

He did it his way

	Swept away by mudslides Ginger goes her own way	Sex, lies and impeachment Northern Ireland: An historic year The year the bubble burst Kosovo: Another Balkan tragedy Nature's turbulent year Sport: Trials and triumph Goodbyes


	Pick of the month The subjects that got you talking this month	Mo Mowlam The politician whose patient diplomacy has done so much for peace in Northern Ireland. The people of Northern Ireland They made history by voting for peace after 30 years of the Troubles.

Frank Sinatra, Ol' Blue Eyes himself, took the final curtain in May to widespread sorrow which outweighed disapproval of his connections to the mafia.

Another entertainer in the news was Israeli transsexual Dana International, who struck a blow for unconventionality by winning the Eurovision Song Contest.

But an bigger story was the departure of Ginger Spice Geri Halliwell from the Spice Girls en route to a solo career including becoming a UN goodwill ambassador.

Rivalling Ginger Spice in media attention in the UK was another departure - this time forced - that of Paul Gascoigne, dropped from the England World Cup squad.

Other sport saw Arsenal do the Double, swimmer Michelle Smith found guilty of drug-taking and the end of an epoch with the resignation of Louis Luyt as head of South African rugby.

Following the Good Friday Agreement., the Northern Ireland referendum produced a decisive majority in favour of peace, though trouble began over the issue of Protestant marches.

There was huge international concern as first India and then Pakistan conducted nuclear tests amid fears of a nuclear confrontation on the sub-continent.

Indonesia saw the departure of President Suharto amid riots and recriminations, while in the US, Unabomber Theodore Kaczynski was sentenced to life for a bombing campaign which claimed three lives.

Saudi Arabia released British nurses Lucille McLauchlan and Deborah Parry from jail on charges of murdering a colleague.

Economic news saw a crisis meeting of the G7 nations and the floods in Italy which killed more than 100 people were made worse by deforestation.

		Should India have carried out nuclear tests?			"The hypocritical West can go jump in a pond." "Dumb, dangerous and wasteful of resources."

		...or Pakistan?			"Pakistan has proved that it too can answer a nuclear threat." "Pakistan has played into the hands of its enemies."

		Would you turn your back on the emperor?			"The Japanese refuse to admit their war crimes. They must." "Let's just leave the past and get on with the future."

		Is socialism dead?			"Socialism is not and never can die." "Man killed socialism."

Indonesia after Suharto

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