The developments in the Russia-Ukraine conflict, the risk of escalation in Gaza after dozens of Israeli soldiers died, an earthquake in China, NATO's increased military strength... are some of the notable international events in the past 24 hours.
 |
| Israeli soldiers carry the coffin of a comrade during a funeral at Mount Herzl cemetery in Jerusalem on January 23, a day after the soldier was killed in the Gaza Strip. (Source: AFP) |
The World & Vietnam Newspaper highlights some of the day's outstanding international events:
Russia-Ukraine
* Russia attacks Ukrainian military targets: On January 23, the Russian Defense Ministry said that its army had conducted precision missile strikes from the air and on the ground against all targets of enterprises producing missiles, explosives and ammunition of the Ukrainian army.
Meanwhile, on social media, Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of Ukraine Valery Zaluzhny said that Russia used 41 cruise missiles, ballistic missiles and anti-aircraft missiles in the attack, but Kiev shot down 15 cruise missiles, 5 ballistic missiles and 1 Kh-59 guided missile. (AFP, Reuters)
* Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky signed a decree "Territory of Russia historically inhabited by Ukrainians" including 6 localities: Krasnodar region, Rostov, Belgorod, Bryansk, Kursk and Voronezh provinces.
In the decree, Mr. Zelensky instructed the government to develop an action plan “to preserve the national identity” of Ukrainians living in Russia.
In addition, the leader also requested to draft documents “on the more than 1,000-year history of the Ukrainian state”.
The decree was published on the official website of the President of Ukraine.
| RELATED NEWS | |
 | US warns of 'catastrophic consequences' if aid is stopped, EU considers ways to overcome internal conflicts over Ukraine |
Middle East
* 24 soldiers killed in Gaza Strip, Israel angry: On January 23, the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) confirmed that 24 soldiers, of whom 21 were reservists, were killed in Gaza on January 22 when a building was hit by bullets and collapsed.
IDF spokesman Daniel Hagari said Israeli soldiers entered a two-story building to place a bomb that destroyed a room believed to be a Hamas base.
At the same time, Hamas fired at an IDF tank outside the house, causing a mine to explode and the building to collapse.
This is the highest number of Israeli soldiers killed in 24 hours since fighting broke out between Israel and Hamas on October 7, 2023.
Following this event, on January 23, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant appeared together in a video, affirming that they would continue the all-out war in the Gaza Strip in an effort to achieve the irreplaceable goal of "complete victory".
Prime Minister Netanyahu also said that the Israeli military has opened an investigation into the above "disaster". (AFP, Reuters)
* The US, UK, and Australia impose new sanctions on Hamas: This is the latest round of sanctions coordinated by the three countries aimed at armed groups in the Middle East.
Specifically, the US Treasury Department announced that it has imposed sanctions on Hamas-related financial networks in Gaza, specifically targeting individuals and entities that support the transfer of funding to Hamas and the Palestinian Islamic Jihad (PIJ).
The US also imposed sanctions on armed groups that use bases in Gaza, Iraq, Lebanon, Syria and Yemen to launch attacks against Israel and the US.
The US and UK also imposed asset freezes and travel bans on five “key figures” and one entity linked to the leadership and financial networks of Hamas and PIJ. US individuals and companies are prohibited from engaging in transactions involving the assets of the sanctioned individuals and entities.
Australia has imposed additional counter-terrorism financial sanctions on 12 individuals and three entities linked to Hamas, Hezbollah and Palestinian Islamic Jihad.
* Britain will continue to prevent Yemen's Houthi movement from attacking ships in the Red Sea, following the latest joint attack with US forces on January 22, according to British Foreign Secretary David Cameron.
Declaring the Houthi attacks illegal and unacceptable, Mr. Cameron said the US-UK actions sent the clearest possible message that "we will continue to degrade the Houthis' ability to carry out these attacks." (AFP)
* Russia promotes efforts to resolve the situation in the Middle East: On January 22, in New York, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov had separate meetings with his Iranian, Turkish and Lebanese counterparts to discuss the situation in the Gaza Strip, Syria and "tension" in the Red Sea.
The diplomats discussed collective efforts for a ceasefire in Gaza as well as resolving the crisis in the Middle East, conditions for providing humanitarian assistance to civilians. (Reuters)
| RELATED NEWS | |
 | Russian Foreign Minister Suggests This About Middle East Crisis |
Europe
* NATO strengthens military power, does not see direct threat from Russia: On January 22, the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) announced the signing of a framework contract worth about 1.1 billion Euros with German and French defense weapons manufacturers to supply more than 220,000 155 mm artillery shells.
The 155 mm artillery shell can be used in the Caesar and Panzerhaubitze 2000 self-propelled artillery systems. Both of these guns have also been supplied to Ukraine by NATO member states for use in the conflict with Russia.
The first artillery shells are expected to be delivered in the next 24 months.
On the same day, NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg admitted that the military alliance "does not see any direct or imminent threat to any NATO ally" from Russia.
According to Mr. Stoltenberg, NATO has set two goals after Russia launched a special military operation in Ukraine in February 2022: "supporting Kiev" and preventing "escalation into a full-scale conflict" between Moscow and this military organization. (TASS)
* Ukraine-Poland strengthen bilateral cooperation: On January 22, new Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk arrived in Kiev, starting an official visit to Ukraine to strengthen bilateral relations.
Speaking after the talks, President Zelensky affirmed that the two sides had a "very productive" exchange and were promoting a new form of cooperation aimed at purchasing larger-scale weapons to meet Kiev's needs under the loan provided by Warsaw.
The two leaders also discussed prospects for future joint arms production, cooperation in the energy sector and investment cooperation.
In a separate meeting with his Polish counterpart, Ukrainian Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal also announced a "reset" of relations between the two governments and said the two sides would hold regular meetings to strengthen cooperation.
Stressing that Kiev would make “maximum efforts” to avoid harming Poland’s economic interests, Shmyhal also hoped Warsaw would lift restrictions on Ukrainian farmers and producers. (Reuters)
* The EU will soon complete a study on the use of frozen Russian assets , according to EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Josep Borrell on January 22.
Accordingly, EU countries have reached a political agreement to move to the final stage of studying the possibility of using Russian assets. (AFP)
| RELATED NEWS | |
| Russian assets frozen: EU close to completing study, Belgium worried, WB calls on West to 'not be afraid' |
Asia
* An earthquake measuring 7.0 on the Richter scale in the China-Kyrgyzstan border area , with a focal depth of 13 km in Xinjiang, 140 km west of Aksu city, injured at least 50 people.
The major earthquake was recorded at 2am local time and by 8am on January 23, the area had recorded a total of more than 40 aftershocks. At this intensity, the earthquake could cause significant damage.
The earthquake came a day after a landslide killed at least 20 people in southwestern China.
* China released a white paper on January 23, stressing that the country is stepping up efforts to build a legal framework for counter-terrorism. National conditions, constitutional principles and international experience play an important role in this process.
The White Paper consists of five parts: "Improved legal framework for counter-terrorism", "Clear regulations on identifying and punishing terrorist activities", "Standardized enforcement of powers in counter-terrorism work", "Protecting human rights in counter-terrorism operations" and "Effectively protecting people's safety and national security".
The document notes that terrorism is a common enemy of humanity, posing a serious threat to international peace and security and a challenge to all countries and humanity as a whole. Therefore, all members of the international community need to share the responsibility to combat terrorism.
According to the White Paper, anti-terrorism measures protect common human values, comply with United Nations standards and principles, and are suitable to national conditions and legal institutions. (THX)
* India and EFTA are set to sign a trade agreement after 16 years of negotiations, according to a report by PTI news agency.
The European Free Trade Association (EFTA) consists of four member states: Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway and Switzerland.
Swiss Economy Minister Guy Parmelin said on social media X that the two sides are now “focused on shaping the newly achieved convergence” and that officials are working around the clock to iron out the final details so that the deal can be signed as soon as possible.
| RELATED NEWS | |
| Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi's election 'formula' |
America
* The Colombian government and the ELN armed group resumed negotiations in Havana , as confirmed by host Cuban President Miguel Díaz-Canel.
Senator Iván Cepeda, a member of the Colombian Government delegation, expressed optimism about the peace process and believed that the two sides would reach an agreement to extend the bilateral ceasefire currently in effect until January 29.
Through the social network X, the head of the delegation of the armed group National Liberation Army (ELN), Mr. “Pablo Beltrán” Israel Ramírez shared the hope of getting closer and concretizing “the transformations that Colombia needs” to build peace. (AFP)
* Argentine President Javier Milei will visit Israel and Italy in February, at the invitation of Prime Ministers Benjamin Netanyahu and Giorgia Meloni.
Since the conflict between Israel and Hamas in the Gaza Strip escalated, far-right President Milei has repeatedly expressed support for the Israeli army's "legitimate right to self-defense."
| RELATED NEWS | |
| Colombia - Historical Truth and the Process of Restoring Peace |
Africa
* Russia and Egypt started construction of a new unit at the El-Dabaa Nuclear Power Plant in the North African country, according to information from RIA Novosti news agency on January 23.
The project is being undertaken by Russia's state nuclear energy corporation Rosatom. The El-Dabaa nuclear power plant will consist of four units with a total capacity of 4.8 gigawatts.
* Egypt warned that Israel's attempt to control the Philadelphia Corridor would pose a threat to bilateral relations, the head of Egypt's State Information Agency Diaa Rashwan said on January 23.
Claiming that Israel was spreading disinformation about weapons being smuggled through Egypt into the Gaza Strip in an attempt to gain control of the Philadelphia Corridor, he asserted that Egypt was "capable of defending its interests and sovereignty over its land and borders."
Earlier this month, the Wall Street Journal reported that Israel had proposed to Cairo to install sensors along the Philadelphia Corridor between Egypt and the Gaza Strip to prevent Hamas from smuggling weapons and people into the area.
Israel then reportedly informed Cairo that it was planning a military operation to seize control of the border between Egypt and the Gaza Strip.
Source
Comment (0)