Taiwan, referendum boosts government (and pushes back on Chinese aims)

Today's headlines: the Japanese billionaire Yusaku Maezawa returned to Earth after 12 days on the space station; new protests in Iran against the execution of a 48-year-old Kurd; the Chinese tennis player Peng Shuai retracts abuse charges against the former vice-premier, amid fears she is being manipulated; Islamic states gathered in Pakistan pledge fund for the Afghan crisis; in India a man lynched for sacrilege. 

TAIWAN - CHINA

Taiwanese leader Tsai Ing-wen is celebrating the outcome of the four referendums that ended in a resounding no vote, while affirming that she "cherishes" the opinions of those who "voted in favour". The campaign was characterized by a clear division, with the two main parties manifestly lined up against each other. A political test that marked the defeat of the pro-Beijing area. 

JAPAN

The Japanese billionaire Yusaku Maezawa, together with his assistant Yozo Hirano and the Russian cosmonaut Alexander Misurkin, returned to earth this morning after spending 12 days on the International Space Station. The trio appeared smiling after exiting the Soyuz descent module. The trip marked Russia's return to space tourism after a decade-long hiatus.

IRAN

The execution of Heidar Ghorbani, 48-year-old ethnic Kurd executed for the murder of three people linked to the Pasdaran, has triggered new demonstrations with anti-government slogans and defiance of the authorities. Epicenter of the protest was the province of Kamyaran. The man has always denied any connection with the killings, proclaiming himself innocent; for activist groups he was a political prisoner. 

CHINA - SINGAPORE

Singapore's Lianhe Zaobao newspaper has published a new video of Peng Shuai, the Chinese tennis star who in early November reported she was sexually abused by former vice-premier Zhang Gaoli, and has since disappeared, except for a couple of fleeting video appearances. The sportswoman would retract the accusations of harassment, but fears remain about her fate and manipulations are not excluded. 

AFGHANISTAN - PAKISTAN

Islamic countries plan to promote a fund for Afghanistan to alleviate the suffering of millions of people facing hunger and the hardships of a harsh winter. Pakistani Prime Minister Imran Khan warns of possible chaos if the emergency is not dealt with decisively. The trust fund will be set up under the auspices of the Islamic Development Bank.

INDIA

A man has been beaten to death in India for attempting to commit an act of sacrilege at the Golden Temple, the place of worship sacred to the Sikh faith in the northern city of Amritsar. The victim allegedly climbed over a railing during Sabbath prayer, trying to grab a sword placed in front of the Guru Granth Sahib, the sacred book. The faithful stopped him and lynched him. 

RUSSIA

Russia's appeasement proposal to Westerners, published on December 17, has confirmed Moscow's main request inot to allow other former Soviet countries to join NATO. The Kremlin also asks to renounce any military operation on the territory of Ukraine and other countries in Eastern Europe, the Caucasus or Central Asia.

AZERBAIJAN - ARMENIA

Baku has released another 10 Armenian prisoners of war after the meeting in Brussels on December 14 between the presidents of Armenia and Azerbaijan. The prisoners had remained in enemy hands after the border clashes of November 16 last year. The release was announced by the Azerbaijani State Commission for Prisoners, Missing Persons and Hostages.