U.S. Q3 GDP up 4.3%, consumer confidence drops

At the United Nations Security Council, member states including China and Russia have criticized the U.S. for escalating military tensions with Venezuela.

The U.S. economy grew 4.3 percent in Q3, while consumer confidence fell in December over jobs and the broader outlook.

During the 14th Five-Year Plan period, from 2021 through 2025, China's degraded grassland area shrunk rapidly, by more than 46 million mu, or about three million hectares, each year.

China has strongly opposed a U.S. move to put Chinese drone maker DJI on a national security list. A foreign ministry spokesperson urged Washington to correct its actions and provide a fair and non-discriminatory environment for Chinese businesses.

A senior Chinese envoy to the UN says ending the fighting in Sudan is an urgent priority. Sun Lei, China's Deputy Permanent Representative, warned that nearly three years of conflict have created the world's largest humanitarian crisis.

China's Commerce Ministry has urged the Netherlands to revoke its order on Nexperia, citing improper intervention and stressing support for negotiations and global semiconductor supply chain stability.

China has decided to impose provisional anti-subsidy measures on certain dairy products from the European Union. The Ministry of Commerce reiterated that China remains cautious in using trade remedy measures and is willing to resolve the dispute with the EU through consultations.

China says it is shocked by a senior Japanese official's remarks that Japan should have nuclear weapons.

The United States has stepped up its oil blockade of Venezuela, intercepting a third tanker in international waters in less than two weeks.

Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche defended the U.S. Justice Department's handling of the Jeffrey Epstein files, saying only a portion were released by the congressional deadline to protect survivors of sexual abuse.