to 5 a.m., and restricts the capacity of public transport, restaurants, funerals and weddings, due to an increase in the number of Omicron variant cases.
Portugal reports a record 17,172 new cases of COVID-19 in the past 24 hours, thereby bringing the nationwide total of confirmed cases to 1,303,291.
Ireland reports its first case of the Omicron variant in a person who recently travelled from southern Africa.
local government area in Western Australia
immunisation programme against COVID-19 in India
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.
ground warfare branch of Pakistan's military
A hospital, shops, and some residential buildings were also badly damaged.
Date: 16 March 2004 – present (18 years, 10 months, 1 week and 4 days)
Massive damage at the port is reported from the air raid with most of the port on fire, although there are no immediate reports of casualties from the attack.
The death toll from the eruption of the Semeru volcano in East Java, Indonesia, increases to 34.
details of ongoing viral outbreak in Greece
Venezuelan intelligence officials announce the death of Hernán Darío Hernández, the leader of a FARC dissident group, after an ambush carried out by a commando of the Venezuelan Armed Forces. Hernández was responsible for the 2003 El Nogal Club bombing that killed 36 people and injured over 200 others.
Zambia reports its first three cases of the SARS-CoV-2 Omicron variant in two citizens who travelled internationally and another citizen who had no travel history.
The Pakistani Minister of Finance announces that the country has received a $3 billion (11.3B SAR, ₨.530B) one-year loan from Saudi Arabia.
Greece reports a record for the third consecutive day of 28,828 new cases of COVID-19, thereby bringing the nationwide total of confirmed cases to 1,134,713.
The government announces a series of new restrictions, including closing restaurants at 10 p.m. beginning on December 27, discourage large-scale New Year's Eve celebrations, capacity restrictions of indoor and outdoor events, and imposing strict entry requirements for travellers from the UK, Denmark, Norway, and the Netherlands where the Omicron variant is already dominant in an effort to prevent the spread of COVID-19 and its variant.
Chinese property developer Evergrande Group misses a deadline for the payment of debt for the first time at the end of a 30-day grace period, pushing the property developer closer to formal default.
open demonstration of military power intended to warn or to intimidate an opponent
South and Southeast Asia, Western Asia, Northeast, East and Southern Africa and Australia
Western Australia will become the first state and territory to mandate a booster dose of the COVID-19 vaccine for essential, mining, and healthcare workers, due to the spread of the Omicron variant.
Political impact of the COVID-19 pandemic
Harnaaz Sandhu of India is crowned Miss Universe in Eilat, Israel.
Saudi Arabia grants the approval for people vaccinated with Russia's Sputnik V COVID-19 vaccine to enter the country beginning from January 1, 2022 in a move that will enable Muslims to take part in religious pilgrimage.
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.
President Cyril Ramaphosa tests positive for COVID-19 with mild symptoms.
Date: 15 December 2020 – 1 December 2022 (1 year, 11 months, 2 weeks and 2 days)
Two soldiers are killed and others are wounded during an attack at a security post by Islamic extremists in Porga, Benin. It is the second confirmed Islamic extremist attack in the country's history.
Arab ethnic group who mostly adhere to Islam
A senior Biden administration official says that the U.S. is "prepared to discuss Russia's proposals" with its NATO allies, but says that "there are some things in those documents that the Russians know will be unacceptable."
The Health ministry recommends that Israelis over the age of 60 years and healthcare workers should receive a fourth dose of the COVID-19 vaccine, becoming the world's first country to administer a fourth dose of the vaccine.
COVID-19 pandemic in the Dominican Republic
The United Kingdom reports a record for the third consecutive day of 189,213 new cases of COVID-19.
Greece reports a record for the fourth consecutive day of 40,560 new cases of COVID-19, bringing the nationwide total of confirmed cases to 1,170,293.
details of ongoing viral outbreak in Mexico
Thailand reports its first domestic cluster of the SARS-CoV-2 Omicron variant in 21 people from Kalasin province. The outbreak originated in a couple who travelled from Belgium earlier this month.
Statutory Town in Boulder and Jefferson counties in the U.S. state of Colorado
Assange's fiancée says that they will appeal the decision "at the earliest possible moment".
The Houthis launch a missile strike on the Saudi Arabian city of Jizan, killing two people and injuring seven more.
British Prime Minister Boris Johnson announces new "Plan B" restrictions that include working from home for those who can beginning on December 13, and an extension of mandatory face mask wearing to more indoor venues beginning on December 10.
A Chinese law enacted on 2300 HKT, June 30, 2020, only in Hong Kong, for Safeguarding National Security
The state also lately experiences unusually wet spells of weather.
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.
Fourteen people are also killed in other U.S. states, with some towns being completely destroyed.
Israeli Prime Minister Naftali Bennett and Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan of the United Arab Emirates discuss strengthening bilateral trade and cooperation in multiple areas, at the first meeting of the leaders of the two countries.
Italy reports a record for the fourth consecutive day of 144,243 new cases of COVID-19.
The death toll from the eruption of the Semeru volcano in Indonesia increases to 39.
Italy bans fur farming and orders all remaining mink farms to shut down by June 2022, while a ban on breeding animals for their fur becomes effective immediately.
Former Attorney-General of Australia Christian Porter announces he will retire from politics following sexual assault allegations published earlier in the year, and controversy surrounding his reliance on a blind trust in a legal battle against the Australian Broadcasting Corporation over their reporting of the allegations.
2021 New Caledonian independence referendum
Date: May 27, 1964 – present (58 years, 7 months, 4 weeks and 2 days)
elected leader illegally maintaining or increasing power
The South African Health Department suspends COVID-19 contact tracing and quarantine for people with asymptomatic cases due to 80% of the population being vaccinated or recovered from COVID-19.
Thirteen miners and a soldier are killed, with the soldier and seven miners being killed in a subsequent confrontation with angry locals.
The French Haute Autorité de santé [fr] recommends that booster doses of the COVID-19 vaccine can be administered as soon as three months after the primary vaccination schedule due to the spread of the SARS-CoV-2 Omicron variant.
Belarusian video blogger and dissident pro-democracy activist
The World Health Organization recommends that people who are immunocompromised or received an inactivated COVID-19 vaccine should get their COVID-19 booster dose due to reducement of vaccine effectiveness against virus variants.
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.
At least 39 people are killed and 100 others are injured after a ferry catches fire in Jhalakathi.
Armed cartel members break into a prison in Tula, Hidalgo using vehicles, detonating several car bombs. Nine inmates are freed, including a local drug lord. Two law enforcement officers are injured.
2018–2023 Turkish currency and debt crisis
COVID-19 viral pandemic in the Cook Islands
Ten oil workers are killed and another is injured during an ISIL attack on a bus in Deir ez-Zor, Syria.
Zambia reports a record 5,255 new cases of COVID-19 in the past 24 hours, thereby bringing the nationwide total of confirmed cases to 243,638.
Additionally, indoor services can only operate at 50% capacity and families can only have visitors from three other households.
Malta reports a record for the second consecutive day of 1,337 new cases of COVID-19, thereby bringing the nationwide total of confirmed cases to 49,625.
The Supreme Court of Russia orders the liquidation of human rights group Memorial for violating the Russian foreign agent law.
Militants attack a bus carrying civilians in Mopti Region, killing the driver, before setting it on fire and killing 31 passengers. The majority of the victims are women who were on their way to work at the local market.
Saudi Arabia reports its first case of the SARS-CoV-2 Omicron variant in a citizen who travelled from North Africa.
Prime Minister António Costa announces that nightclubs and bars will be closed and all people will work from home for at least two weeks beginning on December 25 in order to reduce the spread of COVID-19. There will also be capacity restrictions at shops and people will require a negative COVID-19 test in order to enter events.
The Ethiopian military says that they have recaptured the strategic Amharan towns of Dessie and Kombolcha from rebel forces.
Germany surpasses six million cases of COVID-19.
Clashes occur between the Taliban and Iran on the Afghanistan–Iran border after Iranian farmers crossed the border.
European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control
A senior Biden administration official says that the U.S.
religion originating in the Punjab region
Legal guidelines specific to England and Wales regarding imprisonment until death
National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases
Twelve people are killed as Typhoon Rai impacts the Philippines, causing severe damage.
Somalia-based cell of the militant Islamist group al-Qaeda
The Food and Drug Administration grants emergency use authorization for Merck & Co.'s antiviral COVID-19 oral pill named Molnupiravir for at-risk individuuals.
EastEnders actress Rose Ayling-Ellis becomes the first deaf person to win the BBC show after she and her professional partner Giovanni Pernice beat the show's first male same-sex couple containing TV chef John Whaite and his professional partner Johannes Radebe in the final.
head of state and government of Argentina
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.
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.
Breeding or raising animals for their fur
ideology and behavior considered as extreme in a pejorative sense
Israel's government agrees to ban all travel to Germany, Italy, Belgium, Hungary, Morocco, Portugal, Canada, Switzerland, Turkey, and the U.S. without special permission beginning on December 22 due to the spread of the SARS-CoV-2 Omicron variant.
Pro-democracy digital media website Stand News shuts down in Hong Kong as police raids its offices and arrest senior executives. The senior executives are later charged with sedition in the latest crackdown related to the national security law. The Hong Kong government says that the news site's assets have been frozen and that more arrests could occur.
international non-profit organization with HQ in Sweden which publishes secret information, by keeping sources anonymous
A suicide bomber blows himself up at a restaurant during Christmas celebrations in Beni, Democratic Republic of the Congo, killing five people and injuring 13 others.
North American professional sports league
Tunisia begins to implement the usage of a mandatory COVID-19 vaccination pass in order to enter cafés, state institutions, banks, and shopping centres despite popular opposition and criticism from Amnesty International.
Australia, Canada and the United Kingdom join a U.S.-led diplomatic boycott of the upcoming Winter Olympic Games in Beijing citing China's human rights abuses in the Xinjiang region and Beijing's ongoing freeze on ministerial contact with Canberra.
Dozens of people are missing following a landslide at a jade mine in Hpakant, Kachin State.
Boura was involved in the killings of six French aid workers and their two Nigerien guides in a mass shooting in August 2020 in Kouré, Niger.
Spain reports for the first time more than 100,000 cases of COVID-19 in one day.
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.
bilateral relations between Ukraine and Israel
Turkmenistan becomes one of the first countries to approve the usage of the single-dose Sputnik Light COVID-19 vaccine. The health ministry also purchases 600,000 doses of the two-dose Sputnik V COVID-19 vaccine.
details of ongoing viral pandemic in South Australia
Two deaths are reported in Navarre due to flooding in northern Spain.
Japan begins administering booster doses of the COVID-19 vaccine to healthcare workers amid growing concerns over the Omicron variant that has already been detected in the country.
Iran–Israel conflict during the Syrian civil war
present phase of the Somali Civil War, concentrated in southern Somalia
British politician, Mayor of London (born 1970)
A boat carrying Indonesian migrants capsizes off the southern coast of Malaysia, killing 11 people and leaving 25 others missing.
Japan reports its first locally transmitted cases of the Omicron variant in three people from Osaka Prefecture with no international travel history.
The Sheba Medical Center near Tel Aviv, Israel, begins the world's first clinical trial of fourth doses of the COVID-19 vaccine, involving 150 medical personnel, in order to determine if a fourth dose can provide extra immunity against COVID-19.
South Korea reports a record 5,352 new cases and 70 deaths from COVID-19 in the past 24 hours, thereby bringing the nationwide total of confirmed cases to 467,907 and the nationwide death toll to 3,809.
An investigation by the BBC discovers that a massacre of 40 civilians took place in July, in Kani Township, a People's Defence Force stronghold in Sagaing Region.
Lebanese Shia Islamist political party and militant group
The global version of video game digital distribution service Steam is reportedly blocked in China. The China-only version of the service, launched in February of this year, remains accessible.
Zimbabwe announces a nine-hour curfew and compulsory 14-day quarantine for anyone arriving in the country, to prevent the spread of the Omicron variant, becoming the first country in southern Africa to enact such restrictions.
Hong Kong mandates usage of its COVID-19 tracing app for all adults under the age of 65. The app logs a person's presence at 18 types of premises, including bars and restaurants, and enables tracing of infections if an outbreak is reported.
Paraguay reports its first cases of the SARS-CoV-2 Omicron variant in three people who travelled outside the country earlier this month.
Gunmen open fire on a car carrying settlers near the outpost of Homesh, in the occupied West Bank, killing one person and wounding two more.
A child dies in hospital three days after an inflatable castle was lifted into the air in Devonport, Tasmania, Australia, bringing the death toll from the accident to six.
Videos on social media show multiple large explosions and anti-aircraft fire over the city.
highly contested topic especially for the fundamental human rights
2014 unmanned combat aerial vehicle by Baykar
Armed wing of National Unity Government of Myanmar
Four soldiers and two militants are killed during gunfights between the Pakistan Army and the Tehrik-i-Taliban Pakistan in Mir Ali, North Waziristan.
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.
ongoing COVID-19 viral pandemic in Australia
most populous city in the United States of America
2021 Democratic Republic of the Congo attacks
California reimposes its indoor mask mandate due to fears of the spread of the Omicron variant.
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.
France reports a record for the second consecutive day of 208,099 new cases of COVID-19, which is also the highest daily total recorded in any European nation since the beginning of the pandemic.
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 an RAF pilot since the Falklands War.
artillery weapon that launches explosive projectiles at high angles
Nine inmates are freed, including a local drug lord.
Prime Minister Alexander De Croo announces that, due to the spread of the Omicron variant, water parks, cinemas, theatres and concert halls will be closed, and all indoor events and outdoor events using a tent will be banned.
extraction of valuable minerals or other geological materials from the earth
Cuba reports its first case of the SARS-CoV-2 Omicron variant in a person who travelled from Mozambique.
bilateral relations between Turkey and Morocco
California Governor Gavin Newsom announces that healthcare workers will be required to receive a COVID-19 vaccine booster dose in order to keep their "fully vaccinated" status, becoming the second state to impose such mandate.
South Australia reports a record 744 new cases of COVID-19 in the past 24 hours, thereby bringing the statewide total of confirmed cases to 4,324.
The Danish government announces that schoolchildren will be sent home early from December 15 and nightlife establishments will close on December 10 due to persistently high number of COVID-19 cases.
A Russian law requiring foreign travellers and migrant workers to undergo mandatory medical checks, including blood tests and X-rays, and submit fingerprints and biometric data enters into force.
Japan officially approves the usage of the Moderna COVID-19 vaccine as a booster dose for people over the age of 18 years.
Portugal begins administering COVID-19 vaccines for children between the ages of 5 and 11 years.
details of ongoing viral pandemic in Malta
COVID-19 managed isolation in New Zealand
managed isolation in New Zealand for COVID-19
Italy reports a record for the third consecutive day of 126,888 new cases of COVID-19, bringing the nationwide total of confirmed cases to 5.98 million.
Cambodia surpasses 3,000 deaths from COVID-19.
military tactics to attack the enemy by surprise
Vaccine passports during the COVID-19 pandemic
an immunity passport used to prove that one has received a COVID-19 vaccination
chief executive body and the government of the Kingdom of Denmark since 1848
Prime Minister Manasseh Sogavare survives a no-confidence vote in the National Parliament after his management of the riots.
capital and largest city of the United Kingdom
Former Gambian President Yahya Jammeh is accused of numerous different crimes, including rape, torture, mass murder, and killing journalists by the Truth, Reconciliation and Reparations Commission.
Brazil, Denmark, Latvia, Poland, Slovakia, the United Kingdom and the United States issue a joint condemnation of the worldwide persecution of Jehovah's Witnesses.
COVID-19 pandemic by country and territory
details regarding the COVID-19 pandemic by country and territory
President Alberto Fernández receives a COVID-19 vaccine booster dose.
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 the city of Katowice.
mRNA vaccine against COVID-19 from BioNTech in cooperation with Pfizer
At least 29 people, mostly schoolchildren, drown after an overloaded boat capsizes in Bagwai, Kano State, Nigeria.
Canada ends a travel ban on many African nations, including Nigeria and South Africa.
The Aleutian Islands and island communities in West Alaska have seen abnormally high temperatures since mid-December, including eight straight days of over 10 °C (50 °F) in Unalaska, including 13.3 °C (55.9 °F) on Christmas Day, the warmest Christmas temperature on record for the state.
The Philippine Food and Drug Administration approves the emergency use of the Molnupiravir drug made by Merck & Co. for high-risk adult patients and also approves the use of the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine for children between the ages of 5 and 11 years.
violent public disturbance against authority, property or people
Chief of Defence Staff Bipin Rawat and 12 other people are killed when their Indian Air Force Mi-17V-5 crashes near Coonoor, Tamil Nadu, while flying from Sulur Air Force Station to Wellington. Another person was injured.
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.
Vaccination rollout for this age group will begin on December 15.
Syrian state media reports that Israel has bombed the Port of Latakia. If this is confirmed by the IDF, it would be the second airstrike on the facility this month. Secondary explosions are believed to be from Iranian munitions stored at the facility.
Tunisia reports its first case of the SARS-CoV-2 Omicron variant in a Congolese man who travelled from Istanbul.
Pentagon Press Secretary John Kirby says a small Department of Defense team has returned from Ukraine after assessing the country's air defences.
The government announces that it will begin increasing the legal age by one year for purchasing tobacco every year beginning in 2025, effectively preventing future generations from legally purchasing tobacco products. The plan also involves decreasing the nicotine content of tobacco, limiting licenses for the sale of tobacco, and increasing funding for anti-addiction services. Electronic cigarettes, which are more popular among younger generations in New Zealand, will not be subject to the ban.
volcanic eruption in East Java, Indonesia
political alignment favoring traditional politics
ocean between Africa, Asia, Oceania and Antartica
Laos reports a record 1,645 new cases of COVID-19 in the past 24 hours, thereby bringing the nationwide total of confirmed cases to 86,148.
2019 coronavirus pandemic in mainland China
Brunei reports its first case of the SARS-CoV-2 Omicron variant in a person who travelled from the United Kingdom.
Australia reports a record 8,697 new cases of COVID-19 in the past 24 hours, surpassing the previous record set on December 22.
The provinces of Buenos Aires, Córdoba, Santa Fe, Río Negro and Santiago del Estero begin implementing the usage of a "sanitary pass" for large events.
Valentina Orellana-Peralta was sheltering with her mother and other patrons and was killed by an errant shot.
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.
head of the executive branch of New York City's government
The Philippines reports its first three locally transmitted cases of the SARS-CoV-2 Omicron variant.
Delhi enters Level 1 "Yellow alert" which closes cinemas, schools, colleges, and gyms, imposes a nighttime curfew from 10 p.m. to 5 a.m., and restricts the capacity of public transport, restaurants, funerals and weddings, due to an increase in the number of Omicron variant cases.
Sydney's St. Vincent's Hospital incorrectly issues premature negative COVID-19 test results to 1,395 people who had actually tested positive in the past 48 hours.
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.
ongoing coronavirus pandemic in England, United Kingdom
multi-purpose indoor arena located in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States
spread of SARS-CoV-2 infections in Poland in during the 2020 pandemic
The New Zealand Defence Force and Police travel to Honiara, Solomon Islands, in order to help stabilize the country and maintain peace after days of rioting, looting and unrest that killed three people.
Uganda reports its first seven cases of the SARS-CoV-2 Omicron variant in travellers from four countries.
sovereign state in Southern Europe situated on an archipelago in the Mediterranean Sea
The Supreme Court of the Philippines partially upholds provisions of the contentious Anti-Terrorism Act of 2020 while declaring unconstitutional the designation of terrorists on the request of foreign jurisdictions as well as the qualifier on harmful dissent.
Militants bomb two UN camps in Gao, with no fatalities.
overview of the procedure of elections in the United Kingdom
North Shropshire (UK Parliament constituency)
Parliamentary constituency in the United Kingdom, 1983 onwards
The Netherlands imposes strict lockdown measures that restrict visitors to two people, closes all non-essential shops, bars, and restaurants until January 14, and closes schools until January 9, due to an increase in COVID-19 cases caused by the SARS-CoV-2 Omicron variant.
Sri Lanka announces that it will require a proof of COVID-19 vaccination certificate for entry into public places beginning on January 1 in an attempt to reduce the number of COVID-19 cases.
Three members of the Islamic State are killed in Faqeerabad, Peshawar, during an operation by the Pakistani police.
Yas Marina Circuit, Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates
Additionally, shopping will only be allowed in pairs and professional and amateur sport events will be held without spectators.
October 2021 terrorist attacks in Uganda
A landowner and an earthmoving business each face 126 charges for the deaths of 70 koalas last year at a partially cleared tree plantation in Cape Bridgewater, Victoria, Australia.
mask made of common textiles worn over the mouth and nose
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.
French president Emmanuel Macron meets UAE crown prince Mohammed bin Zayed at Expo 2020 in Dubai.
The president says that Uganda's intervention will be temporary.
Metro Manila moves into Alert Level 3 from January 3 to 15 amid an increase in the number of COVID-19 cases and the detection of local cases of the SARS-CoV-2 Omicron variant.
The University of Hong Kong removes the Pillar of Shame overnight, a monument dedicated to the victims of the 1989 Tiananmen Square protests and massacre in China.
The French overseas territory of Martinique orders a nightly 8 p.m. curfew beginning tomorrow amid a worsening situation of the COVID-19 epidemic in the territory.
person who controls a sizable network of persons involved in the illegal drug trade
Six soldiers from Niger and Nigeria are killed and 16 others are wounded during a fight with ISWAP militants in the Lake Chad region of Borno State, Nigeria.
details of ongoing viral pandemic in Romania
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.
Israel reports its first confirmed death related to the SARS-CoV-2 Omicron variant in a man in his 60s with pre-existing health conditions who died at the Soroka Medical Center in Beersheba.
Hungary begins administering the COVID-19 vaccine for children between the ages of 5 and 11 years using the Pfizer–BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine.
Helen Morgan of the Liberal Democrats wins North Shropshire, a seat in the British House of Commons which the Conservative Party has held since the constituency's creation.
legal declaration or de facto acts by a government allowing assumption of extraordinary powers
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.
French president Emmanuel Macron meets UAE crown prince Mohammed bin Zayed at Expo 2020 in Dubai. The two men sign a major arms deal between the two nations.
Egypt reports its first three cases of the Omicron variant.
act of coercing or physically forcing a person to engage in sexual activity
Romania lifts its nighttime curfew and mandatory outdoor face mask policy, allows shops and restaurants to close at 10 p.m. and allows entry to non-essential venues for those with a negative COVID-19 test as the number of cases declines.
Three workers are killed and three other people are injured when two cranes collapse on a street in Turin, Piedmont, Italy.
Three inmates in Japan are executed by hanging, marking the first executions in the country in nearly two years. One inmate was the perpetrator of a 2004 mass stabbing in which he killed seven of his relatives.
It is announced that more than 85% of eligible Indians have been partially vaccinated, and that over 55% have received both doses.
individual who oversees and manages the recording of an artist's music
Gambians go to the polls to elect their president. Approximately 960,000 people are eligible to vote.
organization primarily tasked with preparing for and conducting war
Florida reports 75,900 cases of COVID-19, a new single-day record.
Jihadists kill six soldiers in Niger, resulting in the ensuing deaths of twenty-two of the attackers.
The United States and Japan approve a plan for a joint military operation in response to a possible "Taiwan emergency".
Denmark reports a record 9,999 new cases of COVID-19 in the past 24 hours.
part of the Mediterranean Sea, between the Greek mainland, the Turkish mainland, Crete, and Rhodes
Face masks during the COVID-19 pandemic in the United States
use of face coverings during the COVID-19 pandemic in the United States
At midnight, Argentina and Brazil reopen their borders for tourists with a mandatory proof of vaccination or a negative COVID-19 test.
last day of the year in the Gregorian calendar; 31 December
The Bundestag elects Olaf Scholz as the new Chancellor of Germany, replacing Angela Merkel after 16 years in office.
Karl Nehammer is sworn in as the new Chancellor of Austria after the resignation of Alexander Schallenberg on December 2.
Romania lifts its nighttime curfew and mandatory outdoor face mask policy, allows shops and restaurants to close at 10 p.m.
citizens or residents of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, British Overseas Territories, Crown Dependencies, and their descendants
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends that people as young as 16 years receive a booster dose of the COVID-19 vaccine.
Argentina surpasses 5.5 million cases of COVID-19 after reporting a record 42,032 new cases in the past 24 hours.
2021 United Nations Climate Change Conference
26th UN Climate Change conference held in Glasgow, Scotland
Economic impact of the COVID-19 pandemic
economic effects of the COVID-19 pandemic
Several patrons were injured by the suspect prior to officers' arrival.
species of marsupial native to Australia
France reports a record for the second consecutive day of 94,122 new cases of COVID-19.
ongoing COVID-19 viral pandemic in Kosovo
island sovereign state off of Africa in the Indian Ocean
The new rules will be mandatory for all 27 EU member states beginning on February 1.
Date: 16 December 2021 – 19 January 2022 (1 month and 3 days)
Thailand's Food and Drug Administration approves the usage of the Pfizer–BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine for children between the ages of 5 and 11 years.
Original inhabitants of the Adelaide area in South Australia
Jordan reports its first two cases of the SARS-CoV-2 Omicron variant in a citizen who had travelled from South Africa and another who had no travel history.
major armed conflict in the Darfur region of Sudan that began in February 2003
COVID-19 pandemic in the Republic of Ireland
2021 Belarus–European Union border crisis
The Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency approves the use of Pfizer's anti-viral oral drug Paxlovid for high-risk patients.
details of ongoing viral outbreak in Singapore
Croatia reports its first cases of the SARS-CoV-2 Omicron variant in two people who had not travelled abroad.
They also announce that the ban on travelers from South Africa, Botswana, Zimbabwe, Namibia, Lesotho, Eswatini, and Mozambique will be lifted.
The United Kingdom reports a record 106,122 new cases of COVID-19 in the past 24 hours, the first time that the country has reported more than 100,000 new cases in a single day.
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.
Vietnam reports its first case of the SARS-CoV-2 Omicron variant in a person who travelled from the United Kingdom on December 19.
President of the Democratic Republic of the Congo
head of state of the Democratic Republic of the Congo
2021 Australian Parliament House sexual misconduct allegations
experimental antibody treatment for COVID-19
Date: 28 April 2021 – 31 December 2021 (1 year, 9 months and 2 weeks)
Three people are killed and four others are injured in a fire at a candlelit vigil in Kosiv, Ukraine.
The move is welcomed by Prime Minister Naftali Bennett.
Sri Lanka reports its first case of the SARS-CoV-2 Omicron variant in an unvaccinated woman who travelled from Nigeria.
India's Serum Institute announces that it will halve the production of its COVID-19 vaccine because it has no new orders for the vaccine.
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".
first law officer of the Crown and chief law officer of the Commonwealth of Australia
Mongolia reports no COVID-19 deaths in the past 24 hours for the first time since April 4.
unmanned aerial vehicle that is usually armed
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.
Indian soldiers of the Assam Rifles mistakenly open fire on a group of miners returning home from work in Nagaland, believing them to be militants. Thirteen miners and a soldier are killed, with the soldier and seven miners being killed in a subsequent confrontation with angry locals.
ongoing civil war in the country of Yemen
Iceland reports a record 672 new cases of COVID-19 in the past 24 hours.
system of social welfare payments provided by Commonwealth Government of Australia
country with a developed industry and infrastructure
The Health ministry approves the emergency use of the country's first homegrown COVID-19 vaccine named Turkovac.
New South Wales reports a record 6,288 new cases of COVID-19 in the past 24 hours.
Hong Kong reports its first potential community cluster of the SARS-CoV-2 Omicron variant, which are also the first locally transmitted cases reported by the city since June.
Magnus Carlsen defeats challenger Ian Nepomniachtchi in Game 6 of the 2021 World Chess Championship in a marathon 136 move game. It is the first decisive result in a regulation World Chess Championship game in more than 5 years and is also the longest game in World Chess Championship history.
overarching divisions of authority in Australia
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.
Malaysia reports its first case of the SARS-CoV-2 Omicron variant in a 19-year-old student who travelled from South Africa on November 19 and is in quarantine.
Bhutan begins administering booster doses of the COVID-19 vaccine for people over the age of 65 years, overseas travellers, healthcare workers, people with underlying health conditions, and adults living in high risk areas.
Twenty-four people are killed and four more are injured during an arson attack at a medical clinic in Osaka, Japan.
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".
Ukrainian territories occupied by Russian forces
The Australian Government pays a A$2,000,000 settlement to the Shire of Ngaanyatjarraku to end a class action lawsuit in the Federal Court over the controversial Community Development Program, which saw unemployed Ngaanyatjarra and other Indigenous Australian people in remote communities working up to 25 hours a week otherwise unpaid in order to receive the JobSeeker payment, which is generally considered to be less than the cost of living and which is provided to other Australians in exchange for completing a fortnightly quota of job applications. The Ngaanyatjarra accused the program of being racist and a form of modern slavery.
Niger reports its first case of the Omicron variant in the capital Niamey.
President Andrés Manuel López Obrador and his cabinet ministers receive COVID-19 vaccine booster doses as the government begins administering booster doses for people over the age of 60.
The Palestinian Authority reports its first cases of the Omicron variant in three people from different cities in the West Bank who travelled abroad.
A team of Greek divers led by Kostas Thoctarides announce the discovery of the wreck of the Italian submarine Jantina south of Mykonos in the Aegean Sea.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends that people as young as 16 years receive a booster dose of the COVID-19 vaccine. This comes after the FDA authorized the usage of the Pfizer–BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine as a booster dose for people in that age group.
Italy reports a record for the second consecutive day of 50,599 new cases of COVID-19, thereby bringing the nationwide total of confirmed cases to 5.57 million.
Connecticut reports its first case of the SARS-COV-2 Omicron variant.
Qatar reports its first four cases of the SARS-CoV-2 Omicron variant in three fully vaccinated people and an unvaccinated person who all travelled abroad.
all-electric four-door compact luxury sedan
2020–2021 clashes between Sudan and Ethiopia
President of Russia (1999–2008, 2012–present)
The United States surpasses 50 million cases of COVID-19.
A bird flu outbreak in northern Israel kills at least 5,200 migratory cranes and forces farmers to slaughter hundreds of thousands of chickens in what authorities say is the deadliest wildlife disaster in the nation's history.
The death toll from the fuel tank truck explosion in Cap-Haïtien, Haiti, six days ago rises to 90.
New Zealand reports its first community exposure of the SARS-CoV-2 Omicron variant in a fully-vaccinated man who travelled from the United Kingdom to Auckland on December 16.
The trial of Aung San Suu Kyi is delayed by Burmese courts until December 27.
International agreement on the nuclear program of Iran
overview about the coronavirus outbreak in Austria in 2020
After five days of military training, Iran fires sixteen ballistic missiles at a target in a show of force against Israel.
2021 labor dispute in Major League Baseball
72nd running of the Formula One World Championship
viral pandemic in Karnataka, India in 2020
Northern Ireland reports its first cases of the SARS-CoV-2 Omicron variant in two people from the same household in the greater Belfast area and a third unrelated person.
event in which aircraft are used to attack targets on land or at sea
type of natural disasters involving ground movements, often caused by slope instability triggered by specific event
head of government of the United Kingdom
Independent Election Commission (Afghanistan)
monarchy in Central Europe between 1804 and 1867
A man is killed and others are wounded as Israeli soldiers open fire on a group of Palestinian people protesting against Israeli settlements in the occupied West Bank.
Madagascar's police minister Serge Gellé is rescued after swimming for 12 hours to shore after his helicopter crashed off the country's northern coast during the boat accident rescue operation. President Andry Rajoelina hails Gellé's survival.
Prime Minister Alexander De Croo announces that, due to the spread of the Omicron variant, water parks, cinemas, theatres and concert halls will be closed, and all indoor events and outdoor events using a tent will be banned. Additionally, shopping will only be allowed in pairs and professional and amateur sport events will be held without spectators. These measures will begin on December 26.
COVID-19 vaccination in the United States
France reports a record for the third consecutive day of 104,611 new cases of COVID-19, which is also the first time that the country has reported more than 100,000 new cases since the beginning of the pandemic.
The death toll in the Philippines from Typhoon Rai increases to 375. At least 500 more people are injured.
Greece bans music at New Year's Eve celebrations and orders all entertainment venues to close at midnight due to an increase in the number of COVID-19 cases caused by the Omicron variant.
At least 38 people are killed and 69 more are injured during a fire at an overcrowded prison in Gitega, Burundi.
French prime minister Jean Castex announces that, for the next three weeks, all public gatherings will be limited to 2,000 people indoors and 5,000 people outdoors.
volcanic eruption in the Canary Islands, (Spain)
Alan Tudge stands down as Minister for Education and Youth after Prime Minister Scott Morrison announced an investigation into domestic abuse allegations against Tudge from a former staffer who claimed that the two were involved in an extramarital affair.
France reports a record 232,200 new cases of COVID-19 in the past 24 hours, which is also the highest daily total recorded in any European nation since the beginning of the pandemic.
municipality in the province of Antwerp, Belgium
national government of the United States
The scientific committee (Pevolca) of the Canary Islands government declares that the Cumbre Vieja volcano's eruptions on La Palma island stopped after 10 days of inactivity. However, the authorities do not consider the emergency situation to be over.
overview about the coronavirus outbreak in Belgium in 2020
Austria ends its nationwide lockdown for people who are vaccinated or who have recovered from COVID-19 as the number of new cases decreases.
financial penalties applied by nations to persons, nations or companies to affect political change
Costa Rica reports its first case of the SARS-CoV-2 Omicron variant in an eight-year-old boy who recently travelled from the United States along with his family.
Maldives reports its first case of the SARS-CoV-2 Omicron variant in a tourist that arrived in the country.
Chile reports its first case of the SARS-CoV-2 Omicron variant in a fully vaccinated foreigner who travelled from Ghana on November 25.
2021–2022 Belarus–European Union border crisis
border crisis between Belarus and the European Union
team sport played on a court with baskets on either end
Premier of Quebec François Legault announces a curfew between 10 p.m.
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.
ongoing viral pandemic in New York state, United States
island country in the southwest Pacific Ocean
The Philippine Department of Health announces that all adults over the age of 18 years can receive a booster dose at least six months after receiving their second dose or a least three months after receiving their single dose.
Valentina and the suspect both succumbed to their injuries in the store.
city of the state of West Kordofan, Sudan
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.
country in north-west Europe, part of the United Kingdom
At least 38 people are killed in the collapse of a private gold mine in En Nahud, Sudan.
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.
Argentina reports its first case of the SARS-CoV-2 Omicron variant in a 38-year-old fully vaccinated person who traveled from South Africa on November 30.
New Brunswick premier Blaine Higgs tests positive for COVID-19.
marriage of persons of the same sex or gender
The United States surpasses 800,000 deaths from COVID-19, remaining the highest death toll in the world.
The European Commission announces a binding proposal that will make the EU Digital COVID Certificate only valid for travel within the European Union for nine months without a booster dose after a person's primary vaccination schedule in order to standardize different travel requirements in the member states. The new rules will be mandatory for all 27 EU member states beginning on February 1.
The Tigray Defense Forces withdraws all its troops from the Afar and Amhara regions of Ethiopia.
undeclared war between Argentina and the United Kingdom in 1982
Argentina donates 1 million doses of the Oxford–AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine to Bolivia.
Law enforcement in Bosnia and Herzegovina
Hundreds of insurgents on motorcycles attack an international military base in Tillabéri. Seventy-nine of the rebels and 29 soldiers are killed during the battle.
person of prominence in upper class society
Seventy-nine of the rebels and 29 soldiers are killed during the battle.
The Saudi-led coalition launches airstrikes on Sanaa International Airport in the Yemeni capital Sanaa. The air raid targeted six sites, including places used for "launching drone attacks", according to a statement from the coalition.
government agency responsible for the collection, analysis or exploitation of information and intelligence
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.
Argentina receives more than 2.6 million doses of the Moderna COVID-19 vaccine for use as booster doses.
French and European spaceport near Kourou in French Guiana
Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps releases a video on social media threatening to destroy the Israeli city of Dimona and a nearby nuclear facility in the Negev desert.
The Israeli Defense Forces report that they have arrested more than 100 members of the Palestinian Islamist organization Hamas, amid a recent increase in tensions.
Bandits ambush and set fire to a passenger bus in Sokoto State, Nigeria, killing 30 people.
Troops loyal to Prime Minister Mohamed Hussein Roble gather outside the presidential palace in the capital Mogadishu after President Mohamed Abdullahi Mohamed tried to suspend the Prime Minister in what has been described as an attempted self-coup.
Cyprus reports its first case of the SARS-CoV-2 Omicron variant in three Greek Cypriots who travelled from South Africa in Limassol.
Twenty-four more people are found dead after the boat accident off the coast of Analanjirofo, Madagascar, three days ago, bringing the total death toll to 85.
aerial warfare branch of the Israel Defense Forces
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.
Germany reports its first confirmed death related to the SARS-CoV-2 Omicron variant.
the 10th and current president of the Federal Republic of Somalia
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.
Russian police arrest two allies of opposition politician and activist Alexei Navalny, Kseniya Fadeyeva and Zakhar Sarapulov, under extremism charges. Leonid Volkov, another ally of Navalny, had tried to persuade Fadeyeva and Sarapulov to leave Russia as he and others have done, but they refused.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
United States government public health agency
46th and current presidential administration of the USA, inaugurated in 2021
Concerns and controversies at the 2022 Winter Olympics
chain of Japanese islands that stretch southwest from Kyushu to Taiwan
The French National Consultation Ethical Committee approves the administration of the COVID-19 vaccine for children between the ages of 5 and 11 years.
Tens of thousands of protesters demonstrate against the October 2021 Sudanese coup d'état, leading to government forces spraying protesters with tear gas in an attempt to halt the demonstrations, one of the largest in Sudan's history.
South Korea reports a record 5,123 new cases of COVID-19 in the past 24 hours, bringing the nationwide total of confirmed cases to 452,530.
Quebec closes all bars, gyms, spas, cinemas, and concert halls as well as suspends in-person learning and mandates remote working after the province reported a record 4,857 new cases of COVID-19 in the past 24 hours.
Minnesota reports its first case of the Omicron variant in a person who traveled from New York City.
British Liberal Democrats party politician; from December 2021 MP for North Shropshire
List of Formula One World Constructors' Champions
Kuwait will require incoming travellers who fully vaccinated against COVID-19 more than nine months ago to receive booster dose beginning from January 2 and also requires them to self-isolate for 10 days unless they received a negative PCR test within 72 hours of their arrival beginning from December 26.
New York reports a new record of 85,476 cases, with 22% of all tests being positive.
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.
northernmost region of the African continent
political-religious armed movement in Yemen
politician asked by a monarch to attempt to form a government
legislative branch of the government of the Republic of Chile
The seven day average of child hospitalizations reaches a record level, with 378 children under 18 admitted each day. (ABC)
Senegal reports its first case of the SARS-CoV-2 Omicron variant in a 58-year-old man who attended an international meeting in Dakar with 300 people from different countries on November 24 and 25.
software application designed to run on mobile devices
human rights situation in Egypt pertaning to the rights assured by the constitution
South Korea authorizes the emergency use of the anti-viral oral drug Paxlovid manufactured by Pfizer for high-risk patients over the age of 12 years, becoming the first drug to be approved for use in the country.
The Greek government announces new restrictions that will be in effect from January 3 until at least January 16, which include mandatory high-protection or double mask wearing in supermarkets and on public transport, closure of entertainment and hospitality venues at midnight, reinstating work from home policies for up to 50% of employees, and reducing the capacity of sports stadiums to 10%. This comes after the country reported a record 9,284 new cases of COVID-19 in the past 24 hours.
Ireland reports a record for the second consecutive day of 13,765 new cases of COVID-19.
federal law enforcement agency in Russia
South Africa postpones a plan to end COVID-19 contact tracing and suspend some quarantine measures in order to consider additional comments about the policy after the government received many inquiries about the plan.
capital city of the Al-Hasakah Governorate in Syria Founder ottoman empair
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.
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.
Italy reports a record 78,313 new cases of COVID-19 in the past 24 hours.
A fire occurs at the World Trade Centre Hong Kong, injuring 13 people and leaving 300 others trapped within the building.
Taoiseach Micheál Martin announces that due to fears of the Omicron variant, from December 7 until January 9, nightclubs will be closed and restaurants and bars will only be allowed to offer table service for groups of no more than six people.
The Nagaland Legislative Assembly publicly demands that the Government of India repeal the Armed Forces Special Powers Act, which has been in effect since 1958. This comes after a massacre occurred in Mon district, Nagaland on December 4.
low-intensity asymmetric war, beginning in 1964, between Colombian governments, paramilitary groups, crime syndicates and far-left guerrillas (FARC, ELN, etc.)
Nigeria destroys 1,066,214 doses of the Oxford–AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine with short shelf lives that expired in November.
Thailand reports its first locally transmitted case of the SARS-CoV-2 Omicron variant in a 49-year-old woman.
legal process whereby a person is put to death by the state as a punishment for an actual or supposed crime
This comes as France reports a substantial increase in new cases of the Omicron variant nationwide.
At least five explosions are reported, with a Syrian military official stating that several missiles struck the container area of the port.
ongoing COVID-19 viral pandemic in Japan
Date: 31 January 2009 – present (13 years, 11 months, 3 weeks and 6 days)
Portuguese Minister of Internal Administration Eduardo Cabrita resigns after a series of scandals, including an incident where his official car was involved in a car accident that killed a highway worker.
Syrian air defences engaged the Israeli missiles, with most missiles reportedly intercepted.
largest city in the South Island of New Zealand
watercraft capable of independent operation underwater
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.
wife of Frederik, Crown Prince of Denmark
Illinois reports their first case of the Omicron variant in a Chicago resident.
The government announces plans to make COVID-19 vaccination compulsory for the general population, setting a minimum age of 14 years and requiring unvaccinated persons to pay fines of up to 3,600 euros every three months. The rules will be in effect from February 1 until January 2024.
The United Arab Emirates says that weekends in the country will occur from Friday afternoon to Sunday, effective January 1.
act of murdering a large number of people
facility directly owned and operated by or for the military
Russian president Vladimir Putin demands that NATO guarantee that it will not move its forces into Ukraine, accusing NATO and the U.S.
historical and contemporary racism in legislation, attitudes and society in Australia
agricultural product processed from the leaves of plants in genus nicotiana
The United Kingdom reports a record 78,610 new cases of COVID-19 in the past 24 hours.
British Columbia closes all bars, nightclubs, gyms, fitness centres, and dance studios, and bans all indoor gatherings due to the spread of the Omicron variant.
Nishi Umeda clinic for the mind and body, Kita-ku, Osaka, Japan
Portugal reports a record for the third consecutive day of 28,659 new cases of COVID-19. The country also reduces the mandatory quarantine for asymptomatic people who test positive from COVID-19 and high-risk contacts to seven days due to concerns about the spread of the Omicron variant.
curfew for restaurants and people must use an FFP2 mask on public transport and in indoor spaces.
global international and intergovernmental organization
Islamic State insurgency in Iraq (2017–present)
capital of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Province, Pakistan
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.
state established in the Republic of the Congo from 1969 to 1991
sovereign state in North Africa and Asia
Russian politician, lawyer and anti-corruption activist
low-intensity asymmetric war between the Mexican Government and various drug trafficking syndicates
The Saudi-led coalition launches airstrikes on Sanaa International Airport in the Yemeni capital Sanaa.
Russian president Vladimir Putin demands that NATO guarantee that it will not move its forces into Ukraine, accusing NATO and the U.S. of "trying to send Ukraine and Russia into direct armed conflict."
The Swedish government announces that several new measures will begin on December 23, including limiting the number of people at private gatherings to 50, requiring the use of a vaccination pass for public events with a capacity of more than 500 people, and recommending work from home where possible, due to an increase in the number of COVID-19 cases.
Date: 9 December 2017 – present (5 years, 2 months and 4 days)
opposition and oppression directed at adherents to the Jehovah's Witness sect of Christianity
The bones of over 100 Indigenous Australian Kaurna people are repatriated from the South Australian Museum and buried in a ceremony in Adelaide.
home rule city in Boulder County, Colorado, United States
ongoing COVID-19 viral pandemic in Sarawak, Malaysia
intentional infliction of physical or mental suffering upon a person or an animal
24th edition of Winter Olympics, in Beijing, China
movement aiming to remove Vladimir Putin from his offices
type of machine specialised in lifting objects
The health ministry reduces the interval between the second dose and booster dose of the COVID-19 vaccine to three months, citing concerns about the spread of the Omicron variant.
Australian politician, 17th Deputy Prime Minister of Australia
municipality in the canton of Lucerne, Switzerland
The Semeru volcano in Java, Indonesia, erupts for the second time this month, spewing a two-kilometre-high ash column. The first eruption killed at least 46 people on December 4.
details of ongoing viral pandemic in Tasmania, Australia
South Korea reports a record for the second consecutive day of 5,266 new cases of COVID-19, thereby bringing the nationwide total of confirmed cases to 457,612.
The Gaza Strip reports its first locally transmitted case of the SARS-CoV-2 Omicron variant.
With over 50% of votes counted, Boric is declared the winner as Kast publishes a tweet conceding defeat.
Belarusian politician, educator, and pro-democracy activist
Peru reports its first four cases of the Omicron variant in one person who travelled from South Africa and another three who had no travel history.
The United Kingdom reports a record for the third consecutive day of 122,186 new cases of COVID-19.
A tornado outbreak hits Arkansas, Missouri, Tennessee and Kentucky, United States. Around 50 people are feared dead.
A man in India is beaten to death by guards at the Golden Temple, the holiest place in the world according to the Sikh religion. Authorities allege he may have tried to harm the Guru Granth Sahib.
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.
The plan also involves decreasing the nicotine content of tobacco, limiting licenses for the sale of tobacco, and increasing funding for anti-addiction services.
details of ongoing viral pandemic in New South Wales, Australia
The operation would consist of deploying U.S. Marines on the Ryukyu Islands near Taiwan, while the Japan Self-Defense Forces would provide logistical support such as ammunition and fuel supplies.
Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency
At the 2021 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix, Max Verstappen wins the Driver's Championship, while Mercedes wins the Constructors' Championship.
Germany bans all travel from the United Kingdom and imposes a mandatory 14-day quarantine and proof of a negative PCR test from the previous 48 hours for German residents and citizens returning from the UK, amid the spread of the Omicron variant in Britain.
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.
The Mayor of London Sadiq Khan declares a "major incident" in effort to ease pressure of hospitals amid a record-breaking COVID-19 cases in the UK caused by the Omicron variant.
Micronesian president David W. Panuelo condemns the outcome of the climate summit, stating that industrialized nations must increase their commitments in order to help countries switch from fossil fuels to renewable energy.
The restrictions also include usage of the mandatory NHS COVID pass in order to enter nightclubs and other venues with large crowds, as well as daily tests for people who had contact with a person who tested positive for the Omicron variant.
Panama reports its first case of the SARS-CoV-2 Omicron variant in a 50-year-old person who recently travelled from South Africa.
North American professional baseball league
Singapore reports its first cases of the SARS-CoV-2 Omicron variant in two fully vaccinated people, age 44 and 41, who returned from Johannesburg.
Finnish Institute for Health and Welfare
governmental research and expert institute in Finland
ongoing COVID-19 viral pandemic in the United States
ongoing coronavirus pandemic in Northern Ireland, United Kingdom
Malta legalizes the personal use and limited cultivation of cannabis, becoming the first country in the European Union to do so.
charter township in the U.S. state of Michigan
contact tracing mobile app for the identification of persons who may have come into contact with an infected person
Ukrainian ambassador to Israel Yevhen Korniychuk says that Ukraine might recognize Jerusalem as the capital of Israel.
Russia surpasses 600,000 deaths from COVID-19.
Israeli settlers burst into several villages in the occupied West Bank, beating and injuring at least two people.
Natural history museum in Adelaide, South Australia
states of emergency and regimes of exception decreed by COVID-19
Swissmedic approves the use of the monoclonal antibody cocktail Ronapreve developed by Roche and Regeneron to treat severe COVID-19 patients.
set of ideologies holding that Islam should guide social and political as well as personal life
The Turkish lira plunges to an all-time low of 17.0705 to the U.S. dollar, triggering a direct central bank intervention in the stock market.
Two Save the Children staff are also reported missing.
Chileans go to the polls to elect their president in a run-off between leftist Gabriel Boric and right-wing candidate José Antonio Kast.
Hungary reports its first two cases of the Omicron variant, which was first detected in South Africa.
island sovereign state off the coast of Southeast Africa, in the Indian Ocean
country in southwestern Europe with territories in Africa
cultural region in the southeastern and south-central United States
Taoiseach Micheál Martin announces that due to fears of the Omicron variant, from December 7 until January 9, nightclubs will be closed and restaurants and bars will only be allowed to offer table service for groups of no more than six people. Additionally, indoor services can only operate at 50% capacity and families can only have visitors from three other households.
Former Ukrainian President and oligarch Petro Poroshenko leaves Ukraine on a "pre-planned diplomatic tour" of Turkey and Poland after the National Bureau of Investigation attempts to issue a summons regarding charges of abetting terrorism. The National Bureau of Investigation claims that Poroshenko was involved in looting national resources from the temporarily occupied territories of Ukraine.
The United States reports a record 512,553 new COVID-19 cases in the past 24 hours.
Singapore reports its first locally transmitted case of the SARS-CoV-2 Omicron variant in a 24-year-old airport employee with no recent travel history.
Australian publisher, activist and founder of WikiLeaks
the surrender of an alleged criminal usually under the provisions of a treaty or statute by one authority (such as a state) to another having jurisdiction to try the charge
Polish lawyer and politician, President of Poland (b. 1972)
person killing in multiple locations in a short time
Belarus–EU border (Belarus; Poland, Lithuania, Latvia)
crime of willfully and maliciously setting fire to property
ground warfare branch of Turkey's military
Singapore suspends new ticket sales for the quarantine-free Vaccinated Travel Lane until January 20 in an attempt to reduce the number of imported cases of the Omicron variant.
school in which children receive primary or elementary education from the age of about five to twelve
2021–2022 edition of the National Basketball Association season
Canada surpasses two million cases of COVID-19.
At least 62 people are killed and more than 100 others injured when a fuel tanker explodes in Cap-Haïtien, Haiti.
Mary, Crown Princess of Denmark tests positive for COVID-19.
Belarus bans airlines and imports of certain goods from the European Union and United Kingdom in retaliation for sanctions imposed on the country by Western nations.
Sugandha River, near Jhalokati, Jhalokati District, Bangladesh
A man in India is beaten to death by guards at the Golden Temple, the holiest place in the world according to the Sikh religion.
military conflict in the Arabian Peninsula
Date: 7 July 2021 – present (1 year, 7 months and 6 days)
capital and most populous city of France
2020–2022 Chinese property sector crisis
President of the Federated States of Micronesia
Gambians go to the polls to elect their president.
The Philippine Food and Drug Administration approves the emergency use of the Molnupiravir drug made by Merck & Co.
Assistant to the Secretary of Defense for Public Affairs
Position in the United States government
rights of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people in the Americas
There will also be capacity restrictions at shops and people will require a negative COVID-19 test in order to enter events.
Independence referendum in New Caledonia
One person is killed and 41 others are injured as the Semeru volcano erupts in East Java, Indonesia.
Repatriation and reburial of human remains
ethical considerations in archaeology regarding repatriation of human remains
Ghana reports its first case of the SARS-CoV-2 Omicron variant in a traveller who arrived at Kotoka International Airport in Accra.
commission of an unlawful act in an official capacity, which affects the performance of official duties
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 p.m.
Argentina reports 9,336 new cases of COVID-19 in the past 24 hours, the highest daily total in 4 months, thereby bringing the nationwide total of cases to 5.4 million.
Malta reports its first two cases of the SARS-CoV-2 Omicron variant, prompting the health ministry to ban all standing events except for weddings and funerals beginning on December 17 and restrict entry to the hospitality sector and sporting events to only those with a valid vaccine certificate. A 1 a.m. curfew will also be imposed for all businesses beginning on January 17.
Eight people are killed and many more are injured by floods in Erbil, Kurdistan Region, Iraq.
municipal police department of Los Angeles, California, United States
The treatment of and laws concerning non-human animals in Australia
judicial institution with the authority to resolve legal disputes
At least 64 people are confirmed dead following a boat accident off the coast of Antseraka, Analanjirofo, Madagascar, on Monday, with 24 others still missing.
Philadelphia imposes a vaccine mandate for indoor activities such as dining, cinemas, and at the Wells Fargo Center for a 76ers or Flyers game.
New South Wales reports Australia's first confirmed death from the SARS-CoV-2 Omicron variant in a fully vaccinated man in his 80s who had experienced breakthrough infections and also had underlying health conditions.
17 December 2021 fire in Kita-ku, Osaka City, Japan
The United Kingdom reports a record 138,831 new cases of COVID-19 in the past 24 hours.
organ representing the German states since 1949
land service branch of the United States Armed Forces
ongoing COVID-19 viral pandemic in Russia
New Zealand postpones a phased reopening of the border for quarantine-free travel to the end of February in order to strengthen the country's defence against the spread of the Omicron variant.
Two explosions at Camilo Daza International Airport in Cúcuta kill two law enforcement officials and one of the perpetrators.
formal accusation of wrongdoing in common law
The Tunisian Health Ministry authorizes the use of the Russian Sputnik Light vaccine as a booster dose.
Indian biotechnological company, vaccine manufacturer
A group of four former Serbian state security officers, including Radomir Marković, are found guilty of the murder of Slavko Ćuruvija. Two have been sentenced to 20 years in prison, while Marković and the remaining officer will serve a 30-year sentence.
official currency of Australia; also officially used in Kiribati, Nauru, and Tuvalu
A 16-year-old boy is stabbed to death in Hillingdon, west London, making him the 30th teenage homicide in the British capital in 2021.
Thirteen people are killed in a collision between a minibus and a truck in Chernihiv Oblast, Ukraine.
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.
Denmark reports a record 5,120 new cases of COVID-19 in the past 24 hours.
public health emergency of international concern
Selangor (notably Klang, Petaling and Hulu Langat District), Kuala Lumpur, Pahang and Perak; Negeri Sembilan, Malacca, Kelantan and Terengganu (limited) Sabah (from 30 December onwards)
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.
urgent movement of people away from the threat or actual occurrence of a hazard
The United Nations Economic Commission for Africa warns that the effects of the pandemic on Africa's economy could push the number of "extremely poor" Africans to 514 million people.
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.
Mauritius reports its first cases of the SARS-CoV-2 Omicron variant in two people who travelled from South Africa.
maritime land force service branch of the United States Armed Forces
The submarine was sunk on July 5, 1941, after being torpedoed by the British submarine HMS Torbay.
Iran reports its first case of the SARS-CoV-2 Omicron variant in a person who travelled from the United Arab Emirates.
President of Asturias Adrián Barbón is admitted to hospital when his health condition worsens after testing positive for COVID-19.
Ecumenical Patriarch of the Eastern Orthodox Church Bartholomew I of Constantinople tests positive for COVID-19 and is showing mild symptoms.
top level administrative district in Israel
South Korea reports a record 7,175 new cases of COVID-19 in the past 24 hours, thereby bringing the nationwide total of confirmed cases to 489,484.
South Korea reports a record 94 deaths from COVID-19 in the past 24 hours, thereby bringing the nationwide death toll to 4,387.
country in Central and Southeastern Europe
infrastructure that conveys sewage or surface runoff
The Drug Controller General of India approves the emergency use of the Covaxin vaccine manufactured by Bharat Biotech for children between the ages of 12 and 18 years.
Ongoing COVID-19 viral pandemic in Kerala, India
U.S. President Joe Biden rules out deploying American troops unilaterally to Ukraine in order to deter a potential Russian invasion, saying that the option "was not on the table".
European Union response to the COVID-19 pandemic
Electronic cigarettes, which are more popular among younger generations in New Zealand, will not be subject to the ban.
Tesla orders a recall of over 475,000 Model 3 and Model S cars due to safety defects found in their backup cameras and hoods, respectively.
A tractor-trailer transporting more than 180 illegal migrants, mostly Guatemalans and Hondurans, crashes in Chiapas, Mexico, killing 55 people and injuring 105 others.
2021–2022 Democratic Republic of the Congo attacks
ongoing conflict in the Eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo
While responding to multiple reports of a violent assault suspect at a Los Angeles clothing store, LAPD officers fired upon one male subject.
Tel HaShomer, Ramat Gan, Tel Aviv District, Israel
The United States reports its first case of the Omicron variant in a person who travelled from South Africa to California.
Egyptian blogger and activist Alaa Abdel Fattah is sentenced to five years in prison by Egyptian authorities for spreading fake news.
Sixteen people are dead as a boat carrying migrants overturn and sink near the island of Paros, Greece.
The United Kingdom ends its travel ban on Angola, Botswana, Eswatini, Lesotho, Malawi, Mozambique, Namibia, Nigeria, South Africa, Zambia, and Zimbabwe.
New York state reports a record for the second consecutive day of 21,908 new cases of COVID-19.
A 16-year-old boy is stabbed to death in Hillingdon, west London, making him the 30th teenage homicide in the British capital in 2021. It is now the deadliest year on record for killings of teenagers, surpassing a previous peak of 29 homicides in 2008.
Malaysia reports its first locally transmitted case of the SARS-CoV-2 Omicron variant in a fully vaccinated 38-year-old Chinese woman from Sarawak with no international travel history.
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.
The United Arab Emirates reports its first case of the SARS-CoV-2 Omicron variant in a citizen who travelled from Africa.
Ireland reduces the mandatory quarantine for those who received the booster dose or completed their primary vaccination course and had COVID-19 within the previous three months, to seven days despite a record 20,554 new cases being reported.
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 p.m. have been extended until January 14 due to concerns over the spread of the Omicron variant.
land warfare branch of France's military
viral pandemic in the Dominican Republic
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 p.m. curfew for restaurants and people must use an FFP2 mask on public transport and in indoor spaces.
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.
Honduras begins administering a booster dose of the COVID-19 vaccine for all adults aged above 18 years using the Pfizer–BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine.
Finland reports its first case of the SARS-CoV-2 Omicron variant in a person who travelled from Sweden.
rights of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people in Canada
head of the Ministry of Finance of the Government of Pakistan
Date: 16 February 1985 – ongoing (37 years, 11 months, 1 week and 4 days)
A policeman kills six people, including his wife, and injures two others during a killing spree in Kabete, Kenya, before committing suicide.
Morocco buys six Bayraktar TB2 drones from Baykar amid rising tensions between Morocco and Algeria.
Additionally, 36 players tested positive for COVID-19 throughout the NFL.
Western neologism to describe armed Islamic movements
Tikhanovsky's wife, Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya, left Belarus amid the protests that occurred in the country in 2020.
Former South Korean president Park Geun-hye is pardoned by the South Korean Justice Ministry.
variants of the SARS-CoV-2 virus with a different genetic sequence
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 team of Greek divers led by Kostas Thoctarides announce the discovery of the wreck of the Italian submarine Jantina south of Mykonos in the Aegean Sea. The submarine was sunk on July 5, 1941, after being torpedoed by the British submarine HMS Torbay.
The bomb was discovered before the officer had left for the rally, and was defused by bomb squads.
Flooding in the Bahia state of Northeast Brazil kills 18 people.
Kenya reports its first three cases of the Omicron variant.
China's National Medical Products Administration approves the use of the neutralizing antibody cocktail developed by BRII Biosciences to treat COVID-19 in adults and teenagers.
Date: December 2, 2021 – March 10, 2022 (3 months, 1 week and 1 day)
The number of people who are fully vaccinated against COVID-19 in New Zealand surpasses 90%.
unincorporated territory of the United States of America
immunization plan against COVID-19 in Portugal
American online social media and social networking service
Date: 23 October 25 October 29 October 16 November
occurrence of multiple tornadoes spawned by the same synoptic-scale weather system
This comes after a massacre occurred in Mon district, Nagaland on December 4.
The Community of Madrid reports a record 11,221 new cases of COVID-19 in the past 24 hours.
Former queen Beatrix of the Netherlands tests positive for COVID-19.
bilateral relations between United States and Lithuania
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.
A tornado outbreak hits Arkansas, Missouri, Tennessee and Kentucky, United States.
The Health ministry recommends that Israelis over the age of 60 years and healthcare workers should receive a fourth dose of the COVID-19 vaccine, becoming the world's first country to administer a fourth dose of the vaccine. The move is welcomed by Prime Minister Naftali Bennett.
Police in Bosnia and Herzegovina arrest seven suspected war criminals in Bijeljina and Sokolac due to their reported massacre of 22 civilians during the Bosnian Genocide.
Tornado outbreak of December 10–11, 2021
Central, Southern, and Midwestern United States
head of state and of government of Turkey
ocean between Asia, Australia and the Americas
Both countries require a proof of vaccination or a negative COVID-19 test in order to board the buses and enter both countries.
China issues stay-at home orders for hundreds of thousands of people in Yan'an due to the spread of COVID-19 cases, which also resulted in a lockdown in Xi'an, the country's largest lockdown since last year.
First minister Mark Drakeford announces new restrictions, including limiting the number of people in events to 50 people outdoors and 30 people indoors, no more than six people in a group at bars, restaurants, and cinemas, and imposing a face mask mandate due to the spread of the SARS-CoV-2 Omicron variant. These measures will be in effect beginning on December 26.
COVID-19 pandemic in the State of Palestine
civil jet aircraft designed to transport executives and other VIPs
for high-risk adult patients and also approves the use of the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine for children between the ages of 5 and 11 years.
head of the state and government of California
respiratory syndrome and infectious disease in humans, caused by SARS coronavirus 2
The Ministry of Health and Family Welfare issues emergency use authorizations for the Covovax vaccine manufactured by the Serum Institute of India and the Corbevax vaccine.
hospital in the Tel Aviv District, Israel
Social Democratic Union of Macedonia leader Dimitar Kovačevski is confirmed as North Macedonia's Prime Minister-designate following the resignation of Zoran Zaev.
head of state and of government of the Republic of Korea
The World Bank also announced a recession as the economies of African countries continue to shrink.
The U.S. State Department approves the sale of 341 FGM-148 Javelin anti-tank guided missiles and 30 command launch units to NATO ally Lithuania amid rising tensions with Russia.
The global version of video game digital distribution service Steam is reportedly blocked in China.
intentional act of causing one's own death
Islamist organization in Afghanistan (founded 1994)
Russian President Vladimir Putin and Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko announce that Belarus and Russia will hold war games early next year.
South Korea reports its first five cases of the SARS-CoV-2 Omicron variant in a fully vaccinated couple who travelled from Nigeria and later tested positive, along with two of their family members and a friend.
Temperature anomalies for late December reach 10–15 °C (18–27 °F) in some areas.
Turkey begins to roll-out its domestically-developed Turkovac inactive vaccine as part of its COVID-19 vaccination program.
Nicaragua severs diplomatic relations with Taiwan and establishes diplomatic relations with the People's Republic of China.
Russia surpasses 10 million cases of COVID-19.
Hong Kong authorities remove the Hong Kong Goddess of Democracy from the Chinese University of Hong Kong campus and a memorial to the Tiananmen Square massacre from Lingnan University campus.
flexible pad held over the nose and mouth by elastic or rubber straps to protect against dust
An armed land dispute between the residents of the Nahualá and Santa Catarina Ixtahuacán municipalities, in Guatemala, results in the death of 12 people.
A "tornado-like" severe weather event impacts Sydney's Northern Beaches on Australia's east coast, downing trees and cutting power to thousands of residents. One woman is killed and two women are in a critical condition in Sydney's Royal North Shore Hospital after a "large" pine tree fell in Narrabeen.
Ukraine reports its first case of the Omicron variant in a person who travelled from the United Arab Emirates.
NASA/ESA/CSA space telescope launched in 2021
viral vector vaccine for prevention of COVID-19
The Ministry of Health and Prevention approves the emergency use of Sinopharm's new recombinant protein vaccine.
sovereign state situated on an island in the Caribbean Sea
Northern Ireland imposes tightened COVID-19-related restrictions, which include closing nightclubs and banning indoor seating at events, restricting socialization to three households, and reintroducing the rule of six at bars, restaurants, and pubs that only offer table service.
Around 2,500 Karen refugees cross the Myanmar–Thailand border into Thailand.
Delhi enters Level 1 "Yellow alert" which closes cinemas, schools, colleges, and gyms, imposes a nighttime curfew from 10 p.m.
South Africa lifts its midnight curfew, allowing alcohol sales to return to normal hours in certain premises, and also allowing gatherings of up to 1,000 people indoors and 2,000 people outdoors, due to a decrease in the number of new COVID-19 cases.
Japan decides not to send government delegates to the 2022 Winter Olympics, although the Japanese team will still be present.
South Korea reports a record 80 deaths from COVID-19 in the past 24 hours, thereby bringing the nationwide death toll to 4,210.
Date: 16 January 2012 – present (11 years, 1 week and 4 days)
Cyprus reports a record for the fifth consecutive day of 5,048 new cases of COVID-19, bringing the nationwide total of confirmed cases to 166,827.
type of ship travelling over short to medium distances between two places transporting people, cars or trains and acting like a replacement for a bridge
Sculpture in Hong Kong honoring Chinese pro-democracy movement
electronic game with user interface and visual feedback
The Health Sciences Authority approves the usage of the Pfizer–BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine for children between the ages of 5 and 11 years, with vaccine rollout for this age group to begin before the end of the year.
continent on the Earth's northern and southern hemispheres
monospecific antibody that is made by identical immune cells that are all clones of a unique parent cell
Insurgency in the Maghreb (2002–present)
The parents of Ethan Crumbley, James and Jennifer Crumbley, accused of terrorism and murder in the shooting deaths and injuries at Ethan's school, are charged with manslaughter for their role in the incident. They are caught after fleeing the police.
Greece cancels all public Christmas and New Year's Eve celebrations, as well as mandates mask wearing outdoors and requiring people to wear two masks or a high-protection mask in order to use public transport and enter supermarkets due to the spread of the SARS-CoV-2 Omicron variant.
Mexican health regulator COFEPRIS approves the emergency use of Eli Lilly and Co's injectable combination of bamlanivimab and etesevimab to treat mild to moderate COVID-19 cases in people over the age of 12 years who weigh at least 40 kg (88 lb).
armed conflict in Western Asia since 2013
colombian airport in Cucuta in the departamento of Norte De Santander
2021 edition of the MLS Cup soccer competition
formal approval of a proposed law in monarchies
The James Webb Space Telescope is successfully launched using the Ariane 5 rocket from the Guiana Space Centre in Kourou, French Guiana.
This is the league's first labor stoppage since the players' strike of 1994 and 1995.
Slovakia reports a record 15,278 new cases of COVID-19 in the past 24 hours, bringing the nationwide total of confirmed cases to 712,749.
unintended escape of gas from a pipeline or other containment
bilateral relations between Japan and United States
Eleven people are dead as a boat carrying migrants sinks in the Aegean Sea.
The Taliban regime dissolves Afghanistan's Independent Election Commission, saying that "there is no need for these commissions to exist and operate".
Around 70% of adults in Missouri have received their first dose of the COVID-19 vaccine.
A group of four former Serbian state security officers, including Radomir Marković, are found guilty of the murder of Slavko Ćuruvija.
The French Haute Autorité de santé [fr] approves the usage of the Pfizer–BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine for children between the ages of 5 and 11 years.
The Court of Appeal of Malaysia upholds the conviction against former Prime Minister Najib Razak of all seven counts of abuse of power, money laundering and criminal breach of trust for his involvement in the 1MDB scandal.
highest federal executive body in the Russian Federation, headed by the Prime Minister
entertainment venue which usually operates late into the night
American multinational pharmaceutical company
Twenty-three people drown after the bus they are travelling in plunges into the Enziu River in Mwingi, Kenya.
A massive Roman castrum dated to the reign of Caligula is discovered in Velsen, Netherlands.
The Semeru volcano in Java, Indonesia, erupts for the second time this month, spewing a two-kilometre-high ash column.
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.
Impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on sports
Italy reports a record for the third consecutive day of 54,762 new cases of COVID-19, thereby bringing the nationwide total of confirmed cases to 5.62 million.
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.
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.
explosion resulting from mixing a flammable gas with air in the presence of an ignition source
The Ministry of Health and Family Welfare issues emergency use authorizations for the Covovax vaccine manufactured by the Serum Institute of India and the Corbevax vaccine. The ministry also issues an emergency use authorization for Merck & Co.'s anti-viral drug Molnupiravir.
The government announces that it will begin increasing the legal age by one year for purchasing tobacco every year beginning in 2025, effectively preventing future generations from legally purchasing tobacco products.
Militants attack a bus carrying civilians in Mopti Region, killing the driver, before setting it on fire and killing 31 passengers.
The Food and Drug Administration grants emergency use authorization for Pfizer's antiviral COVID-19 oral pill named Paxlovid for at-risk people over the age of 12 years, becoming the first at-home oral treatment to be approved by the FDA.
David Fuller, a double murderer who sexually abused the corpses of more than 100 women, is sentenced to a whole life tariff.
Eleven people are dead as a boat carrying migrants sinks in the Aegean Sea. Around 90 other people are rescued.
The senior executives are later charged with sedition in the latest crackdown related to the national security law.
The Ngaanyatjarra accused the program of being racist and a form of modern slavery.
capital city of New South Wales, Australia
type of sexual assault usually involving sexual intercourse without consent
process of transforming profits of crime and corruption into ostensibly legitimate assets
Israel extends fourth doses of the COVID-19 vaccine to elderly people in care facilities and begins administering fourth doses for vulnerable people, citing the high-risk of infection.
New South Wales reports a record for the second consecutive day of 6,394 new cases of COVID-19.
Kuwait reports its first case of the SARS-CoV-2 Omicron variant in a fully vaccinated European citizen who travelled from an African country.
This comes after health ministry experts recommended the vaccine yesterday.
details of ongoing viral pandemic in Western Australia
List of Formula One World Drivers' Champions
Swissmedic approves the use of the Janssen COVID-19 vaccine as a booster dose for people over the age of 18 years, which can be administered two months after the first dose, or six months after a person receives mixed vaccinations with mRNA-based vaccines.
monoclonal antibody used in combination with bamlanivimab as a treatment for COVID-19
multi-role combat aircraft family by Eurofighter
Paris begins to implement mandatory outdoor mask wearing for people over the age of 11 years.
Norway restricts the number of visitors in private homes to 10 people and reduces the hours that bars and restaurants can serve alcohol until midnight due to an increase in the number of COVID-19 cases and hospitalizations.
The death toll from yesterday's eruption of the Semeru volcano in East Java, Indonesia, increases to 14, with 56 others injured.
Pakistan reports its first confirmed case of the Omicron variant in a 57-year-old unvaccinated woman from Karachi.
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.
Venezuela reports its first seven cases of the Omicron variant in a group of people who had travelled from another country, such as Spain, Dominican Republic, Panama, and Turkey.
Gunmen ambush a column of a civilian militia in Loroum, Burkina Faso, killing 41 people. It is one of the deadliest single-day attack against the militia.
16 December 2021 by-election to the UK Parliament following the resignation of Owen Paterson MP
Australia reports a record for the ninth consecutive day of 18,243 new cases of COVID-19, thereby bringing the nationwide total of confirmed cases to 341,437. Victoria, New South Wales, Queensland, South Australia and Tasmania all report record numbers of new cases.
Three workers are killed and three other people are injured when two cranes collapse on a street in Turin, Piedmont, Italy. A residential building is also damaged.
Leonid Volkov, another ally of Navalny, had tried to persuade Fadeyeva and Sarapulov to leave Russia as he and others have done, but they refused.
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.
process of finding and identifying people in close contact with someone who is infected with a transmissible pathogen
After five days of military training, Iran fires sixteen ballistic missiles at a target in a show of force against Israel. The incident is part of a wider increase in tensions between the two countries.
Armed cartel members break into a prison in Tula, Hidalgo using vehicles, detonating several car bombs.
It is announced that over 50% of India's eligible adult population is now fully vaccinated. India is targeting 100% COVID-19 adult vaccination by December 31.
The United Kingdom reports a record for the second consecutive day of 88,376 new cases of COVID-19.
Massive damage at the port is reported from the air raid with most of the port on fire, although there are no immediate reports of casualties from the attack. Videos on social media show multiple large explosions and anti-aircraft fire over the city. A hospital, shops, and some residential buildings were also badly damaged.
The outbreak originated in a couple who travelled from Belgium earlier this month.
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.
Kodiak, Alaska sets the highest temperature ever recorded in December in the state of Alaska, reaching 19.4 °C (66.9 °F).
The rules will be in effect from February 1 until January 2024.
act of giving up or quitting an office or position
Europe surpasses 75 million cases of COVID-19.
The United Nations Economic Commission for Africa warns that the effects of the pandemic on Africa's economy could push the number of "extremely poor" Africans to 514 million people. The World Bank also announced a recession as the economies of African countries continue to shrink.
ongoing coronavirus pandemic in Wales, United Kingdom
1989 Tiananmen Square protests and massacre
Unicameral state legislature of Nagaland in India
city in San Luis Obispo County, California, United States
Russia reports its first 10 cases of the SARS-CoV-2 Omicron variant in a group of citizens who travelled from southern Africa.
The Mexican health regulatory authority COFEPRIS approves the emergency use of the Cuban-made Abdala COVID-19 vaccine.
1994-95 strike by Major League Baseball players
countries with an originally European shared culture
South Africa surpasses three million cases of COVID-19.
municipality and capital city of Belgium
one of the 24 wards of the City of Osaka
ongoing global pandemic of coronavirus disease 2019
outbreak of Avian influenza in poultry farms and wild birds
Other demands include a Russian veto on Ukrainian membership in NATO, the removal of U.S.
Countries that are geographically located to the east of the Mediterranean Sea
city in Special Capital Region of Jakarta, Indonesia
The United Kingdom reports a record for the second consecutive day of 183,037 new cases of COVID-19.
Kurdish autonomous Region in northern Iraq
granted by the Food and Drug Administration in the US
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.
Preliminary data from the United Kingdom suggests the hospitalization rate of the COVID-19 Omicron variant is between 50% to 70% lower than the Delta variant.
Venezuelan intelligence officials announce the death of Hernán Darío Hernández, the leader of a FARC dissident group, after an ambush carried out by a commando of the Venezuelan Armed Forces.
Catalonia reimposes a curfew between 1 a.m.
place in Central Region of Uganda, Uganda
Israeli Air Force warplanes bomb the Port of Latakia, Syria's main seaport. At least five explosions are reported, with a Syrian military official stating that several missiles struck the container area of the port. It is the first Israeli attack on the facility through which Iran and Hezbollah import weapons into Syria.
Russian single dose viral vector vaccine
state-owned and state-funded national public broadcaster of Australia
diplomatic relations between the Republic of South Africa and the Republic of Zimbabwe
overview of concerns and controversies surrounding the Games
Hong Kong mandates usage of its COVID-19 tracing app for all adults under the age of 65.
Ecumenical Patriarch of Constantinople since 1991
Three people are killed and six others are injured during coalition air raids in Ajama, Yemen.
Greece reports a record for the fourth consecutive day of 35,580 new cases of COVID-19, bringing the nationwide total of confirmed cases to 1,170,293.
pseudoscientific or religious attempt to convert gender or sexual orientation
The United States announces a formal diplomatic boycott of the upcoming Winter Olympic Games in Beijing, China. The White House says that no official delegation will be sent to the Games due to concerns regarding China's human rights record.
Kurdish nationalist and separatist armed organization
Approximately 960,000 people are eligible to vote.
chain of islands in the Northern Pacific
The Israeli government finalizes an agreement with Pfizer to purchase 100,000 courses of the anti-viral drug Paxlovid for high-risk patients over the age of 12 years, with delivery expected to begin in one week.
temporarily occupied territories of Ukraine
government consisting of two or more parties
scientific program of NASA to study the Sun-Earth system
land service branch of the Indian Armed Forces
India reports its first case of the SARS-CoV-2 Omicron variant in two foreigners who travelled to Karnataka.
California becomes the first U.S. state and the world's first subnational entity to surpass five million cases of COVID-19.
Iceland reports its first case of the Omicron variant.
details regarding the 2019–20 coronavirus outbreak in Norway
The Australian state of Queensland reopens its land borders with New South Wales and Victoria to vaccinated domestic travellers.
Jamaica reports its first case of the Omicron variant in a person who travelled from the United Kingdom.
An mRNA vaccine candidate against the human immunodeficiency virus, developed by the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, Moderna and other institutes, shows a 79% efficacy rate and no major side effects in animal trials on rhesus macaques, according to a peer-reviewed paper published in Nature Medicine.
details of ongoing viral pandemic in Andorra
A bill to legalize same-sex marriage in Chile is approved by both chambers of the National Congress.
Date: 31 January 1949 – present (74 years and 2 weeks)
publicly funded healthcare systems within the United Kingdom
licensing and inspection authority for remedies in Switzerland with headquarters in Bern
It is announced that over 50% of India's eligible adult population is now fully vaccinated.
A trial of a plant-based COVID-19 vaccine conducted by GSK and Medicago shows an overall 71% efficacy against disease caused by the predominant SARS-CoV-2 variants of concern observed during most of 2021, and 75% efficacy specifically against disease caused by Delta. The study excludes the Omicron variant, which was not in circulation at the time of the clinical trials.
The Danish Health Authority approves the usage of the Molnupiravir antiviral pill developed by Merck & Co.
sovereign microstate between France and Spain, in Western Europe
special collectivity of France in the southwest Pacific Ocean
vote on whether a group of people still has confidence in a government or leader
France reports a record 91,608 new cases of COVID-19 in the past 24 hours, surpassing the previous record set in November 2020.
restrictions by countries intended to stop spread of disease
Two have been sentenced to 20 years in prison, while Marković and the remaining officer will serve a 30-year sentence.
President of the Republic of Turkey since 2014
However, the authorities do not consider the emergency situation to be over.
The Israeli Health ministry approves fourth doses of the COVID-19 vaccine for immunocompromised people, becoming the first country to do so.
Cyprus reports a record for the second consecutive day of 2,241 new cases of COVID-19, thereby bringing the nationwide total of confirmed cases to 154,926.
The state also reports their first death from COVID-19 since April 2020 in a 92-year-old woman.
Greece reports a record for the second consecutive day of 21,657 new cases of COVID-19, thereby bringing the nationwide total of confirmed cases to 1,105,885.
2018–2021 Turkish currency and debt crisis
details of ongoing viral outbreak in Lithuania
The Indian state of Kerala imposes a nighttime curfew from December 30 to January 2 in order to reduce the spread of the Omicron variant.
energy that is collected from renewable sources
institution exercising executive power in the Czech Republic
series of ongoing insurgencies within Myanmar
work people are employed in against their will
details of ongoing viral outbreak in Ukraine
armed rebellion against a constituted authority when those taking part in the rebellion are not recognized as belligerents
French and EU citizens returning from the UK must self-isolate for seven days unless they show a negative COVID-19 test result on arrival, which will reduce the self-isolation to 48 hours.
divides the territories of Argentina and Uruguay
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.
suburb of Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
bilateral relations between Saudi Arabia and Pakistan
Israeli Air Force warplanes bomb the Port of Latakia, Syria's main seaport.
The government also agree to reintroduce mandatory mask wearing outdoors and will reduce the validity of vaccine certificate to six months beginning from February 1.
The perpetrator is identified as a student at the school, and is currently hospitalised in critical condition.
A surfer is killed an apparent shark attack in Morro Bay, off the coast of California, United States. It is the first fatal shark attack in the area since 2003.
Iran bans all travellers from the United Kingdom, France, Denmark and Norway for 15 days and indefinitely suspends all land travel to Turkey due to the spread of the SARS-CoV-2 Omicron variant.
Bangladesh begins administering booster doses of the COVID-19 vaccine for people over the age of 60 and frontline workers who have been fully vaccinated more than six months ago as the country attempts to reduce the spread of the SARS-CoV-2 Omicron variant.
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.
The Kuwaiti Directorate General of Civil Aviation announces that all citizens who wish to travel, but who were fully vaccinated more than nine months ago, must receive a booster dose of the COVID-19 vaccine beginning on January 2.
combination of a tractor unit and one or more semi-trailers to carry freight
A bill to criminalize the widely discredited practice of conversion therapy passes the Senate in Canada without opposition, one week after it passed the House of Commons without opposition; the bill now awaits royal assent to become law.
In Madagascar, twenty people, including two French nationals, are charged with crimes including criminal conspiracy, criminal association, rebellion against the president and possession of illegal weapons, for allegedly plotting to kill president Andry Rajoelina.
ongoing persecution of ethnic and religious minorities in northwestern China under Xi Jinping's administration
South African Health Products Regulatory Authority
institutions of slavery that continue to exist in the present day
video game store and digital distribution platform among other services
Sixteen people are dead as a boat carrying migrants overturn and sink near the island of Paros, Greece. Sixty-three more people are rescued.
curfew will also be imposed for all businesses beginning on January 17.
French prime minister Jean Castex announces that, for the next three weeks, all public gatherings will be limited to 2,000 people indoors and 5,000 people outdoors. Work from home will be mandated where possible, and outdoor mask wearing will be mandatory in city centres. The interval between the second dose and the booster dose of the COVID-19 vaccine will also be reduced to three months in response to the rapid spread of the Omicron variant.
Rioters burn down the office of the Kurdish National Council in Dirbêsiyê, Syria, injuring four people.
an Indian Biotechnology company, headquartered in Hyderabad, India.
The London High Court accepts an appeal from the U.S. government to extradite WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange to the United States.
Romania reports its first cases of the SARS-CoV-2 Omicron variant in two citizens who travelled from South Africa on November 30.
state in which the immune system's ability to fight infectious disease and cancer is compromised or absent
city in Western Asia, claimed by both Israel and the Palestinian Authority as its capital
COVID-19 pandemic in the United Arab Emirates
alliance of militias fighting against ISIL and other Islamist extremists in the Syrian Civil War
Kosovo reports its first cases of the SARS-CoV-2 Omicron variant in two people who travelled from the United States, a person who travelled from France, two people who travelled from the United Kingdom, and four people with no international travel history.
An improvised explosive device is discovered in the personal vehicle of a Turkish police officer who was to be part of the security detail for a rally in Siirt featuring Turkish President Recep Erdoğan. The bomb was discovered before the officer had left for the rally, and was defused by bomb squads.
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.
The United States and Japan approve a plan for a joint military operation in response to a possible "Taiwan emergency". The operation would consist of deploying U.S. Marines on the Ryukyu Islands near Taiwan, while the Japan Self-Defense Forces would provide logistical support such as ammunition and fuel supplies.
COVID-19 vaccination mandates in the United States
mandates for people to receive the COVID-19 vaccine in the U.S.
COVID-19 pandemic in the Community of Madrid
geographic region that includes Australasia, Melanesia, Micronesia and Polynesia
Northern Ireland reports a record 3,231 new cases of COVID-19 in the past 24 hours.
Facebook exposes a group of spy firms that could affect the private security of over 50,000 people.
large family of RNA molecules that convey genetic information from DNA to the ribosome, where they specify the amino acid sequence of the protein products of gene expression
guided missile for combat against armored targets
climate change in the US state of Alaska
The Spanish Public Health Commission approves the usage of the Pfizer–BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine for children between the ages of 5 and 11 years. Vaccination rollout for this age group will begin on December 15.
details of ongoing viral pandemic in Canada
capital city of the United Arab Emirates
President of South Korea from 2013 to 2017
Thailand reports its first case of the SARS-CoV-2 Omicron variant in a 38-year-old U.S. citizen who had travelled from Spain nearly a week ago.
details of ongoing viral outbreak in Croatia
Prime Minister António Costa announces that nightclubs and bars will be closed and all people will work from home for at least two weeks beginning on December 25 in order to reduce the spread of COVID-19.
direct and universal vote in which an entire electorate is invited to vote on a particular proposal
Russia demands that NATO end all military activity in Eastern Europe and never admit Ukraine as a member of the military alliance, saying that they want a legally binding guarantee to end further eastward expansion.
document attesting that its bearer is immune to a contagious disease
Prime Minister Boris Johnson announces that at least one person in the UK has died after testing positive for the Omicron variant.
Rio de Janeiro mayor Eduardo Paes cancels the city's New Year's Eve celebrations on Copacabana Beach due to the worldwide spread of the SARS-CoV-2 Omicron variant.
A "tornado-like" severe weather event impacts Sydney's Northern Beaches on Australia's east coast, downing trees and cutting power to thousands of residents.
Authorities allege he may have tried to harm the Guru Granth Sahib.
PKK fighters kill three Turkish soldiers in northern Iraq, before Turkish fighter jets reportedly kill six PKK fighters during airstrikes.
virus outbreak in British Columbia, Canada
Indian model and Miss Universe 2021 (born 2000)
in municipalities where the infection rate surpasses 250 cases per 100,000 inhabitants, limits the number of people in social gatherings to 10, closes nightclubs, and restricts the capacity of the hospitality sector due to the spread of the SARS-CoV-2 Omicron variant.
device usually used to quit or be an alternative to tobacco
violent act where the offender pulls up a knife
Seven people are dead and two more missing after a residential building explodes and collapses due to a gas leak in Ravanusa, Agrigento, Sicily, Italy.
capital district of Atlántico Department in Colombia
The ministry also issues an emergency use authorization for Merck & Co.'s anti-viral drug Molnupiravir.
legislative, executive and judiciary authority of India
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.
official residence and workplace of the President of the United States
The European Commission authorizes the use of the Novavax COVID-19 vaccine after the European Medicines Agency recommended the use of the vaccine, becoming the fifth vaccine to be approved for use by the European Union.
Fourteen people are killed and several others are injured by a gas explosion in a sewage system in Karachi, Pakistan.
United Front of Ethiopian Federalist and Confederalist Forces
Ethiopian rebel coalition formed in 2021
The Italian government announces a ban of New Year's Eve celebrations as well as all mass gatherings and closes nightclubs and bars until the end of January. The government also agree to reintroduce mandatory mask wearing outdoors and will reduce the validity of vaccine certificate to six months beginning from February 1.
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.
Carlsen versus Nepomniachtchi, World Chess Championship 2021, Game 6
overview of game 6 in 2021 World Chess championship
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.
Federal territory and capital city of Malaysia
department of the South African government
closure time for bars and restaurants, restricts the capacity of most indoor and outdoor events to 50%, and allows a maximum of 100 guests for weddings in order to reduce the spread of the Omicron variant.
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.
Human rights groups and media outlets uncover a massacre of 30 civilians in Hpruso, Kayah State, that occurred the day before.
Thailand reports its first domestic cluster of the SARS-CoV-2 Omicron variant in 21 people from Kalasin province.
business oligarchs after Ukrainian independence in 1991
national government of the United Mexican States
Colombia reports its first case of the Omicron variant in two Colombia people who travelled from the United States and a U.S. citizen who travelled from Spain.
Date: 3 January 2021–ongoing (2 years, 1 month, 1 week and 1 day)
Date: 20 February 2014 – present (8 years, 9 months, 1 week and 3 days)
National Medical Products Administration
Turkish tactical UAV manufacturer, private company
armed conflict in the Donbas region of Ukraine
Date: 11 April 2002 – present (20 years, 9 months)
head of the government of Greater London
chairman of the Council of Ministers of the Netherlands
landlocked territory near the Mediterranean coast of Western Asia
The Czech government announces the compulsory COVID-19 vaccination for people aged above 60 years, as well as healthcare workers, police officers, firefighters and the military, beginning from March 1, as the country experiences the world's highest infection rate.
A Kosovar man is arrested for terrorism due to his ties to the Islamist al-Nusra Front in Syria.
regional intergovernmental political and economic union consisting of many Arab states of the Persian Gulf
The site is the most northern fort found by archaeologists, and believed to be a stationing port of Caligula’s failed invasion of Britain.
Syrian state media reports that Israel has bombed the Port of Latakia.
National Bureau of Investigation (Ukraine)
National Investigation agency of Ukraine
Egyptian blogger and activist Alaa Abdel Fattah is sentenced to five years in prison by Egyptian authorities for spreading fake news. His family continues to protest the verdict.
component of the criminal justice system of Pakistan
The United Kingdom reports a record for the second consecutive day of 119,789 new cases of COVID-19.
Islamist insurgency in the DR Congo and Uganda
Indian metropolis and union territory that includes New Delhi
president of the United States since 2021
Italy begins to implement the Super Green Pass, which allows a person to enter theatres, cinemas, music venues, sports events, restaurants and bars if they are vaccinated or have recovered from COVID-19 within the past six months.
Ugandan politician Bobi Wine is placed under house arrest in Magere, Wakiso District.
historic market town in Berkshire, England
Twenty-two militants are also killed and 17 more are captured.
Date: 19 July 2012 – ongoing (10 years, 6 months, 1 week and 1 day)
armed forces of the Syrian Interim Government
The United States announces a formal diplomatic boycott of the upcoming Winter Olympic Games in Beijing, China.
Israel reports its first confirmed death related to the SARS-CoV-2 Omicron variant in a man in his 60s with pre-existing health conditions who died at the Soroka Medical Center in Beersheba. The hospital later states that the death was actually because of the Delta variant.
The Andorran government announces a ten-day quarantine for all travelers coming from southern Africa countries.
agency of the US Department of Health and Human Services
The Turkish lira plunges to an all-time low of 17.0705 to the U.S. dollar, triggering a direct central bank intervention in the stock market. The lira has lost 55% of its value this year, including 37% in just the last 30 days. President Recep Erdoğan announces a 50% rise in the minimum wage from next year.
Chinese inactivated virus candidate vaccine against COVID-19
China reports its first confirmed case of the SARS-CoV-2 Omicron variant in a person who travelled to Tianjin from overseas on December 9.
Human rights groups and media outlets uncover a massacre of 30 civilians in Hpruso, Kayah State, that occurred the day before. Two Save the Children staff are also reported missing.
A vehicle carrying migrants crashes while trying to avoid a police check in Mórahalom, Hungary, killing seven people and injuring four more. The Serbian driver has been arrested.
Israeli warplanes launch overnight airstrikes in southern Syria, with missiles originating from the Golan Heights, killing a soldier and causing some material damage, according to a Syrian military official. Syrian air defences engaged the Israeli missiles, with most missiles reportedly intercepted.
The United States reports its first confirmed death related to the Omicron variant in an unvaccinated man in his 50s in Harris County, Texas who had underlying health issues.
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.
American football team in the National Football League
consolidated city-county in Colorado, United States
a mild chemical stimulant naturally found in some plants
sovereign state in northern South America
Colombia reports its first case of the Omicron variant in two Colombia people who travelled from the United States and a U.S.
Asa Coast Railway announces a dual-mode vehicle that can operate on roads and railways.
The White House says that no official delegation will be sent to the Games due to concerns regarding China's human rights record.
The United Kingdom reports a record for the third consecutive day of 93,045 new cases of COVID-19.
The Spanish Public Health Commission approves the usage of the Pfizer–BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine for children between the ages of 5 and 11 years.
hybrid vehicle that can operate on conventional road surfaces as well as a railway track or a dedicated track
Outgoing New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio announces a COVID-19 vaccine mandate for all private-sector employees, which will take effect on December 27.
American automotive, energy storage and solar power company
United Nations branch related to food-assistance
have been extended until January 14 due to concerns over the spread of the Omicron variant.
crime of killing of a human being by another human being, less serious than murder
Salafi jihadist militant Sunni Islamist group
Polish prime minister Mateusz Morawiecki receives a booster dose of the COVID-19 vaccine.
details of ongoing viral pandemic in Saudi Arabia
details of ongoing viral pandemic in the Czech Republic
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.
when a person is confined by the authorities to a certain residence
process of extracting gold from the ground
The Finnish Institute for Health and Welfare reissues a nationwide face mask mandate recommendation in public space and public transport for people aged above 12 years due to rising number of COVID-19 cases.
The government announces a series of new restrictions, including closing restaurants at 10 p.m.
ongoing indirect conflict between Iran and Israel
Shimon Peres Negev Nuclear Research Center
Seven Peshmerga fighters and three civilians are killed by Islamic State gunmen in a village in Makhmour, Erbil Governorate, Kurdistan Region, Iraq.
Ukraine alleges that the arrests and subsequent Russian media reporting are staged as part of Russian intelligence measures.
ongoing COVID-19 vaccine program in New Zealand
aerial warfare service branch of the British Armed Forces
If this is confirmed by the IDF, it would be the second airstrike on the facility this month.
beginning on December 27, discourage large-scale New Year's Eve celebrations, capacity restrictions of indoor and outdoor events, and imposing strict entry requirements for travellers from the UK, Denmark, Norway, and the Netherlands where the Omicron variant is already dominant in an effort to prevent the spread of COVID-19 and its variant.
Citizens in New Caledonia vote against independence and choose to remain part of France.
Poland and Lithuania join Ukraine in calling for stronger Western sanctions on Russia, with Polish President Andrzej Duda saying that "everything must be done" to prevent a potential Russian invasion of Ukraine, and that he was "absolutely against any policy of concessions to Russia".
largest city in California, United States of America
executive cabinet of the Republic of Austria
China reports 206 new cases of COVID-19 in the past 24 hours, which is the highest single-day total of new cases in 21 months, thereby bringing the nationwide total of confirmed cases to 101,077.
political and economic union of 27 European states
neighborhood of Ramat gan in Ramat Gan, Israel
details of ongoing viral pandemic in Slovenia
The lira has lost 55% of its value this year, including 37% in just the last 30 days.
transcontinental country straddling Western Asia and Southeastern Europe
Ugandan musician, activist, actor and politician
The NSW Government reintroduces mask-wearing in indoor settings, despite the state having a 93.5% vaccination rate.
The Standing Committee on Vaccination recommends the shortening of the interval between the second dose and booster dose of the COVID-19 vaccine to three months and urges all citizens over the age of 18 to receive a booster dose of an mRNA-based vaccine after receiving their first two doses in order to reduce the spread of the SARS-CoV-2 Omicron variant.
overview of the foreign relations of the Republic of China on Taiwan
Despite the number of cases caused by the Omicron variant reaching a record high, Spain reduces the isolation period for people who test positive for COVID-19 and the mandatory quarantine for people who had close contact with someone who tested positive to seven days due to staffing shortages and disruptions in some industries.
Kodiak, Alaska sets the highest temperature ever recorded in December in the state of Alaska, reaching 19.4 °C (66.9 °F). The Aleutian Islands and island communities in West Alaska have seen abnormally high temperatures since mid-December, including eight straight days of over 10 °C (50 °F) in Unalaska, including 13.3 °C (55.9 °F) on Christmas Day, the warmest Christmas temperature on record for the state. Temperature anomalies for late December reach 10–15 °C (18–27 °F) in some areas. The state also lately experiences unusually wet spells of weather.
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.
rescuer trained to extinguish hazardous fires
United Nations Economic Commission for Africa
United Nations Commission for economic cooperation among its member states
aircraft class designed or used for military duties
individual act constituting a serious violation of the laws of war
Despite the number of new cases caused by the Omicron variant reaching a record 98,030 cases, Italy completely lifts the mandatory quarantine for those who received COVID-19 vaccine booster shot and reduces it to five days for the vaccinated people whose most recent dose was more than 120 days before exposure.
sovereign state situated on an island in the Eastern Mediterranean Sea
details of ongoing viral outbreak in Argentina
Incidents involving multiple victims of firearms, not including robbery or familicide
Russia surpasses Brazil for the second highest Covid death toll in the world, with 658,634 deaths.
The French Army announces that they have killed Soumana Boura, a leading member of the Islamic State in the Greater Sahara, the previous day.
Madagascar's police minister Serge Gellé is rescued after swimming for 12 hours to shore after his helicopter crashed off the country's northern coast during the boat accident rescue operation.
most populous city in the United Arab Emirates
electromagnetic radiation of wavelength ranging from 10 pm to 10 nm
conflict between Gangs and the Nigerian government
Cambodia reports its first case of the Omicron variant in a 22-year-old woman who travelled from Ghana.
The judge cited that certain conditions have been met for his decision.
political ideologies supporting social equality and egalitarianism
death by suspension of a person by a noose or ligature around the neck
Four civilians are killed and four more are injured in an ISIL motorcycle bombing near a hospital in Basra, Iraq.
The Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency approves GSK and Vir Biotechnology's sotrovimab antibody treatment, after a clinical trial found that the treatment reduced the risk of hospital admission and death by 79% in vulnerable adults if administered within five days of symptoms developing.
Two hippos at Antwerp Zoo test positive for COVID-19 in Antwerp, Belgium.
The hospital later states that the death was actually because of the Delta variant.
in vitro method for producing large amounts of specific DNA or RNA fragments from small amounts of short oligonucleotide primers
Two law enforcement officers are injured.
missile that follows a sub-orbital ballistic flightpath
land force branch of the Syrian Armed Forces
These measures will begin on December 26.
ongoing coronavirus pandemic in Texas, United States
Israeli warplanes launch overnight airstrikes in southern Syria, with missiles originating from the Golan Heights, killing a soldier and causing some material damage, according to a Syrian military official.
head of the federal government of Belgium
States and federal territories of Malaysia
primary administrative division of Malaysia
His family continues to protest the verdict.
Food and Drug Administration (Philippines)
British socialite Ghislaine Maxwell, an associate of Jeffrey Epstein, is found guilty of sex trafficking by a court in New York City.
These measures will be in effect beginning on December 26.
bilateral relations between Algeria and Morocco
The Bundestag and Bundesrat approve a revised Infectious Disease Protection Act that would require healthcare workers and other health professionals to be vaccinated or to have recovered from COVID-19. The new legislation also requires the closure of bars, restaurants and theatres in high-risk areas, as well as the suspension of cultural and sporting events in those areas.
ongoing COVID-19 viral pandemic in India
Victoria, New South Wales, Queensland, South Australia and Tasmania all report record numbers of new cases.
President of the Federated States of Micronesia (2019-present)
The Therapeutic Goods Administration provisionally approves the usage of the Pfizer–BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine for children between the ages of 5 and 11 years. Vaccination rollout for this age group will begin on January 10, once ATAGI gives its recommendation.
Chaz Mostert and Lee Holdsworth win the 2021 Bathurst 1000 in Bathurst, New South Wales, Australia.
details of ongoing viral pandemic in Victoria, Australia
act of voluntarily abstaining from using, buying, or dealing with a person, organization, or country
family of Russian military transport helicopters
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.
Two soldiers and four civilians are killed in clashes between the Kurdish SDF and the Turkish-backed SNA in Tell Tamer.
Turkmenistan becomes one of the first countries to approve the usage of the single-dose Sputnik Light COVID-19 vaccine.
New South Wales reports a record 5,715 cases of COVID-19 in the past 24 hours, with the SARS-CoV-2 Omicron variant becoming the dominant strain in the state. The NSW Government reintroduces mask-wearing in indoor settings, despite the state having a 93.5% vaccination rate.
The Dominican Republic reports its first case of the SARS-CoV-2 Omicron variant.
South Korea reports a record 109 deaths from COVID-19 in the past 24 hours, thereby bringing the nationwide death toll to 5,015.
Queen of the Netherlands from 1980 to 2013
An improvised explosive device is discovered in the personal vehicle of a Turkish police officer who was to be part of the security detail for a rally in Siirt featuring Turkish President Recep Erdoğan.
It is one of the deadliest single-day attack against the militia.
The incident is part of a wider increase in tensions between the two countries.
A court in Hanoi, Vietnam, sentences two Facebook users to lengthy jail sentences for "conducting propaganda against the state".
COVID-19 passports in the United Kingdom
Pro-independence parties boycotted the referendum in order to protest the alleged lack of time to campaign.
region of Brazil, composed of nine states
Date: 3 November 2020 – 3 November 2022 (2 years)
President Joe Biden signs the Uyghur Forced Labor Prevention Act into law banning imports from China's Xinjiang region citing concerns about the use of forced labour. China denies human rights abuses in Xinjiang.
Vaccination rollout for this age group will begin on January 10, once ATAGI gives its recommendation.
Pro-democracy digital media website Stand News shuts down in Hong Kong as police raids its offices and arrest senior executives.
France imposes a ban on British citizens from entering the country without compelling reasons due to the spread of the SARS-CoV-2 Omicron variant in the United Kingdom.
France imposes a ban on British citizens from entering the country without compelling reasons due to the spread of the SARS-CoV-2 Omicron variant in the United Kingdom. French and EU citizens returning from the UK must self-isolate for seven days unless they show a negative COVID-19 test result on arrival, which will reduce the self-isolation to 48 hours.
East Asia, Southeast Asia and Micronesia
city in Democratic Republic of the Congo
combustible fuel containing hydrocarbons formed by natural processes such as anaerobic decomposition of buried dead organisms, examples being coal, petroleum and natural gas
summary of bilateral relations between Belarus and other countries
The United Kingdom's Ministry of Defence says a Royal Air Force Typhoon has shot down a "small hostile drone" over Syria.
for at-risk patients with symptoms, becoming the first EU country to authorize the usage of this drug.
This comes after the health ministry issued an emergency use authorization for the vaccine.
temporary work stoppage or denial of employment initiated by the management of a company during a labor dispute
hinged cover over the engine of motor vehicles
Chinese pro-democracy movement and subsequent massacre
type of ethnic group consisting of native peoples of the Australian continent and Torres Strait Islands
The study excludes the Omicron variant, which was not in circulation at the time of the clinical trials.
city of district significance of Ukraine
administration of a vaccine to protect against disease
exercises executive authority in the State of Israel
The parents of Ethan Crumbley, James and Jennifer Crumbley, accused of terrorism and murder in the shooting deaths and injuries at Ethan's school, are charged with manslaughter for their role in the incident.
executive department of the U.S. federal government
international agreement between the United States and the Pacific Island nations of the Federated States of Micronesia, the Marshall Islands, and Palau
Legislative, executive and judiciary powers of Greece
Russia has accused Ukrainian intelligence of financially funding the group.
The European Commission announces a binding proposal that will make the EU Digital COVID Certificate only valid for travel within the European Union for nine months without a booster dose after a person's primary vaccination schedule in order to standardize different travel requirements in the member states.
self-governing Palestinian territory next to Egypt and Israel
NASA robotic space probe to probe the outer corona of the Sun
neighborhood in municipality of Rio de Janeiro in Brazil
New South Wales reports a record 5,715 cases of COVID-19 in the past 24 hours, with the SARS-CoV-2 Omicron variant becoming the dominant strain in the state.
Prime Minister Xavier Espot tests positive for COVID-19 with mild symptoms.
In basketball, the Memphis Grizzlies defeat the Oklahoma City Thunder 152–79, making it the largest blowout in the history of the National Basketball Association.
municipality of Sololá Department, Guatemala
Heavy floods continue to affect eight Malaysian states for the third day, killing 14 people and partially submerging several towns and villages.
Argentina approves the usage of the single-dose Sputnik Light COVID-19 vaccine as a standalone vaccine and as a booster dose.
non-governmental organization based in the United Kingdom
health care facility, for individual buildings use hospital building, for organizations use medical organization
regulatory body for therapeutic goods (including medicines, medical devices, gene technology, and blood products) in Australia
The French Army announces that they have killed Soumana Boura, a leading member of the Islamic State in the Greater Sahara, the previous day. Boura was involved in the killings of six French aid workers and their two Nigerien guides in a mass shooting in August 2020 in Kouré, Niger.
A trial of a plant-based COVID-19 vaccine conducted by GSK and Medicago shows an overall 71% efficacy against disease caused by the predominant SARS-CoV-2 variants of concern observed during most of 2021, and 75% efficacy specifically against disease caused by Delta.
Yatong–Langkhao, Oting, Mon District, Nagaland, India
impact of the COVID-19 pandemic by topic
British Prime Minister Boris Johnson announces new "Plan B" restrictions that include working from home for those who can beginning on December 13, and an extension of mandatory face mask wearing to more indoor venues beginning on December 10. The restrictions also include usage of the mandatory NHS COVID pass in order to enter nightclubs and other venues with large crowds, as well as daily tests for people who had contact with a person who tested positive for the Omicron variant.
Palestinian Sunni-Islamist organization that governs the Gaza strip, with an associated military wing. The group is recognized as a terrorist organization.
Penalty shoot-out (association football)
method used in association football to decide the winner of a drawn match
The South African Health Products Regulatory Authority approves the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine booster dose for people over the age of 18 that can be administered six months after their second dose, as well as immunocompromised people aged above 12 years that can be administered 28 days after their second dose.
The air raid targeted six sites, including places used for "launching drone attacks", according to a statement from the coalition.
suburban area within the London Borough of Hillingdon
Greece reports its first case of the SARS-CoV-2 Omicron variant in a man who travelled from South Africa to Crete.
British multinational pharmaceutical and biotechnology company
The app logs a person's presence at 18 types of premises, including bars and restaurants, and enables tracing of infections if an outbreak is reported.
use of excessive force by a police officer
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.
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.
Major League Baseball Players Association
Ireland introduces an 8:00 p.m. closure time for bars and restaurants, restricts the capacity of most indoor and outdoor events to 50%, and allows a maximum of 100 guests for weddings in order to reduce the spread of the Omicron variant.
One-hundred and six members of a Ukrainian "neo-Nazi" youth group are arrested in Russia, suspected of planning attacks, including mass murders.
It is the first enemy aircraft shot down by an RAF pilot since the Falklands War.
shared transportation service for use by the general public
Al-Hasakah Governorate, Raqqa Governorate, Aleppo Governorate, Deir ez-Zor Governorate, Syria
Prelude to the 2022 Russian invasion of Ukraine
Russian preparation for the invasion since March 2021
land force component of the Armed Forces of Ukraine
experimental anti-COVID-19 drug developed by Regeneron
sikh religious site in Amritsar, Punjab, India
October–November 2021 Sudanese coup d'état
Successful coup against the Sovereignty Council of Sudan
details of ongoing viral pandemic in Kuwait
epidemic of infectious disease that has spread across a large region with global health impact
overview of the observance of human rights in Russia
electric sedan produced and sold by Tesla Motors
civil conflict that began in November 2020 in the Tigray Region of Ethiopia
Ontario reports 8,825 new COVID-19 cases in the past 24 hours, bringing the total number of cases since March 2020 to 715,405.
series of major floods that has been affecting eight different states in Malaysia
ongoing multi-sided civil war in Syria since 2011
The seven day average of child hospitalizations reaches a record level, with 378 children under 18 admitted each day.
American man-portable fire-and-forget anti-tank missile
district in Bangladesh's Barisal Division
human settlement in United States of America
A surfer is killed an apparent shark attack in Morro Bay, off the coast of California, United States.
Al-Shabaab has claimed responsibility for the attack.
This comes after the FDA authorized the usage of the Pfizer–BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine as a booster dose for people in that age group.
German Chancellor Olaf Scholz and 16 state premiers agree to tighten the restrictions beginning on December 28, including limiting the number of people in private gatherings to 10 and banning spectators at large-scale musical, sporting and cultural events due to concerns related to the spread of the Omicron variant.
Portugal reports a record for the third consecutive day of 28,659 new cases of COVID-19.
Jihadists ambush an army patrol near the town of Nara in Koulikoro Region, Mali, killing four soldiers and injuring more than a dozen others.
South Australia reports a record 842 new cases in the past 24 hours. The state also reports their first death from COVID-19 since April 2020 in a 92-year-old woman.
Thailand reinstates its mandatory hotel quarantine for all incoming foreign travellers and suspends the "sandbox" program for places other than Phuket after the country reported its first locally transmitted case of the SARS-CoV-2 Omicron variant.
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.
outdoor assembly of people carrying candles, held after sunset in order to show support for a specific cause
The China-only version of the service, launched in February of this year, remains accessible.
The Philippine Food and Drug Administration reduces the interval of the COVID-19 vaccine booster dose to three months for people who received a two-dose vaccine and two months for people who received a single-dose vaccine in order to reduce the effects of variants.
102nd season of the National Football League (NFL)
British military intervention in Iraq and Syria
President Joe Biden signs the Uyghur Forced Labor Prevention Act into law banning imports from China's Xinjiang region citing concerns about the use of forced labour.
group of centre-right political parties in Australia
constituent country of the United Kingdom
one of the Senior Courts of England and Wales
Prime Minister of the United Kingdom from 2019 to 2022
National Bolivarian Armed Forces of Venezuela
interim government in Western Asia, governing West Bank Areas A and B since 1994 and, until 2006, the Gaza Strip
Grass fires in Colorado, United States, prompt the evacuation of the town of Superior and the cities of Louisville and Broomfield.
Mexico reports its first case of the SARS-CoV-2 Omicron variant in a 51-year-old man who travelled from South Africa.
China denies human rights abuses in Xinjiang.
Turkey begins to roll-out its domestically-developed Turkovac inactive vaccine as part of its COVID-19 vaccination program. This comes after the health ministry issued an emergency use authorization for the vaccine.
migration of people across national borders in a way that violates the immigration laws of the destination country
The Australian Government pays a A$2,000,000 settlement to the Shire of Ngaanyatjarraku to end a class action lawsuit in the Federal Court over the controversial Community Development Program, which saw unemployed Ngaanyatjarra and other Indigenous Australian people in remote communities working up to 25 hours a week otherwise unpaid in order to receive the JobSeeker payment, which is generally considered to be less than the cost of living and which is provided to other Australians in exchange for completing a fortnightly quota of job applications.
includes companies that produce cigarettes, cigars, smoking tobacco, snuff, chewing tobacco, snuff or bidis
systematic or threatened use of violence to create a general climate of fear
A light plane crashes off Australia's east coast of Queensland, killing all four people on board, including two children.
Ecuador's Minister of Public Health announces that the COVID-19 vaccination will be mandatory for all citizens over the age of 5 years unless they have a medical exemption due to the spread of SARS-CoV-2 variants and an increase in the number of new cases.
Germany administers a record 1.5 million doses of the COVID-19 vaccine in the past 24 hours.
Major League Baseball implements a lockout after the collective bargaining agreement they had with the Major League Baseball Players Association expired yesterday. This is the league's first labor stoppage since the players' strike of 1994 and 1995.
President Andry Rajoelina hails Gellé's survival.
executive organ of the Government of Italy
central business district of Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
capital city and smallest province of Indonesia
The Bundestag and Bundesrat approve a revised Infectious Disease Protection Act that would require healthcare workers and other health professionals to be vaccinated or to have recovered from COVID-19.
Algeria begins to implement vaccine passports as a precondition for people to enter or leave the country and also for people to enter a wide range of public venues such as sports facilities, theatres and museums as part of an attempt to increase the country's low COVID-19 vaccination rate.
district in the Central Region of Uganda
European Windstorm Barra causes at least 56,000 power outages across the United Kingdom and Ireland.
influenza caused by viruses adapted to birds
Secondary explosions are believed to be from Iranian munitions stored at the facility.
Chief of Defence Staff Bipin Rawat and 12 other people are killed when their Indian Air Force Mi-17V-5 crashes near Coonoor, Tamil Nadu, while flying from Sulur Air Force Station to Wellington.
Faction of the Islámic State in the Sahara Desert
Nepal reports its first two cases of the SARS-CoV-2 Omicron variant in a 71-year-old Nepali national and a 66-year-old foreigner.
action where a vessel turns on to its side or is upside down
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.
The governments of Uganda and the Democratic Republic of the Congo reveal that they have captured 35 rebels and destroyed numerous enemy strongholds within the past week.
109th mayor of New York City from 2014 to 2022
constituent political entity of the United States of America
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.
Russia demands that NATO end all military activity in Eastern Europe and never admit Ukraine as a member of the military alliance, saying that they want a legally binding guarantee to end further eastward expansion. Other demands include a Russian veto on Ukrainian membership in NATO, the removal of U.S. nuclear weapons from Europe, and the withdrawal of multinational NATO battalions from Poland and the Baltics.
ongoing immunization against SARS-CoV-2 in Mexico
sovereign state in Oceania, situated on an archipelago
series of events relating to legal proceedings by the United Kingdom, Sweden and United States of America against Julian Assange
The health ministry also purchases 600,000 doses of the two-dose Sputnik V COVID-19 vaccine.
2010s migrant crisis in the European Union
city in the South Governorate of Lebanon, also an ancient Phoenician city and the legendary birthplace of Europa and Elissa (Dido)
New York City FC defeats the Portland Timbers 4–2 in a penalty shoot-out, winning their first title.
combined military forces of the Syrian Arab Republic
State government of New South Wales, Australia
The Soroka Medical Center in Beersheba clarifies that the man thought to be Israel's first Omicron death had actually had the SARS-CoV-2 Delta variant, following the final laboratory results regarding his condition.
Russian historical and civil rights society
France reports a record 179,807 new cases of COVID-19 in the past 24 hours.
These measures will be in effect until at least January 7.
Hundreds of insurgents on motorcycles attack an international military base in Tillabéri.
The London High Court accepts an appeal from the U.S. government to extradite WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange to the United States. The judge cited that certain conditions have been met for his decision. However, the extradition will not take place immediately as Assange has a right to appeal the decision. Assange's fiancée says that they will appeal the decision "at the earliest possible moment".
militant group and branch of the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant
without special permission beginning on December 22 due to the spread of the SARS-CoV-2 Omicron variant.
a set of heights, that are having ongoing territorial disputes between Israel and Syria
The interval between the second dose and the booster dose of the COVID-19 vaccine will also be reduced to three months in response to the rapid spread of the Omicron variant.
The French overseas territory of Martinique orders a nightly 8 p.m.
overview about face masks during the COVID-19 pandemic
crewed vehicle or uncrewed machine designed to fly in outer space
intergovernmental military alliance between 30 member states
Four Burundian soldiers are killed as their vehicle hit a roadside bomb in Burane, Somalia. Al-Shabaab has claimed responsibility for the attack.
Australia reports a record 3,837 new cases of COVID-19 in the past 24 hours, including a record 2,213 cases in New South Wales.
The mandate will last until at least January 15.
Former Ukrainian President and oligarch Petro Poroshenko leaves Ukraine on a "pre-planned diplomatic tour" of Turkey and Poland after the National Bureau of Investigation attempts to issue a summons regarding charges of abetting terrorism.
Thailand reports its first case of the SARS-CoV-2 Omicron variant in a 38-year-old U.S.
attacks against foreigners in South Africa
December 2021 European windstorm in Europe
island in the Lesser Antilles, overseas region and department of France
expendable weapons or weapon components dispersed from a weapon system, such as bombs, missiles, mines and projectiles
South Australia reports a record 842 new cases in the past 24 hours.
cabinet-level ministry overseeing justice affairs in South Korea
head of government and of the Council of Ministers of France
in-progress vaccinations that may prevent or treat HIV infections
South Africa's head of state and head of government
Germany from 1933 to 1945 while under control of the Nazi Party
regulating health entity of the South African Department of Health
armed conflicts that started from January 2012
The National Football League reports their first case of the Omicron variant in a Washington Football Team staffer.
It is the first decisive result in a regulation World Chess Championship game in more than 5 years and is also the longest game in World Chess Championship history.
United Nations–African Union Mission in Darfur
Six soldiers from Niger and Nigeria are killed and 16 others are wounded during a fight with ISWAP militants in the Lake Chad region of Borno State, Nigeria. Twenty-two militants are also killed and 17 more are captured.
motor vehicle designed to carry liquefied loads, dry bulk cargo or gases on roads
collective grouping of all French-administered territories and collectivities outside Europe
a pathological attraction to dead bodies, especially sexual attraction or intercourse
details of ongoing viral outbreak in the Republic of Ireland
ongoing COVID-19 viral pandemic in Hungary
3rd president of the United Arab Emirates
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".
agreement between employers and employees
executive aircraft family by Gulfstream Aerospace
It is the first Israeli attack on the facility through which Iran and Hezbollah import weapons into Syria.
The majority of the victims are women who were on their way to work at the local market.
process of returning an asset, an item, or a person to its owner or their place of origin or citizenship
part of the United Kingdom situated on the island of Ireland
Date: 30 January 2020 – ongoing (2 years, 11 months and 4 weeks)
One woman is killed and two women are in a critical condition in Sydney's Royal North Shore Hospital after a "large" pine tree fell in Narrabeen.
German politician (SPD) and 9th Federal Chancellor of Germany (since 2021)
district of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan
exhibition centre in Glasgow, Scotland, UK
Truth, Reconciliation and Reparations Commission
It is now the deadliest year on record for killings of teenagers, surpassing a previous peak of 29 homicides in 2008.
Date: 26 February 2003 – present (19 years, 11 months, 2 weeks and 3 days)
collision of a vehicle with another vehicle, pedestrian, animal, or other object
continent, mainly on the Earth's southwestern quadrant
The EMA and the ECDC approves the mixing and matching of two different COVID-19 vaccines for both initial and booster doses.
South Korea surpasses 500,000 cases of COVID-19.
American sex offender and financier (1953–2019)
Italy reports 103 deaths of COVID-19 in the past 24 hours, making it the deadliest toll since June 8.
Oman's Supreme Committee announces that all incoming expatriates over the age of 18 years who want to enter the country must show proof of at least two doses of the COVID-19 vaccine as well as a negative PCR test from the previous 72 hours.
ongoing COVID-19 viral pandemic in Iceland
partially recognized country in southeastern Europe
Holiday originating in Christianity, usually December 25
Premier of Quebec François Legault announces a curfew between 10 p.m. to 5 a.m. on New Year's Eve, bans private gatherings involving more than one household bubble, and closing dine-in restaurants amid the spread of COVID-19 cases caused by the Omicron variant.
epidemiological intervention of restriction on the movement of people and goods, which is intended to prevent the spread of infectious disease or pests
Date: 13 November 1996 – present (26 years)
desert and semidesert region of southern Israel
armed conflict involving Pakistan and armed militant groups
New Zealand moves COVID-19 traffic light settings for Auckland from red to orange, allowing bars, restaurants and cafes that enforce the vaccine pass requirement to remove crowd size limits and requirements to sit down, despite fears of community transmission of the Omicron variant.
Magnus Carlsen defeats challenger Ian Nepomniachtchi in Game 6 of the 2021 World Chess Championship in a marathon 136 move game.
United Kingdom government department responsible for implementing the defence policy
While responding to multiple reports of a violent assault suspect at a Los Angeles clothing store, LAPD officers fired upon one male subject. Valentina Orellana-Peralta was sheltering with her mother and other patrons and was killed by an errant shot. Valentina and the suspect both succumbed to their injuries in the store. Several patrons were injured by the suspect prior to officers' arrival. [1]
ongoing COVID-19 viral pandemic in California, United States
A court in Benin sentences opposition leader Reckya Madougou to 20 years in prison after finding her guilty of "financing terrorism".
details of ongoing viral outbreak in Turkey
use of violence as a form of political, economic and religious coercion
Malta reports its first two cases of the SARS-CoV-2 Omicron variant, prompting the health ministry to ban all standing events except for weddings and funerals beginning on December 17 and restrict entry to the hospitality sector and sporting events to only those with a valid vaccine certificate.
Hernández was responsible for the 2003 El Nogal Club bombing that killed 36 people and injured over 200 others.
armed conflict between the Republic of Turkey and various Kurdish insurgent groups
diplomatic relations between the French Republic and the United Arab Emirates
bilateral relations between the two countries
President Recep Erdoğan announces a 50% rise in the minimum wage from next year.
The first eruption killed at least 46 people on December 4.
militias and armed volunteer groups affiliated with the Union of Novorossiya
details of ongoing viral outbreak in the United Arab Emirates
The Cook Islands reports its first case of COVID-19 in a 10-year-old boy who travelled on a repatriation flight from New Zealand with his family on December 1 and is in quarantine.
Four Burundian soldiers are killed as their vehicle hit a roadside bomb in Burane, Somalia.
JTWC classification for a typhoon with 1-min sustained winds of 64-129 knots
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.
US research institute for the treatment and prevention of infectious diseases
On the boundary between the East China Sea and the Philippine Sea
ongoing COVID-19 viral pandemic in Metro Manila in the Philippines
A massive Roman castrum dated to the reign of Caligula is discovered in Velsen, Netherlands. The site is the most northern fort found by archaeologists, and believed to be a stationing port of Caligula’s failed invasion of Britain.
Russian viral vector vaccine based on human adenovirus
Indian soldiers of the Assam Rifles mistakenly open fire on a group of miners returning home from work in Nagaland, believing them to be militants.
details of ongoing pandemic in New York City
citizen who had travelled from Spain nearly a week ago.
Video camera attached to the back of the vehicle, used for backing up
Somalia's presential residence and office
Israeli governmental ministry responsible for military and national defense matters'
province of Indonesia, on island of Java
highest position in the Eastern Orthodox Church
Siaosi Sovaleni becomes prime minister-designate of Tonga.
representative of the voters to a parliament
It is the first fatal shark attack in the area since 2003.
specialized agency of the United Nations that is concerned with international public health
At midnight, terrestrial transport between Argentina and Uruguay reopens as buses resume service to border crossings between the two countries.
ongoing COVID-19 viral pandemic in Cyprus
human rights violations in the Philippines
Australia reports a record for the ninth consecutive day of 18,243 new cases of COVID-19, thereby bringing the nationwide total of confirmed cases to 341,437.
Australian Technical Advisory Group on Immunisation
city and county seat of Cook County, Illinois, United States of America
The Seimas votes 89–17 with 19 abstentions to approve a law that would require MPs to have a health pass, which shows proof of vaccination, a negative test result from the previous 72 hours, or that a person has recovered from COVID-19, in order to attend hearings beginning in January.
supersonic combustion of an explosive material
Boulder County, Colorado, in the towns of Superior and Louisville
Oman's Supreme Committee announces that all incoming expatriates over the age of 18 years who want to enter the country must show proof of at least two doses of the COVID-19 vaccine as well as a negative PCR test from the previous 72 hours. They also announce that the ban on travelers from South Africa, Botswana, Zimbabwe, Namibia, Lesotho, Eswatini, and Mozambique will be lifted.
failure to meet the legal obligations of a loan (e.g. by suspending payments)
London-based international non-profit organization
details of ongoing viral outbreak in Iran
Israel's government agrees to ban all travel to Germany, Italy, Belgium, Hungary, Morocco, Portugal, Canada, Switzerland, Turkey, and the U.S.
capital of Solomon Islands, on the tropical island Guadalcanal
India is targeting 100% COVID-19 adult vaccination by December 31.
head of state and head of government of the United States of America
American professional basketball team based in Oklahoma City, United States
ongoing COVID-19 viral pandemic in Bolivia
amusement park that features pools with water play areas
ongoing COVID-19 viral pandemic in Sweden
on New Year's Eve, bans private gatherings involving more than one household bubble, and closing dine-in restaurants amid the spread of COVID-19 cases caused by the Omicron variant.
Date(s): December 30, 2021–January 1, 2022 (2 days)
overseas department of France in South America
vaccine that transfects synthetic RNA to reprogram cells to make foreign protein that stimulates an adaptive immune response
Act of the Parliament of India, original name Armed Forces (Assam and Manipur) Special Powers Act, 1958; renamed by Act 7 of 1972
period of Imperial Rome following the Roman Republic (27 BC–395 AD)
largest city in Pennsylvania, United States
Paris begins to implement mandatory outdoor mask wearing for people over the age of 11 years. This comes as France reports a substantial increase in new cases of the Omicron variant nationwide.
Saudi war against Houthis in Yemen launched in 2015
lower house in the Parliament of the United Kingdom
Former State Counsellor of Myanmar and Leader of the National League for Democracy
390 Victoria Street, Darlinghurst, New South Wales, Australia
combat operations and doctrine designed to nullify or reduce the effectiveness of hostile air action
Ministry of Internal Administration (Portugal)
However, the extradition will not take place immediately as Assange has a right to appeal the decision.
general election to the 20th German Bundestag
Two soldiers are killed and others are wounded during an attack at a security post by Islamic extremists in Porga, Benin.
ongoing COVID-19 viral pandemic in Algeria
capital city of North Santander, Colombia
district in Central Jakarta City, Jakarta Province, Indonesia
The Italian government announces a ban of New Year's Eve celebrations as well as all mass gatherings and closes nightclubs and bars until the end of January.
SEC Centre, Glasgow, Scotland, United Kingdom
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.
Part of the Islamist insurgency in the Sahel
country in Northwestern Europe with territories in the Caribbean
British socialite and criminal, daughter of Robert Maxwell
overview of the foreign relations of China
employment of military resources in training for military operations
large form of the traditional grocery store
most populous metropolitan area in the United States
One inmate was the perpetrator of a 2004 mass stabbing in which he killed seven of his relatives.
It is the second confirmed Islamic extremist attack in the country's history.
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.
United States Compact of Free Association: Palau Marshall Islands Micronesia
International sanctions during the Russo-Ukrainian War
sanctions against Russia after its annexation of Crimea in early 2014
active ingredient in alcoholic beverages
Trust with complete autonomy of trustees
island sovereign state in the Caribbean Sea
aircraft class designed to engage other aircraft in air-to-air combat
National legislature of the Solomon Islands
A night curfew is imposed in North Darfur, Sudan, after armed groups looted and burned a United Nations World Food Programme warehouse and UNAMID facilities in Al-Fashir, stealing around 1,900 tonnes of food.
Beijing's ongoing freeze on ministerial contact
New York City, New York, United States New York Metropolitan Area (depending on criteria of study)
details of ongoing viral pandemic in Mongolia
The new legislation also requires the closure of bars, restaurants and theatres in high-risk areas, as well as the suspension of cultural and sporting events in those areas.
tensions between the United States and China or Russia post-1991
ethnolinguistic group of people in Myanmar and Thailand
shooting that occurred on November 30, 2021
launch of an Ariane 5 carrying the James Webb Space Telescope
company that provides air transport services for traveling passengers and freight
Ongoing coronavirus pandemic in New Zealand
metrics related to an individual's characteristics
geopolitical area under the jurisdiction of the People's Republic of China, excluding Special Administrative Regions
This comes after the country reported a record 9,284 new cases of COVID-19 in the past 24 hours.
70th edition of the Miss Universe competition
Responses to the ongoing COVID-19 viral pandemic in the European Union
ocean between Europe, Africa and the Americas
extra administration of vaccine after initial administration
Catalonia reimposes a curfew between 1 a.m. and 6 a.m. in municipalities where the infection rate surpasses 250 cases per 100,000 inhabitants, limits the number of people in social gatherings to 10, closes nightclubs, and restricts the capacity of the hospitality sector due to the spread of the SARS-CoV-2 Omicron variant. These measures will be in effect until at least January 7.
Kampala (first and fourth attacks) Mpigi District (second attack) Nakaseke District (third attack)
First minister Mark Drakeford announces new restrictions, including limiting the number of people in events to 50 people outdoors and 30 people indoors, no more than six people in a group at bars, restaurants, and cinemas, and imposing a face mask mandate due to the spread of the SARS-CoV-2 Omicron variant.
The case has been highly controversial, with a judge in the case fleeing to France and denouncing the case as "entirely politically motivated".
diagnostic testing for the respiratory illness COVID-19 and the underlying pathogen SARS-CoV-2 coronavirus
Australian government welfare program requiring work to receive benefits
details of ongoing viral outbreak in South Africa
Federal Commission for the Protection against Sanitary Risk
man-portable weapon designed to attack tanks and armored targets firing an unguided rocket
one's current state of health, usually within a hospital
Date: November 17, 2019 – present (3 years and 2 months)
immunisation programme against COVID-19 in Africa
American multinational pharmaceutical corporation
The Hong Kong government says that the news site's assets have been frozen and that more arrests could occur.
Jalan HBR Motik, Kemayoran District, Central Jakarta, Jakarta, Indonesia
domesticated bird kept by humans primarily as a food source
soldier or operative of an elite light infantry or special operations force; commando unit
third Roman emperor (AD 12-41) (r. AD 37-41)
incident where some group is killed by another
The Greek government announces new restrictions that will be in effect from January 3 until at least January 16, which include mandatory high-protection or double mask wearing in supermarkets and on public transport, closure of entertainment and hospitality venues at midnight, reinstating work from home policies for up to 50% of employees, and reducing the capacity of sports stadiums to 10%.
overview of real estate in the People's Republic of China
Tornado outbreak that occurred in March 1890 in the mid Mississippi Valley.
The National Bureau of Investigation claims that Poroshenko was involved in looting national resources from the temporarily occupied territories of Ukraine.
journey or search of moral or spiritual significance
1858–1947 British colonial rule on the Indian subcontinent
human mortality as a result of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19)
offices held over time by the head of government of Germany
American association football club based in New York City, United States
sovereign state in South Asia, situated on an archipelago in the Arabian Sea
United States federal executive department
details of ongoing viral pandemic in Portugal
military and political conflict in northern Syria
Major League Baseball implements a lockout after the collective bargaining agreement they had with the Major League Baseball Players Association expired yesterday.
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 scientific committee (Pevolca) of the Canary Islands government declares that the Cumbre Vieja volcano's eruptions on La Palma island stopped after 10 days of inactivity.
autonomous community of Spain, situated in the northwest part of the country
individual who provides medical treatments and health advice
sea located east and northeast of the Philippines
The Nagaland Legislative Assembly publicly demands that the Government of India repeal the Armed Forces Special Powers Act, which has been in effect since 1958.
attack in which the attacker knows they will die
FARC members continuing to fight since 2016
Gunmen ambush a column of a civilian militia in Loroum, Burkina Faso, killing 41 people.
divides the territories of Afghanistan and Iran
The two men sign a major arms deal between the two nations.
Prime Minister of Australia from 2018 to 2022
Work from home will be mandated where possible, and outdoor mask wearing will be mandatory in city centres.
public entity for the trading of company stocks and shares
A vehicle carrying migrants crashes while trying to avoid a police check in Mórahalom, Hungary, killing seven people and injuring four more.
natural, surface vent or fissure usually in a mountainous form
Singapore reports no deaths from COVID-19 in the past 24 hours for the first time since September 19.
bilateral relations between Australia and China
administrative division of the Federal Republic of Germany
conflict over the Kashmir region between India, Pakistan and China
They are caught after fleeing the police.
United States civil space and aeronautics agency
and allows entry to non-essential venues for those with a negative COVID-19 test as the number of cases declines.
The government announces plans to make COVID-19 vaccination compulsory for the general population, setting a minimum age of 14 years and requiring unvaccinated persons to pay fines of up to 3,600 euros every three months.
ethnic group native to Greece, Cyprus, Albania, Italy, Turkey, Egypt and, to a lesser extent, other countries surrounding the Mediterranean Sea
laboratory analysis performed on a blood sample
preventative and therapeutic medications for COVID-19 infection
The country also reduces the mandatory quarantine for asymptomatic people who test positive from COVID-19 and high-risk contacts to seven days due to concerns about the spread of the Omicron variant.
curfew beginning tomorrow amid a worsening situation of the COVID-19 epidemic in the territory.
The death toll in the Philippines from Typhoon Rai increases to 375.
sovereign state in Eastern Europe and Northern Asia
capital of Basra Governorate, in southern Iraq
Town found in the Atakora Department of Benin.
1,000-kilometre (620 mi) touring car race held annually in Bathurst, New South Wales, Australia
substance used to stimulate the production of antibodies and provide immunity against one or several diseases, prepared from the causative agent of a disease, its products, or a synthetic substitute
Date: 27 January 2020 – ongoing (3 years, 2 weeks and 3 days)
nuclear weapons from Europe, and the withdrawal of multinational NATO battalions from Poland and the Baltics.
head of government or prime minister of Ireland
bilateral relations between Russia and Belarus
psychoactive herb from the Cannabis plant used for medical or recreational purposes
The Therapeutic Goods Administration provisionally approves the usage of the Pfizer–BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine for children between the ages of 5 and 11 years.
details of ongoing viral pandemic in Queensland, Australia
ongoing war in Eastern Europe since 2014
head of state of the RSFSR (office established in 1991) and Russia
Russian police arrest two allies of opposition politician and activist Alexei Navalny, Kseniya Fadeyeva and Zakhar Sarapulov, under extremism charges.
14-Year-Old Valentina Orellana-Peralta killed in LAPD response
Date: 16 September 2014 – present (8 years, 4 months, 1 week and 4 days)
Date: 27 December 2020 (2 years, 1 month and 16 days)
Three inmates in Japan are executed by hanging, marking the first executions in the country in nearly two years.
Iraqi insurgency since the defeat of ISIL
A state in the northern part of Nigeria
material or logistical assistance for people in need
head of state and of government of the U.S. commonwealth of Kentucky
The requirement will be extended to all age groups from January 15.