Israel, Palestinians begin new peace talks
JERUSALEM – With tensions high and expectations low, Israeli and Palestinian negotiators kicked off their first substantive round of peace talks in nearly five years, huddling together at an undisclosed location Wednesday in search of an end to decades of conflict.
The meeting was cloaked in secrecy, an attempt by both sides to prevent leaks to the media and maintain trust. Officials would say only that the talks took place in Jerusalem, and there was no immediate comment from either side. The Israeli government released a brief video showing the chief negotiators shaking hands as the talks continued into the evening.
Ahead of the meeting, there already were signs of trouble. A new Israeli push to build hundreds of new homes in Jewish settlements and fresh fighting in the Hamas-ruled Gaza Strip underscored the tough road ahead.
“We are committed to making the effort, for the sake of Israel and for Israel’s values,” Israel’s chief negotiator, Tzipi Livni, told Channel 10 TV before the talks began. “It will be complicated and complex, but I am not giving up.”
Wednesday, both sides confirmed the meeting had ended after several hours.
Bahrain protests fail after security increased
MANAMA, Bahrain – Activists, inspired by the mass movement behind the popularly supported military coup in Egypt, said they hoped to gain new momentum through nationwide protests including a march into upscale districts. They also called for businesses to close their doors as part of a general strike.
But the protests largely fizzled out as Bahrain put in place a heavy security cordon around Manama. Ahead of Wednesday’s planned marches marking the 42nd anniversary of the British leaving the island, authorities warned they would “forcefully confront” protests.
Demonstrators marching toward the center of Manama met barricades manned by security forces who fired tear gas canisters and stun grenades to disperse them.
“We don’t care if they fire tear gas. We are used to it. We are proud that we have succeeded in shutting down the country,” said Fatma Jaber, one of a group who faced off with police in the capital’s northwest.
Typhoon hits China, forcing evacuations
BEIJING — Tens of thousands of people were evacuated as a powerful typhoon thundered into southern China on Wednesday after shutting down the bustling Asian financial center of Hong Kong and sinking a cargo ship.
Packing high winds and torrential rain, Typhoon Utor forced the closure of schools, offices, shopping centers and construction sites in cities along its path northwest across Guangdong province.
More than 60,000 people were evacuated in the city of Maoming alone. . Flights and ferry services were suspended on the island, stranding thousands of travelers.
There were no immediate reports of damage or injuries because of the storm, which was packing sustained gale-force winds of 90 miles per hour.
Associated Press
