March 2021 Edition
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Volume XIV Issue V March 2021 India and Pakistan Renew Ceasefire After 20 Years Drew Starbuck In Feb. 2019, the con- Council resolutions on itary source, states NBC. but different circumstanc- ures have not vanished, but Staff Writer flict worsened when India the decades-long dispute According to Foreign es may have prompted the political landscape has blamed Pakistan-based according to Pakistan. Policy, previous cease-fire the latest agreement be- changed. With China’s rise, For the first time in al- armed groups for an at- The region of Kash- violations were caused, in tween India and Pakistan. Pakistan’s political desires, most 20 years, India and tack on the Indian-admin- mir itself has faced many part, by local commanders The recent ceasefire and international pressure, Pakistan have ceased fir- istered Kashmir town of hardships due to contin- on both sides of the bor- may be in the self-inter- this latest gambit could be ing across their shared Pulwama that left more ued conflict. Since 2018, der having considerable est of both sides. India a short-term agreement or border. Military officials than 40 Indian security Indian information shows leeway to undertake mil- has barely stabilized its a major shift in policy for from both nations re- force members dead, ac- that 70 civilians and 72 itary actions. When one northern border with Chi- both nations, states For- leased a joint statement cording to Al Jazeera. Pa- na since a series of clash- eign Policy. To make this stating they have agreed to kistan denies these allega- es last year and may not work, Pakistan will have a new ceasefire that went tions. Al Jazeera describes be eager to start another to rein in the activities of into effect at midnight on that when India carried border crisis with its old terrorist organizations that February 26, according out a retaliatory air attack rival, states Foreign Policy. exist within their borders, to The New York Times. a few days later, Pakistani Pakistan may also have while India will have to The ceasefire agree- jets also scrambled to con- its own reasons to reduce exercise suitable restraint ment includes the disput- duct similar air raids near tensions. Under Former along the Line of Control, ed region of Kashmir in military installations in In- United States President furthers Foreign Policy. the Himalayas, which has dian-administered Kash- Donald Trump, the U.S. The odds may not reflect been the main source of mir. While tensions cooled An India-Pakistan ceasfire has implications for regional security. adopted a tougher stance the situation, but there contention between India when Pakistan returned Courtesy of Flickr toward Pakistan, furthers may finally be a chance for and Pakistan. The region an Indian fighter jet pi- soldiers have been killed side bolsters its position Foreign Policy. With a long-term peace in the con- has seen the two sides lot who was shot down, in the exchange of fire through the construction new U.S. president, it flicted region of Kashmir. regularly exchange artil- the relationship soured across the border, ac- of fortifications, the op- may be in Pakistan’s in- lery and small-arms fire. further in August 2019 cording to NBC. On posing side often initiates terest to demonstrate that Contact Drew at drew.star- Despite the apparent low when India revoked a the Pakistani side, nearly fire. These actions rarely it can be a responsible [email protected] intensity of the conflict, it special constitutional sta- 300 civilians have been have the approval of high- partner in the region and annually kills dozens of vil- tus granted to Indian-ad- killed since 2014, when er commanders or political play a role with the peace lagers and military person- ministered Kashmir. This violations of the original authorities. Many analysts process in Afghanistan. nel in the region, reports move was in violation of ceasefire began to rise, ac- remain doubtful that the While the reasons be- The Washington Post. United Nations Security cording to a Pakistan mil- newest ceasefire will last, hind earlier ceasefire fail- German Politician Resigns Over Mask Scandal Natalie Sherman she planned to step down world was dealing with a since been forced to resign poorly in elections, accord- are “totally unacceptable” Staff Writer in September. BBC News personal protective equip- from his role in the CDU ing to The Washington and “unforgivable viola- notes that with Merkel ment shortage. party as well as his position Post. Some analysts believe tions of ethical standards.” In Germany, corrup- leaving office, strong CDU According to The in the Bundestag, Germa- that the response to this The most striking con- tion allegations are threat- leadership is needed if the Guardian, MP Nikolas ny’s parliament, following scandal could be the differ- demnation of Löbel and ening the Christian Dem- party is to pick up the torch Löbel’s company earned these allegations. He was ence between whether the Nüsslein, however, comes ocratic Union (CDU) as from the chancellor. 250,000 euros by broker- pressured to do so by the CDU wins the elections or from German President well as its sister party the Two politicians are at ing a deal between face- current leader of the CDU, not. The Washington Post Frank-Walter Steinmeier, Christian Social Union the center of this corrup- mask suppliers and private Armin Laschet. furthers that this is a so- a member of the Social (CSU) ahead of elections tion scandal: Member of companies in the cities of The other MP at the called “super election year” Democrats (SPD). Reuters in multiple German states. Parliament (MP) Niko- Mannheim and Heidelberg. center of the scandal, in which major state elec- quotes Steinmeier as say- The CDU is the party of las Löbel and MP Georg Löbel is the representative Georg Nüsslein, is said to tions take place in addition ing, “MPs, of all people, German Chancellor Ange- Nüsslein. Both earned from Mannheim, a city of have received a commis- to a national election. The are holding out their hand la Merkel, who has been in several hundred thousand 300,000 residents. He ini- sion of 600,000 euros for scandal is impacting the before the modest medical power for 15 years. How- euros from the sale of face tially resigned only from facilitating a deal between entire party and may hurt protection of face masks ever, this scandal is com- masks during the early days his role on the foreign af- facemask manufacturers the seats the CDU can win even reaches the people... ing just months before of the pandemic when the fairs committee but has and the Bavarian Health and the coalitions it will be That is shabby and shame- Ministry. Nüsslein belongs able to form after the na- ful!” to the CSU, the Bavarian tional election. This scandal comes as sister party of the CDU. While discussing the the slow vaccine rollout Rather than resigning im- corruption allegations, across the EU is causing mediately, like MP Löbel Politico reports Armin frustration and ire with- was pressured to, Nüsslein Laschet as saying, “Anyone in Germany. This scandal will stay in office through who, as a representative of reveals how some saw the the end of his term. Ac- the people, tries to make pandemic as an opportu- cording to The Guard- money for himself in this nity to profit off of the ian, Nüsslein denies any crisis must leave parliament current zeitgeist of anxiety wrongdoing. immediately. Any MP who and fear. Many Germans With key elections in enriches himself in the feel that politicians should multiple states just on the crisis damages the highest do more to help Germa- horizon and a national good of democracy, trust.” ny’s recovery and this scan- election in September, this Another prominent dal has shown that some scandal could harm the conservative German politicians have much The scandal undermines the German government’s image as a leader on COVID-19 policy. CDU in regions where it lawmaker told Deutsche more interest in protecting Courtesy of vperemen.com was already performing Welle that these scandals their wallet than German citizens. Join the Team! Inside Int’l News Int’l News Diplo News Opinion Contact Natalie at Focus on THAILAND CRACKS DOWN Pope Francis Interview with The “Burqa Ban” Vaccine ON ANTI-GOVERNMENT Makes Historic Professor Wood on in the Age of natalie.sherman@student. PROTESTS Visit to iraq Diplomacy Conflict Mediation COVID-19 shu.edu On pages 8-9. On page 2. On page 5. On page 7. On page 10. March 2021 Page 2 International News Libyan Parliament Approves Unity Government Charleigh Stone The death of de facto vote of 132-2 in favor, with However, despite the the claims as fake news While the main task of Staff Writer leader Muammar Gaddafi 36 members absent. After- advancement of peace designed to disrupt the po- the new administration in 2011 destabilized Lib- wards, Dbeibah told par- plans, obstacles to unity litical process, urging the is to prepare Libya for Libya’s parliament has ya, causing the country to liament that “through this remain. Reuters reports UN to reveal the details of the Dec. 24 parliamenta- appointed a new inter- split into factions. Since vote, it became clear that that Dbeibah’s appoint- its investigation into the ry elections, Al-Monitor im government in hopes 2014, two rival parliaments the Libyans are one unit.” ment and the size of his accusations. According to reports that they will also of progressing unifica- governed Libya, with rebel The new cabinet in- cabinet have drawn cor- The Guardian, the bribes have to provide essential tion in the conflict-rid- general Khalifa Haftar and cludes 33 ministers and ruption accusations both were as high as $200,000, public services, initiate den state.