The seven-day average for new COVID-19 cases in the United States hit a record of 267,000 yesterday, according to the New York Times. Several European countries are also seeing record-high daily cases (Al Jazeera). A World Health Organization official warned that the coronavirus’s omicron variant could still overwhelm health systems (Guardian) even though preliminary studies suggest that it causes milder cases of COVID-19 than other strains.

COVID-19 hospitalizations in New York state rose by 647 cases (Bloomberg) yesterday, the highest one-day increase since April 2020. Meanwhile, some U.S. scientists have criticized (NYT) new Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) guidelines that say people who test positive for COVID-19 can exit isolation after five days without taking another test if they are asymptomatic at that time and continue to wear a mask for five days.

Stand News said it ceased operations (CNN) and dismissed all employees. A security official said seven people associated with the site were arrested in relation to several “seditious” articles published since July 2020.
 
China: A foreign ministry spokesperson urged the United States to stop American satellites (SCMP) from approaching China’s Tiangong space station after two close encounters with SpaceX satellites.

To revive a stalled International Monetary Fund (IMF) loan program, Pakistan’s government has prepared a bill (FT) that would cut development spending, reduce electricity and gas subsidies, and remove some sales-tax cuts.
 
This Backgrounder examines the IMF’s efforts to promote financial stability.
 
India: The country approved two U.S.-developed COVID-19 vaccines (Axios) for emergency use. Covovax is the Indian version of a vaccine made by Novavax, and Corbevax is a shot that researchers say can be mass produced at a low cost.
 
This Backgrounder looks at global COVID-19 vaccine efforts.

After meeting with Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas, Israeli Defense Minister Benny Gantz said he approved a tax payment transfer (AP), merchant permits, and residency status for thousands of Palestinians in the West Bank and Gaza Strip.
 
Kuwait: The country named a new cabinet (Al Jazeera) for the third time this year. It includes three opposition lawmakers and a new finance minister.

The court ruled that Royal Dutch Shell did not obtain the proper environmental permit (Reuters) for seismic surveying off of South Africa’s eastern coast.

Gambia: The country’s Supreme Court dismissed a legal challenge (Reuters) to the December 4 presidential election on procedural grounds. Incumbent President Adama Barrow won with 53 percent of the vote.

Spain’s left-wing ruling coalition approved a labor reform (AP) that reverses pro-market regulations enacted in 2012 and earned parliament’s backing for a new budget that focuses on social spending.
 
Italy: A boat carrying nearly six hundred migrants rescued at sea was allowed to dock in Sicily (Reuters).

Petroleos Mexicanos, or Pemex, plans to reduce crude exports (Bloomberg) to 435,000 barrels a day in 2022 and end them completely the following year. Mexico aims to reach self-sufficiency in the domestic fuels market.
 
Chile: The European Union’s trade commissioner urged the incoming government (FT) of Chilean President-Elect Gabriel Boric Font to sign a trade pact that the bloc had negotiated with Boric’s predecessor.