The World & Vietnam Newspaper highlights some notable world news this morning, December 13.
Asia
VIENTIANE TIMES. During a visit to Laos, US Assistant Secretary of State Bill Russo said Washington is considering further strengthening its comprehensive partnership with Vientiane.
THE STAR. Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim said digital transformation is a challenging and extremely difficult task, so the newly reshuffled cabinet will have a new ministry specializing in this field.
JAKARTA POST. Three Indonesian presidential candidates for the early 2024 election faced off head-to-head for the first time in a 150-minute debate at the headquarters of the Indonesian Election Commission (KPU).
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| Ganjar Pranowo, the presidential candidate of the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI-P) and a former poll leader, has unexpectedly dropped to last place in the latest survey conducted by Kompas newspaper. (Source: Reuters) |
ANTARA. Speaking on the occasion of International Anti-Corruption Day, Indonesian President Joko Widodo affirmed that Jakarta has arrested more high-level corruption criminals than any other country in the world.
KCNA. A Russian delegation led by Oleg Kozhemyako, governor of Russia's Far East Promorsky Krai, arrived in North Korea, the latest move in the growing ties between the two countries.
Xinhua News Agency. China will accelerate research, development and innovation of 6G technology , striving to achieve commercialization around 2030.
YONHAP. South Korea's Defense Ministry plans to spend nearly 350 trillion won ($266 billion) over the next five years to maintain and enhance its defense capabilities.
DAWN. Pakistani security officials say militants drove a truck loaded with explosives into a police station in the northwest, killing at least 24 security officers and wounding many others.
DAILY MIRROR. The Sri Lankan government has announced that it has selected Australian company United Solar Energy to build the country's largest solar power plant , at a total cost of about $1.7 billion.
FRANCE 24. The COP28 conference in Dubai (UAE) lasted longer than scheduled (expected to end on December 12) because the participants could not agree on the content of the final draft agreement.
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| Qatari Prime Minister Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani affirmed that no Arab country will send forces to stabilize the Gaza Strip when there is no more fighting. (Source: AFP) |
WHO. The World Health Organization (WHO) is concerned about security checks on a convoy carrying medical supplies in the Gaza Strip and the detention of health workers following the checks, which are affecting the treatment of patients.
AFP. At the end of the annual Doha Forum in Qatar, most Middle Eastern leaders opposed any foreign military intervention in the Gaza Strip after the end of the Hamas-Israel conflict.
Europe
TASS. Russia will continue to strengthen its Navy, launching three Borei-A class nuclear-powered strategic missile submarines in the coming years, Russian President Vladimir Putin announced.
TASS. Russia and Iran will speed up the implementation of the new federation agreement , the Russian Foreign Ministry said in a statement after a phone call between Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov and his Iranian counterpart Hossein Amirabdollahian.
SPUTNIK. Russia plans to open new embassies not only in Equatorial Guinea and Burkina Faso, but also in other African countries, according to the head of the African Department of the Russian Foreign Ministry, Vsevolod Tkachenko.
AFP. Presenting the new government's program to the House of Representatives, new Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk said his country would appeal to "the entire free world" to help Ukraine.
GUARDIAN. Swedish Foreign Minister Tobias Billstrom has said Hungary has reiterated its promise not to be the last NATO member state to ratify Sweden's application to join the alliance.
AP. Spanish police seized 7.5 tons of cocaine at the port of Vigo, hidden in frozen tuna from South America that was destined for shipment across Europe.
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| This is the largest drug trafficking bust ever in terms of volume in the Galicia region. (Source: AP) |
FRANCE 24. The French government has announced plans to set up a special parliamentary committee to break the deadlock after opposition lawmakers unexpectedly rejected an immigration bill.
AFP. The trans-Mediterranean route from North Africa to Italy was the "busiest" illegal migration route in 2023, with 152,211 cases in the first 11 months of this year, up 61% compared to the same period in 2022.
X. El Salvador announced that it will issue bitcoin bonds in the first quarter of 2024, and the proceeds are expected to be used to finance the construction of a "Bitcoin City".
REUTERS. Mexican President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador has said he is determined to pass a bill banning e-cigarettes before leaving office at the end of 2024.
America
AP. Hasbro (USA) - the manufacturer of games such as Transformer, Little Pony and Monopoly, said it will cut nearly 1,000 more jobs, after the first round of cuts failed to meet cost-saving targets.
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| In a note to employees, Hasbro CEO Chris Cocks said market "headwinds" were stronger and more persistent than the company had anticipated. (Source: X) |
YONHAP. During his visit to the Netherlands , South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol said the two countries will upgrade their (cooperative) relationship to a "semiconductor alliance" to enhance national security.
AP. Colombia has officially offered to host the 16th Conference of the Parties to the UN Convention on Biological Diversity ( COP16 ), scheduled to take place in 2024.
RIO NEWS. Norway announced that it will donate an additional $50 million to Brazil's Amazon Fund to promote conservation of the tropical forest.
Africa
Xinhua News Agency. The Africa Nuclear Technology Research Promotion Forum took place from December 11 to 18 in Nairobi, Kenya, with the participation of more than 100 nuclear regulatory agencies, research institutions and scholars from countries in the region.
EURO NEWS. The EU has announced $18.3 million in aid to support thousands of people displaced from war zones in Sudan to neighboring countries such as South Sudan, Chad and Ethiopia.
BLOOMBERG. Guinea-Bissau President Umaro Sissoco Embalo has announced the reappointment of Geraldo Martins as Prime Minister after dismissing his government last week.
AFRICA NEWS. The United Nations peacekeeping mission in Mali ( MINUSMA ) has officially ended its 10-year deployment there, at the request of the host country's military leaders.
BUSINEWSS TECH. The South African government has announced plans to add 2,500 MW of new nuclear power as it battles severe power outages.
CNN. The US says the parties involved in the conflict in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo have agreed to a 72-hour ceasefire .
Oceania
SKY NEWS. China’s lifting of import bans on Australia’s three largest red meat exporters is good news for local farmers and meat processors, according to Agriculture Minister Murray Watt.
ABC. Google-owned fitness tracker maker Fitbit has been fined AUD 11 million ($7.25 million) for misleading customers about its return and warranty policies.
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