Category: English

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

Geneva, January 2 (Xinhua) — A fire at a bar in the Swiss ski resort of Crans-Montana may have been caused by sparklers inserted into champagne bottles that were placed too close to the ceiling, Beatrice Pillou, attorney general of the canton of Valais, said at a press conference on Friday.

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

Kyiv, January 2 (Xinhua) — Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said on Telegram on Friday that he has proposed that Kirill Budanov, head of the Main Intelligence Directorate (GUR) of the Ministry of Defense, head the Office of the President of Ukraine (OPU).

"Ukraine now needs to focus more on security issues, the development of the Defense Forces and security of Ukraine, as well as on the diplomatic track in negotiations," Zelenskyy noted, adding that Budanov has experience in these areas and sufficient strength to achieve results.

Later on Friday, the head of the Main Intelligence Directorate said he had accepted the Ukrainian president's offer.

The position of head of the Presidential Administration has remained vacant since late November last year. The previous head of the presidential administration, Andriy Yermak, was dismissed amid a corruption scandal.

K. Budanov has headed the Main Intelligence Directorate since August 5, 2020. His successor is still unknown. –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

BEIJING, January 2 (Xinhua) — A magnitude 6.2 earthquake struck the Mexican state of Guerrero at 13:58 GMT on Friday, the German Research Center for Geosciences (GFZ) reported.

According to preliminary data, the epicenter of the tremors was recorded at a point with coordinates of 17.11 degrees north latitude and 99.21 degrees west longitude. The hypocenter was located at a depth of 10 km.

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

Guangzhou, January 2 (Xinhua) — Turkey has introduced a visa-free regime for Chinese citizens holding ordinary passports entering the country for tourism or transit. The new policy, which took effect on January 2, 2026, has generated considerable interest among Chinese tourists.

Under the new policy, Chinese citizens holding ordinary passports are exempt from visa requirements for tourism and transit purposes. They can stay in Turkey for up to 90 days within any 180-day period.

Data from Chinese online travel platform Qunar shows that by 12:00 PM on Friday, searches for flights from Chinese cities to Istanbul had increased 7.3-fold compared to the previous week. Specifically, searches for flights to Antalya increased 2.3-fold, while searches for flights to Izmir more than tripled.

Trip.com data shows that after the announcement of the introduction of a visa-free regime, the growth rate in terms of user interest in traveling to Turkey exceeded 50%.

Türkiye is steadily strengthening its tourism ties with China. In May 2025, the two countries signed a memorandum of understanding on aviation, increasing the frequency of passenger flights from 21 to 49 per week.

Türkiye is a favorite destination among Chinese travelers, and its popularity is expected to increase further by 2025, said Yan Han, a research fellow at Qunar's Big Data Institute.

“The visa-free policy will reduce barriers to travel,” he said, adding that when combined with the upcoming nine-day Spring Festival holiday in 2026, it will significantly unlock demand for travel to Turkey from Chinese tourists, leading to a significant increase in travel to Turkey during this holiday period. -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, January 2 /Xinhua/ — Russian airlines have preliminarily transported 108.5 million passengers by the end of 2025, which is 2.5 percent lower than last year's level, RIA Novosti reports, citing Dmitry Yadrov, head of the Federal Air Transport Agency.

According to the head of the Federal Air Transport Agency, domestic passenger traffic totaled 81.24 million. International flights carried over 27.4 million passengers.

According to him, Russian citizens' desire to travel is growing every year, and to this end, the government is implementing a huge number of programs to support the development of domestic Russian air travel, including three subsidy programs, allocating approximately 25 billion rubles annually.

By the end of 2024, Russian airlines carried 111.3 million people.

As previously reported, from January to November of this year, the number of foreign trips within Russia exceeded 4.35 million, which is more than for the whole of 2024. –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

Baku, January 2 (Xinhua) — The strategic partnership between Armenia and China opens the door to deeper collaboration in trade, infrastructure, and innovation, Johnny Melikyan, a senior expert at the Orbeli Center in Armenia, said in a recent exclusive interview with Xinhua.

Touching on Armenian-Chinese relations, J. Melikyan noted that 2025 truly marked a qualitative transition in Armenian-Chinese relations, culminating in the establishment of a strategic partnership in August during Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan's visit to China. This is not a sudden step, but a natural maturation of ties that have developed since 1992 based on mutual respect and pragmatism. The partnership is built on the principles of sovereign equality, non-interference, mutual benefit, and predictability—and this is precisely what Armenia needs for development and security without becoming an arena for a great game, he said. Politically, it provides strategic confidence, and economically, it opens the door to deeper cooperation in trade, infrastructure, and innovation.

D. Melikyan emphasized that both the Armenian national "Crossroads of the World" project and China's "Belt and Road" initiative promote development through transport links while fully respecting national sovereignty and equality. If properly implemented, this synergy could position Armenia as a reliable transit partner connecting the Persian Gulf, the Black Sea, and European markets, diversifying global supply chains without competing with existing corridors.

The Armenian expert noted that there has been significant economic growth in bilateral trade between Armenia and China, which is among Armenia's leading trading partners. This strategic partnership signals a shift from mere trade volume to investment quality: Armenia actively welcomes Chinese participation in infrastructure projects, renewable energy, the IT sector, agriculture, and industry. Strengthening the Intergovernmental Commission, improving the legal framework, and creating trade facilitation mechanisms will help remove practical barriers and attract transformative investments.

Furthermore, the economic impact of this partnership for Armenia could be quite significant, noted J. Melikyan. First, it promotes economic diversification, reducing dependence on traditional partners and raw material exports, and providing access to Chinese markets for Armenian products (wine, brandy, agricultural goods). Second, Chinese investments in infrastructure and green energy will help modernize transportation networks and the power grid, which will increase competitiveness and attract additional foreign investment. Third, cooperation in innovation will allow Armenia to develop as a knowledge and technology hub, creating high-tech jobs and stimulating long-term GDP growth.

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

Aden, Yemen, January 2 (Xinhua) — Yemen's Saudi-backed government on Friday announced the launch of a military operation against the Southern Transitional Council (STC) in the oil-rich Hadramaut province in the southeast of the country, provincial governor Salim Al-Khanbashi said.

In an address broadcast on state television from the Saudi capital Riyadh, the governor said the operation was aimed at restoring state authority and ensuring security and stability in the province, especially around key government institutions and strategic sites.

He said the move came after repeated attempts to contain tensions through dialogue had failed. He accused STC-affiliated forces of "undermining security measures on the ground and challenging the authority of the internationally recognized government."

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

HAIKOU, January 2 (Xinhua) — China's largest ultra-deepwater gas field, Shenhai-1 (Deep Sea No. 1), recently completed its 100th crude oil shipment since its commissioning, the China National Offshore Oil Company (CNOOC) announced on Friday.

The total volume of oil and gas production at this field by the end of 2025 exceeded 4.5 million tons of oil equivalent, which is comparable to the volume of production at a medium-sized onshore oil field.

The project was implemented in two stages, which were commissioned in 2021 and 2025, respectively.

The second phase of the project represents the most complex deepwater gas field development project in the country to date. It is being implemented at the highest temperatures and pressures. Furthermore, the maximum production depth exceeds 1,500 meters.

Currently, the daily production volume of energy resources at Shenhai-1 is 15 million cubic meters of natural gas and more than 1,600 tons of oil condensate.

Let us recall that the Shenhai-1 field is located in the offshore area 150 km from the city of Sanya in the island province of Hainan in southern China. -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

KUNMING, Jan. 2 (Xinhua) — An investigation into the deadly fire that broke out at a motorcycle parts store in Kunming, southwest China's Yunnan Province, on April 12, 2025, killing eight people, has revealed that the fire was caused by an illegally modified electric bicycle battery during indoor charging. Evidence and materials uncovered during the investigation have been transferred to the relevant department for prosecution of 25 people.

According to the findings released by the Yunnan Provincial Fire and Rescue Service, the fire was caused by a short circuit in a modified lithium-ion battery of an electric bicycle that was being charged indoors. The flames quickly engulfed the vehicle itself and spread to nearby e-bikes, spare parts, a sofa, and other flammable materials.

The investigation also revealed that the store had been illegally converted into a space that included both a commercial area and a residential area on the second floor. Furthermore, the first and second floors lacked fire barriers and independent evacuation systems, which resulted in high-temperature smoke quickly rising and filling the stairwell, severely limiting the time for evacuation of those inside.

There were nine people in the store at the time of the incident. The sole survivor, who is also the store owner and was charging the e-bike inside, was placed under house arrest by Kunming police on suspicion of committing a criminal act of negligence resulting in a fire.

The report calls on government agencies at all levels to tighten supervision of product quality and practices related to modification, introduce stricter controls on the sales approval and quality of electric bicycles, improve safety management at parking lots, and further strengthen public awareness and education on fire safety. -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

Los Angeles, January 2 (Xinhua) — At least 40,000 people will be injured by gun violence in the United States in 2025, including more than 14,600 deaths and more than 26,100 injuries, according to preliminary statistics published Thursday on the Gun Violence Archive (GVA).

According to GVA, a nonprofit organization founded in 2013 to provide free access to accurate information on gun violence, there were at least 407 mass shootings in the country in 2025, each in which four or more people were killed or injured, not counting the shooter, who may also have been killed or injured in the incident.

The data also shows that 224 children aged 11 or younger were killed in firearm-related incidents, and another 461 children in the same age group were injured over the past year. Additionally, 1,030 adolescents aged 12 to 17 were killed and another 2,733 were injured in such incidents.

GVA's firearm-related death statistics include intentional homicides, self-defense firearms, and accidental shootings, but exclude suicides. However, citing preliminary estimates from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the organization reported that more than 24,000 people will die from firearm suicides in 2025. –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.