July 8, 2004

US Marine Corporal Wassef Ali Hassoun appears unharmed at the US Embassy in Beirut. Hassoun disappeared from his unit in Iraq on June 21, and was incorrectly reported as having been beheaded by the group that captured him. The United States Navy has launched an investigation into the incident. (Reuters) (BBC)
Mexico and Venezuela become associate members of Mercosur (the Southern Common Market). (BBC)
The Republic of China Defense Ministry reveals that the Chiang family has asked that Chiang Kai-shek and Chiang Ching-kuo both be buried in the Wu Chih-shan Military Cemetery in Taipei County. The state burial is scheduled for Spring 2005. (Taiwan News)(Reuters)
India presents its national budget, raising its defence expenditure. (Rediff India)