Briefly

BELGIUM

Prime minister to pay visit from Thursday

Prime Minister of Belgium Alexander De Croo will pay an official visit to China from Thursday to Friday, Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Mao Ning has announced. De Croo, 48, assumed the current post in October 2020.Belgium is China's seventh-largest trading partner in the European Union while China is the third-largest trading partner for the country outside the EU as of 2022. From January to September last year, bilateral trade volume reached $30.73 billion, according to the foreign ministry.

UNITED STATES

Boeing CEO admits error over blowout

Boeing CEO Dave Calhoun acknowledged errors by the US plane maker as more than 170 jets remained grounded for the fourth day, telling staff the company would ensure an accident like the midair Alaska Airlines panel blowout "can never happen again". Stan Deal, a top official of the company, also told a meeting at its 737 factory in Renton, Washington, that Boeing acknowledges "the real seriousness of the accident" as it launches checks into its quality controls and processes.

BHUTAN

People's Democratic Party wins elections

The People's Democratic Party, or PDP, led by former prime minister Tshering Tobgay, has won Bhutan's general elections and is set to form a new government, according to results released by the Election Commission of Bhutan, or ECB, on Wednesday. The PDP, having won the majority of seats (30 seats) in the fourth National Assembly elections, is declared as the ruling party, while the Bhutan Tendrel Party, having won 17 seats, is declared as the opposition party, the ECB said in a news release.

NORWAY

Mineral exploration on seabed gets nod

The Norwegian Parliament voted on Tuesday in favor of allowing mineral exploration and exploitation on the deep seabed, edging Norway closer to becoming the first country in the world to initiate commercial deep-sea mining. With a decisive vote reflecting broad support across parties, the proposal is set to accelerate the search for seabed minerals. According to Norway's national broadcaster NRK, most members of parliament are convinced that mining operations can be profitable, sustainable and environmentally responsible.

SOUTH KOREA

Attack on opposition leader a plot: Police

The stabbing of South Korean opposition leader Lee Jae-myung was meticulously planned by a well-prepared assailant who wanted to prevent the politician from becoming president, police said on Wednesday. Lee, chair of the Democratic Party, was stabbed in the neck in a near-fatal attack on Jan 2 in Busan city by a man who pushed through a crowd to get close to him. Lee was wounded and underwent hours of emergency surgery. He was released from hospital on Wednesday.

China Daily - Agencies - Xinhua