Current Events for the Week of 31 October 2011

Current Events for Monday, 31 October 2011

Egyptian-brokered truce seems to be holding after five-day flare-up of Gaza violence between Israeli security forces, Palestinian militants
Nearly 2.8 million homes still without power after rare winter storm hits
Politico.com: two female employees previously complained about sexual harassment by Republican Party (GOP) presidential hopeful, former Godfather’s Pizza chief executive officer (CEO) Herman Cain
Japan intervenes on yen (¥) for second time just days before Group of Twenty (G20) summit
Japan joins China in caution over Eurozone bailout involvement
Gunman opens-fire on U.S. embassy in Sarajevo, claims he acted alone
Dozens #Occupy protesters arrested in Austin, Texas and Portland, Oregon
Nielsen Media Research: more than 60% of global consumers still downbeat about world economy
GOP candidate Cain defends now-infamous “smoking ad,” says it does not promote smoking
Three dead, three missing, two hospitalized after large grain elevator explosion in Atchison, Kansas
U.S. Special Inspector General for Iraq Reconstruction (SIGIR) Stuart Bowen’s report: Iraqi will not be able to fully defend itself until 2020
At least 12 killed as Kenyan air force jets bomb southern Somali town of Jilib in fight against al-Qaeda-linked al-Shabab militants
Turkey officially ends search for earthquake survivors, deathtoll almost 600
Western officials lowering expectations for Istanbul meeting between Afghan diplomats, regional counterparts
The New York Times: U.S. to bolster Persian Gulf military presence after Iraq pullout
The Washington Post: U.S. flying unmanned aerial vehicles (UAV, “drone”) out of southern Ethiopian civilian airport
U.S. Federal Housing Finance Agency (FHFA) Acting Director Edward DeMarco defends against criticism Fannie Mae, Freddie Mac moving too slowly to aid in U.S. economic recovery
Qantas Airways Ltd. flying again after labor dispute grounded airline to halt, Australian tribunal intervenes
Kabul suicide bomber kills 13 International Security Assistance Force—Afghanistan (ISAF-A) soldiers, civilian employees
The Des Moines Register poll shows GOP presidential candidates former Massachusetts Governor Mitt Romney, Cain in statistical dead-heat
Syrian President Bashar al-Assad warns against Western involvement in Syrian political crisis, suggest result would be Middle East “earthquake”
GOP presidential hopeful Texas Governor Rick Perry calls for New Hampshire to repeal same-sex marriage law
International Criminal Court (ICC) “concerned” Saif al-Islam Gaddafi may be trying to escape to “friendly,” sympathetic African nation
Saudi royal family member Prince Khaled bin Talal pledges $900,000 to Palestinian cleric Awad al-Qarni’s “bounty” for Israeli soldiers
Ukrainian prosecutors to investigate whether former Prime Minister Yulia Tymoshenko was involved in murder of member of parliament
U.S. lawmakers urge White House to hold Russian Federation to “high standards” in its bid to join World Trade Organization (WTO)
Female suicide bomber kills at least three, injures around 20 in southeastern Turkey
Portuguese government source: Portugal wants U.S. involvement in Eurozone crisis
Xinhua news agency confirms China has named three new top financial regulatory heads
U.S. President Barack Obama (D.) campaigns hard U.S. GOP blocking “fairer” approach to economics
Syrian tanks pound opposition stronghold of Homs after “major” army defections
Groupon Inc. mulling initial public offering (IPO) price rise
Bank of America Corp. to alter debit card fee plan, give customers more ways to avoid it
Magnitude 6.9 earthquake strikes off Peruvian coast, shakes Lima
Global child rights group Plan International chooses poor Indian girl as symbolic seven billionth human
Palestinians to request admittance to U.N. Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO)
Libyan National Transitional Council (NTC) Chairman Mustafa Abdul Jalil: forces have uncovered stockpile of biochemical weapons
Nepalese Christians threaten hunger strikes if government does not set aside land for burials
International Committee of the Red Cross and Red Crescent (ICRC) begins delivering aid to Thailand
North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) to end Libya mission today
Field study of genetically modified mosquitos suggests they could be used to deploy some vaccines
Yemen shuts international airport after reports of explosions at nearby military base
Coal mine gas explosion kills at least 29 in central China
Ousted Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak trial postponed, as defense tries to have judge replaced
Russian Federation keeps “summertime”
Irish elect poet-turned-politician Michael Higgins as their new president
U.S. National Basketball Association (NBA) Commissioner David Stern announces season cancelation until, at least, December after labor talks break-down
Davis Polk progress report: 77% of Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act deadlines have been missed
Texas Governor Perry changes mind on debate, now will participate
Kaiser Family Foundation’s monthly Health Tracking Poll: 34% of Americans have positive view of Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (PPACA)

Current Events for Tuesday, 1 November 2011

Japanese electronics powerhouse Panasonic Corp. forecasts annual loss of $5.5 billion, largest in a decade
U.S. officials: deadly Kabul attack has hallmarks of Haqqani Network (HN)
UNESCO grants Palestinians full membership in 107-14 vote, U.S. announces halt to funding
Fresh chorus of calls to resign hound Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi
Greek Prime Minister George Papandreou calls for referendum on E.U./International Monetary Fund (IMF) bailout deal, could result in call for snap elections
Greek woes stunt recent global markets’ gains
Failure of derivatives trading firm MF Global Holdings Ltd. collapses, European outlook sours
GOP frontrunner Cain denies sexual harassment allegations, denounces “witch hunt”
Thomson Reuters report: U.S. consumer spending up in October again
Chinese Purchasing Managers Index (PMI) falls, lowest since 2009
Credit Suisse Group AG announces plans to cut another 1,500 jobs from 50,000 global workforce
U.N. Security Council (UNSECO) expresses concern over fate of massive Libyan weapons stockpile
Recently released Chinese democracy advocate, artist Ai Weiwei served with $2.3 million tax liability
Survivors of U.S. UAV strikes in Pakistan planning to file lawsuits in Pakistani courts
Reserve Bank of Australia cuts rates in bid to boost growth
Argentina imposes new restrictions on foreign currency exchange in attempt to reduce capital flight, tax evasion
Honda Motor Co. to cut Canadian, U.S. vehicle production by 50%, mainly due to parts shortages caused by Thai flooding
U.S. Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA) agents break-up massive drug smuggling ring linked to Mexican Sinaloa Cartel
China launches Shenzhou 8 unmanned spacecraft, set to dock with Tiangong-1 space laboratory
Libyan NTC names academic Dr. Abdurrahim al-Keib as new prime minister
Hundreds of rebels killed in Sudanese South Kordofan state following clashes with army
British Office for National Statistics (ONS): value-added tax (VAT) hurts poor disproportionately
Kyrgyz Prime Minister Almazbek Sharshenovich Atambayev elected president
“Hacktivist” group Anonymous turns focus on Mexican Zetas gang
Two main Belgian political parties agree to shutdown two nuclear reactors, no timetable set
Two explosions heard near government offices in Atyrau, Kazakhstan
U.S. Commission on Presidential Debates announces three definite debates for general 2012 presidential election in Colorado, New York, Florida
U.S. Department of Justice files suit against South Carolina immigration law
U.S. Patent and Trademark Office (PTO) confirms applications for #OccupyWallStreet name patents
U.S. Obama administration: prescription drug shortages “pose a serious and growing threat to public health”
U.S. House of Representatives (House) Committee on Education and the Workforce Representative John Kline (R., MN): U.S. President Obama’s decision to use executive action on student loans “wrong”
60 Minutes/Vanity Fair poll: two-thirds of Americans approve of cutting postal delivery to five days per week

Current Events for Wednesday, 2 November 2011

American and Asian shares falls sharply, European currencies drop against U.S. dollar ($) due to shock over Greek bailout referendum
Greek Prime Minister Papandreou receives “full support” from cabinet over referendum
Greek Prime Minister Papandreou to hold emergency financial meeting with German Chancellor Angela Merkel, French President Nicolas Sarközy ahead of G20 summit
U.S. Federal Reserve Board holds steady in new stormy markets
New European Central Bank (ECB) President Mario Draghi faces tough first day
U.S. Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) “interested” in MF Global Holdings Ltd. investigation
U.S. Department of Justice arrests four Georgia residents, charge them with plotting to buy explosives and produce deadly ricin biological toxin
U.S. President Obama signs proclamation preserving Fort Monroe in Hampton, Virginia as national monument
Syria claims to have reached agreement with Arab League over political unrest
Under severe pressure from customers, Bank of America Corp. drops proposed $5 per month debit maintenance fee
Polskie Linie Lotnicze LOT S.A. (LOT Polish Airlines) flight from Newark, New Jersey to Warsaw, Poland forced to emergency land after landing gear fails to come-down
U.S. Department of Commerce: American factory output fell in October, did not go negative
French satirical magazine Charlie Hebdo Paris offices attacked by fire bomb after announcing the Prophet Muhammad will be its next issue’s editor-in-chief
Radioactive xenon detected at crippled Fukushima Dai-ichi Nuclear Power Plant, raising questions of more trouble with one of the reactors
China urges U.N. International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) to apply nuclear rules more strictly
Somali transitional government confirms its troops, supported by Kenyan soldiers, have repelled al-Shabab attack
BBC World Service survey: people living in developing economies are upbeat about financial future, pessimism dominates advanced economies
Study published in the Journal of the American Medical Association shows even small amounts of alcohol are linked to increased risk of breast cancer
U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) report: abuse of prescription painkillers has reached “epidemic” levels
In response to UNESCO’s recognition of the Palestinians, Israel announces they will “speed-up” construction of Jewish settlements in disputed territories
Main Nepalese political parties agree to final part of landmark peace deal after years of wrangling
Qatari Emir Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani announces country’s first-ever legislative polls in 2013
Electronic Arts, Inc.’s Battlefield 3 sets new one-day sales record for a video game, sells more than five million copies in debut
Japanese MP Yasuhiro Sonoda drinks water from two pools under Fukushima Dai-Ichi Nuclear Power Plant after journalists prod him to prove it was safe
Regional meeting over Afghan future opens in Egypt
U.S. Secretary of Defense Leon Panetta urges U.S. Congress not to use automatic spending cuts to trim defense budget
Former U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice: “we could have done better” in Iraq
GOP presidential hopeful Cain: remembering is hard
Dorothy Rodham dies, 92

Current Events for Thursday, 3 November 2011

The Wall Street Journal: U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) opening probe into MF Global’s alleged wrong-doing
Citizens for Tax Justice and the Institute on Taxation and Economic Policy report: 30 large, profitable U.S. companies paid no corporate taxes from 2008 through 2010
The Brookings Institution report: pockets of poverty growing in the U.S.
#OccupyOakland protesters block port, clog streets as tensions rise in city
U.S. Federal Reserve Board lowers gross domestic product (GDP) forecast, raised projections for unemployment, mulling possibility of buying more mortgage debt
Market watchers believe Yahoo! Inc. planning minority stake stock sale, large share repurchase to bide time
Forbes magazine’s list of the world‘s most powerful people:

U.S. President Barack Obama
Russian Federation Prime Minister Vladimir Putin
Chinese President Hu Jintao
German Chancellor Angela Merkel
American billionaire Bill Gates

As part of Arab League-brokered deal, Syrian military begins pulling-out of cities
MasterCard Inc. posts much high-than-expected third quarter (Q3) profits
Israel test-fires missile from military base, just days after harsh speech by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu concerning the Iranian nuclear program
ADP National Employment Report shows private sector added more jobs than expected in October
U.N. Development Program equality index shows U.S. falling to 23^rd for current socio-economic inequalities
British High Court rules WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange can be extradicted to Sweden to face sex crimes charges
Sony Corp. surprises investors with fourth consecutive annual loss, blames $2.2. billion television sales losses
Lenovo Group Ltd. posts better-than-expected 88% rise in profits
Afghan security forces fighting insurgent attack on private construction company in Herat
Asus’ Eee Pad Transformer beats-out Apple’ iPad2, wins Stuff magazine’s “Gadget of the Year” award
Third woman comes forward to accuse GOP presidential hopeful Cain of sexual harassment
International Criminal Court (ICC) prosecutors: Saif Gaddafi trying to flee Libya
Ghanaian President John Atta Mills: homosexuality “will never be legal”
New Hampshire GOP sets 10 January 2012 as primary date
Budapest University’s Laboratory of Cryptography and Systems Security (CRYSYS): Duqu computer virus uses Microsoft Word exploit
World Diamond Council (WDC) announces international ban on Zimbabwean diamond exports has been lifted
Arizona Governor Jan Brewer (R.) instigated impeachment of independent redistricting committee chairman Colleen Mathis, Arizona Senate approves
Cain campaign lashes-out at Texas Governor Rick Perry (R.), claim he fueled original sexual harassment report by Politico.com
Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Seyed Ali Hoseyni Khāmene’i claims to have over 100 documents proving U.S. behind terrorism in Iran, Middle East
Gallup poll: 75% of Americans support Iraq withdraw by end of 2011
Forty House Democrats, 60 Republicans send letter to debt reduction super committee calling for $4 trillion in cuts
U.S. President Obama takes to the opinion page of the Harvard Crimson to blame Republicans for stalled economic progress

Current Events for Friday, 4 November 2011

Greek Prime Minister Papandreou faces “knife’s edge” confidence vote today after referendum plan for E.U./IMF bailout failed miserably, agrees to deal with coalition to step-down
Japanese Ministry of Economy, Trade, and Industry: Tokyo Electric Power Co. (TEPCO) will post net loss of $7.4 billion in 2011/2012, to receive $11.5 billion “bailout”
Oakland police arrest almost 100 protesters, eight injured in incidents being blamed not on the protesters, but on “agitators”
Olympus Corp. announces it will not give-out quarterly earnings on 8 November as promised, shares plunge
Groupon Inc. raises $700 million in initial public offering (IPO), largest IPO since Google Inc. debuted
American International Group Inc. (AIG) announces $4 billion in Q3 losses
Eastman Kodak Co. informs investors it must either raise $500 million in new debt or complete multibillion dollar ($) patent sale
ECB surprises many with quarter-percent interest rate cut, ECB President Draghi says Eurozone may slide into “mild recession” in latter part of 2011
Institute for Supply Management numbers show service sector growth dipped in October, initial jobless claims eased
ING Group to cut 2,700 jobs as Greek investments force it to trim 10% of banking operations
Largest listed French bank PNB Paribas S.A. slashes exposure to Italian, Greek, Spanish financial issues by more then $16.6 billion
Syrian pro-democracy groups claim military has renewed attacks on Homs despite pullout
Chinese Ambassador to India Zhang Yan involved in heated exchange over map showing parts of India controlling Chinese terrority
Six Russian cosmonauts set to end Mars500 mission
Colombia, France, U.K. inform U.N. Security Council (UNSECO) they will abstain from any Palestinian state vote
Dozens of Chinese miners caught in Henan coal mine after “rock burst”
Campaigning begins in upcoming Spanish parliamentary elections
Honduran authorities arrest 176 police officers in major corruption sting
Ireland announces it will close three foreign embassies—East Timor, Iran, the Vatican—in cost-cutting measure
Unexpectedly frank U.S. government report, Foreign Spies Stealing US Economic Secrets in Cyberspace, claims China and Russian Federation are most active perpetrators of economic cyber-espionage against U.S. companies
U.S. House Energy and Commerce Committee issues subpoenas for White House documents pertaining to now-bankrupt Solyndra Corp.
Sudanese troops seize key rebel stronghold of Kurmuk in war-torn border state of Blue Nile
E.U., U.S. carry-out their first-ever joint cybersecurity stress tests
Israeli security forces kill two in border clash
Iraqi cleric Muqtada al-Sadr: U.S. installing different kind of occupation
New Gallup poll shows eight out of 10 Americans trust small businesses to generate jobs, only 40% believe the U.S. Federal Reserve can be trusted to do the same
133 House Democrats sign documents outlying their objections to the Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA)
American billionaire Bill Gates to push G20 on “Robin Hood” financial transaction tax
Associated Press (AP) report: U.S. poverty level hits record 20.5 million