Germany 'opens its wallet' to Ukraine, Angola will leave OPEC, what US requests does Australia refuse?

The World & Vietnam Newspaper highlights some notable world news this morning, December 22.

Asia

CHINA DAILY. As of now, Chinese authorities have found 137 people dead after a 6.2 magnitude earthquake struck Gansu and Qinghai provinces on the evening of December 18.

Điểm tin thế giới sáng 22/12: Angola sẽ rời OPEC

More than 207,000 homes were destroyed and nearly 15,000 collapsed in an earthquake in Gansu province, affecting more than 145,000 people. (Source: AP)

BLOOMBERG. China is leading Asia in terms of digital economy size, with a value of up to 7.47 trillion USD in 2022, according to the Asia Digital Economy Report 2023.

YONHAP. Seoul Metropolitan Police have arrested dozens of foreigners on charges of defrauding about 1.9 billion won ($1.45 million) from 30 people who posed as American soldiers or doctors in a romance scam.

ANTARA. Indonesian rescuers are searching for a boat carrying at least 28 people believed to be missing since December 20 off the coast of Mamuju in West Sulawesi province.

BANGKOK POST. Thailand's Ministry of Digital Economy and Society (DES) has launched a new strategy to promote the adoption of artificial intelligence (AI) and support domestic AI technology providers.

GUARDIAN. Mr. Richard Peeperkorn - WHO representative in the Gaza Strip, once again called for a new ceasefire , to pave the way for humanitarian aid activities, timely provision of medical supplies to medical facilities, and timely treatment support for patients.

Europe

AFP. The EU will launch an anti-dumping investigation into biodiesel imports from China after the European Biodiesel Board (EBB) said this was affecting domestic production.

ANADOLU. Turkish police seized 1.15 tons of drugs and 14.2 million synthetic drug pills in an anti-drug operation carried out in 47 provinces and cities.

FINANCIAL TIMES. Danish renewable energy group Orsted will build the world's largest offshore wind farm off the east coast of England.

Orsted has taken the final investment decision to proceed with the construction of the 2.9-gigawatt Hornsea 3 wind farm, which is expected to power more than 3.3 million homes in the UK. (Source: Orsted)

UKRINFORM. Ukrainian Infrastructure Minister Oleksandr Kubrakov met with his newly appointed counterpart in Poland to discuss Polish truck drivers blocking cargo on the two countries' shared border .

ANADOLU. Germany will provide an additional 88.5 million euros ($96.89 million) to help Ukraine increase the resilience of its energy system amid Russia's attacks on its infrastructure.

DW. The German Motor Transport Authority (KBA) is recalling about 100,000 diesel cars from the manufacturer Mercedes-Benz due to a software error in emissions control.

BLOOMBER. Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban asserted that Ukraine is "many years" away from joining the EU.

RUSSIAN FOREIGN MINISTRY. Russia said it considers joint military exercises of Japan, the US and Australia near Hokkaido island are “potential security threats”, and will strengthen the country's defense capabilities.

America

US DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE. Chairman of the US Joint Chiefs of Staff, General Charles Q. Brown, had a phone call with Chief of the Joint Staff, Central Military Commission of China, General Liu Zhenli.

AP. The suspension of two international rail lines connecting Texas with Mexico to prevent illegal immigration has caused economic losses of up to 200 million USD to Mexico in just the past 2 days.

CBC. As of December 20, restaurants and cafes in Canada are no longer allowed to provide customers with plastic straws, food containers, shopping bags, or disposable cutlery.

PRENSA LATINA. Cuban Prime Minister Manuel Marrero Cruz announced that the country will implement a series of measures to increase foreign exchange earnings, increase national output and reduce the budget deficit.

Africa

REUTERS. Hundreds of firefighters are battling a wildfire for a second day in a row on a mountain near the South African capital Cape Town.

More than 200 firefighters, 20 pumps and four water tankers are trying to contain the fire, which broke out on December 19 on a mountainside near Simon's Town, about 40km south of Cape Town and part of the city's urban area. (Source: AFP)

REUTERS. Angola will leave the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC), Oil Minister Diamantino Azevedo announced, as OPEC tries to persuade member countries to cut production to support falling oil prices on the world market.

Xinhua News Agency. The European Commission (EC) and the Tunisian Foreign Ministry announced that the EU has agreed to disburse 150 million euros (about 164.3 million USD) to support the Tunisian government in economic recovery.

Oceania

SKY NEWS. Australia has rejected a US request to deploy military forces to help protect shipping lanes in the Red Sea following attacks by Houthi forces on commercial vessels in the area.

"We will not send ships or planes." (Defense Minister Richard Marles)

AP. The Australian government has announced new fuel and emissions standards that will require car manufacturers to ensure new vehicles meet Euro 6d emissions standards from December 2025.

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