My Press Review - Monday 7 February

Egypt’s Ire Turns to Confidant of Mubarak’s Son

Ahmed Ezz, a steel tycoon and party insider, has represented the intersection of money, politics and power in Egypt. His world has come undone.

 

Optimism About Missing Google Executive in Egypt

Wael Ghonim, who leads Google marketing for the Middle East and North America, is expected to be released by the authorities.

 

Vice president offers concessions in Egyptian talks

In a bid to stem anti-government protests, Egypt's vice president on Sunday agreed to several major concessions in talks with opposition groups, including ending the country's decades-old emergency laws that have given state police broad powers to detain citizens and stifle free speech.

 

Mubarak Resists Pressure

President Hosni Mubarak has reacted to calls for his resignation with his usual change-resistant manner.

 

Lukewarm response to Egypt talks

Egypt's opposition groups have said government proposals on how to end the political crisis are not enough.

 

Warning Against Hasty Exit for Mubarak

Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton warned that removing President Hosni Mubarak of Egypt too hastily could threaten the country’s transition to democracy.

 

Obama: Muslim Brotherhood 'don't have majority support'

President Barack Obama said that Egypt is not going to go back to the way it was before pro-democracy protests began, and played down prospects that the Muslim Brotherhood would take a major role in a new government.

 

WikiLeaks: Egypt's Suleiman demonized Islamists

Egypt's new vice president, Omar Suleiman, has long sought to demonize the opposition Muslim Brotherhood in his contacts with skeptical U.S. officials, leaked diplomatic cables show, raising questions whether he can act as an honest broker in the country's political crisis.

 

Google keeps Egyptians tweeting

Even before his first day on the job at Google, Ujjwal Singh was trying to figure out how to use his passion for the spoken word and the company's technological prowess to help Egyptians bypass government efforts to muzzle the massive protests there.

 

Dick Cheney says Mubarak is ‘a good man’

Former US Vice President Dick Cheney praised Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak on Saturday as “a good man” and a strong friend of the United States, but said the Egyptian people will decide his fate as leader.

 

ElBaradei: U.S. late in calling for Egypt reforms

Mohamed ElBaradei, a leader of the Muslim Brotherhood, an opposition party to the Egyptian government facing a revolution, on Sunday criticized the United States for its diplomacy, saying it was "behind the curve" in calling for basic, universal values.

 

Karzai to announce Afghan handover start March 21

The president of Afghanistan said Feb. 6 he would announce the start of a process to transfer the responsibility for security to Afghan forces from international forces on March 21.

 

Turkey starts building ‘dam of friendship’ with Syria

Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdoğan attended a groundbreaking ceremony for the construction of a dam on a river that flows from Syria to Turkey in a long-delayed project on Sunday, promising that it will help strengthen cooperation with Syria.

 

How Syria dodged an Egypt-style 'day of rage'

Damascus, Syria - Swaths of plain-clothed security forces and hopeful journalists were the only people gathered at the parliament building in Damascus on Friday and Saturday as protesters failed to respond to calls for demonstrations in the Syrian 

Saudi women protest in Riyadh, call for reforms

About 40 women staged a rare demonstration in the Saudi capital Riyadh on Saturday, demanding the release of prisoners held without a trial as part of the kingdom’s efforts to fight al-Qaeda insurgents, activists said.

 

Man tries to set himself on fire at Algerian protest

An Algerian man doused himself with fuel and tried to set himself on fire on Sunday during a small protest outside a government ministry in the capital to demand more jobs.

 

30 soldiers die in north Sudan army fighting

Soldiers in north Sudan’s army fought each other, killing at least 30 in a dispute over who gets to keep the artillery they are holding in Southern Sudan, officials said on Sunday.

 

Tunisia suspends ex-ruling party

Tunisia shuts down the former ruling RCD party, three weeks after ex-President Ben Ali fled abroad amid opposition demonstrations.

 

Mikati strives to form govt as Lebanon crisis drags on

Ten days after the appointment of Hezbollah-backed candidate Najib Mikati as its new prime minister, Lebanon is yet to see a government

 

Myriad Worries for Haiti’s Runoff

The Nov. 28 presidential election was marred by fraud and incompetence, and now many Haitians worry that the second round will be just as rough.

 

Cuban opposition leader urges end to hunger strike

A leader of Cuba's Ladies in White opposition group said Sunday that she will urge a colleague to end a 10-day old hunger strike she launched to demand freedom for her jailed husband, saying the protest could be counterproductive.

 

UK 'should cut Europe court link'

The government should consider cutting its ties with the European Court of Human Rights, says a report by the right-leaning think tank Policy Exchange.

 

PM's extremism crackdown begins

The government has already started to withdraw state cash from what it regards as suspect Islamist groups that had previously been funded to reach young Muslims at risk of being drawn to terrorist networks. New, tougher criteria are being applied, with hundreds of thousands of pounds being withdrawn from specific groups after it was deemed they were too soft on Islamic extremism. 

 

Judges walk out on strike after Sarkozy attacks judicial system

Judges throughout France vowed to cancel court hearings and hold demonstrations this week after President Nicolas Sarkozy sparked outrage with comments blaming the judicial system for a murder.

Iraqi PM to give up half his salary

As unrest sweeps the Middle East, Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki said he would give up half his salary in a possible bid to head off simmering discontent, and called for a two-term limit to be placed on his office.

 

Egypt delays stock exchange reopening

Egypt's stock exchange will not reopen on Monday as planned and a date to resume trading has yet to be decided, its chief said on Saturday as anti-government protests slow economic life.

 

A Crisis of Faith in Britain’s Central Banker

Mervyn King has been condemned for the economy, but it is worse for him that his boldest proposal is being ignored.

  

Iraq repairs Saddam's triumphal sword arch

Officials in Iraq have begun to restore the notorious "Hands of Victory" arch in Baghdad, enraging many who see the massive bronze sculpture commissioned by Saddam Hussein to mark the war with Iran as a symbol of the brutality and excesses of his long rule.

 

 

Iran bans foreign food from cookery channels

Iranian television channels have been banned from showing cooking programs that present recipes for foreign cuisine.

 

 

Neo-Nazis dominate tiny German village

Town of Jamel is the most extreme manifestation of chilling phenomenon in the former communist East Germany.

 

 

Police evict Easter Island clan

Chilean police end the occupation of a hotel by a group of indigenous Rapa Nui, who say the land on which it was built was stolen from their ancestors.

 

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What's Happening Today - Sunday 6 February

Japan: 

Monitoring developments as Russia says it is "disappointed" by Tokyo's reaction to Russian Defence Minister A.E. Serdyukov's recent visit to disputed islands, known as Kuril Islands in Russia and Northern Territories in Japan 

India: 

US Secretary of Commerce Gary Locke leads trade delegation to explore export opportunities (-11) 

Bhutan: 

South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC) Council of Ministers continues meetings in Thimphu (-7); Indian Foreign Secretary Nirupama Rao meets Pakistani counterpart Salman Bashir on sidelines 

Kyrgyzstan: 

Armed forces hold command-and-staff anti-terror exercises (-12) 

Pakistan: 

Pakistan-based militant group Al-Badr Mojahedin observes Kashmir Solidarity Week by organizing seminars and rallies in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Province (-7)

Iran: 

Three US hikers charged with espionage due to stand trial; postponed from late October 2010; three were arrested in July 2009 after "illegal entry into Iranian territory"

Iran: 

Ten Days of Dawn events continue (-10) leading up to 32nd anniversary of victory of Islamic Revolution (11); new military hardware, satellites expected to be showcased; Defence Minister Ahmad Vahidi said Safir 1B and Kavoshgar 4 rockets and Rasad and Fajr satellites would be unveiled

UAE: 

South Korean Foreign Minister Kim So'ng-hwan visits; on to Algeria (-10) 

Syria: 

Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan visits 

Syria: 

Iranian president's office head Esfandiyar Rahim-Masha'i visits to attend Iranian technology exhibition, hold talks with Syrian officials 

Israel:

Annual Herzliya conference takes place in Israel - a key event for Israel's political, military, intelligence, economic, and social leadership. 

Israel:

British defence secretary Liam Fox discusses shared strategic challenges with Israeli counterpart, due to defence minister at 19:45 GMT.

Egypt: 

Watching developments/reaction after leadership of ruling National Democratic Party resigns; opposition Muslim Brotherhood says it plans to hold talks with Vice President Omar Suleiman on ending political crisis

Egypt: 

Greek Prime Minister George Papandreou visits for talks with President Husni Mubarak, senior officials to discuss current crisis

Tunisia: 

Watching developments after two people were killed and several injured in clashes with police in northern town of El Kef on Saturday

Uganda: 

Campaigning for 2011 presidential, parliamentary elections (-10) 

Nigeria: 

Commonwealth Deputy Secretary-General, Mmasekgoa Masire-Mwamba, begins visit to discus s forthcoming April elections (-9)

Senegal: 

World Social Forum begins in Dakar (-11); attendees include Bolivian President Evo Morales, former Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva

Cape Verde: 

Legislative elections

Ukraine:

OSCE chairman, Audronius Azubalis, is scheduled to visit Ukraine to meet leaders and discuss OSCE work in the country and efforts to resolve protracted conflicts. 

Germany: 

Munich Security Conference; second and final day; Afghan President Hamid Karzai, German Foreign Minister Guido Westerwelle and French Foreign Minister Michele Alliot-Marie discuss global security 

UK:

WikiLeaks founder, Julian Assange, is due to appear in court for the start of his extradition hearing to Sweden for questioning over sex offences.

Mexico:

Voters go to the polls in Mexico's Baja California Sur state to elect state and municipal authorities

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My Press Review - Sunday 6 February

Brotherhood 'to join Egypt talks'

Egypt's Muslim Brotherhood joins other opposition groups in talks with officials following weeks of protest against President Mubarak's rule.

 

 

How the Egyptian revolt will recast the Middle East

Three scenarios for the way the uprising might end and what it all means for the US, Israel, and Iran.

 

 

As Mubarak Digs In, U.S. Policy in Egypt Is Complicated

The Obama administration is struggling to determine if a democratic revolution can succeed while President Hosni Mubarak remains, even if he is sidelined.

 

 

Egypt unrest: Voices

Readers of the BBC News website in Egypt give their accounts of the twelfth day of civil unrest.

 

 

Government aims to get Egyptians back to work

President Hosni Mubarak's government aimed to get people back to work on Sunday with banks and businesses reopening, in the first clear test of how far his opponents can keep up the momentum of protests to force him out.

 

 

Mubarak's power fades as US backs his deputy

Omar Suleiman's call for orderly reform wins backing of Hillary Clinton on day senior members of ruling NDP resign

 

 

Calls for Amr Moussa to lead post-Mubarak Egypt

A former foreign minister has emerged as a possible compromise figure to lead Egypt's potentially dangerous transition.

 

 

Tunisian Police Fire on Crowd, Killing 2

The police fired at an angry crowd attacking the police station in the town of Kef on Saturday, killing two people and injuring 17 others, the Interior Ministry said.

 

 

Maliki Won’t Seek Another Term

Nuri Kamal al-Maliki’s current term ends in 2014. The statement came a day after Mr. Maliki said he would cut his pay in half.

 

 

Rape case against the WikiLeaks chief 'weak'

Details in a police file of the rape case against Julian Assange, the founder of WikiLeaks, reveal a series of apparent contradictions and inconsistencies in the evidence against him

 

 

Thousands flee Sri Lanka flooding

Heavy rain has caused widespread flooding in northern and eastern Sri Lanka, and officials say at least five people have been killed and more than 80,000 forced to flee their homes

 

Number of surrendering PKK members double in 2010

Efforts exerted by the government to solve the decades-old Kurdish question through democratic and peaceful methods doubled the number of members of the terrorist Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK) who surrendered to Turkish security forces in 2010.

 

 

Belgrade crowds call for early elections

Anti-government protesters in Serbia have held their biggest rally in years, called by the opposition Serbian Progressive Party.

 

 

Secret correspondence shows British helped Libya secure Megrahi release

The full extent of how the British government helped Libya to secure the release of the Lockerbie bomber can be revealed today.

 

 

Thousands rally for, against Basque separatism

Several hundred Basque separatists held small street rallies, hung posters and painted political graffiti on walls throughout the troubled northern region on Saturday to support a new political party to be launched next week.

 

 

Thousands attend anti-Berlusconi rally

Thousands of people have attended a rally to demand Premier Silvio Berlusconi's resignation following allegations he paid for sex with a 17-year-old girl and used his office to cover it up.

 

 

Bush's Swiss visit off after complaints on torture

Former U.S. President George W. Bush has cancelled a visit to Switzerland, where he was to address a Jewish charity gala, due to the risk of legal action against him for alleged torture, rights groups said

 

 

Police to lose '10,000 by 2012'

More than 10,000 police officer posts are set to disappear by the end of the next year in England and Wales, Labour Party research suggests.

Egypt feels the cost of protest

A report released Friday estimates that Egypt is losing $310 million daily from the protests. On Cairo streets, concerns range from tomato prices to the future of tourism and jobs.

 

 

Policy change needed as Turkey far behind targets in female employment

A report on the status of Turkish women in education, politics and the workforce, announced by the General Directorate of Women’s Status (KSSGM) last week, has come as bad news for Turkey, with the report finding that it is lagging behind targets set for women’s participation in employment and highlighting the need for radical policy changes on the issue.

 

'Ghost town'

Luton witnesses English Defence League's return

 

Ancient lives and language under threat

In his third dispatch from Greenland, Stephen Pax Leonard reports on the changes facing the Inughuit people, as mining of the country's vast untapped mineral wealth looks set to overwhelm their traditions

 

Ireland's road bowlers

For hundreds of years, hurling a cannonball down a country lane has been an Irish tradition.

 

Left behind

The pain of foreign parents who fall foul of Japan's custody laws

 

 

 

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What's Happening Today - Thursday 3 February

China: 

Start of lunar new year 

India: 

Afghan President Hamed Karzai on second and final day of visit for talks with counterpart Pratibha Patil, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh; addresses Sustainable Development Summit in Delhi today 

India: 

Nepalese President Ram Baran Yadav continues "goodwill visit" (-5) for talks with counterpart Pratibha Patil, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh 

India: 

High-level team of Nepal Army on week-long visit (-5) to study administrative, training and welfare activities of Indian military

India:

Former telecoms minister Andimuthu Raja, who was arrested over irregularities in the allocation of mobile licences and spectrum, would be presented before a special court.

Bangladesh:

Trial of border guards charged with mutiny resumes in Bangladesh – [there’s 800 guards charged, accused of killing 70 officers]

Pakistan: 

Pakistan-based militant group Al-Badr Mojahedin observes Kashmir Solidarity Week (-7) by organizing seminars and rallies in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Province

Nepal: 

Parliament makes first attempt under new rules to elect prime minister to succeed caretaker Madhav Kumar Nepal; limited to three rounds with parties no longer allowed to abstain; second and third if needed scheduled for 4th and 6th Feb; six-month marathon under previous rules ended mid-January after 16 abortive rounds 

Russia:

Lithuanian Foreign Minister Audronius Azubalis holds a news conference (1400).

Kyrgyzstan: 

Armed forces hold command-and-staff anti-terror exercises (-12 Feb)

Iran: 

Ten Days of Dawn events continue leading up to 32nd anniversary of victory of Islamic Revolution (11); new military hardware, satellites expected to be showcased 

Turkey: 

Nigerian President Goodluck Jonathan concludes two-day visit after talks with counterpart Abdullah Gul; agenda dominated by economic issues

Turkey:

World Conference on Educational Sciences takes place in Istanbul

Yemen: 

Opposition holds Day of Rage rallies across Yemen 

Egypt: 

Watching developments after major street clashes in Cairo between pro- and anti-Mubarak activists yesterday 

Sudan: 

Joint North-South military unit begins deployment to oil-rich region of Abyei following recent referendum on South's independence; the region is contested between North and South

Kenya:

Speaker of Kenyan parliament Kenneth Marende to rule on dispute between President Mwai Kibaki and Prime Minister Raila Odinga over appointment of three judicial officers proposed by Kibaki

Kenya:

US Deputy Secretary of State James Steinberg visits Kenya.

France: 

Palestinian Prime Minister Salam Fayyad starts visit (-4), meets President Nicolas Sarkozy

Poland: 

Ukrainian President Viktor Yanukovych begins two-day trip for talks with counterpart Bronislaw Komorowski 

Poland:

EU interior ministers from G6 group meet in Cracow – [G6 includes France, Germany, Spain, Italy, Poland and the UK is scheduled to meet in Cracow, ie the six largest in the European Union]

Germany:

Belarusian opposition leader speaks in Berlin [Alaksandar Milinkievic]

Belgium:

Environment activists protest over nuclear waste in Mol, Belgium

France:

Economy Minister Christine Lagarde holds a news conference on France's G20 agenda (0700).

France:

Catherine Ashton meets high-level officials in Paris, including French foreign minister Bernard Kouchner, followed by dinner with Palestinian president Salam Fayyad, Norwegian foreign minister Jonas Gahr Stoere and Egyptian foreign minister Ahmed Aboul Gheit.

UK: 

London-based International Institute of Strategic Studies publishes report on Iran's nuclear, chemical and biological capabilities 

UK: 

Extradition hearing in UK for Mongolian intelligence officer Bat Hurts (Khurts) who is wanted in Germany on suspicion of involvement in alleged abduction of Mongolian dissident from France in 2003

UK:

Ban Ki-moon speaks at maritime piracy conference in London

Spain: 

German Chancellor Angela Merkel meets Prime Minister Jose Luis Rodriguez Zapatero 

Canada: 

Bangladeshi Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina visits

US:

UN special representative for children and armed conflict gives press briefing at UN in New York [Radhika Coomaraswamy starts talking at 12:00 in the Dag Hammarskjold Library Auditorium.]

US:

Federal Reserve Board chairman Ben Bernanke addresses the National Press Club.

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My Press Review - Thursday 3 February

Five world leaders jump into the fray

Concerned about ending up on the wrong side of history, world leaders have appeared hesitant to vocally support either the Egyptian government or the growing number of protesters in Cairo. Below are the reactions from five regional and world players to Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak, his government, and the protests.

 

Unmoved by Mubarak's speech, Egyptian protesters insist: 'He must leave.'

Responding to Egyptian President Mubarak's offer to not run for reelection in September, one protester in Cairo's Tahrir Square said: 'Thirty years of injustice is enough. We don’t need eight more months.'

 

Quiet Acts of Protest on a Noisy Day

Hundreds of thousands of Egyptians traveled like pilgrims to speak freely and to be heard.

 

Anxious Israel

Egypt's neighbour fears what might follow Mubarak

 

Obama says change in Egypt "must begin now"

President Barack Obama told Hosni Mubarak on Tuesday an orderly transition of power in Egypt "must begin now" and raised doubts about the Egyptian leader's plan to stay in office six more months.

 

Egypt’s aura spills across the Arab world

There was nothing random about the White House picking Cairo for President Barack Obama’s goodwill outreach to the Muslim world in 2009. It understood what Arabs know in their bones: few places resonate so profoundly in Islam’s heartland.

 

Mohamed ElBaradei forging government

Mohamed ElBaradei, the Egyptian opposition figurehead, was on Tuesday night forging an alternative government to the rule of Hosni Mubarak as support fell away from the former general who has been the country's president for the last 30 years.

 

Google says executive missing in Egypt

Google Inc said on Tuesday that its Middle East and North Africa marketing head is missing in Egypt.

 

U.N.: Death toll of Tunisian protesters at least 219

U.N. investigative panel has reported that at least 219 people were killed during the weeks of street protests in Tunisia that forced the ouster of President Zine el-Abidine Ben Ali.

 

Jordan: revolution fears in Algeria, Yemen and Syria

With protests in several Middle East countries, there are also now fears for Algeria, Yemen and Syria.

 

Syrian protesters plan 'day of rage'

Syrians are organising campaigns on Facebook and Twitter that call for a "day of rage" in the capital Damascus this week, taking inspiration from Egypt and Tunisia in using social networking sites to rally their followers for sweeping political reforms.

 

Australians 'should flee cyclone'

Queensland residents in vulnerable areas are urged to flee quickly before Cyclone Yasi strikes with winds of up to 295km/h (183mph).

 

Jordanian king appoints new PM after protests

King Abdullah of Jordan, a close US ally, on Tuesday replaced his prime minister after protests over food prices and poor living conditions, naming a former premier with a military background to head the government.

 

Straw set to close Iraq hearings

Former Foreign Secretary Jack Straw is to give evidence to the Iraq Inquiry for a third time, in the last of its scheduled public hearings.

 

Secret prison in Iraq raises fresh concerns over torture

Human Rights Watch issued a report Tuesday that says Iraqi forces linked to Prime Minister Maliki are running a secret prison for terror suspects.

 

Russian diplomat expelled in Irish spy case

Ireland ordered a Russian diplomat expelled Tuesday after an investigation found that Moscow's intelligence service used six stolen Irish identities as cover for spies operating in the United States.

 

France holds Ben Ali 'family jet'

French prosecutors seize a jet said to belong to the family of ousted Tunisian President Zine al-Abidine Ben Ali.

 

Irish election set for 25 February

Irish voters will go to the polls on Friday February 25, the Government confirmed today.

 

Cash crisis

Funding falls short for new casing to secure Chernobyl nuclear wreckage

 

Borders may file for bankruptcy this month: source

Borders Group Inc, the second-largest U.S. book chain, may file for bankruptcy later this month, a source familiar with matter said.

 

Young officers unwilling to make donations for coup suspects

Young members of the Turkish Armed Forces (TSK) are unwilling to make donations to the TSK Solidarity Fund, which intends to finance the legal expenses of suspects in the Ergenekon and Sledgehammer cases, according to the Star daily.

 

Google Art Project Launches: Why It's Amazing

One of the long-standing promises of the Internet -- of the last century's worth of technology, really -- is that the cultural heritage of the world will be accessible to everyone in their homes

 

India set to legalise sex acts for children aged 12

India is set to legalise sexual acts between children aged 12 to 16 in a new child protection act.

 

Heavy traffic hits online crime maps

Home Office site crashes after 18m hits an hour and claims of labelling law-abiding areas as troublespots

 

Internet almost out of addresses

Delays in transition to IPv6 system mean some households and businesses will face connection problems in coming months

 

Simulated Mars mission 'on target'

The crew of the Mars500 simulated mission to the Red Planet have gone into "orbit" around their tar

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What's Happening Today - Wednesday 1 February

India: 

Afghan President Hamed Karzai arrives for visit (-3); to meet Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, counterpart Pratibha Patil; Indian External Affairs Ministry says the visits will "contribute to strengthening Indo-Afghan strategic partnership" in region 

India: 

Nepalese President Ram Baran Yadav continues visit for talks with counterpart Pratibha Patil, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh; Nepalese Maj-Gen Daman Bahadur Ghale also visits to meet Chief of Army Staff General V. K. Singh (-5)

Afghanistan: 

Lower house of parliament (Wolasi Jerga) meets to elect speaker

Afghanistan: 

Lower house of parliament (Wolasi Jerga) meets to elect speaker 

Kyrgyzstan: 

Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan visits for talks on trade, investment; second and final day 

Kyrgyzstan: 

Armed forces continue command-and-staff anti-terror exercises (- 12) 

Kazakhstan:

Joint session of two chambers of parliament; likely to approve President Nursultan Nazarbayev's proposals to hold early presidential election; Constitutional Court earlier rejected proposal to extend Nazarbayev's rule until 2020 

Russia:

OSCE Chairperson-in-Office, Lithuanian Foreign Minister Audronius Azubalis continues visit (-3), meets Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov; they give joint news conference today 

Iran: 

Ten Days of Dawn events continue leading up to 32nd anniversary of victory of Islamic Revolution (11); new military hardware, satellites expected to be showcased

Turkey: 

Nigerian President Goodluck Jonathan begins two-day visit for talks with counterpart Abdullah Gul; agenda expected to be dominated by economic issues 

Iraq:

Overseas Security Advisory Council holds meeting

Qatar: 

International conference on "defending Jerusalem" held in Doha (-3); attendees include Mahmud Abbas, Arab League Secretary-General Amr Musa; Secretary-General of Organization of Islamic Conference Ekmeleddin Ihsanoglu

Qatar: 

Slovenian President Danilo Tuerk visits accompanied by Finance Minister Franc Krizanic and Transport Minister Patrick Vlacic; meets Emir Hamad Bin-Khalifah Al Thani for talks on economic ties; second and final day 

Yemen: 

Parliament session called by President Ali Abdallah Salih ahead of Day of Rage opposition rallies tomorrow 

Jordan: 

Watching developments after King Abdallah dismissed government yesterday following large protests against poverty, unemployment 

Egypt: 

Watching developments after President Husni Mubarak said yesterday he will not stand for another term in September, as hundreds of thousands of anti-government protesters rallied in central Cairo 

Kenya: 

High court gives verdict on bail application by two Muslim clerics Aboud Rogo and Abubakar Sharif Abubakar; they are charged with membership of organized criminal group and have been in custody since 22 December 2010

Greece:

Australian foreign minister visits Greece; due to meet the Greek prime minister, George Papandreou, at 09:00 GMT and the foreign minister, Dimitris Droutsas, at 17:30.

Poland:

International Donors' Conference held in Warsaw to discuss ways of providing "urgent support to those repressed and detained on political grounds" in Belarus 

Poland:

President of Ukraine visits Poland [both countries are hosting Euro-2012]

Poland:

Polish government hosts international conference on aiding and funding opposition in Belarus

Poland:

Tentative - German Chancellor Angela Merkel and French President Nicolas Sarkozy will meet with Polish President Bronislaw Komorowski in Poland for the Weimar Triangle Summit.

Switzerland:

WTO trade negotiations committee meets in Geneva

Germany:

German cabinet meets in Berlin to discuss plans to simplify the tax regime 

Luxembourg:

Georgian foreign minister visits Vaduz to meet senior political leaders for talks on recent developments in the Caucasus.

Belgium:

Foreign minister of Yemen visits EU in Brussels; due to meet the development commissioner, Andris Piebalgs 

France:

Bahrain's Crown Prince meets Nicolas Sarkozy in Paris

France:

Irish Europe minister visits France

The Irish Europe minister, Dick Roche, is scheduled to visit France.

UK:

 Iraq Inquiry holds hearings session with Jack Straw

UK:

UN secretary general gives speech in Oxford on “the elimination of war and the better understanding of the nations of the world".

Haiti: 

Provisional Electoral Council (CEP) publishes results of 28 November presidential, general elections 

Canada: 

Bangladeshi Prime Minister Shaykh Hasina visits (- 5) 

UN:

World Wetlands Day 

US:

Nasa holds news briefing on new findings from mission on planets outside the solar system

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My Press Review - Wednesday 2 February

Five world leaders jump into the fray

Concerned about ending up on the wrong side of history, world leaders have appeared hesitant to vocally support either the Egyptian government or the growing number of protesters in Cairo. Below are the reactions from five regional and world players to Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak, his government, and the protests.

 

Unmoved by Mubarak's speech, Egyptian protesters insist: 'He must leave.'

Responding to Egyptian President Mubarak's offer to not run for reelection in September, one protester in Cairo's Tahrir Square said: 'Thirty years of injustice is enough. We don’t need eight more months.'

 

Quiet Acts of Protest on a Noisy Day

Hundreds of thousands of Egyptians traveled like pilgrims to speak freely and to be heard.

 

Anxious Israel

Egypt's neighbour fears what might follow Mubarak

 

Obama says change in Egypt "must begin now"

President Barack Obama told Hosni Mubarak on Tuesday an orderly transition of power in Egypt "must begin now" and raised doubts about the Egyptian leader's plan to stay in office six more months.

 

Egypt’s aura spills across the Arab world

There was nothing random about the White House picking Cairo for President Barack Obama’s goodwill outreach to the Muslim world in 2009. It understood what Arabs know in their bones: few places resonate so profoundly in Islam’s heartland.

 

Mohamed ElBaradei forging government

Mohamed ElBaradei, the Egyptian opposition figurehead, was on Tuesday night forging an alternative government to the rule of Hosni Mubarak as support fell away from the former general who has been the country's president for the last 30 years.

 

Google says executive missing in Egypt

Google Inc said on Tuesday that its Middle East and North Africa marketing head is missing in Egypt.

 

U.N.: Death toll of Tunisian protesters at least 219

U.N. investigative panel has reported that at least 219 people were killed during the weeks of street protests in Tunisia that forced the ouster of President Zine el-Abidine Ben Ali.

 

Jordan: revolution fears in Algeria, Yemen and Syria

With protests in several Middle East countries, there are also now fears for Algeria, Yemen and Syria.

 

Syrian protesters plan 'day of rage'

Syrians are organising campaigns on Facebook and Twitter that call for a "day of rage" in the capital Damascus this week, taking inspiration from Egypt and Tunisia in using social networking sites to rally their followers for sweeping political reforms.

 

Australians 'should flee cyclone'

Queensland residents in vulnerable areas are urged to flee quickly before Cyclone Yasi strikes with winds of up to 295km/h (183mph).

 

Jordanian king appoints new PM after protests

King Abdullah of Jordan, a close US ally, on Tuesday replaced his prime minister after protests over food prices and poor living conditions, naming a former premier with a military background to head the government.

 

Straw set to close Iraq hearings

Former Foreign Secretary Jack Straw is to give evidence to the Iraq Inquiry for a third time, in the last of its scheduled public hearings.

 

Secret prison in Iraq raises fresh concerns over torture

Human Rights Watch issued a report Tuesday that says Iraqi forces linked to Prime Minister Maliki are running a secret prison for terror suspects.

 

Russian diplomat expelled in Irish spy case

Ireland ordered a Russian diplomat expelled Tuesday after an investigation found that Moscow's intelligence service used six stolen Irish identities as cover for spies operating in the United States.

 

France holds Ben Ali 'family jet'

French prosecutors seize a jet said to belong to the family of ousted Tunisian President Zine al-Abidine Ben Ali.

 

Irish election set for 25 February

Irish voters will go to the polls on Friday February 25, the Government confirmed today.

 

Cash crisis

Funding falls short for new casing to secure Chernobyl nuclear wreckage

 

Borders may file for bankruptcy this month: source

Borders Group Inc, the second-largest U.S. book chain, may file for bankruptcy later this month, a source familiar with matter said.

 

Young officers unwilling to make donations for coup suspects

Young members of the Turkish Armed Forces (TSK) are unwilling to make donations to the TSK Solidarity Fund, which intends to finance the legal expenses of suspects in the Ergenekon and Sledgehammer cases, according to the Star daily.

 

Google Art Project Launches: Why It's Amazing

One of the long-standing promises of the Internet -- of the last century's worth of technology, really -- is that the cultural heritage of the world will be accessible to everyone in their homes

 

India set to legalise sex acts for children aged 12

India is set to legalise sexual acts between children aged 12 to 16 in a new child protection act.

 

Heavy traffic hits online crime maps

Home Office site crashes after 18m hits an hour and claims of labelling law-abiding areas as troublespots

 

Internet almost out of addresses

Delays in transition to IPv6 system mean some households and businesses will face connection problems in coming months

 

Simulated Mars mission 'on target'

The crew of the Mars500 simulated mission to the Red Planet have gone into "orbit" around their tar

 

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