Happy Persian New Year
Up to 200 million people are celebrating the Persian New Year’s Day, or Norouz, which starts at midnight on the 21st of March.
It is widely celebrated in Iran, Afghanistan and central Asian republics.
Gatherings of friends and family are important, and also the food which is symbolic.
For example the food known as the the Haft Sin, is made up of seven different elements starting with the letter “S”. Each one of them represents something. For example, apple represents the Goddess of Femininity.
Italy offered help with Tunisian migrants
The European Union’s foreign policy chief Catherine Ashton, at talks in Tunis, has expressed support for Tunisia’s caretaker administration, as increasing numbers of illegal migrants from that country bring calls for help from Italy.?�Tunis rejected a proposal from an Italian minister to send police to Tunisia’s coast to stop Tunisians from taking to the boats. Ashton offered her hosts general long-term encouragement.?�Local Italian officials in Lampedusa say migrants are overwhelming their island, which lies closer to Africa than mainland Italy. Italy has appealed for European Union help, though the European Commission said Rome’s allegation it was left alone to deal with this was surprising.?�A European Commission spokesman, speaking on behalf of EU Home?�Affairs Commissioner Cecilia Malmstr?�m, said: “I asked if they needed our help to cope with these exceptional circumstances. Their reply was clear: ‘No thanks, we do not need the European Commission’s assistance at this stage.’ Despite the lack of a request from their side, I immediately asked my services, the Frontex agency and the European Asylum Support office, to assess how the European Commission could support the Italian authorities in this difficult situation.”
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.
Cook operates radiation detector over shellfish from Japan
A cook operates a radiation detector over shellfish from Kyushu, Japan, as a Japanese restaurant tries to maintain confidence in the consumption of Japanese food, in Hong Kong. REUTERS/Bobby Yip
Gaddafi fire power still feared by rebels
The spreading revolt in Libya may be closing in on the embattled leader, Muammar Gaddafi, but the opposition still fears his fire power.
Leaders of the rebel forces are marshalling their men and weapons to help the revolt in Gaddafi’s Tripoli stronghold but the thinking now is to let the capital free itself.
Read our news file Meanwhile the leader’s own spin doctor, his son Saif al-Islam Gaddafi, has been denying allegations his father has ordered the bombing his own people.
“The United Nations Security Council resolution was passed because of media reports saying that the Libyan air force is attacking Tripoli. So, you are now in Tripoli, I want you now to go to any district they mentioned, and take a random sample in the street.”
The loss of eastern Libya and several towns in the west seems not to worry the Gaddafi camp, with his son claiming those areas were in chaos but still Libyan.
In Zawiyah rebel spirits are high but they’ve raised barricades against surrounding government soldiers who are hoping hunger might flush them out.
Libyan rebel towns react with joy to UN vote
The UN Security Council vote authorising a no-fly zone, and “all necessary measures” to protect civilians, prompted thousands of Gaddafi opponents in Benghazi to take to the streets in celebration.
There was little sign of fear of an imminent attack from government forces in the rebel stronghold. Crowds reportedly shouted “1-2-3, thank you Sarkozy” in recognition of the French president’s drive to impose a no-fly zone.
Some waved Egyptian flags. The Libyan leader has accused rebels of having foreign backing.
Read also – Pick of the Clicks: Libya looks to the skies for help
His son Saif has suggested that only a minority of people in Benghazi are against his father.
There was more joy in the eastern city of Tobruk, where fireworks lit the sky in response to the UN’s move.
READ – Libya: a timeline of international diplomacy
French FM defends Tunisia links once again
French Foreign Minister Michele Alliot-Marie has again been forced to defend her links to the regime of ousted Tunisian president Zine Al-Abdine Ben Ali.
Alliot-Marie holidayed in Tunisia in December during anti-government protests.
She flew there on a private jet belonging to Aziz Miled, a Ben Ali associate.
Her office admitted she spoke with Ben Ali during her stay, contradicting her earlier account that her visit was a purely personal affair.
Le Canard Enchaine newspaper also reported on Wednesday that her parents bought a stake in a property company from Aziz Miled.
Alliot-Marie has refused to resign and has attacked the French media for dragging her parents into the matter.
Coalition launches further air strikes over Libya
?�Allied warplanes have launched further air strikes on Muammar Gaddafi’s forces for a fourth day, notably in western Libya. ?�The coalition?�has confirmed artillery and tanks besieging the rebel-held town of Misrata were targeted.?�?�Despite some condemnation of the West’s intervention, military chiefs have defended their role.?�?�?�Senior US military chief officer Peg Klein said: “Some of those cities still have tanks advancing on them to attack the Libyan people. We are authorised, and the President made the nexus between the Security Council resolution and what he considers our legal mandate to attack those tanks. And so that is the type of target that our strike aircraft will go after.”?�Many of the American air strikes are being launched from ships in the Mediterranean. ?�Despite that, Washington?�has made it clear it wants to take a back seat in the military mission and is calling on other members of the coalition to?�take?�operational command.?�?�
International community weighs up Libya options
The United States is moving warships and aircraft carriers closer to Libya, although military analysts say intervention through force is unlikely.
The British government meanwhile says it will work towards a no-fly zone over Libya.
Read our news file
On Monday the US met with NATO partners and other foreign governments to discuss military options.
President Barack Obama also met with UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon, who expressed frustration with Gaddafi.
“He, (referring to Libyan leader Moammar Gaddafi), has lost his legitimacy when he declared war on his people. This is again a totally unacceptable situation. I hope, I sincerely hope and urge him to listen to the people’s call,” said Ban.
Colonel Gaddafi has come under increasing pressure from the international community since a unanimous resolution imposing sanctions on he and his closest aides, was passed by the United Nations last week.
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.
