Category: Politics

In a ceremony on Wednesday, Switzerland welcomed Viola Amherd as its new president, succeeding Alain Berset in the rotating honorary role within the country’s cabinet. Amherd, currently the defence minister, is set to assume the presidency from January. The change comes as part of the annual rotation tradition among cabinet members.

In tandem with this transition, the Swiss parliament elected Beat Jans to the seven-member cabinet, succeeding Berset, who opted to step down by the year’s end. The cabinet reshuffle maintains the existing political balance, with Jans hailing from the centre-left Social Democrat party, the same party as his predecessor.

The majority of the cross-party cabinet members were re-elected for another four-year term. This includes Justice Minister Elisabeth Baume-Schneider from the Social Democrat party, Foreign Minister Ignazio Cassis, and Finance Minister Karin Keller-Sutter from the centre-right Free Liberals. Transport Minister Albert Roesti and Economic Minister Guy Parmelin, representing the Swiss People’s Party, also retained their roles.

President-elect Amherd, a member of the Centre party, reflects the coalition’s commitment to consensus governance. The recent changes maintain continuity in Switzerland’s government, despite the rightward shift observed in the October general election. The newly elected officials are poised to lead the country through the next four years.

New Zealand’s Foreign Minister, Winston Peters, announced on Monday a renewed commitment to strengthen ties with intelligence partners, including the United States, Britain, Canada, and Australia. The four countries, which together with New Zealand are known as the Five Eyes, have shared intelligence since World War Two, though the alliance has come under pressure in recent years.

Peters, a key figure in the right-of-center government led by Prime Minister Christopher Luxon, aims to bolster defense and security engagement, marking a departure from New Zealand’s traditionally moderate stance within the Five Eyes alliance.

Peters, a former foreign minister and leader of the populist New Zealand First Party, used his first major policy speech to highlight the government’s intention to revitalize security partnerships.

Addressing the diplomatic corps in Wellington, Peters emphasized the need for increased defense and security capabilities. New Zealand’s stance on China, a significant player in the South Pacific, is expected to evolve, reflecting a more assertive position in response to China’s growing presence in the region.

Peters also acknowledged the importance of improving relations with Asian nations, singling out India as a country with which New Zealand seeks stronger ties.

A Constitution Bench of the Supreme Court has unanimously upheld the President’s authority to abrogate Article 370 in August 2019, leading to the reorganization of Jammu and Kashmir into two Union Territories. Chief Justice of India D.Y. Chandrachud, leading the five-judge Bench, affirmed that the President could unilaterally issue a notification to cease the existence of Article 370.

The court emphasized that the President possessed the power to abrogate Article 370 when “special circumstances warrant a special solution,” and that the judiciary could not question the decision based on the assessment of such circumstances.

Describing the abrogation as the culmination of a “gradual and collaborative exercise” spanning 70 years, the court declared the Jammu and Kashmir Constitution “redundant” and “inoperative,” asserting that the Indian Constitution was the comprehensive code for constitutional governance.

The ruling also accepted the Centre’s commitment to restoring Statehood to the Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir and directed the Election Commission of India to conduct Assembly elections by September 30, 2024.

While the court refrained from examining the permissibility of the reorganization into the Union Territories of Ladakh and Jammu and Kashmir, it endorsed the carving out of Ladakh from the erstwhile state.

Chief Justice Chandrachud clarified that Jammu and Kashmir had divested itself of “any element of sovereignty” after executing the Instrument of Accession in 1947. The court affirmed that Article 370 was a temporary provision to facilitate accession during times of internal strife and war.

In an insightful suggestion, Justice Sanjay Kishan Kaul proposed the establishment of a Truth and Reconciliation Commission to address the intergenerational trauma caused by violence and mass migration in Jammu and Kashmir.

This verdict settles a long-standing legal debate and establishes the constitutional validity of the abrogation of Article 370 and the reorganization of the region.

In a significant move aimed at enhancing bilateral ties and addressing shared concerns over China’s assertiveness in the South China Sea, the Indian and Vietnamese armies commenced an 11-day joint military exercise on Monday. The exercise, named “VINBAX-23,” is scheduled to take place in Hanoi from December 11 to 21, marking the latest chapter in the growing strategic partnership between the two nations.

The primary objective of VINBAX-23 is to foster collaboration and promote interoperability between the Indian and Vietnamese armed forces. With 45 personnel from each side participating, the exercise will focus on deploying and employing an engineer company and a medical team. Both contingents will engage in a command post exercise-cum-field training exercise, exchanging ideas and rehearsing tactics, techniques, and procedures.

Against the backdrop of territorial disputes between Vietnam and China in the South China Sea, the exercise holds particular significance. India’s decision to gift its in-service missile corvette, INS Kirpan, to Vietnam in July further underscores the strengthening defense cooperation between the two nations. Notably, India also has oil-exploration projects in Vietnamese waters in the South China Sea.

The VINBAX series, initiated in 2018, is an annual training event alternately conducted in India and Vietnam. This year’s exercise follows the successful edition held at the Chandimandir military station in August 2022. Both sides expressed the aim of promoting understanding and cooperation, emphasizing the exchange of modern methods in constructing infrastructure in operational areas.

The joint military exercise showcases the commitment of India and Vietnam to peacekeeping operations under Chapter VII of the UN Charter. As the drill progresses, both contingents will conduct technical military operations aligned with scenarios resembling the worldwide deployment of United Nations’ contingents. The exercise will culminate in a validation exercise, demonstrating the standards attained by both armies.

At the United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP28) in Dubai, Prime Minister Narendra Modi proposed that India host the 33rd Conference of the Parties of the UNFCCC (COP 33) in 2028. Speaking during the opening ceremony’s high-level segment, PM Modi reaffirmed India’s commitment to the UN Framework for Climate Change process.

“India is committed to the UN Framework for Climate Change process. That is why, from this stage, I propose to host the COP33 Summit in India in 2028,” expressed Prime Minister Modi, making a significant commitment to addressing global climate concerns.

Asserting that the world does not have much time to correct the mistakes of the last century, Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced a ‘Green Credit Initiative’ focused on creating carbon sinks through people’s participation. The Green Credit programme is independent of the carbon credit under the Carbon Credit Trading Scheme, 2023. It will allow individuals, entities, organisations, states, to take positive action that will help the planet and further add credits to their tally.

In his visionary speech, PM Modi stressed the importance of providing all developing countries with a fair share in the global carbon budget. He was the sole leader to join the opening plenary, sharing the stage with COP28 President Sultan Al Jaber and UN Climate Change President Simon Steill.

Prime Minister Modi outlined India’s climate goals, including a 45% reduction in emissions intensity by 2030 and an increase in the share of non-fossil fuel to 50%. Additionally, he announced India’s unwavering commitment to achieving net-zero emissions by the year 2070.

Winston Peters, New Zealand’s Foreign Minister, has announced that the country would seek to strengthen engagement with the United States on strategic and security challenges while also looking to unlock potential in their economic relationship.

Addressing the United States Business Summit in Auckland, Peters emphasized the crucial role that New Zealand, as a small democracy with deep regional relationships, can play in promoting shared values and economic opportunities.

The speech marked Peters’ first as foreign minister under the recently elected centre-right government in New Zealand. New Zealand’s new prime minister, Christopher Luxon, has described the country’s foreign policy as bipartisan. No significant policy shift is expected under the new government.

“We know moving with the speed and intensity required to meet current challenges is going to require all of us to step up. New Zealand stands ready to play its part,” Peters declared. He said this could be done by being deliberate and attentive to New Zealand’s contribution to international and regional security challenges.

Peters said he would like to see the two countries working together to maximize the value and not just volume of their bilateral trade, fostering business-to-business connections and working to strengthen supply chains.

Prime Minister Luxon, who also spoke at the event, expressed his desire for New Zealand to be more externally oriented. “I don’t think we’ve been engaging out there in the world in the way that we should and that we can and that we have maybe in our past,” Luxon stated, emphasizing the need for increased global engagement.

India will come up with new regulations to tackle deepfakes, the Union IT Minister, Ashwini Vaishnaw said on Thursday.

The govt, on Thursday, revealed plans to draft new regulations or amend existing laws in order to deal with the deepfake menace. Deepfakes involve digitally altering a person’s face or body in videos to make them appear as someone else, often leading to the spread of false information.

The comprehensive plan outlined by Mr. Vaishnaw focuses on four key pillars: detection of deepfakes, prevention by removing or reducing their virality, strengthening reporting mechanisms, and spreading awareness about the technology. Recent incidents, including morphed videos of personalities from cinema and politics circulating on social media, have heightened concerns in India.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi had flagged concerns on deepfakes pointing out that the use of AI for creating such content was “problematic”.

After chairing a meeting with social media platforms, artificial intelligence (AI) companies and industry bodies, Mr. Vaishnaw said the government will come up with a “clear, actionable plan” to tackle deepfakes and misinformation in the next ten days. Emphasizing that deepfakes are not a form of free speech, he suggested the need for labelling or watermarking to facilitate clear identification of content.

New Zealand welcomed its new right-of-centre government on Monday, with parliament expected to begin next week and marking a shift in policies, including alterations to the central bank mandate and lifting the ban on oil and gas exploration.

National Party leader Christopher Luxon was sworn in as the country’s 42nd prime minister, accompanied by his cabinet ministers. The coalition, formed by the Centre-right National Party, libertarian ACT New Zealand, and populist New Zealand First, concluded six years of left-wing governance in the country.

“We’ve got the team, we’ve got the ideas, we’ve got a clear policy program for the next three years,” he said. The incoming government’s policy plans, detailed in coalition agreements, involve a unified mandate for the central bank, a plan to roll back the use of the Maori language, and a lifting of the ban on oil and gas exploration.

Despite these changes, the New Zealand Green Party has launched a petition to maintain the ban on oil and gas exploration, vowing to reintroduce it when they return to government. “We ask everyone to stand with us to tell this government that the oil and gas ban has to stay,” Green Party co-leader James Shaw said in a statement.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi has welcomed the deal to release 50 Israeli hostages. During his address at the Virtual G20 Leaders’ Summit on November 22, he asserted that killing of innocents, especially children and women, is not acceptable.

The Prime Minister made seven observations on the Israel-Hamas conflict. These included zero tolerance on terrorism, expediting humanitarian aid, need for regional stability and pursuing dialogue and diplomacy to resolve the conflict.

The virtual G20 summit was attended by 22 heads of government, though some leaders were not present. Russian President Vladimir Putin, Canadian PM Justin Trudeau, Japanese PM Fumio Kishida, Australian PM Anthony Albanese took part, while Chinese President Xi Jinping and US President Joe Biden skipped it.

At the summit, PM Modi also spoke about the negative effects of artificial intelligence and made a strong pitch for its global regulation. India, he added, will host a Global AI Partnership Summit next month.

The four-day Israel-Hamas ceasefire began on November 23. In the Gaza truce, 130 Palestinian women and children will be freed in exchange for 50 Israeli hostages. The truce could be extended by a day for each additional release of 10 Israeli hostages. Hundreds of trucks carrying humanitarian aid and fuel would be allowed to enter Gaza. Egypt, Qatar, and the US have helped mediate the deal between Israel and Hamas.

India on November 20 donated $2.5 million to the UN agency for Palestinian refugees, the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestinian Refugees (UNRWA) as part of its annual contribution of $5 million for the year 2023-24 to support the agency’s core programmes and services, including education, healthcare, relief, and social services provided to Palestinian refugees, the Representative Office of India at Ramallah said.

The contribution was handed over by the Representative of India (ROI) to Palestine, Renu Yadav, to the Director of Partnerships, Department of External Relations of UNRWA, Karim Amer.

The ROI underlined India’s continued support for the agency’s activities in the region and the services it provides to Palestinian refugees during the handover ceremony at UNRWA’s field office in Jerusalem, an official press release said.

The UNRWA, functional since 1950, carries out direct relief and work programmes for registered Palestine refugees. It is funded almost entirely by voluntary contributions from UN Member States. The agency has been struggling to provide basic services to hundreds of thousands of Palestinians since the October 7 Israel-Hamas conflict, which has prompted more than two-thirds of the Gaza population to flee their homes.

On November 19, India delivered 32 tonnes of humanitarian assistance to the people of Palestine via the El-Arish Airport in Egypt.