#DENMARK: Canada Agrees To Split Tiny Arctic Island With Danes, Ending Friendly Territorial Dispute

[world politics news] 

Denmark and Canada have struck a deal to settle almost 50 years of good-natured squabbling over the ownership of a small, uninhabited Arctic island.

Since 1971, the countries have been "fighting" the "Whisky Wars" to settle competing claims over Hans Island.

Successive expeditions from Ottawa and Copenhagen have braved icy conditions to plant bottles of alcohol on the tiny 1.2sq km (0.75sq-mile) rock.

But now officials have agreed to divide the outpost roughly in half.

[FULL STORY HERE]

World Politics News is dedicated to raising Americans' knowledge of political events, elections, and legislation throughout the world.

#AZERBAIJAN: Armenian Foreign Minister Condemned For "Illegal" Visit

[world politics news]

Azerbaijan has strongly condemned the Armenian defense minister's "unauthorized" visit to Azerbaijani territory, terming it a "military-political provocation."

"Armenian Defense Minister Arshak Karapetyan illegally visited the territory of Azerbaijan, where Russian peacekeepers are temporarily deployed," the Azerbaijani Defense Ministry said in a statement.

[FULL STORY HERE]

World Politics News is dedicated to raising Americans' knowledge of political events, elections, and legislation throughout the world.

#THEPHILIPPINES: Pres. Duterte Won't End Patrols In China-Claimed Waters

[World Politics News]

Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte has said he will not withdraw navy and coastguard vessels patrolling the disputed South China Sea, insisting the country’s sovereignty over the waters is not negotiable. 

Tensions over the sea – which China claims almost entirely – have spiked as Beijing refuses to pull out vessels from the Philippines’ exclusive economic zone and Manila steps up maritime patrols. Duterte is under growing domestic pressure to take a harder line.

[FULL STORY HERE]

World Politics News is dedicated to raising Americans' knowledge of political events, elections, and legislation throughout the world.

#NEPAL: Parliament Approves New Map, Claiming Territory Disputed With India

[world politics news]

Nepal’s Parliament has approved a new map of the country, that includes areas disputed with India, with India's government rejecting the changes, saying that the addition of Indian territory was not based on historical facts or evidence. The move signals a hardening of Nepal’s position over a decades-long border dispute that has strained ties between the South Asian neighbors.

The revised map was approved by 258 out of 275 members of parliament, exceeding the required two-thirds majority. There were no votes against.

The map must also be passed by the National Assembly, the parliament’s upper chamber, and approved by President Bidhya Devi Bhandari before it becomes a part of the constitution.

[FULL STORY HERE]

World Politics News is dedicated to raising Americans' knowledge of political events, elections, and legislation throughout the world.

#EU: Parliament Members Call For Sanctions On India Over Human Rights Abuses In Kashmir

[world politics news]

Members of the European Union Parliament on Friday called for trade and travel sanctions on India over the alarming human rights situation in Indian-occupied Kashmir.

The Co-Chair of the Friends of Kashmir Group in the EU parliament, Richard Corbett, reportedly called for utilizing all possible means to mount pressure on India to ease the military curfew in occupied Kashmir.

He proposed the imposition of trade sanctions on New Delhi and restrictions on the travel of those involved in committing human rights violations and acts of terrorism in Indian-occupied Kashmir.

[FULL STORY HERE]

World Politics News is dedicated to raising Americans' knowledge of political events, elections, and legislation throughout the world.

#JAPAN: Lawmaker Who Suggested War With Russia Suggests War With South Korea

[world politics news]

A lawmaker who sparked criticism earlier this year for suggesting the need for Japan to wage war with Russia has made a similarly controversial remark regarding islets controlled by South Korea, but claimed by Japan.

After a group of South Korean lawmakers visited the disputed islands, known in Japan as Takeshima and in South Korea as Dokdo, Hodaka Maruyama wrote on his Twitter account on Saturday, "Isn't war the only way to get them back?"

[FULL STORY HERE]

World Politics News is dedicated to raising Americans' knowledge of political events, elections, and legislation throughout the world.

#JAPAN: Resolution Urges Resignation Of Opposition Legislator Who Urged War With Russia To Regain Disputed Islands

[world politics news]

The ruling Liberal Democratic Party and its coalition partner Komeito have jointly submitted to the Diet, Japan's parliament, a resolution rebuking an opposition lawmaker who suggested that Japan wage war with Russia to regain control over a group of disputed islands.

In the resolution, the ruling coalition said the comment made by lawmaker Hodaka Maruyama “runs counter to pacifism” and “significantly undermines Japan’s national interest,” describing it as “absolutely intolerable.” The parties closed their resolution by urging him to “reflect seriously on” what he said. Japan Innovation Party expelled him for his comments.

For his part, Marumara said he "could not" resign, and said the Diet, as a place for free speech, is "signing its own death warrant" with the motion.

[FULL STORY HERE AND HERE]

World Politics News is dedicated to raising Americans' knowledge of political events, elections, and legislation throughout the world.

#THEPHILIPPINES: Pres. Duterte Threatens "Suicide Missions" Against Chinese Troops Over Disputed Island

[world politics news]

Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte has told China to “lay off” an island occupied by his country in the disputed South China Sea and said he would deploy his soldiers there on a "suicide mission" if China touches it.

Duterte’s remarks, which he said was not a warning but rather a word of advice to a friend, follow a statement made by the foreign affairs ministry calling the presence of more than 200 Chinese boats near Thitu Island illegal.

[FULL STORY HERE]

World Politics News is dedicated to raising Americans' knowledge of political events, elections, and legislation throughout the world.

#TAIWAN: Gov't Condemns Chinese "Bullying" Of Companies To Use "Taiwan, China" On Promo Materials And Websites

[world politics news]

Taiwan's government has condemned a proposal by the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences that 66 foreign companies who have failed to label Taiwan as part of China's territory on their websites should be punished, saying the move demonstrates Beijing's "evil intent" to downgrade the nation's sovereignty. China considers Taiwan as part of China, despite decades of separation following the rise of Communism on the mainland.

In its 2018 annul report, the research institute in China noted that 66 of the world's top 500 companies in 2017 list Taiwan as "Taiwan" instead of "Taiwan, China." Companies the institute suggested be punished include Apple, Nike, and Amazon.  Taiwan's foreign ministry called the threat "bullying," and an effort to "blatantly interfere with private-sector commercial activities and international business operations with political means" to suppress Taiwan's status in the world community.

[FULL STORY HERE]

World Politics News is dedicated to raising Americans' knowledge of political events, elections, and legislation throughout the world.

#JAPAN: Negotiations Over Disputed Islands Break Down Over Premature Statements

[world politics news]

Negotiations between Japan and Russia over islands that have been claimed by both nations since World War II have broken down.

Russia has slapped down Japanese assertions that a deal was nearing to resolve a decades-old dispute over the Kuril Islands, accusing Tokyo of distorting agreements struck with Moscow to break the deadlock.

Japanese officials reportedly told residents of the island to prepare for an imminent transfer of sovereignty to Japan, long before negotiations had reached that point.

[FULL STORY HERE]

World Politics News is dedicated to raising Americans' knowledge of political events, elections, and legislation throughout the world.

#JAPAN: Island Dispute Flares Up After China Denounces Japanese Mayor's Plan To Rename Islands Claimed by Both Nations

[world politics news]

The Chinese government has condemned a Japanese mayor's plan to change the name of a small group of islands in the East China Sea. Ishigaki Mayor Yoshitaka Nakayama wants to change the name of the Japanese-controlled islands from "Tonoshiro, Ishigaki City,” to “Senkaku, Ishigaki City." China and Taiwan claim the islands, with China calling them the the Diaoyu Islands, Taiwan, the Tiaoyutai Islands. They are located between Okinawa and Taiwan, and are said to be close to undersea oil fields. Foreign Ministry spokesperson Geng Shuang said, "Whatever tricks Japan plays, it will not change the fact that the Diaoyu Islands belong to China."

[FULL STORY HERE, also HERE]

#JAPAN: Foreign Min. Taro Kono Lodges Protest With China Over Gas Ship In Contested Waters

[world politics news]

Japanese foreign minister Taro Kono says Japan has lodged a protest over China’s deployment of a drillship to contested gas field in the East China Sea.

[FULL STORY HERE]

#EGYPT: Parliament Debates Status Of Islands At The Center Of Controversial Court Decision

[world politics news]

Parliament’s Legislative and Constitutional Affairs Committee began discussing the maritime border demarcation deal between Egypt and Saudi Arabia on Sunday. The deal, which places the two Red Sea islands of Tiran and Sanafir in Saudi maritime waters, was signed during Saudi King Salman bin Abdel-Aziz’s visit to Cairo in April 2016. The agreement has faced a number of legal challenges since it was made public.

[FULL STORY HERE]

#THEPHILIPPINES: Pres. Duterte Orders Military Occupation Of Disputed Islands

[world politics news]

Pres. Rodrigo Duterte has instructed the military to occupy and claim islands located in the disputed South China Sea, which he says are within the Philippines' exclusive economic zone and continental shelf. China has recently surveyed the islands.

[FULL STORY HERE]

#JAPAN: Abe And China's Premier Meet To Ease South China Sea Tensions

[world politics news]

Chinese Premier Li Keqiang and Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe met on the sidelines of an international meeting in Mongolia as Asia's two largest economies try to repair a relationship fractured after Japan sided with the West in the South China Sea dispute.

#EGYPT: In Rare Rebuke, Court Blocks Pres. Al-Sisi's Deal To Give Islands To Saudi Arabia

[world politics news]

An Egyptian court has reversed a decision to hand over two Red Sea islands to Saudi Arabia. Tuesday's verdict by the highest administrative court in Cairo declared void a maritime border accord with Saudi Arabia, which would have seen Egypt surrender control of the Tiran and Sanafir islands at the mouth of the Gulf of Aqaba. While the verdict is not final, it could deal a blow to Egyptian President Abdel-Fattah el-Sisi's government, which has eagerly argued that the agreement would bring economic benefits for Egypt.

#EGYPT: Parliament Takes Up Controversial "Red Sea Islands" Agreement With Saudi Arabia

[world politics news]

The controversial "Red Sea Agreement" with Saudi Arabia is set to face scrutiny from parliament soon. The agreement, signed during the April visit of King Salman to Egypt, fixed the maritime border between Egypt and Saudi Arabia, placing the two Red Sea islands of Tiran and Sanafir in Saudi territorial waters, triggering street protests that were handled violently by police and the army.

#EGYPT: Demonstration Against Island Transfers To Saudi Arabia Dispersed With Tear Gas

[world politics news]

Thousands of Egyptians angered by Pres. Sisi’s transfer of two deserted Red Sea islands to Saudi Arabia used the dispute to call for his government to fall in the largest demonstration since the former military general took office in 2014. Security forces dispersed the peaceful demonstrators with tear gas.

#BELIZE: Prime Min. Barrow Protests Guatemalan Naval Incursion On Territorial Waters

[world politics news]

Prime Minister Dean Barrow has lodged a diplomatic protest with the Guatemalan government about an incident this past Sunday in which boats from the country's Territorial Volunteers were harassed by the Guatemalan Navy near Sarstoon Island in the Sarstoon River. Belize claims half the river, while Guatemala insists Belize's territory ends at the river bank.

#CHINA: Chinese Pres. Xi Meets Taiwanese Pres., Warns Against Viewing Taiwan As "Separate Country"

[world politics news]

China's President Xi Jinping warned Monday against Taiwan being seen as a country as he met the head of the island’s ruling party, the first such encounter in seven years. Xi welcomed Kuomintang (KMT) party head Eric Chu, whose party takes a cooperative stance towards the Mainland.

Pictured: Eric Chu, left, Xi Jinping, right.