September 17, 2003
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[edit] September 17, 2003
- NASA has said capsules similar to those used in the Apollo program are among the options considered as replacements to the Space Shuttle. [1]
- A gunman, claiming to be a member of al Qaida (although authorities discount that) has taken a classroom of junior college students hostage in a college in Dyersburg, Tennessee. [2]
- Richard Grasso, chairman of the New York Stock Exchange, resigns amidst criticism of his $140 million compensation package and the fact that the compensation was approved without input from the exchange's board of directors. [3]
- Retired General Wesley Clark formally announces that he is seeking the nomination of the Democratic Party for the 2004 U.S. presidential election. This makes him the 10th Democratic contender for the presidency. Howard Dean had earlier expressed hopes that Clark would join him as a running mate for the vice presidency.
- The Arab League submits a draft resolution to the annual General Conference of the International Atomic Energy Agency which calls on Israel to sign the nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty and to open up its nuclear program to inspections by the United Nations. Israel is believed by some to be in possession of 100 to 200 nuclear warheads, but officially maintains a policy of "nuclear ambiguity" with support from the United States. The move by Arab nations comes in response to a Friday IAEA resolution submitted by Australia, Canada and Japan and lobbied for by the United States which asked Iran for "accelerated cooperation" and set an October 31 deadline for the country to disclose any attempts to acquire nuclear weapons. [4]
- Gay rights: The Canadian House of Commons passes a private member's bill brought by NDP MP Svend Robinson, including protection for sexual orientation in the existing law on hate propaganda. [5]
Star Wars Jedi Knight: Jedi Academy was released. It has ended up being one of the best selling games in the US. After being released for over 5 years it is still selling at a price higher then Halo, among others.
