November 9, 2016 Reading Time: 2 minutes
Donald Trump elected as next President of the United States. Image Credit - ginosphotos1 / depositphotos
Reading Time: 2 min read
Sri Lanka and Bangladesh hold Joint Economic Commission meeting
Sri Lanka and Bangladesh have held their 5th Joint Economic Commission meeting in Colombo. Minister of Industry and Commerce, Rishad Bathiudeen, and Bangladesh’s Minister of Commerce, Tofail Ahmed, led the meeting.
Participants at the meeting discussed establishing a ‘Comprehensive Partnership’, instead of a free trade agreement. Minister Ahmed stated that Sri Lanka could benefit from reaching a deal that allows the country to import goods such as rice, cement and pharmaceuticals, at competitive prices.
UK Minister of State concludes visit to Sri Lanka
The UK’s Minister of State for the Commonwealth and the UN, Rt. Hon. Baroness Anelay of St Johns DBE, has concluded her visit to Sri Lanka. Baroness Anelay stated that Sri Lanka needs to further its efforts to end sexual violence and attain long term peace and stability.
Baroness Anelay met with the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Mangala Samaraweera, on 8 November. They discussed the direction of the Commonwealth, and Sri Lanka’s efforts in reconciliation, human rights, and democracy.
Defence Chief of the Maldives calls on Sri Lankan Chief of Defence Staff
The Chief of Defence Force of the Maldives National Defence Force, Major General Ahmed Shiyam, has met with Sri Lanka’s Chief of Defence Staff, Air Chief Marshal Kolitha Gunatilleke, for military discussions.
Major General Shiyam and Air Chief Marshal Gunatilleke exchanged views on matters of mutual interest, as well as the military histories of both countries and their longstanding bilateral relations.
Donald Trump elected as US President
The candidate of the Republican party, Donald Trump, has been elected as the next President of the United States on 9 November. The President-elect won key states, including Pennsylvania, North Carolina and Florida. The Republican party has also secured control of the Senate and House of Representatives.
Mr. Trump’s opponent and candidate of the Democratic Party, Hillary Clinton, has conceded the election result and congratulated the President-elect on winning the election.
Cyprus leaders meet for peace talks
The Greek Cypriot President of Cyprus, Nicos Anastasiades, and his Turkish Cypriot counterpart, Mustafa Akinci, have met in Switzerland for a round of UN-mediated peace talks. UN Secretary-General, Ban Ki-Moon, stated that the two leaders are ‘within reach’ of a solution to the conflict.
The current talks focus on reunifying the country as a federation of two constituent, largely self-governing, states. Cyprus has been territorially divided between its Greek and Turkish populations since 1974, when Turkey established the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus.
Pakistan objects to new permanent seats in UN Security Council
The Permanent Representative of Pakistan to the United Nations, Maleeha Lodhi, has stated that Pakistan ‘firmly opposes’ the addition of new permanent seats in the UN Security Council. Ambassador Lodhi emphasised that new permanent seats would only serve the needs of a few, and not address issues of representation within the Council.
Ambassador Lodhi further stated that Pakistan, however, does support the expansion of non-permanent seats, to facilitate accountability, democracy and transparency within the Council.
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