People pray outside Malate Catholic Church in Manila on Dec. 16, 2020, marking the official start of Simbang Gabi, a nine-day series of early morning masses practiced by Filipino Catholics across the Philippines toward Christmas. The number of people allowed to enter the church was cut to 30 to 50 percent of capacity this year due to the coronavirus pandemic. (Kyodo) ==Kyodo
Japanese Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga meets the press at his office in Tokyo on Dec. 16, 2020. Suga apologized after facing mounting criticism for participating in year-end dinner parties despite the government's warnings to the public to refrain from dining in large groups to prevent the spread of the novel coronavirus. (Kyodo) ==Kyodo
