US establishes new air base in Syria; Malaysia abolishes anti-fake news law

Ukrainian general calls for severing all ties with Russia

Major General Vasily Vovk, former head of a Directorate of the Security Service of Ukraine (SBU), said that Ukraine needs to completely close its border with Russia. "If we stop rail traffic with Russia, close all sectors. Cancel all relations, any movement across the border with the Russian Federation. It is necessary to do so if we have a war," the Obozrevatel news portal quoted General Vovk as saying. General Vovk also called for cutting off financial ties with Russia and blocking trade.

Previously, the Ministry of Infrastructure Development of Ukraine drafted a series of proposals against Russia, including measures to close the railway traffic route between the two countries.

US suddenly establishes new airbase in Syria

Illustration photo

Syrian government media sources said on August 16 that US forces have begun setting up a new military base near Hasakeh province.

Accordingly, the newspaperAl-Watan150 trucks carrying construction materials and weapons have been sent from northern Iraq to Syria's Deir Ezzor province and Shadady, sources said. Washington is reportedly considering setting up a new military base there.

The newspaper also reported that the US-backed Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) rebel group also paved the way for Washington's convoy to pass through areas controlled by the group in Syria.

Türkiye will overcome currency crisis without IMF support

Turkish lira and US dollar at a money exchange shop in Ankara. Photo: THX/TTXVN

On August 16, Turkish Finance Minister Berat Albayrak announced that the country has no plans to seek support from the International Monetary Fund (IMF) to overcome the currency crisis in the country.

The official said Ankara has no plans to seek IMF support at the moment and is focusing on attracting direct investment. Türkiye will bypass US sanctions on partners such as Germany, Russia and China.

In addition, the government aims to reduce inflation to single digits "as soon as possible" and will achieve fiscal targets through tightening spending.

Malaysia abolishes anti-fake news law

Malaysia repeals controversial anti-fake news law. Photo: Human Rights Watch

On the afternoon of August 16, after about 3 hours of debate, the Malaysian Parliament passed the repeal of the controversial Anti-Fake News Law.

The law, which was hastily passed by the previous BN-led government in April ahead of the 14th House of Representatives election, stipulates that violators who are found guilty can be fined 500,000 ringgit (about 120,000 USD) or imprisoned for up to six years.

According to legal experts, with the passage of the Anti-Fake News Law, the government will then have more powers, including allowing the government to recommend prosecution or arrest of anyone it believes is spreading fake news.

Polish president vetoes bill on elections to European Parliament

Polish President Andrzej Duda at a press conference on May 17. Source: THX/ VNA

On August 16, Polish President Andrzej Duda vetoed a controversial bill to reform the rules for participating in elections to the European Parliament (EP), which would essentially exclude small political parties in the country from running for the European Union's legislative body.

Speaking on television, President Duda said he had decided not to sign the bill and sent it back to the country's parliament for reconsideration. Mr. Duda made it clear that the bill would essentially restrict the access of a large part of the Polish people to the European Parliament, as well as force small political parties in this country to join coalitions.

Former world's poorest president refuses pension

Jose Mujica, known as the "world's poorest president" because of his simple lifestyle. Photo:Reuters.

Former Uruguayan President Jose Mujica, dubbed the world's poorest leader, on August 14 submitted his resignation as senator, a position he held since 2015, after his five-year presidential term ended.BBCJose Mujica, 83, said he would not serve as a senator until the end of his term in 2020 because he was "tired after a long journey".

Mujica submitted his resignation letter to the President of the Senate, Lucia Topolansky, who is also the Vice President of Uruguay and his wife. In the letter, he affirmed that he was resigning for "personal reasons" and would not receive his senatorial pension.

China to prosecute suspects in shocking vaccine scandal

Chinese media reported on August 16 that the country's authorities will prosecute all suspects in the vaccine scandal of Changchun Changsheng Biotechnology Company and confiscate the company's illegal profits.

A separate meeting chaired by Chinese President Xi Jinping on the same day concluded that the scandal had exposed serious negligence and loopholes in the management system. According to CCTV, a series of Chinese government officials were punished for their involvement in the incident.