The Reminder is making its archives back to 2003 available on our website. Please note that, due to technical limitations, archive articles are presented without the usual formatting.
Beijing - At least 27 people have died in China after two separate accidents involving explosives. A cache of homemade explosives blew up in a village in northern China killing 16 people. China has a large cottage industry producing fireworks and explosives in homes for mining and construction. In another incident, a dynamite blast at an iron mine released poisonous gas that killed 11 miners. Bangkok - Nelson Mandela said if the world wants to fight AIDS, it should step up its battle against tuberculosis. The former South African President told the International AIDS Conference that it was battling a two-headed monster. "The world has made defeating AIDS a top priority. This is a blessing, but TB remains ignored," he said. Mandela, who once had TB, said TB combined with AIDS is often a death sentence for people living with AIDS. The combination kills an estimated two million people every year. Manila - A militant group holding a Filipino hostage said they would release him when the last Filipino soldier leaves Iraq. The statement was read on Al-Jazeera television an hour after the Arab network showed a videotape of Angelo de la Cruz thanking his country for agreeing to pull troops out and telling his family that he is coming home. The government of President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo said it would withdraw its 43 troops and eight police officers from Iraq in a bid to save the life of the truck driver.
