December 17, 2009 (Thursday)
- Europe is hit by heavy snowfall leading to disruptions in France, Germany, Poland and Spain. (BBC)
- The Panamanian livestock transporter MV Danny F II sinks off the coast of Lebanon while travelling from Uruguay to Syria with 83 people on board. (France 24) (The Times)
- Ireland exits "one of Europe's worst recessions". (BBC) (The Irish Times) (France 24)[permanent dead link]
- Bishop of Limerick Donal Murray resigns following allegations contained within the Murphy Report. The Vatican accepts his resignation. (Limerick Leader)[permanent dead link] (RTÉ) (Miami Herald)[permanent dead link] (BBC) (Channel News Asia)
- A Nigerian court throws out corruption charges against the former governor of the country's Delta State, James Ibori, saying there was no clear evidence. (NEXT) (AFP) (BBC)
- Egyptian archaeologists recover from the Mediterranean Sea an ancient temple pylon belonging to the palace complex of Cleopatra. (AP)
- It is revealed that Iraqi militants intercepted live video feeds from U.S. MQ-1 Predator drones, potentially acquiring information they need to evade or monitor U.S. military operations. (Wall Street Journal)
- The Pakistani opposition calls on President Asif Ali Zardari to resign after the Supreme Court declared void an amnesty protecting him and other senior officials from corruption charges. (Dawn) (Al Jazeera) (Hindustan Times)
- Yemen authorities say 34 suspected Al-Qaeda militants have been killed and 17 captured in raids at hideouts and training camps in the west of the country. (Yemen News Agency) (AP) (Dawn)
- Two of Colombia's main rebel groups, the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC) and the National Liberation Army (ELN), announce they are to unite. (Latin American Herald Tribune) (BBC)
- The collapse of UK airline Flyglobespan leaves thousands of travellers stranded. (BBC)
- Sahwari activist Aminatou Haidar is hospitalized in Tenerife, Spain, after 32 days of hunger strike protesting against her expulsion by the Moroccan authorities. (BBC) (CNN) (France24) (The Age)
- The Catholic Church condemns as "inappropriate" and "disrespectful" a New Zealand billboard involving nudity and the birth of Jesus Christ. (BBC) (The Guardian) (Japan Today)
- The English High Court grants British Airways an injunction against a proposed twelve day strike by cabin crew represented by trade union Unite scheduled to occur over Christmas. (BBC)