International Events in January 2000
Jan. 1:
The U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations, Mr. Richard Holbrooke the first President of the U.N. Security Council.
Jan. 2:
At least 300 Chechen rebels die in Russian air-strikes on targets in southern Chechnya.
Jan. 5:
Thirteen persons die as a woman suicide bomber triggers a blast in the Sri Lankan capital Colombo, around 9.10 a.m. A couple of hours later, Mr. Kumar Ponnambalam (61), the leader of the All-Ceylon Tamil Congress (ACTC) and a well-known lawyer, shot dead by unidentified gunmen in a Tamil residential area in Colombo.
Jan. 6:
Israel hands over more of the West Bank to Palestinian rule.
Jan. 7:
Ecuador under a state of emergency following protest rallies seeking the resignation of the President, Mr. Jamil Mahmud.
Jan. 9:
The authoritarian Uzbek President, Mr. Islam Karimov wins election.
Jan. 10:
Israel and the Palestinians resume peace talks.
Jan. 11:
Mr. Park Tae-Joon, new Prime Minister of South Korea.
Elian to stay in U.S. until hearing on status, rules a Florida family court judge.
Jan. 12:
The Algerian Islamic group, Islamic Salvation Army and its political arm, the Islamic Salvation Front renounce militancy.
Jan. 13:
The U.S. Attorney General, Ms. Janet Reno upholds decision giving custody of Elian Gonzalez to his Cuban father.
Jan. 14:
Team constituted to probe rights abuses in Spice Islands.
Jan. 16:
Mr. Alfonso Portillo takes oath as Guatemala President.
Jan. 18:
Russian forces launch decisive onslaught on the rebel-held Chechen capital, Grozny.
The former German Chancellor, Mr. Helmut Kohl is forced to resign as chairman of the Christian Democratic Party.
Jan. 19:
A Karachi anti-terrorist court formally charges the former Pakistan Prime Minister, Mr. Nawaz Sharif and six others with kidnapping, attempted murder, hijacking and terrorism.
Probe ordered against the Israeli President, Mr. Ezer Weizman over alleged financial improprieties.
Jan. 20:
Rebels capture top Russian army official, Gen. Mikhail Malafeyev, Deputy Chief Commander of the northern group of Russian forces in Chechnya.
Jan. 23:
Ecuador's Vice-President, Mr. Gustavo Noboa assumes the Presidency of the Andean nation.
Karen rebels seize hospital in Thailand.
Jan. 25:
The Sudanese President, Mr. Umar El-Bashir fires his entire Government and appoints a new Cabinet.
Thailand's elite commandos in a pre-dawn swoop free all the hostages held in a hospital in the Ratchaburi province by 10 terrorists of the God's Army.
Jan. 26:
The Pakistan Supreme Court Chief Justice, Mr. Justice Saiduzzaman Siddique replaced and six others cease to be judges of the apex court after refusing to take oath under the provisional Constitutional order No. 1. Mr. Justice Irshad Hussain Khan becomes new Chief Justice.
The Irish poet Seamus Heaney (60), wins the pound 23,000 White Bread Book of the Year Award for his translation of the Anglo-Saxon epic Beowulf.
The South African Parliament passes Equality Bill seeking to end the legacy of apartheid.
Jan. 27:
Mr. Ivan Racan, president of the Social Democratic Party becomes Croatia's new Prime Minister.
Jan. 29:
Over 170 passengers die as a Kenya Airways plane crashes into the sea off Cote D'Ivore.
Jan. 31:
The former Chilean dictator, Gen. Augusto Pinochet can return home, rules a British judge.