WORLD NEWS - JULY 2009

Wednesday, July 01st 2009
US moves its troops out of Iraq
The US army handed over security responsibility to the Iraqi forces on Tuesday. The Iraqi security forces paraded in tanks and armored vehicles across Baghdad as they will take control of towns and cities nationwide. The US troops handed over charge six years after the invasion. US President Barack Obama called the June 30 pullback a milestone in the recovery of a country battered by war , insurgency and sectarian bloodshed. He also warned its leaders of “difficult days ahead” with hard choices for them in politics and security.

Thursday, July 02nd 2009
Major Afghan offensive by the US begins
The US army has stated that it has launched a major offensive against the Taliban in Southern Afghanistan. The southern Afghan province of Helmand is the targeted region. As per the US military around 4,000 marines and 650 Afghan troops would be involved in the offensive. Nato planes will be used as support by the troops on the ground.

Monday, July 06th 2009
Honduran crisis
Ousted Honduran president, Manuel Zelaya was not allowed to land at the Tegucigalpa airport by the authorities who had blocked the runway. Mr. Zelaya had departed from Washington despite warnings from the self declared interim government that he would not be allowed back home. The former president was ousted a week ago, has now arrived in neighboring El Salvador where he is due to meet regional leaders , who support him. The political crisis started on June 28th , when the military - backed by Congress and the courts - forced Mr Zelaya out of Honduras due his plans to hold a vote on possible constitutional change.

Monday, July 06th 2009
Violence in Xinjiang China
As per state media reports around 140 people have been killed in the restive western region of Xinjiang, China leaving more than 800 injured. Violence erupted in the city of Urumqi after which several hundred people have been arrested. The protest was reportedly prompted by a deadly fight between Uighurs and Han Chinese in southern China last month.

Tuesday, July 07th 2009
Chinese police face defiance from Uighurs
Two days after more than 150 people died in clashes involving ethnic groups and police in Xinjiang, China; new protests have flared in the western Chinese city of Urumqi. Uighurs who are Muslim minority had a face off with the police to protest over the arrest of 1,434 people over Sunday's unrest. Beijing and the Uighurs blame each other for the outbreak of violence.

Wednesday, July 08th 2009
World leaders to meet for the G8 summit
Leaders of the G8 countries are preparing to meet for the G8 summit in Italy. The summit has been scheduled in L'Aquila which had also witnessed a major earthquake earlier this year. Some of the issues to be tackled by the world leaders include the global financial crisis, food security, climate change and Iran.

Thursday, July 09th 2009
Zardari admits of Govt hand in nurturing terror
In what seemed to be a candid admission a first of its kind by a Pakistani head of state, President Asif Ali Zardari told that militants and terrorists were willfully created by past governments as a policy to achieve tactical objectives. Mr. Zardari was addressing a gathering of civil servants in Islamabad.

Friday, July 10th 2009
Urumqi mosque prayers banned by China
A government order asking mosques in China's restive western city of Urumqi not to hold prayers on Friday was passed. The ban comes as an attempt to clamp the instance of more ethnic violence between Uighur Muslims and the Ha Chinese. At least 156 people have been killed so far.

Friday, July 10th 2009
G8 Summit updates
On the final day of the G8 summit at L'Aquila Italy, leaders of the G8 nations proposed new efforts to boost food supplies to the hungry. They are expected to commit as much as $15bn (£9.2bn) to efforts to help poor nations develop their own agriculture. The focus on the second day of the summit was climate change and leaders from both developed and developing nations agreed that global temperatures should not rise more than 2C above 1900 levels. The G8 countries also called upon all countries to sign the Non-Proliferation Treaty(NPT). It was also decided to step up efforts to implement Comprehensive Test Ban Treaty(CTBT).

Wednesday, July 15th 2009
Nigerian rebels call truce
Nigerian rebels who have been in conflict with some of the major oil companies in the Niger delta for some time now have called for a 60-day ceasefire in response to the release of their leader Henry Okah. The “Mend”-the Movement for the Emancipation of the Niger Delta the major rebel group will observe a 60-day ceasefire in its attacks on the oil industry.

Friday, July 17th 2009
Twin bomb blasts in Jakarta
Twin bomb blasts were reported to have taken place in two luxury hotels in Indonesia's capital city Jakarta in the early hours on Friday. Around 6 people have been killed in the blasts with several injured. The two explosions took place in the Marriott and Ritz Carlton which are located in Jakarta's busy business area. As per the police the victims of the blasts were foreigners.

Friday, July 17th 2009
Indo-US dialogue on non-proliferation to be renewed
As the United States decides to renew its focus on nuclear disarmament issues, fresh dialogue between India and the US on non-proliferation and security is being considered. The dialogue will be announced during US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton's visit to India. The US is likely to put pressure on India to quicken its law making in connection to nuclear trade. This is to ensure that the American firms are not at a disadvantage.

Monday, July 20th 2009
Interim govt rejects proposal to solve Honduran crisis
The Interim government in Honduras has refused a proposal to end the political crisis in the South American country. Towards this effect talks with the ousted president Manuel Zelaya were also ended. The Honduran delegation's head maintained that the Costa Rican proposal to have Mr. Zelaya return as a leader of a unity government was not acceptable.

Sunday, July 26th 2009
Afghan city rocked by Taliban attacks
Several government buildings in the southeastern Afghan city of Khost were attacked by Taliban militants on Saturday. Suicide bombers, AK- 47 rifles and rocket-propelled grenades were used to attack the buildings. Details of the attack and the casualties are still sketchy.