7 'hot' events of the world in the past 24 hours

(Baonghean.vn) - UN Deputy Secretary General meets with North Korean diplomats; Kim Jong-un smiles as he visits a potato factory amid tensions; UK foils bomb plot to assassinate Prime Minister May;... are prominent international news of the past 24 hours.

1. UN Deputy Secretary-General meets with North Korean diplomats

Overview of the meeting. Photo: AP.

UN Under-Secretary-General for Political Affairs Jeffrey Feltman met with North Korean Vice Foreign Minister Pak Myong Guk on December 6.

The meeting is believed to have been aimed at exchanging views on the UN Security Council sanctions resolutions against North Korea. At the beginning of the meeting, North Korean Vice Foreign Minister Pak Myong Guk expressed hope for a sincere dialogue. The content of the discussion has not yet been made public.

Mr. Feltman is also expected to hold talks with North Korean Foreign Minister Ri Yong Ho. Observers say that North Korea is likely to use the meetings with UN officials to declare that its missile and nuclear development program is only a defensive measure against the United States, while reaffirming that sanctions against the country are “unreasonable.”

2. America's 'bombing monster' roars near North Korea

US B-1B Lancer bomber. Photo: Reuters

On December 6, the US B-1B Lancer super bomber arrived on the Korean peninsula to participate in the largest joint exercise ever with South Korea. The B-1B Lancer is known as the 'bomber monster' and can carry AGM-86B cruise missiles, AGM-69 short-range attack missiles and many other types of bombs.

According to the South Korean military, the annual exercise called Vigilant Ace is held to enhance combat readiness and coordination between the US and South Korean militaries to ensure security and peace on the Korean peninsula.

The Vigilant Ace exercise, which runs from December 4 to 8, took place in the context of North Korea's early December launch of the Hwasong-15 intercontinental ballistic missile capable of hitting any target on US soil.

3. Kim Jong-un smiles as he visits a potato factory amid tensions

According to KCNA, leader Kim Jong-un ordered the construction of the Samjiyon factory in November. The factory is expected to produce 4,000 tons of potato starch per year. Photo: Reuters

North Korean state media reported on December 6 that leader Kim Jong-un visited a newly built potato flour factory in Ryanggang Province, which is expected to produce 4,000 tons of potato flour per year for North Korea.

During his visit to the factory, Kim Jong-un urged workers to continue their efforts to produce more products from potato starch, such as instant noodles and bread. The North Korean leader also ordered the factory to be equipped with more equipment and facilities to increase production.

North Korean media has recently frequently published images of Kim Jong-un personally inspecting businesses amid the ongoing tension in the region. This move by the North Korean leader is believed to be aimed at proving to the international community that Pyongyang's economy is not affected by sanctions.

4. President Putin hints at re-election plan

Russian President Vladimir Putin. Photo: Reuters

Russian President Vladimir Putin said on December 6 that he would soon decide and announce whether to run for re-election next year, Reuters reported.

According to Reuters, at an event attended by mostly young people in Moscow, many people asked President Putin whether he planned to run for re-election.

In response to this question, Mr. Putin said that he would "soon decide" whether to run for re-election in March next year. He also emphasized that he would pay special attention to public support when considering this plan.

“I know that this decision has to be made in the near future and when I do, I will take into account our conversation today and your reaction,” President Putin said.

5. Time's "Person of the Year" surprise: The Silence Breaker

Time's Person of the Year 2017 features women who bravely denounced sexual harassment. Photo: Time

On December 6, the American Time magazine announced its Person of the Year as “The Silence Breakers,” victims who bravely denounced sexual harassment.

Explaining this vote, Time wrote: "Women and men have broken the silence that surrounds every race, every income class, every industry and practically every corner of the globe."

With this vote, Time's cover features a number of women who have dared to speak out about their sexual harassment by former Hollywood director Harvey Weinstein. Harvey Weinstein's scandal was exposed with 80 accusations of sexual harassment since the 1970s.

In Time's list, US President Donald Trump ranked second, followed by Chinese President Xi Jinping.

6. NATO strengthens cooperation with Georgia to counter Russia

NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg. Source: AFP/VNA

AFP reported on December 6 that NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg said the military alliance will increase cooperation with Georgia's coast guard to counter "Russia's increased presence" in the Black Sea.

"We are very supportive of further cooperation with the Georgian coast guard because the Black Sea is very important for Georgia and of course for NATO. We have seen Russia increasing its presence in the Black Sea and increasing its military presence in Crimea," Mr. Stoltenberg said.

Georgia is now looking to join NATO and hopes to receive a positive signal at the bloc's summit in Brussels next July.

7. UK foils bomb plot to assassinate Prime Minister May

Prime Minister May steps out of 10 Downing Street on December 5. Photo: Getty.

Sky News quoted sources on December 6 saying that British police and security forces believe the plotters intended to use an improvised explosive device to cause chaos on Downing Street, the residence of Prime Minister Theresa May, and then take advantage of the chaos to assassinate her.

The newspaper said the director of MI5, Britain's domestic security agency, had to inform ministers about the plot that MI5 had discovered and foiled due to the serious nature of the matter.

According to Sky News, armed police arrested two men last week. London police said the two men have been charged with terrorism offences and their trial took place at Westminster Magistrates' Court on December 6.

The two suspects have been identified as Naa'imur Zakariyah Rahman, 20, of north London, and Mohammed Aqib Imran, 21, of south-east Birmingham.

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