All parties to the conflict in Ethiopia’s Tigray region have committed violations (Reuters) that could be war crimes, according to a report by the United Nations and Ethiopian government–appointed investigators. Yesterday, Ethiopia declared a state of emergency (NYT) and called on citizens to arm themselves and defend the capital against an advance by Tigrayan rebels. 
 
The report found that Ethiopian government forces, the rebels, and both sides’ allies tortured and killed civilians, committed gang rapes, and made arrests based on ethnicity. UN human rights chief Michelle Bachelet said most of the violations documented were committed by Ethiopian and Eritrean forces, but that since the investigation period, reports of abuses by Tigrayan forces have increased (CNN).

The Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP), which also includes China, Japan, and Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) countries, is set to take effect (Nikkei) on January 1.
 
This Backgrounder explains ASEAN’s role in the RCEP.
 
Taiwan: In the first official visit by a European Union (EU) delegation to the island, members of the EU’s committee on foreign interference in democratic processes met with (AP) Taiwanese Premier Su Tseng-chang.

The group said it was behind the attack in Afghanistan’s capital yesterday that killed at least twenty-five people. Suicide bombings by the group in Kabul and Kandahar have killed at least ninety people in recent weeks, the New York Times reported.
 
China/India: India has deployed (AFP) howitzers, transport choppers, and drones to its border with China. Last month, an Indian military official told reporters that China had sent more troops to the region.

Bahrain, Kuwait, and Saudi Arabia also expelled Lebanese envoys (Al Jazeera) in response to comments that surfaced last week in which Lebanon’s information minister criticized Saudi Arabia’s role in the war in Yemen.
 
Israel/Syria: Israeli missiles struck sites (Times of Israel) on the outskirts of Damascus, Syrian state media reported. No casualties were immediately reported.

With more than half of polling sites counted, the ruling African National Congress (ANC) has captured (Reuters) around 46 percent of votes in nationwide municipal elections.

CIA Director William Burns met with (NYT) a top advisor to Russian President Vladimir Putin yesterday. His visit was the fourth known trip to Moscow by a senior U.S. official since July.
 
For Foreign Affairs, Michael Kimmage discusses the value of U.S. consultation with Moscow.
 
Australia/France: France’s ambassador to Australia said the leak of a text message from French President Emmanuel Macron to Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison represented an “unprecedented new low” (Politico) in their relationship and that the privacy of leaders’ personal messages should be respected.

In another closely watched election, the New Jersey governor’s race was too close to call (NPR) as of this morning.
 
Peru: The government authorized the military (Bloomberg) to help police maintain order in Lima amid a rise in crime and a planned transportation strike.

By 2023, most big companies and financial institutions in the United Kingdom (UK) will be required to show (BBC) how they will achieve net-zero emissions, according to the proposed rule.
 
In this May 2020 Foreign Affairs article, Rebecca Henderson explained how the private sector can combat climate change.
 
South Africa: The United States, EU, and UK jointly pledged (Reuters) $8.5 billion to help South Africa speed its shift away from coal.