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...
A Chinese military official on Saturday rejected U.S. allegations about Beijing’s regional behavior, accusing Washington of destabilizing the Asia-Pacific region.
Rear Admiral Hu Gangfeng, vice president of the National Defense University of the People’s Liberation Army (PLA), made the comments at the Shangri-La Dialogue defense summit in Singapore. His remarks came in response to statements earlier in the day by U.S. Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth, who said China was harassing neighbors in the South China Sea and preparing for a possible invasion of Taiwan by 2027.
Hu called Hegseth’s accusations “groundless” and said they were meant to "stir up trouble, create division, and incite confrontation."
He also criticized what he described as growing military alliances and deployments in the region, saying: “Some countries are promoting exclusive and confrontational small circles and have drastically increased their military presence.”
Hu said actions under the pretext of “freedom of navigation” were infringing on sovereignty and contributing to instability in the Taiwan Strait and broader Indo-Pacific maritime cooperation.
China’s Defense Minister Dong Jun did not attend this year’s summit, marking a break from regular participation since 2019.
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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