South Asia
The Taliban on Thursday secured a deal with Chinese state-owned China Petroleum Economic and Information Research Centre to extract oil from the Amu field that is spread across three northern Afghan provinces. The agreement gives the Afghan regime a 20% share in the project, which will eventually increase to 75%. [Khaama Press News Agency]
Sri Lankan officials said on Thursday that the government would resume discussions on a trade agreement with India, China, and Thailand, after a four-year halt. While Thai officials will likely visit Sri Lanka in the coming week, India and China will begin discussions in February and March, respectively. [Reuters]
Central Asia and the Caucasus
Armenian PM Nikol Pashinyan said on Thursday that Azerbaijan’s “illegal blockade” of the Lachin Corridor, the only road connecting Armenia with Nagorno-Karabakh, has caused a humanitarian crisis for Armenians living in the region. He said the situation makes sending an international fact-finding mission to the region “even more necessary.” [Armenia PMO]
Nine children in Uzbekistan were admitted to a hospital in Tashkent on Thursday after developing health complications due to the consumption of India-made cough syrup Doc Max-1. Authorities said that five children recovered and four are receiving treatment. Last week, 19 children died in Uzbekistan after consuming “excessive amounts” of the cough syrup. [Kun.uz]
East and Southeast Asia
The Philippines’ Interior Secretary Benjamin Abalos Jr. said Thursday that he resigned from the police force after several officers at the forefront of the country’s drug war were caught dealing drugs. Abalos also encouraged other police officials to submit their “courtsey resignations” to help clean up the law authorities’ notorious public image. [Associated Press]
The US warship Chung-Hoon sailed through the volatile Taiwan Strait on Thursday, as part of what the US military calls routine activity to demonstrate its “commitment to a free and open Indo-Pacific.” The Chinese military said that it “will continue to stay on high alert and is ready to respond to all threats and provocations.” [Reuters]
Europe
On Thursday, Moroccan FM Nasser Bourita rejected the “repeated media attacks” about the kingdom’s involvement in the Qatargate scandal, saying that the accusations can impact relations with the EU. Morocco and Qatar have been accused of bribing Members of the European Parliament to push for favourable decisions. [euronews]
During a phone call with US National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan on Thursday, Head of the Office of the President of Ukraine Andriy Yermak stressed the “importance of creating an effective air shield for Ukraine.” “After all, by destroying the energy system of our state with missiles and kamikaze drones, Russia seeks to use cold as a weapon of mass destruction against civilians,” he noted. [President of Ukraine]
Latin America and the Caribbean
Ovidio Guzman, a son of jailed drug lord Joaquin “El Chapo” Guzman, was captured by Mexican security forces on Thursday, leading to heavy violence in Culiacan in the northern state of Sinaloa. In 2019, Ovidio was briefly detained but had to be released to end the violence perpetrated by his cartel in Culiacan. [Reuters]
Following former Venezuelan opposition leader Juan Guaidó’s ousting last week, three relatively unknown and exiled former lawmakers were chosen as his replacement in efforts to remove current President Nicolas Maduro. The all-female triumvirate leadership will comprise Dinorah Figueroa, Marianela Fernández and Auristela Vásquez. Figueroa, who made her first address to the opposition in a Zoom call from Spain, appealed for unity and promised to protect Venezuela’s oil assets abroad from seizure by creditors disillusioned by Maduro’s excessive spending. [Associated Press]
Middle East and North Africa (MENA)
Indian FM S. Jaishankar on Thursday held a phone call with his newly appointed Israeli counterpart Eli Cohen. The duo discussed improving their “strategic partnership” and signing a free trade agreement. They also talked about starting projects in the fields of innovation, food and water security. [Israel Ministry of Foreign Affairs]
A Lebanese court on Thursday charged seven people for attacking and killing a UN peacekeeper last month. The Irish soldier, Private Sean Rooney, was killed on 14 December after a crowd attacked his vehicle near the village of Aqbieh in southern Lebanon, a stronghold of the militant group Hezbollah. [Naharnet]
North America
Canadian PM Justin Trudeau on Thursday announced that Japanese PM Fumio Kishida would be making his first bilateral visit to Canada next week, since he took office in October 2021, to discuss Japan’s “priorities for its upcoming G7 Presidency.” The pair will “explore ways Canada and Japan can implement joint priorities across a range of issues, from free trade, to energy security, to peacekeeping and peacebuilding.” [Prime Minister of Canada]
On Thursday, the US Agency for International Development announced $30 million worth of “critical” aid for Moldova to deal with the energy crisis and other economic issues “caused by the Kremlin’s unprovoked and unjustified war” against Ukraine. “This investment will help us alleviate some of the budgetary pressures we face [...] Moldova does need the support of its international partners,” Moldovan President Maia Sandu affirmed in a video message. [Associated Press]
Oceania
Mariam Raad, an Australian woman rescued from a Syrian detention camp in October as part of a humanitarian mission, will face court on Friday on charges linked to her former husband’s role within ISIS. “We have zero tolerance for Australians, or anyone, who seek to commit acts of violence or extremism, and those considering doing the wrong thing will come under our notice,” counter-terrorism commander Mark Walton said. Raad could face up to 10 years in prison if convicted. [AFP]
Australian PM Anthony Albanese offered his “deep condolences” on the passing of famous biomedical researcher Professor Alan Mackay-Sim. “Professor Emeritus Alan Mackay-Sim’s work in understanding the human brain and stem cells was game-changing and improved countless people’s lives. A dedicated and innovative researcher, he garnered respect and recognition for Australian science around the world,” he said. [Prime Minister of Australia]
Sub-Saharan Africa
The European Commission banned seafood imports caught in Cameroonian waters, or by ships flagged there, on Thursday. The Commission labelled the West African country as “non-cooperating” with respect to the fight against illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing (IUU). An investigation by the Associated Press last year revealed that 14 vessels accused of IUU in Cameroon were owned or managed by companies based in the EU. [Associated Press]
French FM Catherine Colonna announced on Thursday that she will be travelling to Ethiopia next week along with her German counterpart Annalena Baerbock “to consolidate peace” following the agreement signed between the Ethiopian government and the Tigray People’s Liberation Front on 2 November. Reportedly, the European ministers will also discuss food security and relations between the EU and the African Union. [Africanews]