Photostream : Indonesia's Mount Merapi Erupts Again

Massive molten lava and searing ash clouds shoot from the crater of Mount Merapi captured in this extended time exposure photograph taken from Klaten district in Central Java province before dawn on November 4, 2010. Thousands more people were evacuated from villages around Indonesia's Mount Merapi as the volcano erupts again, shooting ash and heat clouds high into the sky. The 2,914-metre (9,616-foot) Merapi, is a sacred landmark in Javanese culture whose name translates as "Mountain of Fire." (Photo by SONNY TUMBELAKA/AFP/Getty Images)

Molten lava flows from the crater of Mount Merapi captured in this extended time exposure photograph taken from Klaten district in Central Java province. An avalanche of heat clouds that can kill anything in their path streamed nine kilometres down the slopes of the volcano (AFP/Sonny Tumbelaka)

A view from a domestic flight from Denpasar to Yogyakarta that was subsequently diverted to Surabaya airport shows gas and ash billowing some 10 km (six miles) high from Mount Merapi on November 4. Indonesia ordered thousands more people to evacuate as the country's most active volcano erupted again, shooting gas and ash into the sky and triggering a new aircraft exclusion zone. (AFP/Clara Prima)

Mount Merapi volcano erupts for the fifth time as seen from Wukirsari village in Sleman, near the ancient city of Yogyakarta November 4, 2010. Mount Merapi has killed at least 39 people since it began erupting on October 26. Over 74 have been injured and more than 70,000 people have been evacuated, according to Indonesia's National Disaster Management Board. REUTERS/Beawiharta

A man wearing a mask sits at a temporary shelter at Bawukan village in Klaten of central Java province November 4, 2010. Indonesia's Mount Merapi blasted ash and gas into the sky on Thursday, killing six more people in the latest in a series of eruptions over the past nine days that claimed 44 lives and forced more than 75,000 to flee their homes. REUTERS/Andry Prasetyo

A man rides his motorcycle during ash rain in the city of Magelang as Mount Merapi volcano erupts November 4, 2010. Mount Merapi has killed at least 39 people since it began erupting on October 26. Over 74 have been injured and more than 70,000 people have been evacuated, according to Indonesia's National Disaster Management Board on Wednesday (REUTERS/Beawiharta)

Villagers ride on a truck as they leave their homes on a street covered by volcanic ash from the eruption of Mount Merapi in Muntilan, Indonesia, Thursday, Nov. 4, 2010. Indonesia's deadly volcano sent a burst of searing gas high into the air Thursday, hours after its most explosive eruption in a deadly week triggered an exodus from villages and emergency shelters along its rumbling slopes. (AP Photo/Trisnadi)

A family rides a motorcycle as they move to a temporary shelter which is further away from Mount Merapi volcano at Harjobinangun village in Sleman, near the ancient city of Yogyakarta, in the early morning of November 4, 2010. Mount Merapi has killed at least 39 people since it began erupting on October 26. Over 74 have been injured and more than 70,000 people have been evacuated, according to Indonesia's National Disaster Management Board on Wednesday. (Getty Images / REUTERS/Dwi Oblo )

Qantas suspends A380 flight

Qantas Chief Executive Officer Alan Joyce gives a news conference at the Qantas headquarters in Sydney November 4, 2010. Australian airline Qantas Airways grounded its entire fleet of A380 aircraft on Thursday after an engine failure forced one its flights to make an emergency landing in Singapore. (Getty Images / REUTERS/Daniel Munoz )

November 04, 2010 (KATAKAMI / THE JAKARTA POST) --- Qantas CEO Alan Joyce says the airline is suspending all flights of its six Airbus A380 jetliners after a mid-air engine problem on a flight from Singapore.

Joyce told a news conference in Sydney on Thursday the suspension would remain in place until Qantas was satisfied that it was safe for its A380s to fly.

Joyce said "we will suspend those A380 services until we are completely confident that Qantas safety requirements have been met."

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Photostream : Qantas jumbo makes emergency landing in Singapore, after one of its four engines failed over western Indonesia

Indonesian police officers inspect parts of a Qantas jetliner that were found in the area, at the local police headquarters in Batam, Indonesia, Thursday, Nov. 4, 2010. The jetliner made an emergency landing Thursday in Singapore with 459 people aboard, after one of its four engines shut down over western Indonesia and following witness reports of a blast that sent debris hurtling to the ground. (Getty Images / AP Photo/Tundra Laksamana)

Indonesian police officers inspect parts of a Qantas jetliner that were found in the area, at the local police headquarters in Batam, Indonesia, Thursday, Nov. 4, 2010. The jetliner made an emergency landing Thursday in Singapore with 459 people aboard, after one of its four engines shut down over western Indonesia and following witness reports of a blast that sent debris hurtling to the ground. (Getty Images / AP Photo/Tundra Laksamana)

Indonesian police examine fallen debris from a Qantas jet collected from several areas on Batam island, an Indonesian territory near Singapore November 4, 2010. None of the passengers or crew aboard a Qantas jet was injured when the plane was forced to shut down one engine and make an emergency landing in Singapore, Australia's foreign ministry said on Thursday. (Getty Images / REUTERS/Stringer )

Indonesian police officers carry a part of a Qantas jetliner that was found in the area, at the local police headquarters in Batam, Indonesia, Thursday, Nov. 4, 2010. A Qantas jetliner made an emergency landing Thursday in Singapore with 459 people aboard, after one of its four engines shut down over western Indonesia and following witness reports of a blast that sent debris hurtling to the ground. (Getty Images / AP Photo/Tundra Laksamana)

In this image taken from TV, people look at debris found in Batam, Indonesia Thursday, Nov. 4, 2010. A Qantas jetliner made an emergency landing Thursday in Singapore with 459 people aboard, after one of its four engines shut down over western Indonesia and following witness reports of a blast that sent debris hurtling to the ground. The airliner denied there had been any explosion, and said the plane landed safely with no injuries. (Getty Images / AP Photo/RTCI via APTN)

Airport policemen ask the media to leave the restricted area while passengers unboard a troubled Qantas Airbus A380 plane after an emergency landing at the Changi International airport in Singapore on November 4, 2010. The Qantas A380 made a dramatic emergency landing in Singapore, trailing smoke from a damaged engine, in the first mid-air emergency involving the Airbus superjumbo. The double-decker plane, which had taken off from Singapore bound for Sydney carrying 433 passengers and 26 crew, dumped fuel over Indonesia before returning to the city-state's Changi Airport. (Photo by ROSLAN RAHMAN/AFP/Getty Images)

A troubled Qantas Airbus A380 plane seen after an emergency landing at the Changi International airport in Singapore on November 4, 2010. The troubled Qantas Airbus A380 plane made an emergency landing in Singapore with smoke coming out of its underside and was quickly surrounded by six fire engines (Photo by ROSLAN RAHMAN/AFP/Getty Images)

President Obama says he feels bad about midterms, takes blame for Republican rout of Democrats

U.S. President Barack Obama speaks during a news conference in the East Room of the White House in Washington, November 3, 2010. (Getty Images / REUTERS/Kevin Lamarque )

November 03, 2010 (KATAKAMI / NYDailyNews.com) --- President Obama acknowledged Wednesday that he took a "shellacking" at the hands of the Republicans but said he stands by his policies.

With the stinging rebuke, Obama acknowledged he is ready to work with GOP leaders to solve the nation's ills.
"This is something, I think, every President needs to go through," a somber Obama said a day after his Democrats were trounced at the ballot box and the Republicans took control of the House.

Obama said he understands the anguish of average Americans during these tough economic times - and conceded he hasn't done enough to let the people know he feels their pain.

"In the rush of activity we lose track of the ways that we connect with the folks that got us here in first place," he said. "Those letters I read every night, some of them break my heart. But nobody is filming me reading those letters."

Obama said he takes some comfort in the fact that "a couple great communicators, Ronald Reagan and Bill Clinton, were standing at the podium two years into it (their first terms) getting these kind of questions."
It was an out-of-character admission from the normally cool and composed Obama whose critics have accused him of leading the nation more like a professor than a President.

Four years ago, President Bush admitted to receiving a "thumping" from the Democrats in the congressional elections. But he still managed to muster a grin.

There was no smile on Obama's face at the White House when he emerged for his first post-election debacle press conference.

Obama quickly made news by signalling a willingness to possibly compromise on the Bush tax cuts. He had said in the past he wants to extend them to everybody except people making over $250,000-a-year.

"My goal is to make sure we don't have a huge spike in taxes for middle class families," he said. "It would be bad for our economy."

Obama also said he's willing to discuss ways of improving his signature health care reform, but won't scrap it altogether as many Republicans have demanded.

The President also reiterated his desire to scrap "Don't Ask, Don't Tell," another move opposed by many in the GOP.

When asked how if felt to get thrashed at the polls, Obama drew some chuckles by answering, "It feels bad."

"I take responsibility for it," he said.

Obama addressed the press after jubilant Republicans claimed a mandate to roll back much of what the President and the Democrats accomplished in the last two years.

"It's pretty clear the American people want a smaller, less costly, more accountable government here in Washington," said Ohio Rep. John Boehner, who is expected to be Speaker of the House when the new Congress begins work in January.

Obama said he's open to ideas from the GOP but "no one party will be able to dictate where we will go from here, we must find common ground."

The President said he got the message loud and clear that the "number one concern is economy" and that Americans are "deeply frustrated" by the high unemployment.

"They want jobs to come back faster, they want paychecks to go further," he said.

Obama insisted the economy has begun to recover since he took office but "people aren't feeling that progress."

"They don't see it," he said. "We have not made as much progress as we need to make."


(MS)

PM Benjamin Netanyahu: Palestinians not ready for peace

Israel's Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu attends a session of the Knesset, the Israeli parliament, in Jerusalem November 3, 2010. Netanyahu said on Wednesday he would meet Secretary of State Hillary Clinton during a U.S. visit next week in addition to previously announced talks with Vice President Joe Biden. (Getty Images / REUTERS/Ammar Awad )

November 03, 2010 (KATAKAMI / YNET) --- During debate titled 'The world against Israel – how the Netanyahu administration isolated Israel in the international arena,' PM says, 'Rejecting Israel's right to exist doesn't advance reconciliation.' MK Bar-On: Bold decision required.

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu attended a special Knesset debate titled "The world against Israel – how the Netanyahu administration isolated the State of Israel in the international arena." A request to hold a discussion on the matter was signed by 40 Knesset members, including Amir Peretz, Eitan Cabel and Daniel Ben-Simon.

First to speak was MK Ronnie Bar-On (Kadima), who slammed Netanyahu. "Before you go off to a visit in the US you should sit down and read Thomas Friedman, the most prominent US commentator. 

Maybe this time the sound of danger suggested in his articles will sound clearer. In the first round he called our leadership 'drunk drivers.' In the second round, he claimed the cabinet was inhabited by lunatics. Friedman's words point to bad times of changes in Israel's relations with the US and it's not because of any particular president."

Bar-On repeated President Shimon Peres' statements calling for an immediate political decision. "Do you need a clearer warning sign? You know, it's never too late to fix things. Make a bold, uncompromising decision and go for it. We'll be there for you and for ourselves."

MK Yohanan Plesner (Kadima) said, "You've been running the country for a year and eight months, what decision have you made except create one committee after the other. Shunning responsibility is not leadership; it's a weak, indulgent and irresponsible government."

Freeze on hold

Addressing the stalled peace talks with the Palestinians, Netanyahu said, "Rejecting Israel's right to exist certainly doesn't advance reconciliation between the nations and our desire to bring about a peace agreement. The Palestinians made an official commitment in this regard – as part of the Wye agreement and other agreements. I promise to discuss this commitment during the process, but for now I want the process to move forward without preconditions.

"If (the process) fails, it will be because the Palestinian Authority is trying to bypass the negotiations and move the process to the international track," he said.

As for the public uproar surrounding the yeshiva student bill, Netanyahu said, "We are doing exactly what has been done for the past 30 years. The haredim are part of our nation, and should be treated as such. This public should be encouraged to work."   


Likud MK Ofir Akonis responded to the Kadima claims and said, "Your Alzheimer's is really advanced. You decided to take a cynical, political ride on the backs of Israeli students," he said. "Have you no shame – to insinuate that Israel is to blame for the Marmara flotilla?"


Akonis noted that substantial stipends were given to haredim during the Kadima administration and presented a newspaper with the title: "Livni to Shas: Receive NIS 1 billion (about $280 million)." He was then escorted from the podium by security guards for violating Knesset protocol. Later, Kadima's Yoel Hasson was also removed from the hall after verbally attacking MK David Rotem (Yisrael Beiteinu).

MK Nissim Zeev (Shas) addressed the Labor MKs and said: "You can’t crush the coalition from the inside because of problems with your party chairman. I have unresolved business with the defense minister. I think he made a fool of himself, with the Galant document, with his foreign worker…they caught the most dangerous terrorist in the world – Virginia." 

Earlier this week, Netanyahu addressed the peace process during a Likud faction hearing at the Knesset. When asked about the possibility of the resumption of settlement construction freeze he replied there was no concrete US proposal and that the matter was on hold.

(MS)

PM Netanyahu says he will meet Clinton during U.S. visit

File photo : Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu (L) meets with U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton September 15, 2010 in Jerusalem, Israel. Israeli and Palestinian leaders are deadlocked in peace negotiations over Israeli settlement building. (Photo by Amos Ben Gershom / GPO via Getty Images)

November 03, 2010 (KATAKAMI / HAARETZ) --- PM will arrive in New Orleans on Sunday to address a conference of the U.S. Jewish community, where Joe Biden will also speak. 

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said on Wednesday he would meet Secretary of State Hillary Clinton during a U.S. visit next week in addition to previously announced talks with Vice President Joe Biden. 

In a speech to parliament, Netanyahu again voiced strong criticism of the Palestinian Authority, which has suspended peace talks over his refusal to resume a partial freeze of construction in Jewish settlements in the West Bank. 

"The truth is, there is great readiness in Israel for a real peace process," he said. "The truth is, we have not found a corresponding readiness within the Palestinian Authority." 

Netanyahu has resisted U.S., Palestinian and international calls to impose a new building moratorium in settlements after a 10-month freeze expired in late September, some three weeks after the U.S.-brokered negotiations began. 

Palestinian officials have accused Netanyahu of destroying prospects for peace by allowing settlement building to continue on land that Palestinians want for a future state. 

Netanyahu arrives in New Orleans on Sunday to speak at a conference of U.S. Jewish leaders that Biden also will address. President Barack Obama will be visiting Asia during Netanyahu's U.S. trip, which also includes a four-day stay in New York. 

"I will, of course, meet with the senior leaders of the United States, with Vice President Biden and subsequently with Hillary Clinton," Netanyahu told parliament. 

He gave no date or venue for the meeting with Clinton, but Israeli officials said it was likely to take place in New York. 

"I greatly appreciate the efforts of the Obama administration -- the president and his people -- to find a way to advance the peace process," Netanyahu said in his speech, giving no sign of bending in the settlement impasse.

(MS)

Meeting of Russian President Dmitry Medvedev with NATO Secretary General Anders Fogh Rasmussen

Russian President Dmitry Medvedev (R) welcomes North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) Secretary-General Anders Fogh Rasmussen during their meeting in Moscow on November 3, 2010. Rasmussen said on November 3 that the alliance and Russia must bury the ghosts of the past at an upcoming summit, as he sought to persuade Moscow to join a missile defense system.  (Photo by VLADIMIR RODIONOV/AFP/Getty Images)

November 03, 2010 (KATAKAMI / KREMLIN.RU) --- Dmitry Medvedev and Anders Fogh Rasmussen discussed the current state and perspectives of Russia-NATO relations.

The President noted during the meeting that relations between Russia and NATO have gained in substance and become more productive of late, which creates opportunities for building a more solid security system in Europe and the world.

Russia’s delegation at the meeting included Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov, Defence Minister Anatoly Serdyukov, and Russia’s Permanent Representative to NATO Dmitry Rogozin.

* * *




PRESIDENT OF RUSSIA DMITRY MEDVEDEV: Mr Secretary General, it is a pleasure to see you and wish you welcome.

I want to start by saying that relations between Russia and NATO have gained in substance and become more productive of late. We welcome this, as it creates opportunities to work harder on building up our cooperation and developing a more solid security system in Europe and the world.

We will discuss the current situation today, but I hope that later, at the summit in Lisbon, we will have the chance to talk about key cooperation areas between Russia and NATO. You know that I have decided to attend this summit, and I think it will be a useful event.

Once more, I wish you welcome to the Kremlin.

NATO SECRETARY GENERAL ANDERS FOGH RASMUSSEN:
Thank you very much, Mr President. I’m really happy to be in Moscow once again. I’m pleased that you accepted my invitation to attend the NATO-Russia Council meeting in Lisbon on the 20^th of November. Now I look very much forward to a productive meeting and I’m here to prepare that meeting jointly, to make sure that it will be a productive meeting, that we will see concrete results from that meeting.
I share your view that we have seen substantial progress in our relationship during recent months. And I would very much like to develop our cooperation further. I think that summit in Lisbon will represent a fresh start for our relationship, a modernization of our relationship. And I think there is scope for further development of practical cooperation in the coming years.

November 3, 2010, 17:00The Kremlin, Moscow

Medvedev, Qatari emir discuss economic, regional cooperation

Russian President Dmitry Medvedev (R) meets with Qatar's Emir Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa al Thani in Moscow's Kremlin, November 3, 2010. (Getty Images / REUTERS / Ivan Sekretarev/Pool )

MOSCOW, November 3 (KATAKAMI / Itar-Tass) - Russian President Dmitry Medvedev has met with Qatar’s Emir Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa al Thani for talks on economic cooperation and regional interaction.

“Russian-Qatari relations develop successfully. Recently they have become more dynamic and mutually advantageous,” Medvedev said on Wednesday.

The Russian president proposed to discuss “economic relations between our countries and regional interaction”. Medvedev also said the Qatari emir “had interesting meetings in Russia”. “I’m sure that your stay in Russia will be intensive and fruitful,” he added.

Al Thani stressed that Qatar “seeks to develop economic cooperation with Russia”. The Qatari emir said he “had interesting meetings with Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin and Gazprom CEO Alexei Miller. All meetings were positive. We also discussed cultural relations due to Russia’ s heritage. We also want to develop relations in this field”. “As for our international cooperation, it is developing. I believe that it is necessary to focus more attention to the Palestinian problem,” the Qatari emir stressed.

The talks are being held at the Grand Kremlin Palace. Russia’s delegation includes Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov and presidential aide Sergei Prikhodko. The Qatari delegation involves Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Hamad bin Jasem Al Thani.

(MS)

Al Qaeda Leader Killed in Gaza

Palestinians stand around a car that exploded in Gaza City November 3, 2010. The car exploded outside a police headquarters in the city of Gaza on Wednesday, killing one Palestinian, Hamas officials and witnesses said. The Hamas Interior Ministry said the explosion was caused by an Israeli air strike but Israel Radio said it may have been the result of the premature detonation of a car bomb. (Getty Images / REUTERS/Suhaib Salem )

November 03, 2010 (KATAKAMI / IsraelNationalNews.com) --- A senior Al Qaeda leader was killed Wednesday in Gaza. A car bomb killed the terrorist and seriously injured his partner in an explosion outside the main police headquarters in Gaza City.

Local Arabs said the man killed was a senior field commander in the "Army of Islam," associated with Al Qaeda. Hamas claimed that the car was bombed in an Israeli air attack.


(MS)