Last weeks’ escalation of violence in the Donbass region and the increasing tension along the Crimean border have rocked priorities of international chancelleries. Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko and U.S. Vice President Joe Biden had a phone call on August 20th, pointing out security issues and the importance of political-diplomatic efforts to de-occupy Crimea. Donbass turmoil, with Russian-backed militants, continue shelling, including with banned heavy weapons, and large-scale military drills near the Russian-Ukrainian border, was also on the table.
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On Friday, August 19, the Russian Navy and land forces conducted a logistics exercise in the Crimea – RIA Novosti news agency reported. These actions in Crimea, which was annexed by Russia in 2014, were the last part of a series of military exercises that have started on August 16 in the South Federal District. Over 2,500 soldiers and approximately 350 units of equipment were involved in the logistics exercise.
According to a document viewed by Reuters, Japan is preparing to launch a prototype unmanned surveillance aircraft in the next decade and 10 years after that an unmanned fighter jet. This comes along with a record increase in Japanese defense spending, a budget of 5.16 trillion yen (£39million), 2.3% higher than this year. Japan's increase of secuirty measures are related to the feras over developments in China (due to tensions in the East China Sea) and North Korea (due to upgrades in thier ballistic missile tehcnology), both of which, according to the Japanese authorities could pose a serious therat to thier county in the near future.
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On Friday, August 19, The Turkish Parliament has ratified a deal on the normalisation of relations with Israel. The deal was signed on June 28, 2016, but its ratification was delayed by an attempted coup d’état in Turkey. Under its provisions, both countries will exchange ambassadors, end all sanctions against each other, while Israel will pay out $20 mln in compensation to families of killed during an Israeli commando raid on a Turkish ship Mavi Marmara in exchange for having all outstanding legal claims dropped. Israel has also agreed to enable the transfer of humanitarian and developmental aid to the Gaza Strip, while Turkey has promised to pressure Hamas to release 4 captured Israelis and limits its activity on Turkish territory.
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UN chief Ban Ki-moon has expressed disappointment concerning the ceasefire in Darfur, following the talks between the Sudanese government and the rebels. He declared himself “disappointed that the Sudanese parties failed to reach an agreement on a cessation of hostilities in Darfur”. Thousands of people have been killed and millions displaced after the ethnic minority groups rebelled against President Omar al-Bashir’s . The talk concerned the hostilities in Darfur, Blue Nile and South Kordofan, and they were hosted in Addis Ababa last week.
Read More During a televised speech from the western Lviv region on Thursday, August 18, the President of Ukraine, Petro Poroshenko declared that “if the situation escalates in the east and in Crimea we don’t rule out the possibilities that we will be forced to introduce martial law and announce a further mobilization”. Poroshenko didn’t clarify if the introduction of martial law will concern the whole country or only a few eastern regions. According to the Constitution of Ukraine, President’s decision to introduce martial law has to be approved by the Ukrainian Parliament
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Relations between North Korea and the United Kingdom were established in 2003. Since then, North Korea has its embassy in London and vice versa. Recently its been reported that one of the senior diplomats at the London embassy has vanished. Officials from Seul confirm now that Mr. Thae Yong-ho and his family have been found in South Korea. Mr. Thae is known to be the first diplomat from North Korea of such high ranking to commit this kind of act. His main task in the UK was to improve the image of his country.
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The United States on Tuesday targeted two Mexican companies, along with two Mexican men, for what it said was their role in assisting the infamous Sinaloa Cartel associated with drug lords Joaquin "El Chapo" Guzman and Ismael "El Mayo" Zambada. The U.S. Treasury Department formally identified Juan Manuel Alvarez Inzunza, whom it said was a money launderer, and Jose Olivas Chaidez, whom it said was a distributor, as specially designated narcotics traffickers for their role aiding the cartel.
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Today on 17 of August five members of Slovakia’s coalition party that has the name “Siet” relinquish the party. After this decision, they concluded that members would continue to support the ruling coalition led by Prime Minister Roberto Fico. The five dissenters, who remain members of parliament, have long criticized party chief Radoslav Prochazka for authoritarian decision making. Prochazka was replaced at a congress last weekend, but the rebels oppose the young leader, Roman Berkeley. “We are leaving Siet as of today. We will continue to take part in fulfilling the government programme,” the faction said.
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