Free Republic

FANS and the famous from around the world paid tribute to Steve Irwin yesterday. Thousands of everyday fans flooded websites around the world, including the Herald Sun's. One of the most touching messages was from the RSPCA. "He was a modern-day Noah and should be acknowledged as such," said the Queensland RSPCA's chief executive, Mark Townend. Prime Minister John Howard echoed many thoughts when he said: "I am quite shocked and distressed at Steve Irwin's sudden, untimely and freakish death. "It's a huge loss to Australia. He was a wonderful character. He was a passionate environmentalist. "He brought joy and...

World leaders marked the death Thursday of Palestinian Authority Chairman Yasser Arafat with a mixture of praise for his dedication to the Palestinian cause and regret for his failure to realize the dream of statehood for his people. Terje Roed-Larsen, the United Nation's longtime Middle East envoy and a key mediator in past peace talks, said Arafat's last years were marred by mistakes. "One of the reasons his credibility as a leader was undermined on the Palestinian side was an increasing agreement among the leadership and the Palestinian people that Arafat had led them in the wrong direction over the...