Hot world events in the past 24 hours

1. Russia refuses to join the treaty banning nuclear weapons

Russia's Foreign Minister announced that his country will not join the Nuclear Weapons Prohibition Treaty (NPT).

Russia will not join the Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons (NPT), Foreign Minister Segey Lavrov said at a meeting of the United Nations Security Council on nuclear weapons prohibition issues.

"Russia has no intention of joining the NPT. We believe that the complete elimination of nuclear weapons is possible only in the context of general and complete disarmament, under conditions of equal security," Lavrov said.

2.German Chancellor Merkel to attend World Economic Forum in Davos

German Chancellor Angela Merkel. (Source: AFP/TTXVN)

On January 19, Mr. Steffen Seibert, German government spokesman, said that on January 24, Chancellor Angela Merkel will go to Davos to attend the 48th Annual Meeting of the World Economic Forum (WEF), scheduled to take place from January 23-26.

A German government spokesman said Chancellor Merkel will give a speech at the plenary session at 2:30 p.m. on January 24, focusing on Europe today and Germany - the member with the largest economy in Europe, which has long played a leading role in debates on European policy.

3. China denies allegations of trading banned goods with North Korea

North Korean cargo ship. Photo illustration: The Marinetime Executive.

The Wall Street Journal on January 19 quoted a statement from the Chinese Foreign Ministry saying that China has always complied with the UN sanctions resolutions against North Korea, and affirmed that any measures taken by the UN Security Council must be based on reliable evidence and facts. This statement was in response to the US accusing China of violating the sanctions resolution against North Korea.

4. Huge storm hits Europe, at least 8 people have died

Storm Friederike with winds of more than 100 km/h made landfall in Germany and the Netherlands on the night of January 18, flattening many buildings.CNNreport

High winds from the storm knocked people off their feet. At least six Germans were killed in the storm, including two firefighters. A 68-year-old driver died when his car was blown off the road, police said.

5.Japan concerned about US military flights in Okinawa

A US AH-1 aircraft flies over Nago, Okinawa Island, Japan on January 9. Source: Kyodo/TTXVN

The Japanese government on January 19 continued to accuse the US Marines of raising safety concerns by operating helicopters over a school near a US air base in Okinawa, despite the US military's denial, Kyodo reported.

Japanese Defense Minister Itsunori Onodera said: "In the footage, vulnerable parts of the helicopters can clearly be seen as they flew."

6.South Korea asks UN to support peace Olympics

South Korea's chief negotiator, Vice Unification Minister Chun Hae-sung (left, front) and North Korea's chief negotiator, Vice Chairman of the Committee for Peaceful Reunification Jon Jong Su (right, front) leave the negotiating room at the truce village of Panmunjom on January 17. Source: THX/TTXVN

According to Yonhap, the South Korean Foreign Ministry said on January 19 that a senior diplomat of the country met with UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres and asked him to support Seoul's sports diplomacy with North Korea during the upcoming Winter Olympics.

South Korea's Foreign Ministry said First Vice Foreign Minister Lim Sung-nam met with Secretary-General Antonio Guterres in New York on January 18, and informed him of recent progress in inter-Korean relations as well as Seoul's ongoing efforts to build a peace regime with Pyongyang through the 2018 Winter Olympics in Pyeongchang.

7.Türkiye rejects all cooperation with EU without membership

Minister for European Union Affairs Omer Celik (left) and EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Federica Mogherini during a meeting in July 2017. Source: EPA/VNA

According to Reuters, Turkish Minister in charge of European Union (EU) affairs Omer Celik announced on January 19 that Türkiye will reject any proposal for partnership with the EU if it fails to achieve membership, and warned that given the current situation, Ankara has no reason to maintain an immigration agreement with the bloc.

"We do not value a privileged partnership or similar approaches. These cannot be offered to Türkiye. By any name, privileged partnership or counter-terrorism cooperation, Turkey will not consider such offers," Minister Celik said in an interview.