You would not believe the extent to which diplomats are now frothing in New York, and we're duly frothing to share why: the world just got the leaked results of the UN Security Council's first 'straw poll' in its effort to anoint the next Secretary-General of the UN (Portugal's Guterres wraps on Dec 31st).
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SPAIN
Prime Minister Sánchez is — along with border reinforcements — due in Spain’s North African enclave of Ceuta today (Friday) after 49,000 undocumented migrants suddenly swam across from neighbouring Morocco — up to 15 died en route. Italy’s Meloni is now mulling the possibility of limiting arrivals from Spain unless Sánchez can get the situation under control. (El País)
SWITZERLAND
All 55 European soccer football associations have now unanimously agreed to boycott FIFA events if Gianni Infantino pushes ahead with his polarising plan to sell parts of the World Cup to private investors. It comes as the Asian Football Confederation and the Confederation of North, Central America and Caribbean Association Football (CONCACAF) likewise come out against the Infantino plan. (ESPN)
JAPAN
Cities across Japan are competing to become the official ‘backup capital’ in case Tokyo ever gets knocked out by a major disaster. (Japan Today)
POLAND
Polish authorities believe the explosion that left a 10m (32ft) crater deep into Polish territory was a Russian Kh-101 cruise missile that crossed into Polish airspace during Putin’s latest attacks on Ukrainian cities. (EuroNews)
CAMEROON
Folks are starting to think President Biya’s “brief” Swiss vacation might be a cover-up for something else, with the 93-year-old leader now missing for more than 50 days. The government has banned speculation, but we’ll gladly speculate that maybe he’s there for medical reasons. (Guardian)
MYANMAR
The ruling military junta has approved the death penalty for anyone caught using forced labour in the notorious cyber-scam hubs that’ve flourished in the country’s conflict zones. But before you nod in approval, the regime has also sentenced nine protestors to up to 37 years in prison for protesting the country’s recent sham elections. (Al Jazeera)
CHILE
After three years on the run, police have apprehended Nelson Haase, a former military officer convicted in 2023 over the 1973 murder of folk singer Victor Jara. Pro-Pinochet figures killed Jara for his opposition to the general, shortly after he seized power via a coup. (CBS)
UNITED STATES
President Trump says he has reached an agreement with Hamas to disarm under his proposed Board of Peace initiative. Under the plan, Israel would withdraw from Gaza. (BBC)Comment: Call us sceptical, but both positions (Hamas disarms, Israel withdraws) appear to require significantly more goodwill and trust than currently exists between the two parties.
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