US does not impose tariffs on EU cars; Japan arrests officials for bribery

The US does not impose tariffs on imported cars from the EU.

US President Donald Trump (right) and European Commission (EC) President Jean-Claude Juncker (left) at a meeting in Washington, DC. Photo: EFE/TTXVN

Mr. Mnuchin made the above statement after US President Donald Trump and President of the European Commission (EC) Jean-Claude Juncker achieved an important "breakthrough" in "defuse" the trade war between the two sides of the Atlantic, which broke out from President Trump's imposition of tariffs on imported aluminum and steel.

The two sides agreed to work together to increase trade in services, chemicals, pharmaceuticals, medical products and soybeans. In addition, the US President affirmed that the two sides will resolve issues related to aluminum and steel tariffs and current bilateral retaliation measures. The EC President also announced that the two sides have identified a number of areas of cooperation towards zero tariffs on industrial goods.

President Donald Trump will postpone his second formal meeting with his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin until the investigation into allegations of Moscow's interference in the US election is completed.

ReutersUS National Security Advisor John Bolton said that the bilateral meeting between the two leaders of Russia and the US will not take place until the "witch hunt" (referring to the US Justice Department's appointment of a special prosecutor to investigate the relationship between Russia and President Trump's campaign team) ends.

Last week, the White House confirmed that President Trump had invited his Russian counterpart Putin to make an official visit to Washington in the fall of 2018. The invitation caused a stir in US politics as many lawmakers from both the Democratic and Republican parties said that Mr. Putin was an opponent of the US and therefore did not deserve to be invited to the White House.

French humanitarian aid delivery to Eastern Ghouta

Relief convoy of the International Committee of the Red Cross arrives in Eastern Ghouta. Photo: AFP/TTXVN

On July 26, Syrian and United Nations (UN) aid workers began distributing humanitarian aid provided by France to the Eastern Ghouta region in Syria.

There are currently about 400,000 people in Eastern Ghouta who have to rely on humanitarian aid from the United Nations due to the five-year conflict in this area.

About 800 people broke the border fence to enter Spain.

Migrants are transferred to a naval base in Tripoli, after they were rescued by the Libyan navy in waters off the western coast of Libya. Illustration photo: THX/TTXVN

Spanish authorities said 602 people entered Spanish territory after a mass breach early on July 26. The migrants broke through the fence, hurling stones and lime powder at police at the border area.

The Spanish Red Cross said it had examined 592 people, including 132 migrants who were injured while trying to scale the barbed wire fence and 11 who were taken to hospital. In addition, 22 police officers were injured while trying to stop the group of migrants.

African migrants living illegally in Morocco regularly attempt to enter Europe by climbing the border fence separating the country from Ceuta and Melilla, the Spanish North African enclaves.

Philippine President Duterte signs Muslim autonomy law

Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte. Source: AFP/TTXVN

On July 26, Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte signed into law the Bangsamoro Basic Law (BOL) - a law on autonomy for Muslims, paving the way for minority Muslims in the south of the country to start moving towards building an autonomous government by 2022 to end the nearly half-century-long conflict in Mindanao.

Accordingly, the BOL will pave the way for the establishment of a government for the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region, replacing the current Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM).

The Bangsamoro autonomous region will have more autonomy and may have its own judicial and legislative systems. However, the regional government cannot have its own army and police force and will still be under the control of the central government.

Japanese Education Ministry official arrested for bribery

Following a similar incident earlier this month, Japan on July 26 arrested a senior official of the country's Ministry of Education on allegations of bribery. The arrest was conducted during a special investigation by the Tokyo District Prosecutors' Office.

Mr. Kazuaki Kawabata (57 years old), in charge of international affairs at the Japanese Ministry of Education, was arrested for "suggesting" Koji Taniguchi, former senior advisor of the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA), to pay 1.4 million yen in bribes (equivalent to 12,600 USD) between 2015 and 2017 in exchange for many benefits for this agency.
A day earlier, Mr. Koji Taniguchi was also arrested on bribery charges related to Tokyo Medical University.

Previously, on July 24, the Tokyo District Prosecutors' Office officially charged Mr. Futoshi Sano (59 years old), former Director of the Science and Technology Department (Ministry of Education of Japan), and two former officials of Tokyo Medical University for similar crimes.

Russia passes law extending validity of 2018 World Cup Fan ID until end of year

Fans watch the 2018 World Cup final between France and Croatia in Moscow (Russia) on July 15. Photo: THX/ TTXVN

On July 26, the Russian State Duma passed in the third (final) reading the bill on free entry into Russia for people with a fan ID certificate from now until the end of 2018.

The bill, which was drafted based on the experience of successfully organizing the 2018 World Cup, does not require additional costs from the federal budget, the document accompanying the new law states. The new law is aimed at increasing the flow of tourists to Russia.

According to the new law initiated by President Vladimir Putin, from now until December 31, 2018, the entry and exit of tourists who have come to watch the 2018 World Cup matches "will be carried out without a visa, according to the identity verification document and recognized by the Russian Federation as a fan card (Fan ID)". In addition, during this period, relatives of people with Fan ID can also be granted a free entry visa.

Greece: After the forest fire disaster comes sudden flooding

A firefighting plane participates in extinguishing a forest fire in Kineta, near Athens on July 24. Photo: AFP/TTXVN

Heavy rains caused sudden flooding in the northern part of the Greek capital Athens on July 26, just three days after wildfires claimed dozens of lives in areas surrounding the capital.

Rescue workers said they received at least 10 calls about people stuck on roads due to floodwaters after heavy rains hit the Maroussi and Ekali districts. Meanwhile, dozens of cars were stranded on major roads after heavy rains that hit early in the afternoon (local time). About 160 residents were trapped in their homes due to floodwaters. However, traffic is gradually returning to normal.

The Greek Defense Ministry said troops were deployed to clear roads and clear waterways to prevent floodwaters from ravaging areas already devastated by wildfires.

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