Argentine voters steer country onto new political course

Fernando de la Rua, Argentinia's president-elect, addresses supporters on the eve of the election

In this story: Ghana mops up after devastating floods Priest comforts Russian soldiers on the battlefield Angolan journalists mark 24 years of turbulent work Iran rolls out red carpet for investors, businesspeople Thailand teaches new generation about democracy Top dogs dazzle pet fans in China  Equine patients keep Dutch dentist busy About CNN World Report RELATED STORIES, SITES

The voters have spoken in Argentina, and the results signal a major change in the country's political direction. Ten years of Peronist rule are coming to an end with the election victory of Fernando de la Rua, the center-left Alliance candidate as president. The October 24 election was won by de la Rua by a commanding margin. He garnered 48.5 percent of votes cast. The president-elect campaigned on a platform of sobriety and "moral change," which proved to sit well with voters tired of growing poverty, rising crime rates and allegations of corruption.

He will have his share of challenges and issues to tackle when he takes Argentina's highest office in December. CNN World Report contributor Artear Channel 13 looked at some of those challenges as it profiled de la Rua.

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The 62-year-old former mayor of Buenos Aires is no newcomer to Argentine national politics, having served previously as senator in Argentina's parliament. But now, according to Artear reporter Andres Retrepo, there is much greater pressure on de la Rua to successfully deal with the country's problems: "Even though Fernando de la Rua has enormous political experience, the political situation is not simple. He will have to face many obstacles."

Those obstacles seem daunting in this nation of more than 30 million people: For starters, 14.5 percent unemployment, putting nearly two million people out of work. Artear's Retrepo says the economy remains on tenuous ground, and Argentina has a steep external debt of $120 billion. And there is the issue of the country's crime problem. Murder and robbery rates are high, and the country has acquired an image of lawlessness as a result.

"The new president will have to work really hard to improve the country's situation," Retrepo said.

Take the heaviest rains in three decades, combine with the opening of upstream flood spillways in a neighboring country, and you have the recipe for a national disaster. That's the situation facing Ghanaians as they try to clean up after devastating floods killed scores of people and left several hundred thousand residents homeless. Ghana has appealed to the international community for millions of dollars in emergency aid.

Ghana Television (GBC) reported on the floods for CNN World Report, and sent a camera crew aboard a helicopter to show an aerial view of the affected region in northern Ghana. Also observing the devastation from above was the country's president, Jerry Rawlings, who landed to speak with some of the displaced villagers.

GBC reporter Napoleon Ato Kittoe says the inundation by floodwaters is only part of the problem; Ghanaians are now being confronted with a series of related problems caused by the floods. For example, high-tension electric lines have in some cases fallen into the water. posing an electrocution hazard. The floods have also left behind medical concerns: "The floodwaters offer good breeding ground for mosquitoes and waterborne diseases. Official estimates say at least 48 people died of a cholera outbreak in one district," Kittoe says.

For young conscripts fighting in the Russian Army against Chechen separatists, the front-line is a frightening place where death can come at any moment from a well-aimed bullet or mortar-shell. The resentment of the Chechen populace, who blame Russian troops for killing hundreds of civilians, adds to the atmosphere of tension and uncertainty for the Russian soldiers on the battlefields of Chechnya.

Filaret comforts a Russian soldier in Chechnya

Russian broadcaster ORT showed CNN World Report viewers how one man is helping calm the fears of Russian soldiers. Filaret is a Russian Orthodox priest, and he's part of a Russian military unit in Chechnya. Filaret marches unarmed into battle right alongside the soldiers, and puts his life at risk alongside his countrymen.

Filaret says he's been busy praying for the men in the unit, and helping them find God; some soldiers say that the priest's blessings and prayers have helped preserve their lives in battle.

After one soldier said he miraculously survived a battle after having received a cross from Filaret, the priest couldn't hand out crosses fast enough to the members of the unit, and he eventually ran out of them.

A man of the cloth among members of a Russian military unit signals quite a shift in Russia, a country which for most of this century sought to replace organized religion with belief in Marxism and Leninism in its society. But both the conscripts and the commanding officers have embraced Filaret as a valuable member of their group. As for Filaret, he is pleased that the upper echelons of the military seem to have recognized his value to the troops.

"Everyone says they need me here. They ask for prayers or for blessings of new military equipment. Officers ask me to talk to soldiers. It's clear... a priest should be in the army," he says.

Angolan journalists complete a report for a TPA newscast

Warfare has been a part of life in Angola for close to a quarter century. The rebel group UNITA has been fighting government troops since Angola gained independence from Portugal in 1975.

Angolan Television (TPA) has often found itself on the front-lines of those battles. for example, the station was recently stormed by rebel troops, and TPA covered that tense situation for CNN World Report.

TPA is now marking its 24th anniversary, and the occasion gave Angolan journalists a chance to reflect on their role in Angolan society, and to relate some of the risks they face on the job. TPA's staff has continued to "fulfill its objective of informing, educating and entertaining" Angolans despite the country's ongoing violence. The journalists unanimously called for an end to the bloodshed so common in Angola, and voiced hope for the advent of peace in southwestern Africa.

TPA reporter Isidro Sanhanga expressed the sentiment of his colleagues that peace would not only improve Angolans lives, but would allow journalists to do a better job covering and disseminating the news. "TPA's workers feel that they have done their best to keep the population informed in their 24 years' existence. They are sure that in an environment of peace, much more will be done," he remarked.

Iran is eager to promote itself as a good place to do business. That was the clear signal set by the 25th annual International Trade Fair held recently in the capital, Tehran. Iran's IRIB was there, and provided coverage for CNN World Report.

This year's fair featured a wide range of international representatives: 875 companies from 85 countries joined hundreds of domestic firms showing off their wares and services in Tehran. IRIB says trade partners at the fair signed many new agreements.

IRIB correspondent Mehdi Pourzand says the presence of top economic officials from numerous countries underlines Iran's growing role as a business center. "Foreign and domestic investors as well as entrepreneurs can rely on the stability of this country," he concludes.

Some things in society are so important that you're never too young to start learning about them. That's the philosophy some educators in Thailand are employing as they introduce young citizens (and future voters) to the democratic process. That process is still a relatively new one for Thais, as the country has just recently adopted a new constitution designed to foster greater public participation in government.

Thai schoolgirls cheer on a kindergarten candidate

Thailand's MCOT Channel 9 took CNN World Report viewers to a kindergarten classroom where children are getting a chance to practice democracy in action by "electing" their leader. Young candidates were shown campaigning and discussing election issues such as keeping the school clean. Reporter Phansariri Kularb noted that the campaigns were run cleanly because of the tender age of the participants: "No tricks, no election fraud or vote-buying."

The children's enthusiasm for the mock election was evident in the campaign banners and posters they designed. Campaign slogans and a "public relations staff" replete with T-shirts bearing the candidates' images rounded out the parallels to the grown-up world. Kularb says the exercise will help prepare the children for the real world of Thai politics: "...This experience will guide them a small step to the real one in the future which will not be child's play anymore."

Dog owners in Beijing recently gathered in conjunction with World Animal Day to let their pets put their best paw forward. Many different breeds of dogs strutted their stuff in the dog show as the proud owners looked on, and China Central Television (CCTV) captured the highlights for CNN World Report.

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In the Netherlands, Henk de Wit works as a dentist: He inspects his patient's mouth, and uses dental tools to remove tartar from the patient's teeth. If this sounds like a routine day at the dentist's office, think again: the setting is a stable, and the patient whinnies and neighs after de Wit has finished his work.

"Say ahhh!" Dutch dentist helps horses to keep smiling

The Netherlands' RNTV introduced viewers to de Wit, whose is a horse dentist. De Wit says before he can go near a horse's mouth, he has to build a rapport with the animal: "I try to set the horse at ease... it's important a horse trusts me before I start."

Henk de Wit says the service he provides makes for healthier horses, and he claims that a horse lives longer when its teeth are well-maintained. De Wit says he's found his calling with horse dentistry, and he quit a high-paying engineering job to follow his passion of caring for the noble four-legged creatures.