25 January 2003
As the World Economic Forum continues in Davos, hundreds of demonstrators with painted faces and carnival-style costumes have strung banners across the town's railway station with slogans such as "No Business over Dead Bodies" and "Leave Iraq in peace, stop the Bush warriors". The huge security operation has kept thousands more anti-globalisation protestors in check. Their train was actually stopped a full 40 kilometres away from the action. The six-day conference started on Thursday and is focussing on corporate scandals and the loss of trust in the business community. However the presence of political and industry leaders has attracted campaigners on a number of issues to Switzerland.
The first national leader to speak both at the World Social Forum in his own country Brazil and at the World economic Forum in Switzerland: Brazil's newly elected president Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva. The former union leader who started life shining shoes wants to bring his message to the world's political and financial elite gathered in Davos. He told an enthusiastic crowd gathered in Porto Alegre that the poor children of Latin America have the same right to eat as children born in any other part of the world, and that the world doesn't need war, but peace. Lula has criticised corruption in Latin America, but says rich countries also have a responsibility to stop crooked leaders. He is expected in Davos on Sunday.
A man carrying knives, apparently an Iraqi in his twenties, tried to enter the inspector's headquarters. He was then wrestled to the ground by UN and Iraqi security guards and was handed over to Iraqi police. Elsewhere in the capital, an Iraqi scientist arrived at the hotel where the inspectors are staying, for a possible interview. He was accompanied by officials of the Iraqi Monitoring Directorate. The US has accused Iraq of preventing scientists from taking part in private interviews.interviews. Several scientists reportedly talked to inspectors today. Earlier a man ran inin front of one the UN vehicles and then jumped in,apparently seeking some sort of sanctuary. He was later taken inside the compound. Despite calls to give the inspectors more time, US Secretary
of State Colin Powell, arriving at the World Economic Forum in the
Swiss resort of Davos, says Washington can count on support from a
dozen states if it attacks Iraq without a further UN resolution. He
said ; "This is not the time time for the international community,
for the United Nations to step back from the solemn responsibilities
it undertook in Resolution 1441 to disarm Iraq."
Two small planes have collided over the US city of Denver, Colorado, killing all four people on board. The aircraft, a Cessna-172 P Skyhawk and a twin-engine Piper Cheyenne, came crashing down on a house and into a backyard. Six people on the ground were slightly injured by falling debris. Denver's Police Department Chief says the single-engine Cessna hit the back of the house and there was an explosion. The other plane crashed into the backyard of another house several blocks away but broke only a tree branch. Each plane was carrying two people and officials do not expect to find more bodies. ARCHIVES 16 suspected Al Qaeda members arrested in and around Barcelona in northeastern Spain have been transfered to Madrid for questioning. Around 150 officers with sniffer dogs took part in the pre-dawn raids yesterday on a dozen flats in the Catalonia region. Most of those arrested are Algerians believed to be linked to Al Qaeda or a splinter group of Algeria's Armed Islamic Group. Interior Minister Angle Acebes says the detainees provided information and the infrastructure to other radical Islamist groups. They had explosives, chemical products and links with other terrorist groups based in Britain and France. Radio transmission material used to communicate with Islamic extremists in Algeria and Chechnya was also seized in the raids, along with plans for a suspected attack. The detentions bring to 35 the number of suspected Islamic terrorists rounded up by Spain since September 11th, eight of whom are suspected of being directly connected to the attacks on America.
The honorary chairman of Fiat, Giovanni Agnelli, has died at the the age of 81.Agnelli, commonly known as Gianni, had been ill for months after being treated in the US for prostate cancer last year. He died at his home just outside Turin where his grandfather founded the car company in 1899, and will be given a private funeral on Sunday. The influence of the man sometimes referred to as "l'avvocato" (the lawyer) extended into almost every corner of Italian life, spanning business, politics and sport. Flags have flown at half-mast at Fiat buildings and the headquarters of the group's sportscar maker Ferrari. Many Turin residents have expressed sadness at Agnelli's death. One said: "It's the end of an era. When I think about the current crisis at FIAT, it's a strange, tragic moment for the city." "I'm touched," commented another, "because in Turin we were used to living with the Lawyer." "He was a very charismatic figure, and he was also a good representative for Turin," reflected a third. On a national level, President Carlo Azeglio Ciampi has spoken of his continuous dialogue with Agnelli over a 30-year period. "I was able to deeply appreciate his capacity for being profoundly Italian," said the head of state.
The Israeli army has been carrying out a sweeping operation in the town of Beit Hanoun in the Gaza Strip in retaliation for a Palestinian rocket attack in southern Israel. Beit Hanoun was shrouded in darkness last night after troops destroyed the main electricity generator. At least three Palestinians and the same number of Israeli soldiers have been killed in the surge of bloodshed. More than 20 Palestinians have been injured. There were other airstrikes in the Gaza Strip against a foundry the army said was used to manufacture arms, as well as several homes in Rafah said to conceal arms-smuggling tunnels from Egypt. Israeli prime minister Ariel Sharon remains ahead in opinion polls for next Tuesday's general election after the Israeli public shifted to the right as a result of the uprising. Nealy 1,800 Palestinians and 700 Israelis have died since the start of the intifada in September 2000.
The big chill is continuing in much of the United States as the arctic weather sends temperatures plunging. New York City's Hudson River is frozen, making it almost impossible for boats to navigate. The cold weather is keeping most New Yorkers wrapped up. The general rule seems to be: if you want to keep warm, keep moving. For one familiar figure in the Big Apple, though, there is no big deal. Robert Burck, also known as the Naked Cowboy, may leave some passers-by cold,but for others, the man who reportedly performs in Times Square all year round dressed only in his underpants, boots and stetson is hot stuff. You have to see this , folks! Click on that button NOW...
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