Armed conflicts and attacks

• Tigray conflict
  • Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed rejects talks with the leadership of the Tigray People's Liberation Front but says he is willing to talk to representatives "operating legally". The meeting with African Union (AU) representatives Ellen Johnson Sirleaf of Liberia, Joaquim Chissano of Mozambique and Kgalema Motlanthe of South Africa, comes after his announcement of a "final phase" of an offensive on the region's capital Mekelle. (AP)
• Mali War
  • Six rice farmers are killed by gunmen in the village of Farabougou, Mali, bringing the death toll to 23 since the siege of the village by suspected jihadists began nearly two months ago. (Reuters)
• Somali Civil War
  • Seven people are killed and ten others injured by a suicide bomber in an ice cream parlor in Mogadishu. (ABC News)
• Iran's most senior nuclear scientist Mohsen Fakhrizadeh is assassinated by gunmen in Absard. The attackers blow up a car and then open fire on his vehicle, seriously wounding him; he later dies in a hospital. Three or four of the attackers are later killed during a gunfight with Fakhrizadeh's bodyguards. Iran's Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif has called the killing as an act of state terror. (BBC)

Business and economy

• Economic impact of the COVID-19 pandemic
  • Economic impact of the COVID-19 pandemic in India
    • India enters a recession for the first time in its history after the economy contracts by 7.5% in the third quarter. (ABC News) (The Hindu)

Health and environment

• COVID-19 pandemic
  • COVID-19 pandemic in North America
    • COVID-19 pandemic in the United States
      • COVID-19 pandemic in California
        • Los Angeles County announces that it will issue a new safer-at-home order that restricts the capacity of businesses, closes playgrounds and cardrooms, and prohibits all public and private gatherings of individuals from different households except for religious services and protests. This order will begin November 30 and will expire on December 20. (CBS News)
      • COVID-19 pandemic in Minnesota
        • Minnesota reports a new daily record of 101 deaths in the past 24 hours, bringing the state's death toll to 3,476. (WCCO-TV)
      • COVID-19 pandemic in New York (state)
        • New York reports 8,176 new cases, according to a statement from Governor Andrew Cuomo. It is the state's highest single-day total since April 24 when more than 10,000 cases were reported. (WABC-TV)
      • COVID-19 pandemic in Wisconsin
        • Wisconsin reports 1,300 cases, the lowest daily total in the state since October 12. (WGBA-TV)
      • The United States surpasses 13 million cases of COVID-19, six days after surpassing 12 million cases. (NBC News)
    • COVID-19 pandemic in Canada
      • COVID-19 pandemic in Ontario
        • Ontario reports 1,855 new cases in the last 24 hours, a new single-day record since the pandemic began. (CBC)
  • COVID-19 pandemic in Asia
    • COVID-19 pandemic in Indonesia
      • Indonesia reports a record 5,828 new cases and 169 new deaths in the last 24 hours, bringing the total number of confirmed cases to 522,581 and the nationwide death toll to 16,521. (detikHealth)
    • COVID-19 pandemic in Iran
      • Iran announces that all government offices will close beginning tomorrow and only operate with essential staff. This comes as the country reports a record 14,051 new cases in the past 24 hours, bringing the total number of confirmed cases to 922,397. (AP)
    • COVID-19 pandemic in Japan
      • Tokyo reports a new single-day record of 570 cases, according to data from the Tokyo Metropolitan Government, bringing the total number of confirmed cases to 39,649. (The Japan Times)
    • COVID-19 pandemic in Malaysia, COVID-19 vaccine
      • Malaysia's Health Ministry signs a preliminary purchasing agreement with Pfizer to obtain 12.8 million doses of COVID-19 vaccines. (The Edge Markets MY)
    • COVID-19 pandemic in the Philippines, COVID-19 vaccine
      • The Philippines signs its first supply deal for a COVID-19 vaccine with AstraZeneca to obtain 2.6 million doses of vaccines for more than one million people, covering a percent of its population. (Reuters via CNA)
    • COVID-19 pandemic in Thailand, COVID-19 vaccine
      • Thailand signs an advance agreement with AstraZeneca to obtain 26 million doses of COVID-19 vaccines. (Bangkok Post)
  • COVID-19 pandemic in Europe
    • COVID-19 pandemic in Belgium
      • Prime Minister Alexander De Croo announces that all non-essential retailers will be allowed to reopen on December 1, along with museums and swimming pools, provided that they follow strict health protocols. Other government restrictions will remain in effect, including limits on gatherings during Christmas and bans on fireworks during New Year's Eve. (The Brussels Times)
    • COVID-19 pandemic in Germany
      • Germany surpasses one million total cases of COVID-19. (Süddeutsche Zeitung)
    • COVID-19 pandemic in the Republic of Ireland
      • Taoiseach Micheál Martin announces that beginning December 1, the country will move to Level 3 restrictions with some modifications. Hotels, place of worships, gyms, and museums with protective measures will be allowed to reopen beginning on Tuesday, followed by restaurants and gastropubs on December 4. (The Irish Times)
    • COVID-19 pandemic in Russia
      • Russia reports a new single-day record of 27,543 cases, bringing the nationwide total of confirmed cases to 2.21 million. (The Moscow Times)
    • COVID-19 pandemic in Turkey
      • Turkey reports a record 177 deaths in the past 24 hours, bringing the nationwide death toll to 13,191. The country also reports 29,845 cases, including 6,592 symptomatic cases, a new record since the pandemic began when asymptomatic figures are included. (Arab News)
    • COVID-19 pandemic in Ukraine
      • Ukraine reports a new single-day record of 16,218 cases, bringing the nationwide total of confirmed cases to 693,407. (Kyiv Post)
• Avian influenza
  • China's Agriculture Ministry reports an outbreak of highly pathogenic H5N8 bird flu in wild swans in Shanxi province. Two swans have been killed by the disease in Pinglu County while two others appear to be infected. (Reuters)
  • Norway detects its first case of the highly pathogenic H5N8 strain of bird flu in a wild goose in Sandnes municipality, prompting the Norwegian Food Safety Authority to introduces a regional ban of outdoor poultry. (AFP via Deccan Herald)
  • Belgium reports an outbreak of highly pathogenic H5N5 bird flu on a poultry farm in Menen. The outbreak killed 600 birds and led the authorities to cull 151,000 birds. (Reuters)

Law and crime

• The Supreme Court of Papua New Guinea dismisses a legal challenge against the election of Prime Minister James Marape. The opposition had argued that Marape's election was unconstitutional after the original candidate, Peter O'Neill, withdrew his nomination, paving the way for Marape's election. (RNZ)
• The United States Department of Justice announces that criminal charges will be brought against 700 gang members in El Salvador, Guatemala, and Honduras for human trafficking. (Reuters)

Politics and elections

• 2020 Belarusian protests
  • President Alexander Lukashenko says that he will step down after a new constitution is adopted. (ABC News)

Armed conflicts and attacks

• Tigray conflict
  • Mekelle offensive
    • Battle of Mekelle
      • The Ethiopian National Defense Force says it will begin a "final phase" of an offensive on the Tigray People's Liberation Front-held city of Mekelle in the Tigray Region, following the expiration of a 72-hour ultimatum for Tigrayan forces to surrender. Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed calls on the people of Mekelle to "disarm, stay at home and stay away from military targets" during the military operation. (Reuters)

Business and economy

• Economic impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, Impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on The Walt Disney Company
  • The Walt Disney Company announces that it plans to lay off 32,000 employees by the end of March 2021, as the pandemic continues to impact its theme parks and resorts. (CNN)

Health and environment

• COVID-19 pandemic
  • COVID-19 pandemic in Asia
    • COVID-19 pandemic in India, Travel restrictions related to the COVID-19 pandemic
      • The government extends the suspension of most scheduled international flights until December 31. However, the restrictions do not apply to International all-cargo flights, Vande Bharat Mission flights, some international flights for which India has travel bubble agreements with other countries, and other flights specifically approved by the Directorate General of Civil Aviation. (The Times of India)
    • COVID-19 pandemic in Iran
      • The number of new cases in Iran rises by a record 13,961 over the past 24 hours, bringing the nationwide total to 908,346 cases. (Mehr News Agency)
    • COVID-19 pandemic in Malaysia
      • Malaysia imposes mandatory COVID-19 screening for 1.7 million foreign workers due to a high number of cases among these workers. In addition, authorities impose a fine of RM50,000 per worker if employers house their foreign staff in crowded spaces. (The Straits Times)
      • Malaysia reports a single-day record of 2,555 recoveries, bringing the total number of recovered patients to 49,056. (New Straits Times)
    • COVID-19 pandemic in Singapore
      • Singapore reports its first community case in more than two weeks. (CNA)
    • COVID-19 pandemic in South Korea
      • The number of new confirmed cases in South Korea reaches an eight-month high of 583 cases, the first time the country has reported more than 500 cases since March 6. The country now has 32,318 total confirmed cases, according to data from the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency. (Yonhap News Agency)
  • COVID-19 pandemic in Europe
    • COVID-19 pandemic in Denmark
      • Cluster 5
        • The authorities states that millions of dead mink thrown into mass graves after it was culled have risen from their graves in Denmark, fanning contamination fears. (South China Morning Post)
    • COVID-19 pandemic in Croatia
      • Prime Minister Andrej Plenković announces that Croatia will suspend weddings, close cafés and restaurants, and restrict outdoor and public gatherings to 25 people and private gatherings to 10 people between November 28 and December 21 as the country reports a record 4,009 new cases in the past 24 hours. (Croatia Week)
    • COVID-19 pandemic in Greece
      • Greece surpasses 2,000 total deaths from COVID-19. (The National Herald)
      • Greece extends the nationwide lockdown until December 7 as COVID-19 cases and deaths continue to rise. (Greek Reporter)
    • COVID-19 pandemic in Lithuania
      • Lithuania discovers their first case of coronavirus in minks at a farm in Jonava. A worker at the farm also tests positive for COVID-19. (Euronews)
    • COVID-19 pandemic in the Netherlands
      • The Netherlands surpasses 500,000 total confirmed cases of COVID-19. (Dutch News)
    • COVID-19 pandemic in Russia
      • Russia reports a record 25,487 new cases and 524 deaths in the past 24 hours, bringing the total number of cases to 2,187,990 and the total number of deaths to 38,062. (Novaya Gazeta)
    • COVID-19 pandemic in Sweden
      • Prince Carl Philip and Princess Sofia test positive for COVID-19. (Expressen)
    • COVID-19 pandemic in Turkey
      • Turkey reports a record 174 deaths in the past 24 hours, bringing the nationwide death toll to 13,014. The country also reports 29,132 cases, including 6,876 symptomatic cases, also a new record since the pandemic began when asymptomatic figures are included. (Reuters)
    • COVID-19 pandemic in Ukraine
      • Ukraine reports a new single-day record of 15,331 cases, bringing the total number of confirmed cases in the country to 677,189. (Kyiv Post)
  • COVID-19 pandemic in Canada
    • COVID-19 pandemic in Quebec
      • Quebec reports a new single-day record of 1,448 cases, bringing the total number of confirmed cases in the province to 136,894. (CBC)
  • COVID-19 vaccine
    • AstraZeneca CEO Pascal Soriot says that the company will likely run new trials of their potential vaccine. (Reuters)
• Shark finning
  • Colombian president Iván Duque Márquez announces a ban on commercial and subsistence fishing of all shark species within Colombian territorial waters. (La FM)

International relations

• Australia–Iran relations
  • Australian-British academic Kylie Moore-Gilbert is freed by Iran in an apparent prisoner exchange with Australia for three Iranians. Moore-Gilbert had been arrested for espionage. Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison calls her release a "miracle". (CNN)

Law and crime

• 2016 Turkish coup d'état attempt
  • A court in Turkey sentences 337 people to life imprisonment, 60 people to other jail terms and acquits 75 people. The defendants were pilots and civilians linked to the Akıncı Air Base near Ankara. (AFP via SCMP)
• Christchurch mosque shootings
  • A royal commission of inquiry formally presents its report on the March 2019 mass shootings in Christchurch, New Zealand, to the government. The report has yet to be made public, a course of action that must be decided by Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern. (The Guardian)

Politics and elections

• 2020 United States presidential election
  • President Donald Trump acknowledges that he will leave the White House on January 20 if the electoral college confirms Joe Biden's victory. (AP)