Son of Ousted Philippine Dictator Ferdinand Marcos to Seek Presidency
The son and namesake of the late Philippine dictator Ferdinand Marcos, who was toppled in a 1986 revolt, announced that he would seek the presidency in next year's elections in what activists say is an attempt to whitewash a dark period in the country's history marked by plunder and human rights atrocities.
Former senator Ferdinand Bongbong Marcos Jr. said that he would unite Filipinos to be able to overcome the coronavirus pandemic that has destroyed lives, battered the economy and brought widespread misery.
Marcos Jr. is the latest to express his intention to succeed President Rodrigo Duterte, an ally of the Marcoses who has been in the crosshairs of human rights groups himself. Marcos Jr. is one of at least eight politicians and celebrities who said they'll run for president or lower posts, including Vice President Leni Robredo, who leads the opposition.
Marcos Jr. narrowly lost to Robredo in the 2016 vice presidential race and then unsuccessfully contested alleged elections irregularities.
IFC Names Wendy Werner as India Country Head
The International Finance Corporation (IFC) announced the appointment of Wendy Werner as the new country head for India.
Werner filled the vacancy of her predecessor Jun Zhang, who retired after a long career with the corporation.
Based in New Delhi, she will focus on growth and diversification of the India portfolio, helping maximize IFC's impact in the region.
India is the largest client country globally for the World Bank Group's developmental lender with a commitment of USD 1.7 billion for the fiscal year ending June 2021, representing an increase of over 51 per cent from last year.
US and China Will Abide by Taiwan Agreement
US President Joe Biden and his Chinese counterpart Xi Jinping have agreed to abide by the 'Taiwan agreement'.
Mr. Biden appeared to be referring to Washington's longstanding 'one China' policy under which it recognises China rather than Taiwan.
However, this agreement also allows Washington to maintains a robust unofficial relationship with Tawian.
The announcement comes amid escalating tensions between Taiwan and Beijing.
Taiwan Defence Minister Fears Full Scale Chinese Invasion by 2025
Taiwan Defence Minister Chiu Kuo-cheng said that China will be capable of mounting a full scale invasion of the democratic island by 2025.
Over a four day period, Taiwan reported close to 150 Chinese air force aircraft entered its air defence zone, part of a pattern of what Taipei calls Beijing's continued harassment of the Chinese-claimed island.
Oct 05, 2021
South Sudan and Uganda Abolish Visas between the Two
Ugandans traveling to its neighbour South Sudan no longer require visas to enter the country.
The move reciprocates one taken by Uganda in September to scrap visa entry requirements for South Sudanese.
South Sudan's Deputy Foreign Minister Deng Dau Deng confirmed the development and said that his country's decision is in line with the requirements of the East African Community (EAC).
South Sudan is the EAC's newest member and its founding treaty provides for the free movement of people and labour within the community.
Uganda, Kenya, Tanzania, Rwanda and Burundi are the other member states.
South Sudan joined the EAC in 2016 but has been slow in some adopting some of the protocols including the one establishing a common market.
In July, South Sudan and Kenya also scrapped visas for their nationals traveling between the two countries.
Singapore Parliament Approves Law to Tackle Foreign Interference
Singapore's Parliament has approved a law that gives broad powers to the government to deal with foreign interference that has sparked concern from the opposition and experts about its wide scope and limits on judicial review.
The small and open city-state, which says it is vulnerable to foreign meddling, targeted fake news with a far-reaching law in 2019, and joins nations such as Australia that have passed laws in recent years to deter foreign interference.
The bill, formally known as the Foreign Interference Countermeasures Act (FICA), was passed with 75 members voting in favour, 11 opposition members objecting and two abstaining.
Among the measures, FICA allows authorities to compel internet, social media service providers and website operators to provide user information, block content and remove applications.
Japan's Parliament Elects Fumio Kishida as New PM
Japan's Parliament elected Fumio Kishida as the new Prime Minister, who will be tasked with quickly tackling the pandemic and security challenges before an imminent national election.
Kishida replaced Yoshihide Suga, who resigned with his Cabinet.
Suga left after only one year in office after seeing his support plunge over his government's handling of the pandemic and insistence on holding the Olympics as the virus spread.
Ethiopia: PM Abiy Ahmed Sworn in for Second Five-year Term
Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed was sworn in for a new five-year term as his government faces a host of challenges, including a months-long conflict in the northern region of Tigray.
Abiy took the oath of office, administered by Supreme Court Chief Justice Meaza Ashenafi, following similar oaths by the speaker and deputy speaker of the parliament's Lower House.
Abiy's Prosperity Party was declared the winner of parliamentary elections earlier this year in a vote criticised and, at times, boycotted by opposition parties.
In June, the Prime Minister's party won 410 of the 436 parliamentary seats that were contested.
Oct 04, 2021
Algeria Recalls Ambassador over Macron 'Insults'
Algeria has recalled its ambassador from Paris, accusing France of unacceptable interference in its affairs.
Algeria said it was responding to comments attributed to President Emmanuel Macron by French newspaper Le Monde.
He was quoted as saying the former French colony was ruled by a "political-military system" with an official history that was based not on truth, but on hatred of France.
The diplomatic spat comes days after France cut the number of visas it issues for citizens of Algeria and other North African countries.
Mr Macron, who once described France's colonisation of the North African country as a "crime against humanity", has sought to repair relations with Algeria since taking office in 2017.
Philippine President Duterte Announces Retirement from Politics
Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte said he is retiring from politics and will not stand in elections next year.
The leader said last month that he would run for the vice-presidency in 2022. The country's constitution only permits presidents to serve a single six-year term.
But he now says he will withdraw, as "the overwhelming sentiment of the Filipinos is that I am not qualified".
The move comes amid speculation that his daughter could run for president.
Mr. Duterte, a controversial "strongman" figure, came to power in 2016 promising to reduce crime and fix the country's drug crisis.
But critics say that during his five years in power, Mr. Duterte has encouraged police to carry out thousands of extrajudicial killings of suspects in what he has called his "war on drugs".
Georgian Ex-President Arrested
Georgia's former President Mikheil Saakashvili was arrested on his return from exile.
The pro-Western Mr. Saakashvili led the Caucasus country from 2004 to 2013 but was later convicted in absentia on corruption charges, which he denies.
On Friday he posted a video on Facebook saying he was back in Georgia ahead of local elections on Saturday.
Hours later, Georgia's prime minister announced the former president was in custody.
Initially the government denied that the 53-year-old had entered the country, but then Irakli Gharibashvili said "the third president of Georgia, the wanted Mikheil Saakashvili, has been arrested and sent to jail".
Footage broadcast on Georgian television showed the former president in handcuffs and smiling as officers led him away.
A Georgian rights ombudsman who visited him in prison said he had started a hunger strike and that he considers himself a political prisoner.
President Salome Zourabichvili has said she will not pardon Mr. Saakashvili.
Guinea Coup Leader Sworn in as President
Mamady Doumbouya was sworn in as Guinea's interim President after leading a coup which saw the overthrow of Alpha Condé.
The former French legionnaire became Africa's second-youngest leader, after Mali's Assimi Goïta, who also had staged a military takeover.
Col Doumbouya is barred from contesting future elections under plans to restore civilian rule announced this week.
The 5 September coup has been widely condemned.
Ecowas and the African Union have suspended Guinea.
Ecowas also imposed sanctions against the coup leaders and demanded a return to constitutional order within six months.
Oct 03, 2021
Israel Foreign Minister Makes Historic Visit to Bahrain
Israel's Foreign Minister made the first official visit to Bahrain by an Israeli cabinet member since the states established diplomatic ties last year.
Yair Lapid had a historic, warm and hopeful meeting with King Hamad Al Khalifa and opened Israel's embassy.
The first commercial flight from Manama to Tel Aviv took off after his arrival.
Bahrain, the United Arab Emirates, Morocco and Sudan normalised relations with Israel as part of US-brokered deals known as the Abraham Accords.
Until then only two Arab nations - Egypt and Jordan - had signed peace treaties with Israel.
Oct 02, 2021
China, US Officials Hold Talks on Military Relations amid Strained Ties
Defence officials from China and the US have held two days of talks in a small sign of progress amid a continuing sharp downturn in relations.
The secure video conference held was led by Maj Gen Huang Xueping, deputy direct of the People's Liberation Army's Office for International Military Cooperation, and US Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense for China Michael Chase.
Relations between China and the US are facing the worst strain in decades over trade, technology, human rights and Chinese military activities in the South China Sea, where Beijing has built airstrips and other infrastructure atop man-made islands.
France's Nicolas Sarkozy Found Guilty of Illegally Financing 2012 Election Bid
Former French President Nicolas Sarkozy was found guilty of illegal campaign financing over his failed 2012 re-election bid by a Paris court.
It was the second guilty verdict this year for Sarkozy, who led France from 2007 to 2012 and retains influence among conservatives despite falling from grace over his legal woes.
Prosecutors were seeking a one-year prison sentence, half of it suspended, for the 66-year old former president. He is in any case unlikely to go to jail immediately as he would be expected to appeal the sentence.
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