President Jacques Chirac said Thursday that France was prepared to launch a nuclear strike against any country that sponsors a terrorist attack against French interests. He said his country’s nuclear arsenal had been reconfigured to include the ability to make a tactical strike in retaliation for terrorism. “The leaders of states who would use terrorist means against us, as well as those who would envision using … weapons of mass destruction, must understand that they would lay themselves open to a firm and fitting response on our part,” Chirac said.
Taiwan: Flights to China resume
Taiwan’s largest airline launched a flight to China’s eastern city of Shanghai today to kick off charter flights between the rivals for the lunar New Year holiday. China Airlines is among six Taiwanese and six Chinese airlines that will provide a total of 72 round-trip charter flights during a period ending Feb. 13. This is the third year that the Chinese New Year charter flights have been in operation. Taiwanese officials said China’s Shanghai Airlines will fly the first charter flight to Taipei on Tuesday.
Russia: Arctic storm strikes
Arctic temperatures blanketed Russia for a fourth day Thursday, sending electricity use surging and pushing the death toll from the cold wave to at least 31 people, as even hardy Russians struggled to cope with the big freeze. Temperatures in Moscow plunged overnight to as low as minus 24, a local weather forecaster said. The temperature was the lowest recorded on Jan. 19 since 1927, she said. Seven people had died of exposure in the Russian capital in the previous 24 hours, city emergency officials said.
From Herald news services
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