Kim Jong Un lashes out at international sanctions; Türkiye threatens retaliation against US
(Baonghean.vn) - The world in the past 24 hours has been filled with many events such as: Kim Jong Un harshly attacked international sanctions; Türkiye threatened to retaliate if the US imposed more sanctions; Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu was interrogated at his home; South Korea supported immigration procedures for the meeting of separated families; the US declared that it would not allow China to "rewrite the rules" in the East Sea...
US declares it will not allow China to "rewrite the rules" in the East Sea
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The aircraft carrier USS Theodore Roosevelt (right) and the Singapore frigate RSS Supreme during an exercise in the South China Sea on April 6. Photo: Singapore Navy. |
"We will not allow China to rewrite maritime rules or change international law in the South China Sea,"RapplerAugust 16 quoted the statement of US Assistant Secretary of Defense for Asian and Pacific Security Affairs Randall Schriver during a meeting with Philippine reporters at the US Embassy in Manila.
When asked about the Chinese military chasing away a US Navy P-8 reconnaissance aircraft in the East Sea on August 10, Mr. Schriver affirmed that the US military will send aircraft and warships to move and operate in all areas permitted by international law.
According to US officials, the Pentagon is assessing the capabilities of allied countries in the region and will rely on that to support them in protecting their territorial waters.
Kim Jong Un fiercely attacks international sanctions
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Recently, North Korean President Kim Jong Un has been continuously inspecting construction sites and production facilities across the country. (Photo: KCNA) |
The North Korean state news agency (KCNA) reported on August 17 that Mr. Kim Jong Un made the harsh remarks while inspecting a tourist complex under construction in the coastal area of Wonsan-Kalma, southeast of North Korea.
During a visit to the Wonsan-Kalma coastal tourist area, Kim condemned "hostile forces" that are "trying to strangle the DPRK with sanctions and blockade," KCNA said, but said Pyongyang would maintain a "new era" of relations with the United States. Kim did not name any country in his comments.
Türkiye threatens to retaliate if US imposes more sanctions
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| Turkish Trade Minister Ruhsar Pekcan. Source: getty images |
Türkiye threatened to retaliate on August 17 if the United States imposes further sanctions over the detention of American pastor Andrew Brunson, which has led to a diplomatic row and a devaluation of the Turkish currency. "We have responded based on World Trade Organization rules and will continue to do so," Turkish Trade Minister Ruhsar Pekcan was quoted by state news agency Anadolu as saying.
A day earlier, Washington warned it would impose further sanctions if the pastor was not released.
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| The moment of parting after the reunion of families separated during the Korean War at the Kumgang Mountain resort on October 26, 2015. Photo: AFP/TTXVN |
The South Korean Ministry of Justice said on August 17 that it is implementing a plan to simplify immigration procedures, such as allowing relatives to help with immigration declarations to facilitate the elderly participating in reunions of separated families.
On the same day, Vice Justice Minister Kim Oh-soo visited the Immigration Office in Goseong County, Gangwon Province to check on the preparation of immigration procedures, and instructed the staff there to carry out immigration procedures in the simplest and most convenient way for those participating in the reunion of separated families. Accordingly, for elderly people who have difficulty traveling and cannot come to the Immigration Office, their relatives can come to make a declaration on their behalf.
Mr. Samdech Hun Sen was officially appointed as Prime Minister of Cambodia.
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The King presented the decree to Prime Minister Hun Sen. |
On August 17, at the Royal Palace of Cambodia, King Norodom Sihamoni presented a royal decree officially appointing Mr. Samdech Hun Sen as Prime Minister of the Kingdom of Cambodia and assigning Prime Minister Hun Sen to be responsible for establishing the Royal Government of Cambodia for the 6th term.
The decree appointing Samdech Hun Sen as Prime Minister of the Kingdom of Cambodia officially took effect on August 18, 2018. This will be the basis for Prime Minister Hun Sen to form a cabinet and complete the apparatus of the Royal Government of Cambodia for the 2018-2023 term.It is expected that the new Cambodian Government will officially launch on September 6.
More than 300 people killed in India's worst floods
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| Rescuers evacuate people from flooded areas in Kerala state, India on August 15. Source: AFP/VNA |
On August 17, the government of Kerala state, southern India, announced that the death toll from the 10-day-long floods in the state had skyrocketed to 324.
Kerala state is facing one of the worst natural disasters in a century.Floods have destroyed many properties and crops while red alert has been declared in all 14 districts of the state.
On the morning of August 17, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced that he would visit the state that evening to assess the situation. The Indian Coast Guard (ICG) and the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) have been deployed to the affected areas to assist in evacuation and rescue operations.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu questioned at home
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| Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. Source: THX/TTXVN |
AFP reported that Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu underwent a new round of questioning on August 17 in connection with one of several corruption cases that threaten to overthrow him.
Investigators arrived at Prime Minister Netanyahu’s Jerusalem home on Thursday morning to question him about corruption allegations involving the country’s telecommunications giant Bezeq and its largest shareholder, Shaul Elovitch. However, Israeli police and the Prime Minister’s Office would not confirm such questioning until it happened.
This is the 12th time Prime Minister Netanyahu has been questioned in various cases as both a suspect and a witness.
Apple declares real estate value at headquarters at only... 200 USD
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| Apple Park, Apple headquarters. Photo: Reuters |
RT reported on August 17 that Apple is in a tax dispute with the Santa Clara County government in California, where Apple's headquarters are located.
Apple currently has its headquarters called Apple Park in Cupertino, Santa Clara County. While Apple declared the value of the real estate surrounding the headquarters to be only $200, Santa Clara County property valuation experts said the value of this property must be up to $1 billion. Some other properties worth about $384 million were also declared by Apple to be worth only $200.
In California, businesses and individuals pay property taxes, which are calculated on the value of the land and buildings on it. Apple is currently the largest taxpayer in Santa Clara County, paying $56 million in taxes in the 2017-2018 tax year.
