Indonesian Security Minister Resigns, Kuwaiti King Visits Saudi Arabia, EU “Confused” About Aid to Ukraine

The World & Vietnam Newspaper highlights some notable world news this morning, February 1.

Asia

YONHAP. South Korea has started construction of its third and final 3,600-ton submarine to boost its defense capabilities, according to the Defense Acquisition Program Administration.

JAMA. With 4.91 million cars in 2023, China surpassed Japan (4.42 million) to become the world's largest car exporter, according to the Japan Automobile Manufacturers Association (JAMA).

KYODO. Two vice ministers from the largest faction of Japan's ruling Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) have resigned over a political fundraising scandal that has rocked the country's politics since late last year.

Japan's Vice Minister of Internal Affairs and Communications Takuo Komori (left) said he failed to declare 700,000 yen ($4,700) from political fundraising events, while Vice Minister of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism Ryusho Kato admitted failing to declare 100,000 yen. (Source: Kyodo)

THE STAR. Malaysia's 17th King Sultan Ibrahim has been officially crowned, marking a significant moment in the history of the Southeast Asian country's constitutional monarchy.

TEMPO. Indonesian Security Minister and vice presidential candidate Mahfud MD announced that he will submit his resignation to President Joko Widodo when he meets the country's leader.

ADB. The Asian Development Bank (ADB) will disburse $419.6 million under the Comprehensive Sanitation Project to help three Indonesian cities improve their quality of life and respond to climate change.

SPA. Kuwait's Emir Sheikh Meshal Al Ahmed Al Sabah has arrived in Saudi Arabia on his first foreign trip since taking power, underscoring the deepening ties between the two Gulf oil exporters.

Europe

TASS. Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu held talks with his Chinese counterpart Dong Jun, believing that the new Chinese Defense Minister will contribute to further expanding military cooperation between the two countries.

REUTERS. Russian President Vladimir Putin will visit Turkey on February 12 and meet his host counterpart Tayyip Erdogan.

AP. US Deputy Secretary of State Victoria Nuland arrived in Ukraine amid growing uncertainty about Washington's economic and military support for Kiev as the conflict with Russia enters its third year.

REUTERS. EU leaders met in Brussels on Tuesday to discuss a four-year 50 billion euro aid package for Ukraine as part of a broader overhaul of the bloc's budget.

BLOOMBERG. The EU has proposed extending by one year the duty-free import regime for agricultural products from Ukraine, but this must be accompanied by "safeguard measures" to prevent cheap imports from flooding the market.

INTERFAX. Ukraine's total domestic and foreign debt in 2023 is at a record high of $145.32 billion.

DPA. More than 1,100 flights have been cancelled or delayed, with around 200,000 passengers affected as aviation security staff plan to strike on February 1, according to the German Airports Association (ADV).

Điểm tin thế giới sáng 1/2: Quốc vương Kuwait thăm Saudi Arabia,

Earlier, the Verdi service industry union called on employees of private security service providers to strike on February 1 at 11 major airports outside Bavaria due to disagreements in wage negotiations. (Source: DPA)

AFP. The Netherlands plans to send the frigate HNLMS Tromp to the Indo-Pacific region to strengthen maritime security, Defense Minister Kajsa Ollongren announced.

BBC. British Chancellor Rishi Sunak has announced the creation of a new business council , tasked with holding regular meetings with the country's top business leaders such as BT, Rolls-Royce and Unilever.

REUTERS. The Greek Coast Guard rescued 57 migrants and found two bodies near a rocky shore on the island of Lesbos.

GUARDIAN. British Home Secretary James Cleverly and his French counterpart Gerald Darmanin have agreed to speed up the deployment of aerial surveillance equipment to reduce the number of illegal migrants crossing to Britain.

America

TELAM. Argentine Cabinet Secretary Nicolás Posse is traveling to the United States to strengthen ties with the administration of President Joe Biden.

NBC. The Cygnus spacecraft of the American aerospace technology company Northrop Grumman was launched into space carrying more than 3.5 tons of scientific research materials and supplies for the International Space Station.

REUTERS. Mexico will begin producing the Patria (Fatherland) Covid-19 vaccine developed by domestic scientists from February 15, after completing final licensing procedures.

According to the assessment of the National Medical Council of Mexico, the Patria vaccine is a product that ensures quality, safety, high efficiency and meets all international pharmaceutical standards. (Source: Reuters)

GLOBE AND MAIL. Canada announces $40 million in new aid to provide food, water and humanitarian assistance to Gaza.

CBC. Canada's Housing Minister Sean Fraser says starting this fall, post-secondary institutions will be able to apply for low-interest loans to build student housing .

LATINA PRENSA. The Cuban government is working to implement a number of policies to support the gradual implementation of economic adjustment measures that took effect on February 1, including increasing the prices of fuel, electricity, and gas, and eliminating certain subsidies.

Africa

REUTERS. South African Foreign Minister Naledi Pandor said all countries had an obligation to stop funding and facilitating Israel's military actions in the Gaza Strip.

AL ARABIYA. A delegation from the Islamic Hamas Movement arrived in Cairo to discuss with the head of the Egyptian Intelligence Service a framework agreement to halt fighting in Gaza and release hostages.

EGYPT NEWS. Egypt is looking to establish an electricity grid connection with Europe to export electricity to countries in the region, Electricity and Renewable Energy Minister Mohamed Shaker said.

ARAB NEWS. Tunisian President Kaïs Saïed has decided to extend the nationwide state of emergency until the end of 2024.

A state of emergency was declared in Tunisia in late November 2015, following a bomb attack in downtown Tunis targeting a presidential bus. (Source: AFP)

AFP. Tunisian authorities have dismantled a network smuggling illegal migrants from Africa to Italy, arresting six people of different nationalities in the sub-Saharan region and seizing a large amount of cash.

AP. Somalia's National Intelligence and Security Agency (NISA) has for the first time dismantled 20 chat groups on the WhatsApp messaging app believed to be run by the extremist group al-Shabab for the purpose of extortion and threats.

UN. UN humanitarian agencies are providing Zambia with $2.5 million to help it respond to a cholera outbreak that has killed 574 people and infected 400 to 500 people daily.

THE STAR. Kenyan President William Ruto has said his country will press ahead with plans to head a UN-sanctioned international force to Haiti, despite a Nairobi court blocking its deployment last week.

Oceania

ABC. The Foreign and Defence Ministers of Australia and New Zealand met for the first time in a 2+2 format in Melbourne, discussing the Russia-Ukraine conflict, Hamas-Israel, and the Houthi offensive in the Red Sea.

This is the first face-to-face meeting between New Zealand Foreign Minister Winston Peters and his Australian counterpart Penny Wong and the second between New Zealand Defence Minister Judith Collins and her counterpart Richard Marles, who is also the Australian Deputy Prime Minister. (Source: NZ Herald)

NZ HERALD. New Zealand has signed a space cooperation agreement with Australia that will see New Zealand researchers receive NZ$6 million ($3.67 million) in funding.

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