Syria commits crimes against humanity in Homs: HRW

BEIRUT | Fri Nov 11, 2011 1:02am EST

BEIRUT (Reuters) - Syrian government forces have carried out crimes against humanity as they try to crush opposition to President Bashar al-Assad in the restive province of Homs, Human Rights Watch said in a report released on Friday.

It urged Arab League delegates meeting on Saturday to suspend Syria from their organization, ask the United Nations to impose sanctions on individuals responsible, and refer Syria to the International Criminal Court.

"The systematic nature of abuses against civilians in Homs by Syrian government forces, including torture and unlawful killings, constitute crimes against humanity," the group said in a statement accompanying the report.

HRW said Syrian security forces had killed at least 104 people in Homs since November 2, when the Syrian government agreed an Arab League plan aimed at ending the violence and starting a dialogue with Assad's opponents.

Those deaths followed the killings of at least 587 civilians in Homs between April and August, the group said, the highest death toll of any single governorate in the country.

"Homs is a microcosm of the Syrian government's brutality," said Sarah Leah Whitson, Middle East director at Human Rights Watch. "The Arab League needs to tell President Assad that violating their agreement has consequences, and that it now supports (U.N.) Security Council action to end the carnage."

The United Nations says 3,500 people have been killed in Assad's crackdown on protests which erupted in mid-March, inspired by popular Arab uprisings which have toppled three North African leaders. Authorities blame armed groups for the violence, saying they have killed 1,100 soldiers and police.

Syria has barred most foreign media, making it difficult to verify accounts of opposition activists or officials.

Human Rights Watch said it was also refused access to Syria and described the task of obtaining accurate information as "challenging." Its report was based on interviews with 114 Homs residents, who had either fled to neighboring countries or who spoke via the Internet from inside Syria.

It said security forces had conducted large-scale military operations in several towns in the province, including Homs city and the town of Tel Kelakh on the border with Lebanon.

"Typically, security forces used heavy machine guns, including anti-aircraft guns mounted on armored vehicles, to fire into neighborhoods to frighten people before entering with armored personnel carriers and other military vehicles," Human Rights Watch said.

"They cut off communications and established checkpoints restricting movement in and out of neighborhoods and the delivery of food and medicine."

"TORTURE RAMPANT"

Thousands of people in Homs -- as in the rest of the country -- were subjected to arbitrary arrest, enforced disappearances and systematic torture in detention, the group said. Most were released after several weeks in detention, but several hundred were still missing.

HRW said it had documented 17 deaths in custody in Homs, at least 12 of which were clearly from torture.

"Torture of detainees is rampant," it said, adding it had spoken to 25 former detainees in Homs, all of whom reported being subjected to various forms of torture.

It quoted one man, held at the Military Intelligence base in Homs, as saying he was beaten with cables and hanged by the hands from a pipe so that his feet did not touch the ground.

"I was hanging there for about six hours, although it was hard to tell the time. They were beating me, and pouring water on me, and then using electric stun guns," he said.

Human Rights Watch said army defections had increased since June and that some residents in Homs had formed "defense committees" armed with guns and even rocket-propelled grenades.

Syria's state media and activists have reported several assassinations in the city over recent weeks of people seen as sympathetic to Assad.

"Violence by protesters or defectors deserves further investigation," Human Rights Watch said. "However, these incidents by no means justify the disproportionate and systematic use of lethal force against protesters."

(Reporting by Dominic Evans; Editing by Jon Hemming)

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Boxing: Pacquiao's Ready for His Third Round with Marquez

Manny Pacquiao (R) of the Philippines defends against Juan Manuel Marquez (L) of Mexico during their World Boxing Council super featherweight championship fight on March 15, 2008 at the Manadalay Bay Events Center in Las Vegas, Nevada.

Chris Cozzone / AFP / Getty Images

Manny Pacquiao trains in a Hollywood gym called the Wild Card Boxing Club, which sits above a laundromat and a Thai restaurant in a rundown strip mall. The Filipino boxer does early morning runs in the Hollywood Hills, and then comes to the Wild Card to plot and work on strategy with his trainer and the gym's owner, Freddie Roach. For the last several weeks Pacquiao, who is also a Congressman and game show host in his native Philippines, has been preparing for Saturday megafight, his third meeting against Mexican Juan Manuel Marquez. Near the gym's speed bag is a photo of Marquez wearing a t-shirt that declares, "Marquez beat Pacquiao twice." Pacquiao sees that photo every day. It irritates him ? and gets him working.

The previous Pacquiao-Marquez bouts were controversial and close. Back in 2004, in their first meeting, the men were fighting for a featherweight (126-pound limit) title. Pacquiao knocked down Marquez three times in the first round, but the Mexican slugger popped up off the canvas each time and fought on to salvage a come-from-behind draw. In 2008 they met again for a super featherweight title (130-pound limit). It was a back-and-forth thriller, in which Pacquiao received a round two left hook to the chin that teetered him, and Marquez went down in round three, but both men were able to fight until the end. Pacquiao won the fight in a controversial split decision. (See photos of the rise of Manny Pacquiao.)

Marquez has been bitter about the conclusion since, and has been begging for a rematch. The t-shirt is his version of history.

Everyone else's history has been kinder to the Filipino fighter. Pacquiao went on to fight and vanquish other boxers, including Oscar De La Hoya, win a Congressional seat, visit President Barack Obama at the White House, get featured on a 60 Minutes segment, make a hit single ("Sometimes When We Touch"), introduce his own fragrance ("Scent of a Champion"), and sign lucrative endorsement deals with Nike, Hewlett-Packard, and Hennessy. Under the tutelage of Roach, Pacquiao kept improving as a boxer. He says that since his last fight with Marquez he has learned how to better combat counter-punching, the Mexican's specialty. Pacquiao, a southpaw, developed a devastating right hand and refined his already mesmerizingly quick footwork. (After studying film of Marquez' most recent fight, Pacquiao, who at 32 years-old is six years younger than his opponent, concluded, "He is slower than before.")

To challenge fighters in heavier weight classes and create an even larger legacy, Pacquiao spent the intervening three years adding muscle weight to increase the force of his punches. He successfully fought larger men ? one victim outweighed him by 17 pounds at fight time. He has been able to increase his power while maintaining his rabbit-like speed, and this brutal combination of speed, power, and boxing intellect have helped him win an unprecedented eight world titles in eight different weight classes (a swing of about 40 pounds), and earn the title of boxer of the decade. "I know Marquez has got off the canvas four times [from Pacquiao punches in the past], but I don't think he's going to be able to get up from the power Manny has now," says Roach.

See "Boxing Icon Manny Pacquiao Now Belts Out Love Songs."

See Manny Pacquiao's reaction to the Philippines' reproductive health bill.

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Group: Abuses by Mexico in war on cartels

Mexico has been rebuked by a human rights organization that found a pattern of abuses by security forces.

• A new report says Mexican security forces are behind some abuses
• Human Rights Watch found evidence of torture, kidnappings and killings
• The military says only a tiny fraction of complaints result in action

(CNN) -- Nearly five years into its war against drug cartels, Mexico on Wednesday was rebuked by a human rights organization that found a pattern of abuses by security forces.

Human Rights Watch released a report based on interviews with victims, government officials and documents, concluding that the military and federal police offensive has resulted in a growing number of human rights violations that are not investigated adequately.

Mexican President Felipe Calderon deployed the first of more than 45,000 troops in 2006 to combat drug cartel violence, but, according to Human Rights Watch, instead of solving the problem, it has "exacerbated a climate of violence, lawlessness, and fear in many parts of the country."

The human rights organization conducted its research in five states in distinct parts of Mexico affected by the drug violence -- Baja California, Chihuahua, Guerrero, Nuevo Leon and Tabasco. So the study included hot spots like Ciudad Juarez, which is in Chihuahua, while excluding other fronts in the drug wars, like Sinaloa or the border state of Tamaulipas.

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In short, the organization found in those five states more than 170 cases where there was evidence of torture, 39 "disappearances" with evidence suggesting the involvement of security forces, and evidence of 24 cases of extrajudicial killings.

The pattern that emerges, according to Human Rights Watch, is that these are not isolated acts, but rather "examples of abusive practices endemic to the current public security strategy."

Likely aware of the upcoming report, Mexico's Defense Ministry last week gave a robust defense of its record and self-policing ability with the announcement of the convictions of 14 servicemen, including two officers for homicide.

A military tribunal found the soldiers guilty in the 2007 shooting deaths of five people at a military checkpoint in Sinaloa.

The Defense Ministry, known as SEDENA, said its army is "always ensuring adherence to the law, observing human rights, and in those cases where there is a presumed violation of individual rights, the start of investigations to find the responsible party."

Since the beginning of the campaign, SEDENA has kept a constant open channel of communication with Mexico's National Commission on Human Rights, the ministry said.

During that time, 89 complaints against the military resulted in recommendations to SEDENA by the human rights body, the ministry said.

"That is, only 1.53% of all the complaints" filed have resulted in action by the human rights commission, the ministry said.

But Human Rights Watch found something more pervasive.

In the more than 170 torture cases it found, the tactic was mostly used to extract information about organized crime and to elicit confessions, the organization said.

Common types of torture recorded included beating, asphyxiation with plastic bags, waterboarding, electric shocks, sexual torture and death threats," the organization said.

In the case of the 39 disappearances, Human Rights Watch depended on the testimony of witnesses who saw people being taken by security forces, but who state officials deny arresting or ever having in custody.

In one of several testimonies gathered by Human Rights Watch, a widow tells of how she; her husband, Arnulfo Antunez, 37; and two children were driving in Ciudad Juarez last year when they were pulled over by federal police. According to the wife, the police yanked Antunez out of the car "in a bad way" and then went to the couple's home, which they ransacked. According to the organization, the police tore the place up and left with documents.

The wife filed complaints with several state and federal police bodies, providing the plate numbers of the police cars that took her husband. Two weeks later, Antunez's body was found in an abandoned house, with syringes around his body. Human Rights Watch said that while it looked like an overdose, examinations showed that Antunez had died from blows to the head; prosecutors dragged their feet on the investigation; and to date, there is no progress in the investigation.

This was an example of the 24 suspected cases of extrajudicial killings carried out by security forces, according to the organization.

In all, the group conducted more than 200 interviews with government officials, security forces, victims, witnesses, human rights defenders and others.

The report also criticized Calderon for generalizing that the majority of victims were involved in organized crime themselves. Calderon has said that up to 90% of victims had ties to the drug underworld, but Human Rights Watch found that figure to be unreliable.

Among the report's recommendations, it suggests ensuring civil trials for all alleged military misconduct and enforcing due process to guarantee detainee rights.

Eric Rojo, a security analyst, said the report's findings are not surprising.

"You cannot have 45,000 soldiers around the country, fighting this battle, and claim that there are no violations of any kind. That would be impossible," he said.

However, he said, the organization falls short of proving its allegations.

"The thing I find interesting is that (in) all of these years, Human Rights Watch has yet to raise a human rights violation against the Zetas, the Gulf Cartel, the Sinaloa Cartel, the Juarez Cartel and all of these people who have violated the human rights of many thousands of Mexicans, a large number of which are dead by their own hands," he said.

CNN's Rafael Romo contributed to this report.

Source: http://rss.cnn.com/~r/rss/cnn_world/~3/AMM04fXVIUE/index.html

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Support grows in Italy for Monte

• Italy's foreign minister expresses support for Mario Monti
• Berlusconi praises Monti's "outstanding achievements"
• It is unclear how soon elections may take place
• Italy is the world's eighth largest economy

Rome (CNN) -- Facing international worries about the potential global impact of the country's financial crisis, Italy gave indications Thursday that there may be growing support for former EU commissioner Mario Monti to take the helm.

Foreign Minister Franco Frattini said he supports an emergency government of national unity led by Monti.

"He has an international profile that no one can deny," Frattini said, according to his press office.

And Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi, who is expected to step down after a series of austerity measures are adopted, gave high praise to Monti. In a post on Berlusconi's official Facebook page, he wrote that he had sent a telegram to Monti congratulating him on being appointed by the president to be a "senator for life, reflecting the outstanding achievements" in certain arenas. "I wish him a successful job in the national interest," Berlusconi said.

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Italian news agency ANSA reported that Berlusconi "seems to have changed his position on the possibility" of supporting an emergency government led by Monti.

Italian President Giorgio Napolitano has said that after the Italian parliament passes the reforms, either an interim government will be formed or elections will be called.

Italian authorities say that if officials opt for elections, they would take place in January and likely result in a new government by February, at the earliest. The prime minister would typically remain in office until a transition takes place, though mounting market fears have raised questions about whether lawmakers might take action before that time.

Investor confidence plummeted Wednesday when the yield on 10-year Italian government bonds rose above 7%, the level at which other European countries -- including Greece, Portugal and Ireland -- have sought international bailouts.

As the eighth-largest economy in the world and the fourth-largest in Europe, Italy is seen as vulnerable to the debt crisis that has brought down Greece, although economists say Italy remains solvent.

Earlier this week, Berlusconi told Italian newspaper La Stampa that he believed "Now it is time for Alfano. He will be our premier candidate. He is extremely good, much better than one can expect, and his leadership has been accepted by all."

Berlusconi was referring to former Justice Minister Angelino Alfano, who has been known as his hand-picked successor.

But other names were floated, including Monti and Gianni Letta, Berlusconi's chief of staff.

Napolitano announced Wednesday that he had nominated Monti as "senator for life," a title bestowed on those who have held distinguished roles, raising speculation about his candidacy.

A Yale-trained economist and professor at Milan's Bocconi University, Monti has also worked as an international adviser to the investment firm Goldman Sachs.

Dubbed "Super Mario" for his work in international finance, the former EU commissioner gained notoriety for his role in blocking a merger between U.S. firms Honeywell International and General Electric, thought to be a move that highlighted Europe's newfound regulatory clout.

Source: http://rss.cnn.com/~r/rss/cnn_world/~3/O-_X_OHeN7U/index.html

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Lebanon's Former PM Saad Hariri Fights on Twitter

Former Lebanese Prime Minister Saad Hariri (C) attends the funeral of Saudi crown Prince Sultan bin Abdul-Aziz Al Saud, in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, October 25, 2011.

EPA

Young revolutionaries are no longer the only ones in the Arab world waging politics on Twitter: Even senior Lebanese political leaders have begun delving into the social media fray, sparking news, debate and more than a few smirks.

Prime Minister Najib Mikati, with just over 5,000 followers, is already an old hand, having first tweeted back in January. Former Prime Minister Saad Hariri, who has been abroad since April (mainly in Paris and Riyadh) has had a Twitter account for most of this year, but it was only a few days ago that his 140-character communiques began sounding as if they weren't written by an automaton.(See photos of protests in Lebanon.)

"Well its about time to make this more up close and personel," Hariri tweeted on Nov. 3, "you be hearing from me more often and i'll be around as much as i can." True to his word, Hariri has devoted an hour or two of every evening since to engaging his followers (14,000 and counting) in frank, lively q&a sessions.

Immediate access to political figures is a novelty in a country where the divide between elites and everyone else is sharp, and politicians are not accustomed to being called to account. But social media is changing the game.

Mikati has largely used his mainly English-language tweets to serve as cheerleader in chief for national unity, when he's not documenting time spent with his grandchildren and revisiting places he and his wife May saw on their honeymoon. But he has used the medium to get beyond his buttoned-up persona, and identify with everyman concerns. "Traffic jams are suffocating!" he recently tweeted. "The roads of my country ought to become safer & more fluid...Working on it!" Amusingly, the premier tends to sign his messages N.M., lest anyone doubt their authenticity.(Watch Hizballah's New War Theme Park.)

He has also used the medium for "digital diplomacy," engaging in a twitter Q&A session that involved the British ambassador to Lebanon ahead of a recent meeting with British Prime Minister David Cameron.

But it has been Hariri's nightly Twitterfests that have the Lebanese media aflutter. Tweeting in English (much to the chagrin of some of his followers) he has used the platform for everything from blasting the "massacres" unleashed by the Syrian regime against its own people, to revealing his love of soccer, diving, and Harley Davidsons. And, of course, he has also addressed the issue of the U.N.-sponsored tribunal into the murder of his father, former Prime Minister Rafik Hariri ? which has pinned the murder on members of Hizballah, sparking an ongoing crisis within Lebanese politics pitting the Syrian-backed Shi'ite Hizballah movement and its allies in the current ruling coalition against the fiercely anti-Syrian opposition led by Hariri. Mikati is stuck somewhere in the middle.

Asked on Twitter about what Mikati may do if his hand is forced by Hizballah and its allies who are demanding that Lebanon break from the tribunal, Hariri expressed doubt that the premier would keep his promise to resign, and predicted Mikati would indeed cut Lebanese funding to the tribunal. "There will (be) consequences on people and i hope not on lebanon," Hariri wrote.(Read "Syria's Long Shadow Creeps Into Lebanon.")

Some followers initially expressed doubts that the person operating the twitter account in his name really was the young billionaire politician, prompting Hariri to tweet "It's me, Saad, you are talking to. Believe it."

He politely fields numerous requests for personal audiences ("call my office") and tries to make himself accessible: "R u going to only answer political question or could ask u about anything? Nothing personal of course," wrote one follower. "Ask anything you want," Hariri responded. The question was about Playstation, and if the former premier plays it. (He doesn't but his son does.)

Still, the Hariri tweet that had everyone in Beirut talking was about the Shi'ite speaker of the House, Nabih Berri, an ally of Syria and Hizballah who was voted into another term at the helm of parliament by his allies, with the support of Hariri's bloc.

"No voting for berri anymore if we win the election that is a promise," Hariri said in response to a question. Not convinced, the questioner tweeted back: "With all my respect, plz dont make promises u cant keep," prompting Hariri to write this: "i will keep it believe me and i promise."

Not one to take a slight easily, the loquacious speaker got his own in the traditional media: "Hariri has revealed in his electronic messages a number of his personal hobbies these days, one of which is diving. The Lebanese have also discovered a new hobby of the 'sheikh' and that is of politics. Better he dive in the former than the latter," Berri said in a statement.

Oh, Snap! Hariri waited until the following evening's Twitter session to get in another crack. When asked by a follower what he would teach if he could teach anything, Hariri said, "scuba diving, in spite of Mr Berri." Looks like a Twitter fight might be brewing. Stay tuned!

See why Hizballah accused are untroubled by indictment for Hariri murder.

See TIME's Pictures of the Week.

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James Murdoch: I didn't know about phone hacking

LONDON�? Senior News Corp. executive James Murdoch faces tough questioning in Britain's parliament on Thursday over the phone-hacking scandal that has shaken his father Rupert's media empire.

The News International chairman will be quizzed for a second time by MPs about the News of the World, the newspaper force to close amid public anger over its practices.

His testimony to the culture, media and sport committee in July was disputed by the newspaper's former legal manager.

Although he has long insisted he knew nothing of the culture of criminality whose exposure has been called "Britain's Watergate," mounting evidence suggests otherwise and one observer who follows the phone hacking scandal said Murdoch would be likely to have to make some kind of concession.

"What I expect to happen is that James will acknowledge that mistakes have been made, probably even apologize to the committee," said Paul Connew, a media commentator and former tabloid editor.

He explained that Murdoch might acknowledge that "perhaps he wasn't as proactive as he should've been," although he warned that there was a limit to how far any mea culpa could go.
"What I think he won't do ? can't afford to do ? is accept that he deliberately misled Parliament," Connew said.

Blind-sided?
James Murdoch has repeatedly insisted that he was blind-sided by the scandal at what was once his company's most powerful tabloid.

Revelations that journalists routinely intercepted the voicemails of public figures, including celebrities, politicians, police, and even crime victims sent shock waves across the British establishment, forcing the closure of the News of the World and scuttling its parent company's multibillion-dollar bid for full control of satellite broadcaster BSkyB.

Video: Murdoch?s future remains in jeopardy (on this page)

Murdoch's company had long insisted that the practice had been limited to a single rogue journalist, royal editor Clive Goodman, who had been jailed for phone hacking several years earlier. But in dramatic testimony to parliamentarians on July 19, Murdoch acknowledged that had never been true.

"We ? the company ? had not been in full possession of the facts," Murdoch told lawmakers. He added that when he took over at News International, News Corp.'s British newspaper arm, "there was no reason at the time to believe that the issue of the voicemail interceptions was anything but a settled matter."

He and his father blamed others for the lapse, with Rupert Murdoch saying he'd been betrayed by those he trusted.

Timeline: Tabloid stir: Phone-hacking scandal intensifies (on this page)

Lawmakers were immediately skeptical of James Murdoch's explanation, pointing to the fact that he personally signed off on a massive settlement for phone hacking victim Gordon Taylor, a prominent sports figure who was given hundreds of thousands of pounds in compensation in return for staying mum about the deal.

The junior Murdoch would have had a motive to keep Taylor quiet, they argued. Taylor's team had uncovered an email carrying transcripts of illegally intercepted voicemail messages written by a junior News of the World reporter and marked "for Neville," an apparent reference to senior journalist Neville Thurlbeck.

Cool, lawyerly
Because it implicated others, the document blew a hole through the claim that only a rogue reporter had been involved in phone hacking.

In a performance described as cool and lawyerly, Murdoch denied knowing anything about "for Neville" document when Taylor's case was settled.

But since July 19 the credibility of that denial has frayed under the weight of contradictory testimony from former executives and senior lawyers.

Former News International lawyer Jonathan Chapman said Murdoch wasn't telling the truth when he said he'd been kept in the dark by his underlings.

"Nobody kept Mr. James Murdoch or any other News International/News Corporation executives from being in full possession of the facts," Chapman wrote in a letter published on August 16.

Former News International lawyer Tom Crone and former News of the World Editor Colin Myler also said Murdoch wasn't telling the truth when he said he didn't know about the "for Neville" email.

"I told him about the document," Crone told lawmakers in a joint appearance with Myler on Sept. 6.

James Murdoch's assertions have also been called into question by respected outside lawyers Julian Pike and Michael Silverleaf, who advised his company on the Taylor settlement.

'Overwhelming evidence'
On Oct. 19 Pike sensationally claimed that he'd known for years that the company had been lying to the public about the extent of the scandal. Silverleaf's evidence, drafted in June 2008 and made public last week, was even more damning.

It warned News International that there was "overwhelming evidence" that some of its most senior journalists had been involved in illegal practices.

James Murdoch has so far stuck to his guns, denying Myler and Crone's claims and insisting he'd been kept out of the loop. News Corp. declined comment on what the 38-year-old executive would say on Thursday.

The stakes are high: Investors have become increasingly restive as the scandal continues to spread. Murdoch's position as heir apparent to his father's company is under threat.

Connew expressed some sympathy with James Murdoch, noting that the fresh-faced TV executive had just taken over his father's UK newspaper business when the Taylor settlement was arranged.

"It's quite possible that people didn't actually level with James Murdoch," Connew said.

Still, Murdoch should expect a rough ride.

"He's under more pressure now than he's ever been," Connew said.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

Source: http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/45236519/ns/business-world_business/

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China: Iran's New Best Friend

Following this week's International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) report concluding that Tehran appears to be well on its way to developing the possibility of manufacturing a nuclear weapon, the next step for world powers is to seek tougher sanctions in the United Nations Security Council.

But meaningful restrictive measures are not likely to happen, say many analysts, considering China's close relationship with Iran, in part to satisfy China's great thirst for oil. Today, Chinese and Russian diplomats announced that they believe no new sanctions on Iran are necessary.

?The Chinese-Iranian relationship has, in fact, been deepening over the last few years,? notes Michael Singh, a former senior director for Middle East affairs at the National Security Council during the Bush administration. The Chinese government not only dilutes the sanctions in the United Nations Security Council by sort of providing Iran with diplomatic cover, but it doesn't enforce the sanctions it even does agree to in the Security Council."

China is Iran's largest trading partner, and this year alone business between the two is estimated at $40 billion, enough of an incentive, say analysts, to block any meaningful Security Council action. Some in Congress are calling on the Obama administration to try and do more.

"What China's doing, as I understand, it is avoiding the kind of economic squeeze we want to put on Iran that could force it not to go forward on nuclear weapons and that's a disgrace and we ought to be much tougher with China than we've been," New York Democratic Sen. Charles Schumer told Fox News.

The influential and powerful senior senator blasted the Chinese, saying they "keep putting themselves first, they keep ignoring the danger to the world of their actions. They even ignore the danger to themselves in the long run, as long as they get a quick benefit in the short run. I think we need to be much tougher with China up and down the line. They are not a positive force in the world scene, whether it comes to Iran, trade, intellectual property or human rights.?

Walid Phares, a Fox News Middle East analyst, says "by not containing the Iranians we are allowing the Iranians to tell the Chinese that they have interest in backing them." He tells Fox News that "Beijing, by sustaining a sort of a support of any form to the Iranian regime, is basically damaging not just the national security of the United States with its own interests in the region, but in the long term they are damaging their own interests as well."

Yet a number of Chinese firms have been accused of secretly helping Iran build its nuclear program.

In New York, one Chinese company was indicted on 118 counts of providing illicit missile and nuclear technology to Tehran, while other Chinese companies have been sanctioned by the U.S and its allies for aiding the Iranians.

Michael Singh tells Fox News that "Chinese companies have been found supplying Iran with critical parts like carbon fiber, for example, for its centrifuges. In addition, China has been involved in Iran's ballistic missile program -- which remember, is part of a nuclear weapons program which is part of a nuclear weapons program, according to the IAEA reports. "

Yet the Chinese say they are doing nothing illegal.

Suzanne DiMaggio, Vice President of Global Policy Programs at the Asia Society in New York City, says "China has maintained this line for years now, and that is Iran is a signatory to the Nuclear Non Proliferation treaty and by virtue of that fact, has a right to enrich uranium for peaceful purposes...but my understanding is there's still no smoking gun, there still won't be that ??aha?- moment, where we know Iran is weaponizing. So I think for the foreseeable future China will maintain its stance."

Di Maggio says China "has a very strong economic interest in maintaining relations with Tehran. First of all, China's thirst for oil is growing exponentially", so if it were to stop trading with Iran, she asks, "where is China going to go to continue to find suppliers of oil?"

A spokesman from the Chinese Embassy in Washington, D.C., told Fox News that the ambassador and his aides were away attending a conference in Hawaii and were not available or reachable for comment.

Source: http://feeds.foxnews.com/~r/foxnews/world/~3/2KKOURq8-m4/

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New Italian government seen within days (Reuters)

ROME (Reuters) ? Former European Commissioner Mario Monti emerged on Thursday as favorite to replace Silvio Berlusconi at the head of an emergency government as Italy's politicians rushed to ward off a crisis that is endangering the entire euro zone.

Dithering politicians seemed finally to have got the message overnight after Italy's borrowing costs soared way above sustainable levels, and Monti was expected to be appointed within days to try to restore Rome's credibility.

Even Berlusconi, whose insistence on early elections after he steps down had fueled Wednesday's disastrous day on bond markets, has been persuaded it would be better not to go to the polls now, sources in his ruling PDL party said.

Political sources said the timetable imposed by an alarmed President Giorgio Napolitano could see a broad-based Monti government as early as Sunday night or Monday.

Monti, a highly respected international figure, has been pushed by markets for weeks as the most suitable figure to lead a national unity government that will urgently push through painful austerity measures.

Italy managed to sell 5 billion euros ($6.8 billion) of one-year bonds on Thursday, but had to pay a whopping 6.087 percent interest rate, the highest in 14 years. Nevertheless the successful auction and prospects of a rapid solution to the political stalemate appeared to calm markets.

The spread on interest rates between Italian 10-year bonds and German bunds eased to 529 basis points, still in dangerous territory but significantly below Wednesday's record of 576. Yields dropped below the red line of 7 percent, after reaching more than 7.6 percent on Wednesday.

Both houses of parliament are expected to pass a financial stability law incorporating economic reforms promised to the European Union by Saturday or Sunday. This is the trigger for Berlusconi's resignation as agreed with Napolitano on Tuesday.

NEW SENSE OF URGENCY

Before the new sense of urgency this process was expected to take at least a week. Napolitano could then hold formal consultations with political parties in a few hours instead of the usual days or weeks and appoint Monti by Sunday or Monday, the sources said.

The new government would most probably include respected experts as well as politicians and be supported by a large part of Berlusconi's PDL party, centrists and the biggest opposition force, the Democratic Party, the sources said.

However, they cautioned that the government was not a done deal and the situation could change by the hour. Berlusconi's chief coalition partner, the populist Northern League said it would not back Monti.

However the party, which is split internally, has resisted a key reform on pensions. It may have made a calculation that it would benefit from a period in opposition to redress a sharp loss of popularity from its association with Berlusconi.

In a key development on Thursday, Berlusconi's ruling PDL party softened its insistence on early elections and said it was considering the option of a Monti-led government.

Foreign Minister Franco Frattini, who is loyal to Berlusconi, indicated cautious support. He is tipped to keep his job in a new government.

Napolitano appointed Monti a senator for life on Wednesday, in a move widely seen as a sign he would ask the academic to try to form a government.

Commentators said this effectively made Monti a bona fide politician rather than outsider, with Napolitano sensitive to accusations that a technocrat government would be undemocratic.

IMF head Christine Lagarde added her voice to calls for an end to the impasse, saying that lack of political clarity in Italy was fuelling uncertainty in the markets.

In a highly unusual step, the sober business daily Il Sole 24 Ore carried a huge banner headline reading: "Hurry Up," in a call to Italy's political class to forget their own interests and save the country.

Napolitano tried desperately to calm markets on Wednesday after Italy's borrowing costs reached levels that could close its access to market funding, a development which would threaten the future of the euro zone.

He gave assurances that Berlusconi would honor his pledge to step down after parliament approved reforms geared to placate markets and he would waste no time in either appointing a new government or calling new elections.

Monti, 68, has long been cited as the most likely leader if an emergency executive can gain broad, cross-party support. Such governments have had success in previous crises.

Commentators said, however, that he might still face difficulty getting support for unpopular measures.

Ferruccio de Bortoli described Napolitano's appointment of Monti to the Senate as a "sensational turnaround" in the Corriere della Sera daily on Thursday.

"But the road from here is very much uphill. There are several unknowns," de Bortoli wrote.

Monti, a respected economist who is currently head of Milan's prestigious Bocconi university, is a tough negotiator with a record of taking on powerful corporate interests as European Competition Commissioner. ($1 = 0.736 Euros)

(Additional reporting by James Mackenzie, Alberto Sisto, Giselda Vagnoni, Catherine Hornby and Valentina Za in Milan; editing by Elizabeth Piper)

Source: http://us.rd.yahoo.com/dailynews/rss/world/*http%3A//news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20111110/wl_nm/us_italy2

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How Is The European Debt Crisis Affecting Your Business?

Main Street can feel pretty far away from, say, the piazzas of Rome and the platias of Athens. But the recent political and economic turmoil in Italy, Greece and elsewhere across Europe has shaken global markets -- and the aftershocks are eventually felt right back here at home.

For better or worse -- and there are cases to be made for both -- the world is indeed becoming flatter and more interconnected. Which is great during boom times, providing a huge potential market that simply wasn't possible to reach just a generation ago. Problem is, in the financial markets and beyond, trouble can spread much more quickly as a result.

Entrepreneurs in general are wise to keep a close eye on global news and trends, even if they still do all of their business in the good ol' US of A, because the reality is that at least something in your supply chain inevitably comes from somewhere else these days. And for entrepreneurs that already do direct business overseas in some capacity, you're probably already feeling it.

From revised investment strategies to a drop in customer demand, the members of our Board of Directors are doing just that. So we asked them to weigh in the unfolding crises in Europe -- and what it means for their businesses.

Clint Greenleaf

Founder and CEO, Greenleaf Book Group "The Cowboy"

"The crisis is a big threat -- don't mistake the damage this can do. Greece's economy is tiny, and Italy is small, but leverage makes default incredibly dangerous. A hiccup in Europe can create havoc here, so it causes great concern. As with any crisis, there is both threat an opportunity. Right now, we should all protect ourselves in case the storm is strong."

Danielle and Jodie Snyder

Co-Founders, DANNIJO "The Sniper And Lil' Snipes"

"Within the last year and a half, we've significantly grown our European presence. The European economic crisis is definitely concerning, as we're in a global market, and the crisis has weakened confidence in spending abroad. Fashion in particular is an international business and Italy is one of the most influential countries in the game."

Tate Chalk

Founder and CEO, Nfinity "The Matador"

"The economic crisis in Italy and Europe in general doesn't affect us at directly at Nfinity, but like all other Americans in our global economy, we do feel the sting."

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Phil Town

Investor and Author of Rule #1 And Payback Time "Rebelman"

"I'm an investor with long-term positions in U.S. and European companies. I've tried to structure my investment choices to be those businesses that will do OK even if southern Europe falls apart, even if Europe itself goes into a depression. That means I am not funding businesses that are exposed to European consumers or European debt. If others are like me, that can't be good for those businesses. Also, the failure of Italy to be able to roll over its debt is like a roadmap of our future. We can borrow now but can we borrow in five years? Will our politicians keep spending money we have to borrow from China and drive us into a depression when the Chinese stop funding us? Italy is a huge red flag warning us that we are on the path to a full-blown depression unless we stop spending money we don't have."

Rob Adams

Director, Texas Venture Labs at the University of Texas "The Validator"

"Most of my overseas business is in Asia, so not a big business impact beyond the ripple affect all of this will have on global markets. To reinforce this, China just announced 10 percent GDP growth for the year. The real question is how much more of this bad news is out there, and when will China tire of bailing out the Western World? Like the housing debt crisis in the United States and the pending student loan debt crisis, the question is how long does it take to get to the bottom of the cesspool?"

FOLLOW HUFFPOST SMALL BUSINESS

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Source: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/11/10/european-debt-crisis_n_1087192.html

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New Greek PM vows to stick with euro

ATHENS�? Senior banker Lucas Papademos was named Thursday as the prime minister of the new Greek interim government, charged with keeping the debt-strapped country out of bankruptcy and firmly in the 17-nation eurozone.

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   7. For Italians, champagne on ice til Berlusconi really leaves

After four days of intense political negotiations, the 64-year-old former vice president of the European Central Bank was chosen to lead a coalition backed by both the governing Socialists and opposition conservatives that will operate until early elections in February.

He replaces outgoing Socialist Prime Minister George Papandreou midway through his four-year term.

A statement from the president's office said Papademos would form an interim government that will secure and implement the decisions of a ?130 billion ($177 billion) European debt deal agreed upon during a summit in Brussels on Oct. 27. That deal is the country's second massive bailout, after a first ?110 billion ($150 billion) rescue package was deemed not enough to keep Greece from bankruptcy.

The new cabinet will be sworn in Friday afternoon.

The latest Greek crisis erupted last week, when Papandreou said he would put the hard-fought European debt deal, that involves private bondholders canceling 50 percent of their Greek debt holdings, to a referendum. The announcement horrified European leaders, sparked a rebellion in his own party and caused an uproar in financial markets.

Papandreou withdrew the referendum plan and agreed to step aside for a unity government.

Papademos, a former ECB vice president who is not a member of any party, has been operating lately as an adviser to the prime minister.

Markets skittish
Shares on the Athens Stock Exchange were up 2.1 percent at 783.28 on the prospect of a power deal. That came despite more bad news for Greece's recession-hit economy: unemployment surged to 18.4 percent in August, up from 12.2 for that month in 2010.

Other eurozone nations have refused to give Greece its latest installment of bailout cash ? ?8 billion ($11 billion) ? until the country approves the second bailout deal, which took European leaders months to hash out.

The markets want clarity soon so the new government can secure bailout cash to avoid an imminent bankruptcy that could push Europe into a new recession and world financial markets into turmoil.

Greece's deliberations over the past few days have taken a backseat to developments in much-bigger Italy, where Italian Premier Silvio Berlusconi has announced his intention to resign soon after a new package of economic reforms are passed.

But concerns over a prolonged political gridlock in the eurozone's third-largest economy ? Italy is considered too big for Europe to bail out ? have roiled the markets. Italy's borrowing costs shot through the roof Wednesday, tempered only a bit by a hasty promise from Italy's president that Berlusconi would be out of office after reforms are passed ? likely by Saturday.

Respected Italian economist Mario Monti was also named a senator for life, which puts him in line to run the next government. Monti, 68, now heads Milan's Bocconi University but made his reputation as EU competition commissioner, when he blocked General Electric's takeover of Honeywell.

Europe has already bailed out Greece, Portugal and Ireland ? but together they make up only about 6 percent of the eurozone's economic output, in contrast to Italy's 17 percent.

The new Greek debt deal would also see private bondholders cancel 50 percent of their Greek debt holdings ? and many analysts fear that Italian bond holders could one day also be required to forgive some of Italy's massive ?1.9 trillion ($2.6 trillion) debt.

New eurozone recession?
Earlier, the head of the IMF pressed for a quick resolution in both Greece and Italy.

"I believe that many lenders, many investors actually expect something to happen to give political clarity," IMF chief Christine Lagarde said during a visit to Beijing. "It's much needed in Greece, it's much needed in Italy. There is clearly some rumors, trepidation, expectations. No one really understands who is going to come out as the leader, and I think that confusion is completely conducive to volatility."

The European Union, meanwhile warned that the 17-country eurozone could slip back into "a deep and prolonged" recession next year as the debt crisis spins out of control.

The EU's economic watchdog, the European Commission, predicted Thursday that the eurozone will grow only a paltry 0.5 percent in 2012 ? way down from its earlier forecast of 1.8 percent growth. EU unemployment will be stuck at 9.5 percent for the foreseeable future.

The report also predicted growth in Italy would slow to 0.1 percent next year, down from 1.3 percent forecast this spring.

It also warned that Italy is unlikely to balance its budget by 2013 if recently promised austerity and reform measures aren't implemented. If those measures don't happen, Italy will still run a deficit of 1.2 percent, with debt close to 119 percent of economic output.

� 2011 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

Source: http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/45238450/ns/world_news-europe/

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Paterno's supporters run amok over firing

(CBS/AP)�

STATE COLLEGE, Pa. - Police in riot gear have confronted hundreds of Penn State students who took to the streets after the ouster of football coach Joe Paterno. Crowds toppled a television news van and at least one photographer has been pelted with a rock.

The students flooded downtown State College on Wednesday night after Paterno and university President Graham Spanier were fired amid a growing furor linked to their handling of sex abuse allegations against a former assistant football coach.

Officers used pepper spray to control the crowd. Some students chanted `We want Joe! We want Joe!" Others kicked in the windows out of the toppled news van.

The van belonged to CBS News central Pennsylvania affiliate WTAJ, which said in a message posted on Twitter that nobody seemed to have been hurt in the incident.

"A WTAJ News live truck was flipped tonight in downtown State College," said the Tweet. "At this point, it looks like everyone is OK."

About 100 police officers were downtown, many wearing helmets and carrying pepper spray. State College police said early Thursday they were still gathering information on any possible arrests.

Centre County emergency dispatch said early Thursday that State College police would be addressing the protests later in the day.

Paterno had announced earlier in the day he planned to retire after the season and expressed remorse for not having done more after he learned of the sex assault allegations.

(At left, watch the press conference announcing Paterno's termination.)

A source close to Paterno tells CBS News chief investigative correspondent Armen Keteyian that the Paterno family is shocked and outraged over the university's handling of the firing.

The source claims a university employee hand-delivered a letter about the firing to the family home a mere 15 minutes prior to the press conference. According to the source, the reason for the letter was that the university employee said the board was unable to locate Paterno during the day.

"You give your life to this place and that's how you're treated," the source said.

However, according to Surma, Paterno and Spanier were informed by telephone of the unanimous decisions to remove them because "we were unable to find a way to do that in person without causing further distraction."

Source: http://feeds.cbsnews.com/~r/CBSNewsMain/~3/PYd4mfrWEl4/

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Berlusconi Says He's Leaving: Is This the End of Italy's Politics of Burlesque?

Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi looks on during a finance vote at the parliament in Rome, November 8, 2011.

Tony Gentile / Reuters

There's a certain poetry to the fact that it was economics and not politics that spelled the beginning of the end for Italy's Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi. The flamboyant politician is Italy's richest citizen, the founder and owner of one of the world's largest media company, and ? for many Italians ? the man responsible for making their largely peripheral economy synonymous with end-of-empire decadence.

And there he sat, Tuesday afternoon, clench-jawed at the result of a vote that exposed the depth of his political weakness. The 308 parliamentarians who voted in favor of the routine budget bill were enough to ensure its passage. But the real significance was in the 322, including many from his own party, who declined their support. By evening, Berlusconi had met with Italy's President Giorgio Napolitano, agreeing to tender his resignation as soon his government passed a series of planned economic reforms, with a vote perhaps scheduled as early as next week. (See "Silvio Berlusconi and the Politics of Sex.")

And yet it was nothing the opposition did that cost the sex-scandal ridden prime minister his majority. Over the course of the previous week, Berlusconi had watched his coalition crumble under pressure from the bond markets, as the crisis in Greek shone a harsh Mediterranean light on the cracks and strains in the Italian economy, one of the most sluggish in the European Union.

With public debt at roughly 120% GDP, the country has been judged to be in desperate need of reforms, most recently by the European Union which last week insisted that Berlusconi agree to a raft of measures that would raise revenue, cut spending and liberalize the economy. And yet, even as markets increased their pressure, prompting the E.U. and the International Monetary fund to pledge their support for the Italian economy, investors were clearly losing confidence in the prime minister's ability to deliver.

And who could blame them? Berlusconi had promised again and again ? ever since his first political campaign ? to pass measures that would boost competitiveness, attract foreign investment and open the job market to the one in four young Italians who, not working or studying, have dropped out of the formal labor force altogether. Yet, though Berlusconi has dominated the nation's political scene since 1994, including as head of government for eight out of the past 10 years, reforms have been few and far between. Over the past decade, the economy has remained nearly flat, trailing the other members of the euro zone by at least a full percentage point. (See Berlusconi's Worst Gaffes)

That was surprisingly acceptable, says Franco Pavoncello, a political scientist at Rome's John Cabot University, when the global economy was relatively healthy. As long as the European Union was seen as the bulwark that propped up its member states, the actions of politicians like Berlusconi didn't make a difference. The crisis in Greece changed all that. Suddenly, Berlusconi's erratic behavior and personal scandals weren't merely occasions for amusement. They were cause for alarm. "He's a liability at this stage for Italy," says Pavoncello. "That's how he's perceived by the markets for sure."

In recent days, analysts had taken to talking about a "Berlusconi premium" in the Italian bond market, with some attributing as much as a full percentage point of the cost of servicing Italy's debt to doubts about his governments stability and commitment to reforms. Perhaps the moment that best encapsulated the world's opinion came during a press conference during crisis talks in Brussels in late October, when German Chancellor Angela Merkel and French President Nicolas Sarkozy responded to a question about Berlusconi's financial reforms by exchanging smirking glances, causing journalists in the room to burst out laughing. (Archive: The Rise and Fall and Rise of Silvio Berlusconi)

Many in Italy won't be sad to see him go. Not only has Berlusconi presided over a stagnating economy, he is seen by many as having personally contributed to a coarsening of Italian culture. Never mind his personal life and his sequential series of sex and prostitution scandals ? including one in which he stands accused of paying for sex with a 17-year-old nightclub dancer. Berlusconi brought a brand of personal patronage to the political scene, using an electoral law in which citizens vote for party lists, rather than individual candidates, to sweep into parliament a retinue of private lawyers, executives from his companies and even showgirls from his television stations. "He's at the center of the court, surrounded by courtiers, to whom he dispenses favors," says Maurizio Viroli, an expert of Machievelli, and author of The Liberty of Servants: Berlusconi's Italy, a book that compares the prime minister unfavorably to Machiavelli's Prince. "He was extremely good at understanding that the best way to control citizens is to entertain them, to amuse them, to distract them."

And yet it would be a mistake to count the prime minister out. For Berlusconi, the stakes couldn't be higher. He has more than his political career to think of. Losing office would also leave him exposed to multiple criminal charges, including accusations currently working their way through the court system ? charges of corruption, abuse of office and prostitution with a minor. According to the author Alexander Stille, Berlusconi entered office at least in part to avoid being swept up in a 1990s corruption investigation that had swept the old guard out of power and opened the door to a new generation of politicians. "I am forced to enter politics, otherwise they will put me in prison," Stille quotes him as saying at the time. And indeed, Berlusconi has spent much of the past 17 years in a slugfest with his country's judicial system, beating some charges after his ruling majority changed the law. Earlier this year, a law his government had passed shortly after taking power in 2008 granting him full immunity was struck down by Italy's constitutional court. An expulsion from government would leave him more vulnerable than ever. (See if a panicking economy will bring down Berlusconi.)

Nor would his economic fortune necessarily remain safe. In Italy's heavily regulated, quasi-statist economy, any business is going to have interaction with the government, and Berlusconi's vast media and publishing holdings are no exception. So it's no surprise that as news of Berlusconi's misfortunes have mounted, the stock price of his family company Mediaset has sunk accordingly, on worries that the new government would introduce previously floated measures to rein in its influence of curtail its acquisition of future digital television rights. "Clearly, this is something that a lot of people might say, ok, maybe with another Italian government, the story would be different," says an analyst covering the company, who asked to remain anonymous citing political concerns.

Berlusconi will still have many chances to cling to power. Even stripped of political office, he will remain the country's richest man and the owner of three of its seven television channels. Meanwhile, the timing of his resignation remains unclear. Though he has in the past said he would introduce the reforms the European Union has asked for as early as next Wednesday, there is no agreement yet on exactly what form those will take, and the date has already begun to slip. One ally even suggested Berlusconi's reforms ? and his consequent resignation ? might not be in place until the end of November.And what would a new government be like and how long would it last? Taking to the airwaves shortly after the announcement, Berlusconi said he would favor early elections, rather than a new government carved out of the existing coalitions. As his education minister put it the morning before the budget vote: "I sustain that there are the conditions for Berlusconi to run again."

See TIME's Pictures of the Week.

Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/time/world/~3/cpg-irggueY/0,8599,2098961,00.html

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Interview with resigning Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi

Italian Premier Silvio Berlusconi attends a voting session at the Lower Chamber, Tuesday, Nov. 8, 2011.

Alessandro De Meo / EPA

This post is in partnership with Worldcrunch, a new global-news site that translates stories of note in foreign languages into English. The article below was originally published in La Stampa.

It's late at night, and you'd expect to find the man worn out and depressed. Instead, Silvio Berlusconi's voice coming over the telephone line is lively, even if his words are clear and unambiguous.

"As soon as the stability pact is approved in Parliament, I will resign. And seeing as there are no other potential governing coalitions, the only possibility I see are elections in early February ? elections in which I will no longer be the candidate."

In the words of the man known as "Il Cavaliere," Berlusconi's decision to step aside is complete and definitive. "The center-right candidate will be (current Freedom Party chief and former Justice Minister) Angelino Alfano. He is accepted by everyone and it would be a mistake to taint him now in trying to imagine a new (transitional) government headed by him."

It seems impossible to imagine that Silvio Berlusconi is really ready to pull out definitively from politics, but he confirms it to me several times, as he did earlier in a private meeting with the President of the Republic Giorgio Napolitano, who considers the resignation already handed in.

"First thing is that we must give an immediate response to the markets: we can wait no longer to approve the agreed upon measures. I made a commitment to Europe to do so and I want to maintain that promise before leaving. But now, I make a plea to all parties, center-left and center-right, to pass the bill as quickly as possible, and then I will resign."

Early elections, however, are not automatic. It is the head of state Napolitano who has the final word, after meeting with all top leaders in Parliament. It would also be unprecedented in Italy to have national elections in the heart of the winter. Still, Berlusconi repeats that there is no other realistic scenario of a ruling coalition or transitional government. "The arithmetic tells me there is no way other than elections."

When asked about what has been called a "market coup," Berlusconi insists that Italy should see the reforms imposed as an opportunity. "The markets push us to push through the reforms that we were never able to do, those liberalizations that I have always put in my platforms but against which I have always found so much resistance."

Acts of betrayal

The prime minister is not so sunny, however, when I raise the subject of his political allies who pulled their support in Parliament, thus forcing him to resign. "Something unbelievable happened: I was betrayed by those who I have carried in my heart through a lifetime. I'm thinking of (Roberto) Antonione, and I still can't believe it, thinking about all that I did for him. He even made me his daughter's godfather. It's incredible: I'm his daughter's godfather, and he betrays me. I can't believe my eyes. I asked him to meet, but he was scared to come see me, and disposed of it all with a letter. The others I won't even talk about."

Asked what he would do once he resigned, the 75-year-old said he would be the "founding father of my party...and maybe return to being president of the AC Milan" soccer team, which he owns.

Berlusconi denies reports that his children had urged him to fight to hold onto the prime minister post. "My children are very happy that I am leaving politics, hoping to be able to wake up in the morning and not have to read newspapers around the world full of attacks against me. And they also know that I am tired."

There is silence, as Berlusconi takes a long pause, before continuing. "I am tired of not being able to impose my will and not being able to push the policy that I would like. I am more powerful as a free citizen than as prime minister. I was reading a book on the letters between Mussolini and (his mistress) Claretta and he tells her at a certain point 'You don't understand that I don't count at all, all I can do is hand out favors.' I felt like I ended up in the same situation."

As I point out the context of a fascist dictatorship, he interrupts: "Of course, I am not a dictator, even if you (in the press) have written that I am for years. What I mean is that the founding fathers of Italy, precisely out of fear that history would repeat itself, went too far in weakening the executive role. I ask you: can you be the head of the government if you can't make the minister of the economy carry out the economic policy that you believe in?"

Speaking of Economy Minister Giulio Tremonti, a longtime ally with whom Berlusconi has clashed repeatedly in recent months. "The personal relationship isn't bad," Berlusconi said. "But then at the end he does whatever the heck he pleases."

Berlusconi closes by saying he is consoled by knowing that he was "the longest-serving (Italian) Prime Minister in history." But I interrupt to correct him, pointing out that Giovanni Giolitti had served longer back in the 19th century. I also note that he would have surpassed Giolitti if he had held on until the end of the legislative session in 2013. "Yes, I meant post-War history," Berlusconi says. He is quiet for a moment, then adds. "This (record) of Giolitti, I didn't know about. That's a pity, really a pity. Well, good night."

Also from Worldcrunch:

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? Die Welt

A Decade after Milosevic, Serbia Eyes EU Slot
? La Stampa

Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/time/world/~3/5EuyI138ghM/0,8599,2099017,00.html

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Muslims Against Crusades banned

10 November 2011 Last updated at 07:30 ET

Home Secretary Theresa May is banning Muslims Against Crusades, a group planning an anti-Armistice Day protest.

The organisation had planned to repeat a demonstration seen last year, when members burned poppies near to London's Albert Hall.

Mrs May's order, which comes into force at midnight, makes membership or support of the group a criminal offence.

The organisation is closely linked to a host of other previously-banned groups.

Source: http://www.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/int/news/-/news/uk-15678275

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Murdoch: Execs misled parliament on hacking scandal

James Murdoch claims he was unaware of phone hacking at now-defunct UK tabloid News of the World.

• NEW: Murdoch accuses two ex-News of the World executives of misleading lawmakers
• News International chief is being grilled again by a committee of Parliament over phone hacking
• James Murdoch claims he was unaware of the practice at now-defunct News of the World tabloid
• News International admitted Sunday to hiring a detective to spy on hacking victims' lawyers

London (CNN) -- News International chief James Murdoch accused two former News of the World executives of misleading British lawmakers about what he knew about the phone-hacking scandal.

Murdoch said he "disputed vigorously" the version of events described by editor Colin Myler and legal manager Tom Crone, who both left the company when the tabloid newspaper was closed down in summer.

His comments came as he was being questioned Thursday for a second time by a parliamentary committee about evidence he gave on the phone-hacking scandal during his previous high-drama appearance alongside his father, media tycoon Rupert Murdoch, in July.

James Murdoch denied he knew in 2008 phone-hacking was not limited to a single reporter at the newspaper, as the company claimed at the time. He also rejected Myler and Crone's claim they made him aware of the contents of the so-called "for Neville" e-mail that year indicating phone-hacking was widespread at the paper.

The document is known as the "for Neville" e-mail, apparently after its intended recipient Neville Thurlbeck, then chief reporter for the now-defunct tabloid.

Asked by Labour Member of Parliament Tom Watson if he had misled the committee in his previous evidence, Murdoch said: "No, I did not."

He added: "I believe this committee was given evidence by individuals either without full possession of the facts, or now it appears in the process of my own discovery ... it was economical."

Asked if he was accusing Myler and Crone of misleading the committee, Murdoch replied: "Certainly in the evidence they gave to you in 2011 in regard to my own knowledge, I believe it was inconsistent and not right, and I dispute it vigorously."

Questioned by members of the Culture, Media and Sport Committee about the so-called "for Neville" e-mail that included transcripts of 35 hacked conversations and was believed to have been intended for a reporter at News of the World, Murdoch denied again having seen it.

His statement contradicted a letter Crone wrote to lawmakers in the summer saying he had "no doubt" Murdoch was aware of the e-mail in a meeting before he signed a check for $1.2 million to settle one case.

Murdoch said Thursday: "I want to be very clear. No documents were shown to me or given to me at that meeting or prior to it."

Murdoch was also put under pressure over the company's response to allegations that News of the World intercepted cellphone calls and messages of almost 5,800 prominent politicians, celebrities and business leaders. The public outrage led News International to shutter News of the World.

Taking a contrite tone, Murdoch told lawmakers that the experience had "humbled" the whole company and that he was "very sorry" about what had happened.

He also said the company had "moved into an aggressive defense too quickly" when some of the claims were made against it in early 2010.

If he had known then what he knows now, he said, he would have acted differently.

Murdoch heckled by Occupy protesters

Pressure may be mounting on the Murdochs

Murdoch's position at the helm of News International is widely believed to have been jeopardized by the scandal, which has so far cost its parent company at least $150 million. Amid the furore, the Murdochs were forced to abandon their attempt to buy the shares they did not own in British broadcaster BSkyB.

Thursday's hearing came only days after News International admitted the Sunday tabloid had hired a private detective to spy on lawyers defending hacking victims. The company described the action as "deeply inappropriate."

The scandal blew up in July when News International admitted private investigators had hacked into the phone of missing teenager Milly Dowler, deleting some messages to allow room for more. The deletion of messages gave the 13-year-old's family hope that she was still alive when she was already dead.

Then it was also alleged that families of soldiers killed in Iraq and Afghanistan as well as relatives of 9/11 victims had also been targeted and police officers had been bribed.

Amid a storm of public outrage and a boycott by advertisers, News of the World was closed down shortly afterwards while chief executive Rebekah Brooks and long-time Murdoch aide Les Hinton resigned.

In July, as the scandal became front-page news around the world, the Murdochs were summoned before a parliamentary committee investigating phone hacking. At the dramatic appearance, Rupert Murdoch denied he was to blame for the scandal, but declared that this was "the most humble day of my life."

Afterwards, Britain's Prime Minister David Cameron said James Murdoch had "questions to answer in Parliament," after former top executives of News of the World accused their former boss of giving "mistaken" evidence.

Until this year, News International had maintained that hacking was confined to one rogue reporter, Clive Goodman, and private investigator Glenn Mulcaire, who were jailed in 2007 for intercepting the royal family's phones.

But documents released by lawmakers this summer indicated there had been a cover-up. In a letter sent by Goodman in 2007 to News International's human resources department, he wrote: "Phone hacking was widely discussed in the News of the World daily editorial conference, until explicit reference to it was banned by the editor."

That claim will be devastating for then-editor Andy Coulson, who told politicians in 2009: "I neither knew about phone hacking nor condoned its use." It's also a further blow to Cameron, who later employed Coulson as communications director, a post he resigned from this year.

The Goodman letter also includes claims the disgraced reporter won promises from the company, as he faced jail time. Goodman says he was "promised I could come back to a job at the newspaper if I did not implicate the paper or any of its staff in my mitigation plea. I did not and expect the paper to honour its promise to me."

CNN's Laura Smith-Spark contributed to this report.

Source: http://rss.cnn.com/~r/rss/cnn_world/~3/HoJZkpmjZF0/index.html

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