Portal:Current events/2013 January 16

January 16, 2013 (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)
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 (2001–2021):
- 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)

Business and economy

Disasters and accidents

2013 Vauxhall helicopter crash: A helicopter crashes into a crane atop a building in central London, killing two people and injuring 13 others. (BBC) (Sky News)
An apartment block collapses in the Egyptian city of Alexandria, killing at least 25 people. (The Daily Star) (RIA Novosti)

Law and crime

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

Politics and elections

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

Sport