Bernie Sanders U.S. senator Bernie Sanders gives an 8.5 hour senate speech denouncing the extension of tax cuts for the wealthiest Americans, citing the very large inequality in income and wealth and its growth, and that America is close to being a Banana republic.
Iran Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad dismisses Foreign Minister Manouchehr Mottaki for unknown reasons. He is replaced by Ali Akbar Salehi in an acting capacity.
Hashim Thaçi Hashim Thaçi, the Prime Minister of Kosovo, claims victory in the Kosovan parliamentary election.
Papua New Guinea Papua New Guinea's Supreme Court unanimously rules the reappointment of Sir Paulias Matane as Governor-General of Papua New Guinea unconstitutional due to the lack of a secret ballot. Matane steps down from his position and Jeffrey Nape becomes acting Governor-General.
Bangladesh Protests by garment workers in Bangladesh over low wages spread to other areas of the country.
Philippines The Philippine parliament blocks a government effort to provide free condoms to poor people, amid a debate over funding for family planning.
Minni Minnawi Minni Minnawi, the only Darfur faction leader to sign the Darfur Peace Agreement with the Sudanese government, declares its failure and leaves his post.
Europe reaffirms its readiness to recognise a Palestinian state at an "appropriate" time, stopping short of outright recognition despite mounting pressure to break the Middle East impasse.
Saeb Erakat Palestinian negotiator Saeb Erakat asks the European Union to recognize “two states (Israel and Palestine) along the 1967 borders".
Catholic nun An American Catholic nun pleads not guilty to charges of embezzling $850,000 from Iona College.
Virginia United States District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia Judge Henry E. Hudson rules against Barack Obama's health care reform requirement to purchase health insurance.
Second murder trial Mark Weston, the first person to face a second murder trial in the United Kingdom following the discovery of new forensic evidence is convicted of killing a woman in 1995.
Kuwait Kuwait closes the offices of Al Jazeera, following coverage of a crackdown at an opposition rally.
Besançon A sword-wielding teenager takes up to half a dozen children and a teacher hostage at a nursery in Besançon, eastern France. He is later arrested.
Israel New Israeli bill would prevent a terror suspect from meeting a specific lawyer for 6 months instead of 21 days as is the case today. The maximum period of time in which a terror suspect can be denied access to a specific lawyer will be one year.
South Korea A South Korean deep sea trawler sinks in the Southern Ocean two thousand kilometres south of New Zealand with at least five people dead and seventeen missing.
Scottish Major British supermarkets and online stores stop taking orders in Scotland in the run up to Christmas, because of a backlog of deliveries caused by the recent adverse weather conditions.
Brunei Brunei and Malaysia sign a deal to jointly explore and produce oil and gas off the coast of northern Borneo.
Liberia A Liberian owned cargo vessel with 24 Filipino crew is seized by Somali pirates 550 nautical miles from the coast of India.