South Asia
At the Valdai International Discussion Club meeting yesterday, Russian President Vladimir Putin hailed Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi as a “true patriot” and “icebreaker,” praising his ‘Make in India’ vision as a mark of an “independent foreign policy.” He also said India has a “great future ahead,” with a “growing role in world politics.” [Hindustan Times]
Pakistani Foreign Minister Bilawal Bhutto Zardari put out a statement yesterday to mark what Pakistan views as the 75th anniversary of India’s “illegal” occupation of Jammu and Kashmir. He denounced India's recent attempts to “force demographic changes” in the region as well as the revocation of Article 370 in August 2019. He said, “The events of the last three years have included repressive measures such as outrageous gerrymandering to create Hindu-dominated constituencies in Muslim majority areas, issuance of millions of fake domicile certificates to non-Kashmiris, new laws on ownership of land and property, and expansion of voter rolls to include non-Kashmiri residents,” he said. [Pakistani Ministry of Foreign Affairs]
Central Asia and the Caucasus
The Kazakh parliament’s Senate on Thursday approved a bill granting amnesty to thousands of imprisoned people charged with participating in the January protests. The bill aims to pardon those accused of minor crimes and significantly reduce the prison terms of those charged with serious crimes. However, the bill does not grant any concessions to the people charged with terrorism, extremism, high treason, corruption, and the organisation of mass disorder. At least 238 people died in the protests, which erupted after the government lifted price caps on LPG. [RFE/RL]
Russian President Vladimir Putin on Thursday said that Russia prefers a peace deal between Armenia and Azerbaijan to end the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict. Putin noted that he would like to see “the delimitation of the border and the complete settlement of the border issue.” Putin made the remarks a day after Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan said this week that he could sign a peace deal with Azerbaijan by the end of the year. [Public Radio of Armenia]
East and Southeast Asia
South Korea announced its participation in Japan’s naval fleet review that begins on November 6, despite objections to the latter’s use of its Rising Sun flag, as the two countries seek to improve ties. Many in South Korea view the controversial red-and-white flag as a symbol of Japan’s colonial past and military aggression. [Japan Today]
Japan is in the final stages of negotiations with the United States to purchase Tomahawk cruise missiles. The missile, which can hit targets from more than 1,000 kilometres away, will put parts of China and the Russian Far East within Japan’s range. [The Straits Times]
Europe
On Thursday, Italy’s newly-appointed Minister for Trade and Made in Italy, Adolfo Urso, emphasised that Italy “will not put ourselves into the hands of the Chinese” and “will not follow” other countries in having any sort of technological or commercial dependence on China. [Reuters]
While speaking at the Valdai International Discussion Club meeting in Moscow on Thursday, Russian President Vladimir Putin said that the decade “ahead is probably the most dangerous, unpredictable, and at the same time, important decade since the end of the Second World War,” adding that the Ukraine war is “to a certain extent revolutionary.” He also said that “Russia is not challenging the elites of the West, Russia is just trying to defend its right to exist.” [The Moscow Times]
Latin America and the Caribbean
Canadian Foreign Affairs Minister Mélanie Joly and her American counterpart Antony Blinken on Thursday said following a meeting in Ottawa that they are “working very closely” to address rising insecurity and gang violence in Haiti, having recently delivered armoured vehicles to the country. They have also pledged to train local police. In this regard, Joly declared, “Haiti needs us.” [Politico]
At the foreign ministers’ summit of the Community of Latin American and Caribbean States and the European Union yesterday, Cuban Foreign Minister Bruno Rodríguez once again underscored the need for the United States to respect Cuba’s sovereignty and the principle of non-interference. He also denounced Cuba’s inclusion in the “fraudulent” US State Department’s list of state sponsors of terrorism. [Prensa Latina]
Middle East and North Africa (MENA)
Hassan Nasrallah, chief of the Lebanese militant group Hezbollah, announced Thursday that his group is ending its mobilisation against Israel after Israel and Lebanon signed a maritime agreement giving Beirut the right to explore the Mediterranean for energy reserves. Calling the deal “a very big victory for Lebanon,” Nasrallah insisted that the agreement does not normalise ties between Israel and Lebanon. Hezbollah had vowed to attack Israel if it refused to sign a maritime deal with Lebanon. [Reuters]
The Iraqi parliament voted for a new government led by Prime Minister Mohammed Shia Al-Sudani on Thursday, ending over a year of political deadlock. Lawmakers approved Sudani’s cabinet of 21 ministers. The PM vowed to usher in political and economic reforms. He also promised to amend the electoral law and hold parliamentary elections within a year. [Al Monitor]
Israel and Turkey on Thursday officially relaunched defence ties months after the two countries agreed to normalise relations completely. Israeli Defence Minister Benny Gantz said during a meeting with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan and his Turkish counterpart Hulusi Akar that military ties “would be restored in a responsible and gradual process that serves Israel’s interests.” [Al Jazeera]
North America
During a press conference at the Pentagon on Thursday, United States (US) Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin emphasised that it’s important to “have the channels of communication open” with Russia in order to “manage escalation” in the Ukraine war. He also said that Moscow would see a “very significant response from the international community” if it used any type of nuclear weapon. [US Department of Defense]
According to recently unsealed court filings in New York, the United States (US) has accused China of deploying law enforcement officials to Canada in a bid to force Chinese citizens in the country to return to China to face criminal charges. Spanish human rights group Safeguard Defenders has said that three of China’s 50 overseas police stations are in Toronto. However, the Chinese Embassy in Canada has denied all allegations, saying, “They are not involved in any criminal investigation or relevant activity.” [The Globe And Mail]
Oceania
Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese on Thursday rubbished claims that he had “bullied and humiliated” female Coalition MP Michelle Landry. Albanese asked to “show the footage,” in which he claimed that he was “having an exchange with Peter Dutton, not with the member for Capricornia.” Albanese stated that he had also later called Landry to apologise. “I’m always concerned if someone is upset. I called her, that’s the courteous thing to do. I wish her well,” he said. [Sky News Australia]
In her speech at the Scott Base research centre in Antarctica, New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern said on Friday that “Parts of the world are becoming increasingly contested and Antarctica is part of that.” “It’s incredibly important New Zealand maintains its strong position over the role it plays here ... it’s also important we maintain our position of peace, environmental protection and research,” she added. Ardern also hailed the decades of climate research on Antarctica, which she said “formed the bases of the world’s two-degree target or limit for climate change.” [Bega District News]
Sub-Saharan Africa
The Ebola outbreak in Uganda has now spread to seven districts, infecting 109 people and killing 30, announced Health Minister Jane Ruth Aceng. Concerningly, there are at least 15 new cases in the capital city, Kampala, despite authorities saying just a few days earlier that there were no cases there. [Al Jazeera]
The United States State Department on Thursday ordered the families of all embassy staff in the Nigerian capital of Abuja to leave the country amid increased concerns about a terrorist attack by Islamist rebels. It also warned all citizens to reconsider travelling to any part of Nigeria, especially Abuja. It has also permitted non-essential personnel at the embassy to voluntarily leave the country. The British High Commission has put out a similar directive. Nigeria’s Department of State Services, however, has insisted that security forces are taking all “necessary precautions.” [Associated Press]