What's Happening Today - Wednesday 9 March

Japan:

PM expected to take office, State Foreign Secretary Takeaki Matsumoto and former Economy, Trade and Industry Minister Masayuki Naoshima are the names floated as possible successors to Maehara.

Japan:

Toyota President Toyoda speaks about global plans.

South Korea: 

The South Korean National Assembly’s Foreign Affairs, Trade and Unification Committee could approve the South Korean-EU free trade agreement.

South Korea: 

Shinsuke Sugiyama, director-general of Japanese Foreign Ministry's Asian and Oceanic Affairs Bureau visits for talks with Wi Sung-lac, South Korea's chief nuclear envoy on issues such as the North's uranium enrichment programme; third and final day 

Indonesia:

Paraguayan President Fernando Lugo starts Asian tour in Indonesia, also travels to Vietnam, Taiwan

Pakistan:

Tajik president wraps up three-day visit, meeting prime minister.

Pakistan:

Iranian Foreign Minister Ali Akbar Salehi visits Pakistan to attend 18th meeting of joint economic commission 

Pakistan: 

Five-day international naval exercises codenamed Peace-2011 continues; 47 countries invited to participate, including UK, USA and China (-12)

Russia:

US Vice-President Joe Biden ends visit as part of preparations for President Barack Obama's impending visit to Russia later this year

Azerbaijan:

Nardaran, near Baku, to hold a protest on social conditions and lack of government’s ability to tackle problems

Iran:

Syrian Prime Minister Muhammad Naji al-Itri visits Iran at invitation of First Vice President Mohammad-Reza Rahimi.

Iran: 

Second and final day of biannual meeting of Assembly of Experts, supreme religious institution; yesterday, its head Akbar Hashemi-Rafsanjani was replaced with Ayatollah Mohammad Reza Mahdavi Kani 

Lebanon:

Annual forum of the Arab Hospitals Federation takes place in Beirut

Lebanon:

Lebanese bishops will meet to elect a new spiritual head for Lebanon’s Maronite church.

Qatar: 

Dutch Queen Beatrix, Crown Prince Willem-Alexander and Princess Maxima, along with a Dutch trade mission, will visit Qatar.

Sudan:

The [opposition] alliance of Juba forces to stage protests next at Al-Ahliya school in Omdurman and Abu-Jinzir Square in Khartoum to support uprisings in Arab countries, police said demonstration would be illegal and warned protesters not to take to the streets

Libya: 

Watching developments after fierce fighting between Mu'ammar al-Qadhafi's forces and rebels continued yesterday

Zimbabwe:

After first Facebook arrest last week, Vikas Mavhudzi will face charges of "subverting a constitutional government" over a post he made on the social networking site about events in Egypt.

Rwanda: 

Third meeting of parliament speakers from Economic Community for Great Lakes region (Rwanda, Burundi, DRCongo); second and final day

Cyprus:

Turkish Cypriot and Greek Cypriot presidents meet to complete negotiations on property issue 

Ukraine:

Speaker of the Ukrainian parliament Volodymyr Lytvyn will visit Croatia and meet with Croatian President Ivo Josipovic, Speaker of the Croatian Parliament Luka Bebic, Croatian Prime Minister Jadranka Kosor and Vice Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs and European Integration Gordan Jandrokovic, along with representatives of the Ukrainian minority in Croatia.

Austria:

Czech and Slovak human rights activists are expected to block the Slovak-Austrian border crossing at Jarovce and Kittsee on the outskirts of Bratislava to protest the trial of 13 Austrian environmental activists.

Switzerland:

Georgia and Russia will resume talks over Moscow's bid to join the World Trade Organisation (to March 10).

Germany:

Further round of wage negotiations between unions and employers takes place 

Germany:

Two alleged Islamic terrorists appear in court in Berlin. One of the accused is the 29-year-old wife of one of the members of the 'Sauerland group', which is accused of plotting terrorist attacks on targets across 
Germany.

Belgium:

Kosovo Interior Minister Bajram Rexhepi attends Belgrade-Pristina talks in Brussels

Ireland:

Irish parliament scheduled to reconvene following elections (1200).

Portugal:

President Anibal Cavaco Silva sworn in for second five-year term

Portugal:

Treasury and Government Debt Agency is scheduled to buy back government bond lines and issue new debt in the amount of 750 million euros and 1 billion euros.

UK:

The British All Party Parliamentary Group for Cyprus and the Cypriot High Commission in the United Kingdom are expected to discuss the political and economic problems of Cyprus in the House of Commons.

US:

Australian Prime Minister Julia Gillard delivers an address to a joint meeting of Congress.

US:

Secretary of State Hillary Clinton opens the first Senior Officials Meeting (SOM) for the Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) forum.

US:

Forbes to release its 2011 world's billionaires list.

US:

Space shuttle Discovery is due back at the Kennedy Space Center following a nine-day visit to the International Space Station.

US:

2011 Media Summit takes place in New York

Ecuador: 

National Electoral Council has prohibited state financing of political propaganda after this date

Posted via email from luay's posterous

My Press Review - Wednesday 9 March

Libyan rebels call for 'surgical airstrikes'

Libyans facing daily bombardments by Col. Moammar Gadhafis forces are calling for foreign airstrikes against his strongholds as the United States and its allies continue debating about imposing a no-fly zone over Libya.

 

Ankara opposes NATO action in Libya as pressure mounts for intervention

Despite increasing calls from the international community to intervene in the escalating civil war in Libya, Ankara has stood firm behind its objection against a possible NATO operation in the northern African country, cautioning that the equation which needs to be solved in Libya has multiple variables.

 

Malta objects to Libya sanctions

An EU decision on whether to extend sanctions on Col Gaddafi's government as violence rages in Libya is delayed by objections from Malta.

 

Marine Le Pen planning Italy trip to condemn North African refugees

Marine Le Pen, the new leader of the French far-Right, is expected to travel to Italy to next week to condemn what she described as the European Union's "impotence" in the face of a wave of refugees from North Africa.

 

General Petraeus jokes about bombing Libya

General David Petraeus, commander of Nato troops in Afghanistan has been caught joking with Robert Gates, the Pentagon chief, on microphone about taking military action against Col Muammar Gaddafi.

 

Iran: Rafsanjani Ouster a Win for Ahmadinejad

Prospects for significant reform within Iran's regime suffered a serious blow, Tuesday, with the news that former President Hashemi Rafsanjani has been unseated as chairman of the powerful Assembly of Expert

 

Yemeni security forces open fire on protesters

As Yemen's growing protest movement sought to expand its presence in the capital, at least 10 were injured by gunfire from security forces, eyewitnesses said.

 

Students, teachers threatened in south

Anti-government demonstrators in south Yemen are threatening to burn down schools if teachers and students do not join their protests in the port city of Aden, the U.N. children’s fund UNICEF said on Tuesday.

 

Netanyahu peace move dismissed

Palestinians have dismissed any attempt by Israel's Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to take interim steps towards peace now that the US-sponsored negotiations are froze

 

‘Military must remain in West Bank’

Israel’s prime minister declared on Tuesday that his country must retain a strategic section of the West Bank under any future peace deal - a position unlikely to win Palestinians over to his reported plan to offer them a temporary state.

 

Israeli settlements face demolition

Settlers' groups label decision to raze settlements built on privately owned Palestinian land as treasonous

 

Saudis have right to peaceful protests

Saudis have a right to protest peacefully, the United States said on Monday after Saudi Arabia reminded its citizens that demonstrations were banned in the kingdom, the world’s largest oil exporter.

 

Leading Syrian activist released

The prominent Syrian human rights activist and critic of the government Haitham al-Maleh was been released from jail.

 

Hardline Shi'ite groups demand republic in Bahrain

Three hardline Bahraini Shi'ite groups said on Tuesday they had formed a coalition aimed at toppling the Sunni monarchy and setting up a republic, raising tensions days ahead of a planned march on the royal court.

 

Kuwait protesters insist want PM to go

Kuwaitis demonstrating outside parliament for the prime minister’s ouster came up with a new symbol of Arab discontent on Tuesday by handing out watermelons.

 

Attacks on Iraq activists spark concern

A surge of protests against Iraq's U.S.-backed democratic government has provoked a violent crackdown on demonstrators and journalists that is raising concerns about a rollback of civil liberties throughout the country.

 

Darfur rebels to face Hague trial

Two Sudanese rebel leaders will go on trial for war crimes over a deadly attack on peacekeepers in Darfur in 2007, the International Criminal Court says.

 

Taliban car bomb leaves 20 dead in Pakistan

The Taliban detonated a car bomb in Pakistan's third-largest city yesterday, killing 20 people and wounding more than 100 in an attack they said targeted the offices of the ISI spy agency.

 

Japan sees testing stealth jet in 2014

Japan is looking to join the United States, China and Russia with a stealth fighter that senior Japanese air force officials say can be ready for a prototype test flight in just three years, significantly upping the ante in the intensifying battle for air superiority in the Pacific.

 

Japan joins elite aircraft carrier club

Japan has been formally classified for the first time since World War II as an aircraft-carrier power by a leading Western international affairs think tank.

 

Mexico police chief seeks asylum

Mexico's youngest police chief, Marisol Valles Garcia, is seeking asylum in the US after apparently receiving death threats, immigration officials confirm.

 

Georgia, Russia Meet on WTO

Negotiations on Russia's accession to the WTO will begin between Georgian and Russian representatives in Bern on Wednesday. The Georgian delegation will be led by Tamara Koviridze, chief foreign affairs adviser to Prime Minister Mikheil Saakashvili.

 

Police Kill Demonstrators in Major City of Ivory Coast

As volleys of bullets flew in Abidjan Tuesday, the Abobo district, home to over a million people, appeared to be slipping from Laurent Gbagbo’s grasp.

 

Deadly religious clash in Cairo

At least one person has died in clashes between Coptic Christians and Muslims in Cair

 

US priests suspended in abuse probe

Twenty-one Roman Catholic priests are suspended in Philadelphia after the release of a legal report into allegations of child molestation.

 

U.S. Military Brass Too White, Too Male

Overall, the Military Leadership Diversity Commission found that U.S. military leadership is too male and too white.

 

US warns Zimbabwe over Iran nuke cooperation

The Obama administration warned Zimbabwe on Monday that it could face penalties if it cooperates with Iran's nuclear program in violation of U.N. resolutions....

 

Russia to warn US over missile defence system

Russia will on Wednesday warn US Vice President Joe Biden that it will beef up its own missile defences against the West if it is not made a full partner in a US-backed missile defence shield for Europe soon.

 

Egypt court rejects Hosni Mubarak's appeal over fund seizure

An Egyptian court on Tuesday rejected an appeal by ousted President Hosni Mubarak and his family against a top prosecutor's move to seize funds that could total billions of dollars.

 

What’s Behind the Spike in Oil Prices?

Are speculators overreacting, or are they responding sensibly to global energy pres

 

Egypt Investing $ 34 Billion in Electricity Sector

Egypt’s Minister of Electricity and Energy Hassan Younis said that the Egyptian nuclear program for the generation of power is continuing

 

Big oil

What happens when a sleepy town in Ghana strikes it rich

 

Bangladeshi microfinance chief dismissal upheld

A Bangladeshi court has upheld the government's dismissal of the Nobel laureate Muhammad Yunus from the microfinance bank he founded to lift many out of poverty.

 

Spanish strikes loom for Easter

Travellers heading to Spain for Easter face chaos after the country's main trade unions announce 22 days of planned strikes involving airports.

 

Disabled Muslim Hero Silver Scorpion to Save World?

The wheelchair-bound Silver Scorpion, who is Muslim, leads a new group of comic-book superheroes bent on bringing about world peace

 

China may relax one-child policy

Experts warn that three-decade-old rule has caused China's population of 1.3 billion to become dangerously unbalanced

 

Fidel Castro tweets to over 100,000 followers

Fidel Castro tweets now reach a large audience. The fact that Fidel Castro tweets is news in itsel

 

School pays pupils for revision

A Leicester primary school pays its year six pupils to attend revision classes

 

Posted via email from luay's posterous

What's Happening Today - Tuesday 8 March

Australia:

EU carbon price expert Jill Duggan meets with officials who are developing an Australian carbon tax.

Japan:

Tokyo to approve sanctions against Libya 

Japan: 

Serbian President Boris Tadic visits, meets Prime Minister Naoto Kan, Emperor Akihito

Philippines:

President Benigno Aquino III announced Sunday that Lieutenant General Eduardo Oban would be the incoming chief of staff of the Armed Forces of the Philippines 

South Korea: 

Shinsuke Sugiyama, director-general of Japanese Foreign Ministry's Asian and Oceanian Affairs Bureau visits, talks with Wi Sung-lac, South Korea's chief nuclear envoy, on issues such as the North's uranium enrichment programme (-9)

China: 

Asian Aerospace international expo and congress 2011 in Hong Kong

Vietnam:

President of the Republic of Paraguay, Fernando Lugo Mendez, will pay an official visit to Vietnam

Indonesia: 

Philippines President Benigno Aquino visits (-9) 

Bangladesh: 

The Bangladesh Energy Regulatory Commission will hold a public hearing on a government proposal to raise the compressed natural gas price by about 50 percent.

Pakistan: 

Five-day international naval exercises codenamed Peace-2011; 47 countries invited to participate, including UK, USA and China

Pakistan: 

Court adjourns hearing of case against US national accused of allegedly shooting dead two Pakistanis in Lahore

Pakistan: 

Supreme Court hearing over deteriorating law-and-order situation in Balochistan 

Afghanistan: 

US Defence Secretary Robert Gates on second day of two-day visit to Afghanistan; Gates offered personal apology to President Hamed Karzai on Monday for deaths of nine Afghan children in a NATO air strike 

Afghanistan:

At a ceremony on at the Ministry of Interior Affairs, minister Bismellah Mohammadi to announce increasing the number of women in the police ranks to at least 5,000. 

Russia:

US Vice-President Joe Biden begins visit to Moscow 

Iran:

Some Iranian opposition have called for protests, as Assembly of Experts holds its ninth official meeting and secret elections in Tehran [also, Rafsanjani has been subject of recent attacks by conservatives]

Iran:

Majlis National Security and Foreign Policy Committee re-opens case of disappearance of Imam Musa al-Sadr [an Iranian-born Shi'i cleric who vanished without a trace in Libya in 1978]

Iran: 

Azeri Foreign Minister Elmar Mammadyarov visits to attend meeting of bilateral cooperation commission, meet top officials 

Iraq:

Prime minister is expected to address recent protests, adding he could present nominees for vacant cabinet posts.

Kuwait: 

Opposition holds anti-government protests on day when parliamentary sessions resume after one-month suspension

Jordan: 

'Boycotters for Change Campaign' calls for sit-in in front of House of Representatives, press for dissolving parliament 

Israel:

Sentencing of former President Moshe Qatzav, convicted of rape in December 

Libya: 

Following developments as fighting between pro-Qadhafi and rebel forces continues; Libyan state TV late on Monday showed footage from what it said was "liberated city of Bin Jawad and Ras Lanuf"; Gulf Arab states have demanded that UN Security Council enforce an air exclusion zone over Libya

Egypt: 

Sudanese President Umar al-Bashir visits at invitation by head of Military Council Muhammad Husayn Tantawi, in first visit to post-Mubarak Egypt by an Arab leader; talks expected to focus on Sudanese-Egyptian relations and future of region in light of demands for change in number of Arab countries

Egypt

Former Egyptian Trade Minister Rachid Mohamed Rachid , former Industrial Development Authority Director Amr Assal and steel magnate and former National Democratic Party official Ahmed Ezz will stand trial on charges of profiteering and facilitating the illegal acquisition of public funds.

Sudan: 

National Consensus Forces instigate legal proceedings against Sudanese Media Centre (-9) 

Rwanda: 

Third meeting of parliament Speakers from Economic Community for the Great Lakes region namely Rwanda Burundi, DRCongo held; meeting to discuss formation of economic cooperation between member countries, role of parliament in endeavour to restore, maintain peace in the community and challenges facing entire process; Presidents of both chambers of Belgian parliament attend (-9) 

Greece: 

Turkish Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoglu pays visit 

Greece:

Greece will sell 1.25 billion euros of six-month treasury bills 

Albania:

Women of the opposition Socialist Party to hold an anti-government protest.

Romania: 

Bucharest hosts Economic Forum of Gulf Cooperation Countries (GCC) 

Romania:

Retired and laid off servicemen stage second anti-President demonstration over pensions, some 8,000 people turned up for first protest

Romania: 

Economic forum of countries in Southeast Europe and Gulf, representatives from banks, investments funds, sovereign wealth funds, Islamic banks, financial institutions (-10) 

Finland: 

US Vice-President Joe Biden visits, meets President Tarja Halonen, Prime Minister Mari Kiviniemi; leaves for Russia

Lithuania:

Norwegian Foreign Minister Jonas Gahr Stoere to visit 

Germany:

US Treasury Secretary Timothy Geithner visits Germany.

Holland:

International Court of Justice rules on Costa Rica's request for an injunction against Nicaragua to immediately cease activities on a disputed island. Hearing begins 1400 GMT.

Belgium:

Kosovan interior minister Bajram Rexhepi meets with Serbian authorities in Brussels, discuss Kosovo dispute, follows pressure on Serbia from EU authorities

France: 

French judge due to rule on whether to refer corruption trial of Jacques Chirac to constitutional authorities, which could entail delay of several months for first ever trial of a French former president 

France:

An arbitration hearing to settle a contract dispute between oil firm Burlington and the Ecuadorian government will begin in Paris.

UK: 

Mahmud Abbas holds talks with British Prime Minister David Cameron and Foreign Secretary William Hague 

UN:

International Women's Day.

US: 

President Obama approves resumption of military trials for terrorism suspects held at Guantanamo Bay prison camp in Cuba, ending a ban imposed when he took office two years ago

US:

Senate Banking Committee holds a hearing on the nomination of Nobel laureate Peter Diamond to be a member of the Federal Reserve Board.

US: 

Indian Army Chief V. K. Singh visits to meet Central Command (CENTCOM) chief James Mattis (8) for talks on development in Afghanistan, Pakistan, Arab world, Iraq; also meets counterpart George Casey Jr. (-16) 

Brazil:

Rio Carnival (final day)

Posted via email from luay's posterous

My Press Review - Tuesday 8 March

Libya 'to let a UN team in'

The United Nations say Libya has agreed to let a UN team into the country to assess the humanitarian situation.

 

 

Gadhafi's forces lay siege to rebel-held territories in Libya

Residents of some rebel-held cities in Libya were living in a state of siege Monday, as troops loyal to Col. Moammar Gadhafi launched air and ground attacks in an offensive aimed at winning back lost territory.

 

 

Britain's SAS in Libya: What happened there?

The confusion surrounding the detention and then release of several British nationals – including members of the Special Air Service – in Libya has generated as much interest as the incident itself. However, little information is available on why a group of British men arrived unauthorized and unannounced in Libya. Below is an overview of what can be confirmed about the incident.

 

 

Afghanistan lets Blackwater stay

Hamid Karzai forced to back down over expulsion of mercenary companies, with many likely to remain in countr

 

 

Tunisia dissolves secret police

The interim government in Tunisia dissolves the country's secret police service, blamed for human rights abuses during President Ben Ali's rule.

 

 

Kuwait rally today aims to remove PM

Kuwaiti youth groups will take to the streets on Tuesday to demand the removal of the prime minister and for more political freedom in the Gulf Arab state, the world’s fourth largest oil exporter.

 

 

Yemen opposition vows ‘escalation’

Yemen’s opposition coalition vowed on Monday to escalate protests that have swept the country demanding the resignation of President Ali Abdullah Saleh, after he rejected a plan that would have him step down in 2011.

 

 

Moussa hits campaign trail

Veteran diplomat Amr Moussa talked economics and social justice when he hit the campaign trail for the Egyptian presidency with a string of interviews that flagged him as the front runner for the job.

 

 

Egypt's new cabinet takes office

Members of Egypt's new cabinet are sworn into office at a ceremony in the captial, Cairo, almost a month after popular protests ousted President Hosni Mubarak.

 

 

Report alters Iran nukes outlook

An annual intelligence report to Congress has dropped language stating that Iran's nuclear weapons ambitions are a future option.

 

 

Japan must develop nuclear weapons, warns Tokyo mayor

Tokyo's outspoken Governor says his country, which suffered history's only nuclear attack, should build nuclear weapons to counter the threat from fast-rising China.

 

 

IAEA chief sees progress with Syria

The head of the UN nuclear watchdog said on Monday he saw possible movement in a probe into allegations of covert atomic activities in Syria, but once again criticized Iran for lack of cooperation.

 

 

Britain upgrades status of Palestinian diplomats

Britain's Foreign Secretary William Hague announced on Monday the U.K. will upgrade the status of Palestinian representatives in London, ahead of talks with Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas.

 

 

Sudanese militia clashes leave 56 dead

At least 56 combatants were killed in clashes between militia fighters and soldiers in South Sudan's Upper Nile state, just four months before the region is due to become independent.

 

 

Bahraini Prince warns against protest escalation

Bahrain’s crown prince warned all sides against escalating a standoff with disgruntled majority Shiites seeking an elected government in the Gulf Arab kingdom, asking for patience ahead of a national dialogue.

 

 

Sultan Qaboos Restructures Cabinet Ministers

His Majesty Sultan Qaboos has issued eight Royal Decrees. Royal Decree No 31/ 2011 restructures the Council of Ministers.

 

 

Shia cleric freed after protests

Saudi Arabia has freed a Shia cleric whose arrest provoked protests and sparked calls for a "day of rage" on Friday, human rights activists say.

 

 

Israel Apartheid Week, and efforts to combat it, begin

NGO Monitor announces efforts to combat Apartheid Week with “BDS Sewer System” to detail sources of delegitimization campaigns.

 

 

Algeria: thousands of police march for higher pay

Thousands of auxiliary police marched across Algeria on Monday to demand a pay raise, breaking through heavy security to reach parliament in a rare mass show of dissent in the tightly controlled countr

 

 

Tunisian prime minister names a new government

Tunisia's prime minister named a new government Monday after a spate of resignations that has revived questions about the country's post-revolution direction

 

 

Iraqis stage 'day of regret' one year after celebrated elections

Iraq's coalition government has yet to fulfill Iraqi hopes and is on increasingly shaky ground. Iyad Allawi pulled out of a powersharing deal this weekend.

 

 

Rebels claim to have seized Ivorian town

Rebels in Ivory Coast claim to have seized a town after a fierce battle in the country’s volatile west near the border with Liberia, panicking tens of thousands of refugees who already had fled violence over a deepening political crisis.

 

 

Obama reverses his stance on Gitmo detainee tribunals

President Obama on Monday lifted the ban he imposed two years ago on military trials for detainees at the Guantanamo Bay prison, ending his bid to move most terrorism trials to civilian courts and pushing his already busted deadline for shuttering the island prison indefinitely forward.

 

 

Palin 'not sure' about presidency

In USA, Republicans meet in Iowa to hear from potential candidates to run against Barack Obama for the presidency in 2012.

 

Second battle of Okinawa looms

Pacific island is home to 34 US military bases and focus of escalating tension between Japan and China

 

 

Jacques Chirac trial faces further delays

Last minute legal query may delay the first trial of a former French leader since the Second World 

 

Cherie Blair to lead Labour policy review

Move raises prospect that she could go on to take a seat in the House of Lords.

 

  

U.S. sets $223B deficit record

The federal government posted its largest monthly deficit in history in February, a $223 billion shortfall that put a sharp point on the current fight on Capitol Hill about how deeply to cut this year's spendi

 

 

Tipping point for oil seen at $150 per barrel

A top Federal Reserve official on Monday said the central bank should react if oil prices soar as high as $150 a barrel because prices that high could throw the economy back into recession.

 

Demand for uranium set to outstrip US in 2020s

China will surpass the United States as the world's largest consumer of uranium during the 2020s as the nation's imports rise sharply to feed a growing nuclear industry, a high-level energy official told China Daily.

 

Yunus says Bangladesh govt seeks control of bank

Nobel laureate Muhammad Yunus said Monday the Bangladeshi government is seeking to gain control of the prize-winning bank he founded to provide loans to the poor....

 

 

Bill Gates' philanthropy costs him richest-man title

Bill Gates didn't lose his title as the world's richest man last year; he gave it away by plowing billions into his charitable foundation, experts say.

 

 

State 'to control Ivorian cocoa'

Ivory Coast's disputed President Laurent Gbagbo issues a decree ordering the government to control all of the country's cocoa purchases and exports.

 

 

More UK university links to Libya

Muammar Gaddafi's son, Mutassim, was taught at London's Soas while the charity of another son donated £1.5m to the LSE

 

Could the UK Government shut down the web?

According to David Eagleman, a respected scientist and the author of Why the Net Matters, 21st-century technology obviates the causes that led past civilisations to collapse and because of this, he argues, that the web is crucial to our survival

  

Holocaust film to be seen in Iran

A landmark film about the Holocaust, Shoah, is to be shown for the first time on a satellite TV channel which broadcasts into Iran.

 

 

Parts of Christchurch may be abandoned

About 10,000 houses in Christchurch may have to be demolished because of earthquake damage, while some parts of the city may have to be abandoned altogether, New Zealand's Prime Minister, John Key, said yesterday.

 

 

Lawsuit Seeks to Erase Bike Lane in New York City

A suit over a bicycle path incorporates criticism of the city’s overall approach in carrying out the initiatives of the transportation commissioner

 

Alien Life Claim Sparks Controversy

A NASA scientist claims he has discovered extraterrestrial life in a fringe journal. Science bloggers aren't so convinced.

 

Call to boost Cornish 'nationality' via the Census

A Cornish MP urges people in the county to describe their nationality as "Cornish" in the 2011 Census.

 

Dams power Turkey's future, but drown its rich history

Cultural and natural sites are being submerged as Turkey races to double its power output by 

 

Lab-grown urethra 'world first'

The world's first tissue-engineered urethras, grown in the lab using patients' own cells, have been hailed a success by medical experts.

 

Christian Group Says May 21 is Judgment Day

A Christian ministry from Oakland, California believes the end of the world is upon us. It says the May 21, 2011 is judgment day.

 

India to make dangerous drivers work as traffic police

India, home to some of the world's most dangerous driving, is punishing its worst offenders by forcing them to work as traffic police.

 

Posted via email from luay's posterous

What's Happening Today - Monday 7 March

Japan:

Serbian President Boris Tadic visits, meets Prime Minister Naoto Kan, Emperor Akihito 

China: 

Watching developments after Communist Party mouthpiece Beijing Daily on Sunday again warned against Mideast-style protests in China as anonymous messages posted on internet called for rallies in major cities 

China: 

National People's Congress continues annual session; third day

Koreas:

Talks begin over the return of 31 North Korean fishermen – Seoul says only 27 want to return, Pyongyang says all 31 to return or none at all.

South Korea:

The U.S. and South Korea stage live-fire exercise as part of the annual joint military drills.

South Korea:

South Korea's regular news conference on North is held

South Korea: 

Shinsuke Sugiyama, head of Japanese Foreign Ministry's Asian and Oceanian Affairs Bureau, visits for talks with South Korea's chief nuclear envoy Wi Sung-lac on North's uranium enrichment programme (-9) 

Vietnam: 

National Assembly begins session (-17)

Indonesia:

Trial of Abu Bakr Bashir,  accused of involvement in assassination plot, resumes in Jakarta

Malaysia:

State election in Sarawak

Nepal:

UK Minister of State for International Development Alan Duncan arrives for a four-day visit

Pakistan: 

Marc Grossman US special envoy for Afghanistan and Pakistan visits for talks with President Asif Ali Zardari, Prime Minister Yusuf Raza Gillani, army chief Ishfaq Pervez Kayani; visit comes amid tensions following arrest of US diplomatic official Raymond Davis for shooting two Pakistanis in Lahore on 27 January 

Pakistan:

Tajikistan President Emomali Rahmon visits to discuss ways to boost bilateral ties 

Afghanistan: 

Watching for reaction after Pakistan reportedly apologizes for recent rocket attacks on eastern Afghan province of Nangarhar 

Russia:

VTB, Russia's largest bank, cultivates country's culture of wretched excess by inaugurating a service in which clients can "bathe" in a bath filled with 100 million rubles ($3.3 million) in banknotes

Iran: 

Azerbaijani Foreign Minister Elmar Mammadyarov visits to attend meeting of bilateral cooperation commission, meet top officials 

Iraq:

'Day of Regret' to mark one year of parliamentary elections takes place in Iraq

Saudi Arabia: 

Watching developments after leading religious authorities on Sunday issued a statement forbidding public protests and petitions for reforms in country; similar warning issued by Interior Ministry on Saturday; more than 17,000 people backed a call on social networking website Facebook to hold two demonstrations this month, first scheduled to take place on 11 March 

Egypt: 

Watching developments after reports say democracy activists attacked by men armed with knives outside offices of interior ministry in Cairo 

Libya: 

Watching developments after troops loyal to Colonel Al-Qadhafi mount attacks to retake several towns held by opposition forces in east and west of country on Sunday; some of heaviest fighting reported in the city of Misrata; UN says it will send envoy to Libya to assess humanitarian situation there

Angola:

Thousands of supporters of the People's Movement for the Liberation of Angola (MPLA) to take part in the Patriotic March for Peace

Nigeria:

Resumption of trial in Lagos of Iranian national Azim Aqajani and Nigerian customs official Ali Abbas Jega over illegal import of 13 containers of firearms and explosives from Iran, which were seized in October 2010 

Kaliningrad:

Norwegian Foreign Minister Jonas Gahr Stoere meets Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov.

Hungary:

Parliament to vote to appoint four new members to the central bank's rate-setting Monetary Council after a committee hearing of candidates.

Finland: 

US Vice-President Joe Biden visits to meet President Tarja Halonen, Prime Minister Mari Kiviniemi; leaves for Russia

Austria:

International Atomic Energy Agency's board of governors meeting. Through March 11.

Austria:

IAEA board of governors meets in Vienna

Kosovo:

Kosovo Assembly session to discuss upcoming talks with Serbia on 8th

Holland:

Hearing in case of Serb nationalist Vojislav Seselj takes place at Hague war crimes tribunal

Holland:

Trial of Bosnian Serb military commander Zdravko Tolimir continues at Hague war crimes court

Holland:

Trial of former Bosnian Serb leader Radovan Karadzic continues at the Hague

Belgium:

Nato secretary general holds monthly press briefing

France:

Former French President Jacques Chirac goes on trial on charges of illegal party financing. 

France:

Trial of French former president Jacques Chirac on corruption charges begins in Paris

Spain:

Chilean President Sebastian Pinera arrives on official visit to Spain

US:

Australian Prime Minister Julia Gillard meets President Barack Obama 

US:

Republican presidential candidates address Iowa Faith and Freedom Coalition event on Des Moines

US:

Space shuttle Discovery lands after final mission to international space station

US: 

Kyrgyz President Roza Otunbayeva visits; expected to meet Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, other senior US officials 

US: 

Indian Army Chief V. K. Singh visits, meets Central Command (CENTCOM) chief James Mattis (8) for talks on development in Afghanistan, Pakistan, Arab world, Iraq; also meets counterpart George W. Casey Jr.

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My Press Review - Monday 7 March

Gadhafi could wage protracted civil war

Col. Moammar Gadhafi's well-equipped but poorly trained security forces can wage a protracted battle against rebel fighters, allowing the beleaguered Libyan leader to cling to power for months, according to analysts and former Libyan officials.

 

Free of Qaddafi, a City Tries to Build a New Order

Bayda, one of the first place to embrace the anti-Qaddafi revolution, has now also embraced the work of what might follow.

 

Clinton media criticism buoys Al-Jazeera TV

A decade ago the US government attacked Al-Jazeera as a propagator of anti-American propaganda. Now Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton is citing the network for fine news coverage -- and tweaking the US media in the process.

 

Government backers attack protesters in Yemen

Government supporters wielding knives and handguns attacked protesters in southern Yemen on Sunday, leaving one dead in the latest in weeks of demonstrations demanding the president step down.

 

Egypt appoints new interior minister

Egypt on Sunday named Gen. Mansour el-Essawy as its new interior minister in a further sign that ousted President Hosni Mubarak’s old guard were being removed from the cabinet.

 

New Egypt prime minister names most of new Cabinet

Egypt's prime minister-designate named a caretaker Cabinet on Sunday to help lead the country through reforms and toward free elections after the uprising that ousted President Hosni Mubarak.

 

Attack on Egypt democracy protest

Knife-wielding men attack Egyptian pro-democracy activists in Cairo for the first time since President Hosni Mubarak resigned, reports say.

 

Bahrain protesters besiege PM office

Thousands of Shiite opposition supporters blocked the entrance to the prime minister’s office but failed to disrupt a government meeting on Sunday as the campaign for reform in the strategic Gulf nation enters its third week.

 

Saudi Arabia detains 22 Shiites

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.

 

Baghdad Neighborhood Celebrates as a Wall Is Taken Away

A blast wall intended to improve security had choked off business and stirred anger in the Sadr City neighborhood.

 

Ivory Coast Rebels Claim to Expand Their Advance

In a further sign of a possible slide toward civil war, rebels reportedly seized a town near the Liberian border.

 

Sheikha Lubna most powerful female in Arab World

UAE Minister of Foreign Trade Sheikha Lubna has been named as the world’s most powerful female Arab,

 

200 women victims of violence in eastern Turkey last year

Human Rights Association (İHD) central executive board member and Diyabakır branch director Reyhan Bataray has said that 72 women in eastern and southeastern Turkey were victims of murder and 113 committed suicide last year.

 

Afghans protest civilian deaths in Kabul

Hundreds of people chanting “Death to America” protested in Kabul on Sunday against a spate of civilian casualties caused by international forces, a sign of the simmering anti-Western emotion among many ordinary Afghans.

 

Turkey says won’t sacrifice Cyprus for EU membership

A Turkish deputy prime minister said at a workshop on Saturday that Turkey will not sacrifice Turkish Cypriots rights and interests for an institution like the EU, whose future is shrouded in doubt.

 

Former French President Chirac expected to stand trial today

After years of claiming presidential immunity to avoid legal proceedings, Jacques Chirac is finally facing a court.

 

US Muslims protest over hearings

Demonstrators take to New York's streets to protest against Congressional hearings which they say single out the Muslim community.

 

Japan's foreign minister resigns

Japanese Foreign Minister Seiji Maehara resigned on Sunday to take responsibility for accepting donations from a foreign national, adding to unpopular Prime Minister Naoto Kan's troubles as he battles to keep his own job.

 

Balkan talks are a quiet triumph for the EU

The European Union's ability to unite in pursuit of agreed foreign policy goals is often underrated in Britain, where failures are seized on and successes ignored or taken for granted. But the start this week in Brussels of the first face-to-face talks between Kosovo and Serbia is undoubtedly a triumph for EU "soft power". Neither side would normally wish to have anything to do with the other were it not for the EU's insistent diplomacy over the past few years. Quite simply, the shared desire of Serbs and Kosovar Albanians to join the European club overrides almost all other considerations – even those legendary Balkan hatreds

 

German Minister’s Comments on Islam Stir Debate

Germany’s new interior minister reignited a charged debate about the role of Muslims in society after saying that Islam was not part of the German way of life.

 

Migrants risk death to stay in Greece

• Doctors warn hunger strike could end in tragedy 
• Ministers offer 12-month deal to stay if action stops

 

China says U.S. must stop Taiwan arms sales

The United States will put improved relations with Beijing at risk if it does not stop selling arms to Taiwan, China's Foreign Minister said on Monday.

 

Bradley Manning forced to sleep naked in prison

The American soldier accused of passing tens of thousands of classified documents to WikiLeaks is now being forced to strip naked and sleep without clothing during his incarceration, according to his lawye

Bangladesh to resume Grameen case

Bangladesh's High Court is set to resume a hearing into the legality of the removal of Grameen Bank head Muhammed Yunus.

 

Investors move away from dollar

The Middle East remains unstable and this is driving up the price of oil as the prospects of prolonged disturbances continue. Permanent increases in the oil price have already been factored into airfares, freight contracts and other logistics services. The anticipated impact of oil-driven inflation is part of the increase in soft commodity prices. It is contributing to the rise of metals and commodities such as coal and iron ore.

 

Zimbabwe to sell uranium to Iran

Move contradicts Iran's claim that it now has enough domestic uranium.

 

Sudan central bank governor resigns ahead of secession

Sudan's central bank governor Sabir Mohammad al-Hassan has resigned, the bank said on Sunday, four months ahead of the secession of its oil-producing south.

Week-long floods exercise starts

The largest flood defence exercise ever held in the UK is due to get under way - and will last all week, involving about 10,000 people.

 

ebooks on borrowed time

HarperCollins says US libraries can lend its ebooks only 26 times as print books have to be replaced after that

 

Kenyan builds plane in front yard

A Kenyan man has used the internet and some books on engineering to build his own aircr

 

Argentines offered chance to buy final resting place next to Eva Peron

Argentines are being offered the chance to secure a final resting place next to the tomb of Eva Peron - if they have nearly £200,000 to spare

 

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Hate Comes to Orange County

What's Happening Today - Sunday 6 March

Australia:

Australian International Airshow and Aerospace and Defence Exposition Avalon 2011 in Geelong concludes 

China:

News conference by Chinese finance minister, central bank governor. 0200 GMT.

China:

'Jasmine rally' calls for more transparency in China; expected in 13 cities including Beijing, Shanghai, Tianjin, Hong Kong, and Taipei. 

China:

Some polices officers expected to join a rally in Hong Kong over pension scheme

China: 

National People's Congress continues annual session; on Saturday Premier Wen Jiabao said tackling inflation was government's top priority and acknowledged that growing income gap between rich and poor, exorbitant house prices and corruption were causing public discontent

Pakistan:

Professor Muhammad Yunus challenges the central bank order that removed him from the post of managing director of Grameen Bank – following a false accusation by Norwegian TV

Pakistan:

US special envoy to Afghanistan and Pakistan, Mark Grossman, due in Islamabad ; speaking at news conference in Kabul on Saturday, Grossman said USA is committed to “fighting terrorists” in both countries

Afghanistan:

The Wolasi Jerga will try to elect its first deputy speaker for a second time – choosing between Khaled Pakhtun from Kandahar or Ms Qazi Rahela Salim from Panjsher, 

Russia:

Moscow’s Paradise nightclub may hold a "Putin-party. I want the prime minister" despite government demand it not do so.

Iran: 

Kenyan Prime Minister Raila Odinga visits; expected to meet President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad , attend opening ceremony of major grain terminal at Imam Khomeini Port, in the southwest, a project financed by Iran and Kenyan investors 

Iran:

Parliament plans to impeach Energy Minister Majid Namju for his poor record in managing the ministry's affairs

Turkey:

Confederation of Asia-Pacific Chambers of Commerce and Industry holds meeting (to March 8).

Turkey:

Members of Alawi religious community in Izmir to protest government policies on religion.

Saudi Arabia: 

Watching developments as Saudi Interior Ministry bans all demonstrations and protests in country 

Jordan: 

Islamist groups stage sit-in outside prime minister's office to demand release of "political prisoners" 

Israel:

Chilean President Sebastian Pinera visits Israel.

Egypt:

Monitoring situation as protesters in Cairo take over offices of security police

Egypt: 

French Foreign Minister Alain Juppe visits "to express support for political transition"; meets de-facto military leader Muhammad Husayn Tantawi, activists involved in protests that toppled President Husni Mubarak, Arab League Secretary-General Amr Musa

Egypt: 

Start of trial of former housing and tourism ministers, Ahmad al-Maghrabi and Zuhayr Garanahj respectively 

Egypt: 

Start of trial of former Trade Minister Rashid Muhammad Rashid

Egypt:

After being closed for much of the Egyptian revolution and its aftermath, the Egyptian stock market is expected to re-open fully as traders hope stocks will begin to recover some of their value.

Libya:

Following developments as troops loyal to Colonel Al-Qadhafi attempt to retake town of Zawiya, near Tripoli 

Sudan:

Khartoum hosts eighth international conference on Jerusalem

Tunisia:

The French helicopter-carrier Mistral, one of the biggest ships in the French Navy, anchors off the Tunisian coast

Benin:

POSTPONED Presidential election now postponed to 13 March, was originally scheduled to be held on 27 February 

Estonia:

Parliamentary elections.

UK:

Palestinian “president” Mahmoud Abbas meets British Prime Minister David Cameron.

US: 

Australian Prime Minister Julia Gillard continues visit (-13) to mark 60th anniversary of bilateral security pact; meets President Barack Obama on 7 March 

US:

Indian Army Chief V. K. Singh continues trip (-16) to meet Central Command (CENTCOM) chief James Mattis (8) for talks on development in Afghanistan, Pakistan, Arab world, Iraq; also meets counterpart George W. Casey Jr. 

US:

Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race (to March 21).

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