Current Events for the Week of 26 October 2009

Current Events for Monday, 26 October 2009

United States (U.S.) White House officials confidently claim quick healthcare bill passage, U.S. House of Representatives (House) Democrats still wary of enough votes
U.S. President Barack Obama (D.) condemns killings of three workers in the U.S. consulate in Ciudad Juarez, Mexico
U.S. Federal Communications Commission (FCC) unveils the National Broadband Plan, calling for drastic increases in Internet speeds
Georgian opposition accused government of being behind false news report claiming Russian Federation tanks had entered Tbilisi on their urging
Pakistani fighter planes bombed Taliban positions in northwest Pakistan, kill sixteen militants
French Minister of Foreign and European Affairs Bernard Kouchner: United Nations (U.N.) sanctions on Iran may take until June
Kandahar, Afghanistan blast kills Pakistani construction worker, wounds six others
Chinese Prime Minister Wen Jiabao: U.S. to blame for poor relations
Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) arrest Hamas leader Maher Audi in Ramallah, West Bank
Mumbai police arrest two accused of plotting terror attacks in financial district
More than 100,000 protesters descend on Bangkok, demand military-backed government call free and fair elections
China delivers six training, light attack jets to Venezuela for anti-narcotics fight
Afghanistan eases ban on news coverage of raids
French navy turns-over twenty-two Somali pirates for trial in semi-autonomous Puntland
The Financial Times: Google “99.9%” certain it is closing its Chinese search engine
Suicide bomber kills eleven in Pakistan’s Swat Valley
Special U.S. Court of Federal Claims: mercury-based preservative thimerosal alone cannot cause autism
London Metropolitan Police holding suspected Euskadi Ta Askatasuna (ETA, Basque Homeland and Freedom) member
Colombians ready for legislative elections expected to be litmus test for May’s presidential poll
U.S. returns 3,000-year-old Egyptian sarcophagus stolen more than 125-years ago
Tens of thousands of Italian stage rally against Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi
Reversing previous decision, Afghan President Hamid Karzai agrees to let two foreign observers sit on election panel
Nigerian plane taking part in disaster drill actually crashes in Port Harcourt
Tenth Winter Paralympics open in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
China boosts military presence in Tibet as second anniversary of protests nears
California prosecutors file suit against Toyota Motor Corporation
European Union (E.U.) “close” to Greek bail-out deal
Alaskan wolves suspected of killing jogger
Chilean officials put cost of earthquake at $30 billion
U.S. retail sales show surprise incline in February
Former U.S. Secretary of State Henry Kissinger briefly hospitalized in South Korea for stomach illness

Current Events for Tuesday, 16 March 2010

Afghan officials: Afghan President Hamid Karzai, U.S. President Obama discussed possible talks with Taliban in Monday video conference
U.S. Federal Reserve calms markets by indicating continued low interest rates
Magnitude-6.7 aftershock strikes just off Concepción, Chile
Eurozone finance ministers agree to rescue mechanism for Greece
Pakistani police uncover massive explosive cache in Lahore
Palestinians clash with Israeli police in East Jerusalem
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu rejects U.S. call to halt settlement building
Gunfire exchanged between Indian security police, two armed attackers near Indian space agency headquarters in Bangalore
South African President Jacob Zuma set for Zimbabwe visit aimed at calming row in coalition government
Double Falsehood identified as Shakespearean by literary researchers in England
U.S. Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) to investigate three consulate deaths in Cuidad Juarez, Mexico
University of Colorado researchers: humans leave behind tell-tale set of germs which could lead to bacterial fingerprinting
Yemen carries-out series of strikes against Islamic militants
American security forces hand-over $1.7 million detention center at Camp Haji to Iraqi police
Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki pulling-ahead in poll
The New York Times: U.S. Strategic Planner and Technology Integration Adviser Michael Furlong set-up unit of private contractors in Afghanistan, Pakistan to help track, kill militants
U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon urges world not to forget Haitian earthquake relief
U.S. House Budget Committee took first step towards finalization of healthcare bill, vote expected by week’s end
New financial regulatory bill would boost U.S. Federal Reserve powers
He Pingping, the world’s shortest man, dies aged 22
Burma, North Korea slam report issued by U.N. Human Rights Council
Power Sufi Muslim group Ahlu Sunna Wal Jamaa joins Somali government in fight against al-Shabab
U.S. industrial output rose, again, in February
Private equity firm Apax sells Tommy Hilfiger brand to Calvin Klein owner Philips-Van Heusen in deal worth 2.2 billion euros (€), $3 billion
Cyclone Tomas hits northern Fiji, evacuations at 5,000, state of emergency declared
Two car-bombs hit Nigerian oil talks
Fallujah suicide car-bomb kills sixteen
China National Offshore Oil Corporation to pay $3.1 billion for 50% stake in Argentine oil and gas group Bridas Corporation
Pakistani air strike kills nine
Thai Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva rejects “Red Shirts” calls for resignation, election deadline
U.S. President Obama to push “huge” overhaul for No Child Left Behind Act of 2001 (NCLB)

Current Events for Wednesday, 17 March 2010

Al Aribiya: Dubai World to offer banks single proposal to fully repay $26 billion debt
The World Bank tells China to tighten its economic policy, demand likely to go unheeded, U.S. raises pressure on yuan (¥)
The World Bank raises prediction of Chinese economic growth in 2010 from 9% to 9.5%
Thai Red Shirts spill own blood outside Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva’s home
U.S. missile strike kills six in Pakistan
U.S. Federal Reserve renews “extended period” of low interest rates
Former Iraqi Prime Minister Allawi suddenly surges past incumbent Prime Minister al-Maliki in vote counting
U.S. Attorney-General Eric Holder defends original decision to try 9/11 suspects in criminal trials
U.S. Federal Communications Commission (FCC) backs plan to speed-up American Internet
Honda Motor Company to recall some 412,000 vehicles for break issues in U.S.
U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton pledges “unshakeable bond” with Israel
Protesters greet Mexican President Felipe de Jesús Calderón Hinojosa as he visits Cuidad Juarez
U.S. Senate Finance Committee “likely” to approve new regulatory bill next week
Commander, U.S. Central Command (USCENTCOM) U.S. Army General David Petraeus: U.S. may leave stronger-than-expected force structure in northern Iraq during draw-down
Tiger Woods announces return to professional golf at U.S. Masters
Afghanistan confirms blanket law pardoning all human rights abuses, war crimes prior to 2001
U.S. Department of Commerce: weather to blame for low housing start numbers
U.S. Geological Survey (USGS): 4.4-magnitude earthquake rattles Los Angeles
China warns Google must still obey its laws even if it pulls-out of the nation’s date infrastructure
Supporters of arrested Sri Lankan presidential candidate General Sarath Fonseka protest outside his military trial
Parisian police officer shot dead during firefight with suspected Euskadi Ta Askatasuna (ETA, Basque Homeland and Freedom) militants
Japanese central bank increases stimulus measures aimed at forcing banks to lend more
Haitian government lowers expected rebuilding cost to $11.5 billion
Australia, New Zealand begin relief flights to cyclone-ravaged Fiji
British Airways’ main union Unite to meet with American counterparts the Teamsters to discuss impending strike by cabin crew
Chair of the Grantham Institute for Climate Change and the Environment at the London School of Economics (LSE) Nicolas Stern, Baron Stern of Brentford: “arrogance” broke-down Copenhagen climate talks
Pakistani Olympic Association postpones annual national games to be held in Peshawar due to security concerns
Iranian security forces deployed ahead of Chaharshanbeh-Suri, held a few days before Norouz, the Persian New Year
Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdoğan “trusts Iranian nuclear aims”
European Court of Human Rights rules Croatia disciminated against Roma (Gypsies) by putting them in separate education facilities
Libyan leader General Muammar Abu Minyar al-Gaddafi: Nigeria should be split in two after recent religious violence between Christians, Muslims
U.N. report: Russian Federation has failed to consider environmental impact of construction for 2014 Winter Olympics
Suspected militants kill three in two separate attacks in Indian-administered Kashmir
Facebook working to remove so-called “stalker apps”
British House of Lords passes Digital Economy Bill, holding permanent punishments for illegal file-sharers
Opponents of U.S. House healthcare bill eleven shy of 216 needed to derail passage

Current Events for Thursday, 18 March 2010

Australia urges China to allow its diplomats full access to four Rio Tinto staff accused of corporate espionage
Greece investigating possible International Monetary Fund (IMF) assistance
U.S. Secretary of State Clinton in Moscow to push-forward arms treaty, to head to Middle East
Toyota Motor Corporation informs U.S. regulators it is considering how to fix nearly 1.2 million Corollas, Matrices with risk of stalling because of electronic system flaws
McAfee, Incorporated: new Facebook virus affects 400 million users
U.S. President Obama picks-up important healthcare reform support from U.S. Representative Dennis Kucinich (D., OH), leaders for Catholic religious orders representing some 59,000 nuns
U.S. unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV, “drone”) attack in Pakistan last week apparently killed top al-Qa`ida planner Hussein al-Yemeni
New York State Governor David Patterson’s (D.) “house of cards” continues to fall apart, press secretary quits amid torrent of ethics violations accusations, investigations
Package of highway funds, tax breaks passes U.S. Senate
Cuban police violently break-up “Ladies in White” protest
Commander, International Security Assistance Force—Afghanistan (ISAF-A), Commander, U.S. Forces in Afghanistan (USFOR-A), U.S. Army General Stanley McChrystal: Kandahar offensive “already underway”
China urges Iran to accept nuclear fuel swap deal proposed by West, wary on sanctions
Lawsuit accuses Assurant Health, formerly Fortis, of targeting human immunideficiency virus (HIV)-positive policy holders for cancelation
South Korean Defense Minister Kim Tae-young: North Korea has increased its missile arsenal by 25% of the last two year, to approximately 1,000
Pakistani court formally charges five American citizens with planning acts of terrorism
European Union (E.U.) High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Baroness Catherine Ashton to visit Gaza Strip in rare high-level visit from Western diplomat
Foreign union support grows for planned British Airways cabin personnel strike
Thai Red Shirts pledge to remain in Bangkok “indefinitely”
Guatemala agrees to extradict former President Alfonso Portillo to the U.S. on money-laundering charges
Two suspected bank robbers, on wearing a leprechaun costume, die in shoot-out with Tennessee police
Dubai jails two Indian citizens for three months over “sexy texts”
The Vatican forms investigatory commission for Virgin Mary apparition in Medjugorje, Bosnia-Hercegovina
University of California researchers successfully create largest quantum state ever, billions of times larger than before
Cornell University stepping-up security around bridges near campus after three students fell, jumped to their deaths
New temperate exoplanet some 1,500 light-years away from Earth shows similar characteristics
Prices paid by U.S. farms, factories in February fell
Acting Nigerian President Goodluck Jonathan dissolves cabinet
Turkish Prime Minister Erdoğan threatens to deport 100,000 Armenians in fresh row over his nation’s role in the killing of Armenians during World War I
Time Warner Cable (TWC) apologizes for “serious error” after Playboy TV was aired for two hours on Kids On Demand, Kids Preschool On Demand in North Carolina
International crude oil prices hedge above $80 per barrel as the Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) holds output steady
German Chancellor Angela Merkel: Eurozone should have mechanism to exclude member if necessary
Iran, Pakistan sign $7.6 billion natural gas pipeline deal
Ukrainian marine archaeologists find HMS Prince, sunk during Crimean War
At least ten killed in machete attack on Christians in Jos, Nigeria
Tombs of traditional Ugandan Buganda kings gutted by fire, residents outraged

Current Events for Friday, 19 March 2010

Makshift bomb damages right-wing political group’s Athens office, no one injured
Cable networks closer to former Alaskan Governor Sarah Palin (R.) reality show
U.S. President Obama, under campaign promise to revamp immigration policy, backs legislation proposed by U.S. Senators Lindsey Graham (R., SC) and Charles Schumer (D., NY) featuring national identification card
Twenty-seven-year veteran of CNN Christiane Amanpour to host This Week on ABC News
U.S. Congressional Budget Office (CBO): healthcare reform bill will cut U.S. deficit over ten years
U.S. State Secretary Clinton, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu talk over settlement disagreement
Democratic fundraiser Hassan Nemazee admits to defrauding three banks of $292.2 million
After postponing twice, U.S. President Obama cancels Asia-Pacific trip for healthcare push
“Jihad Jane” pleads not guilty to terrorism charges in Philadelphia federal courtroom
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) begins study on shale oil drilling
U.S. Commerce Department analysis: data points to modest recovery, muted inflation
American-born radical cleric based in Yemen Anwar al-Awlaki calls for “jihad” against the U.S.
Rocket fired from Gaza Strip kills Thai worker, Israel vows definitive response
Israeli pharmaceutical company Teva purchases rival German firm Ratiopharm for $4.9 billion
Dutch anger flares over former North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) Supreme Allied Commander Atlantic (SACLANT) U.S. Marine Corps General John Sheehan’ comments before U.S. Senate panel on allowing open homosexuals to serve in military
Former U.N. Envoy to Afghanistan Kai Eide openly criticizes Pakistan’s arrests of Taliban leaders because they served as secret U.N. contacts
Nigerian ambassador to Libya recalled after Libyan leader General Gaddafi’s comments on splitting country in-two
Sri Lankan President Mahinda Rajapakse rules-out early pardon for former presidential rival General Fonseka
E.U.-, U.S.-backed ban on blue fin tuna fishing fails in U.N.
South African President Zuma survives no-confidence vote in parliament while on trip to Zimbabwe
Facebook rejects calls for pedophile “panic button,” to develop current reporting system
Polish court sentences three men for theft of Auschwitz’s Arbeit Macht Frei sign
Sudan signs ceasefire with second Darfur rebel group
Burma releases U.S. democracy advocate originally sentenced to three years in-prison
Ethiopia admits “jamming” Voice of America radio signal, claiming it engaged in “destabilizing propaganda”
Federal grand jury investigation into wrong-doing by U.S. Senator John Ensign (R., NV) issues subpoenas
Idahoan Governor C.L. “Butch” Otter (R.) to sue U.S. federal government if healthcare bill passes, Idahoan legislature passes Idaho Health Care Freedom Act