News Timeline: July 2013

 

July 1 — Africa/International Organizations: MALI/UNITED NATIONS

The United Nations takes control over the peacekeepers in Mali under the command of Major General Jean Bosco Kazura from Rwanda. By December, the force that goes by the acronym of Minusma will reach the strength of 12,640 soldiers. France plans to keep 1,000 of its soldiers in Mali.

July 1 — Africa: EGYPT

In response to four days of anti-government mass street demonstrations, Egypt’s military gives President Mohammed Morsi an ultimatum threatening to remove him from office if he does not reach an agreement with the opposition. Six ministers from the Morsi cabinet resign, putting more pressure on him. (July 3): The head of the armed forces, General Abdul Fattah al-Sisi, announces that the military has deposed and detained Morsi and suspended the country’s constitution. The Chief Justice Adly Mansour is put in charge of the transitional government until new elections. The military also detains top leaders of the Muslim Brotherhood. Hundreds of thousands of both Morsi’s Islamic supporters and opposition protesters take to the streets. (July 16): A new interim government is sworn in, with Adly Mansour as an interim president, Hazem al-Beblawi as prime minister, and army chief General Abdel Fattah al-Sisi as deputy prime minister and defense minister. The Muslim Brotherhood refuses to recognize the new administration. (July 21): President Mansour appoints a panel to amend Egypt’s constitution. Daily pro-Morsi demonstrations continue. (July 27): Security forces clash with the protesters, killing about 100 people and injuring more than 1,500.

July 3 — South Asia/North America: PAKISTAN/UNITED STATES

Four missile attacks shot by a U.S. drone targeting a terrorist compound in Pakistan’s northwestern region of Waziristan kill at least 17 people. Pakistan objects the drone attacks, accusing the U.S. of violating its sovereignty and killing many civilians in the process. Since 2004, the drone attacks killed about 3,500 people, with almost 900 of them civilians.

July 5 — South Asia: INDIA

Indian President Pranab Mukherjee approves a program that will provide two-thirds of the country’s poor, about 800 million people, with basis grain staples at low subsidized prices. The supporters of the program say it will help reduce poverty. The opponents say that the program, called the world’s largest welfare program, will cost the government almost $24 billion a year.

July 8 — East Asia: CHINA

Chinese former Railways Minister Liu Zhijun receives a suspended death sentence for corruption and abuse of power. He enriched himself by selling government contracts and taking bribes totaling $10 million. China’s new President Xi Jinping has vowed to fight corruption on all levels of the Communist Party.

July 8 — Europe: GREECE

Greece receives another bailout installment of $6.8 billion from the troika of the European Union, the European Central Bank and the International Monetary Fund (IMF), but on the condition to implement reforms faster. (July 17): The Greek parliament passes a public sector reform that will lay off thousands of people, including government employees and teachers. The country’s unemployment has reached 27 percent. Thousands of protesters opposing the move take to the streets.

July 16 — Latin America: MEXICO

Mexican army captures Miguel Morales, the brutal leader of the world’s most infamous drug cartels, the Zetas. During his arrest, Morales was in a possession of several guns and $2 million in cash. The Zetas is Mexico’s largest drug cartel geographically. Its revenue comes both from drug trafficking and other criminal activities. They are known for their brutal tactics, including beheadings.

July 18 — North America: UNITED STATES

The U.S. city of Detroit files for bankruptcy, becoming the largest city in the United States to ever do so. It was once a booming city known for its automobile industry, but decades of decline and corruption forced a quarter of a million residents out of the city. Detroit is now in a debt of $18 billion with tens of thousands of abandoned properties, collapsed public services, and rising crime.

July 30 — Middle East: ISRAEL/PALESTINIAN TERRITORIES

Direct peace talks between the Israelis and Palestinians resume in Washington, D.C. after Israel approved the release of 100 Palestinian prisoners. The previous talks broke off three years ago over the issue of Israeli settlements in the West Bank and East Jerusalem, but efforts of the U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry have resulted in bringing the two sides again to the table. The chief negotiators are Israeli Justice Minister Tzipi Livni, Palestinian Senior Negotiator Saeb Erekat, U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry, and Former US Ambassador to Israel Martin Indyk. The goal is to achieve the two-state solution through resolving the major issues: the future of Israeli settlements and the border line, the status of Jerusalem and the fate of Palestinian refugees.

July 30 — South Asia: INDIA

India’s government unanimously agrees to form a new state of Telagana, which so far has been part of southern Andhra Pradesh state. India’s 29th state will have 40 million residents and will include India’s sixth biggest city, Hyderabad, the center of major IT and pharmaceutical companies. The parliament still needs to approve the move.

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