December 30, 2021

*) Biden, Putin to discuss 'range of topics' as Ukraine crisis simmers Presidents Joe Biden and Vladimir Putin will speak by telephone amid high tensions in Ukraine, the White House has said. Both leaders will speak on Thursday as Putin stepped up his demands for security guarantees in Eastern Europe. The talks come as the US and Western allies have watched the massing of Russian forces along the border with Ukraine, growing to an estimated 100,000. *) Russia and Belarus plan to hold joint military drills Russian President Vladimir Putin has announced plans to hold joint military drills with Belarus early next year. The decision was confirmed during a meeting between Putin and Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko in Saint Petersburg. The planned exercise will take place amid rising tensions between their governments and the West. ​​​*) Israel approves measures to improve ties with Palestinians Israel's defence minister has approved a raft of measures aimed at improving relations with Palestine following a rare meeting with Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas in Israel. Defence Minister Benny Gantz and Abbas discussed security coordination between Israel and the Palestinian Authority, which administers pockets of the occupied West Bank. Gantz's office said he approved “confidence-building measures” including the transfer of tax payments to the Palestinian Authority, and residency status for thousands of Palestinians in the occupied West Bank and Gaza Strip. *) Ethiopia approves dialogue commission that won't talk to rebels for now Ethiopian lawmakers have approved a bill to establish a commission for national dialogue. However, some government officials have said specifically that the new commission will not be engaging in talks with Tigray rebels. The 11-member commission is tasked with facilitating "an inclusive dialogue and reconciliation process that would heal wounds… and help the country to solve its complex problems," the bill added. And finally … *) US jury finds Maxwell guilty of