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Every weekend, Asia Pacific Daily will provide you with a run-down of the latest hot news.
This week, the following hot news you should know:
Top 1 | China, AU vow to build a China-Africa community with a shared future in new era
China is ready to continue to work with Africa as a development partner and build a China-Africa community with a shared future in the new era, Chinese Foreign Minister Qin Gang said on Wednesday during a meeting with African Union (AU) Commission Chairman Moussa Faki Mahamat.
Qin and Faki held the eighth China-AU Strategic Dialogue at the AU headquarters in Addis Ababa, the capital of Ethiopia on Wednesday.
China has taken the lead in supporting the AU's membership in the G20, enhancing the representation and voice of African countries in the UN Security Council and other international organizations, and safeguarding the common interests of the vast number of developing countries, Qin said.
He added that China is willing to continue to play a constructive role in maintaining peace and security in Africa.
Top 2 | Malaysia says it could stop palm oil exports to EU after new curbs
Malaysia said on Thursday it could stop exporting palm oil to the European Union in response to a new law in the bloc that aims at protecting forests by strictly regulating sale of the product.
Commodities Minister Fadillah Yusof said Malaysia and Indonesia would discuss the law, which bans sale of palm oil and other commodities linked to deforestation unless importers can show that production of their specific goods has not damaged forests.
Since the EU is a major palm oil importer, the law, agreed to in December, has raised an outcry from Indonesia and Malaysia, the top producers.
Top 3 | China sends three new satellites into space in first launch of 2023
China successfully sent three new satellites into orbit on Monday in its first launch of the new year.
The satellites, Shijian-23, Shiyan-22A and Shiyan-22B, were launched atop a Long March-7A carrier rocket at 6 a.m. (Beijing Time) from the Wenchang Spacecraft Launch Site in the southern island province of Hainan, and entered their planned orbits successfully.
The Shijian-23 satellite is mainly used for scientific experiments and technical verification, while the Shiyan-22A and Shiyan-22B satellites serve the in-orbit verification tests of new technologies, such as space environment monitoring.
The launch was the 459th flight mission of the Long March carrier rocket series.
Top 4 | China suspends short-term visa issuances to South Koreans
The Chinese Embassy in South Korea issued a notice on Tuesday suspending the issuance of short-term visas to South Korean citizens visiting China for business, tourism, medical treatment, transit or general private affairs.
The measures will be adjusted depending on the cancellation of South Korea's discriminatory entry restrictions against Chinese citizens, the notice added.
Top 5 | Russia claims 600 Ukrainian soldiers killed in 'retaliatory strike' on barracks
Russia claims to have killed "more than 600 Ukrainian servicemen" in the eastern Ukrainian city of Kramatorsk as a "retaliatory strike" for the deaths of 89 soldiers who died in Makiivka.
However, details about the attack following the end of the Russian Christmas ceasefire were quickly rejected by the Ukrainian forces.
The Russian defense ministry called it a "retaliatory strike," saying "more than 600 Ukrainian servicemen were killed" in the attack on Kyiv troops stationed in two buildings in Kramatorsk used as barracks.
But Sergiy Cherevaty, Ukrainian armed forces Eastern group spokesman said that Russia could not deliver high-precision strikes.
Top 6 | Xi exchanges congratulations with Angolan president over 40th anniversary of diplomatic ties
Chinese President Xi Jinping on Thursday exchanged congratulations with Angolan President Joao Lourenco on the 40th anniversary of diplomatic relations between the two countries.
Xi said China and Angola have always been sincere and friendly towards each other, worked hand in hand and understood and supported each other on issues involving their core interests and major concerns since diplomatic ties were established 40 years ago.
He said China-Angola relations enjoy a sound momentum of growth and bilateral cooperation in various fields has yielded fruitful results, bringing benefits to the people of the two countries.
China always attaches great importance in developing relations with Angola, Xi noted, expressing willingness to take the 40th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic ties as an opportunity, and work with Angola to deepen mutual political trust, intensify mutually beneficial cooperation and enhance people-to-people friendship, opening a new chapter for the robust development of China-Angola strategic partnership.
Top 7 | U.S. Justice Department names special counsel for Biden
U.S. Attorney General Merrick Garland named an independent special counsel Thursday to probe President Joe Biden's alleged mishandling of classified documents.
Garland said Robert Hur, a private attorney and former government prosecutor, would examine whether the discovery of classified government documents in Biden's home and in a research institute linked to the president violated any laws.
Top 8 | Sweden to join European Sky Shield Initiative: PM
Sweden will be part of the European Sky Shield Initiative (ESSI) and participate in air policing over the Baltics, Swedish Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson said on Sunday.
The Scandinavian country, which last year decided to join the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO), is also prepared to participate in air policing above the Black Sea and Iceland, Swedish Television quoted Kristersson as saying at an annual defense and security policy conference in Salen, some 430 kilometers northwest of Stockholm.
Spearheaded by Germany and launched at a NATO defense ministers' meeting in October 2022, the ESSI aims to create a European air and missile defense system through the common acquisition of air defense equipment and missiles by European nations, and strengthen NATO's Integrated Air and Missile Defense, according to NATO.
Top 9 | Brazil's 3 government branches issue joint statement after riots
Brazil's three branches of government issued a joint statement on Monday, expressing unity and calling on society to "remain calm in defense of peace and democracy."
The statement came after supporters of the former president, Jair Bolsonaro, attacked and vandalized Planalto Palace, the presidential headquarters, as well as the seats of Congress and the Supreme Court.
It was released following a meeting in the capital Brasilia between President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva, Chamber of Deputies President Arthur Lira, Senate Interim President Veneziano Vital do Rego and Federal Supreme Court President Rosa Weber.
Top 10 | Suicide blast kills at least five outside Afghan foreign ministry
A suicide bomber killed at least five people outside the Afghan foreign ministry on Wednesday, police said, and a nearby hospital said over 40 people were wounded.
Kabul police spokesperson Khalid Zadran said the official confirmed death toll was five.
Ustad Fareedun, an official at the information ministry, said 20 people were killed, adding the bomber had planned to enter the foreign ministry but failed.
Emergency Hospital, a surgical center for those wounded by the war run by an Italian NGO, said it had received more than 40 patients following the explosion.
(ASIA PACIFIC DAILY)
