Earthquake strikes south-western Pakistan

Wed, 19 Jan 2011

Islamabad - A major earthquake struck early Wednesday in south-western Pakistan, causing residents to flee their houses in panic.

Around a dozen people were injured as their mud houses collapsed, and two women died of cardiac arrest during the quake, broadcaster Geo TV reported.

The epicenter of the 7.3-magnitude quake was around 50 kilometers west of Dalbandin, a town in the sparsely populated Baluchistan province that borders both Afghanistan and Iran, the Meteorological Department said.

In the southern port city of Karachi, 600 kilometers to the south-east, thousands fled their homes as their felt the earthquake, spending the night outside in fear of aftershocks.

Television footage showed people reciting verses from the Koran and asking God for forgiveness.

"I was drinking tea when the whole house started to shake," said Mohammad Ramdan, a construction worker in Quetta, the capital of Baluchistan. "My God, it was so terrifying. I took my two children and wife and left the house."

The US Geological Survey (USGS) estimated the magnitude at 7.2.

The quake was at a depth of 84 kilometers, and struck at 1:23 am Wednesday (2023 GMT Tuesday), the USGS said.

Pakistan's chief meteorologist Mohammad Riaz said that there were very few losses despite the magnitude because the epicenter of the quake was quite deep and located in a thinly populated region.

CNN reported that tremors were felt as far away as New Delhi.

The Pacific Tsunami Warning Center said the quake was too far inland to have generated a tsunami.

In October 2005, an earthquake measuring 7.6 on the Richter scale struck in northern Pakistan at a depth of 26 kilometers, killing more than 70,000 people.

Source: Earth Times.
Link: http://www.earthtimes.org/articles/news/363037,earthquake-strikes-south-western-pakistan.html.

Arrests at protest against Swedish deportation of Iraqi refugees

Wed, 19 Jan 2011

Stockholm - Swedish police Wednesday briefly detained 25 activists who attempted to block the entrance to an asylum center to prevent a pending repatriation of some 20 Iraqi refugees.

About 50 activists took part in the protest, police said. The Iraqi asylum seekers were taken to Stockholm's Arlanda Airport.

The border police unit declined to say when the plane was due to depart for Iraq, citing security procedures.

The plans have been criticized by various international agencies including the United Nations refugee agency, UNHCR, citing fears that the refugees would be returned to areas where Christians and other minorities have recently come under attack.

Swedish churches, human rights groups, and members of the opposition have also protested the move.

Swedish courts and the Strasbourg-based European Court of Human Rights have however not intervened in these cases, Mikael Ribbenvik, head of the Migration Board's legal division, told broadcaster TV4.

"Some 50 per cent of Iraqi asylum seekers were allowed to stay in 2010," Ribbenvik added.

Lise Bergh, secretary general of the Swedish section of rights group Amnesty International, said the organization was "very concerned" over the decision. At least 14 refugees were to be sent to five regions were there were grave security concerns, she said.

Source: Earth Times.
Link: http://www.earthtimes.org/articles/news/363058,swedish-deportation-iraqi-refugees.html.

Tunisia's transitional cabinet to hold first meeting

Wed, 19 Jan 2011

Tunis/Paris - Tunisia's transitional government was scheduled to hold its first cabinet meeting Wednesday, amid ongoing calls for members of the previous administration to be excluded from power.

The government of national unity got off to a rocky start on Tuesday after three ministers General Union of Tunisian Workers (UGTT) quit over the weighting of the government in favor of ousted president Zine el-Abidine ben Ali's old party.

While the opposition and civil society have been brought into government the Constitutional Democratic Rally (RCD) party retained most of the top portfolios, such as defense and finance.

Health minister-designate Mustapha Ben Jaafar of the opposition FDLT party announced he was also boycotting the government in protest over the dominance of the RCD.

To try mend the rift interim President Foued Mabazaa and interim Prime Minister Mohammed Ghannouchi resigned their membership of the RCD.

But the move was deemed insufficient by the UGTT.

On Wednesday, a measure of normality was returning to the capital Tunis after days of demonstrations and riots.

While universities and schools remained closed many shops had reopened.

Ben Ali fled Saudi Arabia last Friday after a month of demonstrations that began over unemployment and gradually swelled into a national uprising, which killed 78 people.

Source: Earth Times.
Link: http://www.earthtimes.org/articles/news/363071,transitional-cabinet-hold-meeting.html.

U.S. Mulls Nuke Project In Jordan

January 18, 2011

WASHINGTON [MENL] -- The United States has been examining the feasibility of a nuclear energy project in Jordan.

Officials said Jordan and the United States have been negotiating for the supply of up to four nuclear reactors to the Hashemite kingdom. They said the talks included such issues as uranium enrichment, site location and environmental impact.

Source: Middle East Newsline.
Link: http://menewsline.com/article-21773-U-S-Mulls-Nuke-Project-In-Jordan.aspx.

Israel Said To Train UK In UAVs

January 17, 2011

LONDON [MENL] -- Israel was said to have trained the British Army in unmanned aerial vehicles.

Amnesty International asserted that British Army personnel have been training in Israel on UAVs deployed in the Gaza Strip. The London-based human rights group said the British Army was learning how to use Israeli UAVs in counter-insurgency operations.

Source: Middle East Newsline.
Link: http://menewsline.com/article-21767-Israel-Said-To-Train-UK-In-UAVs.aspx.

Qatari, Turkish officials in Beirut for crisis talks - Summary

Tue, 18 Jan 2011

Beirut - Qatar's prime minister and the Turkish foreign minister Tuesday held talks in Beirut with Lebanese officials in an effort aimed at solving Lebanon's latest political crisis.

Qatari Prime Minister Sheikh Hamad bin Jassim Bin Jaber al-Thani and Turkish Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoglu made no comments after their meetings with various officials. But a government source told the German Press Agency dpa that both leaders were on a "tough mission to Lebanon."

"The deep rifts among the Lebanese leaders will make the talks harder on both Qatari and Turkish officials," the source said.

Both met with Lebanese President Michel Suleiman, House Speaker Nabih Berri and caretaker premier Saad Hariri.

"There are some complexities, but issues are being discussed," a source close to Berri said.

He said that Turkish and Qatari officials might ask the country's leaders to postpone parliamentary consultations on the prime ministerial nomination until the current impasse is resolved.

Al Thani and Davutoglu were also to meet later Tuesday with Hezbollah leaders.

Lebanon plunged into a political crisis after Hezbollah and its allies walked out of the unity coalition government on January 12.

Suleiman was to start consultations with the various parliamentary blocs on Monday, but this has been postponed to January 24-25, to pave the way for regional leaders to intervene and ease tensions in Lebanon.

Al-Thani and Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan on Monday attended a mini-summit in Damascus where they met with Syrian President Bashar al-Assad. The three agreed to back efforts by Damascus and Riyadh to end the political impasse in Lebanon.

Saudi Arabia and Syria have for months been seeking to solve the Lebanese political crisis, which erupted over disagreements regarding a United Nations tribunal's probe into the 2005 assassination of former prime minister Rafik Hariri.

Tensions have been high in Lebanon amid reports that the Special Tribunal for Lebanon (STL), based in The Hague, would indict members of Hezbollah. The group had threatened to "cut the hands of anyone" who accused its members of involvement in the Hariri assassination.

The STL submitted its indictment on Monday, but its contents - including who was named - remain confidential while a pre-trial judge reviews the documents.

Source: Earth Times.
Link: http://www.earthtimes.org/articles/news/362968,crisis-talks-summary.html.

EXTRA: Russian president arrives in Jordan after West Bank visit

Tue, 18 Jan 2011

Amman - Russian President Dmitry Medvedev arrived in Amman Tuesday evening to begin a two-day visit to Jordan.

He came from Ramallah on the West Bank, where he held talks with Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas.

King Abdullah II and Medvedev are due to hold talks on Wednesday which are expected to focus on efforts under way to break the deadlock surrounding the direct talks between the Palestinians and Israel, officials said.

According to observers, the latest developments in Lebanon and Tunisia are also expected to figure prominently in the discussions between the two leaders.

The two countries are also to discuss the possibility of Russian firms exploring for oil in Jordan as well as bilateral cooperation on nuclear energy, media reports said.

Medvedev is accompanied by a delegation that includes Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov and Energy Minister Sergei Shmatko.

Source: Earth Times.
Link: http://www.earthtimes.org/articles/news/362983,jordan-west-bank-visit.html.

Palestinians fly flag at Washington mission

Tue, 18 Jan 2011

Washington - The Palestinian mission in Washington raised the Palestinian flag for the first time on Tuesday in a symbolic move to strengthen the bid for statehood.

The flag was flown outside the PLO offices at a ceremony with ambassador Maen Areikat, ABC News reported.

The US State Department, which dictates the ground rules, granted the Palestinian permission to raise the flag in January. Spokesman PJ Crowley said Tuesday that flying the flag does not change the status of the offices.

The United States backs the creation of a Palestinian state through direct negotiations through Israel. It opposes an ongoing effort by Arab nations to seek Security Council recognition of a Palestinian state until a peace agreement has been reached.

Source: Earth Times.
Link: http://www.earthtimes.org/articles/news/362987,fly-flag-washington-mission.html.

Hu arrives in US for state visit

Tue, 18 Jan 2011

Washington - Chinese President Hu Jintao arrived in the United States on Tuesday for a high profile visit that will include a wide range of economic and international security discussions when he meets with US President Barack Obama.

Hu landed at Andrews Air Force Base outside Washington and was greeted by Vice President Joe Biden. Hu is to have dinner with Obama and Biden Tuesday evening.

Hu is scheduled to arrive at the White House Wednesday morning to begin his official state visit and day full of activities. There will be an arrival ceremony followed by meetings with Obama and a subsequent press conference.

In the evening, Obama will host Hu for a state dinner, among the highest honors a US president can bestow on a foreign leader.

Behind all of the public display, talks between the two countries are expected to be contentious. The economic powerhouses have had sharp disagreements over economic and monetary policies.

North Korea's nuclear activities and recent tension on the peninsula will also be high on the agenda. US Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton said ahead of the summit that the two countries will be looking to intensify cooperation on a range of issues globally as well as in Asia.

Source: Earth Times.
Link: http://www.earthtimes.org/articles/news/362994,arrives-us-state-visit.html.

Two shot at California high school - Summary

Tue, 18 Jan 2011

Los Angeles - Two students have been shot at Gardena High School in Los Angeles by a student who brought a gun to school, the Los Angeles Times reported Tuesday, quoting emergency responders.

Police said the gun discharged when the student dropped his bag on a desk, discharging a single bullet that hit two classmates, one in the shoulder and one in the head. At least one of the victims is reported to be in critical condition.

The 16-year-old student was later apprehended in another classroom, where he fled following the incident.

Live video feeds showed scenes of chaos as dozens of police vehicles ringed the campus and helicopters circled overhead searching for the shooter, who was initially reported to have fled from the school on foot.

Source: Earth Times.
Link: http://www.earthtimes.org/articles/news/362993,high-school-summary.html.

UN urges inclusive interim government in Tunisia to ease tensions

Tue, 18 Jan 2011

New York - UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon called on Tuesday for an inclusive interim government in Tunisia that can deal with the rocky situation, including the organization of timely and credible elections for a new leadership.

Ban said he was concerned by the growing violence and called for the restoration of peace and stability after popular protests ended the 23-year reign of President Zine el-Abidine ben Ali.

He said Tunisia's parties should hold broad-based consultations to form an "inclusive interim government leading to the holding of timely and credible elections through which the citizens of Tunisia can freely choose their leadership."

"The United Nations stands ready to provide assistance to the Tunisian people," Ban said.

In Tunis, thousands of people continued to protest the participation of former officials in the hastily formed transitional unity government, which got off to a wobbly start on Tuesday with three ministers resigning on the first day.

Three ministers from the General Union of Tunisian Labor (UGTT) withdrew from the unity government to protest the re-appointment of several ministers from ben Ali's Constitutional Democratic Rally party. The opposition party had also refused to take part in the new government.

Source: Earth Times.
Link: http://www.earthtimes.org/articles/news/362999,big-quake-summary-government-tunisia-ease-tensions.html.