Portal:Current events/2022 December 20

December 20, 2022 (Tuesday)

Armed conflicts and attacks

Insurgency in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa
- 2022 Bannu counterterrorism centre attack and siege
  - Security forces storm a counterterrorism office in Bannu, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan, which was seized two days ago by 33 Pakistani Taliban members, killing all of the insurgents. Two officers were killed during the siege and many others were injured. All of the hostages are freed. (BBC News)
Nigerian bandit conflict
- At least 38 people are killed and several houses torched during two attacks at two villages in Kagoro, Kaduna State, Nigeria. (All Africa)
Sino-Indian border dispute
- India reports that it has increased its troop presence along the Sino-Indian border in response to the skirmish that occurred between Indian and Chinese troops in Tawang district earlier this month. (MSN)

Disasters and accidents

2022 Ferndale earthquake
- A magnitude 6.4 earthquake strikes Humboldt County, California, United States, killing at least two people, injuring eleven others and causing minor damage. (NBC News)
2022 Urengoy–Pomary–Uzhhorod pipeline explosion
- An explosion occurs on an Urengoy–Pomary–Uzhhorod export gas pipeline during maintenance work in Chuvashia, Russia, killing three workers and causing a stoppage of gas flows through the pipeline. (Reuters)

International relations

Mexico–Peru relations
- Mexico confirms that it has granted asylum to the family of former Peruvian president Pedro Castillo, with Foreign Minister Marcelo Ebrard saying that a safe exit from Peru is currently being discussed. (Reuters)
- Peru expels the Mexican ambassador and declares him persona non grata hours after Mexico grants asylum to the family of former Peruvian president Pedro Castillo. (AP)
Ukraine–United States relations
- It is announced that Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy will visit Washington, D.C., tomorrow, where he is expected to meet with President Joe Biden and address Congress. (The New York Times)

Law and crime

Treatment of women by the Taliban
- The Taliban ban university education for women in Afghanistan. A spokesman for the Ministry of Higher Education says that the decree was issued by the Cabinet today and is effective immediately. (CNN)

Science and technology

Argentine footballer Lionel Messi's Instagram post containing photos of him lifting the FIFA World Cup Trophy and celebrating with the Argentina team after winning the 2022 FIFA World Cup two days prior becomes the social networking service's most-liked post after reaching over 56 million likes, surpassing the previous record held by the Instagram egg. (BBC News)

Sports

2022–23 PGA Tour
- Augusta National Golf Club chairperson Fred Ridley announces that professional golfers who are signed under the LIV Golf tour, which began this year as a competitor to the PGA Tour, will be permitted to play in the 2023 Masters Tournament, the first of four men's major golf championships held next year. Human rights groups and various personalities have criticized LIV Golf, which is financed by Saudi Arabia's Public Investment Fund, as a sportswashing project by the country to improve its repressive global image. (The Independent)