"El Paso, Texas, Mayor Oscar Leeser declared a state of emergency (December 17) following a surge of migrants who have recently arrived in the community and he says are living in unsafe conditions," WPTZ reported December 18. "Earlier this week, a senior Border Patrol official said more than 2,400 migrants crossed into the U.S. near El Paso daily over the weekend." "In probably the wildest final in the tournament's 92-year history, Argentina won its third World Cup title by beating France 4-2 in a penalty shootout after a 3-3 draw featuring two goals from the 35-year-old (Lionel) Messi and a hat trick by his heir apparent, France forward Kylian Mbappé." - The Associated Press, December 18, 2022 "Fernando Campana, who with his brother Humberto pushed the boundaries of furniture design with evocative and provocative objects crafted from unlikely materials like charcoal, tree branches, Bubble Wrap, smashed Murano glass and even stuffed animals, died." He was 61. - The New York Times, December 13, 2022 … John Prados, a military historian whose dogged pursuit of classified government material led him to write dozens of books upsetting accepted truths about the Cold War, Vietnam and the American intelligence community, while also achieving renown as an award-winning board-game designed, died." He was 71. - The New York Times, December 19, 2022 "The House voted (December 15) to allow Puerto Ricans to decide the political future of the territory, the first time the chamber has committed to backing a binding process that could pave the way for Puerto Rico to become the nation's 51st state or an independent country." - The New York Times, December 16, 2022 "Living conditions in Cuba under communist rule have long ben precarious, but today, deepening poverty and hopelessness have set off the largest exodus from the Caribbean island nation since Fidel Castro rose to power over half a century ago." - The New York Times, December 11, 2022 "Peruvian President Pedro Castillo sparked fears of a coup (December 7) after temporarily dissolving Congress just hours ahead of an impeachment vote. But his efforts to stay in power quickly fell apart as lawmakers swiftly voted 101-6 to remove Castillo and replace him with Vice President Dina Boluarte." - Time, December 7, 2022