World Newshot

17112013

Hollande arrives in Israel, Netanyahu calls Iran main focus for French visit

The French President Francois Hollande arrived in Israel on Sunday on the first official visit of his term. Hollande will stay three days and meet with Israeli President Shimon Peres and other government officials. He will hold a working meeting with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, address a special session of the Knesset and visit memorial sites. According to Netanyahu, speaking on Sunday, the talks are expected to focus on the next round of negotiations in Geneva on the Iranian nuclear program, due to start on Wednesday. Hollande’s visit comes after Netanyahu told the French daily Le Figaro that Israel “salutes Hollande’s firm stance on the Iranian issue,” adding that he hopes France “doesn’t give in.” French Foreign Minister Laurent Fabius has recently derided the agreement discussed at the P5+1 talks with Iran as a “fool’s game,” hinting that it conceded too much to Tehran. In addition, media reports citing diplomatic sources said France has been apparently “blocking” the talks. French sources told Haaretz that Hollande will push home his advantage on Iran by “strongly reiterating” that “Iran’s military nuclear program must stop.”

North Sea storm traps crew on burning cargo ship

Attempts to rescue 32 crew members from a burning cargo vessel in the North Sea have been called off due to a storm. When the fire broke out on Saturday night three helicopters were scrambled from Norway to assist the Britannia Seaways, but were forced to abandon their mission. Rescue spokesman John Sjursoe told press that no one aboard had been injured and the fire appeared not to be spreading. The Danish-operated cargo ship was carrying military equipment from Norway to Bergen.

7.8 magnitude earthquake strikes in far south Atlantic – USGS

A massive 7.8 magnitude quake has been registered in the Scotia Sea near Antarctica, a US Geological Survey says. The tremor occurred at 09.04 GMT with the epicenter at a depth of 10km, followed by a 5.0 magnitude aftershock. The nearest locations to the quake were Grytviken, South Georgia islands, located 893km to the northeast and the Argentinan city of Ushuaia, 1,140km to the northwest. In Argentina, no tsunami warning followed.

French hostage freed in Nigeria after 11 months in captivity

French engineer Francis Collomp, who was taken hostage in Nigeria in December 2012, has been freed, says President Francois Hollande’s office. A diplomatic source told Reuters Collomp was weak and had lost a lot of weight but was not injured. Collomp, who worked at French renewable energy firm Vergnet, was seized after about 30 gunmen stormed his compound in the remote northern Nigerian town of Rimi. The area, which is close to the Niger border, is known for Al-Qaeda’s North African wing operations.

US Secretary of State to travel to Israel for Iran talks

US Secretary of State John Kerry will visit Israel on Friday for talks on a proposed deal between the world powers and Iran regarding Tehran’s supposed nuclear arms program, said Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. Israel has condemned the deal that is being negotiated with Iran at the moment and maintains it will accept nothing less than full nuclear disbandment. Tehran denies it is making nuclear weapons and claims it enriches uranium solely for domestic purposes.

Mass rally staged in Australia for climate change action

Thousands of Australians gathered to call for action on climate change across the country after Prime Minister Tony Abbott moved to abolish carbon tax. GetUp, the group that organized the countrywide event, estimated that 60,000 people turned out to protest.Australia has just had the hottest 12 months ever recorded, which triggered massive bush fires in New South Wales.

28 killed, 80,000 displaced in Vietnam floods

Severe flooding in Vietnam has left at least 28 people dead over the last couple of days. Nine others have been reported missing. Around 100,000 houses were submerged and nearly 80,000 people have been evacuated, the government-run committee on floods and storm protection said in a report. More rain for the region was forecast on Sunday.

Greek leftist group claims responsible for deadly shooting

A Greek leftist group has claimed responsibility for shooting dead two members from the far-right Golden Dawn party. The organization posted their statement on the Greek news website Zougla, saying they admit responsibility for “the political executions of the fascist members of the neo-Nazi party, Golden Dawn.” The shooting took place on November 1, when two young Golden Dawn party members were gunned down outside the party’s headquarters.

​ Clash at Chinese police station leaves 11 dead

Chinese police shot dead nine ax-wielding activists who mounted an attack on a police station in China’s western Xinjiang province, state media reports. The clash also claimed the lives of two officers and injured a further two people. State newspaper Xinhua said that the incident took place at around 5:30 pm (0930 GMT) in the Serikbuya Township of Bachu County in Kashgar Prefecture

Turkish police disperse protest over Gezi Park crackdown victim

Turkish police dispersed a protest in the country’s largest city of Istanbul on Saturday, AFP reported. Protesters were demonstrating over a teenager left in a coma after the Gezi Park anti-government protests in June. Police detained several people for questioning. Protesters gathered in front of Istanbul’s law courts for the rally. Berkin Elvan, 14, left home to buy bread and was hit by a teargas canister fired by police as protesters clashed with officers. Elvan’s lawyer filed a complaint on Friday for “attempted murder” against Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan, Interior Minister Muammer Guler, Istanbul governor Huseyin Avni Mutlu, and the city’s chief of police, Huseyin Capkın, Dogon news agency reported. The June protests drew 2.5 million people to the streets across Turkey, demanding Erdogan’s resignation.