The United Kingdom Office for National Statistics releases GDP figures indicating growth of 0.5% compared to a 0.1% figure in the previous quarter. (BBC)
At least seven people are killed and 200 injured following an explosion caused by two trucks carrying explosives crashing in Fuquan City in China's Guizhou Province. (CNN)
China launches the unmanned Shenzhou 8 spacecraft, intending to robotically dock it with the orbiting Tiangong 1space station module. If successful, the mission will mark China's first orbital docking, and will be a major milestone in its efforts to construct a full-scale space station. (BBC)
Four men are arrested in the U.S. state of Georgia for plotting to kill government officials with explosives and the toxic substance ricin. (Washington Post)
At least 20 people and 13 soldiers are killed in ongoing fighting in the city of Homs. (Reuters)
President of SyriaBashar al-Assad agrees with the Arab League to end the crackdown on the uprising in Syria, releasing political prisoners and allowing international news agencies back into Syria. (CNN)
Flooding continues in Italy with seven people having died in the past week and thousands of people ordered to evacuate in Turin as the Po River continues to rise. (BBC)
An inquiry is launched following claims identity checks on travellers entering the United Kingdom from outside Europe were scaled back during the summer. Home SecretaryTheresa May tells the House of Commons she does not know how many entered the country without proper checks. (BBC)
The Syrian government continues its crackdown on protesters and army defectors in the city of Homs, killing dozens of civilians in the process. (Al Jazeera)
The United Nations reports that the death toll of the eight-month-old Syrian uprising has reached 3,500. (BBC)
NASA observes the asteroidYU55 as it makes a close Earth flyby, passing within 0.85 lunar distances (about 201,700 miles) of the Earth. YU55 is approximately 400 metres (1,300 ft) across, and is the largest asteroid to make a close pass since 1976. (BBC)(WSJ)(SLOOH)
A survey of businesses and consumers in Wales indicates widespread support among both groups for the country to have its own top-level domain name. (BBC)
Floods are predicted to enter the centre of Bangkok early next week, and have already affected nearby roads and sewage systems, according to the Thai Flood Relief Operations Command (FROC). (The National)(Bangkok Post)
The first ever national test of the Emergency Alert System occurred on this date, at 2:00 p.m. EST. This test was transmitted with the Emergency Action Notification code, and was testing the ability to transmit a national-level emergency alert, such as a nuclear attack. This test failed, with 2 other Primary Entry Point (PEP) radio stations relaying the alert over the original alert itself, creating an echo effect. One of the overlaying PEP stations were WCCO (AM), and the other one cannot be determined. However, the issues in this alert have (mostly) been fixed.
Dutch scientists build a nanoscopicelectric car made of a single complex molecule. Currently the world's smallest vehicle, the nanocar is capable of travelling small distances when an electric current is applied to it. (BBC)(AdelaideNow)
Opposition activists claim that at least 38 people, including six children, have been killed by security forces across Syria: 16 in the city of Homs, 10 in Idlib, six in Hama, three in the suburbs of Damascus and three in Daraa. (CNN)
Business and economy
Hinchingbrooke Hospital in the English county of Cambridgeshire becomes the first NHS hospital to be run by a private firm. Healthcare partnership Circle has been awarded a ten-year contract, and will take over administration of the hospital – which has heavy financial debts – in February 2012. (BBC)
2011 Syrian uprising: 250 Syrians, mostly civilians, have been killed so far this month, as the violence escalates in Syria's eight-month-old crackdown on pro-democracy protests and attacks on security forces increase. (CBC)(MSNBC)
The former Prime Minister of UkraineYulia Tymoshenko, already serving a seven-year sentence for abuse of office, is charged with tax evasion, theft and concealing foreign currency revenues. (Reuters)
Sidney Nsubuga Enoch is jailed for 35 years in Uganda for the murder of gay activist David Kato in January. (Reuters)
Undercover British police officer Mark Kennedy admits that, in the guise of an environmental activist, he was used by the police forces of 22 countries, was responsible for the closing down of the Youth House community centre in Copenhagen, and committed two crimes on behalf of German police between 2004 and 2009, one of which was arson. (The Guardian)
Pressure is applied to the Syrian government from many sides as Turkey threatens to cut electricity to its southern neighbor, while the European Union increases sanctions on the regime. (CNN)
Chinese artist Ai Weiwei pays 8.45 million yuan in taxes after receiving a large number of donations from supporters who believe the debt was politically motivated because of his criticism of the Chinese government. (CNN)
Police in the English city of Birmingham arrest four men in the Sparkhill district in a major anti-terrorism operation. (BBC)
The United States successfully tests a new hypersonic weapon system, capable of striking targets 3,700 kilometres (2,300 mi) away in under 30 minutes, as part of its Prompt Global Strike program. (BBC)
At least 13 people are killed and as many as 900 injured as violent protests continue in Cairo's Tahrir Square against Egypt's ruling military government. Security forces attempt to disperse the crowds with tear gas and baton charges. (BBC)
Two people are injured after Syrian soldiers attack buses carrying Turkish citizens returning through Syria from a hajj pilgrimage to Saudi Arabia. (CNN)
A Congressional panel fails to agree on proposals to cut the United States' national budget deficit by $1.2 trillion, leading to automatic budget cuts. (CBC)
Darren Scully, the mayor of the Irish town of Naas, resigns after the latest in a series of scandals, having made radio comments about the "aggressive attitude" of "black Africans". A police investigation into his actions is underway. (RTE News)(Daily Mail)(Irish Times)
Egypt protests: Violent anti-regime protests enter their fifth day in Cairo's Tahrir Square, with 35 people killed and over 3,200 injured to date in clashes between protesters and security forces. (CNN)
India's government decides to relax rules concerning the operation of foreign-owned retailers such as Wal-Mart and Tesco within India. (The New York Times)
Colombian military forces raid a FARC rebel hideout in the province of Caquetá, freeing police sergeant Luis Alberto Erazu, who had been held hostage by FARC for 12 years. Four other hostages are killed by the rebels during the raid. (Miami Herald)
Jed S. Rakoff, a judge at the U.S. District Court in Manhattan, denies approval to a settlement agreement between the Securities and Exchange Commission and the investment bank Citigroup, which the SEC has charged with deceiving investors about the conditions under which a certain portfolio's investments had been chosen. (New York Times)
Up to two million public sector workers in the United Kingdom commence a 24-hour strike over pension reforms, affecting schools, hospitals, airports, ports and government offices nationwide. (BBC)
The IranianForeign Ministry calls the attacks "unacceptable", stating that they happened despite the efforts of the embassy guards. Police arrest 12 protesters in connection with the attacks. (Fars News)
Researchers at Washington State University develop an artificial bone "scaffold" which can be produced using 3D printers, potentially allowing doctors to quickly print replacement bone tissue for injured patients. (BBC)
