Hot world events in the past 24 hours
(Baonghean.vn) - US intelligence accuses Russia of wanting to interfere in midterm elections; South Korea spends $2.6 million for North Koreans to attend the Olympics; Regardless of Tet, China still competes for a share of the Philippine Sea;
1. US intelligence accuses Russia of wanting to interfere in midterm elections
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| From left, FBI director Christopher Wray, CIA director Mike Pompeo and NIS director Dan Coats. Photo: Sky News. |
US intelligence agencies say there are signs that Russia is waging information warfare to influence the country's midterm elections.
"We detected activity that suggests Russia wants to influence the next election,"APquoted CIA Director Mike Pompeo speaking before the Senate Intelligence Committee on February 13.
The US National Intelligence Service (NIS) Director Dan Coats and the US National Security Agency (NSA) Director Mike Rogers also shared the same opinion. They did not describe the above activities in detail but said they were related to information warfare.
2. Regardless of Tet, China still competes for a share of the Philippine sea
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| A Philippine sovereignty flag is placed in front of Sarcophyton soft coral at a reef in Benham Rise. Photo: OCEANA/UPLB |
On February 14, Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte's spokesman, Harry Roque, announced that Manila does not recognize the Chinese names used for underwater entities in the Philippines' Benham Rise that were recently approved by an international organization.
"We object and do not recognize the Chinese names given to certain entities in Philippine Rise (ie Benham Rise). The Philippine Embassy in Beijing has already raised our concerns with the Chinese side," Mr. Roque informed.
3. South Korea spends $2.6 million for North Koreans to attend the Olympics
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| The 2018 Pyeong Chang Winter Olympics attracted large audiences from South Korea and North Korea. Photo: AFP. |
On February 14, South Korea approved a large budget of 2.86 billion won, equivalent to 2.64 million USD to pay for hundreds of North Koreans to visit South Korea during the 2018 Pyeong Chang Winter Olympics.
The budget will cover expenses including accommodation for 424 North Korean cheerleaders, musical performers and taekwondo performers, athletes, journalists and other support staff, the Unification Ministry said. The newly approved budget comes from the Inter-Korean Cooperation Fund, which was established in 1991 and is managed by the Ministry of Unification.
4. France warns it will attack if chemical bombs are used in Syria
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| A hospital in the town of Khan Sheikhun after an attack believed to have used chemical weapons. Source: Getty Images/TTXVN |
According to Reuters, French President Emmanuel Macron declared on February 13 that "France will attack" if chemical weapons are actually used against civilians in the conflict in Syria. However, he has not seen any evidence of this.
Speaking to reporters, President Macron stated: "On the issue of chemical weapons, I have set a red line and I reaffirm this line. Currently, our agencies and armed forces have not yet verified that chemical weapons have been used against civilians."
5. South Africa sinks deeper into political deadlock after decision on President Zuma
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| South African President Jacob Zuma attends the African Union (AU) Leaders' Summit in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia on January 29. Source: AFP/VNA |
South Africa continues to sink into political deadlock as the ruling African National Congress (ANC) party reiterates its demand that President Jacob Zuma resign, with the 75-year-old leader insisting he "doesn't have to go anywhere."
At a press conference held at 7pm on February 13 (Vietnam time), the ANC confirmed that it had asked Mr Zuma to resign, but did not set a deadline for this. Earlier, after a 13-hour meeting at a hotel outside the capital Pretoria, the ANC's powerful 107-member National Executive Committee (NEC) decided to ask Mr Zuma to step down from the presidency to end the two-week-long controversy over his future.
6. US continues to maintain sanctions against Russia despite Minsk agreement
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| US State Department spokeswoman Heather Nauert. Photo: Mediaite |
The US State Department on February 13 accused Russia of ignoring its commitments in the Minsk agreement regarding the situation in Ukraine and said it would continue to maintain sanctions against Russia until the Ukraine issue is resolved.
In a statement, US State Department spokeswoman Heather Nauert said Russia's failure to comply with its commitments under the Minsk agreements had fueled the conflict in Ukraine. The US also accused Russia of denying safe access to observers from the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE).
7. Taliban announces negotiations to end war in Afghanistan
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| Taliban gunmen in Farah province, Afghanistan. Source: AP |
The Taliban's message came in a statement to the US, in which the group said its priority was to resolve the Afghan issue through peaceful dialogue.
However, the Taliban also said that their willingness to seek peace did not mean they were exhausted and that the force was still capable of conducting military operations no matter how strong the US was.
