In an unprecedented move, the Archbishops of Canterbury and York write to Tony Blair on behalf of all 114 Anglican bishops, expressing deep concern about UK government policy and criticising coalition troops' conduct in Iraq. They cite the abuse of Iraqi detainees, which they say has been "deeply damaging" - and state that the government's apparent double standards "diminish the credibility of western governments". (BBC) (http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/3852127.stm)(The Scotsman) (http://news.scotsman.com/latest.cfm?id=3142630)
The United States Federal Reserve raises the federal funds interest rate for the first time in four years, by a quarter point. (ABC News) (http://abcnews.go.com/wire/Business/ap20040630_1755.html)
Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo is sworn in to a new six-year term as president of the Philippines following a disputed victory in the May 2004 presidential election. (VOA) (http://www.voanews.com/article.cfm?objectID=4615E8AA_00B0_4C80_9846C8242CA7ABEE&title=Philippine%20President%20Arroyo%20Begins%20New%20Term&catOID=45C9C78B_88AD_11D4_A57200A0CC5EE46C&categoryname=Asia%20Pacific)
Iraq Occupation and United States formally hands over legal custody of Saddam Hussein to the new Spanish minister of justice, Juan Fernando López Aguilar, announces a number of social bills to be introduced, including one that will legalize same_sex marriage in Spain, one that will introduce rights for common-law couples, and one that will allow transgendered people to legally change their Israeli Supreme Court issues a landmark ruling that a 30-kilometer planned stretch of the separation barrier in eastern Jerusalem violates the legal rights of the local Palestinian population to an extent not justified by security concerns, and therefore must be changed. (Haaretz) (http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/pages/ShArt.jhtml?itemNo=446342)
Chinese lawyers visit the victims of last year's deadly accident involving an abandoned WWII-era cache of mustard gas in Qiqihar. The chemical weapons were left behind by invading Japanese troops during the war. The lawyers are preparing to sue the Japanese government. (Xinhuanet) (http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/2004-06/28/content_1550819.htm)
Canadian federal election, 2004: Results give the Liberal Party a minority government; in a likely alliance with the NDP, they will together hold exactly half the Commons seats. Despite the heated nature of the campaign, turnout was the lowest in recent memory. (CBC) (http://www.cbc.ca/stories/2004/06/29/canada/elxn_wrap040629)
The United States Supreme Court rules six-to-three that "enemy combatants" such as those held in Guantánamo can challenge the basis of their detentions, yet can also be held without charges or trial. (BBC) (http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/americas/3847539.stm)(NYT) (http://www.nytimes.com/2004/06/28/politics/28CND-SCOT.html)
The currencies of Estonia (the Kroon), Lithuania (the Litas), and Slovenia (the Tolar) enter ERM II, the European Union's Exchange Rate Mechanism, in a move towards joining the euro. (BBC) (http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/business/3845457.stm)(ECB1) (http://www.ecb.int/press/pr/date/2004/html/pr040627-2.en.html)(ECB2) (http://www.ecb.int/press/pr/date/2004/html/pr040627-1.en.html)(ECB3) (http://www.ecb.int/press/pr/date/2004/html/pr040627.en.html)
At a low key ceremony in Baghdad, Iraq two days before the U.S.-imposed deadline. (BBC) (http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/3845517.stm)
The Islamic Retaliation Movement/Armed Resistance Wing threatens to decapitate Hassoun Wassef Ali, a MuslimU.S. Marine of Lebanese descent, if detainees in US-led occupation prisons are not freed. (AlJazeera) (http://english.aljazeera.net/NR/exeres/27DFDFC0-2CDE-4EF7-8731-FF0900CE82BF.htm)(NYT) (http://www.nytimes.com/2004/06/27/international/middleeast/27CND-IRAQ.html?hp)
In Mongolia, the ruling Mongolian People's Revolutionary Party suffers considerable losses in the general election. Official results have not yet been announced, and it remains unclear whether the MPRP will retain its majority. The MPRP has accused the opposition of vote rigging, and has refused to concede defeat. (Ulaanbaatar Post) (http://ubpost.mongolnews.mn/index.php?subaction=showfull&id=1088387315&archive=&cnshow=news&start_from=&ucat=1&) (Reuters) (http://www.reuters.com/newsArticle.jhtml?type=worldNews&storyID=5526426)
A Hong Kong appellate court rules 2-1 that a will presented by Nina Wang of her abducted and presumed dead husband Teddy Wang is a forgery. (CNN) (http://www.cnn.com/2004/BUSINESS/06/28/hk.ninawang.ap/index.html)
Fahrenheit 9/11 breaks the record for highest opening-weekend earnings in the United States for a documentary, earning US$23.9 million. (Box Office Mojo) (http://www.boxofficemojo.com/articles/news/?id=040627bo.htm).
The Taliban kill 16 Afghans after stopping a bus and forcing the sixteen to alight, possibly to get the victims' voter registration cards for elections scheduled in September of this year. (PakTribune) (http://paktribune.com/news/index.php?id=69323) (NYT) (http://www.nytimes.com/reuters/international/international_afghan_election_killings.html)
Iraqi insurgents kidnap three Turkish citizens and threaten to decapitate them. (NYT) (http://www.nytimes.com/aponline/international/AP-US-Iraq.html)(BBC) (http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/middle_east/3843971.stm)
Palestinians detonate 150 kg (330 lb) of explosives placed in a 300 meter (1000 foot) long tunnel against an Israeli army position in the Gaza Strip. 2000 Palestinians rush into the streets of Gaza City to celebrate. (Guardian) (http://www.guardian.co.uk/israel/Story/0,2763,1248916,00.html)
Gay pride celebrations, parades and protests are held globally, marking the 35th anniversary of the Stonewall Riots, the traditional birth of the modern LGBTcivil rights movement. (Salt Lake Tribune) (http://www.sltrib.com/2004/Jun/06272004/nation_w/179181.asp)
The United States Green Party, in a rebuff to Ralph Nader, nominates Texas lawyer David Cobb as their candidate for President of the United States. This means that Nader will need to attain ballot access on his own in over 23 states, instead of being able to be placed on the ballots automatically as the Green Party candidate. Nader has announced that he may attempt to gain access as the Reform Party candidate. (The Progress Report) (http://www.progress.org/2004/greenp28.htm)
Ralph Nader holds a second convention in Portland to put his name on the presidential ballot in Oregon. This attempt is supported by conservative groups who hope his name will draw votes in this swing state from Democratic hopeful John Kerry. (Portland Oregonian) (http://www.oregonlive.com/news/oregonian/index.ssf?/base/front_page/108816503613780.xml) The outcome of the convention is still unknown: 943 forms were collected, but 1000 valid signatures are needed; many forms had more than one signature on them, however, the state elections board will require several weeks to validate all of the signatures.
The Download.ject attack on Internet Explorer users is neutralised for the moment, with the Russian server containing the backdoor program having been shut down. Security experts warn that the IE vulnerabilities still exist and a copycat attack is still possible. (CNet) (http://news.com.com/Web+site+virus+attack+blunted--for+now/2100-7349_3-5248279.html)(Information Week) (http://www.informationweek.com/story/showArticle.jhtml?articleID=22102178)
CzechPrime MinisterVladimir Spidla resigns after narrowly surviving a vote of no confidence. (BBC) (http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/europe/3842911.stm)
Six Palestinians, including Nayef Abu Sharkh, head of the Nablus old city part of the Al Aqsa Brigades, and Jaafar Masri, the leader of Hamas' military wing in Nablus, are killed during an Israeli operation, according to Palestinian sources. (CNN) (http://us.cnn.com/2004/WORLD/meast/06/26/mideast.violence/index.html)
After Siemens AG threatens to move thousands of jobs from North Rhine-Westphalia to Hungary, IG Metall (a trade union) agrees to a 40_hour work week for the same pay they currently receive for working 35. The agreement reduces by €5 the cost of each Siemens mobile phone manufactured under the new agreement. IG Metall workers had enjoyed the 35-hour work week since 1984. (Deutsche Welle) (http://www.dw-world.de/english/0,3367,1431_A_1246767_1_A,00.html)(IHT) (http://www.iht.com/articles/526519.html)
RepublicanJack Ryan withdraws from the contest for U.S. Senate seat from Illinois under pressure from the party amid allegations that he took his ex-wife, actress Jeri Ryan, to some sex clubs. (Reuters) (http://www.reuters.com/newsArticle.jhtml?type=topNews&storyID=5518650)
A treasured guitar owned by Eric Clapton fetches a record USD $959,500 at a charity auction. (BBC) (http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/entertainment/music/3837649.stm)
The government of Norway, the third-largest petroleum_exporting nation, ends a week_long oil workers' strike by imposing wage and pension terms on the contending sides. (The Street.com) (http://www.thestreet.com/markets/marketfeatures/10167925.html)
Princess Caroline of Monaco obtained a judgment from the European Court of Human Rights condemning Germany for non-respect of her right to a private life. The seven judges who examined her request ruled that German jurisdictions have misunderstood this right by refusing to forbid publication of photographs depicting Caroline in scenes of her daily life.
Computer criminals place malicious JavaScript on major bank and corporate websites, such that Internet Explorer for Windows users merely viewing the pages in question are infected with Download.ject. Microsoft has yet to issue a Iraqiinsurgents explode multiple car bombs and seize police stations in a six-city offensive, killing over 100 and wounding at least 320, nearly all Iraqis. U.S officials accuse Abu Musab al-Zarqawi's network of involvement. (AP) (http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/5225026/)
Bombs explode in Ankara and Istanbul, Turkey, killing three and wounding at least 18. (Reuters) (http://www.reuters.com/newsArticle.jhtml?type=topNews&storyID=5507096)
U.S. policy on (a) the use of torture to extract information from captured enemy combatants and (b) on whether the Taliban and al Qaeda detainees qualify as "prisoners of war" under the Geneva Convention:
The U.S. administration releases a U.S. Justice Department memo asserting that the legal opinion that the president had "the legal authority to order prisoners to be tortured". The memo indicates that Donald Rumsfeld denied approval to strongly coercive physical measures, but approved what has been described as "mild, noninjurious physical contact", and use of "detainee's individuals phobias (such as fear of dogs)". (VOA) (http://www.voanews.com/article.cfm?objectID=287A07AA_33E4_42B5_A908D73E080FF8A3)(News24) (http://www.news24.com/News24/World/News/0,,2_10_1462-1546723,00.html)
The U.S. administration asserts that it refused to permit the use of torture, even if to do so would be legally permissible.
A class actionlawsuit of an unprecedented 1.6 million women is allowed by a federal judge in a case about sexual discrimination at U.S.retailerWal Mart. (Baltimore Sun) (http://www.baltimoresun.com/business/bal-te.bz.walmart23jun23,0,3428707.story?coll=bal-home-headlines)
Saudi Arabia offers an amnesty from execution to any al Qaida-affiliated militants within the kingdom who turn themselves in within the next month. (Reuters) (http://www.reuters.com/newsArticle.jhtml?type=topNews&storyID=5496984)
The United States Supreme Court rules that Health Maintenance Organizations cannot be sued in state courts under malpractice laws. (Forbes) (http://www.forbes.com/healthcare/2004/06/22/cx_da_0622topnews.html)
The IranianIslamic Republic News Agency reports Iran could soon free eight British military sailors seized yesterday on the Iranian side of the Shatt al-Arab waterway shared with Iraq if interrogations show they had "no bad intention." (ABC) (http://abcnews.go.com/wire/World/ap20040622_1072.html)
Imran Khan, an internationally renowned Pakistani politician announces his divorce from Jemima Khan, daughter of the late British billionaire Sir James Goldsmith. (Arab News) (http://www.arabnews.com/?page=4§ion=0&article=47237&d=23&m=6&y=2004)
The RIAA, in its anti-piracy campaign, sues 482 more John Does that could possibly be file sharing users. ((newsfactor.com) (http://www.newsfactor.com/story.xhtml?story_title=RIAA-Sues-----More-File-Sharers-in-Anti-Piracy-Onslaught&story_id=25532#story-start)(Dallas News) (http://www.dallasnews.com/sharedcontent/dws/bus/stories/062204dnbusmusuits.cd39b.html) (Reuters) (http://www.reuters.com/newsArticle.jhtml?type=domesticNews&storyID=5484693))
Francisco Ortiz Franco, editor of Mexican newsweekly Zeta, is ambushed and killed by gunmen in Tijuana. Ortiz Franco and Zeta were particularly well known for their work in investigating drug trafficking and reporting government corruption. (BBC) (http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/americas/3831397.stm)
This is a temporary gallery I will use until I have sorted through all pictures from a holiday in June2004 carrying a new D70 and the "kit" lens as well as the 70-200/2,8 VR zoom (which I find to be outstanding).
I will later, when they are integrated in the main Istanbul gallery, add some more info.
You put Selimiye Mosque in June2004Istanbul file, Selimiye Camii is in Edirne not in Istanbul, I would be happy if you correct it.
June 14, 2004) (Seymour, Hartz, & Tymkovich, JJ.).
Ashcroft, No. C 03-4872 PJH (N.D. Cal. June 1, 2004), holding the Partial Birth Abortion Ban Act of 2003 to be unconstitutional, the media reported the story in the usual way.