|
4 June 2002 Nuclear rivals sit down for talks
Meeting at the same table for the first time in over five months the leaders of nuclear neighbours India and Pakistan have sat down together during a conference on Interaction and confidence building measures in Asia, being held in Kazakhstan. However both sides are sticking to the same positions over the disputed Kashmir region, which have brought the two nuclear neighbours to the brink of war. The Russian president Vladimir Putin, who along with China's Jiang Zimin is mediating between the two, told conference delgates, "When we talk about the India Pakistan problem with President Bush, we are reminded about the Cuban missile crisis of 1961. At that moment in time we were so close to a total catastrophy, but then two leaders found the power to stop it." Indian prime minister Atal Behari Vajpayee said he was ready to talk to Pakistan over Kashmir, but he insisted cross border incursions had to stop first. No job, no entry - Italy gets tough on immigrants
Getting tough on immigration, the Italian lower house of parliament has passed a new law which it hopes will stem the tide of foreigners attempting to move to Italy to start a new life. The conditions of entry will now be considerably harder, and if there are any infringements, immigrants face immediate expulsion. A residence permit will now only be given to those who have already got an employment contract. Residence permits will last for two years. However if immigrants find themselves out of work before that time, they will then have to leave the country. The changes to the law mean the government will decide the exact number of immigrants allowed into Italy each year, and in effect, it could say none. Britain lights up for Queen Elizabeth
Around a million people cheered last night as Queen Elizabeth appeared outside the gates of Buckingham Palace to light a ball of fire. It was one of hundreds of beacons lit in her honour up and down the country to celebrate her Golden Jubilee marking 50 years on the throne. Four days of celebrations had been planned, and last night was always going to be the more populist in atmosphere. A star-studded pop concert in the grounds of Buckingham Palace was matched by an extraordinary firework display. Officials had been planning last night's events for months and were unsure until the last minute just how many people would share in the experience. In the end they had no need to panic. The Queen granted an extra day's national holiday to mark her Golden Jubilee and on Tuesday the Royal Family will take part in a special parade.
United Nations troops working to keep the peace in Mitrovica, a Kosovan city divided along ethnic lines, have been criticised by an independent political think tank arguing they are not doing their job. The International Crisis Group says the UN has failed its mandate by allowing the Serbian Government to get too much control in ethnic Serb enclaves. The paper argues that violent demonstrations by Serbs are undermining the future of Kosovo, which has been under UN control since June 1999. The UN has been working to build a regional government from scratch in the province, but the Serbs living in Mitrovica still consider the UN to be an occupying force. The report calls for more international pressure on Belgrade to co-operate with the UN. Calls for a revolution in French restaurants
France's caretaker government faces a taxing question. Restaurateurs across the country want to know when a promised reduction in VAT will come into force. At present they have to charge 19.6% on their meals while fast food outlets pay a sweet 5.5% To give customers a taste of lower prices, restaurants today dropped their taxes by 5% During his election campaign President Jacques Chirac promised the tax cut but now the centre-right leadership seems to be eating its words saying the final decision lies with the European Commission. The head of the French restaurateurs union does not see that as an obstacle. "Any time a government goes to Brussels with a proposal they are really interested in, it is accepted," he said, "This could also be passed because the Commission is in favour of common taxes." The restaurateurs insist their tax must be come into line with fast food chains but that could cost the state around three billion euro, a figure difficult to digest. Wincing Wynona in court accident
Wynona Ryder has put on a brave face following a bizarre twist in her trial for alleged shoplifting. The film star apparently suffered a broken arm in the media scrum outside the Beverly Hills Courthouse. Her lawyer said she was hit on the elbow by a camera. She was forced to cut short her appearance to see medical staff. The actress was taking part in a hearing into felony charges that followed her December arrest at an upmarket department store. The 30-year-old was captured on security camera as she went through the racks of clothes. Security staff say she caught their attention because she appeared to come out of the changing rooms with less than she went in with. Ryder was stopped when she walked past three tills and left the store. Her lawyer has argued she paid for everything she had. |
