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European markets at close: 14.02.11
A roundup of the days markets data from euronews.net, brought to you as video on demand. Copyright © 2011 euronews

Julian Assange to be extradited to Sweden
A British judge has ruled that WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange should be extradited to Sweden to face sexual offense charges. Assange denies the sexual assault and rape allegations against him and claims they are politically motivated. He has infuriated the United States government by publishing embarrassing secret diplomatic documents online. His lawyers had argued that he would not face a fair trial that is open to the public in Sweden and that he then risks being extradited to the US to face charges related to his whistle-blowing activities and could face the death penalty. A lawyer representing Swedish prosecutors said that the evidence in the sex offense trial would be heard behind closed doors but that the arguments would be then made public. Assange was arrested under a European Arrest Warrant in December before being released on bail nine days later. His lawyer says he will appeal the Swedish extradition ruling. Copyright © 2011 euronews

Soldiers corral protestors in parts of Tahrir
Soldiers have moved in to form a cordon around the protestors who still occupy parts of Cairo’s Tahrir Square. The Army says it respects the demonstrators’ demands. But today is the start of the working week in Egypt and it has urged them to go home so that normal life can resume. Despite toppling the Mubarak regime, many say they plan to stay in the Square to hold the newly-installed army council to account. There was some pushing and shoving and sporadic scuffling. It has been claimed that dozens of protest leaders have been taken away and are being held near the Egptian Museum next to Tahrir Square. There has been no comment from the military. Copyright © 2011 euronews

Third day of protests in Syria
In Syria a third day of protests has been marred by violence. The police have opened fire on demonstrators using tear gas and live rounds. Reports say that one person is dead and around 100 others have been injured. Protesters want an end to 48 years of emergency law. In Deraa, the government has attempted to ease tensions by offering to release 15 schoolchildren who were arrested for scrawling opposition graffiti on a wall. This is a rare instance of the Syrian authorities bowing to pressure from the street. The country has been ruled by the Baath Party headed up by president Basher al-Assad since a coup in 1963. All opposition parties are banned. In Deraa on Friday, the authorities opened fire on unarmed protesters, killing four people. At the funerals of two protesters yesterday, opposition activists met with officials and handed them a list of demands, including the release of political prisoners, and the dismantling of the secret police. Copyright © 2011 euronews

Defiant Berlusconi vows to see out term
Is the party over for Silvio Berlusconi? Several of today’s Italian newspapers believe early elections are inevitable after the prime minister was indicted for trial over alleged sex offences and abuse of power. Prosecutors say they have ample evidence he paid for sex with an underage prostitute and intervened with police to try to free her from custody. Berlusconi insists it is business as usual. He claims his coalition partners remain on board in government and has vowed to see out his term until 2013. “I can only say one thing: I’m not worried at all. Okay? That’s all,” he smiled as he spoke at a news conference. The Moroccan dancer known as Ruby, at the centre of the case, has denied having sex with Berlusconi but admits receiving several thousand euros after going to a party at his villa. The prime minister, who denies any wrongdoing, believes the charges are politically motivated. He still has his backers: “I judge him as a politician who’s made a big contribution, and will continue to do so for the good of Italy,” said one man in Rome. “They only talk about this … enough is enough. They’re not talking about politics anymore. They’re talking just about him…that’s all,” complained another. Satirists are having a field day. An Italian band has rewritten Shakira’s song Waka Waka, calling it “Bunga Bunga”… Berlusconi’s own term for his infamous parties. Copyright © 2011 euronews

Medvedev-Putin partnership split over Libya
A public clash between Russia’s leaders over Libya has revealed cracks in the world’s most prominent political duo. President Dmitry Medvedev appeared to criticise his prime minister after Vladimir Putin described the Western military action as a medieval crusade. READ – Libya: a timeline of international diplomacy – International forces in operations in Libya “There are different comments regarding what is happening but I believe we should be extremely careful in our assessments,” said Medvedev. “In no way is it acceptable to use expressions that in essence lead to a clash of civilisations, such as crusades and so forth. Otherwise things can end considerably worse than what’s happening today.” Putin’s remarks came during a visit to a Russian military base. They’re in line with his much tougher stance on the UN resolution which he wanted Russia to veto. “In general it reminds me of a medieval crusade when someone rallied others to go and liberate something,” Vladimir Putin told workers. This sharp difference between the two comes ahead of next year’s presidential elections in which Putin is expected to stand once more. Copyright © 2011 euronews

Libya denies breach of ceasefire
The Libyan government is denying its forces have breached its ceasefire despite the latest pictures from the rebel stronghold of Benghazi. The video, filmed on Saturday, appears to show a fighter plane falling from the sky, and then a column of balck smoke rising. To read : Libya: a timeline of international diplomacy As well as the air attacks the insurgents say there have been running skirmishes with government forces on the ground. There have also been claims that the town of Misrata came under attack, again after the ceasefire. The claims cannot be verified at present and the Libyan government is denying any such attacks. The announcement of a ceasefire by Libya’s Foreign Minister on Friday was unequivocal and was due to take effect immediately. But while it was welcomed those countries responding said they would treat it with caution and see what happens on the ground. In the capital Tripoli Gaddafi supporters demonstrated in support of their leader on Friday. In celebratory and defiant mood they chanted and held up banners scathing of the UN resolution, with France as one of their main targets for derision. Copyright © 2011 euronews

Portugal warns of debt crisis critical moment
With the amount of interest that Portugal is having to offer to get investors to buy its bonds rising to unsustainable levels, Lisbon is appealing for urgent and effective support from the European Union – but not a bailout. At conference in Lisbon Prime Minister Jose Socrates said the sovereign debt crisis is the EU’s biggest challenge. Finance Minister Fernando Teixeira dos Santos said Europe must take swift tough action to protect peripheral economies against attacks from the investment markets. If not, he said, Portugal’s efforts to cut its budget deficit and implement painful reforms would count for nothing. The Portuguese want action at an EU summit in three weeks time to convince investors of European resolve. If that does not happen they fear the markets may launch another sell-off of euro zone sovereign debt hitting Portugal hard and forcing it to take a bailout, as Greece and Ireland already have. Portugal’s pleas may fall on deaf ears, there are growing doubts about Germany’s willingness to support expanding or reconfiguring the bloc’s rescue fund enough to calm investors and reduce the pressure. Ricardo Espirito Santo Salgado, who heads Portugal’s second largest listed bank, BES, criticised European indecision over how to combat the debt crisis. He said lack of clarity over decisions to be taken at coming European meetings were behind the recent jump in the euro zone periphery’s bond yields, including Portugal’s. “After a correction in sovereign spreads and credit at the start of the year, especially on expectations of a reform of financial stabilisation and budget coordination mechanisms, the uncertainty over the decisions by the European Council in March has contributed to a new rise in risk premiums,” he said. Portugal’s borrowing costs have risen sharply over the last year and are now hovering near Euro-lifetime highs. The benchmark 10-year bond was at almost 7.6 percent on Monday. Copyright © 2011 euronews

Bernanke backs financial reforms
Denying investors any clues on what the Federal Reserve might be planning to further stimulate the lacklustre US economy, Fed Chairman Ben Bernanke did not comment on policy or economy matters when he appeared before a congressional banking committee. But he did throw his support behind moves to reform the US banking sector and give greater protection to consumers after the financial crisis. Bernanke said the Fed backs the so-called Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act. “Dodd-Frank is a major step forward for financial regulation in the United States,” Bernanke said, adding that the US central bank is moving swiftly to put its provisions into action. Looking to the worst possible scenario, the Federal Reserve has reportedly told the largest banks in the US to carry out stress tests to see how they would cope with a renewed recession and the jobless total above 11 percent. As Bernanke spoke the latest inflation figures for the US were released. They were up by 0.4 percent in January from December, more than economists had expected. Year-on-year they rose 1.6 percent. But some economists said the increase was not strong enough to suggest a troubling build-up in inflation pressures, the same view held by the Fed. Core consumer prices – that is excluding food and energy costs – rose at the fastest pace in more than a year in January. Month-on-month they increased 0.2 percent – above economists’ expectations for a 0.1 percent gain – driven by rises in the cost of apparel, shelter and airline fares. The still soft inflation scenario was supported by a rise in applications for unemployment benefits last week, which suggested the labour market recovery would remain gradual, restricting wage growth. Copyright © 2011 euronews

EU mulls Libya sanctions
The EU has been criticised for its handling of the Libyan revolt. Some accuse Europe of being too slow in speaking out against Colonel Muammar Gaddafi’s violent crackdown on demonstrators. However, the 27 EU nations on Wednesday raised the possibility of imposing sanctions on the Gaddafi regime. There are three options under consideration: freezing Libyan assets; an EU travel ban; and/or an arms embargo. Some EU countries have already suspended deliveries of weapons to Libya. On Tuesday, the bloc’s foreign policy chief Catherine Ashton announced the suspension of negotiations on bilateral relations with the North African country. An estimated 100,000 people from EU countries will be evacuated from Libya before sanctions bite amid fear for their safety. The majority of them are employees of European companies that have invested heavily in Libya, mostly in oil and gas. Libya exports around 85 percent of its oil to Europe, mainly France, Germany and Italy. Several EU governments fear serious consequences for their economies if sanctions are applied too soon. Italy sources 10 percent of its natural gas needs and 12 percent of oil from Libya, which remains one of its most important trading partners. Copyright © 2011 euronews