AROUND THE GLOBE: THE WORLD TODAY
KOREAN NUCLEAR CRISIS: SOUTH KOREA PREPARES FOR NORTH KOREA’S ATTACK
With reports that North Korea might launch an intercontinental ballistic missile, a weight limit agreement on South Korea’s nuclear warheads has been scrapped.
South Korea’s Asia Business Daily cited an unknown source in reporting that movement of what appears to be an intercontinental ballistic missile had been observed in North Korea. According to the report, the spotted rocket only moved at night to avoid surveillance. Speculations are that another test may take place on the 9th of September, North Korea’s founding day.
In response, South Korea has Trump’s “in principle approval” on the move to secure highly potent warheads in countering the North’s offensive. The current guideline allows South Korea to develop missiles with a maximum payload of 500kg within an 800km range. North Korea on the other hand has payload ranging from 100-1000kg.
South Korea is also heavily invested in naval trainings and has set up various missiles defense system across the country to fend off North Korea’s attack. An official of the South Korean navy mentioned that “today’s training is being held to prepare for maritime North Korean provocations, inspect our navy’s readiness and to reaffirm our will to punish our enemy”
Leaders like Vladimir Putin recognized such actions against North Korea to be counterproductive. The UN Security Council is set to impose stricter sanctions that might include ban on its textile exports, banish of its nation airline and stop of oil supplies. Putin’s belief is that this is a “road to nowhere” but US ambassador Nikki Haley insists North Korea is “begging for war.” China’s hold on the stricter sanctions is unverified but its foreign ministry promised to engage the Security Council discussion in “a responsible and constructive manner.”
TRUMP IS READY TO ABORT DREAMER PROGRAM
Trump is expected on Tuesday to cancel the Dreamer Program while the Congress is pressured to find a fix within six months.
One of Candidate Trump’s electoral promises was to cancel the dreamer program setup by the Obama administration for immigrants who entered the United States illegally as children. The program protects 800,000 young men and women, a faction of the 11 million illegal immigrants in the United States.
Under Trump’s proposed policy, Dreamers with valid permits can stay in the United States until their 2 year period permit expires. While immigrations hardliners strongly urge to fulfill his campaign promises and give American jobs back to Americans, liberals are in total discord with the decision. States like New York and Washington have threatened to sue Trump should he proceed with the plan. Apple’s Ceo Tim Cook and Facebook’s Mark Zuckerberg have also disagreed with the decision. The claim of liberals is that Dreamers are law abiding citizens well integrated into the American system, just like an American. Republicans are of the view that their mode of entry into the country is illegal and unjustifiable. Trump has given congress 6 months to find a fix.
HURRICANE IRMA BOLTS TOWARD VIRGIN ISLANDS, PUERTO RICO
Hurricane Irma heightens into an extremely dangerous Category 5 storm as it bolts toward the South United States and the Carribeans after Hurricane Harvey’s devastation.
The US National Hurricane Center warned of hurricane effects in Leeward Islands, the British and US Virgin Island and Puerto Rico. According to the NHC, “preparations should be rushed to completion in the hurricane warning area.” The center also reported Irma to be 270 miles east of Island of Antingua and moving west at about 14mph.
In Puerto Rico, Governor Ricardo Rossello has declared a state of emergency and activated the national guard. At a news conference, he mentioned that “ there is no positive sign that it’s going to go in another direction. We’re expecting that it’s coming at Puerto Rico with force, and we’ve got to be ready for it.”
Governor Rick Scott of Florida also tweeted on Monday to have spoken with President Trump and he offered full resources of the federal government. Texas and Louisiana are still recovering from hurricane Harvey and Irma will be the second powerful storm to strike the United States in weeks.
OVER 120,000 ROHINGYA RUN OFF MYANMAR VIOLENCE, UN CLAIMS
According to the United Nations, more than 120,000 Rohingya people run off the violence in Myanmar to Bangladesh in the last two weeks.
There is an ensuing humanitarian crisis in Myanmar with over 400,000 stateless Rohingya people reportedly trapped in Myanmar conflict zones. Aids from the UN and other NGOS have been blocked and supplies looted. The UN announced that an estimated 123,600 Rohingya people have reached Bangladesh and up to 15,000 are expected to cross Naf river into Bangladesh. Patients are increasing rapidly by 40-50 percent and supplies are diminishing rapidly. The refugees relate stories of massacres and arson. While the military report 400 death toll, UN estimate rounds it to a thousand.
International pressure is that Aung San Suu Kyi, the country’s de-facto leader, intervenes in the situation while other are calling for the rescinding of his nobel peace award. Turkey’s President commends Bangladesh and promised to compensate it while describing the situation in Myanmar as genocide.