Timeline for 2006 to 2008 CE

2007 CE

Global Change issues are highlighted in red text along this time line.

Global Changes are signs of the times

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Portugal Votes in Favor of Legalizing Abortion (Feb. 11): More than 59% of
voters support legalizing the procedure in the first 10 weeks of pregnancy. Because of a low turnout, however, the referendum is not considered valid.

Breakthrough Reached with North Korea (Feb. 13): At a meeting in Beijing
with diplomats from the U.S., China, South Korea, Russia, and Japan, North Korea agrees to dismantle its nuclear facilities and allow international inspectors to enter the country in exchange for about $400 million in oil and aid.

Scientists Confirm Global Warming (Feb. 2): Three-year study by the influential Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change says global warming is very likely caused by human activity—specifically the emission and buildup of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere. Report also says that the rise in temperatures and rising seas can be curtailed with quick action.

Stock Market Plummets (Feb. 28): DowJones industrial average falls 416
points, or 3.3% after the market in China takes a plunge of nearly 9%. U.S. economists blame the drop on anxiety about the economy.

Gore Urges Congressional Panels to Act on Global Warming (March 21):
Former vice president tells House and Senate committees that global warming has created a ""planetary emergency"" and seeks prompt federal action to curb emissions of greenhouse gases.

g6
ACCELERATING Global Changes!

U.S. Says It Will Impose Duties on Chinese Goods (March 30): In a policy
shift, Commerce Secretary Carlos Gutierrez announces the U.S. will impose duties on some manufactured materials, claiming the Chinese government is illegally subsidizing some exports.

Iranian President Announces Ability to Enrich Uranium (April 9): President
Mahmoud Ahmadinejad says the country has the ability to enrich uranium on an
industrial scale, which is part of the process to make fuel for a nuclear bomb or reactor.

Atomic Agency Confirms Iran's Progress in Uranium Enrichment (April 18): International Atomic Energy Agency reports that Iran is enriching uranium in some 1,300 centrifuges.

Russia Says It Will Suspend Weapons Treaty (April 26): President Vladimir
Putin announces Russia will suspend the 1990 Conventional Armed Forces in
Europe Treaty, which limits conventional weapons in Europe. Several U.S. officials
speculate that Putin was acting in response to U.S. plans to build a missile shield in Europe—a move strongly opposed by Russia.

Supreme Court Rules Government Can Regulate Emissions (April 2): Court
rules, 5–4, that the Environmental Protection Agency has the authority to regulate automobile emissions of heat-trapping gases and that the agency cannot shun its responsibility to do so unless it provides a scientific reason.

Senate Passes Bill on Stem Cell Research (April 11): Votes, 63–34, in favor of legislation that eases restrictions on federal funding of embryonic stem cell
research. President Bush says he will veto the bill, as he did a similar bill in 2006.

Supreme Court Upholds Ban on Abortion Procedure (April 18): The ruling, 5–4, which upholds the Partial-Birth Abortion Ban Act, a federal law passed in 2003, is the first to ban a specific type of abortion procedure. Writing in the majority opinion, Justice Anthony Kennedy said, "The act expresses respect for the dignity
of human life."Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg, who dissents, called the decision" alarming" and said it is "so at odds with our jurisprudence" that it "should not have staying power."

Earthquake and Tsunami Strike the Solomon Islands (April 3): Magnitude 8.0 earthquake and tsunami that follows kill at least 20 people and destroy villages. UN Panel Reports Consequences of Emissions of Greenhouse Gases (April 6): Group, composed of several of the world's top scientists on climate change,
finds that Earth's climate and ecosystems are already being affected by the accumulation of greenhouse gases and warns that without immediate action to slow the buildup of such emissions, droughts, flooding, and the extinction of species are imminent. Panel also says that poor regions are most vulnerable.Inspectors Report Iran Has

Iran Made Progress in Uranium Enrichment (May 14): The International Atomic Energy Agency reports that Iran is using about 1,300 centrifuges and producing fuel for nuclear reactors. The fuel would have to
be further enriched to make it weapons grade.

UN Report Urges Immediate Action on Reducing Heat-trapping Gases (May
4): Report by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change says that the
technology now exists to produce more efficient cars, appliances, and buildings. It
also encourages investment in alternative fuels.

g8
Global Change:
Threats to Human Survival

Putin Proposes Joint Missile Shield with the U.S. (June 7): Russian president introduces plan during a meeting with President Bush at the G8 meeting in Germany. The proposal calls for using an early warning radar system in Azerbaijan as part of a missile defense system to protect against an attack by Iran.

World Leaders Reach Agreements at the G8 Conference (June 7): Leaders of
the eight industrialized nations meeting in Heiligendamm, Germany, agree to consider ways to halve greenhouse gas emissions by 2050. In a nod to President Bush's recent proposal, the leaders endorse his plan to have the world's top polluter set their own goals for reducing emissions. Bush also agrees to participate in negotiations to establish a new global climate policy by 2009, a potential successor to the Kyoto Protocol. (June 8): G8 meeting participants promise to spend $60 billion to treat AIDS and other diseases in the third world. Critics say the plan is weak because it does not include a definitive timetable and falls short of the actual need.

U.S. Diplomat Sees Progress with North Korea (June 22): At a meeting in
North Korea, Christopher Hill, assistant secretary of state for East Asian affairs, is told by North Korean officials that the country is prepared to shut down its primary nuclear reactor. The meeting—the first time a high-ranking U.S. official has visited the country in five years—follows the return of $25 million in North Korean funds that had been held in a Macao bank and had been frozen by the U.S. (June 28): International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) inspectors visit the Yongbyon nuclear reactor complex. It's the first such visit since 2002, when North Korean officials expelled the inspectors from the country.

Leadership Transition Begins in Britain (June 24): Gordon Brown takes over as head of the Labor Party, succeeding British prime minister Tony Blair. (June 27): Gordon Brown replaces Tony Blair as the prime minister of Great Britain.

House Passes Bill on Stem Cell Research (June 7): Votes, 247–176, in favor of legislation that eases restrictions on federal funding of embryonic stem cell
research. The Senate approved the bill in April. (June 20): President Bush vetoes
the bill.

Senate Votes to Increase Mileage Standards for Cars (June 21): Approves, 65 to 37, a provision in a broad energy bill that requires car makers to increase fuel
mileage requirements to 35 miles per gallon for passenger cars and light trucks by 2020, up from the current 25 m.p.g.

Russia Pulls Out of Arms Treaty (July 14): Russian president Vladimir Putin announces that the country will suspend its participation in the Conventional Forces
in Europe Treaty, a cold-war era agreement that limits the deployment of heavy weaponry.

North Korea Shuts Down Reactor (July 16): Inspectors from the International Atomic Energy Agency verify that North Korea has shut down its weapons-making nuclear reactor at Yongbyon, one part of an agreement reached in February 2007.

India and U.S. Reach Accord on Civilian Nuclear Power (July 27): Deal allows India, which has not signed the Nuclear Nonproliferation Treaty, to buy nuclear fuel from the U.S. to expand its civilian nuclear energy program and reprocess its spent fuel. India agrees to open the reprocessing facility to international inspectors.

Security Council Approves Resolution on Darfur (July 31): Votes unanimously
to deploy as many as 26,000 peacekeepers from the African Union and the United Nations forces to help end the violence in Darfur that has killed about 200,000 people since 2003. The operation, the world's largest, will cost some $2 billion.

Russia Is Awarded 2014 Olympics (July 4): The International Olympic Committee announces that Sochi, Russia, a Black Sea resort, will host the Winter Games in 2014. It will be the first time Russia or the former Soviet Union hosts the Winter Games.

Argentina Experiences Unusual Snowfall (July 10): Buenos Aires, the capital of Argentina, experiences its first snowfall in 89 years.

UN Passes Resolution on Iraq (Aug. 10): Security Council resolution, passed unanimously, expands the UN's role in Iraq to help promote reconciliation, safety
of citizens and workers, and civil rights.

House Passes Energy Bill (Aug. 4): Legislation, passed 241 to 172, calls on most utilities to produce 15% of their electricity from renewable energy sources, such as wind or solar power, sets new efficiency requirements for buildings and appliances, and allots money for research into capturing emissions of carbon dioxide.

Teacher from Idaho, is part of a mission aboard the space shuttle Endeavour to the
International Space Station, where additional trusses will be added and supplies delivered. Morgan was the backup to Christa McAuliffe, the teacher who died in 1986 when the shuttle Challenger disintegrated shortly after takeoff. (Aug. 8): Following the discovery of a small gash on the underside of the Endeavour, NASA considers whether to direct the crew to attempt a repair, or to allow them to fly home as is. The gash is believed to have occurred when a piece of foam fell off the fuel tank and struck the underside of the shuttle. (Aug. 21): Endeavour lands safely after a 12 day, 17 hour mission.

Quake Near Lima, Peru, Kills Hundreds (Aug. 15): A 8.0-magnitude
earthquake occurs 90 miles southeast of Lima, Peru, killing at least 500 people dead and injuring hundreds more. The cities of Pisco, Chincha, and Ica are among those reporting the most damage.

Hurricane Dean Slams the Caribbean (Aug. 21): Dean makes landfall in Mexico as a Category 5 hurricane, the third most intense Atlantic hurricane since the
1850s. The storm killed more than 20 people.

North Korea Agrees to Disable Nuclear Fuel Plants (Sept. 2): After a two-day meeting between Christopher Hill, the U.S. assistant secretary of state for East Asian and Pacific Affairs, and North Korean negotiators, North Korea says it will disable its nuclear fuel production facility and disclose to international monitors an accounting of all of its nuclear programs by the end of 2007.

Job Losses Spark Worries about the Economy (Sept. 6): A Labor Department report that shows that 4,000 jobs were lost in August, the first such decline since 2003, leads some economists to say a recession may follow.

Federal Judge Endorses States' Rights to Cut Emission (Sept. 12): Vermont
judge William Sessions III rules that standards set by the state to reduce the emissions of greenhouse gases by cars and light trucks do not intrude upon federal law. The standards are based on those set by California in 2002.

North Korea Agrees to Disable Its Nuclear Facilities (Oct. 3): As part of the
breakthrough deal, North Korea will disclose details about its nuclear facilities, including how much plutonium it has produced, and dismantle all of its nuclear
facilties by the end of 2007. In exchange, it will receive some 950,000 metric tons
of fuel oil or financial aid. The Bush administration will also start the process of removing North Korea from its list of nations that sponsor terrorism.

Utility Settles Lawsuit with States and Environmental Groups (Oct. 9): American Electric Power agrees to spend $4.6 billion to cut 813,000 tons of emissions each year from its coal-powered facilities. The settlement ends an 8-year-old lawsuit brought by eight states and 14 environmental groups. It is the largest-ever environmental settlement.

Gore Shares Nobel Peace Prize (Oct. 12): Former vice president Al Gore and
the United Nations' Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change are awarded the prize for their work educating the world about human-caused climate change and for outlining ways to reverse global warming.

Bush Vetoes Water Resource Bill (Nov. 2): President vetoes the Water Resources Development Act, a $23 billion bill which would fund 900 programs and almost $2 billion for the Everglades. (Nov. 6): The House overrides Bush's veto. (Nov. 8): Senate votes, 79 to 14, to enact the bill, thereby overriding Bush's veto. It is the first time Congress has overridden a Bush veto.

Appeals Court Rejects Bush's New Fuel Standards (Nov. 15): Federal appeals court in San Francisco rules that the Bush administration's fuel economy standards for light trucks are not stringent
enough and fail to consider how tailpipe emissions affect climate change. Court also questions why light trucks, which include sport utility vehicles, pickup trucks, and minivans, have looser requirements than passenger cars. The rule that the court voided called on automakers to increase fuel economy of light trucks to 23.5 mpg from 22.5 mpg by 2010.

Mexican City Paralyzed by Floods (Nov. 4): Villahermosa, the capital of the southeastern state of Tabasco, has no clean drinking water and electricity after severe flooding caused by five days of torrential rain. At least 300,000 people evacuate their homes, 70,000 people are in shelters, and one person dies. Most of the state's crops are destroyed and 4,000 schools are damaged.

UN Report on Climate Change Details Imminent Perils (Nov. 16): In its last of four reports on climate change, th UN Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, which shared the 2007 Nobel Peace Prize with Al Gore, says global warming of one to three degrees will lead to a rise in sea levels that will swallow up island nations, the decimation of one-quarter or more of the world’s species, famine in Africa, and increasingly violent hurricanes.

Scientists Devise New Method to Create Embryonic Stem Cells (Nov. 20): Two teams of scientists, one in Wisconsin the other in Japan, announce they have discovered a way to make embryonic stem cells without using embryonic stem cells. By adding four genes to skin cells, they were able to reprogram skin cells into any of the body's 220 types of cells.

Teen Birth Rate Increases (Dec. 5): The birth rate for teens ages 15 to 19 rose to 3% in 2006, the first increase since 1991.

Congress Passes Energy Legislation (Dec. 6): House votes, 235 to 181, in favor of ambitious package that requires passenger vehicles sold in the U.S. to have fuel economy standards of 35 mpg by 2020, a 40% increase over the current standard. Measure also calls for an increase in the production of ethanol and other biofuels to 36 billion gallons a year by 2022, up from the current 5%; calls on electric utilities to obtain 15% of their power from alternate sources; and imposes $21 billion in new taxes on oil companies. (Dec. 13): The Senate approves, 86 to 8, legislation calling for the higher fuel efficiency standards and the increase in biofuel production that passed in the House, but strips from the package the tax increase and requirement that utilities obtain power from alternate sources of energy. (Dec. 18) : The House passes, 314 to 100, the same legislation passed by the Senate. (Dec. 19): President Bush signs the bill into law.

U.S. Resists Pressure at Climate Change Conference (Dec. 15): At the end of a two-week conference on climate change in Bali, Indonesia, delegates from 187 countries agree to formulate a follow-up to the Kytoto Protocol, which expires in 2012. The U.S. concedes that a new agreement is necessary, but refuses to make a firm commitment to reduce emissions.

EPA Says States Can't Set Own Emissions Standards (Dec. 19): Environmental Protection Agency
administrator declares 17 states, including California, do not have authority to implement their own standards. The states sought to impose tougher restrictions than those under federal law.

2007 CE

A look through this window anticipates increasing stress and strife in the Middle East. Watch the focus on Israel and think about the future timeline segment that follows (see next section of the timeline).

SW2
Global Problems - Gathering Storms

Former Communist Countries Admitted into European Union (Jan. 1): Romania and Bulgaria's entry expands the European Union to 27 nations and a population of about 490 million.

Israeli President Suspends Himself(Jan. 25): Parliamentary committee
approves Moshe Katsav's request to suspend himself after Israel's attorney general announces that he would indict Katsav on charges of rape, sexual harassment,
abuse of power, and other charges. Katsav denies the charges, calling them part of
a “witch hunt.”

Hundreds Die in Battle in Iraq (Jan. 28): As many as 250 are killed near Najaf
as American and Iraqi troops fight with a Shiite militia.

Bush Announces Change in Strategy (Jan. 10): In a nationally televised address, president announces an additional 20,000 troops will be deployed to Baghdad to try to stem the sectarian fighting and that Iraq will take control of its forces and commit to a number of “benchmarks,” including increasing troop presence in Baghdad and passing oil-revenue-sharing and jobs-creation plans.
Proposal meets bipartisan criticism.

Catholic Church Officials Resign in Poland (Jan. 7): A month after being
appointed archbishop by Pope Benedict XVI, Stanislaw Wielgus resigns after
admitting to collaborating with the Polish secret police during the Communist era.

Violence Escalates Between Palestinian Factions (Feb. 2): At least 17 people
are killed as members of Hamas and Fatah fight in the Gaza Strip.

Palestinian Factions Agree to Form Coalition Government (Feb. 8): Leaders
from Hamas and Fatah, two Palestinian factions that have been engaged in deadly
violence, meet in Mecca and reach deal to end the fighting and to form a unity
government.

U.S. Military Officials Say Iran is Supplying Weapons to Shiites in Iraq (Feb. 11)

SW3
Science to Scripture
Where Are We Headed?

Blair Announces Plans to Withdraw Troops from Iraq (Feb. 21):

Cheney Tells Pakistan to Control al-Qaeda and the Taliban (Feb. 26):

Cheney Escapes Assassination Attempt in Afghanistan (Feb. 27)

Dozens of Shiites Are Killed (March 6): Sunni insurgents attack pilgrims as they
make their way to a religious ceremony in Karbala, killing about 120 people and
wounding as many as 200.

Sept. 11 Organizer Said to Have Confessed (March 10): Khalid Shaikh Mohammed reportedly assumes responsibility for the attacks on the United States and a role in many others, including the 1993 bombing of New York's World Trade Center, a failed plan to bomb Big Ben in London, and assassination attempts on Pope John Paul II and former presidents Jimmy Carter and Bill Clinton.

Palestinians Form Unity Government (March 15): Leaders of Hamas and Fatah
agree on a coalition government. The platform that outlines the government does
not recognize Israel, accept earlier Israeli-Palestinian accords, or renounce
violence, conditions required by Western countries before they resume aid to the
Palestinian government.

(March 17): The Palestinian legislature approves the Hamas-dominated unity government. Palestinian prime minister Ismail Haniya, who is also the leader of Hamas, and Mahmoud Abbas, president of the Palestinian
Authority and the leader of Fatah, remain divided on important issues regarding
Israel.

Israeli Prime Minister Reprimanded for Handling of Lebanon War (April 30):
A commission that investigated 2006's war between Israel and Lebanon says Ehud
Olmert was responsible for "a severe failure in exercising judgment, responsibility,
and prudence." It also says Olmert rushed to war without an adequate plan.
Defense Minister Amir Peretz and former army chief Dan Halutz are also criticized.

Rice Meets With Syrian Counterpart (May 3): At a meeting in Egypt about Iraq,
U.S. Secretary of State asks Syrian Foreign Minister Walid al-Moallem to move to
stem the flow of foreign fighters into Iraq from Syria, and he asks Condoleezza
Rice to reinstate the U.S. ambassador to Syria who was withdrawn after the
assassination of Syrian prime minister Rafik Hariri in 2005. It was the first highlevel
meeting between the two countries in two years.

Senior Sunni Insurgent Is Killed in Iraq (May 3): Muharib Abdul Latif al-
Jubouri, a leader of al-Qaeda in Mesopotamia, dies in a raid north of Baghdad.
U.S. officials say that Jubouri was involved in the kidnapping of American reporter
Jill Carroll.

Israelis, Palestinians Trade Rocket Fire (May 18): Seven Palestinians are killed
when Israeli troops fire on Hamas in the Gaza Strip in retaliation for strikes on
Israel by Hamas. The violence caps a week in which some 40 Palestinians die in
factional fighting between members of Hamas and Fatah. (May 24): Israel officials
arrest 33 West Bank Palestinians, including seven public officials, claiming they are
involved in terrorism against Israel.

Fighting in Lebanon Kills Dozens (May 20): About 60 people are killed in battles between government troops and members of Islamic militant group Fatah al-Islam, which is based in a Palestinian refugee camp near Tripoli. The group is
similar in philosophy to al-Qaeda.

SW5
Warning: Psychology of the Times

U.S. and Iranian Diplomats Discuss Iraq (May 28): Six Muslims Are Arrested in Terror Investigation (May 8): Men from New Jersey and Pennsylvania, including three Yugoslav-born, ethnic Albanian brothers, are charged in federal court with plotting to attack Fort Dix, an army base in New
Jersey.

Fighting Escalates Among Palestinian Factions (June 12): About three dozen
Palestinians die in battles between members of rival parties Hamas and Fatah. The homes and offices of Prime Minister Ismail Haniya and President Mahmoud Abbas
are attacked. Both sides accuse each other of coup attempts.

(June 13): Hamas succeeds in taking control of much of the Gaza Strip. With Fatah holding sway over the West Bank, many fear a civil war is imminent. (June 14): Palestinian president Mahmoud Abbas dissolves the government, fires Prime Minister Ismail Haniya, the leader of Hamas, and declares a state of emergency. The violence continues in the Gaza Strip and West Bank.

(June 15): Abbas swears in an emergency
government. Salam Fayyad, an economist, takes over as interim prime minister.
(June 18): The U.S. and European Union announce they will resume aid to
Palestinians.

(June 25): At a meeting in Sharm el-Sheikh, an Egyptian resort, Israeli prime minister Ehud Olmert tells Palestinian president Mahmoud Abbas that he will free some 250 members of Fatah from Israeli jails and release about $600
million in tax revenues that was withheld when Hamas won legislative elections
more than a year ago.

Former Israeli Prime Minister Is Elected Leader of Labor Party (June 13):
Former prime minister Ehud Barak returns to politics, defeating Parliament member
Ami Ayalon in the race to head the Labor Party. In addition, Shimon Peres, of the
Kadima Party, is elected president by Parliament.

Peacekeepers Are Killed in Lebanon (June 24): Five UN peacekeepers—three
from Colombia and two from Spain—die when they are attacked in southern Lebanon. They were stationed at the border with Israel.

Israel Releases Money to Palestinians (July 1): With members of Hamas no
longer part of the Palestinian government, Israel resumes financial ties to the
Palestinian Authority and begins to transfer tax revenue to the government.

British Journalist Is Freed in Gaza (July 4): Alan Johnston, a BBC correspondent who was abducted on March 12 in Gaza by a radical clan called Army of Islam, is released.

Suicide Bomber Kills 150 in Iraq (July 7)

Bin Laden Releases a Video (Sept. 7): In his first video message in nearly three
years, bin Laden says promises to "continue to escalate the killing in Iraq."

Iranian President Stirs Protets at Columbia Speech (Sept. 25): In his
controversial speech, Mahmoud Ahmadinejad insists there are no homosexuals in
Iran, says the U.S. supports terrorism, and calls U.S. and European efforts to halt
Iran's nuclear weapons program hypocritical.

Bush Requests Additional Funding for Wars (Oct. 22): President asks Congress to authorize $46 billion in emergency spending for the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan. The request is in addition to the $ 150 billion he had already sought from Congress.

Pakistani President Declares State of Emergency (Nov. 3):Pervez Musharraf suspends the country's constitution and fires Chief Justice Iflikhar Muhammad Chaudhry and the other judges on the Supreme Court. In addition, police arrest at least 500 opposition figures. Analysts suggest that Musharraf was trying to preempt an upcoming ruling by the Supreme Court, which is expected to declare he could not constitutionally run for president while head of military. Musharraf, however, says he acted to stem a rising Islamist insurgency and to "preserve the democratic transition.”

(Nov. 5): Thousands of lawyers take to the streets to protest the emergency rule. Many clash with baton-wielding police. As many as 700 lawyers are arrested, including Chaudhry, who is placed under house arrest.
(Nov. 8): Musharraf says elections will be held by Feb. 15, 2008. (Nov. 9): Thousands of police officers barricade the city of Rawalpindi, the site of a protest planned by opposition leader Benazir Bhutto.
(Nov. 13): Bhutto is placed under house arrest so she cannot organize another rally. (Nov. 16): On the day that Parliament ends its five-year term, Musharraf swears in a caretaker government, with Mian Muhammad Soomro, the chairman of Pakistan's senate, as prime minister. He also lifts Bhutto's house
arrest.

(Nov. 22): The Supreme Court, filled with judges loyal to Musharraf, dismisses the case
challenging the constitutionality of Musharraf being elected president while head of the military.
(Nov. 25): Former prime minister Nawaz Sharif returns to Pakistan after eight years in exile and demands that Musharraf lift the emergency rule and reinstate the Supreme Court justices that were dismissed on Nov. 3. Musharraf overthrew Sharif in a coup in 1999.
(Nov. 28): Musharraf steps down as military chief. He is replaced by Gen. Ashfaq Parvez Kayani, the former head of Pakistan’s intelligence agency, Inter- Services Intelligence.

(Nov. 29): Musharraf is sworn in as a civilian president. Since he no longer controls the military, his power over Pakistan is significantly diminished.

Hamas Police Kill Civilians at Gaza Rally (Nov. 12): Fighting breaks out between members of Hamas and Fatah at a Fatah-led rally commemorating the third anniversary of Yasir Arafat's death. Hamas police shoot and kill at least seven civilians.

Troop Withdrawal Begins in Iraq (Nov. 24): A brigade of 5,000 U.S. troops starts to leave Diyala Province, the first significant pullback of troops. Once the withdrawal is complete, there will be 157,000 soldiers in Iraq, from a high of 162,000.

Presidential Vote Is Delayed in Lebanon (Nov. 24): A caretaker government, led by Prime Minister Fouad Siniora, takes over after President Émile Lahoud's term expires and Parliament for the fourth time postpones a vote on his successor.

Bush Hosts Middle East Peace Conference (Nov. 27): At a meeting in Annapolis, Md., Israeli prime minister Ehud Olmert and Palestinian president Mahmoud Abbas agree to work together to broker a peace treaty by the end of 2008. Officials from 49 countries attend the conference.

Putin's Party Dominates Parliamentary Elections (Dec. 2): United Russia takes 64.1% of the vote, far ahead of the Communist Party of Russia, which wins 11.6%. Opposition parties complain that the election was rigged, and European monitors say the vote wasn't fair. Putin used his sway over the media to stifle the opposition and campaign for United Russia, making the election a referendum on his popularity.

Intelligence Report Concludes Iran Has Halted Weapons Program (Dec. 3): A National Intelligence Estimate compiled by the 16 agencies of the U.S. intelligence community says "with high confidence" that Iran froze its nuclear weapons program in 2003. The report contradicts one written in 2005 that stated Iran was determined to continue developing such weapons. (Dec. 4): Despite the report, President Bush says ran remains a threat and can not be trusted to pursue enriching uranium for
civilian use.

Putin Names His Choice for Successor (Dec. 10): Russian president Vladmir Putin endorses Dmitri Medvedev in March 2008's presidential election. A Putin loyalist who is said to be moderate and pro- Western, Medvedev serves as a first deputy prime minister and the chairman of Gazprom, the country's oil monopoly. He has never worked in intelligence or security agencies, unlike Putin and many members of his administration. (Dec. 11): Medvedev says he will name Putin as prime minister if elected president.

Musharraf Ends Emergency Rule (Dec. 14):

Bhutto Killed in Suicide Attack (Dec. 27): Former Pakistani prime minister Benazir Bhutto dies at a campaign rally in Rawalpindi. President Pervez Musharraf blames al Qaeda for the attack, which kills 23 other people. Bhutto's supporters, however, accuse Musharraf's government of orchestrating the bombing. Rioting throughout the country follows the attack. (Dec. 30): The Pakistan People's Party selects Bhutto's eldest son, Bilawal Bhutto Zardari, as its chairman to succeed his mother.

Take a look at 2007 at Info Please for a complete listing of this year's events!

2008 CE

California Sues EPA (Jan. 2): State challenges the December 2007 decision by the Environmental Protection Agency that said 17 states, including California, do not have the authority to implement their own standards for emissions of greenhouse gases by cars and trucks. The states had sought to impose
tougher restrictions than those in place under federal law.

g9
Global Change:
Control of Information

Tornadoes Ravage Midsection of the U.S. (Jan. 7-8): A series of winter tornadoes caused by recordbreaking temperatures kill at least six people, including two children, destroy houses, and flood roads in Arkansas, Illinois, Missouri, and Wisconsin.

Markets Plunge Around the World (Jan. 21): Responding to fears that the U.S. is headed for an imminent recession, stock markets fall drastically in Frankfurt, Mumbai, Hong Kong, Paris, London, and
other major cities in Europe and Asia.

Federal Reserve Slashes Interest Rates (Jan. 22): In response to the plunge in markets around the world, the Federal Reserve bank cuts interest rates by .75%, the largest single-day reduction in the bank's history.

g7
Global Change:
Surprise Attacks
Global Changes are signs of the times

Microsoft Makes Hostile Bid for Yahoo Feb. 1): In a move to challenge Google's dominance of search and advertising on the internet, software giant Microsoft offers to buy Yahoo for $44.6 billion.

Tornadoes Kill Dozens in the South Feb. 5): At least 55 people are killed and hundreds more injured after violent tornadoes rip through Alabama, Arkansas, Kentucky, Mississippi, and Tennessee.

New Module Added to the International Space Station (Feb. 9): The Atlantis delivers the Columbus science laboratory, a $2 billion module that will double the station’s zero-gravity research capacity, and Europe’s most recent contribution to the ISS.

The global change 'megaphenomena' described by Ed Ayers of World Watch Institute are iconically represented by the graphic below. Change comes now with a recognition of what must be precipitous events to follow. The four changes Ayers focuses on in his book (entitled: God's Last Offer) are Population Growth, Consumption, Green House Emissions, and Extinction of Species. All of these fit the basic trend illustrated below.

g10
Global Change:
Denail of Change

Wheat Prices Rise (Feb. 13): Due to drought and high demand from abroad, the U.S. wheat supply is the lowest it's been in 30 years. Stockpiles in 2008 are predicted to fall to 312 million bushels from 456 million bushels in 2007.

EPA Modifies Smog Standards (March 12): The Environmental Protection Agency tightens the smog standards, which are stated in average concentrations of ozone at ground level over an eight-hour period. The new standard is reduced to 75 from the current 84.

Government Intervenes to Avert Financial Crises (March 11): Federal Reserves outlines a $200 billion loan program that lets the country's biggest banks borrow Treasury securities at discount rates and post mortgage-backed securities as collateral. (March 13): The Federal Reserve approves a $30 billion loan to JPMorgan Chase so it can take over Bear Stearns, which is on the verge of collapse.(March 18): The Federal Reserve cuts short-term interest rates by three-quarters of a percentage point.

g12
WARNING:
World's Scientists
Warning on Global Change

Bush Administration Releases Photos Linking N Korea with Syria's Nuclear Reactor (April 24): 7 months after Israel destroyed a building suspected to house a nuclear reactor, U.S. publicizes photos confirming N Korea helped Syria build the facility.

N Korea Discloses Information on Plutonium Program (May 8): N Korea gives U.S. 18,000 pages of documents detailing its efforts in 1990, 2003, and 2005 to reprocess plutonium for nuclear weapons.

Congress Passes Law Banning Bias Based on Genes (May 1): House (and later Senate) votes in favor of legislation forbidding health insurers and employers from discriminating based on a person’s genetic information.

California Supreme Court Rules in Favor of Gay Marriage (May 15)

Cyclone Devastates Myanmar (May 3): Cyclone kills 78,000 people - up to a million homeless.

Earthquake Kills Thousands in China (May 12): Up to 68,000 people killed and thousands injured by a 7.9 magnitude earthquake in western China. (May 27): Authorities evacuate residents threatened by potential flooding of "quake lakes," which formed when landslides blocked several rivers. As many as 1.3 million people may have to be relocated.

Polar Bear Designated as Threatened (May 14): … now protected by the Endangered Species Act. However, US Interior Department includes provisions that allow oil exploration to continue in the Arctic.

N Korea Makes Steps Toward Denuclearization (June 26): Officials provide China list of nuclear facilities and info on amount of reprocessed plutonium.

California Begins Performing Same-Sex Marriages (June 16)

Bush Asks Congress to End Ban on Offshore Drilling (June 18): President urges Congress to act by July 4 to rescind a law (passed in 1990) that prohibits offshore drilling for oil.

California Governor Declares a Drought (June 4): With reservoir levels well below average and the state experiencing its driest spring in 88 years, Gov. Schwarzenegger declares California is in a drought and warns of potential rationing. It is the first such declaration in 17 years.

Several Die in Midwest Floods (June 9): Severe flooding from storms cause already swollen rivers and lakes in Iowa, Indiana, and Wisconsin to flood, killing 10 people, breaking three dams, and forcing thousands to evacuate their homes.

Hundreds Are Killed by Typhoon in the Philippines (June 21)

The U.S. and the Czech Republic Sign Deal on Missile Shield (July 8): Czech Republic agrees to allow the US to deploy an antiballistic missile shield. Russia strongly objects and views the system as a threat. U.S. officials say the shield is meant to deter an attack from Iran.

Negotiators Reach Deal on Verifying N Korean Disarmament (July 12): The U.S., China, N Korea, S Korea, Russia, and Japan announce international inspectors will visit N Korea's nuclear facilities to confirm shut down of its main facility at Yongbyon. In return, N Korea will receive financial and energy assistance.

Two Decisions Deal Blow to Pollution Regulation (July 11): Administrator of the EPA, says EPA is not obligated to control emissions of heat-trapping gases and to do so would be an "unprecedented expansion" of the agency's power.

Bush Lifts Ban on Offshore Drilling (July 14): However, move is largely symbolic since a Congressional moratorium remains in effect.

Leaders of World's Richest Nations Agree to Reduce Emissions of Greenhouse Gases (July 8): At annual meeting, members of the Group of 8, the U.S., Japan, Germany, Britain, France, Italy, Canada, and Russia, set goals to cut in half by 2050 the amount of greenhouse gases emitted into the environment.

N Korea Announces It Has Stopped Disabling Nuclear Reactor (Aug. 26): will resume work at Yongbyon unless the US removes N Korea from its list of nations sponsoring terrorism. U.S. says N Korea will remain on the list until inspectors have access to locations suspected of being nuclear sites.

China and Iraq Sign Oil Contract (Aug. 28): As part of the $3 billion deal, the China National Petroleum Corporation will provide Iraq with technical advisers, workers, and equipment to develop the Ahdab oil field. If approved by Iraq's cabinet, it will be the first foreign oil contract implemented by Iraq since 2003.

The Democratic National Convention Opens in Denver (Aug 25)

The Summer Olympic Games Open with a Spectacular Ceremony (Aug. 8): The Games open in Beijing with 14,000 performers and 91,000 spectators in the National Stadium. Ceremony entertains 840 million television viewers worldwide.

New Orleans Residents Prepare for Hurricane (Aug. 30): One day after the third anniversary of Hurricane Katrina, New Orleans mayor orders residents to begin evacuating the city as Hurricane Gustav makes its way toward Louisiana. (Aug. 31): As many as two million people leave New Orleans in one of the biggest evacuations in U.S. history.

Flood Devastates Part of India (Aug. 28): A dam breach in Nepal causes the Kosi River in the state of Bihar to flood. At least 75 people die, more than two million are displaced, and some 500,000 are stranded.

International Regulator Allows India to Buy Nuclear Fuel (Sept. 6): The Nuclear Suppliers Group, comprised of 45 countries, votes to allow India to buy nuclear fuel for its reactors (for civilian purposes only). The opposition party in India is against the deal, calling it a "nonproliferation trap."

House Passes a Bill to Expand Offshore Drilling (Sept. 16): Legislation would allow drilling for oil 50 miles off the Atlantic and Pacific coasts if all adjacent states agree and 100 miles out regardless of a state's position on drilling. The measure calls on utilities to produce 15% of their power from renewable sources by 2020.

US Approves Nuclear Deal with India (Sept. 27): House votes to end the ban on trading nuclear fuel with India. The ban was imposed in 1974 after India tested a nuclear weapon.

China Admits Shoddy Construction May Have Caused Schools to Collapse in Earthquakes (Sept. 4)

Unemployment Rate Reaches Highest Level in Five Years (Sept. 5)

U.S. Financial Markets Hit by Turmoil (Sept. 7)

Hundreds Die in Storm in Haiti (Sept. 5): Tropical Storm Hanna strikes port city of Gonaïves, killing at least 500 people / leaving many more injured or missing.

Hurricane Leaves a Path of Devastation (Sept. 7-8): At least 61 people die in Haiti, four more are killed in Cuba, and 80% of homes are destroyed on Turks and Caicos islands when category 2 Hurricane Ike strikes the Caribbean. (Sept. 13-14): Hurricane Ike continues its damage when it hits

Senate Approves Nuclear Deal with India (Oct. 1)

Connecticut Legalizes Gay Marriage (Oct. 10)

Bush Administration Memorandum Asserts Federal Money Can Fund Groups That Discriminate Based on Faith (Oct. 18): A 2007 Justice Department legal opinion concluded that under the 1993 Religious Freedom Restoration Act, federal entities subject to anti-discrimination law can give money to groups that hire only people of a certain faith.

US Senate Passes Bailout Plan (Oct. 1): a $700 billion measure gives a US Treasury authority to buy a range of troubled financial assets, limits executive pay, gives a government an equity stake in companies, and gives government a ability to recoup losses from a financial industry after 5 years.
(Oct. 3): House approves bailout package (Oct. 6): The finance ministers from the Group of 7 industrialized nations meet in Washington to formulate a plan to stem the escalating financial crisis. (Oct. 14): Bush administration plans to invest $250 billion in 9 of the largest U.S. banks as part of its effort to control the financial crisis.

Economy Suffers Huge Job Losses in September (Oct. 3): The Labor Department reports 159,000 jobs were lost in September, the most in five years.

Earthquake Causes Devastation in Pakistan(Oct. 29): A 6.5 magnitude earthquake … at least 200 people are killed and more than 15,000 are left homeless.

Economy Shrinks for First Time in Years (Oct. 30): The gross domestic product drops 0.3%. It's the first decrease in the GDP in 17 years.

Russian President Sends a Warning to Obama (Nov. 5): The day after Obama is elected president of US, Russian president Medvedev delivers a speech saying he will deploy short-range missiles near Poland if the U.S. installs a missile-defense system in Europe.

China Announces Enormous Stimulus Package (Nov. 9): China will spend about $586 billion, or about 7% of its GDP, over next two years on infrastructure projects, including new airports, subways, low-income housing, and rail systems.

Pirates Hijack Oil Tanker (Nov. 18): Saudi oil tanker, anchored about 480 miles off the coast of Somalia, loaded with some two million barrels of oil, worth about $100 million. Piracy in the area has been occurring with increased frequency in 2008.

Barack Obama Is Elected President (Nov. 4)

California Votes to Outlaw Same-Sex Marriage (Nov. 4)

Researchers Decode the Genome of Cancer Patient (Nov. 6): Scientists at Washington Univ. sequenced all the DNA from the cancer cells of a woman who died of leukemia and compared it to her healthy cells. They found mutations in the cancer cells that may have either caused the cancer or helped it progress. It is the first time scientists have completed such research.

Economy Stumbles Further
(Nov. 7):World Leaders Discuss Financial Crisis (Nov. 15): Stock Market Tumbles Again (Nov. 19): Stock Market Tumbles Again (Nov. 19): Government Announces Another Plan to Help Economy (Nov. 25): Congress Considers Bailout Package for Detroit Automakers (Dec. 10) Bush Unveils $17.4 Billion Rescue of Auto Industry (Dec. 19): Dow Plunges Amid Report That Economy Is in Recession (Dec. 1): Unemployment Rate Increases Again (Dec. 5):

Take a look at 2008 at Info Please for a complete listing of this year's events!

2008 CE

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TIME LINE FOCUS

On this side of the time line there is greater weight to what is happening in the Middle East. Why? Well, this has to do with the Window’s view on events that are both biblical and secular. The world is increasingly more violent. Israel, a virtual spec of a nation is a focal point of tension and outside aggression. In any other-world scenario one might think such a small nation could be ignored and everyone else would just go on with life. From a prophesy-based point of view, Israel is at the center of events yet to come. Inevitable? Yes. Observe the continual conflict over the Holy Land … this is no mistake and it does lead us somewhere … and that is the point of this time line … to see where we are all headed. So, what does prophesy say? See the last segment of the time line!

--------------------------------

SW4
Moral Decay & Being Deceived

Global Change trends continue to be recognized in this decade with increasing ominous overtones concerning the future of planet earth ...

Hundreds Die in Tribal Violence in Kenya (Jan. 1-4):

Suicide Bomber Kills Dozens in Baghdad (Jan. 1):

Pakistani Government Postpones Elections (Jan 1): In the wake of the assassination of former prime minister Benazir Bhutto, parliamentary elections, which were scheduled for Jan. 8, are postponed
until February 18.

The WindowView Convergence Feature Area provides examples of driving forces for global change.

Israeli Strike Kills Several Palestinians in Gaza (Jan. 15): As many as 20 Palestinians, many member of Hamas, die in the attack. The Israeli operation was in retaliation to the firing of Qassasm rockets and mortar bombs into Israeli towns by Palestinian militants. (Jan. 18): Israel closes all border crossings into the Gaza Strip in response to the Palestinian attacks. Aid and fuel shipments are affected by the border closing. (Jan. 22): Facing criticism for shutting off fuel deliveries to Gaza, Israel resumes oil shipments.
Palestinian Militants Break Through Border Fence (Jan. 23): After members of Hamas destroy parts of a wall that separates the Gaza Strip from Egypt, tens of thousands of Palestinians pass into Egypt to buy food and supplies that are either unavailable in Gaza or are exorbitantly priced.

Popular Kenyan Opposition Politician Is Murdered (Jan. 29):

U.S. Strike Kills al-Qaeda Leader (Jan. 31):

Report on Israeli Offensive in Lebanon Finds Failures (Jan. 31): Final report by an Israeligovernment- appointed panel, the Winograd Commission, on Israel's 2006 war against the militant group Hezbollah in Lebanon, calls the operation a "large and serious" failure and criticizes the country's leadership for failing to have an exit strategy in place before the invasion. Prime Minister Ehud Olmert is spared somewhat, as the commission says that in ordering the invasion, he was acting in "the interest
of the state of Israel."

Israel Hit By First Suicide Bomb in Over a Year (Feb. 4): The militant group Hamas claims responsibility for the attack that kills one person in Dimona. A second attacker is shot and killed by
police.

U.S. Director of National Intelligence Warns of Al Qaeda Threat (Feb. 5): Mike McConnell tells the Senate Intelligence Committee that al-Qaeda has improved its recruiting and training techniques and has produced a new group of Western operatives that could carry out an attack in the U.S.

SW5
Warning: Psychology of the Times

Bomb Kills Top Hezbollah Leader (Feb. 12): A top Hezbollah military commander, Imad Mugniyah, who is thought to be behind a series of bombings and kidnappings in the 1980s and 1990s, is killed in a car bombing in Damascus, Syria. Mugniyah was one of America's most wanted men with a price tag of $ 25 million on his head. Hezbollah accuses Israel for arranging his death.

Dozens Die in Suicide Bombing in Afghanistan (Feb. 17): About 80 people are killed and nearly 100 injured when a suicide bomber attacks at a crowded dogfight near Kandahar.

Musharraf Suffers Resounding Defeat in Elections (Feb. 18):

Fighting in Gaza Intensifies (Feb. 27): An Israeli airstrike into Gaza kills five members of Hamas, which then launched rockets into southern Israel, killing a civilian. Back-and-forth strikes continue throughout the day.

Fighting Between Israel and Hamas Continues (March 2): More than 100 Palestinians are killed in five days as members of Hamas and the Israeli military trade rocket fire. The violence intensifies after Hamas begins to launch longer-range rockets at Israel and as the fighting enters the West Bank. In response to the mounting civilian deaths, Palestinian prime minister Mahmoud Abbas suspends peace talks with Israel.

Putin's Choice for President Is Easily Elected (March 2): As expected, Dmitri A. Medvedev, a former aide to Russian president Vladimir Putin who has never held elected office, wins the presidential election in a landslide. Putin will remain in a position of power, serving as Medvedev's prime minister.

Security Council Imposes Third Round of Sanctions on Iran (March 3): Resolution, the third since December 2006, punishing Iran for refusing to stop uranium enrichment allows inspections of cargo leaving and entering Iran that officials suspect is carrying banned materials, expands monitoring of financial institutions, and bans the travel and freezes the assets of people and businesses involved in Iran's nuclear program.

Eight Students Killed at Jerusalem Seminary (March 6): A Palestinian gunman from East Jerusalem fires hundreds of rounds of automatic weapons fire at the Mercaz Harav yeshiva in Jerusalem, killing eight students. The attack is the most deadly on Israeli citizens in two years.

Body of Iraqi Archbishop Is Found (March 13): Paulos Faraj Rahho, who led Mosul's Chaldean Catholic Church, had been kidnapped in February. His remains were recovered in Mosul.

Iran Plans to Expand Uranium Enrichment (April 8): President Ahmadinejad says Iran is installing 6,000 centrifuges to its uranium enrichment plant, which already has 3,000 centrifuges.

Putin Is Elected Leader (April 15): Vladimir Putin chosen as chairman of the United Russia party and agrees to become prime minister when Dmitri Medvedev assumes Russian presidency in May.

U.S. Missile Kills Top Militia Leader in Somalia (May 1): US officials say Aden Hashi Ayro, leader of Shabab, an Islamic militant group with ties to al-Qaeda, was killed in a missile attack.

New President of Russia Is Sworn In (May 7): Medvedev succeeds Putin as president of Russia. Medvedev is said to be moderate and pro-Western. (May 8): Parliament elects Putin, head of the United Russia party, as prime minister.

Hezbollah and Government Supporters Battle in Beirut (May 7): Members of Hezbollah, a Shiite militia backed by Iran, block city streets to support a labor union strike and to fight against supporters of the pro-Western government in Lebanon.
(May 9): Hezbollah takes control of large swaths of western Beirut, forces government-supported television station off the air, and burns offices of a newspaper loyal to the government. The government accuses Hezbollah of staging an "armed coup."

(May 21): After several days of negotiations, Hezbollah and the government reach a deal that ends the violence in Beirut and calls on Parliament to move toward electing Gen. Michel Suleiman, the commander of Lebanon’s army, president; the formation of a new cabinet, which gives Hezbollah and other members of the opposition veto power; and a discussion of a new electoral law.

Israel and Syria Announce Peace Talks (May 21): For the first time in eight years, Israel and Syria return to the bargaining table to try to negotiate a peace deal. Syria hopes to regain control over the Golan Heights, which was taken by Israel in 1967; Israel wants to distance Syria from Iran and diminish some of the influence
Iran holds in the Middle East.

Sept. 11 Suspects Are Arraigned (June 5): Khalid Shaikh Mohammed, who has claimed to have organized the September 11, 2001, terrorist attacks against the U.S., and four others involved in the planning, face a tribunal for the first time at Guantánamo Bay, Cuba. All five defendants say they will defend themselves.

Israel and Hamas Sign a Truce (June 19): Egypt brokers a cease-fire between Israel and Hamas, the militant group that controls the Gaza Strip. The agreement is intended to quell the violence in the region.

Five-Year Inquiry Finds Bush Exaggerated Evidence on Iraq (June 5): Senate Select Committee on Intelligence report states that President Bush and his staff overstated evidence that Saddam Hussein possessed nuclear, chemical, and biological weapons and misled the public about ties between Iraq and al - Qaeda.

Iran Test Fires Missiles (July 9): The Revolutionary Guards fire nine long- and medium-range missiles, which could reach parts of Israel.

Gunmen Attack U.S. Consulate in Turkey (July 9)

Israel and Lebanon Carry Out Prisoner Exchange (July 16): Israel releases five Lebanese prisoners. Lebanon, in turn, returns to Israel the bodies of two soldiers who were captured in a 2006 cross-border raid into Israel. The raid, carried out by the militant group Hezbollah, resulted in what is now considered a disastrous invasion of Lebanon.

U.S. Envoy Participates in Talks with Iran (July 19): Iran's chief negotiator, S. Jalili, meets with representatives from the U.S., France, Britain, Germany, Russia, and China. Iran, however, does not commit to a proposal that calls on Iran to freeze its nuclear program in exchange for a freeze on further sanctions against Iran.

Dozens Die in Ethnic Fighting and Suicide Attacks in Iraq (July 28)

Israeli Prime Minister to Resign (July 30): Ehud Olmert, who is under investigation for fraud, bribery, and breach of trust, announces he will step down once a new party leader is selected in September.

Turkey's Ruling Party Survives Legal Challenge (July 30): Turkey's Constitutional Court falls one vote short of banning the Justice and Development party for violating the country's constitution. The
Court rules to reduce by one-half the party's public financing.

Violence Breaks Out in Breakaway Region in Georgia (Aug. 7)

Al-Qaeda Increases Its Strength and Threat (Aug.12 ): Ted Gistaro, the U.S. senior terrorism analyst, says by forging closer ties to Pakistani militants, al-Qaeda is more capable of launching an attack in the US than it was a year ago.

Lebanese Soldiers Are Killed in Bombing (Aug. 13): A bomb left on the street explodes and tears through a bus carrying Lebanese troops, killing 15 people, nine of them soldiers. No one claims responsibility, but the bombing may be in retaliation for the army's 2007 fighting against an al-Qaeda linked Islamist group in Tripoli.

Taliban Launches Major Attack in Afghanistan (Aug. 18 and 19)

Taliban Launches Double Suicide Bombing in Pakistan (Aug. 21):

Iraq and the U.S. Agrees on Timeframe for Troop Pullout (Aug. 22)

Thai Government Declares State of Emergency When Protests Turn Violent (Sept. 1)

U.S. Troops Attack Militants in Pakistan (Sept. 3)

Russia Agrees to Withdraw from Georgia (Sept. 8)

Several Bombs Tear Through Indian Capital (Sept. 13): Over the course of 25 minutes, five bombs explode in crowded markets in New Delhi, killing 22 people and injuring dozens. The Indian Mujahedeen claims responsibility for the attacks.

Two Bombs Explode at U.S. Embassy in Yemen (Sept. 17)

Dozens Are Killed in Blast at Popular Hotel in Pakistan (Sept. 20)

Israeli Prime Minister Steps Down (Sept. 21): Ehud Olmert, who is under investigation for corruption, resigns as prime minister. Foreign Minister Tzipi Livni, who was recently elected the head of Olmert's party, Kadima, is expected to succeed Olmert if she can maintain the fragile governing coalition.

Car Bomb Explodes in Syrian Capital (Sept. 27): A bomb, made of more than 400 pounds of explosives, kills 17 people near a Shiite shrine in Damascus. It's Syria's worst attack in more than 20 years.

Bombs Kill Dozens in Baghdad (Sept. 28): At least 27 people die and more than 80 are wounded in bombings that occur throughout the day.

Russian Peacekeepers Are Killed in South Ossetia (Oct. 3)

Anti-government Protests in Thailand Become Deadly (Oct. 7)

Taliban Insurgents Engage in Grisly Attack (Oct. 19): Fighters pull as many as 30 men from a bus traveling in Kandahar and behead them. A Taliban spokesman says the passengers were members of the Afghan National Army. The Afghan government denies the claim, saying the men were civilians traveling to Iran to seek work.

U.S. Troops Launch an Air Attack into Syria (Oct. 26): American Special Operations Forces kill a leader of al-Qaeda in Mesopotamia in a helicopter attack in Syria, near the Iraqi border. U.S. officials say the militant, Abu Ghadiya, has smuggled weapons, money, and fighters into Iraq from Syria.

Fighting Intensifies in Congo (Oct. 27)

Peaceful Regions of Somalia Rocked by Bombings (Oct. 29)

African Leaders and UN Officials Hold Emergency Meeting on Fighting in Congo (Nov. 7)

Dozens Are Killed in Blasts in Baghdad (Nov. 10)

Terrorists Launch Brazen Attack in Mumbai (Nov. 26)

Hundreds Are Killed in Clashes in Nigeria (Nov. 28)

Former President of Taiwan Is Indicted (Dec. 12): President of Somalia Fires Prime Minister (Dec. 14): Journalist Throws Shoes at Bush (Dec. 14): Rwandan Military Officer Found Guilty of Genocide (Dec. 18):

Israel Launches Airstrikes into Gaza (Dec. 28): Days after the cease-fire between Israel and Hamas expired, Hamas begins launching rocket attacks into Israel, which retaliates with airstrikes that killed about 300 people. Israel targets Hamas bases, training camps, and missile storage facilities.