World last 7 days - featured news

(Baonghean.vn) - Tensions on the Korean peninsula; Zimbabwean President resigns, new President takes oath of office; German Chancellor at risk of losing power; Bombing, machine gun fire in Egypt, at least 235 people dead;... are the outstanding international news of the past week.

1. Tensions on the Korean Peninsula

Illustration: Getty

President Donald Trump announced his decision to put North Korea on the list of state sponsors of terrorism on November 20. During a meeting at the White House, Mr. Trump said he would announce additional sanctions against North Korea on November 21.

US Secretary of State Rex Tillerson said that putting North Korea on the list of state sponsors of terrorism would help deter third parties from supporting Pyongyang.

Meanwhile, North Korea called the US action a "serious provocation", warning that sanctions would never be able to make Pyongyang abandon its nuclear programme.

Condemning Washington for acting as an "international arbiter of terrorism", the North Korean spokesman added that the US action was "clearly an absurdity and a farce to world peace and security.

2. Zimbabwean President resigns, new President sworn in

Mr. Emmerson Mnangagwa (left) was sworn in as President. Source: AFP

Zimbabwean leader Robert Mugabe's four decades in power officially ended on November 21, 2017, less than a week after the military took action.

On the evening of November 21, while the members of the two houses of the Zimbabwean Parliament were still enthusiastically debating the impeachment process, President Robert Mugabe officially announced his resignation - a completely unexpected move, just as people had begun to overthrow him a week ago.

On November 24, Mr. Emmerson Mnangagwa was sworn in as President of Zimbabwe in front of the country's Minister of Justice, foreign diplomatic representatives and tens of thousands of supporters. This event marked the end of President Robert Mugabe's 37 years in power.

Speaking at the swearing-in ceremony held at the national stadium on the outskirts of the capital Harare, Mr. Mnangagwa pledged allegiance to Zimbabwe, and to abide by, preserve and protect the Constitution and laws of Zimbabwe.Mr Mnangagwa will serve out the remainder of Mr Mugabe's term until presidential elections, expected to be held in 2018.

3. German Chancellor at risk of losing power

German Chancellor Angela Merkel is facing a major political crisis.

Angela Merkel's efforts to form a coalition government of three major parties to give her a fourth term as German chancellor have hit a major setback when one of the three parties pulled out of talks.

According to Reuters news agency, in the context of Ms. Merkel's ruling Christian Democratic Party (CDU) weakening after the number of seats it won after the recent national election decreased, the German Chancellor was forced to declare that she could not form a coalition government after the Free Democratic Party (FDP) announced its withdrawal.

This means that Germany is facing two possible scenarios: one is that Ms. Merkel's party and the German Green Party form a minority government (making it difficult to pass important policies and could be dissolved by the parliament), and two is that the German President will call for a new election because the parties disagree with each other in forming a government.

4. Bombing, machine gun fire in Egypt, at least 235 people dead

The scene of the bombing. Photo: Twitter

The Jerusalem Post news agency quoted Egyptian officials as saying that the attack occurred at Al Rawdah mosque, in Bir al-Abed, west of the city of Arish, Sinai peninsula.

According to defense officials, the attackers first detonated a bomb inside the church and then used machine guns to attack worshipers inside. Witnesses said the gunmen came in four all-terrain vehicles.

According to the Jerusalem Post, the attack killed at least 235 people and injured about 130. The death toll is expected to rise. Images broadcast on Egyptian state television showed victims lying on the ground and covered with blankets inside the church.

5. US military plane crashes off Japan

US Navy C-2 Greyhound transport aircraft.

On November 22, a US Navy plane carrying 11 people crashed into the sea southeast of Japan's Okinawa Island. Eight people were rescued, three are missing.

The crashed plane was en route to the aircraft carrier USS Ronald Reagan, which is operating in the waters of the Philippines.

The cause of the crash is not yet known. This is the second accident to happen to the US Navy. Last August, 10 service members were killed when the aircraft carrier USS John McCain collided with an oil tanker off the coast of Singapore.

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