Portal:Current events/2020 October 23

October 23, 2020 (Friday)

Armed conflicts and attacks

War in Afghanistan
- Taliban insurgency
  - October 2020 Afghanistan attacks
    - The Taliban kills at least 20 Afghan soldiers. The attack occurred in Khash Rod District, Nimroz Province. (TOLOnews)
Second Libyan Civil War
- The United Nations mission for Libya announces that the warring parties in the war have agreed to a "permanent ceasefire in all areas of Libya". The UN says it is an "important turning point towards peace and stability in Libya". The Libyan National Army (LNA) of Khalifa Haftar, based in the east, had been at war with the Government of National Accord (GNA), based in Tripoli. (Al Arabiya)

Health and environment

COVID-19 pandemic
- COVID-19 pandemic in Europe
  - COVID-19 pandemic in Spain
    - COVID-19 pandemic in the Community of Madrid
      - The Madrid regional government announces a new restrictions aimed at curbing the spread of the COVID-19 when the current state of emergency expires tomorrow. Under the new rules, bars and restaurants will have to close by midnight and will not be able to accept new patrons after 11:00 pm local time, socializing with people outside of one’s household will be prohibited between midnight and 6:00 am local time. Outside of these hours, social gatherings will be limited to a maximum of six people. Capacity at theaters and cinemas, as well as indoor sports facilities, will be reduced to 50%. Parks and gardens will be close between midnight and 6:00 am local time. (El Pais in English)
  - COVID-19 pandemic in the United Kingdom
    - COVID-19 pandemic in Scotland
      - Scottish First Minister Nicola Sturgeon unveils parts of the draft five-level system of restrictions to curb the spread of COVID-19, ranging from Level 0 to Level 4. The new system would come into force on November 2 if the draft approved by Scottish Parliament in Holyrood, Edinburgh next week and the application of different levels in different areas will be reviewed on a weekly basis. (ITV)
  - COVID-19 pandemic in Belgium
    - Belgium's Consultative Committee announces that it will tighten its restrictions on social contacts by banning fans from sporting events, closing amusement parks, and imposing a limit of 200 people allowed in theatres, concert halls, and cinemas. The measures take effect immediately and will last for four weeks until November 19, in order to prevent the spread of COVID-19 threatening to overwhelm hospitals. (The Brussels Times)
  - COVID-19 pandemic in Poland
    - After Poland reports the highest single-day record of 13,632 new infections, Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki announces the designation of the country as a "red zone" area, which means that tomorrow it will partially close schools, with only grades one to three attending classes, restrict gatherings to five people, and restrict the operations of restaurants, cafés, and pubs to only serve take-away or delivery services. He also advises people over 70 years of age to stay home. (Times of India)
  - COVID-19 pandemic in Romania
    - The number of new cases since the beginning of the pandemic in Romania rises by a record of 5,028 in the past 24 hours, as new restrictions are introduced in Bucharest and other cities. (Digi 24)
- COVID-19 pandemic in the United States
  - COVID-19 pandemic in Pennsylvania
    - Pennsylvania reports 2,219 new cases of COVID-19, its highest single-day amount since April. (WPVI-TV)
- COVID-19 pandemic in Iran
  - The number of new cases since the beginning of the pandemic in Iran rises by a record of 6,134 in the past 24 hours and pushed the overall count up to 556,891. It is the first time that new cases surpass more than 6,000. In addition, the health ministry spokeswoman Sima Sadat Lari warns that 30 of 31 provinces are in the red zone with high risk of COVID-19 infection. (Anadolu Agency)

International relations

Israel–Sudan normalization agreement, Israel–Sudan relations
- Israel and Sudan agree to establish diplomatic relations. (BBC)