A review of events and their interpretation.
Saturday, 16 JanuaryThe bodies of 40 people are found in a southern village in Kosovo, one day after Serb forces launched a fierce assault on the area. Some of the bodies had their eyes gouged out or heads bashed in, and one man lay decapitated in a courtyard. Auckland: ODI 4: New Zealand 207/7 (Cairns 44, Harris 42*) India 208/5 off 43.4 overs (Ganguly 56, Cairns 3/31) India win by 5 wickets with 38 balls in hand, and lead the series 2-1. |
Friday, 15 JanuaryParamilitary police use tear gas and clubs to break up a protest of 3,000 farmers in southern China, killing one person and injuring more than 100. About 1,000 police break up the protest over high local taxes and corruption in Daolin village, near the capital of Hunan province, according to the Information Centre of Human Rights and Democratic Movement in China. One tear gas canister explodes on a protester and he bled to death, the Hong Kong-based group says in a statement. Newfoundland's Supreme Court upholds the constitutionality of education reform, dismissing a challenge by the Roman Catholic Church. Justice David Riche said the Yes side in the September 1997 referendum on the reforms did have an unfair advantage and the provincial government should pay the church $135,000 towards the cost of their No campaign. The plaintiffs - the Archdiocese of St. John’s and the diocese of Grand Falls, St. George’s and Labrador City-Schefferville - have not yet decided if they'll appeal, according to Bon Fagan, executive director of the Roman Catholic Education Committee. Luc Robitaille isn’t going to the NHL all-star game even though he’s one of the league’s leading goal-scorers. Robitaille scores two in a 3-0 victory over the Calgary Flames to increase his season total to 24, just two fewer than Philadelphia’s John LeClair. The newest member of the 500-goal club will be sitting at home when the rest of the all-stars convene in Tampa, Fla., on Jan. 24. |
Thursday, 14 JanuaryHouse prosecutors tell senators that they need witnesses to make their case that President Clintern should be removed from office. The prosecutors responded to a trial memorandum submitted by Clinton’s defence lawyers. The prosecutors use the president’s arguments to bolster own case for calling witnesses at the Senate trial. Cameras equipped to shoot images of cars and drivers who run red lights will be hoisted next month in at least six Ontario cities. The province will enact regulations setting out the rules for Ontario’s first experiment with the so-called red-light cameras, already in common use in the UK. Towns and cities interested in using the electronic devices will then be asked to submit proposals, with the cameras ready to start clicking pictures by the end of February. Wellington: 3rd ODI, 44 ovs/side India 208/4 (Dravid 68, Azharuddin 52, Larsen 2/56) New Zealand 89/2 off 12.1 overs (Young 52*) Match abandoned; try again tomorrow. |
Wednesday, 13 JanuaryBrazil devalues its currency by 8%, causing 3% falls on world-wide stock exchanges. Gustavo Franco, president of the central bank, resigns over the matter. Franco, a principal architect of Brazil's economic recovery over the last four years, will be replaced by the bank's director of monetary policy, Francisco Lopes. A cargo plane hits a house on Mayne Island, BC, killing both people aboard. No one on the ground is injured as the DC-3 aircraft crashes on the island north of Victoria. Sydney: Sri Lanka 259/9 (Jayasuriya 65, Tillikeratne 73, Julian 2/42, Warne 2/44) Australia 260/2 off 46.1 ovs (Gilchrist 131, M Waugh 73) Australia win by 8 wickets with 23 balls in hand. After one round of matches: England 4, Australia 2, Sri Lanka 0. |
Tuesday, 12 JanuaryAn appeals court postpones the execution of a convicted murderer who has vowed to "fight like hell" should guards arrive to escort him to the death chamber. Prison officials planned to use shackles and armour-clad guards to take Gary Graham to a killing if he followed through on a promise to violently resist. "I intend to fight like hell," he said last week while urging supporters to show up at the Huntsville, Texas, prison armed "with picket signs, with rifles, with shotguns, with AK-47s and whatever else is necessary and required to defend our rights." Labrador Innu pull out of talks with the Newfoundland government aimed at including them in a $10-billion hydroelectric deal with Quebec. It's a critical time in primary negotiations between the two provincial governments. Innu Nation president David Nuke warns the governments not to proceed without the support of aboriginals in Newfoundland and Quebec. The IOC official who blew the whistle on Olympic corruption says the 2002 Winter Games could be in jeopardy following the Salt Lake City bribery scandal. Marc Hodler, the IOC’s senior member, say it's possible the Games could be moved elsewhere or cancelled if Salt Lake can’t raise enough money owing to eroding public and corporate support. |
Monday, 11 JanuaryUS Air Force planes fire missiles at two air-defence installations after determining they were to be attacked by surface-to-air missiles, according to US officials. The planes returned safely to base in Turkey. Damage to the Iraqi sites cannot be determined, Defence Department spinners say. Former premier Clyde Wells is the new Chief Justice of the Newfoundland Court of Appeal. Wells, premier of the province from 1989 to 1996, went to the bench in May 1998. He was first elected to the Newfoundland legislature in 1966 after he was called to the bar in Nova Scotia in 1963 and to the Newfoundland bar a year later. Brisbane: Sri Lanka 207/7 (Atapattu 51, Tillithathane 50*, A Hollioake 3/32) England 208/6 (Fairbrother 67*, Muralithuran 3/34) |
Sunday, 10 JanuaryTony Blair defends Foreign Secretary Robin Crook from attacks by his ex-wife Margaret. She claims he's had six affairs, and that he and leader Blair have sold their souls for power. Representatives for the Devil denied these reports, saying that Blair's soul is only worth two half-eaten pork pies. DNA tests prove that Bill Clinton is not the father of an 11 year old boy in Arkansas. Brisbane: England 178/8 (Fairbrother 47, Croft 26*, McGrath 2/24, Dale 2/25) Australia set 153 to win off 36 overs 145/9 (Bevan 56*, Mullally 4/18) England win on run rate |
Saturday, 9 JanuaryBill Clinton wins a few small victories in the deal allowing his impeachment trial to go forward next week, but there's still no indication whether his former paramour will be called on to testify. Several obstacles are erected in the way of testimony from Monica Lewinsky and others as part of the compromise agreed upon unanimously by the Senate. A majority vote is be required before any witness can be called to testify. Chelsea return to the top of the League, after a 1-0 win at Newcastle. They depose Aston Villa, who drew 0-0 at Middlesborough. Fellow title chasers Arsenal and Liverpool also fought a scoreless draw. |
Friday, 8 JanuaryHillary Clinton’s supporters are quietly circulating her name as a possible candidate to run for the Senate from New York next year, replacing retiring Democratic Senator Daniel Patrick Moynihan. She's not ruled out a Senate campaign, and casually discussed the possibility with intimates. "She’s aware that people are speculating about what she might do in 2000, but at this point she has no plans to run for elective office," according to press agent Marsha Berry. A Canadian gay and lesbian rights group launches an "omnibus" lawsuit against dozens of federal laws it says discriminate against same-sex couples. The move comes after the federal government failed to change 58 statutes voluntarily after previous court rulings upheld the rights of same-sex couples. |
Thursday, 7 JanuaryOn a day of symbolism and history, House Judiciary Committee Chairman Henry Hyde and 12 House lawmakers present the Senate with two articles of impeachment against President Bill Clinton. Hyde, accompanied by the House members who will serve as prosecutors, read the articles from the well of the Senate. The trial proper is expected to start next week. |
Wednesday, 6 January - Persephone Leaves the UnderworldChief UN weapons inspector Richard Butler defends himself in the wake of a damaging report claiming his teams helped collect sensitive Iraqi communications for the United States. The report claims UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan has evidence implicating the teams who helped the United States try to undermine Saddam Hussein's regime. Butler has repeatedly denied any such involvement to the media and his superiors. Cape Town (day 5): West Indies 271 (Jacobs 69*) South Africa win by 149 runs, lead the series 4-0 The King's School in Ely, Cambridgeshire urges parents to not let their children watch "South Park" where child characters express themselves using obscenities. In a letter sent to parents by the school, the show is described as "rude the whole way through", contains, "obscenities, swearing. This cannot be right." Channel 4 say "If children are watching after 11 p.m. then parents have to take responsibility. It's not intended as a children's programme." Reports that Eric Cartman attempted to comment but melted the bleep machine could not be confirmed at press time. |
Tuesday, 5 JanuaryThe United States will loosen some of its restrictions on Cuba, primarily for humanitarian aid, but will not create a commission to review their policy. Many analysts believe a bipartisan commission would recommend ending a nearly four-decade-old embargo on Cuba. Sydney (day 4): England 188 (MacGill 7/50, Hussain 53) Australia win the test by 98 runs and the series 3-1. |
Monday, 4 JanuaryThe euro debuts on foreign exchange markets as traders signal some confidence in Europe's unified currency on its first full day of trading. Political leaders in Europe again express their confidence in the currency, which unifies about 290 million people in 11 nations grouped in Euroland. The funerals in Kangiqsualujjuaq are postponed due to heavy blizzards. Air transport into the settlement, and the fact that the service will be in the open air, ensure that there will be a delay. Sydney (day 3): Australia 184 (Slater 123, M Waugh 24, Such 5/81, Headley 4/40) England 104/2 (Stewart 42, Hussain 17*) England need another 183 to win |
Sunday, 3 JanuaryA cargo plane carrying United Nations workers from a violence-torn area of Angola is shot down. It's the second UN plane attacked in eight days. It's not known if there were any survivors amongst the eight on board. UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan is "outraged" by the attack. The attack site is near Bailundo, a stronghold of Angola's UNITA rebels. Sydney (day 2): England 220 (Crawley 44, Hussain 42, MacGill 5/57) Australia 13/0 Australia lead by 115 runs with all second innings wickets intact. |
Saturday, 2 JanuaryAn avalance hits the Inuit village of Kangiqsualujjuaq, north Quebec, killing nine and injuring 25. They were amongst 500 revellers in the school gym when the snow hit. Residents are wondering why nothing happened after a similar incident three years ago. Sydney: Australia (2) -v- England (1), 5th and final test. Australia 322 all out (M Waugh 121, S Waugh 96, Gough 3/61 includes a hat trick and is on for more in the 2nd innings, Headley 4/62) |
Friday, 1 January - New Year's DayScotland Yard investigates the Yemeni hostage events, in which four people were killed. They'll look into claims that Yemeni soldiers fired directly at the hostages, and that Yemen's government put pressure on the survivors to change their stories. Vice President Al Gore files the paperwork to become an official candidate for president in 2000. Gore today posts paperwork to the Federal Election Commission to create a campaign committee. Once he raises and spends $5,000, he'll be considered an official candidate for president, subject to the laws and regulations governing presidential campaigns. William Shakespere is voted the British Personality of the Millennium by listeners to the BBC. The Bard of Avon beats off a strong challenge from Winston Churchill, with printing pioneer William Caxton coming third. Elizabeth I is the top female candidate, polling 11th. |
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