TIME EUROPE
November 27, 2000, Vol. 156 No. 22
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Paris
Faced with growing public uproar, the French government announced new measures to stem the spread of bovine spongiform encephalopathy (bse), or "mad cow" disease, which is linked to a fatal human variant. Prime Minister Lionel Jospin extended the prohibition on feed containing animal matter — now thought to have contributed to the spread of bse — from cattle to all livestock. The E.U. is weighing tougher screening policies, and agricultural ministers will meet on Monday to discuss the matter, but by week's end no concerted measure against French beef had been enacted. Italy became the latest European country to restrict the sale of French beef unilaterally, banning the import of adult cows and beef on the bone from France.
Brussels
Echoing a call he voiced last May, German Foreign Minister Joschka Fischer in a speech to the Belgian Parliament expressed support for the direct election of future European Commission presidents. As the E.U. expands, its institutions will need to be strengthened, Fischer said, and a direct election would enhance democratic legitimacy. Although Fischer was careful to avoid the term federal and stressed that Europe is too diverse ever to become a United States of Europe, his remarks prompted swift reaction. In Britain, especially, where the avowed Europhile Fischer has become something of a hate figure for Euro-skeptics, government officials were quick to distance themselves from the proposal.
Belgrade
Yugoslavia's return to the international fold continued apace last week as the newly elected government of Vojislav Kostunica announced the restoration of diplomatic ties with the U.S., Germany, France and Britain. Relations with the four countries had been severed at the beginning of nato's bombing campaign against Yugoslavia last year. Since his election, Kostunica has moved quickly to restore his country's international standing.
Moscow
Russian Space Agency officials announced that their beloved Mir space station must soon perish. The 14-year-old structure, which was launched when Mikhail Gorbachev was the leader of the U.S.S.R., runs the risk of a dangerously uncontrolled descent if left in orbit for much longer. Space Agency director Yuri Koptev announced plans to bring Mir back down to earth with a re-entry that, if all goes as planned, will end with the remnants of the 130-ton station crashing down next February in the Pacific Ocean, 1,500 to 2,000 km off the Australian coast.
Mbabane
Swaziland's Chief Justice ordered that the leader of the main opposition party be released from detention on two charges of sedition. Mario Masuku is alleged to have made obscene remarks against King Mswati and called for a revolution to overthrow the monarchy that controls the small southern African state. The move comes during a period of growing tension in Swaziland. Thousands of Swazi protested the recent eviction of more than 200 rural families and their chiefs so that the King's brother could use the land. The introduction of laws aimed at stifling opposition figures and journalists has also angered many.
Nairobi
At least 110 people died and many of the 400 survivors may go blind after drinking a local moonshine brewed with methanol. The beverage, known locally as chang'aa, or kill-me-quick, because of its potentially lethal alcohol content, causes kidney and liver failure. The owner of one of the two pubs that sold the killer drink died after sampling it herself. Chang'aa, popular with poor Kenyans because it costs less than a third of the price of a bottle of beer, has killed at least 200 people since 1996.
Jerusalem
Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Barak followed Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat to the White House for talks with President Clinton as U.S. mediators struggled to encourage dialogue between the two sides. But the violence in the West Bank and Gaza showed no sign of abating, and four Israelis died in drive-by shootings in a single night. Barak responded with a ban on the passage of all goods going into the Palestinian areas except food and humanitarian aid. The Palestinian death toll continued to mount as Israel responded with tank shells and helicopter rockets when Palestinian gunmen fired from residential neighborhoods.
Damascus
In a move timed to coincide with the 30th anniversary of the revolution that brought his late father, Hafez Assad, to power, Syrian President Bashar Assad ordered the release of some 600 political prisoners. Shortly after his inauguration, Assad released about 30 opposition members and his father occasionally amnestied political prisoners, but last week's official order is unprecedented and applies to about half of the country's entire political prisoner population. Many of the prisoners due to be released are members of the Muslim Brotherhood, an outlawed Islamic group that was eviscerated in a 1982 uprising that Hafez Assad ruthlessly crushed, killing an estimated 20,000 people.
Beijing
Mary Robinson, the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, is to sign a landmark cooperation agreement with China during her visit there this week. The memorandum of understanding on technical cooperation marks the first time that China has formally agreed to cooperate with the U.N. agency on human rights issues. The accord was announced the day after China and the United States disclosed that they had agreed to resume human rights discussions, which had broken off last year in the wake of the nato bombing of the Chinese embassy in Belgrade.
Manila
President Joseph Estrada was impeached by the Philippine House of Representatives on charges of bribery, graft and corruption, betrayal of public trust and culpable violation of the constitution arising from his alleged receipt of $4 million in gambling pay-offs. Rules for an impeachment trial, patterned on those used by the U.S. Senate during President Clinton's trial, have been approved by the Senate, and Estrada's trial is expected to last beyond the end of the year. In his most unequivocal denial to date of the charges against him, Estrada on Friday swore that he has not received any illegal payoffs and told Philippine soldiers he is "prepared for the impeachment process."
Los Angeles
Three L. A. Police Department officers who were part of a special antigang crime unit were found guilty of conspiracy to obstruct justice and filing false police reports in a trial that is expected to be just the first to arise out of a wide-ranging corruption scandal. The affair first came to light last year when another officer was caught stealing $1 million worth of cocaine from an evidence room. He was shielded from prosecution in exchange for testifying, and his allegations have resulted in the dismissal of dozens of cases tainted by suspect testimony. Days after last week's verdict a juror cast doubt on the results of the trial with allegations of jury misconduct.
Atlanta
In the largest ever settlement in a racial discrimination case, beverage giant Coca-Cola agreed to pay $192.5 million to settle claims of racial bias against black workers. The employees filed suit last year alleging that they were discriminated against in matters of pay, promotion and performance evaluation. Coke denied the allegations, but by settling out of court avoids the prospect of a contentious and protracted trial that could have further compromised the company's already embattled image. Last year Coke endured a series of embarrassments, including a tampering scare and a tainted product recall in Europe.
Lima
Embattled Peruvian President Alberto Fujimori, whose government has been in turmoil since a bribery scandal involving his former intelligence chief came to light in September, suffered another blow when his party lost control of congress. Valentin Paniagua of the opposition Popular Action Party was elected speaker after Martha Hildebrandt, a close Fujimori ally, was voted out of office. While political turmoil raged at home, Fujimori was in Asia where he attended the Pacific Rim trade conference in Brunei and then headed for Tokyo. It was rumored that part of the purpose of Fujimori's trip was to look for asylum destinations, but government officials said the rumors were irresponsible scaremongering and the President planned to return soon to Peru.
This edition's table of contents
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COVER STORY
Long Wait
There are lessons to be learned by the candidates, the teams and the people as the process goes on and on
EUROPE
Back to the Ballot
Democratic elections show that nationalism is still a powerful force in this divided country
Great Pretender
The election of a one-time royalist in Yugoslavia gives hope to a man whose business card reads "Crown Prince"
Mind Lab
From E-Europe: A Brussels firm helps science and business strike sparks
Welcome to the Content Metropolis
From Fast Forward Europe: How a venerable Hanseatic port shed its Old Economy image to become Germany's hottest city for digital media
MIDDLE EAST
Mubarak's Destiny
Despite some reforms, Egyptian election results warn the President of increasing voter discontent
AFRICA
Damage Control
South Africa's Thabo Mbeki moves to repair damage done by his comments on foreign and domestic issues
Nation Renovation
After years of violence, Somalia is rebuilding itself
TIME FINANCE
Speak No Evil
E.C.B. President Wim Duisenberg has unfairly taken the rap for a weak Euro
When Your Broker Is A Bookie
Something called spread betting is a new kind of investment strategy
Bourse Battles
Vienna's New Europe Exchange challenges Eastern Europe's budding stock markets
Made in Switzerland
Small companies — and savvy investors — are looking to quieter enclaves like SWX New Market for high-tech IPOs
BUSINESS
Not Yet Up to Scratch
A benchmark study shows it's a tough life for start-ups in Europe and governments still have far to go
THE ARTS
Money in his Pockets
A new kind of producer is bringing Wall Street ways to London's theaterland
Wayward Sisters
This year's Booker Prize winner is an intricate mystery that elucidates a nation's recent history
DEPARTMENTS
On Your Own Time
Hong Kong Havens: Where those in the know go to find calm and cuisine in Asia's busiest city
Worldwatch
WHAT DO YOU THINK?
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