Thailand and Cambodia meet in Kuala Lumpur to seek ceasefire

Today's headlines: house arrest rejected for former Malaysian Prime Minister Najib Razak; A two-day meeting of the Communist Party of Vietnam opens today to define the government leadership; South Korean President Lee Jae Myung has moved the presidential residence to the Blue House; Tajikistan drafts a new Ecological Code.

THAILAND – CAMBODIA

ASEAN officials and diplomats from Bangkok and Phnom Penh met today in Kuala Lumpur in an attempt to restore the ceasefire between Thailand and Cambodia that was signed in July. Clashes resumed on 8 December and have so far killed about 40 people and displaced nearly a million. Anwar Ibrahim, Prime Minister of Malaysia, who had mediated the previous truce, said he was ‘cautiously optimistic’ about today's meeting.

MALAYSIA

The High Court in Kuala Lumpur has rejected former Prime Minister Najib Razak's request to spend the rest of his sentence under house arrest. The former prime minister, who was involved in the 1MDB sovereign wealth fund scandal, is serving a six-year sentence for abuse of power and money laundering, a sentence that was partially reduced thanks to a royal decree.

VIETNAM

A two-day meeting of senior officials of the Communist Party of Vietnam begins today to select candidates for top positions for the next five years. The meeting precedes the party's five-yearly congress, scheduled for 19-25 January, at which leaders will be formally appointed and political and economic objectives for the rest of the decade will be defined.

INDIA – MIDDLE EAST – EUROPE

Discussions continue on the creation of the corridor between India, the Middle East and Europe (IMEC), despite one fundamental obstacle remaining: the stabilisation of the Gaza Strip. Last week, during a joint forum, India and the United Arab Emirates reaffirmed their commitment to the project, which was launched in 2023 to counter China's Belt and Road Initiative and is also expected to pass through the port of Haifa in Israel. However, according to experts, without a solution to the Palestinian question, it will remain nothing more than a declaration of intent.

TAIWAN

The Taiwanese government has stepped up security measures following the armed attack in Taipei in which three people were killed. ‘We have received dozens of security threats since the incident,’ said the commander of the capital's criminal investigation division, ruling out terrorism as a motive. In the coming days, more law enforcement officers will be deployed at transport hubs, New Year's Eve celebrations, concerts and major events, he added.

SOUTH KOREA

President Lee Jae Myung has moved the presidential residence back to the Blue House, also known as Cheong Wa Dae, reopening the question of whether it strengthens leadership or promotes isolation, as it is difficult for ordinary people to reach. The previous head of government, Yoon Suk Yeol, had used the latter argument to move the presidency to Yongsan.

RUSSIA

The Russian chemical factory Togliattiazot was attacked by Ukrainian drones in the city of Togliatti in southern Russia, causing a huge fire that was difficult to extinguish, as confirmed by the governor of the Samara region, Vjačeslav Fedoriščev. At least six explosions were reported in the area, and considering the nature of the company, there is a high probability of toxic dispersion of nitrogen, ammonia and other chemicals in the area.

TAJIKISTAN

In a consultative session in Dushanbe, the vice-chairman of the Committee for Environmental Protection, Isfandiyor Shukurzoda, presented the draft of Tajikistan's new Environmental Code, which could become the legal basis for a unified environmental policy capable of meeting the country's international obligations, harmonising with the Concept of Legislative Policy for 2018-2028 and national industrial development strategies.