International
Chinese Minister of Defense: “The negotiation is the only way out of wars in Gaza and Ukraine”
The Chinese Minister of Defense, Dong Jun, said in Beijing that “negotiation” and “a peaceful solution” are “the only way out” of the wars in Gaza and Ukraine, reiterating that “the end of any conflict is reconciliation.”
“Each country has the right to safeguard its security as well as its interests and development, but a fair international order is needed to solve problems.
China, ready to achieve peace in Gaza and Ukraine
China is willing to build peace together with the armed forces of other countries,” Dong said when inaugurating the Beijing Xiangshan Forum, China’s largest annual military diplomacy event, with the participation of more than 90 countries and international organizations.
Dong held a meeting last night with Russian Deputy Defense Minister Alexander Fomin, who is in Beijing to attend the forum, in which the Russian said that relations between Beijing and Moscow “are of great importance for security and global and regional stability,” according to the Chinese Defense portfolio.
He also met separately with the defense ministers of Chile, Madagascar, Mauritania, Maldives, Tajikistan, Belarus and Armenia, meetings in which Dong stated that “in the face of the international and regional situation of chaos and unrest, we need to join closely, discuss global security plans and explore strategies for long-term peace and stability.”
In his speech today, Dong emphasized that China seeks to “make new and greater contributions to global security” and stressed that “only countries that make autonomous decisions will be respected by the international community.”
“No one is alien to threats such as climate change and terrorism. Countries, whether large or small, must unite and address them together on equal terms,” he said.
Thus, he called for “consensus” and “mutual respect and trust” to address global challenges since “the deeper the cooperation, the more stable the relations will be and the safer the world will be.”
First appearance of Dong
This is Dong’s first public appearance in a forum of these characteristics since he took office in 2023 replacing former Minister Li Shangfu, who was dismissed without explanation and was later expelled from the Chinese Communist Party after being accused of a crime of corruption.
The forum, which is also marked by the recent tensions between China and the Philippines in the South China Sea and the Taiwane issue, is expected to attend the US Deputy Undersecretary of Defense for China, Taiwan and Mongolia, Michael Chase.
A Ukrainian delegation composed of academics and former officials, including Oleksandr Chalyi, former Deputy Foreign Minister of that country, also participates in the forum.
International
Wildfires in France Burn Nearly Three Times More Land Than in 2025, Interior Minister Says
More than 50,000 hectares of land have been destroyed by wildfires across France since the beginning of the year, nearly three times the area affected during the same period in 2025, French Interior Minister Laurent Nuñez said Friday in an interview with AFP.
Emergency crews are currently battling several major fires, including one near the popular Cap Ferret peninsula, where flames have already consumed more than 10,000 hectares, making it the largest wildfire of the season so far, according to the minister.
“Currently, we have 32 fires underway, which obviously do not all have the same level of importance,” Nuñez said.
“We have exceeded the threshold of 50,000 hectares burned since January 1 of this year. It is practically three times more than during the same period last year,” he added.
Despite the extensive resources deployed and the long hours worked by emergency teams — estimated to be two and a half times higher than last year — Nuñez said authorities remain “calm” and “determined” to contain the situation.
The minister acknowledged that the main concern is the fatigue affecting firefighters and emergency personnel who have been working under demanding conditions.
“The concern, if there has to be one, obviously lies in the state of exhaustion of the men and women who are committed. We have to hold on throughout the entire season,” Nuñez said.
France’s late spring and early summer have been marked by repeated periods of extreme heat, conditions linked by scientists to climate change and considered a major factor contributing to the increase in wildfire activity across the country.
International
Israel Says Saudi Recognition Would Mark ‘Historic Breakthrough’ for Middle East Peace
The office of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Thursday that Saudi Arabia’s recognition of Israel would represent a “historic breakthrough” toward achieving peace in the Middle East.
The statement came after the United States and Saudi Arabia announced an agreement on Wednesday to establish a civil nuclear program in the kingdom. U.S. President Donald Trump said the initiative would be linked to Riyadh’s decision to normalize diplomatic relations with Israel.
“Saudi Arabia joining the Abraham Accords would represent a historic breakthrough toward peace in the Middle East,” Netanyahu’s office said following Trump’s announcement.
The statement added that recent developments, including joint military actions by the United States and Israel against Iran, as well as Israel’s efforts against what it described as Iran’s “terror axis,” have created new opportunities to expand regional diplomatic ties.
“The joint U.S.-Israeli military action against the genocidal regime in Tehran and Israel’s defeat of Iran’s terror axis have created the possibility of expanding the circle of peace,” the statement said.
A potential normalization agreement between Israel and Saudi Arabia would represent a major diplomatic shift in the region, as Riyadh has long been viewed as one of the key countries whose formal recognition could significantly reshape Middle Eastern relations.
International
Nicolás Maduro’s Son Calls U.S. Trial Against His Father and Cilia Flores “Unjust”
Venezuelan lawmaker Nicolás Maduro Guerra on Wednesday described as “unjust” the legal proceedings in the United States against his father, ousted Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro, and his wife, Cilia Flores, following their capture in Caracas on January 3 by U.S. forces.
“Faced with the unjust trial taking place today, the people raised their voices with a single demand: We demand the immediate release of President Nicolás Maduro and the First Lady,” Maduro Guerra wrote on his Instagram account.
The lawmaker attended a rally in Caracas where supporters of the ruling United Socialist Party of Venezuela (PSUV)gathered to show support for the former president, who faces charges in the United States including conspiracy to commit narco-terrorism and cocaine importation. Flores is accused of crimes related to drug trafficking and weapons possession.
The event was also attended by PSUV Vice President for Mobilizations and Events Nahum Fernández and Caracas Mayor Carmen Meléndez, according to photos shared by Maduro’s son.
The third hearing in the case against Maduro and Flores concluded Wednesday at a federal court in New York after lasting only about 18 minutes. During the hearing, the judge preliminarily set June 2027 as the expected start date for the trial.
One of the main arguments from the defense will focus on immunity. Maduro’s lead attorney, Barry Pollack, who has also represented WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange, said the defense plans to request immunity for both defendants, arguing that Maduro was serving as head of state and Flores as first lady at the time of their detention.
Both Maduro and Flores pleaded not guilty during their first court appearance in New York on January 5.
Meanwhile, Venezuela’s interim president Delcy Rodríguez, who assumed power after Maduro’s capture, has not yet commented on Wednesday’s hearing in the United States.
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