Israel sets goals on northern front, Trump makes new statement

Europe

Serbia signed a landmark deal with France's Dassault Aviation on August 29 to buy 12 new Rafale fighter jets for 2.7 billion euros ($2.99 ​​billion).

The deal, signed by Serbian Defense Minister Bratislav Gasic and Dassault Aviation CEO Eric Trappier, also includes a complete logistics package, spare engines and spare parts, Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic said at a press conference following the signing ceremony.

The deal, sealed during French President Emmanuel Macron's two-day visit to Belgrade, which began on August 29, signals a shift by Serbia away from Russia, the Balkan nation's traditional ally and main arms supplier.

Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic (left) welcomes French President Emmanuel Macron to Belgrade, August 29, 2024. Photo: Balkan Insight

The purchase of Rafale fighters is Serbia's biggest arms deal since the breakup of Yugoslavia in 2006.

Mr Vucic said Serbia would pay for the planes in two installments of 421 million euros each in 2024 and 2025. He did not say when Serbia would receive the first Rafales, but said they would be equipped with the MICA medium-range air-to-air missile made by France's MBDA, rather than the more sophisticated Meteor missile with a longer range.

Ukraine confirmed on the afternoon of August 29 that one of its F-16 Fighting Falcon fighter jets crashed earlier this week, killing the pilot on board. It was one of the first six F-16s to arrive in Ukraine earlier this month.

Kiev officials confirmed the crash occurred on August 26, but there is no indication that the F-16 was shot down by Russian aircraft or air defense systems. Pilot error or mechanical failure is being investigated as a possible cause of the crash.

Although Kiev did not name the pilot, the Ukrainian Air Force identified him as Oleksiy Mes. Mes was one of the first Ukrainians to be trained on the F-16 Fighting Falcon. The loss of the pilot is more serious than the loss of the aircraft.

Earlier this month, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky warned that Kiev not only did not have enough F-16 fighter jets to make a significant difference in the ongoing fighting, but also lacked pilots to fly the Western-supplied aircraft.

Ukrainian Air Force F-16 fighter configured for air defense missions. Photo: TWZ

French President Emmanuel Macron on August 29 defended his decision to grant French citizenship to Pavel Durov, CEO of messaging app Telegram.

Mr Durov received French citizenship in 2021 through a special process reserved for people deemed to have made exceptional contributions to France. Granting Mr Durov French citizenship was "good for our country", Mr Macron said.

Mr. Durov was arrested at a Paris airport on August 24 on an arrest warrant related to Telegram’s failure to moderate content and alleged criminal activity on the platform. Questions have been raised about the timing and circumstances of the tech billionaire’s arrest.

Meanwhile, in Moscow, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov noted that Mr Durov is "a Russian citizen, and we will watch what happens next".

Mr Durov is also a citizen of the United Arab Emirates (UAE), where Telegram is based. A UAE government official said they “prioritize the welfare of our citizens, and are in contact with the French authorities regarding this incident”.

America

White House National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan, during a meeting with Chinese President Xi Jinping on August 29, stressed the continuity of US policy if Vice President Kamala Harris is elected President in the November vote.

The meeting with China's top leader capped a three-day visit to Beijing by President Biden's top national security aide.

Mr Sullivan, making his first trip to Beijing since Mr Biden began his presidency, also held talks with a key Chinese general and top diplomat.

Kamala Harris signaled on August 29, in her first live interview since launching her campaign, that she could appoint a Republican to her Cabinet if elected President.

"I think it's important to have people at the table when some of the most important decisions are being made with different perspectives and experiences," she told CNN. "And I think it's in the best interest of the American public to have a Republican member of my Cabinet."

Meanwhile, Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump used a rally in Michigan on August 29 to announce that he would make IVF treatment free for women, without detailing how he would fund it.

The statement comes as Mr Trump is being heavily criticised by Democrats for his role in appointing Supreme Court justices who overturned the Roe v. Wade decision, ending the constitutional right to abortion in the country.

IVF treatments are expensive, costing tens of thousands of dollars per cycle. Many women need to undergo multiple rounds of IVF, and there is no guarantee of success.

Middle East

Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant said on August 29 that Israel must expand its stated goals in the ongoing war in Gaza to include returning Israelis to their homes in the north after they were evacuated amid ongoing attacks by the Lebanese Hezbollah group.

IDF troops are seen operating in the Gaza Strip in this photo released on August 29, 2024. Photo: Times of Israel

In a press conference and strategy discussion with the IDF Chief of Staff and senior IDF officials, Gallant said Israel's mission on the northern front is clear: "Ensure that communities in the north can return home safely."

“To achieve this, we must expand the goals of this fight,” Gallant said, adding that he plans to raise the issue with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his Cabinet.

Secretary Gallant also stressed that expanding Israel's war aims "will not diminish our absolute commitment to eliminating Hamas and returning the hostages."

Asia

Kazakhstan, a country with abundant natural resources and ambitious growth targets, is positioning itself with the intention of doubling its economy to $450 billion by 2029 and calling on the EU to invest in new value-added manufacturing in the country.

Kazakhstan, which relies on oil, gas and mining, is now committed to diversifying its economy. “We are on the right track to diversify our natural resource-dependent economy by developing non-resource industries,” Nazira Nurbayeva, a former deputy foreign minister of Kazakhstan, told Euractiv on August 29.

The focus is on producing high-value goods and services, attracting capital to innovation projects and promoting sustainable economic growth.

“The chemical, industrial manufacturing, food processing, tourism and alternative energy sectors show significant potential,” Nurbayeva said. “Advanced industries such as green hydrogen production, advanced rare earth metal processing, IT and fintech are attracting investor interest and are in line with our interest in these sectors.”

New investments in value-added manufacturing are expected to boost technology transfer, raising productivity across all sectors of the Central Asian country.

Minh Duc

Source: https://www.nguoiduatin.vn/tin-tuc-the-gioi-24-gio-israel-neu-muc-tieu-o-mat-tran-phia-bac-204240830100036432.htm