Russia celebrates 75th anniversary of Leningrad liberation; North Korea calls on US to take “substantive action”
(Baonghean.vn) - Russia held a military parade to celebrate the 75th anniversary of the liberation of Leningrad; North Korea called on the US to "take real action"; Canadian Ambassador to China was fired after comments about Huawei; Double bombing at a church in the Philippines... are the world's top news stories of the past 24 hours.
Russia holds military parade to celebrate 75th anniversary of Leningrad liberation
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| Russia held a military parade to celebrate the 73rd anniversary of Victory Day in the Great Patriotic War (May 9, 1945 - May 9, 2018). Illustration photo: VNA |
On January 27, Russian tanks and anti-aircraft missile systems paraded through the center of Saint Petersburg, formerly known as Leningrad, to mark the 75th anniversary of the city's liberation in World War II. The Battle of Leningrad is one of the greatest symbols of the military and human endurance contest between the Soviet government and the Nazi regime. It is also one of the most tragic and heroic pages in the history of World War II.
It was the first time Russia had held a display of wartime and modern heavy weapons in its second-largest city. Among the weapons on display were the famous T-34 battle tank and multiple-barreled rocket systems. Over 2,500 soldiers in modern and wartime uniforms such as sheepskins and felt boots, along with the weapons, marched past the Hermitage Museum to mark the end of the siege of Leningrad, which claimed over 800,000 lives.
Double bombing at Philippine church
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Victims of the bombing are treated at the hospital. Photo: AP. |
Two bombs exploded on January 27 outside a Roman Catholic church in the southern Philippines, killing at least 21 people and injuring 71. Philippine National Police Chief Oscar Albayalde said the first bomb exploded in or near the Jolo church while prayers were taking place. The second bomb exploded outside the church as authorities were responding to the first incident.GuardianThe dead included both soldiers and civilians.
No one has yet claimed responsibility for the attack on the church in Jolo, but Abu Sayyaf is the prime suspect. Other militant groups in Sulu, including a small group of extremely young fighters affiliated with the Islamic State (IS), have also carried out a number of attacks, including kidnappings and beheadings.
Canadian ambassador to China fired after comments about Huawei
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Canadian Ambassador to China John McCallum. Photo: Reuters. |
"Last night, I asked for and accepted the resignation of John McCallum as Canada's Ambassador to China,"APquoted Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau on January 26. Mr. Trudeau said Jim Nickel, deputy chief of mission at the Canadian Embassy in Beijing, will serve as Canada's Charge d'Affaires to China, effective immediately. Prime Minister Trudeau thanked McCallum, who served as a minister in his cabinet, for his 20 years of service to the government.
Ambassador McCallum said on January 22 that Washington's extradition request for Meng Wanzhou was flawed and that the Huawei CFO had significant advantages. "First, there's the political element to it after Donald Trump's comments. Second, there's the multinational element to her case. And it involves Iran sanctions, but Canada is not a party to them. So I think she has some strong arguments before the court," he explained. McCallum's comments quickly drew criticism for breaking the Canadian government's neutral approach to judicial matters. McCallum later admitted he had misspoken when making comments related to Meng's proceedings.
North Korea calls on the US to "take real action"
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| US President Donald Trump (left) and North Korean leader Kim Jong-un. Photo: AFP/TTXVN |
North Korea's foreign propaganda website Uriminjokkiri said on January 27 that North Korea called on the US to take substantive action. According to a VNA correspondent in Seoul, the call was made in the context of Washington and Pyongyang conducting negotiations to prepare for the second US-North Korea summit.
The article titled “Our (North Korea) consistent stance is to establish new US-North Korea relations and build a peace regime on the Korean Peninsula” emphasized: “The US should respond with corresponding substantive actions and confidence-building measures, and the relationship between the two countries will develop more rapidly and better through the process of seeking more breakthrough and more certain measures.”
Russia conducts humanitarian operations in southwestern Syria
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| A scene of devastation in Eastern Ghouta, Daraa province in southwestern Syria. Source: Reuters |
According to Sputniknews, the representative of the Syrian Reconciliation Center of the Russian Defense Ministry, Mr. Eduard Titov, announced on January 27 that the country's army had organized two humanitarian activities in Eastern Ghouta, Daraa province in southwestern Syria. Speaking to the press, Mr. Titov stated: "Today, we carried out a humanitarian action in the Sheikh Maskin area of Daraa province, where we distributed warm clothes, stationery and food to the people of Arbin (a town in Eastern Ghouta)".
Russia has long supported the Middle Eastern country, through sponsoring ceasefires, supporting the fight against terrorism and providing humanitarian aid to civilians.
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