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In today's Grammatigalhas: Civil and criminal law?

• Top News

Fed rate cut halts market free fall, but recession fears are mounting

The Federal Reserve chairman, who normally tries to avoid reacting directly to financial markets, saw global markets in free fall, and yesterday abruptly orchestrated the single deepest cut in the Fed's main interest-rate target in more than two decades. The move shored up confidence, at least for the moment. U.S. and many global markets quickly rebounded from huge losses in response to the three-quarter percentage-point cut in the target for the federal-funds rate, to 3.5%. But in a sign that risks to the U.S. and global economy remain strong, the Fed hinted another rate cut next week is likely. The central bank's moves may be too late to stop the U.S. from entering recession, as many economists now forecast, but it may make one milder and shorter.

Roe v. Wade: Fighting for a right

The 35th anniversary of Roe v. Wade -- the seminal court decision legalizing abortion in the U.S. -- was Tuesday, but the battle to protect that right continues on many fronts, locally and nationally. Those who want women's access to abortion repealed have been working hard to chip away at it. States have used parental consent, waiting periods and even demanding that women get ultrasounds done (in an attempt to dissuade them from proceeding) to make it as difficult as possible for women to have access to the procedure. Another tactic at play is to not only declare abortions illegal, but to categorize hormonal form of birth control as abortive agents, starting with emergency contraception. Commonly called Plan B, it prevents the fertilization of an egg; it does not abort an already fertilized one.

It's the economy, stupid!

The main topic on the agenda at Davos is a discussion on "Defining Innovation," where participants will try to predict where the next wave of technological change will lead the world's markets. But the discussions will certainly be very dominated by the economic turmoil we have at the moment: the aftermath of the subprime crisis, private equity investors, the growing power of India, the transfer of capital from energy-consuming to energy-producing countries, China and oil-rich countries, inflationary tendencies.

The authoritative resource for information on the worldwide legal profession

• Crumbs!

1 - Investors Abroad No Longer Feel Immune From U.S. (Read more)

2 - Hawaii Supreme Court Considers Crackdown on Legal Aid Businesses. (Read more)

3 - U.K. Trainees Avoid Crunch Fallout as Top Firms' Retention Soars Above 90 Percent. (Read more)

4 - Top court rejects appeal by Enron investors. (Read more)

5 - Yahoo plans to cut hundreds of jobs: source. (Read more)

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• MiMIC Journal

Web pornography targeted in China

Chinese authorities closed down 44,000 websites and arrested 868 people last year in a campaign against internet pornography, state media has reported. Another 1,911 people received unspecified penalties for "pornography activities". The campaign began last year, after President Hu Jintao warned the internet could harm social stability and called for a "healthy online culture".

• Grammatigalhas

Legal Meaning Is Not Everyday Meaning

Felony

A serious breaking of the public law, punishable by death or imprisonment in excess of one year. Crimes classified as felonies include, among others, treason, arson, murder, rape, robbery, burglary, manslaughter, and kidnapping.

Misdemeanor

Offenses lower than felonies and generally those punishable by fine, penalty, forfeiture, or imprisonment other than in a penitentiary. Under federal law, and most state laws, any offense other than a felony is classified as a misdemeanor. Certain states also have various classes of misdemeanors (e.g., Class A, B, etc.).

Everyday "Legal" Jargon

Civil and criminal law?

Definitions

Civil law

Body of law developed from Roman law and used in continental Europe and most former colonies of European nations, including the province of Quebec and the U.S. state of Louisiana. The most significant codifications of modern civil law were the French (Napoleonic Code) and the German (German Civil Code). The basis of law in civil-law jurisdictions is statute, not custom; civil law is thus to be distinguished from common law. In civil law, judges apply principles embodied in statutes, or law codes, rather than turning to case precedent. French civil law forms the basis of the legal systems of The Netherlands, Belgium, Luxembourg, Italy, Spain, most of France's former possessions overseas, and many Latin American countries. German civil law prevails in Austria, Switzerland, the Scandinavian countries, and certain countries outside Europe, such as Japan, that have westernized their legal systems. The term is also used to distinguish the law that applies to private rights from the law that applies to criminal matters.

Criminal law

Body of law that defines criminal offenses, regulates the apprehension, charging, and trial of suspected offenders, and fixes punishment for convicted persons. Substantive criminal law defines particular crimes, and procedural law establishes rules for the prosecution of crime. In the U.S., substantive criminal law originated for the most part in common law, which was later codified in federal and state statutes. Modern criminal law has been affected considerably by the social sciences, especially in the areas of sentencing, legal research, legislation, and rehabilitation.

In the United States, the term civil law has two meanings. One meaning of civil law refers to a legal system prevalent in Europe that is based on written codes. Civil law in this sense is contrasted with the common-law system used in England and most of the United States, which relies on prior case law to resolve disputes rather than written codes. The second meaning of civil law refers to the body of laws governing disputes between individuals, as opposed to those governing offenses against the government — that is, civil law as opposed to criminal law.

Civil Law

A civil wrong may be defined in statute, or it may be established by previous court decisions.

Civil lawsuits involve personal injuries, business disputes, land deals, libel and slander, and various other commercial interests. Civil law actions must be brought by an attorney hired by the injured party (the plaintiff) against the alleged wrongdoer (the defendant). The parties in a civil case may be individuals, corporations, or the state itself.

Because medical malpractice is a civil law action, physicians are frequently preoccupied with civil law concerns. These lawsuits can be risky since the violation of many physician duties carries criminal penalties. These are infrequently prosecuted, but they can cost a physician his or her license and freedom. The violation of a law will also make it virtually impossible to defend any civil actions brought as a consequence of the violation.

The civil law is concerned with the peaceable resolution of disputes between individuals. Physicians often ignore the importance of this peacekeeping function. Being sued for medical malpractice is an unpleasant experience, but it is much preferable to being gunned down in the hospital corridor by an irate patient. This is an extreme example, but it has occurred. The civil courts are an imperfect but essential safety valve. It has even been argued that the delays and rituals of the process, which decrease its economic efficiency, increase its ability to cool passions and prevent violence.

Civil Remedies

Criminal courts can take away a person's freedom and even life. The civil courts are usually limited to taking away the defendant's money or prohibiting certain conduct. In the special case of family law jurisdiction, the courts may also determine the custody of children and use imprisonment to enforce their orders to pay money. In general, however, the civil courts are a useful recourse only if the defendant has enough money to pay a judgment. We are unwilling to incarcerate a person for being unable to pay a debt.

While the parties usually dispute the amount of money at issue, paying money is a logical way to resolve the dispute. The business deal has a certain value, as does the land. While the monetary value of a personal injury is more difficult to quantify, it is possible to assess the costs of medical care, lost wages, and so forth and arrive at an award that will compensate the plaintiff for injuries.

This reduction of personal injuries to monetary damages is an emotional issue in medical malpractice litigation. In the case of severe injuries or injuries to children, money will not make the plaintiff whole. Few people would trade a child's health for a monetary award. Conversely, most physician defendants believe that it is their good name that is at issue rather than their insurance company's money. This debate is usually framed in terms of whether plaintiffs should be compensated for pain and suffering in addition to actual monetary losses. There are other economic concerns involved in this debate over the adequacy of awards in medical malpractice.

In certain situations, the court has the right to order that a person be prevented from or, more rarely, required to do something. This order is called an injunction. To obtain a temporary injunction, the plaintiff must show that the defendant's actions would cause irreparable harm and that the plaintiff has a substantial chance of prevailing in a trial. Temporary injunctions are frequently used in environmental law disputes, such as attempts to stop the clear-cutting of national forests. In these cases, a temporary injunction would be appropriate because the cutting of the trees would constitute irreparable harm.

When a temporary injunction is granted, the plaintiff must post a bond that is sufficient to compensate the defendant if the plaintiff does not prevail in the case. If the plaintiff does prevail, the bond is refunded, and the court may enter a permanent injunction to prevent the complained-of conduct. Violating an injunction is contempt of court and may be punished by a fine or imprisonment.

Injunctions are often requested in medical cases such as medical staff disputes, withdrawal of life support cases, and cases involving the treatment of children. In these cases, the complaining party attempts to convince the court that since human lives are at stake, the court must step in. In some cases, courts have ordered pregnant women not to have abortions or to submit to certain types of medical care ordered by their physicians. These are controversial actions.

A new area of interest to physicians is the enforcement of personal service contracts, such as research contracts or employment contracts. The law has traditionally refused to order people to render personal services. As an example, assume that you sign a contract to perform a study for the Dreck drug company but never complete the study. Dreck is furious and sues to force you to complete the study. You offer to return the money you have been paid, but Dreck refuses, claiming that you must complete the study so approval of its drug will not be delayed. Since you have a detailed agreement as to how the study is to be conducted, why should the court refuse to force you to comply with the agreement?

Courts like to make rulings that end disputes. If the court orders you to complete the study, it will be faced with determining whether you are working fast enough, if your work is of acceptable quality, and other issues as to the performance of the contract. The court's ruling would only create new disputes. This pragmatism, combined with a reluctance to interfere in individual behavior, results in the policy of refusing to enforce personal services contracts. The court may award the plaintiff monetary damages for any extra costs entailed in having someone else complete the study.

Criminal law

In the United States, except as otherwise provided by statute, to constitute a crime an overt act (actus reus) must be accompanied by a criminal intent (mens rea) or by such negligence as is regarded by law as equivalent to a criminal intent. Motive, or that which leads or tempts the mind to indulge in a criminal act, as distinguished from intent, is neither a crime nor an essential element of a crime. The motive with which an offense was committed is immaterial. Proof of motive may be material in proving that the defendant committed a particular crime, but it is not essential to a conviction.

The Right to a Defense

Every accused has the right to any and all defenses the law recognizes and permits—e.g., insanity, mistake of fact, or self-defense. An accused having the right to resort to several defenses may make an election as to the one on which he or she will rely. The fact that one undertakes a crime on the advice, or as the agent, of another is not a defense; on the other hand, except in the case of homicide, an act that would otherwise constitute a crime may be excused when committed under duress or compulsion that is present, imminent, and impending, and that produces a well-grounded apprehension of death or serious bodily harm if the act is not done (see coercion). Religious belief is not ordinarily a justification or excuse for the commission of a crime (bigamy).

Criminal Procedure

The procedure in criminal cases is substantially the same throughout the United States. The person suspected of crime is taken into custody by a police officer, sometimes by service of a warrant of arrest. If the crime is serious, the case is first presented to a grand jury, which draws up an indictment if there is sufficient evidence to justify trial; otherwise it discharges the accused. While action is pending, the party charged may be released on bail.

Trial is by jury or before a judge alone if a jury is not required, or if the defendant consents. The government presents its case (i.e., attempts to prove the allegations of the indictment), through the public prosecutor, usually called the district attorney, while the accused is represented by counsel that he or she has chosen or that the court has appointed. The legal presumption of innocence puts the burden of proving guilt beyond a reasonable doubt on the prosecution, unless, of course, the defendant pleads guilty to the charge. Special rules restricting the introduction of evidence in criminal trials further protect the defendant.

If the accused is found or adjudged innocent, he or she is discharged; if the accused is found guilty, the judge pronounces sentence. (For types of criminal penalties, see capital punishment; corporal punishment; prison.) If the defendant is convicted, an appeal may be filed; the prosecution, however, cannot appeal an acquittal. Generally speaking, this procedure is confined to felonies; misdemeanors, being relatively less serious offenses, are handled in a more summary fashion. It is generally accepted that no court will enforce the criminal law of another jurisdiction, but by means of extradition a fugitive from justice may be delivered to the competent authorities.

Special Characteristics of Criminal Law

Criminal law (rather than civil law) applies when a wrong harms society, as opposed to only individuals. Classic crimes, such as murder, certainly affect the rights of the individual victim. So why are they crimes rather than private lawsuits for personal injuries (torts)? Because they injure the state's ability to keep the peace. (They are also torts in that the victim may go to the civil justice system and sue for redress.) The state will have statutes that make committing murder a crime, that specify the penalty for the crime, and that establish the proof that must be offered to establish the crime. Perhaps the most consistent difference between civil and criminal law is the certainty of proof necessary to find a defendant guilty.

Crimes--violations of the state or federal criminal laws--must be proved beyond a reasonable doubt. Torts and other civil wrongs must be proved by a preponderance of the evidence. "Preponderance" is taken to mean a majority, 51 percent, or other equivalent measures that imply that the defendant more likely than not committed the act. "Beyond a reasonable doubt" is a more difficult standard to define. It defies statistical definition because of the problem of defining reasonable.

The standard of proof is higher in criminal cases for three reasons:

The state is a party and may bring unlimited resources to bear on the prosecution of the case;
A person's liberty, rather than just money, is at issue; and
An injured individual may seek redress through a civil action even if the accused is not prosecuted for a crime.

How do civil and criminal law differ?

Both criminal and civil cases involve a dispute over the rights and responsibilities of the people involved. In civil matters, the issue is usually money. In a criminal case, however, the defendant might be ordered to pay a fine or sentenced to probation, jail or prison, or even death. It is the possibility of losing life or liberty that distinguishes criminal from civil penalties.

What distinguishes a misdemeanor from a felony?

Each state has a body of criminal law that categorizes certain offenses as felonies and others as misdemeanors. These offenses generally appear in the state's "penal code," the vehicle code, or the health and safety code (for drug offenses).

Felonies are more serious crimes than misdemeanors. Robbery, kidnapping, rape, and murder are examples of felonies. Public drunkenness, resisting arrest, and simple battery are misdemeanors. However, the same offense might be either a misdemeanor or a felony, depending on its degree. Petty larceny (stealing an item worth less than a certain dollar amount) is a misdemeanor. Over that amount, the offense is grand theft (a felony). Similarly, the first offense of driving while intoxicated may be a misdemeanor. After a certain number of convictions for that same offense, the state may prosecute the next violation as felony drunk driving.

The federal government and most states classify felonies as all crimes that carry a maximum sentence of more than one year. Misdemeanors are offenses punishable by a sentence of one year or less. Some states, however, draw the line based on the place of possible confinement. If incarceration is in the state prison, the offense is a felony. If the offense is punishable by a term in jail (usually a county facility), it is a misdemeanor.

Defending a Criminal Case

While there are some differences in civil and criminal trials, the basic courtroom procedure is the same.

The role of the defense attorney in a criminal case is to identify weaknesses in the prosecution's case and convince the jury that these raise a reasonable doubt about the defendant's guilt. This strategy is most successful in complex crimes that require proof of a guilty mind (the defendant intended to commit the crime).

Example in the medical area: Most of the crimes discussed are sins of omission, such as failure to report a communicable disease. The physician's intent does not matter; if it can be established that the report was not filed, a guilty verdict will follow. The only instances where we will deal with the issue of a guilty mind involve withdrawal of life support. In these cases, the state may raise the issue of whether the physician intended to commit active euthanasia.

The state has considerable discretion in deciding whether to prosecute a criminal case. This is not the discretion to decide that a given criminal will not be punished but the discretion not to file a case that the state does not believe it can prove. The victim of a crime may be able to pressure the state to prosecute through political means, such as media exposure, but it is not the victim's legal right to demand prosecution. Victims generate great sympathy, but the criminal act is against the state, not the victim. The victim's personal remedy is to file a tort claim in the civil courts. Unlike the criminal justice system, the civil courts may deny a person access only if the court finds that the person's lawsuit has no legal basis.

The trial begins with the opening statement of the party with the burden of proof. This is the party that brought the case to court--the government in a criminal prosecution or the plaintiff in a civil case--and has to prove its case in order to prevail. The defense lawyer follows with his or her opening statement. In some states, the defense may reserve its opening statement until the end of the plaintiff's or government's case. Either lawyer may choose not to present an opening statement.

The purpose of opening statements by each side is to tell jurors something about the case they will be hearing. The opening statements must be confined to facts that will be proved by the evidence, and cannot be argumentative.

In a criminal case, he defendant does not have to prove anything. The defendant does not need to prove his or her innocence--the burden is on the government. The government has to prove the defendant guilty “beyond a reasonable doubt.” This is a far higher standard than “the preponderance of the evidence” or “clear and convincing evidence,” the standards often used in civil cases.

In general, a person is required to report criminal activity and to appear and testify as a witness if requested by the defendant or the state. In medical situations, this creates a conflict of interest when a patient's expectation is that a physician will preserve the confidences of the physician-patient relationship.

In a civil trial, the plaintiff has the burden of proof, and generally must prove liability by a preponderance of the evidence (i.e., the greater weight of the evidence.) The degree of proof required in a civil case is far less stringent than in a criminal case. Once again, the defendant does not have to prove that he or she is not liable.

As If Your Life Depended On It… or How to get to Carnegie Hall? - Practice, practice

Wander/Wonder

If you idly travel around, you wander. If you realize you’re lost, you wonder where you are.

He who pays the piper calls the tune

Whoever pays for something has the right to control it. 'Paying the piper' is an old figure of speech for 'bearing the cost': the idea was that of paying a musician to play for dancing, the pipe being either a sort of recorder, or any of the forerunners of modern woodwind instruments, or the bag-pipes. The second part of the expression, 'calling [choosing] the tune', is a late-Victorian addition.

There may be an allusion to the story of the Pied Piper of Hamelin, who led away the town's children because he had not been paid for ridding the town of rats, but “pay the piper’ was, in its early appearances, always used in connection with dancing, not with any less orthodox use of music.

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• Historia Verdadera

• Brief News

Morales defends Bolivian reforms

Bolivian President Evo Morales has defended his first two years in office, saying his government's reforms are irreversible. He said there was room for everyone in what he called his "democratic and cultural revolution", but only if Bolivians were united. "There's no turning back on the path we started upon two years ago," Morales said in a televised address. But he avoided mentioning the sometimes violent opposition to his reforms.

EU to map low-carbon energy path

The European Commission is to unveil proposals setting out how the EU will meet targets on energy and climate. By 2020, EU leaders want to produce 20% of energy from renewable sources, increase energy efficiency and reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 20%. The target of powering 10% of Europe's road transport with biofuels is likely to be retained, with caveats introduced with the aims of ensuring the fuels used bring real carbon savings while avoiding adverse environmental and social impacts.

Kenya sued over police 'crimes'

Kenya's opposition has filed a complaint with the International Criminal Court, accusing the government of crimes against humanity. It says the police used excessive force during last week's protests, in which more than 30 people died.

Interest-Rate Cut Helps Markets Rein In Losses

Wall Street had plenty to worry about Tuesday: a huge global sell-off; fears of a recession. But after a surprise interest-rate cut, markets closed amid relief that the day's losses weren't worse.

Ex-PM's wife set for Thai trial

The wife of ousted leader Thaksin Shinawatra is to stand trial in Thailand for alleged violation of stock-trading laws and a land sale. Pojamarn Shinawatra returned from exile earlier this month while Thaksin remained overseas. He has promised to return later this year when he will face similar charges.

US warns EU against protectionism

Sarkozy said a European tax could be imposed on states that refused to cap carbon emissions. The United States had been "dismayed" at climate being used as a reason to close markets. It also pointed a World Trade Organization dispute surrounding European resistance to genetically modified organisms. Although the United States has suspended its right to retaliate while the EU attempts to lift a ban on biotech products, it criticized attitudes in Europe.

Diamond Settlement Means Rebates for Consumers

The giant South African diamond producer De Beers has agreed to a class-action settlement worth $295 million. The money is to be divided between consumers and diamond sellers — which means that anyone who bought a diamond between 1994 and 2006 might be able to get some money back.

Exxon's Alaska Oil Spill Case Heads to High Court

On March 24, 1989, the oil tanker Exxon Valdez spilled 11 million gallons of heavy crude oil in the icy waters of Alaska's Prince William Sound. Nineteen years later, Exxon and those affected by the disaster are still arguing over punitive damages, and the case is now before the Supreme Court. It will be heard in February.

Petrobras stock soars, fueled by gas find

Shares in Brazilian state-run energy giant Petrobras shot up on Tuesday after Monday's sell-off, fueled by a major natural gas discovery that confirms the high potential of the sub salt cluster off Brazil's coast following a huge oil find last year. "Exploration prospects are excellent. The new Jupiter find, as well as Tupi, confirm the high potential of the subsalt area."The new deposit is very good, has a lot of gas. It will contribute to Brazil becoming self-sufficient in gas," company said.

China and Brazil overtake oil multinationals

National oil companies from China and Brazil continued their relentless rise to power last year, pushing the likes of Exxon, Shell and Total down the PFC Energy 50 rankings of the world's largest listed energy companies. The annual PFC rankings, due to be released today, reinforce the perception that international oil companies are losing access to global resources and their futures are not as definite as the growing state-owned competition. The top share price performer of the year was Petro­China, which rose 181 per cent, surpassing ExxonMobil to become the world's largest energy company by market capitalization.

Brazil moves closer to high speed train tender

The Brazilian government plans to request bids to build an $11 billion high speed railway in the first half of 2009, according to an official infrastructure investment plan presented on Tuesday. The proposed railway is to link the international airports of Rio de Janeiro and Sao Paulo, as well as a cargo airport in the city of Campinas in Sao Paulo state.

Padilla given long jail sentence

Jose Padilla, a US Muslim convert, has been sentenced to more than 17 years in prison for plotting to kill people overseas and of supporting terrorism. Padilla was held for three-and-a-half years as an "enemy combatant" after his arrest in 2002 on suspicion of plotting a radioactive "dirty bomb" attack.

Top bosses fear global recession

A global recession has now become the biggest threat to companies, according to a global survey of top chief executives. Business confidence is also falling for the first time in five years. The corporate gloom, however, is limited to bosses in the United States and Western Europe.

Sleuth Work

Siemens hired New York law firm Debevoise & Plimpton more than a year ago to get to the bottom of a widening bribes-for-business scandal and try to blunt possible U.S. sanctions. But as investors descend on Munich for Siemens's annual shareholder meeting, the white-shoe firm stacked with former prosecutors hasn't been able to deliver much clarity.

Enron Case

The US Supreme Court turned away an appeal from Enron shareholders, underscoring the sweep of a decision limiting the liability of companies. Click here to read more.

Council of Europe urges UK to take steps against voting fraud

The Council of Europe's Parliamentary Assembly (PACE) Tuesday released a report criticizing the United Kingdom's voting system for its vulnerability to fraud. A February 2007 fact-finding trip conducted by a PACE committee found that fraud risks are "mainly the result of the, rather arcane, system of voter registration without personal identifiers." UK voting registers currently list only the voters' names and addresses and do not include such "personal identifiers" as date of birth or signatures.

• Daily Press Review

Zimbabwe opposition leader held
BBC News, Centrist newscaster, London, England

IRC Study Shows Congo's Neglected Crisis Leaves 5.4 Million Dead
CongoPlanet.com, Independent online news aggregator

ICPPF calls for Justice
GhanaWeb, Online news portal, Amsterdam, Netherlands

Turkey: Urge Visiting Sudanese Leader to End Atrocities
Human Rights Watch (Africa), International news press releases

The end of the Scorpions?
iafrica, Online news portal, Cape Town, South Africa

Public losing faith in democratic institution
Independent Online, News portal, Cape Town, South Africa

Top Scorpion arrested for drunk driving
Mail & Guardian Online, Liberal, Johannesburg, South Africa

'I blame the police'
News24.com, Online news portal, Cape Town, South Africa

Peru seeks closer trade ties with Europe
Brazil Sun, Independent online news aggregator

Peru: Photo of the day - Yellow Pages Help Firefighters
Living in Peru, News portal, Lima, Peru

Gunmen breach Gaza border wall
The Globe and Mail, Centrist daily, Toronto, Canada

TSX roars back by 508 points
Toronto Star, Liberal daily, Toronto, Canada

One killed in Nias quake
Antara News, News agency, Jakarta, Indonesia

This Is no Time to Bicker
Chosun Ilbo, Conservative daily, Seoul, South Korea

It's not easy on senior players, admits Kumble
India Express, News portal, Mumbai, India

Ex-minister's son sells newspapers
India Times, Conservative daily, New Delhi, India

Build that nest egg with government help
Japan Times, Independent centrist, Tokyo, Japan

Roadshow for RMAF golden jubilee
Malaysian Star, Online news portal, Selangor Darul Ehsan, Malaysia

Ancient Maya sacrified boys not virgin girls
New Zealand Herald, Conservative daily, Auckland, New Zealand

U.S. soldier dies in vehicle accident in northern Iraq
People's Daily Online, English-language, Beijing, China

Heath's death ' tragic, untimely and accidental'
Sydney Morning Herald, Centrist daily, Sydney, Australia

Stock market mayhem continues for second day
The Hindu, Left-leaning daily, Chennai, India

Global markets rally after US cut
BBC News, Centrist newscaster, London, England

Russial prosecutors investigate Mikhail Kasyanov, opposition leader
International Herald Tribune, Independent daily, Paris, France

Rate cuts expected to try to calm markets
The Guardian, Liberal daily, London, England

Man arrested over stabbing of Girl, 14
The Telegraph, Conservative daily, London, England

RAF alert as Russia stages huge naval exercise in Bay of Biscay
Times Online, Conservative daily, London, England

Uzi Dayan: Olmert Dangerous
Arutz Sheva, Online, right-wing, Tel Aviv, Israel

Kuwait's sole female minister survives vote of no-confidence averting political showdown
Asharq Al-Awsat, Pan-Arab daily, London, England

Sri Lankan air forces makes attempt to kill Tamil Tiger leader
Gulf News, Independent daily, Dubai, United Arab Emirates

Tens of thousands of Gazans flood into Egypt as militants blast border wall
Haaretz, Liberal daily, Tel Aviv, Israel

Mideast: Christian Zionists Feel "Betrayed" by Bush's Road Map
IPS Middle East, International cooperative of journalists, Rome, Italy

Middle East, Gulf indexes in free fall
Middle East North African Network, Online financial portal, Amman, Jordan

Prodi Says Continuity Necessary As he Seeks Confidence Vote
Nahamet, Online news portal, Beirut, Lebanon

Palestinian and Israeli envoys spar at Security Council
The Daily Star, Independent daily, Beirut, Lebanon

Several news and opinion websites suddenly blocked - Online Freedom of speech suffers setback in Yemen
Yemen Times, Independent weekly, Sana'a, Yemen

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