Iraq — Summer 2005
Iraq’s Shiite majority and Kurdish and Sunni minorities were forced to work together to make a constitution. The Assembly, which was elected earlier this year with widespread Sunni electoral boycotts, has repeatedly extended the deadline for the constitution. Some difficult issues it faces are the extent of religious authority in society and the power of the central government versus regional government. The Shiites want a southern region established so that they can control most of the oil. Currently, the former Baathists (the Sunnis who were in charge under Sadaam), are banned from the government, so the Sunnis are afraid of being left out. The streets are filled with demonstrators that could easily turn violent. The Sunnis have refused to accept the latest constitution draft, which has the Bush administration worried because they need the constitution to work so that the US can eventually pull out of Iraq.

Niger — Summer 2005
In one of the world’s poorest countries, more than 3.6 million people are in immediate danger of starvation. This crisis has recently gotten worse, finally getting the attention of the rest of the world. It is not lack of food, but the inability to afford it, that is the problem’s root. The famine is blamed on the government policy that is moving Niger towards a free market without price controls, as well the influence of selfish Western culture that erases the traditional values of generosity.

London — July 7
Soon after London was awarded the 2012 Olympic Games, a coordinated terrorist attack bombed three underground trains and a bus, killing 52 and injuring hundreds. Two weeks later there was another attempted attack that was foiled. Police are still arresting suspects.

Sudan — July 31
The Sudanese rebel leader John Garang, who became vice-president only three weeks before, died in an allegedly accidental helicopter crash. The death of the popular leader is a crisis for Sudan’s peace process.

Venezuela — August
Venezuela is the fifth largest oil exporter in the world. The socialist President Hugo Chavez is openly anti-Bush and is constantly clashing with US officials. Venezuela is creating closer relationships with China and other Asian countries to make alternative oil markets to the US, its number-one buyer. Its biggest new client is China.

China — August
The US felt threatened when the Chinese oil company Cnooc made a bid on the American company Unocal. Chevron’s allies in Congress interfered, claiming that international security was at stake. The Chinese bid fell through, and Chevron ended up getting Unocal for $18 billion. US oil companies are now wondering if this interference in free trade will create problems for them in the future.

Israel — August
The Israeli government and military pulled Jewish settlers out of the Gaza Strip, which Israel has been occupying since it took the chunk of land from the Palestinians in the 1967 Six Day War. The Gaza Strip has been a hot spot in the Mideast conflict, and many nations around the world are commending Israel for the withdrawal.

Saudi Arabia — August 1
King Fahd, 84, died and was succeeded by his half-brother, Crown Prince Abdullah, who has been ruling the country for the past decade as the king’s health deteriorated. King Fahd was an important US ally, and the new leadership does not appear to be changing its policy towards the US.

Texas — August 4
Cindy Sheehan’s son, 24, was killed in Iraq. Ms. Sheehan has since been camping out near President Bush’s ranch in Crawford, Texas, and has been joined by others who are opposed to the war and Bush’s policies.

New York — August 12
We’ve all been moaning about the cost of filling up the tank. The price for a September delivery of oil closed on the 12th at just under $67 a barrel, a record high. The price has increased by ten dollars in the past month

Cuba — August 13
Cuba celebrated Fidel Castro’s 79th birthday. Castro is the longest-ruling head of government in the world. Cuba is currently one of five communist states. (The others are Vietnam, Laos, China, and North Korea.)