South Asia
A five-judge Constitution bench of the Indian Supreme Court upheld the legality of the government’s decision to demonetise the currency in November 2016 by a 4-1 majority. The judges called the decision-making process “flawless,” highlighting that the difficulties faced by citizens in the six years following demonetisation cannot be a reason to reverse the executive decision. [Times of India]
Indian Defence Minister Rajnath Singh began a two-day visit to Assam and Arunachal Pradesh on Monday to inaugurate 28 projects developed by the Border Roads Organisation to enhance the mobility of the Indian army. He will attend the ceremonies of 27 projects virtually from the opening event for the Siyom Bridge in Arunachal Pradesh’s Siang district. [NDTV]
Central Asia and the Caucasus
Officials in an eastern Kazakh region have halted gas exports to China amid the expiry of a contract between the Kazakh energy ministry and a company that operates the local gas mine. Further, officials had cited the depletion of gas reserves in the Zaisan Basin when they announced a suspension in July. Moreover, locals had been complaining against the lack of availability of natural gas while it was being supplied to China. [RFE/RL]
Azernews reported on Monday that Iran is “continuing to provoke a military response from Azerbaijan,” after a video clip circulating on Telegram showed child soldiers sent by the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) crossing the Araz river towards Azerbaijani territory. Calling Iran’s move “childish,” the news agency stressed that Tehran’s provocations are “doomed to fail,” as Baku has many allies. [Azernews]
East and Southeast Asia
Indonesia approved the first plan of development for the Tuna offshore gas field in the South China Sea, with a total estimated investment of more than $3 billion up to the start of production. Located between Indonesia and Vietnam, the field is expected to reach peak production of 115 million standard cubic feet per day by 2027, oil and gas regulator SKK Migas spokesperson Mohammad Kemal said. [Reuters]
China’s new Foreign Minister Qin Gang praised the United States, saying that he was “deeply impressed” from his meetings with “so many hard-working, friendly and talented American people.” Qin added that he would continue to “support the growth of China-US relations”, and promote peace and development. [Bloomberg]
Europe
Belgian investigators moved the European Parliament to lift the immunity of two Socialists and Democrats members of the European Parliament, Marc Tarabella and Andrea Cozzolino, over their alleged involvement in the Qatargate scandal. If the legislators agree, the Belgian authorities will investigate them for taking bribes from Qatar and Morocco to influence the Parliament. [Politico]
In a phone call with his European Commission counterpart Ursula von der Leyen on Monday, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky highlighted the importance of receiving the first package of macro-financial aid of about $3.2 billion as early as January. The pair also discussed the “expected results” of the next Ukraine-EU summit slated for 3 February in Kyiv. [President of Ukraine]
Latin America and the Caribbean
The death toll of a Sunday morning attack on a state-run prison in the border town of Juarez, Mexico has risen to 19, including 10 guards, 7 prisoners, and 2 attackers. The attack, which led to the escape of a top gunman from the “Los Mexicles” cartel and two dozen other inmates, was carried out simultaneously on the prison and municipal police station by an armed group in armoured vehicles. Security Minister Rosa Icela Rodriguez pilloried the Chihuahua administration later on Monday, when a “VIP zone” with drugs and money was found in the prison. [Reuters]
New Brazilian president Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva tweeted on Monday that China’s Vice President Wang Qishan had sent him a letter from President Xi Jinping expressing willingness to expand cooperation between the two countries. “China is our biggest trading partner and we can further expand relations between our countries,” Lula added. [Reuters]
Middle East and North Africa (MENA)
The Syrian army announced that an Israeli military airstrike on Monday damaged the Damascus International Airport, putting it out of service temporarily. Israeli warplanes reportedly struck Iran-linked targets in Damascus, and a second strike in the south of the capital city killed two members of the Syrian military. [Reuters]
According to the Human Rights Activist News Agency, at least 516 Iranian demonstrators have been killed, including 70 children, in clashes with security forces since anti-regime protests began in mid-September. [HRANA]
North America
On Monday, Canada Unity, an antigovernment protest group, cancelled another Freedom Convoy-like protest to be held from February 17 to 20 in Winnipeg. Canada Unity’s founder, James Bauder, said he feared that the protestors could be charged under Ontario’s new Bill 100 law, which was passed following the first Freedom Convoy demonstrations last year. [Associated Press]
During a phone call with his newly-appointed Israeli counterpart Eli Cohen on Monday, United States (US) Secretary of State Antony Blinken emphasised the “continued US commitment to a two-state solution and opposition to policies that endanger its viability.” He also discussed US efforts to advance Israel’s further regional integration via the Negev Forum, address the threat from Iran, and “promote the values that have been at the heart of the bilateral relationship for decades.” [US Department of State]
Oceania
Four people, including a pilot, two British tourists, and a Sydney woman were killed in a collision of two helicopters on Monday afternoon near Main Beach on Australia’s Gold Coast. The pilot of the other helicopter managed to land safely despite the aircraft being damaged in the collision. [Associated Press]
The Anthony Albanese government announced an additional A$126.25 million (US$86.2 million) in disaster relief for communities affected by “devastating floods” in southern Australia, along the Murray River. [Prime Minister of Australia]
Sub-Saharan Africa
The United States has removed Burkina Faso from its trade preference programme over “unconstitutional change,” referring to the coup government. The US Trade Representaive’s office’s said on Sunday that Washington would work with Ouagadougou and “clear benchmarks” would be set for reinstatement into the programme. Burkina Faso has been a victim of violent conflicts linked to Al Qaeda and ISIS for about seven years now, which has led to two military coups due to dissatisfaction with the government’s inability to curb activity by armed groups. [Al Jazeera]
On Monday, Malawian Health Minister Khumbize Chiponda said that the southern African country has delayed the opening of public schools in the cities of Blantyre and Lilongwe to contain a surge in cholera deaths. The mortality rate due to cholera is currently 3.34 per cent in the country. Additionally, last month, a WHO official stated that the global stockpile of cholera vaccines is “currently empty or extremely low”. Chiponda has called on authorities to spray chlorine to disinfect congested places, including markets and schools, and ramp up the inoculations. [Reuters]