Russia arrests Putin envoy's assistant for treason; US-China resume trade talks

Russia arrests presidential envoy's assistant for treason

Aexander Vorobyov in court on July 5. Photo:TASS

Alexander Vorobyov, an aide to the Russian president's envoy to the Urals, was arrested on July 5 on charges of treason. This is the first public case of a government official being arrested on suspicion of treason in post-Soviet Russia.

The Lefortovsky District Court in Moscow said the official would be held in custody for two months while Russian authorities conduct an investigation. If convicted, Vorobyov could face up to 20 years in prison, the Russian Federal Security Service (FSB) said, without providing further details.

Mr. Vorobyov, 39, served for a year as an assistant to President Vladimir Putin’s envoy Nikolai Tsukanov. Before that, Mr. Vorobyov held various positions in the provincial government of Russia’s westernmost Kaliningrad region.

Venezuela wants UN intervention to counter US sanctions

Speaking at the UN Human Rights Council in Geneva, Venezuela's Deputy Foreign Minister William Castillo said that "unilateral coercive" sanctions must be lifted. Venezuela appreciated the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights' recognition that US economic sanctions are exacerbating economic hardship and human rights violations.

North Korea reveals reason for arresting Australian student

Alek Sigley at Haneda International Airport in Tokyo, Japan on July 4. Photo:Reuters

North Korea claims that student Alek Sigley collected and transferred anti-Pyongyang information to foreign media.

"Under the instigation of NK News and other anti-DPRK media, Alek Sigley repeatedly handed over information gathered while searching Pyongyang as a foreign student," the Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) said today.

He is said to have admitted to committing espionage against North Korea and repeatedly asked for forgiveness.

"The North Korean government showed its humanitarian spirit and expelled him from its territory on July 4," KCNA said.

UK extends seizure of Iranian oil tanker for another 14 days

The Supreme Court of Gibraltar on July 5 decided to detain the Iranian oil tanker Grace 1 for another 14 days, despite the Islamic Republic's call to "immediately release" the ship.

An Iranian oil tanker was seized on suspicion of supplying crude oil to Syria in violation of European sanctions.

In response to reports that it had acted at the request of the United States, the Gibraltar government affirmed that the decision was based on consideration of existing legal regulations, not on the basis of foreign political assessments or at the request of any government.

According to the Gibraltar Public Prosecution Service, the Grace 1 oil tanker will be detained until July 19, as Iran has not yet proven the origin of the oil, nor the destination of the seized ship.

US announces resumption of trade negotiations with China

The Trump administration said trade talks with China are beginning to resume, as China repeatedly stressed that in order to reach an agreement it is important for the US to remove all current tariffs.

According to White House economic adviser Larry Kudlow, US Trade Representative Robert Lighthizer and Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin are holding phone discussions with China's top trade negotiator, Vice Premier Liu He. An in-person meeting is also planned and will take place in the near future.