Trump “raised his voice” that China lost $50 billion; Beijing declared “a fierce counterattack”

1. Syrian rebels flee, leaving behind more than 40 tons of chemical weapons

Syrian personnel practice rescue in case of chemical weapons attack.

The Russian Defense Ministry said that more than 40 tons of chemical weapons were recovered by the Syrian army from areas liberated from rebel control.

“The Syrian Foreign Ministry has confirmed that more than 40 tons of toxic substances have been found in areas liberated from terrorist control,” RT quoted Igor Kirillov, Commander of Russia’s Nuclear, Biological and Chemical Protection Forces, as saying on March 21.

This was the statement made by Mr. Kirillov at a press conference in Moscow regarding the poisoning of former double agent Sergei Skripal in the UK. London and its Western allies have accused Russia of using the nerve agent "Novichok" to poison Mr. Skripal and his daughter.

2. Russia releases real footage of the situation in Eastern Ghouta

Syrian army in Eastern Ghouta.

The Syrian army continues its military operation in Eastern Ghouta, where at least 70% of the area's territory has been liberated from the control of terrorist forces and tens of thousands of civilians have been evacuated.

Sputnik reported that the Russian delegation participating in the United Nations (UN) mission in Syria has released a 15-minute video about the current situation in Eastern Ghouta.

According to the Russian Ambassador to the UN, Mr. Vasily Nebenzia, the video is “the most realistic picture of what is happening in the suburbs of the capital Damascus”. The main content of the video is the scene of civilians leaving Eastern Ghouta through humanitarian corridors with the support of the Russian Center for Reconciliation of Syria.

The Syrian army has liberated at least 70% of Eastern Ghouta from anti-government groups including al-Nusra Front since 2012.

3. South Korean President proposes holding a three-way summit between the US, North Korea and South Korea

President of the Republic of Korea Moon Jae-in. Photo: Japan Times.

South Korean President Moon Jae-in has proposed a three-way summit between the two Koreas and the United States. The idea was raised by Moon Jae-in on March 22 during a meeting to prepare for the inter-Korean summit scheduled to take place in April.

On this occasion, the South Korean leader also talked about plans to hold a US-North Korea summit after inter-Korean talks. South Korean President Moon Jae-in emphasized that issues related to peace and denuclearization on the Korean Peninsula must be completely resolved through dialogue.

4.Former French President Sarkozy officially investigated for receiving illegal funding

Former French President Sarkozy is officially under investigation for receiving illegal funding.

Former French President Nicolas Sarkozy has been charged with illegally receiving money from abroad for his 2007 presidential campaign, Monde newspaper reported. Mr. Sarkozy is currently under judicial supervision.

After two days of detention, former French President Nicolas Sarkozy was investigated on March 21 for receiving funding from Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi during his 2007 presidential campaign.

French judges have formally ordered an investigation into former French President Nicolas Sarkozy over allegations of illegal funding of his 2007 presidential campaign.

According to BFMTV channel, Mr. Nicolas Sarkozy declared to completely deny all accusations against him.

5. Sacrificing himself to shield his comrades from bullets, a Russian officer died.

Russian soldiers in a military exercise in 2016. Photo: Reuters

A Russian Army officer was killed during a routine exercise at a military base in the southwestern Belgorod region while trying to protect a soldier from a hand grenade explosion, the press office of the Western Military District of the Russian army said.

According to TASS, a grenade accidentally slipped out of the hands of a conscript after the pin was pulled. The army officer quickly pushed the soldier aside while he was still confused, then used his body to shield the soldier when the grenade exploded.

6.President Trump "raised his voice", China lost 50 billion USD

Factories in China are among those affected by the Trump administration's new sanctions. Photo: Getty.

This is considered the strongest move yet from President Trump to deal with China's fast-growing economy, which Washington believes is posing a threat to the US.

On March 22, US President Donald Trump is expected to announce plans to impose heavy tariffs on China and restrict the Asian country’s investment in the US, in retaliation for Beijing’s theft of technology and trade secrets that Washington says has robbed US companies of billions of dollars in revenue and cost thousands of jobs.

"The President will announce actions he has decided to take based on his investigation into China's market-distorting efforts to coerce, pressure, and steal American technology and intellectual property," Fox quoted a statement on March 21 by White House deputy secretary of state Raj Shah.

7. China declares it will "retaliate fiercely" against the US

Chinese Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Hua Chunying

A Chinese Foreign Ministry representative affirmed that Beijing will fight to the end if the United States initiates a trade war, noting that the United States will also lose many benefits if that happens.

On March 21, speaking to the press, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Hua Chunying affirmed that China does not want to engage in a trade war, but is ready to defend its interests in the confrontation with the United States.

Hua Chunying said that the topic of trade disputes between the United States and some countries has recently attracted a lot of attention. She reiterated that Beijing has repeatedly expressed its "clear position on this issue."

8. IS shoots dead 39 Indian hostages in Iraq

Relatives grieve as they hold a portrait of one of the Indian hostages killed by IS in Iraq. Photo: PTI

Indian Foreign Minister Sushma Swaraj confirmed that 39 Indians who went missing in Mosul, Iraq, in 2014 were killed by the self-proclaimed Islamic State (IS).

The Hindustan Times, citing authorities, said forensic tests by the Iraqi Health Ministry showed they had been shot in the head. The bodies were now skeletons, indicating they had been killed a long time ago.

The group of Indians kidnapped by IS were all construction workers. After being kidnapped and killed, they were buried in a mass grave in Badush, near Mosul.

Mosul, once the headquarters of IS, was liberated by the Iraqi army on July 9 last year.

9.Ukraine arrests female MP for plotting terrorist attack on parliament

MP Nadiya Savchenko before her arrest. Photo: AFP.

"Nadiya Savchenko planned a large-scale terrorist attack in the center of the Ukrainian capital. The MP sought to purchase many weapons such as 120 mm mortars, infantry rifles, sniper rifles and grenades,"AFPquoted Prosecutor General Yuriy Lutsenko as saying on March 22.

The Ukrainian parliament has stripped MP Savchenko of his immunity. Prosecutor General Lutsenko said the attack would cause “a sea of ​​blood and chaos” in the capital Kiev. Lutsenko also released a 30-minute video showing a woman resembling Savchenko talking to two Ukrainian officers about the plan to attack the country’s parliament.

The arrest warrant for Ms. Savchenko was passed by the country's parliament in just a few minutes with 268 votes in favor and 10 votes against.