Portal:Current events/2012 February 9

{{Current events|year=2012|month=02|day=9|content=

;Armed conflict and attacks

Syria:
Syrian Army troops continue to pour into Homs as part of the latest offensive, with scores of civilians and anti-government protesters reported as having been killed in the past day. [https://www.reuters.com/article/2012/02/09/us-syria-idUSTRE80S08620120209 (Reuters)]
Ban Ki-moon, the Secretary-General of the United Nations, condemned the "appalling brutality" of the operation with estimates as high 110 people dead today. [https://www.reuters.com/article/2012/02/09/us-syria-idUSTRE80S08620120209 (Reuters)]
The United States Department of Defense issues new guidelines removing restrictions on use of women in combat. [https://web.archive.org/web/20120210105939/http://usnews.msnbc.msn.com/_news/2012/02/09/10366237-pentagons-new-rules-deploy-women-closer-to-combat (MSNBC News)]

;Business and economy

Greek government debt crisis:
Talks continue in order to resolve the debt crisis with a tentative agreement made. [http://hosted.ap.org/dynamic/stories/E/EU_GREECE_FINANCIAL_CRISIS?SITE=AP&SECTION=HOME&TEMPLATE=DEFAULT (AP)] [http://news.smh.com.au/breaking-news-world/greece-reaches-austerity-deal-20120210-1s0xw.html (AP via Sydney Morning Herald)]
Jean-Claude Juncker, the President of the Euro Group, gives the Hellenic Parliament a deadline of Sunday to pass legislation. [https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-16976520 (BBC)]
Eastman Kodak Co. announces that it will no longer make digital cameras, pocket video cameras and digital picture frames in an effort to save money during bankruptcy. [https://www.reuters.com/article/2012/02/09/us-kodak-idUSTRE81816Z20120209 (Reuters)]

;Disasters

Another 6000 Australians in northern New South Wales are expected to become isolated over the next few days as a result of flood waters including residents of Goodoga and Lightning Ridge. [http://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/news/breaking-news/further-flood-isolations-expected-for-nsw-floods/story-e6freuyi-1226266704283 (Daily Telegraph)]
The New Zealand Department of Building and Housing issues a report saying that the CTV Building that collapsed during the 2011 Christchurch earthquake killing 115 people did not meet relevant building standards when it was built in 1986. [http://www.stuff.co.nz/national/6386946/CTV-building-did-not-meet-standards-report (Fairfax New Zealand via New Zealand Stuff)]

;International Relations

Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper goes on an official visit to China, meeting with President Hu Jintao, Premier Wen Jiabao, and Vice-Premier Li Keqiang. The two countries sign trade deals worth over $3 billion. [http://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/story/2012/02/09/china-canada-trade.html (CBC)]

;Law

Spain's best-known judge Baltasar Garzón, who helped arrest Chilean dictator Augusto Pinochet and was charged with attempting to investigate Franco-era crimes against humanity, is banned from the legal profession for 11 years, without appeal, for illegal wire-tapping. [http://www.aljazeera.com/news/europe/2012/02/20122913177208508.html (Aljazeera)] [https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-16965790 (BBC)] [http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2012/feb/09/baltasar-garzon-guilty-wiretapping-spain (The Guardian)]

;Sport

Analyst Roland S. Martin is suspended from CNN over numerous offensive comments he made about gay men on Twitter during the broadcast of Super Bowl XLVI. [http://entertainment.time.com/2012/02/09/twimmolation-alert-roland-martin-gets-his-ascot-in-hot-water-at-cnn/?iid=ent-main-mostpop1 (TIME)]
In football, UEFA suspends Czech defender David Bystroň of Viktoria Plzeň for two years for testing positive for a banned substance after a Champions League match against Belarus side BATE Borisov. [http://www.google.com/hostednews/afp/article/ALeqM5iVLh4kJBx297YiUywA1R7L8xLQQw?docId=CNG.4436a6d41c14c4cc05defb81e2b6e08c.1e1 (AFP via Google News)]

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