PHILIPPINES
Philippine communist leader Jose Maria Sison died last night at the age of 83, after two weeks in a hospital in the Netherlands. Sison was the founder of the Communist Party of the Philippines, whose military wing – the New People's Army (NPA) – led one of the world's longest insurrections. More than 40,000 people died as a result of fighting between the NPA and the Philippine government.
MALAYSIA
Five political parties signed an agreement yesterday to back a national unity government led by Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim. The deal is expected to allow Anwar to get the support of 148 Members of Parliament on Monday.
CHINA
Due to worsening COVID-19 infections in China’s major cities, Shanghai’s education bureau asked most elementary, middle and high schools to hold classes online starting on Monday. Kindergartens and childcare centres in China’s financial hub have also been asked to close all in-person classes.
INDIA
According to a report by the International Energy Agency (IEA), India is expected to have the largest percentage increase in coal use in the world next year. India is expected to boost coal fire generation by 7 per cent over the previous year, or about 70 million tonnes (Mt), followed by the European Union (+6%/+29 Mt) and China (+0.4%/+18 Mt).
ISRAEL
A woman was injured in Jerusalem Thursday during a protest by hundreds of ultra-Orthodox Jewish extremists. The woman, 40, was passing by the protest when she was hit by a trash bin sent rolling by protesters. The protest in the Mea Shearim neighbourhood broke out after a man was arrested on suspicion of setting fire to a mobile phone store a few months ago.
UZBEKISTAN-TURKMENISTAN
After rejecting Putin's proposal on a “gas union", Uzbek authorities have decided to boost imports of natural gas from Turkmenistan, with a contract for the three winter months that will ensure an extra 1.5 billion cubic metres, or 20 million cubic metres per day rather than 15, thus avoiding the need to turn to Russia’s Gazprom.
RUSSIA
Russian space station Soyuz Ms-22 experienced a drop in pressure in its cooling system. The Russian State Space Corporation Roscosmos is looking into how to ensure an acceptable temperature. According to an agency official, "the situation is very serious", and there are fears for the cosmonauts on board the station.
