Portal:Current events/2019 January 15

January 15, 2019 (Tuesday)

Armed conflicts and attacks

2019 Nairobi attack
- Multiple explosions and gunfire are reported after four armed men stormed the Dusit hotel in Nairobi, Kenya. The Somalia-based militant group Al-Shabaab claims responsibility. (BBC News)

Arts and culture

2019 Prayag Kumbh Mela
- The largest human gathering in the world, the Kumbh Mela festival, starts at Prayagraj (previously known as Allahabad), India. More than 120 million Hindu devotees, as well as tourists, are expected. (The Guardian)

International relations

North Korea–United States relations
- South Korean media reports that North Korean officials are expected to visit the United States to discuss a second summit between the two countries at an unspecified date. (Reuters) (Al Jazeera)

Law and crime

Laurent Gbagbo, former President of Ivory Coast, is acquitted of crimes against humanity charges by the International Criminal Court. (BBC News)
U.S. District judge Jesse Furman issues a decision that invalidates the Trump administration's addition of a U.S. citizenship question to the 2020 census. This is the first ruling on this issue. There are four more lawsuits, filled by dozens of states, cities and other groups, yet to be heard. (NPR)
Catalan regional police in Barcelona and Igualada arrest 17 suspected terrorists ready to launch a terrorist attack. (The Telegraph) (Europa Press)

Politics and elections

Science and technology

The correction of the North Magnetic Pole model, one year ahead of the regular five-year update, scheduled to be released this week is delayed until the end of January because of the U.S. federal government shutdown. The model is used in navigation and by the GPS systems in smartphones. The pole has been wandering, much faster than expected, away from the Canadian Arctic toward Siberia. (UPI) (M.I.T. Technology Review) (The Maritime Executive)