Wikinews:Briefs/May 25, 2006

The time is 17:00 (UTC) on May 25th, 2006, and this is Audio Wikinews News Briefs.

Fighting in Dili continues ahead of multinational deployment
East Timor

Ahead of the deployment of 1000-1300 Australian troops in the next couple of days, fighting between renegade East Timorese military forces and government security forces has continued in East Timor's capital, Dili, from which at least 21,000 people have fled. The 600 renegade military personnel were fired from East Timor's 1400 strong army after striking over poor pay and conditions, including ethnic discrimination. Based in the Aileu mountains, the rebel force is making small attacks around the southern, eastern and western sides of Dili, but reports of gunfire in the city centre are developing.

Indo-Pakistan talks on Siachen end in deadlock
India and Pakistan

The Defence Secretary-level discussion between India and Pakistan on demilitarising the Siachen glacier ended in a stalemate, without any major breakthroughs being made. Both sides however declared they would abide by the cease-fire agreement made in 2003.

Howard's revival of nuclear debate "surprising": Political expert
Australia

Dr Frank Cain, a political expert and Lecturer in Defence and Australian Political and Economic History at the University of New South Wales has told Wikinews that many political commentators are finding Prime Minister John Howard's revival of the nuclear debate "surprising".

Australian Government under pressure to reveal nuclear sites
Australia

The Australian Labor Party has placed pressure on the federal government to reveal potential sites for nuclear power plants. The pressure comes after the release of a report by The Australia Institute, which identified several locations on the East Coast of Australia as "ideal" nuclear power sites.

Pakistani immigrant convicted of N.Y. subway plot
United States

A Pakistani immigrant was convicted on Wednesday of plotting to blow up a New York City subway station in a case that shed light on police investigation tactics since the Sept 11 attacks. Shahawar Matin Siraj, faces a maximum life sentence after a Brooklyn federal court jury convicted him of conspiring to place and detonate an explosive on the city's mass transit system.

U.S. appeals court upholds Honolulu aerial ad ban
United States

The U.S. 9th Circuit Court of Appeals on Tuesday ruled that Honolulu's ban on aerial advertising is constitutional and rejected the arguments of a pro-life/anti-abortion group that contended that the ban restricts free speech.

Family narrowly escapes fiery death in Christchurch, New Zealand
New Zealand

A family visiting Christchurch, New Zealand from Australia was minutes away from being burnt to death.

Jimmy Wales interview
Wikinews

One Wikinews reporter recently had the opportunity to interview Jimmy Wales regarding general thoughts and a look ahead toward Wikimania. Jimmy Wales makes himself available to the public from time to time and has also co-founded a for-profit company called Wikia.

Closing statements
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