January 2005 - meaning of word
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January 2005



2005 : January 2005 - February 2005 - March 2005 - April 2005 - May 2005 - June 2005 - July 2005 - August 2005 - September 2005 - October 2005 - November 2005 - December 2005- January 2006
{| style="float: right; margin-left: 3em; margin-bottom: 2em" |- | |- | style="border: 1px solid #000000; background-color: #fff5f5; padding: 7px" | ===Deaths in January=== • January 29 Ephraim Kishon
• January 25 Philip Johnson
• January 23 Johnny Carson
• January 22 Parveen Babi
• January 20 Jan Nowak-Jezioranski
• January 17 Virginia Mayo
• January 17 Zhao Ziyang
• January 15 Ruth Warrick
• January 14 Rudolph Moshammer
* ''Recent deaths'' ===Ongoing events=== • Humanitarian response to the 2004 Indian Ocean earthquake
===Ongoing armed conflicts=== • Arab-Israeli conflict
• Chechnya
• Second Congo War
• Conflict in Iraq Occupation of Iraq, 2003-2004
• Darfur conflict in Sudan
• Civil war in Côte d'Ivoire * ''List of recent wars#Ongoing wars'' ===Upcoming celebrations=== February 2: Groundhog Day
February 2: Imbolc
February 7-February 13: Sapporo Snow Festival
February 8: Brazilian Carnival
February 8: Mardi Gras
February 9: Ash Wednesday
February 9: Chinese New Year
February 9: Korean culture#Festivals of the Lunar Calendar
February 9: Têt
February 14: St. Valentine's Day
March 17: St. Patrick's Day
March 20: Vernal equinox
March 21: Norouz
March 25: Good Friday
March 27: Easter
April 1: April Fool's Day
=== Upcoming elections === February 6: Thai national election, 2005
February 8: Danish parliamentary election, 2005
February 10–April 21: Saudi Arabia municipal elections, 2005
February 27: Kyrgyz parliamentary elections, 2005
May 17: British Columbia general election, 2005
June 17: Iranian presidential election, 2005
2005: United Kingdom general election, 2005
2005: New Zealand general election 2005
2005: Norwegian parliamentary election, 2005
* More: ''Electoral calendar'' === Election results in January === January 2: 2005 Presidential elections of Croatia, first round
January 9: Palestinian presidential election, 2005
=== Ongoing trials === Chile: Augusto Pinochet
International Criminal Tribunal for the Former Yugoslavia: Slobodan Milosevic
Iraq: Iraqi Special Tribunal
— Saddam Hussein, among others
India: Best Bakery case
India: Jayendra Saraswathi
Netherlands: Volkert van der Graaf
Netherlands: Mohammed Bouyeri
United States: Robert Blake (actor)
United States: Zacarias Moussaoui
United States: Charles Graner
===Related pages=== Wikipedia:How the Current events page works
List of '2005 in' articles
Wikipedia:Announcements |} __NOTOC__ ==January 31 2005== * Arab-Israeli Conflict: A ten-year-old Palestinian girl dies after being shot in the head as she played in her school playground in Rafah. The source of the gunfire is disputed. Hamas launches mortar shells in retaliation, damaging a house in an Israeli settlement.[http://english.aljazeera.net/NR/exeres/2211A473-A8A6-462C-A913-577DC5DD9F55.htm (Al Jazeera)][http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&cid=564&ncid=564&e=1&u=/nm/20050131/ts_nm/mideast_dc_242 (Reuters)] [http://www.jpost.com/servlet/Satellite?pagename=JPost/JPArticle/ShowFull&cid=1107228084937&p=1078027574097 (Jerusalem Post)] [http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/middle_east/4222595.stm (BBC)] [http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2005/02/02/world/main671061.shtml (CBS)][http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/spages/534451.html (Haaretz)] * Conflict in Iraq: US guards have shot dead four Iraqi prisoners following an alleged riot at the Camp Bucca prison in southern Iraq. [http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/middle_east/4224665.stm (BBC)] * US entertainer Michael Jackson pleads his innocence before his trial of Michael Jackson for alleged child molestation, 2005 begins in Santa Maria, California [http://www.reuters.com/newsArticle.jhtml?type=peopleNews&storyID=7476417 (Reuters)] [http://edition.cnn.com/2005/LAW/01/30/jackson.trial/ (CNN)] [http://www.latimes.com/news/local/la-me-statement31jan31,0,8135.story?coll=la-home-headlines (LA Times)] * In Chile, former head of DINA, general Manuel Contreras, has been sentenced to 12 years in jail for the 1975 disappearance of left-wing activist Miguel Angel Sandoval [http://www.reuters.com/newsArticle.jhtml?type=worldNews&storyID=7471015 (Reuters)] [http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/americas/4217519.stm (BBC)] * In Uganda, police have found the body of Shaban Kirunda Nkutu, killed in 1973 during the reign of Idi Amin [http://allafrica.com/stories/200501280388.html (AllAfrica)] [http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/africa/4215629.stm (BBC)] * The summit of the African Union begins in Nigeria, with 25 African heads of state and United Nations Secretary General Kofi Annan in attendance. [http://www.news24.com/News24/Africa/News/0,,2-11-1447_1654857,00.html (News24)] [http://www.reuters.co.uk/newsArticle.jhtml?type=worldNews&storyID=663535 (Reuters)] [http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/africa/4220447.stm (BBC)] * Bird flu spreads in Vietnam with the 12th reported death [http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=10000080&sid=am8oAjfWljfI&refer=asia (Bloomberg)] [http://www.reuters.com/newsArticle.jhtml?type=worldNews&storyID=7478755 (Reuters)] * In the Solomon Islands, former rebel leader Harold Keke is put on trial for the murder of a priest Augustine Geve [http://www.abc.net.au/news/newsitems/200501/s1292163.htm (ABC)] [http://www.channelnewsasia.com/stories/afp_asiapacific/view/130035/1/.html (Channel News Asia)] [http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/asia-pacific/4221589.stm (BBC)] * Sefer Halilovic, former head of the Bosnian army, goes on trial for killing Bosnian Croats during the Yugoslav wars [http://www.fena.ba/uk/vijest.html?fena_id=FSA221117&rubrika=ES (FENA)] [http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/4221361.stm (BBC)] * In France, 16 people and companies go on trial for effective manslaughter for the Mont Blanc Tunnel fire in 1999 [http://www.iht.com/articles/2005/01/30/news/tunnel.html (IHT)] [http://www.expatica.com/source/site_article.asp?subchannel_id=58&story_id=16308&name=Mont+Blanc+tunnel+disaster+trial+set+to+open (Expatica)] [http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/4221565.stm (BBC)] * Car bomb explodes in Dushanbe, the capital of Tajikistan [http://www.itar-tass.com/eng/level2.html?NewsID=1693936&PageNum=0 (ITAR-TASS)] [http://www.interfax.ru/e/B/0/28.html?id_issue=10744401 (Interfax)] [http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/asia-pacific/4221603.stm (BBC)] ==January 30 2005== * Conflict in Iraq: ** Iraqi National Assembly election, 2005 close in Iraq marking the first multi-party election in 50 years. Electoral officials estimate about a 50–70% turnout. A series of election day attacks across the country killed at least 44 people, mainly in Baghdad. The 275-member Iraqi National Assembly will create a new constitution, choose a new president and two new vice presidents. Most candidate names on the various party lists remained anonymous. [http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/middle_east/4220551.stm (BBC)] [http://www.reuters.com/newsArticle.jhtml?type=topNews&storyID=7476343 Reuters] [http://www.news24.com/News24/World/Iraq/0,,2-10-1460_1654779,00.html News24] ** Between nine and fifteen United Kingdom soldiers die as a C-130 Hercules transport plane crashes about 40km north west of Baghdad. The cause of the crash is under investigation. [http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/middle_east/4220649.stm (BBC)], [http://www.cnn.com/2005/WORLD/meast/01/30/iraq.britishplane/ (CNN)] * A firefight leaves 3 suspected militants and one Kuwaiti police officer dead after security forces raid an alleged hideout in Kuwait City. [http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/middle_east/4219741.stm (BBC)] * In eastern Sudan, demonstrators on their way to a meeting with tribal leaders clash with police leaving up to 17 protestors dead. A Sudanese general states that the protestors were looting and inciting violence against his men. Members of eastern tribes, mainly Beja, presented a list of demands which included better representation to the provincial governor three days ago. [http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/africa/4218591.stm (BBC)] * Former United Kingdom Labour Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, Chris Smith (UK politician), states he has been HIV positive for 17 years. [http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/politics/4219501.stm (BBC)] * In Spain, a bomb explodes at a hotel in the southwest town Denia injuring one. Police officials say the detonation occurred after a telephone warning from the Basque ETA group. Spanish parliament is scheduled to debate and vote on a Basque plan for independence from Spain in two days. [http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/4220605.stm (BBC)] * Talks between the Indonesian government and Free Aceh Movement leaders in Helsinki end a day early, possibly signaling a breakdown in negotiations. [http://www.iht.com/articles/2005/01/30/news/aceh.html (IHT)] * The deadline passes for the finalization of constituencies for Afghanistan's May 21 parliamentary elections, United Nations officials say. Though the constituencies were supposed to be set up 120 days before the election, officials have not yet announced an election delay. Violence still continues, particularly in the south of the country where the Taliban still remains active. [http://www.dailytimes.com.pk/default.asp?page=story_28-1-2005_pg4_16 (Pakistan Daily Times)] [http://www.reuters.co.uk/newsArticle.jhtml?type=worldNews&storyID=662727 (Reuters)] ==January 29 2005== *A low-key and tightly controlled funeral is held for purged People's Republic of China leader Zhao Ziyang.[http://www.cbc.ca/cp/world/050128/w012866.html (AP)][http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/asia-pacific/4211157.stm (BBC)] *Procter & Gamble plan to purchase competitor Gillette in a deal worth $52.4 billion. Industry experts, including Gillette CEO Jim Kilts, expect further industry consolidation this year, spurred in part by a 40% rise in oil prices last year and the need to gain clout against economic giant Wal-Mart. [http://quote.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=10000103&sid=aOnwXs1QSP88&refer=news_index (Bloomberg)] *The first Three Links between mainland China and Taiwan since Chinese Civil War will take place in time for the Chinese New Year.[http://abcnews.go.com/International/wireStory?id=452291 (Reuters)] [http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/asia-pacific/4215889.stm (BBC)] * A series of moderate-intensity aftershocks rattle the Andaman and Nicobar Islands and Sumatra in Indonesia over a month after the region was devastated by a earthquake-generated tsunami. No casualties or damage is reported. [http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/articleshow/1005177.cms (Times of India)] ==January 28 2005== *Riggs Bank agrees to pay a $16 million fine after pleading guilty to violating the Bank Secrecy Act by hiding transfers of millions of dollars in accounts controlled by Chilean despot Augusto Pinochet and top officials of Equatorial Guinea. [http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/nationworld/2002162985_riggs28.html (The Seattle Times)] * Michael McManus, author of the U.S.-wide syndicated newspaper column "Ethics & Religion", was paid $10,000 by the DHHS for writing articles promoting a marriage initiative. [http://www.salon.com/news/feature/2005/01/27/mcmanus/index_np.html (Salon)] *An Australian recently freed from Guantanamo Bay claims U.S. agents told him they killed his whole family and strung the interrogation room with faked photos of his wife and children with animals' heads. He also says he was sexual assault and menstruation blood had been put all over him before being left alone in a cell with no water. [http://www.news.com.au/story/0,10117,12062502-26618,00.html (news.com.au)] [http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&cid=514&e=3&u=/ap/20050127/ap_on_re_la_am_ca/guantanamo_sex_vs_faith (yahoo/AP)] *Asia's richest woman, Nina Wang, is formally charged with forgery of her kidnapped husband's will. [http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/asia-pacific/4214877.stm (BBC)] *Israeli-Palestinian Conflict: Hamas, contesting their first election, have swept to power in local elections in Gaza. [http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/middle_east/4214375.stm (BBC)] *Kim Beazley is re-elected to the leadership of the Australian Labor Party unopposed, succeeding Mark Latham, in the fourth leadership change since losing government in 1996. [http://www.abc.net.au/news/newsitems/200501/s1291120.htm (ABC News)]. *A month after the 2004 Indian Ocean earthquake and tsunamis, more than 1000 bodies a day are still being recovered in Aceh. [http://www.heraldsun.news.com.au/common/story_page/0,5478,12048399%255E1702,00.html (Melbourne Herald Sun)] * Latest investigation into the career of UK serial killer Harold Shipman increases the count of his victims to 284, the first having been killed just after he left medical school. [http://www.reuters.co.uk/newsArticle.jhtml?type=topNews&storyID=661968 (Reuters)] [http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/main.jhtml?xml=/news/2005/01/28/nship28.xml&sSheet=/portal/2005/01/28/ixportal.html (Telegraph)] [http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/manchester/4212627.stm (BBC)] * 70 Nobel Prize laureates have released a statement that supports United Nations Secretary General Kofi Annan in the face of US Republican calls for him to resign [http://www.reuters.com/newsArticle.jhtml?type=worldNews&storyID=7460961 (Reuters)] [http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/4214401.stm (BBC)] * Thailand's prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra demands that Malaysia extradition separatist leader of Gerakan Mujahideen Islam Pattani party known as Jehkumir Kuteh or Abdul Rahman Ahmad (in addition to other names). Malaysian government refuses because he is Malaysian but they would cooperate the best they can [http://thestar.com.my/news/story.asp?file=/2005/1/28/nation/10019675&sec=nation (Malaysia Star)][http://www.bangkokpost.com/News/28Jan2005_news02.php (Bangkok Post)] [http://www.alertnet.org/thenews/newsdesk/KLR62115.htm (Reuter AlertNet)] [http://www.channelnewsasia.com/stories/afp_asiapacific/view/129405/1/.html (Channel News Asia)] * In Russia, special forces have killed seven people in a fight against what they described as islamic militants. The fight happened in an apartment block in Nalchik near Chechnya border [http://www.reuters.com/newsArticle.jhtml?type=worldNews&storyID=7453817 (Reuters)] [http://www.mosnews.com/news/2005/01/27/nalchikoperation.shtml (MosNews)] [http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/4211625.stm (BBC)] * President of Ireland Mary McAleese causes an uproar when she says that Nazis taught their children to hate Jews like Northern Ireland Protestants taught theirs to hate Irish Catholics [http://212.2.162.45/news/story.asp?j=131791138&p=y3y79y844&n=131791898 (Ireland Online)] [http://www.rte.ie/news/2005/0127/mcaleese.html (RTE)] [http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/northern_ireland/4214263.stm (BBC)] * A heavy blizzard in Algeria causes death of at least 13 people and paralyzes traffic in the capital Algiers [http://www.reuters.com/newsArticle.jhtml?type=scienceNews&storyID=7452818 (Reuters)] [http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/africa/4213129.stm (BBC)] * In Bangladesh, a grenade attack kills former finance minister Shah AMS Kibria of Awami League and four others [http://www.alertnet.org/thenews/newsdesk/DHA11864.htm (Reuters Alertnet)] [http://www.channelnewsasia.com/stories/afp_asiapacific/view/129590/1/.html (Channel News Asia)] ==January 27 2005== * President of the Royal Society warns of oil industry' funding of Lobbying in the United Kingdom to cast skepticism over the debate on climate change. [http://www.guardian.co.uk/life/science/story/0,12996,1399585,00.html (Guardian)] * Conflict in Darfur: Around 100 people have been killed following an Air Raid into the Darfur region of Sudan according to the African Union. Jean Baptiste Natama, the A.U's spokesperson has described it as a "major ceasefire violation". [http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/africa/4211595.stm (BBC)] * Conflict in Iraq: At least 11 people are known to have died in Iraq today, including at least one United States United States Marine Corps. [http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=10000103&sid=aZ3uSGS2bq2Y&refer=us (Bloomberg)] * Holocaust survivors, former Red Army soldiers, leaders of more than 40 countries, and other people gather in Oswiecim, Poland for the 60th anniversary of the liberation of the Auschwitz concentration camp where more than 1 million people were killed. [http://www.reuters.co.uk/newsArticle.jhtml?type=topNews&storyID=662261 Reuters] [http://www.jpost.com/servlet/Satellite?pagename=JPost/JPArticle/ShowFull&cid=1106796046722 (Jerusalem Post)] [http://www.dw-world.de/dw/article/0,1564,1470778,00.html (Deutsche Welle)] [http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/4210841.stm (BBC)] [http://www.cbc.ca/cp/world/050126/w012642.html (CBC)] [http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=10000085&sid=aZArzrT6Gx2c&refer=europe (Bloomberg)] [http://www.alertnet.org/thenews/newsdesk/L26381430.htm (Reuters Alertnet)] *France national railways SNCF are severely disrupted by a 24-hour walkout by staff to protest the rape of a ticket inspector on a Toulouse - Cahors train on Tuesday. The inspector had been attempting to charge a man for not having a ticket. A 24 year old man was later arrested. The strike is due to end at 1500 UTC. [http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/europe/4211729.stm (BBC)] *Israeli-Palestinian Conflict: In an interview with Yedioth Ahronoth, Israeli Prime Minister of Israel, Ariel Sharon, has said he is "very satisfied" with President of the Palestinian Authority Mahmoud Abbas's efforts to restore calm. Sharon pledged to further peace process efforts with Abbas, with a meeting possible within two weeks. [http://www.swissinfo.org/sen/swissinfo.html?siteSect=143&sid=5496996 (Swiss Info)] [http://www.keralanext.com/news/indexread.asp?id=99687 (Kerala Next)] * New York radio station HOT 97 has suspended the staff of the show ''Miss Jones in the Morning''. The show came under criticism for broadcasting a parody song that ridicules the victims of the 2004 Indian Ocean Earthquake. [http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/entertainment/4211883.stm (BBC)] [http://www.reuters.com/newsArticle.jhtml?type=domesticNews&storyID=7440350 (Reuters)] [http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1496296/20050126/index.jhtml?headlines=true (MTV.COM)] * The fifth World Social Forum begins in Porto Alegre, Brazil. The event is accompanied by tens of thousands of activists [http://www.forbes.com/home/feeds/ap/2005/01/26/ap1784820.html (Forbes)] [http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/business/4208197.stm (BBC)] * In Burundi, South African mediator, deputy president Jacob Zuma has warned the president of the transitional government, Domitien Ndayizeye, not to try to change the draft document constitution to let himself run in the forthcoming elections [http://www.alertnet.org/thenews/newsdesk/L26416027.htm (Reuters Alertnet)] [http://www.iol.co.za/index.php?set_id=1&click_id=136&art_id=vn20050126063857101C454061 (IOL)] [http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/africa/4209819.stm (BBC)] * According to family members, funeral of the purged People's Republic of China Communist Party of China leader Zhao Ziyang will be held on next Saturday [http://www.reuters.co.uk/newsArticle.jhtml?type=worldNews&storyID=661542 (Reuters)] [http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/asia-pacific/4211157.stm (BBC)] [http://english.epochtimes.com/news/5-1-26/26033.html (Epoch Times)] * In a conference hosted by the Exxon Valdez Oil Spill Trustee Council, several scientists state that the ecology of Prince William Sound in Alaska still has not recovered from the 1989 Exxon Valdez oil spill [http://www.alertnet.org/thenews/newsdesk/N26549131.htm (Reuters Alertnet)] ==January 26 2005== * Condoleezza Rice is confirmed in the United States Senate by a vote of [http://www.senate.gov/legislative/LIS/roll_call_lists/roll_call_vote_cfm.cfm?congress=109&session=1&vote=00002 85-13] to become the first African American woman to serve as United States Secretary of State. [http://www.cnn.com/2005/ALLPOLITICS/01/26/rice.confirmation.ap/index.html (CNN)] [http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/americas/4209517.stm (BBC)] * After being incarcerated without trial for almost three years, the four British detainees at Guantanamo Bay, Moazzam Begg, Feroz Abbasi, Martin Mubanga and Richard Belmar, are free to go home, having been released without charge by the UK government. [http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/4210815.stm (BBC)] *Conflict in Iraq: 36 US soldiers have died in a single day in Iraq. A helicopter crash in western Iraq has claimed the lives of 30 US uS Marine Corps and a sailor. It is the single worst loss of life for US forces since they 2003 invasion of Iraq. Elsewhere insurgents killed 4 US troops in Anbar, and another soldier was killed in Baghdad following an Rocket propelled grenade attack. [http://www.reuters.com/newsArticle.jhtml?type=topNews&storyID=7437344 (Reuters)][http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/middle_east/4209269.stm (BBC)] * The World Economic Forum begins in Davos, Switzerland [http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/business/4206769.stm (BBC)] [http://www.swissinfo.org/sen/swissinfo.html?siteSect=106&sid=5492954 (SwissInfo)] [http://www.cnn.com/2005/WORLD/europe/01/25/davos.advancer.ap/ (CNN)] [http://www.forbes.com/business/feeds/ap/2005/01/25/ap1780523.html (Forbes)] * In Glendale, California, a Glendale train crash into a sports utility vehicle left on the tracks, derailing the train and sending it into another commuter train, killing 11 and injuring at least 100. Juan Manuel Alvarez, who allegedly drove the car to the railway in an attempt to commit suicide, is accused of eleven murders. [http://www.cnn.com/2005/US/01/26/train.survivors.ap/index.html (CNN)] [http://www.cnn.com/2005/US/01/26/train.derailment/ (CNN)] * United States Supreme Court rejects appeal of Florida governor Jeb Bush to keep brain damaged Terri Schiavo alive against the wishes of her husband. Her parents try to remove her husband from the post of her guardian [http://washingtontimes.com/upi-breaking/20050125-115520-6910r.htm (Washington Times)] * In Moscow, students from Guinea Bissau seize the country's embassy and take the ambassador as a hostage. They protest because they have not received their student's grants for more than a year [http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/4207659.stm (BBC)] * In Swaziland, country's main labour union have begun a two-day general strike to protest the new constitution because it would increase the power of the king Mswati III [http://www.alertnet.org/thenews/newsdesk/IRIN/4deed50a8c43ecc7598beb498bc33b8e.htm (Reuters AlertNet)] [http://allafrica.com/stories/200501250744.html (AllAfrica)] [http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/africa/4204619.stm (BBC)] * In Liberia, United Nations peacekeeping forces have sent troops and imposed a curfew to town of Harper to quell riots over alleged ritual killings [http://www.alertnet.org/thenews/newsdesk/IRIN/ac106ee8c379704257ee70909d0de22f.htm (Reuters AlertNet)] [http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/africa/4205301.stm (BBC)] * In People's Republic of China, the death sentence of Tibetan lama Tenzin Delek Rinpoche is commuted to life imprisonment [http://www.alertnet.org/thenews/newsdesk/HRW/38b8dcae458535ecc369327b3376595d.htm (Reuters AlertNet)] [http://hrw.org/english/docs/2005/01/25/china10071_txt.htm (Human Rights Watch)] [http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/asia-pacific/4208179.stm (BBC)] * A meteorite lands in Cambodia and sparks several fires. Some locals hope it is a divine omen for peace [http://www.reuters.com/newsArticle.jhtml?type=scienceNews&storyID=7430802 (Reuters)] * In Germany, the Bundesverfassungsgericht (supreme court) nullifies legislation that prevented tuition fees. Several states now are planing to introduce such fees. [http://www.studis-online.de/StudInfo/Gebuehren/tuition_fees.php] ==January 25 2005== * 2004 Indian Ocean earthquake: Indonesia has again raised its estimate of the number of people killed by December's earthquake and tsunami to 220,000; the total known to have been killed in the region is now 280,000. [http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/asia-pacific/4204385.stm (BBC)] * Camp X-Ray: The US has confirmed that 23 prisoners held in the Guantanamo Bay military base attempted a mass suicide two years ago. [http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/americas/4204027.stm (BBC)] [http://news.bbc.co.uk/media/news_web/video/40760000/bb/40760471_bb_16x9.asx (BBC video)] [http://edition.cnn.com/2005/US/01/24/suicidal.gitmo/index.html (CNN)] * Conflict in Iraq: The United States Army expects to keep 120,000 soldiers for at least two more years in Iraq, according to the Army's top operations officer, Lt. Gen. James J. Lovelace Jr. [http://msnbc.msn.com/id/6863956/ (MSNBC)] * Up to 300 Hindus are feared to have died in a stampede, reaction to a fire caused by a short circuit, near a temple in Wai, Maharashtra in the Satara district of western Maharashtra, India. Scores of others are crushed or burned. An estimated 300,000 people had gathered at the temple. [http://in.rediff.com/news/2005/jan/25satara.htm (Rediff, india)] [http://www.newkerala.com/news-daily/news/features.php?action=fullnews&id=64603 (New Kerala)] [http://www.alertnet.org/thenews/newsdesk/BOM50055.htm (Reuters Alertnet)] [http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/south_asia/4204877.stm (BBC)] * Israeli-Palestinian Conflict: Israel resumes construction of one of the most controversial parts of the Israeli West Bank barrier, around the Ariel, West Bank settlement, 20km into the West Bank. [http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/middle_east/4205663.stm (BBC)] * The nominees for the 77th Academy Awards are announced, with ''The Aviator'' and ''Finding Neverland'' leading with 11 and 7 nominations respectively. [http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/entertainment/film/4203219.stm (BBC)] [http://www.mtv.com/movies/news/articles/1496197/01252005/story.jhtml (MTV)] [http://msnbc.msn.com/id/6865817/ (MSNBC)] * After being incarcerated without trial for almost three years, the four remaining United Kingdom detainees at Guantanamo Bay, Moazzam Begg, Feroz Abbasi, Martin Mubanga and Richard Belmar, are released and flown back to the United Kingdom, where they are immediately arrested by British police. [http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/4204041.stm (BBC)] [http://www.guardian.co.uk/worldlatest/story/0,1280,-4755293,00.html (Guardian)] * Bill Gates donates $750 million through the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation to the Global Alliance for Vaccines and Immunisation, to provide vaccines to children in poor countries. This is one of the largest philanthropic donations ever made by a living donor. [http://www.guardian.co.uk/microsoft/Story/0,2763,1398004,00.html (Guardian)] * The George W. Bush is requesting an additional $80 billion from Congress of the United States for 2003 invasion of Iraq and U.S. invasion of Afghanistan, bringing the total cost of both operations over $280 billion. [http://www.reuters.com/newsArticle.jhtml?type=topNews&storyID=7416540 (Reuters)] [http://edition.cnn.com/2005/ALLPOLITICS/01/24/bush.war.funds/ (CNN)] * In Kenya, clashes between Kikuyu and Maasai in the Rift Valley have led to at least 14 deaths. The fight is over water rights of Ewaso Kedong River. [http://www.eastandard.net/hm_news/news.php?articleid=11554 (Standard, Kenya)] [http://allafrica.com/stories/200501240349.html (AllAfrica)] [http://www.alertnet.org/thenews/newsdesk/IRIN/4ad439171a1e9ea5dfabe24d7ca3cdea.htm (Reuters Alertnet)] * In the Republic of China, President of the Republic of China Chen Shui-bian names fellow Democratic Progressive Party member Frank Hsieh, as the new Premier of the Republic of China. He calls for a reconciliation with the political opposition, which maintained its ROC legislative election, 2004 in last month's elections. [http://www.channelnewsasia.com/stories/afp_asiapacific/view/128998/1/.html (Channel News Asia)] [http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=10000087&sid=ajkHZsOylViM&refer=top_world_news (Bloomberg)] * Large scale strikes begin in Andhra Pradesh, India, in protest of the killing of Paritala Ravi, a senior leader of Telugu Desam Party assassinated two days ago. [http://www.newkerala.com/news-daily/news/features.php?action=fullnews&id=64563 (New Kerala)] [http://www.hindustantimes.com/news/181_1213657,000900020004.htm (Hindustan Times)] [http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/south_asia/4204649.stm (BBC)] * Marcial Maciel, Mexican founder of Roman Catholic order of Legion of Christ resigns due to his age. The stepping down coincides with the Vatican investigation about claims that he had sexual abuse former members. [http://www.reuters.co.uk/newsArticle.jhtml?type=worldNews&storyID=660020 (Reuters)] [http://www.newsday.com/news/local/state/ny-bc-ct--legionariesofchri0124jan24,0,1018955.story?coll=ny-region-apconnecticut (Newsday)] ==January 24 2005== * Conflict in Iraq: A suicide car bomb is detonated near interim Prime Minister Iyad Allawi's Iraqi National Accord party office. Officials say Allawi was not in the area at the time and that seven policemen and three civilians were wounded. United States military officials confirm the death of one soldier in Mosul and state four of Iraq's 18 provinces, a quarter of the total population and predominately Sunni, will be unsafe to vote in Sunday's Iraqi National Assembly election, 2005. [http://www.reuters.com/newsArticle.jhtml?type=topNews&storyID=7405578 (Reuters)] * Yuliya Tymoshenko is appointed Prime Minister of Ukraine as one of President of Ukraine Viktor Yushchenko first official acts, before a state visit in Moscow. Her post still requires ratification by the Verkhovna Rada, Ukraine's parliament. [http://www.kyivpost.com/top/22236/ (Kyiv Post)] [http://www.guardian.co.uk/worldlatest/story/0,1280,-4752377,00.html (Guardian)] * New "Wall of Names" holocaust memorial is unveiled in Paris. The site will be officially opened on Thursday. [http://www.alertnet.org/thenews/newsdesk/L23434409.htm (Reuters)] [http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/spages/530897.html (Haaretz)] [http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/4200543.stm (BBC)] * In Sudan, leader of Sudan People's Liberation Army John Garang says that the northern government would have to say why the country should stay united. SPLM leadership is to ratify the peace deal with the Khartoum government later. [http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/africa/4200375.stm (BBC)] * JP Morgan Chase bank apologizes for its predecessors Canal Bank and Citizens' Bank which accepted slaves as collateral. [http://cbs2chicago.com/marketwatch/local_story_020225802.html (CBS2)] [http://www.vanguardngr.com/articles/2002/business/b224012005.html (Vanguard)] [http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/business/4193797.stm (BBC)] * In Kenya, attorney general Amos Wako gives an order to drop charges against journalist Kamau Ngotho. Ngotho was charged with libel after he wrote about government corruption. [http://www.legalbrief.co.za/article.php?story=20050124090929424 (Legalbrief)] [http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/africa/4194303.stm (BBC)] * In South Africa, 40 members of the country's parliament of South Africa will be charged with fraud for using parliamentary travel vouchers worth 17.5 million rand (currency) illegally. [http://iafrica.com/news/sa/340435.htm (IAfrica)] [http://www.iol.co.za/index.php?set_id=1&click_id=15&art_id=vn20050123143202363C599689 (IOL)] [http://www.guardian.co.uk/southafrica/story/0,13262,1396902,00.html (Guardian)] * In India, priest Sri Jayendra Saraswathi, his deputy Vijayendra Saraswathi and various other people have been charged for murder. Saraswathi has been released on bail after two months in prison and denies involvement. [http://www.ndtv.com/template/template.asp?template=Seerarrest&slug=Kanchi+Mutt+awaits+seer's+return&id=67282&callid=1&category=National (NDTV)] [http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/south_asia/4194291.stm (BBC)] * In the United Kingdom, Alan Roy Williams, a doctor who gave evidence against Sally Clark who was wrongfully convicted of the murder of her two sons, is charged with serious professional misconduct. [http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/health/4195213.stm (BBC)] * North Korea has cut its food rations to half the amount that the United Nations World Food Program recommends. U.N. officials say the cut appears temporary and is not unprecedented in a country where fluctuations in public food distribution are regular. [http://www.alertnet.org/thenews/newsdesk/SEO261659.htm (Reuters Alertnet)] * According to Finland-based Crisis Management Initiative group, Free Aceh Movement and the Indonesian government have agreed to negotiate for ceasefire in Helsinki. [http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=10000080&sid=aJyYHwV7K4qM&refer=asia (Bloomberg)] [http://www.canoe.ca/NewsStand/LondonFreePress/News/2005/01/24/908255-sun.html (London Free Press)] [http://www.alertnet.org/thenews/newsdesk/L23410981.htm (Reuters Alertnet)] * A 6.2 Richter scale earthquake in Palu, Central Sulawesi, Indonesia, results in one reported death. [http://www.channelnewsasia.com/stories/afp_asiapacific/view/128838/1/.html (ChannelNewsAsia)] [http://thestar.com.my/news/story.asp?file=/2005/1/24/latest/20950Indonesia&sec=latest (Malaysia Star)] ==January 23 2005== * The police chief in the capital of Somalia, Mogadishu, is shot dead. The new Somali government is slated to begin relocating from Kenya on February 1st. [http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/africa/4200083.stm (BBC)] * Conflict in Iraq: ** United States Ambassador John Negroponte confirms there is an investigation into the alleged loss or transfer of $300 million United States dollar to a Beirut bank by Iraqi interim Defence Minister, Hazim al-Shaalan to purchase arms. [http://www.abc.com.au/news/newsitems/200501/s1287364.htm (ABC AU)] ** The United States armed forces is planning to deploy telerobotics robots armed with machine guns and night vision to combat insurgents in Iraq. [http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/americas/4199935.stm (BBC)] * Viktor Yushchenko is :wikinews:Yushchenko Sworn In of Ukraine at a ceremony in Kiev before a large crowd of supporters and attended by numerous head of state and other dignitaries from around the world. [http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/4198957.stm (BBC)] [http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&e=1&u=/ap/20050123/ap_on_re_eu/ukraine_president (AP)] ==January 22 2005== * The Washington Post alleges that the Pentagon is running a clandestine military organization known as the Strategic Support Branch which is under the direct control of U.S. Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld. Allegedly it is used to bypass the limitations of working with the Central Intelligence Agency. The Pentagon stated "There is no unit that is directly reportable to the secretary of defense for clandestine operations" and the department "is not attempting to 'bend' statutes to fit desired activities". [http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/6856550/ (Washington Post/MSNBC)] [http://in.news.yahoo.com/050123/43/2j6oz.html#Scene_1 (Yahoo News)] * The Tsunami relief concert is held at the Millennium Stadium, Cardiff, in aid of the victims of the 2004 Indian Ocean earthquake, raising over £1.25 million (€1.8 million or $2.4 million), making it the biggest charity concert in the United Kingdom since Live Aid in 1985. [http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/wales/4195985.stm (BBC)] * U.S. Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld cancels his attendance at the Munich Security Conference in February due to a war crimes investigation filed against him in Germany by the New York-based Center for Constitutional Rights in connection with detainee abuses at Iraq's Abu Ghraib prison. [http://www.expatica.com/source/site_article.asp?subchannel_id=26&story_id=16014&name=Rumsfeld+scraps+Munich+visitover+%27war+crimes%27+probe (Expatica)] [http://www.dw-world.de/dw/article/0,1564,1465263,00.html (DW)] * Song Xiuyan is confirmed by the 3rd Plenum of the 10th Qinghai People's Congress as Governor of Qinghai, making her the only female Provincial Governor in the People's Republic of China at the time. [http://www4.chinesenewsnet.com/gb/MainNews/SinoNews/Mainland/zxs_2005-03-29_556207.shtml (ChineseNewsNet)] * Israeli-Palestinian Conflict: The al-Aqsa Martyrs' Brigades agrees to a ceasefire if Israel will promise to fully halt military operations inside the West Bank and Gaza Strip, including arrest raids and assassinations and releases Palestinian prisoners from its jails. The militant group rejects Israel's offer to ease operations. [http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/middle_east/4198271.stm (BBC)] [http://today.reuters.com/news/newsArticle.aspx?type=topNews&storyID=2005-01-22T174931Z_01_N22668666_RTRIDST_0_NEWS-MIDEAST-DC.XML (Reuters)] [http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/spages/530080.html (Haaretz)] * Conflict in Iraq: ** The Association of Muslim Scholars negotiates the release of 8 Chinese hostages kidnapped by the Islamic Resistance Movement (Iraq). [http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/middle_east/4197405.stm (BBC)] [http://www.reuters.com/newsArticle.jhtml?type=topNews&storyID=7400128 (Reuters)] ** The International Organization for Migration extends voter registration for 2 days for Iraqis living abroad due to low turnout. Ansar al-Sunna announces it has executed 15 kidnapped Iraqi National Guard. [http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/middle_east/4198071.stm (BBC)] [http://today.reuters.com/news/newsArticle.aspx?type=worldNews&storyID=2005-01-22T191401Z_01_N22667410_RTRIDST_0_INTERNATIONAL-IRAQ-ELECTIONS-EXPATRIATES-DC.XML (Reuters)] * Eid ul-Adha the second in the series of Eid festivals that Muslims celebrate. * In the basement of a hotel in the New York City borough of Queens, people hold a memorial service for the late Chinese leader Zhao Ziyang. This memorial follows the one held in the Shangri-la hotel yesterday. [http://www.nytimes.com/2005/01/23/nyregion/23protest.html (NYT)] ==January 21 2005== *In Belize, the Unrest in Belize in 2005 continues for a second day. Water has been cut and government buildings have been torched. [http://new.channel5belize.com/#a1 (Belize channel 5)] [http://www.7newsbelize.com/ (Belize channel 7)] * Israeli-Palestinian Conflict: **The Palestinian Authority redeploys paramilitary police in Gaza for the first time since the outbreak of the Al-Aqsa Intifada. [http://reuters.myway.com/article/20050121/2005-01-21T141433Z_01_L21551373_RTRIDST_0_NEWS-MIDEAST-DC.html (Reuters)] ** Hamas publishes a document in which it recognizes the 1967 borders. [http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/spages/530313.html (Haaretz)] * B15A, the world's largest iceberg with 160 km length, seems to have run aground in Antarctica, threatening to cut off supply ships for a number of scientific research stations and to starve tens of thousands of penguins. [http://www.cbc.ca/story/science/national/2005/01/20/iceberg-050120.html (CBC)] * Conflict in Iraq: ** 5 Denmark troops, including an army intelligence officer, have been charged with mistreating Iraqi prisoners in southern Iraq last year. [http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/4195021.stm (BBC)] ** At least 14 people die in a car bombing at a Shi'a mosque in Iraq's capital, amid threats of a long war from a key militant. [http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/middle_east/4194027.stm (BBC)] * In Lucerne, Switzerland, a trial opens against a nurse accused of killing 24 patients. [http://www.swissinfo.org/sen/swissinfo.html?siteSect=106&sid=4630337 (SwissInfo)] * The Italy government condemns the destruction of an Italian cemetery in Mogadishu, Somalia. Local militia wanted to clear the area for a base. [http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/africa/4193303.stm (BBC)] * Italian police have arrested number of people connected to people smuggling of illegal immigrants from Libya. [http://www.agi.it/english/news.pl?doc=200501201122-1031-RT1-CRO-0-NF11&page=0&id=agionline-eng.oggitalia (AGI)] [http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/4191781.stm (BBC)] * Chilean judge Sergio Munoz intends to launch an international investigation for secret bank accounts of Augusto Pinochet. [http://www.reuters.com/newsArticle.jhtml?type=worldNews&storyID=7385208 (Reuters)] [http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/americas/4193269.stm (BBC)] * In France, teachers and civil servants join the growing numbers of strike action to protest over job cuts in the public sector. [http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/4190275.stm (BBC)] [http://www.reuters.com/newsArticle.jhtml?type=worldNews&storyID=7385592 (Reuters)] * The relatives of victims of Russian submarine Kursk disaster appeal to the European Court of Human Rights for an additional investigation into the catastrophe. [http://www.mosnews.com/news/2005/01/20/kurskclaim.shtml (Mosnews)] [http://www.sptimes.ru/archive/times/1037/news/n_14642.htm (St.Petersburg Times)] * France extradition Holger Pfahls, former German deputy defence minister suspected of corruption. [http://www.dw-world.de/dw/article/0,1564,1464092,00.html (Deutsche Welle)] [http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=10000100&sid=afWUrSFQ2weQ&refer=germany (Bloomberg)] [http://www.politinfo.com/articles/article_2005_01_20_2645.html (PolitInfo)] ==January 20 2005== *Grenada switches recognition from the Republic of China (Taiwan) to the People's Republic of China following a million dollar aid deal from the PRC. This brings the number of countries that officially recognize the ROC to 25. [http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/asia-pacific/4190295.stm (BBC)] *In Belize, Unrest in Belize in 2005 boils over as people burn the government offices and union workers strike, closing ports and shutting down water services. There are reports that the United Kingdom says it will send in 1500 soldiers to maintain peace. [http://www.belizetimes.bz/news/story/3933.shtml Belizetimes] [http://new.channel5belize.com/#a1 Belize channel 5] [http://www.7newsbelize.com/ Belize channel 7] [http://www.amandala.com.bz/index.php?story=404 (Amandala)] [http://www.belizean.com/mt-static/archives/2005/01/civil_unrest_in.html (Belizean)] *Israeli-Palestinian Conflict: Israeli soldiers shoot dead a 13 or 14 year old Palestinian boy, after he points a toy rifle at them, and kill another 13 year old boy walking with his parents near Rafah. [http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/middle_east/4191513.stm (BBC)] * United States: ** U.S. President George W. Bush is sworn in for his George W. Bush's second term as president of the United States, with a pledge to seek "[http://www.whitehouse.gov/nsc/nss.pdf freedom in all the world]". [http://apnews.myway.com/article/20050120/D87NU0RG0.html (AP)] ** U.S. Vice President Dick Cheney blames Saddam Hussein for the slow pace of the Iraqi reconstruction: "I think the hundreds of thousands of people who were slaughtered at the time, including anybody who had the gumption to stand up and challenge him, made the situation tougher than I would have thought." [http://news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&cid=544&u=/ap/20050120/ap_on_go_pr_wh/inaugural_cheney_1&printer=1 (AP)] ** A series of anti-war protests and rallies occur in Washington DC and other cities during the inauguration of George W. Bush. Police engage some snowball throwing protesters with pepper spray and batons. [http://www.reuters.com/newsArticle.jhtml?type=domesticNews&storyID=7385987 (Reuters)] [http://newstandardnews.net/content/index.cfm/items/1400 (NewStandard)] [http://www.democracynow.org/article.pl?sid=05/01/21/1531219 (Democracy Now!)] * Hajj: ** Pilgrims on Hajj celebrate Eid ul-Adha in Saudi Arabia, and prepare to stone the Jamaraat that represent satan, and eat meat of a newly killed animal, while giving meat to those less fortunate as ''qurbani''. Hajj Celebrations will also be held around the world, but some will wait until Friday. [http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/middle_east/4180965.stm (BBC)] ** The most senior Islamic cleric in Saudi Arabia, Sheik Abdul-Aziz al-Sheik, again uses his Hajj sermon to speak out against terrorism, saying that the militants "were lured by the devil", and also states, "''Faith does not mean killing Muslims or non-Muslims who live among us, it does not mean shedding blood, terrorising or sending body parts flying.''" [http://www.suntimes.com/output/news/cst-nws-hajj20.html (Chicago Sun-Times)] [http://www.guardian.co.uk/saudi/story/0,11599,1394920,00.html (The Guardian)] * The Republic of Ireland, one of the last countries to use non-metric speed limits, officially metrication all road signage and regulations to use kilometres per hour (km/h). Speed limits in Northern Ireland remain in miles per hour (mph). [http://www.rte.ie/news/2005/0120/metric.html (RTÉ)] [http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/northern_ireland/4180479.stm (BBC)] * In Ukraine, the Supreme Court dismisses prime minister Viktor Yanukovych's appeal and confirms that Viktor Yushchenko has won the presidential election. [http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=10000085&sid=aLwNCPkUqOo0&refer=europe (Bloomberg)] [http://www.tass.ru/eng/level2.html?NewsID=1658745&PageNum=0 (ITAR-TASS)] [http://olympics.reuters.com/newsArticle.jhtml?type=worldNews&storyID=7375821 (Reuters)] [http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/4190161.stm (BBC)] * Heads of State of Guinea of Guinea Lansana Conté survives an apparent assassination attempt. [http://iafrica.com/news/worldnews/404918.htm (IAfrica)] [http://www.reuters.com/newsArticle.jhtml?type=worldNews&storyID=7374474 (Reuters)] * Brazil offers to mediate between Colombia and Venezuela in a disagreement about the capture of Rodrigo Granda. [http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/americas/4190035.stm (BBC)] * In Peru, after vice president David Waisman faints during a TV interview, List of Presidents of Peru Alejandro Toledo demands that criticism of his government be toned down. [http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/americas/4190099.stm (BBC)] * Cuba announces a ban of smoking in public places that is due to begin next month. Cigars are one of Cuba's main exports. [http://www.alertnet.org/thenews/newsdesk/N19639243.htm (Reuters Alertnet)] [http://www.jamaicaobserver.com/news/html/20050119T200000-0500_73538_OBS_CUBA_TO_BAN_SMOKING_IN_PUBLIC_PLACES_.asp (Jamaica Observer)] * The trial of Bernie Ebbers, former CEO of WorldCom, begins in New York with the jury selection. [http://management.silicon.com/government/0,39024677,39127176,00.htm (Silicon.com)] [http://www.newsday.com/business/ny-bzwcom194118946jan19,0,6638546.story?coll=ny-business-headlines (Newsday)] * Mars (planet) Mars rover ''MER-B'' uses its spectrometers to prove that Heat Shield Rock is a meteorite, the first to be found on another planet. [http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/sci/tech/4192617.stm (BBC)] [http://www.space.com/missionlaunches/mars_meteor_050120.html (Space.com)] ==January 19, 2005== * 2004 Indian Ocean earthquake: The number of people known to have died in last month's Asian tsunami has reached 226,000, following an announcement by Indonesian officials that more than 166,000 had been confirmed dead in their country alone. [http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/asia-pacific/4189883.stm (BBC)] * Hajj: Around two million Muslims from around the world are converging on Mount Arafat for the most important day of the annual Hajj pilgrimage to Mecca. [http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/middle_east/4186839.stm (BBC)] * Israeli-Palestinian Conflict: ** Following negotiations with President Abu Mazen, Zachariya Zubaidi, the leader of the Al Aqsa Martyrs Brigade, has announced that his militant group are to halt attacks inside Israel but said it would continue to strike at Israelis in the West Bank and Gaza Strip. [http://english.aljazeera.net/NR/exeres/1410E40C-1E37-4747-873C-63F2DFB54D8F.htm (Al Jazeera)] ** Israel has lifted a ban on contacts with new Palestinian leader Mahmoud Abbas. [http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/middle_east/4189007.stm (BBC)] ** The top Palestinian security commander, Abdul Razeq Majaydeh, has promised swift action to stop militant attacks against Israel and has deployed Security forces along the border between the Gaza Strip and Israel "''to prevent violations''". [http://newsfromrussia.com/world/2005/01/19/57901.html (Pravda)][http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/middle_east/default.stm (BBC)] ** IDF forces killed two Palestinian militants who threw grenades at Israeli soldiers near the Israeli Gaza Strip barrier. [http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/spages/529301.html (Haaretz)] ** In Nablus, IDF Shayetet-13 forces arrest 13 suspected Hamas members and demolished two buildings. [http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/spages/529301.html (Haaretz)] ** Hamas has said that its meeting with President Abu Mazen was "''positive''", but has not indicated if an agreement on a cease-fire, or Hudna, has been made. [http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/2005-01/19/content_2482295.htm (China View)] * Japan Meteorological Agency issues tsunami warnings near the Izu island chain south of Tokyo after a strong undersea earthquake (6.8 on the Richter scale). [http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=10000101&sid=a.0Ut6ZRfFx0&refer=japan (Bloomberg)], [http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/asia-pacific/4186601.stm (BBC)], [http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/2005-01/19/content_2481339.htm (Xinhua)] * In Peru, prime minister Carlos Ferrero and defence minister Roberto Chiabra survive a censure motion in parliament connected to earlier nationalist uprising in January. [http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/americas/4186371.stm (BBC)] * The Indian Army says that Pakistan has violated ceasefire after a mortar fire over the military line that divides Kashmir. Pakistan denies the charge. [http://www.expressindia.com/fullstory.php?newsid=40921 (ExpressIndia)] [http://www.alertnet.org/thenews/newsdesk/SP75863.htm (Reuters Alertnet)] [http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/south_asia/4186547.stm (BBC)] * Indonesian foreign minister Hassan Wirayuda says that he wishes to start formal peace talks with Free Aceh Movement. [http://www.thejakartapost.com/detaillatestnews.asp?fileid=20050119160320&irec=0 (Jakarta Post)] [http://www.reuters.com/newsArticle.jhtml?type=worldNews&storyID=7363507 (Reuters)] [http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/asia-pacific/4186609.stm (BBC)] * Scott Polar Research Institute in Cambridge has began to restore a hut of Sir Ernest Shackleton on the South Pole. [http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/science/nature/4185851.stm (BBC)] ==January 18, 2005== * Israeli-Palestinian conflict: ** Palestinian suicide bomber killed one and wounded six Israelis in Gush Katif junction in the Gaza Strip. Hamas claimed responsibility. [http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/spages/528761.html (Haaretz)] * Bao Tong, Zhao Ziyang's former secretary and the highest ranking official to be jailed after the Tiananmen Square protests of 1989 is blocked from paying his respects at a mourning hall set up in Zhao's Beijing home. Bao's wife, Jiang Zongcao, was injured in the scuffle with plain-clothes police and had to be hospitalized.[http://www.metronews.ca/reuters_international.asp?id=51156 (Reuters)] * Conflict in Iraq: **Iraq is to close all its land borders for three days around the Iraqi National Assembly election, 2005 in an attempt to enhance security, election officials have said. [http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/middle_east/4183243.stm (BBC)] ** Syrian Catholic Archbishop of Mosul Basile Georges Casmoussa is kidnapped in Iraq. The Vatican condemns the act and demands his release; Casmoussa is later freed. [http://www.cwnews.com/news/viewstory.cfm?recnum=34711 (Catholic World News)] [http://www.reuters.com/newsArticle.jhtml?type=worldNews&storyID=7347475 (Reuters)] [http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/middle_east/4183131.stm (BBC)] * A United Nations World Conference on Disaster Reduction in Kobe, Japan begins. About 3,000 government officials, non-governmental experts and other specialists from around the world will discuss the growing trend of people affected by natural disasters. [http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/asia-pacific/4183181.stm (BBC)] [http://www.unisdr.org/wcdr/ (WCDR Official Site)] * The government of Sudan signs a preliminary peace treaty with the National Democratic Alliance (Sudan), an opposition umbrella group of rebels in the north and east of the country. [http://www.sudantribune.com/article.php3?id_article=7577 (Sudan Tribune)] [http://www.islam-online.net/English/News/2005-01/17/article07.shtml (IslamOnline)] [http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/africa/4180961.stm (BBC)] * In France, labour unions are threatening to begin a succession of strikes to protest against the government of president Jacques Chirac. [http://www.expatica.com/source/site_article.asp?subchannel_id=58&story_id=15828&name=France+braces+for+week+of+anti-reform+strikes (Expatica)] [http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/4182961.stm (BBC)] * The Airbus A380 is officially launched at a ceremony in the main France Airbus factory in Toulouse. Carrying between 550 and 840 passengers (depending on configuration), the double decker A380 is now the largest passenger airliner in the world. [http://www.reuters.co.uk/newsArticle.jhtml?type=topNews&storyID=655866 (Reuters)] [http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/business/4183201.stm (BBC)] * Mark Latham, leader of Australia's opposition Australian Labor Party, resigns from his position and from Parliament of Australia due to ill health. Possible replacements include former deputy prime minister Kim Beazley, shadow foreign minister Kevin Rudd and shadow health minister Julia Gillard. [http://www.heraldsun.news.com.au/common/story_page/0,5478,11979884%255E1702,00.html (Melbourne Herald Sun)] [http://www.abc.net.au/pm/content/2005/s1284214.htm (ABC)] [http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/asia-pacific/4183267.stm (BBC)] * The United Nations World Food Program appeals for aid to Mauritania, after drought and large desert locust swarms destroy the harvest. [http://allafrica.com/stories/200501170001.html (AllAfrica)] [http://www.planetark.com/dailynewsstory.cfm/newsid/29051/story.htm (Planet Ark)] [http://www.alertnet.org/thenews/newsdesk/IRIN/b1038cfffec750de91fed12a69d1ced5.htm (Reuters Alertnet)] * Two former Bosnian Serb officers, Vidoje Blagojevic and Dragan Jokic, have been convicted and imprisoned for their complicity in the Srebrenica massacre in 1995. [http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/4181603.stm (BBC)] ==January 17, 2005== * State television and radio in the People's Republic of China make no announcement of Zhao Ziyang's death. Newspapers carry a short five-line announcement. Zhao's secretary Bao Tong and other dissidents and activists call for democratic reforms. Messages of condolence posted on the ''People's Daily'' and sina.com message boards are promptly deleted. [http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/asia-pacific/4183101.stm (BBC)] [http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/asia-pacific/4181811.stm (BBC)] * An Indian train fire that killed up to 60 Hindus and sparked deadly religious 2002 Gujarat violences in 2002 was started by accident - not firebombs thrown by Muslims as had been reported, an Indian Railways inquiry headed by a retired Judge Bannerjee has said. Justice Banerjee said that according to eyewitness accounts people had been cooking in the carriage at the time it caught fire. [http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/south_asia/4180885.stm (BBC)] *Investigative reporter Seymour Hersh writes in ''The New Yorker'' [http://www.newyorker.com/fact/content/?050124fa_fact] that sources inside the military and the intelligence communities say the United States administration has indicated its resolve to attack Iran and to conduct broad covert action in many countries. The Pentagon released an official statement saying "Mr. Hersh's article is so riddled with errors of fundamental fact that the credibility of his entire piece is destroyed." [http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/americas/4180087.stm (BBC)] [http://www.dod.mil/releases/2005/nr20050117-1987.html (DOD)] *Zhao Ziyang, former Premier of the People's Republic of China and General Secretary of the Communist Party of China, dies at age 85. [http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/2005-01/17/content_2469618.htm (XinhuaNet)], [http://www.reuters.com/newsArticle.jhtml;jsessionid=PTJ3UZ0U33ZLCCRBAELCFEY?type=worldNews&storyID=7340215 (Reuters)], [http://www.cnn.com/2005/WORLD/asiapcf/01/16/china.zhao/index.html (CNN)], [http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/asia-pacific/4177135.stm (BBC)]. * Croatian president Stipe Mesic is elected for a second term. [http://www.reuters.co.uk/newsArticle.jhtml?type=worldNews&storyID=655109 (Reuters)] * A subway crash in Bangkok, Thailand, injures over 100. [http://thestar.com.my/news/story.asp?file=/2005/1/17/latest/20792Bangkoksu&sec=latest (Malaysia Star)] [http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/asia-pacific/4180109.stm (BBC)] * Scandinavian prime ministers Göran Persson, Kjell Magne Bondevik and Matti Vanhanen visit Thailand in the aftermath of the 2004 Indian Ocean Earthquake. [http://www.scandasia.com/view.php?id=1305&im=no (ScandAsia)] [http://www.bangkokpost.com/News/17Jan2005_news02.php (Bangkok Post)] [http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/asia-pacific/4179197.stm (BBC)] * James Morris, the head of the United Nations World Food Program, visits Tamil Tigers over the objections of the Sri Lankan government [http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=10000080&sid=au5grRfX55kY&refer=asia (Bloomberg)] [http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/south_asia/4177519.stm (BBC)] * Venezuela has rejected the suggestion of Colombia to hold a regional summit to resolve the dispute over the capture of FARC leader Rodrigo Granda. Hugo Chávez states that he is willing to discuss the matter personally with Álvaro Uribe. [http://www.falkland-malvinas.com/Detalle.asp?NUM=4981 (MercoPress)] [http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/americas/4179759.stm (BBC)] * Two people sue the Metropolitan Police in London, which detained them after the May Day riots in 2001. [http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/4179977.stm (BBC)] [http://www.guardian.co.uk/uk_news/story/0,3604,1391969,00.html (Guardian)] [http://www.politics.co.uk/domestic-policy/met-challenged-over-may-day-policing-$7582477.htm (Politics.co.uk)] * In Kobe, Japan, people remember the victims of the 1995 Great Hanshin earthquake. At the same time, there is a large disaster conference in the city. [http://www.asahi.com/english/nation/TKY200501170138.html (Asahi Shimbun)] [http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=10000101&sid=awIKZ56yu0Q0&refer=japan (Bloomberg)] [http://www.channelnewsasia.com/stories/afp_asiapacific/view/127711/1/.html (Channel News Asia)] ==January 16, 2005== * Adriana Iliescu becomes the List of oldest birth mothers to give childbirth, at age 66. * Israeli-Palestinian Conflict: ** An Israeli tank shell has killed a Palestinian woman and her son in Khan Younis refugee camp in southern Gaza. [http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/middle_east/4179327.stm (BBC)] ** Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon instructs the army to take action against terrorism and Palestinian rocket attacks stating it was to be "''without restrictions, I emphasize, without restrictions''" following an attack by militants at a Gaza crossing that killed 6 Israelis, which followed several Israeli raids into the West Bank and Gaza which killed dozens of Palestinians. [http://news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&u=/ap/20050117/ap_on_re_mi_ea/israel_palestinians_12 (AP)] [http://www.guardian.co.uk/israel/Story/0,2763,1391972,00.html (The Guardian)] ** The Palestine Liberation Organization has called for an end to attacks by Palestinian militant groups against Israelis. [http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/middle_east/4179327.stm (BBC)] ** Egyptian President of Egypt Hosni Mubarak has called on Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon to resume contacts with Mahmoud Abbas, the new President (''Ra'ees of the Palestinian Authority'') of the Palestinian National Authority. Sharon had cut off all contact with the new Palestinian leader before he was inaugurated supposedly because Israel believes Palestinian officials aided the Militants attacks of the Karni checkpoint. [http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/middle_east/4179489.stm (BBC)] [http://www.guardian.co.uk/israel/Story/0,2763,1391972,00.html (The Guardian)] ==January 15, 2005== *The Straits Aviation Exchange Commission and Taipei Airlines Association announce that the first three links between mainland China and Taiwan since Chinese Civil War will be allowed to occur during the Chinese New Year holidays. [http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/asia-pacific/4176847.stm (BBC)] *Zhao Ziyang, former Premier of the People's Republic of China and General Secretary of the Communist Party of China, is in a coma after multiple Cerebrovascular accident. [http://www.cnn.com/2005/WORLD/asiapcf/01/15/china.zhao/index.html (CNN)], [http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/asia-pacific/4177135.stm (BBC)], [http://www.reuters.com/newsArticle.jhtml?type=worldNews&storyID=7337004 (Reuters)] *Conflict in Iraq: US-led forces in Iraq have destroyed and contaminated precious ancient Babylonian archaeological evidence and sites according to a report by the British Museum. [http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&u=/afp/20050115/wl_mideast_afp/iraqbritainus&cid=1514&ncid=1480 (AFP)] [http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&u=/ap/20050115/ap_on_re_mi_ea/iraq_babylon&cid=540&ncid=1480 (AP)] *Palestinian presidential election, 2005: ** Mahmoud Abbas (a.k.a. Abu Mazen) is sworn in as president of the Palestinian Authority in a ceremony in the West Bank town of Ramallah, six days after winning the Palestinian presidential election, 2005. [http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/middle_east/4176759.stm (BBC)] ** Dozens of Palestinian election officials resigned, alleging irregularities and intimidation in Sunday's Palestinian presidential election, 2005. [http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/middle_east/4176759.stm (BBC)] * Israeli-Palestinian Conflict ** Mahmoud Abbas, the new Palestinian President, has called for an end to the violence, and a mutual ceasefire between the Israelis and the Palestinian Militant factions. [http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/middle_east/4176759.stm (BBC)] ** Qassam rocket fire hits Sderot, wounding 6 people, a 17 year old Israeli woman suffered critical wounds. [http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/spages/527379.html (Haaretz)] ** Eight Palestinians have been killed in two separate clashes in the Gaza strip. An Israeli child living on a settlement was also injured. [http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/middle_east/4176759.stm (BBC)], [http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/spages/527379.html (Haaretz)] * The fictional character Jára da Cimrman is reported in a big surprise to lead the scores of ''The Biggest Czech person'' competition organized by Czech television. ==January 14, 2005== * Saudi Arabia's supreme judicial council announced that the ritual of the day of Arafat would take place Wednesday rather than Thursday as expected. This means that Eid ul-Adha will begin a day earlier than thought. [http://www.guardian.co.uk/saudi/story/0,11599,1392816,00.html (The Guardian)], [http://www.arabicnews.com/ansub/Daily/Day/050115/2005011511.html (Arabicnews.com)] * Israeli-Palestinian Conflict: The Gaza Strip has been completely sealed off by Israel, following yesterday's events which saw the first major attacks by Palestinians on Israeli civilians since Mahmoud Abbas was elected, and followed several Israeli raids in the Gaza Strip and the West Bank. [http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/middle_east/4174687.stm (BBC)] [http://english.aljazeera.net/NR/exeres/4B23CBA7-926A-4935-B870-61987A9694DD.htm (Al Jazeera)] * Embattled Canada Minister of Citizenship and Immigration (Canada) Judy Sgro resigns in order to clear her name. She is replaced by Minister of Human Resources and Skills Development (Canada) Joe Volpe who in turn is replaced in that ministry by Minister of Intergovernmental Affairs (Canada) Lucienne Robillard. [http://www.cbc.ca/story/canada/national/2005/01/14/sgro-resigning050114.html] * In what is expected to be one of the major scientific events of this decade, the Huygens probe successfully lands on Saturn (planet)'s largest moon Titan (moon). Data sent back from the probe via the Cassini-Huygens orbiter is now being analysed. Three low-resolution pictures have been released, including one from an altitude of 16 km that appears to show :Image:050114huygens1.jpg, and another from the :Image:Huygens landing01 L.jpg. [http://www.newscientist.com/article.ns?id=dn6878 (New Scientist)] [http://olympics.reuters.com/newsArticle.jhtml?type=scienceNews&storyID=7323241 (Reuters)] [http://www.wired.com/news/space/0,2697,66272,00.html?tw=wn_tophead_2 (Wired)] [http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/science/nature/4175099.stm (BBC)] [http://abcnews.go.com/Technology/wireStory?id=412945 (ABC News)] [http://www.esa.int/SPECIALS/Cassini-Huygens/index.html (ESA)] * The World Health Organization reports that worldwide polio cases rose by more than one-third in 2004, from 784 in 2003 to 1,185 last year. The increase is attributed to a boycott on vaccines in Kano, Nigeria led by a group of hard-line Islamic clerics who claim that vaccines are part of an American conspiracy. [http://www.cnn.com/2005/HEALTH/01/12/un.polio.ap/index.html (CNN)] * An Argentina ex-naval officer Adolfo Scilingo goes to trial in Spain accused of killing political prisoners during Argentina's "Dirty War". He was declared fit for trial despite a hunger strike. [http://www.alertnet.org/thenews/newsdesk/L12517568.htm (Reuters Alertnet)] [http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/americas/4173215.stm (BBC)] * Somalian transitional parliament in Kenya has approved the second suggested cabinet of prime minister Ali Mohammed Ghedi. They rejected his earlier suggested cabinet four weeks ago [http://allafrica.com/stories/200501130008.html (AllAfrica)] [http://www.alertnet.org/thenews/newsdesk/IRIN/36c536d44ebbb7d6a5347bd93cec6ca0.htm (Reuters Alertnet)] [http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/africa/4170729.stm (BBC)] * Venezuela recalls its ambassador to Colombia because of the disagreement over capture of FARC member Rodrigo Granda [http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/americas/4173113.stm (BBC)] * Malaysia and Singapore have agreed to a truce on the disagreement over land reclamation project in Johor Straits [http://thestar.com.my/news/story.asp?file=/2005/1/14/nation/9900068&sec=nation (Malaysian Star)] [http://www.channelnewsasia.com/stories/singaporelocalnews/view/127247/1/.html (CNA)] [http://www.alertnet.org/thenews/newsdesk/KLR293424.htm (Reuters)] * ==January 13 2005== * Conflict in Iraq: Sheikh Al-Madaini, a senior aide to the Ayatollah Sistani, 4 bodyguards and his son have been killed in an attack in the Baghdad's suburb Salman Pak. [http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/middle_east/4170855.stm (BBC)] * Israeli-Palestinian Conflict: ** Palestinian Palestinian terrorisms explode a car bomb in the Karni crossing in the eastern Gaza Strip. At least 6 Israelis were killed, as well as three of the attackers, and about 10-20 were wounded in the attack. The al-Aqsa Martyrs' Brigades, the Popular Resistance Committees and Hamas claimed joint responsibility. [http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/spages/527106.html (Haaretz)] [http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story2&u=/nm/20050113/wl_nm/mideast_attack_dc (Reuters)][http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/middle_east/4173077.stm (BBC)] **Israeli troops kill two Palestinians in the Gaza strip, one of whom was driving a pregnant neighbour to hospital. [http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/middle_east/4170773.stm (BBC)] * Record temperatures across Europe make many animals awake early from hibernation. Avalanche alerts are raised to the highest level in Romania and Austria. [http://www.cbc.ca/cp/world/050111/w011154.html (CBC)] * Paleontologists of the American Museum of Natural History have unveiled a fossil of a mammal that has apparently eaten a baby dinosaur. [http://olympics.reuters.com/newsArticle.jhtml?type=scienceNews&storyID=7309447 (Reuters)] * Paris Club has offered a debt freeze to nations affected by 2004 Indian Ocean Earthquake [http://olympics.reuters.com/newsArticle.jhtml?type=businessNews&storyID=7310947 (Reuters)] [http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/business/4166727.stm (BBC)] * In Indonesia, rebels of the Free Aceh Movement called for ceasefire [http://www.thejakartapost.com/detaillatestnews.asp?fileid=20050113150431&irec=0 (Jakarta Post)] [http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/asia-pacific/4170309.stm (BBC)] * NASA's Deep Impact (space mission) lifts off from Cape Canaveral to take a look inside comet Tempel 1. [http://olympics.reuters.com/newsArticle.jhtml?type=scienceNews&storyID=7283096 (Reuters)] [http://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/deepimpact/main/index.html (NASA)] * A Colombian minister states that the government hired bounty hunters to capture rebel Rodrigo Fanda from Venezuela. [http://www.nytimes.com/2005/01/13/international/americas/13colombia.html (New York Times)] [http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/americas/4169517.stm (BBC)] Colombia has also invited more bounty hunters to capture FARC rebels. [http://www.alertnet.org/thenews/newsdesk/N12416819.htm (Reuters Alertnet)] * Prince Harry of Wales apologizes for wearing a uniform-like costume with a nazi swastika at a friend's costume party. [http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/4170083.stm (BBC)] ==January 12, 2005== * Conflict in Iraq: Iyad Allawi, the interim Prime Minister of Iraq has admitted parts of the country will not be voting in this month's election. [http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/middle_east/4166587.stm (BBC)] * British Airways flight 175 from London to New York is turned back by the United States Transportation Security Administration, who claim a passenger's name matches a suspected Morocco terrorist. The passenger is questioned for two hours by British police and then released. The other 239 passengers resume their journeys nine hours late. [http://www.sky.com/skynews/article/0,,30000-1166991,00.html (Sky News)] * Reports are emerging, from Channel 4 news and other sources, that Sir Mark Thatcher is to plead guilty over his part in an alleged coup plot in Equatorial Guinea. [http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/africa/4169557.stm (BBC)] * United States intelligence officials confirm that its search for weapons of mass destruction in Iraq ended last month. The claim that Iraq had an active WMD program was the White House's key justification for the 2003 invasion of Iraq. [http://www.cnn.com/2005/US/01/12/wmd.search/index.html (CNN)] [http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/americas/4169107.stm (BBC)] [http://www.reuters.co.uk/newsArticle.jhtml?type=worldNews&storyID=652955 (Reuters)] * Camp X-Ray: Archbishop Desmond Tutu has called for the release of the remaining inmates at Guantanamo Bay and terror suspects detained without trial in the UK referring to the detentions without trial as "''unacceptable''" and "''distressing''". [http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/4167369.stm (BBC)] * Israeli-Palestinian Conflict: Israel has carried out a series of raids into the West Bank and the Gaza Strip. Two armed men were shot and killed in Ramallah, while four men were arrested in Gaza City. An Israeli civilian was also killed, and three Israeli soldiers were wounded following an Palestinian Islamic Jihad attack on Morag, in the southern Gaza Strip.