South Asia
Sri Lanka and the United Kingdom (UK) engaged in talks to improve bilateral ties, specifically in tourism, foreign employment and education. The two sides agreed to strengthen their relations through the UK’s “Global Britain” vision and work towards common goals such as climate action, countering terrorism and enhancing security in the Indian Ocean. [Colombo Page]
A 26-year-old Pakistani woman was sentenced to death over blasphemy charges for sending caricatures of the holy prophet on WhatsApp and sharing similar content on Facebook. This is the latest such incident of the use of Pakistan’s draconian blasphemy and cyber-crime laws to target minorities in the country. [The Guardian]
Central Asia and the Caucasus
Kazakh President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev on Wednesday replaced Minister of Defence Murat Bektanov with Ruslan Zhaqsylyqov — former interior minister and ally — in a bid to concentrate his hold on power after last week’s violent protests. Moreover, the Kazakh parliament (Majlis) approved a motion to prevent former Kazakh President Nursultan Nazarbayev from lifetime posts, including as the chairman of the Kazakh Security Council. [RFE/RL]
Armenian army chief Gen. Artak Davtyan and former Minister of Defence Davit Tonoyan as well as other officials went on trial on Wednesday for fraud and embezzlement charges. They have been accused of purchasing faulty equipment and ammunition for the armed forces that many in Armenia believe is a major reason they lost the 2020 Nagorno-Karabakh war to Azerbaijan. [RFE/RL]
East and Southeast Asia
The Chinese Foreign Ministry on Wednesday said it is “deeply shocked” by Slovenian Prime Minister Janez Jansa’s challenge to the one-China principle. During an interview with Indian TV station Doordarshan on Monday, Jansa had referred to Taiwan as a “democratic country” and called Beijing’s response to Lithuania’s provocations “terrifying” and “ridiculous.” [Global Times]
Anti-coup fighters from the People’s Defence Force attacked a government office in eastern Myanmar on Wednesday. The attack resulted in the death of over a dozen junta troops, according to the rebels and local media. [The Straits Times]
Europe
The United Kingdom and the United States agreed to initiate discussions to bring an end to their trade dispute over American tariffs on steel and aluminium. While no specific timeline was given for the discussions, the joint statement said that they will aim to address the “global steel and aluminium excess capacity.” [Reuters]
A Syrian doctor accused of crimes against humanity during President Bashar al-Assad’s regime has gone on trial in Germany. Prosecutors claim that the suspect, identified as Alaa M., tortured and murdered inmates at two military hospitals and a government-run hospital. The suspect is accused of one murder, 18 incidents of torture and using his power as a doctor to suppress a part of the Syrian uprising. [Euronews]
On Wednesday, Slovenia and Croatia reported a massive increase in COVID-19 infections. In the last 24 hours, Slovenia noted 12,286 new infections, a record for daily cases since the pandemic started. With a positivity rate of 63.2%, State Secretary Franc Vindišar has predicted that the cases will continue to increase, and the peak of the wave should come at the end of January. The Croatian public is also shocked as unofficial reports predict 10,000 new daily infections only through PCR tests. [B92]
Latin America and the Caribbean
Washington said on Wednesday that Rodolphe Jaar, a suspect in the assassination of Haitian President Jovenel Moïse, has been extradited to the United States from the Dominican Republic, where he was detained earlier this month. [Associated Press]
Hundreds of heavily-armed police occupied several favelas in the Jacarezinho neighbourhood in Rio de Janeiro in a bid to rein in local gangs and halt gang violence. Favelas or slums in Brazil are a hotspot for organised crime and gang violence. Since coming to power in 2018, President Jair Bolsonaro has taken an aggressive stance on combating crime in the favelas. [Reuters]
Middle East and North Africa (MENA)
President Joe Biden is considering to restore the United States’ designation of Yemen’s Houthis as a terrorist group in the aftermath of their drone and missile attacks on Abu Dhabi last Monday, which left three people dead. Biden had removed the terrorist designation of Houthis in 2021. [Associated Press]
Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi met with his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin in Moscow on Wednesday to discuss economic, security and diplomatic ties. Both leaders agreed that the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) “threatens the common interests of independent countries.” They also discussed the ongoing situations in Afghanistan and Syria and called for improving security cooperation in both countries. “Iran-Russia relations are on the path of strategic relations,” Raisi said. [Iran Presidency]
North America
On Wednesday, Senate Republicans blocked a floor vote on two important voting legislations — the Freedom to Vote Act and the John Lewis Voting Rights Advancement Act — calling into action a modified filibuster that would require Republicans to defend their objection. The senate requires 60 votes to pass most legislation, meaning that 10 Republicans would have to break party lines for the Democrat’s agenda to pass. However, fractures within the Democratic party can be seen as senators Joe Manchin of West Virginia and Kyrsten Sinema of Arizona refused to support the modified filibuster. [NPR]
Former President of the United States (US) Donald Trump’s requests to block the release of White House documents related to the January 6 insurrection on the US Capitol were rejected by the US Supreme Court on Wednesday. A White House spokesperson said the verdict was an “important step forward,” adding that Trump subverted the constitution and unlawfully tried to overturn a fair election on January 6. [The Washington Post]
Oceania
Reportedly, Serbian tennis player Novak Djokovic is contemplating suing the Australian government for $6 million for ill-treatment after losing the legal case to get his visa reinstated. Last week, Djokovic was deported from Australia after Minister for Immigration, Citizenship, Migrant Services and Multicultural Affairs Alex Hawke used his discretionary powers and revoked Djokovic’s visa for not being vaccinated against COVID-19. [7 News]
New Zealand will send a third navy ship to Tonga to aid in the relief operations following the eruption of the underwater volcano, Hunga Tonga Hunga Ha-apai. HMNZS Canterbury is scheduled to leave on Saturday. In addition, offshore patrol vessel HMNZS Wellington and a Royal New Zealand Air Force C-130 Hercules are likely to arrive in Tonga today. [Otago Daily Times]
Sub-Saharan Africa
Dozens of attacks carried out by bandits over the last month in Nigeria’s North Central Niger state has left at least 200 people dead and more than 300 injured. Also, hundreds have been abducted by bandits who attacked some communities in the state this month. [The East African]
Gambian President Adama Barrow was sworn in for a second five-year term in office on Wednesday. He pledged to work to revive the economy. [Al Jazeera]