Russia-Ukraine 'compete' in shooting down UAVs, US invites Chinese Foreign Minister to visit

Singapore has a new National Assembly Speaker, Brazil opposes BRICS expansion, France evacuates citizens from Niger... are some notable international news in the past 24 hours.

The US has invited Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi (pictured) for an official visit. (Source: Reuters)

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

* Russia blocks several Ukrainian attacks : On August 2, a spokesman for the Kherson Region Emergency Management Agency said that a Ukrainian Mi-24 helicopter was shot down by Russian air defense forces on the right bank of the Dnipro River: "Air defense units destroyed a Ukrainian army Mi-24 helicopter near the Mikhailovka residential area on the right bank of the Dnipro River, Kherson Region." The governor of the city of Sevastopol on the Crimean Peninsula confirmed that Russian air defenses had shot down an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) in the city.

According to the Russian Defense Ministry, in the past 24 hours, the country's forces destroyed a total of two boats carrying 10 Ukrainian soldiers near the islands of Proseretsky and Damansky, as well as a German-made IRIS-T missile launcher. Russian soldiers also hit two Ukrainian 129mm mortars near the Sadovoye settlement in the Kherson region and two positions near the villages of Zmeyevka and Mikhailovka in the Kakhovka region. (Sputnik)

* Ukraine shoots down more than 10 Russian UAVs in Kiev : On August 2, Ukrainian officials said more than 10 Russian UAVs were shot down in an overnight attack on Kiev.

According to Sergiy Popko, head of the Kiev city military administration, UAVs simultaneously entered Kiev from many directions. However, Ukrainian forces promptly detected and shot down all these aerial targets. In addition, Mr. Popko also revealed that Russia used a series of Iranian-made Shahed UAVs in recent airstrikes.

Earlier in the day, Kiev Mayor Vitali Klitschko said the attack had caused damage in several districts, including the central Solomyansky district. Sharing on his Telegram page, the official confirmed that the incident had damaged a non-residential building, with debris falling, but fortunately no one was killed or injured. (AFP/Reuters)

* The US invites the Chinese Foreign Minister to visit: On August 1, US State Department spokesman Matt Miller confirmed that the invitation appeared during a meeting at the US State Department between Assistant Secretary of State for East Asian and Pacific Affairs Daniel Kritenbrink and Mr. Wang Tao, Director of the Department of North America and Oceania of the Chinese Foreign Ministry.

“In yesterday's meeting, we forwarded the invitation that was previously sent to Foreign Minister Qin Gang and made it clear that the invitation had been forwarded,” he said.

However, the US State Department spokesman did not say whether China would accept the invitation or not. However, he added that this was Washington's expectation and that he believed Beijing would accept the invitation. However, the two sides have not yet set a specific time for the visit. (Reuters)

Southeast Asia

* Thailand: The Forward Party is no longer in the 8-party coalition: On August 2, speaking to the press, Mr. Chaowarit Khajohnpongkirat, leader of the Palang Sakom Mai party, said: "The Pheu Thai Party called to tell us that the 8-party coalition no longer has the Forward Party (MFP)." (Reuters)

* Singapore has a new Speaker of Parliament : On the morning of August 2, Mr. Seah Kian Peng, nominated by Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong, was sworn in as the new Speaker of the Singapore Parliament. Thus, he will become the 11th head of Parliament of the "Lion Island" to replace Mr. Tan Chuan-Jin, who resigned in mid-July.

In his speech on the morning of August 2, Mr. Seah Kian Peng pledged to perform his duties objectively, firmly and fairly. He also called on members of the National Assembly to be careful in their personal actions, always remember and shoulder their responsibilities with dignity and a constant sense of responsibility.

Mr. Seah, 61, has been a member of the ruling People's Action Party (PAP) for Marine Parade GRC since 2006, and served as Deputy Speaker of Parliament from 2011 to 2016. He is currently the CEO of NTUC Enterprise Group, but is expected to step down at the end of this year. (VNA)

South Pacific

* Expert: Australia is not afraid of China replacing its Foreign Minister: On August 2, a source familiar with the Australian government said that the Australian Embassy in China sent a message from Foreign Minister Penny Wong, inviting his Chinese counterpart Wang Yi to visit Canberra. This invitation is to "replace the decision to cancel Mr. Qin Gang's visit". However, the timing of this invitation has not been determined.

Commenting on the move, Professor James Laurenceson, Director of the Australia-China Relations Institute at the University of Technology Sydney (Australia), said: “From Australia’s perspective, there is no downside to Mr. Wang’s return. Ms. Penny Wong knows her counterpart well because both sought to stabilize the relationship last year. At the same time, Mr. Wang Yi has more influence in China’s political hierarchy than his predecessor.”

Meanwhile, expert Zhou Weihuan, Director of the China Center for International Business and Economic Law at the University of New South Wales in Sydney (Australia), assessed the invitation as "a new step forward to stabilize and strengthen bilateral relations, specific issues in the relationship can only be resolved gradually". He affirmed: "Continuous engagement in good faith based on flexibility, compromise and reciprocity is still important to resolve outstanding issues such as China's anti-dumping duties on barley and wine, or Australia's tightening of Chinese investment".

“Beijing will need to decide in the next week or so whether to lift the tariffs on (Australian) barley… The question then is whether Beijing will remain committed to putting aside differences, instead focusing on areas of mutual benefit and continuing to chart a more positive trajectory for the bilateral relationship,” Laurenceson said. (SCMP)

Northeast Asia

* South Korea comments on delay in standardizing THAAD system : On August 2, a senior South Korean official said that a thorough investigation is needed if there is suspicion that the administration of former President Moon Jae-in deliberately delayed the standardization of the US Terminal High Altitude Area Defense (THAAD) missile system in the country.

Accordingly, it is alleged that the previous administration deliberately delayed the announcement of the environmental assessment report of the THAAD battery installation base in Seongju County, North Gyeongsang Province, 214 km southeast of Seoul, in 2017. Since its installation, the base has been kept in a state of waiting for assessment.

“The standardization of the Seongju base is a necessary measure for the combined defense of South Korea and the United States. If there is any suspicion that the measure was delayed intentionally, I think we must provide relevant facts to the people through a thorough investigation,” the official said. The standardization process of the THAAD base has accelerated since Yoon Suk Yeol took office. (Yonhap)

* North Korea criticizes Japan and France: On August 2, KCNA (North Korea) quoted North Korean experts criticizing Japan's defense policy.

Specifically, Ms. Kim Sol Hwa - a researcher at the Institute for Japanese Studies under the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of North Korea - commented: "As for the 'threat from neighboring countries' that Japan often mentions, it is nothing more than a smokescreen to cover up its move to become a military power." According to her, although the Japanese Defense White Paper emphasizes China and Russia as potential threats, it is the US that has "completely destroyed regional peace and stability" by creating a "confrontational alliance in the vast Asia-Pacific region", as well as deploying nuclear strategic weapons to the Korean Peninsula and the Taiwan Strait.

Ryu Kyong Chol, a researcher from the Korea-Europe Association, believes that Pyongyang is being treated as an “enemy” by Western countries, including France.

“At this moment, France has deployed fighter jets to the Korean Peninsula, which is technically at war. This action can only be understood as considering North Korea an enemy,” he argued. According to him, France should first “settle the domestic situation,” which is worsening due to “social discord,” instead of “wasting energy in the Asia-Pacific.” (Sputnik)

Europe

* Expert: These three European countries will not join NATO: On August 1, Mr. Endre Simo, Chairman of the Hungarian Community for Peace, commented that Austria, Ireland and Switzerland are unlikely to apply to join the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO). He commented: "I do not think that Austria and Switzerland will abandon their constitutional neutrality policy, because this will have to be decided through a referendum and the vast majority of people will support neutrality."

According to this expert, there are currently certain political forces in all three of the above countries that are supporting the option of abandoning neutrality and joining NATO.

He also said that, although not legally neutral, in practice, Ireland pursues a policy of neutrality, against any involvement in conflicts. (TASS)

America

* Brazil opposes BRICS expansion : On August 2, three anonymous representatives of the Brazilian government were quoted as saying that the country opposes the expansion of the Group of leading emerging economies (BRICS) including the country, Russia, India, China and South Africa.

Accordingly, the South American country's government believes that adding members could lead to the erosion of the group's significance and role in the international arena. Currently, BRICS accounts for 40% of the world's population and 25% of the world's GDP. This group plays an important role in joint initiatives and cooperation in economics, education, culture and science.

However, it is unclear whether Brazil's statement is aimed at a specific country that wants to join BRICS, or whether it was made only in the context of plans to expand the group, which would weaken the importance of BRICS. (TTXVN)

Middle East-Africa

* Situation in Niger: Borders reopened, Niger military delegation arrives in Mali, France evacuates citizens: On August 1, speaking on national television, a coup officer in Niger announced: "The land and air borders between Niger and Algeria, Burkina Faso, Libya, Mali and Chad have been reopened from today (August 1)."

Meanwhile, on August 2, a senior Niger official and a Mali security official said that General Salifou Mody, a former army chief of staff and an officer who took power in Niger, led a military delegation to Mali.

For its part, the Algerian Foreign Ministry has called for the restoration of President Mohamed Bazoum’s government and constitutional order in the neighboring country. The ministry’s statement on August 1 stressed: “Constitutional order must be restored through peaceful means to prevent our brotherly country Niger and the entire region from sinking deeper into insecurity and instability while our people fall into misery.”

However, Algeria also “warned, called for caution and restraint against foreign military intervention, saying that these are “factors that only complicate and aggravate the current crisis”. Algeria and Niger share a land border of more than 950 km.

Meanwhile, on August 2, the first French plane carrying 262 evacuees from Niger landed at Paris-Roissy Charles de Gaulle Airport at around 1:30 a.m. local time on August 2 (6:30 a.m. Hanoi time). Earlier, French Foreign Minister Catherine Colonna announced: "There were 262 people on board the Airbus A330, including dozens of infants", and said that "almost all the passengers were French". The flight departing on the evening of August 1 was the first of three flights to evacuate French and European citizens from Niger.

Similarly, on the morning of August 2, an Italian military plane carrying 87 evacuees from Niger, where a coup took place last week, arrived in Rome. Speaking to RAI (Italy), Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani said that some citizens had decided to stay in Niger. At the same time, he added that the Italian Embassy in Niamey would remain open. Regarding the possibility of military intervention in Niger, the diplomat called for "excluding any Western military initiative because this would be considered a new colonization process."

For her part, Italian Ambassador to Niger Emilia Gatto said that there were about 80 Italians in Niamey before the evacuation and that those who remained would not be in danger. Italy currently has about 300 soldiers in Niger, participating in counter-insurgency and military training missions, but there has been no announcement about their evacuation. (AFP/Reuters)

Source: https://baoquocte.vn/tin-the-gioi-28-nga-ukraine-thi-ban-ha-uav-my-moi-ngoai-truong-trung-quoc-toi-tham-236911.html