International events of the past week

(Baonghean.vn) - US President Barack Obama gave an emotional farewell speech to the White House; United Nations Secretary General Antonio Guterres spoke for the first time before the Security Council; Unusual floods in Thailand affected hundreds of thousands of households;... are notable international news of the past week.

1. US President Barack Obama's farewell speech at the White House

US President Barack Obama. Photo: Reuters.

On the morning of January 11, Vietnam time, US President Barack Obama gave his farewell speech in his hometown of Chicago.

In his final speech as President, Mr. Obama once again emphasized the message of “change” during his election campaign 8 years ago, while promoting the role of the people in shaping America.

“You are the change. Because of you, America is a better and stronger place than when I came to office.”

Mr. Obama reviewed the achievements during his presidency, including reducing the unemployment rate, increasing the proportion of people with health insurance, reaching a nuclear agreement with Iran, and eliminating terrorist leader Osama Bin Laden...

However, he also acknowledged that America still faces threats from both home and abroad: “Growing inequality, demographic changes and the specter of terrorism pose not only challenges to our security and prosperity but also threats to our democracy.”

2. UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres speaks for the first time before the Security Council

New United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres. Photo: Reuters

On January 10, United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres gave his first speech to the Security Council since taking office.

Mr. Guterres officially took over the task from Mr. Ban Ki-moon on January 1 with a commitment to strengthen the United Nations, promoting efforts to resolve global crises - from Syria to South Sudan.

The former Portuguese prime minister is facing a deeply divided Security Council, unable to take decisive action to end the war in Syria – now in its sixth year.

"The greatest shortcoming of the international community today is its failure to prevent conflicts and maintain global security," Mr. Guterres wrote in an article published in the US magazine Newsweek on January 9.

“Where war rages, we need mediation, arbitration and creative diplomacy supported by all affected countries,” he added.

3. US stops 'wet foot, dry foot' policy with Cubans

President Obama visited Cuba in March 2016. Photo: WIKIMEDIA

The Obama administration has decided to end the policy of allowing Cubans who have come to the United States without a visa to stay and reside.

The “wet foot, dry foot” policy was enacted by President Bill Clinton in 1995. The Cuban government opposes the policy, saying it causes a “brain drain” and encourages migrants to make risky journeys.

The policy change comes just days before Obama leaves office and is likely to be his last major change, as well as his final mark on improving US-Cuba relations.

In fiscal year 2016, which ended in September, 41,500 Cubans — a five-year high — entered the United States through the northern border, according to statistics. Another 7,000 Cubans also arrived in October and November last year.

4. Mr. Trump appointed his son-in-law as senior White House advisor.

Jared Kushner and Ivanka Trump (left) played an extremely active role in politics throughout Donald Trump's election campaign. All three of them are business savvy and have no previous political experience.

On the eve of his inauguration as US President, Donald Trump officially announced the appointment of his son-in-law Jared Kushner - husband of his eldest daughter Ivanka - to the position of senior White House advisor, in charge of both foreign and domestic policy.

Kushner, 35, was a highly active adviser to Mr Trump during his campaign and has continued to play a key role in the transition process. He has sat alongside Mr Trump in numerous political interviews and attended meetings with foreign leaders.

For a long time, there have been rumors that Mr. Trump wants to bring his son-in-law Kushner and his most talented daughter, Ivanka, to the White House. Violating anti-nepotism laws has also been a hot topic of debate in recent times regarding this possibility.

However, Mr. Trump has clearly shown that he is not the type of person who is easily deterred when he wants to. BBC quoted his statement on January 9: "Jared has been an extremely valuable asset and a highly trusted advisor throughout the campaign and the transition period. I am proud to have him in a key leadership role in my administration."

5. China arrests 720 people for polluting the environment

A view of buildings in Puxi district from Jin Mao Tower during foggy weather in Shanghai, China. Photo: REUTERS.

In 2016, 720 people were arrested for environmental damage, Xinhua reported. Last year, Beijing also rejected 11 projects worth 97 billion yuan over environmental concerns, and imposed 13,127 environmental penalties totaling $21.8 million.

In addition, hundreds of flights and highways were canceled across northern China during the New Year holiday as average concentrations of PM2.5 particles soared above 500 micrograms per cubic meter in Beijing and surrounding areas.

6. Unusual floods in Thailand, 30 people died

The death toll from recent devastating floods in southern Thailand has risen to 30 and affected the lives of some 370,000 households.

Heavy rains in southern Thailand over the past week have left 12 southern provinces submerged in water due to what is considered the worst flooding in 30 years.

Thailand's Interior Ministry said prolonged rain and floods have affected the lives of more than 700,000 people and paralyzed road and rail transport systems.

The unusual weather has severely disrupted the peak season for tourism, a key economic sector in Thailand. According to the Thai Ministry of Agriculture, more than 1,600 square kilometers of rubber plantations in the southern part of the country were flooded, causing damage worth 400 million baht, equivalent to about 11 million USD.

7. Europe struggles to cope with record cold

A ship stuck on the frozen Danube River in Belgrade, Serbia. Photo: EPA.

Record cold has paralyzed many areas in Europe, with refugees, homeless people, the elderly and children among the hardest hit.

At least 61 people have died, a third of them Poles, as air temperatures continue to plummet and remain below zero.^oC in many areas.

Serbian authorities have banned boat traffic on the Sava River due to severe weather conditions - which have left two people dead in the south of the country.

Romanian police have blocked more than 900km of the Danube, while Croatia and Serbia have also suspended all traffic on the Danube. Local authorities have advised homeless people to seek shelter in local camps and schools to avoid the cold.

The city of Saranda in southern Albania saw snowfall for the first time in 32 years. In the central town of Bulqizw, temperatures dropped to -22^oC and most rural areas were cut off by heavy snow. Many areas also suffered power and water outages. Military helicopters were deployed to deliver relief supplies to the cut-off areas.

Peace

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