- February 24, 2005
February 24 2005 * In
Somalia , thousands greetAbdullahi Yusuf Ahmed andMohammed Ali Ghedi , leaders of the exiled Somalian government, when they begin a week-long tour in the country. They led a delegation that studies a possibility to finally relocate the government fromKenya to Somalia [http://www.alertnet.org/thenews/newsdesk/IRIN/69b83eb1624891ff79f4790943c3a049.htm (Reuters AlertNet)] [http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/africa/4293359.stm (BBC)]
*TheAnglican Church es of North America – the Episcopal Church in theUnited States and theAnglican Church of Canada – are asked to voluntarily withdraw their members from theAnglican Consultative Council until after the nextLambeth Conference in2008 . 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 first gay bishop inNew 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)]
*InTaiwan ,Chen Shui-bian andPeople First Party ChairmanJames 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 cross strait relations. [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 PRC objects to former US PresidentBill Clinton 's plan to visitTaiwan and meet with the ROC PresidentChen Shui-bian . [http://www.voanews.com/english/2005-02-24-voa16.cfm (VOA)]
*Pope John Paul II returns to hospital inRome for more specialist treatments and tests. [http://www.ansa.it/main/notizie/fdg/200502241141188480/200502241141188480.html (ANSA)] . Doctors decided to carry out atracheotomy , which was performed successfully. [http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/europe/4296035.stm]
*Canadian Prime Minister Paul Martin tells the USambassador to Canada that he will say "no" to the US' proposed missile defense plan. [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 between U.S. PresidentGeorge W. Bush and Russian PresidentVladimir Putin begins inBratislava . ( [http://www.slovakspectator.sk/rubrika-2005007-spect_special.html Slovak Spectator] )
* InColombia , there is a ceremony to mark the three-year anniversary of the capture ofIngrid Betancourt , former Colombian presidential candidate who is still a FARChostage . 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)]
* Colombiansupreme court authorizes theextradition of drug dealerMiguel Rodriguez Orejuela to theUSA [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)]
* InSudan , anammunition 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)]
* InMexico , thesupreme court rules that former PresidentLuis Echeverría cannot be tried forgenocide because of 30-yearstatute of limitations . Echeverría was accused of genocide because he ordered an attack on protesting students in1971 , 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 ofBurma /Myanmar Nyan Win visitsBangladesh to discuss withShamsher M Chowdhury about a direct road link between the countries and repatriation of Burmeserefugee s [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 aMara Salvatrucha gang that killed 28 bus passengers inHonduras lastDecember 23 , is arrested inTexas . Honduras intends to requestextradition 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)]
* Italian court ordersDiego Maradona to pay 30 millioneuro s ofback 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 EU laws declarelottery scam s illegal [http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/4293117.stm (BBC)]
* The parliament ofTurkey grants amnesty to 677,000 people who have been expelled fromuniversity in recent years [http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/4292771.stm (BBC)]
* InKyrgyzstan , 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)]
* French Finance MinisterHervé 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)]
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