Portal:Current events/2011 November 9

Summary

Armed conflicts and attacks

Arts and culture

Business and economy

Disasters
  • 2011 Thailand floods:
    • The death toll from the ongoing flooding in Thailand reaches 529. (AFP via Google)
    • 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 British Ministry of Defence suspends training flights in aircraft with ejector seats similar to that which killed a Red Arrows pilot on Tuesday. (BBC)
  • A magnitude 5.7 earthquake hits Van, Turkey, leading to the collapse of numerous buildings. The tremor comes in the wake of last month's destructive 7.1 magnitude earthquake. (USA Today) (BBC)

Emergency Alerts
  • 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.

International relations

Politics and elections

Science
  • Russia's Fobos-Grunt mission to the Martian moon of Phobos runs into problems shortly after its launch, with no telemetry reported from the spacecraft. (MSNBC)
  • Dutch scientists build a nanoscopic electric 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)

Sports