Portal:Current events/2007 September 27

September 27, 2007 (Thursday)

The Corruption Perceptions Index, a survey by Transparency International, is conducted into the most and least corrupt countries in the world, ranking 180 countries. (Wikinews) (Globe and Mail)
Israeli forces pull back from the Northern Gaza Strip after a two day raid that was prompted by the firing of Qassam rockets and mortar shells into Israel. The raid left 11 Palestinians, including civilians and members of Hamas and the Army of Islam, dead and 20 wounded. (NYT)
The spacecraft Dawn is launched by NASA on a mission to explore mainbelt asteroids Vesta and Ceres. (Spaceflightnow.com)
South Africa's National Prosecuting Authority issues an arrest warrant for Interpol chief Jackie Selebi. (BBC)
2007 Atlantic hurricane season: Lorenzo strengthens into a hurricane and makes landfall on Mexico's Gulf coast. (AP via Google News)^{[permanent dead link‍]}
The Third Circuit Court of Appeal in the U.S. state of Louisiana rules that Mychal Bell should not have been tried as an adult in the Jena Six case, and he is released on a $45,000 bail bond. (Reuters)
Donor countries promise $9.7 billion to The Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria. (Reuters)^{[permanent dead link‍]}
Four employees of the International Red Cross, including two foreigners, are abducted in Afghanistan's Wardak province. (BBC)
President of Pakistan Pervez Musharraf files nomination for the upcoming Pakistan Presidential Election to be held on October 6, 2007 election without his army rank. (Reuters)
A new round of talks aimed at ending North Korea's nuclear program starts in Beijing. (BBC)
2007 Burmese anti-government protests:
- According to sources close to the military, Senior General Than Shwe is now directly commanding soldiers after several commanders refused to use force to crack down on protesters. (Mizzima News)
- There are unconfirmed reports that Than Shwe's family is fleeing to a foreign country. A chartered Air Bagan flight carrying eight special passengers landed in Vientiane, Laos, at 6pm (local time). (Mizzima News)
- China, one of Myanmar's few allies, calls for restraint for the first time. (Reuters)
- Nine people are killed and 11 injured when junta security forces open fire on an anti-government demonstration in Yangon. Among the dead is a Japanese journalist. (Reuters) (Times of India) (CNN)
- Burmese security forces raid several Buddhist monasteries arresting hundreds of the Buddhist monks who have led the protests. (BBC) (AP and Reuters via Sydney Morning Herald)