分类： politics

Chinese President Xi Jinping sent a congratulatory message on Monday to Alassane Ouattara, who was reelected as the President of Cote d’Ivoire. In his message, Xi highlighted the strong bilateral ties between China and Cote d’Ivoire, describing the two nations as ‘fellow travelers and good partners’ on the path to modernization. He noted that their relationship has seen robust development, with significant achievements in various fields of cooperation and a deepening bond between their peoples. Xi also pointed out the unprecedented global changes and the growing influence of the Global South, emphasizing his commitment to strengthening the strategic partnership with Cote d’Ivoire. He expressed his willingness to collaborate with Ouattara to enhance solidarity and cooperation among Global South nations. Ouattara, 83, secured his fourth term with an overwhelming 89.77 percent of the votes in last month’s presidential election, as confirmed by Cote d’Ivoire’s Constitutional Council. Ouattara has been a prominent political figure in the country, serving as Prime Minister from 1990 to 1993 and winning his first presidential election in 2010, followed by reelections in 2015 and 2020.

In a historic turn of events, Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa, a former al-Qaeda member, made his first-ever visit to the White House on Monday, symbolizing a dramatic shift in US-Syria relations. Sharaa, who led the Islamist rebel group Hay’at Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) to overthrow longtime ruler Bashar al-Assad in December 2024, is the first Syrian leader to visit Washington since Syria’s independence from France in 1946. His visit underscores Damascus’s transformation from a US-designated sponsor of terror to a potential partner in regional stability. During the meeting, President Donald Trump praised Sharaa as a “strong leader” and pledged US support to make Syria “successful.” Sharaa’s government has been working to solidify security ties with the US, reassert control over Kurdish-dominated regions, and address Israeli attacks in the south. While Sharaa has faced skepticism from Egypt and the UAE due to his past, he has strengthened ties with Saudi Arabia and Qatar. The US is reportedly considering integrating Syria into its coalition against the Islamic State (IS) and may establish an air base south of Damascus to monitor a potential de-escalation agreement between Syria and Israel. Despite these diplomatic strides, Syria’s economy remains stagnant, with corruption and lingering sanctions deterring foreign investment. Trump has lifted some sanctions and is lobbying Congress to repeal the 2019 Caesar Sanctions, but progress has been slow. Sharaa’s visit, though cautiously handled by the White House, marks a significant step in reshaping Syria’s role in the Middle East.

MELBOURNE, Australia — Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto is set to embark on his inaugural official visit to Australia since assuming office in October 2023. The visit, scheduled for Wednesday, underscores the deepening diplomatic ties between the two nations. Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese confirmed the trip on Tuesday, though specifics remain scarce. Prabowo last visited Australia in August 2023 as defense minister and president-elect, just months before his inauguration. Albanese and Prabowo previously met in Jakarta during the Australia–Indonesia annual leaders’ meeting in May 2024, marking Albanese’s first overseas trip following his reelection. Albanese expressed enthusiasm about hosting Prabowo, stating, ‘I am delighted to welcome President Prabowo to Australia and reciprocate the warm hospitality he extended during my visit to Jakarta earlier this year.’ He emphasized the enduring partnership between the two countries, describing it as a ‘deep trust and unbreakable bond’ that fosters a secure, stable, and prosperous Indo-Pacific region. Australia views Indonesia, its closest neighbor after Papua New Guinea, as a cornerstone of its foreign policy. Notably, newly elected Australian prime ministers traditionally prioritize Jakarta as one of their initial international destinations, reflecting the strategic importance of the bilateral relationship.

In a significant shift in firearms policy, the New Zealand government has announced sweeping reforms aimed at restructuring the regulation of gun ownership. Associate Justice Minister Nicole McKee revealed on Tuesday that uniformed police officers will no longer be involved in the Firearms Safety Authority (FSA), a move designed to ease tensions between the regulator and gun owners. This decision follows years of strained relations, exacerbated by the 2019 Christchurch mosque shootings, where a white supremacist legally amassed semiautomatic weapons before killing 51 people. The FSA, established in 2022, will now report directly to the government instead of the New Zealand Police, though it will retain access to law enforcement databases. McKee emphasized the need to rebuild trust within the firearms community, which has felt unfairly scrutinized since the tragedy. The reforms also include extending license renewal periods, allowing more flexible storage options, and introducing a ‘red flag’ system for information sharing among agencies. However, the near-total ban on semiautomatic firearms, enacted after the Christchurch attack, remains intact. McKee’s proposals, which aim to simplify regulations for law-abiding gun owners, are expected to be introduced to Parliament by the end of 2024 and passed by mid-2026. Gun owners have cautiously welcomed the changes, though some expressed disappointment over the lack of clarity on eligibility criteria for firearm ownership.

Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa met with Republican Congressman Brian Mast on Sunday, intensifying efforts to repeal the US Caesar sanctions ahead of his visit to the White House. Mast, a pro-Israel representative from Florida, has become a significant obstacle to the repeal of the 2019 Caesar Act, which imposed severe economic penalties on Syria following evidence of human rights violations by a Syrian defector. Despite former President Donald Trump’s May pledge to lift sanctions and a subsequent 180-day waiver issued in June, the law remains in effect and can only be fully repealed by Congress. Business leaders and diplomats argue that the uncertain status of the sanctions is hindering investment in Syria, where the economy is struggling. The World Bank estimates Syria’s reconstruction costs at $200 billion, but Gulf states’ pledged investments have been slow to materialize due to the sanctions. Reports suggest Mast’s stance is influenced by lobbying from Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s advisor, Ron Dermer. Mast, a US Army veteran who lost both legs in Afghanistan, has a strong connection to Israel, often wearing an Israeli army uniform in Congress. Israel has capitalized on Syria’s instability, occupying a UN buffer zone and conducting air strikes reaching Damascus. Additionally, Israel has positioned itself as a protector of Syria’s Druze minority, backing Druze leader Sheikh Hikmat Salaman al-Hajri with arms. During recent Druze-Bedouin conflicts, Israel blocked Sharaa’s deployment of Sunni security forces, angering Saudi Arabia, Turkey, and the Trump administration. Sharaa’s meeting with Mast was reportedly arranged by supporters of Trump, who is pushing Congress to lift the sanctions. Although Congress is currently in recess due to a government shutdown, efforts are underway to amend the 2026 Defense Act to repeal the sanctions. Mouaz Moustafa of the Syrian Emergency Task Force emphasized the need for a “clear-cut repeal” to restore investor confidence, warning that any possibility of sanctions returning would deter companies from entering Syria.