Tragic plane crash in Cuba; two North Koreans cross border into South Korea

Cuba: 2 daysfuneralmemorial for plane crash victims

The scene of the plane crash in Cuba on May 18 (local time).Image:AP.

The Cuban National Assembly declared two days of national mourning (from 6am on May 19 to midnight on May 21) to commemorate the victims of the plane crash in Havana on May 18 that killed more than 100 people.

A Cubana Airlines plane crashed after taking off from Havana's José Martí airport yesterday. The latest figures from Cuban media say that there were 113 people on board flight CU972, including 104 passengers and 9 crew members.

According to initial information, three female passengers were found alive after the accident but all are in critical condition. Because the plane crashed into a cassava field, there were no houses, so fortunately there was no damage on the ground.

Cuban authorities have now begun investigating the cause of the accident. This is the second deadliest accident in the history of Cuban civil aviation, after the September 1989 accident that killed all 126 passengers and crew and 24 civilians on the ground.

Russia launches world's first floating nuclear power plant

Akademik Lomonosov floating nuclear power plant. Source: Rosatom

On May 19, Russia announced the world's first floating nuclear power plant, named Akademik Lomonosov, at the seaport of the northern city of Murmansk.

The nuclear power plant is built on a 144m long, 30m high, 21,000 ton ship. The ship houses two 35 megawatt reactors each. The plant will be refueled in Murmansk before being moved to Siberia.

It is expected that in the summer of 2019, the plant will be towed to the port of Pevek, in the Chukotka autonomous region, Southeast Russia, 350km north of the Arctic Circle, to operate there.

Two North Koreans crossed the border into South Korea

Two North Koreans have defected to South Korea by sea. Photo: Yonhap

The South Korean Coast Guard said it spotted the boat in waters north of Baengnyeong Island in the Yellow Sea on May 19. A South Korean Navy speedboat approached the boat and found two North Korean men, both of whom said they wanted to defect to South Korea.

The coast guard initially said one of the men claimed to be a North Korean military officer. However, intelligence and military officials later interrogated him and found he was a civilian. Their motives for defection remain unclear.

Prince Harry and his fiancee Markle smile happily at their fairytale wedding

Prince Harry and Megan Markle become husband and wife. Photo: Reuters

On May 19, British Prince Harry and American actress Megan Markle were married at St. George's Chapel at Windsor Castle. The British royal wedding received the attention of many people around the world.

The ceremony was held in the presence of members of the British Royal Family, close friends of the couple and many guests.

Prince Harry's wedding is expected to be a boost to the British economy.

Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko. Photo: AFP/TTXVN

On May 19, Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko announced that he had signed a decree on withdrawing the country's representatives from all institutions of the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS).

The CIS has 11 member states, including all the republics of the former Soviet Union, except Georgia and the three Baltic states that have joined the European Union (EU).

Since March 2014, Ukraine has intended to no longer participate in the CIS, but since then Kiev has not officially applied to leave the CIS.

Venezuela closes borders to boost election security

Venezuelan security forces patrol in Caracas. Photo: AFP/TTXVN

Venezuelan Defense Minister Vladimir Padrino López has issued a decree closing all of the South American country's land border crossings to increase security for the presidential election on May 20.

The decree is effective until the afternoon of May 21 and is one of a series of security measures that Caracas has implemented this week to ensure that no unfortunate incidents occur.

Saudi Arabia arrests 7 people linked to foreign parties

Saudi Arabian police. Source: AFP/VNA

According to Xinhua, the state news agency of Saudi Arabia reported that on May 19, the country's security agencies arrested 7 people (including 4 men and 3 women, Saudi nationals) accused of suspicious connections with foreign parties, as well as recruiting high-ranking officials holding sensitive positions in the Saudi Arabian government.

Saudi Arabian security agencies revealed that the group sought to recruit top officials holding sensitive government positions and provided financial support to foreign dissidents to undermine the kingdom's security and stability.

Colombia evacuates nearly 5,000 people due to fears of hydroelectric dam collapse

Colombia has ordered the evacuation of nearly 5,000 people living along the Cauca River in the north due to concerns about the possible collapse of the country's largest hydroelectric dam.

Heavy rains have caused the Cauca River to rise rapidly, and construction problems have put the Ituango Dam in Atioquia province, Colombia’s largest hydroelectric project, at risk of collapsing. If the worst-case scenario occurs, about 200,000 people in three Colombian provinces could be affected.

Built at a cost of $4 billion, the Ituango Dam was designed to provide 17% of Colombia's electricity needs. The dam is still not operational.