Palestine

Prospect Monday morning news roundup

Middle East Peace talks resume, car bombs in Baghdad and UK energy regulator "not doing enough"–our pick of the morning's headlines

July 29, 2013
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Peace talks are to resume between Israel and the Palestinians after a three-year gap. This has followed an intense lobbying effort by US Secretary of State John Kerry to bring both sides back to the table.

Talks are to be resumed in Washington this evening and will be conducted by senior aides of Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Mahmoud Abbas, president of the Palestinian Authority.

A dozen car bombs have exploded in the Iraqi capital Baghdad this morning, killing at least 36 people. The blasts, which hit during the morning rush hour have raised fears of a return to the large scale sectarian fighting since the 2003 US-led invasion of the country. There was no immediate claim of responsibility for the attacks. Suicide attacks, car bombs and other violence have killed more than 3,000 people since April.


A coach has plunged off a flyover in southern Italy, killing at least 38 people, according to rescue services. The coach collided with several vehicles before smashing through a parapet and toppling down a steep slope near the town of Avellino, in the Campania region. Meanwhile, the driver of a Spanish train that derailed last week killing 79 people has admitted he was "careless" when he drove at speed around a bend, according to local reports. Francisco Jose Garzon Amo was released from custody on Sunday. He faces multiple counts of reckless homicide.

Energy regulator Ofgem is failing to ensure that energy company profits are transparent, MPs say. The Energy and Climate Change Committee (ECCC) report said the watchdog was "failing consumers by not taking all possible steps to improve openness". The parliamentary committee said that "working out exactly how their profits are made requires forensic accountants". The regulator said it had made energy companies produce yearly financial statements and they had been reviewed by accountants.