December 31, 2016 (Saturday)
Armed conflicts and attacks
- Iraqi Civil War (2014–2017)
- December 2016 Baghdad bombings
- A pair of bomb blasts targeting a market in central Baghdad kills at least 27 people and injures over 50. (AP), (The Telegraph)
- December 2016 Baghdad bombings
- War in Afghanistan (2001–2021)
- Withdrawal of U.S. troops from Afghanistan
- United States troops withdraw from Afghanistan after 15 years.
- Withdrawal of U.S. troops from Afghanistan
Arts and culture
- China, with their largest television network China Central Television, announces a new launch of a global media platform extending globally and renaming the network China Global Television Network. (News Asia)
Disasters and accidents
- In Helsinki, Finland, authorities detain an unidentified driver after driving at high speed, and veering for unknown reasons, into a crowd, injuring 7 people. Authorities quickly conclude no evidence points to a deliberate attack. (RT)
Science and technology
- Authorities add a leap second on December 31 to bring UTC more inline with mean solar time. (Physics Org), (BBC)