Portal:Current events
Topics in the news
- Siaosi Sovaleni (pictured) is elected as prime minister by the Legislative Assembly of Tonga.
- A fuel tanker truck explodes in Cap-Haïtien, Haiti, killing at least 75 people.
- In Canadian football, the Winnipeg Blue Bombers defeat the Hamilton Tiger-Cats to win the Grey Cup.
- In motor racing, Max Verstappen wins the Formula One World Championship, while Mercedes win the constructors' title.
Armed conflicts and attacks
- War in Donbas
- A Ukrainian soldier is killed and another is injured after pro-Russian separatist forces targeted Ukrainian positions near Mariupol with rocket-propelled grenades and mortars. (The Guardian)
Disasters and accidents
- Typhoon Rai
- Four people in Negros Occidental and three more in Surigao del Norte are killed as Typhoon Rai barrels across Philippines, causing also severe damage. (Al Jazeera)
- Eight people are dead and many more are injured during severe floods in Erbil, Kurdistan Region, Iraq. (Al Jazeera)
Health and environment
- COVID-19 pandemic
- COVID-19 pandemic in France, COVID-19 vaccination in France
- The French National Consultation Ethical Commitee approves the administration of the COVID-19 vaccine for children ages between 5 to 11 years. (Reuters)
- COVID-19 pandemic in Mongolia
- Mongolia reports zero COVID-19 deaths in the single-day for the first time since April 4, bringing the nationwide death toll unchanged at 1,968. (Manila Bulletin)
- COVID-19 pandemic in France, COVID-19 vaccination in France
Law and crime
- 2021 Osaka building fire
- At least 27 people are feared dead and another person is injured after a fire breaks out in a building in downtown Osaka, Japan. Arson is suspected. (BBC News)
- Facebook exposes a group of spy firmware that could affect the private security of over 50,000 people. (The Times of India)
Politics and elections
- Helen Morgan of the Liberal Democrats wins North Shropshire, a seat in the British House of Commons which the Conservative Party has held for nearly 200 years. (BBC News)
Armed conflicts and attacks
- Syrian civil war
- Iran–Israel conflict during the Syrian civil war, Israel's role in the Syrian civil war
- Israeli warplanes launch overnight airstrikes in Damascus, killing a soldier and causing some material damage, according to a Syrian military official. Syrian air defences engaged the Israeli missiles, with most warplanes reportedly intercepted. (The Times of Israel)
- Operation Shader
- The United Kingdom's Ministry of Defence says a Royal Air Force Typhoon has shot down a "small hostile drone" over Syria. It is the first enemy aircraft shot down by the RAF since 1948 (BBC News)
- Iran–Israel conflict during the Syrian civil war, Israel's role in the Syrian civil war
Disasters and accidents
- Typhoon Rai
- Thousands of people are evacuated from their homes in central and southern Philippines as Typhoon Rai, described as one of the strongest storms of the year, begins to make landfall in mid-eastern parts of the country, with warnings of very destructive typhoon-force winds. (Al Jazeera)
- Five children are killed and four others are injured after falling from an inflatable castle that was blown into the air in Devonport, Tasmania, Australia. (ABC News Australia)
Health and environment
- COVID-19 pandemic
- COVID-19 pandemic in Asia
- COVID-19 pandemic in Indonesia
- Indonesia reports its first case of the SARS-CoV-2 Omicron variant in an hospital cleaning employee at the Kemayoran Athletes Village in Jakarta with no overseas travel history. (The Independent)
- COVID-19 pandemic in Japan, COVID-19 vaccination in Japan
- Japan officially approves the usage of the Moderna COVID-19 vaccine as a booster dose for people over the age of 18 years. This comes after health ministry experts recommended the vaccine yesterday. (CNA)
- COVID-19 pandemic in Malaysia
- The Malaysian government announces that due to the threat of the Omicron variant, there will be a ban on all large-scale Christmas and New Year's Eve celebrations. The government will also require people over the age of 60 as well as adults who received the Sinovac Coronavac vaccine to receive a booster dose before February in order to maintain their full vaccination status. (Malay Mail)
- COVID-19 pandemic in the State of Palestine
- The Palestinian Authority reports its first cases of the Omicron variant in three people from different cities in the West Bank who travelled abroad. (AP)
- COVID-19 pandemic in Indonesia
- COVID-19 pandemic in Europe
- COVID-19 pandemic in Denmark
- COVID-19 drug development
- The Danish Health Authority approves the usage of the Molnupiravir antiviral pill developed by Merck & Co. for at-risk patients with symptoms, becoming the first EU country to authorize the usage of this drug. (NDTV)
- Denmark reports a record 9,999 new cases of COVID-19 in the past 24 hours. (CPH Post)
- COVID-19 drug development
- COVID-19 pandemic in Germany, COVID-19 vaccination in Germany
- Germany administers a record 1.5 million doses of the COVID-19 vaccine in the past 24 hours. (The Guardian)
- COVID-19 pandemic in Italy, Travel during the COVID-19 pandemic
- Italy imposes mandatory COVID-19 testing for all travellers from European Union countries and mandates a five-day quarantine on arrival for those who are unvaccinated due to an increase in the number of COVID-19 cases and the spread of the Omicron variant in Europe. (Bloomberg)
- COVID-19 pandemic in Poland
- Poland reports its first case of the Omicron variant in a 30-year-old Mosotho woman who is currently in isolation in a hospital in Katowice. (The First News)
- COVID-19 pandemic in the United Kingdom
- The United Kingdom reports a record for the second consecutive day of 88,376 new cases of COVID-19. (BBC News)
- COVID-19 pandemic in Denmark
- COVID-19 pandemic in Malawi
- Malawi announces that public service workers, healthcare workers and journalists will be required to be vaccinated against COVID-19 beginning on December 20 amid an increase in the number of COVID-19 infections. (Reuters)
- COVID-19 pandemic in New Zealand
- New Zealand reports its first case of the Omicron variant in a fully vaccinated person who travelled from Germany and is currently isolated at a managed isolation quarantine facility in Christchurch. (New Zealand Herald)
- History of COVID-19 vaccine development
- The WHO issues interim recommendations for mixing and matching COVID-19 vaccine for second and booster shot, where mRNA-based vaccines can be used as subsequent doses after initial doses of the Oxford-AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine and vice-versa, while these vaccines can be used after initial doses of Sinopharm's inactived vaccine. (Reuters)
- COVID-19 pandemic in Asia
Politics and elections
- Caretaker Prime Minister of the Netherlands Mark Rutte is appointed as formateur and tasked with forming a new coalition government following the conclusion of the 2021 cabinet formation. (Politico)
Armed conflicts and attacks
- 2020–2021 Ethiopian–Sudanese clashes
- The Sudanese Armed Forces announces that they are in "full control" of the disputed Al Fushqa District after clashing with Ethiopian forces in the border region. (Africa News)
Disasters and accidents
- A boat carrying Indonesian migrants capsizes off the southern coast of Malaysia, killing 11 people and leaving 25 others missing. (Al Jazeera)
- A privately-owned Gulfstream GIVSP jet crashes near Santo Domingo in the Dominican Republic, killing all nine people onboard, including Puerto Rican music producer Flow La Movie. (Reuters)
- A fire occurs at the World Trade Centre Hong Kong, injuring 13 people and leaving 300 others trapped within the building. (Al Jazeera)
Health and environment
- COVID-19 pandemic
- COVID-19 pandemic in Europe
- COVID-19 pandemic in Denmark
- Mary, Crown Princess of Denmark tests positive for COVID-19. (7 News)
- COVID-19 pandemic in France, COVID-19 vaccination in France
- France begins to require people aged above 65 years to receive a COVID-19 vaccine booster dose or lose their Health Pass validity status unless they show proof of a negative test in the previous 24 hours. The requirement will be extended to all age groups from January 15. (France 24)
- COVID-19 pandemic in Hungary, COVID-19 vaccination in Hungary
- Hungary begins administering the COVID-19 vaccine for children between the ages of 5 and 11 years using the Pfizer–BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine. (Hungary Today)
- COVID-19 pandemic in Slovenia
- Slovenia reports its first cases of the Omicron variant in four samples from people in the Ljubljana region who tested positive between November 29 and December 6. (See News)
- COVID-19 pandemic in the United Kingdom
- COVID-19 pandemic in England, COVID passports in the United Kingdom
- The NHS COVID pass begins to be implemented in England as a precondition in order to enter nightclubs, indoor events with more than 500 people, outdoor events with more than 4,000 people, and all events with more than 10,000 people as part of "Plan B" measures that are intended to reduce the spread of the SARS-CoV-2 Omicron variant. (ITV News)
- The United Kingdom reports a record 78,610 new cases of COVID-19 in the past 24 hours. (BBC News)
- COVID-19 pandemic in England, COVID passports in the United Kingdom
- European Union response to the COVID-19 pandemic
- The European Medicines Agency recommends that adults over the age of 18 years who received the Janssen COVID-19 vaccine should get a booster dose two months after receiving their first dose of the vaccine. (The Times of India)
- COVID-19 pandemic in Denmark
- COVID-19 pandemic in Asia
- COVID-19 pandemic in Cambodia
- COVID-19 pandemic in the Philippines
- The Philippines reports its first two imported cases of the Omicron variant in an overseas Filipino who travelled from Japan on December 1 and a Nigerian national who arrived in the country on November 30. (Rappler)
- COVID-19 pandemic in South Korea
- South Korea reports a record 7,850 new cases of COVID-19 in the past 24 hours, thereby bringing the nationwide total of confirmed cases to 536,495. (Yonhap News Agency)
- COVID-19 pandemic in Oceania
- COVID-19 pandemic in New Zealand
- COVID-19 vaccination in New Zealand
- The number of people who are fully vaccinated against COVID-19 in New Zealand surpasses 90%. (Stuff)
- Auckland reopens its domestic borders to travellers who are vaccinated or who have tested negative in the previous 72 hours after closing its borders for four months due to an outbreak of the Delta variant. (RNZ)
- COVID-19 vaccination in New Zealand
- COVID-19 pandemic in Australia
- Australia reopens its borders to vaccinated skilled migrants and foreign students without an exemption, after a closure of more than 18 months due to the pandemic, despite the worldwide spread of the Omicron variant. (ABC News Australia)
- COVID-19 pandemic in New Zealand
- COVID-19 pandemic in Africa
- COVID-19 pandemic in Kenya
- Kenya reports its first three cases of the Omicron variant. (Anadolu Agency)
- COVID-19 pandemic in Rwanda
- Rwanda reports its first six cases of the Omicron variant in a group of travellers and their contacts, prompting the government to close all nightclubs and extend the quarantine for international travellers to three days. (MedicalXpress)
- COVID-19 pandemic in Kenya
- COVID-19 pandemic in the United States
- COVID-19 pandemic in California
- California reimposes its indoor mask mandate due to fears of the spread of the Omicron variant. The mandate will last until at least January 15. (The New York Times)
- COVID-19 pandemic in California
- COVID-19 pandemic in Europe
Law and crime
- Cannabis in Malta
- Malta legalizes the personal use and limited cultivation of cannabis, becoming the first country in the European Union to do so. (Reuters)
- One person is killed, eleven others are injured and more people are unaccounted for after an arson attack at a four-storey block of flats in Reading, England. A suspect has been arrested. (BBC News)
- A court in Hanoi, Vietnam, sentences two Facebook users to lengthy jail sentences for "conducting propaganda against the state". One man was sentenced to 10 years in prison and five years of house arrest while another man was given a six-year prison term and three years of house arrest. (Reuters)
- David Fuller, a double murderer who sexually abused the corpses of more than 100 women, is sentenced to a whole life tariff. (BBC News)
Politics and elections
- Siaosi Sovaleni becomes prime minister-designate of Tonga. (RNZ)
Armed conflicts and attacks
- Colombian conflict
- Two explosions at Camilo Daza International Airport in Cúcuta kill two law enforcement officials and one of the perpetrators. (Yahoo! News)
Disasters and accidents
- Cap-Haïtien fuel tanker explosion
- At least 62 people are killed and more than 100 others injured when a fuel tanker explodes in Cap-Haïtien, Haiti. (BBC News)
Health and environment
- COVID-19 pandemic
- COVID-19 pandemic in Asia
- COVID-19 pandemic in Indonesia, COVID-19 vaccination in Indonesia
- Indonesia begins administering the COVID-19 vaccine for children between the ages of 6 and 11 years, with 100 children receiving the Sinovac Coronavac vaccine. (The Straits Times)
- COVID-19 pandemic in South Korea
- South Korea reports a record 94 deaths from COVID-19 in the past 24 hours, thereby bringing the nationwide death toll to 4,387. (Yonhap News Agency)
- COVID-19 pandemic in Indonesia, COVID-19 vaccination in Indonesia
- COVID-19 pandemic in Europe
- COVID-19 pandemic in Italy
- The Italian Council of Ministers approves the extension of the COVID-19 state of emergency until March 31 and also rules that travellers from other EU countries must present a negative swab test prior to departure due to the spread of the SARS-CoV-2 Omicron variant. (Thomson Reuters Foundation)
- COVID-19 pandemic in the Netherlands
- Caretaker Prime Minister Mark Rutte announces that primary schools will be closed on December 20 and that existing restrictions requiring bars, restaurants, and non-essential shops to close at 5 pm have been extended until January 14 due to concerns over the spread of the Omicron variant. (Barron's)
- COVID-19 pandemic in Italy
- COVID-19 pandemic in the United States
- The United States surpasses 800,000 deaths from COVID-19, remaining the highest death toll in the world. (NPR)
- COVID-19 drug development
- The final results of a trial of Paxlovid conducted by Pfizer shows 89% cut of risk of hospitalization and death in high-risk patients and is likely to work against the Omicron variant. (Financial Times)
- COVID-19 pandemic in Asia
Law and crime
- 2021 Colombian protests
- A United Nations investigation into the 2021 Colombian protests found that the National Police of Colombia resorted to acts of police brutality that resulted in the massacre of 11 civilians. (CNN)
- COVID-19 pandemic in the United Kingdom
- The House of Commons votes to approve "Plan B" measures that include the extension of the indoor mask mandate, vaccine passports, and mandating COVID-19 vaccines for NHS workers in England, despite large opposition from Boris Johnson's own Conservative Party. (Euronews)
- Indictment and arrest of Julian Assange
- Australian Deputy Prime Minister and National Party Leader Barnaby Joyce and a small group of Liberal Party backbenchers join the Labor Party in criticising the Liberal-National Coalition Morrison Government's inaction on the United Kingdom's imminent extradition of Australian publisher Julian Assange to the United States, arguing that Assange has not broken any Australian laws. (The Guardian)
- A court in Minsk, Belarus, sentences opposition activist Sergei Tikhanovsky to 18 years in prison for several charges, including organising riots, following what was widely described as a "sham trial". Tikhanovsky's wife, Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya, left Belarus amid the protests that occurred in the country in 2020. (BBC News)
- Ugandan politician Bobi Wine is placed under house arrest in Magere, Wakiso District. (The EastAfrican)
Science and technology
- Living With a Star
- Scientists announce that NASA's Parker Solar Probe became the first ever spacecraft to enter the stellar corona of the Sun during a flyby in April. (The Guardian)
Armed conflicts and attacks
- 2021 Democratic Republic of the Congo attacks; Allied Democratic Forces insurgency
- Congolese president Félix Tshisekedi assures his country that the presence of Ugandan troops in the DRC is only to prevent the ongoing insurgency by the Allied Democratic Forces. The president says that Uganda's intervention will be temporary. (Reuters)
- Kashmir conflict
- Three policemen are killed and 11 others injured as Jaish-e-Mohammed gunmen open fire against a bus carrying Indian security forces in Srinagar, Jammu and Kashmir. (BBC News)
- One-hundred and six members of a Ukrainian "neo-Nazi" youth group are arrested in Russia, suspected of planning attacks, including mass murders. Russia has accused Ukrainian intelligence of financially funding the group. Ukraine alleges that the arrests and subsequent Russian media reporting are staged as part of Russian intelligence measures. (Reuters)
Arts and culture
- Miss Universe 2021
- Harnaaz Sandhu of India is crowned Miss Universe in Eilat, Israel. (CNN)
Disasters and accidents
- Tornado outbreak of December 10–11, 2021
- The death toll from the tornado outbreak in Kentucky, United States, increases to 74, making it the second deadliest tornado outbreak to occur in the state. Fourteen people are also killed in other U.S. states, with some towns being completely destroyed. (BBC News)
- A vehicle carrying migrants crashes while trying avoid a police check in Mórahalom, Hungary, killing seven people and wounding four more. The Serbian driver has been arrested. (BBC)
Health and environment
- COVID-19 pandemic
- COVID-19 pandemic in Europe
- COVID-19 pandemic in Cyprus
- Cyprus announces the approval of the COVID-19 vaccine administered for children ages 5 to 11 years and also allowing adults to receive booster dose two weeks sooner than six months after their second dose in order to curb the rise of COVID-19 cases following the first case of the SARS-CoV-2 Omicron variant. (AP)
- COVID-19 pandemic in Hungary
- Hungary reports its first two cases of the Omicron variant, which was first detected in South Africa. (Anadolu Agency)
- COVID-19 pandemic in Norway
- The Norwegian government announces that alcohol sales at bars and restaurants will be banned and stricter rules will be implemented at schools due to the spread of the Omicron variant. The government also announces that the COVID-19 vaccine booster dose interval has been reduced to 4.5 months and that the military will assist with the booster dose campaign. (The Local Norway)
- COVID-19 pandemic in the United Kingdom
- Prime Minister Boris Johnson announces that at least one person in the UK has died after testing positive for the Omicron variant. (BBC News)
- COVID-19 pandemic in Cyprus
- COVID-19 pandemic in Asia
- COVID-19 pandemic in mainland China
- COVID-19 pandemic in Pakistan
- Pakistan reports its first confirmed case of the Omicron variant in a 57-year-old unvaccinated woman from Karachi. (The Express Tribune)
- COVID-19 pandemic in Australia
- The Australian state of Queensland reopens its land borders with New South Wales and Victoria to vaccinated domestic travellers. (The Guardian)
- COVID-19 pandemic in the United States
- COVID-19 pandemic in Pennsylvania
- COVID-19 pandemic in Philadelphia
- Philadelphia imposes a vaccine mandate for indoor activities such as dining, cinemas, and at the Wells Fargo Center for a 76ers or Flyers game. (The Philadelphia Inquirer)
- COVID-19 pandemic in Philadelphia
- COVID-19 pandemic in New York (state)
- New York state reimposes a mandatory indoor mask mandate for businesses that haven't implemented a vaccination requirement amid threats of the COVID-19 surge and the Omicron variant in winter. (The New York Times)
- The United States surpasses 50 million cases of COVID-19. (The Hill)
- COVID-19 pandemic in Pennsylvania
- COVID-19 pandemic in Europe
International relations
- Israel–United Arab Emirates relations
- Israeli Prime Minister Naftali Bennett enters the Presidential Palace of the United Arab Emirates on his first official visit to the country. (NBC News)
- South Africa–Zimbabwe relations
- South Africa cancels a plan to forcibly deport 200,000 Zimbabweans from the country amid an outcry and concerns over perceived xenophobia and human rights abuses. (Bloomberg)
Law and crime
- Eight people are injured as a teenager detonates an improvised explosive device, in an attempt to blow himself up, at a Russian Orthodox school near a convent in Serpukhov, Russia. The perpetrator is identified as a student at the school, and is currently hospitalised in critical condition. (BBC News)
Sports
- Impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on sports
- 2021 NFL season
- The National Football League reports their first case of the Omicron variant in a Washington Football Team staffer. Additionally, 36 players tested positive for COVID-19 throughout the NFL. (WRC-TV) (NFL.com)
- 2021 NFL season
Armed conflicts and attacks
- Somali Civil War
- Four Burundian soldiers are killed as their vehicle hit a roadside bomb in Burane, Somalia. Al-Shabaab has claimed responsibility for the attack. (All Africa)
- Three Hamas members are killed and six more injured during a dispute with Fatah gunmen in Tyre, Lebanon, at the funeral of a Hamas member killed two days ago during an accidental explosion at the Burj el-Shemali camp. (Al Jazeera)
Health and environment
- COVID-19 pandemic
- COVID-19 pandemic in Europe
- COVID-19 pandemic in Austria
- Austria ends its nationwide lockdown for people who are vaccinated or who have recovered from COVID-19 as the number of new cases decreases. There will now be an 11 pm curfew for restaurants and people must use an FFP2 mask on public transport and in indoor spaces. (Euronews)
- COVID-19 pandemic in Russia
- COVID-19 pandemic in the United Kingdom
- The United Kingdom raises its COVID-19 Alert level to Level 3 due to the rapid spread of the SARS-CoV-2 Omicron variant, which has resulted in 3,137 cases. (France 24)
- COVID-19 pandemic in Austria
- COVID-19 pandemic in South Africa
- President Cyril Ramaphosa tests positive for COVID-19 with mild symptoms. (CNN)
- COVID-19 pandemic in Europe
Law and crime
- 2021 Banco de Oro hack
- The Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas, the Philippines' central bank, issues a statement that it is currently monitoring an increase in complaints on social media regarding Banco de Oro clients losing money and having their accounts hacked. (Reuters)
Politics and elections
- 2021 New Caledonian independence referendum
- Citizens in New Caledonia vote against independence and choose to remain part of France. Pro-independence parties boycotted the referendum in order to protest the alleged lack of time to campaign. (RNZ)
Sports
Armed conflicts and attacks
- 2019–2021 Persian Gulf crisis, Iran–Israel proxy conflict
- Israeli Defense Minister Benny Gantz says he has instructed the Israel Defense Forces to prepare military options for potential use against Iran, that the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action yielded "no progress", and that world powers "understand that the Iranians are playing games". (Haaretz)
- The Gulf Cooperation Council calls for Iran to take action to salvage the nuclear deal and proposes to take part in the talks as a regional power. (Reuters)
Disasters and accidents
- Tornado outbreak of December 10–11, 2021
- The death toll from the tornado outbreak in Kentucky, United States, increases to 70 and will likely continue to increase as more bodies are counted, according to a statement from Governor Andy Beshear. (AP)
- 2021 Ravanusa explosion
- Storm Barra
Health and environment
- COVID-19 pandemic
- COVID-19 pandemic in Asia
- COVID-19 pandemic in Bangladesh
- Bangladesh reports its first cases of the SARS-CoV-2 Omicron variant in two female cricketers of the Bangladesh Cricket Team who travelled from Zimbabwe. (Asian News International)
- COVID-19 pandemic in South Korea
- South Korea reports a record 80 deaths from COVID-19 in the past 24 hours, thereby bringing the nationwide death toll to 4,210. (The Korea Herald)
- COVID-19 pandemic in Taiwan
- Taiwan reports its first cases of the SARS-CoV-2 Omicron variant in three people who travelled from the United Kingdom, Eswatini, and the United States. (Reuters)
- COVID-19 pandemic in Bangladesh
- COVID-19 pandemic in Europe
- COVID-19 pandemic in Malta
- Malta reimposes one of the EU's strictest mask mandates that requires people to wear masks outdoors, with fines of €50 to €100 for failure to comply. (Times of Malta)
- COVID-19 pandemic in Turkey
- Turkey reports its first six cases of the SARS-CoV-2 Omicron variant in five people from the province of Izmir and one person from Istanbul. (TRT World)
- COVID-19 pandemic in Malta
- COVID-19 pandemic in Argentina, COVID-19 pandemic in Uruguay
- At midnight, terrestrial transport between Argentina and Uruguay reopens as buses resume service to border crossings between the two countries. Both countries require a proof of vaccination or a negative COVID-19 test in order to board the buses and enter both countries. (Misiones Cuatro)
- COVID-19 pandemic in Mauritius
- Mauritius reports its first cases of the SARS-CoV-2 Omicron variant in two people who travelled from South Africa. (Daily Times)
- COVID-19 pandemic in Asia
Law and crime
- A court in Benin sentences opposition leader Reckya Madougou to 20 years in prison after finding her guilty of "financing terrorism". The case has been highly controversial, with a judge in the case fleeing to France and denouncing the case as "entirely politically motivated". (The Washington Post)
Sports
- MLS Cup 2021
- New York City FC defeats the Portland Timbers 4–2 in a penalty shoot-out, winning their first title. (ESPN)