South Korea destroys guard post in DMZ; Massive strike for higher wages in Greece

Russian President Putin meets US Vice President on the sidelines of ASEAN Summit

Russian President Vladimir Putin meets with US Vice President Mike Pence at the ASEAN Summit on May 15. Photo: Reuters

Russian President Vladimir Putin on November 15 had a brief meeting with US Vice President Mike Pence on the sidelines of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) Summit in Singapore.

Speaking to reporters, President Putin said he discussed with Mr. Pence the possibility of the US withdrawing from the Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces (INF) Treaty, relations with Iran, as well as strategic stability, the implementation of the New Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty (NEW START). In addition, Mr. Putin also expressed his readiness to meet his US counterpart Donald Trump at the G20 Summit taking place later this month in Buenos Aires, Argentina, and is ready for official work to revive the Syrian economy.

British Prime Minister warns of possibility of Brexit not happening

British Prime Minister Theresa May (center) speaks at the Parliamentary Question Period in London on November 14, 2018. Photo: AFP/VNA

After receiving the support of the British Cabinet, the draft Brexit agreement needs to be approved by the British Parliament, but this is expected to be a particularly difficult process. Currently, there are about 40 MPs from the ruling Conservative Party ready to vote against the draft agreement. To pass the agreement, Prime Minister May needs the support of at least 320 of the 650 MPs in the House of Commons.

South Korea uses TNT to destroy guard post in Demilitarized Zone

South Korea on November 15th destroyed a guard post on the border between the two Koreas with explosives. This is part of an inter-Korean agreement to remove guard posts in the Demilitarized Zone (DMZ) on the inter-Korean border to reduce tensions at the border. Under this agreement, the two Koreas will demolish 11 such posts.

This is the first time South Korea has used explosives to destroy the guard post because the post is located on a mountain, making it impossible to use an excavator. However, to bring down the rest of the post, an excavator will be used to minimize the impact on the environment.

Russian security forces block a series of terrorist funding sources

Russian police patrol in Moscow. Source: AFP/VNA

Russian authorities said on November 15 that the country's security forces have blocked a series of financial sources used to finance the activities of terrorist organizations. According to an announcement by the Russian Federal Security Service (FSB), authorities have arrested a group of Russians who support the establishment of a so-called Islamic World State and are suspected of raising funds and providing financial support to the self-proclaimed Islamic State (IS) organization in Syria.

At the scene, the FSB also seized many bank cards, electronic data transmission devices with instructions on how to financially support terrorist organizations, how to contact to conduct money transfers, as well as many documents promoting extremist religious ideology and IS symbols.

Massive strike for wage hike in Greece

Thousands of Greek workers have gone on strike for 24 hours, demanding that the government increase wages and pensions, which have been cut significantly since 2010. Photo: Reuters

This is the first large-scale public sector strike since Greece exited its third bailout - the last of three years - in August this year and officially left behind the worst public debt crisis in its history.

Workers marched through the main streets of Athens and gathered in front of the country's parliament, holding banners protesting against austerity policies. The strike has paralyzed public services across Greece. Many schools are closed, while hospitals are without medical staff.

5 suspects in Khashoggi murder face death penalty

A supporter holds a photo of journalist Jamal Khashoggi outside the Saudi Arabian consulate in Istanbul on November 25. Photo: Reuters

Saudi Arabia's public prosecutor Shaalan al-Shaalan said on November 15 that five of the 11 suspects charged with the murder of journalist Jamal Khashoggi could face the death penalty.

At a press conference on November 15, Mr. Shaalan said that journalist Khashoggi was injected with a lethal dose and his body was dismembered on October 2 at the Saudi Arabian Consulate in Istanbul, Turkey before being taken out of the place. This is the first time Saudi Arabia has confirmed how journalist Khashoggi was murdered. However, the prosecutor affirmed that it is still unclear where Mr. Khashoggi's body is hidden.

Japan plans to accept up to 340,000 foreign workers

A Vietnamese worker works at an auto parts factory - Photo: NIKKEI

The Mainichi newspaper (Japan) quoted a source from the Japanese government as saying that it is expected that after Japan's revised Immigration Control and Refugee Recognition Law is passed next month, within 5 years, starting from April 2019 (the start of the new fiscal year), Japan can accept up to 340,000 foreign workers to work in the country.

The revised bill, which is currently being discussed in the Japanese Diet this week, includes provisions that specify two new residency statuses for foreign workers with specific knowledge and experience and those working in occupations requiring specialized expertise. Companies that are eligible to relax their foreign worker acceptance policies include 14 industries, including nursing and construction.