2004-1-2
02 Jan 2004, 22:06 UTC
This is Steve Ember with IN THE NEWS in VOA Special English.
American news experts at the Associated Press have chosen the top
stories of two-thousand-three. Almost all the news directors named
the war in Iraq as the most important event of the year.
The United States led a military coalition against Iraq beginning
March nineteenth. The military action began after President Bush
repeatedly warned Iraq to report about its weapons of mass
destruction. By April seventh, much of Baghdad was under control of
the coalition. Mister Bush declared major combat operations over on
May first.
Many Iraqis said they were happy that Saddam Hussein's rule was
over. But Iraqi resisters have continued to attack and kill
coalition fighters and Iraqi civilians.
American troops captured Saddam Hussein on December thirteenth.
But so far the coalition has found no weapons of mass destruction in
Iraq.
The news experts named the loss of
the American space shuttle Columbia as the second most important
story of the year. Columbia broke apart on February first as it
returned to Earth after a sixteen-day research flight. Seven
astronauts died in the explosion.
The Associated Press experts said a special recall vote by
citizens in the state of California was the third most important
story of the year. On October seventh, California voters removed
Democrat Gray Davis as governor. They chose actor Arnold
Schwarzenegger, a Republican, to replace him. Under Governor Davis,
California had suffered severe financial problems.
The news experts said the disease SARS was another top story. In
February, health experts in Asia reported the first cases of a new
disease later named Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome. Over time,
about eight-thousand people around the world became sick with the
disease. Almost eight-hundred people reportedly died.
The news agency experts identified a power loss in North America
as the next most important event. On August fourteenth, a power
company computer failed in the American state of Ohio. This caused a
loss of electricity in eight American states and part of Canada.
Next, the experts noted America's improving economy. The nation's
growth rate from July through September was the best in nineteen
years. But estimates said the federal debt increased to
five-hundred-thousand-million dollars.
Another top story was the deadly wildfires in California in
October and November. The news experts said the tax cut of
three-hundred-thirty-thousand-million dollars for American taxpayers
was also an important story.
The safe return of a kidnapped fifteen-year-old girl was voted
the ninth biggest story. Finally, the news experts chose the
campaign for the Democratic Party's nomination for president in the
two-thousand-four election. Former Vermont governor Howard Dean now
appears to lead eight other competitors.
In the News, in VOA Special English, was written by Jerilyn
Watson. This is Steve Ember.