EU’s Ashton targets Palestinian state by September
The EU’s top diplomat Catherine Ashton has said a Palestinian state is still achievable by September, despite an impasse in peace talks.
But, Ashton’s Israeli counterpart, Avigdor Lieberman, stressed the real obstacle to a regional settlement was Iran.
‘‘Please first of all bring some solution, a real solution to the Iranian issue and our readiness to take risks regarding the Palestinian issue will be much, much higher,’‘ the Israeli Foreign Minister said.
Ashton’s visit to Israel aims to galvanise both sides to restart negotiations, but that looks unlikely anytime soon after new settlement construction was approved.
Mustapha Barghouti, a member of the Palestinian Legislative Council said: ‘‘It’s the proof that the Israeli government does not want a solution, it is the proof that nothing will change unless there is serious pressure on Israel including sanctions, actions against this Israeli government.’‘
The approval by Israeli authorities allows for 120 new apartments in East Jerusalem, on land captured by Israel in 1967.
The Palestinians say they will not resume talks until there is a complete building freeze.
Merkel party retains German state but battle looms
Germany’s ruling conservatives are celebrating success in provincial elections but a tougher test lies ahead next week.
The CDU emerged strongest in the eastern state of Saxony-Anhalt. Its governing coalition there with the Social Democrats, the SPD, looks set to be renewed. That likelihood was confirmed by Sigmar Gabriel, the national leader of the left-of-centre SPD, which only managed third place in the poll.
The runner-up was the far-left political movement Die Linke. Its candidate Wulf Gallert hopes the Social Democrats will join forces with his Left Party to run Saxony-Anhalt.
For Chancellor Angela Merkel’s CDU, it is so far so good, but the party risks suffering a major setback next weekend in the much bigger state of Baden-Wuerttemberg.
Japan nuclear crisis continues
One week after the devastating earthquake and tsunami in Japan, people there have been standing in silence for a minute to remember the victims.
The number is now officially higher than that of the Kobe earthquake in 1995. More than 16,000 people have died or are unaccounted for.
Meanwhile the problems at the Fukushima nuclear plant continue. Firetrucks have started to spray water onto reactor number three in a bid to cool down the spent-fuel storage pool.
Officials say they hope to fix a power cable to at least two of the six reactors in the hope of re-starting water pumps.
In the meantime seven trucks with water cannons are taking it in turn to bombard the reactor with water.
The International Atomic Energy Authority has asked for more detailed information from the Japanese in order to assess the situation.
Residents within a 20 kilometre radius are still unable to return to their homes.
Away from the plant the rescue and clear up operation continues. The freezing temperatures and snow have only added to what was already an unimaginably difficult task.
Gaddafi faces crimes against humanity probe
Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi is facing investigation for alleged crimes against humanity, along with members of his family and inner circle.
The announcement came from the International Criminal Court’s Chief prosecutor, Luis Moreno Ocampo.
“We have identified some individuals with de facto or former authority who have authority, authority on the security forces who allegedly committed the crimes. They are Muammar al-Gaddafi, his inner circle, including some of his sons, who had de facto authority,” Ocampo told a press conference.
Ocampo also warned that anti-Gaddafi protesters would also be held accountable for any criminal activity they committed.
“Some opposition groups have also weapons. I would like to be clear: if opposition groups commit crimes their leader will also be investigated,” Ocampo added.
This is the first time the court will investigate crimes as they are occurring. The swift response has been attributed to input from social media.
Ocampo plans to finish his investigation within weeks. A judge’s decision is expected after several months.
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Anti-regime rebels make gains
Anti-government rebels are continuing to make gains in the battle for control of Libya.
The city of Zawiya about 30 miles west of the capital Tripoli looks like becoming central to the conflict.
Armed opposition militia have taken control of the city. But there are reports that the city has been surrounded by troops loyal to Colonel Gaddafi, and that the rebels are expecting a counter attack at any moment.
Most of the coastal cities are now reportedly in the hands of the rebels, including the eastern city of Misrata, as well as Kufra in the south.
But pictures from Libyan state television appear to show Gaddafi remains in control of the capital Tripoli. The regime’s helicopters control the skies, and roadblocks are keeping the city centre securely in government hands. And Gaddafi still has his supporters among the people.
“This is what divides the country”, said one such man. “We haven’t got problems between us. The tribes of Libya are one family. Libya is like one family. We have got nothing. Look around you. Look at the ruins”.
Despite claims to the contrary there are signs that there have been clashes in Tripoli.
At this stage it remains unclear how much support each side can claim.
Diageo hopes Turkish deal will delight
Britain’s Diageo has agreed to buy the Turkish spirits group Mey Icki for the equivalent of one and a half billion euros. The deal will give the world’s biggest spirits maker access to a fast-growing emerging market.
Mey Icki is number one in Turkey and the clear market leader in raki, the country’s most popular spirit. It also has an extensive nationwide sales and distribution network.
Diageo, which makes Johnnie Walker whisky and Smirnoff vodka, is buying Mey Icki from investment firms TPG Capital and Actera. The deal is expected to be completed in the second half of 2011.
The company said it aims to resolve Turkish tax issues that had delayed a deal in the next few weeks.
“Turkey is seeing rapid growth of its middle classes, so there is growth in local raki and vodka, while the deal provides a fantastic platform for Diageo’s international brands in Turkey,” the head of the firm’s Europe business, Andrew Morgan,
told a conference call.
EU considers immigration emergency
Italy’s interior minister, Roberto Moroni, has voiced fears of an immigration tsunami caused by revolution in the Arab countries of the Mediterranean.
This brought Moroni’s counterparts from Greece, France, Spain, Cyprus and Malta, for a meeting in Rome to plan policy strategy and proposals. The six want a special European Union solidarity fund. All 27 EU interior ministers will meet this Thursday in Brussels.
Moroni said: “A humanitarian emergency risks carrying to the shores of our country 300,000 refugees. This humanitarian emergency cannot be left to our countries alone to handle.”
With the upheaval in Tunisia, even before Libya’s uprising, the Italian island of Lampadusa struggled to deal with a wave of 5,000 Tunisians.
Rebel Libyan troops abandon bases
Fresh footage has emerged of Libyan military bases abandoned by troops who have joined protests against Moammar Gaddafi.
Tobruk is one of many cities across the east where anti-Gaddafi demonstrators have risen up and overwhelmed government buildings and army bases.
In many cases the protestors have been joined by local army units – fed up and frustrated they claim by years of mistreatment and abuse. According to some media reports, more than a thousand soldiers have deserted the military barracks, handing over all the weaponry and munitions to the rebels.
Key allies desert beleaguered Yemeni president
Military, diplomatic and other allies of Yemen’s embattled president are deserting him in droves, as pressure mounts on the veteran leader to quit.
Senior officers, ambassadors and some tribes are now backing anti-government protesters.
The televised announcement of defection by powerful army general Ali Mohsen al-Ahmar and his unit is a huge setback to President Ali Abdullah Saleh.
Declaring peaceful support and solidarity with the revolution and its demands, the general said: “We will carry on with our duties in maintaining security and stability in the capital.”
With tanks deployed at key points in Sanaa, Yemen’s defence minister insisted the army backed Saleh and would defend him against any coup.
Snipers killed 52 anti-government protesters on Friday, prompting Saleh to sack his cabinet and declare a state of emergency.
The US embassy has urged its citizens in Yemen to stay indoors and France became the first major Western country to openly say Saleh must stand down.
Libya: battles rage for control of coastal cities
Some two thousand people are estimated to have been died during ten days of violence in Libya.
Misrata, the country’s third largest city, is a cargo port with a population of several hundred thousand people.
Residents say they are in control of the city and have successfully beaten back a recent counter-attack by pro-Gaddafi forces.
Other reports, however, say suspected African mercenaries are regrouping in some parts of the city and providing fierce resistance.
