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.
London - Britain's House of Commons outlawed fox hunting Thursday, using a controversial law to override opposition from the House of Lords, which backed the blood sport to the end. Royal assent to the measure from Queen Elizabeth ? whose family has been known to enjoy the traditional hunt ? was expected within hours. This would clear the way for the bill to become law and ban hunting from February 2005. While it will still be legal to shoot foxes, the legislation bans all hunting with hounds, including the pursuit of rabbits and deer. Hunting supporters immediately vowed to actively defy the ban, and challenge the legality of the legislation in court. Gaza City - Palestinian Prime Minister Ahmed Qureia has ordered an inquiry into what caused the death of Yasser Arafat. Arafat, 75, died in a French military hospital last week. French privacy laws prohibit the release of medical information about a patient to anyone other than his or her family. Arafat's widow, Suha, has remained silent about those records. The secrecy has sparked rumours that Arafat was poisoned, though Palestinian officials have ruled that out. Washington - The U.S. Agriculture Department said on Thursday that a new case of mad cow disease may have been found in the United States. Few details are being released, and officials say confirmation of the possible case will take four to seven days.
