South Asia
The Indian High Commission in Pakistan said that it was facilitating the return of 47 Indian nationals, alongside 219 others with valid Indian visas. This includes four Saudis, seven Nepalese, and 146 Pakistanis. [Times of India]
On Monday, India vaccinated 3.8 million individuals aged 15 to 18 on the first day that the age group was made eligible for the COVID-19 jab. The drive was organised at schools, other educational institutions, and health centres. India has the largest adolescent population in the world, with over 120 million aged between 15 to 19. [Reuters]
Central Asia and the Caucasus
Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan held a phone talk with Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi on Monday. Both leaders stressed the need to strengthen bilateral ties, especially in the economic sphere. Raisi called for “continuous communication and dialogue” between Armenia and Azerbaijan in order to resolve the Nagorno-Karabakh dispute. [Anadolu Agency]
An Azerbaijani soldier was injured in a mine blast in Kalbajar, the Defence Ministry said on Monday. Baku has said that the presence of mines is a threat to the region’s peace and security and blames Yerevan for intentionally planting mines in its territories during the 2020 Nagorno-Karabakh war. [Azer News]
East and Southeast Asia
Vietnam’s Trade Ministry has asked Chinese authorities to relax their “overly unnecessary” anti-virus prevention measures and ease congestion at border crossings to maintain healthy levels of trade. China has tightened border controls with neighbours as part of a wider zero-COVID-19 policy. [The Straits Times]
Malaysia’s opposition has urged the Pahang state government to conduct an immediate investigation into illegal and uncontrolled logging in the state “and take stern action” against them. The logging has been said to have worsened the damage caused by the recent flood in the state. [The Straits Times]
Europe
On Monday, two small boats capsized in the Mediterranean Sea, resulting in the death of at least three people, while ten others remain missing off the Spanish coast near Almeria. Spanish authorities launched a rescue mission, with three men saved via rescue helicopter and 13 others picked by the border patrol boat. According to survivors, 29 migrants were on board the two boats. [Euronews]
The European Union (EU) announced on Monday that its foreign policy chief, Josep Borrell, will visit Ukraine’s frontlines this week as a show of support for Kyiv amid Russian military build-up along the border. Borrell will meet Ukrainian officials from Tuesday to Thursday ahead of their big meeting with the United States and Russia on the weekend. Borrell insisted, “Any discussion about European security must happen in coordination with and participation of the EU.” [The Moscow Times]
On Monday, British Prime Minister Boris Johnson dismissed speculation about fresh safety measures to curb the spread of COVID-19, saying the Omicron variant is “plainly milder.” He reiterated that most individuals requiring ICU care are not vaccinated. [Reuters]
Latin America and the Caribbean
On Monday, Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro, 66, was taken to hospital with severe abdominal pain, a possible reoccurrence of an intestinal disorder he sustained when he was stabbed during his 2018 presidential campaign. [MercoPress]
Reports are flooding in that Haitian Prime Minister Ariel Henry fled the northern city of Gonaïves on Saturday after his security forces entered into a gunfight with an armed group that had warned Henry against entering the city. The PM’s office confirmed that “bandits and terrorists” had launched an assassination attempt on Henry, while the National Police said that it has now secured the area. [Associated Press]
Middle East and North Africa (MENA)
Turkey’s inflation rate soared to more than 36% in December, its highest level in 19 years, official data showed on Monday. Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan said during a cabinet meeting that the government “regrets” that Turks are faced with a bleak picture and vowed to “break the neck of inflation and bring it back to single digits as soon as possible.” [Associated Press]
The Saudi-led coalition in Yemen said on Monday that a United Arab Emirates flagged cargo ship was hijacked by the Iran-backed Houthi rebels off the coast of Hodeidah. Coalition Spokesperson Gen. Turki al-Maliki said that the ship was carrying medical equipment and called it an “act of piracy.” [Saudi Press Agency]
North America
According to a court filing made public on Monday, New York Attorney General Letitia James issued subpoenas for former President Donald Trump and his two eldest children, Ivanka Trump and Donald Trump Jr., over a civil investigation regarding the family’s business practices. The subpoena demands the three provide testimonies about the “the valuation of properties owned or controlled” by Trump and his company. [NPR]
On Monday, Hawaii’s Department of Health supported the Governor’s order demanding that the United States (US) Navy drain their leaking fuel tank that is contaminating the state’s drinking water supply. The Navy has denied claims about a leak and said it will appeal the decision. “It is time for the Navy finally to do the right thing and promptly comply with the Department of Health’s order to defuel the Red Hill tanks,” said the prosecuting lawyer. [ABC News]
Oceania
A small New Zealand Defence Force and Police team will remain in the Solomon Islands to support the Royal Solomon Islands Police Force maintain peace after rioting and looting in the capital Honiara last month. Five Defence Personnel will remain in Honiara until 31st March 2022 and will be accompanied by Australian and Fijian security personnel. [New Zealand Government]
Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison has been criticised for not making COVID-19 Rapid Antigen Tests (RATs) free for everyone. Shadow Treasurer Jim Chalmers from the opposition Labor party said, “Obviously price is one of the big issues here – people are getting absolutely smashed, paying $30, $40 and $50 for a test that should be in the single digits of dollars – that’s because the government won’t empower the ACCC to do its work here.” [9 News]
Sub-Saharan Africa
Al Shabaab militants in the Widhu Majembeni area of the Kenyan town of Lamu killed six people and set fire to houses. Al-Shabaab has conducted several attacks in Kenya over the past 10 years, which is believed to be due to Kenya’s decision to deploy troops to Somalia in 2011 as part of an African Union force to defeat the Islamist terrorist group. [Capital News]
At least 21 Nigerian schoolchildren in the Katsina state were rescued after they were kidnapped by armed groups just hours earlier. The country's northwestern region is particularly unstable, in great part due to the enduring conflict between the Fulani nomadic cattle herders and the Hausa farming communities, who battle for scarce water and grazing land. These scarce resources have served as a ripe breeding ground for terror groups to recruit new members. [Africa News]