TOKYO, Dec. 2  — Leaders from several Japanese opposition parties have sharply criticized Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi for her recent erroneous remarks on Taiwan, urging her to withdraw the remarks to prevent further damage to Japan-China relations.

Speaking on a TV program aired by public broadcaster NHK on Sunday, Satoshi Honjo, policy chief of the Constitutional Democratic Party of Japan, said Takaichi’s Diet statements revealed an inadequate understanding of what constitutes a “survival-threatening situation” under Japanese law.

He argued that her remarks diverged significantly from relevant legislation, from how the Taiwan question is situated in Japan-China relations, and from the consistent positions expressed by successive Japanese governments since the normalization of diplomatic ties with China in 1972.

Taku Yamazoe, policy chief of the Japanese Communist Party, warned on the same program that Takaichi’s comments could bring “serious consequences” for Japan and run counter to the Japanese Constitution, calling them “extremely dangerous.”

He stressed that Japan, in the 1972 Sino-Japanese Joint Statement, declared it “fully understands and respects” China’s position that Taiwan is an inalienable part of the territory of the People’s Republic of China.

Takaichi’s remarks, he said, clearly contradict that stance, as well as the 2008 bilateral joint statement affirming that the two countries “pose no threat to each other.”

To resolve the current diplomatic strain, Yamazoe insisted, the prime minister “must retract her remarks.” Akiko Oishi, co-representative of the Reiwa Shinsengumi, also criticized Takaichi’s comments as “groundless,” urging the Japanese public to “stay calm and not be provoked.” (Namibia Daily News / Xinhua)

MOSCOW, Dec. 2 — Russian President Vladimir Putin has been briefed on Russian forces’ capture of Krasnoarmeysk in the Donetsk region and Volchansk in the Kharkov region, the Kremlin said in a statement on Monday.

Chief of the General Staff of the Russian Armed Forces, Valery Gerasimov, announced the capture of Krasnoarmeysk and Volchansk, also detailing the results of the offensive operations in other areas, it said.

The successful actions of the Russian Armed Forces in the city of Krasnoarmeysk will ensure the implementation of the tasks set at the beginning of the special military operation, Putin was quoted as saying by RIA Novosti.

“This is an important direction, all of us understand how important it is and this will ensure the progressive implementation of all key tasks that are faced by us and were set at the beginning of the special military operation,” said Putin.

On Monday night, the Russian Defense Ministry released video footage from Krasnoarmeysk showing servicemen raising the Russian flag in the city’s main square, marking its capture.

So far, there is no acknowledgement that either place has fallen into Russian hands. The announcement came as Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky was in Paris for talks with European leaders, and ahead of U.S. envoy Steve Witkoff’s upcoming meetings in Moscow to discuss a U.S.-backed plan for resolving the Ukraine crisis.

Following his talks with French President Emmanuel Macron and European leaders on Monday, Zelensky said Ukraine sought to end the conflict “in a dignified manner.”

He called for “solid” security guarantees, noting that the “territorial issue will be the most difficult” in future talks.

On Sunday, U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio and presidential special envoy Steve Witkoff held talks with a Ukrainian delegation in Hallandale Beach, Florida.

Although “additional progress was made” on a revised peace plan to end the conflict, “there is more work to be done,” said Rubio after the meeting.

“Obviously, there’s another party involved here that will have to be a part of the equation.” Kremlin Spokesman Dmitry Peskov confirmed that Putin will meet with Witkoff in Moscow on Tuesday to discuss ending the conflict with Ukraine.

A U.S.-proposed 28-point “peace plan” was unveiled earlier this month. The plan was later revised during talks among the United States, Ukraine and Europe in Geneva, with the changes remaining unclear. (Namibia Daily News / Xinhua)

RIO DE JANEIRO, Dec. 2 — The first People’s BRICS Summit opened here on Monday, aiming to expand the participation of member countries’ civil societies in global governance and strengthen cooperation across the Global South.

The meeting, as part of the BRICS Civil Council’s agenda, brings together BRICS social movements to discuss economic cooperation, multilateralism, global geopolitics, governance challenges and ways to reduce emerging economies’ dependence on the U.S. dollar.

Created in 2024 at the Kazan Summit in Russia, the BRICS Civil Council seeks to establish a permanent dialogue between civil society and bloc governments.

Organizers said the council marks “a milestone” in expanding the role of organized social groups, including grassroots movements, students, teachers and NGOs in BRICS discussions.

The summit is the last major BRICS event under Brazil’s presidency before India assumes leadership next year.

Dilma Rousseff, former Brazilian president and president of the New Development Bank, said in a video message that the summit gives BRICS populations “a permanent channel of dialogue” with the bloc’s decision-making bodies. (Namibia Daily News / Xinhua )

CARACAS, Dec. 2 — Venezuela does not want “a slave’s peace,” Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro told supporters Monday as U.S. military deployment has been “testing” his country for months.

“We want peace, but peace with sovereignty, peace with equality, peace with freedom; we do not want the peace of slaves or the peace of colonies.

A colony never, slaves never,” Maduro declared, noting that the 22-week U.S. military “aggression” can be described as “psychological terrorism.”

Maduro stressed that national power is grounded in citizen participation and “rests on the immense strength of its people, their awareness, their institutions, their rifles and their determination to build this homeland above any difficulty.”

In his view, strengthening that social fabric makes national power “invincible, eternal and perpetual.” Maduro said the goal is to preserve “peace with dignity” by defending the republic and the country’s political autonomy.

U.S. President Donald Trump has intensified pressure on Venezuela with a significant naval build-up in the Caribbean, carrying out strikes on vessels suspected of smuggling drugs since September and issuing on Saturday stern warnings to stay clear of Venezuelan airspace.

Venezuela revoked the operating rights of six major international airlines that had suspended flights to the country following a warning from the U.S. Federal Aviation Administration.

Maduro and his government have denied all criminal accusations and said the United States is seeking regime change to take control of Venezuela’s vast natural resources, including oil.

In their phone call on Nov. 21, Trump issued an ultimatum to Maduro, demanding he leave Venezuela, according to media reports.

Since early September, U.S. troops have carried out at least 21 strikes on alleged drug boats in the Caribbean and Pacific, killing at least 83 people. (Xinhua)

JOHANNESBURG, Dec. 01 — South African President Cyril Ramaphosa said on Sunday that the country would remain fully engaged in G20 activities, despite recent tensions with the United States, the host of next year’s G20 meetings.

The president made the remarks in a national address after South Africa presided over the G20 Leaders’ Summit a week ago, from which Washington was absent. U.S. President Donald Trump claimed earlier this week that South Africa would not be invited to next year’s G20 meetings amid tensions in bilateral ties.

“We must make it clear that South Africa is one of the founding members of the G20 and South Africa is therefore a member of the G20 in its own name and right.

We will continue to participate as a full, active and constructive member of the G20,” Ramaphosa said. Ramaphosa said the U.S. absence from this year’s leaders’ summit was rooted in misinformation and “regrettable.”

Trump had cited allegations of “white genocide” in the African country as the reason for boycotting the summit. “This is blatant misinformation about our country.

It is even more unfortunate that the reasons the U.S. gave for its non-participation were based on baseless and false allegations that South Africa is perpetrating genocide against Afrikaners and the confiscation of land from white people,” Ramaphosa said.

Ramaphosa confirmed that South Africa had handed over the G20 presidency to the United States earlier this week and that his country values its relationship with Washington and remains committed to dialogue. The United States is scheduled to formally take over the presidency on Dec. 1. (Namibia Daily News / Xinhua)