Cambodia has a new Prime Minister, Russian oil pipeline leaks in Poland

Russia-Ukraine speak out about the Peace Conference, ECOWAS is not ready to intervene militarily in Niger... are some notable international news in the past 24 hours.

Mr. Hun Manet will hold the leadership position of Cambodia for the next 5 years. (Source: Reuters)

The World & Vietnam Newspaper highlights some of the day's international news highlights.

* Russia attacks Ukrainian air bases: On August 6, the country's Defense Ministry said that Russian forces attacked Ukrainian air bases in the provinces of Rivne, Khmelnytskyi and Zaporizhzhia.

“Last night, the Russian Armed Forces (VS RF) carried out a strike... on air bases of the Armed Forces of Ukraine (VSU) around the settlements of Starokostiantinov in Khmelnytskyi province and Dubno in Rivne province,” the statement said. The Russian Defense Ministry confirmed that the attack was successful and that “all targets were hit.” The base is used by Ukrainian Su-24M bombers equipped with Storm Shadow tactical cruise missiles. (TASS)

* Russian troops advance in the direction of Zaporizhzhia : On August 7, the Telegram page “WarGonzo” reported that in the direction of Zaporizhzhia, the VS RF achieved significant success, pushing the VSU back more than 1.5 km in the northeast direction from the village of Rabotino. Specifically, Russian forces increased artillery fire on the positions of the VSU in the residential areas of Stepnogorsk, Pyatikhatki, Maly Shcherbaki and Shcherbaki. The advance of the VS RF is a sign of the intention to ensure strategic superiority and the ability to conduct stronger operations against the VSU here. The day before, the VSU attempted to attack the strategic village of Urozhainoye, but failed. (TTXVN)

* Chonhar Bridge continues to be hit by missiles: On August 6, the Russian-appointed Crimean official Sergei Aksyonov said that the Chonhar Bridge connecting Crimea was damaged by a Ukrainian missile attack on the same day. He said: "The enemy fired missiles at an area of ​​the Chonhar Bridge in northern Crimea. One missile hit the bridge, although part of it was hit by the air defense system." According to this official, the road surface on the bridge is currently slightly damaged, but traffic diversion and repairs have begun immediately.

For his part, Vladimir Saldo, the Russian-appointed acting governor of Kherson province, said that the missile that attacked the bridge could have been the Anglo-French Storm Shadow, but did not provide further evidence. “Today, the VSU fired missiles across the Tonkin Strait, which connects the city of Henichesk and the Arabast Spit. They launched 12 missiles, but the air defense system shot down nine of them,” he said.

Meanwhile, the VSU Strategic Information Service stressed that the incident caused damage to the surface of the bridge, which is an important route connecting Crimea with the part of Ukraine controlled by the Russian military. The unit said that there was a slight injury and damage to the gas pipeline near the nearby Henichesk bridge. A school in the area of ​​the same name was also damaged. Previously, in June and July, Ukraine also launched several attacks on the Chonhar bridge. (Reuters)

* Russia and Ukraine have contrasting assessments of the Peace Conference: On August 6, commenting on the recent Ukraine Peace Conference in Saudi Arabia, the country's Chief of Staff, Andriy Yermak, shared: "We had effective consultations on the main principles for building a just and lasting peace."

On the same day, Russian state media quoted Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Ryabkov as saying that the Ukraine peace conference “represents the West’s attempt to continue its futile, destructive efforts” to rally the Southern Hemisphere behind President Volodymyr Zelensky’s stance.

For its part, in a written statement on August 7, the Chinese Foreign Ministry said that the international talks in Saudi Arabia helped “consolidate international consensus.” Accordingly, China’s Special Envoy for Eurasian Affairs Li Hui “had extensive contact and communication with all parties on the political solution to the Ukraine crisis… listening to the opinions and proposals of all parties, and further consolidating international consensus.”

From August 5-6, more than 40 countries, including China, India, the United States and European countries, participated in discussions in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. However, at the end of the conference, the parties did not adopt any joint statement. (Reuters)

Southeast Asia

* “ ASEAN must become the anchor of world peace ”: On August 8, speaking at the opening ceremony of the ASEAN Intercultural and Interreligious Dialogue Forum 2023 (ASEAN IIDC), Indonesian President Joko Widodo affirmed: “The Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) must become the anchor of world peace in the context of many uncertainties”. Jakarta believes that the ASEAN community will become a catalyst for world peace, knowing how to care and share. At the same time, this is not only the center of growth, but also the center of harmony that maintains regional stability and world peace.

He noted that according to the World Peace Index 2023, global conflicts are on the rise. In 2009, there were 58 countries involved in conflicts, but now the number has risen to 91. The number of deaths due to global conflicts has increased to 238,000 people with economic losses increasing by 17% to US$17.5 trillion, equivalent to 13% of global GDP. Therefore, he hoped that the parties participating in IIDC 2023 would commit to making ASEAN a model of tolerance and solidarity, a fulcrum for world peace.

President Joko Widodo stated: “ASEAN countries, including Indonesia, have succeeded in maintaining a strong tradition of tolerance amidst cultural and religious diversity. Indonesia can continue to maintain harmony and manage diversity in terms of ethnicity, race, culture, religion and belief.”

ASEAN IIDC 2023 is an event initiated by the Indonesian Islamic Council (NU), with support from Jakarta through the Ministry of Religious Affairs and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Indonesia, to strengthen the network of influential figures and religious leaders of the members, promote diverse cultural and religious values ​​in the region, as well as a harmonious and tolerant society and contribute to building world peace. (VNA)

* Mr. Hun Manet officially becomes Prime Minister of Cambodia: On August 7, in a royal decree, King Norodom Sihamoni "appointed Mr. Hun Manet as Prime Minister of the Kingdom of Cambodia for the 7th term of the National Assembly". Thus, Mr. Hun Manet will succeed his father, Prime Minister Hun Sen, a veteran politician who has ruled Cambodia for nearly 4 decades. (AFP)

* Thai election: Pheu Thai has a new ally : On August 7, the leader of the Thai Pride Party (Bhumjaithai), Mr. Anutin Charnvirakul accepted the invitation of the Pheu Thai Party (Pheu Thai). Bhumjaithai will ally with Pheu Thai with three conditions: Not amending Article 112 of the Criminal Code (or "Legal Law"), not allying with the March Forward Party (MFP) and not forming a minority government.

Meanwhile, on the same day, Pheu Thai leader Cholnan Srikaew said: "Pheu Thai and Bhumjaithai will form a government with support from some other parties."

Pheu Thai, the party that came in second in the May 14 general election, is currently trying to form a new government in Thailand. Previously, the MFP, despite winning the most votes in the House of Representatives, was unable to help its leader, politician Pita Limjaroenrat, pass the vote for prime minister in the National Assembly. (Bangkok Post)

* Philippines summons Chinese ambassador over water cannon incident in East Sea : On August 7, Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. said he had summoned the Chinese ambassador after the country's coast guard blocked and water cannoned Philippine ships in the East Sea. He stated: "Today, our Foreign Minister summoned Ambassador Huang Xilian and gave him documents including photos and videos of what happened. We are waiting for their response." At the same time, Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. emphasized that the country continues to assert its sovereignty and territorial rights despite challenges in the East Sea.

In related news, on August 7, the China Coast Guard called on the Southeast Asian nation to remove a stranded warship from the Second Thomas Shoal in the South China Sea. Two days earlier, the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) escorted cargo ships carrying supplies to Philippine troops stationed at the Second Thomas Shoal in the Spratly Islands in the South China Sea. The PCG accused the Chinese Coast Guard of firing water cannons at Philippine vessels, calling the action “illegal” and “dangerous.” (AFP/Reuters)

Northeast Asia

* South Korea: Police reveal identity of stabbing suspect : On August 7, the Gyeonggi Nambu Police Agency (South Korea) announced the identity of the suspect in the fatal car crash and stabbing incident last week at a store in Seongnam District, south of Seoul. The suspect was identified as Choi Won-jong, 22 years old. On August 3, the suspect drove a car into many people on the sidewalk and attacked others with a knife at a department store, killing one person and injuring 13 others. Two days later, the suspect was arrested.

A relevant expert committee previously determined the case met the criteria for disclosure, including the nature of the act, the harm caused, sufficient evidence and the public's right to be informed. (Yonhap)

Europe

* EU-China look to strengthen bilateral ties : On August 7, European Union (EU) High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Josep Borrell said he had a phone call with Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi. Writing on social network X (formerly Twitter), he stated: "We discussed the upcoming Strategic Dialogue in Beijing in preparation for the EU-China Summit." Mr. Borrell said the two sides exchanged views on the coup in Niger and the Ukraine peace conference in Saudi Arabia.

For his part, Foreign Minister Wang Yi called on China and the EU to strengthen institutional dialogue to inject new and stronger momentum into the China-EU comprehensive strategic partnership. (Reuters)

* Poland discovers oil pipeline leak from Russia : On August 6, the pipeline operator PERN (Poland) said that on the evening of August 5, they discovered oil leaking from Russia's Druzhba oil pipeline. The area discovered is near Chodecz, central Poland, on the western branch to Germany. Immediately, oil pumping through this branch was stopped.

According to PERN, the second branch of Druzhba through Poland is operating normally and the leak does not pose a health risk to local residents. However, firefighters and emergency services have been deployed to the scene and the cause of the leak is under investigation. PERN plans to resume pumping oil through the leaking branch on the morning of August 8 after the problem has been resolved.

Druzhba is one of the world's longest oil pipelines, which began operation in 1964 and now stretches 5,500 km. Druzhba transports Russian Ural oil to refineries in Poland, Germany, Hungary, Slovakia and the Czech Republic. (VNA)

* Turkish newspaper : President Erdogan and his Russian counterpart will discuss Ukraine: On August 7, Hurriyet (Turkey) quoted a source saying that Russian President Vladimir Putin will visit Ankara in the last week of the month. During the visit, he will meet with his Turkish counterpart Recep Tayyip Erdogan.

The agenda of the two leaders will include issues related to the timing of the resumption of the grain deal, bilateral relations, relations between Türkiye, Azerbaijan and Armenia, as well as the restoration of diplomatic contacts between Turkey and Syria. Some Russian experts noted that the resumption of peace talks between Russia and Ukraine will be discussed at the meeting.

Notably, according to a source from the Turkish Presidential Office, Mr. Erdogan will announce a proposal for a ceasefire and the resumption of peace talks on Ukraine during his talks with Mr. Putin: “The (Turkish) president offers to act as a mediator in resolving the conflict.” The source noted that Mr. Erdogan is “the only world leader” today who maintains good relations and is trusted by both President Putin and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, making him a special figure to act as a mediator. (Hurriyet)

Middle East-Africa

* US-Russia make new moves on Iran: On August 7, the US Navy announced the deployment of more than 3,000 US servicemen who entered the Red Sea on August 6 after passing through the Suez Canal in a pre-announced deployment. The statement added that these US servicemen arrived on the USS Bataan and USS Carter Hall, providing “more maritime capability and flexibility” to the 5th Fleet.

“These units add significant operational capability and flexibility as we work… to deter destabilizing activity and reduce tensions in the region from Iran,” said 5th Fleet spokesman Tim Hawkins.

Meanwhile, speaking to TASS (Russia) news agency, Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Sergey Ryabkov said he would visit Tehran on August 7-8: “I will be there (Tehran) on Monday and Tuesday. I will meet with the leadership of the Iranian Foreign Ministry. The topics include specific areas: of course, the situation with the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) regarding Iran's nuclear program, the expanded BRICS... I will attend a conference organized by the Iranian Foreign Ministry on the BRICS - Iran topic...”

The Russian diplomat stressed that the interaction between the two countries in international forums is an “important topic”, whether it is about “non-proliferation of weapons of mass destruction, arms control, the use of space for peaceful purposes...”. (AFP/TASS)

* Coup in Niger: Airspace closed, ECOWAS needs more time? On August 6, the deadline for the ultimatum from the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) on the organization's possible armed intervention, nearly 30,000 supporters of the military coup in Niger gathered at the Seini Kountché Stadium in the capital Niamey. A delegation of members of the National Council for the Defence of the Fatherland (CNSP), the force currently leading Niger, arrived at the stadium. General Mohamed Toumba, the leader of the CNSP, denounced those "hiding in the shadows" and those "plotting to overthrow... Niger's path forward".

On the same day, the Niger military government announced the closure of the West African country's airspace from August 6 until further notice.

Meanwhile, the Wall Street Journal (USA) quoted a senior commander of one of the ECOWAS member countries as saying that the military of the member countries needs more time to prepare before conducting a military intervention in Niger. This commander said: "Currently, we need to strengthen the units before participating in such a military action. The success of any military action depends on good preparation." He added that ECOWAS will continue to pressure the coup forces in Niger through economic and financial sanctions, and seek support for the trade embargo from other international organizations, such as the African Union (AU).

For his part, on August 7, La Stampa ( Italy ) quoted Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani as saying that ECOWAS should extend the "ultimatum" to reinstate ousted Niger President Mohamed Bazoum. This official stated: "The only way is diplomacy. I hope that ECOWAS's ultimatum, which expired at midnight last night (August 6), will be extended today."

On the same day, the Chinese Embassy in Niger said that its citizens should leave for a third country or return home to seek temporary asylum if they have no reason to stay. In a statement on its website, the diplomatic agency advised its citizens to refrain from traveling to Niger unless absolutely necessary. (Reuters/Sputnik)

Source: https://baoquocte.vn/tin-the-gioi-78-campuchia-co-thu-tuong-moi-duong-ong-dau-nga-ro-ri-o-ba-lan-237523.html