Korea and Japan prepare for reunion event; Suicide bombing in southern Syria

Putin orders construction of world's longest bridge to Far East

The Russian president has ordered a study to build a 600-km bridge connecting a remote area of ​​the Far East with the mainland. "The construction of a bridge connecting the Sakhalin region with the mainland has been discussed for decades. It is a long-standing wish of the people living on the island,"RTyesterday cited the statement of Russian President Vladimir Putin during a meeting with Sakhalin Governor Oleg Kozhemyako.

The Russian President said he had directed the government to study specific plans to implement the project, and affirmed that the bridge would create many favorable conditions for people's lives.

Sakhalin is the only remaining region of Russia not connected to the mainland. The bridge is expected to be 580 km long and will include rail and other infrastructure. Moscow estimates the bridge will have three main branches and 10 side branches and will cost several billion dollars.

US-China continue to criticize each other over trade disagreements

Illustration photo: Prensa Latina

On July 25, US President Donald Trump accused China of targeting American farmers in a negative way and using them to force him to make concessions on trade.

Meanwhile, on the same day, on the Chinese side, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Geng Shuang emphasized that "no one wins in a trade war", and called on the US to abandon the wrong path and not go too far.

The two Koreas are actively preparing for the reunion of separated families.

Korean Red Cross staff deliver a list of people wishing to meet their relatives separated by the Korean War to their office in Seoul on July 3. Photo: Yonhap/VNA

South Korea and North Korea have exchanged search results over the past several weeks for families separated by the Korean War (1950-1953) to prepare for a reunion event scheduled to take place at the end of August, the Unification Ministry said on July 25.

Based on the results of this search, on August 4, the two sides will decide on the final list of people who will be reunited with their separated relatives. Previously, the two sides agreed to hold this event with the participation of 100 people from each side.

As planned, the reunion will take place at North Korea's Mount Kumgang resort from August 20 to 26.

US Navy launches Javelin anti-tank missile at Mirage military base, Helmand province on February 8, 2011. Source: AFP/TTXVN

Sputniknews reported that the US Department of Defense issued a press release stating that the US military has awarded Raytheon a Foreign Military Sales contract to provide additional Javelin anti-tank missiles to Ukraine, Estonia, Lithuania, Australia, Turkey and Taiwan (China). According to the release, the deal for the US-made missiles was approved by the US Department of Defense in March.

The Javelin system developed by Raytheon and Lockheed Martin uses a highly destructive anti-tank warhead, capable of taking out modern armored vehicles by attacking from above.

Suicide bombing in southern Syria kills 156 people

Source: AFP/ VNA

"Three suicide bombers with explosive belts targeted the city of Sweida alone while other explosions occurred in villages to the north and east,"AFPcited the announcement of the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights (SOHR) on July 25.

The SOHR said the suicide bombing and subsequent clashes killed 156 people, including more than 62 civilians. It also killed 30 IS fighters, including the suicide attackers.

IS has also claimed responsibility for the incident.

Multinational exercise in Japan on interdiction of arms transfers at sea

Soldiers participate in a multinational exercise. Source: AP

Participating in the exercise named “Pacific Shield 18” on July 25, in addition to the Japanese forces, were the US, Australian and South Korean navies, along with destroyers, surveillance aircraft and Coast Guard ships. The exercise simulated the functional forces intercepting and inspecting a ship suspected of carrying materials for weapons of mass destruction.

A total of 30 countries, including six key members of the Proliferation Security Initiative, participated in the above-mentioned multinational exercise.

The initiative, launched in 2003 as part of a US effort to stop the transfer of biological, chemical and nuclear weapons, as well as the missiles that carry them, is not aimed at any specific country, but North Korea has previously criticized it as a provocation.