Portal:Current events/2012 February 13

Current events of February 13, 2012 (2012-02-13) (Monday)

Armed conflict and attacks

• The Syrian Army continues its bombardment of Homs. (Reuters)
• 13 February 2012 attacks on Israeli diplomats:
  • An explosion tears through an Israeli diplomat's car in the vicinity of the Israeli Embassy in New Delhi, India; one woman is injured. (Ynet)
  • Explosives are found near the Israeli Embassy building in the Georgian capital of Tbilisi; the device is neutralized safely. (Ynet)

Disasters

• A 5.5-magnitude earthquake hit Northern California, near Weitchpec, according to the United States Geological Survey. (CNN)

Arts and culture

• The UK broadcaster ITV1 screens the first ever British advert aimed specifically at dogs. The 60-second commercial for the Bakers dog food brand features high-pitched sounds that cannot be heard by humans, and is a send up of the 1969 film The Italian Job. (The Daily Telegraph)

Business and economy

• The Australia and New Zealand Banking Group announces plans to cut 1000 jobs in Australia. (Herald Sun)
• Japan suffers negative economic growth for the fourth quarter of 2011 making it three out of four quarters that the Japanese economy shrinks. (CNN)
• Rangers F.C. announces an intent to enter administration. (BBC)
• The European Union approves Google's $12.5 billion acquisition of smartphone maker]] Motorola. (Wall Street Journal)

Law and crime

• The Prime Minister of Pakistan Yousuf Raza Gilani appears before the Supreme Court of Pakistan to face contempt of court charges. (IBN Live)
• Abu Qatada, accused of being one of the United Kingdom's most dangerous preachers of Islamic extremism, is scheduled to be released from prison following a ruling from the European Court of Human Rights last week. (BBC)
• Christine Gregoire, the Governor of Washington state in the US, signs recognising gay marriage in that state. (Reuters)