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

The World & Vietnam Newspaper highlights some notable world news this morning, February 26.

Asia

KYODO. The Japanese government plans to allocate an additional 100 billion yen ($665 million) to rebuild areas on the Noto Peninsula affected by the earthquake.

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

JAPAN TIMES. Japan will add four industries to the specified work visa where foreigners can work as “skilled workers,” including road transport, railways, forestry and lumber.

YONHAP. The Republic of Korea Air Force sent 5th generation fighter F-35A, along with KF-16, F-15K, F-5E/F aircraft to participate in joint air exercises with the US Air Force at Osan base, Gyeonggi province.

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

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 spokesman Jirayu Huangsap.

BANGKOK POST. Thai Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin believes that relations with Cambodia will be stronger after Pheu Thai Party leader Paetongtarn Shinawatra visited Phnom Penh from March 18-19.

KHMER TIMES. Voting for the 5th Cambodian Senate election took place at 33 polling stations in 8 constituencies nationwide, with results expected to be announced on April 2.

VIENTIANE TIMES. The number of new HIV/AIDS infections in Laos is increasing every year (2,066 new cases in 2023), partly due to a lack of financial support from abroad, while the government's budget is limited.

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 held in the Gaza Strip.

XINHUA. The Yemeni government has called on the international community to help prevent a possible environmental crisis caused by a Houthi attack on a ship carrying toxic chemicals in the Red Sea.

Europe

REUTERS. In a joint statement after an online meeting chaired by Italy, G7 leaders said the Ukrainian government and people can count on the G7's support.

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 Kiev on February 24. (Source: Reuters)

REUTERS. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky signed a bilateral security agreement with Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni and a similar agreement with Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau in the capital Kiev.

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

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

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

“At the request of Ukraine, we intend to hold a summit on peace for Ukraine... I would like to take this opportunity to invite all countries to work together towards that common goal.” (Foreign Minister Cassis addresses the UN General Assembly in New York, USA)

TASS. More than 3 million Russian voters have applied 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 run for president again in 2025.

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

CBS NEWS. The Eiffel Tower strike is over and the iconic French monument will reopen on February 25.

America

ANADOLU. Venezuela and Turkey pledged to aim for two-way trade to reach $3 billion by 2024, from $800 million in 2023.

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

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

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

NEW YORK POST. A majority of Jews in New York state voted for candidate Donald Trump in the US presidential election in November, according to a Siena College poll.

AP. Lawmakers in the US state of Florida 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 the issue.

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

AP. The South American Common Market (MERCOSUR) and the EU have decided to postpone negotiations on a free trade agreement 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 cuts in spending.

Africa

AP. Leaders of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) met in Nigeria in a closed-door meeting to seek a solution to the political crisis after Niger, Burkina Faso and Mali announced their "separation".

ECOWAS President Omar Touray said the organization will lift sanctions on Niger as ECOWAS seeks a new strategy to persuade military governments in three member states not to withdraw from the political and economic union. (Source: AP)

NEWS24. South Africa's ruling African National Congress (ANC) has launched its campaign for the general election scheduled for May 29 with a pledge to create 2.5 million new jobs over the next five years.

ASHARQ AL-AWSAT. Former Tunisian President Moncef Marzouki was sentenced in absentia to eight years in prison , on charges of violating national security and inciting conflict.

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

IOM. The International Organization for Migration (IOM) and 27 partners are launching a $112 million appeal to provide emergency assistance to more than 1.4 million migrants and host communities in the Horn of Africa, Yemen and southern Africa.

Oceania

ABC. Bushfires have burned down homes in Victoria for days, with Premier Jacinta Allan warning that "extreme" hot weather could worsen the fires next week.

SBS. The Australian livestock and meat industry is hoping that domestic consumers will consume more goat meat to help the world's largest goat meat exporter pull itself out of the current doldrums.

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