35 Tunisian migrants missing after boats capsizes: report

A boat carrying would-be immigrants arrives on the Italian island of Lampedusa. Up to 35 migrants sailing from Tunisia to Italy were missing on Tuesday after the boat they were travelling in capsized, Italian port authorities were quoted by ANSA news agency as saying.

AFP - Up to 35 migrants sailing from Tunisia to Italy were missing on Tuesday after the boat they were travelling in capsized, Italian port authorities were quoted by ANSA news agency as saying.

The report, which said the boat capsized on Monday shortly after departing from the port of Zarzis in southern Tunisia, came as hundreds of mostly Tunisian migrants landed on the Italian island of Lampedusa.

ANSA said 12 boats carrying 816 migrants have arrived in the past few hours.

The report also quoted five migrants on one of the boats as saying that they were rescued from the boat that capsized, which was carrying 40 people.

Thousands of Tunisians have arrived in Lampedusa in recent weeks, with many making the perilous Mediterranean crossing on rickety fishing boats.

French far-right leader Marine Le Pen visited Lampedusa on Monday and warned that Europe could no longer accept undocumented migrants from North Africa.

Officials say over 8,000 migrants have landed on Lampedusa since Tunisia's revolution in January -- more than the total number for 2010.

In tragedy, Japan impresses the world

Despite the horrific scenes of destruction, Japan may emerge from its quake-tsunami disaster with a stronger international brand-name as the nation's resilience wins wide praise.

Officially pacifist Japan has historically relied on aid as a key tool of foreign policy, but it is expected to reconsider at least some of the spending as it contends with a hefty reconstruction bill.

Television stations around the world have broadcast the footage of the tsunami that swept Japan following Friday's massive earthquake. But coverage has also shown another side -- Japanese showing calm as they search for loved ones or wait for basic necessities. There is not a hint of looting or violence, even as residents line up at half-empty stores.

Some experts believe the earthquake could change the narrative about Japan to one of rebirth after years in which the country was identified with feeble economic growth, an aging population and revolving-door governments.

AFP - Despite the horrific scenes of destruction, Japan may emerge from its quake-tsunami disaster with a stronger international brand-name as the nation's resilience wins wide praise.

Television stations around the world have broadcast the footage of the seismic waves as they razed homes and carried away cars as if they were toys, stranding dazed survivors on the brutalized landscape.

But coverage has also shown another side -- Japanese showing calm as they search for loved ones or wait for basic necessities. There is not a hint of looting or violence, even as residents line up at half-empty stores.

Entries on the English-language blogosphere speak of the Japanese as "stoic" and wonder the reaction in Western countries would be to a disaster of similar magnitude.

Harvard University professor Joseph Nye said that the disaster may turn out to benefit Japan's "soft power" -- a term he coined to describe how nations achieve their goals by appearing more attractive to others.

"Though the tragedy is immense, this sad event shows some of the very attractive features of Japan, and thus may help their soft power," Nye told AFP in an email exchange.

"In addition to the sympathy it will engender, it shows a stable, well-mannered society that was as prepared for such a disaster as any modern country could be, and which is responding in a calm and orderly way," he said.

Officially pacifist Japan has historically relied on aid as a key tool of foreign policy, but it is expected to reconsider at least some of the spending as it contends with a hefty reconstruction bill.

Even though Japan is one of the world's wealthiest countries, Americans alone have donated more than $22 million since Friday's 9.0-magnitude earthquake, according to a tally compiled from aid groups.

While nearly all nations enjoy sympathy at a human level when they experience tragedy, countries' reputations rarely benefit as a result.

Pakistan received aid from the United States and other countries last year when it was submerged by major floods. But funding came slowly from individuals overseas with relief groups pointing to Pakistan's image problems.

China and Haiti also faced criticism over government handling of earthquakes in 2008 and last year.

Some experts believed the earthquake could change the narrative about Japan to one of rebirth after years in which the country was identified with feeble economic growth, an aging population and revolving-door governments.

"The question was whether Japan was going to be able to deal with what's necessary, to innovate and revive its economy," said Nicholas Szechenyi, deputy director at the Center for Strategic and International Studies.

"It's way too early to make any predictions, but I think so far, viewed from afar, it seems like the Japanese people are demonstrating resilience at a time of crisis. I think that could say a lot about Japan in the days and weeks ahead," he said.

Japan, however, has come under scrutiny for the safety of its nuclear industry after explosions rocked overheating reactors at the Fukushima plant.

Critics of nuclear power have pointed to the crisis as a reason to freeze moves for nuclear power, while lukewarm supporters of atomic energy in the United States have now called for a safety review.

In Germany, Chancellor Angela Merkel put off a plan to postpone the date when Europe's largest economy abandons nuclear power.

However, in the United States, Senator Jon Kyl of Arizona, the number two Republican in the chamber and advocate of nuclear energy, spoke of being "very impressed" with earthquake preparations by Japan.

"It may well turn out here that the Japanese did a phenomenal job of avoiding a catastrophe," Kyl told reporters.

Leaving aside the nuclear issue, newspapers saluted the Japanese response.

Canada's National Post said that Japan's foresight saved "untold tens of thousands of lives."

"Unlike in Haiti (2010), Pakistan (2005) or Sichuan (2008), the rolls of the dead were not needlessly extended by acres of ramshackle tenements that collapsed immediately upon the heads of their occupants," it said.

The Wall Street Journal said in an editorial: "After a once-in-300-years earthquake, the Japanese have been keeping cool amid the chaos, organizing an enormous relief and rescue operation, and generally earning the world's admiration."

Radiation levels a threat to human health: Japan

AFP - Radiation levels around reactors are now a threat to human health, the Japanese government said Tuesday.

A fire has broken out at the number-four reactor at the quake-hit Fukushima No. 1 atomic power plant and radiation levels have risen considerably, Japanese Prime Minister Naoto Kan said.

People between 20-30 km from reactor should stay indoors, Kan said.

Gulf troops enter Bahrain as protests escalate

An image grab taken from Bahrain TV shows a contingent of Gulf troops arriving in the unrest-wracked Kingdom of Bahrain across a causeway from Saudi Arabia.

Bahraini anti-government protesters place concrete roadblocks on the highway leading to Pearl Square in Manama. Armoured troops rolled into Bahrain from neighbouring Saudi Arabia on Monday to help restore order in the strategic Gulf kingdom, where pro-democracy demonstrators have shut down the financial centre.

Thousands of people demonstrate against the Bahraini monarchy outside one of the king's palaces in Malkiya, near Manama on March 12. Armoured troops rolled into Bahrain from neighbouring Saudi Arabia on Monday to help restore order in the strategic Gulf kingdom, where pro-democracy demonstrators have shut down the financial centre.

Map of Bahrain. More than 1,000 Saudi troops have entered Bahrain where anti-regime protests have raged for a month, as demonstrators took over Manama's central business district.

Bahraini anti-government look at spent gas canisters, stun grenades, and rubber bullets all piled up in Pearl Square, the epicentre of the anti government movement, in Manama. Armoured troops rolled into Bahrain from neighbouring Saudi Arabia on Monday to help restore order in the strategic Gulf kingdom, where pro-democracy demonstrators have shut down the financial centre.

AFP - Armed forces rolled into Bahrain from Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates to help restore order in the strategic Gulf kingdom where protesters have shut down the financial centre.

Thousands of mostly Shiite protesters occupied Manama's business district, turning the regional banking hub into a ghost town as they pressed their calls for democratic change from the Sunni Muslim monarchy.

The Saudi government said it had responded to a call for help from its neighbour as Saudi-led forces from the Gulf countries' joint Peninsula Shield Force crossed the causeway separating the two countries.

"The council of ministers has confirmed that it has answered a request by Bahrain for support," the Saudi government said in a statement carried by the SPA state news agency.

It said that under an agreement of the six-country Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC), "any harm done to the security of a member state is considered a harm done to the security of all members."

The United Arab Emirates also said it sent some 500 police to help "defuse tension," according to Foreign Minister Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed al-Nahayan.

The United States government was informed about Saudi Arabia's military intervention in Bahrain before it happened, a senior US administration official said.

"We received word that they were planning to head into Bahrain, but not with a significant amount of lead time," the US official said, asking to remain anonymous.

Earlier, the Pentagon had said that it had received no warning that Saudi troops and others were being deployed to keep a lid on violent protests in the Gulf kingdom.

It was not clear if other GCC members were participating. The GCC groups Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia and the UAE.

Television footage showed convoys of unmarked, desert-brown armoured vehicles crossing from Saudi's Eastern Province into Bahrain, the home of the US Fifth Fleet.

The Shiite-led opposition alliance said any foreign force would be treated as an invading army.

"We consider the arrival of any soldier, or military vehicle, into Bahraini territory... an overt occupation of the kingdom of Bahrain and a conspiracy against the unarmed people of Bahrain," said an opposition statement.

But authorites called on the population to "cooperate fully and to welcome" the troops.

Helicopters buzzed overhead as protesters blocked access roads to the Financial Harbour business complex, a day after more than 200 people were injured there in clashes between riot police and demonstrators.

Sunday was the worst day of violence in the kingdom since seven people were killed at the start of anti-regime unrest a month ago.

Shiite-majority Bahrain has transformed itself into a regional financial centre as it seeks to reduce dependence on diminishing oil revenues.

But to many of the country's disenfranchised Shiites the banking district is a symbol of corruption, wealth and privilege.

Police appeared to have deserted the area, while shopping malls and office towers were closed.

Protesters persisted with a sit-in at nearby Pearl Square, where activists were readying for a showdown with the security forces. Thousands gathered at the square on Monday evening.

"We are ready for them. What is the difference between the Saudis and police here who shot at us?" asked one protester, asking not to be named.

"We are not intimidated," said a woman, also requesting anonymity.

Most workers seemed to be following a trade union call for a general strike to protest against violence by the security forces.

The Saudi intervention comes two days after US Defence Secretary Robert Gates visited Manama and urged King Hamad to undertake rapid and significant democratic reform, not just "baby steps."

Gates told reporters after the talks that Washington was concerned the longer the instability dragged on the more likely Iran, a Shiite theocracy, was to try to meddle in Bahrain's affairs.

In a major concession to the opposition demands, Crown Prince Salman said Sunday he supported the creation of a parliament with full powers and pledged to tackle corruption and sectarian tensions.

But he warned "legitimate demands should not be carried out at the price of security and stability."

The opposition has refused to negotiate until the government resigns, a condition the country's rulers have deemed unacceptable.

Foreign Minister Khalid Al-Khalifa accused the opposition of shifting their demands and likened the protesters to gangsters.

"All goodwill gestures were not reciprocated by (protesters)... Look where we are now," he said, adding demonstrations amounted to "wanton, gangster-style takeover of people's lives."

The mainstream opposition says it is not trying to overthrow the royal family, but more radical Shiite elements have said they want a republic.

Teen cancels Facebook party with 200,000 'guests'

An Australian schoolgirl had to cancel her 16th birthday party after her Facebook invitation went viral and close to 200,000 people said they would turn up at her house, reports said Tuesday.

AFP - An Australian schoolgirl had to cancel her 16th birthday party after her Facebook invitation went viral and close to 200,000 people said they would turn up at her house, reports said Tuesday.

The Sydney girl had wanted her schoolmates to attend, and the post -- which included her address -- said they could bring friends if they let her know, Sydney's Daily Telegraph newspaper reported.

"(It's an) open house party as long as it doesn't get out of hand," she wrote, adding that she had not had time to invite everyone individually.

But within 24 hours more than 20,000 people had replied to the public event to say they were attending and by Tuesday almost 200,000 potential partygoers had reportedly accepted the invitation.

The girl's father, who asked not to be named, said his daughter had invited "a few friends" over Facebook but had initially been unaware of the settings required to stop strangers from viewing the information.

"She was just anxious about whether anyone would show up to her birthday," he told the Telegraph.

Police said it appeared the girl's original post had been reposted by an "unknown person" and this had gone viral, as they warned of the dangers of advertising parties on social networking sites.

"The father has given us an undertaking that he will have the Facebook page removed and the party will definitely not be going on," police Inspector Terry Dalton told ABC Radio. "There will be no party at that address.

"The only thing that anybody who turns up on that street will be met by will be some police vehicles patrolling the area."

In 2008, then 16-year-old Corey Worthington attracted global attention when he threw a wild party while his parents were away, after making an open invitation on his MySpace page.

About 500 people turned up to his two-storey home in Melbourne, and in the ensuing hours police called in the air wing and the dog squad to help subdue revellers.

Settlers protest as army hunts killers near Nablus

Israeli border police detain an Israeli settler after a group attacked Palestinian cars and homes and blocked a main road in the West Bank city of Hebron. Israeli settlers stoned Palestinian homes in a West Bank village where troops hunted those behind a grisly attack on a settler family, Palestinian officials said.

Israeli relatives and friends mourn over the bodies of Udi and Ruthie Fogel and their three young children in Jerusalem's cemetery. Israeli settlers on Monday stoned Palestinian homes at a West Bank village where troops hunted those behind a grisly attack on a settler family, Palestinian officials said.

Israelis grieve during the funeral of three young children and their parents who were stabbed to death as they slept in the West Bank settlement of Itamar on March 13. Israeli settlers on Monday stoned Palestinian homes at a West Bank village where troops hunted those behind a grisly attack on a settler family, Palestinian officials said.

AFP - Israeli settlers stoned Palestinian homes in a West Bank village where troops hunted those behind a grisly attack on a settler family, Palestinian officials said.

Palestinian security officials said hundreds of settlers, some masked, had rallied on the eastern edge of Awarta village, near Nablus, with some hurling stones at houses there.

One Palestinian was injured when a number of settlers broke into his property and beat him, witnesses inside the village told AFP.

It was not clear whether Israeli soldiers operating inside the village had intervened.

An army spokesman said the settlers had a permit to demonstrate and he was unaware of any violent incident there. By late evening the village was quiet, the Israeli military and Palestinians told AFP.

The village was under curfew for the third consecutive day on Monday as troops scoured buildings in a search for the killers of five members of the Israeli settler family, including a baby.

They were stabbed as they slept on Friday at the nearby Itamar settlement.

The perpetrators broke into the family home and in a frenzied attack killed five members of the Fogel family -- three-month-old Hadas, four-year-old Elad, Yoav, 11, and their parents Udi and Ruthie.

The culprits are widely believed to be Palestinian, although details of the manhunt have been placed under a court gag order.

"The direction that's being examined, in general, is a terrorist attack," police spokesman Micky Rosenfeld told AFP.

Amnesty International on Monday repeated its condemnation of the murders while calling on Israel to prevent settler reprisals against Palestinians.

"Since Saturday morning, Israeli settlers have reportedly used stones, Molotov cocktails, guns, clubs and knives to attack Palestinians in vehicles and in their homes in villages and towns across the West Bank," Amnesty said.

"Settlers have also burned fields, cars and property. The Israeli security forces must act to prevent reprisals against Palestinian civilians by armed Israeli settlers and bring those responsible to justice," it added.

Elsewhere in the West Bank on Monday around 200 settlers from Kedumim which lies five kilometres (three miles) west of Nablus demonstrated on the main road leading north, hurling stones at passing Palestinian cars.

To the east of Nablus, witnesses reported seeing settlers throwing stones from their parked cars at passing traffic.

Settlers reported stones thrown by Palestinians at Israeli traffic near Nablus and close to Shiloh settlement, near Ramallah. No casualties were reported in any of the incidents.

Overnight, settlers torched two Palestinian cars just north of El-Bireh, also near Ramallah, residents said. They said the two vehicles, which were set alight before dawn near Beit El settlement, were totally gutted.

Both the army and the police are on alert, fearing a wave of revenge attacks in response to the killings, pictures of which were widely circulated by the settler leadership.

"This act was abominable, inhuman and immoral," Palestinian president Mahmud Abbas told Israeli public radio on Monday. He said Palestinian security forces had joined with Israel to hunt the killer or killers.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu welcomed Abbas's remarks, but said that such strong condemnations also need to be made in the Arab press.

Britain meanwhile joined international condemnation of Israel's announcement it had approved 400 more settler homes on the West Bank, a decision taken 24 hours after Itamar murders.

"We have consistently made clear, including at the UN with France and Germany, that settlements are illegal, an obstacle to peace and a threat to a two-state solution," said a Foreign Office spokesman.

British Foreign Secretary William Hague on Saturday condemned the Itamar killings as "an act of incomprehensible cruelty and brutality".

Wikileaks' Assange confronts Australian PM

Australia has denied passing on information about Wikileaks staff to foreign powers after its outspoken founder Julian Assange (pictured) confronted the country's prime minister, Julia Gillard, over the claim.

AFP - Australia denied passing on information about Wikileaks staff to foreign powers after its outspoken founder Julian Assange confronted the country's prime minister over the claim.

Prime Minister Julia Gillard and Foreign Minister Kevin Rudd dismissed Assange's allegation, which he made directly to Gillard during a live television show late Monday in which he suggested she be charged with treason.

"I am not aware of seeing any such material myself," Rudd told public broadcaster ABC on Tuesday.

Assange surprised Gillard as she appeared on a TV question and answer show during which Australians submitted questions by video, by appearing on screen to flail her for allegedly informing on staff of his whistleblower website.

"When will you come clean about precisely what information you have supplied to foreign powers about Australian citizens working or affiliated with WikiLeaks?" asked Assange, who is under house arrest in Britain.

Wearing a dark suit and tie, Assange asked whether Gillard should be charged with "treason" for her government's alleged actions against Australian citizens.

Gillard denied any knowledge of her government passing data on Wikileaks employees to foreign powers.

"I honestly don't know what he is talking about. I don't know anything about exchanging information about people who work for WikiLeaks. To my knowledge, it hasn't happened," she said.

Assange, an Australian, has slammed Gillard and her government for not doing enough to protect him from a US investigation over the leaking of thousands of secret military reports and diplomatic cables to his whistleblowing website.

The 39-year-old former computer hacker is awaiting a British appeal hearing on whether he can be extradited over allegations of sexual assault against two women after a London court last month ruled he could be sent to Sweden.

But he has said he fears extradition to Sweden would be a precursor to being handed over to US authorities investigating the embarrassing leaks of US diplomatic cables.