Asia

Afghan Elections 2018; Vote Trumps Threats of Violence From Taliban

Afghanistan held its parliamentary elections which had been subject to delay and postponement since 2015. Originally scheduled to be held three years back, the said elections had been deferred considering the volatile security condition in the country and also a delay in the election policy. The elections held past week have been contended by the Afghan authorities as a message to the Taliban that the institutions in Afghanistan are strengthened enough to pursue meaningful negotiations given the readiness at the end of the Taliban.

‘The Afghan government aims to send a message to the Taliban with this election: that despite the on-going violent campaigns by the armed group, the government is functioning and that the Taliban will have to come to the negotiating table through a political process acceptable to all Afghans. The Taliban, who have been fighting Afghan and US-led NATO forces for the past 17 years, have rejected the elections and warned candidates and Afghan security forces that they would be targeted, as would schools whose premises will be used as polling stations.’ Shereena Qazi and Alia Chughtai write for the Al Jazeera.

‘As such, these polls will be a major test of the Afghan people’s willingness to head back to the polls after yet another election riddled with accusations of fraud. It will also be a test of the unity government’s promises of electoral reform and efforts to combat fraud. While some of the young candidates represent the old guard — children of warlords and businessmen who made millions over the 17 years since the Taliban were driven from power — many others want to change what they see as a rotting, broken system plagued with accusations of endemic corruption, fraud and bribery. Critics argue that many of these young candidates are naive, and that it will take more than an injection of idealistic youth to change a system of entrenched corruption and cronyism.’ Ali Latifi writes for The National.

‘Afghanistan’s political scene is still tainted by the aftermath of a disputed presidential vote in 2014 that forced the two main rival groupings to form an unstable partnership. Both sides were accused of massive electoral cheating. But high turnout, at least in the major cities, reflected strong support for the process in the face of threats from militant attacks and widespread disillusion with a corrupt political class.’ Daniel Bellamy writes for the Euro News.

India’s BJP changes Muslim Name of Allahabad to Prayagraj

The Hindu nationalist government in the Uttar Pradesh (UP), India has changed the Muslim historic name of the Allahbad city to Prayagraj. The act has received mixed responses from the public resident in the state of former Allahbad and the academic fraternity.

‘Authorities in India’s most populous state have changed the Muslim name of an historic city to one with Hindu overtones. Allahabad, a city of more than one million people in northern Uttar Pradesh (UP) state, will now be known as Prayagraj. The city’s name change comes amid concern over what critics say is a bid by Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s Hindu nationalist party to erase the country’s diverse history and identity.’ Reported the Al Jazeera.

‘The decision to rename Allahabad has met with mixed response in the city, with some welcoming it and others calling it an assault on the social fabric of the Sangam city. Amid the polarised opinions, a discussion on the identity of the residents has gripped the city. Scholars, too, have offered differing opinions. The BJP government has claimed that an ancient city of Prayag existing at the confluence of Ganga and Yamuna was renamed Allahabad during the period of Emperor Akbar.’ Omar Rashid writes for The Hindu.

‘Ideally, change of name of a place should not cause any rumblings even though it may affect local logistics and create minor inconveniences. But when this is done with the intent to spite someone so that it could serve a larger political objective, then it is bound to be seen with much skepticism and suspicion. Since religious polarisation has been their most sought after handle to manouvre their way to power, BJP finds Hindu symbolism as the most convenient tool to achieve their goal.’ Sharat Pradhan writes for The National Herald.

Middle East & North Africa

Jamal Khashoggi; the Death of  Veteran Journalist and the Concerns that Surround It

Jamal Khashoggi, veteran Saudi journalist, writer and critic mysteriously went missing on October 2^nd, 2018 and was last seen at the Saudi consulate in Istanbul. The Turkish authorities contend that the writer must have been killed inside the Saudi consulate as a part of some pre-mediated scheme. Following a series of denials, the Saudi government has finally agreed to the demise of the journalist and has regarded it as a mistake.

‘After weeks of denials, Saudi Arabia for the first time confirmed that journalist Jamal Khashoggi was killed inside its consulate in the Turkish city of Istanbul. The kingdom claimed early on Saturday that The Washington Post columnist died after a “fist fight” inside the building and 18 Saudi citizens were arrested over the killing. Saudi officials had previously denied Khashoggi had been killed and dismembered inside the diplomatic facility, insisting he had left the consulate before disappearing. Here’s a round-up of the international reaction related to the confirmation of the Saudi journalist’s killing. Amnesty International said Saudi Arabia should “immediately produce” the body of Saudi journalist Jamal Khashoggi so that independence forensic experts can conduct an autopsy in line with international standards.’ Reported the Al Jazeera.

‘The credibility of the Saudi court is already stretched to breaking point. From the day of Khashoggi’s disappearance until the early hours of Saturday morning, the official line from Riyadh was that the exiled writer, a US resident who wrote for the Washington Post, left the consulate before disappearing. The question for western powers is whether this explanation is seen as a necessary and sufficient grubby deal to bring a disastrous episode to a close, or whether punitive sanctions will be required.  Julian Borger and Patrick Wintour write for The Guardian.

Sub Saharan Africa

Kanye West and Kim Kardashian Visit Uganda to boost Tourism

The star couple visited Uganda earlier past week. Their visit to Uganda is being seen as a coup by the tourism promoters who had recently been criticized for not bringing in enough  tourism to the country.

‘The East African nation’s tourism sector was recently criticised by the country President Yoweri Museveni, who said that Uganda was not doing enough to promote the nation’s vast natural attractions. The celebrity couple touched down in the country last evening in a private jet. The rapper and team set up a temporary music studio in the wild for next week where he is planning to record a new album.’ Reported the Al Jazeera.

‘Kanye West has met with Uganda’s president during a visit to the East African nation and given the 74-year-old leader a pair of white sneakers. President Yoweri Museveni has said he and the American rapper held “fruitful discussions” about promoting tourism and arts. West and his wife, reality TV star Kim Kardashian West, have been vacationing in a national park in Uganda. He is said to be recording music in a tent.’ Associated Press reported for the USA Today.

Europe

Macedonian Parliament Votes for a Name Change

The Macedonian parliament has agreed through a vote to change the name of Macedonia to Republic of North Macedonia. The decision has been taken in view of the Balkan state’s agreement with Greece in June. The Prime Minister sees the act as formal inclusion of Macedonia in the European circle.

‘The Macedonian parliament has passed constitutional changes to allow the Balkan country to change its name to the Republic of North Macedonia, as agreed to with Greece. A total of 80 deputies in the 120-seat parliament on Friday voted in favour of the name change. The move could unblock the country’s bids to join NATO and the European Union, long blocked by Greece, which argues that “Macedonia” implied territorial claims to a Greek province of the same name. The two countries reached agreement on the name change in June. But hurdles remain before the change can be formalised.’ Reported the Al Jazeera.

‘The two countries reached agreement on the name change in June. But hurdles remain before the change can be formalized. A referendum on the agreement failed to pass the turnout threshold of 50 percent, leaving it up to the Skopje parliament to settle the issue. The procedure to complete constitutional changes is lengthy and requires several rounds of voting, with Friday’s being just the first stage. The procedure should be completed by January at the latest.’ Kole Casule writes for The Reuters.

Americas

Trump Says US Will Withdraw from Nuclear Deal With Russia

President Trump expressed his intent to walk out of the nuclear deal with Russia. The decision was expressed as a result of Russia’s alleged abrogation of the terms of engagement as tied by the two parties.

‘The United States is going to unilaterally withdraw from a decades-old treaty with Russia that bans a wide array of nuclear weapons, US President Donald Trump has said. The Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces Treaty was signed in 1987 by then-US President Ronald Reagan and Soviet General-Secretary Mikhail Gorbachev in Washington. It banned nuclear and conventional missiles with ranges of 500 to 5,500km, as well as their launchers.  The two countries have long accused one another of violating the terms of the landmark treaty.’ Reported the Al Jazeera.

‘Withdrawal from the treaty, which would mark a sharp break in US arms control policy, has yet to be agreed upon by cabinet and faces opposition from within the state department and the Pentagon. A meeting at the White House to discuss the withdrawal proposal was postponed. The INF faces a congressionally imposed deadline early next year. An amendment in the 2019 defence spending bill requires the president to tell the Senate by 15 January whether Russia is in “material breach” of the treaty, and whether the INF remains legally binding on the US. Bolton, who has spent his career opposing arms control treaties, is seeking to shrug off the traditional role of national security adviser as a policy broker between the agencies, and become a driver of radical change from within the White House.’ Julian Borger writes for The Guardian.