North America:
US president-elect Donald Trump announced that he will rename North America’s tallest mountain after William McKinley, the 25th US president who was assassinated in 1901 on Mon (Dec 23). Democratic former president Barack Obama officially renamed the mountain Denali in 2015, siding with the state of Alaska and concluding the decades-long naming battle. The peak had been officially called Mount McKinley since 1917 after a gold prospector exploring the region heard that McKinley, a champion for the gold standard, had won the Republican nomination for president. In a speech to his supporters in Phoenix, Trump said McKinley ’was a great president,’ and his administration will bring back the name of McKinley because he deserves it.
The Biden Administration pledged to approve fresh military aid packages to Ukraine, including crucial air defence systems on Fri (Dec 27). The aid surge comes weeks after the national security adviser, Jake Sullivan, met the head of the Ukrainian president’s office, Andriy Yermak, in Washington to pledge extensive support. The pledged support included a planned delivery of hundreds of thousands of artillery rounds, thousands of rockets, and hundreds of armoured vehicles by mid-January. The military aid package also includes training for new Ukrainian troops at sites outside the country and finalising $20 billion in loans backed by immobilised Russian assets.
President-elect Trump said he supports immigration visas for highly skilled workers on Sat (Dec 28), appearing to side with Elon Musk in the ongoing intra-MAGA debate on the issue. Trump said he always liked the visas, referring to the H-1B programme, which permits foreign companies to hire foreign workers in specialist occupations, and that he has many H-1B visas on his staff. Musk had argued earlier this week that the H-1B visa [program] programme is critical to ensuring American companies can find highly skilled labour which may not be easily available in the U.S. labour force. However, MAGA hardliners want Trump to follow through with his promise to promote US workers and impose tougher restrictions on immigration.
The Danish government announced a huge boost in defence spending for Greenland on Wed (Dec 25), hours after US President-elect Donald Trump repeated his desire to purchase the Arctic territory. The announcement came a day after Trump said on his social media platform Truth Social: ‘For purposes of National Security and Freedom throughout the World, the United States of America feels that the ownership and control of Greenland is an absolute necessity.’ Greenland’s Prime Minister Mette Egede responded to Trump’s comments, saying “we are not for sale.” Analysts say that the defence package had been under discussion for a long time and should not be seen as a direct response to Trump’s comments.
Ukraine received its first shipment of U.S. liquefied natural gas (LNG) supplies on Fri (Dec 27). This occurs as the outgoing Biden administration continues to reduce Russia’s key energy exports with new sanctions to deprive Moscow of revenue for its war on Ukraine. Assistant Secretary of State Geoffrey Pyatt said Europe should use the 31 Dec expiration of a gas transit contract between Ukraine and Russia to decisively end its dependency on Russian energy. He said he is encouraged that Europe sees American liquefied natural gas (LNG) as part of its energy solution, noting that countries in Europe and even Japan, which imports 10% of its gas from Russia, understand the need to find alternative energy suppliers.
South America:
Brazil suspends temporary work visas on Fri (Dec 27) for Chinese automaker BYD’s employees, over allegations that some workers at the Bahia construction site were victims of human trafficking. The decision follows concerns that workers had been brought to Brazil in “slavery-like” conditions by contractor Jinjiang group, which has denied any wrongdoing and cited translation misunderstandings. The Ministry of Justice in Brazil has also threatened the full revocation of visas if the irregularities are confirmed.
Peru has declared a 90-day environmental emergency on Thursday (Dec 26), following a significant oil spill that has contaminated coastal areas and affected local wildlife. The spill, originating from state-owned refinery Petroperu last Saturday (Dec 21), affected at least seven beaches in the northern coastal area as well as local wildlife. Petroperu deployed clean-up brigades once the spill occurred and coordinated with the fishermen’s union and local authorities so as to ensure normal activity in the area, but coastal plants and animals like crabs were damaged and fishermen say that the spill has hindered their work.
Colombia announced a 9.54% increase in the minimum wage on Wednesday (Dec 25), setting it at 1,500,000 pesos (US$323.90) per month for 2025. The hike was decreed by Colombian President Gustavo Petro, after a deal fell through between the government, business associations and workers unions. The increase was smaller than initially stated at the end of 2023, when the government announced a 12% increase in minimum wage for 2024. The adjustment reflects ongoing efforts to balance economic growth with social equity in Colombia, which still faces weak economic prospects.
Magalli Meda, an adviser to Venezuelan opposition leader Maria Corina Machado, has been residing in the Argentine diplomatic residence in Caracas since March to avoid arrest. On Saturday (Dec 29) Meda described the residence as an “embassy prison,” citing a month-long power outage that has worsened living conditions. The Venezuelan government attributes the outage to unpaid electricity bills. This situation follows contested presidential elections in July, leading to increased tensions between the opposition and President Nicolas Maduro’s administration. Diplomatic relations between Venezuela and Argentina have also been strained due to recent incidents involving alleged terror plots against the Venezuelan government.
The disappearance of four boys, aged 11 to 15, in Guayaquil, Ecuador, after an encounter with 16 air force soldiers, has sparked nationwide protests and challenges President Daniel Noboa’s anti-drug policies. The ‘Guayaquil Four’ boys, all Black and from a poor neighborhood, were reportedly released 26 miles away and remain missing. Four incinerated bodies were found in the region, and experts are trying to determine if they are the boys’ remains on Tue (Dec 24). Ecuador’s attorney general also seeks to pursue charges against the 16 soldiers for their connection to the boys’ forced disappearance.
Europe:
Lawmakers in Bosnia’s Serb Republic regional parliament on Wed (Dec 25) ordered Serb representatives to block decision-making and reform laws needed for the Balkan country’s integration into the EU. The emergency session of parliament was called to discuss a ‘degradation of the legal system’ in relation to the ongoing trial of the region’s president Milorad Dodik at Bosnia’s state court.
The EU now requires all new smartphones, tablets and cameras to use USB-C charging ports to cut costs and reduce waste Sat (Dec 28). Manufacturers are now required to fit devices sold in the 27-nation bloc with a USB-C, the port chosen by the EU as the common standard for charging electronic tools. The EU said that the single charger rule will simplify the life of Europeans and slash costs for consumers. The bloc also argued that allowing consumers to buy a new device without a new charger will reduce the amount of obsolete charges,
Thousands of Georgians formed a human chain in protest in central Tbilisi on Sat (Dec 28) in support of the country’s European Union membership, marking a second month of their daily pro-Europe rallies. Mass street protests have gripped Georgia since November 28, when the ruling Georgian Dream party’s increasing authoritarian government said it would not seek the opening of EU accession talks till 2028.
Kyiv reports heavy casualties among Pyongyang’s soldiers in Russia, while Washington accuses generals of seeing the troops as expendable on Sat (Dec 28). Ukraine’s President, Volodymyr Zelenskyy, said on Friday that Russian troops were sending the North Koreans into battle with minimal protection and that the North Koreans were taking extreme measures to avoid being taken prisoner. He also said that neither the Russian military nor their North Korean overseers have any interest in ensuring the survival of these North Koreans. National Security Council spokesperson John Kirby said troops sent by Pyongyang were killing themselves rather than risking capture.
Ukraine’s president, Volodymyr Zelenskyy, has called on Russia to provide a clearer explanation of the Azerbaijan Airlines plane crash on Sat (Dec 28) as he expressed condolences to his Azeri counterpart. On Friday, White House spokesperson John Kirby said the US had seen “early indications” that Russia might have been responsible for the crash that killed 38 people. Volodymyr Zelenskyy said that the key priority was a thorough investigation to provide answers to the question of what really happened, and that Russia must provide clear explanations and stop spreading disinformation.
Asia Pacific:
North Korea leader Kim Jong-un held a policy-setting meeting of the country’s ruling party Fri (Dec 27). Party and government officials decided to launch the strongest response strategy to counteract the United States for its security and national interest. State media, Korean Central News Agency reported that the alliance between South Korea, the US and Japan has expanded to a ‘nuclear military bloc’ and South Korea has become an ‘anti-communist outpost’ for the US. Washington and Seoul criticised the two countries’ military cooperation, including the dispatch of North Korean troops to fight for Russia in its war against Ukraine.
Protests were planned across South Korea on Sat (Dec 28), as supporters and opponents of suspended president Yoon Suk Yeol prepared to hold rival rallies two weeks after he was impeached. Widespread protests both for and against Yoon have erupted since he attempted to impose martial law in early December, which precipitated the country into one of its worst political crises in decades. Lawmakers on Friday impeached Yoon’s replacement, acting president Han Duck-soo, after he refused demands to complete Yoon’s impeachment process and bring him to justice. While the decision lies with the Constitutional Court to decide Yoon’s and Han’s outcome, demonstrators from both camps have vowed to keep up pressure till then.
Police Cyber Taskforce Director Pol. Gen. Thatchai Pitaneelabutr led a strategic meeting at the Sa Kaeo Immigration Office on Sat (Dec 28), followed by a border area inspection. Of special interest was a 25-story building in Cambodia visible from the Thai border, suspected to be a hub for fraudulent operations. The strategic meeting and inspection were part of the intensified efforts by the Royal Thai Police to combat transnational call centre fraud, with a new initiative titled ‘Blasting the Bridge of Criminals’ in the Sa Kaeo Province. The operation targets criminal networks operating from Poipet, Cambodia, which have been systematically defrauding Thai citizens.
China deployed nearly 400 troops and multiple choppers at the Larung Gar Buddhist Academy (Fri (Dec 27), the largest Tibetan Buddhist study centre in the world in an attempt to enforce stricter surveillance on religious practices, the Central Tibetan Administration reported. The People’s Republic of China (PRC) plans to further impose stringent regulations next year at the Buddhist monastic institution in Serthar County, Karze. These regulations shall limit the duration of residency for monks and nuns to a maximum of 15 years. They will also limit the population at the monastery.
Bombardment by Pakistani military aircraft in Afghanistan’s eastern Paktika province on Tuesday killed at least 46 people, most of whom were children and women on Wed (Dec 25). Six people were also injured in the bombing at four locations in Afghanistan. The Afghan Taliban said that it would retaliate and has responded by targeting ‘several points’ in neighbouring Pakistan, according to Afghanistan’s defense military. While the statement from the Defense Ministry did not specify Pakistan as the region, it said the strikes were conducted ’beyond the hypothetical line’, an expression used by Afghan authorities to refer to a border with Pakistan that they have long disputed
Middle East:
Israeli forces raided Kamal Adwan Hospital in northern Gaza on Fri (Dec 27), detaining over 240 Palestinians, including medical staff. The Israeli military alleged the hospital was being used by Hamas as a command center, a claim Hamas denied. The raid rendered the last major health facility in northern Gaza non-operational, according to the World Health Organization. Some patients were evacuated from Kamal Adwan to the Indonesian Hospital, which is also not in service, and medics were not allowed to join them there. Other patients and staff were transferred to other medical facilities.
Thousands protested in the Turkish capital of Ankara on Sat (Dec 28), demanding a higher minimum wage than the government’s proposed 30% increase to 22,104 lira (US$630.28) per month in 2025 and for the government to step down. Turkish workers who faced a gruelling cost-of-living crisis are calling for a hike of at least 70% in order to combat rising inflation in the country. The protest was held by the CHP, Turkey’s main opposition party, with CHP leader Ozgur Ozel also calling for snap elections.
Iran’s Foreign Minister, Hossein Amirabdollahian, stated on Saturday (Dec 28) that 2025 will be a significant year for Iran’s nuclear program, as the country will have the right to take certain actions under the 2015 nuclear deal. He emphasized that Iran will make decisions based on its national interests and the behavior of other parties involved in the agreement.
Israeli airstrikes in Gaza on Thurs (Dec 26) resulted in the deaths of five journalists, of whom the Israeli military claimed to be Iran-backed Islamic Jihad militants disguised as media workers. The Palestinian Journalists Union confirmed that the deceased were affiliated with Al-Quds Today channel, known for covering the Gaza conflict and featuring Islamic Jihad leaders. This incident brings the death toll of journalists killed by Israeli forces since Oct 7, 2023 to 134, according to the International Federation of Journalists.
Fourteen Syrian police were killed in an ambush on Thursday (Dec 26) by forces loyal to the ousted Bashar al-Assad in the Tartous countryside. The attack is the most recent in a string of disturbances in various parts of the country, reportedly sparked by deteriorating economic conditions and fuel shortages, leading to protests and clashes between residents and security forces in cities like Homs and Aleppo. Authorities have increased security measures to restore order in the city.
Saudi Arabia’s execution rate has risen sharply in 2024, with the number of executions standing at 330 this year on Tuesday (Dec 24). This was despite de facto ruler Mohammed bin Salman’s claim from 2022 that the death penalty had been abolished except for cases like murder, as part of his plans for a new open kingdom. Human rights organizations have expressed concern over the increase, highlighting the lack of fair trial standards and the use of the death penalty for non-violent offenses. The Saudi government maintains that executions are carried out in accordance with Islamic law.
Africa:
Following Mozambique’s disputed October 2024 election, over 2,000 families have sought refuge in Malawi’s Nsanje district on Saturday (Dec 28). The unrest, marked by violent protests and a deadly prison riot in Maputo, has resulted in at least 252 deaths since late October, with 125 occurring after the Constitutional Council validated the election results on Monday (Dec 23). Opposition parties alleged electoral fraud by the ruling Frelimo party, in power since 1975. The violence has disrupted operations of foreign mining and petrochemical firms like Gemfields and Sasol. Nsanje district commissioner Dominic Mwandira further reported that Mozambican refugees urgently require humanitarian assistance.
Egypt has successfully completed a trial run of a new extension to the Suez Canal on Saturday (Dec 28), aiming to enhance maritime traffic flow. The extension, part of ongoing efforts to expand and modernize the canal, is expected to increase capacity and reduce waiting times for vessels. The Suez Canal Authority has been implementing several projects to boost the canal’s efficiency, reinforcing its status as a vital artery for global trade. The new extension is anticipated to contribute significantly to Egypt’s economy by increasing revenue from canal transit fees, which [has] plunged since Houthi militants from Yemen began attacking vessels in the Red Sea.
The UN Security Council has approved the African Union Stabilisation and Support Mission (AUSSOM) on Sat (Dec 28). It is set to replace the current AU anti-terrorism operation in Somalia starting Jan 1, 2025. Since 2006, Somalia’s security has relied on foreign resources, but funding concerns from top backers—the EU and U.S.—have prompted a reduction in peacekeepers. Negotiations for the new mission were complex, reflecting financial and operational challenges. The U.S. abstained from the vote due to funding issues, while the remaining 14 council members endorsed the resolution.
Sudan withdrew from the Integrated Food Security Phase Classification (IPC), a global hunger monitoring system, just before the release of a report expected to indicate worsening food insecurity in the country on Monday (Dec 23). The move has raised concerns among humanitarian organizations, as it may hinder efforts to assess and address the food crisis affecting millions of Sudanese. The withdrawal comes amid economic challenges and political instability in Sudan, exacerbating the difficulties in providing aid to vulnerable populations facing acute hunger.
Morocco announced over 100 proposed reforms to its family law on Wednesday (Dec 25), aimed at enhancing women’s rights. In its first review of over 20 years, these reforms seek to address issues such as gender inequality in inheritance, divorce, and child custody. Most notably, the draft code would allow women to include the opposition of polygamy in marriage contracts. Even without written stipulation, a husband can only take on a second wife under special conditions such as the first wife’s infertility, boosting efforts to restrict the practice. The initiative reflects Morocco’s ongoing efforts to modernize its legal framework and promote gender equality, aligning with international human rights standards.
