US President Donald Trump has dismissed concerns over the living conditions and mental health of sailors aboard the USS Abraham Lincoln, which has spent more than 260 days at sea amid ongoing US military operations in West Asia. The aircraft carrier's unusually long deployment has raised concerns among sailors' relatives and lawmakers, with reports citing shortages of basic supplies, sanitation issues and mental health challenges. The US Navy says a sailor who fell overboard on August 3 was safely recovered and that no service member aboard the carrier has died. Officials have also disputed reports portraying the crew as victims of deteriorating conditions.

The USS Abraham Lincoln carries roughly 5,000 sailors and Marines. Military experts say extended deployments, combat operations and prolonged periods without port calls can place significant physical and psychological pressure on service members.

Donald Trump Dismisses Concerns Over USS Lincoln Crew Conditions 

Russian President Vladimir Putin has praised Moscow’s relationship with China as reaching an “unprecedented level” ahead of his high-profile visit to Beijing. The trip comes just days after U.S. President Donald Trump’s visit to China, intensifying focus on shifting global alliances, energy cooperation and the growing Russia-China strategic partnership. Putin and Xi Jinping are expected to discuss trade, diplomacy, regional security and deeper economic coordination amid ongoing global geopolitical tensions.

Putin Hails ‘Unprecedented’ China Ties Ahead Of Beijing Visit After Trump Trip

Russia and China have completely abandoned the use of Western currencies, including US Dollar, in their bilateral trade, said Russian Prime Minister Mikhail Mishustin on Tuesday (Dec 19).

While speaking during a meeting with his Chinese counterpart Li Qiang in Beijing, Mishustin said nearly all payments were being carried out in Rubles and Yuan.

The Russian PM is on a two-day visit to the Chinese capital.

“We continue to increase the share of national currencies in mutual settlements. If in 2020 this figure was about 20 per cent, then this year we have actually completely gotten rid of the currencies of third countries in mutual settlements,” Mishustin was quoted as saying by Russian media.

<h2>Red hot business ties</h2>

The Russian leader also stressed that the business ties between the two nations were booming, with bilateral trade turnover already reaching $200 billion ahead of schedule.

He also mentioned that a joint business forum held in Beijing earlier this year saw the attendance of more than 1,500 entrepreneurs from both countries.

Watch:&nbsp;Russian Prime Minister Mikhail Mishustin on a 2-day visit to China

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“We are creating comfortable conditions for the work of commercial firms on the Russian and Chinese markets. We have an extensive joint agenda,” Mishustin said.

Li Qiang also noted that the partnership between Russia and China had become extremely important against the backdrop of “global turbulence.”

<h2>Russia urges BRICS to ditch the dollar</h2>

Apart from abandoning the US dollar in its trade with China, Russia is also urging the BRICS organisation to develop financial relations and make mechanisms for settlements within the bloc.

Russian Finance Minister Anton Siluanov made this appeal at the Russia-China Financial Dialogue forum in Beijing on Monday, where his Chinese counterpart Lan Foan was also present.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/explained-why-putin-may-have-been-responsible-for-chinese-fm-qin-gangs-disappearance-670255">Also read:&nbsp;Explained | Why Putin may have been responsible for Chinese FM Qin Gang’s disappearance</a>

The BRICS group of emerging economies – which currently incorporates Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa – has been discussing ways to facilitate payments in local currencies between member countries.

“We need to further develop financial cooperation within the BRICS countries. Here we see opportunities to develop a payments system that would be independent of the infrastructure, which does not always fully fulfill the goals of individual countries,” Siluanov stated.

(With inputs from agencies)

Russia and China have completely abandoned the use of Western currencies, including US Dollar, in their bilateral trade, said Russian Prime Minister Mikhail Mishustin on Tuesday (Dec 19).

Russia and China have completely abandoned the use of Western currencies, including US Dollar, in their bilateral trade, said Russian Prime Minister Mikhail Mishustin on Tuesday (Dec 19). While speaking during a meeting with his Chinese counterpart Li Qiang in Beijing, Mishustin said nearly all payments were being carried out in Rubles and Yuan. The Russian PM is on a two-day visit to the Chinese capital. “We continue to increase the share of national currencies in mutual settlements. If in 2020 this figure was about 20 per cent, then this year we have actually completely gotten rid of the currencies of third countries in mutual settlements,” Mishustin was quoted as saying by Russian media. Red hot business ties The Russian leader also stressed that the business ties between the two nations were booming, with bilateral trade turnover already reaching $200 billion ahead of schedule. He also mentioned that a joint business forum held in Beijing earlier this year saw the attendance of more than 1,500 entrepreneurs from both countries. Watch: Russian Prime Minister Mikhail Mishustin on a 2-day visit to China × “We are creating comfortable conditions for the work of commercial firms on the Russian and Chinese markets. We have an extensive joint agenda,” Mishustin said. Li Qiang also noted that the partnership between Russia and China had become extremely important against the backdrop of “global turbulence.” Russia urges BRICS to ditch the dollar Apart from abandoning the US dollar in its trade with China, Russia is also urging the BRICS organisation to develop financial relations and make mechanisms for settlements within the bloc. Russian Finance Minister Anton Siluanov made this appeal at the Russia-China Financial Dialogue forum in Beijing on Monday, where his Chinese counterpart Lan Foan was also present. Also read: Explained | Why Putin may have been responsible for Chinese FM Qin Gang’s disappearance The BRICS group of emerging economies – which currently incorporates Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa – has been discussing ways to facilitate payments in local currencies between member countries. “We need to further develop financial cooperation within the BRICS countries. Here we see opportunities to develop a payments system that would be independent of the infrastructure, which does not always fully fulfill the goals of individual countries,” Siluanov stated. (With inputs from agencies)

Russia, China completely abandon US dollar in bilateral trade, says Russian PM

After months of intensified and increasingly ambitious drills to project power, Chinese President Xi Jinping, speaking ahead of Tuesday's 96th anniversary of the People's Liberation Army (PLA), told China's armed forces to speed up modernisation.

In his address, Xi said the military must broaden its combat capability and readiness, the official Xinhua news agency reported.

"We need to push for new equipment and new forces to accelerate forming combat capabilities and integrate into the combat system," Xi told the Peoples Liberation Army Air Force's western theatre command during a visit last Wednesday, Xinhua reported on Sunday.

Marking the anniversary on Tuesday, an editorial in the official PLA Daily newspaper said the military had "enhanced its ability to carry out diversified military tasks in a wider space".

China has flaunted its military might this year, ramping up military manoeuvres and drills, signalling that its third and most advanced aircraft carrier will soon start sea trials, and tightening its military relationship with Russia.

Also read |<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/china-increases-consumption-after-disappointing-post-covid-economic-recovery-data-621078">&nbsp;China increases consumption after disappointing post-Covid economic recovery data</a>

Some analysts say that the moves reflect China's perception of increased external threats from the United States and its allies and that Beijing is flexing its military muscle to send political messages.

"The reason is simple: the world is not peaceful and the external environment that China faces continues to deteriorate," said Chinese military analyst Song Zhongping, noting the increasing intensity and frequency of Chinese drills.

The U.S. is also expanding regional deployments and tightening ties with longstanding allies and newer friends - sparking calls from Chinese officials that Washington should steer clear of China's coasts if dialogue between the two militaries is to resume.

Drew Thompson, visiting senior research fellow at the National University of Singapore's Lee Kuan Yew School of Public Policy, told Reuters that China's drills represent more of a political message than a military one.

"Everything the PLA (People's Liberation of Army) does is inherently political," Thompson said. "When the Chinese military conducts an exercise, it is showing force - it is bestowing or sending a message to other countries," he said.

<h2>Long-range capabilities</h2>

Starting with the military drill in the Taiwan Strait after Taiwanese President Tsai Ing-wen's meeting with U.S. House of Representatives Speaker Kevin McCarthy in April, China has conducted at least a dozen exercises and patrols from the Sea of Japan to the Western Pacific.

At sea, China is readying its aircraft carriers to extend and assert its power beyond its home waters. Although they remain in training mode, Beijing has deployed the Shandong farther into the Pacific than previous sailings.

Regional military attaches and analysts will be scrutinising the expected sea trial of the more advanced Fujian carrier for signs of technological and operational progress.

State broadcaster CCTV said in June that the sea trial would start "soon" but no date has been fixed.

In the sky, China is fortifying its long-range abilities.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/air-forces-of-china-uae-to-conduct-first-joint-training-in-august-621072">Air forces of China, UAE to conduct first joint training in August</a>

Videos posted online showed China's J-20 stealth jet fighter taking off with domestically produced WS-15 engines, the South China Morning Post reported in early July, while another report said the new engine will put U.S. military bases in South Korea, Japan, and Guam within the range of J-20.

China has worked for decades to build high-performance jet engines that can compete with Western and Russian models, but the capabilities of the WS-15 are not publicly known.

The refuelling variant of its long-range Y-20 cargo aircraft was also displayed in a formation with jet fighters at a recent air show.

"It delivered a positive signal that Chinese air forces can conduct distant sea training and its systematic and long-distance combat capabilities are getting stronger and stronger," state media cited Shi Yunjia, a J-20 pilot, as saying last week.

WATCH WION LIVE HERE:

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After months of intensified and increasingly ambitious drills to project power, Chinese President Xi Jinping, speaking ahead of Tuesday's 96th anniversary of the People's Liberation Army (PLA), told China's armed forces to speed up modernisation.

After months of intensified and increasingly ambitious drills to project power, Chinese President Xi Jinping, speaking ahead of Tuesday's 96th anniversary of the People's Liberation Army (PLA), told China's armed forces to speed up modernisation. In his address, Xi said the military must broaden its combat capability and readiness, the official Xinhua news agency reported. "We need to push for new equipment and new forces to accelerate forming combat capabilities and integrate into the combat system," Xi told the Peoples Liberation Army Air Force's western theatre command during a visit last Wednesday, Xinhua reported on Sunday. Marking the anniversary on Tuesday, an editorial in the official PLA Daily newspaper said the military had "enhanced its ability to carry out diversified military tasks in a wider space". China has flaunted its military might this year, ramping up military manoeuvres and drills, signalling that its third and most advanced aircraft carrier will soon start sea trials, and tightening its military relationship with Russia. Also read | China increases consumption after disappointing post-Covid economic recovery data Some analysts say that the moves reflect China's perception of increased external threats from the United States and its allies and that Beijing is flexing its military muscle to send political messages. "The reason is simple: the world is not peaceful and the external environment that China faces continues to deteriorate," said Chinese military analyst Song Zhongping, noting the increasing intensity and frequency of Chinese drills. The U.S. is also expanding regional deployments and tightening ties with longstanding allies and newer friends - sparking calls from Chinese officials that Washington should steer clear of China's coasts if dialogue between the two militaries is to resume. Drew Thompson, visiting senior research fellow at the National University of Singapore's Lee Kuan Yew School of Public Policy, told Reuters that China's drills represent more of a political message than a military one. "Everything the PLA (People's Liberation of Army) does is inherently political," Thompson said. "When the Chinese military conducts an exercise, it is showing force - it is bestowing or sending a message to other countries," he said. Long-range capabilities Starting with the military drill in the Taiwan Strait after Taiwanese President Tsai Ing-wen's meeting with U.S. House of Representatives Speaker Kevin McCarthy in April, China has conducted at least a dozen exercises and patrols from the Sea of Japan to the Western Pacific. At sea, China is readying its aircraft carriers to extend and assert its power beyond its home waters. Although they remain in training mode, Beijing has deployed the Shandong farther into the Pacific than previous sailings. Regional military attaches and analysts will be scrutinising the expected sea trial of the more advanced Fujian carrier for signs of technological and operational progress. State broadcaster CCTV said in June that the sea trial would start "soon" but no date has been fixed. In the sky, China is fortifying its long-range abilities. Also read | Air forces of China, UAE to conduct first joint training in August Videos posted online showed China's J-20 stealth jet fighter taking off with domestically produced WS-15 engines, the South China Morning Post reported in early July, while another report said the new engine will put U.S. military bases in South Korea, Japan, and Guam within the range of J-20. China has worked for decades to build high-performance jet engines that can compete with Western and Russian models, but the capabilities of the WS-15 are not publicly known. The refuelling variant of its long-range Y-20 cargo aircraft was also displayed in a formation with jet fighters at a recent air show. "It delivered a positive signal that Chinese air forces can conduct distant sea training and its systematic and long-distance combat capabilities are getting stronger and stronger," state media cited Shi Yunjia, a J-20 pilot, as saying last week. WATCH WION LIVE HERE:

Chinese President Xi Jinping urges military preparedness on PLA's founding anniversary

Russian and Chinese warships held their first joint patrols in the Western part of the Pacific ocean on October 17-23, Russia's defence ministry said in a statement on Saturday.

Russian & Chinese navies hold first ever joint patrol

Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov has kick-started his two-day visit to Beijing at the invitation of his Chinese counterpart Wang Yi. The visit has been aimed at discussing what both parties call the dominance of the western ideological agenda.

WION Dispatch: Russian, Chinese Foreign Ministers meet to deepen 'best in history' ties

Russian authorities are considering chartering a plane from China to fly over parents who have been estranged from their babies born to surrogates in Russia due to coronavirus restrictions

Russia mulls sending charter plane to China