wie Griechenland
ZEIT ONLINE: Die US-Schulden wachsen dramatisch. Doch Demokraten wie Republikaner schweigen über die notwendigen Sparmaßnahmen, denn 2012 wird gewählt.

Sind die USA noch zu retten? Ein Drittel der laufenden Ausgaben kann das Land nur durch Aufnahme neuer Schulden decken. Die Gesamtverschuldung durchbricht gerade die Schallmauer der kompletten Wertschöpfung eines Jahres. 14.300.000.000.000 Dollar. Amiland ist abgebrannt. Es ist das neue Griechenland – nur viel schlimmer.

Erstens sind die USA die größte Volkswirtschaft der Erde, mit weitem Abstand vor der neuen Nummer zwei, China. Zweitens hängt die wichtigste Weltwährung, der Dollar, von der Seriosität amerikanischer Finanzpolitik ab. Drittens war die Finanzkrise nur der Auslöser; die Probleme enden nicht, wenn die Konjunktur anspringt. Die Ursachen sind vielmehr struktureller Natur, auch die US-Bevölkerung altert, die staatlichen Zuschüsse zu den Sicherungssystemen explodieren. Viertens muss die Rettung von innen kommen. Im Fall Griechenlands hatten die Euro-Partner Druckmittel: Sie machten ihre Hilfe abhängig von Athens Selbstdisziplin. Es gibt keine Autorität, die die USA in ähnlicher Weise auf den Pfad der Tugend zurückzwingen kann. >>> Von Christoph von Marschall | Dienstag, 15. Februar 2011

Deutsche Boerse's $10 Bln NYSE Deal
Germany's Deutsche Boerse will take over NYSE Euronext in a deal valued at $10.2 billion, but the new company does not have a name, highlighting control concerns in both countries. Conway Gittens reports


Strong Reactions to NYSE Deal
Summary of business headlines: New Yorkers react to Deutsche Boerse, NYSE Euronext deal; Retail sales up less than forecasts; U.S. stocks close lower in light volume session. Bobbi Rebell reports

Bahrain Protesters Gather in Capital for Third Day
REUTERS: Thousands of Shi'ite demonstrators, inspired by popular revolts that toppled rulers in Tunisia and Egypt, poured into Bahrain's capital on Wednesday to mourn for a second protestor killed in clashes this week.

Several hundred gathered at a funeral procession for a man shot dead when police and mourners clashed at an earlier funeral procession on Tuesday.

"The people demand the fall of the regime!" protesters chanted, with the men pounding their chests, a Shi'ite symbol of sacrifice and anguish.

For the moment, protestors are calling for the resignation of Prime Minister Sheikh Khalifa bin Salman al-Khalifa rather than King Hamad bin Isa al-Khalifa, who has the final say in politics.

Sheikh Khalifa, the king's uncle, has governed the Gulf Arab state since its independence in 1971 and is seen as being mostly concerned with keeping the ruling family's grip on politics and the economy. >>> Cynthia Johnston, Manama | Wednesday, February 16, 2011

Bahrain Backlash Over Protest Deaths
King pledges inquiry into the deaths of an anti-government protester and clashes with police at his funeral in which another man was killed. Paul Chapman reports

Libyan Protesters Clash with Police in Benghazi
THE GUARDIAN: Arrest of human rights activist triggers demonstrations in Libya's second largest city

Hundreds of anti-government protesters have clashed with police overnight in the eastern Libyan city of Benghazi. The protests were reportedly triggered by anger at the arrest of a human rights campaigner.

Meanwhile, Libyan state television said rallies were being held across the country in support of Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi.

The online edition of Libya's privately owned Quryna newspaper, which is based in Benghazi, reported that demonstrators had petrol bombs and threw stones. >>> Reuters | Wednesday, February 16, 2011

REUTERS: Riot breaks out in Libyan city of Benghazi: Hundreds of people angry at the arrest of a rights campaigner clashed with police and government supporters overnight in the eastern Libyan city of Benghazi, a witness and local media said. >>> Christian Lowe, Algiers | Wednesday, February 16, 2011

REUTERS: Libya to free 110 Islamist militants from jail >>> Christian Lowe, Tripoli | Wednesday, February 16, 2011