Last Updated, 30 November, 2005 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Iraqi group issues video of western hostages
An unknown Iraqi group has issued a video showing four Western aid workers kidnapped in Iraq on Saturday. The tape was released to Al Jazeera by a group calling itself Swords of Truth. It describes the four men sitting on the ground as "spies of occupying forces". The name of Norman Kember can be seen on a British passport in the video. Meanwhile, another group of kidnappers have threatened to kill a German woman and her driver unless Berlin stops cooperating with Iraqi authorities. The hostage has been identified has Susanne Osthoff, a 43-year old archeologist who speaks flent Arabic. In response to the threat, German authorities have set up a crisis committee. German Foreign Minister, Frank Walter Steinmeier says he is "gravely concerned" about her fate. "The government is doing everything it can to protect and ensure the hostages' safe return," he says. Berlin will not be sending any troops to Iraq, but it will continue to train its security forces outside of the country. Susanne's mother Ingrid has ad appealed for her safe release. She says Susanne's been living and doing aid work in the country for a long time. "Her heart and soul are in Iraq and have been since she was young, she says. "The people were nice and she loved being there," she added. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Britain may build new nuclear stations
Is there a nuclear future for Britain? Prime Minister Tony Blair has said a review of the UK's energy needs will consider the creation of new atomic power stations. In a speech in London he said Britain was facing a looming energy gap: "By around 2020, the UK is likely to have seen decommissioning of coal and nuclear plants that together generate over 30% of today's electricity. Some of this will be replaced with renewables, but not all of it can," he said. Environmentalists have reacted angrily to the announcement. Two activists staged a protest at the speech venue forcing Blair to move to an adjacent room to make his address. Nuclear energy has a negative image in the UK, with 40 of Blair's own parliamentary colleagues signing a motion rejecting the idea of building new stations. The Prime Minister has promised to make a firm decision by the middle of next year. It could influence the debate in other countries considering the same energy issues. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Tropical storm Delta sweeps Canaries
At least seven people were killed when tropical storm Delta rocked the Canary Islands, six of them African immigrants whose boat got into difficulties and the seventh a local man who was blown off his roof. Winds of up to 100km/h and heavy rain brought down power lines, leaving 265,000 people without electricity. Roads were cut and six sea ports closed. The Canaries are a popular destination for northern Europeans looking for some winter sun. But it was holiday hell for around 400 people who were forced to spend the night in the airport. The famous Finger of God standing stone on Gran Canaria was blown over. Locals say it was terrible. "A crane fell onto our house," said one woman. A man man explained: "I went to get the bus and there was no bus, no taxis, nothing. I had to hold onto a tree so the wind wouldn't blow me away." Delta is one of the most powerful storms to have hit the archipelago in decades and some weather experts argue it was linked to global warming. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Delegates from hundreds of governments, green groups and businesses worldwide are in Canada to debate how to deal with climate change after Kyoto. The UN protocol on cutting greenhouse gases runs out in 2012, and a new agreement is needed. Montreal mayor Gerald Tremblay, who is hosting the event, told the audience they had to make a difference. "Today our responsibility is a tremendous one. The countries that have sent us to this conference know that we're working for future generations. Our duty is to achieve results." It is argued the effects of pollution are already being felt with a rise in global temperatures over the past decade. Kyoto's problem is its quotas and how they were applied - developing countries like China and India are exempted, while the US and Australia have opted out, arguing it stifles economic growth. Washington argues caps on emissions are not the right approach, advocating investment in new technologies like hydrogen fuel. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Last Updated, 27 November, 2005 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Big chill still causing problems in Europe
An early blast of wintry weather is continuing to cause problems across parts of Europe. Germany was among the hardest hit countries with heavy snowfalls causing accidents which left several people dead. The airport at Dusseldorf was closed for a time and numerous flights across the country were cancelled. Trains services were also affected and road transport fared no better. People were stranded in vehicles for many hours on a number of main roads. The electricity supply to several areas was cut and power is unlikely to be restored to some communities before Monday. There were similar conditions in the UK. The military was called in to rescue hundreds of motorists stuck on snow-blocked roads in the southwest of England. Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland were also affected. Forecasters say in some places the cold snap could last until the middle of next week. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Palestinians cross re-opened border
The Rafah border crossing between Gaza and Egypt is now open to people wanting to leave or enter the Palestinian territory. The frontier checkpoint was formally re-opened yesterday following an agreement between the Palestinians and Israelis who had closed it during their withdrawal from Gaza three months ago. The deal, brokered by the US, gives the Palestinians
unprecedented control over their border with Egypt. The two sides
have agreed to let EU officials monitor the crossing. Israel, which
still has fears that militants might try to smuggle weapons across
the border, is keeping a close eye on the terminal through a video
link. It is hoped the re-opening will boost Gaza's economy. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Last Updated, 26 November, 2005 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Satellites help probe into "secret CIA prisons"
Satellite images could help determine if the CIA has been operating secret prisons in Europe.That is the latest from the Swiss MP, Dick Marty, who has been appointed to compile a report on the affair for the Council of Europe's human rights watchdog.Pressure is mounting on the US to explain reports of secret CIA flights across the continent carrying terrorist suspects. It is claimed prisoners have been moved to third countries where laws on interrogation techniques are more relaxed. Romania and Poland have been named by Human Rights Watch as possible sites for secret prisons. Both countries deny that.Germany's Justice Minister, Brigitte Zypries, says her country will wait and see for the time being, hoping that the Americans shed light on the situation. However, Green MP, Christian Stroebele, is calling for urgent action.He says he expects the justice minister and new chancellor, Angela Merkel, to use their first contacts with the US to address the issue in order to clear what he calls the "shadow" that has fallen over relations between Berlin and Washington. German prosecutors are already investigating alleged secret transfers by the CIA. And while Switzerland's Dick Marty continues his inquiry for the Council of Europe, he has already said it would be impossible for a Guantanamo Bay-style facility to be secretly maintained in Europe for any length of time. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Last Updated, 25 November, 2005 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Italy hit by general strike
Italy has been hit by a four-hour general strike that has caused widespread disruption across the country. It was called by the country's four main unions in protest over the government's 2006 budget which they say will hit public services and damage the fragile economy. Travel has been severely affected with train and bus services grinding to a halt in many cities. More than 200 and international flights have had to be cancelled. It is the sixth general strike in Italy since Prime Minister Silvo Berlusconi took office in 2001. His government maintains the tough 2006 budget is necessary to reduce a budget deficit exceeding EU rules. It aims to save 16.5 billion euros through a combination of spending cuts, asset sales and a crackdown on tax evasion. Government supporters accuse the left-leaning unions of being politically motivated. Berlusconi is expected to face a tough challenge from a resurgent left in a parliamentary election next April. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Last Updated, 21 November, 2005 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Euro zone faces interest rate hike
The European Central Bank has reaffirmed its intention to raise interest rates for the first time in five years. ECB President Jean-Claude Trichet has reiterated his belief that a slight interest rate rise will ward off any inflationary pressure. The bank's policymakers have been flagging a hike since early November. A moderate rise will still leave the euro zone with interest rates below the UK and the United States. The markets are bracing themselves for the announcement, which is expected after the Bank's next meeting on December the first. However, there are doves within the ECB urging caution given the fragility of economic recovery and no sign that high oil prices and years of cheap credit in the euro zone were pushing up wages and prices in the 12 nation grouping. European politicians and business leaders are not keen on the idea as they believe it will snuff out economic recovery. However, Trichet wanted to reassure the markets and the wider world that the bank's move would be modest, and keeping inflationary pressures in check would only enhance the prospects for growth in the region. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Putin starts Japan visit
Russian president Vladimir Putin has arrived in Tokyo for a three-day visit to Japan. Moscow and Tokyo want to put economic incentives above politics - Putin has brought a delegation of 100 business leaders to boost trade with Japan, which is worth more than seven billion euros a year. Japan is expected to try to convince Russia to build its huge oil pipeline to the Pacific rather than to China. But analysts believe the visit is unlikely to bring any progress in settling a 60-year old territorial dispute over a handful of tiny Pacific islands. Putin's arrival was greeted with loud protests from ultra-nationalists who are demanding the islands be returned to Japan. The row over the four islands, known as the Northern Territories in Japan and the Southern Kuriles in Russia, has tainted relations between Tokyo and Moscow for much of the 20th century, and has always prevented them from signing a final peace treaty. They were seized by the Soviet army in the closing day of World War Two. Russia has offered to return two of them - a proposal firmly rejected by Japan. While the islands themselves offer no wealth of resources, their location in the rich fishing grounds of the North Pacific has long makde them an enviable economic asset. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Albert invested as prince of Monaco
Acclaimed by the people of Monaco, prince Albert has taken over as head of state of the worlds second smallest country. Solemn ceremonies marked his accession to the principality on the Mediterranean coast. His sisters, princesses Caroline and Stephanie, seemed at times overcome by the occasion. Monaco's tiny army, the carabineers, put on a dignified military display to mark the handing over of power following the death of Albert's father, Prince Rainier, last April. The colour guard accepted the flag of their new prince. He inherits a long tradition. The Grimaldi family have ruled the 2 kilometre square principality since the 13th century. Earlier 800 guests attended Mass in Monaco's cathedral . Among them were some foreign royalty including Princess Victoria of Sweden. During the service, the archbishop of Monaco spoke of the legacy of Albert's parents: Rainier, one of the world's longest reigning sovereigns, and the Hollywood actress Grace Kelly who was killed in a car crash in 1982. It was evidently an emotional moment for the prince and his two sisters. Albert is likely to govern the mini-state in a less formal way than his father. The 47 year old prince is known for his commitment to humanitarian issues, the environment and sport. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Last Updated, 20 November, 2005 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ French Socialists close ranks
France's Socialists are claiming a triumph after their Le Mans congress. Riven with division before it, the party claims it has succeeded in forging a common platform between all the factions for the first time since 1985. Special guest of honour was Italian opposition leader Romano Prodi, who urged his socialist colleagues on in their bid to regain power and set an example for the rest of the European left. Socialist leader Francois Hollande appears to have been able to reconcile the positions of three separate camps; his own, led by former finance minister Dominique Strauss Kahn, the rebels who voted against party lines in the referendum on the EU Constitution led by former prime minister Laurent Fabius, and younger reformers who want to shake up the party and French constitution. i Holland has faced challenges to his leadership particularly from within the rebel camp. If he has pulled unity from the fire in Le Mans, his political capital may soar ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Last Updated, 16 November, 2005 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Rice brokers Israeli-Palestinian deal on Gaza bordersù
The US Secretary of State has announced a crucial deal on a Gaza border crossing after brokering marathon talks between Israeli and Palestinian negotiators. Condoleeza Rice said she understood Israel's security concerns but made clear the accord was an important step forward for the Middle East peace process. "This agreement allows Palestinians the freedom to move and lead ordinary lives. For the first time since 1967 they have control over who enters and exits their territory," she said. The deal boosts chances for peacemaking following Israel's withdrawal in September as access to Gaza is key to strengthening the impoverished strip's economy. The Rafah crossing between Gaza and Egypt, the strip's gateway to the outside world is scheduled to reopening on Nov. 25. The deal also calls for Palestinian convoys to start travelling between Gaza and the West Bank within a month. Israel had conditioned the opening of Rafah on its ability to monitor goods and people passing through, saying it feared arms smuggling across the border to Palestinian militants. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Last Updated, 15 November, 2005 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ France's urban violence waning
There has been an 18th night of unrest in France but there are clear indications that the country's worst rioting since the 1960s is nearing an end. By 4am overnight, 271 vehicles had been burned across the country as a whole, there were 112 arrests. That was a drop on the previous night when there 315 vehicles burned and 161 people arrested. Some of the worst incidents were in Toulouse's Reynerie district, where riotity centre for the first time on Saturday evening. A weekend curfew remained in place in the city deterring youths from being outside without adult supervision late at night. Despite that, two cars were set alight in the suburb of Venissieux and youths threw a Molotov cocktail at a mosque. Lyon's public transport network has closed from 7 every
evening since last Wednesday. ers rammed a car into a primary school before setting the building ablaze. Cars were also set alight on several housing estates in the city's suburbs. The French government today will consider whether to extend state of emergency powers introduced last Wednesday. The EU Commission President José Manuel Barroso, meanwhile, says the EU has offered France 50 million euros to help the country tackle problems in the riot-hit suburbs. Aside Toulouse, the mood is tense in Lyon, where rioters clashed with police in the c ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Not a love match - more like a marriage of convenience
Germany'major parties will face their first tough test when the deal on the country'new political coalition is put to the rank and file for approval. If it's agreed, Angela Merkel will be elected as Germany'first female chancellor by the Bundestag later this week. But many Social Democrats are angry about a proposed three point hike in VAT due in 2007 - said to be the biggest single tax increase in German post-war history. The head of the Federation of German Chambers of Commerce says consumer spending will be affected. Merkel argues that the reforms are necessary to cut unemployment costs and bring down the budget deficit. She admits the average German will find the tax increases hard to bear. The German economy, the biggest in the European Union, is hampered by high unemployment and near-zero growth. Critics say the new deal will do little to put the stalled economy back on track. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Last Updated, 14 November, 2005 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Rice in Israel to push for peace
The US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice is on her fourth visit to Israel this year to promote dialogue between Ariel Sharon's government and the Palestinians. On her way there from Saudi Arabia she said that a Palestinian state would boost Israeli security. Speaking at an Israeli-United States Forum in Jerusalem, the Secretary of State called on the two sides to prove their willingness for peace. She said there was reason for hope. "Today we have hope for peace," she said, "because the international community is united in its historic struggle against terrorism. People in the Middle East are also speaking more clearly against terrorism and they are rejecting the bankrupt belief that national struggles or religious teaching legitimises the killing of innocents." That hope, though, is not being helped by faltering Palestinian-Israeli talks on opening the Rafah crossing on the Egyptian border. The Israelis want TV surveillance in place, the Palestinians say the presence of European monitors should be enough to stop militants
"Fourth bomber" may hold key to masterminds behind the Jordan terror attacks.
Officials in Jordan are hoping the arrest of an Iraqi woman in connection with last week's bomb attacks in the capital Amman will lead them to other people who may have been involved. The 34-year-old, identified as Sashida al-Rishawi, is said by police to have confessed to her part in the attacks in which 57 people died and hundreds were injured.Rishawi'husband and two other suicide bombers belonging to al-Q'aeda in Iraq set off the bombs in simultaneous attacks at the Hyatt, Radisson and Days Inn hotels. They were killed instantly. EU Foreign Policy chief Javier Solana met Jordan'King Abdullah the Second to offer his support. The former US President Bill Clinton and his family also visited the site of one of the devastated hotels to pay their respects. US Secretary of State Condoleeza Rice is expected to make an unscheduled stopover in Jordan this week. Last week'attacks have sparked outrage in the country, which has a population of five million. Thousands of people turned out for a candle-lit vigil outside the Hyatt Hotel on Saturday and chanted their support for the King. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ British government clamps down on binge drinking
Britain's Interior Ministry is using shock tactics in a bid to control scenes of alcohol-fuelled violence, the consequence of the country's binge-drinking culture. A series of graphic posters warning of on-the-spot fines are being introduced. One appears to have been written in vomit. Another depicts a man urinating a stream of cash down the drain. The idea is to remind drinkers of the penalties they face if their behaviour gets out of hand. The latest clampdown comes only weeks ahead of a new law which paves the way for 24-hour drinking throughout the country. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Iraqi president predicts UK troop withdrawal in 2006
As the war dead were honoured by British forces in Basra, Iraqi President Jalal Talabani said UK troops could leave by the end of next year. Britain has so far declined to set a timetable for a pullout. But its Defence Minister John Reid confirmed today that a withdrawal could begin in 2006. At a ceremony in London led by Queen Elizabeth, the 97 British troops who have died in Iraq were among those remembered. Under relentless pressure over the Iraq war, Prime Minister Tony Blair also paid his tributes - at an annual event to honour all servicemen and women who have given their lives for their country. The service came amid reports that the Queen has become a target for al-Qaeda. A Sunday newspaper said that in a video message after July's deadly bombings in London, she was called "one of the severest enemies of Islam" by Ayman al-Zawahri, Osama Bin Laden's second-in-command. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Last Updated, 13 November, 2005 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Urban violence continues in France
Rioting has continued in France for the 17th straight night despite increased security and last Wednesday's introduction of state of emergency powers. The number of incidents fell - with more than 300 cars burned overnight Saturday to Sunday - but it hit a city centre for the first time. Security forces fired tear gas to disperse youths in Lyon's main square late on Saturday afternoon. Ten people were arrested after youths attacked stalls and damaged vehicles The violence came before a 10pm overnight curfew on people under 18. There was also violence in the suburbs of Toulouse for the sixth night running - incidents centred on the Reynerie district and a fire gutted a large DIY store in the suburb of Blagnac. 600 people marched in the city on Saturday to call for an end to violence. Still in the south, a nursery school was burned down in Carpentras where two fire bombs were thrown at a mosque on Friday. Police and firefighters were out in greater numbers in Strasbourg in the northeast. Unrest was focussed on the Schiltigheim neighbourhood where police said they believed the same gang of youths was responsible for the evening's vandalism. The violence has focussed attention on social exclusion in France - many of those involved in the riots say they have been frozen out of the benefits system. Youths say they are discriminated against because of their racial origin or because they live in the poor suburbs. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Spain's Catholics march against school bill
Spain's traditionally powerful Catholic church has once again clashed with the Socialist government. This time, anger at education reforms brought hundreds of thousands of people - possibly over a million - onto the streets of Madrid. Marchers gathered to protest against a bill which downgrades religious study in the school curriculum . The church's campaign is backed by the right-of-centre opposition. "This is a government that has shown in a few short months that all its promises were made only so they could get elected," said Eduardo Zaplana, the parliamentary spokesman of the main opposition Popular Party. "Since then," he said, "it has been scornful of Spanish society in a way not seen in the country's democratic history, there hasn't been any dialogue". Under the new education bill, it would no longer be compulsory to take religious education - even in state-funded private Catholic schools. One woman said: "We have come from Barcelona, because it is very important that we give our children an education with real values." There is also opposition to a planned quota system to grant children from disadvantaged backgrounds and immigrant communities greater access to state-funded private Catholic schools. This isn't the first time the church has been pitted against the Socialist government. In June, clergy and nuns demonstrated against gay marriage and adoption rights. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Last Updated, 12 November, 2005 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Unrest in France less widespread
Darkness brought another night of violent scenes across France but the protests were smaller and less widespread than those of the previous twelve nights. Extra police officers on the streets helped by the swiftly introduced curfew law may have prevented serious disorder from developing. But violence did flare in some towns and cities after nightfall. In one suburb in Toulouse, dozens of youths hurled stones and molotov cocktails at police. In Lyon, the city's entire transport network was suspended for a time after a metro station was fire bombed and two buses were set on fire. On a visit to Toulouse Interior Minister Nicholas Sarkozy met dozens of police officers and promised that the "power of the French Republic" would triumph over what he described as "the brutal force of the gangs". The government has announced extra help for deprived areas, including measures aimed at tackling youth unemployment. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Last Updated, 11 November, 2005 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Bloomberg re-elected New York mayor
Michael Bloomberg has been re-elected to serve a second term as Mayor of New York. The victory was widely predicted, and follows the most costly mayoral election in the city's history. It is estimated that Bloomberg has spent more than 85 million euros money to defeat a challenge by Democrat Fernando Ferrer. Not such good news for the actor-turned-politician Arnold Schwarzennegger. Polls show that the once popular Governor of California is losing four crucial ballot polls, despite campaigning heavily. Schwarzenneger, who has seen his approval ratings drop in the past year, voted near his home in the Los Angeles neighbourhood of Brentwood, with his wife, Maria Shriver. The Democrats have swept to victory in tough governors' elections in the states of Virginia and New Jersey, dealing a setback to Republicans and President George Bush ahead of crucial congressional elections next year. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Last Updated, 10 November, 2005 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Record UN vote against US Cuba embargo
There has been a record vote in the UN General Assembly by member countries wanting the US to end its 40 year old trade embargo with Cuba.Cuba has been under the embargo since President Fidel Castro defeated a CIA-backed assault at the Bay of Pigs in 1961. The record vote of 182 to 4 was held for the fourteenth consecutive year. It called for a lifting of the trade, financial and travel embargo, particularly a clause penalising foreign firms. But it could be an empty victory. The measure is not binding and has had no impact on the US, with the Bush administration having recently tightened the restrictions. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Last Updated, 9 November, 2005 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Iraqi policemen killed in Baquba
At least four Iraqi policemen were killed and nine
others wounded by a suicide bomb attack near the Iraqi city of Baquba,
security sources said. The attack came as US and Iraqi forces announced they had secured the town of Husayba on the Syrian border. Some 3,500 troops have taken part in Operation Steel Curtain targeting insurgents along the Euphrates valley. The aim of the operation was to seal off a main route for foreign fighters entering western Iraq. Col Stephen Davis, a US Marine commander in Husayba, said in a statement that "clearing operations" had ended and that the US-led forces had now established a permanent security presence. "Patrols and targeted raids are also being conducted to root out any remaining al-Qaeda and Iraq-led insurgents," the statement added. One US Marine and 36 insurgents were killed in the offensive launched on Saturday. Over 180 suspected militants were arrested. In other violence on Wednesday, an employee of the Sudanese embassy in Iraq was shot dead after unidentified gunmen opened fire at his car in the west of Baghdad. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Last Updated, 8 November, 2005 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ France: Urban violence spreads to central Paris
The French government is under increasing pressure to bring rioting under control after the wave of violence sweeping the country hit the centre of Paris. A Molotov cocktail was thrown in the third district of the city, damaging three cars. "We are at war. We need to send in the army. There is no other solution," said one shopkeeper. "Now you have filmed my face, they can come and beat me up." The tenth consecutive night of violence has seen arson attacks in towns and cities across the country. The trouble began after two youths were killed in an electricity sub-station after they apparently ran from police. But the scale of the problem - over 1200 cars burnt just last night - reflects the frustration of many young people of African origin at unemployment, racism and police treatment. Interior Miniser Nicolas Sarkozy is taking a tough line but he admits what he calls "injustice in some neighbourhoods" needs to be tackled. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Last Updated, 7 November, 2005 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Key vote in Azerbaijan
Azerbaijanis are voting today in a parliamentary election that is being viewed as a key test of democracy in this ex-Soviet state. The poll takes place in a tense atmosphere, with reports that the campaign managers of two leading opposition parties have been arrested. The government has introduced a package of anti-fraud measures to allay concerns over possible vote-rigging. According to international observers, Azerbaijan has yet to hold a free and fair election. However, in contrast to their tacit support for regime change in Ukraine and Georgia, Western leaders have maintained close ties with the Azeri leadership. It is seen as a guarantor of stability in this oil-rich country which lies in a region wracked by ethnic conflicts. Adding to the tensions is the detention of activists who played an important role in Ukraine's so-called Orange Revolution. The members of the Pora group were held on their arrival into the country. Over the last few weeks a number of high-ranking officials have been arrested on charges of plotting a coup and secretly supporting the opposition. But President Ilham Aliyev has insisted the vote will fully conform with international standards. His ruling Yeni Azerbaijan party is expected to regain its massive majority in parliament. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Last Updated, 6 November, 2005 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Few concrete conclusions after Americas summit
The talks went well over schedule but there was still no agreement between the leaders of 34 countries meeting at the summit of the Americas. Much of the focus was on a proposed free trade area, with the debate pitching opponents like Venezuelan leader Hugo Chavez against proponents like US President George W. Bush. The vast majority wavered somewhere in the middle. They agreed they would like to see more co-operation on trade but also planned to keep their cards close to their chests until a crucial World Trade Organisation meeting next month which should tackle the controversial issue of farm subsidies. The effective stalemate allowed all concerned to claim at least some measure of success and future agreement was not ruled out. But many observers had expected more, especially as the two primary issues that were supposed to be discussed - poverty and jobs - hardly had a mention. They are pressing problems in a region where 222 million people live below the poverty line. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Major US operation in western Iraq
A major operation is underway in western Iraq to flush out suspected al-Qaeda fighters. Around 3,500 US and Iraqi troops have launched Operation Steel Curtain, one of the biggest in a series of offensives in the vast Sunni Arab province of Anbar, near the Syrian border. It has been a flashpoint of the insurgency against the US-led coalition. The military says al-Qaeda has taken advantage of the country's porous frontiers to smuggle militants, money and foreign combatants into Iraq. The objective, it says, is to destroy guerrillas who are accused of intimidating locals who collaborate with Iraqi or US authorities. Turnout in Anbar was low for a constitutional referendum in October and it is thought militants, if left unchecked, will keep voters at home in next month's election. However, the operation is fuelling sectarian resentment, with Sunni leaders accusing the military of killing civilians. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Last Updated, 5 November, 2005 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ More protests as Bush arrives in Brazil
Even before the Americas summit was over, George W. Bush had moved on. The US president is visiting Brazil for talks with his counterpart Lula da Silva. They are said to get along well, despite political differences. Brazil's conflict with the US over cotton subsidies is likely to be one of sensitive issues on the agenda. As in Argentina, Bush's visit provoked protests. In Recife, a group of several hundred demonstrators marched up to the US consulate and began throwing paint and rocks. In Sao Paolo, police fired tear gas to disperse the crowd. The protest was focused on the central business district of the city where US banks have their offices. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Last Updated, 4 November, 2005 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ German demonstrators protest against social reforms
Even before Germany's grand coalition has been formed, demonstrators are giving the next government a taste of what is to come. Several thousand people took to the streets of Berlin to show their opposition to planned cuts to welfare benefits, known as the Hartz IV programme. It is one of the most controversial parts of outgoing chancellor Gerhard Schroeder's reforms - and one that the conservatives want to continue pushing through in a coalition. The two main parties agree welfare cuts are necessary to reduce the budget deficit and kickstart growth and employment. Chancellor-in-waiting Angela Merkel has admitted the turbulence surrounding the talks to form a government had created a bad impression on the public but she has tried to reassure people that both parties want a deal. Convergence on many policy issues has been overshadowed by leadership problems. Conservative heavyweight Edmund Stoiber has ruled himself out of the cabinet and SPD chairman Franz Muentefering seems unlikely to participate. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Last Updated, 3 November, 2005 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Hunts beat ban in England and Wales
You could be forgiven for thinking that nothing had changed. Hunting with dogs may now be banned in England and Wales but that did not stop thousands gathering for meets as the new season got underway. Many loopholes exist in the legislation, meaning enthusiasts can pursue their passion without breaking the law. "Because we are desperate to carry on with the fabric of hunting and the way that we have continued with this tradition for many hundreds of years, we will lay our trails and hunt within the law and keep everything going as well as we can," said Ant Burrell, Joint Master of the Crawley and Horsham Hunt. However one wildlife protection group says many hunts have acted illegally since the new law was introduced in February. "We have had monitors out over a large proportion of hunts around the country," said Peter Anderson of the League Against Cruel Sports. "It is undoubtedly the case that attendance is down, support for hunts is down. But I would add that the League Against Cruel Sports has got absolutely no complaint whatsoever with hunts that are abiding by the law and are not terrorising animals." Many riders are now drag hunting - laying a scent trail for hounds to follow instead of a fox. Others are taking a hawk or other hunting birds with
them as a way round the ban which still lets hounds chase and flush
out foxes - as long as they do notkill them. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Last Updated, 2 November, 2005 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Sixth night of violence in Paris suburbs
Violence has erupted once again in the troubled suburbs north of Paris. For the sixth night running, youths have taken to the streets, setting fire to cars and rubbish bins. Riot police fired tear gas and rubber bullets. The unrest was sparked by the death of two teenagers in the town of Clichy-sous-Bois last Thursday. The boys were electrocuted when they took refuge in an electricity sub-station to escape police whom they thought were chasing them. Violence has now spread to several other towns in the area, home to immigrant communities where unemployment and racial tension are rife. More than a dozen people have been arrested. Several shops and even a school have been damaged. The suburbs that ring France's large cities are not foreign to violence of this kind - but nearly a week after it broke out, the local population is calling on authorities to act. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Kirkuk bombing targets police commander
A suicide attack in Kirkuk in northern Iraq has wounded the city's police commander. Witnesses say the assailant may have been as young as 13. It is reported he lunged at a police patrol and detonated explosives hidden under his clothes. Colonel Khatab Rashis is a senior member of the Patriotic Union of Kurdistan party, which is led by the Iraqi president. Kirkuk lies around 300 kilometres north of Baghdad and
has seen an increasing overspill of violence from areas further south
wracked by a Sunni-led insurgency. In other developments, US authorities
have released 500 prisoners from the Abu Ghraib jail to coincide with
the Muslim festival of Eid al-Fit which marks the end of the holy
month of Ramadan. October was one of the bloodiest months for American
troops in Iraq - 94 were killed. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Last Updated, 1 November, 2005 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Berlusconi uses US trip to hit at home critics
Italian prime minister Silvio Berlusconi has come under criticism at home for a seemingly sudden conversion to pacifism, as he claims he repeatedly tried to persuade US President Bush not to invade Iraq. It comes during a visit to America, six months ahead of elections in which he is struggling with a public opinion opposed to Italy's involvement in the Iraq war. Berlusconi also says Washington wants him to win elections in April, although he added this doesn't mean the US is interfering in Italy's domestic affairs. He claims George W Bush fears a return to power for Italy's left wing: "There was a declaration from Romano Prodi that the opposition would do the same as (Spanish prime minister) Mr Zapatero once elected, so all Mr Bush has to do is put one and one together," said the Italian prime minister. Berlusconi is one of Washington's strongest allies. Although he did not send troops to join the March 2003 invasion of Iraq, he did send some 3,000 forces after the fall of Baghdad. He has also rejected accusations at home that Italy's intelligence agency passed off fake documents to Washington that claimed Iraq sought to buy uranium from Niger in the run-up to the war. "The data came, as the Bush administration and the CIA confirmed, from Great Britain, so I can confirm that no documents were given to the Americans, and that all the allegations over Nigergate are unfounded". ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ SPD revolt throws coalition into disarray
An internal revolt within Germany's Social Democrats is threatening the whole process of forming a new government in Berlin. The powerful head of the SPD Franz Muentefering has said he is stepping down after party leaders voted against his candidate for the post of SPD general secretary. The move plunges the party into crisis in the midst of talks on forming a government with Angela Merkel's conservatives. Muentefering had been expected to wield ample power in a new cabinet in the dual roles of labour minister and vice chancellor - posts he may now decline to take up. Should Muentefering pull out of the new government, it could have far-reaching consequences, prompting a breakdown of talks and new elections if the conservatives feel they can no longer negotiate with the SPD. Leader of the Christian Democrats' partners, the CSU's Edmund Stoiber, saysMuentefering is a "cornerstone" of any coalition, and has left it open whether he would join the government. The SPD holds its party congress in two weeks' time, where it will decide whether to approve a coalition agreement with the conservatives and set the stage for the first coalition of the two top parties since the 1960s. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ UN united over Syrian resolution
The United Nations Security Council has unanimously adopted a resolution demanding Syria cooperate with a UN inquiry into the killing of the former Lebanese prime minister Rafik al-Hariri. It was passed after the principal backers of the text - the United States and France - agreed to delete a specific reference to economic sanctions. It now says the Council would consider possible unspecified further action if Syria does not comply. French foreign minister Philippe Douste-Blazy congratulated the Security Council on coming to a decision so quickly. He said the sole aim of the resolution was to get to the truth, to find out who was responsible for the death of Hariri. The UN report presented earlier this month suggested that Syrian and Lebanese officials were to blame for the assassination. The resolution means that Damascus must detain anyone that UN investigators consider a suspect. Syria must allow witnesses and suspects to be interviewed out of the country. The text also demands a travel ban and the freezing of assets of those thought to have carried out the truck bombing in Beirut earlier this year, that killed Hariri and 22 others. The UN investigation found that the decision to kill Hariri could not have been taken without the approval of top-ranking Syrian security officials, colluding with their Lebanese counterparts. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ |
