East-Asia Leading Worldwide Car Production

According to recent statistics I found in a magazine, published by the largest German organization of car drivers, ADAC, China can now be regarded as the No.1 car producer worldwide. This I took for reason to examine some aspects of East-Asian car production.

"Sai Ou 赛欧", a Chinese manufacturer of cars offers his latest model called "Xue Fo Lan 雪佛兰". As there is no intelligible translation of the model's name, it might be a combination of the Chinese word "xue" for "snow" (German "Schnee") and the sound-adaptation "fo-lan" possibly representing the German word of "Fohlen" which means young horse. The result could therefore be "Schneefohlen", a beautiful white-coloured and energetic young horse, thus hinting at German competitors on the Chinese market (Audi, BMW, Mercedes) who are offering their top models to Chinese top clients. Such interpretation of the car's name becomes even more credible when we look at the translation of the Chinese company's name of "Sai Ou 赛欧" which simply means "Surpassing Europe" or at least, in a moderate version, "Competiting with Europe", thus directly indicating Germany which is Europe's most important exporter of cars. That's just an example how Chinese folks are thinking.

Exhibition site of Sai Ou Ltd. showing their latest model in the foreground while the background poster is referring to Sai Ou's cars of the so-called "Happiness 幸福" series:


Below are photos of the Xue FoLan model:


1.4L S-TEC III (54.3 kW/L)和1.2L S-TEC II (53.1 kW/L)发动机，0到100公里加速分别可达到11.9秒和12.9秒，而百公里综合油耗仅为5.9L和5.7L。
Reaching 100 km/h in 11.9 (54.3 kW engine) / 12.9 seconds (53.1 kW engine) while fuel consumption at 100 km/h is 5.9 / 5.7 L.

There will be five versions on the market, ranging from the basic model (1.2 L S-TEC II engine) up to the premium model (1.4 L S-TEC III engine), each of them available in six different colours.

雪佛兰新赛欧正式上市 售价5.68-6.88万元：从1.2L手动温馨版到1.4L手动优逸版，并有六种车身颜色。

By the way, if the Xue FoLan model would ever invade the European market, it could even be sold at a competitive price which lies, according to delivered equipment, between 56.800 and 68.800 Yuan which is 6.700 - 8.100 €. Even though, the actual evaluation rate of the Chinese currency, usually considered as far too low, might be subject to future adjustment due to increasing political pressure from North America and Euro zone countries, such car prices alone could guarantee a decent segment on the European car market.

As to the expected quality of Chinese cars, I should add that China already reached a high standard in the production of special steel, necessary for car production and shipbuilding. Thus, Chinese cars are not likely to get rusty faster than those from America or Europe.

But it's not all about exportation to Europe: Wealthy newcomers from within an emerging middle-class in China are targeted as well by East-Asian car manufacturers. The Japanese brand Lexus which makes part of the Toyota family is trying to sell its expensive segment of brandnew landrovers together with moderate sex in a campaign named "香车美女", a name that could be translated either as "Fine Smelling Car - Beautiful Woman", thus referring to the car's low emission rates, or as "Hongkong Car - U.S. Woman", such putting stress on Western design and technology. The landrover model, up to now assembled and sold in North America under the label of LX 570, was renamed for the Chinese market into "Conquering Dragon 霸王龙". Another interpretation of the Chinese name being "Ba Wang's Dragon" which is referring to a famous but cruel Chinese warrior. Both versions would make feel the Chinese driver like a hero of the road...

Lexus LX 570:


Even though, Japanese car sellers recently lost much credibility among their Western customers, they still enjoy a large segment on the international market. Together with an uprising Chinese giant whose output of cars for, both, local requirements and international challenges already overtook declining U.S. car production, East-Asian car manufacturers as a whole are getting more and more influential, especially when it comes to modern driving technology. This is at least what car exhibitions in Tokyo and Guangzhou (Canton) are indicating.

Statistics of worldwide car production (2011):

Israel vs. Iran - Preparing for High Noon

Parading Iranian soldiers

People's Daily Online / People's Network on November 22, 2011:

伊朗称要让以色列血债血偿

Headline: Iran states it would make Israel pay with blood for blood.

人民网11月22日讯 据合众国际社报道，伊朗军方重要领导人日前表示，一旦伊朗受到以色列的军事袭击，伊朗即刻准备回击以色列。

On November 22, a People's Network report and that is citing "united international agencies" [probably meant: United Press International UPI] informed:
The day before, Iran's highest military leaders made it clear that in case Iran received a military attack from Israel, Iran would immediately prepare for a counter-attack against Israel.

伊朗首都德黑兰西南部40公里外的一个革命卫队军事基地12日发生爆炸，导致17人丧命，其中包括该革命卫队指挥官穆加达姆。

A detonation that took place on a military base of the revolutionary guards 40 km south-west of Iran's capital Teheran on [November] 12, caused the death of 17, probably comprising the commander of the revolutionary guards (Mujia Damu).

伊朗参谋长联席会议副主席拉希德声称，势必要让以色列血债血偿。一旦以色列再次冒犯伊朗，伊朗已全面部署好导弹，准备重击以色列各个中心地区。

The deputy chairman of the joint conference of Iran's chiefs of staff, (Laxide), claims that Israel certainly needs to be made to pay with blood for blood. If Israel once more offends Iran, Iran will then arrange for an overall deployment of guided missiles and prepare a heavy blow against each of Israel's central regions.

据称，伊朗上星期开展的军事演习在东部边境300,000平方英里以内都已部署好军事力量。

Such referring to Iran's manoeuvre that was opened at the beginning of the week [near] the eastern border, in an area covering 300.000 square miles and where military power is being deployed.

Latest news from the Arabic website of Al-Jazeera on November 27:

إيران تتوعد الدرع الصاروخي بتركيا

Headline: Iran endangers the missile shield of Turkey.

أكد قائد القوة الجوية التابعة للحرس الثوري الإيراني أمير علي حاجي زادة، أمس السبت، أن بلاده قد تستهدف الدرع الصاروخي لحلف شمال الأطلسي (ناتو) بتركيا في حالة نشوب أي صراع في المستقبل

A commander of the Iranian air force and which belongs to the Iranian Revolutionary Guards, Amir Ali Haji Saada, confirmed yesterday [i.e. Saturday, Nov. 26] that his country could [cope with] the missile shield of the North Atlantic Pact (NATO) in Turkey, in case of any future fighting.

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Israel's defense minister Ehud Barak in a recent interview with CNN.

Will Israel attack Iran ?
Barak: The main issue on the table is Iran, its behavior, its intention.

America's role in the Middle East
Barak: Obama's administration "excelling" in its support of Israel.

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Al-Jazeera Special (2007) on Israel's Nuclear Program:

Location of nuclear facilities in Israel.

من الملاحظ أن أكثر مواقع البرنامج النووي الإسرائيلي تقع قرب تجمعات سكنية عربية مدن أو قرى

It can be observed that most locations of Israel's nuclear program happen to exist near concentrations of Arabic inhabitants either in towns or villages.
[Most important Palestinian settlements (Ramallah, Jerusalem and Hebron) have been marked on the above map by their Arabic names written in small letters.]

Editor's remark:
There are different nuclear installations for research and storage of weapons in the central area of Israel, reaching from Haifa to lake Genezareth and from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem, including the Soreq Center for Nuclear Research in Soreq brook valley that is stretching between Tel Aviv and Jerusalem. But the most important facility for the development of nuclear weapons can be found in the southern part of the country where the Dimona Center for Nuclear Research is being located, right in the middle of the Negev desert. An international commission that once visited this installation many years ago had been deceived by a unique construction which concealed all essential laboratories in some underground levels below the area visited by the commission. No entrance to any lower level could be detected by that commission. Later, any further international request for another visit of the Dimona facility was categorically rejected.

It is only recently that Israel's government officially confirmed the possession of homemade nuclear weapons which has been an unspoken but open secret for many years.

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A Walk About Israel - Suspicious Landscape South of Tel Aviv.

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Quran-Sura 3:64


Editor's remark:
The above cited "People of the Book" are all those who once received a scripture from Allah (Arabic: "The God"), i.e. the Jews and their Torah, the Christians and their Bible, and finally, the Muslims and their Quran.

Compare this to a previous blogspot on Israel vs. Iran.

Libya - Former Strongmen Captured

After Muammar Al-Gadafi, now, his eldest son Saif Al-Islam and the former chief of Libyan intelligence, Abdullah Al-Senussi, have been captured.



From the archives of Al-Jazeera TV:
Intelligence chief Abdullah Al-Senussi in an interview.

Iran-Israel-Conflict

Israel's guided missile system

David vs. Goliath Reloaded - Same Result Again ?

Two days ago, Israel's president Perez publicly declared it was time to attack Iran's nuclear facilities in order to withhold Iranian specialists from finishing their first nuclear device in a very near future. As Iran's president Ahmadi Nejad already indicated that Israel needed to be annihilated in order to restore peace in the Middle East, Israeli fears seem to be understandable. At the same time, any military action whatsoever taken by Israel's military against Iranian territory would certainly trigger off a military conflict of an unpredictable dimension. There are different arguments feeding such evaluation:

- Iran is a powerful regional nation with a high standard of military efficiency and that is based on modern Russian equipment and its own development of weaponry. Even though Russian president Putin lately agreed to stop the export of guided missiles to Iran, the country's military capabilities cannot be overestimated.

- Iran is a vast country that cannot be easily invaded like Afghanistan and Iraq. It's population might suffer from its political and religious leadership but would never accept a foreign attack. Therefore, military and civil resistance on all possible levels can be taken for granted.

- Iran's geopolitical situation is a very special one. Reaching from the backyard of Russia's political and economic sphere of influence (oil fields of Azerbaijan, natural gas resources of Turkmenistan) to the Persian gulf where it could threaten any westbound shipping of crude oil and petrochemical products. Furthermore, Iran is in direct contact with many Arab nations where people are historically opposing Israel and U.S. support of the Jewish state. Even the U.S. fostered governments in Afghanistan and Iraq enjoy friendly relations with their Iranian neighbours. Let alone China that is absolutely not interested in further turmoil in the Middle East and Central Asia, the region of rich oil resources so badly needed for feeding China's booming economy.

- Israel, on the opposite, has followed a rigid policy of suppression against their Palestinian neighbours, the original owners of their territory, since the very foundation of the Jewish state. Long harboured hate and mistrust on both sides have forged Israel into a paranoid community "under siege" that is forced to pump most of its national wealth into its army and the development of highly sophisticated weapons, including weapons of mass destruction.

- Having neglected its structural development for decades in favor of military excellence, Israel is now facing a difficult time where public protest is on the rise. In fact, Israel is addicted to regular support from its few friends, namely in the U.S., and cannot afford its military adventures and incursions into Gaza or Lebanon any longer. Even if their planned destruction of nuclear facilities in Iran was successful, Israel would not stand a continued military response for long.

Only remember the destruction of Saddam Hussein's secret nuclear facility in Iraq by Israeli warplanes many years ago : Such surprise attack, based on an unexpected intelligence coup by Israel's security service Mossad isn't possible any longer after public announcement. And even Mossad is no longer what it used to be (just remember the Dubai scandal when Mossad assassins were caught red-handed).

Therefore it would be wise to hold back the state of the Jews from dragging the West into a conflict that will certainly put the United States and its European allies into a position of confrontation against Russia and China that are both following their own economic interests in the region. And by the way : Why isn't anybody demanding Israel to give up its nuclear arsenal, the existence of which is already proven ?

Below: BBC video - Evidence Israel's nuclear weapons(Banned Censored) - Part I and II




Additional material :

- A semi-official U.S. evaluation of Israel's nuclear weapons potential dating back to 1999.


- Proliferation of nuclear weapons made in Israel to the former apartheid regime of South Africa : In 2010, the British daily GUARDIAN reported on a secret weapons deal signed by the defence ministers Perez and Botha in 1975.


不是狮吼是墙角里的猫叫
"It's not the roaring of a lion but the shouting of a cornered cat."

Headline of a Chinese report on Israel's intention to attack Iran, published November 8 in People's Daily Online / People's Network.

法国外交部长阿兰·朱佩6日公开表示反对对伊朗核项目动武，称军事打击可能引发整个地区的“彻底动乱”。
On November 6, the French minister of foreign affairs, Alain Juppé, publicly declared his opposition to any attack launched against Iran's nuclear [facilities], saying that a military blow would probably trigger off " thoroughgoing turmoil " in the whole region.

阿拉维6日公开发表演讲，称以色列言论“不是狮吼”，“而是墙角里的猫叫”。
[On the same day, Ayatollah] Alawi described Israel's proclamation in a public lecture as " not the roaring of a lion but the shouting of a cornered cat ".

Meeting between China's Prime Minister Wen Jia Bao and Russia's president Putin yesterday, November 7 [People's Network, Beijing]

First news on Israel threatening Iran [Al-Arabiya TV, November 6]

مع ترقب "تقرير حاسم" لوكالة الطاقة الذرية
Headline 1: In expectation of a " decisive report " from the [International] Nuclear Energy Agency.

الرئيس الإسرائيلي: احتمالات شن هجوم عسكري على إيران تنزاير
Headline 2: Israel's president [speaks about] increasing probabilities of launching a military attack against Iran.

Libya - Winners and Defeated

محمد نصر الحريزي
عضو المجلس الوطني الإنتقالي الليبي
Mahmud Nasr al-Kharisi, member of Libya's National Transition Council (NTC).

Treatment of the Defeated

هيومان رايتس ووتش تتهم ميليشيات في مصراتة الليبية بترويع سكان تاورغاء القريبة
Human Rights Watch accuses militias in Misrata al-Libiya of terrorizing inhabitants [belonging to the] neighbouring Tawargra [tribe].

Mahmud Nasr al-Kharisi, a member of Libya's National Transition Council (NTC), has to reply to accusations of Human Rights Watch saying that rebel militias in Misrata are terrorizing neighbouring inhabitants who happen to belong to the same tribe as Gadafi's family clan.
At the same time, Mabruk Eyis, being in charge of prisons in Tripoli, is questioned by Al-Jazeera about treatment of prisoners of war.


مبروك عيس
آمر سجون طرابلس
Mabruk Eyis, responsible of prisons in Tripoli.

China's Opinion on Iran and Libya

Here are two interesting articles that were published in China's semi-official daily :

内贾德：伊朗的最后一位总统？
[Ahmadi] Nejad : Iran's last president ?

人民网10月27日讯伊朗最高领导人哈梅内伊23日曾暗示伊朗的总统制可能被取消，这被外界认为是对总统内贾德清晰的警告。
People's Network [People's Daily Online] report from October 27 : Iran's Supreme Leader [Ayatollah] Khamenei dropped a hint that Iran's presidential government would probably be abolished. This is being considered by the outside world as a clear warning directed to president [Ahmadi] Nejad.

Update of recent proceedings in Iran :
President Ahmadi Nejad has been summoned by the Iranian parliament because of a $ 2.6 billion fraud and that has led to the impeachment of Nejad's economy minister. As Nejad only recently had a quarrel with the Supreme Leader over the sacking of his intelligence chief, it is widely understood that the Iranian president is currently under pressure and fighting for his political survival. [Source: Al-Jazeera on October 31]

Nejad delivering a speech at the National Assembly of Iran.

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外媒披露卡扎菲真实死因：
掌握太多外国领导人把柄
Foreign mediators disclosed Gadafi's real cause of death :
Having in his hand a lever [against] very many foreign leaders.

其实，卡扎菲只是知道的太多了。一旦被活捉，他肯定会被移交给国际刑事法院，法院六月下旬以反人类罪对卡扎菲、其子赛义夫和姐夫，以及军事情报局局长阿卜杜拉·塞努西（目前下落不明）提出指控。可以想象，他在海牙将会引发怎样的轰动。在那里他不免要揭露与法国总统萨科齐和英国首相布莱尔匪浅的关系，他的政府和西方情报机构在反恐、和欧盟在限制从利比亚海岸线进入的移民、和向大型西方石油建筑公司授以重大合同方面的种种合作。
In fact, Gadafi knew too much. Once captured alive, he could be sure of being handed over to the international criminal court. During the last ten days of June, the law court had raised charges against Gadafi, his son Saif [Al-Islam] and [his] brother-in-law for crimes against humanity, and also [against] the chief of military intelligence, Abdullah Sanussi whose whereabouts are unclear at present. One could imagine that he would take the initiative to cause a kind of sensation at Den Haag. There, it could not be avoided that he would expose the [intensive] relations to president Sarkozy of France and Britain's prime minister Blair, his government and Western intelligence agencies in [their] fight against terrorism, or limiting the infiltration of immigrants from the Libyan coastline together with the European Union, or manifold cooperation granted to significant contractors of large-scale Western oil companies and construction firms.
[Source: People's Network, the online edition of People's Daily, Beijing, from October 27, 2011]

Gadafi on the 16th summit of the Arab League in Tunisia.

一个人权观察研究人员的秘密档案显示，在抵制圣战的战争中，卡扎菲经常宣称要致力于建立与像华盛顿与巴黎或是伦敦之间的联系。如果可能的话，中情局的同行——军情六处，更是投靠了卡扎菲家族。据英国卫报报道，早在九月，英国海外间谍机构军情六处的反恐部门部长马克·艾伦正是在秘密谈判中充当了促使卡扎菲放弃大规模杀伤性武器的关键人物。在2004年未能成为军情六处处长后，艾伦进入一家监测集团成为高级顾问，实际上就是由卡扎菲巨资投入打造自己全球形象的咨询公司。另外，艾伦还帮助专研了赛义夫在伦敦经济学院的博士论文。同时，作为英国石油公司的顾问，艾伦协助该石油巨头从卡扎菲政权手中获取了大宗项目的合同。
The confidential file of an investigating member for Human Rights Watch shows: During the fighting to resist Holy War [i.e. fighting against so-called terrorism], Gadafi frequently declared that it was necessary to concentrate on establishing [mutual] relations with Paris or London like Washington does. In case he possibly meant being [related to] [joint operations] of intelligence [agencies] with ..... Military Intelligence MI6, [he would] even more seek refuge with his own clan. According to reports from British [defence intelligence], as early as September [2001?] , [Marc Ellen] the chief of an anti-terror unit of British foreign espionage organization Military Intelligence MI6 [reported] being involved in secret talks and that should urge Gadafi to do without such personnel critical to the [use of] weapons of mass destruction. In 2004, after having failed to become head of department for MI6, [Ellen] entered a survey group and became a senior adviser. In fact, this happened because Gadafi's huge capital was put into building a consulting firm, such giving himself a global image. Moreover, [Ellen] also helped in research for Saif [Al-Islam]'s doctoral thesis at the London Institute of Economics. At the same time, working as a consultant for British Petroleum, [Ellen] gave assistance [to the] oil magnate to obtain a large quantity of contracts from the hands of Gadafi's regime.
[Source: People's Network, the online edition of People's Daily, Beijing, from October 27, 2011]

No, this is not Gadafi and his assassin, even if it might look like that ! It's a picture from the above cited Chinese article showing a wounded Gadafi fighter while being questioned by a soldier of the rebel army.


坊间有消息称卡扎菲对赖斯情有独钟，在卡扎菲家里曾找到赖斯的影集，卡扎菲还让一名利比亚音乐家专为赖斯谱写名为《白宫里的黑色花朵》乐曲。赖斯称这很奇怪，但并不猥琐。
What news in the street stalls called a friendly tête-à-tête of Gadafi and Rice. A photo of Rice found in Gadafi's home. Gadafi even made a well-known Libyan musician compose a piece of music for Rice and which was named "Black Flower of the White House". Rice found this rather surprising, yet not of wretched appearance.
[Chinese legend of a photo of Condoleeza Rice, adviser to former U.S. president Bush and chief of State Department, together with Muammar Gadafi, published in another article of People's Network on October 26, 2011. Supposed thoughts added by Ulysses.]

Tunisian Elections - First Official Results

نتائج اولية في 5 دوائر: النهضة 15 مقعدا من 39 و المؤتمر من اجل الجمهورية 6 و العريضة الشعبية 5
First results from 15 departments : Al-Nahda [Movement of Renewal] holds 15 seats of 39 [i.e. 38.5% of all seats in parliament]. The Conference for the Republic 6 [seats] and the [Platform] of the People 5 [seats].
[Source: Al-Jazeera, October 25, 20:00 GMT]

Comment:
Both minor parties might be known under a more popular name like Annahda or Al-Nahda which is in fact a popular abbreviation for the Movement of Renewal. Furthermore, there are about 60 parties registered for this election. Some of them might be prevailing in Tunis, others in rural areas. In addition, the Modern Axis of Democracy seems to be a union of at least four independent parties or movements. Final results might be necessary to present a clearer view of tendencies within such second-ranking parties and possible coalitions for a new Tunisian government.

Above: Parties and movements composing the Modern Axis of Democracy.

For further information on the General Elections in Tunisia, please, refer to a previous blogspot of mine and which was updated until yesterday.

...................................


لماذا انتخب التونسيون النهضة ؟
Why did the Tunisians vote for Al-Nahda ?

عوامل مساعدة
Helpful Factors

الشرعية النضالية من العوامل التي ساعدت على فوز النهضة التي استفادت أيضا من فشل النماذج القومية و اليسارية التي أتت بعد الاستقلال و أنتجت أنظمة مستبدة
The [constitutional] legitimacy of Al-Nahda is one of the factors that helped to the victory of Al-Nahda [and] which took profit as well from the defeat of national models and the leftists who came after the independence and [founded] autocratic organizations.

[Source: Al-Jazeera, Arabic website, October 26, 2011]

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A Remarkable Week

Past days were characterized by remarkable events, beginning with the death of Muammar Gadafi and the final defeat of his regime. One might be annoyed by the circumstances of Gadafi's death, and a closer look at the proceedings of his capture should be taken. For the time being it might be sufficient to say that he had found the fate he deserved. Imagine Gadafi as the principal actor starring in an international courtroom where he could give his final performance as the well-meaning but misunderstood statesman.

Furthermore, first democratic elections in Tunisia after the beginning of the Arab Spring marked another event that should be kept in memory, even more as the Tunisians achieved a 90% participation which is breaking all records in free and democratic elections anywhere in the world.

In addition, the stunning victory of Christina Kirchner in her reelection as President of Argentine should be mentioned as she harvested more than 50% of all votes which makes up for another record figure in the democratic reelection of a political leader in a country, not so long ago shaken by economic problems.

I can't help comparing the results in Tunisia and Argentine to recent elections in Germany where local participation is steadily declining, sometimes even reaching the 50% margin, because people are fed up with the hypocrisy of leading politicians whatever party they might present.

Here now are the weekly visitor statistics of my blog. Once again, it should be noted that these statistics only collect visitors whose addresses are carrying a country identifier. In order to get an idea of the total number of visitors, including those who use a ".com" or ".net" address, the actual visitor numbers should be multiplied by an estimated factor of three.

Elections in Tunisia - انتخابات في تونس

General Elections in Tunisia

انتخابات عامة في تونس

Today, Tunisia experiences its first general elections after the ousting of president Ben Ali. There are 4.4 million voters and first reports, received at the end of the day, are hinting at a 90% participation of all voters (refer to image below !). Here are some of the most remarkable parties and their political programs as far as available [Source: Al-Jazeera, Arabic channel].

حركة النهضة
Movement of Renewal (Annahda)

The predicted winner according to latest media news on October 24, 19:00 GMT.

The moderate Islamist party is expected to receive about 40% of all votes, and they seem to have many female supporters [October 25, 04:00 GMT].


3عقود من الحظر
3 terms of prohibition [i.e. this party was excluded from three foregoing elections under the rule of former president Ben Ali].

شعارها: من أجل تونس الحرية و العدالة و التنمية
Its slogan: For Tunisia's liberty, justice and development.


البرنامج و الأهداف
Program and goals :

التأسيس لنظام برلماني جمهوري
لتحقيق العدل و الحرية و الاستقرار
دعم قيم الحداثة
تعزيز حرية المرأة
إقامة علاقات جيدة مع الغرب

- Creation of a parliamentary and republican system.
- For the realization of justice, liberty and stability.
- Support of modern values.
- Enforcement [or: support] of woman's liberty.
- Establishing good relations with Western [countries].
......................................

الحزب الديمقراطي التقدمي
The Party of Progressive Democracy
......................................

التكتل الديمقراطي
The Democratic Block

البرنامج و الأهداف
Program and goals :

نموذج تنموي جديد
بنية تحتية اقتصادية
توفير مناخ ملائم للاستثمار

- A new model for [development].
- An economic infrastructure.
- A prospering climate favourable to investment.
......................................

القطب الديمقراطي الحداثي
Modern Axis of Democracy

البرنامج و الأهداف
Program and goals :

الفصل بين السلطات
استقلالية القضاء
حرية الإعلام و الفكر

- Separation of powers [i.e. governmental,
judicial and parliamentary power].
- Autonomy of justice.
- Freedom of information and opinion.
.......................................

الاتحاد الشعبي الجمهوري
The People's Republican Alliance

حزب جديد و صفير
A new and small party [probably presenting about 2.000 people].
......................................

الهيئة العليا المستقلة للانتخابات
The Independent Election Committee Ali.
[i.e. followers of ousted president Ben Ali]
......................................


Docket of a ballot box indicating election ward "Tunis 2".


الانتخابات التونسية تشهد إقبالا كثيفا فاق نسبة 90% من إجمالي المسجلين
The Tunisian elections witnessed a massive [participation] of more than 90% of all [voters] registered.
[Source: Al-Arabiya, October 24, 2011]

According to the large number of ballots to be counted, final results should not be expected earlier than Tuesday.

LIBYA - End of War النهاية الحرب

قتل القذافي

Gadafi Killed

لحق به نجلاه سيف الإسلام و المعتصم
Together with him his son Saif Al-Islam [in] a hiding-place.

صور متتالية تعرض لحظات سقوط القذافي حيا و ميتا و غارقا في دمائه
A picture after being exposed in the moments of defeat :
Gadafi living, [gesticulating] and smeared with his blood.
[Source: Al-Arabiya on October 20, 2011. Text referring to below photo]

Above photo: The corpse of Gadafi after being shot some time after his capture.

As to former leader Muamar Gadafi, reports of his death are already confirmed. There is a video showing him alive when being captured in Sirte where he was hiding in a sewer tunnel. Later he was shot in what the rebels named a crossfire. Gadafi died before reaching a hospital in Misrata. His remainings are kept there in a mosque. Gadafi's eldest son Saif Al-Islam was captured with him and seems to be hurt.

Above photo: U.S. foreign secretary Hillary Clinton getting the news of Gadafi's death.

The Day After: CNN visiting remains of Gadafi's last convoy that ended in a hell of flames.

The Day After: CNN visiting the drain pipe where Gadafi tried to hide after succeeding to escape from the annihilation of his convoy.


النهاية الحرب The End of the War

المدينة سرت تقعت على الثوار
The Town of Sirte has Fallen to the Rebels

This morning, an ultimate attack of the rebel army and that was lasting not longer than 90 minutes freed Gadafi's hometown of Sirte from its last pro-Gadafi fighters. Bani Walid, another Gadafi stronghold was already freed some days ago.

According to a goal the National Transitional Council NTC of Libya has set, the war should now be declared as being over and preparations for general elections in order to form a regular government could be considered as the next steps for the NTC.


مراسل الجزيرة: اشتباكات عنيفة تدور في مدينة سرت الليبية بعد تجدد هجوم الثوار عليها
Subtitle of the above picture: "According to a correspondent of Al-Jazeera, violent fighting is taking place in the Libyan town of Sirte after a renewed attack of the rebels there."
The picture was included in Al-Jazeera's Arabic website. As the fighting lasted only 90 minutes, it seems they could not change the subtitle before the result of that fighting could be verified and which must have taken some time.

Opinion in the aftermath of Gadafi's death:

According to Telesur TV, Caracas, Venezuela's president Hugo Chavez named the killing of Gadafi an "outrage" and said the former Libyan leader "would be remembered as a fighter and martyr". Furthermore, Telesur cited Gadafi's spokesman Moussa Ibrahim that "Saif Al-Islam Gadafi had escaped" and should be considered free to take over political business from his father. [Telesur TV subtitles on October 21, 2011]