Russia increases security at energy facilities; North Korea sets conditions for resuming talks with the US
(Baonghean.vn) - Russia strengthens security at energy facilities; North Korea sets conditions for resuming negotiations with the US; Venezuela's opposition declares end to dialogue with the government; South Korea retaliates against Japan's trade... are the world's outstanding news in the past 24 hours.
Russia strengthens security at energy facilities
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| A Rosneft oil refinery in Achinsk, Russia. |
Russian Energy Minister Alexander Novak said on September 16 that Russia will reassess the current situation and consider the possibility of strengthening security at its oil production facilities after the drone attack on Saudi Arabia's oil refineries over the weekend.
Commenting on the attack on Saudi Arabia's oil facilities, Mr. Novak said that the attack could affect global energy security. However, the current global oil reserves could still be enough to compensate for the shortage of crude oil production due to the incident.
North Korea will only negotiate with the US when threats are removed.
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| US President Donald Trump and North Korean leader Kim Jong-un. Photo: THX/TTXVN |
North Korea's foreign ministry said working-level talks with the United States could take place "in the coming weeks," but stressed that discussions on denuclearization could only take place after all threats to Pyongyang were completely removed.
In the statement, the head of the North Korean Foreign Ministry's Americas Affairs Department also warned that the US would be the one to decide whether the upcoming meeting is a "window of opportunity" or will bring about a crisis.
Venezuelan opposition announces end of dialogue with government
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Mr. Juan Guaido (in a suit, holding a photo) and his supporters. Photo: Getty. |
The Venezuelan opposition has just announced that the dialogue with President Maduro's government, mediated by Norway, has officially ended. This announcement is expected to deepen Venezuela's political crisis in the context of President Maduro's government, which six weeks ago suspended participation in negotiations with the opposition.
In a statement on Twitter, the office of Mr. Guaido, the leader of the Venezuelan opposition, criticized the insincere attitude of the Caracas government and its deliberate attempt to stall for time.
Iran announces plans to release British oil tanker Stena Impero
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| British-flagged oil tanker Stena Impero anchored at a port in Bandar Abbas, southern Iran on July 20, 2019. Photo: AFP/TTXVN |
Iran's Foreign Ministry announced on September 16 that it would release the British-flagged oil tanker Stena Impero that was seized by Iranian authorities in the coming days. At a weekly press conference, Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Abbas Mousavi said legal procedures were underway and the Steba Impero would be released.
Mr. Mousavi also made it clear that there was no intermediary involved in Iran's release of the ship. Previously, Iran had released seven crew members of the Stena Impero.
Iran's Revolutionary Guards seized the oil tanker Stena Impero on July 19 for allegedly violating maritime regulations while passing through the Strait of Hormuz.
