Putin proposes solution to end conflict in eastern Ukraine; Bloody attack in Afghanistan

President Putin proposes solution to end conflict in Eastern Ukraine

Russian President Vladimir Putin. Photo: AFP

Russian President Vladimir Putin has said that Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky should hold direct dialogue with the armed forces in the Donbas region of eastern Ukraine and stop calling them "separatists." Putin made the comments in an interview with the Italian newspaper Corriere Della Sera when answering a question about solutions to end the conflict in Donbas as well as the possibility of constructive dialogue with Ukraine after Zelensky was elected president.

"This is possible if Zelensky fulfills his election promises, including holding direct dialogue with the people of Donbas and stopping calling them separatists," Putin told Corriere Della Sera, adding that the conflict could be resolved if "the Ukrainian government respects the Minsk Agreements instead of ignoring them." According to Putin, "the Ukrainian people don't want any more statements from Zelensky and his team. What they want is real actions and rapid change for the better."

Bloody attack leaves more than 40 dead and injured in Afghanistan

Afghan security personnel at the scene of a Taliban attack. Photo: AP

At least four civilians were killed and 36 others wounded in a mortar attack on July 5 in Afghanistan. The attack targeted residential areas and a market in the town of Khawja Sabzposh, in the northern province of Faryab. The attacks came as the government and the Taliban are expected to return to the negotiating table on July 7 to reach a political settlement.

According to local police, the attack occurred after Taliban militants exchanged fire with security forces deployed in the area. The fighting between the two sides is still ongoing and security forces have been trying to clear the militants to restore order. Taliban militants operating in Khawja Sabzposh district and adjacent areas have not yet commented on the attack.

Iran threatens to seize British vehicles after oil tanker seizure

A British patrol boat (back) monitors the Iranian oil tanker MT Grace 1 in the waters of Gibraltar on July 4. Photo:Reuters

"If Britain does not release the Iranian oil tanker, the Tehran government is obliged to seize a British oil tanker," Major General Mohsen Rezai, a senior commander of Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, wrote on Twitter on July 5, referring to the incident in which the Gibraltar Coast Guard, a British overseas territory, seized the Iranian oil tanker MT Grace 1 on the morning of July 4 with the support of British marines.

The Gibraltar government accused the Grace 1 of transporting crude oil to the Banyas refinery in Syria, which is subject to EU sanctions. However, Iran considered this an illegal act and insisted that its ship was carrying crude oil to the Iraqi port of Basra, and summoned the British ambassador to protest.

Japan considers removing South Korea from list of trusted countries

Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe and South Korean President Moon Jae-In at the G20 Summit in Osaka. Photo: Getty Images

The Japanese government is considering removing South Korea from its list of countries that have built trust and security, also known as White Countries. The information was published in the Japanese newspaper Nikkei on July 5, 1 day after Tokyo implemented the decision to tighten exports to South Korea of ​​3 high-tech products.

Currently, the White Countries list has 27 countries such as the US, UK, France... Japan has included Korea in the White Countries list since 2004. For countries on the list, Japan allows businesses exporting goods outside the regulated list without having to check and grant separate licenses for each contract, but only need a general license. If the decision is made, Korea will become the first country to be removed from the list by Japan.

Former Prime Minister Najib Razak. Photo: thestar

The Star newspaper on July 5 reported that on June 25, through the Inland Revenue Board (IRB), the Malaysian government filed a lawsuit against former Prime Minister Najib Razak as the sole defendant at the Kuala Lumpur High Court. The IRB sent a tax notice to the former prime minister's private residence in March, but received no response.

According to the tax notice, Mr. Najib had to pay a total of 1.47 billion ringgit in income tax for the years from 2011 to 2017, of which the highest amount was in 2013 (more than 891 million ringgit). However, because he did not pay this amount within 30 days, former Prime Minister Najib was fined an additional 10% of the total amount based on the Income Tax Act 1967. Within 60 days after the tax notice, Mr. Najib still did not pay as required, resulting in him being subject to an additional penalty of 5%, bringing the total amount he had to pay to nearly 1.7 billion ringgit.

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