February 2005 - meaning of word
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February 2005



2005 : January 2005 - February 2005 - March 2005 - April 2005 - May 2005 - June 2005 - July 2005 - August 2005 - September 2005 - October 2005 - November 2005 - December 2005- January 2006
__NOTOC__ {| style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; margin-bottom: 2em" |- | |- | style="border: 1px solid #000000; background-color: #fff5f5; padding: 7px" | ===Ongoing events=== • Iraqi legislative election, 2005
• Bill C-38 (Same-sex marriage in Canada)
• Humanitarian response to the 2004 Indian Ocean earthquake
===Upcoming events=== • March 11: Red Nose Day in the UK. ===Deaths in February=== • February 26 – Jef Raskin
• February 25 – Hugh Nibley
• February 25 – Peter Benenson
• February 21 – Guillermo Cabrera Infante
• February 21 – Dr. Gene Scott
• February 20 – Jimmy Young (boxer)
• February 20 – Hunter S. Thompson
• February 20 – Sandra Dee
• February 14 – Rafiq Hariri
• February 13 – Lúcia dos Santos
• February 10 – Arthur Miller
• February 5 – Gnassingbé Eyadéma
• February 4 – Ossie Davis
• February 3 – Ernst Mayr
• February 3 – Zurab Zhvania
• February 2 – Max Schmeling
* ''Recent deaths'' ===Ongoing armed conflicts=== • Arab-Israeli conflict (Al-Aqsa Intifada)
• Chechnya
• Second Congo War
• Conflict in Iraq Occupation of Iraq, 2003-2004
• Darfur conflict in Sudan
• Civil war in Côte d'Ivoire * ''List of recent wars#Ongoing wars'' === Upcoming holidays=== March 1: St. David's Day
March 3: Hinamatsuri
March 7: St. Eubulus Day
March 17: St. Patrick's Day
March 20: Palm Sunday
March 20: Earth Day
March 20: Vernal equinox
March 21: Norouz
March 21: World Poetry Day
March 22: World Water Day
March 25: Purim
March 25: Good Friday
March 26: Holy Saturday
March 27: Easter Sunday
March 28: Easter Monday
April 1: April Fool's Day
April 5: Qing Ming Jie
April 23: Passover
May 1: May Day
May 5: Cinco de mayo
=== Upcoming elections === February 10–April 21: Saudi Arabia municipal elections, 2005
February 27: Kyrgyz parliamentary elections, 2005
March 31: Zimbabwe parliamentary elections, 2005
May 17: British Columbia general election, 2005
June 17: Iranian presidential election, 2005
2005: United Kingdom general election, 2005
2005: New Zealand general election 2005
2005: Norwegian parliamentary election, 2005
* ''Electoral calendar'' === Election results in Feb.=== February 6: Thailand legislative election, 2005
February 8: Danish parliamentary election, 2005
February 20: Portuguese Parliament election, 2005 === Ongoing trials === Chile: Augusto Pinochet
International Criminal Tribunal for the Former Yugoslavia: Slobodan Milosevic
Iraq: Iraqi Special Tribunal
— Saddam Hussein, among others
India: Best Bakery case
India: Jayendra Saraswathi
Netherlands: Volkert van der Graaf
Netherlands: Mohammed Bouyeri
United States: Robert Blake (actor)
United States: Zacarias Moussaoui
United States: Charles Graner
United States: Michael Jackson
===Related pages=== Wikipedia:How the Current events page works
List of '2005 in' articles
Wikipedia:Announcements |} ==February 28, 2005== *Country Reports on Human Rights Practices released by the U.S. State Department [http://www.state.gov/g/rls/rm/2005/42793.htm (U.S. State Department)]. *Steve Fossett prepares to set off on his attempt to be the first person to circumnavigate the globe, without refuelling, in a jet-powered plane – the Virgin Atlantic GlobalFlyer. [http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/sci/tech/4304179.stm (BBC)] *At the Old Bailey, United Kingdom Saajid Badat pleads guilty to planning a suicide attack on a United States of America bound aircraft. Badat subsequently withdrew from the conspiracy, leaving fellow "shoe bomber" Richard Reid to act alone. [http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&u=/afp/20050228/ts_afp/britainattacksplane_050228122402 (AFP)] [http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/gloucestershire/4304223.stm (BBC)] *Following week-long public protests (in the wake of Rafik Hariri's assassination) and a no confidence vote, the entire government of Lebanon resigns. [http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/7023538/ MSNBC] [http://www.cnn.com/2005/WORLD/meast/02/28/lebanon.protests/index.html (CNN)] * Israeli-Palestinian conflict: ** Israeli security forces intercept a car bomb in the Araba village near Jenin. The 200 kg explosive device, believed to have been the work of Palestinian Islamic Jihad, is later defused by IDF sappers. [http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/spages/545673.html 1, (Haaretz)], [http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/spages/546182.html 2, (Haaretz)] ** The death toll from Tel Aviv suicide bombing rises to 5 as a woman dies of her injuries. Israel declares that no Palestinian Islamic Jihad members will be included in the list of 400 Palestinian prisoners that Israel plans to release in the coming months, and that Islamic Jihad's representative will be banned from traveling to Cairo on Tuesday for Cease-Fire Talks. [http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/spages/545673.html (Haaretz)] * A suicide car bomb explodes in the Iraqi town of Hilla, 60 kilometres south of Baghdad. 125 people are killed and many injured.[http://www.guardian.co.uk/Iraq/Story/0,2763,1427089,00.html (The Guardian)][http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/middle_east/4303629.stm (BBC)] * United Kingdom aid agency Oxfam states that atrocities still continue in Darfur [http://www.alertnet.org/thenews/newsdesk/L27449218.htm (Reuters AlertNet] [http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/africa/4303129.stm (BBC)] * People of Burundi vote on a new constitution [http://www.news24.com/News24/Africa/News/0,,2-11-1447_1668883,00.html (News24)] [http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/africa/4303283.stm (BBC)] * In Spain, police arrest Raffaele Amato, head of a mafia gang that has waged turf wars against other gangs in Naples, Italy. [http://edition.cnn.com/2005/WORLD/europe/02/27/italy.mafia.reut/ (CNN)] [http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/4303235.stm (BBC)] * Cannes police, investigating the November 2004 disappearance of Earl of Shaftesbury Anthony Ashley Cooper, 10th Earl of Shaftesbury, arrest his estranged wife Djamilia M'Barek. Her brother, Mohammed M'Barek, is arrested in Munich. [http://www.newcriminologist.co.uk/news.asp?id=-1013086121 (New Criminologist)] [http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/england/4302899.stm (BBC)] * In Haiti, police shoots at demonstrators who march in support of the former president Jean-Bertrand Aristide. Two deaths and several injuries are reported. Aristide left the country February 29 2004 [http://www.alertnet.org/thenews/newsdesk/N28288180.htm (Reuters)] [http://www.cbc.ca/storyview/MSN/world/national/2005/02/28/haiti050228.html (CBC)] [http://www.latimes.com/news/nationworld/world/la-fg-ushaiti1mar01,1,16424.story?coll=la-headlines-world&ctrack=1&cset=true (LATimes)] [http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/americas/4306493.stm (BBC)] * In Ukraine, ''Razom Nas Bahato, Nas Ne Podolaty'', a song that was written in support of the Orange Revolution that led Viktor Yushchenko to presidency, is selected as the country's entry in the Eurovision Song Contest. Band Greenjolly will present it. [http://eng.for-ua.com/news/?id=179 (Forum, Ukraine)] [http://www.doteurovision.com/phpnews/news.php?action=fullnews&id=635 (Doteurovision)] [http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/4304043.stm (BBC)] * Ukraine's government also trims the retirement benefits of the ex-president Leonid Kuchma [http://eng.for-ua.com/news/?id=177 (Forum)] [http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/4304755.stm (BBC)] * Police in Ukraine states that they have identified people who kidnapped and killed journalist Georgiy Gongadze in September 2000 [http://eng.for-ua.com/news/?id=175 (Forum)] [http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/4304133.stm (BBC)] * In Botswana, high court allows Australian professor Kenneth Good to remain in the country when he appeals against deportation. President Festus Mogae declared him an illegal immigrant when he criticized the government in a lecture [http://www.alertnet.org/thenews/newsdesk/IRIN/4d1231f0a547aaf98788011e0533f97b.htm (Reuters)] [http://www.sabcnews.com/africa/southern_africa/0,2172,98945,00.html (SABC)] [http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/africa/4304373.stm (BBC)] * In the Ivory Coast there are new clashes between rebels and government forces. United Nations peacekeepers try to intervene. Rebels state the that peace effort is now finished [http://www.reuters.co.za/locales/c_newsArticle.jsp;:42234aee:7b715a75793c68a?type=topNews&localeKey=en_ZA&storyID=7760507 (Reuters SA)] [http://www.reuters.com/newsArticle.jhtml?type=worldNews&storyID=7757372 (Reuters)] [http://www.sabcnews.com/africa/west_africa/0,2172,98957,00.html (SABC)] [http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/africa/4304745.stm (BBC)] * Bosnian muslim general Rasim Delic gives himself up for the International War Crimes Tribunal in The Hague, as he had promised earlier [http://www.fena.ba/uk/vijest.html?fena_id=FSA232709&rubrika=ES (FENA)] [http://www.reuters.com/newsArticle.jhtml?type=worldNews&storyID=7758133 (Reuters)] * Two leaders of separatism group the United Liberation Front of Asom (ULFA), spokesman Ruby Bhuyan and demolitions specialist Khagen Kachari, surrender to Indian police [http://in.rediff.com/news/2005/feb/28ulfa.htm (Rediff)] [http://www.ndtv.com/template/template.asp?template=Northeast&slug=ULFA+leader+Ruby+Bhuyan+surrenders&id=69248&callid=1 (NDTV)] * In Israel the Israel Defense Forces reports that those who tell recruiters that they play role playing games are automatically given low security clearance and are sent directly to a professional for an evaluation, usually a psychologist. [http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-3052074,00.html (Ynetnews)] ==February 27, 2005== * Syria is reported to have handed over Saddam Husseins' half-brother, Sabawi Ibrahim al-Hasan al-Tikriti, to the interim Iraqi government. [http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/middle_east/4303037.stm (BBC)] * The World Health Organization's Framework Convention on Tobacco Control becomes legally binding upon ratifying countries. [http://www.voanews.com/english/2005-02-27-voa6.cfm (VOA)] [http://health.dailynewscentral.net/content/view/000431/31/ (DNC)] * A small bomb explodes at a hotel in Villajoyosa, Spain, after a warning by the Basque separatist group ETA. No one is injured. [http://www.cnn.com/2005/WORLD/europe/02/27/spain.explosion.ap/ (CNN)] [http://www.eitb24.com/noticia_en.php?id=42286 (eitb24)] * Russia agrees to sell fuel to Iran for development of a nuclear reactor, stating that tough safeguards will be enacted to prevent any diversion to a nuclear weapons programme. [http://www.reuters.com/newsArticle.jhtml?type=topNews&storyID=7749443 (Reuters)] [http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/middle_east/4301889.stm (BBC)] * Sedgwick County District Attorney Nola Foulston denies reports that Dennis Rader has confessed to the BTK killings, calling whatever anonymous source the Associated Press has cited "unreliable." [http://www.kansas.com/mld/kansas/11009169.htm Wichita Eagle] * Indian divers have found more evidence of possible underwater ruins of a port city near the Tamil Nadu coast. The ruins were revealed after the 2004 Indian Ocean Earthquake. Archeological Survey of India connects them to the legendary city of Mahabalipuram [http://www.keralanext.com/news/indexread.asp?id=130943 (KeralaNext)] [http://newstodaynet.com/26FEB/RF14.HTM (News Today)] [http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/south_asia/4302115.stm (BBC)] * In Somalia, some cabinet ministers and warlords denounce government proposals to deploy foreign peacekeepers [http://www.news24.com/News24/Africa/News/0,,2-11-1447_1668605,00.html (News24)] [http://www.sudantribune.com/article.php3?id_article=8258 (Sudan Tribune)] [http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/africa/4302631.stm (BBC)] * In Togo, police clash with protesters who denounce selection of Abass Bonhof to replace Faure Gnassingbé as a interim president. Opposition protesters support former parliamentary speaker Fambare Ouattara Natchaba [http://www.alertnet.org/thenews/newsdesk/IRIN/4523b078c9a8e3cf872268ba27276e0b.htm (Reuters AlertNet)] [http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/africa/4303123.stm (BBC)] * In Japan, engineers finish blasting a 26.5 km (16.5 miles) long railway tunnel through a mountain in the Aomori prefecture. The tunnel is the longest in the world so far [http://www.japantoday.com/e/?content=news&cat=1&id=329127 (Japan Today)] [http://pacific.bizjournals.com/pacific/stories/2005/02/21/daily67.html (Pacific Business News)] [http://www.channelnewsasia.com/stories/afp_asiapacific/view/134693/1/.html (Channel News Asia)] [http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/asia-pacific/4302291.stm (BBC)] ==February 26, 2005== * For the first time in his 26-year papacy, Pope John Paul II, who is ill, will not bless the faithful at the weekly Angelus prayer service and will instead follow the service from his hospital room. [http://olympics.reuters.com/newsArticle.jhtml?type=topNews&storyID=7748114 (Reuters)], [http://www.telegraphindia.com/1050227/asp/foreign/story_4430844.asp (Calcutta Telegraph)], [http://www.guardian.co.uk/worldlatest/story/0,1280,-4828104,00.html (The Guardian)] *Israeli-Palestinian conflict: ** Israel's Defence Minister blames Syria for complicity in yesterday's suicide bombing in Tel Aviv which killed 4 people. Syria denies links to the bombing. Palestinian Islamic Jihad, from its headquarters in Damascus claims responsibility for the attack, stating it was designed to damage the Palestinian Authority for acting "''according to American interests''". [http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&u=/ap/syria_tel_aviv_bombing (AP)], [http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&u=/nm/mideast_dc (Reuters)] [http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?file=/chronicle/archive/2005/02/27/MNGI4BHMKE1.DTL (San Francisco Chronicle)] ** Israel demands the Palestinian Authority arrest the plotters of the attack and disarm Islamic Jihad and other militant groups by force. [http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&u=/ap/syria_tel_aviv_bombing (AP)], [http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&u=/nm/mideast_dc (Reuters)] *Wichita, Kansas police announce the arrest of the BTK killer. [http://www.cnn.com/2005/US/02/26/btk.investigation/index.html (CNN)] [http://www.kansas.com/mld/kansas/11000748.htm (Wichita Eagle)] [http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/americas/4301023.stm (The BBC)] *In a conference organized by the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization, officials urge changes to be made in how poultry are raised in Southeast Asia to prevent a bird flu pandemic. [http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/health/2002190836_birdflu26.html (Seattle Times)] [http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A54542-2005Feb25.html (Washington Post)] *Nepali soldiers kill at least a dozen Maoist rebels in Kailali district. [http://www.channelnewsasia.com/stories/afp_asiapacific/view/134578/1/.html (Channel News Asia)] [http://www.reuters.com/newsArticle.jhtml?type=worldNews&storyID=7746599 (Reuters)] *Canada Prime Minister Paul Martin announces that the United States must get permission first before launching missiles over Canadian airspace, after recently announcing Canada's non-involvement in the controversial US National Missile Defence plan. [http://www.canoe.ca/NewsStand/EdmontonSun/News/2005/02/26/943388-sun.html (Edmonton Sun)][http://www.theglobeandmail.com/servlet/story/RTGAM.20050225.wmiss0226/BNStory/National (Globe and Mail)] *Militia members ambush and kill 9 United Nations Bangladeshi peacekeeping in the Democratic Republic of Congo. [http://www.webindia123.com/news/showdetails.asp?id=69452&n_date=20050226&cat=world (WebIndia123)] [http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/2005-02/26/content_2622056.htm (Xinhua)] [http://www.latimes.com/news/nationworld/world/la-fg-congo26feb26,1,6482641.story?coll=la-headlines-world&ctrack=2&cset=true (LA Times)] *Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak calls for parliament to amend the constitution to allow for direct, secret elections for the next president. [http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=10000087&sid=aFlEwAfrotTk&refer=top_world_news (Bloomberg)] [http://www.khaleejtimes.com/DisplayArticle.asp?xfile=data/middleeast/2005/February/middleeast_February705.xml§ion=middleeast (Khaleej Times)] [http://www.japantoday.com/e/?content=news&cat=8&id=329092 (Japan Today)] *President Faure Gnassingbé of Togo announces that he will be stepping down from his position, after sanctions imposed by ECOWAS. [http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/2005-02/26/content_2622258.htm (Xinhua)] [http://www.reuters.com/newsArticle.jhtml?type=worldNews&storyID=7746487 (Reuters)] *France Minister of the Economy, Finance and Industry (France) Hervé Gaymard resigns after an report surfaces about his expensive state-paid apartment. [http://www.boston.com/news/world/europe/articles/2005/02/26/finance_minister_in_france_quits_admitting_error_in_judgment/ (Boston Globe)] [http://www.guardian.co.uk/france/story/0,11882,1425854,00.html (Guardian)] [http://abcnews.go.com/International/wireStory?id=531568 (ABC)] ==February 25 2005== * A suicide bomber explodes himself at the entrance of the "Stage" club in Tel Aviv, killing at least 4 Israelis and wounding 38 more. Responsibility is reportedly claimed by Palestinian Islamic Jihad. [http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/spages/545139.html (Haaretz)] [http://edition.cnn.com/2005/WORLD/meast/02/25/telaviv.explosion/index.html (CNN)] * At Amsterdam's Schiphol airport an armoured car is hijacked on the cargo ramp. Unconfirmed reports say that it contained diamonds and other gems worth at least 75 million euros (US$99 million). The vehicle was later recovered in the nearby town of Hoofddorp. [http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/europe/4298991.stm (BBC)], [http://news.scotsman.com/latest.cfm?id=4179964 (Scotsman)]. * Three United Kingdom soldiers convicted earlier this week of abusing Iraqi prisoners are jailed for periods between five months and two years, and dismissed from the army. [http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/4296511.stm (BBC)]. * Human Rights Watch states that tough methods of Thailand leader Thaksin Shinawatra in the south of the country may serve to invite more trouble [http://www.alertnet.org/thenews/newsdesk/BKK160410.htm (Reuters Alertnet)] [http://www.bangkokpost.com/News/25Feb2005_news03.php (Bangkok Post)] [http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/asia-pacific/4294343.stm (BBC)] * Vice President of Indonesia, Jusuf Kalla, states that he was pleased with the progress of talks with Free Aceh Movement in Finland. Government still opposes independence [http://www.thejakartapost.com/detailheadlines.asp?fileid=20050225.A01&irec=3 (Jakarta Post)] [http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/asia-pacific/4293791.stm (BBC)] * In Ecuador, José Gallardo, a former defence minister, is arrested accused of misusing public funds to secretly purchase outdated weapons [http://www.alertnet.org/thenews/newsdesk/N24705032.htm (Reuters AlertNet)] [http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/americas/4296201.stm (BBC)] * King Gyanendra of Nepal asks for foreign help to crush Communist Party of Nepal insurgents. He says that he dismissed the elected government to fight terrorism and will return to democracy in three years. Many foreign countries have stopped all aid after his takeover [http://www.channelnewsasia.com/stories/afp_asiapacific/view/134301/1/.html (Channel News Asia)] [http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=10000080&sid=aCFVS4_GTlPI&refer=asia (Bloomberg)] [http://news.newkerala.com/india-news/?action=fullnews&id=77638 (New Kerala)] * In Switzerland, the court of appeals rules that Yeslam Binladin, a half-brother of Osama bin Laden, can market products under the brand name ''Bin Ladin'' [http://www.swissinfo.org/sen/swissinfo.html?siteSect=107&sid=5561187 (SwissInfo)] ==February 24 2005== * In Somalia, thousands greet Abdullahi Yusuf Ahmed and Mohammed Ali Ghedi, leaders of the government in exile Somalian government, when they begin a week-long tour in the country. They lead a delegation that studies a possibility to finally relocate the government from Kenya to Somalia [http://www.alertnet.org/thenews/newsdesk/IRIN/69b83eb1624891ff79f4790943c3a049.htm (Reuters AlertNet)] [http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/africa/4293359.stm (BBC)] *The Anglican Churches of North America – the Episcopal Church in the United States of America in the United States and the Anglican Church of Canada – are asked to voluntarily withdraw their members from the Anglican Consultative Council until after the next Lambeth Conference in 2008. This is viewed as an ultimatum to the churches to bring their policies into line with the worldwide Anglican Communion, following the ordination of the Gene Robinson in New Hampshire and the blessing of same-sex unions by the Canadian church, and presages a schism if they do not comply. [http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/4296373.stm (BBC)] *In Taiwan, Chen Shui-bian and People First Party Chairman James Soong meet for the first time in four years. They issue a joint 10-point declaration emphasizing their agreement on preserving the "status quo" in Taiwan Strait Political status of Taiwan. [http://www.alertnet.org/thenews/newsdesk/TP243766.htm (Reuters)] [http://english.www.gov.tw/index.jsp?id=11&recid=103953&viewdate=0 (United Evening News)] *The People's Republic of China objects to former United States President of the United States Bill Clinton's plan to visit Taiwan and meet with the Republic of China President of the Republic of China Chen Shui-bian. [http://www.voanews.com/english/2005-02-24-voa16.cfm (VOA)] *Pope John Paul II returns to hospital in Rome for more specialist treatments and tests. [http://www.ansa.it/main/notizie/fdg/200502241141188480/200502241141188480.html (ANSA)]. Doctors decided to carry out a tracheotomy, which was performed successfully.[http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/europe/4296035.stm] *Canada Prime Minister of Canada Paul Martin tells the United States ambassador to Canada that he will say "no" to the US' proposed National_Missile_Defense. [http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/2005-02/24/content_2613106.htm (Xinhua)] [http://www.cnn.com/2005/TECH/02/23/canada.us.missile.defense.ap/ (CNN)] [http://www.ctv.ca/servlet/ArticleNews/story/CTVNews/1109178137996_104587337/?hub=CTVNewsAt11 (CTV)] [http://olympics.reuters.com/newsArticle.jhtml?type=domesticNews&storyID=7717404 (Reuters)] * Slovakia Summit 2005 between U.S. President George W. Bush and Russian President Vladimir Putin begins in Bratislava. ([http://www.slovakspectator.sk/rubrika-2005007-spect_special.html Slovak Spectator]) * In Colombia, there is a ceremony to mark the three-year anniversary of the capture of Ingrid Betancourt, former Colombian presidential candidate who is still a Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia hostage. She was captured February 2002. Her relatives are pressing government to make a prisoner swap for her and other hostages. [http://www.newsday.com/news/nationworld/world/wire/sns-ap-france-colombia-betancourt,0,907598.story?coll=sns-ap-world-headlines (Newsday)] [http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/americas/4293075.stm (BBC)] * Colombian supreme court authorizes the extradition of drug dealer Miguel Rodriguez Orejuela to the USA [http://www.alertnet.org/thenews/newsdesk/N23630343.htm (Reuters Alertnet)] [http://www.voanews.com/english/2005-02-23-voa68.cfm (VOA)] [http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/americas/4292849.stm (BBC)] * In Sudan, an ammunition depot explodes near the town of Juba - at least 18 are dead and the toll continues to rise [http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/africa/4291747.stm (BBC)] [http://abcnews.go.com/International/wireStory?id=525378 (ABC)] * In Mexico, the supreme court rules that former President Luis Echeverría cannot be tried for genocide because of 30-year statute of limitations. Echeverría was accused of genocide because he ordered an attack on protesting students in 1971, resulting in 40 deaths. [http://www.reuters.com/newsArticle.jhtml?type=worldNews&storyID=7719750 (Reuters)] [http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/americas/4292925.stm (BBC)] * Foreign Minister of Burma/Myanmar Nyan Win visits Bangladesh to discuss with Shamsher M Chowdhury about a direct road link between the countries and repatriation of Burmese refugees [http://www.mizzima.com/archives/news-in-2005/news-in-feb/23-February 05-29.htm (Mizzima)] [http://www.financialexpress-bd.com/index3.asp?cnd=2/24/2005§ion_id=2&newsid=13423&spcl=no (Financial Express, Bangladesh)] [http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/asia-pacific/4293059.stm (BBC)] * Ebert Anibal Rivera, alleged head of a Mara Salvatrucha gang that killed 28 bus passengers in Honduras last December 23, is arrested in Texas. Honduras intends to request extradition if Texas authorities do not file charges. [http://www.reuters.com/newsArticle.jhtml?type=domesticNews&storyID=7717278 (Reuters)] [http://www.chron.com/cs/CDA/ssistory.mpl/world/3054650 (Houston Chronicle)] [http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/americas/4293041.stm (BBC)] * Italy court orders Diego Maradona to pay 30 million euros of back taxes (equal to US$39.6 million) [http://www.sportinglife.com/football/overseas/italy/news/story_get.dor?STORY_NAME=international_feed/05/02/23/SOCCER_Ita-Maradona.html&TEAMHD=italy (Sporting Life)] [http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/4292641.stm (BBC)] * New European Union laws declare lottery scams illegal [http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/4293117.stm (BBC)] * The parliament of Turkey grants amnesty to 677,000 people who have been expelled from university in recent years [http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/4292771.stm (BBC)] * In Kyrgyzstan, thousands of people protest in support of opposition politicians who were barred from elections [http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/asia-pacific/4292793.stm (BBC)] * France Finance Minister Hervé Gaymard faces increasing pressure to resign. He has been criticized due to the luxury apartment where he lives at the state's expense, although he has promised to move elsewhere. [http://today.reuters.co.uk/news/newsArticle.aspx?type=worldNews&storyID=2005-02-24T074949Z_01_ZWE428123_RTRUKOC_0_FRANCE-MINISTER.xml (Reuters)] [http://news.ft.com/cms/s/61c30772-860a-11d9-b506-00000e2511c8.html (Financial Times)] ==February 23 2005== * President George W. Bush's second term as President of the United States arrives in Slovakia for the Slovakia Summit 2005, becoming the first sitting U.S. President to visit Slovakia. ([http://reuters.com/newsArticle.jhtml;jsessionid=JV2NEPDHEINKICRBAEZSFFA?type=topNews&storyID=7719193 Reuters]) * Three Britain soldiers are found guilty of abusing Iraq prisoners; more British soldiers face the possibility of conviction. [http://www.reuters.com/newsArticle.jhtml?type=worldNews&storyID=7715116 (Reuters)] [http://www.guardian.co.uk/Iraq/Story/0,2763,1424058,00.html (Guardian)] [http://www.cbc.ca/story/world/national/2005/02/23/iraq-abuse050223.html (CBC)] * Bhutan bans smoking in public places [http://www.keralanext.com/news/indexread.asp?id=124875 (Kerala Next)] [http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/south_asia/4287331.stm (BBC)] * In Sri Lanka, Tamil Tigers warn that the truce with the government is under threat after the killing of one of their leaders, E Kaushalyan. The ceasefire has lasted for four years. [http://www.alertnet.org/thenews/newsdesk/COL74961.htm (Reuters Alertnet)] [http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=10000080&sid=aDpaq27kxoGY&refer=asia (Bloomberg)] [http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/south_asia/4287661.stm (BBC)] * Pakistan's supreme court refuses a government request to withdraw a corruption case against minister Faisal Saleh Hayat. [http://www.keralanext.com/news/indexread.asp?id=125075 (KeralaNext)] [http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/south_asia/4287327.stm (BBC)] * Rasim Delic, former commander of the Bosnian army in Bosnia during the Yugoslav Wars, announces he will hand himself over to the International_Criminal_Tribunal_for_the_Former_Yugoslavia. He stands accused of war crimes against ethnic Serbs [http://olympics.reuters.com/newsArticle.jhtml?type=worldNews&storyID=7705651 (Reuters)] [http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/4289145.stm (BBC)] * In Italy, Andrea Volpe, leader of the Beasts of Satan rock group, is sentenced to 30 years in prison for three murders. Another member Pietro Guerrieri receives 16 years, while a third member is acquitted [http://today.reuters.com/news/newsArticle.aspx?type=musicNews&storyID=2005-02-22T180140Z_01_L22284494_RTRIDST_0_MUSIC-CRIME-ITALY-SATAN-DC.XML (Reuters)] [http://www.agi.it/english/news.pl?doc=200502221851-1217-RT1-CRO-0-NF11&page=0&id=agionline-eng.oggitalia (AGI)] [http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/4287995.stm (BBC)] * Exiled Cuban writer Guillermo Cabrera Infante dies in London [http://www.reuters.com/newsArticle.jhtml?type=peopleNews&storyID=7693378 (Reuters)] [http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/entertainment/4287029.stm (BBC)] * South African archbishop Desmond Tutu launches a campaign to require governments to register all children at birth [http://www.reuters.com/newsArticle.jhtml?type=healthNews&storyID=7703538 (Reuters)] [http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/africa/4289393.stm (BBC)] * Interpol announces a stern warning that the threat of a bioterror attack still exists. [http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/4289485.stm (BBC)] [http://www.interpol.int/Public/BioTerrorism/default.asp (Interpol)] * World Health Organization warns that there is a potential threat of a bird flu pandemic [http://olympics.reuters.com/newsArticle.jhtml?type=topNews&storyID=7695500 (Reuters)] [http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/asia-pacific/4289637.stm (BBC)] [http://edition.cnn.com/2005/HEALTH/conditions/02/22/bird.flu.asia/ (CNN)] [http://www.voanews.com/english/2005-02-23-voa18.cfm (VOA)] ==February 22 2005== * Images relayed by the European space probe, Mars_Express_Orbiter, reveal the existence of a sea of ice close to the equator of Mars (planet). The discovery is considered to increase the likelihood of exobiology currently existing on the planet. [http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/sci/tech/4285119.stm BBC] [http://www.theglobeandmail.com/servlet/story/RTGAM.20050222.wmarz0222/BNStory/specialScienceandHealth/ (Globe and Mail)] * Israel names former Israeli Air Force commander Major General Dan Halutz as the new Chief of Staff of the Israeli Defence Forces. He will replace General Moshe Ya'alon at the beginning of July. [http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/spages/543551.html (Haaretz)] * An earthquake, registering 6.4 on the Richter magnitude scale, strikes the city of Zarand and several villages in Iran at 02:25 UTC, leaving at least 546 dead. (''see'' 2005 Zarand earthquake).[http://www.cbc.ca/story/world/national/2005/02/22/inewran-quake-050222.html (CBC)] * Switzerland medical company Novartis buys US company Eon Labs and German Hexal AG, increasing its share in the generic medical drugs market [http://www.busrep.co.za/index.php?fSectionId=&fArticleId=2419333 (Business Report)] [http://news.independent.co.uk/business/news/story.jsp?story=613517 (Independent)] [http://www.swissinfo.org/sen/swissinfo.html?siteSect=107&sid=5552697 (SwissInfo)] * The World Food Program states that it has only 70 000 tons of food left for Eritrea food aid until June. Reason given is the concentration of aid to areas that suffered from 2004 Indian Ocean Earthquake [http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/africa/4284837.stm (BBC)] * European Union countries renew sanctions against the government of Robert Mugabe in Zimbabwe [http://today.reuters.co.uk/news/newsArticle.aspx?type=topNews&storyID=2005-02-21T133223Z_01_CHA146479_RTRUKOC_0_ZIMBABWE-EU.xml (Reuters)] [http://www.zimobserver.com/newsdetail.asp?article_id=1009 (Zim Observer)] [http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/africa/4284689.stm (BBC)] * In Nigeria, President Olusegun Obasanjo opens a national political conference about constitutional reform [http://www.alertnet.org/thenews/newsdesk/IRIN/7736a0b214fc5f889182858479d1797c.htm (Reuters Alertnet)] [http://allafrica.com/stories/200502210349.html (AllAfrica)] [http://www.irinnews.org/report.asp?ReportID=45666&SelectRegion=West_Africa (IRIN)] [http://nigeriaworld.com/feature/publication/arowolaju/022005.html (Nigeria World)] [http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/africa/4283245.stm (BBC)] * In Togo, the National Assembly reverses constitutional changes that allowed Faure Gnassingbé to become president [http://www.alertnet.org/thenews/newsdesk/IRIN/8d9651e418b5bbfcf38fb38e2ed2d683.htm (Reuters Alertnet)] [http://www.iol.co.za/index.php?click_id=68&art_id=qw1108989366136B232&set_id= (IOL)] [http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/africa/4283467.stm (BBC)] * North Korea hints that it may be willing to return to nuclear negotiations under unspecified conditions [http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=10000087&sid=ak3TORUUZXOM&refer=top_world_news (Bloomberg)] [http://english.chosun.com/w21data/html/news/200502/200502220009.html (Chosun Ilbo)] [http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/asia-pacific/4285859.stm (BBC)] * In Bolivia, former president Gonzalo Sánchez de Lozada and his cabinet are formally charged with genocide. The charge is related to deaths of 60 people who protested against government plans to export natural gas [http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/americas/4285803.stm (BBC)] * Japanese cabinet is considering whether to announce Princess Aiko as the next in line to the Japanese throne [http://www.japantoday.com/e/?content=news&cat=9&id=328513 (Japan Today)] [http://www.channelnewsasia.com/stories/afp_asiapacific/view/132555/1/.html (Channel News Asia)] [http://today.reuters.co.uk/News/newsArticle.aspx?type=worldNews&storyID=2005-02-22T061526Z_01_HOL208902_RTRUKOC_0_JAPAN-ROYAL-SUCCESSION.xml (Reuters)] ==February 21 2005== * A landslide in Indonesia kills at least seven people and hundreds are reported missing [http://www.channelnewsasia.com/stories/afp_asiapacific/view/133572/1/.html (Channel News Asia)] [http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/asia-pacific/4283003.stm (BBC)] * Venezuelan President Hugo Chávez says that he suspects that the USA intends to kill him, and that he would stop oil exports to the USA in the event of an assassination attempt. [http://abcnews.go.com/International/wireStory?id=517469 (ABC)] [http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/national/aplatin_story.asp?category=1102&slug=Venezuela%20US (Seattle Post-Intelligencer)] [http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/americas/4282603.stm (BBC)] * Former United States Presidents Bill Clinton and George H. W. Bush visit Sri Lanka to see marks of the 2004 Indian Ocean Earthquake [http://www.reuters.com/newsArticle.jhtml?type=politicsNews&storyID=7684438 (Reuters)] [http://www.channelnewsasia.com/stories/afp_asiapacific/view/133577/1/.html (Channel News Asia)] [http://wireservice.wired.com/wired/story.asp?section=Breaking&storyId=993704&tw=wn_wire_story (Wired)] * Airport authorities evacuate the Virgin Blue terminal in Melbourne airport in Australia after 45 people become ill. A chemical leak is suspected. [http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=10000081&sid=asGQGwy12GDg&refer=australia (Bloomberg)] [http://www.abc.net.au/worldtoday/content/2005/s1307511.htm (ABC)] [http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/asia-pacific/4283045.stm (BBC)] * Syrian President Bashar al-Assad appoints his brother-in-law Asef Shawkat as head of the country's military intelligence service, replacing Hassan Khalil.[http://www.alertnet.org/thenews/newsdesk/L18679258.htm (Reuters Alertnet)] [http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/middle_east/4277595.stm (BBC)] * Curfew is imposed on the Indian city of Lucknow after sectarian violence between Sunni and Shia Muslims. 3 people are dead and 20 injured [http://news.newkerala.com/india-news/?action=fullnews&id=75223 (New Kerala)] [http://www.indianexpress.com/full_story.php?content_id=65110 (Indian Express)] [http://www.reuters.com/newsArticle.jhtml?storyID=7685235&type=topNews (Reuters)] [http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/south_asia/4283157.stm (BBC)] * A new avalanche claims at least 42 lives in Kashmir. A previous avalanche was on February 6 [http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/articleshow/1026817.cms (Times of India)] [http://www.reuters.com/newsArticle.jhtml?storyID=7681042&type=topNews (Reuters)] [http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/south_asia/4282241.stm (BBC)] * The United Kingdom's Royal Navy announces that it will allow same-sex couples live in family quarters if they are in registered partnership [http://news.scotsman.com/uk.cfm?id=194672005 (Scotsman)] [http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/4282175.stm (BBC)] * Israeli-Palestinian conflict: ** Israel releases 500 Palestinian prisoners, as a gesture of goodwill to the Palestinian Authority and to its chairman, Mahmoud Abbas. Israel plans to release another 400 Palestinian prisoners within the next 3 months. [http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/spages/542638.html (Haaretz)] * Cuban novelist, essayist, translator and critic Guillermo Cabrera Infante dies in London. ''[Newslink missing]'' ==February 20 2005== * American author and journalist Hunter S. Thompson is found dead in his Aspen, Colorado home, the result of an apparent suicide. [http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/entertainment/arts/4282865.stm (BBC)] [http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=10000103&sid=aufWFanttF00&refer=us (Bloomberg)] [http://edition.cnn.com/2005/SHOWBIZ/books/02/21/thompson.obit/ (CNN)] * The United States and Japan release a joint statement which says that easing tensions in the Taiwan Strait is among their "common strategic objectives". The statement is welcomed by the government of Republic of China, but is condemned by People's Republic of China. [http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/2005-02/20/content_2596290.htm (Xinhua)] [http://www.reuters.com/newsArticle.jhtml?type=politicsNews&storyID=7679773 (Reuters)] [http://www.nytimes.com/2005/02/21/international/asia/21china.html (NY Times)] * United Nations United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees Ruud Lubbers resigns over allegations of sexual harassment, while continuing to deny them. [http://www.voanews.com/english/2005-02-20-voa27.cfm (VOA)] * In Europe's first national Spanish referendum on the Treaty establishing a Constitution for Europe on the proposed Treaty establishing a Constitution for Europe, the people of Spain vote to endorse the Treaty by a landslide 76.73% to 17.24%. However, turnout is an extremely low 42.32%, even after both the government and the main opposition party campaigned for a "yes" vote. [http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/4280841.stm (BBC)] [http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&cid=574&ncid=721&e=4&u=/nm/20050220/wl_nm/eu_constitution_spain_dc (Reuters)] [http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=10000085&sid=aGYx9IJZMcKM&refer=europe (Bloomberg)] [http://www.euobserver.com/?sid=9&aid=18452 (EUobserver)] [http://www.euractiv.com/Article?tcmuri=tcm:29-135727-16&type=News (EurActiv)] [http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/4280841.stm (BBC)] * Irish Minister for Justice Michael McDowell directly accuses Sinn Féin leader Gerry Adams as well as Martin McGuinness (both elected Member of Parliaments) and Martin Ferris TD (parliament) of being on the Provisional IRA IRA Army Council, the first such direct accusation from the Irish Government. Irish Taoiseach Bertie Ahern meanwhile has said he does not know the make-up of the Council. [http://212.2.162.45/news/story.asp?j=134311558&p=y343yzz64&n=134312318 (Ireland Online)][http://www.rte.ie/news/2005/0220/northpolitics.html (RTÉ)] * According to official results, the opposition Socialist party secures an absolute majority at the Portuguese Parliament election, 2005. [http://edition.cnn.com/2005/WORLD/europe/02/20/portugal.election.ap/index.html (CNN International)] [http://abcnews.go.com/International/wireStory?id=517704 (ABC)] * The Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus votes in its early Northern_Cyprus_Parliamentary_Election%2C_2005. The election was called by President Rauf Denktash after the coalition led by Mehmet Ali Talat finally lost its parliamentary majority. [http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/4277671.stm (BBC)], [http://www.dw-world.de/dw/article/0,1564,1492636,00.html (DW)] * United States of America and European Union join the protests against Faure Gnassingbé of Togo. ECOWAS imposes sanctions and suspends Togo's membership in the organization and USA does not accept his rule as legitimate and ends all military assistance [http://www.alertnet.org/thenews/newsdesk/L20677821.htm (Reuters AlertNet)] [http://www.news24.com/News24/Africa/News/0,,2-11-1447_1665059,00.html (News24)] [http://www.ghanaweb.com/GhanaHomePage/NewsArchive/artikel.php?ID=75730 (GhanaWeb)] [http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/africa/4281559.stm (BBC)] ==February 19 2005== * 350 inmates escape from a prison in Port-au-Prince, Haiti. [http://www.cnn.com/2005/WORLD/americas/02/19/haiti.prison.break/ (CNN)] *A massive demonstration in Rome asks for the release of an Italy journalist abducted in Iraq. [http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&cid=540&e=8&u=/ap/20050219/ap_on_re_mi_ea/italy_iraq_hostage_1 (AP via Yahoo!)] * Former President of the United States George H. W. Bush and Bill Clinton toured parts of Thailand that were ravaged by the 2004 Indian Ocean earthquake. ''[Newslink missing]'' *An earthquake, registering 6.9 on the Richter scale, strikes South East Sulawesi, Indonesia at 00:04 UTC. [http://olympics.reuters.com/newsArticle.jhtml?type=worldNews&storyID=7679605 (Reuters)] *Former US President Jimmy Carter is on hand to christen the USS Jimmy Carter, the last of the Seawolf class submarines ordered during the Cold War. The submarine cost 3.2 billion USD. It has a 100 foot (30.5 m) extension for special operations and can reportedly tap undersea cables. [http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&cid=514&e=5&u=/ap/20050219/ap_on_re_us/uss_jimmy_carter (AP via Yahoo!)] * In a 13 hour operation, doctors in Egypt successfully remove the second head of a baby suffering from the rare disease craniopagus parasiticus. This is the second such operation to take place in a year. The previous operation, in the Dominican Republic, was not successful and resulted in death. [http://www.reuters.com/newsArticle.jhtml?type=scienceNews&storyID=7679867 (Reuters)] * The UN Secretary General, Kofi Annan, is sending a team of experts to Lebanon to investigate the killing of the former prime minister, Rafik Hariri. [http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/middle_east/4279593.stm (BBC)] * Northern Bank robbery investigation: **PSNI in Northern Ireland confirm that £50,000 in unused Northern Banknotes found at Newforge Country Club, a facility for off-duty and retired police officers, was part of the £26 million stolen in the bank robbery. Police still consider it a diversion. [http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/northern_ireland/4280713.stm (BBC)] ** Gardaí in Cork receive £175,000 from a local businessman, who said he had been asked to keep it. [http://news.independent.co.uk/uk/ulster/story.jsp?story=612525 (Independent)] ==February 18 2005== * It is discovered that the tsunami resulting from the 2004 Indian Ocean earthquake uncovered an ancient city near the coast of Mahabalipuram in India. [http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&cid=624&ncid=624&e=3&u=/ap/20050218/ap_on_sc/tsunami_sea_temple (AP via Yahoo!)] * A number of blasts hit Shi'a Islam mosques in Baghdad, Iraq, leaving at least 27 dead and 60 wounded on day before the Shi'a holy festival of Aashurah. [http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/middle_east/4276367.stm (BBC News)] [http://www.cnn.com/2005/WORLD/meast/02/18/iraq.main/index.html (CNN)] * An Iraqi rebel group calling itself the Army of Warriors claims responsibility for the kidnapping of two Indonesia journalists. The journalists had been last seen near Ramadi in central Iraq three days ago. [http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/middle_east/4275849.stm (BBC)] [http://english.aljazeera.net/NR/exeres/80E2DC58-9589-4526-965C-CFDF14855CBC.htm (Al Jazeera)] * Northern Bank robbery investigation: ** Police Service of Northern Ireland in Northern Ireland recover an undisclosed sum of money at a sports and social club in Belfast. It is thought to perhaps be a diversion, but it is being investigated. [http://www.sky.com/skynews/article/0,,30000-13300915,00.html (Sky News)] ** A top Ireland businessman and associate of the Taoiseach, Phil Flynn, steps down from a number of positions pending the outcome of a An Garda Síochána investigation into Chesterton Finance, of which he is a non-executive director. £2.3 in mixed pound sterling notes are found at the house of the company's director Ted Cunningham. Phil Flynn steps down as chairman of a government body overseeing decentralisation, as well as a member of the board of Voluntary Health Insurance and as chairman of the Bank of Scotland (Ireland). [http://breakingnews.iol.ie/news/story.asp?j=134142824&p=y34y4353x&n=134143584 (Ireland Online)] [http://politics.guardian.co.uk/northernirelandassembly/story/0,9061,1418065,00.html (Guardian)] ** A man was arrested by An Garda Síochána in the town of Passage West in Cork, Ireland, after he was discovered attempting to burn Pound Sterling bank notes. [http://212.2.162.45/news/story.asp?j=110192460&p=yyxy93x4x&n=110193069 (Ireland Online)] ** An Garda Síochána release two men who were being questioned in Dublin, as well as a Sinn Féin member in Cork. A suspected Real Irish Republican Army member arrested at Heuston Station is remanded in custody, as are four people arrested in Farran in Cork. [http://www.rte.ie/news/2005/0218/cork.html (RTÉ)] **Sinn Féin leader Gerry Adams again denies any involvement on the part of his party with money laundering in the country. The Ireland Irish Government Irish Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform Michael McDowell describes the Irish Republican Army as a colossal crime machine laundering huge sums of money. [http://www.rte.ie/news/2005/0218/corkreax.html (RTÉ)] * The United Kingdom Food Standards Agency orders the withdrawal of over 350 food products from sale following the discovery that a batch of chile pepper chili powder used to produce a batch of Worcestershire sauce subsequently used to produce processed foods was contaminated with the possibly carcinogenic dye Sudan I. The problem was first identified with food products tested in Italy. [http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/health/4277677.stm (BBC)] [http://www.food.gov.uk/safereating/sudani/sudanlist (FSA: List of Withdrawn Products)]. * Telephone connections in Nepal are severed again, on Nepal's National Day. Authorities continue to arrest opposition figures who had planned demonstrations against the new Politics of Nepal of Kings of Nepal Gyanendra of Nepal. [http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/articleshow/1024654.cms (Times of India)] [http://www.alertnet.org/thenews/newsdesk/DEL301571.htm (Reuters)] [http://news.scotsman.com/latest.cfm?id=4147861 (Scotsman)] [http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/south_asia/4275843.stm (BBC)] * In the United Kingdom, the Hunting Act 2004, the ban on hunting with dogs, comes into force. Its opponents intend to challenge the law and hunt. [http://www.politics.co.uk/domestic-policy/country-gears-up-hunting-ban-$7823663.htm (Politics.co.uk)] [http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/politics/4275753.stm (BBC)] [http://today.reuters.co.uk/news/newsArticle.aspx?type=topNews&storyID=2005-02-18T013540Z_01_HOP615052_RTRUKOC_0_BRITAIN-HUNTING-THURS.xml (Reuters)] * U.S. invasion of Afghanistan: The American Civil Liberties Union releases documents obtained from the United States Army alleging the destruction of photographs documenting the army's Abu Ghraib torture and prisoner abuse of Abu Ghraib prison in Afghanistan, following the exposure of the Abu Ghraib scandal. ([http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story2&u=/ap/20050218/ap_on_go_ca_st_pe/afghan_abuse AP]). * Sir Mark Thatcher returns to court in Cape Town, South Africa, to answer charges about his involvement in a coup d'état attempt in Equatorial Guinea. [http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/africa/4275785.stm (BBC)] [http://iafrica.com/news/sa/576126.htm (IAfrica)] * The 42nd known Mersenne prime is discovered by Martin Nowak of Germany, a participant of the Great Internet Mersenne Prime Search distributed computing List of distributed computing projects. The prime number is the largest known Mersenne prime at the time of its discovery, and is nearly eight million digits long. [http://www.mersenne.org/ (GIMPS)] ==February 17 2005== * A car bomb explodes in southern Thailand near the Marina Hotel in Sungai Kolok, a popular tourist town close to the Malaysian border. Five people are killed and more than 40 injured. The car bomb is believed to be the first to explode in the Muslim dominated region. [http://news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&u=/ap/20050217/ap_on_re_as/thailand_violence (Yahoo!)] [http://www.boston.com/news/world/asia/articles/2005/02/17/car_bomb_kills_5_injures_40_in_thai_tourist_town/ (Boston Globe)] [http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/asia-pacific/4274169.stm (BBC)] * Ireland An Garda Síochána arrest four people in Cork and three in Dublin in raids concentrating on the financing of the Provisional Irish Republican Army. Over 2.3 million Pound sterling were seized in Cork, and £60,000 in Northern Bank notes believed to be from the Northern Bank robbery in Belfast just before Christmas. Reportedly, among the people arrested are former Sinn Féin councillor Tom Hanlon and someone working in the banking industry. [http://www.rte.ie/news/2005/0217/cork.html (RTE)] [http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/northern_ireland/4274611.stm (BBC)] [http://news.scotsman.com/latest.cfm?id=4171334 (Scotsman)]. * Cyclone Olaf passes Samoa and American Samoa largely without incident. No deaths or injuries on land are reported, but two fishermen are unaccounted for and are feared dead. [http://www.usatoday.com/weather/hurricane/2005-02-17-thurs-cyclone_x.htm (USA Today)] * Japan's Chubu Centrair International Airport opens on Ise Bay, south of Nagoya. Built on an artificial island, the airport is Japan's third largest international passenger airport, and is intended to replace nearby Nagoya Airport. [http://www.yomiuri.co.jp/newse/20050217wo62.htm (Daily Yomiuri)] [http://home.kyodo.co.jp/all/display.jsp?an=20050217001 (Kyodo News)] * The European Union introduces new laws that increase the rights of air passengers so that they receive higher compensation for overbooking, delays and cancellation of flights. [http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/business/4267095.stm (BBC)] [http://www.forbes.com/infoimaging/feeds/ap/2005/02/16/ap1831791.html (Forbes)] [http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=10000100&sid=aQY0i0Ow42_E&refer=germany (Bloomberg)] * The BNFL nuclear plant at Sellafield, in the United Kingdom, reports that 30 kg (66 lb) of plutonium is "unaccounted for". This amount of missing plutonium would be sufficient to make seven nuclear weapon. The United Kingdom Atomic Energy Authority states that the discrepancy in the record keeping is merely an auditing issue, and that there was no "real loss" of plutonium. [http://www.itv.com/news/index_1355711.html (ITV)] [http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/4272691.stm (BBC)] [http://www.timesonline.co.uk/article/0,,2-1488564,00.html (The Times)] * The Politics of Myanmar of Burma/Myanmar reopens constitutional talks but there is widespread criticism that the approximately 1,000 delegates, selected by the Military of Myanmar, form an unrepresentative group. They do not include main opposition group National League for Democracy and its leader Aung San Suu Kyi. [http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=10000080&sid=aGFsqT9kVqi8&refer=asia (Bloomberg)] [http://english.dvb.no/news.php?id=4076 (DVB)] [http://www.reuters.com/newsArticle.jhtml?storyID=7655502&type=worldNews (Reuters)] [http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/asia-pacific/4272759.stm (BBC)] [http://www.mizzima.com/archives/news-in-2005/news-in-feb/16-February%2005-16.htm (Mizzima News)] * In Ecuador, there are mass rallies for and against the Politics of Ecuador of Lucio Gutiérrez. His opponents accuse him of using heavy handed tactics to remove his political opponents. [http://www.reuters.com/newsArticle.jhtml?type=worldNews&storyID=7652943 (Reuters)] [http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/americas/4272647.stm (BBC)] * President of the United States George W. Bush names John Negroponte as his nominee to be the first United States United States Director of National Intelligence. [http://www.reuters.com/newsArticle.jhtml?type=domesticNews&storyID=7662732 (Reuters)] * Exiled Bangladeshi author Taslima Nasrin, currently living in Sweden, is seeking Indian citizenship. Conservative Muslims of Bangladesh have deemed her works blasphemy and have called for her execution. Nasreen states her wish to live in West Bengal. [http://www.webindia123.com/news/showdetails.asp?id=67598&n_date=20050218&cat=India (WebIndia)] [http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/south_asia/4274553.stm (BBC)] [http://www.hindustantimes.com/news/181_1247212,00110004.htm (Hindustan Times)] * The United States United States House of Representatives passes a Class Action Fairness Act that intends to curb class actions, moving them from state courts to federal courts. [http://releases.usnewswire.com/GetRelease.asp?id=43298 (US Newswire)] [http://www.usatoday.com/money/2005-02-17-lawsuits-usat_x.htm (USA Today)] [http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=10000087&sid=aTXBXoYE7gwY&refer=top_world_news (Bloomberg)] * The Brazilian Politics of Brazil intends to create a protected rainforest region in the aftermath of the murder of United States missionary Dorothy Stang. [http://www.alertnet.org/thenews/newsdesk/N17258144.htm (Reuters)] [http://edition.cnn.com/2005/WORLD/americas/02/18/amazon.nun.ap/ (CNN)] [http://abcnews.go.com/International/wireStory?id=510411 (ABC)] [http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/americas/4275781.stm (BBC)] * The Politics of Sudan of Sudan rejects the United Nations' demand that the suspects of war crimes in the Darfur conflict western Sudanese region of Darfur would be put before the International Criminal Court in The Hague. [http://allafrica.com/stories/200502170883.html (AllAfrica)] [http://www.alertnet.org/thenews/newsdesk/IRIN/f6acb7f9487d225a47714f14e61a1d59.htm (Reuters Alertnet)] [http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/africa/4275011.stm (BBC)] ==February 16 2005== * Mohamed ElBaradei, head of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), states there is no evidence to suggest Iran is developing nuclear weapons. [http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A27319-2005Feb15.html (Washington Post)] * National Hockey League NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman announces the cancellation of the 2004-05 NHL season because of the ongoing National Hockey League labor dispute (2004). It is the first time a North American professional sports league has cancelled an entire season due to a labor dispute. [http://tsn.ca/nhl/news_story.asp?ID=115107&hubName=nhl (TSN)] * A large explosion is reported in southwestern Iran, in the Provinces of Iran of Bushehr province, close to the site of a newly built nuclear reactor nuclear power plant. Iranian officials later announce that the explosion was caused by construction work on a dam at Kowsar, near the port city of Deylam. [http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/middle_east/4271011.stm (BBC)] [http://olympics.reuters.com/newsArticle.jhtml?type=topNews&storyID=7649393 (Reuters)] [http://www.voanews.com/english/2005-02-16voa110.cfm (VOA News)] [http://www.guardian.co.uk/worldlatest/story/0,1280,-4804808,00.html (Guardian)] [http://www.reuters.com/newsArticle.jhtml?type=worldNews&storyID=7651210 (Reuters)] * The Kyoto Protocol, an international agreement addressing global warming, comes into effect. [http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/science/nature/4267245.stm (BBC)] [http://www.reuters.com/newsArticle.jhtml?type=topNews&storyID=7642834 (Reuters)] *North Koreans celebrate the 63rd birthday of their Dear Leader, Kim Jong-il. [http://hosted.ap.org/dynamic/stories/N/NKOREA_LEADERS_BIRTHDAY?SITE=ILJOL&SECTION=HOME&TEMPLATE=DEFAULT (SCN AP)] * In the United States, the Food and Drug Administration announces that it will create a board for advisement regarding complication (medicine) and the ongoing study of the safety of already approved drugs. [http://www.nytimes.com/2005/02/16/politics/16fda.html (NY Times)] [http://www.latimes.com/news/nationworld/nation/la-na-fda16feb16,0,5361557.story?coll=la-home-headlines (LA Times)] * According to African envoys negotiating with the Politics of Togo of Togo, the negotiations are making progress and the country agrees to organize new elections within 60 days. A crackdown on private media continues in the country. [http://www.reuters.co.za/locales/c_newsArticle.jsp?type=topNews&localeKey=en_ZA&storyID=7643083 (Reuters SA)] [http://www.reuters.co.za/locales/c_newsArticle.jsp?type=topNews&localeKey=en_ZA&storyID=7643051 (Reuters SA)] [http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/africa/4267395.stm (BBC)] * In Uganda, some of the Military use of children that had escaped the Lord's Resistance Army are recruited into the Uganda People's Defense Force. [http://www.wpherald.com/storyview.php?StoryID=20050215-103855-1077r (World Peace Herald)] [http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/africa/4266789.stm (BBC)] * In Cambodia, former Khmer Rouge commander Chhouk Rin loses his final appeal against a murder conviction. In 1994, he ordered his soldiers to attack a train, and as a result, three backpacking (urban) from Australia, Britain, and France were killed. [http://today.reuters.co.uk/News/newsArticle.aspx?type=worldNews&storyID=2005-02-16T083245Z_01_JON630626_RTRUKOC_0_CRIME-CAMBODIA-KHMER-ROUGE.xml (Reuters)] [http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/asia-pacific/4269517.stm (BBC)] * In the United Kingdom, the pro-fox hunting lobbying Countryside Alliance loses an appeal. The Court of Appeals does not accept their claim that the 1949 Parliament Act, used to introduce the Hunting Act 2004, is invalid. [http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/politics/4269449.stm (BBC)] [http://news.scotsman.com/latest.cfm?id=4139151 (Scotsman)] * In Sri Lanka, Abhilasha Jeyarajah, otherwise known as Baby 81, is reunited with Murugupillai and Junitha Jeyarajah, his confirmed parents. [http://olympics.reuters.com/newsArticle.jhtml?type=topNews&storyID=7644484 (Reuters)] [http://www.channelnewsasia.com/stories/afp_asiapacific/view/132760/1/.html (Channel News Asia)] * In Nigeria, an Sharia sentences cross-dressing Abubakar Hamza to six months in prison and a fine equivalent to United States dollar38 for "morality behaviour". He had lived for seven years as a woman to sell aphrodisiacs. [http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/africa/4266773.stm (BBC)] * Iran and Syria announce the formation of a "united front" in order to face "challenges and threats", resolved after a meeting between Iranian First Vice President Mohammad Reza Aref and Syrian Prime Minister Mohammed Naji al-Otari. [http://www.dailytimes.com.pk/default.asp?page=story_17-2-2005_pg7_8 (Pakistan Daily Times)] [http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/n/a/2005/02/16/international/i113532S95.DTL (San Francisco Chronicle)] [http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/middle_east/4270859.stm (BBC)] [http://www.tehrantimes.com/Description.asp?Da=2/17/2005&Cat=2&Num=008 (Tehran Times)] * The body of Cecilia Cubas, daughter of former Paraguayan List of Presidents of Paraguay Raúl Cubas Grau, is found in an underground chamber at a house near the capital city of Asunción. She was abducted on September 21 2004. [http://www.falkland-malvinas.com/Detalle.asp?NUM=5131 (MercoPress)] [http://abcnews.go.com/International/wireStory?id=507052 (ABC)] [http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/americas/4272633.stm (BBC)] * Six Rwandans file a lawsuit in France that accuses French soldiers of complicity in the Rwandan Genocide of 1994. [http://www.reuters.co.za/locales/c_newsArticle.jsp;:42136c68:82eceb4e48afd16c?type=topNews&localeKey=en_ZA&storyID=7649377 (Reuters)] [http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/africa/4272437.stm (BBC)] * In Tunisia, authorities continue to clean up an oil spill near the town of Korbous that was caused by a Morocco container ship running aground late the day before. [http://www.alertnet.org/thenews/newsdesk/GH1641407.htm (Reuters Alertnet)] [http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/africa/4274221.stm (BBC)] [http://www.dailystar.com.lb/article.asp?edition_id=10&categ_id=2&article_id=12759 (Daily Star)] ==February 15 2005== * A state of emergency is announced in Samoa and American Samoa as South Pacific cyclones Olaf and Nancy make landfall on Savai'i. [http://www.cnn.com/2005/WEATHER/02/15/cyclones.pacific/index.html (CNN)] *The Nigeria government will not rule out military actions against the coup regime in Togo if it does not comply with demands from Economic Community of West African States to step down. [http://www.afrol.com/articles/15625 (AFROL)] * Yusuf Islam, formerly known as Cat Stevens, receives substantial damages from two United Kingdom newspapers, ''The Sun'' and ''The Sunday Times'', which alleged that the United States was correct to ban him from the country. ''The Sun'' has published, and ''The Sunday Times'' will publish, acknowledgments that he is not, and never has been, involved in or supported terrorism, and that he abhors all such activities. They also highlight that Islam was recently presented with the Man for Peace award by a group of Nobel Prize Nobel Peace Prize. [http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/4268651.stm (BBC)] * The United States recalls its ambassador to Syria, Margaret Scobey, in protest of alleged Syrian involvement in the assassination of former Lebanon List of Prime Ministers of Lebanon Rafik Hariri. [http://www.chron.com/cs/CDA/ssistory.mpl/nation/3041033 (Houston Chronicle)] [http://apnews.myway.com/article/20050215/D88938L00.html (AP)] * At least 209 people die in a mining disaster in Fuxin City, in China's north-eastern Liaoning Political divisions of China. During the first nine months of 2004, an average of 15 people died every day in China's mines. [http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/asia-pacific/4266179.stm (BBC)] * The European Court of Human Rights, deciding about the so-called McLibel case, rules in favour of environmental campaigners Helen Steel and David Morris and their claim that their trial was unfair. The pair said their human rights were violated when their criticism of McDonald's was ruled libel. The case has taken 15 years. [http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/4266209.stm (BBC)] [http://news.scotsman.com/uk.cfm?id=173102005 (Scotsman)][http://edition.cnn.com/2005/WORLD/europe/02/15/mclibel/ (CNN)] * In South Africa, President of South Africa Thabo Mbeki announces that the country's elite crime-fighting unit Scorpions (South Africa) will be investigated. There have been claims of political vendettas and management of funds. [http://allafrica.com/stories/200502140264.html (AllAfrica)] [http://www.iol.co.za/index.php?set_id=1&click_id=15&art_id=vn20050214071749163C975428 (IOL,SA)] [http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/africa/4263773.stm (BBC)] * United States, India and European Union countries recall their ambassadors from Nepal in protest of the takeover by King Gyanendra. [http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=10000087&sid=aDna9hj53UoM&refer=top_world_news (Bloomberg)] [http://www.wpherald.com/storyview.php?StoryID=20050214-083829-9992r (World Peace Herald)][http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/south_asia/4263877.stm (BBC)] [http://www.reuters.com/newsArticle.jhtml?type=politicsNews&storyID=7622145 (Reuters)] * Germany's foreign minister Joschka Fischer accepts political responsibility for immigration policies that allowed criminals to enter the European Union. [http://www.dw-world.de/dw/article/0,1564,1489382,00.html (Deutsche Welle)] [http://today.reuters.co.uk/news/newsArticle.aspx?type=worldNews&storyID=2005-02-14T221430Z_01_DOB479878_RTRUKOC_0_GERMANY-FISCHER.xml (Reuters)] [http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/4264793.stm (BBC)] [http://www.expatica.com/source/site_article.asp?subchannel_id=52&story_id=16901&name=Fischer+admits+errors+in+visa+scandal%2C+to+testify+to+inquiry+ (Expatica)] *Microsoft announces its intentions to release Internet Explorer version 7.0. This is seen by some as a response to the growing popularity of the Mozilla Foundation Mozilla Firefox browser. [http://news.com.com/Reversal+Next+IE+update+divorced+from+Windows/2100-1032_3-5577263.html?tag=nl (News.com)] [http://today.reuters.co.uk/news/newsArticle.aspx?type=technologyNews&storyID=2005-02-16T002412Z_01_N1519247_RTRIDST_0_TECH-TECH-MICROSOFT-BROWSER-DC.XML (Reuters UK)] ==February 14 2005== * A fire in a mosque in the Iranian capital of Tehran leaves 59 people dead. The cause of the fire is currently unknown, but it is believed that a kerosene heater was left near a thick flammable curtain. [http://www.iranmania.com/News/ArticleView/Default.asp?NewsCode=29704&NewsKind=Current%20Affairs (IranMania)] [http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/middle_east/4265483.stm (BBC)] * Researchers at the University of California, Los Angeles create a modified form of HIV which targets P-glycoproteins on cancer cell (biology)s. [http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/health/4257783.stm (BBC)] * Israeli-Palestinian conflict: ** IDF soldiers shoot dead a Palestinian who they allege tried to stab one of them. Witnesses deny the 13 year old was armed. [http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/spages/540138.html (Haaretz)] [http://english.aljazeera.net/NR/exeres/133CA257-CE27-40A9-AE43-426519E1302B.htm (Al Jazeera)] ** Israel returns the remains of 15 Palestinian militants to the Palestinian Authority for burial in Gaza as a goodwill gesture. [http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/middle_east/4263577.stm (BBC)] ** Israel is considering new security measures which could see right-wing politics Israeli opposed to the planned pullout from the Gaza Strip being detained. [http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/middle_east/4264197.stm (BBC)] * A car bomb explodes in central Beirut, Lebanon killing former List of Prime Ministers of Lebanon Rafiq Hariri and at least 9 others. Approximately 100 further people are injured in the attack. A little known group calling itself "Victory and Jihad in Greater Syria" claim responsibility. [http://www.cnn.com/2005/WORLD/meast/02/14/beirut.explosion.ap/ (CNN)] [http://today.reuters.co.uk/news/newsArticle.aspx?type=topNews&storyID=2005-02-14T112231Z_01_DEN439971_RTRUKOC_0_LEBANON-BLAST.xml (Reuters)] [http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/middle_east/4263893.stm (BBC)] * In Sri Lanka, DNA tests identify "Baby 81" as a son of Murugupillai and Jenita Jeyarajah, one of the nine couples that tried to claim him. They have to wait for two more days for legal formalities. [http://today.reuters.co.uk/news/newsArticle.aspx?type=topNews&storyID=2005-02-14T064814Z_01_HOL936128_RTRUKOC_0_QUAKE-LANKA-BABY.xml (Reuters)] [http://www.channelnewsasia.com/stories/afp_asiapacific/view/132397/1/.html (Channel News Asia)] [http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/south_asia/4263127.stm (BBC)] * In the Democratic Republic of Congo, six Morocco United Nations peacekeeping are arrested for alleged sexual abuse of young girls. [http://www.reuters.co.za/locales/c_newsArticle.jsp?type=topNews&localeKey=en_ZA&storyID=7611715 (Reuters SA)] [http://www.news24.com/News24/Africa/News/0,6119,2-11-1447_1661050,00.html (News24)] [http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/africa/4262743.stm (BBC)] * The African Union sends a team to Somalia to assess the security situation in the capital, Mogadishu. President of Somalia of the exiled Politics of Somalia, Abdullahi Yusuf, has requested an AU peacekeeping force to allow his cabinet to move back. The trip was delayed on Friday. There is some opposition to deployment of AU peacekeepers and thousands of Somalis have demonstrated in the capital, Mogadishu, against the plans. [http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/africa/4262949.stm (BBC)] [http://www.reliefweb.int/rw/RWB.NSF/db900SID/EVIU-69KPH8?OpenDocument (ReliefWeb)] [http://www.eastandard.net/hm_news/news.php?articleid=13159 (East African Standard)] [http://www.reuters.co.za/locales/c_newsArticle.jsp;:420f4882:f89e7c7922363d7?type=topNews&localeKey=en_ZA&storyID=7611450 (Reuters SA)] [http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/africa/4262949.stm (BBC)] * In Brazil, President of Brazil Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva meets Venezuelan President of Venezuela Hugo Chávez in Caracas. They open talks about an alliance, joint energy projects and the sale of Brazilian fighter aircraft. [http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=10000086&sid=ayY8nfaP2L0U&refer=latin_america (Bloomberg)] [http://www.forbes.com/technology/ebusiness/feeds/ap/2005/02/11/ap1822476.html (Forbes)] [http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/americas/4263025.stm (BBC)] * In French Polynesia, people vote for a new local assembly for the two main islands. The poll is contested between the pro-independence party of Oscar Temaru and the party of pro-Paris conservative leader Gaston Flosse. The results of the last year's general election were cancelled and a new poll ordered to settle the dispute. [http://www.abc.net.au/news/newsitems/200502/s1302548.htm (ABC)] [http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/asia-pacific/4263207.stm (BBC)] * Floods and mudslides claim at least 64 lives in Colombia and Venezuela. [http://www.reuters.com/newsArticle.jhtml?type=worldNews&storyID=7612590 (Reuters)] [http://edition.cnn.com/2005/WORLD/americas/02/13/samerica.floods.ap/ (CNN)] * South Korean foreign minister Ban Ki-moon states his country's desire to intensify diplomacy efforts with North Korea. [http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=10000080&sid=aDfYeYcS1D6o&refer=asia (Bloomberg)] [http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/asia-pacific/4265937.stm (BBC)] ==February 13, 2005== * A 2005 Hudson Valley Mall shooting incident occurs at Hudson Valley Mall in upstate New York, north of New York City. Two people are injured. Local police believe that this is the work of a lone gunman and have a suspect in custody. [http://www.reuters.com/newsArticle.jhtml?type=domesticNews&storyID=7613002 (Reuters)] * Results from the Iraqi legislative election, 2005 show that a Shi'a group approved by Grand Ayatollah Ali al-Sistani has won by a landslide with 48% of all votes cast. The nearest rival party, a Kurdish alliance of two parties, won 26% of the vote. The results will stand if not challenged within three days. [http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/middle_east/4261035.stm (BBC)] * An early morning explosion extensively damages a Paris theater, and slightly injures seven people. [http://edition.cnn.com/2005/WORLD/europe/02/13/paris.theater.ap/ (AP via CNN)] *In Moscow, Russia, thousands protest against the new benefits plan, which replaces such benefits as free transportation and subsidized drugs with small cash payments. [http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A19792-2005Feb12.html (The Washington Post)] * Two strong aftershocks strike 2004 Indian Ocean earthquake-devastated Aceh, Indonesia, leading to some panic. [http://www.abc.net.au/news/newsitems/200502/s1305421.htm (ABC News Online Australia)] * Torre Windsor in Madrid#AZCA_.2F_Nuevos_Ministerios,