Photostream : Senior Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh welcomes international peace activists inside al-Garbi mosque at Shati refugee camp in Gaza City

Senior Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh gives a speech to Palestinians and international peace activists inside al-Garbi mosque at Shati refugee camp in Gaza City October 22, 2010. Hundreds of international peace activists arrived in Gaza on Thursday in a convoy carrying humanitarian supplies, to show solidarity with Palestinians in the blockaded Gaza Strip, an official in the convoy said. (Getty Images / REUTERS/Suhaib Salem )

Senior Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh (L) welcomes international peace activists and his supporters inside al-Garbi mosque at Shati refugee camp in Gaza City October 22, 2010. Hundreds of international peace activists arrived in Gaza on Thursday in a convoy carrying humanitarian supplies, to show solidarity with Palestinians in the blockaded Gaza Strip, an official in the convoy said. (Getty Images / REUTERS/Suhaib Salem )

Senior Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh (C) is surrounded by his bodyguard as he welcomes international peace activists at Shati refugee camp in Gaza City October 22, 2010. Hundreds of international peace activists arrived in Gaza on Thursday in a convoy carrying humanitarian supplies, to show solidarity with Palestinians in the blockaded Gaza Strip, an official in the convoy said. (Getty Images / REUTERS/Suhaib Salem )

International peace activist hold Palestinian flag as their aid convoy wait to cross in to Gaza at the Rafah border Crossing between Egypt and the Gaza Strip, Thursday, Oct. 21, 2010. The aid convoy arrived in the Gaza Strip overland from Egypt on Thursday to a warm welcome from the territory's Islamic militant, The convoy was organized by 'Viva Palestina,' headed by former British member of parliament George Galloway. Egypt banned Galloway from accompanying the convoy because of previous clashes with Egyptian security. Hamas official Ahmed Youssef said the aid is worth about $5 million and includes 137 used vehicles for ambulances and transport. (Getty Images / AP Photo/Eyad Baba)

Italian Prime Minister Berlusconi : "I hope Israel won't attack"

Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi looks on during a press conference in Rome's Palazzo Chigi on October 22, 2010. (Photo : FILIPPO MONTEFORTE/AFP/Getty Images)

October 22, 2010 (KATAKAMI / YNET) --- Italian premier quoted as telling German daily that gentle approach may be more helpful in dealing with Islamic Republic's nuclear aspirations. 'We can only hope that the nuclear threat is not viewed as so great that Israel takes military action against Iran,' he says.

Italian Premier Silvio Berlusconi has expressed doubts about the effectiveness of sanctions against Iran and argued that a gentle approach might be more helpful.

Iran has been hit with several rounds of international sanctions over its nuclear program, which the United States and allies believe could be used to produce nuclear weapons. Iran insists the program is meant purely for peaceful purposes.

On Friday, Berlusconi was quoted as telling Germany's Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung daily that, although Italy has participated in the sanctions, "I fear that sanctions will not bring success."

He said sanctions have tended to reinforce regimes in countries such as Cuba, and "a gentle and circumspect approach would be more helpful," the newspaper reported.

Berlusconi identified Russia and China as countries that could pursue such an approach, and said he had asked China's Premier Wen Jiabao "to use his influence in this direction." The two permanent UN Security Council members have been more hesitant than Western nations about taking a hard line against Iran, and Russian engineers have helped Iran build a nuclear power plant.

Italy has supported UN sanctions despite its strong commercial ties with Tehran, but also has always tried to reach out to Iran by trying to get it involved in issues such as Afghanistan's future.

Asked if Iran can be integrated in the international community, Berlusconi replied: "We must at least try that - it is the only way to get Iran out of its blind alley."


Israel is particularly worried about Iran's intentions. As Iran's archenemy, the Jewish state fears it will be targeted by Iran and Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad has repeatedly made references to Israel's destruction. 

"Regarding Israel, we can only hope that the nuclear threat is not viewed as so great that Israel takes military action against Iran," Berlusconi was quoted as saying.

PM Netanyahu : We'll work to ward off radical Islam

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu gestures as he speaks at the Jewish People Policy Institute's annual conference in Jerusalem, Friday, Oct. 22, 2010. (GETTY IMAGES / AP Photo/Sebastian Scheiner) 

October 22, 2010 (KATAKAMI / YNET) — Addressing world Jewish leaders in Jerusalem, Netanyahu talks about challenges faced by State – including Iran, peace talks and hatred of Israel. ‘The future of the Jewish people depends on Jews’ level of commitment to Israel worldwide,’ he says.

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Friday addressed world Jewish leaders at the Israel Museum in Jerusalem as part of the Jewish People Policy Institute’s conference on the future of the Jewish people.
“We are facing pressures and challenges that no other country is facing,” he said. “There is a country in the east making every effort to develop a nuclear weapon in order to destroy us. Defense costs money, a lot of money. There is no way for us to obtain this money without a strong economy based on society’s achievements.”

According to Netanyahu, “Israel must do all in its power to ward off the goals of radical Islam while doing all it can to reach true peace. Iran continues to deny the Holocaust and call for Israel’s destruction. Today, its influence is apparent in Gaza, Lebanon, Afghanistan, South America and Africa. This is what they are doing without a nuclear weapon – imagine what they would do with a nuclear weapon,” he added.
“The international community must ensure that this weapon will not be attained by the Iranians.”

The prime minister expressed his hope for the improvement and strengthening of Israel’s relations with Turkey would. “The danger from the east is not just our danger, but the entire world’s danger. A country which denies the human rights of its own citizens, which aspires to obtain mass destruction weapons, is a great danger to the entire world.”

’12,000 rockets fired on us’

 

Addressing peace talks with the Palestinians, Netanyahu said he believed “peace is attainable, but it requires concessions, and not just on the Israeli side but also the Palestinian side. We left Gaza and had 12,000 rockets fired on us. So my conclusions are that, one, only when our partners recognize the State of Israel as a Jewish state they will be ready for peace; and two, the only peace which will survive is peace that can be protected. We must have guarantees in the peace agreement for it to be sustainable.”
He took the opportunity to thank the Jewish leaders for their support of Israel.

“I don’t think the Jewish people have a future without the State of Israel, but this future depends on Jews’ level of commitment to Israel across the world. We were too optimistic thinking that the establishment of the Jewish state would help reduce anti-Semitism. The truth is that the Jews’ return to the Land of Israel and the State’s establishment did not make any difference in terms of anti-Semitism, but turned the hatred for Jews into a hatred for the State of Israel,” Netanyahu ruled.

According to the prime minister, the phenomenon of demonization of Jews has been repeated in recent generations in the form of libels being told against Israel.

“The difference is in our ability, as a state, to defend ourselves,” he clarified. “Defending Jews is possible through a strong Jewish state. The accomplishments we have made over the past 60 years are amazing. We have impressive technological achievements, our scientists have won the Nobel Prize, and these are only some of the achievements.”

PM Netanyahu : Recognition of Jewish state only sign of peace readiness

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu gestures as he speaks in the Jewish People Policy Institute's annual conference in Jerusalem, Friday, Oct. 22, 2010. (Getty Images / AP Photo/Sebastian Scheiner)

October 22, 2010 (KATAKAMI / YNET) — Speaking at a conference on the future of the Jewish people, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Friday that “only when our partners recognize the State of Israel as a Jewish state they will be ready for peace.”

The prime minister said this was his conclusion “after we left Gaza and had 12,000 rockets fired on us.” He noted that “the only peace which will survive is one that can be defended.”

Photos : Palestinian couples take part in a mass wedding ceremony in the West Bank city of Nablus

A veiled Palestinian bride poses for pictures during a mass wedding ceremony in the West Bank city of Nablus, Thursday, Oct. 21, 2010. 50 Palestinian couples participated in the ceremony during a large rally sponsored Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas and Fatah. (Getty Images /AP Photo/Nasser Ishtayeh)

Palestinian couples take part in a mass wedding ceremony in the West Bank city of Nablus, Thursday, Oct. 21, 2010. 50 Palestinian couples participated in the ceremony during a large rally sponsored Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas and Fatah. (AP Photo/Nasser Ishtayeh/Getty Images)

Russian-Turkmenistani talks

Turkmen President Gurbanguly Berdymukhamedov (R) meets with his Russian counterpart Dmitry Medvedev

October 22, 2010 (KATAKAMI / KREMLIN.RU) — Dmitry Medvedev and President of Turkmenistan Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov discussed a broad range of bilateral cooperation issues, in particular trade and economic ties and joint projects in energy, agriculture, transport, telecommunications, and humanitarian sector, as well as a number of regional issues.

President Medvedev noted that energy remains one of the two countries’ key cooperation areas and said that Russia is ready to expand ties in the electricity and gas sectors. The President also underlined the need to develop cooperation in energy efficiency and new technology.

Dmitry Medvedev stressed he hoped to see the Caspian region countries continue friendly cooperation. The Caspian Sea is the common wealth shared by the five countries that are responsible for present and future laws regulating the region’s natural resources, the President said.

Photostream: Russian President Dmitry Medvedev visits Turkmenbashi

Russian President Dmitry Medvedev (R) shakes hands with his Turkmen counterpart Gurbanguly Berdymukhamedov on October 22, 2010 in the city of Turkmenbashi on the Caspian Sea coast. Medvedev is to discuss energy cooperation during his visit to the Central Asian state. ( AFP PHOTO / RIA-NOVOSTI / KREMLIN POOL / DMITRY ASTAKHOV )

Turkmen President Gurbanguly Berdymukhamedov (L) meets with his Russian counterpart Dmitry Medvedev late on October 21, 2010 upon his arrival in Turkmenbashi. Medvedev is expected to discuss energy cooperation during his visit to the Central Asian state. (Photo : DMITRY ASTAKHOV/AFP/Getty Images)

Russian President Dmitry Medvedev (L) and his Turkmen counterpart Gurbanguly Berdymukhamedov take a walk late on October 21, 2010 in the city of Turkmenbashi on the Caspian Sea coast. Medvedev is to discuss energy cooperation during his visit to the Central Asian state. (Photo : DMITRY ASTAKHOV/AFP/Getty Images)

Turkmenistan's President Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov (R) and his Russian counterpart Dmitry Medvedev walk during their meeting in the city of Turkmenbashi, October 21, 2010. Turkmenistan is eager to boost gas exports via Russia, the country's Berdymukhamedov said Friday during a meeting with Medvedev. Picture taken October 21, 2010. (Photo : REUTERS/Ria Novosti/Kremlin/Dmitry Astakhov / Getty Images)

Turkmen children in traditional costumes welcome Russian President Dmitry Medvedev late on October 21, 2010 upon his arrival in Turkmenbashi. Medvedev is expected to discuss energy cooperation during his visit to the Central Asian state. (Photo : DMITRY ASTAKHOV/AFP/Getty Images)

Photostream : Swearing-in Ceremony of the new Indonesian Police Chief, Timur Pradopo

An official holds the holy Koran over Indonesia's incoming National Police Chief three-star General Timur Pradopo (R) during the swearing-in ceremony by President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono at the presidential palace in Jakarta on October 22, 2010.  (GETTY IMAGES / AFP PHOTO / ADEK BERRY )

Indonesian President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono (2L) poses with Vice President Boediono (2R), incoming Police Chief three-star General Timur Pradopo (R) and outgoing Police Chief Bambang Hendarso Danuri (1L) during the swearing-in at the presidential palace in Jakarta on October 22, 2010.  (Photo : ADEK BERRY/AFP/Getty Images)

Indonesia's incoming National Police Chief three-star General Timur Pradopo (L) poses next to outcoming police chief Bambang Hendarso Danuri (R) after the swearing-in ceremony by President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono at the presidential palace in Jakarta on October 22, 2010.  (Photo : ADEK BERRY/AFP/Getty Images)

Incoming Police Chief three-star General Timur Pradopo (L) is congratulated by colleagues during the swearing-in at the presidential palace in Jakarta on October 22, 2010. (Photo : ADEK BERRY/AFP/Getty Images)

PM Julia Gillard to visit Malaysia, Indonesia

October 22, 2010 (KATAKAMI / ABC.NET.AU) --- Prime Minister Julia Gillard has announced she will make official visits to Malaysia and Indonesia later this month, after her already-planned attendance at the East Asia Summit in Vietnam.

Ms Gillard has announced she will hold talks with Malaysian prime minister Najib Razak in Kuala Lumpur during an official visit to the country on October 31 and November 1.
She will then travel to Indonesia at the invitation of president Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono for formal meetings on November 1 and 2.

Both countries are critical to some of the key issues facing Ms Gillard, including counter-terrorism and people smuggling, as well as environmental and trade issues.

The trip to Indonesia follows Mr Yudhoyono's trip to Australia in March this year and a joint commitment that Australian and Indonesian leaders would meet annually.

Ms Gillard will also attend the East Asia summit in Hanoi, including the inaugural ASEAN-Australia leaders summit.

British Chancellor George Osborne visits Korea

October 22, 2010 (KATAKAMI / FCO.GOV.UK) --- Chancellor of the Exchequer George Osborne will visit Korea to attend the G20 Finance Ministers and Central Bank Governors meeting in Gyeongju.

The Chancellor will visit Korea from Friday 22nd - Saturday 23rd October to attend the G20 Finance Ministers and Central Bank Governors meeting in Gyeongju.

He also attended the June G20 meeting in Busan.

During the two day visit, the Chancellor will represent the UK at the G20 meeting, which will run from Friday until Saturday evening. Charles Bean, Deputy Governor of Bank of England, will accompany the Chancellor to attend the Meeting in Gyeongju.

Commenting ahead of the Chancellor's visit, Martin Uden, British Ambassador to Seoul, said:

"We see the key goal for the G20 as being to continue the recovery of the world economy and secure sustainable growth.  We need to maximise growth through the right combination of three things: deficit reduction; tackling imbalances, particularly through actions by emerging economies; and structural reform in advanced economies.

I know that the British Chancellor of the Exchequer, Mr Osborne, is also looking forward to his visit to Korea for the Summit in November.''

Further information

The Chancellor of the Exchequer is responsible for overseeing the work of Her Majesty's Treasury, the government department responsible for economic and budgetary issues. A biography of the Chancellor is on the HM Treasury website.

Follow British Ambassador to the Republic of Korea on Twitter: @martin_uden

Indonesia most dangerous volcano ready to erupt – local authorities

Merapi is one of the most active and dangerous volcanoes in Indonesia and has produced more lava flows than any other volcano in the world.

October 22, 2010 (KATAKAMI / RIA NOVOSTI) --- The Indonesian Center for Volcanology has issued a third-degree warning on the possible eruption of the Merapi volcano in densely populated central Java, local media reported on Friday.

Merapi is one of the most active and dangerous volcanoes in Indonesia and has produced more lava flows than any other volcano in the world. It has been active for 10,000 years and has registered eruptions on average every four years.

"The status of Merapi was raised on September 21 from the second degree "warning" to the third degree "expectation," and all activities in the threatened area around the volcano will be banned for safety reasons," said Surono, the head of the Center for Volcanology.

The official said the volcano's activity had been rapidly increasing, accompanied by tremors and frequent lava spills.

Most eruptions of Merapi involve a collapse of the lava dome creating lava flows which travel 6 to 7 km from the summit.

"According to our calculations, the new eruption could produce lava flows that travel up to 15 miles," Surono said.

Merapi is located about 20 miles north of the city of Yogyakarta, and thousands of people live on the flanks of the volcano, with villages as high as 1,700 m above sea level.

In 1997 and in 2006, thousands of Merapi villagers have been evacuated when it began spewing ash and lava.

The worst eruption in 1930 killed about 1,300 people.


JAKARTA, October 22 (RIA Novosti)

G20 finance ministers meet in South Korea

South Korean Finance Minister Yoon Jeung-hyun (R) shakes hands with U.S. Treasury Secretary Timothy Geithner during a meeting ahead of the G20 Finance Ministers and Central Bank Governors meeting in Gyeongju, southeast of Seoul, October 22, 2010. G20 officials are unlikely to reach an accord rejecting currency devaluations and capping current account balances, an informed source said on Thursday, after U.S. proposals ran into stiff opposition. (GETTY IMAGES / REUTERS/Finance Ministry/Handout )

October 22, 2010 (KATAKAMI / BBC) --- Finance ministers from the G20 leading economies are meeting in Gyeongju, South Korea, ahead of a summit by heads of state and government next month.

Continuing tensions over exchange rates are likely to dominate proceedings.

China is resisting pressure to allow the yuan to appreciate significantly, and many developing countries also fear a currency rise could hit exports.

Low interest rates in wealthy countries have encouraged investors to seek better returns in emerging economies.


Common approach

The G20 is trying to find a co-ordinated path out of the financial crisis.

Perhaps their most immediate challenge now is to agree a common approach to the problems in the currency markets.

All the signs are that the finance ministers will struggle to make significant headway.

Many developing countries are concerned about upward pressure on their currencies, which could make their exports less competitive.

Behind that pressure are very low interest rates in rich countries, which have led investors to seek better returns in emerging economies. That tends to push the currencies higher.

China has resisted this upward pressure on the yuan by buying dollars.

There is a widespread desire in the G20 to see China cut back on currency intervention

That exacerbates the problem for other countries that compete with China.

There is a widespread desire in the G20 to see China cut back on the intervention and allow the yuan to rise, expressed most forcefully by US officials.

But China shows no inclination to make much of a move in the near future.

The other factor behind the currency tension - the low interest rates in rich countries - is also unlikely to change soon.

It is a result of their faltering economic recoveries.

Indeed, there are signs that central banks in the US and UK might take further steps to simulate recovery, which could lead to still lower interest rates and even more money flooding into emerging economies, further aggravating the currency tension.

Photostream : Israel marks 15th anniversary of Rabin’s assassination

An Israeli man and his son visit the site where late prime minister Yitzhak Rabin was assassinated in Tel Aviv in 1995 at the hands of a Jewish extremist opposed to peace with the Palestinians as Israel marks the 15th anniversary of the killing on October 20, 2010. (Photo : JACK GUEZ/AFP/Getty Images)

Israeli school children stand next to a memorial marking the site where Prime Minister Yitzhak Rabin was assassinated in Tel Aviv October 20, 2010. On Wednesday Israel marks the 15th anniversary of Rabin's killing by an ultra-nationalist Jewish assassin. (GETTY IMAGES / REUTERS/Nir Elias )

An Israeli man lights a candle at a memorial site for late prime minister Yitzhak Rabin in Tel Aviv on October 20, 2010 to mark the 15th anniversary of his assassination at the hands of a Jewish extremist opposed to peace with the Palestinians. (Photo : JACK GUEZ/AFP/Getty Images)

Family members of the late Israeli Prime Minister Yitzhak Rabin stand in front of his grave during a memorial ceremony on Mount Herzl military cemetery in Jerusalem marking the anniversary of his assassination October 20, 2010. Israel marks on Wednesday the 15th anniversary of Rabin's assassination by an ultra-nationalist Jew. (GETTY IMAGES / REUTERS/Alex Kolomoisky/Pool )

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, left, President Shimon Peres, center, and Parliament Speaker Reuven Rivlin attend a memorial ceremony marking the 15th anniversary of late Prime Minister Yitzhak Rabin's assassination, at the Mt. Herzl cemetery in Jerusalem, Wednesday, Oct. 20, 2010. Israel on Wednesday marked 15 years since Prime Minister Yitzhak Rabin was assassinated by an Israeli extremist who opposed his concessions for peace with the Palestinians. (GETTY IMAGES / AP Photo/Alex Kolomoisky, Pool)

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu speaks at a memorial ceremony marking the 15th anniversary of late Prime Minister Yitzhak Rabin's assassination, at the Mt. Herzl cemetery in Jerusalem, Wednesday, Oct. 20, 2010. Israel on Wednesday marked 15 years since Prime Minister Yitzhak Rabin was assassinated by an Israeli extremist who opposed his concessions for peace with the Palestinians. (GETTY IMAGES / AP Photo/Alex Kolomoisky, Pool)

Photostream : Britain’s PM David Cameron and Deputy PM Nick Clegg visits Wellbeck Primary School in Nottingham

Britain's Prime Minister David Cameron waits outside a classroom with Deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg during a joint visit to Wellbeck Primary School in Nottingham, in central England, October 21, 2010. (GETTY IMAGES / REUTERS/Christopher Furlong/Pool )

Britain's Prime Minister David Cameron (R) and Deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg enter a classroom during a joint visit to Wellbeck Primary School in Nottingham, in central England, October 21, 2010. ( GETTY IMAGES / REUTERS/Christopher Furlong/Pool )

Britain's Deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg (L) and Prime Minister David Cameron chat with pupils during a joint visit to Wellbeck Primary School in Nottingham, in central England, October 21, 2010. (GETTY IMAGES / REUTERS/Christopher Furlong/Pool )

Britain's Prime Minister David Cameron chats to pupils during a joint visit to Wellbeck Primary School in Nottingham with Deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg, in central England, October 21, 2010. (REUTERS/Christopher Furlong/Pool / GETTY IMAGES)

Deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg chats to year six pupils during a visit to Welbeck Primary School on October 21, 2010 in Nottingham, England. After yesterdays government spending review Chancellor George Osborne has insisted that cuts are 'fair' amidst claims that the poorest will be hit hardest. (Photo : Christopher Furlong - WPA Pool /Getty Images)

Carter: Hamas eager to renew talks for Shalit’s release

Member of the 'Council of Elders' Delegation former U.S. President Jimmy Carter listens to Palestinian residents (not seen) during a visit to the Elders Delegation in the Arab East Jerusalem neighborhood of Silwan on October 21, 2010 in East Jerusalem. The Elders, an independent council of retired world figures, visited the neighbourhood to speak with Palestinian residents whose homes are facing demolition. (Photo : Ammar Awad - Pool/Getty Images)

October 21,2 010 (KATAKAMI / HAARETZ) — The Elders hold meetings with Hamas officials, discuss stalled negotiations for Shalit’s release and Middle East peace talks. 

Former American President Jimmy Carter said Thursday that Hamas was interested in renewing negotiations for a prisoner swap deal in exchange for captive Israel Defense Forces soldier Gilad Shalit.
“They let us know… they are very eager to proceed,” Carter told reporters in East Jerusalem several days after meeting Hamas officials in Syria.

Top Hamas official Musa Abu Marzuq confirmed Saturday reports recently denied by the Hamas party that the German mediator, Gerhard Conrad, visited the coastal enclave two weeks ago in a bid to resume the frozen negotiations.

“They are very glad that the German negotiator has been back on the scene lately and that Israeli Prime Minister [Benjamin] Netanyahu has made some positive statements about a prisoner exchange,” Carter said, adding that “they maintained that they are very eager to have a swap but they are demanding the release of some prisoners that are not acceptable to the Israeli negotiators.”

The former president, who arrived in Israel with a delegation of former world leaders, The Elders, held meetings with Hamas officials in Syria, during which they discussed the stalled negotiations fro Shalit’s release and Middle East peace talks.

Shalit was kidnapped by Gaza militants in a cross-border raid in 2006 and has been held by Hamas since. Hamas has demanded the release of hundreds of Palestinian prisoners held in Israeli prisons in exchange for Shalit’s freedom.

The negotiations have been stuck in recent months following Conrad’s failure to reach a deal. The previous round of talks broke down due to Israel’s rejection of Hamas’s demands.

The Elders delegation includes, besides Carter, former Irish president Mary Robinson and former UN envoy Lakhdar Brahimi.
During the Elders’ visit to the East Jerusalem neighborhood of Silwan, carter criticized the Israeli occupation of the West Bank and said that East Jerusalem should be the capitol of a Palestinian state.
In the past week the Elders have visited Syria, Ramallah, Gaza, Egypt and Jordan. Carter, however, did not join the Elder’s visit to Gaza on Saturday.

During their visit on Syria on Tuesday, Carter called for Israel to lift completely its blockade on the Gaza Strip. Despite the U.S. and the European Union’s labeling of Hamas as a terrorist organization, The Elders met with exiled Hamas politburo leader Khaled Meshal, as Carter has done during previous regional visits.

Following their talks with Assad and Meshal, The Elders said people in the region have “very low expectations” that the current U.S.-led talks between Israel and the Palestinian Authority, which excluded Hamas, would succeed.

Moscow : Sergei Sobyanin officially sworn into office

Russian President Dmitry Medvedev, left, delivers a speech while new Moscow Mayor Sergei Sobyanin listens to during an inauguration ceremony in Moscow, Thursday, Oct. 21, 2010. Prime Minister Vladimir Putin's chief of staff was named Thursday the Russian capital's new mayor in a move that would tighten federal control over Moscow's political scene and business interests. The appointment of Sergei Sobyanin underlined Putin's preeminence in Russian politics and would allow him to directly oversee Moscow's money flows that account for a sizable chunk of the nation's wealth. (Getty Images / AP Photo/Grigory Dukor, Pool)

MOSCOW, October 21 (KATAKAMI / Itar-Tass) — The newly-approved mayor of Moscow, Sergei Sobyanin, has been officially sworn into office.

Russian President Dmitry Medvedev is attending the inauguration ceremony held in the White Hall of the Moscow’s city administration building.

Earlier in the day, the lawmakers from the Moscow City Duma (or legislature) voted to vest Sobyanin, a presidential nominee, with the powers of the Moscow mayor.