Trump Invites Putin to the White House; Former South Korean President Gets 8 More Years in Prison

Avangard hypersonic weapon loaded into the silo.

On July 20, the Russian Federal Security Service (FSB) searched the offices of employees of the Central Research Institute of Machine Building of the Roscosmos State Space Corporation and the office of the Director of the Research and Analysis Center of the United Rocket and Space Corporation (ORKK) Dmitry Paison as part of a criminal case on the charge of "Treason to the Fatherland". According to the announcement, about 10 Roscosmos employees were investigated for collusion with Western intelligence agencies.

The FSB said that through verification, it discovered that Western intelligence agencies knew about the research results of the Russian industry in the field of hypersonic weapons in a document marked "top secret".

Syria restores control in area near Golan Heights

Syrian rebels agreed on July 19 to relinquish control over parts of Quneitra province, near the Israeli-occupied Golan Heights, as part of a series of recent agreements that will allow the government to restore control over key territories.

The announcement follows a deal reached this week to evacuate thousands of civilians from two rebel-held towns in northern Syria. Along with the previous deal, also negotiated by Russia, the deal is seen as a new victory for Syrian President Bashar al-Assad’s regime after more than seven years of war.

Former South Korean President Park Geun-hye gets another 8 years in prison

Former South Korean President Park Geun-hye is serving a 24-year prison sentence. Photo: Reuters

The Seoul Central District Court on July 20 sentenced former South Korean President Park Geun-hye to an additional eight years in prison for causing budget losses and interfering in the 2016 parliamentary elections. Park was sentenced in April to 24 years in prison for various crimes, including bribery and abuse of power, according to Reuters.

According to the indictment, Ms. Park colluded with her former advisors to cause a budget loss of up to 30 billion won (609 billion VND) allocated to the National Intelligence Service (NIS). The amount of money siphoned off from the NIS's "special activities fund" each year is 4 billion won. For the 3 former NIS officials involved, each received a sentence of 3 years or more in prison.

Ms. Park was also accused of interfering in the selection of candidates for the ruling party in the National Assembly election, violating the party's charter.

Malaysian Prime Minister Pledges to Protect Corruption Whistleblowers

Malaysian Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad. Source: EPA/VNA

Speaking on July 20 at the annual general meeting of the Association of Chinese Malaysian Chambers of Commerce and Industry (ACCCIM), Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad stressed that those with information on corrupt activities need not fear. The government will protect those who come forward to report corruption from any threats or retaliation.

According to Prime Minister Mahathir, his government will create new laws to replace the "harsh laws" that hinder the country's development.

Singapore hackers steal 1.5 million medical records in unprecedented cyber attack

Singaporean authorities said on July 20 that hackers had stolen the medical records of 1.5 million people, including Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong, who became a special target in the "unprecedented" cyber attack in the Lion Island.

In a joint statement, Singapore's Ministry of Health and Ministry of Information said government databases were breached in a "deliberate, targeted and well-planned" cyber attack, calling the attack "unprecedented".

Russia to send all North Korean workers home next year

North Korean workers in Russia. Photo: Reuters

Russia's Ambassador to the Democratic People's Republic of Korea Alexander Matsegora said that Moscow will force all migrant workers from North Korea to return home in November 2019 in accordance with the UN Security Council's sanctions resolution. In an interview with RIA Novosti, Ambassador Matsegora made it clear that the number of North Korean workers in Russia has been halved and all remaining workers will have to leave Russia by November 29, 2019.

As of early this year, there were about 37,000 North Korean laborers working in Russia. Many of them work in Russia's Far East in construction, agriculture and fishing.

Under a resolution imposing sanctions on Pyongyang adopted by the United Nations Security Council in December 2017, countries are required to force all North Korean workers to return home within two years.

Japan fears rising death toll from heat wave

People in Okayama (Japan) under a record heat wave. (Photo: Japan Today)

On July 20, temperatures in western and eastern Japan remained at 38-40 degrees Celsius. This is the longest continuous heat wave in Japan in the past 10 years. Dozens of people have died from the heat and the number is likely to increase, especially among the elderly. Heatstroke is being warned at the highest level.

According to the Japan Meteorological Agency, the heat wave continues to spread across Japan and temperatures will rise. By the end of July, the heat wave shows no signs of ending.

US car import tariffs would cut Germany's GDP by €6 billion

Cars at the port of Bremerhaven, northern Germany. Source: EPA/TTXVN

According to Reuters, on July 20, ZDF television channel quoted the President of the German Chamber of Commerce DIHK as saying that the US tariffs on imported cars would cut Germany's Gross Domestic Product (GDP) by 6 billion euros ($6.99 billion). DIHK President Eric Schweitzer said he considered the threat from the Trump administration "very serious", and affirmed that the tariffs would violate "international law".

He said that this tax would not only lead to job losses in Germany and Europe, but also damage the job market and investment in the US.