February 24 2005

• In Somalia, thousands greet Abdullahi Yusuf Ahmed and Mohammed 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 from Kenya to Somalia (Reuters AlertNet) (BBC)
• The Anglican Churches of North America – the Episcopal Church in the United States and the Anglican Church of Canada – are asked to voluntarily withdraw their members from the Anglican Consultative Council until after the next Lambeth Conference in 2008. 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 in New Hampshire and the blessing of same-sex unions by the Canadian church, and presages a schism if they do not comply. (BBC)
• In Taiwan, Chen Shui-bian and People First Party Chairman James 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. (Reuters) (United Evening News)
• The PRC objects to former US President Bill Clinton's plan to visit Taiwan and meet with the ROC President Chen Shui-bian. (VOA)
• Pope John Paul II returns to hospital in Rome for more specialist treatments and tests. (ANSA) Doctors decided to carry out a tracheotomy, which was performed successfully.
• Canadian Prime Minister Paul Martin tells the US ambassador to Canada that he will say "no" to the US' proposed missile defense plan. (Xinhua) (CNN) (CTV) (Reuters)
• Slovakia Summit between U.S. President George W. Bush and Russian President Vladimir Putin begins in Bratislava. (Slovak Spectator)
• In Colombia, there is a ceremony to mark the three-year anniversary of the capture of Ingrid Betancourt, former Colombian presidential candidate who is still a FARC hostage. She was captured February 2002. Her relatives are pressing government to make a prisoner swap for her and other hostages. (Newsday) (BBC)
• Colombian supreme court authorizes the extradition of drug dealer Miguel Rodriguez Orejuela to the USA (Reuters Alertnet) (VOA) (BBC)
• In Sudan, an ammunition depot explodes near the town of Juba - at least 18 are dead and the toll continues to rise (BBC) (ABC)
• In Mexico, the supreme court rules that former President Luis Echeverría cannot be tried for genocide because of 30-year statute of limitations. Echeverría was accused of genocide because he ordered an attack on protesting students in 1971, resulting in 40 deaths. (Reuters) (BBC)
• Foreign Minister of Burma/Myanmar Nyan Win visits Bangladesh to discuss with Shamsher M Chowdhury about a direct road link between the countries and repatriation of Burmese refugees 05-29.htm (Mizzima) (Financial Express, Bangladesh) (BBC)
• Ebert Anibal Rivera, alleged head of a Mara Salvatrucha gang that killed 28 bus passengers in Honduras last December 23, is arrested in Texas. Honduras intends to request extradition if Texas authorities do not file charges. (Reuters) (Houston Chronicle) (BBC)
• Italian court orders Diego Maradona to pay 30 million euros of back taxes (equal to US$39.6 million) (Sporting Life) (BBC)
• New EU laws declare lottery scams illegal (BBC)
• The parliament of Turkey grants amnesty to 677,000 people who have been expelled from university in recent years (BBC)
• In Kyrgyzstan, thousands of people protest in support of opposition politicians who were barred from elections (BBC)
• French Finance Minister Hervé 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. (Reuters) (Financial Times)