December 16, 2017 (Saturday)
Business and economy
- China–United Kingdom relations, One Belt One Road Initiative
- The BBC reports that former Prime Minister of the United Kingdom David Cameron is to head a £750 million ($1 billion) U.K. private fund to improve air, road and railway links between China and its trading partners. (The Independent) (The Guardian)
Disasters and accidents
- December 2017 Southern California wildfires
- More evacuations are ordered as surging Santa Ana winds drive the 40-percent contained Thomas Fire, now the third-largest in California history, further westward in Santa Barbara County. (Reuters) (The Hill)
- Six people are killed, including Hilda Hernández, sister of Honduran President Juan Orlando Hernández, in a helicopter accident that was headed to Comayagua from Toncontín International Airport in Tegucigalpa. (Reuters)
- Five people are killed and at least 15 missing in a mudslide in Villa Santa Lucía, a remote village in southern Chile, after more than 4.5 inches (11.4 cm) of rain the previous 24 hours. President Michelle Bachelet declares a state of emergency. Sunday is the run-off election for Chile's next president. (BBC) (The Washington Post)
Politics and elections
- Politics of Australia
- The Coalition keep a one-seat majority in the Australian House of Representatives after the Liberals win the Bennelong by-election. (The Guardian)
- Politics of South Africa
- Thousands of delegates of the African National Congress gather in Johannesburg to elect a party leader, who may replace President Jacob Zuma before his term expires in 2019. (AP via Newser)
Science and technology
- Advanced Aviation Threat Identification Program
- The existence of a U.S. government program that investigated reports of UFOs is revealed. (The New York Times)
Sports
- 2017 FIFA Club World Cup
- Real Madrid wins the FIFA Club World Cup for the second time, beating Grêmio 1–0 in the final. Real Madrid becomes the first team to win the tournament back to back. (BBC)