It was reported in Seoul, South Korea, that the U.S. and South Korea began a joint military exercise that lasted 12 days. It was said this was due to N. Korea's test-firing of a long-range missile.
    This exercise by the S. Korea and U.S. side immediately made the relationship between S. Korea and N. Korea more intense, and would likely to affect the just started talks between the N. Korea side with the U.S..
    The situation on the Korean Peninsula has remained for years. Much international efforts were made to bring this region under peace. However, different interests kept the issue unsolved till today. I feel that each family has its own internal problems, and outsiders should help instead of joining either side to make things worse. In addition, military exercise will intensify conflict, and military action such as the one used in Yugoslavia by the U.S.-NATO forces had left us more trouble than peace. So I hope we should use more talks than military force in our country-to-country affairs.

#2: Full and a Sunless Sky
Stevie Liu/9/8/1999, Wednesday/2nd Period

    Dennis Williams tried to fish in Salem Lake this Labor Day, but the cool, sunless day affected his attitude and made him change his mind. The prolonged rain continued for two days. During these two days, there were five people that died in accidents. After the rain, though Bruce Smith, a kayaker at Salem Lake, drove a kayak in Salem Lake to catch herons with his wife, his cousin, and one of friends, yet because of the rain, they did not travel a lot, so they thought the summer was too short.
    Obviously, Dennis Williams' fishing and Bruce's travels were all affected by the sunless weather. There're no sides.
    Personally, I feel the weather changing really affects a person's plan, a traveling, and emotion. I think everybody has to have a plan so that when we're doing something, we can do it smoothly, even we've been interrupted by weather, we still need to know what to do next and do the things that you haven't done yet.

#3: The Death In Moscow
Stevie Liu/September 14, 1999/2nd period

    At least 73 people were killed in an apartment explosion in Moscow yesterday, according to the ASSOCIATED PRESS. Together, there were more than 200 people that have died in explosions in Russia during the last two weeks. Russia's Interior Minister Vladimir Rushailo announced that the explosions were linked to two warlords in Chechnya who are leading the offensive in Dagestan.
    The explosions by the terrorists affected the Russian government and people greatly. President Boris Yeltsin said that the terrorists had actually declared a war on the country and he ordered tight security at airports, nuclear power stations, oil pipelines and other possible targets across the country.
    In this world, no country can be free of troubles. But my opinion is that the best thing the Russian Government can do at this moment is to get busy and arrest the terrorists so that they can do good things for the country and help the citizens to get back to a quiet and safe life.

#4: Four held in mass killings in Kosovo
Stevie Liu/ September 28,1999/2nd period

    French police serving as peacekeepers in Mitrovica, Kosovo notified yesterday that 26 families' men were missing for five months. They had been killed by the Serbs in a mass killing. The killings occurred April 14. According to the French, the Serbian forced the women and children to separate from the men. After their wives and children were free, the men were executed. The French had arrested the four suspects in this mass killing. This is the first time for the foreigners to complete a war-crimes investigation, working on finding graves and making arrests.
    The mass killing thus involved lots of lives: many wives lost their husbands; many children lost their fathers; they all lost their homes.
    I think the Serbs shouldn't have done so many cruel things to the people. Even though they are fighting a war, they can't include the people in the warfare; it's not their fault. After all, the citizens are innocent.

#5: Flooding Hits Northern S.C.
Stevie Liu/October 5, 1999/6th period

    According to Wayne Jones, a severe-weather specialist for the National Weather Service in Greer, yesterday a rain was getting higher and higher from two to four and a-half inches north of Greer, and the torrential rains dropped heavily on and flowed away from the drought-hardened ground. This rapidly flooded the State of South Carolina before they moved into the Horry County.
    The people have been much affected by the rains that flowed quickly from one place to another on the large drought-hardened grounds.
    I think that the people should build more trees, so that they can help to stop the floods from happening and diminish the loss from floods.

#6: The Hope of Helping
Stevie Liu/October 12, 1999/6th period

    Hurricane Floyd has been the most devastating and costly in US history. At the moment, college students across North Carolina are either taking days off by suspending their classes, or giving up their Fall Break, to help the flood victims to recover their homes. According to our reporter at Raleigh, the involved schools include Campbell University's law school, N.C. Central University, University of North Carolina and Duke University at Chapel Hill. Students and faculties from these schools do their best in different ways. The Campbell University's law school's 225 students, for example, distributed relief supplies to the local residents at the First Baptist distribution center in Tarboro and did the down and dirty clean-up work at the two churches and homes through the Salvation Army in teams of 10. They also will deliver 300 Dr. Seuss books to the principal of Princeville's elementary school, which was ravaged by flooding from the Tar River. Starting yesterday, about 100 students from the N.C. Central helped to provide the residents with health information. Then officials at Duke University donated cleaning supplies, furniture and clothing to flood victims.
    In this event, it is apparent that the hurricane was unsympathetic, but not the college students. I think that college students are right and they are doing the right thing. By giving helps to and feeling for the others, they have done something meaningful in life. We do not live alone in the world. We do not know what will come to us. But we are not afraid, since we are one, and we will get helps in giving other a hand at times of need.

#7: U.N. Worker Shot and Killed in Kosovo
Stevie Liu/October 12, 1999/6th period

    A staffer of the U.N. was shot and killed last night after his first day on the job in Kosovo. The staffer was murdered on the way to his dinner after he arrived in Pristina. And the spokesman of the U.N., Manoel de Almeida e Silva, said that the staffer was on a civilian mission with civilian clothes, and he was not in any military or police operation.
    I have two thoughts. One is that maybe the U.N. is just finding a way to attack the Serbs again since it tried to withhold the staffer's name. Another possibility might be that there're really some Serbs that are still fighting in secret. Sometimes, the U.N. always has some kind of confusing missions and make everyone becomes confused.

#8: Chinese leader in Britain
Stevie Liu/October 20, 1999/6th period

    Yesterday, President Jiang Zemin of P.R. China arrived in London, United Kingdom. President Jiang has begun a trip that will last two weeks in Europe. Though Chinese officials announced that Jiang's visit is ceremonial, yet Jiang would discuss about China's desire for World Trade Organization (WTO) membership with leaders of Britain, France, and Portugal. However, the U.S., EU, and Canada are forcing China to further open its markets before it can join the WTO.
    In this situation, the talks between President Jiang Zemin with the leaders of U.K., France, and Portugal might help China to join the WTO. If they don't, maybe China needs to open the markets wider.
    I think that the Chinese government might let the markets open wider so that they can join the WTO. Once China becomes a member of the WTO, they can get more investments for its economy from the other developed countries. And in this way, the world can trade more things with another big fast growing country, China.

Appendix:
Topic: Chinese leader lands in Britain

LONDON: President Jiang Zemin of China arrived in Britain yesterday to begin a two-week trip to Europe, north Africa and Saudi Arabia that officials said is largely ceremonial, although China's bid to enter the World Trade Organization is on the agenda.
     Jiang arrived with little ceremony at Heathrow airport, but Queen Elizabeth and Prince Philip planned to formally welcome him today. He will be the Queen's guest at Buckingham Palace during his stay. He will leave for Paris on Oct. 22 and begin a two-day visit to Portugal on Oct. 26.
     Chinese officials said that Jiang would discuss China's desire for WTO membership with leaders of Britain, France and Portugal. The EU, the united States and Canada are pressing China to open its markets wider before it can join the WTO.

#9: Training that dispels doubts
Stevie Liu/October 20, 1999/6th period

    In Pristina, Kosovo, there's a 16-man team of members of the new Kosovo Protection Corps that has been chosen to have a three and a-half week of training in France. The team will solve firefighting, emergency rescue and other problems after the training that's provided by the French Civil Securities.
    The training was specially provided because the NATO peacekeeping force wanted to dispel the doubts that are among the Serbs and Albanians.
I personally think that the training will affect the citizens and let them trust the NATO peacekeeping force 100%.

Appendix

Serbs, Albanians to train

Pristina, Yugoslavia. It was an unusual sight in Kosovo: Serbs and ethnic Albanians joining together to pursue a common goal: training to handle civil security and crisis management.
    A 16-man team of members of the new Kosovo Protection Corps and a small handful of Serbs boarded a plane yesterday for a NATO-organized 3 1/2-week study trip to France. The alliance hoped that training the multiethnic group would dispel doubts among the Serbs that the corps is merely the rebel Kosovo Liberation Army in a new guise.
    The group, made up of 10 ethnic Albanians, three Serbs, two Bosnian Muslims and a Kosovo Turk, will participate in firefighting, emergency rescue and other training provided by the French Civil Securities, said Maj. Gen. Jean-Claude Thomann of the NATO-led peacekeeping force.

#10: Riot in Sao Paulo's Detention Center
Stevie Liu/October 25, 1999/6th period

    A rebellion took place and seized control of Brazil's biggest juvenile detention center in Sao Paulo, as our newsman reported from Sao Paulo late Sunday night. The rebels who were inmates set the center building complex on fire, and seized some guards as hostages. In the riot, hundreds of young men escaped from the center. At least four people were beaten and stabbed to death by the inmate rebels.
    The leading causes in this event seemed to do with two things. First, the detention center was built for 350 immigrants but now actually holds 1,300 inmates. This adds to the poor condition of the center. This made the guards in the center unhappy since their amount of work has been increased and it became more difficult to control the situation there. As a result, they planned for a strike. However, the government sent state police riot troops to replace all the guards. This finally made the local citizens unhappy. It is the second reason for the riot.
    The government should pay more to the guards so as to improve their treatments, after all they work for the government too. Besides, the Immigrants Detention Center complex should really be expanded, or they should not host 1,300 juvenile offenders in a place planned for only 350. It is too cruel and not helpful for reforming the young criminals. Finally, the government should understand the inmates. Even they break the rules, they should not be suppressed. Otherwise, it is wrong to take the people as enemies. If this happens, the contingency is not hard to see. As a Chinese saying goes: a little sparkle is likely to lead to a big fire.

#11: Russian Cruade in Chechnya
Stevie Liu/October 25, 1999/6th period

    In Grozny, the capital of Chechnya, the sound of canon fire shocked the whole city. The Russian troops on a crusade to smash the rebellious forces surrounded the outskirts with tanks, artillery and jets. Russian guns and bombs had struck 20 towns, including Argun and Tolstoy-Yurt, which are six miles to the east and north of Grozny. They have also blocked the major roads that pass through to the airports, into the city, and lead to neighboring republics. The people are desperate.
    The rebellious force from Grozny, Chechnya, was believed to be responsible for the terrorist bombs in Moscow a few weeks ago. These rebels are now also considered as splittists that try to pull Chechnya away from the rule of Moscow.
    The Russian government is doing what they should do to protect their country from breaking up, and their blockade and bombing are necessary at the moment. But it seems also necessary for all governments and peoples concerned to think about the question: why do some people try to stay away from the rule of the government, and the big family of a nation? Besides, if this happens, what should the world do?

#12: The search for crash survivors is ended
Stevie Liu/November 7,1999 / 6th Period

    The search for crash survivors is ended. This is a search for 217 victims from Flight 990, which was an Egyptian Airliner that started from last Sunday. There was no longer any hope for the victims. One senior official said that 199 passengers and 18 emplyees of EgyptAir along with some diplomats were on board with  more than 30 Egyptian military officials. The searchers also included the FBI. One of the officiers said that the plane had no explosion as it crashed. The officials are still trying to find the black boxes.
    I feel so sorry for those who lost their family members. I'm afraid that the crash had something to do with the weather (sometimes the weather gets really bad unexpectly in the sky above the sea). The plane could have been attacked by a cold current, then slowly became frozen, and at last, it crashed into the deep blue sea. Or perhaps the computer of the plane was broken by the Y2K virus, then the plane went out of control and crashed. The officials that are responsible for the investigation of this plane crash should find the black boxes and continue the search of the victims as fast as possible. The government also needs to comfort the families of the victims and provide neccesary compensations to them.

#13: Tragedy in Chechnya
Stevie Liu/November 10,1999 / 6th Period

    In Grozny, Russia, the Russian troops were still sending more soldiers, artillery, and tanks to the southern republic. The troops were courageously using missiles to shoot at the capital. Nine civilians were killed, and 50 were wounded, this is the disaster that the attack made up. This cornered the Chechen fighters, so they started to use rockets and ground attacks against the Russian troops, tried to stop them from moving into the Alkhan-Kala region near Grozny.
   The crazy attacks by the Russian troops had covered up all the lands; the Chechen fighters had nowhere to go, so they started their attacks.
   So many innocent people were killed and hurt by those cruel attacks that the Russian troops made. I think the troops should find the targets before they fired. Otherwise, more and more innocents will be badly hurt.

#14: The disorder of Falun Gong in China
Stevie Liu/November 10,1999 / 6th Period

   A hundred and eleven Falun Gong members that disturb social order, conduct illegal business activities and steal state secrets, were arrested on charges. The suspects could be detained for weeks if they have no charges, and those who had been charged were arrested. Also, an unknown number of practitioners were sent into labor camps.
   The people are still listening to those hearsay by the head of Falun Gong, Li Hongzhi. They follow what Li said, like steal state secrets, spread misfortunes and bad things like that.
   I think the Chinese Government should immediately arrest all the members of the Falun Gong, and send them into the labor camps. Then, in the labor camps, tell them that practice meditations are good, but don't use them to do bad things.

#15: The Thirteen Years of Negotiations Finally Pay Off
Stevie Liu/November 23, 1999/6th period

    The US trade representative, Charlene Barshesky, and China trade minister, Shi Guangsheng finally signed the agreement of China entering the WTO yesterday in Beijing. This deal concerns with China's reduction of tariffs in industrial and agriculture products, and lifting its barriers for American banks, insurance, and telephone companies to enter China. Besides, the agreement requires American supports in China's membership in WTO.
    It is believed that the agreement may help to repair the damage done from charges of the American bombing of the Chinese embassy in Belgrade last May. Apart from this, China's promise in cutting down the tariffs on automobile imports may help American cars sell on China's markets. In overall, the agreement will even help improve the relationship between China and the US now and in the future.
    I feel this agreement is really meaningful. First, it will help China to quickly develop its economy. At the same time, China's entrance into the world trade organization helps to regulate China's economic deeds. For the Americans and other countries, the deal will pave a way for a chance for them to make money in the biggest market of the world.

#16: Crimes In Pristina
Stevie Liu/December 7,1999/6th period

Last night, the NATO peacekeepers viewed a car overturned and set on fire at midnight. Then, the U.N. police found two Serb women lying on the ground, screaming for help. After hundreds of Albanians' descriptions, the investigators knew exactly what had happened. A mob came to the car; they pulled a Serb man and two Serb women out from it; and then they beat all three of them and shot the man fatally to death.

The acts of the mobs gave the NATO a headache. The commander of NATO forces in Kosovo condemned the attack, saying that if they don't stop it fast they won't develop the democracy in Kosovo easily.

The NATO peacekeepers should arrest mobs immediately and as many as they could. Besides, they should try to stop every move of the mobs by getting more helps from the locals. Only in peaceful situation, they can develop the democracy in Kosovo quick and good.

#17: Cold Heart of Russian Troops
Stevie Liu/December 7, 1999/6th period

Yesterday, the Russian Government urged that civilians in Grozny were still hiding down in the basements to leave Chechnya. So, the Russian Troops were shooting the rockets angrily. They left hundreds dead or wounded and destroyed scores of buildings and homes.

The citizens in Chechnya think that the civilians are also citizens like them, so they tried as hard as they could to keep those guys in their basements. And the Russian Troops were trying to get the civilians out of the houses, then they don't care whether there're people or not, they just blow the city up.

I think they should try to get in to the houses and arrest the civilians one by one by them-selves, but without hurting all the innocent people. They should make a good mission.

#18: The Big Warning
Stevie Liu/November 30, 1999/6th period

News from Dolinsky yesterday reported that, after they warned those civilians in Grozny to leave, the Russian Government felt that they might lose in the street battle. They lost in previous battles in Chechnya 1994-96. Instead of losing in street battles, the Russian troops will begin bigger attacks by using artillery and air bombardment on the city. But at the moment, the citizens are told to flee Grozny by Saturday through an open "road" for the residents.
 It seems the Russians leaflets with threatening words will work.
 However, if they try to use harsh means to solve the problem, it won't work. Since the terrorists themselves have gone through a tradition of strong resistance in their early years for socialism power. This seems to be a common practice for people in all the developing countries who cherish a lot of nationalism and independence. In addition, I think the Russians should end the battle quickly, because war is too costy.

#19: Floods Flooded Away the Homes
Stevie Liu/December 1, 1999/6th period

 In Hanoi yesterday, a spokesman reported that after Vietnam had its worst flood in this century a month ago, the people of the country of Vietnam again suffered in great pains and dangers of new rainfalls. And the worst hit provinces were the provinces of Quang Nam and Quang Ngai.
 The rains killed 109 and left out more than 1 million homeless people. In fact, heavy rains have dumped more than 6 feet of water; the flood stretched across some areas. And it stranded thousands of train travelers and drivers on Vietnam's main highways, and caused 22 people missing. Air-force officials said that they were dropping food to the two worst hit provinces with three helicopters and made several trips. It is estimated that the floods caused billions of trillions of dollars of damage, and that needs years to recover.
 I think the Vietnamese should learn a lesson from this and build more houses on the higher ranges in the few coming years. In addition, they should set up more dams, reservoirs, and have stronger trees to help stop the future floods.

#20: Violence in Indonesia
Stevie Liu/January 4, 2000/6th period

     Latest news on Tuesday, January 6, 2000, reported that Muslims and Christians were fighting in Indonesia's Spice Islands. Eighteen victims were shot as the soldiers and police confiscated thousands of weapons to try to stop the violence. The warring sides clashed on Halmerah Island, and 15 people got killed. In the capital of North Maluku, Ternate, three Halmerah residents were beaten to death while they were trying to flee the violence. Five hundred and fifty were killed last week in the fighting at the Spice Islands.
     The violence by the two parties damaged a lot of the residents?houses, constructions, etc. if the violence continues, the people won't have any peaceful lives; because fighting are just like smoking, once you started, you never want to end.
     I suggest that the Indonesian Government should organize and investigate more after they handle up the violence, so the government can make Indonesia a better country.

#21: Bad News From Russian Embassy In Beirut
Stevie Liu/January 4, 2000/6th period

    Yesterday, in Beirut, Lebanon, a group of Muslim militants attacked the Russian Embassy with enormous fire power. And as the attackers fired four grenades and assault rifles at the embassy from a nearby building, an officer of the security forces was killed. Then, the security forces stormed the building and shot one of the attackers. The forces suddenly realized that there were many rival groups at the outside area of the city of Sidon, 30 miles south of Beirut, when they found a note from the dead attacker. But, the forces still can't identify which particular group does the dead attacker was in.

    The police reported that they had found the dead assailant was carrying a statement indicating that the attack was motivated by anger with Russian military actions in Chechnya. Voice of Free Lebanon, a private radio station, said that the assailant was addressed "The Call of Grozny". For the safety of Russian Embassy, Lebanon Government sent forces to security the embassy. The Russian Government makes no coments about this attack.

    The breakout by the Chechens is a serious problem. That tells that people haven't realize the differences between democarcy and national unity, and this happens in nearly every country in the world. If there's wars, there won't be any national unity, democracy. If there's national unity, the democracy will work too. So, the national unity is higher than anything, it will only be the best when there's national unity, and the democracy, human rights can work just as they should be. If the Chechnya problem can't be solved, Russia would be tear apart. Different thoughts will pop up; for examples, why should we still follow a not organize country like this, do we need to breakout too while the others are doing, is it good for us if we are breaking out, etc. Second, the Chechnya problem is the Russian internal affairs, the Russians should care about it, not the Lebanese. Third, the Muslim militants were just showing that they were angry about the Russians actions and eager to help their fellows in Chechnya. But by the way, it's not a good way to attack another country's embassy to show your anger, you can just send a letter or something. The Lebanese must had been doing some underground mission to surpport the Chechen fighters.

#22: Firebombs Hit Tokyo Trains
Stevie Liu/January 13, 2000/6th period

     In Tokyo's yesterday, almost simultaneously, a fire broke out on three trains. Fortunately, nobody was injured in the fires that exploded at stations close to the Tokyo International Airport at Narita. The fires were quickly put out. The police believed a radical group set this case, because this international airport, which is about 40 miles northeast of Tokyo, has been a big target of violence.
     It seems that the radical group was trying to stop the transportation by destroying the airport.
     This radical group is trying to damage things. The Tokyo police should really get more concern with this, and investigate more. They must find out what would the group do next, what's their next target. In that way, they will able to get this group.

#23: Cold "Disease" In Moscow
Stevie Liu/January 13, 2000/6th period

     Twenty-six people were injured Saturday after slipping on Moscow's icy streets. Yesterday, 54 were hospitalized. The death toll number was raised to 105 when 5 people were frozen to death. Many people are frozen to death in Russia's big cities each year; most are homeless people or people who passed out after drinking. This was released by the ITAR-Tass news agency.
     The temperatures in Moscow have hovered at about 14 degrees in recent days, and that's probably one of the reasons for why there were so many people died in cold. The other reason is that the government doesn't give any houses to the people, so lots of them have to come out and become beggars.
     The government should care more about the citizens, lend them some money, let them have enough to survive, so that they won't be frozen to death in the cold.

#24: Hotel Fire Killed 20
Stevie Liu/January 13, 2000/6th period

     Firefighters ran from floor to floor trying to save guests who were stranded by the flames and smoke in the Grand Hawaii Hotel in Changchun City, Xinghua News reported. In this rescue, at least 150 guests were rescued, including 7 Japanese. This fire that engulfed a hotel in northeast China early yesterday killed 10 men and 10 women, and injured 31 others.
     It was believed that some kids with matches had started the fire, and the 20 people killed were believed to have suffocated from the heavy smoke inside the bathhouse.
     I think the concerned departments should first say sorry to those people who were living in his hotel. Then, they should find out who were killed and pay money to those people's families to comfort them. They also need to find out how the fire took place. And, they should have more security measures in all the hotels.

#25: Warring Leaders Vow Peace
Stevie Liu/January 28, 2000/6th period

    On January 25, 2000, the W-S news journal reported that many Central African warring countries?presidents had pledged to UN in US, to a faltering cease-fire. Their plan was to set up a peacekeeping force. In that way, they hope to lead peace in Central Africa.
    The US disagreed after Congo's president, Laurent Kabila, demanded that the United Nations deploy a UN peacekeeping force to monitor the 6-month-old truce, because the cease-fire has been widely flouted by all sides. President of Uganda, Yoweri Museveni, agreed that there is a huge risk and it will cost a lot for setting the peacekeeping force up.
    The UN peacekeeping forces are very important in international actions for peace. But the problem for now is whether a common action should be taken out, if a big country disagreed with that, as in this case. I think all actions that made by the UN should be fully executed since it was completely discussed before the UN authorized that. For this world, UN's authority is the final, instead of a big country.

#26: House-to-House Battle in Grozny
Stevie Liu/January 28, 2000/6th period

    On January 24, 2000, the Russian troops and Chechen rebels fought house-to-house in the neighborhoods in the capital of Chechen, Grozny, according to Interfax news agency. The Russians attacked the capital to the south. Their shells nearly cover the whole place up, and as a result, everywhere are frigid ruins. The heaviest fighting was around the Minutka Square in central Grozny, which the rebels control. But the Russians held a key bridge across the Sunzha River, which intercepts Grozny.
    In some areas, the Russians met hard advances during the day. They retreated at night when they were more vulnerable to rebel ambushes. But the Russian troops are controlling the overall situation.
    It seems that the war is going to an end. The strong Russian troops have fought the rebels to the city's center and they're going to seize that place in less than a week. The rebels should realize that their days can be counted. They should quickly surrender before it's too late.

#27: Russians Closed Up Grozny
Stevie Liu/February 22, 2000/6th period

    On February 22, 2000, Russians closed up Grozny, the capital of Chechnya, to the civilians. A commander named Viktor Kazantsev announced on the Russian NTV television that as long as the city isn't cleared of all mines and shells, they wouldn't let the civilians move in. Besides, Commander Nikolai Zaitsev said that the closing would last until March 1.
    The Russian military fears the rebels might come back in disguise. In fact, the mined building made too dangerous to live there. Commander Kazantsev also declared that under civilian disguise, militants are trying to return to pick up their wounded soldiers.
    In conclusion, I think the plan for the Russians is right, they should make roadblocks, search every person and everything on every car or truck. They should also clear out all the mines that are in the city of Grozny. By the way, I always believe that the evil will be destroyed by the good.

#28: Albanian To Seek Peace
Stevie Liu/March 21, 2000/6th period

    In Pristina, Yugoslavia, Hashim Thaci promised yesterday to do what he could to stop Serb-Albanian violence in southern Serbia. It is unclear whether Thaci has any direct connection to ethnic Albanian militants fighting Serb police harassment in Presevo. Thaci, who's an ethnic Albanian leader, wields moral influence over the fighters as political leader of the Kosovo Liberation Army during the war.
    The ethnic Albanian leader, Hashim Thaci, also said that the unrest violence does nothing but harm Kosovo's chances for independence.
    Thaci may try his thinking, so that the violence can be stop.

#29: Rebels Captured In Chechnya
Stevie Liu/March 21, 2000/6th period

    Acting President Vladimir Putin flew to Chechnya in a fighter jet yesterday and he wanted to hold talks with rebels. A Chechen field commander, Salautdin Timirbulatov, had been captured by Russian troops, as the Infax news agency reported. Russian TV stations later broadcast a videotape showing his executing a prisoner of war from the previous Chechnya conflict.
    Putin signaled that Moscow is willing to discuss the republic's future if the rebels give up their weapons and abandon armed struggle.
    I think the rebels should abandon armed struggle and give up their weapons just as Putin said, so that the country of Russia can get some peace.

#30: One Country, Two Systems
Stevie Liu/March 21, 2000/6th period

    Yesterday, on the topic of the comeback of Taiwan, President Jiang Zemin of China announced that China would talk to anybody just if they consider one China principle. Chen Shui-bian, who won the won Saturday's election, agreed to talk in Beijing about one China but not the principle. Chen said that he would put the issue to an island wide vote only if China attacked.
    Chen objects to the principle because he fears that if he accepts it he would have to agree that the ruling government of that China is in Beijing. This would mean that Taiwanese ruled by a local government unequal to the undemocratic, communist regime. Some Taiwanese wanted to independent, and some wanted to go back to mainland, so when they were voting, many people were frustrated.
    Chen is at his wit end, he softened more and more in the position of the independence idea. Mainland China wanted to have talks, but if the Taiwan government still drags on forever, China will use military weapons to recover Taiwan. Some people are counting how many tanks, jetfighters, and missiles do China has, and their idea is that China is afraid to fight. If people count like this, Hitler might rule the world already. Those people do not know China's history, they do not know that Chinese will sacrifice their lives to protect the unity of their country, and defend their national dignity. These few days, Taiwan's stock market is losing ground dramatically. This absolutely shows that how frustrated the Taiwanese are. However, Taiwan will be back to its motherland.