France - Russia optimistic about Ukraine situation; US first tests medium-range cruise missile

France sets maximum security for G7 Summit

More than 10,000 police and gendarmes, many military units and judicial staff... were officially mobilized by the French government from August 20, to ensure maximum security for the G7 Summit, gathering the world's seven leading developed economies, which will open this weekend in the city of Biarritz in southwestern France.

In total, more than 90 mobile gendarmerie units with a strength of about 6,000 are deployed in Biarritz and surrounding areas, along with riot police, special police, local police, firefighters and medical staff. In addition to protecting the safety of high-level delegations attending the Summit, French authorities are particularly concerned about the risk of violence from anti-G7, anti-capitalist and anti-globalization protests.

US tests banned missile for first time after withdrawing from nuclear control agreement

A ground-launched cruise missile test on San Nicolas Island, off the coast of California on August 18. Photo: AFP/US Department of Defense

The US Department of Defense said it had tested a conventional ground-launched cruise missile with a range of more than 500km, the first such test since the US withdrew from the Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces (INF) Treaty earlier this month.

The Pentagon said the test took place last weekend on San Nicolas Island in California, a state on the west coast of the US. The missile is designed to carry a conventional warhead, not a nuclear warhead. In the test, the missile hit its target after flying more than 500km. A Pentagon spokesman told the news agencyReutersthat in the above launch, the US military used an MK41 launcher. However, the system tested is not the same as the Aegis Ashore missile defense system operating in Romania.

France and Russia optimistic but still cautious about the situation in Ukraine

French President Emmanuel Macron and Russian President Vladimir Putin. Photo: Reuters

On the evening of August 19 (local time), after the reception and talks at the Bregancon fortress in southern France, French President Emmanuel Macron and Russian President Vladimir Putin held a joint press conference to announce the results of the meeting. Referring to the situation in Ukraine, French President Emmanuel Macron said that after the new government in Ukraine was elected, there is a real change in the relationship between Ukraine and Russia, and emphasized that despite the recent turmoil in the relationship between Russia and Europe, France still considers Russia an indispensable factor in Europe and Europe needs to recreate a security structure based on trust and with Russia's participation.

Responding to Mr. Macron's statements, Russian President Vladimir Putin also said that the four-party mechanism is the most feasible solution for the Ukraine dossier and Russia will of course support meetings in the future. However, Mr. Putin said that it is necessary to maintain a cautious optimism because there are still many complicated problems between the parties.

Iran advises North Korea not to trust the US

Iranian Deputy Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi. Photo:RFERL

"By withdrawing from the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) and by what happened in the negotiations with North Korea, the United States has shown itself to be an unreliable dialogue partner," Iranian Deputy Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi said during a meeting with a delegation of senior North Korean officials who are visiting Tehran to strengthen cooperation between the two countries. This is not the first time Iran has warned North Korea not to trust the United States. President Hassan Rouhani told North Korean Foreign Minister Ri Yong-ho in August last year that the United States is "untrustworthy."

Araqchi added that the US tool against independent countries like Iran and North Korea is economic sanctions, but they cannot break the determination of both countries. Iran's deputy foreign minister said Tehran is ready to develop political ties with North Korea, adding that Tehran is ready to prepare for Foreign Minister Javad Zarif's visit to Pyongyang.

Prince Harry and his wife criticized for using private jets

Harry and Meghan visited Australia in 2018. Photo:Hello magazine

Prince Harry and Duchess Meghan, who have been vocal about environmental protection, were photographed last week boarding a private jet with their three-month-old son, Archie, to Nice, southern France. Two days earlier, the couple were also said to have flown back to the UK from a holiday in Ibiza, a Spanish island in the Mediterranean.

Environmentalists have accused Harry and Meghan of acting contrary to their stated stance on climate change, as aviation is one of the world's biggest polluters, producing more than 2% of global emissions. Private jets are even more damaging to the environment than commercial flights.

South Korea willcriminal prosecution of two "big guys"Volkswagen and Porsche

Volkswagen headquarters in Wolfsburg, Germany. Photo: AFP/TTXVN

The South Korean Ministry of Environment announced on August 20 that the government will impose fines and initiate criminal proceedings against Volkswagen and Porsche on charges that the two German car giants installed "illegal devices" that could help diesel vehicles "cheat" on actual emissions.

According to the Korean Ministry of Environment, between May 2015 and January 2018, more than 10,000 Volkswagen and Porsche cars sold in the Korean market had software that hid emissions data, reducing it by about 10 times compared to the actual number. For this reason, the inspection licenses for eight models, including the Audi A6, Volkswagen Touareg and Porsche Cayenne, will be revoked and the aforementioned car manufacturers will face fines of up to 11.5 billion won (9.5 million USD).