Kim Jong-un arrives in Russia ready for summit; New Ukrainian president wants to purge the military
(Baonghean.vn) - Mr. Kim Jong-un arrives in Vladivostok to prepare for the Russia-North Korea Summit; Ukrainian comedian wants to purge the military after being elected president; America will deploy armed soldiers to the Mexican border... are the world's outstanding news in the past 24 hours.
Kim Jong-un arrives in Vladivostok ready for Russia-North Korea Summit
 |
North Korean leader Kim Jong-un (center) at a welcoming ceremony at the train station in Vladivostok, Russia, April 24, 2019. Photo: AFP/ VNA |
A blue and yellow-striped armored train carrying North Korean leader Kim Jong-un arrives at the station of the port city of Vladivostok in Russia's Far East on April 24. On the same day, Russian President Vladimir Putin flew to Vladivostok province to hold a summit with North Korean leader Kim Jong-un. It is reported that the meeting will take place between 1:00 p.m. and 2:00 p.m. on April 25.
The first summit between Kim Jong-un and Putin is expected to take place at the Far Eastern Federal University campus on Russky Island, which is connected to the city of Vladivostok by a bridge. "I have heard a lot about your country and have long wanted to visit it. I have been in power for seven years but have only come now," Mr. Kim told Russian media earlier during a welcoming ceremony at a railway station in the Khasan region of Russia's Far East. Mr. Kim said his father loved Russia very much and he wanted to strengthen bilateral ties.
Ukrainian comedian wants to purge the army after being elected president
|
Ukrainian tanks during a drill in late 2018. Photo:AFP |
President-elect Zelensky plans to eliminate corruption in the military and engage directly with Russia to resolve the conflict. "Ukraine's defense budget and decrees will be as public as possible," Ivan Aparshyn, an adviser to Ukrainian President-elect Volodymyr Zelensky, said in an interview today, referring to a new anti-corruption plan to "cleanse" the military.
Zelensky, a 41-year-old comedian, became Ukraine's president-elect after defeating his rival Petro Poroshenko in the second round of the country's election. His anti-corruption plan mainly aims to make military procurement transparent and remove the "untouchability" of lawmakers.
Russia simplifies passport issuance procedures for residents of Donbass
 |
| President Vladimir Putin. Photo: AFP/TTXVN |
On April 24, the Kremlin announced that Russian President Vladimir Putin had signed a decree to simplify the procedure for applying for a Russian passport for residents of the self-proclaimed Donetsk and Luhansk Republics, in the Donbass region of eastern Ukraine.
Over the years, the parties involved in the conflict in the Donbass region of eastern Ukraine have signed the Minsk peace agreements aimed at a ceasefire in the region. As members of the Normandy Four, Germany, France, Russia and Ukraine have participated in supporting the negotiation process to implement the ceasefire in Donbass. However, the government army and gunmen in this area have continuously accused each other of violating the ceasefire. According to statistics, since the conflict broke out in eastern Ukraine in April 2014, more than 10,000 people have been killed and hundreds of thousands have had to leave their homes to seek refuge.
The US will deploy armed soldiers to the Mexican border.
 |
| Relations between the US and Mexico are strained after allegations that US soldiers were held at gunpoint at the border between the two countries. Photo: NBC News |
On April 24, US President Donald Trump announced that the country will soon deploy armed soldiers to the southern border after Mexican soldiers recently "pointed guns" at US troops.
President Trump was referring to an incident on April 13 when Mexican soldiers were said to have repeatedly questioned and pointed weapons at two US soldiers patrolling the border. Sharing on his personal Twitter, Mr. Trump said that Mexican soldiers recently pointed guns at US National Guard soldiers, calling it "probably a diversionary tactic with drug smugglers at the border." According to Mr. Trump, such actions should not be repeated and Washington will send armed soldiers to the border.
Sri Lankan President Asks Police Chief and Defense Minister to Resign
 |
| Soldiers stand guard near the scene of an explosion at St. Anthony's Church in Colombo, Sri Lanka, April 22, 2019. Photo: THX/TTXVN |
On April 24, several anonymous sources close to Sri Lankan President Maithripala Sirisena said that the leader had just asked the country's police chief and defense minister to resign after a series of attacks on April 21 that killed 359 people.
The information was released after President Sirisena announced on April 23 that he would replace the country's security and defense leaders for failing to prevent the series of bombings despite the security agencies having information in advance. Mr. Sisirena said these changes would be implemented within 24 hours. He also said he would restructure the entire police and security forces in the coming weeks.