Russia accused Ukraine of using chemical weapons made by the US, China and Cambodia increased military cooperation, Israel continued to attack Shifa hospital in Gaza, Russia attacked Kiev with supersonic missiles, Ireland had the youngest prime minister in history, China and the Philippines held phone talks to reduce tensions... are some of the outstanding international events in the past 24 hours.
 |
| Higher Education Minister Simon Harris will become Ireland's youngest Prime Minister in history. (Source: PA) |
The World & Vietnam Newspaper highlights some of the day's international news highlights.
Russia-Ukraine
*Ukraine calls on allies for help after missile attack from Crimea: On March 25, Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba called on allies to provide more air defense systems to Ukraine, after Russia's missile attack on the capital Kiev on the morning of March 25.
Earlier in the day, a series of large explosions rocked the capital Kiev. The Ukrainian air force said it had intercepted two ballistic missiles over Kiev in an attack that the Ukrainian military commander said was launched from the Russian-controlled Crimean peninsula. (Reuters)
*Russia attacked Kiev with hypersonic missiles: US Ambassador to Ukraine Bridget Brink said that Russia attacked the capital Kiev with hypersonic missiles on the morning of March 25.
On social network X, Ms. Brink stated: "In the past 5 days, Russia has launched hundreds of missiles and drones at a sovereign country." She also emphasized: "Ukraine needs our help now. Not a moment can be wasted."
Earlier in the day, a series of explosions rocked the Ukrainian capital Kiev on the morning of March 25 as air raid sirens sounded. (Reuters)
*Russia accuses Ukraine of using US-made chemical weapons : Russia's permanent representative to the Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW) Vladimir Tarabrin said that the Ukrainian armed forces have repeatedly used US-made chemical munitions against the Russian military.
“During the special military operation, we recorded cases of the use of chemical weapons produced in the United States by the Ukrainian armed forces,” Tarabrin said in an interview with Izvestiya.
Mr. Tarabrin also noted the presence of foreign mercenaries in Ukraine. According to him, there are many US private military corporations operating there, in particular the Direct Vision Group from Nevada. He also warned that Ukraine will continue to conduct provocations using chemical weapons and there is a high risk that the Ukrainian armed forces will further violate the laws of war. (TASS)
Asia-Pacific
*China, Cambodia increase military cooperation: During a meeting in Beijing on March 25, Chinese Defense Minister Dong Jun and Mr. Mao Sophan, Deputy Commander-in-Chief of the Royal Cambodian Armed Forces and Commander of the Royal Cambodian Army, pledged to further promote military cooperation.
Dong said the China-Cambodia friendship continues to develop with the times, and the building of the China-Cambodia community of shared destiny has entered a new era of high quality, high level and high standards under the strategic guidance of the leaders of the two countries.
For his part, Mao Sophan said Cambodia firmly upholds the One China principle and is willing to work with China to promote practical cooperation and exchanges between the two militaries. (Xinhua)
*Myanmar is about to hold elections, but they may not be held nationwide: Myanmar media on March 25 quoted the head of the military government, Min Aung Hlaing, as saying that the country plans to hold elections if there is peace and stability, but the elections may not be held nationwide.
In an interview published in Myanmar media, Senior General Min Aung Hlaing said the military still plans to hold an election to return Myanmar to democracy after a military coup in 2021. Meanwhile, the Myanmar military is fighting insurgents in some areas of the country. (Reuters)
* China, Philippines hold phone talks on bilateral tensions : Chinese Vice Foreign Minister Chen Xiaodong said on March 25 that relations between China and the Philippines are at a crossroads and Manila must act cautiously on the way forward.
According to the Chinese Foreign Ministry, Mr. Tran made this comment during a phone call with Philippine Deputy Foreign Minister Theresa Lazaro, in the context of escalating tensions between the two countries regarding the dispute at Second Thomas Shoal (Beijing calls it Ren'ai Shoal) in the East Sea.
On the same day, a spokesman for the Chinese Foreign Ministry announced that China had clearly stated that the Philippines must remove a warship stranded in the South China Sea, and after 20 years they (Manila) have never fulfilled their promise. ( Reuters)
*Japan-North Korea relations show signs of improvement: On March 25, Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida assessed the highest-level talks with North Korea as "important" after the powerful sister of North Korean leader Kim Jong Un said Mr. Kishida had proposed holding a bilateral summit.
On the same day, according to the Korean Central News Agency (KCNA), Ms. Kim Yo Jong - the powerful sister of North Korean leader Kim Jong Un said that Japan will have to make a practical political decision to improve bilateral relations between Tokyo and Pyongyang. Also according to KCNA, Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida wants to meet North Korean leader Kim Jong Un as soon as possible. (Yonhap)
*Sri Lankan Prime Minister visits China: On March 25, Sri Lankan Prime Minister Dinesh Gunawardena arrived in China on a state visit. He will meet with President Xi Jinping to discuss restructuring Colombo's huge debts with Beijing.
The Chinese Foreign Ministry earlier announced that Xi and Gunawardena would conduct an "in-depth exchange of views on further promoting the traditional China-Sri Lanka friendship." In addition to bilateral meetings, Gunawardena will attend the Boao Forum in Hainan province. (AFP)
Europe
*France has information about the force behind the attack in Moscow: On March 25, French President Emmanuel Macron assessed that Russia was the victim of a terrorist attack by radical Islamists and the group behind the shooting in Moscow.
“This group also tried to carry out some actions on our territory,” Macron told reporters during a visit to the French overseas territory of Guyana.
The French government on March 24 raised the terror alert to its highest level after a shooting in Moscow on March 22 that left hundreds dead and injured. The self-proclaimed Islamic State (IS) group has claimed responsibility for the attack. (AFP)
*NATO wants Russia to open a new front in Central Asia: Argentine political scientist Daniel Kersfield said that the US and UK governments found it advantageous to push the story that the Islamic State (IS) terrorist organization was responsible for the deadly terrorist attack at the Crocus City Hall theater on the outskirts of Moscow because they were trying to draw Russia into the armed conflict in Afghanistan.
Mr Kersfield said there were “multiple interests” behind identifying IS almost immediately as the perpetrators of the terrorist attack. According to Mr Kersfield, London and Washington want Russia to act as a destabilizing factor in a region where China’s influence is growing.
On the evening of March 22, a bloody terrorist attack on the Crocus City Hall theater in Moscow left hundreds of people dead or injured. (TASS)
| RELATED NEWS | |
 | Moscow Terror Attack: Russian Security Service's 'Blind Spot' or Conspiracy Theory to Distract? |
*Illegal migrants arriving in Italy have decreased sharply: According to data released by the Italian Ministry of the Interior on March 24, the number of illegal migrants arriving in Italy by sea this year has decreased by more than 50% compared to the same period in 2023.
The Italian Interior Ministry said 9,479 migrants had arrived in Italy between the beginning of the year and March 22, down from 20,364 in the same period last year. However, the figure was higher than the 6,379 migrants who arrived in the same period in 2022.
The Italian Interior Ministry also said 688 unaccompanied foreign minors have arrived in Italy so far this year, down from about 2,000 in the same period in 2023. (AP)
*Ireland has the youngest prime minister in history: Irish Higher Education Minister Simon Harris on March 24 became the new leader of the ruling Fine Gael party and will be officially elected as Ireland's youngest ever prime minister when the country's Parliament meets on April 9.
Mr Harris, 37, became an MP at 24. He rose rapidly through the ranks of Fine Gael, taking up his first cabinet role in 2016, serving as Ireland's health minister, overseeing the initial response to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Since 2020, Mr Harris has been Minister for Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science. He is one of Ireland's most popular ministers, with a TikTok channel that has attracted nearly 100,000 followers and 1.8 million likes. (AFP)
Middle East - Africa
*Israel reacts to the views of 4 European countries on the State of Palestine: Tel Aviv said on March 25 that the unified efforts of Spain, Ireland, Malta and Slovenia to promote the establishment of an independent Palestinian State would be "a reward for terrorism" and reduce the opportunity for countries in the region to negotiate a settlement.
Israeli Foreign Minister Israel Katz said: “Recognition of the State of Palestine sends a message that deadly terrorist attacks against Israelis will be rewarded politically for the Palestinians. A solution to the conflict will only be possible through direct negotiations between the parties. Any recognition of a Palestinian State will only reduce this opportunity and further destabilize the region.”
Previously, the four European countries said that in order to achieve peace in the Middle East, they would push for the first steps in the process of recognizing the State of Palestine for those residing in the West Bank and Gaza Strip. (Times of Israel)
*Israel continues to attack Shifa hospital in Gaza: The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) announced on March 25 that it is continuing to coordinate with the Internal Security Agency (ISA) to attack Hamas targets at Shifa hospital and the Al Amal area.
According to the IDF, the strikes were carried out precisely, avoiding casualties among patients, medical staff and civilians taking shelter in the hospital.
However, the IDF's operation to attack Shifa Hospital last week has been condemned, as under international convention this is a taboo in a war. (Al Jazeera)
America-Latin America
*US-Japan to upgrade biggest security pact in more than 60 years: The US and Japan are planning the biggest upgrade to their bilateral security alliance to counter China, since Washington and Tokyo signed a mutual defense treaty in 1960.
US President Joe Biden and Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida will announce a plan to restructure the US military command in Japan to enhance joint planning and exercises between the two countries. The plan will be announced when President Biden hosts Prime Minister Kishida at the White House on April 10. (Financial Times)
*Ecuador's youngest mayor assassinated: Ecuadorian police announced that the country's youngest mayor - Ms. Brigitte Garcia - and an adviser were found shot dead in a car on the morning of March 24 (local time), amid a wave of violence in the South American country that the government blames on drug trafficking.
Police said they were investigating the deaths of Ms Garcia, the 27-year-old mayor of San Vicente, and her communications adviser, Jairo Loor. Police said both died from gunshot wounds.
Ms Garcia is the latest political figure to be killed in the country, following the assassination of presidential candidate Fernando Villavicencio in August 2023. In January, Ecuadorian President Daniel Noboa declared a state of emergency amid escalating violence when armed men took control of a local television studio. (AFP)
Source
Comment (0)