US increases military aid to Ukraine; Peru dismantles counterfeit money production gang
(Baonghean.vn) - The world over the past 24 hours has seen many events such as: FBI has evidence of suspicion of involvement in President Trump's love scandal; US increases military aid to Ukraine by 200 million USD; North Korea criticizes South Korea for slow cooperation; Peru dismantles a large counterfeit money production gang; France and Russia coordinate to deliver humanitarian aid to Syria...
Trump attacks former personal lawyer who secretly recorded him
 |
| US President and former lawyer Michael Cohen. Photo: CNN |
"It's unthinkable that the government would break into a lawyer's office early in the morning, it's almost unheard of,"Reutersquoted US President Donald Trump on Twitter, possibly referring to the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) search of the office of Michael Cohen, his former lawyer.
"It's even more unthinkable that a lawyer would record a client, which is completely unheard of and probably illegal. The good news is that your favorite president did nothing wrong," he added.
Former lawyer Michael Cohen secretly recorded a conversation with Trump in 2016, discussing a payment to Karen McDougal, a former Playboy model who claims to have had an affair with Trump. Cohen's lawyers reportedly discovered the recording while reviewing seized documents.
US increases military aid to Ukraine by $200 million
 |
| Military vehicles of the Ukrainian army. Source: THX/TTXVN |
According to AFP, on July 20, the US State Department announced that it would provide 200 million USD to Ukraine to help strengthen the defense capabilities of the country's military.
The aid is part of a series of payments now totaling more than $1 billion that the Pentagon has provided to Ukraine since Russia annexed Crimea in 2014. "This additional funding will provide equipment to support ongoing training programs and operations, including capabilities to enhance command and control, situational awareness systems, communications, troop mobility, night vision, and medical care," the statement said.
North Korea criticizes South Korea for slow cooperation
 |
| South Korean President Moon Jae-in. Photo: Reuters |
North Korean media has just published a report reflecting the slow progress in mending relations and economic cooperation with South Korea. An editorial in the Rodong Sinmun - the mouthpiece of the North Korean Workers' Party - criticized the statements of South Korean President Moon Jae-in in Singapore last week as "useless". At that time, Mr. Moon called on North Korea and the US to quickly implement the agreement reached after the summit on June 12, otherwise the two sides could face harsh reactions from the international community. According to the agreement, North Korea will completely denuclearize, but so far there has been no agreement on the deadline and steps to take.
On the same day, North Korea’s Uriminzokkiri website published a report demanding South Korea repatriate 12 North Korean restaurant workers who defected to South Korea in 2016, calling Seoul’s delay in cooperation “irresponsible.” This was the first time North Korean media criticized South Korea since the Panmunjom summit in April.
Mexico: Two politicians from the newly elected president's party were murdered
 |
| Mexican police investigate at the scene of the murder. Source: Reuters |
According to Sputniknews, local media reported that on July 20, two politicians of the National Reconstruction Movement (MORENA) party founded by newly elected leftist President Andrés Manuel López Obrador were murdered.
According to the Excelsior website, Mr. Eliseo Delgado Sanchez, the newly elected Mayor of Buenavista City, Michoacan State, was shot dead on the steps of the city hall. Meanwhile, earlier that day, gunmen opened fire on the car of Mr. Zenon Cocula Fierro, a city councilor of Tlaquepaque City, Jalisco State.
Mexican authorities last week counted a total of 523 politicians and government officials assassinated during the recent election campaign.
Hamas and Israel agree to restore calm in Gaza
|
An explosion in Gaza after an Israeli attack on July 20. Photo: Reuters. |
"With the efforts of Egypt and the United Nations, Israel and Palestinian forces have agreed to restore calm in the Gaza Strip,"Reutersquoted a statement by Hamas Islamist movement spokesman Fawzi Barhoumama.
Hamas took control of the Gaza Strip after a conflict with Fatah in 2007. Since then, Israel has imposed a blockade on the area, restricting imports of fuel and goods and banning fishing in response to frequent cross-border attacks by Palestinians.
Israeli officials have not yet made any official comment on Hamas' announcement. However, an Israeli military spokesman said there had been no military activity in the Gaza Strip since early on July 21. Palestinians said the situation on the border had also calmed down.
France, Russia coordinate to deliver humanitarian aid to Syria
 |
| Syrian people. Source: AFP/TTXVN |
The French presidency announced on July 20 that France and Russia will coordinate the delivery of humanitarian aid to the Eastern Ghouta region in Syria. The announcement said the coordination is part of a UN Security Council resolution and aims to help civilians in the Eastern Ghouta region have easier access to humanitarian aid. France and Russia have discussed the process of transporting the aid in detail and agreed not to let this humanitarian operation be misinterpreted or used for political purposes.
Earlier, a Russian plane arrived in Chateauroux to pick up 50 tons of French goods, including medical equipment and essential supplies, to be transported to Syria. This is the first humanitarian aid delivery between Russia and France to Syria. In the coming time, the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) will monitor the delivery of humanitarian aid in Eastern Ghouta.
Peru dismantles major counterfeit money production gang
 |
| Peruvian crime boss Hernando Rodriguez Chavez. Photo: El Comercio Perú |
On July 20, the Peruvian national police force successfully dismantled a gang specializing in counterfeit money production, seizing 5.2 million USD and 8 million soles (equivalent to 2.5 million USD) of counterfeit money and arresting 11 related subjects.
In the announcement, Peruvian Interior Minister Mauro Medina said that this gang, known as “Los coyotes del Pacifico”, specializes in producing and transporting counterfeit money for consumption abroad with a network operating in Mexico, the United States, Argentina, El Salvador, Chile and Paraguay. The investigation results also determined that the leader of this gang is Peruvian crime boss Hernando Rodriguez Chavez. In addition, this subject’s wife and some close associates also participated in the process of completing and consuming counterfeit money.
