Photostream : Indonesia's Mount Merapi spews volcanic ash again and death toll at 206

Mount Merapi volcano erupts, as seen from Manisrenggo village in Klaten of Indonesia's central Java province November 12, 2010. Mount Merapi volcano, on the outskirts of Yogyakarta city in central Java, began spewing searing hot gas and ash clouds more than two weeks ago. Displaced more than 320,000 people. 

The death toll from a series of eruptions from an Indonesian volcano has risen to 206, officials said. Mount Merapi began unleashing torrents of hot gas, rock and other debris more than two weeks ago after years of dormancy. The most significant blast came last Friday, the deadliest day at the mountain in decades. The National Disaster Management Agency said that the toll had gone up from 194 to 206, after counting additional people who died from respiratory problems, heart attacks and other illnesses related to the eruptions. Hot ash was pouring more slowly from the volcano, but experts warned residents to stay away, saying it could erupt again.(Getty Images / REUTERS/Dwi Oblo )

Mount Merapi volcano erupts in Indonesia's central Java province in this aerial view taken November 11, 2010. Mount Merapi volcano, on the outskirts of Yogyakarta city in central Java, began spewing searing hot gas and ash clouds more than two weeks ago. Displaced more than 320,000 people. The death toll from a series of eruptions from an Indonesian volcano has risen to 206, officials said. Mount Merapi began unleashing torrents of hot gas, rock and other debris more than two weeks ago after years of dormancy. The most significant blast came last Friday, the deadliest day at the mountain in decades. The National Disaster Management Agency said that the toll had gone up from 194 to 206, after counting additional people who died from respiratory problems, heart attacks and other illnesses related to the eruptions. Hot ash was pouring more slowly from the volcano, but experts warned residents to stay away, saying it could erupt again (Getty Images / REUTERS/Raditya Djati )

Refugees from the eruption of Mount Merapi volcano select clothes at a temporary shelter in Sleman of Indonesia's central Java province November 12, 2010. Mount Merapi volcano, on the outskirts of Yogyakarta city in central Java, began spewing searing hot gas and ash clouds more than two weeks ago, and has killed 194 people, disrupted flights and displaced more than 320,000 people. (Getty Images / REUTERS/Dwi Oblo )

Statues of Rama and Sinta are covered volcanic ash from the eruption of Mount Merapi at Muntilan, Magelang, Indonesia, Friday Nov. 12, 2010.(Getty Images / AP Photo / Achmad Ibrahim)

Indonesian Muslim pray at a mosque covered with volcanic ash from the eruption of Mount Merapi at Muntilan, Magelang, Indonesia, Friday Nov 12, 2010.(Geety Images / AP Photo/Achmad Ibrahim)

Volcanic ash from the eruption of Mount Merapi covers the Borobudur temple in Magelang, Indonesia, Friday, Nov. 11, 2010. (Getty Images / AP Photo / Achmad Ibrahim )

An Indonesian dries her laundry while taking shelter at an evacuation centre following Mount Merapi's eruption in Sleman on November 12, 2010. Indonesia's most active volcano sent clouds of ash high into the sky after a series of major eruptions, with an alert status remaining in force, an official said yesterday. Since Mount Merapi began erupting in late October, a total of 194 people have died, according to yesterday's updated toll, and more than 360,000 people have been forced to live in makeshift camps outside the danger zone. (Photo by ROSLAN RAHMAN/AFP/Getty Images)

Medvedev to meet with Japanese leader during APEC summit

Russia's President Dmitry Medvedev walks onto the podium, in front of Japan's Prime Minister Naoto Kan, prior to a family photo session at the G20 Summit in Seoul November 12, 2010. The G20 will agree to setting vague "indicative guidelines" for measuring global imbalances and hammer out the details next year, G20 sources said on Friday, effectively calling a timeout to let tempers cool after heated debate over currencies.(Getty Images / REUTERS/Yonhap/Pool )

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November 12, 2010 (KATAKAMI / RIA NOVOSTI) --- Despite the recent diplomatic spat between Moscow and Tokyo, Russian President Dmitry Medvedev will meet with the Japanese premier during the forthcoming APEC summit, Medvedev's spokeswoman confirmed on Friday.

The Russian leader is to meet with Japanese Prime Minister Naoto Kan on the sidelines of the Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) summit to be held on November 13-14 in Yokohama. Kan said last week he was not sure if the meeting with Medvedev would go ahead.

"The Japanese side traditionally raises the issue of the Kuril Islands at such meetings. Russia's position remains unchanged," Natalya Timakova said.

A long-standing territorial dispute between Moscow and Tokyo over the Kuril Islands, called the Northern Territories by Japan, was aggravated by a recent visit by Medvedev to one of the islands. Tokyo has described the visit, the first trip by a Russian president to the disputed islands, as "regrettable," while Moscow argued it is up to the Russian authorities to decide on their trips inside the country.

Following the row sparked by Medvedev's visit, Japan temporarily recalled its ambassador from Russia. The ambassador was to return to Moscow on Sunday as the Japanese government decided to refrain from further actions of protest.

SEOUL, November 12 (RIA Novosti)

Hillary Clinton on peace talks: We will find a way forward

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu (R) and U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton speak with the media prior to their meeting November 11, 2010 in New York City. The two were expected to discuss the rift over settlements in Arab East Jerusalem and other Mideast peace issues. (Photo by Mario Tama/Getty Images)

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November 11, 2010 (KATAKAMI / JPOST) Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu met with US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton in New York Thursday, on a day when Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas told supporters at a memorial rally for his predecessor Yasser Arafat in Ramallah that "making peace is more important than anything else."

Prior to entering the meeting, Clinton and Netanyahu posed for photographs and spoke briefly to assembled press.

"The prime minister and president Abbas are both very committed to a two-state solution and we are going to find a way forward," Clinton said, according to an AFP report.


"We're going to be talking about everything and I'll be saving my comments beyond what I've already said for my talks with the prime minister," said the secretary of state.

Netanyahu responded in kind, saying he was "serious" about restarting the peace talks, which have been stalled since September following the end of the ten month settlement construction moratorium.

"We'll be talking about how to resume and continue this process to get a historic agreement with peace and security between us and the Palestinians," Netanyahu reportedly said. 

He continued: "We also hope to broaden it to many other Arab countries... we are quite serious about doing it and we want to get on with it."  (*)

Israel 'serious' on peace talks, Netanyahu tells Clinton

US Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton (L) with Israel's Prime Minister Benjamin Natanyahu before their meeting November 11, 2010 in New York. US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton vowed to find a "way forward" on the stalled Middle East peace process as she began a crunch meeting Thursday with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. (Photo by STAN HONDA/AFP/Getty Images)

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November 11, 2010 (KATAKAMI / HAARETZ) --- PM vows commitment to U.S.-sponsored negotiations despite plans for new Jewish housing in West Bank.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said on Thursday he was "serious" about talks with the Palestinians as he met with U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton amid an impasse which threatens to scuttle the U.S.-backed peace negotiations. 

"We'll be talking about how to resume and continue this process to get a historic agreement with peace and security between us and the Palestinians," Netanyahu said as he began a meeting with Clinton in New York. 

"We also hope to broaden it to many other Arab countries ... we are quite serious about doing it and we want to get on with it." 

Thursday's meeting follows Israel's decision to proceed with a new housing project in part of the West Bank that it annexed to Jerusalem 43 years ago, underscoring Palestinian fears that Netanyahu's government will push ahead with settlements regardless of the impact on the peace process. 

Clinton, who on Wednesday said the Israeli decision on settlement building was counterproductive, said she still believed that both Netanyahu and Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas were serious about the talks. 


"The prime minister and President Abbas are both very committed to a two-state solution. And we are going to find a way forward," she said. 

Israeli officials say Netanyahu intends to discuss with Clinton the need for forging broad U.S.-Israeli understandings on Israel's security needs in any eventual peace agreement in light of enormous security challenges expected in the coming decade. 

"The chances of reaching a peace agreement will be improved significantly by achieving comprehensive security understandings between Israel and the United States," Netanyahu said.
Israel wants a long-term military presence in the Jordan Valley along the eastern border of a future Palestinian state as well as financial help to pay for security arrangements that would be necessary if a peace deal is achieved. 

The New York meeting comes as the United States works to revive talks that began in Washington on September 2 but were suspended by the Palestinians three weeks later when Netanyahu refused to extend a 10-month limited building freeze in West Bank settlements. 

Netanyahu, whose governing coalition is dominated by pro-settler parties, has so far resisted calls for a freeze on settlement construction. But U.S. officials say they still hope to find a formula to revive the talks, which U.S. President Barack Obama has said could yield a deal within a year to set up an independent Palestinian state. 

With the peace process in limbo, the Palestinians have stepped up calls for the international community to move ahead and recognize Palestinian statehood now - a move the United States fears could further complicate the situation.(*)

Photostream : U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton meets with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu

U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton (L) and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu pose for photographers before their meeting in New York, November 11, 2010. Getty Images / REUTERS/Brendan McDermid

U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton (L) and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu pose for photographers before their meeting in New York, November 11, 2010. Getty Images / REUTERS/Brendan McDermid

U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton (L) and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu meet in New York, November 11, 2010. Getty Images / REUTERS/Brendan McDermid