Portal:Current events/2013 January 16

Current events of January 16, 2013 (2013-01-16) (Wednesday)

Armed conflicts and attacks

• Syrian civil war:
  • Three car bombs explode near military checkpoints and government buildings in Idlib Governorate, Syria, leaving 24 people dead. Two other bombs were defused by government forces. (Reuters)
• Insurgency in the Maghreb (2002–present):
  • In Aménas hostage crisis: Suspected Islamic militants take over a BP facility in In Aménas, Algeria, killing at least 2 workers and taking up to 40 others hostage, including 13 Norwegians, a number of Americans, as well as nationals from Ireland, Japan, France and the United Kingdom. A previously unknown group allied to al-Qaeda's regional branch says the attack is in revenge for Algeria's support of the French operation against Islamic rebels in Mali. (Fox News) (BBC) (Reuters)
• Northern Mali conflict (2012–present), Battle of Diabaly:
  • French troops are reported to be fighting rebels in the Malian town of Diabaly alongside Malian troops. (BBC)
• War in Afghanistan (2001–present):
  • The Afghan National Directorate of Security headquarters in Kabul are attacked by a team of suicide bombers, leaving a security guard dead and 17 others injured. (BBC)

Accidents and disasters

• A helicopter crash in central London kills two people and injures 13 others. (BBC News) (Sky News)
• An apartment block collapses in the Egyptian city of Alexandria, killing at least 25 people. (The Daily Star)

Business and economy

• The Federal Aviation Administration grounds all American-operated Boeing 787's due to a series of incidents.(NBC) (The New York Times)

Law and crime

• Russian mafia boss Aslan Usoyan is killed in Moscow. (RIA Novosti) (The Washington Post)
• The mayor of Jutiapa, Guatemala, is shot and killed by unidentified assailants. (BBC) (RIA Novosti)

Politics and elections

• US Interior Secretary Ken Salazar announces that he is to leave the office in March. (CNN)