(Current Affairs) International Events | August : 2017

International Events

US senate passed a stiff financial sanctions against Russia

  • The U.S. Senate is sending a package of stiff financial sanctions against Russia to President Donald Trump to sign after the Bill received overwhelming support in Congress.
  • Moscow has already responded, ordering a reduction in the number of U.S. diplomats in Russia and closing the U.S. embassy’s recreation retreat.
  • Mr. Trump’s likelihood of supporting the measure is a remarkable concession that the President has yet to sell his party on his hopes for forging a warmer relationship with Moscow.
  • Mr. Trump’s vow to extend a hand of cooperation to Russian President Vladimir Putin has been met with resistance as sceptical lawmakers look to limit the executive power’s leeway to go easy on Moscow over its alleged meddling in the 2016 presidential election.
  • The Senate passed the Bill, 98-2, two days after the House pushed the measure through by an overwhelming margin, 419-3. Both are veto proof numbers as the White House has wavered on whether the President would sign the measure into law.
  • Never in doubt, however, was a cornerstone of the legislation that bars Mr. Trump from easing or waiving the additional penalties on Russia unless Congress agrees.
  • The provisions were included to assuage concerns among U.S. lawmakers that the President’s push for better relations with Moscow might lead him to relax the penalties without first securing concessions from the Kremlin.
  • The legislation is aimed at punishing Moscow for interfering in the 2016 presidential election and for its military aggression in Ukraine and Syria, where the Kremlin has backed President Bashar al-Assad.
  • It also imposes financial sanctions against Iran and North Korea.Sen. John McCain said the Bill’s passage was long overdue, a jab at Mr. Trump and the GOP-controlled Congress.
  • Russia’s Foreign Ministry said it had ordered the U.S. Embassy in Russia to reduce the number of its diplomats by September 1. Russia will also close down the embassy’s recreational retreat on the outskirts of Moscow as well as warehouse facilities.
  • Meanwhile, some European countries expressed concerns that the measures targeting Russia’s energy sector would harm its businesses involved in piping Russian natural gas.
  • Germany’s foreign minister said his country wouldn’t accept the U.S. sanctions against Russia being applied to European companies.

Its Amazon founder the world’s richest person

  • Amazon founder Jeff Bezos became the world’s richest person, as a jump in the share price of the U.S. tech giant enabled him to overtake Microsoft founder Bill Gates, Forbes magazine estimated.
  • The magazine said its real-time tracking of personal fortunes showed Mr. Bezos with a net worth of $90.5 billion, ahead of the $90 billion for Mr. Gates.

“What Happened”

  • Hillary Clinton is calling her new book What Happened and promises unprecedented candour as she remembers her stunning defeat last year to U.S. President Donald Trump.
  • Simon &Schuster said that Ms. Clinton’s book will be a highly personal work that also is a “cautionary tale” about Russian interference in last year’s election and its threat to democracy.
  • In public remarks since last fall, the Democrat has cited Russia as a factor in her defeat to her Republican opponent, along with a letter sent by then-FBI Director James Comey less than two weeks before the election.
  • Now free from the constraints of running, Hillary takes you inside the intense personal experience of becoming the first woman nominated for president by a major party in an election marked by rage, sexism, exhilarating highs and infuriating lows, stranger-than-fiction twists, Russian interference, and an opponent who broke all the rule.
  • What Happened is scheduled to come out September 12. Ms. Clinton’s previous works include the 2003 memoir Living History , published while she was a U.S. senator from New York, and a book about her years as secretary of state, Hard Choices , which came out in 2014 as she prepared to launch her presidential candidacy.
  • She also wrote It Takes a Village And Other Lessons Children Teach Us when she was U.S. First Lady.
  • Ms. Clinton’s upcoming memoir isn’t the first political book to be called What Happened. Scott McClellan, a former White House press secretary during the George W. Bush administration, released a book with the same title in 2008. Mr.
  • McClellan’s memoir was an unexpectedly critical take on his former boss that became a bestseller.

Inscription, made of over 130 Chinese characters found:

  • An ancient rock inscription and stone monument dating back 900 years have been discovered on a mountain in China’s Hebei province.
  • The inscription, made of over 130 Chinese characters, was carved on a piece of smooth stone
  • The stone monument was underneath the inscription, on which about 300 Chinese characters were carved.
  • Both the inscription and the monument recorded the renovation of the Chouchan Temple during the Song Dynasty.
  • The new discovery offers valuable materials to study the history of Chouchan Temple and other famous temples.

Chinese jets intercept U.S. aircraft

  • A U.S. surveillance plane was forced to take evasive action after two Chinese fighters intercepted it over the East China Sea, the Pentagon.
  • The incident occurred when the two Chinese J-10 warplanes intercepted a U.S. Navy EP-3 reconnaissance plane in international air space west of the Korean Peninsula.
  • One of the Chinese jets came underneath the U.S. plane at high speed, then slowed and pulled up in front of it.

Israel sent more troops to the West Bank amid widespread Palestinian clashes

  • Israel sent more troops to the West Bank, a day after a Palestinian stabbed to death three members of an Israeli family in their home and widespread Israeli-Palestinian clashes erupted over escalating tensions at the Holy Land’s most contested shrine.
  • The father of the 20-year-old Palestinian assailant said he believes his son was upset over the loss of Palestinian lives and wanted to protect the “honour” of the Jerusalem holy site.
  • A senior Israeli government official blamed the latest round of violence on what he said was Palestinian incitement against Israel and called on Palestinian leaders to help restore calm.
  • Disputes over the shrine, revered by Muslims and Jews, have set off major rounds of Israeli-Palestinian confrontations in the past.
  • They were also at the root of the current violence which began last week when Arab gunmen fired from the shrine, killing two Israeli policemen.
  • In response, Israel installed metal detectors at the gates of the 37-acre walled compound, portraying the devices as a needed security measure to prevent more attacks.
  • Muslims alleged Israel was trying to expand its control at the Muslim-administered site under the guise of security a claim Israel denies and launched mass prayer protests.
  • Anger boiled over and several thousand Palestinians clashed with Israeli security forces in the West Bank and in Jerusalem after noon prayers. Three Palestinians were killed and several dozen wounded by live rounds and bullets in some of the worst street clashes in two years.
  • The Israeli military said the assailant killed a man and two of his adult children, while a woman was wounded.

Sri Lanka’s new Constitution to be ready by January 2018

  • Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe said the draft of Sri Lanka’s new Constitution would be ready by January 2018, yet again shifting the deadline for the challenging task his government took up after coming to power in 2015.
  • As per earlier assurances, the government should have already debated the draft Constitution in Parliament by now, and prepared for a referendum after a likely two-thirds majority.
  • But even as the government tried fast-tracking the process, a section of the country’s influential Buddhist clergy said there was no need for a new Constitution.
  • Senior Minister and Cabinet spokesman Rajitha Senaratne said they would go ahead with drafting the new Constitution as per the mandate they got in the 2015 elections.
  • The pressure is partly to do with the complex arrangement of a “national unity” government, with the Sri Lanka Freedom Party (SLFP) and the rival United National Party (UNP) cohabiting it.
  • There seems to be a widely-shared understanding that this government should look ahead faster than it needs to look behind.
  • That is what the March UN resolution in Geneva, co-sponsored by the U.S., Sri Lanka and other countries, seemed to indicate when it gave the country a two-year extension to fulfil its commitments on accountability.
  • At the same time, the Tamil leaders’ patience is evidently waning. Amid severe criticism from sections of its support base in the north, the TNA has begun articulating its frustration with the government loud and clear.

China is looking to reduce the size of its Army

  • China will downsize its 2.3 million-strong People’s Liberation Army to under one million as the world’s largest military effected its biggest troop reduction in history to bolster its navy and strategic missile forces.
  • The massive troop reduction is part of the restructuring of the PLA and evenly proportion the army and other services, the PLA Daily. The PLA will increase the numbers of other services, including navy and missile forces.
  • The reform is based on China’s strategic goals and security requirements. In the past, the PLA focused on ground battle and homeland defence, which will undergo fundamental changes.
  • This is the first time that active PLA army personnel would be reduced to below one million.

German Chancellor says open to EU-US trade talks

  • German Chancellor Angela Merkel says she’s open to restarting talks with the United States on a trade deal with the European Union.
  • Ms. Merkel told a business audience in Bavaria that President Donald Trump’s administration had signaled it is ready to negotiate and that “for me a Trans-Atlantic agreement remains on the daily agenda.”
  • On a trip to Berlin last month, U.S. Commerce Secretary Wilbur Ross said the U.S. and EU should have a free trade agreement.
  • Negotiations for the Trans-Atlantic Trade and Investment Partnership deal, known as TTIP, started under the Obama administration but have been stalled since last year.

G20 summit came up with compromise language on trade

  • The Group of 20 summit came up with compromise language on trade, although officials struggled to find common ground on another contentious issue, fighting climate change.
  • In the wake of President Donald Trump’s decision to leave the Paris climate agreement, the group agreed in a draft statement to “take note” of the U.S. withdrawal while the other 19 reaffirmed support of the Paris deal.
  • The draft could still change before its final release. The talks at the two-day summit in Hamburg competed for attention, with violent clashes between anti-globalisation activists and police.
  • Climate and trade were two of the most contentious issues, in part due to the assertive stance taken on both by Mr. Trump. He has said trade must be fair as well as open and must benefit American companies and workers.
  • He has focussed on trade relationships where other countries run large surpluses with the U.S., meaning they sell more to U.S. consumers than they buy from American companies.

Nearly all G20 leaders agree on free and fair trade

  • Nearly all G20 leaders agreed on the need for free and fair trade, but some differences of opinion mean officials drafting the summit’s final communiqué still had a long night’s work ahead, German Chancellor Angela Merkel said.
  • “On the issue of trade, virtually everyone believes we need free but also fair trade,” she said. “However, I can predict that as far as trade is concerned in the communiqué, the sherpas have a lot of work ahead of them tonight.”
  • Ms. Merkel pressed fellow Group of 20 leaders to compromise. “ We all know the big global challenges and we know that time is pressing.
  • And so solutions can only be found if we are ready for compromise and move towards each other, but without — and I stress this — bending too much, because of course we can also state clearly when there are differences.”
  • The draft underlines that the 2015 Paris climate accord is “irreversible” and affirms that other G20 nations are committed to the deal while taking note of Washington's decision to quit the agreement.
  • Ahead of the summit, a key concern among Western allies was whether they would be able to convince G20 members to stand firm on the Paris agreement on combating global warming.
  • If the draft is confirmed it would reflect the 19-versus-the-U.S. split over the issue. British Prime Minister Theresa May said world leaders would redouble efforts to persuade Mr. Trump to rejoin the Paris deal.

U.S. President hopes for China’s help to deal with North Korea

  • U.S. President Donald Trump’s hopes for China’s help with restraining North Korea appear to have gone nowhere, with the two sides growing further apart as their approaches and concerns diverge.
  • China shows no sign of caving to U.S. pressure to tighten the screws on North Korea, while the North’s recent missile tests have done little to rattle Beijing, in contrast to the anxiety sparked in Washington.
  • China’s bottom line continues to hold fast — No to any measures that might topple Kim Jong-un’s regime.
  • Washington’s UN Ambassador Nikki Haley warned that China’s trade with the U.S. could suffer if it didn’t help following North Korea’s successful launch of its first intercontinental ballistic missile.
  • The U.S. has already blacklisted one Chinese bank accused of illicit dealings with North Korea and is penalizing a Chinese shipping company and two Chinese individuals accused of facilitating illegal activities by the North.

Birmingham Council has withdrawn permission for a rally for Wani

  • The Birmingham Council has withdrawn permission for a rally due to take place on the death anniversary of Burhan Wani, two days after India raised its concerns about the event taking place.
  • “We took a booking for a peaceful rally highlighting the human rights abuse in Kashmir. However, we are now aware of concerns raised about the promotional leaflet, and having assessed the material, have not given permission for the use of Victoria Square,” said Birmingham City Council.
  • Indian Deputy High Commissioner Dinesh Patnaik, whose office sent a “note verbale” on the matter to the British Foreign Office, said they were pleased that the concerns had been taken seriously and addressed.
  • Wani was killed with two other militants in the Anantnag province on July 8 last year, triggering protests across the Valley, following a mission that Indian security agencies described as the “biggest ever success” in recent times.
  • India has become increasingly vocal in expressing its concern about Britain’s apparent willingness to allow anti-Indian activity to flourish on its shores, stressing how it contrasted with India’s own approach to its allies.

China said there was no scope for a “compromise”

  • China said there was no scope for a “compromise” in the military standoff with India in the Sikkim area, and placed the onus on New Delhi to resolve the “grave” situation.
  • China’s Ambassador to India Luo Zhaohui said, “the ball is in India’s court” and it was for the Indian government to decide on options to resolve the standoff.
  • Asked about remarks in official Chinese media and from think- tanks that the conflict could lead to a “war” if not handled properly.
  • There has been talk about this option, that option. It is up to your government policy (whether to exercise military option). However, he made it clear that there was no scope for a “compromise” on the issue.
  • “The first priority is that Indian troops unconditionally pull back to the Indian side of the boundary. That is the precondition for any meaningful dialogue between China and India,” he said.
  • Indian and Chinese troops have been engaged in a standoff in the Dokalam area near the Bhutan tri-junction for past 19 days after the Chinese army’s attempts to construction party came to build a road in the area.
  • He also asserted that India has no right to interfere with the China-Bhutan boundary talks, nor is it entitled to make territorial claims on behalf of Bhutan.

India offers help to Sri Lanka’s Northern Province

  • India has expressed willingness to further partner Sri Lanka’s Northern Provincial administration in development initiatives, emphasising the need for a clear economic programme identifying specific areas.
  • Indian High Commissioner Taranjit Singh Sandhu called on Chief Minister C.V. Wigneswaran in Jaffna, the former’s first visit to the Tamil-majority north after assuming charge in Colombo in January.
  • During the meeting, Mr. Sandhu underscored economic development for the war-affected areas and said India was willing to assist in projects, sources in Jaffna.
  • Mr. Sandhu reportedly told the Chief Minister that while political challenges may come from time to time, continued work on economic development was important, according to a source in Jaffna.
  • India has been involved in key infrastructure projects in the north in the post-war years, building 46,000 homes in the island’s north and east and helping restore the railway line from Omanthai to Pallai, with a $800 million line of credit.
  • These are part of India’s $2.6 billion commitment for development assistance to Sri Lanka, including $390 million as grants, for projects all over the island.
  • Currently, the Indian side appears keen on working with the Northern Provincial Council, on economic development, skills training and job creation.

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