Portal:Current events/2013 August 16

Current events of August 16, 2013 (2013-08-16) (Friday)

Armed conflicts and attacks

• Aftermath of 2013 Egyptian coup d'état:
  • Security in Cairo tightened amid Friday prayers and protest marches called by the Muslim Brotherhood nationwide. (AlJazeera)

Business and economy

• Indian rupee hits new record low against the US dollar. The rupee fell to 62.03 rupees against the dollar. (BBC)

Disasters and accidents

• A magnitude 6.5 earthquake strikes near Seddon, New Zealand, causing moderate damage in the wider Marlborough region and national capital Wellington. (Fairfax NZ)
• The ferry St. Thomas Aquinas collides with a cargo ship and sinks at Cebu, Philippines, with the loss of at least seventeen lives. (World Maritime News)

International relations

• The Ministry of International Relations of Brazil rejects John Kerry´s official statement concerning that the electronic surveillance by the National Security Agency (NSA) was part of strategy to “combat terrorism”. (TheHindu)

Politics and election

• Ali Akbar Salehi, former Iranian foreign minister is appointed as head of Atomic Energy Organization of Iran. (IRNA)

Technology and science

• The infamous Area 51 is officially acknowledged by the United States. (CNN)