May 6, 2005

May 6 2005 (Friday)

* The United States Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit rules that the FCC overstepped its authority in attempting to impose the "broadcast flag" on hardware manufacturers. [http://news.com.com/Court+says+FCCs+broadcast+flag+is+toast/2100-1030_3-5697719.html (News.com)] [http://www.eff.org/news/archives/2005_05.php#003556 (EFF)]
* Fatah wins 55 percent of the seats in municipal elections held in 84 cities across the West Bank and Gaza. Hamas wins about a third of the seats. Fatah won a majority of seats in Beit Lahiya, Hawara and Tulkarem, Hamas won the majority in Qalqiliya and El Boureij. Election participation was 70 percent in the West Bank and 80 percent in Gaza. [http://edition.cnn.com/2005/WORLD/meast/05/06/palestinian.elections/ (CNN)]
* United Kingdom general election, 2005:
** At 04:28 BST, The Labour Party wins a parliamentary majority. Despite a substantially reduced majority, Tony Blair becomes the first Labour Prime Minister to lead his party to three election victories. [http://www.reuters.com/newsArticle.jhtml?type=topNews&storyID=8406090 (Reuters)] [http://news.scotsman.com/latest.cfm?id=4515511 (Scotsman)] He ends up with a majority of 66, on the lowest percentage vote for a government in modern history.
** Northern Ireland's previously dominant Ulster Unionist Party is wiped out in the election, with all its MPs except one, including party leader and former First Minister David Trimble, losing their seats. Only Lady Sylvia Hermon holds her seat. [http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk_politics/vote_2005/northern_ireland/4523649.stm (BBC)] [http://politics.guardian.co.uk/election/story/0,15803,1478473,00.html (Guardian)]
** In the Foyle constituency, Social Democratic and Labour Party leader Mark Durkan wins a seat with a large majority over the expected victor, Sinn Féin's Mitchel McLaughlin. [http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk_politics/vote_2005/northern_ireland/4493717.stm (BBC)]
** Conservative Party leader Michael Howard announces that he plans to resign "sooner rather than later." [http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk_politics/vote_2005/frontpage/4521941.stm (BBC)]
* A meningitis outbreak in Delhi, India kills 14 people so far and health officials suspect many more. [http://www.deccanherald.com/deccanherald/may62005/index214918200555.asp (Deccan Herald)] [http://www.alertnet.org/thenews/newsdesk/DEL25432.htm (Reuters)] [http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/south_asia/4520335.stm (BBC)]
* A suicide bomber in a car blows himself up near a vegetable market in a southern Iraqi town, killing at least 22 people and wounding 45. [http://www.reuters.com/newsArticle.jhtml?type=topNews&storyID=8411641 (Reuters)]
* A 20 year old IDF soldier is arrested in Israel after telling military police that he considers himself a "Nazi", and hates Jews, blacks and the State of Israel. [http://www.israelnationalnews.com/news.php3?id=81448 (Israel National News)] [http://www.alertnet.org/thenews/newsdesk/L05705312.htm (Reuters)] , [http://www.thecouriermail.news.com.au/common/story_page/0,5936,15196307%255E1702,00.html (Courier-Mail)] [http://www.chron.com/cs/CDA/ssistory.mpl/headline/world/3169104 (Houston Chronicle)]
* Reports emerge that the United States may be sending detainees to Uzbekistan, a regime notorious for torture. [http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/nationworld/2002259115_rend01.html (Seattle Times)] [http://www.isn.ethz.ch/news/sw/details.cfm?id=11217 (ISN)]
* Audioslave become the first US Rock band to play in Cuba
* Third Watch airs its final episode in the US after 6 years on NBC