South Asia
On Saturday, India and Russia concluded their two-day Passage Exercise (PASSEX), which was being conducted in the East Indian Ocean Region. The Indian Navy said that this exercise was aimed at “enhancing interoperability, improving understanding and imbibing best practices” between the two naval forces. [The Hindu]
According to a report titled “Erdoğan sends mercenaries to Kashmir,” published by a Greek journalist, Andreas Mountzouralias, Turkish Premier Recep Tayyip Erdoğan is preparing to send mercenaries to Kashmir and will award each fighter with $2,000. However, the Turkish Ambassador to India, Şakir Özkan Torunlar, rubbished the report calling it “baseless and false.” [India Today]
Central Asia and the Caucasus
Kyrgyzstan has decided to lift the travel ban that it imposed in the spring to combat the coronavirus pandemic. The international airports of Manas, Osh, and Issyk-Kul are going to be open for foreign visitors and will require them to take a PCR coronavirus test 72 hours before their visit. [RFE/RL]
The Turkmenistan government has decided to lift a ban on female drivers. Almost two years after imposing unannounced constraints on female drivers in the male-dominated Central Asian country, the traffic police directorate in Ashgabat has started accepting applications from women looking to get or extend their driver’s licenses. [RFE/RL]
East and Southeast Asia
Taiwan and the US are counting on the US-made giant radar system for early warning if the People’s Liberation Army (PLA) attacks. The $1.4 billion Precision Acquisition Vehicle Entry Phased Array Warning System, or PAVE PAWS, was built by US company Raytheon. The radar system will be placed atop a mountain and would play a key role in the event of an attack from the PLA- including from its submarine base in the South China Sea, from where it could potentially target US military facilities in Japan and Guam. [MSN]
At least 18 people have died after being trapped in a mine in China’s southwestern city of Chongqing. This is the region’s second such accident in just over two months. The dead were among 24 people trapped underground by excessive levels of carbon monoxide gas at the Diaoshuidong coal mine. One survivor has been rescued while search efforts continue. [Al Jazeera]
Europe
Russia began distributing its ‘Sputnik V’ COVID-19 vaccine on Saturday. The vaccine will be distributed to 70 clinics around Moscow, and the first inoculations will go to healthcare workers, teachers, and social workers. [DW]
Poland on Friday rejected speculation that it was willing to stand down in its fight against the EU’s COVID-19 budget and recovery fund, asserting that it would not do so unless Brussels dropped its plans to tie funding to rule of law. [Bloomberg]
The European Union (EU) has agreed to adopt a new mechanism to impose sanctions on individuals for violation of human rights. This is similar to sanction mechanisms adopted by the United States and the United Kingdom, which enables the government’s authorities to take actions against individual officials who have furthered violations of human rights. [Politico]
Latin America and the Caribbean
Former Uruguayan President Tabaré Vázquez, who ruled the country from 200-2010 and again from 2015-2020 before handing over the reins to Luis Lacalle Pou in March, has died at the age of 80 from lung cancer and pancreatic metastasis. [Merco Press]
It has emerged that Venezuela’s ruling government is likely to emerge victorious from Sunday’s congressional election. Hence, President Nicolás Maduro is set to tighten his control over the country’s institutions by defeating the last opposition stronghold: the parliament. His prospective victory is all the more certain due to the fact that opposition leader Juan Guaidó, who is regarded by many international actors as the legitimate ruler, boycotted the election due to concerns over legitimacy and credibility. [NPR]
Middle East and North Africa (MENA)
The opposition in Kuwait won almost half of the seats in the 2020 Parliamentary Elections. Despite the record high female participation this year, no women were elected. Observers regard results as a victory for the youth, Islamists, and tribes, and a loss for liberals and women. [Reuters]
An appeals court in Egypt finally closed “case 173” by ordering to ban 20 non-profit organisations, accusing them of illegally receiving foreign funds. Egyptian state media said that the entities were involved in a foreign plot to destabilise the country, in a case that has strained ties between Cairo and Washington, which supplies $1.3bn in annual military aid to Egypt. [Egypt Independent]
North America
US President Donald Trump said on Sunday that his personal attorney, Rudy Giuliani, had tested positive for COVID-19. The former New York City mayor has been travelling across the country, leading the Trump campaign’s efforts to overturn the 2020 presidential election results. [Reuters]
The Trump has administration banned cotton imports from the Xinjiang Production and Construction Corps (XPCC), one of China’s largest producers, stating that the company uses forced labour of detained Uighur Muslims. [Al Jazeera]
Oceania
Chinese state-owned media has continued its assault on Australia, with Global Times publishing an article on how Australia has tied itself to the US-led anti-China “chariot”. To drive its point home, the piece is accompanied by a cartoon showing a kangaroo in the shadow of an eagle. [Global Times]
Sub-Saharan Africa
Ghanaian citizens will cast their ballots in the country's presidential election today, with incumbent president Nana-Akufo Addo seeking to secure a second term in office, after coming to power in 2017. He is up against his predecessor, President John Dramani Mahama, who ruled from 2012 to 2017. [The Africa Report]
US President Donald Trump has ordered the US Department of Defence and the Africa Command (Africom) to withdraw American troops from Somalia, where 700 US soldiers are currently stationed. Somalia is concerned that this may impede its fight against Al-Qaeda-linked Al-Shabab. [Dalsan Radio]
World News Monitor: 07 December, 2020
A quick look at events from around the globe.
December 8, 2020
SOURCE: NBC NEWS