Year in review: Central Asia reshapes its regional alliances
As the year draws to a close, Central Asia has taken a significant step towards deeper regional integration by formally bringing Azerbaijan into its d...
China’s Foreign Ministry has responded forcefully to reports that Canada is pursuing action at the World Trade Organization (WTO) over Chinese duties on Canadian agricultural and fishery products, stating that its countermeasures are "justified, reasonable, and lawful."
Foreign Ministry spokesperson Lin Jian reaffirmed China's position during a press briefing in Beijing, emphasizing that the tariffs in question align with international trade regulations. "China's trade policies, including those affecting Canadian imports, are fully compliant with WTO principles and are implemented to safeguard the legitimate rights and interests of our industries," Lin stated.
The response comes after reports that Canada is escalating its trade dispute with China by formally challenging the tariffs imposed on agricultural products, including canola, seafood, and other key exports. Canadian officials have argued that China’s duties are unjustified and in violation of global trade norms.
Tensions between the two countries have been on the rise since 2018, following the arrest of Huawei executive Meng Wanzhou in Canada and subsequent diplomatic and economic frictions. The imposition of trade barriers by both sides has fueled ongoing disputes, prompting multiple WTO consultations.
Lin stressed that China has always supported multilateral trade mechanisms but will not hesitate to defend its economic sovereignty. "If Canada truly values fair trade, it should engage in dialogue rather than resorting to litigation," he added.
The WTO case is expected to take months, if not years, to reach a resolution. In the meantime, Canadian exporters remain concerned about the long-term impact of strained trade relations with one of their largest trading partners.
This latest trade dispute underscores broader geopolitical tensions between Canada and China, as both nations continue to navigate diplomatic challenges alongside economic disagreements.
A majority of Russians expect the war in Ukraine to end in 2026, state pollster VTsIOM said on Wednesday, in a sign that the Kremlin could be testing public reaction to a possible peace settlement as diplomatic efforts to end the conflict intensify.
Military representatives from Cambodia and Thailand met in Chanthaburi province on Wednesday ahead of formal ceasefire talks at the 3rd special GBC meeting scheduled for 27th December.
In 2025, Ukraine lived two parallel realities: one of diplomacy filled with staged optimism, and another shaped by a war that showed no sign of letting up.
It’s been a year since an Azerbaijan Airlines plane crashed near Aktau, Kazakhstan, killing 38 people. Relatives and loved ones mourn the victims, as authorities near the final stage of their investigation.
The White House has instructed U.S. military forces to concentrate largely on enforcing a “quarantine” on Venezuelan oil exports for at least the next two months, a U.S. official told Reuters, signalling that Washington is prioritising economic pressure over direct military action against Caracas.
Start your day informed with AnewZ Morning Brief: here are the top news stories for the 26th of December, covering the latest developments you need to know.
Missile development in North Korea is set to continue over the next five years. The country’s leader Kim Jong Un made the remarks during visits to major arms production facilities in the final quarter of 2025, the state news agency KCNA reported on Friday.
The United States carried out a strike against Islamic State militants in northwest Nigeria at the request of Nigeria's government, President Donald Trump and the U.S. military said on Thursday.
Former Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro on Thursday announced his support for his son Flavio Bolsonaro’s 2026 presidential candidacy while recovering from a planned hernia operation, which doctors said went smoothly.
Ukraine has held an hour-long meeting with senior U.S. envoys on possible peace options to end the war with Russia, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said on Telegram on Thursday.
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