December 20, 2010 (Monday)
Armed conflicts and attacks
- 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)
Arts and culture
- 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)
Business and economy
- 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)
Disasters
- 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)
International relations
- 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)
Law and crime
- 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)
Politics and elections
- 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)
Science and technology
- 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)
Sport
- 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)