Current events of 9 January 2008 (2008-01-09) (Wednesday) edit history watch

China will ban stores from handing out plastic bags as of June 2008. (BBC) After conducting further research, NASA astronomers have determined that asteroid 2007 WD5 now has a 0.01% chance of striking Mars on January 30, 2008, effectively ruling out an impact. (NASA) India's Tata Motors launches the world's cheapest production car, Tata Nano, in Pragati Maidan, Delhi. (CNN-IBN) The price of gold in the London Gold Fixing rises above €600 per troy ounce for the first time. (€603.528, a.m. Fixing.) (LBMA) Nigeria's Economic and Financial Crimes Commission charges Lucky Igbinedion, the former governor of Edo State, with 142 counts of money laundering. He is the eighth governor charged with corruption-related charges. (BBC News) Peter de Villiers is appointed the first black coach of the South African rugby union team. (The Times)