September 29, 2003

=September 29, 2003=

*Abdalla Yones, who was convicted of murder for killing his daughter, Heshu Yones, for dating a Christian, is sentenced to life in prison after becoming the first person in Britain to admit an "honour killing". [http://news.independent.co.uk/uk/crime/story.jsp?story=448384]
*Terrorism: Pakistan dismisses and condemns al-Qaida terrorist network threat against President Pervez Musharraf, saying the war against terrorism will continue. Pakistan Foreign Ministry spokesman Masood Khan states (in Islamabad) Pakistan will not be deterred by such threats. The identity of the speaker on the audio tape or the authenticity of the tape has not been verified. The message was attributed to al-Qaida's second-ranking leader, Ayman al-Zawahri, and was aired on Al Jazeera and Al-Arabiya. [http://www.voanews.com/article.cfm?objectID=E6D30B0D-AFC3-4A1B-8688F94380F80B7A] [http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/middle_east/3150050.stm] [http://www.nzherald.co.nz/storydisplay.cfm?storyID=3526177&thesection=news&thesubsection=world]
* Space - Technology: NASA outlines plans for the Space Shuttle’s Replacement, a "Space Taxi". The next-generation space vehicle is on the drawing boards now and NASA has just issued newly defined requirements. [http://abcnews.go.com/sections/scitech/US/nextgeneration030929.html]
* Occupation of Iraq: Iraqi security forces and United States military police in Tikrit launch a hunt for guerrillas behind a series of deadly attacks on coalition troops — the largest-ever joint military operation to date. During the raids, dozens of soldiers from the United States Army's 720th Military Police Battalion backed up over 200 Iraqi police. The raids netted 92 people and weapons that included Kalashnikov rifles, mortars, firing tubes, 155-mm artillery shells and rocket launchers. [http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,98543,00.html]
* Nuclear weapons: Iranian official confirm traces of highly enriched uranium found in the country at the Kalaye Electric Company near Tehran (this was the second time such a discovery was made by United Nations inspectors). Iran's ambassador to the International Atomic Energy Agency, Ali Akbar Salehi, attributes the find to the contamination of imported equipment on state television. Iranians have allegedly used Kalaye Electric Company to test centrifuges used to make highly enriched uranium that can be used to make atomic bombs. [http://www.spacewar.com/2003/030929103544.xaohm76w.html]
* International relations: European Union increases pressure on Tehran to cooperate with international nuclear weapons inspectors. Britain states Iran must declare "unequivocally" that it harbours no ambitions to develop nuclear arms. European Union, in a draft joint statement, warns of economic fallout if Tehran does not make progress on key areas including non-proliferation, fighting terrorism, human rights and the Middle East peace process. [http://www.eubusiness.com/afp/030929125811.76c6zl5l]
* Nuclear power: Iran insists on assurances it can develop uranium enrichment technology for its civil nuclear power program. Foreign Minister, Kamal Kharrazi, states he wants "assurances that the problem is going to be solved" before signing an additional protocol with the International Atomic Energy Agency. [http://www.menafn.com/qn_news_story.asp?StoryId=Cp3EUqeidAxjHBI1UDwTLCW]
* International relations: Former US Secretary of State, Madeleine Albright (commenting on European Union relations to the United States), says that current transatlantic relations are in a dangerous "vicious circle". She states that the European Union is not a counterweight to American power in the world. She also states that there is an American "catch-22", and that America is criticized no matter which foreign policy it adopts. [http://www.euobserver.com/index.phtml?sid=9&aid=12837]
* Euro: British Prime Minister Tony Blair has not ruled out a euro referendum before the next general election - expected in 2005. Both pro and anti-euro campaigners, however, believe that the chances for an early referendum on the single currency have disappeared. [http://www.euobserver.com/index.phtml?sid=9&aid=12842]
* United Kingdom: The British Labour Party is holding its annual conference in Bournemouth on the English south coast. For the party and especially Tony Blair it is a tough conference as his policies (especially over Iraq) are under heavy attack.
* European Union: Member states clash over the issue of how many MEPs should represent the European Parliament on the approaching Intergovernmental Conference on October 4. The developing consensus seems to be that at least one representative from the two major parties in the European Parliament will attend the conference, but this procedure is highly controversial -- normally parliamentarians do not attend high level meetings among EU leaders. [http://www.euobserver.com/index.phtml?sid=9&aid=12853]
* Natural disaster: The Canadian Maritimes recover from Hurricane Juan, which slammed into Halifax, Nova Scotia. Two Nova Scotians die. [http://www.cbc.ca/stories/2003/09/29/juan030929] Two-thirds of Prince Edward Island is left without power [http://www.cbc.ca/stories/2003/09/29/peistorm030929] .
* Elections : Despite the blackout and other damage caused by Hurricane Juan, Prince Edward Islanders go to the polls during the Prince Edward Island general election, 2003, re-electing the Tories under Premier Pat Binns. The Liberals receive four seats. [http://www.cbc.ca/peivotes2003/]
* Elections: Newfoundland and Labrador premier Roger Grimes calls a general election for October 21. Grimes' Liberals are seeking reelection against the Tories, NDP, and the Labrador Party. [http://www.cbc.ca/nlvotes2003/] United States - Sports - Chicago Bears open newly renovated Soldier Field on Monday Night Football against the Green Bay Packers.