Ismail Serageldin, Director of Bibliotheca Alexandrina, speaks during the Middle East session on day one of the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, on Wednesday, Jan. 23, 2008
Beware the Librarians — Newish online-only outfit Global Mail writes about the revolt against the director of the revived ancient Bibliotheca Alexandrina in Egypt amid corruption claims. Ismail Serageldin faces calls for his resignation and staff in revolt in a story that revolves around former first lady Suzanne Mubarak – and shines a light on the continued fallout from the country’s revolution.
Pain in Spain — El Pais documents the plight of Spain’s mileuristas: foreign language-fluent graduates aged between 25 and 34 who once decried earning just over 1,000 euros a month. With youth unemployment near 50%, the Spanish daily concludes “the picture that emerges is of a generation that can only dream of a time when 1,000 euros a month could be considered exploitative.”
Oil Prices — Abu Dhabi’s the National reports on this week’s OPEC meeting in Kuwait, where fears heightened that the group, which accounts for about 40% of global crude oil production, may not be able to keep prices under control. “The price rise stems from geopolitical concerns rather than a supply crunch,” Sadad Al Husseini, founder of the consultancy Husseini Energy, told the newspaper.
Election 2012 — Former Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak is playing a large role in the current presidential race. Some 450 people have registered to run for the top office, including Mohamed Hosni Mubarak, a cousin with the same name as the former leader. CNN claims the younger Mubarak has had limited contact with the ailing 83-year-old. Links to the ousted leader, or the “Mubarak test,” is one measure used to vet candidates in the crowded field, The Jerusalem Post reports. Campaigning begins April 30 and elections are scheduled for May 23.
Internet Enemies — Media watchdog group Reporters Without Borders released their list of “Enemies of Internet” on Monday. Along with the usual suspects of China, Myanmar and North Korea, new to the list this year are Belarus and Bahrain. The BBC details Bahrain’s addition to the list following the death of website moderator Zakariya Rashid Hassan. Bahrain’s government rejected the report Wednesday saying it does not “present the reality of the situation.”
Virtual Currency — The French city of Nantes will be the first to adopt a cashless payment system on a large scale. By 2013, businesses and individuals can make transactions using the virtual currency nicknamed the “Nanto,” French newspaper Les Echos (via Worldcrunch) reports. Nantos cannot be amassed and have no cash value; the goal is to promote a balanced budget with penalties for going above or below pre-fixed spending limits.