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

(Baonghean.vn) - North Korea protests the latest sanctions from the United Nations; China test-flies the world's largest seaplane; Japanese Foreign Minister visits Jerusalem, promoting the two-state solution;... are the outstanding international news of the past 24 hours.

1. North Korea protests latest UN sanctions

A North Korean missile launch. Photo: Reuters

The North Korean Foreign Ministry said on December 24 that the latest sanctions against North Korea were tantamount to an act of war.

“We regard the UN sanctions resolution and its supporters as a serious violation of the sovereignty of the DPRK, tantamount to an act of war that violates peace and stability on the Korean Peninsula and the region, and we resolutely reject this resolution,” the statement from the North Korean Foreign Ministry said.

Previously on December 22, in response to North Korea's latest intercontinental ballistic missile launch, the United Nations Security Council unanimously passed a new sanctions resolution against the country.

2. China test-flies world's largest seaplane

China's AG600 seaplane.

On December 24, at Jinwan Airport, Zhuhai City, a test flight of the world's largest seaplane, the AG600, researched and manufactured by China, was conducted.

The AG600 seaplane is a specialized aircraft for performing rescue missions at sea and fighting forest fires. The fuselage length is 37m, the wings are 38.8m wide, 12.1m high, the maximum weight is 53.5 tons, the maximum search speed is 500 km/h, can fly continuously for 12 hours, the maximum flight distance is 4,500km.

In addition to the flight crew, the AG600 can accommodate 50 more people, can take off, land, search and rescue in sea areas with temperatures lower than 20oC, with a search radius of 1,600km.

3. Japanese Foreign Minister visits Jerusalem, promotes two-state solution

Jerusalem Holy Land. Photo: Reuters

Japanese Foreign Minister Taro Kono began a six-day visit to Jerusalem and other parts of the Middle East on December 24.

Mr. Kono is the first Cabinet member of an industrialized power to visit Jerusalem since US President Donald Trump announced his recognition of Jerusalem as the capital of Israel - a position that has caused much controversy in the international community.

Mr. Kono is scheduled to hold separate meetings with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in Jerusalem and Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas in the West Bank.

4. Iran passes bill recognizing Jerusalem as capital of Palestine

A session of the Iranian Parliament. Source: AFP/VNA

Iranian lawmakers approved a dual emergency bill on December 24, recognizing Jerusalem (al-Quds in Islam) as the permanent capital of the Palestinian state, Fars News Agency reported.

The bill was passed with 187 votes in favor, 15 against and 9 abstentions, out of 233 lawmakers present at a public session of parliament. The decision will be added to Article 1 of a law regulating Iran's support for the Palestinian state.

The bill has now been referred to the relevant parliamentary committee and will be placed on the legislative body's agenda within the next 48 hours.

5. Major fire at shopping mall in Philippines, nearly 40 people died

Fire scene.

The particularly serious fire broke out at around 9:30 a.m. on December 23 at the NCCC Mall in Davao City, southern Philippines.

On December 24, Davao City authorities admitted that 37 people were believed to have died in a massive fire the day before at the NCCC Mall.

According to local police, when the fire broke out, many people were trapped in a 24-hour telephone switchboard office located on the top floor of the building. As of dawn on December 24, the fire was still raging.

6. Daring thief uses excavator to rob ATM in Australia

Thieves used an excavator to steal an ATM in Ballarat, Victoria, Australia on December 24, 2017. Photo: victorharbortimes.com.au

Thieves used an excavator to steal an entire automated teller machine (ATM) in Ballarat, Victoria, Australia early this morning (December 24), according to the Victor Harbor Times.

The thief stole the excavator, then crashed into the front of the ATM at the Caltex petrol station on Glenelg Road at about 3:15am local time.

After moving the ATM onto another vehicle, the thieves left the excavator inside the gas station and fled.

7. More than 200 people died from Typhoon Tembin in the Philippines

Kabacan residential area, North Cotabato province on Mindanao island, submerged in water.

More than 200 people were killed, more than 100 were missing and more than 40,000 were evacuated as tropical storm Tembin swept through the Philippine island of Mindao.

According to Reuters, Typhoon Tembin made landfall in the southern Philippines with winds of up to 125km/h and heavy rains from December 22, causing floods and landslides in many places, "wiping out" almost completely at least one mountain village. The most severely affected areas were the towns of Tubod and Piagapo.

Local officials said that as of today, December 24, the storm has killed more than 200 people, 144 people are still missing, while more than 40,000 people have been evacuated.

The death toll is expected to continue to rise as search and rescue teams continue to reach other areas affected by the storm.

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