Portal:Current events
Topics in the news
- In baseball, the Tokyo Yakult Swallows defeat the Orix Buffaloes to win the Japan Series (MVP Yuhei Nakamura pictured).
- American musical theatre composer and lyricist Stephen Sondheim dies at the age of 91.
- A coalition government, led by Prime Minister Nicolae Ciucă, takes office in Romania, ending a nearly three-month-long political crisis.
- At least fifty people are killed in a mining accident in Kemerovo Oblast, Russia.
Armed conflicts and attacks
Health and environment
- COVID-19 pandemic
- COVID-19 pandemic in Europe
- COVID-19 pandemic in Portugal
- Portugal reports their first cases of the SARS-CoV-2 Omicron variant in 13 people associated with Belenenses SAD football club. (AP)
- COVID-19 pandemic in Spain
- Spain reports their first case of the SARS-CoV-2 Omicron variant in a person who travelled from South Africa. (El Pais)
- COVID-19 pandemic in Portugal
- COVID-19 pandemic in Israel
- A contestant at the Miss Universe contest in Eilat, Israel tests positive for COVID-19. (Times Of Israel)
- International aid related to the COVID-19 pandemic
- COVID-19 pandemic in Angola, COVID-19 pandemic in Kenya, COVID-19 pandemic in Barbados
- Argentina donates 780,000 doses of the Oxford–AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine to Angola, Kenya and Barbados, which have all detected cases of the Omicron variant. (LMDiario)
- COVID-19 pandemic in Angola, COVID-19 pandemic in Kenya, COVID-19 pandemic in Barbados
- History of COVID-19 vaccine development
- COVID-19 pandemic in Europe
International relations
- Foreign relations of Turkey
- Recep Tayyip Erdoğan reveals his intentions to rebuild his country's ties with Egypt and Israel. (TRT World)
Politics and elections
- 2021 Honduran general election
- While votes are still being counted, both Xiomara Castro and Nasry Asfura declare that their respective tickets have won the presidential election. (Al Jazeera)
- Magdalena Andersson is re-elected as Prime Minister of Sweden by the Riksdag after she resigned last week. (Euronews)
Science and technology
- Jack Dorsey resigns as the CEO of Twitter and is succeeded by Chief technology officer Parag Agrawal. (CNBC)
- Researchers from the National Autonomous University of Mexico discover two new antibiotic molecules inside the venom of a scorpion from the Diplocentrus genus, which may hold the properties to stop several different kinds of harmful bacteria and tumour cells. (The Yucatan Times)
Armed conflicts and attacks
- Islamic State insurgency in Iraq
- Five Peshmerga fighters are killed and four more are wounded during a shooting and bombing attack by the Islamic State in Diyala. (Al Jazeera)
- 2020–2021 Ethiopian–Sudanese clashes
- Operation Barkhane
- A convoy carrying French troops in Niger opens fire against locals in Téra, Tillabéri Region, who were protesting against the French presence in the country, killing two people and wounding 18 others. (The Guardian)
Disasters and accidents
- 2021 Northern Peru earthquake
- A 7.5 magnitude earthquake strikes northern Peru at 131 kilometres (81 mi) of depth, killing one person and injuring 12 others. 75 homes are destroyed and around 220 damaged. The earthquake is felt as far south as Lima. President Pedro Castillo orders the deployment of relief and also viewed the area in a military aircraft. (Infobae)
Health and environment
- COVID-19 pandemic
- COVID-19 pandemic in Asia
- COVID-19 pandemic in Indonesia
- Indonesia bans foreigners who have traveled to South Africa, Botswana, Namibia, Zimbabwe, Lesotho, Mozambique, Eswatini and Nigeria in the past 14 days amid the emergence of the Omicron variant. (BBC News)
- COVID-19 pandemic in Israel
- Israel closes its borders to all foreigners and requires citizens who have traveled outside the country to quarantine for three days for fully vaccinated people and seven days for unvaccinated people as part of an effort to reduce the spread of the Omicron variant. (France 24)
- COVID-19 pandemic in Maldives
- Maldives bans entry to flights from South Africa, Botswana, Zimbabwe, Mozambique, Namibia, Lesotho, Malawi and Eswatini. (CNA)
- COVID-19 pandemic in the Philippines
- The Philippines bans entry to flights from Austria, Belgium, the Czech Republic, Hungary, Italy, the Netherlands and Switzerland. Additionally, the entry of fully vaccinated foreign nationals from green-list countries that was expected to begin on December 1 is temporarily suspended. (Rappler)
- COVID-19 pandemic in Indonesia
- COVID-19 pandemic in Africa
- COVID-19 pandemic in Morocco
- The Moroccan government announces that it will suspend all incoming passenger flights for the next two weeks. (Al Jazeera)
- COVID-19 pandemic in Rwanda
- Rwanda temporarily suspends all commercial flights to Southern Africa due to the emergence of the Omicron variant. (The New Times)
- COVID-19 pandemic in Morocco
- COVID-19 pandemic in Canada
- COVID-19 pandemic in the Netherlands
- The Netherlands reports its first cases of the Omicron variant in 13 people who traveled from South Africa on November 26. (ABC News)
- The Netherlands tightens its partial lockdown restrictions that require non-essential shops, sports facilities, and hospitality and cultural venues to close at 5 p.m., and chemists, supermarkets, and wholesalers to close at 8 p.m., amid a record number of new COVID-19 cases as well as concerns about the Omicron variant. (BBC News)
- COVID-19 pandemic in Australia
- Australia reports its first cases of the Omicron variant in two people who traveled from Southern Africa and are currently in quarantine in a hotel in New South Wales. (ABC News Australia)
- COVID-19 pandemic in Asia
Law and crime
- 2021 Iranian protests
- Sixty-seven protesters are arrested in Isfahan during a protest against water shortages. (Deutsche Welle)
Politics and elections
- 2021 Czech legislative election
- Petr Fiala is designated as Prime Minister of the Czech Republic to form a majority government following the October election. (Deutsche Welle)
- 2021 Honduran general election
- 2021 Kyrgyz parliamentary election
- Kyrgyzstan holds parliamentary elections after the annulment of the results of the October 2020 elections due to protests. (Al Jazeera)
Armed conflicts and attacks
- 2021 social unrest in the French West Indies
- France says that it is willing to discuss greater autonomy for Guadeloupe if "it is in the interests of the people who live there". The Caribbean archipelago has experienced violent demonstrations in recent days, and Guadeloupean officials have raised the issue of autonomy with France. (Reuters)
Business and economy
- List of events affected by the COVID-19 pandemic
- The World Trade Organization postpones its four-day Ministerial Conference, which was scheduled to be held on November 29 in Geneva, Switzerland, amid the emergence of the new Omicron variant that was declared a "variant of concern" by the WHO. (France 24)
Disasters and accidents
- 2021–22 European windstorm season
- Three people are killed in the United Kingdom as Storm Arwen hits the British Isles. Widespread damage and travel disruptions are reported in Scotland and North East England, with 100,000 people losing power. (BBC News)
Health and environment
- COVID-19 pandemic
- COVID-19 pandemic in Europe
- COVID-19 pandemic in Belgium
- Belgium imposes new anti-COVID-19 measures that close nightclubs, discos and dance halls, require businesses in the hospitality sector to close at 11 p.m., ban organised private parties, and limit the number of people at tables at bars and restaurants to six people unless they are from the same household, amid a fourth wave of the pandemic. (The Brussels Times)
- COVID-19 pandemic in Czech Republic
- The Czech Republic reports its first case of the SARS-CoV-2 Omicron variant in a woman in Liberec who had been in Namibia. She had passed through South Africa and Dubai on her flight to the Czech Republic. (Deutsche Welle)
- COVID-19 pandemic in Germany
- Germany reports its first cases of the SARS-CoV-2 Omicron variant in two people in Bavaria who entered the country at Munich Airport on November 24. (Deutsche Welle)
- COVID-19 pandemic in Italy
- Italy reports its first case of the SARS-CoV-2 Omicron variant in a person who travelled from Mozambique. (Times of Malta)
- COVID-19 pandemic in the United Kingdom
- The United Kingdom reports its first cases of the SARS-CoV-2 Omicron variant in two people who travelled from southern Africa to Chelmsford and Nottingham. (BBC News)
- COVID-19 pandemic in Belgium
- COVID-19 pandemic in Bangladesh, Travel during the COVID-19 pandemic
- Bangladesh suspends the entry of travellers from South Africa amid fears of the spread of the SARS-CoV-2 Omicron variant first detected in Botswana. (Business Standard)
- COVID-19 pandemic in Europe
International relations
- European Migrant Crisis
- Greece builds two new ''Closed Controlled Access Centers" for migrants. (ANSAmed)
Armed conflicts and attacks
- 2021 Solomon Islands unrest
- Australian Federal Police take control of the Solomon Islands capital of Honiara following three days of civil unrest. A night time curfew begins at 7:00 p.m. local time while rioting and looting continues in the Chinatown suburb of the city. (Reuters)
- Three people are found dead at a burnt-out store in the Chinatown suburb in Honiara. (Al Jazeera)
Business and economy
- Economic impact of the COVID-19 pandemic
- Stocks and oil prices decline sharply amid growing concerns over the SARS-CoV-2 Omicron variant. (FT) (CNBC)
Disasters and accidents
- 2021 Mexico bus crash
- A passenger bus crashes on a highway in San José del Rincón, Mexico, killing 19 people and injuring 32 others. (ABC News)
Health and environment
- COVID-19 pandemic
- COVID-19 pandemic in Europe
- COVID-19 pandemic in Belgium
- Belgium reports its first case of the Omicron variant in an unvaccinated person who travelled abroad. (Reuters)
- COVID-19 pandemic in the Czech Republic
- The Czech Republic reports a record 27,717 new cases of COVID-19 in the past 24 hours. (The Washington Post)
- COVID-19 pandemic in France
- France imposes mandatory mask wearing in all indoor venues and outdoor Christmas markets, even when a Health Pass is required for an event, due to an increase in COVID-19 cases, hospitalizations, and deaths. (Euronews)
- COVID-19 pandemic in Germany
- Germany reports a record for the third consecutive day of 76,414 new cases of COVID-19. (Anadolu Agency)
- COVID-19 pandemic in Belgium
- COVID-19 pandemic in Asia
- COVID-19 pandemic in Hong Kong
- Hong Kong reports its first two cases of the Omicron variant in a man who had travelled from South Africa this month, and later in another man staying across the hall in the same quarantine hotel. (The New York Times)
- COVID-19 pandemic in Israel
- Israel reports its first case of the Omicron variant in a person who travelled from Malawi. (The Times of Israel)
- COVID-19 pandemic in the Philippines, Travel during the COVID-19 pandemic
- The Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases approves the entry of fully-vaccinated foreign nationals from green-list countries beginning on December 1. (Philippine Daily Inquirer)
- COVID-19 pandemic in Hong Kong
- SARS-CoV-2 Omicron variant
- The World Health Organization names the Lineage B.1.1.529 variant as "Omicron" and designates it as a "variant of concern" due to the variant's large number of mutations and an increased risk of reinfection. (The Hill)
- Canada, the EU, Israel, Japan, Morocco, the Philippines, Singapore, Turkey, the UAE, the UK, and the U.S. ban flights from South Africa, Namibia, Zimbabwe, Botswana, Lesotho, Mozambique, Malawi, and Eswatini due to the Omicron variant. (CNN)
- COVID-19 pandemic in Europe
International relations
- Russia–Ukraine relations
- Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky accuses Russia of plotting a coup against him and says that Ukrainian tycoon Rinat Akhmetov was being enlisted to help plan the coup. Zelensky says that his country "is prepared for any scenario" as tensions rise. (The Washington Post)
- 2021 Belarus–European Union border crisis
- Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko makes a public appearance at the Belarus–Poland border for the first time since the migrant crisis began. Lukashenko gives a speech to migrants, telling them that they are free to either return home or head west, saying, "If you want to go westwards, we won't detain you, choke you, beat you. It's up to you. Go through. Go." (Reuters)
- France–Italy relations
- Italian Prime Minister Mario Draghi and French President Emmanuel Macron sign a treaty that strengthens the ties between the two countries "in areas including defence, migration, the economy, culture and trade". (Euractiv) (ANSA)
Law and crime
- Mass shootings in the United States
- Three people are killed and four others injured during a mass shooting in Nashville, Tennessee, United States. (NBC News)
Armed conflicts and attacks
- Somali Civil War
- November 2021 Mogadishu bombing
- A car bombing targeting a UN convoy explodes outside a school in Mogadishu, killing eight people and injuring 17 others. Jihadist group al-Shabaab claims responsibility for the attack. (Al Jazeera)
- November 2021 Mogadishu bombing
- Piracy in the Gulf of Guinea
- Royal Danish Navy frigate HDMS Esbern Snare opens fire and kills four pirates in the Gulf of Guinea after being fired upon. Four other pirates are detained and taken aboard by Frogman Corps. The incident took place 25 to 30 nautical miles south of the territorial boundary of Nigeria. (Reuters)
- At least 35 people are killed during an eight-day fight over a dispute about camel looting between herders in Jebel Moon, Darfur, Sudan. Sixteen villages and thousands of homes are also set on fire. (Al Jazeera)
Disasters and accidents
- Listvyazhnaya mine disaster
- A fire inside a coal mine in Kemerovo Oblast, Russia, traps 285 miners underground. Forty-six miners are killed and 49 others are being treated for smoke inhalation in hospital. Five rescuers later die while searching for trapped miners, bringing the total death toll to 51. (DW) (CBC)
Health and environment
- COVID-19 pandemic
- COVID-19 pandemic in Europe
- COVID-19 pandemic in Spain
- The High Court of Justice of Catalonia approves the use of the COVID-19 immunity passport for restaurants, bars and fitness centers in the region. (El País)
- Establishments in Aragon, such as restaurants and nightclubs, begin requiring certificates of immunity for entry. (Expansión)
- COVID-19 pandemic in the Czech Republic
- The government declares a 30-day state of emergency and imposes new measures that will require bars and restaurants to close at 10 p.m., bans alcohol consumption at bars and restaurants, restricts the number of people at gatherings and events and bans Christmas markets. These measures will take effect tomorrow. (Radio Prague International)
- COVID-19 pandemic in France
- The French Minister of Social Affairs and Health announces a nationalized plan to provide a third booster dose of the COVID-19 vaccines to all adults beginning on 27 November, instead of enacting another nationwide state of lockdown in order to reduce the currently record-breaking spread of COVID-19. (Associated Press)
- COVID-19 pandemic in Germany
- Germany surpasses 100,000 deaths from COVID-19 and also reports a record 75,961 new cases of COVID-19 in the past 24 hours. (ABC News)
- COVID-19 pandemic in the United Kingdom
- The United Kingdom surpasses 10 million cases of COVID-19. (ITV News)
- European Union response to the COVID-19 pandemic
- Travel during the COVID-19 pandemic
- The European Commission issues recommendations that the issuance of the EU Digital COVID Certificate be shortened to nine months with a requirement to receive a booster dose. Furthermore, the commission recommends the acceptance of all COVID-19 vaccines listed under the Emergency Use Listing by the World Health Organization, including Chinese and Indian-produced vaccines. (Reuters)
- COVID-19 vaccine
- The European Medicines Agency officially approves the use of the Pfizer–BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine for children between the ages of 5 and 11 years, becoming the first vaccine to be approved for these age groups in Europe. (Associated Press)
- Travel during the COVID-19 pandemic
- COVID-19 pandemic in Spain
- COVID-19 pandemic in Australia, COVID-19 vaccination in Australia
- COVID-19 pandemic in Argentina, COVID-19 vaccination in Argentina
- Argentina receives 2.5 million doses of the COVID-19 vaccine, which includes 1.1 million doses of the Pfizer–BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine and 1.3 million doses of the Oxford–AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine. (ANDigital)
- COVID-19 pandemic in Laos
- Laos reports a record 1,504 new cases of COVID-19 in the past 24 hours, thereby bringing the nationwide total of confirmed cases to 67,322. (The Laotian Times)
- COVID-19 pandemic in South Africa, SARS-CoV-2 Omicron variant
- South African scientists detect a new COVID-19 variant named Lineage B.1.1.529 that poses a "major threat" to efforts to reduce the spread of the virus, and blames the variant for the exponential rise of new cases in the country. (Deutsche Welle)
- COVID-19 pandemic in Europe
- The latest quinquennial National Family Health Survey in India finds that the population's total fertility rate has dropped to a point below the key replacement rate for the first time in the nation's history. (The Washington Post)
International relations
- COVID-19 pandemic in Israel, COVID-19 pandemic in Africa, Travel restrictions related to the COVID-19 pandemic
- Israel bans entry of travellers from South Africa, Lesotho, Botswana, Zimbabwe, Mozambique, Namibia and Eswatini and discourages its citizens from travelling to those countries due to the emergence of the Lineage B.1.1.529 variant. (Reuters)
- Turkey–United Arab Emirates relations
- Turkey and the United Arab Emirates sign several investment accords during a high-level visit to Ankara by Abu Dhabi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, including a $10 billion investment fund to support the Turkish health and energy sectors. The Turkish and Emirati central banks also sign a cooperation agreement. (Reuters)
Law and crime
- 2021 Solomon Islands unrest
- Rioters demanding the resignation of Solomon Islands Prime Minister Manasseh Sogavare set fire to buildings in Honiara's Chinatown neighborhood. Protesters have been defying a 36-hour lockdown imposed following unrest yesterday. (The Guardian)
- Australia announces that it will deploy federal police and Australian Defence Force personnel to Honiara to aid with riot control and to secure infrastructure sites following a formal request for help from Prime Minister Sogavare. (SBS News) (Solomon Times)
- Opposition leader Matthew Wale calls on the prime minister and his government to resign. (Solomon Times)
- Blasphemy in Pakistan
Politics and elections
- 2021 Romanian political crisis
- The Parliament of Romania votes the investiture of Prime Minister Nicolae Ciucă's grand coalition cabinet, thereby ending nearly the political crisis. (Politico)
Armed conflicts and attacks
- Tigray War
- TDF–OLA joint offensive
- Ethiopian prime minister Abiy Ahmed joins ENDF troops on the frontline to fight advancing rebel forces, transferring his day-to-day duties to deputy prime minister Demeke Mekonnen. (The Independent)
- TDF–OLA joint offensive
- Russo-Ukrainian War
- British foreign secretary Liz Truss warns Russia that any attack on Ukraine would be a "grave mistake", and that the UK is working closely with its NATO allies to provide support to Ukraine. (Reuters)
- Ukraine launches a "special operation" on the Belarusian border involving troops from the National Guard, police, and the armed forces, including anti-tank and airborne units, amid fears of a migrant crisis and also due to a Russian military build-up on its borders. (RFE/RL)
- Anglophone Crisis
- Gunmen open fire at a school in Ekondo-Titi, Southwest Region, Cameroon, killing three children and a teacher. (AFP via Barron's)
- Syrian civil war
- Israel carries out airstrikes in Homs, Syria, killing two civilians and injuring six soldiers and another civilian. (Al Jazeera)
Disasters and accidents
- English Channel migrant crossings
- November 2021 English Channel disaster
- Twenty-seven people drown after a dinghy carrying migrants sinks in the English Channel near Calais, France. (BBC News)
- November 2021 English Channel disaster
Health and environment
- COVID-19 pandemic
- COVID-19 pandemic in Europe
- COVID-19 pandemic in the Czech Republic
- The Czech Republic reports a record 25,864 new cases of COVID-19 in the past 24 hours. (The Washington Post)
- COVID-19 pandemic in Hungary
- Hungary reports a record 12,637 new cases of COVID-19 in the past 24 hours, thereby bringing the nationwide total of confirmed cases to 1.045 million. (Thomson Reuters Foundation)
- COVID-19 pandemic in Italy
- The Italian government signs a decree that will ban people who are not vaccinated or who have not recovered from COVID-19 from entering indoor venues (not including workplaces) from December 6 until January 15 and will also extend the vaccine mandate to teachers, police, and the military beginning on December 15. It also imposes the use of the "green pass" to all types of public transport, including for people with negative COVID-19 tests. (Reuters) (ANSA)
- COVID-19 pandemic in the Netherlands
- The Netherlands reimposes mandatory 1.5 m (4 ft 11 in) social distancing measures in places where COVID passports are not required, amid an increase in the number of new COVID-19 cases. (Euronews)
- COVID-19 pandemic in Slovakia
- The Slovak government declares a 90-day state of emergency and will impose a two-week lockdown for the entire country beginning tomorrow, which will close all non-essential shops and restaurants and limit a person's movement to specific reasons only as the country reports a record 10,315 new cases of COVID-19 in the past 24 hours. (Politico.eu)
- European Union response to the COVID-19 pandemic
- The European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control recommends that the booster dose of the COVID-19 vaccine should be given to all adults aged above 18 years six months after received their second dose, with priority given to those aged above 40 years. (The Wall Street Journal)
- COVID-19 pandemic in the Czech Republic
- COVID-19 pandemic in Asia
- COVID-19 pandemic in the Philippines, COVID-19 drug development
- It is announced that Merck & Co.'s antiviral drug molnupiravir will be available to Philippine patients after the Food and Drug Administration issued a compassionate special permit for the drug and an agreement was signed between the Office of the Vice President of the Philippines and a local health care provider. (Philippine Daily Inquirer)
- COVID-19 pandemic in Singapore, COVID-19 pandemic in Malaysia, Travel during the COVID-19 pandemic
- Singapore and Malaysia agree to the opening of a second quarantine-free vaccinated travel lane through the Johor–Singapore Causeway beginning on November 29 using designated bus lanes, which will mark the reopening of the land border between the two countries. (CNA)
- COVID-19 pandemic in South Korea
- South Korea reports a record 4,116 new cases of COVID-19 in the past 24 hours, thereby bringing the nationwide total of confirmed cases to 425,065. (CNA)
- COVID-19 pandemic in the Philippines, COVID-19 drug development
- COVID-19 pandemic in Canada, COVID-19 vaccination in Canada
- Health Canada grants full approval for the Janssen COVID-19 vaccine, making Canada the first country to fully approve the single-dose vaccine. (The Hill)
- COVID-19 pandemic in Europe
International relations
- Ethiopia–Ireland relations
- The Irish Department of Foreign Affairs advises all Irish citizens to leave Ethiopia immediately, due to the ongoing conflict. (RTÉ)
Law and crime
- 2015–present Polish constitutional crisis
- 2015 Polish Constitutional Court crisis
- In response to the ruling of the European Court of Human Rights in Xero Flor w Polsce sp. z o.o. v. Poland, which found that the business was denied the right to fair trial because a judge of the Tribunal was appointed illegally, the Constitutional Tribunal declares that it is not a court within the meaning of Article 6 of the European Convention on Human Rights and rules that the ECHR did not have the right to control the validity of appointments of the Tribunal's judges. (Reuters)
- 2015 Polish Constitutional Court crisis
- Murder of Ahmaud Arbery
- The three men who killed Ahmaud Arbery in Brunswick, Georgia, United States, in February 2020 are found guilty of murder and aggravated assault. (BBC News)
- 2021 Solomon Islands unrest
- Protesters take to the streets in Honiara, Solomon Islands, calling for the resignation of incumbent prime minister Manasseh Sogavare. A building within the Parliament complex is set on fire as protesters engage in looting and arson while law enforcement personnel fire tear gas into crowds. (RNZ) (RNZ)
- Two allies of Russian opposition leader and activist Alexei Navalny leave Russia, becoming the latest people to do so after many of Navalny's allies left the country in September. The two people are identified as a woman who helped Navalny represent his organization and a lawyer who said that he was under pressure. (Reuters)
- Australia designates the Lebanese Shia militant group Hezbollah and the neo-Nazi paramilitary group The Base as terrorist organisations. (The Guardian)
Politics and elections
- Aftermath of the 2021 German federal election
- The Social Democratic Party of Germany, the Free Democratic Party of Germany, and Alliance 90/The Greens agree to a "traffic light coalition" to form the next government with Olaf Scholz of the SPD as the next Chancellor, succeeding Angela Merkel. The government will be formally elected by the Bundestag in early December. (Politico)
- Sweden's Riksdag votes for Social Democrat leader Magdalena Andersson to become the first female prime minister of Sweden. However, Andersson resigned several hours later, after the Green Party quit the coalition. The Greens quit the coalition after the opposition budget was approved by the Riksdag. (Radio Sweden) (Reuters)