July 1 — Africa: MOROCCO
Voters in Morocco approve constitutional amendments in a referendum put forward by King Mohammed VI in a move to pacify the Arab Spring protests. The reforms give executive powers to a prime minister; however, the king remains in charge of the military, judiciary, and the religious affairs. Demonstrators continue to call for more reforms that would lead for Morocco to become a constitutional monarchy.
July 3 — East Asia: THAILAND
Thailand’s opposition leader, Yingluck Shinawatra, sister of ousted Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra, and her party Pheu Thai win a landslide victory in parliamentary elections. She will become Thailand’s first female prime minister. The military says it will not interfere in Shinawatra’s forming a new government.
July 7 — North America/Latin America: UNITED STATES/MEXICO
The United States agrees to give trucks from Mexico full access to its roads and highways settling a 17-year old dispute. Mexico was granted this right by the 1994 North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA), but the U.S. restricted its access, citing concerns over Mexico being able to meet U.S. safety and environmental standards. In retaliation, Mexico imposed higher tariffs on many U.S. products, which, after reaching the deal, are to be lifted.
July 9 — East Asia: MALAYSIA
About 10,000 people gather for a banned rally in Malaysian capital, Kuala Lumpur, to push the government to reform the country’s electoral system. The demonstration is organized by Bersih activists, the Coalition for Clean and Fair Elections, who want all parties to have equal access to the media and longer campaign period. The riot police disperse the rally and arrest more than 1,500 people.
July 9 — Africa: SOUTH SUDAN
South Sudan, the world’s newest country, celebrates its first day of independence. The ceremonies take place in the country’s capital, Juba, and include Salva Kiir’s oath as president. South Sudan and Sudan still have many unresolved issues, such as the new border, citizenship, and division of Sudan’s debts and oil wealth. (July 14): The United Nations General Assembly unanimously admits South Sudan as its 193rd member.
July 12 — South Asia: AFGHANISTAN
Afghan President Hamid Harzai’s powerful half- brother and controversial governor of the southern city of Kandahar, Ahmad Wali Karzai, is assassinated by one of his trusted security men. The Taliban claims responsibility. (July 17): President Hamid Karzai’s senior advisor, Jan Mohammad Khan, is assassinated by the Taliban in an attack on his home in Kabul. (July 27): Mayor of Kandahar Ghulam Haidar Hameedi is assassinated in a suicide attack. He is another victim of the Taliban that has been targeting Afghanistan’s prominent figures. The violence comes at the time when NATO has begun to implement a plan of handing over control of seven areas to local forces. The handover is supposed to be finished before the foreign troops withdraw by the end of 2014.
July 20 — Europe: SERBIA
Serbian authorities arrest Croatian Serb Goran Hadzic wanted by the United Nations war crimes tribunal for the former Yugoslavia in The Hague. Hadzic, the last remaining fugitive war crimes suspect, is charged with war crimes and crimes against humanity. He is held responsible for the ethnic cleansing of hundreds of non-Serbs. For Serbia, his arrest opens the way for accession talks with the European Union.
July 20 — Africa/International Organizations: SOMALIA/ETHIOPIA/KENYA/DJIBOUTI/UN
The United Nations (UN) declares a famine in two regions in southern Somalia. Although Somalia is the worst hit, other countries in the Horn of Africa, Ethiopia, Kenya, and Djibouti, are also affected. All together, about 10 million people are at risk of starvation. The famine was caused by a combination of drought, conflict and soaring food prices. (July 27): The UN’s agency, World Food Programme (WFP), starts delivery of emergency food to Somalia. In the meantime, tens of thousands of Somalis have fled the areas controlled by al-Shabab to other areas in Somalia as well as neighboring Kenya and Ethiopia.
July 28 — Europe/International Organizations: KOSOVO/NATO
The North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) deploys peacekeepers to northern Kosovo in response to the violence caused by ethnic Serbs after the Kosovo police attempted to impose control over the border with Serbia. The Serbs in Kosovo do not accept Kosovo’s independence.