Beyond the Farm

For the week preceding this Saturday, January 13th, 1996, here's what made the News Beyond the Farm:

A snowstorm of incredible proportions hit most of the eastern United States Jan 6th. A foot of snow fell on Washington D.C., 27.6 inches on Philadelphia, an estimated 100 tons dropped on the city of New York. Airports, schools, and businesses were forced to close, and many did not reopen until Jan 9th. Schools in New York city closed for the first time since 1978. Just as things started to return to normal Jan 11th, a second large storm hit, shutting down that portion of the country yet again.

Chechen rebels crossed into the Russian republic of Daegestan Jan 9th and attacked a hospital in Kizlyar. At least 40 people were killed in the immediate attack, and about 2000 hostages were taken. Over the next two days, the rebels gradually released all but about 100 of their hostages, then started traveling back to Chechnya. Russian forces surrounded the rebels, still in Daegestan at the town of Pervomayskaya, Dec 12th. An ultimatum for the rebels to give up their hostages and receive free passage to Chechnya was set and then extended indefinitely Dec 13th.

First lady Hillary Rodham Clinton is under increasing scrutiny in the Whitewater investigation. Columnist William Saffire called her a "congenital liar" Jan 9th, prompting President Clinton to defend his wife in a press conference Jan 11th. The First Lady herself fired back Jan 13th, claiming that her work at the Rose Law Firm for Madison Guaranty was not of unusual duration or interest and that none of the recent accusations has any underlying truth.

The Week in the Balkans:

• A French plane landing in Sarajevo was fired upon Jan 7th.

• One person was killed and 19 were injured when a rocket grenade hit in Sarajevo Jan 10th. The incident was blamed on the Serbs.

• Despite foggy weather, President Clinton was able to visit US troops in Bosnia Jan 13th.

• 70,000 Serbs, who had been threatening to leave Sarajevo and burn their homes behind them, instead remained in town Jan 12th.

They're Talking About It:

In Shorts:

• PLO chairman Yassar Arafat blamed Israel Jan 7th for the death of Yahya Ayyash, an alleged Palestinian bomb maker.

• In Guatemalan elections held Jan 7th, foreign minister Alvaro Arzu earned the title of President with 51.22% of the vote to Alfonso Portillo's 48.78%.

• Fifteen Hindu villagers were killed in the disputed territory of Jammu and Kashmir Jan 7th, raising tensions between India and Pakistan.

• Former Japanese trade minister Ryoto Hashimoto was officially endorsed by the ruling coalition as their candidate for prime minister Jan 8th. On Jan 11th, Hashimoto was easily voted into office; he immediately named 21 new ministers. Notably, Hashimoto's ascension marks the return of the Liberal Democratic Party to control of Japan.

• Francois Mitterand, who at one time served 14 years as France's prime minister, died Jan 8th of prostate cancer at the age of 79. He was buried Jan 11th.

• Lockheed announced Jan 8th that it would take over most of the defense company Loral.

• 250 people were killed when a cargo plane rolled off the end of a runway in Kinshasha, Zaire Jan 8th.

• A Federal judge ruled Jan 9th that legal action against Bill Clinton on sexual harrassment charges could continue while he holds the office of President of the United States. Clinton claimed that he was nearly bankrupt from these prosecutions in his Jan 11th press conference.

• Yevgeny Primakov, a former head of Russia's spy agencies, was named that nation's new foreign minister Jan 9th.

• Paul Adams, a writer for the London Finanical Times, was arrested in Nigeria Jan 9th; he was released on bail Jan 11th.

• China announced Jan 9th that it was cancelling plans to sell two nuclear reactors to Iran.

• President Clinton vetoed the Republican Welfare Reform proposal Jan 10th.

• Jordan's King Hussein visited Israel Jan 10th.

• Jose Santacruz Londono, a drug kingpin, escaped incarceration in Colombia Jan 11th.

• The Space Shuttle Endeavor blasted off Jan 11th on a satellite-repair mission.

• A ValuJet plan slid into a snowbank at Dulles International Airport near Washington D.C. Jan 12th; nobody was seriously injured.

• A lively debate between the nine Republican presidential candidates took place in Iowa Jan 13th. All candidates were much harder on Steve Forbes than in previous debates, now that he has firmly positioned himself in second place behind Bob Dole. When Sen. Phil Gramm (R-TX) accused Dole of secretly dealing with the president, Dole refered to Gramm's absence from Washington while campaigning: "Next time you're in town why don't you drop me a line."

• A bright object, apparently a dead satellite, lit up the night sky over Texas and New Mexico Jan 13th.

Finally:

And that's what made the News Beyond the Farm.

Beyond the Farm is designed to provide a reasonably short summary of a week's events for people who would otherwise have no chance to keep up with current events. It is distrubuted by direct e-mail and is published by the Worcester Polytechnic Institute's student newspaper, "Newspeak," when that institution is in session. It may be distributed, forwarded, or re-posted anywhere. Check "http://www.stanford.edu/~lglitch/btf/btf.html" on the World Wide Web for back issues and further information. Comments, criticisms, and requests for e-mail subscription additions or deletions should be e-mailed to "lance.gleich@leland.stanford.edu." Congratulations on keeping up with the world around you!