News beyond the farm

A weekly e-mail news summary - WORLD EDITION

For the week preceding this Saturday, September 14th, 1996, here's what made the News Beyond the Farm:

In the middle east, the Iraqi-backed Kurdish Democratic Party (KDP) captured control of Degala and Koi Sanjaq Sep 8th. The Patriotic Union of Kurdistan lost control of its last northern stronghold, Sulaimanija, Sep 10th after refugees fled out of the city to Iran. Meanwhile, Iraq shot a surface-to-air (SAM) missile wildly at a US jet patrolling a no-fly zone Sep 10th, prompting the US to promise a "disproportionate response." A group of F-117A fighters, an additional aircraft carrier, and 5000 troops were sent to the Persian Gulf theater, the fighters arriving Sep 13th. Iraqi leader Saddam Hussein, after firing blindly at three more US jets Sep 12th, then Sep 13th that he would not fire at anything if patrols of the no-fly zones ceased. The US rejected the Iraqi suggestion and started to lobby allies for support of US operations Sep 14th. As of press time, the US had still not retaliated for the Iraqi "pot shots."

The so-called "Defense of Marriage Act" passed the Senate 85-14 Sep 10th. The bill will define marriage as a union between a man and a woman and will allow states not to recognize homosexual marriages from other states. President Clinton plans to sign the measure. Critics decried the legislation as gay bashing and unnecessary, since no states currently allow gay marriage. Continuing a dark day for gays, a bill to prevent discrimination on the basis of sexual preference in the workplace failed 50-49 in the Senate.

They're Talking About It:

The FBI is considering blowing up a 747. Investigators are trying to decide whether a carefully planned explosion in a plane on the ground would help the investigation of the TWA Flight 800. The decision may not be made until the more advanced stages of the investigation.

In Shorts:

The residents of Okinawa voted Sep 8th with an 89.1% yes vote for a referendum on reducing the US military base presence. However, governor Masahide Ota bowed to severe pressure from Tokyo to sign an extension of the bases' leases Sep 13th.
Rap star Tupak Shakur was shot multiple times in Las Vegas Sep 8th. After a long struggle in the hospital, he died Sep 13th at the age of 25.
A woman named Zinaida Boluyena offered her heart to Russian President Boris Yeltsin Sep 9th if he needs it because of his health problems.
Susan McDougal was hauled to jail in chains Sep 9th; some Democrats claim she amounts to a political prisoner in the Whitewater affair while Republicans point out Democrats are trying to use McDougal's image for political gain.
Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu met with President Clinton in Washington DC Sep 9th.
Ieng Sary of the Khmer Rouge announced an agreement with the government to end the Cambodian civil war Sep 9th; he blamed Pol Pot for the atrocities of an earlier era.
Protectionist economist Pat Choate was introduced as Ross Perot's running mate in the presidential race Sep 10th on one of Perot's trademark half-hour infomercials.
The Nuclear Test Ban Treaty text was released Sep 10th, but it is expected not to be ratified by India and thus be meaningless.
The Potomac River crested at 7 inches over flood stage Sep 10th as the aftermath of Hurricane Fran left 33 dead from South Carolina to Pennsylvania.
Bob Dole had to quit using his tune "Dole Man" Sep 10th after the writers of "Soul Man" objected.
Irish prime minister John Burton visited the US Congress Sep 11th.
Bob Dole visited Congress to energize Republican house and senate candidates Sep 11th.
A 6.6 earthquake hit near Tokyo Sep 11th without major injury.
Russian envoy Alexander Lebed met with Chechen acting President Doka Zavgayev Sep 11th.
President Clinton raised $4 million in Hollywood Sep 12th.
The Dow Jones Industrial Average closed at a record 5838.52 level Sep 13th.
US special forces were sent to Haiti Sep 13th to help protect President Rene Preval while his security forces are being reconstituted.
Voting in elections in Bosnia took place Sep 14th. All seemed to be going well, with major transportation efforts to take people to vote in the territories they lived in before the war functioning, until the leading Muslim party, the Social Democrats (SDP), decided to refuse the results of the election, citing irregularities. The results should be announced early next week.
Russian Prime Minister Viktor Chernomyrdin warned Sep 14th that any final agreement in Chechnya will have to take into account Russian territorial integrity, implying that any degree of independence may be unacceptable to Moscow.
Hurricane Fausto passed over the southern tip of Baja California in Mexico Sep 14th causing unknown damage.
Hurricane Hortense was heading straight toward Halifax, Nova Scotia Sep 14th after a week of avoiding the US coast. Hortense had dumped 18 inches on Puerto Rico and the Dominican Republic Sep 10th, causing widespread devastation and at least two dozen deaths.
Umberto Bossi, leader of Italy's Northern League, announced Sep 14th that he will declare Northern Italy independent from southern Italy. Such a move would be strictly symbolic.
Government officials implied Sep 14th that Janet Reno would step down during a second Clinton presidential term because of her Parkinson's Disease.
Bluegrass artist Bill Monroe died Sep 9th at the age of 84.
Dancer and actress Juliet Prowse died of cancer Sep 14th at the age of 59.

Finally:

If you want to have Sex in Kelowna, BC you will probably have to wait until 2002. No, this story has nothing to do with the town's alleged 2:1 female to male ratio [which seemed to be true when I reported from there in August]. Madonna's explicit book "Sex" just arrived in the Kelowna library, and if each person on the current waiting list keeps it for a full three weeks, nobody else will get to check it out until 2002. Perhaps even more men will leave town in order to get Sex.

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

Sources this week included All Things Considered (NPR), the Associated Press newswire, the Dave Ross Show (KIRO-AM), KIRO-AM radio news, Marketplace (PRI), Newsday (BBC/SW), the News Hour with Jim Lehrer (PBS), the Reuters newswire, and the World Tonight (CBS radio). Compiled by: Lance Gleich, San Diego CA

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