Reluare duminică, 22 iunie 2003

Russian Lawmakers Move to Limit 'Biased' News of Election

Date: 23 June 2003

By Steven Lee Myers

Steven Myers

Russia's politicians begin new election season with pre-emptive attack on aggressive and at times corrupt political coverage by nation's newspapers and television and radio stations; they complain that salacious and dishonest journalism threatens to pervert democratic process; lower house of Parliament votes overwhelmingly to amend Russia's campaign laws to allow authorities to shut down news organizations for campaign coverage deemed to be biased; opponents of measure fear that new restrictions would for first time punish news organizations that advocate one candidate over another, that editorialize against position or policy, or that report critically on questions of character not related to candidate's professional duties; under new measure, first violation would result in fine, and second could result in suspension of publication or broadcast for duration of campaign; penalty would be influenced heavily by officials answerable to very politicians who have drafted amendments; restrictions raise questions about freedom of press, and also about fairness of elections in country still struggling to establish basic democratic norms (M)

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Toulouse Journal; Sinister Tales From a Sleepy Town Grip France

Date: 23 June 2003

By Craig S. Smith

Craig Smith

All of France is spellbound by tales of rape and murder emanating from quiet city of Toulouse, where two unidentified prostitutes say that former Mayor Dominique Baudis joined in sadomasochistic orgies at lake house in nearby Noe and ordered murder of transvestite who secretly videotaped proceedings; Baudis denies charges and suggests that people he has alienated in pornography industry are out to detroy him, or that local newspaper is bent on revenge; detectives learned about prostitutes by questioning Patrice Alegre, psychopath who was sentenced to life in prison for five killings year ago; media frenzy surrounding story includes articles by staid daily Le Monde, which ran detailed but thinly sourced article with lurid charges for which there is no hard evidence; photos (M)

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Corrections

Date: 22 June 2003

Correction of Frank Rich June 15 article about 'mediathons' referred incorrectly to actions by US Atty James B Comey involving Jayson Blair, reporter who resigned from New York Times after falsifying articles; Comey made private inquiry to Times and did not talk publicly about filing charges (S)

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Weapons of Distortion?

Date: 22 June 2003

Dr H Jack Geiger letter on fruitless search for Iraqi weapons of mass destruction and threat to democracy posed by 'weapons of mass deception'

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Spinning Private Lynch

Date: 22 June 2003

David Alexander letter says there is no doubt that Pvt Jessica Lynch is hero for her ordeal as prisoner in Iraq, but that spining of her story is far from heroic

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NEWS SUMMARY

Date: 22 June 2003

INTERNATIONAL 3-12 Guerrilla Forces Fight American Troops in Iraq United States military commanders say foreign fighters are being recruited by loyalists to Saddam Hussein to join the resistance against American forces in Iraq. This, they say, indicates a degree of organization. 1 President Bush, speaking about the rising casualties among American troops in Iraq, said that remnants of the ousted administration were trying to ''kill and intimidate.'' He also said the hunt for chemical and biological weapons would continue, and defended the prewar intelligence assessments. 1

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NEWS SUMMARY

Date: 23 June 2003

INTERNATIONAL A3-13 Convoy Wreckage Checked For Evidence of Hussein A convoy believed to be carrying fugitive Iraqi leaders that was destroyed by American missiles last week is now being investigated to determine whether those killed might have included Saddam Hussein or his sons. A1 Violence Impedes Peace Plan Secretary of State Colin L. Powell joined with top European, Arab and United Nations diplomats to press for concessions in peace talks between Israel and the Palestinians, but their efforts were punctured by violence in the Gaza Strip that left four Palestinians dead. A1

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In Connecticut Corruption Testimony, the Names Are Making News

Date: 22 June 2003

By Alison Leigh Cowan

Alison Cowan

Paul J Silvester, former Connecticut state treasurer who is star witness in federal corruption trial, is implicating investment firms, executives and politicians already on trial or awaiting trial; testifies about involvement of Republican fund-raiser Wayne E Berman and former State Democratic majority leader William A DiBella in kickback scheme from investment companies that won money-management contracts; also makes reference to Gov John Rowland, but stops short of accusing him of anything illegal; Rowland is trying to distance himself from trial (M)

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IHT additions

Date: 23 June 2003

, International Herald Tribune

Starting Monday, the IHT will serve Kuwait with two additional eight-page, independent sections. One section will contain regional news and analysis prepared by The Daily Star in Lebanon; another section will cover Kuwait news produced by Al-Watan. The pa

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Abecedarian

Date: 22 June 2003

By Bill Carter

Bill Carter

ROONE A Memoir. By Roone Arledge. 424 pp. New York: HarperCollins Publishers. $25.95.

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