February 21, 1996
Web posted at: 12:45 a.m. EST (0545 GMT)
PARIS (CNN) -- A United Nations conference in Paris discussed how scientists could electronically archive their research in cyberspace and how they could extend use of the Internet to poor countries.
The delegates are members of the 92-member U.N. Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO).
The scientists want to store research findings on the Internet so that poor regions can use the information.
Delegates discussed the challenge of extending the Internet to regions where it is not available through a telephone call to a local exchange. That includes some countries in southeast Asia, the Middle East, Latin America, and Central Africa.
TEL AVIV, Israel (CNN) -- The Israeli army claimed Tuesday that a suicide bomber bound for the Israel-Lebanon border accidentally blew himself up.
Army officials said a Hezbollah guerrilla was flying a glider to an Israeli target either in south Lebanon or northern Israel when the glider exploded.
Lebanese authorities confirmed there was a mid-air explosion, but said they have not found anything on the ground to confirm the Israeli report.
Hezbollah, a Shiite Muslim group, is opposed to Israel's occupation of the border strip in southern Lebanon.
Israel carved out the enclave in 1985 to shield its northern communities from cross-border raids.
PARIS (CNN) -- A French newspaper reports that President Jacques Chirac plans to end the military draft in France.
Le Figaro reported that Chirac will propose replacing the compulsory 10-month military duty with a civilian form of national service.
The plan would seek to change the armed force into an all-professional army over five years.
The French army, one of the largest armies in Europe, comprises some 300,000 professional soldiers and 180,000 conscripts.
A formal announcement is due Thursday.
WASHINGTON (CNN) -- The U.S. State Department called a report that Ukrainian government planes and pilots may be involved in Colombian drug running "disturbing."
Ukrainian officials denounced the Los Angeles Times report Tuesday, calling it a ploy to ruin U.S.-Ukrainian relations.
However, officials acknowledged that Ukraine's security service and U.S. law enforcement agencies are investigating the planes' alleged drug-running connections.
Ukraine's cash-strapped, state-run Antonov Aviation Factory is leasing six An-32B cargo planes and their Ukrainian pilots to Colombian companies.
State Department spokesperson Nicholas Burns said the United States will take up the issue with Ukrainian President Leonid Kuchma when he visits Washington Wednesday.
JERUSALEM (CNN) -- Palestinian youths have clashed with Israeli police and soldiers in Jerusalem, Nazareth and the West Bank town of Hebron.
Monday's violent outbursts came on the eve of the Muslim Eid al-Fitr feast. The Eid marks the end of Ramadan, the month of daylight fasting.
Hundreds of Palestinian youths tossed stones and bottles at policemen and cars at the Damascus Gate outside Jerusalem's Old City and in the Arab-Israeli town of Nazareth.
In Hebron, the only Palestinian city in the West Bank still under Israeli control, dozens of Palestinian youths threw stones at Israeli soldiers Monday evening as residents finished their holiday shopping.
MANILA, Philippines (CNN) -- The ferry disaster Sunday that killed at least 54 people might not have happened if the boat had left on time, Philippine officials said Monday. One official even demanded the death penalty for negligent ship owners involved in such disasters.
"Owners of ships which sink should be punished with death," Philippine Sen. Nikki Coseteng said.
If the boat had sailed on time, it would not have had to wait for high tide to dock, maritime officials said. As the ferry waited, a gale capsized the boat, which broke apart and sank.
Most of the victims found so far are children. Rescuers still are searching for the bodies of 12 people.
The old wooden vessel was carrying more than 200 people, or double its legal capacity, and its captain had no formal maritime education, officials said.
Maritime inspectors had ordered the ferry out of service last week because they deemed it unsafe. The owners of the ship will be charged with multiple counts of murder if they fail to explain the violations satisfactorily.
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