South Asia
India’s Crime Branch on Tuesday launched an investigation into the death of two Russian nationals in a hotel in Odisha, both of whom died within days of each other. One of the individuals who died was Pavel Antov, a Russian lawmaker and a critic of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. While local authorities claim no evidence of foul play, they vowed to probe the incident further as it involved two foreign nationals. [Indian Express]
In the fifth issue of its periodical magazine, terrorist group Al Qaeda called on Muslim countries to boycott India and Indian products and remove all Hindus from Arab countries. The statement came in response to Nupur Sharma’s, former spokesperson of India’s ruling BJP, comments against Prophet Muhammad in June, which attracted widespread condemnation and protests from Muslim-majority and Islamic countries. To this end, the publication said that the “Hindu government in India” is “encouraged” to make such statements by the “silence” of the Muslim countries. [India Today]
Central Asia and the Caucasus
Iranian and Kazakh delegations on Tuesday discussed prospects of commercial and economic cooperation between their respective customs administrations in a meeting in Bishkek. They discussed joint cooperation in the fields of technology, transport, and trade and underscored the need to sign MoUs in these areas. [Azernews]
Georgian Parliamentary Speaker Shalva Papuashvili spoke at an annual end-of-year conference on Monday, highlighting how Georgian authorities were implementing recommendations of the EU for granting the country membership status, as well as the support being provided to Kyiv through political and diplomatic efforts amid Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. “Georgia has provided substantial political, diplomatic and humanitarian assistance to Ukraine and the Ukrainian people,” Papuashvili said. [Agenda.GE]
East and Southeast Asia
South Korean President Yoon Suk-yeol has called for strengthening the country’s air defences and including high-tech stealth drones, after its military apologised for failing to shoot down North Korean drones that successfully escaped South Korean radars. [Taipei Times]
The death toll from the Philippines’ Christmas day floods has reached 13, the country’s disaster management agency said. Rescue teams continue to search for 23 people who still remain missing. [Al Jazeera]
Europe
Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez announced a $10 billion aid programme on Tuesday to combat inflation and reduce public transport and gas prices. The announcement of the aid package is in addition to the $35 billion programme launched by Spain in February amid the onset of the Ukraine war. [Euronews]
On Monday, the Bulgarian Foreign Ministry issued a summons to Russian Ambassador Eleonara Mitrofanova to protest Moscow’s decision to put Bulgarian investigative journalist Christo Grozev on a federal wanted list over allegedly “violating an article of the Criminal Code of Russia.” The ministry said they will also discuss with Mitrofanova the ban on studying the Bulgarian language in Russian-occupied parts of Ukraine and Russians removing the portraits of Bulgarian historical figures during the meeting to be held on Thursday. [Sofia Globe]
Latin America and the Caribbean
According to a projection by the International Monetary Fund (IMF), Venezuela will be the fastest growing economy in Latin America in 2023 as the country transitions from a years-long economic crisis and implements reforms. The IMF notes that Venezuela will increase its Gross Domestic Product (GDP) from 5% to 6% in 2023. [Telesur]
Mexican President Andrés Manuel López Obrador on Tuesday urged citizens against receiving gifts from drug cartels after videos circulating in social media showed Jalisco cartel members giving people handouts. López Obrador warned that gangs were trying to gain the support of locals by distributing gifts. [Associated Press]
Middle East and North Africa (MENA)
Turkey and Pakistan’s naval forces participated in a joint military exercise called “Crescent and Star-2022 Exercise” in Karachi from 19 December to 25 December, the Turkish Defence Ministry announced Tuesday. The exercise aimed to increase interoperability and develop cooperation between the Turkish Naval Forces and Iqbal Teams from the Pakistan Navy. [Daily Sabah]
On Monday, over 1,000 senior Israeli air force veterans expressed concerns regarding the incoming government in a letter to the chief of Israel’s Supreme Court and other top officials. Outlining the danger posed by religious, ultranationalist parties, the letter said, “We come from all strata of society and from across the political spectrum [...] What we have in common today is the fear that the democratic state of Israel is in danger.” Former Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who won a parliamentary majority along with his far-right partners in the 1 November elections, is expected to return to office as head of the new government on Thursday. [Associated Press]
North America
The Supreme Court of the United States (SCOTUS) on Tuesday ruled 5-4 in favour of keeping the COVID-19 pandemic-era border restrictions, called Title 42, for the time being. The 19 Republican states had argued that removing Title 42 would result in a rise of border-crossings, which are already at a record high, and burden the states’ resources. The matter will be heard again in February, and a final order is expected in June. [Reuters]
The United States (US) Air Force is allegedly disposing of its fleet of spy planes used to combat drug missions by the end of the month, and ordered National Guard pilots to fly their aircraft to the scrapyard so they can be dismantled for parts. Sources claimed that the decision was a “drastic change” and a surprise, which will leave about 80 pilots unemployed at a time when the Air Force is already facing a scarcity. [CNN]
Oceania
In a speech that Australian Prime Minister (PM) Anthony Albanese will deliver at Queensland’s Woodford Folk Festival today, he is expected to warn democracies that are under threat from “corrosive, insidious forces” and express support for the new National Anti-Corruption Commission to protect Australia’s political system. [The Sydney Morning Herald]
Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese criticised the previous Scott Morrison government for harming Australia’s diplomatic ties with China. “We’ve gone from a government that chose to not have a single conversation with China – our major trading partner – for the entire last term they were in power, to one that understands that dialogue is always good,” he said. [Daily Telegraph]
Sub-Saharan Africa
Ethnic clashes in South Sudan’s Jonglei state over the week killed 56 people, a local official told Reuters on Tuesday. The fighting began on Saturday when armed youth from the Nuer community attacked the Murle people. While the exact reason for the clashes is unclear, South Sudan has witnessed years of ethnic violence over the ownership of cattle and land. [Reuters]
The Paris-based World Organization for Animal Health (WOAH) said on Tuesday that authorities in Niger have detected a highly contagious version of the H5N1 strain or bird flu among poultry in the Tahoua region. Over the last few months, the bird flu outbreak in the region has killed 4,920 birds. [Reuters]