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UN court rules against Italy’s Nazi claims
The UN’s top court ruled on Friday that Germany has immunity from foreign lawsuits by victims of the Nazi regime seeking compensation. The 15-member International Court of Justice made the ruling by 12 to three. It said Italy’s supreme court was wrong to allow claims from slave labourers and the victims of a 1944 massacre in Tuscany. Under international law, states cannot be sued by individuals in national courts but only in international tribunals. Berlin argued damages had been already paid to Italy under a 1961 treaty. Italy said immunity should not apply to these international crimes. In 2008, the country’s top court ordered the seizure of a German cultural centre near Lake Como in northern Italy to pay the claims. The Hague-based ICJ is the UN’s highest judicial organ and settles disputes between states. Its rulings are final and binding. More about: Germany, International Court of Justice, Italy, Nazism, Trial, World War II

Ukraine’s big freeze claims more lives
Officials in Ukraine said 122 people have now died in the country’s coldest winter for six years. Temperatures have dropped as low as minus 33 degrees Celsius Most victims were homeless and Ukraine’s emergencies ministry has pitched shelters in Kiev and other towns and cities. “I live in social care,” said Alexander, a homeless man from the capital. “They push us out at 8 am. So where should I go after that? It is good they have these places to warm up.” The sub-zero temperatures have moved west over the past week. Heavy snow has grounded all flights out of Sarajevo airport in Bosnia. The cold snap now also has Italy in its grasp. Italy is one of eight EU countries hit by a drop in Russian gas deliveries, according to an EU spokeswoman, due to increased domestic demand in Russia. More about: Europe, Poverty, Ukraine, Weather

Four admit plans to strike terror at the heart of London
A plan to strike high profile targets in London in 2010 with improvised explosive devices and nail bombs has been admitted in court by four men. The London Stock Exchange was earmarked where the four intended to plant a bomb in the toilets. A hand written list of potential targets included the home of London Mayor, Boris Johnson while the US Embassy was also identified. The men Mohammed Chowdray and Shah Rahman from London, Gurukanth Desai and Abdul Miah from Cardiff admitted a range of terrorism offences. They changed their plea to guilty before the court appearance. Undercover officers had followed them as they went around London on a recce of some of the capital’s landmarks including the London Eye. The defendants had been inspired by the recently-killed radical Muslim cleric Anwar al-Awlaki. The judge told them they could expect to receive up to 18 years. Five other men admitted lesser terrorism charges. More about: London, Markets, Terrorism

Panasonic joins Sony and Sharp in sea of red ink
Japanese Consumer electronics giant Panasonic has warned it is heading for a record annual net loss of 7.78 billion euros. As with its rivals Sony and Sharp, Panasonic is struggling with shrinking demand for TVs. Company President Fumio Oht-subo apologised for the unprecedented loss but gave no sign that he would step aside as Sony’s boss Howard Stringer has done. Panasonic also has big restructuring charges and writedowns in the value of assets following its purchase of Sanyo in 2009. Together, Panasonic, Sony and Sharp expect to lose around 13 billion euros this year, highlighting the savaging of Japan’s electronics industry by foreign rivals led by South Korea’s Samsung Electronics, weak demand and a strong yen. Sony on Thursday pressed its reset button after warning of a bigger-than-expected annual loss, announcing that Kazuo Hirai will take over from Stringer as CEO in April. That triggered an eight percent jump in Sony’s share price on Friday, its biggest one-day percentage gain in almost a year. By 2015, annual global sales of liquid crystal TVs will contract by eight percent to 70 billion euros according to flat panel industry research company DisplaySearch. Worse still, it forecasts that plasma sets, a market that Panasonic dominates, will shrink 38 percent to 5.3 billion euros. More about: Financial Crisis, Japan, Technology

Venice Carnival masks the winter weather
There is a party atmosphere in a chilly Venice, where revellers have been defying the wintry weather at the start of the city’s carnival. Couples danced in St Mark’s Square where organisers had installed a fountain flowing with wine. The first carnival dates from the 13th century, but the celebrations went into decline from the 1800s on. In recent years there has been a major revival, and organisers are now encouraging visitors from all over the world. Including one from Argentina, drawn by this year’s theme of masks and theatre that goes right back to the carnival’s origins. Sofia Florencia said: ‘I’m fond of masks, of masquerade, so it’s a huge opportunity to see a lot of beautiful masks all together.’ Venice is playing host to a variety of shows and events in its main squares and along the Grand Canal. Organisers are hoping the festival will grow into a major performing arts event. More about: Carnival, Festival, Italy, Traditional celebrations, Venice

Egypt’s leaders vow to catch culprits after football mayhem
Injured players were forced to refuge in their changing room after being attacked in the mayhem which followed a pitch invasion in the Egyptian city of Port Said. At least 74 people were killed and over 1,000 others injured when football fans ran riot at a game between home side al Masry and bitter rivals Al Ahli. Despite losing, the Al Ahli team was chased by home fans, some being hit by stones and bottles. The two sides have a history of bitter rivalry – witnesses say the fighting began after Ahli fans unfurled banners insulting Port Said. The subsequent pitch invasion provoked panic among the crowd as fans on both sides fought. Most of the deaths where among people who were trampled in the crush as they tried to get out of the way or who fell from the terraces. When news of the trouble spread to Cairo the referee at another match stopped the game to prevent any copycat violence. But his actions prompted fans there to set fire to the stadium. The chief of Egypt’s military council, Field Marshal Tantawi has vowed to catch the culprits while the newly elected parliament is to hold an emergency session. More about: Clashes and riots, Egypt, Football, Port Said football tragedy, Victims

Leaders chew the fat at EU summit
Hungary’s Prime Minister Viktor Orban talks with his British counterpart David Cameron at a European Union summit in Brussels, January 30, 2012. REUTERS/Yves Herman More about: David Cameron, EU Summit, European politics, United Kingdom

A 6.3 earthquake hits Peru
Residents on Peru’s central coast are recovering from the aftermath of a six point three earthquake. No-one was killed when the tremor struck on Monday fifteen kilometres south east of Ica. More than one hundred people were taken to hospital but none of their injuries are said to be life threatening. More about: Earthquake, Peru

Ship-wrecked newly-weds thank Giglio islanders
A newly-wed couple who survived the Costa Concordia disaster have made an emotional return to the scene of the accident to thank locals who helped them. Residents of Italy’s Giglio Island, where the cruise ship foundered on rocks, helped the rescue effort, offering comfort and support to the victims. Maria Cristina Meduri said she felt she needed to thank the islanders in person: “It’s to say ‘thank you’ to those people. Because they were… I don’t even know how to describe them, they were special, they were so kind with us,” she said. Her husband, Fabio, lamented the fact that, in his view, the crew were not as quick to react as the locals. He said passengers were left onboard for one and half hours before being evacuated. Scientists are continuing to monitor the stricken vessel for signs of movement. The operation to pump oil from the ship’s tanks continues amid fears it could slip off the rocks on which it is embedded. The experts have already had to suspend their efforts on a number of occasions. More about: Accident, Costa Concordia, Italy, Rescue