Portal:Current events

Edit instructions

Worldwide current events
Sports events

Topics in the news

Paweł Adamowicz

In Poland, Gdańsk Mayor Paweł Adamowicz (pictured) dies after being stabbed on stage at a charity concert.
Fifteen people are killed when a Saha Airlines Boeing 707 crashes on landing at Fath Air Base, Iran.
In the midst of an ongoing constitutional crisis in Venezuela, the National Assembly disputes incumbent president Nicolás Maduro's victory in the May 2018 election and declares Juan Guaidó the acting president.
Félix Tshisekedi is declared the winner of the presidential election in the Democratic Republic of the Congo.

January 16, 2019 (Wednesday)

edithistorywatch

Armed conflicts and attacks

Syrian Civil War
- In the city of Manbij, a suicide attack claimed by ISIS leaves at least 19 casualties. Amongst them, four U.S. soldiers are reported dead and three wounded. (Washington Post)

Politics and elections

United States federal government shutdown
- About 42,000 active-duty Coast Guard members, who continue to work on essential operations, missed their scheduled paycheck Tuesday. This is the first time that United States Armed Forces service members have not been paid during a shutdown or other lapse in government appropriation. (NBC News)

January 15, 2019 (Tuesday)

edithistorywatch

Armed conflicts and attacks

2019 Nairobi hotel attack
- Multiple explosions and gunfire are reported after four armed men stormed the Dusit hotel in Nairobi, Kenya. The Somalia-based militant group Al-Shabaab claims responsibility. (BBC)

Arts and culture

Prayagraj Kumbh 2019
- The largest human gathering in the world, the Kumbh Mela festival, starts at Prayagraj (previously known as Allahabad), India. More than 120 million Hindu devotees, as well as tourists, are expected. (The Guardian)

International relations

North Korea–United States relations
- South Korean media reports that North Korean officials are expected to visit the United States to discuss a second summit between the two countries at an unspecified date. (Reuters) (Al Jazeera)

Law and crime

Laurent Gbagbo, former President of Ivory Coast, is acquitted of crimes against humanity charges by the International Criminal Court. (BBC)
U.S. District judge Jesse Furman issues a decision that invalidates the Trump administration's addition of a U.S. citizenship question to the 2020 census. This is the first ruling on this issue. There are four more lawsuits, filled by dozens of states, cities and other groups, yet to be heard. (NPR)
Catalan regional police in Barcelona and Igualada arrest 17 suspected terrorists ready to launch a terrorist attack. (Telegraph) (Europa Press)

Politics and elections

Brexit negotiations, Meaningful vote
- British Prime Minister Theresa May's Brexit deal is defeated in Parliament by 432 votes to 202, the worst defeat for a Prime Minister in modern British history. As a result, a vote of no confidence in her government will be held tomorrow. (Reuters) (BBC News)
2020 United States presidential election, 2020 Democratic Party presidential primaries
- Democratic U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand of New York announces she is running for president in 2020. (NPR)

Science and technology

The correction of the North Magnetic Pole model, one year ahead of the regular five-year update, scheduled to be released this week is delayed until the end of January because of the U.S. federal government shutdown. The model is used in navigation and by the GPS systems in smartphones. The pole has been wandering, much faster than expected, away from the Canadian Arctic toward Siberia. (UPI) (M.I.T. Technology Review) (The Maritime Executive)

January 14, 2019 (Monday)

edithistorywatch

Armed conflicts and attacks

A suicide bomber kills four people and wounds over 100 others in a car bomb attack in Kabul, Afghanistan. (AlJazeera)

Disasters and accidents

2019 Saha Airlines Boeing 707 crash
- A Boeing 707 cargo plane crashes into a building in Karaj, Iran, after overshooting the runway during its landing. Officials confirm that of 16 people on board, 15 are killed and one is injured. No casualties are reported on the ground. (BBC)

Law and crime

Paweł Adamowicz, the Mayor of Gdańsk, Poland, dies in hospital of stab wounds after an attack at a charity event the night before. (The Guardian)
Robert Lloyd Schellenberg, a Canadian in China, is sentenced to death after a one-day retrial for attempting to smuggle over 222 kilograms (489.4 pounds) of methamphetamine through the country. Schellenberg's new sentence comes amid increasing tensions between Canada and China. (CNN) (Fox News)

Politics and elections

Over 31,000 teachers, nurses, counselors and librarians in Los Angeles, who have been without a contract for more than a year, go on a strike to demand higher pay after negotiations for improved compensation and work conditions failed. (CBS News) (Al Jazeera)

January 13, 2019 (Sunday)

edithistorywatch

Armed conflicts and attacks

Syrian Civil War
- The Syrian government and pro-government militants fire artillery into villages inside the Idlib de-escalation zone, killing one civilian and leaving two civilians injured. (AA)

Arts and culture

British newspaper The Guardian switches from polythene wrappers to compostable material made from potato starch based on customer feedback. The paper said this packaging, which is biodegradable but cannot be recycled, increases operating costs. (BBC)

Disasters and accidents

An avalanche near the Austrian Lech am Arlberg ski resort kills three skiers and leaves a fourth missing. (NBC News) (BBC)

Law and crime

A man stabs the Mayor of Gdańsk, Paweł Adamowicz, on stage at a Great Orchestra of Christmas Charity event in Gdańsk, Poland. (The Guardian)
Italian far-left terrorist Cesare Battisti is extradited to Italy after his capture in Bolivia. Battisti was convicted of multiple murders nearly three decades ago. (ABC)

Politics and elections

Macedonia naming dispute
- Alexis Tsipras, leader of SYRIZA in Greece, announces a vote of confidence in his government after Panos Kammenos, leader of the Independent Greeks (ANEL), announces that it will withdraw from the ruling coalition due to opposition to the Prespa agreement. (FT)
2019 Venezuelan presidential crisis
- The President of the National Assembly of Venezuela, Juan Guaidó, is briefly detained in Caracas after saying he was prepared to assume the country's presidency. (BBC)

January 12, 2019 (Saturday)

edithistorywatch

Disasters and accidents

2019 Paris explosion
- A large explosion caused by a suspected gas leak destroys a bakery in the 9th arrondissement of Paris, France. Four people are killed, and 40 others are injured. (Sky News)
At least 21 miners die after a roof collapses in a coal mine in Shenmu, China. (BBC)
At least 17 are killed and 12 others are injured in a fire at a drug rehabilitation clinic in Guayaquil, Ecuador. Officials said the blaze took hold after patients set mattresses on fire in a bid to escape the facility. (Sky News)

Politics and elections

Aftermath of the 2019 Gabonese coup d'état attempt
- Gabon's president Ali Bongo Ondimba names Julien Nkoghe Bekale as the country's new prime minister after a failed coup that happened five days ago. (Reuters)
United States federal government shutdown of 2018–2019
- On its 22nd day, the federal government shutdown becomes the longest in American history overtaking the record previously set in 1995–1996. (News Limited)
2020 United States presidential election, 2020 Democratic Party presidential primaries
- Joining several other Democrats in the race, Julian Castro, who served as Secretary of Housing and Urban Development from 2014 to 2017, announces his intention to run in the 2020 United States presidential election. (CNN)
2018 Democratic Republic of the Congo general election
- The Congolese election commission announces that parties supporting outgoing president Joseph Kabila obtained the majority in the National Assembly. (Yahoo News)
Politics of Taiwan
- Taiwanese premier William Lai announces his resignation and former premier Su Tseng-chang succeeds him. (Taipei Times)
2019 Venezuelan presidential crisis, Censorship of Wikipedia
- All editions of Wikipedia are blocked in Venezuela by state-owned CANTV amid an ongoing political crisis. (Netblocks)

January 11, 2019 (Friday)

edithistorywatch

Armed conflict and attacks

Two Iraqis were killed and 25 others were injured in a car bomb blast outside a public market in the town of Al-Qaim. The Islamic State is presumed to be behind the attack. (TheDailyStar)

Disasters and accidents

A bus crash in eastern Cuba leaves at least seven people dead, including four foreigners, and 33 others injured. (BBC)
An Ottawa, Canada municipal transit bus crashes into a station, killing three people and injuring 23 others. (CBC)

Law and crime

Kidnapping of Jayme Closs
- Teenager Jayme Closs, who went missing in October 2018 in Wisconsin after the murder of her parents, is found alive. A suspect, Jake Thomas Patterson, age 21, has been arrested and charged with two counts of murder and one count of kidnapping. (CBS News), (Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel)

Politics and elections

United States federal government shutdown of 2018–2019
- An estimated 800,000 federal government workers miss their first paycheck of the shutdown as it enters into its 21st day, which ties the record set by the shutdown of 1995 and 1996. (Associated Press via MSN)
2020 United States presidential election, 2020 Democratic Party presidential primaries
- Joining several other Democrats in the race, Representative Tulsi Gabbard of Hawaii announces her intention for running in the 2020 United States presidential election. (CNN)
Crisis in Venezuela, 2019 Venezuelan presidential crisis
- Juan Guaidó holds an open cabildo, performed as a rally and national address, announcing his plans to take control of the Presidency of Venezuela, with the Organization of American States declaring their support for his assumption of office. (The Guardian)
- In an official National Assembly statement, Guaidó assumes office, to the extent that is possible, as acting President – invoking the Constitution of Venezuela. (Asamblea Nacional)

January 10, 2019 (Thursday)

edithistorywatch

Armed conflicts and attacks

Yemeni Civil War (2015–present)
- A Houthi drone strike on Al Anad Air Base in Lahij Governorate, Yemen, during a military parade, kills six soldiers and injures several senior officials. (BBC)

Politics and elections

2018 Democratic Republic of the Congo general election
- After several delays, the Congolese election commission announces that Félix Tshisekedi is the winner of the December 30 presidential election. (France24)
- Popular candidate Martin Fayulu, who came in second, claims the election was rigged and says he will challenge the result. (AP)
Crisis in Venezuela, Second inauguration of Nicolás Maduro
- Nicolás Maduro is sworn in for his second term as President of Venezuela amid widespread condemnation over his election as "illegitimate". (Reuters)
- Germany has announced its support for the Venezuelan National Assembly to take over Executive powers in Venezuela. (El Nacional)
- Several Latin American countries close their embassies in Venezuela in protest of Maduro's "illegitimate" election. (Al Jazeera)
- President of the National Assembly of Venezuela, Juan Guaidó, declares a State of Emergency as the country enters a "de facto dictatorship". (Asamblea Nacional)