vips

LETTER N° 22

From 27 May to 02 June

27
Italy

Runoff municipal elections. Results :

Roma : Walter Veltroni 52,2 % [Olive Tree (Ulivo) coalition]

Torino : Sergio Chiamparino 52,8 % [Olive Tree (Ulivo) coalition]

Napoli : Rosa Russo Iervolino [Olive Tree (Ulivo) coalition]

Runoff regional elections. Results :

Mantova : Fontanili Maurizio [Olive Tree (Ulivo) coalition]

Lucca : Tagliasacchi Andrea [Olive Tree (Ulivo) coalition]

27
Russia

(Vladivostok)

Legislative assembly elections for six vacant seats. Results :

The Vladivostok City Electoral Commission has declared the City Duma legitimate after residents chose six more deputies in the election. The Duma in its current compliment is dominated by doctors and business people, each of the groups holding six seats. It also includes a lawyer, Igor Alexeyev, who is residing in the United States, but has promised to return to Vladivostok when the Duma starts work.

27
Russia

(Primorskii Krai)

Gubernatorial election. Results : non available

27
Russia

(Ivanovo oblast)

Federal Duma Deputy by-election at Kineshma District. Results : non available

27
Japan

(Saitama)

Mayor election : Results

Former Urawa Mayor Soichi Aikawa won first mayoral election of the city of Saitama, created May 1 through a merger of the cities of Urawa, Omiya and Yono in Saitama Prefecture, north of Tokyo, beating seven other candidates.

27
Cyprus

Parliamentary elections. Results :

In parliamentary elections, the Progressive Party of the Working People wins 34.7% of the vote (20 seats) compared to 34.1% (19 seats) for President Glafkos Kliridis' Democratic Coalition, 14.8% (9 seats) for the Democratic Party, and 6.5% (4 seats) for the Socialist Party of Cyprus.

Cyprus has a presidential system and Disy is the main backer of the present centre-right government of President Glafcos Clerides. The parliamentary elections are widely seen as a test bed for the presidential election in 2003. AKEL has never contested a presidential vote on its own and may seek alliances with others.

27
Mexico

(Yucatan)

Gubernatorial,municipal and local elections. Results :

Patricio Patron, candidate for the conservative National Action Party (PAN) of President Vicente Fox, won 59% of the vote and PRI candidate Orlando Paredes 40%.

27/31
G15

The Eleventh G 15 Summit

The Indonesian Government will be organizing the G-15 Trade Exhibition and the G-15 InfoCom Tech Expo in collaboration with Indonesian International Telecommunications Media and Information Technology 2001 (IITELMIT 2001), from 27 to 31 May 2001, at the Jakarta Convention Centre.

Program :

Ministers of Trade/Economy 27 May 2001

Ministers of Foreign Affairs 28 May 2001

Arrival of HOS/G 29 May 2001

XI Summit and Retreat 30-31 May 2001

28
Amnesty International

Amnesty International was launched in 1961 by British lawyer Peter Benenson. His newspaper appeal, "The Forgotten Prisoners", was published worldwide on 28 May 1961 and brought in more than 1,000 offers of support for the idea of an international campaign to protect human rights.

Amnesty International is a worldwide campaigning movement that works to promote all the human rights enshrined in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and other international standards. In particular, Amnesty International campaigns to free all prisoners of conscience ; ensure fair and prompt trials for political prisoners; abolish the death penalty, torture and other cruel treatment of prisoners ; end political killings and "disappearances" ; and oppose human rights abuses by opposition groups.

Amnesty International has around a million members and supporters in 162 countries and territories. Activities range from public demonstrations to letter-writing, from human rights education to fundraising concerts, from individual appeals on a particular case to global campaigns on a particular issue.

Amnesty International is impartial and independent of any government, political persuasion or religious creed. Amnesty International is financed largely by subscriptions and donations from its worldwide membership.

28
Iraq

Iraq's Interior Minister Mohammed Zimam Abdul Razzaq was relieved of his cabinet post apparently because he failed to be reelected to the top Iraq Command of the ruling Ba'th Party last week.

29
Ukraine

President of Ukraine Leonid Kuchma signed the decree appointing Anatoliy Kinakh the Prime Minister of Ukraine.; he is approved by parliament by (239-2).

Anatoliy Kinakh was born on August 4, 1954 in Moldova. He graduated from Leningrad shipbuilding institute in 1978 majoring in shipbuilding engineering. 1978-1992 - worked at ship repair and building plants in Talin and Mykolaiv starting from dock specialist and promoted to production manager of the plant. 1990 - was elected the deputy of Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine of 12th convocation. 1992-1995 - representative of the President of Ukraine in Mykolaiv region - head of the regional state administration. 1994-1995 - head of Mykolaiv region council of national deputies. 1995-1996 - Vice Prime Minister of Ukraine on industrial policy. Since 1996 - advisor to the President of Ukraine on industrial policy. Since May 1997 - member of Interagency Council on implementation of economic reform programs. Since June 1997 - first deputy board chairman of International Congress of Industrials and Entrepreneurs. Since July 1997 - member of higher economic council of the President of Ukraine, chairman of the interagency coordinative council on privatization of strategically important industrial enterprises. Since September 1997 - member of the national council of Ukraine on quality. Since March 1998 - deputy of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine of 14th convocation, chairman of the committee on industrial policy. August 1999 - December 1999 - First Vice Prime Minister of Ukraine. By presidential Decree N347 of May 29, 2001, Anatoliy Kinakh was appointed Prime Minister of Ukraine.

29
Pakistan

Nawaz Sharif elected leader of PML, Pakistan Muslim League (Nawaz) party

Born in Lahore December 1948. Graduate of Law from the Punjab University, and enjoys a very good rapport with the business community. His appointment has been seen as Pakistan's last chance at democracy. He is the first in his family to pursue a political career. In 1981 he began his political career as Finance Minister in the Province of Punjab. Three years later, at age 35, he was elected the Chief Minister of Punjab, Pakistan's most populous province During his six-year reign as head of the Punjab Province, he was constantly fighting attempts by then Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto to destabilise him. Voted in as Prime Minister in October 1990 as head of a coalition the Islamic Democratic Alliance after Bhutto was kicked out by the President (a common occurrence) April 18 1993 he was "arbitrarily dismissed" by the President Ghulam Ishaq Khan. The National Assembly (lower house) was dissolved, but Nawaz challenged the decision in the Supreme Courts and won. He continued to rule but there was pressure from the army for him to stand aside, and he advised the President to dissolve Parliament. He lost the subsequent elections after losing his coalition partners. Was subjected to a barrage of charges against himself and his family but survived to take over as Prime Minister in 1997 after Bhutto was sacked in disgrace due to claims of corruption and summary executions carried out in Lahore. Deposed Former Pakistanian Prime Minister in 12 Oct 1999 has been sentenced to 14 years in jail for tax evasion in July 2000.

29/30
NATO

Foreign Ministers Meeting - Budapest, Hungary.

Meetings at Foreign Ministers level of the North Atlantic Council (NAC) and between NATO Foreign Ministers and the Foreign Ministers of Partner Countries.

30
Slovakia

President Schuster Appoints New Cabinet Ministers.

NEW CABINET NEXT WEEK

30
Brazil

Sen. Antonio Carlos Magalhaes' resignation comes a week after the Senate Ethics Committee recommended the chamber consider expelling him and another senator for allegedly violating the secrecy of an impeachment vote last June.

Antonio Carlos Peixoto de Magalhães was born in Salvador, BA, on September 4 , 1927. In 1952, he grauated in Medicine from the Faculty of Medicine of the Federal University of Bahia. He served as physician in the public sector of the state and was associate professor to the Faculty of Medicine of the University of Bahia.Elected as a state MP in 1954, on a UDN ticket (União Democrática Nacional), was leader of the party and member of several commissions, including chairman of the Finance and Budget commission. In 1958 he ran for the Federal House, and was first elected as a federal MP, a position to which he was subsequently re-elected in 1962 and 1966. Governor of the State of Bahia for a first term in 1971-1975 and a second term in 1979-1983. He served as state minister of Communications under President José Sarney's government, from 1985 to 1990. In March 1991 he served for the third time in the State Government of Bahia. Elected senator of the Republic for the period 1995-2003.

30
Jamaica

Errol Ennis deputy finance minister sent his resignation to Seymour Mullings, the acting prime minister, after local newspapers reported that banks had rejected seven of the minister's cheques.

Mr. Ennis is a Businessman, Consultant, Farmer, and Economist. He is the Minister of State in the Ministry of Finance and Planning. He has been the sitting Member of Parliament for West Portland, Jamaica since 1989. He also serves as a member of the People's National Party, National Executive Council, and of the Party Executive. During 1986 to 1992 he served on the Executive of the Jamaica Amateur Athletic Association, and was President of the Kingston College Old Boys' Association. He also served as Treasurer of the Bankers' Association of Jamaica, and a member of Moore Keys Lodge, and Chairman for Region Executive Council. From 1961 to 1966 he served in the Royal Air Force, he then went on to work as a Financial Analyst in the United Kingdom 1969-70, and in several executive capacities with the former Jamaica Development Bank, ending with the position of Vice President in 1981. He was also Managing Director of Project Development Services, Associates Limited and various Private Sector Companies. Ennis was educated at Kingston College, University of Reading. He is a fellow of the Economic Development Institute of the International Bank for Reconstruction and Development and a graduate of the Harvard Business School's Executive Development Programme.

30
Turkey

Yuksel Yalova's Turkey's minister for privatization resigned after his comments suggesting likely delays in a law deregulating the tobacco industry caused panic in the stock market.

Born in Karpuzlu- 1955 - Law Faculty from the University of Istanbul , Istanbul Municipal Academy, Master Degree and Ph.D in Social Science from the University of Marmara- Speaks French and English - Freelance barrister at law.

31
Pakistan

Third phase of local bodies elections in 20 districts. Results : non available

01
Nepal

King And Queen Killed in Palace Massacre. Crown Prince Dipendra, 29, killed King Birendra and Queen Aiswarya, his brother, Prince Nirajan, 22, and sister, Princess Shruti, the official said. Four others members of the royal family were also shot to death, though their identities were not immediately known.

KING BIRENDRA : Grandson of His Late Majesty King Tribhuvan, "The Father of the Nation," and the eldest son of His Late Majesty King Mahendra and Her Late Royal Highness Crown Princess Indra Rajya Laxmi Devi Shah, His Majesty King Birendera Bir Bikram Shah Dev was born on December 28, 1945 at the Narayanhity Royal Palace, Kathmandu. After the successful completion of early education at St. Joseph's School, Darjeeling (India), His Majesty studied at Eton College in England from 1959 for 5 years to be followed by further studies in the University of Tokyo, Japan, and Harvard University of U.S.A. from 1967 to 1968. In 1955, His Late Majesty King Mahendra declared him the Heir-apparent to the Throne of the Kingdom of Nepal and in 1964 conferred on him the title of Grand Master and Colonel-in-Chief of the Royal Nepalese Army.

QUEEN AISWARYA : 51, Educated at home, she later received a Bachelor of Arts degree. Played a significant role in the advancement of women and won worldwide praise for work to aid children.

PRINCE NIRAJAN : 22, the younger brother of the crown prince.

PRINCESS SHRUTI : 24, the princess is married and has two daughters.

Note : Prince Gyanendra (younger brother of Birendra) is named regent.

01
Malaysia

Finance Minister Tun Daim Zainuddin resigns.

Tun Daim Zainuddin born on April 29, 1938, in Kedah State, Malaysia. Barrister-at-law, Lincoln's Inn, London. They did it his way. Mahathir may have been the one to invoke the Sinatra principle of financial management, but it was Daim who was tasked with saving the economy. That he did, without a cent from the IMF. The appointment of a new economic adviser to Mahathir raises questions as to how much longer Daim, his job perhaps done, will keep hold of the tiller. But as finance minister and long-time treasurer of the dominant UMNO party, Daim remains the most influential figure in the Malaysian economy. His own business interests are prospering, too.

This week :

VIPS-FEDS.

Monika Dusong new president of the Council of State of Neuchâtel.

Werner Luginbühl new president of the government of Bern

Hermann Lei new president of the government of Thurgau.

VIPS-GOVER.

BULGARIA

THIS WEEK'S STORY

May 31, 1859

La célèbre horloge Big Ben entre en service à Londres.

Big Ben a name to conjure with!", say the English. But why such a nickname? It spontaneously evokes the clock tower of Westminster and its chime. In fact, "Big Ben" initially referred to the bell of this clock: "Big" because of its considerable weight, and "Ben" a contraction of Benjamain Hall, the first civil engineering administrator who ordered the casting of the large bell. With Big Ben, the British empire could boast the most precise clock in the world. It was high time, as some ill-intentioned people, more from jealousy than conviction, had openly doubted the feasibility of such a project.

On October 16, 1834, the Palace of Westminster, on the banks of the Thames, was partially destroyed by fire. Its reconstruction was the object of a competition involving around 100 architects. The winner, Charles Barry, created a wide-spreading edifice &endash ; 1100 rooms, 11 courtyards and 3 towers &endash ; in an unmistakably Victorian neo-gothical style.

St. Stephen's tower was to house a large clock, "a noble clock, indeed a king of clocks". Crafted between 1854 and 1859, the Westminster clock operates with the "Denison" escapement, named after its inventor. This independent escapement transmits constant gravity impulses to the clock (317kg). The two chiming weights (3 tonnes between them) drop into a 53-metre deep void. Initially, they were drawn up by two workers (30 hours per week), but the task was taken over by an electric motor in 1912. The clock transmits two daily signals to Greenwich which controls its rate. From May 31, 1859 and up until the present time, the Big Ben tower has never ceased giving the time, despite a few breakdowns which some would prefer to forget. The pride of the British nation, the timekeeper of Westminster constitutes a fine tribute to the talent and perseverance of one man : Edmond Beckett Denison (1816-1905).

27 Italy		Runoff municipal elections. Results : Roma : Walter Veltroni 52,2 % [Olive Tree (Ulivo) coalition] Torino : Sergio Chiamparino 52,8 % [Olive Tree (Ulivo) coalition] Napoli : Rosa Russo Iervolino [Olive Tree (Ulivo) coalition] Runoff regional elections. Results : Mantova : Fontanili Maurizio [Olive Tree (Ulivo) coalition] Lucca : Tagliasacchi Andrea [Olive Tree (Ulivo) coalition]
27 Russia (Vladivostok)		Legislative assembly elections for six vacant seats. Results : The Vladivostok City Electoral Commission has declared the City Duma legitimate after residents chose six more deputies in the election. The Duma in its current compliment is dominated by doctors and business people, each of the groups holding six seats. It also includes a lawyer, Igor Alexeyev, who is residing in the United States, but has promised to return to Vladivostok when the Duma starts work.
27 Russia (Primorskii Krai)		Gubernatorial election. Results : non available
27 Russia (Ivanovo oblast)		Federal Duma Deputy by-election at Kineshma District. Results : non available
27 Japan (Saitama)		Mayor election : Results Former Urawa Mayor Soichi Aikawa won first mayoral election of the city of Saitama, created May 1 through a merger of the cities of Urawa, Omiya and Yono in Saitama Prefecture, north of Tokyo, beating seven other candidates.
27 Cyprus		Parliamentary elections. Results : In parliamentary elections, the Progressive Party of the Working People wins 34.7% of the vote (20 seats) compared to 34.1% (19 seats) for President Glafkos Kliridis' Democratic Coalition, 14.8% (9 seats) for the Democratic Party, and 6.5% (4 seats) for the Socialist Party of Cyprus. Cyprus has a presidential system and Disy is the main backer of the present centre-right government of President Glafcos Clerides. The parliamentary elections are widely seen as a test bed for the presidential election in 2003. AKEL has never contested a presidential vote on its own and may seek alliances with others.
27 Mexico (Yucatan)		Gubernatorial,municipal and local elections. Results : Patricio Patron, candidate for the conservative National Action Party (PAN) of President Vicente Fox, won 59% of the vote and PRI candidate Orlando Paredes 40%.
27/31 G15		The Eleventh G 15 Summit The Indonesian Government will be organizing the G-15 Trade Exhibition and the G-15 InfoCom Tech Expo in collaboration with Indonesian International Telecommunications Media and Information Technology 2001 (IITELMIT 2001), from 27 to 31 May 2001, at the Jakarta Convention Centre. Program : Ministers of Trade/Economy 27 May 2001 Ministers of Foreign Affairs 28 May 2001 Arrival of HOS/G 29 May 2001 XI Summit and Retreat 30-31 May 2001
28 Amnesty International		Amnesty International was launched in 1961 by British lawyer Peter Benenson. His newspaper appeal, "The Forgotten Prisoners", was published worldwide on 28 May 1961 and brought in more than 1,000 offers of support for the idea of an international campaign to protect human rights. Amnesty International is a worldwide campaigning movement that works to promote all the human rights enshrined in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and other international standards. In particular, Amnesty International campaigns to free all prisoners of conscience ; ensure fair and prompt trials for political prisoners; abolish the death penalty, torture and other cruel treatment of prisoners ; end political killings and "disappearances" ; and oppose human rights abuses by opposition groups. Amnesty International has around a million members and supporters in 162 countries and territories. Activities range from public demonstrations to letter-writing, from human rights education to fundraising concerts, from individual appeals on a particular case to global campaigns on a particular issue. Amnesty International is impartial and independent of any government, political persuasion or religious creed. Amnesty International is financed largely by subscriptions and donations from its worldwide membership.
28 Iraq		Iraq's Interior Minister Mohammed Zimam Abdul Razzaq was relieved of his cabinet post apparently because he failed to be reelected to the top Iraq Command of the ruling Ba'th Party last week.
29 Ukraine		President of Ukraine Leonid Kuchma signed the decree appointing Anatoliy Kinakh the Prime Minister of Ukraine.; he is approved by parliament by (239-2). Anatoliy Kinakh was born on August 4, 1954 in Moldova. He graduated from Leningrad shipbuilding institute in 1978 majoring in shipbuilding engineering. 1978-1992 - worked at ship repair and building plants in Talin and Mykolaiv starting from dock specialist and promoted to production manager of the plant. 1990 - was elected the deputy of Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine of 12th convocation. 1992-1995 - representative of the President of Ukraine in Mykolaiv region - head of the regional state administration. 1994-1995 - head of Mykolaiv region council of national deputies. 1995-1996 - Vice Prime Minister of Ukraine on industrial policy. Since 1996 - advisor to the President of Ukraine on industrial policy. Since May 1997 - member of Interagency Council on implementation of economic reform programs. Since June 1997 - first deputy board chairman of International Congress of Industrials and Entrepreneurs. Since July 1997 - member of higher economic council of the President of Ukraine, chairman of the interagency coordinative council on privatization of strategically important industrial enterprises. Since September 1997 - member of the national council of Ukraine on quality. Since March 1998 - deputy of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine of 14th convocation, chairman of the committee on industrial policy. August 1999 - December 1999 - First Vice Prime Minister of Ukraine. By presidential Decree N347 of May 29, 2001, Anatoliy Kinakh was appointed Prime Minister of Ukraine.
29 Pakistan		Nawaz Sharif elected leader of PML, Pakistan Muslim League (Nawaz) party Born in Lahore December 1948. Graduate of Law from the Punjab University, and enjoys a very good rapport with the business community. His appointment has been seen as Pakistan's last chance at democracy. He is the first in his family to pursue a political career. In 1981 he began his political career as Finance Minister in the Province of Punjab. Three years later, at age 35, he was elected the Chief Minister of Punjab, Pakistan's most populous province During his six-year reign as head of the Punjab Province, he was constantly fighting attempts by then Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto to destabilise him. Voted in as Prime Minister in October 1990 as head of a coalition the Islamic Democratic Alliance after Bhutto was kicked out by the President (a common occurrence) April 18 1993 he was "arbitrarily dismissed" by the President Ghulam Ishaq Khan. The National Assembly (lower house) was dissolved, but Nawaz challenged the decision in the Supreme Courts and won. He continued to rule but there was pressure from the army for him to stand aside, and he advised the President to dissolve Parliament. He lost the subsequent elections after losing his coalition partners. Was subjected to a barrage of charges against himself and his family but survived to take over as Prime Minister in 1997 after Bhutto was sacked in disgrace due to claims of corruption and summary executions carried out in Lahore. Deposed Former Pakistanian Prime Minister in 12 Oct 1999 has been sentenced to 14 years in jail for tax evasion in July 2000.
29/30 NATO		Foreign Ministers Meeting - Budapest, Hungary. Meetings at Foreign Ministers level of the North Atlantic Council (NAC) and between NATO Foreign Ministers and the Foreign Ministers of Partner Countries.
30 Slovakia		President Schuster Appoints New Cabinet Ministers. NEW CABINET NEXT WEEK
30 Brazil		Sen. Antonio Carlos Magalhaes' resignation comes a week after the Senate Ethics Committee recommended the chamber consider expelling him and another senator for allegedly violating the secrecy of an impeachment vote last June. Antonio Carlos Peixoto de Magalhães was born in Salvador, BA, on September 4 , 1927. In 1952, he grauated in Medicine from the Faculty of Medicine of the Federal University of Bahia. He served as physician in the public sector of the state and was associate professor to the Faculty of Medicine of the University of Bahia.Elected as a state MP in 1954, on a UDN ticket (União Democrática Nacional), was leader of the party and member of several commissions, including chairman of the Finance and Budget commission. In 1958 he ran for the Federal House, and was first elected as a federal MP, a position to which he was subsequently re-elected in 1962 and 1966. Governor of the State of Bahia for a first term in 1971-1975 and a second term in 1979-1983. He served as state minister of Communications under President José Sarney's government, from 1985 to 1990. In March 1991 he served for the third time in the State Government of Bahia. Elected senator of the Republic for the period 1995-2003.
30 Jamaica		Errol Ennis deputy finance minister sent his resignation to Seymour Mullings, the acting prime minister, after local newspapers reported that banks had rejected seven of the minister's cheques. Mr. Ennis is a Businessman, Consultant, Farmer, and Economist. He is the Minister of State in the Ministry of Finance and Planning. He has been the sitting Member of Parliament for West Portland, Jamaica since 1989. He also serves as a member of the People's National Party, National Executive Council, and of the Party Executive. During 1986 to 1992 he served on the Executive of the Jamaica Amateur Athletic Association, and was President of the Kingston College Old Boys' Association. He also served as Treasurer of the Bankers' Association of Jamaica, and a member of Moore Keys Lodge, and Chairman for Region Executive Council. From 1961 to 1966 he served in the Royal Air Force, he then went on to work as a Financial Analyst in the United Kingdom 1969-70, and in several executive capacities with the former Jamaica Development Bank, ending with the position of Vice President in 1981. He was also Managing Director of Project Development Services, Associates Limited and various Private Sector Companies. Ennis was educated at Kingston College, University of Reading. He is a fellow of the Economic Development Institute of the International Bank for Reconstruction and Development and a graduate of the Harvard Business School's Executive Development Programme.
30 Turkey		Yuksel Yalova's Turkey's minister for privatization resigned after his comments suggesting likely delays in a law deregulating the tobacco industry caused panic in the stock market. Born in Karpuzlu- 1955 - Law Faculty from the University of Istanbul , Istanbul Municipal Academy, Master Degree and Ph.D in Social Science from the University of Marmara- Speaks French and English - Freelance barrister at law.
31 Pakistan		Third phase of local bodies elections in 20 districts. Results : non available
01 Nepal		King And Queen Killed in Palace Massacre. Crown Prince Dipendra, 29, killed King Birendra and Queen Aiswarya, his brother, Prince Nirajan, 22, and sister, Princess Shruti, the official said. Four others members of the royal family were also shot to death, though their identities were not immediately known. KING BIRENDRA : Grandson of His Late Majesty King Tribhuvan, "The Father of the Nation," and the eldest son of His Late Majesty King Mahendra and Her Late Royal Highness Crown Princess Indra Rajya Laxmi Devi Shah, His Majesty King Birendera Bir Bikram Shah Dev was born on December 28, 1945 at the Narayanhity Royal Palace, Kathmandu. After the successful completion of early education at St. Joseph's School, Darjeeling (India), His Majesty studied at Eton College in England from 1959 for 5 years to be followed by further studies in the University of Tokyo, Japan, and Harvard University of U.S.A. from 1967 to 1968. In 1955, His Late Majesty King Mahendra declared him the Heir-apparent to the Throne of the Kingdom of Nepal and in 1964 conferred on him the title of Grand Master and Colonel-in-Chief of the Royal Nepalese Army. QUEEN AISWARYA : 51, Educated at home, she later received a Bachelor of Arts degree. Played a significant role in the advancement of women and won worldwide praise for work to aid children. PRINCE NIRAJAN : 22, the younger brother of the crown prince. PRINCESS SHRUTI : 24, the princess is married and has two daughters. Note : Prince Gyanendra (younger brother of Birendra) is named regent.
01 Malaysia		Finance Minister Tun Daim Zainuddin resigns. Tun Daim Zainuddin born on April 29, 1938, in Kedah State, Malaysia. Barrister-at-law, Lincoln's Inn, London. They did it his way. Mahathir may have been the one to invoke the Sinatra principle of financial management, but it was Daim who was tasked with saving the economy. That he did, without a cent from the IMF. The appointment of a new economic adviser to Mahathir raises questions as to how much longer Daim, his job perhaps done, will keep hold of the tiller. But as finance minister and long-time treasurer of the dominant UMNO party, Daim remains the most influential figure in the Malaysian economy. His own business interests are prospering, too.