* Germany's Social Democratic Party voted for a government coalition with Chancellor Angela Merkel's Conservative Union, local media reported Sunday. The result ended the five-month-long political stalemate after the September 24, 2017, Federal Parliament elections. * Militants in Syria's eastern Ghouta have imposed a curfew in areas under their control to prevent civilians from leaving through a humanitarian corridor while a truce is in place, Interfax news agency reported, citing Russian military. * Germany and France will bring forward plans to introduce a common corporation tax system in response to tax cuts announced by the U.S. President Donald Trump administration, Chancellor Angela Merkel said. * Almost a week after a deadly quake struck the rugged Papua New Guinea highlands, nearly 150,000 people remain in urgent need of emergency supplies as damaged roads and landslides have hampered the delivery of aid to isolated communities, agencies have said. … [Read more...] about World News in Brief: March 4
World news
World News in Brief: March 2
* The U.S-India "two-plus-two" ministerial dialogue in spring is expected to discuss regional security and bilateral navy cooperation, the U.S. Department of Defense said on March 1. *The Republic of Korea (RoK)'s presidential Blue House is expected to unveil a plan next week to send a special envoy to the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK), Yonhap news agency reported on March 2. * Venezuela announced the new date May 20 for presidential elections, following an agreement between the government and opposition parties on March 1. The agreement pushes back elections that had been scheduled to take place on April 22, a date that had in turn moved up elections originally set for December. * The Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) on March 1 slammed U.S. accusation regarding "a theory of cooperation of manufacturing chemical weapons" between the DPRK and Syria. * The U.S. National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) on March 1 successfully launched … [Read more...] about World News in Brief: March 2
More World News
President Barack Obama and his powerful U.S. Senate adversary struck a conciliatory tone on Wednesday, but Obama's plans to proceed with new immigration rules foreshadowed a bumpy start to his relationship with a Republican-controlled Congress. Obama and Mitch McConnell, who will become majority leader when Republicans take charge in the Senate in January, signaled they hoped to get past a previously frosty relationship to pass legislation on priorities on which they can both agree. Republicans swept elections on Tuesday, capturing their biggest majority in the House of Representatives in more than 60 years and gaining a majority in the Senate for the first time since 2006. The election result limits what Obama can achieve without bipartisan support during his final two years in office. "As president, I have a unique responsibility to try and make this town work," Obama, a Democrat, said at a White House news conference. "So, to everyone who voted, I want you to know that I hear you." … [Read more...] about More World News
VNA attends meeting of world news agencies
BUENOS AIRES — Vietnam News Agency (VNA) General Director Tran Mai Huong was among 150 chiefs and senior staff members from 68 news agencies to attend the opening of the third World Congress of News Agencies in Buenos Aires on Tuesday. Argentinean President Cristina Fernandez highlighted the importance of the accuracy of news in the internet era. She called on news agencies to play an active role in the battle against biased and subjective information, while continuing to modernise their operations to stay on pace with the constantly evolving world. Alex Grijelmo, president of the Spanish News Agency (EFE) and chairman of the World Council of News Agencies, asked participants to consider a deal regarding copyrights among major news providers in an effort to curb rampant illegal re-publication. News agencies were said to be the providers of two-thirds of the daily world news. The VNA delegation, led by Huong, is expected to hold meetings with foreign counterparts on the sidelines … [Read more...] about VNA attends meeting of world news agencies
Bad world news hits local stocks
Bad world news hits local stocks Kim Ngan By Kim Ngan - The Saigon Times Daily HCMC – Domestic stocks took a big hit on January 7 as unfavorable global market movements dampened investor sentiment, with the VN-Index of the HCMC exchange losing a hefty 9.21 points (1.6%) at 565.36. Asian markets opened amid grim news that oil prices had fallen off the current sideways trend to a new low. Brent crude futures slumped to approximately US$32 per barrel with worries over weaker demand from China and an oversupply on the global market. According to Reuters, China’s highly volatile Shanghai Composite Index once again suffered a 7% slide, forcing the stock exchange to suspend trading for the second time this week. MSCI's broadest index of Asia-Pacific shares outside Japan dropped 2% to its lowest since late September. A number of world stock markets also ended down. Viet Capital Securities Company (VCSC) said domestic investors started a selloff, especially in bank stocks, … [Read more...] about Bad world news hits local stocks