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Xi Jinping called for a successful start to the 15th Five-Year Plan /more details/

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, Jan. 20 (Xinhua) — Chinese President Xi Jinping on Tuesday called for efforts to ensure a solid start to the implementation of the 15th Five-Year Plan (2026-2030).

Xi Jinping, also general secretary of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee and chairman of the Central Military Commission, made the call at the opening ceremony of a seminar on studying and implementing the spirit of the decisions of the 20th CPC Central Committee held for leading cadres at the provincial and ministerial levels at the Party School of the CPC Central Committee (National Administration Academy).

The PRC President noted that the development and implementation of the five-year plan represent important experience for the Party in public administration and a significant political advantage for the system of socialism with Chinese characteristics, helping to maintain the continuity of the current policies.

The Chinese leader emphasized the need to comprehensively, deeply, and accurately understand and assimilate the strategic instructions regarding socio-economic development during the 15th Five-Year Plan period, which were given at the 4th Plenary Session of the 20th CPC Central Committee.

According to Xi Jinping, China's development is currently entering a phase where strategic opportunities coexist with risks and challenges, and uncertainty and unpredictability are growing. He added that building a modernized industrial system and achieving a comprehensive leap in development are important strategic tasks for the 15th Five-Year Plan period.

The Chinese President emphasized the importance of maintaining a reasonable share of the manufacturing industry in the economy, actively developing the advanced manufacturing sector, and creating modernized infrastructure.

China has all the conditions for the accelerated construction of a new development architecture, he continued, pointing to the need to continue to view internal circulation as a pillar and combine investment in physical assets with investment in human capital.

As Xi Jinping emphasized, improving people's well-being must be made a priority in advancing social development, steadily improving the population's quality of life simultaneously with economic development.

The Chinese President called for strengthening the Party's capacity to lead socio-economic development and continuing the relentless fight against corruption.

Li Qiang, a member of the Standing Committee of the Politburo of the CPC Central Committee, presided over the opening of the classes. Members of the Standing Committee of the Politburo of the CPC Central Committee Zhao Leji, Wang Huning, Cai Qi, Ding Xuexiang, and Li Xi, as well as Vice President Han Zheng, attended the event.

Li Qiang called on those present to deeply understand the rich content of Xi Jinping's important speech, convert the knowledge gained in the classes into practical actions and results, so as to promote the continuous progress of high-quality development.

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.

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The UN's top human rights defender calls for an end to attacks on Ukrainian energy facilities.

Translation. Region: Russian Federation –

Source: United Nations – United Nations –

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January 20, 2026 Human rights

UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Türk expressed his outrage at the Russian Federation's ongoing large-scale attacks on Ukraine's energy infrastructure. He noted that the latest strikes, launched last night, resulted in heating and power outages in major cities, including Kyiv and Odesa.

“This is happening at a time when the residents of Ukraine suffer from extreme cold“,” the High Commissioner noted.

Consequences of large-scale attacks

"The civilian population is bearing the brunt of the blow. Brutal—that's the only way to describe these attacks. They must stop. Targeting civilians and civilian infrastructure is a clear violation of the rules of war," he added.

As a result of overnight attacks using long-range weapons, emergency power and heat outages were reported in several regions. In Kyiv, according to the city's mayor, 5,635 multi-story residential buildings were without heat this morning, with nearly 80 percent of them only recently having their heating restored following similar attacks on January 9.

"This means that hundreds of thousands of families are once again left without heat, and in several districts, including a significant part of Kyiv, there is also no water supply," said Turk. "The most vulnerable groups—children, the elderly, and people with disabilities—are suffering the most."

Continuing strikes

According to the High Commissioner, the Russian Federation continues to carry out these large-scale attacks despite the well-known and documented information about their grave consequences for civilians.

Since October of last year, Russian armed forces have resumed systematic, large-scale attacks on Ukraine's energy infrastructure. Such incidents have been recorded in at least 20 regions of the country.

Like the 2024 strikes, these attacks severely disrupted Ukraine's entire energy system, leading to rolling blackouts in most regions of the country that lasted up to 18 hours a day in recent months.

"I call on the Russian authorities to immediately stop these attacks," Türk said. "It is horrific to see civilians suffering in this way."

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.

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Lithuania has introduced a tax on sugary drinks to protect public health.

Translation. Region: Russian Federation –

Source: United Nations – United Nations –

An important disclaimer is at the bottom of this article.

January 19, 2026 Healthcare

Lithuania has introduced an excise tax on sugar-sweetened beverages, effective January 1, 2026. This will be an important step toward preventing disease and premature deaths associated with excessive sugar consumption.

Lithuania has thus joined a growing number of countries that use fiscal measures to encourage the consumption of healthier foods.

Why are sugar-sweetened drinks taxed?

"The introduction of a tax on sugar-sweetened beverages is an important measure our government has taken to reduce the growing burden of chronic diseases. The number of overweight and obese people in Lithuania is growing: our children consume more sugar than recommended, and this significantly contributes to the rising prevalence of chronic diseases," said Lithuanian Health Minister Marija Jakubauskienė.

Sugar-sweetened beverages offer no nutritional value and significantly contribute to excess sugar consumption and excessive weight gain. Furthermore, high consumption of sugar-sweetened beverages is associated with heart disease, diabetes, stroke, obesity-related cancers, and tooth decay. As a result, governments incur billions of dollars in healthcare costs.

Scientific evidence also demonstrates the health risks associated with long-term consumption of sugar-free sweeteners: it has been shown to increase the risk of diabetes, cardiovascular disease, and premature death. A well-thought-out tax policy that increases prices and incentivizes the industry to produce healthier products can play a significant role in improving diets as part of a broader set of measures.

"Given that a quarter of all deaths in Lithuania are due to diet-related risks, and that more than 10 percent of schoolchildren consume sugar-sweetened beverages daily, measures aimed at increasing the price of high-sugar foods and encouraging product reformulation could have real impact," said Hans Kluge, WHO Regional Director for Europe.

Measures to reduce the burden of disease

In Lithuania, diet-related risks such as high consumption of sugar-sweetened beverages, as well as other factors such as low fruit and vegetable intake and high salt intake, accounted for approximately 25 percent of all deaths in 2019 (compared to 17 percent for the European Union).

Recent data highlights the scale of the problem: in Lithuania, 11.3 percent of students in grades 5–9 consume sugar-sweetened beverages daily, indicating that the habit begins early in life. Furthermore, according to the State Statistics Agency, sales of soft drinks—defined as water with added sugar or other sweeteners and flavors, including mineral water and carbonated drinks—in 2024 increased by 11 percent, reaching €29.3 million. This product category is thus demonstrating steady growth in the Lithuanian market.

The new policy proposes a tiered excise tax system for beverages containing added sugar or sweeteners. Products with added sugar levels of 2.5–7.9 g per 100 ml and any sweetener content will be taxed at €7.40 per 100 liters, while products containing 8 g or more of sugar will be taxed at €21 per 100 liters.

Concentrated beverages will be taxed at €105 per 100 liters in liquid form or €4.3 per kilogram in other forms. This measure does not apply to food supplements, special medical foods, infant and toddler formulas, pharmaceutical products, nectars with added sugar, and drinkable dairy products.

A strategic step forward

Lithuania has long advocated for stricter tax policies on alcohol.

By extending fiscal policy measures to soft drinks, the country is promoting evidence-based tools to protect public health. The next stage will require careful monitoring, data collection, and enforcement, especially given the expected resistance from businesses.

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.

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The UN warns of growing humanitarian risks and the fragility of the ceasefire in Gaza.

Translation. Region: Russian Federation –

Source: United Nations – United Nations –

An important disclaimer is at the bottom of this article.

January 19, 2026 Humanitarian aid

The UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) stated today that the ceasefire in Gaza, now in effect for 100 days, must be maintained to save as many lives as possible. However, OCHA warns that the scaling up of humanitarian activities in the Strip continues to be hampered by Israeli restrictions and obstruction. Recent severe weather conditions have also reversed some of this progress.

In a statement released Monday, the World Food Programme (WFP) reported that the humanitarian situation in Gaza remains fragile, despite the agency reaching over a million people monthly with food parcels, bread rations, hot meals, and school meals. WFP called for the opening of additional safe humanitarian corridors from Egypt and Jordan, as well as along the Salah al-Din road within Gaza, to increase the volume of supplies.

The second stage of vaccination

The World Health Organization, UNICEF, and the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA) have launched the second phase of a campaign to fill gaps in routine immunization in Gaza. This phase, which will last until next Thursday, aims to further protect children under three from vaccine-preventable diseases. The campaign is being carried out by 170 teams in 130 health facilities, with seven mobile teams deployed to hard-to-reach areas. The third and final phase is scheduled for April 2026.

The situation in the West Bank

The UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) reported on Monday that Israeli commanders have imposed a curfew on approximately 25,000 Palestinians in the city of Hebron, where a large-scale operation has begun. Initial reports indicate the deployment of snipers on rooftops and the deployment of military equipment, as well as the closure of six internal roads.

As a result of these actions, four bakeries and two stores, where approximately 4,000 people regularly received essential goods through UN vouchers, were forced to suspend operations. Education in more than 10 schools was also suspended, affecting thousands of students.

The OCHA added that the area had already been damaged over the weekend by damage to the local power station, resulting in a power outage. Efforts are currently underway, under curfew, to allow technicians into the area to restore power. Measures are also being taken to urgently evacuate hospital patients and facilitate distance learning for schoolchildren.

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.

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January 20, 2026 What happens to springs without care?

Translation. Region: Russian Federation –

Source: Ecology Foundation

An important disclaimer is at the bottom of this article.

Springs rarely disappear suddenly. More often, it happens gradually and unnoticed.

First, the flow is disrupted. The spring becomes silted up, and the source begins to stagnate. The water loses quality, and the spring ceases to perform its natural function.

The main reasons are known:

deforestation nearby, cattle grazing, trampling approaches to the source, economic activity near the spring

This changes the hydrological regime. The spring may become shallow, become swampy, or disappear completely.

When a spring disappears, the area loses more than just a source of water. Soil moisture decreases, the microclimate changes, and the plants and animals for whom it was the center of life disappear.

Tomorrow we'll tell you exactly how we're working on the "Save the Springs" project.

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.

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Russia expects the US side to fulfill its promise to release Russian sailors from the tanker Mariner, the Russian Foreign Minister said.

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 20 (Xinhua) — Russia expects the United States to fulfill its promise to release two Russian sailors from the seized oil tanker Mariner. Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov stated this on Tuesday at a press conference summarizing Russia's diplomatic activities in 2025.

"This whole story of seizing a tanker in violation of international law on the high seas based on suspicions that don't fall within the criteria for detaining vessels… is certainly a cause for concern," Lavrov noted.

According to him, Russia immediately contacted the United States after the seizure of the tanker Mariner with an urgent request to release Russian citizens on board the vessel.

"As soon as we learned that the tanker had been seized, we made an urgent request to the American side. Our priority was to free our citizens. There are two of them there, along with citizens of Ukraine, Georgia, and India," the minister stated.

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.

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Recent unrest is part of "failed attempts" by the US and Israel – Iranian President

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, January 20 (Xinhua) — Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian said on Monday that the events in Iran in recent days were a continuation of the "failed attempts" of the United States and Israel. This was stated in a statement published on the website of the Iranian Presidential Office.

M. Pezeshkian made the announcement during a telephone conversation with Pakistani Prime Minister Shahbaz Sharif. He reaffirmed the Iranian government's commitment to rapprochement, cohesion, and unity among all Iranian groups, parties, ethnicities, and religions, and to strengthening relations with neighboring and Muslim states. The Iranian president praised Pakistan's efforts to reduce regional tensions.

Sh. Sharif, in turn, called Iran “an important and influential country in the region” and expressed Pakistan’s full readiness to play a role in reducing tensions and resolving regional problems. –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.

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Bulgarian President R. Radev has submitted his resignation.

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

Sofia, January 20 (Xinhua) — Bulgarian President Rumen Radev submitted his resignation to the country's Constitutional Court on Tuesday, the court's website reported.

It is noted that the Constitutional Court has opened a case regarding the president’s resignation.

On Monday, Radev announced that he would submit his resignation on Tuesday, paving the way for him to participate in the upcoming snap parliamentary elections. Vice President Iliana Yotova will serve as acting president until the end of his term.

R. Radev was born on June 18, 1963, and has one year left in his second five-year presidential term. He was first elected head of state in November 2016, won re-election in November 2021, and assumed office again on January 22, 2022.

According to the Constitution of Bulgaria, elections for a new president are held no earlier than three months and no later than two months before the expiration of the term of office of the incumbent president. –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.

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The President of Kazakhstan proposed establishing the position of vice president and naming the new parliament "Kurultai"

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

Almaty, January 20 (Xinhua) — Kazakh President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev proposed establishing the position of vice president at a meeting of the National Kurultai on Tuesday.

As K.-Zh. Tokayev clarified, the vice president will be appointed by the head of state with the consent of parliament by a simple majority vote, and the president will determine the scope of his or her powers. Upon the president's instruction, the vice president will represent the interests of the Republic of Kazakhstan at international forums and negotiations with foreign delegations, represent the president in parliament, and interact with domestic and international socio-political, scientific, cultural, and educational organizations.

At the meeting, the president stated that Kazakhstanis support the transition to a legislative system with a unicameral parliament. The new parliament, proposed to be called "Kurultai" (Assembly), will consist of 145 deputies and serve a five-year term. Currently, Kazakhstan's parliament consists of 148 deputies—50 members of the Senate (upper house) and 98 members of the Majilis (lower house).

Let us recall that K.-Zh. Tokayev put forward the proposal to reform parliament in September 2025, during his traditional address to the nation.

Moreover, at the National Kurultai meeting, the Kazakh leader announced the creation of a constitutional commission, after which a date for a referendum on parliamentary reforms will be determined. The commission is expected to analyze all proposals, summarize them, and draft specific amendments.

K.-Zh. Tokayev noted that the upcoming reform involves introducing a significant number of amendments to the constitution.

According to him, a new body will also be created – the People's Council of Kazakhstan, which will have the status of the country's highest advisory body.

The National Kurultai is a consultative and advisory body under the President of Kazakhstan. Its fifth meeting was held on January 19-20 in the southern city of Kyzylorda.

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.

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Reading books about the war, we remember the exploits of heroes!

Translation. Region: Russian Federation –

Source: Moscow Government – Moscow Government –

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Library No. 239 will host a meeting titled "Reading Books About War, We Remember the Heroes' Exploits!" dedicated to the Day of Remembrance of the Young Anti-Fascist Hero. Guests will be shown videos about the Young Guard Museum and introduced to Alexander Fadeyev's work of the same name. Participants will also read and discuss excerpts from books dedicated to young heroes. A book exhibition titled "Children of War: Heroes and Fates" will also be on display.

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.