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Portal:Current events/2016 December 12

{{Current events|year=2016|month=12|day=12|content=

;Armed conflicts and attacks

  • December 2016 Istanbul bombings
  • The death toll from the bombings in Beşiktaş, Istanbul, rises to at least 44, according to Health Minister Recep Akdağ. [http://aa.com.tr/en/todays-headlines/death-toll-in-istanbul-terror-attack-rises-to-44/703825 (Anadolu Agency)]
  • At least 118 HDP officials and supporters are arrested in anti-terrorism raids. HDP rejects any link with either the PKK or Kurdistan Freedom Falcons. [http://reut.rs/2gQa5Nf (Reuters)], [http://www.foxnews.com/world/2016/12/12/turkey-bombing-235-people-detained-in-anti-terrorism-raids.html (FOX News)]
  • Syrian Civil War
  • The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights declares that "the battle for Aleppo has reached its end" with a major victory for the Syrian government. [http://www.euronews.com/2016/12/12/aleppo-battle-reaches-its-end-in-devastating-blow-to-rebels (Euronews)]
  • Russia's Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov says he is hoping he is wrong stating that the United States "orchestrated, coordinated" the Islamic State's recent capture of Palmyra in order to "give a break to those bandits that are in eastern Aleppo." [http://uk.reuters.com/article/uk-mideast-crisis-syria-russia-idUKKBN1412GU?il=0 (Reuters)]
  • The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights reports that suspected Syrian government or Russian warplanes conduct a series of air raids on Oqayrabat and other nearby villages in the Hama Governorate at dawn, killing at least 34 civilians, including 11 children. [http://www.hindustantimes.com/world-news/air-strikes-kill-34-civilians-in-is-held-syrian-villages-monitor/story-8t05cdD3g8YUA3SyZk3WIO.html (Hindustan Times)] [http://www.timesofisrael.com/liveblog_entry/raids-kill-34-civilians-in-is-held-syria-villages-monitor/ (Times of Israel)]
  • Ban Ki-moon, the Secretary-General of the United Nations, warns that "atrocities" have occurred in recent hours in the battle for Aleppo. [https://www.bbc.com/news/world-middle-east-38297986# (BBC)], [https://www.bbc.com/news/world-middle-east-38301629 (BBC)]
  • Russian airstrikes against ISIS in Palmyra kill 5 people. [https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/20161212-russia-syria-fail-to-dislodge-daesh-from-palmyra/ (Middle East Monitor)]

;Arts and culture

;Business and economy

  • Venezuela swaps its bolivar notes with coins in order to curb hyperinflation. [https://www.bbc.com/news/world-latin-america-38284485 (BBC)]
  • National Amusements announces CBS Corporation and Viacom media companies will not be merging. CBS shares rose 1.8 percent closing in on a nearly 2-1/2 year high while Viacom fell 6.9 percent. [https://www.reuters.com/article/us-viacom-m-a-cbs-idUSKBN1411LX?il=0 (Reuters)]

;Disasters and accidents

  • 2016 North Indian Ocean cyclone season
  • Tropical Cyclone Vardah is expected to make landfall in southern India today bringing heavy rain to the city of Chennai in Tamil Nadu as well as Andhra Pradesh. At least four people have been killed and tens of thousands of people have been evacuated from low lying areas. [http://edition.cnn.com/2016/12/11/asia/tropical-cyclone-vardah/index.html (CNN)], [http://www.abc.net.au/news/2016-12-13/cyclone-vardah-hits-india-coast-killing-four/8114242 (Reuters via ABC News Australia)]

;International relations

;Law and crime

  • Pakistan appoints Lt. Gen. Naveed Mukhtar as the new head of the Inter-Services Intelligence. [http://www.seattletimes.com/nation-world/pakistan-appoints-new-spy-agency-chief-in-military-reshuffle/ (The Seattle Times)]
  • Christine Lagarde, the managing director of the International Monetary Fund, goes on trial in France for alleged negligence as Finance Minister resulting in the loss of hundreds of millions of euros. [https://www.nytimes.com/2016/12/12/business/international/christine-lagarde-trial-imf-france.html (New York Times)] [http://www.aljazeera.com/news/2016/12/romania-polls-psd-161212062951523.html (Al Jazeera)]
  • Aaron Schock, a former U.S. representative from Illinois's 18th congressional district, pleads not guilty on 24 charges including Mail fraud and tax evasion. [https://www.reuters.com/article/us-illinois-crime-idUSKBN1412S8 (Reuters)].

;Politics and elections

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