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BBC News Online: On Air

Friday, November 19, 1999 Published at 19:16 GMT

Chechnya overshadows security accords
Russian and Western leaders agree two key accords, but Moscow makes clear its military offensive in the breakaway republic of Chechnya goes on.

Blairs expecting new baby
For the first time in 150 years an incumbent British prime minister and his wife are expecting a baby - they say they are surprised but delighted.

Beef row 'compromise' under fire
The political row over British beef deepens, with the British government accused of a climb-down by allowing labelling of beef exported to France and Germany.

Sharif: I'm innocent
Pakistan's ousted Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif makes his first court appearance in Karachi, denying accusations of kidnapping and plane hijacking.

George Bush Jr on foreign policy
The front runner in the race for the Republican Party's nomination for next year's American Presidential election, George W Bush, gives the BBC an exclusive interview ahead of his first major speech on foreign policy.

Vodafone mounts Ł79bn hostile bid
UK telecoms group Vodafone Airtouch makes a hostile Ł79bn bid for German group Mannesmann in the world's biggest contested takeover.

We have basis for peace-Mitchell
Northern Ireland has the foundation for arms decommissioning and a new devolved executive, George Mitchell says as he leaves the peace talks after four years.

Indonesia rules out Aceh independence
The Indonesian province of Aceh will only be able to choose between the status quo and greater autonomy in any future referendum, a senior minister says.

UN debates Iraq sanctions
Moscow is pushing for a lifting of the ceiling on oil exports from Iraq, as the United Nations prepares for its latest review of the oil-for-food programme.

Race killer jailed for life
The third man to be convicted of a brutal race killing in the United States is sentenced to life imprisonment.

South African gays take centre stage
Africa's first ever gay beauty contest is to be held in South Africa at the weekend - in the hope of promoting greater tolerance of homosexuality in the continent.

Hollywood Beach trial begins
The makers of the Leonardo DiCaprio film, The Beach, are being tried in Thailand on charges of damaging a national park.

Fake bubbly warning
Britain's trading standards officers warn of a possible flood of fake champagne targeted on millennium revellers.