Beyond the Farm

For the week preceding this Saturday, March 16th, 1996, here's what made the News Beyond the Farm:

And then there were two. Senator Robert Dole (R-KS) swept the "Super Tuesday" set of presidential primaries Mar 12th. Dole won 57% of the Republican vote in Florida, 47% in Louisiana, 61% in Mississippi, 59% in Oklahoma, 52% in Oregon, 51% in Tennessee, and 56% in Texas. Pat Buchanan came in second in each state with between 20% and 33%. Steve Forbes trailed in third with 8% to 18%. On Mar 14th, Forbes chose to end his presidential bid, and he endorsed Bob Dole as being the best available candidate. On Mar 13th, there had been considerable speculation that Dole would ask retired general Colin Powell to be his vice-presidential nominee. By Mar 16th, Powell had told at least three different interviewers that he will not run for ANY political office in 1996.

The Week in the Balkans:

• Looting in the streets of Serb suburbs of Sarajevo was out of control Mar 10th. Serb leaders called for NATO forces to intervene, but US and British military officials left the matter for Serb and Bosnian government police.

• Ilidza, one of the Sarajevo suburbs afflicted with looting, officially passed to Bosnian government control Mar 12th.

• Another suspected mass grave was found Mar 13th near Lusci Palanka.

• An intruder shot an American soldier in the shoulder Mar 16th. The soldier survived the attack from a disgruntled Serb.

• Serbs took their turn looting Mar 16th, breaking windows and stealing what's left in the Sarajevo suburb of Grbavica, the last remaining Serb-controlled suburb.

They're Talking About It:

In Shorts:

• Gang warfare in Copenhagen, Denmark and Oslo, Norway killed at least four people Mar 10th.

• The Palestinian Authority arrested the three most-wanted members of Hamas Mar 10th, prompting praise from Israel.

• The Russian Parliament repealed the act that dissolved the Soviet Union Mar 11th, and also passed a measure calling on President Yeltsin to work toward the establishment of the USSR. Communist leaders emphasized that the intention of the bill was diplomatic initiatives, not military.

• President Clinton signed the Helms-Burton Act Mar 12th, which imposes tougher sanctions on Cuba and allows Cuban exiles to sue over property lost during Communist rule. Canada and Mexico have objected to provisions imposing sanctions against any product using Cuban components.

• Netscape reached an agreement with America Online to make the Netscape Navigator product available on AOL Mar 12th. However, on Mar 13th, AOL signed an agreement with Microsoft to make the Microsoft browser the basis of the future AOL interface. AOL also has signed an agreement with AT&T to be a part of the new WorldNet service being started by AT&T.

• Bangladesh fell into a political crisis Mar 12th when business leaders voiced their backing of the opposition and called for Prime Minister Khaleda Zia to resign.

• Iraq finally allowed UN inspectors into a Baghdad military training facility Mar 12th.

• 29 world leaders, including US President Clinton, Israeli Prime Minister Peres, Palestinian President Arafat, Jordan's King Hussein, and Russian President Yeltsin gathered in Sharm el Sheikh, Egypt Mar 13th for a one-day "Summit of Peacemakers." The event was designed to bolster the peace process in the wake of Hamas bombings in Israel.

• Sixteen young children were shot to death by an intruder at a school in Dunblane, Scotland Mar 13th. Thomas Hamilton, the gunman, also shot the five- and six-year olds' teacher before taking his own life.

• Israel allowed the first convoy to the Gaza Strip Mar 13th since the terrorist bombings, alleviating a food shortage.

• The Liggett Group, the smallest of the US' tobacco companies, agreed Mar 13th to a 25-year, $50 million-a-year settlement over nicotine levels in its cigarettes. The move marked the first time a tobacco company had paid a settlement of any kind.

• The Senate voted 84-16 Mar 13th to add $2.7 billion in educational training to its spending bill, moving it closer the Clinton administration's position. The two sides are still about $1 billion apart.

• Ruben Figuerosa resigned his post as governor of Guerrero, Mexico Mar 13th in the wake of human rights concerns.

• Indonesia's army took over two towns in Irian Jaya after rioting Mar 13th.

• President Clinton toured Israel Mar 14th, protected by an unprecedented amount of security. In speeches to groups of Israelis, he emphasized the need to protect Israelis and offered little to reassure Palestinians of the continuation of autonomy process. He also pledged $100 million to Israel for anti-terror activities.

• Amtrak awarded the contract for new, 150-mph trains for the Northeast Corridor Mar 15th to Bombardier of Canada, the manufacturer of the "American Flyer." Based on the French TGV, the trains should cut the Boston-New York trip to three hours and New York-Washington DC trip to 2 1/2 when they enter service.

• The pioneering Fokker aircraft company of the Netherlands declared bankruptcy Mar 15th.

• President Clinton met with Irish Prime Minister John Burton Mar 15th to discuss the status of peace talks.

• The GM brake workers' strike had led to the shutdown of plants employing 125,000 workers by Mar 15th. Neither side was showing any sign of giving in to the others' demands.

• The Federal Government received a one-week reprieve when President Clinton signed a one-week stop-gap budget Mar 15th after it passed the House and Senate.

• The Pentagon announced Mar 16th it was rethinking its opposition to a worldwide ban on land mines.

• Mike Tyson regained the heavyweight boxing crown by defeating Frank Bruno in three rounds Mar 16th.

• Residents of Weyawega WI were expected to return to their homes Mar 17th in the wake of a derailment there Mar 4th.

• Actor Vince Edwards died Mar 12th at the age of 67.

Finally:

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

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!