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January 2012

Protests Intensify in Syria (Jan. 1): An 88-member Arab Parliament calls for theimmediate withdrawal of Arab League monitors in Syria because the government continuesto crackdown on opponents, despite the monitors being in the country. (Jan. 6): A bomb

explodes in Damascus, killing 25 people and injuring dozens more. It is the second attack inthe capital in the last two weeks. (Jan. 11): President Bashar al-Assad appears in public forthe first time since the uprising began, thanking the crowd for supporting him. Meanwhile, aFrench journalist is killed during an attack at a pro-government rally in Homs.

European Union Agrees to Impose Oil Embargo on Iran (Jan. 4): The countries withinthe European Union agree to impose an embargo on Iranian oil. France stresses theimportance for sanctions and an embargo as a way to get Iran to halt uranium enrichmentand end its nuclear weapon efforts. Any new sanctions and embargo will come in stages anda final decision by the European Union will not be made until the end of the month. SinceDecember 2011, Iran has responded to talk of new sanctions from Europe and the U.S. by

threatening to close the Strait of Hormuz, test-firing new missiles, announcing its firstnuclear-fuel rod, and warning a U.S. aircraft carrier not to return to the Persian Gulf.

Iran Blames U.S. and Israel for Death of Nuclear Scientist (Jan. 11) : A bomber on amotorcycle kills nuclear scientist Mostafa Ahmadi Roshan in Tehran during the morningcommute, according to Iranian media. It is the fourth attack on an Iranian nuclear specialistin two years. Immediately following the attack, Iran accuses the United States and Israel.The White House responds by denying any responsibility and condemning the attack.

Azarenka, Djokovic Win Australian Open (Jan. 28 – 29): Victoria Azarenka from Belarusdefeats Maria Sharapova of Russia, 6 – 3, 6 –0, to win the Australian Open Women's Singles

Championship. Serbia's Novak Djokovic beats Rafael Nadal of Spain, 5-7, 6-4, 6-2, 6-7, 7-5,to take the Men's Singles Championship. Djokovic and Nadal's five set match lasts 5 hoursand 53 minutes, setting a new record for the longest grand slam singles final in the OpenEra.

February 2012

Riot at Soccer Match Causes Turmoil in Egypt (Feb. 1): At least 73 people are killed ina fight between fans of rival teams at a soccer match in Port Said, Egypt. Security at thegates is questioned as fans used knives, clubs, and other weapons in the brawl. (Feb. 2):Thousands protest against authorities in Cairo and other cities over the deaths caused bythe soccer match riot. (Feb. 3): Four protestors are killed and over 600 injured due to

stampeding crowds and tear gas. On a bus in the Sinai Peninsula, Bedouin gunmen take twoAmerican tourists and an Egyptian tour guide hostage. After several hours, the hostages arereleased to the Egyptian police. (Feb. 4): The third night in a row of street fighting in Cairobetween the police and protestors leads to the death of 12 people. Questions about thelegitimacy of the military-led government intensify as they are unable to stop the fighting.(Feb. 5): The military-led government announces it will put 19 Americans as well as 24others on trial in a criminal investigation involving the foreign financing of nonprofit groups.The investigation could impact American aid to Egypt. (Feb. 9): The Muslim Brotherhooddemands that the current prime minister and cabinet resign and be replaced with a new



coalition government formed by parliament.

Russia and China Prevent U.N. Action in Syria (Feb. 4): Russia and China veto aneffort by the United Nations Security Council to end the violence in Syria. The veto happens

just hours after the Syrian military launch an assault on the city of Homs. The SecurityCouncil votes 13 to 2 for a resolution backing an Arab League peace plan for Syria. China

and Russia vote against the resolution, seeing it as a violation of Syria's sovereignty. So far,Syria's 11-month uprising has caused more than 5,000 casualties.

Protests Turn Violent over Austerity Measures in Greece (Feb. 12): Demonstrationsin Athens turn violent the day before Parliament is set to approve Greece's new austeritymeasures. At least 80,000 people protest. Demonstrators throw rocks at the police. Bynightfall, protestors use Molotov cocktails. More than 40 buildings are set on fire. (Feb. 13):The Greek Parliament votes and approves the harsh, new austerity measures. The measuresare the only way foreign lenders will loan Greece the money it needs to keep the countryfrom defaulting on its debt.

A Series of Attacks Increase Tension between Israel and Iran (Feb. 13): Israeli Embassypersonnel are the targets of bombers in the capitals of Georgia and India. The wife of anIsraeli diplomat and a driver are injured. The attacks are similar to those recently used onIranian nuclear scientists, attacks Iran has blamed on Israel. (Feb. 14): A residentialneighborhood in Bangkok is the site of a series of explosions. Several people are wounded.Thai authorities arrest two men with Iranian passports and find bombs in a rented house.Israel says the attacks are not significant enough to warrant a counterattack. (Feb. 15):Reacting to international sanctions against its nuclear program, Iran warns six Europeancountries that it might cut them off from Iranian oil. The threat is made to the ambassadorsof Italy, Spain, France, the Netherlands, Greece and Portugal at the Foreign Ministry inTehran. Meanwhile, Iran announces advances to its nuclear program on state television.Iran says the nuclear program is for civilian use. Israel believes Iran's goal is to buildnuclear weapons and has called on other nations, including the U.S., to help prevent Iranfrom doing so.

__________________March 2012

Putin Wins Presidential Election in Russia (Mar. 4): Vladimir Putin wins the presidentialelection in Russia, claiming 64% of the vote. (Mar. 5): Observers from the Organization forSecurity and Cooperation in Europe challenge the election, saying Putin won because he hadno competition and government spending at his disposal. The United States and theEuropean Union call for an investigation into fraud allegations. Meanwhile, thousands ofdemonstrators in Moscow hit the streets, chanting, "Russia without Putin." A similardemonstration happens in St. Petersburg. When protestors refuse to leave, police arrestthem. In Moscow, 250 people are arrested. In St. Petersburg, 300 demonstrators aredetained.

Netanyahu Travels to the U.S. for Crucial Meeting with Obama (Mar. 5): Israel'sPrime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu travels to Washington to discuss Iran with PresidentObama. During the meeting, Obama encourages Netanyahu to give diplomacy and theEuropean Union's oil sanctions a chance before taking military action. The two leaders fail toagree on a solution in dealing with Iran's nuclear threat; however, they do agree to attemptto diffuse the heated debate about Iran in the U.S. and Israel. A White House officialdescribes the meeting as "friendly, straightforward, and serious."

U.S. Soldier Kills 16 Afghan Civilians (Mar. 10): A U.S. soldier goes on a door-to-door



commission-the nation's most powerful government agency. The launch coincides with thecelebration of the 100th birthday of North Korea's founder and Kim Jong-un's grandfather,Kim Il-sung. In response to the attempt, the U.S. suspends 240,000 tons of food aid toNorth Korea.

Uncertain Cease-Fire Begins in Syria (April 12): A United Nations backed cease-firebegins in Syria. No attacks by government forces are reported.

(Apr. 13): Thousands of Syrians protest across the country. The demonstrations are seenas a test for the day-old cease-fire.

(Apr. 18): While United Nations representatives attempt to reach an agreement with theSyria on how to monitor the cease-fire, government forces attack the city of Homs.

(Apr. 19): Secretary General of the United Nations, Ban Ki-moon, writes in a letter to theSecurity Council that Syria has not implemented all the steps of the cease-fire.

Business Highlights of 2012 ( 1st Quarter )...

January 2012

Economy Adds 200,000 Jobs in December; Unemployment falls to 8.5% (Jan.6): The U.S. economy added 200,000 new jobs in the month of December 2011, while theunemployment fell just slightly, to 8.5% from a revised 8.7% in November. The number ofnew jobs added in November has also been revised by the Labor Department from 120,000to 100,000.

February 2012

U.S. Economy Adds 243,000 Jobs in January; Unemployment falls to 8.3% (Feb.3): The U.S. economy adds 243,000 new jobs in January 2012, while unemployment fell to8.3%, the lowest in three years. January is the second consecutive month that employmentnumbers are better than expected.

Komen Reverses Decision to Cut Off Planned Parenthood (Feb. 3): After outrage andonline protesting, the Susan G. Komen for the Cure foundation reverses its December 2011decision to cut funding to Planned Parenthood. Komen announces they will restore theirrelationship with Planned Parenthood, which uses the funding to provide low-income womenwith breast cancer screenings. "We want to apologize to the American public for recentdecisions that case doubt upon our commitment to our mission of saving women's lives,"

Nancy G. Brinker, the founder of Komen, says in a statement.

March 2012

U.S. Economy Holds Steady in February (Mar. 9): The U.S. economy adds 227,000 new jobs in February 2012. This marks the third consecutive month of job gains over 200,000.The unemployment holds steady at 8.3 percent, the same percentage as January. Thereport is seen as a sign that the economy in the U.S. is stable and continuing to recover



China for meetings on economic and security issues. Chen revises his request, asking if heand his family can go to the U.S. temporarily instead of receiving permanent asylum.Clinton and the Obama administration work quickly to negotiate with Chinese officials toavoid any increase in tension between the two governments. During her visit, Clinton saysthat progress is being made "to help him have the future that he wants."

(May 5): China agrees to allow Chen to apply to study at a university in the United States,a move which is quickly praised by Clinton.

(May 19): Chen arrives in New York City after leaving Beijing with his wife and twochildren. He speaks at a press conference where he says he is grateful to the AmericanEmbassy. He also thanks Chinese officials for "dealing with the situation with restraint andcalm." Chen will attend New York University.

François Hollande Becomes President of France (May 6): François Hollande defeatsNicolas Sarkozy to become President of France. With the victory, Hollande becomes the first

Socialist president since François Mitterrand's term ended in 1995. Hollande's victory is seenas a sign that France has grown weary of Germany's dominance with the economic austeritypolicy in the euro zone.

Putin Becomes President of Russia for the Third Time (May 6): The day beforeVladimir Putin's third inauguration as Russia's president, demonstrations turn violent with20,000 antigovernment demonstrators battling police near the Kremlin. The fightingincludes smoke bombs, bottles, and sticks.

(May 7): While Putin officially takes office, the protests continue and police arrest 120people. The violence is a dramatic shift because even though antigovernment protests have

been going on for months, the demonstrations had been peaceful until now. Dressed in riotgear, police search cafes and restaurants for protesters. The demonstrators taken intopolice custody are sent to military draft offices.

Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu Calls for Early Elections (May 6): During a speech,Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu calls for early elections in Israel. In his speech,Netanyahu vows to "form the broadest government that is possible." The official reason forearly elections is the upcoming expiration of the Tal Law, which exempts ultra-OrthodoxJews from Israeli Army service. However, some election analysts believe that Netanyahuwants to act swiftly while his Likud Party is polling strongly.

(May 8): Two days after the call for early elections, Netanyahu forms a unity governmentwith Shaul Mofaz, the newly elected chief of Kadima, the opposition party. The new coalitiongives Netanyahu a very large legislative majority. It also ends the need for early elections.Mofaz is made deputy prime minister under the terms of the agreement. Some see the newcoalition as a way for Netanyahu to gain even more political power. More than 1,000 peoplemarch in Tel Aviv to protest the alliance. Among the demonstrators is former Kadima chief,Tzipi Livni. The new coalition is one of the largest in Israel's history. Netanyahu promisesthat the coalition will rewrite the Tal Law, pass a budget, revise the electoral process and



move forward on the peace process.

Attack in Syria Kills Dozens of Children (May 26): Thirty-two children under age tenare killed when the Syrian government attacks the village of Houla. The United Nationsblames the deaths on government tanks and artillery, saying many of the victims were

executed in their homes. President Assad, however, claims terrorists carried out the attack.Eleven nations, including the U.S., expel Syrian diplomats, and the UN Security Councilunanimously criticizes the "outrageous use of force" against residents and the government'srole in the attack. Russia, typically protective of Syria and reluctant to criticize thegovernment, signs on to the UN statement.

Jobs Recovery Still Slow in April (May 4): April is another slow month for job growth.Only 115,000 jobs are added in April, less than economists' predictions. The unemploymentrate does decrease from March's 8.2 percent to 8.1 percent in April, but this is not becausemore jobs are created. The decrease in unemployment is due to 342,000 workers leavingthe labor force.

JPMorgan Chase Announces Two Billion Dollar Loss (May 10): JPMorgan Chase, thelargest bank in the U.S., announces it has lost more than two billion dollars in trading. In astatement, Chief Executive Jamie Dimon blames the loss on "errors, sloppiness and bad

judgment." Dimon also says that the losses can "easily get worse."

(May 14): Ina Drew retires from JPMorgan Chase. Drew is the chief investment officerresponsible for the trading that led to the two billion dollar loss of the bank's own money.The bank announces that it will form a team of senior executives to investigate the loss.

Facebook Shares Go Public to Disappointing Results (May 17): Facebook becomes apublic company, raising $14 billion in its initial public offering, at $38 a share, which givesthe company a value of $104 billion. This makes Facebook the third-largest public offeringin the history of the U.S., behind General Motors and Visa.

(May 18): Facebook shares start selling at $42.05, but close at $38.23, only 0.6 percentabove the I.P.O. price, a disappointing start to going public.

June 2012:

U.S. Adds Fewest Jobs in a Year (June 1): Only 69,000 jobs are added in May, thefewest in a year. Also, the unemployment rate rises from April's 8.1 percent to 8.2 percentin May, the first increase in 11 months. The bad news also extends to the Dow Jonesindustrial average which fell 274 points and erased most of the 2012 gains.

Mubarak Sentenced to Life in Prison (June 2): Former President of Egypt, HosniMubarak, is sentenced to life in prison for being an accomplice in the killing of unarmedprotestors during the January 2011 demonstrations. The Judge dismisses corruption chargesagainst Mubarak because the statute of limitations has run out. Lower level officials are



acquitted. Angry over the verdict, thousands of demonstrators hit the streets in Cairo andother cities. Egypt's military-led government announces it will appeal the verdict.

United Nations Declares Civil War in Syria (June 8): United Nation monitors findevidence of mass atrocity in the small village of Qubeir. The monitors post footage online,

providing the first visual evidence from a neutral source of the crimes occurring in Syria.(June 9): Troops clash with rebel fighters in Dara'a. At least 17 people are killed, includingwomen and children.

(June 10): At least 38 people are killed in Homs as government forces attempt to regaincontrol of rebel-held areas.

(June 12): After being attacked and fired on by a mob, the United Nation monitors leavetheir fact-finding mission in Syria. A United Nations official declares that Syria is in a stateof civil war. U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton accuses Russia of giving the

Syrian government attack helicopters to use against the rebels.(June 23): Syria confirms that its military forces shot down a Turkish military jet the daybefore. President Abdullah Gul of Turkey responds by saying that his country will do"whatever is necessary" in retaliation. The incident increases tension between the twocountries. Turkey already supports the Syrian rebels' attempt to overthrow the government.

Maria Sharapova and Rafael Nadal Win French Open (June 11): Maria Sharapova, the25-year-old tennis superstar, wins her first French Open women's championship. She beatfirst time finalist, Sara Errani, 6-3, 6-2. With the win, Sharapova achieves a career GrandSlam, winning all four majors in her still young career. She becomes only the tenth woman

to complete the career grand slam, joining such elite company as Steffi Graf, MargaretCourt, Martina Navratilova, Chris Evert, and Serena Williams. By reaching the final,Sharapova also recaptures the number one world ranking. The win and return to thenumber one ranking are seen as an improbable, but gutsy comeback after Sharapovasuffered a career-threatening shoulder injury in 2007. Rafael Nadal, of Spain, beat NovakDjokovic 6-4, 6-3, 2-6, 7-5 to take the men's crown for a record seventh time. In doing so,Nadal breaks the record held by Bjorn Borg for most French Open men's singleschampionships.

A New Government Forms in Greece (June 17): The Center-right New Democracy partyprevails in Greece's parliamentary elections, winning 29.7 percent of the vote. The far-left

Syriza party, which strongly opposed the terms of the EU bailout, takes 26.9 percent, andPasok, the Greek Socialist party, places well behind with 12.3 percent.

(June 20): New Democracy quickly forms a coalition with Pasok and the Democratic Left,and Antonis Samaras, the leader of New Democracy, is sworn in as prime minister.Samaras, who has been cool to the austerity measures and has advocated a course ofgrowth rather than cuts, says he plans to renegotiate some of the terms of the country'sbail-out packages.



Morsi Declared President of Egypt (June 24): Election regulators declare the MuslimBrotherhood Candidate Mohamed Morsi the winner of Egypt's first competitive presidentialelection. Morsi becomes the country's fifth president and first from outside the military.Morsi, who won with 51.7 percent of the vote, is also the first Islamist elected leader of an

Arab state.July 2012:

Unrest Continues in Syria as Soldiers Defect (July 2): In one of the largest militarydefections since the uprising in Syria began, eighty-five Syrian soldiers flee to southernTurkey. The defecting soldiers include one general and over a dozen lower-ranking officers.(July 3): Syrian President Bashar al-Assad tries to diffuse tension with Turkey by expressingregret over the Turkish warplane that his forces shot down last month. The Cumhuiyet, aTurkish newspaper, reports that Assad said his men believed it was an Israeli jet and thathe won't allow tensions between Syria and Turkey to deteriorate into an "armed conflict."

(July 11): Syrian ambassador to Iraq, Nawaf Fares, defects from Baghdad. In doing so,Fares becomes the first prominent figure to publicly denounce the Syrian government.

(July 12): According to opposition activists, more than 200 people are killed by Syriangovernment forces in Tremseh, a Sunni village near Hama.

(July 18): In Damascus, a suicide bomber attacks a meeting of senior ministers andsecurity officials. Syrian's defense minister and President Bashar al-Assad's brother-in-laware killed in the attack.

(July 19): Fighting becomes more violent in Damascus between the Army and oppositionforces. Residents begin to flee the capital.

Roger Federer and Serena Williams Reclaim Wimbledon Titles (July 7 – 8): SerenaWilliams beat first time finalist, Poland's Agnieszka Radwanska 6-1, 5-7, 6-2 to win her fifthWimbledon women's singles title. Later in the same day, Serena and her sister VenusWilliams win the women's doubles championship for the fifth time. Roger Federer breaks theheart of all Brits, including Scotland's Andy Murray when he defeats Murray 4-6, 7-5, 6-3,6-4 in the men's singles championship. With the win, Federer claims his seventh Wimbledonsingles title, tying the record shared by Pete Sampras and William Renshaw. The win alsomeans Federer will once again be the #1 ranked player in the world. Great Britain hasn'thad a men's singles champion since Fred Perry in 1936.

Libya Holds First National Election Since Qaddafi (July 7): For the first time since Col.Muammar Qaddafi was ousted, Libyans vote in a national election. At least two people arekilled due to armed assaults on voting centers. In the city of Kufur, some voting centersclose due to an ongoing battle between tribes. Despite these obstacles, turnout is over 60percent.

(July 8): Early election results show a coalition led by Mahmoud Jibril is ahead of Islamistparties in votes. Jibril is a Western-educated political scientist. His coalition's lead is a signthat Libya, unlike Egypt and Tunisia, is not trending toward Islamist rule.



Hezbollah Is Accused for Attack on Israeli Tourists (July 18): Outside a Bulgarianairport, a suicide bomber attacks a tour bus of Israelis passengers who were in Bulgaria onvacation. Along with the bomber, five Israelis and the Bulgarian driver are killed. Dozensmore passengers are injured. Immediately following the attack, Israel blames Iran-backedmilitia, Hezbollah, and promises to retaliate. Of the attack, Prime Minister Benjamin

Netanyahu says in a statement, "All the signs lead to Iran. Only in the past few months wehave seen Iranian attempts to attack Israelis in Thailand, India, Georgia, Kenya, Cyprus andother places. Eighteen years exactly after the blast at the Jewish community center inArgentina, murderous Iranian terror continues to hit innocent people. This is an Iranianterror attack that is spreading throughout the entire world. Israel will react powerfullyagainst Iranian terror."

Russia and China Veto U. N. Sanctions on Syria (July 19): Russia and China veto aUnited Nations Security Council resolution to impose sanctions on the Syrian government.The proposed U.N. sanctions are intended to push Syria into putting a peace plan into actionand ending its 17-month-old conflict. The resolution is proposed by Britain and backed byten other council members, including France and the United States. Russian ambassadorVitaly I. Churkin explains the Russian veto to the council, "We simply cannot accept adocument which would open the path for pressure of sanctions and further to externalmilitary involvement in Syrian domestic affairs."

2012 Summer Games Open with an Unconventional Ceremony (July 27): Some80,000 people in Olympic Stadium and billions worldwide watch as Britain celebrates itsmilestones and points of pride, from the Industrial Revolution to its National Health Systemto Harry Potter in a high-tech ceremony directed by filmmaker Danny Boyle. One of themost talked about events featured stunt doubles for James Bond actor Daniel Craig andQueen Elizabeth jumping from an airplane and parachuting into the stadium.

(July 31): Michael Phelps wins his 19th Olympic medal, becoming the winningest Olympicathlete of all time. He surpassed the record held by Russian gymnast Larisa Latynina.

India Hit By Massive Power Failure (July 30): More than half of India's population —700million people living in 22 out of the country's 28 states —loses power. The cause of thepower failure is not determined. For the most part, Indians take the blackout in stride, assuch events are not unusual in a country whose power grid is still in development.

__________________August 2012 :

Syria Sinks Further into Civil War (August): Kofi Annan resigns as UN special envoy to

Syria, citing the Syrian government's refusal to implement his peace plan, intensifyingviolence by rebels, and discord within the Security Council. He says "without serious,purposeful and united international pressure, including from the powers of the region, it isimpossible for me, or anyone, to compel the Syrian government in the first place, and alsothe opposition, to take the steps necessary to begin a political process." He also says it isimperative that President Bashar al-Assad step down.

(August 6): Prime Minister Riyad Farid Hijab and at least two other ministers defect to



Jordan and announce that they would support the opposition. They are the highest-leveldefections to date and are clear signs that Assad's hold on power is dwindling.

(Aug. 15): The crisis in Syria spills into Lebanon when more than 20 Syrians are kidnappedin Lebanese territory.

(Aug. 16): The United Nations Security Council terminates its observer mission in Syria dueto the increasing violence.

(Aug. 20): President Obama vows military action against the Syrian government ifbiological or chemical weapons in Syria are moved. It is the biggest threat of U.S.intervention so far.

(Aug. 23): More than 200,000 refugees have traveled from Syria to Iraq, Lebanon, Jordan,and Turkey. The United Nations estimates there will be 185,000 Syrian refugees by the endof the year.

(Aug. 26): In Daraya, a suburb of Damascus, mass burials are discovered. The LocalCoordination Committees reports that at least 630 residents of Daraya have been killed inthe last week. Residents say that the Syrian army closed off the city before pounding it withgunfire and pulling residents from their houses.

Egypt Launches Airstrike in Sinai Peninsula (Aug. 8): Egypt launches its first airstrikein years in the Sinai Peninsula. Attack helicopters strike at gunmen in retaliation after 16soldiers were shot and killed on August 5 at an Egyptian Army checkpoint. The attack on theEgyptian soldiers is President Mohammed Morsi's first crisis. Morsi orders an airstrike on the

Sinai, which kills about 20 militants.

(Aug. 12): Morsi reassigns several senior generals and the heads of each service branch ofthe Supreme Council of the Armed Forces (SCAF), an influential force in Egypt that haseffectively been in control since the fall of Hosni Mubarak and recently has been in a powerstruggle with the new civilian government. Defense minister Mohamed Hussein Tantawi, apower broker in Egypt, is among the leaders Morsi stripped of his position. Morsi also voidsa constitutional declaration imposed by the military that limited the role of the president,and implements a new order that vastly expands his power and that of the legislature. Thebold move sends a clear message that the civilian government has taken back control of thecountry.

Ecuador Grants Asylum to Julian Assange (Aug. 16): Ecuador announces that it isgranting political asylum to WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange. Assange has been staying atthe country's Embassy in London while waiting for the decision. The decision further strainsrelations between Ecuador and Great Britain. Foreign Minister Ricardo Patiño announces theasylum at a news conference, where he says, "The government of Ecuador, faithful to itstradition of protecting those who seek refuge in its territory or in its diplomatic missions,



has decided to grant diplomatic asylum to Julian Assange." Patiño adds that Assange mightface the death penalty if tried in the United States. Britain continues to reject the requestfor Assange to be moved from the embassy in London to Ecuador. Britain maintains its legalobligation to extradite Assange to Sweden where he is still wanted for questioning overaccusations of sexual assault.

Punk Band Is Convicted of Hooliganism in Russia (Aug. 17): The three members ofthe all-female punk band Pussy Riot are convicted of hooliganism and sentenced to twoyears in a penal colony for performing an anti-Putin song on the altar of Moscow's mainOrthodox cathedral. At the sentencing of one of the most high-profile trials that Russia hasseen in years, activists outside of the courthouse protest, chanting "Free Pussy Riot!" Policearrest dozens of protestors. Rallies supporting the three women are held in cities around theworld, including London, New York and Paris. Immediately following the verdict, the UnitedStates, other governments, and human rights groups criticize the decision, calling thesentence severe. The women's lawyers say they will appeal the decision.

U.S. Military Death Toll Reaches Two Thousand in Afghanistan (Aug. 21): TheUnited States military reaches 2,000 deaths in Afghanistan, based on The New York Timesof Department of Defense records. It is an unfortunate milestone in the nearly 11-year-oldwar.

September 2012 :

Violence Continues in Syria (September 1): Opposition fighters seize an air base in Deirel-Zour. Along with the base, they capture 16 Syrian soldiers, weapons, and ammunition.

(Sept. 4): The United Nations reports that more than 100,000 people fled Syria in August.The surge accounts for 40 percent of the 234,000 people who have registered with theUnited Nations for assistance since the fighting in Syria began. The surge of refugeescoincides with President Bashar al-Assad's government increase in attacks on areas in Syriawhere the opposition is strong.

(Sept. 5): Iran resumes sending military equipment to Syria to aid the government in itsfight against the opposition. Iran is using Iraq's airspace to send the supplies. Iraq's role inthe operation shows what little influence the United States has over them. The Obamaadministration has pressed Iraq to shut down the air corridor that Iran uses to ship the

supplies to Syria.Gunmen Storm U.S. Embassy in Libya (September 11): Armed gunmen storm theAmerican consulate in Benghazi and shoot and kill U.S. ambassador to Libya ChristopherStevens and three other embassy officials. Stevens, a widely praised diplomat who was anadvocate for the opposition in Libya, is the first U.S. ambassador to be killed in the line ofduty since 1979. The attack coincides with violent protests at the U.S. embassy in Cairoover the release of a YouTube film, Innocence of Muslims, produced in the U.S., that



insulted the Prophet Muhammad and criticized Islam. U.S. officials say they believe thatgiven the weapons used-antiaircraft weapons and rocket-propelled grenades-the attack hadbeen orchestrated in advance. In response to the assault, the U.S. sends 50 marines toprotect the embassy in Tripoli.

(Sept. 14): Libyan authorities arrest four people who are suspects in the U.S. embassyattack in Benghazi. U.S. officials believe the attack may have been planned in advance.President Obama vows to bring those responsible for the attack to justice.

More U.S. Embassies Attacked over YouTube film (September 13): The U.S.embassies in Egypt and Yemen are attacked in protest over a film which demonstrators feelinsults Islam. At least 15 people are injured, some by gunfire, at the U.S. embassy inSanaá, Yemen. In Cairo, demonstrators climb into the U.S. embassy compound and ripdown the American Flag. At least 200 protestors gather at the U.S. embassy in Kuwait.Demonstrations are also held at U.S. missions in Morocco, Sudan and Tunisia. At the U.S.consulate in Berlin, Germany an employee becomes ill after opening a mysterious envelope.

Afterwards, the consulate is partially evacuated.(Sept. 14): Attacks spread throughout the Middle East as protesters attack the GermanEmbassy in Khartoum, the capital of Sudan, and climb into the U.S. Embassy compound inTunis, the capital of Tunisia. In Tripoli, one protestor is killed in a clash with security forcesafter demonstrators set fire to an Arby's and Kentucky Fried Chicken. Protests even spreadto Indonesia and Pakistan where hundreds carry banners criticizing the United States andthe filmmakers.

October 2012 :

U.S. Begins Retaliatory Action against Embassy Attack in Libya (Oct. 2): The U.S.Special Operations Command prepares data to use in the capture of the militants suspectedin the attack on its embassy last month in Libya. The suspects include members of Ansar al-Shariah, an Islamist militia group, and other militants with ties to Al-Qaeda. The suspectsare wanted for the September 11, 2012 attack on the U.S. Embassy in Benghazi, whichresulted in the deaths of American ambassador Christopher Stevens and three otherembassy officials.

(Oct. 15): During an interview with CNN, Secretary of State Hillary Clinton takesresponsibility for the security situation in the Libyan embassy attack last month. Clintonpoints out that she makes the final call on diplomatic security overseas, not President

Obama or Vice President Biden. Clinton's interview comes one day before Obama's seconddebate with Mitt Romney. Clinton vows to improve security for diplomats, but also says,"We can't not engage."

Turkey Retaliates Against Syria (Oct. 3): Turkey hits four targets within Syria inretaliation over the mortar attack in Akcakale, Turkey, which killed five civilians, includingthree children.



(Oct. 4): The Turkish Parliament authorizes further military action against Syria. Turkeycontinues to fire artillery into Syria.

(Oct. 9): The U.S. military sends a task force to Jordan to assist armed forces with Syrianrefugees and to be on hand in case the Syrian conflict continues to expand.

(Oct. 10): Turkish warplanes force a Syrian passenger jet to land under suspicion that it iscarrying military cargo. En route from Moscow to Damascus, the jet is forced down inAnkara, the capital of Turkey. Turkish television reports that inspectors find parts of amissile on board, but authorities in Turkey decline to comment on exactly what is found.Turkish civilian airplanes begin avoiding Syrian airspace. Both countries continue to fireartillery across the border.

(Oct. 13): Syria bans Turkish flights from its airspace. Russia denies that any weaponswere onboard the intercepted Syrian passenger jet. Meanwhile, the fighting in Syriacontinues. Human rights activists report that Syrian rebels are making progress in the Idlib

district.(Oct. 14): Officials from the U.S. and the Middle East report that most of the arms shippedfrom Saudi Arabia and Qatar to Syrian rebels are falling into the hands of Islamic jihadists.

Hugo Chávez Wins Third Term (Oct. 7): Hugo Chávez wins the presidential election inVenezuela. He receives 54 percent of the vote. His opponent, Henrique Capriles Radonski,receives 45 percent. Even though it is the narrowest margin of victory, Chávez still winseasily. This will be Chávez's third six-year term as president.

Taliban Gun Down 14-Year-Old Girl Who Defied Them (Oct. 9): In Pakistan, Taliban

members shoot 14-year-old Malala Yousafzai in the head and neck. The shooting occurswhile Yousafzai is on her way home on a school bus filled with children. Two other girls arewounded. All three girls survive, but Yousafzai is in a Peshawar hospital in critical condition.Ehsanullah Ehsan, a Taliban spokesman, confirms that Yousafzai was the target due to heroutspokenness against the Taliban and her determination to get an education. Ehsan says,"She has become a symbol of Western culture in the area; she was openly propagating it.Let this be a lesson."

(Oct. 11): Yousafzai is transferred by air to an army hospital in Rawalpindi. The hospital isnear the Pakistani Army Headquarters.

(Oct. 15): Yousafzai is flown to Birmingham, Great Britain for specialized treatment to herskull which was fractured when the bullet passed through her head. She will also receivelong-term rehabilitation there.

One Member of Russian Punk Band Goes Free (Oct. 10): A court in Moscow frees oneof the three members of Pussy Riot, the punk band convicted of hooliganism for protestingin a cathedral last February. Yekaterina Samutsevich is released after judges accepte hernew lawyer's argument that she played less of a role in the cathedral protest performance



that landed her in jail with her band mates. The latest ruling maintains the guilty verdictagainst all three women on charges of hooliganism, but the judges order Samutsevich'srelease on the grounds that she had less of a role in the incident. The case continues todraw international attention and condemnation of Russia.

Lebanon Is Dragged into War in Syria (Oct. 19): A bomb explodes in Beirut's Christiansection. Eight people are killed and at least 80 are wounded. The explosion kills intelligencechief Brig. Gen. Wissam al-Hassan, a top security official and an ally of the slain PrimeMinister Rafik Hariri. Hassan, a foe of Syria, had been a driving force behind the arrest ofMichel Samaha, Lebanon's former information minister who had close ties to Syria, oncharges of orchestrating attacks and assassinations of Sunnis in Lebanon.

Hurricane Sandy Wreaks Havoc (Oct. 24): Sandy, which blew into the Caribbean as atropical storm, is upgraded to hurricane status as it hits Cuba, Haiti and Jamaica. A category2 hurricane, Sandy leaves 44 dead in the region.

(Oct. 26): Hurricane Sandy blows through the Bahamas. As it approaches Florida and theeast coast of the U.S., it is downgraded to a category 1.

(Oct. 27): The storm continues to move up the east coast and spreads out. Sandy'stropical storm-like winds extend from the storm's center for a 520 mile radius. HurricaneSandy causes greater concern because it is on path to collide with a winter storm systemmoving across the U.S. from the west as well as an arctic air system from Canada.

(Oct. 29): Hurricane Sandy makes landfall as a downgraded storm. Now a post-tropicalcyclone, Sandy weakens as it blows through southern Pennsylvania. Still, millions of peoplein more than half a dozen states are affected. Many lose power and evacuations along the

coast are extensive. Subways and Amtrak service are shut down in major east coast citiesincluding Boston, New York, and Washington. Parts of the New York City subway system areflooded. Eleven storm-related deaths are reported, seven in the New York area.

November 2012 Events:

New Proposal Presented to End Conflict in Syria (Nov. 1): China, one of the Syriangovernment's main allies, presents a new proposal to end the conflict in Syria. The plancalls on stronger international support for refugees and a truce brought about in phases.The proposal does not call for President Bashar al-Assad to step down.

(Nov. 11): Syria's opposition groups agree to form a new governing body that will unify themany rebel groups under one umbrella. The 50-person body, the Syrian National Initiative,will replace the Syrian National Council, which has come under fire for being largelyineffective and having few leaders living in Syria. The new organization will include youngerleaders and will have strong representation inside the country. It will also oversee theopposition's military and will manage the distribution of weapons and funds. The group'sleader, Sheikh Ahmad Moaz al-Khatib, says he hopes the new body will be viewed withlegitimacy and receive financial assistance and weapons from the international community.



(Nov. 12): Tanks from Israel fire on Syrian artillery units in response to mortar fire near anarmy post in the Israeli-held Golan Heights.

(Nov. 13): France becomes the first Western country to officially recognize the new Syrian

rebel coalition.(Nov. 14): The government in Syria calls France's recognition of the Syrian rebel coalitionan "immoral" act. Meanwhile, for the third day in a row, Syrian authorities order airstrikeson the area near their border with Turkey. (Nov. 26): The Syrian rebels seize a key militarybase and airport near Damascus. They also take control of a hydroelectric dam on theEuphrates River.

(Nov. 29): Commercial air traffic is stopped and internet access is unavailable throughoutSyria. U.S. government officials say that the Obama administration is getting closer torecognizing the National Coalition of Syrian Revolutionary and Opposition Forces as well as

considering more intervention to remove al-Assad from power.Israel Kills Hamas Commander in Gaza Attack

(Nov. 14): In one of its biggest attacks on Gaza since the invasion four years ago, Israellaunches an aerial attack and hits at least 20 targets. One of those targets is a Hamasmilitary commander, Ahmed al-Jabari. He is killed while traveling through Gaze in a car. Theairstrikes are in response to recent, repeated rocket attacks by Palestinian militants locatedin Gaza.

(Nov. 15): Israel continues a second day of airstrikes on Gaza and the Palestinian death

toll rises to 11. Meanwhile, Hamas fires rockets into southern Israel, killing three civilians.The Israeli deaths will likely lead to Israel increasing its military offensive in Gaza. In anationally televised address, Egyptian President Mohamed Morsi says that his country willstand by the Palestinians, "The Egyptian people, the Egyptian leadership, the Egyptiangovernment, and all of Egypt is standing with all its resources to stop this assault, toprevent the killing and the bloodshed of Palestinians."

(Nov. 18): Israel continues to target members of Hamas and other militant groups in Gaza,and Hamas launches several hundred rockets, with some hitting Tel Aviv. Egypt, while astaunch supporter of Hamas, attempts to broker a peace agreement between Hamas andIsrael to prevent the conflict from further destabilizing the region.

(Nov. 21): Egypt's foreign minister, Mohamed Kamel Amr, and U.S. secretary of stateHillary Clinton announce that a cease-fire has been signed. Both sides agree to endhostilities toward each other and Israel says it will open Gaza border crossings, allowing theflow of products and people into Gaza, potentially lifting the 5-year blockade that hascaused much hardship to those living in the region.

Morsi Declares Authority over Courts (Nov. 22): Egyptian President Mohamed Morsi



announces a brazen power grab when he declares authority over the courts, therebyremoving any check on his actions by the courts. He says the move is necessary becausethe judiciary, made up of Hosni Mubarak appointees, is threatening to suspend theconstitutional assembly before it completes the task of drafting a new constitution. Progresson writing a new constitution has been stalled by members of the opposition on the

committee. Morsi also says the edict would bring "political, social and economic stability"and remove barriers to a smooth transition of power. The decree is met with large protestsin Tahrir Square, the scene of the uprising against Mubarak, and internationalcondemnation. It also fuels accusations that one autocrat has succeeded another.

(Nov. 26): Morsi seems to be backtracking in response to the outpouring of rage, sayingonly "acts of sovereignty" will be exempt from judicial oversight. The clarification does littleto placate his opponents.

(Nov. 29): Under threat of being suspended by the courts, the constitutional assemblyhastily approves a draft document, which is widely criticized for its ambiguity and lack of

depth and originality. The draft constitution passes because Morsi's opponents on thecommittee from secular groups and Coptic Christians boycott the vote. Morsi says he willhold a referendum on the constitution as soon as possible.

UN Approves Non-Member State Status for Palestine (Nov. 29): The United NationsGeneral Assembly approves an upgrade from the Palestinian Authority's current observerstatus to that of a non-member state. The vote comes after Palestinian President MahmoudAbbas speaks to the General Assembly and asks for a "birth certificate" for his country. Ofthe 193 nations in the General Assembly, 138 vote in favor of the upgrade in status. Whilethe vote is a victory for Palestine, it is a diplomatic setback for the U.S. and Israel. Havingthe title of "non-member observer state" will allow Palestine access to international

organizations such as the International Criminal Court (ICC). If they join the ICC, Palestinecan file complaints of war crimes against Israel. In response to the UN vote, Israeli PrimeMinister Benjamin Netanyahu announces that Israel will not transfer about $100 million inmuch-needed tax revenue owed to the struggling Palestinian Authority and will resumeplans to build 3,000-unit settlement in an area that divides the north and the south parts ofthe West Bank, thereby denying the Palestinians any chance for having a contiguous state.

Dec 14: The Supreme Court has served a contempt notice to Mutahhida Qaumi Movement(MQM) chief Altaf Hussain over his recent telephonic address to his party workers inKarachi. During his address over SC ruling on delimitation of new constituencies in Karachion December 2, Altaf Hussain called the remarks of court unconstitutional and undemocratic

, adding that the Supreme Court does not have the authority to say that constituenciesshould be formed in such a way that a single-party majority does not exist.

Dec 14: London High Court has ordered Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) to pay 35,000pounds to Travel Agents as fuel surcharge commission within 21 days. The court alsodismissed the appeal of national flag carrier, in which PIA had contended that fuel surchargeis government tax and it could not provide commission on it. The travel agents had pleaded



in the London High Court that PIA was not providing them commission on fuel surcharge.The court observed that fuel surcharge is not a government tax as claimed by PIA,therefore, commission on it should be provided to the travel agents.

Dec 14: Pakistan Army Thursday Dec 13, termed as "fabricated" and "biased" a report byAmnesty International that claimed human rights of people on the Afghan border werebeing violated by the armed forces and the Taliban. Amnesty alleged that thousands of menand boys have been detained by the armed forces and they were held in secret places andnever seen again.

Dec 14: Vidya Balan will marry UTV head Sidharth Roy Kapur today Dec 14, in a privatewedding ceremony to be held at Mumbai's Sri Subramania Samaj temple. On WednesdayDec 12, Vidya had a mehendi ceremony at her home, which was attended only by herfamily.

Dec 14: A former prime minister of Thailand was charged with murder in the latest twist ina political war between supporters and opponents of another ex-leader, Thaksin Shinawatra.The murder charge against Abhisit Vejjajiva stems from the violent suppression of anti-government protests in 2010 when demonstrators were seeking to have Abhisit, Thaksin'srival, call early elections, saying he was installed in office illegitimately.

Dec 14: State Bank of Pakistan announces monetary policy for next 2 months, interest ratereduced by point five percent, new interest rate fixed at 9.5 percent.

Pakistan and India Friday Dec 14 formalized the new eased visa agreement between the twoneighbouring countries. Interior Minister Rehman Malik, and his Indian counterpart, SushilKumar Shinde, at a ceremony held in New Delhi, pressed a button to launch the new visaregime. Under the new visa accord, travelers will be able to visit five cities, while childrenunder the age of 12 and the elderly as well as big investors will be exempt from policereporting.

The Judicial Commission, formed by Supreme Court to probe Lal Masjid Operation, willbegin its work from today (Friday Dec 14). One-member commission of senior judge ofFederal Shariat Court, Justice Shehzad Al-Shaikh will present its findings in 45 days.Inspection team member of Islamabad High Court (IHC) Syed Muzafar Ali Shah has been

nominated Secretary while Additional District and Session Judge Kamran Basharat asAdditional Secretary of the commission.

OSLO: A young woman of Pakistani-origin has found a place in the Norwegian cabinet.Hadia Tajik, 29, a Muslim of Pakistani descent, was appointed as Norway’s minister ofculture. Hadia has become the first ever Muslim cabinet member and youngest evergovernment minister in the Scandinavian country. The newly appointed Minister of Culturehas already publicized her program for the upcoming months and highlighted that cultural



diversity should become an undisputable part of Norway’s everyday life. In 2009 she waselected as MP for the Norwegian Labour Party that represented Oslo.

Inventor of bar code dies at 91. N. Joseph Woodland, inventor of the now ubiquitous barcode that revolutionized retail, has died at the age of 91, US media reported Friday.

Woodland came up with the zebra-like pattern used to store information as he drew lines inthe sand on a Miami beach 64 years ago.

Etihad Airways Named World’s Leading Airline for the Fourth Consecutive Year. EtihadAirways, the national airline of the United Arab Emirates, has brought home top honours atthe World Travel Awards, taking the World’s Leading Airline title for the fourth year in a row.Etihad Airways also received recognition for its Diamond First Class product, named theWorld’s Leading First Class.

NEW YORK, Dec 14: At least 27 people, including 18 children, were killed on Friday when atleast one shooter opened fire at an elementary school in Newtown, Connecticut, the US

media reported, citing unnamed officials. If confirmed, it would be one of the worst massshootings in US history. It comes after a series of shooting rampages in the United Statesthis year that have killed multiple victims, and was certain to revive a debate about US gunlaws.

Swedish missionary shot in Lahore dies.The 71-year-old aid worker, Birgitta Almeby, whowas shot in the chest in Lahore, died at the Karolinska Hospital in Stockholm late onWednesday Dec 12. She was working in Lahore for the US-founded Full Gospel Assemblies,which describes itself as a "church fellowship" with congregations all over the world.

India beat Pakistan by 30 runs in a thrilling final of Blind T20 World Cup on Thursday Dec13.

Batting first, India scored 258 runs for eight wickets in the stipulated 20 overs andrestricted Pakistan to 228 runs for eight wickets in their 20 overs to lift the World Cup.

Pakistani singer, actor and famous artist Ali Zafar became second most attractive person ofAsia. In the list of the Attractive Asian Men, Hrithik races ahead of Ali Zafar at secondposition, Salman Khan at third, and Shahid Kapoor at fourth.

The European Union received the Nobel Peace Prize on Monday Dec 10 for promoting peaceand human rights in Europe following the devastation of World War II, and the bloc wasurged to use that unity in its battle with economic crisis of the region. About 20 Europeangovernment leaders, including German Chancellor Angela Merkel, French President Francois

Hollande and British Deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg, attended the ceremony in theNorwegian capital Oslo.

Dec 12: The Indian Supreme Court has completely released Pakistani Biologist, Dr. KhalilChishti after being detained for 20 years in India for a fake murder case. Dr Chishti is firstvirologist of Pakistan. He had gone to India in 1992 to see his ailing mother where he wasimplicated in a murder case.China to open first subway train runs under river. Subway line of China to cross the Yangtze



River, the country's longest waterway, is expected to start test run this month in the centralcity of Wuhan

Harmony Foundation, a private organisation from Indian economic capital Mumbai, hadchosen Pakistani girl Malala Yousafzai for the award Mother Teresa Memorial Award for

Social Justice. Sevi Ali, a Pakistani actor of British origin received the award on behalf ofMalala. The National Assembly of Pakistan adopted a resolution on Monday Dec 10, to awardMalala the title of Daughter of Nation. She is also being nominated officially for the nextNobel Peace Prize.On19 November 2012, she awarded by World Peace and Prosperity Foundation for her braveryand commitment to education for girls in adverse conditions in Swat, Pakistan.

International Mountain Day was observed on 11th December worldwide.

Senator belonging to Pakistan People Party (PPP) Malik Salahuddin Dogar died in ShaikhZayed Hospital, Lahore on Saturday Dec 8. He was 70. Senator Dogar was suffering from

liver and abdominal diseases for one year. Dogar became member of Punjab assemblythrice and remained mayor of Multan once. Malik Salahuddin was defeated by MakhdoomJavaid Hashmi from NA 149 in 2008 general elections and than elected as senator on PPPticket in 2009.

MANILA: The death toll from the strongest Typhoon Bopha to hit the Philippines this yearhas topped more than 1,000 and could still rise sharply, the government said on SundayDec 16.

S.M. Masood, a veteran lawyer, founding member of PPP and close aide of Zulfiqar AliBhutto, died here on Friday Dec 14 at the age of 81. He was admitted to a hospital a few

days back with a complaint of chest infection. He was discharged after being recovered, buthad to visit the hospital again on Friday morning where he breathed his last.

The International Centre for Settlement of Investment Disputes (ICSID) has given a go-ahead to the Balochistan government and prominent nuclear scientist Dr SamarMubarakmand to carry out the mining and smelting project in Reko Diq area. The AdvocateGeneral of Balochistan, Amanullah Kinrani, told that the ICSID tribunal, which had reservedits ruling on Nov 6, released a 45-page unanimous decision allowing the provincialgovernment to carry out the mining activity.

The Khyber Pakhtunkhwa government will soon table a bill in the provincial assembly to fix

the minimum age for marriage at 18 years, said provincial social welfare and womenempowerment minister Sitara Ayaz. The statement came after speakers at a consultationvoiced concern about the growing number of child marriages in the country and demandedamendment to the law for increasing the minimum age for girls to marry from 16 years to18 years to contain the trend

Finally, Punjab government after a two-year delay has started work to lay down a new bluecoloured Astroturf at the National Hockey Stadium here on Friday Dec 14. "The laying of the



turf at the world's largest hockey stadium began here yesterday and continued even duringintermittent rains" said an official statement issued the Sports Board Punjab.

At least six people were killed, including a state governor, died in helicopter crash inNigeria. A navy helicopter crashed Saturday Dec 15 in the country s oil-rich southern delta,

killing a state governor and five other people, in the latest air disaster to hit most populousnation of Africa. Ruling party of Nigeria said in a statement that the governor of the centralNigerian state of Kaduna, Patrick Yakowa, died in the helicopter crash in Bayelsa state in theNiger Delta.

India retained Kabaddi World Cup title by beating Pakistan 59-22 in the final. India defeatedPakistan 59-22 to retain the men's title of the Kabaddi World Cup held at the Guru NanakStadium in Ludhiana on Saturday Dec 15.

Taliban attack on Peshawar airport leaves 5 dead. At least five people were killed and near40 injured after terrorists attacked the Bacha Khan International Airport here on Saturday

Dec 15.December 2012 Events:

Egypt's New Constitution Continues to Cause Unrest (Dec. 1): While the MuslimBrotherhood organize hundreds of thousands of supporters for Egyptian President MohamedMorsi at Cairo University, several thousand protestors rally in Tahrir Square to oppose thenew constitution. Despite the unrest, Morsi continues to move forward with the newconstitution, setting December 15th as the date for the national referendum on it.

As Fighting Continues, Syrian Merchants Attempt Peaceful Protest (Dec.

2): Throughout the country Syrian merchants close their shops as part of a nonviolentprotest movement called "Strike of Pride." Meanwhile, a car bomb in central Syria kills atleast 15 people and fighting in and around Damascus continues.

(Dec. 5): The U.S. confirms its support of the National Coalition of Syrian Revolutionaryand Opposition Forces when Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton speaks at a newsconference in Brussels. She says, "Now that there is a new opposition formed, we are goingto be doing what we can to support that opposition."

The World Reacts to Royal Baby News (Dec. 3): Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge, ishospitalized for a severe case of morning sickness. As soon as the news spreads that the

world's favorite royal couple is expecting much speculation begins over the unborn childwho will one day most likely ascend to the throne of England. During Kate Middleton'shospital stay, two Australian radio disc jockeys make a prank call to the hospital pretendingto be Queen Elizabeth and Prince Charles. The call is broadcast on the radio in Australia andlater around the world.

(Dec. 6): Kate Middleton is released from the hospital. She returns home to rest. The prankby the Australian D.J.'s turns tragic when Jacintha Saldanha, the nurse who took the call,



commits suicide. The police announce her death as "being treated as unexplained."However, the two D.J.'s are blamed on social media.

North Korea Successfully Launches Rocket (Dec. 12): North Korea's next attempt toput a satellite into orbit is not a failure. The successful launch of the rocket indicates that

the country is inching closer toward developing the expertise to build an intercontinentalballistic missile. It also boosts Kim Jong-un's credibility both domestically andinternationally, illustrating his seriousness in advancing the country's military capabilities.The launch takes the world by surprise and prompts a call for another round of sanctions.

December 2012 U.S. News

Republicans Counter Obama's Deficit Reduction Proposal (Dec. 3): Republicansrespond to President Obama's deficit reduction proposal with a plan of their own. Theirproposal is for a $2.2 trillion deficit decrease over the next ten years by cutting $1.2 trillionin spending and raising $800 billion in revenue. The revenue will come by limiting

deductions. Republicans also propose saving another $200 billion by changing the wayinflation is calculated. This will slow down benefit increases for social programs likeMedicare.

(Dec. 4): President Obama rejects the Republicans' proposal to avoid the rapidlyapproaching fiscal cliff. He tells them he will not agree to any proposal that does not includeincreases on tax rates for the wealthy.

(Dec. 9): President Obama meets privately with House Speaker John Boehner in anattempt to hammer out a deal and avert a fiscal crisis. Meanwhile, Republican Senator BobCorker, of Tennessee, says in a TV interview that a growing number of Republicans are

open to compromising on tax rates.

U.S. Supreme Court Will Hear Two Same-Sex Marriage Cases (Dec. 7): The U.S.Supreme Court agrees to hear two cases that challenge federal and state laws over theissue that marriage is defined only as a union between a man and a woman. One case, fromNew York, tackles the federal law that requires the U.S. government to deny all benefits tolesbian and gay couples who are married in states that allow same-sex unions. The secondcase is from California and the outcome will either reject or reaffirm the constitutional rightto same-sex marriage. Decisions on both cases are expected no later than June 2013.

Gunman Kills 26 at Elementary School (Dec. 14): Adam Lanza, age 20, forces his wayinto Sandy Hook Elementary School, in Newtown, Connecticut, and kills 26 people. Thevictims include 20 children between the ages of six and seven. Then Lanza takes his own lifewhile still inside the school. Before going to the school, Lanza shoots and kills his mother,Nancy Lanza, in the home they shared.

(Dec. 16): President Obama travels to Newtown. In a speech at the memorial service he



says, "No single law, no set of laws can eliminate evil from the world or prevent everysenseless act of violence in our society, but that can't be an excuse for inaction."

January 1 & 2, 2013

Armed conflicts and attacks

Syrian civil war:

Fierce clashes erupt near the Aleppo International Airport in the battle of Aleppo inSyria, with unconfirmed reports it has been temporarily closed. (BBC)

War in North-West Pakistan:

Gunmen kill five female teachers and two other people in an ambush on a vancarrying workers home from their jobs at a community center in KhyberPakhtunkhwa province, Pakistan. (AP) (BBC)

Colombian conflict:

13 FARC members are killed in an airstrike by the Colombian military. (BBC)

Nigerian Sharia conflict:

Nigeria's military kill 13 members of the Islamist militant group Boko Haram and loseone soldier in a gun battle in Maiduguri. (Reuters)

International relations

Argentina, Australia, Luxembourg, Rwanda and South Korea join the UN SecurityCouncil. (News24)

United Kingdom assumes presidency of G8 group. Next G8 summit is to be held onthe shores of Lough Erne in Northern Ireland in June 2013. (BBC)

Politics and elections

United States "fiscal cliff" debate :

The U.S. Senate bipartisanly approves a deal to avert general tax hikes and spendingcuts known as the "fiscal cliff". (BBC) (Reuters) (Fox News)

The U.S. House of Representatives approves the "fiscal cliff" deal, with RepublicanSpeaker of the House John Bohener breaking with his party to vote "yes". Before thevote took place, congressional members were unsure whether or not the deal wouldbe approved after House Majority Leader Eric Cantor announced his opposition to thedeal, and other House Republicans raised concerns about it. (CNN)



January 3, 2013 (Thursday)


Iraqi insurgency (post-U.S. withdrawal):

A suicide bombing in Mussayab kills 27 Shiite pilgrims and injures 60 others.(Reuters)

Mexican Drug War:

Mexican troops kill 12 alleged drug traffickers who opened fire at a checkpoint in LaEstación, Zacatecas. (BBC)

M23 rebellion:

The March 23 Movement in the Democratic Republic of Congo announces that peacetalks will only commence if President Joseph Kabila's government signs a ceasefire.(Reuters)

Arts and culture

Vladimir Putin, the President of Russia, grants Russian citizenship to GérardDepardieu who has renounced his French citizenship due to high taxes. (AFP via ABCNews)

Romanian film director, actor and politician Sergiu Nicolaescu dies at the age of 82after complications from surgery which led to cardiac arrest. (AAP via News Limited)

Business and economy

News channel Al Jazeera acquires Current TV from Al Gore and Joel Hyatt. (AP) Hormel is announced to be purchasing Skippy peanut butter from Unilever for $700

million. (MarketWatch) Starbucks plans to open a coffee shop in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam, expanding its

reach to 12 Asian nations. (The Globe and Mail) Subaru issues a recall for nearly 634,000 vehicles in the United States due to a

lighting problem. (The Detroit News)

International relations

The Prime Minister of the United Kingdom David Cameron say the future of theFalkland Islands is up to its inhabitants, not Argentina. His statement comes afterthe President of Argentina Cristina Fernández de Kirchner urged the prime ministerto abide by a 1965 UN resolution to "negotiate a solution" to the dispute. (BBC)



Law and crime

Police in India charge five men with the murder of a 23-year-old woman who wasgang-raped on a bus in Delhi on December 16, 2012. (BBC)

Politics and elections United States Congress:

The 113th United States Congress is sworn in, replacing the 112th Congress. (CNN) Republican Congressman John Boehner is re-elected Speaker of the House. (CNN)

Sports

A friendly match between A.C. Milan and Italian lower divison Pro Patria is suspendedafter Kevin-Prince Boateng and several other A.C. Milan were the target of racistschants by Pro Patria crowd. (BBC Sport)

January 4, 2013 (Friday)


Hundreds of thousands of people rally in Gaza in a show of unity between thegoverning Hamas, elected in 2006, and Fatah, in opposition since then. (BBC) (AlJazeera) (The Guardian)

Delhi gang rape:

Demonstrations against sexual violence spread across Asia and are now happening inNepal, Sri Lanka, Pakistan and Bangladesh. (The Guardian)

Syrian civil war:

9 people are killed by a car bomb at a petrol station in the Syrian capital ofDamascus. The bomb reportedly hit the Barzeh al-Balad district, as large numbers ofpeople were queuing for fuel. (BBC)

Police clash with demonstrators in Belfast over when the Union Flag is to be flownover their city hall. (BBC)

A gunman kills eight people in Kawit, the Philippines. (CNN)




January 5, 2013 (Saturday)

Disasters

2013 Tasmanian Bushfires: Thousands of people are stranded by four major firesburning out of control in the Australian state of Tasmania. (AAP via TV New Zealand)

Law and crime

The male friend of the Delhi gang-rape victim - the only witness in the case - onFriday spoke for the first time in front of the nation and exclusively told Zee Newsthat his friend was ―positive‖ and wanted to live even after the horrific incident thattook place on the night of December 16. (Zee News)

An armed standoff between a gunman and police leaves three hostages and theperpetrator dead in an Aurora, Colorado home. (CNN) (BBC) (Fox News)

January 6, 2013 (Sunday)


Syrian civil war:

The President of Syria Bashar al-Assad delivers a rare television appearanceaddressing the Syrian crisis and denounces the Syrian rebels as "enemies of God andpuppets of the West". It is his first television appearance since June 2012. (BBC)

A cross-border raid conducted by Indian troops in the disputed Kashmir regionresults in the death of one Pakistani soldier and another critically wounded, accordingto Pakistani reports. (AP via The Washington Post)

A drone attack conducted by the United States kills at least ten people (suspectedmilitants) in South Waziristan, Pakistan. (BBC)

Kachin conflict:

Kachin rebels claim the government has fired shells at the rebel de factoheadquarters of Laiza. (Washington Post)

Suicide bombers kill four in an attack in Spin Boldak, Afghanistan. (BBC) South Africa announces it will send 400 more soldiers to the Central African Republic

in an effort to assist the current regime, which faces a potential attack by the Selekarebel coalition on the capital. (BBC)


Mahmoud Abbas, the President of the Palestinian National Authority, orders that thewords "State of Palestine" be used on official documents. (BBC)



In the Netherlands, Gerard Helders who served as Minister of Colonial Affairs fromthe 1957 until 1959, the oldest known former politician in the world dies at the ageof 107. (NOS)

Sport

In ice hockey, the National Hockey League and the National Hockey League Players'Association reach an agreement that ends the 113-day lockout and averts thecancellation of the 2012-13 season. (Think Progress)

Technology And Electronics

At Apple, applications developers say they gave Apple plenty of warning about issueswith its iOS maps issues. (CNET)

January 7, 2013 (Monday)

Disasters

An explosion in a coal mine in the Turkish province of Zonguldak kills eight mineworkers. (Hürriyet Daily News)

Law and crime

A court in Delhi, India, charges five men with the murder of a 23-year-old womanwho was gang-raped on a bus in Delhi on December 16, 2012. (BBC)


U.S. President Barack Obama nominates PIAB Chairman Chuck Hagel to be the nextSecretary of Defense and HSC Advisor John O. Brennan to be the next Director of theCIA. (BBC)

Science

Scientists from the Harvard-Smithsonian Center for Astrophysics estimate that thereare at least 17 billion planets approximately the size of Earth in the Milky Way. (AP)

Sports

1. In association football, Lionel Messi of Argentina wins the FIFA Ballon d'Or as thebest player for a third consecutive time. Abby Wambach of the United States winsthe FIFA Women's World Player of the Year award, the first time in ten years that anAmerican has won the award. (ABC News Australia)



January 8, 2013 (Tuesday)

Activism

Bob Brown, former leader of the Australian Greens, becomes the President of theSea Shepherd Conservation Society leading the campaign against Japanese whalingin the Southern Ocean. (ABC News Australia)


Four are killed and a further four are wounded in a U.S. drone strike in NorthWaziristan, Pakistan. (AFP)

In a fifth night of protests in Belfast, protestors throw rocks, "missiles", and petrolbombs at police, with law enforcement responding with water cannons and plasticbullets. (BBC) The Malian army used artillery on Islamist rebels in Gnimignama in the first skirmishbetween the two belligerents since April 2012, when Islamist and Tuareg rebels firstassumed control of the region. (BBC)

India claims two of its soldiers have been killed during a gunfight with Pakistaniforces in the Indian-controlled portion of Kashmir. This report comes two days afterPakistan made a similar claim of the death of one of its troops due to an Indiancross-border operation in the disputed region. (Reuters)


AIG, the insurance giant that has recently paid the U.S. treasury back funds itreceived on "too big to fail" grounds in 2008, says that it may join a lawsuit againstthe U.S. for the supposedly harsh nature of the bailout terms. (Reuters)

Disasters

More than 130 wildfires are burning on the east coast of Australia with thousands ofpeople forced to leave their homes. (The Telegraph)

Law and crime

Death of Amy Winehouse: A new inquest begins into the death of British singer Amy Winehouse after it was

discovered that the original coroner was not qualified to conduct the inquiry. (AFP viaFrance 24)

A second inquiry into Winehouse's death concludes that the singer died of alcoholpoisoning. (CNN)

An Illinois man is killed by cyanide poisoning after winning the lottery. (CNN)



Politics and government

The Venezuelan government announces that Hugo Chávez is in stable condition, andis still receiving medical treatment for a respiratory infection. (Huffington Post)

Roberto Maroni announces that an electoral pact signed between his Lega Nord partyand Silvio Berlusconi's People of Freedom party explicitly rules out Berlusconiassuming the prime minister position again. (BBC)

January 9, 2013 (Wednesday)

Armed conflicts and attacks Syrian civil war:

Forty-eight Iranians who were kidnapped by Free Syrian Army rebels in the capitalDamascus in August 2012 are released in exchange for 2,130 prisoners held by theSyrian government. (BBC)


James M. Buchanan, who won the Nobel Memorial Prize in Economic Sciences in1986 for his role in developing public choice theory, dies in the American town ofBlacksburg, Virginia. (AAP via News Limited)

AIG announces that it will not join a lawsuit against the U.S. government over the2008 bailout. (CNN)

Disasters

A SeaStreak ferry travelling to Lower Manhattan, New York City, crashes into thedock, injuring 85 people. (CNN)

Law and crime

Retired British businessman Christopher Tappin is sentenced to 33 months in prisonby a U.S. court after pleading guilty to selling weapon parts to Iran. (BBC)


U.S. Secretary of Labor Hilda Solis announces her resignation from the position, andis expected to step down some time around the presidential inauguration in lateJanuary. (CNN)

The Venezuelan Supreme Tribunal of Justice rules that the latest inauguration ofPresident Hugo Chávez can be deferred while his recovery continues from a canceroperation. (Reuters)



Sport

In baseball, no candidates were elected to the National Baseball Hall of Fame for thefirst time since 1996, with some candidates such as Barry Bonds and Roger Clemensperforming poorly due to allegations of steroid use. (The New York Times)

In ice hockey the Board of Governors of the National Hockey League unanimouslyapproves the new CBA between the league and the National Hockey League Players'Association. Pending approval of the CBA by the players' association, the league willplay a shortened 48-game season beginning January 19. (ESPN)

January 10, 2013 (Thursday)


Twin bombings at a billiard hall in the southwestern Pakistani city of Quetta kill atleast 81 people and wound up to 120 others, hours after a bombing at a market areakilled 11 people in the same city. (BBC)

Police in France discover the bodies of Sakine Cansız, one of the co -founders of theKurdistan Workers' Party, and two other Kurdish activists who were all shot dead in aKurdish information center in the capital, Paris. (BBC)

2012– 2013 Northern Mali conflict: Islamists capture the town of Konna, previouslyheld by the Malian army. (Reuters)

Law and crime

April Casburn, a senior detective with the Metropolitan Police is found guilty of tryingto sell information on the investigation into phone hacking to the News of the World,the newspaper at the centre of the scandal. (BBC)

A gunman opened fire inside a classroom of Taft Union High School in Taft,California. A 16-year-old student was critically wounded, and another student wasshot at but was not injured. The gunman surrendered after the classroom's teacherordered him to drop his weapon. The teacher also suffered minor injuries after beingstruck by a shotgun pellet. A 16-year-old student, the suspected gunman, wasarrested. (CNN)


U.S. President Barack Obama nominates White House Chief of Staff Jack Lew to bethe next Secretary of the Treasury. (ABC News)

Science



Near-earth asteroid 99942 Apophis passes close to the Earth with observations byEuropean astronomers estimating that it is larger than previously thought. (CBSNews)

Sport

Researchers confirm that deceased NFL linebacker Junior Seau's suicide was broughton by chronic traumatic encephalopathy. (ESPN)

January 11, 2013 (Friday)


Syrian civil war: Rebel forces take over the strategic Taftanaz airbase in northernSyria. (USA Today)

Arts and culture

The first official portrait of the Duchess of Cambridge, painted by Paul Emsley isunveiled to a mixed reception from critics. (BBC)

Disasters

18 people die after a landslide buries a village in the Yunnan province of China, while40 people are feared to be buried. (BBC)

29 people die and 12 people are injured after a bus veers off a mountain road inDoti, Nepal. (BBC)

A fire sweeps through a complex containing housing for foreign workers in Manama,Bahrain, leaving 13 foreign nationals dead. (BBC)

Law and crime

The Metropolitan Police and NSPCC have confirmed 214 separate sexual offencescommitted by Jimmy Savile over a period of fifty years. (BBC)

Three people are injured after a hostage situation takes place in a Nordstrom Rackchain in the neighborhood of Westchester in Los Angeles, California. (Los AngelesTimes)


The Parliament of Sri Lanka passes an impeachment motion against Chief JusticeShirani Bandaranayake. (BBC)



January 12, 2013 (Saturday)

Armed conflicts

Northern Mali conflict:

A French pilot is killed in a helicopter raid in northern Mali, according to FrenchMinister of Defence Jean-Yves Le Drian. (CNN)

One French soldier and 17 militants are killed in a failed attempt to free a Frenchhostage in Bulo Marer, Somalia. (France 24)

Climbing & exploratio n

The funeral of Ian McKeever, who was killed by a lightning strike on MountKilimanjaro, occurs in County Wicklow, Ireland. (RTÉ News)

Disasters

The death toll in landslides in the province of Yunnan, China rises to 46, according tostate media. (BBC News)

Health and environment

Beijing's air pollution reaches levels judged as hazardous to human health. (BBCNews)

Politics & elections

Thousands of people gather in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, for the People's UprisingRally, a protest over many government policies and decisions. (News Straits Times)

Sport

In ice hockey, the National Hockey League Players' Association overwhelmingly votesto ratify a new collective bargaining agreement reached with the league. NHLtraining camps are scheduled to open on January 13, with a shortened 48-gameregular season to begin on January 19. (ESPN)



January 13, 2013 (Sunday)


Neelie Kroes, the European Commissioner for Digital Agenda, said in an interviewwith the Financial Times of London that the European Union is planning regulatorymoves later in the year that will facilitate consolidation of the telecommunicationsmarket across national borders. (Financial Times)


Sri Lankan Chief Justice Shirani Bandaranayake is removed from office by PresidentMahinda Rajapaksa after being impeached. (BBC News)

January 14, 2013 (Monday)

Armed Conflicts

Syrian civil war:

Government forces conduct air raids against rebels south of Damascus, as well as inAleppo, with local observers reporting dozens of deaths, including children. (AlJazeera)

At least 57 countries submit a petition to the UN Security Council, calling on it torefer the conflict to the International Criminal Court for a pending war crimesinvestigation. (Al Jazeera)

Northern Mali conflict:

Islamists rebels capture the Malian town of Diabaly after fierce fighting withgovernment troops, as French airplanes strike targets in Gao. (Reuters)

Kachin conflict:

Myanmar government forces shell the rebel stronghold of Laiza for the first timesince the resumption of hostilities in 2011, killing 3 civilians and injuring 6 others. (AlJazeera)

2011 – present Libyan factional fighting:

A police officer is wounded after a grenade attack in Benghazi, as Italy announcesthe temporary withdrawal of the country's consulate in the city after an unsuccessfulattack against the consul two days earlier. (Reuters)




British music retailer HMV goes into administration, becoming the UK's latest largeemployer to experience financial hardship. (BBC)


Former US President George H.W. Bush is released from a Houston hospital aftermore than seven weeks of treatment for bronchitis. (Reuters)

January 15, 2013 (Tuesday)


Syrian civil war:

82 people are killed and dozens injured in twin blasts at Aleppo University, asgovernment forces and rebels continue fighting in the suburbs of Damascus. (Timesof India) (Reuters)

Northern Mali conflict (2012 – present):

African troops are to be deployed in Mali to fight alongside French and Maliansoldiers within a week. (Al Jazeera)

Iraqi insurgency (post-U.S. withdrawal):

A suicide bomber kills a Sunni MP and six others in Fallujah, two days after FinanceMinister Rafi al-Issawi survived an assassination attempt in the same city. Theparlamentarian, Ifan Saadoun al-Issawi, was an important member of the Sahwacommittee in Fallujah and part of the opposition to Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki.(AP) (Al Jazeera)

Kashmir conflict:

Pakistan claims another of its soldiers is killed from gunfire by Indian troops near theLine of Control. This is the fifth such fatality reported in the past two weeks fromeither of the neighboring countries who each claim the disputed territory. (Reuters)

Accidents and disasters

Badrashin railway accident: A train carrying Egyptian Army recruits derails near Giza,Greater Cairo, killing 19 and injuring 120 others. (Reuters) (Al Jazeera) (ABC News)



A janitor steals a Saltsjöbanan commuter train and crashes it into a residentialbuilding in the upscale Stockholm suburb of Saltsjöbaden. (Dagens Nyheter)

Law and crime

Egyptian human rights lawyer Ahmed al-Gizawi is sentenced to five yearsimprisonment and 300 lashes in Saudi Arabia. (BBC)

Two people are shot dead and another person was wounded at Hazard Communityand Technical College in Hazard, Kentucky. (Kentucky.com)


Pakistani Supreme Court ordered the arrest of Prime Minister Raja Pervez Ashraf inrelation to a bribery case within 24 hours.(The Washington Post)

Sport Paul McGinley is chosen to lead Europe in their defence of the 2014 Ryder Cup at

Gleneagles in Perthshire. (RTÉ Sport) The Associated Press reports that the U.S. cyclist Lance Armstrong has admitted to

doping in his career during his interview with Oprah Winfrey, yet to be aired.

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