You are reading the Wednesday October 18, 2023 edition of World Today.
We have summarized a number of reports from around the world over the past 24 years, starting with Indonesia.
Expanding cooperation between China and Indonesia
Chinese President Xi Jinping said China wants to expand and strengthen cooperation with Indonesia in several areas such as the digital economy, as well as the development of vehicles using alternative and renewable energy.
In a meeting with President Joko Widodo in China, President Xi said his country also wants to import more Indonesian agricultural and fishery products.
He hopes the two countries will deepen industrial and supply chain integration, including building a “comprehensive regional economic corridor.”
President Xi hailed China-Indonesia cooperation in Belt and Road construction on high-speed rail project as “golden”, which has faced procurement problems of land, delays due to the pandemic and increasing expenses.
Hundreds die following explosion at Gaza hospital
Around 500 Palestinians died following the explosion at a Gaza hospital filled with patients and displaced residents.
Israelis and Palestinians blamed each other for the explosion, but Palestinian health officials said the blast was caused by an Israeli airstrike.
Meanwhile, the Israeli military blamed the failed rocket launch on a Palestinian militant group.
The explosion was the deadliest event in Gaza since Israel carried out relentless bombings on Gaza in retaliation for Hamas’ deadly attack on residents of southern Israel on October 7.
A Chinese satellite in the Australian sky
A suspected Chinese military satellite came “alarmingly” close to an Australian commercial satellite earlier this month, sparking fears of a collision between the two.
The information emerged after Australia’s space commander warned that conditions in the skies above Earth were becoming increasingly “risky” with the growing number of satellites launched.
“It’s very risky. There are more and more satellites up there, and the capabilities of the attack satellites are increasing with each launch,” said Cath Roberts of the Royal Australian Air Force.
In August, hundreds of Chinese satellites participating in a large-scale international military exercise aimed at gathering information about the United States and its allies passed over Australia.
China accused of large-scale theft of intellectual information
Australian and US intelligence agencies have criticized China and accused it of large-scale intellectual property theft.
ASIO Director General Mike Burgess and FBI Director Christopher Wray are in California to attend the first public meeting of Five Eyes intelligence partners, which also includes the UK, Canada and New -Zealand.
Mike said the decision to hold the meeting open to the public was due to the enormity of the challenges they faced.
“We know that the state is spying, we know that the state is seeking strategic advantages for itself,” he said.
“But we are talking about behavior that goes beyond the limits of traditional espionage.”
Paul McCartney returns to Australia after 59 years
Sir Paul McCartney of the Beatles is performing in Australia for the first time since his visit 59 years ago.
In 1964, around 350,000 people queued in Adelaide, South Australia, to see Paul and his friends.
“This visit was extraordinary, something special,” Paul said of his visit to Adelaide.
Paul’s ‘Got Back’ tour will feature a mix of music from different eras throughout his career over the past six decades, including songs by The Beatles and Wings, as well as his solo songs.
See also “Jokowi participates in Indonesia-PRC business forum, encourages collaboration”:
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