December 10, 2011 (Saturday)
Armed conflicts and attacks
- The Syrian government gives the city of Homs 72 hours to stop anti-government protests, or face an offensive, raising fears of a massacre against civilians. (Daily Telegraph)
- The Pakistani Taliban confirms that it is holding peace talks with the government. (Pakistan Tribune)
- One civilian is killed and at least 20 others injured after an Israeli air strike on a militant base in Gaza City, Palestinian medics say. (BBC)
Arts and culture
- The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim wins the game of the year at the Spike Video Game Awards. (AP via WVEC)
Disasters
- A light cargo plane crashes into an elementary school building in the Philippine city of Parañaque with 13 people dead. (AP), (Reuters via Yahoo)[permanent dead link]
- A 6.5 magnitude earthquake hits the Mexican state of Guerrero. It causes three deaths and is felt across several central states. (AP via CBS News)
Politics
- New Zealand general election and voting system referendum:
- Official results for the 26 November general election confirm John Key's National Party holding a plurality of the votes and seats. With confidence and supply agreements with ACT New Zealand and United Future confirmed, National forms a minority government with a one-seat majority, returning the Fifth National Government to a second term in office. (TVNZ)
- Full results of the referendum on the voting system confirm that the mixed member proportional voting system, with a majority of the vote, will be kept but will be reviewed. The first past the post voting system gains the most votes for the preferred alternative system of voting. (TVNZ)
- 2011 Russian protests:
- A day of protests begins in cities across Russia against alleged election fraud by Vladimir Putin and his United Russia party, with fifty thousand people marching in Moscow and 25 people arrested in Khabarovsk. (AP via MSNBC), (AFP via News Limited)
- Restrictions on Russian media covering the protests are lifted. (Press Trust of India) (BBC)
- At least six people are killed in clashes in the Democratic Republic of the Congo in the aftermath of disputed general elections in which Joseph Kabila was named President. (Al Jazeera)
- Cristina Fernández de Kirchner is sworn as President of Argentina in a second consecutive mandate. (Yahoo)
- Oscar Valdés is named as the new Prime Minister of Peru, after Salomón Lerner Ghitis resigned. (Andina)
Science
- Astronomers in Asia, Australia and North America observe a total lunar eclipse. (BBC)
- NASA clears SpaceX to launch Dragon COTS Demo Flight 2 toward the International Space Station in a window opening on February 7, 2012. (Reuters)
Sport
- Robert Griffin III, the quarterback for the Baylor Bears wins the Heisman Trophy, awarded to the best player in college football. (New York Times)