Russia and China hold large-scale naval exercises, Democratic Party adviser says Trump's assassination was "staged" and apologizes, EU wants to boycott summit in Hungary, EU extends sanctions on Iran... are some of the prominent international events in the past 24 hours.
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| Ships of the Indian and US navies during a joint exercise in the Indian Ocean, July 12. (Source: PTI) |
The World & Vietnam Newspaper highlights some of the day's international news highlights.
Asia-Pacific
*India, US conduct large-scale joint exercise in Indian Ocean: The US Embassy in India said that the US aircraft carrier Theodore Roosevelt strike group conducted a large-scale joint exercise with frontline warships of the Indian Navy in the Indian Ocean.
In a statement, the US Embassy said the Theodore Roosevelt aircraft carrier strike group operated with the Indian Navy in the Indian Ocean on July 12. The Indian Navy deployed the guided-missile destroyer INS Visakhapatnam and the supply ship INS Aditya.
The Indian Navy regularly participates with US Navy units in multilateral exercises across the Pacific, including in Southwest Asia and the African littoral. In addition, the Indian Navy is playing a leading role alongside the US Navy and other allies and partners in the Rim of the Pacific (RIMPAC) 2024 exercise currently underway in Hawaii. (AFP)
*Chinese Coast Guard Ship “Intrudes” on Philippine Patrol: SeaLight, a maritime transparency program that monitors and reports on activities in the South China Sea, said that over the weekend, a Chinese Coast Guard vessel moved closer to the Philippines, passing an island located just 40 kilometers west of Calatagan in Batangas.
According to SeaLight, the 135-meter-long Chinese coast guard ship CCG 5303 approached 60 nautical miles west of Lubang Island at 2:20 p.m. on July 14.
Retired US Air Force Colonel Ray Powell, director of SeaLight, said the ship was conducting an intrusive patrol. “By doing so, China aims to establish a continuous presence and gradually normalize maritime activities in these areas,” Powell pointed out. (The Manilatimes)
*Pakistan bans former Prime Minister Imran Khan's opposition party: Pakistan's Information Minister announced on July 15 that the country will ban former Prime Minister Imran Khan's Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) party.
Pakistani Prime Minister Imran Khan was ousted in a no-confidence vote in 2022, with the opposition accusing him of mismanaging the economy and foreign policy. Khan has denied all charges against him, saying they are politically motivated. He was later sentenced to prison on various charges.
Earlier on July 12, the Supreme Court of Pakistan ruled that the PTI – Pakistan’s largest opposition party – is eligible to win more than 20 additional seats in parliament. This increases pressure on the country’s weak coalition government. (the Dawn)
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*Russia-China begin “Maritime Cooperation – 2024” exercise: On July 15, the press service of the Russian Pacific Fleet reported that a joint Russian-Chinese fleet will leave Zhanjiang port (China) to conduct exercises within the framework of the Russia-China exercise called “Maritime Cooperation – 2024” taking place from July 15-17.
The flotilla includes the frigates Gromky and Rezky of the Pacific Fleet (Russia), the destroyer Yinchuan, the frigates Dali and Hengshui, and the multi-purpose supply transport ship Weishanhu of the Chinese Navy.
Earlier, on July 12, the Pacific Fleet announced the arrival of the Russian frigates Gromky and Rezky at the Chinese port of Zhanjiang. Russia and China are also conducting joint naval patrols in the Asia-Pacific region with the special participation of the frigate Sovershenny.
On July 13, the Russian Defense Ministry said that during a joint patrol in the Philippine Sea, Russian and Chinese ships conducted practice artillery and simulated missile firing exercises. (Sputniknews)
*Japan to increase security cooperation with Pacific island nations: The Yomiuri newspaper reported on July 14 that the Japanese government plans to increase the number of Maritime Self-Defense Force (MSDF) port visits to Pacific island nations, according to a draft joint action plan to be adopted at the Pacific Island Leaders' Meeting in Tokyo on July 16-17.
The draft also sets out seven priority areas: peace and security, political leadership and regionalism, people-centered development, economic development and resources, climate change and disasters, oceans and environment, and technology and connectivity.
The South Pacific island nations are strategic strongholds on sea routes linking Asia with North and South America. The United States and China are vying for hegemony in the region. Japan is also trying to counter China by building trust with these island nations. (Yomiuri)
*China opens the 3rd plenary session of the 20th Central Committee: On the morning of July 15, the 3rd plenary session of the 20th Central Committee of the Communist Party of China (CPC) officially opened in Beijing.
Xi Jinping, general secretary of the CPC Central Committee, delivered a work report on behalf of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee and presented a draft decision of the CPC Central Committee on comprehensively deepening reform and promoting China's modernization.
Taking place from July 15 to 18 with the participation of more than 370 CPC Central Committee members and alternate Central Committee members, this conference will focus on studying issues of further deepening comprehensive reform and promoting Chinese-style modernization, and formulating an overall plan for deepening comprehensive reform around Chinese-style modernization. (Reuters)
Europe
*Russia arrests former Ukrainian security leaders in absentia: On July 15, the Basman District Court in Moscow (Russia) ordered the arrest in absentia of former Director of the Security Service, Ukrainian parliamentarian Valentin Nalivaichenko and Secretary of the Security and Defense Council of Ukraine Aleksandr Litvinenko.
The two men were convicted under the criminal article “Using prohibited means and methods in war” and were internationally wanted.
The investigation agency requested the two men to be arrested in absentia and detained for two months. The decision will be implemented when the two officials are extradited to Russia or arrested on Russian territory. (TASS)
*Estonian Prime Minister Resigns: Estonian broadcaster ERR reported on July 15 that Prime Minister Kaja Kallas and her government have resigned. The current government will continue to carry out its duties until the new cabinet takes office.
Prime Minister Kallas submitted his resignation to President Alar Karis and the government convened an extraordinary meeting, at which the prime minister and the entire government announced their resignation. (Reuters)
*Ukraine signs security agreements with Czech Republic, Slovenia and Ireland: Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said on July 14 that the country is preparing to sign three new security agreements with the Czech Republic, Slovenia and Ireland.
According to Mr. Zelensky's statement, new agreements with the Czech Republic and Slovenia are being promoted, and an agreement with Ireland is also being prepared after his meeting with the Irish Prime Minister.
Ukraine has previously signed security agreements with Poland, Luxembourg and Romania, with the Luxembourg agreement lasting 10 years. In addition, Ukraine and the European Union (EU) have also signed a security agreement, which ensures that Kiev will continue to receive weapons, training and other security assistance for many years to come. (AFP)
*Moscow accuses US aircraft of dangerously approaching Russian fighter jet: Oleg Ignasyuk, Deputy Director of the Center for Reconciliation of Opposing Sides of the Russian Defense Ministry, accused the MQ-9 Reaper drone of the US-led international coalition of dangerously approaching a Russian Su-35 aircraft in the sky over Syria's Homs province.
Speaking at a press conference on July 14, Mr. Ignasyuk said: “Near the village of Al-Sukhnah in Homs province, the coalition's MQ-9 Reaper drone once again flew dangerously close to the Russian Aerospace Forces' Su-35 aircraft, which was performing a routine flight over Syrian airspace.
According to the Russian official, the US-led coalition violated deconfliction protocols and violated Syrian airspace eight times in the past 24 hours in the Al-Tanf area with a pair of F-15 fighter jets, a pair of Rafale fighter jets and two pairs of A-10 Thunderbolt attack aircraft. (TASS)
*Russia affirms that President Putin is properly protected: Responding to a question about increased security for Russian President Vladimir Putin, on July 15, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov affirmed that the Russian leader is enjoying proper protection and all necessary measures have been taken.
The Kremlin also said that President Putin did not contact former US President Donald Trump after the Republican candidate's assassination attempt and that Putin had no plans to do so.
The Kremlin has previously stressed that it does not believe the current US administration was behind the shooting of Mr Trump, but accused Washington of creating an atmosphere that provoked the attack. (Reuters)
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*EU wants to boycott summit in Hungary: Politico quoted three diplomatic sources from Brussels revealing that the European Union (EU) plans to hold a summit during the informal meeting of EU foreign ministers in Budapest at the end of August, aiming to boycott the foreign ministers' conference hosted by Hungary after Prime Minister Viktor Orban's visit to Russia and China.
Earlier, Politico quoted two EU diplomats as saying that EU member states were considering sanctions against Hungary, threatening the country with “real consequences”, due to the EU’s dissatisfaction with Mr Orban’s recent visits to Moscow and Beijing. Some EU ambassadors proposed boycotting an informal meeting of foreign ministers in Budapest in late August. (Sputniknews)
Middle East-Africa
*EU extends sanctions against Iran: On July 15, the European Council decided to extend restrictive measures against Iran related to its military support for the Russia-Ukraine military conflict and for armed groups and entities in the Middle East and the Red Sea region. The current sanctions will remain in place until July 27, 2025, and will be reviewed annually.
The current sanctions regime targets 12 individuals and 9 entities. Accordingly, the assets of these individuals and entities will be frozen, and the provision of money or economic resources to them, directly or indirectly, is prohibited. In addition, the sanctioned individuals will also be banned from traveling to the European Union (EU).
In addition to extending existing sanctions, the European Council also extended the scope of its ban on the export of components used in the production of UAVs from the EU to Iran in May 2024, and added six individuals and four entities to its sanctions list. (AFP)
*Hamas announces withdrawal from ceasefire talks in Gaza: On July 14, an official of the Hamas Islamic movement said the armed group had withdrawn from ceasefire talks in Gaza, in the context of Israel continuing to conduct airstrikes.
Speaking after the attack on the Al-Mawasi area in southern Gaza, a senior Hamas official accused Israel of “carrying out massacres” and claimed this was the reason for the suspension of talks.
On July 14, the Israeli army attacked a UN-run school in the Nuseirat refugee camp in central Gaza. According to the Health Ministry of the Hamas-controlled part of the Gaza Strip, the attack killed at least 92 people. (Al Jazeera)
America-Latin America
*Democratic adviser says Trump assassination attempt 'staged': On July 14, an adviser to billionaire Reid Hoffman - a major donor to most Democratic presidential candidates - apologized for mentioning the possibility that the attempted assassination of former US President Donald Trump was staged.
According to the Semafor news site, earlier, strategist Dmitri Mehlhorn - an advisor to billionaire Hoffman - sent an email to a number of journalists and supporters, in which he said that there was a possibility that "this 'shooting' was encouraged and maybe even staged so that Mr. Trump could take a photo and benefit from the backlash".
Mr Mehlhorn issued an apology: “Last night, I sent an email that I now regret. I drafted and sent it without consulting my colleagues. I apologized to them directly…We must stand united in condemning such violence in all circumstances. Any other topic is a distraction.” (Reuters)
*The US identifies the suspect who assassinated Mr. Trump as acting alone: On July 14, the US Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) identified that the suspect who assassinated former US President Donald Trump at a campaign event on July 13 acted alone and committed the crime using a legally purchased AR-style rifle.
Responding to reporters, the FBI also noted that there were no signs that the suspect had any mental health problems.
The FBI added that the investigation was in its early stages and that it had not yet determined the suspect's ideology. Officials stressed that finding a motive was one of investigators' priorities. (AFP)
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