Beyond the Farm

A weekly e-mail news summary - WORLD EDITION

For the week preceding this Saturday, March 30th, 1996, here's what made the News Beyond the Farm:

The balance of power in the United States may have shifted. Both chambers of Congress passed a line-item veto bill Mar 28th; the House by a 232-177 margin and the Senate by a 69-31 margin. Under the new law, the next president will be able to individual line items on budget bills. If Congress wanted to reverse the President's decision, they would have to bring up a separate bill with the funding and override a veto of that bill. Advocates claim the bill will help end "pork barrel" items in the budget while critics claim it will give the President powers not provided for in the Constitution. Also in legislative news, Congress and the President approved raising the Federal debt limit to $5.5 trillion to avoid default, while a bill to raise the minimum wage could not be brought to a vote Mar 28th. Bills to increase social security spending, reduce small business regulation, and weaken product liability laws were also passed by Mar 29th as part of the Contract with America platform.

Tensions are mounting in the disputed territory of Jammu and Kashmir between India and Pakistan. A mosque at Hazratbal in Indian-held territory was attacked by Hindus Mar 24th, leaving three people dead. A siege ensued until Mar 26th when armed Muslim defenders surrendered to Indian authorities and were released. However, the Indian army proceeded to attack a group they called "Muslim militants" Mar 30th, killing 21. Spokespeople for separatists in the area described the encounter as "savagery," while the Indian government claims their troops were attacked first.

The Week in the Balkans:

Serbia handed over two soldiers who admit to committing war crimes Mar 30th. The two claim to have participated in the killing of over 1000 men.

They're Talking About It:

A siege in Jordan MT has resulted from the attempted arrest of a group of separatists known as "Freemen." Several in the group, which does not recognize the Federal government in any authority position, surrendered late Mar 25th, but the remainder holed up in a style reminiscent of the Branch Davidians in Waco TX. The Freemen are to be held without bail if they can be apprehended; Ruby Ridge, ID case fugitive Randy Weaver offered to serve as mediator in the standoff Mar 30th.

In Shorts:

Relations between China and Taiwan appear to be thawing rapidly; on Mar 24th, China announced that it wanted high-level talks and direct trade between the two entities.
Rebels in Burundi offered a cease-fire Mar 25th.
The Federal Treasury started releasing the new, harder-to- counterfeit $100 bills Mar 25th.
One of the principal accusers of the Clintons in the Whitewater affair, David Hale, was sentenced to 28 months in jail for his misconduct Mar 25th.
The AFL-CIO endorsed Bill Clinton in the Presidential race Mar 25th, the earliest "big labor" has ever endorsed a candidate.
Yigal Amir was given a life sentence Mar 26th for killing then-Israeli prime minister Yitzhak Rabin.
Bob Dole won primaries in California, Nevada, and Washington state Mar 26th, prompting him to officially declare victory in the race for the Republican nomination. Pat Buchanan reluctantly conceded Mar 27th, but did not suspend his campaign.
Israel arrested 370 Palestinians in the West Bank Mar 26th.
Scientists started to flood the Grand Canyon Mar 26th in an attempt to make the sediments along the Colorado River more natural.
An explosion at the Beta Steel plant in Portage IN killed two people Mar 27th.
An Egypt Air flight was hijacked to Libya Mar 27th, where the hijackers surrendered.
President Clinton gave a speech Mar 27th in which he called for each state to implement new educational standards and testing.
7000 Zulus marched in Johannesburg Mar 28th, complaining of unfair treatment of Inkatha members by the ANC government.
Russia started a three-front offensive in Chechnya Mar 28th.
Argentianian hacker Julio Cesar Ardita was arrested Mar 29th in the first case where a US court granted the right to monitor a person's action on a computer network for police action.
A 5.7 earthquake near Quito, Ecuador killed 19 Mar 29th.
A fire in a department store in Bogor, Indonesia Mar 29th killed at least 77.
Hizbollah claims responsibility for several rockets lauched from southern Lebanon at Israel Mar 30th; no casualties were reported.
The Bangladeshi Parliament was dissolved Mar 30th.
Russia finished paying back wages to government employees Mar 30th.
The space shuttle Atlantis nearly had to make an emergency landing Mar 30th after it appeared that the doors could not be opened to assist in cooling. Fortunately, it was only a sensor problem.
Former Senator Edward Muskie (ME) died Mar 27th at the age of 81.

Finally:

As grades start to come out for Stanford students, many may wish they attended USC. Investigators are now looking into claims that students received an "A" in a "Tutor Training" class after doing no work. Said one student, "I didn't go to class until the final exam, and there they handed me a paper with my name on it to turn in for a grade." Most of the students in the class were athletes, which may lead to a loss of the school's Rose Bowl championship and other sanctions. Perhaps an "A" grade at USC is equivalent to Stanford's "NC" (No Clue/No Credit)?

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

Sources this week included All Things Considered (NPR), the Associated Press newswire, the Bill Gallant Show (KIRO-AM), the Dave Ross Show (KIRO-AM), the KIRO Morning News (KIRO-AM), KNWX radio news, Newsday (BBC/PRI), Newsdesk (BBC/PRI), the News Hour with Jim Lehrer (PBS), the Reuters newswire, the United Press International newswire, and The World (PRI). Compiled by: Lance Gleich, Bellevue WA.

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 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!