Shipping sanctions: China and India reduce Russian oil orders

Today's news: Al Jolani appointed president for Syria transition, constitution suspended; Seventy Rohingya land in Indonesia, while 5,000 Burmese return to the border town Maungdaw; Thailand's tiger population is growing; Japanese authorities ask 1.2 million people to use less water to facilitate a rescue operation.

CHINA - INDIA - RUSSIA

China and India are sharply reducing their oil purchases from Russia on the international markets, as the cost of chartering cargo ships not subject to US sanctions issued in January increased ‘by several million dollars’. At the same time, Russian earnings per barrel do not exceed to per barrel, and the sanctions have stopped over 180 ‘shadow ships’.

SYRIA

Syria's de facto leader Ahmed al-Sharaa (also known as battahlia al Jolani) was appointed president for a transitional phase, authorised to form a temporary legislative council. The council will perform its duties until a new constitution is adopted. The dissolution of the country's armed factions, which will be absorbed by state institutions, was also announced.

MYANMAR - INDONESIA

More than 70 Rohingya landed in the Indonesian province of Aceh, Pereulak region. A wooden boat carrying 40 men, 32 women and four children arrived on the beach, but attempts to disembark were initially repelled by residents, as often happens. About 5,000 IDPs, on the other hand, returned to the border town Maungdaw, after the insurgent group, Arakan Army (AA), which took it over from the military, finished securing the town.

THAILAND

Tiger numbers are increasing in the wild regions in the west of Thailand. Concerted efforts to protect and monitor tigers in the country have led to a significant increase in the population, despite critical land-use issues. While tigers have seen their population decimated worldwide, in Thailand's vast protected forest areas the story is different.

JAPAN

Japanese authorities have asked 1.2 million people to cut down on showers and laundry to prevent sewage leaks from aggravating the rescue operation of a truck driver in a sinkhole. The truck was swallowed by a sinkhole that suddenly opened in Yashio during the morning rush hour on Tuesday 28 January. Rescues were severely hampered by the unstable ground around the hole and the appearance of a second, larger hole.

GEORGIA

In Georgia, there was a suspension of internet services for several hours, mainly for subscribers of the Magticom company, blocking mobile and stationary access, banking applications and payment transactions, due to a ‘global network problem’ caused by a breakdown on the territory of Turkey due to heavy snowfall and avalanches, but also due to ‘suspicious damage’ to the main backup channel, which was investigated.

KYRGYZSTAN - TAJIKISTAN

Within the framework of the agreements reached by Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan on borders, the authorities of the two countries will start transfers of their citizens to the mixed zones in order to avoid any conflict, as some countries are arranged around the borders like ‘on a chessboard, with overlapping pawns’, commented Kyrgyz President Sadyr Žaparov.

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