2 June 2002
Vajpayee rules out talks on Kashmir
Indian Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee has arrived in Kajakstan for a regional summit. But he appeared in no conciliatory mood, ruling out talks with Pakistan over the crisis in Kashmir even before boarding his plane in New Delhi. Heading for the conference, Pakistan's president Pervez Musharraf said he still wants to establish a peaceful dialogue, but saw little point even discussing a face-to-face meeting with the Indian leader. Russian president Vladimir Putin will join them on Tuesday, and it is hoped he can work to defuse the tension. Meanwhile on the military Line of Control splitting Indian and Pakistani ruled Kashmir the situation is tense. Earlier two people were killed by mortar fire. Up to a million troops are massed in the area.
Solana pushes summer conference for Middle East peace talks
The EU's Foreign Policy Chief Javier Solana on Sunday called on the Israeli and Palestinian leadership to begin peace negotiations this summer. Following talks with Israel's Prime Minister, Ariel Sharon, Solana said he hoped both sides would agree to an international conference in mid-July. The Palestinians have expressed interest in the talks hoping they could centre around a Saudi peace plan. But Israel insists violence must end and the Palestinian Authority must be reformed before there can be any meeting. On the ground the military operations continued. Israeli troops carried out their third day of raids in the West Bank city of Nablus. They forced their way into numerous buildings searching for suspected militants and illegal weapons.Scores of Palestinians were arrested. At least six of them were university students. Two of them, both women, are accused of planning suicide attacks against Israel.
Britain enters a second day of Golden Jubilee celebrations
After yesterday's exuberant festivities Britain's four day celebration to mark Queen Elizabeth's fifty year reign will continue in a more reflective mood. People have been asked to prayer for her at Church services across the nation. Among the higlights yesterday was a performance by the Soprano Kiri Te Kanawa. The New Zealander was one of several prominent musicians taking part in a concert in the grounds of Buckingham Palace. The show was attendted by thousands of people who had won lottery tickets. Forty thousand watched it on giant screens outside the Palace's fences. The Royal Family is enjoying something of a rising tide of popularity among the public after years increasing indiffernece. This is partly borne out of sympathy for the Queen after the recent deaths of her mother and sister, Princess Margaret. Even so surveys show people are currently more interested in England's participation in the World Cup.
New efforts to solve Kashmir crisis at South Asian summit
Efforts to pull India and Pakistan back from the brink of war over Kashmir will be given a new momentum today at international talks in Kazhakstan. Both India Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee and Pakistan's ruler General Pervez Musharraf will be at the sixteen nation South Asian summit. But no one is expecting a repeat of the handshake the two men engaged in Nepal in January. At this stage the conflict over the disputed region is causing only sporadiccasualties. But the overwhelming fear is that should hostilities escalate into all-out war the two sides could resort to their nuclear arsenals. Musharraf's comments that an exchange of such weapons is "unthinkable" has not stemmed the flow of westerners leaving India and Pakistan in accordance with their governments adivce. Russia has not yet urged its citizens to quit the region. But it may do if a diplomatic initiative involving President Vladimir Putin fails to bring the two leaders into direct talks.
Solana pushes Middle East peace talks
Israeli troops continued their raids in the West Bank city of Nablus on Sunday as diplomats continued their efforts to bring peace to the Middle East. Soldiers forced their way into several buildings looking for suspected militants and illegal weapons. At least four of the dozens arrested were university students which the army accused of planning suicide-attacks. At a press conference with the EU's Foreign Policy Chief Javier Solana, Israel's Foreign Minister Shimon Peres said the operations would continue until the Palestinians proved they could prevent terror. "Our intention was never to reoccupy the West Bank or Gaza Strip," he said, adding "We would like to get out of there as soon as possible but that depends on the security arrangements the Palestinians introduce." After meeting Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat on Saturday, Solana talks withIsraeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon Sunday, hoping to get both sides to agree to international peace conference in the summer.
France expels leading ETA supporter
French border police who had arrested the leader of ETA's political wing, Batasuna have released him, but he has been forced to go back across the frontier into Spain. Arnaldo Otegi was detained in the south west of France as he tried to enter the country to attend a political rally. His arrest follows an incident last march when he shouted "long live the Basque land and freedom" which prosecuters claim amounts to an apology for terrorism. He has already been subject to several exclusion orders in the past because of alleged links to the violent Basque seperatist organisation. The Spanish goverment has recently taken steps to ban Batatsuna because of a perceived link to terrorism.
Switzerland votes on abortion
Voting is underway in Switzerland in a controversial referendum on abortion.Four and a half million voters can choose to legalise terminations within the first twelve weeks or they can vote to tighten the existing ban which would make abortion illegal in every case except when the mother's life is in danger. The government and main political parties have called on the electorate to back the legalisation. "Yes" campaigners claim it will bring the country's laws in line with reality. At present all but three of Switzerland's "cantons" (regions) allow abortions. Those against however argue life takes priority over everything else. They favour the stricter laws which would forbid women terminating their pregnancies even in the case of rape. This is the fourth referendum on the issue in the past twenty four years and the latest opinion polls suggest this time the ban may be lifted.
Authorities in Germany have located the source of a food scare in which tens of thousands of chickens are believed to have been contaminated. The organic farm animals ate feed contaminated with the chemical nitrofen, a dangerous herbicide. Government officials said it originated in a feed-making plant north of Berlin. Agriculture and Consumer Affairs minister, Renate Kuenast, said the discovery came as a great relief. She said one of the biggest scandals in Germany's food sector has now been clear up. Wheat contaminated with nitrofen was used at the plant to make 550 tonnes of feed which was delivered to more than a hundred organic farms producing chickens and eggs. Kuenast said organic farms products were perfectly safe.