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France joins Spain and Italy in requiring arrivals to show a negative result with the UK to follow suit
European countries are preparing to scale up the monitoring of potential new coronavirus variants from China, as Spain and France brought back mandatory testing at airports in response to Beijing’s rapid rollback of anti-infection measures.
The two countries on Friday followed Italy’s lead by requiring arrivals from China to show a negative test result, though unlike Rome, Spain makes exceptions for those who can prove they are fully vaccinated.

Analysts say Chinese leader has leverage as Russian counterpart ‘has no one else to turn to’ amid Ukraine war
Vladimir Putin invited his Chinese counterpart, Xi Jinping, on Friday to make a state visit to Russia next spring, as Moscow seeks to deepen its ties with China amid growing international isolation over the war in Ukraine.
Speaking to Xi via a videoconference, Putin said Russia’s ties with China are the “best in history”, expressing his wish to extend military collaboration and inviting Xi to visit Moscow.

It’s the potential of individuals to change the world which is at the heart of democratic liberalism – but their actions must be matched by global support
As we farewell 2022, many of the world’s citizens will be hoping for a better new year. It is hard to look back on the past year – indeed couple of years – without a high degree of angst about the direction of our global community.
We have been battered by a pandemic that, while past the peak for most nations, is still disrupting societies and economies. After two years of its hermit-like isolation, 1.4 billion Chinese citizens are now experiencing a nationwide Covid onslaught for the first time with ripples that will not only affect the lives of those in China but the rest of the world linked to the second largest economy.

The Russian president has said he expects his Chinese counterpart to make a state visit to Russia next spring, in what would be a public show of solidarity from Beijing amid Russia's flailing military campaign in Ukraine.
In introductory remarks from a video conference between the two leaders, broadcast on state television on 30 December, Putin said: 'We are expecting you, dear Mr Chairman, dear friend, we are expecting you next spring on a state visit to Moscow.'
Putin said the visit would 'demonstrate to the world the closeness of Russian-Chinese relations'

American Girl made history this week when it awarded its 2023 Girl of the Year title to a South Asian doll. On Dec. 29, the Mattel-owned brand introduced Kavi Sharma, a young Indian-American girl from ...

Russia is isolated by its invasion of Ukraine and needs China more than ever. But China, facing a Covid crisis, is in no position to risk sanctions.

American Girl unveiled its 2023 Girl of the Year on Thursday, and in a brand first, the title goes to a South Asian doll.

The brand has introduced Kavi Sharma, a young Indian-American girl from New Jersey who’s got a show tune in her heart and Broadway in her sights.

American Girl just announced that the "Girl of the Year" doll for 2023 is Kavika Sharma, the very first South Asian doll to earn the title in the history of the company. While folks focus on ...

American Girl just announced that the "Girl of the Year" doll for 2023 is Kavika Sharma, the very first South Asian doll to earn the title in the history of the company. While folks focus on ...

The Mattel-owned doll brand named Kavi Sharma, an Indian American girl from New Jersey who loves to sing, as its Girl of the Year.

China is still regarded as a threat, although not an immediate one and Taiwan’s military faces an image problem
On Tuesday, less than two days after of Chinese military craft into Taiwanese airspace this year, Taiwan’s president, Tsai Ing-wen, announced an extension of lengthening the period for men born after 2005 from four months to one year.
It was expected that Tsai would make the announcement before the end of the year, so this was not a direct reaction to China’s most recent military threats. Tsai cited China’s around Taiwan, which took place after Nancy Pelosi’s . Tsai also brought up the invasion of Ukraine as offering lessons for Taiwan.