September 2 — Europe: FRANCE/EU

The European Commission criticizes France and calls for legal action against it for its crackdown on illegal Roma camps and the expulsion of over 1,000 Roma to Bulgaria and Romania. The European Commission says that France resorted to mass deportations rather than examining people on a case by case basis. It also demands that France presents proof that it did not target Roma as an ethnic group, which is forbidden by the EU law. (October 15): France submits a plan to the European Commission on how it is going to implement the EU’s Directive on Freedom of Movement, prompting the EU to withdraw its threat of legal action against France.

September 2 — Middle East: ISRAEL/PALESTINIAN TERRITORIES

Israel and the Palestinian leaders hold their first direct talks in 20 months in Washington, DC. The goal of the negotiations is to end Israeli occupation of the Palestinian territories captured in the 1967 war and to create an independent Palestinian state. The main issues to resolve include the West Bank settlement construction, the recognition of Israel as the Jewish state, the final borders of the Palestinian state, Israel’s security, Palestinian refugees, and the status of Jerusalem. Hamas, which is in charge of the Gaza Strip, has been excluded from the talks because Israel, the United States, and the European Union do not recognize its authority. (September 15): Negotiations between Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, mediated by U.S. Secretary of State, Hilary Clinton, continue in Jerusalem. However, the Palestinian leaders say they will walk out of the talks if Israel does not extend the 10-month moratorium on Jewish settlements in the West Bank, which is due to expire at the end of the month. (September 21): The Quartet of Middle East peace mediators, consisting of the U.S., the EU, the UN, and Russia, encourages Israel to extend the settlement freeze, which has had positive impact on pushing the talks forward. (September 26): The Israeli moratorium on the West Bank settlements expansion expires and Israel decides not to extend it.

September 5 — Middle East: IRAQ

Just a few days after the United States ended its combat operations in Iraq, insurgents attack an army base in Baghdad. The Iraqi government requests the U.S. troops to help the Iraqi soldiers battle the attackers. U.S. forces remaining in Iraq can participate in combat operations only when asked by the Iraqi government.

September 8 — South Asia: SRI LANKA

Sri Lanka’s parliament approves a constitutional amendment that lifts a two-term presidential limit and gives President Mahinda Rajapaksa other extensive powers. The critics say that the move will lead the country into a dictatorship.

September 12 — Middle East/Europe: TURKEY

In a national referendum, Turkey approves 26 constitutional amendments, aiming at aligning the country’s constitution with European Union standards. The changes increase power of the civilian courts, strengthen gender equality, and ban discrimination against children, elderly, and the disabled. They also remove the ban on political strikes.

September 18 — South Asia: AFGHANISTAN

Despite hundreds of violent attacks by the Taliban militants, the Afghan people go to the polls to vote in parliamentary elections. They are choosing their representatives from among 2,500 candidates in more than 5, 000 polling stations across the country. The election, however, is marred by thousands of complaints of fraud and irregularities.

September 22 — International Issues: THE ARCTIC REGION

Russia convenes a two-day international Arctic forum to address the social, economic and environmental issues associated with the Arctic region. Five countries bordering the Arctic, Canada, Denmark, Norway, Russia, and the United States, have already laid claims to the territory and its vast resources. The participants vow to cooperate and follow the existing UN rules to settle disputes. In the spirit of this cooperation, a week ago, Russia and Norway resolved a 40-year dispute over the maritime borders in the Barents Sea and the Arctic Ocean.

September 23 — Latin America: COLOMBIA

Colombian forces kill one of the most senior leaders of the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC) Marxist group, Jorge Briceno, known as Mono Jojoy. The news comes a few days after another FARC leader, Sixto Cabana, was killed. Both killings are hailed as a hard blow to the rebel group. The rebels say they are ready to enter talks with the government.

September 24 — Latin America: CUBA

The Cuban government announces a radical plan to lay off more than a million state employees and encourage them to become self-employed or get jobs in a private sector. At the same time, the government plans to issue a quarter of a million licenses to those who want to open their own businesses. For the first time since the 1959 revolution, Cuban business owners will be allowed to employ others rather than just family members. The proposal is hoped to revive the stagnated economy.

September 28 — East Asia: NORTH KOREA

The North Korean ruling Workers’ Party holds a rare conference, the first one in a generation, promoting the country’s ruler Kim Jong-il’s youngest son, 26-year old Kim Jong-un, to a senior rank in the party. He is also made a general, and, as it is believed, is made his father’s successor. Kim Jong-il, the secretive ruler of this isolated country, is believed to be suffering from several illnesses, including a stroke.

September 29 — Europe

Tens of thousands of Europeans march through the Belgian city of Brussels to protest in front of European Union institutions against the austerity measures being implemented by some EU governments. Protests and strikes have been held in Spain, Greece, Italy, Ireland, France, and Latvia. Sparked by the financial crisis, the spending cuts include cuts in wages, pensions, and employment. The French parliament has passed legislation increasing the minimum retirement age despite the trade-union led protests of over a million French workers.