Portal:Current events/2011 November 8

November 8, 2011 (Tuesday)

Armed conflicts and attacks

2011 Syrian uprising:
- The Syrian government continues its crackdown on protesters and army defectors in the city of Homs, killing dozens of civilians in the process. (Al Jazeera)
- The United Nations reports that the death toll of the eight-month-old Syrian uprising has reached 3,500. (BBC)

Business and economy

Russia starts commercial natural gas deliveries to Central Europe via the Nord Stream, the world's longest submerged pipeline. (The Local)
A record number of Americans — 49.1 million — are living below the poverty line, based on a new census measure. (Washington Post)

Disasters

Flooding in Thailand reaches the residence of the Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra in Bangkok, forcing her to withdraw from the Hawaii APEC summit to deal with the crisis. (Bangkok Post) (Reuters)
At least 16 people are killed in a stampede during a religious festival in the Indian city of Haridwar, Uttarakhand. (CNN)
A British Red Arrows pilot dies after being accidentally ejected from his BAE Hawk jet aircraft while on the ground at RAF Scampton in Lincolnshire. (The Telegraph)

International relations

The International Atomic Energy Agency releases a report that says that Iran has carried out activities relevant to the development of a nuclear device, and that the project may still be under way. (The New York Times) (CNN)
Human rights groups send an open letter to the President of the People's Republic of China, Hu Jintao, pressing the Chinese government to address the underlying causes of protests that have led 11 Tibetans to set themselves on fire since March. (The Tibetan Post)
Journalists report comments by French President Nicolas Sarkozy to US President Barack Obama at the G20 summit in Cannes, in which Sarkozy called Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu a "liar". (BBC)

Politics and elections

The Australian Senate votes to introduce a controversial carbon tax, a form of carbon pricing. (The West Australian via Yahoo! 7 News)
Resignation of Silvio Berlusconi:
- Prime Minister of Italy Silvio Berlusconi narrowly wins a key budget vote in the Italian Parliament, but loses his parliamentary absolute majority as both allied and opposition politicians call on him to resign. (Reuters)
- Berlusconi announces that he will resign after the parliament passes a budget law. (Reuters)
Voters in Liberia go to the polls for the second round of a presidential election, with the incumbent President, Ellen Johnson Sirleaf, likely to be re-elected. (Wall Street Journal)
Voters in the United States vote in state, municipal, and local elections.
- Democratic Governor Steve Beshear is re-elected Governor of Kentucky. (CNN)
- Republican Phil Bryant is elected Governor of Mississippi. (Jackson Clarion Ledger)^{[permanent dead link‍]}
- Democrat Jonathan Rothschild is elected Mayor of Tucson, Arizona. (Tucson Sentinel)
- Democrat Greg Stanton is elected Mayor of Phoenix, Arizona, in a runoff election. (Ahwatukee Foothills News)
Brodie Clark, head of the UK Border Agency, resigns after saying that comments made by Home Secretary Theresa May amounted to "constructive dismissal", and states that he will launch legal proceedings against the government. (BBC)

Science

NASA observes the asteroid YU₅₅ as it makes a close Earth flyby, passing within 0.85 lunar distances (about 201,700 miles) of the Earth. YU₅₅ is approximately 400 metres (1,300 ft) across, and is the largest asteroid to make a close pass since 1976. (BBC) (WSJ) (SLOOH)
A Scottish-designed bionic leg exoskeleton, designed to allow handicapped people to walk, is approved for sale in the United Kingdom. (BBC)

Sports

Indian cricketer Sachin Tendulkar becomes the first player in history to score 15,000 Test runs. (The Guardian)