EASTERN EUROPE

MILOSEVIC DENIED PERMISSION TO SUBPOENA CLINTON

Slobodan Milosevic, who has been on trial for four years in The Hague, accused of genocide, crimes against humanity and war crimes, has been denied permission to subpoena President Clinton as a witness in his defense against accusations of war crimes, according to a Reuters report.

Mr. Milosevic ‘s lawyers said the former Bosnian leader wrote a letter to President Clinton, asking for his help, but he has not received a reply. He has also asked former NATO chief Wesley Clark, who ordered the bombing of Bosnian forces, to testify.

– Staff Reporter of the Sun

PERSIAN GULF

QATARI EMIR SPEAKS IN SUPPORT OF HAMAS GOVERNMENT

The emir of Qatar said the Palestinian terrorist organization Hamas, which has won a majority of seats in the Palestine Authority assembly, should be supported, he told the Gulf Times.

“Hamas came [to power] through elections that might be the most transparent polls in the Arab world,” said Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa al-Thani. “That is why we should support Hamas in this period. As for us in Qatar, we will continue to support them in projects [like] hospitals and industry.”

– Staff Reporter of the Sun

53 DIE AT SEA AS SMUGGLERS DUMP THEIR HUMAN CARGO

Smugglers forced 137 Somalian and Ethiopian refugees they were sailing to Yemen to jump overboard in the Gulf of Aden, killing at least 53, the United Nations said yesterday.

Officials from the U.N. refugee agency identified 84 survivors who managed to swim ashore but 33 bodies were found washed up along Yemen’s southwestern coastline. The remaining 20, including several children, were presumed drowned, a spokesman for the UN High Commissioner for Refugees, Jennifer Pagonis, said.

The boat’s heavily armed Somalian crew forced the passengers, all but three of whom were Somalis, to jump overboard late on Saturday before turning around and heading back to Somalia.

– The Daily Telegraph

SOUTH AMERICA

URUGUAYAN PRESIDENT ANNOUNCES SMOKING BAN

President Vazquez of Uruguay, a former cancer specialist, has announced a ban on smoking in public places, reported the BBC. Those who smoke in bars, restaurants and offices will be fined $1,100 in an effort to protect workers from passive smoking.

“Passive smoking is also linked to chronic disease and premature deaths,” Mr. Vazquez said. “Since there’s not a secure level of exposition, the best thing to do is to ban cigarettes in enclosed places.” About 5,000 Uruguayans die each year from smoking-related diseases. A recent opinion poll found that 70% of smokers support the smoking ban.

– Staff Reporter of the Sun

EAST ASIA

BEIJING STRUGGLES TO MIND ITS MANNERS FOR THE OLYMPICS

BEIJING – Orange-clad volunteers wearing vests labeled Phlegm are to patrol Beijing in a new attempt to stamp out spitting. They have been recruited to hand out paper spittoons as the authorities worry about manners in the run-up to the 2008 Olympics.

While foreigners complain about freedom of speech, the police and corruption, middle class Chinese are concerned about etiquette.

A survey last year found that spitting topped the list of Beijingers’ least favorite habits, followed by pet fouling and littering.

The government is also tackling other anti-Olympic habits, such as mobile phones ringing during events and crowds’ partisan support for Chinese athletes. The Beijing survey found most people thought that spitting, already punishable under by-laws, was in decline.

The campaign against the practice saw a major upswing during the 2003 SARS crisis, when it was deemed particularly unhealthy.

But old habits die hard. In China, spitting on to the ground has traditionally been seen as more savory than the western habit of using a handkerchief and carrying it round in the pocket.

– The Daily Telegraph