The US will withdraw from INF from February 2; Ukraine terminates 3 economic agreements within the CIS framework

The US will withdraw from the Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces Treaty from February 2.

US President Donald Trump (left) and Russian President Vladimir Putin (right) at a meeting in Helsinki, Finland on July 16, 2018. Photo: AFP/TTXVN

Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Ryabkov said on January 23 that the US had informed Russia through diplomatic channels of its decision to withdraw from the Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces (INF) Treaty from February 2. Speaking to reporters, Mr. Ryabkov stated that Washington had confirmed the above intention, and explained to Russia that this was a final decision and not an invitation to dialogue. The Russian Deputy Foreign Minister reaffirmed that the country did not violate the treaty and stressed that Washington's accusations of Moscow's violation were unsatisfactory.

He declared that Moscow is ready to be transparent on the INF issue and called on the US to do the same. According to this senior Russian diplomat, the INF must be maintained and the fate of this agreement now depends on the US. He also affirmed that after February 2, Russia will still consider the INF as an agreement that both Russia and the US are obliged to implement.

Ukraine terminates 3 economic cooperation agreements within the CIS framework

Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko. Photo: AFP/TTXVN

According to a VNA correspondent in the CIS, the first two agreements consider establishing exchanges between CIS member countries of current economic information and statistical indicators. The third document mentions that CIS members will coordinate their actions in the political and economic fields, including dialogue with third countries and international organizations.

Russia cracks down on illegal weapons manufacturers

Russian police during a security exercise in Saint Petersburg on April 20, 2018. Illustration photo: AFP/TTXVN

On January 23, the Russian Federal Security Service (FSB) launched a large-scale campaign to crack down on illegal weapons and ammunition manufacturers and traders in the country. The FSB's announcement said that the FSB, together with the Ministry of Internal Affairs and the Russian National Guard, had stopped the activities of 86 people in 32 regions, mainly related to restoring the combat capabilities of civilian weapons, manufacturing ammunition in underground workshops and then selling them in many regions across Russia.

According to the announcement, a total of 197 guns made in Russia and abroad were confiscated during the search, including 18 machine guns, 126 pistols and revolvers, 16 submachine guns, 38 carbines and rifles.

Thailand sets general election for March 24, 2019

Thailand's Election Commission announced that the country will hold a general election on March 24, 2019. Photo: Benar News.

Thailand's Election Commission announced on January 23 that the country will hold a general election on March 24 to restore civilian rule. This is the new date for the frequently delayed election, which will be the first in the Southeast Asian country since the 2014 military coup.

In December 2018, Thailand's Election Commission said the general election would be held on February 24, but the military government expressed concern that election-related events would affect early preparations for King Maha Vajiralongkorn's coronation, scheduled for May 4-6.

Thousands flee IS's last stronghold in Syria

A bus carrying rebel fighters and their families leaves the city of Harasta, on the outskirts of Eastern Ghouta on March 22, 2018. Photo: THX/TTXVN

Since January 21, nearly 5,000 people, including about 500 self-proclaimed "Islamic State" (IS) militants, have left the group's last stronghold in eastern Syria, amid repeated defeats by Kurdish-led forces.

According to the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights (SOHR), about 4,900 people, mostly women and children, boarded trucks to leave the last IS-controlled area in Deir Ezzor province. On January 22 alone, 3,500 people left the area. Most of them were relatives of IS fighters. Thus, since the beginning of December 2018, nearly 27,000 people, including 1,800 rebels who accepted surrender, have left the areas once controlled by IS.

Switzerland tops list of "best countries in the world"

Switzerland tops the list of "best countries in the world." Photo: usnews.com

On January 23, US News & World Report magazine announced the list of the best countries in the world this year. 80 countries were evaluated according to 9 criteria: tourism development, technological innovation, social and cultural sectors, economic growth rate, openness to business, general living standards of the people, as well as the country's influence on the international arena and historical heritage.

Switzerland leads the ranking, followed by Japan (up 3 places), Canada (down 1 place), Germany (down 1 place), the UK (down 1 place), Sweden, Australia and the US. Rounding out the list are Angola (78th), Iran (79th) and Iraq (80th). This year, Russia is ranked 24th, up 2 places from last year.

France discovers suspected carcinogen in baby diapers

The French government has requested that toxic substances be removed from baby diapers as soon as possible (illustrative photo). Photo: SHUTTERSTOCK

Reuters on January 23 quoted an announcement from the French Agency for Food, Environmental Safety and Labor (ANSES) saying that in addition to glyphosate, research by experts from this agency also discovered butylphenyl methylpropional, a substance commonly used in the production of cosmetics, and some types of aromatic hydrocarbons.

All of the above substances pose a health risk. Glyphosate is the main active ingredient in herbicides and was classified as a probable carcinogen by the World Health Organization (WHO) in 2015.