Kremlin rejects ceasefire for Ukraine referendum, calls it a 'deception'
The Kremlin on Friday dismissed proposals for a ceasefire to allow a territorial referendum in Ukraine, describing any pause in hostilities as a tacti...
Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba has called on US President Donald Trump to end tariffs on Japanese goods, as both sides prepare for key trade talks amid hopes of reaching a mutually beneficial agreement.
Japan’s Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba held a 45-minute phone call with US President Donald Trump on Friday, urging Washington to lift recent tariffs and shift focus toward Japanese investment in the United States. The conversation, initiated by Trump, also touched on economic security and the US president’s recent visit to the Middle East, according to both Euronews and The Japan Times.
Ishiba reiterated Japan’s long-standing position to see all recent US tariffs — particularly the 25% levy on automobile imports — removed. He said the two leaders agreed on the need for “productive discussions” and expressed hope that negotiations would lead to a “win-win relationship.”
The talks came as Japan’s chief tariff negotiator, Ryosei Akazawa, travelled to Washington for a third round of high-level discussions. According to The Japan Times, previous talks had made little headway, and a broader deal could be announced during the upcoming G7 summit in Canada.
Akazawa, speaking before his departure, emphasised that Japan would not accept any agreement that excluded the removal of all tariffs. “An agreement cannot be reached unless it is mutually satisfactory,” he said.
While the US has relaxed some trade measures, higher tariffs on steel, aluminium and cars remain in place. The two leaders are expected to meet in person at the G7 summit next month.
Japan has lifted a tsunami advisory issued after an earthquake with a magnitude of 6.9 hit the country's northeastern region on Friday (12 December), the Japan Meteorological Agency (JMA) said. The JMA had earlier put the earthquake's preliminary magnitude at 6.7.
The United States issued new sanctions targeting Venezuela on Thursday, imposing curbs on three nephews of President Nicolas Maduro's wife, as well as six crude oil tankers and shipping companies linked to them, as Washington ramps up pressure on Caracas.
Iran is preparing to host a multilateral regional meeting next week in a bid to mediate between Afghanistan and Pakistan.
Kyiv has escalated its naval campaign against Moscow’s economic lifelines, claiming a successful strike on a vessel suspected of skirting international sanctions within the Black Sea.
An extratropical cyclone has caused widespread disruption across Brazil’s São Paulo state, with powerful winds toppling trees and power lines, blocking streets and leaving large parts of the region without electricity.
Türkiye’s Trade Minister Omer Bolat said Friday that discussions in Washington with U.S. officials have strengthened efforts to expand bilateral trade, moving closer to a $100 billion target.
Türkiye’s President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan and Pakistani Prime Minister Shahbaz Sharif held talks on Friday during the International Peace and Trust Forum in Ashgabat, Turkmenistan, focusing on bilateral relations as well as regional and global issues
China’s Ministry of Commerce announced on Friday that it will introduce a licensing system for steel exports starting in 2026, covering around 300 steel products.
Venezuela’s oil shipments have plunged following the United States’ seizure of a tanker earlier this week.
The Kremlin on Friday dismissed proposals for a ceasefire to allow a territorial referendum in Ukraine, describing any pause in hostilities as a tactical ploy rather than a genuine step toward ending the conflict.
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