International Polity - Current Affairs for August, 2015

The US State Department said the talks were expected to focus on mutual interests and areas of concern, particularly terrorist and militant attacks emanating from Pakistani soil. Rice also is likely to discuss Pakistan's role in Afghanistan's effort to negotiate peace with the Taliban and a recent rise in tensions between Islamabad and New Delhi.

Protesters slept out overnight in Kuala Lumpur after the first day of a rally that has brought into the streets a political crisis triggered by reports of a mysterious transfer worth more than 600 million dollars into an account under Mr Najib's name. Mr Najib, who has denied any wrongdoing, has sacked his deputy and ministers who had questioned him.

The appointments come a day after Supreme Court head Vassiliki Thanou was sworn into office. The 65-year-old was appointed after outgoing Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras resigned last week, barely seven months into his four-year mandate, following a rebellion by members of his radical-left Syriza party who objected to his agreement with the conditions of Greece's third international bailout.

The prisoner amnesty law, promulgated by President Xi Jinping on 29th Aug’15, comes 40 years after China granted an amnesty to war criminals in 1975. Amnesty is a system under the Constitution in China, which has long stressed governing by virtue and laws. This is the eight amnesty granted by the People's Republic of China since its founding in 1949.

A Pakistani anti-corruption court in Karachi issued non-bailable arrest warrants against former Prime Minister Yusuf Raza Gilani and former trade minister Makhdoom Amin Fahim for alleged corrupt deals by approving subsidies to fake companies. The court issued arrest orders after the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) presented a formal charge sheet of 12 cases registered against the duo and some senior officials of Trade Development Authority Pakistan (TDAP).

Gilani was prime minister from 2008 to 2013 when he was sacked after the Supreme Court held him responsible for defying an order of the court to write a letter to the Swiss government to reopen a corruption probe against then President Asif Ali Zardari.

The US had sponsored a resolution at the UNHRC last September calling for a credible inquiry on war crime and other human right violation allegations against the security forces of Sri Lanka and the LTTE militants.

South Sudan's President Salva Kiir has signed a peace deal with rebels after a threat of sanctions from the UN. He told those gathered for the signing ceremony in the capital, Juba, that he had "reservations" about how the mediation was conducted and some of the clauses in the compromise deal. Rebel leader Riek Machar signed the deal last week but Mr Kiir refused. It is meant to end months of brutal civil war and would see Mr. Machar return as Vice-President.

The three-judge panel of the US Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit ruled that it found the arguments presented by Sikhs for Justice (SFJ) in its case against Gandhi "without merit". SFJ had filed a lawsuit in 2013 against Gandhi accusing her of allegedly shielding and protecting Congress party leaders in the anti-Sikh riots that had erupted following the assassination of former Prime Minister and her mother-in-law Indira Gandhi.

The crossings were shut after an attack by smugglers left three soldiers and a civilian injured. Since then around 1,000 Colombians living in Venezuela have been expelled as part of a crackdown on smugglers and criminal gangs in the region. The two countries are due to hold talks on the issue on 26th Aug’15.

Russian commandoes seized the Dutch-flagged ship in September 2013 and detained the 30 Greenpeace activists and journalists onboard after a protest at an offshore oil rig owned by Russian state oil giant Gazprom.

Tony Abbott has become the first Australian Prime Minister to visit the resting place of Indigenous land rights campaigner Eddie Koiki Mabo. The Prime Minister is in the Torres Strait as part of an election promise to spend one week each year in a remote Australian Indigenous community. During his stay, Mr Abbott said he would be focussing on education, health and border security in the Strait. He laid a wreath on Mr Mabo's grave on Mer Island. Mr Mabo died in 1992 just months before his 10-year legal battle for native title rights proved successful.

The 21-member UN-mandated court located in the German city Hamburg issued the order with 15 in favour and six against. Unhappy over India's handling of the marine's issue, Italy took the matter to the ITLOS challenging Indian jurisdiction in the case. It has pleaded that India must cease to exercise any form of jurisdiction over the Enrica Lexie Incident and the Italian Marines, including any measure of restraint with respect to Sergeant Latorre and Sergeant Girone.

The two marines, who were on board ship 'Enrica Lexie', are accused of killing two Indian fishermen on February 15, 2012 off the Kerala coast.

Mr. Michel's visit comes five months after Prime Minister Narendra Modi visited Seychelles during which a number of agreements were signed to boost cooperation in a range of areas. It was first visit by an Indian Prime Minister to the country in 34 years. Mr. Michel had earlier paid state visits to India in 2005 and 2010, apart from participating in the Delhi Sustainable Development Summits in 2011 and 2012.

According to a Saudi government website Official voter registration began on 22nd Aug’15, and candidate registration begins on August 30. Both days will mark firsts for women in Saudi Arabia gearing up to participate in elections in December. Women will only participate in elections at the municipal level.

The UK embassy was closed in 2011 after it was stormed by protesters during a demonstration against sanctions. Mr Hammond is the first UK Foreign Secretary to visit Iran since 2003. The visit comes weeks after Iran reached a deal with six world powers aimed at curbing its nuclear programme.

India is the fourth country to have a hotline after Russia, Great Britain and China.

With this India has also indicated that it wants to reach out to Iran. The order means that Iranians can easily apply for visas at Indian consulate in Iran. The decision also comes in backdrop of the P5 + 1 countries ie; U.K, China, France, Russia, U.S. and Germany nations clinching a nuclear agreement with Iran during July 2015.

Mr Tsipras, who was only elected in January this year, said that he is stepping down and calling early elections after suffering a rebellion within his left-wing Syriza party over the country' new bailout programme. He said that Greece got the best deal possible for its three-year, a 86 billion euro bailout package. Mr Tsipras said that he will shortly meet with the President of the Republic and present his resignation and that of his Government.

The migrants, most of them Syrian refugees, boarded the Eleftherios Venizelos car ferry in Kos, Kalymnos, Leros and Lesvos in the past few days. The influx of migrants in Greece has increased dramatically in the past month to around 50,000. Greece has become the main transit point for migrants into the European Union in the past few months, with UN officials estimating that almost 160,000 have arrived on its shores since January.

The results of Sri Lanka’s 15th General Elections on 18th Aug’15 have brought to a close the Rajapaksa era in country’s politics. United National Party leader and current Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesighe has return to the parliament as the leader of the largest group, with possible support from several members from the opposite camp.

The exercise will be the 11th such event in the Yudh Abhyas series, which started in 2004 under US Army Pacific partnership program.

The prime minister of Libya's internationally recognised government, Abdullah al-Thani, has announced his resignation. The announcement was made in a surprise move live on television, hours after peace talks between the country's rival factions restarted. During the talk show, Prime Minister Al-Thani faced angry questions from citizens who blamed his government for the lack of basic services such as electricity and poor security in areas of it controls. Al-Thani said during the show that if his exit is the solution, he resigns. He added that his resignation will be submitted to the parliament on 16th Aug’15.

The agreement resolves contentious issues of federalism under the new constitution, a crucial development praised by Prime Minister Sushil Koirala. Mr Koirala and top leaders of CPN-UML, Nepali Congress, Unified CPN-Maoist and Madhesi Peoples Rights Forum Democratic, MPRFD, were present during the meeting. However, UCPN-Maoist and MPRFD, have signed the deal with some reservations.

On 15th Aug’15 North Korea will celebrate 70th anniversary of Korea’s liberation from Japanese rule at the end of the World War II. At present North Korea has the same time zone as of Japan.

Lok Sabha Speaker Sumitra Mahajan said, a meeting of Speakers of all states has unanimously decided that India will boycott the meeting of the CPA if the Speaker of the Jammu and Kashmir is not invited. She also said that India is writing to the CPA Chairperson that if Jammu and Kashmir is not invited India will not attend the meeting or the venue be changed so that it can attend the conference.

In a statement released to the media, Tayyab Agha said there were historic mistakes made in keeping Mullah Omar’s death secret for nearly two years and in picking his successors outside of Afghanistan. Agha’s claim gives credence to the widespread perception that the Taliban’s new leader, Mullah Akhtar Mansoor, was selected with the backing of Pakistan. He said the new Taliban leader should have been elected from the Taliban fighters and in the bunkers.

Russians, who fear that their family members could be under the threat of being recruited by the IS, can address their concerns to the State Civic Chamber by phone or in writing.

A Sindh government official said the detained fishermen were set free as a goodwill gesture following the last month's meeting between Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif and his Indian counterpart Narendra Modi in Russia.

Documents released by Wikileaks list 35 telephone numbers targeted for interception by the US National Security Agency (NSA). Wikileaks said the surveillance extends back at least eight years. Wikileaks has previously released files showing the US spied on Germany, France and Brazil - like Japan, all allies. There has been no comment from Japan on the latest claims.

111 Indian enclaves within Bangladesh merged with Bangladesh, and 51 Bangladeshi ones got merged with India. The transfer gave over 50,000 people citizenship of both countries, bringing them access to all legal rights and civic amenities. A joint survey conducted from 6th -16th July gave them choice to decide which country they want to live in. Those who decided to move have been promised safe and secure passage with personal belongings & movable property till November 30th this year. Ban on property sale imposed since 6th July will be lifted to allow those moving, to sell their land.