Russia to respond to NATO moves; Japan opens doors to foreign workers

President Trump gives in, stops separating illegal immigrant families

New decree signed by President Trump on June 20 (US time). Photo: Reuters

Under pressure from Congress and the international community, US President Donald Trump signed an executive order to temporarily stop separating children from parents who illegally immigrate across the southern border.

However, the White House leader warned that even with the latest adjustment, border enforcement will be more stringent.

Russian Army.

Speaking at a defense conference held in Crimea, Russian Defense Minister Sergey Shoigu said that since the beginning of the year, NATO has held 13 large-scale military exercises with the participation of more than 40,000 troops and 2,000 pieces of weapons.

Shoigu criticized the US deployment of a missile defense system in Romania in 2016 and to be deployed in Poland later this year. He said the US move affected stability in Europe and that the new US nuclear strategy had identified Russia as the main enemy.

Russian President Sergey Shoigu said the country's military will respond appropriately to NATO's moves to increase its military presence in the southwestern strategic direction of Russia.

German Chancellor calls for solution to Iran's 'aggressive tendencies'

King of Jordan and German Chancellor Angela Merkel. Source: AFP

According to Reuters, on June 21, German Chancellor Angela Merkel said European countries are concerned about Iran's ballistic missile program, and called for solutions to the country's "aggressive tendencies" in the Middle East.

Speaking after a meeting with Jordan's King Abdullah in Amman, Merkel said: "Iran's aggressive tendencies must not only be discussed, we urgently need solutions."

China accuses the US of using unfair trade tricks

Goods are loaded at Nansha Port in Guangdong Province, China. Photo: EPA/VNA

China has accused the United States of using pressure and blackmail tactics in threatening to impose hundreds of billions of dollars in tariffs on Chinese imports, AP reported.

Chinese Commerce Ministry spokesman Gao Feng said on June 21 that the US is harming the global trade order and its measures will be detrimental to the business interests of the US itself as well as those of its trading partners.

On the same day, US Secretary of Commerce Wilbur Ross said that Washington's trade policies are aimed at dealing with national security threats as well as intellectual property theft from China.

According toAFP, the indictment of Sara Netanyahu, wife of current Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, was issued on June 21 on charges of fraud and breach of trust after a months-long investigation by Israeli police.

Israeli prosecutors accused Ms. Sara of using public funds to pay for lavish parties worth nearly $100,000 at Prime Minister Netanyahu's residence between 2010 and 2013.

Sara is also accused of giving false testimony in connection with allegations that she used public money to hire a private chef at her home. The amount of money used to hire a private chef is said to be up to $10,000.

Meanwhile, Prime Minister Netanyahu is also facing a corruption investigation. Mr. Netanyahu and his family members are suspected of receiving cigars, wine and jewelry worth nearly $300,000 from wealthy people.

Ecuador may revoke asylum status for WikiLeaks founder

In a televised speech on June 20, Ecuador’s new Foreign Minister Jose Valencia said that the current shelter for WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange is not permanent. Ecuador is looking for a solution to the problem and ensuring that the rights of refugees are not violated.

All contact with the outside world by Mr Assange has been cut off since March, after relations between Ecuador and the UK became strained over allegations of involvement in the Iraq war. Ecuadorian President Lenin Moreno then ordered the lifting of heightened security at the country's diplomatic missions abroad.

Bank of England decides to keep interest rates unchanged

BoE headquarters in London. Photo: AFP/TTXVN

Closing the regular policy meeting of the Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) of the Bank of England (BoE) on June 21, BoE decided to keep interest rates at 0.5%.

The decision immediately helped the pound recover to $1.32 per pound after it had hit a seven-month low earlier in the day.

Along with the decision to keep interest rates unchanged, the BoE also announced that it would start selling bonds when rates rise to 1.5%. The BoE currently holds £435 billion of bonds that it has bought as part of its quantitative easing (QE) program.

Egypt continues anti-terror campaign in Sinai

In a statement issued on June 21 about the latest developments in the anti-terrorism campaign in North and Central Sinai, the Egyptian army said it had killed 32 extremists and arrested 36 others, destroyed armed vehicles and weapons depots, and confiscated dozens of improvised explosive devices.

The military forces also discovered and dismantled 15 explosive devices, raided and destroyed 272 militant shelters, seized ammunition, improvised explosive devices, computers, photographic equipment and some military uniforms.

Operation Sinai 2018 was launched last February to prevent and eliminate extremist and terrorist elements in North and Central Sinai and other areas in the Nile Delta.

Japan opens doors to half a million foreign workers

Vietnamese construction interns in Tokyo. Screenshot from Nikkei Asian Review

The Japanese government has just approved a new policy that could attract an additional 500,000 foreign workers to deal with the labor shortage.

Under a newly approved policy, Japan will issue visas to foreign workers in five sectors facing the greatest labor shortages, including construction, agriculture, hotels, shipbuilding and elderly care. The policy will take effect in the next fiscal year (April 2019 - March 2020). Workers will be granted a five-year work visa if they pass two language and skills tests in April 2019. They must demonstrate their ability to understand slow-paced conversations and perform basic tasks required by their jobs. In some cases, the government will consider granting indefinite visas and allowing family members to accompany them, according to the Nikkei Asian Review. Technical interns who previously had to return home after their five-year term expires can now continue to be granted a work visa for up to another five years.

New Zealand Prime Minister gives birth to first daughter

On the afternoon of June 21, New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern uploaded a photo of herself holding her newborn daughter to her Instagram account and expressed her gratitude for the well wishes and medical staff at Auckland District Hospital, where she gave birth. Earlier, early in the morning of June 21 (local time), Prime Minister Jacinda and her boyfriend went to Auckland District Hospital to give birth.

Prime Minister Jacinda will take six weeks of maternity leave. During this time, Deputy Prime Minister Winston Peter will assume the role of acting Prime Minister.

Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern is the second woman in the world to give birth while serving as head of government. Previously, the late Pakistani Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto also gave birth while in office in 1990.