Pakistan closes two main border crossings with Afghanistan; South Korea and the US disagree on defense spending
(Baonghean.vn) - The world over the past 24 hours has been filled with many outstanding news such as: Korea and the US cannot overcome their disagreement on sharing defense costs; Pakistan closes two main border gates with Afghanistan before the election; Türkiye searches forests and coastlines to find the body of a Saudi journalist; Warning about drought in Thailand...
Russian President Putin reveals the possibility of using nuclear weapons
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| President Putin. Photo: Sky News |
Russia will use nuclear weapons in response to any missile attack, Vladimir Putin said on October 18.
The Russian president said that Russia would only launch a missile strike if its early warning system detected missiles aimed at its territory. “The aggressor should know that retaliatory measures are inevitable,” Putin said at an international policy forum in Sochi. “When we detect an attack on Russian territory, we will respond.”
Knowing that it would be a global catastrophe, Mr. Putin stressed that Russia cannot be the one to start a nuclear war.
South Korea and the US cannot overcome disagreements on defense cost sharing.
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| Illustration photo: UPI.com |
South Korea's Foreign Ministry said that during the 8th round of talks in Seoul on October 19, South Korea and the US were unable to resolve their disagreements on sharing defense costs to maintain US forces stationed on the Korean Peninsula.
The allies ended four days of talks without resolving a number of key issues, including the exact cost Seoul will incur for maintaining the 28,500 US troops stationed in South Korea. However, the two sides decided to seek to complete the negotiations by next month in the US "in the spirit of mutual respect and understanding".
Pakistan closes two main border crossings with Afghanistan ahead of elections
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| A Pakistani soldier at the Chaman border crossing between Pakistan and Afghanistan. Photo: Reuters |
On October 19, the Pakistani Foreign Ministry said that the country temporarily closed two main border gates with Afghanistan at the request of Kabul, to ensure security for the upcoming parliamentary elections of this neighboring country. The Ministry stated: "At the request of the Afghan Government, (Pakistan) decided to close the border gates at Chaman and Torkham on October 19 and 20 (Friday and Saturday). This decision was made to support Afghanistan in smoothly conducting the upcoming parliamentary elections in this country."
No vehicles will be allowed to pass through these two border crossings except in emergency situations. Meanwhile, the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) has also postponed the repatriation of Afghan refugees.
Türkiye searches forests, beaches for body of Saudi journalist
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Turkish investigators collect samples at the Saudi Arabian consulate general in Istanbul. Photo:AFP. |
Turkish police are searching a forest outside Istanbul and a city on the Sea of Marmara in search of the body of journalist Jamal Khashoggi, who disappeared two weeks ago after visiting the Saudi consulate in Istanbul. Turkish investigators said they had recovered “numerous samples” from the Saudi consulate and the consul’s residence on October 18. Based on the results of the analysis of soil and water samples, officials will determine whether Khashoggi’s DNA is present.
Turkish authorities have widened the search for Khashoggi after examining the routes around the consulate. Police are also investigating all vehicles that left the Saudi embassy in Istanbul on October 2, the day Khashoggi was last seen.
Germany orders Opel to recall 73,000 cars due to emissions fraud
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| Photo: Getty Images |
Officials from the German Federal Transport Authority (KBA) said on October 19 that the agency had ordered the carmaker Opel to recall 73,000 diesel vehicles worldwide due to the installation of emissions cheating software. The KBA has "ordered a compulsory recall" of Opel's Insignia, Cascada and Zafira diesel models, manufactured between 2013 and 2016, which were found to meet Euro 6 emissions standards.
According to the KBA, these cars were installed by Opel with an emissions cheating device. This is software designed to make the vehicles emit lower levels of pollutants during testing than when they are actually on the road. In addition, the KBA also said that the French car company has updated the software on 23,000 of its 96,000 vehicles.
Drought warning in Thailand
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| A Thai farmer walks on a dry field in Bang Pla Ma district, Suphanburi province. Photo: AFP |
On October 19, Thailand's Office of National Water Resources (ONWR) increased warnings about the drought raging in the northeastern region of the country.
The governor of Nakhon Ratchasima province, Wichian Chantharanothai, said 32 districts in the province have been declared under a drought, and the province is suffering the brunt of the disaster. Specifically, 112,000 hectares of agricultural land, mostly rice, have been damaged by the drought, and up to 14 farming and cultivation areas need urgent assistance. Local authorities are currently considering providing cash assistance to farmers who have lost their crops.
Portugal bans the use of plastic products in state agencies
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| Illustration photo: AFP/VNA |
The Portuguese Council of Ministers has adopted a decision banning the use of plastic bottles, plates and bags by public bodies. The regulation prohibits the use of plastic bottles, plates and bags, while encouraging the use of alternative materials in line with public procurement guidelines. The regulation also sets a target of reducing the consumption of paper and recyclable materials by 25% within a year.
Along with Portugal, many countries around the world have taken strong steps to reduce the huge amount of plastic waste such as banning the use of disposable plastic bags, taxing plastic products, etc., along with propaganda campaigns to raise public awareness and investing in research on methods to treat plastic waste.
