President Biden warns of “the emergence of an oligarchy” in the US, China, Sri Lanka signs $3.7 billion deal, Netherlands cuts Venezuelan diplomats , Iran declares nuclear doctrine, South Korea determined to denuclearize North Korea… are some of the prominent international events in the past 24 hours.
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| British Prime Minister Keir Starmer is briefed by a military aide on a train to Kiev on January 16. (Source: Reuters) |
The World & Vietnam Newspaper highlights some of the day's international news highlights.
Asia-Pacific
*China and the Philippines discuss the situation in the East Sea: China's Foreign Ministry said on January 16 that it had sent a diplomatic note protesting to the Philippines over Manila's recent "violations and provocations at sea."
During a meeting on the South China Sea chaired by the two countries' diplomatic leaders in the Chinese city of Xiamen, Beijing called on the Philippines to maintain its commitment to resolving differences through dialogue and consultation.
According to the Chinese Foreign Ministry, the two sides agreed to strengthen dialogue and exchanges on maritime issues and properly handle maritime disputes.
For its part, the Philippines said it had expressed concerns to China about the behavior of its coast guard in the South China Sea during a bilateral meeting, but said there was still room for diplomacy and cooperation between the two sides. (Reuters)
*South Korea stresses determination to denuclearize North Korea: South Korea on January 16 reaffirmed that denuclearization of North Korea is a "consensus goal" of the international community, after US President-elect Donald Trump's nominee for Secretary of State proposed reviewing Washington's policy toward Pyongyang.
Mr. Rubio, the candidate for the position of US Secretary of State, said in his confirmation hearing before the Senate on January 15 (local time) that Washington needs to "seriously" review its policy on North Korea to find ways to reduce the risk of "unintended" war between the two Koreas.
Regarding this statement, the South Korean Foreign Ministry emphasized that the denuclearization of North Korea is an "essential condition" for peace and prosperity on the Korean Peninsula. (Yonhap)
*China, Sri Lanka sign $3.7 billion oil and gas deal: Sri Lanka has secured its largest-ever foreign investment after signing a deal with China's state-owned oil and gas giant Sinopec, officials said on January 16.
Sinopec has agreed to invest $3.7 billion to build a "state-of-the-art refinery" with a capacity of 200,000 barrels in the Hambantota area of southern Sri Lanka, according to the Sri Lankan President's media office.
“During President Anura Kumara Dissanayake’s four-day state visit to China, Sri Lanka achieved a major milestone by attracting its largest-ever foreign direct investment,” the statement said. (AFP)
*China strengthens export controls: On January 16, China's Ministry of Commerce announced that it will strengthen export controls and adjust the export control list of dual-use items in 2025.
The Commerce Department said it would add strategic resource-related items to the list at an appropriate time. (Reuters)
*Indonesian President to visit India: Indonesian Foreign Ministry said on January 16 that President Prabowo Subianto will visit India from January 24-26 and will have a bilateral meeting with Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
Prabowo will be a guest at India's Republic Day celebrations (the day the Indian Constitution was adopted in 1950) and is expected to witness the signing of several agreements on health, education, security and maritime sectors. (Reuters)
*Lao Prime Minister to visit Japan: The Lao Ministry of Foreign Affairs issued a statement on January 16 stating that at the invitation of Japanese Prime Minister Ishiba Shigeru, Lao Prime Minister Sonexay Siphandone, his wife and a high-ranking Lao delegation will make an official visit to Japan from January 20-23.
The visit aims to strengthen the traditional friendship and good cooperation between the two countries on the occasion of the 70th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between Laos and Japan. (Kyodo)
Europe
* British Prime Minister makes surprise visit to Ukraine: On January 16, British Prime Minister Keir Starmer made a surprise visit to Ukraine and is expected to meet with host country President Volodymyr Zelensky for the first time since taking office.
During the visit, the two sides are expected to sign a partnership agreement to strengthen existing defence ties and provide more military support to Kiev, amid concerns that the US may reduce aid. Prime Minister Starmer will discuss security guarantees the UK can provide to Kiev, including the possibility of British troops taking part in peacekeeping missions.
The visit follows the British Prime Minister's meeting with French President Emmanuel Macron last week to discuss Ukraine, especially developments following Donald Trump's return to the White House. (ukrinform)
*Ukraine claims attack on Russian gunpowder factory: Andriy Kovalenko, head of Ukraine's counterintelligence center, said on January 16 that a large Russian gunpowder factory in the Tambov region had been attacked, but did not directly claim responsibility or specify the consequences of the attack.
On his Telegram page, Mr. Kovalenko shared: "This enterprise is one of the main suppliers of explosives to the Russian army. Since the conflict in Ukraine began, the plant's output has increased significantly."
Ukraine and Russia have frequently attacked military facilities deep inside each other's territory throughout the war. (Reuters)
*UK, France discuss deploying peacekeeping forces to Ukraine: According to sources of The Telegraph newspaper, British Prime Minister Keir Starmer and French President Emmanuel Macron are discussing deploying peacekeeping forces to Ukraine after an agreement to end the conflict.
Earlier this week, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said he had discussed with President Macron an initiative to send international forces to Ukraine, which includes the possibility of expanding the force and involving other countries.
Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk reportedly told President Macron in December that Polish troops would not enter Ukraine even after a ceasefire. (Sputniknews)
*US could lift sanctions on Russia as leverage in Ukraine talks: US President-elect Donald Trump's nominee for secretary of state, Senator Marco Rubio, said on January 15 that lifting sanctions on Russia could be used as leverage in potential peace talks in Ukraine.
Mr Rubio, 53, has said ending the war in Ukraine is necessary as both sides must make concessions. Mr Rubio's nomination is expected to be confirmed by the full Senate as early as January 20 - the day Mr Trump is inaugurated for his second term as US President. (Reuters)
Middle East – Africa
*Israeli Foreign Minister "implicitly" confirms ceasefire agreement with Hamas: On the evening of January 15, Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Sa'ar seemed to implicitly confirm that the country had reached a ceasefire and hostage exchange agreement with the Hamas movement in the Gaza Strip.
Earlier, Israeli and Western media quoted sources as saying that a draft of a preliminary ceasefire agreement in the Gaza Strip had been agreed upon by all parties, including a roadmap for Israel's withdrawal as well as agreements for the exchange of hostages and prisoners between the two sides. The Israeli government will vote on this agreement on January 16 and it is likely that the majority of ministers in the Israeli cabinet will approve it. (Al Jazeera)
*Iran calls Gaza ceasefire a victory for Palestinians: Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) on January 16 declared the ceasefire in Gaza a "great victory" for the Palestinian resistance, while warning Israel not to violate the agreement.
This force warned Israel not to violate the ceasefire and affirmed that it would maintain a readiness posture on the battlefield to deal with new developments.
On the X website, Iran's Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, declared that the Palestinian resistance and the Iran-backed "Axis of Resistance" had succeeded in forcing Israel to "withdraw." (Reuters)
*Houthi movement claims attack on US aircraft carrier in Red Sea: According to Xinhua news agency on January 15, the Houthi movement in Yemen announced that it had launched an attack on the USS Harry Truman aircraft carrier in the Red Sea, using cruise missiles and bomb-carrying drones.
“This operation comes as US forces are preparing for a new airstrike on Yemen,” Houthi military spokesman Yahya Sarea said in a statement broadcast on the Houthi-run al-Masirah TV channel.
This is the sixth attack on the US aircraft carrier since the ship arrived in the area. Mr. Yahya Sarea affirmed that the Houthis will continue to attack Israel and the US military until the war in Gaza ends. Meanwhile, the US military has not yet commented on the Houthis' statement. (THX)
*Israeli Prime Minister calls US President-elect: On the evening of January 15, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu called US President-elect Donald Trump to thank him for his support in promoting the return of hostages being held in the Gaza Strip.
The Israeli Prime Minister's Office said that during the phone call, the two leaders agreed to meet in Washington soon to discuss this and other important issues. Netanyahu also spoke with President Joe Biden.
The hostage exchange is a key part of the ceasefire talks between Israel and Hamas in the Gaza Strip. Local media reported that the two sides had reached an agreement, although it has not been officially announced. (Al Jazeera)
*Iran makes statement on nuclear doctrine: According to the UK-based news site Volantmedia on January 15, speaking at a parliamentary discussion on nuclear weapons, head of the Atomic Energy Organization of Iran (AEOI) Eslami affirmed that decisions on nuclear doctrine are under the authority of senior leaders.
Earlier, in November 2024, Ahmad Bakhshayesh Ardestani, a member of the Iranian parliament's National Security and Foreign Policy Committee, proposed increasing uranium enrichment and initiating nuclear weapons production in response to the International Atomic Energy Agency's (IAEA) resolution criticizing Iran. (Al Jazeera)
America - Latin America
*Netherlands cuts Venezuelan diplomats in half: Dutch Foreign Minister Caspar Veldkamp said the country has decided to cut the number of Venezuelan diplomats in the Netherlands in half in response to Caracas' actions, and asked them to leave the kingdom within 48 hours.
In a letter to parliament, Foreign Minister Veldkamp wrote: "In response to Venezuela's decision, the Kingdom of the Netherlands applies the principle of reciprocity to two of the three measures: reducing the number of foreign employees from four to two, corresponding to the measures imposed on the Netherlands (from six to three), as well as requiring them to leave the Netherlands within 48 hours."
On January 14, the Venezuelan government decided to restrict the accreditation of diplomats from Italy, France and the Netherlands, citing interference in Caracas' internal affairs. (Sputniknews)
*President Biden warns of "forming oligarchy" in the US: President Joe Biden on January 15 warned of "a forming oligarchy in the US", saying that "the dangerous concentration of power" in the hands of a few individuals is threatening the country's democracy.
In his farewell speech before leaving office, President Biden expressed concern about “the dangerous concentration of power in the hands of a very few extremely wealthy people”, warning that “the oligarchy that is emerging in America, the extreme wealth, power and influence that is actually threatening our entire democracy”.
President Biden also affirmed that the US under his leadership has achieved economic growth while protecting the environment and warned of efforts to undermine his achievements on global climate change. (AFP)
*Russia opposes the use of force to control the Panama Canal: Russian Ambassador to Panama - Mr. Konstantin Gavrilov - on January 15 spoke out against the intention to use force to regain control of the Panama Canal in the recent statement of US President-elect Donald Trump on this issue.
Speaking to reporters, the Russian Ambassador demanded compliance with and respect for the 1977 transoceanic waterway treaties between Panama and the United States, and stressed that calls for the use of force to change the status quo of the Panama Canal were “counterproductive.”
Russia is one of 40 countries that signed the agreements, which stipulate that international transit operations will always be neutral. (TASS)
*Cuba confirms 13 soldiers died in explosion at defense material warehouse: The Cuban Ministry of the Revolutionary Armed Forces (MINFAR) confirmed on January 15 that 13 soldiers died in an explosion at a defense material warehouse on January 7 in the Holguín Military Region.
MINFAR also announced that after many days of urgent work, it had determined that the cause of the incident was an electrical short circuit inside the warehouse.
Previously, to ensure the safety of people in the area where the incident occurred, Cuban authorities had to evacuate more than 1,200 people. (AFP)
Source: https://baoquocte.vn/tin-the-gioi-161-israel-hamas-dat-ngung-ban-trung-quoc-philippines-thao-luan-ve-bien-dong-anh-phap-tinh-trien-khai-quan-toi-ukraine-301173.html
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