Ukraine cancels 49 deals with Russia; Germany considers blocking Huawei from 5G network
(Baonghean.vn) - Germany considers removing Huawei from 5G network; Another "low note" in Ukraine - Russia relations; Dozens of people killed in landslides in Indonesia... are the world's outstanding news in the past 24 hours.
Russia allows German experts to monitor Kerch Strait
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| Ships passing through the Kerch Strait. Photo: THX/TTXVN |
On January 18, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov announced that Russian President Vladimir Putin had approved German Chancellor Angela Merkel's proposal to allow German experts to monitor the Kerch Strait near the Crimean Peninsula. The area has recently become a hot spot, causing increased tensions between Russia and Ukraine.
According to the statement of the head of the Russian Foreign Ministry, President Putin approved Berlin's proposal a month ago. However, the German representative has not yet arrived here.
US-led coalition airstrikes kill 20 civilians in eastern Syria |
| Scenes of devastation in Syria after conflicts. Source: AFP/VNA |
At least 20 civilians were killed in airstrikes by the US-led coalition on the eastern Syrian province of Deir al-Zour, controlled by the Islamic State (IS), state news agency SANA reported on January 18. Among the dead were women and children.
The airstrikes targeted the town of Baghus, one of the last two towns still under IS control in the eastern countryside of Deir al-Zour province. This is the latest in a series of bombings targeting the last IS-controlled stronghold on the eastern bank of the Euphrates River in eastern Syria.
Another "low note" in Ukraine - Russia relations
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| Ukrainian Foreign Minister Pavlo Klimkin. Photo: AFP/TTXVN |
On January 18, Ukrainian Foreign Minister Pavlo Klimkin announced that 49 agreements between his country and the Russian Federation had been canceled, noting that about 50 more agreements between the two sides could share the same fate.
Speaking to reporters, Foreign Minister Klimkin said that Ukraine has canceled 49 agreements with Russia and said that Kiev is still considering canceling more agreements with Moscow. Specifically, the Ukrainian Foreign Minister said that this side is considering terminating about 50 more agreements with Russia and reviewing the entire legal basis of agreements with Russia.
Former UKIP leader predicts second referendum
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| Marching in London, UK, on October 20, 2018, calling on the Government to allow citizens to have the final say on Brexit. Photo: AFP/VNA |
On January 18, former leader of the United Kingdom Independence Party (UKIP), Nigel Farage, a populist and Brexit supporter, said that the United Kingdom is likely to delay its departure from the European Union (EU) and that another referendum on the issue is likely to take place.
Meanwhile, in a letter published in "The Times" newspaper, the new chairwoman of the Christian Democratic Union (CDU) party, Annegret Kramp-Karrenbauer, called on Britain to remain a member of the EU, instead of leaving the bloc.
Germany considers removing Huawei from 5G network
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A booth promoting Huawei's 5G technology at a fair in Beijing, China in September 2018. Photo: Reuters |
SheetHandelsblattGermany's state-run newspaper, citing government sources, said Berlin is considering enacting security standards that Huawei currently cannot meet in order to prevent the Chinese telecoms giant from participating in 5G mobile networks. The newspaper added that officials are also considering changes to telecommunications laws as a way to restrict Huawei's operations.
This move appears to contradict the position the German government took in October 2018, when it said there was no legal basis to exclude any supplier from the upcoming 5G network deployment, despite warnings from the US.
Dozens killed in landslide in Indonesia
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| Rescuers search for missing people after a landslide in Sukabumi, West Java, Indonesia on January 1, 2019. Photo: AFP/TTXVN |
Continuous heavy rains in recent days have caused a landslide in Krasnak village, Magelang district, Central Java province of Indonesia. The landslide on January 18 buried 29 houses, killed 32 people, injured 3 and left 1 person missing.
A major road connecting Magelang and Purworejo districts in the province was also buried, paralyzing traffic in the area. Magelang District Disaster Mitigation Agency Acting Chief Edy Susanto said the landslide was 1-3 meters high. The agency is mobilizing vehicles to clear debris, rocks, and fallen trees that are blocking the road.
