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INTERNATIONAL AFFAIRS - March 2018

Mar 2018

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.

Oct 01, 2021

North Korea's Kim Jong-un Offers to Restore Inter-Korean Hotline

North Korean leader Kim Jong-un said that he is willing to restore a vital communication hotline with South Korea, in a possible offer of reconciliation.
He also accused the US of proposing talks without changing its hostile policy towards the North.
Pyongyang severed the hotlines in August this year in protest against South Korea-US military drills.
Mr. Kim's latest comments came during Pyongyang's annual parliament session.

European Union's General Court Annuls EU-Morocco Deals

A European Union court declared that EU-Morocco trade deals covering farm products and fish were invalid because they were agreed without the consent of the people of Western Sahara.
The ruling could damage the EU's relationship with Morocco, although the court said the effects of the 2019 agreements would be maintained over a certain period to preserve the European Union's external action and legal certainty over its international commitments. The EU is Morocco's leading trade partner and the biggest foreign investor in the North African kingdom, according to the 27-nation bloc.
The case was brought to the court by the Polisario Front, the movement seeking Western Sahara's independence from Morocco.

Sep 30, 2021

Tunisia's First Woman Prime Minister

Tunisia's President named Raoudha Boudent Ramadhane as nation's first woman Prime Minister, appointing her to lead a transitional government after her predecessor was sacked.
President Kais Saied named Ramadhane, a professor at a prestigious engineering school, to the PM's post in a surprise decision.

Fumio Kishida to Become Japan's Next PM

Fumio Kishida won a race to lead Japan's ruling Liberal Democratic Party (LDP), putting him on course to become the next Prime Minister of Japan.
Mr. Kishida will succeed Yoshihide Suga, who decided to step down after just one year in office.
His first mission as Prime Minister will be to lead the LDP to victory in an upcoming general election.
The party's popularity fell after it pushed to host the Tokyo Olympics despite public opposition.
Mr. Kishida, a former Foreign Minister, beat out Taro Kono, who was widely regarded as the most popular candidate.
Given the LDP's majority in parliament, Mr. Kishida's position as Prime Minister has been all but cemented.

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