Situation Reports

Major cities in China, including Beijing, Chengdu, Tianjin, Guangzhou, Chongqing and Urumqi, announced an easing of "zero-COVID" policies, Reuters reported Dec. 2.

Saudi Arabia extended the term of a $3 billion deposit with the State Bank of Pakistan by another year, Dawn reported Dec 2. The deposit would have matured on Dec. 5.

Eritrean soldiers have reportedly continued targeting civilians in Ethiopia's Tigray region in the weeks following the Nov. 2 cessation of hostilities signed between the Ethiopian government and the rebel Tigray People's Liberation Front (TPLF), AP reported Dec. 2.

Japan's ruling parties, including the Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) and the junior party Komeito (sometimes known as the pacifist party) agreed to acquire "counterstrike capabilities" that would enable Japan to use missiles to preemptively strike enemy missile bases or launch sites before enemy missiles fire, Kyodo News reported Dec. 2.

Poland agreed to the European Union's proposal to set the Group of Seven price cap on Russian oil, which goes into effect on Dec. 5, at $60 per barrel, paving the way for the bloc to formally approve the measure over the weekend, Reuters reported Dec. 2.

The Italian government adopted a decree during a Cabinet meeting on Dec. 1 that will allow it to keep supplying weapons to Ukraine throughout 2023 without first seeking formal approval from Parliament for each new delivery, La Repubblica reported Dec. 2, citing government sources.

The national executive committee of South Africa's ruling African National Congress party (ANC) is discussing whether President Cyril Ramaphosa, who was accused of violating his oath of office and the constitution by an independent panel in a report published on Nov. 30, should remain in office, News24 reported Dec. 2.

Israeli Prime Minister-designate Benjamin Netanyahu agreed to offer Bezalel Smotrich, the head of the far-right Religious Zionism party, the position of finance minister, and Netanyahu will also offer the Religious Zionism party authority over the West Bank's Jewish settlements, Reuters reported Dec. 2.

In the coming days, Beijing may release new measures that would allow certain COVID-19-positive patients and close contacts to quarantine at home, as well as reduce mass and regularized testing, according to Reuters sources on Dec. 1.

South African President Cyril Ramaphosa is considering resigning from his post following the release of a parliamentary panel's findings that the president may have violated sections of the constitution, Bloomberg reported Dec. 1.