To read another entry in the timeline, please return to the Timeline page and select a region of the world, month and year. January 2008, Global Timeline January 1 — Europe: European Union Cyprus and Malta adopt the euro, becoming the 14th and 15th EU members to replace their currency with the euro. The two Mediterranean island states will have the same voting rights as the other 13 members at the European Central Bank. January 2 — South Asia: Sri Lanka The Sri Lankan government officially withdraws from a ceasefire agreement with Tamil Tiger rebels, who are fighting for an independent state in the north and east of the country. Despite the Norwegian-brokered truce, fighting has been escalating since 2006. Some 5,000 people have been killed in the past two years of the “ceasefire,” bringing the total number of deaths since the beginning of the war in 1983 to 70,000. January 5 — Former Soviet Union: Georgia Georgia’s incumbent President Mikhail Saakashvili wins re-election in a snap election with roughly 52 percent of the vote. Saakashvili called for the early election to resolve a political crisis that led to violent clashes between protestors and riot police in November 2007. Notwithstanding an array of alleged violations including misuse of state resources and media bias, international observers call the election mostly clean, and the most competitive in Georgian history. January 11 — Europe/Africa: European Union/Chad The European Union approves a peacekeeping force for Chad and the Central African Republic (CAR) to protect internally displaced persons, Darfur refugees, and aid workers, as violence between Chadian forces and Darfur rebels escalates. Camps in Chad host about 240,000 refugees from Sudan’s region of Darfur, along with 180,000 displaced Chadians, and 45,000 Central Africans. The force, known as Eufor Chad/CAR, will consist of 3,700 troops, more than half French. The operation is separate from the United Nations’ ongoing mission in Darfur. January 12 — East Asia: Taiwan Taiwan’s opposition Kuomintang (KMT) party wins a landslide victory in parliamentary elections. The KMT, which seeks closer ties with China, gains 72 percent of the seats in the 113-seat chamber, defeating President Chen Shui-bian’s Democratic Progressive Party (DPP). The defeat prompts Chen to resign as chairman of the DPP. January 14 — Middle East/North America: Iraq/United States Iraqi Defense Minister Abdul Qadir arrives in the United States to discuss the long-term military relationship between both countries, including U.S. assistance in building Iraqi armed forces. During his interview, Minister Qadir says that Iraq will not be able to provide for its internal security until 2012, or to defend Iraq’s external borders until 2018-2020. January 15 — Europe/Middle East: France/United Arab Emirates In an effort to increase France’s prestige abroad, French President Nicolas Sarkozy signs a deal with the United Arab Emirates (UAE) to establish a permanent French naval base in Abu Dhabi, France’s first base in the Persian Gulf. France also agrees to help the UAE build two nuclear energy reactors. January 21 — East Asia: Thailand Thailand’s newly elected parliament convenes for the first time since the military seized power in a September 2006 coup, placing the country back on the road to multiparty democracy. Leading a six-party coalition will be the People’s Power Party (PPP), a reincarnation of the Thai Rak Thai party, which was formerly led by deposed Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra and was dissolved by the junta. January 23 — Africa: Democratic Republic of Congo The Congolese government and rebel groups sign a peace pact aimed at ending years of bloody insurgency in the country’s eastern region. The deal includes a ceasefire, provisions for the deployment of United Nations peacekeepers, and promises of financial aid for reconstruction. The agreement also offers partial amnesty to key rebel leader General Laurent Nkunda, dependent on the disarming of his group. Still unresolved is the related issue of disarming another rebel militia, the Democratic Front for the Liberation of Rwanda (FDLR). The FDLR is opposed to the National Congress for the Defense of the People (CNDP) of General Nkunda. January 23 — Middle East: Palestinian Territories Palestinian militants in the Gaza Strip blow several openings in the border fence that divides the territory from neighboring Egypt. Hundreds of thousands of Gazans flow into Egypt to purchase essential goods. The action is in defiance of Israel’s decision on January 17 to close all border crossings into Gaza. Israel’s move was in response to rockets fired into Israel from the Gaza Strip. The blockade created severe fuel and food shortages in the Gaza Strip. January 23 — Europe: Greece/Turkey Greek prime minister Costas Karamanlis arrives in Turkey for a three-day visit, the first official visit by a Greek leader in almost fifty years. Although relations between the two countries have improved greatly in the past decade, territorial disputes over the Aegean Sea and, especially, the future of the divided island of Cyprus remain. January 24 — Europe: Italy A senate no-confidence vote forces Italian Prime Minister Romano Prodi to resign. Prodi, who led a center-left government coalition for 20 months, faced nearly three dozen no-confidence votes before losing the latest one. Constant bickering among the coalition members prevented Prodi from implementing many of the economic and electoral reforms he promised. Prodi’s government was Italy’s 61st government in the 62 years since the end of World War II. January 25 — Former Soviet Union/Europe: Russia/Serbia/Bulgaria Serbia and Russia’s state-owned gas giant, Gazprom, sign an energy agreement that gives Gazprom a controlling stake in Serbia’s national gas and oil monopoly, NIS. Gazprom also agrees to construct a gas pipeline through Serbia to pump Russian natural gas to other European countries. The deal, together with another deal reached four days earlier with Bulgaria to build a fuel pipeline, gives the Russian company significant control over gas supplies to Europe. January 29 — Africa: Kenya The killing of opposition parliament member, Mugabe Were, sparks fresh fighting in Kenya, where weeks of intense violence were triggered by the disputed December 27th presidential election. Hundreds have been killed and hundreds of thousands displaced by ethnically driven revenge and reprisal attacks between President Mwai Kibaki’s Kikuyu tribe and the Luos and Kalenjins, who back opposition leader Raila Odinga. Former UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan is mediating talks to try to end the crisis. January 31 — Latin America/International Organizations and Issues: Mexico/North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) Tens of thousands of Mexican farmers protest in Mexico City against the lifting of corn tariffs, which took place on January 1 under the provisions of the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA). Protesters claim the elimination of trade barriers, as well as unfair government subsidies for farmers in Canada and the United States, will put many Mexican farmers out of business. The farmers and some opposition leaders call for renegotiation of some NAFTA provisions. To read another entry in the timeline, please return to the Timeline page and select a region of the world, month and year. February 2008, Global Timeline February 4 — Latin America: Colombia Hundreds of thousands of Colombians protest against kidnappings and killings by the Fuerzas Armadas Revolucionarias de Colombia (FARC), a leftist rebel group. Protests also take place in cities around the world. Along with drug profits, the FARC uses kidnapping ransoms to fund its long-running war with the Colombian government. Along with Colombia, both the European Union and the United States list the FARC as a terrorist group. February 11 — East Asia: East Timor Renegade soldiers in East Timor seriously wound the country’s president, José Ramos-Horta, in an attack at his home in Dili. Rebel leader Alfredo Reinado is killed in the attack. The rebels also unsuccessfully attempt to kill Prime Minister Xanana Gusmão by shooting at his convoy. Gusmão describes the incident as an attempted coup and announces a state of emergency. February 12 — Latin America: Bolivia Bolivian President Evo Morales declares a national disaster after severe floods caused by weeks of rain kill at least 60 people and leave about 60,000 families homeless. The floods have also swept away crops and communication lines. It is the second year in a row that Bolivia has seen devastating floods. February 12 — Middle East: Syria, Lebanon Imad Mughniyeh, senior commander of the Lebanese militant group, Hezbollah, is killed by a car bomb in Syria’s capital, Damascus. Hezbollah and Iran blame Israel for his death, but Israel denies involvement. Mughniyeh is believed to have been responsible for countless bombings, kidnappings, and hijackings, including the 1983 bombing of the U.S. embassy and Marine barracks in Beirut and the 1985 hijacking of a TWA airliner. February 17 — South Asia: Afghanistan A suicide bomb in Afghanistan’s southern city of Kandahar kills more than 100 people and injures scores more. Among those killed is Abdul Hakim Jan, a police chief and leader of an anti-Taliban militia. The incident is Afghanistan’s bloodiest attack in recent years, and follows a string of bomb attacks that made 2007 the deadliest year since the Taliban fell in 2001. February 17 — Former Soviet Union: Serbia/Kosovo Serbia’s province of Kosovo unilaterally declares independence, prompting protests across Serbia and by the Serb minority in Kosovo. While Serbia says the declaration is illegal, other countries are divided on whether to recognize Kosovo’s independence. With the help of Russia, Serbia vows to block Kosovo from obtaining membership in the United Nations. February 18 — South Asia: Pakistan General elections in Pakistan result in defeat for President Pervez Musharraf’s ruling party, Muslim League (PML-Q), which secures less than 16 percent of the seats in the National Assembly. The Pakistan People's Party (PPP) of late former Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto wins a third of the Assembly seats, and the Pakistan Muslim League (PML-N), led by former Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif, wins almost a quarter of the seats. Despite the defeat of his party, President Musharraf says he will not resign. February 19 — Latin America: Cuba Cuba’s president, Fidel Castro, announces his retirement at age 81, ending his 49-year rule of Cuba. Fidel’s brother and the world’s longest-serving minister of defense, 76-year old Raúl Castro, is designated as the communist island state’s next president. February 22 — Middle East: Turkey/Iraq Thousands of Turkish troops make an incursion into northern Iraq, targeting Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK) rebels. Turkey accuses Iraq of failing to stop the rebels from using the mountainous area to launch attacks on Turkey. Turkey, the United States, and the European Union consider the PKK, comprised of Turkish Kurds, a terrorist organization. February 24 — Europe: Cyprus Demetris Christofias of the communist Progressive Party of the Working People (AKEL) wins Cyprus’s presidential election, becoming the only communist head of state in the European Union. In contrast with his predecessor, Christofias promises to pursue a reunification settlement with the Turkish-Cypriot northern part of the island. February 26 — East Asia/North America: North Korea/United States The New York Philharmonic Orchestra visits North Korea to play a concert in the country’s capital, Pyongyang. Hailed as “soft power ambassadors,” the ensemble is the biggest American delegation to visit North Korea since the Korean War. The visit is compared to the Boston Symphony Orchestra’s concert in the Soviet Union during the Cold War, as it aims to ease strained diplomatic relations. February 28 — Africa: Kenya Kenyan President Mwai Kibaki and opposition leader Raila Odinga agree to share power in an effort to end the political crisis and intense violence that have dominated Kenya since last December’s disputed election. Under the agreement reached with help of international mediators, Odinga will take a newly created position of prime minister. To read another entry in the timeline, please return to the Timeline page and select a region of the world, month and year. March 2008, Global Timeline March 1 — Latin America: Colombia/Ecuador/Venezuela Colombian forces enter Ecuador to raid a Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC) camp, killing senior rebel leader Raúl Reyes. The incursion provokes a regional diplomatic crisis as Ecuador and Venezuela sever diplomatic relations with Colombia and send troops to their respective Colombian borders. Meanwhile, Colombia accuses its neighboring governments of providing financial and other support to the FARC, based on information from computers seized in the raid. March 1 — Former Soviet Union: Armenia Armenian President Robert Kocharyan declares a 20-day state of emergency in response to mass demonstrations and violent clashes between protestors and police in Yerevan, Armenia. The protestors dispute Serge Sargsyan’s victory over former President Levon Ter-Petrossian in the February 19 presidential election. Armenia’s Constitutional Court acknowledges election violations, but says they did not affect the outcome. March 2 — Former Soviet Union: Russia Dmitry Medvedev wins 70 percent of the vote in a Russian presidential election that is widely criticized as flawed. President Vladimir Putin, who is to become prime minister after his term expires in May, endorsed Medvedev. Previously, Medvedev was chairman of Russia’s state-run gas monopoly, Gazprom, and Putin’s First Deputy Prime Minister in charge of social programs. March 2 — Middle East: Iran/Iraq Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad pays an official visit to Iraq, where he meets with the country’s president, Jalal Talabani. This is the first-ever visit to Iraq by an Iranian president. The visit reflects the stabilization of relations between the two countries after the long Iran-Iraq war in the 1980s. Both sides promise to strengthen political, economic, and cultural cooperation. March 3 — Middle East: Israel/Palestinian Territories Israel withdraws most of its troops from the Gaza Strip after five days of ground and air attacks on Palestinian fighters. More than 100 Palestinians, including civilians, and three Israelis were killed during the incursion. The operation was launched in response to Palestinian rocket attacks on Israel. In the meantime, human rights groups, such as Amnesty International, Save the Children, CARE, and others, report that the Gaza Strip faces the worst humanitarian crisis in 40 years as a result of Israel’s blockade of the territory. March 8 — East Asia: Malaysia Malaysia’s ruling National Front coalition, in its largest electoral setback since independence in 1957, loses the two-thirds parliamentary majority it has held since 1969. It also manages to keep control of only eight out of 13 state governments. Ethnic tensions, crime, and inflation are blamed for the National Front’s defeat. Pressure builds for Prime Minister Abduallah Ahmad Badawi to step down. March 14 — East Asia: China Chinese police use tear gas and gunfire to suppress violent anti-China riots in Tibet, which spread from the capital of Lhasa to other places within the region, lasting several days. Beijing blames the Dalai Lama, Tibet’s spiritual leader, for fomenting the Lhasa riots in an attempt to disrupt the Bejing Olympics in August. March 16 — Europe/Global Organizations: Kosovo/United Nations More than a hundred people are injured and one UN officer killed in violent clashes in the Kosovar town of Mitrovica. The incident happens during an attempt by UN forces to retake the local courthouse occupied by Serbs opposed to Kosovo’s independence. This is the worst unrest in Kosovo since its declaration of independence last month. March 18 — Europe: Belgium After intense negotiations, five Dutch- and French-speaking parties agree to form a coalition government led by Christian Democrat Yves Leterme. The agreement ends a nine-month political deadlock over the degree of devolution to be given to regional governments. The new government plans a major reform of the state. March 22 — East Asia: Taiwan Ma Ying-jeou of the Kuomintang (KMT) party wins the Taiwanese presidential election by a wide margin over Frank Hsieh of the ruling Democratic Progressive Party (DPP). Ma promises to improve relations with China, seeking closer economic ties and direct transport links with the mainland. In the same ballot, voters reject the option for the island to apply to join the United Nations under the name Taiwan, rather than Republic of China. March 24 — South Asia: Bhutan Bhutan holds its first-ever general elections, as part of the transition to a constitutional monarchy as ordained by its king. The Bhutan Prosperity Party (Druk Phuensum Tshogpa) wins 44 out of 47 seats in parliament, though the only two parties running had similar platforms, both pledging commitment to the king’s policy of Gross National Happiness. March 25 — Africa: Comoros/African Union An African Union force of 1,350 troops invades the rebel-held island of Anjouan, one of three islands that make up the Comoros, and topples its renegade leader, Mohamed Bacar. Bacar, who unilaterally declared himself president of the semi-autonomous Anjouan, had threatened to turn it into a microstate. March 25 — South Asia: Pakistan Yousuf Raza Gillani of the Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) is sworn in as prime minister, leading a coalition government with Nawaz Sharif’s Pakistan Muslim League (PML-N). In his first act as prime minister, Gillani orders the release of judges detained under President Pervez Musharraf and promises to restore them to their positions. March 26 — Former Soviet Union: Belarus Belarusian police forcefully break up an unapproved rally to mark the anniversary of Belarus’s short-lived independence in 1918. The opposition uses the event to protest against the authoritarian rule of President Alexander Lukashenko. March 29 — Middle East: Arab League/Syria An Arab League annual summit hosted by Syria is boycotted by 10 of the 22 Arab League members, including Saudi Arabia, Egypt and Lebanon. By boycotting the summit, the countries protest Syria’s involvement in Lebanon’s ongoing presidential crisis. Differences on other issues, such as Palestinian factional divide and relations with Iran, have also contributed to the weakening of relations between Syria and other Middle Eastern countries. March 30 — Middle East: Iraq Iraq’s radical Shia cleric Moqtada al-Sadr orders his followers to cease fire after a fierce, week-long battle with the Iraqi army in Basra, Baghdad, and other Shiite regions that leaves hundreds dead. The unsuccessful army crackdown on militias in Basra was directed by Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki. March 31 — Latin America: Argentina Farmers in Argentina resume a three-week-long protest against hikes in export taxes on farm products imposed by Argentinean President Cristina Fernández de Kirchner on March 11. The massive protests, including strikes and roadblocks, have created food shortages around the country. The farmers had suspended the protests on March 28, but say that talks with the government failed to address their grievances. To read another entry in the timeline, please return to the Timeline page and select a region of the world, month and year. April 2008, Global Timeline April 3 — International Organizations: North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) At its annual summit in Bucharest, NATO decides to open membership talks with Albania and Croatia. Macedonia is also invited to begin negotiations, but only after it resolves the dispute over its name with Greece, a NATO member. (Greece wants Macedonia to change its name to distinguish it from the Greece’s northern region of Macedonia.) NATO leaders also indicate that Georgia and Ukraine could become members in the future. The two countries’ membership is strongly opposed by Russia. In addition, NATO members agree to endorse the United States’ plans for missile defense bases in the Czech Republic and Poland. April 3 — Europe: Cyprus Greek and Turkish Cypriot authorities open a crossing point at Ledra Street, the main shopping street in Cyprus’s divided capital, Nicosia. It is a symbolic gesture before the start of renewed negotiation efforts to reunify the island. Talks are scheduled for June of this year. The street had been barricaded since 1964. April 9 — Latin America: Venezuela The Venezuelan government announces plans to nationalize the country’s biggest steel producer, Sidor, just days after the nationalization of all cement companies. Sidor, as well as Venezuela’s three largest cement companies, are owned by foreign companies. Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez says private companies are exporting too much cement and steel, both of which are needed in the country to solve severe housing problems. April 9 — Europe: Kosovo/Serbia Kosovo’s parliament unanimously adopts a constitution just two months after unilaterally declaring independence from Serbia. The new document includes a provision about the protection of minorities. The charter will come into force on June 15 after the UN hands over powers to the new country. Serbia calls the adoption of the constitution an illegal act. April 10 — South Asia: Nepal Nepal’s former Maoist rebels win most seats in the country’s constituent assembly, during Nepal’s first national elections in nine years. The victory allows the Maoists to form a minority government, which will be headed by Maoist leader, Prachanda. The elections are part of a peace deal signed in 2006 to end the former Maoist rebels’ decade-long insurgency. The new assembly is expected to carry out an agreement made last December to abolish the monarchy, which has ruled Nepal for over 200 years. April 12 — Latin America: Haiti Haiti’s parliament dismisses Prime Minister Jacques-Édouard Alexis following widespread violent rioting over the soaring prices of food, which led to the deaths of at least six people. Haiti’s president, René Préval, responds to the violent protests by announcing a plan to cut prices of rice by 15 percent. Rising global rice prices have particularly affected Haiti, which is one of the world’s poorest countries and relies on food imports. April 12 — East Asia: China/Taiwan China’s president, Hu Jintao, meets with Taiwan’s Vice-President-elect, Vincent Siew, in the highest level talks between the two governments since 1949. Although preliminary and very short, the meeting is hailed as a breakthrough in relations between the two countries, which Taiwan’s President-elect, Ma Ying-jeou, has vowed to improve. April 14 — International Organizations and Issues: The World Bank The World Bank President Robert Zoellick calls for immediate action to tackle soaring world food prices, warning that thirty-three countries are at risk of social unrest because of the food crisis. He also estimates that the rising cost of food could push 100 million people in poor countries deeper into poverty. Rising food prices have already led to violent protests and riots in Haiti, Burkina Faso, Indonesia, Egypt, Cameroon, Mozambique, Senegal, and many other countries. In response to the rising food prices, many rice-exporting countries place restrictions on exports, further contributing to rising prices. April 14 — Europe: Italy Italy’s center-right People of Freedom coalition, led by former Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi, wins a decisive victory in general elections. Berlusconi will become prime minister for the third time after two years in opposition. The main issue in the election was Italy’s struggling economy, which has been characterized by slow growth, low productivity, and steadily declining competitiveness. Berlusconi's new government will be Italy's 62nd since World War II. April 17 — Europe: Spain A bomb explodes outside an office of the ruling Spanish Socialist party in the Basque city of Bilbao in northern Spain, injuring seven police officers. Officials blame Basque separatist group ETA, which ended a 15-month ceasefire in June 2007. The explosion comes a day after Spain’s parliament was inaugurated in Madrid, following elections won by the Socialists. Last month, ETA claimed a murder of a former Socialist town councilman two days before the March 9 general election. April 17 — South Asia/East Asia/Europe/North America: India/China/Europe/United States India mobilizes heavy security to protect the Olympic torch as it passes through Delhi. As a preventative measure, the authorities detain at least 100 pro-Tibet demonstrators, while Tibetan exiles organize an alternative peaceful torch relay event. India is home to the world’s largest community of Tibetan expatriates and Tibet’s spiritual leader, the Dalai Lama. In previous weeks, the Olympic torch relay was disrupted in London, Paris and San Francisco by protesters objecting to China’s human rights record and its rule in Tibet. April 20 — Latin America: Paraguay Former Catholic bishop Fernando Lugo wins Paraguay’s presidential election, ending six decades of rule by the conservative Colorado Party, one of the longest-ruling parties in the world. Standing for a center-left coalition, Lugo distanced himself from the region’s more radical leftist leaders, such as Venezuela's Hugo Chávez. Known as “bishop of the poor,” he promises to continue to reduce poverty and corruption. April 23 — Europe/South Asia: Denmark/Netherlands/Afghanistan Denmark and the Netherlands evacuate their embassies in Afghanistan’s capital, Kabul, in response to threats from extremists over the reprinting of a Danish cartoon of the Prophet Muhammad and the release of an anti-Koran film by a Dutch politician.The two governments have also moved staff out of their respective embassies in Algeria and Pakistan for the same reasons. Both the cartoon and the film have sparked strong protests and condemnation from Muslim countries. April 26 — Africa: Zimbabwe Zimbabwe’s Electoral Commission confirms President Robert Mugabe’s ruling Zanu-PF party’s defeat in the March parliamentary elections. The party lost its majority in the lower house of parliament for the first time since independence in 1980. The opposition Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) won 99 out of 210 seats. The MDC also claims that its leader, Morgan Tsavangirai, has won the presidential election; however, independent election observers say Tsavangirai might have gotten just below a 50 percent threshold, which will force him into a run-off. Official results from the presidential election have yet to be announced. April 29 — Former Soviet Union: Georgia/Russia Russia announces plans to increase peacekeeping troops in Georgia’s two breakaway regions of Abkhazia and South Ossetia, claiming the need to protect Russian citizens. Georgia accuses Russia of a provocative action, and NATO says that the troop buildup undermines Georgia’s territorial integrity and raises tensions in the region. In protest, Georgia also blocks talks over Russia’s membership in the World Trade Organization (WTO). Several days earlier, Georgia accused Russia of shooting down an unmmaned Georgian spy plane over Abkhazia. Relations between Russia and Georgia have steadily deteriorated over recent years. To read another entry in the timeline, please return to the Timeline page and select a region of the world, month and year. May 2008, Global Timeline May 2 — Africa: Zimbabwe More than a month after the March 29th presidential election, Zimbabwe’s Electoral Commission announces that incumbent President Robert Mugabe has gathered 43 percent of the vote, while his challenger, the leader of the opposition Movement for Democratic Change (MDC), Morgan Tsvangirai, has won 48 percent. The Commission also says that both contenders will have to face a run-off election in June. The opposition claims that the government tampered with the votes and Tsvangirai won an outright victory. However, projections by independent monitors were close to the official results. It is expected that government repression against supporters of the opposition will increase, making it hard for Tsvangirai to contest the second round. May 2 — East Asia: Myanmar (Burma) A powerful cyclone devastates southern Myanmar, flattening villages and submerging swathes of the Irrawaddy delta under salt water. The estimated death toll is over 100,000 people and 2.4 million are without food, water, or shelter. The ruling military government is criticized for failing to organize evacuations ahead of the cyclone. May 9 — Latin America: Mexico The commander of Mexico City’s investigative police force, Esteban Robles Espinosa, is shot and killed a day after Mexico’s federal police chief Edgar Eusebio Millan Gomez was shot dead in Mexico City. Their murders are the latest in a string of attacks against police and military personnel in Mexico. It is believed that the slayings are in retaliation for Mexico’s President Felipe Calderón’s crackdown on the country’s drug smugglers and organized crime. An estimated 200 police officers have been killed since Calderón first deployed troops to fight the cartels in December 2006. May 11 — Europe: Serbia A pro-European coalition led by Serbian President Boris Tadic comes out ahead with 39 percent of the vote in Serbia’s parliamentary elections, seen as a referendum on whether Serbia should strive toward European Union membership. The hard-line nationalist Radical Party takes only 29 percent. Pro-European support was likely swayed in part by the European Union signing a stabilization agreement with Serbia on April 29th, usually a first step on the long path to EU membership. The Radical Party advocated a pro-Russia policy. May 12 — East Asia: China A massive earthquake strikes Sichuan Province in southwestern China, killing more than 69,000 people and injuring another 370,000, with up to 18,000 missing and more than 5 million homeless. The 7.9 magnitude quake and continuing strong aftershocks destroy millions of buildings and devastate entire towns. An estimated 10,000 students and teachers die in the many schools that collapse during the earthquake. The quake also creates dozens of dangerous landslide dams and lakes. The Chinese government responds with an all-out rescue and relief effort, and welcomes foreign aid supplies. May 13 — South Asia: Pakistan Pakistan’s six-week-old coalition government consisting of the Pakistan People's Party (PPP), led by Asif Zardari, widower of a former prime minister, Benazir Bhutto, and former Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif’s Pakistan Muslim League (PML-N), falls apart when nine ministers from PML-N resign. The coalition disagreed on how to reinstate 60 judges dismissed by President Pervez Musharraf during the martial law last year. The PML-N says it will not, however, vote with the opposition. May 21 — Africa: South Africa South Africa’s President Thabo Mbeki approves deployment of the army to quell a wave of xenophobic attacks against foreigners in South Africa. It is the first time that troops have been used to control unrest since the end of apartheid in 1994. The violence, which began in Alexandra on May 11th before spreading to other towns, has left at least 42 people dead and displaced an estimated 20,000. Gangs of poor South Africans accuse the immigrants, mainly from Zimbabwe, Mozambique, and Malawi, of stealing their jobs, undercutting wages, and of being criminals. May 21 — Middle East: Lebanon An agreement between the government of Lebanon and the Hezbollah-led opposition ends a crippling 18-month political stalemate, including the six-month wrangling that followed the departure of President Emile Lahoud in November 2007. The crisis turned violent two weeks ago after Hezbollah’s brief takeover of West Beirut and subsequent deadly sectarian street battles, the worst since the country’s 1975-1990 civil war. The complex peace agreement, which meets Hezbollah’s key demands, includes the formation of a unity government with the opposition gaining a veto power; election of a neutral candidate, General Michel Suleiman, as President of Lebanon; electoral reform; and banning the use of weapons in any intra-Lebanese disputes. May 23 — Former Soviet Union: Georgia Georgia’s President Mikhail Saakashvili consolidates his power after his ruling United National Movement-Democrats party wins a landslide victory in the country’s parliamentary elections. The opposition, saying the election was rigged, calls for mass protests, and threatens to boycott the new parliament. The president vows to work with the opposition. May 23 — East Asia: Myanmar (Burma) Myanmar’s military government tells visiting UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon that it will let in all foreign aid for the first time since Cyclone Nargis devastated southern parts of the country on May 2-3, leaving some 134,000 people dead or missing. However, the junta continues to restrict access to the most heavily affected Irrawaddy delta area, where an estimated 2.4 million people are without adequate shelter and food. Since the disaster, the ruling junta has been heavily criticized for not allowing foreign aid workers and supplies into the country, and for the slowness and meagerness of its own relief efforts. May 28 — Latin America: Argentina Hundreds of thousands of Argentina’s farmers resume a strike, blocking roads and suspending grain exports and meat sales, after negotiations with the government on increased export taxes fail. Previous rounds of negotiations also failed. The dispute began in March when President Cristina Fernandez’s government raised export taxes on farm products, triggering weeks of strikes and roadblocks that generated food shortages and protests nationwide. The farmers say they are being unfairly taxed, while the government argues an increase of export taxes is necessary to fight poverty and inflation. May 28 — South Asia: Nepal Nepal’s newly elected government ends 240 years of monarchy by officially declaring the country a republic. It instructs King Gyanendra to step down and vacate the royal palace in Kathmandu. To read another entry in the timeline, please return to the Timeline page and select a region of the world, month and year. June 2008, Global Timeline June 2 — Europe/South Asia: Denmark/Pakistan/Afghanistan A car bomb explodes outside the Danish embassy in Pakistan’s capital, Islamabad, killing six people and injuring 30. Al Qaeda, based in Afghanistan, claims responsibility for the attack. The group says the attack is in revenge for the February reprinting of a controversial cartoon of the Prophet Muhammad in Danish newspapers. They deem the cartoon offensive to Islam, which prohibits the depiction of Muhammad. June 2 — East Asia/Middle East: Australia/Iraq Australia’s new government under Prime Minister Kevin Rudd announces the end of Australia’s combat operations in Iraq and begins pulling out its troops. Australia has more than 500 soldiers in Iraq, who have trained 33,000 Iraqi soldiers over a five-year period. After winning the November 2007 elections, Prime Minister Rudd promised to overturn some of the previous administration’s policies, including Australia’s military deployment to Iraq. June 2 — Africa/International Organizations: Somalia/United Nations The UN Security Council votes unanimously to allow countries to use their naval ships for the next six months to fight pirates in Somalia’s territorial waters. The Somali government has been unable to control its 1,800-mile long coast. In the past year, pirates have attacked 26 ships. Simultaneously, the UN launches peace talks with various groups involved in Somalia’s conflict. June 3 — East Asia/North America: South Korea/United States South Korea’s government delays the implementation of a beef import agreement with the United States following weeks of street protests. The country stopped importing U.S. beef in 2003 due to fears of mad cow disease. June 10 — Europe Two truck drivers die in Spain and Portugal during strikes that have swept through Europe over the rising price of fuel. Fishermen, too, have protested for several weeks in Belgium, Italy, France, Portugal, and the UK, some blocking ports and demanding government subsidies to offset rising fuel costs. June 12 — Europe: Ireland/European Union In a referendum, Irish voters reject the European Union’s Lisbon Treaty, which contains institutional reforms designed to run the expanded union efficiently. Many ‘no’ voters cite distrust of European bureaucracy or insufficient understanding of the treaty. Ireland is the only EU country to hold a referendum on the proposed treaty. So far, 18 EU members have ratified the treaty in their parliaments. June 15 — South Asia: Afghanistan/Pakistan Afghan President Hamid Karzai threatens to send troops into Pakistan in pursuit of Taliban militants. The threat comes two days after Taliban fighters broke into a jail in Afghanistan’s southern province of Kandahar, freeing about 870 prisoners, many of them Taliban militants. Karzai has long accused Pakistan of not doing enough to stop the Taliban’s cross-border attacks. June 17 — Europe/International Organizations: France/NATO French President Nicolas Sarkozy announces that France intends to return to full participation in NATO’s integrated military command structure. Although France was a founding member of NATO in 1949, President Charles de Gaulle withdrew the country from the integrated military structure in 1966, because he perceived it to be dominated by U.S. interests. Since 1995, however, France has participated in NATO’s peacekeeping missions. June 18 — Europe: European Union The European Parliament passes immigration legislation allowing undocumented migrants to be held in detention for periods of up to 18 months and creating a five-year reentry ban against those expelled. Member countries of the South American MERCOSUR organization issue a joint protest against the directive. Also, human rights groups, including Amnesty International, criticize the measures as overly restrictive. June 19 — Africa: Nigeria In two separate incidents, militant groups in Nigeria blow up a Chevron oil pipeline and attack an offshore production and storage vessel owned by Royal Dutch Shell. The incidents temporarily halt oil production by both producers in Nigeria. The attacks on the Niger Delta have caused the reduction of Nigeria’s oil output by at least 20 percent in recent years, and have helped drive up oil prices. June 20 — Europe/Latin America: European Union/Cuba The European Union lifts the diplomatic sanctions it imposed on Cuba in 2003. The largely symbolic measures were imposed in protest of the imprisonment of more than 70 Cuban dissidents. According to the Cuban Commission for Human Rights, there are still about 230 political detainees in Cuban prisons. The EU says that by removing the sanctions it wants to encourage the new Cuban government of Raul Castro to implement more reforms. June 21 — Africa: Central African Republic The government of the Central African Republic signs a peace deal with the country’s two main rebel groups: the Popular Army for the Restoration of Democracy and the Republic, and the Union of Democratic Forces Coalition. The deal calls for the disarmament and demobilization of rebel fighters in exchange for amnesty. The Central African Republic has experienced years of low-level violence since its independence in 1960. June 22 — Latin America: Bolivia Tarija, a gas-rich province in Bolivia, becomes the country’s fourth province to vote in favor of autonomy. In recent weeks the provinces of Beni, Pando, and Santa Cruz, Bolivia’s richest province, also voted overwhelmingly for autonomy. The referenda are in response to the push for land redistribution and wealth-sharing measures by the government of President Evo Morales. The Morales government does not recognize the referenda, which would divide the gas and oil-rich eastern half of Bolivia from the poorer, predominantly indigenous western half. June 23 — Europe/Middle East: European Union/Iran The European Union approves new financial sanctions against Iran over the country’s refusal to curb its uranium enrichment program. The sanctions include freezing the assets of its largest bank, Bank Melli, which is suspected of providing services to Iran’s missile programs. June 24 — Middle East: Israel/Palestinian Territories Israel re-imposes its blockade on the Gaza Strip, which it had consented to ease as part of an Egyptian-brokered ceasefire deal that came into effect on June 19. The move is prompted by Palestinian militants firing multiple rockets from the Gaza Strip into southern Israel. June 25 — East Asia: New Zealand New Zealand reaches its largest-ever settlement with seven indigenous Maori tribes, which include more than 100,000 people. The settlement hands over 420 million New Zealand dollars ($318 million) in forestry land, as part of a reconciliation process over the loss of land and natural resources during European settlement of the country in the nineteenth century. The agreement will make the Maori tribes the largest private forest owners in New Zealand. June 27 — Africa: Zimbabwe Incumbent Robert Mugabe wins Zimbabwe’s controversial presidential run-off election after the opposition leader, Morgan Tsvangirai, withdraws from the race. Tsvangirai says that government-sponsored, violent intimidation of opposition supporters has made free and fair elections impossible. This is Mugabe’s sixth term as president. June 29 — East Asia: North Korea As part of the six-party agreement, North Korea hands over a declaration of its nuclear assets. This is seen as an important step toward its denuclearization process. The declaration has to include all of the country’s nuclear weapons, programs, materials, and facilities. In return, North Korea has been promised a million tons of heating oil or other aid, as well as the lifting of international trade and financial restrictions. Also, the United States has agreed to normalize diplomatic relations with North Korea, including removing it from the State Sponsors of Terrorism list. To read another entry in the timeline, please return to the Timeline page and select a region of the world, month and year. July 2008, Global Timeline July 1 — Africa: Somalia Al-Shabab, a radical wing of the Islamist Alliance for Re-Liberation of Somalia opposition group, attacks Somali, Ethiopian, and African Union forces in the country’s capital, Mogadishu. The ensuing fighting results in the deaths of at least 39 people. Al-Shabab refuses to recognize a three-month ceasefire agreement between the Islamist Alliance and the Somali government until Ethiopia withdraws its troops from the country. Meanwhile, the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs reports that acute food shortages in Somalia, a nation plagued by uninterrupted civil war since 1991, are creating a worse humanitarian situation than the war in Darfur. July 2 — Latin America: Colombia Colombian troops rescue Ingrid Betancourt, three American military contractors, and 11 other hostages who were being held by Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC) guerrillas. With the help of U.S. intelligence, equipment, and training advice, Colombian military agents, in a carefully planned ruse, trick the rebels into handing over the captives without a shot being fired. Betancourt, a Colombian politician who was kidnapped in 2002 while campaigning for the presidency, was the most prominent of hundreds of hostages held by FARC. July 7 — South Asia: Afghanistan/India/Pakistan A suicide car bomb explodes at the Indian embassy in Afghanistan’s capital, Kabul, wounding more than 100 people and killing at least 41, including two Indian diplomats. Afghan officials blame the attack on Taliban insurgents, but also suspect that they were assisted by Pakistani intelligence operatives. July 8 — Europe/North America/Former Soviet Union: Czech Republic/United States/Russia The Czech Republic signs an agreement with the United States to host a radar base for the controversial U.S. missile defense shield project. Russia, which regards the project as hostile and a potential threat to its own territory, threatens to retaliate by military means. The United States argues that the defense system is directed against long-range missiles from rogue countries, such as Iran. July 9 — Middle East: Iran Iran test-fires nine missiles, including a long-range missile, the Shahab-3, which is capable of reaching Israel. The tests contribute to escalating tensions between Iran and the West over Iran’s nuclear ambitions. It is believed that the tests are in response to Israel’s jet exercise last month that appeared to rehearse the bombing of distant targets, and are intended to deter military action by the United States or Israel against Iran’s suspected nuclear installations. Iran refuses to comply with UN resolutions requiring it to halt its uranium enrichment program. July 9 — Africa: Sudan Suspected Janjaweed militiamen ambush a UN convoy in Sudan’s region of Darfur, killing seven peacekeepers and wounding 22. The joint UN-African Union force, called UNAMID, which took over from the African Union mission in December 2007 is meant to have 26,000 troops, but has struggled to protect civilians and itself with only about 9,000 soldiers and police officers, mostly former members of the AU force. July 13 — International Issues/Europe French President Nicolas Sarkozy launches the Union for the Mediterranean, a new international organization that will focus on bringing peace to the Mediterranean region and improving the European Union’s relations with the Middle East and North Africa. The union gathers 43 states, including all 27 EU members. Some key issues of the union are energy, security, counter-terrorism, immigration, trade, and environment. July 14 — Africa/International Organizations: Sudan/International Criminal Court The International Criminal Court’s top prosecutor accuses Sudan’s President Omar al-Bashir of genocide, crimes against humanity, and war crimes in Sudan’s region, Darfur, and calls for his arrest. This is the first time a sitting president is wanted for war crimes. Sudan rejects the charges, and says that any indictment could delay peace talks. July 15 — South Asia: Afghanistan U.S. forces pull out of a recently established outpost in northeastern Afghanistan, days after Taliban insurgents attacked it, killing nine American soldiers. It was the most deadly single attack on U.S. forces in Afghanistan since 2005. July 16 — Middle East: Israel/Lebanon Israel releases five Lebanese prisoners and the bodies of 200 Lebanese and Palestinian fighters in exchange for the bodies of two Israeli soldiers, Ehud Goldwasser and Eldad Regev, whose capture in a cross-border raid in July 2006 triggered a devastating 34-day war with Lebanon. Israelis did not know the fate of the two soldiers until their bodies were returned. Hezbollah in Lebanon hails the prisoner swap as a victory, while in Israel the exchange of live prisoners for dead bodies causes controversy. July 17 — Latin America: Argentina After months of protests, Argentina’s senate narrowly rejects an increase in taxes on farm exports, which has been violently opposed by farmers since it was proposed by President Cristina Fernández de Kirchner in March. Vice President Julio Cobos casts the deciding vote with senators tied 36 to 36. The lower house had approved the measure earlier this month. July 19 — Middle East: Iraq Iraq’s main Sunni Muslim bloc, the Accordance Front, rejoins the Shia-led government almost a year after it pulled out due to power-sharing disagreements. The group’s return is seen as a big step toward political reform and a sign of change in Iraq. July 21 — Europe/International Organizations: Bosnia-Herzegovina/United Nations The former Bosnian Serb leader and one of the world’s most wanted men, Radovan Karadzic, is arrested 13 years after he was indicted by the United Nations’ International Criminal Tribunal for the Former Yugoslavia (ICTY). He faces charges of genocide, war crimes, and crimes against humanity committed during Bosnia’s civil war, including the siege of Sarajevo and the 1995 Srebrenica massacre. Karadzic had been living and working in disguise under an alias in Belgrade. July 21 — Former Soviet Union/East Asia: Russia/China Russia and China sign a treaty demarcating an eastern portion of their 2,700-mile border, ending a territorial dispute that has lasted for more than 40 years and which led to armed clashes in the past. According to the agreement, Russia cedes two border islands to China, which are located at the point where the Amur and Ussuri rivers meet in Russia’s Far East. The islands are largely uninhabited. July 22 — East Asia: Thailand/Cambodia Cambodia asks the UN Security Council to intervene in a military standoff with Thailand over a disputed 1.8-square-mile border territory around an 11th century Khmer temple, Preah Vihear. The standoff was prompted by UNESCO naming the location a Cambodian World Heritage Site, arousing nationalist sentiment on both sides of the border. In 1962, the International Court of Justice awarded the temple to Cambodia. July 23 — Africa/International Organizations: Cape Verde/World Trade Organization The African island state of Cape Verde joins the World Trade Organization (WTO), becoming its 153rd member. While many businesspeople in Cape Verde agree that the membership will strengthen the competitiveness of their businesses, some worry that the country is not capable of competing in the international arena. July 23 — Europe: European Union/Bulgaria/Romania The European Union (EU) indefinitely suspends about $800 million in aid for Bulgaria because of the country’s failure to adequately address corruption and organized crime. In a separate report, the EU also criticizes Romania for not doing enough to combat corruption and to reform its judiciary; however, for now, it does not impose financial penalties. Both countries joined the EU in 2007 on the condition that they would curb corruption and continue key reforms. July 26 — South Asia: India A series of 17 bombs explode in the city of Ahmedabad in the Indian state of Gujarat, killing at least 45 people and injuring over 100. A little-known Islamic group called the Indian Mujahideen claims responsibility, saying it was a revenge for communal violence in Gujarat in 2002, which took the lives of 2,000 Indian Muslims. July 28 — Middle East: Iraq In Iraq’s capital, Baghdad, three female suicide bombers targeting Shia pilgrims kill dozens of people heading for one of the city’s shrines. Meanwhile, in Kirkuk, a city divided among Iraq’s three main ethnic groups, Kurds, Arabs, and Turkmen, a suicide bomber targeting a group of Kurdish protesters kills at least 25 of them and injures 150. These attacks take place after an overall decline in violence in Iraq in recent months. July 30 — Europe: Turkey Turkey’s Constitutional Court narrowly decides against banning the ruling Justice and Development (AK) Party. The party was accused of introducing an Islamist agenda that undermined Turkey’s secular constitution. The case against the AK governing party was largely based on its decision to allow Islamic headscarves at universities. This move was overturned by the same court last month. To read another entry in the timeline, please return to the Timeline page and select a region of the world, month and year. August 2008, Global Timeline August 1 — Africa: Zimbabwe Zimbabwe’s central bank revalues the country’s currency in order to ease hyperinflation. While the official rate is 2 million percent, other estimates are as high as nine million percent. The bank cuts ten zeros, making 10 billion Zimbabwe dollars equal to one new dollar. However, because the move does not address the causes of the inflation, it is expected that the new notes will devalue as quickly as the old ones. August 7 — Latin America: Venezuela Demonstrators in Venezuela protest against the government’s ban on hundreds of candidates from November’s regional and local elections, including some key opposition politicians. Protestors also rally against a package of decrees issued by Venezuelan President Hugo Chávez that increase government powers, many of which resemble constitutional changes rejected in a referendum last December. August 7 — South Asia: Maldives The president of the Maldives, Maumoon Abdul Gayoom, ratifies a new constitution, paving the way for the country’s first multi-party presidential elections. The constitution includes the separation of powers and a bill of rights. President Gayoom, who has been in power since 1978, initiated the changes because of growing pressure from human rights groups and widespread anti-government protests. He says he will run in the elections scheduled for October, hoping to win a seventh term. August 8 — Former Soviet Union: Georgia/Russia Georgia launches a military offensive to regain control over its breakaway region of South Ossetia, following days of clashes with South Ossetian separatists. Within hours, Russia sends thousands of troops into the region and bombs targets in other Georgian cities. While Russia says it is defending Russian civilians and peacekeepers in the region, Georgia blames Russia for initiating the invasion. August 8 — East Asia: China The Olympic Games commence in China’s capital, Beijing, with a spectacular opening ceremony. The country deploys an additional 100,000 troops and police to provide security during the two-week event. August 11 — Africa: African Union/Mauritania The African Union suspends Mauritania’s membership in the organization soon after the military overthrow of President Sidi Ould Cheikh Abdallahi, who came to power in 2007 as Mauritania’s first democratically elected leader. The coup came after President’s dismissal of several senior army officers, including coup leader General Ould Abdelaziz. August 14 — Europe/North America: Poland/United States Poland signs a deal with the United States to base 10 interceptor missiles on Polish territory as part of the controversial U.S. missile defense shield project. Negotiations with Poland went on for a year and a half, but were accelerated by the Russian invasion of Georgia. In exchange for placing the base in Polish territory, the United States agrees to supply Poland with short-range Patriot missiles for its own defense and guarantees assistance if Poland is attacked. The deal angers Russia, which says Poland has made itself a target of a possible nuclear strike. August 14 — Africa: Cameroon/Nigeria Nigeria cedes the potentially oil-rich Bakassi Peninsula to Cameroon in deference to a 2002 International Court of Justice ruling, ending a long dispute over the territory. Although the majority of the local population identify themselves as Nigerians, the Court ruled in favor of Cameroon, basing its decision on a 19th century colonial agreement between Britain and Germany. So far, at least 100,000 people have moved from Bakassi to Nigeria. August 18 — South Asia: Pakistan Pakistani President Pervez Musharraf resigns and Senate Speaker Muhammad Sumroo becomes acting president. Musharraf’s resignation comes just before the impeachment proceedings against him were about to start in the parliament. He has been accused of subverting the constitution and gross misconduct. Musharraf strongly denies any wrongdoing. August 18 — South Asia: India/Nepal Millions of people are stranded in India’s eastern state of Bihar when the Kosi River, which originates in Nepal, bursts its banks and unexpectedly changes course, wiping out villages and farms, and damaging crops. Known as the ‘Sorrow of Bihar’ for its notorious flooding, the Kosi River had been contained since 1964 with embankments built in accordance with a treaty between Nepal and India. Government negligence in upkeep is blamed for the breach. August 19 — Africa: Algeria A suicide car bombing outside a police training school in Issers, Algeria, kills 48 people. Al Qaeda’s North African wing, Al Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb (AQIM), claims responsibility for the attack. Recently, the group has become more active in Algeria, carrying out numerous suicide bombings and attacks against targets such as the country’s police and military posts. August 21 — East Asia: Philippines An agreement between the Philippine government and the separatist Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) on the expansion of a Muslim autonomous region in the south collapses, leading to renewed violence on the southern island of Mindanao in which 30 people are killed. The government had agreed to expand the region in an attempt to end decades of fighting. However, Christian communities raised objections and the Supreme Court blocked the deal. August 24 — South Asia: India/Pakistan Authorities in Indian-administered Kashmir impose an indefinite curfew after weeks of massive clashes between police and protesters in both the Muslim-majority Kashmir Valley and the Hindu-dominated region of Jammu. The unrest began in May with a dispute over land around the Hindu Amarnath shrine Kashmir Valley and quickly escalated, reigniting demands for independence from India. These demonstrations have been the biggest since the 1989 armed resistance to Indian rule. To read another entry in the timeline, please return to the Timeline page and select a region of the world, month and year. September 2008, Global Timeline September 1 — East Asia: Japan Japanese Prime Minister Yasuo Fukuda resigns after less than a year in office, frustrated with the parliament effectively opposing his policies. (Sept. 24): Japan’s parliament elects former foreign minister Taro Aso as the new prime minister. Aso is a staunch conservative who advocates an assertive foreign policy. He also supports increased public spending to revitalize the Japanese economy. September 2 — South Asia/International Organizations: Afghanistan/NATO Thousands of NATO, U.S., and Afghan troops successfully deliver a massive hydroelectric power turbine to the Kajaki dam in southern Afghanistan. A 100-vehicle convoy stretching for 2.5 miles passed through the most dangerous Taliban-controlled part of the country. The allied troops killed more than 200 insurgents who attacked the convoy. The power station will supply 1.9 million people with electricity. September 3 — Europe: Cyprus Cyprus President Demetris Christofias and Turkish Cypriot leader Mehmet Ali Talat meet in the divided capital, Nicosia, to initiate talks aimed at reunifying the country. Previous negotiations ended in stalemate four years earlier. September 3 — Former Soviet Union: Ukraine Ukrainian President Viktor Yushchenko’s party, Our Ukraine, pulls out of the ruling coalition after Prime Minister Yulia Tymoshenko’s bloc backed the opposition’s legislation designed to curtail presidential powers. (Sept. 16): Ukraine’s governing coalition collapses. Parliament now has 30 days to form another coalition. If it fails to do so, the president can dissolve the parliament and call an election. September 5 — Africa: Angola Angola’s ruling Popular Movement for the Liberation of Angola (MPLA) wins the country’s first multi-party election in 16 years. The MPLA gains nearly 82 percent of the votes, while the main opposition party, the National Union for the Total Independence of Angola (UNITA) wins only 10 percent. The election campaign was generally peaceful. September 9 — South Asia: Pakistan Asif Ali Zardari is sworn in as Pakistan’s new president. He was elected by the country’s parliament a few weeks after the resignation of President Pervez Musharraf. Zardari is a controversial politician who spent eleven years in jail on corruption charges even though he was never convicted. He took over leadership of the Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) after its leader and his wife, Benazir Bhutto, was assassinated in December. Zardari faces a violent Islamic insurgency and an economy in crisis. September 12 — Africa: South Africa South Africa’s High Court judge dismisses a corruption case against African National Congress (ANC) leader Jacob Zuma due to evidence that the investigation was politically compromised. The ruling clears the way for Zuma to become South Africa’s next president in 2009. (Sept. 21): Under pressure from his ANC party, South Africa’s President, Thabo Mbeki, resigns over accusations that he interfered in the corruption case against Jacob Zuma. He denies the allegations. (Sept. 25): South Africa’s parliament elects ANC deputy leader Kgalema Motlanthe as the country’s caretaker president. He will hold the post until elections in May 2009.South Africa’s High Court judge dismisses a corruption case against African National Congress (ANC) leader Jacob Zuma due to evidence that the investigation was politically compromised. The ruling clears the way for Zuma to become South Africa’s next president in 2009. (Sept. 21): Under pressure from his ANC party, South Africa’s President, Thabo Mbeki, resigns over accusations that he interfered in the corruption case against Jacob Zuma. He denies the allegations. (Sept. 25): South Africa’s parliament elects ANC deputy leader Kgalema Motlanthe as the country’s caretaker president. He will hold the post until elections in May 2009. September 15 — Africa: Zimbabwe Zimbabwe’s President Robert Mugabe and his bitter opponent, Morgan Tsvangirai, sign a historic power-sharing agreement. The deal provides that Mugabe will stay on as president and Tsvangirai will take the post of prime minister. The agreement also divides cabinet posts between the two main parties, Zanu-PF and the Movement for Democratic Change (MDC). Other stipulations include free political activity, press freedom, and carrying out a land audit. September 16 — Latin America: Mexico Eight people are killed and more than 100 injured in an explosion caused by grenades as crowds celebrate Independence Day in the city of Morelia, Mexico. The attack is shocking, as it appears to target civilians. (Sept. 27): The Mexican authorities arrest three people suspected of causing the blast and say the men are members of a unit of the Gulf Cartel, known as the Zetas. So far this year, the number of victims of drug-related violence has exceeded 2,700. September 16 — South Asia/International Organizations: Sri Lanka/United Nations The United Nations aid agencies pull out of northern Sri Lanka after the country’s government says it cannot guarantee their safety. The government is preparing a major offensive against the rebel Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam in the north, having already pushed it out of key bases in the east. The Tigers have been fighting for a separate state for the Tamil minority since 1976. September 17 — Middle East: Yemen Two car bombs hit the United States Embassy in Yemen, killing 16 people, including four civilians, six Yemeni soldiers, and six attackers. The Islamic Jihad of Yemen group takes responsibility for the attack. (Sept. 18): Yemeni authorities arrest 25 suspects. Yemen is a U.S. ally in its “war on terrorism.” September 20 — South Asia: Pakistan A suicide truck bomb explodes outside the Islamabad Marriott Hotel in Pakistan, killing at least 53 people and injuring more than 226. A previously little-known militant group, Fidayeen-e-Islam, takes responsibility for the assault. The group says that the goal of the attack is to stop the United States from interfering in Pakistan. However, most victims are Pakistani. September 22 — Latin America/Former Soviet Union: Venezuela/Russia Russian warships leave for Venezuela to take part in joint military exercises scheduled for November. Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez says that Latin America needs a strong friendship with Russia to counter the influence of the United States in the region. (Sept. 26): Russia and Venezuela sign an energy accord that broadens cooperation on oil and gas production between the two countries. Russia is also one of Venezuela’s largest arms suppliers. September 22 — Latin America/Former Soviet Union: Venezuela/Russia Russian warships leave for Venezuela to take part in joint military exercises scheduled for November. Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez says that Latin America needs a strong friendship with Russia to counter the influence of the United States in the region. (Sept. 26): Russia and Venezuela sign an energy accord that broadens cooperation on oil and gas production between the two countries. Russia is also one of Venezuela’s largest arms suppliers. September 23 — Latin America: Columbia Colombian Forces kill a FARC rebel commander, Aicardo de Jesus Agudelo, known as El Paisa. He was responsible for hundreds of killings and kidnappings. His victims included a former defense minister and the governor of one of the country’s provinces. FARC, the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia, has waged war with the Colombian government for the last 44 years and still holds hundreds of hostages. September 23 — East Asia: Myanmar Myanmar’s military government releases 9,002 prisoners, including the country’s longest-serving political prisoner, Win Tin, who spent 19 years in detention. However, more than 2,000 political prisoners remain detained, including Aung San Suu Kyi, the leader of the opposition. Other political activists continue to be arrested. September 26 — Africa: Somalia Somali pirates seize a Ukrainian ship off the coast of Somalia and demand a ransom of $35 million for its release. The ship carried military supplies destined for Kenya. Piracy has become a big business for Somalis who have not had a functioning government for 17 years. It is estimated that pirates earn more than $100 million a year from hijacking ships. September 26 — East Asia: Thailand Thailand’s Prime Minister Samak Sundaravej declares a state of emergency in the capital of Bangkok, after weeklong protests by pro-and anti-government groups turn violent. The anti-government protesters have occupied government buildings, demanding the resignation of the prime minister. (Sept. 9): Thailand’s Constitutional Court orders Prime Minister Samak Sundaravej to step down. The court rules that Samak has violated the constitution by accepting payments for hosting TV cooking shows. (Sept. 17): Thai Parliament elects Somchai Wongsawat the new prime minister. However, because he is the brother-in-law of the ousted Thai leader Thaksin Shinawatra, anti-government protests are expected to continue. To read another entry in the timeline, please return to the Timeline page and select a region of the world, month and year. October 2008, Global Timeline October 1 — Europe/Former Soviet Union: European Union/Russia/Georgia More than 200 European Union observers arrive in Georgia to monitor the pullout of Russian troops from the buffer zones surrounding Georgia’s breakaway regions of South Ossetia and Abkhazia. The EU Monitoring Mission (EUMM) is deployed under a French-brokered ceasefire deal between Russia and Georgia. However, Russia, which has recognized the independence of the two breakaway regions, plans to keep 8,000 troops there. (October 22): The United States, the European Union, and international organizations pledge $4.55 billion for Georgia to resettle refugees and rebuild infrastructure after the country’s brief conflict with Russia. October 1 — North America/South Asia: United States/India The U.S. Congress approves a nuclear deal with India, ending the ban on nuclear trade with this country. The agreement gives India access to U.S. civilian nuclear technology and the international nuclear market as long as India uses the fuel for non-military purposes. In return, India agrees to allow inspections of its civilian facilities. Military facilities, however, will remain outside inspectors’ scrutiny. India plans for 25 percent of its electricity to come from nuclear power by 2050. October 3 — North America: United States After an arduous debate, the U.S. Congress passes the previously rejected $700 billion Emergency Stabilization Act of 2008, commonly referred to as the bailout of U.S. financial institutions. This emergency rescue plan is designed to purchase the bad debt of financial institutions in order to prevent them from collapsing. It is also supposed to stabilize financial markets by injecting capital into banks. The package includes provisions such as tax breaks for small businesses and higher protection for savings deposits. October 7 — East Asia: Thailand Demonstrations in Thailand turn violent when anti-government protesters try to disrupt the inauguration of new Prime Minister Somchai Wongsawat. They block the parliament building for several hours, forcing the prime minister to escape over a fence. Two people die and 400 are wounded in clashes with security forces. (October 21): The Thai Supreme Court finds former Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra guilty of corruption and sentences him in absentia to two years in prison. Thaksin, who held the post from 2001 to 2006, is in exile in Great Britain. October 8 — Former Soviet Union: Ukraine Ukrainian President Viktor Yushchenko dissolves parliament and announces general elections to take place in December. This will be the third parliamentary election in less than three years. October 8 — South Asia: The Maldives The Maldives holds its first democratic presidential elections. President Maumoon Abdul Gayoom, who has been in power for 30 years, fails to secure enough votes for an outright victory, and a run-off election is scheduled. Gayoom is considered one of the world’s most repressive rulers, but growing dissent and international pressure have forced him to implement some democratic reforms. (October 28): Opposition leader Mohamed Nasheed defeats President Maumoon Gayoom in the second round of voting, winning 54 percent of the votes. Nasheed is a former political prisoner and a leader of the Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP). (October 29): President Gayoom concedes defeat. The new president faces many challenges, such as corruption, a widespread drug problem, and threats posed by rising sea levels. October 9 — Africa: Democratic Republic of Congo General Laurent Nkunda’s rebel forces capture the major army base of Rumangabo, a strategically located village in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo near the border with Rwanda. The rebels seize weapons and supplies. The Congolese government accuses Rwanda of supporting the rebels, but Rwanda denies the claim. (October 27): UN peacekeeping forces join the Congolese army in fighting the rebels advancing towards the provincial capital of Goma. In Goma, civilians attack the UN base because they are angry that peacekeepers have failed to protect them. Tens of thousands of people flee the area amid the upsurge in fighting. October 11 — Europe: Austria Jörg Haider, the controversial leader of the Austrian far-right party the Alliance for Austria’s Future, dies in a car accident. Haider was known for his anti-immigration and anti-EU policies. The Alliance and another far-right party, Freedom Party, won 29 percent of the vote in the most recent general elections. October 11 — International Organizations: The Group of 7 Finance ministers from the Group of 7 (G7) industrialized countries meet in Washington, DC to discuss a coordinated plan to fight the escalating global financial crisis. The G7, comprised of the United States, Canada, Great Britain, Japan, Germany, France, and Italy, issues a five-point action plan to stabilize the world’s financial markets. The plan includes pledges to support major banks and financial institutions and protect them from failure, as well as steps to unfreeze the flow of credit, ensure that banks can raise capital for public and private sources, and guarantee national deposit insurance programs. October 11 — North America/East Asia: United States/North Korea The United States removes North Korea from its list of state sponsors of terrorism. In return, North Korea agrees to disable its Yongbyon nuclear facility and allow international inspectors access to its nuclear sites. This is an important step for North Korea, and one that is necessary for it to get access to international aid and loans. October 12 — Europe: Germany/France/Spain/Austria/Italy Several of Europe’s major countries announce multi-billion dollar rescue plans to prop up their troubled banks. Germany approves $680 billion, France $530 billion, and Spain $150 billion to buy stakes in their ailing financial institutions, guarantee lending between banks, and lift investor confidence. Austria and Italy also pledge to follow with similar plans. October 15 — Former Soviet union: Azerbaijan Azerbaijan’s President, Ilham Aliyev, wins a second term in office after the main opposition parties boycott the election, denouncing it as a farce. October 27 — International Organizations/Europe/Former Soviet Union: MF/World Bank/European Union/Hungary/Ukraine The International Monetary Fund (IMF) offers Ukraine a loan of $16.5 billion to help it maintain economic and financial stability. The global demand for steel, Ukraine’s main export commodity, falls, causing Ukrainian currency to plummet. Also, the country’s banks and stocks are badly hit by the global financial crisis. (October 29): The IMF, the European Union, and the World Bank grant Hungary a rescue package of $25 billion to offset the devastating results of the global economic crisis on the country’s economy and restore investor confidence. Hungary’s economy depends on overseas loans, but, as global credit has tightened, investors have pulled out. To read another entry in the timeline, please return to the Timeline page and select a region of the world, month and year. [ About SCIS ] [ Educational Materials ] [ Updates ] [ Timeline & Info Links ] [ Upcoming Programs ] [ Workshops ] [ Corporate Training ] [ Young Professionals ] [ Library and Internships ] [ Home ]