Portal:Current events/2010 December 23

Current events of December 23, 2010 (2010-12-23) (Thursday)

Armed conflicts and attacks Hundreds of South Korean troops, tanks, helicopters and jet fighters gather 12 miles from the border with North Korea to stage one of South Korea's largest ever live fire military drills in a "show of force" before its neighbour. North Korea describes the exercises as "warmongering", and threatens a "sacred war". (BBC) (CNN) (Al Jazeera) The United Nations says 173 people have been killed during post-election violence in the Ivory Coast. (BBC) Two parcel bombs explode at the Swiss and Chilean embassies in central Rome, Italy. One person is seriously injured. Officials suspect that the perpetrators are from an Italian anarchist group. (The Australian) (swissinfo.ch) (The Christian Science Monitor) Arts and culture A survey indicates that almost one third of Britons believe they have a guardian angel. (The Independent) (Daily Mail) (Press Association via Google News) Business and economy China offers to help eurozone countries through the debt crisis. (BBC) Banking giant Santander has admitted that a computer error has resulted in up to 35,000 people receiving other person's transactions details on their bank statement. (BBC) Disasters At least 20 people are buried by a landslide in the northern Colombian department of Santander. (Colombia Reports) (Xinhua) International relations China describes recent criticism of its control on the Catholic Church by the Vatican as "imprudent and ungrounded". (Times of India) (New York Times) British MPs express concerns over whether the UK is "getting value for money" from its spending on education aid money in Africa. (BBC) Law and crime A court in Nice fines a male Algerian after convicting him of having insulted the French national flag last Tuesday. It is the first such penalty of its kind. (BBC) Politics A man jumps from the balcony of the parliament building in Romania in protest at spending cuts. (euronews) (People's Daily) The Greek Parliament approves sweeping cuts in its budget; some Greeks disagree and protest. (BBC) The Daily Telegraph publishes further details of taped conversations with Liberal Democrat MPs, which include comments that British Prime Minister David Cameron cannot be trusted and Chancellor George Osborne has "a capacity to get up one's nose". (BBC) Citizenship and Immigration Canada cuts funding for settlement centres across the country, leading to the Ontario Liberals protesting the decision that will affect many new immigrants in the province. Immigration minister Jason Kenney also affirms that Santa Claus is Canadian, referring to his characteristic red and white colours. (Globe and Mail) (CTV) (Toronto Star) (National Post) (Calgary Herald) Former MSP Tommy Sheridan is convicted of perjury following a 12-week trial at the High Court in Glasgow. He was found guilty of lying during his successful defamation case against the News of the World which had printed details of his private life. (BBC) The New Zealand military releases formerly classified files regarding possible UFO sightings. (The Associated Press) (LF Press) (Hawke's Bay Today)