7 'Hot' World Events of the Past 24 Hours

(Baonghean.vn) - US General warns 'war is imminent'; President Duterte's son resigns as Mayor of Davao;Passenger bus collides head-on with city bus in the Philippines, 20 dead....These are the international news stories from the past 24 hours.

1. US General warns 'war is imminent'

The commander of the U.S. Marine Corps, General Robert Neller, declared to American soldiers stationed in Europe that "war is coming."

According to Military.com, during a visit to U.S. troops stationed in Norway last week, General Robert Neller made this statement and also indicated that "a major battle is about to begin." He also spoke to the soldiers about the importance of readiness in peacetime operations, which can change depending on the situation.

Speaking before 300 soldiers stationed at the Norwegian Home Guard base near Trondheim, General Neller said that U.S. military planners are focusing on Russia and the Pacific, as these are areas where conflict is likely to occur.

2. President Duterte's son resigns as Mayor of Davao.

Paolo Duterte (right) is the eldest son of President Rodrigo Duterte. Photo: AP

On December 25, Paolo Duterte, son of Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte, who has recently been embroiled in controversy over allegations of involvement in a drug trafficking ring through the Philippine Customs Bureau, resigned as Deputy Mayor of Davao City. The decision is effective immediately.

President Paolo Duterte's announcement stunned many members of the Davao City Council, who had just met after a devastating fire at a shopping mall killed more than 30 people last weekend.

3. Passenger bus collides head-on with city bus in the Philippines, 20 dead.

The passenger vehicle was severely damaged after the accident. Photo: CNN/LTRB

CNN, citing police sources, reported that the accident occurred early on December 25 on MacArthur Road in Agoo Township, 200km north of Manila, the capital of the Philippines.

Agoo police official Eugenio Balagot said the accident involved a passenger van carrying 29 passengers and a bus carrying 31 passengers. Initial investigations suggest the passenger van was overtaking recklessly and collided with the oncoming bus.

The collision killed 20 people – all passengers on the coach, including a 5-month-old baby, a first-grade student, and two teenagers. Nine people on the coach and 17 people on the bus were also injured, but most of the bus passengers sustained only minor injuries and have been discharged from the hospital.

4. US President Trump decides to sever ties with Palestine.

US President Donald Trump. Source: Reuters

Debkafile, an Israeli website closely linked to the country's military intelligence, reported that the administration of US President Donald Trump has decided to impose a series of sanctions on the Palestinian Authority (PA) after the PA's successful campaign on the Jerusalem issue at the United Nations General Assembly.

In a report published on December 23, Debkafile, citing sources from Washington, said that President Trump had decided to sever all ties and contact with the PA as well as with Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas.

5. North Korea defends its right to space development.

North Korea has stated that its right to develop space is legitimate. (Photo: Getty Images)

On December 25, North Korea defended its space development program as a legitimate right – a move that fueled speculation that Pyongyang might conduct missile and nuclear tests under the guise of satellite launches.

An article published in Rodong Sinmun, the official newspaper of the Workers' Party of North Korea, stated that with the launch of the Kwangmyongsong-4 satellite in February 2016, Pyongyang had entered an era of developing application satellites.

The article emphasizes: "Our satellite launch is an exercise of a legitimate right, fully consistent with the United Nations Charter, which stipulates the fundamental right to respect for sovereignty and equality, as well as international law governing the peaceful use of outer space."

6. Russia receives signals that the US is ready to engage in dialogue with North Korea.

Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov. Photo: rferl.org

Sputnik reported on December 25th that Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov stated that Moscow had received signals from the United States indicating Washington's readiness to engage in dialogue with North Korea.

In other developments on the same day, Kazakhstan's Foreign Minister Kairat Abdrakhmanov said that his country is closely monitoring the situation surrounding North Korea's nuclear program.

Mr. Abdrakhmanov criticized "Pyongyang's irresponsible policies, which are undermining collective efforts toward a denuclearized future."

Foreign Minister Abdrakhmanov stated that North Korea's missile program is "one of the threats to regional security."

7. Bus crashes into pedestrians in Russian capital, causing multiple casualties.

On December 25, a bus unexpectedly crashed into a pedestrian walkway in western Moscow, Russia, killing at least five people and injuring more than 10 others.

Police said that among the fatalities were both passengers on the bus and bystanders. The bus driver has been arrested for questioning.

The Russian news agency TASS, citing sources in the country's security agencies, reported that the possibility of a terrorist attack cannot be ruled out. Authorities are currently investigating the cause.

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