United States & China
The United States and China reached an accord on climate change, unveiling an ambitious plan to curb carbon emissions in an attempt to urge other nations around the world to follow suit.
The two countries found common cause after nine months of quiet talks concluded with a productive two days of meetings between U.S. President Barack Obama and Chinese President Xi Jinping.
The landmark agreement was jointly announced by President Obama and President Xi in Beijing. It includes new targets for carbon emission reductions by the U.S. and a commitment by China to stop its emissions from growing by 2030.
China and the U.S. are the world’s first and second-largest carbon polluters respectively, and an agreement between them is seen as crucial to setting a new global precedent.
North Korea
State media reported on Friday that leader Kim Jong Un is to send a personal envoy to Russia as the latest move in a series of diplomatic efforts by North Korea to fight off accusations of crimes against humanity from abroad.
The report said that Choe Ryong Hae, a high-ranking official of the ruling Workers’ Party, would soon visit Russia, but did not provide additional details. The Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs website said that Choe would visit Moscow, Khabarovsk and Vladivostok.
A United Nations investigation concluded in a February 17 report that North Korean officials, including possibly Kim himself, should face international justice for ordering systematic torture, starvation and killings.
North Korea has routinely dismissed the UN’s resolution urging the country’s referral to the International Criminal Court, accusing it of being part of a United States-led effort to undermine North Korea’s political system.
Britain
Prime Minister David Cameron said on Friday that new laws aimed to target jihadists fighting in Iraq and Syria could prevent British nationals who become foreign fighters abroad from returning home.
The new counter-terrorism bill will also preclude airlines that do not comply with Britain’s no-fly lists and security-screening measure from landing on its territory.
New regulations will also permit police officers to seize passports in order to stop suspects from travelling abroad, and to prevent British nationals from returning home unless they submit to the necessary screening processes.
Britain is also focusing its efforts on removing extremist material from the Internet.
“In the UK we are pushing companies to do more, including strengthening filters, improving reporting mechanisms and being more proactive in taking down this harmful material,” said Cameron.
