Russia may set up an air base in Venezuela; EU prepares for UK “divorce” scenario

Russia may set up air base in Venezuela

Tu-160 strategic bomber during a visit to Venezuela on December 10. Photo:Times.

Russia is considering the possibility of establishing a strategic air base on Venezuela's Orchila Island in response to the US's insistence on withdrawing from the Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces (INF) Treaty, the daily newspaperNezavisimaya GazetaRussia on December 19 quoted a number of diplomatic and military sources as saying.

Russia believes that withdrawing from the INF treaty will allow the US to deploy nuclear missiles in Europe, threatening its security. In response, Russia may deploy strategic nuclear forces in South America, a region considered the US's backyard, for deterrence.

North Korea: Nuclear disarmament must include the US

North Korean soldiers. Photo: Japan Times.

For the first time, North Korean state media has made clear the country's stance on the nuclear disarmament process, saying Pyongyang believes the process must also "eliminate the US nuclear threat."

Reuters news agency quoted this view in an editorial broadcast on December 20 from North Korean state media. In it, it affirmed that Pyongyang is committed to "the process of denuclearization on the Korean peninsula", but that process must also include the provision of "completely eliminating the US nuclear threat to North Korea". This is one of Pyongyang's clearest explanations to date about the nuclear disarmament process.

EU prepares scenario for "divorce" without deal with UK

Brexit supporters hold placards calling for no second referendum in front of the Houses of Parliament in Britain. Photo: Reuters

The European Union (EU) has approved a contingency plan to protect trade, transport and financial sectors in case Britain leaves the EU (Brexit) without reaching any agreement within the next 100 days.

Accordingly, some notable points are: Flights from the UK to and through EU airspace will be guaranteed "basic communication" for 12 months; Trucks transporting goods by road into the EU will not need a license for 9 months; UK financial services regulations, in some limited areas such as derivatives trading, will be recognized as equivalent to the EU's in one or two years...

US "opens door" for Iraq to continue importing energy from Iran

• An oil facility on Khark Island, Iran. Photo: AFP/TTXVN

A US government source said on December 20 that during talks with US officials in Washington on sanctions against Iran, a delegation of Iraqi officials negotiated a 90-day extension of the waiver, allowing Iraq to continue purchasing electricity and gas from Iran. During the waiver period, Iraq is expected to develop a plan to reduce its dependence on its neighbor's energy supply.

Iraq is facing a severe power shortage, leaving many households without electricity for up to 20 hours a day. The lack of electricity was also a major cause of large-scale protests in the country this past summer.

UK continues to fight IS after US withdraws from Syria

Two British Tornados fighter jets joined the fight against IS terrorists in Syria.

The UK government's statement came after US President Donald Trump tweeted that the US had defeated IS in Syria, hinting at a troop withdrawal as promised during the election campaign. A White House spokesman later confirmed that Washington had begun bringing troops home. An unnamed official revealed that all US diplomatic staff would be evacuated from Syria within 24 hours.

British Defence Minister Tobias Ellwood shared Trump's Twitter post with the comment: "I completely disagree. ISIS has morphed into other forms of extremists and the threat remains very much alive."

Sudan declares state of emergency in Atbara city

Sudan's ruling party office on fire in Atbara. Source: Twitter

The government of Nahr al-Neel state, northern Sudan, on December 19 declared a state of emergency in Atbara - the state's largest city - and imposed a curfew as riots broke out due to widespread protests there. All primary and secondary schools were temporarily closed, with the curfew starting from 6 p.m. to 6 a.m. However, this regulation does not apply to public service facilities.

The protests in Atbara against rising living costs were initially peaceful, but many extremists later burned down the ruling party headquarters and local government offices. The ruling Sudanese National Congress Party (NCP) condemned this as an act of "undermining security and causing instability".

50,000 South Korean drivers strike against Uber-like ride-hailing app

Photo: Reuters

Tens of thousands of South Korean taxi drivers went on strike on December 20 to protest against the Uber-like ride-hailing app Kakao Mobility planned to be launched by Kakao (owner of Kakao Talk).

According to AFP news agency, the strike caused serious traffic jams in the capital Seoul. An estimated 50,000 taxi drivers wearing red headbands, carrying banners and slogans marched outside the South Korean parliament building, calling on the government to ban the Kakao ride-hailing app.