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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

HAIKOU, Jan. 18 (Xinhua) — A month after the launch of independent customs operations throughout the Hainan Free Trade Port (HFTP) in southern China, the port has seen initial achievements in improving trade and logistics efficiency.

On December 18, 2025, China launched an independent customs operation regime throughout the Hainan Free Trade Zone, providing freer entry of foreign goods, expanded coverage of zero tariffs, and a more favorable business environment.

One of the notable special customs measures is the provision of “freer first-line access,” which means freer trade between Hainan and areas outside China’s customs border, and “regulated second-line access,” which means maintaining standard customs control over the flow of goods from Hainan Island to the Chinese mainland.

According to data from Haikou Customs, from December 18, 2025 to January 17, 2026, its staff processed 750 million yuan (about 107 million US dollars) worth of zero-duty goods through “first-line” customs clearance, and about 85.9 million yuan worth of duty-exempt value-added goods destined for mainland China through “second-line” clearance. -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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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

Kunming, January 18 (Xinhua) — As of Sunday, a fire that broke out in a forested area in a village in southwest China's Yunnan Province had been raging for nearly two days. Local authorities say 326 people have been mobilized for rescue efforts.

A forest fire broke out on Friday at 4:51 PM in Jiasheng Village, administratively located in the Nujiang Lisu Autonomous Prefecture. Local authorities dispatched 326 rescuers to battle the blaze, including personnel from local emergency services, forestry, pasture, and firefighting departments.

There have been no reports of casualties or injuries at this time.

As of 10:00 PM Saturday, the fire had grown to approximately 600 mu (approximately 40 hectares), with its edge extending more than 600 meters. Local authorities stated that the fire is located in a remote area with no nearby residential areas or critical infrastructure, adding that firefighting was particularly challenging due to the fire's proximity to a cliff and the steep terrain.

As of 8:00 a.m. Sunday, firefighting efforts were still ongoing. -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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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

MANILA, January 18 (Xinhua) — The body of the last person missing in the January 8 landfill landslide in Cebu City, central Philippines, was recovered early Sunday morning, bringing the death toll from the tragedy to 36, the Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP) announced.

In a statement posted on social media, the BFP said that as of 5:41 a.m. local time on Sunday, all missing persons had been found, marking the end of search and rescue operations nearly two weeks after the incident.

Among the dead were workers trapped inside the site when part of the landfill collapsed on January 8, destroying everything in its path.

Cebu City authorities reported that 18 people were rescued from the incident, all of whom were injured. Of the injured, 14 have already been discharged from hospitals.

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

Washington, January 17 (Xinhua) — U.S. forces carried out a strike in northwestern Syria on Friday, killing an "al-Qaeda-linked leader" who had direct contact with an Islamic State (IS) terrorist responsible for the ambush that killed two American service members and an American translator last month, U.S. Central Command announced on Saturday.

In a statement posted on social media platform X, the command said the strike killed Bilal Hassan al-Jassim, calling him "a seasoned terrorist leader who planned attacks and was directly linked to the ISIS militant who killed and wounded American and Syrian personnel last month in Palmyra, Syria."

In response to the December 13 attack, the US military used more than 200 precision-guided munitions, striking more than 100 ISIS infrastructure facilities and weapons depots, according to the command.

The command added that over the past year, US and partner forces have captured more than 300 ISIS militants and killed more than 20 people across Syria. –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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Source: People's Republic of China – State Council News

Almaty, January 18 (Xinhua) — The statement issued by the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) on the situation in Iran was not simply a reaction to the tragic events, but a reflection of the broader philosophy currently embraced by the organization's member states, according to Serik Korzhumbayev, editor-in-chief of the DKnews.kz news agency.

In his view, this is a philosophy of respect for sovereignty, political dialogue, and a rejection of the logic of forceful pressure as a universal instrument of international relations.

"The SCO is increasingly showing itself to be not just a formal regional format, but a collective platform where states with different political systems and economic models develop coordinated approaches to issues of security and stability," said S. Korzhumbaev.

He noted that this logic was evident in several dimensions in the statement on Iran, from expressing condolences and concern for the fate of the civilian population to a clear stance against unilateral sanctions and interference in the internal affairs of sovereign states.

The Kazakh expert also emphasized that this position is not situational. He recalled that at the recent SCO summit in Tianjin, China, the leaders of the member states reaffirmed their commitment to the organization's key principles—peaceful conflict resolution, political and diplomatic methods, and the prevention of escalation. "These points were repeatedly voiced in the speeches of representatives of various countries and were reflected in the final documents of the meeting," S. Korzhumbayev shared.

According to the expert, in this context, the statement on Iran appears a logical continuation of the previously outlined course. The SCO consistently emphasizes that sanctions pressure and external isolation do not solve states' internal problems, but, on the contrary, exacerbate socioeconomic difficulties and primarily impact the lives of ordinary citizens.

"Key SCO members, including China, Kazakhstan, and other SCO states, play a significant role in shaping this approach. For them, the SCO is not an instrument of confrontation, but a mechanism for aligning interests and preventing crisis scenarios. The principle of the indivisibility of security and respect for international law is given practical expression here," the expert stated.

According to him, in a context where the global agenda is increasingly shaped by pressure and sanctions, the SCO's position offers a different model—one of collective responsibility, dialogue, and the search for sustainable solutions. "That's why the organization's statements increasingly go beyond protocol and reflect an alternative approach to managing international crises," concluded S. Korzhumbayev.

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

Vienna, January 18 (Xinhua) — Eight people died as a result of avalanches in the Austrian states of Styria and Salzburg on Saturday, Austria's largest newspaper, Kronen Zeitung, reported, calling the day "Black Saturday."

According to the publication, three people died on Saturday afternoon in the Pusterwald region of Styria as a result of an avalanche.

Five more people were killed in two avalanches that occurred in the western Austrian federal state of Salzburg, Austrian television company ORF reported.

Helicopters, a canine unit, a crisis response team, the Alpine Police (the Austrian Interior Ministry unit responsible for investigating mountain accidents), and emergency medical teams were dispatched to the scene. –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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Source: People's Republic of China – State Council News

BEIJING, January 18 (Xinhua) — Beijing's performing arts sector saw a vibrant and vibrant year in 2025, with revenue exceeding 5 billion yuan (about $713.5 million) for the first time last year, up 27 percent from the full year 2024, according to data from the city's Bureau of Culture and Tourism.

Statistics show that over 60,000 commercial performances were staged on Beijing's stages in 2025, attracting a combined audience of over 14 million. Both figures increased by 5% and 9%, respectively, year-on-year.

Moreover, the city hosted the debut of a number of domestic and international productions, including the original musicals “Singing in the Rain” and “Sunset Boulevard.”

Large-scale performances, including concerts and music festivals, remained extremely popular in 2025, with attendance increasing by 37% year-on-year. A "five-hour social and entertainment circle" dedicated to music events was created in Beijing's Haidian district, the premier performing arts zone. More than 60 food and beverage establishments extended their opening hours until 2:00 a.m., and over 20 partner hotels offered discounts to event ticket holders, boosting attendance and consumption.

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

BEIJING, January 18 (Xinhua) — The 12th Harbin International Fashion Week recently took place at the modern Westred Square shopping mall in Harbin, the capital of Heilongjiang Province, northeast China. Talented designers from 30 countries presented their latest works, becoming part of an international fashion event that harmoniously blended Eastern and Western aesthetics.

As reported by Partners magazine, a team of Russian models attracted particular attention. They walked the runway in clothing imbued with national character, demonstrating a confident and calm gait. The petite models, with their confident steps and expressive entrances, earned numerous applause from the audience.

The work of Russian designers, skillfully combining elements of traditional Russian culture with modern fashion concepts, added a unique aesthetic to Fashion Week.

International professionals praised the performance of Russian models. Chinese-born Singaporean fashion designer Yao Kanting particularly praised the "professionalism and dedication" of the Russian child models. A Vietnamese designer was so moved by the outstanding performance of child model Ksenia that she presented her with a white princess dress of her own design.

The event was aimed at popularizing fashion art, allowing the “ice city” to shine with catwalk brilliance. -0-

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An important disclaimer is at the bottom of this article.

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

São Paulo, January 17 (Xinhua) — A helicopter crashed in a wooded area in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, on Saturday, killing all three people on board, the city's fire department said.

The helicopter crashed in the Guaratiba neighborhood in the city's far west. Firefighters recovered the bodies from the scene.

According to preliminary information, the private helicopter took off from a nearby area. Authorities are investigating the cause of the crash.

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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An important disclaimer is at the bottom of this article.

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

New York, January 17 (Xinhua) — The United States will impose a 10 percent tariff on all goods from Denmark, Norway, Sweden, France, Germany, the United Kingdom, the Netherlands, and Finland starting February 1 due to the situation around Greenland. US President Donald Trump announced this on Saturday.

As D. Trump wrote on social media, this tariff rate will increase to 25 percent on June 1 and will remain in effect until a deal is reached on the purchase of Greenland by the United States.

The US president's statement came after several NATO members, including Britain, France and Germany, which oppose the US attempt to acquire Greenland, sent their troops to the Arctic territory this week and launched diplomatic activity on the issue.

According to D. Trump, the United States must take control of Greenland to protect its own national security. –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.