In Brief (Press, 9 November 1989)

On 9 November 1989, significant political developments were reported across various nations. In New York City, David Dinkins made history by becoming the first black Mayor, winning the election with a message of social conciliation that appealed to a multiracial coalition, including white liberals who had previously supported him in defeating the three-term incumbent, Edward Koch, in the Democratic primary held in September. Dinkins' victory over Republican candidate Rudolph Giuliani marked a notable shift in the city's political landscape. In the United States, President George Bush laid the groundwork for an upcoming Mediterranean summit with Soviet President Mikhail Gorbachev, stating that the transformative changes occurring in Eastern Europe are irreversible, hinting at a new era in international relations. Meanwhile, in Namibia, the country witnessed a successful commencement of a five-day election process aimed at independence, marking a significant step for Africa's last colony. Observers reported that voting was proceeding well, with high participation rates in the rural north, where crowds gathered at polling stations even before voting began. In Lebanon, the newly elected President Rene Muawad faced challenges in forming a national reconciliation Cabinet. Political insiders indicated that Muawad would need to engage in further consultations to incorporate leaders from the eastern Beirut Christian enclave, headed by Army chief General Michel Aoun. In the realm of drug trafficking, Bernardo Palaez Rodan, a convicted drug trafficker, received the maximum sentence of 15 years in prison after being extradited from Colombia. Alongside his imprisonment, he was also fined $525,000 for his involvement in a conspiracy to distribute a significant quantity of cocaine back in 1983. In Papua New Guinea, Prime Minister Rabie Namaliu retained his position after the Opposition withdrew a last-minute no-confidence vote in Parliament. The Opposition leader, Paias Wingti, had previously claimed sufficient support to challenge Namaliu's leadership. In the United Kingdom, the British Government intervened in response to a pay dispute affecting London's emergency ambulance service. Troops and police were deployed to operate the service after the ambulances' crews were suspended, with trained police personnel using basic medical equipment to assist. Additionally, a medical examination determined that noted playwright Oscar Wilde died from an ear infection that inflamed his brain, rather than syphilis as was commonly believed. This conclusion was drawn from the review of Wilde’s death certificate by Dr Macdonald Critchley, a neurologist. The Church of England's General Synod voted in favour of the ordination of women, a controversial issue within the church that had caused deep divisions. The Synod's vote, which passed by 323 to 180, indicated a potential shift in the church's practices, with a final decision expected no earlier than 1992. In Canada, a gay prisoner, Timothy Veysey, gained the right to apply for conjugal visits with his partner, marking an important development in the realm of constitutional rights for LGBTQ+ individuals. Federal Judge Jean Dube's ruling allowed for a 72-hour visit under specific conditions at Warkworth Prison in Ontario.

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