South Asia
Da Afghanistan Bank said in a statement on Sunday that media reports about the international community blocking access to aid over the Taliban’s recent crackdown on gender rights were untrue. Several Western media houses said that the international community was planning to “punish the Taliban” by restricting access to aid. [Khaama Press News Agency]
The Indian Ministry of Commerce celebrated the India-Australia Economic Cooperation and Trade Agreement as a “win-win” for both countries. The agreement will allow 90% of Australian products, by value, to have zero duty access to the Indian market, and 96.4% of Indian products, by value, to have zero duty access to the Australian market. [India Ministry of Commerce and Industry]
Central Asia and the Caucasus
Chechen strongman Ramzan Kadyrov announced on Sunday that 300 fighters from Chechnya’s Special Purpose Mobile Unit have been deployed to help Russian troops on the frontline in the Ukraine war. Kadyrov said the Chechen soldiers have high combat capabilities and are efficient in implementing tasks. [TASS]
Turkmen President Serdar Berdimuhamedov met with his Chinese counterpart Xi Jinping in Beijing on Friday. The leaders announced plans to raise China-Turkmenistan ties to a “comprehensive strategic partnership.” This is Berdimuhamedov’s first visit to China since assuming office in March last year. [Chinese Foreign Ministry]
East and Southeast Asia
Malaysian PM Anwar Ibrahim said on Sunday that he will prioritise relations with Indonesia, as it was “a true friend” at a time when he “was cast out and sidelined.” Anwar made the comments after both sides exchanged several letters of intent and memorandums of understanding involving Malaysian and Indonesian companies. [Bernama]
A boat carrying 185 Rohingya refugees reached Indonesia’s Aceh province on Sunday, a local disaster agency said. It is believed that the refugees make the treacherous journey to flee the squalid living conditions in refugee camps in Bangladesh. [Reuters]
Europe
On Sunday, the Russian Military claimed to have killed 600 Ukrainian troops in Kramatorsk in Donetsk in retaliation for Ukraine’s attack in Makiivka last week, which killed 89 Russian soldiers. However, Serhii Cherevatyi, a spokesperson for Ukrainian forces in the east, revealed that the Russian attack only destroyed civilian infrastructure, adding, “The armed forces of Ukraine weren’t affected.” [Associated Press]
Swedish PM Ulf Kristersson said on Sunday that Turkey would approve its bid for NATO membership despite Stockholm’s inability to meet its preconditions. One of the key contentions between the two countries was Turkey’s insistence on Sweden joining its fight against the outlawed Kurdistan Workers’ Party, which Sweden was hesitant to do given its close ties with the Kurdish diaspora. [Al Jazeera]
Latin America and the Caribbean
The Central Bank of the Argentine Republic (BCRA) said on Sunday that an expansion of a currency swap deal has been formalised between the South American country and China. This will allow the Argentinian government to rebuild reserves to pay for future debt repayments and trade costs. “The swap comprises the exchange of currency for reinforcement of international reserves of 130 billion yuan ($19.1bn) and a special activation of 35 billion yuan ($5.2bn) to compensate operations on the foreign exchange market,” the BCRA said in a statement. [Reuters]
The Honduran government extended a state of emergency that has been in place since 6 December in 165 areas in the cities of Tegucigalpa and San Pedro Sula to 45 days, and expanded it to 235 of the 298 municipalities in the country on Saturday. The measures, taken as part of a crackdown on organized crime and gang violence, have led to the destruction of 39 criminal gangs, 652 arrests, and seizures of over 43 kilogrammes of cocaine during the first month of their implementation. [Reuters]
Middle East and North Africa (MENA)
Thousands of Israelis gathered in Tel Aviv on Saturday to protest measures taken by the new right-wing government of PM Benjamin Netanyahu. Critics say many of the steps taken, including giving the government more powers to control the judiciary, threaten democracy and freedoms. [Associated Press]
Accusing Iran of fuelling the war in Ukraine by transferring drones and missiles to Russia, the US imposed sanctions on Iran’s drone and ballistic missile industries on Friday. Washington warned if Tehran does not cease its support for the Kremlin’s war, the US “will continue to use every tool at [its] disposal to disrupt and delay these transfers and impose costs on actors engaged in this activity.” [US Department of State]
North America
The US announced $3.75 billion in additional military assistance to Ukraine, including $682 million for European allies to “help incentivise and backfill donations of military equipment” to Kyiv, on Friday. Of the $3.75 billion, $2.85 billion drawdown from the Defense Department will provide Ukraine with Bradley infantry fighting vehicles, artillery systems, armoured personnel carriers, surface-to-air missiles, and ammunition. Additionally, Washington plans to provide $907 million to “support Ukraine and countries impacted by Russia’s war in Ukraine.” [US Department of State]
During a phone call with King of the UK, Charles III, Canadian PM Justin Trudeau discussed the COP15 UN Biodiversity Conference held in Montreal last month, wherein almost 200 countries signed a historic conservation accord. The pair also exchanged “ideas on tackling climate change and protecting the environment moving forward.” [CTV News]
Oceania
A 7.0-magnitude earthquake struck Vanuatu late on Sunday, triggering a tsunami warning. “Tsunami waves reaching 0.3 to one metre above the tide level are possible for some coasts of Vanuatu,” Hawaii’s National Weather Service Pacific Tsunami Warning Centre said. [AFP]
Australian PM Anthony Albanese on Monday announced A$10,000 ($6,926) for household repairs and up to A$10,000 to replace household goods in the country’s northwest after “1-in-100-year” floods. Stressing the need for “massive” infrastructure investment, Albanese said that the aid will support individuals and their “counselling and support” requirements as well. [Reuters]
Sub-Saharan Africa
More than 30 people were abducted by armed gunmen at the Tom Ikimi train station in Nigeria’s southern Edo state on Sunday. In recent years, violent crimes and insecurity have spread throughout the sub-Saharan nation, as Islamist insurgencies and banditry are on the rise in various regions of the country. [Reuters]
Forty-six Ivorian soldiers, who were previously sentenced to 20 years in prison by a Malian court for undermining state security and attacks on Mali’s government, were pardoned last week and returned home after being detained for six months. Mali’s government said the decision highlights the military junta’s commitment to peace and desire for harmonious relations with the Ivory Coast. [Associated Press]