‘The infrastructure development is always a long-term endeavour, but building a completely new city and economy up from scratch in a remote area is another level of undertaking altogether. Hambantota deep sea port struggled to attract ships and cargo volumes. Nevertheless, Mattala International Airport, the nearest to Hambantota became known as the world’s emptiest because of the region’s inability to attract passengers. Likewise, the new cricket stadium was deficient of matches, and the conference centre sat empty except for the odd local wedding. All the while, this loss-making infrastructure continued consuming massive amounts of national revenue to operate and maintain,’ writes Wade Shepherds for FORBES.
Chechen leader Ramzan Kadyrov ‘ready to step down. Chechen leader says, he is ready to step down, leaving it for Kremlin to decide his successor.
Ramzan Kadyrov’s statement comes out, as Vladmir Putin announced his participation in the fourth term Presidential election last week. Ramzan Kadyrov’s association with Putin can be exploited by the opposition parties in the upcoming elections. Therefore, it is likely that Mr. Putin will urge Kadyrov to step down.
An analysis titled ‘Should the President of Chechnya Step Down’ has been published by the Centre for Strategic and Contemporary Research, which can be accessed at https://cscr.pk/explore/publications/articles/should-president-chechnya-step-down/
China showed real concerns over Philippines signing a bilateral investment agreement with Taiwan.
China hopes that the states should stick to ‘One China’ principle and avoid having any official exchange with Taiwan, whom it considers as its integral part. However, despite China’s concerns, Manila maintains cordial cultural and diplomatic relations with Taiwan. Likewise, the country had made a case against China at the Permanent Court of Arbitration.
This is alarming. Manila’s stance could be destabilizing, which can provoke China to consider the resort of hard pursuits. Manila should shape its foreign policy in a way that is acceptable to China, this the only way to maintain peace and prosperity.
President Trump formally recognized Jerusalem as the capital of Israel, on Wednesday.
President Trump attempts to secure his domestic politics by recognizing Jerusalem as Israel’s capital. He said, ‘clearly I did not forget’ the promises made during presidential campaign. However, President has angered Palestinians, who now believe that the US does not push their cause for the statehood. Thousands of Palestinians have taken to the streets of Jerusalem to protest against the decision. Subsequently, Hamas leader, Ismail Haniya has said that US recognition of Jerusalem as Israeli capital is a ‘war declaration against Palestinians’ and called for a new ‘intifada’ or uprising. This will aggravate the already peculiar environment of the Middle East.
South Africa court rules out President Zuma’s appointment of a state prosecutor to decide whether to reinstate corruption charges against him.
Susan Booysen, a political science professor at the University of the Witwatersrand’s School of Governance writes that ‘Reinstating the charges could damage the campaign of Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma, the President’s preferred successor for the leadership of the African National Congress in December, and possibly lead to him leaving the national presidency before his term ends in 2019’.
British Islamic State fighters should be hunted down says, David Williamson Defence Secretary
The hard counter-terrorism or killing/capturing terrorists can be very effective in short run but yields grievances, frustration and violence in the long run. Therefore, Williamson’s remarks that ‘a dead terrorist can’t cause any harm to Britain’ is alarming, and misses the point. Key ISIS defeats in the Middle East have forged the organization to change its strategy and tactics, which needs to be addressed with a more diverse approach; the soft counter-terrorism.
Australian Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull has criticised Beijing’s interference in Australia’s domestic politics.
Chinese involvement in Australia’s domestic politics is to achieve strategic advantage in the great power competition.
However, Defence analyst Dr. Malcolm Davis, from the Australian Strategic Policy Institute, says ‘They (Chinese) are trying to intimidate us and what we have to understand is the reports of Chinese infiltration and attempts to manoeuvre and manipulate Australian politics and Australian political debate are legitimate’.
In the mid of a crisis, the United States’ State Department has certified, the Honduran government for fighting against corruption.
‘The political turmoil will probably have far-reaching consequences, and the United States, which wields considerable influence in the country, shares some responsibility for creating the political landscape that laid the ground for the crisis’. Writes Sarah Kinosian for the Guardian.
‘The United States has funnelled money into Honduras in large part to train security forces so they can better participate in the war on drugs. Honduras is a major transhipment point for cocaine moving toward the US’, writes Christopher Sherman, Garance Burke and Martha Mendoza, for ABC news.