Where the jasmine revolution could blossom next?

On the Economist website is available  "The Shoe-Thrower's index". Apart from the non-academic name, this index is very useful to measure the level of instability in the Arabic countries. This statistical tool is based on some indicators such as the level of corruption, the freedom of press, the democracy ranking and the years on power of their leaders. The

Since the first demonstrations occuring in Tunisia in November, then the protests spred in various countries, Morocco, Algeria, Yemen, Syria, Bahrain, Libya, Jordan and Egypt. In particular, the massive demonstrations forced Ben Ali in Tunisia and Mubarak in Egypt  to step down and favoured in Libya the composition of the National Transitional Council, which is overthrowing Gaddafi with the help of the Western countries.



In Jordan and Morocco, the young monarchs started to adopt a series of reforms. The situation is very difficult in Syria and Yemen.

Tahir square, Cairo - Egypt

Demonstration in Avenue Habib
Bourguiba, Tunis - Tunisia

Demonstration in Tobruk - Libya

Food security crisis in the Horn of Africa - A map from WFP helps to monitor the distribution of food in more affected areas

Drought, conflict, and rising food prices are affecting more than 13 million people in the Horn of Africa. On 20 July, famine conditions were declared in several southern regions of Somalia. The Food Security and Nutrition Analysis Unit (FSNAU) forecasts that famine conditions will spread if humanitarian assistance does not increase. In response, WFP is planning to feed over 11.5 million people, including 3.7 million people in Somalia, 3.7 million in Ethiopia, and 2.7 million in Kenya.

WFP to monitor the distribution of food in Somalia and control which areas within the country are most in need of assistance has developed the following map. The tool offers a bird’s-eye view of the food security situation in Somalia, Kenya, Djibouti and Ethiopia. It also lists the locations of WFP distribution centers and identifies areas with limited humanitarian access which are more in need of assistance. The map uses data from the WFP, the U.N. Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs and the Famine Early Warning System Network, among other sources.

When time flies - Almost one year ago Gaddafi was setting up his Berber Tent in villa Pamphili in Rome and now is surrounded in his compound

Gaddafi and Berlusconi

On 30 August 2010, Colonel Gaddafi was visiting Rome in occasion of the Italian-Libyan Friendship Day , a celebration organized by the Italian Prime Minister Berlusconi to reinforce the political and economic interests between the two countries.
Actually, around one year later according to rumours, only one week before the commemoration of the 42th anniversary of his rise to power, Gaddafi  is surrounded in his compound or has taken refuge in the neighbour Tunisia.
The protests, started in February in the wake of the demonstrations in Egypt and  Tunisia. These were, at the beginning, brutally stopped by the Colonel with the use of mercenary forces from Mali and Chad but after a period of uncertainty, the newborn National Transitional Council, representing the opponents, with the military support of the Western forces was able to face and defeat the forces loyal to Gaddafi. After months of fights, the rebels arrived yersterday night to Tripoli. Heavy fighting are reported around Libyan leader Col. Gaddafi's compound as rebels say government forces still control up to a fifth of Tripoli. Despite this, the end of the regime seems very close.

Flag of the Kingdom of Libya 
and the National Transitional Council