1. China summons the US charge d’affaires to protest Washington’s authorization of arms sales to Taiwan. Beijing says it will sanction firms involved in the arms sales.
2. UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon says ending the crisis in Syria should not hinge on deciding the fate of President Bashar al-Assad.
3. Ukraine says it will push through a trade deal with the European Union that is due to begin in 20-16 despite Russia’s suspension of its own such pact with Kiev.