Briefly

RUSSIA

Biden, Putin trade warnings over Ukraine

US President Joe Biden and Russian President Vladimir Putin exchanged warnings over Ukraine on Thursday, but conveyed some optimism that diplomatic talks in January could ease spiraling tensions. After a 50-minute phone call, their second in just over three weeks－both presidents indicated support for further diplomacy on the tense standoff between Russia and Western-backed Ukraine. Biden reaffirmed the United States' threat of new sanctions against Russia in case of an escalation or invasion, to which Putin responded with a warning of his own that such a move could lead to a complete rupture of ties between the two nations. Russia has denied any plans to attack Ukraine, saying it has the right to move its troops on its own soil as it likes.

UNITED KINGDOM

Steel industry loses ground to EU rivals

The country's beleaguered steel industry will suffer a blow on New Year's Day, when rival European Union steel-makers start avoiding a 25 percent tariff on exports to the United States. The tariff will no longer apply to EU exports thanks to a deal worked out between Washington and Brussels that would have applied to the UK, had it not left the bloc. EU companies will also be able to export aluminum tariff-free. The UK's steel industry has called on the government to offer state aid to help it through the crisis. Steel has been an important part of the UK economy for more than 200 years and was a driver of the Industrial Revolution.

UNITED STATES

600 homes burned in Colorado wildfires

Nearly 600 homes, a hotel and a shopping center had been burned and tens of thousands of people were evacuated in wind-fueled wildfires outside Denver, officials said on Thursday evening. At least one first responder and six others were injured, though Boulder County Sheriff Joe Pelle acknowledged there could be more possible injuries and deaths due to the intensity of fires that quickly swept across the region as winds gusted up to 170 kilometers per hour. Colorado Governor Jared Polis declared a state of emergency on Thursday afternoon as thousands of local residents were ordered to evacuate.

Agencies - China Daily