8 of the hottest world events in the past 24 hours.

(Baonghean.vn) - Mr. Trump announces new security strategy with 4 core national interests; Japan will deploy the Aegis Ashore missile defense system; the US vetoes the UN resolution on Jerusalem;... these are the prominent international news stories of the past 24 hours.

1. Mr. Trump announces a new national security strategy with four core national interests.

US President Donald Trump speaks at the White House on December 18. Photo: AFP/VNA

President Donald Trump announced the new U.S. national security strategy. This strategy is based on four main pillars with the aim of affirming and promoting the role and influence of the United States in line with President Donald Trump's "America First" policy.

Opening his speech at the White House, President Donald Trump reaffirmed American values ​​while highlighting the achievements made since his election as president in all areas, including economic growth, politics, and foreign policy.

President Donald Trump emphasized that the United States needs a new national security strategy to address challenges to American values ​​and influence and to continue pursuing its "America First" policy.

2. South Korean and Japanese Foreign Ministers hold talks, discussing many pressing issues.

South Korean Foreign Minister Kang Kyung-wha (left) with her Japanese counterpart Taro Kono. (Source: Kyodo)

According to Yonhap and Reuters, on December 19, top diplomatic officials from Japan and South Korea held talks on bilateral relations in Tokyo, Japan, days before Seoul is expected to announce the results of a review of a bilateral agreement signed to end long-standing tensions over the issue of wartime comfort women.

South Korean Foreign Minister Kang Kyung-wha and her South Korean counterpart Taro Kono discussed North Korea's missile and nuclear development programs, as well as Tokyo-Seoul relations related to the comfort women agreement signed in December 2015.

3. Hundreds of South Korean and U.S. Marines conduct joint exercises.

US Marines conduct joint exercises with South Korean soldiers off the coast of Pohang. Source: Getty Images/VNA

According to Yonhap, the South Korean Marine Corps announced on December 19 that hundreds of South Korean and US Marines had conducted a joint winter exercise in the mountainous PyeongChang region of eastern South Korea.

This three-week exercise began on December 4th at the Hwangbyeong Mountain training camp as part of the South Korean Marine Corps' training program. Participating in this joint exercise are more than 220 South Korean Marines and approximately 220 U.S. Marines stationed at Okinawa, Japan.

4. The US vetoes the UN resolution on Jerusalem.

US Ambassador to the UN Nikki Haley during the voting session on February 19. Photo: Reuters

The United States was the only country to veto a Security Council resolution drafted by Egypt, calling on Washington to withdraw its declaration recognizing Jerusalem as the capital of Israel, in the early hours of December 19 (Vietnam time). The US was once again isolated at the United Nations following President Donald Trump's decision on December 6.

The remaining 14 countries, including the four permanent members of the Security Council, while not directly mentioning Trump or the Washington administration, expressed "deep regret over the recent decision concerning the status of Jerusalem."

The draft resolution, drafted and promoted by Egypt, asserts that "any decisions and actions that alter the status, identity and demographic composition of the city of Jerusalem are legally invalid, meaningless and must be annulled by relevant Security Council resolutions."

5. Russia arrests a Norwegian citizen suspected of espionage.

Illustrative image

According to Reuters, on December 19, the RIA news agency, citing a Moscow court source, reported that Russia had arrested a Norwegian citizen suspected of espionage.

Accordingly, the Russian Federal Security Service (FSB) caught this Norwegian citizen red-handed receiving classified documents about the Russian Navy from a local citizen.

Previously, on December 11th, the Moscow City Court sentenced Estonian businessman Raivo Susi for espionage.

The Russian Federal Security Service (FSB) arrested Susi while he was transiting through Sheremetyevo Airport on his journey from Tallinn to Tajikistan.

6. Bangladesh: Stampede at funeral leaves 10 dead.

A stampede. Photo courtesy of Khaam Press.

Bangladeshi officials have just announced that at least 10 people were killed and more than 50 injured in a stampede at the funeral of a politician in the southeastern city of Chittagong on December 18.

Police and health officials said the death toll could rise as at least 15 people were seriously injured. The stampede was caused by approximately 100,000 people pushing and shoving to get free food distributed by funeral organizers.

Immediately after the incident, police arrived at the scene to disperse the crowd and restore order. The stampede occurred at the funeral of a former leader of Bangladesh's ruling party and former mayor of Chittagong.

7. The son of the late leader Gaddafi runs for President of Libya amidst national turmoil.

Saif Gaddafi (center), son of former leader Muammar Gaddafi, is preparing to campaign for the presidency.

According to Sputnik news agency, several sources have previously stated that Saif Gaddafi, the son of former Libyan President Muammar Gaddafi, intends to campaign for the presidency next year.

Basem al-Hashimi al-Soul, spokesman for the Gaddafi family, recently confirmed that Saif will run for president in an interview with RIA Novosti.

“Mr. Saif will announce his candidacy for the future presidency. This is a final decision and will no longer be discussed within the family. It will be announced on television and in the mass media on a date to be set soon,” al-Soul said.

He also added that, “Saif al-Islam Gaddafi, the son of the former Libyan president, still enjoys the support of many tribes, which is a favorable condition for him to run in the 2018 election.”

8. Train derails and plunges onto highway in the US.

The train derailed and plunged onto the highway below. Photo: Twitter/WSDOT Tacoma traffic.

An Amtrak passenger train derailed on a bridge and plunged onto Interstate 5 below in Pierce County, between Tacoma and Olympia, Washington, at 7:40 a.m. on December 18, according to CTV News.

Authorities said there were 77 passengers and 7 crew members on board. The accident killed at least three people and hospitalized around 100, more than 10 of whom are in critical condition. No driver was killed. All southbound lanes of I-5 were closed.

Local officials warned a few weeks ago that the tracks might not be safe enough for trains to travel at higher speeds. A Washington State Department of Transportation map shows the maximum train speed dropping from 127 km/h to 48 km/h just before the I-5 curve.

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