Portal:Current events/2012 December 13: Difference between revisions

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December 13, 2012 (Thursday)

Armed conflicts and attacks

Syrian civil war:
- Russia's Deputy Foreign Minister Mikhail Bogdanov confirms his country is working on mobilization plans to evacuate its citizens from Syria. In the statement, the Foreign Ministry acknowledges for the first time that the rebels might win as the Syrian government is losing control of more and more territory. (Reuters)
- At least 16 people are killed and 25 others injured after a car bomb strikes the city of Qatana, 25 km southwest of the capital Damascus. The attack follows a similar blast in front of the Interior Ministry building a day earlier that killed at least five. (Reuters)
Israeli–Palestinian conflict:
- Five people are injured in the West Bank ahead of the funeral of a deaf teenager shot dead by Israeli forces. (Al Jazeera) (The Times of Israel)
- Thousands of Palestinians demonstrate in the West Bank city of Nablus. (BBC)
Senkaku Islands dispute:
- Japan scrambles fighter jets in response to a Chinese plane seen near the disputed Senkaku Islands, marking the first time aircraft are involved in the dispute. (CNN) (Al Jazeera)

Arts and culture

The Tallow Candle, an early work by Hans Christian Andersen, is found at the bottom of a box in Denmark. (BBC)
Włodzimierz Umaniec, who daubed a Mark Rothko painting with black paint in the name of yellowism, is jailed for two years in the UK. (The Guardian)

Business and economy

Finance Ministers from the European Union agree to giving the European Central Bank new powers to supervise euro zone banks. (Reuters)
Ireland's Labour Party chairman Colm Keaveney votes against the Social Welfare Bill, part of Ireland's latest austerity budget. As a result he is expelled from the parliamentary party, which is part of the governing coalition. (RTÉ) (Irish Independent)
Prosecutors ask a judge of the Manhattan federal district court to sentence Peter Madoff, brother and co-conspirator of infamous scammer Bernard Madoff, to a sentence of ten years. (Reuters)

Disasters and accidents

Tropical Cyclone Evan makes landfall near the Samoan capital Apia causing at least two deaths and the declaration of a state of disaster. (ABC Australia via Yahoo!) (AFP via SBS)
The death toll in the Philippines from Typhoon Bopha rises over 900 with hundreds still unaccounted for. (AAP via News Limited)

Law and crime

The European Court of Human Rights rules that Khalid El-Masri, a German citizen, was an innocent victim of extraordinary rendition by the Central Intelligence Agency and orders Macedonia to pay him €60,000 after it arrested him and sent him to the CIA. CIA agents then transferred him to a detention facility in Afghanistan. (Al Jazeera) (The Guardian) (ECHR)
Millions of assets belonging to the former Egyptian dictator Hosni Mubarak are located, including Marbella beach properties and luxury cars. (Al Jazeera)
2012 royal hoax call incident:
- An inquest into the death of nurse Jacintha Saldanha hears that she died as a result of self-inflicted hanging. (The Independent)
- The media regulatory body Australian Communications and Media Authority launches an investigation into the prank call made by 2Day FM. (The Australian)
A worker at the chief clerk's office (making reference to a will) at the Hugo Black U.S. Federal Courthouse in Birmingham, Alabama shoots himself in the head. (CNN)
Israel's Justice Ministry announces that Foreign Minister Avigdor Lieberman, while he will not face more serious money laundering and witness tampering corruption charges, will be charged with breach of trust and fraud in connection with illegally obtaining funds from shell companies which occurred prior to his Ministry service. (Al Jazeera)
Former Bosnian intelligence chief Zdravko Tolimir, believed to be a top aide to Ratko Mladić, is sentenced to life imprisonment by ICTY for his role in the Srebrenica massacre. (CNN)

Politics and elections

U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations Susan Rice withdraws her name from consideration to be nominated U.S. Secretary of State, following increasing opposition to her nomination by Republican members of the Senate. (MSNBC) (Al Jazeera)
The Bangladeshi Opposition calls a general strike over restoration of a caretaker administration with reports of explosions and clashes between police and protesters in the capital Dhaka. (AP via Washington Post)
Britain's Parliamentary Commissioner for Standards launches an investigation into expenses claimed by British Culture Secretary Maria Miller. (BBC) (The Guardian)
The British government pays £2.23 million to the family of Sami al-Saadi, who with his wife and young children, was abducted with the help of MI-6, forced onto a plane and secretly flown to Tripoli, where he was tortured for years by the security police of the former dictator Muammar Gaddafi. (The Guardian) (Al Jazeera)

Science and technology

North Korea's first satellite successfully put into orbit, Kwangmyŏngsŏng-3 Unit 2, appears to be spinning out of control, according to U.S. officials. South Korean sources later deny the report, saying the satellite appears to be orbiting Earth normally. (NBC News)
U.S. space agency NASA admits it posted online a photograph taken from the International Space Station of an Indian mountain Saser Muztagh, claiming it as Mount Everest. With Nepalese netizens left puzzled by this, it took a Nepalese expert to point out the agency's inaccuracy. (BBC)

Sport

English football club Chelsea to face Brazil's Corinthians in the 2012 FIFA Club World Cup final on 16 December, after 3–1 win over Mexican club Monterrey in the semifinal. (FIFA) (ESPN) (The Guardian)
São Paulo FC are crowned champions of the 2012 Copa Sudamericana after Argentine club Tigre refused to take to the field for the second half of the second leg in Brazil, claiming they were threatened at gunpoint by security officials at the Estádio do Morumbi, which was overlooked as a host stadium for the 2014 FIFA World Cup. (ESPN) (BBC) (CONMEBOL)
Maurice Herzog, the French mountaineer, who was the first person to climb a mountain above 8000 metres when he climbed Annapurna with Louis Lachenal in 1950, dies at the age of 93. (CNN)

@@ Line 1: / Line 1: @@
-{{Current events header|2012|12|13}}
+<!-- All news items below this line -->{{Current events|year=2012|month=12|day=13|content=
-<!-- All news items below this line -->
 ;Armed conflicts and attacks
 *[[Syrian civil war]]:
-**[[Russia]]'s Deputy [[Ministry of Foreign Affairs (Russia)|Foreign Minister]] Mikhail Bogdanov confirms his country is working on mobilization plans to evacuate its citizens from [[Syria]]. In the statement, the [[Ministry of Foreign Affairs (Russia)|Foreign Ministry]] acknowledges for the first time that the [[Syrian National Coalition|rebels]] might win as the [[Council of Ministers (Syria)|Syrian government]] is losing control of more and more territory. [http://www.reuters.com/article/2012/12/13/us-syria-crisis-russia-idUSBRE8BC0BW20121213/ (Reuters)]
+**[[Russia]]'s Deputy [[Ministry of Foreign Affairs (Russia)|Foreign Minister]] Mikhail Bogdanov confirms his country is working on mobilization plans to evacuate its citizens from [[Syria]]. In the statement, the [[Ministry of Foreign Affairs (Russia)|Foreign Ministry]] acknowledges for the first time that the [[Syrian National Coalition|rebels]] might win as the [[Council of Ministers (Syria)|Syrian government]] is losing control of more and more territory. [https://www.reuters.com/article/2012/12/13/us-syria-crisis-russia-idUSBRE8BC0BW20121213/ (Reuters)]
-**At least 16 people are killed and 25 others injured after a car bomb strikes the city of [[Qatana]], 25 kms southwest of the capital [[Damascus]]. The attack follows a similar blast in front of the [[Ministry of Interior (Syria)|Interior Ministry]] building a day earlier that killed at least five. [http://www.reuters.com/article/2012/12/13/us-syria-crisis-bomb-idUSBRE8BC0A120121213 (Reuters)]
+**At least 16 people are killed and 25 others injured after a car bomb strikes the city of [[Qatana]], 25&nbsp;km southwest of the capital [[Damascus]]. The attack follows a similar blast in front of the [[Ministry of Interior (Syria)|Interior Ministry]] building a day earlier that killed at least five. [https://www.reuters.com/article/2012/12/13/us-syria-crisis-bomb-idUSBRE8BC0A120121213 (Reuters)]
 *[[Israeli–Palestinian conflict]]:
-**Five people are injured in the [[West Bank]] ahead of the funeral of a deaf teenager shot dead by [[Israel]]i forces. [http://www.aljazeera.com/news/middleeast/2012/12/2012121395541482874.html (Al Jazeera)]
+**Five people are injured in the [[West Bank]] ahead of the funeral of a deaf teenager shot dead by [[Israel]]i forces. [http://www.aljazeera.com/news/middleeast/2012/12/2012121395541482874.html (Al Jazeera)] [http://www.timesofisrael.com/palestinian-in-hebron-killed-after-aiming-gun-at-border-police-officer/ (The Times of Israel)]
-**Thousands of [[Palestinians]] demonstrate in the [[West Bank]] city of [[Nablus]]. [http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-middle-east-20717171 (BBC)]
+**Thousands of [[Palestinians]] demonstrate in the [[West Bank]] city of [[Nablus]]. [https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-middle-east-20717171 (BBC)]
 *[[Senkaku Islands dispute]]:
-**[[Japan]] scrambles [[fighter jets]] in response to a [[China|Chinese]] plane seen near the [[Senkaku Islands dispute|disputed]] [[Senkaku Islands]], marking the first time [[aircraft]] are involved in the dispute. [http://edition.cnn.com/2012/12/13/world/asia/japan-china-disputed-islands/index.html (CNN)]  [http://www.aljazeera.com/news/asia-pacific/2012/12/201212138729196598.html (Al Jazeera)]
+**[[Japan]] scrambles [[fighter jets]] in response to a [[China|Chinese]] plane seen near the [[Senkaku Islands dispute|disputed]] [[Senkaku Islands]], marking the first time [[aircraft]] are involved in the dispute. [http://edition.cnn.com/2012/12/13/world/asia/japan-china-disputed-islands/index.html (CNN)] [http://www.aljazeera.com/news/asia-pacific/2012/12/201212138729196598.html (Al Jazeera)]
 ;Arts and culture
-*''[[The Tallow Candle]]'', an early work by [[Hans Christian Andersen]], is found at the bottom of a box in [[Denmark]]. [http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-20706230 (BBC)]
+*''[[The Tallow Candle]]'', an early work by [[Hans Christian Andersen]], is found at the bottom of a box in [[Denmark]]. [https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-20706230 (BBC)]
 *Włodzimierz Umaniec, who daubed a [[Mark Rothko]] painting with black paint in the name of yellowism, is jailed for two years  in the [[UK]]. [http://www.guardian.co.uk/artanddesign/2012/dec/13/mark-rothko-vandal-jailed (''The Guardian'')]
 ;Business and economy
-*[[Finance Minister]]s from the [[European Union]] agree to giving the [[European Central Bank]] new powers to supervise [[euro zone]] banks. [http://www.reuters.com/article/2012/12/13/us-eu-banking-idUSBRE8BB00820121213 (Reuters)]
+*[[Finance Minister]]s from the [[European Union]] agree to giving the [[European Central Bank]] new powers to supervise [[euro zone]] banks. [https://www.reuters.com/article/2012/12/13/us-eu-banking-idUSBRE8BB00820121213 (Reuters)]
 *[[Ireland]]'s [[Labour Party (Ireland)|Labour Party]] chairman [[Colm Keaveney]] votes against the Social Welfare Bill, part of Ireland's latest [[Irish budget, 2013|austerity budget]]. As a result he is expelled from the parliamentary party, which is part of the governing coalition. [http://www.rte.ie/news/2012/1213/dail-child-benefit.html (RTÉ)] [http://www.independent.ie/national-news/blow-for-gilmore-as-labour-chairman-colm-keaveney-quits-parliamentary-party-over-welfare-cuts-3325465.html (''Irish Independent'')]
-*[[Prosecutor]]s ask a [[judge]] of the [[Manhattan]] [[United States district court|federal district court]] to sentence [[Peter Madoff]], brother and co-conspirator of infamous scammer [[Bernard Madoff]], to a sentence of ten years. [http://www.reuters.com/article/2012/12/14/us-madoff-sentence-idUSBRE8BD02H20121214 (Reuters)]
+*[[United States Attorney|Prosecutors]] ask a [[judge]] of the [[Manhattan]] [[United States District Court for the Southern District of New York|federal district court]] to sentence [[Peter Madoff]], brother and co-conspirator of infamous scammer [[Bernard Madoff]], to a sentence of ten years. [https://www.reuters.com/article/2012/12/14/us-madoff-sentence-idUSBRE8BD02H20121214 (Reuters)]
 ;Disasters and accidents
@@ Line 25: / Line 25: @@
 ;Law and crime
-*The [[European Court of Human Rights]] rules that [[Khalid El-Masri]], a [[Germany|German]] citizen, was an innocent victim of [[extraordinary rendition]] by the [[Central Intelligence Agency]] and orders [[Republic of Macedonia|Macedonia]] to pay him $78,000 after it arrested him and sent him to the CIA. CIA agents then transferred him to a detention facility in [[Afghanistan]]. [http://www.aljazeera.com/news/europe/2012/12/20121213144859463814.html (Al Jazeera)] [http://www.guardian.co.uk/law/2012/dec/13/cia-tortured-sodomised-terror-suspect (''The Guardian'')]
+*The [[European Court of Human Rights]] rules that [[Khalid El-Masri]], a [[Germany|German]] citizen, was an innocent victim of [[extraordinary rendition]] by the [[Central Intelligence Agency]] and orders [[Republic of Macedonia|Macedonia]] to pay him €60,000 after it arrested him and sent him to the CIA. CIA agents then transferred him to a detention facility in [[Afghanistan]]. [http://www.aljazeera.com/news/europe/2012/12/20121213144859463814.html (Al Jazeera)] [http://www.guardian.co.uk/law/2012/dec/13/cia-tortured-sodomised-terror-suspect (''The Guardian'')] [http://hudoc.echr.coe.int/sites/fra-press/pages/search.aspx?i=003-4196815-4975517 (ECHR)]
 *Millions of assets belonging to the former Egyptian dictator [[Hosni Mubarak]] are located, including [[Marbella]] beach properties and luxury cars. [http://www.aljazeera.com/news/europe/2012/12/20121213173425562653.html (Al Jazeera)]
 *[[2012 royal hoax call incident]]:
-**An inquest into the death of nurse [[Jacintha Saldanha]] hears that she died as a result of self-inflicted hanging. [http://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/home-news/jacintha-saldanha-nurse-found-hanged-after-royal-hoax-call-left-three-notes-inquest-hears-8412585.html (''The Independent'')]
+**An inquest into the death of nurse [[Jacintha Saldanha]] hears that she died as a result of self-inflicted hanging. [https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/home-news/jacintha-saldanha-nurse-found-hanged-after-royal-hoax-call-left-three-notes-inquest-hears-8412585.html (''The Independent'')]
 **The media regulatory body [[Australian Communications and Media Authority]] launches an investigation into the [[prank call]] made by [[2Day FM]]. [http://www.theaustralian.com.au/media/acma-launches-inquiry-into-2day-fm-prank-call-to-hospital/story-e6frg996-1226535960842 (''The Australian'')]
 *A worker at the chief clerk's office (making reference to a will) at the [[Hugo Black]] U.S. Federal Courthouse in [[Birmingham, Alabama|Birmingham]], [[Alabama]] shoots himself in the head. [http://www.cnn.com/2012/12/13/justice/alabama-court-shooting/index.html (CNN)]
@@ Line 36: / Line 36: @@
 ;Politics and elections
 *[[United States Ambassador to the United Nations|U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations]] [[Susan Rice]] withdraws her name from consideration to be nominated [[United States Secretary of State|U.S. Secretary of State]], following increasing opposition to her nomination by [[Republican Party (United States)|Republican]] members of the [[United States Senate|Senate]]. [http://tv.msnbc.com/2012/12/13/susan-rice-withdraws-from-contention-to-be-secretary-of-state/ (MSNBC)] [http://www.aljazeera.com/news/americas/2012/12/20121213205034736533.html (Al Jazeera)]
-*The [[Bangladesh]]i Opposition calls a [[general strike]] over restoration of a caretaker administration with reports of explosions and clashes between police and protesters in the capital [[Dhaka]]. [http://www.washingtonpost.com/world/asia_pacific/explosions-clashes-reported-as-bangladesh-opposition-enforces-shutdown/2012/12/13/071d00f4-44e6-11e2-8c8f-fbebf7ccab4e_story.html (AP via ''Washington Post'')]
+*The [[Bangladesh]]i Opposition calls a [[general strike]] over restoration of a caretaker administration with reports of explosions and clashes between police and protesters in the capital [[Dhaka]]. [https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/asia_pacific/explosions-clashes-reported-as-bangladesh-opposition-enforces-shutdown/2012/12/13/071d00f4-44e6-11e2-8c8f-fbebf7ccab4e_story.html (AP via ''Washington Post'')]
-*Britain's [[Parliamentary Commissioner for Standards]] launches an investigation into expenses claimed by [[Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport|British Culture Secretary]] [[Maria Miller]]. [http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-20711702 (BBC)] [http://www.guardian.co.uk/politics/2012/dec/13/maria-miller-parliamentary-investigation-expenses (''The Guardian'')]
+*Britain's [[Parliamentary Commissioner for Standards]] launches an investigation into expenses claimed by [[Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport|British Culture Secretary]] [[Maria Miller]]. [https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-20711702 (BBC)] [http://www.guardian.co.uk/politics/2012/dec/13/maria-miller-parliamentary-investigation-expenses (''The Guardian'')]
-*The [[Government of the United Kingdom|British government]] pays £2.23 million to the family of Sami al-Saadi, who with his wife and young children, was abducted with the help of [[MI-6]], forced onto a plane and secretly flown to [[Tripoli]], where he was tortured for years by the security police of the former dictator [[Muammar Gaddafi]]. [http://www.guardian.co.uk/uk/2012/dec/13/libyan-dissident-mi6-aided-rendition (''The Guardian'')] [http://www.aljazeera.com/news/middleeast/2012/12/20121213144316327160.html (Al Jazeera)]
+*The [[Government of the United Kingdom|British government]] pays £2.23 million to the family of Sami al-Saadi, who with his wife and young children, was abducted with the help of [[MI-6]], forced onto a plane and secretly flown to [[Tripoli, Libya|Tripoli]], where he was tortured for years by the security police of the former dictator [[Muammar Gaddafi]]. [http://www.guardian.co.uk/uk/2012/dec/13/libyan-dissident-mi6-aided-rendition (''The Guardian'')] [http://www.aljazeera.com/news/middleeast/2012/12/20121213144316327160.html (Al Jazeera)]
 ;Science and technology
 *[[North Korea]]'s [[Timeline of first orbital launches by country|first]] [[satellite]] [[2012 in spaceflight|successfully]] put into [[orbit]], [[Kwangmyŏngsŏng-3 Unit 2]], appears to be spinning out of control, according to [[U.S.]] officials. [[South Korea]]n sources later deny the report, saying the satellite appears to be orbiting [[Earth]] normally. [http://worldnews.nbcnews.com/_news/2012/12/12/15866530-north-korean-satellite-tumbling-out-of-control-us-officials-say (NBC News)]
-*[[U.S.]] space agency [[NASA]] admits it posted online a [[photograph]] taken from the [[International Space Station]] of an [[India]]n mountain [[Saser Muztagh]], claiming it as [[Mount Everest]]. With [[Nepal]]ese [[netizen]]s left puzzled by this, it took a Nepalese expert to point out the agency's inaccuracy. [http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-20714990 (BBC)]
+*[[U.S.]] space agency [[NASA]] admits it posted online a [[photograph]] taken from the [[International Space Station]] of an [[India]]n mountain [[Saser Muztagh]], claiming it as [[Mount Everest]]. With [[Nepal]]ese [[netizen]]s left puzzled by this, it took a Nepalese expert to point out the agency's inaccuracy. [https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-20714990 (BBC)]
 ;Sport
-*[[England|English]] [[Association football|football]] club [[Chelsea F.C.|Chelsea]] to face [[Brazil]]'s [[Sport Club Corinthians Paulista|Corinthians]] in the [[2012 FIFA Club World Cup]] [[2012 FIFA Club World Cup Final|final]] on 16 December, after 3–1 win over [[Mexico|Mexican]] club [[C.F. Monterrey|Monterrey]] in the semifinal. [http://www.fifa.com/clubworldcup/matches/round=259325/match=300219240/index.html (FIFA)] [http://soccernet.espn.go.com/report?id=358019 (ESPN)] [http://www.guardian.co.uk/football/2012/dec/13/club-world-cup-chelsea-monterrey (''The Guardian'')]
+*[[England|English]] [[Association football|football]] club [[Chelsea F.C.|Chelsea]] to face [[Brazil]]'s [[Sport Club Corinthians Paulista|Corinthians]] in the [[2012 FIFA Club World Cup]] [[2012 FIFA Club World Cup Final|final]] on 16 December, after 3–1 win over [[Mexico|Mexican]] club [[C.F. Monterrey|Monterrey]] in the semifinal. [https://www.fifa.com/clubworldcup/matches/round=259325/match=300219240/index.html (FIFA)] [http://soccernet.espn.go.com/report?id=358019 (ESPN)] [http://www.guardian.co.uk/football/2012/dec/13/club-world-cup-chelsea-monterrey (''The Guardian'')]
-*[[São Paulo FC]] are crowned champions of the [[2012 Copa Sudamericana]] after [[Argentina|Argentine]] club [[Club Atlético Tigre|Tigre]] refused to take to the field for the second half of the [[2012 Copa Sudamericana Finals|second leg]] in [[Brazil]], claiming they were threatened at gunpoint by security officials at the [[Estádio do Morumbi]], which was overlooked as a host stadium for the [[2014 FIFA World Cup]]. [http://soccernet.espn.go.com/news/story/_/id/1262363/fifa-allays-world-cup-fears-after-brazil-violence (ESPN)] [http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-latin-america-20710615 (BBC)] [http://fe1.conmebol.com//copanissansudamericana/Sao-Paulo-es-el-nuevo-campeon-20121212-0005.html (CONMEBOL)]
+*[[São Paulo FC]] are crowned champions of the [[2012 Copa Sudamericana]] after [[Argentina|Argentine]] club [[Club Atlético Tigre|Tigre]] refused to take to the field for the second half of the [[2012 Copa Sudamericana Finals|second leg]] in [[Brazil]], claiming they were threatened at gunpoint by security officials at the [[Estádio do Morumbi]], which was overlooked as a host stadium for the [[2014 FIFA World Cup]]. [http://soccernet.espn.go.com/news/story/_/id/1262363/fifa-allays-world-cup-fears-after-brazil-violence (ESPN)] [https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-latin-america-20710615 (BBC)] [http://fe1.conmebol.com//copanissansudamericana/Sao-Paulo-es-el-nuevo-campeon-20121212-0005.html (CONMEBOL)]
+*[[Maurice Herzog]], the [[French people|French]] [[mountaineering|mountaineer]], who was the first person to climb a mountain [[Eight-thousander|above 8000 metres]] when he climbed [[Annapurna]] with [[Louis Lachenal]] in 1950, dies at the age of 93. [http://edition.cnn.com/2012/12/14/world/europe/france-obit-maurice-herzog/index.html (CNN)]
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