Forms of government

Vietnam's economic growth slowed in the first quarter of the year as exports slumped due to reduced consumer demand, authorities said yesterday.

The communist manufacturing hub's economy expanded by 3.32 percent in the January-March period, down from 5.05 percent in the same period of 2022.

North Korean leader Kim Jong Un has called on his country to expand production of "nuclear materials for weapons" and create more powerful weapons, AFP reported.

Kim's latest threat came ahead of the planned arrival of a US Navy strike group in South Korea.

North Korean leader Kim Jong-un has urged his country to be ready to launch nuclear strikes at any moment, accusing the US and South Korea of expanding joint military exercises involving US nuclear-capable weapons, BTA and Reuters reported, citing local media: state agency KCNA.

North Korean leader Kim Jong Un led two days of military drills "simulating a nuclear counterattack", including the launch of a ballistic missile, state media reported Monday.

Investors and stock markets have become very excited with China's "reopening" after its abandonment of the zero-Covid policy at the end of 2022. Nobody knows how many people died after more than 80% of the population was declared to have caught the coronavirus, but there have been clear signs of economic revival after three years of drastic lockdowns.

North Korea fired two short-range ballistic missiles Tuesday, Seoul said, Pyongyang's second launch in three days and the first since South Korea and the United States began their largest joint military drills in five years.

BELGRADE - Serbian PM Ana Brnabic met with Chinese Ambassador to Belgrade Chen Bo on Monday to discuss bilateral relations and the work on joint projects.

The South Korean and U.S. militaries launched their biggest joint military exercises in years Monday, as North Korea said it tested submarine-launched cruise missiles in an apparent protest of the drills it views as an invasion rehearsal.

China retained its central bank chief on Feb. 12 in a surprise move, as the country appointed a cabinet focused on fighting economic headwinds.

Yi Gang was confirmed as governor of the People's Bank of China at a meeting of China's rubber-stamp national legislature, against expectations that retirement-age Yi would step down.

"The United States and China are sliding toward inevitable conflict if Washington does not change its approach toward Beijing. Moreover, the US has no right to criticize the possibility that the Asian giant is helping Russia in its war in Ukraine, while itself is providing weapons to Taiwan."