Five Things to Know, July 29, 2024
1. Top diplomats from Japan, the U.S., Australia and India meeting Monday in Tokyo compiled a set of measures to reinforce maritime safety and cybersecurity and to support other Asia-Pacific countries in improving their defenses during growing tensions in the regional seas. After the meeting, Japanese Foreign Minister Yoko Kamikawa, U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken, Australian Foreign Minister Penny Wong and Indian External Affairs Minister Subrahmayam Jaishankar said they were “seriously concerned” about the tensions and expressed “strong opposition” to unilateral changes to the status quo by coercion.
2. A Marine died over the weekend during a training accident at the Twentynine Palms training center in California, according to the service. The Marine was involved in a Humvee rollover Saturday during training at the Marine Corps Air-Ground Combat Center, the base said in a statement Sunday. No other Marines were injured in the crash. “We extend our deepest condolences to the family, friends and colleagues of the Marine during this difficult time,” the Corps said. The Marine, whose name was being withheld until 24 hours after next of kin had been notified, was treated at Robert E. Bush Naval Hospital at Twentynine Palms.
3. Israeli strikes killed two people and injured three others in southern Lebanon early Monday, Lebanon’s state-run news agency said. The report came as Israel mulls its response to a rocket attack from Lebanon over the weekend that killed 12 children and teenagers in a town in the Israel-controlled Golan Heights. Monday’s strikes did not appear to be Israel’s response to the deadly weekend attack but more routine fighting. Lebanese state media said a Monday morning strike hit a motorcycle traveling close to the Lebanon-Israel border, killing two riders and injuring a child.
4. Three Russian warships arrived in Cuban waters on Saturday, Moscow's second such maritime voyage in as many months in a reflection of deepening ties between Russia and Cuba. The naval group, consisting of a training ship, patrol frigate and refueling tanker, are expected to remain docked in Cuba's port of Havana until August 30. The arrival of the vessels comes mere weeks after another squadron of Russian warships, including a powerful nuclear-powered submarine, visited Havana as part of planned military exercises last month.
4. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin and South Korean Defense Minister Shin Won-sik on Sunday urged North Korea to immediately stop sending balloons carrying trash across its southern border. The two also agreed to work closer with their Japanese counterpart to curb the communist regime’s provocations. During a meeting with Austin in Tokyo on Sunday, Shin called North Korea’s practice of sending balloons to the South a “clear violation” of the Korean armistice agreement, according to a news release from the Ministry of National Defense that day.