China launched a new generation of amphibious assault ships, Belarus is ready to deploy Russia's Oreshnik missiles, Iran denied allegations of intervening in Syria, Peru declared a state of emergency due to an oil spill... are some of the notable international events in the past 24 hours.
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| South Korea's National Assembly voted to impeach Acting President Han Duck-soo on December 27. (Source: Yonhap) |
The World & Vietnam Newspaper highlights some of the day's international news highlights.
Asia- Pacific
*South Korea begins impeachment trial of President: On December 27, the Constitutional Court of South Korea began the first preparatory hearing in the trial considering the validity of the National Assembly's impeachment of President Yoon Suk Yeol in connection with his brief declaration of martial law.
The court has 180 days from December 14 to decide. If the impeachment is upheld, President Yoon will be removed from office and a snap presidential election will be held within 60 days. If it is rejected, Yoon will be reinstated.
The hearing will be open to the public but will not be broadcast live. (Yonhap)
*Japan approves record budget amid security threats: The Japanese government on December 27 approved a record budget of 115.5 trillion yen ($730 billion) for the next fiscal year, including increased spending on social welfare and defense to deal with regional threats.
Japan's Defense Ministry has stressed that the country is facing the "most difficult and complex security environment" since World War II, a warning previously issued by Prime Minister Ishiba Shigeru. (AFP)
*China launches new generation amphibious assault ship: On December 27, China launched its first new generation Type 076 amphibious assault ship named Sichuan in Shanghai.
The Sichuan has a full-load displacement of more than 40,000 tons and a solid structure, with a flight deck that spans the entire length of the ship. The ship is equipped with electromagnetic aircraft launching technology and a modern braking system, allowing the operation of fixed-wing aircraft, helicopters and landing equipment.
After launching, the ship will undergo a series of planned tests, including equipment checks, mooring tests and sea trials. (THX)
*South Korean police search President Yoon's safe house: On December 27, the Special Investigation Team of the National Bureau of Investigation of the South Korean Police searched President Yoon Suk Yeol's safe house in Samcheong-dong, Seoul during the investigation into the December 3 martial law incident.
"We have begun a search to collect CCTV footage from the safe house," police said.
Police previously filed a search warrant to collect surveillance camera data from the safe house but it was rejected by the court once. They then re-applied and it was approved on December 19. (Yonhap)
*China-Japan Foreign Ministers Agree to Maintain Bilateral Cooperation: Chinese Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Mao Ning said that the Chinese and Japanese Foreign Ministers agreed to maintain cooperation at all levels and through all channels.
She made the statement when asked about a report from Kyodo news agency that Foreign Minister Wang Yi may visit Japan next February. (Reuters)
*South Korean National Assembly Impeaches Acting President: South Korea's National Assembly on December 27 voted to impeach Acting President Han Duck Soo, less than two weeks after he took office, replacing President Yoon Suk Yeol, who was impeached for failing to impose martial law.
The impeachment motion against Han Duck Soo passed by a unanimous vote of 192-0, marking the first time in history that an acting president has been impeached by the National Assembly.
On the same day, according to an announcement from the office of South Korean Finance Minister Choi Sang Mok, he began his duties as acting President on December 27. (Yonhap)
* Chinese President to visit Russia in 2025: Russia's RIA news agency on December 27 quoted Russian Ambassador to Beijing Igor Morgulov as saying that Chinese President Xi Jinping will visit Russia in 2025.
"As for specific bilateral activities, I can say that appropriate plans are being actively drawn up... It is no longer a secret and a priority that we are expecting the President of the People's Republic of China to visit Russia next year," Ambassador Igor Morgulov said in a statement. (RIA)
Europe
*Russia considers many nuclear testing options: On December 27, in a quick interview with Kommersant, Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Ryabkov said that Russia is considering all options related to the possibility of resuming nuclear testing.
Mr. Ryabkov noted that US President-elect Donald Trump, during his first presidential term, took a tough stance on the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty (CTBT).
"Regarding this issue, I just want to say that the current international situation is extremely complicated, and US policy in many different aspects has so far been extremely hostile to us," the Russian Deputy Foreign Minister explained. (Reuters)
*Ukraine captures North Korean soldier for first time: News from Ukraine says Ukrainian forces may have captured a North Korean soldier, as North Korean soldiers are fighting alongside Russian soldiers against Ukraine.
Military news site Militarnyi reported on December 26 that Ukrainian special forces captured the soldier during operations in the frontline area in Kursk province, western Russia, but did not specify when the incident occurred.
According to South Korean officials, about 11,000 North Korean soldiers have been sent to Russia. Earlier this week, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said more than 3,000 North Korean soldiers had been killed or wounded in Kursk. (Yonhap)
*EU threatens more sanctions on Russian ships after power cable incident: On December 26, the EU threatened to impose more sanctions on Russian ships after Finland said it was investigating an oil tanker from a Russian port for "sabotaging" an electricity cable connecting it to Estonia.
"The ship is suspected of being part of a secret Russian fleet that threatens security and the environment and provides funds for Russia's war budget. We will propose additional measures, including sanctions, against this fleet," the European Commission and EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Kaja Kallas said in a joint statement. (AFP)
*German President dissolves Parliament, sets election: On December 27, German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier dissolved Parliament and confirmed the date for an early general election, after Chancellor Olaf Scholz's government collapsed last month.
Confirming the election on February 23 next year, President Steinmeier stressed the need for "political stability" and called for the campaign to be "conducted with respect and dignity". Mr Scholz will continue to serve as acting chancellor until a new government is formed, a process that could take several months. (AFP)
*Russia declares to complete all goals in Ukraine in 2025: Russian President Vladimir Putin said on December 26 that Russia will continue to achieve all goals of the special military operation in Ukraine in 2025, calling this a top priority.
Speaking at a press conference, Mr. Putin emphasized: "Of course, we believe that Russia will achieve all the goals of the special military campaign. In general, this is task number 1."
Mr Putin noted that Russia could use the Oreshnik missile system if necessary, but stressed that the decision would not be rushed, as the system was very powerful and designed to solve specific problems. (AFP)
*Belarus ready to deploy Russia's Oreshnik missiles: On December 26, Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko said that the country is ready to deploy about 12 of Russia's latest Oreshnik missile systems on its territory in the first stage.
"I think it will be about 12 missile systems now, then we will consider it further. If Russia wants to deploy more, then we will do it," Lukashenko told reporters. (Sputniknews)
Middle East – Africa
*Israeli military commander killed in Gaza: On December 26, the Israeli military announced that its military commander Amit Levi was killed in fighting in the Gaza Strip.
In a statement, the Israeli military said that Mr. Levi, 35 years old, a squad leader of a patrol battalion of the elite infantry-paratrooper brigade "Arrow of Fire", "was killed in fighting in central Gaza".
Levi's death brings the total number of Israeli officers and soldiers killed to 822 since Israel launched a multi-front war in October last year. (Al Jazeera)
*Iran denies allegations of interference in Syria: Iran's Foreign Ministry on December 26 rejected allegations that Tehran was interfering in Syria, after the new Syrian Foreign Minister asked the Islamic Republic not to cause chaos in his country.
Syrian state media quoted Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Esmaeil Baghaei as saying: "We reject the baseless accusations in some media... about Iran's interference in Syria's internal affairs."
“It is essential to prevent the spread of instability and violence... and ensure the security of the Syrian people,” he added. (Reuters)
*Iran arrests an individual suspected of spying for a foreign country: On December 26, the semi-official Tasnim news agency reported that Iranian intelligence forces arrested an individual accused of spying for a foreign country in the northwestern province of Ardabil.
The individual was arrested by the provincial intelligence unit of Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) during an intelligence operation, the statement said. The source added that the detainee had been spying for the intelligence agency of a “neighbouring country,” without specifying which country. The suspect was later handed over to Iranian judicial authorities. (Al Jazeera)
*US kills Shebab terrorist leader in Somalia: The US military announced on December 26 that it had killed two members of the extremist Islamic group Shebab in an attack on December 24 in southern Somalia.
In a press release, the US Africa Command (AFRICOM) confirmed that the attack was carried out in coordination with the Somali Federal Government and that according to initial assessments, no civilians were injured.
For its part, the Somali Ministry of Information, Culture and Tourism also announced the death of the head of the terrorist network Mohamed Mire Jama, also known as Abu Abdirahman, in an operation planned and carried out by the country's national forces in coordination with international partners. (AFP)
*AU expresses concern over post-election violence in Mozambique: On December 26, Chairman of the African Union (AU) Commission Moussa Faki Mahamat expressed concern over post-election violence in Mozambique.
In a statement, the AU chief called for a peaceful resolution to the escalating post-election violence in Mozambique, especially after the announcement of the results of the country's Constitutional Council. Expressing condolences to the families of the victims, he called for calm and urged the country's security forces to exercise restraint amid the violence and maintain law and order. He also called on the Mozambican Government and all parties in the country to seek a peaceful solution to the current crisis to avoid further loss of life and destruction of property. (Al Jazeera)
*Iranian President to visit Russia: Iranian media reported that President Masoud Pezeshkian will meet his counterpart Vladimir Putin in Russia on January 17 to sign a cooperation agreement.
Tasnim news agency quoted Iranian Ambassador to Moscow Kazem Jalali as saying: "President Pezeshkian will visit Russia on January 17 and a cooperation agreement between the two countries will be signed during this visit."
Russia and Iran are both subject to international sanctions and trade restrictions, but the two countries have built close ties in many areas, including military cooperation. (AFP)
America - Latin America
*US aircraft carrier Carl Vinson operating in the East Sea: According to images released by the Pentagon, the Carl Vinson aircraft carrier strike group (CSG) is currently operating in the East Sea, while several US Navy ships have docked in Singapore during the Christmas holiday.
The carrier strike group is expected to make port calls in Southeast Asia soon, but it is not yet clear which ports. Carrier port calls are highly anticipated by U.S. embassies because they help promote exchanges with countries through activities with the aircraft carrier at anchor. (USNI News)
*Shooting and stabbing at an international airport in the US: On December 26, US officials said that 3 people were shot and 1 person was stabbed on Christmas Eve, December 24 at an international airport in Phoenix, Arizona.
Speaking at a press conference on December 26, a Phoenix police spokesman said they received a report of a shooting that occurred around 9:45 p.m. at a restaurant outside the security checkpoint at Terminal 4 of Phoenix Sky Harbor, the city's largest airport.
At the scene, police found three people with gunshot wounds and a fourth stabbed in the airport parking lot. All four were taken to hospital, with one female victim in critical condition and three male victims in stable condition. (Reuters)
*Peru declares state of emergency due to oil spill: On December 26, Peru declared an environmental emergency to deal with the oil spill in the northern coastal area of the country, which is popular with tourists. The emergency measure will be in effect for 90 days, during which authorities will carry out recovery and remediation work.
The spill was discovered on December 20 on Las Capullanas beach, as crude was being loaded onto a tanker at a terminal at the Talara refinery, but the cause and amount of oil leaked have not yet been released. The government’s Environmental Assessment and Monitoring Agency said the spill covered about 10,000 square meters.
On December 22, the prosecutor's office opened an investigation into Petroperu for environmental pollution affecting the South American country's Pacific coast and seas. (AFP)
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