North Korea won't give up nuclear weapons; Trump's parents-in-law granted US citizenship
(Baonghean.vn) - The world in the past 24 hours has seen many events such as: The US doubled tariffs on Turkish aluminum and steel; North Korea affirmed that it would not give up nuclear technology; Former Malaysian Prime Minister will be tried early next year; President Trump's parents-in-law were officially granted US citizenship...
US doubles tariffs on Turkish steel and aluminum
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The US President decided to impose a 20% tax on aluminum and a 50% tax on steel imported from Türkiye. Photo: KT |
US President Donald Trump said he has ordered higher tariffs on imports from Türkiye, imposing a 20% tariff on aluminum and a 50% tariff on steel imports.
The move marks a new escalation in tensions between the two NATO allies, which have been exacerbated by the detention of an American priest and other diplomatic disputes. In his statement, the US President also affirmed that relations between the two sides are not good at this time.
The US President's announcement came less than an hour after Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan urged his people to defend the country against economic attacks.
Russian President meets with Security Council on new US sanctions
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| President Vladimir Putin. Photo: AFP/VNA |
On August 10, TASS news agency quoted Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov as saying that President Vladimir Putin discussed with members of the Russian Security Council about new US sanctions against Russia.
According to Mr. Peskov, during the above meeting, both President Putin and members of the Security Council criticized the latest US sanctions as "completely illegal" and contrary to international law.
Previously, on August 8, the US State Department announced new sanctions against Russia, after Washington accused Moscow of being behind the poisoning of former spy Sergei Skripal and his daughter Yulia in the British city of Salisbury in March. The new US sanctions are expected to take effect from August 22.
North Korea insists it will not give up nuclear technology
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North Korean Foreign Minister Ri Yong-ho. Photo: Japan Times |
North Korean Foreign Minister Ri Yong-ho said that North Korea supports denuclearization, but still does not give up maintaining nuclear technology.
The statement by North Korean Foreign Minister Ri Yong-ho was made during a meeting with Iranian Parliament Speaker Ali Ardeshir Larijani in Tehran. This is the first statement from North Korea stating that it still maintains nuclear technology since the US-North Korea nuclear talks took place in Singapore in June 2018.
Mr. Ri Yong-ho said that North Korea's main goal is to carry out the denuclearization process on the Korean Peninsula, but the US itself needs to ensure its promise. Mr. Ri also emphasized that North Korea will always be vigilant against the US.
Former Malaysian Prime Minister to be tried early next year
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| Former Malaysian Prime Minister Najib Razak (3rd right) arrives at the Anti-Corruption Commission office in Putrajaya on May 22. Source: AFP/VNA |
A Malaysian court on August 10 ruled that former Prime Minister Najib Razak must appear in court on February 12 next year on charges related to the multi-billion dollar loss scandal at the 1Malaysia Development Berhad (1MDB) state investment fund.
Judge Mohamad Nazlan Mohamad Ghazali said during a pre-trial hearing on August 10 that the trial would begin on February 12, 2019, and last until March 29, 2019. If convicted, Najib faces years in prison. Najib and his wife have been banned from leaving Malaysia.
Indonesia begins planning for post-earthquake reconstruction phase
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The scene of an earthquake in Indonesia. Photo: ABC |
Indonesian President Joko Widodo said on August 10 that after the emergency period is over, the government will plan for reconstruction, construction and repair of housing and service infrastructure for the area affected by the recent 6.9-magnitude earthquake.
However, the President also expressed concern that aftershocks from the earthquake could affect reconstruction efforts. A series of new aftershocks also caused panic among residents in the area. Approximately 75% of houses were damaged in northern Lombok.
Relief operations are underway. Mobile kitchens, food, medicine and drinking water are beginning to be distributed to thousands of evacuees in the area badly affected by the earthquake.
Taliban launch major offensive in eastern Afghanistan
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| The scene of destruction after a car bomb attack on the Rapid Response Police Force Complex in Pul-i-Alam, the capital of Logar province, Afghanistan. Photo: AFP/ VNA |
Ghazni police chief Farid Ahmad Mashal said Taliban gunmen launched an attack from multiple directions around Ghazni, the capital of the eastern Afghan province of the same name, on the night of August 9. Special police forces were deployed to the city to block the Taliban advance. According to the source, as of noon on August 10, fighting between Taliban gunmen and Afghan security forces continued.
In a statement, the Taliban said they had captured most of the government buildings inside the city, and many people had been killed.
President Trump's parents-in-law officially granted US citizenship
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President Donald Trump's parents-in-law. Photo: CNN. |
President Donald Trump's parents-in-law Viktor and Amalija Knavs were officially granted citizenship on August 9. Viktor, 73, and Amalija Knavs, 71, from Slovenia, had previously been granted green cards and lived in the United States. They have been a regular fixture in Washington, DC, since their son-in-law took office.
CNN, citing a source familiar with the matter, reported that Melania had sponsored her parents for green cards, which would allow them to live and work in the United States indefinitely and pave the way for citizenship. This is one of the mechanisms that the Trump administration is trying to eliminate because it believes it is harmful to the United States.
New Zealand bans single-use plastic bags from 2019
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New Zealand bans single-use plastic bags from 2019.(Illustration: KT) |
New Zealand follows France and several other countries in deciding to ban single-use plastic bags starting in 2019.
In a speech given on September 10, New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern said that using disposable plastic bags is a small act but causes serious damage to the aquatic environment.
According to statistics from the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD), New Zealand is one of the countries with the most urban waste per capita in the world, in which the average New Zealander uses 154 single-use plastic bags in 1 year. This situation has led to the fact that in New Zealand, single-use plastic bags are 1 of the 5 most common types of waste found on beaches.
