Syria deploys troops as US withdraws; No Vietnamese citizens affected by tsunami in Indonesia
(Baonghean.vn) - Syria deploys troops as US withdraws; No Vietnamese citizens affected by tsunami in Indonesia; China considers merging foreign investment laws; OPEC expects oil prices to stabilize soon; US officials deny President Trump's suggestion to fire FED Chairman... are the world's top news in the past 24 hours.
No Vietnamese citizens have been affected by the tsunami in Indonesia.
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Streets at Carita beach were in disarray after the tsunami. Photo: AFP. |
The tsunami hit several areas of the Sunda Strait on the evening of December 22, including beaches in Pandeglang, Serang and South Lampung. "222 people have died, 843 were injured and 28 are missing. The number will increase because many victims were not evacuated, medical centers have not reported the number of people being treated and many areas have not had complete statistics,"AFPquoted Sutopo Nugroho, spokesman for the Indonesian Disaster Mitigation Agency, on December 23.
The Vietnamese Embassy in Indonesia contacted the Indonesian Ministry of Foreign Affairs to inquire about the information and learned that as of 10:30 a.m. on December 23, there had been no reports of Vietnamese people being affected by the disaster.
Syria deploys troops as US withdraws
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Syrian army deploys troops to the east. Photo: RT |
Syrian media reported that the army units are moving to the eastern countryside of Deir al-Zour to start a new military operation. Hundreds of military personnel have moved along with military equipment, ammunition and heavy weapons concentrated in the two cities of Bokamal and Al-Miyadin.
The move is expected to kick off a military operation east of the Euphrates against the Islamic State (IS). The Syrian deployment comes as the US decides to withdraw from the east of the Euphrates, which is largely controlled by the Syrian Democratic Forces.
US officials deny President Trump suggested firing FED Chairman
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| FED Chairman Jerome Powell at a press conference in Washington DC, USA on December 19, 2018. Photo: THX/TTXVN |
Despite his opposition to the Federal Reserve's policy of raising interest rates, US President Donald Trump has never suggested removing Chairman Jerome Powell, Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin said, amid reports that Trump plans to fire the head of the US central bank.
White House spokeswoman Sarah Sanders said there was no information about President Trump's alleged plans to remove Mr. Powell.
South Korean military denies targeting Japanese patrol aircraft
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| Warship of the South Korean Navy. Source: Courtesy of Wikipedia/TTTXVN |
A South Korean Navy warship used an optical camera to identify an approaching Japanese patrol plane last week, South Korean military sources said on December 23, denying Tokyo's accusation that a South Korean warship aimed its fire-control radar at its neighbor's plane.
According to sources, the South Korean warship's tracking radar system was operating while the camera was on, but did not send any radar signals directly at the Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force P-1 patrol plane.
China considers merging foreign investment laws
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| Chinese yuan and US dollar. Photo: Kyodo/VNA |
A draft law on foreign investment has been submitted to the bimonthly session of the National People's Congress Standing Committee, which opens on December 23. Once passed, the unified law will replace three existing laws, including those on Sino-foreign equity joint ventures, contractual (non-equity) joint ventures and wholly foreign-owned enterprises, Xinhua reported.
Egyptian police fire at terrorists, kill 14
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| Egyptian police patrol in the town of Al-Arish, North Sinai on July 26, 2018. Photo: AFP/TTXVN |
On December 23, the Egyptian Interior Ministry said that the country's police had conducted a raid on the hideout of these terrorists. The two sides exchanged fire for several hours. At least 8 terrorists were killed at the scene of the incident while 6 others were killed on the way to escape. Security forces discovered and seized many weapons, ammunition and homemade explosive devices.
The Egyptian Interior Ministry's announcement stated that the suspected terrorist group planned to carry out a number of terrorist attacks targeting important agencies, police and armed forces.
OPEC expects oil prices to stabilize soon
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| Illustration photo: AFP/VNA |
Officials from member countries of the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) expressed hope on December 23 that world oil prices would slow down and begin to balance again from the beginning of 2019, after the agreement on production cuts reached earlier this month began to take effect. According to the plan, also at the meeting next April, the countries will sign a long-term agreement on formalizing cooperation between OPEC and non-OPEC countries on oil production.
Oil prices have plunged 36% since October due to surging supply and weak global demand. In the context of falling crude oil prices on international markets, OPEC members and partners outside the organization agreed to cut crude oil production by 1.2 million barrels per day.
Japanese emperor celebrates his last birthday before abdicating
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Emperor Akihito stands between Empress Michiko and Crown Prince Naruhito. Photo:AFP |
More than 82,000 people gathered outside the palace on December 23 to hear the emperor deliver a speech marking his 85th birthday. The Imperial Household Agency said it was the largest birthday crowd in Akihito's three-decade reign, known as the Heisei era. Akihito is scheduled to abdicate on April 30, passing the throne to 58-year-old Crown Prince Naruhito.
Emperor Akihito's reign in Japan, also known as the Heisei period, began in January 1989 after he succeeded Emperor Hirohito, who ruled Japan during World War II. Emperor Akihito spent nearly three decades on the throne to "ease the pain" of war in Japan. He was also the first Japanese emperor to abdicate in 200 years.
