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German press mocks “Cut and Paste Baron”
The latest chapter in German Defence Minister Karl-Theodor zu Guttenberg’s bible of bloopers may be the final straw for his public image. He is now accused of plagiarism in his doctoral thesis, obtained in 2007 and published in book form in 2009. Entire passages, including spelling mistakes, appear to have been lifted from newspaper and magazine articles, academic journals and speeches, think tanks, universities, and even works from the US embassy, without citations. At least 15 authors have allegedly had their work stolen. “He has the chance to say: ‘OK, bad things happen! I made a mistake, I did not deliver an academically rigorous work.’ But in any case, he will have a problem regaining his credibility and the sympathy and support he’s had in the polls until now”, said political counsellor Klaus-Peter Schmidt-Deguelle. The 39 year-old Baron enjoys a straight-talking reputation, and has a glamorous image. Many have tipped him as a future Chancellor. Credibility has seen him through armed forces scandals in Afghanistan and on the training ship Gorch Fock. Observers say the only elegant escape may be for him to surrender his Beyreuth University diploma. Copyright © 2011 euronews

Ivory Coast may cause region-wide crisis
As the world’s attention is focused elsewhere, the power struggle in Ivory Coast has escalated and now threatens a region-wide humanitarian crisis. Laurent Gbagbo remains the de facto leader of Ivory Coast despite finishing second in the November 28 presidential elections. He contests that result and has called on the country’s youth to join him in taking up arms. Thousands of supporters answered his call. His rival, Alassane Ouattara, is recognised by the international community as the rightful winner of the election and legitimate president of Ivory Coast. He is backed by rebel forces, whom he has adopted as his army. According to the United Nations, at least 435 people have been killed and as many as 450,000 have fled their homes since the political crisis began. Human rights groups claim atrocities have been committed by both sides. Liberian President Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf, whose country is hosting some 90,000 Ivorian refugees, said that Ivory Coast is already “at war” and that the tensions will further destabilise a region that has struggled with bloody conflict for many years. “It’s a serious threat to the stability of Liberia, and I might say to the stability of all neighbouring countries,” says, adding that “the crisis in Ivory Coast slipped off the radar,” given the focus on recent events in Japan, Libya and the wider Arab world. Ouattara last week recognised the 2002-2003 rebels as his military and renamed them the Ivory Coast Republican Forces (FRCI). The FRCI has captured a fourth town in the west this week, Reuters reported. But major clashes have also been reported in the capital Abidjan. The rebels have controlled the north of the country since the end of the civil war, although that conflict appears to have restarted. There are real fears that an Ivory Coast at war will destabilise the whole West Africa region. The International Monetary Fund has warned of “serious risks” for the region. Ivory Coast is the world??�s no.1 cocoa grower. The crisis means exports have stopped, mainly as a result of European Union sanctions. The fate of almost 200,000 tonnes of mid-crop beans that is still on tress remains unknown. As economic conditions become bleaker, the ground becomes ever more ripe for conflict. By Ali SheikholeslamiLondon Correspondentali.sheikholeslami@euronews.net Copyright © 2011 euronews

Belgium “world champions” of political crises
249 days: the length of time Belgium has been without a government has prompted newspapers to proclaim the country world champions of political crises. Whereas Iraq finally managed to bring together rival factions after months of deadlock, in Brussels there is still no national administration in sight. Students plan to demonstrate in protest. “It’s a bit late for people to start taking action, we should have begun long ago… but still it’s good that we’re getting mobilised to bring about change in Belgium,” said one young man. “I’m sick and tired of it. I’m waiting for it to happen and once there’s a decision I’ll take an interest, but for now: I’m just sick and tired,” said a woman in Brussels. For two weeks mediator Didier Reynders has been trying to bring together rival French and Dutch-speaking parties, who have failed to agree a coalition since a parliamentary election on June 13th last year. King Albert has now extended his mandate until March 1st. Some see the funny side. Inspired by Tunisia’s “jasmine revolution”, Belgian student groups are calling for theirs with fries: a “r?�volution des frites”. The difference is that whereas many in Arab countries are trying to overthrow governments, Belgians want to have one. Recent weeks have seen other tongue-in-cheek protests. There have been calls for politicians’ partners to refuse to have sex until a deal is reached. And last month one of the country’s best known actors, Benoit Poelvoorde, urged men to “grow a beard for Belgium” by not shaving until a new government was in place. Copyright © 2011 euronews

Ireland awaits result of historic poll
Ireland is bracing itself for one of its biggest political shake-ups since independence after polls in the country’s general election closed. Ruling Fianna Fail looks almost certain to be reduced to a rump amid voter anger over the economy. The centre-right opposition Fine Gael, led by Enda Kenny, appears set to be the big winners, although whether the party can achieve an outright majority still remains too close to call. Kenny has promised to renegotiate the terms of a massive multi-billion euro bailout from the EU and IMF. But, Sinn Fein’s Gerry Adams, who is contesting in the Irish Republic for the first time, has called for a referendum on the rescue deal. Voter turnout yesterday was estimated at around 70 percent and the first results are expected to filter through later today. Reckless property lending by Irish banks and the subsequent crisis following the global credit crunch has seen Ireland go from economic pin-up to eurozone struggler. So much so, many people are returning to farming. While most other sectors of Ireland’s economy are seeing job cuts, agriculture is reported to be booming. Copyright © 2011 euronews

Bangladesh ousts microlender boss Yunus
Bangladesh’s central bank says it is removing Nobel peace prize winner Muhammad Yunus as boss of the microlender Grameen Bank. He was ordered to quit on the grounds that he is ten years beyond the retirement age. There has also been allegations of financial irregularities at the bank. Yunus denies that. His supporters said this was a political move stemming from a feud with Bangladesh’s Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina. Grameen Bank said it had not received any notification from the central bank, and Yunus has said the bank’s board, which is mainly made up of borrowers, allows him to stay on as long as he is able to perform his duties. “There is no directive on Professor Yunus to cease functioning as managing director, nor is there any suggestion of his being removed from this post,” spokeswoman Jannat-E-Quanine said in a statement. Late last year, the government, which holds a 25 percent stake in the microlender, appointed a new chairman critical of Yunus, a move supporters of the so-called banker to the poor said was ultimately aimed at the state taking over the bank. This month, Finance Minister Abul Maal Abdul Muhith said Yunus should step down, as he was now “old and we need to define the bank’s role and bring it under close regulation.” Prime Minister Hasina has called Yunus a “blood-sucker of the poor” and sharply criticised Grameen Bank’s microlending practices. Yunus won the Nobel peace prize in 2006 for his work to battle poverty through microfinance – lending small amounts to people – particularly women – to set up businesses. Previously they had had to borrow from moneylenders who charge extremely high interest rates. Copyright © 2011 euronews

State of emergency in Yemen after protest bloodbath
Yemen has declared a state of emergency after a massacre at an anti-government rally. More than 40 people were killed and at least 300 others injured when plainclothes police reportedly opened fire on protesters after Friday prayers. President Ali Abdullah Saleh described it as a tragedy and blamed the violence on people within the crowd who were carrying weapons. “I express my extreme sorrow for what happened today after Friday prayers in the university district,” Saleh told a news conference in Sanaa. Yemen is the second country in the region to declare emergency rule this week after Bahrain introduced martial law – a move immediately followed by a massive crackdown on demonstrators. But it is unclear whether Yemen’s president has the military power to enforce such an order, with the country deeply divided and racked by weeks of protests in which more than 70 people have been killed. Copyright © 2011 euronews

Gaddafi attacks repelled in Benghazi
A hospital in Benghazi says 26 people are dead and and 40 injured after bombardments by Gaddafi’s forces. The rebels say that a fighter jet shot down over the city, was one of theirs sent out to repel the government attack. TO READ – Libya: a timeline of international diplomacy The fighting will be viewed by the international community as a clear breach of the ceasefire announced by the Libyan government yesterday, although a spokesman earlier insisted that they were honouring the policy and that it is the rebels who are attacking them. Reports are still hard to verify with claim and counter-claim, but the insurgents do appear to be in jubilant mood in Benghazi, claiming to have repelled the attacks and captured a tank in the process. Residents seem almost in a celebratory mood as they patrol the streets, waving rebel flags and firing guns in the air. People living in the another rebel held town, Misrata, also claim Gaddafi is breaking the ceasefire with snipers shooting people from the rooftops. They also said there’s been some shelling of the city though not as much as on Friday. Copyright © 2011 euronews

Berlinale: Cinema for Peace
The Cinema for Peace charity gala is one of the highlights of the Berlin Film Festival, attracting film-makers, artists, politicians and celebrities from around the world. Copyright © 2011 euronews

Bahrain police break up protest camp
Bahrain police have attempted to clear demonstrators over night who have been camped out in a square in the capital Manama. Witnesses say at least three people have been killed and many more injured as riot squads broke up the camp while most of the protesters were asleep. Prior to the operation about 40 police trucks positioned themselves round the square. Although earlier in the day relations were tense, the move does suggest a change in tactics by the security forces against the anti-government demonstrators. Bahrain’s Shia Muslims – 70 percent of its population – have been ruled by a Sunni minority for the past three centuries. Two people have already died in clashes in the last few days. The mainly Shia protesters want greater political freedom, more jobs and a new constitution. They had been hoping, by taking to the streets to emulate the uprisings in Egypt and Tunisia. Copyright © 2011 euronews

“Milad-ul-Nabi” celebrations in India
A boy poses on a motorbike during a religious procession to mark Milad-ul-Nabi, or birthday celebrations of Prophet Mohammad, in the old quarters of Delhi, in India. REUTERS/Adnan Abidi Copyright © 2011 euronews