February 1 — Middle East: IRAQ
The political bloc headed by Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki, the State of Law Coalition, comes ahead of all other competitors in the Iraq’s provincial elections. The coalition campaigned on a platform of rule of law and the primacy of the state. The elections that were held on the last of day of January took place in 14 out the country’s 18 provinces, with 14,400 candidates. Polls were largely peaceful and voter turnout high. The elections are looked at as a test of the country’s return to security and stability.
February 1 — Europe: ICELAND
Johanna Sigurdardottier is named Iceland’s new prime minister after Prime Minister Geir Haarde’s resignation under the pressure caused by the country’s escalating economic crisis.
February 2 — Middle East: ISRAEL/PALESTINIAN TERRITORIES
Israel conducts new raids into the southern city of Rafah in the Gaza Strip in response to about a dozen rocket and mortar attacks by a small Palestinian militant organization, the Popular Resistance Committee. The attacks violate the ceasefires declared by both sides after a 22-day offensive into Gaza last month. (February 16): A Palestinian militant group called Hezbollah Brigades Palestine fire two rockets from the Gaza Strip into Israel. Israel responds with a bombing on Rafah.
February 3 — South Asia: SRI LANKA
International community urges the Sri Lankan government and the Tamil Tiger rebels to declare a temporary ceasefire and discuss terms of surrender to avoid more casualties of civilian trapped in the fighting zone. However, the government says that the rebels’ defeat is imminent and it will accept only unconditional surrender.
February 3 — Europe: FRANCE/GERMANY
France and Germany work out a plan to station German troops in France’s eastern region of Alsace-Lorraine as part of Franco-German brigade developed in 1989, a joint formation integrated in Eurocorps. The move symbolizes Franco-German unity as the two countries fought wars over Alsace-Lorraine in the past.
February 5 — Africa: ZIMBABWE
Zimbabwean parliament passes a constitutional amendment, which allows for a power-sharing with Robert Mugabe’s Zanu-PF party. The move also paves the way for opposition leader Morgan Tsvangirai to become prime minister. (February 11): The country’s opposition leader Morgan Tsvangirai is sworn in as prime minister. He faces a difficult task to deal with the country’s ruined economy.
February 10 — Middle East: ISRAEL
Israel is holding a snap parliamentary election after Prime Minister Ehud Olmert stepped down amid allegations of corruption and after his successor, Tzipi Livni, failed to form a new coalition. The centrist Kadima party and right-wing Likud win the most votes, but not enough to form a government without coalitions. Kadima secures 28 parliamentary seats, Likud 27, the ultra-nationalist Yisrael Beiteinu comes third with 15 seats, and Ehud Barak’s Labour party falls to unprecedented fourth place, with 13 seats. (February 19): After securing support from far-right and religious parties, as well as the centre-left Labour party, the leader of the Likud party, Benjamin Netanyahu, is asked to form a government.
February 11 — South Asia: AFGHANISTAN
At least 27 people die and 35 are injured in attacks on three government buildings in Afghanistan’s capital, Kabul. Suicide bombers target justice and education ministries and a prison office. The Taliban claims the responsibility. The attack is another in a string of similar assaults last year.
February 12 — South Asia: INDIA/PAKISTAN
Pakistan admits that last year’s terrorist attacks on Mumbai were partially planned in Pakistan. It also says that it has detained dozens of suspects from the banned Lashkar-e-Taiba militant group. India welcomes Pakistan’s admission, saying that this will help the strained relations between the two countries.
February 14 — North America: UNITED STATES
The U.S. Senate approves President Barack Obama’s $787 billion economic stimulus plan, which is hoped to save or create at least 3.5 million jobs and reduce the severity of the recession. Earlier, the plan was passed in the House of Representatives without the support of Republicans. The stimulus money will go for tax breaks for individuals and businesses, health care, education, infrastructure projects, and aid for the U.S. states with budget difficulties.
February 14 — Middle East: SAUDI ARABIA
King Abdullah of Saudi Arabia conducts a major shake-up of the government posts. Among others, he dismisses two powerful religious leaders: the country’s top judge and the head of the infamous religious police. He also appoints the country’s first woman minister, Norah al-Faiz, at the ministry for women’s affairs.
February 15 — Latin America: VENEZUELA
Fifty-four percent of voters in Venezuela approve a constitutional amendment that removes term limits on elected officials. This allows President Hugo Chavez, who has been in power for the last 10 years, to run again when his term expires in 2012.
February 17 — Europe/East Asia: RUSSIA/CHINA
Russia and China sign a $26 billion energy agreement. According to the deal, in return for lending $15 billion to the Russian state oil company Rosneft and $10 billion the pipeline company Transneft, China will receive 300,000 barrels of oil every day for the next 20 years. For China, this deal is an effort to diversify its oil imports from the Middle East.
February 18 — North America/South Asia: UNITED STATES/AFGHANISTAN
U.S. President Barack Obama approves a deployment of additional 17,000 troops to Afghanistan, fulfilling his campaign promise to make Afghanistan his administration’s priority. The troops will be positioned in the south of the country in an effort to stabilize the most violent part of the country.
February 20 — Europe: LATVIA
The crisis caused by global recession forces Latvian Prime Minister Ivars Godmanis and his government out of power. Once fastest growing economy in Europe with 12 percent annual growth, Latvia’s economy contracted 5 percent in 2008 and is expected to decline by 12 percent this year. (February 26): Latvia’s president, Valdis Zatlers, nominates former finance minister Valdis Dombrovskis as the country’s new prime minister. Dombrovskis has a difficult task to bring Latvia back from the verge of bankruptcy.
February 25 — Europe/Middle East: TURKEY
A prominent Kurdish member of parliament in Turkey, Ahmet Turk, ignores the law and gives his speech in the parliament in Kurdish. The live broadcast is immediately interrupted, while the members of his party give him a standing ovation. Although ethnic Kurds constitute one-fifth of Turkey’s population, the Kurdish language is banned in state institutions.
February 26 — North America/Latin America: MEXICO/UNITED STATES/CANADA
U.S., Mexican, and Canadians authorities conduct a massive crackdown on Mexican drug trafficking gangs operating in the United States. As a result, the U.S. arrest 775 people and confiscate 23 tons of drugs worth $59 million. So far this year, about 1,000 people died in drug-related violence between Mexican narcotic gangs that fight each other for control of the drug routes from Colombia to the U.S.
February 27 — North America/Middle East: UNITED STATES/IRAQ
U.S. President Barack Obama announces a two-stage plan for the withdrawal of the U.S. troops from Iraq. By the end of August of 2010, the number of troops will be reduced to about 50,000 and their mission will be advisory. All troops will be withdrawn by the end of 2011.