Twelve climbers die during avalanches and blizzards on mountains north of Tehran, Iran. Fourteen others went missing but are rescued alive. (The Guardian)
In Cameroon, a bus travelling from Douala, to the capital Yaoundé collides with a truck and plunges into a ravine, killing at least 37 people and injuring 19 others. (AFP via The Economic Times)
Indonesia reports a record 6,983 recoveries in the past 24 hours, bringing the nationwide total of recoveries to 583,676. (Kompas)
Jordan reports their first two cases of a new variant of SARS-CoV-2 in a couple who travelled from the United Kingdom. (Medical Xpress)
Norway reports its first cases of a new variant of SARS-CoV-2, after two people who travelled from the United Kingdom earlier in December test positive for COVID-19. (Reuters)
Portugal reports their first case of a new variant of SARS-CoV-2 from the United Kingdom in Madeira. (PUBLICO)
Quebec reports 6,783 cases and 110 deaths between 24 and 26 December, bringing the total number of cases to 192,655 and deaths to 8,023. (Toronto Star)
Saudi Arabia announces that they will lift their flight ban on non-Saudis leaving the country. (Al Arabiya)
South Korea extends its current social distancing measures aimed at reducing the spread of COVID-19 until January 3, as record numbers of new cases are being reported. (The Straits Times)
Sudan says it will deploy troops to South Darfur "in large numbers" following recent tribal violence between the Masalit and Fula. (Reuters)
Uruguay reported a record of 11 deaths in the past 24 hours, bringing the nationwide death toll to 158. (El País)
A power outage lasting several hours affects over 10 million people in Mexico, including in the capital Mexico City. (Reuters)
A separate, second variant from South Africa is also reported in Finland, after two people tested positive for COVID-19. (News 24)
Alberta reports its first case of a new variant of SARS-CoV-2 in a person who travelled from the United Kingdom. (Daily Hive)
Finland reports its first case of a new variant of SARS-CoV-2 from the United Kingdom, after a person who travelled from Western Europe tested positive for COVID-19. (Yle)
Saudi Arabia extends the suspension of all international commercial flights, as well as all entry through land and sea ports for another week due to concerns about the new variant of SARS-CoV-2. (Gulf News)
South Korea reports its first cases of a more infectious variant of SARS-CoV-2, after three South Korean nationals who arrived from the United Kingdom tested positive for COVID-19, including an elderly man who has since died. (Yonhap News Agency)
The Russian-flagged fishing trawler Onega capsizes near the Novaya Zemlya archipelago in the Barents Sea. 17 fishermen are missing and presumed dead, while two have been rescued. Search and rescue operations in the area have been suspended due to strong winds and low temperatures. (AFP via The Moscow Times)
Three French Army troops are killed when their armoured personnel carrier hits a roadside bomb in Hombori, Mali. (France 24)
A record 53,135 new cases are reported in the United Kingdom in the past 24 hours. (ABC News)
Belarus begins vaccinations with Russia's Sputnik V vaccine. (The Moscow Times)
Chile reports its first case of a new variant of SARS-CoV-2 in a resident of Panguipulli who traveled from Madrid on December 23. (La Tercera)
Denmark extends its hard lockdown until January 17 due to substantial increases in numbers of cases and hospitalizations in the country. (The Straits Times)
Governor Andy Beshear announces that the state will extend its mask mandate for another 30 days after reporting 2,990 new cases of COVID-19 in the past 24 hours. (WKYT-TV)
India reports six cases of a more contagious variant of SARS-CoV-2 in individuals who travelled from the United Kingdom and are now in isolation. (BBC News)
Ireland officially begins a vaccination programme against COVID-19 using Pfizer-BioNTech's tozinameran vaccine, with a 79-year-old woman from Dublin becoming the first person to receive the vaccine. (RTÉ)
Ireland reports a record 1,546 new cases in the past 24 hours, bringing the nationwide total of confirmed cases to 88,439. (The Irish Times)
Japan reports its first case of a new variant of SARS-CoV-2 from South Africa in a 30-year old woman who arrived in Japan on December 19 and later tested positive for COVID-19. (The Japan Times)
Northern Ireland reports a record 1,566 new cases in the past 24 hours, bringing the total number of confirmed cases in the country to 68,762. (RTÉ)
Ontario reports a record 2,553 new confirmed cases in the past 24 hours, along with 1,939 new cases yesterday, bringing the total number of confirmed cases in the province to 175,908. (Global News)
Pakistan reports its first cases of a new variant of SARS-CoV-2 from the United Kingdom. The patients are three people who travelled from the UK to Sindh and later tested positive for COVID-19. (The Hindu)
Quebec reports its first case of a new variant of SARS-CoV-2 in a person who had been in contact with a family member who travelled from the United Kingdom on December 11 and tested positive for COVID-19 on December 13. (Montreal Gazette)
Queensland reports Australia's first case of a new variant of SARS-CoV-2 from South Africa in a woman who arrived in the state on December 22 and later tested positive for COVID-19. (ABC Australia)
South Korea reports a record 40 deaths in the past 24 hours, bringing the nationwide death toll to 859. (Al Jazeera)
The first commercial Boeing 737 MAX flight in the United States since worldwide groundings began in March 2020 occurs. The flight, between New York City's LaGuardia Airport and Miami International Airport, was operated by American Airlines. (CNBC)
The Krško Nuclear Power Plant in neighboring Slovenia, which produces around 20 percent of the country's electricity, is shut down as a precaution. Preventive inspections at the plant are ongoing. (AFP via NDTV) (IAEA)
The Philippines extends its travel ban to 19 "flagged" countries and territories from midnight until January 15 in order to prevent new variants of SARS-CoV-2 from entering the country. (CNA)
The United Arab Emirates reports the first case of new variant of SARS-CoV-2 originated from the United Kingdom. (Gulf News)
2020 Gjerdrum landslide A landslide in the village of Gjerdrum, Viken, Norway, leaves at least ten people injured and buries several houses. Ten people are missing. (BBC News)
A landslide in the village of Gjerdrum, Viken, Norway, leaves at least ten people injured and buries several houses. Ten people are missing. (BBC News)
A proposed match between Tottenham Hotspur and Fulham F.C. at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium that would have taken place in the evening is postponed due to a significant rise of COVID-19 cases in the clubs across the league. (Sky Sports)
As a result of this case, Taiwan will ban all non-resident foreigners from entering the country beginning on January 1. Legal residents, as well as people given special permission, and the spouses and children of Taiwanese nationals will be excluded from this ban. (Radio Taiwan International)
Bolivia signs a deal with Russia's Russian Direct Investment Fund to secure 2.6 million Sputnik V vaccines. (Sputnik V)
Colorado authorities announce the possible discovery of a second case of the SARS-CoV-2 variant from the United Kingdom in the state. (CNN)
India extends their suspensions of flights from the United Kingdom until January 7 in order to prevent the spread of a new variant of SARS-CoV-2. (Hindustan Times)
Los Angeles County surpasses 10,000 deaths from COVID-19 and is averaging 150 daily deaths. (KABC-TV)
Malta reports its first three cases of a new variant of SARS-CoV-2 from the United Kingdom. Two of the cases are reported in people who travelled from the UK, while the third is still being investigated. (Times of Malta)
North Dakota records 96 hospitalizations in the past 24 hours, making it the first time since September 24 that there have been less than 100 hospitalizations in the state. (AP)
Ontario reports a record 2,923 new confirmed cases in the past 24 hours, bringing the total number of confirmed cases in the province to 178,831. (CBC)
Outgoing U.S. Senator Doug Jones of Alabama announces he will quarantine at his home after his wife tests positive for COVID-19. (AL.com)
Scotland reports a record 2,045 new cases in the past 24 hours. (The Herald)
Taiwan reports its first case of a new variant of SARS-CoV-2 after a teenager who returned from the United Kingdom on Sunday tested positive for COVID-19 the following day. (Focus Taiwan News Channel)
Thailand imposes a ban on large gatherings and events in controlled zones across the country in order to reduce the number of cases. 250 new cases are reported in the past 24 hours. (Bangkok Post) (CNA)
The Czech Republic reports a record 16,329 new cases in the past 24 hours as the positivity rate reaches a new record of 48.5%. (Radio Prague International)
Toronto reports a record of 1,069 cases in the past 24 hours. (Global News)
Turkey receives their first shipment of three million doses of Sinovac's CoronaVac. (Hurriyet Daily News)
A Wisconsin pharmacist is arrested after destroying 500 doses of Moderna's vaccine. (NPR)
Allied Democratic Forces insurgency Allied Democratic Forces militants kill at least 25 people in North Kivu, Democratic Republic of the Congo. Local officials say most of the victims were farmers working in the fields, and that some victims were decapitated. (DW)
Allied Democratic Forces militants kill at least 25 people in North Kivu, Democratic Republic of the Congo. Local officials say most of the victims were farmers working in the fields, and that some victims were decapitated. (DW)
Brazil detects their first two cases of a new variant of SARS-CoV-2 that originated in the United Kingdom. (Reuters via Yahoo! News)
China approves BBIBP-CorV made by Sinopharm for general use, after the vaccine was considered to be 79.34% effective. (CNN)
Formula One champion Lewis Hamilton is knighted by Queen Elizabeth II. (Formula One)
France reports their first case of a more contagious variant of SARS-CoV-2 in a man who travelled from South Africa to the Haut-Rhin region and later tested positive for COVID-19. (The Straits Times)
Indonesia also reports a record 7,356 recoveries in the past 24 hours, bringing the nationwide total of recoveries to 611,097. (Berita Satu)
Indonesia receives their second shipment of 1.8 million doses of CoronaVac from Sinovac. (Jakarta Globe)
Mining in Papua New Guinea Two people are confirmed dead and 15 others are feared dead after a landslide at an informal alluvial mining camp in Goilala District, Central Province, Papua New Guinea. (RNZ)
Portugal reports a record 7,627 new cases in the past 24 hours, bringing the nationwide total of confirmed cases to 413,678. (SIC Noticias)
South Korea imposes the highest level of social distancing measures at prison facilities nationwide. These restrictions will remain in effect until January 13. (Yonhap News Agency)
Spain and the United Kingdom reach an agreement to keep Gibraltar in the European Union's Schengen Area as freedom of movement between the EU and UK is due to end. (The Guardian)
Spain–United Kingdom relations, Effect of Brexit on Gibraltar Spain and the United Kingdom reach an agreement to keep Gibraltar in the European Union's Schengen Area as freedom of movement between the EU and UK is due to end. (The Guardian)
The Czech Republic reports a record 16,939 new confirmed cases in the past 24 hours, bringing the nationwide total of confirmed cases to 718,661 as the positivity rate reaches 52%. (Irozhlas)
The United Kingdom reports a record 55,892 new confirmed cases in the past 24 hours, bringing the nationwide total of confirmed cases to 2,488,780. (ITV)
Two people are confirmed dead and 15 others are feared dead after a landslide at an informal alluvial mining camp in Goilala District, Central Province, Papua New Guinea. (RNZ)
Victoria tightens their restrictions as three new cases are reported, bringing the total number of cases in the state to six. Under the new restrictions, in-home gatherings will be limited to 15 people, masks must be worn indoors, and people are advised to stay out of the Melbourne city centre on New Year's Eve. (The Guardian)
