Portal:Current events/2016 December 29

December 29, 2016 (Thursday)

Armed conflicts and attacks

Syrian Civil War
- Russian president Vladimir Putin says a ceasefire has been brokered between the Syrian government and rebel forces. The ceasefire is said to be guaranteed by Russia and Turkey and would exclude UN-denominated terror organizations such as ISIL and al-Nusra. The FSA says it would abide by the truce, while Ahrar al-Sham expresses "reservations". (ITV) (Reuters)

Arts and culture

Czartoryski Museum
- The Polish government buys the internationally-known Czartoryski collection of art. Based in the city of Kraków and consisting of around 86,000 pieces, this features works by Leonardo da Vinci, Rembrandt and Pierre-Auguste Renoir. (BBC)
The academic Phil Scraton refuses an OBE granted to him by Elizabeth II in her 2017 New Year Honours list for his work on the Hillsborough disaster. Professor Scraton wrote Hillsborough: The Truth, first published in 1990 and seen as the definitive account of the disaster. (BBC) (The Guardian)

Business and economy

The Bank of Italy says in a statement that the country's treasury will have to put up around 6.6 billion euros to rescue Monte dei Paschi given the European Central Bank's estimate of Monte dei Paschi's capital shortfall. (Reuters)

Disasters and accidents

At least 50 people drown and thousands are left homeless due to flooding in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. (France 24)

International relations

The United States expels 35 Russian diplomats over the alleged Russian interference during the U.S.'s 2016 presidential election. (BBC)
The Egyptian government approves a deal granting two Red Sea islands to Saudi Arabia. (Reuters)

Law and crime

The Ambassador of Greece to Brazil, Kyriakos Amiridis, is reported missing while on vacation in Rio de Janeiro. A homicide team is investigating his disappearance. (BNO News) (O Globo)
Turkish journalist Ahmet Şık is arrested in Istanbul, allegedly over a social media posting. (Washington Post)
2016 Berlin truck attack
- Naveed Baloch, the man from Pakistan who was wrongly arrested in the aftermath of the recent attack on a Christmas market in Berlin, gives an interview outlining the conditions in which he was held and reveals he is now in hiding amid fears for his life. (The Guardian)

Science and technology

U.S. President Barack Obama declares the Bears Ears in Utah and Gold Butte area of Nevada as National Monuments. Both are known for the presence of Native American populations and archaeological sites. (BBC News)

Sports

Former boxing world champion Ricky Hatton speaks on British radio about depression and gives an account of past suicide attempts. (BBC Sport) (The Daily Telegraph)

Transportation