Editor’s note: There will be no Daily Brief until Tuesday, December 27, in observance of Christmas.
Top of the Agenda
Zelenskyy Appeals to U.S. Congress for Sustained Aid to Ukraine
In an address to the U.S. Congress, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy called U.S. military aid to Ukraine an investment in global security and democracy (WSJ) and appealed for continued support as the war sparked by Russia’s invasion enters its eleventh month. It was Zelenskyy’s first international trip since the war began.
Earlier, U.S. President Joe Biden pledged to send Ukraine a Patriot air defense system in a new $1.8 billion military aid package. Biden told reporters that Washington supports Ukraine “pursuing a just peace” (White House) in the war. Zelenskyy said a “just peace” would mean “no compromises” (AP), and that the war would end once Ukraine’s territorial integrity is restored and Russia pays back Ukraine for damages.
“While [French President Emmanuel] Macron would certainly have been delighted to be the first to welcome Zelenskyy, not to speak of Warsaw and the Polish leadership, it is unlikely that Europeans will hold any grudges,” CFR’s Liana Fix tells Politico. “They know that the United States is the real leader in this war.”
Japan Unveils Plan to Maximize Use of Existing Nuclear Plants
Reversing a previous policy to phase out nuclear energy, Japan will extend nuclear reactors’ lifespan (FT) beyond sixty years and develop new reactors to replace decommissioned ones.
China: World Health Organization (WHO) Director General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said the WHO is “very concerned” (AP) about reports of severe COVID-19 throughout China but that the agency needs more information, particularly about hospital admissions, to fully assess the situation.
UN Security Council Approves First Resolution on Myanmar in Seventy-Four Years
It called for an immediate end to violence in Myanmar and for the country’s military government to release all political prisoners (PTI). Twelve council members voted in favor of the resolution, while China, India, and Russia abstained.
India: The country’s central bank chief said he believes cryptocurrency should be prohibited (TechCrunch). While New Delhi has not issued an official ban, it began levying a 30 percent tax on gains from cryptocurrency transactions earlier this year.
Far-Right Israeli Politicians to Gain New Powers in Netanyahu’s Coalition Deal
Prime Minister-Designate Benjamin Netanyahu announced that he formed a government (WaPo) ahead of yesterday’s deadline. The coalition reportedly includes several ultranationalist parties, and a politician who was convicted of racist incitement is set to become the national security minister.
Belgium/Qatar: The European Union said it will question (FT) former European home affairs and migration commissioner Dimitris Avramopoulos over his role in a nongovernmental organization (NGO) at the center of a Qatari influence-buying scandal.
Sub-Saharan Africa
Gambian Military Says It Foiled Coup Attempt
The military said it arrested four soldiers (Reuters) who were planning to overthrow the government. Three other alleged accomplices are still at large, the military said.
Eritrea/Somalia: The Somali government said the first of some five thousand Somalis who had been sent to fight in Eritrea beginning in 2019 are starting to return home (AP). Some of their parents have alleged that they were recruited under false pretenses.
Europe
UK Ambulance Drivers Stage Biggest Walkout in Decades
The government of the United Kingdom (UK) warned people not to play contact sports or get drunk due a strike by ambulance workers (AP) yesterday. Workers in other industries, such as passport control, are expected to join (WSJ) the wave of strikes in the country later this week.
Americas
Venezuelan Opposition Parties Plan to Unseat Leader Guaidó
Opposition parties said they have enough votes to create a commission to take over the powers (Bloomberg) held by Juan Guaidó, who led an unsuccessful attempt to oust President Nicolás Maduro by creating a parallel government in 2019. International support for Guaidó has declined since then.
Brazil: The legislature increased a government spending cap (FT) by $28 billion, which will allow President-Elect Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva to carry out some of his infrastructure and welfare initiatives.
United States
Crypto Mogul Extradited to U.S. From Bahamas
Sam Bankman-Fried arrived in New York to face fraud charges (BBC) in relation to failed cryptocurrency exchange FTX.
