Portal:Current events/2007 October 22

Current events of October 22, 2007 (2007-10-22) (Monday)

France and Morocco agree to a deal to build a high-speed rail link between Tangiers and Marrakech. (BBC) The Kurdistan Workers Party declares a unilateral ceasefire following an attack on Turkish forces. (CNN) The President of the United States George W. Bush asks the United States Congress for $189.3 billion to fund the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan. (Reuters via ABC) Al-Jazeera broadcasts an audiotape purporting to be from Osama bin Laden calling on Al-Qaeda in Iraq and other Sunni militants to unite forces. (CNN) An investigation concludes pilot error caused the crash of Garuda Indonesia Flight 200 on March 7, killing 21 people. (See report) California wildfires of October 2007: At least a dozen wildfires burning throughout Southern California force the evacuations of more than 250,000 residents. (LA Times) The Governor of California Arnold Schwarzenegger orders the deployment of 1500 California National Guard members to help fight the fires. (Agence France Press via News Limited) More than 600 homes are destroyed in the fires. (AFP, AP via Sydney Morning Herald) Joaquim Chissano wins the inaugural Prize for Achievement in African Leadership for "his role in leading Mozambique from conflict to peace and democracy." (AP via CNN) (BBC) Georgia and Slovakia offer to send troops to support the Australian/Dutch taskforce in the south of the Afghanistan as the Dutch government is under pressure to reduce troops. (The Age) The Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) demands general elections in Pakistan in two months time. Voters in Fakaofo go to the polls for the Tokelauan self-determination referendum. (AFP via Herald Sun) The United States dollar reaches a new record low against the euro, which is traded at $1.4348. (BBC) The 2007 Kyrgyzstani constitutional referendum is approved by about 75% of voters. President of Kyrgyzstan Kurmanbek Bakiyev dissolves the parliament and announces a snap legislative election will take place in December 2007, which he will contest with his newly founded party Ak Zhol. (BBC) At least 25 killed when Tamil Tiger fighters attack a Sri Lankan air force base in the Anuradhapura district with heavy fighting reported. (Reuters via News Limited) Four new members join the Politburo Standing Committee of the Communist Party of China, China's de facto top power organ. They are Xi Jinping, Li Keqiang, He Guoqiang and Zhou Yongkang. President Hu Jintao and Premier Wen Jiabao retain their seats. (BBC)