January 4, 2004

• The Loya jirga adopts a new Constitution of Afghanistan^[1]
• A military court in Israel sentences five Israelis to one year in jail for refusing to serve in the military because of Israel's occupation of the West Bank and Gaza Strip.^[2] (Compare conscientious objector)
• Exploration of Mars: American Mars probe "Spirit" mission is successful and is sending back images. Spirit is alive after rolling to a stop on the surface of Mars; confirmed by NASA's Deep Space Network (9:00 p.m. PST).^[3]
• Mikhail Saakashvili becomes president-elect of Georgia, following the Presidential elections. He had been widely expected to win following the November 23, 2003 ousting of President Eduard Shevardnadze.^[4]
• Bolivian Gas War: In a televised speech, Bolivian President Carlos Mesa announces that a national referendum will be held on 28 March to resolve the issue of how Bolivia's large natural gas reserves will be exploited.^[5]
• Britney Spears abruptly marries a childhood friend, Jason Allen Alexander, in a Las Vegas, Nevada wedding chapel at 5:30 a.m.; by afternoon, the couple have arranged an annulment, which is expected to be made official when the courts reopen on Monday.^[6]

References

1. ^ BBC Article Describing Adoption of Afghan Constitution
2. ^ Five Israeli Soldiers Jailed for conscientiously objecting to Gaza and West Bank occupation by Israeli troops
3. ^ Press release on Spirit's Performance on Mars
4. ^ BBC Article detailing Mikhail Saakashvili's victory in Georgian presidential elections
5. ^ Forbes Article announcing a referendum, to be held March 28, to discuss the exploitation of Bolivia's Natural gas reserves
6. ^ Britney Spears' abrupt marriage and equally abrupt annulment

Donate to Wikimedia