17 October 2004 Sunday 02 Ramazan 1425 US to monitor anti-Semitism globally: Bush signs bill SUNRISE, Oct 16: President George Bush said On Saturday he had signed into law a bill requiring the US State Department to monitor global anti-Semitism and rate countries annually on their treatment of Jews. ... Bush to revive military draft, says Kerry WASHINGTON, Oct. 16: Democratic presidential candidate John Kerry on Saturday renewed charges that US President George Bush plans to reinstate the military draft, which the Bush administration refuted saying they have no plan to do so. ... Iran rejects EU deal to end uranium enrichment TEHRAN, Oct 16: Iran said on Saturday it would reject any proposal to halt uranium enrichment, a step European Union diplomats are proposing to end a row over whether Iran is seeking atomic weapons. ... Bashir charged over Bali bombings JAKARTA, Oct 16: Indonesian militant Abu Bakar Bashir has been charged with involvement in the nightclub bombings in the holiday island of Bali that killed 202 people, an official said on Saturday. ... France accused of racism over scarf: Leftists meet in London LONDON, Oct 16: France stood accused of racism on Saturday at a gathering of left-wing and counter-culture groups in London as speakers slammed the country's new law outlawing Islamic headscarves in state schools. ... 3 European MPs barred from Cuba HAVANA, Oct 16: Cuba's communist government barred three European lawmakers from entering the country on a visit to support Cuban dissidents, a foreign ministry statement said on Saturday. ... Schwarzenegger rails at Native Americans SAN FRANCISCO, Oct 16: California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger has a warning for state voters: "The Indians are ripping us off." ... Russia to build base in Tajikistan DUSHANBE, Oct 16: Tajikistan on Saturday formally granted Russian forces in the Central Asian state a permanent military base in a move Russian President Vladimir Putin hailed as a guarantee of regional security. ... Azerbaijan, Georgia link oil pipelines BEYUK KESIK, Oct 16: The leaders of Azerbaijan and Georgia linked their pipelines in a grand ceremony on Saturday, marking another stepping stone to the day oil will flow from the Caspian Sea to eager Western markets. ... Basinger laments dearth of roles for aging women BERLIN, Oct 16: Kim Basinger said actresses get the short end of the stick once the aging process sets in and finds it a sad fact of life that Hollywood has so little interest in films featuring mature women. ... Khartoum questions WHO figures KHARTOUM, Oct 16: Sudan on Saturday questioned U.N. estimates that up to 70,000 people had died from hunger and disease in its remote Darfur region since a rebellion began 20 months ago. ... Dhaka rickshaw pullers go on strike DHAKA, Oct 16: Rickshaw pullers observed a complete strike on Saturday in Dhaka on the call of the Rickshaw-Van Owners Employees Action Council. ... West Bengal govt bans plays on hanging KOLKATA, Oct 16: The state government of West Bengal has banned stage and film portrayals of the first hanging of a man in India in over a decade after at least six children died re-enacting the execution. ... Russian spacecraft averts accident KOROLYOV, Oct 16: A rookie crew of two Russians and an American had a few scary moments on Saturday as their craft approached too quickly to the International Space Station for docking before they put on the brakes in time to avoid a crash. ... Only big business sees Iraq as success President Bush and Vice President Dick Cheney are correct when they say things are not all bad in Iraq. It just depends on your perspective. Although the military campaign is in chaos, the economic campaign is moving along quite nicely ... 'Afghanistan needs foreign forces for decades' OTTAWA: International forces should expect to stay in Afghanistan for "10 to 20 years", according to a Canadian commander who helped lead foreign troops in Kabul until February. ...

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