US may have pre-planned attack targets in Syria; EU provides $41 million in aid to Venezuela

Russia affirms that it cannot yet conduct "Normandie Group negotiations" on Ukraine

Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov speaks at a press conference in Moscow on June 21. Photo: AFP/TTXVN

Interfax news agency quoted Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov on September 1 as saying that negotiations on the Ukraine issue between the leaders of Russia, Ukraine, France and Germany, known as the "Normandie Group negotiations", could not take place after the leader of the independence forces in eastern Ukraine was murdered.

Speaking to reporters, Mr. Lavrov stated: "We cannot yet mention the upcoming meetings of the Normandy group, as many of our European partners want. This is a serious situation that needs to be analyzed," referring to the leader of the independence movement in Eastern Ukraine, head of the self-proclaimed Donetsk Republic Alexander Zakharchenko, who was killed in an explosion on August 31.

The US may have planned attacks in Syria

US fighter jets launch heat traps during an exercise. Photo: USAF

US military experts are said to have drawn up a list of attack targets in Syria, just waiting for President Trump to order an airstrike.

A decision on airstrikes has not been made, but a US administration official familiar with the matter said the military "could react very quickly" if Syria launched a chemical weapons attack and that pre-planned targeting data would give the Pentagon an advantage if President Donald Trump ordered action.CNNreport

US officials have stressed that they are concerned about the possibility that the Syrian President's government will use chemical weapons in the process of liberating Idlib province from rebels. However, Russia and Syria have both denied allegations of plans to use chemical weapons.

Iran plans to boost defense capabilities

On September 1, Iran's IRNA news agency quoted a senior Iranian Defense Ministry official as saying that this is Iran's defense program that cannot be negotiated at the request of the US and European countries.

Iran says its missile development plans are not linked to the nuclear deal it reached with world powers in 2015. Unable to import many weapons due to international sanctions and an arms embargo, Iran has developed a domestic arms industry to manufacture its own military equipment.

Disapproval rate for US President Donald Trump reaches 60%

US President Donald Trump. Photo: AFP/TTXVN

According to the latest poll conducted by the Washington Post and ABC News, the disapproval rate for US President Donald Trump has reached 60%.

The poll also found that a majority of Americans support the Special Counsel's investigation into possible collusion between the Trump campaign and Russia and believe President Trump should not fire Attorney General Jeff Sessions.

Nearly half of Americans (49%) believe Congress should begin impeachment proceedings to remove Trump from office, while 46% disagree. Overall, 60% of Americans disapprove of Trump’s job performance, while only 36% approve.

EU provides $41 million in aid to help Venezuela resolve crisis

On August 31, the European Union (EU) announced an aid package of 35 million euros (about 41 million USD) to help the Venezuelan government minimize the negative impacts of the domestic economic crisis, which has caused one of the largest waves of people leaving the country in the history of the Latin American region.

Speaking after a meeting of EU foreign ministers in Vienna, Austria, EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Federica Mogherini said the EU has approved a 35 million euro humanitarian aid package to support Venezuelans in the country as well as in neighboring countries and communities hosting Venezuelans.

According to Ms. Mogherini, this aid money will be used mainly for programs providing nutrition, water, health and support for the most vulnerable people in Venezuela.

US accuses China of launching dangerous espionage campaign on social networks

LinkedIn is a social network aimed at recruiters and businesses. (Photo: Reuters).

William Evanina, the top US counterintelligence director, said Chinese companies are using fake accounts on the social network LinkedIn to attract Americans with access to confidential commercial and government information.

William Evanina told Reuters in an interview that intelligence officials and policymakers have told LinkedIn about China’s behavior on the social networking site. He said the Chinese campaign used fake accounts to contact thousands of LinkedIn members at a time, but declined to say how many fake accounts U.S. intelligence has found or how successful the campaign has been.

Boko Haram rebels kill at least 30 Nigerian soldiers

Nigerian soldiers investigate at the scene of an attack by Boko Haram militants on a village in Borno state. Photo: AFP/TTXVN

At least 30 Nigerian soldiers were killed in fighting with Boko Haram Islamist militants after gunmen attacked a military base in the northeastern region of the country, near the border with Niger, two military sources said on September 1.

On August 30, rebels driving trucks attacked a military base in Zari village, northern Borno state, and briefly occupied it after a fierce battle that left 30 soldiers dead, the two sources said.

Malaysian police search for more witnesses in the murder of North Korean citizen

Police escort Doan Thi Huong (center) at the Shah Alam High Court, on the outskirts of Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia on August 16. Photo: AFP/TTXVN

Police in the state of Selangor, Malaysia, have just announced that they are calling on two Indonesian women to testify at the trial related to the murder of a North Korean citizen with a passport named Kim Chol.

Selangor Criminal Investigation Department chief Fadzil Ahmat said the two women were identified as Raisa Rinda Salma, 24, passport number B2421541, and Dessy Meyrisinta, 33, passport number B0464727. They were last seen at the Flamingo Hotel in Kuala Lumpur. Fadzil urged anyone with information about the two women to quickly report them to the police.

Citizen Kim Chol was murdered at Kuala Lumpur International Airport on February 13, 2017. Immediately after the murder, Malaysian police arrested several suspects, including Indonesian Siti Aisyah and Vietnamese citizen Doan Thi Huong.

Netherlands cancels Prophet Mohammed cartoon contest over fears of violence

MP Geert Wilders. Source: Reuters

Dutch MP Geert Wilders has announced the cancellation of a cartoon contest featuring the Prophet Mohammed, which was scheduled to take place in November, due to concerns about the risk of violence. According to Mr. Geert Wilders, the cartoon contest was canceled to avoid any risk of Islamic violence.

Mr. Geert Wilders - a far-right ideologue, caused a lot of controversy when he announced the initiative to organize the above-mentioned drawing competition last June. Immediately, the Muslim community around the world, especially in Pakistan, reacted strongly with many protests breaking out.

Right Army