October 19, 2003
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
United Kingdom : A new biography, reported in The Sunday Times Oscar Wilde for sodomy was ordered by the then Liberal government, in a deal with the Marquess of Queensberry , the father of Lord Alfred Douglas , to prevent his exposure of a homosexual relationship between another of his sons, Viscount Drumlanrig, and British Prime Minister Lord Rosebery . According to reports, future prime minister Herbert Asquith played a key role in negotiating the deal, which led to the imprisonment of the Irish writer.
United Kingdom : Frank Bruno leaves hospital in the UK where he has been undergoing treatment for depression. [1]
United Kingdom : British Prime Minister Tony Blair is rushed to hospital with heart problems . An irregular heart-beat is diagnosed. Blair is given a cardioversion in hospital, where he stays for 4 or 5 hours before going back to Number 10 Downing Street , and is ordered by his doctors to take 24 hours complete rest. [2]
Roman Catholicism : Pope John Paul II beatifies Mother Teresa . Hundreds of thousands attend the ceremony in St. Peter's Square . Mother Teresa, who founded the Missionaries of Charity , is now one step from sainthood. [3]
International relations : South Korea and the United States are reported to be discussing the possible withdrawal of thousands of US troops. [4]
North Korea crisis : The United States says it is willing to give North Korea security assurances in exchange for a nuclear standdown. U.S. President Bush rules out a non-aggression treaty demanded by Pyongyang . [5]
Afghanistan : Bomb blows up a pickup truck on a dirt road in Afghanistan's eastern Kunar Province , killing four people, and two Afghan soldiers are killed in a separate land mine explosion in the country's south. The explosions come two days after the Taliban allegedly distributed pamphlets warning against working with the post-Taliban government of President Hamid Karzai . [6]
Israeli-Palestinian conflict : Palestinian gunmen attack an Israeli army foot patrol near a West Bank village, kills three soldiers and wounds a fourth, rescue services and security sources state. Gunfire attacks near the Palestinian village of Ein Yabrud , east of the town of Ramallah , not far from the Israeli settlement of Ofra . [7]
Occupation of Iraq : A Fallujah roadside attack on a military convoy leaves an American armored car and munitions truck burning wrecks. No one was reported killed. Iraqis nearby were reportedly cheering. Emerging series of threats. [8]
