Russian plane carrying 74 people explodes near Ukraine, Germany threatens to have difficulty "carrying" Kiev, Iraq "hot-faced" because of US actions

A Russian plane carrying nearly 80 people crashed in Belgorod near Ukraine, conflicts in the Middle East, North Korea launching cruise missiles, Türkiye approving Sweden's application to join NATO... are some of the notable international events in the past 24 hours.

Image cut from clip recording the scene of a Russian Ilyushin Il-76 heavy military transport plane crashing and burning in Belgorod on January 24. (Source: The Guardian)

The World & Vietnam Newspaper highlights some of the day's outstanding international events:

Russia-Ukraine

* Russian military transport plane crashes near Ukraine border: A representative of the Russian Defense Ministry confirmed that on January 24, a Russian Ilyushin Il-76 heavy military transport plane crashed in Russia's Belgorod region - bordering Ukraine - and exploded, creating a giant fireball.

The plane was carrying 65 Ukrainian prisoners of war, along with six crew members and three escorts, to the Belgorod region for an exchange, the ministry said.

Russian State Duma Speaker Vyacheslav Volodin hinted that Ukraine had shot down the plane, and ordered the drafting and sending of comments to the US and German Congresses regarding the incident.

According to Mr. Volodin, it is necessary to clarify what type of anti-aircraft missile the plane could have been shot down with.

Meanwhile, First Deputy Minister of the Defense Committee of the Russian Senate Viktor Bondarev said that the crew of the Il-76 had time to report the impact from the outside on the plane.

Based on this information, Mr. Bondarev confirmed that the plane was shot down, and noted that through the clip posted on the Telegram channel, typical traces of a missile can be clearly seen and most likely there was more than one. (AFP, Reuters)

* Germany warns about supporting Ukraine: On January 23, German Finance Minister Christian Lindner announced that the country cannot maintain Ukraine's defense capacity on its own in the long term and other countries will need to increase their contributions.

Stressing that "Germany cannot do more to help Ukraine while others do less", Mr. Lindner also called on other European Union (EU) member states to share the costs.

Earlier, German Defense Minister Boris Pistorius also warned that the country must "keep an eye on its own defense capabilities," meaning Berlin cannot "give it all" to Ukraine as some countries are demanding, stressing: "Otherwise, we will not be able to defend ourselves." (RT)

* The Kremlin has hit back at Kiev's new decree on Russian territories "historically inhabited by Ukrainians".

Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said that the decree of Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky was an attempt to cover up Kiev's political problems.

According to Mr Peskov, Mr Zelensky wanted to secure “absolute support” like Russian President Vladimir Putin, but the Ukrainian leader did not succeed.

Meanwhile, Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova said the decree was absurd. (TASS)

Middle East

* Iraqi Prime Minister protests US attacks: On January 23, the US carried out attacks on three facilities linked to Iran-backed militias in Iraq.

Reuters on January 24 quoted a statement from the Iraqi Prime Minister's Office accusing the US attacks of leading to "irresponsible escalation" and violating Iraqi sovereignty.

The statement said Iraq would consider these "aggressive actions" that undermine years of cooperation between the two countries.

* The US continued to attack Houthi in Yemen on the morning of January 24, destroying 2 anti-ship missiles of Houthi rebels.

Meanwhile, a source said: "The Houthi movement, through the Yemeni Ministry of Foreign Affairs, has contacted the permanent representative office of the United Nations (UN) and the humanitarian coordinator in Yemen, demanding that all staff with US or British nationality leave the country within 30 days."

In the letter, Houthi warned US and British citizens on UN missions not to travel to areas controlled by the movement until further notice. (Reuters, Sputnik)

* Russia condemns US, UK attacks on Yemen: Speaking at the UN Security Council (UNSC) on the Middle East, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said: "We strongly condemn the unjustified aggression against Yemen carried out by the US and UK without sanctions from the UNSC."

According to him, it is "a direct threat to international peace, undermining the world order based on the supremacy of universal international law and the central role of the UN." (TASS)

* The UN Security Council discussed tensions in the Middle East on the afternoon of January 23 (US time), with the participation of Foreign Ministers, Ambassadors and senior officials from many countries.

At the meeting, UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres expressed deep concern over the violence spreading beyond Gaza, the increasing casualties in the occupied West Bank, including East Jerusalem; the clashes between Israel and Lebanon, attacks in Syria and Iran, and the escalating situation in the Red Sea.

The UN chief reaffirmed that the two-state solution is the only way out, called for an immediate ceasefire and the unconditional release of hostages, and urged the international community to unite to promote a meaningful peace process in the region.

According to Palestinian Foreign Minister Riyad Al Maliki, 2,000 tons of bombs were dropped, killing more than 25,000 Palestinians, including over 11,000 children, and injuring 63,000 others.

Mr. Maliki stressed that now is the time to recognize and realize the admission of the State of Palestine to the United Nations.

Meanwhile, Israeli Ambassador to the UN Gilad Erdan once again affirmed that the country "will protect its future". (Vietnam News Agency)

Asia

* China-Nauru re-establish diplomatic relations : China Central Television (CCTV) reported that on January 24, China and the South Pacific island nation of Nauru re-established diplomatic relations.

According to the Chinese Foreign Ministry, the two countries will hold a ceremony to restore bilateral diplomatic relations in Beijing on January 24. (THX)

* A serious fire killed 25 people in Xinyu city, Jiangxi province, eastern China.

Rescue work is urgently taking place, while authorities investigate to clarify the cause of the fire. (THX)

* North Korea launched several cruise missiles into the Yellow Sea on the morning of January 24, according to South Korea's announcement. The launches came after Pyongyang announced the successful test of a solid-fueled intermediate-range hypersonic missile (IRBM) on January 14 and the test of the "Haeil-5-23" underwater nuclear weapon system on January 19.

Yonhap reported that on January 24, US National Security Council spokesman John Kirby said: "We are closely monitoring and are confident that the current defense capabilities on the Korean Peninsula are appropriate."

* North Korean officials strengthen diplomacy in NAM: On January 24, North Korean Vice Foreign Minister Kim Son-kyong met with senior officials from many countries on the sidelines of the Non-Aligned Movement (NAM) and Group of 77 (G77) summits.

Accordingly, Mr. Kim Son-kyong met with Chinese Vice Premier Liu Guozhong and First Vice President of Cuba Salvador Antonio Valdes Mesa.

The North Korean diplomat also met with Turkish Vice President Cevdet Yilmaz, Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni and Equatorial Guinean President Teodoro Obiang Nguema Mbasogo.

In addition, Mr. Kim Son-kyong also met with Belarusian Foreign Minister Sergei Aleinik to discuss measures to enhance bilateral cooperation. (Yonhap)

* Korean and Japanese foreign ministers hold phone talks on enhancing cooperation: On January 23, new Korean Foreign Minister Cho Tae-yul held a phone call with his Japanese counterpart Yoko Kamikawa to discuss bilateral relations as well as other related issues.

In the first phone call between the two foreign ministers since Mr. Cho took office, the ministers assessed that bilateral relations have improved and the two sides have rebuilt trust through a series of summits and foreign ministerial-level talks in 2023.

In this direction, the two Foreign Ministers agreed to continue efforts to strengthen bilateral relations based on trust between senior diplomatic officials of the two countries as well as to enhance cooperation in the international arena and multilateral mechanisms such as the United Nations (UN) and the UN Security Council.

The two sides agreed to coordinate closely with their common ally, the United States, in dealing with North Korea. (Yonhap)

Europe

* Russia and Finland terminated the agreement on cross-border cooperation from January 24.

"Due to the deliberate actions taken by Helsinki in 2022-2023 to sever multifaceted relations with Moscow, the development of cross-border cooperation has been nullified even if the agreement officially enters into force," the Russian Embassy in Finland said in a statement.

According to the diplomatic agency, the agreement has lost its relevance in the new situation when statements from Finnish foreign affairs officials and Helsinki's generally confrontational stance show a lack of willingness to engage in dialogue in the region. (THX)

* Russia comments on Turkey's agreement to admit Sweden into NATO: On January 23, the Turkish Parliament officially approved Sweden's application to join the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO).

Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said the move was "absolutely obvious" and that "Ankara is fulfilling its obligations, adhering to the negotiation process within the framework of this alliance. This is Turkey's sovereign decision."

Mr. Peskov also emphasized that Moscow regretted Sweden's decision to join NATO, reiterating Russia's stance that it does not pose any threat to the Nordic country that maintained neutrality in both world wars and the Cold War.

However, Sweden will not automatically join NATO even after the Turkish president ratifies the parliament's decision, as another NATO ally, Hungary, has yet to give the green light for its membership. (Reuters)

* Moldovan Foreign Minister Nicu Popescu resigned on January 24, stressing that he had fulfilled his goal of steering the country towards joining the European Union (EU).

The resignation comes at a sensitive time for Moldova, with tensions rising since the Moldovan government introduced import and export tariffs in early 2024 as part of its bid to join the EU.

The separatist region of Transnistria, which relies on Moscow for support, says the tariffs are hurting its businesses. Pro-Russian separatists in Transnistria have called for a “high level of military readiness” and regular exercises to that end. (Reuters)

* Denmark provides 91 million Kroner ($13.26 million) to strengthen cyber security in Ukraine.

“The funding is being made under the auspices of the Estonian-Luxembourg-led IT alliance for Ukraine, in which Denmark has participated along with several other countries,” the Danish Ministry of Defense said in a statement on its website.

“This aid is an important contribution to the long-term policy of supporting Ukraine's cyber defense capabilities,” Danish Defense Minister Troels Lund Poulsen said. (TASS)

* German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier began a state visit to Thailand at the invitation of Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin.

This is the first visit by a German President to Thailand in 22 years, an important step towards strengthening relations between the two countries, contributing to making Bangkok a future strategic partner of Berlin.

The highlight of President Steinmeier's three-day visit will be talks with Prime Minister Srettha on January 25, focusing on trade, investment, climate change and vocational training, with the participation of representatives from the two countries' private sectors.

Africa

* The United States has pledged an additional $45 million to strengthen coastal security in West Africa , Secretary of State Antony Blinken said in Ivory Coast, the second stop on a four-nation African tour.

The additional funding was announced during Mr. Blinken's meeting with Ivorian President Alassane Ouattara on the morning of January 23.

Accordingly, this funding will supplement the $300 million package that the US has invested in the West African coastal region over the past two years.

Source: https://baoquocte.vn/tin-the-gioi-241-may-bay-nga-cho-74-nguoi-phat-no-gan-ukraine-duc-doa-kho-ganh-kiev-iraq-nong-mat-vi-hanh-dong-cua-my-258620.html