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Jan 1 Millennium celebrations take place throughout the world while others believe the new millennium begins on January 1, 2001, or January on 14 in accordance with the Gregorian calendar. And, of course, there is the Chinese New Year.

Jan 14 The Dow Jones Industrial Average closes at 11,722.98, its peak until late 2006.

Jan 23 Two grandmothers of Elián Gonzales arrive in the U.S. from Cuba to seek Elian's return to Cuba. They meet with Attorney General Janet Reno, and Reno agrees that Elian belongs with his father.

Jan 28 Spain's Foreign Minister Abel Matutes calls for Elian's return to Cuba, stating that international law dictates the return.

Jan 31 Elián's grandmothers return to Cuba and are greeted as heroines.

Feb 16 Turkey ratifies the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban treaty.

Mar 2 Hans Blix assumes the position of Executive Chairman of the new UN weapons inspection organization, UNMOVIC.

Mar 10 In the U.S. the NASDAQ stock exchange composite Index reaches an all-time high of 5,048. It is the peak of the "dot.com" bubble. In 2001 the NASDAQ will bottom at a little over 1000.

Mar 21 A U.S. federal judge dismisses a petition for asylum for Elián by Elián's relatives living in the United States.

Mar 21 The U.S. Supreme Court rules that the government lacks authority to regulate tobacco as an addictive drug, throwing out the Clinton administration's main anti-smoking initiative.

Mar 26 In Russia, Vladimir Putin is elected President.

Mar 30 Vice President Al Gore says he supports legislation that would allow Elian to remain in the U.S. while a lawsuit is resolved in family court. Some are disgusted by what appears to be pandering in anticipation of November's presidential election.

Apr 6 Having received U.S. State Department approval for a visa, Elián's father, Juan Miguel Gonzalez and other close relatives arrive in the U.S., hoping to return to Cuba with his son.

Apr 7 Attorney General Janet Reno meets with Elian's father and tells him that U.S. officials will give him his son.

Apr 12 Attorney General Reno meets with Elian's relatives in Miami and orders them to surrender Elián to his father.

Apr 14 A video is released of a coached Elian saying that he wants to stay in the United States. Years later Elián is to describe his Miami relatives as "telling me bad things" about my father.

Apr 17 Morocco ratifies the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty.

Apr 21 Crowds have been surrounding the home where Elián lives with his uncle. Elián's relatives have refused to allow Elián to be reunited with his father. Some describe the conflict over Elian as between totalitarianism and freedom. One says that Elian must be kept free otherwise it would be a slap in the face of the Founding Fathers.

Apr 22 In a predawn raid, armed U.S. federal agents seize Elián and a few hours later unite him with his father.

Apr 23 In the U.S., vociferous denunciations of President Clinton erupt, describing his administration as using Gestapo tactics.

Apr 25 The State of Vermont legalizes civil unions for same-sex couples.

Apr 28 Richard Baumhammers begins a two hour racially-motivated shooting spree in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, leaving five dead and one paralyzed.

May 7 Vladimir Putin takes office as President of the Russian Federation.

May 12 Pakistan's supreme court orders General Musharraf, officially the prime minister since taking power last year, to hold elections by October 2002.

June 13 Kim Dae Jung becomes the first South Korean president to journey to North Korea.

June 21 A law preventing the promotion of homosexuality is repealed by Scotland's parliament.

June 28 Elián Gonzalez returns to Cuba with his father, stepmother and half brother to a jubilant reception.

Jun 26 Iceland and Portugal ratify the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty.

Jun 30 Russia ratifies the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty. The U.S. Senate is not ready to ratify.

Jul 2 Vicente Fox is elected President of Mexico, ending 71 years of rule by the PRI (Partito Revolucionario Institucional).

Jul 25 At Camp David for two weeks as guests of President Clinton, Israel's prime minister Ehud Barak and PLO Chairman Yasser Arafat bargain. Barak offers the Palestinians control of 95 percent of the West Bank, the removal of 40,000 Jewish settlers. He is adamant about Jerusalem remaining Israel's capital and holding on to at least 20 percent of East Jerusalem. Arafat wants, but does not get, all of the West Bank and all of East Jerusalem and Palestinian refugees to be able to return to live in what is now Israel. Arafat walks away from the agreement. He mentions being killed by his constituents if he had agreed.

Jul 30 In Venezuela, Hugo Chávez is re-elected president with 59 percent of the vote.

Aug 3 The Republican National Convention nominates George W. Bush for president and d**k Cheney for vice president. He says "Together we will renew America's purpose. " Speaking of tax policy he says, "The surplus is not the government's money. The surplus is the people's money."

Aug 10 President Chávez visits Iraq. Iraqi media hails the visit as a breakthrough that weakens Iraq's isolation.

Aug 17 The Democratic National Convention nominates Al Gore for president and Joe Lieberman for vice president. Al Gore: "Let's invest in health care, education, a secure retirement and middle-class tax cuts." I'm happy that the stock market has boomed and so many businesses and new enterprises have done well. "

Sep 8 Albania joins the World Trade Organization.

Sep 13 The Los Angeles Times describes presidential candidate George Bush as promising to proceed with caution before getting the U.S. involved beyond its borders.

Sep13 Belarus ratifies the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty.

Sep 18 United Arab Emerats ratifies the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty. Presidential candidate Al Gore is supporting the ratification of the treaty. Candidate George Bush is not.

Sep 28 In Jerusalem, Israeli opposition leader Ariel Sharon visits the Temple Mount protected by a several-hundred-strong Israeli police force. As Sharon and his party leave, Palestinians throw stones. Israeli soldiers go to the defense of those being stoned. More than thirty people are injured, mostly Israeli soldiers.

Sep 29 The violence escalates between Palestinian stone throwers and Israeli police protecting Israeli worshippers at the Western Wall.

Sep 30 During a confrontation between Israeli soldiers and Palestinians firing rifles, a father and his 12 year-old son are trapped in the crossfire. The two are hit by bullets and the boy dies, captured by a French cameraman, to be broadcast worldwide. The Second Intafada, called the Al-Aqsa Intifada, has begun.

Oct 5 In Serbia, Slobodan Milosevic has failed to recognize the results of the first round of an election cycle. Massive protests have risen against him. Military leaders fail to back Milosevic, allowing a coup against him. Milosevic is forced from his office as President of Macedonia.

Oct 10 President Clinton signs a bill extending normal trade status to China. He says it will "extend our nation's unprecedented economic growth ... [and] reaffirm our own global leadership for peace and prosperity." The bill has been opposed by labor, human rights and conservative groups.

Nov 7 In U.S. presidential elections, Al Gore wins the popular vote but the vote is close in Florida, where a win by Bush will give him the electoral votes he needs to win.

Nov 8 In the vote counting in Florida, Bush's margin of victory has dwindled to about 500 votes, narrow enough to trigger a mandatory recount.

Dec 10 The Saudi royal family spares Pakistan's former prime minister Nawaz Sharif from going to prison. Instead Sharif is exiled to Saudi Arabia.

Dec 11 The Florida Supreme Court rules in favor of a recount of ballots.

Dec 12 The U.S. Supreme court rules 7-2 supporting a Republican challenge that Florida Supreme Court's scheme for recounting ballots is unconstitutional, and the Supreme Court rules 5-4 to end the Florida recount. George Bush becomes the official winner in Florida and the nation.

Dec 31 Political violence in Algeria through the year is reported has having killed 2,500 civilians and 480 soldiers and guards.