US, China consider summit; Kofi Annan dies at 80
(Baonghean.vn) - The world over the past 24 hours has been filled with many outstanding news such as: The US and China consider a summit; The two Koreas will open a joint liaison office; Former UN Secretary General Kofi Annan passes away at the age of 80...
US, China consider summit
|
Chinese President Xi Jinping (left) and US President Donald Trump. Photo: Reuters |
The Wall Street Journal (USA) website reported on August 18 that US President Donald Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping are considering meeting in November on the sidelines of multilateral summits.
According to this source, the two sides are considering holding a summit on the sidelines of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) forum in Papua New Guinea and the Group of 20 (G20) summit in Argentina.
US and Chinese officials are expected to resume trade talks next week, with delegations from both countries expected to discuss the possibility of President Donald Trump and President Xi Jinping meeting in an effort to ease the trade dispute.
Two Koreas to open joint liaison office |
South Korean and North Korean officials discussed the establishment of an inter-Korean liaison office in Kaesong city on June 8. Photo: Yonhap/VNA |
On August 18, the Korean Broadcasting System (KBS) quoted a South Korean government official as saying that Seoul and Pyongyang have almost completed preparations for the establishment of an inter-Korean liaison office in the Gaeseong industrial complex in North Korea. All that is left now is to carry out related administrative procedures.
The two Koreas have been discussing the opening of the Inter-Korean Liaison Office for some time now. The head of the South Korean side of the office will be a vice-ministerial-level official. The opening ceremony is expected to take place next week.
President T.Erdogan declared that Türkiye will not surrender to the US
 |
| Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan speaks in the capital Ankara on August 13. Photo: THX/TTXVN |
- Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan said on August 18 that his country would not surrender to the United States. This is the latest statement by the Turkish leader in the context of the serious deterioration of relations between Ankara and Washington since the controversy involving an American pastor.
Speaking at the national congress of the ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP), President Erdogan affirmed: "Some people are trying to threaten us with the economy, interest rates, inflation, investment and foreign exchange. We will declare to them that we consider these your tricks and we will challenge you."
"We have not and will not surrender to those who act as strategic partners but consider us as strategic targets," the Turkish leader declared.
Former UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan dies at age 80
 |
| Former United Nations Secretary-General Kofi Annan. Source: Getty |
Former UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan has passed away after a short illness, the United Nations announced. The announcement said that Mr. Kofi Annan passed away in Switzerland on the morning of August 18, at the age of 80.
During his tenure as UN Secretary-General, Kofi Annan was considered a shining star in international relations. The “diamond” of the black continent brought revival and new vitality to the world’s most powerful agency after his two terms as leader.
During his 10 years as head of the world's most powerful agency, Mr. Annan has been evaluated by analysts and politicians as the most outstanding Secretary General in the history of the United Nations.
|
Relatives in front of the coffin of a victim of the bridge collapse in Genoa on August 17. Photo:AP |
Italy declared August 18 a day of national mourning and held a funeral for the victims of the collapse of the Morandi Bridge at the city hall of the port city of Genoa. However, 17 families of the victims refused to attend the ceremony, saying the funeral should be held in private and angrily demanding that the government take responsibility for the disaster, according toABC News.
Meanwhile, Cardinal of Naples Crescenzio Sepe accused the authorities of carelessness and irresponsibility in the wake of the fatal accident.
Other private funerals are being held in Piedmont and elsewhere in Italy. Seven other families are also considering boycotting the Genoa government funeral.
Taliban leader says he wants direct talks with US
 |
| US soldiers at Kandahar air base in Afghanistan. Photo: AFP/TTXVN |
On August 18, the leader of the Taliban Islamist movement affirmed that there will be no peace in Afghanistan as long as the foreign “occupation” continues, stressing that the 17-year war in the South Asian country can only end through direct negotiations with the United States.
In a message released on August 18 to mark the Eid al-Adha holiday, Taliban leader Maulvi Haibatullah Akhunzadah affirmed that the group remains committed to “Islamic goals,” Afghan sovereignty and ending the war.
The Taliban have refused to negotiate with the Taliban government and have said they will only negotiate an end to the war with the United States. In recent years, the Taliban have seized large areas across Afghanistan and frequently carried out large-scale attacks.
Qatar accuses Saudi Arabia of preventing citizens from making pilgrimage to Mecca
 |
| Muslims pray in Mecca. Source: Getty Images |
Qatar has accused Saudi Arabia of preventing its citizens from participating in the Haj pilgrimage to Mecca in Saudi Arabia.
Qatar said that although 1,200 Qatari citizens were eligible to participate in the hajj under a quota system, Doha authorities were unable to obtain permits and blamed the severance of diplomatic and trade ties with Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates (UAE), Bahrain and Egypt.
Saudi Arabia has denied Qatar's accusations and affirmed that the diplomatic tension between Qatar and four Gulf countries will not prevent Qatari citizens from participating in the pilgrimage to Mecca.
