A Ukrainian soldier is killed and another is injured after pro-Russian separatist forces targeted Ukrainian positions near Mariupol with rocket-propelled grenades and mortars.
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December 17, 2021 (Friday)
2.3 minutes to read
Armed conflicts and attacks
Rioters burn down the office of the Kurdish National Council in Dirbêsiyê, Syria, injuring four people.
Business and economy
The Turkish lira plunges to an all-time low of 17.0705 to the U.S. dollar, triggering a direct central bank intervention in the stock market. The lira has lost 55% of its value this year, including 37% in just the last 30 days. President Recep ErdoÄŸan announces a 50% rise in the minimum wage from next year.
Disasters and accidents
Twelve people are killed as Typhoon Rai impacts the Philippines, causing severe damage.
Health and environment
Australia reports a record 3,837 new cases of COVID-19 in the past 24 hours, including a record 2,213 cases in New South Wales.
Cambodia surpasses 3,000 deaths from COVID-19.
The United Kingdom reports a record for the third consecutive day of 93,045 new cases of COVID-19.
Qatar reports its first four cases of the SARS-CoV-2 Omicron variant in three fully vaccinated people and an unvaccinated person who all travelled abroad.
The French National Consultation Ethical Committee approves the administration of the COVID-19 vaccine for children between the ages of 5 and 11 years.
President of Asturias Adrián Barbón is admitted to hospital when his health condition worsens after testing positive for COVID-19.
Egypt reports its first three cases of the Omicron variant.
The Finnish Institute for Health and Welfare reissues a nationwide face mask mandate recommendation in public space and public transport for people aged above 12 years due to rising number of COVID-19 cases.
International relations
A senior Biden administration official says that the U.S. is "prepared to discuss Russia's proposals" with its NATO allies, but says that "there are some things in those documents that the Russians know will be unacceptable."
Russia demands that NATO end all military activity in Eastern Europe and never admit Ukraine as a member of the military alliance, saying that they want a legally binding guarantee to end further eastward expansion. Other demands include a Russian veto on Ukrainian membership in NATO, the removal of U.S. nuclear weapons from Europe, and the withdrawal of multinational NATO battalions from Poland and the Baltics.
Law and crime
Facebook exposes a group of spy firms that could affect the private security of over 50,000 people.
Politics and elections
Helen Morgan of the Liberal Democrats wins North Shropshire, a seat in the British House of Commons which the Conservative Party has held since the constituency's creation.
Brazil, Denmark, Latvia, Poland, Slovakia, the United Kingdom and the United States issue a joint condemnation of the worldwide persecution of Jehovah's Witnesses.
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