February 9, 2005

• In Guyana, over 290,000 people (39% of the population), continue to be affected in the aftermath of serious floods resulting from torrential rains in mid January 2005, the worst for the region in 100 years. United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) yesterday launched a Flash Appeal (http://www.reliefweb.int/rw/RWB.NSF/db900SID/DDAD-69DR44?OpenDocument&rc=2&emid=FL-2005-000002-GUY) to cover both immediate and transitional needs.(Guyana Flood Information) (http://www.jouvay.com/guyana/) (Guyana Outpost) (http://guyana.gwebworks.com/news/news.shtml)

February 8, 2005

• Conflict in Iraq: Guerrillas in Baquba detonate a car bomb outside an Iraqi police headquarters, killing 15 and wounding 17. A suicide bomber in Mosul kills 12 policemen and injures 4 others. In another area of the city, guerrillas fire a dozen mortar rounds at a police station, killing 3 civilians. (Scotsman/AP) (http://thescotsman.scotsman.com/international.cfm?id=145912005)
• Israeli-Palestinian Conflict: A truce is declared between Israel and the Palestinian Authority. Abu Mazen, the Palestinian president, and the Prime Minister of Israel, Arial what's her name, shook hands at a four-way summit which also included Jordan and Egypt at Sharm al-Sheikh. HAMAS says it is not bound by the ceasefire. (BBC) (http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/middle_east/4245353.stm)
• In Denmark, parliamentary elections result in a continuation of the center-right coalition of Prime Minister Anders Fogh Rasmussen. (BBC) (http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/4245239.stm)
• In Nepal, phone lines and internet connections are restored.(BBC) (http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/south_asia/4245411.stm) (Sify) (http://headlines.sify.com/news/fullstory.php?id=13665657) At the same time, the army begins air strikes against Maoist troops. (Reuters) (http://www.reuters.com/newsArticle.jhtml?storyID=7563126&type=topNews)
• Swiss police are hunting three apparent burglars who yesterday briefly held hostages in the Spanish embassy in Bern. When the police stormed the building, the criminals had left the scene. An embassy security guard is in the hospital. (SwissInfo) (http://www.swissinfo.org/sen/swissinfo.html?siteSect=106&sid=5522077) (Reuters) (http://www.reuters.com/newsArticle.jhtml?type=worldNews&storyID=7558985)
• The president of Mexico, Vicente Fox, increases his personal security after an advisor reportedly leaked his itinerary to a Mexican drug cartel. (Reuters) (http://www.reuters.com/newsArticle.jhtml?type=worldNews&storyID=7559822) (Bloomberg) (http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=10000086&sid=aqOwEgU16kuk&refer=latin_america) (BBC) (http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/americas/4245479.stm)
• A ban on tobacco smoking in public places begins in Cuba (Reuters) (http://today.reuters.co.uk/news/newsArticle.aspx?type=healthNews&storyID=2005-02-07T183837Z_01_N07575465_RTRIDST_0_HEALTH-CUBA-SMOKING-DC.XML) (BBC) (http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/americas/4241897.stm)
• In China, the Ministry of Agriculture announces that it has developed a vaccine against bird flu spreading to humans (New Ratings) (http://www.newratings.com/new2/beta/article_682782.html) (BBC) (http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/asia-pacific/4242299.stm)
• The parliament in Greece is to elect a new president for the next five-year term.

February 7, 2005

• Englishwoman Ellen MacArthur sets a record for the quickest round-the-world solo sail. She completed the 27,354 mile journey in 71 days, 14 hours, 18 minutes and 33 seconds, breaking the old record of 72 days, 22 hours, 54 minutes and 22 seconds, set by Francis Joyon in 2004, which itself took 20 days off the previous record. (Associated Press (http://news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&u=/ap/20050207/ap_on_sp_ot/around_the_world_sailing_record)) (Sky News (http://www.sky.com/skynews/article/0,,30000-13297596,00.html))
• A number of people are taken hostage in the Spanish consulate in Bern, Switzerland (Reuters AlertNet) (http://www.alertnet.org/thenews/newsdesk/L07705978.htm) (SwissInfo) (http://www.swissinfo.org/sen/swissinfo.html?siteSect=111&sid=5520655) (BBC) (http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/4242491.stm)
• Nigerian President Olusegun Obasanjo asks other African states not to recognize the transfer of power in Togo to Faure Gnassingbé. The African Union has also condemned the move (Reuters AlertNet) (http://www.alertnet.org/thenews/newsdesk/L07700304.htm) (IAfrica) (http://iafrica.com/news/worldnews/411172.htm)
• Spanish police in the Canary Islands find a drifting boat containing 227 African migrants. (Reuters) (http://www.reuters.com/newsArticle.jhtml?type=worldNews&storyID=7547342) (BBC) (http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/4242055.stm)
• In Guatemala, the constitutional court stops a trial of 16 military officers accused of war crimes and killing hundreds of civilians (Reuters) (http://www.reuters.com/newsArticle.jhtml?type=worldNews&storyID=7545678) (BBC) (http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/americas/4238417.stm)
• In Malawi, president Bingu wa Mutharika quits the governing party, the United Democratic Front, stating he is fed up of criticism of his anti-corruption campaign. The party had debated whether to expel him for alleged misconduct. (IOL, SA) (http://www.iol.co.za/index.php?set_id=1&click_id=84&art_id=vn20050207064947534C277512) (SABC) (http://www.sabcnews.com/africa/southern_africa/0,2172,97324,00.html) (BBC) (http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/africa/4239145.stm)
• In Nepal, the state media reports that the new government of King Gyanendra of Nepal offers talks to Maoist rebels. At the same time, government forces begin a new offensive against them (Reuters AlertNet) (http://www.alertnet.org/thenews/newsdesk/SP287002.htm) (BBC) (http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/south_asia/4242169.stm)

February 6, 2005

• The New England Patriots win the Super Bowl, defeating the Philadelphia Eagles 24-21. (Wash. Times) (http://www.washtimes.com/national/20050207-124338-3803r.htm)
• U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice arrives in Israel to meet with Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon and Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas. (CNN) (http://www.cnn.com/2005/WORLD/meast/02/06/mideast/index.html)
• Thai Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra wins an unprecedented second term as prime minister, in the greatest electoral sweep in the nation's history. (CNN) (http://www.cnn.com/2005/WORLD/asiapcf/02/06/thailand.poll/index.html)
• Togo succession:
  • The Togolese parliament tries to legalize the accession to power of Faure Gnassingbé, son of Gnassingbé Eyadéma, by voting constitutional amendments. (Yahoo France - AFP) (http://fr.news.yahoo.com/050206/202/499xj.html)
  • The military of Togo is criticized by global leaders for suspending the constitution after the death of president Gnassingbé Eyadéma and naming his son successor. (BBC) (http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/africa/4241001.stm)
• Conflict in Iraq: Guerilla fighting leaves 22 dead, including two US troops. (Daily Times) (http://www.dailytimes.com.pk/default.asp?page=story_6-2-2005_pg7_1)
• The tobacco industry hails a US court of appeals ruling which rejected the government's $280bn claim for alleged deceit about smoking dangers. (BBC) (http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/business/4238467.stm)
• A gas leak in a hostel in Todolella, Spain kills 18 people. (BBC) (http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/4241599.stm)

February 5, 2005

• NATO helicopters find the wreckage of a Kam Air Boeing 737, an Afghan passenger jet in mountains east of Kabul; all 104 people on board are presumed dead. (ABC News) (http://abcnews.go.com/International/wireStory?id=473996)
• Bareilly, India: more than 250 grams of weapons-grade uranium are found in possession of two people arrested for drug peddling in India. (Times of India) (http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/articleshow/1012203.cms)
• President Gnassingbé Eyadéma of Togo dies of a heart attack at the age of 68 and is succeeded by his son Faure Eyadéma. (CNN) (http://www.cnn.com/2005/WORLD/africa/02/05/togo.president.ap/index.html)
• In the People's Republic of China, The Tenth Shaanxi Provincial People's Congress votes in favour of Acting Governor Chen Deming to become the next Governor of Shaanxi. (People's Daily) (http://www.people.com.cn/GB/paper464/14043/1252809.html) (ChinaBroadcast) (http://gb.chinabroadcast.cn/3821/2005/02/06/301@445416.htm)

February 4, 2005

• New observations from the Arecibo radio telescope confirm that asteroid 2004 MN4, once briefly considered an impact risk, will pass Earth on April 13, 2029 at a distance of 36,350 km (22,600 mi) and will reach magnitude 3.3, easily visible to the naked eye from Europe, Africa and western Asia. (Space.com) (http://www.space.com/spacewatch/050204_2004_mn4.html)
• United States: Alberto Gonzales becomes the first Hispanic U.S. Attorney General, confirmed by a 60-36 Senate vote split across party lines. (Washington Times) (http://www.washtimes.com/national/20050204-123544-7508r.htm)
• In Congo (Kinshasa), the equestrian statue of King Léopold of the Belgians, who founded the Congo Free State in 1885, is briefly re-erected in Kinshasa before it is again removed. (News24) (http://www.news24.com/News24/Africa/News/0,,2-11-1447_1657506,00.html) (BBC) (http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/africa/4235237.stm)
• Government of Uganda announces a new ceasefire of 18 days with the Lord's Resistance Army. (Reuters AlertNet) (http://www.alertnet.org/thenews/newsdesk/IRIN/14cef59bbf62ce081ced71f9b327e214.htm) (BBC) (http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/africa/4234087.stm)
• In Mauritania, four army officers who plotted coups against President Maaouya Ould Sid'Ahmed Taya each receive a life sentence instead of the expected death penalty after a four-month trial. The sentenced include former army major Saleh Ould Hanenna. (Reuters AlertNet) (http://www.alertnet.org/thenews/newsdesk/IRIN/03c34b7088f9cc1f9c01842adca1c0b9.htm) (Middle East Online) (http://www.middle-east-online.com/english/?id=12597)
• Watergate papers of the Washington Post reporters Bob Woodward and Carl Bernstein will go on public display. They still do not intend to reveal the identity of Deep Throat. (Reuters) (http://www.reuters.com/newsArticle.jhtml?type=politicsNews&storyID=7533015) (Washington Post) (http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A61824-2005Feb3.html)
• Same-sex marriage in the United States: The New York State Supreme Court rules that the state's ban on same-sex marriage violates the state constitution. The decision is stayed for 30 days. (CBC) (http://www.cbc.ca/story/world/national/2005/02/04/new-york-gay-marriage050204.html) (CNN) (http://www.cnn.com/2005/LAW/02/04/ny.gaymarriage.ap/index.html)

February 3, 2005

• Conflict in Iraq: At least 29 people are killed by opponents to the interim government and the occupying forces. This includes 3 US Marines. In one operation, 50 policemen are ambushed in Baghdad, leaving at least 2 dead, 14 wounded and 16 missing. (The Scotsman) (http://thescotsman.scotsman.com/international.cfm?id=131012005)
• Pope John Paul II's medical condition is "evolving positively" but the Vatican says the 84-year old pontiff will remain in hospital for another week. However, there is still concern over the pontiff's continuing fever, which some medical experts fear could be a sign of pneumonia.(CBC) (http://www.cbc.ca/story/world/national/2005/02/03/newpope050203.html)
• Prime Minister Zurab Zhvania of Georgia dies of gas poisoning. Zhvania was found dead by security guards, an apparent victim of carbon monoxide exposure. (Civil Georgia) (http://www.civil.ge/eng/article.php?id=8955) (Reuters) (http://www.reuters.com/newsArticle.jhtml?type=worldNews&storyID=7521565) (Interfax) (http://www.interfax.ru/e/B/0/28.html?id_issue=10745842) (BBC) (http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/4231653.stm)
• Greece hands over Dejan Milenkovic, main suspect of the murder of Serbian Prime Minister Zoran Djindjic, to Serbian authorities. (Athens News Agency) (http://www.ana.gr/anaweb/user/showplain?maindoc=2560496&service=10) (BBC) (http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/4230569.stm)
• Emergency measures of King Gyanendra of Nepal include media censorship. (BBC) (http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/south_asia/4231605.stm)
• A cargo plane crashes near Khartoum, Sudan, killing seven people. (Reuters) (http://www.reuters.com/newsArticle.jhtml?type=worldNews&storyID=7523258) (IOL) (http://www.iol.co.za/index.php?set_id=1&click_id=136&art_id=qw1107418862912B262) (BBC) (http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/africa/4231913.stm)
• In Cambodia, opposition leader Sam Rainsy is stripped of his parliamentary immunity. He may face libel charges, and has fled the nation. (Reuters AlertNet) (http://www.alertnet.org/thenews/newsdesk/BKK215881.htm) (BBC) (http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/asia-pacific/4231771.stm)

February 2, 2005

• Eleven people die in a Baghdad bombing, according to the Al-Zaman newspaper. Of these, eight are policemen or soldiers. (Informed Comment) (http://www.juancole.com)
• The IRA withdraws its weapons decommissioning offer because of claims that the organisation is connected to a Belfast bank raid last December in which £26.5m was stolen. (Ireland Online) (http://212.2.162.45/news/story.asp?j=108802780&p=yx88x336x&n=108803389) (Reuters) (http://olympics.reuters.com/newsArticle.jhtml?type=worldNews&storyID=7518536) (Bloomberg) (http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=10000087&sid=aHZ8othznuXE&refer=top_world_news) (BBC) (http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/northern_ireland/4231753.stm) (BBC) (http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/northern_ireland/4231951.stm)
• President of the United States George W. Bush delivers his 2005 State of the Union address. The section on Social Security reform is booed by some members of Congress, a very rare show of open disdain for the President during such a speech. Transcript (WP) (http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-srv/politics/transcripts/bushtext_020205.html)
• A former secret U.S. military investigative report on Guantánamo Bay is revealed to conclude there is no evidence of systemic detainee abuse but cited several cases of questionable physical force documented on videotape. Prisoners released have stated abuse is commonplace and one former U.S. National Guardsman received brain damage after being beaten while posing undercover as a rowdy detainee. All Freedom of Information Act requests by the ACLU for video and photographs depicting detainee treatment have been denied. (Newsday AP) (http://www.newsday.com/news/politics/wire/sns-ap-guantanamo-videotapes,0,901965.story)
• The unemployment rate hits a 70-year high in Germany. More than 5 million people are unemployed today in Germany. Ignoring different statistical methods and the different areas, that's the highest since the Great Depression and the Weimar Republic. BBC World (http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/business/4228739.stm).
• The cancellation of Star Trek: Enterprise is announced, marking the end of 18 consecutive years of Star Trek on television. (BBC) (http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/entertainment/tv_and_radio/4231873.stm)
• Jerusalem/Israel: Horst Koehler, President of Germany, has a special audience in the Knesset, the highest chamber of Israel. He says that Germany has to fight more aggressively against anti-semitism and far-rig