President Vladimir Putin orders the country to start a large-scale vaccination by late next week. Teachers and doctors are expected to be the first to receive the Sputnik V vaccine. (AP)
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)
The United Kingdom approves the BNT162b2 vaccine made by Pfizer and BioNTech for widespread use, becoming the first country in the world to approve the vaccine. The government states that the vaccine will be rolled out early next week. (ABC Australia) (CBS News)
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)
2020 Thai protests Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha is acquitted of breaching ethics clauses in the Constitution, allowing him to remain in power. (The Diplomat)
Alberta Premier Jason Kenney announces a COVID-19 vaccine task force to distribute vaccines that are expected to be received by early January. (The Sudbury Star)
Amnesty International condemns a sharp rise in the use of the death penalty in Egypt, accusing authorities of executing 57 people in October and November alone, nearly double the number recorded in the whole of 2019. (BBC News)
Armenia announces that it will drop some martial law restrictions imposed during the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict with Azeri forces. (Reuters)
Capital punishment in Egypt Amnesty International condemns a sharp rise in the use of the death penalty in Egypt, accusing authorities of executing 57 people in October and November alone, nearly double the number recorded in the whole of 2019. (BBC News)
Chancellor Angela Merkel and leaders of 16 states agree to extend the partial lockdown until January 10. (DW)
Climate change in New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern announces that the country has declared a climate change emergency and promises that it will become carbon neutral by 2025. (U.S. News & World Report) (TVNZ)
COVID-19 pandemic in Alberta Alberta Premier Jason Kenney announces a COVID-19 vaccine task force to distribute vaccines that are expected to be received by early January. (The Sudbury Star)
COVID-19 pandemic in California Los Angeles issues a safer-at-home order as an effort to stop the spread of COVID-19. (Los Angeles Times)
COVID-19 pandemic in Canada COVID-19 pandemic in Quebec Quebec Deputy Premier Geneviève Guilbault announces that the province will tighten their capacity restrictions in shopping malls and stores to stop the spread of COVID-19. (Global News) COVID-19 pandemic in Alberta Alberta Premier Jason Kenney announces a COVID-19 vaccine task force to distribute vaccines that are expected to be received by early January. (The Sudbury Star)
COVID-19 pandemic in Germany Germany reports a record 487 new deaths in the past 24 hours, according to the Robert Koch Institute, bringing the nationwide death toll to 17,123. (Taggeschau) Chancellor Angela Merkel and leaders of 16 states agree to extend the partial lockdown until January 10. (DW)
COVID-19 pandemic in Hungary Hungary reports a record 165 new deaths in the past 24 hours, bringing the nationwide death toll to 5,142. (Hungary Today)
COVID-19 pandemic in Illinois Illinois reports a record 238 new deaths in the past 24 hours, bringing the death toll to 12,639. (WLS-TV)
COVID-19 pandemic in Kyrgyzstan The number of cases in Kyrgyzstan exceeds 73,000. (Xinhua News Agency)
COVID-19 pandemic in Massachusetts Massachusetts reports a record 4,613 new cases in the past 24 hours, bringing the total number of confirmed cases to 234,232. (Boston Herald)
COVID-19 pandemic in New Mexico New Mexico surpasses 100,000 total confirmed cases of COVID-19. In addition, a record 40 new deaths are reported, bringing the statewide death toll to 1,629. (New Mexico Political Report)
COVID-19 pandemic in Poland Poland surpasses one million cases of COVID-19, and the death toll reaches 18,208. (Poland In)
COVID-19 pandemic in Quebec Quebec Deputy Premier Geneviève Guilbault announces that the province will tighten their capacity restrictions in shopping malls and stores to stop the spread of COVID-19. (Global News)
COVID-19 pandemic in Turkey Turkey reports a record 193 new deaths in the past 24 hours, bringing the nationwide death toll to 14,129. In addition, a record 31,923 new cases, including both symptomatic and asymptomatic cases, are also reported. (Daily Sabah)
COVID-19 pandemic in Vanuatu Prime Minister Bob Loughman declares Vanuatu free of COVID-19 again after the first case recovered. Loughman stressed that the virus-free status is not important but that the capacity to contain a positive case was what actually mattered. (RNZ)
Germany reports a record 487 new deaths in the past 24 hours, according to the Robert Koch Institute, bringing the nationwide death toll to 17,123. (Taggeschau)
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)
Hungary reports a record 165 new deaths in the past 24 hours, bringing the nationwide death toll to 5,142. (Hungary Today)
Illinois reports a record 238 new deaths in the past 24 hours, bringing the death toll to 12,639. (WLS-TV)
Legality of cannabis, Single Convention on Narcotic Drugs The United Nations Commission on Narcotic Drugs (CND) votes to reclassify cannabis as a less dangerous drug after removing it from Schedule IV of the 1961 Single Convention on Narcotic Drugs, where it was listed alongside opioids such as heroin. This change is expected to bolster medical research and legalization efforts around the world. (The New York Times)
Los Angeles issues a safer-at-home order as an effort to stop the spread of COVID-19. (Los Angeles Times)
Massachusetts reports a record 4,613 new cases in the past 24 hours, bringing the total number of confirmed cases to 234,232. (Boston Herald)
New Mexico surpasses 100,000 total confirmed cases of COVID-19. In addition, a record 40 new deaths are reported, bringing the statewide death toll to 1,629. (New Mexico Political Report)
Poland surpasses one million cases of COVID-19, and the death toll reaches 18,208. (Poland In)
Prime Minister Bob Loughman declares Vanuatu free of COVID-19 again after the first case recovered. Loughman stressed that the virus-free status is not important but that the capacity to contain a positive case was what actually mattered. (RNZ)
Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern announces that the country has declared a climate change emergency and promises that it will become carbon neutral by 2025. (U.S. News & World Report) (TVNZ)
Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha is acquitted of breaching ethics clauses in the Constitution, allowing him to remain in power. (The Diplomat)
Quebec Deputy Premier Geneviève Guilbault announces that the province will tighten their capacity restrictions in shopping malls and stores to stop the spread of COVID-19. (Global News)
Russia reports a record 589 new deaths in the past 24 hours, bringing the nationwide death toll to 41,053. (Yahoo! News)
The number of cases in Kyrgyzstan exceeds 73,000. (Xinhua News Agency)
The United Nations Commission on Narcotic Drugs (CND) votes to reclassify cannabis as a less dangerous drug after removing it from Schedule IV of the 1961 Single Convention on Narcotic Drugs, where it was listed alongside opioids such as heroin. This change is expected to bolster medical research and legalization efforts around the world. (The New York Times)
Turkey reports a record 193 new deaths in the past 24 hours, bringing the nationwide death toll to 14,129. In addition, a record 31,923 new cases, including both symptomatic and asymptomatic cases, are also reported. (Daily Sabah)
Azerbaijan says that 2,783 Azerbaijani soldiers were killed during the 2020 Nagorno-Karabakh war. (Al Jazeera)
COVID-19 pandemic in Chile President Sebastián Piñera extends the state of catastrophe for another three months until March 13, 2021 due to the ongoing pandemic. (UrduPoint)
COVID-19 pandemic in Greece The government extends the nationwide lockdown by one week until December 14 to reduce the spread of COVID-19. (Ekathimerini)
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)
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)
Mali Civil War The United Kingdom announces that 300 troops will be deployed to Mali as part of the MINUSMA peacekeeping mission. (The Guardian)
Nagorno-Karabakh conflict Azerbaijan says that 2,783 Azerbaijani soldiers were killed during the 2020 Nagorno-Karabakh war. (Al Jazeera)
President Sebastián Piñera extends the state of catastrophe for another three months until March 13, 2021 due to the ongoing pandemic. (UrduPoint)
President-elect Joe Biden announces that Dr. Vivek Murthy and Jeff Zients will lead his administration's response to the COVID-19 pandemic. He has also asked Dr. Anthony Fauci to remain in the White House Coronavirus Task Force and become its chief medical advisor. (Politico)
The government extends the nationwide lockdown by one week until December 14 to reduce the spread of COVID-19. (Ekathimerini)
2020 H5N8 outbreak South Korea reports a new case of highly pathogenic avian influenza H5N8 in wild birds in Buan, North Jeolla Province according to the Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs. (Yonhap News Agency)
Alberta reports 1,854 new cases, a single-day record. (CBC)
Avonmouth explosion Four people are killed and another injured by an explosion at a wastewater treatment works in Avonmouth, Bristol, England, United Kingdom. (BBC News)
Chinese space program The China National Space Administration probe Chang'e 5 lifts off from the surface of the moon as it begins a journey back to Earth after collecting samples of lunar soil. The ascender will rendezvous with the orbiter, transferring over the samples, and the orbiter will then land at a location in Inner Mongolia, China. (BBC News)
COVID-19 pandemic in Alberta Alberta reports 1,854 new cases, a single-day record. (CBC)
COVID-19 pandemic in Asia COVID-19 pandemic in Indonesia The number of new confirmed cases in Indonesia increases by a record 8,369 new cases over the past 24 hours, bringing the nationwide total of confirmed cases to 557,877. Papua reports the most cases of any province with 1,755 new cases. (Okezone) COVID-19 pandemic in Iran Iran surpasses one million total cases of COVID-19. (Bloomberg)
COVID-19 pandemic in California California Governor Gavin Newsom introduces a regional stay-at-home order that requires the closure of bars, wineries, hair salons, and barbershops for three weeks in regions where ICU capacity falls below 15% and also restricts non-essential travel in those regions. The order divides the state into five regions. (CBS News)
COVID-19 pandemic in Canada COVID-19 pandemic in Alberta Alberta reports 1,854 new cases, a single-day record. (CBC) COVID-19 pandemic in Quebec Quebec Premier François Legault cancels a plan to allow Christmas gatherings of up to 10 people in the province amid an increase of cases. (The Globe and Mail)
COVID-19 pandemic in Hungary Hungary reports a record 182 new deaths in the past 24 hours, bringing the nationwide death toll to 5,324. (Hungary Today)
COVID-19 pandemic in Indonesia The number of new confirmed cases in Indonesia increases by a record 8,369 new cases over the past 24 hours, bringing the nationwide total of confirmed cases to 557,877. Papua reports the most cases of any province with 1,755 new cases. (Okezone)
COVID-19 pandemic in Iowa Iowa Governor Kim Reynolds says that the state is expected to receive up to 172,000 vaccine doses this month. (Des Moines Register)
COVID-19 pandemic in Iran Iran surpasses one million total cases of COVID-19. (Bloomberg)
COVID-19 pandemic in Italy Italy reports a record 993 new deaths in the past 24 hours, bringing the nationwide death toll to 58,038 and surpassing the previous record of 919 new deaths recorded on March 27. (Corriere della Sera) Prime Minister Giuseppe Conte signs a decree that bans inter-regional travel between December 21 and January 6 except for work, health, or emergency reasons. In addition, people will not be allowed to leave their towns on Christmas Day, Boxing Day, and New Year's Day. (The Guardian) (BBC)
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)
COVID-19 pandemic in Quebec Quebec Premier François Legault cancels a plan to allow Christmas gatherings of up to 10 people in the province amid an increase of cases. (The Globe and Mail)
COVID-19 pandemic in Russia The number of new confirmed cases in Russia increases by a record 28,145 cases in the past 24 hours, bringing the nationwide total of confirmed cases to 2,375,546. (The Moscow Times)
COVID-19 pandemic in the United Kingdom The United Kingdom surpasses 60,000 total deaths from COVID-19. (BBC News)
COVID-19 pandemic in Vermont The number of new confirmed cases in Vermont increases by a record 178 cases in the past 24 hours, bringing the total of confirmed cases to 4,642. (Vermont Public Radio)
COVID-19 vaccine Moderna says that they are expected to have 100–125 million doses of their vaccine shipped globally during the first quarter of 2021. (Reuters) Sinovac delivers one million doses of CoronaVac to Butantan Institute in São Paulo. (Reuters)
Facebook announces that it will remove misinformation related to COVID-19 vaccines as countries prepare to distribute them. (CNBC)
Four people are killed and another injured by an explosion at a wastewater treatment works in Avonmouth, Bristol, England, United Kingdom. (BBC News)
Hungary reports a record 182 new deaths in the past 24 hours, bringing the nationwide death toll to 5,324. (Hungary Today)
Iowa Governor Kim Reynolds says that the state is expected to receive up to 172,000 vaccine doses this month. (Des Moines Register)
Iran surpasses one million total cases of COVID-19. (Bloomberg)
