Ukraine is about to receive 2 billion USD from the EU, the US warns of immediate response to Iran's attacks, the Moroccan Navy rescues 54 migrants, the UK economy shows signs of escaping recession... are some of the world's outstanding news in the past 24 hours.
 |
| The Russia-Ukraine conflict is heating up with recent moves from the two countries, especially Moscow shooting down 4 Kiev UAVs. (Source: Newsweek) |
The World & Vietnam Newspaper highlights some of the day's international news highlights.
Russia-Ukraine
* Russia shoots down 4 Ukrainian UAVs near town with oil refinery: Governor of Russia's Rostov region, Mr. Vasily Golubev, said on April 12 that Russian forces shot down 4 Ukrainian unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) near the town of Novoshakhtinsk in this region, where the oil refinery was previously targeted by Kiev.
Governor Golubev said the April 12 attack did not cause any casualties or damage. The Novoshakhtinsk oil refinery was also targeted by Ukrainian drones in March. The attack briefly shut down the plant. ( Reuters )
* UN condemns twin attacks in Ukraine: The United Nations (UN) has condemned a wave of “particularly worrying” attacks in Ukraine targeting people at the scene of an earlier airstrike.
Reporting to the UN Security Council on April 11, Ms. Edem Wosornu - representative of UN Under-Secretary-General for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs and Emergency Relief Coordinator Martin Griffiths - said the second attacks would cause people who came to help the victims of the first attack to be killed or injured. ( UN )
* Russia attacks energy facilities to “demilitarize” Ukraine: President Vladimir Putin said on April 11 that Russia’s recent airstrikes on Ukraine’s energy grid, causing severe blackouts, were part of the Kremlin’s plan to “demilitarize” its neighbor. ( TASS )
Asia-Pacific
* Thailand accelerates implementation of National AI Strategy: Thailand has set out a five-year national AI strategy roadmap (2022-2027) with the goal of turning the country into the artificial intelligence (AI) hub of Southeast Asia by 2027.
The strategy also aims to raise Thailand’s AI readiness index ranking from 59th in 2021 to the top 50 by 2025, ensuring that at least 600,000 Thais are aware of AI laws and ethics. The strategy is also expected to generate 48 billion baht ($1.32 billion) in business and social impact by 2027. ( AI Thailand )
* Seoul welcomes AUKUS considering making South Korea a “Pillar 2” partner: A South Korean Foreign Ministry official said on April 11 that Seoul welcomes the trilateral security alliance AUKUS - comprising the US, UK and Australia - intending to consult on accepting Seoul as a partner in co-developing advanced military technology.
The South Korean government is willing to cooperate with AUKUS in strategic areas including high technology, and has been maintaining close contact with the alliance. The official revealed that Seoul will consult AUKUS on specific items, review internally, and then make a decision. ( Yonhap )
* Japan-US-Philippines issue joint statement after historic summit: The joint statement of the leaders of Japan, the Philippines and the US after the historic trilateral meeting on April 11 in Washington expressed deep concern about China's behavior in the East Sea.
Earlier, speaking at the first trilateral summit with Japanese Prime Minister Kishida Fumio and Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. at the White House, US President Joe Biden pledged to defend the Philippines amid growing tensions with China. ( AFP )
* US sends symbol of naval power to Northeast Asia for drills: The South Korean Navy said that the country, the US and Japan held a joint naval exercise in international waters south of Jeju Island on April 11-12, aiming to improve their ability to coordinate operations.
The US Navy sent one of its largest warships and a symbol of its power, the nuclear-powered aircraft carrier USS Theodore Roosevelt (CVN-71), along with three Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyers to participate in exercises with two Aegis destroyers from South Korea and Japan.
The participating forces conducted anti-submarine warfare training and drills to prevent illegal transportation of weapons of mass destruction. ( Yonhap )
Europe
*Ukraine is about to receive 2 billion USD from the EU: On April 12, Vice President of the European Commission and European Union (EU) Trade Commissioner Valdis Dombrovskis announced that Ukraine could receive 1.9 billion Euros (2 billion USD) in financial aid from the bloc from the 50 billion Euro package as early as May if Brussels approves the reform plan of the Kiev government.
Speaking at a press conference after the meeting of the European Union finance ministers (ECOFIN), Mr. Dombrovskis emphasized: "Regarding the next steps: The Commission is evaluating Ukraine's plan to set quarterly reform and investment indicators to be achieved for future aid disbursements. We will complete this soon and forward the assessment to the (European) Council. After approval, Ukraine will receive 1.9 billion euros in aid, most likely in May."
On the same day, Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte announced that the country will allocate an additional 1 billion euros ($1.01 billion) in military assistance to Ukraine this year and another 3 billion euros next year. (Sputkniknews)
* Russia requests increased airport security: The Russian Ministry of Transport requests increased airport security against drone attacks.
The measures will apply to airports classified as transport infrastructure facilities (TIF) categories 1 and 2, which are most vulnerable to external attacks or have a high likelihood of damage in the event of an attack. ( Reuters )
* Germany arrests group of teenagers plotting terrorist attacks: Prosecutors in the German city of Duesseldorf said on April 12 that police had arrested three teenagers, including two girls and one boy, in western Germany on suspicion of planning terrorist attacks in the name of Islam.
The three teenagers, aged 15 and 16, were "suspected of planning an Islamist-inspired terrorist attack and of having committed it", prosecutors said in a statement. They were also "guilty of planning murder and manslaughter". ( AFP )
* UK economy shows signs of exiting recession: UK gross domestic product (GDP) rose 0.1% in February from the previous month, the Office for National Statistics (ONS) said on April 12, while the growth rate in January was revised higher. These figures raised hopes of a modest recovery after the London economy fell into a mild recession in the second half of 2023. ( Reuters )
*Russia summons French ambassador over comments by Foreign Minister Sejourne: The Russian Foreign Ministry announced that on April 12, the country summoned the French ambassador in connection with French Foreign and European Affairs Minister Stephane Sejourne's comments on statements considered false by Russian officials.
According to Russia, Mr. Sejourne said Paris is not interested in dialogue with Moscow because the statements of Russian officials contain false information.
The Russian Foreign Ministry stated: "We consider these statements by the French Foreign Minister to be a conscious and deliberate act by the French side aimed at undermining the possibility of any dialogue between the two countries." (AP)
Middle East - Africa
* COGAT blames UN for delay in aid to Gaza: The Israeli Defense Ministry's agency for the coordination of civil affairs in the Palestinian territories (COGAT) said it was unable to deliver additional aid to the Gaza Strip through the Kerem Shalom crossing due to congestion caused by some 600 trucks waiting to pick up their cargo on the Palestinian side.
In a post on social network X on April 11, COGAT stated: “We have extended the opening hours of the border crossing and increased our capacity. Do your job. The bottleneck is not on the Israeli side.”
COGAT accused the UN of delays in receiving and distributing the goods due to a lack of logistical capacity and personnel, leading to a backlog of hundreds of trucks at the Palestinian border crossing, preventing Israel from delivering additional humanitarian aid to Gaza. ( The Times of Israel )
* UN Security Council calls for protection of humanitarian workers in Gaza: On April 11, members of the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) called for the protection of humanitarian workers, facilities and activities in accordance with international law, compliance with humanitarian notification mechanisms and de-escalation. The call was made after an Israeli airstrike killed seven aid workers from the World Central Kitchen charity in Gaza.
The UN Security Council press release said the number of humanitarian workers killed in Gaza during the current conflict has reached 224, more than three times the number of humanitarian aid workers killed in any conflict on record in a single year. ( UN )
* Moroccan Navy rescues 54 migrants off Atlantic coast: On April 11, the Royal Armed Forces of Morocco issued a statement saying that the country's Navy rescued 54 migrants from a boat off the Atlantic coast, 186 km south of the port of Dakhla.
Nearly two months earlier, Morocco announced the discovery of eight migrant bodies and the rescue of nine others after their boat sank off the northern coast of the country.
Morocco has become one of the main transit points for African migrants, as they make the dangerous journey across the Mediterranean or Atlantic in search of a better life in Europe. ( Morocco World News )
America-Latin America
*US warns of retaliation against Iran's attacks: On April 12, the "Times of Israel" newspaper quoted US officials warning that Washington will respond to any Iranian attack on US soldiers, bases or interests.
The US Embassy in Israel has also advised embassy staff and their families not to travel outside the Tel Aviv, Jerusalem and Be'er Sheva areas amid the risk of an Iranian attack on Israel.
The United States has sent a clear message to Iran that it had nothing to do with the April 1 airstrike on the consular building of the Iranian Embassy in the Syrian capital Damascus, according to US officials. (Reuters)
* Mr. Donald Trump wants to debate with US President Joe Biden soon: Former President Donald Trump sent a letter to the Commission on Presidential Debates, calling for the debate schedule to be accelerated so that he can face President Joe Biden sooner.
In the letter, Donald Trump advisers Susie Wiles and Chris LaCivita urged: "The Commission must move the 2024 debate schedule forward to ensure more Americans have the opportunity to observe the candidates before voting. We also look forward to holding additional debates." ( CNN )
* UN warns food reserves for Haiti are running out: On April 11, spokesman for the United Nations Secretary-General (UN) Stéphane Dujarric said that the World Food Programme's (WFP) reserves for Haiti could run out by the end of this month, as international airports remain inoperable.
Speaking to reporters, Mr. Dujarric said that up to now, WFP has reached more than 500,000 people in need of emergency assistance at several evacuation points in the capital Port-au-Prince. Although it is increasing aid to Haiti, WFP said the amount of food available is only enough to provide for 175,000 people for 1 month. ( UN )
* Mexico officially files lawsuit against Ecuador at the International Court of Justice: On April 11, the Mexican government announced that it had officially filed a lawsuit against Ecuador at the International Court of Justice (ICJ), regarding Ecuadorian authorities attacking the Mexican Embassy in Quito to arrest former Vice President of the South American country Jorge Glas, who is currently in exile.
Mexico's Foreign Minister Alicia Barcena said in a statement that the country also demanded the suspension of Ecuador's membership in the United Nations (UN) unless Quito made a public apology and "acknowledged its violations of fundamental principles and norms of international law." ( Reuters )
Source
Comment (0)