Campaign to Stamp Out Terrorism Will Continue: Fahd
P.K. Abdul Ghafour, Arab News
JEDDAH, 26 April 2005 — Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Fahd yesterday applauded Saudi security forces for their efforts to foil terrorist attacks in the holy city of Makkah and said the government would continue its efforts to stamp out terrorism.
http://www.arabnews.com/?page=1§ion=0&article=62757&d=26&m=4&y=2005
HOW MUCH MORE ADVANCED DO THEY GET????
Abdullah, Bush Advance Relations
Khaled Almaeen
Crown Prince Abdullah walks hand-in-hand with President George W. Bush in Crawford, Texas on Monday. (Reuters)
DALLAS, Texas, 26 April 2005 — Despite a light drizzle and cool temperatures, the meeting between Crown Prince Abdullah and US President George W. Bush yesterday at his Texas ranch radiated with the warmth of a reunion between two peoples who vowed to renew their ties with one another.
http://www.arabnews.com/?page=4§ion=0&article=62767&d=26&m=4&y=2005
Abbas Orders Commanders to End Chaos
Hisham Abu Taha, Arab News
RAMALLAH, 26 April 2005 — In an attempt to stamp his authority, Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas ordered new security chiefs yesterday to halt growing chaos two days after he pushed aside top officers in the old guard, officials said.
The security shake-up brought Abbas closer to meeting Israeli and US demands for reforming security forces, also criticized by ordinary Palestinians for failing to maintain law and order.
http://www.arabnews.com/?page=4§ion=0&article=62769&d=26&m=4&y=2005
Veteran Journalist Jafarkhan Dies at 57
JEDDAH, 26 April 2005 — K.K. Jafarkhan, a veteran journalist and senior editor at Arab News, died of cardiac arrest here yesterday. He was 57.Kamalalayam Kesavan Jafarkhan, who was at his desk editing and rewriting stories until late Sunday night, died peacefully in the afternoon in his post-lunch siesta. Jafarkhan, a postgraduate in engineering, is survived by his wife and two sons.
http://www.arabnews.com/?page=1§ion=0&article=62758&d=26&m=4&y=2005
The Jordan Times
Iraqi government delayed again
BAGHDAD (AP) — Sunni Muslim politicians dropped their demand Monday to include former members of Saddam Hussein's party in Iraq's new Cabinet in a bid to get more ministries. Iraq's Sunni minority is believed to be the backbone of the insurgency and many here blame the months-long impasse in forming a new government for a resurgence in violence.
As leaders of Iraq's main Shiite, Sunni and Kurdish factors continued their backroom wheeling and dealing, prime minister-designate Ibrahim Jaafari again put off his long-promised Cabinet announcement.
http://www.jordantimes.com/tue/news/news1.htm
King says national guidelines need timetable
AMMAN (Petra) — His Majesty King Abdullah on Monday said the anticipated guidelines by the Steering Committee for the National Agenda should be "workable and in line with a fixed timetable."
King Abdullah told the committee at a Royal Court meeting that its recommendations, expected in September, should be in accordance with citizens' needs and aspirations.
http://www.jordantimes.com/tue/homenews/homenews1.htm
Abbas expects Hamas to disarm
GAZA CITY (AP) — Palestinian leader Mahmoud Abbas said Monday he expects Hamas to hand in its weapons after Palestinian elections this summer, but he stopped short of threatening to disarm the Islamic fighters by force.
A Hamas official dismissed the call, saying Abbas should first disarm his own Fateh movement.
In violence Monday, Israeli soldiers shot and killed a Palestinian taxi driver after his vehicle ran over and killed an Israeli at a roadblock near the West Bank city of Hebron, rescue workers said. Israeli security officials said it appeared to be a deliberate attempt to hit the Israeli. Palestinians said the driver had no political ties, and the roadblock was not a permanent fixture, indicating that the hit-and-run was an accident.
http://www.jordantimes.com/tue/news/news8.htm
The Chicago Tribune
`Clown' missing from mob
Lombardo vanishes from regular haunts
By Ray Gibson
Tribune staff reporter
Published April 26, 2005
For more than 50 years, Joseph Lombardo has called the West Town neighborhood his home--at least, whenever he wasn't in prison.
http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/local/chi-0504260181apr26,1,5394374.story?coll=chi-news-hed
Haaretz
Nation's leaders bid emotional farewell to Ezer Weizman
By Jonathan Lis and Gideon Alon, Haaretz Correspondents, Haaretz Service and Agencies
Israel's leaders paid emotional tribute to former president Ezer Weizman on Tuesday afternoon, as they gathered for his funeral in the town of Or Akiva.
President Moshe Katsav called Weizman a "man of vision," who was "one of the most influential figures in Israel."
"Weizman will be remembered as a great patriot," said Katsav. He "fought for the principles in which he believed."
http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/spages/569192.html
Syria informs UN withdrawal of forces from Lebanon is complete
By Haaretz Service and Agencies
Syria informed the United Nations on Tuesday that it had completed the withdrawal of its forces from Lebanon in line with Security Council resolution 1559.
Syria "would like to officially inform you that the Syrian Arab forces stationed in Lebanon, at the request of Lebanon and under an Arab mandate, have fully withdrawn all their military, security apparatus and assets to their positions in Syria on the 26th of April, 2005," Syria's Foreign Minister Farouq al-Shara said in a letter to the world body.
http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/spages/569191.html
Russian defense minister: Moscow will provide Strelets missiles to Syria
By The Associated Press
MOSCOW - On the eve of Russian President Vladimir Putin's trip to Israel, Defense Minister Sergei Ivanov said Tuesday that Moscow would go ahead with its sale of Strelets missile systems to Syria.
"This will not harm the balance of forces in the region," the Interfax news agency quoted Ivanov as saying. "In our estimation, Israel significantly surpasses Syria in military terms."
http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/spages/569310.html
The New Zealand Herald
First couples sign up for civil unions
John Joliff, left, and Des Smith lodge their application for a Civil Union licence in Wellington today. Picture / Fotopress
26.04.05 1.00pm
The first couples have applied to have their relationships recognised by a civil union after a change in the law came into effect today.
The Civil Unions Bill allows same-sex and heterosexual couples legal standing on a par with marriage.
http://www.nzherald.co.nz/index.cfm?c_id=1&ObjectID=10122375
MPs will not have to reveal finances
26.04.05 4.00pm
A law that would have forced MPs to disclose financial interests has been shelved.
The proposed bill has been postponed until August 14 - after Parliament rises before the election.
http://www.nzherald.co.nz/index.cfm?c_id=1&ObjectID=10122407
Serial arsonist suspected as Kaitaia hit again
26.04.05 2.00pm
A arsonist suspected of more than 20 fires in Kaitaia is believed to be behind an attack which police say was lucky not to have destroyed a council building at the weekend.
Detective Steve Harris, of Kaitaia CIB, said a sack of sticks was placed against the Far North District Council service centre building and lit overnight Sunday.
http://www.nzherald.co.nz/index.cfm?c_id=1&ObjectID=10122391
Former Philippines ambassador murdered
26.04.05 3.00pm
Foreign Minister Phil Goff has paid tribute to the former Philippines ambassador to New Zealand, Alicia Ramos, who was murdered in Manila on Sunday.
Mr Goff said Ms Ramos was ambassador for six years, from 1996 to 2002.
"She was a warm, pleasant and likeable person with many good friends in New Zealand," he said in a statement.
"All of us who knew her are devastated by her loss and the circumstances of her death."
Mr Goff said Ms Ramos, 64, was murdered by intruders who broke into her home in Makati, Manila.
http://www.nzherald.co.nz/index.cfm?c_id=1&ObjectID=10122387
Police seeking clients of murdered prostitute
26.04.05 1.00pm
Christchurch police investigating the murder of prostitute Susie Sutherland want to speak to clients she saw in the two days before she met her death.
Detective Senior Sergeant David Harvey said the inquiry had "developed a very good idea" of Ms Sutherland's movements from Friday, April 15 until the early hours of April 16, when her naked body was found on an empty section in Peterborough St.
http://www.nzherald.co.nz/index.cfm?c_id=1&ObjectID=10122380
The weather in Antarctica (Crystal Ice Chime) is:
Scott Base
Some cloud
-24.0°
Updated Tuesday 26 Apr 8:59PM
The weather at Glacier Bay National Park (Crystal Ice Chime) is:
37 °F / 3 °C
Clear
Humidity:
87%
Dew Point:
34 °F / 1 °C
Wind:
Calm
Pressure:
30.26 in / 1025 hPa
Visibility:
10.0 miles / 16.1 kilometers
UV:
0 out of 16
Clouds (AGL):
Clear -
end
