To: bpr-list@philologos.org (BPR Mailing List)
Subject: [BPR] - Sept 6, 1999 TV Programs
From: bpr-list@philologos.org(BPR)
Date: Mon, 6 Sep 1999 08:48:24 +0000

From: "Moza" <moza@butterfly.mv.com>

9:00 PM Eastern

 NBC - LAW & ORDER (Repeat) - "Agony" - A serial
   killer confesses to new crimes, and McCoy and Carmichael face
   a moral dilemma when they learn they have the wrong
   man.(CC)(TV14)

 PBS - IN THE FOOTSTEPS OF ALEXANDER THE GREAT - "Across the
   Hindu Kush; To the Ends of the Earth" - Hindu Kush;
   Afghanistan; ambitions; army insurgence; Alexander's last
   days.(CC)(TVPG)

 HIST - ROMAN WAR MACHINE - "First Our Neighbors, Then the
   World" - The Etruscans are expelled from Rome; a republic is
   formed.(CC)(TVG)

10:00

 CBS - 48 HOURS (Repeat) - "Quest for Immortality" -
   Science and technology searches for ways to make humans live
   longer.(CC)

 DISC - THE U.S. MARSHALS - Interviews trace the history and
   evolution of the law-enforcement agency.(CC)

 HIST - FIREWORKS - Fireworks designers create wondrous
   spectacles.(CC)(TVG)

========
To: bpr-list@philologos.org (BPR Mailing List)
Subject: [BPR] - China News Digest items (9/6/99)
From: bpr-list@philologos.org(BPR)
Date: Mon, 6 Sep 1999 09:00:57 +0000

From: "Moza" <moza@butterfly.mv.com>

New World Order Built on Asian Values: JIANG Zemin

[CND, 09/05/99] In a speech during his visit to Thailand, President
JIANG Zeming said that the increasing ties between China and the
Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) would bring the world a
new international order of peaceful co-existence built on Asian
values, AP reported on Saturday.

Mr. Jiang stated that China and ASEAN shared a growing consensus on
strategic issues and both are advocates of a new international order.
He indicated that the United States' "gunboat diplomacy" and "economic
colonialism" had threatened world peace. He also stressed that ASEAN
was "an important force for peace and development in Asia."

The Chinese president pledged to hold "in-depth" discussions with
relevant ASEAN countries with regard to the increasing territory
disputes over the South China Sea. He also expressed appreciation of
ASEAN's support on China's "one China" policy.

The visit, the first by a Chinese head of state since 1991, was
welcomed by Thailand's dignitaries. They praised China's effort to
stabilize the yuan during the Asia financial crisis and viewed China
as a counterweight force to the U.S. in Southeast Asia. (Yan WANG, WU
Yiyi)

China Urges U.S. to Honor One-China Commitment

[CND, 09/05/99] The U.S. commitment to the one-China policy will be
conducive to maintaining stability across the Taiwan Straits and to
restoring and improving Sino-U.S. relations, said SUN Yuxi, Beijing's
Foreign Ministry spokesman, the China Daily reported on Friday.

"The basic principles of the Chinese Government on the issue are
peaceful reunification, and one China, two systems. But we cannot
renounce the use of force," added the spokesman. He said that the use
of force is not targeted at the people of Taiwan, but at foreign
forces that instigate and assist Taiwan independence. He promised that
China would not use nuclear weapons against Taiwan's people.

A meeting between Chinese President JIANG Zemin and U.S. President
Bill Clinton is scheduled at the Asia Pacific Economic Co-operation
(APEC) summit meeting in Auckland, New Zealand later this month. The
Taiwan issue will be raised. (XU Ming Yang, WU Yiyi)

via: CND-Global Editors <cnd-editor@cnd.org>

========
To: bpr-list@philologos.org (BPR Mailing List)
Subject: [BPR] - Tzemach News items (9/4/99)
From: bpr-list@philologos.org(BPR)
Date: Mon, 6 Sep 1999 09:08:03 +0000

From: "Moza" <moza@butterfly.mv.com>

The complete agreement recently signed by
Israel can be seen at:

The Sharm el-Sheikh Memorandum on Implementation Timeline of
Outstanding Commitments of Agreements Signed and the Resumption of
Permanent Status Negotiations
http://www.tzemach.org/fyi/wye2.htm

UN IMPROPER FORUM FOR MID-EAST DIPLOMACY: Despite
improved diplomatic climate and the resumption of the direct dialogue
with the Palestinians, the United Nation's General Assembly, which
will reconvene in two weeks, is expected to approve 20 anti-Israel
resolutions, HA'ARETZ reported. At the UN, the Arab bloc enjoys an
automatic majority, and the world body has for years been a platform
for legitimizing Arab claims against Israel. Even at the height of the
peace process, the UN continued to pass the same anti-Israel
resolutions. "Despite the expected progress in the diplomatic process,
I do not anticipate a calm period at the United Nations", said Dore
Gold, Israel's ambassador to the UN. At last count, one-third of all
the resolutions passed by the Security Council have been resolutions
against Israel. (ISRAEL LINE)

DESPAIR WILL NOT WIN OUT (Editorial)

What's the Big Deal? This week's Torah portion - Nitzavim - paints a
shocking picture of destruction and desolation of a land from which
its children were exiled. This is a picture that the early pioneers
who came to Israel over 100 years ago found to be most accurate.
Unfortunately, there are still broad expanses of land that the
prophetic portrayal describes accurately: "Brimstone, and salt, and
burning; it shall not be sown, and will not bear [fruit], and no grass
will grow upon it." (Deuteronomy 29.22).

I once heard the following question: 'Brimstone, and salt, and
burning' - are curses, plagues that "the L-rd has laid upon it." But
the second part - 'It shall not be sown, and will not bear fruit' - can this be
considered a Divine punishment? This is a perfectly natural course of events! If
the land is not sown, it will certainly have nothing to bring forth!
But the explanation is simple. There are curses that apply to the land
itself, and there are those that apply to the people dwelling therein.
A man who lives securely on his plot of land knows that he has to
thresh at the right time, and sow at the right time, and then he lifts
his eyes heavenwards with the hope and prayer that he will also have a
blessed harvest at the proper time. True, there is a measure of faith
and trust in G-d that is required here - but this is a level that many
people merit.

The Curse of Despondency: When a man is surrounded by enemies,
however, and he fears the "anger and wrath and great indignation"
(Deut. 29, 27), and his life is hanging in the balance as he sees how
they wait, vulture-like, for him to plant so that they will be able to
reap the fruits of his labors - in this situation, despair sets in. He
asks himself, "Why should I work hard and plant, if I will not be able
to enjoy the rewards afterwards?" His despondency leads him to apathy
- he does not sow, and then naturally, the land does not produce
fruit. And even if G-d has mercy upon him, and banishes the enemies
from around him, it will be too late - for the land "was not sown, and
will not bear fruit."

This, then, is the curse - the despair weighing heavily upon a man's
heart. This feeling of gloom, of hopelessness, is the worst plague of
all - for it allows the enemy to emerge victorious without any effort
at all. He who loses hope, is lost himself, even before the battle
begins.

The Attempt to "Psyche Us Down": When I hear our politicians
repeatedly say that no Jewish settlements will be uprooted during the
"interim agreement" with the murderers, it is hard for me to ignore
the thought that this is simply psychological warfare. Why do they
continuously emphasize the "interim period," if not to threaten us
that our stronghold on the Land of our Fathers is only temporary? This
talk is clearly designed only to bring us to despair, Heaven forbid.
They want us to wonder: Why should we plant, why should we build, why
should we work - just to supply ready houses and blossoming gardens to
Assad and Arafat's people?

And just in case someone doesn't get the hint, there are government
ministers who make sure to emphasize their opinion that the Jews must
be banished from the Land of their Fathers - but that they are
willing, for this short-lived, interim period, to live with a policy
that will allow the Jewish settlements to remain temporarily. This is
simply a war tactic, to uproot beautiful, thriving Jewish towns as if
by themselves - "they will not be sown, and nothing will grow."

It Won't Work: However, their strategy is faulty. They simply do not
know the Nation of Israel. The period of Exile and despair is over.
We, who have seen with our own eyes the fulfillment of the Divine
promise - "Even if your outcasts be at the furthest points of heaven,
from there will the L-rd your G-d gather you, and from there he will
fetch you, and return you" - we, who have seen this, know that the
very purpose of "He will return you to the Land of your fathers" is so
that "you will inherit it!" (Deut. 30, 3-5). G-d did not bring us to
this Land simply in order to exile us from it again! We believe with
perfect faith that the continuation of the promise - "You will inherit
it, and He will do good for you, and multiply you more than your
fathers" - will certainly be fulfilled through us. The attempt to
instill despair amongst us, therefore, will not succeed. (Rabbi Nachum
Rabinowitz, ARUTZ-7, Broadcast on September 1, 1999 / Elul 20, 5759)

TZEMACH NEWS SERVICE
Week Ending: 4 September 1999 / 23 Elul 5759

========
To: bpr-list@philologos.org (BPR Mailing List)
Subject: [BPR] - Misc News (9/6/99)
From: bpr-list@philologos.org(BPR)
Date: Mon, 6 Sep 1999 13:53:00 +0000

From: "Moza" <moza@butterfly.mv.com>

BELARUS TIES RUBLE TO EURO September 4, 1999

Reuters reported: Belarus, disappointed by hopes of a fast
and close union with Russia, said on Wednesday it would gradually peg
the Belarussian ruble to the euro. President Alexander Lukashenko, of
a union between Belarus and Russia and recently supported Belarus
adopting the Russian currency, said the union would probably not be as
close as he had hoped. Just two months ago in early July Belarus had
said it was ready to agree a Russian central bank plan to adopt the
Russian ruble. Russia had proposed an eight-year transition for
Belarus, sandwiched between Russia and Poland with a population of 10
million, about the size of a large Russian region..."

EUROPE IN NEED OF STRONGER DEFENSE September 4, 1999

Reuters reported: Newly appointed NATO Secretary-General George
Robertson said Thursday that Europe needs to strengthen its defense
capability to enhance the Western alliance. "Europe has to become more
effective. We spend a lot of money in Europe on defense. We don't have
half the capability of the Americans. We've got to do something about
that so that we are a better partner in a reinforced NATO," Robertson
told reporters after an informal meeting with Dutch Defense Minister
Frank de Grave. Robertson, who becomes NATO chief in October, said
fast reaction deployment forces were needed to strengthen Europe's
role in NATO. The British Defense Secretary also said he planned to
work to bring Russia closer to the alliance and expand the "European
security family." "I'm taking over at a point where we have to take
in Russia," he said.

GLOBAL Y2K READINESS REPORT TO BE RELEASED BY U.S.
STATE DEPARTMENT AROUND SEPTEMBER 14
September 5, 1999

Reuters reported: The United States is about to grade more
than 190 nations' readiness for the Year 2000 technology glitch
in a move that could ruffle diplomatic feathers and dent economies
heavily reliant on tourism. The State Department plans to release Y2K
report cards on virtually every country on or about Sept. 14,
department officials said on Wednesday. The move will cap a yearlong
effort to swap data and spur action...By law, the department must
notify U.S. citizens if it is aware of "credible and specific
threats" to their safety and security, including Y2K issues that
could disrupt power grids, aviation, telecommunications and other
essential services. The State Department guides, which also summarize
health conditions, crime and security issues, are the "first source"
to which travelers are referred, according to James Ashurst,
spokesman for the American Society of Travel Agents in Alexandria,
Virginia. "Is there the potential for (State Department Y2K
assessments) to impact people's travel decisions? Absolutely," said
Ashurst, whose group counts 28,600 members in 170 countries...

Egypt's Mubarak Injured, Attacker Killed

Weekend News Today
By Andra Brack
Source: Yahoo (Reuters)

Mon Sep 6,1999 -- Bodyguards of President Hosni Mubarak shot
dead a man who attacked the Egyptian leader with a knife
Monday, a statement read on state television said. The statement said
the man had rushed toward Mubarak's car and injured him in the hand
before the guards killed him. Witnesses earlier said the man was
holding a written complaint in his hand and not a weapon. Security
sources identified the dead man as El-Sayed Seliman.

The official statement said: ``While President Hosni Mubarak
was driving in the streets of Port Said...and, as he was
waving with his arm outside the car window, a man with a sharp
weapon in his hand rushed toward him and inflicted a superficial
wound.'' It added that Mubarak was treated immediately and went to the
governorate's building to deliver a speech.

The Egyptian president emerged unscathed in 1995 from an assassination
Addis Ababa. His predecessor, Anwar Sadat, was assassinated at a
military parade in Cairo in 1981

Deadly, insect-borne virus outbreak hits New York

Weekend News Today
By Staff Writer
Source: Yahoo! Reuters

Mon Sep 6,1999 -- An unprecedented outbreak of mosquito-borne
encephalitis has hit New York City, claiming at least one life
and making more than 30 other people sick, health officials
said Saturday. Workers were spraying insecticides in parts
of the city's Bronx and Queens boroughs where the cases of
St. Louis Encephalitis, or SLE, have been found, said Associate
Health Commissioner Sandra Mullin. The outbreak marks the first
time the deadly viral disease has appeared in New York City,
she said. SLE is more commonly found in the southeastern United
States, and it is the most common disease transmitted by
mosquitoes, she said. Symptoms range from slight fever or headache to
the rapid onset of a severe headache, high fever, muscle aches, stiff
neck, disorientation, coma, tremors, convulsions, muscle weakness and
paralysis.

Pope John Paul II meets with Arafat in Italy

Weekend News Today
By Andra Brack
Source: IsraelWire

Mon Sep 6,1999 -- Pope John Paul II met with the Chairman of
the PLO Authority (PA) Yassir Arafat on Sunday, in Italy.
During the meeting, the Pope expressed his hopes that the agreement
signed Saturday night between Israel and the PA would bring peace to
the region and both nations. Arafat issued an invitation to the Pope
to visit holy sites under the PA autonomous control. The Pope
responding, "I hope, I hope." During his two-day stay in Italy, which
was interrupted for the Saturday night signing of the Wye-2 Agreement
in Alexandria Egypt, Arafat met with other senior Church officials as
well as a Sunday morning meeting with Israel's Minister of Regional
Development Shimon Peres.

via: pre-trib-news <rapture77@bigfoot.com>

========
To: bpr-list@philologos.org (BPR Mailing List)
Subject: [BPR] - Department of Energy's new guidelines on sexual contacts with foreigners
From: bpr-list@philologos.org(BPR)
Date: Mon, 06 Sep 1999 08:58:57 -0500

From: owner-bpr@philologos.org

It's official: safe sex means a one-night stand
By Ben Fenton
in Washington

AMERICA'S nuclear weapon scientists have been given permission
to have sexual relations with foreigners - as long as they make
their excuses and leave after just one night.

New security guidelines drafted by the Department of Energy,
which oversees all nuclear weapons development, dictate that
"close and continuing contact" with members of the opposite - or
indeed same - sex from a list of 25 countries must be reported
to security officers within five days. But the rules, drawn up
in the wake of an espionage scandal that apparently gave China
the secrets of all American nuclear weapons, specifically exempt
one-night stands "if there is no expectation of future contact".
If an employee has a second sexual encounter, even months later,
that must be reported.

Edward Curran, the department's director of counter-
intelligence, said: "You can ridicule it if you like, but we had
to define what constitutes 'contacts' because the scientists
said they couldn't do it for themselves."

In their investigations of nuclear laboratories, the department
discovered that there had been little control over what nuclear
weapon experts did in their private lives. Now anyone
considering dallying with a visiting Russian, Chinese, Indian,
Israeli, Pakistani or any of the other notifiable nationalities
must leave love out of their intentions.

Mr Curran said he was unconcerned by complaints that the
measures were unromantic or encouraged promiscuous sex.

http://www.telegraph.co.uk

--- BPR

BPR Web Site - http://philologos.org/bpr