Marine Le Pen à Lampedusa pour parler immigration
LE POINT: La présidente du FN doit se rendre sur l'île italienne, où accostent de nombreux clandestins venus d'Afrique du Nord.

La présidente du Front national Marine Le Pen devait se rendre lundi sur l'île italienne de Lampedusa, où accostent les clandestins venus d'Afrique du Nord, une façon spectaculaire de reparler immigration, thème fétiche de son parti, en pleine campagne électorale en France. Une visite éclair, à peine quelques heures en début d'après-midi sur cette île entre la Sicile et les côtes africaines, où ont accosté depuis quelques semaines des milliers de clandestins fuyant la Tunisie, peut-être la Libye. » | Source AFP | Lundi 14 Mars 2011

Why All Is Quiet on the Syrian Front
THE DAILY STAR: As millions of Arabs stir their respective countries with demonstrations and slogans of change and transition, certain Arab states have been generally spared, including some oil-rich countries and Syria. Syria stands out as a powerful regional player without the benefit of economic prosperity and with a domestic political climate that leaves a lot to be desired. Some say it combines the heavy-handedness of the Tunisian regime, the economic woes of Egypt, the hereditary rule aspects of Morocco and Jordan, and a narrower leadership base than any other country across the Arab world. Why, then, is all relatively quiet on the Syrian front?

We can delude ourselves by resorting to facile explanations related to the threat of severe coercion facing a potential uprising in Syria – which certainly does exist. But the reality of the matter is more complex. To begin with, one must account for the unexpected: a clumsy incident involving a disproportionately brutal reaction against civilians, even in Syria, will spin structural variables out of control.

Any cursory review of the Syrian press, or the press on Syria, reveals that many Syrians empathize with the grievances of their rebellious Arab brethren and share many of them. This includes those who actually protested in small numbers and were harassed or beaten, or both, on Friday, Feb. 4, the planned “Day of Anger” in Syria, and during the few days prior. Other sporadic incidents took place in the past few weeks, but none rose to the level of an explicit anti-regime demonstration, as happened in Egypt and elsewhere. This puts Syria in stark contrast with Egypt. >>> Bassam Haddad | Monday, March 14, 2011

As Afghanistan Falters and the Middle East Burns, How Obama Is Missing in Action
MAIL ONLINE: Every time I come to Washington, I pay a ritual visit to the White House, to stand among the tourists gawping through the railings, fantasising about about what great affairs its tenant might be engaged upon.

On a brisk, grey, early spring morning last week, the wedding-cake residence of the most powerful man on earth looked pretty much the way it did in December 1941 when Roosevelt welcomed Churchill to create the Grand Alliance; in 1962 when Kennedy faced the Cuban missile confrontation; in 1972 when Nixon launched détente with China.

But amid today’s historic upheavals in the Middle East, the occupant of the White House has taken the amazingly insouciant decision that he will watch this global crisis from the bench.

The world reels before the spectacle of the Arab oil nations in turmoil. There seems a danger that Libya’s civil war could merely be the first of a succession in the region. Yet the leader of the Western world has almost nothing to say about it all.

Last Thursday, President Barack Obama’s spokesman made it plain that the United States is content to let other countries lead the pack in forging a Western position.

Obama’s foreign policy is characterised by caution: towards Iran, China and now Libya. Most Europeans find this a welcome change from the adventurism of George W. Bush.

Few sensible people on either side of the Atlantic are clamouring for military intervention - the British Government’s fumbles and lunges have seemed cringe-making.

But, even if this is no time for Western troop engagement, it seems bizarre that Obama, the great speechmaker, is also so parsimonious with words.

America’s allies are bemused by the almost Trappist silence of this U.S. President, his reluctance to engage with many of the huge things that are happening both to his own country and to the world. >>> Max Hastings | Monday, March 14, 2011

Japan Reels from Tsunami Disaster
Al Jazeera's Gerald Tan reports on the emergency confronting Japan after a tsnumai devastates its Pacific coast.

Inside Story - Japan: Mixed messages
As some 200,000 people are evacuated from the area, is Japan facing a nuclear disaster?

Saudi Troops Enter Bahrain
THE AUSTRALIAN: MORE than 1000 Saudi troops, part of the Gulf countries' Peninsula Shield Force, have entered Bahrain where anti-regime protests have raged for a month, a Saudi official said.

The troops entered the strategic Gulf kingdom on Sunday, the official said, requesting anonymity.

The intervention came "after repeated calls by the (Bahraini) government for dialogue, which went unanswered" by the opposition, the official said.

According to the regulations of the Gulf Cooperation Council, "any Gulf force entering a member state becomes under the command of the government," the official added. >>> AFP | Monday, March 14, 2011

Related >>>

THE DAILY TELEGRAPH: Bahrain protests intensify as Foreign Office advises against travel to country: Thousands of anti-government demonstrators cut off Bahrain’s financial center and drove back police trying to push them from the Pearl Square in the most disruptive protests since calls for more freedom erupted a month ago. >>> | Monday, March 14, 2011

Gaddafis Truppen auf dem Vormarsch nach Bengasi
WELT ONLINE: Stück für Stück erobern die Soldaten des libyschen Machthabers das Land zurück. Die Arabische Liga fordert eine Flugverbotszone. Doch der UN-Sicherheitsrat zögert.

Elitetruppen des libyschen Machthabers Muammar al Gaddafi sind im Osten des Landes offenbar auf dem Vormarsch Richtung der Rebellenhochburg Bengasi. >>> dpa/dapd/ks | Montag, 14. März 2011

Japan Earthquake & Tsunami
This disaster is of epic proportions. Whoever could have imagined such a disaster? It has surely touched us all. The Japanese are in need of our help at this extremely difficult time. Let us HELP them NOW. Please make a GENEROUS donation.

BRITISH RED CROSS: Japan Tsunami Appeal >>>
Or donate by phone: 08450 53 53 53
AMERICAN RED CROSS: American Red Cross Responding to Japan Earthquake and Pacific Tsunami >>>
FACEBOOK: 10,000 strong to donate $10 each to the Japan disaster relief fund >>>

Moroccan Police Break Up Rally, Hurt Dozens-Witness
REUTERS AFRICA: RABAT - Dozens of people were injured in Morocco's biggest city, Casablanca, on Sunday when riot police used truncheons to break up a rally by several hundred demonstrators demanding reforms, witnesses said.

"This was a peaceful rally, we don't know what made the police attack a peaceful protest," Ghizlaine Benameur, an opposition activist who took part in the rally, told Reuters by telephone from Casablanca.

"This has been their most violent intervention since the start of the protests last month," she said.

Spokesmen at Morocco's interior ministry could not immediately be reached for comment. >>> Reuters | Monday, March 14, 2011

Pitched Street Battle in Yemeni Capital
Two more people have been killed and scores injured in the latest anti-government protests in the Yemeni capital Sanaa, bringing the number of deaths to more than 30 in just two months.
 According to medical sources, the latest violence erupted when police fired live rounds and tear gas.
 Claims that riot police are using excessive force and suspected prohibited nerve gas have been denied by General Yahya Saleh, the head of the Yemeni security forces.
 Al Jazeera's Hashem Ahelbarra reports from a makeshift clinic set up by protesters near University Square, the scene of ongoing protests. (Mar 14, 2011)

Iran Clamps Down On Ancient Spring Festival Fearing It Could Spark Off Political Protests
THE DAILY TELEGRAPH: Police in Iran have imposed restrictions on an ancient festival which celebrates the triumph of good over evil, fearing that it could catalyse growing public anger against the country's theocratic leadership.

Iranians traditionally leap over bonfires and set off fireworks to mark the pagan festival of Chahar Shanbeh Soori, which is celebrated on the last Tuesday before March 21, the Persian new year.

This year, faced with an increasingly repressive crackdown on dissent, opposition leaders [have] been calling on supporters to use the festival to express their resentment against the regime.

Esmail Ahmadi Moqaddam, a commander with the state security forces, warned that "buying and selling fireworks is illegal, and the police the police [sic] will severely confront offenders on the basis of the law."

Bahman Kargar, another security official, told state television that "more than 3,059,000 fireworks have been confiscated and 65 individuals distributing such material have been arrested."

Iran's rulers have become increasingly worried that they could be swept away by the rising tide of political protest across the region. >>> | Monday, March 14, 2011

Saudi Arabian Forces Prepare to Enter Bahrain after Day of Clashes
THE GUARDIAN: Crown Prince of Bahrain expected to invite Saudi support following anti-government demonstrations in capital

Saudi forces are preparing to intervene in neighbouring Bahrain, after a day of clashes between police and protesters who mounted the most serious challenge to the island's royal family since demonstrations began a month ago.

The Crown Prince of Bahrain is expected to formally invite security forces from Saudi Arabia into his country today, as part of a request for support from other members of the six-member Gulf Co-operation Council.

Thousands of demonstrators on Sunday cut off Bahrain's financial centre and drove back police trying to eject them from the capital's central square, while protesters also clashed with government supporters on the campus of the main university.

Amid the revolt Bahrain also faces a potential sectarian conflict between the ruling minority of Sunnis Muslims and a majority of Shia Muslims, around 70% of the kingdom's 525,000 residents.

The crown prince, Salman bin Hamad al-Khalifa, said in a televised statement that Bahrain had "witnessed tragic events" during a month of unprecedented political unrest.

Warning that "the right to security and safety is above all else", he added: "Any legitimate claims must not be made at the expanse of security and stability."

The crown prince has also promised that national dialogue would look at increasing the power of Bahrain's parliament, and that any deal could be put to nationwide referendum.

However, some protesters have pressed their demands further to call for the toppling of the Sunni dynasty. >>> Ben Quinn | Monday, March 14, 2011

Prime Minister: Japan Will Overcome Crisis
Mar 13 - Prime Minister Naoto Kan says he is confident Japan will overcome the earthquake-tsunami crisis. Deborah Lutterbeck reports

Prayers for Japan
Mar 13 - The Pope calls on the faithful to pray for the victims of Japan's earthquake as citizens of Germany and Russia offer condolences. Deborah Lutterbeck reports

Bahrain Erupts in Violence
Police fire tear gas to disperse crowds in Bahrain as violence erupts. Deborah Lutterbeck reports

More Than 800 Injured in Bahrain Political Clashes
USA TODAY: MANAMA, Bahrain — Hundreds of people were injured in violent clashes Sunday between protesters and armed civilians backed by police in this small island nation.

The latest violence came after a month of protests led by the Shiite majority to demand sweeping political reforms and possibly the ouster of the nation's Western-allied Sunni monarchy.

The government's Ministry of Interior said in a statement that protest camp tents from near the harbor were "removed." The statement said attempts by uniformed police officers to persuade the protesters to re-open a road reached an impasse and that a group of protesters attacked unarmed police officers.

Police then sought to disperse approximately 350 protesters by using tear gas in order to clear the road, the statement said. >>> Nada Alwadi, USA TODAY | Sunday, March 13, 2011

Saudi Troops Intervene in Bahrain, Reports Say
TEHRAN TIMES: MANAMA – There are reports that Saudi Arabian troops have entered Bahrain to help put down the worst unrest in the country since the 1990s, BBC Arabic said on Sunday.

Earlier in the day, thousands of anti-Khalifa-regime protesters cut off Bahrain’s financial center and drove back police trying to push them from the capital’s central square -- shaking the tiny island kingdom with the most disruptive demonstrations since the calls for more freedom began a month ago. 



Demonstrators also took on King Hamad bin Isa al-Khalifa’s security forces and his supporters on the campus of the country’s main university. 



Riot police fired tear gas and rubber bullets at the demonstrators and surrounded the protesters’ main camp in Manama, AP reported. 



However, the authorities failed to dislodge the thousands of protesters blocking King Faisal Highway in Manama, who were demanding a greater political voice in the strategic Persian Gulf kingdom, the home of the U.S. Navy’s 5th Fleet. >>> Staff and agencies | Monday, March 14, 2011

Japan Earthquake: Race to Prevent a Humanitarian Disaster
THE SUNDAY TELEGRAPH: Japan was in a race to prevent a humanitarian disaster as rescuers struggled to reach tens of thousands of people left homeless by the tsunami.

The world’s third richest country was forced to send out an urgent international appeal for tents, blankets and other life-saving supplies to prevent the death toll rising beyond the current estimate of 10,000.

With night-time temperatures dropping below zero in some of the isolated towns and villages worst-affected by the disaster, charities warned that further lives could be lost if survivors were not given food and shelter quickly.

Last night 590,000 people, many of whom have lost their homes, were living in temporary shelters, including 210,000 people evacuated from the area around the Fukushima nuclear power plant, which suffered an explosion in a reactor building at the weekend.

Officials admitted that a second reactor at Fukushima could explode. A state of emergency was also declared at a separate site in Onagawa because of unusually high levels of radioactivity, while engineers reported problems with the cooling system at a third site in Tokai.

Although the official death toll stood at 1,596, the true scale of the tragedy remained unclear last night, with tens of thousands of people — including hundreds of Britons — still unaccounted for. >>> Gordon Rayner and Harry Wallop | Sunday, March 13, 2011

Crowley Quits Over Manning Comments
AL JAZEERA ENGLISH: US state department spokesman resigns after calling Pentagon 'stupid' over treatment of soldier accused over WikiLeaks.

US state department spokesman PJ Crowley has resigned from his post following controversial comments involving the whistleblowing website WikiLeaks.



The news on Sunday came three days after Crowley was reported to have criticised the Pentagon's treatment of detained US soldier Bradley Manning.

Crowley said the defence department's handling of Manning, who is accused of leaking thousands of confidential US documents to WikiLeaks, was "stupid" and "counterproductive". >>> Source: Al Jazeera and agencies | Sunday, March 13, 2011

Related >>>

News Bulletin - 1735GMT Update (March 13, 2011)
The main headlines on Al Jazeera English, featuring the latest news and reports from around the world

State Department’s Crowley Quits, Citing WikiLeaks Comments
BLOOMBERG: State Department spokesman Philip J. Crowley has resigned following comments criticizing the U.S. military for its treatment of Private First Class Bradley Manning, a soldier detained on allegations he shared classified documents with the anti-secrecy group WikiLeaks, according to a statement from the agency.

Crowley, known as P.J., said on March 10 the military has mistreated Manning and described the conditions of his detention as “ridiculous and counterproductive and stupid,” according to a blog posted by BBC reporter Philippa Thomas.

President Barack Obama said the U.S. Department of Defense assured him that Manning is not being mistreated. Crowley said the “impact of my remarks” led to his decision to leave the State Department. >>> Jeffrey Young | Sunday, March 13, 2011

Libya Says 'Armed Gangs' Cleared From Brega
Forces loyal to Muammar Gaddafi have cleared rebels from the eastern oil town of Brega, according to Libyan state television.

SKY NEWS: It quoted a military source as saying Brega was "purged of armed gangs". >>> Mike Bradbury, Sky News Online | Sunday, March 13, 2011

The Remains of a Japanese Town

Related >>>

Moammar Gadhafi Holds On

Related >>>

White House Chides Yemen, Bahrain Governments for Violence
REUTERS: The White House chided U.S. allies Yemen and Bahrain on Sunday for violence used against protesters in those countries and urged both to exercise restraint.

"We urge the governments of these countries to show restraint, and to respect the universal rights of their people," the White House said in a statement.

"We urge the government of Bahrain to pursue a peaceful and meaningful dialogue with the opposition rather than resorting to the use of force."

One person died and scores were hurt on Sunday when Yemeni police fired live rounds and tear gas at protesters in Sanaa demanding an end to President Ali Abdullah Saleh's 32-year rule, according to medical sources. >>> Reuters | WASHINGTON | Sunday, March 13, 2011

Related material here and here

Yemen Protests Continue Despite Clashes

REUTERS: One dead as Yemen police open fire on protesters: One person died and scores were hurt on Sunday when Yemeni police fired live rounds and tear gas at protesters in Sanaa demanding an end to President Ali Abdullah Saleh's 32-year rule, medical sources said. >>> Mohamed Sudam | SANAA | Sunday, March 13, 2011

Oman Sultan to Cede Some Powers after Protests
REUTERS: Oman's ruler has decided to cede some legislative powers to a partially elected council, the state news agency reported on Sunday, in an apparent effort to quell protests in the Gulf Arab sultanate.

The ONA agency also said Sultan Qaboos bin Said would double monthly welfare payments and increase pension benefits, becoming the latest Gulf ruler to offer handsome incentives to citizens in the wake of unrest that has rocked much of the Arab world.

The normally tranquil Oman, an oil-producing nation at the mouth of the Gulf, was stunned by protests in at least two cities last month that left one person dead.

The sultan, who has ruled Oman for 40 years, sacked a string of ministers in a recent cabinet reshuffle and on Sunday appeared to make his biggest concession yet by announcing that he would offer lawmaking powers to the Oman Council.

At present, only the sultan and his cabinet can legislate. >>> Saleh Al-Shaibany | MUSCAT | Sunday, March 13, 2011

Protesters Seal Off Bahrain’s Financial Center
THE NEW YORK TIMES: CAIRO — Thousands of antigovernment protesters in Bahrain blocked access to the financial district in Manama, the capital, on Sunday, preventing many workers from getting to their offices and pushing back the police who tried to disperse them. It was the most serious challenge to the royal family that rules Bahrain since protests began last month.
Witnesses said the police used tear gas and fired on the protesters with rubber bullets.

“This was a very, very big day,” Mohammad al-Maskati, president of the Bahrain Youth Society for Human Rights, said by telephone from Pearl Square, the epicenter for protests in central Manama. “Now the protesters control these streets. There are walls of rubble keeping out the police and armed groups. People say they will not sleep tonight.”

There were also clashes at the campus of the main university, where protesters contended that the security forces were protecting armed vigilantes accused of fomenting tensions between the 70 percent of the population that is Shia and the Sunni ruling family and elite. >>> Ethan Bronner | Sunday, March 13, 2011

Related >>>

Libye: l’armée progresse et coupe les communications à Benghazi
TRIBUNE DE GENÈVE: Toutes les communications des téléphones portables étaient coupées dimanche à Benghazi, le fief de l’insurrection dans l’Est libyen. En parallèle, l’armée du colonel Mouammar Kadhafi progressait vers la ville.

Les communications des opérateurs Libyana et Al Madar ne fonctionnaient plus. Il était toutefois difficile de savoir jusqu’où cette coupure s’étendait.

Dimanche, les loyalistes continuaient à avancer vers l’Est le long de la côte libyenne, repoussant davantage les rebelles, à coups de bombes, roquettes et mortiers. >>> ATS/AFP | Dimanche 13 Mars 2011

Police, Protesters Clash in Bahrain While Hundreds Rally in Saudi Arabia
THE WASHINGTON POST: DAMMAM, Saudi Arabia – Security forces and protesters clashed in Bahrain on Sunday during the most violent day in weeks, and hundreds marched in Saudi Arabia to demand the release of prisoners who have been detained without charges.

Witnesses in Bahrain said that hundreds of people were injured after police fired tear gas at protesters and attacked them with batons as they tried to shut down capital city Manama's financial center on the first day of the country's workweek. Protesters threw gas canisters and stones at police.

Later in the day, clashes between pro-government supporters and protesters took place near the University of Bahrain, witnesses said.

In Riyadh, hundreds of family members of people who have been jailed without charges rallied in front of the Ministry of Interior calling for their release, said Mohammed Al-Qahtani, founder of the Association of Civil and Political Rights in Saudi Arabia. The protest was peaceful, with no clashes between police and demonstrators, he said. >>> Michael Birnbaum | Sunday, March 13, 2011

Related video >>>

Ex-Libyen-Geisel Hamdani im Interview
584 Tage wurde er in Libyen festgehalten. Vor einem Jahr kam er frei. Jetzt spricht Rachid Hamdani in der Rundschau über die Forderung von Aussenministerin Calmy-Rey nach einer Strafuntersuchung und seine Hoffnung auf Gerechtigkeit.

Immense Schäden in Japan
In Japan ist das Ausmass der Katastrophe riesig. Die japanischen Behörden sprechen von mehr als 1'400 Toten und tausenden Vermissten. Der zehn Meter hohe Tsunami hat zahlreiche Häuser einfach weggespült.

Verbunden >>>

Les forces kadhafistes chassent les insurgés de Brega
REUTERS FRANCE: AJDABIAH, Libye - Après Ras Lanouf la veille, les insurgés anti-kadhafistes ont évacué dimanche la ville pétrolière stratégique de Brega, sur le golfe de Syrte, après un violent bombardement des troupes gouvernementales qui ont fait sauter ainsi un nouveau verrou sur la route de Benghazi.

"Les rebelles ont quitté Brega. La ville a été évacuée", a déclaré par téléphone à Reuters un habitant de Brega, Oussama Djazouine, un anesthésiste de 33 ans. "Le bombardement a commencé vers 10h30 (08h30 GMT) sur l'entrée principale de la ville."

Un autre habitant de la ville, Abdoul Hakim, a confirmé que les combattants insurgés avaient quitté la localité.

La télévision publique libyenne, citant une source militaire, a annoncé que les rebelles étaient en retraite et que Brega avait été "nettoyée des bandes armées".

Dans la ville voisine d'Ajdabiah, les insurgés qui demandent l'aide internationale pour neutraliser l'aviation loyaliste semblent démoralisés. >>> Par Mohammed Abbas | Dimanche 13 Mars 2011

Japan Braces for Power Outages
Mar 13 - As tens of thousands of residents are evacuated from areas close to a damaged nuclear plant, earthquake survivors receive more bad news as authorities plan power cuts. Simon Hanna reports

Related / Verbunden >>>

Jewish-American Contractor Alan Gross Sentenced to 15 years in Cuba Jail
HAARETZ: Court said prosecutors proved case that Gross was working on a subversive program, paid for by the U.S., that aimed to bring down Cuba's revolutionary system.

HAVANA - A Cuban court yesterday found U.S. contractor Alan Gross guilty of crimes against the state and sentenced him to 15 years in prison, a verdict that is sure to have sweeping repercussions for already-sour relations between Washington and Havana.

The court said prosecutors had proved their case that Gross, 61, was working on a subversive program, paid for by the United States, that aimed to bring down Cuba's revolutionary system. Prosecutors had sought a 20-year sentence.

The Maryland native was arrested in December 2009 while on a USAID backed democracy-building project. The U.S. government and Gross's family say he was working to improve Internet access for the island's Jewish community and should be released. >>> The Associated Press | Sunday, March 13, 2011

Tear Gas Used on Bahrain Protesters
Footage appears to show man shot in chest with tear gas canister as police also use rubber bullets on Manama protesters

AL JAZEERA ENGLISH: Riot police in Bahrain have used tear gas and rubber bullets in an attempt to force a group of hundreds of anti-government protesters from blocking the capital's financial district. >>> Source: Al Jazeera and agencies | Sunday, March 13, 2011

Libyans Mourn Slain Al Jazeera Cameraman
An Al Jazeera cameraman has been shot dead while working in eastern Libya. The network has condemned the attack as a cowardly crime.
Ali Hassan al Jabr from Qatar was one of three people travelling in a car when it was ambushed.
Gerald Tan reports

Vent de réforme en Arabie Saoudite
leJDD.fr: La "journée de la colère" convoquée par des appels sur internet n’a pas fait recette dans le royaume pétrolier. Mais la vague de contestation dans le monde arabe pourrait produire des effets en Arabie Saoudite: le roi Abdallah s’apprêterait à faire entrer des chiites au gouvernement et à donner le droit de vote aux femmes pour les élections municipales.

"Une tempête dans un verre d'eau." C'est ainsi que le richissime prince saoudien Al-Walid ben Talal, neveu du roi Abdallah mais aussi l'une des plus grandes fortunes de la planète (25 milliards de dollars), a qualifié la journée du vendredi 11 mars. Une journée annoncée comme LA journée de la contestation dans le premier pays producteur de pétrole au monde. Finalement, il n'y a pas vraiment eu de manifestation dans le royaume saoudien vendredi, jour de grande prière.

Il convient de préciser que le dispositif de sécurité inédit mis en place par les autorités saoudiennes était impressionnant. Les quartiers du centre de la capitale, Olaya street, King Fahd road, étaient quadrillés, et les mosquées étaient placées sous très haute surveillance. Durant toute la semaine, le ministère de l'Intérieur avait multiplié des messages de mise en garde, rappelant à la population l’une des règles découlant de la charia: l'interdiction de manifester en Arabie Saoudite. Manifestation le 20 mars? >>> Clarence Rodriguez, correspondance à Riyad - Le Journal du Dimanche | Samedi 12 Mars 2011

Prince Andrew in New 'Cash for Favours' Row
THE DAILY TELEGRAPH: The Duke of York has been engulfed in a new “cash-for-favours” row after a close friend paid off £50,000 of his ex-wife’s debts.

David Rowland, a financier once described as “shady” in Parliament, gave the sum to the Duchess of York’s former press spokesman Kate Waddington, whom the Duchess owed in the region of £85,000.

In 2009, the Duke opened Mr Rowland’s bank in Luxembourg in his official capacity as Britain’s special representative for international trade and investment, despite the fact that the one-day visit was not officially sanctioned by the Government department in charge of promoting British business abroad.

While the vast majority of the Duke’s overseas visits are funded by UK Trade & Investment, Buckingham Palace admitted that the Duke had paid for the trip to Luxembourg to open Banque Havilland personally.

The disclosure that Mr Rowland has paid off a large part of what the Duchess owed Miss Waddington will add to concerns that the Duke is abusing his position for his own personal benefit. >>> Robert Mendick, Chief Reporter | Saturday, March 12, 2011

Related >>>

Drink Strength Cut in Alcohol "Pact" to Tackle Bingeing Epidemic
THE DAILY TELEGRAPH: The alcoholic strength of one of Britain’s bestselling drinks is to be cut by up to a quarter as part of a Government “pact” with supermarkets and the drink industry.

The deal, to tackle the growing binge-drinking culture, will also see one of the Big Four supermarkets restricting the display of beers and wines for the first time and the number of units of alcohol stamped on millions of pint glasses in pubs.

It will form a key part of a wide-ranging “responsibility deal” between the alcohol and food industries, retailers and the Government.

It is thought that when the deal is announced this week by Andrew Lansley, the Health Secretary, it will be the biggest voluntary agreement of its kind between the Government and business.

Food firms including McDonald’s, Subway, PepsiCo and Pizza Hut will also reveal a health pledge which will cover a reduction in salt and sugar content, health advice and information and better calorie labelling. >>> Kamal Ahmed, Business Editor | Saturday, March 12, 2011

My comment:

Lansley is an interfering, meddlesome sort of a guy, isn't he? He likes to stick his nose into all manner of things. First it was smoking, now it's drinking. What next? Perhaps they should make it compulsory for us all to convert to Islam. That way they'll have done with all these health problems. At a stroke! Maybe that's what these useless politicians are aiming for.

As for binge-drinking, I agree it is a dreadful problem. But these silly little measures won't do an iota of good in the fight against it, for the problem has its roots elsewhere.

If they are truly serious about tackling binge-drinking, then they need to start encouraging mothers to stay at home to look after their children; they need to start encouraging mothers to raise their children properly. So please pass the necessary laws to make this possible. Further, they need to discourage divorce: make a divorce much harder to obtain. And very importantly, the government needs to pass laws which promote family values, because these binge-drinkers, I'd bet a dollar to a dime, have no-one to sanction their bad behaviour. In an old-fashioned, traditional family, they would. The mother would be overseeing them, as would the father, and the grandparents.

So stop demonising the drink, and get dealing with the real issues – the true causes of the problem. Alcohol isn't the problem; its misuse is. – © Mark

This comment also appears here

Merkel will Konsequenzen aus Atomunfall in Japan prüfen

Inside Story - Japan's Nuclear Crisis
Is this the nightmare scenario of nuclear meltdown becoming real? And what can be done to contain the nuclear threat while at the same time dealing with the widespread destruction caused by Japan's largest recorded earthquake?

THE NEW YORK TIMES: Japanese Scramble to Avert Meltdowns as Nuclear Crisis Deepens After Quake: TOKYO — Japanese officials struggled on Sunday to contain a widening nuclear crisis in the aftermath of a devastating earthquake and tsunami, saying they presumed that partial meltdowns had occurred at two crippled reactors and that they were bracing for a second explosion, even as they faced serious cooling problems at four more reactors. >>> Hiroko Tabuchi and Matthew L. Wald | Sunday, March 13, 2011

Gaddafi Forces Gaining Ground?

Professor Comments on Japan's Nuclear Crisis
Dr Ilham al-Qaradawi, a professor of nuclear physics at Qatar University, talks to Al Jazeera about the risk of a nuclear meltdown in Japan

Related material here, here, here, and here

Japan on High Nuclear Alert
Official says a partial meltdown is "highly possible" as police chief says death toll could top 10,000

AL JAZEERA ENGLISH: A partial meltdown is likely under way at one nuclear reactor, a senior Japanese official has said, as operators
frantically tried to keep temperatures down at the Fukushima Dai-ichi power plant's other units following a devastating earthquake and tsunami that may have killed as many as 10,000 people. >>> Source: Al Jazeera and agencies | Sunday, March 13, 2011

New Footage Shows the Moment the Massive Tsunami Slammed into Japan's Coastline

Japanische Regierung schließt Kernschmelze nicht aus
REUTERS DEUTSCHLAND: Sendai - Die japanische Regierung schließt nicht aus, dass es in zwei Atomreaktoren des schwerbeschädigten Meilers Fukushima 1 zu einer Kernschmelze gekommen ist.

Zudem drohe in Block 3 der Anlage eine ähnliche Explosion wie am Samstag in Block 1, als das Betongehäuse einstürzte, sagte Kabinettschef Yukio Edano am Sonntag. Das Atomkraftwerk war bei einem Erdstoß der Stärke 8,9 am Freitag schwerbeschädigt worden. Das bislang stärkste Beben in der Geschichte Japans und ein dadurch ausgelöster Tsunami verwüsteten weite Teile im Nordosten des Landes. Es sei nahezu sicher, dass mehr als 10.000 Menschen ums Leben gekommen seien, zitierte der TV-Sender NHK den Polizeichef der Präfektur Miyagi, Naoto Takeuchi.

Auf die Frage von Journalisten, ob Brennstäbe in der Anlage teilweise geschmolzen seien, sagte Edano: "Diese Möglichkeit besteht." Bestätigen lasse sich dies nicht, da man nicht prüfen könne, was sich im Inneren der Reaktoren abspiele. Aber in beiden Fällen würden Maßnahmen getroffen, die auf einer solchen Annahme fußten. Später sagte Edano, es sei unwahrscheinlich, dass sich in Block 3 eine Kernschmelze ereignet habe. Womöglich hätten sich die Brennstäbe zum Teil verformt. Es bestehe nach dem Ausfall der Kühlung aber das Risiko einer Explosion, allerdings werde die eigentliche Hülle des Reaktors davon vermutlich nicht betroffen sein. Am Samstag hatte eine Explosion die Beton-Außenhülle von Block 1 zerstört. Die Stahlhülle des Reaktorkerns blieb aber nach Angaben der Regierung intakt. >>> Reuters | Sonntag, 13. März 2011

U.S. Backs Arab States' Call for Libya No-fly Zone
REUTERS: Washington said a call by the Arab League for a U.N. no-fly zone over Libya was an "important step," as government troops backed by tanks and warplanes fought to drive rebels from their strongholds.

Arab League Secretary General Amr Moussa said the League, meeting in Cairo on Saturday, had decided that "serious crimes and great violations" committed by the government of Muammar Gaddafi against his people had stripped it of legitimacy.

Washington, which would play a leading role in enforcing any no-fly zone, said the decision strengthened pressure on Gaddafi but it stopped short of commitment to military action and made no proposal for a swift meeting of the U.N. Security Council. >>> Michael Georgy and Tom Perry | RAS LANUF, Libya/CAIRO | Sunday, March 13, 2011

Libya Continues Air Attacks on Rebel Strongholds
Mar 12 - Libyan troops forced rebels to retreat overnight from the outskirts of the oil town of Ras Lanuf, pushing the front line of heavy fighting in Libya eastwards. Jon Decker reports

New Jersey Flooding Continues
Mar 12 - Heavy flooding continues in New Jersey following a nearly day-long deluge earlier in the week. Jon Decker reports

Japan Quake Evacuees Scanned for Radiation Exposure
Mar 12 - Although the Japanese government insisted radiation levels were low, thousands of people evacuated from areas around a crippled nuclear power plant were scanned for radiation exposure. Jon Decker reports

REUTERS FRANCE: Le bilan du séisme au Japon pourrait atteindre 10.000 morts >>> | Dimanche 13 Mars 2011

Marine Le Pen brandit ses chiffres de l'immigration
REUTERS FRANCE: TOULON, Var - Marine Le Pen a dénoncé samedi une "extraordinaire poussée" de l'immigration légale en France, s'attirant les foudres du ministère de l'Intérieur qui conteste les chiffres utilisés par la présidente du Front national.

En visite dans le Var pour soutenir les candidats du FN aux cantonales, Marine Le Pen a cité des chiffres qui lui auraient été fournis par des "hauts fonctionnaires patriotes" pour dénoncer l'échec de la politique d'immigration de Nicolas Sarkozy.

Selon elle, la France a accordé 23.504 titres de séjour en janvier 2011, ce qui représenterait une hausse de 42,1% par rapport au mois de janvier l'an dernier. >>> par Jean-François Rosnoblet | Samedi 12 Mars 2011

Binyamin Netanyahu Calls on World to Act after Killing of Jewish Settlers
THE OBSERVER: Israel's prime minister demands international condemnation after murder of five members of West Bank settler family

Israel's prime minister demanded international condemnation of the murder of five members of a Jewish settler family that Palestinian militants said was in reprisal for Israel's occupation of the West Bank and Gaza.

Binyamin Netanyahu's robust statement placed what he described as a despicable act – which shattered the relative calm in the West Bank over recent months – at the centre of strenuous efforts by the US and European countries to restart peace talks between Israel and the Palestinians.

Israeli soldiers mounted a massive search in the West Bank after a mother, father and three children, aged between three months and 11, were attacked with knives in their house in the West Bank settlement of Itamar, near the Palestinian city of Nablus. It was believed that two of the dead had their throats cut. >>> Harriet Sherwood in Itamar | Sunday, March 13, 2011

Netanyahu Blames Palestinian Incitement for Deadly Attack
Mar 12 - Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu blamed Palestinian incitement for a lethal West Bank attack that killed five members of an Israeli family. Jon Decker reports

REUTERS: Jewish couple and three children killed in W.Bank: A Jewish couple and three of their children were stabbed to death in bed in a West Bank settlement in what Israeli officials said on Saturday was an attack by one or more Palestinians who broke into their home. >>> Rami Amichai | ITAMAR | Sunday, March 13, 2011

Human Rights Groups Demand Review of Trade with Corrupt Regimes
THE OBSERVER: Call for action follows concerns over Prince Andrew's dealings with despotic leaders

A coalition of leading human rights groups is calling for a review into the way the British government does business with non-democratic regimes around the world.

After recent revelations involving the Duke of York and his work as the UK's special trade ambassador, organisations including Human Rights Watch, Index on Censorship, The Corner House, Global Witness and Campaign Against Arms Trade say the affair has underlined fundamental failings in the country's supposedly ethical foreign policy. Tom Porteous, UK director of Human Rights Watch and Foreign Office adviser, said Prince Andrew was making the UK "look stupid, frankly".

The groups say that the government's stated position on human rights, corporate responsibility and the rule of law is at odds with its apparent position of trading with autocratic or corrupt politicians. In recent days condemnation has grown of Prince Andrew's dealings with figures in north Africa, the Middle East and central Asia. >>> Mark Townsend and Sophia Ignatidou | Sunday, March 13, 2011

THE DAILY TELEGRAPH: Our less-than-grand old Duke of York: Prince Andrew should be stripped of his role as UK special envoy for trade before he stains the Royal family's reputation further, says Jenny McCartney. >>> Jenny McCartney | Saturday, March 12, 2011

THE TIMES: The strange and lonely life of Britain’s would-be playboy prince >>> Valentine Low , Alexi Mostrous and Damian Whitworth | Saturday, March 12, 2011 [£]

Gaddafi's Army Will Kill Half a Million, Warn Libyan Rebels
THE GUARDIAN: Rebels flee Ras Lanuf and call on UN to impose no-fly zone as Gaddafi's forces recapture strategically important towns

Muammar Gaddafi's army won control of a strategic rebel-held Libyan town and laid siege to another as the revolutionary administration in Benghazi again appealed for foreign military help to prevent what it said would be the deaths of hundreds of thousands of people if the insurgents were to lose.

The rebels admitted retreating from the oil town of Ras Lanuf – captured a week ago – after two days of intense fighting and that the nearby town of Brega was now threatened.

The revolutionary army, in large part made up of inexperienced young volunteers, has been forced back by a sustained artillery, tank and air bombardment about 20 miles along the road to the rebel capital of Benghazi.

The head of Libya's revolutionary council, Mustafa Abdel Jalil, claimed that if Gaddafi's forces were to reach the country's second-largest city it would result in "the death of half a million" people. >>> Chris McGreal in Benghazi | Saturday, March 12, 2011

Yemen Police Kill Protesters in Crackdown on Dissent
THE GUARDIAN: Four dead and hundreds wounded in Sana'a and Aden as William Hague expresses concern over ongoing violence

Yemeni security forces have killed four people and wounded hundreds more in the second day of a harsh crackdown on anti-government protests, witnesses said. One of the dead was a 15-year-old student.

The assault with gunfire and tear gas was the toughest yet by the government in a month of protests aimed at unseating the president, Ali Abdullah Saleh, who has been in power for 32 years. An ally in the Obama administration's fight against al-Qaida, Saleh had appeared to be one of the Arab leaders most threatened by the regional unrest inspired by revolts in Egypt and Tunisia.

The violence began with a pre-dawn raid on a central square in the capital, Sana'a, where thousands of pro-democracy protesters have been camped out.

Eyewitnesses said security troops surrounded the square with police cars and armoured personnel carriers shortly after midnight and began calling on protesters through loudspeakers to go home. At 5am, security forces attacked, firing bullets and tear gas.

One protester died from a bullet to the head, which may have come from a sniper on the rooftop of a nearby building, witnesses said. >>> Alan Evans and agencies | Saturday, March 12, 2011

Iran 'Using Child Soldiers' to Suppress Tehran Protests
THE OBSERVER: Armed children as young as 14 are said to have been deployed alongside riot police

Iran's Islamic regime is using "child soldiers" to suppress anti-government demonstrations, a tactic that could breach international law forbidding the use of underage combatants, human rights activists have told the Observer.

The International Campaign for Human Rights in Iran says troops aged between 14 and 16 have been armed with batons, clubs and air guns and ordered to attack demonstrators who have tried to gather in Tehran. The youths – apparently recruited from rural areas – are being deployed in regular riot police roles and comprise up to one-third of the total force, according to witnesses.

One middle-aged woman, who said she was attacked by the youths, reported that some were as young as 12 and were possibly prepubescent. They had rural accents, which indicated they had been brought in from villages far from Tehran, she said.

Some told her they had been attracted by the promise of chelo kebab dinners, one of Iran's national dishes.

"It's really a violation of international law. It's no different than child soldiers, which is the custom in many zones of conflict," said Hadi Ghaemi, the campaign's executive director. "They are being recruited into being part of the conflict and armed for it."

The UN convention on the rights of the child requires states to take "all feasible measures to ensure that persons who have not attained the age of 15 years do not take a direct part in hostilities". >>> Robert Tait | Sunday, March 13, 2011

British Universities Ditch Libyan Deals
THE DAILY TELEGRAPH: British universities severed links with Colonel Gaddafi’s regime last night as the full extent of how they have profited from Libya was revealed.

A string of universities said they had pulled out of a deal with Tripoli to train hundreds of health workers.

The disclosure came as official statistics showed virtually every university in Britain is being paid by the Libyan government to educate students.

The 110 institutions registered a total of 2,880 students from Libya last year, including judges and police officers - part of Gaddafi’s feared security network.

Critics said the scale of Libyan deals strengthened the case for a full-scale inquiry into the links between British universities and Tripoli.

Among those which took Libyan students were members of the Russell Group, which represents the 20 top UK universities, including Leeds, St Andrews, King’s College London and Glasgow.

Five universities last night said they had pulled out of a deal with Libya to train 300 health workers, believed to be nurses, each year.

Manchester Metropolitan, Teesside, Liverpool John Moores, Glamorgan and Queen Margaret University in Edinburgh had been in talks with Libya’s Ministry of Health over a deal worth an estimated £4million. Read on and comment >>> Michael Howie | Saturday, March 12, 2011

Through the Keyhole of Gaddafi's Summer Palace
THE DAILY TELEGRAPH: For Libyans who suffered under four decades of Colonel Gaddafi's rule, the chance to see inside his holiday home was not to be missed - and provided an unusual form of anger management.

Among the crowds of sightseers and gangs of looters who traipsed through the front door of Muammar Gaddafi's wrecked summer palace last week was one man who took a very personal satisfaction at the sight.

"You have to remember that that he routinely destroyed the homes of his political opponents, bulldozing them to make an example," said Suleiman Jabril, standing in a layer of ash and smashed glass on the floor of what had been a sumptuous entrance hall. "Now his own house has been destroyed."

Mr Jabril, a civil servant aged 42, spent five years as a political prisoner in the regime's worst prison, narrowly escaping death when 1200 prisoners were massacred in 1996. Over the years the houses of many of his friends have been destroyed by the regime.

Last week he was one of hundreds of the dictator's former subjects to go sightseeing at the palace on a green hilltop above the city of Al-Bayda, a town in the mountains of the east where the Gaddafi clan would go to escape Libya's brutal summer heat. Continue reading and comment >>> Nick Meo, Colonel Gaddafi's summer palace, Al-Bayda | Saturday, March 12, 2011

Libya: Arab League Calls for United Nations No-fly Zone
THE DAILY TELEGRAPH: The Arab League called on the United Nations Security Council to impose a no-fly zone on Libya, increasing pressure on Europe and the US to embark on limited military action against the regime of Colonel Muammar Gaddafi.

As Colonel Gaddafi’s jets and tanks continued to gain ground against rebels in the east of the country, ministers from the 22-nation League agreed to call for action after emergency talks in Cairo. Officials said the body had already been in touch with the rebels about the situation on the ground.

Before the meeting, Amr Moussa, the secretary general of the Arab League and one of its most influential diplomats, had thrown his weight behind the air exclusion zone, saying it was the only way to protect Libyans from Gaddafi’s “disdainful” regime.

In a statement after a six-hour long meeting, he added: “The Arab League has officially requested the United Nations Security Council to impose a no-fly zone against any military action against the Libyan people.”

His comments came as the Gaddafi regime declared victory in the battle for the oil port of Ras Lanuf in eastern Libya, where it had fought with artillery, tanks, ships and planes to eject rebels for most of the last week[.] >>> Colin Freeman in Cairo, Nick Meo in Benghazi and Patrick Hennessy in London | Saturday, March 12, 2011

Analysis: Arab League Backs No-fly Zone in Libya
The Arab League's decision lays the groundwork for foreign powers to consider a no-fly zone over Libya. The league also reportedly decided to recognise a rebel council as the representative of the Libyan people. The decision, announced on Egyptian state television, ends weeks of debate among Arab nations, overcoming widespread resistance to the idea of foreign intervention in an Arab member state. Al Jazeera's James Bays, reporting from the capital Cairo, puts the decision into perspective


THE DAILY TELEGRAPH: Libya: as Colonel Gaddafi's tanks roll eastwards, rebels are defiant but fear a bloody revenge – Colonel Muammar Gaddafi's planes, tanks and artillery are gradually taking their toll on the rebels. They are defiant, but fear a bloody revenge if the West does not intervene. >>> Nick Meo, in Benghazi and Richard Spencer in Tripoli | Saturday, March 12, 2011

THE GUARDIAN: Gaddafi's army will kill half a million, warn Libyan rebels: Rebels flee Ras Lanuf and call on UN to impose no-fly zone as Gaddafi's forces recapture strategically important towns >>> Chris McGreal in Benghazi | Saturday, March 12, 2011

Libya Revolt: Tobruk
Libyan troops forced rebels to retreat overnight from the outskirts of the oil town of Ras Lanuf, pushing the front line eastwards, and the rebel council's chief said more volunteers were ready to fight. The front line now stands between the rebel-held town of Uqaylah and Ras Lanuf, where oil storage tanks were hit during Friday's fighting. Rebels blamed an air strike but the government denied hitting the oil plant. Al Jazeera's Nick Clark has the latest from the town of Tobruk, in Libya's east

'Day of Rage' Halted
Mar 12, 2011 – Pro-democracy protests stalled

Is Outrage Justified On Radical Islam Probe?
Mar 12, 2011 – Rudy Giuliani on 'Hannity'

Europa: Wunsch nach "starkem Mann" wächst
DIE PRESSE: In Großbritannien und Frankreich finden mehr als 40 Prozent, dass ein "starker Mann" an der Spitze gebraucht werde. In Portugal und Polen findet das sogar die Mehrheit.

In Europa wächst der Wunsch nach autoritären Regierungsformen. Das ergab eine Studie der Universität Bielefeld im Auftrag der SPD-nahen Friedrich-Ebert-Stiftung, die am Freitag vorgestellt wurde. >>> Ag. | Freitag, 11. März 2011

Libyen-Krise: Das Risiko des Westens
FAZ.NET – DER KOMMENTAR: In der dringlichen Frage, wie man mit dem Aufstand gegen Gaddafi umgehen soll, beschränkt sich die Einigkeit in der EU bisher auf eine Leerformel. Sollte sich der geächtete libysche Diktator an der Macht halten, wäre dies für die Europäer nicht nur peinlich, sondern auch gefährlich.

Kaum hat die EU-Kommission ein paar geordnete Gedanken über das künftige Verhältnis Europas zu seinen Nachbarn auf der anderen Seite des Mittelmeers formuliert, bringen ihre Mitgliedsländer den Geleitzug wieder durcheinander.

In der dringlichen Frage, wie man mit dem Aufstand gegen den libyschen Diktator Gaddafi umgehen soll, beschränkt sich die Einigkeit bisher auf eine Leerformel: Der Oberst, der sein Volk vierzig Jahre lang geknechtet hat und jetzt niederkartätschen lässt, müsse „ sofort“ (Bundeskanzlerin Merkel) zurücktreten. Doch was ist, wenn Gaddafi, dessen Truppen sich wieder auf dem Vormarsch befinden, diesen frommen Wunsch nicht erhört? Aus dem Aufstand wurde ein Bürgerkrieg >>> Von Günther Nonnenmacher | Freitag, 11. März 2011

Un fils de Kadhafi menace l'Italie de représailles
LE POINT: Seif al-Islam Kadhafi appelle Berlusconi à ne pas "trahir" un régime dont il est le premier partenaire commercial.

Un des fils du dirigeant libyen s'est dit mécontent de l'attitude de l'Italie, la menaçant de représailles économiques si elle devait "trahir" un régime dont elle est le premier partenaire commercial, dans des entretiens avec des journaux. "Nous sommes très choqués et même très irrités de votre position parce que vous êtes le premier partenaire de la Libye dans le monde", a déclaré Seif al-Islam Kadhafi aux quotidiens Corriere della Sera et Repubblica. "(Silvio) Berlusconi est notre ami. Nous sommes voisins, amis. Nous pouvions nous attendre à cela (une trahison, ndlr) de la France, de la Grande-Bretagne, de la Suède, mais pas de l'Italie", a-t-il dit. >>> Source AFP | Samedi 12 Mars 2011

Empire - Right to Intervene?
As Muammar Gaddafi strikes to crush rebel forces in Libya, Empire looks at the case for and against intervention

Further Gains for Gaddafi in East
Muammar Gaddafi seems to be getting an upper hand in Libya, at least militarily. His forces are pushing the rebels back further to the east.
The military has bombarded the oil port of Ras Lanuf again, and pro-Gaddafi forces have reportedly taken the nearby town of Brega.
There are also reports of fierce attacks on Ajdabiya, which is on the way to the opposition stronghold of Benghazi.
Al Jazeera's Emike Umolu has more

Saudi Arabia's Day of Little Rage
THE GUARDIAN: Saudis ignored calls for protests on Friday because of tight security and fears about manipulation by extremists

Friday was Saudi Arabia's "day of rage", planned for and anticipated for weeks. But, in the event, there wasn't even a grumble – unless you count the ongoing protests in the eastern province which had been going on for a week.

The protests in the east, where the Saudi Shia minority is concentrated, were mostly to call for the release of political prisoners. However, across the country there was silence. Many were expecting it to be so, but some wonder why.

Two main factors played a role in this silence. The first was the government's preparation, with the interior ministry's warning and the senior clerics' religious decree prohibiting demonstrations and petitions.

During the week there was also a huge campaign to discourage demonstrations. Saudis were bombarded on TV, in SMS messages and online with rumours that the demonstrations were an Iranian conspiracy, and that those who went out in the streets would be punished with five years' prison and fines in the thousands of riyals.

Finally, on Friday itself, there was an intimidating security presence all over the major cities, with checkpoints on the roads and helicopters flying above.

The second and more important factor discouraging protests was a huge question mark regarding who was calling for them. What started on a Facebook page as a call for the creation of a civil society with a list of demands including a constitutional monarchy and a call for public freedoms and respect for human rights eventually turned into a page where sectarianism was openly practised and Islamists were praised. Continue reading and comment >>> Eman Al Nafjan | Saturday, March 12, 2011