Cobra Gold exercise opens, G7 pledges to continue supporting Ukraine, MERCOSUR-EU postpones FTA negotiations

The World & Vietnam newspaper highlights some noteworthy world news this morning, February 26th.

Asia

KYODO. The Japanese government plans to allocate an additional 100 billion Yen (approximately $665 million) for the reconstruction of areas on the Noto Peninsula affected by the earthquake.

Japanese Prime Minister Kishida Fumio made this statement to reporters after his second visit to Ishikawa Prefecture since the earthquake struck on New Year's Day. (Source: Kyodo)

JAPAN TIMES. Japan will add four more occupations to its Specified Skilled Worker visa program, allowing foreigners to work as "skilled laborers," including road and rail transport, forestry, and timber.

YONHAP. The South Korean Air Force sent fifth-generation F-35A fighter jets, along with KF-16s, F-15Ks, and F-5E/F aircraft, to participate in joint air exercises with the US Air Force at Osan Air Base in Gyeonggi Province.

XINHUA NEWS AGENCY. BYD, China's largest electric vehicle manufacturer, has delivered the first batch of BYD ATTO 3 electric vehicles in Hungary, marking a new chapter in its development in the Central and Eastern European market.

THE THAIGER. 9,590 military officers from 30 countries participated in the 43rd Cobra Gold exercise from February 26 to March 8, according to Thai Defense Ministry spokesperson Jirayu Huangsap.

BANGKOK POST. Thai Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin believes relations with Cambodia will be strengthened after Paetongtarn Shinawatra, leader of the Pheu Thai (For Thailand) party, visited Phnom Penh from March 18-19.

KHMER TIMES. Voting for the fifth Cambodian Senate is taking place at 33 polling stations across eight constituencies nationwide, with results expected to be announced on April 2nd.

VIENTIANE TIMES. The number of new HIV/AIDS cases in Laos is increasing annually (2,066 new cases in 2023), partly due to a lack of foreign financial support and limited government budget.

IRNA. Iran plans to increase its liquefied natural gas (LNG) production by 16 million tons per year , bringing its total LNG output to 142 million tons per year.

REUTERS. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's plan for post-war Gaza runs counter to the two-state solution, according to Stephane Dujarric, spokesman for UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres.

KAN. The Israeli cabinet has decided to send a delegation to Qatar to continue negotiations on the release of hostages being held in the Gaza Strip.

Xinhua News Agency. The Yemeni government is calling on the international community to help prevent a potential environmental crisis caused by the Houthi attack on a ship carrying toxic chemicals in the Red Sea.

Europe

REUTERS. In a joint statement following a virtual meeting hosted by Italy, G7 leaders stated that the government and people of Ukraine can count on the support of the G7.

Điểm tin thế giới sáng 26/2: MERCOSUR-EU hoãn đàm phán FTA

From left: Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, in Kyiv on February 24. (Source: Reuters)

REUTERS. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky signs bilateral security agreements with Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni and a similar agreement with Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau in Kyiv.

REUTERS. Ukraine expects to receive $11.8 billion in economic aid this year from the United States, according to Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal.

VATICAN NEWS. Pope Francis called for a diplomatic solution to the conflict in Ukraine, which could lead to a just and lasting peace.

AFP. Swiss Foreign Minister Ignazio Cassis said his country intends to host a summit on peace for Ukraine this summer.

“At Ukraine’s request, we intend to hold a summit on peace for Ukraine… I would like to take this opportunity to invite all countries to cooperate towards that common goal.” (Foreign Secretary Cassis speaking before the UN General Assembly in New York, USA)

TASS. More than 3 million Russian voters have registered to participate in remote electronic voting in the Russian presidential election, according to the country's Ministry of Digital Development.

AP. Incumbent Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko, 69, one of Russian President Vladimir Putin's closest allies, has announced he will seek re-election in 2025.

DW. With 538 votes in favor, only 31 against, and 4 abstentions, the German Federal Parliament approved a plan allowing the country's military to participate in the EU's naval mission in the Red Sea.

CBS NEWS. The strike by Eiffel Tower workers has ended, and the iconic French landmark reopened on February 25th.

America

ANADOLU. Venezuela and Turkey have committed to aiming for bilateral trade to reach $3 billion by 2024, up from $800 million in 2023.

Venezuelan Foreign Minister Yvan Gil (left) and his Turkish counterpart Hakan Fidan made this commitment during talks in Caracas on February 24. (Source: AFP)

CNN. The United States, Egypt, Qatar, and Israel have reached an understanding on the “basic contents” of a hostage agreement aimed at achieving a temporary ceasefire in Gaza, White House National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan said.

AP. Former U.S. President Donald Trump won the Republican primary in South Carolina , defeating former U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations Nikki Haley in her home state.

NEW YORK POST. A majority of Jewish people in New York State will vote for Donald Trump in the US presidential election in November, according to a Siena College poll.

AP. Lawmakers in Florida, USA, have passed a bill regulating how social media platforms protect the mental health of children under 16 – one of the state's strictest bills on this issue.

PRENSA LATINA. Cuban and American scientists met and exchanged views on advances in medical and biomedical technology to prepare for a potential pandemic, according to a statement from the Cuban Ministry of Health.

AP. The Southern Common Market (MERCOSUR) and the EU have decided to postpone negotiations on a free trade agreement (FTA) between the two sides until June.

C5N. Argentina's main oil-producing provinces have warned they will cut oil supplies to the rest of the country as President Javier Milei orders budget cuts.

Africa

AP. Leaders of the Economic Community of West Africa (ECOWAS) member states met behind closed doors in Nigeria to seek a solution to the political crisis after Niger, Burkina Faso, and Mali announced their separation.

ECOWAS Chairman Omar Touray said the organization would lift sanctions against Niger as it seeks a new strategy to persuade the military juntas in three member states not to withdraw from the political and economic alliance. (Source: AP)

NEWS24. The ruling African National Congress (ANC) in South Africa has launched its election campaign for the general election scheduled for May 29th, pledging to create 2.5 million new jobs over the next five years.

ASHARQ AL-AWSAT. Former Tunisian President Moncef Marzouki has been sentenced in absentia to eight years in prison for violating national security and inciting conflict.

SAHARA REPORTERS. Four militants were killed and two wounded in a terrorist attack on a camp in the village of Bassira, Tibiri town, in the Maradi region of eastern Niger.

IOM. The International Organization for Migration (IOM) and 27 partners have launched a fundraising campaign to raise $112 million for emergency support for more than 1.4 million migrants and host communities in the Horn of Africa, Yemen, and Southern Africa.

Oceania

ABC. Wildfires across Victoria have destroyed many homes, and Premier Jacinta Allan warned that "extreme" hot weather could worsen the fires next week.

SBS. The livestock and meat industry in Australia hopes that domestic consumers will consume more goat meat , helping the world's largest goat meat exporter to escape its current slump.

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