June 18, 2004

• Russian President Vladimir Putin says that Russia had warned the United States several times that Saddam Hussein was planning terrorist attacks against the US. (BBC) (Pravda.RU) (Khaleej Times)
• European Union Intergovernmental Conference:
  • The latest meeting of the European Council in Brussels ends in the agreement of a constitution for the European Union. (BBC)
  • Leaders of the European Union grant candidate country status to Croatia. Talks on accession are due to begin early next year. (BBC) (Irish Times Online)
  • No consensus is reached on a candidate for head of the European Commission. (BBC)
• The television station Al-Arabiya reports that kidnapped hostage Paul Johnson has been beheaded by Al-Qaida militants. (CNN)
• Ichthyologists claim to have discovered a new species of Chimaera fish off the coast of Brazil. (CNN)