July

This was the month in which New Zealanders were given a sharp reminder that peacekeeping can be a dangerous business. Private Leonard Manning, aged 24, killed by pro-Indonesian militia, became the first combat casualty of the United Nations peacekeeping mission in East Timor and first New Zealand soldier to be killed by enemy fire since the Vietnam War.

The Fiji military upped the ante in the country's constitutional power struggle by naming a temporary administration with no reference to the hostage takers. Within days it reverted to dealing with George Speight's group, gaining first the release of nine hostages and then the other 18, including the Prime Minister, Mahendra Chaudhry, after 56 days in captivity. Speight's demands for representation on the new administration were finally silenced when he and three supporters were arrested.

What subsequently turned out to be the result of contact with metal on the runway set an Air France Concorde on fire within seconds of takeoff and brought it down on a Paris hotel near Charles de Gaulle Airport, killing all 109 on board and four people on the ground.

Murderers walked free in Northern Ireland as part of the 1998 Good Friday peace accord, leaving the Maze Prison ready for mothballs. In Washington a peace accord remained beyond Israeli and Palestinian leaders.

Chechen rebels continued to make trouble for Moscow's politicians, battling the Russian military with guerrilla strikes and a wave of suicide bombings in the republic. In Spain, Basque separatist extremists continued their violence with the sixth assassination in the year blamed on the organisation and two car bomb blasts. The Islamic fundamentalist group holding 21 tourists hostage in the southern Philippines freed three.

Vicente Fox's presidential election success brought an end to 71 years of rule in Mexico by the Institutional Revolutionary Party.

At home, winter made itself felt early in the month, downpours flooding northern regions with the Coromandel taking the brunt.

GST came to Australia and, surprise, surprise, the country did not disintegrate. At home, a name that seemingly had a permanent place in New Zealand business began its farewell as Fletcher Challenge's paper division was sold to Norway and buyers were sought for the rest.

Local petrol prices climbed past another barrier, unleaded 91 following its premium partner over the $1.10 mark And business confidence continued in the opposite direction, surveys recording its steepest fall in 16 years.

An ordinary name produced extraordinary scenes in the publishing world. Parents queued for the latest in the Harry Potter children's series while retailers argued over price-slashing tactics and critics debated the book's merits.

Health focus in Gisborne shifted momentarily from women and the cervical cancer inquiry to men. The Health Minister sacked the Tairawhiti Healthcare Board after reports that prostate test results may have been incorrect.

John Tamihere joined Dover Samuels as a target with personality politics threatening to submerge debate on matters of substance.

Soccer held the sports spotlight. France required a last-minute goal and another in extra time to loosen Italy's grip on the European Cup. Off the field, Germany won the battle to stage the 2006 World Cup courtesy of a block of Asian votes and an abstention by Oceania's Charlie Dempsey. Dempsey's decision embarrassed New Zealand politicians who stepped into an arena where they had no place but also forced the man who had done so much for New Zealand soccer into an early departure after 24 years of service.

Pete Sampras' seventh Wimbledon singles title took him past Roy Emerson's record 12 Grand Slam successes. Local softball's Black Sox made it two in a row, rising above financial deprivation to defend their world title in South Africa. And Tiger Woods continued on his winning way, adding the British Open to his year's haul, in the process becoming, at 24, the youngest player to complete golf's grand slam.