Mubarak detained

CAIRO – Egypt's prosecutor general announced Wednesday the 15-day detention of former President Hosni Mubarak pending inquiries into accusations of corruption, abuse of authority and the killings of protesters during the uprising that ousted him from power. yahoo/AP

Nota: how worst Gaddafi is? Why Gaddafi, and his sons, is not yet defeated by the "international forces"? Maybe because the oil...

Japan nuclear crisis upgraded to Chernobyl level

Japan put its nuclear calamity on a par with the world's worst nuclear disaster, Chernobyl, today after new data showed that more radiation leaked from its earthquake-crippled power plant in the early days of the crisis than first thought. independent

Gaddafi's forces continue their savage assault

The missiles came in at 3.20am, exploding in regular bursts, smashing down walls and shattering windows. The possible target was an oil depot, but again it was the civilians who paid a lethal price – as they had done so often in Misrata. Five bodies were dug out of the rubble and another 20 were wounded. The attack had taken place four hours after Muammar Gaddafi had supposedly accepted a peace deal to end this vicious civil war. independent

Note: "the attack had taken place four hours after Muammar Gaddafi had supposedly accepted a peace deal to end this vicious civil war."

Would not be acceptable

South African President Jacob Zuma says the Libyan government has accepted an African Union peace proposal to end the eight-week-old conflict.

A rebel spokesman said any deal designed to keep Colonel Gaddafi or his sons in place would not be acceptable. bbc

Note: Gaddafi is a murder and a war criminal. How can AU believe him? (well... AU is very used to deal with and trust bandits...). Gaddafi does not want the peace. Him just want - because absolutely need - to win some time.

Japan: Powerful earthquake hits north-east

A powerful earthquake has hit north-east Japan, exactly one month after the devastating earthquake and tsunami.

The 7.1-magnitude tremor triggered a brief tsunami warning, and forced workers to evacuate the crippled Fukushima nuclear plant. bbc

Finance Watch

Last June, European elected officials in charge of regulating financial markets and banks launched a call to civil society to organize the creation of a non-governmental organization capable of developing a counter-expertise on activities carried out on financial markets by the major operators (banks, insurance companies, hedge funds, etc ...).

This call has been given the name Finance Watch. It's objective is to end the imbalance between the force of the financial industry and the absence of lobbying from NGOs in the financial field, which is a democratic problem.

Right now, Wikileaks whistleblower Bradley Manning is being tortured in a US military prison. Manning is subjected to utter isolation that can drive many people insane, with short periods each day where he is stripped naked and abused by jeering inmates. avaaz

No apology from Nato

Nato has refused to apologise for an attack on Libyan rebel forces in the east of the country in which at least five people were killed, saying it had not been informed that the rebels had tanks. independent

Note: it would be much better if it was only Europe to help "rebels" in Libya. Nato and US always make lots of collateral casualities. Europe should withdraw from Nato.

Gaddafi's men try to obliterate traces of massacre

The full history of what happened in Zawiya from mid February to mid March will not be written until Libya is free.

Even then it may be dwarfed by the probably greater carnage being wrought on his people by Gaddafi forces in the other western Libyan city of Misrata.

But for now it is as if the regime is trying to eliminate any memory of Zawiya's rebellion. independent

Industries on Life Support

The Internet's role as a creator/destroyer is also behind the constant talk of the demise of newspapers. Newspaper publishing, a $41 billion industry last year, fell 36% since 2000, with a 20% decline likely by 2016.

Failing to see the writing on the wall, and how the online world would snare eyeballs and advertisers, is once again a major part of the problem these companies face. It's been years and years since the "information superhighway" was a hot concept, and yet such companies as The New York Times {NYSE: NYT - News) are just now getting serious (though not yet successful) about such concepts as "paywalls" for their content. yahoo/thestreet

Ivory Coast presidential palace besieged

With the help of international forces, the armed group fighting to install the country's democratically elected leader Alassane Ouattara pushed their way to the heart of the city to reach Mr Gbagbo's home. independent

Ai Weiwei is missing

One of China's most famous contemporary artists remained missing, more than a day after he was blocked from leaving the country and police raided his home, his wife said.

The disappearance of artist Ai Weiwei comes as China carries out a massive crackdown on lawyers, writers and activists, arresting and detaining dozens since online calls for protests similar to those in the Middle East and North Africa began to circulate in February. independent

Iman al-Obeidi still missing

A petition demanding the release of a young Libyan women who stormed into a Tripoli hotel full of journalists and accused government soldiers of rape was on the way to reaching its target of half a million signatures on Saturday.

Iman al-Obeidi achieved worldwide celebrity after footage of her bursting into the Rixos hotel last Saturday and throwing open her coat to reveal scars and bruises was posted on the Internet.

"Words cannot express the courage Iman showed in speaking out - and we can only imagine the terror she must be facing right now in the hands of Kadhafi's infamous thugs," said Avaaz.org, organiser of the online campaign. yahoo/AFP

Regime moves towards deal

There is, however, deep hatred of the dictator and his family among the supporters of the revolution and the demands for retribution against the Gaddafis have ranged from trial on charges of human rights abuse, to forced exile. independent

Note 1: "charges of human rights abuse" and war crimes.

Note 2: "Saif al-Islam, who supposedly wants to remain to play a "constructive role" in a post-war Libya"? Ridicule! Him should be charged as his father.

Note 3: Europe must support "rebels" with heavy weapons and military training.

Ferrari tax in UK

Opinion is divided in Portugal. While many see Ronaldo's agreement to the move as the "ultimate patriotic gesture" others regard the transfer as a "surrender". Paolo Fril, professor of political economics at Lisbon University, told The Independent: "We were ruled by a Spanish king for 60 years [1580-1640] and had to go to war to win back our independence. This is not about Spain saving us –they are restoring the Iberian Union by the back door."

There are doubts in Spain, too. The issue is not naturalising Ronaldo, but whether he is needed. Spain are the current world and European champions, with a style of play that relies more on passing than the soloist skills for which Ronaldo is known. "If we are going to buy foreigners we should buy Lionel Messi [Barcelona's Argentinian star]," said one fan.

But if Ronaldo is unappreciated in Spain, his skills may be in demand elsewhere. Late last night, reports suggested that David Cameron was preparing a counter-offer, of £200m, to persuade Ronaldo to play for England. "The Premier League is where Ronaldo became a star," said the Prime Minister, "so it is only right and proper he should play for England." He added that Vince Cable had proposed a "Ferrari tax" to pay for it, though Ronaldo himself would be given exemption. independent

Rehearsal at ESMAE with Álvaro Salazar

Today I went to a rehearsal at ESMAE (Superior Scholl of Music and Performing Arts - Porto) where two creations of two of my ex-professors, Jorge Peixinho (unfortunately death after longtime) and Álvaro Salazar (pictured), were played.

Peixinho's Fantasia-Impromptu is plenty of his personal poetics and unique genius that inspired all generations of portuguese "avant-gardistes". Portugal stills not capable of honouring him as a great musicien and great creator he was. Portugal always favoured bastards and corrupts, so there's little surprise when Peixinho died by an heart stroke almost in oblivion, "buried" in a minor town (his own town).

Álvaro Salazar's Noturno em Lizara (2009) is a short slice of quit abstract music where the composer combines great inspiration with a kind of contemplating pace. Amazingly this old man, who can actually hardly get a sight of myself (him lost about 75% of his vision), know very well how his music should sound and lead the musiciens to some sort of very interesting achievement.

Later on, at concert, we were given versions of two XX century's major classics: Luciano Berio's Sequenze VIIB and Pierre Boulez's Dialogue de l'ombre double, the former for sax solo, and the later for saxo and tape. Gilberto Bernardes was the inspired sax player.

Note: I never wrote Álvaro Salazar's name on my curriculum because (unfortunately) I went to very few of his (great) classes...

Dereliction of duty, errors, conflicts of interest

Blame for Britain's banking implosion is now being spread far and wide. Latest in the firing line are auditors Deloitte, KPMG, Ernst & Young and PwC who are accused by a House of Lords committee of a 'dereliction of duty' in not sharing vital information with regulators.

This comes hot on the heels of a working paper from the Bank of England earlier this week which focused on the serious errors of the credit rating agencies and their conflicts of interest. dailymail

A new dawn for transgenic in Europe

Approval of the Amflora potato could signal a fresh approach to genetically modified organisms.

The European Commission last week approved Amflora — a genetically modified (GM) potato developed by German chemical company BASF. The potato — engineered to produce a form of starch that is better for some industrial purposes in, for example, paper manufacturing, adhesives and textiles — is the first GM crop to be approved for cultivation in the European Union (EU) for 12 years. Monsanto's MON 810 maize (corn), which is engineered to be resistant to the European corn-borer caterpillar, was licensed in 1998. nature

Note: the undemocratic EU's officials did aprove, this weeck, transgenic food in EU, depite knowing that european people would refuse it, if asked. Maybe some lobby bribed them...

With stoicism a nation rallies

Less than 24 hours after the 11 March earthquake and tsunami struck north-east Japan, destroying much of its infrastructure, a hard-hat army descended on the damage like antibodies around a virus. This weekend, hundreds of miles of once warped and buckled motorways are again open to traffic. independent


Japan pays 'suicide squads' fortunes

Four reactors at stricken plant to be decommissioned

Subcontractors offered £760 a day - 20 times going rate - to brave radiation levels but some refuse

One expert who designed reactor says race to save reactor two is 'lost'

Radiation levels in sea water 3,335 times higher than normal

Readings are almost three times worse than last week

Unmanned drone photographs plant from the air amid health fear for pilots

American robots dispatched to help containment efforts

dailymail

Missing Libya woman spurs reporters

Eman al-Obeidy hasn't been seen since she accused Gadhafi troops of a horrible assault. yahoo/thecutline


Syrian police shoot nine people dead

• Six die in assault on mosque in southern city of Deraa

• Activists call for mass demonstration on 'Dignity Friday'

guardian


Note: the most upset of all is that those Iranian's mullahs did break the very first and hopefully middle east uprising against those macabres dictators and their odd and unfair feudal system. They used the most vicious ways to successfully breakdown iranian protesters. Last year Iran did more than 250 executions.

Uncertain Times

During this time, however, Portugal's government will need to borrow more money. From now until June, some €9.2 billion ($13 billion) of sovereign debt needs to be refinanced on the markets, of which €4.2 billion is due in April alone. Borrowing, however, might become unbearably expensive for the transitional government. spiegel


Bailout request seen as 'inevitable'

Bailout request seen as 'inevitable' following prime minister's resignation after failure to push through austerity measures. guardian

Note: the portuguese problem is the "legal corruption". Most of portuguese people struggle to. Politicians, magistrates, diplomats and so on, are the ones who can afford some luxury, because they are the ones whom still get great retirement pensions (keep in mind that the minimum wage in Portugal is less than 500 euros but politicians, magistrates, top militars, diplomats and catedratic professores, among others, can easly get 5000 or 6000 euros - 14 months a year - as retirement pension: where going Portugal get the money to still paying all live long for those ineffective people?! - think at unrelying portuguese justice system, at junkie level of some portuguese superior courses, at those ridicule portuguese diplomats, and, by the way, is you who want the portuguese army to go along with to war zones like Iraq?), and some were embroiled (helped by the bankers, of course who won big profits) in the corruption big businesses, where the public money went towards theirs offshore acounts. Romenia and Bulgaria are worse? I' m not sure: the "legal corruption" in Portugal go through absolutely legal contracts with obscure clausules which give always guaranteed huge profits to the companies choised by the government, and it went up to billions euros. I'm not at all sure that Romenia and Bugaria are more corrupts than Portugal. Anyway they will be the same huge problem to the eurozone, if they suced to enter it.

But corruption is not a concern to EU's officials. They just are concerned at compelling the portuguese government to change labour laws instead of to compel it to change laws to tackle the "legal corruption" that ruined the country.


Fears of 'Lehman-style' tsunami

The Greek debt crisis has spread to Spain and Portugal in a dangerous escalation as global markets test whether Europe is willing to shore up monetary union with muscle rather than mere words. telegraph

Note: Paul Krugman said that “the biggest trouble spot isn’t Greece, it’s Spain”.

Syrian troops kill six protesters

DERAA, Syria: Syrian forces killed six people yesterday in an attack on protesters in a mosque complex in the southern city of Deraa, and later opened fire on hundreds of youths marching in solidarity, witnesses said. thepeninsulaqatar

Seeing through the fog

Killing Colonel Gaddafi cannot be a war aim, nor indeed regime change in Libya - though we may hope that happens.

Meanwhile, we should help the rebel forces. As former foreign secretary Sir Malcolm Rifkind says, the arms embargo chiefly affects the rebels; it should instead be directed at the government side.

We should, nonetheless, be prepared for the possibility that the no-fly zone will not be conclusive: we could be in much the same position in a month's time as now. But that is still preferable to Colonel Gaddafi having things his own way. standard


Innocents still being attacked

One doctor, speaking on condition of anonymity, said: “They are talking about a ceasefire, they are talking about a no-fly zone, for me that does not mean anything. My people here are under attack. telegraph


The ineffectual Baroness Ashton

The ineffectual Baroness Ashton, the EU's foreign affairs guru, displayed her diplomatic naivety when she sided with the Germans in opposing a no-fly zone. telegraph


Gold reserves worth more than $6bn

Libya has declared gold reserves worth more than $6bn at current prices, thought to be held largely at home. bbc

Japan tragedy seared into the world's imagination

... the way it haunts us with some of our most basic fears: Death by water. Or rubble. Or nuclear fallout.

Add to that, it's a crisis with an impact that will be felt around the planet: Japan is one of the most advanced countries in the world, its third-largest economy, its most successful car-seller and its second-most generous giver of foreign aid.

"This event has the potential to be the most globally disruptive natural hazard in modern times," said Rob Verchick, a disaster expert at Loyola University in New Orleans. yahoo/AP

Gadhafi vows 'long war'

TRIPOLI, Libya – Moammar Gadhafi vowed a "long war" against the international military force that struck at his forces with airstrikes and dozens of cruise missiles that shook the Libyan capital early Sunday with the sound of explosions and anti-aircraft fire. In the capital of the rebel-held east, the Libyan leader's guns appeared to go silent. yahoo/AP


Bodies crowd Benghazi morgue

At least 24 bodies of fighters and civilians, many burnt beyond recognition, lay in the morgue of Benghazi's main hospital on Sunday.

The hospital's wards were filled with men, women and children wounded in Saturday's assault by Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi's forces on the rebels' eastern stronghold. independent


Gaddafi's tanks have reached the centre of Misrata

1.31pm: Reuters are now reporting that Gaddafi's tanks have reached the centre of the rebel-held city of Misrata.

"Two people were killed so far today by snipers. They (snipers) are still on the rooftops. They are backed with four tanks, which have been patrolling the town. It's getting very difficult for people to come out," one resident, called Sami, told Reuters by telephone.

"There are also boats encircling the port and preventing aid from reaching the town."

Abdelbasset, a spokesman for the rebels in Misrata, told Reuters: "There is fighting between the rebels and Gaddafi's forces. Their tanks are in the centre of Misrata ... There are so many casualties we cannot count them." guardian

Note: UN knew that it would happend... Did not France stop Gadaffi's war veihicles towards Benghazi and this city would be now under his will.

Gadhafi strikes rebels as diplomats mull action

BENGHAZI, Libya – Moammar Gadhafi took advantage of international indecision to attack the heart of the 5-week-old uprising on Saturday, sending troops, tanks and warplanes to swarm the first city seized by the rebels. Crashing shells shook buildings, and the sounds of battle drew closer to Benghazi's center. yahoo/AP


French fighter planes are enforcing the no-fly zone

2.48pm: Sarkozy has confirmed that French fighter planes are already enforcing the no-fly zone over Libya, particularly Benghazi.

Speaking at a press conference after the emergency Paris summit, he said: "As of now our aircraft are preventing [Gaddafi's] planes from attacking the ground." guardian

Debt, Austerity and How to Fight Back

Corporate America’s unprovoked assault on working people has been carried out by manufacturing a need for fiscal austerity.

We are told that there is no more money for essential human services, for the care of children, or better public schools, or to help lower the cost of a college education.

The fact is that big banks and large corporations are hoarding trillions in cash and using tax loopholes to bankrupt our communities. the nation

UN orders air strikes against Gaddafi

In a momentous vote that could change the course of a conflict that had seemed close to a devastating end, the United Nations last night authorised military action against forces loyal to Colonel Muammar Gaddafi and the imposition of a no-fly zone over Libya. independent


"Libya declares ceasefire after UN resolution"

Note: rubish! Air strikes against Gaddafi should go ahead.

Japan weighs need to bury nuclear plant

TOKYO (Reuters) – Japanese engineers conceded on Friday that burying a crippled nuclear plant in sand and concrete may be a last resort to prevent a catastrophic radiation release, the method used to seal huge leakages from Chernobyl in 1986.

But they still hoped to solve the crisis by fixing a power cable to two reactors by Saturday to restart water pumps needed to cool overheating nuclear fuel rods. Workers also sprayed water on the No.3 reactor, the most critical of the plant's six. yahoo/Reuters

Note: those reactores are from General Motors, aren't?

Japan dumps water on overheating reactor

TOKYO (Reuters) – Japanese military helicopters and fire trucks poured water on an overheating nuclear facility on Thursday and the plant operator said electricity to part of the crippled complex could be restored in a desperate bid to avert catastrophe. yahoo/Reuters

Gaddafi forces bomb airport at rebel stronghold *

Libyan rebels shot down at least two bomber planes that attacked the airport in their main stronghold today, according to residents who witnessed the rare success in the struggle against Muammar Gaddafi's superior air power. independent

* with the complicity of the so-called international community...

U.S. shows growing alarm over Japan nuclear crisis

WASHINGTON (Reuters) – The United States showed increasing alarm about Japan's nuclear crisis on Wednesday and urged its citizens to stay clear of an earthquake-crippled power plant, going further in its warnings than Japan itself.

The State Department said the United States has chartered aircraft to help Americans leave Japan and had authorized the voluntary departure of family members of diplomatic staff in Tokyo, Nagoya and Yokohama -- about 600 people. yahoo/Reuters

Global financial aftershock

In 1923, when a strong earthquake destroyed most of Tokyo, Japan suffered a crippling economic downturn that may have hastened the onset of military rule. Yet financial markets around the world barely shrugged.

Ninety years on, Japanese cash plays a crucial role in global bond and stock markets. Despite two decades of stagnant growth on home turf, Japan is the second largest foreign owner of US government securities, with nearly $900bn of America's public debt. This time it could be the rest of the world that takes a financial hit while the Japanese economy booms. guardian

Japan prepares for the worst

New reactor blast raises fears of meltdown

Final death toll could reach 'tens of thousands'

Markets crash over fears of economic fallout

independent

Second blast at stricken Japan nuclear plant

The second hydrogen explosion in three days rocked a Japanese nuclear plant today, devastating the structure housing one reactor and injuring 11 workers.

Water levels dropped precipitously at another reactor, completely exposing the fuel rods and raising the threat of a meltdown. independent


Tide of 1,000 bodies overwhelms quake-hit Japan

TAKAJO, Japan – A tide of bodies washed up along Japan's coastline, crematoriums were overwhelmed and rescue workers ran out of body bags as the nation faced the grim reality of a mounting humanitarian, economic and nuclear crisis Monday after a calamitous tsunami.

Millions of people were facing a fourth night without water, food or heating in near-freezing temperatures in the northeast devastated by an earthquake and the wave it spawned. Meanwhile, a third reactor at a nuclear power plant lost its cooling capacity and the fuel rods at another were at least briefly fully exposed, raising fears of a meltdown. The stock market plunged over the likelihood of huge losses by Japanese industries including big names such as Toyota and Honda. yahoo/AP

Explosion at Japan nuke plant

IWAKI, Japan – An explosion at a nuclear power station Saturday destroyed a building housing the reactor, but a radiation leak was decreasing despite fears of a meltdown from damage caused by a powerful earthquake and tsunami, officials said.

Government spokesman Yukio Edano said the explosion destroyed the exterior walls of the building where the reactor is placed, but not the actual metal housing enveloping the reactor.

That was welcome news for a country suffering from Friday's double disaster that pulverized the northeastern coast, leaving at least 574 people dead by official count.

The scale of destruction was not yet known, but there were grim signs that the death toll could soar. One report said four whole trains had disappeared Friday and still not been located. Local media reports said at least 1,300 people may have been killed. YAHOO/AP

Note: "four whole trains had disappeared"

Europe's response in disarray as Gaddafi makes gains

France recognises rebels as Libya's legitimate government as dictator's son threatens escalation after troops take key cities. independent

Note: France is allright. UE did whats the butcher Gaddafi and his son expected: talks and no action. UE seems going to an end. Hippocrit UK would be very, very, happy (of course...), but it would be a tragedy to countries like Grece and Portugal. They were unable to create an real democratic tradition and huge statewide corruption destroyed any social cohesion. Totalitarian regimes are waiting on the corner (nothing new for them... and that isn't a tragedy to Europe... Iberians and balkanians are used, even in "democracy", for that kind of system...). Anyway a "democracy" like the portuguese is just rubish and corruption. Portuguese banks are among the main responsibles for that. They are embroiled in all corruption business system, and they are the main beneficiary of that corrupt system. BES (Saint Spirit Bank...), owned by GES (Saint Spirit Group...), is apparently the most corrupt and is embroiled in dirty deals like Portucale and submarines, namely.

Libyan warplanes strike rebels

Libyan warplanes launched fresh airstrikes on rebel positions around a key oil port today, trying to block the opposition fighters from advancing toward Muammar Gaddafi's stronghold in the capital, Tripoli.

Rebels in the area said they can take on Gaddafi's elite ground forces, but are outgunned if he uses his air power. independent

Note: they need a no-fly zone NOW!


America's secret plan to arm Libya's rebels

Desperate to avoid US military involvement in Libya in the event of a prolonged struggle between the Gaddafi regime and its opponents, the Americans have asked Saudi Arabia if it can supply weapons to the rebels in Benghazi. The Saudi Kingdom, already facing a "day of rage" from its 10 per cent Shia Muslim community on Friday, with a ban on all demonstrations, has so far failed to respond to Washington's highly classified request, although King Abdullah personally loathes the Libyan leader, who tried to assassinate him just over a year ago. independent

Note: they need a no-fly zone NOW!


SAS and MI6 officers released

The group's capture is a major embarrassment to the British government and could potentially undermine the rebels' claims that the revolution, which has rippled through Libya for the past fortnight, has had solely domestic roots. Officials in Benghazi's organising committee, which is trying to organise civilian and military affairs, criticised the British team's decision to make a clandestine entry to the country, claiming it had fuelled doubts about their intentions. guardian

Note: stupid british!

Europe is doing nothing to help this people?

Another inhabitant reported that at least 20 tanks had rolled into the town and had started shelling its square. "The fighting has intensified and the tanks are shelling everything on their way," Abu Akeel said. "They have shelled houses. Now they are shelling a mosque where hundreds of people are hiding. We can't rescue anyone because the shelling is so heavy." guardian

Ten kilometres or so behind them was another worrying development for the 200 or so fighters within Zawiyah. First six, then eight, BM-21 missile launchers appeared in a tree-fringed meadow, their rockets pointing towards the town.
...
Snipers are firing at anyone who moves. guardian

King blasts banks for exploiting customers

Financial crisis could happen again, says Bank of England governor, with warning signs already of short-term profit fixation. guardian

Note: there's no anymore revolutions in Europe? (not like the portuguese's flowers revolution wich result is Portugal: the most corrupt eurozone's country)

Europeans are just stupid bastards paying for the bankers' billions salaries and bonuses?

Bradley Manning 'forced to sleep naked'

WikiLeaks suspect made to relinquish boxer shorts for about seven hours due to 'situationally driven' event. guardian


Bradley Manning may face deah penalty

'Aiding the enemy' among 22 new charges brought against US soldier held in solitary confinement. guardian

Note: US act, very often, as deeply disgusting nation. To often... Maybe because the horrendous conservative. Also because the f... conservative inside the democratic party! Manning did the most interesting thing in the last 20 years. Kill him and it will be a war.

Bad for the environment like the Republican

A bit like the Republican party, they are white, seemingly indestructible and bad for the environment. But after an absence of four years, foam plastic coffee cups have made a comeback in the basement coffee shop of the United States Congress building after Republicans began reversing a series of in-house green initiatives undertaken by Democrats. guardian


Libyan leader laughs off international pressure

Muammar Gaddafi has insisted that the people of Libya love him and denied during an interview that there have been any demonstrations against his regime. guardian

Note: hang the butcher!