Current Events for the Week of 14 November 2011

Current Events for Monday, 14 November 2011

Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi resigns amid Roman cheers, Italian President Giorgio Napolitano appoints former European Commissioner Mario Monti as prime minister to head new government
Former European Central Bank (ECB) Vice-President Lucas Papademos sworn-in as Greek premier
Japanese financial powerhouse Mizuho Financial Group Inc. plans to cut 5% of workforce, approximately 3,000 jobs, keeps full-year growth outlook depsite first-half 2011 collapse of 25.4% in profits
U.S. President Barack Obama (D.) urges lawmakers to “bite the bullet,” make debt-reduction compromises
U.S. congressional “super committee” stills sees debt deal as possibility, deadline looms
U.S. President Obama’s harsh words for China over currency manipulation, trade practices
China considering welfare benefits for Tibetan monks in attempt to improve “stability”
Indian annual inflation rate remains high at 9.73% in October
German Chancellor Angela Merkel urges Eurozone nations without minimum wage to introduce one
E.U. sources: German Chancellor Merkel wants E.U. charter change by 2012, to be unanimous
Russian Soyuz spacecraft takes-off from Kazakh launchpad for rendezvous with International Space Station (ISS)
Official Japanese economic data shows growth in quarter three (Q3), first since before Fukushima earthquake
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu: recent U.N. report on Iranian nuclear program “not reflected accurately”
Yemeni oppositon: President Ali Abdullah Saleh stalling on handing-over power
Yemeni Vice-President Abd-Rabbu Mansour Hadi: deal close
Arab League suspends Syria over actions taken against political opposition, Syria calls for emergency meeting
Brazilian military sends 3,000 soldiers into Rio de Janeiro’s largest slum
Asian-Pacific Economic Council (APEC) seeks economic “firewall” as insultation against European financial crisis
U.S. President Obama announces TransPacific Partnership trade deal framework reached
European Commission President José Manuel Barroso: Europe must unite to tackle Eurozone crisis or face split
Massive explosion at Iranian arms depot near Tehran kills 17, wounds 15
Japanese officials: Fukushima Dai-ichi Nuclear Power Plant “cold shutdown” now possible
Turkish military commandos shoot-dead lone Kurdish hijacker of high-speed ferry boat
MF Global Holdings Ltd. fires entire 1,066 member brokerage staff
Capitol Police investigating shots fired near White House
Mexican Interior Minister Francisco Blake killed in helicopter crash due to dense fog
U.S. Major League Baseball (MLB) player Wilson Ramos rescued from kidnappers after Venezuelan security forces freed him
U.S. federal judge orders Galleon Group hedge fund founder Raj Rajaratnam to pay record $92.8 million penalty in a related U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) civil case
#OccupyPortland protesters pushed to decamp by police, over 50 arrested
Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper announces his nation will look to sell Asia more of its fuel resources since TransCanada’s Keystone XL Pipeline extension is off
Suspected Islamist militants kills seven in Kazakh attack
With federal crackdown looming, dozens of Californian “medical marijuana” dispenssaries ordered to close
Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin defends bid to return to presidency
Political rivals Zimbabwean President Robert Mugabe, Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai call for violence to end as tension rises ahead of elections
Steam gaming service hit by hackers, credit card data and personal information may have been compromised
The Wall Street Journal: Facebook “plans privacy overhaul”
Spanish government data shows economy did not grow in third quarter (Q3)
Effort to recall embattled Wisconsin Governor Scott Walker (R.) set to begin Tuesday
Reuters/Ipsos poll has Texas Governor Rick Perry (R.) down, but not out of race for GOP presidential nomination; former Massachuetts Governor Mitt Romney (R.) in clear lead
South Carolina polling shows no clear GOP leader
GOP dark horse Herman Cain lays-out foreign policy—the Cain Doctrine—styled as Reagan Doctrine off-shoot
Former U.S. Secretary of State Colin Powell: “demonstrating like [the #Occupy movements] is as American as apple pie”
U.S. District Court Judge Robert Hyatt rules Democrat-penned redistricting plan more closely matches population numbers than GOP-authored one
Republican Party (GOP) presidential hopeful, U.S. Representative Michele Bachmann (R., MN): “Barack Obama inherited a war that was won in Iraq and he’s losing the peace”

Current Events for Tuesday, 15 November 2011

New York City Police Department (NYPD) moves-in on #OccupyWallStreet protesters with riot gear, evict them from Zuccotti Park
U.S. President Obama to push larger American footprint in Asian tour
American billionaire Warren Buffett buys nearly $10.7 million in International Business Machines (IBM) stock
Harrisburg misses deadline, to allow federal or state bankruptcy judge to make tough decisions
The Wall Street Journal: U.S. Federal Housing Administration (FHA) cash reserves so low they may need taxpayer bailout by next year
Disgraced former Pennsylvania State University (PSU, “Penn State”) assistant football coach Jerry Sandusky admits to showering with boys, denies pedophilia
Boy in center of 2002 PSU abuse indictment claims he was never abused
Supreme Court of the United States (SCOTUS) grants certiorari in Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (PPACA) review
Italian premier-elect Monti to meet with rival political parties, discuss “sacrifices”
Fired MF Global Holdings Ltd. workers file three separate civil lawsuits
Top Oakland Mayor Jean Quan adviser, civil rights attorney Dan Siegel resigns over city’s handling of #Occupy movement
Yemeni President Saleh “to step-down in 90 days”
San Francisco Federal Reserve Bank research: chance of 2012 U.S. recession over 50%
Greek conservatives cast shadow on Prime Minister Papademos’ job, aims to reject any new austerity measures
Official data shows French, German economies grew by 0.4% and 0.5%, respectively, in Q3
International Monetary Fund (IMF) warns China its banks face “a steady build up in vulnerabilities”
Maoist rebels in Indian state of West Bengal call-off month-old ceasefire, shoot-dead two
Purported U.S. unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV, “drone”) attack kills six suspected militants in northwestern Pakistan
GOP presidential hopeful Cain struggles in interview with editorial board of Milwaukee Journal Sentinel
Dozens killed across Syria in anti-government protests
U.S. National Basketball Association (NBA) Players’ Association rejects latest league contract offer, entire season in-doubt
British Prime Minister David Cameron: Eurozone crisis unique “opportunity”
Egyptian court overturns ban on former members of National Democratic Party (NDP) from running for office in upcoming elections
Indian carmaker Tata Motors Ltd. posts 16% fall in Q3 profits, Jaguar Land Rover division posts 9% increase
Several days of fighting between rival Libyan factions outside Zawiya kills seven
World Wide Web Consortium (W3C) wants websites to warn of tracking features “by next year”
Jordanian King Abdullah II ibn al-Hussein calls on Syrian President Bashar al-Assad to step-down
Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD): global economy slowed in September
New Jersey Governor Chris Christie (R.): “Anyone who underestimates the president underestimates at their own peril.”
Gallup poll: U.S. congressional approval rating remains at historic low
Politico/George Washington University Battleground Poll shows U.S. President Obama “vulnerable”

Current Events for Wednesday, 16 November 2011

Greek coalition government set to easily survive today’s confidence vote, Prime Minister Papademos already facing serious fractures
U.S. President Obama, Australian Prime Minister Julia Gillard announce thousands of U.S. Marines to operate of out de facto military base in Darwin
Compromise spending plan for U.S. National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) preserves over-budget replacement for Hubble Space Telescope (HST), halves U.S. President Obama’s request for money to spur commercial investment in “space taxis”
U.S. Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D., NV) meets with U.S. House of Representatives (House) Speaker John Boehner (R., OH), discussion focuses on super committee budget talks
Sandusky’s lawyer, Joe Amendola, vows “very different story”
U.S. Department of Defense (DoD) report: U.S. reserves right to respond to cyber-attack with conventional military power
In move thought to be reassuring to investors, Apple Inc. names The Walt Disney Company chief executive officer (CEO) Bob Iger to board of directors
New York Supreme Court Justice Michael Stallman upholds New York City’s (NYC) right to evict #OccuyWallStreet protesters
Arab League diplomats meet with Syrian opposition
Top adviser to Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Seyed Ali Hoseyni Khāmene’i, Mohammad Javad Larijani, suggests Iran could “help” Turkey build planned nuclear power plant
Improvised explosive device (IED) destroys Kenyan police vehicle escorting U.N. convoy in Dadabb refugee camp near Somali border
U.S. Department of Commerce report suggests relatively strong growth in U.S. economy for fourth quarter (Q4)
Wal-Mart Stores Inc. posts profits below expectations, despite increase in sales
Home Depot Inc. raises fiscal year outlook again
Syrian army defectors attack military intelligence base near Damascus
Dell Inc. issues warning about Thai flooding effect on its computer sales
Schizophrenic Reginald Brooks put to death in Ohio for 1982 murder of his three sons
Afghan President Hamid Karzai tells jarga security pact with U.S. “in their best interest”
British Supreme Court grants hearing to WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange
Senior adviser to Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki: Iran influenced decision on U.S. military presence after withdraw
Social networking site Facebook acknowledges pornography attack, working to handle it
Google Inc. unveils BigQuery, a promising high-speed data analysis tool
U.S. Postal Service (USPS) reports staggering net loss of $5.1 billion for fiscal year 2010-2011
Eleven U.S. states seek waivers from No Child Left Behind (NCLB) Act’s requirements

Current Events for Thursday, 17 November 2011

World’s second-largest brewer SABMiller plc narrowly misses forecasts with 11% revenue increase, warns of continued hard times ahead in Europe, U.S.
Severe storms, suspected tornadoes across the South result in damage, deaths, injuries
Arab League takes a step closer to imposing economic sanctions on Syria
Ousted #OWS protesters plan march directly on New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) today
Google Inc. announces “Store” addition to its music service
France, Germany step-up war of words over role European Central Bank (ECB) should play in Eurozone crisis
U.S. congressional super committee gridlocked despite compromise offer presented last week by Democrats
U.S. Secret Service: Pennsylvania state troopers arrest 21-year-old Oscar Ortega-Hernandez in Indiana, PA hotel for shooting at White House
Two U.S. Department of Labor reports show consumer prices dropped 0.1% in October, while weekly earnings rose 0.3% over the same time
Italian Prime Minister Monti to lay-out economic plan ahead of confidence vote
Dozens of Kuwaiti anti-government protesters briefly storm parliament building demanding Prime Minister Sheikh Nasser al-Mohammad al-Sabah step-down
GOP presidential hopeful, former U.S. House Speaker Newt Gingrich (R., GA) admits receiving “consulting fees” from troubled mortgage giant Freddie Mac for providing “strategic advice”
U.S. Attorney-General Eric Holder: U.S., Caribbean allies to be more aggressive in seizing assets from suspected drug-traffickers, money-launderers
U.S. Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) sets sights on private student lending industry
U.N. sources: six major powers close to agreement on text for U.N. Security Council (UNSECO) resolution condemning Iranian nuclear program
Gallup poll: 47% of Americans wants PPACA repealed, 42% want it to remain
Enbridge Inc., TransCanada Corp. racing to provide pipeline alternatives
Target Corp. beats Wall Street expectations in much bigger-than-expected jump in quarterly profits
U.K. to sell failed mortgage lender Northern Rock plc to Virgin Money
French Foreign Minister Alain Juppé heads to Turkey for talks over Syrian political violence
Radioactive cæsium discovered in Japanese rice
Greek authorities brace for anti-austerity protests
Fitch Ratings warns over American banks exposure to Eurozone crisis, U.S. stocks collapse
U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) uncover “major drug tunnels” linking warehouses in Tijuana, Mexico and Otay Mesa, California; seize estimated 14 tons of cannabis
U.S. Congressional Gold Medal issued to Apollo 11 astronauts Neil Armstrong, Michael Collins, Edwin “Buzz” Aldrin
At least seven killed in Karachi shoot-out between police, militants
Intel Corp. shows-off Knights Corner microchip able to perform at one teraflop, one trillion calculations per second
Kazakh President Nursultan Nazarbayev dissolves parliament, calls snap elections
U.S. House Judiciary Committee holds hearing on Stop Online Piracy Act (SOPA, H.R. 3261)
Facebook claims porn hack was browser exploit, internal source claims company knows culprit
U.S. House passes National Right-to-Carry Reciprocity Act 272-154
First pieces of former American Jobs Act head to the President’s desk
Filippino activists attack convoy of U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton with paint balls, paint-filled balloons
New York Sweet Light Crude edges over $100 per barrel on economic instability

Current Events for Friday, 18 November 2011

Reuters economic poll: even chance ECB will start printing money
Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao criticizes “outside forces” getting involved in South China Sea disputes
U.S. Ambassador to China Gary Locke: Chinese government should allow domestic, foreign companies to make investments without Chinese government interference
Sino-American economic tensions spill-over continued APEC meetings
Syrian troops shell two northern towns, Arab League deadline for end to violence looms
U.S. congressional deficit-cutting super committee may “scale back” aims as rifts widen
NYPD foils #OWS bid to shut-down NYSE
Greek anti-austerity protests remain relatively non-violent, Italian protests do not
U.S. Census: one-in-five American children living in poverty
Ortega-Hernandez formally charged with trying to assassinate U.S. President Obama
The Boeing Company ends week with two major deals: signs $26 billion deal with Emirates Airlines, $21.7 billion deal with Indonesian Lion Air
California Supreme Court rules the state constitution backs same-sex marriage ban, Perry v. Brown
U.S. Secretary of Energy Steven Chu, U.S. House Energy and Commerce Committee Republicans spar over $500 million loan guarantee to now-bankrupt Solyndra Corp.
Likely new Spanish government may want to rush-through emergency economic measures following Sunday’s parliamentary election, financial bailout still likely necessary
New U.S. Department of Labor numbers show jobless claims hit seven-month-low last week, permits for future home construction rebounded strongly in October
Association of South East Asian Nations (ASEAN) gambles on Myanma regional leadership for 2014
Burmese pro-democracy advocate Aung San Suu Kyi to stand in upcoming parliamentary elections
U.S. Department of State confirms U.S. State Secretary Clinton will visit Burma/Myanmar next month
Italian Prime Minister Monti braces for second confidence vote in as many days
Filippino court issues arrest warrant for former President Gloria Arroyo on allegations of vote tampering
Venezuelan President Hugo Chávez orders thousands of National Guard troops to the streets to fight violence
Japan bans domestic sale of Fukushima-grown rice
France, Germany, U.K. table formal U.N. resolution calling for end to human rights violations in Syria
Kenyan Foreign Minister Moses Wetangula offers Kenyan soldiers to African Union (A.U.) force in Somalia
U.S. Secret Service grants request by Cain campaign for protection
Arizona Supreme Court rules Governor Jan Brewer (R.) illegally impeached Independent Redistricting Commission Chairwoman Colleen Mathis, reinstates her in Mathis v. Brewer
U.S. House, Senate farm bill negotiators near agreement on five-year, $182 billion appropriations bill