India holds first Bright Star exercise, Finland spends heavily on defense, Japan sends F-35 to Australia

The World & Vietnam Newspaper highlights some notable world news this morning, August 29.

Asia

CNN. A stable economic relationship between the US and China is “very important,” US Commerce Secretary Gina Raimondo said during talks with her Chinese counterpart Wang Wentao.

Minister Vuong Van Dao expressed his willingness to cooperate to promote a more favorable policy mechanism, aiming to enhance bilateral trade and investment cooperation in a stable and predictable manner. (Source: AP)

Xinhua News Agency. Starting August 30, visitors to China will no longer be required to undergo Covid-19 testing using polymerase chain reaction (PCR) or antigen tests before entering the country.

CHINA DAILY. China and Pakistan have begun a joint air force training exercise codenamed "Shaheen (Eagle)-X" in Chinese territory.

YONHAP. South Korea has toughened penalties for stealing industrial secrets amid concerns that current regulations are not strong enough to prevent technology leaks from large corporations such as Samsung.

KYODO. Mitsubishi Heavy Industries Ltd (MHI - a subsidiary of Japan's Mitsubishi Corporation) announced the postponement of the launch of the H2A rocket carrying the Moon lander into space due to strong winds at the time of launch.

THAI PBS. Thai Prime Minister-elect Srettha Thavisin confirmed the cabinet line-up is complete, after a long night of discussions both within his Pheu Thai party and among coalition members.

TEMPO. A group of civil servants and students in the Jakarta metropolitan area are implementing remote learning and working to reduce traffic congestion and environmental pollution during the 43rd ASEAN Summit.

ANTARA. The Indonesian government has lifted the ban on sending its citizens to the Middle East as domestic helpers, in order to improve the quality of management and protection of Indonesian migrant workers from Middle Eastern countries.

MINT. India will participate for the first time in the multinational military exercise “ Bright Star-23 ” along with 33 other countries, hosted by Egypt from August 31 to September 14.

TIME OF ISRAEL. The Israeli Foreign Ministry issued a statement denying allegations of leaking information about a “secret” meeting between Foreign Minister Eli Cohen and his Libyan counterpart Najla Mangoush.

ARAB NEWS. Iran's Foreign Ministry announced that an agreement has been reached with Iraq on Baghdad disarming and relocating Kurdish armed groups in the north of the country, expected to take place in September.

Europe

REUTERS. Finland, NATO's newest member, has announced plans to spend 2.3% of its GDP on defense next year.

TASS. Russian President Vladimir Putin plans to make foreign trips this fall, according to the press secretary of the President of the Russian Federation, Dmitry Peskov.

TASS. Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov and his Turkish counterpart Hakan Fidan will hold talks in Moscow " as soon as possible ," Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova said.

AFP. Italy is struggling to cope with the influx of migrants from North Africa and the Balkans, while the Red Cross called for increased international efforts to stem the migrant crisis.

GREEK CITY TIMES. Greek authorities have deployed hundreds of firefighters to try to control a wildfire in the Evros region, now in its 10th consecutive day.

Lawmakers are expected to discuss the impact of the fire and preparedness and response in the National Assembly on August 31.

REUTERS. Belarus has proposed holding a joint summit of the BRICS group, the Eurasian Economic Union (EAEU) and the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO), Foreign Minister Sergei Aleinik said.

ANADOLU. The world's largest aircraft carrier, the USS Gerald R. Ford, has arrived in Turkey, with 4,500 crew and members.

CAPITAL. Romania plans to double the capacity of the important Black Sea port of Constanta and shipping routes on the Danube River in the next two months, Prime Minister Marcel Ciolacu stressed.

SPUTNIK. A source involved in the grain deal negotiations said the UN and Türkiye are exploring the possibility of holding talks on the issue with the Russian delegation in Istanbul.

America

RT. Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said that the military conflict between Ukraine and Russia could be a long way off; Canada, as well as other G7 member states, are ready to support Kiev in the long term.

AP. Argentina's Economy Ministry announced a series of benefits for workers and retirees to ease the impact of a severe economic crisis that has caused inflation to skyrocket.

Africa

AP. Three members of the US Congress made a brief visit to opposition-held northwestern Syria, the first known visit by US lawmakers to Syria in six years.

ANADOLU. Egypt has started construction of a strategic food warehouse in Luxor province - the second project in a project to build seven strategic food warehouses across the country.

CNN. The US military conducted an airstrike that killed 13 Al-Shabab fighters in southern Somalia at the request of the country's government.

Oceania

ABC. Two F-35A fighter jets from the Japan Air Self-Defense Force (ASDF) have arrived at the Royal Australian Air Force Base Tindal in northern Australia for training.