Xi Jinping, General Secretary of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, President of the People's Republic of China, and Chairman of the Central Military Commission, arrived in Macao by special plane on the afternoon of the 18th to attend the celebration of the 25th anniversary of Macao's return to the motherland and the inauguration ceremony of the sixth-term government of the Macao Special Administrative Region on the 20th, and to inspect Macao. Around 4:00 PM, the special plane carrying Xi Jinping slowly landed at Macao International Airport. Xi Jinping and his wife Peng Liyuan stepped out of the cabin door, waving to the welcoming crowd. The Macao Police Band played lively welcoming music, and dragon and lion dances filled the air with joy. Beside the gangway, two children presented flowers to Xi Jinping and Peng Liyuan. Accompanied by Ho Iat Seng, Chief Executive of the Macao Special Administrative Region, and his wife Zheng Suzhen, Xi Jinping and Peng Liyuan cordially shook hands with the welcoming personnel. Hundreds of Macao youth and representatives from various sectors of society waved national flags, SAR flags, and flowers, expressing a warm welcome. Xi Jinping's visit to Macao has drawn high attention from both home and abroad, with Chinese and foreign journalists waiting at the airport. Xi Jinping walked to the interview area and greeted the journalists present. He stated that he is always delighted to visit the beautiful city of Macao. This visit is to celebrate the 25th anniversary of Macao's return to the motherland with his compatriots and to see the new developments and changes in Macao over the past few years. On behalf of the Central Government and people of all ethnic groups across the country, he extended sincere greetings and best wishes to all Macao residents. Xi Jinping pointed out that over the past 25 years, the practice of "One Country, Two Systems" with Macao characteristics has achieved universally recognized success, demonstrating vibrant vitality and unique charm. The development of the country is changing with each passing day and is unstoppable, while Macao's development has accumulated strength and has a promising future. This is the glory of Macao residents and the pride of the entire nation. As long as the institutional advantages of "One Country, Two Systems" are fully utilized, and courage is shown in striving and innovation, Macao will surely create an even better tomorrow. Xi Jinping emphasized that Macao is the apple of the motherland's eye, and he has always been concerned about its development and the well-being of all its residents. In the coming days, he will visit and observe, engage in extensive and in-depth exchanges with friends from all walks of life, and jointly discuss Macao's development plans. Cai Qi, Member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee and Director of the General Office of the CPC Central Committee; Li Hongzhong, Member of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee and Vice Chairman of the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress; He Weidong, Member of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee and Vice Chairman of the Central Military Commission; He Lifeng, Member of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee and Vice Premier of the State Council; Wang Dongfeng, Vice Chairman and Secretary-General of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference; and other accompanying personnel arrived on the same plane. Xia Baolong, Director of the Hong Kong and Macao Affairs Office of the CPC Central Committee and the Hong Kong and Macao Affairs Office of the State Council, arrived earlier and went to the airport to welcome them. Edmund Ho Hau Wah, Vice Chairman of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference; Ho Teng Iat, Chief Executive-designate of the Macao Special Administrative Region; and heads of the current executive, legislative, and judicial branches of the Macao Special Administrative Region also went to the airport to welcome them. Zheng Xincong, Director of the Liaison Office of the Central People's Government in the Macao Special Administrative Region; Liu Xianfa, Commissioner of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in the Macao Special Administrative Region; Yu Changjiang, Commander of the Chinese People's Liberation Army Garrison in Macao; and Lin Qinghua, Political Commissar of the Chinese People's Liberation Army Garrison in Macao, also welcomed them at the airport.
On the afternoon of the 18th, President Xi Jinping met with Macao Special Administrative Region Chief Executive Ho Iat Seng in Macao. Xi Jinping told Ho Iat Seng that in his five years as Chief Executive, he has overcome difficulties, been pragmatic and effective, which is truly commendable and has yielded significant achievements. He has led the current SAR government in uniting all sectors of Macao society, comprehensively, accurately, and unswervingly implementing the "One Country, Two Systems" principle, resolutely safeguarding national sovereignty, security, and development interests, overcoming the severe impact and challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic, and diligently promoting moderately diversified economic development. New progress has been made in various undertakings, consolidating and developing a good situation of prosperity and stability. The Central Government fully affirms the work of you and the current SAR government. Xi Jinping pointed out that he hopes Ho Iat Seng will actively support the new Chief Executive and their governing team in governing according to law, and continue to contribute to the cause of "One Country, Two Systems" and to the development of Macao and the nation. Ho Iat Seng, on behalf of the SAR government and Macao citizens, extended a warm welcome to President Xi Jinping and his wife Peng Liyuan for their visit to Macao to attend the celebration of the 25th anniversary of Macao's return to the motherland and the inauguration ceremony of the sixth-term government of the Macao Special Administrative Region, and to inspect Macao. He expressed heartfelt gratitude to President Xi and the Central Government for their trust and support. With the strong support of the Central Government, over the past five years, the Macao SAR government has united and led all sectors of society in strongly coping with the impact of the three-year COVID-19 pandemic, pushing the SAR's various construction endeavors to a new level. He will support the new SAR government in governing according to law and continue to contribute his efforts to the development and construction of Macao and the nation. Cai Qi, Xia Baolong, and others participated in the meeting.
Xinhua News Agency broadcast "A New Chapter for Prosperous Macao: A Record of the CPC Central Committee with Comrade Xi Jinping at its Core's Concern for Macao's Development."
Our station today (December 18) broadcast CCTV Quick Comment "Macao, the 'Apple of the Motherland's Eye,' Has a Promising Future."
The Central Rural Work Conference was held in Beijing from December 17 to 18. The conference was guided by Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era, thoroughly implemented the spirit of the 20th CPC National Congress and the second and third plenary sessions of the 20th CPC Central Committee, fully implemented General Secretary Xi Jinping's important expositions and instructions on "San Nong" (agriculture, rural areas, and farmers) work, and carried out the spirit of the Central Economic Work Conference. It analyzed the current situation and challenges faced by "San Nong" work and made arrangements for "San Nong" work in 2025. The CPC Central Committee attached great importance to this conference. Before the conference, the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee put forward clear requirements for holding a successful conference and doing a good job in "San Nong" work. Xi Jinping, General Secretary of the CPC Central Committee, President of the People's Republic of China, and Chairman of the Central Military Commission, made important instructions on doing a good job in "San Nong" work. Xi Jinping pointed out that in 2024, China's grain production reached a new level, farmers' incomes steadily increased, and rural society was harmonious and stable, providing fundamental support for promoting high-quality economic and social development. To do a good job in "San Nong" work in 2025, it is necessary to be guided by Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era, fully implement the spirit of the 20th CPC National Congress and the second and third plenary sessions of the 20th CPC Central Committee, adhere to integrated urban-rural development, further deepen rural reform, improve the system of policies supporting agriculture, benefiting farmers, and enriching rural areas, and comprehensively advance rural revitalization. It is essential to strictly abide by the red line for cultivated land, promote the construction of high-standard farmland with high quality, strengthen support for agricultural science and technology and equipment, and ensure stable production and supply of grain and important agricultural products. It is necessary to actively develop rural industries that enrich farmers, improve the comprehensive benefits of agriculture, strengthen county economies, broaden channels for increasing farmers' incomes, continuously consolidate and expand the achievements of poverty alleviation, and resolutely prevent large-scale return to poverty or new poverty. It is crucial to thoroughly learn and apply the "Thousands of Villages Demonstration and Ten Thousands of Villages Renovation" Project experience, solidly advance rural construction, prosper rural culture, promote civilized practices, and build beautiful and livable rural areas. It is also necessary to strengthen the building of rural grassroots Party organizations and improve the effectiveness of Party building in leading grassroots governance. Xi Jinping emphasized that Party committees and governments at all levels should adhere to the priority development of agriculture and rural areas, consolidate the political responsibility of secretaries at five levels for rural revitalization, fully mobilize the enthusiasm of Party members, cadres, and farmers, work hard and persistently, accelerate the pace of agricultural and rural modernization, promote a more solid agricultural foundation, more prosperous rural areas, and more prosperous lives for farmers, and solidly move towards the goal of building a strong agricultural country. The conference conveyed and studied Xi Jinping's important instructions, and discussed the "Opinions of the CPC Central Committee and the State Council on Further Deepening Rural Reform and Solidly Advancing Comprehensive Rural Revitalization (Discussion Draft)." Liu Guozhong, Member of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee and Vice Premier of the State Council, attended the conference and delivered a speech. The conference pointed out that General Secretary Xi Jinping's important instructions fully affirmed the achievements made in "San Nong" work this year, put forward clear requirements for doing a good job in "San Nong" work in 2025, and scientifically guided "San Nong" work in strategic planning and crucial implementation. They are highly political, ideological, guiding, and targeted. It is essential to thoroughly study and implement General Secretary Xi Jinping's important expositions and instructions on "San Nong" work, resolutely implement them with a high degree of political consciousness, and transform them into concrete actions and measures in light of actual conditions. The conference emphasized that it is necessary to focus on learning and applying the "Thousands of Villages Demonstration and Ten Thousands of Villages Renovation" Project experience and advancing comprehensive rural revitalization, concentrate efforts on doing a good job in a number of key practical tasks, and do everything possible to promote increased efficiency in agriculture, increased vitality in rural areas, and increased income for farmers. It is necessary to resolutely shoulder the important responsibility of ensuring national food security, continuously enhance the supply guarantee capacity of grain and other important agricultural products, stabilize grain acreage, deeply advance the large-scale yield improvement action for grain and oil crops, strengthen the capacity building for agricultural disaster prevention and mitigation, and ensure stable and high yields of grain. Strengthen cultivated land protection and quality improvement, strictly manage the balance of cultivated land occupation and compensation, establish a monitoring system for cultivated land use, and ensure the quality and financial security of high-standard farmland construction projects. Promote collaborative research and development of agricultural science and technology, accelerate the large-scale promotion and application of scientific and technological achievements, and develop new quality productive forces in agriculture in light of local conditions. Improve the policy support system for grain production, and initiate the implementation of inter-provincial horizontal interest compensation between grain producing and consuming areas under central coordination. Improve the coordination mechanism between agricultural product trade and production, and promote grain and other important agricultural product prices to remain at a reasonable level. Build a diversified food supply system, support the stable development of animal husbandry, and improve the long-term mechanism for grain and food conservation. It is necessary to unswervingly grasp all tasks of consolidating and expanding the achievements of poverty alleviation, improve the effectiveness of monitoring and assistance to prevent return to poverty and new poverty, and comprehensively establish rural mechanisms to prevent return to poverty and new poverty, as well as a layered and categorized assistance system for low-income populations and underdeveloped areas. It is necessary to promote the improvement of quality and efficiency of rural industries, do a good job in "local specialties," cultivate new industries and new business forms, improve mechanisms for linking farmers and benefiting them, and promote increased income for farmers. It is necessary to improve the level of rural planning and construction, conform to population change trends, promote the organic integration of comprehensive rural revitalization and new urbanization, coordinate urban and rural planning layout in counties, promote the extension of infrastructure to rural areas, improve the level of rural basic public services, continuously improve the rural living environment, and strengthen rural ecological environment governance. It is necessary to focus on improving the rural governance system, deeply advance Party building to promote rural revitalization, and continuously rectify formalism to reduce burdens on the grassroots. Implement the civilized rural customs construction project, strengthen the building of spiritual civilization in rural areas in the new era, and actively carry out the reform of outdated customs. Adhere to and develop the "Fengqiao Experience" in the new era, do a good job in investigating and resolving rural contradictions and disputes, and maintain rural stability and tranquility. It is necessary to fully implement the task of further deepening rural reform, orderly advance the pilot project of extending the second round of land contracts by 30 years after expiration, explore effective ways to vitalize idle rural houses through renting, equity participation, cooperation, etc., innovate rural revitalization investment and financing mechanisms, and stimulate the动力 and vitality of rural revitalization. The conference emphasized that it is necessary to strengthen the overall leadership of the Party over "San Nong" work, promote the in-depth and solid learning and application of the "Thousands of Villages Demonstration and Ten Thousands of Villages Renovation" Project experience, and improve the long-term mechanism for comprehensively promoting rural revitalization. Follow the Party's mass line in the new era, adhere to starting from the actual conditions of rural areas, respect the wishes of farmers, give play to the main role of farmers, improve working methods, encourage local practical exploration and reform and innovation, and continuously create a new situation for comprehensive rural revitalization. State Councilor and Secretary-General of the State Council Wu Zhenglong presided over the first plenary session. Members of the Central Rural Work Leading Group, responsible comrades from provinces, autonomous regions, municipalities directly under the Central Government, cities with separate plans, Xinjiang Production and Construction Corps, relevant departments of the Central and State Organs, relevant people's organizations, relevant financial institutions and enterprises, and relevant departments of the Central Military Commission attended the conference.
Tomorrow (December 19), People's Daily will publish an editorial titled "Striving for Action, Opening a New Chapter for Comprehensive Rural Revitalization."
Our station broadcast CCTV Quick Comment "Promoting a More Solid Agricultural Foundation, More Prosperous Rural Areas, and More Prosperous Lives for Farmers."
An experience exchange meeting on implementing the spirit of the Central Ethnic Work Conference was held in Beijing on the 18th. Wang Huning, Member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee and Chairman of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference, attended and delivered a speech. He stated that it is necessary to thoroughly study and implement the spirit of the 20th CPC National Congress and the Third Plenary Session of the 20th CPC Central Committee, study and implement General Secretary Xi Jinping's important thoughts on strengthening and improving ethnic work, and advance the forging of a strong sense of community for the Chinese nation and the building of the Chinese nation with a high sense of responsibility and mission, promoting high-quality development of the Party's ethnic work in the new era. Wang Huning stated that it is necessary to deeply understand and grasp the great significance of General Secretary Xi Jinping's important thoughts on strengthening and improving ethnic work, understand and grasp the main line requirement of forging a strong sense of community for the Chinese nation, understand and grasp the significant advantages of the correct path with Chinese characteristics for solving ethnic problems, and understand and grasp the historical trend of the formation and development of the Chinese nation, always adhering to the correct direction of the Party's ethnic work in the new era. It is necessary to insist on promoting the outstanding characteristics of Chinese civilization and accelerating the construction of a shared spiritual home for the Chinese nation, insist on common prosperity and solidly advance the modernization of ethnic regions, insist on embedded integration and actively promote exchanges and interactions among all ethnic groups, insist on governing according to law and continuously improve the policy and legal system for ethnic affairs governance, and always strengthen the identification of all ethnic groups with the great motherland, the Chinese nation, Chinese culture, the Communist Party of China, and socialism with Chinese characteristics. It is necessary to strengthen the Party's overall leadership over ethnic work, improve the institutional mechanisms for forging a strong sense of community for the Chinese nation, and enhance the ability and level of doing a good job in the Party's ethnic work in the new era. Shi Taifeng presided over the meeting, and Shen Yueyue attended the meeting. Responsible comrades from Heilongjiang, Zhejiang, Guizhou, Gansu, Xinjiang, and the Organization Department of the CPC Central Committee, the Ministry of Public Security, and the Ministry of Culture and Tourism made speeches.
On December 18, Vice President Han Zheng met with Ajit Doval, India's National Security Advisor and Special Representative for the China-India Boundary Question, in Beijing. Han Zheng stated that President Xi Jinping and Prime Minister Modi had a successful meeting not long ago, reaching important consensus on improving and developing China-India relations. As ancient Eastern civilizations and emerging major countries, China and India's adherence to independence and self-reliance, and maintenance of unity and cooperation, have global influence and strategic significance. Next year will mark the 75th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between China and India. Both sides should implement the important consensus reached by the two leaders, maintain the momentum of high-level exchanges, cultivate political mutual trust, gradually resume institutional dialogue and exchanges and cooperation in economic, trade, cultural, and other fields, and push bilateral relations back onto a stable development track. Doval stated that the resumption of the Special Representatives' Meeting on the boundary question between India and China after five years is an important action to implement the consensus of the two leaders and is of great significance for promoting the forward development of bilateral relations. India is willing to strengthen strategic communication and expand mutually beneficial cooperation with China, injecting new impetus into the development of bilateral relations.
Strengthening the Party's leadership over universities, and strengthening and improving Party building in universities are fundamental guarantees for running socialist universities with Chinese characteristics well. Since entering the new era, the Party's overall leadership over universities has been continuously strengthened, the political and organizational functions of Party organizations at the grassroots level in universities have been continuously enhanced, inspiring a large number of teachers and students to actively engage in the great cause of building a strong country and national rejuvenation. The Third Plenary Session of the 20th CPC Central Committee emphasized that education, science and technology, and talent are fundamental and strategic supports for Chinese modernization. Promoting the integrated development of education, science and technology, and talent puts forward new requirements and missions for comprehensively improving the level of Party building in universities and promoting high-quality Party building in universities. Universities across the country take political construction as the overall guide, implement the Party's overall leadership over university work, adhere to the Party's innovative theoretical armament as the fundamental task of the Party's ideological construction, and continuously promote the implementation of major research projects such as Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era and philosophy and social sciences with Chinese characteristics, helping teachers and students better grasp the correct stands, viewpoints, and methods through systematic and theoretical research and interpretation. Adhering to the Party's overall leadership over universities and improving the construction of laws, regulations, and policy systems are important ways and means. Since the 18th CPC National Congress, the "Regulations on the Work of Grassroots Organizations of the Communist Party of China in Regular Institutions of Higher Education" have been revised, and documents such as those on adhering to and improving the system of principal responsibility under the leadership of the Party Committee and strengthening Party building in private schools have been issued, implementing the Party's leadership throughout the entire process and aspects of running schools. Shandong, Hebei, Hubei, and other places ensure that there are no blind spots in Party building in private universities by dispatching Party secretaries, cross-appointments of cadres, and establishing evaluation systems. Adapting to the new forms of teaching and scientific research in universities, Harbin Institute of Technology, Sun Yat-sen University, and other universities have extended branch construction to studios and project platforms, making the nerve endings of grassroots organizations smooth and powerful. High-quality Party building leads high-quality development. Universities across the country promptly integrate the Party's latest theoretical achievements and the achievements of Chinese modernization into ideological and political classes, and deeply implement the project of cultivating virtues in the new era. Fudan University, Tongji University, and other universities integrate resources, making large aircraft and deep-sea diving vivid scenarios for ideological and political education. Beijing University of Science and Technology, Central South University, and more than 50 other steel-background universities have teamed up with relevant enterprises and research institutes to create a "Steel Bones and Iron Will" consortium, allowing teachers and students to firmly choose their majors through empathy. Tsinghua University, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, and other universities unify thinking through Party building, focus on major national needs, build scientific and technological research platforms, and continuously exert efforts to tackle "bottleneck" key core technologies.
At 9:57 PM on December 17, taikonauts Cai Xuzhe, Song Lingdong, and Wang Haoze of the Shenzhou-19 crew, in close coordination and with the support of the space station's robotic arm and ground researchers, successfully completed their first extravehicular activity (EVA). This EVA lasted 9 hours, setting a new record for the longest spacewalk by Chinese taikonauts. At 12:51 PM, taikonaut Cai Xuzhe opened the airlock hatch of the Wentian lab module and was the first to exit, boarding the robotic arm. With the assistance of taikonaut Song Lingdong, equipment transfer was completed. At 2:32 PM, Song Lingdong successfully exited the cabin and performed collaborative work with Cai Xuzhe. During this time, taikonaut Wang Haoze provided support from inside the Tianhe core module. This EVA primarily completed tasks such as installing space debris protection devices for the space station, inspecting and handling external equipment and facilities. At 9:57 PM, spacewalking taikonauts Cai Xuzhe and Song Lingdong safely returned to the Wentian lab module, once again setting a new record for the duration of Chinese taikonauts' EVAs. Taikonaut Cai Xuzhe walked in space again after two years, and Song Lingdong became China's first "post-90s" taikonaut to perform an EVA. As planned, the Shenzhou-19 manned mission will also involve further EVAs for personnel and application payloads, and conduct a large number of scientific experiments and technical tests.
Data released by the National Food and Strategic Reserves Administration shows that as of now, over 160 million tons of autumn grain have been purchased. By variety, 70 million tons of mid-to-late indica rice were purchased, of which Heilongjiang, Henan, Jiangsu, and Anhui provinces cumulatively purchased over 4 million tons of mid-to-late indica rice at minimum purchase prices, effectively leveraging the policy's supportive role. 90 million tons of corn were purchased, with over 50 million tons from the Northeast region, accounting for about 40% of the output. Farmers' grain sales were smooth, enterprises were active in purchasing, market transactions tended to be active, and market operations were generally stable. While grain is being stored, a batch of green technology grain storage technologies are being promoted and applied. Currently, the national standard and intact warehouse capacity exceeds 700 million tons, and more than 5,500 post-harvest grain service centers have been built in major grain-producing areas, achieving basic full coverage in major grain-producing counties, and overall grain storage capacity can meet demand.
This year, 388,000 rural place names have been named across the country. The Ministry of Civil Affairs and other departments recently jointly issued the "Guidelines for Rural Place Name Construction 1.0 Version," providing work guidance for localities to promote rural place name naming and labeling, information services, and application empowerment. Since the beginning of this year, 388,000 rural place names have been named across the country, 275,000 rural place name signs have been set up, and 1.11 million pieces of rural place name information and agricultural benefit points of interest have been collected and mapped, further helping to improve rural construction and development. The 2024 Beijing "Respond to Every Call" Reform Forum opened today. The 2024 Beijing "Respond to Every Call" Reform Forum opened today (December 18), featuring a main forum and multiple parallel forums, supporting exhibitions, etc., and releasing a series of urban governance research results. Domestic and foreign guests visited the 12345 Citizen Service Hotline Center and communities to learn firsthand about Beijing's explorations in super-large city governance. The documentary film "Your Voice," shot by China Media Group, held its premiere, showcasing Beijing's innovative practices in deepening the "Respond to Every Call" reform through real people and real experiences. 2025 New Year's Day holiday train tickets went on sale today. Train tickets for the 2025 New Year's Day holiday officially went on sale today (December 18). A special service zone for students and migrant workers to pre-book Spring Festival travel tickets has also been launched on the Railway 12306 mobile client. Student passengers can pre-book train tickets until February 28, 2025. China's civil aviation passenger volume exceeded 700 million this year. The reporter learned from the Civil Aviation Administration of China that as of now, China's civil aviation passenger volume has exceeded 700 million this year, with an average daily passenger volume of over 2 million, a year-on-year increase of 18.1%, setting a new historical high. The Jiangmen Underground Neutrino Observatory liquid filling started today. Today (December 18), the liquid filling of the Jiangmen Underground Neutrino Observatory, a major scientific facility located in Guangdong, began. After ultra-pure water filling and liquid scintillator replacement, the major scientific facility is expected to officially operate in August 2025, for detecting neutrinos, one of the fundamental particles that make up the material world. The first batch of direct shipping goods from Peru's Chancay Port arrived in China today. Today (December 18), the COSCO Shipping "Xin Shanghai" vessel, carrying 24,000 tons of fruits and mineral products from Peru's Chancay Port, arrived at Shanghai Yangshan Port, marking the opening of the "Chancay-Shanghai" two-way direct shipping route. The opening of this route shortens the shipping time from Peru to China from the previous 33 days to 23 days, adding a more convenient maritime logistics channel for economic and trade exchanges between the two countries. The TV series "The Brilliant Wind and Sea" aired tonight on CCTV-1. The TV series "The Brilliant Wind and Sea" premiered tonight (December 18) during prime time on CCTV-1. The drama multi-dimensionally presents Macao's relaxed and comfortable urban atmosphere and diverse urban appearance, as well as the spirit of Macao compatriots who love life and pursue happiness after the handover.
The Russian Ministry of Defense stated on the 17th that the Russian army struck 142 Ukrainian military strongholds and shot down dozens of Ukrainian drones. The Russian army also claimed to have destroyed multiple Ukrainian armored vehicles and howitzers in the border area of Russia's Kursk region. The Ukrainian military stated that it took measures to resist Russian offensives on the front lines, and fighting continued in Kupyansk and other areas. Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk said on the 17th that Poland is not currently considering sending troops to Ukraine and will not change this decision due to external pressure. Russia claims to have arrested a suspect in the killing of the commander of Russia's NBC protection forces. The Russian Federal Security Service announced today (December 18) that Russian law enforcement officers have arrested a suspect in the killing of General Igor Kirillov, commander of Russia's NBC protection forces. The suspect claimed to have been recruited by Ukrainian intelligence services to carry out the attack.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu held a security meeting on Mount Hermon in the Golan Heights on the 17th and stated that the Israeli army would remain in the Golan Heights buffer zone until "other solutions that can ensure Israel's security" emerge. UN Secretary-General's spokesperson Stéphane Dujarric said on the same day that the 1974 Disengagement of Forces Agreement remains valid and should be respected, and the Israeli army's actions violate the relevant agreement establishing the buffer zone. Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Nasser Kanaani on the 17th condemned Israel's military actions against Syria during the turbulent situation in Syria. He emphasized that Iran will push the international community to collectively stop Israeli aggression.
According to US media reports today (December 18), residents of the Gaza Strip and their relatives in the United States have jointly filed a lawsuit, accusing the US State Department of circumventing relevant US laws by providing military support to the Israeli military, which has committed serious human rights violations, and demanding court intervention. The US State Department and Department of Justice declined to comment on the matter on the 17th. The Gaza Strip Health Ministry announced on the 17th that Israeli attacks on the Gaza Strip in the past day resulted in at least 31 deaths and 79 injuries.
Germany's Ifo Business Climate Index falls to over four-year low. Data released by the German Ifo Institute for Economic Research on December 17 showed that Germany's business climate index fell to 84.7 points in December, the lowest level since May 2020. The institute's president, Clemens Fuest, stated that the weakness of the German economy has become a long-term problem. US astronauts stranded in space station further delay return date. The US National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) stated on December 17 that due to many details still needing to be finalized, the launch date for the next "Dragon" spacecraft manned mission has been postponed from the original February next year to no earlier than late March next year. This means that the two US astronauts stranded on the International Space Station due to technical malfunctions of Boeing's "Starliner" spacecraft will have their return further delayed, and their stay on the space station will exceed nine months.
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