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Gaddafi fire power still feared by rebels
The spreading revolt in Libya may be closing in on the embattled leader, Muammar Gaddafi, but the opposition still fears his fire power. Leaders of the rebel forces are marshalling their men and weapons to help the revolt in Gaddafi’s Tripoli stronghold but the thinking now is to let the capital free itself. Read our news file Meanwhile the leader’s own spin doctor, his son Saif al-Islam Gaddafi, has been denying allegations his father has ordered the bombing his own people. “The United Nations Security Council resolution was passed because of media reports saying that the Libyan air force is attacking Tripoli. So, you are now in Tripoli, I want you now to go to any district they mentioned, and take a random sample in the street.” The loss of eastern Libya and several towns in the west seems not to worry the Gaddafi camp, with his son claiming those areas were in chaos but still Libyan. In Zawiyah rebel spirits are high but they’ve raised barricades against surrounding government soldiers who are hoping hunger might flush them out. Copyright © 2011 euronews

Muslim Brotherhood to play a part in the new Egypt
With Egypt’s military ordering a committee to produce draft amendments to the constitution in the next ten days, speculation is growing on the exact roll the Muslim Brotherhood will take. The long-banned group has said it will form a political party once democracy is established but in a bid to allay fears at home and abroad, it also promised not to field a candidate for president. While the movement is poised to be a significant player in the new order, other opposition leaders have played down their influence to euronews. Oussama El Ghazali Harb, Leader of Democratic Front Party said: “The whole world saw during those glorious demonstrations the Muslim Brotherhood played their part but they were not the engine of the revolution.” As the only organised opposition for decades, the group may have suffered from its own limited success. Ayman Nour, leader of the El Ghad Party was sympathetic to the group, saying: “The Muslim Brotherhood is an important body which has a real impact, but it never deserved the dark image it was given under the Mubarak regime which presented it as something sinister.” Meanwhile, there are unconfirmed reports that the deposed president Hosni Mubarak is in poor health. Installed at the Red Sea resort of Sharm el-Sheik, one source said he was refusing treatment for some undisclosed condition. Copyright © 2011 euronews

Bahraini army fires again on demonstrators
Anti-government demonstrations in Bahrain?�ended in panic on Friday. An unarmed crowd marched towards the capital, Manama’s Pearl square, and was met with gunfire from the mostly foreign mercenary security forces for the second day running.?�More than?�60 people are reported to have been injured in the clashes. Many have?�gunshot wounds to the head and upper body.?�The fusillade came just hours after the country’s crown prince appealed for calm and dialogue. President Barack Obama then phoned?�King Hamad bin Isa al-Khalifa condemning the violence and urging restraint.?�A?�young woman spoke to euronews from?�a?�hospital where the wounded are being treated, first in Arabic, then English.?�“We are in Salmaniyah hospital. We’re away from the place where the clashes are happening. But we can hear the clashes, the explosions. A witness just came from there and said the ground was red. The ground is red, painted with blood,” she said.?�About 1000 angry?�protesters gathered outside the hospital, spilling into the corridors.?�The fresh violence came?�on the same day that?�funerals were held for the four people killed when?�police broke up a protest camp?�on Thursday.?�More than 230 others were wounded in the raid, which the country’s leading Shi’ite cleric is calling a “massacre”. Copyright © 2011 euronews

Japanese shares bounce back as market recovers
Japan’s Nikkei has moved up four percent as concerns eas over the impact of the country’s triple disaster. Traders in Tokyo returned from a national holiday to recoup some of last week’s losses. Electronics giant Toshiba helped lead the way amid reports it will pay shareholders a dividend for the first time in three years. Copyright © 2011 euronews

Rebels claim gains in Western Libya
The proof of events in Benghazi has finally arrived with agency pictures showing the damage from fighting there, and the near total destruction of the main army base in Libya’s second city. Armour and heavy weapons are now in the hands of the people and rebel army units, and the bad news for Colonel Gaddafi continues with reports of heavy fighting breaking out to the west of the capital, Tripoli. Several towns there have reportedly fallen into the rebel’s hands, including the third city Misrata, where Gadaffi loyalists have launched a counter-attack. Az Zawiyah, an oil terminal just 50 kilometres from Tripoli, is also the scene of street fighting. One eyewitness described the city in “chaos”. Oil exports have been cut to a trickle, but there is a flood of foreign workers, mainly Egyptians and Tunisians, leaving the country after Gaddafi accused them of spreading their revolutions. Inflating previous estimates a doctor told the French press agency AFP over 2000 people had died in Benghazi alone. Copyright © 2011 euronews

King’s Speech steals the show
The film The King’s Speech has won seven prizes at the BAFTA awards ceremony in London. Colin Firth, who plays the stammering King George VI in the film, took the award for Best?�Actor. The movie also took the prizes for Best Film, Best Supporting Actress (Helena Bonham Carter), and Best Supporting Actor ( Geoffrey Rush).?�This year’s BAFTA award for Best Actress went to Natalie Portman for her role in Black Swan, while Best Director went to David Fincher for the film about Facebook, The Social Network. Copyright © 2011 euronews

Key allies desert beleaguered Yemeni president
Military, diplomatic and other allies of Yemen’s embattled president are deserting him in droves, as pressure mounts on the veteran leader to quit. Senior officers, ambassadors and some tribes are now backing anti-government protesters. The televised announcement of defection by powerful army general Ali Mohsen al-Ahmar and his unit is a huge setback to President Ali Abdullah Saleh. Declaring peaceful support and solidarity with the revolution and its demands, the general said: “We will carry on with our duties in maintaining security and stability in the capital.” With tanks deployed at key points in Sanaa, Yemen’s defence minister insisted the army backed Saleh and would defend him against any coup. Snipers killed 52 anti-government protesters on Friday, prompting Saleh to sack his cabinet and declare a state of emergency. The US embassy has urged its citizens in Yemen to stay indoors and France became the first major Western country to openly say Saleh must stand down. Copyright © 2011 euronews

Lagarde: G20 imbalances deal would be ‘big step’
France’s economy minister Christine Lagarde, host of a two-day Group of 20 finance ministers meeting in Paris, has said she hopes indicators can be agreed on to address imbalances in the world economy. Lagarde said G20 countries will have made major progress this weekend if they reach a preliminary accord on what measures they will use to benchmark and address those mismatches. She also said she favoured a freer exchange rate for China’s currency, the yuan. Her remarks came amid concern that differences of opinion within the Group of 20 may prevent the finance ministers from reaching agreement at the meeting. They are looking at a five indicators on which to base judgements on whether countries should alter economic policy to redress imbalances. Lagarde told an Institute of International Finance conference that France, the G20 president this year, hoped a list of indicators could be agreed so that guidelines could be set to help make world growth more stable. “This is something which is highly debated at the moment and will be in the next couple of days, because some countries do not want to be identifiable as doing such and such a policy,” Lagarde said. The huge differences between rich and developing countries were also the focus of demonstrators near the G20 venue. They want ministers to put a tax on financial transactions to generate revenue for the poor. Copyright © 2011 euronews

Willam and Kate
Britain’s Prince William and his fiancee Kate Middleton visit St. Andrews University in Fife, Scotland. REUTERS/Toby Melville Copyright © 2011 euronews

Dozens more killed as Libyan violence hits Tripoli
More than 60 people are reported to have been killed in Libya’s capital Tripoli?�over the last few hours as Muammar Gaddafi’s regime clamps down on a growing anti-government revolution.?�If confirmed it would take the number of dead since the uprising began to well over 300.?�Demonstrators in Benghazi said an army unit swapped sides to join them, helping the protesters take control of much of the city. And the Libyan justice minister has resigned in protest at the “excessive use of violence” against demonstrators.?�Gaddafi’s?�son?�went on TV on Sunday night to warn that?�the government would fight the revolt to the ‘last man standing.’?�Saif Al-Islam Gaddafi said Libya is not like Egypt nor Tunisia. “Libya consists of tribes and clans,” he said.?�“It’s not?�a society?�with political parties and so on. It’s tribes and clans. Everyone knows their duties. This could cause civil war and we will repeat the civil war of 1936.”?�Despite a very visible show of support for Gaddafi, his hold on power appeared to be faltering in what is proving to be among the?�bloodiest of the current uprisings in north Africa and the Middle East.?�There are?�claims that a police station has been torched in Tripoli. And a Libyan newspaper is reporting that protests have broken out in Ras Lanuf, the site of an oil refinery and petrochemical complex. A coalition of Libyan Islamic leaders has issued a fatwa, telling Muslims it is their ‘duty’ to rebel against the Libyan leadership and calling for the liberation of all jailed protesters. Copyright © 2011 euronews

Bumper dividend from German truckmaker MAN
MAN is handing its shareholders a much higher than expected dividend totalling 84 million euros. The German lorry maker also confirmed it was seeking closer ties with Swedish rival Scania. But that is unlikely to satisfy Volkswagen which owns 30 percent of MAN. VW is keen to create Europe’s biggest truckmaker by merging MAN with Scania, in which it has a controlling stake. The carmaker’s matchmaking attempts have so far failed, and relations have been strained between the two rivals since a failed hostile takeover of Scania by MAN early in 2007. Analysts said MAN made up for a set of disappointing results with stronger than anticipated new orders, a bullish outlook on profits and by hiking its dividend to two euros per share, well above a median estimate of 1.40 euros. “Following a good first few months, we expect revenue growth of between seven and 10 percent,” finance chief Frank Lutz said. The truckmaker’s fourth quarter operating profit more than doubled to 307 million euros. Annual net profit of 722 million euros was well below expectations. Copyright © 2011 euronews

Exploring?�Russia’s Urals
Traveller’s diary?�Denis Loktev – Magnitogorsk, 4 May 2011?�The Ural mountain’s (the eastern part is?�considered?�a natural boundary between Russia’s Europe and Asia) are not very high. But locals are proud to point out that this formation is one of the oldest?�surviving mountain ranges on Earth. The?�destination is also much more affordable for the average Russian?�family than the?�European Alps. ?�When?�we arrived?�at Abzakovo, the largest ski resort in the area, was crowded with famillies celebrating the 1st of May.?�It is a?�holiday?�and officially called the Day of spring and labour, which was originally the?�Soviet International Workers Solidarity Day. ?�Just an hour’s drive from the slopes is the?�industrial city of Magnitogorsk,?�home to one of the largest iron and steel works in Russia. ?�The city?�has a?�scary anti-utopian skyline of rising smokestacks, some of them ending with flares of burning gas. ?�The strong wind?�carry the industrial?�smog into the city, making children’s health the biggest concern for parents.?�Skiing, cycling or simply walking in the mountains are popular way to get some fresh air.?�Most of the people we met?�on May 1st preferred taking walks and?�enjoying the picturesque views of the Urals.?�One or two ski slopes?�were still open – the layers of wet snow are pretty thick, so those interested in skiing or snowboarding can continue to have fun.?�The main hotel, which was built?�in the?�Soviet times,?�has kept most things intact.?�There are some new attractive places to stay for those who can afford to spend more.?�Another main attraction of the southern Urals, especially for fans of archaeology and past cultures, is the ancient settlement of Arkaim and the large historical park that surrounds it.?�The site, which is a couple of hours?�from Magnitogorsk, was discovered?�at the end of the?�1980’s. The area was going to become a new?� water reservoir but after a routine archeological examination that changed.?�A team of young scientists, led by Gennady Zdanovich, found traces of circular walls dating back?�to the 17th and 20th century BC.?�The?�large wooden and clay castles were?�protected by high-rising multi-level walls and elaborate labyrinth passages at each of its four entrances. ?�The discovery made headlines all over the world, fuelling a massive?�campaign to protect the area from flooding, which was successful.?�Linked to Proto-Indo-European Arian culture, Arkaim quickly became a place of pilgrimage for all kinds of New Age followers.?�The area was?�promoted?�as a?�mystical site, making it Russia’s answer to England’s?�Stonehenge. ?�Today the Arkaim settlement is mostly buried underground for protection. ?�It?�plays a more scientific role as the center of a huge open-air museum. ?�It features an?�exhibition building and several visiting sites.?�Starting from Stone Age dwellings built with real stone tools according to actual designs of pre-historic buildings found in the area and up to the modern traditional Cossack culture of the 19th century. ?�The?�southern Urals needs to be improved so that it can be?�a touristic destination equal to other foreign historical sites.?�This region is gifted by its nature and heritage but?�needs better travel infrastructure to attract more visitors.?� Copyright © 2011 euronews

The Venice Carnival masks
The Venice Carnival is one of the major the highlights of the Italian social calendar. This spectacular and colourful revival of traditional masked balls and elaborate costumes sees the city burst into life with music, theatre and dance. Copyright © 2011 euronews

Bahrain protesters camp out in square ahead of talks
Thousands of people have camped out overnight in Bahrain’s Pearl Square after the leadership ordered the army and then riot police to withdraw yesterday. Many protesters began early on Sunday morning, calling on the King and his inner circle to leave immediately. Bahrain’s opposition is expected to present its demands to the Gulf State’s crown prince today. Those include the release of all political prisoners, resignation of the government and talks on a new constitution. Addressing the crowds last night, the head of Bahrain’s main Shi’ite bloc hailed the success of the protests, in spite of a bloody crackdown that has seen at least six people killed and dozens injured since last Monday. Copyright © 2011 euronews

Gunners blast Barca twice for victory
Arsenal came from behind to beat Barcelona 2-1 in the champions League first leg last 16 at the Emirates.?�Barca took the lead in the first half thanks to David Villa and looked composed and in control.?�Still, the second half told another tale and Arsenal drew level on 78 minutes when Robin van Persie beat keeper Victor Valdes at the near post for 1-1?�Substitute Andrej Arshavin swept in the winner following a slick move worthy of Barca at their best to give the home side a 2-1 advantage going into the second leg at the Nou Camp on March 8. Copyright © 2011 euronews

Kazakhstan hits UniCredit profit
Italy’s biggest bank, UniCredit, has posted a much bigger-than-expected fall in net profit for last year – down 22 percent. However much of that was due to losses from its business in Kazakhstan and the underlying results were better than the profit figure implied. Costs were also lower. The bank, which is the biggest lender in central and eastern Europe, reported net profit of 1.3 billion euros down from 1.7 billion euros the year before. UniCredit’s shares rose. The result included a goodwill impairment of 362 million euros, almost entirely due to Kazakhstan, with 199 million euros in the fourth quarter alone. UniCredit bought Kazakhstan’s ATF bank in late 2007 at the height of the credit boom for $2.1 billion. It had to write off more than 500 million euros from the Kazakh bank’s value in less than a year as the credit crunch hit the central Asian country. UniCredit gave no results for individual countries but third-quarter revenues in Kazakhstan were 32.2 million euros. The bank has said it has no plans to sell its Kazakh operations. Copyright © 2011 euronews

Berlusconi to face trial on sex charges
Italian prime minister Silvio Berlusconi has been summoned to stand trial, accused of paying an underage prostitute for sex and abuse of power. Three female judges in Milan will hear the case, due to begin on April 6. For several weeks Berlusconi’s centre-right government has been shaken by the allegations, which he denies. Examining judge Cristina Di Censo followed the advice of prosecutors, who accuse the prime minister of paying for sex with a 17-year-old Moroccan dancer. As in previous cases, Berlusconi’s supporters in parliament are standing by him. “The signs of persecution are more and more evident. The accelerator is pressed to the maximum against Berlusconi for an obviously political use of justice,” said Fabrizio Cicchitto, parliamentary speaker for the prime minister’s People of Freedom party. Opposition figures were less sympathetic: “Berlusconi considers himself as persecuted and innocent, so let him go and defend himself in the courts and save his country from the spectacle of a prime minister on trial for child prostitution and abuse of power,” said Dario Franceschini of the centre-left PD party. The young woman at the centre of the case, known as Ruby, has been causing more of a stir after appearing in a television commercial. Now 18, she denies claims that Berlusconi paid her for sex. The prime minister still has other cases pending. But these charges over his personal behaviour – which prompted large protest rallies from women at the weekend – are among the most serious he has faced. It is still not certain that a trial will take place, but Italy’s 74-year-old leader is looking increasingly beleaguered. Copyright © 2011 euronews

Iran’s ex-President Banisadr talks to euronews
Dr Abolhassan Banisadr was one of the leading lights of the Islamic revolution in Iran and was close to the Ayatollah Khomeini. In 1980, a year after the revolution, he was elected the first president of the Islamic Republic of Iran. Omid Lahabi, euronews:Firstly, the principal slogan of the Iranian revolutionaries was ‘independence, liberty and an Islamic republic.’ That’s still the slogan of the current Iranian regime. What did you mean by that? Dr Abolhassan Banisadr, ex-President of Iran:Independence meant the independence of man and the independence of the country. Independence and freedom meant no foreign country could intervene against the sovereignty of the people. At that time, the Islamic Republic represented the sovereignty of the people. Ayatollah Khomeini explained at Neauphle-le-Ch??teau: ‘Just like other countries in the world, just like in the West, the principal of the Islamic Republic is the sovereignty of the people. The will of the people determines everything.’ euronews:Do you think the combination of ‘Republic’ and ‘Islamic’ could end up with a democratic regime? Banisadr:If Islam was the same as that which Khomeini defended at Neauphle-le-chateau – that is with respect for freedom, then yes. As I just said, at the time when you put the same question to Khomeini, to begin with he spoke of ‘the democratic Islamic republic,’ but once he arrived in Iran he just said ‘the Islamic republic’. Nothing more, nothing less. At the time he also said that political Islam is compatible with a republic led by the people, that balance in society is held in the vote of the people and that human rights would be respected, and so on… euronews:Over the last few weeks popular movements in the Middle East — particularly in Egypt and Tunisia — have been successful. What are you thoughts on the link between the opposition protests in Iran and the other movements in the Middle East? Banisadr:These movements have followed the example of a clear social rule. In the Iranian revolution the Shah’s regime had no objectives. The new generation had the goal of regime change — and they succeeded. The Tunisian and Egyptian movements succeeded against regimes that had become old and tired. The protesters won and the regimes left. In 2009 the Iranian protest movement wasn’t trying to bring down the regime — its goal was to defend ‘My right, My vote.’ And it didn’t succeed. Copyright © 2011 euronews

Britain’s inflation goes up ahead of budget
UK inflation rose to a 28-month high of 4.4 percent last month, raising speculation that the Bank of England will not wait much longer to raise interest rates. Government borrowing also recorded its worst February on record, providing a grim backdrop ahead of Wednesday’s Budget announcement. Copyright © 2011 euronews

Masculine mannequins in Milan
There has been a flurry of women’s autumn-winter collections at Milan Fashion Week with a decidedly masculine tone. But there were also some futuristic touches, and a taste of British elegance. Copyright © 2011 euronews