October 6, 2016 Reading Time: 2 minutes
Nigerian naval ship docks at the port of Colombo. Image Credit - news.lk
Reading Time: 2 min read
Sri Lankan and Indian Prime Ministers discuss SAARC
Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe has met with his Indian counterpart, Narendra Modi, on 5 October in New Delhi.
The leaders discussed the role of the SAARC nations in resolving border conflicts, and maintaining peace within the region. A meeting will also be held between the respective Foreign Ministers and Fisheries Ministers to address the fisheries dispute.
Swiss officials visit Sri Lanka
The President of the National Council of Switzerland, Christa Markwalder, and the Secretary-General of the Swiss Federal Assembly, Philippe Schwab, have arrived in Sri Lanka on 5 October, for an official visit.
Ms. Markwalder is scheduled to meet and hold discussions with the Speaker of the Parliament, Karu Jayasuriya, on 5 October, and will also meet with Prime Minister Wickremesinghe.
Nigerian ship visits Sri Lanka
The Nigerian naval ship, ‘Unity’, has docked at the port of Colombo on 5 October, for a two-day goodwill visit.
The crew of the ‘Unity’ were welcomed by the Sri Lankan Navy, and will participate in several programmes organised for them.
UN Security Council endorses António Guterres for Secretary-General
The UN Security Council has endorsed the former Prime Minister of Portugal, António Guterres, as the 9th Secretary General of the UN. Mr. Guterres received 13 votes in favour and 2 abstentions at the informal UN Security Council vote.
The UN Security Council is expected to vote on this decision and formally recommend Mr. Guterres to the UN General Assembly. Mr. Guterres served as Prime Minister of Portugal from 1995 to 2002, as well as UN High Commissioner for Refugees from 2005 to 2015.
World debt reaches record levels
The International Monetary Fund’s (IMF) new research has indicated that world debt is currently 152 trillion USD, amounting to 225% of global GDP. The IMF has urged governments to take action to prevent a potential global financial crisis.
The IMF also stated that the use of fiscal policy to restructure debt and provide tax breaks could help ameliorate the situation.
Donors pledge financial support for Afghanistan
International donors have pledged USD 3 billion a year to Afghanistan until 2020, following Afghanistan’s agreement with the EU to accept deported Afghan refugees. Government officials from over 70 countries met with Afghan President Ashraf Ghani in Brussels, to offer their financial support.
The amount promised is less than the USD 4 billion a year pledged at the last Afghanistan conference in Tokyo in 2012.
Tags: India, Sri Lanka, Switzerland, Afghanistan, Prime Minister Wickremesinghe, Security Council, SAARC, Nigeria, Secretary General, International Monetary Fund
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