International Events Dec – 23

Afghan embassy in India shuts down citing lack of support, Taliban pressure

Afghanistan’s embassy in New Delhi has closed as diplomats appointed by the Afghan government ousted by the Taliban two years ago failed to secure visa extensions from their Indian hosts. India does not recognise the Taliban government which seized power in 2021, and had allowed Ambassador Farid Mamundzay and mission staff to stay in place, issuing visas and handling trade matters. In September, however, the ambassador and senior staff left for Europe and the U. S. to seek asylum, and the embassy said it was suspending operations. It also said that pressure from both the Indian government and the Taliban had forced the decision. Afghan diplomats in India appointed by Ghani’s government have reached third countries and there are none remaining in India.

Afghanistan:

• Capital: Kabul
• Currency: Afghan Afghani
• Official languages: Pashto, Dari
• Government: Theocracy

Bangladesh, World Bank ink $1 billion loan deal

The World Bank and Bangladesh have signed five financing agreements worth over $1. 1 billion to help the country achieve resilient and inclusive growth. The five projects include early childhood development, urban primary health, secondary education, riverbank protection and navigability, and gas distribution efficiency. The credits are from the World Bank’s International Development Association (IDA). Bangladesh currently has the largest ongoing IDA program, totaling $16. 46 billion in 57 projects. For IDA concessional loans, the maturity period is 30 years with 5 years grace period; the interest rate is 1. 25% and service charge is 0. 75%.

Bangladesh:

• Capital: Dhaka
• Currency: Bangladeshi Taka
• Prime minister: Sheikh Hasina
• President: Mohammed Shahabuddin
• Official language: Bengali

Putin signs bill revoking ratification of global nuclear test ban treaty

Russian President Vladimir Putin has signed a law revoking the country’s ratification of the Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban Treaty (CTBT). The bill to deratify the CTBT was earlier approved by 156 votes to zero in the upper house of Russia’s parliament. Russia will not resume testing unless the Unites States does. The CTBT, adopted in 1996, bans all nuclear explosions anywhere in the world, but the treaty was never fully implemented. In addition to the U. S. , it has yet to be ratified by China, India, Pakistan, North Korea, Israel, Iran and Egypt.

Russia:

• Capital: Moscow
• Currency: Russian Ruble
• Prime minister: Mikhail Mishustin
• President: Vladimir Putin

US, South Korea sign agreement aimed at deterring North Korea’s advancing nuclear and missile threat

United States and South Korea have revised a bilateral security agreement aimed at deterring North Korea’s advancing nuclear and missile threat. South Korean Defence Minister Shin Won-sik and his US counterpart Lloyd Austin signed the updated agreement at the security talks held in the capital, Seoul. The Tailored Deterrence Strategy (TDS) aims to counter the threat of nuclear weapons and other armaments by North Korea. Earlier, South Korea’s Defence Ministry had said Shin and Austin would discuss jointly countering threats by North Korea, including through executing an extended deterrence strategy. The strategy, which holds that the United states will use strategic military assets, including nuclear forces, to defend its allies, has taken on a greater significance as North Korea pushes ahead with its ballistic missile and nuclear programmes.

South Korea:

• Capital: Seoul
• Currency: South Korean won
• Prime minister: Han Duck-soo
• President: Yoon Suk Yeol

US, Philippines sign nuclear cooperation pact to bolster power supply

The United States and the Philippines have signed a nuclear cooperation pact under which U. S. investment and technologies are to help the Southeast Asian nation transition to cleaner energy and bolster its power supply. The pact, known as a Section 123 agreement, would support the development of reliable, affordable and sustainable power in the Philippines. It will also open doors for U. S. companies to invest and participate in nuclear power projects.

Philippines:

• Capital: Manila
• President: Bongbong Marcos
• Currency: Philippine peso

France announces 100 mn euro loan to support India’s Smart Cities Mission

France has announced a Euro 100 million loan to support India’s flagship Smart Cities Mission and build on the CITIIS 1 programme. The loan supports India’s innovative flagship Smart Cities Mission and builds on the CITIIS 1 programme, also supported by the European Union and implemented by the National Institute of Urban Affairs (NIUA), a think tank under the auspices of the Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs.

France:

• Capital: Paris
• President: Emmanuel Macron
• Prime Minister: Élisabeth Borne
• Currency: Euro (€)

US and China agree to resume military-to-military communications to ease rising tensions

US and China have agreed to resume military-tomilitary communications in an effort to ease rising tensions. US President Joe Biden announced this after a meeting with China’s President Xi Jinping in California. Both leaders had agreed to establish a direct line of communication with one another. China severed military-to-military communications last year after the then US House Speaker Nancy Pelosi visited Taiwan. The two superpowers further agreed to jointly examine artificial intelligence (AI). China said communications were restored between the two militaries on “the basis of equality and respect”.

China:

• Capital: Beijing
• President: Xi Jinping
• Currency: Renminbi

Chile becomes 95th member of International Solar Alliance ISA

Chile has become the 95th member of the International Solar Alliance ISA. Chile handed over the Instrument of ISA ratification during the meeting of Ambassador Juan Angulo of Chile with Joint Secretary (Economic Diplomacy) in Ministry of External Affairs Abhishek Singh in New Delhi. The ISA is an alliance of more than 120 signatory countries that aims to reduce the dependence on nonrenewable sources of energy like fossil fuels. India and France conceived it as a joint effort. Currently, 116 countries are signatories to the ISA Framework Agreement. Meanwhile, the sixth assembly of the International Solar Alliance was hosted at Bharat Mandapam in the national capital on October 31.

Chile:

• Capital: Santiago
• President: Gabriel Boric
• Currency: Chilean peso