Portal:Current events/2012 August 15

August 15, 2012 (Wednesday)

Armed conflicts and attacks

Mexican Drug War:
- Mexican authorities confirm that the Jalisco New Generation Cartel is responsible for murdering five journalists in the state of Veracruz. This information was confirmed after the arrest of some of the members in the criminal organization. (Milenio via Google)
- The Mexican criminal group known as Los Zetas is discovered to contraband cigarettes in Panama. (Milenio via Google)
Syrian civil war:
- In Damascus, an explosion at a military compound near a hotel where UN observers are staying is claimed by a Free Syrian Army brigade. (Al-Jazeera)
- In response to the Syrian civil war, the Fourth Extraordinary Session of the Islamic Summit organized by the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation begins in Makkah Al Mukarramah, Saudi Arabia, for two days. (CNN)
- According to a UN investigation report by Commissioners Pinheiro and Abuzayd, both Syrian government troops and, to a lesser extent, anti-government groups are responsible for war crimes. Government forces and shabbiha fighters are responsible for the Houla massacre. (UNHCR)
- Activists say at least 30 people are killed in the town of Azaz, Aleppo province, after the Syrian government launches airstrikes on homes in the area. (Reuters)
- Saudi Arabia, Qatar and the United Arab Emirates urge their citizens to leave Lebanon over a series of recent kidnappings involving nationals from Syria, Turkey and Saudi Arabia. (Daily Star Lebanon)

Arts and culture

Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh is taken to hospital as a "precautionary measure" after a recurrence of a bladder infection that affected him earlier in the year. (BBC)
Unification Church founder Sun Myung Moon is taken to hospital in grave condition due to complications of pneumonia and respiratory problems. (Korea Times)

Disasters

The tour bus of American heavy metal band Baroness falls off a 30-foot viaduct in Monkton Combe, near Bath. All nine passengers on board are injured, two seriously. (BBC)

International relations

Law and crime

The High Court of Australia upholds legislation providing for plain packaging of cigarettes. (ITV News)
Four suspects are arrested in Germany for their alleged involvement in illegally providing Iran with necessary technical parts to build a nuclear reactor. (BBC)

Sports

Rafael Nadal is not to take part in the US Open due to knee injury. (The New York Times)
Bolton midfielder Fabrice Muamba announces his retirement from football following medical advice he was given by doctors after suffering a cardiac arrest during a match earlier in the year. (BBC Sport)
Félix Hernández pitches the 23rd perfect game in Major League Baseball history for the Seattle Mariners at Safeco Field. (Seattle Times)