Mexican lawmakers approved legislation restricting foreign law enforcement officers’ activities, drawing censure from the United States. The Donald J. Trump administration argues that the law will hinder bilateral cooperation (NYT) on issues such as drug trafficking and cartel violence.
 
President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador is expected to sign the legislation, which requires Mexican officials to get permission (WaPo) before meeting with “foreign agents” and to report what was discussed. Although the legislation does not name the United States, it is seen as a response to the United States’ October arrest of a former Mexican defense minister and is believed to be aimed at the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration, which Lopez Obrador and other critics have portrayed as a rogue agency (WSJ) infringing on Mexican sovereignty. Last week, U.S. Attorney General William Barr criticized the legislation, saying it “can only benefit the violent transnational criminal organizations.”

Australia asked the World Trade Organization (WTO) to investigate tariffs (SMH) China imposed on barley. Although a ruling could take years, the move is a significant formal escalation of the countries’ ongoing trade dispute, which has impacted a half-dozen industries.
 
This CFR Backgrounder explains what’s next for the WTO.
 
Malaysia: Due to the coronavirus pandemic, the king postponed by-elections (Star/ANN) that were scheduled to be held in two constituencies in January. They are the second and third by-elections to be postponed in the country because of the pandemic.

President Arif Alvi approved a new law (Dawn) that will ensure the speedy trial of people charged with raping women or children. It also creates a national registry of sex offenders, prohibits disclosing victims’ identities, and allows the chemical castration of some offenders. The law comes after public outrage erupted over the gang rape of a woman in September.
 
Afghanistan/Pakistan: A Taliban delegation is visiting Pakistan (TOLO) to discuss the Afghan peace process. The delegation’s leader, Mullah Abdul Ghani Baradar, is scheduled to meet with Prime Minister Imran Khan.
 
This CFR Backgrounder explains the Taliban.

Salah al-Iraqi, known for his role in anti-government protests last year, was shot dead in Baghdad (Al Jazeera), according to security and medical sources. Nearly six hundred people have died in violence related to protests that began in October 2019.
 
Bahrain: The U.S. State Department designated (Al-Monitor) the Bahrain-based group Saraya al-Mukhtar, which is backed by Iran, as a terrorist organization yesterday.

An estimated 570,000 people have been forced to flee their homes (Reuters) in Mozambique’s northern Cabo Delgado province because of attacks by militants, President Filipe Nyusi said. He vowed to defeat insurgents who have ramped up attacks after pledging loyalty to the self-proclaimed Islamic State last year.
 
CAR: Facebook announced that people affiliated with the French military used fake accounts to meddle in African politics (WaPo), including by sparring with trolls involved in a Russian disinformation campaign ahead of elections in the Central African Republic.

Schools are closed, private gatherings are limited, and people are asked to work from home as stricter COVID-19 measures go into effect (BBC) in Germany today amid a rising caseload. The Netherlands also enters a five-week lockdown today, as other countries, such as Italy, consider tightening restrictions for the Christmas holiday.
 
Brussels: The European Commission unveiled sweeping draft rules (BBC) for major technology firms, such as Amazon and Google. The rules aim to prevent the spread of harmful content, govern how firms use customers’ data, and boost competition, among other actions.

The Trump administration announced that it finalized an agreement (WaPo) in which El Salvador would take in people who seek asylum at the U.S. border, instead of them being allowed to enter the United States. The deal was first announced in September 2019 and is similar to “safe third country” agreements that U.S. officials have recently sought with other Latin American countries.
 
This CFR In Brief explains safe third country agreements.

In a new study, Princeton University experts concluded that the United States can achieve net-zero emissions (NYT) by 2050—a goal endorsed by President-Elect Biden—if it makes drastic changes over the next ten years. 
 
CFR’s Alice C. Hill explains what role Biden’s climate envoy could play in combating climate change.