Portal:Current events/2021 December 12

Armed conflicts and attacks

• Somali Civil War
  • Four Burundian soldiers are killed as their vehicle hit a roadside bomb in Burane, Somalia. Al-Shabaab has claimed responsibility for the attack. (All Africa)
• Three Hamas members are killed and six more injured during a dispute with Fatah gunmen in Tyre, Lebanon, at the funeral of a Hamas member killed two days ago during an accidental explosion at the Burj el-Shemali camp. (Al Jazeera)

Health and environment

• COVID-19 pandemic
  • COVID-19 pandemic in Europe
    • COVID-19 pandemic in Austria
      • Austria ends its nationwide lockdown for people who are vaccinated or who have recovered from COVID-19 as the number of new cases decreases. There will now be an 11 p.m. curfew for restaurants and people must use an FFP2 mask on public transport and in indoor spaces. (Euronews)
    • COVID-19 pandemic in Russia
      • Russia surpasses 10 million cases of COVID-19. (CNA)
    • COVID-19 pandemic in the United Kingdom
      • The United Kingdom raises its COVID-19 Alert level to Level 3 due to the rapid spread of the SARS-CoV-2 Omicron variant, which has resulted in 3,137 cases. (France 24)
  • COVID-19 pandemic in South Africa
    • President Cyril Ramaphosa tests positive for COVID-19 with mild symptoms. (CNN)

Law and crime

• 2021 Banco de Oro hack
  • The Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas, the Philippines' central bank, issues a statement that it is currently monitoring an increase in complaints on social media regarding Banco de Oro clients losing money and having their accounts hacked. (Reuters)

Politics and elections

• 2021 New Caledonian independence referendum
  • Citizens in New Caledonia vote against independence and choose to remain part of France. Pro-independence parties boycotted the referendum in order to protest the alleged lack of time to campaign. (RNZ)

Sports

• 2021 Formula One World Championship
  • 2021 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix
    • At the 2021 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix, Max Verstappen wins the Driver's Championship, while Mercedes wins the Constructors' Championship. (The Guardian)