Portal:Current events/2010 November 3

November 3, 2010 (Wednesday)

Armed conflicts and attacks

Greece suspends air mail deliveries after a series of parcel bombs are sent to foreign embassies and leaders. (CNN) (BBC) (People's Daily)
At least 17 co-ordinated explosions across a widespread area of Baghdad kill 113 people and wound more than 271. (Xinhua) (Shanghai Daily) (Los Angeles Times)
The South Korean Navy fires warning shots at a North Korean fishing boat at the Northern Limit Line maritime border. (Reuters) (Korea Times)

Arts, culture and entertainment

A Singapore court convicts British author Alan Shadrake of insulting the judicial system in his book Once a Jolly Hangman: Singapore Justice in the Dock. (BBC)

Business and economy

At least 25,000 students take to the streets of Dublin to protest against rising emigration, unemployment and an increase in university fees, in the largest such demonstration for a generation. (The Irish Times) (RTÉ) (BBC) (Irish Examiner) (University Observer)
The Government of Canada announces that it will block a $38.6bn hostile takeover bid by BHP Billiton for Potash Corporation. (BBC)
The United States Federal Reserve announces its plan for further quantitative easing in a bid to ward off deflation. (CNN)
The central bank of Iceland, i.e. the Sedlabanki, cuts its key interest rate to 5.50 percent, a somewhat deeper cut than had been expected. This is part of an ongoing policy of expanding the money supply in response to the crisis of 2008. (Reuters)

Disasters and accidents

Two people die and 50 are injured after a 5.4 magnitude earthquake hits Central Serbia. (B92) (Forbes)

International relations

A French court orders the extradition of Rwandan rebel leader Callixte Mbarushimana to stand trial at the International Criminal Court. (RFI) (The East African)
The United Nations schedules a new round of talks on the Western Sahara. (BBC)
NATO's Secretary General Anders Fogh Rasmussen is to visit Russia to discuss the European missile defence project with President Medvedev. (Xinhua)

Law and crime

David Tamihere is granted parole after serving 20 years imprisonment for the 1989 murders of two Swedish backpackers in New Zealand. (NZ Herald)
Sakineh Mohammadi Ashtiani is to be hanged for murder today in Iran, according to the International Committee against Stoning. (The Irish Times)
San Francisco passes a law banning McDonald's from giving free children's toys with unhealthy food. (Reuters)
The United States Border Patrol finds a sophisticated tunnel between Tijuana in Mexico and Otay Mesa, California, used by drug smugglers. (Reuters)

Politics and elections

Constitutional referendum results in Niger show that 90% of voters approve a return to civilian rule from the Supreme Council for the Restoration of Democracy military junta. (BBC)
Liberian President Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf dissolves her cabinet. (Reuters)
A package addressed to Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi bursts into flames at Bologna Airport during a police inspection. (Xinhua)
Former Russian Premier and founder of Gazprom Viktor Chernomyrdin dies at 72. (RT) (The Guardian) (Wall Street Journal) (BBC) (AFP) (The New York Times)
Ireland's High Court rules as unconstitutional the government's delay in holding one of the four by-elections due in the country; the government then announces the by-election in the Donegal South–West constituency will take place by the end of the month. (The Irish Times) (BBC) (RTÉ)