July 1 — Africa: SOMALIA
Al-Shabab, a radical wing of the Islamist Alliance for Re-Liberation of Somalia opposition group, attacks Somali, Ethiopian, and African Union forces in the countrys capital, Mogadishu. The ensuing fighting results in the deaths of at least 39 people. Al-Shabab refuses to recognize a three-month ceasefire agreement between the Islamist Alliance and the Somali government until Ethiopia withdraws its troops from the country. Meanwhile, the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs reports that acute food shortages in Somalia, a nation plagued by uninterrupted civil war since 1991, are creating a worse humanitarian situation than the war in Darfur.
July 2 — Latin America: COLOMBIA
Colombian troops rescue Ingrid Betancourt, three American military contractors, and 11 other hostages who were being held by Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC) guerrillas. With the help of U.S. intelligence, equipment, and training advice, Colombian military agents, in a carefully planned ruse, trick the rebels into handing over the captives without a shot being fired. Betancourt, a Colombian politician who was kidnapped in 2002 while campaigning for the presidency, was the most prominent of hundreds of hostages held by FARC.
July 7 — South Asia: AFGHANISTAN/INDIA/PAKISTAN
A suicide car bomb explodes at the Indian embassy in Afghanistans capital, Kabul, wounding more than 100 people and killing at least 41, including two Indian diplomats. Afghan officials blame the attack on Taliban insurgents, but also suspect that they were assisted by Pakistani intelligence operatives.
July 8 — Europe/North America: CZECH REPUBLIC/UNITED STATES/RUSSIA
The Czech Republic signs an agreement with the United States to host a radar base for the controversial U.S. missile defense shield project. Russia, which regards the project as hostile and a potential threat to its own territory, threatens to retaliate by military means. The United States argues that the defense system is directed against long-range missiles from rogue countries, such as Iran.
July 9 — Middle East: IRAN
Iran test-fires nine missiles, including a long-range missile, the Shahab-3, which is capable of reaching Israel. The tests contribute to escalating tensions between Iran and the West over Irans nuclear ambitions. It is believed that the tests are in response to Israels jet exercise last month that appeared to rehearse the bombing of distant targets, and are intended to deter military action by the United States or Israel against Irans suspected nuclear installations. Iran refuses to comply with UN resolutions requiring it to halt its uranium enrichment program.
July 9 — Africa: SUDAN
Suspected Janjaweed militiamen ambush a UN convoy in Sudans region of Darfur, killing seven peacekeepers and wounding 22. The joint UN-African Union force, called UNAMID, which took over from the African Union mission in December 2007 is meant to have 26,000 troops, but has struggled to protect civilians and itself with only about 9,000 soldiers and police officers, mostly former members of the AU force.
July 13 — International Issues/Europe
French President Nicolas Sarkozy launches the Union for the Mediterranean, a new international organization that will focus on bringing peace to the Mediterranean region and improving the European Union’s relations with the Middle East and North Africa. The union gathers 43 states, including all 27 EU members. Some key issues of the union are energy, security, counter-terrorism, immigration, trade, and environment.
July 14 — Africa/International Organizations: SUDAN/INTERNATIONAL CRIMINAL COURT
The International Criminal Court’s top prosecutor accuses Sudans President Omar al-Bashir of genocide, crimes against humanity, and war crimes in Sudans region, Darfur, and calls for his arrest. This is the first time a sitting president is wanted for war crimes. Sudan rejects the charges, and says that any indictment could delay peace talks.
July 15 — South Asia: AFGHANISTAN
U.S. forces pull out of a recently established outpost in northeastern Afghanistan, days after Taliban insurgents attacked it, killing nine American soldiers. It was the most deadly single attack on U.S. forces in Afghanistan since 2005.
July 16 — Middle East: ISRAEL/LEBANON
Israel releases five Lebanese prisoners and the bodies of 200 Lebanese and Palestinian fighters in exchange for the bodies of two Israeli soldiers, Ehud Goldwasser and Eldad Regev, whose capture in a cross-border raid in July 2006 triggered a devastating 34-day war with Lebanon. Israelis did not know the fate of the two soldiers until their bodies were returned. Hezbollah in Lebanon hails the prisoner swap as a victory, while in Israel the exchange of live prisoners for dead bodies causes controversy.
July 17 — Latin America: ARGENTINA
After months of protests, Argentina’s senate narrowly rejects an increase in taxes on farm exports, which has been violently opposed by farmers since it was proposed by President Cristina Fernández de Kirchner in March. Vice President Julio Cobos casts the deciding vote with senators tied 36 to 36. The lower house had approved the measure earlier this month.
July 19 — Middle East: IRAQ
Iraq’s main Sunni Muslim bloc, the Accordance Front, rejoins the Shia-led government almost a year after it pulled out due to power-sharing disagreements. The group’s return is seen as a big step toward political reform and a sign of change in Iraq.
July 21 — Europe/International Organizations: BOSNIA-HERZEGOVINA/UNITED NATIONS
The former Bosnian Serb leader and one of the worlds most wanted men, Radovan Karadzic, is arrested 13 years after he was indicted by the United Nations International Criminal Tribunal for the Former Yugoslavia (ICTY). He faces charges of genocide, war crimes, and crimes against humanity committed during Bosnia’s civil war, including the siege of Sarajevo and the 1995 Srebrenica massacre. Karadzic had been living and working in disguise under an alias in Belgrade.
July 21 — Europe/East Asia: RUSSIA/CHINA
Russia and China sign a treaty demarcating an eastern portion of their 2,700-mile border, ending a territorial dispute that has lasted for more than 40 years and which led to armed clashes in the past. According to the agreement, Russia cedes two border islands to China, which are located at the point where the Amur and Ussuri rivers meet in Russia’s Far East. The islands are largely uninhabited.
July 22 — East Asia: THAILAND/CAMBODIA
Cambodia asks the UN Security Council to intervene in a military standoff with Thailand over a disputed 1.8-square-mile border territory around an 11th century Khmer temple, Preah Vihear. The standoff was prompted by UNESCO naming the location a Cambodian World Heritage Site, arousing nationalist sentiment on both sides of the border. In 1962, the International Court of Justice awarded the temple to Cambodia.
July 23 — Africa/International Organizations: CAPE VERDE/WORLD TRADE ORGANIZATION
The African island state of Cape Verde joins the World Trade Organization (WTO), becoming its 153rd member. While many businesspeople in Cape Verde agree that the membership will strengthen the competitiveness of their businesses, some worry that the country is not capable of competing in the international arena.
July 23 — Europe: EUROPEAN UNION/BULGARIA/ROMANIA
The European Union (EU) indefinitely suspends about $800 million in aid for Bulgaria because of the countrys failure to adequately address corruption and organized crime. In a separate report, the EU also criticizes Romania for not doing enough to combat corruption and to reform its judiciary; however, for now, it does not impose financial penalties. Both countries joined the EU in 2007 on the condition that they would curb corruption and continue key reforms.
July 26 — South Asia: INDIA
A series of 17 bombs explode in the city of Ahmedabad in the Indian state of Gujarat, killing at least 45 people and injuring over 100. A little-known Islamic group called the Indian Mujahideen claims responsibility, saying it was a revenge for communal violence in Gujarat in 2002, which took the lives of 2,000 Indian Muslims.
July 28 — Middle East: IRAQ
In Iraqs capital, Baghdad, three female suicide bombers targeting Shia pilgrims kill dozens of people heading for one of the citys shrines. Meanwhile, in Kirkuk, a city divided among Iraq’s three main ethnic groups, Kurds, Arabs, and Turkmen, a suicide bomber targeting a group of Kurdish protesters kills at least 25 of them and injures 150. These attacks take place after an overall decline in violence in Iraq in recent months.
July 30 — Europe/Middle East: TURKEY
Turkey’s Constitutional Court narrowly decides against banning the ruling Justice and Development (AK) Party. The party was accused of introducing an Islamist agenda that undermined Turkey’s secular constitution. The case against the AK governing party was largely based on its decision to allow Islamic headscarves at universities. This move was overturned by the same court last month.