Russian warships conduct drills in the East Sea, Chinese and Thai foreign ministers meet, Israel re-sends troops to the northern Gaza Strip

The Philippines denies a "special agreement" with China, Houthis continue to launch missiles at US warships, Russia establishes a no-fly zone over key energy facilities... are some of the notable international events in the past 24 hours.

Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi (left) and Thai Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Parnpree Bahiddha-Nukara at the signing ceremony of a joint visa exemption agreement between China and Thailand in Bangkok, Thailand, January 28, 2024. (Source: CGTN)

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

Asia- Pacific

*Russian warship conducts anti-submarine drills in the East Sea: Interfax news agency reported on January 29 that the frigate Marshal Shaposhnikov of the Russian Pacific Fleet conducted anti-submarine drills in the East Sea. After detecting a simulated enemy submarine and confirming its coordinates from a helicopter squadron, the warship launched torpedoes and mines - anti-submarine warfare weapons.

Interfax added that a detachment of warships from Russia's Pacific Fleet, including the flagship of the fleet, the cruiser Varyag, and the frigate Marshal Shaposhnikov, is on a "long-distance voyage" that includes the Asia-Pacific region. Meanwhile, the RIA news agency reported that the ships left the port of Vladivostok, in Russia's Far East, on January 22. (AFP)

*Indonesia arrests 3 Mexican nationals linked to Bali attack: Indonesian Bali provincial police said they have coordinated with the national police force to arrest 3 Mexican nationals suspected of being involved in a gun attack on a Turkish national in Badung, Bali, earlier last week.

The spokesperson of the Public Relations Office of the Badung Ketut Sudana Resort Police, Bali, Mr. Ketut Sudana said on January 29 that the incident happened on January 23. The victim, Turan Mehmet, a 30-year-old Turkish citizen, was attacked at his home, a luxury villa in Tumbak Bayuh, Mengwi, Badung, Bali.

Police have yet to determine the motive behind the attack that killed the Turkish national. However, there are suspicions that the shooting may be related to extortion. (Jakarta Post)

*China, Thailand hold consultations on bilateral relations: Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi held annual consultations with Thai Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Parnpree Bahiddha-Nukara in Bangkok on January 28.

During the consultation, Foreign Minister Wang Yi stressed that China and Thailand are one family, and the two countries have many new opportunities and need to take new actions to promote modernization and build a more stable, prosperous and sustainable China-Thailand community of shared future, enhance substantive cooperation in various fields and continuously add new aspects to bilateral relations.

Meanwhile, Foreign Minister Parnpree stressed that Bangkok values ​​the comprehensive strategic cooperative partnership with Beijing, always adheres to the “One China” principle and does not participate in any official exchanges with the Taiwanese government. (Bangkok Post)

*South Korea to develop ship-launched reconnaissance drones: South Korea's Defense Acquisition Program Administration (DAPA) said on January 29 that the country aims to develop a ship-launched reconnaissance drone by 2028 to enhance its ability to monitor threats from North Korea.

In December 2023, DAPA signed a 143.3 billion won ($107.1 million) contract with defense company Hanwha Systems to develop the rotary-wing aircraft for a period of 12 years to 2028. The aircraft is designed to be deployed on warships as well as Marine Corps units on northwestern islands near the border with North Korea to carry out surveillance and reconnaissance missions.

DAPA expects the new aircraft to expand its ability to monitor border areas and identify signs of provocation by the enemy and neighboring countries in advance. (Yonhap)

*Indian Navy rescues Iranian fishing boat off Somalia: The Indian Navy said on January 29 that it had rescued an Iranian fishing boat hijacked by pirates off Somalia in the latest attack on ships in the Indian Ocean.

“The fishing boat was attacked by pirates and the crew was taken hostage,” an Indian navy spokesman said. The fishing boat in question was named Iman, and was flying an Iranian flag. The Indian navy also stressed that its warship had “ensured the successful rescue of all 17 crew members along with the fishing boat.” (AFP)

*Philippines denies 'special agreement' with China in South China Sea: The Philippines on January 29 denied that China had a "temporary special agreement" with it to allow the transfer of supplies to Philippine soldiers stationed on a ship stranded on a disputed reef in the South China Sea, calling it "a figment of the imagination".

"There is no such temporary agreement," National Security Council spokesman Jonathan Malaya told national television station PTV-4.

Earlier on January 27, the Chinese Coast Guard announced that China had temporarily allowed the Philippines to provide food and water to soldiers stationed on the BRP Sierra Madre, which has been stranded on the Second Thomas Shoal in the South China Sea since 1999, 190km off the coast of Palawan province. (AFP)

Middle East-Africa

*Houthi continues to launch missiles at US warships in the Gulf of Aden: Spokesman for the Houthi Islamic movement in Yemen Yahya Saree confirmed on January 29 that the movement had launched missiles at a US Navy expeditionary landing ship Lewis B. Puller in the Gulf of Aden.

"In response to the US-UK aggression against our country... last night, the Yemeni Navy fired a missile at the US Navy ship Lewis B. Puller while it was transiting in the Gulf of Aden," Saree said in a statement. (Sputnik News)

*Iran executes 4 people accused of links to Israeli intelligence: Iran's state media reported on January 29 that the country carried out the death sentences of four people whom Iranian forces said had links to an Israeli intelligence operation, after the Supreme Court rejected their appeal.

The suspects were accused of illegally entering Iranian territory from Iraq's Kurdistan region to carry out a bombing at an Isfahan-based factory that produces equipment for Iran's Ministry of Defense.

According to media reports, the bombing was planned to take place in the summer of 2022 on behalf of Israel's Mossad intelligence agency and was thwarted by Iranian intelligence. (Reuters)

*Large explosion near shrine in Syria, many casualties: According to Iran's Sham FM news agency, on January 29, several explosions occurred near the Sayyeda Zeinab shrine complex in the suburbs of the Syrian capital Damascus, killing at least 2 people and injuring several others.

A source in Iran's regional alliance said the attack targeted a site used by Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps. There was no immediate comment from the Syrian government on the incident. An Israeli military spokesman also declined to comment on the blast. (Reuters)

*Israel redeploys troops to northern Gaza Strip: Israel Army Radio reported on January 29 that the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) is expected to increase its presence in the northern Gaza Strip in the coming weeks to counter Hamas' efforts to regain control of the area.

Accordingly, the IDF is planning to carry out a number of division-level, that is, large-scale, attacks in areas where Hamas militants are active again with the intention of restoring control over towns in the northern Gaza Strip.

The IDF estimates that around 2,000 Hamas militants remain in northern Gaza. On the night of January 28, the group resumed firing rockets at the Israeli city of Ashkelon after more than a month of silence. The IDF also recorded several clashes along the northern Gaza Strip coast in the past 24 hours, during which Israel destroyed a tunnel and killed five Hamas militants. (Times of Israel)

Europe

*Russian President V. Putin officially registered to run for election: On January 29, the Central Election Commission of the Russian Federation registered incumbent President Vladimir Putin as an independent candidate in the presidential election next March.

Mr. Putin became the fourth candidate to register for the election. Previously, the Commission registered Leonid Slutski, the chairman of the opposition Liberal Democratic Party, Vladislav Davankov, a member of the New Peoples Party, and Nikolai Kharitonov, a member of the Gosduma (lower house) of the Communist Party of the Russian Federation in the parliament.

On December 16, 2023, Mr. Putin was supported by the initiative group to run for election as an independent candidate. On January 22, Mr. Putin's election team submitted its application to the Central Election Commission. The Russian presidential election will take place from March 15-17. (Sputnik News)

*Moscow plans to establish no-fly zones over key energy facilities: On January 29, the Russian Ministry of Energy drafted a plan to propose establishing no-fly zones over key energy facilities in Russia. Accordingly, this no-fly zone applies to all flying devices, balloons, thermal or mixed balloons, and remote sensing balloons.

To fly over these facilities, permission is required from the Interdepartmental Coordination Center involving the Russian Security Service (FSB), the National Guard, the Defense Ministry, the Interior Ministry, the Transport Ministry and the Energy Ministry.

Russia currently has no regulations restricting flights over key energy facilities. At the end of December 2023, Russian President V. Putin issued a decree allowing private security forces of these facilities to shoot down drones. More than 80% of Russia's fuel and energy facilities use private security units.

According to the deputy chairwoman of the Federation Council Committee on Constitutional Legislation and State Building, Irina Rukavishnikova, in 2023 there were 45 sabotage attacks on fuel and energy facilities in Russia. (TASS)

*Ukrainian President reveals population and military numbers after 2 years of conflict with Russia: In a recent interview with German TV channel ARD, Ukrainian President Vladimir Zelensky said that Ukraine's current population is around 30 million. During the 2 years of conflict with Russia, around 6.5 - 7.5 million people have left the country.

Also according to information from President Zelensky, the Ukrainian army currently has 880,000 soldiers, of which 600,000 are infantry forces.

According to the Ukrainian Statistical Service, as of June 1, 2021, Ukraine had a population of 41.38 million. In 1991, when the Soviet Union collapsed, Ukraine's population was 52 million. (TASS)

*Japan, Germany sign military supply-sharing pact: On January 29, Japan and Germany signed a military pact to facilitate the exchange of supplies and logistics support, as the two countries seek to strengthen defense ties in the Indo-Pacific region.

The bilateral pact will allow the use of each other's facilities for joint military exercises, a move that requires approval from Japan's parliament as Germany does not need to go through domestic procedures, a Japanese Foreign Ministry official said.

Foreign Minister Kamikawa told Ambassador Goetze that the new treaty would allow Japan and Germany to together "proactively contribute to the peace and security of the international community".

For Japan, Germany becomes the seventh ACSA partner, following the US, Australia, UK, Canada, France and India. (Kyodo)

*EU will take action if Hungary vetoes Ukraine aid package: The Financial Times reported on January 28 that the European Union (EU) will "destroy" the Hungarian economy if Budapest blocks a new aid package for Ukraine at the bloc's summit scheduled to take place this week.

Commenting on the news, Hungary's EU minister, Janos Boka, told the FT that Budapest knew nothing about the financial threat, but would not accept pressure.

In another development, on social network X, an advisor to Prime Minister Orban wrote that Hungary is ready to use the EU budget for a proposed 50 billion euro ($54.24 billion) bailout package for Ukraine. (Financial Times)

America-Latin America

*Plane crash in southeastern Brazil, at least 7 people died: Brazilian officials said at least 7 people were killed in a small plane crash that occurred on January 28 in the southeastern state of Minas Gerais.

The single-engine plane apparently suffered mid-air failure after taking off from Campinas, in the neighboring state of Sao Paulo, and crashed in the city of Itapeva at around 10:30 a.m. local time (8:30 p.m. Vietnam time). Authorities have recovered the bodies of seven people on board. Images posted by locals on social media show the wreckage of the plane lying on a hillside.

Authorities are investigating the cause of the incident. (AP)

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