International Events in February 2001
Feb. 2:
The Indonesian President, Mr. Abdurrahman Wahid, denies charges and says he will not quit until his term ends in 2004 despite a humiliating censure by Parliament.
Feb. 6:
The Philippines President, Ms. Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo, appoints Mr. Teofisto Guingona the new Vice-President.
A Chinese ferry from Xiamen with 90 people on board, arrives in Kinmen island on the first official trip to Taiwan-controlled territory since the end of the 1949 civil war.
Feb. 7:
The Likud party leader, Mr. Ariel Sharon wins a landslide victory in the Israeli special Prime Ministerial elections. The loser, Mr. Ehud Barak resigns from Parliament and quits Labour chairmanship.
The Bangladesh High Court imposes life ban on former military dictator, Gen. H.M. Ershad from contesting in elections, because of his conviction in a corruption case.
Feb. 8:
The U.S. Senate clears $ 582 million U.N. dues.
Feb. 9:
Mr. Thaksin Shinawatra, billionaire telecom tycoon, is elected Thailand Prime Minister by Parliament with a whopping majority.
Nine persons die after the 499-tonne Ehime Maru, a training ship of the Japanese Uwajima Fisheries High School sinks on being hit by a surfacing U.S. Submarine, the 360-foot, 6900 tonne USS Greenville, 14.5 km off the Hawaiaan capital, Honolulu.
Feb. 10:
The crews of the space shuttle Atlantis and the International Space Station Alpha attach the 13,500 kg $ 1.4 billion science laboratory Destiny to the station during a 7-1/2 hour space walk.
Feb. 11:
Two teams of British and American scientists achieve a ``radical'' breakthrough which contradicts the understanding of human genes and their influence on behaviour.
Feb. 12:
The Sri Lankan Supreme Court confirms the victory of the President, Mrs. Chandrika Kumaratunga, in the 1999 presidential election, following the withdrawal of a petition by the Opposition UNP questioning the verdict.
The spacecraft Near Earth Asteroid Rendezvous (NEAR) launched by the U.S. lands on Eros, an asteroid, some 196 million miles from earth.
The Ninth U.S. Circuit of Appeals Court in California rules that Napster, the popular but controversial music swapping service can no longer knowingly trade in copyrighted material.
Feb. 13:
At least 237 people die as an earthquake measuring 6.1 on the Richter scale rocks El Salvador, exactly a month after a powerful tremor devastated the country.
Feb. 16:
The U.S. and British planes resort to air strikes over the no-fly zone in Iraq.
Bahrainis overwhelmingly approve a pro-democratic National Action Charter that will give the region its first elected Parliament since 1975, through a referendum. The Emir declares the Gulf State a constitutional monarchy.
Feb. 18:
The FBI arrests one of its agents, Mr. Robert Phillip Hanssen (27), on suspicion of spying for Russia.
Feb. 19:
The U.K.'s new stringent Terrorism Act, 2000 giving the Home Office more powers to crack down on extremist activities, comes into force.
Feb. 20:
The acting Israeli Premier, Mr. Ehud Barak decides not to join the Sharon Cabinet.
Feb. 21:
The Philippines President, Ms. Gloria Macapagal Arroyo, announces suspension of military operations against the Moro Islamic Liberation Front.
Feb. 22:
The British and the U.S. warplanes attack Iraqi air defences in a northern no-fly zone.
Feb. 23:
Rape, a war crime, rules the International War Crimes Tribunal at The Hague and in a historic verdict, convicts three Bosnian Serb soldiers to 60 years in prison.
Feb. 25:
Toll in Indonesian ethnic clashes touches 270, even as violence spreads to Palangkaraya, the provincial capital of central Kalimantan.
The Communists cruise to a sweeping victory in the Parliamentary elections in Moldova.
Feb. 26:
Britain begins slaughter of cattle affected by the foot-and-mouth disease.
Afghanistan's Taliban rulers declare statues as insulting to Islam and order destruction of all, including the 175-feet high, world's tallest standing Buddha, located in Bamiyan, 150 km West of Kabul.
Feb. 28:
An earthquake measuring 6.8 on the Richter scale hits Washington.