The two US presidential candidates set the date for their live debate in October/September. (Source: Getty Images)

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

Asia-Pacific

*China sues EU at WTO over electric vehicle tax: On August 9, China said it had filed a lawsuit against the European Union (EU) at the World Trade Organization (WTO) after the EU announced new tariffs on electric vehicles imported from China.

In a statement, a spokesperson for China's Ministry of Commerce said: "On August 9, China filed a complaint with the World Trade Organization's Dispute Settlement Body regarding the EU's provisional anti-subsidy measures on electric vehicles."

Earlier, China's Ministry of Commerce expressed "strong dissatisfaction" with the EU's plan to impose additional tariffs of up to 38.1% on electric vehicles from China, affirming that Beijing will take all necessary measures to protect its legitimate rights and interests. (AFP)

*US amphibious assault ship docks in South Korea: The South Korean Navy said the US Navy's amphibious assault ship USS Boxer docked at the Busan military port on August 9 to replenish supplies and allow the crew to rest.

The 40,500-ton amphibious assault ship, capable of carrying attack helicopters and F-35B stealth fighters, entered its base in Busan, 320 kilometers southeast of Seoul, earlier in the day, the South Korean Navy said.

"On the occasion of the USS Boxer's port call, the Republic of Korea Navy plans to strengthen exchanges and cooperation with the US Navy and continue to strengthen the joint defense posture," the statement said. (Yonhap)

*Experts comment on Philippines-China agreement in the South China Sea: Experts say, upset by China's "mischaracterization" of the agreement the two sides reached on Second Thomas Shoal, Philippine officials now appear to be waiting to see whether the interim agreement between Manila and Beijing is enough to prevent tensions from flaring up again.

The exact details of the agreement between the Philippines and China have not been made public. On July 21, the Philippines announced that it had “reached an agreement on a provisional arrangement” with China to de-escalate tensions during resupply missions to the BRP Sierra Madre naval ship on Second Thomas Shoal after a tense standoff that peaked in June.

While the Philippines sees the deal as a reaffirmation of its sovereignty, China sees it as a temporary measure to manage immediate tensions while continuing its broader claims to the disputed waters, experts say . (Phistar)

*Chinese envoy meets Myanmar's senior general: On August 9, Myanmar state media reported that Chinese special envoy Deng Junyi met Myanmar's senior general Min Aung Hlaing to discuss "peace and stability" along the two countries' border. The meeting took place just a day after a group of ethnic Myanmar rebels seized a Myanmar army headquarters in northern Shan State.

China is a major ally and arms supplier to the military government, but analysts say it also maintains ties with armed ethnic groups in Myanmar that control territory near the border with China.

Last week, an alliance of armed ethnic groups seized the army's northeastern command headquarters in the town of Lashio, home to about 150,000 people. (AFP)

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*Russia and China strengthen cooperation in the use of outer space: On August 9, the Russian Foreign Ministry said that Russia and China have agreed to strengthen coordination in the use and exploration of outer space, as well as ensuring the safety of these activities.

In a statement released on August 8, the Russian Foreign Ministry said "(The two sides) reached an agreement to enhance coordination in this area both bilaterally and at relevant multilateral venues."

The statement added that the foreign ministries of the two countries held consultations in Moscow on peaceful outer space issues. During the consultations, a number of topics in the fields of the peaceful use and exploration of outer space, international legal regulation and ensuring the long-term sustainability and safety of space activities were discussed. (Sputnik)

Europe

*Russia declares federal state of emergency in Kursk region: On August 9, Russia's Ministry of Emergency Situations declared a federal state of emergency in the Kursk region in southwestern Russia following a major Ukrainian incursion.

Earlier on August 6, the Russian military said that pro-Ukrainian forces had entered the Kursk region, deploying about 1,000 troops, more than 20 armored vehicles and tanks. On August 9, military blogger Mikhail Zvinchuk said that Ukrainian military units continued to expand their control in the Sudzhansky district of Kursk province, up to 30 kilometers.

According to him, the Ukrainian army is advancing rapidly along troop routes, avoiding pockets of resistance from the Russian army. Kursk province has an area of ​​nearly 30,000 square kilometers, a population of more than one million people, located in western Russia, adjacent to Ukraine's Sumy province. (Reuters/AFP)

*Ukraine destroys Russian guided bomb depot: On August 9, the Ukrainian military said it attacked a Russian military airport in the Lipetsk region of southern Russia on the night of August 8. The attack damaged Russia's stockpile of guided bombs.

"Several sources of ignition have been recorded, a large fire broke out and several explosions occurred," the Ukrainian military said on the Telegram messaging app. The source added that the Lipetsk military airport houses Su-34, Su-35 and MiG-31 aircraft.

Lipetsk is about 330 km (200 miles) from Ukraine's border with Russia's Kursk region, where pro-Kiev forces have been conducting an incursion in recent days involving about 1,000 troops and more than 20 armored vehicles and tanks. (Reuters)

*Russia issues law to terminate citizenship rights of foreigners: Russian President Vladimir Putin on August 8 signed a law allowing to terminate the Russian citizenship rights that foreigners have obtained due to not performing initial military service registration.

The law stipulates the obligation of initial military registration for those who have acquired Russian citizenship. Failure to perform the service will be grounds for termination of citizenship. The explanatory note to the bill notes that men of military age who have received Russian citizenship are required to register with the army, but in fact these people are evading the service.

The signed law also synchronizes the procedures for citizens to register for military service and acquire citizenship. The law requires internal affairs agencies to send information about men who have been granted Russian citizenship to the conscription registry before they take the oath of Russian citizenship. (Sputniknews)

*Ukrainian UAV attacks Russian military airport: On the morning of August 9, Russian state media reported that a fire broke out at a Russian military airport hundreds of kilometers from the Ukrainian border, due to an attack by a Ukrainian UAV.

Governor Igor Artamonov announced on Telegram at around 3:00 a.m. local time that Lipetsk had “suffered a terrible UAV attack.” He also said the explosions were “far from civilian buildings,” injuring six people and causing damage to a local power plant.

Lipetsk city is about 330 km from Ukraine's border with Russia's Kursk region, where pro-Kiev forces have been conducting an incursion for days with about 1,000 troops and more than two dozen armored vehicles and tanks. (AFP)

Middle East-Africa

*US deploys F-22 stealth fighter squadron to Middle East: The US military confirmed that its advanced F-22 stealth fighter jets arrived in the Middle East on August 8, as Washington beefs up its forces in the region ahead of a possible Iranian counterattack against Israel.

On social media, the US military's Central Command (CENTCOM) announced the move as part of "force changes in the region to reduce the risk of escalation by Iran or its proxy forces", but did not specify the exact number or location of the F-22s.

Last week, the Pentagon said US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin had ordered the deployment of additional assets, including warships and a squadron of fighter jets, to the Middle East. (AFP)

*Russia discusses Middle East situation with Israel: The Russian Foreign Ministry announced that the country's Deputy Foreign Minister discussed with the Israeli Ambassador to Russia the Middle East situation, including reducing tensions in the conflict between Palestine and Israel.

According to the statement of the Russian Foreign Ministry, on August 8, the Russian Special Envoy for the Middle East-Africa region, Deputy Foreign Minister received at the Israeli Ambassador to Russia Halperin.

During the meeting, the two sides "exchanged views on the military and political situation in the Middle East, focusing on the task of easing tensions in the Palestinian-Israeli conflict zone and the entire region." The two sides also discussed in detail the development of bilateral relations. (Sputnik)

*Greek oil tanker attacked off Yemen: On August 9, the UK Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO) said that the Delta Blue crude oil tanker reported being attacked four times within 24 hours off the Yemeni port of Mokha.

The latest incidents include one attack by an unmanned surface vessel and another by a missile landing near the vessel, UKMTO said. The crew and vessel are safe and on their way to their next port, according to UKMTO.

On August 8, the ship’s captain reported that two small vessels had approached and fired a round alongside the Liberian-flagged Delta Blue, about 45 nautical miles south of Mokha. According to LSEG data, the Delta Blue tanker is based in Athens, Greece.

Since November 2023, Yemen's Iran-aligned Houthi rebels have carried out a series of attacks on international shipping routes in the Red Sea region in solidarity with Palestinians in the war between Israel and Hamas. (Reuters)

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*Israel attacks Hezbollah command center in southern Lebanon: The Israeli military said Israeli Air Force (IAF) fighter jets attacked a command center of the Hezbollah Islamist movement in southern Lebanon on the night of August 8.

"During the night, the IAF attacked a Hezbollah command center in the Hanaouay area and terrorist infrastructure in the Ayta ash Shab area in southern Lebanon," the statement said.

Additionally, Israeli warplanes struck a Hezbollah launch pad near Ayta ash Shab, where rockets were launched towards the Biranit area in the upper Galilee on August 8.

The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) said it had identified several projectiles that landed in open areas after flying over Lebanon following an air raid siren in northern Israel. However, the incident did not cause any casualties. (TASS)

*Israel and Hamas could finalize deal next week: The US, Egypt and Qatar issued a joint statement on August 8, confirming that the ceasefire in Gaza and hostage release deal were almost complete.

After months of work, the mediators are ready to present Israel and Hamas with a final proposal, with only the details of the implementation of the agreement remaining unresolved, the statement said. The US, Egypt and Qatar called on Israel and Hamas to restart the negotiation process in Cairo (Egypt) or Doha (Qatar) on August 15 to finalize the final details and begin implementing the agreement.

Up to now, neither Israel nor Hamas have commented on the above information.

According to previous public information, the parties involved are aiming to agree on a three-phase deal, starting with the release of some civilian hostages and a partial withdrawal of Israeli troops from some areas in the Gaza Strip. (Al Jazeera)

America - Latin America

*US election: Ms. Harris and Mr. Biden campaign together for the first time: US Democratic presidential candidate and Vice President Kamala Harris and President Joe Biden will have their first joint campaign trip next week since Mr. Biden's shocking decision to withdraw from the White House race with Republican rival Donald Trump.

In support of the Democratic Party's new ticket, Mr. Biden will appear with his Vice President at an event in Maryland near Washington on August 15.

In a statement on August 9, the White House said it would "discuss the progress they are making to reduce costs for the American people." Inflation is seen as a weakness for the Democrats ahead of the November election. (AFP)

*Panama repatriates migrants to Colombia: Panamanian President José Raúl Mulino announced on August 8 that US-funded flights to repatriate migrants crossing the Darién Gap jungle will head to Colombia, where migrants cross the border into the Central American country.

On July 1, Panama and the United States signed a migration agreement, through which Washington pledged to provide $6 million in funding for a program to deport migrants crossing the Darién Gap. The funding will not go directly to the Panamanian government but will be used for the program’s operations.

According to statistics from the beginning of the year until now, more than 216,000 migrants have crossed the Darién forest to find their way to the United States, most of whom are Venezuelan citizens. Previously, in 2023, this number reached more than 520,000 people, more than double compared to 2022. (Reuters)

*Mexico rejects request to arrest President Putin: Outgoing Mexican President Andrés Manuel López Obrador said on August 8 that the Mexican government cannot arrest President Vladimir Putin if the Russian leader accepts an invitation to attend the inauguration of President-elect Claudia Sheinbaum on October 1.

Speaking at a press conference, Mr. Obrador affirmed that he could not take the above action because it was not Mexico's responsibility, and affirmed that the Latin American country opposed war and supported peace.

The Ukrainian Embassy in Mexico on August 7 asked the Mexican authorities to arrest Mr. Putin if the Russian leader attends the inauguration of President-elect Sheinbaum. In March 2023, the International Criminal Court (ICC) issued an arrest warrant for President Putin on charges of war crimes related to the forced transfer of Ukrainian children to Russia. (AP)

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*US Election 2024: Two candidates announced to participate in the debate on September 10: Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump and Democratic opponent Kamala Harris will participate in the debate on September 10 on ABC News.

This will be the first head-to-head match in a campaign that is expected to be very close in opinion polls.

Speaking at a press conference at his residence in Palm Beach, Florida, former President Trump expressed his desire to have two more debates on September 4 and September 25, which will be broadcast on Fox and NBC.

Trump had previously hinted at the possibility of withdrawing from the ABC News debate, which was scheduled before Harris replaced President Joe Biden as the Democratic presidential nominee less than three weeks ago. (Reuters)