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

(Baonghean,vn)- The UN Secretary General visits Japan to discuss the North Korean issue; President Putin holds a 'marathon press conference' with 1,600 reporters; Former President Park Geun-hye's close friend is proposed to be sentenced to 25 years in prison;... are the outstanding international news of the past 24 hours.

1. UN Secretary General visits Japan to discuss North Korea issue

Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe and United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres salute the flag before their official meeting on December 14. Source: AP

Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe and United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres on December 14 discussed ways to deal with the growing threats from North Korea's nuclear and missile development programs despite UN Security Council sanctions resolutions.

Opening the meeting at the Japanese Prime Minister's Office, Mr. Abe said the two sides would take this opportunity to discuss global issues, especially the North Korean issue. Meanwhile, UN Secretary-General Guterres stressed that he understood Japan's concerns about the threats posed by Pyongyang's nuclear program.

This is UN Secretary-General Guterres' first visit to Japan since he took office in early January this year. The trip will last two days.

2.Russian President announces he will run as an independent candidate

Russian President Vladimir Putin. Source: THX/TTXVN

On December 14, at the 2017 annual press conference, Russian President Vladimir Putin said he would run in the 2018 election as an independent candidate, not on a party list, but he hopes to gain the support of parties and the majority of people.

According to VNA correspondent in Russia, right from the first questions, the Russian President also affirmed that he would talk about domestic issues honestly, without embellishment.

The first questions revolved around the 2018 election, about the reasons and purposes of his candidacy.

Accordingly, President Putin affirmed that his and his government's motives are to increase people's income as well as improve the country's social situation.

His goal was to build a modern Russia with a flexible political system and a high-tech economy.

3. Former President Park Geun-hye's close friend is recommended for 25 years in prison

Choi Soon-sil (center) is escorted to the Constitutional Court in Seoul, South Korea. Source: AFP/VNA

South Korean prosecutors on December 14 asked the court to sentence Choi Soon-sil, a longtime friend of former President Park Geun-hye, to 25 years in prison for her involvement in the corruption scandal that led to Park's ouster earlier this year.

In addition, prosecutors also asked the court to fine Ms. Choi 118.5 billion won (equivalent to 109 million USD) and compensate 7.7 billion won.

Choi was arrested and indicted in November last year on 18 charges, including abuse of power, coercion and bribery. Other charges against her include colluding with Park to force money from Samsung and other major companies, as well as interference in state affairs.

4. Canadian plane crashes after takeoff

Accident scene. Photo: CBC

On the morning of December 14 (Vietnam time), a Canadian passenger plane crashed in the south of the country, injuring many people.

The plane involved in the crash was an ATR-42 operated by West Wind Airlines, carrying 22 passengers and three crew members. Initial reports said that many people were injured in the accident.

CBC added that the plane took off from Fond-du-Lac Airport, Saskatchewan, at about 6:15 p.m. on December 13 (local time) bound for Stony Rapids. The plane crashed less than 1 km from the airport.

5. Bombing of Somali police academy kills more than 30 people

A bombing in Somalia. Photo: Newsweek.

Somali authorities said that on December 14, a suicide bomber disguised as a police officer blew himself up inside a police training camp in the capital Mogadishu (Somalia), killing at least 15 police officers.

According to Somali police spokesman Mohamed Hussein, the attacker had an explosive device on his person and broke into the Somali Police Training Academy early in the morning. Reuters news agency quoted police official Abdullahi Nur as saying that up to now, in addition to the above-mentioned number of fatalities, 17 others were injured.

The al-Qaeda-linked al-Shabaab militant group has claimed responsibility for the incident.

6. Japanese police step up crackdown on exports to North Korea

Japanese police. Photo: EPA/TTXVN

AFP reported that Japanese police said on December 14 that they had conducted several raids related to the sending of food to North Korea - an act that violated sanctions against Pyongyang.

According to local media, police raided a Tokyo-based trade association affiliated with the General Association of Korean Residents in Japan, known as Chongryon, North Korea's de facto embassy in Japan.

The Asahi Shimbum daily also reported that police raided a corporation in Tokyo.

At the same time, the newspaper also said that police are expected to soon arrest several people suspected of illegally exporting food to the isolated country via Singapore./.

7. Russia declares it has achieved its final goal in its campaign in Syria.

Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov. Photo: Almanar.

According to Sputnik, Rossiya 24 TV channel quoted Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov on December 14 as saying that Russia's military campaign in Syria has achieved its ultimate goal of liberating the country from the occupation of rebel gunmen.

“Russia's more than two-year military campaign in Syria has almost achieved its ultimate goal, which is to liberate Syria from terrorists and create conditions for a political settlement in this Middle Eastern country,” said Dmitry Peskov.

“As Commander-in-Chief of the Russian Armed Forces, President Vladimir Putin plays a key role in directing the activities of the Russian Aerospace Forces,” Peskov continued.

Peace

(Synthetic)