Hackers believed to be linked to Russia infiltrated the highest levels of the U.S. government, including the Department of Homeland Security, the State Department, and parts of the Pentagon, unnamed officials told the New York Times and other news organizations.
 
The National Security Council is coordinating an investigation into the scale of what could be the largest-ever hack of U.S. government systems. The Department of Homeland Security ordered all federal agencies to disconnect from SolarWinds software (FT), which was compromised by hackers as early as March. Hundreds of the biggest American companies and telecommunications firms, as well as universities worldwide, also use the software, though it remains unclear what was targeted. People familiar with the investigation told the Washington Post that Russian hackers belonging to the country’s foreign intelligence service are responsible. Moscow has denied involvement.

A prosecutor for the International Criminal Court (ICC) said in a new report that there is a “reasonable basis” to believe that crimes against humanity have been committed (Rappler) under Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte and his deadly war on drugs. The court will decide in the next few months whether to open a full investigation.
 
South Korea: The country’s parliament passed a controversial bill that bans sending anti–North Korea leaflets (Yonhap) across their shared border. The move comes six months after Pyongyang threatened to scrap a no-hostility military pact with Seoul over such leaflets.

Mahbubullah Muhibbi, deputy governor of Afghanistan’s capital of Kabul, and his secretary died in an explosion (TOLO) believed to have been caused by an explosive device placed on their vehicle. No group has claimed the attack.
 
India/UK: British Prime Minister Boris Johnson will visit India (Hindustan Times) in January in a bid to strengthen trade ties. He invited Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi to attend the United Kingdom’s Group of Seven (G7) summit next year.

At least two people were killed when clashes broke out (Al Jazeera) between rival Kurdish forces—the Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK) and the Peshmerga—in northern Iraq on Sunday. The region’s security situation has deteriorated as Peshmerga forces build new bases there.
 
Kuwait: The country’s leader, Emir Sheikh Nawaf al-Ahmad al-Sabah, told the new parliament that comprehensive reform is needed (Reuters) to help Kuwait exit its worst financial crisis in decades. The opposition made gains in recent elections, which could hamper government reforms.

The leader of the Islamist militant group said that Boko Haram militants were responsible for kidnapping (Guardian) more than three hundred Nigerian students from their school in Katsina State. However, officials in Katsina said they already received ransom demands from a group of bandits believed to be responsible.
 
This CFR Backgrounder looks at Boko Haram.
 
Sudan: The United States formally removed Sudan (NYT) from its list of states that sponsor terrorism yesterday, nearly three decades after the country was added to the list. Prime Minister Abdalla Hamdok celebrated the move as the beginning of a “new era.”
 
CFR’s Michelle Gavin explains the significance of removing Sudan from the State Sponsors of Terrorism list.

The United States announced sanctions (Anadolu) on its North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) ally over Turkey’s purchase of Russian S-400 missile defense systems. The sanctions, which Turkish officials have criticized, target a government body that oversees the country’s defense industry.
 
CFR’s Henri J. Barkey examines how Turkey muscled itself to the center of the world stage.
 
Armenia/Azerbaijan: The two countries started exchanging prisoners (RFE/RL) as part of a Russia-brokered cease-fire agreement that ended recent fighting over the Nagorno-Karabakh territory. Russian peacekeepers facilitated the exchange of nearly fifty prisoners.

Argentina’s foreign minister, Felipe Sola, said the Mercosur trade bloc should address environmental concerns (AP) raised by the European Union that have hampered the ratification of a free trade agreement between the two blocs. Argentina is due to take over Mercosur’s rotating presidency.
 
This CFR Backgrounder explains Mercosur, South America’s fractious trade bloc.
 
Canada: Long-term care residents and frontline workers received the country’s first doses (NPR) of the COVID-19 vaccine created by Pfizer and BioNTech. Most Canadians aren’t expected to receive the vaccine for months.

President-Elect Joe Biden won a solid majority (WaPo) of 306 votes in the electoral college, affirming his victory in November’s election despite President Donald J. Trump and his supporters’ efforts to overturn the results. Russian President Vladimir Putin finally congratulated (NYT) Biden for winning the election.