Banks World wide getting ready for Euro collapse
25 December, 2011 – Jafria News

JNN 24 Dec 2011 : Banks around the world are preparing for the possible collapse of the euro as fears of the European debt crisis increase.

Several banks are even installing systems capable of coping with trading in old European currencies.

Meanwhile finance firms, corporations, and different governments have also turned to plans that aim at preparing them for harsh times.

Regulators have asked banks in the US and UK to provide updates on readiness levels in case of a possible euro collapse.

Some corporate firms have also started transferring their cash on a daily basis out of European countries, including debt-ridden Greece instead of once every two weeks.

Europe has for months grappled with an economic and financial crisis. Insolvency now threatens in-debt countries such as Greece, Portugal, Italy, Ireland and Spain.

Since its formation, the European Union had been a haven for those seeking refuge from war, persecution and poverty in other parts of the world.

The worsening debt crisis, however, has forced European governments to adopt harsh austerity measures and tough economic reforms. Tens of thousands of Europeans are migrating from their homelands as a result of these difficulties.

There are fears that more delays in resolving the eurozone debt crisis could push not only Europe, but also much of the rest of the Western world back into recession. …source

After Unfair Trials, Saudi Arabia Court Sentences Six to Lose Hands, Feet
December 16, 2011 – HRW – Christoph Wilcke

Cutting off someone’s hands and feet is torture, plain and simple. Judicially sanctioned torture is abhorrent, and this verdict, if confirmed, would bespeak a state policy of torture.

(Beirut) – The Supreme Court of Saudi Arabia should void a sentence to amputate the hands and feet of six stateless people convicted of armed robbery, Human Rights Watch said today in a letter to the Saudi Human Rights Commission. The sentence constitutes internationally prohibited torture.

Human Rights Watch urged the Saudi Human Rights Commission to press for a retrial and a voiding of the sentence.

“Cutting off someone’s hands and feet is torture, plain and simple,” said Christoph Wilcke, senior Middle East researcher at Human Rights Watch. “Judicially sanctioned torture is abhorrent, and this verdict, if confirmed, would bespeak a state policy of torture.” The family of ‘Amir ‘Iyada, one of those convicted, learned in early December, 2011, that the Court of Cassation had confirmed the verdict of amputation issued by Riyadh’s General Court in January. The Supreme Court, which has not yet reviewed the case, provides the final judicial review. Under Saudi law, the king may not grant a pardon to cases of hiraba, or armed robbery, considered a crime against God under Saudi interpretation of Sharia law.

Judge Abd al-‘Aziz Al al-Shaikh of Riyadh’s General Court tried ‘Iyada and his co-defendants in only two court sessions, each lasting less than one hour, and prohibited them from appointing lawyers to assist them in their defense, ‘Iyada told Human Rights Watch. ‘Iyada’s family-appointed lawyer prepared his written appeal, but was not allowed to meet with his client, attend court sessions, or see documents except for the public verdict. …more

U.S., Saudi Sign Boeing F-15 Fighter Deal Proposed in 2010
December 29, 2011 – Hans Nichols, Steven Komarow, Ann Hughey – Bloomberg

Dec. 29 (Bloomberg) — The Obama administration has signed an agreement with Saudi Arabia that Congress approved in 2010 to sell Boeing Co. F-15 fighters to the Gulf ally.

“Valued at $29.4 billion, this agreement includes production of 84 new aircraft and the modernization of 70 existing aircraft as well as munitions, spare parts, training, maintenance and logistics,” the White House’s principal deputy press secretary, Josh Earnest, said in an e-mailed statement. The jets “are among the most sophisticated and capable aircraft in the world,” he said.

The sale, signed on Christmas Eve in Riyadh, “will send a strong message to countries in the region that the United States is committed to security in the Gulf,” said Andrew Shapiro, assistant secretary of state for political-military affairs, at a State Department briefing announcing the deal’s completion.

The announcement came after Iran threatened to block the Strait of Hormuz, a major shipping channel for Persian Gulf oil, if economic sanctions are increased. The sanctions are aimed at stopping the Islamic Republic from acquiring a nuclear bomb. …more

Fresh Allegations Emerge in RICO Lawsuit Against Alcoa
By Joe Palazzolo – 29 December, 2011 – WSJ Law Blog

Aluminum maker Alcoa allegedly paid $5 million in bribes to the former chief executive of Bahrain’s state-owned aluminum company and tens of millions of dollars in bribes to a former Bahrain official as part of scheme to land contracts at inflated prices, according to a new court filing in a long-running racketeering lawsuit.

Documents filed late Wednesday in federal court in Pittsburgh also allege that Alcoa allowed shell companies owned by Canadian businessman Victor Dahdaleh to masquerade as Alcoa subsidiaries.

That way Alcoa could sell alumina, an ingredient used to make aluminum, to the shell companies at inflated prices. The shell companies, in turn, sold the overpriced alumina to the state-owned company, Aluminum Bahrain, which was apparently none the wiser, according to the documents.

Alcoa also used the shell companies to funnel bribes to Aluminum Bahrain executives and Bahrain government officials, in return for helping secure the contracts at the inflated prices, including by providing competing bid information to Dahdaleh, the documents allege.

The latest documents are part of a recently revived lawsuit filed in 2008 by Aluminum Bahrain, also known as Alba. They offer the most detailed description to date of the alleged scheme, through which Alcoa reaped $400 million in illegal profits, according to Alba.

In the lawsuit, Alba accuses Alcoa of massively overcharging it for thousands of tons of alumina over a period of about 20 years. Alba, which filed an amended complaint in the case in November, is seeking more than $1 billion in damages from Alcoa.

“We have consistently said that the claims in this case are not supported by the facts and nothing in the RICO statement changes our view,” an Alcoa spokesman said, referring to legal name for the court documents filed Wednesday. He added that the company would be filing a motion to dismiss the lawsuit in January. …source

Aluminium magnate arrested for bribery
By Ed Crooks in New York – 25 October, 2011 – FT

A leading London-based businessman accused of bribery in Bahrain linked to contracts with Alcoa, the US aluminium group, has been arrested by the UK’s Serious Fraud Office.

Victor Dahdaleh, who has British and Canadian nationality, was charged with corruption, conspiracy to corrupt, and acquiring and transferring criminal property in connection with alleged payments of bribes to officials of state-controlled Aluminium Bahrain during 2001-05.

The SFO said some of the alleged payments “were in connection with contracts with a US company, Alcoa”, for supplies of alumina, from which aluminium is extracted.

On his website, Mr Dahdaleh published a statement from his law firm Allen & Overy, saying he “believes the investigation into his affairs was flawed and that he has done absolutely nothing wrong”.

The lawyers added: “He will be vigorously contesting these charges at every stage, confident in clearing his good name.”

Mr Dahdaleh is governor of the London School of Economics, a board trustee of the William J. Clinton Presidential Foundation, a former president of the Canada-UK Chamber of Commerce, and a leading donor to charity. He is also a supporter of Policy Network, the centre-left European think-tank that has Lord Mandelson, the former UK cabinet minister, as its president.

He is owner and chairman of Dadco, an investment, manufacturing and trading group that specialises in producing alumina. He was released on bail until October 31. Alcoa said it had not been contacted by the UK authorities, and could not comment on the charges he faced.

The US Department of Justice said in 2008 that it was investigating Alcoa and others, including Mr Dahdaleh, for possible violations of the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act. Alcoa on Monday said it was “co-operating fully with US authorities”. …source

‘Saudi protests are growing weekly’

Saudi leaders have been trying to stay untouched by protests for democracy as week-by-week protests gain strength across the nation.

Press TV talks with Ali al-Ahmad, director of the Institute for (Persian) Gulf Affairs (IGA) in Washington about the daring progress of public protests against the ruling regime and the role Crown Prince Nayef is inadvertently playing in speeding up the spreading of protests. What follows is an approximate transcript of the interview.
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Bahrain to host Saudi prince’s news network
By ADAM SCHRECK, 28 December, 2011 – AP Business Writer

DUBAI, United Arab Emirates (AP) — Bahrain has been picked to host the headquarters for Saudi billionaire Prince Alwaleed bin Talal’s new international Arabic news network despite months of unrest, according to the tiny Gulf kingdom’s media oversight authority.

Alwaleed’s channel, dubbed Alarab, will be based in the Bahraini capital Manama’s new Media City office complex, Sheik Fawaz bin Mohammed Al-Khalifa, a member of the Bahraini royal family and head of the country’s Information Affairs Authority, said in a statement late Tuesday.

The network is expected to be launched next December with an initial staff of about 300 people, according to the Bahraini statement.

Alwaleed’s office has not itself said where the channel will be based.

Jamal Khashoggi, the Saudi journalist hired to lead the network, said by email Wednesday he expects the deal to be finalized later in the day.

The channel aims to focus “on the important shifts taking place across the Arab world, with an emphasis on freedom of speech and freedom of press,” Alwaleed said in September.

The new channel will compete against older pan-Arab news networks bankrolled by wealthy Gulf backers, including Qatar’s Al-Jazeera and Al-Arabiya, which is funded by Saudi investors but based in Dubai.

Alwaleed has signed a deal with business news service Bloomberg LP to provide content for Alarab. That could potentially put it in competition with Dubai-based business news channel CNBC Arabiya as well.

The Saudi prince, through the Kingdom Holding Co. investment firm he controls, has a major stakes in Citigroup Inc., Apple Inc. and Rupert Murdoch’s News Corp.
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Terror trial slated in Bahrain
29 December, 2011 – UPI

MANAMA, Bahrain, Dec. 29 (UPI) — Eight defendants accused of plotting terror attacks on the Saudi Embassy in Bahrain and other key sites will go on trial next month, prosecutors said.

Nawaf Hamza, Bahrain’s head of public prosecution, said the defendants were part of a terror cell that planned to target the Saudi Embassy, the Interior Ministry building and the King Fahad Causeway, which is the country’s only land link to neighboring Saudi Arabia, Gulf News reported Thursday.

The alleged terrorists were arrested in November by Qatar at its border with Saudi Arabia and turned over to Bahrain authorities. They face espionage and terror charges. The trial is scheduled to begin Jan. 9.

Hamza said documents obtained during a criminal investigation revealed organizational plans and instructions for making bombs, the newspaper said. ..source

US to Sell F-15 Fighters to Saudi Arabia
By Karen Parrish (American Forces Press Service)

WASHINGTON, (MMD Newswire) Dec. 29, 2011 — The United States will sell 84 new F-15 fighter jets and upgrades for 70 existing aircraft to Saudi Arabia under a nearly $29.4 billion agreement, U.S. officials announced today.

During a joint State Department and Defense Department briefing today, James N. Miller, principal deputy under secretary of defense for policy, and Andrew Shapiro, assistant secretary of state for political-military affairs, discussed the sale.

“The United States is firmly committed to the security of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, as we have been for nearly seven decades, and … more broadly, the United States and Saudi Arabia have a strong mutual interest in the security and stability of the Gulf,” Miller said.

The F-15s Saudi Arabia will receive “will have the latest generation of computing power, radar technology, infrared sensors and electronic warfare systems,” he added.

“This agreement reinforces the strong and enduring relationship between the United States and Saudi Arabia,” Shapiro said. “It demonstrates the U.S. commitment to a strong Saudi defense capability as a key component to regional security.”

State and DOD have worked to conclude the agreement since June 2010, Shapiro added.

The White House earlier today released a statement detailing the Foreign Military Sales program agreement, which also will provide munitions, spare parts, training, maintenance and logistics support for the F-15s to the Royal Saudi Air Force.

Source: U.S. Department of Defense

Progress Update on Implementation of BICI Recommendations
28 December, 2011 – BNA

Manama: Dec. 28 — (BNA) The Government of Bahrain is committed to implementing the recommendations of the Bahrain Independent Commission of Inquiry (BICI) Report in their entirety. In the month since the Report was published, significant progress has been made. Action has been taken in relation to every recommendation.

In order to ensure that international best practices are adopted, and that these are institutionalized, assistance has been sought from prominent experts and leading organisations from around the world. Assistance Agreements have already been concluded with the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) and the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO). Further agreements are due to be signed imminently with the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) and other eminent international experts and organizations. A number of UN organisations have already conducted visits in the country in the past month, which has been extensively reported upon by the press.

Key achievements of the Government to date include taking the following important steps:
1. Accountability is an important part of the Government’s commitment. For this reason the world’s leading jurists and political and social scientists have been gathered to formulate an effective independent mechanisms to determine accountability as envisaged in several recommendations of the BICI Report, including the recommendations in paragraphs 1716, 1717, 1718(b) 1722(b). These jurists are already in the country studying the environment to tailor the necessary solutions.

2. A decree will shortly be issued setting out the mechanism for the National Victims Compensation Fund, which represents international best practices of administration of redress mechanisms (recommendation 1722 j and k). This Fund will incorporate the best practices gained from the ICC Fund, and the UN Basic Principles and Guidelines on the Right to Redress and Reparation for Victims of Gross Violations of International Human Rights and Serious Violations of International Humanitarian Law.

3. Instituting a demonstrable zero tolerance policy towards torture, inhuman treatment and degrading detention practices. This includes:
a. Transferring all pending cases of cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment from the Ministry of Interior to the Attorney General’s office. Legislative amendments are being drafted so that all such cases will automatically fall within the jurisdiction of the Attorney General (recommendation in paragraph 1719).

b. Ordering audio visual equipment to ensure that all official interviews with suspects, witnesses or detainees will be recorded (paragraph 1722 g).

c. Instructing the Inspector General to take all necessary steps to ensure the rights of all suspects, including their right to: not be detained incommunicado; be shown a warrant upon arrest; be given prompt access to their lawyers; and allowed family visits in accordance with the Bahrain Code of Criminal Procedure. Many other amendments to the procedures for arrest, detention and training required for security personnel are currently underway (paragraph 1722 d).

d. Instructing the Chief of Public Security to facilitate the following with the aid of international experts and specialists (paragraph 1722 c):
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Police chief shifted to foreign ministry
29 December, 2011 – Khaleej Times

MANAMA – Bahrain’s police chief was on Wednesday shifted to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs as ambassador.

His Majesty King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa issued two royal decrees on Wednesday. The first decree was to appoint Chief of Public Security Major-General Tariq Mubarak bin Daina at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, while the second decree was the appointment of Major-General Adel bin Khalifa bin Hamad Al Fadhel as President of National Security with the rank of minister.

The move comes a few months after the release of the report of the Bahrain Independent Commission for Inquiry (BICI) that confirmed ‘excesses’ on detainees during arrest and detention. Following the report that was published in November, several police officers were suspended and all cases related to police torturing detainees being deliberated by police courts were referred to the public prosecution, in order to be trialed at civil courts.

The Ministry of Interior also announced hiring international experts to help in enhancing human rights and police work among its personnel. …source

Zero tolerance for torture: Bahrain to try 5 cops
By ARAB NEWS – 29 December, 2011

MANAMA: The Bahraini authorities announced on Thursday that five police officers would face trial next month over the death by torture of two detainees linked to anti-regime protests earlier this year.

Nawaf Abdullah Hamza the Public Prosecution was quoted by the state news agency BNA that after examining allegations by the Interior Ministry of cases of torture and ill treatment, his office had decided to refer one case to the criminal court.

Five police officers have been implicated in the case, he said, adding that “two are accused of having beaten to death two of the detainees, and the three others are accused of failing to report the case.” He said the trial would start on Jan. 11.

A special commission appointed to probe the crackdown on the month-long anti-government protests that erupted in March published a report last month denouncing the “excessive and unjustified use of force” by the authorities.

Earlier on Wednesday, the government announced a policy of “zero tolerance” toward any abuse of political detainees, in line with the recommendations of the probe.

The rights of suspects would be ensured including “not be detained incommunicado; be shown a warrant upon arrest; be given prompt access to their lawyers; and allowed family visits.” The steps also include “reinstating all public sector employees by Jan. 1, 2012 charged with free speech activity,” said the statement.
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The Bahrain Uprising in Numbers
by Rannie Amiri, 29 December, 2011 – Antiwar Forum

Population of Bahrain: 1.2 million
Number of citizens: 535,000
Percentage of citizens who are Shia Muslim: 70
Percentage of those in government: 13

Number of senior positions they fill in the Ministry of Defense, Ministry of Interior, Ministry of Cabinet Affairs, the National Guard, the Supreme Defense Council, and the Royal Court: 0

Percentage in the Ministry of Finance: 10
Percentage in the Ministry of Information: 6
Percentage in the judiciary: 5

Of the 1,000 National Security Apparatus employees, percentage who are non-Bahraini: 64

Percentage who are Shia Bahraini: less than 5

Of the 20,000 paramilitary Special Security Forces, percentage who are non-Bahraini: 90

Percentage who are Shia Bahraini: 0

Number of elected Bahrainis from all sects who sit on the country’s all-powerful Shura Council: 0

Day pro-democracy protests began in Bahrain as part of the Arab Spring: Feb. 14, 2011

People who took to the streets: 300,000

Proportional equivalent if Egyptians had done likewise: 40 million

Evidence that Iran instigated the demonstrations: 0

Day Saudi Arabia invaded to put down the uprising: March 14, 2011

Number of Saudi, UAE, and Qatari troops who arrived in armored vehicles: 1,500

People killed since Feb. 14: 50

Fatalities as a result of tear gas shot into residential homes or birdshot fired at close range: 30

Age of youngest victim: 5 days

Arbitrary arrests: 1,500

Civilians sentenced by military courts: 208

Physicians sentenced for offering medical treatment to demonstrators: 20

Cumulative jail terms levied: 2,500 years

Citizens currently accused of violating freedom of speech or assembly laws: 1,000

Documented cases of torture and ill-treatment since the revolt began: 1,866

Bahraini officials held responsible for killings or the systemic use of torture: 0

Mosques destroyed: 40+

Journalists targeted: 90+

Workers fired for supporting, taking part, or suspicion of having taken part in pro-democracy activities: 2,710

University students expelled for the same reasons: 477

Prisoners of conscience: 500

Bahrain’s rank among countries in political prisoners per capita: 1st

Proposed U.S. arms sales to Bahrain: $53 million

Years the al-Khalifa family has ruled Bahrain: 228

Days left in power: numbered
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Report: Bahrain adopts zero tolerance torture policy
By CNN Wire Staff – 29 December, 2011

(CNN) — Bahrain is adopting a zero tolerance policy toward “torture, inhuman treatment and degrading detention” practices toward political prisoners — one of a number of recommendations made by an independent commission looking into claims of abuse during a crackdown on protesters earlier this year.

The government announced the policy in a statement released by the state-run Bahrain News Agency on Wednesday evening.

The moves follows last month’s report by an independent commission that found police tortured and used excessive force against civilians arrested during a crackdown on the protests that followed successful uprisings in Egypt and Tunisia.

The oil-rich kingdom, according to the statement, is committed to implementing the recommendations “in their entirety.”

The government plans to reinstate all government employees who were fired after they were charged with “free speech activity,” the statement said.

The government also is ordering that all pending cases of “cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment” be transferred to its top judicial office for investigation.

Additionally, Bahrain is ordering the use of audio-video equipment during interviews with suspects, witnesses and detainees, the statement said.

The move follows news over the weekend that Bahrain plans to drop charges related “to speech protected by the right to freedom of expression,” the news agency said. Forty-three cases applying to 343 people will benefit from the announcement, it said.

Demonstrations demanding political reform and greater freedoms in Sunni-ruled, Shiite-majority Bahrain began February 14 before authorities — backed by troops from Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates — cracked down in two waves, first in February and later in mid-March.

Thirty civilians and five security officers were killed during that time, the commission said.

Opposition groups say more than 1,000 people — mainly Shiites — have been detained for allegedly taking part in the demonstrations. …source

Bahrain urged to investigate jail abuses
29 December, 2011 – PressTV

A Bahraini human rights group has called on the interior ministry to investigate what it calls human rights violations against anti-regime protesters in prisons.

Bahrain Human Rights Society (BHRS) has called on Interior Ministry Inspector General Ibrahim Habib al-Ghaith to visit detainees, the group said on its website on Thursday. “I addressed the inspector general to make sure to meet the [UN] Standard Minimum Rules for the treatment of Prisoners, adopted at the First UN Congress on the Prevention of Crime and the Treatment of Offenders held in Geneva in 1955 and approved by the Economic and Social Council in 1957,” BHRS Deputy Secretary General Issa al-Ghayeb stated.

He said the law requires authorities to provide inmates with health care, sanitary ware, communication with the outside world and exercise. It also demands prison staff to avoid mistreatment of detainees, to provide books and newspapers, and allow freedom of conscience.

The BHRS cited complained from dozens of prisoners abused in jail for taking part in anti-regime demonstrations.

The inmates have filed a lawsuit against the government, saying they were tortured, held in solitary confinement for long hours and denied any contact with the outside world.

Ghayeb expressed hope for the formation of a delegation made up of lawyers, social workers, doctors and members of the BHRS Monitoring Committee to pay unannounced visits to detention centers.

The requests come amid continued regime crackdowns on dissents across Bahrain, more than 10 months into a popular uprising against the ruling Al Khalifa dynasty.

On November 23, an independent inquiry commission mandated to probe the clampdown on ant-government protesters said the regime had used “excessive force” to crush the protests.

The Bahrain Independent Commission of Inquiry urged the Bahraini government to revise verdicts handed down to protesters in military courts, and to set up a compensation fund for victims.

Dozens of demonstrators have been killed by the Saudi-backed regime forces since massive anti-governments erupted in February. …source