Moscow denies 'secret negotiations with the US' about Ukraine, big fire at military base in Crimea, Japanese diplomat attacked in the US

A UN employee killed in Mali, China blocking a shipment from Japan, President Putin not attending the BRICS summit in South Africa… these are some of the notable international news stories from the past 24 hours.

Smoke and flames rise from an explosion at a military training ground in the Kirovske district of Crimea, July 19, 2023. (Source: STRINGER/REUTERS)

The World & Vietnam newspaper highlights some of the day's most prominent international news.

Asia

* South Korea, the US, and Japan hold a meeting on the North Korea issue: South Korean special envoy for peace and security on the Korean Peninsula, Kim Gunn, arrived in Tokyo on July 19 to meet with his Japanese and US counterparts to discuss North Korea's nuclear and missile programs.

The agenda for this trilateral meeting is expected to focus on discussing how to respond to North Korea's recent actions, particularly after Pyongyang test-fired the Hwasong-18 solid-fuel intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) last week.

This was North Korea's 12th ICBM launch since the beginning of 2013. In April, officials from the three countries also held trilateral talks in Seoul. As part of this meeting, Kim Gunn is expected to have separate meetings with his American and Japanese counterparts in Tokyo . (Yonhap )

* China blocks seafood imports from Japan due to concerns about radiation contamination: On July 19, Japanese government spokesperson Hirokazu Matsuno announced that Chinese customs had blocked several shipments of Japanese seafood destined for China. This move came after local media reported that China had begun testing seafood imported from Japan for radiation levels.

The Yomiuri newspaper, citing informed sources, reported that this large-scale inspection was seen as an attempt to put pressure on Tokyo's plan to "release into the sea" treated radioactive wastewater from the Fukushima nuclear power plant.

Previously, Japan had expressed concern that China, Japan's largest importer of seafood, might stop buying it after Tokyo "released radioactive wastewater into the ocean." ( Reuters)

* Italian Ambassador to Indonesia declares support for ASEAN's Indo-Pacific Vision : Speaking at a press conference during the port visit of the ITS Francesco Morosini in Jakarta on July 18, Italian Ambassador to Indonesia Benedetto Latteri stated that Italy supports the ASEAN Vision for the Indo-Pacific (AOIP).

Ambassador Latteri added that, among other tasks, the Morosini's mission includes ensuring stability and peace in the region, in line with ASEAN's stance in the Indo-Pacific.

Mr. Latteri added that Francesco Morosini is Italy's newest high-tech vessel, commissioned by the Italian Navy in October 2022 and currently undergoing its first operational deployment. The ship set sail in April 2023 and has visited Singapore, Thailand, Vietnam, the Philippines, Japan, and South Korea before arriving in Indonesia.

The Morosini, designed with advanced dual-purpose capabilities to perform both military missions, including patrol, logistics transport, and surface combat, as well as civilian protection operations, will visit other ports before returning to Italy at the end of September. (VNA)

* South Korea issues warning to North Korea: On July 19, South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol boarded the USS Kentucky, a nuclear-powered ballistic missile submarine, at a naval base in Busan.

Speaking at the base, Mr. Yoon emphasized: "The deployment of the USS Kentucky clearly demonstrates the commitment of South Korea and the United States to the regular deployment of U.S. strategic assets and to ensuring the credibility of extended deterrence capabilities."

The two countries will respond strongly and resolutely to North Korea's escalating nuclear and missile threats through the South Korea-U.S. Nuclear Consultative Group (NCG) and the regular deployment of strategic assets, such as SSBNs.

A U.S. Ohio-class ballistic missile submarine (SSBN) visited a port city in southeastern South Korea. This marks the first visit by a U.S. SSBN since 1981. (Yonhap)

* Thai Parliament cancels Prime Minister nomination for Pita: On July 19, the Thai Parliament voted to cancel the nomination of Prime Minister Pita Limjaroenrat, leader of the Forward Party (MFP).

Of the 715 members of both houses who participated in the vote, 394 voted in favor of canceling Pita's nomination, 312 voted against, 8 abstained, and 1 did not vote.

Following the approval of the results, the Speaker of the Thai Parliament, Wan Muhamad Noor Matha, officially announced the cancellation of Pita's nomination for the position of Prime Minister. Prior to this, both houses of the Thai Parliament had held a debate lasting over seven hours on the matter. (VNA)

* Moscow denies reports of “secret talks with the US” on Ukraine: Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova said on July 19 that information about talks between Moscow and Washington on Ukraine in April was fake news.

Zakharova stated: "Russian Foreign Minister Lavrov has not had any negotiations with the US side as reported in the American media. This is a distortion and a fabrication. This is done deliberately to destabilize Russia from within."

Meanwhile, US National Security Advisor Jake Sulluvan said the Biden administration did not send any signals about Ukraine through Lavrov in New York in April . (AFP)

* Major fire at military base in Crimea forces evacuation of over 2,000 : Crimean authorities announced on July 19 that more than 2,000 people had been evacuated and a highway closed after a fire broke out at a military training facility in the Kirovske region of the Crimean Peninsula.

Crimean Governor Sergei Aksyonov confirmed, "There are plans for the temporary evacuation of residents from four settlements, totaling more than 2,000 people." The nearby Tavrida Highway has been partially closed, although the reason remains unclear.

According to Russian security agencies and Ukrainian media, an ammunition depot at a base caught fire after an overnight airstrike by Ukrainian forces . (Reuters)

* Russian military to be supplemented with advanced 5th-generation fighter jets : Russian Prime Minister Mikhail Mishustin announced plans to increase the delivery of 5th-generation fighter jets to the Russian armed forces. Speaking on July 18th, Mr. Mishustin confirmed that by the end of next month, aircraft manufacturers will deliver a batch of Su-57s to the Russian Ministry of Defense.

Prime Minister Mishustin added that the Uralvagonzavod corporation had delivered the T-90M Proryv and T-72BZM tanks on schedule. He also stated that the Su-57 aircraft (NATO classification) are Russia's fifth-generation multi-role fighter jets, designed to destroy all types of targets in the air, on the ground, and on the water.

The Su-57 boasts supersonic cruising speed, internal weaponry, and stealth capabilities. It also features intelligent systems, allowing it to perform some pilot tasks, including navigation and weapons preparation. (TASS)

* British expert predicts Ukraine will suffer a major defeat if… : Robert Clark, an expert from the London-based Civitas research institute, believes the Kiev government could suffer a "major defeat" and be forced to cede territory to Russia.

In an editorial published in the Daily Telegraph (UK), Clark stated: "If Kyiv fails in its efforts to cut off the Crimean Bridge and cannot regain much of its territory before winter, then calls for territorial concessions will become more prevalent – ​​not only in Ukraine but possibly from Western countries due to 'war fatigue' and the anxiety of politicians ahead of upcoming national elections."

Clark commented: "The fighting will begin to slow down as the harsh winter weakens the Ukrainian army's ability to wage high-intensity warfare. This will only give Russia more time to further strengthen its defenses, as it did last winter... At this time, in the West, all eyes will be on the upcoming US election, as well as the UK general election. " (Daily Telegraph)

* British intelligence asserts AI cannot replace spies: On July 19, Richard Moore, Director of the British Foreign Intelligence Agency (MI6), stated in Prague, Czech Republic, that artificial intelligence (AI) will not be able to replace human spies.

Moore emphasized that governments and intelligence agencies worldwide are seeking to harness the power of AI, but it will complement, not replace, humans, as humans have the ability to uncover secrets beyond the reach of technology.

Spies are not just passive information gatherers; they can raise new questions that intelligence agencies are unaware of, and they can even influence decisions within a government or terrorist group.

This was a rare public address by the head of MI6 since taking office in 2020. In his first public speech, Moore warned that China and Russia are racing to master technologies such as AI and quantum computing, and that this will continue to be a central focus . (AP)

* Beijing declares the US "cannot contain" China : On July 19, in Beijing, Wang Yi, Director of the Office of the Central Foreign Affairs Commission of China, met with veteran US diplomat Henry Kissinger.

Following the meeting, Wang Yi declared that the US "cannot contain or encircle" China, but still praised the role of former US Secretary of State Kissinger for opening diplomatic relations between Washington and Beijing.

Wang Yi asserted: "China's development has strong endogenous driving forces and inevitable historical logic; it is impossible to try to transform China, much less to encircle and contain China."

According to China's top diplomat, "U.S. policy toward China requires Kissinger-style diplomatic wisdom and Nixon-style political courage," referring to former U.S. President Richard Nixon, who established diplomatic relations with China. Meanwhile, Kissinger, then U.S. National Security Advisor, secretly flew to Beijing in July 1971 on a mission to establish diplomatic ties with China. (AFP/Reuters)

America

* Senior Japanese diplomat attacked in the US : Local media reported that Yuzo Yoshioka, the Japanese Consul General in Portland, USA, was pushed to the ground by a woman while walking in the downtown area of ​​the western US city on June 17.

The reason for the attack on the Japanese diplomat was reportedly "anti-Asian hatred." Consul General Yuzo Yoshioka, who suffered a head injury after colliding with the pavement, told a police officer that the attacker had pushed him down "without provocation."

According to media reports, the attacker, 23, has been charged with hate crimes and assault, and is also accused of assaulting a 76-year-old Asian man last August. (Kyodo)

Oceania

* Australia and the US to hold ministerial consultations : According to an Australian press release, next week, Defence Minister Richard Marles and Foreign Minister Penny Wong will welcome US Defence Secretary Lloyd J. Austin III and US Secretary of State Antony J. Blinken to Brisbane for the 33rd Australia-US Ministerial Consultations (AUSMIN).

The statement clarified that the United States is a key security ally and Australia's closest global partner. AUSMIN is the primary forum where Australia and the United States set the strategic direction for their alliance.

At AUSMIN 2023, Australia and the United States will discuss ways to enhance comprehensive cooperation, including defense and security cooperation, climate and clean energy, and economic resilience. Following AUSMIN, Mr. Marles and Minister Austin will travel to North Queensland, where Australian and US military personnel are participating in the Talisman Sabre 2023 exercise with their counterparts from 11 partner nations. (AFP)

Middle East – Africa

* US demands Egypt release imprisoned human rights activist: On July 19, the US called on Egypt to release human rights researcher Patrick Zaki, a day after he was sentenced to three years in prison for "spreading false information."

The U.S. State Department stated, "We are concerned about the three-year prison sentence handed down to Egyptian human rights defender Patrick Zaki," and called for "his immediate release and the release of others who are being unjustly detained."

Zaki, 32, was imprisoned for an article detailing discrimination he and other members of Egypt's minority Coptic Christian community said they had suffered. Zaki had previously spent 22 months in detention before trial, and was arrested again on July 18 following a court ruling in Mansoura, 130 km north of Cairo. (AFP)

* UN staff killed in Mali : The United Nations peacekeeping mission in Mali (MINUSMA) said on July 18 that at least one of its staff members was killed and four others seriously injured when their patrol was attacked in northern Mali on July 14.

The incident occurred near the town of Ber, in the Tombouctou region – an area that has become a hotspot for jihadist activity in the past decade. MINUSMA did not name the perpetrators but described it as a "complex attack" and said it would provide updates on casualties.

Islamist militants, some linked to the terrorist organizations Al Qaeda and the self-proclaimed Islamic State (IS), have waged an insurgency in northern Mali since 2012. Violence has spread throughout the sub-Saharan Sahel region despite international military intervention. According to the United Nations, thousands have been killed and more than 6 million people displaced by the fighting.

At least 309 MINUSMA personnel have died in Mali since the mission began its deployment in the country in 2013, with 174 of them dying as a result of malicious acts, making it the most dangerous United Nations peacekeeping mission in the world. (VNA)

* President Putin will not attend the BRICS summit in South Africa : The South African presidential palace announced on July 19 that Russian President Vladimir Putin will not attend the BRICS summit (comprising Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa) in South Africa this August, ending months of speculation about whether the Russian leader would attend the event.

In a statement, President Cyril Ramaphosa's spokesman, Vincent Magwenya, said: "By mutual agreement, President Vladimir Putin of the Russian Federation will not attend this summit, but the Russian Federation will be represented by Foreign Minister (Sergei) Lavrov." (AFP)

Source: https://baoquocte.vn/tin-the-gioi-197-moscow-bac-tin-dam-phan-bi-mat-voi-my-ve-ukraine-chay-lon-tai-can-cu-quan-su-o-crimea-nha-ngoai-giao-nhat-ban-bi-tan-cong-o-my-235223.html