US announces no troop withdrawal from Syria; Taiwan leaves open possibility of talks with China
(Baonghean.vn) - The US has announced that it has not yet withdrawn its troops from Syria; The King of Malaysia has announced his abdication; Taiwan has left open the possibility of negotiations with China; The Pentagon's Chief of Staff has resigned; A gold mine collapse in Afghanistan has killed at least 30 people... are the world's most prominent news in the past 24 hours.
US declares it has not withdrawn troops from Syria
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| US soldiers in Syria. Photo: US Army |
On January 6, during a surprise visit to Israel to discuss the US troop withdrawal plan with its most important ally in the Middle East, US National Security Advisor John Bolton announced that Washington has no timetable for withdrawing troops at this time. This statement seems to contradict the direction of President Donald Trump, who previously ordered the Pentagon to withdraw all US troops from Syria. According to Mr. Bolton, the US troop withdrawal plan will depend on whether the self-proclaimed Islamic State (IS) group has been finally defeated.
The AP news agency quoted National Security Adviser Bolton as saying to reporters that the US will not withdraw its troops from Syria until Türkiye ensures the safety of the Kurdish community that Washington has supported in the past. However, the senior official affirmed that the US is not interested in maintaining a long-term military presence in Syria.
French Government Spokesperson Flees as 'Yellow Vests' Vandalize Office
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The door to Mr. Griveaux's office in Paris was damaged by protesters. Photo:AFP |
French government spokesman Griveaux said about a dozen people, some dressed in black and some in yellow vests, used a small construction vehicle to break into the government building on January 5. They also broke several windows and damaged several cars, according toBBC.Mr Griveaux and his colleagues had to flee through a back gate and take refuge in a nearby hotel. French President Macron condemned the incident on Twitter, saying that "defenders of France, representatives of France, symbols of France" were being attacked.
The "yellow vest" protest movement in France entered its eighth week on January 5 and spread across the country. The march in Paris began peacefully but broke out in the afternoon. Protesters threw tear gas and set fires, forcing riot police to use heavy force. Interior Minister Christophe Castaner said about 50,000 people participated in protests across France yesterday, up from last week but down from 280,000 in November 2018.
Gold mine collapse in Afghanistan kills at least 30 people
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| Source: Reuters |
At least 30 people were killed when a gold mine collapsed in northeastern Afghanistan on January 6. Mohammad Rustam Raghi, the head of Kohistan district in Badakhshan province, said that in addition to the dead, seven people were injured.
Locals had dug a 60-meter-deep shaft near a riverbank in search of gold. Many people were inside when the shaft collapsed. The cause of the collapse is still unknown. Several rescue teams have been dispatched to the scene, while villagers have recovered the bodies of the dead from the shaft.
Malaysian King announces abdication
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King of Malaysia Muhammad V. Photo: AFP. |
The Malaysian royal family announced on January 6 that King Muhammad V of Malaysia has abdicated. This is the first time a reigning monarch in Malaysia has abdicated before the end of his five-year term. The King's abdication announcement takes effect immediately.
King Muhammad V of Malaysia was officially crowned as the 15th King of Malaysia at the Royal Palace on April 24, 2017 - officially beginning his 5-year term as the supreme ruler of this constitutional monarchy. Malaysia is one of 43 countries in the world that practice constitutional monarchy and is the only country in the world that chooses its king on a rotational basis.
Landslide in the Philippines: Death toll rises to 126
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Rescuers carry shovels and hoes as they dig through landslide debris to search for victims in Camarines Sur, central Bicol on January 1. Photo:ABS. |
As of the morning of January 6 (local time), the death toll from landslides and flash floods in the Philippines has risen to 126. The Philippine National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council said that 26 others are still missing. The number of people affected by the disaster has also reached more than 675,000. Rescue efforts are still ongoing, with rescue forces including the police and military using heavy equipment to clear roads leading to landslide sites as well as accessing flooded areas by boat.
Typhoon Usman hit the Philippines on December 29 last year, bringing heavy rains, causing floods and landslides in the Bicol and Eastern Visayas regions.
Pentagon chief of staff resigns
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| US Navy Rear Admiral Kevin Sweeney. Photo:AP |
Washington ExamineOn January 5, the Pentagon's Chief of Staff, US Navy Major General Kevin Sweeney, resigned without giving a reason. "After two years at the Pentagon, I have decided it is time to return to the private sector. I feel honored to serve our country side by side with the men and women of the Department of Defense," Mr. Sweeney said in a short statement.
Mr. Sweeney is considered the right-hand man of former US Defense Secretary James Mattis, who resigned last month due to disagreement with President Trump's decision to withdraw all US troops from Syria. Deputy Defense Secretary Patrick Shanahan became acting secretary from January 1, ensuring operations at the Pentagon until a replacement for Mattis is found.
Taiwan leaves open possibility of talks with China
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Taiwanese leader Tsai Ing-wen. Photo:Reuters. |
Taiwan has no objection to talks with mainland China on the condition that Beijing "promotes democracy, protects human rights and renounces the use of force against us," President Tsai Ing-wen said.SCMP"Only when both sides step up efforts to gain sufficient trust can we expand the possibility of negotiations and strengthen the dialogue options," Taiwan's leader said.
Tsai's statement came after Chinese President Xi Jinping, in a speech marking the 40th anniversary of the thaw in relations with Taiwan, said that reunification with China, similar to Hong Kong and Macau, was the best way to protect the rights and interests of the Taiwanese people. The Chinese leader also said he reserved the right to use all necessary measures to achieve unification and prevent Taiwan from becoming independent.
Saudi Arabian women notified of divorce via text message for first time
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Saudi Arabian women using mobile phones. Photo: AFP. |
Starting January 6, courts will be required to notify Saudi women via text message that they have been divorced by their husbands. Female lawyers say the measure will end the practice of so-called “secret divorces,” where men in the country quietly end their marriages without informing their wives, according toBBC.The new regulations ensure that women are fully informed about their marital status and their rights are protected. Many women have appealed to the court about being abandoned by their husbands without their knowledge.
This is considered a new step in the economic and social reform program promoted by Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, including lifting the ban on women driving, allowing women to attend football matches, and doing jobs traditionally reserved for men.
