Trump: I'm not giving in to Putin; Vaccine scandal in China

President Trump accused the US media of fabricating stories about his defeat in a meeting with President Putin and said he made no concessions to the Russian leader.

"Remember, I made no concessions, we mostly talked about future benefits for both countries," US President Donald Trump shared on Twitter on July 23.However, President Trump did not specify what issues the two leaders discussed.

Also in this Twitter post, the White House boss once again used the phrase "fake news" when describing the fact that some American news agencies said that Mr. Trump "gave in" during the meeting with President Putin.

Russia dismantles an arms smuggling ring from the EU

Russia dismantles an arms smuggling ring from the EU. Photo: sputniknews.com

The press service of the Russian Federal Security Service (FSB) announced on July 23 that the FSB, in coordination with the Ministry of Internal Affairs and the National Guard, had conducted an operation to block arms supply channels from European Union (EU) countries to Russia, arresting many related arms smugglers.

Russian security forces seized 380 guns of various types, including 45mm mortars, grenade launchers, homemade explosive devices, 15 grenades, and many other lethal weapons.

North Korea wants US to take concrete action before denuclearization

CNN quoted a source familiar with the North Korean issue as saying that if the US is willing to replace the armistice signed after the Korean War (1950-1953) with a permanent peace treaty, the regime in Pyongyang of leader Kim Jong-un must be guaranteed its safety. On the contrary, if the US is not willing, North Korea will not continue denuclearization talks.

North Korea is pressuring the Trump administration to begin lifting sanctions in return for what Pyongyang says are “too many” steps, from halting nuclear and missile tests to dismantling one of its nuclear test sites and pushing for the handover of remains of US soldiers killed in the 1950-53 war.

A US official said Mr Trump personally expressed disappointment at the lack of progress in US-North Korea negotiations. However, the US President still affirmed that North Korea's suspension of nuclear and missile tests was a positive sign.

Israel activates new missile defense system on border with Syria

David's Sling system fires a test missile, 2015. Photo: haaretz.com

In a sign of escalating tensions, Israel launched two missiles using its David's Sling medium-range missile interceptor system to intercept rockets that the Israeli military said fell into Syrian territory.

China shocked by vaccine scandal affecting children's health

Number of fake vaccines given to children under the national immunization program. Photo:Reuters

On July 23, Chinese Premier Li Keqiang requested that the country's authorities immediately investigate Changsheng Biotechnology Co., headquartered in Changchun City, Jilin Province, for serious violations of standards in the production of human rabies vaccines.

Previously, on July 16, the China Food and Drug Administration (FDA) discovered fake data and records on the production of 113,000 doses of rabies vaccine by Changsheng Company during a surprise inspection.

The violation was so serious that China's drug regulator revoked the rabies vaccine's production license and launched a criminal investigation.

President R.Duterte: Philippines will relentlessly pursue the war on drugs

Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte. Photo: AFP/VNA

On July 23, Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte delivered his annual State of the Nation Address to Congress, pledging to pursue the war on drugs to the end.The Philippine leader asserted that this war will be as "ruthless and fierce" as before.

Philippine police have killed more than 4,500 suspected drug dealers and users since Duterte took office, and thousands more have been killed by unidentified gunmen whom Philippine authorities say were “vigilantes” or rival gang members.

On July 23, a suicide bombing occurred in the Mainari area of ​​Konduga, Borno state in northeastern Nigeria.

A man entered the mosque at around 5:15 a.m. local time and detonated an explosive device strapped to his body, killing eight worshippers and injuring five others.

Suicide bombings targeting civilian targets such as mosques, markets and bus stations are often carried out by the militant group Boko Haram.

Indonesian prisoners bribe officials to stay in hotel-like prisons

Indonesian officials stand next to evidence seized from Sukamiskin prison on July 22. Photo:AFP

AFPInmates at Sukamiskin Prison in Bandung city live in rooms with air conditioning, flat-screen TVs and private bathrooms, according to the Indonesian Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK).

They are believed to have bribed prison officials with 200-500 million rupiah ($14,000-$35,000) to renovate their cells, use mobile phones and even temporarily leave prison.

The KPK has arrested five people in connection with the latest corruption scandal, including prisoners and a prison warden who accepted cash bribes and two cars.

“We apologize to the Indonesian people,” said Sri Puguh Budi Utami, director general of Indonesia’s prisons. “We are very sorry that we are still unable to maximize our monitoring system.”

Japan reopens beaches affected by 2011 tsunami

People walk on the beach at a seaside park in Tokyo on July 22, 2018. Photo: liberiadispatch.com

After years of reconstruction efforts, Japanese officials announced on July 23 that they had reopened beaches in areas affected by the 2011 tsunami that led to the Fukushima nuclear disaster.

Fukushima prefectural officials hope the reopening of Haragamaobama beach will help change perceptions of the area severely affected by the disaster seven years ago.

Haragamaobama Beach in Soma City, 40 kilometers north of the Fukushima nuclear power plant, is the closest beach to the plant among the four beaches that Fukushima Prefecture has reopened.