👋 Ha’u!*
Welcome to Monday, where President Joe Biden allows Ukraine to use U.S. long-range missiles to strike deeper into Russia, air pollution in India’s capital is the worst it’s been this season, and Operation Santa is underway. We also tune in with Wafaa Khairi who writes in Al-Manassa about the damage caused by perpetuating myths about the female body in conservative societies like Egypt.
[*Hopi, Arizona, U.S.]
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🗞️ FRONT PAGE
“Government announces agreement to import gas from Argentina.” Rio de Janeiro-based daily newspaper O Globo highlights a new agreement between Brazil and Argentina to import natural gas from the Vaca Muerta field in Patagonia. The deal is expected to be finalized after the ongoing G20 summit in Rio de Janeiro and would initially supply two million cubic meters of gas per day, gradually increasing to 10 million daily within three years and reaching 30 million cubic meters daily by 2030. The partnership aims to diversify Brazil’s energy sources and reduce costs for Brazilian consumers, a strategic alternative to declining gas exports from Bolivia, a key energy supplier for Brazil.
🌎 7 THINGS TO KNOW RIGHT NOW
• Biden administration allows Ukraine to use U.S.-made weapons to strike inside Russia. This is a significant reversal of Washington's policy in the Ukraine-Russia war. The Kremlin said on Monday this decision would lead to a rise in tension and deepen the involvement of the U.S. in the conflict. Meanwhile, Russia launched a significant wave of air strikes on Ukraine over the weekend, including a missile attack which killed at least 11 people in the city of Sumy. Read more about Biden’s last bid to support Ukraine in this piece by French analyst Pierre Haski.
• Hezbollah media head killed in Israeli strike on Beirut. Lebanese armed group Hezbollah confirmed its media relations chief Mohammad Afif was killed by an Israeli strike on a building in central Beirut on Sunday. A strike hit the headquarters of the Baath political party in the densely populated Ras al-Naba neighborhood. Meanwhile, Israeli military strikes across Gaza killed 14 Palestinians on Monday, including six people who were killed in attacks on tents housing displaced families. Follow Worldcrunch’s international coverage of the Middle East here.
• Trump picks Big Tech critic who wrote “Project 2025” chapter to lead FCC. United States President-elect Donald Trump has tapped Brendan Carr, a Republican known for his criticism of Big Tech, to lead the Federal Communications Commission (FCC). He has been a harsh critic of the FCC’s decision not to finalize nearly $900 million in broadband subsidies for Elon Musk’s SpaceX satellite internet unit Starlink. Trump said Carr, who has served as an FCC commissioner since 2017, will end the “regulatory onslaught” that has held back job creators and innovators. Read more about the U.S.’ future in tech driven power in this piece by Agência Pública.
• Senegal's ruling party claims comfortable victory in Sunday's legislative elections. The win comes just a few months after President Bassirou Diomaye Faye secured the presidential election, and now clears his way to carry out an ambitious reform agenda. Voting was peaceful, with 90-95% of ballots counted.
• Pollution in Delhi hits new highs. Authorities in India’s capital have shut schools, halted construction and banned non-essential trucks from entering the city after air pollution shot up to its worst level this season. A thick blanket of toxic smog engulfed most parts of northern India on Monday after dense fog overnight, with the “hazardous” air quality in some areas of the National Capital Territory (NCT) of Delhi hitting a new high, according to Swiss group IQAir’s live rankings.
• French farmers mobilize in widespread protests targeting the EU-Mercosur trade agreement. Backed by their government, they argue the deal threatens their livelihoods by allowing a surge of South American agricultural imports produced under less strict environmental standards. Protests are planned nationwide, including gatherings at prefectures and traffic circles.
• Time for Santa (and Toys “R” Us) to check naughty/nice list. The 112-year-old Operation Santa program, run by the Postal Service, handles letters addressed to Santa at the North Pole. Private citizens, companies, community groups and schools adopt the missives and anonymously fill wish lists, for children in need. This year, letter adoptees can browse and purchase toys from a specially curated e-commerce Toys “R” Us digital site, making it easier for people to get involved in gift-giving.
💬 LEXICON
Om krisen eller kriget kommer
This Swedish phrase, meaning “in case of crisis or war,” titles a government-issued pamphlet to be sent to millions of Swedes today as Sweden attempts to prepare citizens for emergencies like war or natural disasters. First created during World War II, the updated pamphlet reflects current global tensions, including Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. It urges Swedes to stockpile essentials like food and water for 72 hours and reinforces national resistance, stating, “we will never give up” if attacked. The guide has doubled in size since its last update in 2018. Similar guides have been issued in Norway, Finland and Denmark as part of a Nordic push for self-sufficiency amid rising threats.
📹 ON THIS DAY VIDEO — 4 HISTORY-MAKING EVENTS, IN 57 SECONDS
➡️ Watch the video: ON THIS DAY IN HISTORY
📰 IN OTHER NEWS
🌍 What might Donald Trump’s re-election mean for Africa? Who on the continent welcomes his return to the White House, and who fears it?
— DIE ZEIT
🇵🇸 The situation in Gaza has become so dire that Palestinians have observed hungry dogs and cats eating dead bodies on the streets and becoming more aggressive toward people.
— DARAJ
♀️ “No one told me that it was normal; that breasts are a sign of beauty.” In conservative societies like Egypt's, myths about the female body, including about self-care and sexuality, impact young women’s physical and emotional health.
— AL-MANASSA
📣 VERBATIM
“I never imagined that the rights of women would be compromised so easily.”
— Nobel Peace Prize recipient Malala Yousafzai reflects on the rapid erosion of women’s rights under Taliban rule in Afghanistan. Speaking to BBC Asian Network, Malala describes the dire reality faced by Afghan women, who have lost virtually all basic freedoms, from education to mobility, under extreme restrictions. The United Nations has classified these rules as “gender apartheid,” a term used to emphasize the systematic and institutionalized oppression of women. “Afghan women live in very dark times now,” Malala says, underscoring the harshness of Taliban rule that bars women from public life. Malala commends Afghan women for their bravery and resilience and says she hopes her new film, Bread & Roses, will amplify Afghan women’s voices and inspire collective actions and global awareness to support them in their fight for freedom and equality.
✍️ Newsletter by Emma Albright & Ella Nigro
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