North and South Korea begin demining in demilitarized zone; NAFTA deal revived
(Baonghean.vn) - The world over the past 24 hours has been filled with many outstanding news such as: Korea - North Korea began removing mines in the demilitarized zone; NAFTA agreement revived with a new coat called USMCA; 2018 Nobel Prize in Medicine belongs to the US - Japan for cancer treatment; EU countries are ready to fund the disarming of rebels in Syria...
South and North Korea begin mine removal in demilitarized zone
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| Journalists visit the site where a landmine exploded in the inter-Korean demilitarized zone (DMZ) on August 4, 2015, injuring two South Korean soldiers. Photo:Getty. |
The militaries of South Korea and North Korea on October 1 removed mines in the Joint Security Area (JSA) and part of Cheorwon in Gangwon Province, where the two countries plan to carry out a joint project to excavate the remains of war dead next year, according to the report.Yonhap.
This is part of the agreement to "cease all hostile acts" that the leaders of South Korea and North Korea reached during the third summit that just took place in Pyongyang.
The defense ministries of South Korea and North Korea last month signed a series of military agreements to end hostile acts against each other and completely eliminate the danger of war, such as establishing a buffer zone around the Military Demarcation Line (MDL), completely stopping regimental-level artillery and infantry drills, and withdrawing 11 border guard posts in the demilitarized zone.
NAFTA deal revived with new look called USMCA
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| US President Donald Trump and Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau. Photo:AP. |
After two days of "sprint" negotiations, the United States and Canada finally reached an agreement to help maintain the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) as a three-way agreement, instead of being divided into bilateral agreements as feared.
The deal, reached just before the deadline, saw significant concessions from the parties on many issues that had been stuck for more than a year of negotiations, and was the result of a miraculous acceleration that helped NAFTA revive with a new coat called the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA).
Accordingly, the US and Canadian governments agreed to open the Canadian dairy market and address Ottawa's concerns about US tariffs threatened on cars imported from this country.
EU countries ready to finance the disarmament of rebels in Syria
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| Rebel fighters from the National Liberation Front (NLF) in Syria during a training session in Idlib province on September 11. Photo: AFP/TTXVN |
The UN Assistant Secretary-General for Law and Security Institutions at the Department of Peacekeeping Operations, Alexander Zuev, said preparations for a disarmament program for the rebels could take several months, but there was still no corresponding mandate from the UN Security Council or a request from Damascus.
Meanwhile, countries such as Sweden, Germany, Norway, the Netherlands and France are also interested in stemming the flow of migrants from the Middle East, especially Syria. However, at this point, there is no legal basis to initiate such a process in Syria.
Germany arrests many terrorist suspects in Chemnitz city
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| German riot police. Source: AP |
Federal prosecutors on October 1 alleged that the six German citizens, aged between 20 and 30, formed a group called "Chemnitz Revolution" along with another man arrested in a separate incident last month.
Prosecutors said in a statement that the men planned to carry out armed attacks against foreigners and political enemies. More than 100 police officers were involved in the arrests in the states of Saxony and Bavaria, and several assets linked to the men were searched.
2018 Nobel Prize in Medicine goes to US-Japan for cancer treatment
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| Portraits of two American and Japanese scientists at the press conference announcing the 2018 Nobel Prize in Medicine. Photo: Nobel Prize. |
The 2019 Nobel Prize in Medicine has been awarded jointly to two immunologists, James Allison (University of Texas, USA) and Tasuku Honjo (Kyoto University, Japan) to honor their discovery of a new cancer therapy. The prize is worth 9 million kronor (Swedish currency, equivalent to 1.01 million USD).
The discovery of the two scientists is considered a turning point in the fight against cancer. In their solution, the two American and Japanese scientists who won the prize took advantage of the human immune system's ability to attack cancer cells by "releasing" the brakes of immune cells.
Indonesia mobilizes more heavy equipment and rescue forces
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| Transporting the body of a victim of the earthquake and tsunami in Palu, Central Sulawesi province, Indonesia on September 29. Photo: AFP/TTXVN |
On October 1, the Indonesian National Disaster Management Agency (BNPB) said it needed to mobilize more heavy equipment, as well as rescue forces, to search for the bodies of victims killed in the earthquake and tsunami disaster in Central Sulawesi province.
According to the Indonesian government, the death toll from the earthquake and tsunami that struck Central Sulawesi last weekend has risen to 1,203 and this may not be the final figure as rescuers have yet to reach many affected areas. Police are also making every effort to bring aid to these areas.
EU armored convoy hit by bomb in Somalia
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| Scene of the bomb explosion. Source: Reuters |
A bomb hit a European Union (EU) armored convoy in the Somali capital Mogadishu on October 1, damaging one vehicle but causing no casualties, Somali police said. The armored convoy was flying Italian and EU flags.
The EU is one of the main sponsors of the African Union peacekeeping force (AMISOM) that helps protect Somalia's central government against Islamists.
