March 2002
The Pope Led the Candle Lighting Ceremony for Easter - 2002-03-31
Pope John Paul II led the Easter candle lighting ceremony in Rome while millions of Christians celebrated the resurrection of Jesus Christ. He will also…
Calendar Day, March 28: The Last American Soldiers Left Vietnam - 2002-03-31
On March 28, 2002, it was noted that the last American soldiers had left Vietnam. President Johnson, at the time of the withdrawal, encouraged the…
Traditional Easter Ceremony at the Colosseum
Pope John Paul II showed signs of illness during the Easter ceremony at the Colosseum, reducing his participation and refraining from the traditional walk with…
Palestinian Delegation Protests Against Lebanese Government
The Palestinian delegation protested and left the Arab League summit in Beirut after the Lebanese government blocked Yasser Arafat's speech. This incident occurred during a…
Human Rights Violations and the Fight Against Terrorism - 2002-03-28
A conference in St. Petersburg addresses the international fight against terrorism, with a focus on human rights. Peter Schneider emphasizes that counter-terrorism efforts should not…
Opening of the North Korean Parliament - March 28, 2002
The North Korean parliament opened its annual session, emphasizing the need for economic reform and improved international trade. Prime Minister Hong Sang-nam called for modernization,…
Mine Explosion Near Kandahar
A mine explosion near Kandahar resulted in the death of one U.S. soldier and injury to another during training. The incident highlights ongoing military operations…
Indonesian President's Visit to North Korea - 2002-03-28
Indonesian President Megawati Sukarnoputri is visiting North Korea to encourage dialogue between North and South Korea, carrying a message from South Korean President Kim Dae-jung.…
Examination of Anti-Terrorism Strategies by Over Forty Countries Worldwide - 2002-03-28
A conference in St. Petersburg gathered representatives from over forty countries to discuss anti-terrorism strategies. Russian President Vladimir Putin highlighted the importance of global cooperation…
Establishment of a New Satellite Network - 2002-03-27
European Union transport ministers have agreed to create a multi-billion dollar satellite network to enhance transportation efficiency. This network will aid in various modes of…
Improvement in the US Economy - 2002-03-27
The US economy is showing signs of recovery from recession, driven by increased consumer confidence and higher factory orders. This trend is also reflected in…
Counter-Terrorism Gathering - 2002-03-27
A gathering in St. Petersburg, Russia, involves hundreds of parliamentary representatives from over 40 countries discussing coordinated efforts to combat terrorism. This follows a two-day…
Approval of Anti-Terrorism Bill in India - 2002-03-27
The Indian Parliament approved an anti-terrorism bill in a rare joint session, despite opposition claims of authoritarianism. The bill allows for detention without trial for…
Chinese Authorities Arrest Underground Catholic Bishop
Chinese authorities have arrested Bishop Jia Zhiguo, an underground Catholic leader, at his home in Zhengding. The Cardinal Kung Foundation reported the arrest, while local…
Trial of Akbar Tandjung, Speaker of the Indonesian Parliament, for Corruption Begins
Akbar Tandjung, the Speaker of the Indonesian Parliament, is on trial for allegedly embezzling four million dollars from state funds intended for poverty assistance. He…
Commencement of Indian Parliament Session Against Terrorism - 2002-03-26
The Indian Parliament has convened a joint session to discuss an anti-terrorism bill that has faced opposition for being oppressive. The bill allows for the…
Putin: Terrorism Poses an Unprecedented Threat to the World
Vladimir Putin emphasized the global threat of terrorism at an international conference in St. Petersburg, urging for closer cooperation among nations. He supported the U.S.…
The Existence of Slavery in Sudan - March 26, 2002
The U.S. is sending a team of experts to Sudan to investigate slavery allegations in the country. Human rights groups accuse the Sudanese government of…
An American Expert Group Will Depart for Sudan Next Month
An American expert group is set to investigate slavery allegations in Sudan next month, following accusations from human rights organizations against the Sudanese government. This…
Agreement Among European Union Countries for a Satellite System - 2002-03-26
European Union transport ministers have agreed to establish a satellite navigation system named Galileo, which will involve 30 satellites and cost over three billion dollars.…
Abuja Conference Commences - 2002-03-25
The Abuja Conference has started in Nigeria, with leaders from around 20 African countries discussing economic revitalization strategies. The conference aims to attract $64 billion…
Protests in Baku - 2002-03-24
On March 24, 2002, protests erupted in Baku against President Heydar Aliyev, with demonstrators demanding his resignation and democratic elections. The protests involved about 1,500…
The Pope and Palm Sunday - 2002-03-24
Pope John Paul II was unable to attend the Palm Sunday service due to knee issues, marking the first time in 23 years of his…
Pervez Musharraf: We Must Win the War on Terror at Any Cost - 2002-03-24
Pervez Musharraf emphasized the necessity of winning the war on terror during a speech on Pakistan's National Day, proposing reforms in public security agencies. This…
EU's Decision to Retaliate Against Bush's Steel Tariff Increase - 2002-03-22
The EU is set to impose over $2 billion in tariffs on U.S. imports in retaliation for President Bush's steel tariff increase. This move targets…
UN Summit to Reduce Gap Between Rich and Poor Countries - 2002-03-21
President Bush is attending a UN summit in Monterrey, Mexico, focused on reducing the wealth gap between countries. The U.S. plans to significantly increase foreign…
Confronting Warlords in Afghanistan - 2002-03-21
Hamid Karzai is ready to confront local warlords in Afghanistan and has called for European support to expand peacekeeping operations beyond Kabul. His government is…
Discovery of Four More Bombs in the Philippines - 2002-03-21
The Philippine police discovered two additional bombs in Manila, bringing the total to six for the week. A group advocating for indigenous rights has claimed…
Japan Protests U.S. Decision - 2002-03-21
Japan has lodged a formal complaint with the WTO against the U.S. for imposing heavy tariffs on steel imports. This decision, made by President Bush…
Assassination of a Bishop in Colombia - 2002-03-17
Bishop Isaias Duarte, known for his criticism of Marxist rebels and drug traffickers in Colombia, was assassinated by unknown gunmen after a wedding ceremony. The…
Mars Odyssey Begins Transmitting Useful Data to Earth - 2002-03-17
The Mars Odyssey spacecraft has started sending valuable data to Earth, revealing more about water on Mars. Astronauts improved the Hubble Space Telescope's effectiveness, and…
Mugabe Swears in for Another Six-Year Term
Robert Mugabe is being sworn in for another six-year term as President of Zimbabwe amid international criticism of his election victory. The EU has condemned…
European Union Summit - 2002-03-16
The European Union summit in Barcelona has begun, involving leaders from 15 EU member states and 13 candidate countries discussing market integration and foreign policy…
Agreement of Oil Ministers of OPEC Member Countries - 2002-03-16
OPEC oil ministers agreed to extend current production cuts until June to stabilize global oil prices. This decision follows a previous cut of 1.5 million…
Canada Cuts All Financial Aid to Zimbabwe - 2002-03-15
Canada has announced the cessation of all financial aid to Zimbabwe and barred its officials from entering the country due to dissatisfaction with the recent…
Warning from Mohammad Khatami, President of Iran - 2002-03-15
Mohammad Khatami, the President of Iran, warns that the use of nuclear weapons could lead to global destruction. His comments come in response to the…
Major Parties in Pakistan Condemn Musharraf's Decision
Major political parties in Pakistan have condemned President Musharraf's decision to bar former Prime Ministers Benazir Bhutto and Nawaz Sharif from upcoming elections. This move…
Vote Counting in Zimbabwe - 2002-03-13
Independent observers have condemned the recent presidential elections in Zimbabwe as fundamentally flawed, while election officials continue to count votes. The main contenders were current…
European Basketball Championship to be Held in Yugoslavia in 2005
The European Basketball Championship is scheduled to take place in Yugoslavia in 2005. This event is significant for the region as it showcases Yugoslavia's ability…
Trial of Siamak Pourzand Begins
The trial of Siamak Pourzand, a veteran journalist associated with Iran's liberal opposition, has commenced in Tehran. This case is significant as it highlights the…
Repair of the Infrared Camera of the Space Telescope - 2002-03-09
American astronauts are conducting repairs on the infrared camera of the space telescope after installing a new camera. This repair is significant as the infrared…
Cuban Dissidents Demand Referendum for Political Reform
Cuban dissidents are gathering signatures for a referendum on political reform, having collected ten thousand so far, which is the legal requirement for such a…
A General in the Turkish Army Criticizes the European Union - 2002-03-09
A senior Turkish general criticized the EU for its negative stance on Turkey and suggested alliances with Russia and Iran. Prime Minister Ecevit dismissed the…
Completion of Hubble Space Telescope Repairs - 2002-03-09
American astronauts have completed the final repairs on the Hubble Space Telescope, enhancing its capabilities for astronomical observations. This mission involved significant upgrades, including a…
Historical Calendar, March 5, 2002 - 2002-03-06
On March 5, 1770, British soldiers fired upon the citizens of Boston, marking a significant event in American history. This incident, known as the Boston…
Russia Postpones Solidarity with OPEC
Russia has delayed its decision to align with OPEC on oil production cuts intended to boost global oil prices. OPEC Secretary General Ali Rodriguez visited…
China Increases Its Military Spending
China is set to announce a 17.6% increase in its military spending, reaching about 20 billion dollars. This decision, made by the Chinese Finance Minister…
Columbia Space Shuttle Astronauts Prepare for First Spacewalk
Astronauts aboard the Columbia Space Shuttle are set to conduct their first spacewalk to repair the Hubble Space Telescope. They aim to enhance its capabilities…
Astronauts Install One of Two New Powerful Solar Wings on the Hubble Space Telescope in Earth's Orbit
Astronauts from the Space Shuttle Columbia have installed a new solar wing on the Hubble Space Telescope, enhancing its power and operational capabilities. This mission…
Ongoing Sporadic Clashes in Rural Areas of Gujarat State
Sporadic clashes between Hindus and Muslims in Gujarat have resulted in 538 deaths since Wednesday, ignited by the burning of a train carrying Hindu pilgrims.…
OPEC Secretary General Visits Moscow
The OPEC Secretary General is in Moscow to convince Russia to maintain low oil exports, hoping to support OPEC's efforts to increase oil prices. Russia…
American Spacecraft Successfully Connects to Hubble Space Telescope - 2002-03-04
American astronauts successfully connected their spacecraft to the Hubble Space Telescope as part of a week-long mission for repairs and upgrades. This mission involves replacing…
European Union Calls for Israel's Withdrawal from Palestinian Camps
The European Union has called for Israel to withdraw its military forces from Palestinian refugee camps, expressing concern over the consequences of the occupation. Israeli…
The Currencies of 12 European Countries Have Become History
On February 28, 2002, the currencies of 12 European nations were replaced by the euro, which had been officially introduced earlier that year. This transition…