News beyond the farm

For the week preceding this Saturday, January 27th, 1996, here's what made the News Beyond the Farm:

Yassar Arafat is now, in a very real sense, the President of Palestine. In elections held in Palestinian-held areas Jan 20th, Arafat won 88.1% of the presidential ballot, crushing his only opponent, Samiha Khalil. Arafat's PLO will dominate the new Palestinian parliament as well, with about 60 of 88 seats. Nearly one million Palestinians cast a ballot in the election.

Hillary Rodham Clinton was subpoenaed to testify in front of a Grand Jury investigating the Whitewater affair Jan 22nd. After appearing as a witness Jan 26th, she stated that she had been happy to explain her side of the story on why certain documents relating to the case had suddenly appeared earlier this month. No other wife of a president had ever testified in court while her husband sat in office.

The Week in the Balkans:

• Haris Silajdzic announced Jan 21st that he would step down as the prime minister of Bosnia. He cited disagreements with the ruling party on rebuilding policies. Hassan Murasovich was elected his successor.

• The prisoner exchange between the Bosnians and the Serbs finally took place Jan 27th. 176 Bosnian civilians were released in exchange for 110 Serb civilians; the Bosnian government complained that no Bosnian soldiers had been released while 350 Serb soldiers had returned home.

They're Talking About It:

In Shorts:

• Commerce Secretary Ron Brown came under more fire Jan 21st, as the Los Angeles Times reported that he is spending 145% more than his predecessors on travel and has spent public money on other unethical perks.

• The oil spill off the coast of Rhode Island reached Point Judith Jan 21st before being contained.

• Chechen rebel leader Salman Rudayev was reprimanded Jan 21st for going too far in the recent encounter with the Russians. His superiors ruled he had acted beyond his authority in taking Russian prisoners.

• The Pentagon revealed Jan 22nd that the US retains 31,000 tons of chemical weapons from its Cold War arsenal; plans are in place to dispose of all of it within ten years.

• 60,000 abortion opponents marched in Washington DC Jan 22nd.

• Tanzania closed its border with Burundi Jan 22nd, fearing a refugee crisis; the border reopened Jan 24th.

• Russian Human Rights Commissioner Sergei Kubayov resigned Jan 23rd, joining the exodus of officials from the Yeltsin administration.

• Reports surfaced Jan 23rd that Sun Microsystems is in negotiations to buy Apple Computer.

• President Clinton named Army General Barry McCaffrey the new head of his anti-drug program Jan 23rd.

• After Speaker of the House Newt Gingrich (R-GA) stated that a budget deal was possible Jan 24th, a deal to avert another Federal shutdown was agreed to by President Clinton Jan 25th. The seven-week deal provides 75% funding to disputed programs. A final budget is still pending.

• Michael New, the American soldier who refused to serve under the United Nations banned, was given a bad-conduct discharge Jan 24th.

• The Food and Drug Administration approved the fat substitute olestra Jan 24th.

• China announced Jan 24th that it was prepared to go to war with Taiwan following elections in March, causing a major fall in Taiwanese stock markets.

• Colombian President Ernesto Samper called for a referendum on his presidency Jan 24th. Meanwhile, a variety of administration officials resigned Jan 26th, leaving his government increasingly understaffed.

• Polish Prime Minister Jozef Olesky resigned Jan 24th. He claimed innocence from charges of spying for Russia, but felt that resigning would be best for the continuity of the government. His resignation was accepted Jan 26th.

• Chechen rebels who escaped to their homeland still holding Russian hostages released 46 civilians Jan 24th, but kept 14 policemen in custody.

• The Council of Europe voted to admit Russia Jan 25th.

• A girl rumored to be found pregnant at the age of 10 Jan 25th actually turned out to be 14. Her adult boyfriend is being charged with statutory rape.

• Eighteen people were killed when a rocket barrage hit a Pakistani installation in Kashmir Jan 26th. Pakistan blamed India for the incident and showed the scene to foreign reporters Jan 27th; India denies any responsibility.

• Utah executed convicted child murderer John Taylor by firing squad Jan 26th, with protesters from around the world in attendance.

• On Jan 26th, Australian Prime Minister Paul Keating called elections for Mar 2nd.

• Heir to the Du Pont fortune, 57-year old John du Pont holed up in his mansion with an arsenal of weapons Jan 26th, apparently after killing Olympic gold medalist wrestler Dave Schultz. Du Pont was still standing his ground, surrounded by police, Jan 27th.

• A riot in Port Au Prince, Haiti, killed six and left hundreds homeless Jan 27th.

• Lt. Col. Ibrahim Mainassaira led a coup in Niger Jan 27th which ousted President Mahamine Ousmane; a state of emergency was put in effect.

• France conducted his sixth, and presumably final, nuclear test in the South Pacific Jan 27th.

Finally:

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

Sources this week included All Things Considered (NPR), the Associated Press, the BBC Newshour (BBC/PRI), the Christian Science Monitor, Newsday (BBC/PRI), Newsdesk (BBC/PRI), Paul Harvey News and Comment (ABC Radio) and the Reuters newswire. Compiled by: Lance Gleich, Stanford CA

News 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 distributed by direct e-mail. 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!