Portal:Current events/2011 September 14
September 14, 2011 (Wednesday)
Armed conflicts and attacks
- Taliban attack on Kabul:
- A Taliban attack on the centre of the Afghan capital Kabul ends with 11 people dead. (The Telegraph)
- The United States Secretary of Defense Leon Panetta warned that the United States would retaliate against the Pakistan-based Haqqani network of terrorists that it believes was responsible. (AFP via Google News)
- More than twenty people are killed and scores injured in attacks in Iraq, including 16 people killed in a car bombing in Babil Province. (AP via Washington Post)
Arts and culture
- Archaeologists in the US state of Maryland claim to have found a fort in the Zekiah Swamp in Charles County built to protect the "friendly" Piscataway Indians in 1680. (Baltimore Sun)
Business and economy
- Robert Zoellick, the President of the World Bank, claims that the world economy has entered the "danger zone", with the United States, European Union and Japan having to make tough decisions. (Reuters)
Disasters
- Tropical Storm Maria is strengthening in the Atlantic Ocean with a hurricane watch issued in Bermuda for when it arrives either late tonight or tomorrow. (National Hurricane Centre via NOLA)
Law and crime
- The acquittals of former Premier of Western Australia Brian Burke, former Cabinet Minister Julian Grill and former public servant Nathan Hondros on corruption charges are overturned by the Court of Appeal in Perth, with the three set to face a retrial. (AAP via Sydney Morning Herald)
- A French Appeals Court clears former Prime Minister Dominique de Villepin of charges of involvement in a smear campaign against current President Nicolas Sarkozy. (Irish Times)
- Paul Tiensten, a former Minister in Papua New Guinea, flees to Australia after being summonsed in East New Britain Province to face charges of fraud and corruption. (AAP via The Australian)
- Two days after his release from prison, British Conservative peer Lord Hanningfield is arrested on suspicion of fraudulently claiming expenses during his time as leader of Essex County Council. (BBC)
- In a court case concerning the theft of Kevlar-related trade secrets, DuPont is awarded US$920 million in damages.(BBC)
Politics and elections
- The Australian government's Minister for Broadband, Communications and the Digital Economy, Stephen Conroy, announces an inquiry into the national media. (SBS)
Science
- NASA announces plans for a Space Launch System to replace the Space Shuttle program with the first flight tentatively scheduled for 2017. (New York Times)