Former US President Donald Trump's&nbsp;six years' worth of tax returns will be made public on Friday, a spokesperson for the Ways and Means Committee of the US House of Representatives said on Tuesday.&nbsp;The documents to be released on Friday will include Trump's tax returns filed between 2015 and 2021, the years he ran for and served as president.

The development comes a week after the Democratic-controlled House Ways and Means Committee voted 24-16 to conclude that former US president Donald Trump's tax filings for the period between 2015 to 2020 will be made public.

ALSO READ |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/donald-trumps-tax-filings-to-be-made-public-votes-us-house-panel-544961">Donald Trump's tax filings to be made public, votes US House panel</a>

The committee released a report on its findings last week, which said the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) broke its own rules by not auditing Trump for three of the four years of his presidency.

WATCH |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/videos/us-congress-to-release-donald-trumps-tax-filings-544968">US Congress to release Donald Trump's tax filings</a>

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Trump's tax returns were not released alongside last week's report because they contained sensitive information that had to be redacted before publication, committee members were quoted as saying by Reuters.&nbsp;

Why the call to make Trump's returns public?

According to the Democrat lawmakers serving in the Ways and Means&nbsp;Committee, making the returns public was necessary for people&nbsp;to understand the context of its report, which also included a proposed law&nbsp;that would mandate the IRS to audit the serving presidents of the US.&nbsp;

Trump was reportedly the first presidential candidate in decades not to release his tax returns during either of his campaigns for president.

Democrats on the committee had only a few weeks to decide how to handle the returns once they got them before Republicans retake control of the U.S. House in January after winning a narrow margin of victory in November's midterm elections.

(With inputs from agencies)

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Former US President Donald Trump's six years' worth of tax returns will be made public on Friday, a spokesperson for the Ways and Means Committee of the US House of Representatives said on Tuesday.

Former US President Donald Trump's six years' worth of tax returns will be made public on Friday, a spokesperson for the Ways and Means Committee of the US House of Representatives said on Tuesday. The documents to be released on Friday will include Trump's tax returns filed between 2015 and 2021, the years he ran for and served as president. The development comes a week after the Democratic-controlled House Ways and Means Committee voted 24-16 to conclude that former US president Donald Trump's tax filings for the period between 2015 to 2020 will be made public. ALSO READ | Donald Trump's tax filings to be made public, votes US House panel The committee released a report on its findings last week, which said the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) broke its own rules by not auditing Trump for three of the four years of his presidency. WATCH | US Congress to release Donald Trump's tax filings × Trump's tax returns were not released alongside last week's report because they contained sensitive information that had to be redacted before publication, committee members were quoted as saying by Reuters. Why the call to make Trump's returns public? According to the Democrat lawmakers serving in the Ways and Means Committee, making the returns public was necessary for people to understand the context of its report, which also included a proposed law that would mandate the IRS to audit the serving presidents of the US. Trump was reportedly the first presidential candidate in decades not to release his tax returns during either of his campaigns for president. Democrats on the committee had only a few weeks to decide how to handle the returns once they got them before Republicans retake control of the U.S. House in January after winning a narrow margin of victory in November's midterm elections. (With inputs from agencies) WATCH WION LIVE HERE You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here.

Trump's tax filings from his US presidency years to be made public on Dec 30

Less than two months after two warring sides in the Ethiopian civil war signed a peace accord, a high-level Ethiopian government delegation made the first visit to the capital of rebel-held Tigray on Monday.&nbsp;

As the two sides applauded the visit, the Tigrayan side said that the talks also aimed at restoring key services in the northern region.

"The delegation is the first of its stature as a high-level federal government body heading to Mekele in two years," the Ethiopian government said in a statement.

"This gesture is an attestation to the peace agreement getting on the right track and progressing," it said.

The team was led by House of Peoples Representatives speaker Tagesse Chafo and included Redwan Hussein, who is the security adviser to Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed, as well as the ministers of justice, transport and communication and labour.

ALSO READ |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/ethiopian-government-and-tigray-rebels-agree-to-form-joint-monitory-body-546120">Ethiopian government and Tigray rebels agree to form joint monitory body</a>

The head of Ethiopia's road infrastructure authority and the heads of Ethiopian Airlines, Ethio Telecom and the Commercial Bank of Ethiopia, representing services Tigray desperately lacks, were also present, the government said.

Chafo hailed "the discussions we had, the reception we have received as well as the moments we spent together, there is big hope".

Tigrayan spokesman Getachew Reda on Twitter described the visit as "a milestone" in the peace agreement.&nbsp;

WATCH |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/videos/ethiopias-pm-vows-to-ensure-peace-in-tigray-pledges-to-honestly-implement-ceasefire-534652">Ethiopia's PM vows to ensure peace in Tigray, pledges to 'honestly' implement ceasefire</a>

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"Fruitful discussions were held and important understanding reached," he said.

Commercial Bank of Ethiopia head Abie Sano said,&nbsp;"system correction and audit works" were to be completed this week so that services could start.

After staying several hours, the officials and CEOs returned to the capital Addis Ababa, but "technical staff are staying here", Getachew said.

Tigrayan leader warns against 'half peace'

Meanwhile, the Tigrayan leader Debretsion Gebremichael warned against a "half-peace" and said medicine supplies to the region remained "very limited".

"We don't want half a peace, where one half (of Tigray) is in peace and the other half is being killed, massacred and invaded," he said. "This siege has to be completely lifted."

Pro-government forces, specifically the troops from Eritrea to the north, and militias from the neighbouring Ethiopian region of Amhara are not mentioned in the peace deal but remain in Tigray, AFP reported.&nbsp;

The rebel authorities, local people and aid workers there have told AFP that these forces have carried out looting, raping, summary executions and abductions.

About the Ethiopian civil war

The war began in November 2020 when Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed sent troops into Tigray after accusing the Tigray People's Liberation Front (TPLF), the ruling party in the region, of attacking the country's army bases.

The United States has estimated that as many as half a million people have died in the now plateauing conflict.&nbsp;

(With inputs from agencies)

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Less than two months after two warring sides in the Ethiopian civil war signed a peace accord, a high-level Ethiopian government delegation made the first visit to the capital of rebel-held Tigray on Monday.

Less than two months after two warring sides in the Ethiopian civil war signed a peace accord, a high-level Ethiopian government delegation made the first visit to the capital of rebel-held Tigray on Monday. As the two sides applauded the visit, the Tigrayan side said that the talks also aimed at restoring key services in the northern region. "The delegation is the first of its stature as a high-level federal government body heading to Mekele in two years," the Ethiopian government said in a statement. "This gesture is an attestation to the peace agreement getting on the right track and progressing," it said. The team was led by House of Peoples Representatives speaker Tagesse Chafo and included Redwan Hussein, who is the security adviser to Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed, as well as the ministers of justice, transport and communication and labour. ALSO READ | Ethiopian government and Tigray rebels agree to form joint monitory body The head of Ethiopia's road infrastructure authority and the heads of Ethiopian Airlines, Ethio Telecom and the Commercial Bank of Ethiopia, representing services Tigray desperately lacks, were also present, the government said. Chafo hailed "the discussions we had, the reception we have received as well as the moments we spent together, there is big hope". Tigrayan spokesman Getachew Reda on Twitter described the visit as "a milestone" in the peace agreement. WATCH | Ethiopia's PM vows to ensure peace in Tigray, pledges to 'honestly' implement ceasefire × "Fruitful discussions were held and important understanding reached," he said. Commercial Bank of Ethiopia head Abie Sano said, "system correction and audit works" were to be completed this week so that services could start. After staying several hours, the officials and CEOs returned to the capital Addis Ababa, but "technical staff are staying here", Getachew said. Tigrayan leader warns against 'half peace' Meanwhile, the Tigrayan leader Debretsion Gebremichael warned against a "half-peace" and said medicine supplies to the region remained "very limited". "We don't want half a peace, where one half (of Tigray) is in peace and the other half is being killed, massacred and invaded," he said. "This siege has to be completely lifted." Pro-government forces, specifically the troops from Eritrea to the north, and militias from the neighbouring Ethiopian region of Amhara are not mentioned in the peace deal but remain in Tigray, AFP reported. The rebel authorities, local people and aid workers there have told AFP that these forces have carried out looting, raping, summary executions and abductions. About the Ethiopian civil war The war began in November 2020 when Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed sent troops into Tigray after accusing the Tigray People's Liberation Front (TPLF), the ruling party in the region, of attacking the country's army bases. The United States has estimated that as many as half a million people have died in the now plateauing conflict. (With inputs from agencies) WATCH WION LIVE HERE You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here.

Ethiopia hails delegation visit in Tigray region as peace 'milestone'

Days after China's military said it had conducted "strike drills" around Taiwanese sea and airspace, Taiwan is set to announce its decision to extend the current four-month-long mandatory military service&nbsp;to a year.&nbsp;A Dubai-bound flight carrying the wife and daughter of former football national team captain Ali Daei, who has supported anti-government protests, was re-routed by the Iranian authorities, preventing them from leaving the country. Meanwhile, an arctic deep freeze that has led to a historic winter storm in the US has killed at least 60 people, an NBC News tally showed.

Click on the headlines to read more:

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/taiwan-set-to-extend-mandatory-military-service-to-one-year-after-beijings-christmas-strike-drills-546884">Taiwan set to extend mandatory military service to one year after Beijing's Christmas 'strike drills'</a>

<img src="https://cdn.wionews.com/sites/default/files/styles/story_page/public/2022/12/27/321144-taiwanpres.jpg?imwidth=1920" />

Days after China's military said it had conducted "strike drills" around Taiwanese sea and airspace, Taiwan is set to announce its decision to extend the current four-month-long mandatory military service reportedly to a year. The longer service requirements may be implemented by soon as soon as 2024, Asia Nikkei reported, reflecting Taiwan's urgency&nbsp;to bolster its defences amid China's ascending assertions for 'unification' with the island nation that Beijing claims as its own. &nbsp;

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/dubai-bound-flight-carrying-iranian-footballers-family-who-supported-anti-govt-stir-rerouted-546876">Dubai-bound flight carrying Iranian footballer’s family who supported anti-govt stir rerouted</a>

<img src="https://cdn.wionews.com/sites/default/files/styles/story_page/public/2022/12/27/321140-iran.jpg?imwidth=1920" />

A Dubai-bound flight carrying the wife and daughter of former football national team captain Ali Daei, who has supported anti-government protests, was re-routed by the Iranian authorities, preventing them from leaving the country.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/report-china-to-scrap-quarantine-for-overseas-arrivals-starting-8-january-546843">China set to scrap quarantine for overseas arrivals starting January 8</a>

<img src="https://cdn.wionews.com/sites/default/files/styles/story_page/public/2022/12/27/321154-untitled-design-2022-12-27t084904476.png?imwidth=1920" />

After nearly three years of intense pandemic border restrictions, China will end quarantine measures for foreign visitors as of January 8, the country's&nbsp;top health authority said on Monday. In an online post, the National Health Commission stated that travellers would only need to have a PCR test done 48 hours prior to their trip in order to enter China.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/once-in-a-lifetime-weather-disaster-leaves-at-least-60-dead-in-us-546886">'Once-in-a-lifetime' weather disaster leaves at least 60 dead in US</a>

<img src="https://cdn.wionews.com/sites/default/files/styles/story_page/public/2022/12/27/321147-untitled-design-2022-12-27t083216138.png?imwidth=1920" />

An arctic deep freeze that has led to a historic winter storm in the US has killed at least 60 people, an NBC News tally shows. The chills were spread as far as the Mexican border. The Buffalo region in New York state on the edge of Lake Erie near the Canadian border, was hardest hit.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/elon-musk-reacts-to-russian-leaders-2023-predictions-546888">Elon Musk reacts to Russian leader's 2023 predictions</a>

<img src="https://cdn.wionews.com/sites/default/files/styles/story_page/public/2022/12/27/321155-untitled-design-57.jpg?imwidth=1920" />

Twitter's new owner Elon Musk reacted to former Russian Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev's 'humble contribution' to the flurry of predictions related to all 'what can happen in 2023' that included a prediction on Musk's fate in&nbsp;the "presidential election in a number of states" in the US.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/science/an-extremely-rare-evidence-of-dinosaurs-consuming-mammals-spotted-546890">An 'extremely rare' evidence of dinosaurs consuming mammals spotted</a>

<img src="https://cdn.wionews.com/sites/default/files/styles/story_page/public/2022/12/27/321158-new-wion-70.png?imwidth=1920" />

Dinosaurs inhabited this planet millions of years ago and in the last&nbsp;two hundred or so years, humanity has found much evidence of the mighty beasts. You would think that given that the very first evidence of dinosaurs was found in the early 1600s we would know almost everything there is to know about them.&nbsp; 
&nbsp;

Days after China's military said it had conducted "strike drills" around Taiwanese sea and airspace, Taiwan is set to announce its decision to extend the current four-month-long mandatory military service to a year.

Days after China's military said it had conducted "strike drills" around Taiwanese sea and airspace, Taiwan is set to announce its decision to extend the current four-month-long mandatory military service to a year. A Dubai-bound flight carrying the wife and daughter of former football national team captain Ali Daei, who has supported anti-government protests, was re-routed by the Iranian authorities, preventing them from leaving the country. Meanwhile, an arctic deep freeze that has led to a historic winter storm in the US has killed at least 60 people, an NBC News tally showed. Click on the headlines to read more: Taiwan set to extend mandatory military service to one year after Beijing's Christmas 'strike drills' Days after China's military said it had conducted "strike drills" around Taiwanese sea and airspace, Taiwan is set to announce its decision to extend the current four-month-long mandatory military service reportedly to a year. The longer service requirements may be implemented by soon as soon as 2024, Asia Nikkei reported, reflecting Taiwan's urgency to bolster its defences amid China's ascending assertions for 'unification' with the island nation that Beijing claims as its own. Dubai-bound flight carrying Iranian footballer’s family who supported anti-govt stir rerouted A Dubai-bound flight carrying the wife and daughter of former football national team captain Ali Daei, who has supported anti-government protests, was re-routed by the Iranian authorities, preventing them from leaving the country. China set to scrap quarantine for overseas arrivals starting January 8 After nearly three years of intense pandemic border restrictions, China will end quarantine measures for foreign visitors as of January 8, the country's top health authority said on Monday. In an online post, the National Health Commission stated that travellers would only need to have a PCR test done 48 hours prior to their trip in order to enter China. 'Once-in-a-lifetime' weather disaster leaves at least 60 dead in US An arctic deep freeze that has led to a historic winter storm in the US has killed at least 60 people, an NBC News tally shows. The chills were spread as far as the Mexican border. The Buffalo region in New York state on the edge of Lake Erie near the Canadian border, was hardest hit. Elon Musk reacts to Russian leader's 2023 predictions Twitter's new owner Elon Musk reacted to former Russian Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev's 'humble contribution' to the flurry of predictions related to all 'what can happen in 2023' that included a prediction on Musk's fate in the "presidential election in a number of states" in the US. An 'extremely rare' evidence of dinosaurs consuming mammals spotted Dinosaurs inhabited this planet millions of years ago and in the last two hundred or so years, humanity has found much evidence of the mighty beasts. You would think that given that the very first evidence of dinosaurs was found in the early 1600s we would know almost everything there is to know about them.

Morning Brief: Taiwan's new military conscription rules, US winter storm fury and more

Twitter's new owner Elon Musk reacted to former Russian Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev's 'humble contribution' to the flurry of predictions related to all 'what can happen in 2023' that included a prediction on Musk's fate in&nbsp;the "presidential election in a number of states" in the US.

While Musk initially found the Russian leader's Twitter thread 'epic', after over four hours, Musk extended his argument by saying that the 2023 anticipations put forth by Medvedev were the 'most absurd predictions' he ever heard.&nbsp;

What did Dmitry Medvedev predict for 2023?

On Tuesday, former Russian President Dmitry Medvedev predicted that oil prices "will rise to $150 a barrel and gas price will top $5,000 per 1,000 cubic meters", and that "the UK will rejoin the EU". Medvedev went on to predict territorial realignment in Europe to the crash of the International Monetary Fund and World Bank.&nbsp;

WATCH | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/videos/reports-elon-musk-speak-to-vladimir-putin-before-floating-peace-deal-on-russia-ukraine-war-524616">Reports: Elon Musk speak to Vladimir Putin before floating 'peace deal' on Russia-Ukraine war</a>

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"Poland and Hungary will occupy western regions of the formerly existing Ukraine," Medvedev predicted, adding that "The Fourth Reich will be created encompassing Germany and its satellites, i.e., Poland, the Baltic states, Czechia, Slovakia, the Kyiv Republic, and other outcasts." The Fourth Reich refers to a hypothetical Nazi Reich that is the successor to Adolf Hitler's Third Reich.&nbsp;

"War will break out between France and the Fourth Reich. Europe will be divided, Poland repartitioned in the process. Northern Ireland will separate from the UK and join the Republic of Ireland," Medvedev further predicted.&nbsp;

ALSO READ |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/elon-musk-faces-criticism-after-twitter-poll-on-how-the-russia-war-should-end-522197">Twitter war: Musk holds poll on how Russia-Ukraine conflict should end, Zelensky retorts</a>

Medvedev further predicted Elon Musk's presidential win in a number of states in the US, following "a civil war" that he said will break out in the United States.&nbsp;

"All the largest stock markets and financial activity will leave the US and Europe and move to Asia," Medvedev said.

"The Bretton Woods system of monetary management will collapse, leading to the IMF and World Bank crash. Euro and Dollar will stop circulating as the global reserve currencies. Digital fiat currencies will be actively used instead," he added.&nbsp;

"Season greetings to you all, Anglo-Saxon friends...," Medvedev ended the thread by hinting at the sarcastic note of his 2023 predictions.&nbsp;

Musk's reaction to Medvedev's predictions

Musk initially called Medvedev's 2023 predictions an 'Epic Thread'. Hours later, after over 7.8 million impressions on his 'Epic Thread' reaction, Musk extended his argument: "Those are definitely the most absurd predictions I’ve ever heard, while also showing astonishing lack of awareness of the progress of artificial intelligence and sustainable energy."

Elon Musk is in the crosshairs with Russia after his explicit support for&nbsp;the Ukrainian cause during the ongoing war between Russia and Ukraine. The country has received about 22,000 Starlink antennas, that support its military and civilian communications since the war began in February.&nbsp;

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Twitter's new owner Elon Musk reacted to former Russian Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev's 'humble contribution' to the flurry of predictions related to all 'what can happen in 2023' that included a prediction on Musk's fate in the "presidential election in a number of states" in the US.

Twitter's new owner Elon Musk reacted to former Russian Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev's 'humble contribution' to the flurry of predictions related to all 'what can happen in 2023' that included a prediction on Musk's fate in the "presidential election in a number of states" in the US. While Musk initially found the Russian leader's Twitter thread 'epic', after over four hours, Musk extended his argument by saying that the 2023 anticipations put forth by Medvedev were the 'most absurd predictions' he ever heard. What did Dmitry Medvedev predict for 2023? On Tuesday, former Russian President Dmitry Medvedev predicted that oil prices "will rise to $150 a barrel and gas price will top $5,000 per 1,000 cubic meters", and that "the UK will rejoin the EU". Medvedev went on to predict territorial realignment in Europe to the crash of the International Monetary Fund and World Bank. WATCH | Reports: Elon Musk speak to Vladimir Putin before floating 'peace deal' on Russia-Ukraine war × "Poland and Hungary will occupy western regions of the formerly existing Ukraine," Medvedev predicted, adding that "The Fourth Reich will be created encompassing Germany and its satellites, i.e., Poland, the Baltic states, Czechia, Slovakia, the Kyiv Republic, and other outcasts." The Fourth Reich refers to a hypothetical Nazi Reich that is the successor to Adolf Hitler's Third Reich. "War will break out between France and the Fourth Reich. Europe will be divided, Poland repartitioned in the process. Northern Ireland will separate from the UK and join the Republic of Ireland," Medvedev further predicted. ALSO READ | Twitter war: Musk holds poll on how Russia-Ukraine conflict should end, Zelensky retorts Medvedev further predicted Elon Musk's presidential win in a number of states in the US, following "a civil war" that he said will break out in the United States. "All the largest stock markets and financial activity will leave the US and Europe and move to Asia," Medvedev said. "The Bretton Woods system of monetary management will collapse, leading to the IMF and World Bank crash. Euro and Dollar will stop circulating as the global reserve currencies. Digital fiat currencies will be actively used instead," he added. "Season greetings to you all, Anglo-Saxon friends...," Medvedev ended the thread by hinting at the sarcastic note of his 2023 predictions. Musk's reaction to Medvedev's predictions Musk initially called Medvedev's 2023 predictions an 'Epic Thread'. Hours later, after over 7.8 million impressions on his 'Epic Thread' reaction, Musk extended his argument: "Those are definitely the most absurd predictions I’ve ever heard, while also showing astonishing lack of awareness of the progress of artificial intelligence and sustainable energy." Elon Musk is in the crosshairs with Russia after his explicit support for the Ukrainian cause during the ongoing war between Russia and Ukraine. The country has received about 22,000 Starlink antennas, that support its military and civilian communications since the war began in February. WATCH WION LIVE HERE You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here.

Elon Musk reacts to Russian leader's 2023 predictions

Taiwan on Tuesday announced that it will extend mandatory military service from four months to one year, with Taiwanese President Tsai Ing-wen emphatically pointing out in Taipei that 'peace with China will not fall from the sky'. The decision, while under deliberations for nearly two years, is seen to be triggered by the 'strike drills' that Beijing conducted in the sea and airspace around the self-governing island nation on over the weekend.

According to the experts that WION reached out to, China's aggressive military manoeuvres that intensified after the US House of Representatives speaker Nancy Pelosi's Taipei visit earlier this year, have pushed the island nation to be better prepared for any contingency.

Suyash Desai, Taiwan-based research scholar&nbsp;on China's military and foreign policy told WION that Beijing's&nbsp;aggression against Taiwan started in 2019 when it&nbsp;crossed the median line for the first time in 20 years.&nbsp;

"It was last crossed in 1999. Since September 2020, China started regular incursions in Taiwan's self-claimed Air Defence Identification Zone (ADIZ) on a regular basis," Desai pointed out.&nbsp;

WATCH |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/videos/chinas-xi-jinpings-unification-plan-with-taiwan-523858">China's Xi Jinping's unification plan with Taiwan</a>

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"The increase in the duration of conscription is not a surprise," Commodore R.S. Vasan (Retd.), Director General of Chennai Centre of China Studies think-tank told WION.

"The Chinese white paper on Taiwan leaves no doubt about the intentions of Xi Jinping who is determined to achieve something by the use of force that his predecessors could not attempt in the past," Commodore Vasan said.

He was referring to a white paper that China released in August 2022, just days after Pelosi's visit to the island nation. It sought to realise "China's complete reunification" as a "historic mission" of the Communist Party of China (CPC).

To deter China, expanded conscription 'first step'

Experts further add that Taiwan's expanded conscription by itself is insufficient to deal with the threat from China, and that&nbsp;"additional reforms as well as a&nbsp;greater acquisition of modern weaponry" will be required if Taipei is to stand against Beijing.

"The Taiwanese military&nbsp;also has a challenge on its hands to reform current training methods and its treatment of conscripts," Jabin T. Jacob, Associate Professor at the Department of International Relations and Governance Studies at Shiv Nadar University and Adjunct Research Fellow at New Delhi-based National Maritime Foundation, told WION.

"This (conscription) is just the first step if Taiwan wants to maintain the existing cross-strait deterrence," Suyash Desai told WION.&nbsp;

A December of challenges for Beijing

For Beijing, the conclusion of 2022 has been far from smooth.

It began with a collective uproar from people across China against stringent Covid controls that finally <a href="https://www.wionews.com/videos/china-covid-xi-administration-gradually-dismantles-zero-covid-policy-541962">forced</a> a remarkable climbdown on ‘zero Covid policy’ from one of the world's most authoritarian governments, and its leader, Xi Jinping.

Beijing’s challenges further expanded with the optics of <a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/several-indian-soldiers-injured-in-clashes-with-chinese-army-in-arunchal-pradesh-report-542383">pushback</a> by Indian troops against Chinese aggression along the Line of Actual Control in northeastern Arunachal Pradesh state’s Yangtse area.

In the final weeks of December 2022, the <a href="https://www.wionews.com/videos/china-hospitals-under-seige-as-covid-crisis-worsens-547075">visuals</a> of burdened hospitals against millions of reported Covid cases forced President Xi to come out and say that he will "never fail"&nbsp;the Chinese people.

On Christmas, the Eastern Theater Command of China's People's Liberation Army said it had carried out "joint combat readiness patrols and joint firepower strike drills" around Taiwan.

Experts have contrasting views if China's handling of its Covid crisis with the failure of 'zero Covid policy' is related to its aggression in the Taiwanese strait and along the Line of Actual Control with India earlier this month.&nbsp;

"The undisputed leader needs an excuse to unify the nation and the failed transgression in Yangtse has not worked out as planned and has resulted in the loss of face for Xi,"&nbsp;Commodore Vasan told WION.

"So the recent increase in (Taiwanese) cross-strait violations and show of force is to divert the people's attention (from the Covid crisis) by displaying an intent to accelerate the process of unification,"&nbsp;he added. &nbsp;

For Jabin T. Jacob,&nbsp;&nbsp;it is quite possible that China's recent aggressions are meant "to distract attention from its shambolic handling of the Covid situation".&nbsp;

"But it should also be understood that Chinese military plans along its borders and especially with respect to Taiwan are long-standing and such transgressions would have occurred sooner or later, with or without the Covid crisis in China right now," Jacob told WION.&nbsp;

Between LAC and South China Sea, a common Chinese tactical&nbsp;book in play

Suyash Desai points to&nbsp;the Science of Military Strategy,&nbsp;the guiding text for the Chinese military that aims to&nbsp;create a new normal in its favour by repeatedly indulging in incursion-based armed movements. Desai adds that Beijing has adopted this strategy both with India as well as in the South China Sea.&nbsp;&nbsp;"The only difference is that in case of India, they use&nbsp;border defence units and in case of the South China Sea, they use maritime militia."

"But the People's Republic of China&nbsp;uses the People's Liberation Army&nbsp;with Taiwan, which makes the dispute much more escalatory," Desai adds.

"So, I see the recently increased assertion as a continuation of the policy approach rather than compensation for bad optics from the current Covid crisis," he reasons.&nbsp;

Beijing's preparedness for western support for Taiwan

In one of the rarest public expressions of China's continued alignment with Russia since the beginning of the conflict in Ukraine, Chinese foreign minister Wang Yi during a phone conversation with Russian foreign minister Sergey Lavrov in October 2022, said that Beijing is willing to deepen exchanges with Russia at all levels. Wang Yi said that China will help Russia to "overcome difficulties, eliminate disturbances, realise the strategic goals of development, and further establish Russia on the international stage."

Experts view that the organs of the Chinese Communist Party, with a "threadbare analysis" of the Russia-Ukraine war, would have also "factored the support of the West to Taiwan in the event of hostilities breaking out", according to Commodore Vasan, who also served as Regional Commander in the Indian Coast Guards (East) for about 1100 miles long coastline along the Bay of Bengal.&nbsp;

The sentiment was revelatory during Tuesday's press conference by Taiwan's President&nbsp;Tsai Ing-wen.&nbsp;China's "intimidation and threats against&nbsp;are getting more obvious", she said.&nbsp;

"We can only avoid a war by preparing for a war and we can only stop a war by being capable of fighting a war."

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Taiwan on Tuesday announced that it will extend mandatory military service from four months to one year, with Taiwanese President Tsai Ing-wen emphatically pointing out in Taipei that 'peace with China will not fall from the sky'.

Taiwan on Tuesday announced that it will extend mandatory military service from four months to one year, with Taiwanese President Tsai Ing-wen emphatically pointing out in Taipei that 'peace with China will not fall from the sky'. The decision, while under deliberations for nearly two years, is seen to be triggered by the 'strike drills' that Beijing conducted in the sea and airspace around the self-governing island nation on over the weekend. According to the experts that WION reached out to, China's aggressive military manoeuvres that intensified after the US House of Representatives speaker Nancy Pelosi's Taipei visit earlier this year, have pushed the island nation to be better prepared for any contingency. Suyash Desai, Taiwan-based research scholar on China's military and foreign policy told WION that Beijing's aggression against Taiwan started in 2019 when it crossed the median line for the first time in 20 years. "It was last crossed in 1999. Since September 2020, China started regular incursions in Taiwan's self-claimed Air Defence Identification Zone (ADIZ) on a regular basis," Desai pointed out. WATCH | China's Xi Jinping's unification plan with Taiwan × "The increase in the duration of conscription is not a surprise," Commodore R.S. Vasan (Retd.), Director General of Chennai Centre of China Studies think-tank told WION. "The Chinese white paper on Taiwan leaves no doubt about the intentions of Xi Jinping who is determined to achieve something by the use of force that his predecessors could not attempt in the past," Commodore Vasan said. He was referring to a white paper that China released in August 2022, just days after Pelosi's visit to the island nation. It sought to realise "China's complete reunification" as a "historic mission" of the Communist Party of China (CPC). To deter China, expanded conscription 'first step' Experts further add that Taiwan's expanded conscription by itself is insufficient to deal with the threat from China, and that "additional reforms as well as a greater acquisition of modern weaponry" will be required if Taipei is to stand against Beijing. "The Taiwanese military also has a challenge on its hands to reform current training methods and its treatment of conscripts," Jabin T. Jacob, Associate Professor at the Department of International Relations and Governance Studies at Shiv Nadar University and Adjunct Research Fellow at New Delhi-based National Maritime Foundation, told WION. "This (conscription) is just the first step if Taiwan wants to maintain the existing cross-strait deterrence," Suyash Desai told WION. A December of challenges for Beijing For Beijing, the conclusion of 2022 has been far from smooth. It began with a collective uproar from people across China against stringent Covid controls that finally forced a remarkable climbdown on ‘zero Covid policy’ from one of the world's most authoritarian governments, and its leader, Xi Jinping. Beijing’s challenges further expanded with the optics of pushback by Indian troops against Chinese aggression along the Line of Actual Control in northeastern Arunachal Pradesh state’s Yangtse area. In the final weeks of December 2022, the visuals of burdened hospitals against millions of reported Covid cases forced President Xi to come out and say that he will "never fail" the Chinese people. On Christmas, the Eastern Theater Command of China's People's Liberation Army said it had carried out "joint combat readiness patrols and joint firepower strike drills" around Taiwan. Experts have contrasting views if China's handling of its Covid crisis with the failure of 'zero Covid policy' is related to its aggression in the Taiwanese strait and along the Line of Actual Control with India earlier this month. "The undisputed leader needs an excuse to unify the nation and the failed transgression in Yangtse has not worked out as planned and has resulted in the loss of face for Xi," Commodore Vasan told WION. "So the recent increase in (Taiwanese) cross-strait violations and show of force is to divert the people's attention (from the Covid crisis) by displaying an intent to accelerate the process of unification," he added. For Jabin T. Jacob, it is quite possible that China's recent aggressions are meant "to distract attention from its shambolic handling of the Covid situation". "But it should also be understood that Chinese military plans along its borders and especially with respect to Taiwan are long-standing and such transgressions would have occurred sooner or later, with or without the Covid crisis in China right now," Jacob told WION. Between LAC and South China Sea, a common Chinese tactical book in play Suyash Desai points to the Science of Military Strategy, the guiding text for the Chinese military that aims to create a new normal in its favour by repeatedly indulging in incursion-based armed movements. Desai adds that Beijing has adopted this strategy both with India as well as in the South China Sea. "The only difference is that in case of India, they use border defence units and in case of the South China Sea, they use maritime militia." "But the People's Republic of China uses the People's Liberation Army with Taiwan, which makes the dispute much more escalatory," Desai adds. "So, I see the recently increased assertion as a continuation of the policy approach rather than compensation for bad optics from the current Covid crisis," he reasons. Beijing's preparedness for western support for Taiwan In one of the rarest public expressions of China's continued alignment with Russia since the beginning of the conflict in Ukraine, Chinese foreign minister Wang Yi during a phone conversation with Russian foreign minister Sergey Lavrov in October 2022, said that Beijing is willing to deepen exchanges with Russia at all levels. Wang Yi said that China will help Russia to "overcome difficulties, eliminate disturbances, realise the strategic goals of development, and further establish Russia on the international stage." Experts view that the organs of the Chinese Communist Party, with a "threadbare analysis" of the Russia-Ukraine war, would have also "factored the support of the West to Taiwan in the event of hostilities breaking out", according to Commodore Vasan, who also served as Regional Commander in the Indian Coast Guards (East) for about 1100 miles long coastline along the Bay of Bengal. The sentiment was revelatory during Tuesday's press conference by Taiwan's President Tsai Ing-wen. China's "intimidation and threats against are getting more obvious", she said. "We can only avoid a war by preparing for a war and we can only stop a war by being capable of fighting a war." WATCH WION LIVE HERE You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here.

Taiwan's extended conscription and 'loss of face' for Xi Jinping

Sri Lanka's former president Gotabaya Rajapaksa, who was ousted from power following months of mass protests, left for the United States with his family, a journalist with Sri Lanka's Daily Mirror wrote on Twitter. The former president reportedly left the country during the wee hours on Tuesday morning.

Rajapaksa was forced out of office earlier this year amid unprecedented protests that called for a change in Colombo's presidential palace amid the country's economic crisis.

According to officials at the Bandaranaike International Airport, Rajapaksa and his family left for the US via Dubai on Monday morning, multiple Colombo-based papers reported.&nbsp;

ALSO READ | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/south-asia/imran-khan-and-rajapaksa-2022-was-a-year-of-political-ousters-in-south-asia-541811">Imran Khan and Rajapaksa: 2022 was a year of political ousters in South Asia</a>

Gotabaya Rajapaksa was accompanied by his wife Ayoma Rajapaksa, his son Manor Rajapaksa, his daughter-in-law, and his grandchild.

The group had left for the US via Dubai on an Emirates Airline flight at 2.55 AM&nbsp;on Tuesday.&nbsp;

WATCH |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/videos/gravitas-plus-explained-sri-lankan-economic-crisis-471445">Gravitas Plus | Explained: Sri Lankan economic crisis</a>

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Sri Lanka is currently facing an economic crisis while it waits for International Monetary Fund (IMF) to formally approve a USD 2.9 billion bailout package. IMF and Sri Lanka reached a staff-level agreement to support the economic policies of the country with a 48-month arrangement, giving the country the much-needed headroom to combat economic uncertainty. The country has also sought to trade in Indian rupees with assistance from New Delhi.&nbsp;

ALSO READ |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/south-asia/sri-lanka-to-use-indian-rupee-for-international-trade-543895">Sri Lanka to use Indian rupee for international trade, more countries aim to follow</a>

Earlier this year, insufficient foreign reserves at Sri Lanka's Central Bank and loss of access to international capital markets led to the country defaulting on debt, marking a first.&nbsp;

Restrictions on the import of chemical fertilisers amid increased focus on organic farming, abrupt floating of the Sri Lankan rupee and the Covid pandemic led to the economic crisis in the country which aggravated in the first half of 2022.&nbsp;

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Sri Lanka's former president Gotabaya Rajapaksa, who was ousted from power following months of mass protests, left for the United States with his family, a journalist with Sri Lanka's Daily Mirror wrote on Twitter.

Sri Lanka's former president Gotabaya Rajapaksa, who was ousted from power following months of mass protests, left for the United States with his family, a journalist with Sri Lanka's Daily Mirror wrote on Twitter. The former president reportedly left the country during the wee hours on Tuesday morning. Rajapaksa was forced out of office earlier this year amid unprecedented protests that called for a change in Colombo's presidential palace amid the country's economic crisis. According to officials at the Bandaranaike International Airport, Rajapaksa and his family left for the US via Dubai on Monday morning, multiple Colombo-based papers reported. ALSO READ | Imran Khan and Rajapaksa: 2022 was a year of political ousters in South Asia Gotabaya Rajapaksa was accompanied by his wife Ayoma Rajapaksa, his son Manor Rajapaksa, his daughter-in-law, and his grandchild. The group had left for the US via Dubai on an Emirates Airline flight at 2.55 AM on Tuesday. WATCH | Gravitas Plus | Explained: Sri Lankan economic crisis × Sri Lanka is currently facing an economic crisis while it waits for International Monetary Fund (IMF) to formally approve a USD 2.9 billion bailout package. IMF and Sri Lanka reached a staff-level agreement to support the economic policies of the country with a 48-month arrangement, giving the country the much-needed headroom to combat economic uncertainty. The country has also sought to trade in Indian rupees with assistance from New Delhi. ALSO READ | Sri Lanka to use Indian rupee for international trade, more countries aim to follow Earlier this year, insufficient foreign reserves at Sri Lanka's Central Bank and loss of access to international capital markets led to the country defaulting on debt, marking a first. Restrictions on the import of chemical fertilisers amid increased focus on organic farming, abrupt floating of the Sri Lankan rupee and the Covid pandemic led to the economic crisis in the country which aggravated in the first half of 2022. WATCH WION LIVE HERE You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here.

Sri Lanka's ousted leader Gotabaya Rajapaksa leaves for the US with family

China's industrial profits declined 3.6 per cent during the 11-month period between January-November period as Beijing's 'zero Covid policy' disrupted factory activity and supply chains. However, as China loosened its grip over Covid restrictions as 2022 proceeded to its conclusion in December, analysts have foreseen brighter long-time prospects.&nbsp;

Industrial profits fell in January-November from a year earlier to 7.7 trillion yuan ($1.11 trillion), according to data released by the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) on Tuesday. That compares with a 3.0 per cent&nbsp;decline for January-October. No standalone data was released for November.

ALSO READ |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/business-economy/world-bank-slashes-chinas-growth-forecast-from-43-per-cent-to-27-per-cent-in-2022-544824">World Bank slashes China’s growth forecast from 4.3 per cent to 2.7 per cent for 2022</a>

Statisticians from NBS said that Covid outbreaks and slow demand in November decreased industrial production have increased pressure on Chinese businesses.

For January-November, profits at private-sector firms shrank 7.9 per cent, a slight improvement from the 8.1 per cent fall in the first 10 months.

WATCH |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/videos/wion-business-news-chinas-gdp-growth-rebounds-at-a-faster-pace-527896">WION Business News | China's GDP growth rebounds at a faster pace</a>

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Profits fell for 21 of 41 major industrial sectors, with the steel&nbsp;industry suffering the steepest decline, at 94.5 per cent. That compares with a 92.7 per cent fall for the first 10 months.

Profits for manufacturers were down 13.4 per cent in the first 11 months, matching the fall in January-October.

Despite Beijing ditching some of the world's toughest Covid restrictions in early December, the economy is still reeling under the impact of restrictions that gripped the country for most of 2022.

JP Morgan analysts said China's domestic reopening, which came earlier and faster than expected, would mean a shorter period of transitional pain in the first quarter of 2023, followed by an above-trend sustained recovery from the second quarter.

Earlier this month, JP Morgan trimmed their forecast for China's year-on-year GDP growth rate for the current quarter, to 2.2 per cent from 2.7 per cent, but raised their full-year growth forecast for next year, to 4.3 per cent from 4 per cent.

(With inputs from agencies)

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China's industrial profits declined 3.6 per cent during the 11-month period between January-November period as Beijing's 'zero Covid policy' disrupted factory activity and supply chains.

China's industrial profits declined 3.6 per cent during the 11-month period between January-November period as Beijing's 'zero Covid policy' disrupted factory activity and supply chains. However, as China loosened its grip over Covid restrictions as 2022 proceeded to its conclusion in December, analysts have foreseen brighter long-time prospects. Industrial profits fell in January-November from a year earlier to 7.7 trillion yuan ($1.11 trillion), according to data released by the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) on Tuesday. That compares with a 3.0 per cent decline for January-October. No standalone data was released for November. ALSO READ | World Bank slashes China’s growth forecast from 4.3 per cent to 2.7 per cent for 2022 Statisticians from NBS said that Covid outbreaks and slow demand in November decreased industrial production have increased pressure on Chinese businesses. For January-November, profits at private-sector firms shrank 7.9 per cent, a slight improvement from the 8.1 per cent fall in the first 10 months. WATCH | WION Business News | China's GDP growth rebounds at a faster pace × Profits fell for 21 of 41 major industrial sectors, with the steel industry suffering the steepest decline, at 94.5 per cent. That compares with a 92.7 per cent fall for the first 10 months. Profits for manufacturers were down 13.4 per cent in the first 11 months, matching the fall in January-October. Despite Beijing ditching some of the world's toughest Covid restrictions in early December, the economy is still reeling under the impact of restrictions that gripped the country for most of 2022. JP Morgan analysts said China's domestic reopening, which came earlier and faster than expected, would mean a shorter period of transitional pain in the first quarter of 2023, followed by an above-trend sustained recovery from the second quarter. Earlier this month, JP Morgan trimmed their forecast for China's year-on-year GDP growth rate for the current quarter, to 2.2 per cent from 2.7 per cent, but raised their full-year growth forecast for next year, to 4.3 per cent from 4 per cent. (With inputs from agencies) WATCH WION LIVE HERE You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here.

China's Covid restrictions pulled away industrial profits in 2022

In a major comment of flak about South Korea's ability to combat threats from North Korea, President Yoon Suk-Yeol said that Seoul's response on Monday against five North Korean drones showed a "substantial lack of military unpreparedness". President Yoon Suk-Yeol said that his administration would advance the creation of a military unit specialising in drones.

Five North Korean drones crossed into South Korea on Monday, following which Seoul scrambled fighter jets and attack helicopters. This was the first such intrusion since 2017, Reuters reported.

ALSO READ |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/seoul-deploys-jets-fires-warning-shots-following-incursion-by-north-korean-drones-546675">Seoul deploys jets, fires warning shots following incursion by North Korean drones</a>

On Monday, for about five hours, the North Korean drones flew over several South Korean cities including the capital Seoul. The South Korean defences fired warning shots but couldn't bring down any of Pyongyang's drones.

"The incident showed a substantial lack of our military’s preparedness and training for the past several years, and clearly confirmed the need for more intense readiness and training," Yoon is reported to have told a cabinet meeting.

WATCH |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/videos/gravitas-plus-how-did-north-korea-become-the-worlds-most-isolated-country-375342">Gravitas Plus: How did North Korea become the world's most isolated country?</a>

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Yoon blamed the unpreparedness for his predecessor’s "dangerous" North Korea policy, which relied on Pyongyang’s "good intentions" and a 2018 inter-Korean military pact banning hostile activities in the border areas.

"We have been planning to establish a drone unit to monitor and reconnoitre major North Korean military facilities, and will now expedite the plan as much as possible," he added, vowing to boost its surveillance and reconnaissance capability with cutting-edge stealthy drones.

The South Korean military said it chased one of the five drones over the greater Seoul area, but could not aggressively attack it because of concerns over civilian safety.

"We operated detecting, tracking, and shooting assets but there were areas where there might be civilian damage,” an official at the Joint Chiefs of Staff (JCS) told a briefing on Tuesday, December 27. “So there were difficulties in actually carrying out operations."

The incident was the latest airspace intrusion by unmanned aerial vehicles from North Korea.

In 2017, a North Korean drone that South Korean media said was on a spy mission crashed and was found on a mountain near the border. In 2014, a North Korean drone was discovered on a South Korean border island.

North Korean leader Kim Jong-un in past has publicly shown interest in drones. He also pledged at a meeting of the ruling Workers’ Party last year to develop new reconnaissance drones capable of flying up to 500 km (311 miles).

(With inputs from agencies)

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In a major comment of flak about South Korea's ability to combat threats from North Korea, President Yoon Suk-Yeol said that Seoul's response on Monday against five North Korean drones showed a "substantial lack of military unpreparedness".

In a major comment of flak about South Korea's ability to combat threats from North Korea, President Yoon Suk-Yeol said that Seoul's response on Monday against five North Korean drones showed a "substantial lack of military unpreparedness". President Yoon Suk-Yeol said that his administration would advance the creation of a military unit specialising in drones. Five North Korean drones crossed into South Korea on Monday, following which Seoul scrambled fighter jets and attack helicopters. This was the first such intrusion since 2017, Reuters reported. ALSO READ | Seoul deploys jets, fires warning shots following incursion by North Korean drones On Monday, for about five hours, the North Korean drones flew over several South Korean cities including the capital Seoul. The South Korean defences fired warning shots but couldn't bring down any of Pyongyang's drones. "The incident showed a substantial lack of our military’s preparedness and training for the past several years, and clearly confirmed the need for more intense readiness and training," Yoon is reported to have told a cabinet meeting. WATCH | Gravitas Plus: How did North Korea become the world's most isolated country? × Yoon blamed the unpreparedness for his predecessor’s "dangerous" North Korea policy, which relied on Pyongyang’s "good intentions" and a 2018 inter-Korean military pact banning hostile activities in the border areas. "We have been planning to establish a drone unit to monitor and reconnoitre major North Korean military facilities, and will now expedite the plan as much as possible," he added, vowing to boost its surveillance and reconnaissance capability with cutting-edge stealthy drones. The South Korean military said it chased one of the five drones over the greater Seoul area, but could not aggressively attack it because of concerns over civilian safety. "We operated detecting, tracking, and shooting assets but there were areas where there might be civilian damage,” an official at the Joint Chiefs of Staff (JCS) told a briefing on Tuesday, December 27. “So there were difficulties in actually carrying out operations." The incident was the latest airspace intrusion by unmanned aerial vehicles from North Korea. In 2017, a North Korean drone that South Korean media said was on a spy mission crashed and was found on a mountain near the border. In 2014, a North Korean drone was discovered on a South Korean border island. North Korean leader Kim Jong-un in past has publicly shown interest in drones. He also pledged at a meeting of the ruling Workers’ Party last year to develop new reconnaissance drones capable of flying up to 500 km (311 miles). (With inputs from agencies) WATCH WION LIVE HERE You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here.

South Korean president lambasts his own country's military over failure to destroy North Korean drones

Days after China's military said it had conducted "strike drills" around Taiwanese sea and airspace, Taiwan announced its decision to extend the current four-month-long mandatory military service&nbsp;to a year. The longer service requirements will&nbsp;be implemented from 2024, reflecting the self-governing island nation's&nbsp;sense of urgency&nbsp;to bolster its defences amid China's ascending assertions for 'unification'. &nbsp;

ALSO READ |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/east-asia/china-deployed-71-airforce-planes-in-weekend-strike-drills-47-crossed-taiwan-strait-taiwan-defence-ministry-546569">China deployed 71 jets into Taiwan air defence zone in largest incursion so far, says Taiwan</a>

Taiwan's President Tsai Ing-wen in a press briefing on Tuesday said that&nbsp;the island needs to prepare for the increasing threat from China. "The current four-month military service is not enough to meet the fast and ever-changing situation," she said. "We have decided to restore the one-year military service from 2024."

WATCH |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/videos/taiwan-china-wants-to-control-everything-idea-of-unifying-with-china-more-unpopular-than-ever-508944">Taiwan: China wants to control everything, idea of unifying with China more unpopular than ever</a>

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All Taiwanese men over 18 initially had to serve two to three years in the military as part of a conscription system adopted by Taiwan in 1949 in the events following the Chinese civil war.

After 1996, conscription was gradually reduced, reaching one year in 2008 and four months in 2018.&nbsp;

Taiwan-China tensions: Why extension of mandatory military service?

China sent 47 aircraft across the median line of the Taiwan Strait on Sunday, its largest incursion into Taiwan’s air defence zone in recent months.&nbsp;The Chinese incursions and military exercises have continued all through 2022, with tensions peaking in August after a visit to the island by US House Speaker Nancy Pelosi that prompted fury from the Chinese Communist Party.

Taiwan has active military personnel totalling about 170,000, nearly ten times less than mainland China. Taiwan reportedly estimates that 100,000 men will turn 18 each year, following which the self-governing island nation could ready up its defences during contingencies by increasing the&nbsp;mandatory military service.&nbsp;

An extension of military service up to one year requires no related law revisions, thereby, the government may comfortably implement the change.

The issue has been deliberated upon by the Ministry of National Defense and National Security Council for around two years as part of Taiwan's review of its "all-out defence" system.

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Days after China's military said it had conducted "strike drills" around Taiwanese sea and airspace, Taiwan announced its decision to extend the current four-month-long mandatory military service to a year.

Days after China's military said it had conducted "strike drills" around Taiwanese sea and airspace, Taiwan announced its decision to extend the current four-month-long mandatory military service to a year. The longer service requirements will be implemented from 2024, reflecting the self-governing island nation's sense of urgency to bolster its defences amid China's ascending assertions for 'unification'. ALSO READ | China deployed 71 jets into Taiwan air defence zone in largest incursion so far, says Taiwan Taiwan's President Tsai Ing-wen in a press briefing on Tuesday said that the island needs to prepare for the increasing threat from China. "The current four-month military service is not enough to meet the fast and ever-changing situation," she said. "We have decided to restore the one-year military service from 2024." WATCH | Taiwan: China wants to control everything, idea of unifying with China more unpopular than ever × All Taiwanese men over 18 initially had to serve two to three years in the military as part of a conscription system adopted by Taiwan in 1949 in the events following the Chinese civil war. After 1996, conscription was gradually reduced, reaching one year in 2008 and four months in 2018. Taiwan-China tensions: Why extension of mandatory military service? China sent 47 aircraft across the median line of the Taiwan Strait on Sunday, its largest incursion into Taiwan’s air defence zone in recent months. The Chinese incursions and military exercises have continued all through 2022, with tensions peaking in August after a visit to the island by US House Speaker Nancy Pelosi that prompted fury from the Chinese Communist Party. Taiwan has active military personnel totalling about 170,000, nearly ten times less than mainland China. Taiwan reportedly estimates that 100,000 men will turn 18 each year, following which the self-governing island nation could ready up its defences during contingencies by increasing the mandatory military service. An extension of military service up to one year requires no related law revisions, thereby, the government may comfortably implement the change. The issue has been deliberated upon by the Ministry of National Defense and National Security Council for around two years as part of Taiwan's review of its "all-out defence" system. WATCH WION LIVE HERE You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here.

Taiwan extends mandatory military service to one year after Beijing's Christmas 'strike drills'

Christo Grozev, the Bulgarian journalist who was among the group of news professionals who investigated Russian dissident Alexei Navalny's poisoning in 2020, was put on the "wanted" list by Russia's&nbsp;Interior Ministry.

Grozev is the lead Russia investigator at the Netherlands-based investigative journalism group Bellingcat.

Information published on the ministry’s website said he was "wanted under an article of the Criminal Code".&nbsp;

A Russian human rights media project OVD-Info was cited by CNN saying that the Russian state has opened a criminal case for spreading "fake news" about the Russian army.

ALSO READ |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/putin-clears-law-against-fake-news-on-army-bbc-cnn-others-suspend-operations-459126">Putin clears law against ‘fake news’ on army</a>

Since April this year, Russia has had a law against "fake news" in place that seeks to punish journalists with a jail term of up to 15 years for publishing fake news about the army. In November, President Vladimir Putin proposed an amendment to the law that called for revoking the citizenship of Russian citizens once found convicted under the law.

WATCH |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/videos/moscow-russian-anti-war-journalist-marina-ovsyannikova-detained-again-505835">Moscow: Russian anti-war journalist Marina Ovsyannikova detained again</a>

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Grozev has reported extensively on Russia’s involvement in a number of high-profile international crimes, including the 2014 downing of Malaysia Airlines Flight 17 in eastern Ukraine and the 2018 poisoning of Sergei and Yulia Skripal in the United Kingdom. Moscow has denied any responsibility for either attack in the past.&nbsp;

According to Bellingcat, Grozev focuses on "security threats, extraterritorial clandestine operations, and the weaponization of information."

Grozev has been using open-source digital tools to document alleged war crimes that human rights activists claim have drawn Russia's ire.

'They are scared of our work': Christo Grozev

Grozev wrote on Twitter that the Russian state is "scared" of the work he does and that they would stop at nothing "to make it go away".&nbsp;

“I have no idea on what grounds the Kremlin has put me on its ‘wanted list,’ thus I cannot provide any comments at this time. In a way it doesn’t matter – for years they’ve made it clear they are scared of our work and would stop at nothing to make it go away,” he said in a Twitter post on Monday.

According to OVD-Info, at least 370 people have faced criminal prosecution for anti-war statements and speeches.&nbsp;

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Christo Grozev, the Bulgarian journalist who was among the group of news professionals who investigated Russian dissident Alexei Navalny's poisoning in 2020, was put on the "wanted" list by Russia's Interior Ministry.

Christo Grozev, the Bulgarian journalist who was among the group of news professionals who investigated Russian dissident Alexei Navalny's poisoning in 2020, was put on the "wanted" list by Russia's Interior Ministry. Grozev is the lead Russia investigator at the Netherlands-based investigative journalism group Bellingcat. Information published on the ministry’s website said he was "wanted under an article of the Criminal Code". A Russian human rights media project OVD-Info was cited by CNN saying that the Russian state has opened a criminal case for spreading "fake news" about the Russian army. ALSO READ | Putin clears law against ‘fake news’ on army Since April this year, Russia has had a law against "fake news" in place that seeks to punish journalists with a jail term of up to 15 years for publishing fake news about the army. In November, President Vladimir Putin proposed an amendment to the law that called for revoking the citizenship of Russian citizens once found convicted under the law. WATCH | Moscow: Russian anti-war journalist Marina Ovsyannikova detained again × Grozev has reported extensively on Russia’s involvement in a number of high-profile international crimes, including the 2014 downing of Malaysia Airlines Flight 17 in eastern Ukraine and the 2018 poisoning of Sergei and Yulia Skripal in the United Kingdom. Moscow has denied any responsibility for either attack in the past. According to Bellingcat, Grozev focuses on "security threats, extraterritorial clandestine operations, and the weaponization of information." Grozev has been using open-source digital tools to document alleged war crimes that human rights activists claim have drawn Russia's ire. 'They are scared of our work': Christo Grozev Grozev wrote on Twitter that the Russian state is "scared" of the work he does and that they would stop at nothing "to make it go away". “I have no idea on what grounds the Kremlin has put me on its ‘wanted list,’ thus I cannot provide any comments at this time. In a way it doesn’t matter – for years they’ve made it clear they are scared of our work and would stop at nothing to make it go away,” he said in a Twitter post on Monday. According to OVD-Info, at least 370 people have faced criminal prosecution for anti-war statements and speeches. WATCH WION LIVE HERE You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here.

Christo Grozev, journalist who reported on Navalny poisoning, now 'wanted' by Russia

The transparent frogs with rare ability to turn on and off their ability to become literally transparent, indicates the reasons behind blood clotting in humans, researchers said on Thursday in the journal Science.

The world knows about glass frog since decades. But nobody could ascertain the reason behind its nearly transparent body.&nbsp;

What does the latest research say?

The research, published in the journals Science says that a glass frog is able to pool blood in its body without being negatively affected by clots.

ALSO READ |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/trending/frog-extinctions-europes-voracious-appetite-for-frogs-legs-is-to-blame-491307">Frog extinctions: Europe’s voracious appetite for frogs’ legs is to blame</a>

The finding thus advances the medical understanding of blood clotting, a common serious condition among human beings.&nbsp;

Why Glass Frog is transparent?

The glass frog spends its days sleeping on bright green leaves in the Tropics.

ALSO READ |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/science/scientists-reproduce-29-specimens-of-endangered-frogs-to-begin-its-repopulation-484642">Scientists reproduce 29 specimens of endangered frogs to begin its repopulation</a>

In order to escape the attention of predators, the creature turns itself up to 61% per cent transparent, disguising itself on the leaf.

How does Glass Frog become transparent?

Researchers found that the creature's transparency comes from its ability to shine different wavelengths of light at different stages of activity. They discovered that the creatures pool blood into their liver.

WATCH |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/videos/how-engineers-are-straightening-the-leaning-tower-of-pisa-181097">Gravitas: Frogs are being eaten to extinction</a>

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"They somehow pack most of the red blood cells in the liver, so they're removed from the blood plasma. They're still circulating plasma but they do it somehow without triggering a massive clot," Jesse Delia, a researcher at the Museum of Natural History in New York, US, was quoted as saying by BBC.

Up to 89 per cent of the animal's blood cells become packed together, almost doubling the size of the liver, and allowing the frog to become transparent.

At night, when the creature wants to become active again to hunt or mate, it releases the red blood cells back into circulation and the liver shrinks back again.&nbsp;

This ability to selectively pool and clot blood is the creature's "superpower", Dellia says further, adding that it could enable a better understanding of the blood clotting in humans generally.

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The transparent frogs with rare ability to turn on and off their ability to become literally transparent, indicates the reasons behind blood clotting in humans, researchers said on Thursday in the journal Science.

The transparent frogs with rare ability to turn on and off their ability to become literally transparent, indicates the reasons behind blood clotting in humans, researchers said on Thursday in the journal Science. The world knows about glass frog since decades. But nobody could ascertain the reason behind its nearly transparent body. What does the latest research say? The research, published in the journals Science says that a glass frog is able to pool blood in its body without being negatively affected by clots. ALSO READ | Frog extinctions: Europe’s voracious appetite for frogs’ legs is to blame The finding thus advances the medical understanding of blood clotting, a common serious condition among human beings. Why Glass Frog is transparent? The glass frog spends its days sleeping on bright green leaves in the Tropics. ALSO READ | Scientists reproduce 29 specimens of endangered frogs to begin its repopulation In order to escape the attention of predators, the creature turns itself up to 61% per cent transparent, disguising itself on the leaf. How does Glass Frog become transparent? Researchers found that the creature's transparency comes from its ability to shine different wavelengths of light at different stages of activity. They discovered that the creatures pool blood into their liver. WATCH | Gravitas: Frogs are being eaten to extinction × "They somehow pack most of the red blood cells in the liver, so they're removed from the blood plasma. They're still circulating plasma but they do it somehow without triggering a massive clot," Jesse Delia, a researcher at the Museum of Natural History in New York, US, was quoted as saying by BBC. Up to 89 per cent of the animal's blood cells become packed together, almost doubling the size of the liver, and allowing the frog to become transparent. At night, when the creature wants to become active again to hunt or mate, it releases the red blood cells back into circulation and the liver shrinks back again. This ability to selectively pool and clot blood is the creature's "superpower", Dellia says further, adding that it could enable a better understanding of the blood clotting in humans generally. WATCH WION LIVE HERE You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here.

Scientists find how glass frogs turn transparent, with hint at better understanding of human blood clotting

SITE intelligence group reported that Al-Qaeda said that its latest propaganda video was narrated by Ayman al-Zawahiri, reported to have died in a US drone strike in Kabul on July 31, 2022. Flight cancellations breached the 4000-mark on Friday as powerful winter storm continued to disrupt travel plans for thousands of fliers across the United States.&nbsp;Elon Musk ordered Twitter to remove an anti-suicide feature on the microblogging social media platform.

Click on the headlines to read more:

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/al-qaeda-says-latest-video-narrated-by-al-zawahiri-dead-for-five-months-546223">Al-Qaeda says latest video narrated by Al-Zawahiri 'dead' for five months</a>

<img src="http://cdn.wionews.com/sites/default/files/styles/story_page/public/2022/12/24/320628-untitled-design-17.jpg" />

Terrorist organisation Al-Qaeda released a 35-minute video narrated by its leader Ayman al-Zawahiri, reported to have been killed on July 31, 2022 in a CIA drone strike in Afghanistan's Kabul.&nbsp;The latest recording is undated and the transcript did not point towards a time frame for when it could have been made.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/us-more-than-4400-flights-cancelled-on-friday-as-travellers-face-harrowing-christmas-week-546192">US: More than 4,400 flights cancelled on Friday as travellers face harrowing Christmas week</a>

<img src="https://cdn.wionews.com/sites/default/files/styles/story_page/public/2022/12/24/320608-flights.jpg?imwidth=1920" />

Flight cancellations breached the 4000-mark on Friday as powerful winter storm continued to disrupt travel plans for thousands of fliers across the United States.

A day after nearly 2,700 flight cancellations, several airlines hit the pause button on more than 4,400 flight operations on Friday, according to flight tracking site&nbsp;FlightAware.

Seattle-Tacoma International Airport, New York's LaGuardia and Chicago reported the highest flight cancellations on Friday, according to FlightAware data.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/clashes-erupt-at-paris-shooting-site-kurds-unhappy-with-french-govt-ruling-out-terrorist-act-546198">Clashes erupt at Paris shooting site, Kurds unhappy with French govt ruling out terrorist act</a>

<img src="https://cdn.wionews.com/sites/default/files/styles/story_page/public/2022/12/24/320611-kurds.jpg?imwidth=1920" />

Massive protests have erupted in Paris following the killing of three Kurds in what is being described as a possible racist attack.

The Kurdish diaspora living in Paris feel outraged after the investigators did not consider the attack at a Kurdish centre to be an act of terrorism.

On Friday morning, a 69-year-old man opened fire on a group of people at the Ahmet-Kaya centre on Rue d’Enghien in the 10th arrondissement. Three people have been wounded, one critically.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/technology/elon-musk-ordered-twitter-to-remove-suicide-prevention-prompts-546218">Elon Musk ordered Twitter to remove suicide-prevention prompts</a>

<img src="https://cdn.wionews.com/sites/default/files/styles/story_page/public/2022/12/24/320624-zdchwhwdsrk5xk5b6wgaeqx7ducopy1200x6751.jpg?imwidth=1920" />

Elon Musk ordered Twitter to remove an anti-suicide feature on the microblogging social media platform. The feature, that showed prompts related to suicide-prevention and anti-self harm hotlines in at least 30 countries worldwide, was no more available starting Thursday evening, Reuters reported.&nbsp;

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/entertainment/british-tabloid-the-sun-regrets-publishing-meghan-hate-article-546221">The Sun takes down Jeremy Clarkson's article on Meghan, issues apology</a>

British tabloid The Sun on Friday said it regretted publishing a column by former Top Gear host Jeremy Clarkson about Prince Harry's wife Meghan after a huge backlash.

In the article for The Sun last week, Clarkson wrote that he "hated" Meghan and dreamed of the day "when she is made to parade naked through the streets of every town in Britain while the crowds chant, 'Shame!' and throw lumps of excrement at her".

SITE intelligence group reported that Al-Qaeda said that its latest propaganda video was narrated by Ayman al-Zawahiri, reported to have died in a US drone strike in Kabul on July 31, 2022.

SITE intelligence group reported that Al-Qaeda said that its latest propaganda video was narrated by Ayman al-Zawahiri, reported to have died in a US drone strike in Kabul on July 31, 2022. Flight cancellations breached the 4000-mark on Friday as powerful winter storm continued to disrupt travel plans for thousands of fliers across the United States. Elon Musk ordered Twitter to remove an anti-suicide feature on the microblogging social media platform. Click on the headlines to read more: Al-Qaeda says latest video narrated by Al-Zawahiri 'dead' for five months Terrorist organisation Al-Qaeda released a 35-minute video narrated by its leader Ayman al-Zawahiri, reported to have been killed on July 31, 2022 in a CIA drone strike in Afghanistan's Kabul. The latest recording is undated and the transcript did not point towards a time frame for when it could have been made. US: More than 4,400 flights cancelled on Friday as travellers face harrowing Christmas week Flight cancellations breached the 4000-mark on Friday as powerful winter storm continued to disrupt travel plans for thousands of fliers across the United States. A day after nearly 2,700 flight cancellations, several airlines hit the pause button on more than 4,400 flight operations on Friday, according to flight tracking site FlightAware. Seattle-Tacoma International Airport, New York's LaGuardia and Chicago reported the highest flight cancellations on Friday, according to FlightAware data. Clashes erupt at Paris shooting site, Kurds unhappy with French govt ruling out terrorist act Massive protests have erupted in Paris following the killing of three Kurds in what is being described as a possible racist attack. The Kurdish diaspora living in Paris feel outraged after the investigators did not consider the attack at a Kurdish centre to be an act of terrorism. On Friday morning, a 69-year-old man opened fire on a group of people at the Ahmet-Kaya centre on Rue d’Enghien in the 10th arrondissement. Three people have been wounded, one critically. Elon Musk ordered Twitter to remove suicide-prevention prompts Elon Musk ordered Twitter to remove an anti-suicide feature on the microblogging social media platform. The feature, that showed prompts related to suicide-prevention and anti-self harm hotlines in at least 30 countries worldwide, was no more available starting Thursday evening, Reuters reported. The Sun takes down Jeremy Clarkson's article on Meghan, issues apology British tabloid The Sun on Friday said it regretted publishing a column by former Top Gear host Jeremy Clarkson about Prince Harry's wife Meghan after a huge backlash. In the article for The Sun last week, Clarkson wrote that he "hated" Meghan and dreamed of the day "when she is made to parade naked through the streets of every town in Britain while the crowds chant, 'Shame!' and throw lumps of excrement at her".

Morning Brief: Al-Zawahiri dead or alive? Musk's Twitter removes suicide prevention prompts and more

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