News beyond the farm
A weekly e-mail news summary - WORLD EDITION
For the week preceding this Saturday, September 28th, 1996, here's what made the News Beyond the Farm:
Israel secretly broke through the final section of a tourist tunnel Sep 24th. The tunnel, creating a second entrance to the well-known Wailing Wall Tunnel, was interpreted as a violation of the peace agreement by the Palestinians because of its proximity to the Al Aqsa Mosque; any major change in physical structure in this area was to be acted on jointly by Israel and the Palestinian Authority. Palestinian President Yassar Arafat called for protests, and on Sep 25th, Israeli troops and Palestinian police opened fire on one another, with 20 Palestinians and 11 Israelis dying. The violence continued Sep 26th and 27th before Palestinian police finally managed to prevent protests Sep 28th. The UN passed a resolution calling for new peace talks Sep 28th (with the US abstaining), and it appeared that Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Arafat might meet on the Gaza border Sep 29th. However, on Sep 28th, Netanyahu made it clear that the new tunnel would never close, and a spokesperson for the Palestinians stated that they would not talk unless that option were on the table. The US has reportedly offered mediation in Washington DC. The death toll in this latest round of violence stands at 68.
The government shouldn't shut down this year. The House of Representatives passed a spending bill Sep 28th by 370-37; the Senate will vote on Monday and President Clinton will sign it if it passes. The bill moved forward after Republicans and the President compromised and decided to add $6.5 billion in domestic spending including $4 billion on education.
In Afghanistan, the Taliban rebels announced they had captured the province of Kunar Sepember 22nd, then set their sites on the capitol of Kabul. After taking the city Sep 26th, they imposed strict Islamic law and executed members of the former government. The Taliban now control about two-thirds of the nation, and formed their own government council Sep 27th.
They're Talking About It:
Gaining slightly in the polls, Republican presidential nominee Bob Dole has introduced two new themes: accusing President Clinton of being a closet "liberal, liberal, liberal" and of wanting to re-introduce radical health care reform measures in a second term. However, Dole still trails in such normally-right-leaning states as Texas and Florida. He has taken time off from the campaign to prepare for the first debate.
In Shorts:
- Russian surgeon Renat Akchurin announced Sep 22nd that Boris Yeltsin will not undergo heart surgery for about a month and a half to increase the chances that he will survive the procedure. Meanwhile, envoy Alexander Lebed called for Yeltsin to relinquish power Sep 28th if he plans to remain in the hospital, a demand first made Sep 23rd by the Communists.
- A recount of votes in Bosnia Sep 22nd indicated that muslim Alija Izetbegovic won the top seat in the rotating presidency, barely defeating Serb Momcilo Krajisnik, who has openly stated he would undermine the unity of the country.
- Greek Prime Minister Costas Simitis won an additional four years in office Sep 22nd.
- Armenian President Levon Ter-Petrosyan looked strong in Sep 22nd elections with 56% of the vote; he must now win a run-off.
- A Sunni Muslim mosque in Multan, Pakistan, was attacked Sep 22nd, leaving 21 worshippers dead.
- An offensive by the Sri Lankan army Sep 22nd killed about 200 rebels near Kilinochchi.
- Ross Perot filed suit to enter the presidential debates Sep 23rd.
- President Clinton signed a bill giving military personnel a 3% raise and making it easier to pursue stalkers across state lines Sep 23rd.
- Police seized 10 tons of explosives and related equipment in London Sep 23rd.
- An FDIC report issued Sep 23rd concludes that Hillary Rodham Clinton drafted a 1986 real estate document used by Madison Guaranty Savings and Loan to mislead regulators.
- President Clinton was the first world leader to sign the Nuclear Test Ban Treaty Sep 24th; the law is not expected to go into effect because of Indian (and thus Pakistani) opposition.
- Factional fighting between Pondos and Sothos in South Africa left twelve people dead in various minefields Sep 24th.
- The Federal Reserve bank decided not to raise interest rates Sep 24th.
- Indonesian officials Sep 24th ordered opposition leader Megawati to close her party office.
- President Clinton announced the sale of a new kind of government bond Sep 25th, one that is tied to the value of the Consumer Price Index to combat inflation.
- The House passed a bill doubling the number of border patrol agents Sep 25th by a 305-123 margin.
- Mother Teresa was released from the hospital Sep 25th.
- Burma announced it would charge dissident Aung San Suu Kyi with political crimes Sep 25th.
- Astronaut Shannon Lucid returned to Earth after a record six months in space Sep 26th when the shuttle Atlantis touched ground.
- The Senate sustained President Clinton's veto of the the Dilation & Extraction abortion bill Sep 26th.
- Much of the United States had at least a partial view of a lunar eclipse late Sep 26th.
- Argentinian Labor Unions launched a 36-hour strike Sep 26th.
- An inmate was killed in a prison riot in Folsom CA Sep 27th.
- Computer hacker Kevin Mitnick was indicted on 25 counts Sep 27th.
- The final presidential debate arrangements were made Sep 28th with no changes in date, location, or format.
- President Clinton announced new regulations making it virtually impossible for parents who have neglected child support payments to obtain Federal Loans of any kind Sep 28th.
- Actress Dorothy Lamour died Sep 22nd at the age of 81.
Finally:
Only in the United States... A six-year old has been suspended for kissing a classmate. Even though the girl asked to be kissed, school policies classified the behavior as sexual harassment and punished the boy accordingly. Few politicans seem to be commenting on the Kentucky case... it makes one wonder what they did when they were six.
And that's what made the News Beyond the Farm.
Sources this week included All Things Considered (NPR), the Associated Press newswire, the BBC Newshour (BBC/PRI), the Chris Clark Program (KGO-AM), the Christian Science Monitor, Newsday (BBC/SW), Newsdesk (BBC/PRI), and the Reuters newswire. Compiled by: Lance Gleich, Stanford CA
News Beyond the Farm is designed to provide a fairly short summary of a week's events for people who would otherwise have no chance to keep up with current news. 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, re-posted, or forwarded anywhere. Check "http://www.uhra.com/nbtf.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 "nbtf@uhra.com." Congratulations for keeping up with the world around you!
