Russia, Germany pledge to protect Iran nuclear deal; Thailand seizes large amount of drugs

Russian and German leaders reaffirm commitment to protect Iran nuclear deal

Russian President Putin and German Chancellor Merkel at an event. Photo: Reuters

According to the Kremlin, in a phone call on May 11, Russian President Vladimir Putin and German Chancellor Angela Merkel reaffirmed their commitment to protecting the Iran nuclear deal after the US withdrew from the agreement.

In a statement released after the phone call, the Kremlin stated: "The situation related to the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) after the unilateral US withdrawal was discussed. The importance of preserving the agreement from the perspective of international and regional stability remains high."

Meanwhile, a source from Iran's Foreign Ministry said that Foreign Minister Javad Zarif will visit China, Russia and Brussels (Belgium), the headquarters of the European Union (EU) to discuss the future of the Iran nuclear deal.

Chinese President may attend US-North Korea summit

Chinese President Xi Jinping. Source: nationalinterest.org

Sputnik reported that on May 11, Japanese media quoted US government sources as saying that Chinese President Xi Jinping may attend the summit between US President Donald Trump and North Korean leader Kim Jong-un.

Responding to Japan's Mainichi Shimbun newspaper, a source from the US National Security Council said it was "possible" that President Xi Jinping would be present at the above meeting.

Singapore newspaper predicts 3 possible locations for Trump-Kim meeting

Shangri-la Hotel, Marina Bay Sands and Sentosa Island are potential options for the Trump-Kim summit on June 12, reports say.Straits Timesleading experts' opinions

The Shangri-La Hotel is said to be the top choice because of its logistics and security expertise. The hotel will host the annual regional security forum Shangri-La Dialogue in early June, ahead of the summit.

Marina Bay Sands is also a potential location because Sheldon Adelson, chairman and CEO of Las Vegas Sands Corp, the group that owns the resort, is one of President Trump's major contributors.

Sentosa Island is private and isolated, but hotels here have difficulty accommodating large groups of guests.

Thai police seize $45 million worth of drugs

Thai police display seized drugs at a press conference in Bangkok on May 11. Photo: AFP

On May 11, Thai police announced that they had discovered and seized a convoy of cars in Bangkok carrying tens of thousands of yaba synthetic drug pills produced in Myanmar and nearly half a ton of crystal meth hidden in green tea packages.

The drugs, which have an estimated street value of $45 million, were reportedly being transported along Thailand's "drug corridor," which runs through the central province of Ayutthaya to Bangkok, and south to Malaysia.

Police had earlier tracked four cars leaving from Ayutthaya, a hotspot for drugs smuggled from illegal manufacturing facilities in Myanmar.

French First Lady angered after image used to promote anti-aging cream

Mrs. Brigitte Macron and her husband. Photo: Newsweek.

The French President's wife was "extremely upset" after receiving dozens of complaints from customers who bought an anti-aging skin cream product with her image and name advertised on an online sales website, according toLocal.

The 65-year-old first lady has asked her personal lawyer to investigate the fraudulent behavior of the website "Beauty and Truth" when advertising that the French first lady has shares in a company that produces a "revolutionary" line of anti-aging skin care products. To prove the effectiveness of the product, the website used a picture of Mrs. Macron, the wife of President Emmanuel Macron, who is 25 years older.

On May 11, Islamabad imposed a travel ban on US diplomats in Pakistan, after Washington made a similar move, Xinhua reported.

A day earlier, Islamabad confirmed that Pakistani diplomats in the US would be subject to a travel ban from May 11.

Pakistan Foreign Ministry spokesman Mohammad Faisal said the two sides were still negotiating on the issue.

Pakistan and the US have imposed travel bans on each other's diplomats after the defence attaché at the US Embassy in Islamabad, Colonel Joseph Emanual Hall, was involved in a car accident that killed a Pakistani on April 7.

Massacre shocks Australia, killing 7 people

Western Australia Police Commissioner Chris Dawson said at a press conference on May 11 that police received a call about the incident at 5:15 a.m. on May 11.

The incident occurred at a house in the town of Margaret River, not far from the Australian city of Perth. At the scene, the bodies of two adults were found outside the house while the remaining five were found inside.

The case is being investigated as a murder-suicide, according to ABC. However, Mr. Dawson said that this could not be confirmed, but revealed that the bodies had gunshot wounds. He also advised people not to speculate about the details of the case.

Police are appealing for information about the shocking incident in rural Australia.

Mount Merapi erupts, Indonesia urgently evacuates people

A giant column of ash erupted from Mount Merapi on the morning of May 11. Photo: Reuters.

Indonesian authorities ordered evacuations after Mount Merapi on Java island spewed a column of ash 5,500 meters into the sky.

Sutopo Purwo Nugroho, spokesman for Indonesia's Disaster Mitigation Agency, asked people living within a 5-km radius of Merapi to move to shelters after the mountain erupted at 7:30 a.m. this morning, according toReuters.

About 12,000 people live around Mount Merapi, but it is unclear how many have been evacuated. Nugroho said 120 people who were on the mountain at the time of the eruption were safe.

Yogyakarta, the major city near the volcano, closed its airport and canceled eight flights as a safety precaution, national airline AirNav said in a statement.