South Asia
On Friday, while addressing the press in Abu Dhabi, Pakistani Foreign Ministry Shah Mahmood Qureshi said the Indian military is planning to conduct a “surgical strike” in Pakistan. He further called upon the international community to assist in de-escalating the conflict between the two rival neighbours. The Indian government has not made any comments on these allegations yet. [Al Jazeera]
On Sunday, an attack in Kabul targeting Khan Mohammad Wardak, an Afghan lawmaker, led to the death of nine people. While Wardak survived the attack, 20 others, including women and children, were injured. No group has claimed responsibility for the attack. [Reuters]
Central Asia and the Caucasus
Apple, Google, Microsoft, and Mozilla have united to block a root certificate from being used by the Kazakhstan government to monitor internet traffic in its capital Nur Sultan. The certificate previously barred citizens’ from accessing foreign websites and allowed the government to track their online activity. The Kazakh government insisted that the certificates were being used “as part of a cybersecurity training exercise”. [Techspot]
Kyrgyzstan has recently introduced biometric passports, after much delay. The new passports, which will be available starting January 1, are embedded with a microchip containing information that can be read and authenticated electronically. The move was speculated to be delayed by the inclusion of the country on the US’ partial travel ban list. [RFE/RL]
East and Southeast Asia
Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen rejected China’s offer of the Sinovac vaccines, which have already been rolled out in Indonesia. He said that only vaccines approved by the WHO will be used in the country because Cambodia is “not a place for vaccine trial”. As of now, the country has collected $48 million in donations for the mass vaccine drive, which is estimated to cost $200 million. [WION]
Thailand held elections in 76 provinces on Sunday. They were the first elections to be conducted since the general elections last year, which were maligned with accusations of manipulation, as Prime Minister Prayuth Chan-ocha took office by overthrowing the elected government through a military coup. [Al Jazeera]
Europe
One of the Russian agents involved in the assassination attempt of Kremlin critic Alexei Navalny has reportedly confessed to his role in the plot, revealing that the lethal nerve agent Novichok was planted in the opposition leader’s underpants. The disclosure from the agent apparently came during a phone call with Navalny himself, who posed as an official from Russia’s National Security Council. [CNN]
Six Hungarian opposition parties announced Sunday that they will unite in the 2022 parliamentary election, in an effort to defeat incumbent Prime Minister Viktor Orbán’s nationalist Fidesz party. [POLITICO]
Latin America and the Caribbean
During a meeting between Argentinian Foreign Minister Felipe Solá and his Portuguese counterpart Augusto Santos, the Buenos Aires representative called on Lisbon to consider the Malvinas, or the Falkland Islands, as a “litigation issue and not a British Overseas Territory”. Solá also underscored the importance of Mercosur and the European Union reaching an agreement in their trade negotiations. [Merco Press]
Mexican President Andrés Manuel López Obrador held a phone call with US President-elect Joe Biden following his delayed congratulatory message to the former Vice President on his electoral victory over Donald Trump. The pair spoke about migration, the coronavirus, trade, and border security. [Associated Press]
Following the resounding victory of parties allied with Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro during the recent congressional election, the government announced that the National Constituent Assembly will be shut down by the end of the year. The body was established in 2017 by pro-government forces to “reform the constitution”, and “restore the peace of the republic, internal security, national union and the stability of the country” at a time when the Parliament was under the control of the opposition. Now that pro-government have gained control of the Parliament, this body has been deemed surplus to requirements. [Al Jazeera]
Middle East and North Africa (MENA)
The US embassy in Baghdad, Iraq was targeted by multiple rockets on Sunday, ahead of the one-year anniversary of the drone strike that killed Iranian general Qasem Soleimani. This represents the third attack on US military and diplomatic facilities since October. [Arab News]
Following a clash along the border of Sudan and Ethiopia, both countries have agreed to hold discussions to deescalate the situation. According to a statement by Sudanese PM Abdalla Hamdok’s office, he will be meeting with the Ethiopian premier Abiy Ahmed on December 22 to discuss the delineation of the border. [Al Jazeera]
North America
The United States (US) Congress on Sunday reached a long-awaited Covid-19 relief package, worth $900 billion. While Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell hailed the agreement, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and Senate Minority leader said that they would push for more relief spending once President-elect Joe Biden takes office next month. Lawmakers plan to pass the relief and funding bill on Monday. [CNBC]
Contradicting his top administration officials, US President Donald Trump on Saturday suggested without evidence that China, not Russia, may be behind the cyber offensive that has targeted multiple federal networks. He also downplayed the impact of the operation on the US government, stating that the hack was “far greater in the Fake News Media” than in actuality and that everything was “well under control”. [Associated Press]
The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) on Friday approved Moderna Inc.’s Covid-19 vaccine for emergency use. Nationwide distribution began on Sunday, with the vaccine headed to nearly 3,700 locations across the country. Approximately 5.9 million doses are expected to be given out in the initial shipment, which will first be administered to healthcare workers and residents of long-term care homes. [Al Jazeera]
Oceania
A mutant strain of the coronavirus that first originated in the United Kingdom, has now reached Australian shores through two British travellers. The new strain, which has for now been labelled VUI202012/01, accounts for 60% of new cases in London in December, resulting in the southeast UK being placed under ‘Tier 4’ lockdown restrictions. [news.com.au]
Sub-Saharan Africa
Amid a surge in new coronavirus cases, the Malian government has instituted a state of emergency in the country, closing schools, bars, restaurants, and clubs. It also placed restrictions on public gatherings such as weddings, baptisms, and funerals. [Africa Feeds]
A coalition of opposition parties in the Central African Republic has called for the presidential and legislative elections, which are scheduled for December 27, to be postponed until “peace and security” are “re-established” in the country. Former President François Bozizé recently attempted to lead a coup d'état against current leader Faustin-Archange Touadéra, while rebel forces took control of crucial landmarks near the capital city, both of which have plunged the nation into chaos. [Africa News]
Former Burundian President Pierre Buyoya died from the novel coronavirus at the age of 71. He had been seeking treatment in Paris since Wednesday last week. Buyoya ruled the country from 1987 to 1993 and once again from 1996 to 2003. Since 2012, he had been serving as a special envoy of the African Union to Mali and the Sahel. [The East African]