Iran "determined" to take revenge on Israel, The New York Times sues OpenAI and Microsoft, Russian plane makes emergency landing on glacier, France expels 2 Azerbaijani diplomats .... are some notable international news in the past 24 hours.
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| Tensions between China and the Philippines in the South China Sea continue to rise. (Source: Reuters) |
The World & Vietnam Newspaper highlights some of the day's international news highlights.
Russia-Ukraine
*Ukraine to receive $42 billion in international aid in 2023: Ukraine received more than 38 billion euros ($42 billion) in international aid throughout 2023. Speaking to Forbes magazine (Ukraine), the country's Finance Minister Serhiy Marchenko said: "The aid has allowed us to use it for all necessary expenses."
However, some of the money has also been used to fund internal refugees, pensions and salaries. Marchenko said that Ukraine will be more financially stable in 2023 than in 2022, when Russia began its full-scale war in the country. Ukraine relies heavily on funding from the US and the European Union (EU) in its fight against Russia. It is estimated that Ukraine spends 120 million euros a day. (RT)
*Ukraine shoots down 7 out of 8 Russian drones: Ukrainian air defense forces said on December 28 that they had shot down 7 out of 8 Shahed drones launched by Russia overnight. The drones were shot down in 3 regions of central and southern Ukraine.
It was unclear whether the drone that was not shot down hit its target. The Russian Defense Ministry also said it had thwarted a Ukrainian drone attack on the Crimean peninsula overnight. (Reuters)
*US changes stance on Ukraine: Journalist Zoran Meter of the Geopolitika.news website (Croatia) commented that US President Joe Biden hinted to his Ukrainian counterpart Volodymyr Zelensky that aid to Kiev could end, despite the fact that he had previously stated that he would help Ukraine whenever necessary. In the article, the author said that the US leader changed his stance on Russia by stopping demanding “strategic defeat” for Moscow.
In February 2023, President Biden, in his annual address to the US Congress, declared that Washington always supported Kiev and was ready to continue this policy for as long as necessary. The White House owner has repeated this statement many times. On December 12, the US President approved a decision to allocate a new military aid package worth 200 million USD for Ukraine. (AFP)
Asia-Pacific
*China declares it will not "ignore" the Philippines' provocative actions: Chinese Defense Ministry spokesman Wu Qian said on December 28 that China is always committed to resolving differences through dialogue and consultation, but affirmed that it will not "ignore" the Philippines' continuous aggressive and harassing behavior.
The statement was made by a representative of the Chinese Ministry of National Defense at a press conference after Manila accused Chinese ships of using water cannons against Philippine vessels near Second Thomas Shoal in the South China Sea. (Reuters)
*China sacks three more senior officials: Three officials from China's top rocket-making corporations have been removed from the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference. Among those removed this time, according to Chinese state media, is Wu Yansheng, chairman of the China Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation, which oversees the country's development of spacecraft and rocket systems.
Also on the list are Liu Shiquan, chairman of Norinco Group, a leading military equipment manufacturer, and Wang Changqing, a former executive at China Aerospace Science and Industry Corporation. All three are state-owned and play a major role in China's defense industry. (AFP)
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* South Korean intelligence predicts North Korea will soon take military action: On December 28, South Korea's National Intelligence Service (NIS) assessed that there is a high possibility that North Korea could carry out military provocations in early 2024 ahead of important elections in South Korea and the United States.
The NIS's assessment cited North Korea's track record of staging provocations ahead of South Korea's general elections and Pyongyang's rehabilitation of key figures involved in provocations against Seoul.
The NIS report said: "There is a high possibility that North Korea could suddenly conduct a general election in South Korea, which is scheduled to hold in April 2024, while the US will hold a presidential election in November 2024. (Yonhap)
*Japan prepares to relocate US base in Okinawa: NHK reported on December 28 that the Japanese government has approved the start of ground works to relocate a US military base in Okinawa Prefecture, despite objections from local authorities. NHK said the Japanese Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport gave the green light to land reclamation works in Oura Bay on the morning of December 28, noting that this is the first time the central government has overruled a local government's decision.
Tokyo and Washington agreed in 2006 to relocate the Futenma military base from near a densely populated area of Okinawa to an offshore site in the same prefecture. This required land reclamation, which the local government refused to grant, and the case was taken to Japan's Supreme Court, which ruled in 2018 that the work could proceed. (AFP)
*China opposes US withdrawal from Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces Treaty: Chinese Defense Ministry spokesman Wu Qian said at a press conference on December 28 that the US unilateral withdrawal from the Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces Treaty (INF) would cause negative consequences in many aspects and China opposes this decision.
Mr. Ngo Khiem noted that the treaty signed during the Cold War helped maintain global stability and strategic balance.
Earlier, in a video conference with the US Joint Chiefs of Staff, General Charles Brown, the head of the Central Military Commission of the People's Republic of China, General Liu Zhenli, stated that Washington must be careful in its words and actions.
"It is important that the US side truly respects China's core interests and concerns, and focuses on promoting practical cooperation and enhancing mutual understanding," General Liu Zhenli said. (Sputnik)
*South Korean President Orders Immediate Response in Case of Attack: South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol on December 28 ordered the country's armed forces to first retaliate immediately and report later in case of enemy attack.
During a visit to a frontline military unit, President Yoon Suk Yeol stressed, "In case of provocation, I ask you to retaliate immediately and report back later." President Yoon Suk Yeol reaffirmed the government's support for South Korean servicemen and pledged to address all their concerns, including raising their pay. (Yonhap)
*Myanmar steps up crackdown on Thai border: Myanmar media reported on December 28 that authorities will step up crackdown on online fraud along the border with Thailand following talks on military cooperation between the two countries.
Scam syndicates have proliferated in Myanmar’s border areas, staffed by citizens from China and other countries who are often trafficked and forced to work to defraud their fellow countrymen. The town of Myawaddy is controlled by militias working in conjunction with government troops.
Analysts and media reports say the surrounding areas are hotbeds of drug production and online scam sites. Earlier this year, the United Nations human rights office said at least 120,000 people are being held in scam zones in Myanmar. (Bangkok Post)
Middle East – Africa
*Iran “determined” to take revenge on Israel: Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) announced on December 27 that it would “determinedly” retaliate against Israel for the assassination of Brigadier General Sayyed Razi Mousavi, a senior officer of the force in Syria.
Speaking at a press conference in Tehran, IRGC spokesman Ramezan Sharif accused Israel of attacking the Syrian capital Damascus with missiles on December 25, killing Brigadier General Mousavi.
Sharif said the IRGC “will resolutely take revenge on Israel” as it has done in the past. Earlier this month, the IRGC also accused Israel of killing two of its members while they were advising the Islamic “resistance front” in Syria. According to Tehran, the two IRGC officers came to advise Damascus at the invitation of the regime and have been repeatedly targeted by Israel. (Gulf News)
*Iran increases imports of Russian goods. Iran's state news agency (IRNA) reported on December 27 that it had signed two financial agreements with Moscow to boost imports of goods from Russia.
The agreements include a letter of credit of $18.9 million to secure payments for imports of goods from Russia. This is considered a form of economic guarantee by the bank for exporters. In addition, Russia's Sberbank and Iran's Bank Melli also agreed on a credit line of $70.91 million for Tehran to import essential goods from Moscow.
Both Iran and Russia are under sanctions from the United States and the West, leading the two countries to strengthen economic and political ties to counter this pressure. ( TASS)
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*US seeks to “oust” Wagner from Central African Republic: US private security firm Bancroft Global Development confirmed it is in talks with the Central African Republic about “future operations”, in an alleged effort to “oust” the Russian mercenary group Wagner from the conflict-torn country.
Bancroft's negotiations with the Central African Republic government come as Russia seeks to maintain and expand its influence in Africa following the death of Yevgeny Prigozhin, founder of Wagner, Russia's largest mercenary group.
Last week, the Central African Republic's Radio Ndeke Luka aired an audio recording in which Albert Yaloke Mokpeme, a spokesman for President Touadera, said the Central African Republic was on a mission to "diversify its relations." He said the Central African Republic had asked countries, including Russia, to help train its soldiers. "The United States has also asked the Central African Republic to train its soldiers, both on Central African soil and in the United States," Mokpeme said. (Reuters)
*Israel warns citizens after explosion near embassy in India: Israel has recently advised its citizens to be vigilant when traveling in India after an explosion near the Israeli Embassy in New Delhi on the evening of December 26, suspecting it could be a terrorist attack. Security has been increased in the area near the Israeli Embassy.
The blast was heard about 100 metres from the Israeli embassy in New Delhi's high-security diplomatic zone. There were no casualties. Nearly three years ago, an explosion occurred near the Israeli embassy in New Delhi, but no one was injured. The incident occurred amid the Hamas-Israel conflict that erupted on October 7. Since then, more than 21,000 Palestinians have been killed in Israeli air and ground attacks. (IRNA)
Europe
*Russian passenger plane lands on frozen river: Transport prosecutors said a Soviet-era Antonov-24 plane carrying 30 passengers landed on a frozen river near an airport in Russia's Far East on December 28 due to pilot error. According to preliminary information, the cause of the aviation incident was the crew's error in controlling the plane.
Polar Airlines issued a statement confirming: "The An-24 landed outside the runway of Zyryanka airport. No one was injured." (Reuters)
*The US has asked G7 countries to seize $300 billion worth of Russian assets, many countries are concerned: The Financial Times reported on December 28 that the US has asked experts from the world's leading industrialized countries (G7) to find ways to seize $300 billion worth of frozen assets from Russia.
According to the newspaper, the US, with the support of the UK, Japan and Canada, has proposed to prepare to present options for seizing these assets to the leaders of the G7 countries for consideration at a meeting that may take place on February 24 next year. (Financial Times)
*France expels 2 Azerbaijani diplomats: The French Foreign Ministry on December 27 announced that it “unwelcomed” 2 employees of the Azerbaijani Embassy in Paris. France’s move is considered a “reciprocal” measure in response to Azerbaijan’s previous similar decision.
On December 26, the Azerbaijani Foreign Ministry announced that two employees of the French Embassy in Baku were persona non grata due to “behavior incompatible with their diplomatic status.”
The French Foreign Ministry also “completely rejects” the above accusations of Azerbaijan, and said it had summoned the Azerbaijani Ambassador to “convey these messages.” (AP)
* Poland strives to resolve border crisis with Ukraine: Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk said on December 27 that the government is close to ending the blockade of some areas of the border with Ukraine by truck drivers.
Polish truckers had blocked several border crossings with Ukraine, demanding that the European Union restore a system that requires Ukrainian companies to have a license to operate in the bloc, and that European truckers must also have a license to enter Ukraine. Polish farmers stopped protesting at one border crossing over the weekend, but truckers continued to protest at three other locations. (TASS)
America
*Japanese Prime Minister to visit the US: NHK reported that Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida plans to officially visit the US in March 2024. This will be the first official state visit by a Japanese leader to the US in 9 years since former Prime Minister Shinzo Abe's visit in 2015.
Japan, South Korea and China plan to hold a trilateral summit starting in February 2024. NHK said Tokyo hopes the countries will exchange views on recent developments on the Korean Peninsula, especially North Korea, among other issues. In November, President Joe Biden invited Kishida to make an official state visit to the United States. (Sputniknews)
*US announces final 2023 military aid package for Ukraine: The US State Department on December 27 announced the final arms aid package for Ukraine under the current National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA).
The US State Department statement said the “final aid package this year (2023)” is worth $250 million, including “air defense ammunition, other air defense components, additional ammunition for high-mobility artillery rocket systems (HIMARS), 105mm and 155mm artillery shells, armor-piercing shells, and more than 15 million rounds of ammunition.”
The US State Department also asked the US Congress to “act quickly” and “as soon as possible” to “advance our national security interests through policies that help Ukraine defend itself and protect its future.” (Reuters)
*The New York Times sues OpenAI and Microsoft: The New York Times of the United States on December 27 filed a lawsuit against OpenAI and Microsoft, accusing the two companies of illegally using millions of their articles to train artificial intelligence (AI) models.
Copyright is a hot topic in the field of generative AI. By filing a lawsuit against OpenAI and Microsoft, The New York Times has chosen a more confrontational response to the explosion of AI chatbots, in contrast to other media groups such as Germany’s Axel Springer and the Associated Press (USA) - which have signed content sharing agreements with OpenAI. In response to the move, OpenAI representatives said the company was “surprised and disappointed” by the lawsuit and was negotiating with The New York Times to resolve the issue amicably. (Reuters)
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