S. Africa Resists Pressure to Cut Ties with Russia
South Africa publicly pushed back at attempts of the US to cut ties with Russia, with its Foreign Minister Naledi Pandor stating in the presence of US Secretary of State Antony Blinken that her country won't be pushed around and many in Africa had more faith in ties with BRICS countries than the West.
Pandor also said the people of Palestine deserved the same attention from the international community that the people of Ukraine received and added that Africa had at times experienced patronising and bullying from the West. South Africa, like India, is among the several Asian and African countries that have taken a neutral stance on the Ukraine war.
Aug 12, 2022
Mexican President Proposes Global Peace Commission Led by 3 Leaders Including PM Modi
Mexican President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador is planning to submit a written proposal to the UN to create a commission, made up of three world leaders, including Prime Minister Narendra Modi, to promote a world truce for a period of five years.
The aim of the commission would be to present a proposal to stop the wars around the world and reach an agreement to seek a truce for at least five years.
Calling for an end to warlike actions, the Mexican President has invited China, Russia and the United States, to seek peace and hoped the three countries "will listen and accept an intermediation such as the one we are proposing".
Aug 11, 2022
Russia Suspends Inspection of Strategic Arms under US Treaty
Russia said it was suspending US on-site inspections under a strategic arms reduction treaty with Washington, pointing to Western sanctions and coronavirus infections.
As per the Russian foreign ministry, facilities that are subject to inspections under the New START treaty will be temporarily exempt from such inspections.
The announcement came as ties between Russia and the United States unravel over Moscow's intervention in Ukraine and debilitating Western sanctions.
New START is the last remaining arms reduction pact between the former Cold War rivals and caps to 1,550 the number of nuclear warheads that can be deployed by Moscow and Washington.
James Marape Sworn in as Prime Minister of Papua New Guinea for Second Term
James Marape, who was sworn in as Prime Minister of Papua New Guinea for a second term after a national election, vowed to reform electoral processes and "get more from our resources" without scaring away investors.
Voting in PNG's general election, held every five years, ran across three weeks in July but counting was extended till August because of special circumstances including security issues, attacks on ballot boxes and logistical challenges, the electoral commission said.
Marape first became Prime Minister in 2019.
Aug 09, 2022
Gustavo Petro Takes Oath as the President of Colombia
Colombia's first leftist President was sworn in, promising to fight inequality and heralding a turning point in the history of a country haunted by a long war between the government and guerrilla groups.
Sen. Gustavo Petro, a former member of Colombia's M-19 guerrilla group, won the presidential election in June by beating conservative parties that offered moderate changes to the market-friendly economy, but failed to connect with voters frustrated by rising poverty and violence against human rights leaders and environmental groups in rural areas.
Aug 08, 2022
US Committed to Defending Philippines
Secretary of State Antony Blinken assured the Philippines that the United States would come to its defence if attacked in the South China Sea, seeking to allay concerns about the extent of the US commitment to a mutual defence treaty.
In meetings in Manila dominated by discussion on simmering US-China tensions over the Taiwan visit of US House of Representatives Speaker Nancy Pelosi, Blinken said a 70-year-old defence pact with the Philippines was "ironclad".
US, Russia, China Take Part in Talks with SE Asian Nations amid Tensions
US Secretary of State Antony Blinken joined the Foreign Ministers of Russia and China at a meeting with top diplomats from Southeast Asia that came at a time of increased tensions between Washington, Moscow and Beijing.
The East Asia Summit of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations meetings in Cambodia's capital was the first time the three men were scheduled to take part in the same forum.
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