Trump - Putin may discuss Syria; Malaysia prosecutes former prime minister

Trump-Putin summit likely to discuss Syria

Russian President Vladimir Putin (right) and his US counterpart Donald Trump. Source: AFP/TTXVN

THX/Reuters reported on July 4 that Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said issues related to Syria will likely be mentioned at the summit between Russian President Vladimir Putin and his US counterpart Donald Trump.

According to Mr. Lavrov, Moscow hopes that the Trump-Putin summit will serve as a basis for a frank dialogue on all issues leading to conflicts in Russia-US relations.

Türkiye gives more powers to President Erdogan

Türkiye has issued a special decree, adding some new powers to the incumbent President. Photo: Reuters

Türkiye has issued a decree granting some powers to the president, which will take effect when Mr Erdogan is sworn in, expected in the Turkish parliament on July 8 or 9.

Published on July 4 in Türkiye's official daily Gazette, the decree makes changes to laws from 1924 to 2017, replacing phrases related to the prime minister and the cabinet of ministers with the president and the president's office. The new decree will abolish the Prime Minister's Office. Re-elected President Tayyip Erdogan will not need parliamentary approval to create and run ministries and fire civil servants.

South Korea to confirm identities of separated families

The moment of reunion of families separated during the Korean War at the Kumgang Mountain resort on October 22, 2015. Photo: AFP/TTXVN

South Korea is carrying out the process of confirming the identities of separated families, as the two Koreas prepare for reunions of families separated by the war.

“We have begun the process of confirming whether their relatives are still alive in Korea. It may take some time,” a Korean Red Cross official said on July 3.

The two Koreas previously exchanged lists of people who wanted to reunite with their families. North Korea sent a list of 200 people, along with information about the individuals and families it was looking for.

Two people in critical condition near where former Russian spy was poisoned in UK

Police at Amesbury Baptistry, which was locked down in connection with the incident where two people were left critically ill after exposure to an unknown substance. Photo:AFP.

Two people in their 40s were found unconscious at a house in Muggleton Road, Amesbury, on June 30, but police only released the information today. They are in a critical condition at Salisbury District Hospital, where they are being treated for “suspected exposure to an unknown substance,” police said, according toAFP.

Amesbury is about 8km from Salisbury. Salisbury is where former Russian double agents Sergei and Yulia Skripal passed out on a chair in March. The newspaperSunreported that doctors determined that the two men were poisoned and had symptoms very similar to the Skripals.

US company Micron banned from selling microchips in China

China bans US company Micron from selling microchips in the country. Photo: Reuters

Fujian Jinhua Integrated Circuit Co. (FJICC), a Chinese chipmaker in a patent dispute with U.S. chipmaker Micron, said on July 4 that a court in Fuzhou, Fujian Province, southeast China, ruled in its favor and ordered an immediate halt to sales of some Micron products in China.

The incident comes amid an escalating trade dispute between the world's two largest economies, with billions of dollars in tariffs set to take effect on July 6.

Former Malaysian Prime Minister Najib Razak formally charged

Former Malaysian Prime Minister Najib Razak (Photo: AFP)

On July 4, former Malaysian Prime Minister Najib Razak was prosecuted on charges of abuse of power to receive bribes and negligence.

At the trial in Kuala Lumpur, former Malaysian Prime Minister Najib Razak was charged with three counts of negligence leading to serious consequences and one count of abuse of power to receive bribes. In court, Najib Razak maintained his innocence.

Najib Razak is accused of being involved in the transfer of $10.6 million from 1MDB into his bank account. That is just a small part of the total amount of more than $4.5 billion that was withdrawn from the fund.

Another Philippine mayor shot dead

Mr. Ferdinand Bote, the second mayor assassinated in the past 2 days in the Philippines - Photo cut from video

According to CNN, Mayor Ferdinand Bote of General Tinio City, Nueva Ecija Province (Philippines) was shot by a suspect on a motorcycle in Cabanatuan City on the afternoon of July 3. He died while being rushed to the MV Gallego Hospital. Authorities are investigating the incident. The killer escaped.

The assassination of Mr. Bote occurred just a day before, Tanauan City Mayor Antonio Halili was also shot in the chest and died while attending a flag-raising ceremony.

On July 4, Thai rescue forces were teaching swimming and diving to the youth soccer team trapped in Tham Luang cave in this country to prepare for the rescue work to bring the boys out of the cave.

The teens were practicing using diving masks and other equipment but had not yet tested them underwater, according toGuardian. As soon as the water level drops and the current decreases, the rescue team will move to get the youth soccer team out.

Speaking to reporters, Thai Deputy Prime Minister Prawit Wongsuwan said the water flow in the cave is still strong, while the space inside the cave is narrow. Therefore, getting people out of the cave at this time will be very difficult and will require the participation of many people.

The US city of Seattle bans restaurants from using plastic utensils.

Illustration: thehill.com

In order to reduce waste and prevent marine pollution, the US city of Seattle has issued a ban on food and beverage establishments in the city using plastic utensils. With this move, Seattle is said to be the first major city in the US to ban the use of disposable plastic items in food service.

The ban, which takes effect July 2, requires 5,000 restaurants in Seattle to use reusable or compostable items, including straws. Restaurants that violate the rule will be fined $250.