U.S. newscast Nightline is taken off the air by several stations owned by the Sinclair Broadcast Group because of its planned airing of a list of soldiers killed in Iraq. Sinclair claims it is a political ploy, while network ABC says it is meant as "an expression of respect which simply seeks to honor those who have laid down their lives for this country". (Washington Post) (http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A55041-2004Apr29.html)
PresidentGeorge W. Bush expresses his "disgust" at images of Iraqi prisoners being mistreated by U.S. soldiers: "Their treatment does not reflect the nature of the American people." (DefenseLink.Mil) (http://www.defenselink.mil/news/Apr2004/n04302004_2004043010.html)
Macedonian officials admit that they staged a bogus gun-battle with "terrorists" in March 2002 and that they knew the seven men slain had no terrorist connections. Four members of the security forces face murder charges for their staged killing. (BBC) (http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/3674533.stm)
After 25 years, Bob Edwards hosts NPR's Morning Edition for the last time. (CNN) (http://edition.cnn.com/2004/SHOWBIZ/04/29/npr.edwards.ap/index.html)(South Florida Sun-Sentinel) (http://www.sun-sentinel.com/entertainment/news/celebrity/sns-ap-npr-edwards,0,4598426.story?coll=sfla-entertainment-headlines) (Salt Lake Tribune) (http://www.sltrib.com/2004/May/05012004/commenta/commenta.asp)
Abu Ghraib prisoner abuse: Photographs showing Iraqi prisoners in the Abu Ghraib prison outside Baghdad being abused and humiliated by U.S. soldiers spark outrage around the world. Six soldiers face courts martial and their commanding officer is suspended. (BBC) (http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/middle_east/3672901.stm)
Google announces plans for an initial public offering to raise as much as USD $2.72 billion. The IPO will be unconventional in that it will use an auction process and a complex averaging formula designed to prevent brokers' elite customers from winning more shares than average investors. (SF Chronicle) (http://sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?file=/c/a/2004/04/30/MNGVC6D2CO22.DTL)(The Age) (http://www.theage.com.au/articles/2004/04/30/1083224580385.html)
Ten U.S. soldiers are killed in three attacks in Iraq, raising the number of U.S. combat deaths in April to 126. More U.S. troops have been killed this month than during the six weeks of "major combat" in 2003. (Washington Post) (http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A52429-2004Apr29.html)
Federal authorities file the first criminal charges under the Can Spam Act of 2003 against a group that had spammed ads for allegedly worthless "diet patch" products. (Detroit Free Press) (http://www.freep.com/news/statewire/sw96936-20040429.htm)
Maccabi Tel-Aviv, Israel, beats CSKA Moscow, Russia in the Euroleague and qualifies for the finals. Final score: 93-85. (AP) (http://sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/news/archive/2004/04/29/sports1727EDT0429.DTL)
ROC presidential election, 2004: The High Court schedules a vote recount for May 10. (Bloomberg) (http://quote.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=10000080&sid=aDp_REVff5Sw&refer=asia)
Intense fighting breaks out in Fallujah, as US forces respond to attacks on their positions by insurgents. Artillery and AC_130 gunships are used to bombard guerrilla positions, but the number of casualties is as yet unknown. (BBC) (http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/middle-east/3665775.stm)
According to a CNN/USA Today/Gallup poll, 71% of Iraqis see the U.S. troops in their country as "occupiers", only 19% as "liberators". Though, 61% say that despite any hardships they had suffered, it was worth ousting Saddam Hussein. Still, 57% would like U.S./British forces to leave immediately. (CNN) (http://www.cnn.com/2004/WORLD/meast/04/28/iraq.poll/index.html)(USA Today) (http://www.usatoday.com/news/world/iraq/2004-04-28-gallup-iraq-findings.htm)
Cable TV giant Comcast abandons its US$66bn bid to take over Disney, citing a lack of interest from the Disney board. (BBC) (http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/business/3666749.stm)
More than 100 suspected Jemaah Islamiah militants die during their attacks on security outposts in Thailand's Muslim_dominated southern provinces of Pattani, Yala and Songkhla. (BBC) (http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/asia_pacific/3665293.stm)
A bomb explosion and gun battle occur in Damascus, Syria between security forces and a "terrorist group", in which four people are killed and a vacant United Nations building badly damaged. The identity and motives of the attackers is unclear but Islamist militants are the prime suspects. (BBC) (http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/middle_east/3664811.stm).
South African president Thabo Mbeki is sworn in for a second term after being overwhelmingly reelected on April 14. The event is marred by controversy over the attendance of Zimbabwean president Robert Mugabe. (BBC) (http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/africa/3659619.stm)
In an open letter to Tony Blair, fifty-two former high ranking British diplomats, including former ambassadors to Iraq and Israel, condemn the Prime Minister's foreign policy stance in the Middle East as "doomed to failure". They also condemn George W. Bush's recent endorsement of Ariel Sharon's offer to withdraw settlers from the Gaza strip while leaving some in the West Bank as "one-sided and illegal and which will cost yet more Israeli and Palestinian blood". (BBC) (http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/politics/3660529.stm)
Indian elections: the second phase of elections in the world's largest democracy takes place. Many key states such as Uttar Pradesh, Maharashtra and Bihar vote; exit polls favour the opposition (BBC) (http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/south_asia/3663893.stm)
The design of the new U.S. fifty dollar bill is announced. (U.S. Treasury) (http://www.moneyfactory.com/newmoney/)(IHT) (http://www.iht.com/articles/517111.html)(CNN) (http://money.cnn.com/2004/04/26/pf/new_50_unveiled/)
Authorities in Jordan announce that they have broken up an attempt to set off massive explosions in Amman, possibly including the release of toxic chemicals. Alleged targets include the office of the Prime Minister, Jordanian intelligence headquarters, and the US embassy. The plot is attributed to Al Qaida operative Abu Musab al-Zarqawi. (CNN) (http://www.cnn.com/2004/WORLD/meast/04/26/jordan.terror/index.html)
A landslide buries a village in southern Kyrgyzstan, and emergency officials state that up to 33 people are missing and feared dead.
Nick Holonyak Jr., inventor of the light-emitting diode (LED), receives the 10th annual Lemelson-MIT Prize, awarded to prominent inventors by the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. (AP) (http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/business/aptech_story.asp?category=1700&slug=LED%20Creator)
Norwegian chess prodigy Magnus Carlsen (13) becomes the world's youngest international Grandmaster (GM), and the second youngest ever, after four wins and four draws out of nine games in the 6th Dubai Open Chess Championship. (Aftenposten) (http://www.aftenposten.no/english/local/article781461.ece)
Suicide bombers detonate boats alongside two oil tankers and a coalition boat in the Persian Gulf, targeting Iraq's main oil terminal, Basra. (Reuters) (http://www.reuters.com/newsArticle.jhtml;jsessionid=BATOJRSIWHFBQCRBAELCFEY?type=topNews&storyID=4929705§ion=news)
In the Cyprusreunification referendum, 65% of Turkish Cypriot voters accept and 75% of Greek Cypriot voters reject the Annan Plan. (BBC) (http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/3654919.stm)(BBC) (http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/3656009.stm)
Forgent Networks sues 31 companies for infringement of their software patent, which they claim is used in the JPEG standard. (AP) (http://www.usatoday.com/tech/news/techpolicy/2004-04-23-pic-patent-suits_x.htm)
DaimlerChrysler announces it will no longer financially support Mitsubishi Motors and will try to sell its current stake. (Taipei Times) (http://www.taipeitimes.com/News/worldbiz/archives/2004/04/24/2003137940)
Muqtada al-Sadr threatens U.S. troops with suicide attacks if they move against him in Najaf. (Arab News) (http://www.arabnews.com/?page=4§ion=0&article=43728&d=24&m=4&y=2004) (Reuters) (http://www.reuters.co.uk/newsPackageArticle.jhtml?type=worldNews&storyID=498628§ion=news)
Palestinian gunmen attack a police station in the Gaza Strip, freeing three men arrested for the October 2003 bomb attack against an American diplomaticconvoy. A fourth man arrested for the bombing refuses to leave the police station. (AP) (http://www.nytimes.com/aponline/international/AP_Palestinians_US_Bombing.html)
A major fire in downtown Bangkok leaves thousands of residents homeless. Hundreds of buildings, including several hotels, are destroyed in the area near the German embassies. (AP) (http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&cid=516&ncid=731&e=5&u=/ap/20040423/ap_on_re_as/thailand_fire)
At the International Space Station, the second of four stabilizing gyroscopes fails, hours after a new crew arrives. A spacewalk to do the repair will be scheduled in a few weeks. (Reuters) (http://www.reuters.com/newsArticle.jhtml?type=scienceNews&storyID=4914792§ion=news)
The US Army states that the insurgents in Fallujah, Iraq, have "days, not weeks" to fulfill a clause in the ceasefire that requires them to turn over heavy weapons. To date, only rocket-propelled grenade rounds marked "inert," rusted mortar shells, dud rockets and unusable guns have been surrendered. (AP) (http://www.nytimes.com/aponline/international/AP-Iraq.html)(Defenselink) (http://www.defenselink.mil/news/Apr2004/n04222004_200404221.html)
The Evangelical Lutheran Church is ordered to pay the largest per capita settlement in a church United States by a jury in Marshall, Texas. (AP) (http://news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&u=/ap/20040422/ap_on_re_us/lutherans_abuse_4)(ABC/US) (http://www.ktbs.com/news-detail.html?cityid=1&hid=23740)
The United Nations Security Council passes a unanimous resolution endorsing the inquiry into corruption in the United Nations Oil for food program for Iraq calling upon all 191 member states to cooperate. (NYT) (http://www.nytimes.com/2004/04/22/international/middleeast/22CND-NATI.html)
Ryongchon disaster: at least 154 people are killed and over 1200 are injured, according to the Red Cross, in a massive explosion after a train carrying explosives came in contact with live electrical wires in North Korea. 1850 homes were destroyed and thousands more damaged. (BBC) (http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/asia-pacific/3649655.stm)(BBC) (http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/asia-pacific/3651705.stm)(NYT) (http://www.nytimes.com/2004/04/23/international/asia/23CND-KOREA.html%3Fex%3D1083384000%26amp%3Ben%3De1b879058eba7201%26amp%3Bei%3D5062%26amp%3Bpartner%3DGOOGLE)
Mordechai Vanunu, who leaked Israelinuclear-weapons secrets in 1986, is released from prison after 18 years. (Guardian) (http://www.guardian.co.uk/israel/Story/0,2763,1197406,00.html)(BBC) (http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/middle_east/3645225.stm)
Two car bombs explode outside the General Security headquarters of Saudi Arabia in Riyadh, killing nine and wounding 125. (AP) (http://www.nytimes.com/aponline/international/AP-Saudi-Explosion.html?hp)(CNN) (http://www.cnn.com/2004/WORLD/meast/04/21/saudi.blast/index.html)
Three car bombs explode outside police stations in Basra, killing 68 people and wounding over 100 more. Iraqi officials blame suicide bombers for the terrorism. 23 of the casualties are school children. A fourth car bomb explodes in Zubeir, south of Basra, killing three and wounding four. British soldiers assisting the wounded are pelted with stones, injuring four, two seriously. (BBC) (http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/middle_east/3644733.stm)(NYT) (http://www.nytimes.com/2004/04/21/international/middleeast/21CND-IRAQ.html?hp)
The Iraqi Governing Council chooses a tribunal of judges and prosecutors to try Saddam Hussein. Salem Chalabi, nephew of Ahmed Chalabi, will chair the tribunal. (Toronto Star) (http://www.thestar.com/NASApp/cs/ContentServer?pagename=thestar/Layout/Article_Type1&c=Article&cid=1082499014094&call_pageid=968332188854&col=968350060724)
In Singapore, a Circle MRT Line tunnel being dug under the Nicoll Highway collapses, killing two. Two more are missing and feared dead. (Straits Times) (http://straitstimes.asia1.com.sg/latest/story/0,4390,246785,00.html)
First phase of the Indian General Elections begin. Almost half the country's constituencies vote.
A spokesman for Saudi Arabia strongly denies John Kerry's assertion that it had made an agreement with United States President George W. Bush to manipulate the price of oil for political purposes as the U.S. election approaches. The assertion stems from material in Bob Woodward's new book, Plan of Attack, detailing the Bush Administration's preparation for the invasion of Iraq. (NYT) (http://www.nytimes.com/2004/04/20/politics/20CND-SAUD.html?hp)(AP) (http://www.iht.com/articles/516119.html)(Democracy Now!) (http://www.democracynow.org/article.pl?sid=04/04/20/1410236)
Iraq Occupation and Iraqiinsurgents fire twelve mortar shells at the Abu Ghraib prison in Baghdad, killing 22 and injuring 92. All victims are Iraqi security detainees suspected of involvement in anti_U.S. violence or membership in Saddam Hussein's Ba'athist regime. (AP) (http://www.nytimes.com/aponline/international/AP-Iraq-Mortar-Attack.html)
Iraqi security forces who fled the fighting in Fallujah begin to return to the city. (AP) (http://www.nytimes.com/aponline/international/AP_Iraq.html)
The law firm Davis Polk & Wardwell makes public a 463 page report on accounting and corporate governance issues affecting oil giant Royal Dutch/Shell. The report, prepared at the request of Shell's audit committee, explains how lax standards have allowed the company to vastly overstate the extent of its oil and natural gas reserves. (company website) (http://www.shell.com/home/Framework?siteId=investor-en&FC2=/investor-en/html/iwgen/news_and_library/press_releases/2004/)
Boston Marathon: A new world record of 1:18:27 is set in the men's wheelchair division by a South African (Ernst Van Dyk). Kenyans win the women's race and the men's for the 13th time in fourteen years. (Boston Globe) (http://www.boston.com/sports/specials/marathon/articles/2004/04/19/ndereba-cherigat-give-kenya-sweep-in-boston/)
April 21 - Mordechai Vanunu, who revealed an Israeli nuclear weapons programme in the 1980s, is released from prison in Israel after an 18 year term for treason.
Feeds |
Contact