Russia and Ukraine swap prisoners; US-China trade conflict will last for years
(Baonghean.vn) - Russia and Ukraine exchange prisoners; The US-China trade conflict will last for many years; Iran captures a ship and 12 Filipino crew members; The North Korean army has a major change in leadership personnel... are the world's outstanding news in the past 24 hours.
Russia and Ukraine exchange prisoners
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| Russian planes appear at Borispil International Airport outside Kiev. Photo: Reuters |
According toRT, planes carrying Russian and Ukrainian prisoners landed at Kiev and Moscow airports on September 7, completing the prisoner swap in the format of 35 for 35. The Russian plane had previously arrived at Borispil airport on the morning of September 7. When it returned, it carried the chief representative of the Russian news agencyRIA Novostiin Ukraine Kirill Vyshinsky and other prisoners who were captured by Kiev.
Nikolai Polozov, a lawyer for 24 Ukrainian sailors who were detained by Russia in November 2018, said his clients were part of the exchange. Roman Sushchenko, a journalist for a Ukrainian news agency who was detained by Russia in 2016, is also believed to be among the 35 Ukrainian prisoners in the exchange. This would be the first prisoner exchange between Russia and Ukraine since 2017.
North Korean military has major changes in leadership personnel
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| North Korean army has new chief of general staff. |
According to North Korea's KCNA news agency, the decision to appoint General Pak Jong-chon as chief of the general staff of the Korean People's Army was announced at a ceremony attended by leader Kim Jong-un.
General Pak will succeed Ri Yong Gil, a military operations expert who has served as chief of the general staff of the North Korean army since 2013.
Analyst Ahn Chan-il said the move showed that the North Korean military may focus on developing new weapons in the near future. According to Ahn, North Korea seems to feel threatened after South Korea bought F-35 fighter jets earlier this year that are invisible to US radar.
Will the US-China trade conflict last for years?
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| White House economic adviser Larry Kudlow speaks to the press. Photo: Reuters |
Speaking to reporters, White House economic adviser Larry Kudlow said that although the US and China have been negotiating on trade and intellectual property issues for the past 18 months, "We have to make amends and if that takes a decade, that's OK," Mr. Kudlow added.
The 14-month US-China trade conflict escalated in May, when talks collapsed after Beijing backed away from earlier commitments to make legal changes to improve intellectual property protections, curb the forced transfer of US technology to Chinese companies and give the US more access to the Chinese market.
Venezuelan opposition leader investigated for treason
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Opposition leader Juan Guaido attends a session of the Venezuelan National Assembly in Caracas on August 20. Photo:Reuters |
"We have opened an investigation into National Assembly President Juan Guaido for illegally negotiating the renunciation of the country's historic claim to the Esequibo territory. This is treason," Justice Minister Tarek William Saab said at a press conference in Caracas on September 7.
Earlier, President Nicolas Maduro called on prosecutors to file treason charges against Guaido for "conspiring to hand over Esequibo to multinational companies." The accusation was based on a recording of a US official advising Guaido's advisers to "hand over Esequibo to Exxon Mobil and other multinational companies."
Venezuela's Constituent Assembly stripped Guaido of his immunity in April. The opposition leader also faces charges of violating a travel ban and usurping power after declaring himself interim president.
Guaido remains free and continues to campaign against President Maduro. The United States, Guaido's biggest supporter, has warned the Venezuelan government of "serious consequences" if the 36-year-old politician is arrested.
Iran seizes ship and 12 Filipino crew members
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An Iranian speedboat passed the British-flagged tanker Stena Impero last month. Photo:Reuters |
Reuters reported on September 7 that the Iranian Coast Guard had seized a tugboat and 12 Filipino crew members on suspicion of smuggling oil in the Gulf. Reuters cited Iran's state television as saying the tugboat was carrying 284,000 liters of diesel. Although the 12 crew members were Filipino, the report did not say which country's flag the ship was flying.
Iran has some of the cheapest fuel prices in the world thanks to heavy government subsidies. It is also struggling with oil smuggling across its borders and sea routes. Iran has repeatedly seized ships suspected of smuggling oil in the Gulf.
