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China conducted live-fire drills simulating a Taiwan blockade as Xi Jinping declared reunification "unstoppable," and Vladimir Putin instructed commanders to continue border operations in Ukraine.

Meanwhile, Finland seized a vessel over suspected cable sabotage, and Gazprom's European exports hit their lowest level since 1973.

All the details below ⤵️

Top 5 Stories

1️⃣ 🇦🇺🇨🇳🇹🇼 Australia warns over China drills near Taiwan: Australia said it was deeply concerned by China’s large-scale military exercises near Taiwan, warning they were destabilising and increased the risk of accident, miscalculation or escalation. Canberra said it had raised concerns with Chinese officials and opposed any unilateral change to the status quo, as Taiwan reported missile launches, aircraft, ships and coastguard activity closer than in previous drills.

2️⃣ 🇫🇮🇪🇪🇷🇺 Finland seizes ship over Baltic cable damage: Finnish police seized the cargo vessel Fitburg, travelling from Russia to Israel, on suspicion of damaging an undersea telecommunications cable between Helsinki and Tallinn. Authorities said the ship was dragging its anchor, was directed into Finnish waters, and that 14 crew members were being held while the incident is investigated as aggravated criminal damage and interference with telecommunications.

3️⃣ 🇪🇺🇷🇺🇺🇦 EU rejects Russian drone strike claims: EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas dismissed Russian claims that Ukraine attacked Russian government sites as unfounded and intended to disrupt peace talks, after Moscow alleged a drone strike on a residence linked to President Vladimir Putin. Ukraine denied the allegations, while Russia released materials it said were evidence, which could not be independently verified.

4️⃣ 🇧🇬🇪🇺 Bulgaria adopts the euro amid division: Bulgaria became the 21st member of the eurozone after a prolonged and politically contentious process, replacing the lev as public opinion remains divided. Prices have been displayed in both currencies since August and safeguards were introduced to prevent price rises, but uncertainty persists over the long-term economic impact amid repeated elections and recent protests.

5️⃣ 🇷🇺🇺🇦 Putin rallies support for Ukraine war: In his New Year’s address, President Vladimir Putin portrayed Russians as united behind the armed forces and the war in Ukraine, praising soldiers and expressing confidence in victory as the conflict nears its fourth year. The speech followed a traditional and relatively restrained format and was broadcast nationwide as part of a long-standing New Year’s tradition.

Major Story

🇨🇳🇹🇼 Xi vows Taiwan reunification

Xi Jinping vowed to reunify China and Taiwan in his New Year’s Eve speech, declaring that reunification is “unstoppable” following major Chinese military drills around the island.

Taiwan said it remained on high alert after the exercises, reporting continued Chinese naval and coastguard presence as well as surveillance balloons near its coastline.

China linked the drills in part to recent US approval of record weapons sales to Taiwan, while several governments criticised Beijing’s actions. Taiwan’s President Lai Ching-te warned of China’s expanding ambitions and urged political unity to boost defence spending, saying the island could not afford delay or internal division.

Other News

1️⃣ 🇷🇺🇺🇦 Putin orders continuation of border “security zone”: President Vladimir Putin instructed military commanders to continue work in 2026 to establish what Russia describes as a “security zone” along the border with Ukraine, following briefings claiming territorial advances in several Ukrainian regions. Ukraine has not commented on the claims, and independent verification remains difficult due to the ongoing war.

2️⃣ 🇷🇺🇪🇺🇨🇳 Gazprom exports to Europe hit historic low: Gazprom cut gas exports to Europe by 44% in 2025 to 18 billion cubic metres, the lowest level since 1973, with deliveries now limited to the TurkStream pipeline. China has become Gazprom’s largest export market at discounted prices, while efforts to secure new long-term outlets have produced limited results.

3️⃣ 🇹🇭🇰🇭 Thailand releases Cambodian soldiers after ceasefire: Thailand released 18 Cambodian soldiers after 155 days in detention following a renewed ceasefire agreed over the weekend to halt weeks of deadly border clashes. Both governments confirmed the handover as a confidence-building measure coordinated by the International Committee of the Red Cross, despite lingering disputes and accusations over ceasefire violations.

4️⃣ 🇺🇸🇻🇪 US sanctions traders shipping Venezuelan oil: The United States imposed sanctions on four oil traders and blocked four tankers it said were involved in shipping Venezuelan oil, as the Treasury said it would continue a campaign of pressure against President Nicolás Maduro’s government. US officials cited efforts to disrupt the oil sector and alleged drug trafficking, while Caracas disputed the claims.

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