Key Storylines
- AFRICA: Tanzanian President Samia Suluhu Hassan hailed the country’s progress on its independence day even as fears grow over the state of political freedoms in the East African nation.
- AMERICAS: The United States began transporting asylum seekers across the southern border in a reinstatement of the Trump administration’s “Remain in Mexico” policy.
- EUROPE: The Austrian government is due to announce details of a plan to make coronavirus vaccines mandatory.
- MIDDLE EAST: US and Israeli defense chiefs will discuss possible military exercises that would prepare for a scenario to destroy Iran’s nuclear facilities in the event diplomacy fails.
- TECH & COMMUNICATIONS: The Russian cybercrime gang Conti claimed credit for a ransomware attack over the weekend on CS Energy, an Australian electric utility owned by the state of Queensland.
Top Story
- India: Farmers end year-long protests against Modi reforms.
- Union leaders and farmers called off a long-running protest after the government conceded on demands, including assurances to consider guaranteed prices for all produce, instead of just rice and wheat.
- Farmers also demanded compensation for families whose members died in the protests and withdrawal of all protest-related cases.
- Farmer leader Gurnam Singh Charuni said “We will hold a review meeting on Jan. 15. If the government does not fulfill its promises, we could resume our agitation.”
- Balbir Singh Rajewal, a senior leader of a coalition of farmers’ unions said they “received a letter from the government which has conceded to our requests.”
- The upcoming state elections in Punjab and Uttar Pradesh may have forced the government to roll back the three market-friendly laws.
- Reuters, AFP, Xinhua, Al Jazeera, BBC
Africa
- Burkina Faso: Prime Minister Christophe Joseph Marie Dabire and his government resigned amid mounting protests over the government’s failure to contain jihadist attacks. (AFP)
- Ethiopia: The World Food Program suspended aid distribution in the Amhara town of Kombolcha after looting of its warehouses blamed on Tigrayan forces. (AFP)
- Kenya: Police condemned the actions of a group of newly graduated officers who recorded a video threatening civilians once they were deployed. (BBC)
- Tanzania: President Samia Suluhu Hassan hailed the country’s progress on its independence day even as fears grow over the state of political freedoms in the East African nation. (AFP)
- Uganda: The military court convicted two soldiers for the killing of three people during protests last year. (BBC)
Americas
- Region: The United States began transporting asylum seekers across the southern border in a reinstatement of the Trump administration’s “Remain in Mexico” policy. (WaPo)
- El Salvador: The United States accused the government of negotiating a secret pact with gang leaders by which the armed groups would cut back on violence and support the president’s party in midterm elections. (WaPo)
- United States: The House of Representatives overwhelmingly passed a bill banning products made in China’s Xinjiang over the objections of large corporations. (NYT)
- United States: President Joe Biden will call Ukraine’s leader Volodymyr Zelensky to express support after warning Vladimir Putin of sanctions “like none he’s ever seen” should Russian troops attack Ukraine. (AFP)
Asia
- China: The drug authority granted emergency approval for the country’s first specialized treatment against COVID-19, found in clinical trials to significantly reduce hospitalizations and deaths among high-risk patients. (AFP)
- Hong Kong: Three democracy campaigners, including media mogul Jimmy Lai, were convicted of taking part in a banned Tiananmen vigil. (AFP)
- New Zealand: The government announced it will outlaw smoking for the next generation, so that those who are aged 14 and under today will never be legally able to buy tobacco. (The Guardian)
- Philippines: The country’s highest court struck down a “killer caveat” in President Rodrigo Duterte’s controversial anti-terrorism law, but critics said the rest of the legislation still threatened human rights. (AFP)
- South Korea: Parents associations held protests against a vaccine pass mandate for children aimed at containing the spread of COVID-19 among teenagers. (Reuters)
Europe
- Austria: The government is due to announce details of a plan to make coronavirus vaccines mandatory. (Reuters)
- Finland: Prime Minister Sanna Marin issued an apology after she was photographed in a crowded nightclub without a mask. (WaPo)
- Germany: Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock said the country will oppose French plans to categorize electricity generated by nuclear power as “green energy.” (DPA)
- Italy: Regulators hit Amazon with a 1.1-billion-euro ($1.3-billion) antitrust fine for abusing its dominance in the market, the latest action against US Big Tech in the EU. (AFP)
- United Kingdom: Prime Minister Boris Johnson and his wife Carrie announced the birth of a baby girl. (AP)
Middle East
- Region: US and Israeli defense chiefs will discuss possible military exercises that would prepare for a scenario to destroy Iran’s nuclear facilities in the event diplomacy fails. (Reuters)
- Iran: Negotiations between Tehran and world powers aimed at salvaging the nuclear deal have resumed in Vienna after a few days’ pause. (AP)
- Iraq: National Security Advisor Qassim al-Araji tweeted that the last round of technical talks with the U.S.-led coalition has ended, signaling a new phase in US involvement in the fight against the Islamic State. (AP)
- Israel: The Justice Ministry is closing an investigation into two police officers who shot a Palestinian assailant, accepting the officers’ assertion that they acted in self-defense. (WaPo)
Tech & Communications
- Cybersecurity: The Russian cybercrime gang Conti claimed credit for a ransomware attack over the weekend on CS Energy, an Australian electric utility owned by the state of Queensland. (Reuters)
World
- Cyclones: Nothing to report.
- Hurricanes: Nothing to report.
- Earthquakes: Nothing to report.
- Volcanoes:
- Mount Semeru, Indonesia
- Explosive activity continues
- Erupting
- Source
- La Palma, Spain
- Explosive activity continues
- Erupting
- Source
- Global Disease Outbreaks:
- COVID-19 Coronavirus Disease: Global (as of 09DEC21)
- Confirmed cases: 267,991,056
- Deaths: 5,282,610
- Countries with confirmed cases: 192
- Sourcing: John Hopkins University
- COVID-19 Coronavirus Disease: Global (as of 09DEC21)
- Mount Semeru, Indonesia
Tomorrow’s Outlook (10DEC21)
- Global: International Human Rights Day.
- Event: AEI hosts ‘China’s economic outlook after Evergrande’ discussion.
- Event: Cato Institute policy forum on European defense featuring French Ambassador Philippe Etienne.
- Europe: Meeting of EU justice and interior ministers in Brussels.
- Europe: Visit by German Chancellor Olaf Scholz to Paris and Brussels.
- Europe: Nobel Prize ceremonies in Stockholm and Oslo.
- Thailand: Constitution Day.
- United Kingdom: G7 Foreign and Development Ministers summit in Liverpool. (to 12DEC)
- United States: Summit for Democracy, virtual.
END
