Global focus
On December 22, 2023 local time, Niamey, Niger, the last French soldiers boarded a French military plane at a French base and left Niger forever, which was handed over to the Nigerien army. On December 22, 2023 local time, the Nigerien military announced that the last group of French soldiers would withdraw from Niger on the 22nd, marking the end of France's anti-jihad operation in the Sahel region of West Africa that has lasted for more than a decade.
On December 22, 2023 local time, in Niamey, Niger, French soldiers leave the French base that has been handed over to the Nigerien army.
General Eric Ozan (left), commander of the French army in the Sahel region, talks with the chief of staff of the Nigerien army, Colonel Mamané Sani Chiawu (right), chief of staff of the Nigerien army, at the French base handed over to the Nigerien army in Niamey, Niamey, Niger, December 22, 2023 local time.
On May 15, 2023 local time, on the BAP air base in Niamey, Niger, France, French pilot and navigator Margo walks towards their plane before carrying out a mission (data map). After the French withdrawal from Niger, hundreds of American military personnel, as well as some Italian and German troops, remained in the country.
Global overview
The UN Security Council voted to adopt a new resolution on humanitarian aid to the Gaza Strip
The UN Security Council adopted Resolution 2720 on December 22, 2023, with 13 votes in favor and 2 abstentions, calling for "immediate, safe and unhindered direct and large-scale humanitarian assistance to Palestinian civilians throughout the Gaza Strip" and "creating conditions for a continued cessation of hostilities".
The resolution calls on the parties to the conflict to allow and facilitate the use of all available routes to the entire Gaza Strip, the immediate and unconditional release of detainees, the medical needs of all detainees, and the provision of fuel to the Gaza Strip to meet essential humanitarian needs. The resolution also asks the UN Secretary-General to appoint a "Senior Humanitarian and Reconstruction Coordinator".
The resolution reaffirms the Council's unwavering commitment to the vision of a two-State solution and stresses the importance of the reunification of the Gaza Strip and the West Bank under the Palestinian Authority. On that day, the United States and Russia abstained in the voting on the draft resolution, submitted by the United Arab Emirates.
Israeli military declares "humanitarian moratorium" in parts of Rafah
On December 22, 2023 local time, in Rafah, Gaza Strip, Palestinians searched in the rubble after Israeli bombing. The Israeli military announced on December 22 local time that it would impose a "humanitarian moratorium" in parts of the city of Rafah in the southern Gaza Strip.
Israeli army spokesman Avihai Adrei said in a statement on social media on the 22nd: "For humanitarian purposes, the western region of Rafah will temporarily suspend military activities from 10 o'clock to 14 o'clock on the same day for replenishment." ”
Israel will continue to inspect humanitarian aid shipments to Gaza
On December 22, 2023 local time, at the Kerem Shalom crossing in Israel, the Palestinian-Israeli conflict continues, and trucks carrying aid materials line up to enter the Gaza Strip. Following the adoption of a resolution on the Israeli-Palestinian conflict by the United Nations Security Council on December 22, 2023, Israeli Foreign Minister Cohen posted on social media that Israel would continue to inspect all humanitarian aid shipments to the Gaza Strip for security reasons.
Cohen said Israel will continue its military operations in the Gaza Strip until all detainees are released and the Palestinian Islamic Resistance Movement (Hamas) is eliminated.
As the conflict between Russia and Ukraine continues, Ukrainian soldiers hold their frontline positions in Bakhmut
On December 21, 2023 local time, near Bakhmut in the Donetsk region, the Russian-Ukrainian conflict continued, and Ukrainian soldiers held their frontline positions and fired at Russian positions.
There has been a surge in illegal immigration, and two rail bridges along the U.S.-Mexico border have been closed
On December 20, 2023 local time, in Eagle Pass, Texas, the United States, there was a surge of illegal immigrants, preparing to cross the U.S.-Mexico border to the United States. U.S. federal government officials announced on December 17, 2023, the temporary closure of two railroad bridges from Texas to Mexico, citing the discovery of a large number of illegal immigrants trying to climb onto freight trains and smuggle in the direction of the United States.
The U.S. Department of Homeland Security's Customs and Border Protection said in a statement on the 17th that the railroad bridge in Eagle Pass and El Paso was temporarily closed "in order to rearrange personnel to assist the U.S. Border Patrol in detaining illegal immigrants." According to the statement, the US side has recently noticed that criminal gangs use freight trains to organize illegal immigration and has taken corresponding measures, including increasing the number of law enforcement agencies and cooperating with the Mexican side to combat illegal immigration smuggling.
A strong storm hit Germany, injuring many people
On December 22, 2023 local time, in Bremerhaven, Germany, amid storm surge and waves, a pedestrian walks along the embankment at the mouth of the Wither River. According to German media reports on December 22, 2023, Storm "Zoltan" is "sweeping" across Germany, which is highly destructive and has caused many injuries.
Since the 21st, it has been reported that German rail traffic has been severely affected by the storm, with many cancellations and delays in regional and long-distance transportation. On the 22nd, there were further delays and cancellations for long-distance transportation. Deutsche Bahn said on its website that the northern railway line was particularly affected.
South Korea welcomes its coldest day since the beginning of winter in 2023
On December 22, 2023 local time, South Korea ushered in the coldest day since the beginning of winter this year, and most parts of South Korea issued a special warning for a cold wave. The picture shows tourists playing near Gwanghwamun Gate.
The picture of this article is Xinhua News Agency, Visual China, The Paper