Officials from the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) and allied oil-producing countries, collectively known as OPEC+, warned they will likely respond (Bloomberg) to the United States’ plan to release fifty million barrels of oil (Hill) from its Strategic Petroleum Reserve in an effort to control fuel prices. The plan comes after OPEC+ resisted Washington’s calls to boost production and pits the United States against its allies in OPEC+, such as Saudi Arabia.
 
The United States’ release will be taken in coordination (CBS) with releases by other countries, including China, India, Japan, South Korea, and the United Kingdom. The United States plans to return thirty-two million barrels of oil to its reserve in the coming years.

The spokesperson for China’s Taiwan Affairs Office made the comment (Business Insider) after Beijing fined Taiwan-based conglomerate Far Eastern Group for a range of violations.

Australia: The country’s national weather agency declared that a La Niña event has developed (BBC) for the second consecutive year, bringing greater risks of floods in Australia and significant weather changes in other parts of the world.

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi reportedly plans to delay controversial labor reforms (Bloomberg) until after local elections next year in hopes of avoiding the kind of backlash that led to the cancellation of certain farm laws last week.
 
Myanmar: The National Unity Government, which opposes the junta, raised $6.3 million (Reuters) on the first day of its bonds sale. Most buyers of the bonds were Myanmar nationals living abroad.

A spokesperson for Iran’s foreign ministry said Iran hoped the visit (AFP) by International Atomic Energy Agency Director General Rafael Mariano Grossi would be “constructive.” Talks on reviving the 2015 Iran nuclear deal are set to resume next week.
 
CFR President Richard Haass discusses Iran’s nuclear choices.
 
Israel/Morocco: Israeli Defense Minister Benny Gantz travels to Morocco today (Times of Israel) to formalize defense cooperation between the countries, which normalized ties last year.

Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed’s announcement came as Tigrayan rebel groups advanced toward Ethiopia’s capital (Al Jazeera), Addis Ababa. 
 
CFR’s Michelle Gavin discusses the dire outlook in Ethiopia after a year of conflict.
 
Kenya: The country will bar people who are not vaccinated (Quartz) against COVID-19 from accessing in-person government services. Only around 4 percent of Kenyans are vaccinated.

The bill, set for a vote today, would require the European Union (EU) to devote around a third (Reuters) of its 2021–27 budget to supporting farmers and rural development.
 
Portugal: Portugal became the fourth EU country (AP) to stop generating electricity using coal-fired power plants.
 
This In Brief discusses whether the world can slash coal use by 2030.

As the Liberal Party of Canada begins its third term in office today (CBC), Governor General Mary Simon will deliver a speech that is expected to focus on the country’s recovery from the pandemic.
 
El Salvador: The top U.S. diplomat in the country said she is leaving her post (AP) and that El Salvador “shows no interest” in improving its relationship with the United States.