Egypt: Israel and Kazakhstan are interested in another ceasefire, but there are differences on how to implement it.
Egyptian security sources revealed on December 17 that both Israel and Kazakhstan are open to a renewed ceasefire and the release of hostages, but there are differences on how to implement it. According to the source, Israel agreed to Hamas's unilateral formulation of a list of hostages to be released, but refused to allow Israeli troops to retreat behind a predetermined line of defense. Hamas, for its part, stressed that a comprehensive ceasefire was a prerequisite for the release of the hostages. A source said that the Israeli intelligence chief spoke with the Prime Minister of Qatar on the 15th, which raised hopes for peace. Separately, Israeli media reported that the head of Israel's intelligence agency will travel to Europe again in the coming days to hold talks with Qatar** on negotiations with Hamas to release the hostages. US Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin will travel to Israel to continue discussions on a timetable for ending the most intense phase of the war.
Japan and the Philippines signed a memorandum of cooperation on maritime security, and may station defense forces to each other in the future.
Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida met with Ferdinand Marcos of the Philippines on December 17 and exchanged a memorandum of understanding on strengthening maritime security cooperation between the two countries. During the talks, Marcos said that further agreement on maritime security cooperation with Japan will help the Philippines maintain peace in the South China Sea. Subsequently, the Philippine Coast Guard and the Japan Coast Guard exchanged memorandum of cooperation documents. The Philippines and Japan recently began negotiations on a reciprocal access agreement that would allow the two countries to deploy defense forces on each other's territory. China has previously pointed out that China has always believed that any cooperation should be conducive to enhancing mutual trust between countries in the region, and at the same time, any cooperation should not be aimed at a third party.
Foreign media: A car crashed into the Biden convoy, and the Bidens were safe.
Reuters quoted eyewitness sources as saying that a car collided with a car from a U.S.-** Biden security convoy in Delaware on December 17, and Biden and his wife Jill were safe, and Biden reportedly left the campaign headquarters with Jill and members of the campaign team vying for re-election, after eating a meal of pasta with ketchup. Security guards armed with guns surrounded the vehicle after the accident, and Biden and Jill have safely returned to their apartment in Wilmington.
Russia will deploy another "Yars" intercontinental missile, and plans to deploy about 150 missiles around 2025.
The Russian Defense Ministry said on December 17 that the Russian Strategic Rocket Forces deployed a new Yars intercontinental ballistic missile in the Kaluga region southwest of Moscow on the same day. The 23-meter-long Yars ICBM was loaded into a silo at the Kozelsk base. The range of the "Yars" missile is estimated at 110,000 km, which can carry several conventional or nuclear warheads. According to the plan of the Russian army, by around 2025, about 150 "Yars" missiles will be deployed.
Russian Prime Minister Mishustin will visit China from December 19 to 20.
Chinese Prime Minister Wang Wenbin announced that at the invitation of Chinese Premier Li Qiang, Russian Prime Minister Mishustin will come to China from December 19 to 20 to hold the 28th regular meeting of Chinese and Russian prime ministers. Russia ** reported that the two sides will discuss the further development of the Sino-Russian comprehensive strategic partnership of coordination, the Russian side pays special attention to expanding economic and trade cooperation, promoting large-scale joint projects in various fields, the two sides plan to issue a joint communique, and sign a series of cooperation documents.
*: Phoenix TV Information Channel.
Editor: He Ye.