Portal:Current events/2010 December 20

• 7 people are killed in a roadside bomb and shooting incident in the Somali capital Mogadishu. (Reuters)
• A bomb exploded at a downtown bus station in Kenya's capital as passengers boarded a bus, killing at least one person and wounding up to 39 others, police said. Suspicions centered on a Somali militant group. (News 13)
• The Republic of Korea Marine Corps holds live-fire drill exercises on Yeonpyeong Island. North Korea says it will not retaliate. (Yonhap) (BBC) (Xinhua)
• 13 Afghan soldiers were killed in two separate suicide attacks launched by Taliban in the capital city of Afghanistan. (TRT)

• Pope Benedict XVI discusses sexual abuse of children by priests while dining with cardinals and bishops at his traditional Christmas audience. (BBC) (The China Post) (AFP via Philippine Daily Inquirer)

• Social network chief Mark Zuckerberg is photographed meeting CEO of Chinese search engine Baidu Robin Li, in Beijing, China. (Guardian) (Vancouver Sun) (AP via CBS News) (Inquirer via AFP)
• The European Central Bank worries about its ability to provide further financial assistance to eurozone members due to flawed legislation. (BBC)
• Heathrow Airport in London reopens after a weekend of heavy snowfall. (Al Jazeera)
• GM completes $2.1 billion purchase of stock held by U.S. Treasury. (Business Today)

• Estimates of the death toll resulting from the boat disaster off Christmas Island rise as high as 48. (ABC News Australia)
• At least 26 people are killed and several others are injured when a bus carrying tourists from Thailand overturns in Malaysia. (Bernama) (Thai News Agency)
• Three people were killed and 23 wounded in a bomb attack on a bus in central Nairobi, Kenya. (AFP via Sydney Daily Telegraph)
• A 6.5 magnitude earthquake hits southeastern Iran, near Bam with at least eleven people dead and hundreds injured. (Herald Sun), (CNN) (Los Angeles Times)

• President of Russia Dmitry Medvedev sets off for India for a two-day official visit to sign trade deals. (BBC)
• North Korea agrees with United States troubleshooter Bill Richardson to permit the return of United Nations nuclear inspectors. (AFP via The Australian)
• Israel orders all of their foreign envoys to thwart Palestinian attempts to draft a UN resolution with the aims of recognition of Palestinian and to pressure Israel to stop settling its citizens within Palestine. (Haaretz)
• Russia warns the U.S. that a renegotiation of the Start treaty may lead to the pact's destruction. (BBC)
• Egypt uncovers an alleged Israeli spy-ring, charging one Egyptian business man and two Israelis with attempting to recruit agents to spy for Israel. (BBC)

• Indonesia jails six people on terrorism charges for involvement with the "Al-Qaeda in Aceh" group. (Jakarta Globe) (The Straits Times)
• David Paterson, Governor of New York, is fined $62,125 for accepting free gifts from a registered lobbyist—the New York Yankees. (Reuters)
• Iranian director Jafar Panahi is sentenced to six years imprisonment for making a film "against the regime." (Time)

• Ukrainian opposition leader Yulia Tymoshenko is charged with misusing state funds while serving as Prime Minister. (Ukrainian News Agency) (BBC)
• President of Belarus Alexander Lukashenko claims victory in the presidential election with 79% of the vote. Hundreds of people who protested the vote are arrested. (BBC) (CNN)
• Mexican politician Diego Fernandez de Cevallos is released by his kidnappers seven months after being abducted. (BBC)

• 1,200 new species and varieties of sea creatures discovered during the first world survey of marine life are presented at a conference in Jerusalem, Israel. (Israel 21C) (The Jerusalem Post)

• Samuel Eto'o sets a new landmark for individual success in African football after winning Footballer of the Year for the fourth time. (The Irish Times)