Outstanding international events of the past week

(Baonghean.vn) - US President Barack Obama gave an emotional farewell speech to the White House; UN 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 delivers his 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 rate of people receiving 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 before the Security Council since taking office.

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

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

"The biggest 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. The US stops its '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 does not support 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.

According to statistics, in the 2016 fiscal year, which ended in September last year, 41,500 Cubans – a five-year high – entered the US through the northern border. Another 7,000 Cubans also came to the US 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 during 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 during the Trump campaign and has continued to play a key role in the transition process. He has sat alongside 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 noisy controversy in recent times regarding this possibility.

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

5. China arrests 720 people for environmental pollution

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 also imposed 13,127 environmental fines totaling 21.8 million dollars.

In addition, hundreds of flights and highway closures across northern China were canceled 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 about 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 most serious flood 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 affected 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 River, while Croatia and Serbia have also suspended all activities on the Danube. Local authorities have advised homeless people to go to 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 the heavy snow. Many areas also suffered power and water cuts. Military helicopters were deployed to deliver relief supplies to the cut-off areas.

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