Donald Tusk addresses lawmakers after being elected Poland's prime minister at the parliament in Warsaw on December 11, 2023. (Source: AP)

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

* Russia shoots down missile launched by Ukraine over Belgorod : On December 12, writing on Telegram , the Russian Defense Ministry announced that air defense systems destroyed a Tochka-U tactical ballistic missile from neighboring Ukraine that flew over Belgorod at 5:00 a.m. local time. There is currently no information about damage.

The Tochka-U missile, designated Scarab B by the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO), is a Soviet short-range tactical ballistic missile.

In related news, the same day, writing on Telegram , the head of the Russian-appointed Zaporizhzhia region, Yevgeny Balitsky, said: "Our units have made significant progress northeast of Novopokrovka." (AFP/Reuters)

* Russia closely monitors US-Ukraine leaders meeting : On December 12, according to Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov, Moscow is "closely monitoring" the meeting between US President Joe Biden and his Ukrainian counterpart Volodymyr Zelensky scheduled to take place the same day in Washington (local time).

The official warned that “tens of billions of dollars” Washington has provided have failed to turn things around and that new aid packages will similarly “fail.” The Russian president’s spokesman also said that the lack of results on the ground was weakening Mr Zelensky’s power. (AFP/Reuters)

* Ukrainian President: Kiev is working on reforms : On December 11, writing on Telegram after meeting with International Monetary Fund (IMF) Managing Director Kristalina Georgieva in Washington DC, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky stated: "Thank you for supporting Ukraine and congratulating the success of our country and our people. During the conflict, our government is implementing reforms to strengthen our institutions and cooperate with partners to bring more economic opportunities to our people." (Reuters)

* New York Times : US fails to train Ukrainian army : On December 11, the New York Times (USA) quoted sources in Kiev and Washington saying that the US-style training of Ukrainian soldiers had failed. Because Russia's defense line turned out to be much stronger than the West expected.

The article reads: “The 2023 counteroffensive is built around the restructuring of the Ukrainian army on the American model.” In addition, sources of the US newspaper assessed that the losses of the Armed Forces of Ukraine (VSU) were significant. For 3 months, American instructors and European military personnel trained 9 VSU brigades, consisting of 36,000 soldiers, in the basics of mobile warfare.

In addition, the article also emphasized: "The theory put forward by the US side is that only heavy forces can penetrate the fortified Russian positions and regain control. But while the US is teaching Ukrainian soldiers how to use these weapons, the Russians are preparing for the next situation." (New York Times)

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* Israel raids Jenin city in the West Bank, killing 4 people : On December 12, the Palestinian Ministry of Health and WAFA news agency (Palestine) said that an attack by unmanned aerial vehicles (UAV) on the city of Jenin and a refugee camp killed 4 people. In addition, another person was injured in the attack on the Al-Sibat neighborhood in Jenin city.

The director of Jenin hospital said Palestinians were the direct targets. Additionally, WAFA said Israeli forces were surrounding three hospitals in the area.

Earlier, the Palestinian Health Ministry announced that 275 Palestinians had been killed in the West Bank since the Hamas Islamist movement attacked Israel on October 7. (Reuters)

* Israel updates soldier casualties : On December 12, the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) announced the latest casualty figures since the Gaza Strip invasion.

Of the 105 soldiers killed, 20 were killed by so-called “friendly fire” and accidental deaths. Specifically, 13 soldiers were killed by “friendly fire” due to misidentification in airstrikes, tank fire or friendly fire. Another soldier was killed by an unintentional shooting by a comrade and two others were killed by friendly fire. In addition, two other soldiers were killed by shrapnel from explosive devices detonated by the Israeli side.

Since the start of the Gaza offensive on October 7, 1,645 Israeli soldiers have been injured, of whom 434 have died. The IDF is reviewing the cases of accidental fire and providing necessary guidance to learn from the experience. (Reuters)

* Israel opens more checkpoints to check goods entering the Gaza Strip : On December 12, the Israeli government said that more humanitarian aid will enter the Gaza Strip when the State opens two more checkpoints to speed up the inspection of relief goods before customs clearance at the Rafah border gate.

According to the Israeli military, the move will “improve security checks on aid goods through the Rafah crossing, allowing for a doubling of humanitarian aid into the Gaza Strip… No aid from Israel will enter Gaza, only through Egypt.”

Currently, only the Rafah border crossing remains open for international aid into the Gaza Strip. However, due to the slow pace of Israeli security checks, convoys are having difficulty delivering relief supplies to areas where they are needed.

Israel had previously agreed to open the Kerem Shalom crossing to speed up aid deliveries. However, in its latest announcement, the Jewish state stressed that it would not directly open any new crossings, but would instead use the Nitzana and Kerem Shalom crossings to inspect goods before they enter the Gaza Strip through the Rafah crossing.

Previously, on December 10, the United Nations Humanitarian Agency said that since the ceasefire collapsed on December 1, only 100 trucks carrying aid from Egypt have entered the Gaza Strip each day, compared to 500 trucks per day before October 7. (VNA)

* Possibility of Israel-Hamas reaching a new hostage deal: On December 12, Al - Arabiya (Saudi Arabia) quoted a Palestinian official as saying: "We expect major negotiations on a new prisoner exchange agreement next week. Hamas demands a complete ceasefire because the Islamic movement is ready for a humanitarian ceasefire under new conditions." According to the Palestinian official, although "the path towards a new ceasefire agreement in the Gaza Strip is open, the proper negotiations have not yet begun." (TASS)

* Israel: Military campaign in Gaza Strip will continue until goals are achieved: On December 11, Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant announced that the campaign in Gaza Strip will only end once Israel achieves its goals.

He also said the IDF is now besieging the last Hamas strongholds of Jabaliya and Shejaiya in the northern Gaza Strip. The official stressed that the Hamas battalions there, which are considered “invincible” and have resisted Israel for years, “are about to be wiped out.” Hundreds of Hamas members have surrendered to the Israeli army in recent days.

Israel's defense minister also said that his country has no intention of staying in the Gaza Strip long-term and is ready to discuss who will control the territory, as long as it is not a group hostile to Israel. He also said that Israel is ready to reach a deal with the Iran-backed Hezbollah group in Lebanon, provided that the agreement includes a safe zone along the border and appropriate guarantees. (Reuters)

* WHO concerned about health workers detained in Gaza : On December 12, on social network X , World Health Organization (WHO) Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said on December 12 that a WHO-led delegation to Al-Ahli Hospital in Gaza on December 9 was stopped twice at a checkpoint on the way to northern Gaza and on the way back. At the same time, a number of staff from the Palestinian Red Crescent Society were detained both times.

“We are deeply concerned about the prolonged testing and detention of medical staff, which puts the lives of already vulnerable patients at risk,” he stressed. (Reuters)

* Chinese and Iranian foreign ministers hold phone talks on Gaza situation : On December 11, Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi and his Iranian counterpart Hossein Amir-Abdollahian held a phone call to exchange views on the current situation in the Gaza Strip. During the phone call, Mr. Wang Yi said that China's position on the conflict can be summarized as implementing a ceasefire and ending clashes as soon as possible, ensuring humanitarian relief and returning to the two-state solution.

Regarding bilateral relations, the diplomat affirmed that China is willing to implement the important consensus reached by Chinese President Xi Jinping and Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi in their two meetings this year and promote bilateral relations towards stable and extensive development.

At the same time, Foreign Minister Wang Yi affirmed that China supports Iran and Saudi Arabia to further improve relations, promote solidarity and cooperation between the countries, and truly maintain peace and security in the region. (Xinhua)

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* Russia criticizes US comments on opposition leader Navalny : On December 12, the Kremlin said that US comments expressing concern about the situation of imprisoned Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny were "unacceptable interference in Russia's internal affairs".

However, Russian President Dmitry Peskov's spokesman said he did not know about Mr Navalny's whereabouts.

The opposition politician is now believed to have been moved from criminal detention to an undisclosed location.

Earlier, White House national security spokesman John Kirby called on the Russian government to immediately release Alexei Navalny, stressing that “Navalny should never have been imprisoned.” (Reuters)

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Southeast Asia

* US considers upgrading relations with Laos : On December 12, the Vientiane Times (Laos) reported that during a recent visit to Laos, US Assistant Secretary of State Bill Russo said that Washington is committed to doing everything possible to ensure the success of Laos and ASEAN's 2024 Chairmanship of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN).

According to the newspaper, speaking before meeting with Lao Foreign Ministry officials, Mr. Bill said the visit was to discuss possible ways for the US to support Laos’s ASEAN Chairmanship in 2024. Mr. Russo stressed that there is a lot of interest in the region and the goals that Laos, as Chair, will lead ASEAN to strive to achieve.

Outside the ASEAN context, the US is also looking to further strengthen its comprehensive partnership with Laos, noting that both sides have strong cooperation in areas such as health, education, and combating transnational crime.

Laos will assume the ASEAN Chairmanship from January 1, 2024. The highlight will be how Laos, as ASEAN Chair in 2024, will lead the bloc in promoting ASEAN community building and responding to regional challenges amid ongoing global and regional uncertainties. ( Vientiane Times )

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South Asia

* Pakistan: Militants raid police station, killing 4 officers : On December 12, Pakistani officials said a group of gunmen raided a police station in the northwestern Dera Ismail Khan district, bordering Afghanistan. The bomb and gun attack killed four security officers and injured many others.

The Tehreek-e-Jihad Pakistan (TJP) group claimed responsibility for the attack, which it said was aimed at the Pakistan Army. District administration sources said the gunmen drove an explosives-laden vehicle into the main gate and then launched a gun attack.

It is unclear whether TJP is linked to the Islamist group Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), which has targeted the Pakistani state and its institutions for years, seeking to overthrow the government and replace it with a harsh Islamist regime. (Reuters)

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Northeast Asia

* South Korea calls on Russia to support sanctions against North Korea : On December 12, South Korean Unification Minister Kim Yung Ho said that North Korea's satellite launch last month violated United Nations Security Council (UN) resolutions banning Pyongyang from using ballistic technology.

But he found Russia “extremely passive” in continuing sanctions against North Korea. The official stressed that there were “clear signs” of military cooperation between Pyongyang and Moscow. South Korea is also considering whether Russia will accept more North Korean workers despite UN resolutions.

Last month, South Korea's spy agency said North Korea had received Russian aid for its recent satellite launch. In addition, the Donga Ilbo newspaper (South Korea) also reported that after North Korean leader Kim Jong Un's visit to Russia in September, Pyongyang sent hundreds of construction workers and other workers to Russia's Far East. (Reuters)

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Europe

* Hackers attack Ukraine's largest mobile operator : Kyivstar, Ukraine's largest mobile operator, said on December 12 that it was the victim of a "strong" hacker attack this morning. The attack temporarily knocked out its mobile and internet signals. The company is working to fix the outage and is cooperating with law enforcement. (Reuters)

* French frigate destroys UAV threatening Norwegian tanker : On December 12, the French Ministry of Defense announced that the frigate FREMM Languedoc had intercepted and destroyed a UAV threatening the Norwegian tanker Strinda in a complex air attack originating from Yemen. According to the statement, the attack took place on the evening of December 11, causing a fire on the Norwegian-flagged tanker.

Earlier, on December 12, Houthi rebels in Yemen admitted attacking the ship Strinda when the crew refused all warnings. According to a Houthi spokesman, the movement has tried to block the movement of several ships in recent days to show support for the Palestinians. The official also stressed that the Houthi movement will continue to block all ships heading to Israeli ports until the Jewish State allows food and medical aid to enter the Gaza Strip. (Reuters)

* Polish Prime Minister submits cabinet list : On December 12, new Prime Minister B Donald Tusk submitted a new cabinet list to the House of Representatives. The Polish House of Representatives is expected to conduct a vote of confidence at 3:00 p.m. local time the same day.

According to the list, the leader of the Polish People's Party (part of the Third Way coalition), Mr. Wladyslaw Kosiniak-Kamysz, will hold the position of Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Defense. Mr. Adam Bodnar will be the Minister of Justice, Mr. Andrzej Domanski will become the Minister of Finance. Mr. Marcin Kierwinski will take over the position of Minister of the Interior while Mr. Radoslaw Sikorski will once again become the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Poland. Of the 26 ministers in the new Government, 9 are women.

Presenting his new government's program to the Bundestag, new Prime Minister Donald Tusk outlined Poland's domestic and foreign policy, pledging to accelerate the disbursement of "billions of euros" from funds frozen by the European Union (EU).

Regarding the protest by truck drivers blocking the border with Ukraine, Mr. Tusk affirmed that he had “found a way” to end the situation that has lasted for a month. He also called on the West to “mobilize all its forces” to support Ukraine. (TTXVN)

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Middle East-Africa

* South Africa announces plans to build new nuclear power plants : Cape Town announced plans on December 12 to add 2,500 MW of new nuclear power capacity. According to South African Electricity Minister Kgosientsho Ramokgopa, this addition will be “a major milestone”. He stressed that South Africa will build new plants at a scale and speed that is affordable.

Speaking to reporters in Cape Town, Zizamele Mbambo, deputy director general of nuclear energy at the South African Department of Energy, said the first new unit would likely be operational by 2032 or 2033. The official said South Africa had asked “various suppliers” to submit proposals. “We are very excited about the prospects and confident in our ability to ensure that within a reasonable period of time we can (announce) preferred bidders,” he said.

The country currently has the Koeberg nuclear power plant near Cape Town (the only nuclear power plant in Africa), but it only operates at half capacity. (TTXVN)