Japan Shrine Plan Fuels Feud With China Guardian
Inflaming already tense relations with China, Japanese lawmakers said Tuesday they plan to visit a shrine that critics say glorifies Japan's militarist past, and a Tokyo court ...
China protests endanger trade Australian
Japan Shrine Plan Fuels Feud With China ABC News
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White smoke signals pope election BBC News
White smoke has been seen from the Sistine Chapel chimney indicating that a new pope has been elected. The bells of St Peter's Basilica rang out shortly after 1800 local time (1600 GMT) to confirm the news. ...
New Pope Has Been Chosen Washington Post
New pope has been elected WFSB
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Benedictus XVI: Joseph Ratzinger

Cardinal Ratzinger of Germany Is New Pope ABC News
Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger of Germany, a longtime guardian of doctrinal orthodoxy, was elected the new pope Tuesday evening in the first conclave of the new millennium. He chose the name Pope Benedict XVI.

Berlusconi reeling after new crisis Swissinfo
A senior partner in Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi's shaky coalition threatened to quit on Tuesday, a move which could bring down his government and lead to a snap general election.
Collapse Threatens Berlusconi Govt Sofia News Agency
Berlusconi to face confidence vote Guardian
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Australian PM Defends Trade Talks with China Voice of America
Australian Prime Minister John Howard is brushing off criticism over a deal his government has reached with China that opens the door to a potential free trade agreement between the two nations.
Changes likely to laws for investors Australian
Trade deal 'will harm' car and clothes makers Brisbane Courier Mail
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German Doctrinal Overseer Ratzinger Elected Pope Reuters
German Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger, the strict defender of Catholic orthodoxy for the past 23 years, was elected Pope on Tuesday despite a widespread assumption he was too old and divisive to win election. ...
Cardinals select German Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger as new pope WSTM-TV
Germany’s Ratzinger elected pope Quad City Times
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From Pope Benedict XV to Pope Benedict XVI
Does it mean the roman catholic church went back 100 years? In the U.S. election of 2004 Ratzinger caused a stir by writing a memo to Cardinal Theodore McCarrick of Washington suggesting that clergy deny communion to supporters of abortion rights. The memo was made public and was widely perceived as a veiled attack on Catholic candidate John Kerry.

Japan rejects appeal for war compensation International Herald Tribune
Japan's high court rejected an appeal Tuesday by 10 Chinese victims for official compensation from the Japanese government for damages caused by biological warfare in China before and during World War II.
Tokyo court rejects Chinese appeal CNN International
Japanese court rejects suits of Chinese WWII victims Xinhua
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Vatican Crowd Cheers for Pope Benedict XVI ABC News
Tourists wave the Vatican and German flags as they celebrate in St. Peter's square at the Vatican following the election of the new pope, Tuesday, April 19, 2005. Joseph Ratzinger of Germany, who took the name of Pope Benedict XVI, was elected the 265th pontiff of the Roman Catholic Church.
Opinions of the new pope Tucson Citizen
German Cardinal Ratzinger Elected Pope Benedict XVI Bloomberg
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General Motors reports $1.1 billion first-quarter loss Detroit Free Press
General Motors Corp. reported its deepest quarterly loss in more than a decade -- $1.1 billion -- as rising health care costs and lackluster response to some new models hammered its North American business.
3-GM posts $1.1 billion loss, withdraws forecast Reuters
General Motors has $1.1 billion first-quarter loss Dayton Business Journal
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Time is running out for Moore's Law as chip developments reach atomic levels
ComputerWeekly.com, UK
Moore's Law, the guiding ethos behind the development of the semiconductors that power IT equipment, has 10 to 20 years left to run, according to Gordon Moore, the man who formulated it. Moore predicted that processing power - measured by the number of transistors on a chip - would double every year, later revised to 18 months, driving down the cost of computing.
Moore's Law on chips marks 40th BBC News
Moore's still law of land at 40 OCRegister (subscription)
Moore's Law has ruled computers for 40 years Orlando Sentinel (subscription)
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More Test Versions Released for SQL, Visual Studio, .NET Redmond
Microsoft this week posted new test versions of SQL Server 2005, Visual Studio 2005 and the .NET Framework 2.0. Visual Studio and .NET came out in Beta 2 versions. Tightly coupled with those public betas is a feature-complete SQL Server Community Technology Preview (CTP). Microsoft bills the triple release as a deeply integrated development and data management platform. A major element of the public beta is an addendum to the End User License Agreement for .NET 2.0 Beta 2. Now developers who create applications with Visual Studio 2005 for the .NET Framework 2.0 can put those applications into production, according to the EULA. Typically, EULAs for beta products prohibit production deployments.
Microsoft on last lap for Visual Studio and SQL Server 2005 ComputerWeekly.com
New Microsoft Dev Platform Goes 'Live' BetaNews
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Woman loses diabetes through islet cell transplant Earthtimes.org
A woman’s Type 1 diabetes was reversed when Japanese scientists transplanted insulin-producing cells, called islets in medical jargon, into her from her mother’s pancreas.
Islet Transplantation treats Diabetes Newz.in
Doctors Use Living Donor Transplant to Treat Diabetes Forbes
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Students, faithful celebrate selection of Pope Benedict XVI Kansas City Star
Ted Sri was teaching class Tuesday at Benedictine College in Atchison when a student raised his hand. "He said, 'There's white smoke, we have a pope,'" Sri said.
New Pope's Birthplace Celebrates Election Newsday
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HABEMVS PAPAM: BENEDICTVM XVI

Rice Urges Russia to Embrace Openness New York Times
Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice, reiterating American concerns about authoritarian trends under President Vladimir V. Putin, said today that Russia's upcoming leadership of the Group of 8 industrial democracies next year gave it "certain responsibilities" to guarantee economic and political freedoms.
Rice arrives in Moscow to prepare for US-Russia summit Xinhua
Russia to Stress Common Interests During Rice Visit Voice of America
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Senate Panel Delays Vote on Bolton San Francisco Chronicle
John Bolton's nomination as U.N. ambassador suffered an unexpected setback Tuesday when the Republican-controlled Senate Foreign Relations Committee scrapped plans for a vote in favor of a fresh look at allegations of unbecoming conduct. No date was set for a vote, but a delay of at least two weeks seems likely while the committee looks into fresh allegations, including those of a Dallas businesswoman who says Bolton berated her at an international conference a decade ago. Some Democrats also bluntly questioned Bolton's veracity. The decision to postpone a vote closed a rancorous session in which Republicans first sought to push Bolton through the Foreign Relations Committee and Democrats resisted.
Senate Panel Delays Vote on Bolton for UN Reuters
***VOTE ON NOMINATION DELAYED*** GOP Sen. Voinovich Sinks Bolton ... HUMAN EVENTS
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Panel Opens Hearings on Prison Violence ABC News
Ron McAndrew, former warden of a Florida maximum security prison, right, testifies before the Commission of Safety and Abuse in America's Prisons panel Tuesday morning April 19, 2005 in Tampa, Fla. Victims looking on from left, Garrett Cunningham, Judy Haney, and Scott Hornoff.
Commission Hears Evidence of US Prison Brutality Reuters
Commission opens hearings on prison violence, abuse Dateline Alabama
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Locals Catholics react to selection of pope Pittsburg Morning Sun
Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger of Germany was elected pope Tuesday in the first conclave of the new millennium. The 78-year-old cardinal chose the name Benedict XVI and is viewed as someone who will ...
Sofia Cheers Pope Benedict XVI Sofia News Agency
German community pleased with choice Poughkeepsie Journal
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Rice opposes 3rd term for Putin Washington Times
Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice, arriving in Russia for the first time since assuming her post, yesterday voiced her sharpest criticism yet of Russian President Vladimir Putin's rule and said he should stick to his pledge not to seek another term in office. At the same time, Miss Rice said that Russia must not be isolated internationally, and offered President Bush's blessing to Moscow's hosting next year's high-profile summit of the Group of Eight leading industrialized countries.
Democracy to top US-Russia talks during Rice's visit Zee News
Rice sets chilly atmosphere for Kremlin talks Guardian
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Japan-China rift widens Boston Globe
Inflaming already tense relations with China, Japanese lawmakers said yesterday that they plan to visit a shrine that critics say glorifies Japan's militarist past, and a Tokyo court ruled against Chinese victims of wartime atrocities. In Beijing, meanwhile, Foreign Minister Li Zhaoxing called on the public to remain calm and to stay away from unapproved demonstrations. ''Do not participate in unapproved marches and other activities and do not do anything that will affect the social stability," he said. Similar comments were made last week by Beijing police officials, but yesterday's televised comments marked the first time a member of the central government had spoken out against the demonstrations.
Hopes emerge for China-Japan thaw CNN International
Chinese Foreign Minister urges end to anti-Japanese protests Mainichi Daily News
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Argentine sentenced in Spain for role in rights violations Financial Times
A Madrid court sentenced a former military officer from Argentina to 640 years in prison yesterday in what human rights groups say is the first successful application of international law in Spain.
Argentinian officer jailed by Spain for 'dirty war' crimes Independent
Ex-Argentine naval officer sentenced to 640 years of imprisonment Xinhua
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'Iron man' helps reshape Lebanon Washington Times
Ralid Jumblatt's sur-name means "the iron man" in Kurdish, and to many Lebanese that rings true. A warlord during Lebanon's 15-year civil war, Mr.
Lebanon names new cabinet in move to end political crisis Financial Times
Lebanese Leaders Appoint a New Government ABC News
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Berlusconi refuses to quit despite pressure Hindu
ROME: The Italian Prime Minister, Silvio Berlusconi, who had been widely expected to resign and form a new government to strengthen his struggling conservative coalition, has refused to quit.
Berlusconi faces no-confidence vote Guardian
High-wire act for Italy's Berlusconi Christian Science Monitor
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Lukewarm response to joint statement Hindu
The Pakistan President, Pervez Musharraf's visit to New Delhi has evoked a lukewarm response in his country. While no party leader has wholeheartedly endorsed the joint statement, critical voices are vocal and loud.
Indo-Pak ties on right track: Manmohan : 123Bharath.com
India and Pakistan: A Peace Payoff BusinessWeek
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Small FM Station Is Fomenting Protests, Officials Contend Washington Post
Military police used tear gas and high-pressure water hoses to restrain tens of thousands of protesters Tuesday night during the fiercest confrontation yet between ...
Ecuador's President Says He Won't Quit Guardian
Ecuador's President Says He Won't Quit ABC News
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About the protests about the visit to the shrine. The Japanese PM has done this every year. It is a habit of his to visit that shrine and pray for the war dead. A lot of the war dead were innocent men following orders, others were war criminals, for some reason they are all buried in the one place. It is deeply ingrained in Japanese culture to respect the dead and to visit burial places and ceremoniously wash their graves. I have even done it myself in Japan. Why should the Chinese get so hot and bothered about it? Nothing is going to change the mentality of thousands of years of culture ingrained into a Prime Minister. I have tried to argue that it is seen in a bad light, but the attitude here is 'let them mind their own business'. It is certainly not worth starting a fight about, a fight which could lead to the death of many people if diplomatic relations broke down completely between China and Japan.

China seeks UN status for Unit 731 Swissinfo
China will seek UNESCO World Heritage protection for the ruins of a Japanese germ warfarecentre during World War Two called Unit 731, Xinhua news agency said on Tuesday. The news comes as Sino-Japanese relations spiral to their lowest level in decades following a third weekend of protests in China against a Japanese textbook many Chinese say whitewashes Japan's 1931-45 invasion and occupation of much of China. Jin Chengmin, a researcher with the Harbin Municipal Academy of Social Sciences, pointed to the Nazi concentration camp of Auschwitz in Poland and the Hiroshima Peace Memorial in Japan as precedents for UNESCO protection of war ruins. "The Unit 731 site should also qualify as a World Heritage site," Jin was quoted as saying. "The remaining ruins canserve as a reminder of the horrible atrocities Japanese troops committed in China." Located south of Harbin, capital of northeast China's Heilongjiang province, the laboratories, prisons and crematoria were notorious for experiments on humans to develop germ weapons, such as bubonic plague, typhoid, anthrax and cholera. At least 3,000 people, including Chinese civilians, Russians, Mongolians and Koreans, died in the experiments between 1939 and 1945, Xinhua said. Outside the site, more than 200,000 Chinese were killed by biological weaponsproduced by Unit 731, it said. "We will apply for World Heritage status to let more people in the world know the truth, which may serve to remind us of the barbarity of war," Wang Peng, curator of the 731 Exhibition Hall, was quoted as saying. "Unit 731 would have had the capability to wipe out all human beings on Earth if it had kept up full production of itsweapons for merely one year. They destroyed most of their germ warfare facilities to cover their crimes when they pulledout of China in August 1945." In a landmark ruling in 2002, the Tokyo District Court acknowledged that the unit had tested biological weapons inChina. But it rejected demands for compensation from 180 Chinese plaintiffs who said their relatives were killed by the unit, saying the issue had been settled in post-war treaties. Japan's government officially neither denies nor recognises the activities of the unit. "The government is not in possession of materials that tell us about the activities of this unit. If we do find some materials, we would accept it as a solemn fact of history," Foreign Ministry deputy spokesman Akira Chiba said. Chiba had no comment on Beijing's bid to have the site given World Heritage status. World Heritage sites in China include the Forbidden City, the Summer Palace, the Temple of Heaven and the GreatWall.
Heritage listing sought for Japanese germ centre Age (subscription)
China wants to put Japanese germ warfare site on World Heritage ... People's Daily Online
Germ warfare site bids for heritage status Xinhua
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China Says Still Considering Summit with Japanese PM Chosun Ilbo
China says it is still considering a proposal by Tokyo to hold a bilateral summit between Chinese President Hu Jintao and Japanese Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi.
Why Japan And China Are Squaring Off BusinessWeek
Blame where blame's due Taipei Times
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KMT chairman to visit mainland from April 26 to May 3 Xinhua
Lien Chan (連戰), chairman of Taiwan's Kuomintang (KMT) party, will visit the mainland cities of Nanjing, Beijing, Xi'an and Shanghai from April 26 to May 3, officials said Wednesday.
Taiwan opposition leader outlines plans for China 'peace trip' Radio Australia
China's Hu to see Nationalist head CNN International
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Feds 'did the right thing' NEWS.com.au
AUSTRALIANS stand staunchly behind the decision by Australian Federal Police to alert Indonesian authorities to an alleged heroin-smuggling syndicate, despite the fact some of the suspects may face the firing squad.
Nine Aussies may get death Mid-Day Mumbai
Govt defends AFP over Bali drug arrests Age (subscription)
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Earthquakes Hit Japan's Southwestern Island of Kyushu Bloomberg
A series of earthquakes shook Japan's southwestern island of Kyushu this morning causing injuries and some damage, the Japan Meteorological Agency said.
Europe; Quake hits Japan’s southern Kyushu island, injures 10: Keralanext
Quake hits southern Japan NDTV.com
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17 Afghans Freed From Guantánamo Prison New York Times
Seventeen Afghan detainees released from the American prison camp at Guantánamo Bay, Cuba, were formally handed over to Afghan authorities here on Tuesday.
Military Frees 17 Afghans from Guantanamo Prison Reuters
17 Afghans, Turk Home From Guantanamo Bay Guardian
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Plundered Obelisk Arrives in Ethiopia ABC News
A crane lifts a piece of the ancient Axum obelisk, the monument seized as a war trophy by Italian dictator Benito Mussolini, as it arrives in Axum, Ethiopia, Tuesday, April 19, 2005 aboard a giant Antonov 124 cargo plane.
After nearly 60 years, Italy returns the Obelisk of Axum Independent
Plundered Obelisk Arrives in Ethiopia Guardian
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I am all in favour of preserving the ruins or otherwise of the sites of atrocities and making them memorials for the sake of World Peace. (Regarding the post you put up for me, thanks.)

Bolton vote pushed back Kansas City Star
The Senate Foreign Relations Committee agreed to delay a vote on his nomination to investigate fresh allegations of improper conduct. The decision came after Sen. George Voinovich of Ohio shocked fellow Republicans
US Senate committee delays Bolton vote ABC Online
Republican blow to Bush UN nominee Times Online
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Thanks lazyboy!

Sombre ceremony on 10th Oklahoma bombing anniversary Earthtimes.org
The tenth anniversary of one of the worst ever terrorist bombings in American history, the Oklahoma City bombing was solemnly observed as survivors, friends and aggrieved family members of victims gathered together at the First United Methodist Church, to pay homage to the 168 lives lost in the ghastly crime. Commemorating the souls that departed in the bombing on April 19, 1995, all those who had come together for the memorial service maintained 168 seconds of silence, a second each for the 168 people who had died at 9.02 a.m. which was the precise moment of the bombing. A decade back on April 19, a 4,000 lb Ryder rental truck bomb blew up in front of the Alfred P Murrah federal office building, ruthlessly killing 168 people.
Seconds of Silence Launch Remembrance of Bombing Los Angeles Times (subscription)
Anniversary of bombing amid new terror fears Gulf Times
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An invitation to 'rediscover Lincoln' Chicago Sun-Times
The doors to the Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library and Museum swung open Tuesday to lavish praise from President Bush, who predicted the state's newest tourism draw will refocus scholars and schoolchildren on "all that America hopes to be."Bush Honors President Lincoln Washington Post
Bush dedicates Lincoln museum Kansas City Star
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Michigan soldier among three from Fort Carson killed in Iraq Detroit Free Press
The deaths of a Michigan man and two fellow soldiers in Iraq has hit the 2nd Brigade Combat Team, which suffered its deadliest attack since losing four soldiers in March.
Va. Coach Recalls Easygoing Soldier Washington Post
3 soldiers die in Ramadi rocket attack Colorado Springs Gazette
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Legal status for undocumented farmworkers fails San Diego Union Tribune
The Senate turned back a proposal yesterday to offer legal status to hundreds of thousands of undocumented farmworkers, but advocates vowed to press on despite what they called a temporary setback in their efforts to reform the nation's immigration laws. "We will be back," declared Sen. Larry Craig, R-Idaho, taking satisfaction in the 53 votes the measure received.
Immigration Measure Blocked Los Angeles Times (subscription)
Senate rejects competing farmworker bills BusinessWeek
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Italy's Berlusconi Says to Resign, Form New Govt Reuters
Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi announced to parliament that he would resign on Wednesday but immediately form a new government with the same center-right coalition partners. Berlusconi told the upper house (Senate) he was determined to serve out the rest of his five-year mandate as prime minister -- taking him to a general election slated for spring 2006.
Berlusconi Will Resign, Form New Gov't ABC News
Italian premier takes the steps to avoid confidence vote MarketWatch
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White House Renews Support for Bolton ABC News
Democratic members of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee talk prior to a meeting to vote on John Bolton to be US ambassador to the United Nations.
Rice: Bush needs Bolton at UN CNN
Senate panel delays vote on UN nominee Providence Journal (subscription)
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'No euphoria' in Germany; China eyes better ties MSNBC
One of Joseph Ratzinger's strongest critics, liberal theologian Hans Kueng, whose license to teach theology was revoked by the Vatican in 1979, was disappointment but also wished the new pope well.
Pope Benedict XVI Detroit Free Press
A 'wedge,' or a 'unifier'? Chicago Sun-Times
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Bodies Of 50 Iraqis Found near Capital All Headlines News
Authorities have discovered the remains of 50 people in the Tigris River just south of Baghdad. Iraq President Jalal Talabani says, "More than 50 bodies have been brought out from the Tigris and we have the full names of those who were killed and those criminals who committed these crimes." He also says, "We will give you details in the coming days ... terrorists committed crimes there. It is not true that there were no hostages. There were, but they were killed and they threw the bodies into the Tigris."
More Than 50 Bodies Found in Iraqi River Elites TV
Bodies of 57 Iraqis pulled from river Times Online
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Israel Begins Pullout from Gaza Voice of America
Israel has begun moving military equipment out of the Gaza Strip in preparation for its summer pullout. And the Palestinians are urging Israel to coordinate the withdrawal with them.
Israeli Army Begins Removing Equipement From Gaza Elites TV
Israeli Army Moves Gear Out of Gaza Before Pullout Reuters
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PM's crucial role in Asian war rift Advertiser Adelaide
PRIME Minister John Howard last night engaged in a round of chopsticks diplomacy as an informal middleman in the China-Japan scrap.
Beijing's power play a warning to the region Australian
Australia, Japan Consider Free-Trade Agreement Voice of America
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Consumer Prices Climb, Raising Inflation Concerns New York Times
Consumer prices rose faster than expected in March as the cost of gasoline, food, medical care, insurance and housing all increased, the Labor Department reported today. Economists expected the data to reinforce the Federal Reserve's determination to continue raising short-term interest to keep inflationary pressures under control
Inflation Surges 0.6% in March Los Angeles Times (subscription)
Consumer Prices Up More Than Expected Reuters
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Ecuador Congress Votes to Remove President ABC News
Protesters climb on top of a police car in front the Government Palace in Quito, Ecuador, April 20, 2005 as they stage a demonstration calling for the resignation of Ecuadorean President Lucio Gutierrez.
Ecuadorian President orders border closure Xinhua
Ecuador gets new president after Gutierrez driven from office Kansas City Star
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GOP Senator Wavers on Bolton Washington Post
A key Republican senator signaled yesterday he is less likely to support the embattled nomination of John R. Bolton to be United Nations ambassador after a dramatic meeting Tuesday, and said he would discuss with GOP colleagues whether President Bush should withdraw Bolton's name. The White House, meanwhile, launched an aggressive campaign to salvage the nomination. Spokesman Scott McClellan accused Democrats of manufacturing charges to discredit Bolton and "score political points."
Bolton is no sure bet for the UN post, foes now say Minneapolis Star Tribune (subscription)
White House ready for Bolton battle Financial Times
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At Conclave, A Prediction And Promise Washington Post
Behind the sealed doors of the Sistine Chapel, the cardinals of the Roman Catholic Church burst into applause Tuesday afternoon when, after four rounds of voting, Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger received more than the 77 votes needed to become pope. Head bowed, Ratzinger remained silent, unmoving. Then the hush spread to the 114 other cardinals as they awaited the new pope's Accepto, his formal acceptance. In a low voice roughened by a cold, Ratzinger told them he would like to be known as Benedict XVI, honoring Saint Benedict, the patron saint of Europe, and Benedict XV, the pope who tried to stop the First World War. "I, too, hope in this short reign to be a man of peace," the new pope said, according to Cardinal Francis George of Chicago.
Benedict XVI Milwaukee Journal Sentinel
Signorile and Ratzinger The Advocate
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Hart picked for hot seat Pittsburgh Post Gazette
Four House ethics committee Republicans yesterday tried but failed to break a deadlock over controversial new ethics rules by offering to modify them slightly and to initiate an inquiry into House Majority Leader Tom DeLay's controversial foreign trips and relations with lobbyists. If Democrats had agreed to the GOP compromise, Rep. Melissa Hart, R-Bradford Woods, a new committee member, would have led an ethics subcommittee charged with investigating DeLay, R-Texas. Hart was appointed to the panel -- formally called the House Committee on Standards of Official Conduct -- earlier this year, when House Speaker J. Dennis Hastert, R-Ill., replaced its chairman, Rep. Joel Hefley, R-Colo., and two other GOP members. Democrats cast Hastert's action as retribution against party members on the panel. Last year, the panel admonished DeLay three times for his conduct, even though it did not find that he had broken House rules.
DeLay investigation offered Pittsburgh Tribune-Review
An Ethics Offer Washington Post
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