US pledges support for Ukraine in Crimea issue; Venezuela puts military on alert
(Baonghean.vn) - The US pledges to support Ukraine in the Crimea issue; Iran will release the Stena Impero ship's sailors; Venezuela puts its military on alert... are the world's outstanding news in the past 24 hours.
120 US military projects affected by border wall
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A section of the border fence in California, USA. Photo:Reuters |
The Pentagon has approved the transfer of $3.6 billion in defense funding from military construction projects to build or reinforce 175 miles of border wall at President Trump's request. According to Reuters, this decision will affect more than 120 U.S. military construction projects, both at home and abroad.
Construction of the wall could begin as early as 100 days on Defense Department land such as the Barry Goldwater Air Force Range in Arizona, according to Elaine McCusker, a Pentagon official.
Iran to release Stena Impero crew
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| British-flagged oil tanker "Stena Impero" near the Strait of Hormuz on July 21, 2019. Photo: THX/TTXVN |
Iran's state television reported on September 4 that the country will release seven crew members of the oil tanker "Stena Impero" that Tehran seized in the Strait of Hormuz last July. Speaking on television, Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Abbas Mousavi said the seven crew members (of the Stena Impero) will be released for humanitarian reasons and may soon leave the country.
Previously, on July 19, Iran seized the British-flagged ship "Stena Impero" in the Strait of Hormuz, one of the most important oil shipping routes in the world, for "violating international maritime law".
US pledges to support Ukraine in Crimea issue
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| US Vice President Mike Pence emphasizes US commitment to Ukraine |
Without mentioning the news that the Washington administration is considering cutting $250 million in aid to Ukraine, US Vice President Mike Pence affirmed that the relationship between the two countries is stronger than ever. “We will continue to stand with the Ukrainian people on issues of security and sovereignty, such as the Crimean peninsula,” Pence said.
The US is considered an important ally of Ukraine and has imposed sanctions on Russia over the Crimea issue and Moscow's support for separatists in eastern Ukraine. Before Mr Pence's statement, US media reported that President Donald Trump was reviewing all aid money to Ukraine next year to ensure it was as legitimate as possible.
Prime Minister Johnson raises possibility of early election in mid-October
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| British Prime Minister Johnson. Photo: AP |
On September 4, British Prime Minister Boris Johnson announced that he would call an early general election on October 15 if the British House of Commons voted against him and passed a law forcing the current government to ask the European Union (EU) for a three-month Brexit extension.
In a heated debate in the House of Commons, Prime Minister Johnson said that if opposition Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn supported a bill opposing the current government's Brexit strategy, he should also support an early election to allow people to express their views. Mr Johnson affirmed that he would never allow another delay to Brexit and called the new bill a "surrender bill."
Venezuela puts military on alert
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President Maduro parades with soldiers in the capital Caracas in January. Photo:Reuters. |
President Nicolas Maduro has warned of a possible Colombian attack and ordered the army to conduct military exercises at the border. Maduro's declaration of military alert came after some members of the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC) guerrillas posted a video announcing their rearmament. The Colombian government said the FARC video was filmed on Venezuelan territory, raising concerns that the country could launch an attack on the guerrillas on its neighbor's territory.
Maduro also announced the start of a series of military exercises in the states of Zulia, Tachira, Apure and Amazonas, which border Colombia, from September 10 to September 29. This is Venezuela's third major military exercise this year. The Colombian Foreign Ministry declined to comment, while some Colombian government officials have denied the possibility of launching a military campaign against Venezuela.
