US-China abandon trade war; Iran may resume uranium enrichment
(Baonghean.vn) - In the past 24 hours, many events have taken place in the world such as: China agrees to increase imports of American goods; Iran may resume uranium enrichment at 20% level; North Korea demands South Korea hand over 12 waitresses; Venezuela holds presidential election...
China agrees to increase imports of US goods
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President Trump and Vice Premier Liu He during trade negotiations on May 17. Photo: SCMP. |
The US and China concluded the second round of trade negotiations on May 19, in an effort to avoid the risk of a trade war.
The two sides issued a joint statement, agreeing to take effective measures to significantly reduce the US trade deficit with China. The joint statement stated: The US and China have reached a consensus on taking effective measures to significantly reduce the US trade deficit in goods with China.
In order to meet the consumption needs of the Chinese people and the need for high-quality economic development, China will significantly increase its purchases of American goods and services. This will help support the growth and employment in the United States. The US government also said it will send a delegation to China to outline the details of enhanced trade cooperation.
Iran warns it may resume uranium enrichment to 20% level
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| Image inside an Iranian nuclear facility. Photo: Reuters |
Speaking to reporters after meeting with European Union (EU) Commissioner for Energy and Climate Miguel Arias Canete, who is visiting Tehran, Ali Akbar Salehi, head of Iran's atomic energy agency, said on May 19 that there are many possible scenarios for the deal and Iran does not rule out the possibility of resuming 20% uranium enrichment. However, Iran will strictly comply with the deal if the remaining parties to the deal do the same.
The 2015 Iran nuclear deal between Iran and the P5+1 group is on the brink of collapse after US President Donald Trump announced the US withdrawal from the deal on May 9. Iran has repeatedly warned that it will withdraw from the deal and resume uranium enrichment at an even higher level than the 20% it was at when the deal was signed.
After threatening to cancel the US-North Korea meeting, Pyongyang demands Seoul return the "defector"
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North Korean restaurants abroad are a source of foreign currency for the country. Photo: AFP. |
North Korea has demanded that South Korea return 12 waitresses who "fled" to Seoul two years ago, days after abruptly canceling an inter-Korean meeting.
According toAFP, North Korea warned that the issue could damage the two countries' relations, which are in a "warm" phase with the good results of the summit between President Moon Jae-in and leader Kim Jong-un. However, a few days ago, North Korea canceled the meeting of officials of the two countries and threatened to pull out of the planned June meeting between Mr. Kim and US President Donald Trump.
The story of the waitresses' escape to Seoul has long been a matter of debate. North Korea claims the girls were kidnapped from a North Korean restaurant in China, while Seoul says they fled on their own.
IS withdraws from last stronghold near capital Damascus (Syria)
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IS militants in Damascus. Photo: Reuters |
The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said on May 20 that IS fighters had just left their last stronghold near the capital Damascus.
Previously, until late on May 19, neither the Syrian army nor regional sources confirmed that any agreement had been reached on IS withdrawing from Yarmouk Camp, the last IS-held location near Damascus.
If the information of the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights is confirmed, the Syrian army has regained almost complete control over the areas around the capital Damascus, creating favorable conditions for stabilizing the situation and restoring the economy of Syria's largest city.
France proposes Europe establish independent financial system
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French Finance Minister Bruno Le Maire. (Photo: Reuters). |
French Finance Minister Bruno Le Maire has announced that European authorities are looking for solutions that would allow the European Union to protect and compensate European companies that may face US sanctions related to the Iran nuclear deal.
The official also proposed establishing an independent financial system to end Europe's dependence on the US banking and credit system.
This is seen as a clear response to the US withdrawal from the 2015 Iran Nuclear Deal, also known as the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA).
Former South Korean President Lee Myung-bak to stand trial for corruption
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Former President Lee Myung-bak. Photo: Reuters |
A court in the South Korean capital Seoul is scheduled to hold the first hearing of former President Lee Myung-bak on corruption charges.
Accordingly, the former President of South Korea will appear for the first time at the Seoul Central District Court at 2:00 p.m. (local time) on May 23. Mr. Lee Myung-bak, who served as President of South Korea from 2008 to 2013, is accused of a number of crimes including bribery, abuse of power, and embezzlement.
Specifically, Mr. Lee Myung-bak is accused of receiving bribes of 11.1 billion won, equivalent to nearly 11 million USD, from the National Intelligence Service and Samsung Group. In addition, the former South Korean President is also accused of receiving bribes totaling more than 3 billion won from other organizations and individuals.
Venezuela presidential election
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Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro votes in Caracas. Photo: Reuters. |
About 20.5 million Venezuelans are eligible to vote to elect a president who will begin a six-year term in January 2019, according toAFPPolling stations open at 6:00 a.m. on May 20 (5:00 p.m. Hanoi time) and close at 6:00 p.m. (5:00 a.m. on May 21, Hanoi time).
The four candidates running for president are incumbent President Nicolas Maduro, former Governor Henri Falcon, missionary Javier Bertucci and engineer Reinaldo Quijada. Of these, Maduro and Falcon are the two most prominent.
Observers say President Maduro is almost certain to be re-elected in the election because his two biggest opponents in the opposition party have been banned from running, while Falcon receives a much lower support rate.
West African countries arrest more than 200 terrorism suspects
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| West African countries arrest more than 200 terrorism suspects. Source: Stess Magazine |
More than 200 terror suspects were arrested last week in four West African countries, including Burkina Faso, Ghana, Benin and Togo, as part of a joint operation involving about 2,900 soldiers from the four countries.
Of the suspects arrested, 42 were arrested in Burkina Faso, 42 in Benin, 95 in Togo and 13 in Ghana. In addition, police also seized a number of explosive devices and contraband during the arrests. Of these, Burkina Faso police arrested 13 suspects believed to be members of jihadist groups, along with 40 explosive devices, 38 guns and 623 motorbikes without valid documents.
Leading German newspaper fires cartoonist for drawing caricature of Israeli Prime Minister
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Cartoon of Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu by German artist Hanitsch. Photo: Reuters |
A leading German newspaper fired a cartoonist for anti-Semitic views on May 20 after he drew a caricature of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.
The cartoon by artist Dieter Hanitzsch shows Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu, dressed like this year's Eurovision winner Netta Barzilai, holding a microphone in one hand and a rocket in the other, singing: “Next year (2019) in Jerusalem.”
The cartoon caused an uproar on social media and other German media. The editor-in-chief of the Suddeutsche Zeitung newspaper, Wolfgang Krach, apologized to Tel Aviv for the cartoon, but the cartoonist Hantizsch firmly refused.
