Russia investigates the death of a military general, Assad makes his first statement, Switzerland to host the second Ukraine peace conference

China denies allegations related to British Prince, South Korea imposes more sanctions on Russia and North Korea, EU provides another $1 billion to Türkiye related to Syria, Iran auctions seized oil tanker... are some of the outstanding international events in the past 24 hours.

Former Syrian President Bashar al-Assad speaks for the first time since the fall of his regime. (Source: AFP)

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

Asia- Pacific

*China is willing to strengthen relations with India: On December 17, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Lin Jian announced that Beijing is willing to enhance mutual trust with India through dialogue and cooperation.

Mr. Lam Kiem affirmed that Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi and Indian National Security Advisor Ajit Doval will meet in Beijing on December 18 to discuss border issues.

Border conflicts are a regular part of Sino-Indian relations, as the two countries do not have a clearly marked border but only the Line of Actual Control (LAC), which was formed after the 1962 border war between the two countries. (Sputniknews)

*South Korea imposes additional sanctions on Russia, North Korea: South Korea's Foreign Ministry announced on December 17 that the country has imposed sanctions on 11 individuals and 15 organizations in Russia and North Korea for what Seoul calls "illegal military cooperation" between the two countries.

The decision follows a joint statement by Western foreign ministers on cooperation between Russia and North Korea. Moscow has repeatedly denied allegations of maintaining illegal military ties with Pyongyang.

The new sanctions target two North Korean generals and several businessmen and their businesses in North Korea. Thirteen Russian companies and seven individuals are also on the sanctions list. The latest restrictions will take effect on December 19. (TASS)

*China rejects allegations involving British prince: China on December 17 said allegations that a businessman used his relationship with Britain's Prince Andrew to spy for Beijing were "absurd", after the British government voiced growing concerns about the allegations.

Yang Tengbo, who was reportedly invited to Prince Andrew's birthday party, said on December 16 that he had "done nothing wrong or illegal" and had "become a victim" of the changing "political climate". (AFP)

*Japanese Prime Minister "gets ready" to hold summit with Mr. Trump: A senior spokesman for the Japanese Government said on December 17 that the country will seek a summit between Prime Minister Ishiba Shigeru and US President-elect Donald Trump at a time "convenient" for both sides to strengthen bilateral relations.

Speaking at a press conference, Japanese Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshimasa Hayashi said the government will continue to explore this possibility through discussions with Mr. Trump, noting that Tokyo appreciates Mr. Trump's statements valuing bilateral relations.

At a press conference on December 16, the US President-elect confirmed that he could meet Mr. Ishiba before returning to the White House in January. (Kyodo)

Europe

*Russian State Duma passes bill to control income of "foreign agents": On December 17, the Russian State Duma (Lower House) passed a bill to strengthen the Government's control over the income of those Moscow considers "foreign agents".

The bill, passed by the Russian State Duma in its third and final reading, requires "foreign agents" to transfer all income from the sale or lease of real estate and vehicles, as well as interest on deposits and dividends, to special accounts in rubles.

A total of 895 individuals and organizations have been listed as foreign agents by the Russian Justice Ministry, including former billionaire Mikhail Khodorkovsky, Nobel laureate Dmitry Muratov and popular YouTuber Yuri Dud. (Reuters)

*Ukraine rejects initiative to include Belarus in peace talks: The Ukrainian Foreign Ministry on December 17 rejected Minsk's initiative to include Belarus in future peace talks to resolve the conflict in Ukraine, expressing "surprise" at Minsk's idea.

A day earlier, Belarusian Deputy Foreign Minister Yury Ambrazevich said Minsk was eager to participate in future peace talks on Ukraine and that the final agreements should take into account Belarus' interests.

Moscow has repeatedly stressed that Russia does not refuse to resolve the conflict with Ukraine through political and diplomatic means. (TASS)

*Switzerland coordinates with EU, US, Russia to organize second conference on Ukraine: Swiss Foreign Minister Ignazio Cassis confirmed that the country is actively coordinating with the European Union (EU), US, Russia and the G7 group to organize the second conference on Ukraine.

"The work continues in active coordination with Moscow, Washington, as well as the G7 and the EU...", Mr. Cassis was quoted by Le Temps on December 16 as saying. Mr. Cassis added that signals from the US and the new administration of President-elect Donald Trump "inspire cautious optimism".

Earlier, on June 15-16, Switzerland hosted a summit on Ukraine in the Burgenstock resort outside Lucerne. More than 90 countries have confirmed their attendance, half of them from Europe. Russia has not received an invitation, but Moscow has said it would not attend the summit even if invited. (Sputniknews)

*Russian MP accuses Ukrainian intelligence of being behind the assassination of General Kirillov: Russian MP Alexey Zhuravlev said on December 17 that the assassination of Lieutenant General Igor Kirillov - Commander of the Radiation, Chemical and Biological Defense Forces of the Russian Armed Forces - may have been planned and carried out by Ukrainian special services.

The lawmaker revealed that on December 16, the Security Service of Ukraine had brought charges against Kirillov "to enhance the propaganda effect", adding that the general was a dangerous and unpleasant figure for Europe and the United States, as he had exposed the experiments of the Ukrainian armed forces and the role of the West in this matter. (Sputniknews)

*Russia investigates explosion that killed top military general: Russian security forces have begun studying video from surveillance cameras near the entrance to the building in southeastern Moscow where Lieutenant General Igor Kirillov, head of the Russian Armed Forces' biological, chemical and radiological defense, was killed.

"Video footage from the scene of the explosion on Ryazanskiy Prospekt has been seized," a representative of the Moscow emergency services said on December 17, adding that experts have begun studying relevant documents. (Sputniknews)

Middle East – Africa

*Assad makes first statement since leaving Syria: Syrian President Bashar al-Assad has spoken for the first time since fleeing Syria, defending his time in power and denying he planned to flee as opposition fighters advanced on Damascus earlier this month.

In a statement posted on the Syrian presidential palace's Telegram channel on December 16, Mr. Assad stated: "First of all, my departure from Syria was not planned in advance and did not happen in the last hours.

Opposition forces led by Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) launched a lightning offensive from the northwestern province of Idlib in November, seizing town after town from government forces with little resistance. They reached Damascus in the early hours of 8 December and declared victory. (Al Jazeera)

*EU provides additional $1 billion to Turkey to support Syrian refugees: European Commission President Ursula Von der Leyen announced on December 17 that the European Union (EU) will provide an additional 1 billion euros (1.05 billion USD) to Turkey to care for the Syrian refugees it is receiving.

Turkey is hosting nearly 3 million Syrian refugees after Syria's civil war began in 2011. In 2016, Ankara and Brussels signed a controversial deal under which the EU agreed to provide money in exchange for Turkey taking back any illegal migrants who arrived in Europe. (Al Jazeera)

*Russia passes law recognizing Taliban and new government in Syria: On December 17, the Russian parliament passed a law allowing the suspension of the ban on groups listed by Moscow as terrorist organizations - paving the way for normalizing relations with the Taliban in Afghanistan and possibly with the new rulers in Syria.

No country has yet recognized the Taliban government in Afghanistan. However, Russia has gradually built relations with the Taliban, whom President Vladimir Putin in July described as an ally in the fight against terrorism. (Reuters)

*Iran affirms IRGC's legal presence in Syria: Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Esmaeil Baghaei said that Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) is legally present in Syria to fight international terrorism.

“In Syria, we have no aim of conquering, dominating or restoring past empires,” Mr. Baghaei said. “The IRGC’s presence is only advisory. They are not there to support or protect any particular faction or political party.”

Earlier, on December 8, the opposition entered the Syrian capital Damascus and overthrew the government of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad, a close ally of Iran. (Al Jazeera)

*Israel will impose military rule on the Gaza Strip: Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz announced on December 17 that the Jewish State will continue to administer the Palestinian Gaza Strip by military means even after the war ends.

Posting on social network X, Mr. Katz emphasized that once the military power and ruling power of the Hamas movement in Gaza is defeated, Israel will control security in Gaza "with full freedom of action", just like in the West Bank.

Minister Katz affirmed: "We will not allow any terrorist activities against the community and citizens of Israel from Gaza. We will not allow a return before the event of October 7". (THX)

*Iran to auction seized oil tankers: Iran's Mizan news agency reported on December 17 that the country will auction two seized oil tankers involved in oil smuggling. Mizan quoted an Iranian judiciary official as saying: "The two oil tankers Sagha 2 and Ariana... will be auctioned."

In October 2022, Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps seized the Panama-flagged Ariana, carrying 11 million liters of smuggled fuel in the Gulf. The oil on board was transferred to the National Iranian Oil Company under a court order.

Iran, which has some of the cheapest fuel in the world due to heavy subsidies and a devalued currency, has struggled to combat rampant fuel smuggling by land to neighbouring countries and by sea to Gulf Arab states. (Al Jazeera)

*China donates nearly 1,000 tons of food aid to South Sudan: On December 16, China donated nearly 1,000 tons of emergency food aid to South Sudan to support flood victims, Sudanese refugees and returnees.

At the ceremony in the capital Juba, Chinese Ambassador to South Sudan Ma Qiang said South Sudan is facing serious economic and livelihood challenges due to the impact of floods, disruptions in oil production and food insecurity.

Up to 57 percent of South Sudan's population is currently food insecure and the country has taken in more than 800,000 people from Sudan, including refugees and returnees. This is the eighth consecutive year that China has provided assistance to vulnerable people in South Sudan. (THX)

America - Latin America

*The US Electoral College meets to confirm Mr. Trump's victory: On December 17, the US Electoral College voted for president and vice president, officially recognizing Mr. Donald Trump and vice presidential candidate JD Vance as the winners of the presidential election on November 5.

Mr Trump won 312 electoral votes in the November 5 election, far exceeding the 270 needed to win. His victory was also bolstered by a 2.5 million popular vote margin over his opponent.

The Electoral College, established by the framers of the Constitution in 1787, consists of 538 electors, apportioned among the states based on the number of members of Congress. (Sputniknews)

*US aircraft carrier boosts firepower as it returns to the Western Pacific: The US aircraft carrier USS Carl Vinson has been given a boost in firepower during its deployment in the Western Pacific, following China's large-scale military exercises in disputed waters around Taiwan.

According to photos released by the US Navy on December 14, the USS Carl Vinson aircraft carrier, one of 11 active US nuclear-powered aircraft carriers, moved through the Philippine Sea with six additional F-35C Lightning II fighter jets the day before.

The US Navy claims the F-35C is its best fighter and serves as the “backbone” of the service’s air superiority, potentially enhancing America’s defense and deterrence. (Newweek.com)

*Venezuela confirms the arrest of an Argentine gendarmerie officer: On December 16, Venezuelan Interior Minister Diosdado Cabello officially confirmed the arrest of a non-commissioned officer of the Argentine gendarmerie, accusing him of entering Venezuela to "carry out a mission".

Speaking about the incident, Mr. Cabello emphasized that this was the result of the work of Venezuelan security agencies and described the incident as "a heavy blow" to Argentina.

This is the first time the Venezuelan government has officially spoken out about the arrest. Previously, on December 14, the Argentine government strongly condemned the detention, calling it arbitrary and unjustified, and demanded that Venezuela immediately release the detainee. (AFP)

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