World in Brief - The Economist Roundup

 

World in Brief

The Economist Roundup

Blinken’s never ending Middle-East diplomacy

Antony Blinken, America’s secretary of state, arrived in Israel on Tuesday—his fourth visit since October. During a five-day regional tour he is attempting to keep the war between Israel and Hamas, the Islamist group that controls Gaza, from turning into a bigger regional conflagration. During a stop in Qatar he warned that the conflict “could easily metastasise”. It arguably already has.

On Monday an Israeli air strike in southern Lebanon killed a commander of the Radwan force, an elite commando unit of the militant group Hizbullah. It came just days after an apparent Israeli drone strike in Beirut killed Saleh al-Arouri, one of Hamas’s top leaders. As Israel begins to withdraw some troops from a devastated Gaza, the strikes in Lebanon are fuelling fears that it will shift focus and expand the fighting on its northern front. Until now, it has been cautious about that. But American officials are increasingly worried that Binyamin Netanyahu’s prudence will not last.

Trump’s immunity claim in court

On Tuesday Donald Trump’s lawyers will try to persuade a court in Washington, DC, to toss out the former president’s election-stealing lawsuit. Ex-presidents cannot be sued in civil court for actions they undertook in office related to their official duties. Mr Trump wants this “absolute immunity” extended to the criminal realm. Without such broad protection, Mr Trump’s lawyers insist, “politically motivated prosecutions” will haunt future presidents. The prosecutor, Jack Smith, counters that overturning election results was far from an official duty.

Mr Smith knew that the challenge was coming. In December he asked the Supreme Court to bypass the normal appeals process and take it up directly. His request was declined, but the matter will likely land back in the justices’ lap within weeks. The trial, scheduled to begin on March 4th, is one of five Mr Trump is due to face in 2024. Any delays could prevent voters from learning the verdicts before election day.

 

Antony Blinken, America’s secretary of state, met with Israel’s prime minister, Binyamin Netanyahu, as part of a five-day trip to the Middle East. Mr Blinken is urging the Israeli government to increase its efforts to avoid civilian casualties in Gaza, and emphasising the need for post-war planning. Mr Netanyahu has declined to share his plans for Gaza, frustrating America, one of the country’s staunchest allies. Meanwhile American officials said Israel is shifting from a large-scale ground offensive to a more targeted phase of its campaign.

 

Taiwan’s vice-president and leader of the presidential race, Lai Ching-te, accused China of its “most serious” election interference to date. “Propaganda or military intimidation, cognitive warfare or fake news, they are employing it all,” he said. Taiwan will hold elections on January 13th. Mr Lai’s Democratic Progressive Party favours strengthening relations with the West. The opposition, China-friendly Kuomintang, promises to reopen dialogue with China.

 

Pakistan’s Supreme Court ruled that people with criminal convictions can stand as election candidates, clearing the path for Nawaz Sharif to run for prime minister for a fourth time in a vote expected next month. Mr Sharif was removed from office in 2017 for “dishonest practices”. His main opponent is Imran Khan, a popular former prime minister who has been imprisoned for corruption (he maintains his innocence).

 

Elisabeth Borne resigned as France’s prime minister. Known as an efficient technocrat, Ms Borne was the second woman to hold the post. Emmanuel Macron, the unpopular president, will reshuffle his cabinet on Tuesday in an effort to bolster his centrist party against a resurgent far right. Gabriel Attal, the 34-year-old education minister, is reportedly favoured to replace Ms Borne.

 

South Korea passed a law which will end the farming and sale of dog meat by 2027. The consumption of dog meat has grown unpopular in recent years and faced increasing resistance from animal-rights campaigners. According to a Gallup poll from 2023, less than a fifth of South Koreans now say that they support the practice.