http://www.nytimes.com/ A synthetic RSS channel, derived from XML text published by The New York Times Company. en-us Copyright 2001 The New York Times Company Fri, 08 Jun 2001 18:50:08 GMT http://backend.userland.com/nyTimesRssRouter dave@userland.com http://partners.nytimes.com/2001/06/08/world/08CASP.html A $3 billion project to bring natural gas from Russia to Turkey represents a setback in American efforts to curtail Moscow's influence in one of the world's most strategic regions. By DOUGLAS FRANTZ. http://partners.nytimes.com/2001/06/08/world/08CND-BRIT.html After a second crushing election defeat at the hands of the Labor Party, William Hague decided today to step down as leader of the Conservative Party. By WARREN HOGE. http://partners.nytimes.com/2001/06/08/world/08CND-IRISH.html In a serious political embarrassment for the Irish government, figures released today showed that voters had forcefully rejected a treaty that would expand membership of the European Union. By BRIAN LAVERY. http://partners.nytimes.com/2001/06/08/world/08CND-JAPA.html At least 8 young schoolchildren were killed and 15 other people wounded today when an apparently deranged man burst into an elite elementary school in Japan. By HOWARD W. FRENCH. http://partners.nytimes.com/aponline/world/AP-Belgium-Rwanda-Trial.html In a ground-breaking case, a court in Brussels early today found four Rwandans, including two Catholic nuns, guilty of taking part in the 1994 massacres in Rwanda. By THE ASSOCIATED PRESS. http://partners.nytimes.com/aponline/world/AP-Israel-Palestinians.html CIA chief George Tenet brought together Israeli and Palestinian security chiefs today in a joint effort to stabilize a cease-fire. By THE ASSOCIATED PRESS. http://partners.nytimes.com/aponline/world/AP-Macedonia.html Government forces pounded rebel positions northeast of Macedonia's capital with heavy artillery Friday, despite a tentative cease-fire offer from rebels. By THE ASSOCIATED PRESS.