The World & Vietnam Newspaper highlights some notable world news this morning, December 19.
Asia
REUTERS. Russian Prime Minister Mikhail Mishustin began a visit to China today, December 19, and is expected to meet with President Xi Jinping and his host counterpart Li Qiang.
KCNA. The two diplomats expressed their willingness to enhance friendly exchanges and cooperation between the two countries and promote strategic and tactical cooperation in 2024 to mark the 75th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations.
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| Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi meets with North Korean Vice Foreign Minister Pak Myong Ho at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing. (Source: Chinese Foreign Ministry) |
YONHAP. The South Korean Joint Chiefs of Staff (JCS) has raised its alert level after North Korea launched a projectile believed to be a "ballistic missile" on the morning of December 18.
XINHUA. Ninety percent of Mongolia is covered in up to 38 centimeters of snow, threatening a harsh winter, known as "dzud," ahead.
BANGKOK POST. Thailand aims to generate total revenue of 3.5 trillion baht ($100 billion) by 2024 – including 2.5 trillion baht from international tourists and 1 trillion baht from domestic tourists.
TEMPO. The Indonesian National Police (Polri) plans to mobilize 129,923 personnel to ensure security during Christmas 2023 and New Year 2024 as part of its annual “Candle” campaign.
AL-AKHBAR. Saudi Arabia and Yemen are expected to sign a UN-backed peace deal by the end of this year.
CNN. US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin is in Israel to seek solutions to the escalating conflict between the Hamas Islamic Movement and Israel.
AFP. The UN Security Council voted to approve a draft resolution demanding that Israel and Hamas allow aid into the strip by land, sea and air.
Europe
GUARDIAN. British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak has said too many civilians have died in the Israel-Hamas conflict and called for a "sustainable ceasefire" to facilitate the release of hostages.
PATRONLAR DUNYASI. Turkey has completed the delivery of a batch of T-129 ATAK attack helicopters to the Philippines ahead of schedule, despite repeated delays due to US restrictions on engine exports.
EURO NEWS. Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan met with his counterpart Katalin Novak and Prime Minister Viktor Orban, as part of his second visit to Hungary in just four months.
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| President Erdogan's visit coincides with the 100th anniversary of diplomatic relations between Türkiye and Hungary. Pictured: President Erdogan (left) and host country Prime Minister Viktor Orban in Budapest. (Source: AP) |
EURO NEWS. The EU has formally launched legal proceedings against social media company X for suspected breaches of its obligations to combat illegal content and disinformation, EU Internal Market Commissioner Thierry Breton announced.
TASS. Russian President Vladimir Putin has submitted all the necessary documents to the Central Election Commission (CEC) to run for Russian president in 2024, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said.
REUTERS. Denmark donates 1.8 billion crowns ($264 million) to Sweden's initiative to donate CV90 armored fighting vehicles to Ukraine.
UNI, the Armaments Policy Department of the Polish Ministry of Defense, announced that the country has received 18 South Korean-made K-9A1 self-propelled howitzers .
UKRINFORM. Polish truck drivers have resumed blocking the Dorohusk border crossing - one of the main border crossings with Ukraine - after a court ruled they could do so.
LIBYA UPDATE NEWS. The Libyan Ministry of Transport and the Italian Civil Aviation Authority signed two cooperation agreements , one on air transport and one on technical cooperation.
AFP. Greece passed its 2024 budget , with 158 votes in favor, forecasting economic growth of 2.9%, up from 2.4% this year due to strong tourism revenue and EU funds supporting investment.
America
POLILTICO. US President Joe Biden quietly delayed plans to sign a trade deal with the UK due to Senate objections to the size of the deal.
REUTERS. US airline Southwest Airlines has agreed to pay a $140 million fine related to a technology failure and bad weather that forced the airline to cancel 16,900 flights, leaving 2 million passengers stranded in December 2022.
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| Southwest Airlines is the first airline to pay fines and penalties under a government program requiring airlines to compensate passengers for flight delays, which will take effect in April 2024. (Source: Reuters) |
AP. Chileans have rejected a new draft constitution, drafted by conservatives to replace the current one from the regime of leader Augusto Pinochet.
PRENSA LATINA. Cuban President Miguel Díaz-Canel has declared a national day of mourning for the Emir of Kuwait Sheikh Nawaf Al-Ahmad Al-Sabah, who has died at the age of 86.
Africa
REUTERS. The EU and Kenya have signed a free trade agreement to ease the movement of goods between their two markets - the first major trade deal between the EU and an African country since 2016.
| “While today represents a moment of great promise, it is also the beginning of a historic partnership to change history.” (European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen) |
EGYPT NEWS. Incumbent Egyptian President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi was re-elected for a third term with 89.6% of the vote, continuing to rule the country until mid-2030.
AP. Egypt's Suez Canal Authority (SCA) is closely monitoring the impact of escalating tensions in the Red Sea after several major shipping lines opted for alternative routes due to safety concerns.
Oceania
NZ HERALD. New Zealand Prime Minister Christopher Luxon will travel to Sydney, Australia on December 20 to meet his counterpart Anthony Albanese and discuss security and economic cooperation between the two countries.
SBS. Heavy rains caused by Cyclone Jasper have isolated many tourist towns along the Great Barrier Reef in northeastern Australia, forcing many residents to climb onto their roofs as rivers rise too quickly.
VNA. "Through Aus4ASEAN , we will continue to listen and respond to ASEAN's priorities," Australian Ambassador to ASEAN Will Nankervis said at the first Joint Planning and Review Committee (JPRC) meeting on the Australia's Future for ASEAN (Aus4ASEAN) initiative at the ASEAN Secretariat in Jakarta, Indonesia.
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