Full excerpts and all links at
http://www.zianet.com/insightanalyticalTomorrow at Buzzflash.com
WORLD MEDIA WATCH For August 15, 2003
1//The Guardian, UK--HUTTON INQUIRY RELIVES KELLY’S LAST DAYS (The full extent of the pressure faced by Dr David Kelly in the days before his death was revealed today, as the Hutton inquiry heard that Tony Blair was personally involved in the MoD's inquiry into the scientist's dealings with the BBC's Andrew Gilligan…The inquiry also heard how draft versions of the government's dossier on Iraq's weapons of mass destruction released today show how the controversial 45 minute claim changed in emphasis several times before publication , becoming a statement of fact rather than a suggestion.)
1//The Guardian Thursday August 14, 2003
http://www.guardian.co.uk/uk_news/story/0,3604,1018918,00.html2//Arab News, Saudi Arabia--KINGDOM, RUSSIA TO EXPAND OIL COOPERATION (Oil giants Saudi Arabia and Russia will sign a landmark energy accord early next month to strengthen cooperation in the petroleum and gas sectors, Asharq Al-Awsat reported yesterday…In a recent statement, the chairman of the Oil and Gas Industrial Union of Russia, Yuriy Shafranik, said there were good prospects for mutually beneficial cooperation between his country and Saudi Arabia, especially in the oil and gas sectors. Russian oil giant Gasprom expressed its desire to take part in the Kingdom’s gas initiative program when Western oil firms failed to respond favorably to Saudi demands. Russia’s petroleum giant Stroitangas entered into a joint venture with Saudi Oger to form a consortium for the construction of pipelines and oil and gas exploration in the Kingdom and other countries.
3/Asia Times Online, Hong Kong--KASHMIR THE TALK OF WASHINGTON (The hesitant movements by New Delhi and Islamabad to resolve the Jammu and Kashmir (J&K) dispute are making Washington decidedly jittery. On roller skates, Washington seems to be more concerned about movement and less about direction…There is, however, little doubt that the US, despite the difficulties it faces in the region and worldwide, will not sit on the sidelines on the Kashmir issue.)
4//The Sydney Morning Herald, Australia--AUSTRALIA RAISES COLONIALISM FEARS OVER SOUTH PACIFIC UNION PLAN (Australia has ignited fears that it nurtures neo-colonialist ambitions after urging tiny South Pacific states to unite with it in a European Union-style political and economic community with a common currency - the Australian dollar…Australia and New Zealand are concerned about an "arc of instability" in their backyard that includes the Solomons, Vanuatu and Papua New Guinea…Their plight, Australia believes, makes them vulnerable as targets for gun runners, drug smugglers and even terrorists.)
5//The Chosun Ilbo, South Korea--GNP WARNS AGAINST STATE ONLINE DAILY (The Grand National Party said Tuesday that President Roh Moo-hyun's declaration of war on newspapers, publishing of an online government newspaper and plans to launch tax investigations by Fair Trade Commission amount to a planned political conspiracy. The main opposition party sounded the warning in an emergency meeting with members from the National Assembly's Media Committee and Culture and Tourism Committee.)