Hot world events in the past 24 hours

1. President Trump wishes Vietnamese people a Happy New Year

President Trump and President Tran Dai Quang at a press conference at the Presidential Palace in November 2017. Photo: Hoang Ha.

The phone call between President Tran Dai Quang and President Trump on February 14 took place in the context of the bilateral relationship continuing to develop substantially and effectively; on the basis of respecting each other's independence, sovereignty, territorial integrity and political institutions, for the benefit of the people of the two countries; and actively contributing to maintaining peace, stability, cooperation and development in the region and the world.

On this occasion, the Vietnamese Ministry of Foreign Affairs said that President Trump sent New Year greetings to the leaders and people of Vietnam on the occasion of the traditional Tet Mau Tuat.

2. Florida school shooting, at least 17 people killed

The suspect wearing a maroon shirt was arrested by police. Photo: REUTERS

Reuters news agency quoted Broward County police as saying that 17 people were killed in the shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, an area about 50 miles north of Miami.

The entire school has been placed on lockdown. Victims have been transported to Broward Health Medical Center and Broward Health North Hospital. In addition to the dead, dozens of others were injured.

Broward County Sheriff Steve Israel said the victims included both students and adults, but he could not confirm whether the adults were teachers at the school.

3. Homemade bomb rocks street festival in Bolivia

Street festival in Oruro. Source: AFP

A bomb explosion has rocked the festival town of Oruro, northwestern Bolivia, killing at least four people and injuring nine.
Bolivian police said a “homemade bomb” with 3kg of explosives went off at the festival, where thousands of people were dancing along 4km of streets. The explosion also forced the University of Oruro and schools in the area to close due to security concerns.
The Oruro city government and patrols confirmed that this was an attack. Bolivian Interior Minister Carlos Romero said police had arrested three suspects and found ANFO explosives commonly used in the mining industry at the scene.

4. Trump, Abe talk on the phone, pledge to maintain pressure on North Korea

Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe (left) and US President Donald Trump. Photo: AP.

The two leaders confirmed in a phone call on the night of February 14 that there would be "no meaningful dialogue" unless North Korea agreed to "complete, verifiable and irreversible denuclearization,"AFPciting a statement from the Japanese Foreign Ministry about the phone call between Prime Minister Shinzo Abe and US President Donald Trump.

"Dialogue for the sake of dialogue is meaningless," Mr. Abe told reporters after the phone call.

The two leaders agreed to maintain pressure on North Korea until Pyongyang abandons its nuclear and missile programs. US Vice President Mike Pence said on February 14 that the US is also willing to talk to North Korea but only to convey the message that Pyongyang must give up its nuclear weapons.

5. Ethiopian Prime Minister announces resignation

Ethiopian Prime Minister Hailemariam Desalegn. Photo: Madote

On February 15, Ethiopian Prime Minister Hailemariam Desalegn announced his resignation as Prime Minister and chairman of the ruling coalition.

The move comes amid a political crisis and prolonged unrest in the country.

Previously, on February 10, about 750 prisoners, including 1 journalist and 1 opposition politician, were released.freedom to ease tensions that have gripped the country since 2015.

Since January this year, Ethiopia has released more than 6,000 prisoners, most of whom were arrested for allegedly participating in large-scale protests in 2015./.

6. Explosion at weapons depot in Syria, 15 Russian security personnel killed

An explosion at an arms depot occurred in Deir Ezzor province. Photo: AFP/Getty.

AFP on February 15 quoted a source from the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights (SOHR) as saying that 15 Russians working for a private security company in Syria were killed after an explosion rocked their weapons depot in Syria.

The incident occurred at a weapons depot in Tabiya Jazira, Deir Ezzor province, northeastern Syria, SOHR said.

Rami Abdel Rahman, head of the SOHR, said the company was responsible for "protecting oil and gas fields controlled by the Syrian government".

"Fifteen Russians working for a Russian security company were killed in an explosion at a company arms depot in Tabiya Jazira, Deir Ezzor province," he told AFP.

7. Russia denies cyber attacks in Europe

The Kremlin denies cyberattack allegations. Illustration photo: TASS/Getty Images

On February 15, Russia denied Britain's accusation that it was behind cyber attacks that paralyzed the operations of many companies in Europe.

Speaking at a press conference, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said that the British side's accusations today that Russia was responsible for the cyber attacks called NotPetya were baseless.

According to the Kremlin, this is part of a campaign to smear Russia being conducted in a number of Western countries.

Earlier that day, Britain blamed Russia for spreading a virus that disrupted the operations of companies across Europe./.

8. Ms. Yingluck suddenly held a press conference in Hong Kong?

Former Thai Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra. Photo: Reuters

According to The Naion news agency, Thai National Legislative Assembly member Somchai Sawangkarn today, February 15, quoted a diplomatic source as saying that former Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra is expected to hold a press conference in Hong Kong soon.

Mr. Somchai said that after going to China, Taiwan and Hong Kong will be Ms. Yingluck's next destination, where she will likely campaign for support.

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