January 2005 - January 15, 2005

January 15, 2005

• The Straits Aviation Exchange Commission and Taipei Airlines Association announce that the first direct flights between mainland China and Taiwan since 1949 will be allowed to occur during the Chinese New Year holidays. (BBC)
• Zhao Ziyang, former Premier of the People's Republic of China and General Secretary of the Communist Party of China, is in a coma after multiple strokes. (CNN), (BBC), (Reuters)
• Conflict in Iraq: U.S.-led forces in Iraq have destroyed and contaminated precious ancient Babylonian archaeological evidence and sites according to a report by the British Museum. (AFP) (AP)
• Palestinian presidential election:
  • Mahmoud Abbas (a.k.a. Abu Mazen) is sworn in as president of the Palestinian Authority in a ceremony in the West Bank town of Ramallah, six days after winning the Palestinian presidential election. (BBC)
  • Dozens of Palestinian election officials resigned, alleging irregularities and intimidation in Sunday's Presidential election. (BBC)
• Israeli-Palestinian Conflict
  • Mahmoud Abbas, the new Palestinian President, has called for an end to the violence, and a mutual ceasefire between the Israelis and the Palestinian Militant factions. (BBC)
  • Qassam rocket fire hits Sderot, wounding 6 people, a 17 year old Israeli woman suffered critical wounds. (Haaretz)
  • Eight Palestinians have been killed in two separate clashes in the Gaza strip. An Israeli child living on a settlement was also injured. (BBC), (Haaretz)
• The fictional character Jára da Cimrman is reported in a big surprise to lead the scores of The Biggest Czech person competition organized by Czech television.