Portal:Current events/2003 January 15

January 15, 2003 (Wednesday)

Belgian plant pathologist, Emile Frison, of the International Network for the Improvement of Banana and Plantain states that the commercial banana variety may become extinct within 10 years.
In a 7–2 decision in the case Eldred v. Ashcroft, the Supreme Court of the United States rules the 1998 Sonny Bono Copyright Term Extension Act constitutional, preventing the expiration of any U.S. copyrights for 20 years from the date the law went into effect.
A statement, issued by the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith and signed by Pope John Paul II, declared that all Roman Catholic politicians must adhere to church teachings, and that they cannot be faithful to the Church if they vote against Church positions on such issues as abortion.
Robert L. Ehrlich, (born November 25, 1957), an American politician, becomes the 60th Governor of the State of Maryland.
Borland Software Corporation (Nasdaq NM: BORL) announced the completion of its acquisition of TogetherSoft Corporation. Borland acquired the privately held TogetherSoft for approximately $82.5 million (cash) plus 9,050,000 shares of Borland common stock (reported as a total of $185 million) [news on Borland website].