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.
How to make a air soft gun out of homemade materials
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.
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.
Gaddafi compound is struck by allies
Allied air strikes have hit at the heart of Muammar Gaddafi’s compound in Tripoli.
Extensive damage was wrought on the four story building – a justifiable target, says the coalition, as it contained the means of controlling Libya’s forces.
Operations to enforce the no-fly zone over Libya resumed over night in a second wave of attacks.
A spokesperson for the regime said the destruction proved that the Western allies were targeting civilian areas.
- READ Libya: a timeline of international diplomacy
Libyan government spokesperson Ibrahim Musa told reporters: “This building is an administrative building in which people were working. It was hit only two hours ago and as you have seen with your own cameras, people, civilians, families, children have come from everywhere, to protect this location and the rocket hit only 50 to 100 metres away from them.”
Western journalists were taken to the site where residents chanted their defiance and expressed their loyalty to the Libyan leader.
Gaddafi has described the coalition as terrorists and vowed to fight to the death.
Do you think the air strikes in Libya should actively target Muammar Gaddafi?
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Investors upbeat on Apple after Jobs iPad speech
Investors reacted positively on Thursday to the surprise appearance by Apple CEO Steve Jobs at the launch of the new iPad 2 a day earlier.
Jobs has been on medical leave since late January with an undisclosed condition.
In midday trading on the Nasdaq stock exchange in New York, the price of Apple shares had risen by more than six dollars to 358 dollars.
The new iPad is thinner, lighter and faster than its predecessor, which was launched last April.
Jobs’s reappearance comes as Apple’s rivals are launching their own tablet computers.
The new iPad goes on sale in Europe on March 25, with prices starting at 499 euros.
Libya’s army orders immediate ceasefire
Libya’s army have ordered all of its units to observe an immediate ceasefire.
The announcement was made after some 24 hours of bombardment by American, British and French forces.
A military spokesman said the ceasefire was effective from 1900 GMT.
He said it had been decided upon following an African Union call for an immediate end to hostilities and the UN Security Council’s authorisation of “any necessary means”, including a no-fly zone, to stop the violence.
To read – Libya: a timeline of international diplomacy
Colonel Muammar Gaddafi had already declared a ceasefire on Friday.
UN chief Ban Ki-moon urged “the Libyan authorities to keep their word.”
“They have already said they start a ceasefire and did not,” Ban said. “They have been continuing to attack the civilian population. This has to be verified and tested.”
Do you think the air strikes in Libya should actively target Muammar Gaddafi?
A Javascript enabled browser that accepts cookies is required in order to participate in the poll.
yes (57%) no (39%) i don't know (4%) // pollTS[0]) { pollTS = cookie; cValid = true; }; }; warning.parentNode.removeChild(warning); if(cookie && cValid) { for(var i = 1; i < pollTS.length; i++) { votes += parseInt(pollTS[i], 10) || 0; }; var total = 0; for(var i = 1; i < pollTS.length; i++) { per = pollTS[i] > 0 ? Math.round(pollTS[i] / (votes / 100)) : 0; if(total + per > 100) { per = 100 - total; total = 100; } else { total += per; }; output[output.length] = '' + questions[i - 1] + ' (' + per + '%) '; }; pollHTML += "" + output.join("") + ""; }; if(!cookie) { pollHTML = ' yes no i don’t know'; }; if(pollHTML) { content.innerHTML = pollHTML; }; })();// ]]>
Investors upbeat on Apple after Jobs iPad speech
Investors reacted positively on Thursday to the surprise appearance by Apple CEO Steve Jobs at the launch of the new iPad 2 a day earlier.
Jobs has been on medical leave since late January with an undisclosed condition.
In midday trading on the Nasdaq stock exchange in New York, the price of Apple shares had risen by more than six dollars to 358 dollars.
The new iPad is thinner, lighter and faster than its predecessor, which was launched last April.
Jobs’s reappearance comes as Apple’s rivals are launching their own tablet computers.
The new iPad goes on sale in Europe on March 25, with prices starting at 499 euros.
ECB drops more hints on rate rise
The European Central Bank is ready to take decisive and timely action to guard against the risks of inflation rising further. So says ECB policymaker Yves Mersch, head of Luxembourg’s central bank.
That is the latest ECB signal of an increase in the cost of borrowing, almost certainly next month. It comes despite Japan’s earthquake, tsunami and nuclear disasters cast doubt on the global economic recovery.
Mersch’s comments reaffirm ECB President Jean-Claude Trichet’s surprise announcement on 3rd March that an April rate rise was possible.
“It is essential that the recent rise in inflation does not lead to generalized inflation pressures in the medium term,” Mersch said.
However, Mersch said inflationary risks were clearly on the upside, an additional hint that the 17-country bloc’s central bank is still on course to raise interest rates next month. “We have indicated very high vigilance for the period that will take us to the decision of April … and we will take the appropriate decisions in order to guarantee price stability in the medium term,” he told a news conference in Luxembourg.
Mersch’s language was similar to the phrasing Trichet used on 3rd March, when he said the ECB would exercise “strong vigilance” over rising inflation — a term that in the past signalled a rate rise was only a month away.
The ECB has kept its rates on hold at a record low of one percent since May 2009.
Italy allows use of air bases
Italy is one a growing number of countries willing to take part in UN, EU and Nato backed military action against Libya. Its air bases, such as the one at Sigonella in Sicily, are likely to play a key role in implementing the resolution.
On Thursday the UN voted to authorise a no-fly zone over Libya and to use “all necessary measures” to protect civilians from Colonel Gaddafi’s forces.
Italy, which has close ties with its former colony , has already suspended a 2008 “friendship treaty” prohibiting its bases being used for military action against Libya.
France, the country that led the calls for action, has confirmed that it will take an active part in military operations.
Denmark and Norway have now joined the list which also includes the UK and the USA.
A number of Arab countries are also expected to play a role.
Do you agree with the UN resolution authorising military action in Libya?
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Euphoria in Tahrir Square as uncertain future beckons
Thousands of Egyptians remain in Tahrir Square to savour and enjoy the end of the regime of Hosni Mubarak.
Most are still coming to terms with what the 18 days of rage achieved.
The furious wave of protests against poverty, corruption and repression consigned 30 years of one-man rule to history.
Still, there is a note of caution behind the joy, many query how committed the army is to establishing democracy.
Many of those who risked life and limb to bring down the Mubarak regime have vowed to stay in Tahrir Square until the Military Council now ruling the country accepts their agenda for change.
“ We have big ideas about what we want to achieve. We hope the army will help us. And we want to change the government, which has been torturing us.”
“We are young people and we can make a change and we proved that in this place, in Tahrir Square.”
Save the serious considerations for later in Tahrir Square, the epicentre of a revolution, the euphoria will linger for a few more hours yet.
Ugandas Museveni predicts fourth presidential term
Voting has ended in Ugandas presidential poll with incumbent Yoweri Museveni widely expected to win a fourth term.
The Ugandan leader says he is confident of winning by a landslide and will clamp down on opposition protests.
The threat of violence has been raised by his arch rival, Kizza Besigye, during a bitter election campaign. He warned he would call for an Egypt-style revolt if widespread vote rigging is reported.
There have been several allegations of rampant bribery for votes and EU election observers have expressed concern that some people were being turned away from polling stations. In the past two elections, the Supreme Court ruled there had been rigging and violence against the opposition, though not enough to alter the result.
