Egypt standoff continues as protesters defy curfew

BBC News - Egypt standoff continues as protesters defy curfew: "Police have been ordered back on to the streets of Cairo, as tens of thousands of people gather in central Cairo for a seventh day of protest.

The demonstrators have called for a general strike on Monday, and are holding prayers in honour of those killed in the unrest.

Protesters want President Hosni Mubarak to step down after 30 years in power.

The president has ordered his new Prime Minister Ahmed Shafiq to push through political reforms.

Egyptian state television read out a letter he had sent to Mr Shafiq, in which the president speaks of the need to make progress towards constitutional and legislative reform through a dialogue with political parties.

He also calls for economic policies that give the highest concern to people's suffering and bring down unemployment by creating new jobs.

Correspondents say all the signs continue to suggest that the only change the protesters will settle for is Mr Mubarak's removal from office."

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Britons returning from Cairo speak of their relief

BBC News - Britons returning from Cairo speak of their relief: "Britons arriving back from Cairo have spoken of their 'frightening' experiences and relief to be home from the protest-hit Egyptian capital.

David Lewis, of Manchester, said there had been 'chaos' at Cairo airport.

The Foreign Office said no formal evacuation was under way but advised UK nationals in Cairo, Alexandria and Suez to leave if it was safe to do so.

Meanwhile, Prime Minister David Cameron has called for an 'orderly transition' to a democratic government in Egypt.

In a joint call with US President Barack Obama, Mr Cameron said a 'comprehensive process of political reform' was needed in the north African country.

A Downing Street spokesman said: 'The prime minister and President Obama were united in their view that Egypt now needed a comprehensive process of political reform, with an orderly, Egyptian-led transition leading to a government that responded to the grievances of the Egyptian people and to their aspirations for a democratic future.'"

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Morocco could be next - the kingdom's greatest growth and employment sector could soon be strongly impacted

Discontent is ample in Morocco, the poorest, least developed North African nation, and many are inspired by developments in Egypt. Meanwhile, Morocco's King Mohammed VI rests in his French luxury chalet.

Morocco so far has been spared from larger protesting groups as those in Tunisia and Egypt, much thanks to the King's quick reversal of boosting prices for basic foods. The same move proved a good assurance for authorities in neighbouring Algeria.

But discontent is very widespread in Morocco. Despite an economic boom over the last years and some careful reforms ordered by King Mohammed VI - most prominently regarding gender equality and education - Morocco remains the poorest country in North Africa, with least employment opportunities and the lowest literacy rate.

The King, claiming to descend from the Prophet Mohammed, has an almost divine role in Morocco. Very few dare to criticise him, even in the mildest form.

Among the Arab majority, loyalty to the King is great, while the government - appointed by the King - and age-old ruling "Makhzen" class - controlling the administration, police, army and much of business - are the popular focus of hatred. In the streets of Casablanca, it is often said that the King is honest and wants to rule the country well, but the Makhzen is corrupting everything.

Minorities, however, to a wider degree dare to blame the King for their mischief. This includes large parts of the indigenous and disadvantaged Berber people. Estimates of the Berber population wary from 20 to 60 percent of the Moroccan total, with official estimates being the lowest. Unemployment is highest among Berber youths, of which many view the Arab King as a foreign imposer.

A growing Islamist movement in Morocco, which faces the same repression as the Muslim Brotherhood in Egypt, also is loosening its loyalty to the King, which they see as a marionette of US and Israeli interests. Moroccan Islamists however are split in their view of the monarchy.

Moroccan youths are still struggling with poor education and employment possibilities. Official unemployment figures are only set at between 9 and 10 percent - although believed to be much higher - while the youth unemployment rate is set as closer to 20 percent, officially. Great masses, now mostly barred from migrating to Europe, are building up a similar rage as youths in Tunisia and Egypt.

As the tourist market in all North Africa now is crumbling - many travellers fear Morocco could be next - the kingdom's greatest growth and employment sector could soon be strongly impacted. A sudden growth in unemployment due to falling tourist arrivals could spark revolt.

The most united resistance to the King is found in occupied W

Property and palace of Morocco's King Mohammed VI in Betz, France

© Google Earth/IGN-France
estern Sahara, where the indigenous Saharawis are denied most basic human rights. Rebellion is almost continuous in Western Sahara, with the population only waiting for a situation when troops must be pulled out of the territory to fight a rebellion in Morocco-proper.

A revolution attempt in Morocco therefore could catch the kingdom's extensive police and military forces fighting at very many fronts at the same time. Unlike Egypt and Tunisia, urban protests would probably be quickly followed by rural Berber uprisings and a Saharawi attempt to oust the Moroccan occupiers.

Moroccans are following the developments in Tunisia and Egypt with great interest. The human rights, democracy and social conditions in the country are not very different from the revolutionising countries.

Some few events have already occurred. At least four Moroccans have so far set themselves on fire in an attempt to spark unrests similar to Tunisia. Minor protest marches have been held.

But the population majority is watching what is happening in Egypt, which due to its large armed forces is more comparable to Morocco than Tunisia. If the people succeed in Egypt, many will be encouraged to try the same in Morocco.

King in his chalet in France
Meanwhile, the 47-year-old King seems assured that the situation in Morocco is in firm control. There are confirmed reports that Mohammed VI on Friday arrived at the private Paris airport Le Bourget in his luxury jet.

From Le Bourget, he was driven to his extensive private property in Betz, 70 kilometres north-east of Paris. The luxury chalet, often referred to as a palace, on a 70 hectares property, was bought by his father, King Hassan II, in the 1970s and is only one among a large list of luxury palaces owned privately by the Moroccan King.

The King's luxury spending is not reported by the Moroccan press, which is heavily censored on all issues regarding the King and his family.

According to reports from the Moroccan newspaper 'Hespress' and Spanish Morocco specialist Ignacio Cembrero, Mohammed VI was accompanied on his trip to France by "a delegation of high officials from the security and military forces." Mr Cembrero says he has information that "the situation in the Maghreb since the fall of [Tunisian Dictator Zine] Ben Ali" was to be discussed together with officials from the King's allied French government.

News from King Mohammed VI's stay at his luxury chalet in Betz has still not reached Moroccans and could cause further indignation.

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£250,000 cash found in the back of a lorry

£250,000 cash found in the back of a lorry - East Hampshire - The News: "A LORRY driver was found with more than £250,000 in used banknotes after a raid at Portsmouth international ferry port.

Officials swooped on an articulated lorry where they discovered the cash stashed inside.

It’s suspected the money may be linked to crime and was being taken abroad to be hidden in overseas bank accounts.

A 53-year-old man from Merseyside was arrested on suspicion of concealing criminal property. He was later released on bail pending further inquiries.

The money has been confiscated under the Proceeds of Crime Act and can only be released by a court if proof can be provided that the money was legitimate.

The UK Border Agency, which carried out the raid, said the lorry had been due to travel from Portsmouth to Santander in Spain when it was stopped."

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Police call for global laws on dirty cash

Police call for global laws on dirty cash - Scotland on Sunday: "POLICE in Scotland want other countries to change their laws to help them tackle money laundering by 'Mr Bigs'.
The introduction of the Proceeds of Crime Act in the UK has made it easier to strip criminals of their profits. But the Scottish Crime and Drug Enforcement Agency (SCDEA) believes the rest of the world has failed to keep up.

Prosecutors in Scotland can strip criminals of profits based on 'irresistible inference' - circumstantial evidence - such as a suspicious audit trail or if they are unable to prove their wealth came from legitimate earnings. However, other justice systems require a 'predicate offence', which means they have to prove a crime in court.

The SCDEA says this has hampered Scotland's own efforts as money laundering is 'inherently international'."

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Child porn racket smashed and 12 arrested

Child porn racket smashed and 12 arrested: "NATIONAL Police have arrested 12 people in connection with a child pornography racket and taken a further eight in for questioning.

Raids on 20 houses across Spain, from north to south, produced almost 150 CDs and DVDs featuring pornographic material involving minors.

In a police operation led by Valencia National Police's Technology Crime Investigation Group, which started in June 2009, officers have confiscated at least 25 computer hard drives and three terminals.

Most of the arrests have taken place in Valencia, Murcia, Barcelona, Málaga and Madrid.

In the past 18 months up until last week, officers have also arrested suspects in Asturias, Tenerife, Castellón, Almería, Sevilla, and in the Spanish-owned enclave of northern Morocco, Ceuta.

The suspects have been charged with 24 offences relating to distribution of child pornography."

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XpressBet to spin off rebate shop for high-end players - Thoroughbred Times

XpressBet to spin off rebate shop for high-end players - Thoroughbred Times: "Already an owner of racetracks, a tote company, and the XpressBet.com advance-deposit-wagering platform, Frank Stronach will launch a rebate shop for high-end horseplayers on Monday.

The new rebate shop, Player Management Group (PMG), will cater to high-end horseplayers when it opens for operations. The Oregon Racing Commission will serve as the website’s hub, which will include wagering through phone accounts and an Internet platform.

XpressBet Inc. President Ron Luniewski said the website will cater to bettors who wager more than $1-million a year. Rebate shops typically reduce the percentage of takeout (the amount of money retained for the ADW website, tracks, horsemen, and taxes) by 10% to 15%.

“We don’t plan to recruit players from other sites or tracks. We plan to target players who are currently wagering at offshore sites, whether they’re betting through licensed operations or book-making operations,” Luniewski said.

Some offshore sites send wagers into the pari-mutuel pools “licensed operations” while others book the wagers on their own and return nothing to the industry."

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At Spanish border, a toll threatens Gibraltar's harmony

At Spanish border, a toll threatens Gibraltar's harmony: "It seemed for a while that this British territory with its famous rock was settling in for a period of detente with its Spanish neighbors to the north.

In the summer of 2009, the Spanish foreign minister visited Gibraltar, the first time such a high-ranking official had made the trip since Spain ceded the territory to Britain under the Treaty of Utrecht in 1713.

Of course, Spain has not given up its claim to the minuscule territory -- less than three square miles, much of it the rock -- on the tip of the Iberian Peninsula. But several old disputes have been hashed out in recent years, and a deal signed giving Spain access to the Gibraltar airport, which still allows traffic to cross the runways when planes are not landing.

Lately, however, things have not been going so well.

It seems that Alejandro Sanchez, the mayor of La Linea de la Concepcion, the financially troubled town on the Spanish side of the border, has been kicking up a fuss on several fronts.

He is not happy with the airport deal because he says La Linea has not been paid by the Spanish government for the land required to build Spanish access to the airport terminal."

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EPPING FOREST: MP given Gibraltar post

EPPING FOREST: MP given Gibraltar post (From East London and West Essex Guardian Series): "EPPING Forest MP Eleanor Laing has been given a new government role as special representative to Gibraltar for defence.

Mrs Laing's new job will see her liaising between Whitehall and officials in the British territory, which is located off the coast of southern Spain, on a range of security issues.

Announcing the appointment in the House of Commons, Armed Forces Minister Nick Harvey said: 'The strategic defence and security review reaffirmed the importance of the permanent joint operating base in Gibraltar, which provides the armed forces with the ability to deploy force around the world and respond to changing strategic circumstances.

'Mrs Laing's role as special representative will be to work with the Government of Gibraltar, the Ministry of Defence and the Commander British Forces Gibraltar on a range of issues connected with the continued presence of the permanent joint operating base.

'She will also work closely with the Governor of Gibraltar, whose constitutional responsibilities include defence and internal security and external affairs.'"

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Offshore companies that holed HMV below the waterline | Business | The Guardian

Offshore companies that holed HMV below the waterline | Business | The Guardian: "Play.com, the UK market leader in online DVD sales, was founded by Jersey residents Richard Goulding, Simon Perrée and Peter de Bourcier in 1998 when all three were 28. It began life as a sideline, run out of the stockroom above a branch of sportswear chain Athlete's Foot, for which Goulding and Perrée operated a Jersey franchise.

The scale of the business is kept secret as its parent, Zuma Investments, is incorporated in Jersey and not required to publish financial statements. The company has refused to comment on trading for more than two years, but is known to be one of Europe's most successful online retailers.

Past disclosures in a Jersey court case, however, revealed that by 2004 Play was shipping 15.2m items a year, generating turnover of £190m. For 2005 the business was budgeting for 25m shipments and a turnover of close to £250m. In interview with the Guardian in 2009, Play's managing director, Stuart Rowe, predicted that year's turnover would be £400m. Asked what proportion of Play's sales were VAT-free, he was not forthcoming. 'It's really a little bit of a red herring … Off the top of my head I don't know. We are not really concerned because [the VAT relief] has less of an effect on the company than it did in times gone by.'"

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King Abdullah goes shopping in New York

King Abdullah goes shopping in New York | The Australian: "AFTER two months in Manhattan, King Abdullah of Saudi Arabia faced a problem that frequently troubles travellers leaving the Big Apple.

Like many before him, who promise themselves one nice pair of socks in a little brown bag from Bloomingdales and leave with suitcases bulging, the King seemed to have more luggage than he had arrived with.

Reports from JFK airport in New York last week suggest that at least 12 luggage buggies were required to transport his cases onto three aircraft.

In the mountain of bags there were signs of several heroic shopping expeditions, most likely undertaken by his enormous retinue - two wives and their respective staffs and a film crew.

The King was in New York for an operation to treat a slipped disc which was complicated by a blood clot. He had arrived in a wheelchair, clearly in pain, and he had needed some time to recuperate afterwards, booking entire floors at the Plaza and Waldorf Astoria to recover, according to reports."

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Gibraltar and a massive life settlement bonding fraud

Gibraltar Chronicle - The Independent Daily First Published 1801 - Gibraltar News Headlines: "The Securities and Exchange Commission of the United States has publicly thanked the Gibraltar Financial Services Commission regarding assistance provided in helping it bring charges against a number of persons allegedly involved in “a massive life settlement bonding fraud”."

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Tourists flocked around these monkeys on Main Street yesterday, ignoring warnings that they were wild animals with a vicious bite

Gibraltar Chronicle - The Independent Daily First Published 1801 - Gibraltar News Headlines: "Tourists flocked around these monkeys on Main Street yesterday, ignoring warnings that they were wild animals with a vicious bite. At one point a man pushing a small child in a pram reached down to feed a large male ape, disregarding locals who were urging him to stay away. Around him, Spanish teenagers on a school visit tossed crisps and screamed with delight as the primates rushed in to snatch them up. Feeding monkeys is not just dangerous, it is also a criminal offence punishable with a fine. Not only that, but it is bad for the primates. There is a general misconception that the monkeys roam into town because they are hungry. In fact, they are fed a diet of fruits, vegetables and grain twice a day. They also forage on natural plants and insects. But unauthorised feeding encourages them to seek out sugary foods, with the same detrimental effect as overindulgence has in humans."

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The European Commission will announce in a month's time whether the UK could have until June this year to reduce quantity of PM10 in the air in London and Gibraltar.

eGov monitor - A Policy Dialogue Platform | Promoting Better Governance: "The UK could be taken to court by the European Commission if it does not comply with EU regulations and bring down air pollutions levels, the EU environment Commissioner Janez Potocnik said today in London.

He told reporters that UK is now at stage two of the six stage infringment process. The European Commission will announce in a month's time whether the UK could have until June this year to reduce quantity of PM10 in the air in London and Gibraltar.

A study commissioned by Boris Johnson, the London Mayor showed that long term exposure to the air pollution in London has 4,267 early deaths. Central London has the worst air pollution but the early deaths due to pollution came from outer boroughs due to higher levels of population,

If the UK fails to comply with the EU standards by June the Commission would take legal action, the Environment Commissioner said.  He pointed out two other countries Slovenia and Sweden have already been referred to the European Courts of Justice regarding PM10 and infringement proceedings have been initiated against 20 among the EU27 member states."

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The network was based in Holland and had been in operation since 2002, providing supplies from a grow shop

Police swoops across Europe on marijuana network which laundered money on the Costa Brava: "The network was based in Holland and had been in operation since 2002, providing supplies from a grow shop in Wijchen to set up marijuana plantations, not only in the Netherlands, but also in other countries in Europe.

They invested some of their funds in luxury properties on the Costa Brava, and it’s understood that two properties belonging to the group’s leaders in Calonge, Girona province, were searched early on Tuesday morning. Others in the area have also been sealed off.

Twenty five searches, co-ordinated by Dutch police, took place in total in Spain, Holland, Belgium, Germany, the UK, the Czech Republic and on the Caribbean island of Aruba.

In a separate case, Spain’s Civil Guard released details on Tuesday of ‘Operation Pizzo’, a drugs operation which has seen the arrest of 18 suspects in Cádiz, Barcelona, Pontevedra, Sevilla, Málaga and the Canary Islands.

Officers seized 1.4 tons of cannabis, 5 vehicles and 16,000 € in forged notes.

The network, led by two Spaniards, smuggled drugs over from Morocco to the coast of Cádiz province,"

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70 percent of European countries claimed that Morocco was their prime source of cannabis (either directly, or via Spain or the Netherlands)

Morocco — Early January, in Taounate, a little village in the Moroccan mountains of the Rif region, almost eight tons of cannabis were seized in three farmers’ homes.

Last June, right after the Bab Berred revolt, three helicopters dropped pesticides on plantations in the region to burn the fields. As the political will to eradicate the production of the illegal crops grows, observers say there are few measures to help the region’s inhabitants as they lose their main source of income.

“Eradication should not precede economic development or even accompany it,” said Pierre-Arnaud Chouvy, a research fellow at the French National Center for Scientific Research in Paris, and author of several books on the geopolitics of illicit drugs. “It should come afterward and only in case of necessity. Alternative development never had the expected success. It lacked political will, financial resources, persistence and it was flawly designed.”

Morocco, the world’s leading producer and exporter of kif (the dried bud of the female marijuana plant), according to the United Nations, has for decades tolerated the illegal production of cannabis that allows an entire region to survive.

More than 70 percent of European countries in 2008 claimed that Morocco was their prime source of cannabis (either directly, or via Spain or the Netherlands), according to the most recent figures from the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime. These countries have pressured Morocco to take action to significantly reduce its production of the drug.


In the past few years, the country has started to crack down on production of the crop and has invested millions in not only burning the fields but also helping farmers cultivate other kinds of crops. Since 2003, Morocco has received €28 million ($38 million) from the European Union to eradicate the cultivation of cannabis and signed several treaties pledging to do so. In addition, the United States donated $43 million to help farmers find new crops to replace hashish.

In theory, such a plan should work. In reality, though, it has faced many challenges and experts say it is likely to fail in the long run.

The Rif region suffers from extremely difficult climatic conditions and offers very little earning opportunities for its people. During the reign of King Hassan II, which ended with his death in 1999, the country lacked an economic development program. Since Mohammed VI became king, he has launched several projects to develop the Rif region, left neglected for decades: A port was built in Tangier and another one is in construction in the eastern city of Nador to make the north of the country more economically attractive.

But more needs to be done, says Chouvy. He says the solution centers on an effective regional and national development strategy that would promote the almost complete eradication of the production of cannabis over the next three decades.

“The eradication of cannabis production should not be the goal of development programs: It must be an indicator of their success,” said Chouvy. “The farmers who make a living from it will eventually decide themselves to abandon an economic activity that isn’t profitable.”

Farmers in Bab Berred who survive solely on the cultivation of the crop told GlobalPost in May how dire the situation is for them.

"This is everything I own: I use it to buy grains, wheat, oil, soap, school books, pay for electricity,” said Abdelouaret El Bohidi, a farmer, pointing to a bag of marijuana. “If they take this from me, I will lose my mind. I won’t have anything left to feed my children.”

The farmers said that so far, they haven’t found another way to survive.

“We will cultivate something else if they give us the means to do it,” said Mohamed Amaghir, another farmer. “All we are asking for is a piece of bread and nothing else."

There is an urgent need for new sources of survival, says Chouvy.

“Eradication will only aggravate the underlying factors that lead farmers to produce such crops: poverty and hunger,” he said.

The attempts to wipe out production have also affected the lives of others, namely consumers. The price of hashish has doubled even tripled over the past few years depending on quality.

“Five years ago, the best quality hashish was from Ketama — it was $30 for 12.5 grams — and now the price has doubled and it’s hard to find it,” explained Salim, a regular hashish buyer. “Even bad quality hash has become expensive. ‘Farkhacha,’ a mixed product used to be only 10 dirhams [$1.50] and is now 60 or 70 dirhams [$7 0r 8.50.]”

As a result, many drugs dealers have stopped selling hashish and have turned to more profitable sources of income: harder drugs.

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Betting tax extended to online operators - The Irish Times - Fri, Jan 21, 2011

Betting tax extended to online operators - The Irish Times - Fri, Jan 21, 2011: "A plan to apply betting tax to online bookmakers is among the provisions included in the Finance Bill, which has been published today.

Minister for Finance Brian Lenihan announced in the Budget last December that the Government intended to extend the existing 1 per cent levy on betting turnover in bookmakers to online operators such as Irish-owned Paddy Power and Boylesports, who have previously been exempt from the charge.

The measure is expected to raise about €20 million extra in a full year.

Betting exchanges such as Betfair, which allow people to make bets with other customers online, are to be made liable to a 'betting intermediary duty' at the rate of 15 per cent of the commission they receive from punters in Ireland.

A number of commercial lawyers had previously warned that the move to apply betting tax to online operators could force bookmakers to move offshore if they did not also apply to those who offer online betting but are based outside of Ireland."

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closing its UK telephone business in February, in order to establish a new telephone betting operation offshore in the tax haven of Gibraltar.

Online betting surge gives William Hill a boost | Business | The First Post: "A surge in online business has provided strong revenue growth for bookmaker William Hill. Despite bad weather affecting sport matches and fixtures, retail revenue in the last three months of 2010 was up eight per cent on the previous year, whilst online revenue was up 25 per cent.

William Hill's operating profits are expected to be around £275m, up from £258.6m for 2009.

'This is strong performance and I am delighted that, in particular, our online business and the gaming machines in our shops continue to see encouraging revenue growth,' said chief executive Ralph Topping.

'Our continual technological developments in what is a fast-changing industry have underpinned growth.'

The group also said it will be closing its UK telephone business in February, in order to establish a new telephone betting operation offshore in the tax haven of Gibraltar."

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Paddy Power to revise odds on offshore move

FT.com / Companies / Travel & Leisure - Paddy Power to revise odds on offshore move: "why Paddy Power, unlike its UK rivals, has not moved offshore. After all, a base in Gibraltar from where both Ladbrokes and William Hill operate, would sharply reduce its tax bill despite Ireland's low corporate tax rates of 12.5 per cent. The Paddy Power board has looked at the issue, but until now it has decided to expand in its home base.

But the question of where it should be for tax purposes looks certain to resurface with the Irish government set to publish details in the next few weeks of its annual finance bill, which will contain provisions for changes in offshore betting tax. Currently a bet placed in a betting shop in Ireland incurs a 1 per cent levy – bets at the racetrack are taxed at 0.5 per cent. Online or phone-based betting is tax free."

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Tote to avoid tax with offshore betting plan | Business | The First Post

Tote to avoid tax with offshore betting plan | Business | The First Post: "Government-owned bookmaker the Tote has revealed plans to move some of its business offshore and reduce its tax liabilities in the process.

Fully state-owned since its foundation in 1928, the Tote has now said it wants to sidestep income tax by filtering bets placed with offshore bookmakers through its Guernsey outpost.

The Tote operates on a pool-based betting system which allows customers of other bookmakers to bet into Tote markets. Tote's plans would see many of those bookmakers directing bets through the Guernsey hub.

The horse racing industry, which is partially funded by a tax on bookmakers, said Tote's intentions were proof that the UK gambling regulations needed to be reined in.

'This is further evidence of Britain's gambling regulations being in need of urgent attention,' said the British Horseracing Authority's head of external affairs, Will Lambe."

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BBC World Service will close five overseas services to save money | Herald Sun

BBC World Service will close five overseas services to save money | Herald Sun: "THE BBC World Service will shed around 500 jobs after announcing plans Tuesday to close five language services in a bid to save money.

The shake-up will also see the British national broadcaster scale back its operations in Russia and China, The Financial Times reported.

The five language services to close are Albanian; Macedonian; Serbian; Portuguese output for Africa; and an English-language service tailored to the Caribbean.

The move has triggered an angry response from unions but officials believe the service, which receives millions in funding from the Foreign Office, must tighten its belt in line with the wider budget."

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Silvio Berlusconi calls TV show and rants at presenter who spoke about the sex allegations against him - mirror.co.uk

Silvio Berlusconi calls TV show and rants at presenter who spoke about the sex allegations against him - mirror.co.uk: "THE strain is getting to sleaze-hit Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi after he called a late night TV news show and traded insults with its presenter.

Berlusconi, 74, is at the centre of a sex probe involving an underage escort and an ­extortion investigation following claims he asked police to free her after she was arrested.

He has denied hosting “bunga bunga” parties – a crude reference to a sex game."

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Gaddafi fears foreign meddling in Tunisia turmoil | Top News | Reuters

Gaddafi fears foreign meddling in Tunisia turmoil | Top News | Reuters: "Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi said on Tuesday he feared the change of power in Tunisia was being exploited by foreign intervention.

Speaking in an interview broadcast on the private Tunisian Nessma television station, he denied that he had invited deposed President Zine al-Abidine Ben Ali to neighbouring Libya.

'I fear for the Tunisian revolution because I see foreign intervention ... It serves foreign interests,' Gaddafi said.

He went on: 'Who said I invited Ben Ali (to Libya)? I did not invite him, I did not suggest that, that is not why I called him.

'This is nonsense ... I do not go against the interests of the Tunisian people.'

Ben Ali, who ruled Tunisia for more than 23 years, fled to Saudi Arabia earlier this month after weeks of protests. His departure resonated in other Arab states with restless populations and long-standing rulers.

In a speech soon after Ben Ali's departure, Gaddafi said he was 'pained' by the violent events in Tunisia, that people there had been too hasty to push out Ben Ali and that blood might have been shed unnecessarily.

Gaddafi, Libya's leader since 1969, regularly attacks what he describes as Western imperialism in Africa and the Arab world. Some media reports said he had offered to give Ben Ali refuge when he was fleeing from Tunisia."

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The British fund Libra Capital Ltd. real estate investment through a fund of the Emirate of Abu Dhabi and the Sultanate of Oman will launch a huge real estate project in southern Morocco on the coast of Tan Tan

France Middle East: The French middle east business resource: "The British fund Libra Capital Ltd. real estate investment through a fund of the Emirate of Abu Dhabi and the Sultanate of Oman will launch a huge real estate project in southern Morocco on the coast of Tan Tan, opposite the Canary Islands, with key construction over 3600 villas, 24,000 apartments and three nursing homes targeting older Europeans.
5 billion euros of investment over 15 years

The project Morroco Rivieara spread over a surface area of 200 hectares and will be built in three phases over fifteen years, ultimately came from the 270,000 pensioners in Europe.
'We chose to install the project in front of the archipelago to make connections to develop between the Canaries and the Moroccan coast,' said Rachid Laâouimir, CEO of Libra Capital.

Work should begin in 2013. According to the sponsor, the building complex will include nursing homes with a social and environmental sustainability, 3,000 hotel beds on the beach with a marina with 700 moorings, a deepwater port and eight golf courses. The project will generate over 30,000 direct and indirect jobs and contribute to the development of tourism in the region of Tan-Tan."

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Morocco targets one million Spanish tourists

Morocco targets one million Spanish tourists: "Morroco strives to attract one million Spanish toursist in 2013, Moroccan National Tourist Office (ONMT) chief Abdelhamid Addou said Wednesday (January 19th) at an international tourism fair in Madrid. The kingdom hosted nearly 750,000 Spanish tourists last year, marking an increase of 11% over 2009."

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Property investment 'in decline'

The Press Association: Property investment 'in decline': "House price falls and the mortgage drought have led to a steep drop in the number of people who think property is the most reliable long-term investment, research has indicated.
The proportion of people who think bricks and mortar is the best home for their cash fell by nearly a third during the final quarter of 2010, according to the Association of British Insurers (ABI).
Only 34% of people now rate property as the best long-term investment, down from 49% in September and the lowest level since the ABI first began collecting the figures in September 2008.
People are increasingly putting their faith in savings and investment products, although property still remains the most popular place to invest money overall.
The number of people who favoured savings accounts rose from 11% to 18% during the period, while the popularity of equity investments and Isas increased from 9% to 14%.
Around 7% of people said they thought the Government-backed National Savings and Investments was the best long-term home for their money while 3% of people said they would opt for wine, art, antiques or other alternative investments. But 24% of those questioned admitted they did not know what would be the best long-term investment."

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La Línea, a town of 65,000 people, the signs of hardship are almost everywhere. One of every six residents is unemployed. Swept into the excesses of Spain’s construction boom, it is more than $135 million in debt

At Border Town in Spain, a Toll Imperils Rapprochement - NYTimes.com: "La Línea, a town of 65,000 people, the signs of hardship are almost everywhere. One of every six residents is unemployed. Swept into the excesses of Spain’s construction boom, it is more than $135 million in debt and began falling behind on paying its workers last summer.

Mr. Sánchez inherited the mess when his predecessor was forced to step down last year.

At first, Mr. Sánchez championed the airport deal, which the Spanish government and Gibraltar signed in 2006, as a boon to the local economy. But these days he just wants to see the town get paid for its land.

“This is one of our most valuable assets,” Mr. Sánchez said. “And we have other possibilities for the use of that land.” He is waiting for Spain to make him a reasonable offer.

His demands are not making him any friends in Madrid. Mr. Sánchez, who belongs to Spain’s opposition People’s Party, received a tongue-lashing recently from Salvador de la Encina, a member of Parliament from Cádiz with an interest in infrastructure issues. He has said that Spain will deliver on its agreement “with or without Mr. Sánchez.”"

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Alejandro Sánchez, the mayor of La Línea de la Concepción, the financially troubled town on the Spanish side of the border, has been kicking up a fuss

At Border Town in Spain, a Toll Imperils Rapprochement - NYTimes.com: "Alejandro Sánchez, the mayor of La Línea de la Concepción, the financially troubled town on the Spanish side of the border, has been kicking up a fuss on several fronts.

He is not happy with the airport deal because he says La Línea has not been paid by the Spanish government for the land required to build Spanish access to the airport terminal.

And in pursuit of even more cash, he is threatening to charge a toll in La Línea, looking for revenue from the owners of the 10 million vehicles that cross through his town each year, mostly with people going to shop in the dense streets of Gibraltar.

Mr. Sánchez says the income would begin to make up for the environmental impact of all that car exhaust — and for the ugliness of the long lines of vehicles waiting to get into Gibraltar, where shoppers can get deals on cigarettes, alcohol, perfume and chocolates.

“We have the most polluted village in all of Andalusia,” said Mr. Sánchez. “The shoreline is lost for tourism because of all those cars going into Gibraltar. They are always backed up on our side. The waterline is gone because there is a huge clogged road there. So we are developing a congestion charge."

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Dorie Iraoui facing surgery with husband in Morroco waiting for State Department OK | KansasCity.com Press Release Central

Dorie Iraoui facing surgery with husband in Morroco waiting for State Department OK | KansasCity.com Press Release Central: "For the past two years, Dorie Iraoui, a U.S. citizen, wife and mother, has been desperately trying to reunite with Stof, her Moroccan husband. Now, with Dorie just days away from undergoing a major surgery on January 27, 2011, the U.S. Department of State continues to tie up her husband’s case in red tape despite Stof’s eligibility and prior approval for a U.S. visa. Facing her life-changing surgery alone is just another frustrating result of Dorie and Stof’s efforts to follow the laws and comply with the federal government officials’ requests, which have led to a bureaucratic nightmare for the couple.
Dorie and Stof will celebrate their second wedding anniversary in March, but their first two years together have been anything but newlywed bliss. Forced to live worlds apart for nearly 23 months, Dorie has endured health problems, her mother’s death, raising a child and continued employment to support her family in spite of her doctor’s bed rest order – without Stof by her side."

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Million pound MOT scam on Costas broken up

Million pound MOT scam on Costas broken up: "Seamus and Paula Montgomery, a retired UK expat couple, are reported in the UK national press to have been arrested for operating a vehicle MOT certificate scam for the last up to five years that has been estimated to have netted them a million Pounds Sterling in payments made by resident expats in Spain who were avoiding their having to take their UK registered motor vehicles to the UK for the MOT test.  

Motor vehicles can only be MOT'd in the UK if they are physically present there and the owners are resident in the UK. However, many thousands of expats were duped by false adverts in the expat press that encouraged them to pay up to 200 GBP in exchange for a fraudulent MOT.

The crime now means that there must be many UK-registered vehicles operating in Spain that could be mechanically faulty. Police warn that driving abroad without an MOT will invalidate your insurance and could be criminal offense in some EU countries.

The arrested couple had been operating in Spain under the advertised name of “J G O’Connor”, and Essex police warn the couple have been regularlarly advertising their services in Spain over the last few years in a free weekly national English-language newspaper, the 'Euro Weekly News' and in Portugal in 'The Portugal News', amongst others."

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Kate Middleton prepares for Royal housewife life by leaving parents' business | Mail Online

Kate Middleton prepares for Royal housewife life by leaving parents' business | Mail Online: "Mrs Windsor-to-be Kate Middleton has left her job at her family's online party supplies firm to prepare for her wedding to Prince William, a royal aide has confirmed.
The future princess quit as Party Pieces' project manager to 'concentrate full-time on preparing to become a member of the royal family,' the spokesman said.

She worked as a website designer and photographer for her parents' Party Pieces website."

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A Call for Calm in Tunis

A Call for Calm in Tunis - NYTimes.com: "After days of antigovernment protests, dozens of Tunisians marched in the capital on Tuesday to demonstrate their patience with the interim government that replaced the ousted dictator Zine el-Abidine Ben Ali, pleading with their fellow citizens to give the temporary leadership time to hold elections.But the pro-government demonstrators remained vastly outnumbered by more than a thousand others who were demanding the dissolution of the government, angry at its continued domination by former members of Mr. Ben Ali’s ruling party. The two groups scuffled briefly. The state news agency also reported that another Tunisian had attempted to set himself on fire in the impoverished interior city of Gefsa. It was the first instance of an attempt at self-immolation since a peddler burned himself to death, setting off the country’s revolt. More than a dozen people in North Africa and the Middle East have set themselves on fire since the Tunisian revolution started"

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Robert Vasquez, a senior partner of the law firm Triay & Triay has resigned from the Financial Services Commission

Gibraltar Chronicle - The Independent Daily First Published 1801: "In an unexpected move Robert Vasquez, a senior partner of the law firm Triay & Triay has resigned from the Financial Services Commission, the Chronicle can reveal. Mr Vasquez tonight declined to enter into detail but the Chronicle understands that the move follows the FSC raising with him the question of his political independence as a result of his llanitoworld internet blog.

Mr Vasquez, a cousin and former legal partner of the Chief Minister Peter Caruana, has long been critical of the governing GSD. Marcus Killick is the CEO of the FSC and Mr Vasquez was a member of its board and is expected to make a robust public defence of his position."

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Bank of England chief Mervyn King: standard of living to plunge at fastest rate since 1920s

Bank of England chief Mervyn King: standard of living to plunge at fastest rate since 1920s
Households face the most dramatic squeeze in living standards since the 1920s, the Governor of the Bank of England warned, as he reacted to the shock disclosure that the economy was shrinking again.

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Morocco says nabbed cell plotting foreign attacks | News by Country | Reuters

Morocco says nabbed cell plotting foreign attacks | News by Country | Reuters: "Security forces have arrested six Moroccans suspected of planning attacks in Morroco and overseas, the interior ministry said on Monday.

The ministry did not say when or where they were arrested.

The six were experts in making explosives and planned to use them in attacks in unspecified countries. They also planned attacks using car bombs against foreign interests in Morocco and against Moroccan institutions and security facilities, it said."

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Death toll in plane explosion in Siberia reaches three (Update 5) | Russia | RIA Novosti

Death toll in plane explosion in Siberia reaches three (Update 5) | Russia | RIA Novosti: "At least three people have died and over forty were injured after an ensuing explosion and fire of a Russian Tu-154M passenger jet that made an emergency landing in the Siberian city of Surgut on Saturday due to an engine flaming out on takeoff, a spokesman for the local branch of the Russia's Emergencies Ministry said.
The Emergencies Ministry said that 44 people were injured in the fire, while the Health Ministry said 43 were injured. So far, the Health Ministry has not confirmed information about the number of those killed in the explosion. Three children have been hospitalized.
There were 116 passengers and nine crew members on board the plane from Kogalymavia Airlines which was to land at Moscow's Domodedovo Airport, the Emergencies Ministry said."

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Death toll in plane explosion in Siberia reaches three (Update 5) | Russia | RIA Novosti

Death toll in plane explosion in Siberia reaches three (Update 5) | Russia | RIA Novosti: "At least three people have died and over forty were injured after an ensuing explosion and fire of a Russian Tu-154M passenger jet that made an emergency landing in the Siberian city of Surgut on Saturday due to an engine flaming out on takeoff, a spokesman for the local branch of the Russia's Emergencies Ministry said.
The Emergencies Ministry said that 44 people were injured in the fire, while the Health Ministry said 43 were injured. So far, the Health Ministry has not confirmed information about the number of those killed in the explosion. Three children have been hospitalized.
There were 116 passengers and nine crew members on board the plane from Kogalymavia Airlines which was to land at Moscow's Domodedovo Airport, the Emergencies Ministry said."

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