| Monthly Genuary 2002 |
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| Jerry Russo |
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30 June 2002 Search for militant survivors goes on in Middle East
It was a standoff that had lasted four days, but it ended this weekend with the Palestinian police headquarters building in Hebron no longer standing. It was blown apart by the Israeli army in two massive explosions. It is still not known if any of the fifteen armed Palestinians holled up inside survived. Elsewhere in the Middle East, two Palestinians were arrested under the cover of a smoke screen. It is part of a continued effort by Israel to destroy what it says is an infastructure of terror. The road was blocked during the arrests, and a jam quickly built up. When drivers were ordered to turn around, chaos and anger ensued and tanks responded with fire. 700,000 Palestinians are currently under curfews, which are only occassionally lifted to allow food shopping. In Ramallah, the brief lifting of a curfew there brought many out onto the streets in protest against it. But the hastily conveined demonstration was broken up when the curfew was reinstated. |
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Anger at deaths os South Korean sailors
Grieving for their loved ones, the families of four South Korean navy personnel killed in a sea battle with North Korean boats, have been gathering at a military hosptial in Bundang. For many the news was just too difficult to take. Both countries have blammed each other for the clash, which has cast a shadow over reconcilliation efforts. Four sailors were killed, nineteen were wounded and another is missing following the battle, which happened near their maritime border, the so called northern limit line. A statement was read on North Korea's official television station saying "The South Korean army committed a grave provocation firing bullets and shells at patrol boats of the Korean People's Army on routine coastal guard duty". However the south sees it differently. The army's Lieutenant-General told a press conference that it was the North that fired first, after two of their patrol boats briefly crossed the disputed border. The twenty minute fight happened at the same place as a battle in June 1999, in which dozens of North Korean sailors were killed. That was the first naval clash since the 1950-53 Korean war. |
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Controversy over ordination of female priests
A protest against doctrine and church law which descriminates against women- that was the statement released by seven women shortly before they were ordained as Roman Catholic priests. The group, who were from Austria, Germany and the United States, gathered on a boat on the Danube in Austria, for the ceremony. It was conducted by Argentine Arch bishop Romulo Braschi, who was himself ordained as a Roman Catholic priest, but has since joined a church not recognised by the Vatican. However the ordination of the women is strongly opposed by leaders of the Catholic church in Austria and Germany, who described it as a cult spectacle. The bishop of Linz, Maximillian Aichern said the simulated ordination of a woman is not only wrong, but also blantantly contradicts the rules of the church. However the women argue the church's refusal to ordain them has no basis in the scriptures. |
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Clashes in Northern Ireland as marching season starts.
Rioting broke out in west Belfast as tensions rose at the beginning of the loyalist marching season. Police say the group of around 300 locals from the Catholic Springfield road area began protesting after a controversial Protestant Orange Order march passed through the area. Rioters pelted armoured police vehicles with stones and glass bottles. The security forces responded with water cannon. A spokesman for local residents said the trouble started when police failed to pull out of the area after the march. He said locals were angry that no restrictions had been placed on the marchers. The clash followed overnight disturbances in the east of the city during which two police officers were injured and a house destroyed. |
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Pakistan's "most-wanted" militants
Pakistan has issued a hit-list of suspected Islamic militants and offered big rewards for their capture in connection with the killing of U.S. reporter Daniel Pearl and the bombing of Western targets. Several of those listed are named as members of the outlawed Muslim group Lashkar-e-Janghvi. For the first time, the names are given of suspects wanted over a suicide bombing outside the U.S. consulate in Karachi that killed 12 Pakistanis earlier this month. Names are given too for those believed to have been involved in the bombing of a bus in the city. 11 French engineers died alongside 2 Pakistanis. Top of the list, though, is a suspect in the murder of Daniel Pearl, who disappeared in Karachi while working on a story about Islamic militants. The move will be welcomed by the White House, which has consistently praised Pakistan's military ruler Pervez Musharraf for his co-operation in Washington's war against terrorism. |
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28 June 2002 United States gears up to tackle cyber-terrorism threat
US government experts say they are concerned that the Al Qaeda network may be planning attacks on nuclear power plants and water and power supplies, by hacking computers. The director of the FBI, Robert Mueller promised Senators his team would work closely with the CIA to prevent such attacks. "Simply put, our focus is now one of prevention. This simple notion reflects itself in new priorities, different resource deployments, a different resource structure, different hiring and training, different business practices and a substantially different information architecture." Investigators are said to have found evidence that terrorists have been browsing internet sites that offer instructions on how to hack the digital systems used to run power water, transport and communication grids. |
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Fresh talks to end West Bank siege
On day four of a stand-off in Hebron, a group of suspected militants remain holed up inside the city's Palestinian Authority headquarters. Missiles, gunfire and bulldozers have all been aimed at the sprawling complex by the Israeli army. So far, though, this has done nothing to persuade the men to come out. Now though reports say a Palestinian negotiator has entered the building, to try to bring the siege to a peaceful conclusion. The siege is just one high-profile element of Israel's vast West Bank military offensive. The Jewish state launched the campaign following a string of suicide bombings and says it is intent on hunting down those behind the attacks. A photograph of a baby dressed as a bomber, meanwhile, is sending shockwaves across the world today. Israel claims it found the picture in a search of a Hebron home. There is no independent confirmation, however, that the photograph is genuine and some sceptics believe it could simply be part of an Israeli propaganda exercise. |
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G8 agrees Africa action plan
On the final day of the Group of Eight summit in Canada, the leaders of the world's richest countries have pledged a billion dollars in debt relief for the world's poorest states. Hosted by Canadian Prime Minister Jean Chretien, the talks were dominated by Africa. But the heads of state and government also discussed the global economy, and President Bush's plans for the Middle East. Chretien told a news conference: "We all agreed, and it is an agreement that exist since 1947, there should be a country called Palestine there. But to have a country you need a constitution, you need a system of justice, you need elections that are democratic and so on. And all that is a plan that is proposing Mr. Bush- so we all agree." The leaders of Nigeria, South Africa, Algeria and Senegal were invited to attend the summit in the Rocky Mountains, along with United Nations Secretary General Kofi Annan. They were seeking support for the New Partnership for Africa's Development or NEPAD, which promises corruption-free governments in return for aid. As around two dozen self-styled "mud people" protested 100 kilometres away in Calgary, many analysts were pointing out a lack of concrete pledges from the G8 countries. They have earmarked for Africa half of the 12 billion dollars, which they promised all developing countries in March, but it is not clear how this is to be spent. The leaders also promised 20 billion dollars to help Russia dismantle weapons of mass destruction and prevent extremist groups getting hold of raw materials to build a nuclear bomb. |
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Argentines protest at heavy handed police tactics
Making a stand against the government, thousands of Argentines converged on the presidential palace and congress in the capital Buenos Aires. They were protesting over the deaths of two demonstrators who were killed on Wednesday, in the worst riots seen in the country for six months. One protester said, "They assassinated two colleagues and injured many more. It showed an image that intends to justify political authoritarianism and repression in Argentina". Demonstrators have accused police of being heavy handed in Wednesday's deadly clashes, which erupted during a protest against deepening poverty and joblessness under president Eduardo Duhalde. The government has blamed political extremists, and accused them of stirring up trouble. Duhalde, currently fighting for his political future, has publicly vowed to get tough on protests as he struggles to convince a sceptical International Monetary Fund to send more aid. |
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Rebel death threat to Colombia's mayors
Colombia's mayors, under threat of being killed or kidnapped, are calling for a state of emergency to be declared in the country. The officials are being targeted by Marxist FARC rebels, who are intent on destroying the state from the bottom up. But, far from imposing emergency measures, Colombia's outgoing President Andres Pastrana has opted for a different approach. He has announced that a 2 million dollar reward will be paid to anyone providing useful information leading to the capture of FARC rebel leaders, adding that the informant and his or her family will then be able to leave the war-torn nation. FARC, with 17,000 members, is Latin America's oldest and most powerful rebel army. In the past, it concentrated on military targets. This year, however, eight mayors have already been gunned down. At least one of them is known to have been on a FARC hit list. |
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Bid to cut teen pregnancy's in Britain
Free condoms and contraceptive pills could be handed out to pupils in British secondary schools under new plans announced by the country's Health Ministry. If schools chose to offer the service, a nurse or doctor would be on hand to provide contraceptives, including, where appropriate, to children under sixteen. Anne Weymouth of the Family Planning Association said, "Anything we can do to enable young people to make informed choices about their sexual behaviour and to use contraception when they do have sex will help to bring down our teenage pregnancy rates." The UK teenage pregnancy rate is currently the highest in western Europe- standing at ninety thousand each year in England alone. The United Nations Children's Fund says Britain has made little progress in combating the problem, citing poor sex education as a major factor. Critics of the new plan say it will encourage promiscuity but the government says there is no evidence to support that. |
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Tragedy for Who fans
The music world is in mourning following the death of John Entwistle, the bass player for the legendary British group The Who. The fifty-seven year old died at the Hard Rock Hotel and Casino in Las Vegas, just a day before the group was to begin a North American tour. An investigation's underway into why he died. Entwistle joined singer Roger Daltrey in a forerunner of the Who in the early 1960s while working as a tax clerk. The band took shape in 1964, becoming famous for hits such as My Generation and Pinball Wizard. The Who's original drummer, Keith Moon, died in 1978. |
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Enron girls turn to glamour modelling
Made redundant following America's largest bankruptcy scandal, more than 300 former female ENRON employees have found a new vocation. They jumped at the chance for a second career, and where better to start out than "Playboy"? Of the three hundred entrants, ten were chosen to grace a centre spread in the special "Women of Enron" issue. Cynthia Coghlan one of the so called "playmates" said at the launch press conference : "I am the only Canadian in the spread and Canadians have a global reputation for being nice but not sexy. So I am happy to be here to show you that we are both." Five thousand people lost their jobs as a result of the Enron scandal. The special "Women of Enron" edition of Playboy will be on the shelves in the US as from August. |
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24 June 2002 Israel kills Hamas suspects and enters Ramallah
In the Gaza Strip, Israeli helicopters have fired missiles at two cars travelling on the outskirts of the Rafah refugee camp. Six Palestinians were killed; two of them, senior activists in the military wing of the Islamic group Hamas, were the intended target of the strike, according to Israeli radio. 10 people, including several children, were reportedly injured. Palestinian sources say the attack, near the border with Egypt, was the latest assassination attempt on militants waging an uprising against Israeli occupation. Under pressure to stop the militants, the Palestinian Authority has put Sheikh Ahmed Yassin, the spiritual leader of Hamas, under house arrest in Gaza City, and arrested about a dozen of his activists. Hamas has claimed responsibility for a series of suicide bombings. Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon has made an end to such attacks a pre-requisite to negotiations with the Palestinian Authority. Early today Israeli tanks and armoured personnel carriers entered the West Bank city of Ramallah and surrounded the headquarters of Palestinian President Yasser Arafat. Ramallah is the sixth Palestinian city to be re-occupied in the past week. Israel has called up about 2,000 army reservists to assist its new offensive |
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Putin admits failure over Chechnya
Russian President Vladimir Putin has given his second annual news conference, at the Kremlin. He has addressed a series of international issues including the breakaway region of Chechnya. Putin told the 700 assembled journalists that federal forces could end their operations to flush out separatist rebels by the end of the year. He said Moscow had failed the Chechen people and allowed extremists to prevail. He also said that while he supported the idea of European Union enlargement, he was opposed to any move that would threaten Russian territorial sovereignty. He was responding to questions about the EU's plans regarding the Baltic enclave of Kaliningrad. Kaliningrad is in the Russian federation but lies between Poland and Lithuiania, both countries which are in line to join the EU. Brussels wants to introduce visas for Russians travelling to and from Kaliningrad. Putin has said it is unimaginable that Russians wanting to visit family there would have to first go to the consulate of another country. Putin also answered a question on Estonia, saying he saw no reason to review relations with the independent Baltic state if it joined NATO. |
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Russia floods
Rescue workers, supported by the army, continue to battle against floods in southern Russia, which have swept away homes, wrecked industrial areas and destroyed transport links. No final figure has been put on the death toll, which was reduced over the weekend by the Emergencies Ministry to 24. However, thousands have been left homeless after an estimated 40 thousand homes were inundated. Evacuees have had to salvage whatever they can from the rising waters. Early estimates of the damage already run to around 35 million euro. In the Ingushetia region an entire cement producing factory was washed away in the torrent. In Chechnya, 13 thousand troops deployed to quell separatist rebels have been switched to rescue operations. The general picture is mixed, in some regions floodwaters are subsiding. In areas near the Black Sea, they are rising. Weather forecasts predict further rain. |
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Too little, too late in Iran
Iranians have criticised rescue efforts after an earthquake at the weekend, which left more than two hundred dead, and many thousands homeless. The quake, which measured 6.3 on the Richter scale, struck early Saturday morning. Its epicentre was some 200 kilometres west of the capital Tehran. Around one hundred villages have been totally destroyed or badly damaged. 1500 people have been injured, and it is estimated 25,000 are now without homes. Survivors claim they are still waiting for food, medicine and tents. America has offered humanitarian aid, despite sanctions imposed on Iran, and the fact it is classed by the U.S. as one of the axis of evil. The search for survivors goes on. 222 people have been officially confirmed as dead, although that figure is almost certain to rise. |
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German construction strike continues
In Potsdam Square in Berlin German construction workers are continuing their strike in a dispute over pay. And it is not just in the centre of the capital, but also in over 2400 other building sites that work has come to a halt. Union IG Bau has decided 30,000 of its members should down tools, extending the industrial action into its second week. Meanwhile officials continue to negotiate a deal. The workers are demanding a four point five per cent pay rise. Employers are offering two point one per cent for two thousand and three. The signs are both sides may soon shake on a deal. |
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Deadly measles epidemic in southern Italy
The region of Campania in southern Italy is trying to fight its worst epidemic of measles in thirty years. Three children have died in as many weeks after catching the virus, with many others ill in hospital in the city of Naples. Measles is dangerous in a very small number of cases, when it can cause pneumonia or brain swelling. Naples, with its high population density and high birth rate, is particularly vulnerable. Part of the problem in southern Italy is that less than 50 per cent of children are sent for anti-measles jabs. German health authorities have advised tourists travelling to the region to make sure that they are vaccinated. |
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Koreans elevate Hiddink to national hero
Behind the mask of traditional South Korean reserve there now lies utter adoration for the national side's Dutch coach Guus Hiddink. The World Cup hosts have fallen head over heels for hard-working Hiddink after he took their young team to the semi-finals, overcoming European favourites Portugal and Spain in the process. There is even talk of giving him honorary citizenship. Korean Airlines has offered him free first class travel for life. The former PSV Eindhoven coach won approval as a tough task master. He has transformed a team that had never won a World Cup game in five previous tournaments. The Koreans love his commitment, "I don't feel he's a foreigner at all", one woman said, "He's like a father and a Korean." Even President Kim Dae-Jung has thanked him for the country's footballing success. South Korea's "Hiddinkmania" may fizzle out if they fail to overcome the Germans in the semi-finals. But for now he is the hero of the hour, his image on web sites, commercials, flags and memorabilia around the country. |
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Forest fires continue to rage in America
Two huge forest blazes in Arizona have combined to become the largest fire in the state's history. 300,000 acres have now been burnt. 1700 firefighters are doing their best to limit how much more will go up in flames, but at the moment, they are loosing the battle. People are packing up and heading out. It is too dangerous to stay, and many do not know if they will have a home to return to. The battle goes on to quell the inferno. The blaze started on Tuesday as a 300-acre fire. But tinder dry conditions and strong winds have whipped it into huge proportions. There has been better news in Colorado, where the fire there is now around 70 percent contained. Nevertheless land burned in this year's Western fire season alone stands at more than double the 10-year-average. |
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20 June 2002
Israeli helicopters have fired at least five missiles at targets in the Gaza Strip. Four people were wounded in the strikes on metal foundries the army says are used to make weapons for Palestinian militants. It was a response to two suicide bombings in two days. On Wednesday evening a Palestinian ran into a crowd waiting at a Jerusalem bus stop and blew himself up. Six people died and 35 were wounded. The al-Aqsa Martyrs Brigade, an armed group linked to Palestinian President Yasser Arafat's Fatah faction, claimed responsibility. On Tuesday a member of militant group Hamas killed 19 people on a Jerusalem bus when he detonated explosives strapped to his body. That prompted a new Israeli policy of retaking and holding Palestinian territory as long as the bombings continue. Meanwhile right wing Israelis were quick to show their disgust at the attacks.They organised a noisy demonstration in Jerusalem as police and rescue workers continued their clear up. |
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Arafat scorned as he condemns attacks
After news of Wednesday's bombing broke Palestinian President Yasser Arafat did not respond by talking to the press directly, but instead issued a statement strongly condemning attacks that target Israeli civilians. He said they have nothing to do with his Authority's resistance to Israel, and merely give the Israeli government a "pretext" to launch raids into Palestinian territory. The Israeli government had a cynical response to Arafat's statement. Spokesman Dany Shek said, "The Palestinian condemnation means nothing. We've had it up to here with this - between each condemnation they do nothing to prevent the next attack. It simply can't go on like this." George W Bush delayed a speech expected to outline a path to a Palestinian state, but White House spokesman Ari Fleisher says he is hopeful, "The President condemns this latest attack and is still determined to help both parties to find peace." |
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Aznar claims "overall agreement" in EU over immigration
Spanish Prime Minister Jose Maria Aznar has said European Union countries are in broad agreement over a plan for combatting illegal immigration and over new rules regarding asylum. His comments came after he met French president Jacques Chirac in Paris. Immigration is set to dominate the EU summit in Seville that starts on Friday. Aznar said: "We want to co-ordinate immigration policy within the EU, and we want to political economic and practical co-operation with those countries which are responsible for immigration." Aznar, whose country holds the rotating EU presidency, denied that the European Union was in effect creating a "fortress Europe." Earlier, he had held talks with the Danish premier, Anders Fogh Rasmussen, with both men agreeing that the EU needs a tool to ensure countries take back their illegal immigrants. On Monday, EU foreign ministers failed to agree whether to threaten sanctions against countries, which refuse to co-operate on stopping the immigrants and the human traffickers who organise their often precarious journeys. France, Sweden and Luxembourg objected to punishing developing nations. |
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General Strike embarasses Aznar on eve of E.U.
s Today is a day of action in Spain that's threatening to bring the country to a halt and embarrass the government. Trade Unions have called the one-day general strike to protest against unemployment reforms pushed through by Prime Minister Jose Maria Aznar's administration. Media, transport, health and all services affecting public life are expected to be hit to varying degrees. A third of the country's workforce is set to join the strike. The new measures, which were introduced by the government by decree, will mean the unemployed will lose benefits if they refuse a job offer deemed acceptable the authorities. In a stormy parliament session yesterday Socialist opposition leader, Jose Luis Rodriguez Zapatero, said the issue was more than just a clash between political parties. He said it was about the dignity of the unemployed and their families. It is the first major confrontation with the unions Aznar has had to face since he came to power in 1996. His conservative government maintains the reforms are aimed at increasing the incentive for the jobless to find work. Spain's unemployment rate at over 11 percent is the highest in the EU. The strike comes as Spain prepares to host a EU summit in Seville - the last to take place under Spain's presidency of the bloc. The city will be the venue for the largest of several demonstrations organized by the unions across the country. |
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Report confirms torpedo explosion sank Kursk
The riddle of the Kursk is finally solved. The official Russian report into the fate of one of its navy's most modern submarines has concluded that it sank because a faulty torpedo exploded on board. Commission head Ilya Klebanov said, "There's only one theory left. We've discounted the theory of a collision with a vessel or a mine. So there's only one conclusion." The sinking of the Kursk, which claimed the lives of all 118 sailors on board, bruised the pride of the Russian navy. At first officers and politicians said the Kursk must have hit a Nato sub or a World War Two mine rather than suffer a catastrophic technical failure. Russian President Vladimir Putin had made it a point of honor to raise the wreck, at considerable cost, in order to launch the investigation. |
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A Hollywood hit outside Madrid What will be astoundingly good news for children, might not go down so well with some adults. Theme Parks, such as Warner Brother's MovieWorld which has just opened in Madrid, generally split the adult population into those who would rather give up a limb than forego a theme park ride, and those who see these parks as a cruel and unusual punishment. For the first category MovieWorld will be great news. MovieWorld claims to be the biggest theme park in Europe with 25 attraction and 17 restaurants. Depending on the strength of their stomachs, visitors can sample the delights of rides such as Riddlers Revenge. At 328 feet, it glories in being the tallest free fall tower in Europe. The park, which is based on themes, characters and cartoons from Hollywood movies, is promoting itself as the natural successor to Disneyland Paris. Its aim is to take the lion's share of the 26 million annual visits to theme parks in Spain. "It's fantastic", said one breathless woman."Such fun. Everyone's having such a good time. Young, old, everyone. I love it. I'm like one of the kids. The same. It's wicked." The park, spread over a 625 acre site is decorated with golden age Hollywood Art Deco, gloomy Gotham City batcaves, wild west saloons and a kitsch cartoon village. But for all the hype the local press has recently reported teething problems such as interminably long queues, empty restaurant kitchens and angry clients. It's the sort of experience that's the stuff of parental nightmares. For the children, however, waiting in sweltering sunshine is nothing when at the end of it you can say the you did indeed see a six feet tall puddy cat.
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7 June 2002
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Israel is constructing a 350 km fence between it and the West Bank, saying it will shield the country from suicide bombers. Israeli right-wingers fear the fence establishes a physical border that will end any Israeli claims to settlements. |
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France's centre-right celebrates parliamentary majority
In a symbolic act following yesterday's parliamentary elections France's caretaker Prime Minister Jean Pierre Raffarin today handed in his resignation to President Jacques Chirac but was almost immediately Raffarin returned to his post to form a new government. Chirac's UMP (Union for the Presidential Majority) won over 350 seats out of 577 in the National Assembly. Together with smaller parties, the centre-right outnumbers the left by more than two to one seats. The far-right National Front failed to win a single seat. The results end five years of "cohabitation" which saw Chirac as head of state but with a Socialist-led government which held 320 seats. In yesterday's vote the left suffered a crushing defeat with the combined centre-right winning 399 seats. This morning's conservative daily "Le Figaro" looked forward to the next term under the right but the leftist "Liberation" shot back that Chirac now has "five years without parole." Inside pages also analysed the defeat of the left but many concentrated on why voter abstention hit a record 39%, the lowest figure since the Fifth Republic was established in 1958.
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Hazardous Antarctic rescue bid underway
A South African research vessel has left Cape Town on a dangerous mission to rescue a ship trapped in Antarctic pack ice. The Agulhas is heading some 5,000 km to assist more than 100 people on board the Liberian-registered Magdalena Oldendorff. The vessel was on its way out of the Antarctic with 79 Russian scientists and 28 crew aboard when it became trapped. They have just three weeks' worth of food and fuel left. The rescue journey must be made before the winter weather worsens. Poor conditions and little daylight will make navigating the ice fields especially difficult, according to polar experts. The Agulhas will rendezvous with an Argentine navy ice-breaker to cut a path to the Magdalena Oldendoorf. The skipper of the Agulhas says freeing the stricken ship is part of the mission. But if conditions prevent it, most of those on board the Magdalena Oldendoorf will be evacuated by helicopter. A skeleton crew will remain on board the vessel with replenished food and fuel supplies until the end of the winter. |
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Partytime in Africa and Europe as Senegal qualify for World Cup quarter finals
Scenes of wild celebration have erupted in Senegal following the country's World Cup victory over Sweden, which sees them, progress to the next stage. Senegalese nationals living in Europe have joined the party. Chaos ensued in some parts of Paris when their team scored in extra time. It was similar to the fiesta that followed Senegal's first round defeat of the outgoing world champion's France. Few had rated their chances of making it beyond the group stages. Now their fans believe they can become the first African team to win the competition. In the Swedish capital Stockholm it was the Senegalese making all the noise. When the final whistle blew they poured onto the streets in a river of yellow, red and green, the national colors. The Swedes could only look on and smile through gritted teeth. |
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16 June 2002 Crime is the bottom line for Arthur Andersen
The future of the international accounting and consultancy firm Arthur Andersen looks bleak after a United States Federal Court jury found the company guilty of obstructing justice. But Arthur Andersen lawyers reject the verdict that the company acted criminally by destroying audit records. Arthur Andersen initially came to the attention of investigators after one of its senior employees ordered a massive shredding operation of the records of the Enron corporation, over a two week period, as Enron's finances went into meltdown. But that was not the only factor that lead to a guilty verdict. Complicity in the concealement of Enron's multi-billion dollar black hole of debt, in the United States biggest ever corporate bankruptcy, was deemed more damning. Czech election results
A 51 year old academic, Vladimir Spidla, is likely to be the next prime minister of the Czech Republic, after his Social Democrat party topped the poll in this weekend's elections. But the main surprise was a strong showing from the Communists, despite widespread voter apathy and a record low turnout of under 60 percent. The Social Democrats polled just over 30 percent. Their Centre Right rivals the Civic Democrats took around 24 percent and the Communists topped 18 percent. The result was a bitter blow for Vaclav Klaus, the eurosceptic leader of the Civic Democrats. Opinion polls had placed the party almost neck and neck with the Social Democrats. Czech Republic President, Vacla Havel will meet party leaders today to discuss formation of a new government. The probable outcome will be a coalition between Spidla's Social Democrats and a mixed centre grouping that includes Christian Democrats. Bilbao protest backs Batasuna
In the Spanish city of Bilbao, in the northern Basque region, tens of thousands of people marked the 25th anniversary of the demise of the fascist regime of General Fransisco Franco and the birth of Spain's modern democracy, by marching against government plans to ban the Basque political party Batasuna. The banning is mainly directed at the armed Basque separatist group ETA, responsible for a violent campaign of bombings and shootings over four decades, in a fight for Basque independence. The Spanish government claims that Batasuna is its political wing and effectively supports terrorism. The show of support for Batasuna came as a major embarrassment for Spain's prime minister, José Maria Aznar, who said he was ashamed of the support for an anti-democratic organisation. However, democracy celebrations continued throughout the rest of the country and in the capital, Madrid, the parliament building was thrown open to the public. Pilgrims gather for new Saint
Three hundred thousand Roman Catholic faithful are expected to throng St Peter's Square in Rome today for the canonisation ceremony of Father Pio. Father Pio joins a list of 462 Saints canonised by Pope John Paul the Second, who has single handedly created more Saints than all his papal predecessors put together. As Archbishop of Cracow, Pope John Paul wrote to Pio asking him to pray for a Polish woman with throat cancer. Wanda Poltawska was healed and today joins pilgrims from around the world at the Vatican. Father Pio was born in 1887, but never left his friary from 1918, eventually dying in 1968. He was reputed to have stigmata wounds on his hands and body, which bled a cupful of blood every day. San Giovanni Rotondo in southern Italy, where he spent his monastic life, has now overtaken Lourdes and Assisi as a pilgrimage destination. Germany's construction workers set to strike.
Members of Germany's IG Bau construction workers union have voted overwhelmingly in favour of calling a strike. The union said more than 98 per cent of ballots cast were for industrial action over the issue of pay. Workers whose contracts ended in March are fighting for a 4.5 per cent pay rise. The head of the IG Bau Union Klauss Wiesehuegel said in reaction "The vote of 98,63 % does not really surprise me. The mood of the workers is very bad and all signs now point towards a storm." The looming construction strike coupled with rolling stoppages organised by the service sector union mean the prospect of a Summer of labour unrest in the run up to Germany's general election in September. |
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14 June 2002 Royal rent row
Recent Jubilee celebrations for the reign of Britain's Queen Elizabeth II have focussed media attention on the value of the monarchy and the spotlight has now fallen on Kensington Palace, formerly the London home of the late Princess Diana. Located in one of the most prestigious districts of the capital, it is currently home to Prince and Princess Michael of Kent, who occupy a ten-room apartment. But public indignation has been aroused with the news that they only pay around 10.000 euro rental per year. Scrutineering British Parliamentary watchdogs had tough advice for Prince Michael. On a visit to the Kensington Palace, parliamentarian Alan Williams suggested it was time the Prince "moved out". His colleague, Ian Davidson noted, "Prince and Princess Michael of Kent undertake no public duties whatsoever, yet live in a royal palace at a peppercorn rent. That is just outrageous". Market rate rentals for similar apartments in the area would cost the Kents ten times as much as they currently pay and the row comes in the middle of an accommodation crisis for low paid city workers in the British capital. Czech candidates rally before vote
Aiming to enliven voters in the final hours of the Czech Republic's general election campaign, Civic Democracts leader Vaclav Klaus has held a rally in Prague's Old Town Square. The voting takes place on Friday and Saturday. The right-winger, who is endorsed by sports and pop stars, wants pensions and spending reform, and urges caution as the country edges towards EU membership in 2004. Also doing his bit to inject some life into the campaign is leftwinger Vladimir Spidla. He wants to build a Scandinavian-style welfare system and strongly supports joining the EU. But despite their smiles in front of the cameras neither Spidla nor Klaus is likely to find it easy to win control - the polls suggest they will get around 30 per cent of the vote each, and may have to work hard to build a coalition government. French Prime Minister's PR rally raided
In the second phase of France's national elections, the country's new Prime Minister, Jean-Pierre Raffarin, has been drumming up support in the provinces. But his public relations exercise was ambushed by Socialist Party Secretary, Francois Hollande, who utilised his position as Mayor of Tulle to welcome the visiting premier to the town. The media hijack was concluded with a formal exchange of political sound bites, after which the serious business of pressing the electoral flesh was pursued with classic Gallic vigour. According to opinion polls, the centre-right, led by President Chirac's "Union pour la Majorité Presidentiel" party, looks almost certain to trounce the left and win a commanding National Assembly majority in the runoff round of elections to the lower house this Sunday. Fresh twist to German food scare
More than 400 German cattle, pig and poultry farms have ground to a halt after it was found they had been using feed contaminated with a cancer-causing chemical. At first it was thought only organic farms were affected, but now these conventional producers have also been placed under quarantine. Seventy-two tonnes of organic wheat, tainted with Nitrofen, were used to produce the animal food. German Agriculture Minister Renate Kunast insists its all under control, "The most important thing is consumer protection," she said, "That is why it is right to close the farms, to test them and then to allow them to open again so that its clear the farmers have an interest in public safety." The source of the contamination is a cereal supplier in the eastern town of Malchin. While converting from conventional to US scraps missile treaty for defensive shield
The United States is to build a missile defence shield after officially scrapping its Anti-Ballistic Missile Treaty with Russia yesterday. Successful testing of an interceptor missile system has persuaded the Pentagon that a basic missile defence can be in place within two years. Concern over the threat from rogue nuclear nations convinced President George W Bush to announce the abandonment of the ABM Treaty last December. He told a press conference, "I have concluded that the ABM Treaty hinders our government's ability to develop ways to protect our people from future terrorists or rogue state missile attacks." The Treaty was originally signed in Moscow in 1972 by President Richard Nixon and Soviet leader, Leonid Brezhnev, and banned all development of missile defence systems. But despite early objections, Russia raised no major protest to US plans at this weeks G8 summit.
A United Nations food summit has drawn to a close with a renewed pledge to half world hunger by 2015. The meeting came to an end after four days of controversy. Although some eighty world leaders attended, the heads of hardly any western powers showed up, leading to charges that industrialised nations were indifferent to the plight of the estimated 800 million people who go hungry every day. Senegal's Jacques Diouf, holding the final press conference, denied that the organisation is a money wasting empire in itself. He said they are fighting a new global war, against hunger and poverty. However he has come in for criticism for demanding an additional $24 billion a year in farm development aid. Meanwhile France's infamous anti-globalisation protester Jose Bove lead a demonstration near the venue, against GM foods. |
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9 June 2002
Turnout key to French elections
The first round of the French parliamentary elections have got off to a low key start amid fears a low turnout could favour extremists. The allies of centre-right president Jaques Chirac are tipped to win a majority of the 577 seats, but the far-right of Jean-Marie Le Pen may make a significant impact. The record number of candidates is an important factor. In one constituency in Paris there are 27 standing, and the average is 15. That could scatter votes, particularly in the splintered Left, thus giving extremists the chance to make it into the second round on June 16th. Apathy is another key issue. Despite the demonstrations following the results of the first round of the presidential election, voters' attention has now turned to other matters, including the World Cup, and they remain frustrated by what is seen as a cosy Parisian elite. Russia riots after football defeat
Russian football fans have gone on the rampage in the centre of Moscow after their team's 1-0 defeat to Japan in the World Cup. One man died and more than 20 were injured in the violence. The victim died from stab wounds during a mass brawl. Angry youths threw bottles, vandalized around 20 cars and setting four of them alight. Three thousand fans had been watching the game on a giant screen in Manezh Square when the defeat sparked violence. Fists and boots flew in every direction, with almost any object or individual unlucky enough to stand in the way bearing the brunt of their fury. It spread to nearby streets close to the State Duma lower house of parliament. Riot police, heavily outnumbered at first, responded with strong-arm tactics Bush says no to Mubarak's Palestine timetable
US President George W. Bush has rejected a call by Egypt's President Hosni Mubarak to support a timetable for creating a Palestinian state. Speaking to reporters after meeting at Camp David, the two leaders expressed differing opinions of the Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat. The United States has been reaching out to other Palestinians as it seeks to coax the Palestinian Authority to reform, something Israeli Prime Minister has set as one of the conditions for peace negotiations to restart. Mubarak urged: "We should give this man a chance. If he's going to deliver, I think everybody would support him. If he's not going to deliver, his people will tell him that." Bush said there was "plenty of talent" elsewhere among the Palestinians and said of Arafat: "I have constantly said I am disappointed in his leadership. I think he has let the Palestinian people down." Bush welcomes Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon to the White House tomorrow. Even as US peace efforts intensified, Palestinians and Israelis were trading strikes. Two Palestinian gunmen killed three Israelis, including a man and his pregnant wife, at a Jewish settlement in the West Bank. In Gaza, five Palestinians were killed as two separate attempted attacks on Israelis were thwarted. Progress in India-Pakistan relations
There are signs diplomatic efforts to diffuse tensions between India and Pakistan may be paying off. Pakistan's President Pervez Musharraf says the chances of war with India are "minimal". And New Delhi has ordered its diplomats back to Islamabad - a move welcomed by Pakistan's Information Minister Nissar Memon. "This is a diplomatic victory of the European and American leaderships," he said, "They have been together with Pakistan and India to come to a dialogue to de-escalate the entire thing. This is a positive step from the Indian side to de-escalate by announcing to send diplomats to Pakistan." But in the disputed region of Kashmir the conflict is still claiming lives. An Indian woman was killed and three others injured after coming under fire from Pakistani troops. On the other side of the Line of Control a teenage Pakistani was killed by mortar fire.
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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. |
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Monday, 3 June, 2002, 09:30 GMT 10:30 UK UN attacked over Kosovo record
UN policies in Mitrovica are harshly criticised By Nicholas Wood BBC correspondent in Pristina The United Nations has been accuse d of failing its mandate in Kosovo, effectively allowing the region to be split into Serb and Albanian enclaves. Pakistan offers India peace talks
Extending an olive branch to India, the Pakistani president Pervez Musharraf has offered to hold unconditional talks with prime minister Atal Behari Vajpayee to resolve the tense military standoff between the two nuclear armed rivals. He also welcomed moves by the Russian president Vladimir Putin to mediate between them. Both Musharraf and Vajpayee are currently in Kazakhstan, for a 16 nation Conference on Interaction and Confidence building measures in Asia, which begins on Tuesday. However any hopes the two leaders will actually meet face to face have been ruled out by India. Vajpayee has demanded an end to cross border raids by Islamic militants. The rising tensions over Kashmir have raised the spectre of an all out war in the region. After a brief period of calm the situation in Kashmir has exploded once again
Protesters clashed with police in Srinagar in the Indian controlled area of Kashmir. Police responded to stone throwing with tear gas. Along the line of control splitting the contested territory there have been steady exchanges of fire, mainly shelling. Tension is still very high, with a total of a million soldiers from the two sides massed on the border. New Delhi is accusing Islamabad of failing to clamp down on and even feeding cross border terrorism. And the climate of fear is spreading. At New Delhi airport westerners are leaving as quickly as they can, in many cases on the advice of their governments. Some commentators are describing the current stand-off situation as the worst since the Cuban missile crisis in 1962. Court decision could increase Middle East tension
A Palestinian High Court in Gaza on Monday ordered the release of Ahmed Sa'adat, the head of the Popoular Front for the Liberation of Palestine. The PFLP claimed responsibility for the assassination of an Israeli cabinet minister last October. They claimed the attack was to avenge the killing by Israeli forces of Sa'adat's predecessor. Judges ruled there was no evidence to link the radical leader with the murder of Tourism Minister Rehavim Zeevi. Scores of PFLP supporters gathered outside the court demanding the decision be immediately ratified by Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat but that would deal a blow to diplomatic efforts in the region. At around the same time US envoy George Tenet met Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon to push peace talks. Sa'adat's release could also highten tensions in the Palestinian territories.The Israeli army is continuing its raids in the West Bank city of Nablus.Hundreds of Palestinians have been rounded up for questioning. The Israeli leadership has warned if Sa'adat is set free, retaliations could follow. Vilnius site contains secrets of Napoleon's 1812 debacle
A site in the Lithuanian capital Vilnius has turned out to be one of the largest mass graves of Napoleonic soldiers ever discovered. It is believed to contain the remains of at least 2,000 members of Napoleon's Grand Army who died 190 years ago during the tragic retreat from Moscow back to Germany. A joint French-Lithuanian team of scientists completed excavation work in April after construction workers, digging trenches to lay telecommunications cables, uncovered a 100-square-metre ditch filled with bones. One of the team said, "This is the first case we know of such a burial and therefore such an excavation of French army soldiers. We don't have any knowledge of such burials in France." Anthropologists and historians hope the remains will help them learn more about one of the most dramatic episodes of the Napoleonic wars: the ill-fated 1812 Russian campaign which claimed nearly half a million lives. Initial studies support contemporary accounts of the suffering endured by the French soldiers and their allies from many parts of Europe. Some skeletons were hunched up in unusual positions suggesting the soldiers froze to death. While clothing and coins found in the grave will most probably remain the property of Lithuania, the fate of the human remains is less certain. While some of the men came from provinces that were part of the French empire, that is not true for others, including German and Polish soldiers. |
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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. |
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1 June 2002 Senegal savours World Cup win over France
It may be Day Two of the World Cup but Day One is still being celebrated in a certain corner of Africa. Senegal's glorious defeat of France brought even President Aboulaye Wade out onto the streets of Dakar. It was a triumph not only over the world champions but also over former colonial masters. It is such jubiliant celebrations, the organisers would say, that make the World Cup the unique event it is. The outcome was treated with a shrug of the shoulders by French fans after the match in Seoul. But as opposing supporters mingled amicably after the match there was evidence of the better aspects of the tournament. UN begins evacuation from India
American have already been advised to leave India, Britain has recommended that its citizens get out of the country, and now the United Nations is evacuating dependents of its foreign staff. These are all decisions seen as a warning to India and Pakistan of the perils of war. India and Pakistan have deployed around a million troops in the disputed Kashmir region- and fears of a war breaking out between the two nuclear armed neighbours are growing. As demonstrators again called for Kashmiri independence the diplomatic missions go on, with US President George W Bush sending Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld to the region in an effort to defuse the crisis. But the clashes continue. In Srinagar a grenade was thrown at an Indian security patrol, leaving one dead and 15 injured. Hours later a similar attack on a police post injured 17 - most of them civilians. The standoff was triggered by a bloody December attack on the Indian Parliament that New Delhi blamed on Pakistani-based militants.
Independent TV returns to Moscow
Russian TV channel TVS has begun broadcasting again in Moscow. The independent channel, formerly TV6, was closed down in January, triggering fears over media freedom. Journalists working for its news programmes had criticised government policies.Now they have returned, albeit with a boss who is a former prime minister with close Kremlin ties. Dmitri Soshin says his newsroom is ready for action, "The correspondents are in place in the bureaux abroad, all the news staff is on and we don't have anybody leaving the company. But there are some legal problems remaining and our management is working on it." The first programme was a classic Soviet-era film for children, but the hard-hitting current affairs show is promised to return on Sunday night. Channel chiefs have promised they will not meddle in editorial affairs. More Isreali incursions as diplomacy continues
Isreali troops have carried out more incursions into Palestinian areas amid a new round of diplomacy aiming to end fighting in the region. The West Bank towns of Nablus and Tulkarm were targetted in the latest raids.Around a hundred people were arrested in the sweep. The Israeli army said the operation was intended to pre-empt suicide bomb attacks. At least three militants involved in recent bombings have come from a refugee camp in Bethlehem and too raided early this morning. Isreal had only withdrawn its army from Bethlehem on Thursday. An army spokesman described the return of the troops as a "routine patrol'. The E.U.'s Foreign Policy Chief Javier Solana is centrally involved in efforts garner support for an international peace conference. After meeting Lebanese officials he is due hold talks with Palestinian and Isreali leaders over the weekend. Pressure on U.S. as E.U. ratifies Kyoto Protocol
The United States is coming under renewed pressure to endorse the Kyoto Protocol after the E.U. ratified the treaty on global climate change. Representatives of each of the fifteen members presented their ratification documents at the U.N. in New York. Europe is now legally bound to reduce greenhouse gases. EU Environment Commissioner Margot Wallstrom said "It is an historic moment for us and for global efforts to combat climate change". President George Bush is at the forefront of America's oppostion to the Kyoto plan. The U.S., which accounts for around a quarter of the world's harmful CO2 emmissions pulled out of the agreement last year over concerns that it could be harmful to its economy. The E.U. believes Washington's own scheme to combat global warming will not work Britons get ready for some right royal celebrations
Preparations are in full swing at London's Buckingham palace ahead of this weekend's celebrations marking 50 years on the throne for Britain's Queen Elizabeth. Thousands of people who have come from far afield to witness the event. Across the UK, people are gearing up for four days of Golden Jubilee celebrations. The limited edition mugs, plates, clocks, and other paraphernalia have been in great demand and are sure to become collectors items in years to come. Final touches are being brought to the Queen's golden carriage for Tuesday's procession. There will be street parties across the country on Monday. A classical concert will be held in the gardens of Buckingham palace on Saturday evening, followed by a star-studded rock concert on Monday. Despite some simmering republican sentiment, most Britons are gearing for some serious celebrating, which could also have something to do with England's opening World Cup football game against Sweden on Sunday.
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