Monday, January 17, 2011
Tunisians await new government
Tunisian authorities are struggling to stop violence while politicians try to cobble together a unity government after the toppling of Zine El Abidine Ben Ali as president.
Mohamed Ghannouchi, the prime minister, promised to announce a new coalition government on Monday, hoping to maintain the momentum of political progress to ward off fresh protests and also undercut those loyal to the ousted president.
Masoud Romdhani, a trade union activist, told Al Jazeera that clashes took place through the night between the army and security forces loyal to Ben Ali.
"I could not sleep last night because of the shooting," Romdhani said, adding that by the morning things had improved and he was surprised to see people out in the streets and trying to clean things up.
Al Jazeera's Nazanine Moshiri, reporting from the Tunisian capital, said that there were gun battles in the streets during the night and reports of several people being killed.
"But now the things are quite and people have ventured out into the streets, opening their shops, buying bread and milk and queueing for petrol," our correspondent said.
New government
People were hopeful to hear any announcements on the new government, as well as possible elections that need to happen within 60 days according to the constitution.
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"Tomorrow we will announce the new government which will open a new page in the history of Tunisia," Ghannouchi said on Sunday.
Al Jazeera has learnt that the Democratic Progressive Party and the Democratic Forum for Labour and Freedoms will have one minister each in the proposed coalition.
While the technocrats in the current government are likely to retain their posts, representatives from trade unions and lawyers' groups are also expected to find cabinet berths.
"We know the incoming national unity government will have three members of the opposition. It will include some technocrats, independents and economists and some figures from Tunisian labour and trade unions. Some of those have still to be determined," Ayman Mohyeldin, Al Jazeera's correspondent reported from the Tunisian capital.
"There are some unconfirmed reports that the current interior minister and foreign minister will stay in their positions and that obviously is already drawing some criticism here, with some of the pundits at least criticising the incoming national unity government for not being broad enough in its scope to reflect the political aspirations of the Tunisian people."
Ben Ali loyalists
Ben Ali, who had been in power since 1987, fled to Saudi Arabia on Friday following mass protests against his government.
Fouad Mebezaa, the speaker of parliament, was sworn in as the country's interim president on Saturday and promised to create a unity government that could include the long-ignored opposition.
A gun battle erupted on Sunday around the presidential palace in Carthage on the Mediterranean shore, while in the capital, Tunis, at least two major firefights broke out - one close to the central bank building, the other near the headquarters of the main opposition party, the Progressive Democratic Party (PDP).
In a statement, the PDP said that police and military stopped a car carrying armed men, who it described as foreigners, after which shots were fired.
Separately, security forces killed two armed men stationed on a rooftop near the central bank, a state TV reporter said from the scene.
A military official told the TV station that the men were killed by fire from a helicopter.
Presidential guards loyal to Ben Ali were involved in the shootout in Carthage, about 15km north of Tunis, according to two residents.
The clashes broke out in the afternoon and were marked by sporadic but heavy gunfire, forcing local residents to barricade themselves inside their homes.
Reuters reported, quoting a military source who did not want to be identified, that people loyal to the arrested head of Ben Ali's security force had opened fire as they passed near the front of the presidential palace.
"Special military groups came out [from the palace] to pursue them and they started to exchange fire," the source said.
Distrust of police
Al Jazeera's James Bays, reporting from Tunis on Sunday, said even though army roadblocks had sprung up throughout the city, people were saying they needed to arm themselves against the police, who they did not trust.
"In between the roadblocks, we were coming across large groups of people who had their own home-made weapons, axes and steel bars, and some of them were not particularly friendly to us when we wanted to film in the area," he said.
He said the army was rounding up those loyal to Ben Ali, including members of the presidential police.
In the most prominent arrest, Tunisia's former interior minister, the man many held responsible for a police crackdown on anti-government protesters, was held in his home town in the north of the country.
Rafik Belhaj, who was the most senior official in charge of the police force, was arrested in Beja on Sunday afternoon.
Belhaj had been dismissed from his position on Wednesday in one of Ben Ali's final efforts to placate public anger with his leadership.
Separately, Tunisian state television announced that Ali Seryati, the former head of Ben Ali's security service, would appear in court to face charges of threatening national security and provoking armed violence.
Wednesday, November 24, 2010
Portugal crippled by strikes
Country grinds to a halt as general strike by unions affects transport, media and petrol services.Public services in Portugal have been halted as unions staged the country's first general strike in more than two decades to protest spending cuts that the government says are vital to avoid financial disaster.
Both public and private sector workers joined the one-day strike on Wednesday, which follows similar strikes in other troubled Euro economies such as Greece and France, as governments are forced to implement unpopular austerity measures.
The transport sector was crippled by the stoppage with no flights taking off or landing at any airport.
More than three-quarters of train services were also cancelled and 60 per cent of bus services were also scrapped, officials have said.
The metro system in Lisbon was also closed for the day while the capital's ferries stayed in their docking berths.
The strike, the first that brought together private and public sector workers since 1988, also hit banks, media organisations and petrol deliveries.
Union leaders said the strike had a "massive impact" on the private sector, in particular on the auto sector with less than 10 per cent of the workforce turning up at Volkswagen's Autoeuropa plant near the northern city of Porto.
"The mobilisation of workers is enormous," said Manuel Carvalho da Silva, the head of the major CGTP syndicate.
Drastic cuts
The strike began on the stroke of midnight with union members setting up picket lines across the country, including outside Lisbon's international airport.
The unions' anger has been stoked by government plans for a drastic round of spending cuts and tax rises, worth some $6.85bn which are currently being pushed through parliament.
The package of cuts is intended to reduce the deficit from 7.3 per cent of the gross domestic product (GDP) to 4.6 per cent next year in a bid to quell growing international unease over the state of its finances.
Portugal's main opposition party said on Tuesday it would not block the government's 2011 budget, paving the way for its adoption on Friday.
But the unions say the cuts are intolerable, particularly from a Socialist government led by Jose Socrates, the prime minister .
"It is unacceptable that workers are making all the sacrifices," said Joao Proenca, a unionist, told AFP news agency.
"We cannot accept that the first, second and third priority of Portugal is the deficit," he added, referring to the country's 10.9 per cent unemployment rate - a record high.
UK students begin fees protests
Heavy police presence as thousands take to the streets in protests against government plans to raise university fees.
Students and school pupils have begun protests across the United Kingdom against government plans to raise university tuition fees, two weeks after a demonstration in central London turned violent.
Read More...
Students and school pupils have begun protests across the United Kingdom against government plans to raise university tuition fees, two weeks after a demonstration in central London turned violent. Thousands of campaigners have taken to the streets in London, many holding anti-government placards, calling for free education.
"There is a very heavy police presence - tens of vans, horses, motorbikes and scores of officers," Al Jazeera's Jacqueline Head, reporting from the scene of the demonstrations in London, said.
"In front of them is a very loud crowd shouting their opposition to the tuition fee hike.
"Protesters are burning placards sending up a huge cloud of black smoke. Riot police and horses have been sent in."
TV footage showed a police vehicle surrounded by a crowd of protesters, some of them hitting it with bars and sticks, while others had climbed on top of it.
Lib Dem focus
The protests were planned after the Conservative-Liberal Democrat coalition government proposed to almost triple tuition charges to up to $14,500 a year.
Organisers are expecting 20,000 young people to participate in Wednesday's demonstrations.
Two weeks ago, protesters stormed the Conservative Party headquarters in London. It was the first major demonstration directly linked to the $130bn spending cuts announced by the government last month.
Al Jazeera's Head said that the police appeared to have a strategy to contain Wednesday's protest, after the previous in violence at the previous demonstration.
"They've moved in and 'kettled' the protesters about 200 metres from the Houses of Parliament. Its proving effective right now. No one is getting in or out."
The head of the London police force acknowleged that they had not been prepared for the trouble, but this time senior officers say that they are ready for any eventuality.
Commander Bob Broadbent, heading up the capital's operation said: "Anyone who plans to take to the streets of London, intent on disorder, violence and crime should understand that it won't be tolerated and they will be arrested."
Violence 'not acceptable'
David Cameron, the prime minister, described the violence two weeks ago as unacceptable and his spokesman said that he was "looking forward to a peaceful protest" on Wednesday.
Students and campaigners have been outraged by the plans for university funding.
Their anger is particularly directed at Liberal Democrat politicians, as they all signed a pledge during this year's election campaign to vote against any rise in fees.
Nick Clegg, the Liberal Democrat leader, has defended the plans in a speech saying that the policy was the best available in the circumstances.
"I make just one request of those planning to protest: examine our proposals before taking to the streets. Listen and look before you march and shout," he said.
Tuesday, November 23, 2010
Formula D Fans: Show Your Support for the Sport
Are you a fan of Formula D, otherwise known as Formula Drifting? If you have a love for cars, racing, or anything else along those lines, there is a good chance that you are. Drifting has always been a relatively popular sport in the United States, but its popularity climaxed with the development of a professional Formula D series. Despite that popularity, the sport is still unknown by many. Formula D needs your help to keep its popularity on the rise. If you are wondering how you can go about doing this, you are not alone.
When it comes to helping Formula Drifting increase in popularity, there are many individuals who over analyze the situation. There are even others who think it is too much work. Well, this is simply not true. If you want to help Formula D become all that it can be, all that you have to do is be a fan. Sounds simple enough doesn’t it? While it is important to be a fan, you want to be more than just a fan. You want to be a fan that has a love and a passion for the sport. There are a number of different ways that you can go about accomplishing this.
Perhaps, the easiest way is to watch television programming that is focused on Formula D, including coverage of live events. To do this, you will need to have access to G4TV. G4TV is one of the few television networks that airs Formula D programs. The only problem with this is that the network has recently scaled back their coverage. Not as many programs are shown as they were in the past and many are being repeated, without cycling through old repeats first. To not only keep newer Formula D programs featured on G4TV, but to ensure that they keep their partnership with Formula Drift, you are advised to tune in as much as possible.
When it comes to television and the programming that airs on it, networks will not air programs that no one watches. Of course, in a way, this defeats the purpose of repeats. Most individuals can only watch a certain program a couple of times before it becomes too much to handle. Although these may prevent you from tuning into the Formula D coverage offered on G4TV, you are advised to think about the bigger picture. High ratings are the only way that a network will know that their viewers are interested. By tuning in or writing to the G4TV staff, you may help to keep the sport of drifting alive and interesting, at least on television.
In addition to watching Formula D events on television, you are also encouraged to watch them live, in person. The only problem with this is that there are a select number of locations in which Formula D events take places. These locations tend to include California, Georgia, Washington, Illinois, and New Jersey. If you are in the area, when one of these events are taking place, you are advised to attend one. In addition to having an exciting day, full of action, you will also find that these events are fairly easy to afford. Many venues only charge an admission fee of around twenty dollars per person. This means that you could easily afford to attend a Formula D event on your own or with your family.
When it comes to attending a live Formula D event, many fans are unsure exactly how it may help to increase the popularity of the sport. When a large number of fans turn out for a particular event, the event promoters are usually pleased. A large fan turnout will almost always guarantee that the event will occur again, often at a later date. A large fan turn out may also help to spark new Formula D event venues. If and when this does occur, they will likely be in new areas; thus giving fans, who were previously unable to attend an event the opportunity to do so.
As you can easily see, there are a number of different ways that you can go about supporting Formula Drifting. In fact, as a fan, it is likely that you already attend live events or watch sports coverage on television. If so, did you know that you are helping out the sport, likely in more ways than one?
Read More...
When it comes to helping Formula Drifting increase in popularity, there are many individuals who over analyze the situation. There are even others who think it is too much work. Well, this is simply not true. If you want to help Formula D become all that it can be, all that you have to do is be a fan. Sounds simple enough doesn’t it? While it is important to be a fan, you want to be more than just a fan. You want to be a fan that has a love and a passion for the sport. There are a number of different ways that you can go about accomplishing this.
Perhaps, the easiest way is to watch television programming that is focused on Formula D, including coverage of live events. To do this, you will need to have access to G4TV. G4TV is one of the few television networks that airs Formula D programs. The only problem with this is that the network has recently scaled back their coverage. Not as many programs are shown as they were in the past and many are being repeated, without cycling through old repeats first. To not only keep newer Formula D programs featured on G4TV, but to ensure that they keep their partnership with Formula Drift, you are advised to tune in as much as possible.
When it comes to television and the programming that airs on it, networks will not air programs that no one watches. Of course, in a way, this defeats the purpose of repeats. Most individuals can only watch a certain program a couple of times before it becomes too much to handle. Although these may prevent you from tuning into the Formula D coverage offered on G4TV, you are advised to think about the bigger picture. High ratings are the only way that a network will know that their viewers are interested. By tuning in or writing to the G4TV staff, you may help to keep the sport of drifting alive and interesting, at least on television.
In addition to watching Formula D events on television, you are also encouraged to watch them live, in person. The only problem with this is that there are a select number of locations in which Formula D events take places. These locations tend to include California, Georgia, Washington, Illinois, and New Jersey. If you are in the area, when one of these events are taking place, you are advised to attend one. In addition to having an exciting day, full of action, you will also find that these events are fairly easy to afford. Many venues only charge an admission fee of around twenty dollars per person. This means that you could easily afford to attend a Formula D event on your own or with your family.
When it comes to attending a live Formula D event, many fans are unsure exactly how it may help to increase the popularity of the sport. When a large number of fans turn out for a particular event, the event promoters are usually pleased. A large fan turnout will almost always guarantee that the event will occur again, often at a later date. A large fan turn out may also help to spark new Formula D event venues. If and when this does occur, they will likely be in new areas; thus giving fans, who were previously unable to attend an event the opportunity to do so.
As you can easily see, there are a number of different ways that you can go about supporting Formula Drifting. In fact, as a fan, it is likely that you already attend live events or watch sports coverage on television. If so, did you know that you are helping out the sport, likely in more ways than one?
Buying Formula D Drifting Merchandise
All across the country, millions of Americas sport a football jersey from their favorite football player or team. While you may not necessarily wear a jersey, you should still support your favorite Formula D driver or, at least, the sport as a whole. You can easily do this by purchasing Formula D drifting merchandise. If you have never tired to purchase this type of merchandise before, you may be wondering how you can go about doing so.
When it comes to buying Formula D merchandise, it is important to focus on a particular type of product or item. This is because, in most cases, you will find that you need to use different search methods when looking for a shirt versus looking for a book on the sport. So, for that reason, you are advised to try and narrow down your search. Of course, you can also search for additional products later. Plus, there is also a good chance that you will come across additional merchandise that catches your eye, when searching for a particular Formula D product.
When it comes to apparel, many fans like to wear apparel that has a focus on their favorite athlete. If this is the case with you, you will want to select your favorite Formula D driver and then search for any merchandise that they may have available for sale. If your favorite drifter has an online website, there is a good chance that merchandise, including clothing and apparel, could be found on their online website. If you are unable to find this apparel, you could also order your own. A large number of online websites allow you to custom order products, such as hats, shirts, and much more.
If you are interested in purchasing merchandise that has a general focus on Formula Drifting, instead of just a particular competitor, you may find it a little bit easier to find what you are looking for. Whether you want to purchase a book or a DVD, you should easily be able to find a number of different products online, not to mention in storefront retail locations. Although books and media items are available in most storefront retail locations, you may have better luck searching online. Most storefront retail stores are limited on the number of items that they carry. Essentially, this means that for a larger product selection, you are advised to shop online.
When shopping online, you will find that you have a number of different options. Online, you can find a large number of online retailers, as well as online auction sites. While your first impulse may be to purchase the cheapest products, you may want to think about who you are purchasing Formula D merchandise from. Although online auction websites are nice, you could be giving back to the sport by directly ordering merchandise from the Formula Drift Championship Series or from professional Formula D drivers.
In addition to ordering merchandise online, there is also a good chance that you could find the same or similar products at live Formula D events. During these events, vendors tend to setup display booths. The type of merchandise available for sale will all depend on where you are, but you should have a wide variety of different products to choose from. These products are likely to include Formula D apparel, as well as movies, books, and other media items.
By keeping the above mentioned points in mind, you should be able to find whatever you are looking for. Whether you are looking to purchase a Formula D shirt or the newest video game, you now know where to search. Now that you know where to go, what are you waiting for?
Read More...
When it comes to buying Formula D merchandise, it is important to focus on a particular type of product or item. This is because, in most cases, you will find that you need to use different search methods when looking for a shirt versus looking for a book on the sport. So, for that reason, you are advised to try and narrow down your search. Of course, you can also search for additional products later. Plus, there is also a good chance that you will come across additional merchandise that catches your eye, when searching for a particular Formula D product.
When it comes to apparel, many fans like to wear apparel that has a focus on their favorite athlete. If this is the case with you, you will want to select your favorite Formula D driver and then search for any merchandise that they may have available for sale. If your favorite drifter has an online website, there is a good chance that merchandise, including clothing and apparel, could be found on their online website. If you are unable to find this apparel, you could also order your own. A large number of online websites allow you to custom order products, such as hats, shirts, and much more.
If you are interested in purchasing merchandise that has a general focus on Formula Drifting, instead of just a particular competitor, you may find it a little bit easier to find what you are looking for. Whether you want to purchase a book or a DVD, you should easily be able to find a number of different products online, not to mention in storefront retail locations. Although books and media items are available in most storefront retail locations, you may have better luck searching online. Most storefront retail stores are limited on the number of items that they carry. Essentially, this means that for a larger product selection, you are advised to shop online.
When shopping online, you will find that you have a number of different options. Online, you can find a large number of online retailers, as well as online auction sites. While your first impulse may be to purchase the cheapest products, you may want to think about who you are purchasing Formula D merchandise from. Although online auction websites are nice, you could be giving back to the sport by directly ordering merchandise from the Formula Drift Championship Series or from professional Formula D drivers.
In addition to ordering merchandise online, there is also a good chance that you could find the same or similar products at live Formula D events. During these events, vendors tend to setup display booths. The type of merchandise available for sale will all depend on where you are, but you should have a wide variety of different products to choose from. These products are likely to include Formula D apparel, as well as movies, books, and other media items.
By keeping the above mentioned points in mind, you should be able to find whatever you are looking for. Whether you are looking to purchase a Formula D shirt or the newest video game, you now know where to search. Now that you know where to go, what are you waiting for?
Shoe Sale For The Big Boys: The Car Stereo Sale.
Announce a shoe sale, and the women come a’running. Announce a car stereo sale and the men, or more appropriately, the Big Boys come thundering with their checkbooks and wallets waving in the air.
The car stereo sale. This is every car audio, or even the regular audio enthusiasts’ Mecca. Only intense prayer is replaced by intense spending.
Car stereo sales happen at audio stores regularly. When a car audio manufacturer launches a new product, the prices of prior models drop drastically which may prompt the store or the brand name to initiate a car stereo sale. Most especially when a new technology comes out, a good example would be like the introduction of the Compact Disc technology, suddenly all cassette player car stereos became dirt cheap, no matter how cool that LED display might be.
Another avenue of car stereo sales are at expos and conventions. Most of the time, the good stuff come out at expos’, whether it be a car expo, audio system expo, but usually the largest car stereo sale happens at a gathering of car audio manufacturers. Well, at these kinds of expos’ and conventions, it’s not usually a sale because the manufacturers usually try to get buyers for their newest product. If you have the money and you’re out there to buy some serious hardware, then by all means, SPLURGE AWAY!
But first you have to know what it is you want to buy. Don’t go running off to a car stereo sale without knowing what it is your system needs. There are a lot of items in a car stereo sale, shiny, glittery and LOUD items that might get your attention but don’t let it tempt you to whip out your wallet just yet. Although most car audio enthusiasts need not be reminded of this (because they know their stuff well, it’s probably all they think about all day) any car stereo sale newbie might get the itch to impulse buy, especially when the item displays high wattage. Or even if it just looks spacy and high-tech.
When planning to go to a car stereo sale, you have to prepare, prepare, PREPARE. Take a good look at your audio system. What does it need? Do you need a complete overhaul of your stereo system? If it doesn’t really need anything but you just want to take it up a notch and upgrade it, make sure what you’re planning to buy is compatible with your existing system. Don’t but a high watt bazooka speaker if your amplifier can’t handle it. Although audio parts like these have very high resale value, save yourself some trouble and buy the right parts. You don’t want to end up buying a very expensive paperweight.
Also, do what other enthusiasts’ are doing. READ MAGAZINES! These car audio magazines contain reviews and price listings of the items you may be looking for. You’ll also get acquainted with products you might have never heard before, it will surely open up your choices and options.
Going to a car stereo sales is also a good way to meet other car audio enthusiasts’ like yourself. Who knows, you might meet someone who might be willing to just trade items. It will save you the money and gain you some new friends.
Read More...
The car stereo sale. This is every car audio, or even the regular audio enthusiasts’ Mecca. Only intense prayer is replaced by intense spending.
Car stereo sales happen at audio stores regularly. When a car audio manufacturer launches a new product, the prices of prior models drop drastically which may prompt the store or the brand name to initiate a car stereo sale. Most especially when a new technology comes out, a good example would be like the introduction of the Compact Disc technology, suddenly all cassette player car stereos became dirt cheap, no matter how cool that LED display might be.
Another avenue of car stereo sales are at expos and conventions. Most of the time, the good stuff come out at expos’, whether it be a car expo, audio system expo, but usually the largest car stereo sale happens at a gathering of car audio manufacturers. Well, at these kinds of expos’ and conventions, it’s not usually a sale because the manufacturers usually try to get buyers for their newest product. If you have the money and you’re out there to buy some serious hardware, then by all means, SPLURGE AWAY!
But first you have to know what it is you want to buy. Don’t go running off to a car stereo sale without knowing what it is your system needs. There are a lot of items in a car stereo sale, shiny, glittery and LOUD items that might get your attention but don’t let it tempt you to whip out your wallet just yet. Although most car audio enthusiasts need not be reminded of this (because they know their stuff well, it’s probably all they think about all day) any car stereo sale newbie might get the itch to impulse buy, especially when the item displays high wattage. Or even if it just looks spacy and high-tech.
When planning to go to a car stereo sale, you have to prepare, prepare, PREPARE. Take a good look at your audio system. What does it need? Do you need a complete overhaul of your stereo system? If it doesn’t really need anything but you just want to take it up a notch and upgrade it, make sure what you’re planning to buy is compatible with your existing system. Don’t but a high watt bazooka speaker if your amplifier can’t handle it. Although audio parts like these have very high resale value, save yourself some trouble and buy the right parts. You don’t want to end up buying a very expensive paperweight.
Also, do what other enthusiasts’ are doing. READ MAGAZINES! These car audio magazines contain reviews and price listings of the items you may be looking for. You’ll also get acquainted with products you might have never heard before, it will surely open up your choices and options.
Going to a car stereo sales is also a good way to meet other car audio enthusiasts’ like yourself. Who knows, you might meet someone who might be willing to just trade items. It will save you the money and gain you some new friends.
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