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. . . Day by Day with VOA .. . BBC -- Saturday, 23 November, 2002, 00:39 GMT . Nigerian Miss
World show cancelled
. The situation on
Nigeria's streets is tense The Miss World contest is moving to London from Nigeria after riots
by Muslim youths opposed to the show left more than 100 people dead in the city
of Kaduna.
The pageant's organisers said the show would be held in London on 7 December instead of the Nigerian capital, Abuja.
Hundreds of Muslim youths went on the rampage following Friday prayers, in an echo of the bloodshed which left at least 100 people dead and 500 injured in Kaduna this week. Kaduna is now under curfew after three days of violence, but the BBC's Dan Isaacs reports that isolated clashes continued into the night. In a statement, the pageant organisers said the change of venue was in the "overall interests of Nigeria and the contestants". Pageant publicist Stella Dean added: "The show definitely will go on". Appeal for calm Hours earlier, Nigerian President Olusegun Obasanjo went on television along with religious leaders to appeal for national calm, blaming a media report, not the contest itself, for the violence.
"It could happen at any time irresponsible journalism is committed against Islam," he said. The protests began after a newspaper suggested that the Prophet Mohammed would have probably chosen to marry one of the Miss World contestants if he had witnessed the beauty pageant in Abuja. The Nigerian Government has assured Muslims that those responsible for the offending article, which appeared in ThisDay newspaper, will be brought to account. ThisDay has retracted it and has published apologies. Christians targeted Police in Abuja made 27 arrests on Friday and at least one policeman was injured during the unrest, along with an unknown number of demonstrators or civilians.
BBC correspondent Haruna Bahago reports that protesters armed with sticks, daggers and knives set fire to vehicles and attacked anyone they suspected of being Christian. Many people suffered either knife wounds or beatings as the rioters advanced on Abuja's central market. Our correspondent was himself surrounded by a group of angry Muslim radicals, who suspected he was Christian, and he had to shout "Allahu Akbar" (God is great) until they let him go. Our correspondent in Kaduna says the streets are virtually deserted except for army patrols and the scars of the rioting are visible everywhere. Burnt-out tyres and the shells of cars line the streets, and buildings set alight by the rioters are still smouldering. Two years ago the city saw more than 2,000 deaths in clashes between Christians and Muslims. Dogged by controversy In a BBC interview, Nigerian singing star Femi Kuti backed the opponents of the pageant, although he condemned the religious origin of protests.
"Why are they making Nigeria and Africa divided? We have enough problems," he told Newshour on the BBC World Service. The Nigerian Government has assured Muslims that those responsible for the offending article, which appeared in ThisDay newspaper, will be brought to account. ThisDay has retracted it and has published apologies. Miss Northern Ireland, Gail Williamson, became the latest contestant to pull out of the contest on Friday. Her mother Olga Simms said she was concerned for her daughter's safety. Have you witnessed the violence in Nigeria? Send us your experiences using the form below. Disclaimer: The BBC will put up as many of your comments as possible but we cannot guarantee that all e-mails will be published. The BBC reserves the right to edit comments that are published.. BBC -- Friday, 22 November, 2002, 15:16 GMT . Pre-election
violence in Kenya
. Most attention is
focused on the presidential race
The process by political parties in Kenya to nominate parliamentary candidates for the 27 December election has had a troubled start. On Wednesday, isolated incidents of violence and logistical hiccups forcing them to extend their deadline, but on Friday the violence got out of hand.
Six people died in the early morning attack and 13 others were injured, some of them seriously. The injured were admitted to Kapsowor Mission hospital. Clashes In Mombasa, a clash between supporters of rival civic election candidates left two people with serious knife injuries, while in Nairobi, a mob stormed the headquarters of the Main Narc opposition party complaining of irregularities in the Narc nominations exercise.
This leaves the political future of Medical Services Minister Maalim Mohammed hanging in the balance. Other ministers and senior politicians have however suffered a more definite blow after they were defeated at the primaries. Among the senior Kanu and opposition politicians who's race for parliament has been ended prematurely is President Moi's eldest son, Jonathan Toroitich and veteran opposition politician Lawrence Sifuna. Scramble Many constituencies remain in limbo following numerous petitions by losing candidates who are desperately pushing their parties for a re-run of the poll. Others are busy dumping the parties they lost in and hurriedly defecting to other parties. A prominent Kanu former MP, Kihika Kimani, who was hoping for a place in the records books as the only man whose family occupied three constituencies at once had his parliamentary dream shattered today after he and his two wives lost the Kanu nominations in three separate constituencies in Rift Valley province. And in Mombasa, at the coast, a 22 year old local government candidate broke down in public after pick pockets brought his new political career to an abrupt halt by making away with vital nomination documents without which he cannot take part in the election. More drama is expected in the three days remaining before the nomination exercise ends. . BBC -- Saturday, 23 November, 2002, 01:43 GMT . When beauty
turns ugly
. India has in recent
years dominated the contest
For most of its 52-year lifespan, the Miss World contest has been both reviled and loved all over the globe. It has been called many things - tacky, demeaning, an anachronism. But it has also been one of the most-watched international events, second only to the World Cup in terms of audience reach.
It began life as an international pageant of bathing beauties, conceived to promote Mecca Dance Halls during the 1951 Festival of Britain. But its organisers could not have foreseen that such innocent, end-of-pier-type frolics could have been capable of whipping up the type of storm seen today in Nigeria. In its early days, protest against the contest was relatively mild. Traditionalists got there first in the 1950s, with Catholic countries such as Spain and Ireland threatening to pull out if the contestants wore bikinis. Feminist protests Then came the feminists. In 1970, Women's Liberation protesters stormed the Albert Hall in London, shouted down host Bob Hope and pelted the stage with flour. More than a quarter of a century later in India, feminists threatened self-immolating suicides "to save Indian culture". They were, however, beaten to it by a man shouting anti-Miss World slogans as he burnt himself to death. Feminist and left-wing protest have continued sporadically. But, nowadays, most feminists agree that the contest is too much of a joke to warrant action.
Politics of one sort or another has never been far from Miss World. This year, a number of contestants pulled out in protest against a death-by-stoning sentence handed to an unmarried mother by an Islamic court in Nigeria. And in 1994, Miss Lebanon was photographed smiling next to Miss Israel. She was interrogated for hours by the military when she returned home. A year later, Miss Nigeria was withdrawn from the contest after demonstrators against the military regime threatened sabotage. Charities Then there were the women who became famous for all the wrong reasons. In 1973, Miss America handed back the crown after just over 100 days after revelations of trysts with a number of stars, including footballer George Best. Miss Germany followed suit in 1980 when an ex-boyfriend revealed she had made pornographic films. But many Miss Worlds have been hailed as a credit to the title, raising millions of dollars for charity.
Over the past few years, the contest has attracted more and more aspiring professionals. The contestants have gone on from wanting to work with children - or more famously in 1970 wanting to sleep with as many men as possible - to the more high-brow concerns of budding doctors, businesswomen and lawyers. Indian success In Britain its audience has gone from a high of 27 million viewers in 1968 to less than two million in 2000. Now, none of the mainstream channels broadcast the event.
India has been a particular fan of the contest. It became increasingly popular as Miss Indias walked off with four crowns in seven years. Indian beauties began sashaying across the globe winning so many Miss World and Miss Universe titles that it became known as the world's beauty pageant superpower. While in the West beauty pageants are seen by many as demeaning, in India they were seen by many as representing sexual and personal freedom. Beauty schools Many Indian commentators argued that their popularity was a manifestation of a longing by Indians for recognition from the West - anything that showed they were major players. Indian businessmen and women even set up institutions to coach beauty queens. And they are not the only ones. Venezuela also has a strong reputation for turning out the leggy lovelies - winning at least five Miss World titles and as many Miss Universe titles. At its popular Miss Venezuela Academy, young hopefuls are taught to "move, speak, look and think like queens." They are then sent to dentists, surgeons and fitness trainers. Two years ago, the contest had its own makeover and was revamped as "beauty with a purpose". The organisers said this was to "reflect how much the girls do to benefit their countries". After all these years, Miss World's survival has dumbfounded its critics - and there appears to be plenty of life in the old girl yet. . BBC -- Friday, 22 November, 2002, 22:51 GMT . Americas
defence pact postponed
. A number of Chileans
oppose the US stance on Iraq
Defence ministers from the Americas have promised to consider US proposals for joint naval exercises and a region-wide peacekeeping force. The ministers announced the pledge after a four-day meeting in the Chilean capital, Santiago. In a joint communique the 34 countries taking part also promised greater co-operation in the fight against terrorism and drug-trafficking. But the meeting will disappoint those looking for concrete action.
When the conference opened, US Defence Secretary Donald Rumsfeld told his colleagues that they faced a historic opportunity. In the post-11 September environment the need for defence co-operation and coordination is greater than ever, he said. Mr Rumsfeld urged the conference to consider proposals like a joint naval exercises to monitor the vast coastlines, as well as a regional peacekeeping force. Rhetoric Given that this was a meeting of representatives from every government in the Americas apart from Cuba, there was plenty of scope for action. The response: a declaration urging increased co-operation to tackle the twin scourges of drug-trafficking and terrorism. There was also a pledge to support democracy as essential for regional security, and a promise to look into Washington's ideas. It is all fine rhetoric, but short on concrete decisions. The conference host, Chilean defence minister Michelle Bachelet, defended the lack of action, arguing that it is up to domestic governments to take the issues further. And she insisted that the meeting had gone a long way towards generally improving regional defence co-operation. . BBC -- Friday, 22 November, 2002, 16:39 GMT . Aristide
loyalists riot in Haiti capital
. Police were absent
from the streets as riots erupted Supporters of Haitian President Jean-Bertrand Aristide have set
alight barricades and rioted in the capital Port-au-Prince in protest at
anti-government demonstrations.
Stones were thrown at passing vehicles and sporadic gunfire was heard although there were no reports of any serious injuries.
Protesters from across Haiti's impoverished society accused him of corruption and incompetence.
But on Friday Aristide loyalists took to the streets of the capital to vent their anger on the opposition. The acting head of the president's ruling Lavalas Family party, Jonas Petit, said the army was indignant at attacks on the government. "We have tried to restrain our troops, but they are unable to refrain from expressing their frustration at the way the opposition is blocking the country," he said. With police notably absent from the streets of the capital, foreign missions and organisations have been advising their staff to stay indoors. The unrest forced schools and businesses to close down. Streets have been strewn with fliers pledging loyalty to President Aristide and accusing the international community of plotting against Haitian sovereignty. Unrest in the provinces Opposition to the government ranges from business leaders to the unemployed. Foreign aid is being delayed by a continuing dispute over the 2000 elections and their re-run.
Ten people were injured as a result, four of them students who received shotgun wounds. Education Minister Myrtho Celestin resigned after the Petit-Goave violence but no explanation has been given. . BBC -- Friday, 22 November, 2002, 21:05 GMT . Bombs
rock central Bogota
. Colombia has
been confronting drugs traffickers Three bombs have exploded in a busy street of the Colombian capital,
Bogota, injuring at least two people, the authorities say.
The blasts occurred in the west of the city, in front of the office of the attorney-general - the country's top prosecutor - and not far from the US embassy.
Colombian President Alvaro Uribe has vowed to fight the Marxist rebels who control some 40% of the country, as well as right-wing paramilitaries and the drug trade armed groups thrive on. Local television said the bombs were planted by two men on a motorcycle - but this has not been confirmed. There was no damage to the attorney-general's office. Drug wars In October, police raided shanty towns in Bogota, after a car bomb attack outside police headquarters killed two people and injured almost 40. Police at the time blamed the main leftist rebel group, the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC). Previously, the city had been spared the worst of Colombia's four-decade war. Since taking office in August, President Uribe has introduced a series of tough new measures to pursue the rebels, some of which entail the suspension of basic civil liberties. They include the establishment of a civilian spy network and paid informers, arms for peasants in vulnerable parts of the country, and the detention of suspects without warrants and imposition of curfews in certain zones. . BBC -- Friday, 22 November, 2002, 14:03 GMT . The
Bali bombers' network of terror
. The attackers
decided to target 'soft' targets like clubs Indonesian and Western intelligence officials hope the arrest of Imam
Samudra for the Bali bombings will tie together South-East Asia's most murky
Islamic militants.
Police say he has confessed to playing a role in bombings across Indonesia in the last two years. Those attacks appear to link him to Abu Bakar Ba'asyir, an alleged leader of militant group Jemaah Islamiah, and Hambali, one of the region's most wanted men. The BBC's Jonathan Head in Jakarta says: "Samudra looks like, from what they are telling us, a pretty key player".Police say Imam Samudra, a 35-year-old computer specialist, has admitted not only to masterminding the attack on Bali, but to being involved in attacks on churches across Indonesia in 2000 and on a shopping mall in Jakarta in 2001. In the 2000 attack he is said to have targeted Batam island off Singapore, as part of a string of Christmas Eve bombings which left 19 dead. That would appear to link him with Mr Ba'asyir, under detention for his alleged involvement in the same church attacks. Mr Ba'asyir has also been accused of planning the assassination of Indonesian President Megawati Sukarnoputri before she came to office.
Mr Ba'asyir, a preacher best known for his fiery attacks on America and Israel, denies any involvement in terrorist acts. He also denies being a member of JI, though he is widely believed to be its spiritual leader. JI is thought to want to overthrow governments in the region and replace them with a pan-South East Asian Islamic state. It has been named by some governments as the most likely organisation to have planned and carried out the Bali bombing. Some analysts warn, however, that it is not clear how far JI is a structured organisation, or whether it is a loose affiliation of like-minded people, many of whom have no interest in terrorism. Malaysia roots It appears that many of the people being linked to the Bali bombings came together at the same Islamic school in Malaysia, where many radical Muslims fled in the early 1990s to dodge former Indonesian dictator Suharto's suppression. The BBC's Jonathan Kent in Kuala Lumpur says it is not surprising the group came and went unnoticed. He says they would have arrived alongside hundreds of thousands of Indonesians in search of work, legally and illegally, and the human traffic was such that it would have been impossible to track them. Imam Samudra taught at a school in Johor, southern Malaysia, where one of the leaders is believed to have been Mr Ba'asyir. While there, police say Imam Samudra befriended Amrozi, who is the only other suspect in the Bali bombings so far under arrest, and who is also accused over the church attacks.
Idris, an ethnic Malay who police have named as a suspect in the Bali attack, and is thought to have been its fund raiser, also attended the school. The other leader at the school is said to have been Riduan Isamuddin, also known as Hambali. He is dubbed by the CIA as the "Osama Bin Laden" of South-East Asia and is another alleged leader of JI. Hambali is wanted by several countries in the region in connection with a string of bomb attacks in the last two years, including the Indonesian church attacks and a plot to blow up the US embassy in Singapore in December 2001. Hambali is also the only member of the group who is known to have met members of Osama Bin Laden's al-Qaeda. Hambali is alleged to have arranged a meeting of two of the 11 September hijackers with other al-Qaeda figures in Malaysia in January 2000. The hijackers allegedly met at the apartment of Yazid Sufaat, a former Malaysian army captain who studied under Hambali, according to Mr Sufaat's lawyer. Zacarias Moussaoui, who is due to stand trial in the US over the 11 September attacks, was also a business contact of Hambali's, according to the Indonesian's wife. Bali preparation These al-Qaeda links could have helped in the preparation for the Bali attack. Hambali is reported to have arranged for Imam Samudra and others to train in al-Qaeda camps in Afghanistan. The Indonesian police say that Imam Samudra spent two and a half years in Afghanistan, where he learned to build bombs. Police say he then returned to Indonesia in 2000, and reunited with Amrozi. It was only a few months later that churches across Indonesia were bombed. The raids at the time were widely blamed on Islamic militants.
The next piece in the jigsaw appears to have been a plot to blow up the US embassy in Singapore. This was discovered and foiled in December 2001. According to Western intelligence and media reports, the plotters were members of JI. The head of the Indonesian investigation into the Bali bombing, General I Made Mangku Pastika, has said Imam Samudra was involved in the plan, as have Western diplomats. One result of the plot's failure was that Singapore and Malaysia clamped down on dozens of Islamic militants, holding them without trial under punitive security laws. The school where Imam Samudra taught in Johor was shut down and several of its teachers were arrested, after being implicated in the attempt. Two key men in the plot - Fathur al-Ghozi and Mohamad Mansour Jabarah - were arrested. Planning for Bali But other men involved in the Singapore plot appear to have regrouped and continued planning attacks. According to one report, American officials who interrogated Mr Jabarah learned that members of the network met in southern Thailand in January 2002. There they decided to turn to soft targets, as embassies were becoming better protected. The men whom Indonesia suspect of involvement in the Bali bombing first met on 2 August in Solo, central Java, to plan the attack, according to Indonesian police. They then held three more meetings there during August and September, before finalising details in a hotel in Bali on 6 October. Police say Imam Samudra admitted to chairing the meetings and deciding which targets to bomb. The devastating attacks on the Sari nightclub and Paddy's Irish bar took place on the night of the 12 October.  . BBC -- Friday, 22 November, 2002, 11:49 GMT . ABN Amro
transfers tech staff
. ABN farms out its
technology support function Dutch investment bank ABN Amro has said it plans to transfer about
2,000 technology jobs to computer firm EDS as part of a $1.5bn outsourcing
deal.
Under the agreement, which should be finalised by the end of the year, computer firm Electronic Data Systems (EDS) will take over part of the bank's information technology division. EDS is expected to inherit about 2,000 of ABN Amro's technology staff, although the computer services giant has refused to comment until the negotiations are completed. Many of the jobs affected are based in Amsterdam and London. A further 500 ABN Amro jobs are expected to go through natural wastage. Farmed out The agreement, one of the banking sector's biggest ever outsourcing deals, is designed to shore up ABN Amro's finances in the face of tumbling stock markets and a dearth of lucrative investment banking businesses. ABN Amro said the deal with EDS will start to generate cost savings from 2004. The Dutch bank has already axed about 10,000 jobs in a radical restructuring exercise credited with boosting its profits for the July-to-September period. ABN Amro shares climbed 5% when the EDS deal was announced late on Thursday, and were down 1.7% at 16.45 euros on Friday morning. The EDS deal confirms a growing trend towards banking sector job cuts. Analysts believe up to 35,000 investment banking jobs have been lost in the City of London financial district alone over the past 18 months. . BBC -- Friday, 22 November, 2002, 09:20 GMT . French
economy 'deteriorating'
. Prime Minister
Raffarin may be too optimistic Growth of just 0.2% in the July-to-September quarter has dampened
hopes of a quick recovery for France's economy.
Lack of investment by companies curbed growth even though consumer spending remained strong, national statistics showed.
Economists had expected growth to be modestly stronger, at about 0.3%. "These figures are disappointing," agreed UBS Warburg economist Stephane Deo. "I was expecting 2002 growth of 1%. With these figures, I think I'm going to revise my estimate down to 0.9%." Weakness ahead Economists were gloomy about France's prospects for next year. "We can expect [the weakness] to continue at least until the start of 2003, confirming our forecast of gross domestic product growth of 1.4% next year," said Mr Claquin.
"The government's [2.5%] growth target for 2003 is too high." Economic growth in July to September was weaker than in the previous three-month period when the French economy expanded by 0.4%. It was also lower than the modest 0.3% growth managed in the third quarter by both Germany and Italy. "The figure confirms that France is not immune from the slowdown affecting our European partners and the United States," said Credit Lyonnais eurozone economist, Bruno Cavalier. "At best, we expect growth of 1.8%" next year, Mr Cavalier said. . BBC -- Friday, 22 November, 2002, 12:41 GMT . Iraq and
Jordan sign oil deal
. Iraqi radio said
the deal was a sign of Jordan's support Iraq and Jordan have signed an agreement which should safeguard all
of Jordan's crude oil and oil product needs, according to broadcasting media in
both countries.
And eventually, refined products will be sent back to Iraq as part of the two countries' "technical cooperation" agreement, according to the TV report. Jordan and Iraq also aim to work on joint geological and oil studies, Channel 1 said. Broad agreement Iraq's oil minister, Aamer Mohamed Rashid , and Jordan's energy minister, Muhammad al-Bataina, signed the oil agreement on Thursday. The two countries described the deal as an expression of their "willingness and eagerness to develop and boost commercial and economic co-operation", according to Channel 1. Iraq and Jordan "agreed to establish joint ventures in the industrial, trade, agricultural and services fields in order to encourage investment in both countries", Republic of Iraq Radio reported. It said that in addition, trade fairs and markets would be organised in both countries, and a trade protocol should be raised to $310m (£196m). Political backing The Iraqi radio report saw Jordan's signature as a sign of broader political support and insisted that it stressed "Jordan's rejection of the aggressive threats against Iraq and reiterated the call for respecting Iraq's sovereignty, territorial integrity and regional security". "By signing the minutes [of the Iraqi-Jordanian committee meeting], Jordan also underscores the need to lift the unjust embargo on Iraq as soon as possible," Republic of Iraq Radio said. . BBC -- Friday, 22 November, 2002, 19:31 GMT . Prudential muzzles stock analysts
. Prudential
Securities says it wants to focus on its clients US financial-services firm Prudential Securities has put the kibosh
on analysts speaking to the media, saying it would rather clients get its
information directly.
Prudential says it does not suffer from such conflicts because it dropped investment banking nearly two years ago. Regulatory officials have charged that banks' research is often comprised in their zeal for more lucrative underwriting and advisory roles. "We started out by separating our research from the investment bank," said spokesman Jim Gorman. "Now we're separating our investment commentary from it reaching people who don't pay for it through any medium," Mr Gorman said. "It's not an anti-media policy." Loss-maker The prohibition became effective on Thursday and is the first of its kind. No other Wall Street brokerage has told its analysts not to speak with news reporters. "As a result of this new policy, our fundamental analysts will not provide additional commentary on their published reports to live and printed news media," Prudential told its employees in an internal memo. "This policy applies to [Prudential] analysts whose coverage is devoted to industries and individual stocks," the memo said. The media will still be able to quote Prudential analysts from published reports, and the restriction does not apply to analysts who comment generally on the stock market or the economy. Profits at Prudential Securities, a unit of insurance-firm Prudential Financial, have suffered amid the weak stock market, with the division recently posting losses. . BBC -- Friday, 22 November, 2002, 16:35 GMT . US
calls for reform in India
. O'Neill says
India has advantages over other Asian nations India must remove barriers to trade and make sure property rights are
protected in order to attract more investment from abroad, according to a
senior US official visiting the country.
US Treasury Secretary Paul O'Neill insisted India's economy would grow faster if the country would cut tariffs to encourage trade. Mr O'Neill's comments came ahead of Saturday's Group of 20 summit in Delhi - a meeting of finance ministers and central bank governors from 19 countries, along with the European Union, the International Monetary Fund and the World Bank. The G-20 meets annually to discuss ways of increasing international financial stability. High on the agenda this year will be ways to stifle terrorist funding, to prevent economic crisis and to expand trade. Indian boost This is the first year that the G-20 summit has been held in a developing country. But Mr O'Neill said India is rated among the most restrictive countries in the world in terms of its trade and investment rules. "In India, average import tariffs are over 32 %, more than three times higher than many other Asian economies - Indonesia, Malaysia, Philippines and Sri Lanka to name just a few," he said. Mr O'Neill also said that many foreign firms stay away from India because they distrust the country's governance system. " Respect for property rights and protection against public or private thievery is an essential requirement for economic success," he told members of the Confederation of Indian Industry. However, he praised the country's booming high technology sector and insisted that fast economic growth was possible because the populations speaks good English. Economic uncertainty The G-20 is made up of countries with varying economic situations, from crisis-hit Argentina to the optimistic US. They represent more than 85% global output and 60% of the populatoin. The talks this year are being held against a backdrop of a slowing world economy and ministers have already indicated contrasting views on the situation for the coming 12 months. Mr O'Neill reportedly suggested that economists are "looking forward to next year with a lot of confidence", while Canada's central bank chief David Dodge warned of a "tricky" year ahead. Tackling terrorist funding was a hot topic last year, following the September 11 attacks, and is likely to be a key discussion issue this year. Paul Boateng, the British chief secretary to the Treasury, reportedly said ahead of the meeting that G-20 members were co-operating closely on the issue. "Terrorist groups need funds like fish need water. What we need to do is to drain the pool," said Mr Boateng. . BBC -- Friday, 22 November, 2002, 23:20 GMT . Wall Street could face $1bn fine
. Citigroup's Weill is accused of influencing a stock
report Some Wall Street brokerages will find out in
the next few days how much they will be fined for providing US investors with
faulty research during the stock market boom of the late
1990s.
Regulators from the New York state attorney general's office, the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) and others could levy fines totalling as much as $1bn (£630m) against nearly a dozen financial-services firms.
Citing sources who spoke in London, Reuters news agency reported that regulators were seeking a settlement by the first week of December, the first trading week following the US Thanksgiving Day holiday. Big fines The banks and regulators have been in negotiations for months, attempting to reach a deal. New York Attorney General Eliot Spitzer, the SEC, the New York Stock Exchange and the National Association of Securities Dealers are scheduled to meet the banks individually on Friday and early next week. Citigroup and Credit Suisse First Boston could be among the banks to suffer the heaviest fines of as much as $200m each.
Although some reports say Citigroup and its Salomon Smith Barney unit could face penalties as high as $500m. Mr Spitzer has been looking into whether Citigroup's chief executive Sanford Weill urged former analyst Jack Grubman to "review" stock recommendations on telecoms firm AT&T as part of a power struggle. Among the firms who may learn of their fines in the coming days are Credit Suisse First Boston, a unit of Swiss banking firm Credit Suisse, US Bancorp Piper Jaffray and Bear Stearns. Settlement deal Regulators, led by Mr Spitzer, have been keen to sever research divisions from banking divisions legally as a way to prevent conflicts of interest. The banking industry has baulked, saying research is not profitable enough to be a stand-alone business. In recent days, investigators have softened their stance, now opting to separate the two functions within a single organisation. As part of the settlement, investment banks may be required to include at least three independent research reports in addition to the one issued by the investment bank. In addition, brokerage firms are expected to fund independent research, conducted by companies with no investment-banking operations. The negotiations have also included talks about how to avoid future conflicts of interest, when analysts work closely with bankers to gain lucrative investment banking business from clients. . BBC -- Friday, 22 November, 2002, 23:02 GMT . France braced for blockade chaos
. Truckers
have threatened to bring traffic to a halt French truckers moved a step closer to
staging crippling blockades across the country after pay talks with employers
broke down on Friday night.
Union leaders have threatened to jam motorways, oil depots and other key sites from Sunday night unless their demands for higher salaries and an extra month's pay are met.
The threat of action came as several thousand French farmers blockaded the exits of food warehouses for a second day, demanding a better deal from supermarkets. The supermarkets' association says shops will start running short of fresh fruit and vegetables in two days. The farmers say the stores are raising prices while paying farmers less and less. Meanwhile, thousands of French motorists have been queuing up at petrol stations to stock up with reserves of fuel amid fears the refineries will be blockaded by the truckers. Pay row Talks between the truckers and hauliers are due to resume on Saturday, but union leaders have expressed scepticism that a last-minute deal can be reached. "The current state of discussions is not of a nature to resolve the crisis," said Alain Arquier from the CGT union. The unions are demanding an extra monthly salary - a common practice in France - and a 10% reduction in working hours. Haulers say they cannot meet the demands because their profits have been marginalised by growing competition in Europe. Christmas threat The unions have set a deadline of 2200 local time (2100 GMT) on Sunday night for an agreement to be reached.
If talks fail, truckers say they will initially slow traffic down, then blockade fuel depots and other economic targets if negotiations continue to lead nowhere. Correspondents say a strike in France could severely disrupt European trade routes in the run-up to Christmas. The French Government is planning to try to keep routes open, deploying riot police near the key river port of Gennevilliers, north of Paris, and placing troops on alert, news agencies reported. The country's largest oil refiner, TotalFinaElf, says it is keeping stocks at depots and petrol stations topped up to maximum levels, while in Toulouse authorities have reportedly banned motorists from buying extra fuel. . BBC -- Friday, 22 November, 2002, 21:10 GMT . PM promises Ukraine 'new team'
. The
new premier is an experienced manager Viktor Yanukovich formally became Ukraine's
new prime minister on Friday, less than a week after President Leonid Kuchma
sacked his predecessor's government
Appointed caretaker by the president immediately after Anatoli Kinakh's dismissal, Mr Yanukovich was endorsed by a slender majority in parliament on Thursday.
Correspondents say that Mr Yanukovich, a tough regional governor, is seen by the president as having the necessary clout to restore order to Ukraine's troubled political life. The appointment marked the greatest test yet for the fragile pro-presidential majority in parliament. In his speech to MPs, Mr Yanukovich highlighted as his main priorities Ukraine's integration into European structures and fighting poverty. President Leonid Kuchma sacked the previous government reportedly for putting long-term economic growth above social issues. But the cabinet had been paralysed by political battles following a parliamentary election in March which in which opposition parties narrowly failed to take control of parliament. 'New team' Governor of the industrial region of Donetsk and a former manager of a state transport company, Mr Yanukovich, 52, points to his experience with handling diverse business groups. "In Donetsk we have a team of like-minded people," he told MPs. "And I think that the Ukrainian people have long waited for a team like this." The comment, however, drew jeers as the region is portrayed by the opposition as being highly criminalised. The cabinet he intends to appoint by the end of November will be a likely indication of what policies he intends to pursue in office. Russian link Correspondents say the appointment of Mr Yanukovich is aimed at securing a smooth exit for President Kuchma when he has to leave his presidential post at the end of a second five-year term in 2004. His grip on power has been weakened by internal political scandals and accusations of endemic corruption.
Some analysts suggest that President Kuchma's decision to appoint the governor of Donetsk, a largely ethnic Russian region, as premier is an attempt to move closer to Moscow in response to increasing isolation in the West. "His nomination was a tactical move to get Moscow's support at a time of crisis in Ukraine's relations with the West," Andrei Yermolayev, an analyst with the Sofia Centre of Social Research, told the French news agency AFP. "I'm convinced Yanukovich's candidacy was arranged in consultation with Moscow." As a result of the Iraq allegations, the Ukrainian leader was largely cold-shouldered at a meeting of the 46-member Euro-Atlantic Partnership Council (EAPC) in Prague in Friday. Only Italy's Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi appeared to break ranks with Western leaders, inviting Mr Kuchma to visit Rome next week. . BBC -- Friday, 22 November, 2002, 11:27 GMT . Smog laws 'save lives immediately'
. Still a problem: Pollution protest in 1999 Cutting air pollution will start preventing
illness almost straight away, according to a study which looked at death rates
in Hong Kong.
In 1990, the then UK colony introduced regulations to reduce sulphur emissions from cars. Researchers from the Universities of London and Hong Kong tried to gauge the impact of this.
Women gained just over 20 days on average per year - and men 41 days. It is now estimated that Hong Kong residents will live on average several months longer because they live in a less polluted city. Deaths from respiratory disease fell by 5% each year from the introduction of the measure, and heart disease by 2% each year. Anthony Hedley, a professor of community medicine at the University of Hong Kong, said: "Pollution from sulphur-rich fuels has an effect on death rates, especially respiratory and cardiovascular deaths. "The outcome of the Hong Kong intervention provides direct evidence that control of this pollution has immediate - and long-term - health benefits." Heavily polluted Hong Kong was handed over to Chinese sovereignty in 1997, while remaining an autonomous region. It was notorious for being one of the world's most heavily polluted cities - and the coastal waters surrounding it are still said to be badly tainted. Its problems with air pollution in general have yet to be solved - on September 12 this year, levels of particulates from vehicle exhausts were so bad that the population was warned to stay indoors. A report in the South China Morning Post suggested that particulate pollution sometimes reached more than four times US safety limits. A previous study estimated that annual deaths as a result of respiratory or cardiovascular illness topped 6,000. However, regulations now require all power plants and vehicles to use fuel with a reduced sulphur content. . BBC -- Friday, 22 November, 2002, 14:22 GMT . Iranian leader denounces unrest
. Thousands attended prayers at Tehran University
In what was clearly a reference to the student unrest over the death sentence on Hashem Aghajari, Ayatollah Khamenei said that a group of people had seized on a pretext to disrupt the normal work of the universities. Those who raised slogans accusing the regime of despotism and violation of human rights, he said, were either among the country's enemies, or had been deluded by the enemy - by which he meant the United States. 'Crumb of comfort' But such actions would get nowhere, the Ayatollah said, pointing to the suppression of the violent street riots of three years ago. So the leader appeared to be coming down strongly against the largely peaceful gatherings which have been held on several campuses in recent days to protest against the death verdict.
The only crumb of comfort he did offer was to say that the enemies of the revolution should not be presented with pretexts. On Sunday it emerged that he had written to the head of the judiciary, calling for a rapid review of the Aghajari verdict, which has caused a furore in reformist circles and a lot of unease in conservative ones. But the judiciary chief, Ayatollah Hashemi Shahroudi, has appeared to disregard the leader's intervention, which would normally be regarded as an imperative. Ayatollah Shahroudi said that the case would follow its normal course, which involved appeals procedures and reviews. If that's the case, the crisis over the death verdict could well be prolonged, risking an increase in tensions on the ground. More protests promised Shortly after the leader spoke at Friday prayers, police and right-wing volunteers broke up a gathering called to commemorate the murder of two liberal intellectuals four years ago. Many of those who took part were beaten up and others were arrested. Student leaders have said they intend to keep up their protest meetings over the Aghajari case until he is freed. . BBC -- Friday, 22 November, 2002, 15:15 GMT . Troubled town of Bethlehem
. Israel forces fanned out through the town before dawn
The Israeli army's pre-dawn raid on Bethlehem
marks the latest stage in centuries of conflict over a town revered by
Christians as the birthplace of Jesus.
The incursion may signal the failure of a confidence-building plan agreed in August, whereby Israel would withdraw town by town from Palestinian areas it had occupied in exchange for the Palestinian Authority clamping down on militants. Israeli troops last left Bethlehem in August after a four-month occupation that included a 39-day siege of the Church of the Nativity designed to flush out Palestinian militants seeking refuge there. The standoff ended with the militants going into exile from the West Bank, leaving the church essentially unharmed. Located on Bethlehem's Manger Square, eight kilometres (five miles) from Jerusalem, the church is built over a grotto where the Virgin Mary is said to have given birth to Jesus.For centuries, it has been one of the most fought-over holy places.
But Bethlehem achieved its greatest importance when three of the four Gospels named it as the birthplace of Jesus. The site has been venerated by Christians since St Justin Martyr identified it as the site of Jesus' birth in the second century. Pagan to Christian to Muslim In 135, the Roman Emperor Hadrian built a shrine to the pagan god Adonis on the traditional site of the nativity, but less than two centuries later, the Emperor Constantine built a church there.
It was held for nearly a century by Christian Crusaders in the 12th century before returning to Muslim control, under which it has stayed for much of the rest of its history. The two brief exceptions were the British Mandate period after World War I and 28 years of Israeli control after the 1967 Six-Day War. The Palestinian Authority was given control over Bethlehem in December 1995, when Israeli troops pulled out. Now a town of about 32,000 - predominantly Christian Arabs - Bethlehem relied on tourism for its income until the latest Palestinian uprising began in 2000, frightening off many potential pilgrims.  . BBC -- Friday, 22 November, 2002, 14:39 GMT . Did quark
matter strike Earth?
. 
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