December 1 – Latin America: MEXICO
Mexico’s president, Pena Nieto, announces plans to reform police after mass protests over disappearance 43 students in September. The reform would bring regional government and police under federal control. He also wants to close down those regional governments that are considered to be infiltrated by drug cartels.
December 3 – East Asia: TAIWAN
Taiwan’s president, Ma Ying-jeou, resigns as chairman of the governing Kuomintang party after the party’s crushing defeat in the local elections held on November 29. Prime Minister Jiang Yi-huah and his cabinet step down for the same reason. The result of the elections is seen as the voters’ rejection of the party’s policies, including closer ties with China.
December 3 – North America: UNITED STATES
A grand jury in the United States decides not to indict a white policeman responsible for killing Eric Garner, a black man suspected of selling loose cigarettes on the street in New York City. The grand jury decision sparks a wave of protests and rallies across many US cities against police brutality and their excessive use of force. It also triggers a vigorous national debate about a relationship between police and African-Americans. Civil rights leader Reverend Al Sharpton says the US grand jury system is “broken” and calls on the authorities to address the problem.
December 9 – Middle East: ISRAEL
Israeli lawmakers vote to dissolve the country’s parliament after a few days earlier Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu sacked two members of his coalition government over policy disagreements and called for the dissolution of the parliament. The two dismissed ministers were Finance Minister Yair Lapid and Justice Minister Tzipi Livni, are members of Netanyahu’s rival parties. Early elections are expected to take place in March 2015.
December 14 – East Asia: JAPAN
Japan’s coalition led by the Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) wins an overwhelming victory in the country’s snap parliamentary election, garnering over two-thirds of the votes. The election was called by Prime Minister Shinzo Abe after the country fell into recession and is seen as an endorsement for his government’s economic policies. The parliament also re-elects Shinzo Abe as prime minister.
December 15 – North America / Latin America: UNITED STATES / CUBA
The United States President Barack Obama announces the major shift in the U.S. policy towards Cuba after more than 50 years of hostilities following Cuba’s revolution that led to establishing a communist system on the island. Both countries will restore diplomatic relations, as well as the end trade embargo and ban on travel. They will also exchange prisoners that include US contractor Alan Gross and three Cubans held in the US.
December 16 – South Asia: PAKISTAN
Taliban in Pakistan attacks a school in the city of Peshawar killing 132 children and nine teachers. The massacre leaves the country in shock and sparks national outrage. In response to the attack, the government lifts a moratorium on the death penalty for terrorist acts.
December 23 – Europe / Former Soviet Republics: UKRAINE
Ukraine’s parliament overwhelmingly votes to drop the country’s non-alignment status and actively seek membership in the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO). Ukraine adopted the non-alignment status in 2010 under pressure from Russia. Russia condemns Ukraine’s move and sees Ukraine’s NATO membership as a threat to its national security. December 27: Pro-Russian rebels in eastern Ukraine and the Ukrainian government exchange hundreds of captives. The United Nations reports that the situation in the east is extremely dire for the population, with many on the brink of survival. By the end of November, the total number of casualties in the east had reached at least 4,364 killed and more than 10,000 wounded.
December 28 – International Organizations / South Asia:
NATO / AFGHANISTAN
The North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) ends its 13-year long combat operations in Afghanistan, which began after 9/11 terrorist attacks on the United States. Beginning in 2015, Afghanistan will be responsible for its own security; 12,000 NATO troops will stay in the country to provide training and support.
December 31 – International Organizations / Middle East:
UNITED NATIONS / PALESTINIAN TERRITORIES
The United Nations Security Council rejects a draft resolution that called for ending the Israeli occupation of the Palestinian Territories by the end of 2017, including the full withdrawal of Israeli troops and new negotiations based on the territorial lines from before the 1967 war. If approved, the motion would have paved the way to a Palestinian state with East Jerusalem as its capital. The motion needed 9 votes for passing; it received 8 (Russia, China, France, Argentina, Chad, Chile, Jordan and Luxembourg). The United States and Australia voted against it, with the UK, Lithuania, Nigeria, Korea and Rwanda abstaining. However, the resolution faced a veto by the U.S., which would have prevented its possible adoption.