The year 2004


• 1/11/2004 Pentagon auditors altered files, report says by Larry Margasak, Associated Press.
      Washington - Pentagon auditors spent hours altering their own files in order to pass an internal review, say investigators who found that the accounting sleuths engaged in just the kind of wasteful activity that they are suppose to expose.    When the auditors in the New York City office learned well in advance which files a review team would check, they spent the equivalent of more than 47 days doctoring the papers and updating records from several audits, the Defense Department's inspector general concluded.    Administrative staff, audit supervisors and other employees also participated in the scheme at the Defense Contract Audit Agency, which violates rules on ethical conduct.    This agency is supposed to be the watchdog for defense contracts, and they undermined the accuracy of the Pentagon's cost report.
• 1/13/2004 Bush, Mexico's Fox look to ease tensions by Deb Riechman, Associated Press.
      Monterey, Mexico - President Bush won strong support from Mexican President Vicente Fox for his new immigration proposals as the two leaders worked to smooth strained relations and pursue broader trade ties.    Fox opposed the war in Iraq, but congratulated Bush for the capture of Saddam Hussein.    Bush said that both he and Fox were committed to free trade and that trade between the two countries had grown during the past decade - the lifespan of the North American Free Trade Agreement - from $100 billion to $232 billion.    Fox claims that Mexico has the lowest unemployment rate, which he attributed to the NAFTA treaty.
• 1/14/2004 Trade bars assailed, Greenspan see economic threat by Jeannine Aversa, Associated Press.
      Washington - Federal Reserve Chairman Alan Greenspan renewed a warning that slow steps toward restricting trade could hurt the flexibility of the global economy and make it difficult for the United States and other countries to weather economic hard times.    He was against the tide of emerging protectionism in a time of tensions surrounding globalization and the world's trading climate.    President Bush had imposed steep tariffs on certain types of steel, but lifted them in December under threat of retaliation by Europeans and other trading partners.    Even Congress has tried to raise protectionist barriers in dealings with China.    The dollar has fallen 25 percent against major foreign currencies since early 2002, Greenspan said.    The euro has surged in value against the U.S. dollar, making U.S. goods more competitive in foreign markets and European goods less competitive.
• 1/14/2004 China places $2.3 billion order for telecom gear by Johnathan D. Salant, Associated Press.
      Washington - Chinese telecommunications companies agreed to buy $2.3 billion in equipment from U.S. firms, which was praised by President Bush as a step toward better balancing trade between the countries, help generate corporate revenue, and support high-tech manufacturing jobs in American communities.    Bush has criticized China for its expansive trade surplus with the U.S., which the deficit surpassed $120 billion for 2003    China has been on a buying spree in America, for jetliners, soybeans and other goods.    Companies such as Motorola Inc., Cisco Systems Inc., Ericsson Inc., Intel Corp., Lucent Technologies Inc., Nortel Networks Ltd. and UTStarcom Inc. stand to gain from the deals.
• 1/14/2004 Bush says Canada eligible for contracts by Scott Lindlaw, Associated Press.
      Monterey, Mexico - President Bush said Canada could bid for lucrative Iraqi construction projects along with three or four other countries.    He excluded France, Germany and Russia from postwar contracts because they opposed the U.S.-led invasion that toppled Saddam Hussein.    Canada was having trade issues due to U.S. tariffs on lumber imports to restrictions on their meat because of mad cow disease.
• 1/26/2004 U.S., Costa Rica reach free-trade agreement by AP.
      Washington - The Bush administration reached an agreement with Costa Rica that will allow that nation to join four of its neighbors in creating a Central American Free Trade Area with the United States.    Areas in telecommunications and insurance differences have been worked out.    Guatemala, El Salvador, Nicaragua and Honduras who are in on CAFTA.
• 1/31/2004 Russian forces plan mock nuclear war by AP.
      Moscow - Russia's nuclear forces are preparing their largest maneuvers in two decades in mid February, an exercise involving the test-firing of missles and flights by dozens of bombers in a massive simulation of an all-out nuclear war.    President Vladimir Putin is expected to oversee the maneuvers to demonstrate the revival of the nation's military might.
• 2/4/2004 China joins other nations in rush for oil from Africa by Ellen Knickmeyer, Associated Press.
      Dakar, Senegal - The West African nation of Gabon is not a high profile country, and China is having a state visit.    Why?    Oil.    China which is driving global demand for oil has claimed the No. 2 spot in oil imports in late 2003, second to the U.S.    China, the U.S., Japan, Europe, India are all dependant on the oil from the volatile Middle East and elbowing each other in a rush to oil sources in West Africa, the Capsian, Russia, South America and elsewhere.    China has even visited and invested hundreds of millions of dollars in refineries in Algeria, a North African nation which is a no-go zone for most world leaders.    China's oil demand shot up 10 percent last year, and oil imports are up by a record 30 percent, with an economy in overdrive.
• 2/8/2004 U.S., its allies reach deal on exchange rate of dollar by AP.
      Boca Raton, Fla. - The United States and its allies softened differences over whether the dollar fall freely under market pressures or prop it up with government intervention.    The agreement was included in the final communique by the Group of Seven leading industrial countries at the end of talks to deal with a dollar that has slumped to record lows against the euro, the common currency of 12 European countries.    The G-7 countries proclaim that the global economic recovery has strengthened in recent months, and this allows a way to increase U.S. exports and deal with the loss of 2.8 million U.S. manufracturing jobs over the past 3^1/2 years.
• 2/9/2004 U.S., Australia sign free-trade deal by AP.
      Washington - The U.S. and Australia concluded a free-trade agreement that officials said will eliminate duties from more than 99 percent of American manufacturing exports to Australia, its 13^th-largest export market for cotton, beef, dairy, sugar and wheat.    The deal gives Australia freedom from U.S. tariffs on fruit, vegetables, fish and flowers.
• 3/2/2004 EU imposes sanctions on U.S. goods in dispute by AP.
      The European Union sought to pressure the U.S. Congress into quickly changing its export subsidy laws by imposing sanctions that could total $300 million in key industries by the end of the U.S. election year.    The 15-nation EU said it had run out of patience with the U.S. for failing to repeal foreign sales corporation legislation two years after the tax breaks it offers to exporters were ruled illegal by the Wolrd Trade Organization.    The sanctions will hit everything from jewelry to textiles and agricultural goods.
• 3/15/2004 Putin's election win merely a formality by Seth Mydans, The New York Times.
      Moscow - President Vladimir Putin cruised to a second term in an election that consolidated his control of power in Russia.    He controls the parliament, limited access to opponents to news media and harrassed their campaigns, and is started to name his new Cabinet.    The U.S. begs him to a better job of making democracy work, a full democracy is what the international community will recognize.    Many believe his actions mark the end of Russia's post-Soviet experiment with democracy, and he will select his successor in 2008.
• 3/15/2004 Chinese amendment protects capitalists by AP.
      Beijing - Communist-led China took the historic step of amending its constitution to protect the property rights of capitalists who are driving its economic boom, while promising to focus on helping farmers and millions of others left behind.    The nation's parliament, making changes dictated by the Communist Party, also passed an amendment declaring respect for human rights but not promising free political expression - a key issue for the government critics.    This promise is to shift development to the poor countryside, where 800 million Chinese live.
• 3/17/2004 Poll suggests four Muslim countries see war on terror as U.S. grab for oil by Will Lester, Associated Press.
      Washington - A majority of people living in Jordan, Morocco, Pakistan and Turkey along with France, Germany and Russia say they believe the U.S. is conducting its campaign against terror to control Mideast oil and to dominate the world, according to a poll by the Pew Global Attitudes Project.
• 3/19/2004 Administration files 1st WTO case against China by AP.
      The Bush administration said that it was filing the first case against China before the World Trade Organization, contending China is using its tax code to discriminate against American semi-conductor manufacturers.    The action, the first targeting China since it joined the WTO in late 2001, is another step in the administration's effort to show it is acting to deal with America's surging trade deficit with China.    That deficit last year hit $124 billion, the largest gap the U.S. has ever recorded with any nation.
• 3/24/2004 Tensions grow as EU nears fine for Microsoft by Paul Geitner, Associated Press.
      Brussels, Belgium - In a preview of its appeal, Microsoft Corp. accused the European Union of over-reaching by including its U.S. business in calculating a recoird $615 million fine for alleged antitrust abuses.    With the EU decision on Microsoft due today, trans-Atlantic tensions began to sizzle as they did the last time the EU took on U.S. corporate giants and blocked General Electric Co.'s planned deal for Honeywell International Inc., thus assaulting successful American industry and policies that support our economic growth.    Microsoft does about 30 percent of its business in Europe, and they cannot fine operations regulated by the U.S. government.    The EU wants a version of Windows stripped of the company's digital media player, to negate the monopoly they have on competitors.
• 3/26/2004 Blair visits Gadhafi, says Libya can help in terror war by AP.
      Tripoli, Libya - British Prime Minister Tony Blair the fisrt to visit with Moammar Gadhafi, said the Libyan leader could be an important partner in the war on terror.    Blair will push for a EU arms embargo to be lifted, mainly because they have dismantled its chemical, nuclear and biological weapons programs, and he plans to offer them military protection along with a agreement to develop gas resources.
• 3/29/2004 Arab summit postponed over disagreements by Sam F. Ghattas, Associated Press.
      Tunis, Tunisia - Egypt's President Hosni Mubarak offered to hold a summit of Arab leaders, trying to resurrect a meeting that collapsed because of deep divisions over how to bring more democracy to the Middle East and tackle the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.    Syrian Foreign Minister Farouk al-Sharaa blamed host Tunisia for the collapse at the summit of the 22-member Arab League.
• 3/30/2004 Former Soviet-bloc nations join NATO by Tom Raum, Associated Press.
      Washington - President Bush welcomed seven former Soviet-bloc nations into NATO, saying the 55-year old Western alliance would be strengthened.    The expansion of NATO to 26 members by adding Bulgaria, Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, Romania, Slovakia and Slovenia.
• 3/31/2004 OPEC leaders vow to cut output by Adam Smallman, Dow Jones Newswires.
      Vienna - Most OPEC ministers appeared ready to play hardball with crude-consuming countries, by slowing the flow of oil.    OPEC kingpin, Saudi Arabia Oil Minister Ali Naimi said they will stick to trim output by 1 million barrels per day, also to be done by Venezuela, Libya, Algeria and Iran.    OPEC supplies about a third of the world's oil, 24.5 million barrels per day.    At present crude is at $36.25 a barrel, up 80 cents, but could rise to $40 per barrel and could damage the global economy.    Of course President Bush threw in his, if Congress had approved his energy proposals three years ago we would not be paying high prices for gasoline.
• 4/4/2004 Russia questions purpose behind an expanded NATO by Robert Wielaard, Associated Press.
      Brussels, Belgium - Russia expressed doubt whether a bigger NATO would improve Europe's stability.    NATO's expansion will be followed in a month by the European Union's absorption of 10 new members that represent the end of decades of Cold War division in Europe.    Therefore they have recovered their sovereignty and feel secure.    Russia has expressed concern over the eastward expansion of its Cold War foe, but does not fear NATO expansion, just that it will not improve international security.    NATO's goal includes Afghanistan, arms control and the fight against terrorism.    The hope is to elevate NATO-Russia relations to a new quality, but Russians feels excluded.
• 4/13/2004 Moderate Shiites targeted in Iraq by John Yaukey, Gannett News Service.
      Baghdad, Iraq - Iraq's moderate Shiites led by cleric Mugtada al-Sadr, who have been cooperating with U.S. military and civil authorities and want to play a major role in a democratic government, are vital American allies in a nation teetering on chaos.    They are also sworn enemies of Islam's most violent radicals.    Al-Qaida operative Abu Musab al-Zarqawi, calls on Iraq's Sunni Muslims to slaughter their Shiite countrymen, because they are not true Muslims, who are spies for the Americans.    Their intent is to destroy U.S. plans for democracy and drive them out of the Middle East, and restore Islamic law and values.    Saudi Arabia is home of the Wahabis, a hyperfundamentalist sect within Sunni Islam that bred Osama bin Laden and like-minded extremists who see moderate Muslims as enemies, a hatred that goes back to the 19^th century.
  
• 4/18/2004 U.S. softens plan for reform in the Mideast by Barbara Slavin, USA Today.
      A heavily promoted U.S. plan to foster democracy in the Middle East is dwindling into a modest reform agenda in an area dominated by authoritarian regimes.    President Bush foreshadowed the plan, talking about the importance of democratic reforms in the region, which Arabs reacted to angrily at being told what to do.    Arab countries are fundamentalist Islamic groups that are violently opposed to the U.S. and its policies in the region.    Democracy would not be possible because Islamist would be in power.    The U.S. softening came because of the world's need for Saudi oil and cooperation to fight the al-Qaida terrorist network.    Can democracy succeed in the Middle East as it did in Eastern Europe after the communist regimes fell?    Eastern Europe was largely secular and more educated, and had a history of liberal democracy.    The U.S. may just be incubating more Islamic extremism.
• 4/24/2004 Bush OKs resumption of some trade, financial ties with Libya by George Gedda, Associated Press.
      Washington - President Bush took steps to restore normal trade and investment with Libya, moving to allow resumption of oil imports, commercial and financial activities as a reward to Moammar Gadhafi for eliminating his most destructive weapons.    He also has curbed ties with some terrorist groups.
• 5/1/2004 New European Union nations celebrate inclusion in coalition by William J. Kole, Associated Press.
      Prague, Czech Republic - In the European Union's historic enlargement from 15 nations to 25, taking in the former Soviet bloc, and now 450 million citizens as an economic giant rivaling the U.S.    The eight former communist countries - the Czech Republic, Estonia, Hungary, Latvia, Lithuania, Poland, Slovakia and Slovenia, along with Cyprus and Malta was a great celebration.    The EU flag, a circle of 12 yellow stars on a blue field, went up in the new countries.
• 5/3/2004 Turkey rebuffed by growing European Union by James C. Helicke, Associated Press.
      Instanbul, Turkey - Turkey was left out of the joining of the European Union.    The issue goes to the core of Turkey's geographical and cultural identity - an Asian country with a geographical foothold in Europe, and a secular republic whose population of 68 million is 99 percent Muslim, to the EU they are not European and would mean the end of the European Union disrupting an overwhelming Christian bond.    The Bush administration views Turkey as a valuable NATO ally and an example of how Islam and democracy can coexist peacefully.    The EU will decide in December whether to begin membership negotiations with Turkey.    Turkey a country that equals Germany in population, may if allowed in also reach Syria and Iraq.
• 5/4/2004 ACLU files suit on behalf of G-8 demonstrators by AP.
      Savannah, Ga. - The ACLU filed suit on behalf of people planning to demonstrate at the G-8 economic summit, saying local ordinances requiring permits for groups of six or more illegally restrict free speech.    Thousands of demonstrators are expected when President Bush meets with world leaders June 8-10 at Sea Island on Georgia's coast.    The law require groups to put up deposits equal to the estimated costs of cleanup and police protection, and prohibit carrying signs larger than 2 feet by 3 feet or sticks that can be used as weapons.
• 5/12/2004 Bush curbs exports to Syria, calling its acts threat to U.S. by Pete Yost, Associated Press.
      Washington - President Bush banned all U.S. exports to Syria except food and medicine, ordering sanctions after long-standing complaints that the Middle Eastern nation was supporting terrorism and undermining U.S. efforts in Iraq.    The actions of the Syrian government - including pursuing weapons of mass destruction and occupying Lebanon - represent a threat to the national security, foreign policy and economy of the U.S.    They have been supporting militant groups such as Hamas and Hezbollah and failing to stop guerillas from crossing into Iraq.    Trade between the U.S. and Syria totals about $300 million a year.
• 5/13/2004 Syria denounces new U.S. sanctions against it by AP.
      Damascus, Syria - Syria denounced U.S. economic sanctions against it and other Arab countries, including close U.S. allies, joined in the criticism.    Europe ignored the penalties by dispatching a trade delegation to Damascus.    Some Arabs questioned the validity of the measures and the motives behind them, saying they serve Israel - not American - interests and could further antagonize Arab feelings toward the U.S., already soured by the war in Iraq, the prisoner-abuse scandal and the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.
• 5/13/2004 Oil price threat to recovery by Bruce Stanley, Associated Press.
      London - Demand for oil is growing at its fastest rate in eight years, and the world's economic recovery could fizzle unless suppliers drill new wells and produce fresh crude, the International Energy Agency warned.    With oil prices reaching 13-year highs, OPEC, which pumps a third of the world's oil, may raise its production ceiling in a bid to cool the market.    Crude futures jumped 71 cents to close at $40.77, which has not happened since 1990, ahead of the Persian Gulf War.    China's thirst for imported oil and the soaring demand for gasoline and jet fuel in industrialized countries is moving up to 80.6 million barrels a day, an increase of 2.5 percent.    OPEC is still forcing importers to run down oil inventories, even with the capacity to pump more oil up by 6 percent to 25 million barrels a day to regain market stability.
• 5/23/2004 Arab leaders discuss Iraq, Palestinians at summit by Salah Nasrawi, Associated Press.
      Tunis, Tunisia - Arab leaders meeting at an annual summit were united in outrage about the prisoner-abuse scandal in Iraq, according to draft resolutions that also condemned terrorism and reiterated calls for Arab-Israeli peace.    Libyan leader Moammar Gadhafi walked out and threatened to withdraw from the 22-member Arab League, over any solution to the Palestinian refugee problem must include giving them back the land they lost to Israel in 1948 and 1967 wars.    They also want to reactivate the U.S.-backed "road map" peace plan that envisions a Palestinian state by next year.
• 6/9/2004 Bush, other summit leaders focus on common bond in Iraq by Tom Raum, Associated Press.
      Sea Island, Ga. - President Bush and other world leaders showcased a new common bond on Iraq at their annual "Group of Eight" summit, but issues still remained over both Iraq and Bush's plan to promote democracy across the wider Middle East.    Only the U.S., Britain, Italy and Japan have troops in Iraq.    Bush's plan to promote democracy across the Muslim world depends on the success in resolving conflicts in Iraq and between Israel and the Palestinians.
• 6/14/2004 European voters batter leaders over Iraq, union by Robert Barr, Associated Press.
      London - European voters in a continent-wide democratic vote punished leaders in Britain, Italy and the Netherlands for getting involved in Iraq and also turned their ire on the war's chief opponents, Germany and France over local issues.    The 25-nation vote revealed anxieties about issues close to home: the newly expanded European Union itself, being allowed to vote on the new constitution.
• 6/19/2004 Nuclear agency delivers harsh word to Iran by George Jahn, Associated Press.
      Vienna, Austria - The International Atomic Energy Agency a 35-member board of governors rebuked Iran of past cover-ups in its nuclear program and warned the Islamic republic it has little time left to disprove it has a nuclear weapons program.    Iran threatened retaliation, claiming its nuclear program is for peaceful energy purposes.
• 6/19/2004 U.S. proposes new tariffs on Chinese furniture by Leigh Strope, Associated Press.
      The Bush administration proposed new tariffs that range from 5 percent to 198 percent on wooden bedroom furniture from China the largest exporter of furniture as it decided that companies there are dumping beds, dressers, armoires and desks into the U.S. at artificially low prices.    More than a quarter of U.S. jobs in their industry have been lost because China has been exporting illegally furniture that sells for less than the cost to make it.
• 6/20/2004 Iran considers relaunching its uranium enrichment operations by Ali Akbar Dareini, Associated Press.
      Tehran, Iran - Iran will resume some nuclear activities it suspended under world pressure and is considering restarting the uranium enrichment, defying a resolution from the U.N. nuclear watchdog.    Iran also rejected demands by the U.N. group to stop building a heavy water nuclear reactor and halt operations of a nuclear conversion facility in central Iran.
• 6/21/2004 Senate leaders urge France, Germany to help in Iraq by AP.
      Washington - France and Germany came under strong criticism by senators who said more international help, including the support of NATO, will be needed to provide security in Iraq after the transfer of political control at month's end.
• 6/23/2004 U.S. to press China on trade by Elaine Kurtenbach, Associated Press.
      Beijing - U.S. Commerce Secretary Don Evans will press Chinese officials over a complaint against optical-fiber maker Corning Inc. and call on Beijing to ensure the case is handled in line with World Trade Organization rules.    The complaint that Corning hurt Chinese producers by selling fiber at unjustifiably low prices is among a series of anti-dumping cases brought by China.    The Corning, N.Y., company denies the accusations.    The disputes over 17 U.S. anti-dumping sanctions against Chinese furniture and TV sets is the reason behind this.
• 6/27/2004 Bush looks for NATO support on Iraq by Terence Hunt, Associated Press.
      Ankara, Turkey - With the 25-nation European Union support in hand, President Bush looked to seal an agreement for NATO to help stabilize Iraq as its fledgling government takes over this week.    Nineteen of NATO's 26 members are part of the EU.
• 6/28/2004 Iran says it will restart centrifuge production by Ali Akbar Dareini, Associated Press.
      Tehran, Iran - Iran said it will resume building centrifuges of its nuclear program and would not use the devices to enrich uranium - for now.    The White House called Iran's decision further proof that it is trying to build an atomic bomb, and have tagged them as the "axis of evil."
• 6/28/2004 NATO will help train Iraqi force by Mike Allen, The Washington Post.
      Instanbul, Turkey - 26 NATO countries will set aside their objections and agree to provide emergency training for the new Iraqi military, a request from Ayad Allawi, the prime minister of the interim Iraqi government.
• 6/29/2004 U.S. restores normal diplomatic relations with Libya by Barry Schweid, Associated Press.
      Washington - The U.S. resumed direct diplomatic ties with Libya after a 24-year break.
• 6/29/2004 'Iraq is sovereign' - U.S. hands over control to interim government by Robert H. Reid, Associated Press.
      Baghdad, Iraq - In a surprise, secret ceremony that was hastily convened to decrease the chances of more violence, U.S. officials handed over sovereignty to Iraqi leaders two days earlier than scheduled, after a 15-month occupation.    Next is a Conference of Iraqis to choose an Interim National Council to advise the interim government in July, and voter registration in September, and elections in January.
• 6/30/2004 Middle East asked to embrace democracy by Terence Hunt, Associated Press.
      Instanbul, Turkey - President Bush urged the Muslim world to put aside suspicion and hatred toward the West and embrace democracy, saying that does not mean Arab nations have to accept American culture.    Bush said "freedom is the future of the Middle East."    "No democracy can allow religious people to impose their own view of perfection on others, because this invites cruelty and arrogance that are foreign to every faith," the president said.    Bush said democratic countries can have their own traditions and cultures and need not agree with each other.    He cited Turkey, a predominantly Muslim nation, as a secular democracy that could serve as a model for other countries.
• 6/30/2004 Saddam will be handed over to new Iraqi authorities by Jim Krane, Associated Press.
      Baghdad, Iraq - Iraqis and the world will get their first glimpse of Saddam Hussein since his capture and 11 of his top lieutenants are brought to court to face war-crimes charges in a pre-trial.
• 7/2/2004 'I am Saddam Hussein, the president of Iraq' - Defiant ex-dictator scoffs at charges by AP.
      Baghdad, Iraq - Saddam Hussein rejected charges of war crimes and mass killings on his day in court, making a defiant first public appearance since being hunted down seven months ago.
• 7/9/2004 Philip Morris seals deal with EU over Marlboro by AP.
      Philip Morris International and the European Union have sealed a deal for the maker of Marlboro cigarettes to pay $1 billion to fight smuggling and counterfeits that are costing both sides hundreds of millions annually in lost taxes and sales.
• 7/9/2004 U.S., China resolve semiconductor fight by AP.
      The Bush administration said it had resolved a trade dispute with China over U.S. semiconductor exports, countering Democratic criticism it is not doing enough to protect American jobs and manufacturers.    China has agreed to phase out tax preferences for Chinese makers of semiconductors that put U.S. manufacturers at a competitive disadvantage.    This was the first case against China filed before the WTO
• 7/22/2004 U.S. seeks retaliatory tariffs against Japan by AP.
      The U.S. is seeking authorization from the WTO to impose $143.4 million in trade sanctions against Japan over restrictions on imports of U.S. apples.    Japan said it imposed the restrictions to prevent fire blight, a bacterial disease found in the U.S. that can reduce yields and kill trees, from reaching Japan.    The WTO ruled in December 2003 that the Japanese restrictions were illegal after the U.S. argued that the disease could not be carried on mature symptonless apples.
• 7/30/2004 U.S. proposes tariffs on imported shrimp by AP.
      The Bush administration proposed tarrifs on shrimp imports from four of the largest shrimp-producing nations in Asia and South America, accusing them of hurting domestic producers by dumping shellfish on the U.S. market at low prices.    The tarrifs against Brazil, Ecuador, India and Thailand range from 4 percent to 68 percent.    The same was done regarding China and Vietnam, and all six countries provide about 75 percent of the shrimp Americans eat.
• 8/22/2004 African solutions to regional wars slow to develop by Terry Leonard, Associated Press.
      Johannesburg, South Africa - As an Aug. 31 deadline nears for Sudan to disarm the mostly Arab pro-government militias in Darfur, the U.N. and Western powers are in a dilemma over how much help to offer.    The West is reluctant to intervene militarily in Africa, while troops are in Iraq and Afghanistan.    Africa is not ready to lead their rehabilitation and stability, but the African Union is trying to hold peace talks in Nigeria.    The 15-nation Security Council is extending Sudan's deadline and give more monitoring.
• 9/1/2004 WTO sanctions U.S. over anti-dumping rules by AP.
      The WTO authorized the EU and seven other U.S. trading partners to impose more than $150 million worth of sanctions against the U.S. for failing to repeal anti-dumping rules that WTO deemed illegal.   
• 9/16/2004 OPEC raises output target by Matt Moore, Associated Press.
      Vienna, Austria - Eleven members of OPEC will increase its oil production target by 1 million barrels a day later this year to 27 million barrels a day.    The price per barrel neared $50 a barrel last month
• 9/19/2004 U.N. tells Iran to halt uranium enrichment by George Jahn, Associated Press.
      Vienna, Austria - The 35 nations in the U.N. atomic watchdog agency demanded that Iran freeze all work on uranium enrichment, or the making of uranium hexafluoride, the gas that when spun in centrifuges turns into enriched uranium, used in the making of nuclear weapons.
• 9/26/2004 Britain offers to pay off some Third World debt by Alan Cowell, The New York Times.
      London - Britain is planning a new effort to help poor countries reduce their debts by offering to pay off 10 percent of the total owed to international agencies and challenging other nations to follow suit.    This comes just days before the annual meetings of the World Bank and International Monetary Fund in Washington, where the finance ministers of the Group of 7 major industrial nations will gather.
• 10/2/2004 G7 asks oil producers to provide price relief by AP.
      Declaring that high oil prices are a threat to the global economy, the Group of Seven countries - the U.S., Japan, Germany, France, Britain, Italy and Canada urged producers to provide price relief by boosting supplies.    Also on the table was relief to Iraq for its massive debt burden, and other poor countries.    World Bank, IMF and G-7 desire to see all nations move to flexible currency systems, mainly directed at China, to change its system.
• 10/30/2004 Bin Laden says another 9/11 can be avoided by Maggie Michael, Associated Press.
      Cairo, Egypt - Osama bin Laden, injecting himself into the campaign four days ahead of presidential elections, said in a videotape aired that the U.S. can avoid another terror attack if it stops threatening the security of Muslims.    He admitted for the first time he ordered the Sept. 11, 2001 attacks because of injustices against the Lebanese and Palestinians by Israel and the U.S.
• 10/31/2004 Christian Democrat withdraws bid for EU post by AP.
      Rome - Under attack for calling homosexuality sinful, Christian Democrat and papal confidant Rocco Buttiglione said he is abandoning efforts to become European Union justice commissioner, a bid that had kept the new EU Commission from taking office.    Buttiglione defended his religious beliefs, insisting, nevertheless, they would not affect his work for the EU.    The new commission was virtually doomed to rejection by the European Parliament if Buttiglione was part of it.
• 11/26/2004 Russia-EU security talks falter; some see pact by May by AP.
      The Hague, Netherlands - Russia and the European Union failed to complete negotiations on a "strategic partnership" due to a disagreement over security and other issues at a summit overshadowed by the Ukraine political crisis.    Russian President Vladimir Putin said Russia-EU relations are strong and described the talks as very productive.    Putin said Russia's extension of an existing agreement to the new EU members from the former Soviet sphere of influence and its recent ratification of the Kyoto protocol climate-change pact "once again confirm our strategic choice in favor of a common Europe."
• 11/27/2004 WTO approves sanctions on U.S. goods by Jonathan Fowler, Associated Press.
      Geneva - The WTO who referees global commerce, approved sanctions on a wide range of American exports intended to punish the U.S. for failing to repeal what it considers protectionist legislation.    The Bush administration indicated it would live with the new duties.    The European Union and other plaintiffs sought formal WTO authorization to retaliate by imposing new duties against various U.S. products.    Among the potential targets are cod, textiles, glassware, mobile homes and apples.   
• 11/28/2004 Southeast Asia coalition near trade pact with China by AP.
      Vientiane, Laos - Southeast Asian ministers finalized a free-trade pact with China and a host of other accords to be adopted at a summit, but touchy topics like the lack of democracy in Myanmar and Islamic unrest in Thailand were ignored.    The Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASAN) meeting was a prelude to a two-day summit of the groups 10 leaders.    They also will meet with heads of governments from China, Japan, South Korea, India, Australia and New Zealand.    Some 35 agreements are to be signed in Vientiane by the 16 countries, including one on creating a free-trade area between the association and China by 2010 - a market of nearly 2 billion people with combined economies worth $2.4 trillion.
• 12/3/2004 European Union takes over peacekeeping duties by AP.
      Sarajevo, Bosnia-Herzegovina - The EU began its biggest-ever military operation, formally taking over NATO's peacekeeping mission in Bosnia with 7,000 troops.    The operation is a major step in the EU's drive to develop a military arm, an initiative launched after the bloc failed to halt the war that tore Bosnia apart in the early 1990s.
• 12/11/2004 Afican Union condemns Sudan's attack on rebels by AP.
      Addis Araba, Ethiopia - Sudanese government troops launched a new assalt in the strife-torn Dafur region that sparked fighting with rebels on the eve of renewed peace talks to end the crisis, the African Union said, condemning the military for the attack.   
• 12/11/2004 G-7 health ministers discuss threat of biological attack by AP.
      Paris - Mindful of the threat of a biological attack by terrorist, health ministers from the Group of Seven nations, plus Mexico, pressed for the creation of a rapid-reaction center and the stockpiling of smallpox vaccines.    The mission of the broadened G-7 is to think about the unthinkable.
• 12/13/2004 Critics unite to condemn Putin's governing changes by AP.
      Moscow - Hundreds of Kremlin critics gathered on Constitution Day to denounce what they call a retreat from democracy as President Vladimir Putin signed a bill scrapping gubernatorial elections.    Putin also denied he seeks to change the constitution - a concern raised by critics who fear his administration might seek amendments to keep him in power past 2008.    The constitution allows only two consecutive four-year terms.
• 12/13/2004 White House considers a more aggressive stance toward Russia by Paul Richter, Los Angeles Times.
      Washington - The Bush administration is beginning a broad review of its Russia policy that could lead to a more confrontational approach toward Moscow over its treatment of neighboring countries and its own citizens, U.S. officials said.    For the past four years, the administration muted its criticism of Russia's approach to democratic values as Washington tried to build a "strategic partnership" with Moscow to fight terrorism and weapons proliferation.
      Russian president Vladimir Putin has reduced media freedom and cracked down on political opponents at home, while working against pro-Western forces in neighboring countries such as Ukraine, Georgia and Moldova.    They have disappointed the U.S. on issues as nuclear programs in Iran and North Korea, counter-terrorism efforts and free enterprise.    Of course Russia probably does not like the U.S. to meddle in their backyard, creating a harsher approach toward Washington.    Still they are an ally in the U.S. plans in the Middle East and elsewhere.
• 12/17/2004 Syria denies helping al-Qaida insurgents in Iraq by AP.
      Damascus, Syria - Syria rejected Iraqi accusations that it and Iran were supporting al-Qaida-linked insurgents in Iraq.
• 12/17/2004 European Union leaders agree to talks with Turkey by AP.
      Brussels, Belgium - EU leaders agreed to open talks with Turkey next year on eventual EU membership, diplomats said.    The 25 EU leaders would propose Oct. 3, 2005 as a start date for the talks, which could last for years.
• 12/28/2004 Russia, China planning joint military exercise by AP.
      Moscow - Once-bitter rivals Russia and China will hold a massive joint military exercise in Chinese territory next year involving submarines and possibly strategic bombers, Russia's defense minister said as the two nations move to bolster already burgeoning military ties.    China has become the No. 1 customer for Russia's struggling defense industry, purchasing billions of dollars worth of fighters, missiles, submarines and destroyers.
  
  

Last updated January 31, 2004, and April 1, 2006.