World last week - featured news

(Baonghean.vn) - The UK officially initiated the process of leaving the EU, former South Korean President Park Guen-hye was arrested, Ivanka Trump was officially appointed as her father's assistant at the White House, North Korea tested a missile engine again, etc. are notable events that took place in the world last week.

1. Britain officially triggers the process of leaving the EU

British Prime Minister Theresa May after signing the letter officially starting the process of Britain leaving the European Union, in London on March 28. Photo: EPA/TTXVN

British Prime Minister Theresa May on March 28 signed a historic letter to the European Union (EU) about leaving the bloc after 44 years of membership."The UK is leaving the European Union," May told lawmakers. "This is a historic moment from which there is no turning back."

At the same time, British Ambassador to Brussels Tim Barrow handed over a letter signed by the British Prime Minister to European Council President Donald Tusk. Once the letter was accepted, Article 50 of the EU's Lisbon Treaty, which sets out the procedure for a member state to leave the bloc, was officially triggered.

The negotiations are expected to take two years, meaning Britain will leave the EU in 2019. Copies of Mrs May's letter will be sent to the leaders of all 27 other EU member states.

2. Former South Korean President Park Geun-hye was arrested.

Former South Korean President Park Geun-hye leaves the Seoul Central District Court after the end of the hearing on the evening of March 30. Photo: Reuters​

On the morning of March 31, former South Korean President Park Geun-hye was officially arrested after the Seoul Central Court approved the prosecutor's request.

Ms. Park was accused of corruption, abuse of power and leaking state secrets to her close friend Choi Soon-sil, who had no official position in the government. Prosecutors requested an emergency arrest of Ms. Park due to concerns that evidence of the crime could be erased. Ms. Park was removed from office on March 10, meaning she lost the immunity afforded to a president.

Former President Park will be subject to all checks and living hours such as: having to wake up at 6:30 am and go to bed at 9 pm; the number of visits is limited but she is allowed to meet with her lawyer without limit. On the first day, Ms. Park will be given a lunch set costing 1,443 won (about 30,000 VND) including bean sprouts, kimchi, stewed cabbage and seaweed.

3. Ivanka Trump officially appointed as assistant to her father at the White House

Ivanka stands next to her father Donald Trump.

According to The New York Times, businesswoman Ivanka Trump will take on an unpaid official role at the White House.

"We are delighted that Ivanka Trump has decided to take on the unprecedented role of First Daughter and support the President," the White House said in a statement on Wednesday. "In this role, Ivanka will have the opportunity to lead initiatives that will deliver real policy benefits to the American public in a way that has never been done before."

4. China asks France to investigate the death of a citizen

Chinese protesters gather in front of a police station in Paris on March 27. Photo: Xinhua

China's Foreign Ministry said on March 28 that it had summoned a French diplomat after French police shot dead a Chinese citizen in Paris.

Xinhua news agency reported that the Chinese citizen died on the night of March 26 after a "scuffle" with police, then on the evening of March 27, about 100 people from the Chinese community in France participated in a protest outside the police headquarters in northeastern Paris.

Chinese Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Hua Chunying said that China has asked France to investigate the incident and take effective measures to ensure the safety of its citizens in France.

5. North Korea tests rocket engine again

Illustration photo.

On March 27, Reuters news agency quoted a US official as saying that North Korea has continued testing an intercontinental ballistic missile engine. According to US officials, this is a sign that North Korea is stepping up its nuclear technology development program, in the context of international public concern about the country's missile and nuclear tests.

The missile engine test, which is believed to have taken place on the night of March 24, is the second missile engine test that Pyongyang has conducted this month.

In a rocket engine test in early March, North Korean leader Kim Jong Un announced that the country had successfully tested a new generation of international-class rocket engines from the Tongchang-ri launch site, opening a new page for the rocket manufacturing industry.

6. Ms. Lam Cheng Yuet-ngor was elected Chief Executive of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region.

Ms. Lam Cheng Yuet-ngor. Photo: EPA/TTXVN

According to unofficial vote counting results, former Chief Secretary for the Hong Kong (China) government Carrie Lam won 772 votes from the 1,194-member National Election Committee (NEC), surpassing former Finance Minister Tsang Chun-wah and retired judge Ho Kwok-hung to become the first female Chief Executive of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region.

Previously, 1,194 NEC members participated in the election in the form of secret ballot (without signature). The candidate who wins 601 votes will be the winner of this election, becoming the Chief Executive of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region for the next 5-year term. Ms. Lam will officially take office on July 1.

7. Russia: Large protests against corrupt government

Hundreds of protesters in Russia were arrested on March 26. Photo: CNN

On March 26, thousands of people across Russia took to the streets to protest corruption and demand the resignation of Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev. More than 500 people were detained, including opposition leader Alexei Navalny.

Protests took place in many major cities in eastern Russia, such as Novosibirsk (2,000 people), Vladivostok (700 people), etc. In the capital Moscow alone, according to the police, at least 7,000 people participated in the march on one of the main streets.

Local authorities in Russia have given various reasons for banning protests. Some universities have held exams on this day to discourage students from taking part in protests.

According to the BBC, at least 500 people were arrested by police. Most of the marches were illegal, as Russia requires a permit to hold demonstrations. Despite the demonstrations taking place in the heart of Moscow, the pro-government press remained silent.

Peace

(Synthetic)