India holds first Bright Star exercise, Finland spends heavily on defense, Japan sends F-35 to Australia

The World & Vietnam Newspaper highlights some notable world news this morning, August 29.

Asia

CNN. A stable economic relationship between the United States and China is "very important," U.S. Commerce Secretary Gina Raimondo affirmed during talks with her Chinese counterpart, Wang Wentao.

Minister Wang Wen Dao expressed his willingness to cooperate in promoting a more favorable policy mechanism to enhance bilateral trade and investment cooperation in a stable and predictable manner. (Source: AP)

Xinhua News Agency. Starting August 30th, travelers to China will no longer be required to undergo COVID-19 polymerase chain reaction (PCR) or antigen testing before entry.

CHINA DAILY. China and Pakistan have begun a joint air force training exercise codenamed "Shaheen (Eagle)-X" in Chinese territory.

YONHAP. South Korea is increasing penalties for the theft of industrial secrets amid concerns that current regulations are not sufficient to deter technology leaks from large corporations like Samsung.

KYODO. Mitsubishi Heavy Industries Ltd (MHI - a subsidiary of Japan's Mitsubishi Group) announced the postponement of the launch of the H2A rocket carrying the lunar lander into space due to strong winds at the time of launch.

THAI PBS. Thai Prime Minister -elect Srettha Thavisin confirmed the cabinet list is complete, following a long night of discussions both within his Pheu Thai (For Thailand) party and among coalition members.

TEMPO. A segment of civil servants and students in the Jakarta metropolitan area are implementing remote learning and working methods to reduce traffic congestion and environmental pollution during the 43rd ASEAN Summit.

ANTARA. The Indonesian government has lifted the ban on sending its citizens to the Middle East to work as domestic helpers, aiming to improve the quality of management and protection of Indonesian migrant workers in Middle Eastern countries.

MINT. India will participate for the first time in the multinational military exercise “ Bright Star-23 ” along with 33 other countries, hosted by Egypt from August 31 to September 14.

TIME OF ISRAEL. The Israeli Foreign Ministry issued a statement rejecting accusations of leaking information about a "secret" meeting between Secretary of State Eli Cohen and his Libyan counterpart Najla Mangoush.

ARAB NEWS. The Iranian Foreign Ministry announced an agreement with Iraq on Baghdad's disarmament and relocation of Kurdish armed groups in northern Iraq, expected to take place in September.

Europe

REUTERS. Finland, NATO's newest member, has announced plans to spend 2.3% of GDP on its defense budget next year.

TASS. Russian President Vladimir Putin plans to make several foreign trips this fall, according to the press secretary of the Russian Federation, Dmitry Peskov.

TASS. Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov and his Turkish counterpart Hakan Fidan will hold talks in Moscow " as soon as possible ," Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova confirmed.

AFP. Italy is struggling to cope with the influx of migrants from North Africa and the Balkans, while the Red Cross is calling for increased international efforts to stem the migrant crisis.

GREEK CITY TIMES. Greek authorities have deployed hundreds of firefighters in an effort to control a wildfire in the Evros region, which is now in its tenth consecutive day.

Lawmakers are expected to discuss the impact of the fire and preparedness and response in the National Assembly on August 31.

REUTERS. Belarus has proposed holding a joint summit between the BRICS group, the Eurasian Economic Union (EAEU), and the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO), according to Foreign Minister Sergei Aleinik.

ANADOLU. The world's largest US aircraft carrier, USS Gerald R. Ford, has arrived in Turkey, with 4,500 crew and members.

CAPITAL. In the next two months, Romania plans to double the capacity of the important Black Sea port of Constanta and shipping lanes on the Danube River, Prime Minister Marcel Ciolacu emphasized.

SPUTNIK. A source involved in the grain agreement negotiations said the UN and Türkiye are exploring the possibility of holding talks on the issue with a Russian delegation in Istanbul.

America

RT. Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau stated that the military conflict between Ukraine and Russia may take a long time to end; Canada, along with other G7 member states, is prepared to support Kyiv in the long term.

AP. Argentina's Ministry of Economy announced a series of benefits for workers and pensioners aimed at mitigating the effects of the severe economic crisis that has caused inflation to soar.

Africa

AP. Three members of the U.S. Congress made a brief visit to opposition-controlled northwestern Syria, the first known visit by U.S. lawmakers to Syria in six years.

ANADOLU. Egypt has begun construction of a strategic food warehouse in Luxor province – the second of seven strategic food warehouses to be built nationwide.

CNN. The US military conducted an airstrike that killed 13 Al-Shabab fighters in southern Somalia at the request of the country's government.

Oceania

ABC. Two F-35A fighter jets of the Japan Air Self-Defense Force (ASDF) have arrived at the Royal Australian Air Force Tindal Base in northern Australia to participate in training.