Crimea suffers major attack, good news from Nagorno-Karabakh?

New developments in South Korean politics, Iran expressing its desire to restore relations with Egypt... are some notable international news in the past 24 hours.

Explosion in the city of Yevpatoria, Crimea peninsula, early morning on September 21. (Source: Crimean Wind)

The World & Vietnam Newspaper highlights some of the day's international news highlights.

* Crimea suffers rare attack : In the early morning of September 21, the Crimean peninsula faced an unprecedented drone attack. Explosions could be heard in the cities of Saki, Novofedorovka, Yevpatoria, Dzhankoy and Sevastopol for nearly an hour and a half. According to residents, this was the first time they witnessed such intensity and duration of the attack.

According to the Russian military website, the exact number of UAVs involved in the attack is unknown (according to Ukrainian sources, 40 UAVs were launched). Meanwhile, the Russian Defense Ministry said: “In the early morning of September 21, an attempt by the Kiev authorities to carry out a terrorist attack using drones against targets on Russian soil was thwarted. Air defenses destroyed up to 19 Ukrainian UAVs.”

Speaking about the attack, a Ukrainian intelligence source said: “The strikes of the Security Service of Ukraine (SBU) and the navy hit the targets and caused serious damage to the occupiers' equipment,” in an operation using UAVs and Neptune cruise missiles. Hours before the attack, Crimea also suffered heavy missile fire when up to eight Storm Shadow cruise missiles were fired at the peninsula.

Since Russia annexed the Crimean peninsula, Ukraine has stepped up attacks on the peninsula and the Black Sea. Kiev said last week’s attack on Crimea damaged two Russian patrol boats and destroyed a sophisticated air defense system. (Reuters/TASS)

* Ukraine struggles with Russian Lancet UAV : ​​On September 21, journalist David Axe commented that the Armed Forces of Ukraine (VSU) are having trouble dealing with Russia's "suicide" UAVs, which have a range of up to 72 km. According to him, this is proven by the incident at the Dolgintsevo base: "A Russian drone loaded with explosives attacked a MiG-29 on the runway of the Dolgintsevo air base on the outskirts of Krivoy Rog." Mr. Axe commented that the attack could be the debut of the new Lancet UAV, "one of the most effective kamikaze UAVs."

Earlier, Pentagon chief Lloyd Austin said the US was calling on its partners to provide Ukraine with air defense systems before winter. According to him, allies should “take a closer look” at weapons to assist Ukraine, because air defense systems are still the most necessary equipment for the Ukrainian military. (Forbes)

* Belgium considers providing F-16s to Ukraine : Speaking to VRT (Belgium) on September 20, Prime Minister Alexander De Croo said: "I have asked the Ministry of Defense to assess what effect our F-16 fighter jets can have in Ukraine. We need to consider all options."

Belgium is currently replacing its F-16s with F-35s. The Belgian Defense Ministry had previously said the F-16s were too old for Ukraine to use in combat. However, Prime Minister De Croo said the planes could still be used, for example for pilot training. Norway, Denmark and the Netherlands have said in recent months they would provide F-16s to Ukraine if its air force was willing to use them. (Reuters)

Southeast Asia

* Singapore busts major money laundering ring : On September 20, Singaporean media reported that the country's police had seized or frozen assets worth more than $1.76 billion in a large-scale money laundering case.

Earlier, in an operation to crack down on a suspected international money laundering ring in August, authorities seized assets worth $750 million, including bank accounts, cash, documents containing information about virtual assets, real estate, vehicles, and luxury items such as handbags and watches. Police also arrested 10 foreign nationals, members of a group suspected of laundering proceeds from criminal activities such as fraud and online gambling.

Singapore police confirmed that they have conducted further raids and seized more assets, bringing the total value of assets seized to SGD 2.4 billion (USD 1.76 billion). This includes bank accounts worth more than USD 828 million, more than USD 55.8 million in cash and items including 68 gold bars, 294 luxury handbags and 164 luxury watches, jewelry and electronic devices. Notably, more than 110 real estate properties and 62 vehicles with a total estimated value of about SGD 1.24 billion (USD 900 million) are "frozen", meaning that these assets cannot be sold. This is one of the largest money laundering cases discovered in Singapore.

Singapore is one of the global financial centers with extremely strict anti-money laundering laws. Penalties for this violation can be up to 10 years in prison. (TTXVN)

Northeast Asia

* Complicated developments in Korean politics: On September 21, the South Korean National Assembly, controlled by the opposition, passed a motion calling for the removal of Prime Minister Han Duck Soo, citing his “incompetence” as head of the Cabinet. The motion passed with 175 votes in favor and 116 votes against.

The DP said Mr Han was responsible for what it called “policy failures of the incumbent” administration, including the response to Japan’s release of contaminated water from the Fukushima nuclear power plant and “mismanagement” of the 2023 World Scout Congress event last month.

At present, it is likely that South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol will reject this proposal. This is the first time that a proposal to remove a prime minister has been passed by the South Korean National Assembly.

On the same day, the South Korean National Assembly passed a motion to arrest Lee Jae Myung, leader of the main opposition Democratic Party (DP). Accordingly, the agency agreed to lift his immunity from arrest due to allegations of breach of trust, bribery, corruption related to construction projects and illegal money transfers to North Korea.

Lee Jae Myung is currently on a hunger strike (since August 31) to protest government policies. He has previously called on lawmakers to reject a motion to arrest him, despite his pledge in June to voluntarily waive his immunity from arrest.

This is the second time the National Assembly has voted to arrest Lee. He narrowly escaped arrest in February. Under South Korean law, sitting lawmakers are immune from arrest when the National Assembly is in session. However, this privilege has been criticized for being abused to protect corrupt politicians. (Yonhap)

Central Asia

* Azerbaijan assesses first talks on Nagorno-Karabakh: On September 21, the Azerbaijani Presidential Office assessed that its delegation had conducted “constructive and positive” talks with the ethnic Armenian authorities of Nagorno-Karabakh. Baku also confirmed that the two sides agreed to meet again soon. Baku will also provide humanitarian aid and food to the disputed region.

On the same day, a representative of President Ilham Aliyev announced that Azerbaijan had handed over to Armenia a draft peace agreement between the two neighboring countries. Baku is currently awaiting a response from the Yerevan government. Earlier, Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan stated that the country needs to push back the conflict for the sake of independence.

Meanwhile, TASS (Russia) quoted Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov as saying that the parties have not made a specific decision on lifting the blockade of the transport corridors to Nargono-Karabakh. The Armenian ethnic authorities in the disputed region want security guarantees before giving up their weapons. (AFP/Reuters/TTXVN)

* Armenia accuses Azerbaijani forces of shelling after ceasefire: Armenia accused Azerbaijani forces of opening fire on army positions on the border on the night of September 20, shortly after the ceasefire in the disputed Nagorno-Karabakh region came into effect. However, Azerbaijan immediately denied the accusation.

Specifically, the Armenian Defense Ministry said its soldiers were attacked with small arms near the town of Sotk on the border between the two countries, about 140 km (87 miles) from Karabakh, which is internationally recognized as part of Azerbaijan. Such gunfights have occurred frequently on the border between the two countries in recent times. (Reuters)

Europe

* Poland summons Ukrainian ambassador over Zelensky 's comments : On September 20, the Polish news agency PAP cited "unofficial information" saying that the country's Foreign Ministry had summoned the Ukrainian ambassador over President Volodymyr Zelensky's comments. Accordingly, in his speech to the United Nations General Assembly on September 19, the Ukrainian leader said Kiev was "making great efforts to preserve land routes for grain exports," noting that the "political theater" surrounding grain imports only helps Russia. (Reuters)

* Germany to host conference on Ukraine reconstruction : On September 20, speaking after a 30-minute meeting with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky on the sidelines of the United Nations General Assembly in New York (USA), German Chancellor Olaf Scholz announced that he would host an international conference on Ukraine reconstruction on June 11 next year. He also said that the political, military and humanitarian situation in Ukraine was at the center of the discussions. The German Chancellor also reaffirmed that Berlin would continue to support Kiev.

Previously, in June, Britain held a similar conference, bringing together leaders and representatives of more than 60 countries and financial institutions to provide financial aid to Ukraine to rebuild the country after the conflict with Russia. The purpose of the conference was to help the Kiev government maintain the economy and build infrastructure in the long term. (AFP)

Middle East-Africa

* New signal from Iran-Egypt relations: On September 20, speaking to reporters at the end of his participation in the 78th Session of the United Nations General Assembly in New York, Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi stated: "Iran sees no obstacles in establishing relations with Egypt. This has also been communicated to the Egyptian side."

The official website of the Iranian President's Office quoted Mr. Raisi as saying that the meeting between the two countries' foreign ministers could be the opening chapter to restore bilateral relations. He stressed: "In order to strengthen relations with neighboring, Muslim and related countries, the Islamic Republic of Iran will extend its hand to any country that wants to cooperate."

On the same day, Egyptian Foreign Minister Sameh Shoukry received his Iranian counterpart Hossein Amir Abdollahian at the headquarters of the Egyptian Permanent Mission to the United Nations in New York. During the meeting, Mr. Amir Abdollahian said that strengthening relations would serve the common interest. For his part, Mr. Shoukry stressed the importance of cooperation with all countries in the region to cope with the ongoing instability.

Relations between Egypt and Iran have generally been difficult, although the two sides have maintained diplomatic contacts. In recent times, a number of Middle Eastern countries, including Egypt, have made some moves to ease tensions in the region. In early 2023, Saudi Arabia and Iran restored diplomatic relations. For its part, Egypt has healed the rift with Qatar and re-established relations with Turkey. (VNA)

Source: https://baoquocte.vn/tin-the-gioi-219-crimea-chiu-dot-tan-cong-lon-tin-hieu-vui-tu-nagorno-karabakh-243098.html