Armed conflicts and attacks

• Syrian civil war
  • Iran–Israel conflict during the Syrian civil war
    • Israeli Air Force warplanes bomb the Port of Latakia, Syria's main seaport. At least five explosions are reported, with a Syrian military official saying several missiles struck the container area of the port. It is the first Israeli attack on the civilian facility. (The Times of Israel) (Reuters)
• Islamic State insurgency in Iraq
  • Four civilians are killed and four more wounded in a motorcycle bombing near a hospital in Basra, Iraq. (Alaraby)

Business and economy

• The United Arab Emirates says weekends in the country will take place Saturday to Sunday, effective January 1. (CNBC)

Disasters and accidents

• 2021 Semeru eruption
  • The death toll from the Semeru volcano eruption in East Java, Indonesia, increases to 34. (BBC News)
• Gitega prison fire
  • At least 38 people are killed and 69 more injured during a fire at an overcrowded prison in Gitega, Burundi. (BBC News)

Law and crime

• A policeman kills six people, including his wife, and wounds two more during a killing spree in Kabete, Kenya, before committing suicide. (Al Jazeera)

Armed conflicts and attacks

• Tigray War
  • The Ethiopian military says that they have recaptured the strategic Amharan towns of Dessie and Kombolcha from rebel forces. (Al Jazeera)

Health and environment

• COVID-19 pandemic
  • COVID-19 pandemic in Europe
    • COVID-19 pandemic in Croatia
      • Croatia reports its first cases of the SARS-CoV-2 Omicron variant in two people who had not travelled abroad. (N1)
    • COVID-19 pandemic in Italy
      • Italy begins to implement the Super Green Pass, which allows a person to enter theatres, cinemas, music venues, sports events, restaurants and bars if they are vaccinated or have recovered from COVID-19 within the past six months. (BBC News)
    • COVID-19 pandemic in Russia
      • Russia reports its first 10 cases of the SARS-CoV-2 Omicron variant in a group of citizens who travelled from southern Africa. (RFE/RL)
  • COVID-19 pandemic in Asia
    • COVID-19 pandemic in India, COVID-19 vaccination in India
      • It is announced that over 50% of India's eligible adult population is now fully vaccinated. India is targeting 100% COVID-19 adult vaccination by December 31. (Khaleej Times)
    • COVID-19 pandemic in Nepal
      • Nepal reports its first two cases of the SARS-CoV-2 Omicron variant in a 71-year-old Nepali national and a 66-year-old foreigner. (The Himalayan Times)
  • COVID-19 pandemic in the United States, COVID-19 vaccination in the United States
    • COVID-19 pandemic in New York
      • COVID-19 pandemic in New York City
        • Outgoing New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio announces a COVID-19 vaccine mandate for all private-sector employees, which will take effect on December 27. (The New York Times)
    • COVID-19 pandemic in Connecticut
      • Connecticut reports its first case of the SARS-COV-2 Omicron variant. (WTIC-TV)
  • COVID-19 pandemic in Argentina
    • COVID-19 vaccination in Argentina
      • Argentina approves the usage of the single-dose Sputnik Light COVID-19 vaccine as a standalone vaccine and as a booster dose. (Reuters)
    • Argentina reports its first case of the SARS-CoV-2 Omicron variant in a 38-year-old fully vaccinated person who traveled from South Africa on November 30. (Anadolu Agency)

International relations

• 2021 Belarus–European Union border crisis
  • Belarus–European Union relations, Belarus–United Kingdom relations
    • Belarus bans airlines and imports of certain goods from the European Union and United Kingdom in retaliation for sanctions imposed on the country by Western nations. (ABC News)

Law and crime

• In Madagascar, twenty people, including two French nationals, are charged with crimes including criminal conspiracy, criminal association, rebellion against the president and possession of illegal weapons, for allegedly plotting to kill president Andry Rajoelina. (Reuters)

Politics and elections

• 2021 Solomon Islands unrest
  • Prime Minister Manasseh Sogavare survives a no-confidence vote in the National Parliament after his management of the riots. (Reuters)
• Karl Nehammer is sworn in as the new Chancellor of Austria after the resignation of Alexander Schallenberg on December 2. (ABC News)

Sports

• 2022 Winter Olympics
  • The United States announces a formal diplomatic boycott of the upcoming Winter Olympic Games in Beijing, China. The White House says that no official delegation will be sent to the Games due to concerns regarding China's human rights record. (BBC)

Armed conflicts and attacks

• 2021 Apure clashes
  • Venezuelan intelligence officials announce the death of Hernán Darío Hernández, the leader of a FARC dissident group, after an ambush carried out by a commando of the Venezuelan Armed Forces. Hernández was responsible for the 2003 El Nogal Club bombing that killed 36 people and injured over 200 others. (El Tiempo)
• Mali War
  • Militants bomb two UN camps in Gao, with no fatalities. (Voice of America)
• 2021 Niger attacks
  • Hundreds of insurgents on motorcycles attack an international military base in Tillabéri. Seventy-nine of the rebels and 29 soldiers are killed during the battle. (Deutsche Welle)
• Indian soldiers of the Assam Rifles mistakenly open fire on a group of miners returning home from work in Nagaland, believing them to be militants. Thirteen miners and a soldier are killed, with the soldier and seven miners being killed in a subsequent confrontation with angry locals. (BBC News)

Disasters and accidents

• 2021 Semeru eruption
  • The death toll from yesterday's eruption of the Semeru volcano in East Java, Indonesia, increases to 14, with 56 others injured. (BBC News)

Health and environment

• COVID-19 pandemic
  • COVID-19 pandemic in Australia, COVID-19 vaccination in Australia
    • The Therapeutic Goods Administration provisionally approves the usage of the Pfizer–BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine for children between the ages of 5 and 11 years. Vaccination rollout for this age group will begin on January 10, once ATAGI gives its recommendation. (The Guardian)
  • COVID-19 pandemic in Maldives
    • Maldives reports its first case of the SARS-CoV-2 Omicron variant in a tourist that arrived in the country. (Raajje)
  • COVID-19 pandemic in Saudi Arabia, COVID-19 vaccination in Saudi Arabia
    • Saudi Arabia grants the approval for people vaccinated with Russia's Sputnik V COVID-19 vaccine to enter the country beginning from January 1, 2022 in a move that will enable Muslims to take part in religious pilgrimage. (CNA)
  • COVID-19 pandemic in Senegal
    • Senegal reports its first case of the SARS-CoV-2 Omicron variant in a 58-year-old man who attended an international meeting in Dakar with 300 people from different countries on November 24 and 25. (Khaleej Times)

Sports

• 2021 Bathurst 1000
  • Chaz Mostert and Lee Holdsworth win the 2021 Bathurst 1000 in Bathurst, New South Wales, Australia. (ABC News Australia)