Pope to Respond to Question of Faith on TV
THE DAILY TELEGRAPH: For the first time in the history of the Vatican, the Pope will respond to questions about his faith on a television programme.

Benedict XVI is expected to speak mostly about Jesus – he has just written the second of two volumes on Christ's life, "Jesus of Nazareth", due to be published on Thursday.

He will appear on a religious affairs programme called "In his image", which will be aired on Good Friday - April 22.

It will be broadcast at 2.10pm in Italy (1.10pm GMT), the time recognised by the Catholic Church as the moment that Christ died on the cross after being crucified. >>> Nick Squires, Rome | Tuesday, March 08 2011

Nouvelle journée de violences en Libye
LE POINT: Les forces gouvernementales ont bombardé les villes de l'Est aux mains des insurgés.

Les forces du régime de Muammar Kadhafi ont bombardé par air et terre, mardi, des positions de rebelles dans l'est de la Libye, au moment où la mise en place d'une zone d'exclusion aérienne recueillait de nouveaux soutiens y compris dans le monde arabe. Au vingt-deuxième jour de l'insurrection sanglante, l'opposition, basée à Benghazi, épicentre de l'insurrection dans l'Est, a rejeté toute négociation avec le régime, exigeant que le leader libyen quitte le pays et promettant, le cas échéant, de ne pas engager de poursuites pénales contre lui. La télévision officielle libyenne a, de son côté, jugé "impensable" que Muammar Kadhafi "puisse prendre contact avec des agents ayant fait appel aux étrangers contre leur propre pays", en allusion aux demandes d'opposants à la communauté internationale de lancer des raids aériens contre le régime. >>> Source AFP | Mardi 08 Mars 2011

Proteste in Jemen erreichen Hochburg des Präsidenten
10'000 Demonstranten fordern Rücktritt von Präsident Saleh
NZZ ONLINE: In Jemen haben die seit Wochen anhaltenden Proteste gegen Präsident Ali Abdullah Saleh am Dienstag auch bisher regierungstreue Gebiete des Landes erfasst. Rund 10'000 Demonstranten forderten in der Stadt Dhamar den Rücktritt des Präsidenten.

Die Lage in Jemen spitzt sich zu: Die Stadt Dhamar, die rund 60 Kilometer südlich der Hauptstadt Sanaa liegt, gilt als Hochburg von Anhängern des Präsidenten Saleh. Bewohner der Stadt gaben an, es hätten rund 10'000 Demonstranten protestiert.
Nach Angaben der Regierungspartei flogen dabei auch Steine. Demonstranten hätten einen Sitzstreik begonnen und wollten diesen erst nach einem Rücktritt Salehs beenden. Am Sonntag erst hatte in Dhamar eine ähnliche Anzahl von Menschen dem Präsidenten noch den Rücken gestärkt. >>> sda/Reuters/ddp | Dienstag, 08. März 2011

Duke of York 'Very Worried about Future as Trade Envoy'
THE DAILY TELEGRAPH: The Duke of York is "very worried" about whether he can continue as Britain's trade envoy amid the controversy over his ties to a convicted paedophile, a friend has said.

Goga Ashkenazi, a Kazakh socialite, said that the Duke sent her a BlackBerry message over the weekend expressing his anguish about the coverage of his friendship with Jeffrey Epstein.

He contacted her after the Sunday newspapers contained fresh details over his involvement with the American billionaire, who was sentenced to 18 months in prison in 2008 for soliciting a minor for prostitution.

Last month a picture emerged of the Duke with his arm around Virginia Roberts. The image was taken while she was employed by Epstein as a masseuse but she alleges he sexually exploited her while a teenage minor.

The Government rallied round the Duke yesterday with David Cameron's official spokesman saying the Prime Minister was "fully supportive" of him staying on.

The comments were in contrast to earlier media reports which quoted an unnamed Whitehall source as saying there would not be "many tears shed" if Andrew quit.

Ms Ashkenazi, a long-time friend of the Duke's, revealed his state of mind in an interview with the Evening Standard. >>> | Tuesday, March 08, 2011

LONDON EVENING STANDARD: Prince Andrew: I'm very worried about keeping my role >>> David Cohen | Tuesday, March 08, 2011

LONDON EVENING STANDARD: 'Prince Andrew is not the villain. He's a superb trade envoy' >>> David Cohen | Tuesday, March 08, 2011

Verbunden >>>

Related here and here

Warplanes Attack Libyan Rebels
Mar 8 - Government forces attack rebels in Libya's east as Libya's foreign minister accuses Britain, France and the U.S. of plotting to divide the country. Marie-Claire Fennessy reports

Vegemite on Agenda for Gillard and Obama
Mar 8 - Australian prime minister Julia Gillard and President Obama discuss the pros and cons of vegemite [sic] during a visit to a Virginia high school. Lindsey Parietti reports

Cities of Light
Cities of Light tells the relationship between Muslims, Christians and Jews in Spain

Watch the full episode. See more Cities of Light.

Gaddafi Regime Invites EU to Monitor Libya Crisis
THE GUARDIAN: Some diplomats keen to undertake evaluation mission, but others see it as ploy to weaken demands that Gaddafi step down

The Gaddafi regime has invited the European Union to send teams of monitors to Libya to undertake an "independent evaluation" of the situation, according to senior EU officials.

Leading diplomats from the eight EU countries with embassies still operating in Libya are strongly in favour of the "evaluation mission", which could be performed jointly with the United Nations. But other officials in Brussels are sceptical, suspecting a ruse by the Libyan regime aimed at weakening European and US demands that Gaddafi step down.

Agostino Miozzo, an Italian doctor who heads the EU diplomatic service's crisis management office, returned on Monday from a 48-hour trip to Tripoli where the regime offered the monitoring mission.

"Libya's Europe minister suggested a UN or EU independent evaluation in Libya as soon as possible," said a senior EU official.

The Libyans promised full support with logistics, organisation and security, and pledged that the monitors would be free to go anywhere in the country, the official said.

All remaining EU ambassadors in Tripoli – which include the Italian, but not the German, French or British – strongly supported the offer, the official said. >>> Ian Traynor in Brussels | Tuesday, March 08, 2011

THE GUARDIAN: Gaddafi's defectors denounce 'government of Mussolini and Hitler': Some of the former Libyan ministers and diplomats who have turned on the regime of Muammar Gaddafi >>> David Sharrock | Saturday, February 26, 2011

Libyen: Einwohner hoffen auf Ende der blutigen Schlacht

Deutsche erzählt von ihrer Flucht aus Tunesien

Vulkan Kilauea speit spektakulär Feuer

Tanze Samba mit mir!

Verbunden >>>

Gaddafi Renews Attack on Rebels
BBC: Forces loyal to Libyan leader Col Muammar Gaddafi have launched further air strikes on the rebel-held oil port of Ras Lanuf, in a renewed offensive.

Warplanes fired missiles on residential areas and near rebel positions.

Intense shelling and the deployment of heavy armour has been reported, but there were no reports of casualties.

Meanwhile, the rebels said they had been approached by pro-Gaddafi officials offering to hold talks on an exit for the Libyan leader.

The rebels rejected the offer, a spokesman said.

Heavy shelling is reported. >>> | Tuesday, March 08, 2011

Danish Immigration Minister Hornbech Fired over Scandal
BBC: Denmark's Immigration Minister Birthe Roenn Hornbech has been sacked after 36 stateless Palestinians were wrongly refused citizenship.

Ms Hornbech, 67, admitted that she knew her department had broken a UN convention in 2008 but failed to report the matter to MPs until 2010.

Shortly after PM Lars Loekke Rasmussen announced his decision, a second minister announced she was resigning.

Education Minister Tina Nedergaard said she was going for personal reasons.

Since it came to power in 2001, Denmark's Liberal-Conservative coalition government has tightened immigration and citizenship laws and has relied on the support of Pia Kjaersgaard's right-wing Danish People's Party to stay in power.

In a statement, the prime minister said he had decided to set up an independent inquiry into the handling of stateless people by the immigration ministry.

The scandal surrounding Ms Hornbech began in January when it emerged that her ministry had denied Palestinian youths citizenship. Under the 1961 UN convention on stateless persons, to which Denmark is a signatory, stateless children born in a country have the right to citizenship there before their 21st birthday.

Mr Loekke Rasmussen said that 36 stateless persons had "mistakenly been denied Danish nationality and that parliament should have been informed at an earlier point". >>> | Tuesday, March 08, 2011

Muslime in Deutschland

Rebels Set Demands for Gaddafi Exit
Head of Libyan opposition says Gaddafi 'will not be pursued' if he quits within 72 hours and stops bombing countrymen

AL JAZEERA ENGLISH: Rebels will not pursue Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi over crimes they say he has committed if he steps down from his post in the next 72 hours, the head of the rebel National Libyan Council has told Al Jazeera. >>> Al Jazeera and agencies | Tuesday, March 08, 2011

Prinz Andrew gerät vermehrt unter Druck
Das Mandat von Prinz Andrew als Aussenhandels-Beauftrager der britischen Regierung steht auf der Kippe. Grund ist die Verbindung zu einem Geschäftsmann, der wegen Pädophilie und Prostitution verurteilt worden ist.

Saudi Arabia Is Losing Its Fear
THE GUARDIAN: There's no doubt the kingdom is ripe for revolution, and any security forces violence at Friday's protests could ignite the fuse

In Riyadh the mood is tense; everyone is on edge wondering what will happen on Friday – the date the Saudi people have chosen for their revolution. The days building up to Friday so far have not been as reassuring as one would like.

On 4 March, there were protests in the eastern region and a smaller protest here in Riyadh. The protests in the eastern region were mainly to call for the release of Sheikh Tawfiq al-Amer, who had been detained after giving a sermon calling for a constitutional monarchy.

The protest in Riyadh was started by a young Sunni man, Mohammed al-Wadani, who had uploaded a YouTube video a few days before, explaining why the monarchy has to fall. After the protests, 26 people were detained in the eastern region and al-Wadani was taken in soon after he held up his sign near a major mosque in Riyadh.

It's not just the people who are on edge; apparently the government is also taking this upcoming Friday seriously. Surprisingly, Sheikh Amer was released on Sunday, while usually political detentions take much longer.

All this week, government agencies have been issuing statements banning protests. First it was the interior ministry that promised to take all measures necessary to prevent protests. Then the highest religious establishment, the Council of Senior Clerics, deemed protests and petitions as un-Islamic. The Shura Council, our government-appointed pretend-parliament, also threw its weight behind the interior ministry's ban and the religious decree of prohibition. But you can't blame the clerics or the Shura for making these statements – the status quo is what's keeping them in power and comfortable.


Saudis are now faced with a ban on any form of demonstration, and the blocking and censorship of petitions. Moreover, four newspaper writers who had signed one of the petitions are now suspended.

Saudis feel cornered, with little means of self-expression and at the same time exposed to news and opinions that only add salt to the wound. For example, Prince Talal Bin Abdul Aziz, the king's half-brother, went on BBC Arabic TV to state his support for a constitutional monarchy and warn that anything less will lead to "evils" (his word). Contunie reading and comment >>> Eman Al Nafjan | Tuesday, March 08, 2011

Related video >>>

House of Saud - Saudi Arabia
Watch Journeyman Pictures video here

Man Arrested in Glasgow over Stockholm Suicide Bombing
THE DAILY TELEGRAPH: A British resident has become the first person arrested in connection with the Stockholm suicide bombing, police said today.

The 30-year-old man was detained in Glasgow in connection with the attack in Sweden in December last year.

The foreign national was arrested under the Terrorism Act shortly after 6am in the Whiteinch area of the city.

It is alleged the man was involved in aiding terrorists in Sweden, but is not Swedish.

The suicide bomber, Iraqi Taimour Abdulwahab al-Abdaly, 28, who studied at the University of Bedfordshire, blew himself up and injured two people in a botched attack in Stockholm. >>> | Tuesday, March 08, 2011

Inside Story: Saudi Arabia's Growing Voices of Discontent
Saudi Arabia mobilises thousands of troops, to try and quell rising dissent in the Kingdom. But even as King Abdullah announces billions of dollars in social reforms - is this going to be enough to stave off a revolution? And is the House of Saud really listening to the growing voices of discontent?

Related >>>

Libya Fighting Resembles Civil War
As supporters of Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi start moving eastward in an effort to push the rebels back and recapture fallen towns, the fighting looks set to intensify. In the city of Misurata, rebels were filmed celebrating their victory over Gaddafi's forces. But there has been more fighting there and rebels say they fear government forces are regrouping. Past Gaddafi's hometown of Sirte lies Ras Lanuf where pro-Gaddafi forces are bombarding the oil-rich city, allegedly killing at least three people on Monday. Al Jazeera's Laurence Lee reports

WTC Attack September 11, 2001 from New York Police Helicopter

Drawing U.S. Crowds With Anti-Islam Message
THE NEW YORK TIMES: FORT WORTH — Brigitte Gabriel bounced to the stage at a Tea Party convention last fall. She greeted the crowd with a loud Texas “Yee-HAW,” then launched into the same gripping personal story she has told in hundreds of churches, synagogues and conference rooms across the United States:

As a child growing up a Maronite Christian in war-torn southern Lebanon in the 1970s, Ms. Gabriel said, she had been left lying injured in rubble after Muslims mercilessly bombed her village. She found refuge in Israel and then moved to the United States, only to find that the Islamic radicals who had terrorized her in Lebanon, she said, were now bent on taking over America.

“America has been infiltrated on all levels by radicals who wish to harm America,” she said. “They have infiltrated us at the C.I.A., at the F.B.I., at the Pentagon, at the State Department. They are being radicalized in radical mosques in our cities and communities within the United States.”

Through her books, media appearances and speeches, and her organization, ACT! for America, Ms. Gabriel has become one of the most visible personalities on a circuit of self-appointed terrorism detectors who warn that Muslims pose an enormous danger within United States borders.

Representative Peter T. King, Republican of Long Island, will conduct hearings Thursday in Washington on a similar theme: that the United States is infiltrated by Muslim radicals. Mr. King was the first guest last month on a new cable television show that Ms. Gabriel co-hosts with Guy Rodgers, the executive director of ACT! and a Republican consultant who helped build the Christian Coalition, once the most potent political organization on the Christian right.

Ms. Gabriel, 46, who uses a pseudonym, casts her organization as a nonpartisan, nonreligious national security group. Yet the organization draws on three rather religious and partisan streams in American politics: evangelical Christian conservatives, hard-line defenders of Israel (both Jews and Christians) and Tea Party Republicans.

She presents a portrait of Islam so thoroughly bent on destruction and domination that it is unrecognizable to those who study or practice the religion. She has found a receptive audience among Americans who are legitimately worried about the spread of terrorism.

But some of those who work in counterterrorism say that speakers like Ms. Gabriel are spreading distortion and fear, and are doing the country a disservice by failing to make distinctions between Muslims who are potentially dangerous and those who are not. >>> Laurie Goodstein | Monday, March 07, 2011

This Is ACT! for America

Act! For America >>>

Mouammar Kadhafi cherche une issue, l'Onu cherche une résolution
REUTERS FRANCE: RAS LANOUF, Libye - Alors que la communauté internationale tente de s'accorder sur une réponse face aux combats qui se poursuivent en Libye, Mouammar Kadhafi chercherait une issue "honorable" pour lui et ses proches dans cette crise qui aurait déjà fait un million de réfugiés.

Selon deux journaux en langue arabe et selon la chaîne de télévision Al Djazira, le dirigeant libyen aurait proposé aux insurgés une réunion du Congrès général du peuple, instance qui fait office de parlement, afin d'examiner les conditions de son départ assorties de garanties.

Al Djazira précise que cette main a été tendue en direction du Conseil national installé par l'opposition à Benghazi et qui représente la majorité des régions contrôlées par les rebelles dans l'Est.

Les quotidiens Achark Al Aousat, installé à Londres, et al Bayan, basé aux Emirats arabes unis, citent tous deux des sources anonymes à l'appui d'informations selon lesquelles Kadhafi tente de trouver un compromis.

Une source proche du Conseil national a précisé à Reuters avoir entendu parler d'une proposition suivant laquelle "Kadhafi remettrait le pouvoir au président du parlement et quitterait le pays avec une certaine somme d'argent garantie".

Des sources proches du Conseil ont informé le correspondant de la chaîne Al Djazira à Benghazi que la demande du dirigeant libyen a été refusé par les insurgés car elle reviendrait à lui accorder une sortie "honorable" et serait perçue comme une offense aux victimes. >>> Par Mohammed Abbas | Mardi 08 Mars 2011

LE POINT: Kadhafi disposé à se retirer contre des garanties ? : Le dirigeant libyen aurait tenté de négocier avec le Conseil national mis en place par l'opposition, sans succès. >>> Le Point.fr | Mardi 08 Mars 2011

Jugendgruppen rufen zu Protesten in Kuwait auf
REUTERS DEUTSCHLAND: Kuwait - Die Protestwelle in der arabischen Welt zieht nun auch Demonstrationen im ölreichen Kuwait nach sich.

Für Dienstag haben mehrere Gruppen zu Kundgebungen in dem Golfemirat aufgerufen. Nach dem Vorbild der Aufstände in Tunesien und Ägypten fordern sie die Absetzung des Ministerpräsidenten und größere politische Freiheiten. … >>> | Dienstag, 08. März 2011

Gates bedauert Tötung von Kindern bei Luftangriff in Afghanistan
REUTERS DEUTSCHLAND: Kabul - US-Verteidigungsminister Robert Gates hat die irrtümliche Tötung von neun Kindern bei einem Nato-Luftangriff in Afghanistan als schweren Rückschlag für die beiderseitigen Beziehungen bezeichnet. >>> | Dienstag, 08. März 2011

The Debate Over No Fly Zones in Libya
Mar 7 -Western nations have not reached a united front on the use of no fly zones in Libya. Deborah Lutterbeck reports

Related >>>

Higher Oil Keeps Wall St. On Edge
Mar 7 - Summary of business headlines: U.S. crude rallies above $105 as violence in Libya continues; U.S. consumer credit up in January but consumers show sign of restraint; Stocks fall in U.S. and Europe. Conway G. Gittens reports

Republican Urges Islam Terror Hearings Amid 'McCarthyite' Witch-hunt Claims
THE GUARDIAN: Peter King, chair of homeland security committee, wants to show 'extent of radicalisation within Muslim-American community'

A New York Republican has pressed ahead with congressional hearings on the threat of homegrown Islamist terrorism , dismissing claims of a McCarthyite witch-hunt against America's Muslims.

Peter King, who chairs the homeland security committee in the House of Representatives, said the hearings were essential to national security, and that Muslim leaders should do more to help authorities prevent extremist attacks.

"The main goal is to show the extent of radicalisation within the Muslim-American community, how dangerous that is, how serious that is," he told Fox television. "It's a real threat. It's a growing threat, and it's not just me saying this."

He accused community leaders of not doing enough to protect America from attacks – although he said the majority of US Muslims were "good Americans".

"The fact is, the main threat is coming from within the Muslim community," he said. "The Muslim community should be embracing what I am doing, should be willing to co-operate because they should be trying to root these people out of their community and co-operate with the police and the FBI."

King's focus on extremists in the Muslim community – to the exclusion of other potential threats – has outraged security experts and human rights activists. >>> Suzanne Goldenberg in Washington | Monday, March 07, 2011

Related >>>

Barack Obama Raises Pressure on Gaddafi as No-fly Zone Gains Support
THE GUARDIAN: Libyan leader told the US and Nato are weighing up a raft of military options, including arming the rebel forces

Barack Obama has stepped up pressure on Colonel Gaddafi, saying the US and Nato allies were considering a military response to violence in Libya, with the list of options including arming the rebels.

Obama's remarks came as Britain and France made progress in drafting a resolution at the UN calling for a no-fly zone triggered by specific conditions, rather than timelines. Downing Street is hopeful that a resolution with clear triggers such as the bombing of civilians would not be subject to a Russian veto at the security council.

The foreign secretary, William Hague, told the Commons a no-fly zone would have to be supported by north African countries and rebel leaders and would also need an appropriate legal basis.

He said he was looking at ways of restricting the money going to the Libyan regime from oil revenues, with one option being money going into an escrow account for the use of the Libyan people.

Many Tory backbenchers voiced concerns about a no-fly zone, including the chairman of the foreign affairs select committee, Richard Ottaway, who argued they had not worked in Bosnia or Iraq.

The international shift towards support for a UN-endorsed no-fly zone has seen influential US senators such as John Kerry and John McCain backing the plan. There is growing concern that the rebels will be crushed unless they are given some practical military support, even if it is limited to disabling Libyan air control radar. >>> Simon Tisdall, Patrick Wintour and Richard Norton-Taylor | Monday, March 07, 2011

Two More UK Universities Linked to Libya Regime
THE GUARDIAN: Muammar Gaddafi's son, Mutassim, was taught at London's Soas while the charity of another son donated £1.5m to the LSE

Potentially embarrassing new details of links between the Gaddafi regime and British universities have emerged, including revelations that one of the Libyan dictator's sons was tutored in the UK.

Mutassim Gaddafi, who has been described as a "war criminal" by Libyan anti-government protesters, was given private lessons at the School of Oriental and African Studies in the summer of 2006. Four years later Soas, which is part of the University of London, announced a lucrative deal with a Libyan university.

It has also emerged that another British university formed a partnership with a Libyan government ministry to reform the country's prisons. But the university did not gain access to Libya's two most notorious jails.

The deal with the centre for prison studies at King's College London was facilitated by the Gaddafi foundation, the charity run by another of the dictator's sons, Saif al-Islam. The foundation also made a controversial £1.5m donation to the London School of Economics.

The prisons project received funding from both governments. According to a conference paper on the programme published by two staff at the centre, the Gaddafi foundation "created the essential links that made the project a reality". >>> Rajeev Syal and Jeevan Vasagar | Monday, March 07, 2011

Glenn Beck's Future at Fox News Under Threat, According to NYT
THE GUARDIAN – BLOGS – RICHARD ADAMS: Fox News said to be prepared to dump its conspiracy theorist-in-chief Glenn Beck from its line-up of commentators

For America's beleaguered liberals, Monday's New York Times reports what sounds like a dream come true: Fox News is considering parting company with Glenn Beck, the rococo conspiracy theorist who inspires those on the swivel-eyed right and infuriates anyone to their left.

According to the New York Times's media correspondent David Carr, unnamed Fox News executives are said to be "contemplating life without Mr Beck" when the conservative shock jock's contract ends in December.

Some dismiss this as part of the rough and tumble of contract negotiations going on between Fox and Beck. But others point to Beck's sagging viewing figures - especially his loss of a million viewers for his daily one-hour show in the past year - from an average of 2.9 million in January 2010 to 1.8 million in January 2011 - as more to the point, with Beck's increasingly paranoid stylings said to be driving away more moderate viewers and high profile advertisers. Continue reading and comment >>> Richard Adams | Monday, March 07, 2011

Greek Debt Price Soars as Moody's Cuts Credit Rating Below Egypt
THE DAILY TELEGRAPH: The Greek government has reacted angrily to Moody's decision to cut the country's credit rating below that of Egypt, a move that prompted investors to dump the debt of other struggling European economies.

The country's debt was lowered to B1 from Ba1, as the ratings agency warned that Greece faces a shortfall in tax revenue and huge challenges in reforming state-owned companies and its costly healthcare system.

"The sheer magnitude of the task is becoming ever more apparent," said Sarah Carlson, an analyst at Moody's.

The Greek Finance Ministry yesterday described Moody's move as "totally unjustfied".

"Having completely missed the build-up of risk that led to the global financial crisis in 2008, the rating agencies are now competing with each other to be the first to identify risks that will lead to the next crisis," it said. >>> Richard Blackden | Monday, March 07, 2011

Get a Grip, Cameron Told after About-turn on Duke
THE DAILY TELEGRAPH: David Cameron was urged to “get a grip” on Monday night after Downing Street appeared to change its position on whether to support the Duke of York.

On Sunday, an anonymous source within No.10 said that there would be no “tears shed” if the Duke stood aside from his role as Britain’s trade ambassador. But yesterday morning the Prime Minister’s official spokesman insisted that the Government was “fully supportive” of his decision to stay on.

The spokesman added that ministers were not reviewing the Duke’s position, despite suggestions from within No.10 hours earlier that the Duke would have to stand down if more allegations emerged.

The about-turn cast a shadow over Craig Oliver’s first full week as the Government’s director of communications.

The assurances also appeared to contradict remarks by Vince Cable, the Business Secretary, whose department oversees the work of UK Trade & Investment (UKTI).

On Sunday, as increasingly damaging reports emerged about the Duke’s connections with Jeffrey Epstein, the billionaire convicted paedophile, ministers appeared reluctant to defend the Duke. >>> Rosa Prince, Political Correspondent | Monday, March 07, 2011

THE DAILY TELEGRAPH: Downing Street puts arm around Duke of York following anonymous briefings: Downing Street yesterday moved to defend the Duke of York’s position as United Kingdom trade envoy amid concerns about anonymous briefings against him from within No 10. >>> Rosa Prince, Political Correspondent | Monday, March 07, 2011

Related >>>

Libya: Oil Price Surges as Gaddafi Forces Gain Ground and Storm Key Town
THE DAILY TELEGRAPH: The conflict in Libya helped propel the price of oil towards $120 a barrel on Monday as forces loyal to Col Muammar Gaddafi and rebels trying to overthrow his regime formed a front line around the strategic oil town of Ras Lanuf.

Saudi Arabian political activists have also added to energy fears with calls for a day of protest this week.

Britain and France were leading diplomatic efforts to win support at the United Nations for a no-fly zone. These moves in part follow intense lobbying from the rebels. They have pressed Western oil firms to raise with their governments the spectre of losing costly infrastructure in the east of the country. >>> James Kirkup, Praveen Swami and Adrian Blomfield in Benghazi | Monday, March 07, 2011

Egyptian Steel Tycoon Goes On Trial
Ahmed Ezz, an Egyptian steel tycoon and politician, is due in court for a corruption trial. Ezz is a leading member of the former ruling National Democratic Party that was led by ousted President Hosni Mubarak.
He's alleged to have illegally made millions from cornering Egypt's steel market and to many he personifies so much of what was wrong with Mubarak's rule.
Al Jazeera's Ayman Mohyeldin reports

Pakistan Christian Minister Shahbaz Bhatti 'A Martyr'
BBC: The Archbishop of Canterbury has called on the government of Pakistan to do more to protect its minorities.

Dr Rowan Williams said the murder of Pakistan's only Christian cabinet minister, Shahbaz Bhatti, could not be "managed or tolerated".

Writing in London's Times, he said Mr Bhatti was a martyr and Pakistan was being blackmailed by extremists.

Mr Bhatti was killed in an ambush by Taliban gunmen as he drove away from his mother's home on 2 March.

He had been the Pakistan government's only Christian cabinet minister until his assassination in Islamabad.

The minister was an outspoken critic of Pakistan's controversial blasphemy laws which Dr Williams, who leads the Church of England and the senior bishop of the worldwide Anglican Church, also attacked in his article. >>> | Monday, March 07, 2011

Libya: Time to Act
ARAB NEWS – EDITORIAL: How long will the world remain a mute spectator to the madness of Qaddafi?

Libya continues to hurtle down to the precipice. Amid fierce fighting and fantastic claims and counterclaims of Muammar Qaddafi and opposition forces, a humanitarian catastrophe is unfolding across the North African country. Proving his detractors right, Qaddafi has unleashed murderous force on his own people using all the deadly firepower at his disposal.

Even as the crafty colonel goes to absurd lengths to insist ad nauseam that he holds no position in the "people's republic" and that all his people "love" him, he spares no effort to annihilate the very same people. To top it all, he demands international help as he is — according to him — fighting Al-Qaeda and international terrorism.

And yes, also needed is, says he, an urgent UN and African Union probe into the ongoing "conspiracy against people's power"! While there has never been any dearth of Qaddafi's shenanigans, he seems to have broken his own stellar record of lunacy. Clearly, in the make-believe world that the Libyan dictator has built around himself, there's no place for ephemeral things like reality, reason and common sense. This is why it's not possible for him to see the stark writing on the wall. Continue reading and comment >>> Editor | Sunday, March 06, 2011

Shiite Muslims Detained in Saudi Arabia
THE SUNDAY TELEGRAPH: Security forces in Saudi Arabia have detained at least 22 minority Shiite Muslims who protested last week over what they say is discrimination, activists said on Sunday.

Saudi Shiites have staged small protests for about two weeks in the kingdom's east, which holds much of the oil wealth of the world's top crude exporter. "Twenty-two were arrested on Thursday plus four on Friday, so the total is 26. This was all in Qatif," said rights activist Ibrahim al-Mugaiteeb, who heads the Saudi-based independent Human Rights First Society.

A Shiite activist in the town of Qatif in the Eastern Province said he knew of 22 arrests. Interior ministry officials could not be reached for comment.

Shiite protests in Saudi Arabia started in the area of the main city town of Qatif and neighbouring Awwamiya and spread to the town of Hofuf on Friday. The demands were mainly for the release of prisoners they say are held without trial.

Saudi Shiites often complain they struggle to get senior government jobs and other benefits like other citizens. >>> | Sunday, March 06, 2011

Losing the Information War
Is the US really losing the information war, as Hillary Clinton claims, and how can it fight back?

My comment:

In my opinion, the problem with US broadcast networks is this: They are more concerned about pushing an agenda rather than disseminating news. Take FoxNews. It’s supposed to be “fair and balanced.” Truth to tell, it is neither fair nor balanced!

In the US, you have the left-wing channels and the right-wing channels. So if you have a left-wing bias, you watch one channel, and of you have a right-wing bias, you watch another. So people are often badly informed of the opinions of the other side. Their coverage of foreign affairs leaves much to be desired.

Then there are all those dreadful ads! Oh God, those ads!

Al Jazeera is exciting. US news networks need to learn some lessons from Al Jazeera! – © Mark

Afghans Living in Fear of Taliban
The international forces have made some progress in securing areas of Afghanistan and training Afghan forces to take over security in their country. However, the violence continues, and as Al Jazeera's Sue Turton discovered, many civilians in Kandahar province are still living in fear of the Taliban.

Face-à-face guerrier en Libye
Envoyé spécial du Paris Match à Tripoli Alfred de Montesquiou a rencontré tour à tour les jeunes Libyens soutiens du colonel Kadhafi et les insurgés de Zawiya

French Far-right Makes Inroads
An opinion poll in the French Le Parisien newspaper suggests the leader of France's far-right party could win the first-round of next year's presidential election. Al Jazeera's Charlie Angela reports

Political Prisoners in Tunisia's New Era
Tunisia has ousted Zine Al Abidine Ben Ali, its former president, but shaking off the vestigages of authoratirian rule is proving to be an arduous task. One of the relics of the old regime that has received particular criticism from human rights groups is the anti-terrorism law under which so many political opponents were convicted under Ben Ali's rule. In Tunis, Al Jazeera's Nazanine Moshri speaks with one former political prisoners, and the family of another young man still serving out his sentence

Fierce Fighting Rages in Libya
AL JAZEERA ENGLISH: Opposition forces across the country are battling forces loyal to Muammar Gaddafi in their bid to overthrow his regime.

Forces loyal to Muammar Gaddafi, the country's long-time leader, have been staging a fightback against opposition forces, taking the town of Bin Jawad and moving on to the oil port of Ras Lanuf.

Witnesses have also told Al Jazeera that Az Zawiyah, in the west of the country near the capital Tripoli, was under heavy attack by government forces.

There has been fierce fighting in Misurata, located between Tripoli and Gaddafi's hometown Sirte, with reports of at least 18 people killed.

However, Al Jazeera's Jacky Rowland, reporting from the town of Brega, said that the opposition forces had advantages in terms of "their sheer number, patriotism and enthusiam".

"For a few days the rebels were making gains, but overnight it would appear that pro-Gaddafi forces took some ground," our correspondent said.

Government forces appeared to have "drawn a line in the sand" on the road to Sirte, Gaddafi's hometown, she said. "If the rebels want to capture Sirte, they will have to prepare for heavy fighting along the way." >>> Al Jazeera and agencies | Monday, March 07, 2011

Iraqis Rally on “Day of Regret”
Mar 7 - Iraqi protesters gather in Baghdad's central Tahrir Square to mark the anniversary of last year's inconclusive parliamentary elections. Travis Brecher reports