The world last week in photos

(Baonghean.vn). Let's review the most outstanding events of the first round with Baonghean.vn.last week

1. Europe reaches agreement to bail out Greece.

After 17 hours of negotiations, Greece reached an agreement with its creditors on the necessary reform terms to begin formal talks on its third bailout package in five years. European Council President Donald Tusk personally announced that eurozone leaders had agreed on the terms of the bailout package for Greece through the European Stability Mechanism (ESM).

Reportedly, to reach this agreement, Prime Minister Tsipras dismissed a number of cabinet members who opposed the reforms. He dismissed 10 cabinet members, including ministers and deputy ministers, who voted against the reform measures demanded by Greece's creditors.

Greek Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras (left), French President Francois Hollande, and Belgian Prime Minister Charles Michel at a meeting on the agreement to help Greece. Source: Reuters

The new bailout package for Greece is for three years and is worth up to 86 billion euros. After Greece agreed to implement austerity measures to receive the bailout, many countries in the Eurozone voted to discuss whether or not to provide aid to Greece. Of the 19 Eurozone countries, eight member states needed parliamentary approval to proceed with the agreement with Greece. One of the key members, Germany, also received parliamentary approval for the agreement with a fairly overwhelming majority: 439 votes in favor, 119 abstentions, and 40 blank votes.

German Chancellor Angela Merkel and Finance Minister Wolfgang Schaeubl at the German Parliament's vote on a new bailout plan for Greece. Just before the vote, Chancellor Merkel stated that this was the last chance to prevent "chaos" from erupting in Greece.

Besides Germany and Austria, two other countries, France and Finland, also voted in favor of the bailout agreement.

2. The Philippines is determined not to go easy on China.

A week ago, the Philippines filed a lawsuit against China regarding the South China Sea at the Permanent Court of Arbitration (PCA) of the United Nations. The Philippines requested the PCA in The Hague, Netherlands, to rule on China's claim of sovereignty over almost the entire South China Sea. Manila asserted that Beijing was trampling on the rights of other countries. However, China stated that the court lacked jurisdiction and refused to participate.

Chinese Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Hua Chunying yesterday reiterated China's opposition to the arbitration proceedings, stating that the country "will never accept unilateral attempts to rely on a third party to resolve disputes." She then called for resolving disputes through negotiation and consultation. Source: Presstv

Furthermore, Ms. Hoa Xuan Doanh criticized the Philippines for "aggravating the situation with its illegal activities" on the BRP Sierra Madre, which ran aground on Second Thomas Shoal, part of Vietnam's Spratly Islands. She called on the Philippines to remove the ship. "The Philippines' violation of its own promises to the international community demonstrates its hypocrisy and deceitfulness, and is another example of the Philippines being a real troublemaker and rule-breaker in the region."

The BRP Sierra Madre, a 100-meter-long amphibious tanker, was built for the US Navy during World War II. After acquiring it, the Philippine Navy deliberately ran aground on Second Thomas Shoal to demonstrate Manila's presence there. Source: Reuters

In response to China's calls, the Philippines has maintained its usual firm stance. The Philippines has stated it will not abandon its South China Sea case to negotiate directly with China as urged by Beijing.

"Having presented our case before the Permanent Court of Arbitration (PCA), we are certain to pursue this action to the end," the Inquirer quoted Philippine presidential press secretary Herminio Coloma as saying on July 15. "The Philippines affirms its adherence to international law and prioritizes the resolution of maritime issues in accordance with established rules." Source: Inquirer

The tribunal operating under the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea said Beijing has until August 17 to respond to the tribunal and that it will issue a ruling this year.

Following positive moves by the Philippines, four senior US senators praised the Philippines' efforts to peacefully resolve disputes in the South China Sea and urged the government to support Southeast Asian countries in confronting the threat from China. Among them was Senator John McCain. The other three were Jack Reed, Bob Corker, and Ben Cardin.

"While the United States does not take sides in any of the disputed claims, we commend Philippine President Benigno Aquino III and his government for their commitment to pursuing this legal action," Senator McCain added. "As China builds and militarizes new landmasses in the South China Sea and tends to increase coercion to achieve its goals, we appreciate Manila's continued efforts to resolve these disputes peacefully, in accordance with international law and through international arbitration mechanisms." Source: Politico

3. Iran and the P5+1 group reach nuclear agreement.

Iran and the group of six world powers reached a nuclear agreement on July 14th after more than a decade of negotiations, a move that could transform the Middle East.

The Iranian foreign minister and the P5+1 met at the United Nations center in Vienna at 8:30 GMT. Following the meeting, a press conference was held. Iranian President Hassan Rouhani stated that the nuclear agreement would "open new horizons" for the country.

Iranian and P5+1 representatives hold talks in Vienna. Source: Reuters

Under the agreement, sanctions imposed by the US, EU, and UN would be lifted. In return, Iran had to agree to long-term restrictions on its nuclear program, which the West suspected was aimed at building a nuclear bomb.

Foreign ministers at a press conference following the discussion. Source: Reuters

Some sanctions could be reimposed within 65 days if Iran violates them. The UN arms embargo remains in effect for five years, and the ban on purchasing missile technology is in force for eight years.

Reaching the agreement is a major policy victory for both U.S. President Barack Obama and his Iranian counterpart Hassan Rouhani. Both leaders face intense skepticism at home after decades of animosity, calling each other "the Great Satan" and a member of the "axis of evil."

In a speech, President Obama thanked his Russian counterpart, President Putin, for his support of the nuclear agreement with Iran. During a phone call, Obama and Putin also agreed to maintain close contact as the new agreement is implemented and to work together to reduce tensions in the Middle East, particularly in Syria. Source: Reuters

4. World's most dangerous drug lord escapes prison.

Joaquin "El Chapo" Guzman, the world's most dangerous drug lord, escaped from a high-security Mexican prison on Monday through a sophisticated tunnel system.

The prison where he was held was Altiplano, about 80 km from Mexico City. Guzman was last seen in the shower area of ​​his cell late on July 11 before disappearing.

After discovering Guzman's cell was empty, prison guards checked and found a 10-meter-deep pit with a ladder leading down in the shower area. Guzman crawled down this pit to reach a tunnel approximately 1.7 meters high, 80 centimeters wide, and 1.5 kilometers long, equipped with lighting and ventilation systems.

The latest image of "the dwarf" Guzman before his escape from Altiplano prison. Source: Mexico's Attorney General Office.

Inside the tunnel, authorities found a motorcycle designed to travel on rails. The vehicle was used to transport tools and soil. The tunnel led to an unfinished building outside the prison.

Investigators are observing the entrance to a tunnel, believed to be where Guzman escaped. Source: Reuters

A ladder descends into a deep pit leading to the Guzma escape tunnel. Source: CNN

In the tunnel connecting the prison to the unfinished house, there is a modified motor believed to be used to transport earth and rocks during the tunneling process. Source: CNN

The house is connected to Guzman's tunnel, which he used to escape. According to a farmer living near the house at the end of the tunnel, the construction crew started building the house last December, then took a break for several months. The house's facade was completed around February or March, however, workers continued transporting earth and rocks around the area for months, only leaving on July 10th. Source: Reuters

After escaping from Mexico's most secure prison, "the dwarf" Guzman was seen enjoying beer and relaxing in the cockpit of an airplane in photos possibly leaked by his son. Guzman remained on the run for 13 years after his 2001 escape. He was recaptured and imprisoned again in 2014.

NHAT MINH