Trump's wife and children are on the list of world beauties; Russia negotiates inter-Korean gas pipeline project
(Baonghean.vn) - The world over the past 24 hours has been filled with outstanding news such as: The US announced that it might withdraw from the United Nations Human Rights Council; Russia resumed negotiations on the inter-Korean gas pipeline project; China announced a list of 545 products from the US subject to additional tariffs; Italy continued to refuse to accept foreign rescue ships...
Russia resumes negotiations on inter-Korean gas pipeline project
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Korean delegation visits Gazprom facilities in December 2017. Photo: Gazprom |
According to Vitaly Markelov, Vice Chairman of the Executive Committee of the Russian energy corporation Gazprom, Gazprom has resumed negotiations with the South Korean side on the project to build a gas pipeline system through North Korean territory.
Mr. Markelov said that Gazprom started negotiations with South Korean partners in 2011 on a project to build a gas pipeline system supplying the South Korean market through North Korean territory.
But the talks were later halted as relations between North and South Korea became strained.
Since March, when the political situation has fundamentally changed in a positive direction, the Korean side has asked Gazprom to resume this project.
US signals it may withdraw from UN Human Rights Council
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| US Ambassador to the UN, Nikki Haley, has repeatedly clashed with the UN Human Rights Council over its handling of the Israel issue. Photo: Reuters |
A source told Reuters that the move could happen "immediately." That is, the US could announce the decision when the Human Rights Council begins its three-week session in Geneva next Monday (June 18).
Other diplomatic sources told Reuters that the US withdrawal from the UN Human Rights Council "is no longer a matter of if, but only when".
The US rejoined the UN Human Rights Council under former President Barack Obama after a three-year boycott under former President George W. Bush.
China announces list of 545 US products subject to additional tariffs
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| Cargo containers at Nansha port, Guangdong province, China. Source: EPA/TTXVN |
China has released a list of products imported from the United States that will be subject to additional tariffs, Xinhua news agency reported, in response to a similar decision by the United States earlier.
Approved by the State Council (Government), China's Customs Tariff Commission has decided to impose an additional 25% tariff on 659 US products worth $50 billion.
According to the Commission's statement, additional tariffs on 545 items worth about $34 billion, including agricultural products and cars, will take effect from July 6. Meanwhile, the time to apply additional tariffs on the remaining items will be announced later.
Italy continues to refuse to accept foreign rescue ships
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| The SOS Mediterrane humanitarian organization ship carrying migrants was rescued in the Mediterranean on June 12. Source: EFE-EPA/ VNA |
After refusing to open the port to the French ship Aquarius carrying rescued illegal migrants, on June 16, Italian Interior Minister Matteo Salvini continued to show a tough stance when he warned that he would not grant permission for other migrant rescue ships currently off the coast of Libya to dock in Italian ports.
On his Facebook account, Minister Salvini said that while the Aquarius was on its way to Spain, two Dutch non-profit organizations operating two ships, Lifeline and Seefuchs, were in the waters off Libya waiting to rescue migrants once their traffickers abandoned them.
He declared that Italy would not accept these illegal immigrants and these rescue ships would have to look for other ports.
Explosion at a gathering of Afghan security forces and Taliban
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| Scene of an attack in Afghanistan. Source: THX/TTXVN |
An explosion occurred at a gathering of Afghan security forces and the Taliban to mark the end of Ramadan in the eastern Afghan city of Nangarhar, officials said on June 16.
The blast killed at least 10 Taliban members and civilians, according to an Afghan official.
On June 16, dozens of unarmed Taliban gunmen entered cities to celebrate an unprecedented ceasefire.
President Trump's wife and daughter on the list of world beauties
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President Donald Trump (left) with First Lady Melania Trump (center) and Ivanka Trump. Photo:Reuters |
The First Lady of the United States and President Trump's daughter was named in Maxim magazine's list of the 100 most beautiful women in the world in 2018.
According to the magazineMaximThe reasons for choosing Melania Trump and Ivanka Trump in the list of 100 most beautiful women in the world in 2018 go beyond the criteria of physical beauty.
"They're not just pretty faces. These inspiring women are multi-talented celebrities, entrepreneurs, and risk-takers. Now more than ever, we need to celebrate smart, strong women who are breaking boundaries and looking beautiful while doing it," the magazine's editorial team wrote.
Japan restarts another nuclear reactor in the southwest region
Nuclear reactor No. 4 at the Genkai plant, Saga prefecture, Japan on June 16. Kyodo/TTXVN |
On June 16, nuclear reactor No. 4 at the Genkai plant in Saga prefecture, southwestern Japan, resumed operations for the first time in more than six years.
This is the fourth reactor of Kyushu Electric Power Company and the ninth in Japan to resume operations under stricter safety regulations following the 2011 Fukushima nuclear crisis. The No. 4 reactor at the Genkai plant is scheduled to start supplying electricity on June 20 and begin commercial operations in mid-July.
About 100 local residents gathered in front of the Genkai plant to protest the move. In response to the protests, Saga Governor Yoshinori Yamaguchi pledged to seriously address the issue, while Kyushu Electric Power Company President Michiaki Uriu said safety would remain the top priority when operating the reactor.