2017 News Map: Faces of September

World
Europe

As 2017 comes to an end, CGTN has put together a twelve-episode special series "News Map 2017" to review the past year, month-by-month. From December 18 to 29, the review includes the stirring events, relive the touching stories, and remember the influential faces of 2017. Here are some of the faces that grabbed world attention in September 2017.

Kim Jong Un ignores global criticism and UN sanctions

A young-looking face that makes the whole world nervous, Kim Jong Un, leader of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK), has been a real newsmaker in 2017.

The DPRK leader Kim Jong Un inspecting the test-fire of continental ballistic missile Hwasong-14 at an undisclosed location on July 4, 2017. /VCG Photo

Ignoring UN sanctions and global criticism, the staunch leader had his military conduct more than a dozen missile tests in the year, including the most powerful type of nuclear weapon – a hydrogen bomb.

In September 2017, UN responded to his actions with some strongest-ever sanctions on Pyongyang.

People suffer from hurricanes across the Atlantic Ocean

Properties destroyed, houses soaked in water as the storms lashed different areas. People forced to paddle away from their homes. Almost 370 billion US dollars worth of damages were reported, and over 700 people lost their lives.

A car is seen crushed by steel beams and roofing that was mangled in the aftermath of Hurricane Maria at a recycling and waste management center in St. Croix, US Virgin Islands, September 27, 2017. /VCG Photo

Thousands of people have lost their houses. Harvey, Irma, Jose, Katia, and Maria – some of the powerful hurricanes recorded ever made September 2017 the most active month for the storms in the Atlantic Ocean. The long-term recovery is expected to take years.

Young Syrian girl cries for help on social media

What is even more devastating is war-torn Syria. Countless civilians were affected by non-stop airstrikes and fighting.

Among thousands of people evacuated from Aleppo, seven-year-old girl Bana Al-Abed and her Twitter account told the tragic story of the destruction of her hometown.

Twitter screenshot of Seven-year-old Syrian girl Bana Al-Abed

"We want the world to listen to the voice of children of Aleppo," Al-Abed said.

On September 14, officials of Iran, Russia and Turkey met in in Astana and agreed on the implementation of a fourth "de-escalation zone", that is part of efforts to promote the Syrian peace process.