Hamas says Gaza ceasefire depends on US, Ukraine rejects call for talks with Russia, China says it always supports Cambodia

Russia announced that it will attend the APEC Conference at an "appropriate level", Hungary is worried that Ukraine's admission to the EU will cause war, the US and South Korea condemn Pyongyang for 'transferring weapons to Russia'... are some notable international news in the past 24 hours.

US President Joe Biden and Chinese President Xi Jinping met face-to-face for the first time since Biden took office in January 2021, when both attended the G20 summit in Indonesia, November 14, 2022. (Source: Reuters)

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

Europe

*US determined to stifle Russia's Arctic 2 LNG project: US Assistant Secretary of State for Energy Geoffrey Pyatt announced on November 9 that Washington aims to end Russia's Arctic 2 liquefied natural gas (LNG) project.

The US State Department representative also mentioned the sanctions imposed last week on Arctic LNG 2. Previously, many reports said that the new US sanctions had negatively affected the Arctic LNG 2 project.

Arctic LNG 2 is a Russian project that includes the construction of three LNG production lines with a capacity of 6.6 million tonnes per year. The total capacity of the three lines will reach 19.8 million tonnes of LNG and 1.6 million tonnes of stable gas condensate per year. (Reuters)

*Ukraine rejects calls for talks with Russia: Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba on November 9 criticized calls for Kiev to hold talks with Moscow, after reports that Ukraine's allies were pushing for talks after Kiev's weak counter-offensive.

“Those who believe that Ukraine should negotiate with Russia today are either ignorant or deceived,” Foreign Minister Kuleba said. According to Kuleba, Kiev has held hundreds of rounds of talks with Moscow since 2014, when Russian-backed separatists took control of eastern Ukraine and Russia unilaterally annexed the Crimean peninsula.

“It is time for everyone in Kiev and Washington to realize that it is impossible to defeat Russia on the battlefield,” Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said a day earlier. He said dialogue was “very necessary” and Russia was “definitely ready to start it.” (Sputnik News)

*Russia 'shocked' by delay in evacuating citizens from Gaza: The Russian government said on November 9 that it was "shocked" when the Israeli ambassador said it could take up to two weeks to evacuate Russian citizens from the Gaza Strip.

Earlier, the Israeli ambassador to Russia told Russian state media that with about 500-600 people leaving every day and about 7,000 people waiting to be evacuated, it could take about two weeks to get all Russian citizens out of the Gaza Strip.

Russian President Vladimir Putin has blamed the West for stoking tensions in the region and criticized Israel's conduct in the ongoing conflict. According to the Hamas-run Gaza Health Ministry, Israeli attacks have killed 10,500 people, mostly civilians and children.

So far, American, French, British and Canadian citizens are among those who have been evacuated from the Gaza Strip. (Jerusalem Post)

*Russia, Kazakhstan strive to strengthen sovereignty: On November 9, President Vladimir Putin announced that Russia and Kazakhstan will work together to strengthen sovereignty and fulfill international obligations, and "neither country will interfere in the internal affairs of the other."

In addition, President Putin noted that the top priority of any country should always be its national development and the interests of its people. He pointed out that all of Russia's allies, including Kazakhstan, its closest ally, share this view. "This is how we will act," the Russian leader concluded.

President Putin is visiting Kazakhstan on November 9. This is the Russian leader's third foreign visit since the Hague-based International Criminal Court (ICC) issued an arrest warrant for him in March on "war crimes" grounds - a claim the Kremlin has vehemently denied. (TASS)

*Russia says it will attend APEC summit at "appropriate level": The Russian Foreign Ministry said on November 9 that the US has not yet issued visas to all members of the Russian delegation to the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) forum leaders' meeting in San Francisco, but Moscow will attend "at an appropriate level". At a weekly press briefing, Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova refused to say which official would lead the Russian delegation to the APEC summit.

The APEC Leaders' Meeting is scheduled to take place from November 14-16. US President Joe Biden and Chinese President Xi Jinping are expected to meet on the sidelines of the meeting. (AFP)

*Hungary fears that Ukraine's accession to the EU will cause war: Hungarian Foreign Minister Peter Szijjarto said that the conditions are simply not suitable for the European Union (EU) to consider Ukraine's membership.

“By admitting Ukraine, the EU will also be at war, which is clearly not what anyone wants. Enlargement should be about spreading peace, not bringing war into the EU,” Mr Szijjarto said.

According to Mr. Szijjarto, the EU is facing serious security and economic challenges and is getting weaker, so if the bloc wants to admit new members as a way to regain strength, it should instead turn to the Western Balkan countries - first of all, Serbia.

European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen on November 8 recommended opening “accession talks” with both Ukraine and Moldova, and upgrading the former Soviet republic of Georgia to formal candidate status. The EU has not admitted a new member since Croatia in 2013.

Earlier this year, Brussels outlined a rather vague plan to expand the bloc by 2030, targeting the remains of the former Yugoslavia, Albania, Georgia, Moldova and Ukraine. (TASS)

*State Duma Chairman Declares Seizing Russia's Frozen Assets a Criminal Act: On November 9, State Duma (Lower House) Chairman Vyacheslav Volodin declared that the G7 countries' recognition of Russia's desire to seize frozen assets is a criminal act that should be considered internationally. Mr. Volodin also noted that the possibility of seizing assets will not affect the Russian economy.

Earlier, President Vladimir Putin stressed that Russia had earned twice as much money as the country's frozen foreign exchange reserves. However, Volodin stressed that Russia "has moral and legal grounds to act with the assets of the G7 countries, which are larger than the amount of Russian funds frozen." (Sputnik News)

Asia-Pacific

*US, South Korea condemn North Korea for “transferring weapons to Russia”: US Secretary of State Antony Blinken on November 9 condemned North Korea for transferring weapons to Russia to conduct special operations in Ukraine, when he met with top South Korean officials.

In a transcript of Mr. Blinken's meeting with South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol on November 9, the US State Department said the two sides "strongly condemned the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK)'s provision of military equipment and ammunition to the Russian Federation for use in its special operations in Ukraine."

South Korea and Japan have repeatedly criticized Pyongyang in recent weeks for helping Russia pursue its military campaign in Ukraine, with Seoul saying North Korea sent a million artillery shells. Blinken is visiting Seoul after a meeting of G7 foreign ministers in Japan. (Yonhap)

*US 'deeply focused' on Indo-Pacific : US Secretary of State Antony Blinken reaffirmed Washington's "strong" focus on the Indo-Pacific during a trip to Japan this week.

Speaking in a media interview on November 8, Mr. Blinken emphasized that the US is capable of handling many security issues simultaneously with allies in the region, and considers the Indo-Pacific one of the US's "most important core interests".

"...We can and are addressing both the urgent challenge of today, the crisis in the Middle East, and at the same time ensuring that we engage very effectively in one of our most important core interests, which is the Indo-Pacific," Mr. Blinken said, emphasizing that the region is "an area of ​​long-term focus."

Mr. Blinken traveled to Japan to attend the G7 foreign ministers' meetings and met with Prime Minister Fumio Kishida and his Japanese counterpart Yoko Kamikawa. He then flew to South Korea, where he is scheduled to meet with President Yoon Suk Yeol and his counterpart Park Jin. (Yonhap)

*US, South Korea call on North Korea to cancel spy satellite launch: South Korean Foreign Minister Park Jin said on November 9 that he agreed with his US counterpart Antony Blinken that the two countries will coordinate to implement an extended deterrence strategy to deal with the threat from North Korea.

Mr. Park also said the two foreign ministers had called on North Korea to cancel plans to launch a spy satellite.

The foreign ministers of South Korea and the United States have shared the view that there should be a humanitarian “ceasefire” on the Israel-Hamas conflict. Both sides have condemned Hamas’ attacks on civilians and are monitoring possible links between North Korea and Hamas. (Reuters)

*Philippines launches 5 coast guard vessels with aid from Japan: A senior Philippine official confirmed on November 9 that the country will launch five coast guard vessels worth $500 million through a loan from the Japanese government, thereby improving its patrol capabilities in the South China Sea. Manila announced the project after a visit by Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida, who pledged that Tokyo would "continue to contribute to enhancing the Philippines' security capabilities".

The five 97-meter-long vessels will be delivered between 2027 and 2028, financed by a 29.3 billion peso ($525 million) loan from Tokyo, Philippine Economic Planning Secretary Arsenio Balisacan told reporters.

During a visit to Manila last week, Prime Minister Kishida announced that Japan would provide the Philippines with a coastal radar surveillance system. Kishida and Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. also agreed to begin negotiations on a defense pact that would allow the two countries to deploy troops on each other's territory. (AFP)

*China declares its support for Cambodia in maintaining stability: Chinese President Xi Jinping sent a congratulatory message to Cambodia on November 9 on the 70th anniversary of its independence. In the congratulatory message sent to Cambodian King Norodom Sihamoni, President Xi Jinping emphasized that as a traditional friendly neighbor, China will always steadfastly support Cambodia in maintaining stability, promoting development and improving people's livelihoods.

This year marks the 65th anniversary of the establishment of China-Cambodia diplomatic relations and the China-Cambodia Friendship Year, Xi Jinping recalled that he and King Sihamoni met in Beijing and Hangzhou this year to map out a blueprint for a China-Cambodia community with a shared future.

President Xi Jinping said he attaches great importance to developing diplomatic relations between the two countries and is willing to work with King Sihamoni to strengthen the strategic direction of bilateral relations, so as to jointly build a high-quality, high-level and high-standard China-China community with a shared future in the new era. (THX)

Africa- Middle East

*Hamas says ceasefire in Gaza depends on US: On November 9, Hamas political body member Mousa Abu Marzouq declared that a ceasefire in Gaza depends on the US because it has "full control" of the conflict in the Middle East.

In an interview with Turkey's Yeni Safak newspaper, Mr. Marzouq stated: "The ceasefire in Gaza depends on the United States, Israel's most important supporter. The United States provides money, weapons and political protection to Israel. If the US government wants a ceasefire, they can achieve it right now."

Marzouq also called on Muslim countries not to stop at making statements condemning Israel but to take concrete actions to resolve the crisis, such as cutting off oil supplies to Israel. According to this Hamas official, the US is threatening countries in the region so these countries do not impose sanctions on Israel. (Al Jazeera)

*Iran rejects G7's call to stop supporting Hamas : On November 9, Iran rejected the statement of the Group of Seven (G7) demanding that it stop supporting Hamas and end its "destabilizing" actions in the Middle East.

Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Nasser Kanani “strongly condemned” the G7 statement and said Iran was making “relentless efforts to end Israel’s military attacks on defenseless civilians in Gaza.” The G7 foreign ministers met in Tokyo, Japan on November 7-8, to discuss finding solutions to the ongoing crisis in the Middle East and other global issues. (AFP)

*Belgium says it's time to punish Israel: Belgian Deputy Prime Minister Petra De Sutter said Israel must face consequences for the large number of civilian deaths in its campaign against Hamas in Gaza.

“We cannot ignore the fact that children are being killed every day in Gaza... It is time to impose sanctions against Israel. The bombings are inhumane. It is clear that Israel does not care about the international demand for a ceasefire, ” the politician told the Nieuwsblad newspaper on November 8. De Sutter proposed suspending Belgium’s association agreement with Israel and banning imports of products from the occupied Palestinian territories.

Earlier this week, Belgian Prime Minister Alexander De Croo criticized Israel's military tactics, saying "our country does not take sides. What we choose is to end the violence and the thousands of civilian casualties." ( RT)

America

*Costa Rica arrests 8 bank employees for stealing 6 million USD: On November 8, Costa Rican authorities arrested 8 employees of National Bank - the largest commercial bank in this Central American country - in connection with the theft of more than 6 million USD, the largest theft in the bank's 109-year history.

Eight employees and the legal director of the National Bank have been arrested, Costa Rican authorities said, and are facing charges including covering up theft, violating professional rules, embezzlement and money laundering. Investigators believe the main suspect is a low-level bank employee who stole the cash and hid it in paper bags, undetected by security cameras. Costa Rican Justice Minister Carlo Diaz said the government was expanding the investigation. (AFP)

Source: https://baoquocte.vn/tin-the-gioi-ngay-911-hamas-noi-ngung-ban-o-gaza-tuy-thuoc-vao-my-ukraine-bac-keu-goi-dam-phan-voi-nga-trung-quoc-tuyen-bo-luon-ung-ho-campuchia-249394.html