Portal:Current events/2013 December 26

December 26, 2013 (Thursday)

Armed conflicts and attacks

Central African Republic conflict under the Djotodia administration:
- Six peacekeepers from Chad are killed in clashes in the Central African Republic. (BBC)
Syrian Civil War:
- Syrian government forces and rebel fighters in a besieged Damascus suburb agree to a 48-hour truce that could result in food being allowed in for residents threatened with starvation. (Reuters)
Israeli–Palestinian conflict:
- The Israeli Air Force launches airstrikes on targets in the Gaza Strip after Palestinians fire a rocket from Gaza at the Eshkol region in southern Israel. (The Times of Israel)

Business and economy

Shipping companies United Parcel Service and FedEx apologize for late Christmas package deliveries in the United States, citing high volumes of packages. (CNN)
The Reserve Bank of India warns users of risks involved in virtual currencies such as Bitcoin and Dogecoin. (T.I.P. News)

Disasters and accidents

Thousands of customers are still without power across Michigan, Vermont, Maine, and Southern Ontario after a winter storm earlier this week. (CNN)

International relations

Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe visits the Yasukuni Shrine. The location is controversial because it enshrines many war criminals from World War II. The visit provokes condemnation from China and South Korea and criticism from the United States. (The New York Times)