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Global Geopolitical Series: Key updates from across the world

Here are some key events to keep a tab on,

  • Korean Peninsula: According to reports, International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) is gearing up to nuclear arms of North Korea, while North Korea stepped up its criticism of U.S. sanctions.
     
  • Trade war: The United States and China have agreed to a trade war truce at the meeting between the two countries’ Presidents at the sidelines of the G20 meeting in Argentina. The two sides would engage in intense negotiations over trade and other disputes such as China’s handling of intellectual properties. The U.S. would halt the auto increase of tariffs on $200 billion Chinese goods from 10 percent to 25 percent until April 2019.  In a separate event at the G20, Canada, the United States, and Mexico signed a new North American Free Trade Agreement. However, doubts have now clouded the possibility of an agreement as an arrest of Chief Financial Officer of China’s telecom giant Huawei, who is also the daughter of the pounder by Canada at the request of the United States has triggered Chinese backlash. China has announced an intention to reduce tariffs on Auto imports.
     
  • Missing reporter at Saudi consulate: The geopolitical tensions surrounding the missing Saudi Journalist, a writer for the Washington Post continue to simmer as Saudi Arabia is being widely accused of assassinating the journalist at its consulate in Turkey, over his negative views and writings with regard to the Saudi Royal family, especially the new crown prince Mohammad bin Salman. He was a renowned Middle East journalists with an expertise on dreaded terrorist Osama bin Laden. He vanished on October 2nd, and currently feared to be murdered. Last week, Saudi Journalist Jamal Khashoggi entered the Saudi consulate in Istanbul to finalize his divorce, so he can be married to his fiancée who was waiting outside the consulate. According to her account and released CCTV footage by Turkey shows that Khashoggi entered the consulate but never came out. However, Saudi Arabia’s crown prince called the accusation a conspiracy theory and added that the journalist left the consulate shortly after entering. U.S. President Donald Trump though not very eager to cancel an arms deal with Saudi Arabia warned of severe consequences of the allegations are proven to be true. Saudi Arabia has also promised to retaliate if sanctions are imposed over Khashoggi’s disappearance. Saudi Arabia finally accepted that the murder of the reporter was premeditated. Turkish President Recep Tayipp Erdogan has called for the extradition of 18 people who were involved.  Saudi Arabia has refused the request. Despite international pressure, Khashoggi’s body remains yet to be found. Turkey announced has shared the alleged murder tape with European and North American NATO allies. Canada has confirmed that it has indeed received the tape. The United States has also received the tape. President Trump said that the audio suggests that Mr. Khashoggi suffered brutal and vicious death. President Trump released a statement saying that the United States stands with its long-term ally Saudi Arabia over the incident. Crown Prince of Saudi Arabia, who was allegedly involved in the murder plot was in attendance at the G20 in Saudi Arabia. The United States Senate passed a resolution that suggests that the Senate believes that Crown Prince Muhammad bin Salman was ultimately responsible for the reporter’s murder. Meanwhile Turkey kept on releasing part by part of the audio transcript of Mr. Khashoggi’s murder.
     
  • Brexit: Theresa May won a no-confidence vote last week but it was clear she would have to go back to renegotiate, but when she went bank, she was snubbed by her European colleagues, who refused to renegotiate the pact and instead, expressed an eagerness to move onto the next phase of negotiations. Moreover, Mrs. May had to promise that she wouldn’t be leading the Conservative party in the next election.
     
  • Russia-Ukraine: Fresh round of tensions sparked between Russia and Ukraine over maritime access to the Sea of Kiev through Kerch Strait. The weekend saw the worst confrontation between the two neighbors since Russia’s annexation of Crimea back in 2014. According to reports, the incident involved a chase, some gunfire, and fighter jets, followed by strong statements from Moscow and Kiev. According to reports, around 4:00 GMT on Sunday, two artillery boats and a tugboat belonging to the Ukrainian navy reportedly crossed into Russian maritime border and approached the Kerch Strait. According to Russia, these vessels had not followed the procedure. The Russian officers repeatedly asked the Ukrainian vessels to leave Russia's territorial waters, but they ignored those requests. The ships also entered waters that had been temporarily closed to navigation. Russia then blocked the only passage through the Kerch Strait using a bulk carrier, which was accompanied by other security vessels. Soon several Russian fighter jets joined force; Ka-52 gunship along with Su-25 strike fighters. As the Ukrainian vessels continued their journey approaching the bridge, Russian vessels finally opened fire, which was followed by tense moments of a chase and finally seizure of these three boats. President Trump canceled his meeting with the Russian President Vladimir Putin over the issue. President Putin, however, blamed the Ukrainian side for unnecessary aggression and called the incident as political drama to impose Marshall Law in Ukraine. In the latest sign of escalation, Ukraine moved to form a unified Orthodox church in the country, free from the influence of the Russian Orthodox Church. Despite the provocation, the Russian government has announced that it will not be getting involved in the situation. Russia has maintained a heavy military presence along the Ukrainian border.
     
  • French protests: ‘Yellow vests’ protests that has rocked Paris over the past four weekends, with thousands and thousands people gathering in France’s capital countering with thousands of police personnel armed with tear gas, rubber bullets, and armored vehicles, and with cars being torched, stores being looted are now spreading all over France with protesters demanding a radical change in direction from the past policies of austerity, open border amid a weaker growth. The protest, which has been happening every weekend reached a massive stage last Saturday, with as many as 1300 protesters arrested by the French Authority. Last weekend, protesters gathered across for the fifth time, despite president Macron announcing wage hike and tax cuts. The yellow vest protest is now spreading across many countries in the world, notable I Belgium, United Kingdom, and Canada.
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