Korea - North Korea 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 of a plan to build a 600-km bridge connecting a remote area of ​​the Far East with the mainland. "The construction of a bridge connecting Sakhalin with the mainland has been discussed for decades. It is a long-standing wish of the people living on the island,"RTYesterday, citing 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 a railway system and other infrastructure. Moscow estimates that 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 actively prepare 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 been exchanging search results for 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 organize 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 supply additional Javelin anti-tank missiles to Ukraine, Estonia, Lithuania, Australia, Turkey and Taiwan (China). According to the release, the US-made missile deal 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,"AFPThe Syrian Observatory for Human Rights (SOHR) said 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 to prevent 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 multinational exercise.

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