Comedian wins Ukraine presidency; Algeria arrests 5 billionaires in anti-corruption probe
(Baonghean.vn) - Comedian wins Ukraine's presidential election; US officially lifts sanctions exemption for countries importing Iranian oil; Algeria arrests 5 billionaires in anti-corruption investigation... are the world's top news in the past 24 hours.
US officially lifts sanctions exemptions for countries importing Iranian oil
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An oil facility on Khark Island, Iran. Photo: AFP/VNA |
The White House announced on April 22 that the US would lift sanctions waivers for countries importing Iranian oil. The announcement said the US, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates are committed to ensuring that the world oil market continues to be adequately supplied.
Along with the White House announcement, Secretary of State Mike Pompeo also stated on Twitter that this is part of the maximum pressure campaign on Iran and the US will not exempt any country from sanctions that imports Iranian oil.
Previously, the US granted a 180-day sanction waiver to eight economies importing Iranian crude oil, and this exemption will end on May 2.
Comedian wins Ukraine presidential election
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Comedian Volodymyr Zelensky. Photo:Reuters. |
Volodymyr Zelensky, 41, who once played the president in a TV show, defeated incumbent Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko by 73% to 24% in the second round of the country's presidential election, according to results from 42% of the ballots counted.
"I will never let you down," Zelensky told a crowd of supporters outside his campaign headquarters. "Look at us! Anything is possible."
Zelensky won 87% of the vote in eastern Ukraine and even defeated President Poroshenko in the west, where Poroshenko had traditionally enjoyed strong support.
If the final results remain unchanged, Zelensky will become Ukraine's next president and take office on June 3. He will lead the country despite having no previous political experience.
Sri Lankan police discover 87 explosive devices in capital Colombo
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| Police investigate at the scene of the explosion at the Shangri-La Hotel, Colombo, Sri Lanka, April 21. Photo: THX/TTXVN |
Sri Lankan police said on April 22 that they had found 87 explosive devices at a main bus station in the capital Colombo. The information came a day after Sri Lanka witnessed eight explosions targeting churches and luxury hotels in the capital Colombo and several towns on Easter Sunday, killing 290 people and injuring 500, including nearly 30 foreigners.
Seven of the eight blasts have been identified as suicide bombings. It is the worst violence in Sri Lanka since the country's civil war ended a decade ago. No group or individual has claimed responsibility.
Algeria arrests five billionaires in anti-corruption probe
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| Issad Rebrab, one of the five billionaires arrested. Photo AFP |
On April 22, Algerian state television reported that authorities had arrested five billionaires as part of an anti-corruption investigation in the North African country.
According to the source, the five men include Issad Rebrab, considered Algeria's richest businessman, and four brothers from the Kouninef family, believed to be close to former Algerian President Abdelaziz Bouteflika.
The move comes just a day after an Algerian court summoned former Prime Minister Ahmed Ouyahia and current Finance Minister Mohamed Loukal to investigate corruption allegations. The two officials are close to former President Bouteflika.
Thailand and Cambodia reopen railway connecting the two countries
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| Thai Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha and his Cambodian counterpart Samdech Techo Hun Sen at the inauguration ceremony. Photo: AP |
On April 22, Thai Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha and his Cambodian counterpart Samdech Techo Hun Sen co-chaired the inauguration ceremony of the friendship bridge and the reopening of the railway connecting Aranyaprathet district in Thailand's easternmost Sa Kaeo province and Poi Pet city in Cambodia.
At the ceremony, the Prime Ministers of Thailand and Cambodia witnessed the signing of a joint railway operation agreement between the two countries and the handover of a diesel locomotive to Cambodia for use in cross-border rail services.