December 6, 2013 (Friday)
Armed conflicts and attacks
- Al-Qaeda insurgency in Yemen:
- Central African Republic conflict under the Djotodia administration:
- The Red Cross claims that at least 300 people have died in two days of fighting in Bangui, the capital of the Central African Republic. (BBC)
Disasters and accidents
- 2013 North American cold wave:
- Record snowfall occurs over the United States killing at least eleven and leaving hundreds of thousands without power. (USA Today)
Environment
Law and crime
- War in Afghanistan:
- Royal Marine Sergeant Alexander Blackman is given a life sentence by a court martial for the murder of an unarmed insurgent. (BBC)
- The U.S. Supreme Court agrees to decide whether software can be patented. (Reuters via The Chicago Tribune)
Science and technology
- The China National Space Administration achieves Earth to Lunar transorbital insertion of their Chang'e 3 probe. The spacecraft enters a 100 km (62 mi)-high circular lunar orbit at 5:53 p.m. Beijing Time. The orbit is obtained after 361 seconds of variable-thrust engine braking. (Economic Times)
- Researchers at the Sanford-Burnham Medical Research Institute are published in the journal Cell, describing a link between Parkinsonism (Parkinson's disease) and the agricultural pesticides of paraquat and maneb. (MSN)
Sport
- 2014 FIFA World Cup:
- The draw for the 2014 FIFA World Cup is done in Brazil with the 2010 FIFA World Cup champions Spain and runners-up The Netherlands both drawn in Group B. (The Sports 24)