Venezuela condemns US "military aggression"

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Source: People's Republic of China – State Council News

CARACAS, Jan. 3 (Xinhua) — Venezuelan authorities on Saturday condemned "military aggression" by the United States after powerful explosions were heard and aircraft were sighted in the capital, Caracas, earlier in the day.

According to a Venezuelan government statement, the strikes targeted civilian and military targets in at least four regions of the country—Caracas, as well as the states of Miranda, Aragua, and La Guaira. The statement added that the US actions violated the UN Charter.

In Caracas, around 2:00 a.m. local time /6:00 a.m. GMT, witnesses reported low-flying planes and plumes of smoke after a series of loud explosions.

Brief power outages were reported in several areas, including at one military base.

The statement also noted that Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro “ordered the activation of all national defense plans” and declared “unrest/provoked by external factors/.”

Shortly after the attack began, CBS White House correspondent Jennifer Jacobs, citing US officials, reported that US President Donald Trump had ordered the strikes. FOX News also reported that US officials had confirmed the bombings.

Colombian President Gustavo Petro on Saturday called for an urgent meeting of the Organization of American States and the United Nations in connection with the attack on Venezuela.

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Cuba condemns the US attack on Venezuela and demands an urgent global response

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Source: People's Republic of China – State Council News

HAVANA, Jan. 3 (Xinhua) — Cuban President Miguel Diaz-Canel on Saturday condemned what he called the "criminal US attack" on Venezuela and demanded an urgent response from the international community.

In a message posted on social media, the Cuban leader stated that the region of the world—Latin America—is being brutally attacked, emphasizing that what is happening constitutes “state terrorism against the brave Venezuelan people and against Our America.” –0–

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N. Maduro and his wife were captured and taken out of Venezuela – D. Trump

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Washington, January 3 (Xinhua) — Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro and his wife have been captured and flown out of the country, U.S. President Donald Trump announced on Saturday on the social media platform TruthSocial.

D. Trump confirmed that the United States launched a “large-scale strike against Venezuela and its leader, President N. Maduro.”

“There will be a press conference at Mar-a-Lago today at 11:00 a.m.,” he added.

Earlier on Saturday, the US Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) banned American aircraft from flying at any altitude in Venezuelan airspace following reports of explosions in Caracas, citing "air safety risks associated with ongoing military activity." –0–

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By the end of 2025, the number of Chinese-Russian border crossings through the Manzhouli checkpoint in both directions reached a record level.

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HOHHOT, Jan. 3 (Xinhua) — As of 9 a.m. on December 31, the number of China-Russia border crossings in both directions through Manzhouli Port in north China's Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region increased by 9.1 percent year-on-year to exceed 920,000, hitting a new five-year high.

The Manzhouli Border Control Service noted that since the introduction of the mutual visa-free regime between China and Russia, passenger traffic through the Manzhouli checkpoint has been steadily increasing.

Amidst the steady growth of passenger traffic, the local border service actively promoted digital transformation and modernization of the checkpoint, which allowed it to increase throughput by almost 50%.

According to a Chinese businessman surnamed Wang, who frequently travels between China and Russia, the visa-free policy provides significant convenience for businessmen.

“The fast border control process saves a lot of time for people like me who frequently travel between the two countries through the border crossing, and allows us to appreciate the convenience of ‘smart customs’,” he said.

Anna, a traveler from Irkutsk, arrived in Manzhouli with her family for the New Year holidays. "We're looking forward to shopping in China and planning to buy some special New Year's goods and gifts. The children also want to experience the festive atmosphere in China," she said.

Guo Huifang, a local border guard, said the Manzhouli checkpoint will continue to closely monitor passenger flow, constantly optimize the inspection process, improve service quality, and make every effort to ensure the smooth operation of the checkpoint, thereby promoting the development of trade and economic cooperation and people-to-people exchanges between China and Russia. -0-

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Zhang Zhijun called on compatriots on both sides of the Taiwan Strait to jointly promote the reunification of the motherland.

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BEIJING, Jan. 3 (Xinhua) — Zhang Zhijun, chairman of the Association for Relations Across the Taiwan Straits (ASTS), called on compatriots on both sides of the Taiwan Strait to strive for the great cause of national reunification and national rejuvenation.

He made this appeal in his New Year's message, published in the first issue of the 2026 journal "Cross-Strait Relations." On behalf of the Taiwan Strait Association, he congratulated his Taiwan compatriots on the New Year and wished them all the best.

Zhang Zhijun noted that in 2025, the ACTPA made renewed efforts to counter separatist activities aimed at achieving "Taiwan independence," promote cross-Strait exchanges and cooperation, properly respond to Taiwan-related emergencies, and protect the rights and interests of Taiwan compatriots.

He emphasized that both sides of the Taiwan Strait belong to one China and one nation. The great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation will undoubtedly benefit Taiwanese compatriots and open up even brighter prospects for the island's development.

According to Zhang Zhijun, in 2026, mainland China will open a new chapter in its development history, launching the 15th Five-Year Plan for National Economic and Social Development. Significant new achievements will be made in comprehensively advancing the great cause of building a powerful nation and achieving national rejuvenation through Chinese modernization, providing reliable guarantees for the development of cross-river relations and strengthening the foundation for national reunification.

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Work to uncover and publicize the crimes of militaristic Japan will continue, according to the Russian Foreign Ministry.

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Moscow, January 3 (Xinhua) — Russia will continue to uncover war crimes committed by Japanese militarists in 2026, Russian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Maria Zakharova said on Friday.

"This year, we continue to uncover information about war crimes committed in the mid-20th century, including by Japanese militarists. We have repeatedly emphasized that these atrocities have no statute of limitations, and legal proceedings to punish all those responsible continue to this day," M. Zakharova noted in a commentary published on the Russian Foreign Ministry's website.

As M. Zakharova pointed out, the Russian Prosecutor General's Office, between April and November 2025, ruled to overturn the rehabilitation decisions made in the 1980s and 2000s against Japanese war criminals who participated in sabotage and espionage activities against the USSR. Some defendants were involved in collecting data on the number and deployment of Soviet troops, others trained saboteurs, and still others sent people to conduct experiments on them in "Unit 731."

“Based on the review of court decisions in cassation and supervisory courts, it was established that the individuals in question are not eligible for rehabilitation and their guilt has been fully proven,” the Russian Foreign Ministry said in a press release. –0–

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Five countries have begun a two-year mandate on the UN Security Council as non-permanent members.

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UNITED NATIONS, Jan. 2 (Xinhua) — Bahrain, Colombia, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Latvia and Liberia began a two-year term as non-permanent members of the UN Security Council on Friday.

Their two-year mandate officially began on January 1, but Friday is the Security Council's first working day in 2026 after the Christmas and New Year holidays.

To mark the beginning of their mandate, a flag-planting ceremony was held for these countries.

Kazakhstan's Permanent Representative to the UN, Kairat Umarov, who co-organized the ceremony, congratulated the five new members of the UN Security Council and wished them "perseverance, unity of purpose, and success" in their work.

“We hope that over the next two years you will make a meaningful contribution to addressing critical global challenges and strengthening the UN Security Council’s mandate to promote peace and security,” he said.

The flag-planting serves as a clear reminder that serving on the Security Council is both a privilege and a responsibility. It marks the beginning of the fulfillment of a complex mandate on behalf of all UN members, said K. Umarov.

Somalia's Permanent Representative to the UN, Abukar Dahir Osman, as President of the UN Security Council for January and one of the organizers of the ceremony, welcomed the five new members and wished them successful and fruitful work.

“Over the next two years, your voices and your efforts will play a vital role in guiding our collective quest for peace and security,” he said.

“The Security Council has a unique mandate to respond to threats to peace, promote cooperation, and support the most vulnerable by working together, adhering to the principles of multilateralism, and demonstrating respect for the UN Charter,” the diplomat said.

The new members of the UN Security Council replaced Algeria, Guyana, the Republic of Korea, Sierra Leone and Slovenia.

The Security Council has 15 members: five permanent members (the United Kingdom, China, France, Russia, and the United States) and 10 non-permanent members elected by the UN General Assembly for two-year terms. The five non-permanent members rotate annually.

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The President of Ukraine announced the appointment of a new head of military intelligence.

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Kyiv, January 3 (Xinhua) — Oleh Ivashchenko, head of the Foreign Intelligence Service of Ukraine, will head the Main Intelligence Directorate (GUR) of the Ministry of Defense. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy announced this on Friday, according to Ukrinform.

"Starting today, Oleh Ivashchenko will continue to serve our country and carry out tasks to limit Russian military potential in the Ukrainian military intelligence sector," said V. Zelensky.

Presidential Communications Advisor Dmitry Litvin clarified that the necessary documents for the appointment are currently being prepared.

Earlier on Friday, V. Zelenskyy announced that he had proposed that Chief of the Main Intelligence Directorate, Kyrylo Budanov, head the Office of the President of Ukraine (OPU). Budanov accepted the offer.

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Tesla to overtake China's BYD in global EV sales in 2025

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SAN FRANCISCO, Jan. 2 (Xinhua) — U.S. electric vehicle (EV) maker Tesla said on Friday its global shipments fell about 8.6 percent year-on-year in 2025, losing ground to Chinese automaker BYD in annual sales for the first time.

Tesla is projected to produce 1.655 million electric vehicles and deliver 1.636 million in 2025, down from 1.773 million produced and 1.789 million delivered in 2024, according to the company.

The biggest impact on sales was the repeal in September 2025 of tax credits that encouraged American consumers to buy electric vehicles.

In the fourth quarter of 2025, Tesla produced 434,358 vehicles and delivered 418,227, down from 459,445 produced and 495,570 sold in the same period a year earlier. Deliveries in the fourth quarter fell by approximately 16 percent year-over-year.

BYD said Thursday that its global electric vehicle sales will reach 2.257 million units in 2025, up 27.86 percent from a year earlier, with a growing share of sales coming from markets outside China, including Asia, Europe and Latin America.

Tesla currently remains the largest electric vehicle manufacturer in the United States, accounting for approximately 45% of the domestic EV market. However, the company's declining sales volume points to a broader slowdown in the American EV market.

According to statistics from automotive research firm Cox Automotive, sales of electric vehicles of all brands in the US fell by more than 40 percent year-on-year in November 2025.

Industry analysts expect electric vehicle sales in the U.S. to remain subdued through 2026. –0–

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Yemen's STC announced a two-year transition period ahead of the referendum.

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Aden, Yemen, January 2 (Xinhua) — Yemen's Southern Transitional Council (STC) leader Aidarus al-Zubaidi on Friday announced the start of a two-year transitional period during which the council will administer the southern regions of the country, after which a referendum on the independence of southern Yemen will be held.

In a televised address broadcast on the STC-affiliated AIC channel, Aidarus al-Zubeidi said the decision was based on what he called a popular mandate and recent security and administrative developments in the region.

“The two-year transition period will end with the adoption of a constitutional declaration on the restoration of the independence of the state of South Yemen,” Aidarus al-Zubeidi clarified, adding that this document should come into force on January 2, 2028.

According to him, after the transitional phase, a popular referendum on self-determination will be held, which will be conducted in accordance with internationally recognized norms and using peaceful and transparent mechanisms.

Aidarus al-Zubeidi also indicated that the constitutional declaration, scheduled for 2028, could come into effect earlier if "the STC's calls go unheeded, or if the people, territory, or forces of South Yemen are subjected to military aggression." However, he noted that "all options remain on the table."

Yemen's Saudi-backed government has not yet commented on the STC's statement.

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