8 'hot' world events in the past 24 hours

(Baonghean.vn) - Mr. Trump announced a new security strategy with 4 core national interests; Japan will deploy the Aegis Ashore missile defense system; the US vetoed the United Nations resolution on Jerusalem;... are the outstanding international news of the past 24 hours.

1. Mr. Trump announced a new security strategy with 4 core national interests

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

President Donald Trump announced the new US 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 accordance with President Donald Trump's "America First" policy.

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

President Donald Trump stressed that the United States needs a new national security strategy to respond to challenges to American values ​​and influence and continue to pursue the "America first" policy.

2. Korean and Japanese foreign ministers hold talks, discuss many hot issues

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

Top diplomats from Japan and South Korea held talks on bilateral relations in Tokyo on December 19, 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, Yonhap and Reuters reported.

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

3. Hundreds of South Korean and US Marines conduct joint exercises

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

According to Yonhap, the South Korean Marine Corps said on December 19 that hundreds of marines from the country and the US have coordinated to conduct winter exercises in the mountainous area of ​​PyeongChang, eastern South Korea.

The three-week exercise began on December 4 at the Hwangbyeong Mountain training camp as part of the South Korean Marine Corps Exercise Program. More than 220 South Korean Marines and about 220 U.S. Marines based in Okinawa, Japan, participated in the joint exercise.

4. The US vetoed the United Nations 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 United Nations Security Council (UNSC) resolution drafted by Egypt, calling on Washington to withdraw its recognition of Jerusalem as the capital of Israel early on December 19 (Vietnam time). The United States was once again isolated at the United Nations (UN) after President Donald Trump's decision on December 6.

The remaining 14 countries, including the four permanent members of the Security Council, without directly mentioning Mr. Trump or the Washington administration, expressed "deep regret at the recent decision regarding the status of Jerusalem."

The draft resolution, drafted and pushed for by Egypt, affirms that "any decisions and actions that alter the status, status and demographic composition of the city of Jerusalem are legally null and void, null and void and must be rescinded by relevant resolutions of the Security Council."

5. Russia arrests a Norwegian citizen suspected of spying

Illustration photo

According to Reuters, on December 19, RIA news agency quoted a Moscow court as saying that Russia had arrested a Norwegian citizen suspected of espionage.

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

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

The Russian Federal Security Service (FSB) detained Mr. Susi while he was in transit at Sheremetyevo airport on his way from the capital Tallinn to Tajikistan.

6. Bangladesh: Stampede at funeral kills 10 people

A stampede. Photo illustration by Khaam Press.

Bangladeshi officials have said 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 medical officials said the death toll could rise as at least 15 people were seriously injured. The stampede was caused by about 100,000 people jostling and pushing at the same time to get free food distributed by funeral organizers.

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

7. The son of the late leader Gaddafi runs for President of Libya when the country is in chaos.

Mr. Saif Gaddafi (center), son of former leader Muammar Gaddafi, is preparing to run for President.

According to Sputnik news agency, some sources have said that Mr. Saif Gaddafi, son of former Libyan President Muammar Gaddafi, intends to campaign to run for President next year.

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

“Saif will announce his candidacy for the presidency in the future. This is a final decision and will not be discussed within the family. It will be announced on television and the mass media at a date to be determined soon,” al-Soul said.

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

8. Train derails and crashes onto highway in the US

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

An Amtrak passenger train derailed on a bridge and crashed 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 seven crew members on board. At least three people were killed and about 100 were hospitalized, more than 10 of them in critical condition. No driver was killed. All southbound lanes of I-5 were closed.

Local officials warned weeks ago that the tracks might not be safe enough to handle trains traveling at higher speeds. A map from the Washington State Department of Transportation shows the train’s top speed dropping from 79 mph to 30 mph just before the curve over I-5.

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