Kyle Larson Kyle Larson wins the 2021 NASCAR Cup Series championship. It is Larson's first career championship in NASCAR Cup competition.
2021 Nicaraguan general election Nicaraguans head to the polls to elect their president. Incumbent Daniel Ortega seeks his fourth term despite condemnation of the election by the international community due to many opposition candidates being arrested and imprisoned.
COVID-19 pandemic Japan reports no deaths from COVID-19 in the past 24 hours for the first time since August 2020.
Health secretary Sajid Javid urges citizens to get a booster dose and continue to follow COVID-19 restrictions over Christmas, amid an increase in the number of cases in the country.
Ukraine receives 2,930,300 doses of the Moderna COVID-19 vaccine distributed through the COVAX initiative.
Niger gold mine collapse At least 18 people are killed during the collapse of an artisanal gold mine in Dan Issa, Maradi Region.
October 2021 Sudanese coup d'état Protests continue nationwide and an intensive civil disobedience movement begins in cities across the country, as pressure mounts on the military to transfer power back to civilian leaders. Police use tear gas to disperse the crowds.
Attempted assassination of Mustafa Al-Kadhimi A drone is launched against the Baghdad home of Iraqi prime minister Mustafa al-Kadhimi, wounding six members of his security personnel. Al-Kadhimi survives the assassination attempt.