The World & Vietnam Newspaper highlights some notable world news this morning, August 24.
Asia
PTI. After a 40-day journey, the Vikram module of the Chandrayaan-3 lander (India) successfully landed on the surface of the Moon on August 23, making India the fourth country in the world to land a spacecraft on this planet, along with the US, China and the former Soviet Union.
MINT. India plans to ban sugar exports from mills in the next crop year starting in October 2023 - the first such move in seven years - as a lack of rains reduces cane yields.
DAWN. Pakistani authorities evacuated about 100,000 people from flooded villages in Punjab province, as the Sutlej River burst its banks on August 20.
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| The Punjab Provincial Disaster Management Authority warned that flooding could increase as heavy rains are forecast in the coming days. (Source: AP) |
VIENTIANE TIMES. In an effort to best prepare for Visit Laos Year 2024, the government aims to welcome at least 2.7 million foreign tourists next year to stimulate economic growth.
THE STAR. Malaysian authorities have arrested six people accused of running a syndicate that has been operating for about 10 years, poaching and selling the meat of deer, porcupines and some protected birds.
REUTERS. The Indonesian Defense Ministry has signed a deal to buy 24 Black Hawk transport helicopters from US arms manufacturer Lockheed Martin to boost the capabilities of its Air Force.
TEMPO. Indonesia is currently preparing a strategy to develop nuclear power plants to serve national development programs, according to the Indonesian National Research and Innovation Agency (BRIN).
Xinhua News Agency. Speaking at the BRICS Summit in South Africa, Chinese President Xi Jinping called for accelerating the bloc's expansion, "contributing wisdom to make global governance more equitable and reasonable."
KYODO. The average retail price of gasoline in Japan rose for the 14th consecutive week (1.26 USD/liter on August 21) - the highest level in 15 years.
Europe
AFP. Economic activity in the Eurozone continued to decline sharply in August, especially in Germany - the region's leading economy, as the decline in manufacturing spread to the service sector.
DW. The German government has pledged to stick to NATO's target of spending 2% of GDP on defense , saying Berlin will reach this milestone by 2024.
GUARDIAN. UK energy regulator Ofgem has fined US bank Morgan Stanley more than £5m for failing to comply with UK transparency and integrity rules.
BBC. The UK will provide finance under a £192m deal to help Ukraine buy nuclear fuel from multiple sources to ensure the operation of its nuclear power plants.
AFP. French President Emmanuel Macron is considering holding a referendum to pass the law and break the political deadlock caused by a hung parliament.
TASS. Russia's Roscosmos space agency announced the launch of a Soyuz-2.1a rocket carrying the Progess MS-24 cargo spacecraft to the International Space Station (ISS).
REUTERS. Spanish King Felipe VI has nominated Alberto Nunez Feijoo as his candidate to form a new government in an effort to break the current political deadlock in the southern European country.
America
REUTERS. Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva called for the creation of a common currency for transactions between BRICS member countries.
| “The creation of a currency for trade and investment transactions between BRICS members increases our payment options and reduces our vulnerabilities,” Lula da Silva said at the opening plenary session of the BRICS Summit in Johannesburg, South Africa. |
CNN. US officials say at least 1,100 people are still missing two weeks after massive wildfires broke out on the Hawaiian island of Maui.
FOX NEWS. US National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan confirmed that the $6 billion of Iranian funds currently frozen in banks in South Korea will not be transferred directly to the Islamic Republic.
AP. US Commerce Secretary Gina Raimondo met with Chinese Ambassador to the US Xie Feng and had “productive discussions” before visiting China from August 27-30 at the invitation of her Chinese counterpart.
PRENSA LATINA. In a phone call with his Egyptian counterpart Sameh Shoukry, Cuban Foreign Minister Bruno Rodriguez expressed his hope that Egypt will participate in the G77-China Summit from September 15-16 in the capital Havana.
Africa
EGYPT NEWS. Egyptian authorities said there was a collision between two ships transporting petroleum products and liquefied natural gas in the Suez Canal, disrupting traffic through the global waterway.
XINHUA. Canadian diamond producer Lucara Diamond has discovered a 692.3-carat white diamond at its Karowe diamond mine in Botswana.
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| The diamond measures 46.5 x 40.7 x 28.4 mm and is a Type IIa high-grade white gemstone. (Source: Solitaire) |
CNN. Restoring stability in Libya is crucial to ensuring regional security, the UN Secretary-General's special envoy to Libya, Abdoulaye Bathily, said.
AFRICA NEWS. Zimbabweans have begun voting in the second general election since the 2017 coup that ousted former President Robert Mugabe.
MAP. The Moroccan navy rescued nearly 200 illegal migrants from a rickety boat drifting off the southern coast, near the Western Sahara region.
AFP. The Katima Mulilo border crossing between Namibia and Zambia is open 24/7, marking a new phase of cooperation and economic growth between the two countries, while promoting bilateral trade relations.
Oceania
Xinhua News Agency. Leaders of the ruling parties of Vanuatu, Papua New Guinea, the Solomon Islands, Fiji and New Caledonia... have condemned Japan's decision to release radioactive wastewater from the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant into the Pacific Ocean, scheduled for today, August 24.
SBS. Australian Assistant Trade Minister Tim Ayres stressed that reviving stalled FTA negotiations with the EU was his priority at the G20 trade and investment ministers meeting in Jaipur, India.
ABC. Australian authorities are warning businesses and communities to be on high alert as the country faces a greater risk of bushfires this coming spring.
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