Russia does not want a ceasefire next year, Israel-Hamas extend ceasefire

Cambodian Prime Minister makes statement about hydroelectric dam, former Thai Prime Minister has new position, Mexican national news agency closes… are some notable international news in the past 24 hours.

US Secretary of State Antony Blinken (left) meets with Israeli President Isaac Herzog on November 30 in Tel Aviv. (Source: GPO)

The World & Vietnam Newspaper highlights some of the day's international news highlights.

* Russia announced that it has no plans for a ceasefire with Ukraine next year : On November 29, in an interview with Izvestia (Russia), Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Ryabkov emphasized that his country has no intention of negotiating with Ukraine or the United States.

According to him, they are proposing (President Volodymyr) Zelensky’s “peace formula,” which includes withdrawing troops to the 1991 borders, returning all territories and paying reparations. “Not only do I not expect a ceasefire, but I expect that the goals of the special military operation will definitely be achieved,” the official said.

According to Deputy Minister Ryabkov, Russia has its own vision of the situation and will continue to carry out the tasks of the special military operation. Moscow is ready to consider appropriate and constructive proposals from the West, if any. However, he said that the West is not ready for such proposals at the moment. (TASS)

* Ukrainian President sets conditions for ceasefire with Russia : On November 29, in an interview with Asian media, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky stated: "There will only be an understanding of peace and security in the future if Russian troops are not present on our territory. We fight for what is ours because we do not believe Russia wants peace." According to him, a ceasefire with Russian troops still in Ukraine means a "frozen" conflict, giving Moscow time to prepare to continue military operations.

The Ukrainian leader also said he was looking forward to a conference in Tokyo, Japan, in February on rebuilding his country, placing his hopes on bilateral cooperation in digitalization, green energy and infrastructure. (Kyodo)

* Ukraine : Russia launches missiles at residential areas : On November 30, writing on Telegram, Ukrainian Interior Minister Ihor Klymenko said that Russia had launched six missiles at three settlements in the region, most of which were occupied by Russian armed forces. Mr. Klymenko stated: "Pokrovsk, Novohrodivka and Myrnohrad were hit by missiles. The attack injured 10 people, including four children. Five others are being searched under the rubble." Earlier, the Ukrainian military said on the same day that air defense forces had shot down 14 out of 20 unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) in Russia's overnight attack. (Reuters)

* Germany is concerned about the decline in interest in the conflict in Ukraine : On November 29, writing on the social network X , German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock stated: "At present, interest in Ukraine is gradually disappearing from public view - this is a disaster." She emphasized that Kiev "has chosen for peace, freedom and security." According to the German Foreign Minister, Ukraine's future lies in the European Union (EU) and the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO). This politician called on the alliance to support Kiev within the framework of the Ukraine-NATO Council.

Earlier, she said Germany would allocate more than 11 million euros to help Ukraine integrate into NATO. “NATO standards, planning and military force reform are the key points of this journey,” Baerbock said. (Reuters)

* Israel - Hamas announced the ceasefire has been extended : On November 30, the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) announced that the ceasefire with the Hamas movement will be extended for another day, "based on the efforts of the mediators to continue the process of releasing the hostages and complying with the terms of the agreement".

Hamas also said it would extend the ceasefire with Israel in Gaza by one day.

On the same day, the Israeli government announced that it had received a new list of women and children hostages in the Gaza Strip that would be released by Hamas on the same day in exchange for an extension of the ceasefire. A statement from the Israeli Prime Minister's Office said: "Israel recently received a list of women and children under the terms of the agreement, and therefore the ceasefire will continue." (AFP/Reuters)

* Fighting continues at the Israel-Lebanon border: At noon on November 30, sirens once again sounded in northern Israel after several days of the Hezbollah Islamic movement declaring a voluntary temporary ceasefire under a hostage exchange agreement and a short-term truce between Israel and the Hamas movement.

A UAV was launched from southern Lebanon toward the Jewish state, an IDF spokesman said. The IDF said it intercepted the aircraft. The IDF responded with cross-border strikes on targets in southern Beirut, according to the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL). (Reuters)

* The US calls for an extension of the temporary ceasefire between Israel and Hamas : On November 30, meeting with host country President Issac Herzog in Tel Aviv (Israel), US Secretary of State Antony Blinken stated: “Last week, we witnessed positive progress when hostages returned home to reunite with their families... The temporary ceasefire agreement also allows for increased humanitarian aid to innocent civilians in the Gaza Strip, who are in dire need of support. The ceasefire agreement is bringing results. Therefore, we hope it will be extended.”

He also affirmed that Washington has been focusing on supporting Israel in freeing the hostages being held by Palestinian armed factions in the Gaza Strip. After his visit to Israel, US Secretary of State Antony Blinken is expected to visit the West Bank and meet with Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas.

A day earlier, the White House announced that US President Joe Biden had a phone call with his United Arab Emirates (UAE) counterpart Mohammed bin Zayed.

The White House said the two sides welcomed the hostage swap and the humanitarian ceasefire in the Gaza conflict. Biden also asked Vice President Kamala Harris to attend the upcoming 28th Conference of the Parties (COP28) to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change in Dubai. (AFP/Times of Israel)

* Spain : Israel needs to respect international humanitarian law : On November 30, in an interview with Spanish state television station TVE, Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez said: "With the footage we are seeing and the increasing number of children dying, I really doubt Israel's compliance with international humanitarian law." The Spanish Prime Minister emphasized: "Causing casualties to innocent civilians, including thousands of boys and girls, is unacceptable." (AFP)

* Chinese Foreign Minister warns of consequences in Gaza : On November 29, speaking at the United Nations Security Council (UNSC), Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi warned: "(The reoccurrence of) clashes could very well turn into a disaster that engulfs the entire region." (AFP)

* UN: Gaza Strip is experiencing a terrible humanitarian disaster : On November 29, speaking at a UN Security Council conference chaired by China, UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres warned the world “not to take our eyes off” the hot spot in the Gaza Strip. He stated: “Intense negotiations are underway to extend the ceasefire, which we very much welcome. However, we believe that we need a genuine humanitarian ceasefire.”

In another development, the UN and relevant parties are trying to persuade Israel to reopen the Kerem Shalom land border crossing to increase aid into the Gaza Strip, as the Rafah border crossing on the Egyptian side is overloaded due to complicated security checks. However, so far, Israel has not made any concessions, causing delays in the progress of relief for civilians in the Gaza Strip.

On the same day, Qatar sent three planes carrying 108 tons of humanitarian aid to Egypt's Al-Arish airport to deliver relief to the Gaza Strip. (Reuters)

Southeast Asia

* Cambodian Prime Minister says no dams on Mekong River : “The government will not build any dams along the Mekong River because it will cause many impacts,” Hun Manet said at the groundbreaking ceremony for a hydropower dam in the coastal province of Koh Kong on November 30. He said building a dam on the Mekong mainstream would have a “huge impact” on the environment and ecology of the river as well as the Tonle Sap Lake, Southeast Asia’s largest freshwater lake and an important fish source for Cambodians. The leader also canceled a $1.5 billion, 700 MW coal plant project at Botum Sakor Park in Koh Kong. (AFP)

* Thailand: Former Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha appointed as member of the Privy Council : On November 29, according to the Royal Gazette of Thailand, King Vajiralongkorn appointed former Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha as member of the Privy Council. This is a body of appointed advisors to the Monarchy.

General Prayut, 69, is the 29th prime minister of Thailand. Before the general election on May 14, 2023, the former army chief was the prime ministerial candidate of the United Thai National Party (UTN). In July, General Prayut announced his decision to retire from politics after 9 years in power in Thailand. (Bangkok Post)

South Asia

* India: Coal remains an important part of energy : On November 30, speaking to the press ahead of Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi's visit to Dubai, Indian Foreign Secretary Vinay Mohan Kwatra affirmed: "Coal is and will remain an important part of India's energy needs."

He also stressed India’s commitment to fossil fuels. Foreign Secretary Kwatra also said India expects a clear roadmap on climate finance at COP28 and has been forthright about supporting a “loss and damage” fund to help countries recover from environmental degradation caused by industrial development. “This fund will be of great benefit to developing countries,” he explained. (Reuters)

Northeast Asia

* US - South Korea joint drills near DMZ : On November 29, the US Indo-Pacific Command (INDOPACOM) said that US soldiers from the 59th Nuclear, Biological, Radiological, and Chemical Unit trained with US Forces Korea and the Republic of Korea Army near the Demilitarized Zone (DMZ) to strengthen the overall defense posture. According to INDOPACOM, the training focused on reconnaissance and decontamination missions as well as countering weapons of mass destruction and chemical, biological, and nuclear hazards.

Specifically, the New York-based 59th Unit has been on a nine-month rotational deployment at Camp Casey in Dongducheon, 41 kilometers north of Seoul, since July to support the 2nd Infantry Division and the 8th Corps based in South Korea. In addition, the 59th Unit also participated in Ulchi Freedom Shield, an annual joint military exercise held by South Korean and U.S. forces in August. (Yonhap)

* North Korea rejects UN criticism : On November 30, North Korean leader Kim Jong Un's sister, Kim Yo Jong, rejected international criticism of Pyongyang's recent spy satellite launch. The Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) quoted Ms. Kim as saying: "I regret that the Security Council is being turned into a lawless land where the sovereignty of independent nations is blatantly violated." She also affirmed that North Korea will "continue to exercise its sovereign rights without restriction in the future."

Previously, on November 27, the UN Security Council convened a meeting on November 27 to discuss North Korea's military spy satellite launch on November 21. (AFP)

* Kremlin announces date for Putin's year-end press conference : On November 30, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said: "On December 14, President Vladimir Putin will summarize the results of the year. This will be a combination of a direct line and the president's last press conference." Putin has now said whether he will seek another six-year term in the presidential election in March 2024. But many predict he will run again.

This month, six sources said Mr Putin had decided to run, with the possibility of staying in power until at least 2030. The Kremlin leader feels he must steer Russia through its most dangerous period in decades. (Reuters)

* Russia criticizes Bulgaria for banning plane carrying foreign minister : On November 30, writing on Telegram , Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova wrote: “For the first time in our history - the authorities have not banned a plane, but a person on board it.” She warned that Russia could impose similar flight bans on “thousands of NATO officials” and accused Bulgaria of setting a “dangerous precedent.” The plane was forced to take a longer route via Greece to take Lavrov and Zakharova to a meeting of foreign ministers of the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) in Skopje, North Macedonia.

Earlier, government officials from Ukraine, Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania announced a boycott of the meeting in Skopje to protest the presence of the Russian delegation. (Reuters)

* Mexico's national news agency closes : On November 29, with 262 votes in favor and 210 votes against, the Mexican Congress passed a bill to close the National News Agency of Mexico (Notimex). The Mexican Bicameral Council stated that for decades, Notimex has performed its mission of providing information to the people on behalf of the government. However, with the development of information technology, readers can access many sources of information as well as many different types of news, and information is provided in real time, thus being more immediate and up-to-date.

According to regulations, the relevant legal procedures will be carried out by the Mexican Institute for Public Asset Recovery. Meanwhile, the Mexican Ministry of Interior and the Ministry of Labor will be responsible for resolving issues related to the rights of 300 workers at Notimex.

Founded in 1968 with the initial mission of reporting on the activities of the Summer Olympics held in Mexico (Mexico 1968), Notimex later became the National News Agency. Since 2006, this agency has no longer been under the personnel management of the Mexican Ministry of the Interior but has been directly managed by a specialized committee including members of the government cabinet. (TTXVN)

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