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French President Emmanuel Macron appoints François Bayrou as Prime Minister.

2024 French political crisis — French President Emmanuel Macron appoints François Bayrou as Prime Minister. [https://www.politico.eu/article/emmanuel-macron-appoints-francois-bayrou-prime-minister/ (Politico)] [

The U.S. military evacuates American citizen Travis Timmerman out of Syria after Timmerman had previously

US intervention in the Syrian civil war — The U.S. military evacuates American citizen Travis Timmerman out of Syria after Timmerman had previously been reported missing in the country. [https://www.nbcnews.com/news/world/

Six people are killed and 66 others are injured in a fire at a nursing home in Amman, Jordan.

2024–25 South-West Indian Ocean cyclone season — Six people are killed and 66 others are injured in a fire at a nursing home in Amman, Jordan. [https://www.reuters.com/world/middle-east/six-dead-five-critically-injured-fire-jorda

The British Antarctic Survey reports that A23a, the world's largest iceberg, has exited the Taylor column and

Opioid epidemic in the United States — The British Antarctic Survey reports that A23a, the world's largest iceberg, has exited the Taylor column and is beginning to drift further north through the Southern Ocean. [https

The Parliament of Moldova votes in favor of declaring a 60-day national state of emergency beginning on

Moldova and the Russo-Ukrainian War — The Parliament of Moldova votes in favor of declaring a 60-day national state of emergency beginning on December 16 due to Ukraine not renewing its transit contract with Gazprom to

Russia launches one of its largest attacks on the Ukrainian energy infrastructure since the conflict began,

Russian strikes against Ukrainian infrastructure — Russia launches one of its largest attacks on the Ukrainian energy infrastructure since the conflict began, with about 290 missiles fired and drones striking multiple regions. The

The number of Palestinians killed in an Israeli airstrike on the Nuseirat refugee camp yesterday increases to

December 2024 Nuseirat refugee camp attack — The number of Palestinians killed in an Israeli airstrike on the Nuseirat refugee camp yesterday increases to 33, most of whom are from the same family. Eighty-four others are repo

Large-scale protests occur in Manbij, Aleppo Governorate, Syria, against pro-Turkish Dawn of Freedom

Operation Dawn of Freedom — Large-scale protests occur in Manbij, Aleppo Governorate, Syria, against pro-Turkish Dawn of Freedom Operations Room revenge killings and crimes against civilians. [https://www.syr

United States president-elect Donald Trump is named Person of the Year by Time magazine.

Islamic State–Taliban conflict — United States president-elect Donald Trump is named Person of the Year by Time magazine. [https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c36e71wg7z9o (BBC News)]

Tropical Cyclone Chido makes landfall over Agaléga, Mauritius.

2024–25 South-West Indian Ocean cyclone season — Tropical Cyclone Chido makes landfall over Agaléga, Mauritius. [https://crisis24.garda.com/alerts/2024/12/indian-ocean-intense-tropical-cyclone-chido-tracking-westward-toward-agale

The European Union approves of Romania and Bulgaria to join the Schengen Area in 2025.

Enlargement of the European Union — The European Union approves of Romania and Bulgaria to join the Schengen Area in 2025. [https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2024/12/12/eu-states-approve-full-schengen-membership-for-bul

U.S. President Joe Biden announces pardons for 39 people convicted of non-violent offenses, and commutes the

Federal pardons in the United States — U.S. President Joe Biden announces pardons for 39 people convicted of non-violent offenses, and commutes the sentences of 1,500 others who had been released from prison to house ar

In Lithuania, the three-party coalition Government headed by the new appointed Prime Minister Gintautas

Federal pardons in the United States — In Lithuania, the three-party coalition Government headed by the new appointed Prime Minister Gintautas Paluckas takes over. [https://www.reuters.com/world/europe/new-lithuania-gov

Edith Heard, biologist specialist of epigenetics and director-general of the European Molecular Biology

Federal pardons in the United States — Edith Heard, biologist specialist of epigenetics and director-general of the European Molecular Biology Laboratory, is awarded the CNRS Gold Medal, France's highest research award.

Gukesh Dommaraju defeats Ding Liren to win the World Chess Championship 7½-6½, becoming the youngest ever

World Chess Championship 2024 — Gukesh Dommaraju defeats Ding Liren to win the World Chess Championship 7½-6½, becoming the youngest ever chess champion at the age of 18 years. [https://sportstar.thehindu.com/che

Pro-Turkish factions are filmed executing dozens of surrendered prisoners of the pro-Kurdish Manbij Military

Operation Dawn of Freedom — Pro-Turkish factions are filmed executing dozens of surrendered prisoners of the pro-Kurdish Manbij Military Council and Syrian Democratic Forces. [https://www.syriahr.com/%d8%ac%d

Astro Bot wins Game of the Year at The Game Awards 2024.

Islamic State–Taliban conflict — Astro Bot wins Game of the Year at The Game Awards 2024. [https://www.polygon.com/awards/495868/2024-award-winners-game-year (Polygon)]

Seven people, including a child, are killed and 35 others are injured in a fire at a private hospital in

2024–25 South-West Indian Ocean cyclone season — Seven people, including a child, are killed and 35 others are injured in a fire at a private hospital in Dindigul, Tamil Nadu, India. [https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/chen

Paraguay reopens its embassy in Jerusalem, Israel.

Israel–Paraguay relations — Paraguay reopens its embassy in Jerusalem, Israel. [https://www.reuters.com/world/paraguay-opens-israel-embassy-jerusalem-after-moving-it-tel-aviv-2024-12-12/ (Reuters)]

A Danish court sentences British hedge fund trader Sanjay Shah to 12 years in prison for tax fraud.

Federal pardons in the United States — A Danish court sentences British hedge fund trader Sanjay Shah to 12 years in prison for tax fraud. [https://www.thenationalnews.com/news/uk/2024/12/12/sanjay-shah-british-hedge-fu

Hundreds of protesters, led by university students, gather outside the Radio Television of Serbia

Federal pardons in the United States — Hundreds of protesters, led by university students, gather outside the Radio Television of Serbia headquarters in Belgrade, Serbia, to protest against the state-owned television br

At least 29 people are killed in Israeli airstrikes on civilian areas in Beit Lahia, North Gaza Governorate,

Israeli invasion of the Gaza Strip — At least 29 people are killed in Israeli airstrikes on civilian areas in Beit Lahia, North Gaza Governorate, Gaza. [https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2024/12/11/israeli-attacks-on-gaz

An Israeli boy is killed and three others are injured by a Palestinian gunman attack on a bus in Al-Khader,

Israeli invasion of the Gaza Strip — An Israeli boy is killed and three others are injured by a Palestinian gunman attack on a bus in Al-Khader, West Bank. [https://www.timesofisrael.com/young-boy-killed-several-bus-p

American grocery store company Albertsons of Boise, Idaho backs out of a $24.6 billion merger deal between

Proposed acquisition of Albertsons by Kroger — American grocery store company Albertsons of Boise, Idaho backs out of a $24.6 billion merger deal between Cincinnati-based grocer Kroger and files a lawsuit against them that incl