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US warns banks on Libya transfers


Agence France-Presse
Fri, 25 Feb 2011 13:42 UTC
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The US treasury has warned banks on Libyan transfers

Washington - The Treasury Department has warned US banks to be vigilant of transfers linked to Libya's political leaders, as the international community moves to slap sanctions on top government officials.

The Treasury's Financial Crimes Enforcement Network told banks to be aware of "the potential increased movement of assets that may be related to the situation in Libya," in a statement released Friday.

It also demanded financial institutions "apply enhanced scrutiny for private banking accounts held by or on behalf of senior foreign political figures."
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Vader

Groups of militants attack South Russia's Nalchik


RIA Novosi
Fri, 25 Feb 2011 12:56 UTC
Nalchik
© RIA Novosti. Alexandr Grashenkov
Nalchik
Several groups of militants attacked various law-enforcement buildings in Russia's North Caucasus Republic of Kabardino-Balkaria on Friday.

The city came under attack from "several small groups of militants in cars," a police source said.

"The militants fired four shots from a grenade launcher at the local FSB [Federal Security Service] department. Subsequently, two traffic police stations came under attack, one of them is still under fire," the source said.

At least one person was injured in the shooting.

"In addition, a blast occurred at an FSB health resort, it could have been a bomb or grenade," he added.
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Laptop

New Google Algorithm is Live: News Aggregators Will Be Punished

Eric Blair & Michael Edwards
Activist Post
Fri, 25 Feb 2011 13:24 UTC
google graphic
© Google
Just over a month ago, Google announced that they were changing their algorithm in order to weaken the search engine rankings of sites they deem to be "content farmers."

Whereas most of Google's algorithm changes are barely noticeable, the current change that they have been working on since last January will affect 12% of U.S. searches.

There has been much debate about what "content farming" is, and Google has done little to offer a clear explanation, simply stating, "low quality" or "shallow" sites would be affected. This is similar to the vague definition of pornography -- you'll know it when you see it.

The problem with such a vague approach to what is a strictly defined algorithm is that it leaves too much room for a human interpretation. And as we have seen, Google has been exposed as having connections to U.S. intelligence agencies, which doesn't bode well for alternative news sites that aggregate anti-establishment stories from around the web. Given the other censorship threats facing the Internet, it seems those who might be critical of Internet control and real-time surveillance of average Americans are being targeted.
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Dollar

Germany Calls for Travel Ban, Asset Freeze on Libya's Qaddafi

Patrick Donahue
Bloomberg
Fri, 25 Feb 2011 12:09 UTC
German Foreign Minister Guido Westerwelle called for a travel ban on Libyan leader Muammar Qaddafi's regime and an asset freeze targeting the ruling family, saying rising violence made sanctions "unavoidable."

Westerwelle said he'll call for another emergency meeting of the United Nations Security Council to consider the measures. The minister also called the European Union's inability to agree on sanctions "too hesitant" and urged more action.

"Sanctions are unavoidable considering this extraordinary violation of human rights, the extraordinary use of violence," Westerwelle said in an interview today on Deutschlandfunk radio.
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Heart - Black

Oklahoma: Three adopted children suffered horrific abuse

Divina Mims
CNN
Fri, 25 Feb 2011 11:59 UTC
Three adopted children who allegedly suffered burns and were forced to eat pet food lived in "inhumane conditions" and might never fully recover, an Oklahoma sheriff said Thursday.


"They have been raised worse than dogs," Canadian County Sheriff Randall Edwards told CNN of the three malnourished juveniles, who are 9, 11 and 15.

John Kluth, 50, and Sonja Kluth, 57, of Yukon, Oklahoma, are accused by the district attorney's office of three counts of child abuse and three counts of child neglect, authorities said.
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Stormtrooper

Gaddafi 'shot by soldier' rumour sweeps oil markets


Daily India
Fri, 25 Feb 2011 10:07 UTC
gaddafi
© AFP/Getty

London - Oil prices dropped below 100 dollars on rumors that Muammar al-Gaddafi, who is desperately clinging to his role as leader of Libya, was shot by a soldier in Tripoli.

According to the Daily Mail, oil had hit a high of 120 dollars a barrel on Thursday afternoon, but settled at 97 dollars on the rumour and on Saudi Arabia's claim that it can counter any supply disruptions from Libya.

A senior U.S. official however said that the U.S. has no reason to believe that Gaddafi was dead or had been fired upon.
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Che Guevara

Egyptians to march on Liberation Square again


Press TV
Fri, 25 Feb 2011 07:07 UTC
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Egyptians protest outside the Egyptian state television in Cairo February 20, 2011.
Millions of Egyptians are planning to continue their protests by flooding Cairo's Liberation square for a demonstration dubbed as 'cleansing Friday.'

Protesters have planned the rally for this Friday, as they say their demands have not been met, The Associated Press reported.

They want the military council to hand over power to a civilian government, and Prime Minister Ahmad Shafiq's cabinet to resign.

"We will march in protest to demand the resignation of Shafiq's government and abolishing emergency law and the trial of Mubarak and his family," Mohamed Fahmy of the People's National Movement for Change said.

They are also calling for the immediate release of all political prisoners.
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Footprints

Libyan ambassador to Jordan quits post


Press TV
Thu, 24 Feb 2011 07:05 UTC
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A pro-democracy demonstrator shouts slogans during a rally in Benghazi on February 24, 2011.
Libyan ambassador to Jordan has given up his diplomatic career to protest crackdown on pro-democracy protesters in his North African country.

On Thursday, Mohammad Hassan Barghathi announced his resignation from his post because of the current developments in Libya, Petra news agency reported.

Barghathi said, "The bloody clashes in my country, where the Libyan people are being killed are unbelievable, unimaginable and unjustifiable."

Libyan security forces have reportedly killed some 1,000 people during recent pro-democracy demonstrations against the authoritarian reign of 68-year-old Gaddafi.

Gaddafi's regime is facing mounting international condemnations over its brutal crackdown on demonstrators as the death toll from Libya's revolution continues to climb.
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People

Gaddafi blames uprising on hallucinogenic drugs and al Qaeda as Libyan military brass join protests


Press TV
Thu, 24 Feb 2011 07:02 UTC
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A deserted army tank in the eastern city of al-Bayda.
High-ranking members of the Libyan army have resigned and joined the protesters following the fall of several cities in the east of the country.

Earlier in the day, several intelligence and military officials handed in their resignations in the city of al-Bayda. They denounced Muammar Gaddafi and said they were joining the protesters.

In the city of Benghazi, Security Chief Ali Huwaidi has also quit, issuing a video statement saying, "I am Brigadier Ali Huwaidi, the director of Benghazi's security popular committee. I tendered my resignation and I am ready to stand behind the youth," The Huffington Post reported.

Gaddafi has blamed the violence on young people, stating on national television that drugs and al-Qaeda are influencing them.

Reports say that Saif al-Arab, Gaddafi's youngest son, who was sent by his father to cooperate with Libyan security forces in the massive crackdown on pro-democracy protesters, joined forces with the demonstrators on Thursday.
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Che Guevara

Libyans take over major oil terminals


Press TV
Thu, 24 Feb 2011 07:01 UTC
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Pro-democracy demonstrators make victory signs as they stand on an army tank near a square where people are protesting in Benghazi city, Libya, February 23, 2011.
Libyan demonstrators have now taken control of key oil terminals in northern Libya as pro-democracy protests gain momentum across the North African country.

Oil terminals in the northern port cities of Ras Lanuf and Marsa El Brega are now controlled by pro-democracy protesters, Reuters reported on Thursday.

Earlier in the day, ten protesters were killed after government troops attacked the western city of Zuwarah, located 120 kilometers (74 miles) west of the capital Tripoli.

Several eastern cities have now fallen in the hands of demonstrators during 10 days of a revolution that has so far claimed the lives of 1,000 people.

Meanwhile, protesters have torn down Muammar Gaddafi's "Green Book" monument in the northwestern city of Misrata. The book contained the main tenets of political philosophy developed by the embattled 68-year-old Libyan ruler.
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