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'March 2005' : ← - January 2005 - February 2005 - March - April 2005 - May 2005 - June 2005 - July 2005 - August 2005 - September 2005 - October 2005 - November 2005 - December 2005 - →
[edit] Events
- In Afghanistan, president Hamid Karzai appoints Abdul Rashid Dostum as his chief-of-staff. Dostum has been accused of involvement in human rights abuses. (Reuters) (Daily Times, Pakistan) (BBC)
- In Bangladesh, 15 suspected radical leaders of Islamic groups are charged with sedition (Reuters) (Matamat, Bangladesh)
- In Burundi, a referendum approves the new constitution, which is intended to end 12 years of civil war (Reuters AlertNet) (IAfrica) (BBC)
- Canada deports Holocaust denier Ernst Zündel to Germany, where he is arrested (CTV) (CNews) (Reuters AlertNet) (BBC)
- In the Democratic Republic of Congo, militia leader Floribert Ndjabu of Nationalist and Integrationist Front is reportedly arrested for the killing of nine Bangladeshi UN peacekeepers last week (Reuters AlertNet) (BBC)
- A French court in Angers prepares for a major child sex trial (BBC)
- In Italy, a court sentences Laura Proietti, a member of the Red Brigades, to life in prison for involvement in the murder of Massimo D'Antona in 1999. A second member, Cinzia Banelli, receives 20 years (BBC) (Newsday)
- Protests break out in Indonesia over fuel price increases (Reuters) (Channel News Asia)
- In Lebanon, opposition leaders call for the protest to continue even when the government has resigned. New protests demand that all Syrian troops leave the country (Reuters) (BBC)
- Malaysia begins to round up illegal immigrants after a 4-month amnesty (Channel News Asia) (ABC Asia) (Reuters) (BBC)
- David Crane, the chief prosecutor of Sierra Leone's war crimes tribunal, will step down in July after three years (Reuters AlertNet) (AllAfrica) (BBC)
- Greenpeace in Switzerland accuses three chemical firms based in Basel of failing to clean up toxic waste (SwissInfo) (NZZ)
- Syrian president Bashar al-Assad states that Syria could withdraw all its troops from Lebanon in a couple of months (Reuters) (Jerusalem Post) Lebanese protestors destroy a statue of former Syrian president Hafez al-Assad in the southern village of Qana (Daily Star, Lebanon)
- President Saparmurat Niyazov of Turkmenistan orders the closure of all the hospitals in the country except those in the capital, Ashgabat. He also orders the closure of all rural libraries, as he believes that village Turkmen do not read. (BBC)
- The President of Ukraine, Viktor Yushchenko, announces that suspected killers of a journalist Georgiy Gongadze have been arrested (DVC, Ukraine) (Bloomberg) (Reuters) (BBC)
- In Uruguay, Dr. Tabaré Vázquez, the first leftist president in the country's 180-year history, takes office, announces his cabinet and restores diplomatic relations with Cuba. (Prensa Latina), (Bloomberg),(XinHua), (Globe&Mail), (BBC)
- In a major change to capital punishment in the United States, by a closely-divided vote, the US Supreme Court rules, in Roper v. Simmons, that imposition of the death penalty on persons convicted of capital crimes committed before they were 18 is unconstitutional. (BBC)(CSM)
- In the USA, New York Federal court hears a case of Vietnamese plaintiffs who demand compensation for effects of the Agent Orange during the Vietnam War. United States Justice Department and companies that manufactured Agent Orange demand that the federal judge dismiss the case.(Forbes) (Voice of Viet Nam) (International Herald Tribune) (BBC)
- In Pakistan, a bill proposing to strengthen the law against "Honour Killing" is defeated in Parliament, after the government sides with the Islamist opposition and deems the bill "un-Islamic". (BBC)
- Unpopular Chief Executive Tung Chee-hwa of the former British colony of Hong Kong reportedly resigns, with reluctant approval from Beijing. (The Standard), (BBC),(CBC), (Globe&Mail), (Reuters), (CNN). (BBC).
- Banda Sea Earthquake: An earthquake measuring up to 7.5 on the Richter scale hits Darwin, Northern Territory in Australia (ABC News)
- The Israeli Defence Forces discover a Hamas bomb-lab near Jenin in a metal workshop. The lab contains what appeared to be a Qassam rocket in an initial state of production, and large quantities of other materials used for manufacturing bombs. (Haaretz)
- US company Titan Corporation agrees to pay a fine equivalent to US$28.5 million after they admit attempting bribery to get a military communications contract in Benin. The corporation allegedly gave US$2 million to the re-election campaign of president Mathieu Kérékou. (Reuters), (Financial Times), (BBC)
- Microsoft founder Bill Gates is awarded the title of Knight Commander of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire by Queen Elizabeth II (which will entitle him to suffix the letters "KBE" to his name but not use the title of "Sir") for his contribution to enterprise in the United Kingdom and his efforts in poverty reduction around the world. (BBC)
- Windsor Tower, the building in central Madrid which was burnt down by a fire on February 12th, starts to be demolished. Technicians pay attention now to the wind, since it may make harder to control the cranes. (EiTB)
- In Belgium, Naïma Amzil, a Muslim woman leaves her job after her employer is targeted with a seventh death threat, sent by a group named New Free Flanders (Dutch: Nieuw Vrij Vlaanderen). She is targeted because she is Muslim and wears a headscarf at work. (BBC) (Middle East Online)
- Four officers of the Royal Canadian Mounted Police are shot dead while investigating a man suspected of stealing a pickup truck, west of Edmonton, Alberta. This is the largest single death toll for RCMP officers since the Northwest Rebellion. (CBC)
- Five men who had been sentenced to death for the rape of Mukhtar Mai, who was raped as punishment for another rape falsely attributed to her brother, are acquitted on appeal. A Pakistani tribal council allegedly ordered the rape of Mukhtar Mai in February 2002. (BBC)
- The People's Republic of China issues a report condemning the human rights record of the United States, three days after the United States issued a report condemning China's human rights record. (BBC) (People's Daily)
- In Indonesia, Muslim cleric Abu Bakar Bashir is found guilty of conspiracy for his involvement in the 2002 Bali bombing, but was found not guilty of all charges surrounding the 2003 bombing of the Marriott hotel in Jakarta. He received a two and a half year jail sentence. (BBC)(Jakarta Post) (Reuters)
- In China, a [[03/content_2643274.htm (Xinhua)] (Reuters) (BBC)
- In Japan, Yoshiaki Tsutsumi, millionaire and chairman of Kokudo Corporation, is indicted in insider trading and false financial reports (Daily Yomiuri) (Asahi Shimbun) (Reuters)
- Steve Fossett's GlobalFlyer touches down at Salina, Kansas, completing his nonstop around-the-world flight. Fossett had overcome earlier fuel problems to become the first person to achieve the flight solo. (CNN)
- After 5 months in prison, Martha Stewart is released from Camp Cupcake at 12:30 EDT. (CNN)
- In South Africa, police look for three killers of Thulani Zulu, Zulu prince and ANC official. Thulani Zulu was killed in a drive-by shooting. IFP also condemns the act (SABC (IOL) (News24) (BBC)
- Zimbabwe intends to release 62 mercenaries connected to failed coup attempt in the Equatorial Guinea last year. Most of the suspected mercenaries are South African. (Reuters SA) (IAfrica) (BBC)
- FBI sends a special agent to Azerbaijan to help in the investigation of murder Elmar Huseynov. editor in chief of Monitor magazine. The magazine has often criticized the government of the country. (Baku Today) (IJNet) (BBC) (CASCFEN)
- World Trade Organization upheld a ruling that orders USA to stop subsidies to its cotton farmers. (Bloomberg) (New York Times) (BBC)
- Mexico allocates equivalent to US$ 2.7 million to compensate relatives of more than 300 women killed in Ciudad Juárez since 1993. (UN News Centre) (KLTV) (BBC)
- In Angers, France, 66 people go into trial for sexual child abuse and child prostitution of 45 victims of various ages. (Reuters) [] (Guardian) (BBC)
- In Naples, Italy, police has arrested at least 42 people during a large operation against Camorra. (AGI) (News.Com.Au) (BBC)
- Scientists at Florida State University conclude that Homo floresiensis is a separate species from Homo sapiens and belongs in the Homo genus through computer mapping of its brain. (Reuters), (CBC)
- At 18:17Z, a 3500-tonne freighter, M/V Karen Danielsen, crashes into the Western bridge of the Great Belt Bridge of Denmark, 800 m from Funen. All traffic across the bridge stopped, effectively separating Denmark in two. (News24)
- Abducted Italian journalist Giuliana Sgrena, a reporter for Il Manifesto, is released in Iraq. An Italian secret service agent, Nicola Calipari, was killed and Sgrena wounded when a U.S. armored vehicle opened fire on her car after it allegedly failed to slow as it approached a checkpoint. (ABCNews - AP) (Reuters) (BBC)
- United Nations warns that about 90 million Africans could be infected by HIV in the future without further action against the spread of the disease. See AIDS in Africa. (Health24) (WHO) [1]
- President of India, APJ Kalam meets Syed Sibte Razi, governor of the northern state Jharkhand after opposition protests. Despite the hung elections in the assembly, the governor has appointed Jharkhand Mukti Morcha party member Shibu Soren as a chief minister. JMM is part of a political alliance backed by the Congress Party (NDTV) (BBC)
- Former interior minister of Ukraine, Yuri Kravchenko, is found dead in his country house, in an apparent suicide. He had been linked to the murder of journalist Georgiy Gongadze and was due to give evidence. (Reuters) (Scotsman) (BBC)
- The BSE Sensex breaches the 6,800-mark for the first time in its history, ending at 6,849, up 65 points over its previous close. The market rally has added about 160 billion Indian rupees (approx. 3.6 billion US$) to investor wealth with the BSE's market capitalisation at a record high of 17.65 trillion Indian rupees (approx. 400 billion US$). (Financial Express, India)
- President's rule is imposed in Goa and the Goa assembly is placed under suspended animation. (Deccan Herald) (Sify, India)
MALACHI KENJAN KWIATKOWSKI WAS BORN
- Prisoner Abuse in Iraq: American troops in Iraq filmed themselves kicking a gravely wounded prisoner in the face and making the arm of a corpse appear to wave, then titled the effort "Ramadi Madness" after the city where it was made. (Reuters via Yahoo)
- Former US President George H.W. Bush has praised his successor Bill Clinton after Clinton allowed Bush to sleep on the only Bed in the airplane the pair were using on their tour of tsunami-hit areas. (BBC)
- John R. Bolton is nominated by President George W. Bush to become the U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations. (CNN) (Fox News).
- Hans Bethe, Nobel Laureate in Physics, discoverer of stellar fusion, key participant in development of atomic and hydrogen bombs, outspoken critic of arms race and nuclear testing, died at age 98. wikinews Cornell University News Service
- A Vietnamese nurse is confirmed to have contracted the bird flu, raising the number bird flu patients in Vietnam to 22, since late 2004. (Xinhua) (Reuters) (Bloomberg)
- Irish singer Bono, of rock band U2, is nominated for World Bank presidency. (Guardian) (Business World) (Zaman)
- Sony Corporation announces that its current US operations chief, British-born Howard Stringer, is to become its first-ever non-Japanese Chairman and Chief Executive Officer. (Channelnewsasia)
- The People's Republic of China warns that it will not tolerate the United States and Japan including Taiwan in any security alliance. (AFP)
- In Moldova, ruling Pro-Western Communist Party of the Republic of Moldova wins a narrow majority in parliamentary elections but will be probably unable to elect a president without further political alliances with other parties (Reuters) (BBC) (CNN)
- 3-19 shooting incident: Police in Taiwan says that they have identified the man who shot at president Chen Shui-bian last year. Wife of unemployed man Chen Yi-hsiung says he confessed and committed suicide a few days later (CNA, Taiwan) (Reuters Alertnet) (Bloomberg) (BBC)
- Italy prepares a funeral for the agent Nicola Calipari who died in Iraq protecting released hostage Giuliana Sgrena. Sgrena disputes US Army account of the shooting (New York Post) (BBC) (BBC Sgrena interview)
- In South Korea, finance minister Lee Hun-jai resigns over allegations that his wife has made illegal property deals (Korea Times) (Bloomberg) (Reuters UK)
- German financial company Deutsche Börse AG withdraws its takeover of the London Stock Exchange (MarketWatch) (Bloomberg) (BBC)
- Malaysia and Indonesia agree to talks about the border dispute in Borneo over oil resources. Indonesia has deployed military units to the area (Channel News Asia) (Reuters) (Jakarta Post)
- Representatives of European Union meet with those of Turkey, a prospective new member. They also criticize Turkish police for violent handling of a demonstration that marked the International Women's Day in Istanbul. Turkish officials promise to investigate the case (Bloomberg) (IHT)
- Momčilo Perišić, former Yugoslavian army general, hands himself in to the United Nations war crimes tribunal in the Hague. He is charged with complicity of Serbian separatist war crimes in Bosnia and Croatia during the Yugoslav Wars. (Bloomberg) (B92) (BBC)
- Prison fire in the Dominican Republic claims 134 lives and injured 25. Fire started during a clash of prison gangs (Reuters) (BBC)
- In Spain, prosecutors of the case of Adolfo Scilingo, Argentine naval officers accused of multiple counts of genocide, murder and terrorism, request a prison sentence of 9138 years (Prensa Latina) (BBC)
- In Norway, police recovers three paintings of Edvard Munch the day after they were stolen (CNN) (BBC)
- In Sierra Leone, three members of the former military government, Armed Forces Revolutionary Council, go on trial accused of crimes against humanity during the civil war. (Reuters) (AllAfrica) (ReliefWeb) (BBC)
- In Lebanon, almost one million people have flooded a Beirut square, in front of the United Nations building, in a rally showing their support for Syria, dwarfing previous anti-Syria demonstrations. (CNN) (BBC) (ABC)(Daily Star, Lebanon) (Reuters)
- A very high plume of ash and steam is seen coming from the direction of active volcano Mount St. Helens in the U.S. state of Washington. The plume is visible as far away as Portland, Oregon. (Wikinews) (ABCnews)
- In Northern Ireland the IRA issues an unprecedented statement that they made an offer to the family of murder victim Robert McCartney to shoot the members involved in his 31 January killing. The family made it clear that they wanted the people concerned prosecuted, not physically harmed. (BBC)
- Russian armed forces claim that Chechen separatist leader Aslan Maskhadov has been killed in a special forces operation. (Guardian)
- Kosovan Prime Minister Ramush Haradinaj reports that he has been charged with war crimes by the International Criminal Tribunal for the Former Yugoslavia and resigns. He will travel to The Hague of his own volition, although he maintains his innocence. (Reuters)
- Gianfranco Fini, the foreign minister of Italy has demanded that the U.S. "identify and punish" those responsible for the death of Nicola Calipari, the Italian intelligence agent killed by US soldiers in Iraq. (BBC)
- In Australia, 104-year-old Chinese widow Cui Yu Hu, who has lived in the country for 10 years, loses an appeal to receive a permanent visa. She has asked immigration minister Amanda Vanstone to intervene. (The Australian) (BBC)
- South Africa intends to change the name of the capital Pretoria to Tshwane (IOL) (BBC)
- Cyclone Ingrid diminishes to a category 3 storm, and is crossing the Cape York Peninsula in northern Queensland, Australia late on March 9, 2005 UTC. ABOM
- In Australia, immigration minister Amanda Vanstone grants Cui Yu Hu permanent residency (News.com.au) (Australian) (BBC)
- In Bolivia, Congress refuses to accept resignation of President Carlos Mesa and he withdraws it (Reuters) (BBC)
- Akhmed Zakayev, envoy of the killed Chechen separatist leader Aslan Maskhadov, states that Maskhadov's death does not end resistance to Russian rule and that his successor would be chosen in a couple of days (Bloomberg) (BBC)
- Colombia extradites captured FARC leader Omaira Rojas Cabrera, also known as Sonia, to USA to face drug trafficking charges (BBC)
- Conflict in Iraq: Iraqi police discover the bullet-riddled and/or headless bodies of 41 people at two sites, one near the Syrian border, the other just south of Baghdad. (AP)
- Israeli Defence Minister Shaul Mofaz and Palestinian head of the PNA Mahmoud Abbas have not agreed upon giving Jericho and Tulkarm to Palestinian security control, as early reports suggested, but talks continue. (Haaretz) (BBC)
- In Israel, an official report has revealed that Israeli state bodies have been diverting funds from state projects to fund the establishment of illegal Israeli settlements in the West Bank. Former state prosecutor Talia Sasson has recommended that criminal investigations be launched. (BBC)
- Ramush Haradinaj, the former prime minister of Kosovo, flies to International Criminal Tribunal for the Former Yugoslavia in The Hague to answer for charges for his role as a former commander of Kosovo Liberation Army in 1998-1999. He goes there voluntarily. (OneWorld) /Reuters) (BBC)
- In the Philippines, 29 children from San Jose Elementary School die from food poisoning after eating cassava balls. (Reuters)
- Syria says its troops will leave Lebanon before parliamentary elections in May (BBC) (Reuters)
- In Costa Rica, bank robbers take hostages in the western town of Santa Elena de Monteverde. Three robbers, five hostages and a security agent are killed during the siege. Last robber surrenders (Reuters AlertNet) (San Jose Mercury News) (BBC)
- In South Africa, 5.3 Richter scale earthquake collapses Hartebeestfontein gold mine south of Johannesburg and traps 40 miners undersground. One miner is killed and 23 injured. Medics and volunteer miners rescue them in a 12-hour rescue operation (IOL) (Reuters) (BBC)
- In Spain, Alfredo Galán, a serial killer who left playing cards on the bodies of some of his victims, is sentenced to jail for 142 years (Reuters) (BBC)
- In Guinea, president Lansana Conté sacks three senior ministers, security minister Moussa Sampil, foreign affairs minister Mamadi Condé and mines minister Alpha Mady Soumah, to replace them with the members of his own Party of Unity and Progress. Journalists and students welcome sacking of Sampil because of his handling of an alleged assassination attempt against the president in January. (Reuters) (BBC)
- World Health Organization issues a warning that cases of malaria have increased to 500 million- much more than they anticipated (Reuters) (Scientific American) (BBC)
- Paul Schäfer, former leader of Colonia Dignidad community in Chile, is arrested in Argentina accused of child sexual abuse. He has been on the run for 8 years. (Reuters) (BBC)
- USA withdraws from part of the Vienna Convention that gave the International Criminal Court the right to intervene in cases of foreigners held in death rows in US jails (CNN) (Reuters) (BBC)
- In Rwanda, traditional Gacaca community courts begin to judge cases of people accused of involvement in the Rwandan genocide in 1994 (Reuters AlertNet) (ReliefWeb) (AllAfrica)
- In Djibouti, Mohamed Daoud Chehem, the only opposition candidate in the forthcoming presidential elections, withdraws from the race. The incumbent President Ismail Omar Guelleh remains the only candidate in the elections of April 8 (BBC)
- Conflict in Iraq: At least 47 people have died following an apparent suicide bombing at a Shia funeral in the Iraqi city of Mosul. (BBC)
- A U.S. Judge has dismissed a case brought by Vietnamese plaintiffs over the use of Agent Orange during the Vietnam War. (BBC) (Judges Decision in Full)
- Lebanese President Émile Lahoud, reappoints Omar Karami as Prime Minister of Lebanon and asks him to form a new government, less than two weeks after Karami resigned in the face of anti-Syrian protests. (BBC)
- Israeli troops kill Mohammed Abu Hazneh, a member of Palestinian Islamic Jihad and an alleged plotter of the recent Tel Aviv "Stage" nightclub suicide bombing. After he killed a K9 dog, the troops bulldozed his house, crushing him to death. (BBC)
- The Chief Executive of Hong Kong, Tung Chee Hwa, announces he is to resign. He blames his poor health for the decision, while some believe that he may have been dismissed by the Chinese government. (Yahoo! Hong Kong)(BBC)
- 16 people die following an explosion in a mine in the Shanxi province of China. (IOL)
- A senior United Nations envoy has said far more people have died in Darfur during the two-year conflict than previously admitted.(BBC)
- Flags across the nation fly at half-mast as the largest police memorial in Canadian history is held in Edmonton, to honour the four Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) victims of the Mayerthorpe Incident. Attending were about 10,000 officers from North America, Canadian dignitaries and entertainers with songs of reflection and sorrow. (CBC) (Toronto Star)
- The Islamic Commission of Spain, that country's largest Muslim group, issues a fatwa against al-Qaeda leader Osama Bin Ladin, ruling that his actions have made him an apostate, that he should not be regarded as a Muslim, and that his claim that the Qur'an justifies his terrorist actions constitutes istihlal, the sin of making up one's own law. It is claimed to be the first fatwa to be pronounced against Bin Ladin, and to have the tacit support of Muslim leaders in several Islamic countries. (CBC)
- The Mozilla Foundation announces that the development of the Mozilla Internet Suite will no longer be ongoing. SeaMonkey will be the replacement.
~*Samantha Musgrove and Michael Rossmans Anniversary.~
- International authorities apprehend 41 suspects in a massive money laundering ring code-named White Whale in Spain. (Bloomberg) (Independent) (BBC)
- Pope John Paul II leaves Agostino Gemelli University Polyclinic 2 1/2 weeks after his tracheotomy and returns to Vatican City. BBC
- The Malta Labour Party celebrates a long expected victory in the Local Council Elections in Malta. 53.18% of the electorate voted Labour whereas 44.6% voted for the Partit Nazzjonalista. (di-ve)
- China begins human trials of AIDS vaccine (People's Daily Online) (Channel News Asia) (Medical News Today)
- In France, prime minister Jean-Pierre Raffarin agrees to demands of protesters and grants concession on his reform policies (Reuters) (BBC)
- Former leader of Togo, Gnassingbé Eyadéma, is buried in the capital Lome (News24) (BBC)
- Roll Back Malaria charity concert begins in Dakar, Senegal, to collect funds to fight against malaria and to buy mosquito nets. Local musician Youssou N'Dour organized the concert and it features major African artists. (News24) (Reuters) (IOL)
- Muslim religious scholars in Pakistan announce a fatwa that decrees that heroin use is un-Islamic. The fatwa is pronounced in a seminar in Baluchistan. (Daily Times, Pakistan (BBC)
- In Turkey, authorities close down the Bosphorus shipping channel after a cargo ship that carried liquiefied petroleum gas sinks due to bad weather. It takes hours for the shipping authorities to collect gas tanks. (Planet Ark) (BBC)
- In Italy, explosion in the Motta di Livenza injures three people. Officials suspect serial bomber (CNN) (BBC)
- In the United States six developers of the infamous Twisted Metal series, are tragically killed in a plane crash. They had to cancel the release of "Twisted Metal: Lost". In the game Twisted Metal: Head On Extra Edition, they include the first three levels of Twisted Metal: Lost. (PSU)
- Massive protests take place in Beirut, Lebanon, against the Syrian presence there. With an estimated turnout of 800,000. (ABC News)
- Cyclone Ingrid is moving away from Darwin, Northern Territory and towards the Kimberley region of Western Australia as a Category 4 storm. (AustBC News), (Aust BOM)
- The Anti-Secession Law of the People's Republic of China, a law aimed at resolving the issue of Taiwan, is passed and enters into force. (BBC News)
- According to World Wildlife Fund, melting glaciers in the Himalayas could lead first to floods in China, India and Nepal and then long droughts. (Bloomberg) (Xinhua) (BBC)
- In Italy, Alessandra Mussolini, granddaughter of Il Duce Benito Mussolini, is banned from regional elections for presenting fraudulent signatures. She threatens to go on a hunger strike. (Reuters) (BBC)
- In the Philippines, inmates of a Camp Bagong Diwa maximum security prison in Manila took hostages during an attempted jailbreak and demand to talk with authorities. At least four guards and one prisoner have been killed. Prisoners claim to hold 100 hostages; police dispute this number. According the police, the attempt was led by imprisoned members of Abu Sayyaf. (Sun Star, Manila) (Reuters)
- Bangladesh bans smoking in public places. (Reuters)
- San Francisco Superior Court Judge Richard Kramer says that limiting marriage to between man and woman is unconstitutional (San Francisco Chronicle) (Reuters) (BBC)
- In India, muslim charity Sunni Waqf Board claims ownership of the Taj Mahal. They demand opposing evidence from the Archaeological Survey of India (Express Newsline) (New Kerala) (BBC) (Hindustan Times)
- 500 protesters are arrested in Nepal (BBC)
- In Macedonia Ljube Boskowski, former interior minister, is indicted for war crimes for an alleged role in clashes between ethnic Albanians and security forces in 2001 (Reuters) (RFE) (BBC)
- According to International Maritime Bureau, 35 pirates stormed gas tanker MT Tri Samudra in Malacca Strait last Saturday and captured its captain and chief engineer for ransom. The ship has been released. In another attack, pirates capture three members of a japanese tugboat (Today Online) (Channel News Asia) (ABC) (BBC)
- In Zambia, former president Frederick Chiluba protests when government anti-corruption investigators seize hundred of pieces of clothing from the warehouse he used to store them. Police suspect that the clothes were bought using government funds (AllAfrica) (BBC)
- The United States government announces the arrests of 103 members of the violent street gang MS-13. (AP)
- U.S. Representative Henry Waxman sends a scathing letter to President George W. Bush, accusing the administration of having withheld until after the election a damaging audit regarding overcharges by Halliburton for services in Iraq (such as charging $27,000,000 for transporting $82,000 worth of fuel from Kuwait to Iraq). (Guardian) (Philadelphia Daily News)
- OPEC announces that it's unable to control oil prices. (MSNBC)
- The dedication of the new Yad Vashem Holocaust museum in Jerusalem, Israel: leaders from 40 states and the General Secretary of the UN Kofi Annan attend inauguration of Holocaust museum. President of Israel Moshe Katzav said that the new museum serves as "an important signpost to all of humankind, a signpost that warns how short the distance is between hatred and murder, between racism and genocide." (Haaretz)
- In the Philippines, police storm the Camp Bagong Diwa prison. 26 die during the fighting, three of them Abu Sayyaf members. Six police officers are wounded. (Reuters) (Bloomberg) (Sun Star, Manila) (BBC)
- Japanese immigration officials state that they are going to deport Bobby Fischer back to USA, instead of allowing him to move to Iceland. (Mainich Daily News) (MSNBC)
- In Kosovo, an explosion hits the motorcade of president Ibrahim Rugova in the capital Pristina. (Reuters) (CNN) (BBC)
- The International Criminal Court will hear its first case, the allegations of war crimes during a civil war in the Democratic Republic of Congo. (Daily Times) (BBC)
- The government of Italy announces that it will begin to withdraw its troops from Iraq in several months. (BBC)
- Thousands of protesters demonstrate violently outside parliament against rising prices and high tax increases. Some of them call for resignation of the president Mamadou Tandja (AllAfrica) (Reuters SA) (BBC)
- In Zimbabwe, new electoral court rules that jailed opposition politician Roy Bennett, member of the Movement for Democratic Change, can take part of parliamentary elections on March 31. (AllAfrica) (Reuters AlertNet) (BBC)
- In Paris, France, French-Algerian Djamel Beghal is sentenced to 10 years in jail for plotting to bomb US embassy in 2001. Five others received shorter sentences. (Reuters) (IHT) (BBC)
- In Lebanon, United Nations team that investigates murder of Rafik Hariri, completes its mission. They will present their findings to secretary general Kofi Annan in New York (Reuters AlertNet) (BBC)
- In Italy, cardinal Tarcisio Bertone, Roman catholic archbishop of Genoa, speaks against what he describes as "lies" in the popular book "The Da Vinci Code"; the book effectively claims that, among other things, the church suppresses information about Jesus' marriage with Mary Magdalene (Catholic News Service) (Catholic World News) (Reuters) (BBC)
- In Burbank, California, the last 78 General Motors EV1 vehicles were removed by General Motors from the storage lot, temporarily impeded by a group of EV1 activists, and transferred to the GM Desert Proving Grounds in Mesa, Arizona for disposal, crushing, and recycling. [2]
- Israel formally hands Jericho to Palestinian Authority control, which is likely to strengthen Mahmoud Abbas. The PA will resume security control over the city and will have to make sure that wanted militants will remain in check. (Yahoo!)(BBC)
- Anti-fascist protesters in the center of Riga, Latvia, end up in custody after trying to stop the annual march of Waffen-SS veterans and young radical nationalists. (BBC)
- Russia announces that it will pay US$10 m to the people who betrayed Chechen separatist leader Aslan Maskhadov, who was killed by Russian special forces. (The Guardian)
- President of Bolivia Carlos Mesa has asked the country's congress to approve early elections in August to replace him to "prevent bloodbath". There are still widespread opposition protests against his economic policies. (Reuters) (Bloomberg) (BBC)
- President of El Salvador, Tony Saca, criticises new inquiries of The Inter-American Commission on Human Rights into El Mozote massacre in 1981. (Reuters AlertNet) (BBC)
- The United States Senate accuses seven US banks of complicity of allowing Augusto Pinochet to set up 100 bank accounts to hide money total to US$15 million. (Reuters) (CNN) (BBC)
- Amnesty International states that fair elections are "impossible" in Zimbabwe. (Amnesty International) (Reuters AlertNet) (News24)
- In the Supreme Court of British Columbia today, Ripudaman Singh Malik and Ajaib Singh Bagri were found not guilty in their trial for the bombing of Air India Flight 182. (The Globe and Mail) (Reuters) (Bloomberg)
- European Union postpones negotiations for Croatia's possible membership. Delegates state that Zagreb has not cooperated with the International Criminal Tribunal for the Former Yugoslavia in trying to arrest suspected war criminal Ante Golovina. (EUObserver) (Bloomberg) (Reuters) (World Peace Herald)
- A plane crash in Russia kills 28, some of them employees of Lukoil oil company. (Mosnews) (RIA Novosti) (Bloomberg)
- Zambian government files corruption charges against ex-president Frederick Chiluba in a British High Court. He is accused of defrauding the state of the equivalent of US$35 million. (Reuters SA) (BBC)
- United Nations withdraws its foreign personnel from west of Darfur after threats from pro-government militias. (AllAfrica) (Reuters) (BBC)
- Iran publicly executes serial killer Mohammad Bijeh, nicknamed the "Tehran Desert Vampire". (IranMania) (Reuters AlertNet) (BBC)
- In Japan, Hitachi unveils two examples of its wheeled robot Emiew. (Reuters) (Slashdot)
- In China, smth, the biggest BBS in Chinese campus, announced that IP outside the Tsinghua University would be blocked off. (yahoo)
- At the Relativistic Heavy Ion Collider particle accelerator in Upton, New York, physicist Horatiu Nastase may have created a black hole. (BBC)
- The People's Republic of China frees Uyghur dissident and businesswoman Rebiya Kadeer on medical parole. (BBC)
- U.S. Congressman Rob Portman (R-Ohio) was nominated by President George W. Bush to be the United States Trade Representative, replacing Robert Zoellick. Portman is subject to Senate confirmation. (Reuters) [3]
- Transparency International (TI), a nonprofit which works against corruption, warns about US companies overcharging for the rebuilding of Iraq. A TI study showed that a multi-million-dollar deal was awarded to a US company only for it to sub-contract the work to an Iraqi firm for a fraction of the cost. (Zaman) (Aljazeera)
- A number of non-governmental organizations meet in Geneva, Switzerland in the World Water Forum. They call for water to be treated as a common asset instead of being privatized. (Swissinfo)
- In China, a bus explosion kills about 30 people in Jiangxi province. (China Daily) (Reuters AlertNet) (Channel News Asia) (BBC)
- In Bolivia, opposition leader Evo Morales calls off blockades against the government of Carlos Mesa after it raises taxes of foreign energy companies. (Bloomberg) (Reuters) (BBC)
- London police say they have foiled an attempt to steal £220 million from the London offices of the Sumitomo Mitsui Bank. (BBC) (Reuters UK)
- The only remaining statue in Madrid of the Spanish dictator Francisco Franco is removed on government orders. (BBC)
- In Italy, the staff of Milan's La Scala opera vote for the resignation of the famous conductor Riccardo Muti. (Reuters) (BBC).
- In Russia, Anatoly Chubais, head of Russia's state power monopoly Unified Energy System, survives an apparent ambush (Interfax) (RIA Novosti) (Reuters)
- King of Thailand, Bhumibol Adulyadej, intends to personally direct artificial rain making project to end drought in the country. He intends to use his own cloud seeding technique (BBC)
- In Zimbabwe, president Robert Mugabe states in his election campaign that the country is short of food. Local opposition group the National Constitutional Assembly says that ZANU-PF use food as a political tool (Reuters AlertNet)
- Russian police arrests an Australian man who threatened to blow up a passenger plane (Moscow Times) (Australian) (Reuters)
- St Patrick's Day celebrations take place worldwide
- Woman Imam in NYC: Amina Wadud, an African American Muslim, and a professor of Islamic studies at Virginia Commonwealth University, led a congregation of about 60 women and 40 men in the weekly Muslim Friday, or Jumu'uah, prayer, despite the disapproval of mainstream Muslim scholars. (CNN) (BBC)
- Israeli-Palestinian conflict:
- South Koreans stand outside the Japanese embassy in Seoul, protesting over the disputed islands, the Liancourt Rocks (CNN)
- The government of Ukraine admits that 18 Kh-55 Granat nuclear-capable cruise missiles (without warheads) were smuggled to Iran and China by arms dealers. (BBC)
- In the Netherlands, businessman Frans van Anraat is put on trial for allegedly selling chemicals to Saddam Hussein to make poison gas. He is accused of complicity to commit war crimes and genocide. (Reuters) (BBC)
- USA denies diplomatic visa to Indian politician Narendra Modi, chief minister of Gujarat (times of India) (NDTV) (BBC)
- In the Solomon Islands, militia leader Harold Keke and two others receive a life sentence for murdering Augustine Geve (Solomon Star) (Reuters) (BBC)
- The United Nations fires one employee and suspends six others without pay for allegations of sexual abuse in the Democratic Republic of Congo. (Reuters AlertNet) (UN News Centre)
- The SMTH BBS, the most popular newsgroup-like Bulletin Board System among Chinese university students and graduates, is forced by the PRC government to shut down off-campus access. (Washington Times)
- Private Johnson Beharry of the British Army becomes the first person to receive the Victoria Cross since 1982 and the first living recipient since 1969. (Reuters)
- The hit Disney Channel original sitcom, The Suite Life of Zack and Cody premiered at 7:00 p.m. EST. The show quickly rose to the second highest rated show on Disney.
- Iceland's parliament, Alþingi, votes to grant fugitive U.S. chess champion Bobby Fischer Icelandic citizenship. (NDTV) (Reuters)
- Israel has announced plans to add 3,500 homes to the Ma'ale Adummim settlement in occupied territories east of Jerusalem. Chief Palestinian negotiator Saeb Erekat said this would "sabotage" peace efforts. (BBC)
- Red Lake High School massacre: In a U.S. school shooting, Jeff Weise opened fire at Red Lake High School in Minnesota, killing nine people and then himself. (Kansas City Star)(BBC)
- UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan proposes to have the Security Council expanded from 15 members to 24 members. (ISN) (CNN) (Reuters) (Wired)
- Tulip Revolution: After taking Jalal-Abad in southern Kyrgyzstan one day earlier, opposition protesters against electoral fraud in the 2005 parliamentary elections take over the northern city of Osh and seize government buildings. Prime minister states the government does not intend to use force. (Reuters Alertnet) (BBC) (BBC)
- Indian politician Narendra Modi addresses a meeting of Indian-Americans via satellite. He claims there is a "disinformation campaign" against India. (Sify) (Outlook India)
- World Wildlife Fund states that Asian river dolphins are in danger due to pollution and damming of rivers. (BBC)
- Tornadoes in northern Bangladesh kills 27. (Express Newsline) (BBC)
- Bangladeshi police charge 10 people accused of murder of opposition politician Shah AMS Kibria, member of Awami League. They include eight members of the ruling Bangladesh Nationalist Party. Kibria was killed in a grenade attack January 27. (New Nation, Bangladesh (BBC)
- In Haiti, four people, including two UN peacekeepers, are killed in a shootout between peacekeepers and former rebels. (Reuters)
- In Namibia, president Sam Nujoma retires and is succeeded by Hifikepunye Pohamba. (AllAfrica) (Reuters SA) (News24) (Reuters) (Bloomberg) (BBC)
- Russia criticises Polish decision to name a square in Warsaw after dead Chechen separatist leader Djokhar Dudayev (Reuters AlertNet) (Mosnews) (BBC)
- Dutch lumber merchant Guus van Kouwenhoven is charged with war crimes and arms smuggling to then-president Charles Taylor during civil war in Liberia (Reuters SA) (BBC)
- In Estonia, prime minister Juhan Parts announces his resignation after vote of no confidence against justice minister Ken-Marti Vaher. That also means his government is dissolved (Bloomberg) (BBC)
- The World Hockey Association announces that a six-team tournament, the "Bobby Hull Invitational", will take place in May 2005 in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada. (ESPN)
- Israel hands over control of Tulkarm to the Palestinian Authority. (BBC)
- Prince Rainier III of Monaco, hospitalized for the past two weeks with a pulmonary infection, is moved to intensive care. (Yahoo! News) (Link dead as of 03:13, 15 January 2007 (UTC))
- In Chile, Paul Schäfer, former leader of Colonia Dignidad, is charged with involvement in the 1976 disappearance of Juan Maino, activist and opponent of the regime of Augusto Pinochet. (Reuters AlertNet) (Prensa Latina) (BBC)
- In Kyrgyzstan, President Askar Akayev's spokesman claims that the protests are a coup attempt planned by "drug mafia". (Pravda) (CNN) (Link dead as of 03:13, 15 January 2007 (UTC))
- In the Democratic Republic of Congo, authorities say they have arrested many senior members of militia groups in Ituri, including Thomas Lubanga of the Union of Congolese Patriots. (Reuters AlertNet) (Link dead as of 03:13, 15 January 2007 (UTC)), (ReliefWeb) (BBC)
- United Nations declares World Water Day, starting a decade-long Water for Life campaign for clean water. (UN News Centre) (ABC) (Reuters AlertNet) (Link dead as of 03:13, 15 January 2007 (UTC)), (BBC)
- Nigerian President Olusegun Obasanjo sacks education minister Fabian Osuji for corruption. (Vanguard, Nigeria) (AllAfrica) (Reuters SA) (Link dead as of 03:13, 15 January 2007 (UTC))
- German airline Lufthansa announces its takeover of Swiss Airlines. (Swissinfo) (Bloomberg)
- In Italy, the Council of State allows Alessandra Mussolini to stand in elections. (AGI) (BBC)
- In India, numerous bank workers take part in a one-day strike to protest government reforms and bank merges they say will lead to job cuts. (New Kerala) (Hindustan Times) (BBC)
- The Indian government bans veterinary drug diclofenac because of a connection to the near extinction of vultures. (Indian Express) (BBC)
- Ex-president of Peru, Alberto Fujimori, plans to finance his coming presidential campaign with Fuji-Cola. Fujimori is in exile in Japan, is wanted for corruption, murder and kidnapping and is legally banned from holding public office in Peru until 2010 (Reuters) (Link dead as of 03:13, 15 January 2007 (UTC)), (BBC)
- In Angola, at least 96 people have died of Marburg virus. (ReliefWeb) (Reuters SA) (Link dead as of 03:13, 15 January 2007 (UTC)), (News24) (CIDRAP)
- An explosion occurs at a BP oil refinery in Texas City, Texas. Over 100 are injured, and at least 15 are dead. (Fox News) (Globe and Mail) (BP)
- Prince Rainier III of Monaco reportedly has gone into renal and heart failure and is on a ventilator. (Yahoo! News) (Link dead as of 03:16, 15 January 2007 (UTC))
- Conflict in Iraq: Iraqi Army officials claim that they along with backing from U.S. troops have killed at least 80 insurgents in a raid on a camp near Tikrit. (BBC)
- Two people die following a bomb in a shopping centre in a Christian area of North Beirut, Lebanon. The two are believed to have been foreign workers. (BBC)
- In Lebanon, Michel Abu Arraj, a judge investigating the murder of Rafik Hariri, asks to step down from the case prior to public announcement of the results of the United Nations investigation. (Reuters Alertnet) (BBC)
- Israel announces that it will ban Palestinians from the West Bank and Gaza Strip from entering Israel during the upcoming Purim holiday. (People's Daily) (RTE)
- In Brazil, the Brazilian Army receives permission to set up second emergency field hospital in the park of Rio De Janeiro to alleviate shortage of medical services. Mayor Cesar Maia opposes the move, blaming the situation on lack of government funding. (Reuters AlertNet) (Link dead as of 03:16, 15 January 2007 (UTC)) (BBC)
- In Kyrgyzstan, riot police break up a protest in the capital Bishkek. (Reuters Alertnet) (BBC) President Askar Akayev sacks his interior minister and prosecutor general for "poor work" in dealing with the growing protests against his government. (Interfax) (Reuters) (Link dead as of 03:16, 15 January 2007 (UTC)) (RIA Novosti) (BBC) USA and UN appeal for calm and negotiations. (Bloomberg) (Bloomberg)
- The College of Bishops of the Scottish Episcopal Church reiterates that it has no policy that treats being in a same-sex partnership as "a bar to the exercise of an ordained ministry". (BBC)
- In the Central African Republic, the spokesman of André Kolingba, former military ruler, says that yesterday's shootout outside his house was an assassination attempt. Kolingba has called for an annulment of the results of the presidential elections. (BBC)
- In Cambodia, 16 prisoners die during a jailbreak in the province of Kampong Cham; 30 others escape. (Reuters AlertNet) (Link dead as of 03:16, 15 January 2007 (UTC)) (BBC)
- In Libya, Muammar al-Gaddafi states that he is not going to pardon five Bulgarian nurses that face a death penalty accused of injecting children with the HIV (Gulf Daily News) (Bulgarian News Network) (Reuters) (Link dead as of 03:16, 15 January 2007 (UTC)) (BBC)
- In Russia, recent studies and statistics show that the name "Dmitry" is the most popular name in the Slavic regions of Eastern Europe. [4]
- An explosion occurred at Cavelier-de-LaSalle High School in LaSalle, Montreal, Canada. The explosion wounded 12 and destroyed a part of the school. The time of the explosion was 1:32 p.m. local time, during the third period of the day. Only 2 doors of the School opened, complicating the evacuation of over two thousand students.
- Paleontologists from North Carolina State University announce the discovery of structures resembling blood vessels and red blood cells inside the hindlimb fossil of a Tyrannosaurus rex. (Science Magazine) (BBC).
- The Washington Post claims to have obtained documents indicating that "ghosting", the use of Army prisons in Iraq by the CIA to hold unregistered inmates, is "systematic and known to three senior intelligence officials", contradicting earlier claims by the Army that such incidences were rare and ad hoc. (Washington Post)
- In Kyrgyzstan, protesters and riot police clash in the capital, Bishkek. (RIA Novosti) (ReutersAlertNet) (BBC) President Askar Akayev's presidential palace, the White House, is overrun and the opposition is planning for a new government. (BBC) Akayev flees Bishkek by helicopter. His immediate whereabouts are unclear. Some report him going to Russia, others to Kazakhstan. (Fox News) Akayev is reported to have resigned, but this is not confirmed. (ABC) (Xinhua)
- Bobby Fischer leaves Japan for Iceland via Copenhagen after 8 months in detention. (Mainichi Daily News) (Reuters) (BBC)
- The World Health Organization states that tuberculosis cases in some African countries have tripled since 1990. There are also resistant strains of tuberculosis in Russia. (Reuters) (RIA Novosti) (BBC)
- France presents a draft resolution to vote at the United Nations. It would give war crime cases in Darfur region of Sudan to the International Criminal Court in the Hague. USA resists the idea. (EUObserver) (Reuters) (BBC)
- World Expo 2005 opens in Nagoya, Japan. (Expo 2005) (Asahi Shinbun) (ITAR-TASS) (SwissInfo)
- The US Supreme Court declines to hear the appeal filed by the parents of Terri Schiavo to have her feeding tube reinserted. Florida judge George Greer likewise declines to open Schiavo's records to the Florida Department of Children and Families (Reuters)
- The Sony PlayStation Portable is released in North America.
- NBC's successful comedy The Office premiered in the United States.
- The first arrests are made for war crimes in Darfur, Sudan: 15 officials in South Darfur are accused of rape, murder, and other crimes related to the Darfur conflict. Whether they will be tried in a Sudanese or international court is uncertain at this time. (BBC) (Reuters)
- The Kuomintang's 34-member delegation led by KMT Vice Chairman Chiang Pin-kun arrives on a landmark official visit to mainland China, the first since the end of Chinese Civil War in 1949. On their first day, the delegates pay homage at the Mausoleum of the 72 Martyrs in Huanghuagang (Yellow Flower Knoll), Guangzhou in the province of Guangdong. (BBC), (Taipei Times), (China Daily)
- 2005 Sumatran earthquake: An earthquake of moment magnitude 8.7 is reported off the west coast of North Sumatra, likely an aftershock of the 2004 Indian Ocean earthquake. Concerned about the threat of a tsunami, emergency evacuations begin in Malaysia, Thailand, and Sri Lanka, although no significant tsunami activity is reported. Indonesia's vice-president reports up to 2,000 deaths (Guardian), (USGS), (CNN), (BBC), (CBC)
- Israeli-Palestinian Conflict:
- Lebanese officials state that 2000 Syrian troops have left the country (Arabic News), (Reuters AlertNet), (BBC)
- Court in Moscow sentences director Yuri Samodurov and Lyudmila Vasilovskaya for fine of 100,000 rubles (about £2,000 or $3,600) for blasphemy because of their 2003 exhibition Caution! Religion. (Mosnews), (Reuters AlertNet), (BBC)
- In Zimbabwe, archbishop Pius Ncube calls for peaceful uprising against the government of Robert Mugabe. Government denounces his criticism. (IOL), (ITV), (BBC)
- Russian state prosecutors begin sentencing of former Yukos tycoon Mikhail Khodorkovsky and Yukos shareholder Platon Lebedev for tax evasion and fraud. (ITAR_TASS), (Gateway to Russia), (BBC),
- Thousands of Egyptians attend the funeral of actor Ahmad Zaki. (Al Bawaba), (BBC)
- Comedian Mitch Hedberg passes as the result of a drug overdose. [mitchhedberg.net]
- Beck's new album Guero is released
- The E-mail spammer Scott Richter of "OptInRealBig.com" has filed for bankruptcy protection in Denver. The reason claimed is a costly legal battle with Microsoft. (Denver Post)
- MGM Studios v. Grokster, an important lawsuit regarding the future of peer-to-peer file sharing, is heard before the United States Supreme Court. (CNN)
- Lord Paddy Ashdown, High Representative in Bosnia and Herzegovina has sacked Dragan Čović, Croat member of the Presidency of Bosnia and Herzegovina, after he has been charged (but not tried yet) for financial corruption. (BBC)
- Three Romanian journalists are kidnapped in Iraq, the latest in a long series of kidnappings for money or political reasons in the country. (Guardian), (BBC)
- Death toll of Marburg virus in Angola rises to 122. UNICEF support a campaign to stop the spread of the disease (Medical News Today) (News24), (BBC)
- New Kyrgyz parliament installs Kurmanbek Bakiyev as the official interim President of Kyrgyzstan, (Reuters), (BBC), replacing Askar Akayev who states he is ready to resign. (ABC)
- An independent investigation led by Paul Volcker cleared the United Nations Secretary-General Kofi Annan of involvement in the awarding of a contract in the Oil-for-Food Programme to a company that employed his son, but found fault with Annan for his failure to oversee the program vigorously. (Reuters) (BBC)
- In the United States, Douglas S. Smith Jr, a former top official of Boy Scouts of America, is charged with possession of child pornography. (CNN)
- In Uganda, thousands of muslims demonstrate in the capital Kampala against the Domestic Relations Bill that would, among other things, limit polygamy. (New Vision, Uganda), (AllAfrica), (BBC),
- France intends to change law that allows girls to marry at the age of 15 (Reuters) (Guardian)
- Dam bursts in South-eastern Afghanistan near the city of Ghazni. At least 6 people dead. (Reuters AlertNet), (International Water Power and Dam Construction), (BBC)
- British bullfighter Frank Evans, known as El Inglés, is about to retire after 40 years. (Guardian), (BBC)
- The leaders of Brazil, Venezuela, Colombia and Spain meet in Ciudad Guayana, Venezuela. They agree to resist drug trafficking, terrorism and poverty. (Reuters)
- Spanish prime minister Zapatero signs an agreement with president Hugo Chávez of Venezuela on the sale of warships and military transport planes. Conservative opposition leader Mariano Rajoy denounces the sale. (BBC)
- Political activists in Mongolia demonstrate in Ulan Bator for new elections. (Taipei Times), (BBC)
- Kenya recalls 70 diplomats from its embassies due to cash shortage; none of them are ambassadors. (AllAfrica), (BBC)
- The island of Malta is in dispute with Italy over the transportation of Chinese illegal immigrants between Malta and Sicily. (di-ve)
- Jean-Claude Juncker and Olli Rehn confirm the European Union's support for Paul Wolfowitz to become the president of the World Bank. (Guardian)
- Doron Grossman, the Israeli ambassador to Ethiopia, is to be flown back to Israel after receiving a critical head injury following an apparent failed suicide attempt. (BBC)
- Osama Mattar, a Palestinian Hamas activist held in custody in an Israeli prison, claims that he received militant training in Syria, Syria and Hamas claim no such training takes place. (AP\Yahoo)
- In India, shops and businesses close down in protest of a new tax law. (BBC)
- A Shanghai online game player stabs a competitor to death for selling his cyber-sword. (Reuters)
- In Israel, Jerusalem police deny members of Jewish organization Revava access to Temple Mount during Passover because of danger that they could use the situation to encourage violence. Revava has planned a pilgrimage to the site in April 10 (Jerusalem Post (Arutz Sheva)
- In Guatemala, dozens of disguised AIDS patients protest government ruling that gives pharmaceutical companies 5-10 years to keep their drug trial data secret, limiting access to cheap generic AIDS drugs (Reuters AlertNet) (Washington Post)
- European nations has expressed support of UN secretary general Kofi Annan after US probe found no evidence of his involvement with the foul play in Oil-for-Food Program (Reuters)
- In India, the state of Maharashtra closes its dance bars outside the city of Mumbai as breeding grounds for prostitution (Hindustan Times) (Rediff) (BBC)
- In Egypt, thousands of demonstrators protest against the fifth term of president Hosni Mubarak despite of the ban on protests. There are conflicting reports on the number of protesters police has detained (Reuters AlertNet) (Al-Jazeera) (Reuters SA) (BBC)
- Czech Republic government is in crisis after the coalition partner of the ruling Civic Democrats party. Christian Democrats, calls for its three ministers to leave. That would lead into a minority government. Prime minister Stanislav Gross also faces a no confidence vote in Friday over his personal finances (Bloomberg) (BBC)
- In Nigeria, anti-corruption group Economic and Financial Crimes Commission detains former police chief Tafa Balogun for questioning (Vanguard, Nigeria) (Reuters AlertNet) (AllAfrica)
- In Rwanda, defense minister Marcel Gatsinzi appears before the traditional gacaca court accused of failing to stop his troops during the Rwandan genocide. He says that one of his first orders was to stop the killing. (AllAfrica) (Reuters AlertNet)
- Cesar Chavez Day celebrated throughout California takes place every March 31 as it was on March 31, 1994.
- The last day to apply for the Sales Tax Amnesty Program from the California State Board of Equalization was March 31, 2005.
- The rebel Democratic Forces for the Liberation of Rwanda, members of which had participated in the 1994 Rwandan Genocide, announces that it is giving up its armed struggle. The FDLR has been a key source of instability in the aftermath of the Second Congo War. (BBC)
- Pope John Paul II's condition has once again worsened. The pontiff, 84, suffers from a drop in blood pressure and a high fever. He is reportedly given Last Rites. (CNN)
- Terri Schiavo dies 13 days after her feeding tube was removed by court order in Florida, USA. (Reuters) (BBC)
- Matthew Nagle, a 25 year old paralysed man, has become the first person known to have benefited from a microchip implanted into his brain which can "read" thoughts. He can think his TV on and off, change channels and alter the volume thanks to the technology and software linked to devices in his home.(BBC)
- A UN report has stated that malnutrition rates in Iraqi children under five have almost doubled since the US-led invasion of Iraq. (BBC)
- The UN-backed Millennium Ecosystem Assessment, the most comprehensive survey of the Earth's ecological condition to date, finds that the condition of the world's ecosystems is deteriorating at a dangerous rate. There has been "substantial and largely irreversible" loss of biodiversity, the report says. Basic resources like timber, water, and food are at risk in some areas, and may be put at risk in more. (BBC) (Seattle PI) (Discovery) (UN News Centre)
- The elections in Zimbabwe have proceeded with large queues seen at many polling stations. No violence has been reported, and Incumbent president Robert Mugabe of the ZANU-PF party has declared the elections to be free and fair. Opposition leader, Morgan Tsvangirai of the party MDC, disputes this, but still believes his party will win. The election has already been branded unfair by both the U.S. and the EU and their observers have been barred from monitoring the poll. Results are expected in two days.(Bloomberg) (CNN) (News24) (Reuters) (BBC)
- Israel has allowed people who received non-Orthodox training in Israel but were converted overseas to become Jews. These people will now be eligible for Israeli citizenship. (BBC)
- Malta commemorates the 26th anniversary of the departure of the last British forces from the island (di-ve)
- Marburg virus death toll in Angola rises to 127 (AllAfrica) (IOL) (Reuters AlertNet) (Medical News Today)
- Canada and European Union plan to impose a 15% tariff on some US exports because Washington has not repealed anti-dumping law the Byrd Amendment. World Trade Organization declared the law illegal last August. The products include paper, cigarettes, oysters and live swine (Reuters) (Bloomberg) (Forbes)
- In South Africa, Johannesburg's Labour Court rules that the mining strike of the 30,000 employees of mining company Gold Fields is "unlawful and unprotected" and orders them to go back to work. The National Union of Mineworkers states that it expects its members to obey the ruling (Reuters SA) (BusinessWeek, SA) (SA)
- In Pakistan, Pakistan Oppressed Nations Movement organizes partial strikes in various cities to protest over Punjabi influence in the country (KeralaNext) (BBC)
- In Ukraine, security service states that the death of former interior minister Yuri Kravchenko was probably suicide (Moscos Times) (BBC)
[edit] News collections and sources
