Gaddafi's attempts to withdraw £1 bn from foreign banks foiled

Gaddafi's attempts to withdraw £1 bn from foreign banks foiled: "Attempts by embattled Libyan strongman Muammar Gaddafi to withdraw his billions from British and Canadian banks were thwarted by the authorities, according to reports today.

An attempt was made to export nearly one billion pounds worth of mint Libyan banknotes back to Tripoli, British newspaper 'The Independent' reported.

'Last night the government moved to officially freeze the assets held by the Libyan regime in the UK following sanctions imposed by the UN Security Council. But yesterday it emerged that an attempt was made last week to move 900 million pounds of uncirculated notes held in a secure storage facility in the UK back into Libya,' the report said.

While Canadian 'CTV News' quoting government sources said that Ottawa has imposed binding sanctions on the regime of Gadhafi, a move that would keep his family from withdrawing millions of dollars from Canadian banks."

Final F1 test session in Spain to run an extra day

Final F1 test session in Spain to run an extra day "The final Formula One testing session before the start of the season has been extended by an extra day.

Catalunya Circuit organizers say the fourth preseason test will be run from March 8-12 and not end on the 11th as originally announced.
The Barcelona circuit is hosting the 11 F1 teams after the scheduled testing session from March 3-6 in Bahrain was canceled due to anti-government protests that have left several people dead.
The season will start with the Australian Grand Prix on March 27 after the Bahrain GP on March 13 was canceled."

A chip off the old block: Gaddafi's son caught on video urging loyalists to sacrifice themselves until 'the last bullet' | Mail Online

A chip off the old block: Gaddafi's son caught on video urging loyalists to sacrifice themselves until 'the last bullet' | Mail Online: "Colonel Gaddafi's son has been caught on video brandishing a semi-automatic rifle in the air and urging paramilitaries to sacrifice themselves until 'the last bullet'.

The chilling footage, shot in Tripoli at the weekend, makes a mockery of London School of Economics-educated Saif Al-Islam's claims he can reform Libya following 42 years of rule by his tyrant father.

Rather than looking like a moderate reformer, the 38-year-old looks like a 'rabble-rousing gangster', according to a pro-democracy protester who leaked the video after recording it on his mobile phone."

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Rebels take control of Zawiyah

The Foreign Office has issued advice on possible options for leaving:

The Royal Navy frigate HMS Cumberland has arrived in Benghazi and is now expected to depart at dusk on Sunday.
Planes carrying rescued oil workers are expected to leave Malta at 1400 and 1700 GMT on Sunday, bound for Gatwick
The Hungarian government has organised a charter flight out of Tripoli on Sunday and is willing to accept British nationals
The Romanian government is also sending a plane to Tripoli on Sunday, with availability for approximately 40 EU citizens. It is expected to arrive at 1400 and leave at 1900 (Libyan time)
Where it is safe to do so, UK citizens can consider leaving Libya by road via the Tunisian border, which is open
Further rescue missions are planned to reach the British nationals still stranded
More details are on the Foreign Office website and all options to depart Libya will also be updated on the Foreign Office on Twitter.
The Foreign Office has revised upwards its original estimate of the number of British oil workers still in the desert."

3 Killed in Clashes Between Protesters And Security Forces in Tunisia

3 Killed in Clashes Between Protesters And Security Forces in Tunisia | News | English: "Tunisia's Interior Ministry says three people were killed Saturday in clashes between security forces and anti-government demonstrators.

The violence erupted in the capital, Tunis, after several hundred protesters gathered outside the Interior Ministry. Some demonstrators threw rocks at security officials who fired tear gas and warning shots. Officials say several people were injured.

On Friday, thousands of demonstrators gathered in Tunis where they called for the ouster of the interim government. They demanded the resignation of interim Prime Minister Mohamed Ghannouchi and called for changes in the country's interim government. "

Gadhafi to Libyans: 'Anyone who does not love me does not deserve to live'

Gadhafi to Libyans: 'Anyone who does not love me does not deserve to live'  "Tripoli's international airport, thousands of desperate foreign workers besieged the main gate trying to leave the country as police used batons and whips to keep them out.

In Washington, President Barack Obama sharpened his tone after the evacuation of U.S. citizens. 'Gadhafi, his government and close associates have taken extreme measures against the people of Libya, including by using weapons of war, mercenaries and wanton violence against unarmed civilians,' he said."

RAF, Special Air Service and Special Boat Service used two specially equipped Hercules aircraft to snatch Britons from the country.

In a daylight mission, the RAF, Special Air Service and Special Boat Service used two specially equipped Hercules aircraft to snatch Britons from the country. However, it is feared up to 300 oil workers from the UK remain stranded.
The rescue teams, who flew out of bases in Malta, searched an area four times the size of Britain to locate workers before evacuating them back to Valletta in Malta last night.
They were given food and water and medical assistance before being taken to hotels to rest. They will begin arriving home today.
Within hours of them arriving back to safety, the international community ratcheted up the pressure on the Libyan dictator as the security situation in the country deteriorated. The British embassy in Tripoli was closed and its staff hurriedly evacuated.
William Hague, the Foreign Secretary, disclosed that a major international diplomatic offensive against the dictator was starting.

16,000 Chinese evacuated from Libya

 16,000 Chinese evacuated from Libya: "Beijing said Saturday nearly 16,000 Chinese nationals have been evacuated from strife-torn Libya, where a popular uprising has left hundreds dead.
The foreign ministry said Chinese citizens had been sent to Greece, Tunisia, Egypt and Malta where they were waiting for government-chartered planes and commercial flights to take them back to China 'as soon as possible'.
The Civil Aviation Administration of China agreed Saturday to send 15 aircraft a day for the next two weeks to speed up the evacuation of Chinese citizens.
About 700 Chinese nationals have so far returned to China, the statement said.
China has ramped up a massive air, sea and land operation to evacuate more than 30,000 citizens from oil-rich Libya, as violence in the North African country escalates.
According to state media, Chinese citizens living in Libya work mainly in the oil, rail and telecom sectors.
Terrified residents in the capital Tripoli were braced for bloody battles on Saturday after a night of gunfire as Libyan leader Moamer Kadhafi said he was ready to arm civilian supporters to defeat the popular revolt."

US Shutters Libya Embassy

US Shutters Libya Embassy: "The United States Friday suspended operations at its embassy in Libya after U.S. diplomatic personnel were airlifted out of the country. However, officials say diplomatic contacts with representatives of the Moammar Gadhafi government continue.

Officials here announced the embassy closure shortly after receiving confirmation that remaining U.S. diplomats were safely aboard a chartered airliner that left a military airfield near Tripoli Friday morning.

But they stress that the move does not amount to a break in diplomatic relations with Libya, and that contacts continue with government officials including Foreign Minister Musa Kusa with the hope of influencing Libyan behavior."

Libya celebrates as Gaddafi's remote strongholds rise against him

Libya celebrates as Gaddafi's remote strongholds rise against him "On the road west from Benghazi to Tripoli, Colonel Gaddafi's Libya is being rapidly cleansed of his remnants. Just over a week into the revolution that few, even here, thought possible when it started, the eradication of a despot is well on the way to completion.

The town of Ajdabiya, 160km south of Benghazi, the regional capital, has long been one of the east of the country's most forsaken enclaves, a place where people were thought to have been tamed and cowed during Gaddafi's 42-year rule. No one seemed to get on in life from round here. This city has few heroes.

Now, the spoils of a remarkable victory are everywhere, along with the scars of an ignominious defeat. Every official building in town has been torched and ransacked, just like the state institutions to the east. Every image of the loathed leader has been torn down and defaced. The tired facades, the grim streets and hard-bitten locals are the only signs that a dictator once ruled here.

We stopped first at a town square where an effigy hung from a wire alongside the Libyan independence flag, last flown under the monarch Gaddafi ousted in 1969, King Idris. A small group of youths milled around an empty fountain, with a brand new feature – the wing of a fighter jet that plummeted to earth on Wednesday."

Libya: British forces rescue 150 civilians from desert

Libya: British forces rescue 150 civilians from desert : "Two RAF Hercules aircraft were involved in the operation, which involved the SAS and forces from Special Boat Service.
Both planes have landed in Malta, the Ministry of Defence confirmed, while HMS Cumberland is on her way back to Benghazi to evacuate anyone else left in the chaos-stricken country.
Britain has also evacuated its diplomatic staff and suspended the operations of the British embassy in Tripoli.
Workers departed on the last Government-chartered flight, which took off for Gatwick carrying 53 British nationals on Saturday afternoon.
Liam Fox, the defence secretary, said: 'I can confirm that two RAF C130 Hercules aircraft have evacuated around 150 civilians from desert locations south of Benghazi."
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American sailors’ murders came as a surprise, U. S. investigates

American sailors’ murders came as a surprise, U. S. investigates National Sailing | Examiner.com: "When two Somalis boarded the USS Sterett floating 600 yards from the hijacked SV Quest and its four American sailor hostages off the coast of Oman, East Africa on February 21, the FBI negotiator called back to the Quest and requested a new pirate representative of a more serious nature from the remaining young thugs. The U. S. Navy threw the first two in the brig and asked for 'someone they could do business with.' That decision is part of a larger investigation by the Obama Administration in how to combat the now deadly issue of roaming Somali pirates in the treacherous sailing waters of the Indian Ocean.

When the gang discovered their best choice, their leader, was not good enough, chaos erupted between the pirates on the Quest. According to a person with regular pirate contacts:"

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Money laundering in Spain

Money laundering in Spain "Spain is now one of the top European nations impacted by money laundering. The depth and extent of the illegal activities that encompass “money laundering” have perplexed Spanish authorities. Although the Spanish government has adopted a number of measures to control money laundering, the failure of such efforts is evident. Recent statistics show that money laundering has become the most prevalent illicit activity in Spain.

Money laundering in Spain occurs through “the acquisition, use, conversion or transfer of any property derived from criminal activities related to drugs, armed gangs and terrorist organizations or groups, to hide or disguise its origin or helping a person involved in criminal activity to evade the legal consequences of his acts, and the concealment or disguise of his true nature, source, location, disposition, movement or ownership or rights over them, even when generating activities that take place in the territory of another State.” This definition embraces Spain’s current challenges. Not only is money laundering being initiated in Spain, but tainted money arising from activities outside of Spain’s borders are being hidden within Spain."

The costa's lost its crime | Duncan Campbell | Comment is free | The Guardian

The costa's lost its crime | Duncan Campbell | Comment is free | The Guardian: "'Do not get your chest tattooed with the image of a pitbull's head accompanied by the phrase 'only the strong survive'.' That tattoo, along with others written in Thai and Arabic, is among the identifying details for one of the men on the Ten Most Wanted list, issued this week by the Serious and Organised Crime Agency (Soca) and Crimestoppers, in pursuit of British villains they are hunting in Spain.

The publication of their names and mug shots is a reminder that, despite the closing of extradition loopholes many years ago, the 'Costa del Crime' remains one of the most reliable bolt-holes for criminals on the run. But while hundreds of the chaps who provided the role models for Sexy Beast may still be in Spain, the British criminal is increasingly discovering that other foreign countries may now offer a safer haven: of the 60 men sought in Spain since Operation Captura was launched five years ago, 39 have already been nicked, one of them only this week."

North Africa migrant flow slows

North Africa migrant flow slows: "The number of North African migrants trying to reach Europe has fallen significantly in the past few days because of choppy seas and stronger law enforcement in Tunisia, the head of the European Union's border control agency said Friday.

Frontex director Ilkka Laitinen also told The Associated Press in an interview that Tunisians who arrived illegally on the Italian island of Lampedusa in recent weeks are being slowly returned home. He said his Warsaw-based agency has also seen a reverse flow, with North Africans in Europe returning home - possibly to play a role in the uprisings or new political systems being established there."

Is Santander Britain's worst bank?

Santander is bidding to bring in new customers with Isas paying more than 3%. This attractive offer is just one of a number of best-buy products being offered by the Spanish-owned bank. So why is it that Money receives so many complaints about its customer service?

Our 'consumer champions' column on the back page is full of gripes about money that goes missing at banks, broadband breakdowns, utility failures and investments gone sour.

Occasionally we feature a reader's problem involving Santander. But, in truth, we could feature Santander every week. We don't, because we think it would be boring. But, in reality, Money receives more complaints about Santander than any other bank, and sometimes more than all the others put together.

It's difficult to pin down a single issue; sometimes it's about delays in transferring an Isa, at other times it's about accounts being frozen for security reasons which then take ages to unblock. Many are quite low-level grumbles, and sometimes, of course, the reader is wrong and Santander is right. But one thing appears to unite complainants: a sense that no one is willing to take ownership of the problems, with customers, instead, bounced from pillar to post."

Latin America's sudden silence on Gaddafi | Al Jazeera Blogs

Latin America's sudden silence on Gaddafi | Al Jazeera Blogs: "Both geographically and culturally Latin America is a world away from Libya. However, examining the record shows how Libya’s leader, Muammar Gaddafi, in recent years has quietly built political and economic alliances with Latin America that are mutually beneficial. Those new alliances might now be working to Gaddafi’s advantage, earning him support by some of president's of the region, and forcing others to think twice before openly criticising him this past week.

With conservative estimates of hundreds killed in the past week, mass defections of Gaddafi loyalists, and reports the Libyan leader is employing foreign mercenaries to kill his own people who rise up against him, many of Latin America’s presidents have refused to condemn Gaddafi in the harshest of terms. Perhaps the reason why is because many of these same Latin American leaders were up until last week building cozy relations with Gaddafi; some on ideological grounds, others for trade and economic purposes; or both."

The British destroyer HMS York has sailed at short notice from Gibraltar to Libya.

"The British destroyer HMS York has sailed at short notice from Gibraltar to Libya. She will be in the area in about two days' time to take part in the evacuation of British nationals, should the need arise.
The british Government has been criticised for being slow in repatriating UK nationals from the trouble spot.
The ship was in Gibraltar for spares and fuel needed for a scheduled sailing to the South Atlantic when a message was received for her to change course.
A British military spokesman confirmed:'HMS York has sailed from Gibraltar towards the Eastern Mediterranean to ensure that she is better placed, if required, to support the Foreign and Commonwealth's extraction of British nationals from Libya.'"

Turkish businessmen fear a spark to launch uprising in Morocco - Hurriyet Daily News and Economic Review

Turkish businessmen fear a spark to launch uprising in Morocco - Hurriyet Daily News and Economic Review: "As a domino effect theory seems justified with the constant sparks of protests and political turmoil across North African countries, Turkish businessmen say Morocco is far from a “safe heaven.”

Nihat Çiftçi, a Turkish investor living in Berrechid, a western Moroccan city located nearly 40 kilometers from tourist magnet Casablanca, told the Hürriyet Daily News & Economic Review on Wednesday that the situation in the country is getting worse day by day due to rising protests that end up vandalizing public buildings, police stations and banks.

“I am scared for my children and wife,” said the Turkish investor, who currently runs a mid-size factory producing chocolate and biscuits for the Moroccan market under the Marstar brand."

Tears Flow at UN Security Council Over Bloodshed in Libya | North Africa | English

Tears Flow at UN Security Council Over Bloodshed in Libya | North Africa | English: "Libyan ambassador to the United Nations made an impassioned appeal Friday to the U.N. Security Council, calling on the U.N.’s most powerful body to adopt a strong resolution and 'save Libya.' His speech ended with him embracing his deputy, who had defected from Libyan leader Moammar Gadhafi's camp earlier this week, and both men sobbing as the U.N. Secretary-General and other ambassadors came over to embrace them and shake their hands.

It was not immediately clear that Ambassador Abd al-rahman Shalgham was going to change his position and take the side of the Libyan people, but as his emotional speech to the council took shape, it became clear he no longer supported Gadhafi, a man he has called a friend since childhood."

Rebels lay siege to Gaddafi stronghold

Rebels lay siege to Gaddafi stronghold "beleaguered Libyan dictator Muammar Gaddafi defiantly appealed to his hardcore supporters to 'defend the nation' against an uprising which was last night closing in on Tripoli after thousands of protesters braved gunfire to try to march through the capital.

Standing on the ramparts of a fort overlooking the city's Green Square, Colonel Gaddafi pumped his fist and told 1,000 pro-regime demonstrators: 'We can crush any enemy. We can crush it with the people's will. The people are armed and when necessary, we will open arsenals to arm all the Libyan people and all Libyan tribes"

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Spain ‘closely following’ fishing companies difficulties in port of Montevideo — MercoPress

Spain ‘closely following’ fishing companies difficulties in port of Montevideo — MercoPress: "The issue according to Spanish diplomatic sources in Montevideo could be considered (out of agenda) with Uruguay’s Foreign Affairs minister Luis Almagro who is currently on an official visit to Spain.
Spanish companies complain that their vessels once in Montevideo face the risk of legal seizure or are banned, as a precaution measure, from returning to sea because of alleged huge labour demands presented before Uruguayan courts.
Most cases involve Peruvian crew members, in combination with local solicitors, who demand alleged arrears well over 100.000 US dollars. One of the latest demands against a Spanish fishing company from a single crewmember totals 462.000 US dollars"

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Pinewood Shepperton to open 'water studio' in Dominican Republic

Pinewood Shepperton to open 'water studio' in Dominican Republic - Telegraph: "The Telegraph has learnt that a ceremony led by Leonel Antonio Fernández Reyna, the President of the Dominican Republic, to welcome the move is scheduled for Wednesday. Construction of Pinewood Indomina Studios will begin immediately and the facility is scheduled to open next year.
The studio is Pinewood's latest move to leverage the strength of the iconic British company behind the James Bond and Harry Potter film franchises outside of the UK.
In recent years, the group, chaired by former ITV chief executive Lord Grade, has expanded its brand globally through a series of joint venture partnerships.
It has created Pinewood Toronto Studios and Pinewood Studio Berlin Film Services, while Pinewood Iskandar Malaysia Studios is under construction. The group is also understood to be eyeing the Indian market, as it seeks to capitalise on the global success of Bollywood."

Castro Claims US and NATO May Invade Libya - Latest News

Castro Claims US and NATO May Invade Libya - Latest News : Moo News: "On Tuesday, former Cuban president Fidel Castro said he thinks the US is going to attempt to invade Libya through NATO. This comes amid ongoing unrest to oust the country’s ruler, Muammar al-Gaddafi, whose been in office for more than 40 years.
In Cuban state media, Castro wrote that it’s absolutely evident to him that the US government isn’t concerned about peace in Libya and won’t hesitate to order NATO to invade the rich country, which could happen in a matter of hours or a few days. Honest people always stand against injustice committed against anyone in the world, he continued, and the worst injustice right now would be to keep quiet about the crime that NATO is going to commit against the people of Libya. The leadership of the warlike organization needs to do it immediately, he added, exclaiming that they have to condemn it.
Castro also said that Gaddafi may be a controversial leader, but the world doesn’t know how much truth and lies there are in recent reports about the unrest. The Libyan leader refused to step down"

US tries to get Americans out of Libya

The Associated Press: US tries to get Americans out of Libya: "The U.S. will try again Wednesday to evacuate American citizens from Libya, this time by ferry, as concerns rise about longtime leader Moammar Gadhafi's unpredictable behavior.
As security forces unleashed a bloody crackdown on protesters demanding Gadhafi's ouster, Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton called the violence 'completely unacceptable.'
'We believe that the government of Libya bears responsibility for what is occurring and must take actions to end the violence,' Clinton said Tuesday.
But as it sought to safely extricate U.S. diplomats and other Americans from the spreading chaos, the Obama administration stopped short of criticizing Gadhafi personally or demanding that he step down. U.S. officials who spoke to the matter publicly on Tuesday, including Clinton, would not mention Gadhafi by name.
Unease over the safety of U.S. citizens intensified after attempts to get some out on Monday and Tuesday were unsuccessful. Late Tuesday, the State Department announced that American citizens would be evacuated from Libya by ferry to the Mediterranean island of Malta.
In a notice sent to U.S. citizens in Libya, the department said Americans wishing to leave the country should be at the As-shahab port in Tripoli with their passports starting at 9 a.m. local time Wednesday for a departure no later than 3 p.m. local time."

We had no intention of killing US hostages, says Somali pirate

We had no intention of killing US hostages, says Somali pirate | Herald Sun: "'We had no intention of killing the hostages until the Americans began shooting at us,' Liban Muse told the Los Angeles Times.

'Our preference is only to take ships and ransom money, not to kill. But governments are targeting and killing our people.'

Jean Adam, 66, and 70-year-old Scott Adam, the yacht's Californian owners, and two others, Phyllis Macay, 59, and Bob Riggle, 67, from Seattle, were on board the S/V Quest, reportedly heading for the coast of Somalia, when it was seized Friday afternoon 240 nautical miles off the coast of Oman.

US Central Command (CENTCOM) announced Tuesday that the four were killed by their captors.

US forces aboard four navy warships had been monitoring the captured vessel for approximately three days and had been taking part in negotiations to secure the release of the four Americans."

Libya protests: British warship sent to rescue 3,500 expats from Gaddafi bloodbath

Libya protests: British warship sent to rescue 3,500 expats from Gaddafi bloodbath "A Royal Navy warship is on its way to rescue 3,500 Britons trapped in Libya where Colonel Gaddafi is vowing to fight to the death.

A plane has also been chartered to take expats home as the horrifying scale of the violence became clear - bodies littered the streets of Tripoli after helicopter gunships and fighter bombers strafed civilians.

But Gaddafi's grip on power appeared to be loosening today as protesters backed by scores of defecting army units claimed control of the east of the country"

Council endorses extension of fishing agreement with Morocco

FIS - Worldnews - Council endorses extension of fishing agreement with Morocco: "The majority of European Union (EU) Member States have approved an urgent negotiation with the Moroccan government to extend the current fishing agreement by 12 months.

This agreement, which expires on 27 February, allows 119 EU vessels, most of which are Spain, to fish in the African country's waters in exchange for financial compensation of EUR 36.1 million annually.

The Agriculture and Fisheries Council of the EU ratified the 'mandate' to the European Commission (EC) to quickly begin talks with the Moroccan authorities.

The EU decided to extend it despite negative votes from Sweden, Denmark and the United Kingdom, and the abstention of Germany and Finland.

Although during the last few months the parties tried to renew the fishing agreement, it still could not materialize due to differences over the Western Saharan problem.

A legal report by the European Parliament (EP) determined that the covenant was not respecting international law, as a result of the Saharawi population not receiving financial contributions from the EU. So the European Fisheries Commissioner, Maria Damanaki, asked Rabat to provide documentary evidence that the agreement also benefits the people."

Ten criminals who could be hiding on the Costa Blanca, and have asked for the public's help in tracking them down.

Authorities in Britain and Spain have today published the identities of ten criminals, who they suspect could be hiding on the Costa Blanca, and have asked for the public's help in tracking them down.

This latest crusade was launched jointly today by the government's regional councillor in Alicante, Encarna Llinares, members of the British embassy in Madrid and of the British consulate in Alicante, and Officers from the Spanish police force.

This latest 'Operation Capture', the sixth of its kind, is being coordinated by 'Crimestoppers', the Serious Organised Crime Agency (SOCA) and the Spanish ministry of the interior.

Jamie Dempsey, aged 32, is wanted for his part in importing 229kg of cocaine into the UK; Derek McGraw Ferguson, aged 46, is wanted in connection with a homicide and Anthony Fraser is wanted in connection with the importing of 2kg of marijuana into the UK.

Patrick Pious Hancox, aged 67, is wanted for sex crimes against a minor; Eriberto Jiménez, aged 32, is wanted for supplying cocaine, Jonathon Lejmanpor, aged 30 and with a scar down the bequeathed hand side of his face, is wanted for aggravated housebreaking.

Darren Kevin, aged 36, is wanted in connection with a kidnapping and robbery; William Thomas, in connection with a homicide; Andrew Mark, aged 41, for drug-related crimes and Everardus Wijtvliet, aged 39 años, for drug trafficking.

Since these campaigns were started in 2006, and thanks to the collaboration to and from the two countries, police have arrested 38 of the 50 most-wanted British criminals, half of whom have been arrested on Spanish earth, and a number of them in the Alicante area.

Llinares pointed out that greater than 127,500 British people lived in the province of Alicante, 44% of all EU nationals in the area, making the collaboration to and from the two countries "essential" in her opinion.

Nun expelled from convent in Spain over Facebook - Downtime

Nun expelled from convent in Spain over Facebook - Downtime: "A convent in Spain has expelled a 54-year-old nun for spending too much time on social networking website, Facebook.

Sister Maria Jesus Galan said on her Facebook page that she has been asked to leave the convent after disagreements over her online activities, according to reports.

But Downtime thinks the Santo Domingo el Real convent in Toledo should have considered recent events in Egypt before taking such drastic action.

Sister Maria has around 600 Facebook 'friends', and now has fan pages with thousands of supporters from around the world calling for her to be allowed back into the order.

The convent acquired a computer 10 years ago to reduce the need for nuns to enter the outside world by enabling nuns to do online banking.

Tech savvy Sister Maria, dubbed 'Sister Internet' by her fellow nuns, won a government prize in 2008 for digitising the archives of the convent and making them accessible to the world.

The award made headlines and she soon had scores of friends worldwide connecting through her Facebook page."

Student from Spain falls to his death in Mexico

Student from Spain falls to his death in Mexico - Fox News Latino: "A student from Spain's University of Alcala died Monday when he fell from the third floor of a beach hotel at this Mexican resort city on the Caribbean.

Diego Boto Galindo, 20, came to Cancun with a group of 39 Spanish students, the Quintana Roo state Attorney General's Office said in a communique.

Authorities received notice at 6:30 a.m. of a dead body on the premises of the Hotel Be Live.

Police are investigating under what circumstances the young Spaniard fell from the third floor. His fellow students told officers that he said goodnight to them on Sunday upon returning from a discotheque, and after that they knew no more of him.

Boto Galindo's body was found by workers during the first shift Monday."

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Two New Dandelion Species Discovered in Spain | Science | Epoch Times

Two New Dandelion Species Discovered in Spain | Science | Epoch Times: "Two new species of dandelion, Taraxacum decastroi and Taraxacum lacianense, have been discovered in Spain, in the Pyrenees and Cordillera Cantábrica mountains respectively, according to a study published in Annales Botanici Fennici.

These newly discovered species have long leaves and saffron-yellow flower heads. Like many species of Taraxacum, the plants have little or no pollen, as the seeds are produced without fertilization.

Classifying the new species took a fair amount of work, according to lead researcher Antonio Galán de Mera from the Department of Biology (Botany) at San Pablo-CEU University in Madrid.

“We had to compare them with numerous examples from Europe (above all in Spain and Portugal), which were lent to us from the collections of other colleagues,” he said in a press release from Spanish news agency SINC."

thousand British investors who paid a total of £43 million for off-plan overseas property developments lost their money after Ocean View was formally dissolved in 2009.

Ocean View was involved in a number of successful enterprises, but ran into difficulties when it became involved as an agent for a Spanish developer, Ricardo Miranda Miret.

Two investors sank almost a million pounds each into schemes run by Mr Miret.

They included a 350 luxury apartment build at the Estepona Country Club, on the Costa del Sol, and a prestigious 6,000 property development in Punta Perla, in the Dominican Republic.

It was at the launch of the Punta Perla development that the investors’ legal team claim Prince Albert of Monaco and President Reyna were present.

More than a thousand British investors who paid a total of £43 million for off-plan overseas property developments lost their money after Ocean View was formally dissolved in 2009.

They had paid up to £125,000 each in deposits for properties in Spain and the Dominican Republic, but the holiday homes were either never built, or were sub-standard.

Investor Mark Mackay said: “I paid £85,000 in advance for an apartment, but when it all started to go wrong, they offered me another in Morocco.’’

Another alleged victim who invested in the proposed Estepona development with family members said: “We put down a deposit of £50,000 and we haven’t seen the money since and all the time they hadn’t laid a single brick.”

One Brit told how she had remortgaged her house to pay for a £125,000 deposit on a luxury apartment in the Dominican Republic. “It’s a pure disaster,’’ she said. ‘‘I just want my money back and the whole thing to be over.”

Failed

Back in the UK, the Insolvency Service is investigating the failed property business.

Nick Wood, from official liquidators Grant Thornton, said: “We are investigating what happened to monies paid by investors, there is a black hole amounting to millions of pounds.

“We are looking to identify any claims which can be instigated to recover monies for creditors.

“Our investigation is focusing on Ocean View’s operations in the UK and overseas jurisdictions including Spain.”

Mr Thomas was unavailable for comment last night, but he has previously strongly denied any wrongdoing.

Ex-Ocean View salesman John Kenyon-Smith, from Rangemore, Staffordshire, admitted many investors were furious with the company.

But he insisted Mr Miret should refund the millions they have lost and said that both he and Mr Thomas had been left penniless by the collapse of the property firm.

Ocean View has also been probed by Staffordshire Police, but the Serious Fraud Office decided not to launch an investigation after a file was handed to them.

A spokesman for Staffordshire Police said they were “in receipt of a number of complaints alleging fraud against the company” and that officers were “considering the most appropriate way forward”.

Antonio Flores, a Spanish lawyer who is representing investors in the criminal case, said: “I don’t believe Ocean View knew nothing about what was going on.

Crackdown on Costa Del Crime Scots - Herald Scotland | News | Crime & Courts

Crackdown on Costa Del Crime Scots - Herald Scotland | News | Crime & Courts: "SCOTTISH criminals believed to be hiding on Spain’s Costa Del Crime are being targeted in a new crackdown.

Police in Scotland have provided information to Crimestoppers’ top 10 most wanted list for the first time –with Scots now appearing on the latest bulletin.

The names of 10 known criminals thought to be on the run overseas will be released today as part of a joint operation between Crimestoppers, the Serious Organised Crime Agency and British police forces.

Detectives say the Operation Captura initiative has recorded a good success rate so far, with 38 arrests from 50 previous subjects and intelligence that a number of criminals are leaving Spain and fleeing to other countries including Holland.

European Arrest Warrants came into effect in 2004, making it easier to bring British criminals back into the UK’s criminal justice system. Police are hoping to trace fugitives from the Strathclyde and Edinburgh areas and said it was the first time Scottish suspects had formed such a major part of an operation."

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Libya: protests gather pace as Gaddafi's son vows to fight to the end - Telegraph

Libya: protests gather pace as Gaddafi's son vows to fight to the end - Telegraph: "Col Gaddafi's second son and heir apparent appeared on television late in the evening to say there would be 'rivers of blood' and that Libya was on the brink of a civil war that would burn its oil wealth.
'Our spirits are high and the leader Muammar Gaddafi is leading the battle in Tripoli, and we are behind him as is the Libyan army,' he said. 'We will keep fighting until the last man standing, even to the last woman standing...We will not leave Libya to the Italians or the Turks.'
But he admitted that 'civilians are driving tanks in Benghazi' and though he said only 84 people had died showed he was aware of the extent of the uprising."

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Morocco protests will test regime's claims to liberalism

Morocco protests will test regime's claims to liberalism | World news | The Guardian: "On 1 February, Issan Nadir tipped petrol on his clothes and set fire to himself outside the education ministry in the Moroccan capital of Rabat. It was yet another desperate act of self-immolation in a region where the example set by Muhammad Bouazizi, the Tunisian fruit seller who sparked a wave of revolution, has been imitated from Mauritania to Saudi Arabia.

The flames were doused before Nadir, a 27-year-old volunteer teacher demanding a paid job, could do as much damage to himself as Bouazizi. Video footage seen by the Guardian shows firefighters frantically putting out flames in front of the ministry.

After a week in Rabat's Ibn Sina hospital, Nadir is recovering in his home town of Safi. 'He doesn't want to see anyone,' says his friend and fellow protester Hafid Libi.'If they don't do anything, there may be more of the same.'

Nadir is not the only protester to have set fire to himself. Last week 26-year-old Mourad Raho died in Benguerir, 36 miles north of Marrakech. Five similar attempts have been reported in recent weeks."

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Portugal seen taking bailout by April -euro zone source

Portugal seen taking bailout by April -euro zone source | Reuters: "The EU has a rescue plan ready for Portugal, but it is dependent on Lisbon asking for the aid and making that request to both the EU and the International Monetary Fund. Portugal remains adamantly opposed to asking for assistance.

'Portugal is drowning. It's not going to be able to hold on beyond the end of March,' the euro zone source said. 'That's already understood to be the case in financial markets, but now it's also understood among (EU) finance ministers.'"

Fierce battle over TV rights in Europe: Court says all World Cup, Euro games on free TV

Fierce battle over TV rights in Europe: Court says all World Cup, Euro games on free TV: "Chalk up another giant victory for Britain's regular folks. The glorious months of World Cup or European Championship soccer, when dozens of games are followed with rabid enthusiasm across the continent, will stay on free TV, not cable.
In a major slapdown to powerful federations like FIFA and UEFA, who pocket big profits from lucrative TV broadcasting rights, a European Union high court in Luxembourg ruled Thursday that they have no right to sell most of their prime tournaments to pay-TV networks.
The court said World Cup and Euro games are cherished social and cultural events that belong to all the people, including the poor.
It was the second TV victory for ordinary citizens this month. A top EU court official also advised that bars and individuals have the right to use the cheapest satellite decoder available to watch matches in England's Premier League, even if that sidesteps exclusive national broadcasting agreements.
Some experts see a trend."

Spain accepts Iranian apology for "diplomatic incident"

Spain accepts Iranian apology for "diplomatic incident" - Fox News Latino: " Spanish Foreign Minister Trinidad Jimenez said Friday that the 'diplomatic incident' with Iran has been settled after accepting the Iranian apology for the brief detención earlier this week of Spain's consul in Tehran.

Jimenez told a press conference that Iran's Ali Akbar Salehi called her on the telephone Thursday to apologize for what had occurred and to inform her that an investigation is underway to assign responsibilities.

'This diplomatic incident has now been settled, which for Spain was very serious,' the minister said, adding that the Iranian government had complied with the 48-hour period set by Madrid for providing an explanation.

Consul Ignacio Perez Cambra was detained Monday by several plainclothes police officers while in the vicinity of the Spanish Embassy, and was taken to a police station, where he was freed almost 4 1/2 hours afterwards without charges."