US sends warships to the Black Sea; Military coup in Gabon
(Baonghean.vn) - Gabon army takes over state radio station, plots coup; British Parliament will vote on Brexit deal on January 15; US sends warship to Black Sea for first time after Russia seizes Ukrainian ship;
Cambodia solemnly commemorates the 40th anniversary of the overthrow of the Khmer Rouge genocidal regime.
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| Prime Minister Hun Sen and National Assembly President Heng Samrin welcomed delegates to the ceremony. |
On the morning of January 7, at the Olympic Stadium in the capital Phnom Penh, thousands of Cambodian people carrying colorful flags and flowers, along with representatives of ministries, departments and branches of the Royal Government, jubilantly celebrated the 40th anniversary of the January 7 Victory (January 7, 1979 - January 7, 2019) that overthrew the Khmer Rouge genocidal regime.
In his opening speech at the ceremony, Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen emphasized that the January 7, 1979 victory was based on the combined strength of two resources: the solidarity of the Cambodian people under the leadership of the Cambodian People's Party, and the great, timely and effective support of the Vietnamese Volunteer Army.The head of the Cambodian Government affirmed that without the combination of these two resources, the January 7 Victory would not have been achieved.
Gabon: Army seizes state radio station, plots coup
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Gabonese military officer speaks on the radio. Photo: BBC |
Gabon military officers launched a coup to overthrow the government, seizing state radio and declaring “dissatisfaction” with the government of President Ali Bongo, who is currently in Morocco for medical treatment.
On the same day, government spokesman Guy-Bertrand Mapangou said: "Calm has returned, the situation is under control." The official also said that four of the five coup plotters had been arrested, while the remaining one was on the run.
US sends warship to Black Sea for first time after Russia seizes Ukrainian ship
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USS Fort McHenry. Photo:US Navy |
The amphibious transport dock ship USS Fort McHenry crossed the Dardanelles Strait and entered the Black Sea on the evening of January 6, becoming the first US warship to appear in this area since the Russian coast guard opened fire and captured three Ukrainian warships on November 25, 2018.Stars and StripesThe Russian Defense Ministry said it had deployed the frigate Pytlivy to monitor the activities of the USS Fort McHenry.
USS Fort McHenry is equipped with self-defense weapons including two Mk 38 25mm automatic cannons, two Phalanx close-in weapon systems (CIWS), two RIM-116 short-range missile systems and six 12.7mm machine guns. It can carry many hovercraft and landing craft and about 400 Marines, but is not capable of attacking enemy warships and aircraft.
British Parliament to vote on Brexit deal on January 15
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Prime Minister Theresa May will hold a vote in the UK Parliament to approve the Brexit deal on January 15. Photo: Daily Express |
BBC news agency quoted a British government source as saying that Prime Minister Theresa May will hold a vote in the country's Parliament to approve the Brexit deal on January 15.
The news comes as more than 200 MPs from across the political spectrum have signed a letter to Prime Minister Theresa May urging her government to avoid a no-deal Brexit. According to the MPs, a no-deal Brexit would cost many jobs.
Myanmar to launch crackdown on rebels in Rakhine state
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| Myanmar armed police patrol in Sittwe, the capital of Rakhine state. Photo: AFP/TTXVN |
Myanmar has called on its military to "launch an operation" against rebels in Rakhine state who carried out a deadly attack on four police stations last week, government spokesman Zaw Htay said, amid a renewed wave of violence in the western state.
Speaking to reporters in the capital Naypyidaw, Mr. Zaw Htay stated: "The President's Office has instructed the Myanmar military to launch a campaign to suppress rebel groups."
