Trump may ease Iran sanctions; Indian and Chinese soldiers face off at border
(Baonghean.vn) - Trump may ease the embargo on Iran; Indian and Chinese soldiers confront each other at the border; Israel launches airstrikes on Hamas bases in the Gaza Strip... are the world's top news in the past 24 hours.
Trump may ease sanctions on Iran
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| US President Donald Trump answers the media in the Oval Office, White House on September 11. Photo:Reuters. |
"We'll see what happens," President Donald Trump shrugged when asked at a White House press conference on September 11 whether the United States would ease sanctions to move closer to a negotiation with Iran. During the press conference, Trump said he believed Iran's economy was in great trouble and its leaders wanted to negotiate with the United States. "I believe they want to make a deal. If they do, great and if they don't, great. But they're in great financial trouble and the sanctions are getting tougher and tougher," Trump said.
This is considered the first time Trump has publicly hinted at the possibility of easing his “maximum pressure” campaign against Iran. This policy was strongly opposed by US national security adviser John Bolton, but he was fired by Trump on September 10.
Israel airstrikes on Hamas base in Gaza Strip
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Tensions have escalated in Gaza in recent days. Photo: Reuters. |
Middle Eastern media reported that Israeli warplanes launched two attacks on Hamas bases in the town of Beit Lahiya in the northern Gaza Strip on the night of September 11 (local time). Palestinian sources said that an Israeli reconnaissance plane fired two missiles at a location in the town of Beit Lahia. Earlier, the Israeli army launched a raid with F16 aircraft on the location and destroyed many infrastructure facilities.
The Israeli military confirmed the attack. Israel said it would continue to respond to rocket fire from the Gaza Strip that harmed Israeli citizens. The Israeli military said the recent attacks were in response to three rockets fired from Gaza into Israeli territory on the morning of September 10.
German Chancellor: It's time for Europe to defend itself
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| German Chancellor Angela Merkel. |
The United States may no longer be Europe’s “default protector” because it needs to do more to ensure its own security, so Europe should not rely too much on the military might of the United States, German Chancellor Angela Merkel said at the German Bundestag’s discussion of the 2020 federal budget.
According to Ms. Merkel, the United States is a superpower both militarily and economically, and Europe is quite dependent on this superpower, despite some differences in views. However, in some cases, the United States will not be able to protect Europe as a natural obligation, for example during the Cold War. Therefore, she emphasized, Europe needs to make efforts to ensure its own security.
Indian and Chinese soldiers face off at the border
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Chinese and Indian soldiers in the border area. Photo:CCTV |
Sputnik reported on September 12 that Chinese and Indian troops had a face-off on the northern bank of Pangong Tso Lake in the Ladakh region, but the two sides later left after talks. “There was a face-off between the two armies, but it ended after delegation-level talks,” the Indian Army said in a statement. The statement added that such incidents occur due to different views on the Line of Actual Control (LAC), which demarcates the border between the territories controlled by the two sides.
Tensions in India-China relations have their roots in territorial disputes in border areas, notably Aksai Chin and Arunachal Pradesh.
UK government admits it is not fully prepared for a no-deal Brexit scenario
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The British flag (below) and the EU flag (above) in London, UK. Photo: AFP/VNA |
Preparations in the UK for a no-deal Brexit remain low, according to a government assessment released on September 11 after MPs last week voted to force the government to publish a document called “Operation Yellowhammer” that outlines the risk of instability in the event of a no-deal Brexit.
According to a document dated 2 August, around 85% of UK trucks may not be ready for customs checks in France in the event of a no-deal Brexit, up from 40-60% currently. The document also warns that the level of preparedness of British people and businesses remains low due to the lack of clarity on the form of the UK's departure from the European Union. The British territory of Gibraltar is particularly vulnerable to the imposition of checkpoints in the area bordering Spain, the document says. Disputes with foreign vessels are likely to occur in British fishing grounds, while tensions and unrest between communities are increasing.
