Current Events for the Week of 21 November 2011

Current Events for Monday, 21 November 2011

Reuters: Pakistan, Taliban enter into formal talks
Egyptian Cairo protests continue, security forces move-in to Tahrir Square
Chinese Vice-Premier Wang Qishan: global recovery in “grim state,” “unbalanced recovery” may be best, only option
Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao: China will make yuan (¥) more flexible, recent reforms to make currency more market-oriented achieved some results
Libyan National Transitional Council (NTC) arrests Saif al-Islam Gaddafi, former intelligence chief Abdullah al-Senussi
U.S. congressional “super committee” admits to failure
New York City Police Department (NYPD) foils “lone wolf” follower of Anwar al-Awlaki, José Pimentel, plot to kill U.S. soldiers returning from Afghanistan, Iraq
Toyota Motor Corp. announces Japanese production back to “near normal levels”
Greek Prime Minister Lucas Papademos heads to Brussels in attempt to secure bailout loans
Former Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi: Prime Minister Mario Monti’s coalition government may not last until 2013 elections
Afghan students fuel protests in eastern Afghanistan against long-term security deal with U.S.
Spanish voters “unelect” Socialists, turn to center-right party to lead them out of possible financial disaster
Reuters/Ipsos poll shows recent acknowledgements by former U.S. House of Representatives (House) Speaker Newt Gingrich (R., GA) about payments from Freddie Mac have not hurt his poll numbers
Arab League strongly rebuffs Syrian amendments to agreement
Strong 5.5-magnitude earthquake rocks northern Japan
University of California, Davis (UC Davis) announced plans to investigate use of pepper spray against seated student protesters
Oakland protesters defiantly set-up new tent city
Lobby firm Clark Lytle Geduldig & Cranford memorandum: large American banks should look into opposition research about #Occupy movement because of their political power
Israeli Defense Minister Ehud Barak: time running-out to stop nuclear Iran
Citing American support, Myanma military junta maps-out reforms
U.N. International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) censures Iran over likely nuclear weapons program
Bankruptcy judge releases some MF Global Holdings Ltd. money to investors
Bangladeshi war crimes trial opens into 1971 struggle for independence from Pakistan
Netflix, Inc. wades into television production waters, announces it is reviving Arrested Development
Xintai, Shandong, China melamine factory explosion kills at least 14
Turkish President Abdullah Gul visits London in three-day state visit, still wants Turkey to join E.U.
Ethiopian troops cross border into Somalia
Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk survives confidence vote after laying-out tough financial reform program
Nevada wildfires force thousands to flee, 16 people hospitalized as dozens of homes are engulfed
U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) withdraws approval for Bevacizumab to treat cancer, citing a lack of evidence for its success
Haitian President Michel Martelly: commission to study plans to bring-back disbanded army
Angolan President José Eduardo dos Santos announces plan for his country to help financially-crippled Portugal
France urges U.N. Security Council (UNSECO) to impose new economic sanctions against Syria
Refined version of Oscillation Project with Emulsion (T)racking Apparatus’ neutrino experiment replicates results
CBS News poll: 77% of doctors believe they should be able to prescribe cannabis in medical situations

Current Events for Tuesday, 22 November 2011

#Occupy protesters in New York City (NYC), Oakland claim police using long-range acoustic devices (LRAD)
Reader’s Digest poll of American mayors shows many feel as though they are cast as “bad guys” because of trying to solve budget crises
The World Bank: China faces Eurozone risk, soft landing still possible
Canada, U.K., U.S. announce new sanctions on Iranian energy, financial sectors
The Samsung Group announces it is in final talks with Google Inc. over Google TV
Former American International Group Inc. chief executive officer (CEO) Maurice “Hank” Greenberg’ new company, Starr International Co., files $25 billion lawsuit against U.S. federal government, U.S. Federal Reserve Bank of New York over “illegal” bailout, takeover
U.S. President Barack Obama (D.) blames Republican Party (GOP) for super committee failure, vows veto of any measure to alter automatic cuts plan
Egyptian democracy advocates dig-in after protester deaths
U.S. in quandry over new Tahrir Square protests
Egyptian cabinet offers to step-down for political solution
Current, former U.S. officials confirm Lebanese Shi’a militia Hezbollah, Iran have identified, arrested U.S. Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) informants among their ranks
U.S. National Association of Realtors (NAR): October existing home sales up 1.4%
U.S. federal judge orders Oscar Ortega-Hernandez to undergo mental exam
Former trader at Bernie Madoff’s firm: we faked records, trades since early 1970s
Pennsylvania State University (PSU, “Penn State”) trustees names former U.S. Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) Director Louis Freeh to head independent investigation into child sex abuse scandal
South Korean Gukhoe (National Assembly) ratifies free-trade deal with U.S.
U.S. International Trade Commission (ITC) rules Apple Inc. did not violate graphics patents owned by S3 Graphics, Ltd., a subsidiary of HTC Corp.
U.S. astronaut Mike Fossum, Japanese astronaut Satoshi Furukawa, Russian cosmonaut Sergei Volkov return from trip to International Space Station (ISS)
Osaka Stock Exchange, Tokyo Stock Exchange announce merger to combat slowing market conditions
Thai Minister of Justice Pracha Promnok denies government looking to change amnesty laws to permit former Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra to return
Libyan NTC set to announce new cabinet to oversee first elections
Brazilian government fines Chevron Corp. $28 million for role in oil spill off Rio de Janeiro coast
Three major parties in Tunisian coalition government agree on senior government officials, including moderate Islamist Hamadi Jebali as prime minister
UC Davis Chancellor Linda Katehi puts campus police chief Annette Spicuzza on administrative leaveduring investigation of pepper spray incident
Hewlett-Packard Co. (HP) unveils 91% fourth quarter (Q4) profit slump due to $3.3 billion cost to shutdown WebOS business
U.S. National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) making final preparations for Saturday launch of Mars Science Laboratory (MSL)
U.S. Army whistleblower Bradley Manning to appear in preliminary hearing in December
Official Bahraini investigation admits security forces used “excessive force” against pro-democracy protesters earlier this year
Digital Playground Inc., Manwin Licensing International file suit against ICM Registry for .xxx top-level domain name (TLD)
Hungary formally asks E.U., International Monetary Fund (IMF) for financial assistance
U.S. President Obama signs veterans’ jobs bill into law
Tata Motors Ltd. announces plan to revamp Nano due to low sales since debut in 2009
At least 14 Pakistani soldiers killed in Balochistan ambush
Hackers blamed for destruction of South Houston, Illinois water pump
GOP presidential hopeful Gingrich: #Occupy protesters should “wash”

Current Events for Wednesday, 23 November 2011

U.S. Congress races to find compromise deficit plan as automatic cuts deadline looms
Millions of Thanksgiving travelers affected by massive East Coast storm
Pakistan names former Minister of Information, human rights campaigner Sherry Rehman as ambassador to U.S. after Husain Haqqani resigns amid scandal
Madoff trustee to recover $326 million from U.S. Internal Revenue Service
U.S. Department of State announces plans to stop sharing information concerning conventional military units in eastern Europe with Russian Federation, as required by the 1990 Treaty on Conventional Forces in Europe (CFE)
Chinese factory output slumps to 32-month low
GOP presidential hopefuls spar in foreign policy debate, berate Pakistan
U.S. Department of State confirms three Americans studying abroad are being held by Egyptian authorities, accused of throwing fire bombs at security forces
Tahrir Square protests top 100,000 people
U.S. President Obama urges U.S. Congress to extend expiring payroll cut in New Hampshire stump speech
Reuters/Ipsos poll challenges U.S. President Obama’s recent assertion the GOP is to blame for supper committee failure, Americans blame everyone
U.S. Federal Reserve announces plans to “stress test” six American banks over possible Eurozone contagion
IMF boosts lending instruments, launches six-month liquidity line
U.S. Department of Justice: Merck & Co. agrees to $950 million settlement it promoted painkiller Vioxx for unapproved use
JPMorgan Chase & Co. to buy 4.7% MF Global Holdings Ltd.’s stake in London Metal Exchange (LME) for $39.1 million
French President Nicholas Sarközy embraces German Chancellor Angela Merkel’s call to change Eurozone treaty to allow European authorities “intrusive powers” into national budgets of countries using the euro (€)
U.S. Department of Commerce: new numbers show Q3 growth was overestimated
European Space Agency (ESA) confirms contact has been made with Russian Fobos-Grunt Mars probe
Yemeni President Ali Abdullah Saleh “ready” to sign exit deal
Harvard School of Public Health study: canned soup contains high levels of bisphenol A (BPA), “poses a chemical risk”
Prosecutor of the International Criminal Court (ICC) José Luis Moreno Ocampo accepts Saif al-Islam Gaddafi will be tried in Libya, not in ICC
Libyan interim Prime Minister Abdurrahim al-Keib announces new cabinet to oversee elections
Iran dimisses new sanctions against it as “vain”
U.N. Human Rights Committee condemns Syrian action against pro-democracy protesters
Gingrich shocks GOP field, endorses “humane” immigration policy
Utah becomes fourth state sued by U.S. Department of Justice over immigration laws
Oregon Governor John Kitzhaber announces he will sign no more death penalty orders for his term
Group of #OWS protesters arrive in Washington, D.C.
U.S. Congressional Budget Office (CBO) report: stimulus added 3.3 million jobs
U.S. Federal Communications Commission (FCC) moves to block AT&T Inc., T-Mobile USA Inc. deal
U.S. House Judiciary Committee Chairman Lamar Smith (R., TX) asks White House to provide documents relating to Supreme Court of the United States (SCOTUS) Associate Justice Elena Kagan’s work as U.S. Solicitor General defending the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (PPACA)

Current Events for Friday, 25 November 2011

Arab League prepares for Syrian economic sanctions
Multiple Baghdad blasts kill at least 13
Ruling center-right New Zealander National Party returns to power in crushing win in general election
U.S. National Basketball Association (NBA) owners, players come to tentative agreement, if approved season would begin on Christmas Day
Italian bond market hammers newly installed government, Spain considering outside Eurozone help
One dead after Egyptian protesters clash with riot police
North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) fighter jets, helicopters launch attack on two Pakistani military bases in northwest Pakistan, kills at least 28 soldiers
Pakistan closes NATO supply routes in retaliation for strike
Japanese government considering stricter board room rules for private companies
Bloomberg: AT&T, Inc. to offer bigger asset sale to salvage T-Mobile USA Inc. buy-out deal
U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) opens formal investigation into General Motors Co.’ Chevrolet Volt fire claims
Planned Sprint Nextel Corp. system upgrade may force company to curb unlimited data plans
New Libyan Oil Minister Abdulrahman Ben Yazza seen as right kind of technocrat
Australia approves $11.2 billion sale of Foster’s Group Ltd. to SABMiller plc
China set to embrace Canadian offer for access to more crude oil
Fitch Ratings downgrades Portuguese credit rating to junk
Moody’s Investors Service (Moody’s) downgrades Hungarian sovereign debt to junk
Standard & Poor’s (S&P) downgrades Belgian credit rating
Gunmen kill at least five protesting against deal to end Yemeni President Ali Abdullah Saleh’s rule in Sa’ana
Brazil suspends Chevron Corp.’s drilling rights until oil company explains causes for offshore spill
U.S. Obama administration warns U.S. Senate plan requiring all foreign al-Qaeda suspects be turned over to military instead of civilian law enforcement could gravely damage U.S. counter-terrorism investigations
“Disastrous” German bond sale casts doubt on Berlin’s insulation from Eurzone financial crisis
Bank of Greece warns country faces last-chance to stay in Eurozone
Moderate Moroccan Islamist Parti de la Justice et du Développement (PJD, Justice and Development Party) leads parliamentary polls
Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa issues noon Monday deadline for #Occupy protesters to disencamp
U.N. rejects U.S.-backed plan for revision to international cluster bombs agreement
Bangladesh rescinds leper isolation law
Egyptian Prime Minister-designate Kamal Ganzouri pleads citizens “give me a chance”
Mexican human rights activists request International Criminal Court (ICC) investigate allegations of torture, other human rights violations by President Felipe Calderón, government
U.S. Department of State: three American students held by Egyptian authorities for alleged violence against security officers heading home
Gambian President Yahya Jammeh wins fourth term with 72% of the vote
Facebook under-fire from Merck KGaA concerning Merck & Co., Inc. page
European Organization for Nuclear Research (CERN) researcher physicist Jon Butterworth: Higgs Boson hunt should be complete by end of next year
Police in northern Germany clash with anti-nuclear protesters
U.S. National Aeronautics and Space Administration’s (NASA) Mars Science Laboratory (MSL) launches
At least three killed in grenade attacks along Kenya-Somalia border
Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar of Trinidad & Tobago: police, security forces have foiled plot to assassinate her, members of her government
U.S. buys 72 Harrier “Jump Jets” for parts from U.K. in deal worth some $180 million