Russia retaliates against UK over diplomat expulsion, EU admits to “back door” to North Korea

1.Russia vows to retaliate against UK over diplomat expulsion

Prime Minister May accused the poisoning of spy Skripal of being a direct act of Russia on British soil. Photo: Reuters

Moscow warned of retaliation after Prime Minister Theresa May announced the expulsion of 23 Russian diplomats.

Moscow described the UK's actions as "absolutely unacceptable" and said it would "respond in kind". The warning came amid reports that British officials would also be expelled from Moscow.

Earlier, Russia's ambassador to the United Nations insisted that the country had "nothing to do with the incident" and "there is nothing to fear. There is nothing to hide." He even compared Britain to Inspector Lestrade in the story and said that the United Nations "needs a Sherlock Holmes" to solve the problem.

2. EU suddenly admits to secretly "going through the back door" with North Korea for 3 years

North Korea is said to be ready to discuss nuclear disarmament with the US.

The European Parliament delegation has admitted to holding secret talks with North Korea over the past three years to persuade Pyongyang to negotiate an end to its nuclear program.

According to the South China Morning Post (SCMP), the European Parliament delegation led by British MP Nirj Deva has met with a series of high-ranking North Korean officials, including ministers, a total of 14 times and plans to meet in Brussels in the near future.

Mr. Deva said that he and his colleagues in the European Parliament's delegation responsible for relations on the Korean Peninsula have "regularly engaged in dialogue without preconditions" to end rising tensions over Pyongyang's nuclear development program.

3. Iran warns the US not to attack the Syrian army again

US troops operating in the city of Manbij in Syria's Aleppo province last year.

RT reported that Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Bahram Qassemi stressed that the White House should consider carefully before deciding to take further military action in Syria. The comment from the Iranian official came after US President Donald Trump decided to fire Mr. Rex Tillerson from the position of Secretary of State on March 13.

Mr. Tillerson is considered one of the moderates in the Trump administration's hawkish foreign policy. Therefore, Mr. Tillerson's dismissal has experts worried that the White House is preparing for new military action against the Syrian army.

Trump’s choice of former CIA Director Mike Pompeo to replace Tillerson has raised concerns that the US’s foreign policy will become more belligerent in the future, as Pompeo has a negative view of Iran, North Korea, and Russia.

4. Syrian army reveals chemical weapons manufacturing warehouse in Eastern Ghouta

UN experts have been to investigate the area of ​​alleged chemical weapons attack in Damascus.

SANA news agency reported that the Syrian army discovered a secret chemical weapons factory of the rebels in the town of al-Shefounieht in Eastern Ghouta, one of the current hot spots of war in Syria.

Images in a video posted by SANA show a factory containing many high-tech equipment used by the Jaysh al-Islam rebel group to manufacture chemical weapons right in the town of al-Shefounieht in Eastern Ghouta.

Many papers were scattered all over the floor, serving the production of chemical warheads with equipment believed to be of Arab origin and many materials from Western countries. Specifically, chlorine gas was one of the chemicals discovered by the Syrian army at this factory.

5.President Putin reveals Russia's ambitious plans ahead of election

Russian President Vladimir Putin. Photo: Sputnik

Russia will launch a series of missions to Mars starting in 2019, Russian President Vladimir Putin revealed in an interview ahead of the presidential election on March 18.

"We are planning to launch unmanned and then manned missions into deep space as part of our lunar and Mars exploration program. The next mission will be very soon, we plan to carry out a mission to Mars in 2019," President Putin said in a new documentary by Andrey Kondrashov.

5. German police foil plot to attack Chancellor Angela Merkel

Mrs. Merkel leaves the German Parliament building.

On March 14, German police foiled a plot to attack Chancellor Angela Merkel shortly after she was re-elected for a fourth term.

As Merkel left the German parliament building, a man called the chancellor's name, said some words in a foreign language and appeared to try to attack her. However, the bodyguards and police quickly restrained him. Merkel was escorted to a car and quickly left the scene.

The alleged attacker was arrested by security forces. However, his identity and motive for the attack have not been revealed by police.
The incident occurred just hours after Ms Merkel won a vote in the German parliament. Although she has enough votes to continue serving as Chancellor for a fourth term, her support is at an all-time low.
6. North Korean Foreign Minister Ri Yong-ho appears at Beijing International Airport

North Korean Foreign Minister Ri Yong-ho appears at Beijing International Airport. Photo: Reuters)

On March 15, North Korean Foreign Minister Ri Yong-ho appeared at Beijing International Airport, before going to Sweden to attend a meeting with his counterpart.

This is the first time a senior Pyongyang official has appeared publicly abroad since US President Donald Trump agreed to meet the North Korean leader next May, according to Yonhap.

Foreign Minister Ri Yong-ho arrived at Beijing Capital International Airport on the morning of March 15 (local time), raising the possibility that his visit to Sweden could be aimed at contacting US officials ahead of a planned summit between the two countries.

7.Military helicopter crash in Senegal, 8 people killed

Illustration photo. Source: aa.com.tr

On March 15, the Senegalese army announced that 8 people were killed and 12 injured in a military helicopter crash in the southwestern region of the country.

According to Senegalese military spokesman Abdou Ndiaye, the Mi17 helicopter carrying 20 passengers crashed on the evening of March 14 while traveling from the Casamance region in southern Senegal to the capital Dakar. The plane crashed near the village of Missira.
The military statement added that the helicopter sent out a warning signal and crashed while attempting an emergency landing.