Hamas rocket attacks on Southern Israel answered with air strikes in 22 days of war. This conflict ends with a cease-fire and the Israeli forces withdrawal from Gaza.
North Korea conducts a second successful nuclear test.
The Icelandic government and banking system collapses amid the “Pots and Pans” protests by the citizens.
The Australian Prime Minister formally apologies to the Stolen Generations: children of Aboriginal descent who were removed from their families to work for white families. In Canada, there are apologies to the indigenous First Nations for the removal of their children to Indian Residential schools.
Benazir Bhutto of Pakistan, first woman elected (1988, 1993) Prime Minister in a Muslim country, is assassinated by an al-Qaeda militant in Rawalpindi during a welcome home rally after serving in exile.
Global financial crisis is triggered by the collapse of US housing market and mortgage banking crisis.
The Kyoto Protocol goes into effect, affirming climate change and committing the 192 signature nations to reducing greenhouse gas emissions. US does not ratify.
Egypt holds its first multiparty presidential elections: Israel demolishes settlements on the West Bank and withdraws their army from Gaza Strip.
President George W. Bush is reelected; Barack Obama wins an Illinois Senate seat.
Chechen suicide bombers, protesting Russian domination of their oil-rich land and assassination of two leaders, explode two aircraft leaving Moscow airport liking all aboard both planes.
US leads invasion of Iraq, but no “Weapons of Mass Destruction” are found. Saddam Hussain is captured. President Bush and the U.S. intelligence is widely criticized in massive anti-war demonstrations.
British al-Quada convert, Richard Reid, the 2001 “Shoe Bomber”, pleads guilty. (Subdued, the Miami-Paris flight had returned to Logan Airport in Boston.)
When a vote is taken in Gibraltar, the citizens reject Spanish sovereignty to remain a British Overseas Territory.
