Portal:Current events/2009 October 23

October 23, 2009 (Friday)

At the end of their three-week synod in the Vatican, more than 200 African Roman Catholic bishops issue a 12-page document urging what they call corrupt political leaders on the continent to repent their sins or resign and criticising multinational companies who exploit and destroy the earth. (BBC) (Reuters) (CBC)
Bernard Fellay, Superior General of the Society of St. Pius X, says that the Vatican is considering the possibility of converting the Lefebvrist group into a personal prelature. (Pakistan Christian TV)
A universal mobile phone charger that works with any handset is approved by the International Telecommunication Union. (BBC)
Jean Todt defeats Ari Vatanen in an election to become the new head of the Fédération Internationale de l'Automobile, replacing former head Max Mosley, who held the position for 16 years. (BBC)
The UK GDP contracts by 0.4% between July and September, meaning that the United Kingdom has been contracting for 6 successive quarters for the first time since records were kept in 1955. (BBC) (RTÉ)
The Swiss Government says that the United States has formally requested the extradition of film director Roman Polanski for having unlawful sex with an underage girl in 1977. (AP via Washington Post)(Yahoo)
A huge explosion rips through an upmarket area of Peshawar in Pakistan. (AFP via Google News) (Yahoo News)
A huge explosion occurs at an oil refinery in Cataño, Puerto Rico. (Reuters)
Vitit Muntarbhorn, United Nations Special Rapporteur for North Korea, says the country should improve its "abysmal" rights record, adding it should provide food to over 8 million citizens. (Al Jazeera) (Taiwan News) (BBC)
The Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) launches its first human rights body, the ASEAN Intergovernmental Commission on Human Rights (AICHR). (Thai News Agency) (Associated Press)
A white Kenyan, Thomas Cholmondeley, is released after five months of an eight month prison sentence for manslaughter. (Daily Nation) (BBC)