December 24, 2011 (Saturday)
Armed conflicts and attacks
- Arab League monitors meet Syria's foreign minister, a day after deadly bombings occurred in the capital Damascus. (Al Jazeera)
- Government troops in Yemen fire on anti-government protesters demanding the trial of President Ali Abdullah Saleh, killing at least nine people. (Pakistan Observer) (Boston Globe)
- Gun battles in Nigeria between government troops and Islamist Boko Haram militants kill 68 people. (Reuters)
Arts and culture
- The Buddha Memorial Center of Fo Guang Shan in Kaohsiung, Taiwan, housing a tooth relic of Gautama Buddha, is consecrated. (Xinhua)
- Dutch actor and singer Johannes Heesters, the world's oldest performer, dies at the age of 108. (Bild)
Business and economy
- A former official of the central bank of the People's Republic of China states that the People's Bank of China could lower the country's reserve requirements in 2012. (Reuters)
Politics and elections
- North Korean media name Kim Jong-un – the son and successor of late leader Kim Jong-il – as the Supreme Commander of the Korean People's Army. (Straits Times)[permanent dead link]
- Tens of thousands of people protest across Russia against parliamentary elections that they allege were rigged in favour of the ruling United Russia party. (RIA Novosti)
- Cuba announces that it will release 2,900 prisoners – including some political prisoners – in the next few days. (BBC)
- Libya celebrates its independence for the first time in 42 years; independence celebrations were banned under the regime of former dictator Muammar Gaddafi. (Tripoli Post)