Six In The Morning

America's secret plan to arm Libya's rebels
Obama asks Saudis to airlift weapons into Benghazi
By Robert Fisk, Middle East Correspondent Monday, 7 March 2011
Desperate to avoid US military involvement in Libya in the event of a prolonged struggle between the Gaddafi regime and its opponents, the Americans have asked Saudi Arabia if it can supply weapons to the rebels in Benghazi. The Saudi Kingdom, already facing a "day of rage" from its 10 per cent Shia Muslim community on Friday, with a ban on all demonstrations, has so far failed to respond to Washington's highly classified request, although King Abdullah personally loathes the Libyan leader, who tried to assassinate him just over a year ago.
Washington's request is in line with other US military co-operation with the Saudis. The royal family in Jeddah, which was deeply involved in the Contra scandal during the Reagan administration, gave immediate support to American efforts to arm guerrillas fighting the Soviet army in Afghanistan in 1980 and later – to America's chagrin – also funded and armed the Taliban.

Japan's foreign minister resigns over illegal donation

Seiji Maehara's sudden resignation could not have come at a worse time for the prime minister as he struggles to push a series of bills through a deeply divided parliament
Justin McCurry in Osaka guardian.co.uk, Monday 7 March 2011
http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2011/mar/07/japan-foreign-minister-resigns-illegal-donation Japan's foreign minister Seiji Maehara has resigned, following revelations that he had received an illegal donation from a foreign national, deepening the crisis facing Japan's government.
Maehara had earlier admitted receiving a total of 250,000 yen since 2005 from a South Korean resident of Japan, but said he had been unaware of the source of the cash.
According to Japanese media, the chief cabinet secretary, Yukio Edano, will double up as foreign minister until a permanent replacement is named for Maehara, a strong supporter of security ties with the US who had been tipped as a possible successor to the prime minister, Naoto Kan.

Voting reform would give voice to extreme parties, says Clarke
The Irish Times - Monday, March 7, 2011
MARK HENNESSY, London Editor, in Cardiff
EXTREME POLITICAL parties such as the far-right British National Party will be given a voice in British politics if the referendum on voting reform is passed on May 5th, leading Conservative minister Kenneth Clarke has said.
The referendum on the introduction of the alternative vote, which would put an end to first-past-the-post, was agreed between the Conservatives and the Liberal Democrats as part of the smaller party’s price to enter the coalition, although Liberal Democrat leader Nick Clegg once described it as “a miserable little compromise” compared with the party’s preference for proportional representation.

Aruna Shanbaug has to live, says Supreme Court

Agencies
New Delhi, March 07, 2011
The Supreme Court on Monday rejected a petition for the mercy killing of Aruna Shanbaug, who has been in a "persistent vegitative state" for the past 37 years after being sodomised by a hospital sweeper but permitted passive euthanasia subject to a declaration by a high court to this effect. An apex court bench of justice Markandey Katju and justice
Gyan Sudha Misra delivered the ruling while rejecting a petition moved on Shanbaug's behalf by her friend and social activist Pinki Virani
Justice Katju said that active euthanasia is illegal as there is no statutory provision to support it.
However, the court said: "Passive euthanasia is permissible under certain conditions with the approval of the high court."

Mexican Church Takes a Closer Look at Donors


By DAMIEN CAVE Published: March 6, 2011
PACHUCA, Mexico — The large orange chapel here, with its towering cross, would be just another Roman Catholic church if not for a bronze plaque announcing that it was “donated by Heriberto Lazcano Lazcano” — better known as “the executioner,” commander of the ruthless crime syndicate called the Zetas.
The nameplate goes on to quote Psalm 143: “Lord, hear my prayer, answer my plea.” But Mexican Catholics are the ones struggling with how to respond.
Ever since the chapel’s financing spawned a government investigation four months ago, theRoman Catholic Church in Mexico has been trying to confront its historic ties to drug traffickers.

Rio celebrates 'greatest party on earth'



Rio de Janeiro
March 7, 2011
Revelry took over Rio's streets on Saturday as Carnival kicked into high gear, while extra police ensured the safety of those participating in the event billed as the Greatest Party on Earth.
A light rain did nothing to dampen the festive spirit, serving more as a refreshing cool-down for bodies worked into a sweat as they danced and gyrated in the numerous "blocos", or street parties.
The monster of all the blocos, the Bloco Bola Preta, filled the centre of Rio with a motley crowd of up to two million people wearing all manner of garb - or in many cases, little at all.