Portal:Current events/2004 November 21

November 21, 2004 (Sunday)

Conflict in Iraq: The nineteen member Paris Club agrees to forgive 80% of nearly $40 billion in Iraqi debt, in three stages: 20% now, 30% in 2005 and 20% in 2008 in tandem with Iraq's implementation of an International Monetary Fund economic programme. $80 billion in debt to Saudi Arabia and Kuwait, among others, will remain. (BBC)
Hifikepunye Pohamba, the candidate of the ruling South-West Africa People's Organisation party, is declared the winner of the Namibian presidential election with 76% of the vote. He succeeds Sam Nujoma, who is retiring after serving as president for 15 years. (BBC)
Israeli-Palestinian conflict:
- U.S. Secretary of State Colin Powell arrives in Israel for talks with leaders of both sides of the conflict with an aim to restarting the stalled peace process. (BBC)
- Three Fatah militants are killed in a gunfight with YAMAM, an Israeli Police counterterrorist unit. Among those killed is Mohammed Rassan Sheikh, who hid in Arafat's compound. One Israeli police officer sustained light injuries.(Haaretz)
- In the Gaza Strip, the IDF foils an attack on Kissufim road to Gush Katif, killing two militants. (Haaretz)
Ukraine holds the second vote in a run-off presidential election today. Voters will decide between Moscow-oriented Prime Minister Viktor Yanukovych and western-leaning reformer Viktor Yushchenko. Observers have expressed concern over possible Russian interference, election abuses, and bias in reporting by the state media. With 74% of vote counted, Yanukovych leads Yushchenko 49–48%. Yushchenko has alleged that massive election fraud has taken place. (BBC) (BBC)
The Electoral Commission of the Iraq interim government schedules parliamentary elections for January 30, 2005. Reuters
The Grand Canyon is artificially flooded to bring natural sediment to the ecosystem. (CNN)
Kurt Busch clinches the first NASCAR Nextel Cup championship trophy.
The Nintendo DS was released in North America.