The United Kingdom started vaccinating its citizens for COVID-19 today, becoming one of the first countries to take on the logistical challenges of distributing a new vaccine amid a deadly pandemic.
 
It is the first nation to provide a clinically authorized, fully tested COVID-19 vaccine (NYT), which was developed by Pfizer and BioNTech. China and Russia started inoculating people with domestically produced vaccines before final trials were completed, while regulators in the United States and the European Union could decide whether to approve a vaccine in the coming days or weeks (WaPo). In the UK, eight hundred thousand doses are expected to be available in the first week and up to four million available (Reuters) by the end of the month. People over eighty years old, care-home workers and residents, and some health-care workers will receive the shot first. With hundreds of daily fatalities from the virus in the UK, health officials urged people to continue adhering to government restrictions and guidelines (BBC) over the next few months.

Beijing criticized new sanctions (AP) that Washington imposed on fourteen high-ranking Chinese officials over a controversial national security law on Hong Kong passed this year. China also condemned the United States’ approval of a $280 million sale of military equipment to Taiwan.
 
New Zealand: A Royal Commission of Inquiry report (NZ Herald) about last year’s attacks on Christchurch mosques that killed fifty-one people showed that despite shortcomings from different agencies, nothing could have been done to stop the attacks.

After more than a week of protesting, farmers throughout India are striking (FT) over agricultural laws passed earlier this year. Thousands of protesters have blocked major roads and railways. Several rounds of talks with the government have failed to produce breakthroughs.
 
Afghanistan: Around seven hundred Afghan civilians were killed in air strikes (RFE/RL) carried out by the United States and other international forces in 2019—more than in any other year since the war in Afghanistan began—according to a report by Brown University’s Costs of War Project.
 
This CFR timeline traces the U.S. war in Afghanistan.

Following parliamentary elections on Saturday, the country’s emir reappointed Sheikh Sabah al-Khalid al-Sabah (Reuters) as prime minister and asked him to nominate members of a new cabinet.
 
Iran: The country’s Supreme Court upheld the death sentence (Al Jazeera) of France-based dissident journalist Ruhollah Zam. He was arrested in Iraq in 2019 and is accused of trying to destabilize Iran with his involvement in protests in 2017.

Liberians are voting on several issues (Nation), including whether to shorten presidential terms, in midterm elections today. Opposition members fear that the referendum, pushed by President George Weah, could lead to Weah running for a third term.
 
Kenya: Thousands of nurses and other health-care workers are striking (KBC) over poor working conditions and a lack of personal protective equipment for those treating COVID-19 patients. 
 
For CFR’s Africa in Transition blog, Farouk Umaru writes that beating COVID-19 in Africa begins with national labs.

The Supreme Court heard arguments (NYT) yesterday over whether American courts can decide if Germany and Hungary should pay for property stolen from Jews before and during World War II. U.S. law generally bars civil suits against foreign governments.

Thousands of Uruguayans joined the funeral service (BBC) for Tabare Vazquez, the country’s first socialist president, who died of lung cancer on Sunday. The current president, Luis Lacalle Pou, announced three days of national mourning.
 
Canada: Prime Minister Justin Trudeau announced that several hundred thousand doses of Pfizer’s COVID-19 vaccine will be available (CBC) in Canada by the end of the year. The first doses will be prioritized for care-home residents and staff.

President-Elect Joe Biden has selected General Lloyd J. Austin III to be secretary of defense (WaPo), according to various media reports. Austin, a four-star general in the Army and former head of U.S. Central Command until his retirement in 2016, would be the first Black defense secretary if confirmed.
 
CFR provides a suite of resources to help navigate Biden’s transition to president.