Syrian army's Aleppo advance slows, but victory in sight
The Syrian army's advance in Aleppo slowed on December 8 but a victory was still firmly in sight after President Bashar al-Assad vowed that retaking the city would change the course of the six-year-old war.
Vietnam attends ASEAN army chiefs’ meeting in Philippines
A Vietnamese delegation led by Lieut. Gen. Pham Hong Huong, Deputy Chief of the General Staff of the Vietnam People’s Army, has taken part in the 17th ASEAN Chiefs of Army Multilateral Meeting (ACAMM 17) in Manila, the Philippines, from December 4 to 8.
India approves MoU on IT collaboration with Vietnam
The Indian cabinet has approved a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on cooperation in information and technology between the country and Vietnam at a recent meeting chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
Trump fills homeland security, environment, China ambassador jobs
President-elect Donald Trump on December 7 picked a fossil fuel industry defender as his top environmental official, another retired general as homeland security chief and Iowa's governor as US ambassador to China in choices at odds with some of his recent pronouncements.
Rebels seek ceasefire with Syrian army closer to retaking Aleppo
Syrian rebels in besieged eastern Aleppo called on December 7 for an immediate five-day ceasefire and the evacuation of civilians and wounded, but gave no indication they were ready to withdraw as demanded by Damascus and Moscow.
Italian PM Renzi resigns, president to consult with parties
Italian Prime Minister Matteo Renzi resigned on December 7 after a bruising referendum loss at the weekend, with most parliamentary factions pushing for an early election in a few months' time.
Geneva workshop statement welcomes tribunal’s East Sea ruling
A workshop on the East Sea issue held in Geneva, Switzerland on December 6 issued a statement welcoming the ruling of the Permanent Court of Arbitration (PCA) in the Hague on the Philippines’s lawsuit against China’s claims in the waters.
Thai King adds new members to advisory body
Thailand’s new King Maha Vajiralongkorn on December 6 cut down the number of members of the Privy Council, an appointed advisory body to the Monarch of Thailand, to 11 instead of 16 previously, with three new members, according to the Royal Gazette.
'No survivors' after plane crash in northern Pakistan mountains
There were no survivors after a plane carrying 47 people crashed into a mountain in northern Pakistan on December 7, the airline's chairman said, as recovery operations continued late into the night at the remote crash site.
British lawmakers back PM May's Brexit timetable
British lawmakers backed Prime Minister Theresa May's Brexit timetable on December 7 after she headed off a rebellion in her Conservative Party over a lack of insight into the government's strategy to leave the European Union.