Kuwait to deport 'stateless' protestors who demanded citizenship [Al Jazeera, Qatar]

Presenter, Male #1
In Kuwait, the agency in charge of illegal residents, who are locally known as bidoons or stateless, issued a decision to take "deterrent measures" against those it described as law-violators, in reference to stateless protestors who participated in demonstrations in the past several weeks. The number of the so-called bidoons in Kuwait is estimated at 100,000.

Reporter, Male #2
"The deportation of stateless protestors" is one of the headlines in Kuwaiti newspapers today: the outcome of a meeting convened by the Central Agency for Illegal Residents in Kuwait. Illegal residents in Kuwait are known as bidoons, and their number is estimated at over 100,000. The meeting, chaired by Deputy Prime Minister, Defense Minister and Interior Minister Sheikh Sheikh Ahmad al-Humud al-Sabah, concluded with a decision to take "deterrent" measures. These measures will be enforced against stateless law-violators who took part in protests in the past several weeks, and against those who plan on participating in future protests. These measures include: first, laying off military members of the defense and interior ministries if they were involved in the protests; second, evicting them from government housing; third, canceling their security IDs; fourth, canceling their naturalization cases; fifth, deporting all those involved in the protests, who are known to hold citizenship, back to their own countries; sixth, deporting those unregistered at the Central Agency who previously signed their notifications to leave the country but did not do so. This decision comes after days of protests by the bidoons, the latest of which were held on Friday and Saturday. Security forces detained dozens of protestors on charges of taking part in an unlawful assembly, assaulting security forces, wounding military members, damaging vehicles, and violating the Interior Ministry's orders that banned organizing protests. In light of this decision, many questions have been raised about the future of this thorny issue in Kuwait, which the bidoons say has been unresolved for nearly four decades. Perhaps the answer to this question can be answered by the authorities' statements. The most recent was issued by Prime Minister Jaber al-Mubarak during his meeting with Yemeni Nobel Peace Price laureate Tawakkul Karman, indicating that a roadmap was drawn to solve the issue of the bidoons and that eligible applicants who were included in the 1965 government census will be naturalized. Or, perhaps the answer will come on Friday, as the secretary-general of the Kuwaiti Bidoons Congregation, Musaed al-Shammari, announced that the bidoons will take to the streets every Friday until their demands are met.

Presenter, Male #1
The European Court for Human Rights said extraditing Jordanian Omar Othman, also known as Abu Qatada, from Britain to Jordan would violate his rights to receive a fair trial. According to the court's ruling, there is real danger that evidence extracted from him under torture could be used against him. Abu Qatada is accused of being the right-hand man of al-Qaeda's late leader Osama bin Laden in Europe.

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Yemeni regime accused of handing over Rada'a to extremist groups [Al-Alam, Iran]

Presenter, Female #
Yemeni Foreign Minister Abu Bakr al-Qirbi said that the presidential elections set for February 21 may be postponed. Yemeni tribes accused the authorities of collaborating with armed extremist groups that seized control of Rada'a City in central Yemen. Meanwhile, demonstrations continued across various Yemeni provinces demanding the downfall of the regime.

Reporter, Male #1
As the Yemeni revolution enters its second year of popular protests against President Ali Abdullah Saleh's regime, the country is continuing to face US and Saudi intervention aimed at stirring sectarian conflict and supporting armed groups. According to the Saudi-based Watan Newspaper, a Salafi source in the Kitaf region near the Saudi-Yemeni border confirmed that armed groups are mobilizing to eliminate the Houthis. Yemeni newspapers reported that Takfiri groups affiliated with the Reform Party in Aden and other Yemeni cities are calling for the fight against Houthis in Sa'ada. They are also organizing campaigns of incitement and circulating pamphlets under the watch of the Yemeni government.

Guest, Male #2 (Yousef al-Sishi, Member of Houthi Political Office)
The Reform Party and the regime are collaborating with Saudi and US intelligence. They are mobilizing these elements against the Yemeni people, the revolution, and the revolutionaries in order to abort the New Yemen Project. We hold the US primarily responsible, then the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.

Reporter, Male #1
Meanwhile, Saudi-backed groups believed to be affiliated with al-Qaeda have seized control of the city of Rada'a in al-Bayda'a Province, after taking control of the southern city of Abyan and expanding into the north. In response, the residents accused the Yemeni authorities of collaborating with the armed groups by handing the bases and arms over to them. However, the ruling Congress Party said that the expansion of al-Qaeda's influence in the country will not serve anyone but its government partner, the Reform Party.

Guest, Male #3 (Tribal leader in Bayda'a Province)
This silence is frightening. The city of Rada'a was handed over to them. They want to disrupt the city and its state institutions. Not even a call was issued or a bullet was fired by the guards. It's organized chaos.

Reporter, Male #1
The growing decline in security and the exchange of accusations between the ruling partners have failed to prevent Yemenis from taking to the streets across various cities to demand the downfall of the regime and reject legal immunity for Saleh. In Yemen's central city of Ibb and southern city of Ad Dali, massive demonstrations broke out in solidarity with the victims who were killed or injured during the Reconciliation and Forgiveness Festival in the city of Aden. The demonstrators stressed the importance of upholding national unity until the revolution's objectives are achieved.

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Syria rejects Qatar's call for Arab troops [New TV, Lebanon]

Presenter, Male # 1
An explosive device killed more civilians in Syria as confrontations took place in al-Zabadani. Meanwhile, the Foreign Ministry rejects any plan to send Arab troops to Syria.

Reporter, Male # 2
The Syrian center for human rights reported the killing of eight citizens when an explosive device was detonated on a bus carrying travelers on the road between Idlib and Aleppo in the northwestern part of the country. Eight others were killed by the gunfire of Syrian forces and their loyalists, including seven in the city of Homs, according to the Syrian center. The center added that armored vehicles carrying troops roamed al-Qahira Street, located in the heart of Homs city, opening fire arbitrarily, and killing a civilian and wounding nine others in al-Khalidiya neighborhood. Meanwhile, members of the Free Syrian Army indicated that the area of al-Zabadani was subjected to tank shelling.

Guest, Male # 3
Al-Assad's militias shelled us from this road down there. Where is the Arab League? Let it honor us with its visit. Look, the whole staircase was destroyed.

Reporter, Male # 2
On the other hand, al-Sharq al-Awsat newspaper indicated that the head of the Baqqara tribe, Sheikh Nawaf al-Bashir, managed to leave Syria three days ago, and is now in Istanbul, amid conditions he described as difficult. Al-Bashir told the newspaper he will work with the opposition and coordinate with the revolutionaries in Syria. He held the Syrian regime responsible for any harm to his family members. Al-Bashir also harshly criticized the mission of the Arab League observers, confirming his constant stance in support of the Syrian revolution. The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights announced the release of lawyer and rights activist Najati Tayyara, who had been detained since May of last year. As for the Arab monitors, the official Syrian television station said the Arab League's delegation visited a number of areas across different provinces, in addition to some prisons. The delegation also met with a number of people released under the amnesty law.

Guest, Male # 4
This speech, this promise, the promise to the Saudis, is a return to reality. We saw and lived the joy of the prisoners. We saw their great joy that resulted from this amnesty. In truth, this contributes to Syria's stability, God willing.

Guest, Male # 5
God willing, you will maintain your country. We don't want to issue statements to the media but don't listen to biased media that negatively impact your country.

Reporter, Male # 2
In another development, a Syrian Foreign Ministry official told SANA news agency that Syria is surprised by the statements of Qatari officials calling for sending Arab forces to Syria. The official confirmed Syria's categorical rejection of such calls, which aim to aggravate the situation and end the work of the Arab League, while opening the door to foreign intervention in Syrian affairs. The source added that it would be regrettable for Arab blood to be shed on Syrian land in the service of well-known agendas, notably after the conspiracy against Syria became evident. The Syrian Foreign Ministry official renewed the Arab League's call to exert tangible efforts to stop the incitement and media campaigns aimed at escalating the situation in Syria and, instead, help prevent the infiltration of terrorists and the smuggling of weapons into Syria.

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Jordanian king meets with Obama to advance Mideast peace talks [IBA, Israel]

In other news today, Jordan's King Abdullah will meet with US President Barack Obama at the White House with the goal toward advancing peace talks with the Palestinians. And in London, British Deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg called Israeli settlements "deliberate vandalism." Here with more is IBA's Eli Wohlgelernter. Yes, King Abdullah visits the White House today to talk about talks taking place in Amman, and it sounds more like talk about talk. In his first trip to the White House since last May, which you see here, Jordan's King Abdullah will update Obama on the three rounds of talks taking place in Amman this month. Ahead of the meeting King Abdullah told the Washington Post that both parties have major hurdles to overcome before they can even begin to grapple with concrete proposals for creating a future Palestinian state.

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Defense gives opening remarks in Mubarak trial [BBC Arabic, UK]

Presenter, Male #1
Former Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak is being tried on charges of killing protestors during the popular uprising that toppled his rule. His defense lawyer said there is no evidence proving that his client gave orders to open fire on protestors. During the closing arguments of the defense today at the Cairo Criminal Court, his lawyer said Mubarak devoted his life to serving his nation and was a victim of hatred. Meanwhile, the court decided to suspend the session until tomorrow to complete the defense proceedings, which are expected to continue for a number of days.

Reporter, Female #1
The Cairo Criminal Court began hearing the defense's argument for deposed Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak. The defense has five days to prove the innocence of Mubarak, who is facing charges of corruption and incitement to kill protestors during the popular demonstrations that Egypt witnessed in January and February of 2011. Also being tried is former Egyptian Interior Minister Habib al-Adly, six of Mubarak's aides, and his two sons Alaa and Gamal. The public prosecution demanded the death penalty for the defendants, who deny all charges. The defense lawyer says Mubarak's trial is a political one.

Guest, Male #2 (Nadir Mohamed Hisham, Defense Lawyer)
The public prosecution's case can be considered to a large extent to be political, not criminal. The public prosecution said gathering evidence was very difficult since the investigations were of no help to them; means of research at all the other cases' disposal, such as detectives, were not available to them? So, such talk is false because many reports were issued but since they did not please the public prosecution's office they were not presented.

Reporter, Female #1
Outside the court, Mubarak's supporters gathered amid heightened security measures. They carried his picture and chanted slogans affirming his innocence.

Guest, Female #2
We are expecting good news. We rely on God first and foremost. It will be proven that the president is innocent and he didn't do anything wrong. One who fights the Israelis cannot hurt his people.

Reporter, Female #1
On the other hand, a number of Mubarak's opponents demonstrated, demanding he get the maximum penalty.

Guest, Male #3
See what he did to me? I will return here if he's declared innocent.

Reporter, Female #1
The public prosecution accuses Mubarak of being a tyrant who imposed a dictatorship during his thirty years of reign in Egypt and seeking to pass the presidency on to his youngest son Gamal. It also asserts that certain government institutions, including the Interior Ministry, deliberately avoided providing help to the investigators. The Cairo Criminal Court has given a full month to listen to the defense proceedings, which will end on February 16. Youla Zahar ad-Din, BBC.

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Hamas calls cyberwar on Israel 'new resistance' [Press TV, Iran]

The Palestinian resistance group Hamas has praised the recent cyber attacks on Israeli websites. This after computer hackers once again disrupted online access to the Tel Aviv Stock Exchange and El Al airlines. The websites of two small bancks were also attacked on Monday. So far there has been no claim of responsibility. Earlier this month, the hacker who was said to be from Saudi Arabia published thousands of personal and credit card details of Israelis in one of the worst cases of mass cyber identity theft experienced by Israel.

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World coalition gathers in Beirut to organize global march to Jerusalem [Press TV, Iran]

The international executive committee of the global march to Jerusalem al Quds has held a conference in the Lebanese capital Beirut. The organization has condemned the Judaization of Jerusalem al Quds, calling for solidarity with the city. The meeting is a follow-up to the previous one in Amman in Jordan last month. The participants have reached a consensus to form an international central committee representing all regions of the world. The organization set the 30th of March for rallies to be staged in countries like Jordan, Syria, and Lebanon.

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Saudi protestors hold demonstrations in Qatif [Press TV, Iran]

Anti-government demonstrators in Saudi Arabia have held yet another rally in the Eastern Province to condemn recent killing of a young protestor. Twenty-two year old Issam Muhammad Abu Abdullah died in an attack on a peaceful demonstration last week. Several others were injured. Saudi Arabia has been witnessing demonstrations on an almost daily basis over the past months. The demonstrators demand the release of political prisoners. They are also angry at economic and religious discrimination as well as their government's involvement in the brutal crackdown on protest rallies in neighboring Bahrain.

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Saudi prince discloses land issue [Press TV, Iran]

Also in Saudi Arabia, a senior member of the country's ruling family has accused some royal figures of owning massive chunks of land. Prince Talal Bin Abdul-Aziz Al Saud, the royal king's half brother, has said some members of the royal family own up to 500 million square meters of land. This as 60 percent of Saudis lack private housing. Experts say that the real estate corruption has double the cost of housing by 200 percent within the past three years. Prince Talal's remarks also highlight rising tension among royal figures following the death of the crown prince last year. Reports say Prince Talal is unhappy about the appointment of his younger brother to the post.

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Tunisian students on hunger strike over niqab ban [Press TV, Iran]

In Tunisia, a group of university students are to start a hunger strike in the northeastern city of Manouba later in the day. The strike is part of protests that began at the Faculty of Arts and Humanitites of Manouba University late last year. Protestors are angry at the university's ban on wearing niqab, or full face veil, by female students. Girls wearing the niqab were prevented from taking exams or attending classes. Students demand wearing the niqab be allowed and an area for prayer be provided inside the university.

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Tunisian economy faces challenges a year after Jasmine Revolution [Dubai TV, UAE]

Presenter, Male #1
One year after Tunisia's Jasmine Revolution toppled former President Zine el-Abidine Ben Ali's regime, it appears that the country's economy is at a critical turning point, especially in light of the rising unemployment rate and of predictions indicating the likelihood of a budget deficit rising to six percent of this year's GDP. Abdul Azizi al-Badi reports on Tunisia's economy.

Reporter, Male #2
One year has passed since the Tunisian revolution erupted and overthrew the regime of former President Zine el-Abidine Ben Ali. Tunisia's Jasmine Revolution was sparked in the city of Sidi Bouzid and ended with the downfall of the regime. According to certain analysts, the country's economy is at a major crossroads, especially since the protests caused the tourism industry to decline by nearly 50 percent. This has negatively affected the Tunisian economy, which largely relies on tourism.

Guest, Male #3 (Ridha Saidi, Tunisian Minister of Economic Affairs)
The economic indicator of the gross domestic product was nearly 0.2 percent. As for unemployment, it rose to unprecedented levels, especially when the workers in Libya returned.

Reporter, Male #2
The Tunisian economy is facing challenges despite an increase in spending, estimated at over seven percent in comparison to the previous year, as the Tunisian parliament approved a budget of around 16 billion dollars. The most prominent difficulty appears to be the rising unemployment rate in Tunisia fueled by the decline in tourism, in addition to the return of a large number of workers from Libya. The goal now is to create 75,000 jobs this year.

Guest, Male #3
God willing, in 2012 we hope to attain a four percent growth rate and it will be very important if we do, especially in light of the economic slowdown in Europe. If we reach three or four percent, it will be an important accomplishment, in addition to external investments. We estimate that we will be able to reach it, and other demands of the revolution, such as employment growth.

Reporter, Male #2
Despite the expectations that the budget deficit will rise to nearly six percent of the gross domestic product this year, in comparison to approximately 4.5 percent last year, other predications indicate that the Tunisian economy will achieve a gross domestic product of around 4.5 percent. If achieved, it will be a significant accomplishment according to the Tunisian minister of economic affairs.

Presenter, Male #1
In neighboring Algeria, protestors in the town of al-Aghwat are demanding that local officials resign due to a housing program they describe as corrupt. Even though thousands of families moved into new residences within the framework of restoring a housing program aimed at building one million new residential units by 2014, thousands of people in Aghwat have been on the waiting list for years. The protestors accused officials of using the housing program to receive bribes, and they say the program has been very corrupt.