17 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. |
