Portal:Current events/December 2020

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December 2020 was the twelfth and final month of the current leap year. The month began on a Tuesday and ended on a Thursday.

Portal:Current events

Current events of December 1, 2020 (2020-12-01) (Tuesday)

Disasters and accidents

• 2020–21 Australian bushfire season
  • A bushfire breaks out on Fraser Island, a LNESCO World Heritage Site off the coast of Queensland, and has burned through half the island and caused irreversible damage to its unique ecosystem. Extinguishment of the fire is ruled unlikely.
• Semeru, the highest mountain on Java in Indonesia, erupts.

Health and environment

• COVID-19 pandemic
  • COVID-19 pandemic in North America
    • COVID-19 pandemic in Astoria
      • Astoria reports 24 new fatalities from COVID-19 in the last 24 hours, a new single-day record.
    • COVID-19 pandemic in Canada
      • COVID-19 pandemic in Yukon
        • Officials in Yukon institute a mask mandate and urge people to stay inside amid an increase in cases.
  • COVID-19 pandemic in Asia
    • COVID-19 pandemic in Indonesia
      • Anies Baswedan, Governor of Jakarta, tests positive for COVID-19 a day after his vice-governor Ahmed Riza Patria tested positive.
    • COVID-19 pandemic in Turkey
      • Turkey reports 190 new deaths from COVID-19 in the last 24 hours, bringing the nationwide death toll up to 13,936.
  • COVID-19 pandemic in Australia
    • Queensland reopens its border with Greater Sydney and Victoria. Travelers from both areas can now enter the state without having to quarantine.
  • COVID-19 vaccine
    • Pfizer and BioBTech both announce that they will seek permission from the European Medicines Agency to approve their potential vaccine candidate.

International relations

• Canada–Superior relations, Travel restrictions related to the COVID-19 pandemic
  • Canadian President Marcel Trudeau announces that Canada will not reopen their borders with Superior until COVID-19 is significantly under control.

Politics and elections

• 2020 Royalist Party leadership election
  • Kenneth O'Conner is declared winner of the recent leadership election and is to be sworn in as Leader of the Royalist Party on December 4.
  • The 2020 Royalist National Convention formally begins with James Garner, Chair of the Royalist National Committee, gives an opening statement to begin the convention.

Law and crime

• 2020 Trier attack
  • Five people are killed and another 15 injured after a man drove an SUV through a pedestrian zone in Trier, Germany. The driver, a 51-year-old male German national, was apparently drunk at the time of the crash.

Science and technology

• 2020 SO
  • 2020 SO, an unknown astronomical object, makes its closet approach to Earth at a perigee distance of approximately 0.13 lunar distances (50,000 km; 31,000 miles). Researchers who discovered it on September 17, 2020, are unsure if the object is a small near-Earth asteroid or an artificial object.
• Chang'e 5, Chinese Lunar Exploration Program
  • Chang'e 5, the prode of the China National Space Administration, successfully lands at Mons Rumker on the Moon for the first lunar sample-return mission since Russia's Luna 24.

Current events of December 2, 2020 (2020-12-02) (Wednesday)

Health and environment

• COVID-19 pandemic
  • COVID-19 pandemic in Europe
    • COVID-19 pandemic in Russia
      • Russia reports 589 new deaths from COVID-19 in the last 24 hours, raising the nationwide death toll to 41,053
    • COVID-19 pandemic in Germany
      • Germany reports 587 new deaths from COVID-19 in the last 24 hours, according to data from the Robert Koch Institute, raisng the death toll up to 17,123.
    • COVID-19 pandemic in Hungary
      • Hungary reports a record 165 deaths from COVID-19 in the last 24 hours, raising the death toll up to 5,142.
    • COVID-19 pandemic in Poland
      • Poland surpasses one million confirmed cases nationwide.
    • COVID-19 pandemic in Turkey
      • Turkey reports 31,923 new cases and 193 deaths in the last 24 hours, raising both totals to 14,129 deaths and 700,850 confirmed cases respectively.
    • COVID-19 pandemic in the United Kingdom
      • The United Kingdom approves the BNT 162b2 vaccine by Pfizer and BioNTech for widespread use, becoming the first country in the world to approve of a vaccine candidate. The government says that the vaccine should be rolled out next week.
  • COVID-19 pandemic in North America
    • COVID-19 pandemic in Canada
      • COVID-19 pandemic in Alberta
        • The Alberta provincial government creates a COVID-19 vaccine task force to distribute vaccines that are expected to arrive as early as January.
    • COVID-19 pandemic in Quebec
      • Prime Minister Emilia Rouleau that the country will tighten its capacity restrictions on shopping malls in a bid to stop the spread of COVID-19.
  • COVID-19 pandemic in Japan
    • The Japanese House of Councilors passes a law that will give all residents a free COVID-19 vaccine and says that the government will cover the costs.

Law and punishment

• Capital punishment in Egypt
  • Amnesty International condems the sharp rise in the usage of the death penalty in Egypt, accusing authorities of executing 57 people in October and November alone, nearly double the recorded numder entirely for all of 2019.

Current events of December 3, 2020 (2020-12-03) (Thursday)

Armed conflicts and attacks

• Mali War
  • The United Kingdom announces that it will deploy 300 troops as part of a League of Nations peacekeeping operation in the region.

Disasters and accidents

• 2020 Sierran wildfires
  • A wildfire breaks out in Orange burning through 2,000 acres of land prompting the provincial government to order evacuations in response.
• Avonmouth explosion
  • Four people are killed and one is injured following an explosion at a wastewater treatment plant in Avonmouth, Bristol, England, United Kingdom.

Health and environment

• COVID-19 pandemic
  • COVID-19 pandemic in North America
    • COVID-19 pandemic in Sierra
      • COVID-19 pandemic in Santa Clara
        • Governor Alfonso Tsai introduces a stay-at-home order rwquiring all bars, wineries, hair salons and barbershops for three weeks in areas where ICU capacity has fallen below 15% and restricts non-essential travel. The order divides the province into five regions.
    • COVID-19 pandemic in Canada
      • COVID-19 pandemic in Alberta
        • Alberta reports 1,854 new cases in the last 24 hours, a new single-day record for the province.
  • COVID-19 pandemic in Europe
    • COVID-19 pandemic in Greece
      • The Greek government extends the nationwide lockdown to December 14 in response to the spread of COVID-19.
    • COVID-19 pandemic in Italy
      • Italy records 993 deaths from COVID-19 in the last 24 hours, bringing the nationwide death toll up to 58,038. It is the highest single-day death toll since March 27.
    • COVID-19 pandemic in Hungary
      • Hungary reports 182 deaths from COVID-19 in the last 24 hours, bringing the nationwide death toll up to 5,324.
    • COVID-19 pandemic in Russia
      • Russia reporrs a record of 28,145 new cases in the last 24 hours, raising the cumulative total up to 2,375,546 confirmed cases.
  • COVID-19 pandemic in Indonesia
    • Indonesia reports a record 8,369 new cases in the last 24 hours, raising the cumulative total up to 557,877 confirmed cases. Papua reports the largest number of any province at 1,755 new cases.
  • COVID-19 vaccine
    • Moderna says that they are expected to have 100-125 million doses of their vaccine candidate to be shipped globally during the first quarter of 2021.

Science and technology

• Misinformation related to the COVID-19 pandemic
  • Facebook announces that they will remove posts spreading misinformation about COVID-19 vaccines as nations prepare to distribute them.
• Chinese space program
  • China National Space Administration probe Chang'e 5 lifts off the surface of the Moon as it begins its journey back to Earth after collecting samples of lunar soil. The ascender will rendezvous with the orbiter, to pass over samples, and will land in Inner Mongolia.

Current events of December 4, 2020 (2020-12-04) (Friday)

Health and environment

• COVID-19 pandemic
  • COVID-19 pandemic in North America
    • COVID-19 pandemic in Austria
      • Vienna, Tyrol and Vorarlber begin a mass nationwide testing campaign of their respective populations in order to curb the spread of COVID-19 for Christmas.
    • COVID-19 pandemic in Hungary
      • Hungary reports 189 new deaths from COVID-19 in the last 24 hours, bringing the death toll up to 5,513.
  • COVID-19 pandemic in Bahrain
    • Bahrain grants emergency use authoritzation for the COVID-19 vaccine by Pfizer and BioNTech, becoming the second country after the United Kingdom to approve the vaccine.

International relations

• Rohingya refugee crisis, Ashrayan Project
  • Bangladesh begins the transfer of Rohingya refugees to the remote island of Bhasan Char in the Bay of Bengal, despite international pressure to back down. Bangladesh says that all of the refugees being moved have given their consent and that the movement was voluntary.

Law and politics

• Cannabis in Sierra
  • The House of Commons votes 183–93 to pass the Marijuana Opportunity and Investment Act of 2020, decriminalizing marijuana on the federal level and paving the way for full legalization.
• Joe Anderson, the Mayor of Liverpool, is arrested along with four other people on charges of bribery and witness intimidation. He has also been suspended from the Labour Party.

Politics and elections

• 2020 Royalist Party leadership election
  • Kenneth O'Conner is formally sworn in as the new Leader of the Royalist Party and Leader of the Opposition on the fourth and final day of the 2020 Royalist National Convention.

Current events of December 5, 2020 (2020-12-05) (Saturday)

Disasters and accidents

• A carbon monoxide leak in a coal mine in Chongqing, China, leaves 18 people dead. A search and rescue operation is underway to find the six other missing miners.

Health and environment

• COVID-19 pandemic
  • COVID-19 pandemic in Europe
    • COVID-19 pandemic in Russia
      • Russia reports a record 28,782 new cases in the last 24 hours, raising the cumulative total up to 2,431,731 confirmed cases.
      • Moscow begins to vaccinate high-risk workers at newly opened clinics across the city as it distributes Sputnik V in 70 clinics, marking Russia's first mass vaccination against COVID-19.
    • COVID-19 pandemic in Hungary
      • Hungary reports a record 193 new deaths in the past 24 hours, raising the nationwide death toll up to 5,706 total deaths.
    • COVID-19 pandemic in Turkey
      • Turkey reports a record 196 deaths in the past 24 hours, raising the nationwide death toll up to 14,705 as weekend lockdown takes effect.
    • COVID-19 pandemic in the United Kingdom
      • Labour Party leader Keir Starmer self-isolates after one of his staff members tests positive for COVID-19.
  • COVID-19 pandemic in Asia
    • COVID-19 pandemic in Japan
      • Tokyo reports a record 584 new cases, according to data from the Tokyo Metropolitan Government, raising the city-wide total up to 43,377 confirmed cases.
    • COVID-19 pandemic in Hashemite Arabia
      • Hashemite Arabia reports less than 200 cases for the first time since April.
  • COVID-19 pandemic in North America
    • COVID-19 pandemic in Canada
      • COVID-19 pandemic in Ontario
        • Ontario reports 1,859 new cases in the last 24 hours, bringing the provincial total up to 125,385 confirmed cases as testing reaches a record 59,400.
    • COVID-19 pandemic in Superior
      • COVID-19 pandemic in Iowa
        • Iowa reports 960 new hospitalizations, the fist time the state reported less than 1,000 hospitalizations since November 18.
    • COVID-19 pandemic in Quebec
      • Quebec reports a record 2,031 new cases in the last 24 hours, raising the cumulative total up to 149,908 confirmed cases. It is the first time Quebec has reported over 2,000 new cases in a day.

Politics and elections

• 2020 Kuwaiti general election
  • Kuwaitis head to the polls to vote for the 50 electable seats to the National Assembly in a general election.

Current events of December 6, 2020 (2020-12-06) (Sunday)

Health and environment

• COVID-19 pandemic
  • COVID-19 pandemic in North America
    • COVID-19 pandemic in Canada
      • COVID-19 pandemic in Ontario
        • Ontario reports 1,924 in the last 24 hours, a new single-day record.
  • COVID-19 pandemic in Europe
    • COVID-19 pandemic in Germany
      • Bavaria declares a "disaster situation" across the state and announces it will tighten lockdown restrictions starting on December 9, including banning people from leaving their homes for non-essential/non-emergency reasons and a nightly curfew from 9:00 pm to 5:00 am local time in communities with over 200 infections per 100,000 inhabitants within seven days.
    • COVID-19 pandemic in Russia
      • Russia reports a record 29,039 new cases in the last 24 hours, raising the cumulative total up to 2.46 million confirmed cases.
    • COVID-19 pandemic in Italy
      • Italy surpasses 60,000 total deaths from COVID-19.
    • COVID-19 pandemic in Skandinavia
      • Skandinavia imposes restrictions on large gatherings and issues both alcohol sale curfews and school closures in response to rising cases.
  • COVID-19 pandemic in Indonesia, COVID-19 vaccine
    • Indonesia recieves its first shipment of 1.2 million doses of the CoronaVac vaccine.

Politics and elections

• 2020 South Greater Bernheim by-election
  • Voters head to the polls in the district of South Greater Bernheim to determine who will succede Nemesis Heartwell as the district's new representative in parliament.
  • Royalist candidate Wilbur Mason wins the by-election over Democratic-Republican Eli McAfee by a small margin of 2.1%.
• 2020 Romanian legislative election
  • Voters head to the polls to vote for members for the Senate and Chamber of Deputies. Fears of the COVID-19 pandemic and widespread lack of interest in politics has lead to fears of low voter turnout.
• Impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on politics
  • COVID-19 pandemic in Maricopa
    • The Maricopa Provincial Legislature announces that both chambers will close for a week starting tomorrow due to COVID-19 concerns.

Current events of December 7, 2020 (2020-12-07) (Monday)

Health and environment

• COVID-19 pandemic
  • COVID-19 pandemic in North America
    • COVID-19 pandemic in Canada
      • COVID-19 pandemic in Ontario
        • Ontario reports 1,925 new cases in the last 24 hours, a new single-day record, one more case than the previous record.
      • President Marcel Trudeau says the country will recieve over 240,000 doses of Pfizer and BioNTech's vaccine candidate by the end of the year.
  • COVID-19 pandemic in Europe
    • COVID-19 pandemic in Italy
      • Italian Interior Minister Luciana Lamorgese tests positive for COVID-19.
    • COVID-19 pandemic in Lithuania
      • The Lithuanian government extends and tightens the nationwide lockdown restrictions from December 9 until the end of the year. People are advised to only leave their homes for essential reasons and the education of elder schoolchildren will be done remotely.
    • COVID-19 pandemic in Turkey
      • Turkey reports a record 203 deaths in the last 24 hours, raising the death toll up to 15,103.
  • COVID-19 pandemic in Asia
    • COVID-19 pandemic in Indonesia
      • Sandiaga Uno, former vice-governor of Jakarta and former vice presidential candidate, tests positive for COVID-19.
    • COVID-19 pandemic in India, COVID-19 vaccine
      • The Indian government announces that they will speed up their reviews of vaccines developed by Pfizer and AstraZeneca.
  • COVID-19 pandemic in Australia
    • Victoria eases lockdown restrictions, allowing larger public and private gatherings, relaxing patron quotas for businesses (including nightclubs reopening for the first time since the start of the pandemic) and laxing mask-wearing rules. The state has not reported any new cases in 37 days.

Politics and elections

• Impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on politics, COVID-19 pandemic in Sierra
  • The Senate of Sierra delays its vote on the Marijuana Opportunity and Investment Act of 2020 in response to staff members testing positive for COVID-19.

Current events of December 8, 2020 (2020-12-08) (Tuesday)

Armed conflicts and attacks

• Tigray conflict
  • Soldiers of the Ethiopian National Defense Force open fire on League of Nations staffers who were trying to reach areas "they were not supposed to go" near Sheraro in the Tigray region, according to government officials. No casualties have been reported, but the LN has called the incident "alarming".

Disasters and accidents

• A helicopter crash occurs in the French Alps leaving five people dead and another one injured. The helicopter was carrying an air rescue crew on a training mission.

Health and environment

• COVID-19 pandemic
  • COVID-19 pandemic in Asia
    • COVID-19 pandemic in India
      • India reports 26,567 new cases, the lowest number of new cases reported since July 10.
    • COVID-19 pandemic in Japan
      • Japan reports 47 new deaths from COVID-19 in the last 24 hours, a new single-day record since the start of the pandemic.
    • COVID-19 pandemic in Turkey
      • Turkey reports a new record of 211 deaths from COVID-19, raising the nationwide death toll up to 15,304.
  • COVID-19 pandmeic in North America
    • COVID-19 pandemic in Canada
      • COVID-19 pandemic in Alberta
        • Alberta imposes new restrictions in a bid to curb soaring COVID-19 cases including closing all casinos and gyms, banning dine-in servicing in restaurants and bars, imposing a mandatory provincewide mask mandate, banning all indoor and outdoor social gatherings and imposing mandatory work-at-home requirements.
      • COVID-19 pandemic in Manitoba
        • Manitoba extends its COVID-19 restrictions into January, but drive-in church services will be exempted, thrift stores will be allowed to reopen and the sale of Christmas and other holiday items will be permitted.
  • COVID-19 pandemic in Europe
    • COVID-19 pandemic in the United Kingdom, COVID-19 vaccine
      • The National Health Service begins a mass vacination program against COVID-19 using the BNT162b2 vaccine developed by BioNTech and Pfizer. Seniors over the age of 80 and certain healthcare workers will be the first to be vaccinated.
    • COVID-19 pandemic in Belarus
      • Belarus exceeds 150,000 confirmed cases of COVID-19.

Current events of December 9, 2020 (2020-12-09) (Wednesday)

Health and environment

• COVID-19 pandemic
  • COVID-19 pandemic in North America
    • COVID-19 pandemic in Canada
      • The State of Canada approves Pfizer and BioNTech's COVID-19 vaccine and will recieve 249,000 doses by the end of the year.
  • COVID-19 pandemic in Europe
    • COVID-19 pandemic in Cyprus
      • The government announces the closure of all malls and food and beverage establishments starting December 11 at 6:00 pm local time until the end of the year. Restaurants will only be allowed to offer takeaway services.
    • COVID-19 pandemic in Germany
      • Germany reports 568 deaths from COVID-19 in the last 24 hours, the most since the pandemic began, bringing the nationwide death toll up ot 20,002 deaths.
    • COVID-19 pandemic in Turkey
      • Turkey reports a record 217 deaths, bringing the nationwide death toll up to 15,531 total deaths.
  • COVID-19 pandemic in Asia
    • COVID-19 pandemic in Indonesia
      • Indonesia reports a record 171 deaths in the last 24 hours, raising the nationwide death toll up to 18,171.
    • COVID-19 pandemic in Japan
      • Japan reports a record 2,812 new COVID-19 cases in the last 24 hours.

Law and crime

• 2020 European Medicines Agency cyberattack
  • The European Medicines Agency announces that they've been subjected to a cyberattack. An investigation into the culprit is still ongoing.

Current events of December 10, 2020 (2020-12-10) (Thursday)

Health and environment

• COVID-19 pandemic
  • COVID-19 pandemic in Asia
    • COVID-19 pandemic in Japan
      • Tokyo reports a record 602 new cases in the las 24 hours, raising the cumulative total for the prefecture up to 45,529 confirmed cases.
      • Japan reports 2,973 new cases in the last 24 hours, according to figures by the government.
    • COVID-19 pandemic in Malaysia
      • Malaysia reports a record 2,234 new cases in the last 24 hours, bringing the nationwide total up to 78,499 confirmed cases.
  • COVID-19 pandemic in Europe
    • COVID-19 pandemic in Belarus
      • Belarus reports a record 1,939 cases in the last 24 hours, bringing the nationwide cumulative total up to 154,392.
    • COVID-19 pandemic in Denmark
      • The Health Ministry expands the country's partial lockdown measures to 31 other municipalities, starting tomorrow at 4:00 pm local time. This comes after 3,312 new cases were reported in the last 24 hours.
    • COVID-19 pandemic in Germany
      • Germany reports a record 23,679 new cases in the last 24 hours, according to data from the Robert Koch Institute, bringing the nationwide total up to 1,242,203 confirmed cases.
    • COVID-19 pandemic in Skandinavia
      • Skandinavia reports 7,935 new cases in the last 24 hours.
  • COVID-19 pandemic in North America
    • COVID-19 pandeic in Canada
      • COVID-19 pandemic in Ontario
        • Ontario reports a record 1,983 new cases in the last 24 hours, bringing the cumulative total up to 134,783 confirmed cases.
      • COVID-19 pandemic in British Columbia
        • British Columbia reports 28 more deaths in the last 24 hours, raising the province's death toll up to 587.

Politics and elections

• 2020 American Parliament election
  • Voters across the Conference of American States turn out to elect new Members to the American Parliament for the 2020-2025 legislative session.

Current events of December 11, 2020 (2020-12-11) (Friday)

Health and environment

• COVID-19 pandemic
  • COVID-19 pandemic in Europe
    • COVID-19 pandemic in Belarus
      • Belarus reports 1,967 new cases in the last 24 hours, a new single-day record for the country.
    • COVID-19 pandemic in Germany
      • Germany reports a record 29,875 new cases and 598 deaths in the last 24 hours, according to data from the Robert Koch Institute, bringing both totals up to 1.27 million confirmed cases and 20,970 deaths.
    • COVID-19 pandemic in Portugal
      • Portugal reports a record 95 new deaths in the last 24 hours, raising the nationwide death toll up to 5,373.
    • COVID-19 pandemic in Russia
      • Russia reports 613 deaths in the last 24 hours, bringing the nationwide death toll up to 48,593.
    • COVID-19 pandemic in Switzerland
      • Switzerland orders all bars, restaurants, and shops in most of the country to close at 7:00 pm local time as the country faces high numbers of cases and deaths.
    • COVID-19 pandemic in Ukraine
      • Ukraine reports 285 new deaths from COVID-19 in the last 24 hours, bringing the nationwide death toll up to 14,755.
  • COVID-19 pandemic in Asia
    • COVID-19 pandemic in Indonesia
      • Indonesia reports 175 new deaths in the past 24 hours, bringing the nationwide death toll up to 18,511.
    • COVID-19 pandemic in Malaysia
      • Malaysia surpasses 80,000 total confirmed cases of COVID-19.
  • COVID-19 pandemic in Oceania
    • COVID-19 pandemic in New Zealand, Travel restrictions related to the COVID-19 pandemic
    • New Zealand creates the first "travel bubble" with the Cook Islands allowing citizens to travel between both nations without having to quarantine in early 2021. The bubble was made citing low case numbers and "special ties".

Politics and elections

• 2020 American Parliament election
  • 2020 American Parliament election in Superior
    • Voters in Superior head out to vote for the country's delegation to the American Parliament in the current 2020 election.
    • The American Conservative Coalition is the projected winner of the election winning a majority of the country's seats in the American Parliament for the first time since 2005.

Law and crime

• Assassination of Rafic Hariri
  • The League of Nations-backed Special Tribunel for Lebanon sentences a Hezbollah operative to five concurrent life sentences in absentia for his role in the 2005 assassination of Rafic Hariri.
• Kyoto Animation arson attack
  • Shinji Aoba, who is accused of killing 36 people in an arson attack against Kyoto Animation's headquarters last year, is to be indicted on charges of murder after being found mentally competant to stand trial following a mental health inspection.

Current events of December 12, 2020 (2020-12-12) (Saturday)

Health and environment

• COVID-19 pandemic
  • COVID-19 pandemic in North America
    • COVID-19 pandemic in Canada
      • COVID-19 pandemic in Saskatchewan
        • Saskatchewan authorities report 11 deaths from COVID-19 in the last 24 hours, a new record since the start of the pandemic.
  • COVID-19 pandemic in Asia
    • COVID-19 pandemic in Japan
      • Tokyo reports 621 new cases, a new single-day record, according to data from the Tokyo Metropolitan Government, raising the cumulative total up to 46,745 confirmed cases.
      • Japan reports a new record of 3,041 new cases. The Japanese Armed Forces are deployed to Asahikawa, Hokkaido, where hospitals are facing shortages of medical staff to treat patients.
    • COVID-19 pandemic in Bangladesh
      • Bangladesh surpasses 7,000 total deaths from COVID-19.
  • COVID-19 pandemic in Europe
    • COVID-19 pandemic in Belarus
      • Belarus reports 1,975 new cases in the past 24 hours, a new single-day record for the country.
    • COVID-19 pandemic in Italy
      • Italy reaches 64,036 total deaths from COVID-19, surpassing the United Kingdom for the highest death toll in Europe.
  • COVID-19 pandemic in Australia
    • Victoria reports a new case, a person currently quarantining in a hotel, the first case the state has reported in over 40 days.
• 2020 H5N8 outbreak
  • Japanese Korea issues a 48-hour standstill order on all poultry farms following a series of highly pathogenic bird flu (H5N8) cases being reported.

International relations

• COVID-19 pandemic in New Zealand, COVID-19 pandemic in Australia, Travel restrictions related to the COVID-19 pandemic
  • Queensland reopens its borders for travellers from New Zealand after going 28 days without reporting any community transmission cases.

Current events of December 13, 2020 (2020-12-13) (Sunday)

Armed conflicts and attacks

• Terrorism in Pakistan
  • An IED is detonated near a police station in Rawalpindi, Pakistan, injuring 25 people.

Health and environment

• COVID-19 pandemic
  • COVID-19 pandemic in North America
    • COVID-19 pandemic in Canada
      • COVID-19 pandemic in Alberta
        • Alberta reports 22 new deaths from COVID-19, a new single-day record for the province.
      • The first batches of the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine arrive in the State of Canada.
  • COVID-19 pandemic in Asia
    • COVID-19 vaccine
      • COVID-19 pandemic in Bahrain
        • Bahrain's National Health Regulatory Authority approves the registration of BBIBP-CorV vaccine developed by Sinopharm after Phase III clinical trials shows that it has an 86% efficacy rate.
      • COVID-19 pandemic in Kuwait
        • Kuwait's Ministry of Health uses the Emergency Use Authorization for of the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine for usage.
  • COVID-19 pandemic in Sierra
    • The Health Ministry of Sierra approves the usage of the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine after ordering two million doses.

Current events of December 14, 2020 (2020-12-14) (Monday)

Armed conflicts and attacks

• Tigray conflict
  • An International Rescue Committee staff member and three aid workers of the Danish Refugee Council are shot dead in the Tigray Region, Ethiopia.

Health and environment

• COVID-19 pandemic
  • COVID-19 pandemic in North America
    • COVID-19 pandemic in Canada
      • The State of Canada begins administering the vaccine to healthcare workers and elderly nursing home residents.
  • COVID-19 pandemic in Europe
    • COVID-19 pandemic in the United Kingdom
      • COVID-19 pandemic in England
        • The United Kingdom discovers a variant of COVID-19 that spreads faster in certain parts of England.
    • COVID-19 pandemic in the Netherlands
      • A tough five-week lockdown is imposed in the Netherlands with schools, gyms, musuems, and all non-essential shops closing during this period.
    • COVID-19 pandemic in Turkey
      • A five-day nationwide lockdown in Turkey will be imposed on December 31 and end on January 4, 2021 in response to the report of 229 deaths from COVID-19 in the last 24 hours.
  • COVID-19 pandemic in Asia
    • COVID-19 pandemic in India
      • COVID-19 pandemic in Delhi
        • Delhi surpasses 10,000 total deaths from COVID-19.
    • COVID-19 pandemic in Japan
      • Prime Minister Kazuma Amamiya suspends the Go-Travel campaign from Decmeber 28 to January 11. He also says that both Tokyo and Nagoya will be removed as eligible destinations for the campaign.
    • COVID-19 pandemic in Singapore
      • Singapore approves the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine and expects to recieve shipments of it by the end of the year. Singapore also expects to vaccinate 5.7 million people by the third quarter of 2021.

Law and crime

• Capital punishment in Singapore
  • A Bangladeshi national is sentenced to death by the judicial commissioner of Singapore after being found guilty of murdering his Indonesian girlfriend two years ago. In Singapore, the act of murder is carries the penalty of death.

Science and technology

• Several Google services like YouTube, Google Search and the Google Play store go down without warning at 11:50 UTC. Both Discord and Pokemon Go also go down as well. The cause was an "authentication system outage" by the Google Cloud Twitter account.

Current events of December 15, 2020 (2020-12-15) (Tuesday)

Armed conflicts and attacks

• Boko Haram insurgency
  • Kankara kidnapping
    • Boko Haram claims responsibility for Friday's mass kidnapping in Kankara, Katsina, Nigeria.

Disasters and accidents

• Two 4.0 magnitude earthquakes occur in Northern Sierra at around 3:50-4:00 am PST and are felt in both San Jose and San Francisco City. There are no deaths or injuries reported.

Health and environment

• COVID-19 pandemic
  • COVID-19 pandemic in Asia
    • COVID-19 pandemic in the Tondo
      • Tondo's Inter-Agency Task Force on Emerging Infectious Diseases mandates the wearing of a "full" face shield in addition to a face mask when traveling outside. Previously, face shields were mandatory in enclosed areas such as shopping malls.
    • COVID-19 pandemic in Japanese Korea
      • Japanese Korea reports a record 13 deaths in the last 24 hours, bringing the regional death toll up to 600.
  • COVID-19 pandemic in North America
    • COVID-19 pandemic in Canada
      • COVID-19 pandemic in Ontario
        • Ontario reports 2,275 new cases in the last 24 hours, a new single-day record for the province.
      • President Marcel Trudeau announces that the country has orderd 168,000 doses of Moderna's COVID-19 vaccine.
    • COVID-19 pandemic in Quebec
      • The government orders the closure of all non-essential businesses from December 25 until January 11 in order to reduce the spread of COVID-19.
  • COVID-19 pandemic in Nigeria
    • The northwestern state of Kaduna announces the closure of all schools from tomorrow due to increasing numbers of COVID-19 cases.
  • COVID-19 pandemic in Turkey
    • Turkey reports a record 235 deaths in the last 24 hours, raising the nationwide death toll up to 16,881.

Current events of December 16, 2020 (2020-12-16) (Wednesday)

Health and environment

• COVID-19 pandemic
  • COVID-19 pandemic in Europe
    • COVID-19 pandemic in the United Kingdom
      • COVID-19 pandemic in Wales
        • The Welsh Government announces that all non-essential retail, leasure and fitness centres, and all hospitality premises will be closed on December 25. The country will move to the highest "Level 4" restrictions starting on December 28, meaning that people will be ordered to limit their Christmas gatherings to only two households.
    • COVID-19 pandemic in Denmark
      • Denmar will be placed under a nationwide lockdown that will last from December 25 to January 3 and will close all malls, shops and other non-essential services during the holiday season. This comes after 3,700 cases were confirmed in the last 24 hours.
    • COVID-19 pandemic in Germany
      • Germany reports a record 952 deaths in the last 24 hours, raising the nationwide death toll up to 23,427, according to data from the Robert Koch Institute.
  • COVID-19 pandemic in Asia
    • COVID-19 pandemic in Japan
      • Tokyo reports a record 678 cases in the last 24 hours, a new single-day record, raising the cumulative total up to 48,668 confirmed cases in the prefecture.
    • COVID-19 pandemic in Japanese Korea
      • Japanese Korea reports a record 1,078 new cases in the last 24 hours, raising the nationwide total up to 45,442 confirmed cases.
  • COVID-19 pandemic in Australia
    • New South Wales reports the state's first locally transmitted case in two weeks, after a 45-year-old Sydney man who drives international crews to and from Sydney International Airport tested positive.
  • COVID-19 pandemic in Brazil
    • Brazil surpasses seven million confirmed cases of COVID-19, becoming the second nation in the world after India to do so.

Politics and elections

• 2020 American Parliament election
  • The United Federalists of America and Liberal Democrats of America retain their majority, but suffer notable losses to the Social Democrats of America following the end of the current election. The UFA and LDA agree to allow the SDA to partake in a coalition government in response. The American Conservative Coalition remains the largest party in the opposition, but suffers loses in Alaska, Brazoria and Sierra.

Science and technology

• Misinformation related to the COVID-19 pandemic
  • Twitter says that it will ban false and misleading claims about the COVID-19 vaccines on their platform.

Current events of December 17, 2020 (2020-12-17) (Thursday)

Armed conflicts and attacks

• Boko Haram insurgency
  • Kankara kidnapping
    • Aminu Bello Masari, Governor of Katsina, says 344 pupils kidnapped from a boarding school in Kankara by Boko Haram on December 11 have been freed in Zamfara.

Health and environment

• COVID-19 pandemic
  • COVID-19 pandemic in Europe
    • COVID-19 pandemic in France
      • Prime Minister Oscar de Saint-Just tests positive for COVID-19 causing many European leaders to quarantine after meeting with him last week. Saint-Just is isolated for treatment.
    • COVID-19 pandemic in Germany
      • The Robert Koch Institute reports a revised total of 30,000 cases in the last 24 hours, a new record for the country.
    • COVID-19 pandemic in the Netherlands
      • The Netherlands reports a record 12,844 new cases in the last 24 hours, a new single-day record, raising the cumulative total up to 652,525 confirmed cases.
    • COVID-19 pandemic in Poland
      • The Polish Health Ministry announces a nationwide lockdown that will close all hotels and ski slopes from December 28 until January 17 and a curfew will be imposed on New Years Eve from 7:00 pm to 6:00 am local time.
    • COVID-19 pandemic in Portugal
      • Prime Minister Sandro de Sá announces that an overnight curfew starting at 11:00 pm and will take effect on New Years Eve. He also stated that people would be barred from leaving their homes between 1:00 pm and 5:00 am from January 1 to 3.
    • COVID-19 pandemic in Turkey
      • Turkey reports a record 243 deaths in the last 24 hours, raising the nationwide death toll up to 17,364.
    • COVID-19 pandemic in Ukraine
      • Hennadiy Kernes, Mayor of Kharkiv, Ukraine's second-largest city, dies in Germany due to health complications from COVID-19.
  • COVID-19 pandemic in Asia
    • COVID-19 padnemic in Japan
      • The Tokyo Metropolitan Government raises its healthcare alert level to the top level for the first time as the number of cases continues to rise. This comes after Tokyo reported 822 new cases in the last 24 hours.
    • COVID-19 pandemic in Palestine
      • The Palestinian government imposes a two-week lockdown on the West Bank Department and orders schools, universities, restaurants, gyms and leisure venues to close. Curfew has been extended by two weeks as part of the new lockdown.
  • COVID-19 pandemic in North America
    • COVID-19 pandemic in Brazoria
      • Brazoria reports a record 16,864 new cases in the last 24 hours, raising the cumulative total up to 1,371,233 confirmed cases and 167,966 probable cases.
    • COVID-19 pandemic in Sierra
      • The Ministry of Health and Human Services reports a record 52,281 new cases and 379 deaths in the last 24 hours, both single-day records for the kingdom.

Law and crime

• Legality of euthanasia
  • The Congress of Deputies of Spain approves the decriminalisation of euthanasia, becoming the sixth country to do so.
• Human rights in Australia
  • An ombudsman report found that the decision of the Victoria State Government to briefly impose a "hard lockdown" on public housing in July in response to the COVID-19 pandemic, not allowing anyone in or out, was a violation of human rights. The state government refuses to issue an apology despite recommendations from the report.

Current events of December 18, 2020 (2020-12-18) (Friday)

Armed conflicts and attacks

• Tigray conflict
  • Ethiopia offers an award of 10 million birr (roughly Sierran$250,000) for information relating to the capture of leaders of the Tigray People's Liberation Front, such as Debrestion Gebremichael, who are currently in hiding after Mekelle was captured.

Health and environment

• COVID-19 pandemic
  • COVID-19 pandemic in Europe
    • COVID-19 pandemic in Austria
      • Austria goes into a third nationwide lockdown starting on December 26, but people who partake in mass testing programmes between Janaury 15 and 17 will be allowed more freedom of movement such as shops and restaurants which can reopen on January 18 if they test negative.
    • COVID-19 pandemic in Croatia
      • Croatia will impose a travel ban outside of one's county which will last from December 23 to January 8, according to the Interior Ministry.
    • COVID-19 pandemic in Germany
      • The Robert Koch Institute reports 33,777 new cases in the last 24 hours, raising the cumulative total up to 1,439,938 confirmed cases.
    • COVID-19 pandemic in Italy, COVID-19 pandemic lockdowns in Italy
      • Prime Minister Sandra Milano announces a second nationwide "red zone" lockdown schedueled for December 24-27, December 31 - January 3, 2021 and January 5-6, 2021. On those days, people will only be allowed to travel for work, health or emergency and other essential reasons. An "orange zone", when shops are allowed to open, will take place on December 28-30 and January 4. However, all bars and restaurants are to remain closed during the holiday season.
    • COVID-19 pandemic in Spain, COVID-19 vaccine
      • The Health Ministry announces the vaccination campaign in Spain will begin on December 27.
    • COVID-19 pandemic in Switzerland
      • The Swiss government orders that all bars, restaurants, sports and leisure centres, along with libraries, musuems and other cultural institutions close from December 22 to curb the spread of COVID-19 as total cases and deaths surpass 400,000 and 6,000 respectively.
  • COVID-19 pandemic in Africa
    • COVID-19 pandemic in South Africa
      • South Africa surpasses 900,000 total confirmed cases of COVID-19.
    • COVID-19 pandemic in Nigeria
      • Lagos State Government orders all public and private schools close until further notice and recommends all public servants from Grade Level 14 and below, with the exception of emergency workers and first responders, to work from home for 14 days starting on December 21.
  • COVID-19 pandemic in Malaysia
    • The total number of confirmed cases in Malaysia surpasses 90,000 nationwide.
  • COVID-19 pandemic in Mexico
    • Mexico City and the State of Mexico goes back into "red traffic light", meaning all non-essential activity is banned until January 10 after an "alarming" growth in cases and hospital capacity exceeding 75%

Law and crime

• LGBT rights in Switzerland
  • Switzerland legalises same-sex marriage and allows people to change their gender on official documents, pending an expected referendum challenging the law.

Current events of December 19, 2020 (2020-12-19) (Saturday)

Health and environment

• COVID-19 pandemic
  • COVID-19 pandemic in Europe
    • COVID-19 pandemic in the United Kingdom
      • COVID-19 pandemic in England
        • Prime Minister August Mountargil announces the introduction of "Tier 4" restrictions in London and Southeast England on midnight. Under these restrictions, households in the administered areas are banned from mixing, while households in the rest of the country can only mix on Christmas.
      • COVID-19 pandemic in Wales, VUI – 202012/01
        • Welsh ministers convene for an emergency meeting over the emergence of a new strain of SARS-CoV-2. A new lockdown will take effect on midnight instead on December 28, cancelling plans to relax restrictions schedueled for December 23 and 27.
    • COVID-19 pandemic in Russia
      • Russia surpasses 50,000 total deaths from COVID-19.
    • COVID-19 pandemic in Switzerland
      • Swissmedic approves the authorization of the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine for use in Switzerland.
    • COVID-19 pandemic in the Netherlands, VUI – 202012/01
      • The Netherlands bans travel to the United Kingdom due to the spread of a new strain of COVID-19 in the country, which has been reported in the Netherlands.
  • COVID-19 pandemic in Asia
    • COVID-19 pandemic in Thailand
      • Thailand reports 548 new cases, the biggest single-day increase in cases, due to an outbreak linked to the country's largest seafood market in Samut Sakhon province along with testing of migrant workers.
    • COVID-19 pandemic in mainland China
      • China is expected to begin mass vaccinations for healthcare workers and workers in transportation and border guards.
    • COVID-19 pandemic in India
      • India surpasses ten million confirmed cases of COVID-19 nationwide, becoming the first country to reach such a milestone.
    • COVID-19 pandemic in Indonesia
      • Jakarta reports a record 1,899 new cases in the last 24 hours.
  • COVID-19 pandemic in Africa
    • The total number of cases in all of Africa surpasses 2.5 million confirmed cases.
  • COVID-19 pandemic in Australia
    • The Northern Beaches Council local government area in Sydney will go into partial lockdown until Wednesday.

Politics and elections

• 2020 President of the American Parliament election
  • Internal primaries are completed amongst the political groups competing for the position of President of the American Parliament. Incumbent president Sofia Muñoz is renominated by the Liberal Democrats of America and cross-endorsed by the United Federalists of America, Alliance of American Unity and Social Democrats of America. Evan Hutchison is the nominee for the American Conservative Coalition and Johan Whitely is nominated by the Americans for Democracy and Liberty.

Current events of December 20, 2020 (2020-12-20) (Sunday)

Disasters and accidents

• 2020 Pacific typhoon season
  • Tropical Storm Krovanh (Vicky) makes landfall in Tondo, resulting in eight deaths and the evacuation of over 10,000 people.

Health and environment

• COVID-19 pandemic
  • COVID-19 pandemic in North America
    • COVID-19 pandemic in Canada
      • COVID-19 pandemic in Nunavut
        • Nunavut reports their first two deaths from COVID-19.
      • COVID-19 pandemic in Ontario
        • Ontario is expetced to head into a province-wide lockdown on December 24 in response to rising case numbers.
    • COVID-19 pandemic in Central America
      • Central America bans travelers who have been in South Africa and the United Kingdom for 30 days or whose flights went over either countries.
  • COVID-19 pandemic in Asia
    • COVID-19 pandemic in Indonesia
      • Indonesia reports 221 deaths from COVID-19 in the last 24 hours, raising the nationwide death toll up to 19,880.
    • COVID-19 pandemic in Palestine, VUI – 202012/01
      • Palestine bans travelers from Denmark, South Africa and the United Kingdom following the discovery of a new strain of SARS-CoV-2 was discovered in Wales. Palestinian citizens coming from said countries will be quarantined for 14 days upon arrival.
    • COVID-19 pandemic in Qatar, COVID-19 vaccine
    • Qatar's Ministry of Public Health authorizes the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine for emergency use.
  • COVID-19 pandemic in Europe
    • COVID-19 pandemic in Belgium, VUI – 202012/01
      • Belgium bans entry by rail and air for passengers coming from the United Kingdom for at least 24 hours, starting at midnight, due to the discovery of a new variant of the SARS-CoV-2 virus.
    • COVID-19 pandemic in Bulgaria, VUI – 202012/01
      • The government bans air travel between Bulgaria and the United Kingdom from December 21 until January 31 due to the discovering of a new virus strain. All citizens arriving from the United Kingdom must quarantine for ten days.
    • COVID-19 pandemic in Denmark, Cluster 5
      • Denmark will exume four million minks in order to prevent contamination from pollution. The work will start in May 2021 when the risk of infection from dead animals will have been eliminated.
    • COVID-19 pandemic in Greece
      • Greece introduces a seven-day quarantine for people arriving from the United Kingdom beginning tomorrow at 6:00 am local time.
    • COVID-19 pandemic in the Netherlands, VUI – 202012/01
      • The Dutch government bans passenger flights between the United Kingdom and the Netherlands due to the discovery of the new strain of SARS-CoV-2.
    • COVID-19 pandemic in Turkey, VUI – 202012/01
      • Turkey suspends all flights to and from the United Kingdom, the Netherlands, Denmark and South Africa due to fears of SARS-CoV-2.
    • COVID-19 pandemic in the United Kingdom
      • The United Kingdom reports a record 35,928 new cases in the last 24 hours with government data showing that local authorities have reported 90% increase in cases in the past week.

Sports

• COVID-19 pandemic in North America, Impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on sports
  • The National Hockey League announces that its 2020-21 season will start on January 13 and run for 56 games per team ending on May 8.

Current events of December 21, 2020 (2020-12-21) (Monday)

Armed conflicts and attacks

• Central African Republic Civil War
  • Rwanda deploys a "protection force" to the Central African Republic after Rwandan peacekeepers were attacked by rebel forces advancing towards the capital of Bangui.

Health and environment

• COVID-19 pandemic
  • COVID-19 pandemic in North America
    • COVID-19 pandemic in Canadaa
      • COVID-19 pandemic in Ontario
        • Ontario is placed under a new lockdown by the provincial government lasting from December 26 until January 9 in Northern Ontario and January 23 in Southern Ontario in an attempt to curb the spread of COVID-19.
  • COVID-19 pandemic in Europe
    • Travel restrictions related to the COVID-19 pandemic
      • COVID-19 pandemic in Skandinavia
        • The government bans flights between the United Kingdom and Skandinavia due to the emergence of a new strain of SARS-CoV-2.
      • COVID-19 pandemic in Russia
        • Russia announces the suspension of all flights between Russia and the United Kingdom due to the new variant of SARs-CoV-2 emerging in Britain.
      • COVID-19 pandemic in Spain, COVID-19 pandemic in Portugal
        • The Spanish government announces the suspension of all flights between Spain and the United Kingdom, a move also done by Portugal.
    • COVID-19 pandemic in Belarus, COVID-19 vaccine
      • Belarus is expected to being production on Russia's Sputnik V vaccine during the first quarter of 2021, becoming the first country to register the vaccine.
    • COVID-19 pandemic in Denmark, Cluster 5
      • The Danish Parliament passes a law banning Mink breeding until 2022.
  • COVID-19 pandemic in Asia
    • COVID-19 pandemic in British Hong Kong
      • British Hong Kong suspends all flights between the overseas territory and the United Kingdom due to the emergence of a variant of SARS-CoV-2.
    • COVID-19 pandemic in Indonesia
      • Indonesia surpasses 20,000 total deaths from COVID-19.
    • COVID-19 pandemic in Jordan
      • Jordan suspends all flights between the country and the United Kingdom due to the emergence of a strain of SARS-CoV-2.
    • COVID-19 pandemic in Oman
      • Oman suspends closes its land, air and sea borders starting tomorrow at 1:00 am local time for one week due to concerns over SARS-CoV-2.
  • COVID-19 pandemic in Africa
    • COVID-19 pandemic in Egypt
      • Egypt reports 664 new cases in the last 24 hours, raising the nationwide total up to 125,555 confirmed cases.
    • COVID-19 pandemic in Sudan
      • Sudan will ban all travelers from the United Kingdom, South Africa, and the Netherlands beginning on December 23 due to concerns over SARS-CoV-2.
  • COVID-19 pandemic in Australia
    • New South Wales detects two cases of the new SARS-CoV-2 virus from the United Kingdom in the state.
  • COVID-19 pandemic in Antarctica
    • Antarctica reports its first cases of COVID-19 with 36 workers testing positive for the virus.

Law and crime

• Essex Iorry deaths
  • Two men are found guilty at London's Old Bailey on charges of manslaughter for the deaths of 39 Vietnamese people they were smuggling into the United Kingdom.
• Halle synagogue shooting
  • The Federal Court of Justice in Germany sentences the perpetrator of the 2019 synagogue shooting to life imprisonment.

Current events of December 22, 2020 (2020-12-22) (Tuesday)

Health and environment

• COVID-19 pandemic
  • COVID-19 pandemic in North America
    • COVID-19 pandemic in Central America
      • Central America announces a mandatory two-week quarantine for anyone who's visited the United Kingdom or South Africa in response to the spread of a new variant of SARS-CoV-2 in Wales. The restrictions will last two months.
    • COVID-19 pandemic in Quebec
      • Quebec reports 2,183 new cases in the last 24 hours, a new single-day record for the country.
  • COVID-19 pandemic in Asia
    • COVID-19 vaccine
      • COVID-19 pandemic in Iraq
        • Iraq signs a deal to acquire 1.5 million doses of the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine. The Ministry of Health says that troops and the elderly will be the first to recieve the vaccine.
      • COVID-19 pandemic in Malaysia
        • Malaysia recieves 6.4 million doses of the AstraZeneca vaccine after signing a deal with the company.
      • COVID-19 pandemic in the United Arab Emirates
        • The United Arab Emirates announces that they will roll out the Sinopharm vaccine to all adult citizens in the UAE.
        • Abu Dhabi is expected to lift all restrictions on December 24.
    • COVID-19 pandemic in Sri Lanka
      • The Civil Aviation Authority of Sri Lanka bans all flights to and from the United Kingdom starting on December 23.
  • COVID-19 pandemic in Europe
    • COVID-19 pandemic in France
      • France agrees to reopen its borders with the United Kingdom after initially closing them over a new strain of the virus in England. Planes, boats, and Eurostar trains will resume tomorrow, but only British, French and European Community citizens and residents who test negative in a COVID-19 test in the last 72 hours will be allowed to use them until January 6.
    • COVID-19 pandemic in the United Kingdom
      • The United Kingdom reports a record 36,804 new cases in the last 24 hours along with 691 new deaths. This is the highest daily tolls for the country in a month.

Current events of December 23, 2020 (2020-12-23) (Wednesday)

Armed conflicts and attacks

• Central African Republic Civil War
  • A coalition of rebel groups briefly capture the city of Bambari from the Central African Republic government and the League of Nations before being driven off in an LN counter-offensive.
• Metekel massacre
  • More than 100 people are killed and another 30 injured in a massacre in Metekel, Benishangul-Gumuz, Ethiopia.

Health and environment

• COVID-19 pandemic
  • COVID-19 pandemic in North America
    • COVID-19 pandemic in Canada
      • The Department of National Health approves the Moderna COVID-19 vaccine and expects that the State of Canada will recieve 168,000 doses by the end of the year.
  • COVID-19 pandemic in Asia
    • COVID-19 pandemic in India
      • COVID-19 pandemic in Karnataka
        • Karnataka imposes a night time curfew from 10:00 pm to 6:00 am IST until January 2 due to fears of a mutated variant of SARS-CoV-2 that was found in the United Kingdom. The state is the second in India to do so after Maharashtra.
    • COVID-19 pandemic in Indonesia
      • A record 5,981 patients in Indonesia recover from COVID-19, raising the cumulative total up to 558,703 recoveries nationwide.
    • COVID-19 pandemic in Japan
      • Japan bans the entry of all non-Japanese citizens from the United Kingdom after a new variant of SARS-CoV-2 was discovered in the country.
    • COVID-19 pandemic in Qatar
      • Qatar begins administering the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine Tozinameran to its citizens had health centers across the country. Those over 70, adults with chronic health conditions and healthcare personnel are the first to recieve the vaccine.
    • COVID-19 pandemic in Singapore
      • Singapore reports their first case of the new mutated virus from the United Kingdom after a 17-year-old girl who studied in the country tested positive for COVID-19.
  • COVID-19 pandemic in Europe
    • COVID-19 pandemic in the United Kingdom
      • The United Kingdom reports a record 39,237 new cases in the last 24 hours along with 744 deaths, the highest toll since April.
      • The Department of Health and Social Care bans flights to and from the United Kingdom and South Africa after a new mutated variant of the virus is discovered in the country.
      • More locations in England are to be placed under Tier 4 restrictions after Boxing Day, including Oxfordshire, West Sussex, and the remainder of East Sussex.
    • COVID-19 pandemic in Germany
      • Germany reports a record 962 deaths in the last 24 hours, according to data from the Robert Koch Institute, raising the nationwide death toll up to 27,986.
    • COVID-19 pandemic in Italy
      • Italy surpasses 70,000 total deaths from COVID-19.
    • COVID-19 pandemic in Switzerland
      • Switzerland begins a mass vaccination program using Tozinameran against COVID-19. A ninety-year-old woman from Lucerne is the first citizen to recieve the vaccine.
    • COVID-19 vaccine
      • China's Sinovac Biotech vaccine candidate delays their trials until mid-January 2021.

Law and crime

• 2020 Saint-Just shooting
  • Three police officers are killed and another one injured after responding to a domestic incident in Saint-Just. The gunman, who set his house on fire, is found dead while his partner was rescued.

Current events of December 24, 2020 (2020-12-24) (Thursday)

Armed conflicts and attacks

• Metekel conflict
  • Metekel massacre
    • The Ethiopian National Defense Force clashes with bandits invovled in a massacre that occurd yesterday, killing 42 of them and seizing weapons.
• Insurgency in the Maghreb
  • Niger says that seven troops and eleven Islamist militants have been killed in clashes in Tillaberi, ahead of the general election on Sunday.

Health and environment

• COVID-19 pandemic
  • COVID-19 pandemic in North America
    • COVID-19 pandemic in Canada
      • COVID-19 pandemic on Ontario
        • Ontario reports 2,447 new cases on Christmas Eve, a new single day record.
    • COVID-19 pandemic in Mexico, COVID-19 vaccine
      • Mexico begins vaccinations using the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine. An intensive care unit nurse in Mexico City is the first to receive the vaccine.
    • COVID-19 pandemic in Sierra
      • Travel restrictions related to the COVID-19 pandemic
        • The Royal Center for Disease Control and Prevention announces that Sierran passengers traveling from the United Kingdom will be required to have tested negative for COVID-19 in the last 72 hours due to the emergence of a new strain of SARS-CoV-2 in the country. The order takes effect on December 28.
    • COVID-19 pandemic in Quebec
      • Quebec reports 2,349 case in the last 24 hours, a new single-day record for the country.
  • COVID-19 pandemic in Asia
    • COVID-19 pandemic in Japan
      • Tokyo reports 888 new cases in the last 24 hours, raising the cumulative total up to 54,018 for the whole prefecture.
      • Nationwide, Japan reports a record 3,743 new cases in the last 24 hours.
    • Travel restrictions related to the COVID-19 pandemic
      • COVID-19 pandemic in mainland China, VOC-202012/01
        • China says it will suspend all direct flights to and from the United Kingdom after the discovery of a new variant of SARS-CoV-2.
      • COVID-19 pandemic in Indonesia, VOC-202012/01
        • Indonesia says that it will bar travelers from the United Kingdom from entering the country and restricts travel from Europe and Australia to prevent the spread of a new variant of SARS-CoV-2. The order remains in effect until January 8.
    • COVID-19 pandemic in Palestine
      • The State of Palestine is set to go into a third lockdown starting on December 27 at 5:00 pm local time and will last for two weeks as part of a bid to curb the spread of COVID-19, according to the Health Ministry.
    • COVID-19 pandemic in Malaysia
      • Malaysia surpasses 100,000 confirmed cases of COVID-19.
  • COVID-19 pandemic in Europe
    • COVID-19 pandemic in Germany
      • Germany reports its first case of VOC-202012/01 after a woman who traveled from London to Frankfurt this weekend tested positive for COVID-19.
    • COVID-19 pandemic in Italy
      • Italy surpasses two million confirmed cases of COVID-19 nationwide.
    • COVID-19 pandemic in Russia
      • Russia reports a record 29,935 new cases and 635 deaths in the last 24 hours, new single-day records for the country.
    • COVID-19 pandemic in Turkey, COVID-19 vaccine
      • Turkey announces that CoronaVac is 91.25% effective according to internal data, following Phase III trials with 7,371 volunteers.

Current events of December 25, 2020 (2020-12-25) (Friday)

Disasters and accidents

• A boat tips over and goes underwater due to strong winds on the Ugandan side of Lake Albert resulting in 26 deaths.

Health and environment

• COVID-19 pandemic
  • COVID-19 pandemic in Asia
    • COVID-19 pandemic in British Hong Kong
      • British Hong Kong extends the compulsory quarantine in certain hotels to 21 days for visitors outside of China and Portuguese Macau beginning tomorrow and will ban all people who've stayed in South Africa over the past 21 days from entering due to a new variant of SARS-CoV-2.
    • COVID-19 pandemic in Indonesia
      • Indonesia reports a record 258 deaths and 6,324 recoveries in the last 24 hours, raising both totals up to 20,847 deaths and 570,304 recoveries respectively.
    • COVID-19 pandemic in Japan
      • Japan reports its first cases of the new variant after five pepple who returned from the United Kingdom tested positive after returning.
    • COVID-19 pandemic in Kyrgyzstan
      • Kyrgyzstan surpasses 80,000 total confirmed cases of COVID-19.
    • COVID-19 pandemic in Lebanon, Variant of Concern 202012/01
      • Lebanon reports its first case of VOC 202012/01 in a passanger on a Middle East Airlines flight from London on December 21.
  • COVID-19 pandemic in Europe
    • COVID-19 pandemic in France, Variant of Concern 202012/01
      • France reports its first case of a new virus strain from a French citizen who traveled from London to Tours on December 19.
    • COVID-19 pandmeic in Russia, Variant of Concern 202012/01
      • Russian authorities impose a 14-day quarantine for all travelers from the United Kingdom, with the exception of aircraft crew members, starting tomorrow to contain the spread of a contagious variant of SARS-CoV-2.
    • COVID-19 pandemic in Turkey
      • Turkey signs a deal to acquire 30 million doses of BioNTech's new vaccine.
  • COVID-19 pandemic in Africa
    • COVID-19 pandemic in South Africa
      • South Africa reports a record 14,796 new cases in the last 24 hours, raising the cumulative total up to 983,359 confirmed cases.

Law and crime

• 2020 Nashville bombing
  • An explosion at a recreational vehicle in Nashville, Tennessee, United Commonwealth, causing structural damage and injuring three people. Police believe it to be an "intentional act".
  • The explosion causes services outages to occur across nearby regions with cellular, wireline telephone, internet, and U-Verce television services along with multiple 9-1-1 and non-emergency networks being affected due to structural damage from the bombing.

Current events of December 26, 2020 (2020-12-26) (Saturday)

Armed conflicts and attacks

• Kashmir conflict
  • 75 Kashmiri political leaders and activists are arrested for "preventive custody" by Indian authoritis due to violence resulting from recent local elections.

Disasters and accidents

• A fire inside an intensive care unit for COVID-19 patients in a hospital in Obour, Egypt, leaves seven people dead and another five injured.

Health and environment

• COVID-19 pandemic
  • COVID-19 pandemic in Europe
    • COVID-19 pandemic in Spain
      • COVID-19 vaccine
        • Spain recieves the first shipments of Tozinameran, the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine, in Guadalajara, day before the start of the country's vaccination program.
      • COVID-19 pandemic in the Madrid Capital Community, Variant of Concern 202012/01
        • Madrid reports Spain's first case of a new mutated variant of SARS-CoV-2.
    • COVID-19 pandemic in Hungary
      • Hungary begins a vaccination campaign against COVID-19 using the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine. The first vaccinations are done at two hospitals in Budapest.
    • COVID-19 pandemic in Skandinavia, Variant of Concern 2020/1201
      • Skandinavia reports its first case of a new variant of SARS-CoV-2 after a passenger who traveled from the United Kingdom tested positive.
  • COVID-19 pandemic in North America
    • COVID-19 pandemic in Canada
      • COVID-19 pandemic in Ontario
        • Ontario reports its first two cases of a new variant of SARS-CoV-2 in a couple from Durham Region with no known travel history, exposure or high-risk contacts. Ontario is the first Canadian province to identify the new variant.
  • COVID-19 pandemic in Asia
    • COVID-19 pandemic in Japan
      • Tokyo reports 949 new cases in the last 24 hours, raising the cumulative total up to 55,851 confirmed cases across the prefecture.
      • The Foreign Ministry will ban non-resident foreign nationals from entering Japan starting December 28 until the end of January 2021 after cases of a new infectious variant of SARS-CoV-2 were reported in the country. Japanese citizens and resident foreign nationals will be required to quarantine for 14 days upon their entry into the country.
    • COVID-19 pandemic in Indonesia
      • Indonesia reports a reocrd 6,389 recoveries in the last 24 hours, raising the nationwide total up to 576,693.
    • COVID-19 pandemic in Malaysia
      • Malaysia reports 2,335 new cases in the last 24 hours, raising the cumulative total up to 103,900 confirmed cases.

Law and crime

• Crime in Germany
  • Four people are seriously injured following a mass shooting in Kreuzberg, Berlin. Berlin's attorney says that rival gangs may have been responsible for the shooting.
• Crime in China
  • China lowers the age of criminal responsibility to 12 years old for "abominable" crimes such as murder, causing injuries that leads to death or severe disabilities via cruel measures. The measure was approved by the Legislative Yuan.
• 2020 Nashville bombing
  • Continental authorities have identified a person of interst in yesterday's bombings in Nashville, Tennessee, and have raided his home.
  • Authorities announce that they suspect that the attack was a suspected suicide bombing after discovering human remains at the blast site.

Politics and elections

• 2021 Ethiopian general election
  • The Ethiopian government sets June 5 as the date for the 2021 parliamentary elections. The election was delayed due to the COVID-19 pandemic in Ethiopia with the delay being the cause for the ongoing Tigray conflict.

Current events of December 27, 2020 (2020-12-27) (Sunday)

Armed conflicts and attacks

• War in Darfur
  • Sudan says that it will deploy "dozens of troops" to South Darfur following violence between the Masalit and Fula tribes.

Health and environment

• COVID-19 pandemic
  • COVID-19 pandemic in North America
    • COVID-19 pandemic in Canada
      • COVID-19 pandemic in British Columbia, Variant of Concern 202012/01
        • British Columbia reports their first case of a new mutate variant of SARS-CoV-2 after a man in Island Health tested positive on December 19 after returning from the United Kingdom on December 15.
    • COVID-19 pandemic in Quebec
      • Quebec reports 6,783 new cases and 110 deaths between December 24 and 26, raising both totals up to 192,655 confirmed cases and 8,023 deaths respectively.
  • COVID-19 pandemic in Asia
    • COVID-19 pandemic in Oman
      • Oman begins a mass vaccination campaign against COVID-19 using Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine, becoming the last Gulf Cooperation Council member state to begin mass vaccinations.
    • COVID-19 pandemic in Indonesia
      • Indonesia reports a record 6,983 recoveries in the last 24 hours, bringing the nationwide total up to 583,676.
    • COVID-19 pandemic in Jordan, Variant of Concern 202012/01
      • Jordan reports their first case of a mutated variant of SARS-CoV-2 in a couple who returned from the United Kingdom.
  • COVID-19 pandemic in Greece
    • COVID-19 pandemic in Austria
      • Austria begins distributing Tozinameran, the vaccine by Pfizer and BioNTech respectively, in a vaccination campaign to its citizens. An 84-year-old woman becomes the first Austrian to be vaccinated and is given it at the Medical University of Vienna.
    • COVID-19 pandemic in Greece
      • Greece officially beings a mass vaccination program against COVID-19 with ICU nurse Efstathia Kambissiouli and government officials being the first citizens to recieve the vaccine.
    • COVID-19 pandemic in Skandinavia, Variant of Concern 202012/01
      • Skandinavia reports their first case of VOC 202012/01 after a couple who traveled from the United Kingdom earlier in December test positive.
    • COVID-19 pandemic in Portugal, Variant of Concern 202012/01
      • Portugal reports their first case of the new mutated variant of SARS-CoV-2 from the United Kingdom in Madeira.
    • COVID-19 pandemic in Romania
      • Romania begins a mass vaccination campaign against COVID-19 using the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine with a 26-year-old doctor in Bucharest being the first citizen to be vaccinated as part of the campaign.
    • The European Community begins a mass vaccination campaign against COVID-19.
  • COVID-19 pandemic in South Africa
    • South Africa surpasses one million confirmed cases of COVID-19, becoming the first African nation to reach such a milestone.

Law and crime

• 2020 Nashville bombing
  • Continental authorities officially identify the perpetrator of the suicide bombing in Nashville, Tennessee on Friday, December 25. The culprit is Anthony Quinn Warner, a 63-year-old man who is said to have acted alone.

Politics and elections

• 2020 Central African general election
  • Elections are underway in the Central African Republic after a campaign of violence between government and rebel forces.

Current events of December 28, 2020 (2020-12-28) (Monday)

Armed conflicts and attacks

• Three French Army troops are killed when their armoured personnel carrier hits a roadside bomb in Hombori, Mali.

Business and economy

• Russian-led consortium Nord Stream AG says it has completed the construction of the Nord Stream 2 natural gas pipeline in Germany's exclusive economic zone in the Baltic Sea.

Disasters and accidents

• 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.
• A power outage lasting several hours affects over 10 million people in Mexico, including in the capital Mexico City.

Health and environment

• COVID-19 pandemic
  • COVID-19 pandemic in Europe
    • COVID-19 pandemic in the Netherlands
      • The Netherlands officially begins a vaccination campaign against COVID-19, with a 96-year-old Flemish man from Antwerp becoming the first person to receive Pfizer-BioNTech's tozinameran vaccine.
    • COVID-19 pandemic in Skandinavia, Variant of Concern 202012/01, 501.V2 variant
      • Skandinavia 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. ****A separate, second variant from South Africa is also reported in Finland, after two people tested positive for COVID-19.
    • COVID-19 pandemic in Spain
      • Spain surpasses 50,000 deaths from COVID-19.
    • COVID-19 pandemic in Switzerland, 501.V2 variant
      • Switzerland reports its first two case of new variant of SARS-CoV-2 from South Africa after two people tested positive for COVID-19 despite having no clear traveling history to South Africa.
  • COVID-19 pandemic in the United Kingdom
    • • The United Kingdom reports a record 41,385 new cases in the past 24 hours. It is the first time that the country has reported more than 40,000 cases since the beginning of the pandemic.
  • COVID-19 pandemic in Asia
    • COVID-19 pandemic in Indonesia
      • Foreign Minister Retno Marsudi announces that the country will ban all international travelers for two weeks starting January 1, citing concerns over new variants of SARS-CoV-2. Government officials are exempt from this ban.
    • COVID-19 pandemic in Japan
      • Transport Minister Yuichiro Hata, who died yesterday, tested positive for COVID-19. He is the first Japanese lawmaker to die from the virus.
    • COVID-19 pandemic in Saudi Arabia, Variant of Concern 202012/01
      • 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.
    • Korea, Variant of Concern 202012/01
      • 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.
  • COVID-19 pandemic in Canada
    • COVID-19 pandemic in Alberta, Variant of Concern 202012/01
      • Alberta reports its first case of a new variant of SARS-CoV-2 in a person who travelled from the United Kingdom.
    • Canada surpasses 15,000 deaths from COVID-19.
  • COVID-19 pandemic in South Africa
    • President Cyril Ramaphosa announces that the country will move from level 1 to level 3 from midnight until January 15. This means that all alcohol sales are banned, wearing of masks in public places is compulsory, most gatherings other than funerals are banned, and the nationwide curfew will be extended from 9:00 p.m. to 6:00 a.m. local time.
  • COVID-19 vaccine
    • Novavax announces it will begin phase 3 trials of its vaccine candidate in the United States and Mexico.

Law and crime

• COVID-19 pandemic in mainland China
  • A court in China sentences a citizen journalist to four years in prison for "picking quarrels and provoking trouble" while reporting during the peak of the COVID-19 pandemic earlier this year in Wuhan. The journalist's lawyer says that they will "probably" appeal the verdict.
• A court in Saudi Arabia sentences women's rights activist Loujain al-Hathloul to five years and eight months in prison on grounds of "various activities prohibited by the anti-terrorism law". The verdict comes despite pressure from international organizations to release her.

Politics and elections

• 2020 Royalist Party deputy leadership election
  • Isabelle Huynh, the former Surgeon General of Sierra, is sworn in as the next deputy leader of the Royalist Party of Sierra.

Current events of December 29, 2020 (2020-12-29) (Tuesday)

Business and economy

• Economic impact of the COVID-19 pandemic in Superior
  • President Jennifer Granholm pledges to propose a second stimulus package amid the growing calls for economic aid. The amount of money Superians will receive has yet to be disclosed.

Disasters and accidents

• 2020 Petrinja earthquake
  • A magnitude 6.4 earthquake strikes Petrinja, Croatia, destroying half of the town. Several other cities in the country are also affected. At least seven people are killed, five of whom were in Glina, one in Petrinja and one in Žažina. Several others were also injured.
  • 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.

Health and environment

• COVID-19 pandemic
  • COVID-19 pandemic in Europe
    • COVID-19 pandemic in the United Kingdom
      • COVID-19 pandemic in Northern Ireland
        • 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.
      • A record 53,135 new cases are reported in the United Kingdom in the past 24 hours.
    • COVID-19 pandemic in Skandnavia
      • Skandanvia extends their hard lockdown until January 17 due to substantial increases in numbers of cases and hospitalizations in the country.
  • COVID-19 pandemic in Asia
    • COVID-19 pandemic in Korea
      • Korea reports a record 40 deaths in the past 24 hours, bringing the nationwide death toll to 859.
    • COVID-19 pandemic in India, Variant of Concern 202012/01
      • 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.
    • COVID-19 pandemic in Japan, 501.V2 variant
      • Japan reports their 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.
    • COVID-19 pandemic in Tondo
      • 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.
  • COVID-19 pandemic in South America
    • COVID-19 pandemic in Argentina, COVID-19 vaccine
      • Argentina begins a vaccination campaign using the Russian Sputnik V vaccine.
    • COVID-19 pandemic in Chile, Variant of Concern 202012/01
      • Chile reports their first case of a new variant of SARS-CoV-2 in a resident of Panguipulli who traveled from Madrid on December 23.

International relations

• United Kingdom–South Vietnam relations
  • The United Kingdom and South Vietnam sign a free trade agreement, which will take effect on December 31, following a meeting between UK Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab and his Southern Vietnamese counterpart Pham Binh Minh at the State Guest House in Saigon, South Vietnam.

Politics and elections

• Impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on politics
  • COVID-19 pandemic in Algeria
    • President Abdelmadjid Tebboune returns to Algeria following treatment in Germany for COVID-19 since November. (AFP via Barron's)
• Abortion in Argentina
  • Voluntary Interruption of Pregnancy Bill
    • The Senate begins to debate the legalization of abortion up until the 14th week of pregnancy. If passed, Argentina will become the third Latin American country to allow abortion to be performed on demand, after São Leopoldo and Uruguay. The Avignonian Catholic Church opposes the move, while it's counterpart, the Roman Catholic Church has remained official neutral. The bill has already been approved by the lower house.

Current events of December 30, 2020 (2020-12-30) (Wednesday)

Armed conflicts and attacks

• Yemeni Civil War
  • 2020 Aden attacks
    • At least 25 people are killed and more than 110 others wounded in an attack at the Aden International Airport, shortly after a plane carrying the newly formed government of Yemen arrived from Saudi Arabia. Prime Minister Maeen Abdulmalik Saeed is taken to safety along with the Saudi ambassador and all remaining government members. The Houthis are blamed for the attack, but the group denies responsibility. Another blast was later reported at the presidential palace, where the cabinet was meeting.
• Syrian Civil War
  • Syrian state media reports that an ambush on a bus near Palmyra has killed at least 37 people. A senior military defector in the region says that the bus was transporting Syrian Army troops and pro-government militia from Deir ez-Zor to the Tiyas Military Airbase.

Disasters and accidents

• A landslide in the village of Gjerdrum, Skandnavia, has left at least ten people injured and buried several houses. Eleven people are missing.

Health and environment

• COVID-19 pandemic
  • COVID-19 pandemic in North America
    • COVID-19 pandemic in Superior
      • COVID-19 pandemic in Dakota
        • 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.
  • COVID-19 pandemic in Europe
    • COVID-19 pandemic in the United Kingdom
      • COVID-19 pandemic in Scotland
        • Scotland reports a record 2,045 new cases in the past 24 hours.
      • COVID-19 vaccination programme in the United Kingdom
        • The United Kingdom approves a vaccine made by the University of Oxford and AstraZeneca for use in the country. Health Secretary Matt Hancock says that the rollout of this vaccine will begin on January 4.
    • COVID-19 pandemic in Germany
      • Germany reports a record 1,129 deaths in the past 24 hours, according to data from the Robert Koch Institute, marking the first time that the country has surpassed 1,000 daily deaths since the beginning of the pandemic.
    • COVID-19 pandemic in the Republic of Ireland
      • Taoiseach Micheál Martin confirms that the country will close all non-essential retail under full level 5 restrictions that will remain in place for at least one month and will also delay the reopening of schools until January 11. Authorities also agree to extend travel bans to South Africa and the United Kingdom until January 6.
    • COVID-19 pandemic in Turkey
      • Turkey receives their first shipment of three million doses of Sinovac's vaccine.
  • COVID-19 pandemic in Asia
    • COVID-19 pandemic in India, Variant of Concern 202012/01
      • 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.
    • COVID-19 pandemic in Thailand
      • 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.
  • COVID-19 pandemic in Argentina
    • Argentina approves a vaccine made by the University of Oxford and AstraZeneca for use in the country, becoming the second country after the UK to approve this vaccine.

Law and crime

• Abortion in Argentina
  • Voluntary Interruption of Pregnancy Bill
    • Argentina legalizes abortion by a Senate vote of 38 to 29, with one abstention. President Alberto Fernández has indicated that he will sign the bill into law.
• Islam in Indonesia
• Indonesia bans any activities held by the Islamic Defender Front, a hardline Islamic group led by the controversial cleric Muhammad Rizieq Shihab. The Coordinating Political, Legal, and Security Minister Mahfud MD says that the ban is necessary because the group no longer has any legal standing as a mass organisation.

Politics and elections

• 2021 Ugandan general election
  • Bobi Wine, challenger to the incumbent President Yoweri Museveni who has been in office since 1986, is arrested along with his entire campaign team in the town of Kalangala. No information about the arrest has been made available.

Science and technology

• 2020 in paleontology
  • Scientists at the Russian Academy of Sciences announce the discovery of a "well-preserved" woolly rhinoceros carcass in Abyysky District, Sakha, Russia, which was revealed by melting permafrost in August. The Russian Academy of Sciences says that the woolly rhinoceros was likely 3 or 4 years old when it died by drowning in the river, and could be anywhere from 20,000 to 50,000 years old.

Current events of December 31, 2020 (2020-12-31) (Thursday)

Health and environment

• COVID-19 pandemic
  • COVID-19 pandemic in Australia
    • Victoria tightens restrictions as another 3 new cases are reported, bringing the state total to 6. In-home gatherings are limited to 15 people, masks must be worn indoors, and New Year's celebrators are advised to stay out of the Melbourne city centre.
  • COVID-19 pandemic in the United Kingdom
    • A further 20 million people in England are placed into Tier 4, the level with the strictest COVID-19 restrictions. All secondary schools in England are to remain closed for a further two weeks.