Weaver's News Spin

June 1999

A review of events and their interpretation. 

Yugoslavia: Reconstructing (16th) Mass movements: Serbs leave Kosov@, Albanians evacuated out a few months ago storm back in. The heavy traffic means Serbs need another day to leave, in what will be known as the "M25" extension. Mass graves and torture chambers are found, some just a few days old; it's believed that around 10,000 have been killed there during the eleven week air raid. (20th) NATO declares the campaign over as the last of the Serbs leaves Kosov@ twelve hours before the deadline. President Yeltsgin kisses and makes up with the NATO countries, aided by a few bottles of vodka. (21st) Four people are killed by a blast in Kosov@, following NATO's bomb drops. Two citizens, and two British soldiers, die in the explosion. (29th) As part of the settlement, the KLA starts to disarm. Although only half the 20,000 members had reported by the deadline yesterday, the UN is hopeful the process will continue. And there are opposition rallies in Kacic, near the Kosov@ border.

 

Politics (16th) Al Gore and George Bush Jr announce plans to run for the Democratic and Republican US presidential nominations respectively. (18th) There will be a Nova Scotia election at the end of July; the Liberal provincial government fell after Conservatives and NDPs combined to bring down the budget. (29th) Kurdish independence leader Ocelan is sentenced to death by a Turkish court. Following his kidnap from Nigeria in February, Ocelan has been calling for a peaceful settlement. Turkey does not want to play with that.

 

This Is Also News (17th) Tobacco advertising will be banned in the UK by the end of the year. All billboard, mgazine and newspaper promotions will cease on December 9. The ban comes two years before the EU would make it mandatory, and six months before the European Court is due to rule on objections. (18th) Some disorder in London following an anti-capitalist march in the City. Organised "anarchists" systematically trash restaurants and daub graffitti everywhere. (21st) Stonehenge is trashed by anarchists, who disrupt the Pagan ceremonies to mark the height of summer. Custodians of the site deny everyone access. (23rd) A train crashes at Wilmslow in Cheshire, injuring about 20 people, none of them seriously. (29th) The parents of Louise Woodward are charged with theft. Their daughter was convicted in 1997 of the murder of a baby; a charge later thrown out of court. A trust fund for her defence was abused by her parents, according to the police. (30th) British Colombia's child porn law is struck down by the Provincial court. The rule, banning the presence or production of many items, is deemed to be too much of an infringement on free speech. The Federal Supreme Court will now consider the case.

 

The Cricket World Cup: Finale (16th, ODI 1482) Game 40: Old Trafford: PAK -v- NZ Lax Pakistani bowling allows New Zealand to rack up a decent total, but strong batting means it's never going to be a problem. Shoaib Aktar takes three wickets, and the man of the match award, Twose (46), Cairns (44*) and Fleming (41) all have good knocks. Anwar (113*) and Wasti (84) put on 194 for the only wicket. NZ 241/7, Pak 242/1 - Pak win by 9 wickets with 2.3 overs left. (17th, ODI 1483) Game 41: Edgbaston: SA -v- AUS And you thought last Sunday was gripping. The Aussies make a good start (Ponting 37, S Wagh 56, Bevan 65), but a late order collapse leaves them with a manageable target. Pollock 5/36, Donald 4/32. Australia look out of it at 48/0, but Warne takes three quick wickets, finishing 4/29. Klusener brings the sides level, scoring 13 off four balls, but Donald is run out as the pair go for the winning run. Aus 213, SA 213. Match tied. Australia progress by virtue of finishing higher in the group, by beating South Africa last Sunday. (20th, ODI 1484) Game 42: Lords: PAK -v- AUS A more one-sided final we've never seen. Put into bat, Pakistan collapse, with Warne taking 4/33, notching up his 200th ODI wicket in the process. Pakistan's top scorer is the tournament favourite, Extras, with 25, Ijaz makes 22. Australia seem to think that the net run rate rules are still applying, knocking off the winning runs in 20 overs and one ball, Gilchrist hitting 54 in 37 balls, M Waugh 37* Pak 132, Aus 133/2, winning by 8 wickets with 29.5 overs left.

 

Tennis and Other Sports (20th) Almost two hours into Game 6, Brett Hull of Dallas knocks the puck into Buffalo's net. The goal should be ruled out for a crease infraction; it isn't, and St Louis take a tarnished Stanley Cup 4-2. While Dallas has been the stronger side over the games, the manner of their victory leaves a sour taste in the mouth. (22nd) Major upset at Wimbledon, as #1 seed Martina Hingis falls to Jelena Dokic, a 16 year old prodigy from Australia, winning 6-2, 6-0. At eighteen, Hingis is already burning out. (25th) The end of an era, perhaps, as Monica Seles falls out in the third round to the rising star Mirjana Lucic. The 17 year old from Croatia downs Seles in two tie-breaks. Mens third seed Yevgeni Kafelnikov exits through injury, the first top 8 player to depart the tournament. San Antonio down the New York Knicks 4-1 to capture the NBA title. (30th) Manchester United are out of next season's FA Cup. A day before the season starts, the holders leave the competition in order to play in next January's FIFA World Club Championship. Their defence would have clashed with the fourth round of the world's greatest cup contest.

 

Passages (17th) Cardinal Basil Hume, leader of Roman Catholics in England and Wales, dies of stomach cancer aged 76. (18th) Stan Faulder, murdered by George W Bush and the state of Texas. Faulder was convicted of a murder over 20 years ago, but denied consular representation by Canada, and no consideration of his acknowledged mental illness was taken. Texas has now murdered over 200 people, in a system that does not consider redemption.

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