Category: China

Translation. Region: Russian Federation –

Source: People's Republic of China in Russian – People's Republic of China in Russian –

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Source: People's Republic of China – State Council News

JERUSALEM, February 19 (Xinhua) — The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) said Thursday it intercepted an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) carrying M-16 rifles that had crossed into Israel from Egypt while attempting to smuggle weapons.

The IDF statement said the UAV was detected by surveillance units and air control systems on February 18 and was subsequently shot down.

According to the statement, the rifles found and seized by Israeli forces have been handed over to police for further investigation.

The Israeli side reports an increase in attempts to smuggle weapons into the country using drones.

In late 2025, Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz announced that he had ordered the IDF to declare the area along the Israeli-Egyptian border a closed military zone to curb the growing threat of drone-based weapons smuggling.

Please note: This information is raw content obtained directly from the source. It represents an accurate account of the source's assertions and does not necessarily reflect the position of MIL-OSI or its clients.

Translation. Region: Russian Federation –

Source: People's Republic of China in Russian – People's Republic of China in Russian –

An important disclaimer is at the bottom of this article.

Source: People's Republic of China – State Council News

Minsk, February 19 (Xinhua) — Belarus categorically rejects the deployment of Western military contingents along its borders. This was stated on Thursday by Valery Revenko, Head of the Department of International Military Cooperation and Assistant to the Minister of Defense of Belarus on International Military Cooperation. The corresponding information was published by the press service of the Belarusian Ministry of Defense.

"We categorically reject the deployment of troops along the Belarusian border. We are closely monitoring the increase in foreign government budgets, the construction of factories, equipment, weapons, and military hardware, which in no way signals any attempts to normalize relations or build a constructive dialogue with Belarus," noted V. Revenko.

According to him, operational and combat training activities in Belarus are primarily prompted by the West's actions and aggressive rhetoric. "They have openly stated that they are preparing for war. Belarus is conducting activities to prepare its armed forces to repel aggression. At the same time, I want to emphasize that these activities are open," V. Revenko emphasized.

The Assistant Minister of Defense noted that Belarus is not increasing the size of its armed forces. "We are equipping ourselves with high-tech weapons that will allow us to ensure strategic deterrence. These are weapons, aircraft, helicopters, and missiles that will allow us to deter the aspirations and negative rhetoric of our neighbors, as well as Western countries in general," added V. Revenko.

On Thursday, the Belarusian Ministry of Defense held a briefing on current issues of military policy, development, and the strengthening of the country's armed forces. Representatives of the foreign military-diplomatic corps from more than 20 countries accredited to the ministry participated in the event.

Please note: This information is raw content obtained directly from the source. It represents an accurate account of the source's assertions and does not necessarily reflect the position of MIL-OSI or its clients.

Translation. Region: Russian Federation –

Source: People's Republic of China in Russian – People's Republic of China in Russian –

An important disclaimer is at the bottom of this article.

Source: People's Republic of China – State Council News

CHANGSHA, Feb. 19 (Xinhua) — Six firefighters were killed and another was injured after a fire truck fell off a cliff around 4 p.m. on Thursday while returning from fighting a fire in Xinhua County, central China's Hunan Province, local authorities said.

An investigation into the cause of the incident is currently underway. The victim is receiving medical attention. –0–

Please note: This information is raw content obtained directly from the source. It represents an accurate account of the source's assertions and does not necessarily reflect the position of MIL-OSI or its clients.

Translation. Region: Russian Federation –

Source: People's Republic of China in Russian – People's Republic of China in Russian –

An important disclaimer is at the bottom of this article.

Source: People's Republic of China – State Council News

Moscow, February 19 /Xinhua/ — Russia expects political and diplomatic means to prevail in the search for a resolution to the situation around Iran, Russian presidential press secretary Dmitry Peskov stated on Thursday.

“We still expect that political and diplomatic means and negotiations will continue to prevail in the search for a settlement,” TASS quotes him as saying.

Commenting on American media reports about Washington's plans to launch a series of military strikes to force Tehran to make concessions in nuclear negotiations, a Kremlin spokesman noted the unprecedented escalation of tensions in the region. "We call on our Iranian friends and all parties in the region to exercise restraint," Peskov stated, adding that Russia continues to develop relations with Iran.

The Russian leader's press secretary also reported that the joint exercises conducted by the Russian and Iranian navies in the Gulf of Oman and the northern Indian Ocean on Thursday were planned. "These are planned exercises; they are coordinated in advance," D. Peskov emphasized.

Please note: This information is raw content obtained directly from the source. It represents an accurate account of the source's assertions and does not necessarily reflect the position of MIL-OSI or its clients.

Translation. Region: Russian Federation –

Source: People's Republic of China in Russian – People's Republic of China in Russian –

An important disclaimer is at the bottom of this article.

Source: People's Republic of China – State Council News

London, February 19 (Xinhua) — Britain's King Charles III issued a public statement on Thursday after Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor, the king's younger brother and a former British prince, was detained on suspicion of misconduct in public office. The monarch said he received the news with "deepest concern."

In his statement, the king said the incident was being "properly investigated by the relevant authorities," adding that "they have our full and sincere support and cooperation." He also emphasized that "justice must be done."

Thames Valley Police announced on Thursday that a man in his 60s from Norfolk had been arrested on suspicion of misconduct in public office. Multiple media reports have identified the suspect as Elizabeth Mountbatten-Windsor.

Please note: This information is raw content obtained directly from the source. It represents an accurate account of the source's assertions and does not necessarily reflect the position of MIL-OSI or its clients.

Translation. Region: Russian Federation –

Source: People's Republic of China in Russian – People's Republic of China in Russian –

An important disclaimer is at the bottom of this article.

Source: People's Republic of China – State Council News

London, February 19 (Xinhua) — British Prime Minister Keir Starmer has appointed Antonia Romeo as the new Cabinet Secretary and Head of the Civil Service. The Cabinet Office announced this on Thursday.

As the department noted, A. Romeo currently holds the post of Permanent Secretary/Deputy Secretary/Home Office. Her current appointment to the head of the British civil service marks the first time in history that a woman has held this position.

Please note: This information is raw content obtained directly from the source. It represents an accurate account of the source's assertions and does not necessarily reflect the position of MIL-OSI or its clients.

Translation. Region: Russian Federation –

Source: People's Republic of China in Russian – People's Republic of China in Russian –

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Source: People's Republic of China – State Council News

Moscow, February 19 /Xinhua/ — All proposals Russia made to NATO regarding security guarantees in 2021 remain valid, Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Alexander Grushko stated on Thursday.

"If we look at each of the proposals that was made and not supported by our partners, the implementation of each of them would significantly strengthen security in Europe. In this sense, they all remain relevant as real tools, as a real opportunity to improve the security situation," TASS quoted the Russian diplomat as saying.

A. Grushko is confident that implementing Russia's proposals is an opportunity to improve the security situation and reverse the negative trends observed today.

He recalled that Russia's proposals included eliminating the deployment of short- and medium-range missiles in Europe, halting further expansion of the alliance, and returning its military configuration to its 1997 status. "We could continue listing other elements, but in any case, each of them represents a significant contribution to European and Euro-Atlantic security," the deputy minister noted.

According to A. Grushko, the rejection of Russian security proposals in the context of the Ukrainian crisis has largely led to the compromised concept of European and Euro-Atlantic security today. He emphasized that Russia and its allies are currently focused on promoting the concept of Eurasian security.

“We and our like-minded partners are focusing on promoting the concept of Eurasian security based on the principle of the indivisibility of security, respect for the legitimate rights of all participating states, respect for the identity of these states, and so on,” the Russian diplomat concluded.

Please note: This information is raw content obtained directly from the source. It represents an accurate account of the source's assertions and does not necessarily reflect the position of MIL-OSI or its clients.

Translation. Region: Russian Federation –

Source: People's Republic of China in Russian – People's Republic of China in Russian –

An important disclaimer is at the bottom of this article.

Source: People's Republic of China – State Council News

TEHRAN, Feb. 19 (Xinhua) — The Iranian and Russian navies conducted joint exercises in the Gulf of Oman and the northern Indian Ocean on Thursday, successfully completing a number of operations.

During the exercises, special forces of the Iranian and Russian Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) Navy successfully carried out an operation to free a captured vessel, according to a statement published on the Iranian armed forces' website.

Ships and air units from the two countries also took part in the operation, which included aerial reconnaissance, surface operations and the capture of pirates, the statement said.

It added that the Iranian destroyer Alvand, missile-launching warships, helicopters, landing craft, special operations groups, combat speedboats and ships, among others, participated in this stage of the exercise.

Spokesman for the drills, Hasan Maqsudloo, said the exercises aim to enhance maritime security, expand cooperation between the two navies and improve coordination in joint operations, the semi-official Mehr news agency reported on Wednesday.

The joint exercises come after IRGC exercises in the Strait of Hormuz that temporarily closed the strait on Tuesday, and amid heightened tensions between Iran and the United States and a buildup of the US military presence in the region.

Please note: This information is raw content obtained directly from the source. It represents an accurate account of the source's assertions and does not necessarily reflect the position of MIL-OSI or its clients.

Translation. Region: Russian Federation –

Source: People's Republic of China in Russian – People's Republic of China in Russian –

An important disclaimer is at the bottom of this article.

Source: People's Republic of China – State Council News

Moscow, February 19 /Xinhua/ — No documents were signed following the talks between Russia, Ukraine, and the United States on resolving the Ukrainian crisis, which took place in Geneva, Switzerland, on February 17-18. This was reported on Wednesday by RIA Novosti, citing a source.

“There were no signatures,” the news agency quotes the source as saying.

Vladimir Medinsky, aide to the Russian president and head of the Russian delegation, noted that the negotiations were difficult but businesslike. "As you know, the negotiations lasted two days, a very long time yesterday, in various formats, and also about two hours today. They were difficult, but businesslike," TASS quoted him as saying. Medinsky also announced that the next meeting would take place soon.

Commenting on the recent talks, Russian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Maria Zakharova stated that the Russian delegation in Geneva had clear instructions to act within the framework of the agreements reached during the Russian-American summit in Alaska last August.

In turn, Rustem Umerov, Secretary of the National Security and Defense Council of Ukraine and head of the Ukrainian delegation, stated that progress had been made in the negotiations, with the parties clarifying a number of issues, while others required further coordination. "The next step is to achieve the necessary level of consensus and submit decisions for the presidents' consideration. Our task is to prepare a practical, not just formal, basis for such decisions," the Ukrainian television channel Novosti.live quoted him as saying on Telegram. The Ukrainian representative did not disclose details of the meeting, describing it as substantive but tense.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy also noted progress in the negotiations. He said that ceasefire monitoring with the participation of the United States was discussed in Geneva. "Regarding the substantive nature of the negotiations… We were constructive on the military front… The military understands how to monitor the ceasefire… if there is political will. They agreed on almost everything there. Monitoring will definitely be with the participation of the American side," Zelenskyy stated.

Earlier, US Special Presidential Envoy Steven Witkoff wrote on the social media platform X about significant progress in the Ukraine settlement negotiations. He emphasized that the United States "has moderated trilateral negotiations with Ukraine and Russia," adding that the success of the current US administration lies in "bringing both sides of this conflict to the negotiating table."

The meeting in Geneva marked the third round of trilateral consultations on a Ukrainian settlement involving Russia, Ukraine, and the United States. The previous two rounds took place on January 23-24 and February 4-5 in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates.

Please note: This information is raw content obtained directly from the source. It represents an accurate account of the source's assertions and does not necessarily reflect the position of MIL-OSI or its clients.

Translation. Region: Russian Federation –

Source: People's Republic of China in Russian – People's Republic of China in Russian –

An important disclaimer is at the bottom of this article.

Source: People's Republic of China – State Council News

WASHINGTON, Feb. 19 (Xinhua) — Washington Mayor Muriel Bowser on Wednesday declared the month-long sewage spill in the Potomac River a local emergency to request federal support.

On January 19, a section of a sewer pipe ruptured, releasing over 200 million gallons of wastewater into the Potomac River. The US capital and surrounding areas are grappling with the consequences of the leak. The sewer pipe was maintained by DC Water, the water utility that serves Washington, D.C.

The mayor asked the federal government to direct the Federal Emergency Management Agency to establish regular interagency coordination meetings among federal agencies, affected states, and the District of Columbia to maintain shared situational awareness and coordinate federal assistance.

In a post on X's social media platform Wednesday, the mayor said the request asks for 100 percent "reimbursement" of costs incurred by the county and DC Water.

The mayor's latest request comes after President Donald Trump recently criticized local leaders for their handling of the spill.

In a post on Truth Social on Tuesday, he said officials in the District of Columbia, Maryland, and Virginia "must get to work, immediately," to address the sewage spill in the Potomac.

“If they can’t handle this issue, they should call me and politely ask me to fix it,” Trump said. –0–

Please note: This information is raw content obtained directly from the source. It represents an accurate account of the source's assertions and does not necessarily reflect the position of MIL-OSI or its clients.