Opening of the Two Sessions of the Chinese National People's Congress, high-level contacts between Russia and Slovakia, Iranian President visits Algeria

The World & Vietnam newspaper highlights some noteworthy world news this morning, March 4th.

Asia

JAKARTA POST. The Bali provincial government in Indonesia is continuing its program to allocate 300 million Rupiah (US$19,090) in grants to each traditional village in 2024.

A total of 1,493 villages will receive support aimed at preserving and promoting the customs, traditions, arts, and culture of the Balinese people, with an estimated budget of nearly 448 billion Rupiah (approximately 30 million USD) for 2024. (Source:

THE STAR. Approximately 500 relatives and supporters gathered at a Kuala Lumpur shopping mall to observe a “Memorial Day” for the unfortunate passengers on flight MH370 , which disappeared 10 years ago.

NST. The US Coast Guard vessel Bertholf (WMSL-750) docked at Port Klang for the first time as part of a professional exchange with the Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Agency aimed at improving the maritime capabilities of both countries.

BERNAMA. Malaysia is implementing a repatriation program for undocumented foreign workers , effective from March 1st to December 31st.

According to preliminary statistics, Malaysia has approximately 600,000 undocumented foreign workers, and only a total of 848 have registered for the migrant repatriation program so far.

Xinhua News Agency. China is focusing on preparations for its annual Two Sessions meeting , which opens today, March 4th, at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing.

KYODO. The Japanese House of Representatives approved a 112.57 trillion yen (US$750 billion) budget for the next fiscal year beginning in April 2024, which includes a goal of strengthening the nation's defense capabilities.

YONHAP. Tens of thousands of doctors held a large-scale march in western Seoul to protest the government 's decision to increase medical school enrollment by 2,000 students starting next year.

DAWN. With 201 votes in favor and 92 against, Shehbaz Sharif was elected Prime Minister by the Pakistani Parliament , marking his second term in the position.

BROOKINGS INSTITUTE. India has officially eradicated "extreme poverty," evidenced by a sharp decline in poverty rates while household consumption has increased.

MINT. The Indian Navy is reinforcing its forces on "strategically important" islands near the Maldives, with a new base set to become operational just days before Male begins withdrawing Indian forces.

KHAAMA PRESS. The EU is contributing €21 million ($22.8 million) to the Afghanistan Humanitarian Fund to improve food security and nutrition, benefiting approximately 300,000 people.

DAILY MIRROR. A pilot program on the use of artificial intelligence (AI) in schools will be implemented in 20 educational institutions in Sri Lanka starting March 19th.

KUNA. The Kuwaiti cabinet approved a draft decree from the Emir calling on voters to elect a new parliament on April 4, with candidate registration beginning today.

ARAB NEWS. A Hamas delegation led by Deputy Leader Khalil Al-Hayya has arrived in Egypt to negotiate a ceasefire in the Gaza Strip.

Europe

REUTERS. Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov met with his Slovak counterpart Juraj Blanar on the sidelines of the Antalya Diplomatic Forum in Türkiye to discuss a range of major international issues, including the conflict in Ukraine.

This is a rare high-level contact between an EU member state and Russia since the conflict in Ukraine erupted two years ago. (Source: Reuters)

DAILY SABAH. Turkey hopes ceasefire talks in Ukraine will begin soon, Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan said in his closing remarks at the Antalya Diplomatic Forum 2024.

GUARDIAN. The Bulgarian government has decided to halt imports of Russian oil as part of EU sanctions against Russia over the war in Ukraine.

REUTERS. Hungarian Parliament Speaker Laszlo Kover signs bill approving Sweden's NATO membership application and sends the document to the President's Office for promulgation.

ANADOLU. Armenia and Azerbaijan have agreed to continue peace talks following a renewed effort in Berlin this week to resolve the decades-long conflict between the Caucasus nations.

AFP. Belgian police arrested four individuals, including three minors and an 18-year-old, on suspicion of planning a terrorist attack .

SWISS INFO. The Swiss government has announced plans to invest 988 million Swiss Francs in cultural activities between 2025 and 2022 to promote sustainable development and long-term goals.

WYF. The World Youth Festival (WYF) took place from March 1-7 in Sochi, Russia, with the participation of 20,000 people, including 10,000 Russian youth and a similar number of young people from 188 countries and territories.

AFP. French farmers may stage further protests and roadblocks in the coming weeks to pressure the government to fulfill its commitment to support the industry, according to representatives of the farmers' union FNSEA.

America

NBC NEWS. U.S. President Joe Biden signs short-term spending bill into law to avert a potential partial government shutdown this weekend.

CNN. Former US President Donald Trump continues his winning streak in the Republican primary, held in a closed-door election in Idaho.

REUTERS. U.S. military aircraft have dropped the first shipment of aid into the Gaza Strip, marking the beginning of an emergency humanitarian aid operation ordered by President Joe Biden.

Three C-130 aircraft from the U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) dropped 66 packages containing approximately 38,000 meals onto a beach in southwestern Gaza, along the Mediterranean coast. (Source: New York Post)

AFP. The US and several other countries are considering the possibility of establishing a sea corridor from the Republic of Cyprus to the Gaza Strip to deliver international humanitarian aid to people affected by the conflict.

CBC. At a meeting in Toronto, Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni agreed to establish a roadmap for enhanced cooperation.

AP. Millions of Mexican voters participated in campaign events for the three coalitions competing in the general election to choose the head of government and representatives in the legislative, judicial, and executive branches.

RIO NEWS. Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva and his Venezuelan counterpart Nicolás Maduro held talks on the sidelines of the Community of Latin American and Caribbean States summit in Saint Vincent and Grenadines.

AP. A small plane crashed in a jungle area of Bahia state, northeastern Brazil, killing three people. Initial investigations suggest the plane may have experienced a malfunction during takeoff.

Africa

REUTERS. Algerian President Abdelmadjid Tebboune held talks with Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi on bilateral relations, energy cooperation, trade, and the Gaza issue.

Điểm tin thế giới sáng 4/3: Khai mạc kỳ họp Lưỡng hội Trung Quốc, Nga-Slovakia tiếp xúc cấp cao

The discussions between the two presidents in Algiers aimed to draw international attention to the humanitarian aspects of the conflict, advocating for an end to hostilities and promoting a new peace in the region. (Source: Reuters)

XINHUA NEWS AGENCY. In an extraordinary meeting in Algiers, Algeria, members of the Gas Exporting Countries Forum (GECF) unanimously approved Senegal's membership.

The United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) is deeply concerned about the escalating humanitarian crisis in Cabo Delgado province in northern Mozambique following outbreaks of violence between armed groups.

According to the World Food Programme (WFP), approximately 6.9 million Somalis are expected to need humanitarian assistance and relief in 2024.

AFP. Attacks targeting three villages—Komsilga, Nodin, and Soroe—in Yatenga province, Burkina Faso on February 25 killed 170 people , prosecutor Aly Benjamin Coulibaly reported.

Oceania

BERNAMA. Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim paid an official visit to Australia from March 4-7, attending the annual Malaysia-Australia Leaders' Meeting and the ASEAN-Australia Special Summit.

STRAITS TIMES. Singapore Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong is expected to meet his Australian counterpart Anthony Albanese at the 9th Singapore-Australia Leaders' Summit in Melbourne.

ABF. Australian authorities seized a record amount of ketamine in 2023 (approximately 882 kg) amid the rise in sophisticated methods used by transnational criminal organizations to smuggle the drug.

SBS. The Australian government has updated its Covid-19 vaccination guidelines, stating that all adult Australians should continue to receive a booster dose of the Covid-19 vaccine .

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