Security Council in Nairobi , Kenya , the government of Sudan and southern rebels sign an agreement which states that both sides will commit themselves to ending the 21 year conflict by December 31 . The Council then unanimously passes a resolution which promises substantial aid to the country after the wars in the south and In The Region Of Darfur come to an end. (Reuters)
Chen Shui-bian says information provided by his government helped Japan locate a Chinese nuclear submarine in Japanese waters a week ago. The PRC expressed "regret" after the incident. (VOA)
has been too tolerant to intolerant people for too long, we should not import a retarded political Islam ic society to our country". (NYT)
United States Congress : The U.S. Congress has passed a bill reinstating and extending a ban on taxation of internet access for another three years. (Reuters)
Russia announces it will sell off the main production unit of Yukos , the energy company seized last year for supposedly failing to pay taxes. (BBC)
The U.S.U.S. Congress raises the National Debt ceiling by USD 800 billion to a total of USD 8.18 trillion. This makes the new borrowing cap 30% higher than the debt Bush inherited, and 70% of the size of the U.S. economy. (CNN)(Debt Clock)
In Auburn Hills, Michigan , members of the NBAIndiana Pacers and Detroit Pistons engage in an ugly brawl involving players and spectators. Ron Artest of the Pacers initiated the conflict with fans when he entered the crowd at the Palace Of Auburn Hills after a fan threw a bottle at him. The game was postponed with 45 Second s remaining. Artest was suspended for the rest of the season, while several members of both teams were suspended by the league for their involvement. See also The Malice At The Palace .
--- U.S. Military officials report that 102 soldiers, 85% of which are serving in Iraq , Kuwait and Afghanistan , have contracted a rather rare blood infection by Acinetobacter Baumannii . Military investigators say there is no evidence of biochemical agents in the infection which surfaces occasionally in unsanitary hospitals, but that some soldiers were arriving with infections. (CNN)
--- World Vision , one of the last aid agencies left in Iraq , announces it will pull its staff out of the country following the murder of its senior manager. (BBC)
--- In Baghdad , two people are killed when clashes break out as Iraqi forces backed by U.S. troops enter a popular SunniMosque to arrest dozens of members reportedly including the Imam . (BBC)
