NATO Summit opens; Greece expels two Russian diplomats
(Baonghean.vn) - The world over the past 24 hours has been filled with many outstanding news such as: Opening of the NATO Summit; More than 100 rescue workers in danger after saving the Thai football team; China announced it would retaliate against the US in the trade war; Greece expelled two Russian diplomats.
Opening of the NATO Summit
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| Leaders of NATO member countries pose for a group photo at the NATO Summit on July 11. Photo: AFP/TTXVN |
On July 11, leaders of 29 member countries of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) and partners opened a summit at the organization's new headquarters in Brussels (Belgium).
During the summit, leaders will discuss and decide on strengthening NATO's deterrence and defense capabilities, stepping up the fight against terrorism and demanding more balanced sharing of the defense spending burden.
The allies will meet with partners such as the European Union (EU), Finland, Sweden, Georgia and Ukraine to address key regional security challenges. The summit is expected to conclude with a meeting with 20 partner countries on the situation in Afghanistan on July 12.
More than 100 rescuers in danger after saving Thai soccer team
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The rescue team faced many dangers. Source: The Guardian |
Regarding the process of rescuing the Wild Boars football team from Tham Luang cave, divers revealed that they were close to the line of life and death when the water suction system failed after bringing the last victim out.
Specifically, when about 100 rescue team members were still more than 1.5km deep inside to collect belongings, the water suction system suddenly stopped working, leading to the water level in the cave rising rapidly.
Many rescuers panicked and immediately climbed to higher ground to take refuge. After analyzing the situation, they quickly left Tham Luang cave in less than an hour. A member of the team revealed that if they had not reacted quickly, the rescue operation could have turned into a disaster, and the lives of 100 staff members would have been difficult to save.
China vows to retaliate against US in trade war
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| Goods are loaded at a port in Qingdao, Shandong province, China. Photo: THX/TTXVN |
Tensions in trade relations between China and the US continued to escalate after the US on the morning of July 11 (Hanoi time) announced a list of imported goods from China worth up to 200 billion USD that the US planned to impose additional taxes on.
China immediately issued a statement stating that Beijing "officially opposes" the list of imported goods that Washington has just announced to be subject to tariffs, calling this action "completely unacceptable". The statement emphasized: "The Chinese government will have no choice but to take necessary countermeasures". The Chinese Ministry of Commerce said that the unreasonable behavior of the US is "abnormal" and Beijing will take steps to sue the US at the World Trade Organization (WTO).
Greece expels two Russian diplomats
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Russian Foreign Ministry headquarters in Moscow. Photo:Sputnik. |
Greek media reported on July 11 that the country will expel two Russian diplomats and ban entry to two other employees on suspicion of illegal actions against Athens' national security, according toReuters.
Russian diplomats have been accused of interfering in Greece’s internal affairs by trying to block a renaming deal with Macedonia signed last month. However, the investigation focuses on just four of them and does not affect relations between Athens and Moscow.
Russian Senator Andrei Klimov, head of the Russian parliament's Committee for the Protection of State Sovereignty, announced that Moscow would expel two Greek diplomats in a reciprocal response to Athens' actions. The Greek Foreign Ministry declined to comment on the media reports.
He is pessimistic about the possibility of finding the culprit in the Novichok poisoning case.
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| Police stand guard outside the house in Amesbury where two victims were found unconscious after being exposed to the nerve agent Novichok. Source: AFP/TTXVN |
According to Reuters, on July 11, the head of the British police's counter-terrorism unit, Mr. Neil Basu, said that the people behind the Novichok nerve agent poisonings in the UK have not yet been identified, and that the police cannot guarantee that there will be no traces of this poison left in the UK.
Mr Basu added that it may never be possible to definitively prove a link between Ms Sturgess's death and the poisoning of Mr Skripal and his daughter.
Gunfight at Afghan government headquarters
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| Taking injured victims after the fighting to the hospital |
On July 11, at least 10 people were killed and 10 others were injured after gunmen stormed an educational complex in Jalalabad city, Nangardar province, eastern Afghanistan, causing an hours-long gun battle with security forces.
Several government employees are still being held in the building, which is currently controlled by gunmen. Security forces are trying to storm it and rescue the hostages. It is unclear how many government employees are still trapped in the building after the fierce gun battle between security forces and militants ended.
The Malaysian cabinet is only allowed to receive perishable food and flowers.
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| Malaysian Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad. Source: Kyodo/VNA |
Malaysian Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad has asked cabinet members to declare their assets to the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC), and not to accept gifts, except for perishable food and flowers.
The requirement applies to the entire government, including Prime Minister Mahathir himself, and to MPs. A deadline for officials to declare their assets will be announced soon.
Prime Minister Mahathir said the government is currently drafting laws and considering operational methods to effectively fight corruption, and even eradicate corruption in Malaysia.
Trump administration cuts funding to help people buy Obamacare
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| Application for health insurance in the US. Photo: Reuters |
The Trump administration is cutting off nearly all funding to help people get health insurance under the Affordable Care Act (ACA), also known as Obamacare.
With the latest cuts, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) said on July 10 that agents who enroll Americans in Obamacare insurance will receive just $10 million for the year starting in November 2018, down from $36.8 million the previous year.
Even in August 2017, CMS announced that funding would be reduced from $62.5 million to $36.8 million, with the biggest cut coming from recruitment advertising.
Japan speeds up reconstruction after historic floods
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Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe (center) visits a temporary shelter for flood evacuees in Mabi, Okayama on July 11. Photo: AFP/TTXVN |
At a government meeting to discuss aid for victims of the flood disaster, Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe emphasized that he will visit affected areas in the west of the country to inspect the situation in many areas and listen to the thoughts and aspirations of the people as well as local authorities.
In a statement, Japanese Finance Minister Taro Aso said the government will spend about 420 billion yen (about 3.8 billion USD) during this time to provide food and necessities to areas affected by natural disasters. If necessary, the government will consider and propose additional budget to serve the reconstruction work after floods in the southwest region.
Australia recalls frozen vegetables over contamination concerns
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The brands recalled by Australia this time. |
Three major supermarket chains in Australia, Woolworth, Aldi and IGL, are recalling nine frozen vegetable products from four brands after European countries reported deaths from consuming these products.
Ms. Lorraine Haase, from the Australian Food Agency, affirmed that the recall of these products is necessary because Listeria bacteria can take the lives of consumers: "Listeria bacteria is especially dangerous to vulnerable groups in the community including pregnant women, people with weak immune systems or the elderly."
