7 'hot' world events in the past 24 hours

(Baonghean.vn)- Israel deploys hundreds of police officers to the Old City of Jerusalem; UK and EU officially reach Brexit agreement; South Korea on high alert against the possibility of North Korea launching more missiles;... are the outstanding international news of the past 24 hours.

1. Israel deploys hundreds of police officers to Jerusalem's Old City

Israeli police stand guard in Jerusalem's Old City on July 28. Source: EPA/TTXVN

According to AFP, on December 8, Israel deployed hundreds of police officers to the Old City of Jerusalem, as Palestinians called for protests after weekly Muslim prayers to protest US President Donald Trump's recognition of Jerusalem as Israel's capital.

Israeli police spokesman Micky Rosenfeld confirmed that hundreds of police officers have been deployed to the area in and around the Old City of Jerusalem. The situation remains relatively calm in the Old City of Jerusalem, home to the Al-Aqsa Mosque complex - Islam's third holiest site.

Previously, the Islamic armed movement Hamas called for an uprising on the "day of anger" December 8./.

2. UK-EU officially reached Brexit agreement

British Prime Minister Theresa May (left) and EC President Jean-Claude Juncker at a press conference in Brussels, Belgium on December 4. Source: THX/TTXVN

On December 8, the European Commission (EC) assessed that negotiations on the terms for Britain to leave the European Union (EU), also known as Brexit, had made "sufficient progress" to open the second phase of negotiations to discuss the future of trade relations with the UK.

The issue will be presented to the leaders of 27 countries for consideration and approval at the Summit scheduled to take place on December 14 and 15 in Brussels. British Prime Minister Theresa May arrived in Brussels early on December 8 to meet with EU leaders.

A spokesman for the EC said that negotiations between the EU and the UK on Brexit have made progress after European Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker spoke by phone with Irish Prime Minister Leo Varadkar and British Prime Minister Theresa May on December 7.

3. Japanese Cabinet approves Emperor Akihito's abdication date

Emperor Akihito (left) and Empress Michiko on Yoron Island, southwestern Japan on November 17. Source: Kyodo/TTXVN

According to Kyodo, on December 8, the cabinet of Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe officially approved April 30, 2019 as the date for Emperor Akihito to abdicate, marking the first time a Japanese emperor has left the throne in 200 years.

Crown Prince Naruhito, 57, will ascend the throne a day later. The Japanese cabinet approved the decision a week after the Imperial Household Council headed by Prime Minister Abe agreed on the date of the emperor's abdication.

The government is expected to set up an organization next year to prepare for the abdication ceremony. Emperor Akihito, 84, ascended the throne in 1989 after the death of his father, Emperor Hirohito. During his reign, Emperor Akihito was always respected and loved by the people.

4. South Korea on high alert for the possibility of North Korea launching another missile

Image outside the headquarters of the South Korean Ministry of National Defense. Photo: Yonhap.

YonhapNorth Korea will fire more missiles or conduct another nuclear test because Pyongyang sees its weapons program as a means to help it survive, a South Korean Defense Ministry source said on December 8.

The assessment came as South Korean Defense Minister Song Young-moo held a year-end review meeting with more than 150 of the country's top commanding officers.

Mr. Song Young-moo pointed out that South Korean forces have always maintained a tight defense posture throughout the past year in the context of North Korea conducting its sixth nuclear test and launching 15 ballistic missiles.

According to the assessment of the South Korean Ministry of Defense and military generals, North Korea will continue to take provocative actions in a tough direction towards the US to increase the ability to negotiate.

5. Japan officially decided to buy new long-range missiles

JSM missile. Photo: militaryaerospace.

Japanese Defense Minister Itsunori Onodera officially announced on December 8 that Japan will purchase long-range missiles to equip fighter aircraft.

Specifically, Japan will purchase the Norwegian-made JSM missile with a range of 500km to equip the F35A fighter jet, and the US-made LRASM and JASSM missiles with a range of 900km to equip the F15 fighter jet, of which the JSM is expected to be purchased in 2021.

The budget for purchasing long-range missiles will be increased by about 2.2 billion yen in fiscal 2018, and an additional 30 billion yen is expected to be added to fund the review of fighter jets that will be equipped with the missiles Japan plans to buy.

6. Thousands of Asians protest Trump's decision on Jerusalem

Protesters gathered outside the US embassy in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, on December 8. Photo: Strait Times.

Thousands of Muslims in Indonesia and Malaysia on December 8 protested against the US recognizing Jerusalem as the capital of Israel outside Washington embassies.

In Indonesia, the world's largest Muslim nation, hundreds of people, most dressed in white, marched toward the US embassy in Jakarta. Some wore checkered scarves and waved Palestinian flags, while others chanted "Allahu Akbar" (God is great).

The US Embassy in Jakarta advised US citizens to avoid areas where protesters were present. The US Consulate in Surabaya, Indonesia's second-largest city, suspended public services on August 12.

Indonesia supports a two-state solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. Many protests have taken place in the country in support of Palestine. Indonesian President Joko Widodo on December 7 called on the US to reconsider its decision. He asked the Indonesian foreign minister to summon the US ambassador and ask for an explanation.

7. Ship sinks in Taiwan, one Vietnamese crew member missing

Taiwanese rescue forces arrived at the fishing boat's distress signal - Photo: CNA

Nine people were rescued while another remains missing after a fishing boat capsized off the coast of Ruifang in New Taipei City on the morning of November 8.

According to the declaration, the ship's crew members include a Taiwanese captain and Chinese, Filipino, Indonesian and Vietnamese crew members.

According to Taiwanese authorities, the boat hit a coral reef about 5km off the Nan-ya fishing port in Ruifang. The collision threw all 10 people on board into the sea.

By 6:50 a.m., Taiwan's fire department and coast guard rescued 9 out of 10 crew members, including the captain surnamed Yang, 1 Chinese sailor, 1 Filipino, 2 Indonesians and 4 Vietnamese crew members.

According to initial information, the missing person is a Vietnamese crew member.

Peace

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