News for Friday, March 19, 2004
• Taiwan President Released from Hospital After Shooting Taiwan's president is said to be in stable condition after being shot the day before the island's presidential election. Taiwan's government says voting will take place as scheduled Saturday, despite the assassination attempt.
• Pakistani Forces Continue to Pound Suspected al-Qaida Hideouts Pakistan's military forces have continued to pound suspected hideouts of the al-Qaida terror network near the Afghan border. The militants are said to be putting up fierce resistance, leading to suggestions they may be trying to protect a senior al-Qaida leader.
• Rising Exports Help Japan's Economic Recovery Rising exports and consumer spending are helping Japan's economic recovery and some of the country's top automakers agree to pay higher bonuses.
• Asian Markets Remain Mostly Unchanged Markets in Asia ended mostly firm for the week. Taiwan closed higher ahead of Saturday's presidential elections, but trading ended before the shooting of President Chen Shui-bian during a campaign trip.
• At Least 21 Die in Indonesian Ferry Sinking A ferry has sunk in waters in northeastern Indonesia. The latest reports say at least 21 people have died and five are missing.
• Colin Powell Pays Surprise Visit to Baghdad Secretary of State Colin Powell paid a surprise visit to Baghdad Friday on the first anniversary of the start of the war that ousted Saddam Hussein. He held talks with officials of the Coalition Provisional Authority and the Iraqi Governing Council, and addressed U.S. troops.
• Malaysian Election Campaign Enters Final Stage Before Sunday Vote In Malaysia, national election campaigns are entering their final stretch prior to Sunday's vote. Candidates for parliament and the state assemblies are staging their final flurry of rallies.
• S. Korea Cancels Plans to Send Troops to Kirkuk South Korea has canceled plans to send troops to the northern Iraqi city of Kirkuk, citing security concerns. South Korea's defense ministry says it intends to send its troops to a safer location.
• UNICEF Estimates Malnutrition Threatens 70,000 N. Korean Children The U.N. children's agency, UNICEF, says it has had some success in improving the lives of North Korea's young, but warns that great challenges remain. The agency's chief estimates that malnutrition threatens about 70,000 children.
• Taiwan's Push for Referendum to Coincide with Elections Spurs Controversy The referendum pushed by Taiwanese President Chen Shui-bian is at the root of much of the controversy surrounding Saturday's elections. The decision to hold the plebiscite raised tensions with China and provoked a bitter debate on the island.
• Kosovo Violence Overshadows EU, NATO Expansion Talks The eruption of violence in Kosovo is overshadowing a meeting of European leaders to discuss the expansion of the European Union and NATO.
• Profile: Taiwan President Chen Shui-bian Both of Taiwan's main political parties have suspended campaign activity, following a failed assassination attempt against President Chen Shui-bian. His office says Saturday's election will go forward as scheduled. Voters are to choose between giving Mr. Chen another term or electing his Nationalist rival, Lien Chan.
• Violence Continues in Southern Thailand Violence in Thailand's southern provinces is continuing, with arson attacks on 30 buildings on Thursday night. The violence continues, despite stepped up security and government promises of financial assistance.
• Jordan's King Holds Talks with Sharon Jordan's King Abdullah has made a surprise visit to Israel for talks with Prime Minister Ariel Sharon on the controversial West Bank security barrier and other issues. Senior Israeli officials say the Jordanian monarch sought assurances that the barrier project will not cause Palestinians to flee across the border into his country.
• Israel Launches New Raids on Palestinian Territories Israeli troops launched new raids into Gaza and the West Bank against suspected Palestinian militants on Friday, as part of efforts to prevent more suicide bombings.
• S. Africa's President Claims He's Receiving Death Threats South African President Thabo Mbeki, who is campaigning for his party in next month's general election, says he received several death threats earlier this week.
• Georgia Lifts Economic Blockade of Adzharia Georgia has lifted an economic blockade of the separatist Adzharia province, following its decision to take part in parliamentary elections.
• More NATO Peacekeepers Arrive in Kosovo Reinforcements of NATO peacekeepers are arriving in Kosovo, but there is still sporadic violence and looting across the ethnically divided province. Ethnic Albanians have set Serb homes and churches on fire, and Serbian nationalists have retaliated by torching mosques. The violence started earlier this week in Mitrovice, when ethnic Albanians blamed Serbs for the drowning of two children.
• US Envoy Urges Quick Peace Agreement in Sudan The U.S. special envoy on Sudan is in the Kenyan town of Naivasha to urge the Sudanese government and the country's main rebel group to reach a peace agreement as soon as possible.
• Situation in Darfur Region of Sudan 'Desperate', says UN Official A senior United Nations official says attacks against civilians in Sudan's Darfur region have created the worst humanitarian and human rights crisis in the world today. The official is urging the international community to take bold steps to end the conflict.
• French Peacekeepers Fan Out in Northern Haiti French peacekeepers have fanned out across northern Haiti as ousted President Jean Bertrand Aristide offers to help in promoting peace in the Caribbean nation.
• US Files First WTO Complaint Against China The United States has filed a complaint against China with the World Trade Organization, accusing Beijing of giving unfair tax breaks to domestic semiconductor makers.
• Primate Hunting Poses Human Health Risks, claims British Medical Journal Scientists say hunting and eating wild primates such as monkeys, chimpanzees and gorillas are exposing humans to serious health risks, such as the deadly AIDS virus.
• NHL: Leetch Leads Toronto to Beat Philadelphia In National Hockey League action Thursday, Brian Leetch scored twice and assisted on a third to lead the Toronto Maple Leafs to a 3-2 win over the Philadelphia Flyers. Gary Roberts also scored for Toronto, which won for the first time in its last five games against the Flyers.
• Cricket: Pakistan Takes 2-1 Lead in Series with India Pakistan's cricket team has taken a 2-1 lead over visiting India in their five-match series after scoring a four-wicket win in Peshawar.
• Bush Marks Iraq War Anniversary with Vow to Continue Fight Against Terrorism President Bush marked the first anniversary of the start of the war in Iraq with a White House speech calling on members of the U.S.-led coalition to stay together in the fight against terrorism.
• Pakistan: Thousands of Troops Surround 400 Militants Near Afghan Border Pakistan says its forces have surrounded as many as 400 foreign and local militants in a remote tribal region near the Afghan border. Officials say the gunmen possibly include a top member of the al-Qaida terror network.
• EU Ministers Agree to Boost Intelligence Sharing in Campaign Against Terrorism European Union justice and interior ministers have agreed to strengthen their anti-terrorist activities and to name a counter-terrorism coordinator in the wake of the bombings in Spain last week that killed more than 200 people.
• Taiwan's President 'Feeling Good' Despite Wounds from Attack Taiwan's president says he is feeling good, despite being wounded in an apparent assassination attempt, one day before the island's presidential election. The incident is likely to have a major impact on what has been a very close race.
• US 'Deeply Concerned' about Security of Citizens Overseas The U.S. State Department says it is "deeply concerned" about the security of U.S. citizens overseas, adding that there are indications the al-Qaida terrorist network is preparing to strike U.S. interests abroad.
• Spain Orders 5 Bombing Suspects to Remain in Custody A Spanish judge has ordered five suspects in last week's Madrid bombings to remain in custody pending further investigation.
• Japan to Give $1.6M to Four Asian Nations for Bird Flu Japan has promised to give about $1.6 million in emergency grants to four Asian nations hard-hit by the bird flu virus.
• N. Korea: Joint US, South Korean Exercise Hurts Nuclear Talks North Korea says a joint military exercise between the United States and South Korea next week will make a peaceful solution to the nuclear standoff harder to find.
• US Forces Call In Air Strikes After Fatal Afghan Clash U.S. forces have called in air strikes against suspected Taleban fighters after two American soldiers were killed in a gunbattle in central Afghanistan.
• IAAF to Look at Tightening Rules Limiting Athletes from Switching Nations The International Association of Athletics Federations says that it is considering rule changes to prevent athletes from switching nations to compete strictly for commercial reasons.
• Report: Accidental Cocaine Poisoning Apparently Caused Death of Cycling Great Pantani The Italian news agency ANSA is reporting that the death last month of cycling great Marco Pantani appears to have been accidental cocaine poisoning. The agency cited the conclusions of the coroner, Giuseppe Fortuni.
• More Than 2,000 to Compete in NY Marathon for Women Over 40 This Sunday, March 21, the first running of a marathon for women over 40 will take place at Central Park in New York City. The 42-kilometer run is sponsored by More magazine, a publication aimed at women in mid-life. "We wanted to do something that really expressed the spirit of this crowd that they're strong, they're confident, they can go the distance," explains Susan Crandell, More magazine's editor-in-chief. She says the population of older women who run competitively is growing. At last year's New York City Marathon, 35 percent of the women who completed the race were 40 years old or older.
• UEFA Refuses to Disqualify Russia from Euro Championship Over Drug Test European football's governing body, UEFA, has turned down Wales' attempt to have Russia disqualified from this year's European Championship because of a player who had failed his drug test.
• The President's Remarks PRESIDENT BUSH: Thank you all for coming. Be seated, please. Good morning, and thanks for coming. Laura and I are pleased to welcome you all to the White House.
• Argentine Judge Declares Pardon of Former Army Officials Unconstitutional An federal judge in Argentina has ruled against a presidential decree pardoning six former army officials accused of human rights abuses.
• Analysts Wonder How Putin Will Further Solidify Power Russian President Vladimir Putin obtained a strong mandate in Sunday's elections, winning seven out of 10 votes and solidifying his hold on power. Observers are now asking what he will do with it.
• Foreign Policy, Security Remain Central US Election Issues The one-year anniversary of the U.S.-led invasion of Iraq serves as a reminder that foreign policy and national security issues are expected to remain front and center in the U.S. presidential election campaign.
• After 5-Year Break, Clint Black Releases Spend My Time Country star Clint Black launched his recording career in 1989 with RCA Records. During his 12 years with the label, Clint charted 27 Top 5 singles, including 13 Number Ones. He enjoyed a long and successful relationship with the label. For his latest collection, however, Black made the decision to take more control of the business side of his career.
• German Women Remain on Top of FIFA Football Rankings Women's World Cup champion Germany remains atop the latest International Football Federation rankings, but Mexico has made the biggest climb, up five places.
• Nine Former Communist Countries Urge NATO, EU to Open Doors to Rest of Europe The prime ministers of nine former Communist countries are urging NATO and the European Union to open their doors to the rest of Europe, including Turkey.
• El Salvador Presidential Election Seen as Re-play of Cold War Rivalries A 1992 peace accord between the government and leftist rebels ended El Salvador's bitter civil war. But in some ways, Sunday's presidential election is seen as a re-run of those Cold War rivalries, pitting a former Communist rebel against a candidate for the long-ruling ARENA party.
• Annan: Iraq 'Oil-for-Food' Program Likely Riddled With Corruption U.N. Secretary-General Kofi Annan says it is likely that the Iraq Oil-for-Food program was riddled with corruption. Mr. Annan is calling for a full independent audit of the program, in addition to the internal probe already underway.
• Belgian Study Looks into Physical, Mental Suffering of Child Soldiers The United Nations estimates that 300,000 children around the world are serving in rebel and government armies. Most are unwilling participants, abducted from their villages to serve as soldiers, guerrilla fighters, or supporting roles in armed conflicts in more than 50 countries. Belgian researchers have found that if the youngsters survive their ordeal, they are left with severe psychological wounds.
• VOA to Expand Albanian, Serbian TV Programming This Weekend The Voice of America has announced it will expand its Albanian and Serbian television programming this weekend to cover the ethnic tensions in the Kosovo region.
• France Says Iraq War Made World More Dangerous The U.S. State Department has dismissed a top French official's charge that the world is a more dangerous place since the Iraq War.
• Syrian-Kurdish Clashes Present Syrian President With Political Crisis Deadly clashes between Syrian security forces and ethnic Kurds in the past week have presented President Bashar al-Assad with his worst political crisis. The clashes have also intensified fears of separatist tendencies in countries with large Kurdish populations. Kurdish leaders themselves are trying to quell talk of regional instability.
• Los Angeles Exhibit Uses Innovative Multimedia Techniques to Capture City's Sights A museum exhibit in Los Angeles captures the sights and sounds of the city in a multimedia presentation. The innovative display at the Los Angeles Natural History Museum is called LA: Light, Motion, Dreams.
• Bitter UN Dispute Over Iraq Last Year Gives Way to New Spirit of Cooperation What a difference a year makes. It was just one year ago that the Bush administration walked away from a bitterly divided U.N. Security Council and went to war in Iraq, leading many to question whether the world body had lost its relevance in the post-Cold War world. Responding to these concerns, Secretary-General Kofi Annan named an international panel of eminent persons to study global security threats and rethink how the United Nations could better respond.
• US Army Drops Charges Against Muslim Chaplain The United States military has dropped all criminal charges against an Army Muslim chaplain who ministered to suspected terrorist detainees at the U.S. military base in Guantanamo Bay.
• Anti-War Protests Planned Across US Saturday Hundreds of American protesters marched in San Francisco Friday to mark the one-year anniversary of the U.S.-led invasion of Iraq. Antiwar groups staged an earlier protest in Los Angeles, and that other demonstrations on both sides of the issue are planned in U.S. cities for Saturday. In San Francisco, demonstrators converged on the headquarters of Bechtel Corporation, a major contractor in the reconstruction of postwar Iraq.
• USA Today: Former Reporter Fabricated Stories The newspaper, USA Today, has found that one of its former star reporters made up several of his major stories.
• Miami Hospital Reports Record Transplant Operation Doctors at a Miami, Florida hospital say they have transplanted a record eight new organs into an Italian baby girl.
• Maruyama Has 2-Stroke Lead in Bay Hill Invitational Golf Tournament Japanese golfer Shigeki Maruyama has a two-stroke lead over a trio of competitors after the second round of the Bay Hill Invitational tournament in Orlando, Florida.
• Women's Tennis: Davenport Reaches Finals of Pacific Life Open Two-time former champion Lindsay Davenport of the United States has reached the finals of the Pacific Life Open tennis tournament in Indian Wells, California.