COVID-19 pandemic in Australia Prime Minister Scott Morrison announces that all states and territories in Australia will reopen their borders by Christmas, with the exception of Western Australia. (9 News)
COVID-19 pandemic in New Zealand The Auckland CBD reopens after contact tracing of a new case revealed it was linked to a known case from a border isolation facility, reversing an earlier call for people to work from home. (RNZ)
COVID-19 pandemic in Oceania COVID-19 pandemic in Australia Prime Minister Scott Morrison announces that all states and territories in Australia will reopen their borders by Christmas, with the exception of Western Australia. (9 News) COVID-19 pandemic in New Zealand The Auckland CBD reopens after contact tracing of a new case revealed it was linked to a known case from a border isolation facility, reversing an earlier call for people to work from home. (RNZ)
COVID-19 pandemic in Australia, travel restrictions related to the COVID-19 pandemic Western Australia reopens its hard border for the first time in seven months after it was closed due to restrictions related to the COVID-19 pandemic. (ABC Australia)
Western Australia reopens its hard border for the first time in seven months after it was closed due to restrictions related to the COVID-19 pandemic. (ABC Australia)
2020 Atlantic hurricane season Iota becomes Hurricane Iota and is forecast to hit Central America. Nicaragua issues hurricane warnings near the border with Honduras while Honduras also issues warnings, whereas Colombia issues a warning to the islands of San Andrés and Providencia. (CNN)
Iota becomes Hurricane Iota and is forecast to hit Central America. Nicaragua issues hurricane warnings near the border with Honduras while Honduras also issues warnings, whereas Colombia issues a warning to the islands of San Andrés and Providencia. (CNN)
COVID-19 pandemic in Australia South Australia reports four new cases through community transmissions linked to a supermarket and a hospital in the northern suburbs of Adelaide, leading to fears of a second wave in the state. In response, Western Australia reimposes hard border controls with South Australia. (News.com.au)
Capital punishment in Iraq Iraq hangs 21 convicted terrorists and murderers at the Nasiriyah Central Prison in Nasiriyah, Dhi Qar Governorate. The interior ministry did not provide details of the crimes of those executed but stated they were all convicted under a 2005 counter-terrorism law. (DW)
COVID-19 pandemic in Australia The Northern Territory, Queensland, and Tasmania announce that their borders with South Australia are indefinitely closed, as the state's second wave reaches 17 cases. (News.com.au)
Iraq hangs 21 convicted terrorists and murderers at the Nasiriyah Central Prison in Nasiriyah, Dhi Qar Governorate. The interior ministry did not provide details of the crimes of those executed but stated they were all convicted under a 2005 counter-terrorism law. (DW)
COVID-19 pandemic in Denmark Cluster 5 The Minority government of Denmark, held by Social Democrats, agrees with four left-leaning and center parties to support a law proposal that would allow for the culling of 15 million minks across the country over concerns about a mutated version of the virus that has spread among the animals. The proposed law also bans mink farming until the end of next year. (The Washington Post)
COVID-19 pandemic in Greece, COVID-19 pandemic in Albania The Greek government announces a closure of its border crossing with Albania in Krystallopigi beginning tomorrow morning and will also test all people entering the country through its land borders as part of efforts to contain the spread of COVID-19. (Ekathimerini)
The Australian Defence Force's special report into war crimes in Afghanistan is released to the public, revealing that 39 civilians and prisoners had been killed unlawfully by special forces since 2001. Chief of the Defence Force Angus Campbell issues an apology to the Afghan people and promises significant reform. (The Guardian)
War in Afghanistan, Australian involvement in the War in Afghanistan The Australian Defence Force's special report into war crimes in Afghanistan is released to the public, revealing that 39 civilians and prisoners had been killed unlawfully by special forces since 2001. Chief of the Defence Force Angus Campbell issues an apology to the Afghan people and promises significant reform. (The Guardian)
COVID-19 pandemic in Australia Victoria Premier Daniel Andrews announces a closure of the state's border with South Australia for 48 hours beginning at 11:59 p.m. AEDT tonight. The "hard border" between the two states will be replaced by a permit system beginning at midnight on November 21. (ABC Australia)
COVID-19 pandemic in Oceania COVID-19 pandemic in Australia Victoria Premier Daniel Andrews announces a closure of the state's border with South Australia for 48 hours beginning at 11:59 p.m. AEDT tonight. The "hard border" between the two states will be replaced by a permit system beginning at midnight on November 21. (ABC Australia) COVID-19 pandemic in the Marshall Islands Just days after announcing that the country was free of COVID-19 again after two infected people recovered, the Marshall Islands reports three new cases from a repatriation flight of Marshallese citizens in Hawaii. (RNZ)
COVID-19 pandemic in Spain COVID-19 pandemic in the Community of Madrid Madrid will close its borders with other regions between December 4 and 14 in an effort to stop the spread of COVID-19 over the December holiday week. (El Pais in English)
COVID-19 pandemic in the Community of Madrid Madrid will close its borders with other regions between December 4 and 14 in an effort to stop the spread of COVID-19 over the December holiday week. (El Pais in English)
COVID-19 pandemic in Australia The land border between New South Wales and Victoria reopens after 137 days of closure. People will now be able to travel between the two states without permits. (ABC Australia) Victoria eases restrictions, allowing larger public and private gatherings, larger capacity quotas for businesses, and relaxing of the mask mandate so that masks will only be required in settings where social distancing is impractical. Chief Health Officer Brett Sutton states that he is confident there will be no community transmission in the state. (ABC Australia)
Following a two-year trial, former Nduma Defense of Congo militia leader Ntabo Ntaberi Sheka is sentenced to life imprisonment for "murder, rape, sexual slavery and enlisting children under 15 years old" by a military court. The Nduma Defence of Congo (NDC), while under Sheka's command, allegedly raped nearly 400 people in 13 villages between July 30 and August 2, 2010. (Al Jazeera)
Kivu conflict Following a two-year trial, former Nduma Defense of Congo militia leader Ntabo Ntaberi Sheka is sentenced to life imprisonment for "murder, rape, sexual slavery and enlisting children under 15 years old" by a military court. The Nduma Defence of Congo (NDC), while under Sheka's command, allegedly raped nearly 400 people in 13 villages between July 30 and August 2, 2010. (Al Jazeera)
Russia says its navy made a United States destroyer turn back after threatening to ram it, claiming that the destroyer violated Russia's territorial waters in the Peter the Great Gulf, "passing the maritime border by two kilometers". The U.S. navy says that their destroyer conducted a freedom of navigation operation to challenge a Russian claim "inconsistent with the rules of international law as reflected in the Law of the Sea Convention to enclose the waters of a bay". (TASS) (NBC News)
Russia–United States relations, United States and the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea Russia says its navy made a United States destroyer turn back after threatening to ram it, claiming that the destroyer violated Russia's territorial waters in the Peter the Great Gulf, "passing the maritime border by two kilometers". The U.S. navy says that their destroyer conducted a freedom of navigation operation to challenge a Russian claim "inconsistent with the rules of international law as reflected in the Law of the Sea Convention to enclose the waters of a bay". (TASS) (NBC News)
Impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on religion, COVID-19 pandemic in New York (state) The United States Supreme Court temporarily blocks restrictions imposed by Governor Andrew Cuomo on religious sites, with Amy Coney Barrett being the deciding vote. (Newsweek)
2016 Turkish coup d'état attempt A court in Turkey sentences 337 people to life imprisonment, 60 people to other jail terms and acquits 75 people. The defendants were pilots and civilians linked to the Akıncı Air Base near Ankara. (AFP via SCMP)
A court in Turkey sentences 337 people to life imprisonment, 60 people to other jail terms and acquits 75 people. The defendants were pilots and civilians linked to the Akıncı Air Base near Ankara. (AFP via SCMP)
COVID-19 pandemic in France, Impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on religion The Council of State orders the government to review a law limiting the number of people in churches during religious services to 30, saying that the measure was not proportionate to infection risks. (France 24)
The Council of State orders the government to review a law limiting the number of people in churches during religious services to 30, saying that the measure was not proportionate to infection risks. (France 24)
The Afghanistan Times welcomed China’s move to condemn and also react strongly over unlawful killings in Afghanistan. (Afghanistan Times)
Canada–United States relations, Travel restrictions related to the COVID-19 pandemic Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau says that the country will not reopen their borders with the United States until COVID-19 is significantly under control. (San Francisco Chronicle)
COVID-19 pandemic in Australia Queensland reopens its land border with Greater Sydney and Victoria. Travellers from both areas will now be allowed into the state without needing to quarantine. (7 News)
COVID-19 pandemic in Asia COVID-19 pandemic in Japan The House of Councillors passes a law that will give free COVID-19 vaccines to all residents. The new law also says that the government will cover all vaccine costs. (France 24) COVID-19 pandemic in Kyrgyzstan The number of cases in Kyrgyzstan exceeds 73,000. (Xinhua News Agency) COVID-19 pandemic in the Philippines President Rodrigo Duterte issues an executive order granting the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) an emergency use authorization for COVID-19 drugs and vaccines. (CNA)
2020 Nagorno-Karabakh war Armenia announces that it will drop some martial law restrictions imposed during the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict with Azeri forces. (Reuters)
COVID-19 pandemic in Japan The House of Councillors passes a law that will give free COVID-19 vaccines to all residents. The new law also says that the government will cover all vaccine costs. (France 24)
Nagorno-Karabakh conflict 2020 Nagorno-Karabakh war Armenia announces that it will drop some martial law restrictions imposed during the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict with Azeri forces. (Reuters)
The House of Councillors passes a law that will give free COVID-19 vaccines to all residents. The new law also says that the government will cover all vaccine costs. (France 24)
2019–20 Hong Kong protests, Hong Kong national security law Hong Kong activist Joshua Wong is sentenced to 13 and a half months in prison for inciting an "illegal assembly" while two other activists, Agnes Chow and Ivan Lam, receive 10 months and 7 months in prison, respectively, for similar charges. (DW)
Armenia announces that it will drop some martial law restrictions imposed during the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict with Azeri forces. (Reuters)
Hong Kong national security law, Pro-democracy camp (Hong Kong) Hong Kong media tycoon and pro-democracy activist Jimmy Lai is denied bail and remains in custody over alleged fraud related to the lease of a building that houses his Apple Daily, an anti-government newspaper. (Reuters)
COVID-19 pandemic in North Dakota North Dakota lawmakers issue a mask mandate for their upcoming legislative season at the state capitol. The measure will take effect on January 5. (Grand Forks Herald) (U.S. News & World Report)
Kenosha unrest shooting The Kenosha County Circuit Court orders Kyle Rittenhouse, the 17-year-old teen accused of shooting three people, two fatally, during protests in Kenosha, Wisconsin, to stand trial for first degree homicide and reckless endangerment. His lawyers are claiming he did so in self defense. (ABC News)
North Dakota lawmakers issue a mask mandate for their upcoming legislative season at the state capitol. The measure will take effect on January 5. (Grand Forks Herald) (U.S. News & World Report)
The Kenosha County Circuit Court orders Kyle Rittenhouse, the 17-year-old teen accused of shooting three people, two fatally, during protests in Kenosha, Wisconsin, to stand trial for first degree homicide and reckless endangerment. His lawyers are claiming he did so in self defense. (ABC News)
2020 Nova Scotia attacks Three people have been arrested for illegally providing ammunition to the gunman who killed 22 people across Nova Scotia, Canada in April. One of the three arrested is the gunman's common-law spouse. (CBC)
Despite international pressure to back down, Bangladesh begins transferring thousands of Rohingya refugees to the remote island of Bhasan Char in the Bay of Bengal. Bangladesh says all the refugees being moved have given consent and that the relocation was voluntary. (BBC News)
Rohingya refugee crisis, Ashrayan Project Despite international pressure to back down, Bangladesh begins transferring thousands of Rohingya refugees to the remote island of Bhasan Char in the Bay of Bengal. Bangladesh says all the refugees being moved have given consent and that the relocation was voluntary. (BBC News)
Three people have been arrested for illegally providing ammunition to the gunman who killed 22 people across Nova Scotia, Canada in April. One of the three arrested is the gunman's common-law spouse. (CBC)
Impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on politics, COVID-19 pandemic in Arizona The Arizona State Legislature announces that the House and Senate will close for a week starting tomorrow due to COVID-19 concerns. The move comes shortly after Rudy Giuliani, who met with several Republican lawmakers to discuss supposed election fraud in the 2020 presidential election, tested positive for COVID-19. (KSAZ-TV) (The Washington Post)
China–United States trade war, Censorship of TikTok Carl J. Nichols, a federal judge for the District Court for the District of Columbia, blocks the Commerce Department from imposing restrictions on China-based app TikTok. (Reuters)
Carl J. Nichols, a federal judge for the District Court for the District of Columbia, blocks the Commerce Department from imposing restrictions on China-based app TikTok. (Reuters)
International Criminal Court Chief Prosecutor Fatou Bensouda announces that an inquiry into British war crimes in Iraq has been formally abandoned. In a final report, Bensouda says her office "found a reasonable basis to believe" that British troops committed war crimes in 2003, murdering at least seven Iraqi detainees, however she accepted the UK has taken "genuine action" to investigate itself. (Reuters)
Iraq War, Operation Telic International Criminal Court Chief Prosecutor Fatou Bensouda announces that an inquiry into British war crimes in Iraq has been formally abandoned. In a final report, Bensouda says her office "found a reasonable basis to believe" that British troops committed war crimes in 2003, murdering at least seven Iraqi detainees, however she accepted the UK has taken "genuine action" to investigate itself. (Reuters)
Bhutan's parliament passes a bill decriminalizing homosexuality. The bill will need to be approved by King Jigme Khesar Namgyel Wangchuck in order to become law. (Reuters)
LGBT rights in Bhutan Bhutan's parliament passes a bill decriminalizing homosexuality. The bill will need to be approved by King Jigme Khesar Namgyel Wangchuck in order to become law. (Reuters)
Economic impact of the COVID-19 pandemic The European Central Bank expands its Pandemic Emergency Purchase Programme by €500 billion to €1.85 trillion and extends the scheme to March 2022, saying it expects "a more pronounced near-term impact of the pandemic on the Eurozone economy and a more protracted weakness in inflation than previously envisaged". (Reuters)
The European Central Bank expands its Pandemic Emergency Purchase Programme by €500 billion to €1.85 trillion and extends the scheme to March 2022, saying it expects "a more pronounced near-term impact of the pandemic on the Eurozone economy and a more protracted weakness in inflation than previously envisaged". (Reuters)
Austria's Constitutional Court overturns a government ban on school children wearing specific religious head coverings, ruling it discriminatory, and saying that the ban could lead to the "marginalisation of Muslim girls". (BBC News)
Islam in Austria Austria's Constitutional Court overturns a government ban on school children wearing specific religious head coverings, ruling it discriminatory, and saying that the ban could lead to the "marginalisation of Muslim girls". (BBC News)
Hong Kong national security law Pro-democracy tycoon Jimmy Lai is charged under the new national security law. Lai faces a lengthy prison sentence for allegedly "conspiring with foreign forces" to endanger national security. (BBC News)
Pro-democracy tycoon Jimmy Lai is charged under the new national security law. Lai faces a lengthy prison sentence for allegedly "conspiring with foreign forces" to endanger national security. (BBC News)
COVID-19 pandemic in Australia, COVID-19 pandemic in New Zealand, Travel restrictions related to the COVID-19 pandemic Queensland reopens its borders to travellers from New Zealand after 28 days without any community transmission cases. (The Canberra Times)
COVID-19 pandemic in Brazil, COVID-19 vaccine The Supreme Court of Brazil orders Health Minister Eduardo Pazuello to fix the starting date for a nationwide vaccination program. (Reuters)
COVID-19 pandemic in South America COVID-19 pandemic in Brazil, COVID-19 vaccine The Supreme Court of Brazil orders Health Minister Eduardo Pazuello to fix the starting date for a nationwide vaccination program. (Reuters) COVID-19 pandemic in Uruguay Uruguay reports a new single-day record of 528 cases, bringing the total number of confirmed cases to 9,708. (gob.uy)
North Korea–South Korea relations South Korea bans the launching of propaganda leaflets into North Korea. The balloon propaganda campaigns have been used by North Korean defectors and Korean reunification activists for decades to spread anti-government propaganda, news from the outside world that is restricted in the North, money, food, and USB flash drives containing South Korean media. The ban also outlaws the use of loudspeaker propaganda broadcasts. Violators of the ban will face up to three years in prison or 30 million won ($27,400) in fines. (Reuters)
South Korea bans the launching of propaganda leaflets into North Korea. The balloon propaganda campaigns have been used by North Korean defectors and Korean reunification activists for decades to spread anti-government propaganda, news from the outside world that is restricted in the North, money, food, and USB flash drives containing South Korean media. The ban also outlaws the use of loudspeaker propaganda broadcasts. Violators of the ban will face up to three years in prison or 30 million won ($27,400) in fines. (Reuters)
An International Rescue Committee staff member and three Danish Refugee Council aid workers are shot dead in Ethiopia's Tigray Region. (The Telegraph)
Tigray conflict An International Rescue Committee staff member and three Danish Refugee Council aid workers are shot dead in Ethiopia's Tigray Region. (The Telegraph)
Philippine drug war The International Criminal Court says that they have found evidence that crimes against humanity were committed during Filipino President Rodrigo Duterte's drug war. (The Washington Post)
The International Criminal Court says that they have found evidence that crimes against humanity were committed during Filipino President Rodrigo Duterte's drug war. (The Washington Post)
Capital punishment in Japan The Tokyo District Court sentences serial killer Takahiro Shiraishi, dubbed the "Twitter killer", to death, for murdering nine people at his apartment in 2017 and dismembering their bodies. Shiraishi, who was found mentally competent, pled guilty and told the court his crimes had a sexual motive. (CNN)
The Tokyo District Court sentences serial killer Takahiro Shiraishi, dubbed the "Twitter killer", to death, for murdering nine people at his apartment in 2017 and dismembering their bodies. Shiraishi, who was found mentally competent, pled guilty and told the court his crimes had a sexual motive. (CNN)
After a Court of Arbitration for Sport ruling, Russia is banned from international sports for two years, including the 2020 Summer Olympics, the 2022 Winter Olympics, and other World Championships due to doping. (AP)
Russian doping After a Court of Arbitration for Sport ruling, Russia is banned from international sports for two years, including the 2020 Summer Olympics, the 2022 Winter Olympics, and other World Championships due to doping. (AP)
COVID-19 pandemic in Australia The New South Wales Northern Beaches outbreak reaches 17 cases, leading to fears of a second wave in the state. Western Australia and Queensland have reimposed border restrictions on people travelling from New South Wales. (News.com.au)
