World last 7 days - featured news

(Baonghean.vn) - The US - North Korea war of words, escalating tensions; Russian general died in Syria; Mrs. Merkel was re-elected as German Chancellor for the 4th term; IS leader Abu Bakral-Baghdadi suddenly reappeared; Former Thai Prime Minister Yingluck was sentenced to 5 years in prison... are the outstanding international news of the past week.

1. US - North Korea war of words, tensions escalate

President Donald Trump and North Korean leader Kim Jong-un. Illustration photo.

In response to US President Donald Trump's warning to "destroy North Korea", on September 22, North Korean leader Kim Jong-un announced that he was considering "the strongest response in history", including: Threatening to test an H-bomb in the Pacific Ocean; Releasing images "threatening" to shoot down a US aircraft carrier.

While North Korea held massive anti-US rallies; Millions of people volunteered to join the army, the US announced that it was ready for military action; issued an entry ban on North Korean citizens; and imposed additional sanctions to cut off financial sources for the nuclear program in North Korea.

China has banned textile imports from North Korea; limited oil exports to North Korea since 2018; stopped selling liquefied natural gas and condensate to North Korea

2. Russian general died in Syria

General Valery Asapov. Photo: Dailymail

On September 24, the Russian Defense Ministry announced that Lieutenant General Valery Asapov was killed after IS launched a surprise attack in the city of Deir ez-Zor, Syria. The announcement said that at the time of the attack, Mr. Asapov was present at the command post of the Syrian Forces, supporting the liberation of the city of Deir ez-Zor from IS militants.

Asapov was one of the senior military advisers sent to Syria by Russia. In recognition of his contributions, Russia will posthumously award him a noble state title.

Since 2015, when Russia announced its military intervention in the fight against terrorism in Syria, 34 Russian servicemen have been killed. In early September, the Russian Defense Ministry announced that two more servicemen had been killed in an IS shelling. With the addition of General Valery Asapov, the number of Russians killed in this battle has increased to 37.

3. Mrs. Merkel re-elected German Chancellor for 4th term

German Chancellor Angela Merkel. Photo: Reuters

With the victory of the center-right CDU/CSU coalition, which won an estimated 33% of the votes in the September 24 election, Ms. Merkel was officially elected for a fourth term. Ms. Merkel has equaled the record of former Chancellor Helmut Kohl, becoming the longest-serving Chancellor in Germany's post-war history.

Although the CDU-CSU coalition continues to lead, this is the worst result for the coalition in nearly 70 years. This is also much lower than the 41.5% it won in 2013.

The conservatives’ closest rival was the centre-left Social Democratic Party (SPD), which received 20% of the vote, its lowest in the post-war period. Meanwhile, the far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) party shocked the world by coming in third and entering the German parliament for the first time with 13.5% of the vote.

4. Artillery clash on the India-Pakistan border

Indian artillery. Illustration photo.

Pakistani and Indian officials said on September 22 that shelling occurred along the border separating Pakistan’s Punjab province from the Jammu region of Indian-administered Kashmir. Most of the casualties were Pakistani. The Pakistani military reported that six civilians were killed and 26 wounded.

"Punjab Border Guards responded befittingly to the posts targeting civilians," the Pakistani military said in a statement. The Indian government said Pakistani forces had violated the ceasefire, injuring four Indian civilians.

India and Pakistan both claim sovereignty over the Kashmir region, a dispute that dates back to their independence from British colonial rule in 1947. Both countries have repeatedly accused each other of violating the ceasefire.

5. IS leader Abu Bakral-Baghdadi suddenly reappears

Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi emerged in 2014 when he declared the founding of the self-proclaimed Islamic State.

The terrorist organization IS has just released a 46-minute audio recording, in which the voice of a man considered the supreme leader of this group: Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi. The recording was posted on the Al-Furquan news site, which is linked to the terrorist organization IS.

In June, Russia announced that it had successfully bombed and killed terrorist leader al-Baghdadi. However, the US said there was not enough basis to confirm this information.

Analysts believe the voice in the recording could be al-Baghdadi's because it is very similar to previous recordings. After 10 months, the IS terrorist leader has just appeared.

6. Former Thai Prime Minister Yingluck sentenced to 5 years in prison

Former Thai Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra. Photo: Reuters.

Thailand's Supreme Court on September 27 tried former Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra in absentia on charges of negligence in managing a rice subsidy program for farmers, causing losses to the budget. "The court found the defendant guilty as charged... the court sentenced her to five years in prison and agreed not to suspend the execution of the sentence.

The rice subsidy program was launched in 2011, shortly after Yingluck took office. It was one of her election promises. Under the program, Thailand would support farmers in poor rural areas, buying their rice at double the market price.

However, the program has had a negative impact on Thailand’s rice exports, causing losses of at least $8 billion and creating a huge backlog of rice. Yingluck was impeached in 2015, months after she resigned to allow the military to take power. But her influence over the people remains strong.

Citing a source from the Pheu Thai Party on September 29, former Thai Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra is in London and seeking political asylum in the UK.

7. Ammunition depot explosion in Ukraine, tens of thousands of people evacuated

Image of the explosion. Photo: Internet

More than 24,000 people have been evacuated after a huge explosion and fire broke out at a military ammunition depot in central Ukraine. The blast occurred on September 26 at a military base near Kalynivka in the Vynnytsya region, 270km west of Kiev. At least two people were injured.

Local reports said the depot was spread over 60 hectares of land and contained about 188,000 tons of ammunition, including rockets. Ukrainian Prime Minister Volodymyr Groysman said external factors were behind the explosion. The official said the cause of the incident was under investigation.

Olena Gitlyanska, a spokeswoman for the Ukrainian Security Service, said the explosion was being treated as an act of sabotage. President Petro Poroshenko has called an emergency meeting of the country's top officials.

8. Japan dissolves parliament

Prime Minister Shinzo Abe (4th from left) and Cabinet ministers applaud after the dissolution of the Lower House was announced at the Diet in Tokyo on September 28. Photo: Reuters

On September 28, the Japanese House of Representatives officially dissolved to prepare for an early election on October 22 at the request of Prime Minister Shinzo Abe.

Mr Abe is doing so in the hope that he can use the momentum of increased support while the opposition is weakened to continue leading the country for another term, helping his Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) maintain its strength. The party currently holds a "super" two-thirds majority.

"It will be a tough fight, but it is all about how we will protect Japan, and about the lives and peaceful coexistence of the Japanese people," Mr Abe told lawmakers.

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