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Showing posts from February, 2011

Arab youth want democracy, not theocracy

By John L. Esposito , Special to CNN February 28, 2011 -- Updated 1649 GMT (0049 HKT) STORY HIGHLIGHTS John Esposito says Islamic organizations have not led protests in the Arab world He says protesters want democracy, with its greater freedoms and opportunities In Tunisia, Syria and Libya, mainstream Islamists are part of the political landscape, he says In open democracies Islamist movements will be just one of many parties, he says John L. Esposito is professor of Religion and International Affairs and director of Prince Alwaleed Bin Talal center for Muslim-Christian understanding at Georgetown University. His most recent book is " The Future of Islam. " (CNN) -- Hosni Mubarak's resignation resurrected a tsunami wave of articles and commentaries on whether Egypt's Muslim Brotherhood would now come to power. And yet, few have asked why the primary leaders of grassroots revolt in Egypt and across the Arab world curiously have not been Islamic organiza

Gadhafi clings to power amid growing support for protests

Tripoli, Libya (CNN) -- Embattled Libyan leader Moammar Gadhafi flatly denied Monday the existence of the protests threatening to end his 41-year rule, as reports of fighting between government forces and rebels raged another day. In a joint interview with ABC News' Christiane Amanpour and the BBC, Gadhafi also denied using force against his people, Amanpour reported. Excerpts of the interview were posted on the networks' websites. "No demonstration at all in the streets," he said, speaking at a restaurant in Tripoli. Told by the BBC's Jeremy Bowen that he had seen demonstrators in the streets that morning, Gadhafi asked, "Are they supporting us?" "They love me, all my people with me, they love me all. They will die to protect me, my people," he said. Government forces have repeatedly clashed with demonstrators over the past two weeks in Libya, fired on crowds and at times shot indiscriminately at people in the streets, numerous wit

How international cartoonists see Gadhafi

Editor's note: Liza Donnelly is a contract cartoonist for The New Yorker Magazine. She conceived of and is editor for World Ink , a division of dscriber.com , which is expressly for the publication of international political cartoons. Liza is a charter member of the international group Cartooning for Peace founded by French cartoonist Plantu. Her most recent book is When Do They Serve The Wine? (CNN) -- Cartoonists are struggling with how to draw Moammar Gadhafi. He used to be a clown. Now he is a horror. He has been around many years, and cartoonists have been lampooning him every step of the way. He is easy to draw and instantly recognizable. But how to depict him now -- and how to handle the bloody, tragic violence he is unleashing in Libya -- can be a difficult challenge for artists. Difficult, but not impossible, as these international cartoonists demonstrate in their powerful cartoons. The dictator's image can be stylized, as in the portrait by Turkish-bor

Exodus from Libya Grows As Conflict Continues

The number of people fleeing Libya continues to grow as the battle for control of the North African country shows no signs of abating. It is now estimated that more than 110,00 people, many of them foreign migrants, have fled into Egypt on the east and Tunisia to the west.  But U.N. High Commissioner for Refugees Antonio Guterres said Monday that many of those wanting to leave are stranded, lacking the resources to escape. Middle East analysts predict a lengthy struggle for control of Libya, with both pro- and anti-Gadhafi forces increasingly entrenched in their positions. Civil war, they say, is not out of the question. Moammar Gadhafi told reporters on Monday that the people of Libya "love" him and are prepared to die for him.  He spoke in Tripoli, the capital and last major city that his forces control.  He again rejected any plans to resign. When asked by reporters about Mr. Gadhafi's comments, U.S. ambassador to the United Nations Susan Rice cal

Libyan Government Criticizes UN Sanctions

A Libyan official is criticizing international actions against the embattled leadership of Moammar Gadhafi, including new U.N. sanctions. As the Gadhafi government consolidates its forces around the capital Tripoli, the opposition is trying to establish new government structures in territory it controls, while ordinary citizens nervously await what comes next. Libyan government spokesman Moussa Ibrahim said Monday the sanctions adopted by the U.N. Security Council pose what he called a "real risk the West might intervene with military power."  He also questioned the way the international body made its decision. "They had no fact-finding mission in Libya," said Ibrahim. "They based their decision on media reports. Have you ever heard about a Security Council resolution that will decide the future of a country, based on media reports?" The government spokesman also continued to characterize the protests against Libyan leader Moammar Gadhafi

Obama, UN Secretary- General Meet on Libya

Photo: AP President Barack Obama (r) and U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon meeting at the White House, February 28, 2011 President Barack Obama and U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon met at the White House on Monday for talks dominated by the situation in Libya.  The U.S. ambassador to the United Nations, Susan Rice, also took part

US Military Moves Forces for Possible Libya Mission

Al Pessin | The Pentagon  February 28, 2011

London Stock Exchange site shows malicious adverts

The infection kicked off warnings from a fake security program Continue reading the main story Related Stories Gawker attack spawns Twitter spam Lush hackers cash in stolen cards Hack triggers blitz on passwords Booby-trapped adverts that hit visitors with fake security software have been discovered on the London Stock Exchange (LSE) website. Analysis of the LSE site suggests that over the last 90 days, about 363 pages had hosted malware. The LSE said its site was now safe and an investigation showed that ads provided by a third party were the culprit. One victim claimed his PC was made unusable after being infected. Security expert Paul Mutton fell victim when he viewed the site on 27 February. He visited the LSE homepage to find out why some people reported that they could not access it. The site was blocked by Firefox, he said, but accessible via Google's Chrome browser. "It seemed to work with Chrome but then a few seconds later, without having

Advertising watchdog to monitor website words

The extended powers will cover what companies say in Tweets too Continue reading the main story Related Stories New powers to vet online adverts Teen to target web 'cure' adverts Child gets Saw horror ad banned How companies talk about themselves on Twitter feeds or Facebook profiles is to be policed like adverts. From 1 March, the Advertising Standards Authority (ASA) gets powers to police the claims companies make on websites and social networks. The rules cover statements on sites that can be interpreted as marketing, even if they are not in an advert. Until now, the ASA has only been able to oversee paid-for ads online. Since 2008, the watchdog has received more than 4,500 complaints concerning text on websites that it could do nothing about. "These are claims that are very similar to the claims that [the public] are used to seeing in adverts that appear in media like TV, radio, posters and print," ASA chief executive Guy Parker told th

Thousands of Gmail accounts accidentally wiped

Google says 0.08% of Gmail users were affected by the problem Continue reading the main story Related Stories Google blunts Facebook phone app Scholar rejects Google 'attack' Thousands of Gmail users have been left with empty inboxes after their accounts were accidentally wiped clean. As well as missing e-mails, many reported that their contacts had also disappeared. Google, which operates Gmail, said that a small percentage of its users had been affected. Some accounts have already been restored, suggesting the data was not permanently deleted. In a statement, Google said: "This is affecting less than .08% of our Gmail user base, and we've already fixed the problem for some individuals." The company said that engineers were working to restore service. Google does not release official figures for the number of Gmail accounts, however it is believed to be between 150 million and 200 million. That would mean that around 150,000 users wer

Meteorite 'could have carried nitrogen to Earth'

By Neil Bowdler Science reporter, BBC News The research could bolster those who think meteors and comets provided vital ingredients for life on Earth Continue reading the main story Related Stories Life-from-asteroid idea bolstered Mars methane 'not from meteors' A meteorite found in Antarctica could lend weight to the argument that life on Earth was aided by an extraterrestrial body, scientists claim. Chemical analysis of the meteorite shows it to be rich in the gas ammonia, which contains the element nitrogen - found in the amino and nucleic acids which form the basis of life. Analysis of other meteorites has revealed organic compounds which the authors of the new paper believe are too complex to have played a role. Continue reading the main story “ Start Quote Meteorites could have showered the Earth with an attractive mix of components, including a large amount of ammonia” End Quote Professor Sandr

Egyptian stock exchange reopening delayed

The reopening of the Egyptian stock exchange has already been delayed several times Continue reading the main story Mid-East Unrest Libya revolt Live Fervour grips Benghazi Possible scenarios in Libya The Gaddafi family tree The reopening of the Egyptian stock exchange has been delayed, the state-run news agency MENA has reported. Trading had been expected to resume on Tuesday but the exchange is now due to reopen on Sunday, 6 March, MENA said. The exchange has been closed for more than a month in the wake of anti-government protests. Trading was suspended on 27 January after the benchmark Egyptian index saw heavy falls amid investor concerns about the unrest. If the index falls by 6% or more then trading is halted for the session. 'No manipulating' MENA said trading would resume on Sunday "in order to allow investors to profit from the backing of the government to

Libya unrest: US repositioning forces in region

The USS Enterprise (right) is currently in the Red Sea Continue reading the main story Mid-East Unrest Libya revolt Live Fervour grips Benghazi Possible scenarios in Libya The Gaddafi family tree The US defence department says it is repositioning forces in the Libya region as the West weighs potential intervention against Muammar Gaddafi. The Pentagon said it was moving forces to "provide for that flexibility once decisions are made". The US already has a significant presence close to Libya, with several bases in southern Italy. US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton has said US forces could be used for delivering humanitarian assistance. Meanwhile, the US ambassador to the UN, Susan Rice, told reporters in Washington the US was "actively and seriously" considering establishing a no-fly zone and was in talks with Nato and other potential military partners. '

Garridos 'confess' to Jaycee Dugard kidnapping

A lawyer for Phillip Garrido did not confirm or deny Mr Tapson's account of the purported confession Continue reading the main story Related Stories Profile: Phillip Garrido 'Dugard kidnapper' fit for trial Jaycee Dugard 'captors' indicted A lawyer has said the California couple accused of kidnapping a California girl and holding her prisoner for 18 years have confessed to detectives. Stephen Tapson, who represents Nancy Garrido, said she and Phillip Garrido had admitted snatching Jaycee Dugard from a California street in 1991. He said a plea deal was not yet agreed but prosecutors had proposed a 440-year sentence for him and 241 years for her. Garrido allegedly fathered Dugard's two daughters while keeping her captive. A lawyer for Phillip Garrido, Susan Gellman, declined to confirm or deny Mr Tapson's account. Speaking after a court hearing in Placerville, California, Mr Tapson told reporters that the Garridos had submitted to

Indian budget projects economic growth

Pranab Mukherjee says the Indian economy is expected to grow at 9% Continue reading the main story Related Stories India Budget: A tale of two families India in populist railway budget India prepares for 2011 budget India's government has unveiled its annual budget, saying that the economy is expected to grow at 9% in 2012. Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee said the growth rate for the current fiscal year was projected at 8.5%. He said inflation would decrease over the next fiscal year - the current rate is 8.4%. But food price inflation, at 17%, "remains a concern". Mr Mukherjee promised action on food security and pledged an increase in social spending. "The country has carried for long enough the burden of hunger and malnutrition," he said. The finance minister said a food security bill, which will guarantee cheap food to the poor, would be introduced into parliament soon. He also announced a substantial increase in funds for e

Argentina's ex-military leaders tried over baby thefts

Videla (left) was military leader from 1976-81, Reynaldo Bignone from 1982-83 Two former military leaders have gone on trial in Argentina, accused of overseeing the systematic theft of babies from political prisoners. Jorge Videla and Reynaldo Bignone are accused of kidnapping some 30 children whose parents died or disappeared during the 1976-83 military rule. Six others, including ex-officers and a doctor, are also on trial. More than 100 children are known to have been given for adoption to military or police couples. The long-awaited trial, which is being televised, is the first time Argentina's military leaders have faced charges of operating a systematic plan to steal babies from pregnant prisoners. The parents were then killed or "disappeared". The defendants are charged with "taking, retaining and hiding minors and changing their identities". The trial is focusing on the fate of at least 34 children who were born to mothers bei

Criticism-hit France sends aid to Libya opposition

France has come under fire for its apparent links to authoritarian leaders Continue reading the main story Mid-East Unrest Libya revolt Live Fervour grips Benghazi Possible scenarios in Libya The Gaddafi family tree France is to send two planes of aid to opposition territory in Libya, Prime Minister Francois Fillon has said. The announcement came hours after Foreign Minister Michele Alliot-Marie quit amid controversy over her contacts with the former Tunisian regime. Her decision to stand down was "political not moral", Mr Fillon said. Paris has been stung by accusations that it was too cosy with the authoritarian regimes overthrown in recent weeks, say analysts. Ms Alliot-Marie was heavily criticised for initially offering French help to quell the uprising in Tunisia. Subsequent revelations about her and her family's links to the regime of former President Zine El-Abidine Ben Ali, and the fact that she had taken a Chri

China pollution 'threatens growth'

China's rapid economic growth has left skies and waterways heavily polluted Continue reading the main story Related Stories China lowers growth rate target China could rue hasty dash for growth China limits new cars in Beijing The man in charge of protecting China's environment has warned that pollution and the demand for resources threaten to choke economic growth. Environment Minister Zhou Shengxian said conflict between development and nature had never been so serious. He said if China meant to quadruple the size of its economy over 20 years without more damage, it would have to become more efficient in resource use. Otherwise, he said, there would be a painful price to pay. His comments came ahead of China's annual session of parliament, which opens on 5 March. They also came a day after Premier Wen Jiabao said China was lowering its annual economic growth target from 7.5% to 7%, in part because of its impact on the environment. 'Bott

Libya protests: Gaddafi says 'all my people love me'

<div class="warning"> <img class="holding" src="http://news.bbcimg.co.uk/media/images/51463000/jpg/_51463623_jex_971796_de27-1.jpg" alt="Colonel Gaddafi" /> <p><strong>Please turn on JavaScript.</strong> Media requires JavaScript to play.</p> </div> Click to play Click to play Advertisement Colonel Gaddafi told the BBC that the protesters are members of al- Qaeda Continue reading the main story Mid-East Unrest Libya revol

Somali pirates 'seize Danish children' in Indian Ocean

Somali pirates usually target cargo vessels for the ransoms often paid out by shipping firms Continue reading the main story PIRACY CRISIS Losing battle Q&A: Prosecuting pirates Somali piracy: Global map Q&A: Somali piracy Three Danish children and their parents have been snatched by pirates who hijacked their sailing boat in the Indian Ocean, Danish officials say. Denmark's foreign ministry said the children were aged between 12 and 16, and that two Danish crew members were also captured during the attack. Pirates seized the boat on 24 February and were said to be heading to Somalia. Piracy is a highly lucrative trade in Somalia, where gangs can often demand millions of dollars in ransoms. As of last week, the EU's anti-piracy naval force said pirates were holding a total of 31 vessels, and 688 hostages. Many of the vessels they target are cargo ships sailing near the Gul

Insurers set for sex discrimination ruling

By Simon Gompertz Personal finance correspondent, BBC News The cost of Nick Lane's insurance quote was twice as high as that given to his twin sister Emma Continue reading the main story Related Stories Ruling 'could increase premiums' Insurers warned on swapping data Record rise in car insurance cost Young women could face big increases in the cost of car insurance, if insurers are told that they have to stop quoting different prices for men and women. The European Court of Justice will decide whether it is a form of sex discrimination which should be banned. If so, some women drivers in the UK could eventually face 50% rises in the cost of insuring their cars. The ruling could affect the cost of pension annuities, life assurance and health cover as well. The gulf between men's and women's motor cover is particularly wide for drivers who have recently passed their tests. Nick and Emma Lane, a b