President Emmanuel Macron tests positive for COVID-19. Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez, Portuguese Prime Minister António Costa, Secretary-General of the OECD José Ángel Gurría and President of the European Council Charles Michel self-isolate after having contact with Macron earlier this week. (BBC News)
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)
The Government imposes a curfew between 00:30 p.m. and 6:00 a.m. from 18 December. (San Marino TV)
The Tokyo Metropolitan Government raises its healthcare alert level to the top level for the first time as the number of infections continues to increase. This comes as Tokyo reports a record of 822 new cases in the past 24 hours. (The Straits Times)
2020–21 South Pacific cyclone season Cyclone Yasa makes landfall in Bua Province, Fiji, at around 6:00 a.m. UTC (6:00 p.m. FJT), two hours ahead of its forecasted schedule. (FBC News)
Alberta reports a record 30 new deaths in the past 24 hours, bringing the provincial death toll to 790. (Calgary Herald)
Boko Haram insurgency Kankara kidnapping Katsina's governor Aminu Bello Masari says 344 pupils kidnapped from a boarding school in Kankara by Boko Haram on December 11 have been freed in Zamfara. (Al Jazeera)
California reports 52,281 new cases and 379 deaths in the past 24 hours, both a new single-day record for the state and nationwide since the beginning of the pandemic. (KABC-TV)
Canada reports over 7,002 cases, a new-single day record. (Global News)
COVID-19 pandemic in Alberta Alberta reports a record 30 new deaths in the past 24 hours, bringing the provincial death toll to 790. (Calgary Herald)
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)
COVID-19 pandemic in California California reports 52,281 new cases and 379 deaths in the past 24 hours, both a new single-day record for the state and nationwide since the beginning of the pandemic. (KABC-TV)
COVID-19 pandemic in Canada COVID-19 pandemic in Alberta Alberta reports a record 30 new deaths in the past 24 hours, bringing the provincial death toll to 790. (Calgary Herald) COVID-19 pandemic in Ontario Ontario reports 2,432 cases, a new-single day record. (The Globe and Mail) Canada reports over 7,002 cases, a new-single day record. (Global News)
COVID-19 pandemic in Germany The Robert Koch Institute reports a revised total of more than 30,000 cases in the past 24 hours, a new record, because around 3,500 cases in Baden-Württemberg were not initially reported. (The Local Germany)
COVID-19 pandemic in Indonesia Jakarta Governor Anies Baswedan issues a gubernatorial instruction and decree that requires anyone leaving and entering the city from tomorrow until January 8 to have a negative rapid antigen test result. The order also limits the capacity of offices to 50% and requires cafés, restaurants and tourist attractions to close at 7:00 p.m. local time from December 24 to 27 and December 31 to January 2. (The Jakarta Post) (Jakarta Globe)
COVID-19 pandemic in Northern Ireland The Northern Ireland Executive agrees to impose a new lockdown beginning on Boxing Day, which means that non-essential shops will be closed from the end of trading on Christmas Eve. During the first week of lockdown, essential shops will have to close each day at 8:00 p.m. GMT. (BBC)
COVID-19 pandemic in Ontario Ontario reports 2,432 cases, a new-single day record. (The Globe and Mail)
COVID-19 pandemic in Palestine The Palestinian Authority impose a two-week lockdown in the entire West Bank that orders schools, universities, restaurants, barbershops, gyms and leisure venues to close. As part of the lockdown, the curfew has also been extended for two weeks. (The Times of Israel)
COVID-19 pandemic in Poland Health Minister Adam Niedzielski announces a nationwide lockdown that will close hotels and ski slopes from December 28 to January 17. He also says that a curfew will be imposed on New Year's Eve from 7:00 p.m. to 6:00 a.m. local time. (Poland In)
COVID-19 pandemic in Portugal Prime Minister António Costa says that an overnight curfew beginning at 11:00 p.m. will be in effect in the country on New Year's Eve. He also added that people would not be allowed to leave their homes between 1:00 p.m. and 5:00 a.m. from January 1 to 3. (CNA)
COVID-19 pandemic in Saudi Arabia Saudi Arabia begins its vaccination campaign a day after it received two shipments of the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine. More than 150,000 people have registered to receive the vaccine. (Al Jazeera)
COVID-19 pandemic in South Korea South Korea reports a record 22 deaths in the past 24 hours, bringing the nationwide death toll to 634. (Yonhap News Agency)
COVID-19 pandemic in Texas Texas reports a new single-day record of 16,864 cases, bringing the totals to 1,371,223 confirmed cases and 167,966 probable cases. (KEYE-TV)
COVID-19 pandemic in the Netherlands The Netherlands reports a new single-day record of 12,844 cases, bringing the total number of confirmed cases to 652,525. (NL Times) Dutch Health Minister Hugo de Jonge says that vaccinations using the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine will begin on January 8 if the European Medicines Agency approves it for use next week. (ABC News)
COVID-19 pandemic in Turkey Turkey reports a record 243 new deaths in the past 24 hours, bringing the nationwide death toll to 17,364. (Daily Sabah)
COVID-19 pandemic in Ukraine Mayor Hennadiy Kernes of Kharkiv, Ukraine's second largest city, dies in Germany due to complications caused by COVID-19 after contracting the virus in September. (Kyiv Post)
Cyclone Yasa makes landfall in Bua Province, Fiji, at around 6:00 a.m. UTC (6:00 p.m. FJT), two hours ahead of its forecasted schedule. (FBC News)
Dutch Health Minister Hugo de Jonge says that vaccinations using the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine will begin on January 8 if the European Medicines Agency approves it for use next week. (ABC News)
Health Minister Adam Niedzielski announces a nationwide lockdown that will close hotels and ski slopes from December 28 to January 17. He also says that a curfew will be imposed on New Year's Eve from 7:00 p.m. to 6:00 a.m. local time. (Poland In)
Jakarta Governor Anies Baswedan issues a gubernatorial instruction and decree that requires anyone leaving and entering the city from tomorrow until January 8 to have a negative rapid antigen test result. The order also limits the capacity of offices to 50% and requires cafés, restaurants and tourist attractions to close at 7:00 p.m. local time from December 24 to 27 and December 31 to January 2. (The Jakarta Post) (Jakarta Globe)
Kankara kidnapping Katsina's governor Aminu Bello Masari says 344 pupils kidnapped from a boarding school in Kankara by Boko Haram on December 11 have been freed in Zamfara. (Al Jazeera)
Katsina's governor Aminu Bello Masari says 344 pupils kidnapped from a boarding school in Kankara by Boko Haram on December 11 have been freed in Zamfara. (Al Jazeera)
Mayor Hennadiy Kernes of Kharkiv, Ukraine's second largest city, dies in Germany due to complications caused by COVID-19 after contracting the virus in September. (Kyiv Post)
Ontario reports 2,432 cases, a new-single day record. (The Globe and Mail)
Prime Minister António Costa says that an overnight curfew beginning at 11:00 p.m. will be in effect in the country on New Year's Eve. He also added that people would not be allowed to leave their homes between 1:00 p.m. and 5:00 a.m. from January 1 to 3. (CNA)
Saudi Arabia begins its vaccination campaign a day after it received two shipments of the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine. More than 150,000 people have registered to receive the vaccine. (Al Jazeera)
Sinai insurgency Two roadside bombings near Sheikh Zuweid in Egypt's Sinai Peninsula, kill three Egyptian Army troops and wound 10 others. Separately, Egyptian military raids on Sheikh Zuweid kill four Islamist militants. (ABC News)
South Korea reports a record 22 deaths in the past 24 hours, bringing the nationwide death toll to 634. (Yonhap News Agency)
The Chilean Chamber of Deputies approves a bill to allow euthanasia. (La Tercera)
The Finnish sauna culture is inscribed on the UNESCO list. As authorized by the state, the Finnish Heritage Agency commits, together with Finnish sauna communities and promoters of the sauna culture, to safeguard the vitality of the sauna tradition and to highlight its importance as part of customs and wellbeing. (YLE)
The Indian Space Research Organisation successfully launches communications satellite CMS-01 into a geostationary orbit from the Satish Dhawan Space Centre. (Space.com)
The Netherlands reports a new single-day record of 12,844 cases, bringing the total number of confirmed cases to 652,525. (NL Times)
The Northern Ireland Executive agrees to impose a new lockdown beginning on Boxing Day, which means that non-essential shops will be closed from the end of trading on Christmas Eve. During the first week of lockdown, essential shops will have to close each day at 8:00 p.m. GMT. (BBC)
The Palestinian Authority impose a two-week lockdown in the entire West Bank that orders schools, universities, restaurants, barbershops, gyms and leisure venues to close. As part of the lockdown, the curfew has also been extended for two weeks. (The Times of Israel)
The Robert Koch Institute reports a revised total of more than 30,000 cases in the past 24 hours, a new record, because around 3,500 cases in Baden-Württemberg were not initially reported. (The Local Germany)
Turkey reports a record 243 new deaths in the past 24 hours, bringing the nationwide death toll to 17,364. (Daily Sabah)
Two roadside bombings near Sheikh Zuweid in Egypt's Sinai Peninsula, kill three Egyptian Army troops and wound 10 others. Separately, Egyptian military raids on Sheikh Zuweid kill four Islamist militants. (ABC News)
Mexican drug war Aristóteles Sandoval, former Governor of Jalisco, Mexico, is killed in an attack in Puerto Vallarta. Current Governor Enrique Alfaro Ramírez said that Sandoval was the victim of a "direct attack". (Reuters)
Aristóteles Sandoval, former Governor of Jalisco, Mexico, is killed in an attack in Puerto Vallarta. Current Governor Enrique Alfaro Ramírez said that Sandoval was the victim of a "direct attack". (Reuters)
COVID-19 pandemic in France, COVID-19 pandemic in Burundi Former President of Burundi Pierre Buyoya dies from COVID-19 at a hospital in Paris, France. (Macau Business)
COVID-19 pandemic in Nigeria The Lagos State Government orders all public and private schools in the state to close until further notice. The government also recommends that all public servants from Grade Level 14 and below, except emergency workers and first responders, work from home for 14 days beginning December 21. (Nairametrics)
COVID-19 pandemic in Switzerland The Swiss government announces that restaurants, bars and sports and leisure centres, as well as libraries, museums and other cultural institutions will close on December 22 to help reduce the spread of COVID-19 as the total numbers of cases and deaths surpass 400,000 and 6,000 respectively. (Swiss Info)
Ethiopia offers a reward of 10 million birr (about US$250,000) for information leading to the capture of Tigray People's Liberation Front officials, including leader Debretsion Gebremichael, who are currently in hiding following the fall of Mekelle. (France 24)
Former President of Burundi Pierre Buyoya dies from COVID-19 at a hospital in Paris, France. (Macau Business)
Somali Civil War Seven civilians and three soldiers are killed after a suicide bomber detonates his device outside a stadium in Galkayo, Mudug. Prime Minister Mohamed Hussein Roble was due to address a gathering at the stadium. (Xinhua)
The Lagos State Government orders all public and private schools in the state to close until further notice. The government also recommends that all public servants from Grade Level 14 and below, except emergency workers and first responders, work from home for 14 days beginning December 21. (Nairametrics)
The Swiss government announces that restaurants, bars and sports and leisure centres, as well as libraries, museums and other cultural institutions will close on December 22 to help reduce the spread of COVID-19 as the total numbers of cases and deaths surpass 400,000 and 6,000 respectively. (Swiss Info)
Tigray conflict Ethiopia offers a reward of 10 million birr (about US$250,000) for information leading to the capture of Tigray People's Liberation Front officials, including leader Debretsion Gebremichael, who are currently in hiding following the fall of Mekelle. (France 24)
War in Afghanistan An explosion at a religious gathering during a Quran recitation ceremony in Ghazni, Afghanistan, has killed at least 15 civilians and wounded 20 others. (Al Jazeera)
War in Afghanistan An explosion kills 15 children and injures another 20 people in Ghazni, Afghanistan, after a piece of unexploded ordnance blows up when the children try to sell it to a vendor. (BBC News)
501.V2 Variant Health Minister Zweli Mkhize announces the discovery of a severe variant of SARS-CoV-2, named 501.V2, which contributed to the second wave of COVID-19 in the country. (Independent Online)
A review of some recent medical studies shows that memory T cells may play a role in a phenomenon known as cross-reactivity, which researchers found may perhaps give certain people, in some cases, some level of immunity to the virus that causes COVID-19 even without them having been exposed to or infected with the virus, or having received a vaccine. There are certain structural and clinical similarities between the virus that causes COVID-19 and the other coronaviruses that are related to it, which cause SARS and MERS. (MSN)
An explosion at a religious gathering during a Quran recitation ceremony in Ghazni, Afghanistan, has killed at least 15 civilians and wounded 20 others. (Al Jazeera)
An explosion kills 15 children and injures another 20 people in Ghazni, Afghanistan, after a piece of unexploded ordnance blows up when the children try to sell it to a vendor. (BBC News)
Chancellor Sebastian Kurz announces that the country will impose a third nationwide lockdown beginning on December 26. However, people who take part in mass testing programmes between January 15 and 17 and test negative will be allowed to enter shops and restaurants beginning on January 18. (Barron's)
COVID-19 pandemic in Asia COVID-19 pandemic in Malaysia The total number of confirmed COVID-19 cases in Malaysia surpasses 90,000. (The Malaysian Insight) COVID-19 pandemic in the Philippines The Philippines reports 2,122 new cases, the highest daily total in more than a month, bringing the nationwide total to 456,562 cases. (ABS-CBN News)
COVID-19 pandemic in Austria Chancellor Sebastian Kurz announces that the country will impose a third nationwide lockdown beginning on December 26. However, people who take part in mass testing programmes between January 15 and 17 and test negative will be allowed to enter shops and restaurants beginning on January 18. (Barron's)
COVID-19 pandemic in Croatia Interior Minister Davor Božinović announces that Croatia will impose a ban on travel outside one's county between December 23 and January 8. (Croatia Week)
COVID-19 pandemic in Germany Germany reports a record 33,777 new cases in the past 24 hours, according to data from the Robert Koch Institute, bringing the nationwide total of confirmed cases to 1,439,938. (Bild)
COVID-19 pandemic in Italy, COVID-19 pandemic lockdown in Italy Prime Minister Giuseppe Conte announces a second nationwide "red zone" lockdown from December 24–27, December 31–January 3, and January 5–6. On those days, people will only be allowed to travel for work, health or emergency reasons. An "orange zone", where shops are allowed to open, will be in effect from December 28–30 and on January 4. However, all bars and restaurants will remain closed during the holiday season. (Reuters)
COVID-19 pandemic in Malaysia The total number of confirmed COVID-19 cases in Malaysia surpasses 90,000. (The Malaysian Insight)
COVID-19 pandemic in Mexico Mexico City and the State of Mexico move back to the "red traffic light". All non-essential activity will be suspended until January 10 due to an "alarming" increase in both infections and hospital occupancies. (Milenio)
COVID-19 pandemic in Minnesota Minnesota Senator Jerry Relph dies from COVID-19 complications. (AP)
COVID-19 pandemic in New York (state) New York reports a record 12,697 new cases in the past 24 hours, surpassing the previous record set in April. (Bloomberg)
COVID-19 pandemic in Panama Starting from December 21, Panama will reimpose nationwide restrictions by require men and women to carry out holiday shopping on different days. On Christmas and New Year's Day there will be total lockdown for all genders. (The Straits Times)
