Portal:Current events/2017 February 2

February 2, 2017 (Thursday)

International relations

Georgia–European Union relations
- The European Parliament unanimously approves visa-free regime in the Schengen zone for Georgia. (Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty)
Russia–United States relations
- The United States Department of the Treasury eases some sanctions on the Federal Security Service (FSB), allowing for limited transactions with the intelligence agency. The sanctions were put in place last year by Barack Obama over alleged Russian interference in the 2016 U.S. election. (Reuters)
Australia–United States relations
- Citing unnamed U.S. officials, The Washington Post reports that U.S. President Donald Trump berated Australian Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull. Trump claimed it was "the worst call by far" and criticized a refugee settlement deal organised between the Turnbull Government and the Obama administration in late 2016. (The Washington Post)
- White House Press Secretary Sean Spicer says the U.S. is still planning on carrying through with the refugee resettlement deal. (Bloomberg Politics)
Israel–United States relations, Israeli–Palestinian peace process
- The White House cautions Israel that building new settlements or expanding existing settlements in the West Bank, "... may not be helpful in achieving (peace)." (NBC News) (BBC)

Law and crime

Former HBOS manager Lynden Scourfield and other bankers and consultants are found guilty of corruption and abuse of power in stealing £245 million from the bank and small businesses in a loans scam, which was spent on personal luxuries. Scourfield was sentenced to 11 years in prison. (The Guardian)

Politics and elections

Colombian peace process
- The National Liberation Army releases former congressman Odin Sanchez, who had been held hostage by the rebel group since April 2016, paving the way for peace talks to begin between the rebels and the Colombian government next week in Ecuador. (BBC)

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