South Asia
The Pakistani Taliban announced the end of the month-long ceasefire it reached with Islamabad. The militant group claims that the Pakistani government has violated the terms of the agreement regarding the release of prisoners and the formation of negotiation committees. [The Guardian]
Sri Lankan Foreign Minister G.L. Peiris met with Acting Pakistani High Commissioner Tanvir Ahmad to discuss the need to provide financial assistance and compensation to the family of the victim of the Sialkot mob lynching attack. He appreciated the steps taken by Pakistan to arrest the perpetrators of the incident and welcomed the $100,000 donation granted by Sialkot’s business community to the victim’s family. [Sri Lankan Government]
Central Asia and the Caucasus
At least four Kazakh activists have had their mobile phones infected with Israeli company NSO Group’s Pegasus spyware, according to Amnesty International. The rights group that the case adds to “an already mounting pile of evidence” that Pegasus is the “weapon of choice” for governments seeking to silence activists and crush dissent. [Amnesty International]
Armenia and Azerbaijan on Thursday claimed that the other side opened fire and shelled their respective positions in Nagorno-Karabakh in violation of last November’s Russian-brokered ceasefire that ended the war. Azerbaijan’s Defence Ministry accused Armenian forces of firing at Azerbaijani soldiers in Kalbajar, claiming that one of its soldiers was killed. Yerevan said that its soldiers came under “intensive fire” in the Gegharkunik region. [RFE/RL]
East and Southeast Asia
Defying a new law that criminalises incitement even for those based abroad, Hong Kong’s democracy activists overseas are calling on residents to boycott the upcoming December 19 “patriots only” LegCo elections. During the elections, Hong Kong’s political elite will select a 90-seat lawmaking body. [Channel News Asia]
Filipino journalist Jesus “Jess” Malabanan, who formerly worked for Reuters, was killed in a drive-by shooting by unidentified gunmen on Wednesday, authorities said yesterday. Malabanan is one of more than a dozen journalists killed in the country over the past five years. [Channel News Asia]
Europe
On Thursday, French Sea Minister Annick Girardin threatened to sue the United Kingdom (UK) if it refuses to approve 53 fishing licenses by Friday evening, the deadline set by Brussels for the UK to settle the ongoing post-Brexit fishing dispute. [Euronews]
On Thursday, exiled Belarusian opposition leader Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya met Polish President Andrzej Duda in Warsaw. “Poland was one of the first countries to hear the Belarusians’ voice and support the democracy movement in Belarus. Other countries were not as courageous,” said the opposition leader. Tsikhanouskaya has been in exile in Lithuania following her defeat in the 2020 Belarusian presidential election against President Alexander Lukashenko, with evidence that the election was rigged in favour of the longtime dictator. [The First News]
The United Kingdom is preparing to deploy 140 non-combat troops to Poland as it struggles to take control over the huge influx of undocumented migrants from Belarus attempting to enter the European Union. The military engineers will remain in the region from the end of December to April. [Politico]
Latin America and the Caribbean
On Thursday, Nicaragua severed diplomatic ties with Taiwan and declared its support for China’s ‘One China’ policy, meaning that Taiwan now has formal diplomatic ties with only 14 countries. Taiwan expressed its “deep regret” at how the Ortega government had cast aside a “long-standing” and mutually beneficial relationship. The move comes at a time when Nicaraguan President Daniel Ortega has increasingly sought to distance himself from Western nations and their allies due to sanctions and allegations of corruption and election meddling against his regime. [CNN]
Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro has decided that the upcoming Mercosur heads of state summit, which is scheduled to take place from December 16-17, will take place in a virtual format due to fears about the spread of the Omicron variant of COVID-19. Brazil holds the rotating presidency of the regional bloc, which has seen tensions in recent months over Brazil and Uruguay’s push to allow members to enter into independent trade deals with third parties, despite Argentina’s vocal disapproval. [MercoPress]
Middle East and North Africa (MENA)
At least 88 people have died in clashes in Darfur, Sudan between Arab and non-Arab ethnic groups, a Sudanese medical group said on Friday. The fighting started last week over a financial dispute between the two groups and quickly escalated when Arab Janjaweed militias attacked non-Arab villages, and torched and looted properties, forcing thousands to flee. [Associated Press]
Israel on Thursday led a 10-country simulation of a cyberattack on the global financial system with the aim of reducing the damage caused to banks and financial markets in the event of such an attack. The exercises, which will continue for 10 days in Jerusalem, saw participation from the United States, the United Kingdom, the United Arab Emirates, Germany, the International Monetary Fund, and the World Bank. [Reuters]
North America
On Thursday, the Pentagon announced the official termination of the United States (US) military’s combat mission in Iraq. US Troops will now transition to a training and advisory role as per a July agreement with Baghdad. There are currently 2,500 American service members stationed in Iraq. Since 2014, the US forces have assisted regional powers in defeating the extremist group Islamic State. [The Hill]
Workers of American coffee giant Starbucks have voted to form their first union at a store in Buffalo, New York, marking a major win for restaurant workers in the United States (US). The baristas and shift supervisors from the store voted 19-8 to secure unionisation. Three more Buffalo stores and one in Arizona are also trying to unionize. Starbucks has argued that unions are not necessary, citing its reputation as a progressive employer with generous benefits. [NPR]
Oceania
On Thursday, France’s ambassador for the Indo-Pacific, Christophe Penot, said the rift with Australia over the AUKUS agreement continues, as Canberra is still “in denial” about communication of the decision. France and Australia have been at loggerheads since Australia abandoned a multi-billion submarine deal with France for a new military agreement with the United States and the United Kingdom. [The Sydney Morning Herald]
New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern attended the Summit for Democracy hosted by the United States President Joe Biden virtually. In a statement, Ardern said she had focused on the opportunities and challenges facing democracy and committed to always defending the principles of democracy, partnership, and pluralism, so long as they are supported by human rights and the rule of law. [New Zealand Government]
Sub-Saharan Africa
The heads of state of Rwanda, Kenya, Mozambique, Comoros, and the Democratic Republic of Congo travelled to Dar es Salaam on Thursday for a celebration of Tanzania’s 60th anniversary of independence. [The East African]
The Nigerian military rescued 20 police officers who were recently kidnapped by the Boko Haram terror group, the Defence Headquarters announced. Since 2009, the military’s battle with Boko Haram has resulted in over 30,000 deaths and displaced more than two million people. [Pulse]