Russia threatens US with Tu-160 aircraft; French government calls for end to protests
(Baonghean.vn) - Russia flexes its muscles on the US, flying a giant plane for 10 hours; The French government calls for an end to protests after the attack in Strasbourg; Trump's former lawyer gets a 3-year prison sentence; 250,000 Syrian refugees can return home in 2019; China arrests Canadian businessman for "threatening national security"... are the world's top news in the past 24 hours.
Russia shows off its power to the US by flying a giant plane for 10 hours
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| The Tu-160 strategic bomber is nicknamed "White Swan" in the Russian Air Force - Screenshot |
According to the announcement of the Russian Defense Ministry on December 12, the Tupolev Tu-160 bombers flew for more than 10 hours in international airspace over the Caribbean Sea. Interestingly, the Russian planes were escorted by US-made F-16 fighters belonging to the Venezuelan Air Force.
Earlier, on December 10, two nuclear-capable Tu-160 strategic bombers, an Antonov An-124 transport aircraft and an Ilyushin Il-62 long-range aircraft arrived in Venezuela. The Russian military announced that this move was part of a joint exercise with the Venezuelan military. Dozens of Russian pilots and technicians arrived in the South American country to share experiences and train. Observers said that Russia's move this time was partly aimed at "testing the US's hand" after the two countries had repeatedly argued over the Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces Treaty in recent times.
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| German police increase security at the border crossing between Germany and France on December 12, 2018. Source: AFP/VNA |
The French government on December 13 called on "Yellow Vest" protesters to stop all gatherings this weekend, citing the high level of security forces due to the shooting at a Christmas market in Strasbourg.
Speaking on CNews television, French government spokesman Benjamin Griveaux said the government had not banned protests planned for next Saturday, but protesters should "understand reason" after President Emmanuel Macron had introduced a series of financial aid measures.
Groundbreaking for inter-Korean railway and road project is about to take place
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The groundbreaking ceremony for the inter-Korean railway project is scheduled to take place on December 26. Photo: Yonhap. |
South Korea and North Korea have agreed to hold a groundbreaking ceremony for a joint project to modernize North Korea's roads and railways and connect them to the South, the South Korean Unification Ministry said on December 13.
According to the South Korean Unification Ministry, the groundbreaking ceremony will be held on December 26 at North Korea's Panmun Station, located north of the inter-Korean border. This is the result of a working-level meeting between the two Koreas held at the joint liaison office in the North Korean border town of Kaesong today (December 13). Each side is expected to have about 100 people attending the event.
Trump's former lawyer sentenced to 3 years in prison
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Michael Cohen in New York on December 12. Photo:AFP. |
Michael Cohen, 52, admitted to tax evasion, bank fraud and illegal campaign contributions. Cohen also pleaded guilty to lying to Congress in 2017 when he said all efforts to build a Trump Tower in Moscow had ended in January 2016. In fact, the activity continued until June 2016, after Trump became the Republican nominee for president.
Cohen was sentenced to three years in prison and ordered to pay $2 million in fines and restitution. Cohen insisted his only weakness was his “blind loyalty” to his former boss. President Donald Trump did not comment on Cohen’s sentence in public, but in private he called the former lawyer a “liar.”
250,000 Syrian refugees could return home in 2019
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| Syrian refugees repatriate from Lebanon at Zamrani border gate, Syria. Source: THX/TTXVN |
Middle Eastern media quoted the announcement of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) saying that 250,000 Syrian refugees could return home next year although many still have problems with paperwork and property.
Some 5.6 million Syrians have been forced to flee to neighboring countries, including Türkiye, Lebanon, Jordan, Egypt and Iraq, in the past seven years, said Amin Awad, UNHCR’s regional director for the Middle East and North Africa. This includes 1 million Syrian children born abroad. The Syrian government has now recognised the legality of their birth certificates.
China arrests Canadian businessman for 'threatening national security'
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| Businessman Michael Spavor (left) and former diplomat Michael Kovrig. Source: Twitter |
The Liaoning provincial government's news site announced on December 13 that China's Ministry of Public Security has been investigating Canadian businessman Michael Spavor, who is suspected of threatening national security, since December 10. This information was released after Canada's Foreign Ministry said that Spavor had been missing since he contacted the Canadian government to say he was being questioned by China, according to Reuters.
The incident occurred after Chinese authorities detained former Canadian diplomat Michael Kovrig in Beijing on December 10, an action seen as retaliation for Ottawa's arrest of Huawei Vice Chairwoman Meng Wanzhou. According to the newspaperBeijing NewsMr. Kovrig is also suspected of carrying out activities that threaten China's national security.
Prime Minister Theresa May "overcomes" no-confidence vote
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| Prime Minister May retained her position after an internal Conservative Party vote on December 12. Photo: Reuters |
The ruling Conservative Party in the UK on December 12 carried out a vote of no confidence in the leadership of Theresa May. Many MPs in the party angrily said that the female Prime Minister's policy of taking Britain out of the EU (Brexit) was not in line with the will of voters in the 2016 referendum. British Prime Minister Theresa May won the vote of no confidence in the British Conservative Party with 200 votes in favor and 117 votes against.
In the immediate future, Prime Minister May still has to try to convince the British parliament to pass the Brexit deal she agreed with the EU while the entire opposition and dozens of MPs in her own party oppose the deal.
US announces sanctions against parties violating embargo on Iran
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US sanctions have hit Iran's economy hard. Photo: AP. |
US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said on December 13 that he would impose sanctions on any party that violates US sanctions on Iran. The statement came after European Union (EU) member states on the United Nations Security Council reaffirmed their commitment to support the Iran nuclear deal on the same day.
According to Mr. Pompeo, the items exempted from sanctions against Iran are food and medicine for humanitarian purposes. If the trade activities are carried out in accordance with this, the US will not apply sanctions against the countries involved. However, if the parties violate the US sanctions against Iran, the US will take strict measures against those countries.