7 outstanding world news of the past week

(Baonghean.vn) - China sends special envoy to North Korea, strong earthquake in Iran, coup in Zimbabwe;... are outstanding international events of the past week.

1. Crisis in the African nation of Zimbabwe

Zimbabwean army armored vehicles patrol the streets of the capital Harare on November 15. Photo: Reuters

Tensions in Zimbabwe began to rise on November 14 when armored vehicles appeared on many roads outside the capital Harrare. On November 15, the Zimbabwean army placed President Robert Mugabe under house arrest and took control of the national television station.

The coup in the capital Harare has put the military in a position to decide Zimbabwe's future. This is the first time the military has publicly opposed President Mugabe, the world's oldest head of state. Mr. Mugabe has held the position of leader of Zimbabwe since the country ended the monopoly of white minority leadership in 1980.

2. North Korean soldier shot while defecting to South Korea

A North Korean soldier in the demilitarized zone. Photo: Reuters.

A North Korean soldier defected to South Korea on November 13 through the joint security area in the demilitarized zone (DMZ) between the two countries, Yonhap reported on November 13, citing an announcement from the South Korean Joint Chiefs of Staff (JCS).

The defecting soldier was shot by North Korean border guards and was taken to a hospital in South Korea for treatment, the JCS said. North Korea has yet to comment on the incident.

Dozens of North Korean soldiers have defected to South Korea across the demilitarized zone, which stretches about 2 kilometers on each side of the border between the two countries, over the years.

3. China sends special envoy to North Korea

North Korean leader Kim Jong Un (left) and Chinese President Xi Jinping.

On November 17, Mr. Song Tao, Head of the International Liaison Department of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China, officially left for a visit to North Korea. Song Tao is the first Chinese minister-level official to visit Pyongyang in the past two years.

According to the US news agency Bloomberg, the timing of Chinese special envoy Song Tao's visit to North Korea seems to indicate that he will either convey information about the talks between General Secretary and President of China Xi Jinping and US President Donald Trump.

Meanwhile, the US Washington Post also published an article stating that Mr. Tong Dao's visit took place a week after US President Trump visited China. President Trump asked Mr. Xi Jinping to make efforts to resolve the issue of North Korea's nuclear weapons.

4. Terrible earthquake on the Iran-Iraq border

Eight villages were damaged by this historic earthquake.

A magnitude 7.3 earthquake struck near the Iran-Iraq border on November 12, killing at least 416 people in the two countries.

Iran suffered heavy casualties, with at least 407 people killed and about 6,000 injured. More than 230 people died in the town of Sarpol-e Zahab in Kermanshah province, 15 km from the Iraqi border. On the Iraqi side, where 9 people were killed and more than 320 injured, the worst damage was in the town of Darbandikhan in the autonomous Kurdish region.

Iranian officials fear the death toll will continue to rise as rescue teams reach remote areas. Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei expressed condolences to the families of the victims and called on all government agencies to do their utmost to help those affected.

5. Opening of the 31st ASEAN Summit

Leaders of countries attending the conference.

On the morning of November 13, the 31st Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) Summit officially opened in Manila, the capital of the Philippines, with the agenda focusing on peace, stability and cooperation. At the conference, leaders of the 10 ASEAN countries discussed measures to develop the ASEAN Community and affirm the Community's position in the global economy.

After the ASEAN Summit, there will be Summits between ASEAN and its partners, including the 20th ASEAN+3 Summit (with China, Japan, South Korea); ASEAN+1 Summit (with China, Japan, South Korea, India, the United States, Canada, the European Union, the United Nations) and the 12th East Asia Summit (EAS) in Manila.

6. Will President Putin run for re-election in 2018?

Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said on November 17 that it was still unclear whether President Putin would run for re-election when his term ends in 2018.

Reuters quoted Mr. Peskov as saying that President Putin met with former Finance Minister Alexei Kudrin to discuss the economic development strategy until 2024.

Asked if Mr Kudrin was helping President Putin plan for his next presidential term, Mr Peskov said: "It is not clear whether President Putin will run again."

If he continues to run for re-election, Putin's next six-year term will end in 2024, Reuters reported.

7.Britain deeply divided over Brexit

Whether to leave or stay in the EU remains a deeply divisive issue in Britain.

After a turbulent fortnight with a series of political upheavals, British Prime Minister Theresa May's reputation is at risk of plummeting as a series of MPs in the ruling Conservative Party intend to join forces with the Labour Party to pressure the request to amend the bill on withdrawal from the European Union (EU), also known as Brexit, which is being discussed in Parliament.

So, after many complicated issues, up to this point, the UK is still confused on the Brexit journey when there are more and more voices wishing to return to the common home of the EU./.

Peace

(Synthetic)