Impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on sports The National Football League reports their first case of the Omicron variant in a Washington Football Team staffer. Additionally, 36 players tested positive for COVID-19 throughout the NFL.
Detonate Eight people are injured as a teenager detonates an improvised explosive device, in an attempt to blow himself up, at a Russian Orthodox school near a convent in Serpukhov, Russia. The perpetrator is identified as a student at the school, and is currently hospitalised in critical condition.
South Africa–Zimbabwe relations South Africa cancels a plan to forcibly deport 200,000 Zimbabweans from the country amid an outcry and concerns over perceived xenophobia and human rights abuses.
Israel–United Arab Emirates relations Israeli Prime Minister Naftali Bennett enters the Presidential Palace of the United Arab Emirates on his first official visit to the country.
New York state reimposes a mandatory indoor mask mandate for businesses that haven't implemented a vaccination requirement amid threats of the COVID-19 surge and the Omicron variant in winter.
Philadelphia imposes a vaccine mandate for indoor activities such as dining, cinemas, and at the Wells Fargo Center for a 76ers or Flyers game.
The Australian state of Queensland reopens its land borders with New South Wales and Victoria to vaccinated domestic travellers.
Pakistan reports its first confirmed case of the Omicron variant in a 57-year-old unvaccinated woman from Karachi.
China reports its first confirmed case of the SARS-CoV-2 Omicron variant in a person who travelled to Tianjin from overseas on December 9.
Prime Minister Boris Johnson announces that at least one person in the UK has died after testing positive for the Omicron variant.
The Norwegian government announces that alcohol sales at bars and restaurants will be banned and stricter rules will be implemented at schools due to the spread of the Omicron variant. The government also announces that the COVID-19 vaccine booster dose interval has been reduced to 4.5 months and that the military will assist with the booster dose campaign.
Hungary reports its first two cases of the Omicron variant, which was first detected in South Africa.
Cyprus announces the approval of the COVID-19 vaccine administered for children ages 5 to 11 years and also allowing adults to receive booster dose two weeks sooner than six months after their second dose in order to curb the rise of COVID-19 cases following the first case of the SARS-CoV-2 Omicron variant.
Mórahalom A vehicle carrying migrants crashes while trying to avoid a police check in Mórahalom, Hungary, killing seven people and injuring four more. The Serbian driver has been arrested.
Tornado outbreak of December 10–11, 2021 The death toll from the tornado outbreak in Kentucky, United States, increases to 74, making it the second deadliest tornado outbreak to occur in the state. Fourteen people are also killed in other U.S. states, with some towns being completely destroyed.
Ukraine One-hundred and six members of a Ukrainian "neo-Nazi" youth group are arrested in Russia, suspected of planning attacks, including mass murders. Russia has accused Ukrainian intelligence of financially funding the group. Ukraine alleges that the arrests and subsequent Russian media reporting are staged as part of Russian intelligence measures.
Kashmir conflict Three policemen are killed and 11 others injured as Jaish-e-Mohammed gunmen open fire against a bus carrying Indian security forces in Srinagar, Jammu and Kashmir.
Allied Democratic Forces insurgency Congolese president Félix Tshisekedi assures his country that the presence of Ugandan troops in the DRC is only to prevent the ongoing insurgency by the Allied Democratic Forces. The president says that Uganda's intervention will be temporary.