Settler numbers up in West Bank

Palestine: The main organisation representing settlers claimed yesterday that the population of Jewish Israelis living in the West Bank rose sharply during the first half of this year.

Yesha council foreign envoy Dani Dayan claimed the figures were a sign the settlers were “a thriving community that is here to stay.”

The council said the number of Israelis living in the West Bank rose to 382,031 as of June 30, up 2 per cent from 374,469 in December.

Much of the growth took place when Israel was conducting peace talks with the Palestinians.

Government bans foreign workers

South Sudan: The government said yesterday that it had banned all foreign workers, including aid workers, and ordered they be replaced by locals.

“All non-governmental organisations, private companies, banks, insurance companies, telecommunication companies, petroleum companies, hotels and lodges are directed to notify all aliens working with them in all positions to cease work as from October 15,” said a government statement.

Coptic Christians in clash with cops

Egypt: Hundreds of Christian protesters clashed with police in southern Egypt yesterday during a demonstration demanding authorities locate an abducted woman.

Protesters hurled Molotov cocktails at Samalout police station in Minya province, injuring three officers. Police arrested at least 33 protesters. The demonstration was over the abduction of a Coptic housewife who went missing two weeks ago.

Mitsubishi to build new assembly plant

Indonesia: Mitsubishi Motors said yesterday it will build a new car factory in the country as part of a plan to raise its local production capacity by 50 per cent.

Chief executive Osamu Masuko said $600 million (£370m) will be invested in the assembly plant in Bekasi, east of Jakarta.

Tribal fishing trumps diggers

United States: The US army’s Corps of Engineers brought its review of a proposed coal export terminal to an immediate halt yesterday, a blow to an Australian company trying to get coal from the Northern Rockies to the Asian market.

Oregon regulators had rejected the proposed Columbia River terminal because it would interfere with tribal fishing rights.

And on Monday the Corps announced it had put its review on hold while a judge considers an appeal.

Opposition picks a new leader

Mauritius: The parliamentary opposition appointed a new leader on Monday, replacing the head of the Mauritian Militant Movement, which has decided to enter into a coalition with the ruling Labour Party.

Pravind Jugnauth, a former finance minister and leader of the Mauritian Socialist Movement, will take over as opposition leader from Paul Berenger, who said on Sunday that he was resigning after his party voted in favour of the alliance.

Gunman grabbed after court killing

Denmark: A gunman opened fire in a Copenhagen court building yesterday morning, killing one man and seriously wounding another.

Danish police said they arrested a suspect nearby and seized a shotgun.

One victim was shot inside the bailiff’s court and the other was shot outside the building. Several streets around the building were cordoned off by police.

Contentious rig hits deep sea gas 

China: The exploration rig at the centre of a stand-off with Vietnam earlier this year has made its first deep sea gas discovery in the South China Sea.

The discovery by China National Offshore Oil Corporation was made after its rig withdrew from Vietnam’s waters to a less-contested area about 100 miles south of China’s southernmost island of Hainan.