EU extends sanctions against Russia for another 6 months; Israel closes border with Gaza Strip again

Smoke rises in Al-Tamanah, Idlib province after clashes between Syrian government forces and rebel forces. Photo: AFP/TTXVN

Sputniknews and Reuters reported that on September 5, the Russian Defense Ministry confirmed that its fighter jets had carried out airstrikes on targets in Syria's Idlib province the day before.

The Russian Defense Ministry said it had only attacked the Al-Nusra Front and did not target populated areas. Among the targets hit was a warehouse used by the Al-Nusra Front to assemble drones.

The aircraft carrying out the airstrikes were deployed from Russia's Hmeimim airbase in Latakia province.

Moscow: UK manipulates information, baseless accusations

Two Russian citizens are among British suspects. Photo: PA

The Russian Foreign Ministry said on September 5 that the names of two men accused by British prosecutors of plotting to murder former Russian double agent Sergei Skripal and his daughter Yulia in Salisbury, England, last March, mean nothing to Russia.

RT quoted Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova as saying that Moscow is lobbying London to abandon “accusations and manipulation of the media”. The Russian Foreign Ministry also assessed that the UK’s accusations that the two incidents in Salisbury and Amesbury, with victims allegedly exposed to the nerve agent Novichok, are related are baseless.

Earlier, British police announced the identities of two Russian citizens they suspected of being involved in the poisoning of former spy Skripal and his daughter in the southern English city of Salisbury on March 4. These two citizens are Mr. Alexander Petrov and Ruslan Boshirov, accused of deliberately murdering former spy Skripal.

Israel closes border crossing with Gaza Strip after violence

Erez border gate. Source: AFP

According to AFP, on September 5, the Israeli army announced the closure of the border gate with the Gaza Strip, after violence broke out in this border area.

Just 10 days after reopening the crossing, the Israeli military issued a statement stating: “Yesterday, a riot was provoked in the area of ​​the Erez crossing, involving hundreds of Palestinian rioters. Therefore, the military decided to close the crossing until the damage caused by these rioters is repaired.”

European Union agrees to extend sanctions against Russia for another 6 months

Source: Sputnik

European Union (EU) envoys agreed on September 5 to extend sanctions against Russia for another six months over Moscow's alleged destabilization of the situation in Ukraine, diplomats and officials said.

The EU blacklist includes 154 individuals and 44 entities subject to travel bans and asset freezes, mostly Russian citizens and companies, as well as Ukrainian individuals who support Moscow, diplomats said.

Typhoon Jebi destroys thousands of houses, many world heritage sites in Japan

According to statistics up to 7 pm on September 5 (Japan time), in the Kinki area (including Osaka, Kyoto, Hyogo, Nara...), 8 houses were completely destroyed, 1731 houses were partially destroyed, of which Osaka was the most severely damaged locality with nearly 700 houses collapsed. In addition, hundreds of other houses were submerged in water. The death toll has increased to 12 people. Evacuation work continues to ensure the safety of thousands of households in the danger zone caused by the storm.

Another major loss was that many World Heritage sites were flooded, damaged or partially destroyed by the storm. Takanoyama Temple in Wakayama Prefecture was severely affected, with many ancient trees in the Temple falling, making it difficult to move around.

Kyoto is home to the largest concentration of World Heritage Sites in Japan and is also concerned about the destruction of some of its heritage sites. Heavy rains and strong winds have caused the heritage sites to be deformed. Local authorities are also doing their best to protect these heritage sites.

North Korea: Declaring the end of the war only requires political determination

Cho Sang-yong (2nd right), 80, living in South Korea, meets his brother Cho Deok-yong (2nd left, 88, living in North Korea) at a family reunion at Mount Kumgang on August 24. Photo: YONHAP/TTXVN

North Korea's Foreign Ministry has called for signing a declaration ending the Korean War (1950-1953) to build mutual trust with the United States and establish lasting peace on the Korean Peninsula.

Kim Yong-kuk, head of the Institute for Disarmament and Peace, which is affiliated with the North Korean Foreign Ministry, said that signing a declaration to end the war could be easily done as long as the countries involved had the political will.

Kim Yong-kuk's comments, made ahead of a visit to Pyongyang by a South Korean presidential envoy, appeared to be aimed at explaining Pyongyang's persistent call for the parties to sign a declaration ending the war before denuclearization.

UN announces ceasefire agreement reached in Libyan capital

Libyan security forces patrol near a checkpoint in the city of Zliten, 170 km east of the capital Tripoli on August 23. Photo: AFP/TTXVN

The United Nations mission in Libya announced on September 4 that a ceasefire agreement had been reached to end the bloody conflicts that have rocked the Libyan capital Tripoli over the past week.

The United Nations Mission in Libya stated that, under the auspices of UN envoy Ghassan Salame, a ceasefire agreement was reached and signed on September 4 to end all hostilities, protect civilians, protect public and private property, and reopen Mitiga airport in Tripoli.

Armed factions battling for Libya's capital for more than a week have reached a deal, but it remains unclear how it will be implemented as the militias have ignored calls from the UN-backed government - which has virtually no power - to lay down their arms.

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