Terrorism in Australia Australian police raid several Melbourne properties and arrest seven Arab Australian men, who were believed to be plotting a terrorist attack on several sites in Melbourne for Christmas Day.
United Nations Security Council resolution The United States Ambassador to the United Nations Samantha Power abstains from voting in a 14–0 Security Council decision condemning Israeli settlement of the Palestinian territories.
Philippines Former Philippines president and current mayor of Manila Joseph Estrada is hospitalized for pneumonia.
Bonanza Creek Energy Bonanza Creek Energy says it plans to file for bankruptcy on or by January 5, 2017 and hopes to exit the process quickly, within the first quarter.
Carrie Fisher Carrie Fisher, the actress best known for the role of Princess Leia in the "Star Wars" franchise, suffers a massive heart attack while on a flight and is rushed to a hospital near Los Angeles International Airport in critical condition.
Afriqiyah Airways Flight 209 An Afriqiyah Airways flight originating from Sabha, Libya, is hijacked and forced to make an emergency landing in Malta. Hijackers threaten to blow up the aircraft with grenades, but the standoff ends peacefully with all hostages released and both hijackers surrendering.
2016 Berlin truck attack The 24-year-old Tunisian who is suspected of driving the truck that smashed through a Berlin market is killed in a shootout in Milan.
Syrian civil war The bodies of over 100 Syrian Army POWs are reportedly found in what was the last rebel held territory of East Aleppo. Syrian Army officers claim they were executed by rebel forces.