Category: Politics

On Wednesday, Ferdinand Marcos Jr. was proclaimed as the next president of the Philippines with a huge win with 31 million votes. The joint session of Congress voted for him after 36 years in which his father was ousted from power in a pro-democracy uprising.

A huge Philippine flag draped the podium in a plenary hall bedecked with a huge Philippine flag, as the Senate president and the House speaker raised Marcos Jr.’s hands to applause from the audience, which included diplomats.

Additionally, both the Senate and House of Representatives declared that his separate vice presidential candidate, Sara Duterte, who is the daughter of outgoing President Rodrigo Duterte, who will leave office on June 30, had also won by a wide margin with 32 million votes.

Marcos Jr. said, “I am humbled, I thank our people and beyond that, I promise you that we may not be perfect but will always strive to perfection”.

Despite the Covid-19 lockdowns, crushing poverty, gaping inequality, Muslim and communist insurgencies, crime, and political divisions further triggered by the May 9 election, the new administration will face challenging tasks.

A 64-year-old former governor, congressman, and senator, Marcos Jr. refused to admit or apologize for massive violations of human rights and plundering that occurred under his father’s rule and has defended the legacy of his father.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi and US President Joe Biden launched the technology cooperation initiative and investment initiative at the bilateral meeting in Tokyo.

The leaders agreed to expand defense cooperation and welcomed the signing of an investment incentive agreement to focus on healthcare, renewable energy, infrastructure, and other sectors. Defense and security cooperation was described by Modi and Biden as crucial pillars of the bilateral agenda and they agreed to work closely on emerging technologies.

This initiative, spearheaded by the National Security Council Secretariat in India and the National Security Council of the United States, iCET, aims to build links between public, private, and academic sectors in areas like artificial intelligence, quantum computing, 5G/6G, biotech, space, and semiconductors.

Modi invited American companies to participate in the ‘Make in India’ program, which may be mutually beneficial. Both nations are committed to expanding cooperation in new defense areas, including cyber and artificial intelligence.

Mr. Modi met with the leaders of the US, Japan, and Australia on the sidelines of the Quad Leaders Summit, to discuss increasing economic relations and cooperation for peace and stability in the region. Biden said he would strive to make the US-India relationship “among the closest” in the world, articulating a view he has expressed for years. Meanwhile, Mr. Modi called the Indian-US relationship a “partnership of trust”.

Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu along with the Energy Minister Fatih Donmez, will visit Israel this week in what seems to be an effort to improve the relationship between the two countries that has seen tensions and stormy ties for more than a decade.

Cavusoglu met Palestinian officials on Tuesday and will meet his Israeli counterpart, Yair Lapid, on Wednesday, which will make it the first visit by a Turkish foreign minister in 15 years. The ministers are expected to hold talks on re-establishing ties and enhancing diplomatic links.

Relations between Israel and Turkey saw a sudden and dramatic deterioration when in 2010, Israeli commandos raided a Turkish flotilla headed for the Gaza Strip causing the death of 10 civilians. Ankara has been condemning Israel’s strategy toward the Palestinians, and Israel has accused Turkey of supporting Hamas, the Islamic fundamentalist and militant group that rules the Gaza Strip.

 In May 2018, Turkey threw out the Israeli ambassador to Ankara and called back its envoys from Israel and the US after 60 Palestinians who disapproved of the transfer of the American embassy to Jerusalem from Tel Aviv were killed by Israeli soldiers. Ever since the two countries have always had a turbulent relationship. The Turkish Foreign minister’s landmark visit to Israel signifies the warming relations between both countries.

Australia’s economy minister on Wednesday urged China to drop the taxing trade tariffs if it wants to improve bilateral relations after Beijing showed interest in fostering ties.

China, Australia’s biggest trading partner – levied official and unofficial trade sanctions and threw into disorder several big industries such as wine, barley, and coal, as relations between both countries worsened in the last couple of years.

Earlier in the week, Chinese Premier Li Keqiang sent a congratulatory note to the newly elected Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese, which is considered  to be a significant top-level correspondence between Beijing and Canberra in the last two years. Li’s letter stated that China was all set to work with Australia to analyze the past, look into the future and develop a “comprehensive strategic partnership”, as reported by Xinhua news agency on Monday. In reply, Australian prime minister said that it would respond “appropriately.”

Treasurer Jim Chalmers said Australia felt a heavy blow due to demanding trade tariffs imposed by China and persuaded the lifting of sanctions “as soon as possible.” He added that the tariffs are damaging the Australian economy and making life harder for employees and workers. Lifting of sanctions would be a really great start in building the relationship between both countries

The Quad leaders are set to discuss laying a long-term strategic groundwork to further solidify cooperation in the Indo-Pacific. Leaders from India, the United States, Australia and Japan are among the Quad leaders.

The leaders of India, the United States, Australia and Japan are expected to show that the group is a “force for global good” and has a unifying commitment to a rules-based international order amidst China’s increasing threats.

PM Narendra Modi is expected to discuss India’s outlook and vision for the Indo-Pacific and ways to boost cooperation in multiple areas, including ensuring resilient supply chains, at the summit. Ahead of his trip to Tokyo, Mr Modi said that the summit will give an opportunity to review the progress of the Quad initiative and discuss the developments in the free and open Indo-Pacific region, along with global issues of mutual interest.

The leaders are also looking forward to resolving and expanding cooperation in the areas of emerging technologies, clean energy, connectivity, supply chain security, digital trade, and infrastructure.

The summit is held at a time when China and the member countries of the Quad have experienced a tense relationship in recent years, with Beijing increasingly challenging democracy and resorting to coercive trade practices.

On Monday, the first non-Anglo Celtic Labour Party leader Anthony Albanese has sworn in as Australia’s new president ahead of the Tokyo summit with President Biden. He flew to Tokyo while counting and continued to determine whether he will control a majority in a parliament as it demands tougher action on climate change.

In Saturday’s election, Albanese defeated Scott Morrison’s conservative coalition, which was in power for nine years under three prime ministers. Malaysian-born Penny Wong was sworn in as Australia’s first Foreign Minister to be born overseas and Richar Marles as Deputy prime minister. Jima Chalmers and Katy Gallagher swore into economic ministries.

Ministers were sworn into office by Governor-General David Hurley ahead of the Tokyo trip on Tuesday with Mr Biden, Japan’s Prime Minister Fumio Kishida and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

Before the swearing-in ceremony, Anthony Albanese said, “I want to lead a government that has the same sentiment of optimism and hope that I think defines the Australian people.

The party appears assured of 75 seats in the 151-seat House of Representatives, just one seat short of a majority. According to Australia’s Electoral Commission, the conservative coalition was on track for 58 seats, unaligned lawmakers had 12, and six seats were too close to call.

Officials said on Monday that India and Nepal have agreed to construct a 695 megawatt (MW) hydropower plant. As per a statement released by the NEA spokesperson Suresh Bahadur Bhattarai the Arun IV project will be constructed jointly on the Arun River in Eastern Nepal by India’s Satluj Jal Vidyut Nigam (SJVN NSE 2.20%) Ltd and Nepal’s state-owned Nepal Electricity Authority (NEA) with payable equity of 51% and 49% respectively.

 India, which has an electricity trading pact with Nepal, is plowing billions of dollars into infrastructure such as hydropower plants as it aims to expand its influence in its neighboring countries, where China plays a dominant part too. Bhattarai told Reuters without elaborating that Nepal will receive 152 megawatts of free electricity from the plant for its consumption and the remaining will be divided between the two on a 51% and 49% basis. He said that the cost of the project is being worked out and they will share the total as per the above ratio.

Nepal is eager to make the most of its plentiful potential to produce clean energy to reduce power shortages.

The power plant agreement is one of the six deals concluded between India and the Himalayan nation during the historic visit of Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi to Nepal on Monday.

Elisabeth Borne, 61, was appointed France’s new prime minister following the resignation of Prime Minister Jean Castex on Monday, to become only the second woman in the history of France to hold the post. The first woman Prime Minister of France was Edith Cresson, who ruled from 1991 to 1992 under Socialist President Francois Mitterrand. Borne served as the transport minister, minister of Ecological Transition and the labor minister all under President Emmanuel Macron’s previous government.

Soon after her appointment, Borne spoke about how emotional she felt at being selected for the top-most position that a woman has ever held in the political leadership of France. She dedicated her selection to all the “little girls” and persuaded them to chase their dreams and fight for the place of women in society.

The top priority for Borne will be to ensure that Macron’s centrist party and its allies get success in the parliamentary election to be held in the country in June. Macron also assured that his new government would prepare and address a bill, most probably after the parliamentary election, that will look into the high cost of living in France, where the price of food and energy are skyrocketing.

Macron and Borne are expected to appoint the new government in the days to come.

After the demise of UAE president Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed bin al-Nahyan on May 13, his half-brother Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed al-Nahyan, 61, was unanimously elected as the new president of the United Arab Emirates. The meeting was held between the rulers of the seven sheikhdoms in Abu Dhabi’s Al Mushrif palace where the decision was made to appoint Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed al-Nahyan as the third president of the oil-rich country.

 Dubai’s ruler, Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, tweeted that all of UAE, including the rulers, pledge allegiance to the new president and congratulated him on his appointment. He added that the entire nation will be led by him and if God wills, the new president will take the country to greater heights and carry on the legacy of his predecessor.

The UAE is observing a state mourning period of three days in which all businesses will remain shut across the country and events halted as a mark of respect to Sheikh Khalifa. Flags flew at half-mast and all Electronic billboards in Dubai flashed the photograph of the late Sheikh.

Sheikh Mohammed was forever the candidate for the post of a president ever since Sheikh Khalifa suffered a stroke in 2014. His tenure is for five years and he can be eligible for re-election after his term ends.

Vietnam’s Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh is on a historic 7-day visit to the USA, on a mission to give a talk on bilateral disagreements and strengthen partnerships including America-ASEAN ties that would be significant in offering peace and stability in SE Asia.

The visit goes to show that Vietnam has an important role in casting US-ASEAN ties. At the same time, India-Vietnam collaboration also helps to build up India’s role in ASEAN and therefore avouch Vietnam’s role as a multinational player in shaping foreign policy. Chinh’s visit also gives evidence of the fact that Vietnam can sensibly manage human rights issues. Vietnam, whose GDP growth rate is expected to reach between 6 to 8 percent, is in the making of one of the rising economies in South East Asia.

While addressing the ASEAN–US Special Summit on May 13, the Vietnamese prime minister stated that ASEAN has been working hard in shaping the regional architecture and its members have come forward together and envisioned building an ASEAN community, contributing to peace, growth, and stability. He also said that he hoped the superpowers who have partnered with ASEAN function to build steady relations out of consideration for global peace and safety.