South Asia
The World Health Organisation approved the India-produced COVID-19 vaccine, Covaxin, for Emergency Use Listing (EUL) Following this, Indian officials have been in touch with several countries to seek approval for the jab. [Hindustan Times]
India and China have been increasing their military presence along the Line of Actual Control as military-level talks between the two sides repeatedly fail. This includes infrastructure development and enhanced surveillance and combat manoeuvres. [Hindustan Times]
Central Asia and the Caucasus
On Saturday, Iranian Foreign Minister Hossein Amir Abdollahian held a phone conversation with his Azerbaijani counterpart Jeyhun Bayramov amid ongoing tensions between Tehran and Baku. Abdollahian said both sides had “resolved differences” and are moving towards “further expanding bilateral cooperation.” [Iran Ministry of Foreign Affairs]
Russian President Vladimir Putin, his Azerbaijani counterpart Ilham Aliyev, and Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan are likely to hold a joint video conference meeting next week. The meeting is slated to be held on the anniversary of the signing of the trilateral statement that ended the Nagorno-Karabakh war between Armenia and Azerbaijan. [Azer News]
East and Southeast Asia
French Member of European Parliament Raphael Glucksmann said on Friday that “It’s not a provocation” to directly interact with Taiwan. On the contrary, “It should be normal,” and might help “defuse” tensions with China, he told reporters in Taipei. [The Straits Times]
New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern said during a TV interview on Sunday that the country has “mature” ties with China that allow for disagreement on issues of labour and human rights, “regardless of trading ties.” [Global Times]
Europe
British Health Secretary Sajid Javed has urged people to take booster shots of COVID-19 vaccines to avoid the reimposition of lockdowns or other restrictions during the Christmas period. Over 10 million people in the United Kingdom have already received booster shots as rumours arise about prospective travel restrictions against those who refuse the top-up jabs. [The Guardian]
A Russian diplomat who was allegedly an undercover Federal Security Service (FSB) agent was found dead in front of the Russian embassy in Berlin, according to Germany’s Der Spiegel on Friday. Based on the autopsy report, the 35-year old man was pushed from an upper-floor window. He was officially listed as Second Embassy Secretary. [The Moscow Times]
On Thursday, Swedish Finance Minister Magdalena Andersson was elected the new leader of the Social Democrats Party. This appointment could pave the way for her to become the country’s first female prime minister (PM) and comes after PM Stefan Löfven resigned five months ago after losing a vote of confidence in the Parliament. Despite being reinstated after securing a new coalition, Löfven announced his decision to step down from his post in November. [Euronews]
Latin America and the Caribbean
On Friday, Brazilian Economy Minister Paulo Guedes announced a 10% decrease in tariffs on 87% of imported goods and services until the end of 2022. The policy is aimed at curbing inflation, but will not impact automobiles, auto parts, dairy products, textiles, toys, or products that fall under Mercosur’s exception list, such as capital goods. [MercoPress]
On Sunday, Nicaraguan President Daniel Ortega—who has been leading the country since 2007, after previously serving as president from 1979-1990—ran in a fourth consecutive presidential election. Given that he has imprisoned dozens of candidates and opposition figures, it is widely expected that he will secure re-election. International actors such as the United States have levelled sanctions against his administration and said that the election was neither free nor fair. [Associated Press]
Middle East and North Africa (MENA)
The United States (US) has ordered all non-emergency government staff in Ethiopia to leave the country as the Tigrayan rebels threaten to march towards Addis Ababa and overthrow the government. Denmark and Italy also asked their citizens to leave Ethiopia. [Reuters]
Moroccan King Mohammed VI has said that Morocco’s sovereignty over Western Sahara “will never be up for negotiation” amid tensions with Algeria over the disputed territory. Last week, Algeria accused Moroccan forces of killing three Algerian civilians while passing through Western Sahara. Algeria supports the Polisario Front, which seeks full independence of Western Sahara from Morocco. [Al Jazeera]
North America
At the COP26 Summit, Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau announced the allocation of $1 billion, from its $5 billion climate pledge, to address the twin crises of climate change and biodiversity loss. This affirms “Canada’s new commitment to nature-based climate solutions in the poorest and most vulnerable countries,” he said. [Government of Canada]
The United States (US) Department of Defence released its Congress-sanctioned annual report that tracks China’s military and security developments. The report provides a broad overview of China’s strategic objectives, defence policy, and defence strategy and its implications for the US. [US Department of Defence]
Oceania
On Monday, Prime Minister Scott Morrison reaffirmed Australia’s coal commitment by highlighting the use of hydrogen in coal-fired power plants. The government is spending $1.5 million to study the feasibility of clean hydrogen produced using fossil fuels and relies on carbon capture and storage technology. Morrison said, “It is the future fuel, whether it’s how it produces ammonia … which can be used in coal-fired power plants, not just here but all around the rest of the world.” [The Newdaily]
From Monday, Australia will begin administering booster shots of the Pfizer vaccine to people aged 18 or above who received their second dose at least six months back. After a slow start to its vaccination drive, the country fast-tracked the pace of immunisation from June amid the spread of the more contagious Delta variant. [Reuters]
Sub-Saharan Africa
At least 99 people were killed and over 100 were injured in Freetown, Sierra Leone on Friday after an oil tanker collided with a truck. Vice President Mohamed Juldeh Jalloh has described the incident as a “national disaster.” [BBC]
South Africa’s ruling African National Congress party won just 46% of votes in the country’s municipal elections, marking the first time the party has received less than a majority of votes in any election. The results have generated doubt about the ability of Nelson Mandela’s party to secure re-election in the 2024 general elections. [Africa News]