South Asia
Sri Lanka reassured the European Union (EU) of its plan to reform the Prevention of Terrorism Act, which the bloc has often criticised for granting overarching powers to authorities and enabling human rights abuses. During the sixth EU-Sri Lanka Working Group meeting, European officials also expressed concern about the act and called for the release of individuals detained without any charges. [Colombo Page]
Bangladeshi Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina informed the Parliament of the government’s plan to punish expatriates involved in “anti-government activities.” She said that while Bangladeshi ex-pats uplift the country’s image, a small number fabricated statements and spread false information. [BSS News]
Central Asia and the Caucasus
Azerbaijan’s state security service on Wednesday arrested 19 people on charges of spying for Iran. Azerbaijani officials said the individuals were funded and trained by Iranian intelligence services and caught carrying out acts violating Azerbaijan’s sovereignty. [Eurasianet]
The United States’ embassy in Tbilisi on Wednesday expressed “deep concern” over a Georgian court’s decision to reject arrested journalist Nika Gvaramia’s appeal against his conviction and imprisonment. “At a time when Georgia’s commitment to an impartial judiciary and media pluralism is being closely reviewed, the continued imprisonment of Nika Gvaramia, the director-general of the main opposition TV channel, puts at risk the clear choice of the people of Georgia – and Georgian leaders’ stated goal – for a more secure, democratic European future,” the embassy said. Officials arrested Gvaramia, a critic of the country’s ruling Georgian Dream party, in 2019 on the charge of abuse of power. [RFE/RL]
East and Southeast Asia
Taiwan’s Minister of National Defense Chiu Kuo-cheng said on Wednesday that Taiwan’s armed forces will fight Chinese troops “to the end” in the event of an invasion. Chiu stated that “as long as the enemy is unable to land troops or plant their flags on the upper floors of the buildings of Taiwan’s central government ministries, it has not won.” [Taiwan News]
North Korea fired an inter-continental ballistic missile (ICBM) from near Pyongyang around 7:40 a.m. on Thursday and followed it up with two short-range missiles an hour later from the nearby city of Kacheon, which flew toward South Korea’s eastern waters. The launch forced Japan to issue an evacuation alert and temporarily halt train service. A South Korean defence official revealed that the ICBM appeared to have failed. [Associated Press, Yonhap News Agency]
Europe
British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak confirmed his attendance at the COP27 climate conference scheduled from 6 to 18 November in Egypt. He previously said that he would not attend the meeting and instead focus on domestic issues such as the economic crisis. However, he reversed his decision on Wednesday, highlighting that “the country could not achieve long-term prosperity” by ignoring climate change. [Politico]
The Greek coast guard reported that the sinking of two boats carrying 70 refugees near Evia caused 21 deaths, with 30 others still missing. This comes just weeks after two shipwrecks near Kythira and Lesbos resulted in 20 fatalities as the migrants sought to secure entry into Greece after fleeing from Africa and the Middle East. [Al Jazeera]
During a meeting with Spanish Minister of Foreign Affairs José Manuel Albares in Kyiv on Wednesday, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky thanked Spain for delivering 30 ambulances and deciding to send air defence systems to Ukraine. He also expressed hope that Spain would help in the reconstruction of Ukraine. [President of Ukraine]
Latin America and the Caribbean
The United States (US) Border Patrol has over the past two days taken over 150 Cuban migrants into custody after they attempted to enter the US via at least eight different landings. In fact, during the month of October, the US Coast Guard intercepted more than 1,100 Cuban migrants, with a total of 180,000 interceptions of Cuban migrants since the start of the year. [NIUS Diario, US Border Patrol Chief Patrol Agent Walter N. Slosar (Twitter)]
In yet another apparent concession of defeat to Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva in the recently-concluded election, outgoing Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro told the Supreme Court on Wednesday: “It’s over.” Likewise, his vice president, Hamilton Mourão, said in an interview: “There’s no point in crying any more, we lost the game.” In the lead-up to the election, Bolsonaro frequently cast doubt on the country’s electronic voting system, warned that he would not concede defeat, and said Brazil could see its own version of the January 6 Capitol insurrection if he lost. [The Guardian]
Middle East and North Africa (MENA)
United States Vice President Kamala Harris announced on Wednesday that Washington would work with allies to remove Iran from the United Nations Commission on the Status of Women, owing to Iran’s “denial of women’s rights” and “brutal crackdown” of its citizens. “Iran’s very presence discredits the integrity of its membership” in the Commission, Harris stressed. [White House]
As former Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu nears his return to power in Israel, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan said he wants to maintain ties with Israel whatever the outcome of the Israeli election. “Whatever the election result, we want to maintain relations with Israel on a sustainable basis, based on mutual respect for sensitivities and common interests,” Erdoğan said. [Reuters]
North America
The Pentagon on Wednesday announced that the United States Department of State has agreed to a potential deal to sell guided multiple launch rocket systems and accompanied equipment worth $535 million to Finland. Pentagon intends to increase its weapons stock “due to the deteriorated security situation in Europe.” [Reuters]
Canadian Minister of Innovation, Science and Industry François-Philippe Champagne has ordered three Chinese companies to sell their stock in Canadian critical mineral companies following a “multi-step national security review process” by national security and intelligence agencies. “While Canada continues to welcome foreign direct investment, we will act decisively when investments threaten our national security and our critical minerals supply chains, both at home and abroad,” he stated, adding that the critical mineral investments had received “enhanced security.” Though China does not produce many critical minerals, it remains a dominant player in the industry due to heavy investment in overseas companies. [CBC News]
Oceania
Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese defended his decision to not go to the COP27 climate summit in Egypt later this week by citing his tight schedule. “I have a very busy schedule of Parliament then the international conferences then back to Parliament. And I am sure that if I was going people would be saying why aren’t I attending Parliament,” Albanese told reporters. “I can’t be in all places at once,” he stressed. [Sky News Australia]
New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern hinted at progress in the government’s longstanding efforts to negotiate a free trade agreement with the Pacific Alliance, which comprises Mexico, Colombia, Peru, and Chile. “While work is still underway and advice to be taken – I can share with you that as a Government we will be looking closely into making free trade progress with Latin America,” Ardern said Wednesday night. [NZ Herald]
Sub-Saharan Africa
On Wednesday, Kenyan forces joined the East African Community’s joint military operation against rebel fighters, particularly the M23 group, in the eastern region of the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). Kenyan President William Ruto said, “As neighbours, the fate of the DRC is linked to ours.” Uganda and Burundi have also deployed troops to the country. [Africanews]
On Wednesday, Tanzanian President Samia Suluhu Hassan began a three-day visit to China at the invitation of her Chinese counterpart Xi Jinping. The two sides are expected to discuss avenues for greater cooperation in agriculture, industrial development, trade, and infrastructure. Apart from meeting Xi, Suluhu will also meet with Premier Li Keqiang and the chairman of the National People’s Congress Standing Committee, Li Zhanshu. [The East African]