Portal:Current events/2018 January 16

January 16, 2018 (Tuesday)

Armed conflicts and attacks

Aftermath of the Caracas helicopter incident
- The Venezuelan government confirms that Óscar Pérez, the rogue pilot responsible for the Caracas helicopter incident in June 2017, was killed in a firefight with the Venezuelan Army yesterday. Two police officers and seven people from Pérez's group were killed, and six members of Pérez's group were arrested. (CNN) (teleSUR)

Arts and culture

Business and economy

The Dow Jones Industrial Average reaches 26,000 points for the first time, after surpassing the 25,000-mark on January 4. (Chicago Tribune)
In a strategy claimed as "towards healthier products", Nestlé sells its United States confectionery business, number 4 on the market, to Ferrero SpA for $2.8 billion. (Reuters)

Disasters and accidents

A Colombian Army Mi-17 helicopter crashes near Segovia, Antioquia, in northern Colombia, killing at least ten people. (Reuters)

International relations

Palestine–United States relations
- The United States will withhold $65 million for Palestinian aid paid via the United Nations Relief and Welfare Agency stating that UNRWA needs to make unspecified reforms. The U.S. says it will provide $60 million, 48 percent of the regular payment. (Reuters)

Law and crime

Terrorism in Kosovo
- Oliver Ivanović, the head politician of the Kosovo Serb party Freedom, Democracy, Justice, is killed outside his office in North Mitrovica in a drive-by shooting. Aleksandar Vučić, the President of Serbia says his government treats this as an act of terrorism. (BBC)
Terrorism in Pakistan
- Over 1,800 muslim clerics in Pakistan issue a fatwa aimed at prohibiting the use of suicide bombing, declaring it haram. (Sputnik).

Politics and elections

U.S. Special Counsel investigation
- The New York Times reports that Special Counsel Robert Mueller subpoenaed Steve Bannon last week to testify before a grand jury. The House Intelligence Committee issues a second subpoena, via powers seldomly used by Congress, following Bannon's testimony today that, while he was willing to answer questions, the White House instructed him not to answer questions related to his White House tenure. (CNN) (NBC News) (The New York Times)

Science and technology

Climate of Russia
- Temperatures reach −67 °C (−89 °F) in Russia's Yakutia region, four degrees shy of the record low of −71 °C (−96 °F) recorded in 2013 in Yakutia's village of Oymyakon. (Channel NewsAsia)