Trump doesn't want regime change in Iran; EU 'demands' UK fulfill financial obligations
(Baonghean.vn) - Trump does not want to change the regime in Iran; Russia conducts large-scale military exercises; Israel expands settlements in the West Bank; EU "demands" UK fulfill financial obligations even if no agreement is reached... are the world's outstanding news in the past 24 hours.
8,000 Russian soldiers conduct massive military exercises
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| Illustration photo. Source: TASS |
TASS quoted the Southern Military District press agency as saying that the Russian Army has just launched a large-scale exercise mobilizing 8,000 soldiers. According to the source, the large-scale exercise will take place from August 26 to 31 at 12 military training grounds, including the navy and air force in the Rostov, Volgograd, Astrakhan, Stavropol, Krasnodar regions and the Republic of Crimea. "Up to 8,200 soldiers will carry out tactical exercises on commanding forces, using more than 2,500 pieces of military equipment, including more than 100 tanks, about 30 planes, 60 helicopters and up to 10 warships of the Black Sea Fleet and the Caspian," the Southern Military District reported.
In a related development, according to TASS, on the morning of August 26, Su-30SM fighter jets of the Black Sea Fleet conducted interception exercises and launched missiles to destroy air targets at a training ground in Crimea.
Israel expands settlements in the West Bank
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Maale Adumim Jewish settlement in the West Bank. Photo: AFP/VNA |
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on August 26 ordered the start of the expansion of a settlement in the West Bank. Accordingly, Israel will build 300 new homes in the settlement on land in the village of Janiya west of the Palestinian Ramallah area and 40 km northwest of Jerusalem.
Netanyahu said he would continue to consolidate and develop settlements. He had previously pledged to maintain settlements in the West Bank, in a message to reassure settlers who voted for his ruling Likud party in elections scheduled for September 17.
Trump does not want regime change in Iran
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US President Donald Trump. Photo:Reuters |
The US President wants Iran to become a nuclear-free country and end what he calls "terrorism" and become "rich again". "I see a really good Iran, really strong Iran, we're not looking for regime change. You've seen how Iran has operated for the last 20 years, not very well," Trump told reporters at the G7 Summit in France on August 26.
Trump added that he was not surprised that France invited Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif to a meeting on the sidelines of the G7 on August 25. However, the US President said he did not want to meet Zarif because it was too early for a meeting between the two sides.
EU "demands" UK fulfill financial obligations even if no deal is reached
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| EU flag (top) and British flag outside the British Parliament in London. Photo: AFP/TTXVN |
On August 26, the European Commission (EC) announced that the European Union (EU) expects the UK to fulfill all financial obligations it committed to while it was a member of the EU, even after the UK leaves the EU (also known as Brexit) without reaching an agreement. EC spokesperson Mina Andreeva stated: "All commitments made by the 28 EU member states should be properly implemented. This is also true and especially true in the scenario of a no-deal Brexit.
The UK is expected to continue to fulfil all the commitments it made as a member state of the EU. Ms Andreeva said that paying the “divorce bill” was important in starting a new relationship (between the UK and the EU) on a solid foundation, based on mutual trust.
Iran sells oil on supertanker released by Gibraltar
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The supertanker Grace 1 off the coast of Gibraltar on August 15, before being renamed Adrian Darya. Photo:AP |
Iran's government spokesman announced that Tehran has sold all of the more than 2 million barrels of oil on the Adrian Darya, but did not disclose the buyer. "The Islamic Republic of Iran has sold all the oil on the Adrian Darya (formerly known as Grace 1), the owner and the buyer of the oil will decide the destination of the goods," Iranian government spokesman Ali Rabiei said on August 26, but did not provide further information about the buyer of the oil.
The CEO of Astralship, the company that operates the Grace 1, announced on August 17 that the ship would leave Gibraltar with 2.1 million barrels of oil and a new crew of Indian and Ukrainian nationals.
India to impose seasonal visa fees for tourists
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| India wants to attract year-round tourists with new visa fees. PDI screenshot |
AFP reported that authorities in India will soon apply visa fees that vary according to the tourist season. Accordingly, the 30-day visa fee could be as low as $10 (VND 230,000) from April to June and up to $25 from July to March. After developing and applying the electronic visa system, India is looking to adjust the price to encourage tourism throughout the year.
To that end, e-visa fees will be divided into several categories depending on the applicant's nationality and the visa's validity period, which varies from 30 days to 5 years.
