Timeline 2015 January- March
Return to home
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 1,
Donna Douglass (b.1932), TV actress, died in Baton Rouge, La. She
played Elly May Clampett in the “The Beverly Hillbillies” sitcom
which aired from 1962-1971.
   (SFC, 1/3/15, p.A6)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 1, Mario Cuomo
(b.1932), former three-term governor of New York state (1983-1994),
died of heart failure at home in Manhattan.
   (SFC, 1/2/15, p.A5)(Econ, 1/10/15, p.86)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 1, In West Virginia
Eric Campbell (21) and Edward Campbell (54) of Texas were arrested
following a shooting that left two officers wounded. The bodies of
Jerome Faulkner (63) and his wife Dora (62) of North Carolina,
killed earlier in the day, were found in the bed of a pickup truck
driven by Edward Campbell.
   (SFC, 1/3/15, p.A4)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 1, In the Bahamas a
new 7.5 percent tax value-added went into effect only for businesses
whose profits exceed $100,000 a year.
   (AP, 1/3/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 1, Fritz-Joly Joachin
(19) was arrested while trying to cross from Bulgaria to Turkey. He
was later associated with the Kouachi brothers who killed 12 people
in Paris on Jan 7. On Jan 29 he was extradited to France.
   (SFC, 1/30/15, p.A2)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 1, In Burundi a group
of unidentified rebels crossed into the country overnight from
DRCongo's eastern Kivu region.
   (AFP, 1/4/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 1, The Dominican Rep.
said it will not recognize a same-sex marriage performed for the
first time there two days earlier.
   (SFC, 1/2/15, p.A2)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 1, Egypt’s President
Abdel-Fattah el-Sissi addressed Muslim clerics in a televised speech
at an Al-Azhar conference center in Cairo and called on them to
promote a reading of Islamic text in an enlightened manner and to
reconsider concepts that have been made sacred over hundreds of
years.
   (SFC, 1/9/15, p.A3)(Reuters, 5/31/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 1, Defense lawyers
said Egypt's highest court has ordered a retrial of three jailed
journalists working for Al Jazeera television, citing procedural
flaws in last year's trial.
   (Reuters, 1/1/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 1, France's Interior
Ministry said 940 cars were set alight by revelers ringing in the
New Year, 12 percent fewer than the 1,067 set aflame last year.
   (AP, 1/1/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 1, A Gambia military
source said four officers suspected of participating in a failed
military coup against strongman President Yahya Jammeh have taken
refuge in Guinea-Bissau. Dozens of military personnel and civilians
were arrested and a large cache of weapons and explosives were found
after the alleged coup attempt.
   (AFP, 1/1/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 1, Heavy seas stopped
divers reaching the possible wreck of an AirAsia Indonesia jet off
Borneo. Nine bodies have so far been recovered from the Airbus
A320-200, which crashed Dec 28 en route to Singapore.
   (Reuters, 1/1/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 1, India scrapped its
65-year-old Planning Commission and replacing it today with new
National Institution for Transforming India (NITI), which PM
Narendra Modi said would do more to involve the regions.
   (AP, 1/1/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 1, In Iran 2 people
were killed in what is being labeled a terrorist attack in the
southeastern province of Sistan and Baluchistan.
   (AP, 1/2/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 1, In southern Iraq
gunmen killed 3 Sunni clerics near the mostly Shiite city of Basra.
A roadside bomb exploded in central Baghdad, killing 4 civilians and
wounding 12.
   (AP, 1/2/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 1, Iraqi government
figures showed violence in the country killed more than 15,000
civilians and security personnel in 2014.
   (AFP, 1/1/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 1, Former Lebanese PM
Omar Karami (b.1934) died after suffering from an undisclosed
illness. Karami served two terms, 1990-1992 and 2004-2005.
   (AP, 1/1/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 1, Lithuania welcomed
a New Year and a new currency, becoming the 19th member and last
Baltic nation to adopt the euro in a bid to boost stability despite
fears of inflation and eurozone debt woes.
   (AFP, 1/1/15)(http://tinyurl.com/obb2hfm)(Econ,
12/6/14, p.85)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 1, In Nigeria a
suicide bomber blew himself up at the gates of a church in the
northeastern city of Gombe during a New Year service, wounding eight
people.
   (Reuters, 1/1/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 1, A Pakistani fishing
boat laden with explosives bound for India blew up, killing all four
people on board, after the Indian coast guard tried to stop and
search it.
   (Reuters, 1/2/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 1, In the Philippines
a huge blaze, believed to have been ignited by firecrackers, razed
nearly a thousand shanties and killed 3 people in a creekside slum
in Manila. At least 17 fires across the country were linked to
raucous New Year's celebrations leaving a total of 7 people dead.
   (AP, 1/1/15)(SSFC, 1/4/15, p.A4)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 1, In Poland a
so-called "oncology package" was introduced requiring family doctors
to diagnose and fast-track cancer patients. Doctors said this will
leave less time and attention for all other patients, threatening
their health. Hundreds of doctors refused to sign the new plan and
kept their surgeries closed.
   (AP, 1/5/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 1, Saudi security
forces arrested Montadhar Ali Saleh Alsbaitiin, a man believed to
belong to a Shi'ite Muslim group blamed for instigating protests and
unrest in the country's Eastern Province.
   (Reuters, 1/2/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 1, South Korea-based
Samsung Electronics said it will release smart televisions equipped
with its new platform built around the Tizen operating system this
year, as it seeks to lower its reliance on Google.
   (AFP, 1/1/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 1, Sri Lanka said
flash floods and mudslides have killed at least 39 people and more
than 1 million have had to flee their homes in the past two weeks.
   (Reuters, 1/1/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 1, Swedish police
hunted for at least one suspect following what is believed to be the
third arson attack on a mosque in a week.
   (AFP, 1/1/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 1, The Syrian
Observatory for Human Rights, a monitoring group, recorded 76,021
deaths for 2014.
   (AFP, 1/1/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 1, In Tanzania six
lions were killed overnight by angry Maasai herders following an
attack on livestock.
   (AFP, 1/1/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 1, In Turkey a man
carrying an automatic weapon was detained near the historic
Dolmabahce Palace in Istanbul after he threw a grenade at police.
The Turkish far-left group DHKP-C soon claimed responsibility for
the grenade attack.
   (Reuters, 1/2/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 1, Ukrainian
separatists carried out sporadic attacks on government forces as the
New Year began, wounding three soldiers. Rebel mortar fire
reportedly killed one civilian. Alexander Bednov, head of a
battalion called "Batman," was killed when separatist security
forces tried to arrest him in the Luhansk region.
   (Reuters, 1/1/15)(AP, 1/4/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 1, In Yemen 49 people
were killed when a suicide bomber targeted a religious celebration
by Huthi supporters in the mainly Sunni city of Ibb.
   (AFP, 1/4/15)(AFP, 1/7/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 2, The United States
imposed new sanctions on North Korea in retaliation for a cyber
attack on Hollywood studio Sony Pictures.
   (AFP, 1/2/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 2, Andrew Marshall
(93), head of the US Office of Net Assessment (ONA), known as the
Pentagon’s internal think tank, retired. He had led the office since
its inception in 1973.
   (Econ, 1/10/15, p.28)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 2, In California
hundreds of people lined up in early morning cold as the state began
taking driver's license applications from the largest population of
immigrants living in the US illegally.
   (AP, 1/2/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 2, A judge in Alameda,
Ca., approved a $9.87 million settlement against Safeway Inc. for
improperly disposing of hazardous material and customers’ medical
records.
   (SFC, 1/6/15, p.C4)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 2, In Kentucky Sailor
Gutzler, a seven-year-old girl, walked free from the wreckage of a
private plane that crashed in a wooded area killing her parents, a
sister (9) and a cousin (14). She walked three-quarters of a mile in
near freezing temperatures before finding a residence and directing
emergency workers to the crash.
   (AP, 1/3/15)(SFC, 1/5/15, p.A4)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 2, Little Jimmy
Dickens (b.1920), former singer with the Grand Ole Opry, died in
Nashville. His hit songs included ”Take an Old Cold Tater” (1949),
“Out Behind the Barn” (1954) and “May the Bird of Paradise Fly Up
Your Nose” (1965).
   (SSFC, 1/4/15, p.A10)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 2, In Afghanistan a
civilian man was killed after a rocket fired from an army checkpoint
struck a house in southern Helmand province.
   (AP, 1/3/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 2, Egyptian troops
opened fire on six Gazans who had illegally crossed into the
Egyptian Sinai, where the army has created a buffer zone to prevent
the movement of militants. Ashraf al-Qudra (17) was killed.
   (AFP, 1/3/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 2, The Eurasian
Economic Union, a trade bloc of former Soviet states, expanded to
four nations when Armenia formally joined, a day after the union
between Russia, Belarus and Kazakhstan began.
   (AP, 1/2/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 2, In Greece a couple
and their 12-year-old son were stabbed to death in their apartment
in Thessaloniki. The alleged attacker (60) was arrested after being
injured by falling from a balcony of the building.
   (AP, 1/2/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 2, In Hungary some
5000 thousand people protested at what they see as the country's
move towards Russia in the latest demonstration against the
government of controversial PM Viktor Orban.
   (AFP, 1/2/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 2, The Icelandic Coast
Guard ship Tyr towed a cargo vessel to Italy with about 450 migrants
after Italian rescue teams managed to secure the wave-tossed Ezadeen
for towing toward the southern Calabrian region. The migrants were
abandoned by smugglers, leaving the vessel in rough seas without a
crew.
   (AP, 1/2/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 2, Rescue teams
battling monsoon rains recovered 21 more bodies from Indonesia’s
AirAsia Flight 8501, which crashed on Dec 28. To date 30 of 162
bodies were recovered.
   (AP, 1/2/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 2, In northern Iraq
militants linked to the Islamic State group rounded up dozens of men
from the villages of al-Shajara and al-Ghariba following a quarrel
that led to the burning of the extremist group's flag.
   (AP, 1/3/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 2, Kenya's High Court
suspended key parts of a controversial new national security law
that the opposition had warned risked turning the east African
nation into a dictatorship.
   (AFP, 1/2/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 2, In Libya armed
militants shot and killed 17 soldiers and one civilian at a
checkpoint in the central district of Jufra.
   (AP, 1/2/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 2, In Mexico armed men
seized Moises Sanchez Cerezo (49), a journalist and activist, from
his home in the eastern state of Veracruz. His decapitated body was
found on January 24.
   (AP, 1/3/15)(SSFC, 5/21/17, p.E7)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 2, Nigerian Islamist
militants overran an army base in the remote northeastern town of
Baga. Scores of soldiers and civilians were killed, while others
drowned in Lake Chad. The death toll was later said to have killed
as many as 2,000 civilians. Boko Haram claimed responsibility.
   (Reuters, 1/4/15)(AP, 1/5/15)(SFC, 1/13/15,
p.A4)(SFC, 1/22/15, p.A4)(AP, 10/17/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 2, In Pakistan Moeen
Yasin, a six-year-old boy, was found strangled and dumped in a
mosque after being sexually abused. Police soon apprehended up to
seven people including local cleric Qari Saqib, a prime suspect in
the case.
   (AFP, 1/3/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 2, In Sweden hundreds
of demonstrators marched in three cities to condemn recent arson
attacks against mosques.
   (SFC, 1/3/15, p.A2)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 2, in northeastern
Syria US-led coalition warplanes carried out at least 13 airstrikes
overnight in and around Raqqa, the Islamic State group's de facto
capital. At least 19 people were killed overnight by Syrian rebel
fire on government-controlled parts of the northern city of Aleppo.
   (AP, 1/2/15)(AFP, 1/2/15)Â
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 2, In Turkey the main
Western-backed Syrian opposition group opened a three-day meeting to
discuss a range of issues, including a Russian initiative to hold
peace talks in Moscow to broker a resolution to Syria's civil war.
   (AP, 1/2/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 2, Ukraine reported
its first military death of 2015 in its conflict with pro-Russian
separatists, saying a soldier had been killed and five others
wounded in attacks by the rebels.
   (Reuters, 1/2/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 2, The World Health
Organization said deaths last year from Ebola had reached 7,989 with
2,827 from Sierra Leone, 3,423 from Liberia and 1,739 from Guinea.
   (SFC, 1/3/15, p.A2)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 3, In southern
California a shooting in Long Beach left a mother and two brothers
wounded. Giseleangelique Rene D'Milian and Anthony Ray McCall
abducted 3-week old Eliza Delacruz, whose body was found the next
day in a dumpster.
   (SFC, 1/6/15, p.A5)(SFC, 3/28/15, p.A5)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 3, In Kentucky
teenagers Dalton Hayes (18) and Cheyenne Phillips (13) disappeared
from Leitchfield and went on a crime spree stealing vehicles in
South Carolina and Georgia. On Jan 18 the teens were arrested in
Panama City, Fla.
   (SFC, 1/17/15, p.A6)(SFC, 1/19/15, p.A4)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 3, Edward Brooke
(b.1919), former Massachusetts senator (1966-1978) died at his home
in Coral Gables, Florida. Brooke was the first black person to be
elected as senator in any state since Reconstruction.
   (SSFC, 1/4/15, p.C9)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 3, In Afghanistan
insurgents kidnapped 4 policemen from Wardak province. Their bodies
were found near the provincial capital Pul-i-Alam hours later.
   (AP, 1/4/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 3, In Armenia the
defense ministry of the separatist Nagorno-Karabakh region said two
of its soldiers were killed while repelling Azerbaijani
infiltrators.
   (AP, 1/3/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 3, In Australia
thousands of people fled their homes as wildfires raged across the
nation's south, with firefighters struggling to contain the blazes
fanned by strong winds.
   (AP, 1/3/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 3, Bangladesh police
banned all protests in Dhaka and locked main opposition leader
Khaleda Zia in her office in Dhaka as clashes broke out before the
first anniversary of an election her party boycotted.
   (AFP, 1/4/15)(SFC, 1/5/15, p.A2)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 3, Greek police
arrested convicted terrorist Christodoulos Xiros, who had failed to
return to prison while on a furlough almost a year ago.
   (AP, 1/3/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 3, Guyana said it is
issuing new passports with improved safety features after seizing
fraudulent ones in recent months.
   (AP, 1/3/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 3, Search teams
hunting for the wreck of Indonesia’s AirAsia Flight QZ8501 that
crashed with 162 people on board reported four large parts of the
plane on the sea bed.
   (Reuters, 1/3/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 3, Israel said it will
withhold critical tax revenue and seek ways to bring war crimes
prosecutions against Palestinian leaders in retaliation for
Palestinian moves to join the International Criminal Court (ICC).
   (Reuters, 1/3/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 3, In central Libya
masked gunmen kidnapped 13 Coptic Christians in Sirte after seven
were abducted days earlier. Forces loyal to the internationally
recognized government staged air strikes on the commercial port of
Misrata, a western city allied to a group that holds the capital
Tripoli.
   (AP, 1/3/15)(Reuters, 1/3/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 3, In Mexico Hipolito
Mora, the founder of a vigilante group in the western state of
Michoacan, was arrested along with 26 followers for their alleged
role in 10 deaths during a shootout with a rival group last month.
   (Reuters, 1/3/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 3, A Norwegian ship
owner said one if its cargo vessels, the "Bulk Jupiter," has sunk
off Vietnam. Bergen-based Gearbulk said only one of the 19 Filipino
crew members was known to have survived.
   (AP, 1/3/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 3, Pakistani
airstrikes killed 31 militants and a suspected US drone strike
killed another seven. The airstrikes in the Tirah valley of the
Khyber region destroyed four militant hideouts and a suicide bomber
training center.
   (AP, 1/4/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 3, Pakistani and
Indian border guards traded artillery fire overnight along the
disputed border region of Kashmir, killing 4 people and wounding
eight.
   (AP, 1/3/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 3, A cargo ship
carrying cement overturned off the coast of Scotland. The
Cypriot-registered Cemfjord sank the next day. The crew of seven
Poles and one Filipino were missing.
   (AFP, 1/4/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 3, In Tunisia
suspected Islamist militants captured and killed a police officer
south of Tunis, stabbing him and slashing his throat as he traveled
home. Nine suspected militants were arrested. In late December four
men were convicted of cutting the throat of the 23-year-old
policeman in El Fahs. Three men were sentenced to death. A fourth
man, who is on the run, was sentenced to 22 years in jail.
   (Reuters, 1/4/15)(AFP, 12/30/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 3, Uganda officials
said outspoken General David Sejusa, who recently returned to the
country after 18 months in self-imposed exile, has been placed under
house arrest.
   (AFP, 1/3/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 3, Yemeni authorities
reported the arrest of a Belgian, a Bulgarian and a Somali suspected
of having links with al-Qaida after a search found one of them
carrying documents and materials with the group's logos on them.
Unknown gunmen killed two fighters from the Shiite Houthi rebel
group in central Ibb province.
   (AP, 1/3/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 4, Thousands of police
officers in NYC defied calls not to stage a protest at the funeral
of a slain comrade, pointedly turning their backs as Mayor Bill de
Blasio paid tribute to the murdered patrolman.
   (AFP, 1/4/15)(SFC, 1/5/15, p.A5)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 4, In Afghanistan
insurgents killed 5 policemen, including their commander, in the
volatile eastern province of Logar.
   (AP, 1/4/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 4, Australian PM Tony
Abbott made an unannounced visit to Baghdad, meeting with top
officials to discuss ways his country can aid Iraqi forces in their
fight against the Islamic State group.
   (AP, 1/5/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 4, A Burundi military
official said at least 105 rebels have been killed after a
cross-border attack from the Democratic Republic of Congo following
five days of non-stop military operations. Five gunmen dressed in
military fatigues burst into a bar and shot dead 3 ruling party
activists before torching the local party office in the eastern
Gisuru region.
   (AFP, 1/4/15)(AFP, 1/6/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 4, China’s corruption
watchdog said it is investigating Yang Weize, the Communist Party
chief of Nanjing, as the country's corruption crackdown drags in a
growing number of top officials.
   (AFP, 1/4/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 4, A city in central
India elected the country's first transgender mayor, nine months
after a court ruled that transgender be recognized as a legal third
gender. Madhu Kinnar (35) won the mayoral election in Raigarh in the
mineral-rich state of Chhattisgarh.
   (Reuters, 1/5/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 4, In India a
16-year-old victim was attacked and gang-raped after arriving in
eastern Bihar state late today where the gang, including a local
administrator's driver, approached her and offered her a lift to a
relative's home. Police soon arrested one of five suspects.
   (AFP, 1/6/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 4, In eastern India 14
langur monkeys died after snatching and then eating biscuits laced
with rat poison being sold by a hawker in West Bengal state. The
hawker who fled in the aftermath of the deaths.
   (AFP, 1/5/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 4, In Kenya Fidel
Odinga (41), the son of main opposition leader Raila Odinga, was
found dead in his home near Nairobi, prompting a major police
investigation and minor unrest in the capital.
   (AP, 1/4/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 4, In Kenya at least 2
people were killed and several others were injured when a six-storey
residential building collapsed in Nairobi.
   (AFP, 1/5/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 4, Forces loyal to
Libya's internationally recognized government launched air strikes
on the country's biggest steel plant at Misrata. A warplane from
forces loyal to the internationally recognized government bombed a
Greek-operated oil tanker anchored offshore, killing 2 crewmen. The
Liberian-flagged ARAEVO was carrying 12,600 tons of crude oil when
it was struck off the eastern port of Derna. No oil was spilled.
   (Reuters, 1/4/15)(Reuters, 1/5/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 4, In northeastern
Mali six Nigerian soldiers of the UN's MINUSMA mission were injured,
with gunmen also burning four UN trucks.
   (AFP, 1/5/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 4, In northwest
Pakistan a US drone strike killed at least six suspected militants
in North Waziristan.
   (Reuters, 1/4/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 4, In Saudi Arabia a
general and two soldiers were killed in a rare attack and suicide
bombing by "terrorists" on the border with Iraq. 4 attackers were
also killed in the clash, 2 in suicide blasts.
   (AFP, 1/5/15)(Econ, 1/10/15, p.43)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 4, In Somalia a car
bomb targeting security officials exploded in Mogadishu, and was
followed by shooting. An al Shabaab car bomb killed four people in
Mogadishu.
   (Reuters, 1/4/15)(Reuters, 1/7/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 4, Sudan's parliament
passed constitutional amendments allowing President Omar al-Bashir
(71) to appoint state governors directly and expanding the mandate
of its powerful security agency.
   (AFP, 1/4/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 4, In Syria Islamist
fighters seized a suburb east of Damascus after driving out a
smaller rival insurgent group in deadly clashes.
   (Reuters, 1/4/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 4, Syria's
western-backed opposition group elected Khalid Khoja as its new
leader during a three-day meeting in Istanbul of the National
Coalition. Khalid Khoja announced the next day that his group is not
yet willing to go to peace talks in Moscow.
   (AP, 1/5/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 4, At the Vatican Pope
Francis named 15 new cardinals from 14 countries, including many
from Latin America and Africa.
   (AP, 1/4/15)(SFC, 1/5/15, p.A3)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 4, In Yemen a bomb
explosion in Dhamar, a mainly Shiite city, killed at least 4 people
including a reporter and wounded 25 others. The bombing targeted a
gathering of Shiite Huthi militiamen, also known as Ansarullah.
   (AFP, 1/4/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 5, The US Justice
Department said it has charged two men, Cherno Njie (57) and Papa
Faal (46), for their involvement in the failed Dec. 30 attempt to
overthrow the government of Gambia.
   (Reuters, 1/5/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 5, The California
Dept. of Motor Vehicles wrote an advisory saying any passenger
vehicle used or maintained for the transportation of persons for
hire, compensation of profit is a commercial vehicle.
   (SFC, 1/24/15, p.A1)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 5, In NYC Thomas
Gilbert Jr., founder of hedge fund Wainscott Capital Partners, was
shot and killed by his son Tommy Gilbert (29), who was soon
arrested. In 2019 he was sentenced in Manhattan to at least 30 years
in prison for the crime.
   (SFC, 1/7/15, p.A14)(AP, 9/29/19)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 5, In Miami lesbian
and gay couples were wed hours before Florida’s coming out party as
the nation’s 36th state to legalize same-sex marriages.
   (SFC, 1/6/15, p.A12)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 5, In Afghanistan a
suicide car bomber struck near the headquarters of the European
police training mission in Kabul, killing one Afghan civilian and
wounding 16 people.
   (AP, 1/5/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 5, Southern Australia.
State Premier Jay Weatherill said that hundreds of fire fighters
have taken advantage of milder conditions in recent days to attempt
to contain the fire which has razed 12,500 hectares (31,000 acres)
of countryside in hills northwest of Adelaide.
   (AP, 1/5/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 5, In Bangladesh two
men on a motorbike opened fire on a group of anti-government
activists in the northwest, killing two amid heightened tensions on
the anniversary of a general election boycotted by a major
opposition alliance last year. Two more activists from the
opposition Bangladesh Nationalist Party were killed during clashes
with supporters of the governing party and security forces.
   (AP, 1/5/15)(SFC, 1/6/15, p.A4)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 5, In CongoDRC UN and
Democratic Republic of Congo forces seized several rebel bases in an
offensive launched against a Burundi rebel group.
   (AFP, 1/5/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 5, In Germany
thousands of protesters in several cities rallied against Muslim
immigration. Rallies organized by a new grassroots movement called
PEGIDA, or Patriotic Europeans Against the Islamization of the West,
have become a weekly event in the eastern city of Dresden.
   (Reuters, 1/6/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 5, Grenada's PM Keith
Mitchell said the eastern Caribbean island will only have to pay
half of a $22 million debt it owes Taiwan with a payment plan for
loans it awarded over a 10-year period.
   (AP, 1/6/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 5, Indonesia’s
transportation ministry announced harsh measures against everyone
who allowed AirAsia Flight 8501 to take off without proper permits,
including the suspension of the airport's operator and officials in
the control tower.
   (AP, 1/5/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 5, The Islamic State
jihadist group posted a series of pictures online indicating the
execution of 8 people, four of them policemen, in Iraq's Salaheddin
province.
   (AFP, 1/5/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 5, The US-led
coalition launched 20 more air strikes against Islamic State in
Syria and Iraq over the last 24 hours, targeting fighters for the
militant group and hitting its crude oil operations.
   (Reuters, 1/5/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 5, Ireland said the
United States will permit imports of beef from the country, the
first European Union state allowed to resume sales since the mad cow
disease scare over 15 years ago.
   (AP, 1/5/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 5, Lebanon began
imposing unprecedented restrictions on the entry of Syrians, as it
struggled to cope with well over a million refugees feeling the
civil war next door.
   (AP, 1/5/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 5, Libya's official
government banned Palestinians, Syrians and Sudanese from entry
because their countries are undermining the oil producing nation's
security. The government of PM Abdullah al-Thinni runs only a rump
state in eastern Libya and would therefore only be able to enforce
the ban at the eastern airports of Tobruk and Labraq and the land
crossing with Egypt.
   (Reuters, 1/6/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 5, In Mali at least 5
people were killed in a gun attack on an army base close to the
Mauritanian frontier.
   (AFP, 1/5/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 5, In Pakistan a US
drone strike in North Waziristan killed Ubaidullah (aka Qari Imran),
in charge of al-Qaida's Indian branch of Afghan affairs, as well as
5 other fighters. In the 3rd week of this month another strike
killed deputy chief Raja Suleman (aka Ustad Ahmed Farouq).
   (AP,
4/12/15)(http://tinyurl.com/poa2hjd)(Reuters, 4/23/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 5, Pakistani troops
fired gunshots and mortar shells that killed an Indian soldier in
northern Kashmir.
   (AP, 1/5/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 5, Kremlin critic
Alexei Navalny said he would no longer comply with the terms of his
house arrest and had cut off his monitoring tag.
   (Reuters, 1/5/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 5, Bitstamp, a
Slovenia-based bitcoin exchange bitcoin, halted operations and
reported that 19,000 of the currency units had vanished. Bitstamp
resumed operation on Jan 9.
   (http://tinyurl.com/ne46mkd)(Econ, 1/10/15, p.58)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 5, In South Africa 2
suspected rhino poachers were shot dead after they opened fire on
rangers in South Africa's Kruger National Park.
   (Reuters, 1/5/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 5, South Korean media
reported that a young North Korean soldier crossed the border in
late December and stole money and food at a house before killing
four residents in China's northeastern city of Helong.
   (AFP, 1/5/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 5, Taiwan’s justice
ministry granted former president Chen Shui-bian (2000-2006) medical
parole as he served a 20-year prison sentence on corruption charges.
   (Econ, 1/10/15, p.35)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 5, Police in Turkey
detained 20 more police officers suspected of conducting illegal
wiretaps in a new wave of raids in twelve cities.
   (AP, 1/5/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 5, In eastern Ukraine
12 servicemen were killed and 21 injured when their bus collided
with two heavy trucks on a snowy road.
   (AP, 1/6/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 6, In San Diego US
Navy commander Jose Luis Sanchez (42) pleaded guilty in a massive
bribery scheme involving a longtime military contractor in Asia who
allegedly offered luxury travel, prostitutes and other bribes to
Navy officers in exchange for confidential information.
   (AP, 1/7/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 6, The Kepler space
telescope team in Mountain View, Ca., reported that 8 new planets
have been detected in the constellation Lyra and that at least three
orbited stars in zones that allowed for the existence of liquid
water.
   (SFC, 1/7/15, p.D2)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 6, Boston’s Museum of
Fine Arts displayed a time capsule dating to 1795 believed to have
been placed by Samuel Adams and Paul Revere. The box was unearthed
last month at the state Capitol building.
   (SFC, 1/7/15, p.A6)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 6, The Intl’. Consumer
Electronics Show opened in Las Vegas.
   (Econ, 1/3/15, p.48)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 6, In west Texas a
gunman opened fire at the El Paso Veterans Affairs Health Care
System’s clinic killing one person. The gunman was also killed.
   (SFC, 1/7/15, p.A6)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 6, Former Virginia
Governor Robert McDonnell was sentenced to two years in federal
prison and two years of probation for taking a bribe from a
businessman seeking to promote a dietary supplement.
   (Reuters, 1/7/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 6, Shareholders of
medical device maker Medtronic, based in Minneapolis, Minn.,
approved the acquisition of Ireland-based surgical supplier Covidien
PLC in a corporate deal valued at about $48 billion. The acquisition
moves the legal headquarters of the combined company to Ireland.
   (AP, 1/7/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 6, In Algeria protests
in the remote and sparsely populated south over efforts to exploit
the country's vast shale gas reserves spread to the regional capital
Tamanrasset. Algeria has the third-largest estimated shale gas
reserves in the world, after China and Argentina.
   (AP, 1/6/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 6, A Danish court
sentenced seven men to prison for dealing hashish at Copenhagen's
famed hippie enclave of Christiania, where the drug is openly
smoked.
   (AP, 1/6/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 6, In Egypt gunmen
opened fire and killed two policemen guarding a Coptic church south
of Cairo.
   (AP, 1/6/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 6, Search teams
scouring the ocean for the wreckage of an AirAsia jet found two new
metal objects. Indonesian officials believe they may have located
the tail and parts of the fuselage of Flight QZ8501 30 meters below
the surface, but have been unable to properly investigate the debris
so far. Two more bodies were recovered from the sea, bringing the
total found so far to 39.
   (Reuters, 1/6/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 6, In western Iraq a
suicide blast targeting security forces and subsequent clashes with
Islamic State extremists killed at least 23 troops and
pro-government Sunni fighters in Anbar province.
   (AP, 1/6/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 6, An Israeli military
court handed three life sentences to Palestinian militant Hossam
Qawasme, convicted of organizing the June 12, 2014, kidnapping and
murder of three Israeli teenagers. Qawasme was also ordered to pay
250,000 shekels ($63,000/53,000 euros) in compensation to each of
the three families at a hearing near Ramallah.
   (AFP, 1/6/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 6, Japan-based Toyota
said it will give away thousands of patents for its fuel-cell cars,
in an effort to encourage other automakers into the new industry.
The cost-free licenses will be allowed "through the initial market
introduction period" of fuel cell vehicles (FCV).
   (AFP, 1/6/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 6, Mexican authorities
ordered the closure of the private "Dolores Sanz" clinic in Mexico
City where a woman died over the weekend on the sidewalk after being
denied care.
   (AP, 1/6/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 6, In Mexico state
prosecutors detained 36 members of the Medellin de Bravo police
force in Veracruz state following the disappearance of journalist
Moises Sanchez Cerero. Three officers were detained a day earlier.
Cerero had directed criticism at Medellin Mayor Omar Cruz.
   (SFC, 1/7/15, p.A2)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 6, In southern Mexico
at least 10 decapitated bodies and 11 heads were reported discovered
in unmarked graves in Guerrero state.
   (AFP, 1/7/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 6, Mozambique police
arrested Antonio Muchanga, a senior official of Renamo, the
country's largest opposition party, on charges of inciting violence
amid renewed political tension between the former rebel group and
government.
   (AFP, 1/6/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 6, Myanmar’s defense
ministry said its army has arrested more than 100 foreigners and 20
Myanmar nationals for illegal logging near the Chinese border.
   (AP, 1/6/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 6, Pakistan's
parliament approved the setting up of military courts to hear
terrorism-related cases, after a Taliban massacre at a military-run
school in the northwest shocked the nation.
   (AFP, 1/6/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 6, It was reported
that Pakistan has approved the use of grid-connected solar energy,
rooftop solar installations and mortgage financing for home solar
panels to boost uptake of clean energy in the country.
   (Reuters, 1/6/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 6, In Paraguay Albino
Jara and Rocio Moraez of the Armed Peasant Association died in a
firefight near the town of Cuero Fresco.
   (AP, 1/7/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 6, In Somalia a car
bomb critically injured a university lecturer in Mogadishu. Shebab
militants executed 4 people accused of spying for the US, Ethiopia
and the country's internationally-backed government.
   (Reuters, 1/7/15)(AFP, 1/7/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 6, South Korea’s
Defense Ministry said North Korean military's "cyber army" has
boosted its numbers to 6,000 troops.
   (Reuters, 1/6/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 6, South Korea-based
Hyundai Motor Group, the world's fifth-largest automaker, said it
plans to spend 81 trillion won ($73.7 billion) over the next four
years on factories, research and a new headquarters.
   (AP, 1/6/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 6, Spain’s El Nino a
lottery spread 560 million euros ($666 million) among jubilant
ticket holders throughout the country.
   (AP, 1/6/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 6, Syrian Observatory
for Human Rights said a top figure in Islamic State's self-declared
police force, which has carried out beheadings, was himself found
decapitated in eastern Syria.
   (Reuters, 1/6/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 6, The US-led
coalition conducted 10 air strikes against Islamic State in Syria,
mostly targeting the contested city of Kobani, and two strikes in
Iraq over the last 24 hours.
   (Reuters, 1/6/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 6, Thai police said
that they have arrested Gurmeet Singh (37), a fugitive convicted in
India for his involvement in a 1995 bomb attack that killed a chief
minister of a northern Indian state and 15 other people.
   (AP, 1/6/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 6, In Turkey a female
suicide bomber entered a police station and blew herself up in
Istanbul's historic Sultanahmet district, killing one officer and
wounding another. The leftist Revolutionary People's Liberation
Party-Front, or DHKP-C, said it carried out the attack.
   (Reuters, 1/6/15)(AP, 1/7/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 6, Turkish Airlines,
the last foreign airline still flying to Libya, suspended flights to
Libya.
   (Econ, 1/10/15, p.23)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 6, UN Sec. Gen. Ban
Ki-moon said the Palestinians will join the Int’l. Criminal Court
(ICC) on April 1.
   (SFC, 1/8/15, p.A5)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 6, The UN Children's
Fund (UNICEF) said an estimated 670,000 children in Syria are being
deprived of education after Islamic State forces ordered schools
closed while the curriculum is made to conform with religious rules.
   (Reuters, 1/6/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 6 – 2015 Jan 13, A New
Zealand navy patrol boat sneaked up on three suspected poaching
ships, then took photos and video of the fishermen hauling in prized
fish in banned nets from the ocean near Antarctica. New Zealand sent
an alert to 190 countries through Interpol, a move it hopes will
make it difficult for the three crews to unload their catches.
   (AP, 1/21/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 7, In California US
District Judge Stephen Wilson ruled that the state prohibition on
the sale of foie gras illegally encroached upon the regulatory
domain of the federal government. The state ban was passed in 2004
and went into effect in 2012.
   (SFC, 1/8/15, p.A1)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 7, In North Dakota a
leak from a saltwater collection line owned by Summit Midstream
Partners LP was reported to state officials. Nearly 3 million
gallons of saltwater, a byproduct of the hydraulic fracturing
process, and an unknown quantity of crude oil had leaked from a
pipeline into a creek that feeds the Missouri River approximately 15
miles north of Williston.
   (AP, 1/22/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 7, In Pennsylvania a 2
people died in an 18-vehicle crash on I-80 after a snow squall left
drivers with little visibility.
   (SFC, 1/9/15, p.A6)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 7, In Afghanistan a
bomb blast killed Judge Mohammad-ul Hassan and wounded two of his
daughters in Jalalabad. Insurgents killed 6 people working on a road
project, including the head of a construction company, in northern
Baghlan province.
   (AP, 1/7/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 7, In Bangladesh 2
people were shot dead when police and armed protesters began firing
in the southern district of Noakhali. An auto-rickshaw passenger was
attacked and killed by anti-government protesters in the central
district of Sirajganj.
   (AP, 1/8/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 7, Cuba freed three
detainees, as Havana began to release 53 people the United States
considers political prisoners.
   (Reuters, 1/8/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 7, French writer’s
Michel Houellebecq “Soumission” was published. It depicted a near
future (2022) in which Islamists win France’s presidency and
compromise its freedoms.
   (Econ, 1/10/15, p.7)(Econ, 1/10/15, p.46)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 7, In France heavily
armed gunmen shouting Islamist slogans stormed a Paris office of
satirical newspaper Charlie Hebdo and shot dead 10 staff and 2
police officers in the deadliest attack in France in four decades.
The masked attackers reportedly hijacked a car and sped off. Al
Qaeda in Yemen later claimed responsibility for the attack.
Cartoonist Stephane Charbonnier (47) was among those killed.
   (AFP, 1/7/15)(AP, 1/7/15)(Reuters, 1/14/15)(Econ,
1/10/15, p.45)(Econ, 1/17/15, p.90)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 7, In India around
half a million coal workers vowed to continue their strike after
inconclusive talks with the government, possibly jeopardizing power
supplies.
   (AP, 1/7/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 7, In southeastern
India a passenger bus veered off a road and fell into a gorge,
killing at least 11 people in Andhra Pradesh state.
   (AP, 1/7/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 7, Indonesia's search
and rescue agency said the tail of the Dec 28 crashed AirAsia jet
Flight QZ8501 has been found on the sea bed about 30 km (20 miles)
from the plane's last known location. Forty bodies and debris from
the plane have been plucked from the surface of the waters off
Borneo.
   (Reuters, 1/7/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 7, Iran's official
IRNA news agency said the judiciary has ordered that LINE, WhatsApp
and Tango, three popular apps providing free phone and messaging
services, be shut down. Social websites including YouTube, Twitter
and Facebook have already been blocked by censors.
   (AP, 1/7/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 7, In Mexico Julio
Scherer Garcia (88), founder of the newsmagazine Proceso and one of
the most influential Mexican journalists of the past half century,
died.
   (AP, 1/7/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 7, Nepal said it will
issue passports to sexual minorities, adding a third gender category
in a sign of the conservative Hindu-majority country becoming more
liberal since the end of a decade-long civil war.
   (Reuters, 1/7/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 7, It was announced
that Royal Dutch Shell will pay more than $80 million to people in
Bodo, a Nigerian fishing community "devastated" by two serious oil
spills in 2008. The clean-up could take years.
   (AFP, 1/7/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 7, In Pakistan the
bullet-riddled body of Abid Mehmood (52), a Muslim man arrested for
blasphemy, was found in Taxila, a town about 40 km from Islamabad,
after being released from jail.
   (AP, 1/8/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 7, Tadeusz Konwicki
(b.1926), a prominent Polish writer and filmmaker, died in Warsaw.
His works during the communist era lampooned the authoritarian
Soviet-imposed system. He was best known for his novels "A
Minor Apocalypse," a satire of life in a totalitarian state, and
"The Polish Complex," a polemic on a national historical condition
tragically defined by military defeats and foreign occupation.
   (AP, 1/8/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 7, Puntland area
regional President Abdiweli Mohamed said 20 al Shabaab rebels and
five soldiers have been killed in fighting in the past week in the
Galgala hills. Al Shabaab's military spokesman, Sheikh Abdiasis Abu
Musab, said the group had killed 23 soldiers in three days of
clashes and that fighting was continuing.
   (Reuters, 1/7/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 7, Ugandan army
spokesman Paddy Ankunda said top LRA commander Dominic Ongwen, who
is wanted by the International Criminal Court (ICC) for crimes
against humanity and war crimes, has given himself up in Central
African Republic. He was initially abducted by the LRA when he was a
10-year-old and forced to fight as a child soldier.
   (AP, 1/7/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 7, Vietnamese police
detained lawmaker Chau Thi Thu Nga (49) for alleged fraud involving
a housing project.
   (AP, 1/8/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 7, In Yemen a car bomb
blast tore through dozens of new students lined up at a police
academy in Sanaa, killing at least 35 people.
   (AP, 1/7/15)(Reuters, 1/7/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 8, The Pentagon said
the US military will close a major air base in Britain and withdraw
from more than a dozen installations across Europe as part of a
reorganization of forces.
   (AFP, 1/8/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 8, The US National
Highway Traffic Safety Administration said it has fined Honda $70
million for failing to submit reports of fatal accidents and
injuries to the government.
   (SFC, 1/9/15, p.C3)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 8, Schools in Chicago,
Boston and other large cities closed as sub-zero temperatures and
bitter winds gripped central and eastern United States for a third
day.
   (Reuters, 1/8/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 8, In Florida John
Janchuck (25) tossed his daughter Phoebe (5) off the Sunshine Skyway
Bridge and into Tampa Bay. Police said he had been acting strangely.
   (SFC, 1/9/15, p.A8)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 8, Vermont lawmakers
voted 110-69 to elect Gov. Peter Shumlin to a 3rd two-year term
after he failed to win the popular vote last November.
   (SFC, 1/9/15, p.A6)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 8, In central
Afghanistan one policeman was killed and three were wounded when
their vehicle hit a roadside bomb in Uruzgan province.
   (AP, 1/8/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 8, In Costa Rica a
catamaran carrying dozens of foreign tourists to Totuga Island
capsized leaving 3 people dead.
   (SFC, 1/9/15, p.A2)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 8, Cuba freed two more
detainees, as Havana continued to release 53 people the US considers
political prisoners, as part of an agreement between the two nations
aimed at ending decades of hostility.
   (Reuters, 1/8/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 8, Egypt’s military
said the army is doubling the size of a buffer zone along the border
with the Gaza Strip, an operation that will involve the destruction
of 1,220 more homes and the eviction of residents.
   (AP, 1/8/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 8, The European Union
offered to lend Ukraine a further 1.8 billion euros ($2.12 billion)
on the condition that Kiev respects the terms of an international
bailout and continues its reform program.
   (AP, 1/8/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 8, In France Amedy
Coulibaly killed a policewoman on the southern edge of Paris,
killing her and injuring a nearby street sweeper before fleeing. He
later claimed to have coordinated with the two gunmen who attacked
the Charlie Hebdo magazine on Jan 7.
   (AP, 1/8/15)(AFP, 1/11/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 8, In northern France
police and counter-terrorism officers searched for the two armed
suspects, Said and Chérif Kouachi, who are brothers, the chief
suspects in the deadly Jan 7 attack in Paris on the offices of
Charlie Hebdo. A third suspect, Hamyd Mourad, turned himself in at a
police station in a small town northeast of Paris after learning his
name was linked to the attack.
   (AP, 1/8/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 8, In Iraq a suicide
bomber rammed his explosives-laden car into a police checkpoint in
Youssifiyah killing 3 police and 4 civilians. A suicide bomber
driving a pickup loaded with explosives struck a checkpoint near
Samarra, killing 8 people and wounding 23 others. A suicide bomber
set off his explosives belt among Shiite worshippers who were
leaving a mosque in western Baghdad, killing 8 worshippers and
wounding 16.
   (AP, 1/8/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 8, In Nepal hundreds
of single mothers and rights activists demonstrated outside the
parliament building, urging members of a special assembly drafting a
new constitution not to weaken the citizenship rights of young
Nepalis. A law being considered would give citizenship only to
children of two Nepali parents.
   (AP, 1/8/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 8, Sri Lanka held
presidential elections. Mahinda Rajapakse, South Asia's
longest-serving leader, was beaten by Maithripala Sirisena, who won
51.3% of the votes on a record turnout of 81.5%.
   (AFP, 1/11/15)(Econ, 1/17/15, p.37)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 8, In southern Syria
al-Qaida Nusra Front militants blew up the 13th century tomb of a
revered Islamic scholar.
   (Reuters, 1/8/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 9, In San Francisco 4
men were shot dead inside a double-parked stolen Honda in the Hayes
Valley neighborhood. On July 29, 2016, police pulled Lee Farley (27)
from his cell in at a federal lockup in Atwater and booked him in SF
for the four murders. Farley was serving time for possession of a
stolen gun.
   (Reuters, 1/10/15)(SFC, 1/13/15, p.A1)(SFC,
7/30/16, p.A1)(SFC, 7/30/16, p.A8)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 9, In Florida George
Zimmerman, a former neighborhood watch volunteer acquitted in a
fatal shooting of an unarmed black teenager in 2013, was arrested
for aggravated assault in connection with a domestic disturbance
earlier in the week. His ex-girlfriend soon recanted her story and
the case was dropped.
   (Reuters, 1/10/15)(SFC, 1/31/15, p.A7)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 9, In Michigan
blinding snow caused 193 vehicles to pile up in I-94 near Kalamazoo.
At least one person was killed.
          Â
(Reuters, 1/11/15)(SSFC, 1/11/15, p.A8)Â Â Â
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 9, In France a
hostage-taking at a Jewish deli left four hostages and the gunman,
Amedy Coulibaly, killed.
   (Reuters, 1/11/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 9, In Saudi Arabia
blogger Raif Badawi was flogged 50 times, the first set of 1000
lashes over 20 weeks. He was sentenced in 2014 to 10 years in prison
plus the lashes for criticizing clerics.
   (SFC, 1/10/15, p.A2)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 9, Ukrainian officials
said 6 soldiers have been killed in two days of fighting as
separatists intensified shelling of government positions.
   (SFC, 1/10/15, p.A2)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 10, The unmanned
SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket reached orbit with a cargo for the Int’l.
Space Station. An attempt to land the rocket’s first stage on a
floating platform failed following launch at Cape Canaveral.
   (SSFC, 1/11/15, p.A8)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 10, San Francisco’s
Golden Gate Bridge was closed to traffic for the first time in its
77-year history to allow for the installation of a movable median
barrier. Re-opening was set for Jan 12.
   (SSFC, 1/11/15, p.C1)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 10, Robert Stone
(b.1937), author of “Dog Soldiers” (1974), died at his home in Key
West, Fla.
   (SFC, 1/12/15, p.A6)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 10, In Idaho a gunman
killed 3 people and wounded another during a shooting spree at three
locations in Moscow. Suspect John Lee (29), was captured in the
afternoon following a high-speed chase in nearby Washington State.
   (AP, 1/11/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 10, A male camel in
rut trampled two people to death at the Camel Kisses farm in north
Texas.
    (Reuters, 1/11/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 10, In Germany tens of
thousands protested in Dresden against racism and for an open
society. This came in reaction to weekly anti-Islamic rallies
organized by PEGIDA.
   (SSFC, 1/11/15, p.A6)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 10, In northern Iraq
Islamic State group fighters attempting to retake Gwer, a town held
by Kurdish peshmerga forces, killed at least 30
Kurds.  Â
   (AP, 1/11/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 10, In Lebanon a
double suicide bomb attack in the Jabal Mohsen district of the
northern city of Tripoli killed 9 people. Al-Qaida’s Nusra Front
soon claimed responsibility. On Jan 20 Lebanon charged 28 people for
involvement in a double suicide bomb attack.
   (AFP, 1/12/15)(SSFC, 1/11/15, p.A4)(Reuters,
1/20/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 10, In northeastern
Nigeria two explosions rocked northeast Nigeria, including one at a
crowded market in Maiduguri, by a girl suicide bomber thought to be
just 10 years old. 19 people were killed.
   (AFP, 1/10/15) (Reuters, 1/11/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 10, In Spain thousands
marched in several cities to press for easier access to
latest-generation medicines to counter hepatitis C.
   (SSFC, 1/11/15, p.A6)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 11, The Golden Globes
inched closer to legitimacy in its 72nd show, giving awards not just
to A-List celebrities, but to the edgier productions that
unequivocally deserved recognition, including "Boyhood," ''The Grand
Budapest Hotel," and "Birdman."
   (AP, 1/12/15)  Â
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 11, The US military
said American-led forces launched 19 air strikes against Islamic
State militants in Syria and Iraq over the last 24 hours.
   (Reuters, 1/11/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 11, In Croatia Kolinda
Grabar-Kitarovic won 50.54% of the vote to become the country’s
first female president.
   (SFC, 1/12/15, p.A4)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 11, In Egypt a police
captain was snatched from a taxi by gunmen as he headed to work at
the Rafah border crossing with the Gaza Strip. On Jan 13 the officer
was found shot dead near the village of el-Muqatta, near the Gaza
border. The military said it killed 10 militants in clashes during
the search for the kidnapped captain.
   (AP, 1/13/15)(AFP, 1/13/15)   Â
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 11, In France at least
3.7 million people took part in marches of support for Charlie Hebdo
and freedom of expression. World leaders linked arms to lead more
than one million people through Paris in an unprecedented homage to
the victims. 17 people were killed in three days of violence that
began when two Islamist gunmen burst into Charlie Hebdo's offices.
   (Reuters, 1/13/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 11, In Germany the
Hamburger Morgenpost was firebombed overnight. The tabloid had paid
tribute to those killed at Charlie Hebdo by reprinting cartoons from
the French satirical paper mocking the Prophet Mohammed. Two people
were soon detained
   (AFP, 1/11/15)(SFC, 1/12/15, p.A2)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 11, Indonesian divers
found the crucial black box flight recorders of the AirAsia plane
that crashed in the Java Sea a fortnight ago with 162 people aboard.
The data recorder was retrieved on Jan 12 and the cockpit voice
recorder on Jan 13.
   (AFP, 1/11/15)(SFC, 1/13/15, p.A2)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 11, Anita Ekberg
(b.1931), Swedish-born actress, died in Rome. Her films included “La
Dolce Vita” (1960), “Clowns” (1971) and “Intervista.”
   (SFC, 1/12/15, p.A6)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 11, In Mexico 5
members of a vigilante-style community were killed in an ambush in
Aquila, Michoacan state.
   (SFC, 1/13/15, p.A2)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 11, In Mozambique a
contaminated traditional beer called Pombe killed numerous people in
Tete province. The death toll soon reached 69 with 196 others
admitted to hospital.
   (AP, 1/11/15)(SFC, 1/12/15, p.A3)(SFC, 1/13/15,
p.A2)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 11, In Myanmar North
Korean Ambassador Kim Sok Chol met with Myint Swe, the chief
minister of the Rangoon division. Myanmar police soon began seizing
pirated copies of the film "The Interview", a comedy about a
fictional plot to assassinate North Korean leader Kim Jong Un, with
media saying the move followed pressure from the North Korean
embassy in Yangon.
   (Reuters, 1/15/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 11, A new video showed
a group of Pakistani and Afghan militants beheading a Pakistani
soldier after pledging allegiance to Islamic State.
   (Reuters, 1/11/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 11, In southern
Pakistan at least 57 people including women and children were killed
when their bus collided with an oil tanker.
   (SFC, 1/12/15, p.A2)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 11, Thailand police
said dozens of children were among 98 suspected Rohingya trafficking
victims from Myanmar discovered in pickup trucks in Hua Sai district
in Nakhon Si Thammarat province.
   (Reuters, 1/12/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 11, In eastern Ukraine
intense fighting erupted around Donetsk wrecking a power station and
briefly trapping more than 300 coal miners in one of Europe's
largest pits.
   (AFP, 1/11/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 12, Pres. Obama
launched a new drive to improve data security and privacy.
   (Econ, 1/17/15, p.63)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 12, US officials said
Cuba has released all 53 prisoners it had promised to free.
   (Reuters, 1/12/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 12, Hacker group
CyberCaliphate took over the Twitter and YouTube accounts of US
Central Command. The Pentagon called it an annoying prank that did
not breach military networks.
   (AP, 1/13/15)(SFC, 1/13/15, p.A6)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 12, California state
regulators ordered Mercury Insurance to pay nearly $27.6 million for
improperly collecting unapproved broker fees from its auto
customers. Mercury disagreed with the decision and planned to
contest the ruling.
   (SFC, 1/13/15, p.C2)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 12, Illinois Gov.
Bruce Rauner declared that business as usual is over in his
inaugural address.
   (Econ, 6/6/15, p.22)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 12, A US federal judge
declared South Dakota’s ban on same-sex marriage to be illegal, but
stayed the decision pending appeal.
   (SFC, 1/13/15, p.A6)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 12, In Washington DC a
woman died and dozens of people were injured after thick smoke
filled a subway tunnel during the evening rush hour.
   (AFP, 1/13/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 12, Darrell Winfield,
the “real” Marlboro man (1968-1989) of the Philip Morris Tobacco
Co., died in Riverton, Wyoming. The company began using Marlboro men
in its advertising in 1954.
   (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Marlboro_Man)(Econ,
1/24/15, p.82)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 12, The Afghan
government, after months of delay, unveiled its full list of Cabinet
nominees. An Afghan policeman opened fire, killing two colleagues,
including a district chief and a police unit commander in Helmand
province. The attacker was shot and soon died.
   (AP, 1/12/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 12, In Armenia a
family of six was killed by machine gun at their home in the city of
Gyumri. Suspect Valery Permyakov, a Russian soldier who deserted his
unit at a Russian military base, was detained the next day while
trying to cross from Armenia into Turkey. On Jan 19 a six-month-old
boy became the 7th member the Avetisyan family to die. On August 23,
2016, a Russian military court sentenced Permyakov to life in
prison.
   (AP, 1/13/15)(Reuters, 1/19/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 12, British author
John Bayley (89) died of a heart ailment. His "Elegy for Iris"
(1999) chronicled his wife's descent into Alzheimer's disease and
was turned into an Oscar-winning movie starring Judi Dench and Jim
Broadbent.
   (AP, 1/22/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 12, Cameroonian
soldiers killed at least 143 Boko Haram fighters when the Islamist
militant group attacked a military base along the Nigerian border.
   (Reuters, 1/13/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 12, Cambodia's biggest
hydropower dam began operating as PM Hun Sen inaugurated the
Chinese-built project to help supply electricity for underserved
villages and factories.
   (AP, 1/12/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 12, In the Central
African Republic nearly 100 people were feared dead after the New
Jerusalem barge caught fire and sank on the Oubangui River near the
village of Modale.
   (AP, 1/15/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 12, Chinese police
shot and killed six would-be bombers in the latest violence to
strike the restive far northwestern region of Xinjiang.
   (AP, 1/12/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 12, In China taxi
drivers began protesting against high cab rental fees and emerging
competitors such as Uber in several provincial cities.
   (Reuters, 1/13/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 12, Interpol said it
has put ousted Ukrainian President Viktor Yanukovich on the
international wanted list on Ukrainian charges of embezzlement and
financial wrong-doing.
   (Reuters, 1/12/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 12, An Egyptian court
acquitted 26 men accused of "debauchery" after their night-time
arrest last September from a Cairo bathhouse for suspected
homosexual activity.
   (AFP, 1/12/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 12, In Germany a
record 25,000 anti-Islamist protesters marched through Dresden, many
holding banners with anti-immigrant slogans.
   (Reuters, 1/13/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 12, Iranian police
confiscated seven tons of opium from drug smugglers. It was
concealed in a cement truck heading toward Tehran. Iran was the main
route for drug smugglers to ship narcotics from the poppy fields of
Afghanistan to Europe.
   (AP, 1/13/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 12, In Iraq suicide
car bomb killed 12 Shiite militiamen and soldiers in Abasiyat, a
town north of Baghdad, sparking a battle between security forces and
fighters with the extremist Islamic State group.
   (AP, 1/12/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 12, Lebanese security
forces raided the notorious Roumieh prison after discovering that
inmates were linked to a deadly bomb attack last week.
   (AFP, 1/12/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 12, In Nigeria
fighters from the Islamist group Boko Haram launched an attack on a
military base in the northwest Cameroonian city of Kolofata.
   (AFP, 1/12/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 12, Saudi Arabia said
it has beheaded a Myanmar female child-killer, bringing to 7 the
number of death sentences it has carried out this year. Layla bint
Abdul Mutaleb Bassim is later seen screaming her innocence in a
video posted on the Internet on Jan 17.
   (AFP, 1/12/15)(AFP, 1/17/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 12, Hundreds of
Tanzanian schoolgirls returned home after spending three months
hiding in safe houses to escape genital mutilation.
   (AFP, 1/12/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 12, Ukraine, Russia,
Germany and France scrapped plans to hold a summit in Kazakhstan
later this week because of the failure to implement a four-month-old
ceasefire agreement fully and there was no sign of when it might be
rescheduled.
   (Reuters, 1/13/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 13, Andrew Howard
Brannan (66), a US Vietnam veteran, was executed in Georgia for the
1998 killing of sheriff’s deputy Kyle Dinkheller (22), who had
stopped him for speeding.
   (SFC, 1/14/15, p.A6)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 13, Police in
Albuquerque, New Mexico, shot and killed a suspect dressed in body
armor who pulled a gun on them following a foot chase. The suspect
had fired on officers in an eastside neighborhood.
   (SFC, 1/15/15, p.A8)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 13, In Afghanistan one
person died and three were wounded when their vehicle struck a
roadside bomb in the capital, Kabul.
   (AP, 1/13/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 13, A Bahraini court
sentenced a former lawmaker from the island kingdom's main Shiite
opposition group to six months in jail over a social media posting.
Jamil Kadhim was convicted of spreading false information over a
tweet alleging that authorities were offering money to encourage
candidates to enter parliamentary elections in November.
   (AP, 1/13/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 13, Britain launched a
trade mission to Egypt with more than 40 companies received in
Cairo, the largest such effort in over a decade by the top foreign
investor in the Arab world's most populous country.
   (AP, 1/13/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 13, Chinese officials
said Bai Enpei, formerly the party boss of Yunnan province, has been
fired from his position at China's parliament after investigators
found he accepted bribes in huge amounts.
   (Reuters, 1/13/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 13, An Egyptian
appeals court overturned a three-year prison sentence against ousted
strongman Hosni Mubarak on corruption charges and ordered a retrial
in the sole case pending against him.
   (AFP, 1/13/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 13, Ethiopia reported
that the city of Mekele has banned smoking in public places with
fines more than an average monthly wage, the first city in the
country to do so.
   (AFP, 1/13/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 13, The European
Parliament lifted the EU-wide ban on genetically modified (GM) crops
allowing national governments to impose their own restrictions.
    (Econ, 1/17/15, p.52)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 13, In Dresden,
Germany, an Eritrean asylum seeker (20) was found stabbed to death
in a killing that came amid tensions over immigration in the region.
An Eritrean man (26) was later arrested over the fatal stabbing of
his compatriot.
   (AP, 1/15/15)(AP, 1/22/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 13, In India 15 more
people died and about 90 remained in hospital in the northern state
of Uttar Pradesh after drinking batch of bootleg liquor on Jan 11,
taking the total death toll to 28.
   (Reuters, 1/13/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 13, In India villagers
in Uttar Predesh state began noticing bodies floating in an offshoot
of the Ganges. Some 102 bodies, many of them children, were found
near the village of Pariyar. They were believed to be the result of
water burials.
   (SFC, 1/15/15, p.A4)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 13, Indonesia's
anti-graft agency named three-star general Budi Gunawan, President
Joko Widodo's sole nomination for police chief, a bribery suspect.
Widodo told reporters a day earlier he had chosen Gunawan on
recommendation from the National Police Commission.
   (Reuters, 1/13/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 13, The Islamic State
jihadist group released a video purporting to show a young boy
executing two men accused of working for Russian intelligence
services in Syria.
   (AFP, 1/13/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 13, Malawi’s
government reported that 48 people have been killed and nearly
23,000 displaced due to flooding.
   (AP, 1/14/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 13, In Nepal a general
strike called by opposition parties crippled life in the Kathmandu
region by shutting down schools, market and transportation.
   (AP, 1/13/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 13, Pakistan executed
7 prisoners by hanging at four prisons. This was on the 2nd day of a
visit by US Sec. of State John Kerry for talks on counter-terrorism
cooperation, economic aid and other issues.
   (SFC, 1/14/15, p.A3)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 13, In Sierra Leone a
Red Cross male nurse who worked at an Ebola treatment center in
Kenema, died and was confirmed to have been suffering from the
disease. He was the first Red Cross worker or volunteer to succumb
to the disease there.
   (AP, 1/15/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 13, Pope Francis
arrived in Sri Lanka, where Christians made up only 7.4% of the
population.
   (Econ, 1/17/15, p.38)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 13, Taiwan slaughtered
nearly 6,000 geese after 14 more farms were confirmed to have been
infected in the latest outbreak of avian influenza that has led to
the culling of more than 140,000 birds.
   (AFP, 1/13/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 13, Tanzania banned
witchdoctors to try and stem a surge in murders of albinos, whose
body parts are sold for witchcraft. The ban does not cover
traditional healers who use herbs to help the sick.
   (AFP, 1/14/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 13, The cash-strapped
Tanzania-Zambia Railway Authority (TAZARA), which is owned by the
governments of the two countries and has been struggling for more
than a decade, shut down all train operations after workers downed
tools to demand five months unpaid salaries.
   (AFP, 1/13/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 13, In eastern Ukraine
a long-range Grad rocket hit a passenger bus, killing at least 12
people. Fighting intensified around the international airport in the
city of Donetsk as separatists tried to oust government forces.
   (Reuters, 1/13/15)(AFP, 1/14/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 13, The UN said that
the latest wave of Boko Haram's "vicious, ruthless attacks" in
northeastern Nigeria has sent 11,320 people fleeing into Chad in a
matter of days.
   (AFP, 1/13/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 13, Governors in three
Venezuelan states banned nighttime queuing as huge lines continued
to snake around shops across the scarcity-plagued OPEC nation.
   (Reuters, 1/14/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 13, Zimbabwe ruling
party officials, ousted in a purge against allies of President
Robert Mugabe's former deputy Joice Mujuru, vowed to launch a legal
fight to regain control of the party.
   (AFP, 1/13/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 14, The US Pentagon
said five men from Yemen have been released from the US navy base at
Guantanamo, Cuba, after more than a dozen years in captivity. One
man was sent to Estonia and four to Oman. 122 men continued to be
held at Guantanamo.
   (SFC, 1/15/15, p.A8)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 14, In California
Tommy Caldwell (36) and Kevin Jorgenson (30) reached the top of El
Capitan completing a 3,000-foot free climb up the Dawn Wall begun 19
days earlier.
   (SFC, 1/15/15, p.A1)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 14, Ohio police
arrested Christopher Lee Cornell (20) of Cincinnati outside a gun
shop after he bought two semi-automatic rifles and some 600 rounds
of ammunition. He was soon charged with plotting a jihadist attack
on Washington, DC, with pipe bombs and shooting government officials
and employees. On August 1, 2016, Cornell pleaded guilty to three
federal charges and faced up to 30 years in prison.
   (SFC, 1/16/15, p.A7)(SFC, 1/17/15, p.A8)(SFC,
8/2/16, p.A4)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 14, In Argentina
federal prosecutor Alberto Nisman filed a 300-page court document in
which he claimed that Pres. Cristina Fernandez, the foreign
minister, Hector Timerman (1953-2018), and others had opened secret
negotiations with Iran to absolve Iranian suspects in the 1994
bombing of a Jewish community center in Buenos Aires.
   (Econ, 1/31/15, p.29)(SFC, 1/2/19, p.C3)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 14, In Bangladesh 5
people were killed when demonstrators firebombed a passenger bus and
2 political activists were assassinated as violence claimed at least
22 lives this month. Authorities blamed supporters of opposition
leader Khaleda Zia.
   (SFC, 1/15/15, p.A2)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 14, Bulgaria said it
would extend a barbed wire fence along its border with Turkey by a
further 130 km (80 miles) in an attempt to prevent a growing number
of refugees, mainly from Syria, entering the EU member state.
   (Reuters, 1/14/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 14, Chile's Senate
voted to end a dictatorship-era electoral system that has squeezed
out independent candidates and guaranteed an outsized presence in
Congress for the center-right coalition.
   (AP, 1/14/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 14, In France the
first edition of Charlie Hebdo after the Jan 7 attack by Islamist
gunmen sold out within minutes.
   (Reuters, 1/14/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 14, France ordered
prosecutors around the country to crack down on hate speech,
anti-Semitism and those glorifying terrorism. Authorities said 54
people have been arrested since the terror attacks in Paris last
week.
   (SFC, 1/15/15, p.A2)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 14, In France a
28-year-old attacker forced the front door of his neighbors' house
in the picturesque village of Beaucet near Avignon just after
midnight shouting "I am your god, I am your Islam" before repeatedly
stabbing to death Mohamed El Makouli. The man was soon charged with
murder, attempted murder and possession of drugs, before being
committed to a psychiatric hospital in nearby Montfavet.
   (AFP, 1/16/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 14, Notorious French
comedian Dieudonne was arrested for condoning terrorism over a
comment suggesting he sympathized with one of the Paris attacks
gunmen, in a move that sparked a debate about free speech.
   (AFP, 1/14/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 14, In India
authorities in Uttar Pradesh state suspended 23 officials in a
crackdown on illegal liquor sales, as the death toll among villagers
who drank from a bad batch of cheap alcohol climbed to 38.
   (AP, 1/14/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 14, In India wildlife
rangers shot 3 suspected poachers dead in a gunbattle in remote
northeastern Kaziranga National Park, Assam state.
   (AP, 1/14/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 14, Indian troops
killed a suspected rebel in a gunbattle in the northern Kashmir town
of Sopore.
   (AP, 1/15/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 14, In Israel some
half a million high school students stayed home in a strike against
a decision to cancel annual field trips. Officials agreed to
reinstate the activities.
   (SFC, 1/15/15, p.A2)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 14, In Kenya one
soldier and five suspected Islamists insurgents loyal to Somalia's
Al-Qaeda-affiliated Shebab fighters were killed in a battle in the
coastal Lamu district.
   (AFP, 1/14/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 14, The Mozambique
government disaster management office said heavy flooding has killed
10 people and displaced nearly 20,000 more.
   (AP, 1/14/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 14, Nigerian security
forces repelled an attack by Islamist rebels on the northeastern
town of Biu, killing several of the insurgents.
   (Reuters, 1/14/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 14, In Puntland, a
region of northern Somalia, Islamist fighters killed at least two
officers at a police post in Basasso port town, as the militants,
driven out of areas further south, make more frequent attacks in the
semi-autonomous north.
   (Reuters, 1/15/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 14, Saudi Arabia
beheaded a convicted Pakistani drug trafficker and one of its own
citizens who killed a soldier.
   (AFP, 1/14/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 14, A Singapore Navy
ship located the fuselage of Indonesia AirAsia Flight QZ8501, the
passenger jet that crashed more than two weeks ago off the coast of
Indonesia, raising hopes that more bodies will be found.
   (Reuters, 1/14/15)(AP, 1/14/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 14, South Korean
prosecutors arrested leftist activist Hwang Sun in Seoul for
allegedly praising archrival North Korea.
   (SFC, 1/15/15, p.A2)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 14, A judicial
official said Spain's Supreme Court has agreed to examine a
paternity suit against former king Juan Carlos by a woman who claims
to be his daughter.
   (AFP, 1/14/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 14, In Sri Lanka a
million worshippers packed the Colombo seafront to greet Pope
Francis as he canonized Sri Lanka's first saint, Joseph Vaz, a 17th
century missionary. Sri Lanka released nearly 600 prisoners and
reduced jail terms for others to mark Pope Francis' visit.
   (AFP, 1/14/15)(Reuters, 1/14/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 14, The Syrian
Observatory for Human Rights said that in total 14 people had been
executed for alleged adultery or homosexuality in the war-torn
country since July, half of them women. A new video showed fighters
from Al-Nusra Front, Al-Qaeda's Syrian affiliate, tying up a woman
and shooting her in a square for alleged adultery.
   (AFP, 1/14/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 14, A Turkish court
ordered the telecommunications authority to ban access to websites
showing Charlie Hebdo's front cover with the image of the Prophet
Muhammad.
   (AP, 1/14/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 14, In Turkey, a child
(12) was allegedly shot and killed by security forces in the old
southeastern Kurdish settlement of Cizre. 17 locals have been
reportedly killed in fighting jihadists across the border in the
Syrian town of Kobane.
   (Econ, 2/14/15, p.46)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 14, In Wales Zack
Davies struck Sarandev Bhambra (24), a Sikh trainee dentist, with a
foot-long blade in a supermarket in Mold. Bhambra suffered
“life-changing” injuries. On June 25 Davies was convicted of
attempted murder.
   (http://tinyurl.com/oc5besx)(SFC, 6/26/15, p.A2)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 15, The United States
said it will ease travel and trade restrictions with Cuba on Jan 16,
implementing last month's agreement to begin normalizing ties with
the Cold War-era foe.
   (AFP, 1/15/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 15, Arizona Gov. Doug
Ducey signed a law requiring students to pass a US citizenship test
in order to get a high school diploma. This was the nation’s first
such requirement.
   (SFC, 1/17/15, p.A6)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 15, A US federal judge
in Louisiana ruled that more oil than BP estimated spilled into the
Gulf of Mexico following a rig explosion in 2010.
   (SFC, 1/16/15, p.A6)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 15, A US federal judge
ruled that Michigan must validate nearly 300 same-sex marriages as
of next month. His decision could be appealed.
   (SFC, 1/16/15, p.A6)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 15, Oklahoma executed
Charles Frederick Warner for raping and killing an 11-month-old
girl. An autopsy later revealed that the wrong drug was used to stop
the inmate’s heart. Corrections officials used potassium acetate,
not potassium chloride, as required under state protocol.
   (http://tinyurl.com/p9lhow9)(SFC, 10/9/15, p.A6)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 15, George Abbott
(b.1957), former Texas Attorney General, was sworn in as the 48th
governor of Texas. Abbott was wheelchair bound and became a
paraplegic when an oak tree fell on him while he was running
following a storm in 1984.
   (Econ, 1/24/15,
p.26)(http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Greg_Abbott)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 15, American discount
retailer Target announced its exit from Canada, after a
highly-anticipated but ultimately disastrous launch only two years
earlier.
   (AFP, 1/15/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 15, In Afghanistan a
roadside bomb planted by the Taliban killed two policemen in the
northern Faryab province. A drone strike killed three Taliban
insurgents in the Nazyan district of Nangarhar province.
   (AP, 1/16/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 15, In Belgium two men
believed to have fought in Syria were shot dead after opening fire
on police with assault weapons in Verviers. Fifteen suspects were
soon arrested after a dozen raids around Brussels and in Verviers.
Two of those under arrest were seized in France.
   (Reuters, 1/16/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 15, US Secretary of
State John Kerry pledged to support Bulgaria's efforts to wean
itself off dependence on Russian energy at the launch of an annual
strategic dialogue between the two NATO allies.
   (Reuters, 1/15/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 15, Canadian
manufacturer Bombardier suspended its business jets program due to
"weak market demand," resulting in layoffs of 1,000 employees in
Mexico and the United States.
   (AFP, 1/15/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 15, In China pollution
levels soared in Beijing to readings more than 20 times WHO
recommended limits, as an annual bout of intense smog returned to
haunt the capital despite government vows to address the plague.
   (AFP, 1/15/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 15, In China 4
Singaporeans, an Indonesian, a Malaysian, an Indian, 14 Chinese and
a Japanese were among 22 people dead following the overturning of
the tugboat during a test voyage in the river's Fubei Channel in the
eastern province of Jiangsu. 3 people survived.
   (AP, 1/16/15)(AP, 1/17/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 15, The Danish
government said it is allocating 12.5 million kroner ($2 million) to
help the victims of the Boko Haram extremist group in Nigeria.
   (AP, 1/15/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 15, Dubai launched a
project to build a solar plant to produce 200 megawatt of
electricity, as part of plans to generate five percent of the
emirate's power from renewables by 2030.
   (AFP, 1/15/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 15, The EU parliament
condemned Russia as a "potential threat to the European Union
itself" even as the EU foreign policy chief sought to resume
dialogue with Moscow to help end the conflict in Ukraine.
   (AP, 1/15/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 15, Indian soldiers
and police killed five suspected rebels during a fierce gunbattle in
the disputed Himalayan region of Kashmir.
   (AP, 1/15/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 15, Iran announced
plans to combat what it says are "immoral" online dating websites by
launching an official site for young people seeking marriage.
   (AFP, 1/15/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 15, Israel’s Genesis
Prize Foundation said that PM Benjamin Netanyahu will present its $1
million Genesis Prize at a Jerusalem ceremony this summer to actor,
producer and peace activist Michael Douglas for his passion for his
Jewish heritage and the Jewish state.
   (AP, 1/15/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 15, Kazakh President
Nursultan Nazarbayev and Ukrainian counterpart Petro Poroshenko
agreed that the delayed talks on the Ukraine conflict with leaders
of Russia, France and Germany will take place at the end of the
month in Astana.
   (AFP, 1/15/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 15, Malawi deployed
military helicopters and boats in a bid to rescue desperate flood
victims stranded on patches of high ground after raging waters
killed at least 48 people and left 100,000 homeless.
   (AFP, 1/15/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 15, Mozambique's new
President Filipe Nyusi was sworn into office in a ceremony boycotted
by the main opposition party.
   (AFP, 1/15/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 15, The Pakistani
parliament passed a resolution that condemned the French “I am
Charlie” cartoon as hate speech and called on the int’l. community
to take a decisive step to stop such practice.
   (SFC, 1/17/15, p.A4)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 15, In northwest
Pakistan a US drone strike killed at least five suspected militants
in the Tehsil Ladha area of South Waziristan.
   (Reuters, 1/15/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 15, In Qatar the
world's newest jetliner, the Airbus A350, took to the skies carrying
its first paying passengers from the Gulf Arab nation.
   (AP, 1/15/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 15, Switzerland
ditched an increasingly expensive policy to limit the export-sapping
rise of the Swiss franc — a decision that propelled the currency a
whopping 30 percent higher against the euro within minutes.
   (AP, 1/15/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 15, Syrian rebels and
government forces began observing a 10-day truce in the last
rebel-held area of the central city of Homs, marking another setback
for opposition fighters.
   (AP, 1/15/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 16, In Brazil
protesters in Sao Paulo clashed with police who used tear gas and
sound bombs to disperse crowds, as thousands rallied against the
latest round of bus fare hikes.
   (AFP, 1/16/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 16, French police
arrested 12 people suspected of helping militant Islamist gunmen in
last week's killings in Paris. An armed man who took several
hostages at a post office northwest of Paris surrendered with no one
hurt.
   (Reuters, 1/16/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 16, In Germany police
in Berlin arrested two men on suspicion of recruiting fighters for
the Islamic State group in Syria. Prosecutors said 250 police
officers raided 11 residences at dawn, part of a months-old
investigation into Turkish extremists.
   (AP, 1/16/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 16, In Haiti Evans
Paul, formerly in the moderate opposition to Pres. Martelly before
becoming his No. 2 official, was formally installed as prime
minister.
   (AP, 1/17/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb 16, Indonesia’s
President Joko Widodo said he had postponed the nomination of
three-star general Budi Gunawan as police chief, but not cancelled
it. Gunawan had been named as a bribery suspect on Jan 13.
   (Econ, 1/24/15, p.35)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 16, In Iraq a series
of bombings and mortar attacks killed nine people in the capital,
Baghdad.
   (AP, 1/16/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 16, Italian aid
workers Greta Ramelli (20) and Vanessa Marzullo (21), abducted in
northern Syria on the night of July 31-August 1, 2014, flew home
straight into a row over whether Al-Qaeda's Syrian arm was paid $12
million to release them.
   (AFP, 1/16/15)(SFC, 1/17/15, p.A2)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 16, In Libya the Fajr
Libya (Libya Dawn) militia alliance said it has agreed to a
ceasefire on the condition rival factions respected the truce.
   (AFP, 1/18/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 16, Malawi VP Saulos
Chilima said the death toll from flooding has risen to 176 and
others are still missing.
   (Reuters, 1/16/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 16, In Montenegro
hundreds of Serb nationalists demonstrated against a visit by Kosovo
Foreign Minister Hashim Thaci, chanting "Kill! Kill!" as he met with
his counterpart Igor Luiksic. Serb nationalists accuse Thaci, a
former ethnic Albanian rebel leader, of war crimes against Kosovo
Serbs during the 1998-99 war for independence.
   (AP, 1/16/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 16, In Myanmar
hundreds of protesters led by Buddhist monks rallied to denounce a
visit by a human rights envoy of the UN, which has urged the
government to grant citizenship to persecuted Rohingya Muslims.
   (Reuters, 1/16/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 16, In Niger 4 people
were reported killed and dozens injured at a protest over a French
satirical weekly's latest caricature of the Prophet Muhammad.
   (AP, 1/16/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 16, In northeastern
Nigeria a suicide bomber killed at least five people and wounded 11
near a marketplace in Gombe.
   (AFP, 1/16/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 16, A Norwegian
appeals court upheld the maximum sentence for Rwandan Sadi Bugingo
found complicit in the death of 2,000 people during his country's
genocide in 1994.
   (AFP, 1/16/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 16, Pakistan police
fired tear gas and water cannon at about 200 protesters outside the
French consulate in the southern port city of Karachi when a
demonstration against the French satirical magazine Charlie Hebdo
turned violent. The clashes left four people with gunshot wounds.
   (Reuters, 1/16/15)(SFC, 1/17/15, p.A4)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 16, In the Philippines
Pope Francis issued his strongest defense yet of church teaching
opposing artificial contraception, using a rally in Asia's largest
Catholic nation to urge families to be "sanctuaries of respect for
life." The Philippines is the only country in the world — aside from
the Vatican — where divorce is forbidden.
   (AP, 1/16/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 16, Kremlin critic
Alexei Navalny was questioned by Russian investigators and his
offices were raided by police in what his colleagues called an
attack on his anti-corruption campaigning activities.
   (Reuters, 1/16/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 16, A senior Russian
diplomat said far more than 800 Russians are fighting alongside the
Islamic State group. Those who have joined the group include people
from Chechnya and some other regions in the volatile North Caucasus.
   (AP, 1/16/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 16, Saudi Arabia
postponed the 2nd round of flogging for blogger Raef Badawi,
sentenced to 1,000 lashes for insulting Islam, because his wounds
from last week's 50 lashings have not yet healed.
   (AFP, 1/16/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 16, Saudi Arabia
beheaded one of its citizens for shooting dead a compatriot with a
machine gun, bringing to 10 the number of executions in just over
two weeks.
   (AFP, 1/16/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 16, The Syrian
Observatory for Human Rights said the Islamic State has beheaded or
shot 17 men in Syria in the past two days as it faces increasing
attacks from unidentified gunmen in areas it controls.
   (Reuters, 1/16/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 16, Ukraine officials
said 6 soldiers have been killed in attacks by separatists in the
past 24 hours, as fighting raged at the international airport in the
big eastern city of Donetsk.
   (Reuters, 1/16/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 16, Zimbabwe's
government says it must export elephants to raise funds for wildlife
management. About 60 elephants will be sold for between $40,000 and
$60,000 each to China, France and the United Arab Emirates.
   (AP, 1/16/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 17, The US released
Ali al-Marri, arrested as an enemy non-combatant in December 2011,
and returned him to Qatar. He was arrested while attending graduate
school in Illinois and held for nearly six years in a US Navy brig
before pleading to conspiring to support a terrorist organization
and receiving a sentence of just over eight years.
   (SFC, 1/19/15, p.A2)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 17, In Montana some
50,000 gallons of oil spilled from a pipeline into the Yellowstone
River near Glendive.
   (SFC, 1/19/15, p.A4)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 17, An Afghan official
said that 9 insurgents have been killed during a raid by security
forces backed by local citizens in Kunduz province.
   (AP, 1/17/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 17, Afghan President
Ashraf Ghani strongly condemned the latest Muhammad caricature on
the cover of the new Charlie Hebdo issue, and called it an insult to
Islam and the Muslim world. Hundreds of people in Paktika province
protested against the continued publishing of cartoons depicting
Mohammad by the French magazine Charlie Hebdo.
   (AP, 1/17/15)(AP, 1/18/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 17, Afghan officials
said security services have arrested five men in recent weeks in
connection with the Dec 16 massacre at a Pakistan military school
last month that killed 150 people, most of them children.
   (AP, 1/17/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 17, In Central African
Republic the widely feared anti-Balaka commander Rodrigue Ngaibona,
alias Andilo, was arrested.
   (AP, 1/20/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 17, Chad sent troops,
about 400 military vehicles including tanks and armored vehicles,
and several attack helicopters to Cameroon and Nigeria to aid in the
fight against the Islamist militants. It was reported that Cameroon,
Chad and Niger have launched a regional bid to combat the Boko Haram
Islamists. In Chad tens of thousands marched in the capital to show
support for the fight against Boko Haram chanting in French and
Arabic: "Kick the forces of evil out of our territory."
   (AFP, 1/17/15)(AP, 1/18/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 17, In Egypt actress
Faten Hamama (b.1931), a pillar of Middle Eastern cinema, died after
a career that spanned seven decades and graced the golden age of
Egyptian filmmaking. Her 1975 film "I Want a Solution" gave a
scathing critique of divorce and marriage laws in Egypt, while
1965's "The Sin" focused on the oppression of struggling peasants.
   (AP, 1/18/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 17, In El Salvador
leaders of the MS-13 and Barrio 18 gangs agreed from their jail
cells to halt killing without any mediation.
   (Econ, 1/31/15, p.29)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 17, Indonesia executed
6 drug traffickers, five of them foreign nationals. The next day
Brazil and the Netherlands recalled their ambassadors from Jakarta
and expressed fury following the executions of two of their
citizens.
   (AP, 1/18/15)(Econ, 1/24/15, p.36)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 17, In Ingushetia some
15,000 people rallied against Western publications that insult the
Prophet Mohammed, in the wake of the Charlie Hebdo attack in France.
   (AFP, 1/17/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 17, The United States
and its allies conducted 29 airstrikes on Islamic State targets in
Syria and Iraq over the last 24-hours.
   (Reuters, 1/17/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 17, In Iraq a series
of bombings targeting busy markets killed 18 people in and around
Baghdad.
   (AP, 1/17/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 17, The Islamic State
group released about 200 Yazidis held for five months in Iraq,
mostly elderly, infirm captives who likely slowed the extremists
down.
   (AP, 1/18/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 17, Japanese PM Shinzo
Abe pledged $2.5 billion in humanitarian and development aid for the
Middle East as he launched a regional tour that includes visits to
Jordan and Israel.
   (AFP, 1/17/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 17, It was reported
that Lithuania's defense ministry will issue next week a 98-page
booklet, entitled "How to act in extreme situations or instances of
war, reflecting jitters over neighboring Russia's intervention in
Ukraine and a recent increase of reported airspace violations in the
Baltic region.
   (AP, 1/17/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 17, Media
organizations condemned the imprisonment of Macedonian investigative
journalist Tomislav Kezarovski after an appeals court in Skopje
upheld charges against him, albeit with a reduction in sentence.
   (AP, 1/17/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 17, In Madagascar at
least 46 people perished as tropical storm Chedza battered the
country over the last 48 hours, affecting almost 80,000 residents.
   (AFP, 1/18/15)(AP, 1/19/15)(AFP, 1/21/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 17, In northern Mali a
UN peacekeeper from Chad was killed and another wounded near Kidal.
   (AP, 1/17/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 17, Morocco said it
has dismantled an Islamist militant cell sending fighters to Syria
and Iraq to join Islamic State and mount attacks on returning home.
A security source said the government thinks nearly 2,000 Moroccans
have fought in Syria's civil war and in Iraq with Islamic State.
   (Reuters, 1/17/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 17, In Niger rioters
burned at least seven churches in Niamey over the publication of a
Prophet Mohammed cartoon on the cover of France's Charlie Hebdo
weekly. The weekend violence left 10 people dead and 45 churches set
on fire.
   (AFP, 1/17/15)(AP, 1/19/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 17, In Russia 3 iron
ore miners were missing and two others were hospitalized after an
explosion deep underground in the town of Kushva in the Ural
Mountains.
   (AP, 1/17/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 17, At least 35 Syrian
soldiers were killed when an army cargo plane crashed in bad night
weather in the northwest of the country. Al-Nusra Front claimed on
Twitter that it had shot down the aircraft.
   (AFP, 1/18/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 17, The Syrian
Observatory for Human Rights said clashes broke out in the
northeastern city of Hassakeh after members of a Kurdish militia
detained 10 Syrian soldiers and pro-government gunmen after they
deployed in areas controlled by the Kurds.
   (AP, 1/17/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 17, A Turkish
intelligence report said around 3,000 people in Turkey are believed
to be linked to the Islamic State (IS) jihadist group.
   (AFP, 1/17/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 17, Ukraine officials
said fighting in the east has killed 3 soldiers, as an upsurge in
clashes in recent days between the army and pro-Russian rebels
centered around control of the battered Donetsk airport.
   (AFP, 1/17/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 17, Yemen's Houthi
militia seized Ahmed Awad bin Mubarak, President Abdrabuh Mansur
Hadi's chief of staff, and threatened unspecified further steps to
derail a proposed new constitution in a wrangle for power that
threatens to bring down the government. National security service
chief General Mohammed al-Ahmadi said there are around 1,000
Al-Qaeda militants in Yemen from 11 Arab and non-Arab countries.
   (Reuters, 1/17/15)(AFP, 1/17/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 18, In Afghanistan a
suicide car bomber attacked a police supply convoy, killing four
people and wounding 12 in Helmand province. Hundreds of university
students in Nangarhar province protested against the continued
publishing of cartoons depicting the Prophet Muhammad by the French
magazine Charlie Hebdo.
   (AP, 1/18/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 18, In Argentina
special prosecutor Alberto Nisman, who had accused President
Cristina Fernandez of shielding Iranian suspects in the South
American country's worst terrorist attack, was found shot dead.
Nisman was set to testify on Jan 19 in a Congressional hearing about
the 1994 bombing of a Jewish center. In 2016 former spy chief
Antonio Stiuso said Nisman was murdered by people linked to the
government of Pres. Cristina Fernandez.
   (AP, 1/19/15)(SSFC, 3/6/16, p.A4)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 18, In northern
Cameroon Boko Haram fighters from Nigeria kidnapped at least 60
people during an attack on Mabass village. A number of people were
killed. Some of the hostages escaped and 30 were freed following a
gun fight between Boko Haram and the Cameroon military.
   (AFP, 1/18/15)(AP, 1/18/15)(AP, 1/19/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 18, In eastern India
at least 4 Muslim villagers were killed, 3 of them burned to death,
when their thatched huts were set on fire during a clash in Bihar
state. Hindu fishermen blamed Muslims for killing a boy who was
friendly with a Muslim girl from the village. 14 people were
arrested the next day on charges of arson and murder.
   (AP, 1/19/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 18, Iran and major
powers made "limited" progress in narrowing differences over its
nuclear program, but agreed to step up efforts as the Obama
administration lobbied to stave off fresh sanctions against the
Islamic Republic.
   (Reuters, 1/18/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 18, Ireland’s Health
Minister Leo Varadkar said he's gay on his 36th birthday, becoming
the first openly homosexual government figure in the history of the
traditionally conservative Catholic country.
   (AP, 1/18/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 18, Israel laid
charges against seven Arab Israelis over allegations they set up a
militant cell linked to the Islamic State group.
   (AFP, 1/18/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 18, In Israel Sami
al-Zayadna (47) died of a heart attack during clashes in which
police fired tear gas. This was during the funeral of Sami al-Jaar
(220, who died of a gunshot wound last week during a police drug
raid on the Negev Bedouin town of Rahat.
   (AFP, 1/20/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 18, An Israel air
strike on the Syrian side of the Golan Heights killed Hezbollah
military commander Mohammed Issa, responsible for Hezbollah's
operations in Syria and Iraq, and Jihad Mughniyeh, the son of an
assassinated commander from the group. 4 other members of Hezbollah
were also killed. General Mohammad Ali Allahdadi was among 6
Iranians killed in the attack.
   (AFP, 1/18/15)(AP, 1/19/15)(AFP, 1/19/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 18, Japanese PM Shinzo
Abe flew into Tel Aviv at the start of a three-day official visit to
Israel and the Palestinian territories.
   (AFP, 1/18/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 18, Libya's army
announced a ceasefire, joining an Islamist-backed militia alliance
in declaring a truce that the UN hailed as a "significant" step
towards ending months of violence.
   (AFP, 1/18/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 18, In northeastern
Nigeria a suicide bomber killed 4 people and wounded dozens in an
attack on a bus station in Potiskum.
   (AFP, 1/18/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 18, Different
Pakistani political and religious groups protested for a fourth day
against what they call blasphemous caricatures of the Prophet
Muhammad in the French magazine Charlie Hebdo.
   (AP, 1/18/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 18, Dozens of
Palestinian protesters hurled eggs and shoes at the convoy of the
visiting Canadian foreign minister in a show of defiance toward
Canada's perceived pro-Israel stance.
   (AP, 1/18/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 18, In the Philippines
Pope Francis concluded his trip to Asia with an open-air Mass for a
rain-drenched crowd in Manila that the Vatican and the government
said drew up to seven million people.
   (Reuters, 1/18/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 18, In Syria at least
18 people were killed in unprecedented fighting between Kurdish
forces and Syrian government troops in the northeastern city of
Hasakeh over the last 24 hours.
   (AFP, 1/18/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 18, Ukrainian troops
recaptured almost all the territory of Donetsk airport in eastern
Ukraine they had lost to separatists in recent weeks. Residents
reported a sharp intensification of fighting. Thousands gathered in
Kiev for a state-sponsored peace march.
   (Reuters, 1/18/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 18, In Zimbabwe at
least 25 people were killed when two buses collided along a highway
outside Harare.
   (Reuters, 1/18/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 19, A young woman was
sexually assaulted after a party at Stanford’s Kappa Alpha
fraternity. In 2016 Stanford swimmer Brock Allen Turner was
sentenced to six months in county jail for digitally penetrating an
unconscious and intoxicated victim.
   (SFC, 6/7/16, p.A6)(SFC, 6/14/16, p.C2)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 19, In Maryland a fire
at a riverfront mansion killed an Annapolis couple and 4 of their
young grandchildren.
   (SFC, 1/29/15, p.A6)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 19, In Ohio a
construction worker was killed and a tractor-trailer driver injured
when an I-75 overpass undergoing demolition collapsed in Cincinnati.
   (AP, 1/20/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 19, In eastern
Afghanistan the Taliban attacked government troops in Laghman
province, triggering a gunbattle that killed 2 soldiers and wounded
a third.
   (AP, 1/19/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 19, Austrian police
said they have arrested a suspected gang leader over the weekend who
Russian authorities suspect was involved in the killing of at least
six people. Among the victims allegedly killed by the gang was
Kazbek Pagiyev, a former mayor of Vladikavkaz, the provincial
capital of Russia's republic of North Ossetia. He was shot dead in
2008. Aslan Gagiyev fled Russia last year and was sought on an
Interpol warrant.
   (AP, 1/19/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 19, Bahrain
prosecutors charged Sheikh Ali Salman, the Shiite opposition chief
in custody since Dec 28, with attempting to overthrow the regime and
sent him to trial despite international calls for his release.
   (AFP, 1/19/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 19, Bangladeshi police
arrested four suspected members of Islamic State in Dhaka, including
a regional coordinator for the militant group who told police they
had been trained in Pakistan.
   (Reuters, 1/19/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 19, In Chechnya
several hundred thousand people protested in the Chechnya region
against what its Kremlin-backed leader called the "vulgar and
immoral" cartoons of the Prophet Mohammad published by French
newspaper Charlie Hebdo.
   (Reuters, 1/19/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 19, Chinese shares
plunged about 8 percent after the country's securities regulator
imposed margin trading curbs on several major brokerages.
   (AP, 1/19/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 19, In the Dominican
Rep. a man killed 4 people, injured three others and committed
suicide in Santo Domingo. Police said Aneury Heredia (26) apparently
was trying to avenge a friend's death.
   (AP, 1/20/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 19, In Germany more
than 17,000 anti-racism demonstrators took to the streets in several
cities to voice opposition to the PEGIDA anti-Islamic movement,
whose own weekly rally was cancelled over a terrorism threat.
   (AFP, 1/19/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 19, More than 2,000
Iranians protested outside the French embassy in Tehran, chanting
"Death to France" and urging the ambassador be expelled because of a
cartoon of the Prophet Mohammed.
   (AFP, 1/19/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 19, Kenyan police
fired tear gas at children as young as eight protesting against the
seizure of their school playground by a property developer.
   (AFP, 1/19/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 19, Malaysian
authorities raided a site where trafficked Rohingya Muslims and
Bangladeshis were held in cages, but destroyed it a day later,
diminishing evidence that could have aided in an investigation. This
was only made public in 2019.
   (AP, 3/27/19)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 19, In Pakistan a
suspected US drone strike killed 4 militants in North Waziristan. 3
security troops and 7 militants were killed in a clash in the Banda
area of the Bajur tribal region.
   (AP, 1/19/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 19, In the Philippines
a concrete wall at a warehouse being built collapsed, killing at
least 10 workers in Guiguinto town, Bulacan province.
   (AP, 1/19/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 19, Romanian inventor
Justin Capra (81) died. He claimed to have beaten the Americans to
make the world's first jetpack and went on to design and build
dozens of vehicles, calling the modern-day car a disgrace.
   (AP, 1/20/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 19, In Sweden Peter
Wallenberg (b.1926), the former head of a Swedish financial dynasty,
died at his home on the island of Varmdo.
   (AP, 1/19/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 19, Oxfam
International said in a report released as the World Economic Forum
begins in Davos, Switzerland, that the richest 1 percent of the
population will own more than half the world's wealth by 2016.
   (AP, 1/19/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 19, In Syria Kurdish
fighters captured a strategic hill overlooking the town of Kobani
after intense clashes with the Islamic State group.
   (AP, 1/19/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 19, In Thailand
villagers living near the country’s largest gold mine asked the
government to quickly prove the source of arsenic and manganese
contamination that has led to a suspension in operations at the
mine. Testing conducted in November by a government team on 700
villagers living near the mine found that more than 300 people,
including children, tested positive for arsenic and manganese.
   (Reuters, 1/19/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 19, In eastern Ukraine
pro-Russian separatists renewed attacks on Ukrainian forces at the
Donetsk airport complex. Ukrainian officials said 3 soldiers have
been killed and 66 wounded over the past 24 hours. Ukraine's
military claimed that some 700 Russian troops crossed into the
country to aid rebels fighting for control of the country's east.
   (AP, 1/19/15)(AFP, 1/19/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 19, Yemen's Houthi
movement fought artillery battles with the army near the
presidential palace in Sanaa, throwing the fragile Arab state deeper
into turmoil. At least 9 people were killed, including fighters from
both sides. A cease-fire halted intense clashes near the
presidential palace in Sanaa after Shiite rebels seized control of
state-run media.
   (Reuters, 1/19/15)(AP, 1/19/15)(AFP,
1/20/15)Â Â Â
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 20, Pres. Obama
delivered his 6th State of the Union address to a joint session of
Congress. His proposals included making two years of community
college free.
   (SFC, 1/22/15, p.A13)(Econ, 1/17/15, p.28)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 20, Court papers were
filed indicating that the US Justice Dept. has reached a $134,000
settlement with a New York woman after federal agents used
information from her cellphone to set up a fake Facebook page in her
identity to trick friends and associates into revealing drug
secrets.
   (SFC, 1/21/15, p.A6)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 20, Animal rescuers
said some 100 birds have been found dead and more than 300 others
coated with an unidentified glue-like compound mostly along the
eastern shoreline of SF Bay.
   (SFC, 1/21/15, p.A1)(SFC, 1/22/15, p.A8)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 20, Tom Wolf began
serving as the 47th governor of Pennsylvania.
   (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tom_Wolf)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 20, In Texas Greg
Abbott (57) took the oath of office as the state’s 48th governor.
   (SFC, 1/21/15, p.A6)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 20, Schlumberger Ltd.
said it will spend about $1.7 billion for a minority stake in a big
Russian energy company at a time when that country's relations with
the West are under strain and as energy prices hit multiyear lows.
   (AP, 1/20/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 20, Melvin Gordon
(95), longtime chairman of Tootsie Roll Industries, died in Boston.
Gordon ran the Chicago confectioner for 53 years.
   (SFC, 1/22/15, p.E3)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 20, The Armenian
defense ministry of the separatist Nagorno-Karabakh region said one
of its soldiers has been killed while repelling an Azerbaijani
incursion over the last 24 hours.
   (AP, 1/20/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 20, A Bahrain court
sentenced prominent Shiite activist Nabeel Rajab to six months in
prison after it found him guilty of insulting public institutions in
his tweets. The ruling was subject to appeal.
   (AFP, 1/20/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 20, Belgian police
arrested a fourth man (b.1993) as part of their investigation into
Islamist militants suspected of plotting attacks on police. A fifth
suspect was apprehended in Brussels.
   (AP, 1/21/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 20, A senior Canadian
officer said Canadian special forces exchanged gunfire with Islamic
State fighters in Iraq in recent days, in the first confirmed ground
battle between Western troops and IS.
   (AFP, 1/20/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 20, Central African
Republic's anti-Balaka Christian militia abducted a Kurdish UN
staffer in Bangui. A day earlier two workers for a Catholic medical
organization, a local and a French woman (67), were kidnapped.
   (AP, 1/20/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 20, In CongoDRC
hundreds of youths confronted police in the capital after deadly
protests over a draft law that would enable President Joseph Kabila
to extend his stay in power.
   (AFP, 1/20/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 20, The Dominican
Republic issued $2.5 billion in bonds, the largest amount in the
country's history. Some $1 billion in bonds were issued at 5.5
percent interest while $1.5 billion in bonds were issued at 6.85
percent interest.
   (AP, 1/21/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 20, In southern France
a local mayor said five Russians from Chechnya have been arrested,
including one with a cache of explosives in Beziers. Four other men
appeared at a court in Paris, the first to face charges in the Paris
terror attacks.
   (AP, 1/20/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 20, In Iraq two
bombings targeting Shiite neighborhoods killed 8 people in Baghdad.
   (AP, 1/20/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 20, The US-led
coalition conducted nearly 20 more air strikes against Islamic State
militants in Syria and Iraq over the last 24 hours.
   (Reuters, 1/20/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 20, The militant group
Islamic State released an online video purporting to show two
Japanese captives and threatening to kill them unless it received
$200 million in ransom. The footage named the men as Haruna Yukawa
and Kenji Goto.
   (Reuters, 1/20/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 20, Leaders of
Israel's 1.7 million Arabs declared a general strike throughout the
country in protest at the recent deaths of two Bedouin men in
confrontations with police.
   (AP, 1/20/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 20, In Israel a
knife-wielding Palestinian stabbed 11 morning commuters on and near
a bus, striking in the heart of Tel Aviv and reigniting fears of
continued violence ahead of Israeli elections in March. Police
identified the attacker as Hamza Mohammed Matrouk (23) from the West
Bank town of Tulkarem.
   (AP, 1/21/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 20, Italian police
seized more than 600 kg (1,320 pounds) of cocaine and hashish in
Rome and fanned out to arrest 31 suspected mobsters in what they say
further indicates the 'ndrangheta crime syndicate is making the
capital a strategic base for its global operations.
   (AP, 1/20/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 20, In southern
Kazakhstan a light passenger plane belonging to Kazakh copper miner
Kazakhmys crashed, killing 6 of 7 people on board.
   (Reuters, 1/20/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 20, Kuwaiti officials
revoked the operating license of newspaper Al-Watan and ordered it
shut down. Editor-in-chief Sheikh Khalifa Ali Al Sabah said he
believes the latest closure order is related to a decision to report
on an alleged coup plot.
   (AP, 1/20/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 20, In Myanmar a
Chinese embassy spokesman in Yangon said more than 100 Chinese
citizens trapped by fighting between government troops and
insurgents in the north, have been arrested and are being held by
the Myanmar government.
   (Reuters, 1/20/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 20, In Nepal
opposition politicians threw chairs and attacked the parliamentary
speaker during a violent general strike aimed at blocking the
government from pushing through a draft of a new constitution.
   (AP, 1/20/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 20, Russian Defence
Minister Sergei Shoigu signed a military cooperation deal with Iran
that his Iranian counterpart touted as a joint response to US
interference.
   (AFP, 1/20/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 20, Syrian government
air strikes killed at least 12 civilians in two towns in Idlib
province. An airstrike in the village of Khansaa, in far eastern
Syria near the Iraq border reportedly killed dozens.
   (AFP, 1/20/15)(AP, 1/20/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 20, In eastern Ukraine
shelling in the Donetsk region killed at least 6 civilians, as
fighting intensified between government and rebel forces.
   (AP, 1/20/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 20, In Yemen Shiite
militiamen seized the presidential palace in Sanaa in what a
minister said was a bid to overthrow President Abdrabuh Mansur Hadi
and his US-backed government.
   (AFP, 1/20/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 20, Zambia held
presidential elections. The winner of the election will serve out
the remainder of late President Michael Sata’s term until elections
next year. Patriotic Front candidate Edgar Lungu (58) received 48.3
percent of the vote, while Hakainde Hichilema (52) of the United
Party for National Development came in second with 46.7 percent
after votes were tallied from all 150 constituencies.
   (AP, 1/20/15)(AP, 1/25/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 21, The highest-level
US delegation to Cuba in 35 years began talks on immigration.
Americans vowed to continue to grant safe haven to Cubans with
special protections denied to other nationalities. Cuba complained
the US law promotes dangerous illegal immigration and protested
against a separate U.S. program that encourages Cuban doctors to
defect,
   (Reuters, 1/22/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 21, Federal
authorities said Standard and Poor’s credit rating agency, owned by
McGraw Hill, has agreed to pay about $80 million to settle an array
of government investigations on inflated subprime mortgages. S&P
agreed to pay $58 million to the SEC and $19 million to
Massachusetts and New York.
   (SFC, 1/22/15, p.C6)(Econ, 1/24/15, p.66)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 21, It was reported
that an Alabama man was cited by police in Georgia for eating a
cheeseburger while driving issued under the state’s distracted
driving law.
   (SFC, 1/21/15, p.A6)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 21, In St. Louis,
Missouri, Isaac Holmes (19) was killed by police officers as he
emerged from a wrecked stolen with a machine gun. In 2016 a special
prosecutor ruled that the officers acted in self-defense.
   (http://tinyurl.com/hjpmuq8)(SFC, 7/20/16, p.A6)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 21, In Ohio Doyle
Chumney (88) and his wife Lillian were reported missing in
Strasburg. Their bodies were found the next day in a badly burned
car. Jeffrey Stewart (21) a suspect in the slaying was arrested on
Jan 31. Suspect Robert Clark (29) was arrested on Feb 5, along with
two companions, in Arizona. They were suspected of armed robberies
in three states that followed the Ohio murders.
   (SFC, 2/6/15, p.A14)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 21, Microsoft unveiled
its Windows 10 operating system. MS also showed a new wearable 3-D
gadget called the HoloLens.
   (SFC, 1/22/15, p.C3)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 21, British technology
firm Satellite Applications Catapult launched a new satellite
tracking system aiming to crack down on the industrial-scale theft
known as "pirate fishing." Experts will be able to watch satellite
feeds of the waters around Easter Island, a Chilean territory in the
southeastern Pacific Ocean, and the western Pacific island nation of
Palau.
   (Reuters, 1/21/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 21, British politician
Leon Brittan (75), a trusted minister under Margaret Thatcher and
former European commissioner, died. Brittan was recently caught up
in accusations that, while interior minister, he covered up a report
into an alleged pedophile ring involving MPs and prominent public
figures.
   (AFP, 1/22/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 21, Cameroon said
Nitsch Eberhard Robert, a German kidnapped by Boko Haram Islamist
militants in northern Nigeria's Adamawa State last July 16, has been
released following an operation by the Cameroon military and its
allies.
   (Reuters, 1/21/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 21, Canada's central
bank lowered its key lending rate to 0.75 percent to bolster an
economy facing a major slowdown over the recent plunge in oil
prices. The rate cut pushed the Loonie down to around 80 American
cents from 94 cents a year ago.
   (AFP, 1/21/15)(Econ, 1/31/15, p.62)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 21, In Estonia Mart
Laar, ex-PM and current supervisory board chairman of Estonian
central bank, proposed his own ideas of what kind of reforms Estonia
needs.
   (http://tinyurl.com/pzcg5ag)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 21, France announced
sweeping new measures to counter homegrown terrorism, including
giving security forces better weapons and protection, going on an
intelligence agent hiring spree and creating a better database of
anyone suspected of extremist links.
   (AP, 1/21/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 21, Germany’s
Chancellor Angela Merkel and eight ministers decided to halt arms
exports to Saudi Arabia because of instability in the region.
   (AP, 1/25/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 21, In Germany Lutz
Bachmann, a co-founder of PEGIDA, resigned after media published
Facebook messages in which he called refugees “dirty” and posed as
Adolph Hitler.
   (SFC, 1/26/15, p.A2)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 21, In four-way talks
in Berlin involving Ukraine, Russia, Germany and France foreign
ministers agreed a "demarcation line" between pro-Russian fighters
and Kiev's forces from which withdrawal of heavy weapons could
start. There were no details.
   (Reuters, 1/22/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 21, Iran's country's
official news agency said the supreme court has sentenced Mohammad
Reza Rahimi, a former vice president, to five years in prison and
ordered him to pay a 10 billion rial ($300,000) fine. A local court
had initially sentenced him to 15 years prison, but the supreme
court reduced the term to five years and three months. Details of
the conviction were not provided.
   (AP, 1/22/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 21, Italian
authorities unveiled what they said was a record haul of rare
antiquities illegally looted from Italy and discovered during raids
on Swiss warehouses belonging to accused Sicilian art dealer
Gianfranco Becchina.
   (AP, 1/21/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 21, In Kosovo over 400
employees went on strike inside the Trepca mine demanding the
government takes over the administration of the Yugoslav-era giant
complex to stop it from liquidation. A day earlier Kosovo's assembly
amended a law on public enterprises which enabled it to delayed
resolving the issue for another 18 months.
   (AP, 1/21/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 21, Kurdish security
forces launched an offensive on the Islamic State (IS) group in
northern Iraq, backed by US-led air strikes, and retook villages the
jihadists used to launch attacks. The US and its partners launched
23 air strikes in Syria and Iraq against Islamic State in the last
24 hours.
   (AFP, 1/21/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 21, Doctors Without
Borders announced that it has returned to Myanmar's troubled state
of Rakhine nine months after it was ordered out by the government
for hiring members of the long-persecuted Rohingya Muslim minority.
   (AP, 1/21/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 21, Nigeria confirmed
that five states have been hit with the H5N1 strain of bird flu,
resulting in the deaths of tens of thousands of poultry but no human
cases.
   (AFP, 1/21/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 21, South Sudan
President Salva Kiir and rebel leader Riek Machar signed an
agreement to unite the ruling Sudan People's Liberation Movement in
the Tanzanian town of Arusha.
   (AP, 1/22/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 21, Sri Lanka's new
President Maithripala Sirisena pardoned and reinstated the rank of
ex-army commander Sarath Fonseka, who was imprisoned four years ago
after challenging President Mahinda Rajapaksa in an election.
   (AP, 1/21/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 21, In Switzerland the
annual 3-day World Economic Forum (WEF) opened in Davos. The theme
this year was “the new global context”.
   (Econ, 1/17/15, p.66)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 21, In Switzerland
Ukraine's President Petro Poroshenko courted European support World
Economic Forum in Davos against what he says are 9,000 Russian
troops occupying 7 percent of his nation's territory.
   (AP, 1/21/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 21, In Syria a car
bomb on a shopping street in the government-controlled third city of
Homs killed 7 people and wounded 30.
   (AFP, 1/21/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 21, A Turkish court
sentenced two police officers to 10 years in prison each for their
involvement in the beating death of student Ali Ismail Korkmaz (19)
during anti-government protests in 2013. Four other civilian
defendants were sentenced to up to six years. The victim's
supporters said the verdict was too lenient and staged immediate
protests outside and inside the courthouse.
   (AP, 1/21/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 21, Yemen's President
Abd-Rabbu Mansour Hadi was expected to yield to demands for
constitutional change and power sharing with Houthi rebels who took
up positions outside his home after defeating his guards in two days
of battle. The Houthi rebels from the north draw from a large
Shi'ite minority that ruled a 1,000-year kingdom in Yemen until
1962.
   (Reuters, 1/21/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 22, The United States
and Cuba began historic discussions on restoring diplomatic
relations, aiming to reach agreement on the opening of embassies in
each other's countries.
   (Reuters, 1/22/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 22, The Bulletin of
the Atomic Sciences moved its famous “Doomsday Clock” ahead two
minutes placing it three minutes from a catastrophic midnight due to
global warming and nuclear weaponry.
   (SFC, 1/23/15, p.A14)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 22, In New York
Sheldon Silver, the speaker of the State Assembly, was arrested on
federal corruption charges for using his office to secure millions
of dollars in bribes and kickbacks.
   (SFC, 1/23/15, p.A7)(Econ, 1/31/15, p.23)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 22, Benin’s parliament
approved a new law that removes custodial sentences for offences
deemed offensive against the head of state, and regulates access to
news sources.
   (AFP, 1/23/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 22, In Bolivia Evo
Morales (55) was sworn in for a third term as president at a
ceremony in the country's national assembly as thousands of
supporters cheered outside.
   (AFP, 1/22/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 22, In Britain a
topless model appeared on the Sun’s third page, after an absence of
several days sparked reports that the controversial feature had been
dropped.
   (AP, 1/22/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 22, In CongoDRC
government spokesman Lambert Mende said that 12 people have died in
three days of unrest and pillaging that began on Jan 19. A coalition
of human rights groups said 42 people were killed by security forces
firing on protesters. In the east 4 more people died during protests
over a proposed law the opposition fears will prolong the
president's time in power. On Feb 5 the government raised the death
toll in Goma and Kinshasa to 27.
   (AP, 1/22/15)(AFP, 2/5/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 22, An Egyptian court
ordered the release of ousted president Hosni Mubarak's two sons
pending their retrial on corruption charges.
   (AFP, 1/22/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 22, The European
Central Bank began 2015 with a QE (quantitative easing) stimulus,
revealing plans for a massive trillion-euro bond purchase program to
ward off deflation and end stagnation in the eurozone economy.
   (AFP, 1/22/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 22, A European Union
high court annulled sanctions that the 28-nation bloc imposed on an
Iranian bank and a shipping line and companies linked to it, over
Tehran's nuclear program.
   (AP, 1/22/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 22, In India a court
ordered the release of frail activist Irom Sharmila (42), who has
been on a hunger strike for nearly 15 years to protest alleged
military brutality in the remote northeast. She has been protesting
against the Armed Forces Special Powers Act, which is in effect in
Indian-ruled Kashmir and in northeastern areas like Manipur that are
wracked by separatist insurgencies.
   (AP, 1/22/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 22, In Iraq a suicide
car bomb at a military base in Taji and an explosive device hidden
in a booby-trapped house near Samarra killed 14 soldiers and Shiite
militiamen.
   (AP, 1/22/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 22, Kurdish officials
claimed they had cut a key road linking the IS stronghold of Mosul
with Tal Afar to the west as US and coalition bombers, fighter jets
and drones carried out a total of 31 air raids over the last 24
hours, including ten in Syria and 21 in Iraq.
   (AFP, 1/22/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 22, In Libya fighters
for one of the factions battling for control of the country seized
the Benghazi branch of the country’s central bank.
   (SFC, 1/23/15, p.A2)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 22, Nepal's opposition
parties protested both inside parliament and on the streets against
governing coalition plans to push through a draft of a new
constitution.
   (AP, 1/22/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 22, Pakistan's
Maritime Security Agency arrested 38 Indian fishermen for violating
its waters in the Arabian Sea.
   (AP, 1/22/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 22, Pakistan announced
that Jamaat-ud-Dawa, the political wing of Lashkar-e-Taiba, was
banned. Lashkar-e-Taiba was responsible for the bloody attacks on
Mumbai in 2008.
   (Econ, 1/24/15, p.33)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 22, Romanian
prosecutors arrested Cristian David, a senator and former minister,
on suspicion of taking a bribe of 500,000 euros ($580,000) in a 2008
land ownership case. In a separate case Constitutional Court Judge
Toni Grebla was indicted on suspicion of trying to violate Russia's
embargo on the EU by exporting food there via Turkey.
   (AP, 1/22/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 22, Saudi Arabia
postponed the flogging of blogger Raef Badawi, whose case has
sparked international criticism, for a second week on medical
grounds.
   (AP, 1/22/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 22, Saudi Arabia’s
King Abdullah (b.1924) died after a short illness. He was
immediately succeeded by Crown Prince Salman (79).
   (Reuters, 1/23/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 22, In Somalia at
least 5 people were killed in a suicide car bombing against a hotel
in Mogadishu, where Turkey’s Pres. Erdogan was due to arrive a day
later.
   (AFP, 1/22/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 22, In South Africa
Jackie Selebi (64), a former police chief and member of parliament,
died. He was convicted of corruption in 2010, accused of accepting
bribes from a drug smuggler in exchange for tipoffs into police
investigations.
   (AP, 1/23/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 22, In eastern Ukraine
an artillery shell or mortar struck a public transport stop in the
rebel-controlled city of Donetsk, killing at least 13 civilians in
an incident both sides blamed on the other. 10 Ukrainian soldiers
were reported killed overnight, six at the airport complex.
   (Reuters, 1/22/15)(AP, 1/22/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 22, The UN General
Assembly held its first-ever meeting devoted to countering
anti-Semitism.
   (SFC, 1/23/15, p.A5)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 22, Yemen's Houthi
rebels welcomed proposed concessions by the government on
power-sharing but their gunmen still held positions outside the
residence of President Abd-Rabbu Mansour Hadi. A government
spokesman said the cabinet has submitted its resignation to
President Abed Rabbo Mansour Hadi amid a standoff with Shiite
rebels.
   (Reuters, 1/22/15)(AP, 1/22/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 23, US officials said
the United States has halted some counter-terrorism operations
against al Qaeda militants in Yemen following a takeover of the
country by Iran-backed Houthi rebels.
   (Reuters, 1/24/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 23, A US federal court
ruled that the Alabama ban on gay marriage is illegal.
   (SFC, 1/24/15, p.A4)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 23, In southern
California 2 US Marines were killed in a helicopter crash at
Twentynine Palms.
   (SSFC, 1/25/15, p.A12)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 23, Florida Fish and
Wildlife Conservation Commission said about 10 brown pelicans have
died, and another four injured after a culprit apparently used a
knife to slit the large gullets beneath their beaks. Officials
issued an alert last week about the deaths.
   (Reuters, 1/23/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 23, Shares of Box
Inc., an online data storage firm, opened on the NYSE at $14 and
closed at $23.23 in an IPO that gave it a market value of $2.7
billion.
   (SFC, 1/24/15, p.D1)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 23, It was reported
that China is blocking VPN services that let users skirt online
censorship of popular websites such as Google and Facebook amid a
wider crackdown on online information.
   (AP, 1/23/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 23, Chinese police
said they've arrested five people in connection with a phony bank
that used bogus offices and tellers to bilk depositors out of $32
million.
   (AP, 1/23/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 23, The Democratic
Republic of Congo's Senate backed down on a hotly-contested
electoral bill enabling President Joseph Kabila to extend his hold
on power following days of deadly protests.
   (AFP, 1/23/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 23, An Egyptian
student was killed during clashes between Muslim Brotherhood
protesters and local residents in the Mediterranean city of
Alexandria.
   (Reuters, 1/23/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 23, The European Union
said it is withholding $37 million in aid slated for Guyana because
the government of the South American country is operating without a
Parliament.
   (AP, 1/24/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 23, Government forces
in the Indian-controlled portion of Kashmir fired warning shots and
tear gas to disperse Muslim protesters angry at the publication of a
caricature of Prophet Muhammad in the latest issue of the French
satirical weekly Charlie Hebdo.
   (AP, 1/23/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 23, Indonesia’s police
arrested Bambang Widjojanto, the deputy head of the top
anti-corruption body, days after it accused a senior police officer
of graft, sparking accusations of police retaliation and demands
that the president defend the agency.
   (AP, 1/23/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 23, In Iraq Kurds
fired 20 Grad missiles into Mosul after receiving information that
Islamic State militants were gathering to meet near the city's
Zuhour neighborhood. This was their first attack since Islamic State
militants overran the northern Iraqi city last summer
   (Reuters, 1/24/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 23, The United States
and its coalition partners launched another round of air strikes
against Islamic State, conducting 25 strikes in Iraq and Syria in
the last 24 hours.
   (Reuters, 1/23/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 23, Lebanese army
helicopter gunships and artillery pounded positions of Syria-based
militants after they attacked troops on the outskirts of the
northeastern village of Ras Baalbek. A daylong battle killed 8
soldiers.
   (AP, 1/23/15)(AP, 1/24/15)  Â
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 23, In Libya Mohamed
al-Zahawi, the leader of Libyan Islamist group Ansar al-Sharia, was
reported to have died of wounds suffered when fighting
pro-government troops last September.
   (Reuters, 1/23/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 23, A Malawi official
said the recent lethal floods killed at least 176 people and caused
extensive damage to tobacco crops, which account for 60% of the
country’s exports.
   (Reuters, 1/23/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 23, In Mali 7 fighters
of the separatist Tuareg movement were killed in a clash with UN
peacekeeping forces near Tabancort.
   (SFC, 1/24/15, p.A2)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 23, In Nigeria Boko
Haram fighters killed 15 people in Kambari village and set the
hamlet to blaze. Kambari is near Maiduguri, the epicenter of the
Islamist group's six-year insurgency.
   (AFP, 1/24/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 23, In Pakistan
thousands of people rallied in cities across the country against the
French satirical weekly Charlie Hebdo, although the demonstrations
remained peaceful.
   (AP, 1/23/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 23, In Peru 2 police
officers were killed at the Ciemsa-owned Aguilas mine in the
southern Andean highlands as they tried to dislodge protesters at
the mine’s entrance.
   (SSFC, 1/25/15, p.A8)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 23, In the southern
Philippines a powerful explosion killed at least 2 people and
wounded 54 others in Zamboanga that has been hit by similar blasts
blamed on Muslim militants.
   (AP, 1/23/15)(SSFC, 1/25/15, p.A8)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 23, A Russian court
convicted journalist Yelena Klimova (26) under a controversial law
banning "gay propaganda" aimed at minors. She had set up the
“children 404” website to support gay, lesbian and transgender
teenagers. "The verdict was a fine of 50,000 rubles ($783).
   (AFP, 1/23/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 23, Saudi King Salman
pledged to maintain existing energy and foreign policies and settled
the succession by appointing his youngest half-brother Muqrin (69)
as Crown Prince and nephew Mohammed bin Nayef (55) as Deputy Crown
Prince.
   (Reuters, 1/23/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 23, Sierra Leone
lifted quarantine measures imposed at the height of the Ebola
epidemic, as the World Health Organization warned the crisis was
still "extremely alarming" despite a drop in new cases.
   (AFP, 1/23/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 23, South Africa
police said days of violence and looting of foreign-owned shops have
left at least 2 people dead and 153 arrested in the Johannesburg
area. Police blamed youths addicted to drugs.
   (AP, 1/23/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 23, In Davos,
Switzerland, political and financial leaders at the World Economic
Forum began campaigning in earnest for twin global accords aimed at
cooling the planet and easing the suffering of multitudes.
   (AP, 1/23/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 23, The Syrian
Observatory for Human Rights said a government air strike killed at
least 32 people including 6 children in a rebel-held area near
Damascus.
   (Reuters, 1/23/15)(AP, 1/23/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 23, In Thailand
embattled former PM Yingluck Shinawatra decried the "death of
democracy" in Thailand after the junta-stacked parliament impeached
her and prosecutors announced corruption charges that could see her
jailed.
   (AFP, 1/23/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 23, It was reported
that robbers and looters were targeting trucks carrying food across
Venezuela in another sign of worsening shortages that have turned
basics like flour and chicken into coveted booty.
   (Reuters, 1/23/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 23, The World Health
Organization (WHO) said Guinea, Liberia, and Sierra Leone have
recorded falling numbers of new Ebola cases for four successive
weeks.
   (SFC, 1/24/15, p.A2)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 23, In Yemen thousands
of protesters demonstrated across the country, some supporting the
Shiite rebels who seized the capital and others demanding the
country's south secede after the nation's president and Cabinet
resigned.
   (AP, 1/23/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 24, The United States
and its coalition partners launched another round of air strikes
against Islamic State militants in Iraq and Syria, conducting 26
strikes in the last 24 hours.
   (Reuters, 1/24/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 24, In San Francisco
thousands of people filled Civic Center Plaza calling for an end to
abortion in the annual West Coast march for Life.
   (SSFC, 1/25/15, p.C1)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 24, In NYC security
guard Jonathon Walker (34) killed his daughter (7), his girlfriend
(31) and her mother (62) at a house in Queens before killing himself
a few miles away.
   (SSFC, 1/25/15, p.A15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 24, Egyptian judicial
sources said a court has ordered a retrial for 37 Muslim Brotherhood
members sentenced to death and 115 others sentenced to life in a
mass trial last March. Female protester Shaimaa el-Sabagh was
fatally shot by police in Cairo. Officer Yassin Hatem Salah Eddin
(25) was later convicted and sentenced to 15 years in prison. In
2016 Egypt's highest appeals court overturned the conviction and
ordered a new trial for Eddin.
   (Reuters, 1/24/15)(SSFC, 1/25/15,
p.A8)Â Â Â (AP, 2/14/16)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 24, UN Security
Council members arrived in Haiti for a three-day visit to urge the
government to hold long-delayed elections in order to stem a
mounting political crisis.
   (AFP, 1/24/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 24, India's communist
parties held a protest march and burned an effigy of President
Barack Obama on the eve of his New Delhi visit, voicing fears of a
US domination in economic, nuclear and defense ties with India.
   (AP, 1/24/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 24, In Iraq two
bombings killed at least 13 people in Baghdad.
   (AP, 1/24/15)(SSFC, 1/25/15, p.A8)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 24, Japan strongly
criticized a recording purporting to announce the execution of a
Japanese citizen held by Islamic State militants and demanded the
immediate release of another captive depicted as appearing on the
image. The recording appeared to show captive Haruna Yukawa being
killed.
   (Reuters, 1/24/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 24, The United Nations
said Liberia was dealing with just five remaining cases of Ebola, in
the clearest sign yet that the country is nearing the end of the
outbreak.
   (AFP, 1/24/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 24, In Bayda, Libya,
gunmen kidnapped Hassan al-Saghir, the deputy foreign minister of
the internationally recognized government.
   (Reuters, 1/25/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 24, Police in Puerto
Rico seized $23 million worth of cocaine near a tiny island off the
US territory's south coast. Three people from the Dominican Republic
were arrested.
   (AP, 1/24/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 24, Spanish police
arrested four suspected Islamist extremists who it said were
prepared to launch attacks in Spain.
   (AFP, 1/24/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 24, In Syria a rebel
mortar attack on Damascus killed at least 3 people and wounded 11.
   (AP, 1/24/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 24, In southeast
Turkey some 70,000 Kurds staged a protest in Diyarbakir against
French satirical magazine Charlie Hebdo's cartoon portrayal of the
Prophet Mohammed.
   (AFP, 1/24/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 24, In eastern Ukraine
at least 30 people were killed by shelling in the port city of
Mariupol. A rebel leader said separatists were launching an
offensive on the city.
   (Reuters, 1/24/15)(AP, 1/24/15)(AP, 1/25/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 24, In Yemen tens of
thousands marched in protest against Shiite rebels who hold the
capital, amid a power vacuum in a country that is home to what
Washington describes as al-Qaida's most dangerous offshoot.
   (AP, 1/24/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 24, In Zambia
opposition leader Hakainde Hichilema held a briefing in which he
described the Jan 20 election as a sham.
   (AP, 1/25/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 25, In Afghanistan a
Taliban truck bomb exploded in the capital, wounding two people in
the first attack targeting Kabul in almost 3 weeks.
   (AP, 1/25/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 25, Central African
Republic's minister for youth and sport was kidnapped by gunmen in
the capital, Bangui, as he returned from church.
   (Reuters, 1/25/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 25, In Egypt clashes
between police and Islamist protesters in an eastern Cairo district
left 9 demonstrators dead. Another protester was killed in clashes
in the Mediterranean port city of Alexandria. 2 suspected Islamists
were killed in the Nile Delta province of Beheira when an explosive
device they were planting under a high-voltage tower exploded.
Police arrested 516 supporters of the blacklisted Muslim Brotherhood
during violence that erupted as the country marked the fourth
anniversary of its January 25 uprising. Shaimaa Sabbagh (32) was
shot. A photograph of her bleeding to death went viral and caused an
international outcry. On March 17 a police officer was charged over
her shooting.
   (AP, 1/25/15)(AFP, 1/26/15)(Reuters, 3/17/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 25, In France rescue
workers found the bodies of six skiers who went missing a day
earlier after being carried away by an avalanche.
   (AFP, 1/25/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 25, Greece held
general elections. The left-wing Syriza party led by Alexis Tsipras
won 149 seats in the 300-seat parliament, leaving it just two seats
short of an outright majority and in need of a coalition partner.
The Independent Greeks won 13 seats.
   (AFP, 1/25/15)(Reuters, 1/26/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 25, In India US
President Barack Obama and Indian PM Narendra Modi unveiled a deal
aimed at unlocking billions of dollars in nuclear trade, a step that
both sides hope will help establish an enduring strategic
partnership. America and India issued a joint strategic vision for
the Asia-pacific and Indian Ocean region.
   (Reuters, 1/25/15)(Econ, 1/31/15, p.34)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 25, In Iraq two
bombings ripped through commercial areas in Baghdad, killing at
least 10 civilians and wounding dozens.
   (AP, 1/25/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 25, In northern Iraq
armed groups of Yazidis raided four Arab villages in Sinjar, killing
at least 21 people in reprisals against Sunni villagers they believe
collaborated in atrocities inflicted by Islamic State on their
community. A further 17 went missing.
   (Reuters, 2/10/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 25, Japan’s PM Shinzo
Abe branded the murder of self-employed security contractor Haruna
Yukawa by Islamic State militants as "outrageous and unforgivable"
and demanded the immediate release of a second captive, amid a tide
of global revulsion.
   (AFP, 1/25/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 25, In Libya 6 people
were killed when rockets hit residential houses in the city of
Benghazi.
   (Reuters, 1/25/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 25, In northern Mali
at least two soldiers were killed in an ambush 30 miles (45 km) west
of Timbuktu.
   (AP, 1/26/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 25, Nigeria's military
repelled an attack by suspected Boko Haram militants on Borno state
capital Maiduguri. The assault killed over 200 combatants, mostly
insurgents. In Adamawa state insurgents continued scorched-earth
attacks on six villages.
   (Reuters, 1/25/15)(SFC, 1/26/15, p.A4)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 25, A massive blackout
struck Pakistan early today, leaving as much as 80 percent of the
country without electricity at its height as officials rushed to
restore power.
   (AP, 1/25/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 25, Pakistan’s army
said airstrikes have killed 35 militants in North Waziristan.
   (AP, 1/25/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 25, In the southern
Philippines 44 police commandos were killed in a clash with Muslim
insurgents. 17 rebels and 4 civilians also died in the deadly clash.
Mayor Tahirudin Benzar Ampatuan of Mamasapano town said dozens of
commandos had entered the village of Tukanalipao at dawn looking for
a top terror suspect, but had a "misencounter" with members of the
Moro Islamic Liberation Front. On Feb 4 the US FBI said DNA testing
indicated that Zulkfli bin Hir (Zulkifli Abdhir, aka Marwan), a
Malaysian member of the al Qaeda-linked Jemaah Islamiah militant
group, likely killed in the raid. Six Americans were later confirmed
present at the command center of the Special Action Force hours
before the raid.
   (AP, 1/26/15)(Reuters, 2/4/15)(SSFC, 3/15/15,
p.A6)(Econ., 3/21/15, p.34)(Reuters, 5/3/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 25, In Spain thousands
of protesters marched in cities to express their opposition to a
proposed law that would set hefty fines for offenses like
demonstrating outside parliament buildings or strategic
installations.
   (AP, 1/25/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 25, In Syria Islamist
fighters struck Damascus with at least 38 rockets, killing 7 people.
The Saudi-backed Islam Army, based in the eastern Ghouta region near
Damascus, had warned earlier that it would hit back against an air
strike last week in Ghouta in which more than 40 people were killed.
   (Reuters, 1/25/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 25, In eastern Ukraine
Pro-Russian rebels launched new attacks against government
positions. Western countries threatened more sanctions against
Moscow for backing a new separatist offensive. President Petro
Poroshenko said intercepted radio and telephone conversations prove
that Russian-backed separatists were responsible for firing the
rockets that pounded Mariupol and killed at least 30 people.
   (Reuters, 1/25/15)(AP, 1/25/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 25, In Zambia Edgar
Lungu was inaugurated as the country’s new president after being
declared the winner of Zambia's Jan 20 presidential election late on
Jan 24.
   (AP, 1/25/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 26, The US charged
three Russian citizens with trying to recruit NYC residents as
intelligence sources for potential US sanctions against Russian
banks and US efforts to develop alternative energy sources. Yevgeny
Buryakov, an employee in the Manhattan office of a Russian bank, was
arrested. Two other low level diplomats were believed to have
returned to Russia.
   (SFC, 1/27/15, p.A4)(Econ, 1/31/15, p.23)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 26, The House
Freedom Caucus, a congressional caucus consisting of conservative
and libertarian Republican members of the US House of
Representatives, was formed.
   (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Freedom_Caucus)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 26, Former CIA officer
Jeffrey Sterling (47) was convicted of leaking classified details of
an operation to thwart Iran’s nuclear ambitions to NY Times reporter
James Risen, who authored “State of War” (2006). On May 11 sterling
was sentenced to 42 months in prison.
   (SFC, 1/27/15, p.A5)(SFC, 5/12/15, p.A7)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 26, Eileen Kaufman
(93), former wife of SF Beat poet Bob Kaufman (d.1986), died at a
senior home in Richmond, Ca. It was her efforts got Bob Kaufman’s
collection: “Solitudes Crowded With Loneliness” published in 1965.
   (SFC, 2/4/15, p.D2)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 26, In Colorado police
in Denver shot and killed Jessica Hernandez (17) after she
reportedly struck an officer with a stolen car.
   (SFC, 1/28/15, p.A8)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 26, Australia’s PM
Tony Abbott conferred an Australian knighthood on Prince Philip, the
husband of Britain’s Queen Elizabeth.
   (Econ, 1/31/15, p.34)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 26, President Cristina
Kirchner said that she will disband Argentina's intelligence
service. She planned to dissolve the Intelligence Secretariat and
create a Federal Intelligence Agency after prosecutor Alberto Nisman
was found dead on Jan 18 just hours before he was to make explosive
allegations against her.
   (AFP, 1/27/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 26, The Church of
England ended centuries of male-only leadership as Libby Lane became
its first female bishop in a ceremony briefly disrupted by a
traditionalist priest's protest.
   (AFP, 1/26/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 26, An Egyptian
appeals court convicted a doctor of manslaughter and performing
female genital mutilation that led to the death of a 13-year-old
girl, sentencing him to two years and three months in prison in the
country's first case that came to trial over the widespread
practice. Dr. Raslan Fadl was initially acquitted of the 2013 death
of Sohair el-Batea.
   (AP, 1/26/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 26, The European Union
blacklisted Sri Lanka for failing to combat illegal fishing,
officially banning imports of fisheries products from Sri
Lanka-flagged vessels into the EU.
   (AP, 1/26/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 26, Greek left-wing
leader Alexis Tsipras was sworn in as the prime minister of a new
hardline, anti-bailout government determined to face down
international lenders and end nearly five years of tough economic
measures.
   (Reuters, 1/26/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 26, Greek singer Demis
Roussos (b.1946) died in Athens. His often high-pitched pop
serenades won him household recognition in the 1970s and 1980s
across Europe and beyond and who sold more than 60 million records.
   (AP, 1/26/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 26, Hungary’s PM
Viktor Orban overcame unease within his government to acknowledge
the country’s role in the Holocaust, saying many people in the
central European country acted "shamefully" in World War II.
   (Reuters, 1/26/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 26, In India US
President Barack Obama ended a landmark day with a pledge of $4
billion in investments and loans.
   (Reuters, 1/26/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 26, Acclaimed Indian
cartoonist R. K. Laxman (94) died. He was the creator of the
innocuous character the Common Man, who held up a mirror to the
absurdity and silliness of Indian politicians.
   (AP, 1/27/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 26, In Iraq bombings
in and around Baghdad killed 8 people. Shiite militias reportedly
massacred 77 Sunni villagers during an operation against jihadists
in Diyala province.
   (AP, 1/26/15)(AFP, 1/29/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 26, In Kenya at least
seven people were injured in clashes between police and protesters
from the Maasai ethnic group who accuse a local governor of corrupt
handling of tourism funds from the Maasai Mara game reserve.
   (Reuters, 1/26/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 26, Kuwait projected a
$24-billion deficit in its new fiscal year budget despite a massive
spending cut to cope with plunging oil prices.
   (AFP, 1/26/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 26, Liberia said that
there are currently only five confirmed cases of Ebola in the entire
country — a dramatic turnaround in the West African nation where the
virus has taken its deadliest toll.
   (AP, 1/26/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 26, Hackers defaced
the website of Malaysia Airlines and threatened to dump stolen
information online after posting a glimpse of customer data obtained
in the attack.
   (AP, 1/26/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 26, Nigerian troops
backed by air strikes fought to recapture the northeastern town of
Monguno from Boko Haram insurgents who had seized it a day earlier.
At least 15 soldiers were killed along with more than over 25
civilians.
   (Reuters, 1/26/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 26, Poland led EU
criticism of bilateral farm deals with Moscow following a French
accord with Russia to lift its ban on live pig and pork imports.
   (Reuters, 1/26/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 26, Russian security
forces raided independent Crimean television station ATR, seizing
equipment and telling employees they were looking for archival
footage of an anti-Russia protest last year.
   (AP, 1/26/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 26, Senegal reopened
its land border with Guinea, pointing to the "significant efforts"
of its neighbor in fighting an Ebola outbreak that has claimed
thousands of lives.
   (AFP, 1/26/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 26, In southeastern
Spain a Greek F-16 fighter jet crashed into a hangar at the Los
Llanos military base while it was participating in NATO maneuvers.
Two pilots aboard the Greek F-16 were killed along with 8 French air
force members on the ground. Another French airman died of wounds
the next day.
   (AP, 1/26/15)(AP, 1/27/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 26, In Syria Kurdish
forces took full control of Kobani, driving out remaining Islamic
State fighters to end a four-month battle. Half the city was
completely destroyed and much of the rest had suffered damage.Â
Turkish locals said 17 fighters had been killed in fighting
jihadists in Kobane.
   (Reuters, 1/26/15)(Econ, 2/14/15, p.46)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 26, US and partner
nations launched 21 air strikes in Syria and 13 in Iraq over the
last 24-hours.
   (Reuters, 1/26/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 26, In eastern Yemen a
suspected US drone strike on a car killed 3 men believed to be al
Qaeda militants. A sixth grade student aged about 12 was
reported killed the US drone strike. Al Qaeda militants attacked a
military checkpoint in southern Yemen, killing a soldier and
wounding two others on the outskirts of Mahfad in Yemen province.
   (Reuters, 1/26/15)(AP, 1/27/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 27, A federal judge in
Chicago sentenced twin brothers Pedro and Margarito Flores (35) to
14 years in prison each for running a nearly $2 billion North
American drug ring. Their sentences were reduced as a reward for
their cooperation against Joaquin Guzman and other cartel leaders.
   (SFC, 1/28/15, p.A10)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 27, Charles H. Townes,
a physicist and Nobel Prize winner (1964), died in Berkeley, Ca. He
and physicist Arthur Schalwow had conceived the laser in 1958. The
first working laser was built by Theodore Manman in 1960.
   (SFC, 1/29/15, p.D4)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 27, Treasure hunter
Tommy Thompson was arrested in Florida under a federal civil arrest
warrant for failing to show up a court hearing. 161 Investors had
paid Thompson $12.7 million to find the steamer Central America and
never saw returns from the sales. Gold from the ship was sold for
about $50 million in 2000.
   (SFC, 1/29/15, p.A6)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 27, The US state of
Georgia executed Warren Lee Hill (54) for killing a fellow inmate
while serving a life sentence for the 1986 killing of his girlfriend
(18). Lawyers had argued that the execution was prohibited by the
Constitution because Williams was intellectually disabled.
   (SFC, 1/28/15, p.A8)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 27, Apple CEO Tim Cook
announced earnings of $18 billion in its latest fiscal quarter. The
company’s cash was reported to stand at $178 billion.
   (Econ, 1/31/15, p.53)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 27, Police in Belgium
and France arrested suspected militant Islamists in dawn raids; 5 in
France and 3 in Belgium.
   (Reuters, 1/27/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 27, Denmark said it
has earmarked 60.9 million kroner ($9.2 million) over the next three
years for programs to de-radicalize Islamic extremists, including
those who have fought with jihadi groups in Syria and Iraq.
   (AP, 1/27/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 27, Egypt's highest
appeal court upheld convictions and three-year prison sentences
prominent activists Ahmed Maher, Ahmed Douma and Mohammed Adel, for
violating the country's draconian law on protests.
   (AP, 1/27/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 27, EU finance
ministers agreed to loan Ukraine 1.8 billion euros ($2.0 billion) to
help save it from bankruptcy, leaving open the option of increasing
aid at a later stage.
   (Reuters, 1/27/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 27, Greece named
radical left-wing economist Yanis Varoufakis its new finance
minister, giving him the mammoth task of leading negotiations with
international creditors over the country's bailout.
   (AFP, 1/27/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 27, Indonesia’s armed
forces officially halted the search for victims of AirAsia Flight
8501 that crashed Dec 28. Teams had recovered 70 of 162 people
aboard.
   (SFC, 1/28/15, p.A2)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 27, In Iraq a bullet
hit the fuselage of a Flydubai airliner on its descent into Baghdad,
lightly wounding a young girl and prompting many carriers to suspend
their flights.
   (AFP, 1/27/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 27, In Kashmir a brief
gunbattle between Indian government forces and suspected rebels
killed two rebels and two troops.
   (AP, 1/27/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 27, Kosovo police
fired volleys of tear gas and used water cannons to disperse
thousands of stone-throwing anti-government protesters demanding the
resignation of Serbian minister Aleksandar Jablanovic, who has
denied that war crimes were committed against ethnic Albanians
during the 1998-99 war with Serbia.
   (AP, 1/27/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 27, In Libya gunmen
stormed the Corinthia hotel in Tripoli popular with diplomats and
officials, killing 10 people including an American and 4 Europeans
before blowing themselves up. The "Islamic State in Tripoli
Province," soon said it launched the attack to avenge the death of
Abu Anas al-Libi, who was snatched in Tripoli by US special forces
in 2013 and died in US custody earlier this month due to
complications from liver surgery.
   (AFP, 1/27/15)(AP, 1/28/15)(Econ, 1/31/15, p.42)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 27, In northern Mali 3
people were killed after a 2nd day of demonstrations against the UN
military mission. The crowd was protesting against an agreement
concluded at the weekend to create a "temporary security zone" in
the Tabankort district of the Gao region. On April 2 the UN said its
police peacekeepers had used unauthorized and excessive force and
that members of the responsible unit would be repatriated to face
justice.
   (AFP, 1/27/15)(Reuters, 4/2/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 27, A Netherlands
judge approved the extradition of Vladimir Drinkman to the US. He
was one of four Russians and a Ukrainian charged in a data breach
that netted at least 160 million credit and debit card numbers
resulting in losses of hundreds of millions over seven years.
   (SFC, 1/28/15, p.A2)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 27, Romania’s High
Court of Cassation and Justice handed Former Economy Minister Codrut
Seres a sentence of four years and eight months for treason and
transmitting state secrets; and Zsolt Nagy, former communications
minister, a four-year sentence for being part of a criminal group.
   (AP, 1/27/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 27, Romania’s chief of
Intelligence Service, George Maior, resigned after criticizing the
country's top court for rejecting security laws which allowed the
government to collect data on people without court approval.
   (AP, 1/27/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 27, In Somalia
Zakariya Ismail Ahmed Hersi, a former top commander from the
Al-Qaeda-affiliated Shebab rebels, called on his former comrades to
follow his lead and surrender to the country's
internationally-backed government.
   (AFP, 1/27/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 27, In South Africa
Martin van Breda (55), a successful businessman, his wife, Teresa
(54) and Rudi (22), the couple’s eldest son, were found dead in
their De Zalze estate house. Daughter Marli (16) was hospitalized
with an ax wound to the head. Henri van Breda (20), who was slightly
injured in the attack, later faced three counts of murder for the ax
killings of his parents and older brother.
   (AP, 2/3/15)(AP, 6/14/16)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 27, South Sudanese
rebels released 280 child soldiers, the first batch of some 3,000 to
be freed but with thousands more still fighting.
   (AFP, 1/27/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 27, At least two
rockets from Syria hit the Israeli-occupied Golan Heights and Israel
returned fire.
   (Reuters, 1/27/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 27, Ukraine said 9
servicemen have been killed in fighting Russian-backed separatists
in the past 24 hours, as rebels fought to encircle Debaltseve, a key
town straddling transport routes between their two strongholds.
   (Reuters, 1/27/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 27, Ukraine's
parliament approved a statement defining Russia as an "aggressor
state", which deputies said could pave the way for consequences
under international law, and called for more international aid and
stronger sanctions on Russia. The Russian-backed separatist
republics in the east were declared terrorist organizations formally
eliminating the possibility of holding peace talks with their
representatives.
   (Reuters, 1/27/15)(SFC, 1/28/15, p.A6)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 27, Yemen's Shiite
rebels released presidential aide Ahmed Awad bin Mubarak. His
abduction 10 days ago set in motion a violent escalation that led to
the resignation of the president and the government in the face of a
widening rebel power grab.
   (AP, 1/27/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 28, In San Francisco
chopped up body parts were found in a suitcase outside a Goodwill
store on 11th St. between Mission and Market. The victim’s head,
lower arms and hands were missing. The victim was later identified
as Omar Shahwan. On Jan 31 police arrested Jeffrey Andrus (54) on
suspicion of murder. Andrus was released on Feb 3 for lack of
evidence and died at a city hospital on Feb 8.
   (SFC, 1/30/15, p.A1)(SFC, 1/31/15, p.A1)(SSFC,
2/1/15, p.A1)(SFC, 2/4/15, p.A1)(SFC, 2/9/15, p.A1)(SFC, 8/12/15,
p.D1)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 28, American poet
Steve Sanfield (b.1937), founder of the Sierra Storytelling
Festival, died at his home on the San Juan Ridge in Nevada Ct., Ca.
His work included 30 books.
   (SFC, 2/12/15, p.D3)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 28, Millions in the
Northeast started digging out from a powerful blizzard that dumped
up to 3 feet of snow and led to coastal flooding around parts the
region, while largely bypassing New York City. Massachusetts had a
record-breaking 34.5 inches (88 cm) of snow in Worcester, and 24.4
inches (62 cm) at Boston's Logan International Airport.
   (Reuters, 1/28/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 28, McDonald’s, the
world’s biggest fast food chain, announced that CEO Don Thompson
will leave on March 1 and be replaced by Steve Easterbrook, the
company’s chief brand officer. On Jan 23 the company had announced a
significant drop operating profit.
   (Econ, 1/31/15, p.58)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 28, A new study said
an estimated 550 women who have traveled to Iraq and Syria are
expected to marry, keep house and bear children.
   (AFP, 1/28/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 28, Afghanistan's
parliament approved eight out of 25 Cabinet nominees. Two alleged
militants from a Taliban splinter group were reported arrested last
week. The Feday-e-Mahaz group had claimed responsibility for the
2014 killing of Swedish journalist Nils Horner in Kabul. In Herat
province a bomb blast killed a female police officer and wounded a
policeman at a checkpoint. Taliban militants attacked a checkpoint
operated by a group of armed villagers late today, killing 11
people. 7 militants were killed.
   (AP, 1/28/15)(Reuters, 1/29/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 28, A new report said
Canada's electronic spy agency has been intercepting and analyzing
data on up to 15 million file downloads a day as part of a global
surveillance program. The spying initiative was revealed in 2012
documents obtained by US whistleblower Edward Snowden. Canada is
part of the Five Eyes intelligence-sharing network along with the
United States, Britain, Australia and New Zealand.
   (Reuters, 1/28/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 28, In Denmark
commuters in Copenhagen faced widespread disruptions on the train
network caused by the third theft in a week of copper cables from
the tracks.
   (Reuters, 1/28/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 28, France unveiled a
video and web site designed to dissuade potential jihadists from
joining Islamist fighting groups in Syria and Iraq.
   (Reuters, 1/28/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 28, France's highest
court ruled that a gay French-Moroccan couple are allowed to marry
despite the North African kingdom's refusal to recognize marriages
between two men.
   (AP, 1/28/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 28, Leftwing Greek PM
Alexis Tsipras threw down an open challenge to international
creditors by halting privatization plans agreed under the country's
bailout deal, prompting a third day of heavy losses on financial
markets.
   (Reuters, 1/28/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 28, A Guam attorney
agreed to drop his legal challenge to a voter-approved medical
marijuana initiative. Howard Trapp had filed a federal lawsuit
against the Guam Election Commission in late October to prevent it
from certifying the results of the November medical marijuana vote.
   (AP, 2/2/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 28, In Israel missiles
fired by the Lebanese Hezbollah group struck an Israeli military
convoy, killing 2 soldiers in an apparent retaliation for a deadly
airstrike attributed to Israel that killed 6 Hezbollah fighters in
Syria earlier this month. Israeli warplanes struck Syrian army
targets on the Golan Heights hours after rockets hit the
Israeli-held sector. Cpl. Francisco Javier Soria Toledo, a Spanish
UN peacekeeper, was accidentally killed by Israeli artillery. On
April 8 Israel publicly admitted responsibility.
   (AP, 1/28/15)(AFP, 1/28/15)(AP, 4/7/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 28, Italian police
conducted a huge dragnet against a Calabrian mafia clan operating in
the north, arresting 110 people and seizing more than 100 million
euros ($114 million).
   (Reuters, 1/28/15)  Â
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 28, Jordan offered to
hand over Sajida al-Rishawi, an Iraqi woman on death row for her
role in a 2005 suicide bomb attack, if Lieutenant Muath al-Kasaesbeh
captured by Islamic State was released.
   (Reuters, 1/28/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 28, Madagascar's
government appealed for international aid after a tropical storm
earlier this month killed 68 people and devastated large swathes of
the Indian Ocean island, with damages at around $40 million.
   (Reuters, 1/28/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 28, In northern Mali
an attack overnight by pro-government GATIA fighters, including
suicide bombers, killed a dozen people near Tabankort. GATIA is the
commonly-used name for the pro-government Imghad and Allies Tuareg
Self-Defence Group.
   (AFP, 1/28/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 28, Myanmar opened
trial operations of a deep sea port off its western coast, part of a
$2.45 billion port and pipeline project that will carry crude oil
from the Middle East to China.
   (AP, 1/30/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 28, Dozens of
Palestinians attacked a UN compound in Gaza City following the world
body's suspension of an aid program for victims of last year's war
due to lack of funds.
   (AP, 1/28/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 28, Sri Lanka's new
President Maithripala Sirisena reinstated Shirani Bandaranayake, the
country's chief justice, who was impeached two years ago after she
refused to back a law granting wider powers to the former
president's brother. Bandaranayake reassumed her duties but would
retire after attending a farewell ceremony on Jan 29. That would
allow the government to appoint a new chief justice.
   (AP, 1/28/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 28, In Tanzania
Ibrahim Lipumba, chairman of the opposition Civic United Front
(CUF), was charged with holding political rallies without a permit,
prompting fellow lawmakers to storm out of parliament in protest.
Lipumba pleaded not guilty in a court in Dar es Salaam, a day after
he and some 30 supporters were arrested.
   (AFP, 1/28/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 28, In Thailand
Jatuporn Prompan, a top leader of the "Red Shirt" political
movement, was sentenced to two years in jail for insulting a former
PM Abhisit Vejjajiva in 2009.
   (AP, 1/28/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 28, Turkey informed US
officials that it was revoking the passport of Fethullah Gulen
because it was issued based on a "false statement". Gulen has lived
in self-imposed exile in Pennsylvania since 1999.
   (Reuters, 2/3/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 28, Ukraine said 3
soldiers were killed in the past 24 hours in fighting in the east.
   (AP, 1/28/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 28, In Vietnam a UH-1
"Huey" chopper crashed in farmland on soon after taking off from Ho
Chi Minh City on a training flight killing 4 crew members.
   (AP, 1/30/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 28, Yemen's Shiite
rebels took over a key military base south of Sanaa where US
advisers had previously trained counter-terrorism forces.
   (AP, 1/29/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 29, The US Justice
Dept. said four Puerto Rico police officers have been sentenced
after pleading guilty to robbery, selling drugs and manipulating
court records. Three of the officers were sentenced to more than
five years in prison and a fourth to seven years.
   (AP, 1/29/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 29, Two pilots soaring
over the Pacific traveled farther than the 5,209-mile official world
distance record for human flight in a gas balloon. The Two Eagles
balloon passed a record set by the Double Eagle in 1981. Troy
Bradley of Albuquerque and Leonid Tiukhtyaev of Russia began their
flight from Saga, Japan, on Jan 25. On Jan 30 they surpassed the
1978 duration record by spending over 138 hours in the air.
   (SFC, 1/30/15, p.A8)(SFC, 1/31/15, p.A10)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 29, In southern
California the Boys Scouts of America settled a sex-abuse case
involving a 20-year old man who was molested by a Scout volunteer in
2007. The decision kept internal documents detailing sex abuse
allegations from 1971-2007 secret from the public.
   (SFC, 1/30/15, p.A12)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 29, Rod McKuen
(b.1933), poet and song-writer, died in Beverly Hills. His work
included some 200 albums and over 30 collections of poetry. Some of
his best-known songs, including “If You Go Away” and “Seasons in the
Sun” were written with Belgian composer Jacques Brell.
   (SFC, 1/30/15, p.A10)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 29, Texas executed
Robert Ladd (57) for killing a woman (38) nearly 20 years ago while
on parole for a triple slaying years earlier.
   (SFC, 1/30/15, p.A8)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 29, In eastern
Afghanistan a suicide bomb attack on a funeral killed 16 people and
injured another 39 in Laghman province. 3 American civilian
contractors and an Afghan national were killed in a shooting
incident at a military base attached to Kabul’s int’l. airport. The
gunman wore an Afghan uniform.
   (Reuters, 1/29/15)(AP, 1/29/15)(SFC, 1/30/15,
p.A6)(SFC, 1/31/15, p.A2)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 29, In southern
Afghanistan at least 23 people died and 31 were injured when a bus
crashed into a fuel truck on a narrow road in Zabul province.
   (AP, 1/29/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 29, Australian
best-selling author Colleen McCullough (b.1937) died on Norfolk
Island after a long illness. Her 25 novels included "The Thorn
Birds" (1977), which sold 30 million copies worldwide.
   (AP, 1/29/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 29, Azerbaijan
sentenced opposition journalist Seymur Hazi to five years in prison.
He was originally jailed last August after being convicted on
charges of hooliganism.
   (Reuters, 1/29/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 29, A fishing boat
carrying migrants to Malaysia capsized off the southern coast of
Bangladesh and about 20 people were missing. The passengers were
reportedly being taken by traffickers to Malaysia for unconfirmed
jobs.
   (AP, 1/29/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 29, A Bosnian arms
exporter threatened to sue government officials who are blocking a 5
million-euro deal his company has with Ukraine because of objections
from Russia, which called on Bosnia not to supply Ukraine with
weapons.
   (AP, 1/29/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 29, Chad sent a
warplane dropping bombs and ground troops to drive Islamic
extremists from a Nigerian border town, leaving it strewn with the
bodies of the Islamic extremists. Boko Haram fighters made a second
attack in a week on Maiduguri.
   (AP, 1/30/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 29, A Chinese coast
guard ship allegedly rammed and damaged three Philippine fishing
boats at a disputed shoal in the South China Sea. On Feb 4 the
Philippines protested to Beijing.
   (AP, 2/4/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 29, Denmark's central
bank said id will cut its interest rate on certificates of deposit
by 0.15 percentage points to -0.5 percent, effective Jan 30, to keep
the krone currency stable against the euro.
   (AP, 1/29/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 29, In Egypt a group
of women protested in Cairo against the death of Shaimaa Sabbagh
(22) and around 25 other activists allegedly killed by security
forces at recent rallies marking the 4th anniversary of Egypt's 2011
uprising.
   (Reuters, 1/29/15)(Econ, 1/31/15, p.40)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 29, In Egypt at least
30 soldiers and police officers were killed in four separate attacks
in the Sinai Peninsula. Most of the casualties occurred in the
bombing of a military hotel and base in al-Arish. Two children, one
of them 6 months old, died a day later from wounds suffered.
   (Reuters, 1/30/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 29, The EU extended by
six months an existing set of sanctions against Russia and
pro-Russian separatist officials because of continued fighting in
the Ukraine.
   (SFC, 1/30/15, p.A7)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 29, In Germany dozens
of flights were canceled at Duesseldorf and Cologne-Bonn airports
after private security workers walked off the job in a dispute over
wages.
   (AP, 1/29/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 29, In Iraq bombings
and a shooting killed at least 16 people around Baghdad, including
soldiers and Shiite militiamen.
   (AP, 1/29/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 29, Jordan demanded
proof from Islamic State militants that a Jordanian pilot they are
holding is still alive, despite purported threats by the group to
kill the airman at sunset unless an al-Qaida prisoner is freed from
death row in Jordan.
   (AP, 1/29/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 29, In Mexico a nurse
and 2 babies, were killed when a gas truck exploded and destroyed a
large part of a maternity hospital in the west of Mexico City. A 2nd
nurse died of her injuries on Feb 3 and an orderly died of wounds on
Feb 6.
   (AP, 2/4/15)(AP, 2/6/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 29, South Sudan's
President Salva Kiir and rebel leader Riek Machar met in Ethiopia
for the latest round of peace talks mediated by East African leaders
aimed at ending their 13-month-old civil.
   (AFP, 1/29/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 29, In Sudan two
Russian pilots were kidnapped in the Darfur region.
   (AFP, 2/3/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 29, The Syrian arm of
al Qaeda attacked a Western-backed rebel group near Aleppo. The
Nusra Front seized positions from the Hazzm movement west of Aleppo.
Government airstrikes killed at least 8 people in the northern town
of al-Bab held by the Islamic State.
   (Reuters, 1/29/15)(AP, 1/29/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 29, Representatives of
the Syrian government and the opposition wrapped up four days of
consultations in Russia with a general statement avoiding any sharp
issues.
   (AP, 1/29/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 29, A Ugandan Muslim
sheikh and 17 others were charged with killing two fellow clerics in
a case that police linked to Islamist rebels in Democratic Republic
of Congo. Sheikh Muhammad Yunus Kamoga, the leader of Uganda's
Muslim Tabliq group, and 17 others were charged for the murders of
two clerics last December, and the attempted murder of a third
earlier this month.
   (AFP, 1/30/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 29, UN experts said
over 38,000 Somali children are at "high risk" from dying from
starvation despite hunger levels improving by almost a third across
the war-torn nation.
   (AFP, 1/29/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 29, In eastern Ukraine
5 government soldiers and 3 civilians were killed as a result of
fighting in the past 24 hours.
   (Reuters, 1/29/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 29, Yemen reported
that 2 soldiers were killed and two wounded when they were ambushed
while on patrol by suspected al Qaeda militants in the central
province of Marib.
   (Reuters, 1/29/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 30, It was reported
that Clarke Howatt, the public finance director of the Association
of Bay Area Governments, is under scrutiny for orchestrating the
theft of $1.3 million in bond money meant for public parks and
street improvements in San Francisco’s south of Market area. A
routine audit uncovered the missing cash last month.
   (SFC, 1/30/15, p.A14)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 30, In southern
California Marion “Suge” Knight, founder of Death Row Records, was
booked on suspicion of murder after hitting and killing Terry Carter
(55) with his pickup truck and fleeing the scene a day earlier. On
Feb 2 Knight was charged with murder.
   (SFC, 1/31/15, p.A10)(SFC, 2/3/15, p.A6)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 30, Carl Djerassi
(b.1923), Stanford chemist, died of complications of cancer at his
home in San Francisco. He was a key contributor to the invention of
the birth control pill.
   (SSFC, 2/1/15, p.D1)(Econ, 2/7/15, p.86)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 30, Shares of Shake
Shack, a hamburger chain, rose to $45.90 on the NYSE in an IPO with
5 million shares sold at $21.
   (SFC, 1/31/15, p.D2)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 30, African Union
leaders opened a two-day annual summit in the Ethiopian capital
Addis Ababa. The 54-member bloc called for a regional five-nation
force of 7,500 troops to defeat the "horrendous" rise of Nigeria's
Boko Haram Islamist militants.
   (AFP, 1/30/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 30, Austrian police
arrested 54 people after violence broke out as thousands protested
against a ball organized by far-right groups and politicians in
Vienna.
   (AFP, 1/31/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 30, Zhelyu Zhelev
(b.1935), Bulgaria’s first non-communist president (1990-1997),
died. He was hailed as a hero of freedom and democracy.
   (AFP, 2/1/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 30, In northern
Cameroon 3 soldiers and 123 Boko Haram militants were killed when
the Islamist group attacked a Chadian army contingent over the last
24 hours near the border town of Fotokol.
   (AFP, 1/31/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 30, Canada's spy
agency was granted new powers to thwart terror plots in a security
overhaul precipitated by recent jihadist attacks.
   (AFP, 1/30/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 30, Egyptian President
Abdel Fattah al-Sisi cut short a visit to Ethiopia for an African
Union summit after the Islamic State's Egyptian wing claimed the
killing of at least 30 soldiers and police officers in the Sinai
Peninsula. An interior ministry employee was killed in North Sinai.
   (Reuters, 1/30/15)(AFP, 1/31/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 30, France pledged
tanks and armored vehicles to bolster NATO forces in Poland, where
leaders are increasingly uneasy about Russia.
   (AP, 1/30/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 30, Greece's finance
minister Yanis Varoufakis said the government will not cooperate
with the EU and IMF mission bankrolling the country and will not
seek an extension to the bailout program. PM Alexis Tsipras'
government sacked the heads of the state privatization agency after
halting a series of state asset sales
   (Reuters, 1/30/15)(Reuters, 1/31/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 30, Iraqi Kurdish
forces repelled a major attack by the Islamic State group in Kirkuk
province. Brigadier General Shirko Rauf and 5 other members of the
Kurdish peshmerga forces were killed and 46 more were wounded.
Violence elsewhere left at least 19 dead. Kurdish Brig. Gen. Hussein
Mansour was killed by a sniper shot near Kirkuk.
   (AFP, 1/30/15)(AP, 1/31/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 30, The US-led
coalition said it launched six air strikes against Islamic State in
Iraq and Syria over the last 24 hours.
   (Reuters, 1/30/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 30, Israel published
bids for the building of 450 new housing units in West Bank
settlements.
   (SFC, 1/31/15, p.A2)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 30, At least 8 people
died when a boat carrying illegal migrants sank amid gales off
Morocco, near the Spanish enclave of Melilla.
   (AP, 1/30/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 30, NATO said it will
deploy small units in six Eastern European nations to help
coordinate a spearhead force set up in response to Russia's actions
in Ukraine. The units in Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, Poland,
Bulgaria and Romania will be the first of their kind there.
   (AP, 1/30/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 30, In southern
Pakistan a powerful bomb tore through a busy Shiite mosque, killing
at least 61 people in Shikarpur, Sindh province.
   (AFP, 1/30/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 30, Qatar Airways said
it has bought nearly 10 percent of the parent company of British
Airways and Spain's Iberia, deepening its business ties to Europe.
   (AP, 1/30/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 30, Russia's top
general said a strong nuclear arsenal will ensure military
superiority over the West as Moscow forges ahead with a
multi-billion dollar plan to modernize its forces by 2020. Gen.
Valery Gerasimov said the Russian military would receive more than
50 new intercontinental nuclear missiles this year.
   (AP, 1/30/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 30, In a decree
published online Russia’s government said that a company owned by
Arkady Rotenberg, a longtime ally of President Vladimir Putin, would
be given the commission to build a bridge linking Crimea to mainland
Russia.
   (AP, 1/30/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 30, In Russia the
Institute for Scientific Information on Social Sciences, one of the
country’s largest public libraries, went up in flames in south-west
Moscow. The main storage which contained rare medieval Slavic texts
didn't seem to be affected.
   (AP, 1/31/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 30, In Saudi Arabia
two US citizens came under gunfire, and one of them was wounded but
in stable condition.
   (AFP, 1/30/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 30, Saudi Arabia
postponed for a third week in a row the flogging of blogger Raef
Badawi.
   (AFP, 1/30/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 30, The South African
government granted parole to Eugene de Kock, the head of a covert
unit for the apartheid state responsible for dozens of deaths,
saying it is in the interest of national reconciliation.
   (AP, 1/30/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 30, Syria's Al-Qaeda
affiliate Al-Nusra Front fought Western-backed rebels as the
jihadists pressed to take control of a northern area. Syrian
opposition fighters detonated a cache of explosives in a tunnel
under an army post in the northwestern province of Idlib, inflicting
heavy casualties among government troops. The government denied the
casualties and said the targeted post was empty.
   (AFP, 1/30/15)(AP, 1/30/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 30, In eastern Ukraine
at least 24 people, mostly, civilians were reported killed on both
sides in heavy fighting. An attempt to reopen peace talks in
neighboring Belarus was aborted before it began. Kiev's military
said 5 of its servicemen had been killed in fighting in the past 24
hours.
   (Reuters, 1/30/15)(AFP, 1/30/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 30, In Ethiopia
Zimbabwean President Robert Mugabe (90) took over the post of
African Union chairman, replacing Mauritania's President Mohamed
Ould Abdel Aziz.
   (AFP, 1/30/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 31, Two Eagle
balloonists Troy Bradley of Albuquerque and Leonid Tiukhtyaev of
Russia landed 4 miles offshore in Baha California. Their record
voyage covered 6,646 miles over six days, 16 hours and 38 minutes.
   (SSFC, 2/1/15, p.A8)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 31, An unmanned Delta
2 rocket lifted off from California carrying a NASA satellite to
measure how much water is in Earth’s soil, information that will
help weather forecasting and tracking of global climate change.
   (Reuters, 1/31/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 31, In Georgia (USA) 5
relatives and a friend were found slain inside a home in LaGrange.
Investigators suspected the victims had been dead for three days. On
Feb 2 authorities said suspect Thomas J. Lee (26) has been arrested
at a bus station in Tupelo, Mississippi.
   (SFC, 2/2/15, p.A5)(AP, 2/3/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 31, In Afghanistan
Muslim protesters against cartoons depicting the Prophet Muhammad by
the French magazine Charlie Hebdo clashed with security leaving two
dead.
   (AP, 1/31/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 31, In Bangladesh at
least 13 people including two women were killed when a fire swept
through a plastics factory in Dhaka.
   (Reuters, 1/31/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 31, Sunni-ruled
Bahrain said it has revoked the citizenship of 72 people convicted
of "harming the interests of the kingdom" in unrest by the Shiite
majority since 2011. The official BNA news agency published a list
of the 72 people affected by the measure. 22 were alleged members of
the Islamic State.
   (AFP, 1/31/15)(Econ, 11/26/16, p.44)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 31, Chadian aircraft
bombed the Nigerian town of Gambaru in a raid targeting extremist
group Boko Haram.
   (AFP, 1/31/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 31, DR Congo's foreign
minister said government troops have started their long-awaited
offensive against Rwandan Hutu rebels in the east of the country.
   (AFP, 1/31/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 31, An Egyptian court
banned the armed wing of Palestinian group Hamas and listed it as a
terrorist organization, a ruling in keeping with a systematic
crackdown on Islamists by Pres. Abdel Fattah al-Sisi.
   (Reuters, 1/31/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 31, Richard von
Weizsaecker (b.1920), former German President (1984-1994), died
overnight in Berlin. He had declared Germany's World War II
surrender a "day of liberation" for his country as he urged it to
confront the Nazi past, and promoted reconciliation during a tenure
spanning the reunification of west and east. He was the first German
president to visit Israel.
   (AP, 1/31/15)(Econ., 2/14/15, p.86)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 31, India succeeded
for the first time in using a mobile launcher to test-fire the Agni
V missile, a long-range missile capable of delivering a nuclear
warhead deep inside rival China. This was the first time the weapon
had been fired from a so-called canister mounted on a truck rather
than from a concrete launch pad used in previous trials.
   (AFP, 1/31/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 31, Iraqi Kurdish
forces and police retook an oil field in Kirkuk province that was
seized by the Islamic State group overnight, and freed 24 workers
who had been taken captive. A series of bombings in and around
Baghdad killed 9 people.
   (AFP, 1/31/15)(AP, 1/31/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 31, Islamic State
militants said they had beheaded a second Japanese hostage,
journalist Kenji Goto, prompting PM Shinzo Abe to vow to step up
humanitarian aid to the group's opponents in the Middle East and
help bring his killers to justice.
   (Reuters, 2/1/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 31, Italian lawmakers
elected Sergio Mattarella, a constitutional court judge and veteran
center-left politician, as president.
   (Reuters, 1/31/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 31, Macedonia's chief
opposition leader was charged by police with conspiring with a
foreign intelligence service to topple the government. Zoran Zaev,
leader of the Social Democrats, denied the charges, saying
authorities were trying in vain to prevent the publication of what
he says is incendiary evidence of criminal wrongdoing by the
conservative government of PM Nikola Gruevski.
   (Reuters, 1/31/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 31, Mexican
investigators said 150 green sea turtles have been found dead in the
Ojo de Liebre lagoon, on the Pacific side of Baja California Sur
state. The federal environmental protection agency suspected that
that lowered temperatures in the region may have caused the deaths.
Earlier this month the bodies of 14 gray whales were found in the
lagoon.
   (AP, 2/1/15)(SFC, 2/2/15, p.A2)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 31, Panama expelled a
former Colombian intelligence chief, Maria del Pilar Hurtado, to
face charges at home of illegally intercepting phone calls from
opposition Colombian lawmakers.
   (Reuters, 1/31/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 31, A Philippine air
force Italian-made light plane crashed at sea on a training mission,
killing the two pilots.
   (AP, 1/31/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 31, In Somalia a
missile hit the Islamist-held stronghold of Dinsoor, 270 km (170
miles) west of the capital Mogadishu. Several Shebab militants were
reported killed.
   (AFP, 2/1/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 31, In Spain some
150,000 people marched through Madrid in a show of strength by
Podemos (We Can), a fledgling radical leftist party, which hopes to
emulate the success of Greece's Syriza party in general elections
later this year.
   (AP, 1/31/15)(Econ, 2/7/15, p.51)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 31, In Syria a
pro-government faction known as the National Resistance Movement
shot dead an army defector in Daraa province after accusing him of
spying for Israel.
   (AP, 2/2/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 31, Ukrainian former
president Leonid Kuchma, a Russian diplomat and an Organization for
Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) official met at a state
residence in the Belarussian capital Minsk for a new round of peace
talks.
   (Reuters, 1/31/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 31, In eastern Ukraine
12 civilians were killed by separatist artillery shelling of the
town, which lies to the north-east of Donetsk. Defense Minister
Stepan Poltorak said 15 Ukrainian soldiers had been killed and 30
wounded in clashes across the east.
   (Reuters, 1/31/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 31, In Yemen Harith
al-Nadhari and 3 other militants were killed in an American drone
strike against their car in the southern Shabwa province. Al-Qaeda
in the Arabian Peninsula (AQAP) later named the others as Said
Bafaraj, Abdelsamie al-Haddaa and Azzam al-Hadrami.
   (AFP, 2/5/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan, A US drone operation
this month killed American doctor Warren Weinstein, abducted in
2011, and Italian Giovanni Lo Porto, abducted in 2012. This same
operation in the border region of Pakistan and Afghanistan resulted
in the death of American al Qaeda leader, Ahmed Farouq. The White
House acknowledged this on April 23 and said American al Qaeda
member, Adam Gadahn, was also killed, likely in a separate
operation. US government officials said the CIA carried out the
drone strikes on Jan. 14 and Jan. 19 in Pakistan.
   (Reuters, 4/23/15)(AP, 4/23/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan, Minnesota showed a $1
billion budget surplus. Gov. Mark Dayton during his first four years
in office (2011-2015) raised the state income tax from 7.85 to 9.85
percent on individuals earning over $150,000, and on couples earning
over $250,000 when filing jointly. He also agreed to raise the
state’s minimum wage to $9.50 an hour by 2018, and passed a state
law guaranteeing equal pay for women.
   (http://tinyurl.com/ohk54c4)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan, Twitter acquired
Periscope, a live video streaming app for iOS and Android developed
by Kayvon Beykpour and Joe Bernstein.
  Â
(https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Periscope_%28app%29)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan, At least 12 people
were reported killed and 18 wounded this month in border clashes
between Armenia and Azerbaijan.
   (AFP, 3/4/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan, Germany introduce a
new minimum wage set at 62% of the average wage in east German
states.
   (Econ, 7/25/15, p.61)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan, Israel's internal
security service caught 11 alleged Hamas fighters in the occupied
West Bank who planned attacks against Israelis. The group, from the
city of Hebron, was arrested by Shin Bet agents and troops.
   (AP, 2/23/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan, Italian police raided
and closed a chain of more than 20 pizzerias allegedly belonging to
the Camorra, a mafia of the southern city of Naples and its
surrounding area, Campania.
   (Econ, 9/5/15, p.58)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan, In Madagascar at
least 57 people died of plague in the wake of cyclones Chedza and
Bansi.
   (SSFC, 2/8/15, p.D18)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan, Panama’s Supreme
Court voted to launch an investigation into former Pres. Ricardo
Martinelli’s role in a corruption case involving a $45 million
program to deliver dried food to the poor.
   (Econ, 2/7/15, p.33)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan, In the Philippines
Noi-sung Hong (74) of South Korea was abducted by at least five
gunmen disguised as policemen from his house in Roseller Lim town in
southern Zamboanga Sibugay province. The kidnappers tried to kidnap
his son, who fought back and managed to escape. Hong’s body was
found in a sack on Oct 31 on a roadside in Indanan town in Sulu
province.
   (AP, 11/1/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan, Russia’s Ministry of
Natural Resources and Environment introduced daily monitoring of
Lake Baikal levels in an effort to reverse the drying of the lake
due to a combination of climate change and growing use of
hydropower. In the past four months the lake’s water level has
dropped so low that experts are calling it a crisis.
   (Reuters, 3/16/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan, In Sudan members of
the Rapid Support Forces raped at least 60 women in the western
Darfur region after taking over the town of Golo.
   (SFC, 9/10/15, p.A6)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan, The UN Security
Council authorized a 3,000 strong multinational intervention force
against the FDLR, a militia in eastern Congo formed two decades ago
by Rwandan Hutu rebels after they lost power.
   (Econ, 1/24/15, p.43)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan, Vietnam’s PM Nguyen
Tan Dung's approved in principle a new casino at Phu Quoc, a resort
island in the Gulf of Thailand. The Finance Ministry proposed that
the new decree allow Vietnamese who are over 21 years of age,
financially secure and without any criminal record to play in
selected casinos.
   (AP, 1/23/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan - 2015 May, Indian
forces killed 20 Bangladeshis trying to cross the border illegally.
   (Econ, 6/13/15, p.40)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb 1, The New England
Patriots ended a decade drought without an NFL title by beating the
defending champion Seattle Seahawks 28-24 in a taut Super Bowl XLIX
classic played in Glendale, Arizona.
   (AP, 2/2/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb 1, Some 3,800
steelworkers began a strike at oil refineries from California to
Kentucky after negotiations with Shell Oil Co. broke down. Shell was
negotiating a national contract for other oil companies.
   (SSFC, 2/8/15, p.A9)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb 1, After a two-day
summit held in the African Union's Chinese-built headquarters in the
Ethiopian capital Addis Ababa, heads of state proposed new taxes on
airline tickets, hotel stays and text messages.
   (AFP, 2/1/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb 1, Chadian aircraft
struck Boko Haram positions in the Nigerian border town of Gambaru
for a second straight day.
   (AFP, 2/1/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb 1, Egypt deported
Al-Jazeera reporter Peter Greste to his native Australia after
holding him for more than 400 days despite global condemnation.
Colleagues, Canadian-Egyptian Mohamed Fahmy and an Egyptian
producer, Baher Mohamed, remained in prison.
   (AFP, 2/1/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb 1, In Egypt three men
were killed by police in separate incidents under circumstances
indicating abuse of police authority.
   (SFC, 3/7/15, p.A3)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb 1, In Hong Kong some
8-13 thousand pro-democracy demonstrators marched through the
streets in the first major rally since mass protests last year.
   (AP, 2/1/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb 1, In Hungary some
three thousand protesters in Budapest demanded the ouster of PM
Viktor Orban's government.
   (AP, 2/1/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb 1, In northwest Iraq
Kurdish forces found the remains of about 25 members of the Yazidi
minority killed by the Islamic State jihadist group in a mass grave.
   (AFP, 2/2/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb 1, The United States
and its allies have carried out 26 air strikes in Iraq and eight in
Syria over the last 24 hours in continued attacks on Islamic State
targets.
   (Reuters, 2/1/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb 1, The Islamic State
group beheaded an Iraqi police officer and two soldiers, the latest
in a long series of atrocities committed by the jihadists, according
to pictures posted online today.
   (AFP, 2/1/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb 1, Nigeria’s military
repelled a Boko Haram assault on Maiduguri. Two blasts rocked Gombe
city, killing 5 people, with one of the attacks targeting a military
checkpoint. A suicide bomb attack targeting a political meeting
killed 7 people in Potiskum city.Â
   (AFP, 2/1/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb 1, In Pakistan an
advance party arrived in a C-130 transport plane for Saudi Prince
Fahd bin Sultan bin Abdulaziz to visit the southwestern desert
region to hunt the Houbara bustard, a bird supposedly protected by
law. He led a hunting party to Baluchistan last year that officials
said killed more than 2,000 bustards.
   (AFP, 2/2/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb 1, Outspoken
billionaire Saudi Prince Alwaleed bin Talal launched a pan-Arab
satellite news channel aimed at challenging established networks in
the region. The Bahrain-based Alarab News Channel took to the air,
leading with a story about Japanese hostage Kenji Goto.
   (AFP, 2/1/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb 1, In Saudi Arabia the
daughter of Suad al-Shammari, co-founder of the Saudi Liberal
Network Internet discussion group with blogging activist Raef
Badawi, said her mother has been freed after about three months in
prison.
   (AFP, 2/1/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb 1, Serbian officials
said they have granted citizenship to former Fatah strongman
Mohammed Dahlan, a key political rival of Palestinian President
Mahmoud Abbas, after he pledged millions of dollars in investments
from the Emirates, where he has lived in exile.
   (AP, 2/1/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb 1, Spain said 400
African migrants tried to storm border fences separating its North
African enclave Melilla from Morocco and warned of a buildup in
numbers across the frontier.
   (AP, 2/1/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb 1, Swiss police said
11 people have died in off-piste skiing accidents in the Swiss Alps
despite repeated avalanche warnings over the past four days.
   (AFP, 2/1/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb 1, In Syria a bomb
tore apart a bus thought to be carrying Lebanese Shi'ite Muslim
pilgrims in Damascus, killing at least 7 people and wounding 19. A
Nusra Front Twitter feed said one of the group's members blew
himself up inside a bus at the market.
   (Reuters, 2/1/15)(AFP, 2/1/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb 1, Tunisian party
leaders said the moderate Islamist party Ennahda has agreed to join
its main rival secular party Nidaa Tounes as part of a coalition
government.
   (Reuters, 2/1/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb 1, In eastern Ukraine
13 government soldiers and at least as many civilians were killed in
the past 24 hours in the separatist conflict after the collapse of
peace talks in Belarus.
   (Reuters, 2/1/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb 1, The UN reported
that fighting and other violence in Iraq killed at least 1,375
people including 790 civilians in January.
   (Reuters, 2/1/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb 2, President Barack
Obama proposed a $3.99 trillion budget for fiscal year 2016 that
sets up a battle with Republicans over programs to boost the middle
class that are funded by higher taxes on corporations and wealthy
Americans.
   (Reuters, 2/2/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb 2, In Oakland, Ca.,
rapper Dominic Newton (37), aka the Jacka, was shot and killed by
unknow assailants.
   (SFC, 2/4/15, p.D1)0
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb 2, A winter storm led
to flight cancellations in the Northeast US. The same storm had
dumped a foot and a half of snow on Chicago, Detroit and other areas
of the Plains and Midwest.
   (SFC, 2/3/15, p.A6)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb 2, Federal prosecutors
in Pennsylvania announced that a grand jury had returned an
indictment last month against 16 people, mostly in the NYC area, in
a wire fraud and identity theft ring. Prosecutors said they caused
the IRS to pay over $10 million in fraudulent tax refunds for tax
years 2010-2013.
   (SFC, 2/4/15, p.A8)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb 2, In Bahrain the new
Alarab television news channel backed by a billionaire Saudi prince
was suspended from broadcasting, just hours after it went on air and
carried an interview with prominent opposition activist Khalil
al-Marzooq.
   (AP, 2/2/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb 2, China’s Ministry of
Environmental Protection named the country’s ten most polluted
cities of 2014. Seven were located in Hebei province, which
surrounds Beijing.
   (Econ, 2/7/15, p.41)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb 2, A Chinese court
said a father and daughter have been executed for attacking and
killing a woman who had refused to join their outlawed "All-powerful
Spirit" group during an altercation last May 28 at a McDonald's
outlet in Shandong province.
   (AP, 2/2/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb 2, Croatia’s
government said citizens whose debts do not exceed some 4,500 euros
($5,000) and whose bank accounts have been frozen for more than a
year, can apply to have their debts written off in a scheme dubbed
"Fresh Start".
   (AP, 2/2/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb 2, An Egyptian court
sentenced 183 supporters of the outlawed Muslim Brotherhood to
death. The men were convicted of playing a role in the killings of
16 policemen in the town of Kardasa in August, 2013. In 2016 an
appeals court ordered a retrial for the defendants over the attack.
   (Reuters, 2/2/15)(AFP, 2/3/16)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb 2, In central India
rebels ambushed a paramilitary police team in Kanker district of
Chhattisgarh state, killing the two policemen instantly.
   (AP, 2/2/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb 2, In northern Iran a
private plane carrying a Saudi national and an Iranian pilot went
missing.
   (AP, 2/3/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb 2, Former Italian
prime minister Silvio Berlusconi (78) was granted a request to end
his community service sentence for tax fraud 45 days early for good
behavior.
   (Reuters, 2/2/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb 2, In Liberia
large-scale human testing of two potential Ebola vaccines got under
way in Monrovia, part of a global effort to prevent a repeat of the
epidemic that has now claimed nearly 9,000 lives in West Africa.
   (AP, 2/2/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb 2, In Libya a car bomb
exploded near the Tripoli headquarters of a Libya militia which
controls the capital, killing one person and wounding two others.
   (AFP, 2/2/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb 2, Nigerian warplanes
started bombing runs in the Sambisa Forest, where Boko Haram
extremists have camps and kidnapped nearly 300 schoolgirls last
April.
   (SFC, 2/5/15, p.A3)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb 2, In northeastern
Nigerian a car bomb went off near a stadium in Gombe, a few minutes
after President Goodluck Jonathan left a party rally there. A female
suicide bomber was the only fatality.
   (Reuters, 2/2/15)(SFC, 2/3/15, p.A2)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb 2, In the Philippines
Macau-based Melco Crown Entertainment formally opened its $1 billion
casino and entertainment resort in Manila, hoping to cash in on a
fast growing Philippine economy and increased tourism.
   (AP, 2/2/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb 2, In South Korea
former President Lee Myung-bak’s memoir: "President's Time" was
published. Lee wrote that late North Korean leader Kim Jong Il
repeatedly pushed for summit talks with South Korea before his 2011
death but the plans failed because Pyongyang demanded $10 billion
and large shipments of food and fertilizer as a condition of the
talks.
   (AP, 2/2/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb 2, South Sudan's
warring factions signed another peace deal in the latest effort to
end hostilities that have raged for more than a year.
   (AP, 2/2/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb 2, Syrian government
warplanes carried out several air raids on a rebel-held village in
the country's south, killing at least 15 people and wounding dozens
in Daraa province.
   (AP, 2/2/15)(AFP, 2/2/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb 2, In Turkey at least
8 people were killed and many more rescued from high winds and
flooding caused by a huge storm, a southwesterly known locally as a
Lodos.
   (Reuters, 2/3/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb 2, In eastern Ukraine
rebels pounded the positions of Ukrainian government troops holding
Debaltseve, a strategic rail town, while both sides pressed ahead
with mobilizing more forces for combat. Kiev's military said 5 more
Ukrainian soldiers were killed in clashes. Municipal authorities in
the big rebel-controlled city of Donetsk said 15 civilians were
killed at the weekend by shelling.
   (Reuters, 2/2/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb 3, A SF Bay Area judge
dismissed a lawsuit filed on April 24, 2014, by the Marshall Islands
that charged the US and other countries of violating the 1970
Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty.
   (SFC, 2/4/15, p.A8)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb 3, In New York 6
people killed when a packed commuter train crashed into an SUV
outside NYC in the worst accident in the history of Metro North.
   (AFP, 2/4/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb 3, In Bangladesh
attackers threw crude fire bombs at a packed bus, setting it alight
as it moved along a highway and leaving at least 7 people dead
during a nationwide strike called by the opposition.
   (AP, 2/3/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb 3, British lawmakers
in the House of Commons voted to allow scientists to create babies
from the DNA of three people, a move that could prevent some
children from inheriting potentially fatal diseases from their
mothers.
   (AP, 2/3/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb 3, Martin Gilbert
(78), Winston Churchill's official biographer and a leading
historian of the Holocaust, died following a lengthy illness. His 80
books included eight on the Holocaust as well as a three-volume
"History of the 20th Century."
   (AP, 2/4/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb 3, In Burundi some 150
journalists and civil rights activists demonstrated to demand the
release of a radio station boss accused of complicity in the murder
of three Italian nuns last September.
   (AFP, 2/3/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb 3, Toronto’s National
Post reported that Canada’s drug-price regulator has accused Alexion
Pharmaceutical of exceeding the permissible price cap for its drug
Solaris. Alexion charged $700,000 per patient in Canada for the
potentially life-saving treatment for two rare blood diseases.
   (SSFC, 2/8/15, p.A4)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb 3, Chadian troops
clashed with Boko Haram fighters in the northeastern Nigerian towns
of Gambaru and Ngala in a bid to break the Islamist insurgents' grip
on the town bordering Cameroon. More than 200 extremists and 9
Chadian troops were reported killed.
   (Reuters, 2/3/15)(SFC, 2/5/15, p.A3)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb 3, In eastern CongoDRC
23 people were hacked to death in the city of Beni in the restive
North Kivu province. Ugandan ADF-NALU rebels were suspected.
   (AFP, 2/4/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb 3, In Egypt a roadside
bomb near Alexandria killed a bystander and injured two others.
Authorities defused two more explosives at Cairo International
Airport.
   (AP, 2/3/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb 3, Fiji said it will
replace its national flag this year to remove symbols of British
colonialism.
   (SFC, 2/4/15, p.A2)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb 3, Iraq's cabinet
approved a draft law creating a national guard, which Sunni
political figures have described as a necessary step to achieving
national reconciliation.
   (Reuters, 2/3/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb 3, US and allied
forces staged airstrikes on 14 Islamic State targets in Iraq and
Syria in the last 24-hour period.
   (Reuters, 2/3/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb 3, Supporters of the
Islamic State insurgent group circulated photos on social media
purporting to show captive Jordanian pilot Muath al-Kasaesbeh being
burnt alive.
   (Reuters, 2/3/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb 3, In southern Israel
a crash involving a bus and a truck carrying two tractors killed 8
people and wounded at least 20.
   (AP, 2/3/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb 3, Italy's new Pres.
Sergio Mattarella (73) assumed office with a ringing call to the
nation to root out organized crime and corruption devouring public
resources and solve a protracted economic crisis depriving young
people of their future.
   (AP, 2/3/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb 3, Teachers in
northern Kenya bordering Somalia have refused to return to work,
fearing attacks by Islamic extremists. Some 700 teachers
demonstrated outside parliament in Nairobi demanding that the
government transfer them to schools in safer regions.
   (AP, 2/3/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb 3, In Libya new
clashes erupted between rival factions fighting for control of the
country's biggest oil port Es Sider, killing several people. Gunmen
attacked a partly French-owned al-Mabrouk oil field and shot to
death 3 guards.
   (Reuters, 2/3/15)(AP, 2/4/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb 3, Mexico’s Pres.
Enrique Pena announced that he and his wife will become the first
subjects of a conflict-of-interest investigation, as part of a
package of anti-corruption measures.
   (Econ, 2/7/15, p.33)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb 3, In Mexico gun
battles between government forces and gunmen on roads between the
border cities of Reynosa and Matamoros killed 8 suspected criminals.
   (AP, 2/4/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb 3, In Pakistan two
roadside bombings targeted police in the country's restive
northwest, killing six officers.
   (AP, 2/3/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb 3, Russian
investigators agreed to free from detention a woman accused of high
treason after calling Kiev's embassy in Moscow to say Russian troops
might be heading to east Ukraine. Svetlana Davydova would, however,
have restrictions placed on her movements and she still faced the
charge of treason.
   (Reuters, 2/3/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb 3, Thai police said
they have arrested six people accused of being part of a conspiracy
to slander the country's monarchy on the Internet.
   (AP, 2/3/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb 3, Ukraine said 5 more
soldiers have been killed and 27 wounded in fighting with
pro-Russian separatists in the eastern regions in the past 24 hours.
Fighting was particularly intense around the town of Debaltseve, a
major rail and road junction northeast of the city of Donetsk.
   (Reuters, 2/3/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb 3, The United Nations'
top court ruled that Serbia and Croatia did not commit genocide
against each other's people during the bloody 1990s wars sparked by
the breakup of Yugoslavia.
   (AP, 2/3/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb 3, The United Nations
World Food Program (WFP) declared itself "extremely concerned" by
photographs showing its food parcels being handed out in Syria with
Islamic State logos on them.
   (Reuters, 2/3/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb 3, Pope Francis
approved a decree declaring slain Salvadoran archbishop Oscar Romero
a martyr for the church. The cleric, a defender of the poor and
vocal critic of the military, was shot dead in 1980 while
celebrating mass. Pope Francis said Romero was killed out of hatred
for his Catholic faith.
   (AFP, 2/3/15)(SFC, 2/4/15, p.A5)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb 4, In NYC Ross William
Ulbricht (30) of San Francisco was convicted of creating and
operating the underground Silk Road website that enabled drug
dealers around the world to reach customers.
   (SFC, 2/5/15, p.C1)(Econ, 1/17/15, p.33)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb 4, In Pennsylvania
Ryan Mangan (16) of Jeanette was found sitting in a chair with a
single gunshot wound to his face. Police soon arrested Maxwell
Morton (16) after the mother of a third boy called to say that her
son had received a selfie that showed the victim shot in the face.
   (SFC, 2/10/15, p.A4)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb 4, Texas executed
Donald Newbury (52), for killing Dallas police officer Aubrey
Hawkins (29), who interrupted a gang robbery on Christmas Eve 2000.
He had helped engineer the biggest prison break in state history 11
days earlier. Newbury was the 3rd gang member to be executed.
   (SFC, 2/5/15, p.A5)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb 4, In Texas Samantha
Dean (29) was found shot to death behind a vacant building. An
autopsy indicated she was seven months pregnant. Boyfriend and
suspect VonTrey Jamal Clark fled to Indonesia and was arrested there
on July 30. On Sep 2 Clark, a former Austin police officer, (32) was
extradited to the US.
   (AP, 9/2/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb 4, Nine non-profit
organizations were named for the MacArthur Foundation Award for
Creative and Effective Institutions. Eight were US-based and one in
Mexico.
   (SFC, 2/5/15, p.D4)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb 4, Anthem, one the
largest US health insurers, said a hacker cyberattack had breached a
database contained some 80 million records of tens of millions of
its customers and employees going back to 2004.
   (SFC, 2/5/15, p.A6)(SFC, 2/12/15, p.C1)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb 4, Staples, the
largest US office supply chain, announced that it is spending about
$6 billion to acquire Office Depot.
   (SFC, 2/5/15, p.C1)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb 4, In Bosnia the mayor
of Trnovo said a Dubai-based construction company plans to build a
luxury resort worth 2.3 billion euro ($2.6 billion) on a mountain
near Sarajevo, a ski resort where three decades ago the Winter
Olympics were held.
   (AP, 2/4/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb 4, Embattled Brazilian
oil giant Petrobras said that Maria das Gracas Foster, the company's
chief executive officer, and five other top figures stepped down
amid a long-running and massive kickback scandal at the firm.
   (AP, 2/4/15)(Econ, 2/7/15, p.60)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb 4, Cameroon's army
killed at least 50 Boko Haram insurgents and lost six of its own
soldiers in clashes with the Nigerian Islamist group in the border
town of Fotokol. Boko Haram fighters went on a rampage in Fotokol,
massacring civilians and torching a mosque before being repelled by
regional forces.
   (Reuters, 2/4/15)(AFP, 2/4/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb 4, China announced
that users of blogs and chat rooms will be required to register
their names with operators and promise in writing to avoid
challenging the Communist political system, further tightening
control over Internet use.
   (AP, 2/4/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb 4, Chinese and
Argentine leaders signed a batch of agreements in Beijing, including
collaboration on two new nuclear power plants.
   (AP, 2/4/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb 4, Doctors Without
Borders says that human testing of brincidofovir, a potential Ebola
drug, is being stopped because there aren't enough patients because
of a decline in Ebola cases.
   (AP, 2/4/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb 4, An Egyptian court
sentenced 230 people, including one of the leading activists behind
the country's 2011 uprising, to life in prison after finding them
guilty of taking part in clashes between protesters and security
forces later that year. All were tried in absentia except Ahmed
Douma, a secular activist who is already serving a
three-year-sentence for breaking a draconian law regulating
protests. Thirty other people, all minors, were sentenced to 10
years in prison.
   (AP, 2/4/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb 4, Gabon lifted its
ban on the main opposition party National Union (UN), which was
outlawed after its leader declared himself president of the oil-rich
west African nation in 2011.
   (AFP, 2/4/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb 4, The German cabinet
approved a draft law aimed at preventing radical German Muslims from
travelling to Iraq and Syria to fight for or train with groups like
Islamic State.
   (Reuters, 2/4/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb 4, Jordan executed a
pair of Iraqi prisoners after a declaration of "punishment and
revenge" against the jihadist group. Sajida al-Rishawi and Ziyad
Karboli had been sentenced to death in Jordan years ago, the former
for an attempted suicide bombing as part of a deadly attack on Amman
hotels in 2005, the latter for killing a Jordanian national and
working closely with former Al Qaeda in Iraq leader Abu Musab
al-Zarqawi.
   (Reuters, 2/4/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb 4, In Mexico a video
captured two soldiers helping a federal police officer torture a
female suspect in Ajuchitan, Guerrero state. News of the video was
only made public on April 14, 2016.
   (SFC, 4/15/16, p.A2)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb 4, Saudi Arabia
beheaded two convicted rapists and a murderer, bringing to 21 the
number of people it has executed so far this year.
   (AFP, 2/4/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb 4, The Somali
government said a US missile strike last week killed Islamist group
al Shabaab's mastermind behind attacks at home and abroad. A day
earlier the US said it had launched the drone strike to kill Yusef
Dheeq, Shabaab's chief of external operations.
   (Reuters, 2/4/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb 4, The United States
and its allies staged 11 airstrikes near the Syrian city of Kobani,
and also targeted the insurgent group with six strikes in Iraq over
the last 24 hours.
   (Reuters, 2/4/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb 4, TransAsia Airways
Flight GE235, a turboprop ATR 72-600 with 58 passengers and crew,
careered into a river shortly after taking off from a downtown
Taipei airport. 35 people were confirmed dead with 8 missing and 15
rescued. 31 of those on board were tourists from China’s
southeastern city of Xiamen.
   (Reuters, 2/4/15)(AP, 2/4/15)(SFC, 2/5/15,
p.A4)(SFC, 2/7/15, p.A3)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb 4, In eastern Ukraine
shelling at a hospital killed at least 5 people ahead of a visit to
Kiev by US Secretary of State John Kerry. Rebel and government
officials said 8 other civilians were killed in clashes around the
region over the past 24 hours.
   (AFP, 2/4/15)(AP, 2/4/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb 4, The US ambassador
to NATO said that Russian soldiers were present in eastern Ukraine
in a command role and to operate advanced military equipment.
   (Reuters, 2/4/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb 4, Venezuela formally
charged two top executives of Farmatado, its largest drugstore
chain, as part of an investigation into what authorities say are
illegal practices contributing to the country's chronic shortages.
   (AP, 2/5/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb 4, A Vietnamese police
officer said authorities have buried thousands of cats, many
apparently still alive, that were seized last week after being
smuggled in a truck from China for restaurants. The truck driver to
whom the cargo belonged, was fined 7.5 million dong ($360).
   (AP, 2/4/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb 5, President Barack
Obama hailed the Dalai Lama as a "good friend" during a symbolic
first public encounter between the two men at a high-profile
Washington prayer breakfast.
   (AFP, 2/5/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb 5, First Lady Michell
Obama announced a $500 million donation from the Robert Wood Johnson
Foundation to fund the fight against childhood obesity.
   (SFC, 2/6/15, p.A8)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb 5, In Ohio three
people were killed and three others wounded at the Chalk Linez
barbershop shooting in Warrensville Heights, a suburb of Cleveland.
In 2016 Douglas Shrine Jr. (21) was convicted of the shootings and
his role in killing an eyewitness.
   (SSFC, 11/20/16, p.A10)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb 5, At the Univ. of
South Carolina Sunghee Kwon (46) shot and killed her ex-husband Raja
Fayad (45), an anatomy professor, and then committed suicide with a
gunshot to her stomach.
   (SFC, 2/7/15, p.A6)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb 5, Texas-based Radio
Shack, founded in Boston in 1921, said it was filing for Chapter 11
bankruptcy. The NYSE stopped trading its shares on Feb 2.
   (SFC, 2/6/15, p.C2)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb 5, Police in Brazil
issued 62 arrest, search and other legal orders in the investigation
into a massive kickback scheme at the state-run oil company
Petrobras. This included a warrant compelling the treasurer of
Brazil's ruling Workers' Party to testify.
   (AP, 2/5/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb 5, British glam rocker
Gary Glitter (70), aka Paul Gadd, was convicted of one count of
attempted rape, four counts of indecent assault and one count of
sexual intercourse with a girl under the age of 13.
   (AFP, 2/5/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb 5, In Cameroon Boko
Haram fighters continued their attack on Fotokol, leaving nearly 100
people dead and some 500 wounded. Cameroonian soldiers assisted by
Chadian forces chased hundreds of Boko Haram fighters out of
Fotokol.
   (AP, 2/6/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb 5, In China
authorities in Shanghai said police have seized 2.4 tons of
methamphetamine and arrested 28 people in one of the country's
largest drug busts.
   (AP, 2/5/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb 5, In China a fire at
a wholesale market killed at least 17 people and injured nine others
on the fourth floor of the market in southern Guangdong province.
   (AP, 2/6/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb 5, It was reported
that protection rackets in Colombia have ballooned into an estimated
$1 billion-a-year industry.
   (SFC, 2/5/15, p.A4)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb 5, Denmark's central
bank cut a key interest rate for the 4th time in a month as it tried
to keep the krone currency stable against the euro.
   (AP, 2/5/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb 5, The leaders of
Germany and France announced a new peace plan for Ukraine, planning
to fly together to Kiev and Moscow with a proposal to resolve the
conflict.
   (Reuters, 2/5/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb 5, An India official
said police over the last ten days have rescued hundreds of children
working in hazardous industries in in Hyderabad despite laws that
ban child labor.
   (AP, 2/5/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb 5, Iraq's PM Haider
al-Abadi lifted a decade-old, midnight-to-5 a.m. curfew in Baghdad,
ordered that long-blocked streets in the capital be opened up and
declared some neighborhoods of the city weapons-free zones effective
Feb 7.
   (AP, 2/5/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb 5, Jordanian fighter
jets pounded Islamic State hideouts in Syria and then roared over
the hometown of a pilot killed by the militants while King Abdullah
consoled the victim's family below.
   (Reuters, 2/5/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb 5, Libya's only
commercial flight link to mainland Europe was severed when the state
carrier said its foreign partner had pulled out of the country after
a deadly attack last week on a Tripoli hotel. Georgia-based
Afriqiyah had only just restarted the route to Duesseldorf last
month.
   (Reuters, 2/5/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb 5, In Libya pro-Haftar
forces reportedly expelled Islamist militias from Benghazi port.
   (AP, 2/6/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb 5, In Mexico 61
rotting bodies were found at the crematorium of an abandoned funeral
home near Acapulco after neighbors complained to authorities about a
foul smell coming from the building. The facility had been shuttered
for about one year.
   (AP, 2/6/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb 5, Myanmar's
government accused students who are protesting against state
educational policies of being manipulated by groups seeking to
destabilize the country.
   (AP, 2/5/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb 5, The Russian film
"Leviathan," a harrowing portrayal of small-town corruption, opened
in about 450 theaters across Moscow and other cities. The
Oscar-nominated film was directed by Andrei Zvyagintsev.
   (AP, 2/5/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb 5, Syrian government
forces and rebel forces traded salvos of rockets and mortar shells
around Damascus, killing at least 21 people. Syrian army helicopters
dropped two barrel bombs on a crowded square in a rebel-held
neighborhood in the northern city of Aleppo.
   (AP, 2/5/15)(AP, 2/6/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb 5, Tunisia's
parliament approved a coalition government led by the secular Nidaa
Tounes party and including moderate Islamist rivals Ennahda,
following landmark elections in the birthplace of the Arab Spring.
   (AFP, 2/5/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb 5, Ukraine raised a
key interest rate by a whopping 5.5 percentage points following a
massive drop in its currency that has stoked concerns of runaway
inflation.
   (AP, 2/5/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb 6, A US federal judge
ruled that a Puerto Rico debt-restructuring law that aims to protect
the government from bankruptcy and make public corporations
self-sufficient is unconstitutional.
   (AP, 2/7/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb 6, Facebook founder
and CEO Mark Zuckerberg and his wife Dr. Priscilla Chan donated $75
million to San Francisco General Hospital.
   (SFC, 2/6/15, p.A1)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb 6, The American
military said US-led forces have launched 10 air strikes in Syria
and eight in Iraq against Islamic State militants over the last 24
hrs. A purported statement by the Islamic State group claimed
that an American female hostage was killed in a Jordanian airstrike
on the outskirts of Raqqa, the militant group's main stronghold.
Kayla Jean Mueller (26), an aid worker, was captured in 2013. On May
14 it was reported that Mueller had been raped repeatedly by Abu
Bakr al-Baghdadi, the self-proclaimed caliph of the IS.
   (Reuters, 2/6/15)(AP, 2/6/15)(AP, 8/15/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb 6, In NYC Adel Abdul
Bary, an Egyptian lawyer who pleaded guilty to conspiring to kill
Americans, was sentenced to 25 years in prison. Bary would face
about eight more years in prison because he has been incarcerated
since 1999.
   (AP, 2/6/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb 6, In Wisconsin
Sureshbhai Patel (57) from India was slammed to the ground by a
police officer after a caller said a "skinny black guy" with a
toboggan hat was walking in the neighborhood and peering into
garages. One of the officers restrained Patel by pulling his arms
behind his back and then slammed him face-first into the ground less
than 90 seconds after the confrontation began. Officer Eric Parker
was arrested and is being fired.
   (AP, 2/14/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb 6, In western
Afghanistan a bus crash in Hirat province killed 7 people and
wounded 12 others. A roadside bomb killed 2 people and wounded three
others in Helmand province.
   (AP, 2/6/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb 6, In Bangladesh
attackers threw crude fire bombs at a packed bus and a moving truck
in two separate incidents, killing at least 9 people and injuring 30
others.
   (AP, 2/7/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb 6, In Brazil police
surprised a group of suspects trying to blow up an automatic teller
machine in the eastern city of Salvador, sparking a shootout that
killed at least 13 of the would-be robbers.
   (AP, 2/6/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb 6, Britain’s
Investigative Powers Tribunal ruled that British spies acted
illegally when they scooped up data about Briton’s electronic
communications gathered by the US National Security Agency.
   (SFC, 2/7/15, p.A2)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb 6, British jihadi
Imran Khawaja (27), who joined a terrorist training camp in Syria
then faked his death in an attempt to sneak back to England, was
sentenced to 12 years in prison.
   (AP, 2/6/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb 6, Canada's highest
court unanimously struck down a ban on doctor-assisted suicide for
mentally competent patients with terminal illnesses.
   (AP, 2/6/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb 6, Forces from Chad
and Niger repelled Islamic extremists from Nigeria as they attacked
Bosso town inside Niger, marking the second foreign country attacked
by Boko Haram this week.
   (AP, 2/6/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb 6, East Timor
independence hero Xanana Gusmao resigned as prime minister, stepping
down ahead of an expected restructuring of the government next week.
   (AP, 2/6/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb 6, Egyptian military
air strikes killed 27 Islamic militants in the Northern Sinai in one
of the biggest security operations in the region in months.
   (Reuters, 2/6/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb 6, In Europe floods
forced hundreds of people from their homes in Albania and Macedonia.
Heavy snow and winds caused traffic havoc in Bosnia, Croatia and
Slovenia.
   (SFC, 2/7/15, p.A2)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb 6, German Chancellor
Angela Merkel and French President Francois Hollande arrived in
Moscow for talks with Russian President Vladimir Putin on the
Ukraine crisis.
   (Reuters, 2/6/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb 6, Munich-based
industrial machinery maker Siemens AG said it will cut 7,800
administrative jobs worldwide as part of an effort to streamline the
sprawling company and its many businesses.
   (AP, 2/6/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb 6, In northern Iraq
the remains of 23 men from the Yazidi religious minority were found
when a mass grave was excavated.
   (AFP, 2/7/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb 6, Italian judicial
sources said Dino Maglio (35), a policeman who posed as an amiable
host on the Couchsurfing website, has been charged with drugging and
raping a 16-year-old Australian and may have sexually assaulted up
to 15 other women. He will go on trial in Padua near Venice from
March 17.
   (AFP, 2/6/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb 6, Thousands of
Jordanians packed the streets of the capital Amman, urging their
monarch to step up air strikes on Islamic State to avenge its
killing of pilot Mouath al-Kasaesbeh.
   (Reuters, 2/6/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb 6, In Libya a suicide
car bomber, attempting to strike an army post in the battleground
second city of Benghazi, was intercepted and blew up his car short
of the target killing a father and son.
   (AFP, 2/6/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb 6, In Niger 109 Boko
Haram fighters were killed by soldiers responding to attacks in
fighting in the towns of Bosso and Diffa near the border with
Nigeria. 4 soldiers were killed and 17 wounded.
   (AP, 2/7/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb 6, Hundreds of
Palestinians demonstrated outside Egypt's diplomatic mission in Gaza
City, to protest a Cairo court ruling designating Hamas's armed
wing, the Ezzedine al-Qassam Brigades, as a terrorist group.
   (AFP, 2/6/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb 6, Filipino Muslims
called for the passage of the Bangsamoro Basic Law at a rally
following prayers at the Golden Mosque in Manila, Philippines. The
law would implement a peace accord granting minority Muslims
autonomy in the southern Philippines.
   (AP, 2/6/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb 6, Poland’s lawmakers
voted 254-175 with eight abstentions to empower Pres. Komorowski to
sign into law the 2011 Council of Europe's convention on combating
violence against women and domestic violence.
   (AP, 2/6/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb 6, South African
author, Andre Brink (b.1935), died aboard a KLM flight travelling
from the Netherlands to Cape Town. He used his work to question the
policies of South Africa's apartheid regime. His 1975 book, "Looking
on Darkness," the first of Brink's books distributed to the United
States, was banned by the South African government until 1982.
   (AP, 2/7/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb 6, The Syrian
Observatory for Human Rights said the government air force conducted
60 strikes on the Eastern Ghouta district outside Damascus leaving
82 dead over the last 24 hours.
   (Reuters, 2/6/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb 6, In eastern Ukraine
convoys of buses carrying many local residents to safety left the
besieged town of Debaltseve as government forces kept up artillery
fire to defend their positions against pro-Russian separatists.
   (Reuters, 2/6/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb 6, Yemen's powerful
Shiite rebels announced that they have taken over the country and
dissolved parliament. Houthi rebels said they are forming a
five-member presidential council that will replace President Abed
Rabbo Mansour Hadi for an interim two-year period.
   (AP, 2/6/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb 7, In Georgia, USA,
Cedric Prather (33) shot and killed 4 people, including his ex-wife
and several children, and wounded two others at a home in
Douglasville before fatally shooting himself.
   (SSFC, 2/8/15, p.A9)(SFC, 2/9/15, p.A6)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb 7, Workers at
refineries in Indiana and Ohio went on strike against two BP plants
in an extension of strikes that began Feb 1.
   (SSFC, 2/8/15, p.A9)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb 7, Residents in
Montana began finding dead horses. Somebody had shot up to two dozen
horses and dumped their bodies in a hay field about a mile west of
Lodge Grass on the Crow Indian Reservation.
   (http://tinyurl.com/ors58py)(SFC, 2/17/15, p.A5)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb 7, An alleged
audiotape aired on a Brotherhood-allied TV station in which Egypt’s
Pres. Abdel-Fattah el-Sissi and a top aide purportedly banter about
how rich Persian Gulf Arabs are and add up the billions they intend
to seek. Financial help, estimated at some $32 billion, has helped
keep Egypt afloat after years of instability. On Feb 9 el-Sissi
called leaders of Saudi Arabia, Kuwait and the UAE, praising their
wisdom and saying relations won’t be undermined by “nefarious
attempts” to do so.
   (http://tinyurl.com/lyprfja)(SFC, 2/11/15, p.A2)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb 7, In Egypt 3
policemen were shot dead and two others injured when they came under
fire while conducting a raid against a group of criminals near the
southern city of Minya.
   (AP, 2/7/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb 7, Germany's Angela
Merkel warned that sending arms to help Ukraine fight pro-Russian
separatists would not solve the crisis there, drawing a sharp rebuke
from a leading US senator who accused Berlin of turning its back on
an ally in distress.
   (Reuters, 2/7/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb 7, In Haiti at least
6,000 protesters marched through the capital to demand lower gas
prices and the ouster of President Michel Martelly.
   (AP, 2/7/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb 7, Air pollution in
Delhi, India, was reported to be the worst in the world with levels
of smaller particulates routinely 15 times above levels deemed safe
by the World Health Organization (WHO).
   (Econ, 2/7/15, p.38)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb 7, In Iraq at least 40
people were killed in three bombings around Baghdad. Baghdad's
decade-old nightly curfew was set to end at midnight.
   (Reuters, 2/7/15)(AP, 2/8/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb 7, Kenji Ekuan (85),
Japanese industrial designer, died in Tokyo. His works ranged from a
bullet train to the red-capped Kikkoman soy sauce dispenser as
familiar as the classic Coca-Cola bottle. A former monk, Ekuan
crafted a tabletop bottle for Kikkoman Corp. in 1961, winning
international popularity both for the handy, flask-shaped dispenser.
   (AP, 2/9/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb 7, Jordan carried out
a third straight day of air strikes on Islamic State targets.
   (Reuters, 2/7/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb 7, In Kenya a masked
gunman shot and killed a Kenyan lawmaker on a street in Nairobi.
George Muchai, was killed alongside his two bodyguards and a driver
after they stopped to buy a newspaper.
   (AP, 2/7/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb 7, Libya's eastern oil
export port Hariga shut down due to a strike of security guards,
closing the country's last functioning export port apart from two
offshore fields. Only Brega port was still open, but it is used to
supply the 120,000 bpd-Zawiya refinery with crude.
   (Reuters, 2/8/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb 7, A Mexican federal
judge threw out a five-year, money-laundering sentence for Sandra
Avila Beltran, ordering the immediate release of the "Queen of the
Pacific" for her alleged role as a liaison between Mexican and
Colombian drug cartels. The judge ruled that Avila already had been
tried for the same crime in Mexico and the United States.
   (AP, 2/8/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb 7, NATO and Russia
failed to narrow their differences over the Ukraine crisis in talks
but agreed they would keep talking to each other.
   (Reuters, 2/7/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb 7, US-led forces
launched 15 air strikes against Islamic State in Iraq and 11 in
Syria over the last 24 hours. Nine targets in Syria centered around
the border city of Kobani.
   (Reuters, 2/7/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb 7, Nigeria’s election
body chairman Attahiru Jega announced that the presidential and
parliamentary polls would be postponed from February 14 to March 28,
while gubernatorial and state assembly elections would be held on
April 11.
   (AFP, 2/8/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb 7, In Puntland at
least 2 people were killed when Somali militants al Shabaab attacked
the house of a senior police official in the semi-autonomous region.
   (Reuters, 2/8/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb 7, Slovaks voted in a
nationwide a referendum that would bar gay marriages and adoptions,
and allow parents to decide whether their children attend sex
education classes. The votes won't count unless at least half of the
eligible voters turn out. Voters overwhelmingly voted "yes" — 95, 92
and 90 percent, respectively — to the three questions. But turnout
reached only 21.4 percent, far less than the 50 percent needed.
   (AP, 2/7/15)(AP, 2/8/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb 7, South African
police discovered the frozen corpses of four newborn babies in two
freezers at a house in the southern city of Mthatha.
   (AFP, 2/8/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb 7, Tunisian
authorities said they have arrested 32 extremists over the last
several days and thwarted an ambitious plot to attack civilian and
military sites around the country, including the Interior Ministry.
Some 3,000 Tunisians were estimated to have left for jihad, mainly
with the Islamic State group, in Syria and Iraq.
   (AP, 2/8/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb 7, Ukraine President
Petro Poroshenko brandished in front of world leaders several
passports taken from Russian soldiers in what he said was proof of
Moscow's "presence" in his country.
   (AFP, 2/7/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb 7, The United Arab
Emirates said it has ordered a squadron of F-16 fighters to Jordan,
which would participate in airstrikes on the Islamic State group
after the UAE earlier suspended its involvement.
   (AP, 2/7/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb 8, The United States
delivered more than $25 million worth of military aid including
heavy artillery to the Lebanese army to help it fight jihadist
groups which have repeatedly battled with security forces near the
Syrian border.
   (Reuters, 2/8/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb 8, In the Comoros
Islands Mohamed Said Abdallah Mchangama, a former finance minister,
was arrested on charges of inciting hatred. Mchangama had called for
a general strike in protest at the government's energy plans.
   (AP, 2/10/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb 8, In Egypt 22 soccer
fans died of suffocation from tear gas and a stampede outside a
Cairo stadium in a melee with security forces. Authorities said it
was sparked when hard-core Zamalek fans known as Ultras White
Knights tried to force their way into the stadium without tickets.
The violence prompted the Cabinet to suspend the national football
league indefinitely. Police arrested 21 soccer fans in the wake of
the stampede.
   (AP, 2/9/15)(AP, 2/10/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb 8, French police
detained six people suspected of recruiting potential jihadists,
just days after another operation saw five charged on similar
grounds.
   (AFP, 2/8/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb 8, In India a Japanese
student (20) was raped while touring Jaipur. Three men (20-24), who
offered to be her tour guides, took her to a farming village outside
the city, raped her on a roadside and fled. Villagers heard the
woman crying and helped her contact police. On Sep 4 a court
sentenced the three men to 20 years in prison. Three other
defendants were sentenced to two years in prison for helping the
three main accused commit the crime.
   (AP, 9/4/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb 8, Israel's Supreme
Court ordered the government to demolish nine homes in the West Bank
Jewish settlement of Ofra, which were built on private Palestinian
land. Authorities have until 2017 to carry out the demolitions.
   (AFP, 2/9/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb 8, Two Italian patrol
boats picked up 105 migrants late today from the boat drifting in
extreme sea conditions. At least 29 migrants died of hypothermia
aboard Italian coast guard vessels. Survivors later confirmed the
existence of a fourth rubber boat that left Libya with as many as
300 people unaccounted-for.
   (Reuters, 2/9/15)(SFC, 2/10/15, p.A2)(AP,
2/11/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb 8, Jordan said it has
launched 56 airstrikes against Islamic State group weapons depots,
training centers and military barracks since militants released a
video on Feb 3 of them burning a Jordanian pilot to death.
   (AP, 2/8/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb 8, In Libya heavy
fighting flared up in Benghazi as forces loyal to the
internationally recognized elected government tried to retake areas
controlled by extremist militias.
   (AP, 2/8/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb 8, Nigeria's Boko
Haram Islamic extremists abducted about 30 people including eight
Cameroonian girls and killed 7 hostages in two bus hijackings in
Cameroon and Nigeria.
   (AP, 2/10/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb 8, In Niger Boko Haram
fighters waged a new attack on Diffa, a southeastern border town,
where a blast killed at least 5 people and injured at least 10. Aid
workers said the assailants had come from Nigeria.
   (AFP, 2/8/15)(Reuters, 2/8/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb 8, Nigerian
authorities came in for heavy criticism over the decision to
postpone national elections in the face of relentless Boko Haram
violence.
   (AFP, 2/8/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb 8, In Sudan 3 staff of
the Sudanese Red Crescent were killed in an attack in Blue Nile
state, where Khartoum is battling rebels.
   (AFP, 2/9/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb 8, A Turkish court
ordered the arrest of 21 police officers as part of an investigation
into the illegal wiretapping of politicians, civil servants and
businessmen.
   (Reuters, 2/8/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb 8, In eastern Ukraine
intense fighting continued around the rail junction town of
Debaltseve, with rebel fighters making repeated attempts to storm
lines defended by government troops. The leaders of Russia, Ukraine,
Germany and France agreed to meet in Belarus on Feb 11 to try to
broker a peace deal.
   (Reuters, 2/8/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb 9, The US federal
government pledged $3.2 million to help save the monarch butterfly.
   (SFC, 2/10/15, p.A4)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb 9, Alabama became the
37th state where gays can legally wed. State chief justice Roy Moore
told judges not to let gays marry. At least seven of 67 counties
issued gay marriage licenses. 47 of the state’s 67 counties were
issuing licenses by Feb 13.
   (SFC, 2/10/15, p.A4)(SSFC, 2/15/15, p.A7)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb 9, New evidence
published in the journal Nature Geoscience that human activity can
disrupt the climate suggested that air pollution tied to
industrialization in the northern hemisphere almost certainly
reduced rainfall over Central America.
   (Reuters, 2/9/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb 9, In Afghanistan
Abdul Rauf, the top recruiter for the Islamic State group's
affiliate, was killed by a drone strike along with 7 other
militants. Afghan forces fired the missile. Rauf was released from
Guantanamo in 2007 and sent home to Afghanistan.
   (AP, 2/9/15)(AP, 2/11/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb 9, In Australia a
Japanese citizen died after a shark tore off his legs while he was
surfing off the coast of New South Wales.
   (SFC, 2/10/15, p.A2)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb 9, Bahrain said it
suspended a new pan-Arab news channel backed by a billionaire Saudi
prince within hours of its first broadcast because it failed to
obtain a proper license and did not meet anti-terrorist standards.
The Alarab network disappeared from TV screens early on Feb 2, a day
after its launch.
   (AP, 2/9/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb 9, Police in India
said that they had arrested eight people suspected in the rape and
murder of a Nepalese woman in the northwest state of Haryana. The
28-year-old woman had been staying with her sister when she went
missing Feb 1. Her mutilated body was discovered three days later.
In northern India police searched for a man who raped a Japanese
student sightseeing in Jaipur a day earlier. The accused tour guide
turned himself in on Feb 13.
   (AP, 2/9/15)(AFP, 2/13/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb 9, In Iraq attacks in
Baghdad killed 22 people with dozens left wounded.
   (AFP, 2/9/15)(AP, 2/9/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb 9, Macedonia's chief
opposition figure accused PM Nikola Gruevski of wire-tapping
journalists, religious and opposition leaders, deepening a scandal
that has engulfed the European Union candidate country in recent
weeks.
   (Reuters, 2/9/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb 9, Myanmar troops
fought Kokang ethnic rebels in clashes near the Chinese border that
the government says the guerrillas provoked. Warlord Phone Kyar
Shin, aka Peng Jiasheng, launched attacks on the government army
around Laukkai.
   (AP, 2/10/15)(Econ., 3/14/15, p.40)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb 9, In northeast
Nigeria scores of militants armed with guns and explosives stormed a
police station in the town of Kanamma in Yobe state. Several police
officers were reported killed.
   (AP, 2/12/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb 9, Islamist fighters
from Nigeria's Boko Haram sect attacked a prison in neighboring
Niger overnight.
   (Reuters, 2/9/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb 9, In Senegal the
four-day African Land Forces Summit opened in Dakar. It brought
together top American military brass and the heads of 35 African
armies.
   (AFP, 2/9/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb 9, Somali lawmakers
approved a new cabinet, hours after Shebab insurgents assassinated a
colleague as he made his way to parliament.
   (AFP, 2/9/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb 9, Former South Korean
spy chief Won Sei-hoon was sent to prison for three years after
being found guilty of ordering an illicit online campaign to support
then-ruling party candidate and current President Park Geun-hye
ahead of the 2012 presidential election.
   (AP, 2/9/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb 9, In Syria at least
15 people were reported killed and dozens wounded on in government
air strikes on an area outside Damascus. Barrel bombs over the next
48 hours left at least 18 people dead in Douma, a rebel-held area of
Damascus.
   (AFP, 2/9/15)(Econ., 2/21/15, p.45)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Jan 9, In Turkey security
forces detained 13 foreigners and a Turkish citizen attempting to
cross into Syria from a village in the southeastern province of
Gaziantep to join the Islamic State (IS) jihadist group.
   (AFP, 2/11/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb 9, In Turkey G20
finance ministers met in Istanbul. Britain and the United States
called on leading world powers to overhaul their economies and keep
budgets in line to encourage growth.
   (AFP, 2/9/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb 9, The Ukraine
military said At least 1,500 Russian troops and convoys of military
hardware entered Ukraine over the weekend.
   (AFP, 2/9/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb 9, The UN said over
2.5 million South Sudanese are on the brink of famine, with the
civil war likely to intensify as it launched a $1.8 billion aid
appeal.
   (AFP, 2/9/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb 10, The US government
announced the new Cyber Threats Intelligence Integration Center to
coordinate cyberthreat intelligence spread across the federal
government.
   (SFC, 2/11/15, p.C1)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb 10, The self-styled
CyberCaliphate sent telephone death threats to five US military
wives. In 2018 it was reported that the women were not targeted by
jihadists, but rather by the same Russian hacking group that
intervened in the 2016 American election and exposed the emails of
John Podesta, Hillary Clinton's campaign manager.
   (SFC, 5/9/18, p.A7)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb 10, NBC announced that
it is suspending Brian Williams as “Nightly News” anchor and
managing editor for six months without pay for misleading the public
about his experiences covering the Iraq war.
   (SFC, 2/11/15, p.A12)7
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb 10, In eastern
Massachusetts schools and most public transit systems remained
closed around Boston as residents dug out from a third major winter
storm in two weeks.
   (Reuters, 2/10/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb 10, In North Carolina
3 Muslim students: Deah Shaddy Bakarat (23) his wife of two months
Yusor Mohammad (21) and Ms. Mohammad’s sister Razan Mohammad
Abu-Salha (19), were shot and killed near the campus of the Univ. of
NC. Craig Stephen Hicks (46) turned himself in to the nearby Chatham
County Sheriff’s Office and was charged with three counts of
first-degree murder. A long-running dispute over parking was said to
be a potential motive. Police found at least a dozen firearms and a
large stash of ammunition at the home of Hicks.
   (http://tinyurl.com/lomuzs7)(SFC, 2/12/15,
p.A12)(SFC, 2/14/15, p.A8)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb 10, John Dehlin (45),
a Mormon who gained notoriety over the past decade for running a
website that offers doubting Latter-day Saints a forum to chat,
announced that Utah church leaders have kicked him out of the faith
for apostasy.
   (SFC, 2/11/15, p.A6)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb 10, In Washington
state three officers arrived at a grocery store parking lot in Pasco
where Antonio Zambrano-Montes (35) reportedly threw rocks at them.
Police said they first used a stun gun to try to incapacitate the
suspect after he would not obey commands to surrender, then opened
fire and killed him. In a 22-second video filmed by a motorist,
Zambrano-Montes is seen running away from the officers before he was
killed. Three officers fired 17 shots at Zambrano-Montes. An
independent autopsy said he was hit seven times with at least two
entrance wounds on the back of his body.
   (Reuters, 2/14/15)(SFC, 2/21/15, p.A6)(AP,
2/26/15)(SFC, 2/27/15, p.A5)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb 10, In Afghanistan
Taliban suicide attackers assaulted a police station, killing one
officer in Kunduz province. A roadside bomb in Jalalabad exploded as
Angeza Shinwari, a Nangarhar province councilwoman, drove past. The
blast killed her driver and severely wounded Shinwari and another
person.
   (AP, 2/10/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb 10, In Albania two
bombs exploded in Tirana early today in what PM Edi Rama described
as terror attacks apparently intended to hit back at a government
anti-crime drive.
   (Reuters, 2/10/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb 10, In Australia two
men were arrested for planning to launch an imminent terrorist
attack. Police seized a homemade flag associated with the Islamic
State, a machete and a hunting knife in a counterterrorism raid.
   (AP, 2/11/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb 10, China promised to
help build a hydroelectric power plant in a violent Afghan border
region, as well as road and rail links to Pakistan, in the latest
sign it is taking a more active role in Afghanistan.
   (Reuters, 2/10/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb 10, Egypt's Pres.
Abdel-Fattah el-Sissi said Egypt and Russia have agreed to build a
nuclear power plant together. El-Sissi also said the two nations
signed agreements to improve natural gas business and investment.
They also agreed to create a Russian industrial zone along the Suez
Canal. This came during a joint press conference in Cairo with
visiting Russian President Vladimir Putin.
   (AP, 2/10/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb 10, In Egypt five
bombs exploded outside police stations in Egypt's second city of
Alexandria, wounding 10 civilians.
   (AFP, 2/10/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb 10, The European Union
said it is providing 100 million euros ($113 million) in loans to
Jordan to help it deal with the fallout from crises like the
conflicts in neighboring Syria and Iraq.
   (AP, 2/10/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb 10, In France a
three-day trial began for Pierre Le Guennec and his wife, Danielle.
They claimed that the artist, or his wife, gave them 180
lithographs, collages and paintings and 91 sketchbook drawings
around 1970 when Le Guennec began working as a general handyman for
Picasso.
   (AP, 2/10/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb 10, A Hong Kong woman
was convicted of assaulting her Indonesian maid, Erwiana
Sulistyaningsih, in a case that sparked outrage for the scale of its
brutality. A judge found Law Wan-tung guilty of 18 charges including
grievous bodily harm.
   (AP, 2/10/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb 10, India's PM
Narendra Modi suffered his first major election setback since
becoming prime minister last May, as anti-corruption campaigner
Arvind Kejriwal won a landslide victory in Delhi state polls.
   (AFP, 2/10/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb 10, In Iraq three
bombing attacks killed at least 8 people and wounded 25.
   (AP, 2/10/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb 10, Japan and Mongolia
signed a free trade agreement.
   (AP, 2/10/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb 10, Malaysian
opposition leader Anwar Ibrahim began a 5-year prison sentence after
a court rejected his final appeal against a sodomy conviction.
   (AP, 2/10/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb 10, Malaysia arrested
cartoonist Zulkifli Anwar Ulhaque, aka Zunar, for sedition over a
Twitter post that criticized the judiciary for upholding a five-year
jail term for opposition leader Anwar Ibrahim, who accused the
courts of "bowing to the dictates of the political masters".
   (Reuters, 2/11/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb 10, In the Netherlands
a "distributed denial of service" attack was responsible for taking
down several of government websites for hours.
   (AP, 2/11/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb 10, Scotland’s Royal
and Ancient Golf Club announced its first seven female members,
including Swedish great Annika Sorenstam and Britain's Princess
Anne.
   (AP, 2/10/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb 10, Syria's army
gained ground from rebels in the south in what a monitoring group
described as a large-scale offensive in the region backed by
Lebanese Hezbollah fighters against insurgents including al Qaeda's
Syrian wing. The operation began two days earlier.
   (Reuters, 2/10/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb 10, In eastern Ukraine
rockets killed 7 civilians in Kramatorsk and rebels pushed on with
an assault to cut off an army-held rail junction, setbacks that
showed Kiev's position worsening on the eve of peace talks. 7
Ukrainian soldiers were reported killed and 23 wounded in the past
24 hours.
   (Reuters, 2/10/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb 10, The United Arab
Emirates launched airstrikes against the Islamic State group from an
air base in Jordan.
   (AP, 2/10/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb 10, In Venezuela Judge
Ali Fabricio Paredes sentenced drug kingpin Walid Makled to 14 years
in prison, drawing immediate objections from prosecutors, who said
they will appeal.
   (AP, 2/11/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb 10, In southeastern
Yemen 4 suspected Al-Qaeda fighters were killed in a suspected US
drone strike in Hadramawt province.
   (AFP, 2/10/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb 11, US President
Barack Obama sent Congress his text for an authorization to use
military force in the campaign against Islamic State, limiting
operations against the militants to three years and barring use of
US troops in "enduring offensive ground combat."
   (Reuters, 2/11/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb 11, The Obama
administration introduced an aggressive plan to stem illegal
wildlife trafficking.
   (SFC, 2/12/15, p.A9)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb 11, The San Francisco
Board of Supervisors approved 550 default deals. These included the
sale of Presidio Terrace, after residents failed to pay $994 in back
taxes, to Michael Cheng and Tina Lam for $90,000. The tax bills had
been sent to an accountant who had not worked for the neighborhood
association in years. On Nov. 28, 2017, city supervisors reversed
the tax sale.
   (SFC, 11/29/17, p.A7)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb 11, The San Francisco
medical examiner’s office said a dismembered body found in a
suitcase on Jan 28 was that of Omar Shahwan (58), a longtime friend
of Jeffrey Andrus, the prime suspect in the case, who died on Feb 8.
   (SFC, 2/12/15, p.A1)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb 11, A former San
Francisco police officer and four others were indicted by a federal
grand jury in San Jose on charges that they hacked into computers to
gain an advantage over adversaries in civil lawsuits.
   (SFC, 2/12/15, p.D6)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb 11, In NYC Bob Simon
(b.1941), a CBS correspondent, was killed in a car crash in
Manhattan.
   (SFC, 2/12/15, p.A11)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb 11, An unmanned Falcon
9 rocket from Elong Musk’s SpaceX blasted off from Cape Canaveral
carrying a research satellite. Rough seas forced abandonment of a
plan to recover the booster aboard a ship.
   (SFC, 2/12/15, p.C4)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb 11, Australia faced
increased pressure to reform its immigration system after a new
report showed more than a third of refugee children detained under
those policies had developed a mental illness requiring psychiatric
care.
   (AP, 2/11/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb 11, A Belgian court
sentenced Fouad Belkacem, the leader of Sharia4Belgium, to twelve
years in prison and gave dozens of other members lower sentences.
The group had recruited youngsters to fight in Syria and was
declared a terrorist organization.
   (SFC, 2/12/15, p.A2)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb 11, Bosnia's
parliament approved Denis Zvizdic as prime minister after he
promised to unblock the Balkan country's stalled bid to join the EU
and push through reforms sought by the bloc.
   (Reuters, 2/11/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb 11, In Brazil an
explosion on an oil ship off the coast of Espirito Santo state
killed at least 5 people. Four workers remained missing.
   (AP, 2/12/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb 11, Chadian soldiers
killed 13 fighters from Islamist militant group Boko Haram in a
battle in the Nigerian town of Gambaru. One Chadian soldier was
reported killed.
   (Reuters, 2/11/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb 11, East Timor
announced that President Taur Matan Ruak has chosen opposition party
member Rui Maria de Araujo (50), a former health minister, as the
new prime minister.
   (AP, 2/11/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb 11, Egypt's highest
appeals court overturned death sentences for 36 members of the
Muslim Brotherhood, which the government has labelled a terrorist
group, and ordered a retrial. The case stemmed from an August 2013
attack on a police station in the southern town of el-Adwa when a
police officer and a civilian were killed.
   (AP, 2/11/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb 11, In Iraq clashes
between government forces and militants outside Tikrit along with
attacks in Baghdad killed at least 22 people and wounded dozens.
   (AP, 2/11/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb 11, In Italy Francesco
Schettino, former captain of the capsized Costa Concordia, was
convicted and sentenced to 16 years in prison for manslaughter,
causing the Jan 13, 2012, shipwreck that claimed 32 lives. Schettino
lost his final appeal in 2017 and began serving his 16-year
sentence.
   (SFC, 2/12/15, p.A2)(SFC, 5/13/17, p.A2)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb 11, Liberia's Pres.
Ellen Johnson Sirleaf vowed that the country would get to zero Ebola
cases soon as the US military announced it will be withdrawing most
of its troops who have spent the last several months helping to
battle the disease.
   (AP, 2/11/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb 11, In Libya UN
negotiators restarted talks in Ghadames with delegates from Libya's
warring factions, meeting separately with rival parties in an
attempt to end the political crisis and reach a ceasefire.
   (Reuters, 2/11/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb 11, Mali officials
said motorcycle-riding poachers have killed at least 19 elephants
over the past month, marking a significant blow to a rare grouping
that lives in central Mali. It is believed there are only 350 to 700
elephants left in Mali.
   (AP, 2/11/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb 11, The Mozambique
government said a cholera epidemic has killed 19 people in the north
following flooding that devastated the region.
   (AFP, 2/11/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb 11, Myanmar's
government reached an agreement with student protesters who have
been marching to Yangon to seek education reforms, but the deal
announced by the two sides still needs parliamentary approval.
   (AP, 2/11/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb 11, Myanmar's
president declared that a system of temporary identification cards
for people seeking citizenship will become invalid at the end of
March, negating an earlier decision that would have allowed card
holders to vote in an upcoming constitutional referendum. The
temporary identification cards, popularly called "white cards," were
created by the former military regime for the 2010 elections in
which it relinquished power to a nominally civilian government.
   (AP, 2/11/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb 11, In Niger two
female suicide bombers blew themselves up in the frontier town of
Diffa, following days of cross-border attacks by Nigerian Islamist
group Boko Haram.
   (Reuters, 2/11/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb 11, In Poland hundreds
of angry farmers drove their tractors toward Warsaw, where their
leaders were seeking government compensation for crops destroyed by
wild boar, profits undercut by Russia's import ban and new market
regulations.
   (AP, 2/11/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb 11, Serbian security
forces stepped up patrols and deployed an elite unit on its border
with Hungary, trying to halt a torrent of migrants that has
triggered alarm in many European Union countries.
   (AP, 2/11/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb 11, The Syrian
Observatory for Human Rights said government air force raids have
killed at least 183 people in insurgent strongholds east of the
capital in the past 10 days.
   (Reuters, 2/11/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb 11, Ukrainian forces
battled pro-Russian rebels for territory on one of the bloodiest
days in the 10-month war ahead of a pivotal peace summit on the
conflict.
   (AFP, 2/11/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb 11, Venezuelan
authorities arrested Judge Ali Fabricio Paredes less than 24 hours
after he issued a sentence in a high-profile drug trafficking case
that prosecutors said is too lenient.
   (AP, 2/11/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb 11, In Yemen the US
embassy staff destroyed weapons, computers and documents before
closing and evacuating diplomats. Britain and France also moved to
close their embassies.
   (Reuters, 2/11/15)(AP, 2/11/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb 12, The US multi-state
$564.1 Powerball lottery was won by ticket holders in North
Carolina, Texas and Puerto Rico.
   (SFC, 2/12/15, p.A7)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb 12, Sam Andrew
(b.1941), a founding member of rock band Big Brother and the Holding
Company, died in San Rafael, Ca. In the mid 1960s the band shot
Janis Joplin to fame.
   (SFC, 2/17/15, p.C3)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb 12, NY Times media
columnist David Carr (58) collapsed at the newspaper’s headquarters.
He died of complications from metastatic lung cancer.
   (SSFC, 2/15/15, p.A14)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb 12, In Las Vegas Tammy
Meyers (44) was shot in the head outside her home in a Las Vegas
cul-de-sac shortly before midnight after confrontations that began
when she was giving her daughter (15) an after-hours driving lesson
and the girl honked at a driver she felt was speeding. The mother's
life-support was disconnected on Valentine's Day. On Feb 19 police
arrested Erich Nowsch (19) on suspicion of murder.
   (http://tinyurl.com/odzz2sf)(SFC, 2/20/15, p.A7)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb 12, In Afghanistan
Sheirin Agha, a member of the country's High Peace Council, was
assassinated during prayers at a Kandahar mosque.
   (AP, 2/13/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb 12, Oliver Rackham
(75), British plant pathologist and woodland archeologist, died. His
last book, “The Ash Tree,” was written in response to the outbreak
of the Chalara fungus.
   (Econ., 3/14/15, p.94)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb 12, Human Rights Watch
said Burundian troops executed at least 47 surrendered rebels last
month, part of a "broader pattern" of violence coming ahead of key
elections.
   (AFP, 2/12/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb 12, China offered to
mediate in stalled efforts to engage the Afghan Taliban in peace
negotiations.
   (Reuters, 2/12/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb 12, In western
CongoDRC dozens of people were missing after a collision between two
boats on the Congo River. 3 bodies were recovered out of an
estimated 100 on board one of the vessels. Some 42 survivors made it
to shore.
   (Reuters, 2/14/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb 12, An Egyptian judge
ordered the release on bail of Mohammed Fahmy and Baher Mohammed, a
pair of Al-Jazeera English journalists being retried on
terror-related charges. Also being freed on bail are 11 other
defendants in the case, mostly students charged with involvement
with the Muslim Brotherhood.
   (AP, 2/12/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb 12, England and Wales
passed a new law banning "revenge porn" -- sexually explicit images
shared online by a former partner without their ex's consent. The
devolved governments in Scotland and Northern Ireland, which have
responsibility for justice matters, are also looking at introducing
similar laws.
   (AFP, 2/12/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb 12, Steve Strange
(55), a singer with the British band Visage and one of the founders
of the 1980s' New Romantic style, died in a hospital in the Egyptian
Red Sea resort of Sharm el-Sheik.
   (AP, 2/13/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb 12, Germany, France,
Russia and Ukraine agreed a deal on that offers a "glimmer of hope"
for an end to fighting in eastern Ukraine after marathon overnight
talks in Belarus. The deal envisages a ceasefire between Ukrainian
forces and Russian-backed separatists starting on Feb 15, followed
by the withdrawal of heavy weapons from the front line and
constitutional reform to give eastern Ukraine more autonomy.
   (Reuters, 2/12/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb 12, France and Egypt
agreed a deal worth more than 5 billion euros ($5.7 billion) for the
sale of Dassault Aviation-built Rafale fighter jets, a naval frigate
and missiles.
   (Reuters, 2/12/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb 12, Greece reported
that tax revenues slumped 23 percent below target in January as
citizens held off on paying taxes before a snap election, marking a
setback for the new left-wing government as it seeks a deal with
European partners to avert a financial crisis.
   (Reuters, 2/12/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb 12, In Iraq Islamic
State militants seized parts of the town of Al-Baghdadi, five miles
from the Ayn al-Asad airbase where some 320 US troops were training
Iraqi troops.
   (SFC, 2/12/15, p.A2)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb 12, US-led forces hit
Islamic State targets in Iraq with 12 air strikes and three air
strikes in Syria over the last 24 hours.
   (Reuters, 2/12/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb 12, In Libya gunmen
from an al-Qaida inspired militia took over radio and television
stations in Sirte.
   (AP, 2/14/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb 12, A Niger spokesman
said security forces in Niger have killed 260 Boko Haram militants
since the group began cross-border attacks on its southeastern Diffa
region on Feb 6.
   (Reuters, 2/12/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb 12, In northeastern
Nigeria at least 21 people were killed in two separate Boko Haram
attacks on Akida and Mbuta villages near Maiduguri.
   (AFP, 2/13/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb 12, A Pakistani army
spokesman says 12 local Taliban militants involved in a deadly
school attack late last year have been arrested. Maj. Gen. Asim
Saleem Bajwa told a media briefing that another 9 members, of what
is believed to be a 27-member cell, have already been killed.
   (AP, 2/12/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb 12, In South Africa
Pres. Zuma’s State of the Nation address was interrupted with
questions about longstanding allegations of corruption in a $23
million state-funded security upgrade to his rural home in Nkandla.
Speaker Baleka Mbete told the EFF and its firebrand leader Julius
Malema to stop asking questions. When they refused, she ordered them
to be removed, prompting a brawl in which several people were
injured.
   (Reuters, 2/13/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb 12, In South Korea an
onboard tantrum dubbed "nut rage" culminated in a one-year prison
sentence for Korean Air heiress Cho Hyun-ah, the daughter of Korean
Air's chairman.
   (AP, 2/12/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb 12, In Taiwan 6
inmates led by a mob boss committed suicide at a prison after a
failed breakout attempt in which they seized weapons and held a
warden and guards hostage in the southern port city of Kaohsiung.
   (AP, 2/12/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb 12, A Ukrainian
military spokesman said around 50 tanks, 40 missile systems and 40
armored vehicles had crossed overnight into eastern Ukraine from
Russia.
   (Reuters, 2/12/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb 12, The UN Security
Council unanimously adopted a resolution aimed at choking off
earnings from oil smuggling, antiquities trafficking and ransom
payments to the Islamic State group.
   (AFP, 2/12/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb 12, Air strikes by the
United Arab Emirates against the Islamic State group hit oil
refineries run by the jihadists.
   (AFP, 2/17/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb 12, Venezuelan
officials said a retired air force general has been arrested and 13
other people are implicated in a plot to overthrow President Nicolas
Maduro.
   (AP, 2/13/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb 12, In southern Yemen
al Qaeda-linked fighters seized a large army base in a dawn attack.
12 soldiers and 15 militants were killed as Al-Qaeda seized the
brigade's camp at Baihan in Shabwa province and captured armor and
heavy weaponry
   (Reuters, 2/12/15)(AFP, 2/13/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb 13, Pres. Obama issued
an executive order urging businesses and government to cooperate
better on quickly sharing information about online threats. Obama
spoke at Stanford Univ. before a gathering of business leaders and
federal officials dubbed the Summit on CyberSecurity and Consumer
Protection.
   (SFC, 2/14/15, p.A1)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb 13, In Louisiana John
Hicks (19) was arrested after he shot dead two people near an
all-female Mardi Gras parade.
   (SFC, 2/14/15, p.A7)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb 13, In Virginia Andrus
Nomm of Estonia pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit copyright
infringement in federal court in Alexandria. He was sentenced to a
year and a day in prison. Nomm, one of seven men indicted in a
massive copyright-piracy scheme run through the now-defunct website
Megaupload three years ago, was the first to be brought to the US to
face charges.
   (AP, 2/13/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb 13, Argentine state
investigator Gerardo Pollicita formally reiterated accusations
leveled against Pres. Fernandez a month ago by his colleague Alberto
Nisman, found dead on Jan 18.
   (Reuters, 2/14/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb 13, In southern
Bangladesh a trawler carrying up to 200 passengers sank in the River
Payra. Most people were rescued or swam ashore. At least five people
died and two were missing.
   (AP, 2/13/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb 13, Canada, a major
exporter of beef, said it has found a case of mad cow disease in a
beef cow in the province of Alberta, the first in the country since
2011.
   (Reuters, 2/13/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb 13, Suspected Boko
Haram militants staged their first attack in Chad, hitting the third
country outside Nigeria base in recent days.
   (AP, 2/13/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb 13, In Croatia Milan
Bandic, the powerful mayor of Zagreb, was indicted for abuse of
power as a wider investigation continues against him over millions
in suspected fraud. The national anti-graft bureau USKOK charged
Bandic and two aides with illegally using some 40,000 euros in city
money to finance a citizens' signature gathering campaign.
   (AFP, 2/13/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb 13, In Egypt a
roadside bomb in Cairo killed a police captain and wounded eight
other people. Egyptian warplanes killed 8 suspected Islamist
militants in Rafah, Sinai.
   (Reuters, 2/13/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb 13, Germany condemned
a cartoon published Feb 8 in a Greek leftist newspaper close to the
new ruling party in Athens that depicts Finance Minister Wolfgang
Schaeuble in a Nazi uniform making comments that invoke the
Holocaust.
   (Reuters, 2/13/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb 13, Greece began tough
negotiations with its creditors as hopes grew of a deal to replace
its detested bailout after new PM Alexis Tsipras pushed his case at
a European summit.
   (AFP, 2/13/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb 13, In southern India
a train derailed after hitting a boulder that had fallen on the
track, killing at least 11 people and injuring dozens near
Bangalore, Karnataka state.
   (AP, 2/13/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb 13, In Iraq
unidentified gunmen attacked a two-car convoy carrying Sheikh Qassem
Sweidan al-Janabi and his nephew, lawmaker Zeid al-Janabi. The
lawmaker was later released but the tribal leader, seen as a
moderate Sunni, as well as his son and at least six other people,
mostly bodyguards, were killed.  Â
   (AFP, 2/14/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb 13, The Iraqi army
said it has killed 8 assailants near the Ain al-Asad air base, about
85 km (50 miles) northwest of Ramadi following an attack that began
a day earlier. The US military said coalition partners conducted
seven air strikes against Islamic State militants in Iraq over the
last 24 hours, including five strikes about 15 km east of Ain
al-Asad base.
   (Reuters, 2/13/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb 13, An Italian court
sentenced Somali trafficker Mouhamud Elmi Muhidin (34) to 30 years
in prison. He had raped and attacked migrants he had led through the
desert to Libya to make the perilous crossing to Italy in October
2013.
   (AFP, 2/14/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb 13, In northern Mexico
a passenger bus and a freight train collided at a grade crossing in
Anahuac, Tamaulipas state, killing 20 people and injuring 22.
   (AP, 2/14/15)(AP, 2/14/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb 13, Myanmar state
media said heavy fighting between the army and rebels has killed 47
soldiers, sending a flood of people across the border with China and
overshadowing hopes for a national ceasefire as a crucial election
looms. The army used airstrikes to repel the attacks.
   (AFP, 2/13/15)(AFP, 2/14/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb 13, The Netherlands
extradited Vladimir Drinkman to the US. The Russian was suspected of
involvement in a huge data breach that racked up hundreds of
millions of dollars in losses over seven years for US companies.
Drinkman was arrested in the Netherlands in June 2012.
   (AP, 2/13/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb 13, In New Zealand 198
pilot whales stranded themselves on South Island. Hordes of rescuers
rushed to the remote area in a bid to guide them back to sea. Some
140 died as rescuers refloated about 60.
   (AP, 2/13/15)(AP, 2/14/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb 13, Nigeria’s human
rights commission (NHRC) said political violence in the 50-day
run-up to elections has killed 58 people, with rising "hate speech"
between rival camps threatening to spark further unrest.
   (AFP, 2/13/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb 13, In Pakistan at
least 19 people were killed in Peshawar in a gun and bomb attack on
a Shi'ite mosque. The Pakistani Taliban, who are fighting against
the state to set up a hardline Sunni theocracy, claimed
responsibility.
   (Reuters, 2/13/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb 13, Saudi Arabia,
Germany and Italy became the latest countries to withdraw embassy
staff from Yemen as an exodus of foreign diplomats gathered pace due
to growing insecurity.
   (AFP, 2/13/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb 13, Sierra Leone
placed some 700 hundred homes in a fishing district of the capital
under quarantine following the death of a fisherman who was later
diagnosed Ebola positive. At least five new cases were confirmed in
the area.
   (AFP, 2/13/15)(SSFC, 2/15/15, p.A5)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb 13, South Sudan's
cabinet postponed elections and extended President Salva Kiir's
powers for two years. That goes against a deal struck between Kiir
and rebel chief Riek Machar earlier this month, in which they agreed
to set up a transitional unity government in the bitterly divided
nation to run for 30 months from July 9.
   (AFP, 2/13/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb 13, Meeting in Geneva
almost 200 countries agreed a draft text for a deal to fight climate
change, but put off hard choices about narrowing down a vast range
of options for limiting a damaging rise in temperatures.
   (Reuters, 2/13/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb 13, Turkish police
used water cannon in the western coastal city of Izmir to disperse
scores of protesters boycotting schools over the growing influence
of religion in the classroom.
   (Reuters, 2/13/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb 13, In eastern Ukraine
fierce fighting surged as Russian-backed separatists mounted a
major, sustained offensive to capture a strategic railway hub ahead
of a weekend cease-fire deadline. At least 25 people were killed
across the region.
   (AP, 2/13/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb 13, In southern Yemen
suspect al-Qaida gunmen on a motorbike opened fire at air force
Colonel Mahmoud al-Naqib, killing him instantly in Lahij province.
   (AFP, 2/13/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb 14, In Maryland Jason
Hendrix (16) was killed in a shootout with police as they tried to
pull him over for a speeding violation. This prompted a search at
his home in Corbin, Ky., where police found the bodies of his
parents and a younger sister. Hendrix was said to be angry at his
parents for taking away his computer privileges.
   (SFC, 2/16/15, p.A7)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb 14, Algerian soldiers
shot dead a heavily armed Islamist in the Tebessa region on the
northeastern border with Tunisia.
   (AFP, 2/14/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb 14, In Argentina top
government officials rallied behind President Cristina Fernandez
after a state prosecutor said he would keep investigating
accusations that she tried to cover up Iran's alleged involvement in
a 1994 bombing.
   (Reuters, 2/14/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb 14, In Bahrain
protesters took to the streets in predominantly Shiite areas and set
tires alight along a major highway to mark the fourth anniversary of
widespread protests calling for reform.
   (AP, 2/14/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb 14, In Denmark some 30
shots were fired at the Krudttoenden cafe in Copenhagen, where
Swedish artist Lars Vilks was organized a freedom of speech event.
Filmmaker Finn Noergaard (55) was killed.
   (AP, 2/14/15)(AFP, 2/14/15)(SFC, 2/16/15, p.A2)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb 14, In Hong Kong Lai
Sai-ming, the captain of a commuter ferry that collided with another
boat on Oct 1, 2012, killing 39 people, was found guilty of
manslaughter.
   (AP, 2/14/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb 14, Michael Ferrero
(89), Italy’s chocolate king, died. He took over the family’s
hazelnut-chocolate business after his father died in 1949 and soon
added vegetable oil to make it spreadable. In 1964 he invented the
name Nutella and in 1983 took it to America.
   (Econ., 2/21/15, p.90)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb 14, In Libya a bomb
exploded at an oil pipeline from the El Sarir field, halting flows
to Hariga port as the country struggles to restore crude exports
battered by factional fighting.
   (Reuters, 2/14/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb 14, Niger said it has
arrested several dozen people suspected of having links to Nigeria's
Boko Haram, since the start of cross-border attacks by the Islamist
group on Feb 6.
   (AFP, 2/15/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb 14, Nigeria's military
repelled an attack on the northeastern town of Gombe by Boko Haram
Islamic extremists who, as they retreated, warned residents not to
participate in the country's elections in March.
   (AP, 2/14/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb 14, In Pakistan gunmen
killed a driver and wounded a polio worker in the Khyber tribal
region as another vaccination team went missing ahead of a
nationwide vaccination drive.
   (AP, 2/14/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb 14, In Thailand dozens
of anti-coup activists held a demonstration in central Bangkok,
handing out roses and copies of George Orwell's "1984" -- a rare
expression of public dissent in a nation still under strict martial
law.
   (AFP, 2/14/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb 14, In eastern Ukraine
fighting intensified ahead of a midnight ceasefire. Constant
artillery bombardments were razing the strategic railway hub of
Debaltseve, where Ukrainian forces were clinging on. Shelling killed
at least one person in the rebel-held city of Donetsk. 7 Ukrainian
service personnel were killed and 23 wounded in fighting in the past
24 hours.
   (Reuters, 2/14/15)(AFP, 2/14/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb 14, In southern Yemen
heavy fighting overnight between Shiite rebels and Sunni tribesmen
left 26 dead. Tens of thousands marched in protest against the
Houthis in the cities of Ibb, Taiz, Hodeida, Dhamar and the capital,
Sanaa. The Netherlands, Spain and the United Arab Emirates became
the latest countries to shut down embassy operations in Sanaa.
   (AP, 2/14/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb 15, Bahrain said it
will send troops to support regional ally Jordan.
   (AP, 2/15/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb 15, Musical Miss
Saigon swept the board at the What's on Stage theatre awards in
London's West End, where it won nine awards.
   (AFP, 2/16/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb 15, HSBC, Britain's
largest bank, issued a public apology, describing the media
firestorm that followed allegations it helped rich clients dodge
taxes as painful and insisting it has changed the way it does
business.
   (AP, 2/15/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb 15, In Canada over
3,000 Teamster members went on strike at Canadian Pacific Railway
after contract talks failed to reach an agreement. The strike ended
on Feb 16 as both sides agreed to resume discussions.
   (SFC, 2/14/15, p.A2)(SFC, 2/17/15, p.A2)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb 15, A Canadian
National train loaded with crude oil derailed in northern Ontario.
At least seven cars burst into flames.
   (SFC, 2/17/15, p.A5)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb 15, Congo's Pres.
Joseph Kabila condemned a decision by the United Nations to withdraw
its support from a joint military offensive against a rebel group
because the military decided it should be directed by two generals
who have links to human rights violations.
   (AP, 2/15/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb 15, Croatia's first
female president, Kolinda Grabar-Kitarovic (46), was sworn in and
pledged to help kickstart the EU member's ailing economy.
   (AFP, 2/15/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb 15, In Denmark
security guard Dan Uzan (27) was shot in the head and killed near
Copenhagen's main synagogue. Two policemen were also wounded in the
shooting at around 1:00 am this morning. Police said they believe a
man shot dead by officers at Noerrebro station was the sole
perpetrator of the two fatal attacks in the last 24 hours in the
capital. Omar Abdel Hamid El-Hussein (22) was later identified as
the gunman.
   (AFP, 2/15/15)(SFC, 2/16/15, p.A2)(AP, 2/17/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb 15, In Egypt gunmen
opened fire on a traffic police patrol in the Nile Delta town of
Benha, killing one policeman and wounding three others.
   (AP, 2/15/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb 15, In France some 250
graves were found vandalized at a Jewish cemetery in Sarre-Union.
Five teens were later arrested and admitted to the destruction in
the Alsace region.
   (SFC, 2/19/15, p.A2)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb 15, In Greece some 18
thousand people rallied in Athens ahead of talks in Brussels on the
new leftist government's bid to revise its massive bailout. Some
8,000 people also thronged the streets in Thessaloniki.
   (AFP, 2/15/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb 15, In northern India
a newly built house collapsed early today killing 13 residents as
they slept in Dulhaipur village, Uttar Pradesh state.
   (AFP, 2/15/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb 15, Iran’s former
first vice president, Mohammad Reza Rahimi, was taken to jail to
serve his 5-year 3-month prison term.
   (AP, 2/15/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb 15, In Iraq and Syria
the United States and its coalition partners conducted 11 air
strikes against Islamic State militants, three in Syria and eight in
Iraq over the last 24 hours.
   (AP, 2/15/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb 15, Italy closed its
embassy in Libya due to the worsening conflict there and stepped up
its call for a UN mission to help calm the situation.
   (Reuters, 2/15/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb 15, Italy's coast
guard went to the rescue of at least 1,000 migrants in difficulty in
the sea between Europe and North Africa, the third operation of its
kind in as many days.
   (Yahoo News, 2/15/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb 15, A Jordanian court
sentenced Zaki Bani Rsheid (57), a senior leader of the Muslim
Brotherhood, to 18 months in prison for criticizing a decision by
the United Arab Emirates to blacklist his organization.
   (AFP, 2/15/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb 15, Islamic State
militants in Libya released a video showing the beheading of 21
Egyptian Christians. The 21 Egyptian Coptic Christians, who had gone
to Libya in search of work, were marched to a beach, forced to kneel
and then beheaded on video. On October 6, 2017, the remains of 21
Coptic Christians were unearthed from a mass grave south of the
one-time jihadist bastion of Sirte.
   (Reuters, 2/16/15)(AFP, 10/7/17)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb 15, Myanmar state
media said troops fighting ethnic rebels near the Chinese border
have recovered the bodies of 13 insurgents and captured eight others
following heavy government losses this week.
   (AP, 2/15/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb 15, In northeastern
Nigeria a female suicide bomber blew herself up at a crowded bus
station in Damaturu, Yobe state, killing at least 16 people and
wounding 30.
   (Reuters, 2/15/15)(SFC, 2/16/15, p.A2)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb 15, In Pakistan a
government paramilitary force shot and killed Usman Saifullah Kurd,
a regional commander for an al-Qaida linked militant cell, and one
of his aides on the outskirts of Quetta.
   (AP, 2/15/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb 15, In the southern
Philippines 2 members of an Al Qaeda-linked group were killed in
clashes with troops in the jungles of Basilan island.
   (AFP, 2/15/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb 15, Russian police in
Moscow detained Alexei Navalny, an anti-corruption campaigner and
leading opposition figure, as he and supporters were handing out
leaflets urging people to take part in an "anti-crisis" march on
March 1.
   (AP, 2/15/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb 15, Ukraine's rebels
disavowed a new truce hours after it took effect, saying it did not
apply to the town of Debaltseve, where most fighting has taken place
in recent weeks.
   (Reuters, 2/15/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb 15, The UN Security
council adopted a resolution demanding that Houthi rebels in Yemen
immediately relinquish control and withdraw from government
institutions.
   (SFC, 2/16/15, p.A2)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb 16, A judge in Texas
granted a temporary injunction on an Obama order that would have
protected about four million undocumented foreigners from
deportation and was due to come into effect from Feb 18.0
   (AFP, 2/17/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb 16, In West Virginia a
CSX train carrying crude oil derailed east of Charleston. At least
12-15 cars derailed and at least one tank car fell into the Kanahwa
River.
   (SFC, 2/17/15, p.A5)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb 16, Leslie Gore (68),
singer and songwriter, died of lung cancer in NYC. Her hits included
“It’s My Party” (1963) and “You Don’t Own Me” (1963).
   (SFC, 2/18/15, p.D4)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb 16, The Armenian
president asked the country's parliament speaker to withdraw his
signature from a groundbreaking 2009 agreement with Turkey meant to
restore ties between the two nations due to "preconditions" that
Turkey put in place before it ratifies its part of the deal.
   (AP, 2/16/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb 16, Bahrain said it
has deployed fighter planes to help support Jordan, a day after it
announced plans to send troops to the kingdom.
   (AP, 2/16/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb 16, In China a party
watchdog said Su Rong, a former provincial party leader and former
vice chairman of China's top political advisory body, has been
expelled from the ruling Communist party and stripped of all
government positions. Su Rong was accused of taking bribes in return
for government positions and will likely face criminal charges.
   (AP, 2/16/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb 16, A Danish court
jailed two suspected accomplices of the slain gunman behind the
recent deadly attacks in Copenhagen while PM Helle Thorning-Schmidt
said there were no signs of links to a wider terror network.
   (AP, 2/16/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb 16, In East Timor
opposition party member Rui Maria de Araujo was sworn in as prime
minister, leading a smaller 38-member Cabinet for the half-island
nation.
   (AP, 2/16/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb 16, Egyptian jets
bombed Islamic State targets in Libya, a day after the group there
released a video showing the beheading of 21 Egyptian Christians. 40
to 50 militants were reported killed along with 7 civilians.
   (Reuters, 2/16/15)(Econ., 2/21/15, p.44)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb 16, The European Union
published a new sanctions list of individuals and entities. It added
9 more entities and 19 more individuals, including a Russian deputy
minister of defense, for their actions linked to the fighting in
eastern Ukraine. There was a week's lapse in the publishing of the
list because of the negotiations which led to an agreement between
Ukraine and Russia on Feb 12.
   (AP, 2/16/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb 16, The leaders of
France, Germany and Ukraine said that observers from the
Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) must have
"free access" for their work in eastern Ukraine.
   (Reuters, 2/16/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb 16, A German court
said a 93-year-old man has been charged with 170,000 counts of
accessory to murder on allegations he served as an SS guard at the
Nazis' Auschwitz death camp in occupied Poland.
   (AP, 2/16/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb 16, Greece offered to
accept conditions on an extension to its loan agreements with the
euro zone, and even an inspection by the European Commission, at a
fraught meeting in Brussels.
   (Reuters, 2/18/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb 16, In Iraq and Syria
the United States and its coalition partners launched air strikes
against Islamic State targets; two in Syria and 13 in Iraq over the
last 24 hours.
   (Reuters, 2/16/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb 16, Nigeria said its
troops backed by air strikes have recaptured the northeastern towns
of Monguno and Marte from Islamist Boko Haram insurgents.
   (Reuters, 2/16/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb 16, Nigerian Boko
Haram insurgents attacked a Cameroon military camp near the town of
Waza in the north of the country, wounding several soldiers.
   (Reuters, 2/16/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb 16, Kaspersky Labs,
founded in 1997 in Moscow, released a report on how a gang it calls
Carbanak had hacked the computer systems of banks around the world.
The company also said it had discovered “the “Equation /Group,”
apparently a part of the NSA, which it said was able to embed
spyware in computers.
   (Econ., 2/21/15, p.63)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb 16, Sierra Leone's
government promised a full investigation after an internal audit
found that nearly one-third of the money received to fight Ebola was
spent without saving the necessary receipts and invoices to justify
the spending.
   (AP, 2/16/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb 16, South Korea's
ruling party-controlled legislature approved President Park
Geun-hye's appointment of Lee Wan Koo in a 148-128 vote.
   (AP, 2/16/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb 16, In South Sudan an
unidentified armed group abducted at least 89 boys, some as young as
13, from their homes in the northern town of Wau Shilluk.
   (AP, 2/21/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb 16, In Spain court
papers showed that a Granada court has dropped charges against 11
out of 12 suspects in the country's biggest ever clerical sex abuse
scandal because the statute of limitations had expired.
   (AFP, 2/16/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb 16, Sudanese security
officers seized the print runs of 13 newspapers in one of the most
sweeping crackdowns on the press in recent years. There was no
immediate word from the authorities on why the newspapers had been
seized.
   (AFP, 2/16/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb 16, Syrian state news
said 9 people, including three children, were killed today in rebel
fire on a government-held neighborhood in the northern city of
Aleppo.
   (AFP, 2/16/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb 16, Turkey said it was
temporarily closing its embassy in Yemen, the latest foreign mission
to do so following the takeover of power by Shiite Huthi militiamen.
   (AFP, 2/16/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb 16, In eastern Ukraine
pro-Russian rebels said they would open a safe corridor for as many
as 7,000 Ukrainian troops out of the encircled town of Debaltseve on
condition they surrender the territory, an offer the Kiev military
promptly rejected.
   (Reuters, 2/16/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb 16, In Yemen
supporters of former President Abed Rabbo Mansour Hadi seized radio
and television buildings in the southern city of Aden after they
accused security forces of working for Shiite rebels who control the
capital. One soldier and two Hadi supporters were reported killed in
clashes.
   (AP, 2/16/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb 17, The United States
military said it will provide communications equipment and
intelligence to help African nations in the fight against Nigerian
Islamist group Boko Haram.
   (Reuters, 2/17/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb 17, In Chicago a civil
suit was filed against Mohammad Abdullah Saleem (75), founder of the
Institute of Islamic Education, accusing him of abusing an employee
and three teenage students. The suit accused Saleem of abusing
female students as far back as the 1980s.
   (SFC, 2/18/15, p.A7)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb 17, Seaports in the US
West Coast, all but shut over the weekend because of a contract
dispute, were reopening as the nation's top labor official tried to
solve a stalemate between dockworkers and their employers that
already has disrupted billions of dollars in international trade.
   (AP, 2/17/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb 17, Heavy snowfall and
glacial temperatures shut down much of the central and eastern
United States. Winter storm warnings a day earlier had touched 17
states.
   (AFP, 2/17/15)(SFC, 2/17/15, p.A5)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb 17, In eastern
Afghanistan four suicide attackers dressed as policemen stormed a
provincial police headquarters in Pul-i-Alam, Logar province,
killing 22 police in an attack claimed by the Taliban. A bomb
attached to a vehicle killed one person in Kabul.
   (Reuters, 2/17/15)(SFC, 2/18/15, p.A2)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb 17, In Brazil Rio de
Janeiro's world-famous samba school parades held their grand finale
as the five-day-long Carnival celebration came to an end. At least 3
people were electrocuted while standing atop a Carnival float that
hit a power line in the city of Nova Iguacu.
   (Yahoo News, 2/17/15)   (AP,
2/17/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb 17, Three British
girls (Kadiza Sultana (16) and 15-year-olds Shamima Begum and Amira
Abase) flew from London to Turkey in a suspected bid to join the
Islamic State group. On March 12 Turkey announced the arrest of an
agent who helped the girls cross into Syria. The agent also worked
as a courier to transfer money to jihadists.
   (SSFC, 2/22/15, p.A5)(AP, 3/15/15)(AFP, 3/15/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb 17, Canada imposed
sanctions on Russia over its conduct in Ukraine, a move Moscow said
would fuel further tension in Ukraine and prevent the implementation
of the ceasefire.
   (Reuters, 2/18/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb 17, Canadian officials
said the cost of Canada's six-month bombing mission against the
Islamic State group in Iraq was estimated at more than $100 million.
   (AFP, 2/17/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb 17, Two Chadian
soldiers and several Boko Haram fighters were killed in violent
clashes around Dikwa, some 50 km (31 miles) southwest of Gambaru.
Chad's army seized control of Dikwa. Abu Ashshe, a Boko Haram
commander notorious for seizing cattle in the area, was among those
killed.
   (AFP, 2/18/15)(AFP, 2/19/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb 17, The French
government passed the Macron law by decree for fear of not winning a
majority. It allowed intercity coaches to compete with railways,
relaxed Sunday trading restrictions and lifted barriers to becoming
a notary.
   (Econ., 2/21/15, p.51)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb 17, Greek PM Alexis
Tsipras nominated Prokopis Pavlopoulos (64), a conservative lawmaker
and former interior minister, to be the country's next president. If
elected, he will replace Karolos Papoulias (85), whose five-year
term ends next month.
   (Reuters, 2/17/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb 17, In Haiti a
high-voltage cable fell on a float during a Carnival parade in
Port-au-Prince early today, killing at least 15 people.
   (AFP, 2/17/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb 17, In Hungary PM
Viktor Orban hosted Russian Pres. Vladimir Putin and reached a
political agreement on a new gas deal.
   (SFC, 2/18/15, p.A2)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb 17, In India police
arrested three men for allegedly stealing classified documents from
the ministry of petroleum and natural gas and selling them to energy
companies. Four other men, including two energy consultants, were
arrested soon after.
   (AP, 2/19/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb 17, In Iraq and Syria
the United States and its allies staged six airstrikes around the
Syrian town of Kobani and eight strikes on Islamic State in Iraq
over the last 24 hours.
   (Reuters, 2/17/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb 17, In Kenya eight
international organizations launched a global campaign to stem the
spread of AIDS among adolescents. They said AIDS has become the
leading cause of death for adolescents in Africa and the second
leading cause of death among adolescents globally.
   (AP, 2/17/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb 17, Mexico’s state oil
company said it will no longer ship finished, usable gasoline or
diesel through its network of ducts due to increasing illegal
pipeline taps.
   (SFC, 2/18/15, p.A2)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb 17, Myanmar President
Thein Sein declared a state of emergency in the Kokang region in the
east and imposed a three-month period of martial law there.
   (Reuters, 2/17/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb 17, In Niger PM Brigi
Rafini and other government officials led a march of some 35,000
people in Niamey to support the country's military following a
series of attacks along the border with Nigeria carried out by Boko
Haram militants.
   (Reuters, 2/17/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb 17, In Niger 36
civilians at a funeral ceremony were killed when an unidentified
plane bombarded a village near the Nigerian border.
   (AFP, 2/18/15)(CSM, 2/20/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb 17, In northeastern
Nigeria a suicide bomber blew himself up in a restaurant in
Potiskum, killing two people and wounding 12. Near the town of Biu
11 people were killed in a suicide bomb attack by 3 men on a
motorized tricycle at a checkpoint.
   (Reuters, 2/17/15)(AFP,
2/17/15)Â Â Â
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb 17, In Pakistan a
Taliban suicide attack on a provincial police headquarters killed at
least 6 other people in the eastern city of Lahore, in what
militants called a revenge strike for the hangings of their
comrades.
   (Reuters, 2/17/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb 17, In South Sudan a
British worker for the US-based Carter Center was killed in Juba,
bringing to 14 the number of aid workers killed over the course of
the country's 14-month conflict.
   (AP, 2/18/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb 17, In St. Kitts and
Nevis an alliance of three opposition parties won parliamentary
elections. Timothy Harris led the Team Unity coalition. Outgoing PM
Denzil Douglas conceded defeat.
   (SFC, 2/18/15, p.A2)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb 17, Syrian government
forces backed by Lebanese militant Hezbollah fighters captured
several villages near the northern city of Aleppo in lightning
advances. Regime forces executed six families of rebel fighters. Ten
children, 5 women and 13 rebels from the six families were among at
least 48 people killed in the village of Rityan.
   (AP, 2/17/15)(AFP, 2/21/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb 17, In eastern Ukraine
pro-Russian rebels and government forces fought street-to-street in
Debaltseve and refused to pull back their heavy guns, all but
scuppering hopes that a European-brokered peace deal will end months
of conflict. Rebels barred OSCE observers from entering Debaltseve.
   (Reuters, 2/17/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb 18, The Obama
administration and Canada agreed on financing construction of a
plaza for a new $2.1 billion bridge connecting Detroit to Windsor. A
public-private partnership will reimburse the plaza construction
with bridge tolls.
   (SFC, 2/19/15, p.A8)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb 18, The Univ. of
California in San Francisco (UCSF) announced a $100 million gift
from philanthropist Charles Feeney (83).
   (SFC, 2/19/15, p.A1)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb 18, Dimitry Jean-Noel
of Massachusetts pleaded guilty to his role in the creation of a
fictitious uniform manufacturing company that did business in
Afghanistan and defrauded the US government of as much as $200,000.
   (AP, 2/19/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb 18, Kate Brown (54),
former Oregon secretary of state, was sworn in as the state’s new
governor, becoming the country’s first openly bisexual governor.
   (SFC, 2/19/15, p.A10)(Econ., 2/21/15, p.30)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb 18, In Pennsylvania
Khaliyfa Neely stabbed Devon Andre Pickett, the tour manager for
Nicki Minaj, to death outside a bar in Germantown. In 2020 Neely was
convicted of third-degree murder, aggravated assault, simple assault
and possession of an instrument of crime.
   (AP, 2/29/20)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb 18, In Virginia two
Colombians were sentenced to prison for the 2013 kidnapping and
murder of US Drug Enforcement Administration Special Agent James
Watson in Bogota. Edwin Gerardo Figueroa Sepulveda (39) and Wilson
Daniel Peralta-Bocachica (31) were among seven Colombians in a
robbery-and-kidnapping ring extradited to the United States in July
2014 to face charges stemming from Watson's killing.
   (Reuters, 2/19/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb 18, Scientists led by
Michael Farzan, a professor at the Scripps Research Institute in
Florida, said a new drug tested on monkeys provided an astonishingly
effective shield against an animal version of the AIDS virus, a
major gain in the quest for an HIV vaccine.
   (AFP, 2/18/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb 18, Citigroup Inc said
it would set aside $100 billion to fund environmental projects over
the next decade, doubling the amount it had earmarked for such
projects in 2007.
   (Reuters, 2/18/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb 18, In Argentina some
400,000 people marched in silence to the presidential palace in
Buenos Aires to protest the Jan 18 death of prosecutor Alberto
Nisman.
   (Econ., 2/21/15, p.35)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb 18, Bosnian
authorities arrested six men suspected of supporting the Islamic
State group, including two who allegedly were preparing to go to
Syria to fight and were arrested at Sarajevo airport.
   (AP, 2/18/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb 18, In Brazil 9 people
burned to death when the bus they were riding on hit a light post
and burst into flames in the Rio de Janeiro district of Sao Goncalo.
   (AP, 2/18/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb 18, The Chinese New
Year holiday began today due to the insertion of a lunar leap month
last year.
   (Econ, 2/14/15, p.40)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb 18, In Germany the
Roman Catholic archdiocese of Cologne published financial accounts
indicating assets of 3.35 billion euros (($3.82 billion) at the end
of 2013.
   (SFC, 2/19/15, p.A4)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb 18, In Iraq a suicide
car bomber killed 6 troops and Shiite militiamen at a checkpoint
jointly manned by the Shiite militia and Iraqi army near Samarra.
   (AP, 2/18/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb 18, Israel's Supreme
Court has overturned last week's decision by the country's election
committee that disqualified Arab lawmaker Hanin Zoabi and Baruch
Marzel allowing them to run in next month's parliamentary elections.
   (AP, 2/18/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb 18, Israel unveiled
some 2000 silver and gold coins, the largest collection ever found
in the country. Amateur divers had found the coins, dating back to
the 10th and 11th centuries, a few weeks earlier near the port city
of Caesarea.
   (SFC, 2/19/15, p.A2)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb 18, In southern Mexico
ten people injured following an attack on the offices of the
Coca-Cola company in Chilpancingo, the capital of Guerrero state.
   (AP, 2/19/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb 18, Myanmar's
government accused three more ethnic rebel groups: the Kachin
Independence Army, the Shan State Army (South) and the Ta'ang
National Liberation Army, of being involved in armed clashes in
northeastern Shan state, where a week of fighting against Kokang
rebels has left dozens of soldiers dead and sent tens of thousands
of refugees fleeing to neighboring China.
   (AP, 2/18/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb 18, The Dutch Safety
Board said Royal Dutch Shell, Exxon Mobil Corp and the Dutch
government ignored the danger of earthquakes caused by gas
extraction at the massive Groningen gas field for decades.
   (Reuters, 2/18/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb 18, Nigeria claimed to
have killed more than 300 Boko Haram militants in a
counter-offensive, as Chad pushed into rebel-held areas. Suspected
Boko Haram gunmen attacked the Tamsu-Shehuri village on where they
killed more than 12 people.
   (AFP, 2/18/15)(AP, 2/21/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb 18, In Pakistan at
least 2 people were killed in an attack on a mosque in Rawalpindi
belonging to the Shiite Muslim community. Fahad Marwat, a spokesman
for the Taliban splinter group Jundullah, claimed responsibility,
saying it was revenge for an ongoing army operation aimed at driving
militants out of their North Waziristan stronghold.
   (Reuters, 2/18/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb 18, News leaked that
two NCOs in Peru’s naval intelligence agency were being tried in a
military court for selling information to Chile.
   (Econ., 2/28/15, p.31)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb 18, In Saudi Arabia
military chiefs from 26 nations involved in the US-led coalition
battling the Islamic State group began a two-day meeting aimed at
giving military leaders an opportunity to exchange views about the
fight against the extremist group.
   (AP, 2/18/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb 18, South Sudan's army
and rebels fought heavy battles for a third day with scores of
casualties, a day ahead of a planned restart of peace talks.
   (AFP, 2/18/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb 18, Swiss authorities
raided the offices of British banking giant HSBC's Swiss unit as
part of a money laundering probe into the bank that has been accused
of helping clients to dodge millions of dollars in taxes.
   (AFP, 2/18/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb 18, Syrian rebels
regained much of the territory north of the city of Aleppo lost to
government troops in fierce fighting the previous day in clashes
that left more than 100 dead on both sides. UN envoy Staffan de
Mistura said he received a government commitment to suspend
airstrikes on the city of Aleppo for six weeks. Rebels captured 32
soldiers and pro-government gunmen near Aleppo, where fighting raged
as the two sides tried to grab new territory ahead of a possible
truce.
   (AP, 2/18/15)(AP, 2/19/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb 18, Tanzanian police
said they have found the mutilated body of a one-year-old albino boy
An armed gang had snatched Yohana Bahati from his mother at their
home in northwestern Tanzania's Geita region on Feb 15. His
abduction renewed calls for tougher action to stop the killing of
albinos for their body parts, prized in black magic.
   (Reuters, 2/18/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb 18, Four Tunisian
police were killed in a pre-dawn attack by suspected Al-Qaeda-linked
militants near the Algerian border.
   (AFP, 2/18/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb 18, The Turkish
parliament descended into chaos when a furious brawl erupted as the
country's ruling party sought to push through a controversial bill
boosting the powers of police in protests.
   (AFP, 2/18/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb 18, In Turkey a
snowstorm in Istanbul grounded planes, halted traffic and forced the
closure of the Bosphorus Strait shipping channel.
   (Reuters, 2/18/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb 18, Ukraine government
forces pulled out of Debaltseve after a fierce assault by
Russian-backed separatists which Kiev and Europe said violated a
crumbling ceasefire. Kiev reported that 22 Ukrainian soldiers had
been killed and more than 150 wounded in fighting with
Russian-backed separatists in the railway junction of Debaltseve in
the last few days.
   (Reuters, 2/18/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb 19, Pres. Obama
designated the Pullman neighborhood of Chicago, where African
American railroad workers won a historic agreement, as the Pullman
National Monument.
   (SFC, 2/19/15, p.A8)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb 19, The website
Intercept posted documents saying the US National Security Agency
(NSA) and Britain’s GCHQ had hacked into the networks of Gemalto, a
SIM card maker, to steal codes allowing them to seamlessly eavesdrop
on mobile phones worldwide.
   (SFC, 2/21/15, p.A3)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb 19, In the SF Bay Area
dockworkers shut down the Port of Oakland as they took a day off for
a monthly union meeting, historicall held at night. This intensified
the bitter contract dispute at 29 West Coast ports.
   (SFC, 2/20/15, p.A1)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb 19, A US federal judge
ruled that American Express violated antitrust laws by barring
merchants from asking customers to use one credit card over another.
Visa and Mastercard ended similar practices after settling with the
Justice Dept. in 2010.  Â
   (SFC, 2/20/15, p.C3)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb 19, Bone-chilling cold
in the US Midwest shattered records in Chicago, closing schools and
starting its trudge eastward to an already frozen Boston and New
York.
   (Reuters, 2/20/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb 19, British teenager
Brusthom Ziamani (19) was found guilty of plotting to behead a
soldier in London after being influenced by the murder of an Afghan
war veteran who was hacked to death by two Islamists in the capital
a year earlier. Ziamani was arrested last August carrying a 12-inch
(30-cm) knife and a hammer, wrapped in a black Islamic flag.
   (Reuters, 2/19/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb 19, In Burundi
thousands marched through the capital in one of the largest
demonstrations in recent years after the release of Bob Rugurika, a
popular journalist and government critic from jail, months ahead of
key elections.
   (AFP, 2/19/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb 19, Canadian federal
police charged Montreal-based engineering firm SNC-Lavalin and its
subsidiaries with corruption for allegedly bribing officials in
Libya during former strongman Moamer Kadhafi's reign.
   (AFP, 2/19/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb 19, Cinemas in China
began showing “Wolf Totem,” based on a Chinese novel critiquing
man’s impulse to tame nature. Author Lu Jiamin, jailed for over a
year for his role in the 1989 Tiananmen Square protests, had
published the novel under the name Jiang Rong. The film was directed
by Jean-Jacques Annaud, a French director who China had banned for
making the 1997 film “Seven Years in Tibet.”
   (Econ, 2/14/15, p.40)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb 19, Chinese were
seeing in the Year of the Sheep as fireworks and firecrackers
ushered in the Lunar New Year across Asia.
   (AP, 2/19/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb 19, In China Luo
Renchu (64) attacked elderly residents and staff at the privately
run home in Hunan province. He killed 3 elderly residents with a
brick and injured 15 other people after arguing with his boss over
unpaid wages. On April 1, 2016, Renchu was sentenced to death for
killing 9 people.
   (AP, 2/21/15)(AP, 4/2/16)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb 19, It was reported
that the Czech humanitarian organization, People in Need, is setting
up an international center to support activists in former Soviet
Union countries who face pressure from their governments. It is
being co-financed by the US Agency for International Development,
the Swedish and Czech governments, and two private US foundations.
   (Reuters, 2/19/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb 19, The French victim
of a racist incident, involving Chelsea soccer fans in the Paris
metro on Feb 17, lodged an official complaint with police. He had
not initially know the incident had been filmed and widely
broadcast.
   (Reuters, 2/19/15)(SFC, 2/19/15, p.A2)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb 19, Georgia condemned
the signing of a border agreement between its breakaway region of
South Ossetia and Russia, accusing Moscow of moving closer to
annexing a territory it supported in a five-day conflict in 2008.
   (Reuters, 2/19/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb 19, A German
government spokesman said Russian President Vladimir Putin has
agreed in a conference call with the leaders of France, Germany and
Ukraine to use his influence on separatists to start an agreed
prisoner swap with Ukraine.
   (Reuters, 2/19/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb 19, Greece said the EU
had two choices, to accept or reject its request for a six-month
extension to its EU loan program, as a row over the bailout crisis
escalated.
   (AFP, 2/19/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb 19, In Iraq and Syria
the US-led coalition staged 15 air strikes on Islamic State forces
over the last 24 hours.
   (Reuters, 2/19/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb 19, Moldova sought to
stabilize the country's currency, which plummeted 25 percent this
week amid concerns over the financial and political system.
   (AP, 2/19/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb 19, This marked the
start of Mongolia’s Lunar new year: “Year of the Blue Ewe,”
according to a 60-year calendar cycle paring five colors or elements
with 12 animals in male and female forms.
   (SSFC, 2/15/15, p.L2)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb 19, In Mozambique at
least one person was killed and 12 wounded when a cargo train laden
with coal derailed near Magude.
   (AFP, 2/19/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb 19, In Myanmar about
4,000 workers were striking at clothing factories outside Yangon,
demanding that their overtime pay of 17 cents an hour be doubled.
Workers vowed to camp outside their factories unless employers meet
their demand, claiming they cannot live on pay amounting to 80,000
kyats ($80) a month as the cost of living rises.
   (AP, 2/19/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb 17, In Niger 36
civilians at a funeral ceremony were killed when an unidentified
plane bombarded a village near the Nigerian border.
   (AFP, 2/18/15)(CSM, 2/19/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb 19, Nigerian warplanes
bombarded training camps and caches of weapons and vehicles
belonging to the Islamist group Boko Haram in the northeasterly
Sambisa forest. Suspected Boko Haram gunmen hit the village of
Ladi-Shehuri, where they killed and burned a man in his car.
Soldiers from Konduga responded and killed about a dozen of the
attackers.
   (Reuters, 2/19/15)(AP, 2/21/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb 19, In Nigeria Boko
Haram militants fleeing an army offensive killed at least 30 people
in attacks near the village of Chibok, close to where the rebels
abducted more than 200 schoolgirls last year. The rebels were
fleeing a land and air offensive to clear them out of the Sambisa
forest when they raided the smaller villages of Gatamarwa, Makalama
and Layhawul.
   (Reuters, 2/20/15)(AFP, 2/20/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb 19, In Puerto Rico a
federal grand jury indicted 25 suspects on charges of running a
multimillion-dollar drug trafficking ring. The group allegedly began
operating in 2010 and generated at least $6 million in sales.
   (AP, 2/19/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb 19, In Slovakia
thousands of court officials went on a one-day warning strike,
complaining of low pay and underfunding of the legal system.
   (AP, 2/19/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb 19, In Syria rebels
recaptured the village of Hardatnein, two days after it was taken by
government forces. The Observatory said 90 troops and pro-government
gunmen, in addition to 81 rebels, have been killed since the
fighting began near Aleppo on Feb 17.
   (AP, 2/19/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb 19, Former Thai
premier Yingluck Shinawatra was formally indicted over a bungled
rice subsidy scheme in the latest legal move against her polarizing
family that could see her jailed for up to a decade.
   (AFP, 2/19/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb 19, Thailand passed a
law banning foreign couples from using Thai women as surrogates
after a series of high-profile scandals tainting the image of the
hitherto unregulated industry.
   (AFP, 2/19/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb 19, Turkish media
quoted the national intelligence agency (MIT) as saying that Islamic
State militants have entered Turkey and are plotting to attack
diplomatic missions in Ankara and Istanbul.
   (Reuters, 2/19/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb 19, Turkish
legislators scuffled for a second day in parliament over a new
security bill which critics say aims to crush dissent.
   (AP, 2/19/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb 19, Fighting raged in
eastern Ukraine despite European efforts to resurrect a still-born
ceasefire, a day after pro-Russian separatists who spurned the truce
forced thousands of government troops out Debaltseve. Ukraine said
more than 90 troops were captured and 82 were still missing after
pro-Russian rebels seized Debaltseve.
   (Reuters, 2/19/15)(AFP, 2/19/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb 19, In Venezuela
agents of the security police (Sebin) broke into the Caracas office
of Mayor Antonio Ledezma (59) and carted off the longtime critic of
the socialist government, adding to tensions on the anniversary of
the outbreak of protests that paralyzed the nation a year ago.
   (AP, 2/19/15)(SFC, 2/20/15, p.A4)(Econ., 2/28/15,
p.29)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb 20, The US government
said it will fine Japanese air bag maker Takata Corp. $14,000 per
day for failing to fully cooperate in a long-running investigation
of faulty and potentially dangerous air bag inflators.
   (AP, 2/20/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb 20, California reached
a settlement with a consortium of investors called California First
LP and agreed to pay $24 million after halting the sale of 11
buildings to the group during the height of its fiscal crises in
2010.
   (SFC, 2/23/15, p.C4)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb 20, Dockworkers and
shipping companies reached a tentative agreement that would set
cargo ships sailing again up and down the West Coast out of 29 ports
from San Diego to Seattle.
   (SFC, 2/21/15, p.A1)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb 20, Western
Pennsylvania recorded record temperatures in New Castle (-18), in
Butler (-15) and in Pittsburgh (-6).
   (SFC, 2/21/15, p.A6)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb 20, Duke Energy Corp.
said it has agreed to pay a fine of about $102 million for
environmental violations related to a power plant's coal ash spill
into a North Carolina river last year and the company's management
of coal ash basins in the state.
   (AP, 2/21/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb 20, In Texas inmates
at the Willacy County Correctional Center refused work duty and
breakfast. A lockdown was ordered after inmates broke out of Kevlar
tent housing units and entered a recreation yard. Tear gas was
deployed and 2 officers and 3 inmates sustained minor injuries.
   (SSFC, 2/22/15, p.A12)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb 20, In Virginia former
state first lady Maureen McDonnell was sentenced to one year and one
day in prison for her role in a bribery scheme that destroyed her
usband’s political career.
   (SFC, 2/21/15, p.A7)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb 20, In Abu Dhabi a
fire gutted a building on the outskirts of the Emirati capital,
killing 10 laborers who had been illegally living in a storage area
inside.
   (AP, 2/21/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb 20, In Australia two
powerful cyclones pounded the Northern Territory and Queensland,
leaving a trail of destruction with houses ripped apart, trees
uprooted and electricity cut to thousands of people. Authorities
said there were no fatalities.
   (AFP, 2/20/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb 20, In Brazil some
5,200 workers at an assembly line at one of three General Motors
plants ground to a halt as workers went on strike to protest the
planned layoffs of nearly 800 employees.
   (AP, 2/20/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb 20, A British court
overturned a previous ruling that prison overcrowding in Italy could
breach his human rights allowing convicted Sicilian mafioso Domenico
Rancadore (65) to be extradited. He had spent two decades living
incognito in Britain.
   (Reuters, 2/20/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb 20, Greece and its
creditors in the 19-nation eurozone reached an agreement to extend
the country's rescue loans for four months.
   (AP, 2/21/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb 20, Health authorities
in India said a flu outbreak has killed over 700 people in the last
ten weeks.
   (SFC, 2/21/15, p.A2)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb 20, In Indonesia a
crowded bus overturned on a toll road on the main island of Java,
killing 16 people near Semarang.
   (AP, 2/20/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb 20, Italy’s left-right
coalition, headed by Matteo Renzi, approved two decrees enacting the
core of an employment reform that parliament broadly endorsed last
year.
   (Econ., 2/28/15, p.47)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb 20, Kazakhstan soccer
federation Pres. Erlan Kozhagapanov said he wants to crack down on
match-fixing and corruption in football as the country prepares to
bid for the 2026 World Cup.
   (AP, 2/20/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb 20, Liberia's Pres.
Ellen Johnson Sirleaf announced the end of a midnight to 6 am curfew
that was imposed to help stem the spread of the Ebola epidemic.
   (AFP, 2/23/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb 20, In Libya three car
bombs ripped through the eastern city of Qubbah, killing at least 45
people and wounding 70. Islamic State militants said it was a
revenge attack for Egyptian air strikes on IS targets.
   (Reuters, 2/20/15)(AP, 2/20/15)(SFC, 2/21/15,
p.A4)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb 20, In western
Mauritania a road accident killed 14 soldiers and injured some 20
near the town of Atar.
   (AFP, 2/21/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb 20, In Somalia
Islamist rebels detonated a car bomb at the entrance of a hotel in
Mogadishu and then stormed inside where politicians had gathered,
killing at least 25 people including a lawmaker and lightly wounding
two ministers. Al Shabaab claimed responsibility. Somali
intelligence sources the next day identified the bombers as Dutch
nationals Ismail Muse and Lula Ahmed Dahir.
   (Reuters, 2/20/15)(AFP, 2/21/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb 20, In Switzerland two
trains slammed into each other near the city of Zurich, tipping over
carriages and injuring at least six people.
   (AFP, 2/20/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb 20, In southern
Thailand suspected Muslim insurgents detonated a car bomb that
wounded 13 people. A Thai air force F-16A fighter jet crashed during
a drill in central Thailand, killing the pilot.
   (AP, 2/20/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb 20, Ukraine accused
Russia of sending more tanks and troops into eastern Ukraine and
said they were heading towards the rebel-held town of Novoazovsk on
the southern coast, expanding their presence on what could be the
next key battlefront. Ukrainian military spokesman Anatoly Stelmach
listed 49 attacks in the past 24 hours.
   (Reuters, 2/20/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb 20, Ukrainian Pres.
Petro Poroshenko said that police evidence showed that a top Russian
presidential aide, Vladislav Surkov, had directed "foreign sniper
groups" who shot and killed protesters in Kiev a year ago.
   (Reuters, 2/20/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb 20, UN war crimes
investigators announced a radical change of strategy, saying they
would publish names of suspects involved in Syria's four-year war
and push for new routes towards international justice.
   (Reuters, 2/20/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb 20, The UN envoy to
Yemen said rival factions have agreed on a new legislative body to
serve during the country’s transition period.
   (SFC, 2/21/15, p.A3)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb 20, Zambia and
Zimbabwe signed $294 million in deals with international investors
allowing urgent repairs to avert the collapse of the gigantic,
power-generating Kariba Dam, the world's largest man-made dam, to
begin this year.
   (AFP, 2/20/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb 21, US Secretary of
State John Kerry said the United States and its allies are
discussing imposing more sanctions against Russia for undermining a
European-brokered truce in eastern Ukraine.
   (Reuters, 2/21/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb 21, In New York
retired White Plains police officer Glen Hochman (52) shot and
killed his daughters, Alissa (17) and Deanna (13), and himself. His
wife and a third, older, daughter were not at home. Three dogs were
also shot to death. And on the day before the killings, his wife had
gone to police to report an argument over an $80 cellphone bill.
   (AP, 2/23/15)(SFC, 2/23/15, p.A6)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb 21, Ohio arrested
Abdirahman Sheik Mohamud (23) for violating state law. By providing
support to persons engaged in terrorism in the Middle East. Mohamud
had trained with a terrorist group in Syria. On April 16 a federal
indictment charged him with planning to carry out attacks in the US.
   (SFC, 4/17/15, p.A7)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb 21, In Afghanistan
Fazel Ahmad Azimi, the central bank director for the southern
region, said that at least bank three employees were involved in the
robbery of around 76 million afghanis (more than $ 1 million) in a
bank branch in the Spin Boldak district of Kandahar province. The
suspected employees were believed to have fled to neighboring
Pakistan.
   (AP, 2/21/15)  Â
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb 21, In Bosnia a
landslide at the Dubrave open pit coal mine near the northern town
of Tuzla killed at least four people.
   (AP, 2/22/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb 21, Brazil's
environmental agency detained Ezequiel Antonio Castanha in Para
state. The land land-grabber was thought to be the Amazon's single
biggest deforester. Castanha's group was estimated to have clear-cut
some 58 square miles (15,000 hectares).
   (AP, 2/24/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb 21, In eastern Croatia
a boy (7) and his mother were killed and three other children were
injured when a hand grenade exploded at their home. Local media
reported that it happened when the children found the grenade at a
nearby playground and brought it into the house.
   (AFP, 2/21/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb 21, Cuba released Cy
Tokmakjian (71), a Canadian automobile executive, who had been held
for more than 3 years on corruption charges. His family held that
his prosecution was an excuse to seize his company’s $100 million
assets in Cuba.Â
   (SSFC, 2/22/15, p.A5)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb 21, An Egyptian court
acquitted former oil minister Sameh Fahmi, as well as five other
officials, in a retrial after a 2012 conviction for selling Israel
natural gas at below market price. They had served under
ex-strongman Hosni Mubarak.
   (AFP, 2/21/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb 21, French Foreign
Minister Laurent Fabius arrived in Chad as part of a 48-hour trip to
countries affected by Boko Haram's insurgency. He will travel to
Cameroon and Niger next.
   (Reuters, 2/21/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb 21, Indian government
forces killed two suspected rebels in a gunbattle in the disputed
Himalayan region of Kashmir.
   (AP, 2/21/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb 21, A new report said
India's filthy air is cutting 660 million lives short by about three
years.
   (AP, 2/21/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb 21, In Iraq Zekra
Alwach, a civil engineer and director general of the ministry of
higher education, became the first female mayor of Baghdad, and the
first woman to be given such a post in the whole country.
   (AFP, 2/21/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb 21, In Iraq and Syria
the US-led coalition said it has staged six air strikes against
Islamic State targets over the past 24 hours.
   (Reuters, 2/21/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb 21, In Libya militants
claiming loyalty to Islamic State executed a rocket strike on the
eastern Labraq airport.
   (Reuters, 2/22/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb 21, Niger said Boko
Haram militants have attacked an island on Niger's side of Lake Chad
but the army repelled them after heavy fighting.
   (Reuters, 2/21/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb 21, Nigerian forces
backed by air strikes seized the northeastern border town of Baga
from Islamist group Boko Haram.
   (Reuters, 2/21/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb 21, In Russia as many
as 40,000 ultranationalist bikers, pensioners, war veterans, members
of student organizations and activists from other pro-Kremlin groups
gathered in Moscow to protest US involvement in Ukraine. Critics
said many were paid to attend or bussed in.
   (AP, 2/21/15)(AFP, 2/21/15)  Â
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb 21, Saudi media
reported that morality police have detained a group of young men for
dancing at a birthday party and referred them to prosecutors.
   (AP, 2/22/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb 21, Saudi Arabia's
Health Ministry said two more people have died after contracting
Middle East Respiratory Syndrome or MERS, pushing the total number
of deaths from the virus in the kingdom to 385.
   (AP, 2/22/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb 21, In the Swiss Alps
an avalanche swept away a group of Italian skiers leaving 4 dead.
   (AFP, 2/22/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb 21, In Syria 8 people,
including 2 women and 2 children, were killed when a barrel bomb hit
a building in an opposition-held area of Aleppo. 5 more people were
reported killed in rebel shelling of regime-held areas of the city.
Syria’s air force also killed at least 7 people in rebel areas east
of Damascus. A car bomb attack in the parking of Qardaha hospital
killed four citizens and wounded several others.
   (AFP, 2/21/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb 21, In Thailand Juan
Francisco Guillermo (47), a Chilean cyclist, was hit by a pickup
truck and immediately killed on a highway in Nakhon Ratchasima
province. Guillermo was attempting to set a Guinness World Record by
cycling 250,000 km (155,350 miles) on five continents in five years.
His journey started in November 2010 and was scheduled to end in
November this year.
   (AP, 2/21/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb 21, Ukraine government
forces and rebels exchanged 139 government and 52 rebel prisoners,
one of the first moves to implement the peace deal reached on Feb.
12 in the Belarussian capital Minsk.
   (Reuters, 2/22/15)(SSFC, 2/22/15, p.A6)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb 21, In Yemen Houthis
tried to storm a special forces base outside the capital, exchanging
fire with troops there who are mostly loyal to Hadi's predecessor,
Ali Abdullah Saleh. The fighting killed 3 people. Former president
Abed Rabbo Mansour Hadi left the capital after Shiite rebels who had
been holding him under house arrest released him under international
and local pressure. Thousands marched in support of Hadi in southern
Ibb province, where they urged the Houthis to leave the region and
halt their interference in local affairs.
   (AP, 2/21/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb 22, The 87th Academy
Awards Ceremony was held in Los Angeles. The Best Picture Oscar went
to “Birdman”; Eddie Redmayne won the best actor award for “The
Theory of Everything” and Julianne Moore won the best actress award
for “Still Alice.” Musicians Common and John Legend collected the
Academy Award for best original song for "Glory", their politically
aware theme from "Selma." Birdman, directed by Alejandro Gonzalez
Inarritu of Mexico, won four Oscars.
   (AP, 2/23/15)(AFP, 2/23/15)(SFC, 2/23/15,
p.E1)(Econ., 2/28/15, p.77)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb 22, In the 87th
Academy Awards Poland won its first ever foreign language movie
Oscar for "Ida."
   (SFC, 2/23/15, p.E1)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb 22, Bangladesh
officials said special forces have raided a training camp in the
southeastern Chittagong district operated by an Islamist militant
network that was planning to carry out attacks in the country.
   (Reuters, 2/22/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb 22, In Bangladesh a
river ferry carrying up to 140 passengers capsized after being hit
by a cargo vessel, killing at least 70 people.
   (AP, 2/22/15)(AP, 2/23/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb 22, Hungary's ruling
right-wing alliance lost its two-thirds majority in parliament after
the opposition won a by-election, hampering PM Viktor Orban's
chances of changing the constitution and passing major legislation.
   (Reuters, 2/23/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb 22, In Iraq multiple
bombings, including a suicide truck bomb attack on Shiite
militiamen, killed 12 people, as police found four bodies with
gunshots wounds in Baghdad.
   (AP, 2/22/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb 22, In Iraq The
Islamic State jihadist group released a new video purporting to show
captured Kurdish peshmerga fighters paraded through Iraqi streets in
cages. Kurdish sources said it was filmed a week earlier in the main
market of Hawija, an IS-held town some 50 km from Kirkuk.
   (AFP, 2/22/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb 22, Israel’s PM
Benjamin Netanyahu said Iran is seeking to open a "third front"
against Israel using Hezbollah fighters on the Syrian Golan Heights.
   (AFP, 2/22/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb 22, Israel said it
will purchase 14 additional next-generation F-35 fighter jets for
approximately $3 billion.
   (AP, 2/22/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb 22, Japan’s Tokyo
Electric Power Co (TEPCO) said sensors at the Fukushima nuclear
plant have detected a fresh leak of highly radioactive water to the
sea. The firm said it has shut the gutter to prevent radioactive
water from going into the Pacific Ocean.
   (AFP, 2/22/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb 22, In Kuwait an
appeals court sentenced Musallam al-Barrack, a leading former
opposition lawmaker, to two years in prison instead of five after he
was found guilty of insulting the country's ruler during a rally in
2012.
   (AP, 2/22/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb 22, Libya's
internationally recognized government said it will end all contracts
with companies from Turkey, a country it has accused of supporting a
rival administration.
   (Reuters, 2/23/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb 22, Libya resumed oil
exports from the eastern port of Zueitina after an almost year-long
suspension and is also testing a pipeline to restart exports from
Hariga port. Zueitina is under the control of troops loyal to the
internationally recognized Libyan government.
   (Reuters, 2/22/15)  Â
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb 22, In Libya militants
claiming loyalty to Islamic State executed twin bomb attacks on the
residence of the Iranian ambassador in Tripoli.
   (Reuters, 2/22/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb 22, Maldives’ police
arrested former president Mohamed Nasheed after a court said he
might flee the country to avoid hearings on terrorism charges,
leading to clashes between his supporters and authorities.
   (Reuters, 2/22/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb 22, In northeastern
Nigeria a girl suicide bomber, who appeared no more than 10 years
old, blew herself up and killed 4 others in an attack on a market in
Potiskum.
   (AFP, 2/22/15)(AP, 2/23/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb 22, South Africa's
Harmony Gold said about 200 miners had not been located after an
underground fire started at its Kusasalethu mine during maintenance.
   (Reuters, 2/22/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb 22, A Syrian man was
shown beheaded in a video posted to Facebook. Malaysian authorities
later Mohd Faris Anuar (20) and Muhamad Wanndy Muhammad Jedi (25) of
Malaysia as the men involved in the beheading by the Islamic State.
   (Reuters, 3/4/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb 22, Almost 600 Turkish
troops pushed deep into Syria evacuating Turkish soldiers guarding a
historic tomb who had been stranded in territory controlled by
Islamic State jihadists. They brought back the tomb containing the
remains of Suleyman Shah, grandfather of the Ottoman empire's
founder, Osman I.
   (AFP, 2/22/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb 22, In eastern Ukraine
pro-Moscow rebels said they would start to withdraw heavy weapons
from the front line. The Kiev government said armored columns had
crossed the border from Russia to reinforce the separatists. In
Kharkiv 2 people were killed and 10 wounded when an explosive device
was thrown from a car into a crowd attending a peace rally.
   (Reuters, 2/22/15)(Reuters, 2/23/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb 22, Yemen's president
sought to resume his duties as head of state as he convened
governors of several southern provinces and military commanders at
the presidential retreat in the economic hub of Aden.
   (Reuters, 2/22/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb 23, In Nebraska
officer Lugod shot Danny Elrod (39) in the back in a confrontation
minutes after Elrod allegedly robbed a Family Dollar store in Omaha.
In early March a grand jury cleared Lugod. On March 24 the Omaha
Police Dept. announced that Lugod has resigned.
   (Reuters, 3/24/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb 23, An ice storm hit
wide parts of Texas and neighboring states knocking out power to
thousands of people and leading to hundreds of traffic accidents and
caused more than 1,300 flight cancellations nationwide. In Tennessee
at least 22 people have been killed in the past few days due to icy,
winter conditions. Officials said 11 people have died in Kentucky
due to the snow and ice that began pummeling the state on Feb. 16.
   (AP, 2/23/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb 23, In southern
Afghanistan unidentified gunmen in Zabul province stopped two buses
traveling to Kabul, and seized 31 men and boys belonging to the
ethnic Hazara minority. Islamic State militants were later blamed
for the kidnapping.
   (Reuters, 2/24/15)(SSFC, 4/5/15, p.A3)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb 23, Bahrain said seven
people suspected of involvement in deadly bombings targeting
security forces have been apprehended.
   (Reuters, 2/23/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb 23, Bosnia's
parliament adopted an economic and social reform plan that could
unblock the country's path toward EU membership.
   (AP, 2/23/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb 23, Two British former
foreign ministers, Jack Straw and Malcolm Rifkind, were suspended
from their parties after claims that they offered to use their
positions to help a private company for cash in an undercover
investigation.
   (AFP, 2/23/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb 23, An Egyptian court
sentenced prominent activist Alaa Abdel Fattah to five years in jail
for violating limits on demonstrations, part of one of the toughest
crackdowns on dissent in Egypt's history.
   (Reuters, 2/23/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb 23, A French aircraft
carrier launched operations in the Gulf against the Islamic State
group as the new Pentagon chief summoned top generals and diplomats
to Kuwait to review war efforts.
   (AFP, 2/23/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb 23, In Iraq and Syria
the United States and its allies staged 25 air strikes on Islamic
State fighters over the last 24 hours. About 800 Iraqi forces backed
by US warplanes waged a battle to retake the western town of
Al-Baghdadi from Islamic State jihadists.
   (Reuters, 2/23/15)(AFP, 2/23/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb 23, Kenya's
Constitutional Court threw out parts of a new anti-terrorism law,
including restrictions on the media, but left most of it intact,
including a provision allowing police to hold terrorism suspects for
a year without charge.
   (Reuters, 2/23/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb 23, Kenyan police
arrested 101 Ethiopian nationals suspected of traveling illegally
through Kenya on their way to South Africa.
   (AP, 2/24/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb 23, Libya's
internationally recognized parliament suspended its participation in
UN-brokered talks on the future of the war-wracked North African
state. A parliamentarian, on condition of anonymity, said the
decision to pull out of talks was taken over fears that the
international community would exert pressure to include Islamists in
a future unity government.
   (AFP, 2/23/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb 23, In central Nigeria
masked gunmen kidnapped Rev. Phyllis Sortor, an American woman doing
missionary work for the Free Methodist Church, with ransom the
suspected motive for the attack. Sorter was released on March 6.
   (AFP, 2/24/15)(SFC, 2/25/15, p.A2)(AFP, 3/6/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb 23, The Russian
consumer watchdog Rospotrebnadzor said it has suspended since Feb 20
all imports of cheese from Poland due to irregularities in
"normative requirements".
   (Reuters, 2/23/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb 23, Singapore
announced income tax rises for the top five percent of the
population to fund rising social spending targeted at the poor and
elderly in the rapidly ageing city-state.
   (AFP, 2/23/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb 23, In Syria a rocket
struck a prison in a suburb of Damascus, killing at least 4 people.
   (AP, 2/23/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb 23, In northeast Syria
jihadists from the Islamic State group kidnapped at least 90
Assyrian Christians, after overrunning two villages in Hassakeh
province. The abducted number rose to 220 over the next few days as
militants rounded up more hostages from a chain of villages along
the strategic Khabur River. In 2016 the int’l. Assyrian Christian
community raised millions in ransom and freed 226 kidnapped members.
   (AFP, 2/24/15)(Reuters, 2/25/15)(AP,
2/26/15)(SFC, 12/7/16, p.A2)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb 23, Thailand sentenced
two students, Patiwat Saraiyaem (23) and Porntip Mankong (2), to
jail for 2-1/2 years for insulting the monarchy in a university
play.
   (Reuters, 2/23/15)  Â
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb 23, Ukraine's military
said it could not start withdrawing heavy weapons from the front
line in the east as required under a tenuous ceasefire because
pro-Russian separatists who advanced last week were still attacking
its positions. Ukraine's military said two of its soldiers had been
killed and 10 wounded in the past 24 hours.
   (Reuters, 2/23/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb 23, In Yemen thousands
took to the streets of Sanaa, to denounce the Houthi rebels and show
support for the country's embattled president. Shiite rebels
(Houthis) threatened to arrest and try for treason the prime
minister and all Cabinet members if they fail to return to work.
   (AP, 2/23/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb 24, Alaska became the
first red state to legalize the smoking, growing, and owning of
small amounts of marijuana, bringing the decriminalization movement
to a conservative stronghold.
   (Reuters, 2/24/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb 24, In northeastern
Afghanistan avalanches caused by a heavy winter snow killed at least
165 people, as rescuers clawed through debris with their hands to
save those buried beneath. By week’s end nationwide the death toll
from avalanches and flooding rose to at least 247 people.
   (AP, 2/25/15)(AP, 2/26/15)(AP, 3/1/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb 24, Argentine spy
Antonio Stiuso, at the center of a scandal over last month's death
of a state prosecutor, was accused of importing tons of contraband
merchandise during his final years as head of the country's
counterintelligence office.
   (Reuters, 2/25/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb 24, In Austria Rakhat
Aliyev (b.1962), the Kazakh president's former son-in-law, was found
dead in his prison cell while awaiting trial on charges of murder.
  Â
(http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rakhat_Aliyev)(Econ., 4/4/15, p.38)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb 24, Brazilian union
officials said truck drivers are blocking roads in six states to
protest hikes in fuel prices and tolls.
   (AP, 2/24/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb 24, In Brazil
inspectors conducting routine water testing in Rio’s sewage filled
Guanabara Bay found thousands of carcasses of twaite shad fish. This
was the site for sailing events in next year’s Olympics.
   (SFC, 2/26/15, p.A6)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb 24, In Britain
Conservative Party lawmaker Malcolm Rifkind quit as head of the
parliamentary committee overseeing the intelligence services and
announced his retirement after being caught in a hidden-camera sting
operation appearing to discuss swapping political influence for
money.
   (SFC, 2/25/15, p.A2)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb 24, In China 22 people
were killed and 38 injured in a bus accident in Bachu County,
Xinjiang region.
   (Reuters, 2/25/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb 24, The army of the
Democratic Republic of Congo launched an assault against FDLR
Rwandan Hutu rebels in South Kivu province.
   (AFP, 2/24/15)(SFC, 2/25/15, p.A2)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb 24, In the Czech Rep.
8 people were reported shot dead in the Druzba restaurant in then
eastern town of Uhersky Brod. The attacker (60) killed himself after
the shooting spree.
   (Reuters, 2/24/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb 24, It was reportd
that Egyptian President Abdel-Fattah el-Sissi has issued a law that
broadens the state's definition of terrorism to include anyone who
threatens public order "by any means," and gives authorities powers
to draw up lists of alleged terrorists with little judicial
recourse. The legislation was signed in the form of a decree last
week and was distributed to reporters today.
   (AP, 2/24/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb 24, In Egypt a court
in Cairo cleared Habib el-Adly, the former interior minister of
former Pres. Hosni Mubarak, of the last of several criminal charges
that have kept him behind bars.
   (SFC, 2/25/15, p.A2)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb 24, Eurozone finance
ministers announced they have approved a list of reforms submitted
by Greece in exchange for a four-month extension to its
international bailout.
   (AFP, 2/24/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb 24, French president
Francois Hollande and Italian PM Matteo Renzi signed an agreement
for a long-standing rail project to ease transport of freight across
the Alps. The line would not open before 2028.
   (AP, 2/24/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb 24, In Germany the
Emnid polling institute for Berlin's Free University said in a new
survey that nearly a third of Germans believe that capitalism is the
cause of poverty and hunger and a majority think true democracy is
not possible under that economic system.
   (Reuters, 2/24/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb 24, Indian police said
they had made the single biggest seizure of gold smuggled into the
country after arresting six people leaving an airport with 60 kg of
the precious metal flown in from Dubai. The arrest was likely to
strengthen pressure on Finance Minister Arun Jaitley to cut the gold
import duty from a record-high 10 percent in his budget on Feb 28.
   (Reuters, 2/24/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb 24, Iranian officials
and Western intelligence and diplomatic sources said at least $1
billion in cash has been smuggled into Iran in recent months as it
seeks to avoid Western sanctions, a bigger figure than previously
reported.
   (Reuters, 2/24/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb 24, In Iraq a series
of bombings killed at least 40 people. Islamic State fighters
detained 42 Sunni tribesmen in the village of Rubaidha ahead of a
widely expected army offensive. Last week insurgents detained 56 men
accused of belonging to a government-backed Sunni militia.
   (AP, 2/24/15)(Reuters, 2/25/15)(SFC, 2/25/15,
p.A2)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb 24, In Israel
Bethlehem Governor Jebren al-Bakri said Jihad al-Jafari (19) was
shot and killed on the roof of his house in the Deheisha refugee
camp as he was watching an Israeli raid below.
   (AP, 2/24/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb 24, Finmeccanica,
Italy’s state-controlled aerospace and defense groups said Japan’s
Hitachi will buy its rail businesses.
   (Econ., 2/28/15, p.58)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb 24, Jamaica's
parliament cleared the way for decriminalizing marijuana by
approving amendments to its Dangerous Drugs Act. The act
decriminalized small amounts of pot and established a licensing
agency to regulate a lawful medical marijuana industry.
   (Reuters, 2/25/15)(SFC, 2/25/15, p.A2)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb 24, Libya's
internationally recognized parliament created a new army chief post,
with a lawmaker and state media saying the job will go to once
retired General Khalifa Haftar, fighting to eradicate Islamist
forces.
   (AFP, 2/24/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb 24, Lithuania said it
will restore compulsory military service for young men as tensions
in Ukraine continue to worry the small Baltic nation.
   (AP, 2/24/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb 24, In Niger a mine
planted by Boko Haram insurgents killed two soldiers and injured
four others in the Diffa region bordering Yobe.
   (AFP, 2/24/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb 24, In northern
Nigeria two blasts rocked bus stations outside Potiskum and in Kano,
killing at least 34 people.
   (AFP, 2/24/15)(AFP, 2/26/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb 24, Saudi newspapers
said a court has jailed at least 13 men on counts including the
recruitment of al Qaeda militants for the September 11, 2001 attacks
on the US and sheltering Osama bin Laden in Pakistan.
   (Reuters, 2/24/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb 24, Spain's
Constitutional Court unanimously declared a vote on secession by the
powerful northeastern region of Catalonia last November as
unconstitutional.
   (AP, 2/25/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb 24, Spain said it has
broken up an online network accused of recruiting young women to
join Islamic State militants fighting in Iraq and Syria and arrested
four suspects.
   (AFP, 2/24/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb 24, In eastern Ukraine
pro-Russia separatists said they had begun pulling heavy weapons
from the front line under a ceasefire deal, but Ukraine said the
rebels were using the cover of the truce to reinforce for another
advance.
   (Reuters, 2/24/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb 24, Ukraine's
president said his country has signed an agreement to cooperate with
the United Arab Emirates on military and technical issues as he
kicked off a visit to the Western-allied Gulf nation.
   (AP, 2/24/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb 24, UN-appointed
investigators said Yemeni ex-president Ali Abdullah Saleh is
suspected of corruptly amassing as much as $60 billion, equivalent
to Yemen's annual GDP, during his 1978-2012 rule, and colluding in a
militia takeover last year.
   (Reuters, 2/25/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb 24, In Yemen gunmen
kidnapped Isabelle Prime, a Frenchwoman (30) working for the World
Bank, and her Yemeni driver as she was on her way to work in Sanaa.
The Houthis said that Pres. Hadi had lost his legitimacy as head of
state and was being sought as a fugitive from justice. Prime and her
translator arrived in France on August 7.
   (Reuters, 2/24/15)(Reuters, 2/25/15)(SFC, 8/8/15,
p.A2)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb 24, In Venezuela a
teenager was fatally shot at an anti-government protest in the
western city of San Cristobal.
   (Reuters, 2/25/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb 25, The US Supreme
Court voted 5-4 to throw overboard a Florida fisherman’s conviction
under an evidence-tampering provision of a federal white collar
crime law for disposing of undersized red grouper fish while he was
under investigation. Fisherman John Yates was convicted in 2011 on
two of three charges, including one under the so-called
anti-shredding provision of the Sarbanes-Oxley law. The case began
in August 2007 when federal and state officials measured fish on
Yates's commercial fishing boat, named the Miss Katie, that they
suspected were undersized.
   (Reuters, 2/25/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb 25, The US Supreme
Court ruled that the North Carolina state regulatory board, made up
mostly of dentists, violated federal law against unfair competition
when it tried to prevent lower-cost competitors in other fields from
offering teeth-whitening procedures.
   (SFC, 2/26/15, p.A12)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb 25, A US federal
appeals court said Almaz Nezirovic, a former Bosnian prison guard
living in Virginia, is eligible for extradition to face war-crimes
charges.
   (SFC, 2/26/15, p.A7)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb 25, Former Guatemala
President Alfonso Portillo (2000-2004) was released from a US
minimum security facility in Colorado and returned to his home
county. In 2014 he pleaded guilty in federal court to a conspiracy
charge saying he had accepted $2.5 million in bribes to continue to
recognize Taiwan diplomatically during his presidency.
   (SFC, 2/26/15, p.A7)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb 25, The US-based TJX
Cos., owners of T.J. Maxx, Marshalls and other chains said it would
hike worker hourly pay to at least $9 beginning in June.
   (SFC, 2/26/15, p.C3)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb 25, The Austrian
parliament singled out Islam as a faith by passing a law that
restricts its adherents' religious activities. The new “Law on
Islam” bars outside funding of Islamic religious communities, forces
small mosques to close within a year, and requires imams to preach
in German.
   (CSM, 2/26/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb 25, A Bangladesh court
issued an arrest warrant for Khaleda Zia, the opposition leader
whose political feud with PM Sheikh Hasina has dominated the
country's politics for more than a decade.
   (AP, 2/25/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb 25, In Bosnia appeals
judge Azra Miletic was arrested on suspicion of taking a bribe. Two
other people, whose sentences for organized crime and drug-dealing
had been greatly reduced on appeal, were arrested on the same
grounds. One was a former police officer.
   (Reuters, 2/26/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb 25, Cyprus signed a
deal with Russia allowing its navy ships to make regular port calls
on the island.
   (AP, 2/25/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb 25, The EU unveiled a
vast plan to boost coordination between its 28 national energy
markets to wean Europe off unstable Russian gas supplies and provide
cheaper energy for consumers.
   (AP, 2/25/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb 25, France outlined
plans for a broader dialogue with its Muslim minority after the
faith's official council proved unable to deal with the challenges
presented by Islamist radicalization.
   (Reuters, 2/25/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb 25, French police
arrested three Al Jazeera journalists for illegally flying drones in
Paris.
   (SFC, 2/26/15, p.A2)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb 25, In Iraq and Syria
the US and its partner nations launched 15 air strikes against the
Islamic State with six in Iraq and nine in Syria over the last 24
hours.
   (Reuters, 2/25/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb 25, New Zealand
reported that it will be sending 143 troops to Iraq tasked with
protecting 16 Kiwi soldiers training Iraqi forces.
   (SSFC, 3/1/15, p.A4)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb 25, Philippine
President Benigno Aquino called for autonomy for a Muslim region to
end an insurgency there despite widespread misgivings after Muslim
rebels killed 44 policemen.
   (Reuters, 2/25/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb 25, Philippine troops,
backed by artillery fire and assault helicopters, battled about 300
Abu Sayyaf rebels in fighting that left 2 soldiers and 5 militants
dead.
   (AP, 2/25/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb 25, Somali pirates
released four Thai sailors who were held hostage for nearly five
years. They were sailors of the FV Prantalay 12 vessel, seized by
Somali pirates on April 18, 2010.
   (AP, 2/27/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb 25, The South African
government raised taxes and scaled back spending plans in its annual
budget as it wrestled with stalling growth, rising debt, power
blackouts and rampant unemployment.
   (AFP, 2/25/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb 25, In eastern Ukraine
a long-awaited truce took hold at last with the army reporting no
combat fatalities for the first time in weeks, but the news did
nothing to halt a currency collapse that forced the central bank to
ban most trading.
   (Reuters, 2/25/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb 25, In Yemen armed men
from the newly dominant Houthi group took over a special forces army
base in Sanaa in clashes that left at least 10 people killed.
   (Reuters, 2/25/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb 26, The US Federal
Communications Commission voted to enforce "net neutrality" rules
for the broadband industry.
   (AP, 2/27/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb 26, The US Navy said
the United States has begun flying its most advanced surveillance
aircraft, the P-8A Poseidon, out of the Philippines for patrols over
the South China Sea, acknowledging the flights for the first time.
The P-8A was deployed in the Philippines for three weeks until Feb.
21, making more than 180 flight hours over the South China Sea.
   (Reuters, 2/26/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb 26, US government
sources investigators believe that the "Jihadi John" masked fighter
who fronted Islamic State beheading videos is a British man named
Mohammed Emwazi.
   (Reuters, 2/26/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb 26, In San Francisco
two police detectives shot and killed Amilcar Perez-Lopez (21) a
Guatemalan immigrant armed with a knife. An autopsy showed
Perez-Lopez was shot five times from behind and a sixth time in the
side by both officers, who ended up standing side-by-side as
Perez-Lopez ran toward Detective Craig Tiffe.
   (AP, 4/13/17)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb 26, In Berkeley, Ca.,
Flow Kana, a startup for delivering medical marijuana to your door,
held a launch party.
   (SFC, 2/28/15, p.D1)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb 26, In Indiana
Theodore Hesburgh (b.1917), former president of Notre Dame Univ.
(1952-1987), died. He was awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom
in 1964 and the Congressional Gold Medal in 2000.
   (SFC, 2/28/15, p.A5)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb 26, In NYC Khaled
al-Fawwaz (52) of Saudi Arabia, a reported confidant of Osama bin
Laden, was convicted of conspiracy in the 1998 bombings of two US
embassies in Africa.
   (SFC, 2/27/15, p.A5)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb 26, In NYC three men
were arrested and charged with providing support to the Islamic
State militants.
   (SFC, 2/27/15, p.A5)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb 26, More than 220,000
homes and businesses remained without power in North Carolina and
South Carolina today due to a winter storm with high winds.
   (Reuters, 2/26/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb 26, In Washington DC a
new law went into effect legalyzing possession of marijuana for
recreational purposes, following a voter approved initiative last
November.
   (SFC, 2/27/15, p.A10)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb 26, SolarCity Corp.
said it created a $750 million fund to finance about 25,000
residential solar projects, with Google Inc investing nearly half
the funding.
   (Reuters, 2/26/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb 26, In Afghanistan a
Taliban suicide bomber rammed an explosive-packed Toyota Corolla
into a Turkish diplomatic vehicle in Kabul, killing at least 2
people and wounding one.
   (Reuters, 2/26/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb 26, An Argentine judge
dismissed accusations that President Cristina Fernandez conspired to
cover up Iran's alleged involvement in the 1994 bombing of a Jewish
community center. Argentina’s Chamber of Deputies passed a bill
dissolving the Intelligence Secretariat and replacing it with a body
called the Federal Intelligence Agency.
   (Reuters, 2/26/15)(AFP, 2/26/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb 26, A Bahraini court
sentenced three Shiites to death and jailed seven others for life
after convicting them of killing 3 policemen in the Sunni-ruled Gulf
state last year. The supreme criminal court also stripped eight of
the defendants of their Bahraini citizenship over the March 3, 2014,
bombing in a Shiite village.
   (AFP, 2/26/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb 26, Prominent
Bangladeshi-American blogger Avijit Roy, known for speaking out
against religious extremism, was hacked to death as he walked
through Dhaka with his wife, Rafida Ahmed, who was seriously
injured. A previously unknown militant group, Ansar Bangla 7,
claimed responsibility. Asim Umar, purported leader of al Qaeda in
the Indian subcontinent (AQIS), later claimed credit for the
killing.
   (AP, 2/27/15)(AP, 2/28/15)(SFC, 5/5/15, p.A5)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb 26, “Jihadi John,” a
member of the Islamic State and the beheader of at least 5 Western
hostages, was identified as a British Islamist named Mohammed
Emwazi. He first appeared in a video last August, when he apparently
killed the US journalist James Foley.
   (www.bbc.com/news/uk-31637090)(Econ., 3/7/15,
p.59)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb 26, China imposed a
one-year ban on ivory imports with immediate effect amid criticism
that its citizens' huge appetite for ivory has fueled poaching that
threatens the existence of African elephants.
   (AP, 2/26/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb 26, In the Czech Rep.
a court convicted Roman Catholic priest Erik Tvrdon of rape and
sexual abuse and sentenced him to five years in prison. He was found
guilty of raping four women and sexually abusing a minor.
   (AP, 2/26/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb 26, In Egypt six small
bombs exploded in the Giza district across the Nile from Cairo
killing one person and wounding ten others.
   (SFC, 2/27/15, p.A2)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb 26, Egyptian police
arrested three men suspected of torturing and killing a chained dog
with knives, after horrific footage of the incident sparked outrage
in the country. On March 11 a court convicted four men over the
grisly killing and sentenced them to three years in prison.
   (AFP, 2/26/15)(AP, 3/11/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb 26, A new Iranian
political party, Nedaye Iranian (Call of Iranians), with social
democratic leanings opened its first congress, aiming to lead
reformists to victory in the Islamic republic's legislative
elections next year.
   (AFP, 2/26/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb 26, In Iran a
helicopter belonging to the country's air force crashed north of
Tehran, killing all three crew members on board.
   (AP, 2/26/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb 26, The Islamic State
group released a video showing militants using sledgehammers to
smash ancient artifacts in Iraq's northern city of Mosul, describing
the relics as idols that must be removed.
   (AP, 2/26/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb 26, In Israel
suspected Jewish extremists set fire to a Greek Orthodox seminary
building in Jerusalem, 24 hours after a mosque was torched in the
West Bank.
   (AFP, 2/26/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb 26, In Liberia the
United States staged a military ceremony to end its five-month Ebola
mission, with the west African nation in recovery from the
worst-ever outbreak of the virus.
   (AFP, 2/26/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb 26, Libya's
internationally recognized PM Abdullah al-Thinni said his government
would stop dealing with Turkey as it was sending weapons to a rival
group in Tripoli so "the Libyan people kill each other", ramping up
his rhetoric against Ankara.
   (Reuters, 2/27/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb 26, In northeastern
Nigeria a suicide bomber blew himself up at a crowded bus station in
Biu, while a second bomber was shot dead before he could detonate
his explosives. At least 18 people, including 3 women, were reported
killed. Two blasts targeting a bus park in the central city of Jos
killed at least 17 people.
   (AFP, 2/26/15)(AFP, 2/27/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb 26, In the Philippines
communist rebels killed five army soldiers and wounded six others in
an ambush in Quirino township, Ilocos Sur province.
   (AP, 2/27/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb 26, South Korea’s
Constitutional court struck down a 62-year-old law that made
adultery an offense punishable by up to two years in prison.
   (SFC, 2/27/15, p.A4)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb 26, In northeastern
Syria the US-led coalition carried out air strikes against the
Islamic State group, where the jihadists have launched a new
offensive and kidnapped 220 Assyrian Christians.
   (AFP, 2/26/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb 26, A Taiwanese
fishing boat went missing off southeastern Argentina with 49 crew
members.
   (AP, 3/7/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb 26, Ukrainian troops
towed artillery away from the front line in the east, a move that
amounted to recognizing that a ceasefire meant to take effect on
Feb. 15 was holding at last.
   (Reuters, 2/26/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb 26, Zimbabwean nanny
Violet Moyo (22) was jailed for 22 years for the murder of a
10-month-old baby she stuffed into a drawer "for crying too much"
before she settled down to watch TV.
   (AFP, 2/27/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb 27, US and Cuban
officials met in Washington DC for a second round of talks aimed at
restoring diplomatic relations amid friction over Cuba's place on a
US list of state sponsors of terrorism.
   (Reuters, 2/27/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb 27, Feuding US
lawmakers narrowly avoided a Department of Homeland Security
shutdown at the 11th hour, but funded the agency only until March 6,
forcing Congress to revisit the issue next week.
   (AFP, 2/28/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb 27, US sgents at the
San Diego border crossing seized nearly 16 tons of marijuana in a
truck supposedly hauling matresses. The estimated street value of
the pot was $19 million.
   (SSFC, 3/1/15, p.A8)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb 27, Leonard Nimoy
(83), who played the half-Vulcan character of Dr. Spock on the TV
series “Star Trek” (1966-1968), died in Los Angeles. His 1975
autobiography was titled “I Am Not Spock.” His revisionist sequel
titled “I Am Spock” was published in 1995.
   (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/I_Am_Spock)(SFC,
2/28/15, p.C6)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb 27, In Missouri Joseph
Jess Aldridge (36) went on a house-to-house shooting rampage in
Tyrone killing 7 people before taking his own life. Authorities said
he may have become unhinged by the death of ailing mother.
   (SFC, 2/28/15, p.A4)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb 27, New research
indicated that that annual deaths from the bacterium Clostridium
difficile have risen to 29,000, more than double the number since
2007. Most of some half million infected patients fell ill following
prescriptions of broad-spectrum antibiotics.
   (SFC, 2/27/15, p.A5)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb 27, Afghan forces
routed the Taliban from the Sangin district in Helmand province in
their first major solo operation since international combat forces
pulled out of the country. The operation on the long time insurgent
stronghold began Feb 10.
   (AP, 2/27/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb 27, Brazilian
authorities arrested Victor Arden Barnard (53), a self-professed
minister put on a US most-wanted list for allegedly molesting two
girls in a "Maidens Group" at his religious fellowship in rural
Minnesota.
   (AP, 2/28/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb 27, Britain and France
dismissed any suggestion of restoring relations with Syrian
President Bashar al-Assad, saying this would likely end all hope of
a political transition and push moderates into the arms of radical
Islamist groups.
   (Reuters, 2/27/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb 27, Former British pop
star Gary Glitter (70), aka Paul Gadd, received a 16-year prison
sentence after being convicted of sexually abusing three young girls
in the 1970s.
   (AP, 2/27/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb 27, Colombia's Supreme
Court convicted the country's former intelligence chief Maria del
Pilar Hurtado and a presidential chief of staff Bernardo Moreno of
spying on judges, journalists and politicians during the presidency
of Alvaro Uribe.
   (AFP, 2/28/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb 27, Scandinavian
Airlines canceled some 60 flights out of Copenhagen after members of
a Danish cabin crew union walked out to protest the carrier's plan
to move 147 employees to a domestic airline that SAS acquired last
year. 30 more flights were canceled the next day.
   (AP, 2/28/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb 27, An Egyptian senior
army officer was killed and another was injured when a cross-border
smuggling tunnel with the Gaza Strip collapsed after troops in Rafah
went into it to investigate.
   (AP, 2/27/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb 27, In Hong Kong Law
Wan-tung (44) was jailed for six years for beating and starving her
Indonesian maid, Sulistyaningsih, and keeping her prisoner, as the
judge called for action over laws which leave domestic workers
exposed to abuse.
   (AFP, 2/27/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb 27, Hungarian PM
Victor Orban denounced multiculturalism and liberalism and vowed to
fight a wave of migration that he says is threatening to turn his
country into a refugee camp.
   (AP, 2/27/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb 27, In Iraq at least 8
people were killed by bombs and rocket fire in Baghdad.
   (Reuters, 2/27/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb 27, Italian lawmakers
backed a non-binding resolution that encourages the government to
recognize Palestine as a state.
   (Reuters, 2/27/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb 27, Mexican federal
police in Morelia captured Knights Templar drug cartel leader
Servando Gomez (49), taking down one of the country's most wanted
fugitives whose gang tormented the state of Michoacan.
   (AFP, 2/27/15)(SFC, 2/28/15, p.A3)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb 27, In northern
Pakistan four prisoners believed to be involved in the 2013 slaying
of 10 foreign climbers at the base of one of the world's tallest
mountains escaped from jail in Gilgit before dawn. One was killed
and another re-arrested, while two escaped.
   (AP, 2/27/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb 27, Russian opposition
politician Boris Nemtsov (55) was shot four times in the back by
assailants in a white car as he walked across the bridge over the
Moskva River in central Moscow just before midnight with a Ukrainian
woman, who was unhurt. Opposition figure Ksenia Sobchak said Nemtsov
had been preparing a report on the presence of Russian troops in
Ukraine.
   (Reuters, 2/28/15)(Econ., 3/7/15, p.94)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb 27, Saudi Arabia said
ten more people have died from MERS over the past week, after an
international mission urged extra measures to combat the virus.
   (AFP, 2/27/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb 27, Spain arrested
eight citizens who recently returned from fighting alongside
pro-Russian rebels in Ukraine, the first such arrest in the European
Union of foreign citizens involved in the conflict.
   (Reuters, 2/27/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb 27, Switzerland became
the first country to submit a pledge to the UN for a new global
climate deal, vowing to cut its greenhouse gas emission in half by
2030 compared with 1990 levels.
   (SFC, 2/28/15, p.A2)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb 27, In northeast Syria
Kurdish forces dealt a blow to Islamic State by capturing Tel Hamis
in the latest stage of a powerful offensive. Kurdish forces killed
at least 175 members and commanders of the ultra-hardline Islamist
militants in an offensive which began last weekend. Nusra Front
commander Samir Hijazi was among three fellow leaders killed in an
apparent airstrike.
   (Reuters, 2/27/15)(SFC, 3/7/15, p.A2)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb 27, Ukraine continued
to withdraw its weapons and announced the deaths of 3 servicemen in
the past 24 hours, following two full days without fatalities.
   (Reuters, 2/27/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb 27, The United Arab
Emirates said it will reopen its Yemeni embassy in the southern port
city of Aden, where Pres. Abd-Rabbu Mansour Hadi has set up a seat
of power since being driven from the capital.
   (Reuters, 2/27/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb 28, In Afghanistan
Raees Khudaidad, charged with a string of armed robberies,
kidnappings and killings of Afghans and foreigners across the
country, was hanged at Kabul's main prison.
   (AP, 2/28/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb 28, Bangladeshi
special forces raided a militant hideout in the southeast town of
Chittagong, arrested four suspects and seized explosives and
weapons.
   (Reuters, 2/28/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb 28, In Cameroon
thousands of youths marched through the capital Yaounde to show
support for the military's battle against attacks by neighboring
Nigeria's Islamic extremists.
   (AP, 2/28/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb 28, China's central
bank cut interest rates for the second time in three months, adding
to signs that the country's leaders are worried the economic
slowdown is deepening too sharply. The People's Bank of China
announced a rate cut on one-year loans by commercial banks by 0.25
percentage point to 5.35 percent. The interest rate paid on a
one-year deposit was lowered by 0.25 point to 2.50 percent.
   (AP, 2/28/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb 28, In China former
vice governor Ni Fake, known for his appetite for jade and arts, was
sentenced to 17 years in prison on corruption charges. Fake, former
vice governor of the eastern province of Anhui, was found guilty of
taking more than $2 million in bribes.
   (AP, 2/28/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb 28, In China the
online video documentary “Under the Dome” was released. It pointed
out the role of large state-owned enterprises in creating the
semi-permanent smog that cloaked many cities in the country. It was
viewed by some 200 million people before it was blocked by
authorities.
   (Econ., 3/7/15, p.44)(Econ., 4/25/15, p.77)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb 28, An Egyptian court
listed the Palestinian group Hamas as a terrorist organization.
Another court sentenced the Egyptian Muslim Brotherhood's top leader
Mohamed Badie and 13 others to life in prison while four members
received the death penalty. Two of those sentenced to death and
three sentenced to life were tried in absentia.
   (Reuters, 2/28/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb 28, Iraq's national
museum officially reopened after 12 years of painstaking efforts
during which close to a third of 15,000 pieces looted during the
US-led invasion were recovered.
   (AFP, 2/28/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb 28, In Iraq car bombs
targeting a crowded market and Shiite militia checkpoints in and
north of Baghdad killed 37 people.
   (AP, 2/28/15)(SSFC, 3/1/15, p.A5)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb 28, In Italy thousands
of Northern League protesters poured into Rome from their political
base in the north to demand the Italian government keep out
immigrants.
   (AP, 2/28/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb 28, Lesotho held an
early election aimed at overcoming tension among political factions
that has led to violence among security forces since last year.
   (AP, 2/28/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb 28, Myanmar police
arrested a photojournalist who posted a satirical message on
Facebook that mocked a historic battle and the country's leader.
Police detained Aung Nay Myo, a freelancer, on a charge of violating
the 1950 Emergency Provision Act.
   (AP, 2/28/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb 28, Palestinian Naji
Khaled Abu Sabla (21) was killed and his brother, Akram (18),
seriously wounded in an explosion of an unidentified device near the
Gaza Strip's abandoned airport.
   (AFP, 2/28/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb 28, Sierra Leone
President Ernest Bai Koroma reinstated restrictions as 18 new cases
of Ebola were recorded this week.
   (AP, 3/1/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb 28, Spanish police
said they have broken up a gang that allegedly created and then sold
fake works of art purporting to be by renowned artists including
Pablo Picasso, Andy Warhol and Joan Miro. The alleged counterfeiters
were three brothers and a couple, who had all been faking art for
seven years.
   (AP, 2/28/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb 28, In Syria
Al-Qaeda's affiliate drove US-backed rebels out of Base 46, a
northern military base west of Aleppo. At least 29 fighters from the
Western-armed Hazm movement were killed along with 6 Al-Nusra Front
jihadists.
   (AFP, 2/28/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb 28, In Turkey Abdullah
Ocalan, the head of the Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK) imprisoned on
an island near Istanbul, urged separatists to hold a congress on
disarmament in the coming months.
   (AFP, 3/1/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb 28, In Turkey Yasar
Kemal (91), one of the country’s best-known novelists with worldwide
readership, died. His books included of "Memed, My Hawk" (1955) a
story about feudal relations in Turkey's traditional southern
regions. Nine of his novels were made into films. Kemal never
promoted his Kurdish background. In the mid-1990s he was convicted
for an article denouncing racism against minorities in Turkey,
especially Kurds.
   (AP, 2/28/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb 28, Ukrainian
photographer Serhiy Nikolayev died after artillery fire struck near
the village of Pesky, northwest of the rebel-held city of Donetsk.
Pres. Poroshenko informed US Vice President Joe Biden in a call of
continued shelling around Donetsk and Mariupol by Russian-backed
separatists.
   (Reuters, 2/28/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb 28, In Ukraine former
deputy Mykhaylo Chechetov, a prominent lawmaker in Yanukovych's
time, was found dead near his house in Kiev.
   (AFP, 3/14/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb 28, In Venezuela
marchers took to the streets of Caracas in dueling protests, with
one group calling attention to a crackdown on opponents of the
government and another showing support for the embattled socialist
administration.
   (AP, 2/28/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb 28, In Yemen the
separatist Southern Movement said it has suspended its participation
in UN-sponsored talks raising fresh tensions, as nine soldiers were
wounded in a clash with separatist fighters. A US drone strike hit a
car in Bihan town in Shabwa province, killing 3 men believed to be
al-Qaida militants.
   (AFP, 2/28/15)(AP, 2/28/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb, A US jury awarded
Sony Sulekha and four others $14 million in damages against Signal
Int’l. Shipyard in Mississippi. He and some 500 other Indians had
paid at least $10,000 in 2005 to work for Signal expecting jobs and
a green card. Instead they labored in inhumane conditions with
highly restricted work permits. This was the largest human
trafficking ever brought in America.
   (Econ., 3/14/15, p.61)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb, Mohamedou Ould
Slahi’s “Guantanamo Diary,” written in 2005, made the NY Times
nonfiction bestseller list. It was edited by Larry Siems. Slahi had
left Afghanistan in 1992 after fighting for al-Qaida against a
communist government. In 2000 Slahi was arrested in Senegal while on
his way back to Mauritania. As of 2015 Slahi (44) remained in jail
in Guantanamo as Detainee No. 760.
   (Econ, 1/31/15, p.75)(SFC, 4/30/15, p.A4)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb, Detroit’s Mayor Mike
Duggan, in his first state-of-the-city address, announced that the
city will balance its budget this year for the first time since
2002. The population of the city had shrunk from 1.8 million in the
1950s to a current 680,000.
   (Econ., 3/21/15, p.22)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb, In Texas Matthew
Cisneros (13) was found dead with a fatal gunshot wound at his
family's home in Garland, with a pistol near the body. On March 23 a
12-year-old boy was taken into police custody for the homicide.
   (Reuters, 3/23/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb, An anonymous buyer
paid $300 million for Paul Gauguin’s painting “When will you marry?”
(1892), the highest price ever paid for a work of art.
   (http://tinyurl.com/kkd8eel)(Econ., 4/4/15, p.6)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb, Mullah Abdul Rauf
Khadim, a former Taliban comander who had been detained at
Guantanamo and released in 2007, was killed by a drone strike. He
had begun recruiting fighters in the name of the Islamic State in
Helmand province.
   (Econ, 5/30/15, p.39)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb, China’s Pres. Xi
Jinping unveiled his “Four Comprehensives,” a list of political
goals for the country: Comprehensively build a moderately prosperous
society; Comprehensively deepen reform; Comprehensively govern the
nation according to law; Comprehensively strictly govern the Party.
  Â
(http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Four_Comprehensives)(Econ., 3/7/15,
p.45)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb, China and South Korea
reached agreement on a free-trade deal.
   (Econ., 5/2/15, p.36)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb, Didi Chuxing, a
Chinese ride-hailing service, was formed by the merger between
taxi-hailing firms Didi Dache (backed by Tencent Holdings Limited)
and Kuaidi Dache, backed by Alibaba Group. In 2016 Didi acquired the
local unit of US-based Uber.
  Â
(https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Didi_Chuxing)(Econ, 1/30/15,
p.57)(Econ, 8/6/16, p.7)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb, Kyrgyzstan arrested
Imam Rashot Kamalov, a popular Uzbek preacher, for talking of an
Islamic State caliphate.
   (Econ., 5/2/15, p.35)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb, Lebanon’s national
debt stood at 211% of GDP and was rising
   (Econ., 2/28/15, p.41)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb, In Peru one person
was killed and 32 injured when police opened fire on a mob opposed
to natural gas exploration by Pluspetrol, an Argentine group.
   (Econ, 2/6/15, p.31)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb, In Romania former
tourism minister Elena Udrea was indicted on two counts of influence
peddling and one count of money laundering.
   (Econ., 2/21/15,
p.52)(http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Elena_Udrea)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Feb, In Spain a medical
team in Barcelona performed the world’s most complex "face
transplant" to a patient (45) who got a deformity due to a severe
disease. The 27-hour long operation was successfully completed the
Vall d'Hebron University Hospital.
   (AP, 4/5/15)(http://tinyurl.com/qg7fu3l)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 1, It was reported
that US immigration officials are moving to deport at least 150
Bosnians suspected of taking part in war crimes and ethnic cleansing
during the 1992-1995 war that followed the breakup of Yugoslavia.
   (SSFC, 3/1/15, p.A7)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 1, Police in Los
Angeles shot and killed a homeless man who reportedly had reached
for an officer’s gun during a struggle. Charly Keundeu Keunang (43)
was later identified as a native of Cameroon. In the 1990s French
officials had gave him a passport under what turned out to be a
stolen name, Charley Saturin Robinet. In 2016 prosecutors said three
police officers will not face criminal charges. In 2018 the Keunang
family settled a civil suit for $1.9 million.Â
   (AP, 3/6/15)(SFC, 12/2/16, p.A6)(SFC, 5/12/18,
p.A5)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 1, Orrin Keepnews,
celebrated jazz record producer, died at his home in El Cerrito, Ca.
   (SFC, 3/2/15, p.C5)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 1, In North Carolina
three armed robbers stole $4.8 million in gold bars from an armored
truck on I-95 in Wilson County. On March 2, 2016, the FBI arrested
Adalberto Perez (46) at his home in South Florida for his role in
the robbery.
   (SFC, 3/3/15, p.A6)(SFC, 3/5/15, p.A5)(SFC,
3/3/16, p.A4)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 1, The Seattle, Wa.,
transit system began pricing tickets based on passengers’ income.
   (SSFC, 3/1/15, p.A8)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 1, Egypt's army said
at least 172 militants were killed in February in joint police and
military operations in the restive Sinai.
   (AFP, 3/1/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 1, Estonians voted for
a new parliament in an election dominated by economic issues and
security concerns due to Russia's actions in Ukraine. PM Taavi
Roivas’ pro-Western Reform party won the election, but lost seven
seats giving it 45 seats in the 101-seat parliament. Roivas quickly
ruled out cooperating with the pro-Russian Center Party and planned
to form a coalition with his current partner, the Social Democrats.
   (AP, 3/1/15)(SFC, 3/3/15, p.A2)(Econ., 3/7/15,
p.52)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 1, In France 15 pieces
of art were stolen from the Chinese Museum at Fontainebleau Castle.
   (SFC, 3/2/15, p.A2)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 1, Guyana's foreign
affairs ministry said that Caracas objects to plans for an
exploratory well to be drilled in an area it contends is within
Guyana's territorial waters.
   (AP, 3/1/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 1, Hong Kong police
arrested 33 people after scuffles broke out at a protest in a border
town, in the latest example of heightened tensions over the growing
influx of mainland Chinese shoppers in the city.
   (AP, 3/1/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 1, India's ruling
Hindu nationalist party formed a coalition government in Kashmir,
marking the first time it will hold a leadership position in the
disputed Muslim-majority region.
   (AP, 3/1/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 1, A first Iranian
flight landed in the Yemeni capital, a day after officials from the
Shiite militia-controlled city signed an aviation agreement with
Tehran. The plane delivered medical and other supplies to Sanaa.
   (AFP, 3/1/15)(SFC, 3/2/15, p.A4)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 1, In Iraq and Syria a
US-led coalition launched 9 air strikes including seven in Iraq and
two in Syria against Islamic State militants over the last 24 hours.
   (Reuters, 3/1/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 1, The Malian
government signed a peace agreement with some northern armed groups
in Algiers but the main Tuareg rebel alliance asked for more time to
consult its grassroots.
   (AFP, 3/1/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 1, In northeastern
Nigeria a crowd beat to death a teenage girl accused of planning to
be a suicide bomber and then set her body ablaze. A second suspect,
also a teenage girl, was arrested at Muda Lawal, the biggest market
in Bauchi city.
   (AP, 3/1/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 1, Tens of thousands
of Russians marched through central Moscow, carrying banners
declaring "I am not afraid" and chanting "Russia without Putin" in
memory of murdered Kremlin critic Boris Nemtsov.
   (Reuters, 3/1/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 1, The Islamic State
released at least 19 Christians, who were among over 220 people
taken captive last week in northeastern Syria.
   (SFC, 3/2/15, p.A2)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 1, In Uruguay Tabare
Vazquez (75) was sworn in as president, returning to office a decade
after first leading the left to power and drawing a curtain on
folksy farmer Jose Mujica's colorful rule.
   (AFP, 3/1/15)  Â
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 1, Venezuelan
President Nicolas Maduro said his government had detained US
citizens, including a pilot, on suspicion of espionage, in a move
likely to strain already tense relations between Washington and
Caracas.
   (Reuters, 3/1/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 1, In Yemen a late
night drone strike killed three suspected Al-Qaeda militants in the
Markha district of the southern province of Shabwa.
   (AFP, 3/2/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 2, The NY Times
revealed that when Hillary Clinton was secretary of state she used a
personal e-mail account rather than a government one for all her
official business.
   (Econ., 3/7/15, p.32)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 2, A new study was
published saying a wave of migrants from the eastern fringes of
Europe some 4,500 years ago left their trace in the DNA — and
possibly the languages — of modern Europeans. They found that DNA
associated with the Yamnaya people appeared strongly in what is now
northern Germany. The Yamnaya were herders who lived in the steppe
north of the Black and Aral Seas.
   (AP, 3/3/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 2, Bangladeshi
security officials arrested Farabi Shafiur Rahman as a suspect in
the killing of blogger Avijit Roy, a prominent critic of extremist
Islam who was hacked to death on Feb 26.
   (AP, 3/2/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 2, British police said
they had charged 10 men with sexual offences against children and
adults, part of a wider investigation into child sexual exploitation
in the northern English town of Rochdale.
   (Reuters, 3/2/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 2, Motorists in
England and Wales faced tougher penalties for driving under the
influence of drugs as new laws took effect. Drivers will be
prosecuted if they are caught exceeding new legal limits for eight
illegal drugs and eight prescription drugs.
   (AFP, 3/2/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 2, Chinese military
prosecutors released a list of 14 generals convicted of graft or
placed under investigation in an accelerating nationwide
anti-corruption drive.
   (AP, 3/2/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 2, Scandinavian
Airlines said some 50 flights have been canceled to and from Denmark
after members of a Danish cabin crew union walked out to protest the
carrier's plan to transfer employees to a domestic airline acquired
by SAS.
   (AP, 3/2/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 2, In Egypt an
explosion in Cairo near the High Court killed 2 people.
   (SSFC, 3/8/15, p.A4)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 2, The EU approved new
rules that clamp down on the use of flimsy plastic bags hazardous to
the environment.
   (SFC, 3/3/15, p.A2)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 2, In India a law
banning the possession and sale of beef went into effect in the
state of Maharashtra. The ban on the slaughter of cattle put
thousands out of work and created problems for struggling farmers.
   (SFC, 3/6/15, p.A5)(SFC, 3/27/15, p.A2)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 2, Iran’s The Center
for Investigation of Organized Crime, a branch of the elite
Revolutionary Guards Corps (IRGC), accused Facebook of spreading
immoral content and said it had arrested several users. State
television reported Iran has monitored 8 million Facebook accounts
with new software and will watch other social media sites for
content that contravenes the Islamic Republic's moral codes.
   (Reuters, 3/2/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 2, Iraq's armed
forces, backed by Shi'ite militia, attacked Islamic State
strongholds north of Baghdad as they launched an offensive to retake
the city of Tikrit and the surrounding Sunni Muslim province of
Salahuddin.
   (Reuters, 3/2/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 2, Israel said it has
busted an Israeli-Palestinian smuggling ring that funneled iron,
electronic equipment and other prohibited materials to Gaza,
bypassing Israel's stringent border security to help Hamas rebuild
its militant infrastructure following last year's war.
   (AP, 3/2/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 2, Libya’s
internationally recognized parliament appointed Major General
Khalifa Belgacem Haftar for the post of commander-in-chief of the
army after promoting him to the rank of lieutenant general.
   (AFP, 3/2/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 2, The principality of
Monaco signed an accord with Italy aimed at ending banking secrecy,
days after Switzerland and Liechtenstein inked similar pledges to
exchange financial information with Rome.
   (AP, 3/2/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 2, In Myanmar
truckloads of police prevented hundreds of students from continuing
their march to Yangon to protest a new law that they say curbs
academic freedom.
   (AP, 3/2/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 2, Namibia's outgoing
Pres. Hifikepunye Pohamba (79) was named winner of the Mo Ibrahim
Prize for "good governance" in Africa, the world's richest award
that has seen a dearth of worthy candidates.
   (AFP, 3/2/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 2, In Norway flights
by a subsidiary of low-cost airline Norwegian Air Shuttle —
Norwegian Air Norway — were partly disrupted after pilots continued
a walkout begun Feb 28, causing the company's share price to crash 5
percent in Oslo.
   (AP, 3/2/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 2, Pakistani officials
said hundreds of parents in the northwest were arrested and jailed
over the weekend on charges of endangering public security after
refusing to give their children polio vaccinations.
   (AP, 3/2/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 2, In Switzerland the
large family car Volkswagen Passat was voted car of the year by
European automotive editors at the Geneva International Motor Show.
   (AP, 3/2/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 2, Syrian regime
forces and Kurdish militia fought separate battles with the Islamic
State group in a strategic area near the Iraqi and Turkish borders.
   (AFP, 3/2/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 2, Konstandinos Erik
Scurfield (25), a former Royal Marine, died in a battle with IS
militants, becoming the first Briton to be killed while fighting
with Kurdish forces battling Islamic State jihadists in Syria.
   (AFP, 3/4/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 2, Tunisia canceled a
new tax imposed on travelers crossing Libya’s border after the
measure triggered rioting.
   (Reuters, 3/2/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 2, Ukraine's military
said one Ukrainian serviceman was killed and four wounded in
separatist eastern territories in the past 24 hours. But it warned
that rebels were using the truce to regroup for new attacks on
government positions.
   (Reuters, 3/2/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 2, Venezuela gave the
US two weeks to reduce its diplomatic mission in Caracas to 17
diplomats, from an estimated 100, to match the 17 Venezuelan
diplomats serving in the US.
   (SFC, 3/3/15, p.A2)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 3, Israeli PM
Netanyahu said in a speech in the US Congress that Washington was
negotiating a bad deal with Iran that could spark a "nuclear
nightmare," drawing a rebuke from President Barack Obama and
exposing a deepening US-Israeli rift.
   (Reuters, 3/4/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 3, The Alabama Supreme
Court ordered the state’s probate judges to stop issuing marriage
licenses to gay couples.
   (SFC, 3/4/15, p.A6)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 3, Federal agents
searched more than a dozen homes in southern California in a
crackdown on “maternity tourism.” Authorities said Chinese tourists
over the the past two years have delivered more than 400 babies at
orange County hospitals.
   (SFC, 3/4/15, p.A14)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 3, Regulators said
California officials have ordered oil companies to shut down 12 more
wells that injected oil-field wastewater into drinkable aquifers in
the Central Valley.
   (SFC, 3/4/15, p.A1)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 3, In Florida $5
million class-action lawsuit was filed accusing hardwood and
laminate flooring giant Lumber Liquidators, Inc of selling products
laden with cancer-causing chemicals.
   (AP, 3/5/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 3, In Massachusetts
Reverend Shaun Harrison, dean of The English High School, shot Luis
Rodriguez (17) in the back of the head on a Boston street after a
disagreement. Harrison was arrested at his home the next day. He had
hired the student and others to sell marijuana. The wounded student
was expected to survive.
   (Reuters, 3/6/15)(SFC, 6/2/18, p.A5)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 3, Federal court
documents in North Carolina indicated that retired general and
former CIA director David Petraeus has reached an agreement with
federal prosecutors to plead guilty to a misdemeanor charge for
mishandling classified materials. He had given notebooks with
sensitive national security information to Paula Broadwell, his
mistress and biographer.
   (SFC, 3/4/15, p.A9)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 3, Computer
researchers In the US, Spain and France reported finding a serious
flaw in cryptography designed to guard private data. It was dubbed
FREAK (Factoring RSA Export Keys).
   (Econ., 3/7/15, p.83)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 3, In Afghanistan a
suicide bomber killed 9 soldiers in Helmand province.
   (Econ., 3/7/15, p.39)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 3, Australia and
Switzerland signed an accord in Canberra aimed at cracking down on
tax evaders.
   (AP, 3/3/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 3, In Belgium hundreds
of taxis jammed central Brussels in a protest against the city's
planned reform of the industry that could lead to the legalization
of online ride-sharing services such as Uber.
   (Reuters, 3/3/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 3, In southern Chile
the Villarrica volcano erupted, spewing heavy smoke into the air as
lava surged down its slopes, prompting authorities to evacuate
thousands of people.
   (AP, 3/3/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 3, In Egypt five
improvised bombs exploded in Cairo's Matariya district in an
apparent targeting of Vodafone and Mobinil mobile-phone stores.
   (SSFC, 3/8/15, p.A4)(http://tinyurl.com/n2vdh5r)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 3, A French court
fined a British journalist 1,000 euros ($1,100) for flying a drone
over central Paris and confiscated the machine.
   (AFP, 3/3/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 3, Italian police said
they have arrested Palermo Chamber of Commerce president Roberto
Helg, an anti-corruption crusader, for allegedly pocketing 100,000
euros ($110,000) he demanded to allow a pastry shop to operate at
Palermo's airport.
   (AP, 3/3/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 3, An Italian coast
guard ship rescued 121 people after their boat capsized some 50
miles north of Libya. Ten bodies were recovered. Tunisian naval
forces rescued all 81 migrants onboard another boat that had started
taking on water off near the Tunisian island of Djerba. Several
merchant ships assisted in migrant rescues from seven separate boats
in a 24-hour period, bringing to safety almost 1,000 migrants,
including 30 children and 50 women, one of them pregnant.
   (Reuters, 3/4/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 3, Kenyan President
Uhuru Kenyatta set fire to 15 tons of elephant tusks during World
Wildlife Day to discourage poaching.
   (AP, 3/3/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 3, Thousands of Iraqi
soldiers and Shi'ite militiamen sought to seal off Islamic State
fighters in Tikrit and nearby towns, the second day of Iraq's
biggest offensive yet against a stronghold of the radical Sunni
Islamist militants.
   (Reuters, 3/3/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 3, Rival Libyan forces
carried out tit-for-tat air strikes on oil terminals and an airport,
escalating their battle for control of the oil-producing country
days before UN peace talks are to resume in Morocco.
   (Reuters, 3/3/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 3, In Mozambique a
gunman shot dead Gilles Cistac (54), a prominent lawyer, who was
viewed as sympathetic to opposition calls for decentralization of
power. Former rebel group Renamo said Cistac had been killed because
of his views on decentralization. On April 13 police said Manuel
Lucio and Arsenio Nhaposse have been arrested in connection with the
murder.
   (Reuters, 3/3/15)(Reuters, 4/13/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 3, In Nigeria at least
68 men and boys were killed by suspected Boko Haram militants at
dawn in Njaba, a remote village of northeast Borno state.
   (Reuters, 3/5/15)(SFC, 3/6/15, p.A6)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 3, Portuguese PM Pedro
Passos Coelho admitted he is "not perfect" after it was revealed
over the weekend that he failed to pay his social security
contributions during five years, before he came to office.
   (AP, 3/3/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 3, In Saudi Arabia
three beheadings today, one for rape and two for murder, took the
total so far this year to 38.
   (AFP, 3/5/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 3, South Korea passed
the "Anti-corruption and Conflicts of Interest Act," also known as
the Kim Young-ran act after the then-chairperson of the 2012
Anti-corruption and Civil Rights Commission.
   (http://tinyurl.com/gr5kdv7)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 3, In Tanzania flash
floods killed at least 38 people in the north-west after strong
winds and hail battered villages.
   (Reuters, 3/4/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 3, Turkey's state-run
news agency said a court has ordered President Recep Tayyip Erdogan
to pay 10,000 Turkish Lira (US$ 4,000) in compensation to artist
Mehmet Aksoy for calling his sculpture — meant to promote
reconciliation between Turkey and Armenia — a "monstrosity." Erdogan
expressed his dislike in 2011 of the giant "Monument to Humanity,"
which was being erected in the eastern city of Kars.
   (AP, 3/3/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 3, Ukraine's central
bank sharply hiked its benchmark rate to 30 percent, from 19.5
percent, effective March 4 as financial authorities seek to reverse
the rapid devaluation of the national currency.
   (AP, 3/3/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 3, The UN Security
Council established a sanctions regime for South Sudan but stopped
short of imposing worldwide travel bans and asset freezes on
officials in the conflict-torn country or an arms embargo.
   (Reuters, 3/3/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 3, Venezuela began
requiring US travelers to seek visas before visiting the South
American nation amid an escalation of diplomatic tensions between
Washington and the administration of President Nicolas Maduro.
   (Reuters, 3/3/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 4, In California a
reporter for the Sacramento Bee found a bag of headless chickens
along railroad tracks near 19th and W streets. Over the last three
months batches of headless animals have been found on 11 occasions
around the city in apparent ritualistic killings.
   (SFC, 3/5/15, p.D6)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 4, In central Florida
Derek Cruice (26) died after being shot in the face early today by a
sheriff’s deputy attempting to serve a search warrant in a narcotics
investigation.
   (AP, 3/4/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 4, The US Justice
Dept. released a report concluding that Missouri’s Ferguson Police
Dept. was routinely violating the constitutional rights of its black
residents. The DOJ said police in Ferguson engaged in something like
extortion to plug a hole in the city’s finances with traffic fines
and court fees.
   (SFC, 3/4/15, p.A6)(Econ, 8/8/15, p.25)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 4, NYC Mayor Bill de
Blasio announced the the city’s pulbic schools will observe the
Muslim holdy days of Eid al-Fitr and Eid al-Adha.
   (SFC, 3/5/15, p.A5)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 4, A US federal court
in Brooklyn convicted Abid Naseer (28) of Pakistan of a failed
al-Qaida subway bomb plot.
   (SFC, 3/5/15, p.A5)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 4, In Texas Ahmed
Al-Jumaili (36), an Iraqi man, was shot in Dallas as he took photos
of his first ever snowstorm. He died the next day. Police on March
13 announced an arrest in the shooting of Al-Jumaili.
   (AP, 3/10/15)(AP, 3/13/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 4, Afghan security
forces said they have killed dozens of militants in a military
operation aimed at freeing some 30 civilian hostages kidnapped last
week in Zabul province.
   (Reuters, 3/4/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 4, In Bolivia a judge
ordered jail for retired police Gen. Oscar Nina, who reorganized
Bolivia's counter-narcotics force after President Evo Morales
expelled US drug agents. He and a former personal assistant and his
son were ordered held at Palmasola prison.
   (AP, 3/5/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 4, In Bosnia a
blizzard began and dumped 2.5 meters (8 feet) of snow on mountains
around Sarajevo, isolating dozens of mountain villages and leaving
them without electricity.
   (AP, 3/5/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 4, The BBC aired the
documentary “India’s Daughter,” about a fatal New Delhi gang rape in
which one attacker blamed the victim. A court order in India had
halted a March 1 screening.
   (SFC, 3/6/15, p.A2)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 4, The British
government said it has agreed to sell its stake in Eurostar, the
high-speed rail service that connects London with Paris and Brussels
through a tunnel under the English Channel, for 757 million pounds
($1.1 billion) to a group of international investors, Canada's
Caisse de depot et placement du Quebec and U.K.-based Hermes
Infrastructure.
   (AP, 3/4/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 4, British
counter-terrorism police arrested two men over an alleged
"cash-for-jihad" fraud that saw elderly residents conned of money by
fake police officers.
   (AP, 3/4/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 4, The government of
Burkina Faso ordered former president Thomas Sankara's corpse to be
exhumed, potentially rekindling controversy over the 1987
assassination of one of Africa's most idolized leaders.
   (AFP, 3/5/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 4, Congo DRC police in
Kinshasa said they have arrested a Belgian man (74) on allegations
he raped two girls ages 11 and 13.
   (AFP, 3/4/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 4, Thousands of
passengers were stranded in Denmark, Norway and Sweden as a strike
by pilots of Norwegian Air Shuttle continued for a fifth day.
   (AP, 3/4/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 4, France's highest
appeals court paved the way for the extradition to either Russia or
Ukraine of jailed Kazakh tycoon Mukhtar Ablyazov, accused of
embezzling up to $6 billion from his former bank BTA.
   (Reuters, 3/4/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 4, France, Portugal
and Spain sealed the agreement on boosting energy cooperation in
Madrid as a major step toward breaking Europe's dependence on
Russian gas supplies.
   (AP, 3/5/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 4, In Iraq and Syria
the US and its allies staged 12 air strikes on Islamic State targets
over the last 24-hours.
   (Reuters, 3/4/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 4, Israel said it will
double the amount of water provided to the Gaza Strip to relieve
excessive use of groundwater.
   (SFC, 3/5/15, p.A2)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 4, A court in Kenya
charged 12 businessmen and former officials including an ex-minister
in connection with a multi-million dollar corruption scam involving
bogus state contracts. The case relates to the "Anglo-Leasing
scandal," which came to light in 2004 when it emerged the government
had set up a vast network of phantom companies and inflated invoices
to embezzle money meant for security services.
   (AFP, 3/4/15)(AP, 3/4/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 4, In Lesotho final
results in the Feb 28 snap elections showed the opposition
outdistancing PM Thomas Thabane's party, reversing early indications
that the ruling party was in the lead.
   (AFP, 3/4/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 4, In Libya two
unidentified warplanes bombed the airport of the western town of
Zintan, allied with the country's internationally recognized
government, damaging electricity systems but not the runway.
   (Reuters, 3/4/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 4, Libya's National
Oil Co declared force majeure at 11 oil fields after attacks by
Islamists, a legal step protecting it from liability if it cannot
fulfill contracts for reasons beyond its control.
   (AFP, 3/4/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 4, Mexican police and
soldiers arrested Omar Trevino Morales, aka Z-42, in a pre-dawn raid
in San Pedro Garza Garcia, a wealthy suburb of the northern city of
Monterrey. He was widely considered to be the most important leader
of the Zetas drug cartel.
   (AP, 3/4/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 4, In Nepal a Turkish
Airlines jet skidded off the wet surface at Kathmandu's Tribhuwan
International Airport. Thousands of passengers were left stranded as
the plane partially blocked the only runway.
   (AP, 3/5/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 4, In Niger a bomb
planted and remotely detonated by Boko Haram militants near the
southeastern town of Diffa killed two soldiers and wounded a third.
   (Reuters, 3/4/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 4, Poland's central
bank cut its key interest rate by half a percentage point to a
historic low of 1.5 percent amid concerns over deflation, a
sustained drop in consumer prices that can hurt the economy.
   (AP, 3/4/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 4, Romania began
transporting natural gas to Moldova, as the former Soviet republic
moves toward the European Union and becomes less dependent on
Russia.
   (AP, 3/4/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 4, In South Africa
about 500 people fled their homes in Cape Town as a wildfire defied
rain and firefighters with smoke and flames rising for a fourth day.
   (AP, 3/4/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 4, In eastern Ukraine
33 miners were killed after an early morning explosion at the
Zasyadko coal mine in Donetsk.
   (Reuters, 3/4/15)(SFC, 3/5/15, p.A4)(AFP, 3/6/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 5, American forces
arrived in Ukraine to train government soldiers on use of overseas
military equipment. As many as 300 US soldiers were expected to
serve a seven-month training mission.
   (SFC, 3/6/15, p.A3)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 5, In California
protesters shut down the campus of UC at Santa Cruz, on the fourth
day of demonstrations that organizers said were over planned tuition
hikes as well as police brutality.
   (Reuters, 3/6/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 5, A US jury in
Arizona failed again to agree on whether to sentence Jodi Arias (34)
to death for the grisly killing of her boyfriend in 2008,
effectively sparing her the death penalty. On April 14 Arias was
sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of release.
   (AFP, 3/5/15)(SFC, 4/14/15, p.A7)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 5, Albert Maysles
(88), emmy-award winning documentarian, died in NYC. His work
included “Gimme Shelter” (1970), based on the 1969 Rolling Stones US
road tour.
   (SSFC, 3/8/15, p.C9)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 5, In Philadelphia,
Pa., Officer Robert Wilson III (30) was gunned down during a robbery
at a video game store where he had gone to buy a present for his
9-year-old son. The next day two brothers, Ramone Williams (24) and
Carlton Hipps (29) were charged with murder, attempted murder,
robbery and other offenses.
   (AP, 3/6/15)(AP, 3/15/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 5, Ringling Bros. and
Barnum & Bailey Circus, owned by Florida-based Feld
Entertainment, announced that it will remove its traveling cadre of
elephants from the Big Top over the next three years.
   (SFC, 3/6/15, p.A1)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 5, Algeria's
parliament passed a law criminalizing violence against women, in a
move criticized by both Islamist lawmakers as well as Amnesty Int’l.
Amnesty International called for an amendment dropping a clause
which allows the survivor of domestic violence to pardon the
perpetrator, warning it was "a dangerous precedent".
   (AFP, 3/5/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 5, Bangladeshi customs
authorities seized nearly 27 kg of gold, worth about $1.67 million,
from North Korean diplomat Son Young Nam after he tried to smuggle
in the bullion using diplomatic immunity.
   (AFP, 3/6/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 5, In the Cayman
Islands Norman Lee, a popular Marvel and DC Comics artist from the
Boston region, disappeared while snorkeling with his wife near the
southeast coast of Grand Cayman.
   (AP, 3/7/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 5, China’s Pm Li
Keqiang called for about 7% growth this year at the opening of the
opening of the annual session of the National People’s Congress.
   (Econ., 3/7/15, p.43)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 5, In northeastern
India several men mobilized thousands of people who broke into the
jail in Dimapur city, Nagaland state, and seized the rape suspect,
whom they also accused of being an illegal migrant from Bangladesh.
They pelted him with stones and beat him to death. One person was
killed and several others were injured when police fired to disperse
the mob.
   (AP, 3/7/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 5, Iran said that a
team of special operatives has freed Nour Ahmad Nikbakht, an Iranian
diplomat abducted more than 19 months ago in Yemen.
   (AP, 3/5/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 5, In Iraq insurgents
unleashed a series of attacks mostly targeting civilian areas in and
around Baghdad, killing at least 16.
   (AP, 3/5/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 5, In Iraq the Islamic
State "bulldozed" the ruins of Nimrud near Mosul. Nimrud was founded
in the 13th century BC and was considered the jewel of the Assyrian
era.
   (AFP, 3/6/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 5, Officials said
Israel will start buying some fruit and vegetables from the Gaza
Strip next week, a partial resumption of imports halted when the
Islamist group Hamas took over the Palestinian territory in 2007.
   (Reuters, 3/5/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 5, Energy-rich
Kazakhstan suspended Russian fuel and gas imports to protect its
domestic market from a surplus due to a weakened ruble which has
sent ripples of economic uncertainty through Central Asia.
   (AP, 3/5/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 5, Liberia discharged
its last confirmed Ebola patient, as it reported for the first time
in nine months it had gone a full week without any new infections.
   (AFP, 3/5/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 5, Warplanes from
Libya's internationally recognized government carried out air
strikes on a Tripoli airport just hours before United Nations-backed
peace talks were due to start in Morocco.
   (Reuters, 3/5/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 5, Mexico's President
Enrique Pena Nieto ended his three-day state visit to Britain by
overseeing the signing of deals that boost ties between the two
countries in energy, including a $1 billion oil agreement.
   (AFP, 3/5/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 5, Myanmar police
cracked down on students and other activists opposing a new
education law, charging protesters with batons and dragging them
into trucks at a well-known pagoda in the heart of Yangon. Police
arrested five students from among a crowd of about 200 protesters.
   (AP, 3/5/15)(Reuters, 3/5/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 5, The Gaza Strip's
sole power plant has halted production overnight, following a
dispute with the West Bank-based Palestinian Authority over fuel
tax. Even with the plant running, Gaza suffers 12 hours of power
outages each day, and that is expected to increase to 18 hours after
the plant's shutdown.
   (AFP, 3/5/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 5, Suspected Jewish
extremists torched two cars and scrawled graffiti on a nearby wall
in a West Bank village before dawn.
   (AFP, 3/5/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 5, In Puerto Rico
thousands of students, education officials and community leaders
protested a proposed 16 percent value-added tax that officials say
would strengthen the island's economy. Puerto Rico was struggling to
reduce $73 billion in public debt and generate more revenue amid
concerns that some of its public corporations might go bankrupt.
   (AP, 3/5/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 5, The Moscow City
Court found Roman Ushakov guilty of treason for handing over
classified information to the United States and sentenced him to 15
years in prison.
   (AP, 3/5/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 5, Russian officials
sharply criticized US fast-food giants Coca-Cola and McDonald's for
their "unhealthy" products, comparing aggressive advertising
campaigns to a war on citizens.
   (AFP, 3/5/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 5, In South Korea a
knife attack by Kim Ki-jong (55), an anti-US protester screaming
demands for uniting North and South Korea, injured US ambassador
Mark Lippert. The slashing left deep gashes and damaged tendons and
nerves. In September Kim Ki-jong was sentenced to 12 years in
prison.
   (AP, 3/5/15)(SFC, 3/7/15, p.A2)(SFC, 9/11/15,
p.A2)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 5, Syrian government
helicopter gunships bombed the northern city of Aleppo, killing at
least 18 people and wounding dozens.
   (AP, 3/5/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 5, In Syria Abu Hammam
al-Shami, the military chief of the Al-Qaeda-affiliated Al-Nusra,
reportedly died of injuries believed to have suffered from an air
strike on Feb 27.
   (AFP, 3/6/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 5, A court in Tanzania
sentenced four people to death for the murder of an albino woman who
was killed so her hacked-off limbs could be used in magic. The
killers included Charles Nassoro, the husband of the murdered woman.
   (AFP, 3/6/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 5, A Thai court
sentenced 15 members of the "Red Shirt" political movement to four
years in prison for inciting rioting that disrupted an important
regional conference in 2009.
   (AP, 3/5/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 5, Tunisian troops
captured a large arms cache near the border with Libya, including
Kalashnikov rifles, rockets and landmines.
   (Reuters, 3/6/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 5, In Turkey Umarali
Kuvatov (Quvvatov), leader of a Tajik movement called Group 24, was
shot in the back of the head outside a restaurant in Istanbul.
Kuvatov had fled Tajikistan in 2012 reportedly after a deal with the
president’s son went wrong. He went into exile to first Russia and
later the United Arab Emirates after Tajikistan asked for his
extradition.
  Â
(www.bbc.com/news/world-middle-east-31760810)(Econ., 3/14/15, p.42)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 5, Ukraine said one
government serviceman was killed and another wounded in fighting
over the last 24 hours with pro-Russian separatists in the east. A
military spokesman said rebels had attacked Ukrainian troops'
positions or civilian targets 40 times within the previous 24 hours,
including 17 artillery attacks. For their part, the rebels accuse
Ukrainian forces almost daily of shelling and firing.
   (Reuters, 3/5/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 6, US Border patrol
officer Armando Gonzalez was taken into custody in San Diego County
for allegedly installing a camera into a women’s restroom.
   (SSFC, 3/8/15, p.A9)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 6, The S&P Dow
Jones Indices announced that Apple will replace AT&T in the Dow
Jones industrial average on March 19.
   (SFC, 3/7/15, p.D1)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 6, NASA confirmed that
its Dawn spacecraft has arrived to orbit the dwarf planet Ceres for
a 16-month exploration.
   (SFC, 3/7/15, p.A4)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 6, US regulators gave
a green light to sales of the country's first copied version of a
biotechnology drug, or "biosimilar," with approval of Novartis'
white blood cell-boosting Zarxio.
   (Reuters, 3/6/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 6, In Aurora,
Colorado, police Officer Paul Jerothe shot and killed Naeschylus
Carter Vinzant, an unarmed black man. Vinzant was on parole and had
fled after beating his wife and taking their 2-month-old son. In
2016 the city of Aurora agreed to pay $2.6 million to settle a
lawsuit by Vinzant’s relatives.
   (http://tinyurl.com/ngwempn)(SFC, 11/8/16, p.A6)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 6, Wisconsin police
fatally shot as Anthony "Tony" Robinson (19), an apparently unarmed
African-American, prompting dozens of people to protest at the site
of the killing. Robinson, tripping on mushrooms, had already
attacked several people. Authorities said Robinson had assaulted
Officer Mat Kenny (45) in an apartment. In 2017 a federal civil
rights lawsuit awarded Robinson’s family $3.35 million.
   (Reuters, 3/7/15)(SSFC, 3/8/15, p.A9)(SFC,
5/14/15, p.A7)(SFC, 2/24/17, p.A6)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 6, Scientists said a
tiny, brown bird long thought to be extinct has been rediscovered in
Myanmar's grasslands, but its fragmented habitat is threatened by
human encroachment. The Jerdon's babbler was first discovered in the
1860s but had not been reported in 74 years.
   (AP, 3/6/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 6, The African Union
endorsed the creation of a regional force of up to 10,000 men to
join the fight against Boko Haram, believed to have not more than
6,000 fighters.
   (AFP, 3/8/15)(Econ, 2/14/15, p.44)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 6, Brazil’s Supreme
Court approved an investigation of dozens of top politicians
including a former president and leaders of congress.
   (SFC, 3/7/15, p.A2)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 6, A leaked document
said the Greek government plans to hire an army of amateur tax
sleuths, including tourists, in a bid to fill the gaping hole in the
country's finances.
   (AFP, 3/6/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 6, Guinea-Bissau
dismantled a criminal operation trafficking 54 children to Senegal,
where it is believed they would have been forced by Islamic schools
to beg on the streets.
   (AFP, 3/8/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 6, In northeastern
India Nagaland state authorities suspended the district magistrate
of Dimapur, the city's police superintendent and the jail's warden
after a mob lynched a jailed suspect a day earlier.
   (AP, 3/7/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 6, Millions across
India welcomed spring with their annual "festival of colors",
celebrating by covering each other in water and dazzling paint.
   (AFP, 3/6/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 6, In Iraq and Syria
coalition forces led by the US military targeted Islamic State
militants with 16 air strikes over the last 24 hours.
   (Reuters, 3/6/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 6, Iraqi government
forces and Iran-backed militiamen entered a town on the southern
outskirts of Saddam Hussein's home city Tikrit, pressing on with the
biggest offensive yet against Islamic State militants that seized
the north last year.
   (Reuters, 3/6/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 6, In Israel a
Palestinian assailant rammed his car into a group of Israeli
pedestrians near a police station in east Jerusalem, injuring four
officers and a bystander. He lunged at security guards with a knife
before being shot and wounded.
   (AP, 3/6/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 6, Libya's oil
security forces said they had retaken control of the Al-Ghani
oilfield after militants attacked the facility. An employee watched
the beheadings of the 8 oil guards and subsequently died of a heart
attack. Nine foreign workers, including a Czech, an Austrian, four
Filipinos, two Bangladeshis and a Ghanaian, were missing after
gunmen attacked the oilfield. In 2017 Austria said it had evidence
that all nine workers were killed the same year.
   (Reuters, 3/7/15)(SSFC, 3/8/15, p.A3)(AP,
3/9/15)(Reuters, 9/20/17)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 6, Paraguayan radio
journalist Gerardo Servian was reported shot to death in the
Brazilian city of Ponta Pora, bordering a crime-ridden area that is
a hotbed for drugs and arms smuggling.
   (AP, 3/6/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 6, Russia’s Pres.
Putin announced a 10% pay cut for himself and those working for him,
including PM Medvedev and his entire Cabinet.
   (SFC, 3/7/15, p.A2)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 6, Kremlin critic
Alexei Navalny walked out of a Moscow detention center and promised
that Russia's opposition will continue to challenge President
Vladimir Putin.
   (Reuters, 3/6/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 6, South Sudan's
warring leaders failed to reach a deal to end more than a year of
civil war, with the latest collapse in peace talks paving the way
for possible sanctions.
   (AFP, 3/6/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 6, In Sierra Leone
Vice Pres. Sam-Sumana was kicked out of the ruling party, the All
Peoples Congress, after a meeting of the party's National Advisory
Council. A statement said he was expelled for several reasons
including allegations that he presented a fake Master's degree
certificate and that he was involved in the formation of a new
political party.
   (AP, 3/7/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 7, In San Francisco
the Chinese New Year Parade ushered in the Year of the Ram.
   (SSFC, 3/8/15, p.A12)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 7, In Brazil recent
rains led to increased mosquitoes transmitting dengue fever. Since
January 224,000 cases were reported to date.
   (Econ., 3/28/15, p.42)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 7, In Burkina Faso the
24th pan-African FESPACO wrapped up in Ouagadougou. It featured the
screening of "Captaine Thomas Sankara", a flattering 90-minute
portrait of the iconoclastic Marxist soldier by Swiss director
Christophe Cupelin.
   (AFP, 3/8/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 7, In Chechnya a man
killed in a standoff with police was wanted by police in connection
with Nemtsov's killing. When police arrived at an apartment block in
Grozny, the man threw one grenade at officers and then blew himself
up with a second.
   (Reuters, 3/8/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 7, Colombia's
government and Marxist FARC rebels announced in Cuba that they had
reached a deal on demining, a stride forward on a key issue to
negotiate peace after decades of conflict. Over 11,000 Colombians
have been killed or wounded by mines in the last quarter-century.
   (AFP, 3/8/15)(Econ., 3/28/15, p.40)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 7, Egypt Interior
Ministry said that Mahmoud Ramadan was executed after being
convicted of murder. He was said to be behind the deaths of a young
man and a child who were thrown off a roof on July 5, 2013, two days
following the ouster of Pres. Morsi.
   (AP, 3/7/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 7, In Iraq gunmen
dressed all in black abducted 31 Shiite men from their homes in
eastern Baghdad. Officials said they suspect the kidnapped men were
involved in prostitution and criminal activities. Separate attacks
in the capital killed 6 people.
   (AP, 3/7/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 7, Iraqi officials in
the northern city of Mosul said that militants with the Islamic
State group have begun demolishing the ancient archaeological site
of Hatra in a push to rid its territory of symbols it says promote
idolatry. In April a video was released showing extremists smashing
walls and shooting assault rifles at priceless statues.
   (AP, 3/7/15)(SSFC, 4/5/15, p.A7)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 7, In Iraq and Syria
US and coalition forces conducted 17 air strikes against Islamic
State fighters over the past 24 hours with 6 in Syria and 11 in
Iraq.
   (Reuters, 3/7/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 7, The Israeli navy
opened fire on boats off the coast of the Gaza Strip, killing one
Palestinian fisherman after four vessels had strayed from a six
nautical-mile fishing zone. The Israeli army opened fire after the
boats did not heed calls to halt.
   (Reuters, 3/7/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 7, In Mali militants
killed 5 people in a gun attack on a restaurant in Bamako, including
3 Malians, a French citizen and a Belgian security officer with the
EU delegation in and around La Terrasse restaurant. The Sahara-based
Islamist group al-Mourabitoun, run by leading Algerian militant
Mokhtar Belmokhtar, claimed responsibility.
   (Reuters, 3/7/15)(Reuters, 3/8/15)(AFP, 3/13/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 7, In Mali two Arab
teenagers were lynched and their bodies burned on in Gao by an angry
mob that believed they had planted bombs in the area. They came from
a family that supports Bamako against a predominantly Tuareg
rebellion in the restive north.
   (AFP, 3/11/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 7, In Mozambique
hundreds of human rights activists and students marched in Maputo
demanding justice for the March 3 murder of lawyer Gilles Cistac.
   (Econ., 3/14/15, p.52)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 7, Nigeria-based Boko
Haram pledged allegiance to the Islamic State group, after repeated
indications that it was seeking a formal tie-up and a series of
Nigerian military successes against the rebels.
   (AFP, 3/8/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 7, In northeastern
Nigeria three bombings in Maiduguri killed 58 people and wounded 139
others.
   (AFP, 3/7/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 7, In Russia the
Investigative Committee, a state body leading the investigation in
the Feb 27 murder of Boris Nemtsov, named two men, Anzor Gubashev
and Zaur Dadayev. as suspects.
   (Reuters, 3/7/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 7, Swedish police
began investigating what could be a triple homicide after 3 people
were found dead in the country's southwest.
   (AP, 3/7/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 7, In northeastern
Syria Islamic State militants attacked a string of predominantly
Christian villages. At least 8 militants were killed in the fighting
and an unknown number of Kurds. At least 9 members of Islamic State
were killed during infighting near the town of al-Bab after some of
them tried to flee over the Turkish border.
   (AP, 3/7/15)(Reuters, 3/9/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 7, The Syrian
Observatory for Human Rights said the Syrian army has killed Deeb
Hedijan al-Otaibi, an Islamic State commander, in an air strike. 26
Islamic State militants were reported killed in the air strike near
the town of Hamadi Omar.
   (Reuters, 3/7/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 8, In the SF Bay Area
Randhir Kaur (37), a woman from India attending the UCSF School of
Dentistry, was raped and shot in her apartment in Albany. In 2018
Keith Kenard Asberry Jr. (33) was charged with her rape and murder.
A rape kit that implicated him in a 2008 attack in Berkeley had gone
untested for years.
   (http://tinyurl.com/y9n3cpye)(SFC, 3/15/18, p.A1)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 8, In northern
Afghanistan Inmates killed 2 police officers they had taken hostage
during a prison riot in which an inmate was shot dead.
   (AP, 3/8/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 8, The armies of Chad
and Niger launched a major ground and air strike against Boko Haram
in northeastern Nigeria.
   (AFP, 3/8/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 8, Chechnya leader
Ramzan Kadyrov drew criticism from Russian government opponents
after praising Zaur Dadayev, a Chechen suspect in the murder of
Kremlin foe Boris Nemtsov.
   (AP, 3/9/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 8, China-based
Da-Jiang Innovations (DJI) launched its new Phantom 3 range of
drones with prices starting at $1,000.
   (SFC, 5/14/15, p.58)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 8, In Egypt two bombs
exploded in the Mediterranean city of Alexandria, one outside a
popular supermarket chain and another near a police station, killing
one person and wounding at least 9.
   (AP, 3/8/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 8, The European Union
said it has imposed sanctions on Syrian businessman George Haswani,
who it says bought oil for the Syrian government from Islamic State
militants who have seized wide areas of the country including its
oil-producing regions.
   (Reuters, 3/8/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 8, In India Vinod
Mehta (73), founding editor of India's Outlook magazine and a
fearless commentator on Indian politics, died.
   (AP, 3/8/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 8, Iran’s state media
reported that young woman, accused of marrying and divorcing 10 men
in less than two years under an elaborate con trick, has been
charged with fraud.
   (AFP, 3/8/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 8, Iraqi security
forces and Shi’ite militia fighting the Islamic State took control
of the center of al-Dour town on the southern outskirts of Tikrit. A
series of bombings targeting public places and police have killed 11
people around Baghdad.
   (Reuters, 3/8/15)(AP, 3/8/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 8, In Iraq a Canadian
special forces soldier was killed in a friendly fire incident after
he and others ignored an order to stay in their car and showed up to
the front line unannounced.
   (AP, 3/8/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 8, In Iraq and Syria
US and coalition forces conducted 12 air strikes against Islamic
State fighters over the past 24 hours. Coalition warplanes bombed a
refinery near the Syrian town of Tel Abyad on the Turkish border
late today. The Britain-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights
said the strikes killed some 30 people.
   (Reuters, 3/8/15)(AP, 3/9/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 8, Islamic State
supporters, facing regular bans and blockages on Facebook and other
social networks launched 5elafabook.com, their own CaliphateBook, to
spread their militant message over the Internet.
   (AP, 3/10/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 8, The first
comprehensive report into the disappearance of Malaysia Airlines
Flight 370 revealed that the battery of the locator beacon for the
plane's data recorder had expired more than a year before the jet
vanished on March 8, 2014.
   (AP, 3/8/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 8, In northern Mali
unknown attackers fired dozens of rockets towards a UN base on the
outskirts of Kidal, killing a peacekeeper and two children.
   (Reuters, 3/8/15)(AFP, 3/8/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 8, An Omani court
jailed Said Jadad, a prominent activist, for three years for a range
of offences including undermining the state, a charge a newspaper
said was related to an open letter to US President Barack Obama
about human rights in the country.
   (Reuters, 3/8/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 8, Russian authorities
said they were holding five men over the Feb 27 killing of Kremlin
critic Boris Nemtsov, one of whom served in a police unit in the
Russian region of Chechnya.
   (Reuters, 3/8/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 8, In South Africa a
helicopter pilot died in a crash while fighting wildfires in the
Cape of Good Hope section of Table Mountain National Park.
   (AFP, 3/8/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 8, In northern Syria
at least 40 Kurdish fighters and Islamic State group jihadists were
killed in clashes over the last 24 hours for control of Tal Tamr in
Hasakeh province. 11 civilians were killed in a government air raid
on the rebel-held town of Irbin northeast of Damascus. Clashes
continued around the Aleppo province villages of Handarat and
Bashkoy between regime forces and fighters from the Al-Qaeda
affiliate, Al-Nusra Front. Unidentified gunmen attacked Islamic
State militants in the eastern town of al-Mayadin overnight, killing
more than 12.
   (AFP, 3/8/15)(Reuters, 3/8/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 8, Ukraine said one
serviceman was killed by sniper fire and three wounded as a result
of fighting in separatist eastern territories in the past 24 hours
despite a ceasefire deal.
   (Reuters, 3/8/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 8, United Arab
Emirates airlines Emirates, flydubai and Etihad Airways said they
have suspended flights to Erbil, citing security concerns as Islamic
State razes ancient cities in Iraq's north.
   (Reuters, 3/8/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 9, President Barack
Obama issued an executive order declaring a “national emergency”
because of the “extraordinary threat to the national security” posed
by Venezuela. He levied new sanctions on seven Venezuelan officials
who the US says have violated human rights and engaged in acts of
public corruption.
   (Econ., 3/21/15, p.31)(AP, 3/9/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 9, A letter signed by
47 Republican senators warned Iran that any nuclear deal made with
US President Barack Obama, a Democrat, could last only as long as he
remained in office.
   (http://tinyurl.com/kkk97ph)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 9, The United States
delivered more than 100 pieces of military equipment to vulnerable
NATO-allied Baltic states in a move designed to provide them with
the ability to deter potential Russian threats.
   (AFP, 3/9/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 9, It was reported
that Ronald Linde and his wife Maxine have pledged $50 million to
the California Institute of Technology (Caltech) for promising
initiatives and research at the Pasadena campus.
   (SFC, 3/9/15, p.A5)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 9, Paul Kalanithi,
Indian-American neurosurgeon at Stanford (b.1977) died of lung
cancer. His book “When Breath Becomes Air” was published in 2016.
  Â
(https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Paul_Kalanithi)(Econ, 2/6/15, p.77)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 9, In Oakland, Ca.,
Cheymil Pierce (30), a mother of three, was killed by a stray bullet
on the 2800 block of Chestnut St. Police the next day arrested
Anthony Sims (19) at Highland Hospital after he was wounded in the
gunfight that left Pierce dead. On March 13 police also arrested
Shelton McDaniels (29) and Jerry Harbin Jr. (29) in connection with
the slaying. Others later arrested included Alex Davis (25), Michael
Stills (21) and Jerry Harbin Jr. (29). On April 14 Julian Ambrose
(16) was also arrested after he was cleared for released from
Highland Hospital.
   (SFC, 3/13/15, p.A1)(SFC, 3/17/15, p.A1)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 9, In San Francisco
Kenyatta Butler Jr. (18) of San Leandro and Donzel Gaines of SF were
gunned down as they sat in a car near the Crocker Amazon Playground.
On March 26 Davante Robinson (21) and Gregory Morton III were booked
on suspicion of murder.
   (SFC, 4/1/15, p.D3)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 9, Apple Corp. CEO Tim
Cook presented the company’s new smartwatch at a show in San
Francisco’s Yerba Buena Center for the Arts Theater. Prices for the
watch started at $349.
   (SFC, 3/10/15, p.D1)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 9, In Georgia police
Officer Robert Olsen shot and killed Anthony Hill, a naked and
unarmed black man, at an apartment complex in Chamblee. In October a
grand jury recommended further investigation in the case. On Jan 21,
2016, a grand jury indicted Olsen on charges including felony
murder. On October 14, 2019, Olsen was found not guilty of murder,
but was convicted of aggravated assault and other charges.
   (SFC, 3/11/15, p.A6)(SFC, 10/30/15, p.A6)(SFC,
1/22/16, p.A7)(SFC, 10/15/19, p.A4)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 9, Univ. of Oklahoma
Pres. David Boren severed the school’s ties with national fraternity
Sigma Alpha Epsilon and ordered its on campus house to be shuttered
after several members took part in a racist chant caught in an
online video. Two students were expelled the following day.
   (SFC, 3/10/15, p.A6)(SFC, 3/11/15, p.A7)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 9, Wisconsin Gov.
Scott Walker signed into law a measure that prohibits requiring a
worker to pay union dues.
   (SFC, 3/10/15, p.A6)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 9, The Solar Impulse 2
aircraft set off from Abu Dhabi on a bid to make the first
round-the-world tour. Swiss pilot Andre Borschberg (63) will trade
flying the Si2 with Bertrand Piccard. The epic journey was scheduled
to spread over five months, with a total flight time of around 25
days.
   (AFP, 3/9/15)(SFC, 3/9/15, p.A2)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 9, In northwest
Argentina two helicopters carrying passengers filming a popular
European reality show crashed in a remote area, killing 8 French
citizens and two Argentine pilots.
   (AP, 3/10/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 9, Bangladesh said it
has ordered North Korean diplomat Son Young Nam to leave the country
after he tried to smuggle in gold bullion using diplomatic immunity.
North Korea apologized to Bangladesh over the incident.
   (AFP, 3/9/15)(SFC, 3/10/15, p.A2)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 9, Britain said it has
sold another 1.0 percent in state-rescued Lloyds Banking Group for
£500 million ($754 million, 694 million euros), matching last
month's sale.
   (AFP, 3/9/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 9, About 10 Chadian
soldiers died in fighting to free two towns in northern Nigeria
previously held by Boko Haram. A Niger military source said about
300 Boko Haram militants had been killed. About 30 Nigerien and
Chadian soldiers were wounded in clashes over Malam Fatouri and
Damasak.
   (Reuters, 3/9/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 9, Beijing police said
five women activists have been criminally detained for planning to
put up anti-sexual harassment posters in three Chinese cities.
   (AP, 3/13/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 9, The European
Central Bank confirmed a 1.1 trillion euro ($1.2 trillion) stimulus
program by starting to buy government bonds.
   (AP, 3/9/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 9, Egypt temporarily
opened a crossing with the Gaza Strip, allowing students, patients
seeking medical care and dual nationals to leave the territory for
the first time in nearly two months.
   (AP, 3/9/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 9, In Egypt a roadside
bomb killed 3 soldiers in the Sinai peninsula.
   (AP, 3/9/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 9, French police
detained five Greenpeace activists after they dangled from a bridge
in Paris and unfurled banners on the Seine River that call for cuts
in nuclear power.
   (AP, 3/9/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 9, In Greece a panel
of judges decided that 64 Greek and German nationals should stand
trial for bribery or money laundering over an alleged bribery
scandal 17 years ago, involving a telecom contract for German
industrial giant Siemens AG.
   (AP, 3/9/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 9, In northern Iraq
Kurdish forces drove Islamic State militants back from the oil-rich
city of Kirkuk, in an attack which was backed by heavy air strikes
from a US-led coalition.
   (Reuters, 3/9/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 9, Palestinian
security forces in the West Bank arrested dozens of members of the
Islamist movement Hamas.
   (AFP, 3/10/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 9, The Philippine
military said its forces have killed 73 hard-line Muslim rebels and
a suspected foreign militant in a three-week offensive in the
restive south. 6 soldiers were reported killed and 29 others wounded
in the assaults that started Feb 25.
   (AP, 3/9/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 9, Russian President
Vladimir Putin bestowed the state Order of Honor on Ramzan Kadyrov,
the leader of Chechnya.
   (AP, 3/9/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 9, Russian President
Vladimir Putin awarded a state honor to Andrei Lugovoy, a man
suspected by Britain of using radioactive polonium to poison Kremlin
critic Alexander Litvinenko in London in 2006.
   (Reuters, 3/9/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 9, Swedish Foreign
Minister Margot Wallstroem accused Saudi Arabia of blocking her
speech at an Arab League meeting due to her stance on human rights
in the region.
   (AFP, 3/9/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 9, About 95 captives,
including Kurdish fighters, escaped from an Islamic State-run prison
in northern Syria but most were recaptured.
   (Reuters, 3/10/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 9, Saudi Arabia
beheaded a Filipino convicted of murdering his boss, bringing to 40
the number of executions this year. Joven Esteva was found guilty of
stabbing the Saudi in the chest in 2007.
   (AFP, 3/9/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 9, In southern Yemen
Al-Qaida militants overran and held the city of Mahfad for hours
before an army counterattack pushed them out. Saudi Arabia agreed to
host a peace talks with the Houthis requested by Pres. Abed Rabbo
Mansour Hadi.
   (AP, 3/9/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 9, In Zimbabwe Itai
Dzamara was forcibly taken by five unidentified men and bundled into
an unmarked truck near his home in the capital Harare. The
journalist-turned activist had been staging sit-ins in the capital
demanding that President Robert Mugabe resign.
   (Reuters, 3/11/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 10, The American Civil
Liberties Union and other groups sued the National Security Agency
(NSA) and the Justice Dept., challenging the government’s practice
of collecting personal information.
   (SFC, 3/11/15, p.A6)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 10, A Los Angeles jury
awarded Marvin Gaye’s children $7.3 million after determining that
singers Robin Thicke and Pharrell and Williams copied their father’s
music to create “Blurred Lines,” the biggest hit song of 2013.
   (SFC, 3/11/15, p.A6)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 10, Richard Glatzer,
co-director of the Oscar-winning film “Still Alice” (2014) died in
Los Angeles following a 4-year battle with ALS.
   (SFC, 3/13/15, p.D5)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 10, A series of
bombings across Afghanistan, including one targeting a police
checkpoint in the country's south, killed at least 13 people.Â
These included suicide car bombing at a police checkpoint killed 8
people and wounded 23 on the outskirts of Lashkar Gah, Helmand
province.
   (AP, 3/10/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 10, Algerian soldiers
killed 3 Islamist militants and seized guns and explosives 150 km
southwest of Algiers.
   (AFP, 3/10/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 10, Bahraini security
forces tear-gassed and beat inmates at a prison while trying to
quell clashes that erupted during family visits, causing some
injuries among the detainees.
   (Reuters, 3/10/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 10, Britain’s Queen
Elizabeth II christened P&O Cruises' 141,000-ton liner
Britannia, a 473 million pound ($714 million) mega ship that's
longer than four superjumbo jets.
   (AP, 3/10/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 10, The top Communist
official in China's Xinjiang said that extremists from the mainly
Muslim region have been apprehended after returning from fighting in
Syria with the Islamic State group.
   (AFP, 3/10/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 10, Colombia’s
President Juan Manuel Santos said air raids on Marxist FARC rebels
will stop for a month. Santos also announced the creation of a peace
commission made up of politicians from the right and left, former
guerrillas, religious figures, business people and indigenous
leaders.
   (AP, 3/11/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 10, Cuba offered its
"unconditional support" to Venezuela after US President Barack Obama
authorized new sanctions against senior officials of the turbulent
South American oil producer.
   (AFP, 3/10/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 10, In Dubai several
hundred South Asian migrant workers held a rare protest in the heart
of downtown, temporarily blocking traffic and demanding higher
wages. The Dubai police said that they resolved the issue in less
than an hour after talking with the workers.
   (AP, 3/10/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 10, In Egypt a suicide
bomber and roadside explosives targeting police and military in the
northeastern Sinai Peninsula killed 2 and wounded 46. In a city
south of Cairo, 2 suspected militants died when a bomb they were
carrying on a motorbike exploded.
   (AP, 3/10/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 10, The radical
left-led Greek government insisted that the debt-ridden country has
never been fully compensated by Germany for its brutal World War II
Nazi occupation, linking the issue with Greece's fraught bailout
negotiations.
   (AP, 3/10/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 10, Indian police
detained about a hundred Tibetans who were protesting outside the
Chinese Embassy in New Delhi on the anniversary of a failed 1959
uprising against China's rule in Tibet.
   (AP, 3/10/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 10, Iraqi troops and
militias drove Islamic State militants out of the town of al-Alam,
clearing the way for an offensive to retake the nearby city of
Tikrit from the ultra-radical group.
   (Reuters, 3/10/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 10, Photos shared by
sympathizers on social media said the Islamic State group has
publicly beheaded three men in northern Iraq, two of them for
allegedly engaging in homosexual acts.
   (AFP, 3/10/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 10, In Iraq and Syria
US and coalition forces conducted 12 air strikes against Islamic
State fighters over the last 24 hours including eight in Iraq and
four in Syria.
   (Reuters, 3/10/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 10, An Islamic State
propaganda video showed the killing of a Palestinian. A man
introduces a child shown shooting the captive in the head. The man
in the video speaks with a southern French accent and looks like the
step-brother of Mohammed Merah, who killed seven people in attacks
on a Jewish school and paratroopers in the south of France beginning
on March 11, 2012.
   (AP, 3/11/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 10, Israeli
authorities demolished an EU-funded shelter in Arab east Jerusalem.
The process was initiated by the Israel Nature and Parks Authority
because the structures were in a national park within the
jurisdiction of the Jerusalem municipality.
   (AFP, 3/10/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 10, Italy's highest
court confirmed former Premier Silvio Berlusconi's acquittal on
charges he paid an underage Moroccan prostitute for sex and then
used his influence to cover it up.
   (AP, 3/11/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 10, An Ivory Coast
court sentenced former first lady Simone Gbagbo to 20 years in
prison for her role in a 2011 post-election crisis in which around
3,000 people were killed.
   (Reuters, 3/10/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 10, In Mali hundreds
of people rallied in the northern town of Kidal to protest against a
preliminary, UN-brokered peace deal signed by the government and not
yet accepted by Tuareg rebel groups in the north.
   (Reuters, 3/10/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 10, In Mexico the body
of Aide Nava Gonzalez, candidate for mayor of the town of
Ahuacuotzingo, was found late today. Nava, a leftist of the
Democratic Revolution Party, had been kidnapped a day earlier from a
political event.
   (AP, 3/11/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 10, Myanmar police
beat students, monks and journalists with batons as they dispersed a
protest against a proposed new education law after a standoff that
lasted more than a week.
   (Reuters, 3/10/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 10, In Nigeria a
suspected female suicide bomber killed at least 34 people at a
crowded market in Maiduguri, capital of Borno state.
   (Reuters, 3/10/15)(SFC, 3/11/15, p.A2)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 10, In Pakistan the
Punjab Child Marriage Restraint Act, which previously provided for a
month-long prison sentence and a fine of Rs 1,000 [about 100 rupees
to a dollar] for parents of children but spared clerics solemnizing
the marriage contract, increased penalties to a six-month prison
term and a fine of Rs 50,000 for the parents and the cleric.
   (Reuters, 3/10/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 10, Philippine troops
killed at least 23 Muslim rebels in new clashes in the restive south
which raised the insurgents' death toll in a three-week government
offensive to nearly 100.
   (AP, 3/11/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 10, A South African
Broadcasting Corporation (SABC) crew were reporting outside a
Johannesburg hospital when they were accosted by muggers who robbed
them of mobile phones, laptops and other equipment. The incident
that occurred in a badly lit street was caught on camera, and later
aired on television.
   (AFP, 3/11/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 10, Spanish police
neutralized a jihadi terror cell with the arrests of two people in
its North African enclave of Ceuta. They were part of a larger group
allegedly planning to carry out attacks in Spain and other European
countries and connected to the Jan 24 detention of four other
suspected members of the same cell.
   (AP, 3/10/15)(Reuters, 3/10/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 10, Sweden scrapped a
long-standing military deal with the Saudis after accusing the
country of blocking Swedish Foreign Minister Margot Wallstroem from
speaking at an Arab League meeting. Saudi Arabia in response
recalled its Stockholm ambassador.
   (AFP, 3/11/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 10, In Ukraine former
lawmaker Stanislav Melnyk, a member of deposed Pres. Yanukovych's
Party of Regions, was found by his wife dead in his bathroom. He
left a suicide note asking for forgiveness.
   (AFP, 3/14/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 11, The US Board of
Immigration Appeals in Washington, DC, found that Gen. Carlos
Eugenio Vides Casanova, a former defense minister of El Salvador,
can be deported for his role in the abuse and killing of civilians
during El Salvador’s civil war in the 1980s.
   (SFC, 3/13/15, p.A5)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 11, The US placed
sanctions on eight Ukrainian separatists and a Russian bank, warning
that recent attacks by rebels armed by Russia violated a
European-brokered ceasefire in the war-torn country.
   (Reuters, 3/11/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 11, It was reported
that the United States has asked Vietnam to stop letting Russia use
a former US base to refuel nuclear-capable bombers engaged in shows
of strength over the Asia-Pacific region, exposing strains in
Washington's steadily warming relations with Hanoi.
   (Reuters, 3/11/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 11, A US Army
helicopter crashed near Eglin air Force Base in Florida. 7 Marines
and 4 aircrew were feared dead after the UH-60 Black Hawk helicopter
crashed during a night training exercise.
   (AFP, 3/11/15)(SFC, 3/12/15, p.A10)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 11, In Texas Manuel
Vasquez, a Mexican mafia hitman, was executed at the Huntsville
state prison for strangling a woman in San Antonio because she
didn’t pay a gang’s 10% tax on her illegal drug sales.
   (SFC, 3/12/15, p.A8)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 11, Oceangate of
Washington state unveiled Cyclops, a five seat submarine capable of
diving 500 meters with a battery allowing it to maneuver for up to 8
hours. Potential cruises in the vessel were estimated to cost “as
little as” $1,000 per person.
   (Econ., 3/21/15, p.71)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 11, Scientists
reported that evidence from the Cassini spacecraft has indicated
there might be hot springs under the ice of Enceladus, one of the
moons of Saturn.
   (SFC, 3/12/15, p.A3)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 11, In Angola heavy
storms hit Lobito late today, sending torrents of water rushing from
surrounding hillsides into the town that sits on the coast of the
south Atlantic ocean. The death toll in Lobito soon rose to 69,
including 36 children.
   (AFP, 3/14/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 11, Britain’s 2015
Templeton Prize went to Canadian Jean Vanier, who founded the
pioneering global network of "L'Arche" residential communities for
people with and without mental disabilities. The prize, established
in 1972, honors "entrepreneurs of the spirit".
   (AFP, 3/11/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 11, The euro fell to
its lowest level against the dollar since April 2003, at $1.0557.
The main reason is the European Central Bank has not only cut
interest rates but also started creating more euros to put into the
financial system.
   (AP, 3/11/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 11, In France a group
of armed thieves attacked two secure vans carrying jewels at a
motorway toll overnight, making off with a haul worth some nine
million euros ($11 million).
   (AFP, 3/11/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 11, In northern India
a crude bomb exploded in a crowded market in Imphal, the capital of
Manipur state, killing at least 3 people and injuring 15 others.
   (AP, 3/11/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 11, Iraqi soldiers and
Shiite militiamen entered the Islamic State-held city of Tikrit,
breaching one of the biggest strongholds of the extremists in a key
test for Iraqi forces.
   (AP, 3/11/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 11, In Iraq and Syria
US and coalition forces conducted 13 air strikes against Islamic
State militants over the last 24 hours.
   (Reuters, 3/11/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 11, In Iraq Australian
suicide bomber Jake Bilardi (18), also known as Jihadi Jake, died in
a suicide bomb attack west of Baghdad.
   (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jake_Bilardi)(AP,
10/31/17)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 11, Latvia's Interior
Minister Rihards Kozlovskis said the country’s security is at risk
from Russian-funded advocacy groups waging "information war" that
suggests the Baltic state is persecuting its Russian minority.
   (Reuters, 3/12/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 11, Lithuania marked
the 25th anniversary of its declaration of independence.
   (SFC, 3/12/15, p.A5)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 11, Macedonian police
say they have filed criminal bribery charges against the country's
opposition leader Zoran Zaev, who is embroiled in a clash with the
conservative government over allegations of massive wire-tapping.
   (AP, 3/11/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 11, In Mexico bodies
of two field workers of the National Statistics Institute, missing
since March 2, were found dead in Chihuahua state.
   (AP, 3/12/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 11, In the Netherlands
a court ruled that the Dutch government must pay compensation to
nine widows and children of Indonesian men summarily executed in
their country's war for independence, a ruling that could open the
door to many more claims.
   (AP, 3/11/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 11, Nigeria said that
36 towns had been retaken from Boko Haram since the start of a
four-nation military offensive, voicing hope that the operation
could lead to the group's total defeat.
   (AFP, 3/11/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 11, Pakistani troops
raided the Karachi headquarters of the Muttahida Quami Movement's
(MQM) offices, arresting about 20 suspects and seizing weapons.
Party leader Faisal Subzwari accused the Rangers of killing one MQM
worker and said the weapons were licensed and necessary to guard the
offices against Taliban threats.
   (AP, 3/11/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 11, In Russia a blaze
broke out in a first-storey cafe at a shopping center Kazan,
Tatarstan province. 5 people were killed and 25 were thought to be
trapped under the rubble.
   (Reuters, 3/12/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 11, Slovenian police
searched the home of former PM Alenka Bratusek, who is being
investigated on suspicion of abuse of power after her government
unsuccessfully nominated her for the European Commission last year.
Police also searched four other locations linked to Bratusek's
political party.
   (AP, 3/11/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 11, Sweden said it has
offered Ukraine a bilateral loan of $100 million to help shore up
its finances.
   (Reuters, 3/11/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 11, In Syria the
Islamic State jihadist group launched a major offensive to try to
capture the strategic town of Ras al-Ain on the Syrian-Turkish
border, leaving dozens dead in clashes. At least 12 fighters from
the Kurdish People's Protection Units (YPG), which control Ras
al-Ain and the surrounding villages, were killed in the IS
onslaught.
   (AFP, 3/11/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 11, In central
Tanzania at least 41 people were killed and 23 seriously injured in
a collision between a bus and a truck near Changarawe.
   (AFP, 3/11/15)(SFC, 3/12/15, p.A2)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 11, Turkish
authorities said they have detained 16 Indonesians from three
families who were trying to cross into Syria, a route frequently
used by sympathizers of Islamic State militants.
   (Reuters, 3/11/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 12, US government
investigator Timothy Camus said fake tax agents have targeted more
than 366,000 people with harassing phone calls demanding payments
and threatening jail time as part of a huge nationwide scam that
partly involves call centers in India.
   (AP, 3/12/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 12, The Obama
administration gave final approval to a giant expansion of the Gulf
of the Farallones and the Cordell Bank national marine sanctuaries
off the coast of northern California.
   (SFC, 3/13/15, p.A1)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 12, In southern
California Keshawn Brooks (15) was stabbed to death for his backpack
in Long Beach. Police soon arrested Giovanny Montelongo (18) on
suspicion of murder.
   (SFC, 3/14/15, p.A5)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 12, In Missouri two
police officers shot overnight in Ferguson after the city's
embattled police chief resigned. Wednesday was the 215th night of
demonstrations in Ferguson.
   (AFP, 3/12/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 12, Indian biologists
at MIT said the swine flu outbreak in India, which has claimed over
1,500 lives, may have mutated into a more dangerous strain.
   (SSFC, 3/15/15, p.A6)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 12, Bahraini
authorities arrested three suspects after a firefight in the capital
Manama broke out in the city's busy Juffair district.
   (AFP, 3/13/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 12, In Bangladesh the
roof of a five-story cement factory under construction collapsed,
killing 7 workers in the port town of Mongla. Nearly 50 survivors
were pulled from the rubble.
   (AP, 3/12/15)(Reuters, 3/13/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 12, British science
fiction and fantasy author Terry Pratchett (66) died. His 40
Discworld novels made him Britain’s bestselling author in the 1990s.
By 2015 he sold some 85 million books in 37 languages.
   (AFP, 3/12/15)(Econ., 3/28/15, p.94)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 12, In Colombia five
police and two civilians were injured after a bomb exploded in
Bogota. Leftist ELN guerrillas were suspected.
   (Reuters, 3/12/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 12, Costa Rica's
Turrialba volcano belched a column of gas and ash up to 3,280 feet
(1 km) into the air in its most powerful eruption in two decades.
   (Reuters, 3/13/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 12, It was reported
that Cuba is allowing free, public Internet service for the first
time at a Havana cultural center. It quietly began offering open
Wi-Fi in recent weeks.
   (AP, 3/12/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 12, The European
Parliament called on Venezuela to release students and opposition
figures "arbitrarily detained" during protests against left-wing
President Nicolas Maduro.
   (AFP, 3/12/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 12, France’s
competition authority hit eleven companies with $203 million in
fines for fixing prices on many yogurt-related goods.
   (SFC, 3/13/15, p.A2)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 12, Iceland announced
that it was suspending its application to join the 28-nation EU.
   (AFP, 3/13/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 12, In Iraq US and
coalition partners conducted 13 air strikes against Islamic State
militants over the last 24 hours.
   (Reuters, 3/12/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 12, Islamic State
spokesman Abu Mohammed al-Adnani said that a pledge by Nigeria-based
Boko Haram has been accepted and that now “no one can stand in its
path.” The agreement mirrors the steps taken by other Sunni jihadist
groups in Libya and Egypt.
   (AP, 3/13/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 12, Jamaican
firefighters worked to put out the wind-fanned blaze as it billowed
acrid smoke across Kingston and parts of neighboring St. Catherine
parish.
   (AP, 3/12/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 12, In Kenya three
Danish women pleaded guilty to breaking customs laws by attempting
to smuggle suitcases stuffed with a narcotic herb out of the
country.
   (AP, 3/12/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 12, In Libya airport
guards stopped PM Abdullah al-Thinni from getting on a plane to
Tunis in protest against his choice of interior minister. The guards
were unhappy with Thinni's appointment of economy minister Munir Ali
Asr as caretaker interior minister, demanding the job go to a
southerner.
   (Reuters, 3/12/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 12, Malawi police said
they have arrested a man for trying to strangle to death a
16-year-old albino boy in February. A rights group reporting the
murder of six albinos in the last three months.
   (AFP, 3/12/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 12, In Mexico Bruce
Beresford-Redman (43), a former TV show producer, was sentenced to
12 years in prison by Judge Víctor Manuel Echeverria Tun, Quintana
Roo state, for murdering his wife during a 2010 Cancun beach
vacation.
   (AP, 3/13/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 12, Palestinian
farmers in Gaza exported produce to Israel for the first time since
the Jewish state imposed its blockade on the territory in 2006.
   (AFP, 3/12/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 12, In Saudi Arabia a
gang leader was beheaded raising the number of executions carried
out this year to 44.
   (AFP, 3/12/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 12, Moinina Fofana,
convicted in 2007 by a special UN-backed court of war crimes and
crimes against humanity including murder, cruel treatment, pillage
and collective punishment, was transferred from a Rwanda prison back
to Sierra Leone and granted provisional release to serve out the
remainder of his term in his community.
   (AP, 3/13/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 12, In Somalia 6
policemen were killed when al Shabaab Islamist militants detonated a
car bomb outside a regional government headquarters in Baidoa. Five
Al-Qaeda-affiliated Shebab militants opened fire at the gate of the
high-security zone in Baidoa but were held off by Ethiopian and
Somali government troops. An Ethiopian soldier was killed, three of
the attackers blew themselves up, another was shot dead and the
fifth was shot and wounded, ending the attack.
   (AP, 3/12/15)(Reuters, 3/12/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 12, In Somalia Adan
Garar, a senior Al-Shabaab commander who masterminded the Westgate
terrorist attack, was killed in a US drone attack along with two of
his aides.
   (http://tinyurl.com/mlj5t4z)(SFC, 3/13/15, p.A2)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 12, South Africa's
state-owned power company Eskom suspended its chief executive and
three other top officials as its board launched an inquiry into the
troubled utility.
   (AFP, 3/12/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 12, Tanzania police
said they had arrested 225 unlicensed traditional healers and
soothsayers as part of a nationwide crackdown on witchdoctors linked
to a wave of albino attacks and murders.
   (AFP, 3/12/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 12, The Turkish
coastguard opened fire to stop a cargo vessel carrying 337 mainly
Syrian migrants heading towards European Union waters and arrested
the suspected traffickers.
   (AFP, 3/13/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 12, In Ukraine
Oleksandr Peklushenko, a former ally of deposed Pres. Yanukovych
targeted in a probe into the violent dispersal of the pro-Western
rally in the city of Zaporizhia where he was governor last year, was
found dead from a gunshot to the neck. Three recent deaths followed
four suicides earlier this year of regional officials who were
working under the old regime.
   (AFP, 3/14/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 12, The Organization
for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE) said it is to roughly
double the size of its observer mission in eastern Ukraine to up to
1,000 personnel.
   (AFP, 3/12/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 12, The World Bank
suspended its operations in Yemen as Shiite rebels fired tear gas
and started shooting in the air to disperse a demonstration against
them Bayda, killing 2 people and wounding seven.
   (AP, 3/12/15)(AFP, 3/13/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 12, The World Health
Organization (WHO) estimated that the Ebola outbreak has killed over
10,000 people, mostly in Guinea, Liberia, and Sierra Leone.
   (SFC, 3/13/15, p.A2)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 13, Pres. Obama, in
his first visit to the Phoenix Veterans Affairs hospital whose
practices sparked a health care scandal, acknowledged lingering
weaknesses the the federal government’s response to the chronic
delays and false waiting lists in the VA health system.
   (BG, 3/13/16, p.B6)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 13, Police in southern
California arested 8 of 14 students under investigation for a series
of sexual assaults on and off the campus of Venice High School in
Los Angeles.
   (SSFC, 3/15/15, p.A10)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 13, In Mississippi two
people were killed and 3 left injured in Brookhaven early today.
Jimmy Lyons (32) reportedly opened fire on a family he lived with
leaving Jermaine Sims (31) and a daughter (9) dead.
   (SSFC, 3/15/15, p.A11)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 13, In Andorra Joan
Pau Miquel Prats of Banca Privada d'Andorra (BPA) was arrested on
suspicion of money laundering following US allegations that funds
were laundered for groups from China, Russia and Venezuela.
   (AP, 3/14/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 13, Cameroonian troops
began attacking Nigeria's Boko Haram Islamic extremists near the
Nigerian village of Ndaba, killing several of the militants over the
next 24 hours and destroying some of their equipment.
   (AP, 3/16/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 13, Egypt opened an
int’l. conference to promote an ambitious recovery plan. Kuwait, the
UAE and Saudi Arabia all promised investments and aid of $4 billion
each.
   (SFC, 3/14/15, p.A2)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 13, Egypt's government
announced plans to build a new capital adjacent to Cairo, in a
massive new project that in its first phase would cost $45 billion
and take up to seven years to complete.
   (AP, 3/13/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 13, Germany’s top
court ruled that Muslim women teachers can wear headscarves as long
as it does not cause disruption in school overturning its own 2003
ban.
   (Reuters, 3/13/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 13, In Guatemala
journalist Guido Villatoro (20) was gunned down as he entered the
office where he worked in the southwestern department of
Suchitepequez. A wiretap soon led to the capture of suspect Antonio
Televario Navichoc, one of two leaders of a Mara 18 street gang cell
that runs extortion rackets in the region.
   (AP, 3/27/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 13, Japan and France
signed an arms transfer agreement, paving the way to develop drones
and other unmanned equipment together as Japan seeks to play a
greater international military role.
   (AP, 3/13/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 13, In Iraq a bombing
in Baghdad and an explosion in a nearby town killed 7 people. Iraqi
police claimed around 50 percent of Tikrit was now back in
government hands. 6 soldiers were reported killed and 11 wounded in
a suicide car bomb Tikrit’s in Al-Dyum neighborhood.
   (AP, 3/13/15)(AFP, 3/13/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 13, In Iraq and Syria
the US and its coalition partners staged 11 air strikes against
Islamic State militants over the last 24 hours.
   (AP, 3/13/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 13, The International
Criminal Court formally halted proceedings against Kenya's Pres.
Uhuru Kenyatta, three months after prosecutors dropped charges
implicating him in fomenting postelection violence that left more
than 1,000 people dead in 2007 and 2008.
   (AP, 3/13/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 13, In northern Kenya
Islamic militants attacked the convoy of a governor, killing 3
people in the second attack on Governor Ali Roba's convoy in five
months. Al-Shabab militants from Somalia claimed responsibility for
the attack.
   (AP, 3/13/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 13, In the Maldives a
three-judge panel ruled that Mohamed Nasheed, the country's first
democratically elected president, had issued an illegal order to
detain a senior judge in 2012 while in office. Nasheed was sentenced
to 13 years in prison.
   (AP, 3/14/15)(SFC, 3/14/15, p.A2)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 13, Malian special
forces killed a suspect in the March 7 deadly jihadist attack on a
nightclub in the capital.
   (AFP, 3/13/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 13, A bomb from a
Myanmar aircraft fell in Chinese territory and killed four Chinese
people. Myanmar denied that any bomb from its forces had fallen in
China and said the rebels might have fired into China to create
misunderstanding.
   (Reuters, 3/14/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 13, In northwestern
Myanmar a crowded double-decker passenger ferry capsized late today
after being slammed by huge waves. At least 61 people were killed
with 169 known survivors.
   (AP, 3/14/15)(AP, 3/17/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 13, Nigeria's military
said that it had uncovered a Boko Haram bomb-making factory in the
northeastern town of Buni Yadi after soldiers retook the town from
the insurgents.
   (AFP, 3/13/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 13, In central Nigeria
gunmen abducted three Chinese workers after a shootout that left a
police officer dead at a quarry outside Lokoja, the capital of Kogi
state. The workers were freed the next day through a joint operation
by the police and other security agents.
   (AP, 3/15/15)(AFP, 3/14/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 13, A Pakistani court
ordered the release of Zaki-ur-Rahman Lakhvi, the main suspect in
the 2008 Mumbai terror attacks, because a three-month detention
period has expired. He was unlikely to be freed because he still
faced charges in a separate kidnapping case.
   (AP, 3/13/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 13, Pakistani
warplanes pounded militant hideouts in a northwestern tribal region
near the Afghan border, killing at least 48 suspected militants.
   (AP, 3/13/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 13, A Serbian military
helicopter crashed near Belgrade in foggy weather late today while
evacuating a sick baby from the south of the country, killing all 7
people on board.
   (AP, 3/14/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 13, In Spain eight
suspected Islamist militants accused of planning attacks and
recruiting fighters to send to Syria and Iraq were arrested in dawn
raids across the country.
   (Reuters, 3/13/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 13, In Turkey three
male British teenagers planning to join Islamic State militants in
Syria were detained in Istanbul.
   (Reuters, 3/15/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 13, Pope Francis
declared an extraordinary jubilee, or holy year, to last from
December 8, 2015, to November 20, 2016. Ordinary jubilees are
proclaimed every 25 years.
   (Econ., 3/21/15, p.48)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 13, In Venezuela
Rodolfo Gonzalez (64) died sometime during the night while being
held at the headquarters of the intelligence police in an apparent
suicide that his family said was the result of harsh prison
conditions and unjust punishment.. Gonzalez was arrested last year
during demonstrations against the socialist government.
   (AP, 3/13/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 13, In Yemen hundreds
rallied in the militia-controlled capital of Sanaa to call for
presidential elections and demanding the son of ex-strongman Ali
Abdullah Saleh to run as a candidate.
   (AFP, 3/13/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 13, In Zimbabwe one
prisoner in one of the country’s most notorious jails died in a
stampede after hundreds of inmates rioted over the poor quality of
their food.
   (AFP, 3/14/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 14, US officials said
the Obama administration is abandoning plans to cut the number of US
forces in Afghanistan to 5,500 by year's end, bowing to military
leaders who want to keep more troops, including many into the 2016
fighting season.
   (AP, 3/14/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 14, Robert Durst (71),
the scion of a wealthy New York real estate family, was taken into
custody at a New Orleans hotel at the request of Los Angeles police
investigating the 2000 killing of his friend Susan Berman. The next
day the HBO television network broadcast the final episode in a
six-part documentary series about Durst called "The Jinx: The Life
and Deaths of Robert Durst." In it Durst is heard muttering to
himself, "What the hell did I do? Killed them all, of course." On
April 23 Louisiana dismissed weapons charges against Durst.
   (AP, 3/16/15)(SFC, 4/24/15, p.A9)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 14, Missouri police
arrested at least two people as nightly protests in the racially
troubled US suburb of Ferguson over the police killing of unarmed
black teenager Michael Brown shifted into the heart of St Louis.
   (AFP, 3/15/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 14, The tugboat Sea
Bear sank off New York’s Fire Island. Capt. Donald Maloney died
after jumping into icy water without putting on his immersion suit.
3 crew members survived after donning protective gear.
   (SFC, 3/16/15, p.A5)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 14, In London a statue
of Indian independence leader Mahatma Gandhi was unveiled at
Parliament Square, the symbolic heart of the British establishment
that once loathed him for his campaign against imperial rule.
   (AFP, 3/14/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 14, In southern Brazil
a bus accident killing 54 people near Joinville, Santa Catarina
state.
   (AP, 3/15/15)(SFC, 3/16/15, p.A2)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 14, In Canada
thousands protested against Bill C-51, a new anti-terrorism
legislation proposed by the Conservative government of PM Stephen
Harper.
   (Econ., 3/21/15, p.30)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 14, Troops from Chad
and Niger seized Damasak in northeastern Nigeria in the latest
defeat for the militants. Soldiers from Niger and Chad soon
discovered the bodies of at least 70 people, many of them beheaded,
dumped near a bridge outside Damasak. It was later reported that
Boko Haram militants kidnapped more than 400 women and children from
Damasak.
   (Reuters, 3/19/15)(AP, 3/20/15)(Reuters, 3/25/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 14, In China an
earthquake in the eastern city of Fuyang killed two people and
damaged thousands of homes.
   (AP, 3/14/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 14, An Egyptian
disciplinary court ordered 41 judges into compulsory retirement for
supporting the outlawed Muslim Brotherhood.
   (Reuters, 3/14/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 14, In Egypt a garbage
collector and his donkey were killed in a bomb explosion in a Cairo
district.
   (AP, 3/15/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 14, Indian PM Narendra
Modi visited the former war zone of northern Sri Lanka in a show of
solidarity with ethnic Tamils.
   (Reuters, 3/14/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 14, In eastern India a
nun in her 70s was gang-raped by a group of bandits when she tried
to prevent them from robbing a Christian missionary school in West
Bengal state.
   (AP, 3/14/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 14, Iraq's
semi-autonomous Kurdistan Regional Government said it has evidence
Islamic State used chlorine gas as a chemical weapon against Kurdish
peshmerga forces in a January 23 suicide car bombing.
   (Reuters, 3/14/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 14, In central Libya
clashes erupted between Islamic State fighters and a force loyal to
a Tripoli-based faction.
   (Reuters, 3/14/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 14, In northern Mexico
5 people were killed when their small plane crashed in Chihuahua
state.
   (Reuters, 3/14/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 14, Nigerian soldiers
detonated two homemade bombs found in a camp housing people
displaced by Boko Haram violence in Maiduguri. Two men suspected of
planting the explosives were arrested.
   (AFP, 3/14/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 14, In northwestern
Pakistan shepherds found 13 bullet-riddled bodies in South
Waziristan. Officials said the bodies were Taliban fighters.
   (Reuters, 3/15/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 14, In Romania
Bucharest district mayor Marian Vanghelie, an influential figure in
the ruling Social Democracy Party until recently, was arrested and
charged with taking a 20 percent cut of contracts worth 2 billion
lei ( 450 million euros or $475 million ) from 2007 until 2015.
   (AP, 3/14/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 14, Sierra Leone's
vice president Samuel Sam-Sumana sought asylum from the United
States, saying he no longer felt safe in the country after soldiers
disarmed the security team at his residence.
   (AP, 3/14/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 14, In Sierra Leone 10
American aid workers were evacuated following contact with a
colleague who was evacuated a day earlier after showing signs of
illness.
   (SSFC, 3/15/15, p.A10)(SFC, 3/16/15, p.A5)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 14, Sweden-based Ikea,
the world's largest furniture retailer, said it is halting its
online magazine in Russia out of fears it violates the country's law
banning promotion of same-sex gay values to minors.
   (AP, 3/14/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 14, In northeast Syria
US-led coalition jets struck Islamic State positions for the second
day in a row, in an area where the militants are battling Kurdish
forces. The US and its coalition partners staged 10 air strikes on
Islamic State militants in Iraq and Syria over the last 24 hours.
   (AP, 3/14/15)(Reuters, 3/14/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 14, Residents in
Vanuatu hunkered in emergency shelters for a second straight night
after venturing out to find their homes damaged or blown away by
Cyclone Pam. 24 people were later confirmed killed with 3,300 left
homeless and nearly half the 300,000 population impacted. The
cyclone had already caused damage to other Pacific islands,
including Kiribati and the Solomon Islands.
   (AP, 3/14/15)(SFC, 3/16/15, p.A2)(Reuters,
3/17/15)(CSM, 3/18/15)(AFP, 5/18/19)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 14, In Yemen opponents
of the Houthi militia announced the formation of a national alliance
to restore the authority of the state, in a major shakeup of Yemen's
political landscape.
   (Reuters, 3/14/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 15, In eastern
Afghanistan gunmen kidnapped eight ethnic Hazara people from two
cars but later released all but one of the hostages.
   (Reuters, 3/15/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 15, In Brazil an
estimated 1.5-2.2 million people took to the streets across the
country in protest over corruption, with many calling for Pres.
Dilma Rousseff's impeachment.
   (AFP, 3/16/15)(Econ., 3/21/15, p.29)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 15, In China Xu Caihou
(71), the highest-ranking military officer to fall victim to
President Xi Jinping's anti-corruption drive, died of cancer.
   (AFP, 3/16/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 15, Islamic State
fighters traded sniper fire and mortar rounds with Iraqi troops and
allied Shi'ite militia forces in the city of Tikrit but no major
advances were made by either side.
   (Reuters, 3/15/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 15, In northern Kenya
Somali Shebab militants killed one man and wounded three others in a
shooting in the town of Mandera.
   (AFP, 3/16/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 15, Nigerian Boko
Haram leader Abubakar Shekau reportedly addressed his fighters and
told them to return to Gwoza and kill the women they had taken as
wives.
   (AFP, 3/27/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 15, In eastern
Pakistan a pair of suicide bombers attacked two churches in Lahore
as worshippers prayed inside killing 17 people.
   (AP, 3/15/15)(AP, 3/16/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 15, Philippine
security forces arrested Mohammad Ali Tambako, the head of a small
Islamic militant group, along with five accomplices. Tambako was
involved in protecting Abdul Basit Usman, one of the United States'
"most wanted terrorists," who had escaped a Jan 25 raid.
   (AFP, 3/16/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 15, Syrian government
warplanes pounded a Damascus suburb, killing at least 18 people and
scattering shattered concrete blocks and mangled cars in the
streets.
   (AP, 3/15/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 16, The Afghan army
killed a militant commander who had claimed allegiance to the
Islamic State group. Hafiz Wahidi and 9 of his men were killed in an
operation in Helmand province.
   (AP, 3/16/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 16, Andorra imposed
withdrawal limits for clients of Banca Privada d'Andorra (BPA), a
bank accused of money laundering. Spain's central bank said that
Banco de Madrid SA, a unit of the Andorran bank, needs bankruptcy
protection granted by a judge following a "sharp deterioration" of
its finances with large withdrawals of clients' funds.
   (AP, 3/16/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 16, Bahrain
authorities arrested a young man who was trying to smuggle in
bomb-making materials from Iraq. He told authorities a relative who
lives in Iraq, and wanted on terrorism-related charges, gave him the
suitcase to take to Bahrain.
   (AP, 3/16/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 16, Belgian
authorities made several arrests and were analyzing goods that could
be linked to the Feb 18, 2013, $42 million diamond theft at the
Brussels airport.
   (AP, 3/16/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 16, Brazilian police
launched a new round of arrests in the corruption scandal at state
oil giant Petrobras, a day after massive nationwide demonstrations
against leftist President Dilma Rousseff.
   (AFP, 3/16/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 16, The European Union
gave the green light to a long-awaited pact with Bosnia, a first
step toward possible membership of the bloc after years of political
and economic stagnation.
   (Reuters, 3/16/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 16, In Latvia about a
thousand people marched to pay tribute to Latvians who fought in
German Waffen SS units against the Soviet Union during World War II,
despite jeering from protesters who say the parade glorifies
fascism.
   (AP, 3/16/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 16, In Libya families
fled the coastal city of Sirte in their dozens after two days of
clashes between Islamic State militants and fighters loyal to a
government based in Tripoli.
   (Reuters, 3/16/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 16, The Islamic State
group reported the death of one of its top field commanders in
Libya. Ahmed al-Rouissi, one of the most wanted militants in
Tunisia, was killed recently in clashes around the city of Sirte.
   (AP, 3/17/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 16, Malaysian police
arrested the eldest daughter of jailed opposition leader Anwar
Ibrahim for alleged sedition, a move slammed by critics as a
clampdown on dissent.
   (AP, 3/16/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 16, In Mexico Carmen
Aristegui, the crusading host of a top-rated national news radio
program, was reported fired in a case that many fear is a blow to
freedom of expression. MVS Radio said Aristegui was fired for
challenging the firing of reporters who had misused the company's
name by linking it to a website meant to collect leaks of government
information. In November, 2014, her team broke the story of that
Pres. Pena Nieto’s wife was buying a $7 million mansion mortgaged to
her by a government preferred contractor.
   (AP, 3/16/15)(Econ., 3/21/15, p.30)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 16, In northwestern
Nepal at least 17 people were killed when a bus slipped off a
rain-drenched mountain road near Rararihi village.
   (AP, 3/16/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 16, Pakistani police
fired tear gas after Christian protesters clashed with police in the
eastern city of Lahore, a day after Taliban suicide bombers killed
17 people in suicide attacks on two churches in the city.
   (AP, 3/16/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 16, Romanian
prosecutors questioned and detained Horia Georgescu on suspicion
that in 2008-2009 he overvalued property being restituted to former
owners who lost it when the communists nationalized real estate. He
denied wrongdoing. Georgescu stepped down as head of the National
Integrity Agency the next day.
   (AP, 3/16/15)(AP, 3/17/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 16, Russia’s Pres.
Putin made his first public appearance since March 5 meeting Kyrgyz
President Almazbek Atambayev at the Constantine Palace outside
Russia's second city of St. Petersburg. More than 45,000 Russian
troops as well as war planes and submarines started military
exercises across much of the country.
   (Reuters, 3/16/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 16, The Stockholm
Int’l. Peace Research Institute reported that China has overtaken
Germany as the world’s third largest arms exporter with a 5% share,
behind the US at 31% and Russia at 27%.
   (SFC, 3/17/15, p.A2)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 16, A Swedish man (20)
was ordered to pay damages of 76,000 kronor ($8,750, 8,300 euros) to
his ex-girlfriend for posting a video online of them having sex. The
case sparked outrage in Sweden in 2013 when an appeals court slashed
the damages imposed by the district court of Joenkoeping in eastern
Sweden, from 136,000 down to 31,000 kronor.
   (AFP, 3/16/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 16, One Ukrainian
serviceman was reported killed in fighting in the separatist-minded
east of the country in the past 24 hours despite a ceasefire deal.
Residents in the eastern town of Kostyantynivka angrily confronted
government police after an armored military vehicle struck and
killed an 8-year-old girl.
   (Reuters, 3/16/15)(AP, 3/17/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 17, Illinois Rep.
Aaron Schock (33) resigned after weeks of mounting media reports
about questionable expenditures and personal finances.
   (SFC, 3/21/15, p.A6)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 17, In North Carolina
3 Burmese children — ages 1, 5, and 12 — were stabbed to death and
two other people were hurt in an attack at a home in New Bern.
Police identified the suspect as Eh Lar Doh Htoo (18).
   (AP, 3/18/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 17, Britain announced
a three percent rise in the minimum wage, the largest real terms
increase since 2008.
   (AFP, 3/17/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 17, British officials
said three judges who looked at pornography on their work accounts
have been fired. A fourth judge who was also found to have viewed
similar material at work resigned before the inquiry had concluded.
   (AP, 3/17/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 17, Germany, France
and Italy followed Britain in announcing that they plan to join the
Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank, a proposed Chinese-led Asian
regional bank, swinging Europe's biggest economic powers behind a
project that is viewed with concern in Washington.
   (AP, 3/17/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 17, Greek officials
said police raids across the country last week smashed an
international people trafficking ring that made $8 million in profit
from smuggling Syrian migrants into Europe. 16 suspects were
arrested.
   (Reuters, 3/17/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 17, Iraq's offensive
to retake Tikrit from the Islamic State group was stalled because of
streets and buildings rigged with booby trap bombs and by the
several hundred jihadists still holding out there. Separate attacks
in and outside Baghdad killed at least 9 people.
   (AFP, 3/17/15)(AP, 3/17/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 17, Israel held
elections. PM Benjamin Netanyahu (65) faced an uphill battle to
defeat a strong campaign by the center-left opposition to deny him a
fourth term in office. Netanyahu's Likud had won 30 seats in the
120-member Knesset, comfortably defeating the center-left Zionist
Union opposition on 24 seats.
   (Reuters, 3/17/15)(Reuters, 3/18/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 17, In Kenya 4 people
were shot dead in a shop Wajir town by unknown gunmen who wounded
three others. Al-Shabab Islamic extremists soon claimed
responsibility, bringing the total number of those killed by the
militants since March 13 to 12.
   (AP, 3/18/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 17, In Myanmar Philip
Blackwood, a New Zealand bar manager, and his two Myanmar colleagues
were jailed for two and a half years with hard labor by a Yangon
court for using a Buddha image to promote a cheap drinks night.
   (AFP, 3/17/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 17, Pakistan hanged 12
convicts. This was the largest number of people executed on the same
day since an unofficial moratorium on capital punishment was lifted
in December.
   (Reuters, 3/17/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 17, In Pakistan
Samiullah Khan Afridi, a former lawyer for a doctor who helped the
US find Osama bin Laden, was killed by a gunman in Peshawar.
   (SFC, 3/18/15, p.A2)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 17, In Poland rioting
by some 300 young people in Sosnowiec follows two nights of
disturbances near Warsaw over the death of another young man
apprehended by the police. Two officers were hurt as police detained
14 people. They blamed the police for the death last week of a
23-year-old man, apprehended in the street and taken to a sobering
center, where he lost consciousness.
   (AP, 3/18/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 17, Puerto Rico Police
Chief Jose Caldero said that officers found 2,535 pounds (1,150 kg)
of cocaine, worth an estimated $32 million, aboard a boat and
detained 14 people from the Dominican Republic.
   (AP, 3/17/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 17, Swiss officials
said they are returning to Nigeria some $380 million linked to the
country's former dictator, Gen. Sani Abacha. The money, confiscated
on the basis that the Abacha family was a criminal organization,
will now be returned to Nigeria under World Bank supervision.
   (AP, 3/17/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 17, A Syrian army
statement said dozens of militants were killed in other areas of
Idlib province overnight in clashes and attacks. A monitoring group
said government forces carried out a poison gas attack that killed
six people in the northwest. Medics posted videos of children
suffering what they said was suffocation.
   (Reuters, 3/17/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 17, The Syrian army
shot down a US drone over Latakia province, part of the western
region where Damascus has been consolidating state control.
   (Reuters, 3/18/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 17, Tunisia said it
had dismantled 4 recruiting cells sending jihadis to fight in Libya
and arrested dozens in part of tighter security and border controls
to counter Islamist militants.
   (Reuters, 3/17/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 17, Ukraine said 3
government servicemen were killed in fighting in the east in the
past 24 hours despite a ceasefire agreement with Russian-backed
rebels.
   (Reuters, 3/17/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 18, In Arizona a
gunman killed one person and wounded five others in rampage in Mesa.
Police soon arrested ex-con Ryan Giroux (41), who has already served
three stints in state prison since 1994.Â
   (SFC, 3/19/15, p.A12)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 18, San Francisco
police officer Michael Robison (46), a 23-year veteran, resigned
after being identified as one of four officers involved in sending
racist and homophobic text messages. Robison had come out as gay
before being hired in 1992.
   (SFC, 3/20/15, p.D1)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 18, GM said Opel will
leave the Russian market by December in the face of plummeting sales
in the economically troubled country. Chevrolet production will be
cut back significantly to focus on top-end products such as the
Corvette sports car and Tahoe SUV, which are imported into Russia
from the US.
   (AP, 3/18/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 18, Evolution
Marketplace, a website for illegal drugs, was taken down in an
apparent “exit scam” by its anonymous administrators who made off
with up to $15 million in Bitcoin payments they were holding in
escrow.
   (Econ., 4/11/15, p.59)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 18, In Afghanistan
Mattiullah Khan, the police chief of Uruzgan province, was killed
while visiting Kabul by a suicide bomber disguised as a woman. A
bomb exploded in Helmand province near the governor’s offices in
Lashkar Gah killing 7 people and wounding over 45.
   (AP, 3/19/15)(SFC, 3/19/15, p.A4)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 18, A Bangladesh court
indicted Mufti Jasimuddin Rahmani, a leader of the hard-line
Islamist group Ansarullah Bangla Team, and seven students in the
hacking death of atheist blogger Ahmed Rajib Haider two years ago.
   (AP, 3/18/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 18, In eastern Congo
DRC violent clashes have erupted between the army and a militia,
forcing many civilians to flee their homes. Rebels killed at least
four civilians as they fled the Congolese army operation.
   (AFP, 3/19/15)(AP, 3/20/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 18, A French court
handed controversial comedian Dieudonne a two-month suspended jail
sentence for condoning terrorism after a comment suggesting he
sympathized with one of the jihadists who attacked Paris.
   (AFP, 3/18/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 18, In Germany
anti-capitalist protesters clashed with riot police near the new
headquarters of the European Central Bank (ECB) in Frankfurt. Police
counted 3,500; rally organizers said 7,000.
   (Reuters, 3/18/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 18, A German court
banned Uber from offering its ridesharing service nationwide, adding
to the company's troubles in Europe.
   (AP, 3/18/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 18, In Germany
hundreds of flights were canceled in a strike by Lufthansa pilots at
the airline's short- and medium-haul operations.
   (AP, 3/18/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 18, The Greek
parliament overwhelmingly adopted a "humanitarian crisis" bill aimed
at helping its poorest people, ignoring apparent pressure from the
European Union to halt the legislation.
   (AFP, 3/18/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 18, In Libya fighting,
between Islamic State militants and forces loyal to the government
based in Tripoli, killed 12 troops near Nofaliya.
   (AP, 3/18/15)(SFC, 3/19/15, p.A2)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 18, In Moldova airport
authorities banned a Russian television crew from entering Moldova
and sent them back to Moscow. They were traveling to cover elections
this weekend in the semi-autonomous region of Gagauzia, a region
where most voters disapprove of Moldova's European aspirations and
want closer links to Russia.
   (AP, 3/19/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 18, In northeast
Nigeria Islamists returned to the border town of Gamboru, killing 8
people. 3 more were killed there the next day.
   (AFP, 3/21/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 18, Pakistani air
strikes reportedly killed 34 militants in the Tirah Valley in the
Khyber region. Residents put the toll at 20. The Pakistani Taliban
claimed responsibility for the killing in Peshawar of a district
president of the ruling Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N).
   (Reuters, 3/18/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 18, Poland's foreign
minister says his government will reciprocate if Russia continues to
bill for Poland's diplomatic buildings after the Arbitration Court
in St. Petersburg allowed bailiffs to evict Poland's consulate
there, saying Poland owes some $1 million in rent.
   (AP, 3/18/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 18, Russia’s Pres.
Vladimir Putin signed a new treaty with the leader of South Ossetia,
a breakaway region of Georgia, that called for nearly full
integration.
   (SFC, 3/19/15, p.A5)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 18, Serbian
prosecutors arrested seven suspects, accused of taking part in
killing more than 1,000 Bosnian Muslims in the 1995 Srebrenica
massacre, in pre-dawn raids at different locations in Serbia. An
eighth suspect was caught after an hours-long manhunt.
   (AP, 3/18/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 18, Sierra Leone
President Ernest Bai Koroma sacked Vice President Samuel Sam-Sumana
for seeking asylum in a foreign embassy.
   (Reuters, 3/18/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 18, In Sweden gunmen
with automatic weapons stormed into a restaurant in in suburban
Goteborg, killing two people and wounding about a dozen in a
shooting that police said was likely gang-related.
   (AP, 3/19/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 18, Thai authorities
said they had issued emergency measures across at least nine
provinces as thick smoke caused by farmers burning vegetation to
clear their fields chokes the north of the country.
   (Reuters, 3/18/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 18, In Tunisia gunmen
opened fire at the Bardo National Museum in Tunis. Overall 22 people
were killed, including 21 foreign tourists. Yassine al-Abidi and a
fellow gunman were killed by police. Security forces arrested nine
people the next day in connection with the attack.
   (AP, 3/18/15)(AP, 3/19/15)(AP, 3/20/15)(AFP,
3/28/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 18, In eastern Ukraine
a civilian was killed and one injured after tripping a bomb in
Vuglegirsk, a separatist-controlled town 35 km (21 miles) north-east
of the rebel stronghold of Donetsk.
   (AFP, 3/21/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 18, In Yemen
Abdel-Karim al-Khewani, a prominent politician and supporter of the
country's Shiite rebels, was assassinated by gunmen in front of the
family's home in Sanaa.
   (AP, 3/18/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 19, Officials from the
United States, Italy and Saudi Arabia led 2-days talks in Rome among
a group of countries seeking to combat the financial activities of
Islamic State militants. The Counter-ISIL Finance Group (CIFG)
includes Australia, Bahrain, Bulgaria, Canada, Denmark, France,
Georgia, Germany, Iraq, Japan, Jordan, Kuwait, Latvia, Lebanon, The
Netherlands, New Zealand, Panama, Poland, Qatar, Spain, Turkey, the
United Arab Emirates and the United Kingdom. The EU also
participates.
   (AP, 3/20/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 19, In Mississippi
Otis Byrd, a convicted killer, was found hanging by a sheet from a
tree about 200 yards behind his house in Claiborne County. His
family had reported him, missing over two weeks ago.
   (SFC, 3/21/15, p.A6)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 19, In Afghanistan a
woman, later identified as Farkhunda Malikzada (28), was lynched in
central Kabul. Her body was then set on fire and thrown onto the
banks of Kabul's main river. A mob was filmed stamping on the woman
and smashing a brick on her head after she was accused of burning a
Koran. Thirteen police officers were soon suspended and 13 suspects
arrested.
   (Reuters, 3/20/15)(AP, 3/20/15)(SFC, 3/23/15,
p.A3)(AP, 7/7/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 19, Australia said it
would introduce legislation next week to scrap the parliament of
Norfolk Island, which was effectively bankrupt, and temporarily
replace it by an advisory council before local government elections
in 2016.
   (AFP, 3/19/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 19, Officials said
around 30 British military personnel have arrived in Ukraine to
provide medical and tactical training to the country's troops.
   (AP, 3/19/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 19, In Cameroon 30
heavily armed fighters seized a bus in Babio, just miles (km) from
the border, which was carrying people returning from a burial. The
assailants drove the bus back into Central African Republic. At
least 15 people, including a mayor and local government officials,
were kidnapped.
   (AP, 3/21/15)(Reuters, 3/21/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 19, In China Sandy
Phan-Gillis of Texas was detained while attempting to cross from the
southern city of Zhuhai to Macau. She was arrested the next day on
suspicion of spying and stealing state secrets from 1996-1998. Her
husband later said she is a hard working businesswoman who spends
huge amounts of time on non-profit activities that benefit
Houston-China relations. On July 11, 2016, the Nanning Intermediate
People's Court accepted the case against Phan "Sandy" Phan-Gillis.
   (Reuters, 9/22/15)(AP, 8/30/16)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 19, An Egyptian court
acquitted Habib al-Adly, the former interior minister of ousted
president Hosni Mubarak, in the last corruption case he was facing.
   (AFP, 3/19/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 19, European Union
heads of state and government gathered in Brussels for a two day
meeting to talk about economic and energy policies, and the crises
in Ukraine and Libya.
   (AP, 3/19/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 19, In France
employees at Radio France went on strike to protest a cut in public
subsidy and an attempt to control Radio /France’s deficit.
   (Econ., 4/11/15, p.50)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 19, The International
Agency for Research on Cancer, a French-based research arm of the
World Health Organization, reclassified the herbicide glyphosate as
a result of what it said is convincing evidence the chemical
produces cancer in lab animals and more limited findings it causes
non-Hodgkin's lymphoma in humans. The glyphosate-containing
herbicide Roundup has been a mainstay of industrial agriculture.
This raised more questions for an aerial spraying program in
Colombia that is the cornerstone of the US-backed war on drugs.
   (AP, 3/22/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 19, Lufthansa,
Germany's largest airline, had to cancel 84 of 153 of its long-haul
flights, affecting 18,000 passengers as a strike by pilots was
extended to long-haul flights.
   (AP, 3/19/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 19, In eastern India
Sashimani Devi (92), the last consort of the god Jagannath, died in
Puri. She had married the god around 1930 as part of the devadasi
system, which was banned in 1988.
   (Econ., 4/4/15, p.86)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 19, In Iraq 13 bodies
were unearthed from a mass grave near the city of Tikrit. A new UN
report said Islamic State militants may have committed genocide, war
crimes and crimes against humanity during their rampage across the
country.
   (AP, 3/19/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 19, Mali said special
agents were holding three people suspected of helping armed
jihadists launch the March 7 attack on a nightclub in Bamako in
which 5 people died.
   (AFP, 3/19/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 19, In Mexico an
ambush by the Jalisco New Generation Drug Cartel killed 5 federal
gendarmerie officers, three gang suspects and three bystanders in
Ocotlan, Jalisco state. The New Generation cartel was led by Nemesio
Oseguera Cervantes, alias El Mencho.
   (AFP, 4/17/15)(Econ, 5/9/15, p.32)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 19, Moldova
authorities said two Russian journalists planning to travel to
Moldova to present a documentary on Crimea have been banned from the
country for five years.
   (AP, 3/19/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 19, In Nigeria
multiple witnesses said dozens of Nigerian women who were forced to
marry Boko Haram fighters were reportedly slaughtered by their
"husbands" before a battle with troops in the northeast town of
Bama. Witnesses said the killing of women began 10 days before Bama
was liberated.
   (AFP, 3/19/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 19, A senior Saudi
official said that the kingdom will no longer issue business visas
to Swedes or renew the current visas of Swedish nationals living in
the country in response to Swedish Foreign Minister Margot
Wallstrom's recent criticism of human rights and women's rights in
Saudi Arabia.
   (AP, 3/19/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 19, In South Korea the
foreign ministers of China, Japan and South Korea held their first
trilateral talks in four years.
   (Econ., 3/28/15, p.46)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 19, Switzerland signed
a preliminary agreement with the European Union that will make it
much harder for the 28-nation bloc's citizens to evade taxes by
hiding money in Swiss vaults.
   (AP, 3/19/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 19, Thailand police
today arrested Boon Ching Teo (51) of Malaysia, and Sirichai
Sridanont (50) of Thailand, after seizing 51 pieces of African ivory
Dec. 31 in the northeastern province of Surin.
   (AP, 3/19/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 19, In eastern Uruguay
10 people were killed when their plane plummeted into Laguna del
Sauce in Maldonado province. Of the eight passengers and two crew
members aboard the flight, nine were Argentines and one was
Portuguese.
   (AFP, 3/20/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 19, In Vietnam Hanoi
leader Nguyen The Thao put the cutting of old trees to a stop a few
days after some 20,000 people gathered to object to the uprooting of
some 500 old trees as part of a plan to replace some 6,700 mature
trees.
   (Econ., 4/18/15, p.34)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 19, In Yemen an
unidentified warplane attacked the presidential palace in Aden.
Rival forces fought the worst clashes in years. 13 people were
killed when forces loyal to President Abd-Rabbu Mansour Hadi fought
their way into Aden's international airport and wrested an adjacent
military base from a renegade officer.
   (Reuters, 3/19/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 20, The Obama
administration issued the first federal mandates governing hydraulic
fracturing on public land.
   (SFC, 3/21/15, p.D1)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 20, US District Judge
Alvin Hellerstein ruled that the US must release photographs showing
abuse of detainees in Iraq and Afghanistan, in a long-running clash
over letting the world see potentially disturbing images of how the
military treated prisoners.
   (AP, 3/21/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 20, The US FDA
approved genetically engineered foods as safe.
   (SFC, 3/21/15, p.A5)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 20, In New Orleans,
La., police shot Richard White (63) three times at the Louis
Armstrong International Airport after he attacked border agents with
a machete and wasp spray. White was shot and died the next day at a
local hospital.
   (AFP, 3/21/15)(SSFC, 3/22/15, p.A11)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 20, Bulgaria's
authorities said they had discovered the highly pathogenic H5N1 bird
flu virus in two dead pelicans in a nature reserve in northeastern
part of the Balkan country, close to neighboring Romania.
   (Reuters, 3/26/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 20, In Canada Raed
Jaser (37), a longtime resident of Palestinian descent, and
Tunisian-born Chiheb Esseghaier (32), accused of plotting to attack
a passenger train travelling from New York to Toronto, were found
guilty of several terror-related charges. They will be sentenced
April 10. On Sep 23 both men were sentenced to life in prison. Each
would have to serve at least ten years before becoming eligible for
parole.
   (AP, 3/21/15)(SFC, 9/24/15, p.A2)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 20, Beijing shut down
the third of its four coal-fired power plants as part of its
campaign to cut pollution, with the final one scheduled to close
next year.
   (AP, 3/20/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 20, Cuban media
reported that a local court last week condemned several government
officials to prison terms of between five and 15 years for stealing
and selling millions of eggs on the black market.
   (AFP, 3/20/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 20, In Denmark two men
suspected of helping the gunman who killed two people in attacks in
Copenhagen last Feb 15 were jailed.
   (AP, 3/20/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 20, Europol, the
European Union's policy agency, said that raids earlier this week in
Austria, Cyprus, Slovenia and Switzerland led to 26 arrests and the
identification of 14 possible victims of the smugglers. The raids of
brothels and restaurants targeted Chinese criminal networks that
reportedly smuggled people to the continent.
   (AP, 3/20/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 20, The EU and Balkan
countries launched a campaign aimed at stemming the flow of fighters
from southeastern Europe to join jihadists in the Middle East. The
Balkans are generally considered to include Albania, Bulgaria,
Bosnia and Herzegovina, about half of Croatia, Greece, the Republic
of Macedonia, Montenegro, most of Serbia, and the European part of
Turkey.
   (Reuters,
3/20/15)(http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Balkans)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 20, The EU committed 2
billion euros ($2.15 billion) to help Athens deal with what even EU
leaders now call the "humanitarian crisis" hitting Greeks in the
wake of the financial crisis that left the nation on the brink of
bankruptcy.
   (AP, 3/20/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 20, EU leaders agreed
to increase cooperation with Tunisia following an Islamist attack on
tourists in the capital this week, saying they would also offer more
economic assistance to the new Arab democracy.
   (Reuters, 3/20/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 20, EU leaders,
concerned about migrants using Libya as a jumping-off point to reach
the continent, pledged to help the conflict-torn country regain
stability but ruled out deploying any security operation.
   (AP, 3/20/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 20, Ethiopian
officials set fire to 6.1 tons of illegal elephant tusks, ivory
trinkets, carvings and various forms of jewelry on a wooden pyre in
Addis Ababa to discourage poaching and the ivory trade.
   (AP, 3/20/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 20, Germany-based
Lufthansa canceled hundreds more flights as pilots went on strike
for the third consecutive day and announced they would continue the
walk-out over the weekend.
   (AP, 3/20/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 20, In eastern India
education authorities said about 600 high school students in Bihar
state have been expelled for cheating on pressure-packed 10th grade
examinations this week.
   (AP, 3/20/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 20, In northern India
three coaches of a passenger train derailed, killing at least 32
people near Bachhrawan village in Uttar Pradesh state.
   (AP, 3/20/15)(SFC, 3/21/15, p.A2)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 20, In Iraq and Syria
the US and its coalition allies staged eight air strikes against
Islamic State militants over the last 24 hours.
   (Reuters, 3/20/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 20, Islamic State
published a video purporting to show the beheading of three Kurdish
peshmerga fighters in northern Iraq by militants who threatened to
kill "dozens" more of those being held captive. The population under
Islamic State control was about eight million people.
   (Reuters, 3/20/15)(Econ., 3/21/15, p.17)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 20, Italy unveiled the
newly restored ancient city of Pompeii. It had been destroyed by the
eruption of Mount Vesuvius in 79 AD.
   (SFC, 3/21/15, p.A2)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 20, In Kashmir
suspected rebels wearing army uniforms stormed an Indian police
station, killing a policeman. A four-hour gun battle then left 2
paramilitary soldiers, 2 militants and a civilian dead.
   (AP, 3/20/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 20, Kenya launched
Africa's first water fund, a public-private partnership aimed at
raising $15 million to provide clean water to 9.3 million people by
protecting the basin of the country's longest river.
   (Reuters, 3/20/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 20, Liberian officials
said a patient has tested positive for Ebola in Monrovia, deflating
hopes that the nation had beaten the disease.
   (SFC, 3/21/15, p.A2)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 20, In Mexico about 40
buses blocked one of the main highways leading north out of Mexico
City in a protest over the latest killing aboard a bus by thieves.
   (AP, 3/21/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 20, Russian President
Vladimir Putin called for a single currency with the Kremlin's
closest ex-Soviet allies at a meeting with his Kazakh and Belarusian
counterparts in Kazakhstan’s capital Astana.
   (AFP, 3/20/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 20, In Syria a twin
bombing targeting Kurds celebrating their new year in the
northeastern city of Hassakeh killed 49 people and wounded 177
others.
   (AP, 3/21/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 20, Taiwan authorities
introduced emergency water rationing as the country faced its worst
drought in over a decade and the lowest rainfall in nearly 70 years.
The government last imposed water rationing and anti-drought
measures in 2001 in parts of Taiwan, including Taipei.
   (AFP, 3/20/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 20, Ukrainian
President Petro Poroshenko said Turkey has offered a $50 million
loan to Ukraine to help cover its budget deficit in a joint press
conference in Kiev with Turkish counterpart Tayyip Erdogan. Turkey
also offered Ukraine $10 million in humanitarian assistance.
   (Reuters, 3/20/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 20, In eastern Ukraine
one civilian was killed in an attack by pro-Russian separatist
rebels in the government-controlled town of Avdiyivka despite a
ceasefire deal.
   (Reuters, 3/20/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 20, A new UN report
warned that the world could suffer a 40 percent shortfall in water
in just 15 years unless countries dramatically change their use of
the resource.
   (AP, 3/20/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 20, In Yemen bombings
targeted two mosques in Sanaa and another in the Huthis' Saada
stronghold, where an assailant detonated his explosives belt outside
a mosque after failing to get in. At least 137 people were killed at
the mosques attended by Shiite militiamen. The Islamic State
jihadist group claimed responsibility.
   (AFP, 3/20/15)(Econ., 3/28/15, p.51)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 20, In Yemen
unidentified aircraft dropped bombs over an area that includes the
residence of President Abd-Rabbu Mansour Hadi in the southern city
of Aden but he was unharmed. In southern Yemen Al Qaeda fighters
captured al-Houta, capital of the southern Lahj province, killing
about 20 soldiers, before they were driven out by the army late
today.
   (Reuters, 3/20/15)(Reuters, 3/21/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 21, In Alaska a nearly
yearlong search for a missing came to a grim end with the discovery
of four bodies - Rebecca Adams (23), her boyfriend, Brandon Jividen
(38), and her children, Michelle Hundley (6) and Jaracca Hundley (3)
- a dead dog and a handgun just off a trail in a rural area near the
family's home on the outskirts of Kenai.
   (AP, 3/23/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 21, Jose Lantigua
(62), a Jacksonville businessman reported dead two years ago in
Venezuela, was arrested in North Carolina on alleged fraud charges
after his life insurance companies filed a lawsuit alleging he was
alive and they shouldn't be making payments.
   (AP, 3/23/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 21, In Washington, DC,
a new museum complex opened on the campus of George Washington Univ.
It joined the Textile Museum with the Albert H. Small Washingtoniana
Collection.
   (SSFC, 3/8/15, p.L2)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 21, In NYC 7 children
from the same family died when their home was engulfed in flames
after a portable cooker malfunctioned in Brooklyn.
   (AFP, 3/21/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 21, In northern
Afghanistan a roadside bomb targeting a district police chief killed
3 civilians when it blew up their vehicle in Kunduz province. Afghan
security forces foiled a would-be suicide attack on the vice
president during a traditional horse-riding event in Zawzjan
province. A suicide car bomber targeted a patrol of intelligence
service troops in eastern Nangarhar province. Five people were
wounded.
   (AP, 3/21/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 21, In southern Chile
Rev. Juan Barros (58) was ordained on Osorno amid riot police and
shouting protesters, who accuse him of covering up crimes of a
mentor the Vatican has sanctioned for abusing young boys.
   (AP, 3/21/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 21, In Dagestan six
suspected insurgents were killed in a raid in the capital
Makhachkala. Russian authorities said those killed were suspected in
an array of terrorist actions, including attacks on police.
   (AP, 3/21/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 21, In Egypt at least
12 workers were killed when their bus plunged into a canal west of
Cairo.
   (AP, 3/21/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 21, The mayor of
Paris, France, said the number of cars on the road will be cut in
half beginning March 23. Public transit will be made free to combat
a spike in pollution that has obscured even the Eiffel Tower under a
smoggy haze.
   (AP, 3/21/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 21, Indian soldiers
killed two suspected Kashmiri rebels after they tried to sneak into
the army's main infantry headquarters in the Indian portion of the
disputed Himalayan territory.
   (AP, 3/21/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 21, Jailed Kurdish
rebel leader Abdullah Ocalan called for Kurds to hold a historic
congress to end a decades-long armed struggle against the Turkish
state that has claimed tens of thousands of lives.
   (AFP, 3/21/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 21, Libyan army troops
battled militias west of Tripoli. The Libyan army said it's carrying
out airstrikes on multiple targets.
   (AP, 3/21/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 21, In northeast
Nigeria Chadian troops returned to the border town of Gamboru, after
Boko Haram took advantage of a lack of military presence to kill 11
people on March 18-19.
   (AFP, 3/21/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 21, Sierra Leone's
President Ernest Koroma ordered the country's entire population to
stay in their homes for three days in a bid to stem the spread of
the deadly Ebola epidemic.
   (AFP, 3/21/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 21, The foreign
ministers of South Korea, Japan and China agreed that a summit
meeting of their leaders, on hold for nearly three years because of
tensions over history and territory, should be held soon to mend the
countries' ties.
   (Reuters, 3/21/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 21, A South Sudanese
rebel group freed 250 child soldiers -- including a girl as young as
nine. The UN children's agency warned the next day that thousands
were still being forced to fight.
   (AFP, 3/22/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 21, Swiss artist Hans
Erni (b.1909) died. His prolific work ranged from tiny postage
stamps to enormous frescoes.
   (AP, 3/22/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 21, In eastern Ukraine
2 government servicemen were reported killed in attacks by
Russian-backed separatist rebels in the last 24 hours despite an
agreed ceasefire.
   (Reuters, 3/21/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 21, Yemen's Shiite
rebels issued a call to arms to battle forces loyal to the country's
embattled president, as US troops evacuated the al-Annad air base
near the southern city of al-Houta, seized temporarily a day earlier
by al-Qaida militants.
   (AP, 3/21/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 21, In southern Yemen
Houthi forces fired on hundreds of people in Taiz, a mainly Sunni
city, protesting against their advance across the country. There
were no immediate reports of casualties.
   (AP, 3/21/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 22, The US Marine
Corps urged "vigilance" after a group claiming to be Islamic State
hackers published what they said were the names and addresses of 100
military personnel and urged supporters to kill them.
   (AFP, 3/22/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 22, US Customs and
Border Protection officers arrested a 16-year-old Arizona girl and
two women in their 20s who were with her when she allegedly tried to
smuggle 185 pounds of marijuana into the United States from Mexico
through a checkpoint at the Port of Lukeville.
   (Reuters, 3/23/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 22, Bahrain jailed 11
people for 15 years each over an attack on a police station in a
Shiite village that left four policemen wounded. A 12th defendant
was jailed for seven years The 12 were accused of taking part in an
attack in October in the village of Aaly.
   (AFP, 3/22/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 22, Central African
Republic villagers said a group of heavily armed Muslims attacked
several villages over the weekend, killing at least 11 people.
   (AP, 3/22/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 22, Two Chadian army
helicopters bombed Nigerian Boko Haram positions killing several
dozen militants near a village on the border with Niger.
   (AP, 3/23/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â May 22, It was announced
that China National Chemical Corp. (CNCC), a state-owned
conglomerate, would buy Pirelli, an Italian tire maker, for $7.7
billion.
   (Econ., 3/28/15, p.70)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 22, France held the
first round of council elections. Victory will determine which
candidates can contest a second vote March 29.
   (AP, 3/22/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 22, Israel's Shin Bet
internal security service said it has arrested six members of a
Hamas cell with explosive materials they planned to use in attacks
inside the Jewish state.
   (AFP, 3/22/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 22, Moroccan
authorities announced the dismantling of a militant network linked
to the Islamic State group across nine cities that had been planning
attacks.
   (AP, 3/22/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 22, Dozens of
Palestinians and foreign supporters protested in east Jerusalem's
walled Old City against the threatened eviction of a Palestinian
family to make way for Jewish settlers.
   (AFP, 3/22/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 22, Spain's two new
political newcomers faced their first real test in elections in
Andalusia, famous for its olive groves and sunny beaches. More than
one in three were unemployed here, above the national average of one
in four.
   (Reuters, 3/22/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 22, Sudanese rebels
said they had launched a "lightning" assault on a government
garrison in the conflict-hit Blue Nile region, with the army saying
the attack was repulsed.
   (AFP, 3/22/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 22, In Syria Islamist
rebels captured four crew members when a regime helicopter crashed
in the northwest province of Idlib. Another airman survived the
crash, but was reported killed by his captors.
   (AFP, 3/22/15)(SFC, 3/23/15, p.A2)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 22, A Turkish
opposition lawmaker said he is helping the families of nine British
medical students and doctors of Sudanese origin believed to have
crossed into Syria from Turkey.
   (AP, 3/22/15)(AFP, 3/22/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 22, In central
Venezuela at least 11 people were killed when a bus drove into a
ravine on Venezuela’s Central.
   (Reuters, 3/23/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 22, In Yemen Houthi
fighters opposed to the president took over the central city of
Taiz. Huthis and their allies also seized the airport in Taez.
   (Reuters, 3/22/15)(AFP, 3/22/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 23, A late night brawl
in an Arizona Wal-Mart parking lot left one person dead and two
others wounded, including a police officer who was shot in the leg.
Seven suspects were eventually arrested.
   (AP, 3/23/15)(Reuters, 3/23/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 23, In Arizona Debra
Milke (51), who spent more than two decades on death row in her
4-year-old son's killing saw her murder charge dismissed. James
Styers and Roger Scott, the two men who led her son to his death,
have been on death row and have refused to testify against Milke.
Her conviction had been based entirely on a confession she gave to
now-discredited detective, Armando Saldate.
   (AP, 3/24/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 23, In Los Angeles
Vianna Roman (39), the daughter of an imprisoned Mexican Mafia
kingpin, was sentenced to 15 years in prison. She had pleaded guilty
last year to racketeering, narcotics and weapons charges.
   (Reuters, 3/24/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 23, In North Carolina
3 men were killed in Raleigh a piece of scaffolding on a high-rise
construction project fell to the ground as it was being dismantled.
   (SFC, 3/23/15, p.A5)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 23, Gary Ross Dahl
(b.1936), creator of the 1975 pet rock fad, died at his home in
southern Oregon.Â
   (SFC, 4/2/15, p.D3)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 23, Utah Gov. Gary
Herbert gave his stamp of approval to a law that brings back the
firing squad in the only state that has used it in the past 40
years.
   (AP, 3/24/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 23, Australian-born
former tennis Grand Slam champion Bob Hewitt was found guilty in
South Africa of raping and assaulting young girls whom he was
coaching in the early 1980s.
   (Reuters, 3/23/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 23, Beijing banned
imports of whole salmon from three Norwegian regions amid concerns
they carry infectious salmon anemia (ISA). That ban represents
one-fifth of Norway's salmon exports to China.  Â
   (AFP, 3/23/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 23, In central China a
flood in a shale mine left at least five miners dead and one
missing.
   (AP, 3/28/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 23, In Japan the
governor of Okinawa ordered the suspension of work on a new US
airfield at Camp Schwab.
   (SFC, 3/23/15, p.A4)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 23, The Mexican Navy
captured Ramiro Perez Moreno (34), a suspected leader of the violent
Zetas drug cartel, early today in Nuevo Laredo on the Texas border.
He was on Mexico's list of 122 priority targets for arrest.
   (AP, 3/23/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 23, In Senegal Karim
Wade, the son of former President Abdoulaye Wade, was convicted on
corruption charges and sentenced to six years in prison with a fine
of nearly $230 million.
   (SFC, 3/23/15, p.A2)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 23, Singapore plunged
into mourning after the death of Lee Kuan Yew (b.1923), the
iron-fisted politician who forged a prosperous city-state out of
unpromising beginnings.
   (AFP, 3/23/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 24, Pres. Obama met
with Afghan Pres. Ashraf Ghani and in a joint news conference
announced that the US will maintain its current 9,800 troops in
Afghanistan through the end of this year.
   (SFC, 3/25/15, p.A3)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 24, In California
police officer Michael Johnson was shot and killed in San Jose while
responding to a call about a suicidal man, identified as Scott
Dunham (57), armed with a gun.
   (Reuters, 3/25/15)(SFC, 3/26/15, p.A10)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 24, In Indiana 4
people were found fatally shot this morning at a ransacked home in
Indianapolis.
   (Reuters, 3/24/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 24, In Pennsylvania
Hummelstown police Officer Lisa J. Mearkle (36) was charged with
criminal homicide after investigators concluded she shot an unarmed
motorist in the back as he lay facedown after a traffic stop over an
expired inspection sticker.
   (AP, 3/24/15)(SFC, 3/25/15, p.A8)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 24, In Wisconsin
police officer Trevor Casper began pursuing a vehicle matching the
description of the car of a suspect who was wanted in a bank robbery
in Fond du Lac Fond du Lac. A gun battle ensued leaving both the
trooper and the suspect dead.
   (Reuters, 3/25/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 24, Google announced
that it would be bringing Google Fiber to Salt Lake City, which
actually will make it the second city in Utah to have access to the
service. Google first announced it was bringing Fiber to Provo, Utah
back in 2013.
   (BGR News, 3/25/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 24, It was reported
that H.J. Heinz Co. is buying Kraft Foods, creating one of the
largest food and beverage companies in the world with annual revenue
of about $28 billion. The deal was engineered by Warren Buffett's
Berkshire Hathaway and Brazilian investment firm 3G Capital. The two
will invest another $10 billion in the new company.
   (AP, 3/25/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 24, Merck & Co
Inc. said that it would stop a large study of its Keytruda melanoma
treatment early because an independent monitoring committee
determined the drug succeeded in its goal of prolonging survival in
previously untreated patients at advanced stage of the disease. In
2016 Keytruda became the 2nd checkpoint inhibitor to be approved in
America.
   (Reuters, 3/24/15)(Econ, 9/16/17, TQ p.9)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 24, Brent crude oil
fell towards $55 a barrel in choppy trading after the dollar firmed,
adding pressure to a market grappling with signs of slowing Chinese
growth and Saudi Arabian oil production close to an all-time high.
   (Reuters, 3/24/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 24, In China a meeting
of the Communist Party's politburo hosted by President Xi Jinping
approved three free-trade zones in the southern province of
Guangdong, eastern province of Fujian and northern city of Tianjin.
   (AFP, 3/25/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 24, In China a
provincial court in Kunming, Yunnan province, announced that
authorities have executed three Uighur men for carrying out a knife
attack last year at a train station where 31 civilians were killed.
   (SFC, 3/25/15, p.A2)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 24, The leaders of
Egypt and Ethiopia promised to boost cooperation on the Nile River
and turn a page on a long-running row over Addis Ababa's
controversial dam project.
   (AFP, 3/24/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 24, An Airbus A320
Germanwings airplane, operated by Lufthansa, crashed in the French
Alps as it flew from Barcelona to Duesseldorf. 150 people were
killed. On March 26 investigators said Co-pilot Andreas Lubitz of
the doomed Germanwings jet barricaded himself in the cockpit and
"intentionally" sent the plane full speed into a mountain in the
French Alps.
   (AP, 3/24/15)(Reuters, 3/26/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 24, Greece's former
finance minister, George Papaconstantinou (53), was acquitted on
criminal charges over his handling of data on Greeks holding Swiss
bank accounts. He was found guilty of a misdemeanor for doctoring a
document and was not expected to spend time in jail.
   (SFC, 3/25/15, p.A2)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 24, In Iraq Islamic
State militants publicly stoned a man and a woman to death on
charges of adultery.
   (SFC, 3/25/15, p.A2)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 24, Jordan signed a
$10 billion deal with Russia to build the kingdom's first nuclear
power plant, with two 1,000-megawatt reactors in the country's
north.
   (AP, 3/24/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 24, Syrian rebels
launched an offensive against a major government-held city in
northwestern Syria, shelling the outskirts and warning residents to
remain indoors in the coming days.
   (AP, 3/24/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 24, The UN General
Assembly’s budget committee approved a plan to give benefits to all
spouses of gay UN staffers who are legally married regardless of
same-sex marriage laws in their home countries.
   (SFC, 3/25/15, p.A7)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 24, Venezuela said it
is launching a probe into large offshore bank deposits amid a spate
of reports that at least $2 billion was siphoned off by corrupt,
top-level officials at state-run oil company PDVSA.
   (AP, 3/24/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 24, In southern Yemen
the Shiite rebels known as Houthis fired bullets and tear gas to
disperse thousands of protesters demanding that the rebels withdraw
from Taiz province. At least 6 demonstrators were killed.
   (SFC, 3/25/15, p.A4)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 25, The US government
and major business leaders renewed their call on the Thai government
to crack down on slavery in its fishing fleets, and to punish people
who force migrant workers to catch seafood that can end up in the
United States.
   (AP, 3/26/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 25, The US Supreme
Court in a 5-4 decision threw out a lower court ruling that upheld a
state legislature redistricting plan in Alabama that packed black
voters into certain districts in a way critics say diminished their
clout at the polls.
   (Reuters, 3/25/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 25, The US Army
charged Sgt. Bowe Bergdahl with desertion and misbehavior before the
enemy for leaving his post in Afghanistan in June, 2009.
   (SFC, 3/27/15, p.A7)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 25, The United States
and its allies staged 19 air strikes on Islamic State targets in
Syria and Iraq over the last 24 hours.
   (Reuters, 3/25/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 25, California
announced legal action to suppress a "reprehensible" ballot
initiative to outlaw homosexuality -- on pain of execution. The
proposal was submitted by lawyer Matthew McLaughlin to the
California Attorney General's office late last month.
   (AFP, 3/25/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 25, In southern
California Giseleangelique Rene D'Milian (47) was arrested for
plotting to kidnap two babies, including one found dead on January 4
in a dumpster, and attacking their mothers in a bizarre scheme to
fool her boyfriend into thinking she birthed their twins.
   (Reuters, 3/25/15)(SFC, 3/28/15, p.A5)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 25, Facebook announced
that it has started to turn its Messenger service into a platform on
top of which other firms can develop content and apps.
   (Econ., 3/28/15, p.68)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 25, In Afghanistan a
suicide bomber detonated a car full of explosives in downtown Kabul
killing at least 7 people.
   (SFC, 3/26/15, p.A2)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 25, In Chile
communities in a northern desert region struggled to cope with
rain-provoked flooding. At least 24 people were killed as power was
knocked out and roadways cut off. The interior ministry declared a
state of emergency.
   (AP, 3/26/15)(AFP, 3/27/15)(AP, 4/2/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 25, A number of pilots
at Lufthansa's low-cost subsidiary Germanwings refused to fly
following the deadly crash a day earlier in the French Alps, saying
they were mourning the victims of the doomed aircraft.
   (AFP, 3/25/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 25, It was reported
that workers in Mexico’s state of Baja California have led a week of
violent protests over low pay, abuses and poor conditions at
large-export-oriented farms.
   (SFC, 3/25/15, p.A2)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 25, Pakistani military
jets killed 30 militants in the Tirah Valley of the Khyber tribal
region. The army said 80 militants were killed in the area over the
weekend with 7 government soldiers also killed.
   (SFC, 3/26/15, p.A2)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 25, A Polish court
sentenced former priest Wojciech Gill to seven years in prison for
abusing six minors in the Dominican Republic between 2009 and 2013,
as well as two in Poland in 2001-2002.
   (SFC, 3/26/15, p.A2)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 25, Russian President
Vladimir Putin fired the governor of a far-flung region who has been
arrested on charges of corruption. Alexander Khoroshavin, governor
of the island of Sakhalin just north of Japan, was arrested earlier
this month on suspicion of receiving a bribe for building a power
station.
   (AP, 3/25/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 25, The Saudi
ambassador to the United States announced that his country had
initiated airstrikes against the Houthi rebels in Yemen. The Saudi
operation was called “Decisive Storm.” King Salman gathered a
10-country coalition of Sunni states to bomb the Houthis.
   (AFP, 3/25/15)(SSFC, 4/5/15, p.A4)(Econ, 5/23/15,
p.18)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 25, Syrian rebels
seized an ancient town near the Jordan border that is a key
government stronghold, ousting Syrian soldiers and allied militiamen
from the region after four days of intense battles. 11 soldiers and
allied militia as well as 17 insurgents were killed as an alliance
of Islamist rebels including al Qaeda's Nusra Front overran 17
defense posts around Idlib in an offensive to take the city from the
army and allied militia.
   (AP, 3/25/15)   (Reuters,
3/26/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 25, Thailand security
forces killed 4 people when they raided a village in Pattani, one of
three Muslim-dominated provinces bordering Malaysia, as part of an
operation to arrest rebels. On April 8 an investigating team said
the four Muslim men were not members of any extremist group and
called for legal action against those responsible.
   (Reuters, 4/7/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 25, A Uganda health
official said an outbreak of typhoid has infected hundreds of people
in the capital, Kampala.
   (SFC, 3/26/15, p.A2)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 25, Ukraine President
Petro Poroshenko forced Igor Kolomoisky to step down as head of the
key industrial region of Dnipropetrovsk, after a dispute over
control of the main state oil and gas company ended up with armed
men storming two office blocks in Kiev.
   (AFP, 3/25/15)(Econ., 3/28/15, p.55)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 25, Ukraine arrested
two top officials on graft charges at a televised cabinet meeting
hours after the president sacked a powerful oligarch as regional
governor. Police detained Sergiy Bochkovsky, director of Ukraine's
state emergencies service, and his deputy Vasyl Stoyetsky, accusing
them of "high-level" corruption.
   (AFP, 3/26/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 25, In Vietnam least
14 people were killed and 30 injured late today when a huge
scaffolding collapsed at an industrial complex owned by Taiwan’s
Formosa Plastics group in the Vung Ang economic zone of Vietnam’s Ha
Tinh province. In December a court sentenced two South Koreans and
two Vietnamese to prison for committing safety violations in the
collapse that killed 13 people and injured 29 others.
   (Reuters, 3/26/15)(AP, 12/21/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 25, Yemen Pres. Abed
Rabu Mansour Hadi fled the country by sea as Shiite rebels and their
allies moved on his last refuge in the south.
   (SFC, 3/26/15, p.A4)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 26, Indiana Gov. Mike
Pence signed into law a religious objections bill that some
convention organizers and business leaders have opposed amid concern
it could allow discrimination against gay people.
   (AP, 3/26/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 26, Airlines rushed to
change their rules so as to require a second crew member in the
cockpit at all times, hours after French prosecutors suggested
co-pilot Andreas Lubitz (27) had barricaded himself alone at the
controls of a German jetliner and crashed it on purpose.
   (Reuters, 3/26/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 26, Albanian lawmakers
voted to lift the immunity of two of their colleagues accused of
false testimony claiming that the parliament speaker was behind an
alleged assassination plot to kill two deputies. Doshi was expelled
from the governing Socialists three weeks ago after claiming
Parliament speaker Ilir Meta, a former prime minister, had paid
600,000 euros ($656,000) to have him and an opposition Democratic
Party lawmaker killed. Doshi had claimed that Frroku had first told
him about the alleged plot.  Â
   (AP, 3/26/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 26, Argentina
announced a new 100-peso note honoring the Mothers of the Plaza de
Mayo. Today 100 pesos buys $11 at the official exchange rate.
   (Econ., 4/11/15, p.68)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 26, Brazil’s federal
police said they had uncovered "criminal organizations" suspected of
causing a shortfall of at least 6 billion reais ($1.9 billion) in
unpaid taxes. More than 50 companies in the industrial, financial
and agricultural sectors were being investigated for allegedly
bribing officials at the Finance Ministry's tax appeals court to
reduce annual fines on unpaid taxes.
   (AP, 3/27/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 26, Britain's
world-first Modern Slavery Act became law. It required companies
whose turnover exceeds 36 million pounds ($46 million) to produce an
annual statement outlining the actions they have taken to identify
and root out slavery from their operations.
  Â
(https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Modern_Slavery_Act_2015)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 26, Britain buried
King Richard III with pomp 530 years after his violent death. His
remains had been found under a parking lot in 2012.
   (SFC, 3/27/15, p.A2)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 26, Troops from Chad
and Niger pursued Boko Haram fighters across a northern Nigeria
border area, driving them out of a village they held there and
causing some to flee into Niger.
   (Reuters, 3/26/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 26, Jaber, an Iranian
fishing vessel believed to have up to 19 crew, was captured by
Somali pirates, along with another Iranian fishing vessel, Siraj.
Jaber and its crew escaped on August 27.
   (Reuters, 8/28/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 26, Iraqi forces
buoyed by the first US-led coalition air strikes on Tikrit made a
final push to flush diehard jihadists out of Saddam Hussein's
hometown. US-led warplanes carried out 17 air strikes against
Islamic State jihadists in Tikrit overnight in the first wave of
coalition bombing raids in support of an Iraqi government offensive
to recapture the town. The Iran-backed Shiite militias pulled out of
the offensive in Tikrit in protest over US airstrikes there.
   (AFP, 3/26/15)(AP, 3/27/15)  Â
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 26, Italian police and
Europol said eight people have been arrested in a half-dozen
European countries for allegedly operating a diesel import scam that
avoided taxes by disguising the fuel as it transited across the
continent.
   (AP, 3/26/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 26, In Mexico an
attempt to take gasoline from a crashed tanker truck led to deaths
and injuries when the vehicle exploded. The death toll rose to 17 as
more victims died of burn injuries at hospitals.
   (AP, 3/28/15)(AP, 4/3/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 26, North Korea said
it had arrested two South Koreans based in the Chinese border city
of Dandong, accusing them of spying for South Korea.
   (Reuters, 3/26/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 26, The Pakistani
Taliban killed 5 police officers in a rocket attack in country's
southwest.
   (AP, 3/27/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 26, The Philippines'
top diplomat said that China has been rushing construction projects,
including massive land reclamation, in the disputed South China Sea
in hopes of forestalling any legal moves against its vast
territorial claims.
   (AP, 3/26/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 26, Warplanes from a
Saudi-led Arab coalition bombed Huthi Shiite rebels in support of
Yemen's embattled president, as regional rival Iran warned the
intervention was a "dangerous" move. Egypt participated in the
Saudi-led campaign against Shi'ite Houthis militias in Yemen with
its naval and air forces. The US military rescued two Saudi pilots
who ejected from their jet off Yemen's coast.
   (AFP, 3/26/15)(Reuters, 3/26/15)(AFP, 3/27/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 26, Sudan said it is
providing ground troops as well as warplanes for a Saudi-led
military intervention against Shiite rebels in Yemen. Sudanese
President Omar Hassan al-Bashir sent troops to join the Saudi-led
war in Yemen against the Houthis, an Iranian-backed militia. Saudi
Arabia then deposited $1 billion in Sudan's central bank.
   (AFP, 3/26/15)(Econ., 10/31/20, p.44)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 26, The UN Security
Council boosted the number of peacekeepers in Central African
Republic by more than 1,000 after the mission was overburdened by a
need to protect infrastructure and senior officials in the capital
Bangui.
   (Reuters, 3/26/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 26, The UN Security
Council voted to cut 2,000 troops from the UN peacekeeping force in
the Democratic Republic of Congo despite calls from Kinshasa for a
bigger drawdown.
   (AFP, 3/26/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 27, The White House
announced a five-year plan to fight the threat of
antibiotic-resistant bacteria.
   (SFC, 3/28/15, p.A5)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 27, Former Sec. of
State Hillary Clinton said she had permanently deleted all e-mails
from the private server she used to conduct officials business.
   (SFC, 3/28/15, p.A6)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 27, In Boston police
Officer John Moynihan (34) was shot in the face by suspect Angelo
West (41) following a traffic stop. West was killed as he tried to
run away. Moynihan was hospitalized and put into an induced coma.
   (SSFC, 3/29/15, p.A10)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 27, In NYC Moises
Lucon (26) and Nicholas Figueroa (23) were killed after an explosion
brought down three buildings and damaged a fourth property in the
East Village, injuring 22 people.
   (AP, 3/27/15)(SSFC, 3/29/15, p.A12)(SFC, 3/30/15,
p.A5)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 27, In Bangladesh at
least 10 people were killed and dozens more injured in a stampede
during a Hindu religious gathering in Langalbandh.
   (AP, 3/27/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 27, In Dominica a
police sergeant and four officers were charged with murder. They
were accused in last year's death of a prisoner found unresponsive
in his cell. Police have said that Joshua Etienne had fractured ribs
and a punctured lung.
   (AP, 3/28/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 27, Egyptian and Saudi
Arabian warships deployed to the Bab al-Mandab strait off Yemen to
secure the strategic sea passage.
   (SFC, 3/28/15, p.A3)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 27, In eastern
Indonesia an estimated 4,000 foreign fishermen were reported
stranded on a number of remote islands, including men reported to
have been enslaved. Some migrant workers from Myanmar said they had
been brought to Indonesia from Thailand and forced to work on
trawlers with Thai captains.
   (AP, 3/27/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 27, Iraqi troops
pressed their push in Tikrit as fighter planes pounded IS targets
from above. Grand Ayatollah Ali al-Sistani called for unity among
the country's forces battling the IS group.
   (AP, 3/27/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 27, Israel said it
will transfer Palestinian tax revenues that were being withheld as
punishment for a Palestinian application to join the Int’l. Criminal
Court.
   (SFC, 3/28/15, p.A2)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 27, Italy’s highest
criminal court acquitted Ms. Knox, an American, and her Italian
ex-boyfriend Raffaele Sollecito of murdering British student
Meredith Kercher in 2007.
   (AP, 3/28/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 27, Kyrgyzstan’s
secret police, the GKNB, raided the office and home of lawyer
Khusanbay Saliev, who represented arrested Uzbek Imam Rashot
Kamalov.
   (Econ., 5/2/15, p.35)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 27, In Liberia woman,
who last week became the country's first Ebola patient in more than
a month, died. Two new suspected cases were also reported
identified.
   (AFP, 3/28/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 27, In The Netherlands
trains, trams and planes ground to a temporary halt in and around
Amsterdam as a huge power outage hit the Dutch capital and
surrounding towns. Power was soon restored.
   (AFP, 3/27/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 27, Nigeria's military
announced that troops had retaken the town of Gwoza from Boko Haram,
from which the group declared their caliphate last year. Suspected
Boko Haram gunmen beheaded 23 people and set fire to homes in
Buratai, on the eve of general elections. Elsewhere in the restive
northeast, suspected Islamist militants killed at least 7 people in
separate attacks in the Gombe state.
   (AFP, 3/27/15)(AFP, 3/29/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 27, In Pakistan a
roadside bomb on a motorcycle hit a police bus in Karachi and left
10 people wounded. The Pakistani Taliban claimed responsibility.
   (AP, 3/27/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 27, Sierra Leone's 6
million people were told to stay home for three days, except for
religious services, beginning today as the West African nation
attempted a final push to rid itself of Ebola.
   (AP, 3/27/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 27, In Somalia
suspected Islamist fighters stormed the popular Maka Al-Mukarramah
Hotel in Mogadishu, trapping government officials inside. The attack
killed at least 24 people, including six attackers.
   (Reuters, 3/27/15)(AP, 3/28/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 27, South Africa's
state power company Eskom said more than 1,000 workers building a
much-needed new power plant had been sacked for staging an illegal
strike two days earlier, as the country grapples with rolling
electricity cuts.
   (AFP, 3/27/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 27, In Syria Islamist
rebels made fresh advances on the edges of Idlib city, after fierce
clashes that have left dozens of dead.
   (AFP, 3/27/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 27, The Turkish
parliament passed a stripped down version of its controversial
homeland security bill that has enraged the opposition, after a
16-hour debate that lasted all night.
   (AFP, 3/27/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 27, In Yemen at least
21 Shiite rebels were killed when residents in a tribal southern
region opened fire at their vehicles. Warplanes targeted Houthi
forces controlling Sanaa and their northern heartland and, in a
boost for Riyadh, fellow monarchy Morocco said it would join the
rapidly-assembled Sunni Muslim coalition against the Shi'ite Muslim
group.
   (AFP, 3/27/15)(Reuters, 3/27/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 27, Separatists in
eastern Ukraine handed over the bodies of 22 government soldiers
killed during the fierce, months-long battle over the airport near
the rebel stronghold of Donetsk.
   (AP, 3/27/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 27, The UN High
Commissioner for Refugees said that LRA fighters kidnapped 16 people
last weekend who had been working in their fields in Congo, just
over the border from Central African Republic. The rebels released
13 of them but were still holding three refugee boys.
   (AP, 3/27/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 28, Many lights were
turned off around the world for Earth Hour, an initiative began in
Sydney in 2007, from 8:30pm.
   (AFP, 3/29/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 28, NASA said a
Russian Soyuz spacecraft with three crew on board successfully
docked with the International Space Station after blasting off from
Kazakhstan. An American and two Russians floated into the
International Space Station, beginning what is to be a year away
from Earth for two of them.
   (AFP, 3/28/15)(AP, 3/28/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 28, It was reported
that the California Public Utilities Commission had accumulated
legal fees of $5.1 million relating to an ongoing state and federal
corruption probe of the agency. In 2014 the agency had signed a
$49,000 attorney representation contract with the Sheppard Mullin
law firm.
   (SFC, 3/28/15, p.D1)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 28, Albania received
266 million euros from the World Bank for its public finances and
road maintenance.
   (SSFC, 3/29/15, p.A6)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 28, Brazil said it has
accepted China's invitation to join a Beijing-backed international
infrastructure bank.
   (AP, 3/28/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 28, Residents of
eastern Cameroon killed several suspected fighters from a Central
African Republic rebel group who were trying to carry out a
large-scale kidnapping near the border town of Garoua-Boulai.
   (AP, 3/29/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 28, China’s Pres. Xi
Jinping opened a major regional economic conference at the Boao
Forum on Hainan Island and argued for strong Chinese-led efforts to
promote Asian economic and political cooperation. Mr. Xi described
his “One Belt, One Road” (OBOR) vision for regional and global
cooperation.
   (SSFC, 3/29/15, p.A6)(Econ., 4/11/15, p.41)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 28, In Egypt a bomb
wounded four civilians and four policemen outside Cairo University.
   (AFP, 3/28/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 28, In northeastern
India 3 policemen were killed and six others injured when militants
of the Hmar People's Convention attacked a convoy of lawmakers in
Mizoram state with automatic weapons.
   (AP, 3/28/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 28, Japan opened what
organizers billed as the world's first "Otaku" (geeks) summit,
drawing visitors from around the world as the country looks to boost
the international fan base for Japanese comic books and anime.
   (AFP, 3/28/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 28, Kenya's president
suspended four cabinet secretaries and 17 other senior officials to
facilitate investigations into allegations of corruption.
   (AP, 3/28/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 28, Nigeria held
elections. Polling in the country's presidential and parliamentary
election was suspended in some places because of glitches with new
voter ID card readers. Boko Haram extremists killed at least 41
people, including a legislator, and scared hundreds of people from
polling stations in three states in the northeast.
   (AFP, 3/28/15)(AP, 3/29/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 28, Pakistan's
military said its soldiers killed at least 15 militants in the Tirah
valley of the Khyber region.
   (AP, 3/28/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 28, Saudi Arabia's
navy evacuated dozens of diplomats from Yemen and the United Nations
pulled out international staff after a third night of Saudi-led air
strikes trying to stem advances by Iranian-allied Houthi fighters.
   (Reuters, 3/28/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 28, In Sri Lanka
Priyantha Sirisena (42) the youngest brother of President
Maithripala Sirisena, died two days after he was attacked with an ax
in what authorities said was a personal dispute.
   (AP, 3/29/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 28, In Syria Islamist
groups including al Qaeda's Nusra Front seized the city of Idlib for
the first time since the conflict in the country began. The bodies
of least 15 detainees were found, apparently executed by government
forces, after Idlib was taken.
   (Reuters, 3/28/15)(AP, 3/29/15)(AFP, 3/29/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 28, In Tunisia Khaled
Ben Hamadi Chaieb, the operational chief in the March 18 deadly
museum attack on foreign tourists, was among 9 people killed in
anti-terrorist operations. Tens of thousands of Tunisians marched
through the capital to denounce extremist violence.
   (Reuters, 3/29/15)(SFC, 3/30/15, p.A2)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 28, In Yemen a series
of explosions rocked an arms depot in Aden, killing at least 14
people as looters swarmed the facility. At least 61 people were
reported killed in three days of fighting between Shiite rebels and
loyalist militia in Aden.
   (AFP, 3/28/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 29, In the San
Francisco Bay Area Denise Huskins (29) disappeared from the Mare
Island home of her boyfriend Anthony Quinn (30). She showed up two
days later at her parent’s home in Huntington Beach, Orange County.
Vallejo police later said the kidnapping was fabricated. On July 13
federal agents said the kidnapping was for real and said Matthew
Muller (38) of Sacramento county has been arrested as a suspect. On
Sept. 29, 2016, Muller pleaded guilty to one count of kidnapping. In
2017 Muller was sentenced to 40 years in prison including five years
of probation.
   (SFC, 7/14/15, p.A1)(SFC, 9/30/16, p.D1)(SFC,
3/17/17, p.A1)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 29, In Afghanistan at
least one civilian was killed by a suicide bomb attack in eastern
part of the capital Kabul. Seven civilians were wounded.
   (AP, 3/29/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 29, Arab leaders
meeting in Egypt agreed to form a joint military force after a
summit dominated by a Saudi-led offensive on Shiite rebels in Yemen
and the threat from Islamist extremism.
   (AFP, 3/29/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 29, Australia
announced that it would join negotiations to establish a Chinese-led
Asian regional bank that has emerged as a potential challenge to US
influence.
   (SFC, 3/30/15, p.A2)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 29, An Air Canada
flight crash landed and slid off the runway in the east coast city
of Halifax, with the airline confirming 23 passengers and crew
suffered non-life threatening injuries.
   (Reuters, 3/29/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 29, Egypt's top
prosecutor named 18 Muslim Brotherhood members, including the
group's leader and his deputy, as terrorists in the first
implementation of an anti-terror law passed earlier this year.
   (AP, 3/29/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 29, In Egypt 14 people
were killed and seven injured in a car crash involving three
vehicles in the southern province of Sohag.
   (AP, 3/30/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 29, France held
elections for local councils. Nicolas Sarkozy's conservative UMP
party and its allies won 46 percent of the vote. The left captured
32 percent of the vote and the National Front won 22 percent with 62
of 4,108 available seats.
   (AP, 3/30/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 29, In northeastern
Nigeria suspected Boko Haram extremists attacked polling stations
and destroyed election material in in Kirfi and Alkaleri towns.
   (AP, 3/29/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 29, In the Philippines
4 soldiers and 16 insurgents were killed. A month-long offensive
against hardline Muslim rebels ended with 139 insurgents killed, 12
others captured and bomb-making strongholds seized by troops.
   (AP, 3/30/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 29, Saudi Arabia
accused Russian President Vladimir Putin of hypocrisy, telling an
Arab summit that he should not express support for the Middle East
while fuelling instability by supporting Syrian leader Bashar
al-Assad.
   (Reuters, 3/29/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 29, Sierra Leone
announced the end of a three-day nationwide lockdown aimed at
preventing a resurgence of the deadly Ebola virus.
   (AFP, 3/30/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 29, In Spain Peter
David Tarsey (b.1937) who competed for Britain at the 1956 Olympics
in Melbourne, was found shot dead along with his wife (77) at their
home in Xalo near Benidorm on the Costa Blanca. On Sep 10 police in
the province of Alicante detained a man who they suspect murdered
the couple.
   (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Peter_Tarsey)(AP,
9/11/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 29, A video posted by
the Islamic State group showed its fighters beheading 8 men, said to
be Shiite Muslims, in Syria’s Hama province.
   (SFC, 3/30/15, p.A4)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 29, A Turkish court
charged former policemen Sedat Zavar and Ilker Usta with illegally
eavesdropping on President Recep Tayyip Erdogan following their
extradition from Romania.
   (AFP, 3/29/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 29, In Yemen at least
38 people were killed in clashes between rebel forces and tribes
near a southern oil region. Saudi-led warplanes bombed the main
international airport and struck a renegade troop base in Sanaa.
   (AFP, 3/29/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 29, Uzbeks voted
massively in a presidential election with turnout topping 70 percent
halfway through the poll expected to deliver another landslide
victory for strongman Islam Karimov (77). Karimov garnered 90.4
percent of the vote as nearly 91 percent of the vote was counted the
next day.
   (SSFC, 3/29/15, p.A6)(AP, 3/30/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 30, In San Francisco
an indictment, filed on March 25, was unsealed and charged Carl
Force (46), a special agent with the DEA, and Shaun Bridges (32), a
special agent with the US Secret Service, with stealing digital
currency during the investigation of the Silk Road online
marketplace and its founder Ross William Ulbricht. On Oct 19 Force
was sentenced to 6½ years in federal prison and ordered to pay
$340,000 in restitution to the government.
   (SFC, 3/31/15, p.A8)(SFC, 10/20/15, p.C2)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 30, In Florida a
church van ran through a stop sign, crossed all four lanes of a
rural highway and crashed into in a canal, killing 8 people and
injuring ten.
   (AP, 3/30/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 30, In Maryland one
cross-dressing man was killed and another injured as they mistakenly
crashed a stolen Ford Escape into a police cruiser at the National
Security Agency at Fort Meade.
   (SFC, 3/31/15, p.A6)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 30, In eastern
Afghanistan a roadside bombing in Ghazni province killed 7 people,
all members of the same family.
   (AP, 3/31/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 30, In Bangladesh
blogger Oyasiqur Rhaman (27) was hacked to death by three men in
Dhaka. Two of the attackers, students at madrassas, were caught near
the scene.
   (AP, 3/30/15)(SFC, 3/31/15, p.A2)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 30, In Belgium
thousands of demonstrators and trade union activists protested
against austerity measures for a second day.
   (SFC, 3/31/15, p.A2)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 30, China’s government
said nearly 70 "illegal" courses have been closed, seemingly
enforcing a decade-old ban for the first time.
   (AFP, 3/31/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 30, Gambia sentenced
three soldiers to death after a secret trial in which they were
convicted of participating in a December 30 attempted coup. Three
other soldiers received life sentences.
   (SFC, 4/2/15, p.A2)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 30, Germany said that
the euro zone would give Athens no further financial aid until it
has a more detailed list of reforms and some are enacted into law,
adding to skepticism over plans presented last week.
   (Reuters, 3/30/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 30, In Gibraltar a
family of four, including a six-week-old baby girl and her
four-year-old sister, were found dead in a flat in the tiny British
territory.
   (AFP, 3/30/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 30, In eastern India a
bus driver lost control of his vehicle on a sharp curve on a
mountain road and plunged into a gorge, killing at least 11 people
in Garhwa district of Jharkhand state.
   (AP, 3/30/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 30, Iran's
Revolutionary Guard said a US drone strike killed two of its
advisers near the Iraqi city of Tikrit on March 23, where a major
offensive is underway against the Islamic State group. The US said
its coalition conducted no airstrikes in the area during the time of
the incident.
   (AP, 3/30/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 30, In Iraq a pair of
car bombings in a Baghdad suburb killed at least 11 people and
wounded dozens, hours after the arrival of UN Secretary General, Ban
Ki-moon, for talks with the Iraqi officials.
   (AP, 3/30/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 30, In Israel a
Jerusalem court found Ehud Olmert (69), former premier (2006-2008),
guilty of corruption in a retrial of allegations he received
envelopes of cash from US businessman Morris Talansky while trade
and industry minister in the early 2000s.
   (AFP, 3/30/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 30, An Israeli
committee approved controversial plans for eventual construction of
2,200 Palestinian homes in occupied east Jerusalem, in the largest
such project since 1967.
   (AFP, 4/1/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 30, In Malaysia three
editors of the Malaysia Insider news website were arrested on
suspicion of violating the country’s Sedition Act and Communications
and Multimedia Act. The next day two executives of the Malaysia
Insider were arrested.
   (SFC, 4/1/15, p.A6)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 30, The Maldives'
Parliament passed a law that strips people serving prison sentences
of their political party memberships, a rule critics say is designed
to oust jailed former President Mohamed Nasheed from politics.
   (AP, 3/30/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 30, In northern Mali
an international Red Cross worker was killed and a local colleague
wounded when the aid truck they were driving came under fire, in an
attack claimed by the MUJAO jihadist group.
   (AFP, 3/30/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 30, In Mexico Jose
Guadalupe Reyes Rivera was arrested in a machine shop in Ciudad
Victoria in connection with the Aug 24, 2010, massacre of 72
migrants.
   (AFP, 4/1/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 30, Myanmar peace
negotiators agreed the draft text of a historic nationwide ceasefire
agreement, as the country edged closer to ending decades of conflict
between ethnic minority groups and the government.
   (AFP, 3/30/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 30, In southern Nepal
a wild rhino charged into the outskirts of Hetauda city, killing a
woman (61), injuring several others and chasing panicked people
through the main market and a hospital.
   (AP, 3/30/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 30, In Niger militants
tried to attack the town of Bosso, just over the border with
Nigeria. Troops from Niger and Chad intervened, killing 47 militants
and destroying several of their vehicles and mortars.
   (AP, 3/31/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 30, In Nigeria some
2,000 women protesting against the conduct of elections in Rivers
state were teargassed as they tried to register their complaints
with electoral officials.
   (AFP, 3/30/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 30, In northeastern
Nigeria 8 suspected Boko Haram fighters were killed during fighting
in Gombe and Bauchi states.
   (AFP, 3/30/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 30, Peru's Congress
sacked PM Ana Jara over alleged spying against lawmakers, reporters,
business leaders and other citizens.
   (AFP, 3/31/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Apr 1, In South Sudan 3
staff members of the UN World Food Program disappeared while
traveling in a convoy from Malakal to distribute food to Melut,
Upper Nile state. UN food operation in some parts of the country
were soon suspended.
   (SFC, 4/23/15, p.A2)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 30, Spanish police
arrested 12 people suspected of belonging to an anarchist group
called Coordinated Anarchists Groups, and were suspected of sabotage
offenses and planting explosive devices.
   (AP, 3/30/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 30, In Uganda Joan
Kagezi, a prosecutor in the trial of about a dozen men facing
terrorism charges, was shot and killed in Kampala.
   (SFC, 4/1/15, p.A2)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 30, In Yemen warships,
believed to be from Egypt, shelled a column of Houthi fighters and
troops loyal to former president Ali Abdullah Saleh as they tried to
advance on the southern port city of Aden. In the north an air
strike killed 45 people at the Al-Mazrak camp in Hajja province.
Warplanes carried out a fifth night of air strikes around Sanaa.
   (Reuters, 3/30/15)(AFP, 3/30/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 31, Pres. Obama
removed his holds on the delivery of F-16 aircraft, Harpoon missiles
and M1A1 tanks kits to Egypt and assured Pres. Abdel-Fattah el-Sissi
that he would continue to support $1.3 billion in annual military
assistance.
   (SFC, 4/1/15, p.A2)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 31, The US Treasury
Dept. imposed new sanctions on Syria's government aimed at blunting
its weapons programs and pushing it into negotiations with rebels.
The action targeted Batoul Rida, a Syrian central bank official, and
three "front companies" that help fund Syria's development of
ballistic missiles and nonconventional weapons.
   (AP, 3/31/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 31, The US Supreme
Court barred doctors, dentists and druggists from going to court to
fight cutbacks in Medicaid payments.
   (SFC, 4/1/15, p.A7)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 31, A US federal
bankruptcy judge approved the sale of assets of RadioShack to hedge
fund Standard General that will keep more than 1,700 stores open.
Some 2,000 stores were already closed or in the process of closing.
   (SFC, 4/1/15, p.C3)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 31, In southern
California Andrew Getty (47), heir to the Getty family oil fortune,
was found dead at his home in the Hollywood Hills.
   (SFC, 4/2/15, p.D1)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 31, In Connecticut
John Zelepos (48), the owner of Mystic Pizza restaurant, pleaded
guilty to federal tax charges. Prosecutors said that between 2006
and 2010 he diverted just over $567,000 from gross receipts into his
personal bank accounts. The restaurant was featured in the 1988 film
“Mystic Pizza” with Julia Roberts.
   (SFC, 4/3/15, p.A5)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 31, In Buffalo, NY, a
reclining statue of a homeless and blanket shrouded Jesus by
Canadian sculptor Timothy Schmalz, was unveiled outside St. Paul’s
Episcopal Cathedral. People soon began to leave money, food and
other items for the homeless at the statue.
   (http://tinyurl.com/q3hnpuz)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 31, In Argentina
transportation unions brought the country to a standstill with a
one-day nationwide strike to protest income tax rates and high
inflation.
   (AP, 3/31/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 31, In Australia 55
dead greyhounds were found dumped and spent rifle cartridges seen
nearby in near Bundaberg, Queensland state. The grisly discovery
came on the heels of a live baiting scandal rocking the dog racing
industry.
   (AFP, 4/1/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 31, In Chile a Bell
206 helicopter went missing while flying with drinking water for
residents of a desert region recently hit by flash-floods. It was
found on April 2 and the pilot and 3 other people aboard were dead.
Pilot Pedro Pablo Aldunate was married to one of Pres. Bachelet's
second cousins.
   (AP, 4/2/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 31, In Colombia a
truck lost its brakes and smashed into at least four cars, killing
10 people and injuring 14 more on the highway linking Bogota with
Villavicencio.
   (AP, 4/1/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 31, Crimea's
independent television station ATR went off air at midnight after
Russian authorities repeatedly refused to give it a broadcasting
license.
   (AP, 4/1/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 31, In Germany
windstorm Niklas, which entailed wind speeds of up to 192 kilometers
(119 miles) per hour, was one of the five most costly storms to hit
the country in the last 15 years. German insurers later said they
were likely to face damage claims of around 750 million euros ($808
million).
   (Reuters, 4/20/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 31, In India fierce
rain and lightning toppled houses and trees in Bihar state, killing
20 people.
   (AP, 3/31/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 31, Iran and six world
powers ramped up the pace in negotiations in Switzerland over a
preliminary deal on Tehran's nuclear program. Officials cautioned
that any agreement would likely be fragile and incomplete.
   (Reuters, 3/31/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 31, Iraqi PM Haidar
al-Abadi said government troops aided by Shi'ite paramilitaries have
driven Islamic State out of central Tikrit, but the fight to retake
all of Saddam Hussein's home town continued. A suicide bomber
targeted a bus carrying Iranian Shiite pilgrims north of Baghdad,
killing 6 people, including 4 Iranians.
   (Reuters, 3/31/15)(AP, 3/31/15)(SFC, 4/1/15,
p.A2)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 31, In Japan a
landmark vote by the assembly of Tokyo's Shibuya ward, the district
famous as a mecca for trendy youngsters became the first locale in
Japan to recognize same sex partnerships as the "equivalent of a
marriage," guaranteeing the identical rights of married couples,
including hospital visitations and apartment rentals.
   (AP, 3/31/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 31, In Kashmir
rescuers recovered 16 bodies from two houses hit by rain-triggered
landslides, following its second major floods in six months.
   (AP, 3/31/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 31, In Libya lawmakers
in the Tripoli-based General National Congress (GNC) voted to sack
prime minister Omar al-Hassi, accusing him of failing to tackle
corruption.
   (AFP, 4/1/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 31, In Nigeria the
opposition All Progressives Congress (APC) declared victory for its
candidate, former military ruler Muhammadu Buhari, in the March 28
presidential election.
   (Reuters, 3/31/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 31, Saudi-led
airstrikes pounded Yemen's Shiite rebels for the sixth day,
destroying missiles and weapons depots controlled by the rebels. The
UN human rights office in Geneva said that in the past five days, at
least 93 civilians have been killed and 364 wounded in five Yemeni
cities. Airstrikes hit a dairy factory near Hodeida killing 23.
   (AP, 3/31/15)(Econ., 4/4/15, p.44)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 31, In central Syria
the Islamic State jihadist group killed at least 46 civilians,
including two children, in a raid on a regime-held village in Hama
province. Jihadist fighters from the IS group took hostage at least
50 civilians, almost half of them women, seized in a raid on Mabujeh
village, Hama province.
   (AFP, 3/31/15)(AP, 4/10/15)(Econ., 4/11/15, p.43)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 31, A Thai military
court sentenced Bangkok businessman Thiensutham Suthijitseranee to
25 years in prison on charges of defaming the country's monarchy in
what appears to be the longest sentence handed down in recent years
for the crime of lese majeste.
   (AP, 3/31/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 31, In Turkey an
Istanbul court acquitted 236 military officers of charges of
plotting a 2003 coup to overthrow the government of then-PM Recep
Tayyip Erdogan.
   (AP, 3/31/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 31, In Turkey a
massive power cut caused chaos and shut down public transport across
the country, with the government refusing to rule out that the
electricity system had been the victim of an attack.
   (AFP, 3/31/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 31, In Turkey two
members of a banned left-wing group, DHKP-C, held prosecutor Mehmet
Selim Kiraz hostage in an Istanbul courthouse for six hours. All
three died in a shootout between the hostage-takers and police.
   (AP, 4/1/15)(SFC, 4/7/15, p.A2)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 31, UN Secretary
General Ban Ki-moon said donors meeting in Kuwait have pledged $3.8
billion in humanitarian aid for the people of war-wracked Syria.
   (AFP, 3/31/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar, FinCEN, an arm of the
US Treasury, labelled Banca Privada d’Andorra a primary money
laundering concern. This effectively shut the bank out of America’s
financial system.
   (Econ, 6/6/15, p.57)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar, Indiana state health
officials reported 81 HIV-positive tests in one week with most of
them coming from the small town of Austin.
   (SFC, 4/6/15, p.A7)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar, A judge in Las Vegas
ruled that Panama-based Mossack Fonseca and MF Nevada were one and
the same. Under American law this allowed any investigator anywhere
in the world to subpoena Mossack through the Nevada subsidiary for
information relevant to cases in any country.
   (Econ, 4/16/15, p.61)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar, Nvidea unveiled new
hardware and software to bring speed, ease and power to deep
learning research. The dedicated dee-learning computer “DIGITS” was
priced at $15,000.
  Â
(http://blogs.nvidia.com/blog/2015/03/17/digits-devbox/)(Econ.,
4/4/15, p.16)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar, The British
government set aside 834,000 square km (322,000 square miles) of
ocean for the Pitcairn Islands Marine Reserve, the largest single
marine protected area anywhere.
   (Econ, 2/13/15, p.84)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar, Beijing police
arrested an environmental reporter and his associates in an apparent
extortion scandal. The group's ringleader, surnamed Chen, was
accused of blackmailing businesses into paying hundreds of thousands
of yuan to delete embarrassing online reports about their activities
on a website for environmental news.
   (Reuters, 4/4/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar, El Salvador recorded
481 homicides this month, more than any other single month in a
decade.
   (AP, 4/9/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar, Ford Motor Co. opened
a 400-acre car factory in Gujarat, India.
   (Econ, 8/8/15, p.57)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar, In Iran Mehdi Hashemi
(45), son of Iran's former president Akbar Hashemi Rafsanjani, was
handed prison sentences totaling 25 years after being convicted on
three charges in separate cases involving national security, fraud
and embezzlement. He was sentenced to two terms of 10 years in
prison and one of five years, and in line with Iranian law will
serve the longest of the three sentences.
   (AFP, 8/9/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar, Kenya's Ethics and
Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC) named dozens of top politicians
and civil servants in a report that gave a damning indictment of the
scale of corruption in the country. A total of 175 people were named
in the report, including five cabinet ministers, 13 governors and a
host of civil servants, MPs and members of the judiciary.
   (AFP, 4/23/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar, In Macedonia
opposition leader Zoran Zaev leaked tapes of alleged conversations
gathered for PM Nikola Gruevska and his spy chief cousin.
   (Econ., 3/7/15, p.54)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar 14, Pakistani
authorities arrested top model Ayaan Ali (21) after finding $506,800
tucked into her luggage while trying to fly to Dubai. A court
granted her bail on July 14 and she was freed on July 16.
   (AP, 7/14/15)(AP, 7/16/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar, In Pakistan Baloch
separatists attacked tankers carrying fuel to a Chinese company
working on a mining project.
   (Econ, 6/6/15, p.31)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar, Russian television
anchor Pavel Lobkov was targeted by the hacking group known as Fancy
Bear, nine months before his messages were leaked. He was one of at
least 200 journalists, publishers and bloggers targeted by the group
as early as mid-2014 and as recently as a few months ago.
   (AP, 12/22/17)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar, In South Africa a
wave of attacks against the country's colonial heritage began when
young protestors at the University of Cape Town threw excrement at a
statue of Cecil Rhodes, eventually forcing the university to remove
the statue of the British imperialist.
   (AFP, 4/6/15)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â Mar – 2016 May, US-based
cybersecurity company Secureworks, collected data over this period
identifying the US defense and security targets of Russian hackers,
known as Fancy Bear, from about 19,000 lines of email phishing data
created by the hackers. The hackers went after at least 87 people
working on militarized drones, missiles, rockets, stealth fighter
jets, cloud-computing platforms or other sensitive activities. This
was only made public in 2018.
   (AP, 2/7/18)
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