The world last week - notable events

(Baonghean.vn) - Mỹ chấm dứt chính sách xoay trục sang Châu Á; Thủ tướng Anh bác đề nghị trưng cầu độc lập lần 2 cho Scotland; Bầu cử Quốc hội Hà Lan: Đảng của Thủ tướng Rutte giành nhiều ghế nhất;... là những tin tức quốc tế đáng chú ý tuần qua.

1- Mỹ chấm dứt chính sách xoay trục sang Châu Á

Trợ lý Ngoại trưởng Mỹ Susan Thornton. Ảnh: Chinadailyasia.

Phát biểu trong một cuộc họp báo ngày 14/3 tại thủ đô Washington, bà Susan Thornton khẳng định chính quyền của ông Donald Trump vẫn đang trong quá trình xây dựng chính sách riêng đối với khu vực Châu Á - Thái Bình Dương và nhấn mạnh rằng những thay đổi nhất định sẽ được tiến hành.

Tuyên bố của bà Susan Thornton được đưa ra trong bối cảnh ông Rex Tillerson đang thực hiện chuyến thăm đầu tiên tới châu Á trên cương vị Ngoại trưởng Mỹ với điểm dừng chân dự kiến là Nhật Bản, Hàn Quốc và Trung Quốc.

2. Thủ tướng Anh bác đề nghị trưng cầu độc lập lần 2 cho Scotland

Thủ tướng Anh Theresa May. Ảnh: AFP.

British Prime Minister Theresa May on March 16 rejected Scottish First Minister Nicola Sturgeon's proposal for a second independence referendum, saying "now is not the time for that."

Động thái này diễn ra trong bối cảnh Chính phủ Anh đang phải tập trung mọi nguồn lực cho các cuộc đàm phán về vấn đề đưa nước Anh rời khỏi Liên minh châu Âu (EU.

Prime Minister May stressed that she did not completely rule out a future Scottish independence referendum, but she objected to the timing of the referendum proposed by First Minister Sturgeon.

3. Dutch parliamentary election: Prime Minister Rutte's party wins most seats

Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte of the People's Party for Freedom and Democracy (VVD) appears before supporters in The Hague, Netherlands, March 15, 2017. Photo: Reuters.

According to the ANP news agency in the Netherlands, with 55% of the votes counted, Mr. Rutte's VVD party won 32 out of 150 seats in the National Assembly, 13 more than Mr. Geert Wilders' Party for Freedom (PVV) which won only 19 seats, equal to the number of seats of the Christian Democratic Appeal party and the Democratic Party 66.

“The VVD looks set to be the largest party in the Netherlands for the third time in a row,” Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte said at a post-election party in The Hague. Mr Rutte has received congratulatory messages from European leaders and has spoken to some of them by phone.

4. Computer containing sensitive information of US Secret Service was stolen.

US Secret Service guards outside Trump Tower in New York. Photo: Reuters.

On March 17, the Secret Service, which is responsible for protecting the US President, confirmed that a laptop was stolen from the home of Secret Service agent Marie Argentieri in Brooklyn, New York. The computer was taken from Marie Argentieri's car.

However, the US Secret Service confirmed that there was no classified information in the laptop and said that the computer was protected by many security measures so it was not easy to get the information inside.

5. Meeting between Mr. Trump and Mrs. Merkel

US President Trump and Chancellor Merkel meet in the Oval Office.

On March 17, the German Chancellor and the US President met at the White House. This was the first face-to-face meeting between the two leaders since Mr. Trump's surprise victory in the US presidential election in November. Before the election, Mr. Trump said Ms. Merkel's decision to accept refugees was a "catastrophic mistake" and he accused her of "destroying Germany."

Mr Trump has also suggested that NATO countries pay more for their own defence. But in the Oval Office meeting, political analysts believe Mr Trump may have sought advice from Ms Merkel on how best to deal with Russian President Vladimir Putin. Ms Merkel has faced down the controversial Russian leader, while Mr Trump has praised Mr Putin - much to the consternation of both Republican and Democratic lawmakers in the US.

6. Heavy rain causes terrible floods and landslides in Peru

People struggle with floodwaters. It is estimated that more than 115,000 houses and 100 bridges have been destroyed.

At least 67 people have died and thousands have been forced to flee their homes after three days of heavy rains caused severe flooding and landslides in Peru, one of the worst natural disasters to hit the country since 1998.

Peace

(Synthetic)