Portal:Current events/2012 August 20

August 20, 2012 (Monday)

Armed conflict and attacks

Syrian civil war:
- United Nations observers leave the country as their mandate expires. The total number of casualties over the previous weekend is now estimated at more than 100 deaths. The UN envoy describes the conflict as a civil war. Russia says only the UN should decide on force against Syria. The U.S. claims it has "contingency plans" and threatens to change its "calculus" if it finds Syria moving or using chemical or biological weapons. Fighting continues. (Reuters) (Atlanta Journal Constitution) (Bloomberg) (Jerusalem Post) (Washington Post) (Christian Science Monitor)
War on Terror:
- Afghanistan: John Key, the Prime Minister of New Zealand, announces that the Government will withdraw forces from Afghanistan early in 2013. (AP via The Washington Post)
- Iraq: AFP says at least 409 people were killed and 975 wounded during the previous month in Iraq. (Al Arabiya)
A riot in the Yare I prison in the Venezuelan capital of Caracas kills at least 20 people. (BBC)
At least eight people are killed by a bomb attack in the city of Gaziantep, Turkey. (BBC)
Officials say three suspected Islamic militants die while plotting a car bombing in the Republic of Tatarstan, Russia. (RFERL)

Arts and culture

Prince Philip, the Duke of Edinburgh, is discharged from hospital following treatment for a bladder infection. (BBC)
American comedienne Phyllis Diller dies at the age of 95. (USA Today)

Disasters and accidents

An ocean surge into nearby shanties kills one person and leaves 15 others missing off the coast of Lagos, Nigeria. (IOL)

Health

United States Congressman Todd Akin, who is also a candidate for the United States Senate, says "legitimate rape" would lead to pregnancy only in "really rare" cases. In a follow-up statement, he says that he "clearly misspoke" and that he holds a "deep empathy" for the "thousands of women who are raped each year". He stirs a US-wide controversy over the issue of abortion. (Fox News) (NPR) (Los Angeles Times)

Law and crime

Gu Kailai, the wife of ousted Chongqing Politburo leader Bo Xilai, is given a suspended death sentence for the murder of Neil Heywood in China. (AP via The Washington Post)
Former Polly Peck tycoon Asil Nadir is found guilty on three counts of stealing millions of pounds from his company by a jury at London's Old Bailey. (BBC)
In a case before the Supreme Court, the Indian Patent Office and pharmaceutical giant Novartis will present final arguments this week concerning the right to make and sell patented medicine. (Business Standard)

Politics and elections

Meles Zenawi, the long-term Prime Minister of Ethiopia, dies of a mystery illness after not having been seen in public for weeks. (AP via New Zealand Herald)
Myanmar announces that it is ending media censorship, as part of the ongoing political reforms in the country. (AFP via Google News)
In Somalia, a new parliament is formed, with the new task of electing the country's president. (Al Jazeera)

Sports

South Africa win the third test to clinch victory in their three match series with England and move into first place in the ICC cricket ratings.