US sends more troops to Middle East; France searches for suspect in Lyon bombing
(Baonghean.vn) - The US will send about 1,500 more soldiers to the Middle East; French police are searching for the suspect in the Lyon bombing; Germany is investigating three Chinese reporters suspected of spying on NATO bases; Mexico is selling cars of corrupt officials to give the money to the poor... are the world's top news stories of the past 24 hours.
US President arrives in Tokyo, starting a 4-day visit to Japan
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| US President Donald Trump (right) and his wife Melania Trump arrive at Tokyo International Airport, beginning a visit to Japan, May 25, 2019. Photo: AFP/TTXVN |
On the afternoon of May 25, US President Donald Trump arrived in Japan, starting a four-day visit to this close ally country. Japan has mobilized about 25,000 police officers to ensure security for US President Donald Trump's visit. This is a record number of security forces mobilized for a US President's visit to Japan.
President Donald Trump is scheduled to hold formal talks with Prime Minister Shinzo Abe on May 27. The two sides will discuss the North Korean issue following the country's recent missile launches. Trade is also high on the agenda as the two countries are conducting bilateral negotiations. President Trump will also meet with Emperor Naruhito, who ascended the throne in early May after his father abdicated. President Trump will also visit a US military base in Japan, highlighting the military alliance between the two allies.
French police search for suspect in Lyon bomb explosion
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| French police investigate at the scene of a suspected bomb explosion on a pedestrian street in Lyon. Photo: AFP/TTXVN |
French police are searching for a suspect in connection with an explosion that occurred the day before in a pedestrian area in the city center of Lyon, injuring 13 people. The explosion occurred as France prepares to hold European Parliament elections on May 26, and French Prime Minister Edouard Philippe had to cancel his campaign on the evening of the incident.
According to police sources and Lyon Mayor Denis Broliquier, a security video shows the suspect, who is about 30 years old, riding a mountain bike and covering his face. He left a package in front of the Brioche Doree bakery shortly before the explosion at around 5:30 p.m. (local time). Minutes later, the package exploded, shooting out metal objects such as screws.
The US will send about 1,500 more soldiers to the Middle East.
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| US soldiers in the Middle East. Photo: AFP/TTXVN |
US President Donald Trump announced that he would deploy 1,500 more troops to the Middle East. According to him, this move is to protect the US military in the region. According to AFP news agency, this is the next step in strengthening the US military presence in the Middle East after the decision in early May to deploy an aircraft carrier strike group and B-52 bombers to the region to prevent Iran.
Responding to the above information, on May 25, Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif said that the US decision to deploy more troops to the Middle East is "a threat to international peace". IRNA news agency quoted Foreign Minister Zarif as saying: "The US's increased presence in this region is very dangerous and a threat to international peace and security".
Germany investigates three Chinese reporters suspected of spying on NATO bases
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German Chancellor Angela Merkel. Photo: AP |
Germany is investigating three Chinese journalists over information they gathered while covering Merkel’s visit to a NATO base. According to Bloomberg, the three Xinhua reporters were among a group of international journalists allowed into the NATO Joint Rapid Response Force training area in the German city of Münster to cover Merkel’s visit on May 20.
A German intelligence official said Xinhua News Agency is under close surveillance because of its links to China's ruling party. German intelligence always sees the agency's journalists as sources for collecting and providing information and data abroad for later official use.
Mexico sells cars of corrupt officials to give money to the poor
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| Corrupt luxury cars auctioned. Photo: AFP/Getty Images |
According to the British newspaper Guardian, these luxury cars were seized in an anti-corruption campaign launched by leftist Mexican President Andrés Manuel López Obrador. Among the total of 82 luxury brand cars were a £61,000 Lamborghini Murcielago (VND 1.8 billion), a £50,000 Ford Shelby (VND 1.2 billion), a collection of bulletproof SUVs...
Speaking at the auction, President Obrador pledged that all proceeds from the sale of the cars would be divided between social programs and disadvantaged communities. “We invite everyone to participate. Everything confiscated from criminals will be returned to the community, especially the poor,” the leader, who took office in December last year, affirmed.
Indonesia lifts restrictions on access to social networks
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| Protesters clash with police in Jakarta, Indonesia, May 22, 2019. Photo: AFP/ VNA |
Indonesia on May 25 lifted temporary restrictions on access to social media sites that had been imposed days earlier to prevent the spread of misinformation during violence following the announcement of the 2019 presidential election results. Speaking at a press conference, Semuel Abrijani Pangerapan, a senior official at the Indonesian Communications Ministry, said that access to social media sites had returned to normal.
