Russia offers safe passage for rebels, US considers plan to attack Syria

1.What did NATO Secretary General say about Mr. Putin announcing a series of new weapons?

Russian President Vladimir Putin delivers his State of the Nation Address to the two Houses of the Federal Assembly. Source: AFP/VNA

NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg said Russian President Vladimir Putin's announcement of a new nuclear arsenal was part of a resurgent Russia that the West was ready to counter. However, Stoltenberg said he hoped to avoid an arms race.

Speaking during a visit to Iraq, Mr Stoltenberg said: "Of course, we are concerned. Because NATO does not want a new Cold War and does not want an arms race."

Mr. Stoltenberg analyzed that President Putin's speech, which came a few weeks before the Russian presidential election that the leader is expected to win, was consistent with Russian behavior, such as developing new weapons and using military force against neighboring Ukraine.

2. Mr. Kim Jong-un agreed to hold a meeting with the President of South Korea.

North Korean leader Kim Jong-un speaks in Pyongyang. Source: YONHAP/VNA

According to Kyodo news agency, on March 6, the Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) reported that North Korean leader Kim Jong-un agreed to hold a summit with South Korean President Moon Jae-in.

"After listening to the South Korean special envoy's presentation of President Moon Jae-in's intention to hold an inter-Korean summit, leader Kim Jong-un exchanged views and reached a satisfactory agreement," KCNA said.

Leader Kim Jong-un also "gave important instructions to relevant departments to promptly take practical steps to hold this meeting."

3. Accused of raping his secretary, famous Korean politician resigns

Kim Ji-eun, 33, Mr. An’s secretary, accused the official of raping her four times and sexually assaulting her numerous times during the eight months she worked for him. The accusations were made in a television interview on the evening of March 5, South Korea’s JoongAng Daily reported.

Police said they were investigating allegations against Mr. An, a member of President Moon Jae-in's Democratic Party.

Mr. An, who looks younger than his 52 years, became a strong rival to President Moon Jae-in in party elections last year. This politician was once considered a possible future leader of South Korea.

4.Russia offers safe passage for rebels in Syria

Ruins in Otaybah, Eastern Ghouta, Syria. Source: AFP/VNA

According to Reuters, on March 6, the Russian military offered to ensure a safe route for rebels and their families to leave the region.Eastern Ghoutaof Syria.

In a statement, the Russian Defense Ministry said it would provide vehicles and a safe corridor for the rebels who have agreed to leave the area, and would guarantee the rebels immunity from prosecution.
The statement also said that rebels and their families leaving the area could carry personal weapons.
Immediately after Russia made the above proposal, the rebel group Failaq al-Rahman accused Russia of trying to use force to force people in Eastern Ghouta to leave.

5. Japanese Navy appoints first female commander for warship fleet

Ms. Ryoko Azuma. Source: Reuters

Reuters reported that on March 6, the Japanese navy appointed for the first time a female commander for a warship unit, including the country's largest warship.

Ryoko Azuma, 44, will command a unit of four warships, including the Izumo helicopter carrier, the Japanese Navy's largest ship, and 1,000 sailors.
"This is the first time a female commander has been appointed," said a spokesman for the Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force (MSDF).
"I will do my best to carry out the important task entrusted to me," Azuma told reporters after her inauguration ceremony in Yokohama, near Tokyo. "I don't mind being a woman, but I want to be a role model for young female officers."

6. The US may be considering a missile attack on Syria.

A US destroyer launches a Tomahawk missile at a Syrian airbase on April 7, 2017. Photo: US Navy.

The White House is reportedly considering military action to punish the Syrian government for its use of chemical weapons.

The US administration last weekend discussed the possibility of launching a "new military action" against Syria in response to Damascus' alleged use of chemical weapons in recent clashes in Eastern Ghouta,Washington PostMarch 5, citing anonymous US officials.

Earlier, medical reports showed that the weapon appeared to have been used in the Syrian government army's offensive in the Eastern Ghouta town near the capital Damascus on February 25. Many victims showed symptoms similar to exposure to chlorine and one child died.

7.Operation 'Olive Branch': Türkiye kills 48 Syrian militiamen in Afrin

Smoke rises from Afrin after bombardment, March 2, 2018.

Mr. Behchet Ebdo, Chairman of the Afrin Autonomous Council said:"There have been many deaths and injuries among the Syrian People's Army (SPF) - a pro-government militia that arrived in Afrin 15 days ago to defend the city. Since the arrival of the militia, 48 soldiers have been killed in attacks by the Turkish army"

The official pointed out that two pro-government militiamen were killed on the first day after they arrived in Afrin, while three others were wounded. According to Mr. Ebdo, four days ago, nine soldiers were killed in a Turkish attack on the village of Bafran in the Raco district. One SPF fighter was killed in the village of Chema.

8. Russia insists that allegations of bombing hospitals in Eastern Ghouta are baseless

The Eastern Ghouta area was devastated by the war.

RT reported that the Russian military confirmed that the accusations related to the "bombing of hospitals" in Eastern Ghouta were baseless after the White House said that Russia was "massacred innocent civilians" in Syria.

The Russian Defense Ministry stressed that the accusation was made by Washington after the Syrian army crushed an attack by US-backed armed opposition groups.

The Russian Defense Ministry also asserted that it was the US that violated the resolution related to the ceasefire in Syria, not Russia, and accused Washington of not taking action to prevent rebel forces in Eastern Ghouta from stopping shelling the capital Damascus, causing civilian casualties.