Russia pledges continued support for Venezuela; US President optimistic about North Korea

US President Trump is optimistic about North Korea and praises Vietnam

Photo of President Trump's Twitter page praising Vietnam and expressing optimism about US-North Korea relations.

In a tweet posted on March 1 on his personal Twitter account, US President Donald Trump wrote that he had just returned from a wonderful place, Vietnam. In this tweet, Mr. Trump also affirmed that the US side had substantive negotiations with North Korean leader Kim Jong-un within the framework of the second US-North Korea Summit held in Hanoi on February 27-28. "We know what they want and they also know what we have to achieve," President Trump wrote.

The White House boss also expressed optimism about the situation with North Korea: "The relationship is very good, let's wait and see what happens!"

The Midnight Stone ship from Puerto Rico carrying aid for Venezuela docks at Willemstad port, Curaçao, Netherlands Antilles on February 24, 2019. Photo: AFP/TTXVN

According to AFP, on March 1, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov announced that Moscow will continue to support the Venezuelan government, including providing aid. Speaking at a joint press conference with Venezuelan Vice President Delcy Rodriguez, Mr. Lavrov said: "Russia will continue to support the Venezuelan government in resolving economic and social problems, including through the provision of legitimate humanitarian aid."

Mr. Lavrov expressed Russia's support and solidarity with Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro in the political confrontation in the South American country. "We are cooperating and coordinating very closely all our steps on the international stage," he stressed.

US offers $1 million reward to find bin Laden's son

The US is searching for the son of terrorist leader Osama bin Laden and is willing to pay up to $1 million for information on his whereabouts. According to the US State Department, Hamza bin Laden - the son of terrorist leader Osama bin Laden - is now emerging as the leader of the al Qaeda terrorist network.

The US State Department also confirmed that when Osama bin Laden died, things found at his hideout in Pakistan showed that bin Laden was preparing for his son, Hamza bin Laden, to replace him as leader of the terrorist organization Al-Qaeda.

As the US hunts for bin Laden's son, UN member states are required to freeze all assets of Hamza bin Laden and comply with travel bans and arms embargoes on him, the US State Department's Bureau of Counterterrorism said.

Afghan security forces kill many Taliban militants

Afghanistan kills many Taliban militants. Photo: Council on Foreign Relations

On March 1, at least nine Taliban insurgents were killed by Afghan security forces in an attack by the extremist Islamic group on a major military base in the southern province of Helmand.

A senior Afghan security official said the attack occurred early on March 1 and that troops from the 215th Maiwand Corps had tried to stop Taliban fighters from taking over the base. This was the third attempt by the Islamist group to take over the key military facility in the past 48 hours.

According to local TV channel Tolo News TV, at least 21 Taliban militants participated in the attack. The source also stated that 3 suicide bombers detonated their explosives, while the remaining 6 gunmen were killed by security forces. Afghan officials also confirmed that foreign soldiers present at the base were safe because the Taliban militants had not crossed the security fence. On the Afghan side, 6 soldiers were killed in the fighting.

Former Russian officer sentenced to 10 years in prison for spying for Ukraine

A Russian court on February 28 sentenced former Navy Major Dmitry Dolgopolov to 10 years in prison and his wife to 9 years in prison, after the couple were caught red-handed spying for Ukraine in September 2017 in the city of Simferopol by Russia's Federal Security Service (FSB).TASS"The investigation found that Sukhonosova, the wife of Dmitry Dolgopolov, was recruited by Colonel Igor Klimenk from the Main Intelligence Directorate of the Ministry of Defense of Ukraine. Sukhonosova enticed Dolgopolov to cooperate with Ukrainian intelligence to sell information for money," according to the FSB.

Dolgopolov and his wife admitted to collecting information related to the activities and formation of the Russian Black Sea Fleet, then passing it on to Ukrainian intelligence. "This leaked information could affect Russia's national security," the FSB representative said.

Eurozone unemployment rate lowest in more than a decade

Workers assemble Volkswagen cars at a factory in Wolfsburg, central Germany. Photo: AFP/TTXVN

The European Statistical Office (Eurostat) announced on March 1 that the unemployment rate in the Eurozone in February 2019 remained stable at its lowest level in nearly 11 years at 7.8%. According to Eurostat, the above rate is still equivalent to the figures recorded in December 2018 and January 2019, and is the lowest level the Eurozone has reached since October 2008.

Previously, in January this year, the Czech Republic was the country that recorded the lowest unemployment rate among the 19 Eurozone member countries with 2.1%, followed by Germany with 3.2%. In contrast, Spain had the highest unemployment rate in the bloc at 14.1%. Compared to a year ago, the unemployment rate has decreased in all Eurozone member countries, except Denmark and Malta which have remained "stuck in place".