Belarus vows to respond to any provocation with force; North Korea flatly rejects Japan; China "hot-headed" because of the West

The World & Vietnam Newspaper highlights some notable international events in the past 24 hours.

North Korea has refused to hold a summit between its President Kim Jong-un and Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida. (Source: Politico web)

Russia-Ukraine

* Ukraine hit Russian warship with missile: On March 26, Ukrainian Navy spokesman Dmitry Pletenchuk confirmed that this force used a missile to hit the landing ship Konstantin Olshansky that Russia confiscated from Ukraine in 2014.

Speaking on state television, Mr. Pletenchuk affirmed: “This ship is no longer capable of fighting. The ship has undergone upgrades and is ready to be used to attack Ukraine. It is regrettable that the decision to attack the ship was made.”

According to the spokesman, a Ukrainian-made Neptune anti-ship missile was used in the attack. Moscow has not yet commented on the incident. (Reuters)

* Ukraine arrests 2 Russian spy suspects: On March 26, the Security Service of Ukraine (SBU) confirmed that it had arrested 2 suspects working for Russia.

In a statement, the SBU said that two suspects, identified as residents of the Kiev and Kharkov regions, had placed explosive devices on railway tracks in the Poltava region in central Ukraine and planned to detonate them remotely, but were caught red-handed by SBU officers.

According to the SBU, the agency seized the phones of the two suspects and identified the person managing these subjects as an officer of the Federal Security Service (FSB). (Reuters)

* Russia must be part of any global peace conference on Ukraine, according to Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov.

Mr. Peskov stressed that the Ukraine issue cannot be resolved without Russia's participation. (Reuters)

Anti-terrorism

* A Moscow court has ordered the arrest of three more suspects in connection with the terrorist attack at the Crocus City Hall theater near the Russian capital on March 22.

The defendants, Isroil, Ainchon and Dilovar Islomov (father and two sons), will be held in custody until May 22. The investigation agency's consideration of the request is being held in secret for the safety of those involved in the process. (TASS)

* Russia will investigate objectively, calling on people to report terrorist attacks: On March 25, Russian President Vladimir Putin affirmed that the terrorist attack on the Crocus City Hall theater near Moscow that killed at least 137 people was caused by "Islamic extremists".

He directed that, despite the legitimate desire to punish the perpetrators of “heinous crimes,” the investigation must proceed objectively and impartially.

Meanwhile, on March 26, the Federal Security Service (FSB) called on people to immediately report to the agency any incitement to terrorist attacks in Russia.

The FSB also said it had successfully thwarted an attack by an accomplice of the “Russian Volunteer Corps” – a pro-Ukrainian Russian militant group – in Russia’s Samara region. The subject committed suicide by detonating his explosive device when he was detained. (TASS)

* ASEAN foreign ministers issued a joint statement on March 26. condemns the terrorist attack in Russia and expresses support for efforts to bring the perpetrators to justice.

The joint statement said: "ASEAN condemns in the strongest terms the horrific terrorist attack... which has resulted in the loss of many innocent lives, including children... ASEAN fully supports the efforts of the Russian government to resolve the situation and bring the perpetrators to justice."

In addition, the ASEAN foreign ministers also stressed "the urgent need for a joint international effort to eliminate the scourge of terrorism in a comprehensive and effective manner." (Sputnik)

* Belgium maintains its terror alert at level 3 on a scale of 4, meaning a serious and probable threat.

This level has been in effect since October 16, 2023, when the attack that killed two Swedish tourists in Brussels took place. It has remained at this level ever since, especially due to the situation in the Middle East and the rise of anti-Semitism. (VRT News)

* Kyrgyzstan tightens security at shopping malls in the capital Biskek after terrorist attack in Moscow.

Kyrgyzstan's Deputy Interior Minister Nurbek Abdiev also called on shopping malls to tighten security, install alarm systems, recruit and thoroughly vet security personnel, and inspect locations to promptly detect explosive devices or suspicious objects. (THX)

* Turkey has arrested 147 people linked to the self-proclaimed Islamic State (IS) terrorist organization in raids in 30 cities across the country.

These subjects were found to be operating within the framework of the IS organization, participating in armed conflicts and helping to finance this terrorist group. (Al Arabiya)

* Pakistan killed four terrorists who attacked the country's Siddique naval base on the night of March 25 in Turbat city in the southwestern province of Balochistan.

The terrorists attempted to break into the facility but were unsuccessful and were killed in a gunfight. After killing the terrorists, security forces conducted a search operation at the location. (THX)

Europe

* Belarus will respond with force if there is a provocation on the border with Lithuania, President Alexander Lukashenko said while inspecting a tank battalion stationed near the border with the Baltic country on March 25.

President Lukashenko affirmed: “I declare publicly: any provocation must be stopped by force. Any violation of the state border must be eliminated.” (Belta)

* More than 100 farmers' tractors "surrounded" the British Parliament building on March 25 to protest against post-Brexit trade deals that they say threaten agricultural production in the country.

Protesters are demanding that the government enforce more accurate food labeling and take steps to improve the country's food security.

Protesters also want the government to end trade deals that they believe allow substandard food to be imported into the UK and reduce the income of domestic farmers. (AP)

Asia-Pacific

* North Korea denies possibility of holding summit with Japan: On March 26, the Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) quoted officials of the country declaring that it would reject any further contact or negotiations with Japan.

“Japan has no courage to change history, promote peace and stability in the region, and take the first step toward new relations,” said Kim Yo-jong, the younger sister of North Korean leader Kim Jong-un and vice chairwoman of the Central Committee of the Workers' Party of Korea.

She also affirmed that the plan to hold a summit between North Korean President Kim Jong-un and Japanese Prime Minister Kishida Fumio is not in Pyongyang's interests.

A day earlier, Ms. Kim Yo-jong revealed that Prime Minister Kishida had conveyed her wish to meet Mr. Kim Jong-un “as soon as possible.” (Kyodo)

* China 'hot-headed' over Western accusations of cyber attacks: On March 26, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Lin Jian voiced "strong" opposition to the US, UK and New Zealand's accusations that Beijing was behind a series of cyber attacks targeting lawmakers and important democratic organizations.

According to Mr. Lam Kiem, Beijing “opposes and suppresses all forms of cyber attacks”, and accused the US of using the Five Eyes intelligence alliance (including 5 countries: the US, UK, Australia, New Zealand and Canada) “to stage and disseminate false information about threats from Chinese hackers”.

Mr. Lam Kiem warned that Beijing “will take necessary measures to protect China's legitimate rights and interests.”

In a rare and detailed public allegation made on March 25, the US, UK and New Zealand detailed a 14-year “global cyber-attack operation” set up by China to support “foreign economic espionage and intelligence objectives”. (AFP)

* India wants to strengthen cooperation with the Philippines: Speaking at a press conference in Manila on March 26, Indian Foreign Minister Subrahmanyam Jaishankar said that his country supports the Philippines in protecting its sovereignty and hopes to seek new areas of cooperation, both in defense and security.

Meanwhile, his Philippine counterpart Enrique Manalo announced that the two countries are studying ways to ensure a free and peaceful Indo-Pacific region. (Reuters)

* South Korea and Germany discussed strengthening defense cooperation during a meeting between the Northeast Asian nation's Defense Minister Shin Won-sik and Chairwoman of the German Parliament's Defense Committee Marie-Agnes Strack-Zimmermann on March 25.

The two sides stressed that this is an important period for cooperation in the international community, citing the conflict in Ukraine, military cooperation between Russia and North Korea, and the armed conflict between Israel and Hamas.

Germany and South Korea also shared the view that the security of the Indo-Pacific and the Atlantic Oceans are closely linked, and agreed to develop bilateral defense cooperation and continue to communicate closely on important security issues. (Yonhap)

* Japan is amending its arms export regulations to allow worldwide exports of next-generation fighter jets co-developed with Britain and Italy.

The revised rules stipulate that Japan can export fighter jets that the three governments plan to deploy by 2035 to a third country, but will never transfer them to a country at war. (Kyodo)

Middle East-Africa

* The United Nations Security Council adopted a resolution on the Gaza Strip calling for an immediate ceasefire for the holy month of Ramadan. The resolution was adopted with 14 votes in favor. The US abstained.

The resolution also demands the immediate and unconditional release of all hostages, stresses the importance of expanding humanitarian assistance and reaffirms the need to remove all obstacles to the provision of large-scale humanitarian assistance.

Countries such as Egypt, Mexico, China... expressed their welcome of the above resolution.

Hamas welcomed the move and affirmed its "readiness to participate in an immediate prisoner exchange leading to the release of prisoners on both sides".

However, Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant declared that the country will not end the war against Hamas until the movement releases the hostages, because "the lack of a decisive victory in Gaza could bring us closer to a war in the North." (AP, AFP)

* Russia is negotiating the location of a military base in the Central African Republic, according to Russian Ambassador to the African country Alexander Bikantov on March 26.

"Discussions are ongoing between the defense ministers of the two countries. The location of the base is being selected," said Alexander Bikantov. (TASS)

* Senegal Presidential Election : March 25, Senegal's electoral commission said opposition presidential candidate Bassirou Diomaye Faye won about 53.7% of the vote, while ruling coalition candidate Amadou Ba won only 36.2% of the vote in the March 24 election.

On the same day, Mr. Ba called opposition candidate Bassirou Diomaye Faye to acknowledge his opponent's victory in the presidential election on March 24. (Reuters)

America

* Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro announces assassination attempt: Mr Maduro said two armed men planning to attack him were arrested in a street operation in Caracas.

According to the leader, the two arrested "claimed to be members of the far-right fascist party Vente Venezuela".

Caracas Mayor Naum Fernandez had earlier announced a sabotage plot, involving people carrying "explosives" to attack the President during a march attended by thousands of people with Mr. Maduro. (Mehrnews)

* US sanctions Russian technology and finance sector: On March 25, the US Treasury Department announced sanctions against Russian technology and financial services companies for developing or providing services using virtual assets to evade sanctions.

There are a total of 13 entities and two individuals on the new sanctions list. Five of the entities are linked to individuals already sanctioned by the US. Among the companies is Atomyze, a fintech company controlled by Russian billionaire Vladimir Potanin's investment group Interros Holding.

Russia's central bank and major lenders VTB and Sberbank are also on the sanctions list. (Reuters)

* Former President Donald Trump has been granted a deferment of more than $464 million in fines in a lawsuit over inflated asset values, in exchange for a $175 million bail fee in 10 days.

This latest ruling is considered a "victory" in the effort to deal with former President Trump's legal troubles. Mr. Trump said he respected the above decision and would soon pay $ 175 million in cash or bond.

Meanwhile, a court has also set April 15 as the start date for the criminal trial of Mr. Trump paying hush money to a porn star. This will be the first criminal trial in history of a former US President. (Reuters)

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