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INTERNATIONAL AFFAIRS - October 2017

Oct 2017

Nov 24, 2021

U.N. Libya Envoy Bows Out as Presidential Vote Approaches

The United Nations' top envoy for Libya is resigning weeks ahead of presidential elections seen as critical to the country's stability after nearly a decade of chaos.
Jan Kubis decided to step down after just 10 months in the job. With the presidential vote set for December 24, the U.N. is working as quickly as possible to ensure continuity of leadership.
Mr. Kubis, a former Slovak foreign minister who previously held high-level U.N. posts in Iraq and Afghanistan, became the head of the U.N. political mission in Libya in January, after the world body sought for nearly a year to fill the sensitive job. One leading candidate turned it down, some U.N. member countries objected to other suggestions and there were changes in the job itself.

Israeli Parliament Okays Bill Setting Term Limit of 8 Years for PM

The Israeli parliament voted in favour of a bill that would limit the service of a Prime Minister to a maximum of eight years. Lawmakers voted 66-48 in favour of the bill.
The vote was the first in three full rounds of votes that the bill needs to pass before becoming a law.
The bill is widely seen as a reaction to former Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who was ousted by the new governing coalition after 12 consecutive years in office.
The bill will not be retroactive, thus not affecting the opposition leader Netanyahu should he seek to run for the post again.

Romania President Klaus Iohannis Nominates Defence Minister Nicolae Ciuca as PM

Romanian President Klaus Iohannis nominated Defence Minister Nicolae Ciuca to form a new government as Prime Minister.
A solid majority was formed in the Romanian Parliament for Nicolae Ciuca to form a new government as Prime Minister, which Klaus Iohannis accepted.
Earlier, the National Liberal Party (PNL), the Social Democratic Party (PSD) and the Democratic Alliance of Hungarians in Romania (UDMR) reached an agreement to form a coalition government, which enjoys the support of the 18 MPs representing the country's minorities.
Under the country's Constitution, the Prime Minister-designate has 10 days to form a government and win a vote of confidence in Parliament, which Ciuca is expected to win easily as his coalition holds 65 per cent of seats.

JP Morgan World's most Systemically Important Bank

According to the latest annual ranking of top lenders by global regulators, JP Morgan Chase became the world's most systemically important bank once again, with BNP Paribas and Goldman Sachs also now deemed more systemic.
The Financial Stability Board (FSB), made up of regulators from G20 countries, published its latest table of the world's 30 most systemic banks.
Being included in the table means having to hold additional capital and undergo more intense supervision to avoid a repeat of taxpayer bailouts in the banking crisis over a decade ago.

Nov 22, 2021

United Arab Emirates Reopens its Embassy in Kabul

The United Arab Emirates (UAE) reopened its embassy in the capital Kabul.
Prior to the Taliban`s takeover of Afghanistan in August, most of the foreign embassies had closed their diplomatic mission in the country due to the escalating violence in the country.

Iraq Refutes Reports of US Military Exit Extension

Iraq denied reports that the US had extended the period of its military presence in Iraq beyond December 31.
In July, the US and Iraq held a session of strategic dialogue, during which the two countries agreed to withdraw all American combat troops from Iraq by the December 31 deadline.

Sudan's Military Agrees to Reinstate Ousted PM Abdalla Hamdok

A deal was reached between Sudan's military and civilian leaders to reinstate Prime Minister Abdalla Hamdok, who was deposed in a coup last month.
They also said that government officials and politicians arrested since the October 25 coup would be released as part of the deal between the military and political parties, including the largest Umma Party. However, the party later issued a statement implying that it did not sign off on the deal.
Hamdok will lead an independent technocratic Cabinet.

US, Canadian, Mexican Leaders Hold First Summit in 5 Years

US President Joe Biden hosted Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and Mexican President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador at the White House for their first North American Leaders' Summit since 2016.
Ahead of the three-person summit, which was shunned by former US President Donald Trump, Biden separately met Trudeau and Obrador.
During the summit, the three leaders reiterated their strong ties and integration, and willingness to chart a new path for their partnership at a time when they face incredibly complex global challenges.

Nov 21, 2021

Kamala Harris Becomes First Woman to Hold Presidential Powers in the US

For the first time in the history of United States of America, a woman got presidential power, even if it was temporarily. US Vice President Kamala Harris temporarily had power transferred to her because of President Joe Biden's health.
The power transfer took place while Biden was under anaesthesia for a routine colonoscopy for one hour and 25 minutes. The US' first female, first Black and first South Asian vice president Harris broke another barrier as she became the first woman to hold presidential powers in the country.

US, Japan Reaffirm Importance of Trilateral Cooperation with South Korea

Senior diplomats of the US and Japan have reaffirmed the importance of cooperation with South Korea, a day after Japanese Vice Foreign Minister Takeo Mori boycotted a joint press conference over what his American counterpart called an unrelated bilateral issue.
Mori and US Deputy Secretary of State Wendy Sherman also reaffirmed their commitment to the complete denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula.
The two also discussed the DPRK and our shared commitment to the complete denuclearization of the Korean peninsula.
DPRK stands for the Democratic People's Republic of Korea, North Korea's official name.

Germany's CDU Ready to Elect New Leader to Succeed Armin Laschet

Germany's Christian Democratic Union (CDU) is searching for a new party leader as three candidates have lined up to succeed Armin Laschet.
Former chairman of the conservative union's (CDU/CSU) parliamentary group Friedrich Merz, who already lost against Annegret Kramp-Karrenbauer in 2018 and against Laschet at the beginning of the year, is running for CDU leadership for the third time.
Foreign policy expert Norbert Roettgen and acting head of the Chancellor's Office Helge Braun also announced their candidacy to succeed Laschet.
The new CDU chairperson is planned to be elected at a party conference on January 21, 2022, following a member survey scheduled for December.

Nov 20, 2021

Masood Khan �" Pakistan's New Envoy to U.S.

Former president of Pakistan-occupied Kashmir, Masood Khan, was named as Islamabad's new ambassador to the US.
Earlier this month, the Pakistan Embassy in Washington received Khan's nomination papers, replacing the current ambassador, Asad Majeed Khan, who has been serving in the position since January 2019. Khan's predecessor nears the end of his three-year term and is expected to return to Islamabad by mid-2022.
In the past, Khan has served as Pakistan's permanent representative to the UN, ambassador to China, and Director General of the Institute of Strategic Studies, a think tank based in Islamabad that is funded by Pakistan's foreign ministry. He also worked as a TV news anchor during the early stages of his career.
Khan's appointment comes at a time when bilateral relations between Islamabad and Washington appear to be balancing on an edge, especially after the Taliban takeover in Afghanistan.

South Korea Calls on US to Revise Trump-era Tariff Rules on Steel Exports

South Korea's top trade official called on the US to launch negotiations swiftly to revise the tariff rules imposed by former President Donald Trump's administration on Seoul's steel exports.
South Korean Trade Minister Yeo Han-koo made the request to visiting US Trade Representative Katherine Tai during in a joint committee meeting of the bilateral free trade agreement.
It is the first time in 10 years that a US top trade official has visited South Korea.
South Korea has been pushing for the revision of the Section 232 tariff rules.

Japan Cabinet Approves Record stimulus Package to Fix Economy

Japan's Cabinet approved a record 56 trillion yen ($490 billion) stimulus package, including cash handouts and aid to ailing businesses, to help the economy out of the doldrums worsened by the coronavirus pandemic.
The package has more than enough content and scale to deliver a sense of security and hope to the people.
It still needs parliamentary approval.
The plan includes doling out 100,000 yen ($880) each in monetary assistance to those 18 years or younger, and aid for businesses whose sales plummeted because of coronavirus measures.

Nov 19, 2021

Imran Khan Proves his Majority, Sails through Parliament Test

The joint session of Pakistan Parliament was an opportunity for Prime Minister Imran Khan to prove his majority in Parliament, which he did.
With the support of 221 votes of his party members and that of the allies, the government cruised through the session amid the Opposition's protest.

Taiwan Opens Office in Lithuania

Taiwan opened a de facto embassy in Lithuania in a diplomatic breakthrough for the Chinese-claimed island, brushing aside Beijing's strong opposition to the move which again expressed its anger and warned of consequences.
Other Taiwan offices in Europe and the United States use the name of the city Taipei, avoiding a reference to the island itself, which China claims as its own territory.
China has stepped up efforts to get other countries to limit their interactions with Taiwan, or cut them off altogether. Only 15 countries have formal diplomatic ties with Taiwan.

US Designates Pakistan, China as 'Countries of Concern' over Violation of Religious Freedom

The United States has designated 10 nations Burma, the People`s Republic of China, Eritrea, Iran, the DPRK, Pakistan, Russia, Saudi Arabia, Tajikistan, and Turkmenistan as Countries of Particular Concern for having engaged in or tolerated systematic, ongoing, and egregious violations of religious freedom.
Algeria, Comoros, Cuba, and Nicaragua were placed on a Special Watch List for governments that have engaged in or tolerated "severe violations of religious freedom.
The United States remains committed to working with governments, civil society organizations, and members of religious communities to advance religious freedom around the world and address the plight of individuals and communities facing abuse, harassment, and discrimination on account of what they believe, or what they do not believe.

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