Russia sends bombers to Arctic Ocean, France continues to reshuffle Cabinet, pre-election bombing in Pakistan

Israel is about to release 5,000 Palestinian prisoners, Ukraine establishes a UAV force, China builds a zinc smelter in Bolivia, Canada approves FTA with Ukraine... are some notable international news in the past 24 hours.

Former South Carolina Governor Nikki Haley is likely to lose the Nevada primary. (Source: Reuters)

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

Russia-Ukraine

*Russian army makes significant progress in Avdiivka: Russian military expert Yury Podolyaka said on February 6 that in the Avdiivka direction, the Russian army (VS RF) broke through the defense lines of the Armed Forces of Ukraine (VSU) and took positions in the areas of the city of Avdiivka.

Earlier, information from the self-proclaimed Donetsk People's Republic (DPR) showed that Russian forces successfully crossed the railway bridge and advanced deeper into the city of Avdiivka along the Lesya Ukrainka and Sapronov roads. This strategic advance gave the VS RF an opportunity to split the Ukrainian garrison on the outskirts of Donetsk into two parts, significantly limiting communication and supply between these forces. (TASS)

*Ukrainian army establishes UAV force: Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky on February 7 ordered the establishment of a separate unit of the Ukrainian army (VSU) specializing in unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) - a weapon that he and military officials believe plays a very important role in the war with Russia.

Meanwhile, Minister of Digital Transformation Mykhailo Fedorov predicted that the UAV unit would give a “strong impetus” to the technological development of the Ukrainian army. According to him, over the past year, UAVs “fundamentally changed the situation on the battlefield. They were effective in stopping Russian attacks and supporting VSU counterattacks.”

In December 2023, President Zelensky pledged that Ukraine would produce 1 million UAVs by 2024. Meanwhile, government officials revealed that Ukraine aims to produce tens of thousands of UAVs per month. (AFP)

Asia-Pacific

*Bombings ahead of Pakistan election, dozens killed: Pakistani officials said at least 22 people were killed in two separate bombings outside election offices of candidates in southwest Pakistan, just ahead of an election overshadowed by violence and allegations of fraud.

The first attack occurred near the office of an independent candidate in Balochistan province, about 100 km from the Afghan border, killing 12 people and wounding 25 others.

The second blast occurred near the election office of a candidate of the Islamist party Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam-F (JUI-F) in the city of Killa Saifullah – about 120 km to the east, killing “at least 10 people and injuring 12 others”. (The Dawn)

*President Putin is about to visit North Korea, will sign a series of "very good" agreements: TASS news agency on February 7 quoted Russian Ambassador to North Korea Alexander Matsegora as saying that Russia and North Korea are discussing a "very good" package of agreements that will be signed by both sides when Russian President Vladimir Putin visits Pyongyang.

Last year, President Putin accepted leader Kim Jong Un’s invitation to visit North Korea. Last month, the Kremlin said the date of the visit had not been set. If it takes place, it would be the first time in nearly a quarter of a century that a Russian leader has visited North Korea.

Russia's rapprochement with North Korea has been met with warnings from the US about "growing and dangerous" military cooperation between Moscow and Pyongyang. (TASS)

*China, ASEAN unlikely to soon agree on COC in the East Sea: Maritime analysts say that China and the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) are unlikely to soon reach a consensus on a legally binding Code of Conduct (COC) between parties in the East Sea.

Negotiations on the COC have been ongoing since 2002 but have encountered major obstacles. China has proposed provisions to limit “external interference” and prevent joint military exercises between ASEAN countries and the United States. Another obstacle is the issue of natural resource exploration. China has proposed to coordinate with countries bordering the South China Sea in exploiting resources but has encountered opposition. (Balanced News Summary)

*South Korea and China discuss North Korea situation and bilateral issues: South Korean Foreign Minister Cho Tae-yul and his Chinese counterpart Wang Yi held a phone call on February 6 to discuss the situation in North Korea.

According to a press release from the South Korean Foreign Ministry, the two sides agreed on the need to strengthen “strategic exchanges and communication” at various levels. South Korea stressed the importance of “reducing conflict factors” and building trust between the two countries.

Regarding North Korea, Cho Tae-yul expressed concern about the country's increasingly close military ties with Russia, as well as Pyongyang's development of nuclear weapons and missiles, which are banned under United Nations Security Council resolutions.

He called on China to play a “constructive role” in bringing Pyongyang to dialogue and the path to denuclearization. (Yonhap)

*South Korea, Qatar to strengthen military cooperation: South Korea and Qatar have agreed to expand joint military training and strengthen bilateral military cooperation amid Seoul's push for global arms sales.

South Korean Defense Minister Shin Won-sik met with his Qatari counterpart, Khalid bin Mohammed Al Attiyah, on February 6. The two sides signed an agreement to hold regular defense ministerial meetings and establish a foundation for bilateral defense cooperation.

Data from South Korea's Defense Ministry shows that the country's arms sales rose to $17 billion in 2022 from $7.25 billion in 2021. According to the Korea Chamber of Commerce and Industry, the country's arms exports to the Middle East increased nearly tenfold between 2013 and 2022. (Yonhap)

Europe

*Russia sends strategic bombers to the Arctic Ocean: The Russian Defense Ministry announced on February 6 that two of its Tu-160 strategic bombers had conducted a scheduled flight over the Arctic Ocean and Laptev Sea.

“Two Tu-160 strategic missile carriers performed a scheduled flight... over the neutral waters of the Arctic Ocean and the Laptev Sea,” the statement said. The flight lasted more than 10 hours and was carried out in strict accordance with international regulations on the use of airspace. (TASS)

*Germany to investigate Nord Stream pipeline explosions: Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said on February 7 that Russia will monitor what Germany will do to investigate the Nord Stream gas pipeline explosions in 2022, after Sweden canceled its own investigation.

Earlier in the day, Swedish prosecutors said they would stop investigating the explosions and hand over evidence uncovered during the investigation to Germany.

Meanwhile, Danish police confirmed that the investigation into the Nord Stream gas pipeline explosion in the Baltic Sea in 2022 is continuing and they expect to provide more information about the incident "shortly". (Reuters)

*France continues to reshuffle its Cabinet: Sources revealed on February 7 that French President Emmanuel Macron and new Prime Minister Gabriel Attal are preparing to carry out a second Cabinet reshuffle within a few weeks.

President Macron reshuffled his cabinet on January 11 with a right-leaning orientation after appointing Mr. Attal, 34, as prime minister. President Macron and Prime Minister Attal discussed the above reshuffle plan with the hope of making a related announcement by the end of February 6 (local time), although it could be delayed until February 7.

About 14 deputy ministerial positions still need to be filled to complete the first reshuffle. However, there is also speculation that changes could occur at the top. (AP)

*German Chancellor to visit China: FAZ newspaper on February 7 quoted an invitation from the Asia-Pacific Committee of the German Business Association sent to business representatives saying that German Chancellor Olaf Scholz will visit China on April 15-16.

According to FAZ newspaper, a German business delegation will accompany Chancellor Scholz on this trip.

Scholz last visited China in November 2022, when he met with Chinese President Xi Jinping. During the first visit by a G7 leader to China since the COVID-19 pandemic, Scholz pressed Xi to persuade Russia to end the conflict in Ukraine, saying Beijing had a responsibility as a major power to do so. (DW)

*Spain supports two-state solution: Aljazeera TV channel reported on February 6 that during a meeting with Qatari Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani in Doha, Spanish Foreign Minister Jose Manuel Albares expressed support for a two-state solution to the Palestine issue.

Spain’s foreign minister affirmed his commitment to “peace and stability in the region”. He said this would include the release of detainees and a ceasefire in Gaza, and the implementation of a two-state solution with Israel and Palestine coexisting peacefully. (Al Jazeera)

*Switzerland hopes China will contribute to Ukraine peace conference: Swiss Foreign Minister Ignazio Cassis on February 7 expressed hope that China would "lend a hand" in peace talks on Ukraine, after Geneva agreed last month to host a global peace summit on Ukraine.

Asked at a press conference in Beijing if China would respond to the invitation to attend the conference, Mr. Cassis said: "This is a high-level conference, we cannot expect an immediate answer. But without the participation of Russia and China, there can be no peace."

Mr. Cassis is currently visiting China on a trip from February 6-7 to attend the third round of the Strategic Dialogue between the foreign ministers of China and Switzerland. (AFP)

Middle East-Africa

*Israel may release 3,000-5,000 Palestinian prisoners: Sky News (Israel) on February 7 quoted anonymous Qatari sources as saying that Israel may accept the release of 3,000-5,000 prisoners, a level that the Hamas movement can accept in order to move towards a new ceasefire agreement.

The source added that Qatari mediators, Hamas’s main financial backer, are also trying to persuade the movement to accept a “softer” proposal, under which Qatar would pressure Israel to withdraw its troops, instead of the “immediate withdrawal” clause.

There had been some positive news earlier that the parties were seriously considering a proposal for a new ceasefire, which could last up to 135 days. However, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has repeatedly said that he would not accept the release of prisoners in the “thousands.” (Reuters)

*US both deters and promotes negotiations in the Middle East: Secretary of State Antony Blinken left for the Middle East on February 4 in the latest shuttle diplomacy effort to achieve a ceasefire between Israel and Hamas. Meanwhile, the US continues to attack groups linked to Iran, according to National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan.

Secretary Blinken will travel to Saudi Arabia, Israel, as well as Egypt and Qatar - two important bridges with Hamas and have become important intermediaries in the negotiation efforts since the outbreak of the war. With the mediation of Qatar and Egypt, the ceasefire plan was put forward, according to which the parties would pause fighting for 6 weeks to conduct the exchange of hostages taken by Hamas to Gaza and Palestinian prisoners held in Israel.

US State Department spokesman Matthew Miller said Secretary Blinken would work to “establish a more peaceful, integrated region that includes long-term security for both Israelis and Palestinians.” Blinken’s trip is also aimed at finding a response to ongoing Houthi attacks on ships in the Red Sea. ( Reuters)

America-Latin America

*US Election: Candidate Nikki Haley predicted to fail in Nevada: US media on February 6 predicted that former Governor of South Carolina, Nikki Haley, would fail in the non-binding Republican primary held on the same day in the form of a secret ballot in Nevada.

On the Democratic side, President Joe Biden is expected to easily win the same day's caucus in Nevada against candidate Marianne Williamson and 11 lesser-known challengers.

Although the results of the February 6 election in Nevada have little impact on the races, it will be a hotly contested battleground as residents of the state could shift their support and play a key role in the US presidential election in November. (CNN)

*US detects Russian aircraft operating in Alaskan air defense identification zone: On February 6 (local time), the North American Aerospace Defense Command (NORAD) said it had detected four Russian military aircraft operating in the Alaskan Air Defense Identification Zone (ADIZ).

According to NORAD, the Russian aircraft remained in international airspace and did not enter U.S. or Canadian sovereign airspace. (Reuters)

*Canada approves FTA with Ukraine: The Canadian House of Commons on February 6 passed a bill to implement the bilateral free trade agreement (FTA) with Ukraine, signed during President Volodymyr Zelensky's visit to Ottawa last year.

Ukraine wants a similar high-standard deal with Canada, including strict environmental and labor regulations and more innovative chapters to help small and medium-sized businesses benefit from trade.

Treasury Board of Canada Chair Anita Anand said the vote was intended to demonstrate Ottawa's commitment to a rules-based world order. (AFP)

*Bolivia builds first zinc smelter with Chinese loan: The Bolivian Mining Ministry announced on February 6 that the government has signed a $350 million loan agreement with the Export-Import Bank of China (China Eximbank) to build a zinc smelter in Oruro province.

This will be the first zinc smelter in the South American country with a designed capacity of 150,000 tons/year. The loan from China Eximbank has a term of 20 years with an interest rate of 2%/year.

Bolivia is one of the world’s leading zinc reserves, with zinc production expected to reach 490,000 tons in 2023, according to the U.S. Geological Survey. (Bloomberg News)

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