North Korea criticizes US for being “two-faced”; Malaysia considers canceling cash subsidies for citizens
(Baonghean.vn) - The world over the past 24 hours has been filled with many outstanding news such as: Turkey pledges to bring peace to Syria and Iraq; North Korea criticizes the US's 'two-faced' policy; Malaysia considers canceling its cash aid program for its people; Iran and Syria cooperate in defense despite US objections...
Iran and Syria to cooperate on defense despite US objections
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Iranian Defense Minister Amir Hatami (second from right). (Photo: Tasnim) |
Iran's Tasnim news agency reported that Iranian Defense Minister Amir Hatami arrived in Damascus on August 26 to meet with Syrian defense and security officials to discuss defense and security cooperation between the two countries. The news agency quoted Hatami as saying before the visit that he hoped Iran would play a role in Syria's reconstruction plan.
The visit comes as National Security Adviser John Bolton last week called on Iran to withdraw its military forces from Syria. The US has repeatedly accused Iran of sending military forces into Syria to support the government of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad. However, Iranian officials have said that Iranian military forces are in Syria at the invitation of the government and that they will not leave Syria immediately as requested by the US.
US launches program to honor John McCain's contributions to Vietnam
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Senator John McCain during the 2008 election campaign. Photo:Reuters. |
To honor the contributions of Senator John McCain and his former colleague John Kerry to issues of US-Vietnam relations, the US diplomatic mission in Vietnam will launch the McCain/Kerry Program, the US Embassy and Consulate General in Vietnam said in a statement today.
Under the McCain/Kerry Program, each year a young Vietnamese leader with a commitment to public service will travel to the United States on a study tour, deepening the relationship between the two peoples and promoting Senator McCain's positive legacy.
Over the decades, Senator McCain has been a strong supporter of the Vietnam-US relationship, courageously pushing for efforts to transform the two countries from enemies to partners as well as normalizing diplomatic relations in 1995. He passed away at his home in Arizona at 4:28 p.m. on August 25 (6:28 a.m. August 26 Vietnam time), at the age of 81.
Türkiye pledges to bring peace to Syria and Iraq
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| Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan. Photo: THX/TTXVN |
According to Reuters, Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan on August 26 pledged to bring peace and security to Iraq and areas in Syria not under Turkish control. He also declared that terrorist organizations in the region would be eliminated.
Speaking in Mus province in southeastern Türkiye, President Erdogan also said that the attacks against Türkiye were similar to previous attempts to invade Anatolia, warning that such events would lead to the collapse of surrounding regions.
North Korea criticizes US 'two-faced' policy
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| US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo (left) meets with North Korean leader Kim Jong-un in Pyongyang on May 9, 2018. Photo: YONHAP/TTXVN |
The Rodong Sinmun, the mouthpiece of the Workers' Party of Korea, published an article on August 26 accusing the US of being "two-faced" and plotting to sabotage Pyongyang after Washington abruptly canceled a visit by US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo scheduled for next week.
The article criticized the US actions as evidence that the country is plotting to start a war against North Korea. In addition, the article cited a South Korean media outlet as saying that a US special forces unit stationed in Japan is conducting an air exercise aimed at "invading Pyongyang". The article stressed that North Korea cannot tolerate the US's "two-facedness" as Washington is busy with secret military exercises while conducting dialogue with a friendly attitude.
UN calls on Europe to take in migrants on Diciotti ship
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Migrants on the ship Diciotti at the port of Sicily, Italy on June 13. Source: AFP/TTXVN |
On August 25, the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) called on European Union (EU) member states to urgently accommodate 150 migrants currently being held on board the Italian coast guard ship Diciotti in Sicily. Accordingly, UNHCR urged EU member states to urgently provide accommodation for migrants rescued by the Italian coast guard but currently being held on board the Diciotti.
The UNHCR's call came as Italian Deputy Prime Minister Luigi Di Maio on August 23 issued an "ultimatum" to the EU to find a solution to distribute the migrants on the Diciotti ship by August 24, otherwise Italy will suspend its financial contributions to the EU next year. A spokesperson for the European Commission (EC) on August 24 rejected Italy's "ultimatum" and said that Europe is still "working actively to resolve the problem."
Shinzo Abe runs for LDP president
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| Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe speaks at a press conference in Tokyo on July 17. Photo: Kyodo/VNA |
Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe announced on August 26 that he will run for the presidency of the Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) in September, determined to continue leading the country as the head of the LDP and the government. As such, the race for the LDP presidency will now be a two-horse race between Mr. Abe and former Japanese Defense Minister Shigeru Ishiba.
The official campaign is scheduled to begin on September 7, ahead of the LDP presidential election on September 20. This will be a crucial election that will determine who will become Japan's next prime minister. In this election, candidates will have to win a majority of the 405 votes cast by lawmakers and an equal number of votes cast by ordinary LDP members. If no candidate wins a majority in the first round, a runoff will be held in the Japanese Diet, in which the votes of lawmakers will carry more weight.
Malaysia considers canceling cash handout program for people
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Malaysians shop at a supermarket in Kuala Lumpur on the first day of the Goods and Services Tax (GST). Source: AFP/VNA |
Bernama news agency quoted Malaysian Economic Minister Mohamed Azmin Ali on August 26 as saying that it is necessary to end the cash subsidy program for people (BR1M).
Speaking to reporters, Minister Azmin said that BR1M had elements of corruption as the previous government used the program to gain support from the people. According to Mr. Azmin, the Pakatan Harapan (PH) government is drafting a new initiative that focuses on people’s welfare and allows people to have more economic power to reduce their living costs. This initiative will be presented to the Malaysian Parliament in the near future.
South and North Korea agree to hold more family reunions this year
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Cho Sang-yong (2nd, right), 80, living in South Korea, meets his brother Cho Deok-yong (2nd, left, 88, living in North Korea) at a family reunion at Mount Kumgang on August 24. Photo: YONHAP/VNA |
The Red Cross chiefs of the two Koreas have agreed to hold another reunion of families separated by the Korean War this year, possibly in late October.
A VNA reporter in Seoul quoted Mr. Park Kyung-seo, Chairman of the Korean Red Cross, on August 25 as saying that he reached an agreement with his North Korean counterpart Park Yong-il during a conversation on the sidelines of the recent reunion of separated families at the Mount Kumgang resort in North Korea.
Park Kyung-seo said he discussed with Park Yong-il about holding another reunion this year in the same format as the 21st reunion. The two sides decided to discuss the date and other details during working-level meetings.
World Bank to provide $1 billion in aid to Ethiopia
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| Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed. Photo: AFP/VNA |
Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed said on August 25 that the World Bank (WB) will provide $1 billion in support to Ethiopia in the next few months, after the WB and other aid providers stopped supporting the budget for the country since the 2005 election.
Abiy Ahmed said the World Bank's decision was due to the reforms Ethiopia is implementing. According to Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed, the World Bank's plan to provide $1 billion to support Addis Ababa is a sign that Africa's second most populous country has regained the trust of the World Bank after years of instability. Prime Minister Abiy took office in April 2018 and surprised with a series of economic and political reforms, including restoring diplomatic relations with neighboring Eritrea after nearly two decades and pledging to set up state-owned companies to expand investment abroad. However, recent ethnic unrest has posed major challenges for Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed.