Current Events for the Week of 26 September 2011

Current Events for Monday, 26 September 2011

Afghan employee of U.S. government opens-fire in U.S. Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) “office” in Kabul, kills one and injures another
Global stocks fall to 14-month low, euro (€) to 10-month low on Eurozone fears
Several hundred protesters descend on Wall Street
European Central Bank (ECB) Executive Board Member José Manuel González Paramo: ECB undecided on length of debt-buying program
Russian Finance Minister Alexei Kudrin: saving Greece from default would benefit Eurozone, ease threat facing Italy, Spain
German Chancellor Angela Merkel pushes for permanent Eurozone bailout fund for early 2012
International gold prices slump over $100 per ounce, drive investors into “safer” securities
International Monetary Fund (IMF) Managing-Director Christine Lagarde: IMF may not have enough money to bailout Eurozone if financial crisis spreads
Syrian tanks bombard key central town of al-Rastan
Delhi Metro becomes world’s first railway network to earn U.N. carbon credits for helping to reduce greenhouse gas emissions
More than two million affected by monsoon flooding in Indian states of Bihar, Orissa, Uttar Pradesh
The Boeing Company delivers first Dreamliner 787 to Japanese airline
Saudi King Abdullah bin Abdul-Aziz Al Saud proclaims women the right to vote in most drastic democratizing step
Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas: no talks with Israel unless they agree to unilateral freeze of West Bank settlement building
U.S. National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA): Upper Atmosphere Research Satellite (UARS) debris may never be found
Yemeni President Ali Abdullah Saleh makes no pledge to step-down, calls for early elections, but violence rages
Two American hikers jailed in Iran for the last two years speak-out about their time in-proison
Florida Republican straw poll gives former Godfather’s Pizza chief executive officer (CEO) Herman Cain upset win over Texas Governor Rick Perry (R.)
Libyan National Transitional Council (NTC) claims to have uncovered mass grave of 1,270 prisoners unlawfully put to death by ousted leader Muammar al-Gaddafi in 1996
Massive Chilean blackout paralyzes copper mines
Pakistani Prime Minister Yousaf Raza Gillani fires-back at American accusations over Directorate for Inter-Services Intelligence’s (ISI) connection with Haqqani Network
U.N. Security Council (UNSECO) takes-up Palestinian bid for statehood, decision expected in weeks
Italian prosecutors demand life-in-prison for American Amanda Knox, convicted of killing her roommate in 2009
U.S. President Barack Obama’s (D.) stump speeches have begun to connect economic recovery with education
Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin ends months of speculation, announces he will run for president in next March’s elections
Microsoft founder, American billionaire Bill Gates announces support for so-called Tobin Tax on international currency transactions
French President Nicolas Sarközy’s conservative government loses majority in Sénat
Mutilated body of Primera Hora editor-in-chief Maria Elizabeth Macias Castro found in Nuevo Laredo
Barcelona’s final bull fight
Purported U.S. unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV, “drone”) attack hits suspected al-Qaeda camp in Kismayo, Somalia
Kenyan distance runner Patrick Makau breaks Ethiopian Haile Gebrselassie’s mens marathon world record with a time of 2:03:28 in Berlin
Thirteen suspected Islamic militants, two Filippino soldiers killed in clash
At least 10 killed, nearly 100 wounded in multiple bomb attacks on government office in Karbala
At least one killed, some 20 wounded in suicide bomb attack at Indonesian church
U.S. Department of State: U.S. considering lift of “terror” tag on Iranian group Mujahideen-e Khalq (MEK)
Venezuelan opposition politician Leopoldo López Mendoza announces his intent to oppose President Hugo Chávez in election after Inter-American Human Rights Court rules his right to stand
The World Bank announces $2 billion increase in drought emergency funding for Horn of Africa
Indigenous protesters in Bolivian Amazon force through police blockage using Foreign Minister David Choquehuanca as hostage
Turkey announces seizure of Syrian arms shipment
European Organization for Nuclear Research (CERN) scientists announce possible discovery of faster-than-light neutrinos
U.S. National Basketball Association (NBA) players, owners fail to come to contract agreement, training camps and 43 pre-season games canceled
London Mayor Boris Johnson expresses concern over mobile, wireless network capabilities during 2012 Olympic Summer Games
U.S. Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) claims to have arrested one of the key members of Lulz Security (LulzSec)
Modern Family beats X-Factor in viewership ratings
Zambian President Rupiah Banda concedes defeat to Michael Sata
Former Massachusetts Governor Mitt Romney (R.) bests Governor Perry in Mackinac straw poll with 51% to Perry’s 17%
New Jersey court rules Olympian Carl Lewis not allowed on ballot
Hilton Hotels Inc.: auditors incorrectly read invoice for $16 muffins

Current Events for Tuesday, 27 September 2011

World stocks rise, European shares jump 2% on hopes of Eurozone bailout
U.S. President Obama’s West Coast swing shows poll numbers not hurting fundraising
UNSECO formally receives Palestinian bid for statehood Monday
U.S. Senate approves stop-gap compromise bill to avoid government shutdown 79-12
U.S. Secretary of the Treasury Timothy Geithner touts Obama administration’s jobs plan in Kentucky visit
New Jersey Governor Chris Christie (R.) travels the nation raising money for Republican candidates, New Jersey Lieutenant Governor Kim Guadagno (R.) adamantly denies he is considering a run for the presidency
The story that won’t die: former IMF Managing-Director, French politician Dominique Strauss-Kahn’s legal team makes argument for dismissal of New York case on diplomatic immunity grounds
Russian Finance Minister Alexei Kudrin ousted over bitter public conflict with Russian President Dmitry Medvedev
U.S. Department of Commerce: new home sales fall to six-month-low in August
Berkshire Hathaway Inc. announces share buy-back to ease investors’ concerns its stock is undervalued
Moody’s Investors Service (Moody’s): U.S. President Obama’s debt reduction plan would help U.S. economy, unlikely to pass U.S. Congress
French banking sector sees government bailout on the horizon
Libyan NTC readies for final push into Gaddafi hometown of Sirte
German Chancellor Merkel, Greek Prime Minister George Papandreou to meet in Berlin, discuss financial crisis
Amnesty International accuses southern Thai insurgents of deliberately targeting civilians
Japanese Finance Minister Jun Azumi: Japan considering role in Greek bailout
Egyptian oil pipeline to Israel, Jordan attacked again
Powerful Typhoon Nesat hits Philippines, triggers massive flooding and landslides
Eastman Kodak Company shares drop 25% after company announces plan to borrow $160 million for “general corporate purposes”
South Korea looking to increase spending in bid to boost job creation, domestic growth
U.S. National Park Service (NPS): the Washington Monument to remain closed to visitors indefinitely, as engineers inspect damage from earthquake
Harvard Medical School study: women who drank two or more cups of caffeinated coffee each day less likely to develop depression
Financial consulting firm Deloitte Touche Tohmatsu Limitedsued for $7.6 billion, accused of failing to detect fraud
Ultra-high resolution images of Dead Sea Scrolls available online after Google Inc. digitized them
Italian oil firm Eni S.p.A. resumes Libyan oil extraction
Former Cuban leader Fidel Castro authors article, calls recent U.S. President Obama’ U.N. address “gibberish”
270towin.com: if straw poll wins translated to electoral votes, Herman Cain would be leading the Republican race for the party’s nomination
Mixed lower court rulings on Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (PPACA) could lead to Supreme Court of the United States (SCOTUS) review
Secret federal probe of some sort of wrongdoing in Wisconsin may be targeting Govenor Scott Walker (R.)
Gallup poll: 81% of Americans dissatisfied with the way the nation is being governed

Current Events for Wednesday, 28 September 2011

Jerusalem Post poll shows U.S. President Obama’ approval rating surged after U.N. speech
Stock rally slowed by increasing doubts over euro (€) solvency
New Jersey Governor Christie again rebuffs calls to run for presidency during California Republican fundraising tour
President of the European Commission José Manuel Barroso: E.U. faces greatest test ever
Atlanta Federal Reserve Bank President Dennis Lockhart, Dallas Federal Reserve Bank President Richard Fisher agree U.S. economy still in “dangerous” situation, disagree on how to fix it
Dallas Federal Reserve Bank President Fisher: U.S. on “knife’s edge” of contraction
Iranian Foreign Ministry denies accusations by two American hikers held on espionage charges for two years that they were detained not because of a crime but because of their nationality
U.S. Senate to take-up bill to crack-down on Chinese currency practices
Kaiser Family Foundation survey: U.S. healthcare premium costs tripled in 2011 compared with 2010 to an average of $15,000 for a family of four
Apple Inc. stock value reacts to rumor the iPhone5 will debut next week
The New York Times: Goldman Sachs Group Inc. may cut more than $1.45 billion in expenses by year’s end, a move which almost certainly will lead to more job losses
Pakistani Foreign Ministry continues to criticize U.S., heaps praise on China
Former Chinese Premier Zhu Rongji has harsh comments on current Chinese politics, stirs reform pot
Irish presidential nominations to end with seven candidates
Amazon.com, Inc. expected to unveil $300 Kindle Fire tablet to rival Apple Inc.’s iPad
Ivorian reconciliation commission to be sworn-in, begin healing process
Fédération Internationale de Football Association (FIFA) President Sepp Blatter expresses concern over 2014 World Cup preparations
Typhoon Nesat leaves 18 dead in the Philippines
U.S. International Trade Commission (USITC) agrees to investigate HTC Corporation allegations Apple Inc. copied some of its technologies
As many as 16 Americans die of listeria from contaminated Colorado cantaloupes
Japan outlines “earthquake tax”
U.S. Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI): convicted killer George Wright, on the run for more than 40 years, arrested in Portugal
Britain, E.U., France, Sweden, U.S. condemns Israeli approval for the construction of 1,100 homes in Jewish settlement of Gilo
Iraq makes first payment in deal to buy 18 General Dynamics F-16 Fighting Falcon fighter jets
Egyptian ruling military council sets 28 November for elections
Several injured in clash between ethnic Serbs, North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) peacekeepers in north Kosovo
SamKnows to undertake European internet speed tests
Australia lifts all combat restrictions for military women
At least three protesters die in Conakry after Guinean police forcibly break-up opposition demonstration
African Union (A.U.) commanders holding Mogadishu promised reinforcements from Djibouti, Sierra Leone
More than 200 injured when two Shanghai subway trains collide
Yemeni Defense Minister Mohamed Nasser Ali survives attack on his convoy in southern city of Aden
Mexican police find five heads in a sack outside Acapulco primary school where teachers are striking over extortion threats
U.S. Representative Paul Ryan (R., WI) endorses plan for the federal government to give Americans a limited contribution to get health insurance coverage
Rhode Island Department of Education unanimously approves state version of Development, Relief and Education for Alien Minors (DREAM) Act
Iran announces plan to send military naval vessels to positions off U.S. Atlantic coast
Gallup poll: 51% of Americans want to see politicians compromise to solve U.S. problems

Current Events for Thursday and Friday, 29 and 30 September 2011

Yemeni Defense Ministry: U.S.-born al-Qaeda-linked cleric Anwar al-Awlaki killed in air raid
Cocoa provides unique insight into how emerging markets are affecting consumption patterns
U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) investigating accounting practices of some Chinese companies listed on U.S. stock exchanges
Bank of America Corp. announces $5 per month debit card maintenance fee
Europe set for worst financial quarter since 2008, collapse of Lehman Brothers Holdings Inc.
In another attempt to tame yen’s (¥) rise, Japan announces bolstering of currency intervention fund
U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit vacates lower court ruling over 10 U.S.C. §654 (“Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell,” DADT) due to its “mootness”
Reuters poll of economists sees hopes for recovery in world stocks “next year”
Research In Motion Limited (RIM) announces commitment to PlayBook tablet
Depth of Eurozone financial crisis leaves possibility of “unthinkable” round of quantitative easing (QE)
Dow Jones Industrial Average (DJIA), Standard & Poor’s (S&P) 500 rise on stronger-than-expected economic data, German lawmakers approval of new powers for Eurozone crisis fund
NASDAQ Stock Market hit by weakness in “big-cap” internet companies
Pre-orders for Amazon.com Inc.’s Kindle Fire begin, $199
Philadelphia Federal Reserve Bank President Charles Plosser: “Operation Twist” will do little for growth
U.S. Department of Labor: jobless claims dropped sharply last week
Royal Dutch Shell plc announces shut-down of Singapore refinery facility to get fire under control
Greek civil servants block doors of government ministries in protest against austerity ahead of talks with E.U., IMF for delivery of aid tranche Athens needs to avoid running out of cash next month
U.S. National Hurricane Center (NHC): Tropical Storm Ophelia gains strength in Atlantic
Libyan NTC thinks Gaddafi hiding near Algeria
Staff aides give different testimony in case against Texas Governor Rick Perry’s (R.) 2006 gubernatorial fundraising
U.S. Obama administration formally requests SCOTUS review PPACA
Eurozone inflation hits 3%
International Business Machines (IBM) overtakes Microsoft Corp. as second largest technology firm behind Apple, Inc.
Federal funding runs-out on 25-year-old Tevatron particle accelerator at Fermi National Accelerator Laboratory, to shut-down today
Cambridge University anthropologists discover cave paintings in French “nursery”
Burmese President Thein Sein halts controversial Chinese-backed hydroelectric dam project that would have displaced thousands of Irrawaddy River residents
China Minmetals Corp. buys Anvil Mining, gives China ownership over three large African copper mines
South Korean ruling Grand National Party (GNP) chairman Hong Joon-pyo visits jointly operated industrial plant in North Korea
Yemeni President Ali Abdullah Saleh renews vow to not step-down
South Africa denies Chinese pressures has delayed its issuance of a visa for the Dalai Lama to attend the Archbishop Desmond Tutu’s 80^th birthday celebrations
U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton urges Syria to protect U.S. diplomats after Ambassador Robert Ford pelted with eggs
U.S. Department of Commerce: U.S. economy grew at 1.3% between April, June 2011
U.S. House Republicans release draft 2012 budget, major cuts seen to education, health, labor programs
After reports Facebook continues to gather information about users who are logged-out, some U.S. lawmakers suggest U.S. Federal Trade Commission (FTC) should investigate
Economists showing support for Obama administration’s American Jobs Act