Putin leaves open to dialogue with Trump; CPTPP agreement officially comes into effect.
(Baonghean.vn) - Russian President Putin leaves open the door to dialogue with US President Trump; A series of newspapers in the US are subjected to cyberattacks; The CPTPP agreement officially comes into effect for member countries; France takes strong action against tax payments by business leaders; Somalia eliminates dozens of al-Shabab militants... These are the prominent world news stories of the past 24 hours.
The CPTPP agreement has officially come into effect for member countries.
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| The CPTPP came into effect on December 30th, and the first round of tariff reductions has just begun. Photo: Monash Lens - Monash University |
The Comprehensive and Progressive Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP), the US-excluding version of the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP), which includes Japan and 10 other countries, came into effect on December 30.
This agreement creates a massive free economic zone with a market size of 500 million people and accounts for 13% of global GDP. The CPTPP unifies regulations on investment and services across a wide range of sectors. The agreement also gradually eliminates tariffs on agricultural and industrial products.
Russia will equip its military with the advanced Vityaz S-350 missile defense system.
An S-300 air defense missile system launches a missile during a competition in 2017 at the Ashuluk firing range outside Astrakhan, Russia. Photo: Reuters
The Russian Ministry of Defense announced on December 30 that in 2019, the Russian military will deploy the new generation Vityaz S-350 missile defense system, replacing the aging S-300 system. The Vityaz system is a short- and medium-range surface-to-air missile defense system manufactured by the Almaz-Antey Aerospace and Defense Corporation.
According to the ministry, the Russian military deployed S-400 and Pantsir-S systems in Crimea in 2018, as well as in the Russian Arctic, the Kaliningrad region in the Baltic Sea, and in the Khabarovsk region of the Far East.
A number of newspapers in the US were subjected to cyberattacks. |
| Outside the Los Angeles Times office in Los Angeles. Photo: Reuters |
A cyberattack disrupted the printing and distribution of major American newspapers, including the Los Angeles Times. The attack caused delays in printing and distribution for the Los Angeles Times and several other newspapers, including The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal, the Chicago Tribune, and the Baltimore Sun, in Los Angeles. These newspapers share a common printing system.
The Los Angeles Times, citing a source, reported that the cyberattack originated outside the United States. Responding to the attack, Department of Homeland Security spokeswoman Katie Waldman said authorities are working together to gather information.
Russian President Putin leaves open the door to dialogue with US President Trump.
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| Russian President Vladimir Putin and US President Donald Trump. Photo: AFP/Getty. |
On December 30, Russian President Vladimir Putin sent New Year's greetings to a number of world leaders. Notably, in his New Year's letter to his American counterpart, President Donald Trump, the Russian President stated that Russia is ready to engage in dialogue with the United States on a range of issues.
In a separate letter to Syrian President Bashar al-Assad, the Russian leader pledged continued aid to the government and people of Syria in their fight against terrorism and the defense of its territorial integrity. Putin also sent New Year greetings to world leaders, including British Prime Minister Theresa May, Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, and Chinese President Xi Jinping.
China steps up efforts to resolve 'key issues in the trade war with the US'
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| China's Supreme Court. Photo: scmp.com |
The Chinese government announced that, starting January 1, 2019, the country's Supreme Court will handle intellectual property claims, replacing local courts as before. This is seen as a move by China to increase its involvement in resolving a key issue in the trade war with the United States.
According to AFP, the United States, along with the European Union (EU), has long complained about lax enforcement of intellectual property laws in China. Under current regulations, provincial courts in China are responsible for handling intellectual property disputes.
The French government is cracking down on tax payments by business leaders.
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| French Budget Minister Gerald Darmanin. Photo: dw.com |
French Budget Minister Gerald Darmanin said on December 30 that the French government will take strong action against business leaders registered in France to ensure they pay taxes in the country. Speaking to reporters, Minister Darmanin clarified that the heads of companies registered in France, or those with French state ownership, must pay taxes in France.
Mr. Darmanin emphasized: "We are in the process of ensuring that, and we are prepared to take all necessary measures" if the regulation is not complied with. Minister Darmanin did not specify whether the French government was specifically targeting any particular company.
Somalia kills dozens of al-Shabab militants.
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Somali security forces investigate the scene of a bombing in Mogadishu, Somalia, on November 26, 2018. Photo: AFP/VNA |
On December 30, Somali officials announced that the country's army had killed 30 al-Shabab militants, including two foreign nationals, in the southern town of Jilib.
Speaking to reporters, Ali Mohamad Bag Madow, commander of the 43rd squad of the Somali National Army (SNA), said that SNA forces and the US Africa Command (Africom) had coordinated an attack on an al-Shabab training camp in the town of Jilib, Central Jubba. Among the 30 militants killed were two foreign fighters identified as Aways Abuhamza, a Syrian, and Hasn Al-qayadi Abu Yahya from Libya.
