The newly appointed Vice President of Iran is about to resign, airlines of two European countries stop flying to the Middle East, Serbia considers BRICS as an alternative to the EU, Australia signs an agreement with the UK and the US on AUKUS, a bus bombing in Afghanistan, many casualties... are some of the notable international events in the past 24 hours.
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| The international military-technical forum (Army 2024) takes place at the Patriot exhibition center near Moscow from August 12-14. (Source: RIA) |
The World & Vietnam Newspaper highlights some of the day's international news highlights.
Asia-Pacific
*Chinese diplomatic and military delegation to Indonesia: A spokesperson for the Chinese Foreign Ministry said that, according to the agreement between China and Indonesia, Vice Foreign Minister Sun Weidong and Major General Zhang Baoqun, Deputy Director of the Office of International Military Cooperation of the Central Military Commission of China, led a delegation to Jakarta on August 12 to attend the first Senior Officials' Meeting within the framework of the China-Indonesia Foreign and Defense Ministers' Joint Dialogue.
The China-Indonesia Foreign and Defense Ministers' Joint Dialogue, to be launched in 2023, is the first 2+2 ministerial-level dialogue established between China and other countries.
The spokesperson said that during the senior officials' meeting, the two sides will exchange views on China-Indonesia relations as well as international and regional issues of common concern. (Xinhua)
*South Korean President Nominates New Defense Minister: On August 12, the South Korean Presidential Office announced that President Yoon Suk Yeol has appointed the head of the Presidential Security Service (PSS) Kim Yong Hyun as the new defense minister, while Defense Minister Shin Won Sik has been appointed as national security adviser.
National Security Adviser Chang Ho Jin has been appointed as special adviser on diplomacy and security, a new position, a press release from Presidential Chief of Staff Chung Jin Suk added.
Kim Yong-Hyun, a former three-star general, has served as PSS director since Yoon Suk Yeol took office in May 2022. His nomination must go through a parliamentary confirmation hearing, although the president can go ahead and appoint the nominee regardless of the outcome of the hearing. (Yonhap)
*Bus bombing in Afghanistan, 12 casualties: On August 11, a minibus in the Afghan capital Kabul exploded due to a bomb, killing 1 person and injuring 11 others.
The blast occurred in a western neighborhood of the capital, home to many Shi'ite Muslims - a historically persecuted minority in Afghanistan and a frequent target of attacks by the self-proclaimed Islamic State (IS) group, according to Kabul police spokesman Khalid Zadran.
Although the number of bombings and suicide attacks in Afghanistan has dropped significantly since the Taliban took power in August 2021, several armed groups, including IS, still pose a threat in the country. (AFP)
*Australia signs AUKUS deal with UK, US: Australia signed an agreement on August 12 to allow the exchange of nuclear secrets and materials with the US and UK, a major step towards equipping its navy with nuclear-powered submarines. The agreement binds the three countries to security arrangements to transfer sensitive US and UK nuclear materials and know-how as part of the 2021 AUKUS trilateral security arrangement.
The latest agreement, signed in Washington last week and tabled in the Australian parliament on August 12, includes a provision allowing Australia to indemnify its partners against any liability for nuclear risks from materials sent to Australia. (Reuters)
* US, South Korea to hold drills to counter cyber threats: South Korea and the United States will begin their annual summer military drills next week to boost their capabilities against North Korea's weapons and cyber threats, officials said on August 12.
The Ulchi Freedom Shield exercise, scheduled for August 19-29, comes as North Korea continues to develop its nuclear and missile programs and attempts to launch a reconnaissance satellite.
Pyongyang has long accused the United States and South Korea of raising tensions in the region with military exercises, calling them a rehearsal for nuclear war. (Reuters)
*Helicopter crashes into hotel in Australian tourist city: Authorities said on August 12 that hundreds of passengers in the famous Australian tourist city of Cairns were evacuated after a helicopter crashed into the roof of a hotel.
Media reports said rescue teams were dispatched at around 2:00 a.m. on August 12 (16:00 GMT on August 11) following the accident at Hilton's Double Tree Hotel in Cairns, which is considered the gateway to Australia's Great Barrier Reef.
Police did not specify the condition of the pilot or whether there were any passengers on board, but a video posted on social media showed a fire on the hotel roof. (Reuters)
Europe
*Russia evacuates citizens in Belgorod: On August 12, the Governor of Belgorod said he had issued an order to evacuate residents in Belgorod province, located on the border between Russia and Ukraine, in the context of the country's efforts to prevent Ukraine's attack on Kursk province.
A large-scale Ukrainian military offensive in the Kursk region began on August 6. Drone strikes and artillery fire have killed at least five local residents. More than 60 people, including five children, have been injured, while 55 are currently being treated in hospital, according to the latest figures. Local residents are being evacuated to several regions in Russia, including the capital Moscow. (AFP)
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*Serbia sees BRICS as an alternative to the EU: Serbian Deputy Prime Minister Aleksandar Vulin said that the BRICS group of emerging economies is an opportunity and a real alternative to the European Union (EU) for Serbia, BRICS does not demand anything from Serbia, but can offer more than what the country asks for.
Serbia's Deputy Prime Minister earlier announced that the country's authorities are waiting for an official invitation to attend the 14th BRICS Summit in Kazan in the coming days.
The plan for Russia's rotating BRICS presidency in 2024 includes more than 250 events in 11 Russian regions, organized by representatives of federal and regional executive bodies, civil society and the business community. The 14th BRICS summit, which will take place in Kazan from October 22-24. (Sputnik)
*Ukrainian Commander-in-Chief wants to continue operation in Kursk: The Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of Ukraine (VSU), Alexander Syrskyi, said on August 11 that the VSU operation would continue. However, he did not clarify whether it was the VSU operation in the Kursk region or not.
On his personal Telegram channel, Mr. Syrsky wrote: “We will continue the campaign.”
Earlier, on August 10, a sabotage and reconnaissance group of the VSU infiltrated the territory of Belovsky district of Kursk province, but the Russian army stabilized the situation.
In another development, Chechnya's leader Ramzan Kadyrov said on August 11 that the Russian army had destroyed military convoys and soldiers of the VSU and captured NATO equipment as spoils of war in Kursk province. (AFP)
*Russia increases production of about 300 weapons models: Speaking at the opening ceremony of the International Military-Technical Forum (Army 2024), Russian Industry and Trade Minister Anton Alikhanov said that the country is increasing production of weapons and military equipment models in the context that thousands of these products are being used for special military operations and about 300 models are in special demand.
“In total, thousands of samples of weapons and military equipment are used in special military operations. Of these, we currently classify about 300 as being in special need. For this priority position, the Russian military-industrial complex continues to increase production volumes. This is achieved primarily through the modernization and expansion of facilities, increasing human resources and labor productivity at the enterprises,” Minister Alikhanov said.
Army 2024 takes place at the Patriot exhibition center near the Russian capital Moscow from August 12-14. (Sputniknews)
Middle East – Africa
*Israel: Iran is preparing for a large-scale attack: Axio news agency quoted a source saying that Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant informed US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin that Iran is currently preparing for a large-scale attack on Israel.
In a statement on August 12, the Israeli Defense Minister confirmed that he had a phone call with his US counterpart on the evening of August 11.
The statement said the two ministers discussed operational and strategic coordination as well as the Israeli military's readiness against threats from Iran.
Earlier, the US Secretary of Defense ordered the deployment of a guided missile submarine to the Middle East. The US military also announced that it would deploy additional fighter jets and Navy warships to the region to strengthen Israel's defense. (TASS)
*US President says Middle East tensions could “easily” escalate into regional war: In an interview with CBS, US President Joe Biden said that tensions in the Middle East could easily escalate into a regional war, but could still be prevented.
Asked about the possibility of a ceasefire in Gaza before he leaves office in January 2025, President Biden replied: “Yes. It’s still possible. The plan that I put forward, endorsed by the G7, the UN Security Council… is still possible. And I’m working every day – with my entire team – to make sure that this doesn’t escalate into a regional war. But that could easily happen.” (TASS)
*German and Swiss airlines stop flying to the Middle East: On August 12, German airline group Lufthansa announced that it would extend the suspension of flights to Tel Aviv, Tehran, Beirut, Amman and Erbil until August 21 due to ongoing tensions in the region.
Lufthansa also said it would avoid using Iranian and Iraqi airspace until August 21, extending the previous suspension until August 13.
On the same day, Swiss International Air Lines also announced that it would extend the suspension of flights to and from Tel Aviv and Beirut until August 21. The airline noted that it would avoid the airspace of Iran, Iraq and Israel until August 21 (compared to the previous announcement of August 13). (AFP)
*Iran's Vice President announces his intention to resign: Iranian Vice President Mohammad Javad Zarif, who served as foreign minister and was appointed to be in charge of strategic affairs in the new government of President Masoud Pezeshkian on August 2, has announced his intention to resign.
The reason for Vice President Zarif's resignation may have been disagreements over the composition of Iran's new cabinet. On August 11, President Pezeshkian presented to parliament a list of politicians he proposed to form a new cabinet. Of the 19 candidates, only one was a woman.
On the social network X, Mr. Zarif wrote: "I am not satisfied with the results of my work and ashamed that I could not receive the professional opinions of the committees as well as the participation of women and young people in a proper manner as I promised." (Sputnik)
America – Latin America
*US announces deployment of submarines to the Middle East: The Pentagon said on August 11 that US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin has ordered the deployment of a guided missile submarine to the Middle East, as the region prepares for the risk of attacks by Iran and its allies after the killing of senior members of Hamas and Hezbollah.
In a statement after Defense Secretary Austin spoke with his Israeli counterpart, the Pentagon said Austin had ordered the Abraham Lincoln aircraft carrier strike group to urgently deploy to the Middle East.
The US military said it will deploy more fighter jets and Navy warships to the Middle East as Washington seeks to bolster Israel's defenses. (Reuters)
*Colombia suspends ceasefire with FARC forces: On August 11, Colombian Defense Minister Iván Velásquez warned that he was considering suspending the ceasefire with the “Jorge Suárez Briceño” front of the Estado Mayor Central (EMC) group, the largest dissident force within the FARC, in the context of 60 government soldiers continuing to be detained.
With about 4,000 members, the EMC operates in 23 of Colombia’s 32 provinces. It is made up of several armed groups that splintered from the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC), which has since disarmed and become a political party.
Disagreements between the EMC armed groups and the FARC have repeatedly caused peace negotiations between the Colombian government and the group to fall into a deadlock after nearly seven decades of civil war. (Reuters)
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