Pro-democracy lawmakers in Hong Kong are resigning in protest (AP) after four of their colleagues were disqualified from serving by a new law imposed by Beijing. 

China’s top legislative body passed a measure (Guardian) yesterday barring people from serving on Hong Kong’s Legislative Council if they support independence for the region, refuse to recognize Beijing’s sovereignty, seek help from foreign countries to “interfere” in regional affairs, or otherwise “endanger national security.” Four pro-democracy lawmakers were immediately disqualified by the law, which was denounced by Western countries, including the United States. The fifteen remaining members of the group said they would resign en masse today. China’s office in Hong Kong condemned their resignations (BBC) as an “open challenge” to Beijing’s authority.

Typhoon Vamco struck the Philippines’ northern island of Luzon, killing at least one person and leaving millions without power (WaPo). It was the third typhoon to hit the country in the past three weeks.

Myanmar’s National League for Democracy party, led by the country’s de facto leader Aung San Suu Kyi, won an overwhelming majority (NYT) in parliament, according to official election results released yesterday. Sunday’s vote was the second competitive election the country has held in decades, though many minority voters were disenfranchised.

Australia/Afghanistan: Australia will appoint a special investigator to consider prosecuting its soldiers for possible war crimes (BBC) committed in Afghanistan. A report on a four-year military investigation is due to be published next week.

Iran has about twelve times (WSJ) the amount of low-enriched uranium allowed under the 2015 nuclear agreement and is continuing to grow its stockpiles, the United Nations’ International Atomic Energy Agency said in a report. President Donald J. Trump withdrew the United States from the agreement in 2018 in favor of sanctions on Iran, but President-Elect Joe Biden has said he would recommit to the deal if Iran returns to compliance.

Libya: During peace talks held in Tunisia, Libya’s warring parties agreed to hold elections (Al Jazeera) in eighteen months, which the United Nations hailed as a “breakthrough.”

This CFR In Brief explains who’s who in Libya’s war.

Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed said the military has “liberated” (Reuters) the northern region of Tigray and is now providing humanitarian assistance there. Hundreds have died and thousands of Ethiopian refugees have crossed into Sudan this week because of the fighting between the central government and the leadership of Tigray.

CFR’s Michelle Gavin explains the situation in Tigray.

Ivory Coast: President Alassane Ouattara met with opposition leader Henri Konan Bedie in an effort to de-escalate tensions (AP) over the country’s disputed presidential election. At least eighty-five people have been killed in election-related violence, according to government figures released yesterday.

European Union regulators have brought antitrust charges (NYT) against Amazon, saying the American e-commerce giant muscled out smaller merchants by harvesting their data and copying products. The move comes amid a growing pushback against big tech in both Europe and the United States.

Denmark: The government scrapped plans (WaPo) to kill the country’s fifteen million mink, which have been found to harbor a mutated coronavirus that can be transmitted to humans. Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen said the government lacked the authority to carry out such an operation, but did not rule out a future culling.

Manuel Merino was sworn in (AP) as Peru’s new president as protesters gathered in the capital to oppose the ouster of former President Martin Vizcarra, who resigned Monday after being impeached. Many members of Congress are under investigation for corruption, and critics viewed Vizcarra’s impeachment as a legislative coup (WaPo).

Brazil: The country’s health regulator allowed clinical trials of a Chinese coronavirus vaccine to resume (BBC). The agency had previously halted trials due to a “severe adverse event,” reportedly a death, but later concluded that it was unrelated to the vaccine.

This CFR Backgrounder looks at the global efforts to produce a COVID-19 vaccine.

The United States continued to shatter daily records (WaPo) of new coronavirus cases, recording more than 145,000 infections yesterday. The number of hospitalized patients is nearing the previous peak in the spring, and the death toll is climbing again.