Portal:Current events/2011 December 20
Armed conflicts and attacks
- Syria says it will execute anyone who participates in "terrorist acts", under a new law. (CNN)
- Haimen (70km NNW from Shanghai), in protest against a local 'polluting' coal-powered electricity generation plant. (AFP via Google)
Arts and culture
- Bhagavad Gita As It Is holy book banned there. (BBC) (Hindustan Times) (The Economic Times)(The Statesman)
Disasters
- The death toll from Tropical Storm Washi in the Philippines rises to nearly 1,000. (CBC)
- A Northern New Jersey, killing 5. (New York Times)
International relations
- Diplomats from the UN Security Council criticise Israeli settlement activities in the West Bank and East Jerusalem. (BBC) (The Jerusalem Post)
Law and crime
- Former Daily Mirror editor Piers Morgan appears before the Leveson Inquiry via videolink from the United States to deny knowledge of hacking at the paper. (BBC)
Politics
- Death of Kim Jong-il:
- The body of Kumsusan Memorial Palace in Pyongyang. (Al Jazeera)
- The body of
- Villagers rebelling in China, say they will hold talks with the government and demand concessions in return for calling off a march. (Reuters)
- Etienne Tshisekedi. (ABC)
- Thousands of demonstrate against abuses by military police. (New York Times)
Science
- Worldwide controversy erupts over a plan by H5N1, that could potentially cause a worldwide pandemic that could kill millions. Bioterrorism watchdogs also express immense concern over the development of the virus (which is presently stored in Erasmus MC, Rotterdam). (Russia Today) (FOX News)
- Two Earth-sized planets, Kepler-20e and Kepler-20d, are found orbiting a star 950 light-years away from Earth. (Wall Street Journal)
Sport
- The National Collegiate Athletic Association announces that it is penalizing the Ohio State Buckeyes football program with a one-year bowl game ban, among other penalties, as a result of a scandal at the program. Former head coach Jim Tressel is given a 5-year show-cause penalty as well. (ESPN)