Situation Reports

A controversial Indonesian law took effect on Oct. 17 increasing oversight of an anti-corruption commission and limiting the body's investigative powers, The Jakarta Post reported.

Turkey and the United States have reached an agreement over Ankara's incursion into northern Syria, the Middle East Eye reported Oct. 17. According to the deal, Turkey will halt its offensive within 120 hours to allow the Syrian Democratic Forces to withdraw from a designated safe zone along the Turkish border.

A Chinese state-owned technology company reportedly signed an agreement with the Solomon Islands government on Sept. 22 to lease the entire island of Tulagi, one day after both countries established diplomatic ties, AFP reported Oct. 17.

China's Foreign Ministry has confirmed that authorities detained last month two U.S. citizens who run an English-teaching company on suspicions of organizing others to cross the border illegally, Bloomberg reported Oct. 17.

The United States will resume financial aid for Honduras, Guatemala and El Salvador after all three countries signed asylum cooperation agreements with the United States over the past months, The Washington Post reported Oct. 16.

Malaysia plans to find a diplomatic solution with India if New Delhi decides to impose import tariffs on Malaysian palm oil, Reuters reported Oct. 16.

A U.S. delegation that includes Vice President Mike Pence and Secretary of State Mike Pompeo is meeting Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan on Oct. 17 in an attempt to reach a cease-fire in the ongoing Turkish offensive in northeastern Syria, NBC News reported.

The Venezuelan government is considering granting Russian oil giant Rosneft full control over state-owned energy company Petroleos de Venezuela (PDVSA), according to an Oct. 17 El Nacional report that cited unnamed industry sources.

Some 59 percent of Iranians are in favor of withdrawing the country from the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action nuclear deal, according to a poll from the Center for International and Security Studies and IranPoll, Al-Monitor reported Oct. 16.

The Brazilian Senate has approved a deal between the government and state-owned energy company Petroleo Brasileiro (Petrobras) to divide the proceeds from a Nov. 6 auction covering the so-called transfer of rights area off the Brazilian coast, Reuters reported Oct. 15.