Portal:Current events/January 2011

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January 2011 was the first month of that common year. The month, which began on a Saturday, ended on a Monday after 31 days.

Portal:Current events

This is an archived version of Wikipedia's Current events Portal from January 2011.

Current events of January 1, 2011 (2011-01-01) (Saturday) Armed conflicts and attacks A bomb explodes outside a Coptic church in Alexandria, Egypt, killing at least 21 people and wounding 97 more; street disturbances between Christians and Muslims ensue. (BBC) (Al Jazeera) Business and economy Bonaire, Saba and Sint Eustatius adopt the United States dollar as the sole legal currency, reducing the use of the Netherlands Antillean guilder to Curaçao and Sint Maarten. (Bloomberg) Estonia adopts the Euro, becoming the 17th Eurozone country. Disasters and accidents Four people are killed and around 40 injured after a passenger plane explodes in Surgut in eastern Russia. (RIA Novosti) (AP) Two people are killed after a hot air balloon crashes onto a bowling green in Midsomer Norton, Somerset, United Kingdom. (BBC) Over a thousand dead blackbirds and other fowl fall out of the sky in Arkansas after a violent tornado outbreak and hailstorm. (The Associated Press) (CNN) A deep earthquake measuring magnitude 7.0 hits near Santiago del Estero in northern Argentina. Only weak shaking is felt and no damage is reported. (The Associated Press) (Xinhua) (Press TV) International relations Canada's Foreign Minister, Lawrence Cannon, urges Iran to improve the country's human rights record and denounces Iran for imposing "draconian death sentences and unfair jail terms," while expressing particular concern for the fate of two Canadians of dual nationality imprisoned in Iran. (AFP) (Edmonton Journal) Hungary takes over the presidency of the European Union. (AFP) Law and crime Specialist prison guards and firefighters are sent into Ford Open Prison in West Sussex, United Kingdom, after 40 inmates started a riot. Part of the prison has been destroyed by fire. (BBC) Politics Dilma Rousseff is sworn in as Brazil's first female President. (Reuters) (Xinhua) The Bolivian government rescinds a government decree that significantly increased fuel prices after violent unrest. (Al Jazeera) Mass graves are discovered in Côte d'Ivoire amid other political violence as United Nations peacekeepers come under increased tension in the country when allies of Alassane Ouattara call for a forceful removal of Laurent Gbagbo. (Newstime Africa) (Sun Herald) (Taipei Times) Current events of January 2, 2011 (2011-01-02) (Sunday) Armed conflicts and attacks International mediators propose the establishment of a regional authority for Darfur, as a compromise between the Sudanese government and rebels’ demands, in a diplomatic effort to respond to Sudanese President Bashir’s order last week to withdraw the Sudanese government delegation from talks in Doha. (Radio Dabanga) Egyptian police shoot and kill an African illegal immigrant outside the Israeli border. (Ha'aretz) Business and economy The U.S. Internal Revenue Service announces that, due to the late passage of the extension of the Bush tax cuts and other itemizations, up to 50 million Americans will not be able to file their 2010 tax returns until mid-February. (CNN.com) Officials in Afghanistan said that the price of opium has doubled due to a blight. There are fears the higher prices will draw more farmers into that business. (Reuters) Disasters and accidents A 7.1-magnitude earthquake streaks southern Chile, having its epicenter 96 km northwest of Temuco, not far from the location of the 2010 Chile earthquake. (CNN) (CBC) (Radio Australia News) River levels in Queensland, Australia continue to rise, affecting about 200,000 people and killing at least one person. (CTV) (Aljazeera) Flooding occurs along the San Antonio River in Monterey County, California as flooding from previous weeks subsides. (Contra Costa Times) (North County Times) Ten people are crushed to death in a bar packed with New Year's revelers in Ipelegeng, South Africa. (CNN) International relations One hundred German political and business leaders publish an appeal to Iran to free two German reporters imprisoned in Iran since October after being arrested while interviewing the son of Sakineh Mohammadi Ashtiani who has been sentenced to death for murder, manslaughter, and adultery. (Reuters) A 2009 Wikileaks document from the US embassy in Tel Aviv says that Israel is preparing for large scale war against Hamas or Hezbollah, and quotes the Israeli chief of staff as saying that the Israel Defense Forces must be prepared to stop the firing of rockets on Tel Aviv. (France 24), (Ynet) The Canada Border Services Agency confirms the deportation of a Toronto student to Mexico, who immigrated with his sister, who cited homophobia as the reason for claiming refugee status. Reports state he boarded the plane unwillingly. (Globe and Mail) (The Montreal Gazette) Israel extends a six-month ban on the immigration of Palestinian Arabs married to Israelis. (AFP) A false-alarm bomb scare temporarily shuts down the Egyptian-Israeli border to over 1,000 Nigerian Christians on pilgrimage to Israel. (Vanguard) Law and crime Strict new anti-smoking legislation comes into effect in Spain. (Deutsche Welle) Politics US President Barack Obama signs the 9/11 health bill into law to cover the cost of medical care for rescue workers and others sickened by toxic fumes and dust after the 2001 attack on the World Trade Center. (The New York Times) (CNN) Former Canadian ambassador to the United Nations Paul Heinbecker urges the Canadian government to determine its agenda as global power shifts, particularly towards emerging economies. (CTV) Greece is considering the construction of a fence along its border with Turkey to fend off an ongoing flood of economic migrants from the Middle East and North Africa. (APA), (Hurriyet) via (ANA-MPA) 2010–2011 Tunisian protests: Hacktivist group Anonymous announces 'Operation Tunisia' in solidarity with protestors, successfully bringing down a number of Tunisian state-run websites. (Daily Kos) 2010–2011 Ivorian crisis: Laurent Gbagbo's "Street General" postpones plans for its youth militia to storm the Golf Hotel, where Alassane Ouattara is currently staying, the area surrounded by the New Forces. Supporters of Ouattara renew calls to depose Gbagbo by military intervention. (The Telegraph)(Herald Sun Australia) Thousands of refugees flee the Ivory Coast to neighbouring countries; at least 18,000 of them to Liberia.(euronews) (The East African) (Sky News Australia) Hundreds of Coptic Christians protest in Alexandria and Cairo and shout slogans against Hosni Mubarak's rule following the church bombing, where some people held mass. Egyptian media warns of civil war and increasing sectarian violence between Christians and Muslims, and Pope Benedict XVI publicly condemns the bombing. (Agence Presse-France) (Ahram Online) (Stuff.co.nz) (Miami Herald) (Ahlul Bayt News Agency) Current events of January 3, 2011 (2011-01-03) (Monday) Armed conflicts and attacks A further 35 officers in Bangladesh are sentenced over their involvement in a mutiny in February 2009. (Xinhua) Coptic Christians clash with police in Cairo and Alexandria, Egypt, as they demand more protection for Egypt's Christian minority following a New Year's Day bombing of a Coptic church that killed 21. (Ynet) (Los Angeles Times) Sudanese soldiers kill one woman and rape six others near Attash Camp in South Darfur. (Radio Dabanga) In response to the firing of a Kassam rocket from the Gaza Strip into southern Israel, Israel planes bomb three targets, including two refugee camps and a weapons factory in the Gaza Strip, injuring two people. (The Jerusalem Post) (ABC News) Pakistani forces fire on Indian posts along the border along the Line of Control in the Poonch district of the disputed Kashmir region, in a second ceasefire violation since December 29. (The Hindu) Business and economy Investments in Facebook totaling US$500 million lead to speculation that its value could be as high as US$50 billion. (CNN) Disasters and accidents Floods in Queensland, Australia: The Australian government announces that it will make relief payments of hundreds of millions of dollars for flood victims.(The Australian) The death toll from the floods rises to 10. (Adelaide Now) 7 people are missing after a fishing boat sank in the Xi River in south China. (Straits Times) Two boats capsize off the southern coast of Yemen with a total of 80 people missing. Only three have been found alive. (BBC) (IOL) (Press TV) A six-alarm fire destroys a former hotel built in 1888 and recognized as a heritage building on Toronto's Yonge Street before it was scheduled for demolition; the fire forced the temporary closure of Ryerson University and nearby schools and hot spots remained a danger after extinguishing the fire. Two firefighters who fell into the building were rescued uninjured while arson remains a suspected cause. (CBC) (Toronto Sun) International relations A delegation of African leaders from Benin, Cape Verde, Kenya and Sierra Leone travels to Côte d'Ivoire to offer incumbent President Laurent Gbagbo an amnesty if he resigns from office. (BBC) (Voice of Russia) According to a new Wikileaks document, U.S. ambassador to France, Craig Stapleton, asked Washington to penalize nations, including France, who do not support genetically modified crops.(The Guardian) Law and crime An Iranian judiciary official says that Sakineh Mohammadi Ashtiani could be spared execution by stoning for murder, manslaughter, and adultery, pointing out that ambiguities remain in her case. (The Australian) (Adelaide Now) Politics The second-largest party in Pakistan's coalition, Muttahida Qaumi Movement, quits the government leaving it with a minority in parliament. (CNN) A study reports that 61% of Americans believe the best way to solve the budget deficit is to raise taxes for the wealthiest, in contrast to a plan by Republicans to permanently extend Bush-era tax cuts for the wealthiest Americans(Reuters) Republican U.S. Representative Darrell Issa calls for Attorney General Eric Holder to resign over lack of progress in prosecuting Julian Assange, and plans are announced of holding a congressional inquiry into Wikileaks and Assange. (The Guardian) Science and technology Scientists are investigating the sudden dieoff of over 5,000 red-winged blackbirds in Beebe, Arkansas, United States, on New Year's Eve. (CNN.com) In another event not far way from the bird dieoff, scientists are investigating a fish kill of nearly 100,000 drum in the Arkansas River. (USA Today) China announces a breakthrough in spent nuclear fuel reprocessing technology that could solve the country's uranium supply problem. (China Daily) (BBC) Current events of January 4, 2011 (2011-01-04) (Tuesday) Business and economy Pink Floyd sign a new five-year record deal with EMI after winning a lawsuit regarding digital distribution. (BBC) Value added tax in the United Kingdom is increased from 17.5% to 20%, its highest ever rate. (BBC) Disasters and accidents Russia begins an operation to free 500 people stranded in ships by ice in the Sea of Okhotsk. (BBC) More evacuations take place in Queensland, Australia, as flood waters continued to rise and the Australian prime minister says damages could amount to hundreds of millions of dollars. (CNN) Law and crime Salmaan Taseer, the Governor of the Pakistani province of Punjab, is assassinated by Malik Mumtaz Hussain Qadri, one of his security guards at Koshar Market, Islamabad. (CNN)(BBC) 51-year-old Texan Cornelius Dupree, freed on parole in July 2010 after serving 30 of a 75 year sentence for aggravated robbery, has his conviction quashed after he was found to be innocent of the crime through DNA evidence. (BBC) Politics The Economic Community of West African States says the situation in Côte d'Ivoire is still in a "stalemate", amid the threat of force to remove Laurent Gbagbo. (Reuters) Sudanese President Omar al-Bashir goes to Juba to meet with Southern Sudanese President of the Government Salva Kiir Mayardit ahead of Southern Sudan's independence referendum. (BBC) 2010–2011 Tunisian protests: Reports continue to leak out of the country regarding civil unrest with claims that protests have spread to the city of Thala, where the ruling Constitutional Democratic Rally's offices have been attacked. (Al Jazeera English) Science and technology 10-year-old Canadian Kathryn Gray becomes the youngest person ever to discover a supernova. (BBC) Current events of January 5, 2011 (2011-01-05) (Wednesday) Arts and culture Clarence House confirms that Prince William and Catherine Middleton will be married by the Archbishop of Canterbury, Dr Rowan Williams. Sky News Swedish actor Per Oscarsson and his wife Kia Östling are confirmed dead by dental records after a fire destroyed the couple's house in Skara and the couple perished on December 30, 2010. (The Local) Business and economy Iran and India develop a stop-gap plan to continue the flow of oil from the former to the latter, and payments in the opposite direction, days after India withdrew from the Asian Clearing Union. The new plan involves payments through the EIH Bank, in Hamburg, Germany. (Domain-b) Law and crime A 17-year-old student at Millard South High School, in Omaha, Nebraska, shoots an assistant principal to death and wounds the school principal before turning the gun onto himself. (CNN) A Malaysian coroner records an open verdict in the death of opposition aide Teoh Beng Hock, who fell from the roof of the anti-corruption commission building in July 2009. (BBC) (Malaysia Star) Police investigating the murder of Joanna Yeates make a fresh appeal for information, saying that when discovered, her fully clothed body was missing a sock which may hold important clues. (BBC) In the UK 33 people are convicted for their part in an £80m drugs and money laundering operation. They include Simon Ford, a firefighter commended for his actions during the 7 July London bombings. (BBC) Politics The 112th United States Congress is convened. Republican Representative John Boehner of Ohio is elected Speaker of the House of Representatives, succeeding Democrat Nancy Pelosi of California. (Reuters) The funeral for murdered Punjab Governor Salmaan Taseer takes place in Lahore, Pakistan. (BBC) A Tunisian protester who set himself alight in unrest that sparked further protests across the country dies of his injuries. (Al Jazeera) (AFP) (Reuters) The Nigerian opposition Congress for Progressive Change party select former military ruler Muhammadu Buhari as its presidential candidate for April elections. (Reuters) Kuwaiti Prime Minister Nasser Mohammed Al-Ahmed Al-Sabah narrowly survives a no confidence vote, following a crackdown at an opposition demonstration in December. (AFP) (Al Jazeera) Sports The 2011 World Junior Ice Hockey Championships in Buffalo, U.S.A. ends with Russia defeating Canada 5-3, marking the first time Russia has won a gold medal since 2003. The host American team defeats Sweden in the bronze medal game. (NHL) Bird Deaths There were 3 fairly significant mass bird death events in Italy, Sweden and Romania. (Wiki) Current events of January 6, 2011 (2011-01-06) (Thursday) Armed conflicts and attacks Médecins Sans Frontières accuses the Democratic Republic of the Congo of not doing enough to prevent war rape after 33 women are raped in Fizi, South Kivu, on New Year's Day. (CNN) 2010–2011 Ivorian crisis: At least 14 people in Duékoué, Ivory Coast are killed in clashes between opposing sides in the Presidential election crisis. (ABC News) (BBC) Ivory Coast's President-elect Alassane Ouattara expresses confidence that military action by other West African nations will remove President Laurent Gbagbo, who refuses to leave office after his defeat in recent presidential elections. (CNN) Egyptian police increases security around Coptic churches on the eve of Coptic Christmas, following a bombing in Alexandria on New Year's Day that killed 23 people and sparked protests and riots across the country. (BBC)(AFP)(CNN) An abducted Hungarian civilian, who worked for the UN-African Union peacekeeping mission in Sudan's Darfur region, is released. (All Africa) (AFP) (Radio Dabanga) Israeli troops kill two Palestinians as they attempted to cross a border fence from the Gaza Strip. (Reuters)(Ynet) The U.S. plans to send another 1,400 marines to Afghanistan, where approximately 100,000 U.S. troops are already engaged in the War in Afghanistan. (Reuters) A U.S. soldier receives 90 days hard labour and must testify in the FOB Ramrod kill team case for keeping war souvenir photos, beating a platoon member and smoking hashish while involved with the FOB Ramrod kill team during the War in Afghanistan. (Reuters) Business and economy A French market regulator approves a takeover defense adopted by the Hermès family, who own the manufacturer of Birkin and Kelly handbags. This improves the odds that Hermès will preserve its independence in the face of a bid by LVMH. (Reuters) Disasters and accidents 22 people are killed after a bus falls into a gorge in Uttarakhand, northern India. (NDTV) (Straits Times) International relations The United States protests strongly to Vietnam after a U.S. diplomat is attacked and injured by Vietnamese police when he went to visit a detained religious dissident.(RFA) South Korea dismisses an offer of unconditional talks by North Korea, saying the offer was part of a propaganda campaign. (Reuters) A U.S. plan to force gun dealers in states which border Mexico to report cases where individuals bought multiple high-powered rifles in under 5 days, is stalled due to opposition from gun lobbies. Approximately 90% of crime guns seized in Mexico originate in the U.S., and over 30,000 people have died in Mexico due to drug cartel violence since 2006. (Reuters) Law and crime A French court orders the transfer of Rwandan Hutu leader, Callixte Mbarushimana, arrested in France for his involvement in the Rwandan Genocide, to the International Criminal Court in The Hague. (UPI)(AllAfrica) Indonesia's National Human Rights Commission submits a report to President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono on its investigations into reports of torture of Papuans by soldiers, and urges him to take action against human rights violations by security forces in the eastern Papua region. (AFP) Moroccan authorities arrest 27 people in an Al Qaeda-linked cell in Western Sahara for planning car bombings and suicide attacks on security forces, and bank robberies to finance their activities.(The New York Times) (NPR) Chinese authorities implement new controls on the content of text messages sent to mobile phones according to service providers, including references to democracy, human rights, and corruption.(RFA) Aaron Swartz is arrested by MIT police on state breaking-and-entering charges, after systematically downloading academic journal articles from JSTOR. (Archive.org) Politics and elections Observers prepare to use geostationary satellites to prevent harassment in the run-up to the referendum on independence for South Sudan, by monitoring for voter intimidation, damage to property and other violence. (Financial Mail) Prime Minister of Pakistan Yousaf Raza Gillani cancels recent fuel price increases in an apparent concession to the opposition in an attempt to save his government from collapse after losing its majority in parliament. (Reuters) (Bloomberg) (Houston Chronicle) Laurence Mackenzie resigns as chief executive of Northern Ireland Water in response to the organisation's handling of the recent water shortage in Northern Ireland. (BBC) Sports Asian Football Confederation Executive Committee elections in Doha, Qatar: Mohamed bin Hammam announce that Australia will host the 2015 AFC Asian Cup; this will be the first time Australia has hosted the competition. (the-AFC) Ali bin Al Hussein of Jordan is elected as a Vice President of FIFA. (the-AFC) Ganesh Thapa of Nepal is elected as Vice President of the AFC. (the-AFC) Current events of January 7, 2011 (2011-01-07) (Friday) Armed conflicts and attacks A suicide bomber kills 17 people and wounds at least 20 others in a public bathhouse in Kandahar province, Afghanistan; the Taliban claims responsibility for the attack. (The Washington Post) (AP via Google News) Seven people are killed in Jos and at least two people are killed at a rally in Bayelsa State. (Al Jazeera) Eight people are killed and three injured following an armed attack on a bus traveling between Catacamas and Juticalpa in eastern Honduras. (CNN) (The Jerusalem Post) Six people are killed and 20 injured in political violence in West Bengal, India. (Hindustan Times) South Korea lowers its surveillance alert level against North Korea. (Xinhua) Israeli troops round up five men and kill a 67-year-old Palestinian man during an operation into the West Bank, aiming at arresting members of Hamas. (Haaretz) (BBC) (The Jerusalem Post) Business and economy The Supreme Judicial Court of Massachusetts upholds a lower court ruling that halted the efforts of two large banks to foreclose in cases in which they failed to prove they were holding the mortgages in question. (Reuters) (The New York Times). International relations French President Nicolas Sarkozy and First Lady Carla Bruni begin an official trip to the overseas departments of Guadeloupe and Martinique. (UPI) Ghana says a threat of force by the Economic Community of West African States to remove Ivorian President Laurent Gbagbo would "not bring about peace" in the country. (Bloomberg) Laurent Gbagbo expels the ambassadors for Canada and the United Kingdom from Côte d'Ivoire. Both nations reject the decision, recognizing Alassane Ouattara as the rightful President. (CNN) Chile recognises the State of Palestine. (Ynetnews) (The Jerusalem Post) (The New York Times) Law and crime Dozens of Christians in Iran are arrested, after security forces forcibly entered their homes and verbally and physically abused them, in a crackdown on converts from Islam and evangelical groups, which an Iranian official who confirmed the arrests called an "enemy cultural invasion." (Voice of America) A lawsuit by the estate of Adrian Jacobs against Scholastic, claiming that J. K. Rowling's Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire plagiarised one of his own works, is dismissed by a court in the United States. (BBC) Former British Labour MP David Chaytor is sentenced to 18 months imprisonment for fraudulently claiming more than £20,000 in expenses. (BBC) Politics The United Nations says thousands of people are arriving in Southern Sudan from north Sudan ahead of the independence referendum on Sunday. (Al Jazeera) Parents in China demand compensation after more than 200 children are poisoned by lead. (Reuters) Youths in Algeria riot for a second night in unrest over social and political grievances. (BBC) (Al Jazeera) (Africa News) Youths in Tunisia protest for several days over social (job market, purchase power, goods' price) and political grievances. Lawyers go on strike against police repression of protesters. (The Irish Times) Sports 2011 AFC Asian Cup: The fifteenth edition of AFC Asian Cup is officially opened in Qatar in a ceremony held in the Khalifa International Stadium. (Al Jazeera Sport) Uzbekistan defeats Qatar 2-0 in opening match. (the-AFC) England wins the final Ashes test to clinch the 2010–11 series with a 3-1 victory over Australia. (BBC Sport) Current events of January 8, 2011 (2011-01-08) (Saturday) Armed conflict and attacks Several people are killed in clashes with security forces in Southern Sudan, a day before the independence referendum. (Al Jazeera) Two French hostages kidnapped in Niger on Friday are killed during a rescue attempt by the Nigerien military. (France 24) (Al Jazeera) Israel responds to the shooting dead of a 65-year-old Palestinian civilian in his bed during a pre-dawn raid by ordering an investigation. Troops were attempting to re-arrest five Hamas members who had been released from prison the previous day when they made the fatal error. (Irish Independent) A shooting rampage takes place at a supermarket in Tucson in the U.S. state of Arizona. Twenty are shot, including U.S. Representative Gabrielle Giffords. Six others are confirmed dead, including District Court judge John Roll. (CNN) (Al Jazeera) (BBC) Arts and culture Three academics at Istanbul Bilgi University are fired due to a controversial dissertation project submitted by a student. (BBC) Business and economics 2010–2011 Tunisian protests: At least one person is killed and others are injured in the town of Tala during the latest protests against unemployment and poor living conditions. (Al Jazeera) Algerian protests against food prices and unemployment: Government taxes and duties on sugar and cooking oil in Algeria are lowered in response to three days of unrest over increases in unemployment and the cost of living. (Al Jazeera) Two people are killed and hundreds of others are injured during the protests. (Yemen News Agency) (BBC) Disasters and accidents Freezing temperatures in northern India kill at least 22 people. (AP via Google News) (Sify India) International relations North Korea renews its call for unconditional talks with South Korea. (Yonhap) (Al Jazeera) United States govt. attempts to access private information: It is revealed that the United States has subpoenaed Twitter for personal information regarding people connected to Wikileaks, including founder Julian Assange, suspected source of leaks Bradley Manning, and supporter Birgitta Jónsdóttir, a member of Iceland's Althing. (CNN) (BBC) Icelandic MP Birgitta Jónsdóttir describes attempts by America to access her private information as "completely unacceptable", demands to see the ambassador and begins legal action against the United States. (The Guardian) The WikiLeaks website requests that Google and Facebook make public any subpoenas they are given by the American government. (The Guardian) Iraqi Shia Muslim leader Muqtada al-Sadr urges a rejection of violence and peaceful resistance against the country's "occupiers" in his first public address since his return from exile. (Al Jazeera) Law and crime Chinese prosecutors say more than 600 people were killed over a period of seven years in Yunnan due to official misconduct. (Zee News) (The Straits Times) Current events of January 9, 2011 (2011-01-09) (Sunday) Armed conflicts and attacks The mother of a woman who died in her home during a demonstration against Israel's separation barrier in Bil'in says she died from inhaling massive quantities of tear gas; the Israeli army says she did not die of tear gas inhalation. (The Observer)(The Jerusalem Post) Aftermath of the 2011 Tucson shooting: Officials investigating the shooting, who were seeking a second person of interest, have cleared the other person of involvement in the shooting. (CNN) Cuban revolutionary leader Fidel Castro, known for frequently disagreeing with the United States, condemns the shooting as "atrocious", "absurd" and "unjustifiable". (AP via Fox News) American politician Sarah Palin is criticised for targeting the shot Gabrielle Giffords electoral district with crosshairs on her website along with 19 other rivals before the attack. (The Guardian) Arts and culture Teachers and cultural figures criticise as "foolhardy" the British government's abolition of a scheme intended to improve teaching of the arts in schools. (The Observer) Viewers of UK soap opera EastEnders complain in record numbers about a "hurtful", "unrealistic" and "exploitative" cot death storyline as the BBC sets out to meet the grieving mothers it has upset. (The Independent) (The Observer) A Border Collie is reported to have learned 1022 words, and acts consequently to human citation of those words. (Physorg.com) (Discovery.com) Business and economics The Algerian government cuts food prices amid unrest, and vows to punish those responsible for rioting in recent days. (Al Jazeera) 2010–2011 Tunisian protests: Unrest in Tunisia over youth unemployment continues, with several deaths reported. (Al Jazeera) Disasters and accidents Iran Air Flight 277 crashes with 100 people on board near Orumiyeh in the northeast of the country; at least 50 survive. (BBC) (Press TV) At least 14 people are killed and at least 25 others are injured in a bus crash near Concepción Tutuapa in Guatemala's San Marcos department. (BBC) (Latin American Herald Tribune) International relations Israeli demolition of the historic Shepherd Hotel: Israeli bulldozers begin demolishing a 1930s East Jerusalem hotel to build 20 new settler homes, "destroying all the US efforts and ending any possibility of a return to negotiations" according to a spokesperson for Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas. (BBC) (AP via Fox News) Hillary Clinton calls Israel's demolition of the hotel a "disturbing development" which undermines peace efforts. (Xinhua) The U.S. ambassador to Iceland is summoned in relation to secret United States attempts to access private details concerning Icelandic MP Birgitta Jónsdóttir. The matter is described as "very serious". (AP via Google News) Hillary Clinton of the United States speaks out against Iran in Abu Dhabi during a five-day trip to the United Arab Emirates, Oman and Qatar. She requests that the world increase its pressure on Iran, a country she considers "a serious concern". (Al Jazeera) Demonstrators gather outside the Iranian Embassy in London to protest against an attack on Iranian exiles in Iraq, an attack reportedly ordered by Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki. (BBC) United States Secretary of Defense Robert Gates flies to China for a four-day trip after expressing American worries that the Chinese "clearly have potential to put some of our [military] capabilities at risk", adding that America has "to pay attention to them" and "respond appropriately with our own programmes". (BBC) Chinese Vice Premier Li Keqiang begins a four-day visit to the UK; Scotland and China sign a green energy deal. (BBC) Law and crime An investigation by The Guardian newspaper reveals details of how Metropolitan police officer Mark Kennedy infiltrated dozens of protest groups in 22 countries using the pseudonym Mark Stone. (The Guardian) Prosecutors in the U.K. drop the case against members of a group who were planning to forcefully shut down the coal based Ratcliffe-on-Soar power station temporarily, after the undercover officer, an alleged provocateur in the group, offers to give evidence in support of the activists. (BBC) Politics and elections People in Southern Sudan vote in a referendum on independence. (Al Jazeera) (BBC) (The Observer) (The Global Herald) Ulster Unionist Party leader Tom Elliott accepts an invitation to meet with members of the Northern Ireland Gay Rights Association in a groundbreaking move. (Irish Independent) (The Belfast Telegraph) Current events of January 10, 2011 (2011-01-10) (Monday) Armed conflicts and attacks Aftermath of the 2011 Tucson shooting: A judge denies bail to gunman Jared Loughner, who is accused of killing six and injuring 14 including a federal judge and U.S. Congresswoman. (CBC) Congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords is able to respond correctly to simple commands. (AP) Three people are killed in a clash between Sudanese army and the Sudan Liberation Movement rebel group, in north Darfur, according to the United Nations-led peacekeeping mission. (Bloomberg) A suicide bomber kills two policemen and a civilian, the second attack in four days for which the Taliban claims responsibility, while separately, three policemen are killed in a 'friendly fire' incident as US Vice President Joe Biden arrives for a visit in Afghanistan. (Los Angeles Times) (The New York Times) Palestinians fire three rockets from Gaza, landing in Israel's Ashkelon region, shortly after IDF soldiers kill a 65 year old farmer for unknown reasons, and bomb two sites in the Gaza Strip. (Haaretz) (Ynet) (The Jerusalem Post) ETA declares a permanent and general ceasefire which will be verifiable by the international community. (Gara)(BBC) War in North-West Pakistan: Tens of thousands of people rally in Karachi, Pakistan to demand the release of Mumtaz Qadri, charged with killing Salman Taseer, the provincial governor of Punjab who had campaigned to amend the country's blasphemy laws. (The Australian) Arts and culture Turkey is considering demolishing a giant sculpture, meant to symbolize friendship between Turkey and Armenia, near the city of Kars. (BBC) (AsiaOne)(The Washington Post) Business and economics Trading on the Dhaka Stock Exchange in Bangladesh is halted after it fell by 9.25% in an hour; investors stage protests and clash with riot police. (BBC) (Financial Express Bangladesh) Brazilian Finance Minister Guido Mantega moves to secure the Brazilian real amid concerns expressed in the Financial Times of currency manipulation by the United States, China and others. (BBC) U.S. chemical company DuPont buys out Danish food ingredient and enzyme company Danisco for $5.8billion. (Reuters) Disasters At least eight people die and scores are missing as heavy floods continue in Queensland, Australia. (Radio Australia), (Sydney Morning Herald) International relations Pope Benedict XVI urges Pakistan to repeal its blasphemy law, which carry the death penalty for insulting the Prophet Muhammad. (BBC) EU envoys in the Middle East are urging Brussels to treat East Jerusalem as the future capital of a Palestinian state. (BBC) (Reuters) Venezuelan President Hugo Chávez responds to criticism from Organization of American States Secretary General José Miguel Insulza by saying the OAS is interfering in the country's internal affairs and referring to Insulza as a "spokesman of the empire" during a radio address. (BBC) Law and crime Iranian human-rights lawyer Nasrin Sotoudeh is sentenced to 11 years in prison and banned from practicing law or traveling for 20 years; France condemns the punishment as "deeply shocking" and called for the release of Sotoudeh and another activist, Shiva Nazar-Ahari, who was sentenced to four years in prison and 74 lashes. (Los Angeles Times) (The New York Times) (Reuters) Interpol places 47 Saudis on its most-wanted list after Saudi Arabia accuses them of involvement in the Al-Qaeda terror network. (The Washington Post) (Sify)(The Jerusalem Post) Politics 36 people killed including possibly 20 police as Southern Sudan votes on referendum on independence. (BBC) (MSNBC) Burma's new parliament is to convene on 31 January for the first time following general elections last year. (AFP) (Sify India) (BBC) Universities and schools in Tunisia are closed following unrest, as President Zine El Abidine Ben Ali says a further 300,000 jobs would be created. (Reuters) (AFP) (Al Jazeera) Former Republican United States House of Representatives Majority Leader Tom DeLay is sentenced to three years in prison for money laundering. (New York Post), (Washington Post) More than 150 Israeli university lecturers support a boycott of the University Centre of Samaria in Ariel over concerns of "unbearably harsh conditions" faced by Palestinians living nearby, as well as Ariel being an "illegal settlement" and a roadblock to the establishment of an independent Palestinian state. (The Irish Times)(Al Jazeera) Sport Lionel Messi of Argentina wins the FIFA Ballon d'Or as world football player for the second successive year. (CNN) The Auburn Tigers defeat the Oregon Ducks to win the 2011 BCS National Championship Game. (ESPN) Current events of January 11, 2011 (2011-01-11) (Tuesday) Armed conflicts and attacks 2010–2011 Tunisian protests: Fresh protests break out in Tunisia, in the capital Tunis. (BBC) (Al Jazeera) Up to 50 people are killed following protests against rising unemployment in Tunisia. (AFP via SBS) Assassination of Masoud Alimohammadi: The Iranian government says an Israeli spying network - since dismantled - assassinated the University of Tehran's distinguished professor of elementary particle physics Masoud Alimohammadi; an Iranian foreign ministry spokesperson vows to sue. (Xinhua) The apparent confession of Majid Jamali-Fash is broadcast on television; he says he was hired and trained by Israel before being sent to kill Alimohammadi in Iran. (The Guardian) Lawyers for Julian Assange warn that he could be killed if he is extradited to the U.S. from Britain; Assange draws parallels between the rhetoric of the 2011 Tucson shooting and the language used against him by commentators such as Joe Biden, U.S. Vice President. (AFP) One person is killed and seven injured by a gunman on a train in Egypt. (BBC) Three Georgian Army soldiers are killed and 13 wounded when a mortar bomb explodes during exercises at a military base near Tbilisi, Georgia. (Reuters) At least five people are killed in Abidjan, Ivory Coast, as clashes continue between police and supporters of presidential aspirant Alassane Ouattara. (CNN) An Israeli missile attack kills a Palestinian militant while he was riding a motorcycle in the Gaza Strip.(Reuters) 18 people are killed by attackers armed with machetes in the villages of Wareng and Bardin Laki in Central Nigeria. (Reuters) Disasters At least 13 people are killed by floods and mudslides in Sao Paulo state, Brazil. (BBC) 2010–2011 Queensland floods: The floods in the Australian state of Queensland continue to worsen, with ten people confirmed dead as search and rescue efforts continue to locate dozens of missing people. The Courier-Mail (SBS) (SBS) The Brisbane River breaks its banks in the state capital Brisbane, prompting flood warnings for its central business district as well as several suburbs. (ABC News Australia), (Reuters) Premier of Queensland Anna Bligh declares that three-quarters of the state is a disaster zone. (The Melbourne Age) Thousands of airline flights are cancelled in the south, Great Lakes and northeast regions of the United States due to storms. (AP via Miami Herald) International relations An official investigation in Kyrgzstan into deadly ethnic riots last year reports that local Uzbek leaders were to blame. (BBC) (24.kg News Agency) Law and crime Former British Labour Party MP Eric Illsley, now an Independent, pleads guilty to charges he fraudulently claimed more than £14,000 in parliamentary expenses. (BBC) British television presenter Miriam O'Reilly, 53, wins an employment tribunal case against the BBC for ageism and victimisation, but the tribunal rejects claims of sexism. She had claimed victimisation after being dropped from the BBC One programme Countryfile when it was rescheduled to an evening slot in 2009. (The Guardian) (The Telegraph) (BBC) Dr Conrad Murray is ordered to face a trial for the manslaughter of Michael Jackson in California. (TMZ) Politics and elections Alassane Ouattara rejects an offer by incumbent Ivorian President Laurent Gbagbo to be Vice President. (Al Jazeera) The Palestinian National Authority states it will seek United Nations recognition through both the Security Council and the General Assembly in September. It is currently lobbying nations for recognition during the stalled peace talks with Israel. (AP via Google) (Press TV) Science China successfully tests the Chengdu J-20 Black Eagle, one of its fifth generation stealth, twin-engine fighter aircraft programs. (Shanghai Daily) (AFP via News Limited) Scientists detect streams of antimatter positrons annihilating electrons being responsible for Terrestrial gamma-ray flashes above the tops of thunderstorms. (BBC) The Arctic Sun rises over Ilulissat, Greenland two days earlier than expected. A possible explanation is alterations in atmospheric refraction or inversion from ice crystals that may or may not be the result of global warming. (Daily Mail) (First Post) (LiveScience) Current events of January 12, 2011 (2011-01-12) (Wednesday) Armed conflict and attacks Attacks by men armed with rifles and machetes kill 19 people in three villages, including Kuru Station and Fagawon in central Nigeria. (IOL) War in Afghanistan (2001–present): At least four people are killed in a suicide bombing in the Afghan capital Kabul. (BBC) The Jamaican Coast Guard intercepts a Honduran vessel fishing near Pedro Cays, killing the captain and wounding two crewmen. (AP via ABC) Business and economy Angela Merkel, Chancellor of Germany, reaffirms that country's support for the euro in a joint press conference with the Prime Minister of Italy, Silvio Berlusconi. (Bloomberg) Disasters Australian floods The floods in Queensland, Australia, worsen further with 20,000 properties in the capital Brisbane expected to be flooded and 4,000 homes flooded in the nearby city of Ipswich. (ABC News Australia) The death toll from the floods reaches at least 12 with at least 67 people missing. (News Limited) At least 18 people are killed and one million are made homeless following flooding in Sri Lanka. (Sify India) Floods in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, kill more than 250 people. (BBC) (Reuters) Haitians commemorate the first anniversary of the 2010 earthquake. (AP via Yahoo! News) International relations The South Korean Ministry for Reunification advises that it has reopened Red Cross communications with North Korea over the Panmunjom Border Area. (CNN) (Yonhap) Palestinian militants on the Gaza Strip tell Hamas that they will cease firing rockets at Israel in order to prevent an Israel Defense Forces offensive. (Reuters) Politics 2010–2011 Tunisian protests: Tunisia's Interior Minister Rafik Belhaj Kacem is sacked by President Zine El Abidine Ben Ali, who also orders the release of most people detained during recent unrest. (BBC) Tunisian troops are deployed for the first time in the capital Tunis. (Al Jazeera) The Sudan People's Liberation Army/Movement estimates that turnout in the Southern Sudanese independence referendum has passed the 60% threshold for the result to be declared valid. (AFP) (Al Jazeera) Lebanon's Government led by Prime Minister Saad Hariri collapses following the withdrawal of Hezbollah. (Fox news) (The Australian) The President of the United States Barack Obama addresses the nation about the 2011 Tucson shooting following a visit to Representative Gabrielle Giffords in hospital. (Associated Press) Burma has passed a law enacting conscription for both males and females.(AP via Google)(Democratic Voice of Burma)(Mizzima) Science and medicine The World Health Organization launches a plan to prevent the global spread of an artemisinin-resistant malaria. (Reuters) NASA GISS data shows that global temperatures in 2010 were tied with 2005 for the warmest year on record. (GISS Research News) (The Associated Press) (PR Newswire) Current events of January 13, 2011 (2011-01-13) (Thursday) Armed conflicts and attacks Protests in Tunisia: At least six people are killed in further clashes: three in Menzel Bourguiba, one in Bizerte and one in Tataouine. (Al Jazeera) President Zine El Abidine Ben Ali gives a televised address during which he attempts to appease protesters by vowing not to seek re-election in 2014. He also promises an end to live firing of "real bullets": three more people are killed in the Tunis suburb of Aouina less than an hour later. (Al Jazeera) (BBC) (The Guardian) Forces loyal to incumbent Ivory Coast President Laurent Gbagbo attack and burn United Nations vehicles. (Reuters) (Al Jazeera) A British cruise ship avoids a possible Somali pirate attack 100 miles (160 km) off the coast of Tanzania in the Indian Ocean. (CNN) Israeli–Lebanese conflict: Israel places troops stationed in northern Israel on high alert following the collapse of the Lebanese government. (Haaretz) The Israeli army returns Lebanese shepherd Charbel Tanious Khoury, whom it abducted on Wednesday when he crossed the blue line and entered Israeli territory, after interrogating him. He is the third Lebanese shepherd to be captured by Israel in the past year. Israel conducts 14 surveillance flights over Lebanese territory. (The Daily Star) (AFP via Google News) (Press TV) ("Haaretz") Business and economy Executives of the troubled U.S. book retailer Borders meet with publishers to appeal for financing. (TheStreet.com) United States banks foreclose on a record one million mortgages in 2010. (ABC News Australia) China is reported to have the highest wind power capacity after adding 16GW in 2010, bringing its total to 41.8GW, with the U.S. in second with 40.2GW installed.(Reuters) The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency revokes a permit for a proposed coal mine in West Virginia which would have been one of America's largest citing "destructive and unsustainable mining practices that jeopardize the health of Appalachian communities and clean water". (Reuters) Major credit rating agencies Standard & Poor’s and Moody’s warn the U.S. that its increasing national debt may lead to a lowering of the nation's credit rating.(New York Times) Disasters Floods in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil: The death toll continues to rise, with over 500 confirmed casualties.(AFP via Sydney Morning Herald) President Dilma Rousseff announces a R$ 780 million ($466.2 million) emergency relief budget for the areas affected. (The Telegraph) Floods in Queensland, Australia: Flood waters peak in Brisbane, Australia, missing historic levels but still threatening thousands of homes. (Dow Jones via Wall Street Journal) The death toll reaches at least 15 and is expected to rise as search and rescue efforts continue. (The Australian), (3AW), (ABC News) More than one million people are affected by flooding in Sri Lanka, with 21 dead and 270,000 made homeless. (The Hindu) 10 people are killed in a hotel fire in Hunan, China. (UPI) (Shanghai Daily) Three people drown and six are missing after a boat taking people home from an engagement ceremony capsized in northern Vietnam. (The Straits Times) A tanker carrying sulfuric acid capsizes in the Rhine River in Germany with two crew members missing. (Deutsche Welle) International relations Tajikistan's lower house of parliament ratifies an agreement to turn over 380 square miles (approx. 1,000 square kilometers) of territory to the People's Republic of China, ending a century-old conflict over disputed territory. (Jerusalem Post) (Press TV) (BBC) Prime Minister of Turkey Recep Tayyip Erdoğan responds to Avigdor Liberman's recent controversial comments about Turkey by advising Israel to replace him with another person in his role as foreign minister. Editorials in right and left-wing Israeli newspapers also call for Liberman to be sacked after his comments offended Israel's Turkish counterparts. (The Daily Telegraph) (Al Jazeera) Law and crime The WikiLeaks website honours a pledge made in July by offering financial aid to the legal team of Bradley Manning, a soldier accused by the United States of providing secret U.S. embassy cables for international public consumption. (The Guardian) A German pornographer is sentenced to four years imprisonment in Somaliland. (BBC) Politics Thousands of members of Nigeria's ruling People's Democratic Party begin voting on whether incumbent President Goodluck Jonathan should be their choice of candidate in April presidential elections. (Reuters) The Southern Sudanese independence referendum, 2011 is confirmed by organisers to have had a turnout above the necessary threshold needed for it to be valid. (Al Jazeera) Taoiseach Brian Cowen again announces he is not resigning amid continuing speculation of a motion of no confidence following his admission that he dined and played golf with Anglo Irish Bank chairman Seán FitzPatrick before the bank's nationalisation. (BBC) (The Guardian) (TV3) (The Irish Times) (Herald Sun) Voters in the English constituency of Oldham East and Saddleworth go to the polls for a by-election resulting in a win by Labour candidate Debbie Abrahams. (UKPA via Google News), (The Guardian) U.S. Senator Kay Bailey Hutchison, a Republican from Texas, announces she will not seek re-election in 2012. (AP via Fox News) Science and medicine South Korea buries 1.4 million domestic pigs alive after an outbreak of foot-and-mouth disease. (Huffington Post) (Daily Mail) Researchers discover prions spreading through airborne transmission on aerosol particles, in an animal testing experiment focusing on scrapie infection in laboratory mice. (New Scientist) Sport 2011 AFC Asian Cup: Japan controversially beat Syria by a score of 2-1 in the 2011 AFC Asian Cup. (Al Jazeera) Saudi Arabia exit the tournament after an error against Jordan. (Al Jazeera) North Korea is to host its first ever golf tournament, on a course used by leader Kim Jong-il. (AFP) Current events of January 14, 2011 (2011-01-14) (Friday) Armed conflicts and attacks 2010–2011 Tunisian protests: Thousands of people protest across the country demanding the resignation of President Zine El Abidine Ben Ali. (BBC) President of Tunisia Zine El Abidine Ben Ali fires his government and imposes a state of emergency on the country. (Al Jazeera) Prime Minister of Tunisia Mohamed Ghannouchi becomes interim President of Tunisia as Zine El Abidine Ben Ali leaves the country. (France 24) (The Guardian) (Voice of America) Lawyers suggest Mohammed Ghannouchi's taking on of presidential powers goes against the Constitution of Tunisia. (Al Jazeera) International media commentators hail events as the "end of an era" and "truly remarkable". (Al Jazeera) (Atlanta Journal-Constitution) A perceived lack of television coverage of the Tunisian protests by western media is criticized. (OpEd News) Mexican Drug War: 14 people are killed in a shootout after 100 soldiers, marines and police in Xalapa, Veracruz, surround a house. (BBC) (IOL) At least 10 people arrested in clashes between police and protesters in Yemen. (Xinhua) Somali pirates capture six crew from Denmark and the Philippines leaving the ship intact. They are thought to be held on a captured Taiwanese fishing boat. (BBC) (Taiwan News) Israeli riot police and Palestinian youths clash in the East Jerusalem neighbourhood of Silwan. (Al Jazeera) 2011 Tucson shooting: American politician Sarah Palin uses the term "blood libel" to describe those who criticized her for the use of inflammatory rhetoric, leading to an uproar. (The Independent) (Daily Mail) (The Sydney Morning Herald) 9 year old Christina-Taylor Green, the youngest victim killed in the shooting, is buried. (BBC) The death toll due to the political crisis in the Ivory Coast reaches 247 since the November 28th election.(Reuters) Arts and culture The Taliban abandons its opposition to female education in Afghanistan due to a "cultural change". (BBC) Israel increases access to the Little Western Wall for worshippers: it is an important Jewish site located in the Muslim Quarter of Jerusalem's Old City. (AFP via Google News) (The Independent) Blues musician Etta James is diagnosed with dementia and is undergoing treatment for leukaemia. (BBC) American actress Zsa Zsa Gabor has her leg amputated. (AP via Google News)(BBC) Business and economy Thousands of people march through the cities of Amman, Ma'an, Karak, Salt and Irbidin and other parts of Jordan, objecting to the government's inability to stop poverty and increased living costs. Prime Minister Samir Rifai, described as a "coward", is asked to resign. (Al Jazeera) (Press TV) (AFP via Google News) (Reuters Africa) British-based global oil and gas company BP signs a deal with Russian oil firm Rosneft to exploit potentially huge deposits of oil and gas in Russia's Arctic shelf. (BBC) Amnesty International criticises the British government for spending nearly £1 billion on 30 Watchkeeper WK450 unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) which Israel's military allegedly "field-tested on Palestinians" during the Gaza War. (Sky News) Disasters and accidents More than 100 pilgrims are killed in an evening stampede at Sabarimala. (The Daily Telegraph) (Times of India) January 2011 Rio de Janeiro floods and mudslides: The disaster is declared Brazil's worst ever as the death toll exceeds 500, with additional people missing and more fatalities expected. (AFP via Yahoo! News) (Al Jazeera) (Vancouver Sun) Rescue work is carried out to attempt to locate survivors in remote areas of south-eastern Brazil. (BBC) The death toll reaches 537. (Al Jazeera) (Xinhua) Australian floods: Brisbane cleans its mud and debris which was left behind during recent flooding there. (BBC) Several rivers flood in the southern state of Victoria, including in the capital Melbourne. (NineMSN) Heavy rains hamper rescue efforts in Sri Lanka following flooding and mudslides that have killed at least 27 people. (AFP) New Caledonia and its Loyalty Islands are simultaneously struck by a 7.0 earthquake and Tropical Cyclone Vania. (eTN) International relations Israel's Press Office apologises for what The Jerusalem Post dubbed "Bra-Gate" - the security screening of several international journalists forced to remove their underwear and denial of entry to Al Jazeera producer Najwan Simri Diab after she refused to remove her bra. Najwan Simri Diab says she did not wish for an apology, only to be assured that it won't happen again. (Sify) (The Jerusalem Post) (Ynetnews) (Al Jazeera) Veteran Irish Labour Party TD Michael D. Higgins demands that the British government explain why one of Britain's undercover policemen was operating on Republic of Ireland territory on May Day 2004, as the European Union expanded to the east. Higgins compares it to illegal activities carried out by British state agents in the same country during the 1970s. (The Guardian) A closed-door briefing occurs at New York City's United Nations building. Behind it around 150 non-American diplomats object to the American government about a decision by the country's banks to end services for diplomatic missions, with some diplomats suggesting the UN budget could be affected. (BBC) Guyana formally recognizes Palestine as an independent state as part of its "long-standing and unwavering solidarity with, and commitment to, the just and legitimate aspirations of the people of Palestine for the exercise of their right to self-determination and to achieve a homeland of their own, independent, free, prosperous and at peace", a foreign ministry statement says. (Al Jazeera) South Africa's chief rabbi Warren Goldstein criticises a controversial petition launched by three Jewish Capetonians calling for Archbishop Emeritus and Nobel Peace laureate Desmond Tutu to be axed as patron of two Holocaust centers. (IOL) The Obama administration in the United States eases travel and other restrictions on Cuba. (ABC News) Law and crime The United States Treasury Department says "no" to calls by enraged American politicians to have Julian Assange and the WikiLeaks website added to its economic blacklist or sanctions list like so-called "terrorist groups". The Treasury Department cites a lack of "evidence at this time". (CBS News) A military court in Rwanda sentences four former top officials who were allies of President Paul Kagame to long prison sentences in absentia. (BBC) Prime Minister of Italy Silvio Berlusconi is summoned to a prostitution investigation to deal with allegations of "improperly assisting" 17-year-old nightclub dancer he had at one of his private parties. (Al Jazeera) (The Guardian) A court in America sentences Abdel Nur of Guyana to 15 years imprisonment after charging him with participation in a plot to blow up fuel tanks at John F. Kennedy International Airport in New York City. (BBC) 2 British footballers are questioned in relation to allegations resulting from a sex assault at a party. (BBC) Politics and elections Michael Ogio is elected Governor-General of Papua New Guinea by parliament, defeating Sir Pato Kakaraya, by a 65 to 23 vote margin. (Radio Australia) The Parliament of Kazakhstan unanimously approves a referendum extending President Nursultan Nazarbayev's rule until 2020. (RIA Novosti) (AP) Nigeria's ruling People's Democratic Party nominates incumbent President Goodluck Jonathan as its candidate for April presidential elections. (AFP) (Africa News) Prime Minister of Japan Naoto Kan reshuffles his Cabinet. (CNN) (AP via Yahoo! News) In the UK, Labour wins the Oldham East and Saddleworth by-election with a majority of more than 3,500. (BBC) Reince Priebus of Wisconsin is elected as the chairman of the United States Republican National Committee. (MSNBC) At a university seminar in New Delhi, India's home secretary G. K. Pillai announces unexpected plans to reduce security forces in Kashmir by 25 per cent so that "people don't get harassed by the over-presence of security forces". (Al Jazeera) Science New guidelines published in the BMJ (British Medical Journal) call on mothers to begin weaning their babies off breast milk before six months, contradicting World Health Organization advice from 2001. (The Guardian) Current events of January 15, 2011 (2011-01-15) (Saturday) Armed conflicts and attacks 2010–2011 Tunisian protests: Former President of Tunisia Zine El Abidine Ben Ali flees with his family to Saudi Arabia, after being rejected by France. (BBC) Saudi Arabia confirms it is welcoming ousted Zine El Abidine Ben Ali and his family into the kingdom due to "exceptional circumstances" in Tunisia; people in Saudi Arabia and people elsewhere criticise the decision to offer sanctuary to "the dictator" on the Internet. (Al Jazeera) At least 42 people are killed during one fire in the city of Monastir in the central east of the country, the current deadliest single incident of the month-long protests. (Ennahar) (Ynetnews) (Reuters) (Al Jazeera) Imed Trabelsi, a wealthy nephew-in-law of ousted President of Tunisia Zine El Abidine Ben Ali who was "elected" mayor of La Goulette, is slain. (ABS-CBN News and Current Affairs) Tunisia gets another new Acting President, its second in two days, as 78-year-old speaker of parliament Fouad Mebazaa is sworn in. He claims all Tunisians "without exception" are now to be allowed participate in national politics. (Oneindia) (BBC) Members of the Tunisian Armed Forces are stationed in the centre of Tunis following outbreaks of random shootings. (Reuters) A night curfew is back in force in Tunisia. (ABC News) International response to events in Tunisia: Jordanians echo events in Tunisia by staging their own protests against soaring food prices. (The Guardian) Libyan leader Muammar al-Gaddafi describes himself as "very pained" by events in the neighbouring country. (Reuters Africa) Tunisian communities across Canada rally in support of the uprising that ousted President Zine El Abidine Ben Ali yesterday. (Toronto Star) A US marine shoots and kills an Afghan police officer after the officer advanced on him with his weapon raised. (Reuters) An Iraqi soldier opens fire on U.S. troops at a training centre, killing two and injuring another before being killed himself.(Reuters) Arts and culture The online encyclopedia Wikipedia celebrates the tenth anniversary of its founding. (CBC) (Al Jazeera) Advocates of free speech march through the streets of Sydney in support of WikiLeaks spokesperson Julian Assange, who is in England battling attempts by Sweden to have him extradited. Greens MP David Shoebridge addresses the crowd and calls for support from the Australian government. (Herald Sun) In Westminster Cathedral, three Anglican bishops are ordained as Catholic priests. (The Guardian) Business and economy Rafael Ramírez, energy minister for Venezuela, a member of the Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries, played down concern that rising oil prices may choke off the world's still-tentative recovery, and said there is no need of an emergency meeting of OPEC. (Reuters) Disasters Brazilian soldiers arrive in Teresópolis as the death toll from floods and mudslides during Brazil's deadliest disaster passes 600. (BBC) (Al Jazeera) (Xinhua) The United Nations seeks emergency aid for Sri Lanka: as many as 390,000 people are made homeless and thousands of houses are destroyed in the disaster there. (The Guardian) The South Africa government is to declare parts disaster areas: 40 people have died in floods. (BBC) 13,000 properties in rural Victoria in Australia are flooded. (ABC News Australia) International relations British police undercover spy ring operating across Europe: Veteran Labour Party TD Michael D. Higgins writes to the Irish Department of Justice regarding the activities of undercover British police officer Mark Kennedy, who infiltrated protest movements across Europe, including several on Republic of Ireland territory. He describes it as "of grave concern" and that "this type of activity undermines respect for the law and it is very sinister in that it can damage good causes." (The Irish Times) A third British police spy is identified as the revelations continue. This one, a 44-year-old male officer, infiltrated a group in Cardiff, Wales. (The Guardian) Iranian diplomatic tour and medical discovery: A group of international diplomats begins a two-day tour given by Iran as a gesture of goodwill and transparency in response to foreign concerns over its nuclear program. The European Union, Russia, and the People's Republic of China refuses its invitation. (BBC) (Al Jazeera) Iran unveils domestically-produced deuterated compounds to the international diplomats at Arak heavy water plant; Ali Akbar Salehi, acting Iranian Foreign Minister and head of the Atomic Energy Organization of Iran (AEOI), hails the achievement for its use in medical research. (Xinhua) The Southern Sudanese independence referendum, 2011 ends. (Al Jazeera) Politics French Health Minister Xavier Bertrand vows to revamp France's medical regulatory system after an official report said the diabetes drug Mediator, which killed 2,000 people, should have been banned 10 years earlier. (BBC) China may station troops in North Korea to protect its investment projects and citizens.(Yahoo News)(Press TV) Sports 2011 AFC Asian Cup in Qatar: Iran defeats Korea DPR 1-0 and qualified for the knockout stage as first nation. Iraq defeats United Arab Emirates 1-0. The 2011 Dakar Rally's 13th and final stage concluded in Buenos Aires, Argentina. (dakar.com) Truck: Vladimir Chagin of Russia, in a Kamaz, won the truck division for the record-breaking seventh time. Chagin is the most successful driver in any category. (RIA Novosti) Car: Nasser Al-Attiyah of Qatar, with co-driver Timo Gottschalk of Germany won in their Volkswagen. This is the first Dakar win by an Arab and third in a row for VW. (IOL Motoring) Motorcycle: Spain's Marc Coma posted his third straight title in the motor bike division on a KTM. Coma is the first Spaniard to record three wins at Dakar. (gizmag.com) (TypicallySpanish.com) Quad: Argentina's Alejandro Patronelli, the 2010 runner-up, won the three-year-old quadbike class on a Yamaha. His brother, Marcos Patronelli, was the 2010 champion. (New York Times) (Momemento24.com) Current events of January 16, 2011 (2011-01-16) (Sunday) Armed conflicts and attacks 2010–2011 Tunisian protests: Ali Seriati, the former head of presidential security, is arrested and accused of threatening state security by fomenting violence. (BBC) Gunfire is heard in the capital Tunis as political leaders attempt to form a new government. (Al Jazeera) Southern Sudanese leader Salva Kiir calls on the people of South Sudan to forgive the north for killings during the civil war. (BBC) (AFP) The online edition of The New York Times reports that U.S. and Israeli intelligence services collaborated in the development of the destructive computer worm Stuxnet to record Iranian operations and send them spinning out of control ahead of a sabotage attack against Iran. Testing is reported to have occurred at the heavily guarded Dimona complex in the Negev desert in Israel. (The New York Times) Nine civilians are killed in Baghlan, Afghanistan on their way to a wedding when they were blown up: 6 civilians are killed and 3 civilians are injured in Helmand after a minibus and a bomb collide. (BBC) (Al Jazeera) Arts and culture The Social Network wins Best Motion Picture – Drama, while Colin Firth and Natalie Portman win Best Actor and Best Actress- Drama at the 68th Golden Globe Awards. (Moviefone) Disasters A ship carrying 263 migrants sinks off the coast of Greece; 22 are missing. (AP) Further landslides and more rain are feared in Brazil which is dealing with the worst disaster in its history. (Al Jazeera) Three people are killed in a stampede at a three-storey nightclub in the Hungarian capital Budapest. (BBC) Law and crime A man is sentenced to death in Egypt for killing Copts at a Christmas mass a year ago. (CNN) (Xinhua) Mark Kennedy, the undercover British police officer who posed as an activist, flees to the United States after his cover is blown. (Scottish Daily Record) (The Independent on Sunday) Supporters of the Pirate Party of Canada hold a protest in Calgary for increased freedom of the press and government transparency in defense of Julian Assange and the WikiLeaks website. (Calgary Herald) Magistrate Ilda Boccassini promises to cut pre-trial hearings and have Silvio Berlusconi's prostitution case in court by the summer. (The Observer) Politics and elections Iran has continued covert attempts to purchase technology for its nuclear program through more than 350 companies, despite UN sanctions on Iran, the Norwegian newspaper Aftenposten reported, citing US diplomatic cables released by WikiLeaks. (Reuters) (The Jerusalem Post) The approval rating of Japanese Prime Minister Naoto Kan improves to 34% following a cabinet reshuffle. (AFP) (Daily Yomiuri) Leadership challenge to Taoiseach Brian Cowen: Taoiseach Brian Cowen announces his intention to lead the ruling Fianna Fáil party into the upcoming general election after spending the past two days consulting his party. He offers his colleagues a secret motion of confidence ballot in his leadership, scheduled for Tuesday. (BBC) Minister for Foreign Affairs Micheál Martin resigns and vows to challenge Cowen's leadership in the vote on Tuesday. (The Irish Times) (RTÉ) (BBC) Libyan leader Muammar al-Gaddafi reaches 41 years in power; there are less than 24 months left until he is scheduled to become Africa's longest serving ruler, overtaking former Gabonese President Omar Bongo who died in 2009. (ZimEye) France's National Front confirms 42-year-old Marine Le Pen as party leader, succeeding her father Jean-Marie Le Pen. (BBC) Saad Hariri becomes caretaker Prime Minister of Lebanon following the collapse of his government due to resignation of 11 opposition ministers. (Daily Star) Former Haitian President Jean-Claude Duvalier returns to the country. (Reuters) An arrest warrant is sought in South Africa for Israeli Opposition leader, Tzipi Livni, of the Kadima Party, for alleged war crimes committed when she was Foreign Affairs Minister during the 2008-2009 Gaza War. (Haaretz) (The Jerusalem Post) Sports 2011 AFC Asian Cup in Qatar: Uzbekistan draws with China PR 2-2 but qualifies for the knockout stage. (AFC) Qatar defeats Kuwait 3-0 and qualifies for the knockout stage. (AFC) NFL Playoffs New York Jets defeat the New England Patriots Current events of January 17, 2011 (2011-01-17) (Monday) Armed conflicts and attacks An explosion destroys a bus in the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province of Pakistan, killing 18. (The Guardian) A partial curfew is imposed in parts of Karachi, Pakistan, aimed at ending a surge in ethnic and political violence that has claimed 29 lives in the past four days. 9 (The Times of India) (Daily Times) Business and economy Farmers in Argentina halt sales of wheat, corn and soy in a strike over export curbs. (Al Jazeera) Walmart's bid for South African retail store Massmart is approved by shareholders, with organized labour groups such as the Congress of South African Trade Unions threatening boycotts against the store.(Reuters) GlaxoSmithKline pays out $3.4 billion last quarter in legal settlings over their drug Avandia. (Reuters) (AP via Google) Disasters and accidents 39 people are killed in South Africa and thousands of homes are destroyed in Mozambique following widespread flooding. (Reuters) Hundreds of people are hospitalised after an extreme cold spell in northern Vietnam that has also killed thousands of cows and buffaloes. (Straits Times) International relations The President of Armenia accuses Turkey of "destroying" a bid to normalize relations between the two countries, who are locked in a dispute over the mass killings of Armenians by Ottoman Turks during World War I. (The Jerusalem Post) Law and crime Two judges are fired and a court official suspended in China over a life sentence imposed on a man who evaded thousands in motorway toll fees. The ruling is also overturned. (BBC) (NDTV) (Global Times) A woman is sentenced to six months imprisonment in Mauritania for keeping two children in slave-like conditions. (BBC) Rudolf Elmer, a former Swiss banker of Julius Baer passes files detailing tax evasion attempts by hundreds of politicians, celebrities and business leaders to Wikileaks. (Al Jazeera) Politics and elections Nearly 1,400 members of the ruling Communist Party of Vietnam gathers to vote for new leaders. (AFP) (Saigon Daily) A man sets himself on fire outside the parliament building in Cairo, Egypt. Copycat burnings also take place in Algeria and Mauritania. (Reuters) (BBC) (Al Jazeera) The leader of the Israeli Labor Party Ehud Barak and four other Labor Party MKs announce their resignation from the party and the formation of a new "centrist Zionist and democratic" faction called "Independence". (Jerusalem Post) 2010–2011 Tunisian protests: Anti-government demonstrations continue to take place as a new cabinet is named. (BBC) (Sky News) Transport A computer glitch temporarily halts all bullet trains in northern and central Japan, affecting thousands of passengers. (Philippine Inquirer) (Japan Times) Current events of January 18, 2011 (2011-01-18) (Tuesday) Armed conflicts and attacks War in North-West Pakistan: A US drone attack kills five militants in a compound in northwest Pakistan. (AP) Three Sudanese army officers are killed in a clash between rebel forces and the army in western Darfur. (Bloomberg) Israeli tanks enter the northern Gaza Strip; some fighting occurs killing one Palestinian and injuring two others in response to Palestinian militants who had detonated an explosive device targeting an army patrol along the border (BBC)(Tehran Times) (The Jerusalem Post) The Republic of China (Taiwan) conducts live-fire missile tests. (Focus Taiwan) (BBC) Nigerian Sharia conflict: Nigerian soldiers are granted permission to shoot to kill "to protect civilians" in Jos. (BBC) A 25-year-old unemployed male dies after setting himself on fire in Alexandria. Another man, aged 40, sets himself on fire in Cairo in protests against rising prices. (BBC) Business and economy The U.S. Federal Communications Commission and the U.S. Justice Department approve a $28 billion merger of Comcast and NBC Universal with critics complaining of even greater media consolidation in the U.S. and how this merger removes competitive forces and hurts consumers. (NPR)(Common Dreams) European Union finance ministers agree to more stringent methodology to "stress test" the same 91 European banks tested in 2010. This is due to happen in May. (Al Jazeera) TV channel Headlines Today alleges that some "Indian-sounding names" feature in Swiss Bank secret accounts data retrieved from a former Swiss banker by Julian Assange, spokesperson for the WikiLeaks website. (The Times of India) Farmers begin a seven-day strike in Argentina. (BBC) Delta Air Lines says that it expects sharp fuel cost increases in 2011, perhaps to $2.60 a gallon from $2.47 last year. (MarketWatch) Apple records record profits of $6 billion as consumers consumed more of its products than was thought. (BBC) Disasters and accidents Brazil's military increases rescue and supply operations following the worst disaster in the country's history. (BBC) South Africa declares eight of its nine provinces disaster areas following the deaths of 41 people during floods. (BBC) Hundreds of flood victims in Sri Lanka protest over the alleged unfair distribution of emergency aid. (AFP via Google News) International relations President of Russia Dmitry Medvedev, on his first visit to the West Bank as head of state, confirms "support [for] the inalienable right of the Palestinian people to an independent state with its capital in East Jerusalem." (Al Jazeera) (The Jerusalem Post) The Puntland autonomous region of Somalia says it is "breaking away" from the federation until a legitimate government is put in place. (Al Jazeera) Chinese President Hu Jintao begins a four-day state visit to the United States. (BBC) (Al Jazeera) Law and crime The British government suggests the Association of Chief Police Officers (Acpo), a private company run by police chiefs, ought to have its power to run undercover spies removed after recent revelations about Mark Kennedy, policeman and undercover spy on international activists, as it acknowledges for the first time that "something had gone very wrong". (The Guardian) Arrest of Jean-Claude "Baby Doc" Duvalier: Haitian authorities arrest former president Jean-Claude Duvalier. (Reuters via Alertnet) (BBC) Corruption and theft charges are filed against Duvalier. (Al Jazeera) Sudanese police arrest opposition leader Hassan al-Turabi and eight others after they called for a "popular revolution" if price rises were not reversed. (Reuters) Politics and elections Situation in Tunisia: Tunisia's interim President Fouad Mebazaa and Prime Minister Mohammed Ghannouchi resign from the ruling Constitutional Democratic Rally party amid a row over the make-up of the new government. (BBC) (AFP via Google News) Four ministers resign. (Al Jazeera) France defends itself, alleging that it "had not seen these events coming any more than anyone else." (BBC) Situation in Ireland: Taoiseach Brian Cowen wins a vote of confidence in his leadership, a secret ballot held at a meeting of the Fianna Fáil parliamentary party in Dublin. (BBC) (RTÉ) Minister for Foreign Affairs Micheál Martin resigns. (Bloomberg) Emir of Qatar Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani appoints Mohammed Saleh al-Sada as Energy Minister, succeeding Abdullah Al-Attiyah in a cabinet reshuffle. (Al Jazeera) Voting continues at a congress of the Communist Party of Vietnam as it selects a new leadership. (AP via Google News) (Times Live') United States Senate: Kent Conrad, a Democrat from North Dakota, announces he will not run again in the 2012 Senate election. (Fox News) Joe Lieberman, an independent from Connecticut who caucuses with the Democrats, also decides not to run for re-election in 2012. (The New York Times) Current events of January 19, 2011 (2011-01-19) (Wednesday) Armed conflicts and attacks An army commander in the Democratic Republic of the Congo is accused of leading a recent mass rape in Fizi of at least 50 women. (BBC) A suicide bomber driving an ambulance kills at least 12 people and injures another 50 in Iraq's Diyala Governorate. (Reuters) A suicide bomber kills at least 13 civilians in Afghanistan's Paktika Province. (Reuters via Alertnet) 1 US service member was killed in Afghanistan. Spc. Joshua T. Lancaster Business and economy China and the United States sign a $45 billion export deal, including 200 Boeing airplanes. (BBC) (Al Jazeera) Disasters A 7.2 magnitude earthquake hits Pakistan with an epicentre 50 kilometres west of the town of Dalbandin. (The Telegraph) The death toll from the Brazilian floods and mudslides reaches at least 765. (CNN) Health and wellness American Samoa bans smoking in all public and private enclosed spaces. (RNZI) International relations President Hu Jintao of China is welcomed at an official ceremony at the White House by U.S. President Barack Obama. (CNN) Palestine calls for the "immediate, full lifting of the Israeli blockade" and "the sustained opening of Gaza's border crossings for the movement of persons and goods." during a debate at the UN Security Council.(Xinhua) Law and crime Rudolf Elmer: Former Swiss bank employee Rudolf Elmer, who passed details of rich tax evaders to the WikiLeaks website, is found guilty of breaching Switzerland's strict bank secrecy laws. (BBC) Rudolf Elmer is then arrested by Swiss police. (IOL) (BBC) Jean-Claude Duvalier: Haitian authorities file corruption and theft charges against former president Jean-Claude Duvalier. (Al Jazeera) Duvalier is sued for torture and other crimes against humanity by former United Nations spokeswoman Michèle Montas and three Haitians jailed during Duvalier's rule. (BBC) Two attempts in South Africa to arrest former Israeli foreign minister Tzipi Livni for alleged war crimes during the war on Gaza are rejected. (Al Jazeera) Prime Minister of Italy Silvio Berlusconi gives a ten-minute television address vowing to punish those investigating him in relation to claims he purchased an under-age prostitute. (BBC) The British Home Office says that American pastor Terry Jones is excluded from the UK for the public good. (BBC) Prosecutors in the U.S. state of Pennsylvania charge a Philadelphia illegal abortionist with eight counts of murder for killing a patient and seven live born babies. (AP via Google) A United States Federal grand jury indicts Jared Lee Loughner for attempted murder of Arizona Congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords and two of her aides with further charges pending. (Reuters), (AP via Washington Post) Politics and elections Nguyễn Phú Trọng is elected as General Secretary of Communist Party of Vietnam to succeed Nông Đức Mạnh. (Communist Party official) The opening of the Afghan parliament is delayed by a month amid allegations of fraud in the parliamentary election. (AFP via ABC Online) Tunisia frees all of its remaining political prisoners. (Reuters) Situation in Ireland: Taoiseach Brian Cowen tells his government he is to take on the foreign affairs portfolio after his challenger Micheál Martin's resignation yesterday. President Mary McAleese accepts Martin's resignation. (BBC) Irish Minister for Health and Children Mary Harney announces her resignation and decision not to contest the upcoming general election, becoming the second ministerial resignation in as many days. (RTÉ) (The Irish Times) Current events of January 20, 2011 (2011-01-20) (Thursday) Armed conflicts and attacks At least 50 people are killed and more than 150 others are injured in two bomb attacks near Karbala. (BBC) (Al Jazeera) (Times of India) The Israeli military shoots dead an armed man who attacked a checkpoint near Mevo Dotan in the West Bank. (BBC)(Ynet) Somali pirates seize a Mongolian bulk carrier off the coast of Oman. (Reuters) Muslim separatists in southern Thailand kill four soldiers in an attack on an army base. (BBC) (Thai News Agency) Two bomb blasts occur simultaneously in Makiyivka, Ukraine. No injuries are reported and the responsible group threatens more bombings unless they are paid off. (The Sofia Echo) Iraq Inquiry documents show former British prime minister Tony Blair was offered an alternative to attacking Iraq during a secret meeting held eight days before its soldiers invaded the country in 2003. (The Guardian) Arts and culture Prejudice against Muslims is declared socially acceptable and Britain is becoming less tolerant according to Sayeeda Warsi, Baroness Warsi, the first female British Muslim cabinet member, in a speech at the University of Leicester. (Al Jazeera) (BBC) (The Daily Telegraph) Palme d'Or winner Uncle Boonmee Who Can Recall His Past Lives is denied a nomination at the Academy Awards in the foreign language film category. (BBC) Three works of art stolen from a museum 15 years ago are retrieved. (BBC) Disasters Save the Children launches a £1 million appeal to help assist up to 400,000 children it expects are affected by a food crisis following Sri Lanka's worst floods in recent history. (The Guardian) International relations South Korea accepts North Korea's proposal of high-level military talks to discuss "pending issues". (Al Jazeera) (Yonhap) (Reuters) The Vatican is said to be "troubled" by the latest sex scandal engulfing Italy's prime minister Silvio Berlusconi, alleging that Berlusconi purchased an under-age prostitute. (BBC) President of Afghanistan Hamid Karzai, accompanied by ministers and business leaders, arrives in Russia. (Al Jazeera) Chinese president Hu Jintao receives a hostile reception from the United States Congress; the country is accused of bullying its neighbours and its rulers are described as "Nazis". (The Guardian) The largest rocket ever launched from the west coast of the U.S. is launched carrying a secret payload; speculated to be a spy satellite.(Reuters) Law and crime Customs officials in Hong Kong seize a haul of cocaine worth US$33.4m bound for China, originating from Bolivia. (BBC) (RTHK) New trials are reported to be starting soon at Guantánamo Bay after the United States Congress blocks President of the United States Barack Obama's attempts to close the prison; The Pentagon refuses to comment. (The Guardian) Haiti's former president Jean-Claude "Baby Doc" Duvalier, now facing charges of corruption and theft of funds, hopes to becomes president again, according to his lawyer. (Al Jazeera) A 32-year-old man is arrested on suspicion of murdering Bristol woman Joanna Yeates. (Sky News) One of the largest hauls of illegal chimpanzee and gorilla parts is seized by officials in Gabon. (BBC) (WWF) (Afrol News) Agents of the United States charge 127 alleged mafia members in the northeast of the country. (BBC) (Al Jazeera) (AP via The Guardian) The Daily Nation publishes a picture of a police officer apparently shooting a male at point-blank range on a main road in Nairobi; Amnesty condemns the incident and three police officers are suspended. (BBC) Politics and elections Situation in Tunisia: Tunisia's army fires warning shots as citizens protest the current government and wave baguettes in a call for an end to food shortages. (AP via The Guardian) Tunisia's new interim government holds its first cabinet meeting. (BBC) More ministers resign from the Constitutional Democratic Rally party that had governed the country. (UPI) (Africa Review) Situation in Ireland: Minister for Transport Noel Dempsey, Minister for Justice and Law Reform Dermot Ahern and Minister for Defence Tony Killeen all resign following the recent resignations of Minister for Health and Children Mary Harney and Minister for Foreign Affairs Micheál Martin. (RTÉ) (AFP) The Green Party threaten to pull out of government. (Reuters Canada) Brian Cowen announces a date for the 2011 general election; he tells Dail Éireann that it is to take place on Friday 11 March. (Al Jazeera) (RTÉ) (The Wall Street Journal) (BBC) Cowen defends his handling of the resignations as it emerges that there is "deep disagreement" between Fianna Fáil and coalition partners the Green Party. (The Irish Times) Sinn Féin president Gerry Adams resigns from his seat at Westminster. (The Irish Times) (Press Association) Minister of State Conor Lenihan calls on Brian Cowen to resign. (RTÉ) (The Irish Times) Britain's Shadow Chancellor Alan Johnson resigns from the Labour Party's frontbench team for "personal" reasons. (BBC) (The Guardian) Science 2010 tied for the warmest year ever recorded, and the last decade was the warmest ever recorded, since records began in the 1800s.(Reuters) Current events of January 21, 2011 (2011-01-21) (Friday) Armed conflicts and attacks 21 people are killed in a clash between the Sudanese army and two rebel factions in Darfur. (Reuters) Three people are shot dead and dozens are injured by riot police clashing with at least 20,000 protesters gathered outside the prime minister's office in Tirana, Albania. Deputy prime minister Ilir Meta has resigned after becoming embroiled in a fraud scandal and protesters have called for the rest of the government to resign. (AP via France24) (BBC) (Radio New Zealand) (AFP via Google News) (CNN) A Nigerian general says armies in West Africa are ready to oust Ivorian president Laurent Gbagbo by force. (Al Jazeera) The South Korean navy directs an operation against Somali pirates who hijacked a South Korean ship, rescuing all 21 hostages, while eight pirates are killed and five are captured. (AP via Google news) Arts and culture A group of engineers from United Kingdom are teaming up with the Royal Air Force in this year in order to excavate a long-forgotten escape tunnel from the Second World War. (New Poland Express) (Yorkshire Post) MSNBC terminates a contract with their highest-rated cable news host, Keith Olbermann. (The Guardian) Business and economy Bangladesh suspends six trading firms on the Dhaka Stock Exchange after an 8.5% fall on the index. (BBC) Aer Lingus cabin crew, disputing working conditions, march on airline headquarters at Dublin Airport; Aer Lingus hires planes from other airlines and threatens to sack its workers. (RTÉ) (The Irish Times) Bank of America reports a loss of $1.2 billion. (BBC) Paul Volcker steps down as the head of U.S. President Barack Obama's advisory panel, the Economic Recovery Advisory Board. Volcker, a former chairman of the Federal Reserve, was the guiding force behind recent legislation pressing investment banks to spin off their proprietary trading and branded hedge funds. (Reuters) Four banks, with total assets of $2.7 billion, are ordered closed in the U.S.; 157 American banks failed last year.(Reuters) International relations Five Thais including an MP are given suspended sentences after illegally entering Cambodia, in a case that has strained relations between the two countries. (Straits Times) Israeli–Palestinian conflict: United Nations Secretary General Ban Ki-moon criticises Israel's refusal to cease illegal settlement building on Palestinian land, telling a UN General Assembly gathering that he is "very concerned at the lack of progress towards peace" and that the recent demolition of East Jerusalem's historic Shepherd Hotel and evictions of Palestinian families had "heightened tensions." He later meets survivors of the Auschwitz-Birkenau concentration camp. (AFP via Google News) Saudi Arabia tells a UN Security Council meeting that Israel's practices and illegal measures against the Palestinian people undermine international efforts for peace. (Arab News) French foreign minister Michèle Alliot-Marie is met by hostile Palestinian protesters throwing stones, eggs and shoes, including mothers of prisoners held in Israeli jails, on her arrival in Gaza. (BBC) (KUNA) (CNN) Six world powers and Iran meet in Istanbul to talk about Iran's nuclear programme; Iran denies allegations it is developing nuclear weapons. (Al Jazeera) Almost 99% of South Sudanese voted for independence from the north in a referendum according to official figures. (Reuters) (Africasia) United Nations human rights chief Navi Pillay requests an investigation into possible involvement of officials in the abduction of around 40 Central American migrants, including women and children, from a cargo train in Oaxaca. (BBC) Law and crime South Korea sentences a pastor to five years imprisonment for an unauthorised trip to North Korea and praising its regime. (Joongang Daily) (UPI) Authorities in the Democratic Republic of the Congo arrest an army officer over a mass rape of civilians in the east of the country on 1 January. (BBC) (United Nations) Former Guatemalan president Alfonso Portillo goes on trial in Guatemala City over allegations he stole $15 million from the defence ministry. Former defence minister Eduardo Arevalo and former finance minister Manuel Maza are also on trial. (BBC) Amnesty International announces that authorities are investigating alleged crimes against humanity committed during Jean-Claude Duvalier's 1971-86 rule over Haiti. Duvalier sneaks out of his upmarket hotel via a rear exit, avoiding journalists. (The Guardian) An army court in India finds a senior officer guilty of involvement in an illegal land deal. (Times of India) (BBC) A private note, due to remain secret despite calls for it to be published by the chairman of the Iraq Inquiry, shows former British prime minister Tony Blair privately assured former American president George W. Bush "you can count on us" before they jointly invaded Iraq prior to the Iraq War. (BBC) (Al Jazeera) Warner Music Group CEO Edgar Bronfman Jr. is found guilty of misleading investors, and fined $6.7 million. (The Seattle Times) Politics and elections Thousands of people in Tunisia take part in a demonstration calling on the interim government to step down. (Al Jazeera) Thousands of people in Jordan stage a protests against the government's economic policies, calling on some members to step down. (Al Jazeera) Situation in Ireland: Ireland's Labour Party announces it is to hold a motion of no confidence in the country's government on Tuesday following the events of this week. (The Irish Times) Taoiseach Brian Cowen and five of his remaining eight government ministers spend the day in County Armagh in Northern Ireland attending a meeting of the North/South Ministerial Council. (RTÉ) (BBC) Senior governing Fianna Fáil TDs, including former ministers Micheál Martin and Willie O'Dea and Minister of State Conor Lenihan renew their pressure on their party leader and Taoiseach, Brian Cowen, following his botched cabinet reshuffle attempt yesterday. (The Irish Times) (Evening Herald) (Press Association) (Reuters Canada) The Irish government publishes its Finance Bill legalising harsh austerity measures announced in the December 2010 budget as attempts to overthrow Taoiseach Brian Cowen continue from within his own party. (BBC) Brian Cowen declares that he is to continue as leader of party and country, against the wishes of some of his own colleagues, saying "that issue is over". He vows to establish his own front bench to fight the election. (Irish Examiner) Belarus president Alexander Lukashenko is sworn in for a fourth time following the disputed presidential election. (Reuters) (RIA Novosti) British prime minister David Cameron's communications chief Andy Coulson resigns after feeling pressure over coverage of the News of the World phone hacking scandal. (BBC) Aung San Suu Kyi of Burma obtains Internet access at her home in Rangoon; it is believed she has never been online. (BBC) United States Representative Gabrielle Giffords leaves hospital in Tucson, Arizona for rehabilitation in Houston, Texas less than two weeks after the 2011 Tucson shooting. (Washington Post) Current events of January 22, 2011 (2011-01-22) (Saturday) Armed conflicts and attacks Malaysian navy commandos foil a ship hijack attempt by Somali pirates, rescuing 23 crew and capturing 7 pirates in the Gulf of Aden. (BBC) One person is killed and two others are injured in alleged Israeli tank shelling in the Gaza Strip, though the Israel Defense Forces denied they attacked and estimated that the blast was a failed rocket launch. (Al Jazeera) (Ynet) Several people are injured and others are arrested as police break up a pro-democracy march in Algiers. (BBC) (Al Jazeera) Mexico says 10 suspected drug gang members were killed in shootout with soldiers in Valle Hermoso, Tamaulipas. (AP) Disasters and accidents At least two people are killed in a blaze at a shopping centre in the southwest Russian city of Ufa. (RIA Novosti) (UPI) The death toll from flooding in South Africa rises to 70 and more than 8,000 families are homeless. Five other nearby countries - Botswana, Mozambique, Namibia, Zambia and Zimbabwe - are threatened by killer heavy rains. (BBC) International relations Moqtada al-Sadr, an Iraqi Shia leader, returns to Iran. (Al Jazeera) Law and crime Dutch national Vincent Tabak is charged with the murder of Joanna Yeates, and will make his first court appearance on 24 January. (Sky News) (BBC) Politics and elections Opposition supporters are arrested in Belarus after the swearing-in of President Alexander Lukashenko. (Al Jazeera) A civil society report reveals that more than a quarter of Zimbabweans on the voters' roll are deceased. (Times Live South Africa) Albania's prime minister Sali Berisha vows there will be no Tunisia-style uprising in his country after three people are killed for protesting against the government's rule. (BBC) Tunisia's prime minister Mohamed Ghannouchi promises in a TV interview to leave politics "in the shortest possible timeframe" after elections to be held following President Zine El Abidine Ben Ali's recent fall. (BBC) Situation in Ireland: Taoiseach Brian Cowen announces he is to make a "significant" statement on his leadership of the ruling Fianna Fáil party in Dublin at 14:00, to be broadcast on television and radio. (Reuters) (RTÉ News) Brian Cowen resigns as leader of Fianna Fáil on what he describes as being "on my own counsel". (Reuters) (The Guardian) (The Irish Times) (BBC) (RTÉ) (Brisbane Times) Enda Kenny, leader of the opposition party Fine Gael, announces the party's intention to put forward a motion of no confidence in Brian Cowen on Tuesday if Cowen does not seek the immediate dissolution of Dáil Éireann. Labour also has a motion of no confidence in the Government scheduled for Wednesday, while Sinn Féin president Gerry Adams requests an immediate election. (The Irish Times) Shadow finance spokesperson Michael Noonan promises that, if the Irish government resigns, the opposition Fine Gael party will give quicker support for the Finance Bill intended to impose harsh austerity measures upon the country. He offers to facilitate the Green Party in getting out of the Irish government coalition. (RTÉ) Science An unmanned Japanese H-II Transfer Vehicle HTV-2 Resupply Craft was launched atop the H-IIB rocket Saturday on a mission to deliver cargo to the International Space Station. (CNN) Current events of January 23, 2011 (2011-01-23) (Sunday) Armed conflicts and attacks U.S. drone attacks on Pakistan: A suspected U.S. drone fires two missiles at a vehicle and a house in a militant stronghold in northwestern Pakistan, killing four alleged insurgents. (AP via Google News) The attacks are the first carried out by the United States on the region since Friday's protest rally highlighting civilian deaths. (Al Jazeera) Tribesmen march in their numbers in Mir Ali, North Waziristan to demand an end to U.S. drone strikes in the area, the second such march inside three days. (Xinhua) Egyptian authorities blame the Gaza-based Army of Islam group for an attack on a Coptic Christian church in Alexandria on 1 January. (Al Jazeera) Australian SAS Corporal Ben Roberts-Smith is awarded the Victoria Cross for gallantry in action in the offensive in the Shah Wali Kot region in Afghanistan in June 2010. (The Sydney Morning Herald) (BBC) Somali pirates threaten to kill all hostage South Korean seamen in revenge for the killing of pirates by South Koreans. (Reuters) Arts and culture Actress Zsa Zsa Gabor is permitted to leave hospital and return home, eight days after undergoing the amputation of her right leg. (BBC) Business and economy Philippe Henri Dacoury-Tabley, head of the West African Economic and Monetary Union, announces his resignation. (Al Jazeera) Google is to give $100million to Eric Schmidt, an outgoing CEO.(Reuters)(The Wall Street Journal) Disasters The death toll in Brazil's worst flood disaster tops 800 people. (BBC) The Dominican Republic officially registers its first cholera death since the launch of the 2010 Haiti cholera outbreak. (BBC) International relations Talks between Iran and the five permanent members of the UN Security Council plus Germany break down without an agreement to end the eight-year-old impasse over Iran's nuclear program, after Iranian officials refused to negotiate unless preconditions including an immediate halt to UN sanctions on Iran were met. (The Washington Post) (The Telegraph) The BBC apologises after offending the sensibilities of Japanese viewers by broadcasting jokes targeting Tsutomu Yamaguchi, who survived both atomic bomb attacks carried out by the United States on Hiroshima and Nagasaki in 1945. (BBC) WikiLeaks revelations: A "spy" computer is found in an office next to Icelandic MP Birgitta Jonsdottir who has been the target in the United States Department of Justice/Twitter case concerning the WikiLeaks website. (Iceland Review) Nearly two months after the WikiLeaks website launched the release of U.S. diplomatic cables, the total amount released stands at just over 1 per cent of its trove. (AP via Google News) (The Washington Post) Speaking in Der Sonntag, WikiLeaks spokesperson Julian Assange criticises the arrest of a Swiss bank employee who passed on details of tax evasion to the website and suggests that the Swiss authorities ought to instead investigate the tax evasion that has been uncovered. Rudolf Elmer has been detained for the weekend. (Reuters) The Palestine Papers The largest ever release of confidential files in the history of the Israeli–Palestinian conflict, are released. (Al Jazeera) (The Guardian) (The Jerusalem Post) The Palestinian Authority condemns Al- Jazeera for releasing the documents and denies that the Palestinian Authority had agreed to make far-reaching concessions on Jerusalem as the documents purportedly reveal.(The Jerusalem Post) Israeli inquiry into the Gaza flotilla raid: An Israeli inquiry finds its own army acts "legal pursuant to the rules of international law" during May's fatal Gaza flotilla raid in which 9 Turkish activists were killed; a separate United Nations inquiry said there had been an "unacceptable level of brutality". The inquiry also declares Israel's naval blockade of Gaza to be legal. (The Jerusalem Post) (BBC) (Al Jazeera) (The Irish Times) (AFP via Google News) The Prime Minister of Turkey says that the results of the Israeli inquiry into the raid have no value or credibility. (BBC) (Ynet) (The Jerusalem Post) Law and crime Arrest warrants are issued to six members of the republican guard in Albania over the deaths of three people in unrest. (BBC) (RTÉ) Tunisian police arrest two politicians linked to former President Zine El Abidine Ben Ali, who was recently ousted in a popular uprising. (BBC) As many as 430,000 people infected with Hepatitis B from reused needles settle their legal action and are to receive payments in Japan's biggest medical dispute. (Al Jazeera) Politics and elections Thousands of people of all ages march through Brussels in a rally, "Shame: No government, great country", to protest against nationalism and the lack of a proper government for the past seven months. The protest is initially started by students but soon expands to other parts of society. (Al Jazeera) (The Guardian) (The Irish Times) Around 27,000 anti-government red shirt protestors march in Bangkok, Thailand, calling for the release of imprisoned leaders. (BBC) (Thai News Agency) Political discontent in the Arab World: A female Islamic activist is arrested in Yemen after organising a 2,500-strong demonstration at the Sana'a University. (The Telegraph) (Al Jazeera) Hundreds of Tunisians ignore a curfew placed on them by their rulers to travel hundreds of kilometres in a "Liberation Caravan" to gather with protesters in Tunis to voice their discontent with the interim government that replaced ousted Zine El Abidine Ben Ali. (Al Jazeera) A man dies after setting himself on fire in a protest in southwestern Saudi Arabia, among apparent copycat incidents in the Arab world following events in Tunisia. (BBC) Situation in Ireland: Ireland's Green Party meets Taoiseach Brian Cowen to decide whether to quit the coalition and trigger early elections. (BBC) (The Guardian) Support for the historically dominant Fianna Fáil party falls to a record low of 8 per cent, down from the previous record low of 17 per cent. (Sunday Independent) (The Wall Street Journal) Minister for Finance Brian Lenihan, Jnr and Minister for Tourism, Culture and Sport Mary Hanafin formally announce their candidacies for the leadership of Fianna Fáil following yesterday's resignation of Brian Cowen as party leader. (RTÉ) (The Irish Times) The Green Party withdraws from Ireland's coalition government. (RTÉ) (The Irish Times) (BBC) (Al Jazeera) The two Green Party ministers, John Gormley and Eamon Ryan, resign: Taoiseach Brian Cowen assigns their responsibilities to existing Fianna Fáil cabinet members, Éamon Ó Cuív and Pat Carey, giving each of them an unprecedented third portfolio due to a lack of ministers. There are now only seven ministers left in the cabinet, the absolute minimum allowed under the constitution. (The Irish Times) (Irish Examiner) Voters in Portugal take part in a presidential election with current President Anibal Cavaco Silva being reelected. (BBC) (AFP via Google News), (CNN) The Central African Republic votes: voters complain of long delays in the country's presidential and legislative elections. (Al Jazeera) David Bartlett resigns as the Premier of the Australian state of Tasmania. (ABC News Australia) President of Iran Mahmoud Ahmadinejad designed Ali Akbar Salehi, the current acting Foreign Minister to the Parliament to succeed Manouchehr Mottaki who was dismissed on December. (IRNA) Science President of Pakistan Asif Ali Zardari launches an emergency polio immunisation programme targeting 32 million children under the age of five. (The Guardian) Sport Sky Sports soccer commentators Richard Keys and Andy Gray are embroiled in controversy over multiple sexist comments about "hopeless" women they had a discussion about during a live television broadcast. One of their targets describes comments aimed at her as "absolutely abhorrent" and a spokesperson says they are "not acceptable". (The Guardian) (The Daily Telegraph) (BBC) (Press Association via Google News) Lance Armstrong ends his international cycling career after a final race in Australia. (Al Jazeera) 2010-11 NFL playoffs The Green Bay Packers win the National Football Conference Championship Game defeating the Chicago Bears 21-14. (New York Times) The Pittsburgh Steelers defeat the New York Jets 24-19 to win the American Football Conference Championship Game. (New York Times) Current events of January 24, 2011 (2011-01-24) (Monday) Armed conflicts and attacks New interviews are released containing statements from former Israeli soldiers who claim they were told to "cleanse the neighbourhoods, the buildings, the area" and that the offensive should be disproportionate, with tank operators being told to shell any car that comes near them during the War on Gaza. (Channel 4) (The Telegraph) At least 35 people are killed and 130 injured after a suicide bombing at Domodedovo International Airport in the Russian capital Moscow. (Russia Today) (Reuters) Rebels in the Philippines kill five policemen in the first attack since an agreement to restart peace talks. (Al Jazeera) (Philippine Star) Zimbabwean ministers condemn the invasion of tourist lodges by supporters of Robert Mugabe who say they were implementing government policy. (AFP) (BBC) A series of bombings in Baghdad and Karbala kill at least 33 people less than a week after similar attacks claimed the lives of 133 others. (BBC) (CNN) Twenty people are injured in China's Sichuan province following clashes with police over a proposed chemical plant, protesters and officials say. In a separate protest, riot police dispersed a group of parents who lost their children in the devastating 2008 earthquake after they tried to meet with the mayor of Deyang city to discuss compensation claims. (Radio Free Asia) Arts and culture Hamas bans the sale of two books that it says "contradict" Islam after receiving complaints from locals. (Associated Press) Business and economy The U.S. International Trade Commission rules against Kodak's contention that Apple's iPhone and Research in Motion's BlackBerry violate Kodak's intellectual property rights. (Bloomberg) Internationally recognised President of Ivory Coast Alassane Ouattara calls for a halt to cocoa and coffee exports to cut off funding for incumbent President Laurent Gbagbo. (AFP) Disasters An Australian internal review finds that the fatal Christmas Island boat disaster was responded to appropriately. (The Sydney Morning Herald) Chinese state media reports that Shandong province is facing its worst drought in a century. (Reuters) Heavy snow and freezing rain fall in Southwestern China, causing roof collapses and damages to crops. (Straits Times) (The Standard) International relations The United Nations calls for the international community to increase support to Somalia as the country approaches the twentieth anniversary since the start of its civil war. (Xinhua) Peru recognises Palestine "as a free and sovereign state". (The Jerusalem Post)(Reuters)(The Guardian) Law and crime NBC News reports that United States investigators have been unable to link Bradley Manning to Julian Assange, founder of the whistleblowing website WikiLeaks. (NBC News) Iran hangs two members of the People's Mujahedin of Iran convicted of involvement in the post-election riots after the presidential election in June 2009 and of visiting a training base in Iraq, in the latest series of executions that has seen an unprecedented 64 people executed in 24 days. (The Washington Post) (AsiaNews) (Reuters) (Ynet) South Korean media report that two North Koreans have been executed in front of 500 spectators for handling propaganda leaflets floated across the border from South Korea, apparently as part of a campaign by North Korean leader Kim Jong-Il to tighten ideological control as he grooms his youngest son as eventual successor. (RFA) Egypt's general prosecutor bans media reporting of the investigation into a deadly New Year's Day church bombing, saying any revelations could hinder the work of investigators, a day after Egypt's government accused a Palestinian militant group, the Army of Islam, of carrying out the bombing with the help of a local accomplice. (Reuters Africa) Three Indonesian soldiers captured on video torturing two men from West Papua are jailed; human rights groups criticize the sentences of 10 months in jail for "disobeying orders" handed out to the low-ranking soldiers, saying the military was reluctant to abide by human rights principles. (Reuters)(Al Jazeera) (Jakarta Post) Jared L. Loughner pleads not guilty to orchestrating the 2011 Tucson shooting and the attempted murder of United States Democratic Representative Gabrielle Giffords. (New York Times) (ABC News) One of the operatives on a boat caught in Israel's Gaza flotilla raid suggests Israel's report into the attack is a "PR exercise". (Irish Examiner) Politics and elections 2010–2011 Tunisian protests: Tunisian officials negotiate the formation of a supervisory council to oversee the country's interim government, in an effort to appease protesters angry at the continued presence in the cabinet of holdovers linked to deposed President Zine El Abidine Ben Ali’sregime. (VOA) Family members of President Zine El Abidine Ben Ali, who was recently ousted in a popular uprising are reportedly in Canada; Tunisians expatriates express anger over the development and Canadian officials say Ben Ali and his family are not welcome and would act if illegally acquired assets were brought into the country. (CNN) Hezbollah and its allies win support a majority in parliament to nominate their candidate, Najib Mikati, as Prime Minister of Lebanon, giving them the upper hand in attempts to form a government and sparking accusations of a pro-Iranian coup by loyalists of ousted Prime Minister Saad Hariri. (Reuters) (The Jerusalem Post) (Voice of America) Yemen frees a female activist accused of inciting disorder after protests demanding her release. (Al Jazeera) Opposition parties in Ireland are to hold crisis talks to bring down the Brian Cowen-led government after the Green Party pulled out of government yesterday; Fianna Fáil no longer has a leader and it no longer has a coalition partner. (BBC) Lara Giddings is elected as the first female Premier of the Australian state of Tasmania. (ABC News Australia) Indian opposition Bharatiya Janata Party seeks the President's intervention on being denied entry into Kashmir Valley for the flag hoisting programme in Srinagar on Republic Day (India). (Hindustan Times) Science An emerging outbreak of avian cholera kills thousands of eider ducks in Arctic regions of Canada. Scientists are studying the outbreak and its potential to spread to Greenland. (CBC) (Canada.com) Sport Sky Sports soccer commentators Richard Keys and Andy Gray apologise after making sexist comments about a woman during a live television broadcast. (The Sydney Morning Herald) Current events of January 25, 2011 (2011-01-25) (Tuesday) Armed conflicts and attacks War in North-West Pakistan: At least 10 people are killed near a Shia Muslim procession in Lahore, while two other people are killed in an attack in Karachi. (Al Jazeera)(AP via Google News) (The Hindu) At least three people are killed in a clash between the Sudanese army and rebels in Darfur. (Reuters) Four people are killed and 18 injured after a bus bombing in the Philippine capital Manila. (Philippine Star) (UPI) Callixte Mbarushimana, the rebel leader accused of committing war crimes in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, is extradited from France to the International Criminal Court in The Hague. (BBC) (Radio Netherlands) Somali pirates hijack a German cargo ship. (Reuters) (Bloomberg) Gunmen open fire on a crowd at a soccer game in Ciudad Juarez, Mexico, killing seven people.(CNN) Insurgents kill nine civilians and injure two others in a bombing in southern Thailand. (CNN) Arts and culture The nominees for the 83rd Academy Awards are announced, with The King's Speech receiving twelve nominations. (San Francisco Chronicle) (Al Jazeera) (BBC) The BBC World Service is to close five of its language services with the loss of 650 jobs. (BBC) Jo Shapcott wins the 2010 Costa Book Awards for her book of poetry Of Mutability, the second consecutive year that poetry has won the prize. (The Irish Times) Business and economy The Financial Accounting Standards Board (FASB) abandons plans to ceate a new mark-to-market rule for the value of the loans that banks carry on their books. (Bloomberg) The Financial Crisis Inquiry Commission, a panel appointed by the United States Congress to study the causes of the 2007-08 financial crisis, refers certain cases of potentially criminal action to the Justice Department. The names of the suspected individuals have not been disclosed. (Reuters) Statistics indicate that Britain's economy contracted by 0.5% during the final quarter of 2010. (BBC) International relations Around 2,000 "yellow shirt" protesters in Thailand demonstrate over the government's handling of a border dispute with Cambodia. (BBC) (Thai News Agency) U.S. envoy Jeffrey Feltman expresses his hope that the "example" of the ongoing Tunisian uprising can bring reform to other parts of region, despite U.S. backing for the deposed Zine El Abidine Ben Ali regime. (Al Jazeera) The head of the African Union travels to Ivory Coast to visit Laurent Gbagbo and Alassane Ouattara who both claim to be the country's president. (AFP via Google News) The United States describes the Israeli commission of inquiry into the May 2010 Gaza flotilla raid as "an independent report, credible and impartial and transparent", but says the “primary forum” for examining the event was the international committee operating under the auspices of UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon. (The Australian) (The Jerusalem Post) Law and crime A U.S. judge sentences Ahmed Ghailani, the first Guantanamo detainee to have a civilian trial in America, to life imprisonment for conspiracy to destroy government buildings. He was found "not guilty" of 285 other charges filed against him, including 200 counts of murder and dozens of other charges. (Al Jazeera) (BBC) Former British Conservative Party peer Lord Taylor of Warwick is convicted of making £11,277 in false parliamentary expenses claims. (BBC) Politics and elections Albania's main opposition leader Edi Rama calls for more protests and calls on the international community to mediate in the country's political crisis. (Al Jazeera) Sarath Fonseka, Sri Lanka's jailed former army chief, loses an appeal to retain his parliamentary seat. (Al Jazeera) (The Hindu) 2011 Egyptian protests: Tens of thousands of people protest against the government in Egypt on a "day of revolt". (BBC) (Al Jazeera) Three people are killed, two in Suez and one in Cairo. One of the dead is killed after inhaling tear gas. (Al Jazeera) (The Guardian) (BBC) 2010–2011 Tunisian protests: Thousands of protesters defy curfew and march in Tunis, camping outside the government's main office complex and demanding that the Prime Minister and the old guard that served under former President Zine El Abidine Ben Ali, step down. (IBN) French prosecutors begin an investigation into ousted Tunisian leader Zine El Abidine Ben Ali’s assets in France in the wake of a case filed against him for corruption during his 23-year rule in Tunisia. (AHN) Political crisis in Lebanon: Supporters of Lebanese caretaker Prime Minister Saad Hariri call for a day of protests following Hezbollah's support for Najib Mikati as Prime Minister a new coalition government to replace that of Hariri, and igniting the possibility of clashes in the latest development in the crisis over a United Nations-backed tribunal investigating the 2005 assassination of former Prime Minister Rafic Hariri, Saad Hariri's father. (Los Angeles Times) (Al Jazeera) Sports Sky Sports sexism scandal: Reporter Andy Gray is dropped by Sky Sports over sexist comments made against female official Sian Massey in footage recorded Saturday. (The Daily Telegraph) (The Guardian) Minister for Sport Hugh Robertson and England football captain Rio Ferdinand criticise the "prehistoric pair" who described Massey as "fucking hopeless". (The Guardian) Massey is stood down from a football game taking place tonight as she "has unwittingly found herself in the middle of a story that has nothing to do with her competence as a match official". (The Daily Telegraph) A court in Serbia sentences 14 soccer hooligans to up to 35 years imprisonment for the 2009 murder of a 28-year-old French fan in Belgrade. (BBC News) Australia and Japan win their semi-final games in the AFC Asian Cup and go on to the final that will be held on 29 January. (Bloomberg) Current events of January 26, 2011 (2011-01-26) (Wednesday) Armed conflicts and attacks Three muslim rebels are killed following a clash with government security forces in the Southern Philippines. (China Xinjiang) Egyptian Protests: Three Egyptian protesters in Suez and one police officer in Cairo are killed in protests against president Hosni Mubarak. (Xinhua) (CNN) Egyptian authorities ban protests and block access to some websites after continuing street demonstrations in the country. (BBC) (Al Jazeera)(Bloomberg) Police in Cairo beat and arrest a Guardian news reporter, who secretly records the events that occur in the police van. (The Guardian) At least four people are killed and several injured in a car bombing in Dagestan in the North Caucasus. (RIA Novosti) (BBC) Russian President Dmitry Medvedev fires top airport security officials, two days after a suicide bombing at Moscow's Domodedovo International Airport killed 35 people and injured 130. (CNN) (RIA Novosti) The Sudanese army clashes with Sudan Liberation Army rebels in Darfur for the second time in a week, and insurgents said they shot down a helicopter gunship, killing at least three people, a claim denied by the army, which said it had killed 25 rebels. (AFP) (Reuters) An ambush attack on an army-escorted postal truck in Yemen's southern Hadramut region kills 5 people. (TRT) (Reuters via Arab News) Arts and culture Sky Sports presenter Richard Keys resigns following his comments about female referee Sian Massey. (BBC) Canadian singer Mary-Lu Zahalan-Kennedy becomes the first person in the world to graduate with a Masters degree in The Beatles, which she studied at Liverpool Hope University. (BBC) Business and economy The newly released figures show China had 6.31 million new college graduates, and about 90.7 percent of them found employment by the end of 2010, which represented a 3 percent year-on-year increase. (CRI) The 41st World Economic Forum opens in Davos, Switzerland. (Xinhua) Incumbent Ivorian leader Laurent Gbagbo orders the seizure of all local branches of the Central Bank of West African States. (BBC) Disasters and accidents At least 30 miners are trapped after an explosion in a coal mine in northeastern Colombia. (Colombia Reports) (CNTV) (BBC) International relations Switzerland adopts European Union sanctions against Iran’s energy, nuclear and weapons sectors, but an 18-22 billion euro Swiss EGL gas contract with the National Iranian Gas Export Company has not been canceled. (The Jerusalem Post) Former Kyrgyz energy minister Saparbek Balkibekov, who fled the country during the 2010 uprising, is detained in Ireland by an Interpol operation. (Xinhua) Iranian media censor pictures of EU foreign minister Catherine Ashton's cleavage taken at recent failed talks on Iran's nuclear program; Ashton covers up in later meetings to prevent further diplomatic incident. (BBC) (Daily Mail) (Ynet) Ireland upgrades its relations with Palestine to a diplomatic mission, short of recognition, though the Palestinian representative is now officially an ambassador. (Israel Today) (Belfast Telegraph) Law and crime Tunisia issues an international arrest warrant for former President Zine El Abidine Ben Ali and members of his family who fled the country earlier this month following demonstrations that toppled his regime. (AFP)(CNN) A court in Vietnam sentences a former Communist Party member to eight years in jail for posting articles on the Internet calling for multi-party democracy. (Taiwan News) Former Member of the Scottish Parliament Tommy Sheridan is jailed for three years for committing perjury. (BBC) Scotland Yard launches a fresh inquiry into phone hacking by tabloid journalists after receiving "significant new information". (BBC) Politics and elections Election of Micheál Martin: Ireland's former foreign minister Micheál Martin is elected leader of the Fianna Fáil party following Brian Cowen's resignation. (The Daily Telegraph) (The Wall Stret Journal) (BBC) Martin challenges opposition leaders Enda Kenny and Eamon Gilmore to a series of televised debates ahead of the upcoming general election. (RTÉ) (The Irish Times) U.S. President Barack Obama delivers the annual State of the Union address calling on the United States Congress to improve the nation's "crumbling" infrastructure, saying it will create jobs and help the nation compete in the global economy. (CNN) The preliminary results of the referendum on an independence for Southern Sudan will be announced in the next few days, with final results as early as February 7; most of the count in the south already completed shows 99% voted for independence.(CNN) Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao asks citizens to voice their criticisms of the government and speak out about injustice during a visit to the country's highest petition bureau. (Al Jazeera) (Sify India) (Xinhua) Gabon dissolves the country's main opposition party, accusing one of its leaders of treason. (Reuters) British Home Secretary Theresa May announces new measures to replace controversial control orders for terror suspects. (BBC) British Prime Minister David Cameron announces that Sinn Féin's Gerry Adams has resigned from the British parliament, having accepted the position of Crown Steward and Bailiff of the Manor of Northstead. (The Independent) (BBC) Current events of January 27, 2011 (2011-01-27) (Thursday) Armed conflicts and attacks An 18-year-old Palestinian, Fadi Kaddous, is shot to death during a clash with Israeli settlers in the West Bank. (Haaretz) A small explosion occurs in the basement of a hotel in Davos, Switzerland, close to where the World Economic Forum is taking place. No one is injured and a boiler is blamed. (Reuters) (Channel News Asia) Business and economy Iran's state-run news channel Press TV's account is frozen by National Westminster Bank in the UK; no reason was given. (AFP)(Zee News) Internet retailer Overstock.com has amended its complaint in a long-standing lawsuit against Goldman Sachs and Merrill Lynch to demand treble damages under New Jersey's racketeering statute. Merrill Lynch is a subsidiary of Bank of America. (Press Release) Giant media conglomerate News Corp. says it will launch a digital newspaper as content of Apple's iPad, on 2 February. This is a later launch date than many had expected. (Reuters) Disasters and accidents Ten construction workers die after falling from the 28th floor of a skyscraper being built in Manila, the Philippine capital. (AFP via Google News) (AFP via Info Vietnam) (The Straits Times) The Australian government proposes a new "flood tax" to raise funds for reconstruction work following severe flooding in the east of the country. (The Australian) (Al Jazeera) Law and crime Murder of David Kato: Ugandan gay rights activist David Kato, who was named in tabloid paper Rolling Stone last year, is found murdered. (CNN) (AFP via Google News) (The Irish Times) Rolling Stone says it has "no regrets about the story" and claims to be "just exposing people who were doing wrong". (The Guardian) Hundreds of thousands of government workers protest against the killing of Yashwant Sonawane, an official in Maharashtra, a murder which is said to have shocked people across India. (BBC) Macau tycoon Stanley Ho is to sue relatives accused of trying to steal his vast casino empire. (Macau News) (AFP) (Reuters) A court in Botswana rules that indigenous Bushmen can drill wells for water in the Kalahari Desert. (BBC) (Gabz FM Botswana) Politics and elections 2011 Egyptian protests: Unrest in Egypt enters its third day. (BBC) (Al Jazeera) More than 1,000 people are arrested. (Xinhua) 2011 Yemeni protests: Tens of thousands of people protest in the Yemeni capital Sana'a calling for an end to the government of President Ali Abdullah Saleh. (Al Jazeera) (BBC) 2010–2011 Tunisian uprising: Thousands continue protesting in Tunisia calling on remaining figures of ousted President Zine El Abidine Ben Ali's regime to leave the interim government. (Press TV) Lebanese prime minister Najib Mikati begins consultations on forming a new government. (AFP via Google News) Burma faces criticism at the United Nations Human Rights Council over its human rights record. (The Straits Times) The Supreme Court in the U.S. state of Illinois rules that Rahm Emanuel, former Chief of Staff to President of the United States Barack Obama, is eligible to run for Mayor of Chicago. (The New York Times) Science Researchers from Tel Aviv University and the University of Michigan announce a breakthrough to fight bacteria by developing a technique that neutralizes the ability of bacteria to develop resistance to antibiotics. (The Jerusalem Post) A fifth outbreak of bird flu occurs in Japan, with a cull of 150,000 chickens underway. (AFP via Google News) (China Post) Volcano alert is raised for Mount Kirishima area in southern Kyushu, Japan, after the eruption of Shinmoedake, the film location of You Only Live Twice. (Press TV) (Volcano Discovery) (NHK) Sports Tennis: In the semifinals of the 2011 Australian Open, Novak Djokovic defeats defending champion Roger Federer by a score of 7-6, 7-5, 6-4. Current events of January 28, 2011 (2011-01-28) (Friday) Armed conflicts and attacks 2011 Egyptian protests: After the Egyptian government censorship of social media websites (such as Twitter, Facebook and Google), internet access and SMS networks are cut off in response to anti-government protests. The Guardian (about censoring) The Guardian (about cutting off internet) (Al Jazeera) Fresh protests take place across the country. (Al Jazeera) (The Guardian) (BBC) (The Daily Telegraph) Police target protesters in Cairo with tear gas and water cannon, while tear gas is used on protesters in Alexandria. (The Guardian) A protester is killed in Suez, while dozens of protesters are injured in Cairo. One protester happens to video-tape a man being shot by police. (Sky News) (AP) The Egyptian government announces a curfew for cities nationwide starting at 6 pm local time and running through to 7 am on Saturday. (Bikya Masr) Mubarak orders the army into the streets as buildings and police vehicles burn. (The Daily Telegraph) The army is reported to be out on the streets of Cairo; protesters call for the support of the army in their battle against the Mubarak regime. (Al Jazeera) Mohamed ElBaradei, is held among the protesters, while journalists are beaten and arrested, including one BBC journalist and four French reporters. (The Daily Telegraph) Reuters reports at least 870 injuries in Cairo alone during the day, according to medical sources. (Reuters) (Al-Masry Al-Youm) At least eight deaths are reported. (DAWN) EgyptAir suspends its departures from Cairo for 12 hours, beginning at 9 pm, as a government-imposed curfew on the people of Egypt comes into effect. (AP via Google News) NDP headquarters are set on fire in Cairo, with Al Jazeera footage showing the building ablaze. (iloubnan.info) (The Times of India) (USA Today) (Irish Examiner) The same fire threatens the nearby world-famous Egyptian Museum, with concerns expressed for the safety of its contents. A powerful explosion is heard in the area. There are reports that protesters are trying to protect the museum. (RIA Novosti) (Milwaukee Journal Sentinel) President Mubarak calls on the government to resign, but gives no indication that he will stand down. (CNN) (BBC),(Washington Post) International response to the 2011 Egyptian protests: International politicians, including William Hague and Hillary Clinton, speak out in support of the aims of the protesters and ask the Mubarak regime to listen to the people. (BBC) (The Wall Street Journal) Vice President of the United States Joe Biden attracts criticism for his refusal to refer to Mubarak as a "dictator", instead describing him as "an ally of ours in a number of things and he's been very responsible on, relative to geopolitical interests in the region: Middle East peace efforts, the actions Egypt has taken relative to normalizing the relationship with Israel". (The New York Times) (The Washington Post) The protests leave Western governments which have supported the regime in an awkward position, both diplomatically and democratically. (Reuters) The latest U.S. diplomatic cables released by WikiLeaks indicate that police brutality in Egypt is "routine and pervasive" and the use of torture so widespread that the Egyptian government has stopped denying it exists. (The Guardian) Further cables reveal the Obama administration wished to maintain its close political and military relationship with Egyptian leader Hosni Mubarak and its belief that Mubarak would "inevitably win" yet another presidential election in 2011. (The Guardian) Demonstrations occur worldwide, with people expressing solidarity with the people of Egypt in international cities such as Istanbul, Tunis, Doha and London. (Al Jazeera) The government-imposed curfew on the people of Egypt causes European airlines, including British Airways, Lufthansa and Air France, to alter their schedules, with some cancellations and some passengers being redirected to different countries. (Reuters) Thousands of people take to the streets of Jordan for the third consecutive Friday of protests over inflation, unemployment and rising prices, amid demands for the resignation of Prime Minister Samir Rifai. (Al Jazeera) (The Jerusalem Post) (The Financial Times) Key ministers from the heavily criticised ousted government of Zine El Abidine Ben Ali are replaced but interim Tunisian prime minister Mohammed Ghannouchi refuses to back down in the face of public anger. (Al Jazeera) Around 100,000 supporters of Albania's opposition Socialist Party pay silent tribute to three men shot dead at an anti-government protest a week ago. The Socialist supporters disperse calmly after a two-hour procession. (Reuters) Police fire tear gas at anti-government protesters in Gabon two days after opposition leader André Mba Obame declares himself president. (Reuters) At least four people, including Modu Fannami Gubio, a former opposition All Nigeria Peoples Party (ANPP) candidate for governor in Borno, Nigeria, are shot dead in Maiduguri. (BBC) During a clash between Palestinians and Israeli settlers in the West Bank, an Israeli settler shoots and kills an 18-year-old Palestinian. (Haaretz) (BBC) (CNN) 8 people are killed in a suicide attack at a Finest supermarket near the British embassy in the wealthy Wazir Akbar Khan suburb of Kabul. (BBC) (Al Jazeera) Arts and culture The German film agency FSK (Voluntary Self-Regulation of the Movie Industry) permits the showing of the reportedly anti-Israel and anti-Semitic Turkish film, Valley of the Wolves: Palestine, with an over 18 age restriction, saying it contains “propaganda tendencies” and “repetitive violence.” The film, based on events surrounding last May's Gaza flotilla raid, has opened in cinemas in Turkey and Austria. (The Canadian Press via Google News) (Hürriyet) (The Guardian) (Press TV)(The Jerusalem Post) A 450-year-old Madonna and Child work sells for $16.9 million at Sotheby's in New York, a new auction record for Titian. (BBC) Business and economy Japan's national credit rating is dropped to AA- by Standard & Poor's. (BusinessWeek) China introduces its first property tax in Shanghai and Chongqing. (AFP via Google News) (Global Times) (BBC) Disasters At least 17 people are killed and scores are injured during a fire on a ferry and a collision between two passenger trains on the island of Java in Indonesia. (BBC) (Al Jazeera) (AP via The Guardian) (AFP via The Asian Age) (News24) (Xinhua) President of Brazil Dilma Rousseff, speaking at a joint press conference with Rio de Janeiro state governor Sérgio Cabral, vows to build 8,000 houses to be given free to people made homeless by the recent floods and landslides in Rio de Janeiro state. (BBC) Hundreds of people attend an event at Kennedy Space Center in the U.S. state of Florida to mark the 25th anniversary of the Space Shuttle Challenger disaster. (BBC) At least 11 passengers of the Lautan Teduh ferry, which caught fire in the Sunda Strait, have been confirmed dead. The remains of nine of the passengers who died in the fire were taken to Krakatau Medika in Cilegon, while the other two were taken to Kalianda Hospital in Lampung. (The Jakarta Post) Flooding in Jeddah since the 26th kills 11 people, leaves three missing and destroys over 10,000 buildings, leading to protests in the city over poor infrastructure. (AFP) (Montreal Gazette) (GMA News) International relations Murder of David Kato: The funeral is held in a village near Kampala for David Kato, a gay rights activist in Uganda. He was recently murdered after successfully suing Rolling Stone for naming him as gay on its front cover, and had been receiving death threats. A pastor causes controversy by preaching for homosexuals to repent but is swiftly taken away. (BBC) (CNN) OSISA and SALC condemn the murder of David Kato. (Zambian Watchdog) A lesbian from Uganda, whom the UK wishes to deport to Kampala, speaks of her concerns that she will be persecuted upon her arrival there. (BBC) (audio) The Daily Telegraph reports that the American government secretly backed leading figures behind the unfolding Egyptian uprising. (The Vancouver Sun) Turkey's foreign minister Ahmet Davutoğlu expresses concerns that Israel's report into its own commando operation resulting in the Gaza flotilla raid is "neither credible nor unbiased", he tells a news conference before departing for Montenegro. (Hürriyet) Enda Kenny and Michael Noonan of Ireland's (opposition) Fine Gael party meet the President of the European Commission José Manuel Barroso in Brussels. The pair are believed to be protesting against the terms of the country's recent financial bailout from the EU/IMF. (Irish Independent) (RTÉ) (The Wall Street Journal) Law and crime Chinese authorities offer no response to requests by jailed dissident and Nobel peace laureate Liu Xiaobo for family visits. (Radio Free Asia) A U.S. official appears in court charged with the murder of two motorcyclists shot dead in Lahore, Pakistan. He may be executed if found guilty. (BBC) Rwandan rebel leader Callixte Mbarushimana appears before war crimes judges in The Hague. He denies any involvement in the charges laid against him. (BBC) Colombia asks Israel to extradite former Israeli army Lt. Col. Yair Klein, who was convicted by a Colombian court in absentia for training drug lords' assassins in the 1980s. (AP via Google News)(The Jerusalem Post) Guillermo Fariñas, known for his hunger strike campaigns, is detained by authorities for the second time in as many days. He is being held in the Cuban city of Santa Clara. (BBC) Politics and elections Former President of South Africa Nelson Mandela is discharged from hospital following two days of tests. (IOL) (BBC) (Al Jazeera) Taoiseach Brian Cowen promises to dissolve Dáil Éireann next Tuesday and to announce the date of the Irish general election, 2011. (RTÉ) (The Wall Street Journal) North Korean leader Kim Jong-il's eldest son Kim Jong-nam says his father opposed the hereditary transfer of power, but did so to ensure stability. (Yonhap) (AFP via Google News) Burma's highest court upholds the dissolution of Aung San Suu Kyi's National League for Democracy party. (BBC) (Al Jazeera) Current events of January 29, 2011 (2011-01-29) (Saturday) Armed conflicts and attacks 2011 Egyptian protests: The protests continue as Egyptian Army tanks surround Cairo's Tahrir Square. (CNN) (Al Jazeera) (The Guardian) Thousands of demonstrators converge on Egypt's Interior Ministry, one of the most visible signs of state authority in Egypt. Police shoot the demonstrators. Medical aid is given at the doors of mosques. (CNN) Five protesters are reported to have been wounded at the Interior Ministry. (Reuters) At least 100 people are killed and 1,000 injured in clashes so far. (Reuters), (NineMSN) Omar Suleiman is sworn in as Vice President of Egypt, the first person to hold the office under President Hosni Mubarak, who has reigned for 30 years. (Haaretz) Mubarak selects Ahmed Shafiq, a former air force commander and aviation minister, as his new prime minister, preserving the top three political jobs for men with military links. (Reuters) The parliament speaker says Egypt has no plans for early elections despite the mass popular demonstrations against the government. (Reuters) Wealthy Egyptian businessman Ahmed Ezz, a close confidante of Mubarak's son, resigns from the ruling NDP party. At least one of his steel company's offices has been targeted by protesters. (Reuters) A curfew is extended from 16:00 until 8:00 Egyptian time according to state television. (The Times of India) Suzanne Mubarak, the wife of President Hosni Mubarak and First Lady of Egypt, is reported to have fled to London. (Ynetnews) The police disappear from the streets of Cairo but civilians fill the void by quickly forming groups to defend homes and important buildings. (Reuters) 19 private jets carrying families of wealthy businessmen leave Cairo for Dubai. (The Guardian) Egyptian Museum during the riots: Head of antiquities Zahi Hawass says ancient artifacts at the famous Egyptian Museum in Cairo are safe from looters but could still be damaged by the potential collapse of NDP headquarters which was gutted by fire yesterday. (AP via Google News) Two mummies housed at the Egyptian Museum are destroyed and statues are broken into pieces, though ordinary citizens unite to prevent further destruction. The vandals are reported to have been convicts who escaped amid the protests. (Al-Masry Al-Youm) (Gadling) (Press TV) (The Voice of Russia) Young people in Egypt form a human chain to protect the Egyptian Museum from further attacks. (Herald Sun) International response to the 2011 Egyptian protests: Viewers across the region and worldwide watch events unfold on Al Jazeera, which maintains an almost continuous live feed despite the Egyptian government's repeated censorship efforts. CNN claims its reporters have been attacked and cameras smashed. (The New York Times) The BBC condemns the treatment given to one of its reporters, who has been deliberately assaulted by police while doing his work in Cairo. He was beaten up with steel bars, "the ones used here for slaughtering animals". (Ynetnews) (The Guardian) China blocks searches for "Egypt" on its internet and restricts media coverage. (Al Jazeera) (AFP via Google News) Protesters gather outside the Egyptian embassy in London calling for Mubarak to resign. (Reuters) Protesters gather outside the Egyptian embassy in Amman in support of "the people of Egypt" and calling on the United States: "do not interfere". (AFP via Google News) Protesters gather outside the Egyptian embassy in Washington, D.C., with the organisers saying they want the people of Egypt to know that Americans are watching and aware of events in the country. (The Washington Post) People gather in historic Harvard Square in Cambridge, Massachusetts in the United States to peacefully protest against the Mubarak regime. They wave Egyptian flags, hold up signs, chant for Mubarak's resignation and call for an end to cell phone and Internet censorship perpetrated by the Egyptian government. (Boston Herald) Thousands of people gather in front of the United Nations in New York City to support the anti-government protests. (The Star-Ledger) 2011 Yemeni protests: Clashes take place outside the Egyptian embassy between supporters of President Ali Abdullah Saleh's government and opposition supporters expressing sympathy with the situation in Egypt. (One India) (CNN) (Al Jazeera) 2011 English protests: Thousands of protesters demonstrate against cuts and increases in tuition fees in England; police escort student leader Aaron Porter away in Manchester amid calls from protesters for his resignation. (The Guardian) Investigators in Russia say they have discovered the identities of those responsible for the bombing at Domodedovo International Airport in Moscow. (RIA Novosti) (AFP via Google News) War in Afghanistan (2001–present): Abdul Latif Ashna, the deputy governor of Afghanistan's Kandahar Province, is killed in a suicide attack. (BBC) Clashes between rebels and government forces in Somalia leave several civilians dead in the capital Mogadishu. (CP) Business and economy China begins the first test flights of private helicopters in its airspace. (AFP via Google News) Wall Street firm Goldman Sachs triples the base salary of its chief executive Lloyd Blankfein to $2 million, up from $600,000, after the bank's profit falls by 38 per cent. (BBC) Close to 8,000 protesters rally in Hamilton, Ontario to support workers locked out from Stelco after disagreeing against pension changes made by U.S. Steel. Analysts predict that similar protests may spread across the country. (CTV) (Niagara Falls Review) Disasters At least ten people die after a passenger train collides with a goods train in the German state of Saxony-Anhalt near the city of Magdeburg. (BBC) (Al Jazeera) International relations The African Union sets up a panel of heads of state to help solve the political crisis in Côte d'Ivoire. (PANA) (RFI) The UK gives a lesbian from Uganda an injunction to temporarily prevent her deportation to the country where gay activist David Kato was murdered earlier this week. (BBC) The Dutch government freezes all contacts with Iran in protest over the fate of a Dutch-Iranian woman who was hanged for alleged drug smuggling. (BBC) (Al Jazeera) British Labour Party leader Ed Miliband pays his first visit to Afghanistan. (Press Association via The Guardian) Law and crime A Buddhist monk is the first person to be charged under a strict anti-smoking law in Bhutan, introduced in 2005. (The Straits Times) Guillermo Fariñas, known for his hunger strike campaigns, is released after having been detained by Cuban authorities for the third time in 48 hours. (BBC) Politics and elections Seanad Éireann, Ireland's upper house, passes the significant Finance Bill, effectively imposing harsh austerity measures on the Irish public. It is the last act carried out by the government before a general election is called. (BBC) (The Irish Times) (Irish Examiner) (RTÉ) Burma's pro-democracy leader Aung San Suu Kyi addresses the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland. (BBC) (One India) Students and union members stage protest marches in London and Manchester against increases in tuition fees and public spending cuts in the United Kingdom. (BBC) Sport 2011 AFC Asian Cup in Qatar: The tournament ends and the closing ceremony is held in Khalifa International Stadium. (AFC) Japan defeats Australia 1–0 by a goal from Tadanari Lee in extra time, winning their fourth title. (AFC) The Confederation of African Football announces in Lubumbashi the hosts of the 2015 (Morocco) and 2017 Africa Cup of Nations (South Africa). (BBC Sport) Current events of January 30, 2011 (2011-01-30) (Sunday) Armed conflicts and attacks 2011 Egyptian protests: Demonstrations against the government, in which more than 150 people have been killed and over 4,000 injured, continue. (Al Jazeera) (The Guardian) (BBC) (RIA Novosti) Egypt's information minister cancels licenses and accreditation of staff working for the Al Jazeera international news network. The network's Cairo bureau office is to be shut down by the Egyptian government. An Al Jazeera spokesman describes the move as "an act designed to stifle and repress the freedom of reporting by the network and its journalists". (AFP via Google News) (The Guardian) (RIA Novosti) (Times LIVE) (Al Jazeera) Al Jazeera English is unavailable by cable television across most of the United States. (The Huffington Post) (Al Jazeera coverage) More than 10 people are killed in fresh clashes. (Sify) President Hosni Mubarak meets the military, holding talks with Vice President Omar Suleiman, Defence Minister Mohamed Hussein Tantawi, Chief of Staff Sami al-Anan and other senior commanders. (Reuters via The Irish Times) Several prison breaks occur, including the escape of 5,000 from a jail in Faiyum Governorate, many including 34 members of the Muslim Brotherhood from Wadi El Natrun, where eight people were killed in riots, and at least eight Hamas militants from Abu Zaabal Prison in Cairo, two of them escaping to Gaza, and two policemen and twelve escaped inmates were killed there; many more escaped from Tora Prison in Cairo, close to where 'dozens' of people were killed. Soldiers have been deployed outside of many prisons. (AFP via Google News) (Hindustan Times) (Reuters Africa) (Bangkok Post) (Press TV) Egyptian air force fighter planes fly low over Cairo and helicopters hover above the city as protestors defy the government-ordered curfew. (Reuters) (CBC News) (Los Angeles Times) (BBC) Egyptian authorities extend the curfew hours they are imposing on the people of Egypt. The government threatens to open fire on any person who disobeys its rule. (RIA Novosti) (The Guardian) Mohamed ElBaradei urges the United States to call for the resignation of President Mubarak. (Reuters) (The Wall Street Journal) Former interior minister Habib al-Adli is urgently evacuated from the ministry building in central Cairo amid gunfire. He was one of the cabinet members dismissed by Mubarak yesterday and is accused of ordering troops to open fire on those protesting against Mubarak. (RIA Novosti) Thousands of anti-government protesters in Cairo defy a curfew and intimidation from the Egyptian military as fighter jets swoop low over the crowds gathered in Tahrir Square. (Sky News) (TODAYonline) International response to the 2011 Egyptian protests: King Abdullah of Saudi Arabia expresses his disapproval of current events in Egypt, to which President of the United States Barack Obama responds that he "understands" Abdullah's concerns. (Arab News) Protesters gather peacefully outside the Egyptian Embassy in Lebanon in support of the current uprising against the Mubarak regime, chanting, "Down with Mubarak!" and "Egypt is an Arab, not a U.S. state!" (Daily Star) Israel privately worries and is "anxiously monitoring" events in Egypt according to the country's prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu. (CNN) (The Times of India) Hamas officials shut the Rafah Border Crossing "for several days" as guards on the Egyptian side of the border with Gaza flee. This prevents hundreds of Palestinians from crossing into Egypt. (The Times of India) (Xinhua) Several countries, including Greece, Kuwait, Saudi Arabia, Turkey and the United States, announce plans to evacuate citizens from Egypt. Cairo's U.S. embassy schedules flights to so-called safe haven locations in Europe. (Arabian Business) (Reuters via Arab News) (CNN) (The Guardian) The Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) in the Philippines sets aside a P25-million standby fund for Filipinos in Egypt, though the official line is that Filipinos there are safe. Non-government labor organization Migrante-Middle East calls for the immediate evacuation of Filipino workers in Egypt. (ABS-CBN News) (The Philippine Star) The Indian government airlifts 300 Indians, mostly women and children, from Egypt as the crisis worsens. (The Times of India) Bulgarian Foreign Minister Nikolai Mladenov speaks out on the crisis in Egypt. (Sofia Echo) Protests from the Egyptian diaspora and supporters occur worldwide. (BBC) (Euronews) (Al Jazeera) (CBC) (Ynetnews) 2011 Sudan protests: Anti-government demonstrators face off against riot police who fire tear gas and beat up students in Khartoum during protests inspired by those in Egypt and Tunisia. (Al Jazeera) 2010–2011 Tunisian uprising: Rachid Ghannounchi, leader of the once banned Ennahda party, flies back to the country from London after 22 years in exile following the ousting of President Zine El Abidine Ben Ali. (Al Jazeera) (BBC) Thousands of people march in Derry, Northern Ireland, in memory of those killed by British troops in the 1972 Bloody Sunday massacre of civil rights protesters and local bystanders. It is intended to be the final such march after the British government admitted last year that its troops had been responsible for carrying out the Bogside massacre. (CNN) (RTÉ) (Irish Examiner) (BBC) A fire in an arms depot of the Anonymous Venezuelan Campaign of Military Industries (CAVIM) in Maracy city of Aragua state killed at least one person and forced authorities to evacuate about 10,000 people. (Xinhua) Arts and culture Screen Actors Guild Awards The cast of The King's Speech wins the award for Outstanding Performance by a Cast in a Motion Picture at the 17th Screen Actors Guild Awards. (Entertainment Weekly) Colin Firth wins Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Leading Role for his performance as King George VI while Natalie Portman wins Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Leading Role for her performance in Black Swan. (Entertainment Weekly) Business and economy Alpha Natural Resources buys out Massey Energy for $7.1billion, making Alpha the second largest U.S. coal mining company by market value.(Reuters) Disasters 12 people are killed and 360 families left homeless after a fire in Navotas City, near Manila, Philippines. (AFP via Google News) (The Philippine Star) 1 person is killed and at least 40 others are injured due to an explosion and a fire in Maracay, Aragua. (Xinhua) (BBC) (AP via The Guardian) (Press TV) (The Voice of Russia) 3 people are trapped and 6 others are injured after a 30-storey building collapses in Belém, Pará, Brazil. (BBC) Tropical Cyclone Anthony makes landfall at Bowen in Queensland, Australia, forcing the declaration of a disaster zone in affected areas still recovering from the 2010–2011 Queensland floods. (The Australian) (Radio Australia News) (Fraser Coast Chronicle) A wildfire in the U.S. state of Oklahoma forces evacuations in Logan County and the closure of State Highway 105. (ITN) (Fox News) (Tulsa World) Law and crime A Vietnamese journalist known for his high-profile reporting dies after being set on fire. (BBC) (CP via Google News) The directors of two companies based in York and Kent are charged with conspiring to illegally export Chinese-produced weapons to the United States after having imported them into the UK via Germany. The incident breaches an embargo by the United States, which disagrees with the importation of weapons made in China. (The Observer) Ahead of his court case Julian Assange is interviewed at the Norfolk country house where he is staying, having been up all night preparing U.S. State Department cables relevant to ongoing events in Egypt for inclusion on the WikiLeaks website. (The Observer) Politics and elections Southern Sudan chooses to become independent of Sudan with over 99% voting yes in the referendum. (Reuters) (Al Jazeera) (The Guardian) (BBC) (Xinhua) The Parliament of Iran gives a vote of confidence to Ali Akbar Salehi, who has led the Atomic Energy Organisation of Iran since July 2009 and Iran's nuclear program, and is President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad's candidate to become Minister of Foreign Affairs. (PressTV) (AFP) Science Exotic birds are found to have been driven into Britain's back gardens by the extreme cold, as more than half a million people participate in the largest wildlife survey in the world. (The Observer) Sport It emerges that police locked international ticket-holders out of Khalifa Stadium in Qatar ahead of the final of the 2011 Asian Cup between Australia and Japan. (Al Jazeera) Novak Djokovic defeats Andy Murray, 6-4, 6-2, 6-3, to win the Men's Singles tournament at the 2011 Australian Open in the first major final without either Roger Federer or Rafael Nadal in three years. (ESPN) (AFP via The Sydney Morning Herald) France beats Denmark in the 2011 World Men's Handball Championship final.(Copenhagen Post) Scott Pruett wins his fourth 24 Hours of Daytona endurance race for Chip Ganassi Racing. (Speed Channel) Current events of January 31, 2011 (2011-01-31) (Monday) Armed conflicts and attacks 2011 Egyptian protests: The overnight atmosphere among the crowds gathered in Cairo's Tahrir Square is tense with gunfire reported. (Al Jazeera) President Hosni Mubarak orders his new prime minister Ahmed Shafiq to preserve subsidies, control inflation and provide more jobs as he battles an intense popular revolt against his 30-year rule. The announcement is read out on state television but has little effect as protesters vow to continue demonstrating until the Mubarak regime falls. (Al Jazeera) (AFP via The Sydney Morning Herald) International press institutes, including the Committee to Protect Journalists, the Doha Centre for Media Freedom and Reporters Without Borders, condemn attempts by the Mubarak regime to quell the freedom of the press as protests continue. (Al Jazeera) The Government of Australia sends a QANTAS jet to evacuate Australians trapped in Egypt while the United States Government charters jets to evacuate its citizens. (ABC News Australia), (AP) Al-Jazeera claims that six of its journalists are in police custody. (AP via Google News) The Egyptian Army states that it will not use force against protesters. (Reuters) 2011 Sudan protests: A student dies after being attacked by security forces amid anti-government demonstrations in the country. (Reuters) Nigerian police say they have foiled a bomb attack at a church in the city of Bauchi, days after deadly clashes between Christian and Muslim youths. (Reuters) A suicide bomber kills DSP Rashid Khan, a senior local police official in the northwestern Pakistani city of Peshawar, and at least three others. (AP via Star Tribune), (Geo TV) Police in Bangladesh fire tear gas at 20,000 demonstrators protesting against government plans to build an airport south of the capital Dhaka. A policeman is killed in the incident. (AFP via Google News) (BBC) At least 17 people are killed and scores more injured in a shootout between opposing government security forces in Mogadishu, Somalia. (Xinhua) Business and economy Pharmaceutical companies Genzyme and Sanofi-Aventis are reported to have reached an "agreement in principle" on a deal in which Sanofi, a French company, will acquire Cambridge-based Genzyme for an undetermined amount of money. (CNBC) The price of oil rises above $100 for the first time since 2008 as traders worry about possible disruption to the Suez Canal as a result of events in Egypt. (AFP via The Bangkok Post) Disasters 2 people are killed and 29,000 are evacuated following floods in Johor, southern Malaysia. (Straits Times) The Japanese government urges residents living near the Shinmoedake volcano in Kyūshū to evacuate as eruptions become worse. (AP via Winnipeg Free Press) Anna Bligh, the Premier of the Australian state of Queensland warns tens of thousands of people to prepare for evacuation ahead of Cyclone Yasi expected to hit later in the week. (the Australian) International relations The European Union and United States impose new sanctions against Belarus President Alexander Lukashenko and close associates. (AFP via Google News) Oman says it has uncovered a spy network from the United Arab Emirates operating in the country. (Al Jazeera) WikiLeaks: A new biography of Julian Assange reveals details of how the WikiLeaks spokesperson evaded U.S. officers from the Central Intelligence Agency Assange believed were following him, including his use of disguises. (AFP via The Sydney Morning Herald) WikiLeaks cables outline how the Labour Government led by former UK Prime Minister Gordon Brown advised the Libyan government about securing the release of the Lockerbie bomber Abdelbaset al-Megrahi. (Daily Telegraph) British Defence Secretary Liam Fox says that Iran could have a nuclear weapon by next year and that the assessment of Meir Dagan, outgoing director of the Israeli intelligence agency Mossad, that Iran would not be able to produce a nuclear bomb before 2015 could be overly optimistic; Iran rejects Fox's remarks.(Reuters)(UKPA) Law and crime Nuon Chea and Khieu Samphan, two of the most senior surviving leaders of the Khmer Rouge, appear in a Cambodian court to request release from pre-trial detention. (BBC) (Phnom Penh Post) Roger Vinson of the United States District Court for the Northern District of Florida rules that the Health insurance mandate of President Barack Obama's health care reforms are unconstitutional. (Time) (New York Times) Politics and elections China's state broadcaster China Central Television reportedly uses footage from the 1986 film Top Gun as a substitute for its coverage of the country's air force. (BBC) (Reuters) Southern Sudan announces it plans to officially declare independence from Sudan on July 9, 2011. (BBC) (Times of India) A new parliament opens in Burma. (BBC) (The Independent) (Bangkok Post) Presidential and parliamentary elections are held in Niger following one year of military rule. (Times LIVE) (RFI) The United States Secretary of State Hillary Clinton convenes a mass meeting of United States ambassadors from around the world. (AP via Google News) The 40th Canadian Parliament returns to session amid speculation of an impending election after an extended "holiday break". (Bloomberg) (CTV Edmonton) The Sudanese government closes down Ahlia University and the Islamic University of Omdurman following an anti-government protest in which at least one student died. (AFP via Google News) Sport Chittagong authorities vow to pay disabled beggars $2 per day for three months to keep them off the streets and away from tourists and spectators during the 2011 Cricket World Cup, scheduled to be co-hosted by Bangladesh. (BBC News) Spanish striker Fernando Torres joins Chelsea from Liverpool in a £50m transfer, a record for English football. (BBC) The United States Soccer Federation announces that a match between the US men's national football team and the Egypt national football team in Cairo on February 8 has been cancelled due to the current unrest. (CNN International) (US Soccer)

January 2011 S M T W T F S               1     2     3     4     5     6     7     8     9     10     11     12     13     14     15     16     17     18     19     20     21     22     23     24     25     26     27     28     29     30     31              Ongoing events Economic Automotive industry crisis Global financial crisis European sovereign debt crisis Greek economic crisis Medical HIV/AIDS in Africa Haiti cholera outbreak Political Political instability in Belgium Political crisis in Côte d'Ivoire Anti-government protests in Egypt Popular uprising in Tunisia Sports 2011 Australian Open Strikeforce: Diaz vs. Cyborg Scientific Expedition 26  Recent deaths January 31: Eunice Sanborn 30: John Barry 30: Ajahn Maha Bua 29: Dariush Homayoon 29: Milton Babbitt 28: Margaret Price 27: Charlie Callas 26: Gladys Horton 26: David Kato 26: Charlie Louvin 25: Daniel Bell 23: Bernd Eichinger 23: Jack LaLanne 22: Park Wan-suh 20: Sexy Cora 20: John Jacob Rhodes III 19: Ernest McCulloch 18: Sargent Shriver 18: Milton Rogovin 17: Don Kirshner 17: Keith Davey 16: Steve Prestwich 15: Nat Lofthouse 15: Susannah York 15: Harvey James 11: David Nelson 10: John Dye 10: María Elena Walsh 10: Margaret Whiting 9: Peter Yates  Ongoing conflicts Global War on Terror Terrorist incidents Operation Active Endeavour Operation Enduring Freedom War on Drugs Africa Tunisian protests Maghreb insurgency OEF - Trans Sahara Casamance conflict Niger Delta conflict Ivorian crisis Chadian Civil War Darfur conflict Sudanese nomadic conflicts LRA insurgency Ogaden insurgency Somali Civil War War in Somalia (2009–) OEF - Horn of Africa Piracy in Somalia Europe Republican Dissidents Conflict Basque Conflict Insurgency in the North Caucasus Civil war in Ingushetia Middle East Iraqi insurgency Balochistan conflict Palestinian political violence Rocket attacks Israeli–Lebanese conflict Fatah–Hamas conflict Arab–Israeli conflict Israeli–Palestinian conflict Conflicts in Yemen Terrorism South Yemen insurgency Yemeni al-Qaeda crackdown Shia insurgency in Yemen Conflicts in Kurdistan Turkey–PKK conflict Iran–PJAK conflict Asia Afghan War Military operations Taliban insurgency Conflicts in Pakistan War on Terror North-West Pakistan war Balochistan conflict Drone attacks Sectarian violence Conflicts in India Terrorism in India Jammu and Kashmir insurgency Naxalite-Maoist insurgency Insurgency in Northeast India Nagaland ethnic conflict Kashmir conflict Siachen conflict Korean maritime border incidents Laos insurgency Burma internal conflict Burma border clashes South Thailand insurgency Cambodian–Thai border stand-off Philippines insurgency OEF - Philippines Papua conflict Americas Colombian conflict Plan Colombia FARC Mexican Drug War Mérida Initiative Peru internal conflict  Elections Recent: January 9-15: Sudan, Southern Sudan independence referendum 23: Central African Republic, General 23: Portugal, President Upcoming: January 31: Niger, President (1st round) and Parliament 6: Cape Verde, Parliament Upcoming: February 13: Switzerland, Referendum 18: Uganda, President (1st round) and General 20: Chad, Parliament 27: Benin, President (1st round)  Trials Recently concluded Argentina: Jorge Rafael Videla Cambodia: Kang Kek Iew Egypt: Hisham Talaat Moustafa France: Jérôme Kerviel, Air France Flight 4590 Iran: Hossein Derakhshan Singapore: Alan Shadrake United States: Faisal Shahzad Ongoing Cambodia: Khmer Rouge Tribunal Canada: David Russell Williams China: Organized crime in Chongqing France: Church of Scientology Germany: Heinrich Boere, John Demjanjuk Iraq: Supreme Criminal Tribunal Iran: Sakineh Mohammadi Ashtiani Malaysia: Anwar Ibrahim Netherlands: Thomas Lubanga (ICC), Radovan Karadžić (ICTY), Geert Wilders Palau: Tommy Remengesau Peru: Joran van der Sloot Philippines: Andal Ampatuan Jr. Russia: Mikhail Khodorkovsky, Platon Lebedev Sierra Leone: Charles Taylor (SCFSL) Singapore: Tak Boleh Tahan Thailand: Thaksin Shinawatra Turkey: Ergenekon network United States: Buju Banton, David Headley, Rod Blagojevich, Ahmed Ghailani Upcoming Sudan: Lubna al-Hussein United States: Viktor Bout, Noshir Gowadia, Allen Stanford, Nidal Malik Hasan  Holidays  and observances Upcoming 3 February: Chinese New Year (Chinese world); Korean New Year (Korea); Tết (Vietnam)