News beyond the farm

For the week preceding this Saturday, November 2nd, 1996, here's what made the News Beyond the Farm:

The Republican Party filed for an injunction against the Democratic Party Oct 30th, claiming that the Democrats had accepted campaign funding from illegal sources. The Democrats, who at first refused to fully disclose campaign finance documents prior to the election, finally released limited documentation Oct 31st. While the spending restraint was not imposed, the Democratic National Committee admitted Nov 2nd that it probably had accepted illegal contributions from foreign sources. Still down in the polls,

Republican candidate Bob Dole started a 96-hour final campaign blitz Nov 1st in which he does not plan to sleep. Election day is Nov 5th; REMEMBER TO VOTE. The latest polling data indicates that control of the Senate and House could still go to the Democrats, though Republicans are expected to maintain small majorities in each.

They're Talking About It:

In Shorts:

• An 11-story apartment building collapsed in Cairo, Egypt Oct 27th. At least 70 people were killed in the structure, though the search for survivors continued through Nov 1st.

• The Afghan capitol of Kabul came under air attack by former government forces Oct 27th. However, the Taliban faction repelled the offensive.

• Riots broke out in Islamabad, Pakistan Oct 27th after the Jamast-i-Islami militant group of Islamists took to the streets, calling for the resignation of Prime Minister Bhutto. The riots continued Oct 28th.

• George Kabayashi, a man who had developed an elaborate method of standardized test fraud using the time difference between the east and west coasts was arrested for defrauding the Educational Testing Service Oct 28th.

• McDonnell-Douglas dropped plans to build the MD-XX extended-range airliner Oct 28th.

• An attempt to break the land-speed record in Nevada failed Oct 28th.

• Peace talks in the middle east collapsed Oct 28th.

• Opposition organizer Kyi Maunig was released by Burmese authorities Oct 28th; Aung San Suu Kyi defied authorities by speaking to supporters near her home Nov 2nd.

• The US announced Oct 28th it would withhold a large shipment of arms to the Bosnian government until it fires hawkish Defense Minister Hasan Congic.

• Naval Petty Officer Kurt Lessenthien was sentenced to 27 years in prison Oct 29th for attempting to sell secrets to Russian agents.

• 30 people were killed in Mogadishu, Somalia, when a gunman entered a restaurant and opened fire Oct 29th. Subsequent street violence lasted two days.

• Riots broke out in Hassan, West Bank Oct 29th, then ended.

• Albania and Britain reached an agreement Oct 29th over stolen Nazi gold from World War II.

• Chinese dissident Wang Dan was sentenced to eleven years in prison Oct 29th.

• Senior FBI official E. Michael Kehoe pleaded guilty Oct 30th to obstructing justice by destroying a report on the handling of the Ruby Ridge standoff in 1992.

• Former Indian Prime Minister P.V. Narasimha Rao was indicted on bribery charges Oct 30th.

• Two bombs exploded in Corsica Oct 30th as a campaign against French rule of the Mediterranean island intensified.

• The US Gross Domestic Product was up only 2.2% in the third quarter according to figures released Oct 30th.

• 7500 General Motors workers went out on strike Oct 30th at plants in Indiana and Wisconsin. A tentative agreement was reached with the United Auto Workers Nov 2nd, then a local agreement was reached at the Indianapolis plant; agreement had still not been reached at the Wisconsin facility at press time.

• Ross Perot unleashed personal attacks on President Clinton Oct 30th over campaign finance improprieties.

• An attempt to assassinate Liberian war lord Charles Taylor Oct 31st failed.

• A Brazilian airliner crashed at Sao Paulo Oct 31st, killing all 95 people aboard.

• Odwalla juice company issued a recall of its apple and other juices Oct 31st after cases of E. Coli infections were traced to its product. At least 65 people nationwide have become ill.

• A scientific study released Oct 31st revealed that power lines have no long-term carcinogenic effects, debunking previous studies.

• Boeing issued a directive Nov 1st for airlines to check 737 rudder assemblies within ten days.

• British Telecom announced plans to purchase MCI for $22.8 billion Nov 2nd, which would be the largest international merger in history involving an American company.

• A US F-16 fired a missile at an Iraqi air defense battery while flying in the southern Iraqi no-fly zone Nov 2nd after the plane was apparently targeted by the installation.

• 400 people were appointed to Hong Kong's electoral college Nov 2nd, including some democracy advocates.

• Boris Yeltsin is expected to undergo heart surgery early next week.

REMEMBER TO VOTE ON TUESDAY NOV 5TH!!!!

Finally:

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