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Portal:Current events/2011 February 9

{{Current events|year=2011|month=02|day=9|content=

;Armed conflicts and attacks

  • Somali pirates seize an oil supertanker off the coast of Oman. [https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-africa-12403528 (BBC)]
  • At least seven people are killed and dozens of others are injured during three explosions in Kirkuk, Iraq. [http://english.aljazeera.net/news/middleeast/2011/02/201129124643685401.html (Al Jazeera)]
  • Serial blasts rock Russia's Grozny, at least five people are wounded. [http://english.people.com.cn/90001/90777/90853/7282438.html (People's Daily)]
  • 2011 Egyptian protests:
  • Nationwide protests against President Hosni Mubarak and his regime continue for a sixteenth day. [http://blogs.aljazeera.net/middle-east/2011/02/08/live-blog-feb-9-egypt-protests (Al Jazeera)] [http://www.guardian.co.uk/news/blog/2011/feb/09/egypt-protests-live-updates-9-february (The Guardian)]
  • Labour unions involving thousands of workers go on a nationwide strike, boosting the pro-democracy demonstrations occurring across the country. [http://english.aljazeera.net/news/middleeast/2011/02/20112913546831171.html (Al Jazeera)]
  • Human rights groups say the military is secretly detaining and torturing hundreds and possibly thousands of suspected government opponents and has been doing so since the protests started. [http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2011/feb/09/egypt-army-detentions-torture-accused (The Guardian)]
  • The government threatens a crackdown as the protests spread. [http://www.khaleejtimes.com/DisplayArticle09.asp?xfile=data/middleeast/2011/February/middleeast_February275.xml§ion=middleeast (Khaleej Times)] [https://web.archive.org/web/20110209110204/http://www.voanews.com/english/news/middle-east/In-Egypt-Protesters-Government-Dig-In-115625749.html (Voice of America)]
  • Egyptians mourn those killed for protesting against their government. [http://english.aljazeera.net/news/middleeast/2011/02/201129181744289932.html (Al Jazeera)]
  • After being released by the authorities, Google executive Wael Ghonim addresses the crowds in Tahrir Square. [http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/video/2011/feb/09/wael-ghonim-tahrir-square-video (The Guardian)]

;Business and economy

  • The Guardian publishes WikiLeaks cables claiming that Saudi Arabia had exaggerated its crude oil reserves by nearly 40% and will have trouble keeping a cap on oil prices. [http://www.guardian.co.uk/business/2011/feb/08/saudi-oil-reserves-overstated-wikileaks (The Guardian)]
  • A leaked memo shows Nokia chief executive Stephen Elop's belief that the company is too slow in its response to trend changes. [http://english.aljazeera.net/business/2011/02/201129144053920207.html (Al Jazeera)]
  • Activision Blizzard announces that it is dissolving its Guitar Hero division and not publishing any more games. [http://www.gamasutra.com/view/news/32946/Activision_Dissolves_Guitar_Hero_Business_Refocuses_On_Digital.php (Gamasutra)]
  • ConocoPhillips and Marathon Oil announce plans to shut down a liquefied natural gas plant in Kenai, Alaska, United States. [https://web.archive.org/web/20110213035706/http://www.ktuu.com/news/ktuu-natural-gas-plant-lng-plant-in-kenai-to-shut-down-20110209,0,3583558.story (AP via KTUU)]
  • Project Merlin
  • 9 February - Project Merlin, an agreement on aspects of banking activity in the United Kingdom, is agreed between the coalition government and the country's four major high street banks. [https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-12402469 (BBC)]
  • Liberal Democrat peer Lord Oakeshott resigns as a Treasury spokesman in the House of Lords after making an outspoken attack on the agreement. [https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-12411664 (BBC)]

;Disasters

  • A major fire breaks out in Bombay House, a historic building in Mumbai, India, which serves as the headquarters of the Tata Group, resulting in at least three deaths. [http://ibnlive.in.com/news/mumbai-fire-at-bombay-house/142826-3.html (Press Trust of India via IBN-Live)]
  • Thieves tapping a Pemex oil pipeline cause a diesel fuel spill south of Tijuana in Mexico. [http://uk.reuters.com/article/2011/02/09/mexico-oil-spill-idUKN0921714220110209 (Reuters)]
  • Two small planes (took off from Langley Regional Airport) collide mid-air near Mission, British Columbia, in western Canada, with at least one person dead. [http://www.ctvbc.ctv.ca/servlet/an/local/CTVNews/20110209/bc_plane_crash_110209/20110209?hub=BritishColumbiaHome (CTV)]
  • An explosion occurs in Allentown, Pennsylvania, United States, resulting in two people being missing. [http://www.mcall.com/news/breaking/mc-allentown-house-explodes-020911,0,7470195.story (The Morning Call)]

;International relations

  • President of France Nicolas Sarkozy calls for an end to government ministers holidaying abroad after it emerges they went to countries such as Egypt and Tunisia while anti-regime protests were underway. The controversy has led to calls for resignations. [http://english.aljazeera.net/news/europe/2011/02/20112917101935120.html (Al Jazeera)]
  • Korean talks
  • South Korea agrees in principle to resume discussions with North Korea on humanitarian issues including reuniting families separated by the Korean War. [https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-pacific-12401126 (BBC)]
  • Military talks end without agreement as North Korea refuses to apologise for the Bombardment of Yeonpyeong. [http://english.yonhapnews.co.kr/national/2011/02/09/83/0301000000AEN20110209009100315F.HTML (Yonhap)]
  • U.S. Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano claims the possibility of terrorism being carried out against the country "has evolved significantly" and, she claims, is "at its most heightened state" since the 9/11 attacks". [https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-us-canada-12407859 (BBC)]
  • In a new agreement, Denmark and Russia will for the first time, cooperate within military. [http://jp.dk/uknews/article2334212.ece (Jyllandsposten)]

;Law and crime

  • Prime Minister of Italy Silvio Berlusconi brands "disgusting" a request by prosecutors in Milan to have him put on trial immediately in relation to sexual relations with underage prostitutes which allegedly occurred at one of his house parties. [https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-12404554 (BBC)]
  • Detectives investigating claims over tabloid phone hacking in Britain are re-examining whether a string of high-profile individuals and celebrities were targeted. Scotland Yard is taking a second look. [http://www.radioaire.co.uk/Article.asp?id=2105600&spid=25211 (Radioaire)]
  • Jimmy Lemi Milla, a South Sudanese minister, and his bodyguard are shot dead apparently as a result of a personal dispute. [http://english.aljazeera.net/news/africa/2011/02/201129133511388343.html (Al Jazeera)]
  • The trial of former President of Liberia Charles Taylor is adjourned until Friday after he does not attend court in The Hague. [https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-africa-12402254 (BBC)]
  • Daniel Patrick Boyd pleads guilty to terrorism charges in a trial in the US state of North Carolina. [https://web.archive.org/web/20110212161131/http://www.startribune.com/nation/115655454.html (AP via Minneapolis Tribune)]

;Politics and elections

  • Spanish Basque nationalists announce a new political party named Sortu (meaning "born" in the Basque language), categorically rejecting all violence, including that of ETA. [http://www.monstersandcritics.com/news/europe/news/article_1617787.php/New-Basque-separatist-party-unveils-its-name-Sortu (Deutsche Presse-Agentur)]
  • The Cabinet of Pakistan submit their resignations to the prime minister, who intends to appoint a smaller cabinet in order to reduce government spending at a time of economic crisis. [http://www.google.com/hostednews/afp/article/ALeqM5i8jZd9DQPiTclbcq2U9o-kVxxE-A?docId=CNG.5b1299bcf195e527eee38fa8e23c0446.161 (AFP via Google News)]
  • US Representative Chris Lee representing New York's 26th congressional district resigns after it is revealed that he sent a racy photo to a woman who was not his wife. [http://cityroom.blogs.nytimes.com/2011/02/09/new-york-congressman-resigns-over-shirtless-photo/?src=tptw (New York Times)]
  • The United States Democratic Leadership Council consisting of centrist Democrats announces that it will wind up. [http://www.tnr.com/article/politics/83086/democratic-leadership-council-requiem-dlc?page=0,0 (The New Republic)]
  • The Chamber of Councillors of Tunisia passes legislation allowing the President to rule by decree. [https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-africa-12410704 (BBC)]

;Sport

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