2015 Event Iraqi Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi gains parliamentary approval for his proposed reforms to fight corruption and reduce government spending; the measures include eliminating certain government positions and reexamining closed corruption cases 2015 Event Greece continues negotiations with its creditors after refusing proposed austerity measures; however, the Greek government proposal includes reforms similar to those rejected by voters in a recent referendum 2015 Event Officials at the World Health Organization state that the number of new Ebola cases is rapidly declining, signaling a reversal of the epidemic; however, preventive measures and safety protocols are still needed in Ebola-infected nations 2015 Event The European Central Bank will initiate a quantitative easing program that will involve printing euros in order to purchase government-issued debt instruments; the program will enhance existing measures to improve the economy within the eurozone 2014 Event The G-20 summit in Australia ends with a commitment by leaders of the 20 nations to take steps to raise their collective GDP by $2 trillion over the next four years; critics say that proposed measures are not specific enough to achieve this goal 2014 Event The Federal Reserve will continue its current program of slow withdrawal of economic stimulus measures, as U.S. unemployment and underemployment numbers have not improved quickly enough to warrant a change in policy 2014 Event U.S. President Barack Obama requests $2 billion for emergency measures to address illegal immigration and enhance security at the border with Mexico; thousands of children have been caught in the last 8 months crossing the border without adults 2014 Event Beijing issues air pollution warnings, advising limited outdoor activity as particulate concentration (PM 2.5) measures 309, over 12 times the World Health Organization standard 2014 Event A second dwarf planet is discovered between the Oort cloud and the Kuiper belt, an area previously considered a no-man's land; the planet, 2012 VP-113, measures about 280 miles across; the first, Sedna, about 600 miles across, was discovered in 2003 2013 Event The IMF tells Germany now to impose austerity measures that are too harsh, and that they must be prepared to miss their deficit reduction target if Greece needs extra stimulus 2013 Event In Greece, new austerity measures prompt the unions to call for a general strike 2013 Event In Rome, one hundred thousand protestors rally against their new government's austerity measures, and demand a new policy focused on job creation 2012 Event Several European countries protest against unemployment and austerity measures; Spain and Portugal hold the largest protests, with Greece, Italy and Belgium holding smaller ones 2012 Event In Greece, trade unions call a general strike as they continue their protest against austerity measures 2012 Event The United Kingdom's government announces it will introduce a consultation process on internet measures which require online users to opt-in if they want to view adult content 2012 Event In Portugal, trade unions hold a 24-hour strike to protest austerity measures 2012 Event Hundreds of thousands of people protest against austerity measures in Portugal's capital of Lisbon 2011 Event Italian Prime Minister Mario Monti's proposed austerity measures are debated by the Italian senate 2010 Event The 2011 draft budget for Greece increases its austerity measures 1988 Event Spanish General strike to protest austerity measures 1985 Event International Cometary Explorer measures solar wind ahead of Halley 1958 Event Navy launches Vanguard 1 into orbit (2nd U.S.), measures Earth shape 1942 Event Los Angeles Times urges security measures against Japanese-Americans 1941 Event 1st anti semitic measures in Serbia 1941 Event 1st anti-Jewish measures in Bulgaria 1928 Event Fathometer, which measures underwater depth, patented 1920 Event F Pease's interferometer measures 1st stellar diameter (Betelgeuse) 1875 Event International Bureau of Weights and Measures forms by treaty 1873 Event American Metrological Society forms (New York City) weights, measures and money 1839 Event Thomas Henderson measures 1st stellar parallax (Alpha Centauri) 1832 Event Gerrit Moll measures noise of guns 1799 Event Congress standardizes U.S. weights and measures
