Portal:Current events/July 2005

Iraq's ambassador to the UN, Samir Sumaidaie, accuses U.S. Marines of the "cold-blooded murder" of his 21-year-old cousin during a June 25 raid of his home in Al Anbar province. (Reuters)
Following a public statement from the denomination president on the eve of the event, the Congregationalist United Church of Christ begins their 5-day General Synod 25 in Atlanta, Georgia to debate a number of controversial resolutions, including same-sex marriage. Some are concerned about denominational schism. DailyBulletin.com Chicago Tribune Christian Science Monitor Washington Times UCC web page UCC news blog
Indonesian police arrest 24 people suspected of involvement in the 2002 Bali bombings and a 2003 attack on the Marriott Hotel in Jakarta. (BBC)
U.S. Supreme Court Justice Sandra Day O'Connor announces her retirement after 24 years of service on the Court. (n:United States Supreme Court Justice O'Connor to retire) (NYTimes.com)
The UK assumes the rotating presidency of the European Union amidst its funding crisis. (BBC News)
The members of the Australian Senate elected at the election of 2004 take office, granting the government of John Howard control of both Houses of Parliament, the first time a government has had such power since 1981. (ABC News Online)
Much of the government of Minnesota shuts down as the state legislature fails to pass a budget by the end of the fiscal year. (Wikinews) (Bloomberg)
In the UK, cot death expert Sir Roy Meadow testifies before the General Medical Council hearing. He was involved with four court cases where four women were falsely accused of killing their children. Medical journal The Lancet defends him saying that he is just a "scapegoat" (BBC) (Scotsman)
In the Democratic Republic of Congo, at least 10 people have died during protests over delay to the presidential elections. Opposition claims the numbers are closer to 42. (Wikinews) (BBC)
In Germany, the Bundestag passes a Motion of no confidence in the government of Chancellor Gerhard Schröder by 296 to 151. The vote, at Schröder's insistence, opens the way for new elections to be held on September 18. (Wikinews) (Deutsche Welle) (IHT) (BBC)
Italian police in Genoa discover a parallel police force, called the Department of Anti-terrorism Strategic Studies, that was apparently founded to benefit from funding after 2004 Madrid bombings. The group's website is now down. (Google cache) (AKI) (AGI) (BBC)
A Toronto mosque makes history by hosting the first known Muslim prayer service in history to be led by a woman. (CBC)
General Motors Corp. announces that it had its best month in 19 years in June 2005, increasing total deliveries by 41% against June 2004, (GM website)
Romania's legal tender, leu was re-valued, 10,000 old lei becoming 1 new leu. Thus the ISO 4217 code was changed from ROL (Romanian leu) to RON (Romanian New leu).

July 2, 2005 (Saturday)

On The McLaughlin Group programme, MSNBC's political analyst Lawrence O'Donnell claims to have known that the identity of Matthew Cooper's source in the Valerie Plame exposure scandal was Karl Rove. (Huffington Post)
Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh unveils the Sethusamudram Shipping Canal Project amidst protests from fishermen and environmentalists. Nearly 600 are arrested. (Rediff), (Reuters)
The Live 8 concerts begin their globe-spanning tour in Tokyo. Several famous artists and musical groups are joining in this effort to raise awareness about poverty and AIDS in the leadup to the G8 summit and on the anniversary of the 1985 Live Aid concerts. (Wikinews),(Wired), (Globe and Mail), (LA Times). Related information: (Live 8 home page), ONE Campaign, (AOL Music (live webcast))
In Australia, the place of the last stand of bushranger Ned Kelly in Glenrowan, Victoria, is made a national heritage site. (ABC) (Australian)
Dave Zabriskie becomes the third American to ever wear the yellow leader's jersey in the Tour de France, beating fellow American Lance Armstrong by two seconds in the prologue stage. le Tour de France official website
Former World No.1 Venus Williams comes back from match point down to defeat Lindsay Davenport in the longest ever Wimbledon Ladies' final of all time (4-6 7-6 9-7) for her third Wimbledon title and her first Grand Slam title since September 2001.

July 3, 2005 (Sunday)

Roger Federer defeats Andy Roddick in the Men's Wimbledon Final in straight sets to capture his third consecutive Wimbledon crown and fifth Grand Slam title overall.
Aviators Steve Fossett and Mark Rebholz, flying a replica World War I Vickers Vimy bomber, re-enact the first non-stop transatlantic flight of Alcock and Brown in 1919, landing at Clifden, Connemara, Ireland at 1704 local time (1604 UTC), about 18 hours after they took off from St. John's, Newfoundland. (Bloomberg)
Ihab al-Sherif, Egypt's most senior envoy to Iraq is kidnapped by gunmen while buying a newspaper. He was to be promoted to ambassador, representing the first Arab nation to recognize the new Iraqi government. (Guardian)
Albanians vote in parliamentary elections. Final results are expected in Tuesday (Reuters) (BBC)
In Mexico, Enrique Peña of the Institutional Revolutionary Party wins election for a governor in the state of México. (Reuters) (Bloomberg)
In Pristina, Kosovo, three bombs explode almost at the same time 9:30 PM. They explode near Kosovo's parliament building and EAR building; at the Commercial Bank near the OSCE building; and local United Nations peacekeeping headquarters. No injuries are reported. President Ibrahim Rugova and prime minister Bajram Kosumi state that the explosions were intended to "destabilize" the region prior to assessment of possibilities for future independence. (B92) (Reuters AlertNet)
In Mauritius, parliamentary elections begin. The main rivals are prime minister Paul Bérenger of the Mauritian Militant Movement and Navin Ramgoolam of the opposition Social Alliance. (IOL) (BBC)
In Malaysia, medical experts gather in a bird flu conference in Kuala Lumpur. (Channel News Asia) (BBC)
In Japan, underwater volcano causes a column of steam near the island of Iwo Jima. (Mainichi Daily News) (Japan Today) (Reuters AlertNet)
Computer microchip manufacturer AMD asks a Delaware court to order that third parties to its antitrust lawsuit against industry giant Intel, preserve certain documents in their possession that may be required as evidence. The court grants that request, ordering the third parties to suspend normal document destruction as to the documents described. (TechWorld)
The first VODcast (RSS on-demand TV channel) was published

July 4, 2005 (Monday)

The Mexican Institutional Revolutionary Party (PRI), the country's current opposition party that ruled for over 70 years, has claimed victory in elections for the governor of the country's most populated state, Mexico. (BBC)
Elections in Burundi for the National Assembly begin under tight security. The voters will elect the first democratic government after the civil war. The vote is expected to favor the Hutu group Forces for the Defence of Democracy. The Hutu Forces for National Liberation are the only group that have not laid down their arms. (News24) (Reuters AlertNet) (BBC)
The impactor of NASA probe Deep Impact successfully strikes comet Tempel 1. (NASA)
In Canada, Karla Homolka, who was connected to murders with her husband Paul Bernardo, is released from prison after 12 years. She gives an interview to French service of CBC, stating that she does not want to be "hunted down." (CTV) (CBC interview) (Canada.com) (Reuters)
Mexican police believe that they have arrested Vicente Carrillo Fuentes, leader of a Juárez drug cartel. (Reuters AlertNet)
In the Philippines, president Gloria Arroyo states that she would welcome impeachment proceedings as an opportunity to refute allegations about vote-rigging. The military has expressed its support of the president amid rumors of a coup. (Manila Times) (Sun Star) (Channel News Asia)
In Israel, president Moshe Katsav states that he is worried about a possible assassination plot against Prime Minister of Israel Ariel Sharon. (Jerusalem Post) (Reuters)
France abolishes the legal differences between legitimate and illegitimate children. The decree will take effect July 2006. (Daily Telegraph)
In Malaysia, police arrest 21 members of religious group Sky Kingdom. (Malaysian Star) (BBC)
In Sri Lanka, five men receive the death sentence for the assassination of judge Sarath Ambepitiya last November. (Colombo Page) (BBC) (TamilNet)
Shareholders of French liquor distributor Pernod Ricard approve its acquisition of Britain's Allied Domecq, parent company of US coffee and baked goods chain Dunkin' Donuts

July 5, 2005 (Tuesday)

Kansas City Southern Railway names Francisco Javier Rión as the new CEO, succeeding interim CEO Vicente Corta Fernandez, for its subsidiary Grupo Transportación Ferroviaria Mexicana. Before joining TFM, Rión was president of Bombardier's Rail Control Solutions Division in London, England, from 2001 to 2005, president and managing director of Bombardier's Mexican division from 1995 to 2001, and general director of Dina Autobuses/Consorción-Grupo Dina from 1991 to 1995. (Business Journal of Kansas City) (KCS)
The Al Jazeera Network states it will be expanding by broadcasting English language content into the United States by March 2006. (CNN)
The United Church of Christ becomes the first mainline U.S. Christian denomination to officially support same-sex marriages by passing a resolution calling for member churches to consider wedding policies "that do not discriminate against couples based on gender." It also asks churches to consider supporting legislation granting equal marriage rights to gay and lesbian couples and to work against laws banning gay marriage. (San Jose Mercury News) (BBC) (Turkish Weekly) (United Church of Christ) (AP)
Scientists uncover evidence that humans lived in the Americas 45,000 years ago, 30,000 years earlier than previously thought. (BBC)
Elections in Albania: Vote tallying in the 2005 Albanian general election continues. Voter turnout was over 50% and results are expected later in the day. International observers, including OSCE, have expressed reservations about the voting process. Three people have been killed during the election. (Euro-Reporters) (Reuters) (Guardian Unlimited)
In Indonesia, an earthquake ranking from 6.0-6.7 on the Richter scale hits Sumatra. No reports on any damage have yet been released. (Channel News Asia) (Malaysian Star) (Reuters AlertNet)
In India, militants attack and try to storm a makeshift temple of Ram in Ayodhya, Uttar Pradesh; most of them die in a firefight with the security forces. There are differing reports about the number of attackers and how many were killed. The temple site is a source of dispute between Muslims and Hindus. (Newindpress) (Rediff) (Reuters AlertNet)
In Germany, Sven Jaschan, suspected creator of Sasser worm, goes on trial. (BBC)
In Brazil, secretary general Silvio Pereira of the ruling Worker's Party resigns for the duration of the parliamentary inquiry into vote-buying. (BBC)
In Iraq, gunmen attack envoys from Pakistan and Bahrain. The attacks come three days after Egypt's top envoy was ambushed in the street and injured. The attempted kidnappings are meant to discourage other nations from having ties with Iraq. (LA Times)
The government of Indonesia announced the extension of its immunization campaign against polio. The second round in this campaign was originally scheduled to end yesterday. (Bloomberg)
In Germany, workmen remove the unofficial Berlin Wall memorial in Berlin, after the original builders refuse to obey a court order to do so. (Deutsche Welle) (IHT)
In Peru, former president Alberto Fujimori receives new identity papers and may return to the country. Peru still wants him for charges of murder and corruption. (Reuters AlertNet)
In Austria, state prosecutors investigate allegations that Iran's president-elect Mahmoud Ahmadinejad would have been involved with the 1989 assassination of Kurdish leader Abdul Rahman Ghassemlou in Vienna. (Reuters AlertNet) (BBC)
In France, large forest fires rage in the French Riviera. Authorities evacuate thousands. (BBC)
Sudanese government and two rebels groups, including Sudan Liberation Movement and Justice and Equality Movement, sign a declaration of principles towards the peace talks. This ends three weeks of negotiations in the Nigerian capital Abuja. Talks are adjourned until August 24. (Reuters AlertNet) (Reuters) (BBC)
United States The ABC reality series Dancing with the Stars premiered, Kelly Monaco won the competition.
Yahoo! Answers, Yahoo!'s current question-and-answer service, is launched. Their first question is posted just a couple of hours after their 9 A.M. launch time.

July 6, 2005 (Wednesday)

The European Parliament says there will be "No directive on software patents" by rejecting the proposed Directive on the patentability of computer-implemented inventions by a 648-14 vote with 18 abstentions, ending four years of intense debate and lobbying. (BBC) (Forbes) (Bloomberg) (BusinessWeek) (Link dead as of 04:20, 16 January 2007 (UTC))
Twenty-four people confirmed dead after more than 300 heavily-armed UN troops, assisted by the Haitian National Police, carry out a major pre-dawn military raid in Cité Soleil, one of the poorest communities in Port-au-Prince, Haiti, in what eyewitnesses claim was not a firefight, but a slaughter, using machine guns, tanks, 83-CC grenades, and tear gas. Eyewitnesses reported that when people fled to escape the tear gas, UN troops shot them from behind. The UN military commander, Lieutenant General Augusto Heleno, claimed the operation a success, and that the victims were "outlaws". UN Colonel Morano suggests that ballistics tests be done on the dead. Records from Medicine Without Borders (the single hospital that serves Cité Soleil) show an influx of civilian casualties, starting at 11:00 a.m. on July 6: twenty-six live victims -- 20 of them women or children -- from Cité Soleil suffering mostly from gunshot wounds. (DemocracyNow.org); (HaitiAction); (BBC) (RBN) (video link, requires RealPlayer)
New York Times reporter Judith Miller is jailed for refusing to divulge her source in an investigation around the leak of a CIA operative's name. (CNN) (New York Times)
The International Olympic Committee names London, United Kingdom as the site of the 2012 Summer Olympics. (BBC) (ABC) (Link dead as of 04:20, 16 January 2007 (UTC)), (CNN) (Wikinews)
In India, the opposition Bharatiya Janata Party calls for a nationwide strike in protest of the Tuesday attack on the Ayodhya site. The police are on high alert in case of religious violence. (Newindpress) (registration required), (Reuters AlertNet) (Link dead as of 04:20, 16 January 2007 (UTC)), (BBC) (Bloomberg)
In Bolivia, the senate decides to call for early elections. There will also be a referendum on regional autonomy next July. (Bloomberg) (BBC)
In Burundi, the former Hutu rebel group Forces for the Defence of Democracy wins 58% of the vote in parliamentary elections. (News24) (Reuters AlertNet) (Link dead as of 04:20, 16 January 2007 (UTC))
Prince Albert II of Monaco admits publicly that he is a father of an illegitimate son by Nicole Coste (BBC)
In Egypt, Cairo court postpones the trial of presidential candidate Ayman Nour until September 25, allowing him to contest the election (Egypt election) (Link dead as of 04:20, 16 January 2007 (UTC)), (BBC)
In Chile, court strips Augusto Pinochet of presidential immunity from prosecution in the investigation of disappearance of political opponents in so-called Operation Colombo (IHT) (BBC) (Bloomberg)
In China, explosion in a Zhengde shopping mall in Liaoyang County of Liaoning Province injures 47. According to local police, it was a case of attempted revenge (Xinhua) (China Daily) (Reuters AlertNet) (Link dead as of 04:20, 16 January 2007 (UTC))
Burma/Myanmar releases 249 dissidents from jail. Aung San Suu Kyi remains in house arrest (Democratic Voice of Burma) (Channel News Asia)
In Nigeria, treason charges against 53 football players are dropped and changed to charges of membership of illegal organization. They are member of pro-Biafra group MASSOB (BBC) (Reuters SA) (Link dead as of 04:20, 16 January 2007 (UTC))
In Niger, thousands of people flee to Nigeria to escape crop failure and famine. Government says it cannot afford any food aid (AllAfrica) (subscription required), (Reuters AlertNet) (Link dead as of 04:20, 16 January 2007 (UTC)), (BBC)
In Somalia, interim president Abdullah Yusuf states that he's going to march towards Mogadishu from Jowhar, collecting support and militia as he goes (BBC)
In India 1000 demonstrators protesting attack in Ayodhya clash with riot police in New Delhi. No group has claimed responsibility for the attack. There are small protests in other cities as well but police state that disturbances are minor compared to clashes in previous years. Congress president Sonia Gandhi warns that opposition should not "politicize" the incident (Newindpress) (registration required), (Reuters India) (Link dead as of 04:20, 16 January 2007 (UTC)), (BBC)
George W. Bush collides with a police officer while riding a bike. Bush suffers minor scrapes and the officer's ankle is injured. (Yahoo! News) (Link dead as of 04:20, 16 January 2007 (UTC))
In Rome, Italy, the soundtrack to The Passion of the Christ is performed as a world premiere after being as the #1 bestseller for soundtracks.

July 7, 2005 (Thursday)

7 July 2005 London bombings: Four explosions are reported on the London Underground and bus system, leading to the entire transport network being shut down. A previously unheard-of splinter group of al-Qaeda has claimed responsibility, though their involvement has not yet been verified. The attacks have left at least 50 people dead and roughly 700 others injured. (BBC (1)) (BBC (2)) (Wikinews)
Malta becomes the 12th European Union member to ratify the EU constitution and the first to do so unanimously. (di-ve)
In the Philippines, president Gloria Arroyo asks all the members of her cabinet to resign. (Channel News Asia)
The United States raises the terror level from code yellow to code orange for mass transit systems in response to the London bombings. (Guardian) (EmergencyEmail) (CNN) (Wikinews)
Egypt confirms its most senior envoy to Iraq, Ihab al-Sherif, has been killed after being kidnapped last week. A group related to Abu Musab al-Zarqawi has claimed responsibility. (CNN) (Guardian)
Researchers halt a study in Africa after results indicate that circumcised men are 70% less likely to contract AIDS. The study will be presented at the Third International AIDS Society Conference on HIV Pathogenesis and Treatment later this month. Meanwhile, others argue that ritual circumcision increases the risk of infection because of poor sanitary conditions. (Advocate) (AllAfrica)
The Brazilian congress announces a referendum on banning firearms sales. (Reuters AlertNet)
In Turkey, a land mine placed on the tracks derails a freight train. There are no reports of casualties. (NTV-MSNBC) (Reuters AlertNet)
In Hungary, a hoaxed bomb threat forces evacuation of three shopping malls. (Pestiside.Hu) (Reuters)
In Mexico, the city of Nuevo Laredo chooses Omar Pimentel as the new chief of police. When gangsters assassinated the previous chief a month ago, Mexican federal police occupied the city and arrested the whole police force for investigation. (El Universal) (BBC)

July 8, 2005 (Friday)

Following general elections in May, Ethiopia releases the first round of official results for 307 of 527 parliamentary seats. The ruling EPRDF has won 139 seats, while opposition parties CUD and UEDF won 93 and 42, respectively. Smaller parties and independent candidates won the remaining 33 seats. CUD and UEDF announced plans to form a coalition government. (BBC News)
Hurricane Dennis, the first hurricane of the 2005 Atlantic hurricane season, approaches Cuba. It is heading towards the Gulf Coast of the United States, with landfall expected on Sunday or Monday. (NOAA) (Wikinews)
In the Bulacan province of the Philippines, medical authorities report the country's first case of avian influenza. (Channel News Asia) (Reuters AlertNet) (Science Daily)
Also in the Philippines, resigned ministers, other politicians and businessmen call president Gloria Arroyo to resign as well and hand the reins of the country over to vice president Noli de Castro. (Channel News Asia) (ABS-CBN) (Reuters)
Florida Governor Jeb Bush closes the inquiry into the case of Terri Schiavo, having been informed by prosecutors that there is no evidence of any crime leading to her 1990 collapse. (Reuters)
File-swapping service iMesh confirms that it has entered into a licensing agreement with music giant Sony/BMG. The deal is widely considered a reaction to a recent decision by the U.S. Supreme Court threatening liability for file swapping software providers.

July 9, 2005 (Saturday)

Authorities in the United Kingdom evacuate over 20,000 people from the centre of the city of Birmingham, Britain's second largest city. (BBC) (Chicago Tribune) (CBC) (Wikinews).
A "lights on" bill to resume normal government operation is approved in Minnesota. The Minnesota Legislature now has until July 14 to approve a budget. (Star Tribune)
President Hamid Karzai of Afghanistan says at a press conference that he does not believe that Osama bin Laden is in Afghanistan. CIA chief Porter Goss has said in a recent interview that he has an "excellent idea" of bin Laden's whereabouts. (Al-Jazeera), (CNN)
In Serbia a documentary film "The Truth" (Istina) made of footage filmed during the Yugoslav wars, and showing numerous war crimes committed against Serbs is introduced in the Sava Center in Belgrade, sparking public outrage. (SN)
World leaders at the 31st G8 summit in Gleneagles, Scotland pledge 50 billion USD in aid to fight poverty in Africa (Reuters), and US$3 billions to Palestinians for infrastructures. (ReutersAlert)

July 10, 2005 (Sunday)

Ten Afghan soldiers are decapitated by Taliban insurgents in Afghanistan. (Guardian)
Hurricane Dennis makes landfall in the United States, slamming into the Florida Panhandle with 120 mph winds. (CNN)
taly announces that it will begin its withdrawal of troops from Iraq in September by pulling 300 of Italy's 3,000 soldiers out of the country. (Guardian)
Luxembourg says "yes" to the EU Constitution in a referendum. (wikinews)
Former rebel leader John Garang is sworn in as vice president of Sudan as part of the agreement ending the Second Sudanese Civil War. (Sudan Tribune), (Boston Globe)
In Azerbaijan, about 30,000 (other sources varying from 10,000 up to 50,000) opposition members demonstrated in the country's capital, calling for fair parliamentary elections. (Photos)
Karl Rove's lawyer, Robert Luskin, acknowledges that Rove was connected to the leak that led to the revelation of Valerie Plame's position as a CIA agent. Luskin confirmed that Rove had been interviewed by Cooper for the article. It is unclear, however, what passed between Cooper and Rove. "Rove did not mention her name to Cooper," Luskin said. "This was not an effort to encourage Time [magazine] to disclose her identity. What he was doing was discouraging Time from perpetuating some statements that had been made publicly and weren't true." Luskin had previously said that Rove "absolutely did not identify Valerie Plame." (Newsweek), (Washington Post)
In Turkey, bomb in Cesme injures 22. Group called the Kurdish Liberation Hawks takes responsibility (Zaman Online) (Al-Jazeera) (Reuters)
The Maccabiah Games have started.

July 11, 2005 (Monday)

The Indonesian government asks TV stations to close down between 1 am and 5 am daily for six months in order to save energy after recent increases in the price of crude oil. Broadcasts of immensely-popular live European football matches which happen in the middle of the Indonesian night, are excluded from the shutdown. (BBC)
The General Synod of the Church of England adopts a resolution "that the process for removing the legal obstacles to the ordination of women to the episcopate should now be set in train"; and schedules debate on the best form of legislation to achieve this for its February 2006 session. (BBC)
The 17th Maccabiah Games are officially begun with a ceremony in Israel. More than 7000 Jewish athletes will compete on various sporting events. (Ynet)
The body of a U.S. Navy SEAL has been found and recovered in Afghanistan, a senior defense official said Sunday. (CNN)
In Kyrgyzstan, acting president Kurmanbek Bakiev wins presidential elections with 89% support so far (IHT) (Reuters)
In China a mine explosion has killed 22 miners in Xinjiang province. 35 men were rescued while over 30 are still missing. (Xinhua) (China Daily) (Reuters)
The Roman Catholic Church defrocks six New York priests accused of sexual abuse, returning them to lay status. (IHT)
In the Netherlands, Mohammed Bouyeri, suspected killer of filmmaker Theo van Gogh, goes on trial (Expatica, Netherlands) (Reuters AlertNet) (Bloomberg)
In Bosnia and Herzegovina, tens of thousands of people gather in Potocari to commemorate the Srebrenica massacre and rebury 610 victims (Reuters) (BBC) (Al-Jazeera)
Mexican police releases Joaquín Romero Aparicio, who was falsely suspected of being a drug lord Vicente Carrillo Fuentes (El Universal) (Reuters)
According to the United States Department of Labor, Enron agrees to $356.25 million settlement with employees whose retirement plans were ruined. They are likely to receive only 15–20% of that (Forbes) (Reuters)
In Russia, state prosecutors begin investigation for alleged fraud and abuse of official position against former prime minister Mikhail Kasyanov. He is potential future presidential candidate (Moscow Times) (RIA Novosti) (Bloomberg)
Sanjay Shah, man who has spent 13 months in Nairobi airport, goes through British citizenship ceremony (BBC)
In Trinidad and Tobago, bomb explosion injures 13-15 people (sources disagree) in the capital Port of Spain (Reuters AlertNet) (BBC)
Brazilian police detains opposition congressman and bishop João Batista Ramos da Silva of the Liberal Front Party and six others who had been transporting $2.6 million in cash in seven suitcases (MercoPress) (Bloomberg)
In Somalia, gunmen kill prominent peace activist Abdulkadir Yahya Ali (ReliefWeb) (Reuters AlertNet)

July 12, 2005 (Tuesday)

London police identify four suspects in the 7 July 2005 London bombings; all are British citizens apparently from Leeds, West Yorkshire, and at least one is believed to have died in the blasts. Raids find explosive materials and other forensic evidence. (Reuters) (BBC)
Palestinian Islamic Jihad claims responsibility for two suicide bombings against Israelis. A car bomb detonates in the Shavey Shomron Israeli settlement on the West Bank causing no Israeli casualties. In Netanya, a suicide bomber kills three women at the HaSharon Mall. (Ynet), (Haaretz), (Ynet), (BBC)
In Monaco, Prince Albert is inaugurated as ruling prince, in succession to his father Prince Rainier who died in April. The unmarried Prince Albert acknowledged last week that he has a 22-month-old illegitimate son, Alexandre, and that there may be other paternity suits. (BBC), (CNN), (Mail&Guardian)
According to the Cuban government, Hurricane Dennis killed 16 and caused $1.4 billion in damages. (Reuters)
In Singapore, president Sellapan Ramanathan announces that he will seek re-election. Seventeen others have filed papers for candidacy (Channel News Asia)
In China, the death toll of the Xinjiang mine explosion rises to 65. Eighteen are still missing. (Xinhua) (China Daily) (People's Daily) (Reuters)
In Spain, a bomb explosion in Barcelona injures a policeman. (BBC)
The European Court supports tighter controls over vitamin and mineral supplements. (ThisIsLondon) (BBC)
In Lebanon, a bomb explosion injures pro-Syrian defence minister Elias Murr. (Al-Jazeera)
In France, bus company Transports Schiocchet Excursions sues a group of cleaning women for operating a carpool using their own cars, on the ground of "unfair competition". (Guardian)
In Washington, D.C., Presidential Press Secretary Scott McClellan refused for the second day in a row to respond to reporters' questions about Newsweek's revelation that Karl Rove disclosed the identity of CIA agent Valerie Plame. McClellan had asserted Rove's innocence on many occasions in the past. The President, at a photo-op today, ignored reporters who asked if his pledge to fire any staffer involved was still operative. (Bloomberg)
Stockholders of both Procter & Gamble and Gillette overwhelmingly approve a combination of the two huge consumer-product companies, although the deal faces regulatory scrutiny both in Europe and in the United States. (Forbes)
US federal judge Barbara Jones denies former WorldCom CEO Bernie Ebbers, who faces up to 85 years in prison, a retrial in federal court (New York Times) (Reuters)
In Costa Rica, fire in Rafael Angel Calderon Guardia Hospital in San José kills at least 18 (Reuters AlertNet)
In Myanmar (Burma), the government begins a trial against Khin Nyunt, former prime minister, accused of bribery and corruption. The trial is held inside Insein prison in Rangoon. (Channel News Asia) (Irrawaddy)
In Spain's Basque region, four bombs explode near a power station at Amorebieta near Bilbao. Separatist group ETA claims responsibility (EITB) (EuroNews) (Reuters)
In Somalia, United Nations World Food Programme threatens to stop food shipments to the country for ten years if the hijacked food ship and its crew are not released (BBC) (Reuters AlertNet) (AllAfrica)
The European Court of Justice fines France €20 million ($24 million) for flouting European Union fishing quotas (Reuters) (BBC)
In Fiji, head of the military, Frank Bainimarama threatens to declare martial law and oust the government if it gives amnesty to those involved with 2000 coup attempt (Fiji Times) (Reuters AlertNet)
Lord King of Wartnaby, mastermind of the privatisation of British Airways under former prime minister Margaret Thatcher and chairman of B.A. for 12 years, dies in his sleep.
Thunder Horse PDQ, the largest semi-submersible oil platform in the world, was found listing badly after hurricane Dennis.

July 13, 2005 (Wednesday)

The National Hockey League labor dispute, the longest work stoppage in North American professional sports, ends after 301 days. (CBC)
Former Worldcom CEO Bernard Ebbers is sentenced to 25 years imprisonment for conspiracy, securities fraud and seven counts of making false SEC filings. (Bloomberg)
U.S. Supreme Court Chief Justice William Rehnquist is hospitalized with a fever. There have been no indications when Rehnquist, who is fighting thyroid cancer, will be released. (CNN) (Reuters)
NASA's planned launch of STS-114, Space Shuttle Discovery from pad 39B at the Kennedy Space Center at 3:51pm EDT (1951 UTC) is delayed due to a problem with the fuel level sensors. This would have been the first manned space launch by NASA since the loss of Columbia over 2 years ago. (CNN) (NASA)
The Australian Government announces it will send back 150 élite Special Air Service troops to Afghanistan, to take part in covert operations and to help thwart a resurgent Taliban. A further 200 troops may also be dispatched to aid reconstruction efforts. (ABC News)
The American Family Association, a Christian conservative activist group, announces an international boycott of Nike. In adding Nike to its ongoing boycotts of Kmart and the book One of the Guys by Robert Clark Young, the AFA argues that Nike promotes "a back door move to legalise homosexual marriage." (GayNZ.com)
In Malaysia, ex-minister Osu Sukam, member of a ruling United Malays National Organisation party, resigns due to gambling debts totalling at least US$1.8 million. (Borneo Bulletin) (Channel News Asia)
In China, the death toll in the Xinjiang mine explosion rises to 81, with two missing. (Xinhua)
Geologists increase the alert status of Mount Merapi volcano in central Java in Indonesia. The volcano has shown increased activity since last Friday. (Jakarta Post) (Channel News Asia)
In the Philippines, thousands of protestors gather in Manila to demand the resignation of president Gloria Arroyo, who has reshuffled her cabinet. The military is on alert in case of violence. (Sun Star) (Reuters)
In Pakistan, a collision of three express trains near Ghotki leaves at least 120 dead after 13 carriages derail, according to Pakistan Railways and local police. (Reuters) (Al-Jazeera)(BBC)
In Peru, thousands of demonstrators protest in Lima against a US trade pact that could lead to increase in the cost of medicines. (Reuters AlertNet)
In Chile, the Senate reforms the country's constitution, decreasing power of the military in the upper house and reducing the presidential term for four years. The previous constitution is from the era of Augusto Pinochet. (Reuters)
Spanish government approves pensions for people who fled Spain for the Soviet Union and South America as children during the Spanish Civil War and never returned. (Reuters)
In Taiwan, a SWAT team apprehends wanted gang leader Chang Hsi-ming after a 30-minute gun battle in Shalu Township. (Taipei Times) (Channel News Asia)
In Brazil, police raid the luxury good store Dasliu and arrest the managers, including the owner Eliana Tranchesi, accused of tax evasion. (Bloomberg) (BBC)
In Italy, police arrest 174 people in a crackdown on suspected Islamist militants. (AGI) (Reuters)
In Japan, a group of 21 French speakers sue Shintaro Ishihara, governor of Tokyo, for calling French "a language which cannot count numbers". (Asahi Shimbun) (Reuters)
The US State Department says it may withhold aid to Uzbekistan unless the Uzbek government agrees to an international inquiry about the unrest in Andijan. The official death toll has risen to 187. (BBC) (Baku Today) (Reuters AlertNet) (Eurasianet)
Bones of a mammoth are found in Silicon Valley: Paleontologist Mark Goodwin said that bones discovered Saturday by Roger Castillo, an environmental activist, may be the femur, tusks and pelvic bones of a Columbian mammoth, a species of ancient elephant that roamed the area tens of thousands of years ago. (San Francisco Chronicle)

July 14, 2005 (Thursday)

U.S. Supreme Court Chief Justice William Rehnquist announces he will not retire from the court as long as his health permits him to remain. In October of 2004 Rehnquist, 80, was diagnosed with thyroid cancer and underwent a tracheotomy. Yahoo News (Link dead as of 00:39, 15 January 2007 (UTC))
2005 Atlantic hurricane season: Rain from Hurricane Emily causes flooding and mudslides in Grenada, as the hurricane continues to grow to near Category 3 strength. (NOAA), (CNN)
Dana Galkowicz, an Israeli woman, 22, dies in the moshav of Netiv Ha'asara after Palestinian militants fire more than a dozen Qassam rockets. Hamas, Islamic Jihad and the al-Aqsa Martyrs' Brigades all claimed responsibility, though Israel primarily suspects Hamas (Ynet)
In the morning, a fifth person dies from injuries sustained in Tuesday's Netanya suicide bombing attack. (Ynet)
People across Europe observe two minutes of silence in memory of those who died in the 7 July 2005 London bombings. (Wikinews)
Russia demands that US extradite Leonid Nevzlin, ex-CEO of Yukos, to face various charges, including organizing a contract killing. Nevzlin addressed the Commission on Security and Cooperation in Europe on Wednesday in Washington DC (Pravda) (Kommersant) (Reuters) (Link dead as of 00:39, 15 January 2007 (UTC))
In South Korea, one F-4E and one F-5F military jet fighter planes crash into the sea in two separate accidents. None of the four pilots survived. (Channel News Asia) (Bloomberg) (Reuters AlertNet) (Link dead as of 00:39, 15 January 2007 (UTC))
In New Zealand, Graham Capill, former leader of the Christian Heritage Party, is sentenced to nine years for sexual abuse of three young girls. (TVNZ) (New Zealand Herald)
The 7th World Games are being opened in Duisburg/Germany.
In the US, customs in New York airport have refused entry of British leading moderate Muslim theologian Zaki Badawi. Bawadi had been invited to a talk in Chautauqua Institution. He had publicly condemned the bombings in London (USA Today), (Reuters AlertNet) (Link dead as of 00:39, 15 January 2007 (UTC)), (BBC) (Al-Jazeera)
In Haiti, Jacques Roche, kidnapped prominent journalist and poet, is found dead. Police says he was tortured and shot. Roche was kidnapped July 10 (Reuters) (Link dead as of 00:39, 15 January 2007 (UTC))
In Zimbabwe, court jails male athlete Samukeliso Sithole for 3.5 years for masquerading as a female in women's sports. Sithole had said that he has both male and female sexual organs (Reuters) (BBC)
In Isiolo, Kenya, catholic missionary and bishop Luigi Locati is shot to death (Reuters AlertNet) (Link dead as of 00:39, 15 January 2007 (UTC)), (BBC)

July 15, 2005 (Friday)

Seven Palestinians are killed by Israeli Air Force missile attacks on the Gaza Strip and West Bank, including at least four Hamas militants. Five other Palestinian civilian bystanders are injured in the attacks. According to CNN all the 7 were militants, whereas the BBC says four were. The attack was carried out amid a barrage of Qassam rockets. (BBC) (CNN)(Reuters)
The chemist Magdi al-Nashar, sought by British police in relation to the 7 July London bombings, has been arrested in Egypt. (BBC)
In the Philippines, opposition demonstrators demanding resignation of president Gloria Arroyo seize the building of the Department of Agriculture and smash windows before dispersing before police. Her political opponents in the senate want to begin impeachment procedures (ABS-CBN) (Channel News Asia) (Reuters AlertNet) Governor Luis Singson, claims that he has a tape of a conversation where the jailed president Joseph Estrada is planning to return to power by disposing of whoever would lead the transitional government after Arroyo resigns. (ABS-CBN) (INQ7)
5.0 Richter scale earthquake hits central Philippines. There are no reports of any casualties (Channel News Asia)
Paediatrician Sir Roy Meadow is struck off the medical register by the General Medical Council after finding that he had committed "serious professional misconduct" relating to his testimony as an expert witness in the trial of Sally Clark. (BBC)
The United States opens its borders to Canadian live cattle after legal action in its courts. (CBC)

July 16, 2005 (Saturday)

60 people are believed to have died following an Equatair Antonov plane crash in Equatorial Guinea. (BBC) (MSN)
A suicide bomber detonates explosives near an LPG (propane) fuel tanker parked near a gas station south of Baghdad, sparking a massive explosion that kills more than 60 people and wounds as many as 100 in one of the worst insurgent attacks to hit the area since the US occupation of Iraq. (CNN)
The English version of Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince is released at midnight local time across the UK, Ireland and North America (CNN)(Wikinews)
KMT chairmanship election, 2005: Ma Ying-jeou defeats Wang Jin-pyng in a vote for the chairmanship of the Kuomintang (KMT) by 72% to 28% in the first direct election for the post in the party's history. (BBC)

July 17, 2005 (Sunday)

Disneyland celebrates its 50th Anniversary.
Former British Prime Minister Sir Edward Heath dies at his Salisbury home at the age of 89. (BBC)
Time correspondent Matthew Cooper reveals that last week he told a grand jury that Karl Rove—a top White House political adviser to U.S. President George W. Bush— was the first to reveal Valerie Plame's identity as a CIA agent. (BBC)
Fourteen Spanish Firefighters have died while attempting to battle a forest fire in the central province of Guadalajara. (BBC)
According to the Military of Pakistan, 17 people have died, including a Pakistani soldier, following clashes on the border with Afghanistan. (BBC)
Conflict in Iraq: A fuel truck bomb kills 98 people south of Baghdad as three more suicide car bombers strike the Iraqi capital. (Economic Times)
Israeli-Palestinian conflict:
- A Palestinian man is shot dead near the Israeli settlement of Netzarim in the Gaza Strip. Israel Defence Force sources claim he was armed. (BBC) (Euronews) (ABC News Online)
- Two Hamas mortars injure five residents of the Israeli settlement of Neve Dekalim in the Gaza Strip. Four Qassam rockets land on Israeli territory but no injuries are reported.
- An Israeli Air Force missile strike on a car in Beit Lahiya misses the car but seriously wounds a Palestinian bystander. Two members of the Popular Resistance Committees are believed to have been in the car. (BBC) (Ha'aretz) (Reuters)
- Israeli troops mass for a military offensive on the Gaza Strip border prior to a visit to Israel by US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice. (BBC)
Thailand declares emergency in three southern provinces of Narathiwat, Pattani and Yala because of increasing violence of Muslim insurgency. (Bangkok Post) (The Nation, Thailand) (Channel News Asia)
In Yemen, president Ali Abdullah Saleh announces that he won't seek re-election next year. (Yemeni Observer) (Al-Jazeera) (Reuters AlertNet)
In Egypt, presidential feminist aspirant Nawal el-Saadawi pulls out of the race due to restrictive election regulations for first-time candidates. (Al-Jazeera) (Reuters)
In Germany, the Party of Democratic Socialism renames itself The Party of the Left. in a plan to join forces with the Labour and Social Justice Party. (Deutsche Welle) (Reuters)
In The United Kingdom, Britain's Sunni Council announces a fatwa against suicide bombings. (BBC) (Al-Jazeera)
In Nigeria, Amaka Anajemba is sentenced for two years involvement with a money transfer scam worth $242 million. (IOL) (Forbes) (BBC)
Representatives of Indonesian government and the Free Aceh Movement reach a tentative peace settlement in negoations in Helsinki, Finland. They intend to sign a formal truce in August 15. (Jakarta Post) (Reuters) (Reuters AlertNet) (BBC)
In Turkey, Kurdistan Workers Party has denied that it had anything to do with a minibus bombing in Kuşadası that killed five people. Turkish authorities have blamed the Party. (BBC)
In India, the government has dismissed a claim of Sunni Waqf Board that it should own the Taj Mahal. (BBC)
US golfer Tiger Woods wins his second Open Championship title on the Old Course at St Andrews.

July 18, 2005 (Monday)

Eight former Serbian secret police officers, and supporters of Slobodan Milošević, have been found guilty of the murder of former President Ivan Stambolić and sentenced to between 15 and 40 years in prison. (BBC)
The Federal Constitutional Court, the highest Court in Germany, has ordered the release of Mamoun Darkazanli who has been accused by Spain of having funded the September 11, 2001 attacks. (BBC)
Hurricane Emily slams into the Yucatán Peninsula in Mexico. Tens of thousands of tourists and residents were evacuated from the beach resorts in and around Cancún and Cozumel in the state of Quintana Roo. (BBC), (CBC), (Reuters)
In Taiwan, authorities evacuate hundreds of people when Typhoon Haitang hits the country. The typhoon is heading towards Okinawa (Taipei Times) (Channel News Asia) (Japan Today) (Bloomberg)
In Australia, Indigenous leaders pay tribute to Sir Ronald Wilson, white Indigenous rights campaigner, who died last Friday (ABC) (The Australian) (SBS)
In Malaysia, a group of 30 people attacks the religious commune of Sky Kingdom (Malaysian Star) (BBC)
In Lebanon, the Parliament grants amnesty to the imprisoned Lebanese Forces leader Samir Geagea. Geagea was arrested since 1994. (AlJazeera) (Ya Libnan) (Newsday)
In Morocco, Ali Salem Tamek, human rights activist and supporter of independence of Western Sahara, is arrested when he returns from Europe. Government accuses him of fomenting riots (Al-JAzeera)
The European Union is planning an operation to monitor peace process in Aceh (Channel News Asia) (Reuters AlertNet)
According to AIDS study of United Nations Council of Foreign Relations, most of the HIV strains in Asia originate from Myanmar (Burma). Study used genetic fingerprinting to find spread of the virus strains (Reuters)
In Ukraine, president Viktor Yushchenko wants to abolish traffic police because it is too corrupted (BBC) (MosNews)
General William Westmoreland, once the commander of U.S. forces in Vietnam, dies peacefully in a retirement home in South Carolina. (Globe and Mail)

July 19, 2005 (Tuesday)

Three British Soldiers are to face war crimes charges as well as criminal charges at a Court-Martial following the death of a detainee in Iraq in September 2003. (BBC)
6 killed in Srinagar blast near school. The suicide bomber rammed his car on a passing army jeep, causing a massive explosion. Pakistani group Hizbul Mujahideen is suspected to be behind the attack. (Rediff)
US President George W. Bush has nominated federal appeals court judge John G. Roberts, Jr. to replace Sandra Day O'Connor. Wikinews (AP/Yahoonews)
According to reports from Russia, at least 14 people have been killed and several injured in an explosion in Chechnya. (BBC)
In the Philippines, President Gloria Arroyo announces that she intends to form a truth commission to investigate charges of poll fraud against her. (Channel News Asia) (BBC)
The Canadian Senate passes Bill C-38 to legalize same-sex marriage in Canada. The bill will become law when it receives Royal Assent from Governor General Adrienne Clarkson, scheduled for tomorrow. (CBC)
Prime Minister Manmohan Singh of India addresses joint session of US Congress in his historic visit to the US. (BBC) (Rediff)
In Thailand, dozens of newspapers editors of Thai Journalist's Association protest against new emergency laws that include media censorship and phone tapping (Channel News Asia) (Index) (Reuters AlertNet)
UK court sentences Afghan warlord Faryadi Sarwar Zardad for 20 years in jail for war crimes (Telegraph) (Al-Jazeera) (Reuters)
Former Bosnian Croat soldier Miroslav Bralo pleads guilty for war crimes in the UN war crimes tribunal in the Hague (Reuters AlertNet) (FENA)
In Lebanon, prime minister Fouad Siniora announces his new cabinet after long negotiations. Cabinet members include representative of Hezbollah when Christian leader Michel Aoun refuses to join (Daily Star) (Monday Morning, Lebanon) (Al-Jazeera) (BBC)
In Spain, huge forest fire continues to rage, threatening villages of Selas and Ablanque. A group of ten day-trippers has confessed being responsible for the start of the fire and one of them has been charged (EITB) (BBC)

July 20, 2005 (Wednesday)

Police in Pakistan have detained about 200 suspected Islamist extremists in a series of raids on religious schools, mosques and other properties. (BBC)
Canada becomes the 4th nation in the world to legalize same-sex marriage nationwide.(National Post)
In mainland China, authorities evacuate more than a million people from Fujian and Zhejiang provinces due to Typhoon Haitang. In Taiwan, death toll rises to 7 with one missing and 31 injured. The typhoon also causes significant agricultural damage (People's Daily) (Xinhua) (Taipei Times) (Channel News Asia) (Reuters AlertNet)
Government of Thailand changes the new emergency laws, weakening two articles that would have, among other things, enforced curfews and censorship of personal communication. (Bangkok Post)
Saudi Arabian long-time ambassador to the US, prince Bandar bin Sultan, resigns for "personal reasons" (New York Times) (Al-Jazeera) (Bloomberg)
In Yemen, 8-13 people die during demonstrations against oil price increases (Al-Jazeera) (MENAFN) (Reuters AlertNet)
Indonesian government confirms first deaths connected to bird flu (Reuters)
In China, coal mine explosion in Shaanxi province kills 24–26 (Xinhua) (China Daily) (Reuters)
In Brazil, Delubio Soares, former treasurer for the ruling Worker's Party, admits in a parliamentary hearing that the party did not declare contributions worth $17 million (Bloomberg) (BBC)
Indian Army announces that it has unveiled a scam where contractors responsible for transportation of fuel to depots of its Northern Command had sold off the fuel and filled the tanks with water (Times of India) (NDTV)
James Doohan, the actor best known for playing Scotty on Star Trek: The Original Series and the first seven Star Trek films, dies at his home in Redmond, Washington.

July 21, 2005 (Thursday)

In Maharashtra, India, the state Assembly unanimously adopts a Bill amending the Bombay Police Act, 1951 which will ban dance bars across the state. (IndianExpress)
Kenyan legislators approve a constitution which critics say leaves too much power in the hands of the President. (BBC).
German President Horst Köhler agrees to dissolve parliament. He calls for earlier elections in mid-September 2005. BBC News. - see German federal election, 2005
After a blitz of detentions of suspected militants and Islamists, Pakistan's President Pervez Musharraf calls for a holy war against preachers of hate and announces steps to curb militant Islamic schools and groups. (Reuters)
Tatarstan: On the feast day of the holy icon "Theotokos of Kazan", in the presence of the crowd of 10,000 pilgrims, Patriarch Alexius II and the President of Tatarstan place at the newly-restored Annunciation Cathedral of the Kazan Kremlin the holiest copy of the long-lost icon, which was presented to Russia by Pope John Paul II shortly before his death. (Asianews)
Conflict in Iraq: Algeria's two most senior diplomatic staff in Iraq are kidnapped from outside a restaurant in the western Mansour district. (BBC)
Parts of the London Underground are evacuated, as British police are investigating reports of three separate incidents involving minor explosions in Shepherd's Bush, Warren Street and Oval underground stations. There are also reports of an incident on the no. 26 bus in Hackney, East London. There are no reported casualties and police are not yet treating the incidents as "major". (BBC)
The People's Bank of China announces a 2 percent revaluation of its currency, the Renminbi (yuan), and says the yuan will no longer be pegged to the US dollar, instead trading within a narrow range against a market basket of currencies. (AP)
In Morocco, authorities detain five supporters of Western Saharan independence for their alleged part in violent demonstrations last May. (Al-Jazeera)
Indonesian president Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono orders the army to stop offensive against separatist rebels in Aceh after the acceptance of the new peace deal. (Channel News Asia) (Bloomberg)
In Mexico, police are looking for kidnapped soccer coach Omar Romano. (Reuters AlertNet) (BBC)
In Rwanda, gacaca court investigating the Rwandan genocide summons Thaddee Ntihinyurwa, head of the Catholic Church in the country, to testify. (Reuters AlertNet) (BBC)
In China, a group of farmers in Shengyou village in Hebei province that demonstrated over seizure of an arable land for the power plant, win in a dispute. (Reuters AlertNet) (BBC)
Malaysian government also remove the ringgit's peg to US dollar. (Strait Times, Malaysia) (Channel News Asia) (Reuters)
African Development Bank elects Donald Kaberuka, former finance minister of Rwanda, as president. (AFDB) (Forbes)
In the Republic of Congo, trial of sixteen military and security officer begins. They are accused of killing 353. refugees who disappeared 1999 in the so-called Beach case. (World Peace Herald) (Reuters) (BBC)
In China, a dam collapses in Yunnan province. At least 15 dead and 23 injured. (Xinhua) (China Daily)
The Maccabiah games has finished.

July 22, 2005 (Friday)

A bomb explodes from beneath a car in the Lebanese capital of Beirut causing injuries, but no deaths. (BBC)
About 88 people are killed and 200 injured in a series of car bombs in the Egyptian resort of Sharm el-Sheikh at about 0100 local time (2200 UTC Friday). (BBC)
Malaysian Prime Minister Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi says that he feels it is his duty to prevent Islam and its symbols from being used to propagate violence. He has set three missions for himself – continuing to remind the world community to understand the root causes of terrorism, explaining that Islam is a religion of peace and opposed to violence, and showcasing Malaysia as a modern Islamic country and a safe place to invest and visit. (The Star) (Iranian Quran News Agency) (Islam Online)
Berlin, Germany: a small plane crashes near the Reichstag and the Federal Chancellor's Office, killing the pilot. Suicide suspected, rather than terrorism. (Deutsche Welle) (Reuters AlertNet) (BBC)
In Dubai, police are on alert due to the wedding of Junaid Miandad and Mahrukh Ibrahim. Junaid is the son of former Pakistani cricket captain Javed Miandad. Mahrukh is the daughter of India's most wanted crime boss, Dawood Ibrahim. (Sify)
Microsoft announces that the former codenamed "Windows Longhorn" will now officially be known as "Windows Vista". The first beta test will be launched on August 3.
In Mumbai, India, LeT militant and alleged Al-Qaida operative, Mohammed Afroze, is convicted of criminal conspiracy, conspiracy to disturb relations between friendly nations, and forging documents. However, he is acquitted on charges of waging war against the nation. (NDTV)
At least 36 people are dead after two days of violent fuel riots in Yemen. (BBC)
At least 15 people are killed when a dam collapses in south-west China. (BBC)
A South Asian-looking man, suspected of being an attempted suicide bomber, having been chased by plainclothes police has been reportedly pinned to the ground then shot five times at Stockwell tube station in London, and has been confirmed dead by the police. (Wikinews), (the Guardian), (BBC) (CNN) (Sky). The man was actually an innocent Brazilian killed without cause.
A mosque in east London and the surrounding area is evacuated for an hour following receipt of a bomb warning. The all-clear is given after the mosque is searched by police. (Wikinews), (Sky News)
Two ships collide off Japan's Chiba prefecture and the Chinese-crewed freighter Wei Hang 9 sinks. One crewmember is dead, with 8 missing. (Japan Today) (Xinhua) (Reuters)
The Pentagon confirms that 52 detainees of the Guantanamo camp have gone on hunger strike. (New York Times) (BBC) (Al-Jazeera)
Leaked excerpts from the United Nations' report into Zimbabwe's Operation Murambatsvina state that the operation has been a "disastrous venture" that has violated international law and created a grave humanitarian crisis. It further suggests that the act might qualify as a crime against humanity and urged Zimbabwe to prosecute those responsible. (Guardian).
The insolvent car-building company MG Rover Group is bought by the Nanjing Automobile Group for around 53 million pounds. (BBC) (Times Online)

July 23, 2005 (Saturday)

Human rights campaigners in Gujarat, India, have condemned a new school textbook introduced last year by the Bharatiya Janata Party which is seen to praise Adolf Hitler and barely mention the holocaust. (BBC)
The strongest earthquake to hit Tokyo in more than a decade strikes eastern Japan at 4:35 p.m. local time, injuring at least 27 people, rattling buildings and disrupting train and plane services. (CBC)
British police admit that the man killed yesterday by undercover officers had no connection to the suicide bombings or attempted bombings of previous days and weeks. Metropolitan Police has described the killing as a "tragedy". The victim, Jean Charles de Menezes, 27, was Brazilian. (BBC)
Rep. Barbara Lee (D-CA) introduces a Congressional Resolution of Inquiry which, if passed, will require the White House and the U.S. State Department to "transmit all information relating to communication with officials of the United Kingdom between January 1, 2002, and October 16, 2002, relating to the policy of the United States with respect to Iraq." (Wikinews)
A team of scientists from the UK and Australia state that they have found high concentrations of arsenic from the hair of King George III of the United Kingdom. Medication containing arsenic could have caused him bouts of madness (Scotsman) (News-medical.net) (Reuters)
In Spain, bomb explodes in Santiago de Compostela near regional savings bank Caixa Galicia. There are no casualties. Government blames Galician separatists. Police have arrested two people (EITB) (Reuters)
Cuba releases three dissidents, including leader Martha Beatriz Roque. 17 others are still incarcerated after crackdown in Friday (Cubanet) (Reuters)
In Colombia, president Álvaro Uribe signs a controversial law that is meant to encourage paramilitary groups and guerrillas to disarm (BBC)
In Burma/Myanmar, Khin Nyunt, former prime minister, receives a suspended sentence of 44 years in prison for corruption (Irrawaddy) (Democratic Voice of Burma)
3 bombs hit the Naama Bay area of Sharm el-Sheikh, Egypt, killing 88 people. July 23, 2005 Sharm el-Sheikh attacks.

July 24, 2005 (Sunday)

Francis Ona, the leader of the former Bougainville Revolutionary Army, has died in village on Bougainville following a short illness. Ona led the bloody 10-year secessionist war against Papua New Guinea that ended in 1997. (ABC News) (ABC News)
A magnitude 7.2 earthquake occurs off the Nicobar Islands at 1542 UTC, near the epicentre of the 26 December 2004 earthquake. (USGS). USGS reports the quake was felt in Chennai, India, and Phuket, Thailand. (USGS)
56 people die in Nigeria when a bus travelling from Lagos crashes and falls off a bridge into the Gadar Tamburawa river, just south of Kano. It is believed that the driver fell asleep as he drove. (BBC)
Conflict in Iraq: At least 39 people, mostly civilians, have been killed when a Suicide Truck Bomb exploded at a police station in the Iraqi Capital of Baghdad. (BBC), (the Guardian)
Israeli-Palestinian Conflict:
- Two Israeli civilians and two Palestinian terrorists have been killed. The Israelis were killed by Palestinian terrorists on the Kisufim road in the Gaza Strip, and the IDF Engineering forces killed the two terrorists. The al-Aqsa Martyrs' Brigades, the Popular Resistance Committees and Islamic Jihad all claimed responsibility for the attack. (BBC)
- A Palestinian attempted suicide bomber from Jebaliya was caught near Kibbutz Nir Am, near Sderot, just outside the Gaza Strip.(Reuters), (Ynet)
American cyclist and cancer survivor Lance Armstrong wins his seventh consecutive Tour de France. Armstrong has announced that this will be his last tour and he will be retiring from the sport. (Letour.fr)(BBC)
The United States wins the 2005 CONCACAF Gold Cup, defeating Panama after two overtime rounds and a penalty shootout. (Los Angeles Times)
In Southwest China, authorities are investigating deaths of 17 farm workers who died of an unidentified disease (Xinhua) (Channel News Asia) (Reuters)
In South Korea, hundreds of people gather to the funeral of Yi Gu, the last heir of the former Joseon Dynasty. Yi Gu died in July 16 (Channel News Asia)
In Zambia, authorities arrest Michael Sata, leader of Patriotic Front, for sedition for inciting miners to riot (AllAfrica) (Reuters SA)
Guinea-Bissau presidential election, 2005: Guinea-Bissau votes in a second round of presidential elections. Candidates are the ruling party candidate Malam Bacai Sanhá and former military ruler João Bernardo Vieira. Results are expected next week (Reuters) (BBC)
Dawood Ibrahim's daughter marries Javed Miandad's son in Dubai. (Rediff) (WorldEscape)

July 25, 2005 (Monday)

Israel has summoned the ambassador from the Vatican to explain why the Pope did not condemn Palestinian militant attacks on Israelis, in a statement on Sunday, July 24, Pope Benedict XVI said that he deplored attacks in "countries including Egypt, Turkey, Iraq and Britain". (BBC)
Bilateral negotiations have resumed between the US and North Korea. (BBC).
The Service Employees International Union and the Teamsters, the two largest unions in the AFL-CIO, announce their intentions to leave the labor federation, underscoring a major schism within the U.S. labour movement. (IHT)
Two men, one today, one yesterday, have been arrested in the New Southgate area of London during police investigations into the recent London bombings. (Daily Mail) (This is London)
At least five people have been killed after grenades were thrown at a night-club and official residences in Ethiopia's Somali region. (BBC)
A mystery illness spreading through Western China has claimed its 17th victim. Doctors have confirmed the disease is neither bird flu nor SARS (BBC). Chinese health officials announce that autopsies point to Streptococcosis II as the probable culprit. (Xinhuanet).
Conflict in Iraq:
- Sunni Arab representatives appointed to the committee tasked with writing up a new Constitution of Iraq have ended their boycott. (BBC)
- At least seven people have died following a twin suicide car bomb attack on police checkpoints in the centre of Baghdad. (BBC)
The New Zealand general election 2005 is set for Saturday September 17, 2005. (NZ Herald) (Stuff.co.nz) (Reuters)
Philippine electoral crisis, 2005: Opposition files impeachment complaint against president Gloria Arroyo for election fraud. President has declared a day a holiday and intends to make a key policy speech. (SABC) (Sun Star) (Manila Bulletin) (Philstar) (Channel News Asia) (Reuters)
Brazil hosts annual AIDS conference in Rio de Janeiro. (BBC)
Italian court issues arrest warrants of new 6 CIA operatives for involvement of kidnapping of Osama Mustafa Hassan (ANSA, Italy) (Reuters) (BBC)
In Lebanon, Samir Geagea, former Maronite militia chief, leaves prison (Al-Jazeera) (Reuters)
In Senegal, former prime minister Idrissa Seck is arrested for "endangering national security" (AllAfrica) (Reuters AlertNet) (BBC)
In Sri Lanka, investigators that investigate alleged misappropriation of funds of tsunami relief after 2004 Indian Ocean earthquake, state that they have not found any evidence of wrongdoing. Opposition United National Party claims that prime minister Mahinda Rajapaksa had siphoned off 83 million rupees to his own constituency (Reuters AlertNet)
In Brazil, Paulo Henrique Machado, priest who led the support group of victims of the Nova Iguacu massacre, is shot to death in Rio de Janeiro (BBC)
Denmark protests over visit of Canadian defense minister Bill Graham to disputed Hans Island near Greenland (CBC) (BBC)
In Malawi, president Bingu wa Mutharika bans all exports of maize and fertilizers to alleviate the food crisis in the country (IOL) (BBC)

July 26, 2005 (Tuesday)

Conflict in Iraq:
- At least 12 workers have been shot dead as they are driven away from the state owned factory they work at, in the Abu Ghraib area, by insurgents. (BBC)
- Insurgents have released a video showing the two Diplomatic staff from Algeria kidnapped from Baghdad last week. (BBC)
Over 200 people have been killed in intense rain storms in Maharashtra, India, described by the Chief Minister of the state as the heaviest recorded rainfall in a single day in India. One third of the state Capital, Mumbai, is said to be underwater causing more than a two hundred thousand people to be stranded in offices and roads for about 24 hours. (Rediff), (BBC)
Several protesters have been injured again in India on this second day of protests. (BBC)
The Space Shuttle Discovery lifts off at 1039 EST this morning on mission STS-114. The NASA commentator says during launch "Lift-off, lift-off, and return to America's journey to the Moon, Mars, and beyond". (BBC).
Lebanese Christian militia leader, Samir Geagea, has been released from prison after 11 years. (BBC)
South Korean ambassador to the US, Hong Seok-Hyun, resigns for alleged involvement with slush fund scandal of illegal donations during a presidential campaign in 1997 (Chosun Ilbo) (Channel News Asia)
Burma/Myanmar forgoes 2006 chairmanship of ASEAN (Channel News Asia)
At least 1,000 protesters have staged a demonstration outside the main US base of Bagram in Afghanistan. (BBC)
In the Netherlands, Mohammed Bouyeri receives life sentence for murder of Theo van Gogh (Expatica) (IHT) (Al-Jazeera)
In Canada, geneticists in the University of Alberta are testing hairs that allegedly belong to sasquatch (CBC) (Reuters)
In Israel, there are reports that Jewish ultranationalists have cast a Pulsa diNura death curse over Ariel Sharon (Ynet) (Reuters Alertnet)
Chilean judge Sergio Muñoz calls for search of new suspected secret foreign accounts of Augusto Pinochet (International Justice Tribune) (Reuters)
In Mexico, court rules that there is insufficient evidence to try former president Luis Echeverría for genocide for a student massacre in 1971 (Reuters AlertNet)
In Israel, Omri Sharon, MP and son of Ariel Sharon, is indicted for involvement in illegal campaign contributions, perjury and forging documents. Omri Sharon states that he would give up his parliamentary immunity and stand trial (Jerusalem Post) (Haaretz) (Arutz Sheva) (Reuters)
In Somalia, transitional president Abdullahi Yusuf arrives in the town of Jowhar, intending to make it a base for his new government (BBC)
In Nepal, king's court sentences Sher Bahadur Deuba and three others to two years in jail for alleged embezzling. Deuba denounces the sentence as "character assassination". (Kantipur Online) (rising Nepal) (Reuters AlertNet)

July 27, 2005 (Wednesday)

British "Shoot to Kill" Police Policy:
- The British Police member who shot an innocent Brazilian man seven times in the head and once in the shoulder has been given a free holiday, paid for by Scotland Yard.(BBC)
- Sir Ian Blair, Commissioner of the Metropolitan Police has told Channel 4 news that on seven separate occasions British police have come close to killing suspected Suicide Bombers who it transpired were not Suicide Bombers. (The Times), (Financial Times)
Conflict in Iraq:
- Two US Troops were killed following a bomb in Baghdad. (BBC)
- Two Algerian diplomatic staff who had been kidnapped by insurgents have been killed. (BBC)
- At least five people have died following an apparent Suicide Bomb blast outside a hospital in the Iraqi Capital, Baghdad. (BBC)
- The interim Prime Minister of Iraq, Ibrahim Jaafari, has called on US troops to leave Iraq soon. (BBC), (Christian Science Monitor)
- Seven Iraqi soldiers, guarding a water plant north of Baghdad, have been shot and killed by Insurgents. (KCTV)
2005 Maharashtra floods: The death toll from the series of heavy monsoon rains and landslides they have triggered has been raised to at least 418 people in India's western state of Maharashtra.(ExpressIndia)
NASA postpones indefinitely future launches of the Space Shuttle after a piece of insulation broke off the Space Shuttle external tank during the July 26 launch of the Discovery. (Yahoo) (SpaceDaily)
In Australia, New South Wales premier Bob Carr resigns and announces his disengagement from politics (ABC) (SBS)
Malaysia takes chairmanship of the ASEAN Standing Committee (Channel News Asia)
In China, the human death toll from an outbreak of the pig pathogen Streptococcus suis is 24. 21 are in critical condition and number of infections has increased to 117 BBC
In Kyrgyzstan, about 400 Vamshi Uzbek refugees who fled from Uzbekistan after crushing of an uprising last May will be moved to Romania (BBC) (MosNews) (Reuters)
An explosion destroys an ONGC oil-drilling platform in the Bombay High field area late in the afternoon. The blast occurred possibly after a shipping vessel docked nearby collided with the platform during high tide. (Express India) (NDTV) (Reuters AlertNet)
In Spain, police arrests 6 suspected members of the Basque separatist group ETA (EITB) (Reuters)
In France, court in Angers sentences 62 members of a child sex ring to up to 28 years in jail. Trial lasted 5 months (Euronews) (Reuters)
Other French court in Bonneville finds 13 people and companies guilty of manslaughter for the March 24 1999 Mont Blanc tunnel fire. Gerard Roncoli, the French head of security, received six months in jail and 24 months of suspended sentence (Euronews) (BBC) (IHT)

July 28, 2005 (Thursday)

Conflict in Iraq:
- Two people have died following an explosion which destroyed a train tanker carrying oil, believed to have been caused by a bomb on the tracks. [Death Toll Confirmed](BBC)
- Six Iraqi Soldiers have died following clashes in two Baghdad streets. (BBC)
Israeli-Palestinian Conflict: A Palestinian man has been shot dead by Israeli soldiers, who had suspected him of involvement in a Suicide bombing. (BBC)
Seven people have been killed and 38 others injured in an explosion on a moving passenger train in India. (BBC)
The Provisional IRA issues a statement formally ordering an end to the armed campaign it has pursued since 1969 and ordering all its units to dump their arms, with effect from 1600 BST today (1500 UTC). The IRA has been on "cease-fire" since 1996 and said it would follow a democratic path ending more than 30 years of violence. It will not, however, disband.(BBC) (RTE) (Guardian) (Transcript of Statement)
The strongest tornado in Britain in 25 years, rating a 2 on the Fujita scale, hits Birmingham, damaging homes and injuring 20 people. (BBC)
The Islamic Human Rights Commission has released a statement which claims that the number of attacks on South Asians in the UK has risen 13 fold since the July 2005 London bombings. (BBC)
Ugandans are voting in a referendum to decide whether to readopt a multi-party system (East African) (AllAfrica) (Reuters AlertNet) (BBC)
In India, Lal Krishna Advani of the Bharatiya Janata Party and seven others are charged with inciting riots in Ayodhya in 1992 (Newindpress) (The Hindu)
In the United States, the House of Representatives approves the Dominican Republic-Central America Free Trade Agreement, 217-215, sending the approved treaty to President George W. Bush. (Yahoo!)
The United States, China, India, Japan, South Korea and Australia have formed a partnership aiming to cut the emissions of gasses that lead to global warming. The agreement is known as the Asia Pacific Partnership on Clean Development and Climate.
In the US, number of American-Muslim scholars announce a fatwa that condemns terrorism and religious extremism (U.S State Department) (Reuters AlertNet)
In Serbia, Ljiljana Zelen-Karadžić, wife of Radovan Karadžić, goes public to ask her husband to give himself up (Fena) (B92) (IHT) (Reuters)
Poland recalls its ambassador to Belarus and demands that the European Union impose sanctions after Belarusian police storms the offices of the country's Polish minority (EUobserver) (Reuters AlertNet) (IHT)
In Canada, gene lab confirms that alleged sasquatch hairs actually belong to a bison (CBC) (Reuters)
In Bulgaria, Bulgarian Socialist Party fails to form a government due to hung parliament. President Georgi Parvanov approaches the National Movement Simeon II of former king Simeon Saxe-Coburg-Gotha (Euronews) (Reuters) (Sofia News Agency)
In Guinea-Bissau, electoral commission declares João Bernardo Vieira winner of the presidential election with a 52-55% majority (Reuters AlertNet) (BBC)
The UK government imposes a travel ban on Kenyan transport minister Chris Murungaru, who is investigated for corruption, forbidding him from visiting Britain (BBC) (KBC) (AllAfrica)

July 29, 2005 (Friday)

Astronomers have discovered a large new trans-Neptunian object, now called Eris, which is larger than Pluto. (Sky and Telescope). Also announced today was the discovery of two other large new Kuiper Belt objects, Haumea ((136108) 2003 EL₆₁) and Makemake ((136472) 2005 FY₉). New observations reveal Haumea to be about 70% the diameter of Pluto. The object is also orbited by two moons. (New Scientist)
Following a militant attack at Srinagar's city centre at Lal Chowk more than 10 people have been left injured. (Rediff)
Hamas, the main Palestinian opposition party in the Palestinian Authority, hold a mass wedding on the West Bank in which 226 couples performed the Nikah. (BBC)
The remaining three London bombing suspects have been arrested after raids in the UK and Italy. (BBC)
The President of Pakistan, Pervez Musharraf, has announced that all foreign students (around 1,400) are to leave the nation's Madrassas and go home. (BBC)
Conflict in Iraq: At least 25 New Iraqi Army recruits have been killed following an apparent suicide bomb attack in Rabia, near Mosul, in North West Iraq. (BBC)
Indian officials have raised the death toll of those suspected dead in the 2005 Maharashtra floods to more than 800. (BBC)
Indian bomb disposal experts have found traces of explosive in the train which exploded on Thursday killing 7 people. (BBC)
BBC News has been told, by the activist settler Noam Livnat, that 20,000 Israeli soldiers had signed a petition vowing to block any attempt at removing Israeli settlements from the Gaza Strip. (BBC)
In Vietnam, death toll on bird flu rises to 42. (Thahn Nien News) (Reuters AlertNet)
Initial results show that Ugandans have voted for a return to multi-party politics in a national constitutional referendum. The poll was marred by a low turnout.(BBC)
Robert Kilroy-Silk resigns as leader from Veritas, the political party he founded. (Guardian)

July 30, 2005 (Saturday)

Thousands of Czech riot police disperse the crowd at the annual free electronic music festival "CzechTek", leaving dozens injured. (CBC)
Conflict in Iraq: At least two British private security agents have been killed following an attack on a convoy in Basra, south Iraq. (BBC)
Lawyers for the former President of Iraq, Saddam Hussein, claim he was attacked by an unidentified man after questioning by the Iraqi special tribunal on Thursday; however the United States denies the event. (BBC)
Uzbekistan has reportedly given the United States six months to move out of a key base used for operations in Afghanistan.(BBC)
Russia begins to withdraw its troops from the military bases in Georgia (Mosnews) (Messenger, Georgia) (Euronews)

July 31, 2005 (Sunday)