Russia deploys more S-400s to Crimea; Iran runs out of patience with EU in oil trade
(Baonghean.vn) - The world over the past 24 hours has been filled with many events such as: Russia deploys additional S-400 missiles to Crimea after the seizure of a Ukrainian ship; Iran runs out of patience with the EU in oil trading; Duterte faces criticism for his plan to establish a "death squad"; the EU continues to "force" Italy to amend its draft budget...;
Russia deploys more S-400 missiles to Crimea after seizing Ukrainian ships
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| Russian S-400 complex in Crimea. Photo: Sputnik |
The Russian Defense Ministry announced that it will soon deploy another S-400 long-range air defense missile system to the Crimean peninsula..The complex will be operational by the end of this year. The statement was made by the Russian Ministry of Defense in the context of Ukraine's decision to impose martial law for 30 days in areas bordering Russia, in response to the Russian coast guard's capture of three of its naval vessels in the Black Sea on November 25.
Russia currently deploys three S-400 battalions to key locations in Crimea such as the port city of Sevastopol, Feodosiya and Evpatoria, ready to protect the peninsula's airspace from any threat of attack. Put into service since 2007, the S-400 Triumf is Russia's new generation long-range air defense system, capable of intercepting air targets from a distance of 400 km and ballistic missiles from a distance of 60 km. An S-400 complex is equipped with four different types of missiles, capable of attacking up to 36 targets at the same time.
Iran runs out of patience with EU in oil trade
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Head of Iran's atomic energy agency Ali Akbar Salehi. Photo: IRNA |
Iran's atomic energy chief Ali Akbar Salehi said the country could resume enriching uranium to 20% purity – a higher level to fuel civilian power plants – if it fails to see the economic benefits of the 2015 nuclear deal.
During a meeting with EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Federica Mogherini in Brussels, Belgium, Mr. Salehi said that if it cannot sell oil and does not benefit from financial transactions, Iran will not think about keeping the nuclear deal with the EU.
Salehi welcomed the EU's plan to set up a special financial vehicle for non-dollar trade with Iran but did not see any tangible results that could guarantee Iran's oil exports. The head of Iran's atomic energy agency also stressed that the patience of the Iranian people was running out.
Duterte criticized for plan to create "death squad"
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Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte. Photo:Reuters |
Leftists and some lawmakers in the Philippines criticized President Rodrigo Duterte on November 28 for exacerbating the fear by declaring he would form a "death squad" to eliminate members of the New People's Army (NPA), a force that has waged a sporadic insurgency in the Philippines for decades.
Duterte said his assassins would eliminate the NPA's "sparrows", the army deployed to kill police in the 1970s and 1980s.
Jose Maria Sison, a former opposition leader living in exile, denied the existence of "sparrow" assassins and said Duterte used it as an excuse to kill suspected Maoist rebels.
He also compared the plan to Duterte's anti-drug campaign that has left thousands dead. "He has given himself the excuse to create his own death squad. Anyone suspected can be killed because the police are allowed to kill," Sison said.
EU continues to "force" Italy to amend draft budget
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| European Commission (EC) Vice President Valdis Dombrovskis at a press conference in Brussels, Belgium on November 21. Photo: AFP/TTXVN |
European Commission (EC) Vice President Valdis Dombrovskis said that Italy's proposal to cut its budget deficit next year to 2.2% of Gross Domestic Product (GDP) is still not enough to avoid sanctions from the European Union (EU).
Mr. Dombrovskis stressed that Italy needs to make significant adjustments in the draft budget for 2019.
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Okinawa residents protest against the existence of the US Air Force. Photo: CNN |
Okinawa Prefecture, Japan is scheduled to hold a referendum on February 24, 2019, on the relocation of a US Air Force base in the prefecture. Governor Tamaki Denny, who was elected in the September 2018 gubernatorial election, opposes the plan to relocate the US Marine Corps Futenma Air Base to the Henoko coastal area in Nago City.
Previously, on October 31, Okinawa Prefecture in southwestern Japan issued a directive calling for a referendum on the central government's plan to relocate the US base. The voting will take place within 6 months, that is, before the end of April 2019. It is expected that 41 administrative units in the prefecture will provide human resources to serve the referendum. However, 4 cities, including Ginowan City where the Futenma base is located, have not yet announced whether they will participate or not. The prefectural authorities are working with the above 4 cities to organize the referendum in all units in the prefecture.
Nearly 1 million children in the Middle East and North Africa face a "harsh" winter
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Syrian children in winter at a refugee camp near Lebanon. Photo: AFP |
The United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) says it is short $33 million in funding, two-thirds of which is needed to support children across the Middle East and North Africa this winter.
Years of conflict, lack of jobs and destruction of homes have reduced people's financial resources in the region, said Geert Cappelaere, UNICEF director for the Middle East and North Africa. Lack of nutritious food and poor health care leave children stunted and vulnerable to hypothermia and respiratory diseases.
Suicide bombing in Cameroon injures at least 29 people
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| Illustration photo. Source: AP |
At least 29 people were injured in a suicide bombing in Cameroon’s Far North region, which is frequently hit by Boko Haram attacks. Local security sources said a woman blew herself up in Amchide, a town on the border with Nigeria.
Cameroon, a predominantly French-speaking country, has been plagued by unrest in recent years as separatist activity in the English-speaking Southeastern and Northeastern provinces has increased. At least 70 schools have been set on fire since 2016 as teachers and lawyers protested against the use of French in the country.
