State funeral for late Prime Minister Berlusconi, Germany approves National Security Strategy, New Zealand moves closer to NATO

The World & Vietnam Newspaper highlights some notable world news this morning, June 15.

Asia

KHMER TIMES. More than a month before the 2023 general election, the National Election Committee (NEC) of Cambodia has called on overseas Vietnamese to arrange to return home to vote in the upcoming election of members of the 7th National Assembly .

XINHUA. The plane carrying Philippine President Ferdinand Romualdez Marcos encountered a minor technical problem a few minutes after takeoff on the morning of June 14, forcing the pilot to return to an air base near Manila and change to another plane.

HAARETZ. The Lebanese parliament failed in its 12th vote to elect a new president to succeed Michel Aoun, whose term ends in October 2022.

Chủ tịch Quốc hội Lebanon Nabih Berri bỏ phiếu bầu tổng thống mới trong cuộc bỏ phiếu tại thủ đô Beirut ngày 14/6. (Nguồn: AP)

Lebanese Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri casts his vote for a new president in the capital Beirut on June 14. (Source: AP)

PTI. Indian police say at least nine people have been killed and 10 injured in the latest clash between rival ethnic groups in the northeastern state of Manipur.

KYODO. The Japan Self-Defense Forces (SDF) confirmed that two members of the force were killed in a shooting on June 14 at a training ground in Gifu, and the shooter has been arrested.

XINHUA. During talks in Beijing, Chinese President Xi Jinping and Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas announced the establishment of a strategic partnership between the two sides.

CHINA DAILY. In a phone call with his US counterpart Antony Blinken, Chinese Foreign Minister Qin Gang urged Washington to implement the agreement between the two countries and respect the commitments made to prevent tensions between the two countries from getting out of control.

"The two ministers discussed the importance of maintaining open lines of communication to responsibly manage the US-China relationship to avoid miscalculation and potential conflict." (US State Department spokesman Matthew Miller)

Europe

TASS. The 26th St. Petersburg International Economic Forum (SPIEF) kicked off in St. Petersburg - Russia's second largest city, one day before its official opening.

More than 17,000 delegates from 130 countries and territories have confirmed their participation in SPIEF 2023, with the theme "Sovereign Development as the Foundation of a Just World: Joining Forces for Future Generations".

EURO NEWS. European parliamentarians vote on key text that forms the basis of future legislation to regulate AI systems like ChatGPT while promoting innovation in the field.

AFP. EU member states and the European Parliament have agreed on a largely digital change to the visa system , which would eliminate the need for visa stickers in passports.

DW. The German federal government has adopted its first National Security Strategy, which emphasizes the defense, resilience and adaptation capabilities of Europe's largest economy.

FRANCE 24. France will take a more rigorous approach to public finances, Finance Minister Bruno Le Maire said ahead of a conference next week to unveil measures to cut public spending.

ANADOLU. Turkish, Swedish, Finnish and NATO officials have agreed to continue discussions on Sweden's membership in the military alliance, according to President Recep Tayyip Erdogan.

AL JAZEERA. At least 78 people have died and dozens are still missing after a fishing boat carrying migrants capsized and sank in Greek waters, according to Greek officials.

REUTERS. Italy held a state funeral for the late Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi in Milan with thousands of people attending, while all public buildings across the country flew flags at half-mast.

The funeral of late Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi was held at the Cathedral in Milan on June 15. (Source: Reuters)

America

CNN. The US House of Representatives passed a bipartisan bill to appoint an ambassador tasked with helping to normalize relations between Israel and its Arab neighbors, especially Saudi Arabia.

NBC. During a meeting in Washington DC, US President Joe Biden and his Uruguayan counterpart Luis Lacalle Pou discussed ways to expand economic ties, strengthen joint efforts in the fight against climate change and boost security cooperation.

AP. Honduras has begun cutting power distribution nationwide, as a severe drought caused by the El Nino weather phenomenon forces major hydroelectric plants to reduce capacity.

Africa

NTV KENYA. The Kenyan government has shut down at least 5,995 liquor and beer businesses in a crackdown on the growing illegal alcohol trade in the country.

AFP. Russian President Vladimir Putin and head of Mali's military government Colonel Assimi Goita held a phone call to discuss security and economic relations.

AFRICA NEWS. From the beginning of the year to the end of April, Nigeria recorded a total of 1,629 suspected cases of cholera, including 48 deaths, according to the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (NCDC).

NEWS24. The South African Department of Forestry, Fisheries and Environment will send an additional team of 200 firefighters and 13 managers to support ongoing firefighting operations in the Canadian province of Alberta.

Oceania

UPI. New Zealand and Fiji signed a defense agreement to enhance military training and maritime security, and improve disaster response and humanitarian coordination between the two Pacific nations.

"This agreement reflects the value New Zealand places on our relationship with Fiji and is vital for our two militaries to work together more effectively." (New Zealand Defence Minister Andrew Little)

NZ HERALD. New Zealand Foreign Minister Nanaia Mahuta says the country is in talks with NATO about establishing a new form of partnership that would include issues of mutual concern such as promoting a rules-based international order, climate change and cyber security.

ABC. According to a new study published by Australian scientists, posted on the website of the Murdoch Children's Research Institute (MRCI), human lung and heart cells react very differently to the SARS-CoV-2 virus, paving the way for many targeted treatments for Covid-19 in the future.

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