March 2005
2005 : January - February - March - April - May - June - July - August - September - October - November - December- &rarr
__NOTOC__ The rebel Democratic Forces for the Liberation of Rwanda, members of which had participated in the 1994 Rwandan Genocide, announces that it is giving up its armed struggle. The FDLR has been a key source of instability in the aftermath of the Second Congo War. (BBC) Pope John Paul II's condition has once again worsened. The pontiff, 84, suffers from a drop in blood pressure and a high fever. He is reportedly given Last Rites. (CNN) Terri Schiavo dies 13 days after her feeding tube was removed by court order in Florida, USA. (Reuters) (BBC) Matthew Nagle, a 25 year old paralysed man, has become the first person known to have benefited from a microchip implanted into his brain which can "read" thoughts. He can think his TV on and off, change channels and alter the volume thanks to the technology and software linked to devices in his home.(BBC) A UN report has stated that malnutrition rates in Iraqi children under five have almost doubled since the US-led invasion of Iraq. (BBC) The UN-backed Millennium Ecosystem Assessment, the most comprehensive survey of the Earth's ecological condition to date, finds that the condition of the world's ecosystems is deteriorating at a dangerous rate. There has been "substantial and largely irreversible" loss of biodiversity, the report says. Basic resources like timber, water, and food are at risk in some areas, and may be put at risk in more. (BBC) (Seattle PI) (Discovery) (UN News Centre) The elections in Zimbabwe have proceeded with large queues seen at many polling stations. No violence has been reported, and Incumbent president Robert Mugabe of the ZANU-PF party has declared the elections to be free and fair. Opposition leader, Morgan Tsvangirai of the party MDC, disputes this, but still believes his party will win. The election has already been branded unfair by both the US and the EU and their observers have been barred from monitoring the poll. Results are expected in two days.(Bloomberg) (CNN) (News24) (Reuters) (BBC) Israel has allowed people who received non-Orthodox training in Israel but were converted overseas to become Jews. These people will now be eligible for Israeli citizenship. (BBC) Malta commemorates the 26th anniversary of the departure of the last British forces from the island (di-ve) Marburg virus death toll in Angola rises to 127 (AllAfrica) (IOL) (Reuters AlertNet) (Medical News Today) Canada and European Union plant to impose a 15% tariff on some US exports because Washington has not repealed anti-dumping law the Byrd amendment. World Trade Organization declared the law illegal last August. The products include paper, cigarettes, oysters and live swine (Reuters) (Bloomberg) (Forbes) In South Africa, Johannesburg's Labour Court rules that mining strike of the 30.000 employees of mining compnay Gold Fields is "unlawful and unprotected" and orders them to go back to work. The National Union of Mineworkers states that it expects its members to obey the ruling (Reuters SA) (BusinessWeek, SA) (SA) In Pakistan, Pakistan Oppressed Nations Movement organizes partial strikes in various cities to protest over Punjabi influence in the country (WebIndia123) (KeralaNext) (BBC) In Ukraine, security service states that the death of former interior minister Yuri Kravchenko was probably suicide (Moscos Times) (BBC)
The island of Malta is in dispute with Italy over the transportation of Chinese illegal immigrants between Malta and Sicily. (di-ve) Jean-Claude Juncker and Olli Rehn confirm the European Union's support for Paul Wolfowitz to become the president of the World Bank. (Guardian) Doron Grossman, the Israeli ambassador to Ethiopia, is to be flown back to Israel after receiving a critical head injury following an apparent failed suicide attempt. (BBC) Osama Mattar, a Palestinian Hamas activist held in custody in an Israeli prison, claims that he received militant training in Syria, Syria and Hamas claim no such training takes place. (AP\\Yahoo) In India, shops and businesses close down in protest of a new tax law. (BBC) A Shanghai online game player stabs a competitor to death for selling his cyber-sword. (Reuters) In Israel, Jerusalem police denies members of Jewish organization Revava access to Temple Mount during Passover because of danger that they could use the situation to encourage violence. Revava has planned a pilgrimage to the site in April 10 (Jerusalem Post (Arutz Sheva) In Guatemala, dozens of disguised AIDS patients protest government ruling that gives pharmaceutical companies 5-10 years to keep their drug trial data secret, limiting access to cheap generic AIDS drugs (Reuters AlertNet) (Washington Post) European nations has expressed support of UN secretary general Kofi Annan after US probe found no evidence of his involvement with the foul play in Oil-for-Food Program (Reuters) In India, the state of Maharashtra closes its dance bars outside the city of Mumbai as breeding grounds for prostitution (Hindustan Times) (Rediff) (BBC) In Egypt, thousands of demonstrators protest against the fifth term of president Hosni Mubarak despite of the ban on protests. There are conflicting reports on the number of protesters police has detained (Reuters AlertNet) (Al-Jazeera) (Reuters SA) (BBC) Czech Republic government is in crisis after the coalition partner of the ruling Civic Democrats party. Christian Democrats, calls for its three ministers to leave. That would lead into a minority government. Prime minister Stanislav Gross also faces a no confidence vote in Friday over his personal finances (Bloomberg) (BBC) In Nigeria, anti-corruption group Economic and Financial Crimes Commission detains former police chief Tafa Balogun for questioning (Vanguard, Nigeria) (Reuters AlertNet) (AllAfrica) In Rwanda, defense minister Marcel Gatsinzi appears before the traditional gacaca court accused of failing to stop his troops during the Rwandan genocide. He says that one of his first orders was to stop the killing. (AllAfrica) (Reuters AlertNet)
The E-mail spammer Scott Richter of "OptInRealBig.com" has filed for bankruptcy protection in Denver. The reason claimed is a costly legal battle with Microsoft. (Denver Post) MGM Studios v. Grokster, an important lawsuit regarding the future of peer-to-peer file sharing, is heard before the United States Supreme Court. (CNN) Lord Paddy Ashdown, High Representative in Bosnia and Herzegovina has sacked Dragan Čović, Croat member of the Presidency of Bosnia and Herzegovina, after he has been charged (but not tried yet) for financial corruption. (BBC) Three Romanian journalists are kidnapped in Iraq, the latest in a long series of kidnappings for money or political reasons in the country. (Guardian), (BBC) Death toll of Marburg virus in Angola rises to 122. UNICEF support a campaign to stop the spread of the disease (Medical News Today) (News24), (BBC) New Kyrgyz parliament installs Kurmanbek Bakiyev as the official interim President of Kyrgyzstan, (Reuters), (BBC), replacing Askar Akayev who states he is ready to resign. (ABC) An independent investigation led by Paul Volcker cleared the United Nations Secretary-General Kofi Annan of involvement in the awarding of a contract in the Oil-for-Food Programme to a company that employed his son, but found fault with Annan for his failure to oversee the program vigorously. (Reuters) (BBC) In the United States, Douglas S. Smith Jr, a former top official of Boy Scouts of America, is charged with possession of child pornography. (CNN) In Uganda, thousands of muslims demonstrate in the capital Kampala against the Domestic Relations Bill that would, among other things, limit polygamy. (New Vision, Uganda), (AllAfrica), (BBC), France intends to change law that allows girls to marry at the age of 15 (Reuters) (Guardian) Dam bursts in South-eastern Afghanistan near the city of Ghazni. At least 6 people dead. (Reuters AlertNet), (International Water Power and Dam Construction), (BBC) British bullfighter Frank Evans, known as El Inglés, is about to retire after 40 years. (Guardian), (BBC) The leaders of Brazil, Venezuela, Colombia and Spain meet in Ciudad Guayana, Venezuela. They agree to resist drug trafficking, terrorism and poverty. (Reuters) Spanish prime minister Zapatero signs an agreement with president Hugo Chávez of Venezuela on the sale of warships and military transport planes. Conservative opposition leader Mariano Rajoy denounces the sale. (BBC) Political activists in Mongolia demonstrate in Ulan Bator for new elections. (Taipei Times), (BBC) Kenya recalls 70 diplomats from its embassies due to cash shortage; none of them are ambassadors. (AllAfrica), (BBC)
The first arrests are made for war crimes in Darfur, Sudan: 15 officials in South Darfur are accused of rape, murder, and other crimes related to the Darfur conflict. Whether they will be tried in a Sudanese or international court is uncertain at this time. (BBC) (Reuters) The Kuomintang's 34-member delegation led by KMT Vice Chairman Chiang Pin-kun arrives on a landmark official visit to mainland China, the first since the end of Chinese Civil War in 1949. On their first day, the delegates pay homage at the Mausoleum of the 72 Martyrs in Huanghuagang (Yellow Flower Knoll), Guangzhou in the province of Guangdong. (BBC), (Taipei Times), (China Daily) 2005 Sumatran earthquake: An earthquake of magnitude 8.7 is reported off the west coast of North Sumatra, likely an aftershock of the 2004 Indian Ocean earthquake. Concerned about the threat of a tsunami, evacuations begin in Malaysia, Thailand, and Sri Lanka, although no significant tsunami activity is reported. Indonesia's vice-president reports up to 2,000 deaths (Guardian), (USGS), (CNN), (BBC), (CBC) Israeli-Palestinian Conflict:* The Israeli Knesset voted on a referendum bill on the Disengagement plan. 72 MKs rejected, 39 voted for and 3 abstained. (Haaretz)* The Israeli Defence Forces arrested 8 Palestinians during a raid into Jenin. Israel claims the 8 men were members of Palestinian Islamic Jihad building a Qassam rocket, and the IDF have released a list of the 8 Palestinian arrested, stating their name and their alledged activities. According to that list, one of those arrested, Hasin Mahmed Mashkah, was released in February as a part of the prisoner-release program involving 500 men. Residents dispute the Israeli claims and state that 3 of the men were members of the security services, and that the other 5 were not known militants. (Haaretz), (BBC)(IDF), (Haaretz) Lebanese officials state that 2000 Syrian troops have left the country (Arabic News), (Reuters AlertNet), (BBC) Court in Moscow sentences director Yuri Samodurov and Lyudmila Vasilovskaya for fine of 100,000 roubles (about Ł2,000 or $3,600) for blasphemy because of their 2003 exhibition Caution! Religion. (Mosnews), (Reuters AlertNet), (BBC) In Zimbabwe, archbishop Pius Ncube calls for peaceful uprising against the government of Robert Mugabe. Government denounces his criticism. (IOL), (ITV), (BBC) Russian state prosecutors begin sentencing of former Yukos tycoon Mikhail Khodorkovsky and Yukos shareholder Platon Lebedev for tax evasion and fraud. (ITAR_TASS), (Gateway to Russia), (BBC), Thousands of Egyptians attend the funeral of actor Ahmed Zaki. (Al Bawaba), (BBC)
Christians around the world celebrate Easter Sunday. (AP via Yahoo! News) In comments posted in a German newspaper Easter Sunday, Chancellor Gerhard Schröder expressed the hope that German-based companies will stop outsourcing, that they'll invest in employment opportunities within Germany. German companies have long complained of the stifling labor/regulatory/tax climate at home. (New York Times)
Death toll from Marburg virus epidemic in Angola rises to 120; first case of the Ebola-like virus is reported outside Uige Province and the capital, Luanda. (ABC Australia) (SBS) (Recombinomics) Hundreds of thousands of Taiwanese hold mass rally to protest against the People's Republic of China's anti-secession law. (USA Today/AP) (Taiwan News)
Several Imax cinemas in the USA (in Texas, Georgia and the Carolinas) have chosen not to show the film "Volcanoes of the Deep Sea" in light of its reference to the theory of evolution. (BBC) Tulip Revolution in Kyrgyzstan: * Kyrgyz opposition leader Kurmanbek Bakiyev is named interim President of Kyrgyzstan, while ousted President Askar Akayev remains defiant. (Reuters)* Looters ransack the capital city of Bishkek following the protests. (Reuters) Doctors at a Monaco hospital call the condition of Prince Rainier III "worrying" and are unsure if he will recover from heart and renal failure. He remains on a respirator. (Yahoo! News) Good Friday was celebrated all over the world. Processions with statues representing the Passion of Christ (Way of the Cross) were held all over Malta. [NEWSLINK MISSING]. In Mexico City 19 year old Osvaldo Gordon was starved, whipped, fainted, crucified with nails through hands, in 162nd such reenactment. (El Universal) [ENGLISH LANGUAGE NEWSLINK MISSING]
Paleontologists from North Carolina State University announce the discovery of structures resembling blood vessels and red blood cells inside the hindlimb fossil of a Tyrannosaurus rex. (Science Magazine) (BBC). The Washington Post claims to have obtained documents indicating that "ghosting", the use of Army prisons in Iraq by the CIA to hold unregistered inmates, is "systematic and known to three senior intelligence officials", contradicting earlier claims by the Army that such incidences were rare and ad hoc. (Washington Post) In Kyrgyzstan, protesters and riot police clash in the capital, Bishkek. (RIA Novosti) (ReutersAlertNet) (BBC) President Askar Akayev's presidential palace, the White House, is overrun and the opposition is planning for a new government. (BBC) Akayev flees Bishkek by helicopter. His immediate whereabouts are unclear. Some report him going to Russia, others to Kazakhstan. (Fox News) Akayev is reported to have resigned, but this is not confirmed. (ABC) (Xinhua) Bobby Fischer leaves Japan for Iceland via Copenhagen after 8 months in detention. (Mainichi Daily News) (Reuters) (BBC) The World Health Organization states that tuberculosis cases in some African countries have tripled since 1990. There are also resistant strains of tuberculosis in Russia. (Reuters) (RIA Novosti) (BBC) France presents a draft resolution to vote at the United Nations. It would give war crime cases in Darfur region of Sudan to the International Criminal Court in the Hague. USA resists the idea. (EUObserver) (Reuters) (BBC) World Expo 2005 opens in Nagoya, Japan. (Expo 2005) (Asahi Shinbun) (ITAR-TASS) (SwissInfo) The US Supreme Court declines to hear the appeal filed by the parents of Terri Schiavo to have her feeding tube reinserted. Florida judge George Greer likewise declines to open Schiavo's records to the Florida Department of Children and Families (Reuters)
An explosion occurs at a BP oil refinery in Texas City, Texas. Over 100 are injured, and at least 15 are dead. (Fox News) (Globe and Mail) (BP) Prince Rainier III of Monaco reportedly has gone into renal and heart failure and is on a respirator. (Yahoo! News) Conflict in Iraq: Iraqi Army officials claim that they along with backing from US troops have killed at least 80 insurgents in a raid on a camp near Tikrit. (BBC) Two people die following a bomb in a shopping centre in a Christian area of North Beirut, Lebanon. The two are believed to have been foreign workers. (BBC) In Lebanon, Michel Abu Arraj, a judge investigating the murder of Rafik Hariri, asks to step down from the case prior to public announcement of the results of the United Nations investigation. (Reuters Alertnet) (BBC) Israel announces that it will ban Palestinians from the West Bank and Gaza Strip from entering Israel during the upcoming Purim holiday. (People's Daily) (RTE) In Brazil, the Brazilian Army receives permission to set up second emergency field hospital in the park of Rio De Janeiro to alleviate shortage of medical services. Mayor Cesar Maia opposes the move, blaming the situation on lack of government funding. (Reuters AlertNet) (BBC) In Kyrgyzstan, riot police break up a protest in the capital Bishkek. (Reuters Alertnet) (BBC) President Askar Akayev sacks his interior minister and prosecutor general for "poor work" in dealing with the growing protests against his government. (Interfax) (Reuters) (RIA Novosti) (BBC) USA and UN appeal for calm and negotiations. (Bloomberg) (Bloomberg) The College of Bishops of the Episcopal Church of Scotland declares that being a practicing homosexual does not constitute "a bar to the exercise of an ordained ministry". (BBC) In the Central African Republic, the spokesman of André Kolingba, former military ruler, says that yesterday's shootout outside his house was an assassination attempt. Kolingba has called for an annulment of the results of the presidential elections. (BBC) In Cambodia, 16 prisoners die during an jailbreak in the province of Kampong Cham; 30 others escape. (Reuters AlertNet) (BBC) In Libya, Muammar Gaddafi states that he is not going to pardon five Bulgarian nurses that face a death penalty accused of injecting children with the HIV (Gulf Daily News) (Bulgarian News Network) (Reuters) (BBC) In Russia, recent studies and statistics show that the name "Dmitry" is the most popular name in the Slavic regions of Eastern Europe. [1]
The World Hockey Association announces that a six-team tournament, the "Bobby Hull Invitational", will take place in May 2005 in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada. (ESPN) Israel hands over control of Tulkarm to the Palestinian Authority. (BBC) Prince Rainier III of Monaco, hospitalized for the past two weeks with a pulmonary infection, is moved to intensive care. (Yahoo! News) In Chile, Paul Schäfer, former leader of Colonia Dignidad, is charged with involvement in the 1976 disappearance of Juan Maino, activist and opponent of the regime of Augusto Pinochet. (Reuters AlertNet) (Prensa Latina) (BBC) In Kyrgyzstan, President Askar Akayev's spokesman claims that the protests are a coup attempt planned by "drug mafia". (Pravda) (CNN) In the Democratic Republic of Congo, authorities say they have arrested many senior members of militia groups in Ituri, including Thomas Lubanga of the Union of Congolese Patriots. (Reuters AlertNet) (ReliefWeb) (BBC) United Nations declares World Water Day, starting a decade-long Water for Life campaign for clean water. (UN News Centre) (ABC) (Reuters AlertNet) (BBC) Nigerian President Olusegun Obasanjo sacks education minister Fabian Osuji for corruption. (Vanguard, Nigeria) (AllAfrica) (Reuters SA) German airline Lufthansa announces its takeover of Swiss Airlines. (Swissinfo) (Bloomberg) In Italy, the Council of State allows Alessandra Mussolini to stand in elections. (AGI) (BBC) In India, numerous bank workers take part in a one-day strike to protest government reforms and bank merges they say will lead to job cuts. (New Kerala) (Hindustan Times) (BBC) The Indian government bans veterinary drug diclofenac because of a connection to the near extinction of vultures. (Indian Express) (BBC) Ex-president of Peru, Alberto Fujimori, plans to finance his coming presidential campaign with Fuji-Cola. Fujimori is in exile in Japan, is wanted for corruption, murder and kidnapping and is legally banned from holding public office in Peru until 2010 (Reuters) (BBC) In Angola, at least 96 people have died of Marburg virus. (ReliefWeb) (Reuters SA) (News24) (CIDRAP)
Iceland's parliament, Alţingi, votes to grant fugitive U.S chess champion Bobby Fischer Icelandic citizenship. (NDTV) (Reuters) Israel has announced plans to add 3,500 homes to the Ma'ale Adummim settlement in occupied territories east of Jerusalem. Chief Palestinian negotiator Saeb Erekat said this would "sabotage" peace efforts. (BBC) Red Lake High School massacre: In a US school shooting, Jeff Weise opened fire at Red Lake High School in Minnesota, killing nine people and then himself. (Kansas City Star)(BBC)UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan proposes to have the Security Council expanded from 15 members to 24 members. (ISN) (CNN) (Reuters) (Wired) Tulip Revolution: After taking Jalal-Abad in southern Kyrgyzstan one day earlier, opposition protesters against electoral fraud in the 2005 parliamentary elections take over the northern city of Osh and seize government buildings. Prime minister states the government does not intend to use force. (Reuters Alertnet) (BBC) (BBC) Indian politician Narendra Modi addresses a meeting of Indian-Americans via satellite. He claims there is a "disinformation campaign" against India. (Sify) (Outlook India) World Wildlife Fund states that Asian river dolphinss are in danger due to pollution and damming of rivers. (BBC) Tornadoes in northern Bangladesh kills 27. (Express Newsline) (BBC) Bangladeshi police charge 10 people accused of murder of opposition politician Shah AMS Kibria, member of Awami League. They include eight members of the ruling Bangladesh Nationalist Party. Kibria was killed in a grenade attack January 27. (New Nation, Bangladesh (BBC) In Haiti, four people, including two UN peacekeepers, are killed in a shootout between peacekeepers and former rebels. (Reuters) In Namibia, president Sam Nujoma retires and is succeeded by Hifikepunye Pohamba. (AllAfrica) (Reuters SA) (News24) (Reuters) (Bloomberg) (BBC) Russia criticises Polish decision to name a square in Warsaw after dead Chechen separatist leader Djokhar Dudayev (Reuters AlertNet) (Mosnews) (BBC) Dutch lumber merchant Guus van Kouwenhoven is charged with war crimes and arms smuggling to then-president Charles Taylor during civil war in Liberia (Reuters SA) (BBC) In Estonia, prime minister Juhan Parts announces his resignation after vote of no confidence against justice minister Ken-Marti Vaher. That also means his government is dissolved (Bloomberg) (BBC)
US Secretary of State Condoleeza Rice arrives in Beijing for the last leg of her six-country Asian trip. Rice met with President Hu Jintao and Premier Wen Jiabao; talks about North Korea nuclear missiles program and Taiwan are on the top of the agenda. (CNN) (China Daily) Protesters in Kyrgyzstan march against electoral fraud in the 2005 Kyrgyz parliamentary elections, and appear to have taken control of the southern town of Jalal-Abad after mounting large-scale demonstrations to demand Askar Akayev to step down as President of Kyrgyzstan. (Reuters), (BBC), (CNN) Floods in Afghanistan kill more than 200. Coalition helicopters are dispatched to save people (Bloomberg) (Hi Pakistan) (BBC) In Azerbaijan, president Ilham Aliyev announces pardons for 114 people, including 7 opposition leaders and total of 50 political prisoners (Azertag) (CASCFEN) (BBC) Serbian government states that Bosnian Serb general Vinko Pandurević will surrender to war crimes tribunal at the Hague. He is charged with genocide connected to Srebrenica massacre in 1995 (FENA) (B92) (Reuters)
A 7.0 magnitude earthquake hits Japan's southernmost main island of Kyushu. Japan's Meteorological Agency emits warnings for tsunamis that could hit areas including the coast of Kyushu. (CNN) One Briton killed and 12 people wounded by a car bomb in Doha, Qatar. (Al-Jazeera) (BBC) Pakistan successfully test-fires a long-range nuclear-capable ballistic missile, Shaheen-II, the latest in a series of tests. Shaheen-II can travel upto 2,000 km and carry all kinds of warheads. (Pakistan Times) (Daily Times, Pakistan) (Times of India) G20 group of the developing countries calls on rich nations to end their farming subsidies in five years (Reuters) (Business Week) (Bloomberg) (BBC)
Woman Imam in NYC: Amina Wadud, an African American Muslim, and a professor of Islamic studies at Virginia Commonwealth University, led a congregation of about 60 women and 40 men in the weekly Muslim Friday, or Jumu'uah, prayer, despite the disapproval of mainstream Muslim scholars. (CNN) (BBC) Israeli-Palestinian conflict:* In Tel Aviv, 10,000 people rallied to support Israel's unilateral disengagement plan of 2004 and support Ariel Sharon's plan to leave the Gaza Strip now. (Haaretz), (Ynet)* Member of Knesset Effi Eitam, announced he will move to settle in Gush Katif. This is despite a restriction order on relocating in the Gaza Strip issued by the Chief of the Southern Command. The Knesset chairman Reuven Rivlin said MK immunity covers Eitam's act. (Haaretz) South Koreans stand outside the Japanese embassy in Seoul, protesting over a disputed island called Tokto in Korea and Takeshima in Japan. (CNN) The government of Ukraine admits that 18 Kh-55 Granat nuclear-capable cruise missiles (without warheads) were smuggled to Iran and China by arms dealers. (BBC) In the Netherlands, businessman Frans van Anraat is put on trial for allegedly selling chemicals to Saddam Hussein to make poison gas. He is accused of complicity to commit war crimes and genocide. (Reuters) (BBC) USA denies diplomatic visa to Indian politician Narendra Modi, chief minister of Gujarat (times of India) (NDTV) (BBC) In the Solomon Islands, militia leader Harold Keke and two others receive a life sentence for murdering Augustine Geve (Solomon Star) (Reuters) (BBC) The United Nations fires one employee and suspends six others without pay for allegations of sexual abuse in the Democratic Republic of Congo. (Reuters AlertNet) (UN News Centre) The SMTH BBS, the most popular newsgroup-like Bulletin Board System among Chinese university students and graduates, is forced by the PRC government to shut down off-campus access. (Washington Times) Private Johnson Beharry of the British Army becomes the first person to receive the Victoria Cross since 1982 and the first living recipient since 1969. (Reuters)
At the Relativistic Heavy Ion Collider particle accelerator in Upton, New York, physicist Horatiu Nastase may have created a black hole. (BBC) The People's Republic of China frees Uighur dissident and businesswoman Rebiya Kadeer on medical parole. (BBC) U.S. Congressman Rob Portman (R-Ohio) was nominated by President George W. Bush to be the United States Trade Representative, replacing Robert Zoellick. Portman is subject to Senate confirmation. (Reuters) [1] Transparency International (TI), a nonprofit which works against corruption, warns about US companies overcharging for the rebuilding of Iraq. A TI study showed that a multi-million-dollar deal was awarded to a US company only for it to sub-contract the work to an Iraqi firm for a fraction of the cost. (Zaman) (Aljazeera) A number of non-governmental organizations meet in Geneva, Switzerland in the World Water Forum. They call for water to be treated as a common asset instead of being privatized. (Swissinfo) In China, a bus explosion kills about 30 people in Jiangxi province. (China Daily) (Reuters AlertNet) (Channel News Asia) (BBC) In Bolivia, opposition leader Evo Morales calls off blockades against the government of Carlos Mesa after it raises taxes of foreign energy companies. (Bloomberg) (Reuters) (BBC) London police say they have foiled an attempt to steal Ł220 million from the London offices of the Sumitomo Mitsui Bank. (BBC) (Reuters UK) The only remaining statue in Madrid of the Spanish dictator Francisco Franco is removed on government orders. (BBC) In Italy, the staff of Milan's La Scala opera vote for the resignation of the famous conductor Riccardo Muti. (Reuters) (BBC). In Russia, Anatoly Chubais, head of Russia's state power monopoly Unified Energy System, survives an apparent ambush (Interfax) (RIA Novosti) (Reuters) King of Thailand, Bhumibol Adulyadej, intends to personally direct artificial rain making project to end drought in the country. He intends to use his own cloud seeding technique (BBC) In Zimbabwe, president Robert Mugabe states in his election campaign that the country is short of food. Local opposition group the National Constitutional Assembly says that ZANU-PF use food as a political tool (Reuters AlertNet) Russian police arrests an Australian man who threatened to blow up a passenger plane (Moscow Times) (Australian) (Reuters)
Israel formally hands Jericho to Palestinian Authority control, which is likely to strengthen Mahmoud Abbas. The PA will resume security control over the city and will have to make sure that wanted militants will remain in check. (Yahoo!)(BBC) Anti-fascist protesters in the center of Riga, Latvia, end up in custody after trying to stop the annual march of Waffen-SS veterans and young radical nationalists. (BBC) Russia announces that it will pay $10 m to the people who betrayed Chechen separatist leader Aslan Maskhadov, who was killed by Russian special forces. (The Guardian) President of Bolivia Carlos Mesa has asked the country's congress to approve early elections in August to replace him to "prevent bloodbath". There are still widespread opposition protests against his economic policies. (Reuters) (Bloomberg) (BBC) President of El Salvador, Tony Saca, criticises new inquiries of The Inter-American Commission on Human Rights into El Mozote massacre in 1981. (Reuters AlertNet) (BBC) The United States Senate accuses seven US banks of complicity of allowing Augusto Pinochet to set up 100 bank accounts to hide money total to US$15 million. (Reuters) (CNN) (BBC) Amnesty International states that fair elections are "impossible" in Zimbabwe. (Amnesty International) (Reuters AlertNet) (News24) In the Supreme Court of British Columbia today, Ripudaman Singh Malik and Ajaib Singh Bagri were found not guilty in their trial for the bombing of Air India |
