North Korea releases US prisoners ahead of Trump-Kim meeting; Deadly attack in Libya
(Baonghean.vn) - In the past 24 hours, many notable events have taken place in the world: Chinese Foreign Minister visits Pyongyang; Basque separatist organization (ETA) announces its dissolution; Thailand sets election date; Bloody attack at the headquarters of Libya's Supreme Election Commission...
China does not want to be 'left out' in the North Korea issue
|
Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi and his North Korean counterpart Ri Yong Ho. Photo:AP. |
China says it wants to participate in the peace process on the Korean peninsula as Foreign Minister Wang Yi visits Pyongyang to bolster Beijing's influence.
Chinese State Councilor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi held talks with his North Korean counterpart Ri Yong Ho on May 2 shortly after arriving in Pyongyang, according toSouth China Morning Post.
Mr. Wang arrived in Pyongyang amid speculation that China, North Korea's key ally for more than seven decades, will be sidelined in peace talks on the rapidly changing peninsula.
US President Donald Trump praises female pilot who saved 149 lives
 |
| Mr. Donald Trump shook hands with female captain Tammie Jo Shults |
Captain Tammie Joe Shults, co-pilot Darren Ellisor, three flight attendants and three passengers of Flight 1380 were welcomed by the US President in the Oval Office of the White House. "I heard you were very calm and strong during the flight that crashed. Thank you very much!", Mr. Trump said as everyone stood around him.
Mr Trump praised firefighter Andrew Needum and Texan real estate agent Tim McGinty for their efforts to pull the woman inside, and retired nurse Peggy Phillips for performing CPR on her until the plane landed safely. Mr Trump said his “hearts are broken” that the woman died from her injuries.
The president also praised Captain Shults for doing a "fantastic job" saving the lives of the remaining passengers on board. "In a situation where nothing else could be done, extraordinary people responded with extraordinary courage to save lives," Trump said.
Mr Trump posted a video of the meeting on Twitter and wrote: "Today, I had the great honor to thank and welcome the heroic crew members and passengers of Southwest Airlines Flight 1380 to the White House."
Spain: ETA completely disbanded
 |
| The logo of the Basque separatist organization in the village of Bermeo, northern Spain, in 2017. Photo: AFP |
The Basque separatist organization ETA has announced that it has completely dissolved, ending its four-decade armed campaign for independence for the Basque Country, a region in northern Spain and southwestern France.
In a letter dated April 16 and published on May 2 in the Spanish-language online newspaper El Diario, ETA announced its decision to end its decades-long armed campaign. ETA asserted that it had completely dissolved all its divisions.
ETA was founded in 1959 by General Francisco Franco to fight for the independence of the Basque Country. To achieve this goal, ETA carried out many bloody acts of violence, claiming the lives of at least 829 people. By 2011, ETA agreed to end its hostile activities against the Spanish and French governments but did not agree to disarm.
In early April, ETA completed its disarmament process. On April 20, ETA publicly admitted its mistakes for the first time and asked for forgiveness for the pain it had caused through its campaign for independence.
North Korea releases three US prisoners ahead of Trump-Kim meeting
 |
Three American citizens: Kim Hak-song, Kim Dong Chul, Kim Sang-duk. (Source: cnn.com) |
AFP news agency quoted sources as saying that three Korean-American citizens detained in North Korea may have been transferred to another location ahead of their possible release at a time that coincides with the upcoming summit between North Korean leader Kim Jong-un and US President Donald Trump.
"We spoke to a source in North Korea. The North Korean government has released Kim Dong-chul, Kim Sang-duk and Kim Hak-song, who have been detained in re-education camps since early April. They are being treated at a hotel on the outskirts of the capital Pyongyang,"IBTimesquoted Mr. Choi Sung-ryong, representative of the prisoners' families, announced today.
Choi said Pyongyang is negotiating with Washington on the best way to repatriate the prisoners, including releasing them on the same day as a summit between North Korean leader Kim Jong-un and US President Donald Trump, although a date has not yet been set.
Thailand sets election date
 |
| Thai Prime Minister Prayut Chan-ocha. |
On May 2, Thai Prime Minister Prayut Chan-ocha said that the general election in this country will definitely take place in early 2019. According to Prime Minister Prayut Chan-ocha, due to objective reasons and legal procedures, the election in Thailand has been repeatedly postponed.
This is not the first time the head of Thailand's military government has announced that elections will be held to civilianize the government in early 2019.
Meanwhile, opposition groups have been vocal in their demands for elections to be held this year. Several protests against Prayut Chan-ocha and the government have taken place, with hundreds of people, mostly from the opposition group known as the Democracy Restoration Group (DRG).
Conservative Party internal opposition to Prime Minister May's tariff plan
 |
| British Prime Minister Theresa May (2nd left) chairs a cabinet meeting in London. Source: AFP/VNA |
On May 2, about 60 Conservative Party lawmakers rejected one of British Prime Minister Theresa May's proposals on a tariff agreement with the European Union (EU) after Britain leaves the bloc (also known as Brexit).
European Research Group (ERG) Chairman Jacob Rees-Mogg has urged Prime Minister May to help Britain leave the EU decisively, while insisting that this is not an ultimatum.
The document, drawn up by the ERG, makes clear that the UK will not be able to reach meaningful trade deals within the framework of a customs partnership with the EU.
Mr Rees-Mogg stressed that Mrs May's policy was unfeasible when the UK left the EU while remaining in the bloc's customs union and single market.
Bloody attack at Libya's Supreme Electoral Commission headquarters
|
Smoke rises from the headquarters of Libya's Supreme Electoral Commission. Photo: CBS |
Reuters reported that at least 11 people were killed and two others were injured in a suicide attack and bombing at the headquarters of Libya's Supreme Electoral Commission in Tripoli on May 2.
According to Reuters, a group of about four attackers suddenly broke into the office of the Election Commission. One of them detonated an explosive device while the others set fire to the building.
A gun battle broke out between security forces and the attackers shortly afterwards to regain control of the headquarters, election commission spokesman Khaled Omar said.
Libya's electoral commission is registering voters ahead of elections that are being held after a series of UN-led efforts to establish unity and stability in the African country after years of unrest since the 2011 civil war that toppled leader Muammar Gaddafi.
