North Korean leader Kim Jong Un plans to invite experts and journalists from the United States and South Korea when the country shuts its nuclear test site in May, Seoul officials said, as U.S. President Trump pressed for total denuclearization ahead of his own unprecedented meeting with Kim. On Friday, Kim and South Korean President Moon Jae-in vowed “complete denuclearization” of the Korean peninsula in the first inter-Korean summit in more than a decade, but the declaration did not include concrete steps to reach that goal. North Korea’s state media had said before the summit that Pyongyang would immediately suspend nuclear and missile tests, scrap its nuclear test site and instead pursue economic growth and peace. Kim told Moon that he would soon invite the experts and journalists to “open to the international community” the dismantling of the facilities, the Blue House said on Sunday. “The United States, though inherently hostile to North Korea, … [Read more...] about North Korea’s Kim to invite U.S. experts for nuclear site shutdown
When white house built
FBI agent pleads guilty of leaking in case linked to The Intercept
WASHINGTON — An FBI agent faced up to five years in prison on Tuesday after pleading guilty to providing classified documents to a reporter in the second leak case pursued by the Trump administration linked to The Intercept. Terry Albury admitted in a Minnesota court to charges that he disclosed information on how federal agents assess and manage informants during 2016 and 2017. The names of the reporter and media outlet which received the information were not given in court documents. But specifics of the leaked materials and the timing laid out in the charges pointed to The Intercept, an online publication which frequently breaks important stories on national security. The Intercept posted a story on January 31, 2017 on how the FBI woos and pressures immigrants, including Muslims, to become confidential sources, and then when finished sometimes hands them over to immigration authorities for deportation. It was the second case pursued by the Trump administration against a … [Read more...] about FBI agent pleads guilty of leaking in case linked to The Intercept
Wind tombs
Angry waves surged, threatening to sweep the rocks away. The rocks wavered as if like they might sink, but it was just an illusion. “Here’s your tobacco, master!” Song said. Song had rolled up a cigarette in no time. With the ocean winds battering his face, old Doi pointed down the peak, signaling to Song. Song jumped down, hid behind a slit, and flicked a lighter. The tobacco flared up in front of the old man’s nose. But no sooner was the milky smoke discharged than the tobacco was pulled out and thrown away toward the sandy beach. Four eyes squinted and looked over the sea. Sunset was tinting the horizon pink. Waves were still jumping onto the rocks. “There’s a ship returning, master,” said Song. “Where?” “I can see her painted eyes blinking.” The old man rubbed his eyes and looked in the direction of the boy’s finger. There was indeed a ship returning. The waves were violent, the prow of the ship bobbing up and … [Read more...] about Wind tombs
Monument honors 1968 Spring Offensive heroes
The event gathered representatives of the HCM City authorities, families of the war martyrs, war veterans, and local residents. Huynh Van Chum, Vice Chairman of the municipal Party Committee’s Commission for Information and Education, recalled the fierce battle when 11 liberation soldiers fought hard to take control of the then Saigon Radio Station in the early morning of the second day of the 1968 lunar year. Ten of them died during the fighting. The monument reflects the city’s deep gratitude toward the soldiers and the local armed forces, aiming to promote national patriotism among younger generations. The monument is located inside the VOH headquarters at No.3 Nguyen Dinh Chieu Street in District 1. Built on an area of 79sq.m, its design depicts the shape of two soldiers, both made of bronze. At the event. Photo: VOH The monument is one of nine structures crafted across the Southern economic hub in commemoration of martyrs of the 1968 General … [Read more...] about Monument honors 1968 Spring Offensive heroes
Monument honours 1968 Spring Offensive heros
Scene at the inauguration ceremony (Photo: VOH) HCM City (VNA) – The public radio broadcaster Voice of Ho Chi Minh City People (VOH) on February 12 inaugurated a monument dedicated to soldiers who died in fighting at the Sai Gon radio station during the General Offensive and Uprising in the Spring of 1968. The event gathered representatives of the HCM City authorities, families of the war martyrs, war veterans, and local residents. Huynh Van Chum, Vice Chairman of the municipal Party Committee’s Commission for Information and Education, recalled the fierce battle when 11 liberation soldiers fought hard to take control of the then Sai Gon radio station in the early morning of the second day of the 1968 lunar year. Ten of them died during the fighting. The monument reflects the city’s deep gratitude toward the soldiers and the local armed forces, aiming to promote national patriotism among younger generations. The monument is located inside the VOH … [Read more...] about Monument honours 1968 Spring Offensive heros
Government News 12/2
Party leader plans to consolidate public trust General Secretary of the Communist Party of Việt Nam Nguyễn Phú Trọng pays a visit to Tây An Village in Thái Bình Province’s Tiền Hải District as the Lunar New Year festival approaches. The General Secretary of the Communist Party of Việt Nam (CPV), Nguyễn Phú Trọng, has emphasised the need to consolidate public trust to enable the country to push forward.In an exclusive interview with the Vietnam News Agency on the threshold of the Lunar New Year, Year of the Dog, the Party leader highlighted the country’s outstanding achievements in 2017 and outlined the main tasks for 2018.He said the fight against corruption had made marked progress thanks to drastic measures in making deeds match words.Trọng said that last year, many serious cases of corruption and economic crimes involving senior party and goverment officials were discovered and … [Read more...] about Government News 12/2
Fears of nuclear arms race despite US, Russian pledges
The United States and Russia are pledging to abide by a treaty limiting strategic nuclear weapons that took effect on Monday, but foreign leaders and experts fear a new arms race may be looming. Concern over a potential conflict with nuclear-armed North Korea is also growing following a series of bellicose statements between Washington and Pyongyang. The Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty (New START) signed in 2010 requires the United States and Russia to have reduced the number of their deployed nuclear warheads to 1,550 each by February 5, 2018. The State Department said Monday the United States has lived up to the deal and it has "no reason to believe" Russia has done otherwise. Russia for its part said it was committed to the treaty and would provide Washington with data on its strategic nuclear arsenal in "the near future." The New START treaty calls for inspections and for the world's two leading nuclear powers to exchange data on their arsenals to verify compliance. The … [Read more...] about Fears of nuclear arms race despite US, Russian pledges
Africa calls Trump racist after ‘shithole’ remark
African politicians and diplomats labeled U.S. President Donald Trump a racist on Friday after he was reported to have described some immigrants from Africa and Haiti as coming from "shithole" countries. Trump reportedly made the remarks at a White House meeting on immigration on Thursday and a U.S. senator who attended the gathering said on Friday that the president used "vile, vulgar" language, including repeatedly using the word "shithole." Trump denied on Friday using such derogatory language, but he was widely condemned in many African countries and in Haiti and El Salvador, and by international rights organisations. "Ours is not a shithole country and neither is Haiti or any other country in distress," Jessie Duarte, the deputy secretary general of South Africa's ruling African National Congress told reporters at a news conference in East London. "We would not deign to make comments as derogatory as that about any country that has any kind of socio-economic or other … [Read more...] about Africa calls Trump racist after ‘shithole’ remark
Norway opens first opera house, after 127 years of waiting
They say it isn't over until the fat lady sings. And after more than a century of waiting for Oslo, she finally has.This weekend Norway threw open the doors of its first ever opera house, a shimmering white marble building rising up from the waters of the capital's fjord, close to where the Vikings founded the original city 1,000 years ago.Before this stunning addition to the capital's skyline, Norwegian opera buffs and ballet aficionados had to cram into old downtown theatres or ugly 1930s incarnations tucked away in shopping malls. Now they can enjoy the delights of the divas and ballerinas at a permanent home on the fjord at Bjoervika, which is being hailed as one of the most important buildings to be erected in Norway since Trondheim got its Nidaros cathedral at the start of the 14th century."The opera house rises as a ... monumental landmark," King Harald of Norway declared at the gala opening on Saturday night. "This house for many generations to come will be filled with music, … [Read more...] about Norway opens first opera house, after 127 years of waiting
Will Trump send Americans to the Moon? Money talks: experts
U.S. President Donald Trump's decision this week to return Americans to the Moon makes sense as a way to develop technology to one day reach Mars, but only if Congress allocates the money, experts say. Reviving an American program to explore the Moon is seen as a way to boost jobs and morale at home, while encouraging international collaboration with Europe, Japan, China and India -- all eager to explore the lunar surface. But the notion of paying for such an ambitious mission, which some have pegged at $100 billion, has proven unusually divise among Democrats and Republicans in recent years in a nation where space exploration has traditionally been supported by both sides of the political aisle. A return to the Moon is "the right thing to do," said John Logsdon, former head of the Space Policy Institute at George Washington University. "Our policy has now been brought in consistency with the rest of the world, which sees the Moon as an important destination," he told AFP. "My concern … [Read more...] about Will Trump send Americans to the Moon? Money talks: experts