Portal:Current events/2013 January 6

Current events of January 6, 2013 (2013-01-06) (Sunday)

Armed conflicts and attacks Syrian civil war: The President of Syria Bashar al-Assad delivers a rare television appearance addressing the Syrian crisis and denounces the Syrian rebels as "enemies of God and puppets of the West". It is his first television appearance since June 2012. (BBC) Kashmir conflict: A cross-border raid conducted by Indian troops in the disputed Kashmir region results in the death of one Pakistani soldier and another critically wounded, according to Pakistani reports. (AP via The Washington Post) War in North-West Pakistan: A drone attack conducted by the United States kills at least ten people (suspected militants) in South Waziristan, Pakistan. (BBC) Kachin conflict: Kachin rebels claim the government has fired shells at the rebel de facto headquarters of Laiza. (Washington Post) War in Afghanistan (2001–present): Suicide bombers kill four in an attack in Spin Boldak, Afghanistan. (BBC) 2012–2013 Central African Republic rebellion: South Africa announces it will send 400 more soldiers to the Central African Republic in an effort to assist the current regime, which faces a potential attack by the Seleka rebel coalition on the capital. (BBC) Politics and elections Mahmoud Abbas, the President of the Palestinian National Authority, orders that the words "State of Palestine" be used on official documents. (BBC) In the Netherlands, Gerard Helders who served as Minister of Colonial Affairs from the 1957 until 1959, the oldest known former politician in the world dies at the age of 107. (NOS) Science and technology At Apple, applications developers say they gave Apple plenty of warning about issues with its iOS maps issues. (CNET) Sport In ice hockey, the National Hockey League and the National Hockey League Players' Association reach an agreement that ends the 2012–13 NHL lockout and averts the cancellation of the 2012–13 NHL season. (Think Progress)