North Korean nuclear talks at risk of deadlock; Horrific bombing in Afghanistan
(Baonghean.vn) - North Korea's nuclear negotiations are at risk of deadlock; the US will not renew the nuclear arms control treaty with Russia; Trump explains the reason for his 'addiction' to Twitter; Horrific bombing in Afghanistan... are the world's top news in the past 24 hours.
North Korean nuclear talks at risk of deadlock
North Korean missile launched on July 25 (Photo: KCNA).
North Korea on the morning of July 31 launched two short-range missiles into the East Sea. Pyongyang's move continues to attract public attention and is considered a warning aimed directly at South Korea and the United States, in the context of the two countries about to conduct joint military exercises.
The joint US-South Korea military exercises and North Korea's increased missile launches are raising concerns in the world that the US and North Korea are unlikely to resume negotiations soon. According to South Korean Foreign Minister Kang Kyung-wha, North Korea's new missile launches will not help ease military tensions, nor will they help maintain momentum for denuclearization talks on the Korean Peninsula, which are in the process of resuming.
US does not extend nuclear arms control treaty with Russia
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| Russia's Topol intercontinental ballistic missile at the Kubinka defense exhibition on the outskirts of Moscow on August 22, 2017. Photo: AFP/TTXVN |
US National Security Adviser John Bolton on July 31 explained why the US decided not to extend the New Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty with Russia when it expires in February 2021. Mr. Bolton also accused Russia of violating the treaty by continuing to develop ballistic systems and hypersonic glide vehicles as well as constantly modernizing its military arsenal. Bolton asserted that China is continuously developing medium-range weapons while the US is "tied up" by the INF. Although he does not intend to extend the agreement with Russia, Bolton affirmed that the US is ready to negotiate a new agreement that includes both Russia and China.
The New START treaty limits the number of deployed intercontinental ballistic missiles, submarine-launched ballistic missiles, nuclear-armed bombers and nuclear warheads by Russia and the United States. The United States will no longer be bound by any arms control treaty with Russia after it abandons New START in 2021.
Opening of the 52nd ASEAN Foreign Ministers' Meeting
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Thai Prime Minister Prayuth speaks at the opening session. |
On the morning of July 31, the 52nd ASEAN Foreign Ministers' Meeting (AMM-52) and related meetings officially opened in Bangkok. In his opening speech, Thai Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha emphasized that in the past 6 months since the ASEAN Foreign Ministers' Retreat in January 2019, the close cooperation of ASEAN countries has brought about concrete results.
After the opening ceremony, ASEAN Foreign Ministers attended plenary and retreat sessions to discuss emerging issues in the ASEAN Community building process, the implementation plan of the ASEAN Outlook on the Indo-Pacific (AOIP) and the ASEAN Leaders' Vision Statement on Partnership for Sustainability, as well as the negotiation process of the Code of Conduct in the East Sea (COC).
Horrific bombing in Afghanistan, 34 people killed
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Victims are taken to the emergency room after the bombing. Photo: deccanherald. |
On July 31, a bomb attack occurred in the western province of Farah, Afghanistan, killing at least 34 people and injuring 17 others. According to a spokesman for Farah province, the bombing occurred when a bus traveling on the Kandahar-Herat road ran over a roadside bomb planted by Taliban insurgents. In addition to the 34 victims who died, authorities said the death toll could rise as many people are still in critical condition. Most of the victims were women and children.
Afghanistan is currently in a state of instability due to clashes between security forces and Taliban insurgents. According to figures released by the United Nations mission in Afghanistan, in the first 6 months of 2019, more than 1,360 civilians were killed and about 2,440 others were injured due to armed conflict.
Trump explains why he is 'addicted' to Twitter
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US President Trump at the White House on July 30. Photo:AFP. |
The US President explained that using Twitter is "the only defense" against fake news and unfair press coverage. "If I was given fair coverage, I wouldn't need to use Twitter. It's my only form of defense. If the press reported about me fairly, I wouldn't need to do it," US President Donald Trump shared in an interview with C-Spa channel.
Trump has repeatedly posted controversial tweets targeting news organizations since taking office. The US president has repeatedly refused to answer journalists or questions that he considers hostile. Critics, especially those in the media, say Trump's attitude toward the press stems from his unwillingness to be transparent.
Japan dismantles all nuclear power reactors at Fukushima
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A reactor building (right) and turbine building at Japan Atomic Energy Corporation's Tokai Daini nuclear power plant. |
On July 31, Tokyo Electric Power Company (TEPCO) officially decided to dismantle all nuclear power reactors in Fukushima Prefecture. This means that 10 reactors, including 6 reactors at Fukushima No. 1 Power Plant and 4 reactors at Fukushima No. 2 Power Plant, will be completely disabled. TEPCO President Tomoaki Kobayakawa announced the decision to the Fukushima Prefecture government.
EPCO said it would take more than 40 years and cost about 280 billion yen ($2.6 billion) to dismantle the four reactors at Plant 2. It would also build an on-site storage facility for the nuclear fuel removed from the plant, but it has not yet chosen a final disposal site for the fuel.
