Wikinews:Briefs/June 30, 2006

The time is 20:00 (UTC) on June 30th, 2006, and this is Audio Wikinews News Briefs.

Interior Ministry, Fatah offices in Gaza hit by Israeli airstrikes
Palestine

In response to the abduction of Israeli soldier Cpl. Gilad Shalit by Palestinian militants, The Israeli Defence Forces carried out 5 to 8 airstrikes targeting the office of The Palestinian interior ministry's headquarters occupied by the governing party Hamas in Gaza and an office of President Mahmoud Abbas's Fatah party in Gaza, Palestinian and Israeli sources say.

Palestinian PM: Israel aims to topple gov't
Ismail Haniyeh, the Palestinian Prime Minister, said Friday that; "This total war is proof of a premeditated plan. When they kidnapped the ministers they meant to hijack the government's position, but we say no positions will be hijacked, no governments will fall."

Portuguese Minister of Foreign Affairs Freitas do Amaral resigns
Portugal

The Portuguese Minister of Foreign Affairs Freitas do Amaral has resigned from his position.

French Parliament adopts controversial copyright bill
France

The French parliament has today finally adopted a law known as DADVSI implementing the 2001 European directive on copyright, roughly an equivalent to the US Digital Millennium Copyright Act. The final text criminalizes sending copyrighted data over peer-to-peer networks, and enacts tough penalties for those designing programs "evidently designed" to send copyrighted data or meant for circumventing DRM protection techniques.

Police crackdown on illegal tow operations in Sydney
Australia

New South Wales Police, in connection with the NSW Roads and Traffic Authority, Tow Truck Authority and Centrelink (the agency responsible for providing income support) conducted random checks on tow trucks on Thursday.

Amsterdam to open a "Chocolate Factory"
Netherlands

Amsterdam will get an amusement park dedicated to chocolate and inspired by Roald Dahl's children's book Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, city officials and entrepreneurs said Thursday.

Australian shot in Thailand
Thailand

An Australian has been shot in the abdomen in Thailand. The 22 year old man from Wagga Wagga, Lee Burkinshaw, was shot in the Chantaburi province during a drive by shooting. He was evacuated to Bangkok hospital after receiving some treatment at a local hospital. An operation is needed to remove the bullet from his abdomen. He is expected to make a full recovery.

Germany master penalties to beat Argentina to semi-final spot
sports – football or soccer

Germany beat Argentina 4-2 on penalties to book a place in the Fifa World Cup semi-finals in Berlin, Friday.

Ullrich and Sevilla suspended from Tour de France
sports – cycling

T-Mobile suspended the Tour de France contestants Jan Ullrich and Oscar Sevilla, and they will not participate in the Tour de France. Ullrich's mentor, Rudy Pevenage, is also suspended.

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