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Annapolis. Bernard Kouchner describes himself as an optimist. Speaking with the press right before the end of the Mideast conference on November 27 2007 in Annapolis, the French foreign minister asked the press to stop being pessimistic about the prospects for peace in the Middle East. Mr Kouchner said he found hope in Annapolis for the Palestinian and Israeli peace talks and congratulated George Bush for the “big success” of the conference. Annapolis. U.S. president George Bush, Palestinian president Mahmoud Abbas and Israeli Prime minister Ehud Olmert, agreed on a common goal to reach peace in the Middle East and create an independent Palestinian State by the end of 2008. At the opening of the Annapolis conference, president Bush read a pledge from the three leaders: “We express our determination to bring an end to bloodshed, suffering and decades of conflict between our peoples; to usher in a new era of peace, based on freedom, security, justice, dignity, respect and mutual recognition; to propagate a culture of peace and nonviolence; to confront terrorism and incitement, whether committed by Palestinians or Israelis.” Annapolis. According to remarks released by the White House in advance of the conference, U.S. president George Bush will say that the time is right to relaunch the Middle East peace talks. “Today, Palestinians and Israelis each understand that helping the other to realize their aspirations is the key to realizing their own, and both require an independent, democratic, viable Palestinian state,” Mr Bush will say this morning in Annapolis. “Such a state will provide Palestinians with the chance to lead lives of freedom, purpose and dignity. And such a state will help provide Israelis with something they have been seeking for generations: to live in peace with their neighbors.” New York. “Made in China”. This label can potentially scare Santa Clauses all over the United States. In 2007, about 30 million toys, most of them made in China, had to be recalled. One of the main reasons for those recalls was the use of lead paint. According to a recent Harris poll, 33% of Americans say they will be buying fewer toys this holiday seasons due to recent safety recalls and 45% indicate they will avoid buying toys manufactured in China. On Monday November 26 2007, Israelis and Palestinians will meet in Annapolis, Md, at a peace conference organized by the White House. Interview of Daniel Kurtzer (photo Princeton University), US ambassador to Israel between 2001 and 2005. Prior to the conference, the former diplomat assesses the Bush administration’s policy in the Middle East. According to him, George Bush will soon have to tackle the thorniest issues such as the status of Jerusalem and the Palestinian right of return. New York. They are 8 and 9 years old. On Monday November 19 2007, they appeared shackled and jumpsuit in front of a Juvenile Court judge in Acworth (Georgia). They are accused of raping a 11-year old girl on Thursday November 15 in a wooded area near apartment houses in Acworth, a town of 19,500 north-west of Atlanta. The young defendants are under 13 and cannot be tried as adults. If convicted, they and could be sentenced to up to five years in a juvenile detention center. New York. Jim Stevenson (photo Galveston Police Department), a 54-year old birder form Galveston (Texas) who killed a cat last year, will not go to prison. On Friday November 16, a judge declared a mistrial after the four men and eight women of the jury were unable to agree on a verdict. If he had been convicted, Mr Stevenson could have faced up to two years in prison and a 10,000-dollar fine. New York. With less than two months to go before the Iowa caucuses, candidates spouses are stepping up their efforts to help their loved ones. Last July, Elizabeth Edwards, John Edwards’ wife, was the first one strike when she said that her husband would be a better advocate on women’s issues than Hillary Clinton. Since then, spouses have been playing an active role on the campaign trail. With his wife under attack from her male democratic rivals, Bill Clinton has come out swinging to defend her. On November 12, in South Carolina, he played the gender card. “Even though those boys have been getting tough on her lately, she can handle it”, the former president said according to the Associated Press. The 44-year old British singer is releasing on November 13 2007 “System”, his fifth studio album. New York. Jonathan lifts his white t-shirt. “Can you see my underwear?”, he asks while going through the Red Hook Houses, a large project in Brooklyn. Jonathan, a 20-year old African American is dressed like a rapper. He is wearing baggy pants, a black hat, a large t-shirt and beige Timberland shoes. He defends his clothing style against criticism from some people inside the African American community. “I do not understand why some would like to ban baggy pants, he says. It is my style and my urban culture. It Is also more comfortable”. |
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