Ukraine arrests official for helping draft dodgers, US tests missiles in Australia, Cambodian Prime Minister will return to power if...

The EU expanded its export ban to Belarus targeting Russia, Pakistan "quietly" approved a security treaty with the US, Russia advertised military recruitment in Kazakhstan, the US investigated the safety of 280,000 new Tesla electric cars... are some notable international news in the past 24 hours.

The US test-fired the ATACMS missile for the first time in Australia. (Source: Reuters)

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

Russia-Ukraine

* President Putin condemns Western sabotage plots against Russia: During a meeting with government members, Russian President Vladimir Putin declared that the policies of the Ukrainian government and the West, which seek to destroy everything related to Russia, have no future.

Referring to the integration of new Russian regions into the country's culture, President Putin stressed: "Strictly speaking, the residents of those new regions have never left this space, because they cherish their native language and are very interested in the great Russian literary heritage. I know that they love the works of our outstanding compatriots."

"And this is despite all the attempts of the current Ukrainian authorities to ban Russian classics and contemporary books, remove them from stores and libraries, and above all, wipe them out. Both Kiev and those in power in the West dream of wiping out everything or anyone who thinks, speaks or reads in Russian," President Putin said.

President Putin concluded: "The ancient Russian lands of Donbass and Novorossiya have returned to their homeland, have reintegrated with each other. We are gradually rebuilding these lands, establishing peaceful life in the liberated territories, including in the sphere of culture and education." ( TASS)

* Ukraine arrests official who helped citizens dodge military service : Ukraine's anti-corruption watchdog said on August 3 that it had arrested an official of the Ukrainian armed forces on charges of helping men of military age illegally cross the border in exchange for a cash payment.

Since Kiev imposed martial law after Russia launched a special military operation last year, able-bodied men aged 18 to 60 have been banned from leaving the country and can be called up for military service at any time.

In a statement, the State Investigation Bureau of Ukraine said the official, who worked in the Kiev city government and headed a department in the army, had issued fake documents declaring the men unfit for military service. Accordingly, anyone who could provide these documents was allowed to cross the border, and the service cost each person $10,000 . ( AFP)

* Russia advertises attractive recruitment ads in Kazakhstan : Ads offering immediate payments of more than $5,000 to join the Russian army have begun appearing on the app screens of Internet users in Kazakhstan amid the escalating conflict in Ukraine.

Kazakhstan, a former Soviet republic that shares a border with Russia, is home to more than 3 million ethnic Russians and has long been one of Moscow's closest traditional allies.

However, the Astana government has not supported Moscow's “special military operation” and has called for peace.

The ads were clearly aimed at Kazakhs, featuring images of the Russian and Kazakh flags and the slogan “Shoulder to Shoulder.” They promised a one-time payment of 495,000 rubles ($5,300) to those who signed up for the Russian military, along with a minimum monthly salary of 190,000 rubles ($2,000) and other additional benefits.

The ads linked to a website offering potential recruits a chance to join the Russian military in the Sakhalin region in Russia's Far East. The website listed itself as the Human Resources Development Agency of the Sakhalin region, an organization set up by the local government there.

Meanwhile, residents of several other former Soviet Central Asian countries say some of their compatriots have also joined the Russian military or private military corporations such as Wagner, but recruitment is often conducted on Russian territory.

Under Kazakh law, it is illegal to participate in foreign military conflicts for pay. Kazakhstan's Ministry of Information and Social Development has yet to comment on the advertisements. (AFP)

Europe:

* Baltic states want to disconnect from Russian grid : Estonia, Lithuania and Latvia are looking to disconnect from the shared energy grid with Russia and Belarus by February 2025.

In a statement on August 3, Lithuania's Energy Ministry said that the grid operators of the three countries had signed an agreement calling for this disconnection.

The three Baltic states previously agreed to upgrade their infrastructure and disconnect from Russia’s power grid in a 2018 deal backed by Poland and the European Commission, which required 1.6 billion euros ($1.61 billion) in EU funding.

The three former Soviet republics have stopped importing electricity from Russia, but remain part of a common synchronized grid with Russia and Belarus, known as the “BRELL” loop system.

Estonian Prime Minister Kaja Kallas said that the separation from the grid will be officially notified to the common grid operators of the Baltic states, Russia and Belarus in August next year. (TASS)

* EU expands export ban to Belarus , targeting Russia : The European Commission (EC) announced on August 3 that the European Union (EU) decided to impose a ban on the export of goods and technology to Belarus due to concerns that the country may continue to strengthen its military and technology sectors.

"The measures extend the export ban to Belarus to a number of highly sensitive goods and technologies that could contribute to the technological and military development of Belarus. The European Council also imposes an additional export ban on firearms and ammunition, as well as on goods and technologies suitable for use in the aviation and space industry," the statement stressed.

According to the EC, the new measures will help ensure that sanctions against Russia “cannot be circumvented through Belarus ”. ( Sputniknews )

* Russia declares support for BRICS expansion : Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov announced on August 3 that the group of leading emerging economies (BRICS) will be strengthened by admitting new members. This is considered the clearest statement of support for the idea of ​​expanding BRICS.

Earlier, Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva said it would be "extremely important" for BRICS to admit Saudi Arabia, along with Argentina and the United Arab Emirates (UAE), if these countries wanted it.

According to Mr. Peskov, Russia has constructive relations with all three countries but affirmed that it will not make any decision before the topic of BRICS expansion is discussed at the group's summit in South Africa from August 22-24.

Moscow values ​​its relations with developing countries that have not condemned Russia’s actions in Ukraine and want to increase trade with Russia to neutralize the impact of Western sanctions on the Russian economy. ( Reuters)

* Poland accuses Wagner of plotting to destabilize NATO's eastern flank : Polish Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki warned on August 3 that forces of Russia's Wagner mercenary group were approaching NATO's eastern flank in an attempt to destabilize it.

An unknown number of Wagner fighters have begun training with the Belarusian national army, forcing Poland to move more than 1,000 troops closer to the border . (Reuters)

Asia-Pacific

* Pakistan "quietly" approves security pact with US : Pakistan's federal government "quietly" approved an important security pact with the US, paving the way for the purchase of military equipment from Washington.

According to sources familiar with the Pakistani government, the government of Prime Minister Shebaz Sharif has approved the signing of the Communications Security and Interoperability Agreement (CIS-MOA) between the two countries by circulating a summary. However, Pakistan and the US have not yet issued an official statement on the development. Sources also confirmed witnessing the circulation of the summary of the CIS-MOA in a meeting of the federal cabinet. However, sources did not confirm whether the majority of the current cabinet members approved it.

CIS-MOA is an agreement that the US signs with allies and countries that intend to maintain close military and defense relations. Under CIS-MOA, Washington also gets legal cover for the US Department of Defense to sell military equipment and hardware to other countries. The signing of CIS-MOA shows that both sides want to maintain an institutional mechanism.

Pakistan had previously entered into the agreement for 15 years, from October 2005 until it expired in 2020. Under the latest agreement in 2023, which is also expected to be valid for 15 years, both sides have agreed to conduct joint exercises, operations, training, and establish joint bases and equipment. (The News)

* India will participate in peace conference for Ukraine : On August 3, Indian Foreign Ministry spokesman Arindam Bagchi confirmed that the country will participate in peace talks on Ukraine organized by Saudi Arabia on August 5 and 6.

Addressing a press conference, Bagchi confirmed that India has been invited to the Saudi-led peace talks in Jeddah. “India will participate in this event. This participation is in line with our long-standing position that dialogue and diplomacy are the way forward to resolve differences,” he said.

Apart from India, Saudi Arabia has invited Western nations, Ukraine and several prominent developing countries to discuss the peace plan proposed by President Volodymyr Zelensky earlier this year.

Ukraine has said Russia is not welcome at the talks. President Zelensky's peace plan calls for the withdrawal of all Russian troops and the restoration of Ukraine's post-Soviet borders. The Ukrainian leader invited Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi to join the peace plan on the sidelines of the G7 summit in Japan last May . (VNA)

* US supports direct dialogue between India and Pakistan : US State Department spokesman Matthew Miller said on August 2 that the US supports direct dialogue between India and Pakistan on issues of mutual concern. Speaking at a press conference, Mr. Miller affirmed that this has long been the US's position.

Two days earlier, Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif had proposed holding talks with India to resolve all serious and outstanding issues between the two countries.

Relations between India and Pakistan remain strained over a number of issues, including Islamabad's continued support for cross-border terrorism and the Kashmir issue.

Pakistan-India bilateral relations have become more tense since August 2019 when India changed the special status of Jammu & Kashmir.

India has asserted that it wants normal neighbourly relations with Pakistan while stressing that it is Islamabad's responsibility to create an environment free of terror and hostility for such an engagement. India has also asserted that Jammu & Kashmir "has been, is and will always be" a part of the country . (The Nation)

* China wants Japan not to support NATO expansion : Chinese Ambassador to Russia Zhang Hanhui said on August 3 that Beijing has advised Tokyo to stop supporting NATO expansion. The Chinese diplomat noted: "We also advise Japan and other countries to learn from history: Do not disregard the opinions of other countries and sabotage the overall peace and stability in the region, and do not become a bridge for NATO's eastward expansion...".

Earlier, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov warned that negative scenarios that the US and NATO have been creating in other parts of the world should not be introduced to the Asia-Pacific region. He stressed that Russia is working "to strengthen the structure of stability and cooperation in the Asia-Pacific region created around ASEAN." ( TASS)

* Cambodian Prime Minister warns he will return to power if his son is threatened: On August 3, outgoing Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen warned that if the life of his son, new Prime Minister Hun Manet, is in danger at any time in the future, he will return to this position.

Speaking at the inauguration ceremony of the third ring road in the capital Phnom Penh, Mr. Hun Sen said: "I want to warn you that if my son is threatened, I will return to the position of prime minister. Only then will I decide who can become the next prime minister."

Mr. Hun Sen explained that by doing this, he hopes to prevent the country from falling into chaos and ensure the happiness of the Cambodian people.

Earlier in the day, Mr. Hun Sen made a speech on national television to the nation and announced that he would retire and transfer power to his son Hun Manet. The royal decree on the appointment of a new prime minister will be announced on August 7 and Mr. Hun Sen will be dismissed on August 22. ( Khmertimeskh )

America

* US test-fires ATACMS missile for the first time in Australia : The Australian Defense Magazine on August 3 reported that the US military tested a long-range tactical surface-to-surface ballistic missile MGM-140 ATACMS for the first time in Australia as part of the Talisman Sabre 2023 exercise, which took place at the end of July.

The missile was launched from an M142 HIMARS launcher at the Delamere Training Facility in Australia’s Northern Territory, the source said. The HIMARS was transported by a US MC-130J transport aircraft from the Shoalwater Bay Training Area in Queensland.

At the Shoalwater Bay training area, multiple M31 guided missiles were launched from the HIMARS launcher earlier in the Talisman Sabre exercise. In April, the Australian government announced plans to spend $2.7 billion to buy HIMARS and start domestic production of guided missiles . ( Sputniknews )

* 280,000 new Tesla electric cars under safety investigation: The US National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) announced a preliminary investigation into 280,000 Tesla electric cars of the two new Model 3 and Model Y models due to reports of loss of steering control and power steering systems.

This is the first step in a formal investigation by NHTSA to determine whether the problem poses a safety hazard. NHTSA opened the investigation after receiving 12 complaints from Tesla owners, including a Georgia driver who reported in June that his two-week-old Tesla Model Y "suddenly lost control of the steering wheel."

Additionally, a driver of a Tesla Model Y that had been in ownership for less than 30 days reported that the power steering system unexpectedly disabled. While no deaths or injuries have been reported related to these incidents, one incident resulted in a crash or fire. About 280,000 vehicles are under investigation, which could result in a recall. Following the NHTSA action, Tesla was not available for comment on the matter, as the electric car giant does not have a communications department.

This isn't the first time NHTSA has looked into Tesla's safety issues. In March, NHTSA opened its own investigation following reports of Tesla steering wheels falling off while driving Model Ys. The electric car giant has also drawn the attention of the Justice Department for its involvement in Autopilot and fully autonomous driving features.

Last month, Tesla issued a voluntary recall for more than 1,300 Model S, X and Y vehicles it produced this year due to a misaligned camera. (FT)

Source: https://baoquocte.vn/tin-the-gioi-38-ukraine-bat-giu-quan-chuc-giup-tron-linh-my-thu-ten-lua-o-australia-thu-tuong-campuchia-se-tro-lai-nam-quyen-neu-237057.html