July 7, 2005

July 7 2005 (Thursday)

* 7 July 2005 London bombings: Four explosions are reported on the London Underground and bus system, leading to the entire transport network being shut down. A previously unheard-of splinter group of al-Qaeda has claimed responsibility, though their involvement has not yet been verified. The attacks have left at least 50 people dead and roughly 700 others injured. [http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/london/4659093.stm (BBC (1))] [http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/4661059.stm (BBC (2))]
* Malta becomes the 12th European Union member to ratify the EU constitution and the first to do so unanimously. [http://www.di-ve.com/dive/portal/portal.jhtml?id=190152 (di-ve)]
*In the Philippines, president Gloria Arroyo asks all the members of her cabinet to resign. [http://www.channelnewsasia.com/stories/afp_asiapacific/view/156736/1/.html (Channel News Asia)]
* The United States raises the terror level from code yellow to code orange for mass transit systems in response to the London bombings. [http://www.guardian.co.uk/worldlatest/story/0,1280,-5125518,00.html (Guardian)] [http://www.emergencyemail.org/homeland2005.asp (EmergencyEmail)] [http://www.cnn.com/2005/US/07/07/us.response/index.html (CNN)]
*Egypt confirms its most senior envoy to Iraq, Ihab al-Sherif, has been killed after being kidnapped last week. A group related to Abu Musab al-Zarqawi has claimed responsibility. [http://www.cnn.com/2005/WORLD/meast/07/07/iraq.main/index.html (CNN)] [http://www.guardian.co.uk/worldlatest/story/0,1280,-5125727,00.html (Guardian)]
* Researchers halt a study in Africa after results indicate that circumcised men are 70% less likely to contract AIDS. The study will be presented at the Third International AIDS Society Conference on HIV Pathogenesis and Treatment later this month. Meanwhile, others argue that ritual circumcision "increases" the risk of infection because of poor sanitary conditions. [http://www.advocate.com/news_detail.asp?id=18608 (Advocate)] [http://allafrica.com/stories/200507070803.html (AllAfrica)]
* The Brazilian congress announces a referendum on banning firearms sales. [http://www.alertnet.org/thenews/newsdesk/N07276472.htm (Reuters AlertNet)]
* In Turkey, a land mine placed on the tracks derails a freight train. There are no reports of casualties. [http://www.ntvmsnbc.com/news/332265.asp (NTV-MSNBC)] [http://www.alertnet.org/thenews/newsdesk/L07713234.htm (Reuters AlertNet)]
* In Hungary, a hoaxed bomb threat forces evacuation of three shopping malls. [http://www.pestiside.hu/archives/big_bomb_scare_turns_out_to_be_dud000995.php (Pestiside.Hu)] [http://today.reuters.com/news/newsArticle.aspx?type=worldNews&storyID=2005-07-07T170417Z_01_N07661878_RTRIDST_0_INTERNATIONAL-HUNGARY-THREAT-DC.XML (Reuters)]
* In Mexico, the city of Nuevo Laredo chooses Omar Pimentel as the new chief of police. When gangsters assassinated the previous chief a month ago, Mexican federal police occupied the city and arrested the whole police force for investigation. [http://www2.eluniversal.com.mx/pls/impreso/noticia.html?id_nota=11132&tabla=miami (El Universal)] [http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/americas/4658713.stm (BBC)]

42 Iraqis reported killed in insurgency-related violence67 people reported injured in four bombings - three in the northern town of Hawija and one in Baghdad3 US soldiers killed, 1 foreign hostage take40 foreign hostages believed to be alive in detention20 suspected insurgents captured in Tal Afar8,000 Iraqi troops, 30,000 US troops operating in Baghdad1,800,000 barrels of oil produced25 percent of Iraqis completely dependent on government food hand-outs50 percent of Iraqis with no access to safe drinking water.