Britain's politicization plot fails?; Russia names culprits of attack on Syrian base

1. Has Britain's plot to politicize the Skripal case failed?

The poisoning of former Russian spy Skripal in the UK has caused a huge international diplomatic scandal.

Russia's Permanent Representative to the OSCE Alexander Lukashevich said that Britain tried to put the “Skripal case” on the agenda of the organization's Permanent Council, but attempts to politicize the issue were not supported.

"Britain is trying to discredit Russia not only in the OSCE (Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe), but also in other international forums and organizations. Of course, the British tried to put this topic on the agenda of the Permanent Council. But this was not developed further. It is difficult to argue against vague arguments.

“Attempts to politicize this topic at the OSCE have not developed, and will not develop,” Alexander Lukashevich was quoted by the Izvestia newspaper.

"I think that after a while, London did not want to bring this issue to the international arena. We must understand, the OSCE organization mainly discussed the Ukraine issue," the Russian diplomat said.

2. Mr. Trump declared that the perpetrators of the Douma chemical attack will “pay a heavy price”

A Syrian baby is believed to have been caught in a chemical attack in Douma, Syria.

According to Reuters news agency, US President Donald Trump warned that the perpetrators of the toxic gas attack in the town of Douma in Eastern Ghouta (Syria) will have to "pay a very heavy price".

As international officials struggled to confirm the chemical attack in the town of Douma, Mr. Trump took direct action to criticize Russian President Vladimir Putin after the incident. Meanwhile, Syrian media reported that the United States had launched a missile attack on a Syrian air base, although the United States immediately denied the information.

The Syrian government has denied carrying out any chemical weapons attack, and Russia, the biggest ally of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad's regime, has called reports of the attack fake.

3. Russia confirms that the attack on Syria was carried out by Israel

Soldiers on duty in Homs province.

The Russian Defense Ministry confirmed that two Israeli fighter jets were responsible for attacking the Syrian army's airbase in Homs province early in the morning of April 9.

According to the Russian Defense Ministry, five of the eight missiles launched by Israeli F-15 fighters were intercepted by Syrian air defense systems. “Three missiles fell in the area west of the T-4 base. No Russian military advisers were injured in the attack,” the Russian Defense Ministry said.

Israel has not confirmed the information. However, local media said that an Israeli intelligence aircraft had been spotted in Syrian airspace. According to the Russian military, the attack was carried out from Lebanese airspace.

4. North Korea is ready to negotiate nuclear disarmament

US President Donald Trump and North Korean leader Kim Jong-un are about to have a historic meeting. Illustration photo: Yonhap

The United States says North Korea is ready to negotiate giving up its nuclear weapons program at a bilateral summit next month.

The two sides are also holding secret talks to prepare for the historic meeting, a White House National Security Council spokesman told Yonhap news agency on condition of anonymity.

US President Donald Trump and North Korean leader Kim Jong-un are expected to meet before the end of May to discuss North Korea's denuclearisation. The summit will come after a year of escalating tensions.

US media reported over the weekend that North Korea has informed the US that the country is ready to negotiate on giving up its nuclear weapons program.

5. Iran warns US "will regret" if it withdraws from nuclear deal

Iranian President Hassan Rouhani speaks at a meeting in Hyderabad on February 15. Source: AFP/TTXVN

According to AFP/Reuters, on April 9, Iranian President Hassan Rouhani warned that US President Donald Trump would regret withdrawing from the nuclear deal that Tehran and six world powers signed in 2015, and threatened that Tehran would respond more strongly than imagined "in less than a week" if that happened.

"We will not be the first to violate this agreement, but if the US withdraws from this agreement, they will definitely regret it. Our response will be stronger than they imagine and they will see it within a week," Rouhani said at a conference marking National Nuclear Technology Day in Tehran.

6. Hungarian Prime Minister Victor Orban declared a historic victory

Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban speaks in Budapest on April 4. Source: THX/TTXVN

AFP reported that Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban claimed a "historic victory" in the country's key parliamentary election on April 8, after preliminary results showed his right-wing Fidesz party had a large lead.

Speaking to supporters, Mr. Orban said the above results gave the Hungarian people "the opportunity to protect themselves and protect Hungary."
According to the National Election Office, the Fidesz party is leading in this election, with 48.86% of the votes out of 95.1% of the votes counted, far ahead of the second-placed Jobbik party with only 19.75% of the votes.
This Hungarian parliamentary election is an event closely watched by European observers to see whether Mr. Viktor Orban will win a third consecutive term.

7. Former South Korean President Lee Myung-bak faces life in prison

Former President Lee Myung-bak. Photo: Getty

Former South Korean President Lee Myung-bak has been charged with corruption and abuse of power and could face life in prison, AFP reports.

On April 9, Mr. Lee Myung-bak was officially charged with bribery, abuse of power, embezzlement, and tax evasion.AFPThe announcement was made just days after Lee's successor, former South Korean President Park Geun-hye, was sentenced to 24 years in prison for corruption and leaking government secrets.

Prosecutor Han Dong-hoon said authorities will thoroughly investigate Mr. Lee’s criminal record. Mr. Lee was arrested in late March but refused to answer questions when prosecutors questioned him.