World 7 days ago - featured news

(Baonghean.vn) - Russian President Putin submits application to run for a new term; US announces asset freeze on two close associates of Kim Jong-un; Many terrorist attacks at the end of the year;... are outstanding international news of the past week.

1. Russian President Putin submits application to run for new term

Russian President Putin. Photo: AP

On December 27, the Russian Central Election Commission received President Putin's registration dossier for the presidential election taking place in March 2018.

All documents submitted by Mr. Putin to the Russian Central Election Commission will be subject to mandatory checks to see if they comply with the provisions of the law, within no more than five days.

After the examination, the Central Election Commission will announce whether to accept Mr Putin's candidacy. If approved, he will be able to start collecting signatures in his support.

According to the regulations of the Central Election Commission, the number of signatures must be collected at least 300,000 for independent candidates, or at least 100,000 if running on a party list. Previously, at a press conference on December 14, President Putin announced that he would participate in the election as an independent candidate.

2. The US announced the freezing of assets of two close associates of Kim Jong-un.

Mr. Kim Jong-sik and Ri Pyong-chol. Photo: KCNA.

The US Treasury Department on December 26 announced sanctions on Kim Jong-sik and Ri Pyong-chol, the latest measure in a campaign to force North Korea to abandon its missile program, according to Reuters.

Mr Kim is a key official in North Korea's efforts to transition its missile program from liquid to solid fuel, while Mr Ri is believed to be a key official in developing intercontinental ballistic missiles (ICBMs).

"The Treasury Department is targeting leaders of North Korea's ballistic missile program as part of our maximum pressure campaign to isolate North Korea and achieve a fully denuclearized Korean Peninsula," said Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin.

The largely symbolic measure freezes any assets or interests the two officials may have within US jurisdiction, and prohibits any US citizens from dealing with them.

3. Many terrorist attacks at the end of the year

- Double bombing in Afghanistan kills at least 40 people

Afghan security forces at the scene of one of the two bombings. Photo: Reuters

A double bombing occurred on December 28 in the capital Kabul of Afghanistan, killing at least 40 people and injuring 30 others.

Reuters quoted witnesses as saying that the number of injured could rise rapidly because so many people were seriously injured, mostly students participating in a discussion with researchers at the mosque.

Although no terrorist group has claimed responsibility for the attack, Afghan officials believe it could only have been carried out by the Taliban or IS. The attack occurred just a day after the US Marine Corps announced the death of alleged Taliban leader Qari Fida Mohammad./.

- Bomb explosion at Russian supermarket, 10 people injured

Police cordoned off the scene of the explosion.

A large explosion rocked the Perekrestok supermarket in St. Petersburg (Russia), injuring at least 10 people.

According to Reuters citing investigative officials on December 28, the explosion was caused by a homemade bomb containing about 200g of explosives and metal fragments to increase lethality.

At least 50 people were evacuated and Russian National Guard personnel were mobilized to the scene.

- Terrorist attack at Egyptian church, 9 people died

Medical staff came to assist the victims. Photo: Reuters.

Two terrorists attacked the Mar Mina mosque in Helwan in the Egyptian capital Cairo just before Friday prayers, Egyptian Streets reported today.

Witnesses said a man with an automatic weapon got out of a car and opened fire on the church, according to Al-Masry Al-Youm. Seven civilians, including a woman passing by the church, were killed in the shooting, and 10 were injured, the Egyptian Health Ministry said.

Police arrived at the scene shortly after and exchanged gunfire to prevent the two terrorists from entering the church. After the gunfight, one terrorist was killed and two police officers were killed.

- Grenade explosion at nightclub in Colombia, 31 people injured

Police at the scene of an explosion at a nightclub in Buga, Colombia in April 2017. Illustration photo - source: AP

Colombian authorities said on December 29 that the incident occurred early the same morning at the Bora Bora nightclub in the autonomous region of Caucasia. The attackers threw grenades into the crowd present at the nightclub.

In a statement to local media, the head of the Caucasia region, Anibal Suarez, said police had arrested two suspects in the attack, a man and a woman.

The injured were rushed to area hospitals. Health officials did not say whether any of the injuries were serious..

4. North Korea declares no change in nuclear and missile policy

Illustration photo. Source: AFP

North Korea announced on December 30 that it will continue its policy of developing nuclear and missile programs in 2018, while affirming that the country is a "responsible nuclear power."

The Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) published an article praising North Korea as "an undisputed new strategic force."

According to KCNA, North Korea has no plans to change its nuclear and missile development policy in 2018. The KCNA article also mentioned events that North Korea said were evidence of the successful development of new weapons, including intercontinental ballistic missiles that can reach the US mainland.

5. More than 200 people died from storm Tembin in the Philippines

People gather on a bridge collapsed by flash floods. Photo: Xinhua

According to Reuters, Typhoon Tembin made landfall in the southern Philippines with winds of up to 125km/h and heavy rains from December 22, causing floods and landslides in many places, "wiping out" almost completely at least one mountain village. The most severely affected areas were the towns of Tubod and Piagapo.

Local officials said that as of today, December 24, the storm has killed more than 200 people, 144 people are still missing, while more than 40,000 people have been evacuated.

The Philippines is hit by several major storms each year, but Mindanao rarely gets hit hard. That’s why Typhoon Tembin was such a shock to the island nation of 20 million people.

The Philippines' most damaging storm ever was Typhoon Haiyan in November 2013, which killed thousands of people and completely destroyed many towns in the central Philippines.

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