A fire inside a coal mine in Kemerovo Oblast, Russia, traps 285 miners underground. Forty-six miners are killed and 49 others are being treated for smoke inhalation in hospital. Five rescuers later die while searching for trapped miners, bringing the total death toll to 51. (DW)(CBC)
The government declares a 30-day state of emergency and imposes new measures that will require bars and restaurants to close at 10 p.m., bans alcohol consumption at bars and restaurants, restricts the number of people at gatherings and events and bans Christmas markets. These measures will take effect tomorrow. (Radio Prague International)
The FrenchMinister of Social Affairs and Health announces a nationalized plan to provide a third booster dose of the COVID-19 vaccines to all adults beginning on 27 November, instead of enacting another nationwide state of lockdown in order to reduce the currently record-breaking spread of COVID-19. (Associated Press)
Laos reports a record 1,504 new cases of COVID-19 in the past 24 hours, thereby bringing the nationwide total of confirmed cases to 67,322. (The Laotian Times)
South African scientists detect a new COVID-19 variant named Lineage B.1.1.529 that poses a "major threat" to efforts to reduce the spread of the virus, and blames the variant for the exponential rise of new cases in the country. (Deutsche Welle)