Trump faces two legal crises; Duterte fears CIA wiretapping

Trump's disastrous day with two legal "bombs"

President Donald Trump is facing two legal crises at the same time. Photo:Reuters.

From 4:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. on August 21 (US time), two "bombs" of legal troubles with the potential to have serious consequences for US President Donald Trump "detonated" one after another.

Paul Manafort, who spent five months leading Trump’s 2016 campaign, was found guilty in a Virginia court on eight counts of financial fraud. Shortly after, in a Manhattan court in New York, Trump and his family’s former personal lawyer Michael Cohen pleaded guilty to eight counts of 2016 election finance violations, tax fraud and false financial reporting.

According to the opinion ofCNNManafort's charges will severely damage the US president's reputation. Trump has convinced voters that he will hire only the best people for his team and will "clean up the swamp" of "corrupt" politicians in Washington. Meanwhile, the guilty plea of ​​former trusted lawyer Michael Cohen has the potential to open up direct legal risks for Trump.

Russia considers using its currency, the Ruble, to counter US sanctions

Russian ruble. Photo: Sputnik/VNA

On August 22, Russian Industry and Trade Minister Denis Manturov said the ministry is considering switching to payments in the local currency Ruble in response to US sanctions.

The new package of US sanctions could have a negative impact on Russian exports to third countries, Manturov said. To counteract this impact, the ministry has set a task to achieve the same level of output, quality and characteristics of imported goods as part of the import substitution program.

Minister Manturov made the statement shortly after a new package of US sanctions came into effect against Russia related to what Washington considers harmful cyber activities and the North Korea issue.

Israel approves plan to build 1,000 settler homes in the West Bank

Givat Harsina settlement in the West Bank. Source: AFP/VNA

Israeli authorities approved plans to build more than 1,000 settlement homes in the occupied West Bank on August 22, the non-governmental organization Peace Now announced, the latest in a series of similar decisions since US President Donald Trump took office.

The plans, approved by a committee of the Israeli Defense Ministry, include 370 new homes in the West Bank settlement of Adam, where three Israelis were stabbed to death by a Palestinian in July.

Settlement construction is one of the hottest issues, hindering efforts to restart Israeli-Palestinian peace talks that have been stalled since 2014.

Afghanistan hopes Russia will help promote peace talks with Taliban

Taliban gunmen in Jalalabad, Afghanistan on June 16. Photo: AFP/TTXVN

Afghanistan's national security adviser Hanif Atmar said on August 22 that the country hopes Russia can help bring Taliban insurgents to the peace negotiating table with the government.

Speaking at a meeting with Russian Ambassador to Kabul Alexander Mantytski, Mr. Atmar said Afghanistan appreciated Russia's support for the peace process in Afghanistan and called on Russia to "put pressure on the Taliban insurgents to sit at the negotiating table with the Afghan government".

For his part, Ambassador Mantytski said Russia is ready to help Afghanistan "bring the peace process to success".

Duterte wants to change his "bad" phone because he is afraid of CIA eavesdropping

Mr. Duterte may switch to a phone with only basic functions. Photo: Reuters

President Rodrigo Duterte has suggested that the Central Intelligence Agency may be listening to his phone calls, reiterating the conspiracy theory that the CIA is trying to kill him. “I know, the Americans are listening to me. I am sure it is the CIA. This is also the ‘killer’ who will kill me,” ABS-CBN quoted President Rodrigo Duterte as saying at an event in Cebu City on August 22.

Mr. Duterte suspected that besides the US, other countries that might be eavesdropping on his phone are “Russia, China, Israel and perhaps Indonesia.”

The president said his security advisers warned him not to continue using smartphones, which are more vulnerable to eavesdropping, and instead switch to phones with only basic functions.

Iran warns it will target US and Israel if attacked

On August 22, Iran warned that it would target the US and Israel if attacked by the US. Iran's statement came after US National Security Adviser John Bolton said that the US would increase maximum pressure on Iran in addition to economic sanctions. Mr. John Bolton said that US sanctions have a major impact on the Iranian economy. The US wants to resolve issues peacefully, but is also ready to prepare for any scenario that Iran creates.

In response, Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps said it would continue to strengthen the country's defense capabilities and would not surrender to pressure over its missile program. Meanwhile, an official close to Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei said the US would pay a heavy price if war broke out.

New round of Brexit talks fails to make breakthrough

The Brexit negotiations ended without any breakthrough on August 21. However, both the UK and the EU agreed to continue negotiations next week to narrow differences on key issues such as the Irish border and bilateral economic relations after Brexit.

Speaking at a joint press conference with EU Brexit Negotiator Michel Barnier, UK Brexit Secretary Dominic Raab expressed confidence that the two sides will be able to reach a Brexit agreement by October. For his part, EU Brexit Negotiator Michel Barnier stressed that the two sides are making great progress on post-Brexit security and defense cooperation and confirmed that the parties will make efforts to accelerate the progress of negotiations.

Germany provides 340 million euros in aid to farmers affected by drought

A dry field in Dollbergen near Hannover, northern Germany. Source: AP

German Agriculture Minister Julia Kloeckner said on August 22 that the government will launch a special support program worth up to 340 million euros to help farmers after the summer drought severely affected the crop.

However, the figure is still far below the one billion euros that the German Farmers' Association (DBV) called on the state to support to help farmers who suffered huge losses last summer, when drought lasted and summer temperatures reached record highs since 1881.

Mozambique charges world's highest fees to foreign journalists

Source: Irex.org

Starting August 22, foreign journalists working in Mozambique will have to pay an annual registration fee considered "the highest in the world".

The new regulations of this country located in Southeast Africa are currently facing opposition from many international organizations.

To obtain a one-year operating permit, foreign correspondents permanently stationed in Mozambique will have to pay $8,300 and local correspondents working for foreign press agencies will have to pay $3,500 to the authorities. In addition, newly established radio stations will also have to pay an operating fee of $35,000 per year.