Kim Jong-un visits China to meet Xi Jinping; France threatens air strikes on Syria

Russian Parliament approves Medvedev's nomination as Prime Minister

Russian Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev. Photo: TASS

On May 8, with 374 votes in favor and 56 votes against, the Russian Parliament approved the nomination of Mr. Dmitry Medvedev to hold the position of Prime Minister of the country. Thus, Mr. Medvedev will continue to hold this position since 2012.

Russian President Vladimir Putin, who was sworn in for a new six-year term on May 7, nominated Mr Medvedev for prime minister and called on lawmakers to support his nomination.

Mr. Medvedev, 52 years old, has headed the Russian Government for the past 6 years. Previously, Mr. Medvedev served as President of Russia for a 4-year term.

During the meeting of the United Russia Party's parliamentary group in the State Duma, Mr. Dmitri Medvedev announced a number of important positions in the new Government. The position of First Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Finance was nominated by Mr. Dmitri Medvedev to former Finance Minister Anton Siluanov. The remaining Deputy Prime Minister positions include: Mr. Vitaly Mutko in charge of construction; Ms. Olga Golodets in charge of sports; Deputy Minister of Defense Yuri Borisov in charge of the Defense Industry.

Mr. Tap unexpectedly welcomed "mysterious" guest Kim Jong Un in Dalian

Mr. Kim Jong Un had his second meeting with Mr. Tap this year. Photo: Xinhua

According to Kyodo News Agency, the port city of Dalian in Liaoning Province tightened security on May 7. Dalian Airport was announced to be closed from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. Roads around the Bong Chui Dao Guesthouse in Dalian City were also closed to traffic that afternoon.

On the evening of May 8, Xinhua News Agency confirmed that Xi and Kim Jong Un had met here on May 7-8. This is a rare occasion for a North Korean leader to travel abroad by plane. In previous trips abroad, Pyongyang leaders often traveled by train.

The mysterious appearance came just a day before Chinese President Xi Jinping arrived in the city to attend the launching ceremony of the Type 001A, China's first domestically produced aircraft carrier.

A second meeting with Chinese President Xi Jinping suggests Kim Jong Un is trying to consult with the Chinese leader ahead of a historic summit with US President Donald Trump, which is expected to take place in late May or early June.

France will attack Syria again if Damascus uses chemical weapons

The Syrian Scientific Research Center was destroyed after the attack by the US, UK and France on April 14. Source: THX/ VNA

Sputniknews reported that French Defense Minister Florence Parley announced that the country would attack Syria again if there was information about new attacks using chemical weapons.

Speaking on RTL radio on May 8, Minister Parley affirmed: "The goal of the attack on Syria is to prevent Bashar Assad from repeating such an attack. If this happens, we can consider the possibility of repeating the attacks."

Saudi Arabia announces date when women will be allowed to drive

A woman drives a car on a road in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. Source: Reuters

Saudi Arabia's Director General of Transport Mohammed al-Bassami said on May 8 that women in the kingdom will be allowed to drive starting June 24.

Accordingly, Saudi women aged 18 and over will be able to register for a driver's license. Driving schools for women have been set up across five cities in the kingdom.

Driving instructors include Saudi women who have obtained foreign driving licenses. Those with foreign driving licenses will be allowed to apply for a domestic license under a separate process, which includes a skills assessment.

Previously, in September 2017, Saudi Arabia announced a royal decree ending a decades-old ban on women driving. This move is part of a series of reforms by the Saudi government, including a reform plan called Vision 2030 by Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman aimed at increasing the proportion of women participating in the workforce to nearly a third compared to the current 22%. Allowing women to drive helps them be more active in the workforce.

EU in last-minute talks with Iran ahead of Trump decision

Iranian Deputy Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi. Source: AFP/VNA

AFP reported that in a last-minute discussion with Tehran on May 8, the European Union (EU) reiterated its support for the 2015 nuclear deal between Iran and the P5+1 group (including the five permanent members of the United Nations Security Council plus Germany), officially known as the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA).

The move came just hours before US President Donald Trump announced Washington would withdraw from the deal.

Pakistan investigates money laundering allegations against former Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif

Former Pakistani Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif faces money laundering charges. Source: AFP/TTXVN

Pakistani media reported that on May 8, the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) of Pakistan requested an investigation into former Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif on allegations of money laundering in India, totaling $4.9 billion.

According to Pakistan's Geo English newspaper, the NAB announcement stated that the money was transferred to the Indian Finance Ministry, after which India's foreign exchange reserves increased and Pakistan suffered the consequences.

The NAB decision was based on a media report that said the money laundering case was mentioned in the World Bank's Migration and Remittances Book 2016.

US restaurants will have to publish the calorie content of their dishes.

Menu at a restaurant in the US. Source: Getty Images

The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) said a new regulation requiring restaurant chains in the country to publish the calorie content of dishes on their menus to encourage people to eat less calories to lose weight, has come into effect since May 7.

This regulation was introduced four years ago and applies to restaurant chains with 20 or more locations.

In addition, the above restaurant chains must also provide information about the nutritional composition of these dishes to diners, including fat, sugar, salt and protein content.

According to FDA Director Scott Gottlieb, the agency issued the above regulation based on research results showing that when clearly informed about the calorie content of dishes, diners will choose dishes with fewer calories, thereby helping them reduce obesity.