Canada's voting record at the United Nations is under scrutiny amid the intensifying war between Israel and Hamas. Canada abstained from a crucial UN vote calling for a humanitarian truce, after its amendment to condemn Hamas attacks failed. Critics, such as Canadians for Justice and Peace in the Middle East, accuse Canada of political gamesmanship and abandoning concern for human rights. Canada's pro-Israel voting stance dates back to the early 2000s, with recent votes potentially harming its image as a balanced player in the Middle East conflict. Despite this, Canada recently supported a resolution for UNRWA, the UN agency aiding Palestinian refugees in Gaza, reflecting a complex position that balances support for Israel with humanitarian concerns.

An Uber driver in San Francisco, Subhakar Khadka, was harassed and attacked by passengers after requesting one of them to wear a mask. The incident escalated when the passengers refused to exit the vehicle, taunted Khadka, and one sprayed pepper spray into the car. Initially, Uber offered only $20 to help clean the car, but later banned the rider from the service. A GoFundMe was started by Cyan Banister to support Khadka, who is too traumatized to return to work.

Pam Burnett, a labor and delivery nurse, suffered multiple broken bones and a potentially permanently damaged eye after a rock the size of a grapefruit was thrown through her windshield while driving on Highway 242 in Concord, California, on December 23, 2020. Despite three surgeries, including one on Christmas Day, she faces a long recovery and the possibility of losing her right eye. The California Highway Patrol is investigating, but no suspects have been identified. Pam's husband, Steven Burnett, has started a GoFundMe page to support her during her recovery. The incident is similar to another that occurred in April in the same area, resulting in the death of a grandmother. The police are seeking information from the public.

Bay Area nurses, including ER nurse Mawata Kamara and Stanford Health Care's Chief Nursing Officer Dale Beatty, are expressing concerns over a two-day ICU training program for nurses announced by California Governor Gavin Newsom. The program is intended to quickly prepare nurses for ICU work amid surging COVID-19 numbers, but professionals argue that such a short training period is insufficient and unsafe. Stanford Health Care does not plan to use the program, preferring their standard six months to a year of training. Santa Clara County Public Health has not confirmed if their hospitals will adopt the program, and they have announced only 50 ICU beds left in the county.

The San Jose Downtown Association illuminated downtown San Jose with a light display at Plaza de Cesar Chavez on Thanksgiving evening. The festive lights, including trees and arches, were intended to uplift the community during the pandemic, as traditional events like the skating rink and Christmas at the Park were canceled or modified. The display, running from November 26 to January 3, was free and aimed to provide a sense of normalcy and celebration.

PG&E has restored electricity to over 335,000 customers in California after a Public Safety Power Shutoff due to high fire danger. Power restoration is at 97%, with the remaining customers expected to have power by Wednesday morning. The shutoff was a precaution against wildfires, with 130 incidents of equipment damage reported. Residents and businesses in affected areas, such as North Bay and East Bay, have been coping with the outages, with some feeling more prepared than in previous years. PG&E has been issuing updates and safety advisories.