Vladimir Putin discussed the situation around Iran with Benjamin Netanyahu – Kremlin

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 16 (Xinhua) — Russian President Vladimir Putin discussed the situation in the Middle East and Iran with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu by telephone, the Kremlin press service reported.

"Vladimir Putin outlined fundamental approaches in favor of intensifying political and diplomatic efforts to ensure stability and security in the region. Russia's readiness to continue to undertake appropriate mediation efforts and to facilitate constructive dialogue involving all interested states was confirmed," the statement reads.

The parties agreed to continue contacts at various levels. –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.

A state of emergency has been declared in the Ukrainian energy sector.

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 16 /Xinhua/ – Due to massive Russian strikes in the Ukrainian energy sector, a state of emergency has been declared, First Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Energy of Ukraine Denys Shmyhal announced on Telegram on Friday.

According to him, such a regime is necessary for maximum coordination of the actions of all services in Kyiv and the regions.

D. Shmygal noted that Ukraine first and foremost needs to strengthen the work of emergency response teams in the energy sector, as well as in the electric power systems of Kyiv and the Kyiv region.

In addition, the country will change the rules for citizens' movement on the streets during curfew, allowing them to freely access "points of invincibility" at night, D. Shmygal added.

He also reported that relevant state-owned companies have been instructed to urgently ensure electricity imports by the end of the current heating season, amounting to at least 50 percent of total consumption.

Earlier this week, Kyiv Mayor Vitali Klitschko stated that, due to Russia's massive strikes on Ukraine's energy sector, the city is experiencing the most difficult situation since the start of the armed conflict between the two countries.

Following the January 9 shelling, 6,000 apartment buildings in Kyiv were left without heat amid severe frosts. By January 15, the number of such buildings had dropped to 300. Over 1,200 heating stations have been set up for residents of the Ukrainian capital.

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.

The number of China-Europe railway routes passing through the Ereenhot checkpoint has increased to 75.

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 16 (Xinhua) — A new China-Europe freight railway route opened recently, linking Weizi Station in Changzhi City, North China's Shanxi Province, with Russia's Solombalka Railway Station via the Ereenhot Border Crossing in North China's Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region. This brings the number of China-Europe railway routes passing through this border crossing to 75, the Neimenggu Ribao daily reported on Friday.

The Ereenhot checkpoint is a key hub in the central corridor of international railway freight transport between China and Europe, as well as in the China-Mongolia-Russia economic corridor.

Since 2013, when China-Europe trains began operating through the Ereenhot checkpoint, more than 21,000 such trains have passed through it. In 2025, it handled a record number of China-Europe trains – 3,986.

China-Europe freight routes passing through the Ereenhot Port Port connect over 70 cities or stations in more than 10 countries, as well as over 60 cities in 24 provincial-level administrative divisions in China. The range of goods carried by these trains exceeds 10,000 items, including new energy vehicles, auto parts, and mechanical equipment.

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.

Former South Korean President Yun Seok-yul has been sentenced to five years in prison for obstructing his arrest.

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

SEOUL, January 16 (Xinhua) — Impeached former South Korean President Yun Seok-yul was sentenced on Friday to five years in prison for obstructing his arrest. The sentencing was broadcast live.

The Seoul Central District Court's Criminal Division found that the politician issued criminal orders to the presidential security service to prevent the anti-corruption agency from executing his arrest warrant in January 2025. The Chief Executive Investigation Office (CIO) was unable to apprehend Yun Seok-yeol on that occasion because the security service formed a human shield and blocked access to the presidential residence with buses.

Independent prosecutor Cho Eun-seok's team, responsible for investigating the coup and other related crimes of Yun Seok-yeol, has requested a 10-year prison sentence for the former president.

The court ruled that Yun Seok-yul used the presidential security service for his personal gain by obstructing the lawful execution of an arrest warrant and attempting to destroy evidence. It emphasized that, despite the extremely serious nature of the crime, the politician consistently offered flimsy excuses and showed no remorse.

The court said the harsh punishment was necessary given the need to restore law and order disrupted by Yun Seok-yul's crime, but considered the former president's lack of a criminal record as a mitigating circumstance.

This marked the first time Yoon Seok-yeol has been sentenced for charges related to his failed attempt to impose martial law. –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.

China has warned of catastrophic disasters from uncontrolled Japanese military ambitions.

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. 16 (Xinhua) — Japan's unchecked militaristic ambitions pose a grave threat to other Asian countries and will ultimately bring catastrophic disasters to the Japanese people, Chinese Defense Ministry spokesperson Zhang Xiaogang said at a press conference on Friday, commenting on criticism of Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi by some Japanese politicians.

According to him, more and more Japanese visionaries are recognizing the seriousness of the risks and the harmfulness of the Japanese government's misguided actions.

In recent years, Japan's more aggressive right-wing conservative forces have been pushing for military buildup and remilitarization, which is leading the country down a dangerous path, he added.

China will work with all peace-loving countries to resolutely suppress any dangerous attempts to revive militarism, jointly uphold the results of the victory in World War II, and ensure peace and stability both in the region and throughout the world, Zhang Xiaogang emphasized. -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.

China opposes countries with which it has established diplomatic relations signing any sovereign or official agreements with Taiwan.

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. 16 (Xinhua) — China has consistently and firmly opposed countries with diplomatic relations with China signing any sovereign or official agreements with the Taiwan region of China, Foreign Ministry spokesman Guo Jiakun said at a regular press conference on Friday.

The diplomat pointed out that the United States must strictly adhere to the one-China principle and the three Sino-American joint communiqués when answering a question about reaching a trade agreement between the United States and Chinese Taiwan. -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.

SPbGASU received state accreditation for the Graphic Artist specialization.

Translation. Region: Russian Federation –

Source: Saint Petersburg State University of Architecture and Civil Engineering –

An important disclaimer is at the bottom of this article.

The building of the Faculty of Architecture of St. Petersburg State University of Architecture and Civil Engineering. Graphics. Created by a student of the Department of Architectural and Urban Heritage.

Based on the order of the Federal Service for Supervision in Education and Science (Rosobrnadzor), the expert group conducted a state accreditation examination from December 22, 2025 to January 13, 2026 for the main educational program 54.05.03 Graphics, specialization "Graphic Artist" (graphic and poster art).

The first admission to this specialty at SPbGASU took place in 2023. Third-year students successfully passed the diagnostic assessment to test their residual knowledge with a 100 percent score, confirming the high quality of education.

The state accreditation review of the main educational program "Graphic Artist" (graphic and poster art) confirmed that the quality of education meets accreditation criteria.

The university has received state accreditation for its graphic arts training program. Congratulations to the faculty, students, and staff!

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.

A RUDN University law student is creating a psychological assistant for conflict resolution.

Translation. Region: Russian Federation –

Source: Peoples'Friendship University of Russia

An important disclaimer is at the bottom of this article.

Daniil Busygin, a law student at RUDN University, developed the app Stressless, which uses artificial intelligence to analyze and help resolve conflicts in personal relationships. The project, which has been selected for the RUDN.VC accelerator, aims to serve as a bridge between self-help and professional psychological support.

"Relationship conflicts are one of the main causes of stress and divorce, especially among young couples who lack constructive dialogue skills. Seeking help from a psychologist is often delayed due to cost, stigma, or a lack of understanding of where to start. Meanwhile, psychologists waste precious session time on initial diagnosis, as clients can't always clearly articulate the essence of the problem," says Daniil Busygin.

The first step towards dialogue

Stressless offers an innovative approach. The app analyzes user-uploaded messages and audio recordings (with the consent of all parties) to:

Identify emotional triggers and communication styles; determine the type of conflict and create a "psychological map" of the relationship; offer personalized recommendations for resolution; and, if necessary, assess the dynamics and refer the user to a live specialist from among the platform's partners, providing them with a structured interaction history for rapid diagnosis.

"Stressless isn't just an app. It's a tool that helps people stay connected during conflict. Modern relationships require new solutions—and technology can become an ally, not a substitute, for human understanding," says Daniil Busygin.

Plans for the future

In its initial phase, the project focuses on helping couples and spouses. Its functionality could eventually be expanded to address family, adolescent, and even workplace conflicts, opening up opportunities for developing B2B HR solutions. The project's creator has already conducted expert interviews with psychologists and potential users and developed a product roadmap. The RUDN University accelerator played a key role in the development of the idea.

"The accelerator helped us systematize our hypotheses and identify a target audience, provided access to mentors in psychology and technology, supported us in building an ethical model for working with sensitive data, and facilitated the development of a sustainable business logic and understanding of monetization paths," says Daniil Busygin.

As part of the acceleration program, Daniil must present a working prototype of the application (MVP), hypothesis testing results, a financial model, a motivation strategy, and a plan for further project development within three months.

Stressless is a shining example of how interdisciplinary knowledge (law, psychology, and AI) at RUDN University is being transformed into socially significant technological solutions designed to improve quality of life and preserve what's most valuable—human relationships.

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.

China to strengthen recycling system for used NEV batteries

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. 16 (Xinhua) — China will strengthen the management and comprehensive utilization of waste batteries for new energy vehicles (NEVs), according to a document released Friday by the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology (MIIT) and five other central departments.

Each NEV battery will be assigned a digital identifier under temporary measures that will come into force on 1 April 2026.

The document was developed amid rapid growth in electric vehicle production in the country. In 2025, both sales and production volumes exceeded 16 million units, accounting for more than half of total new car sales in the domestic market.

As batteries for older NEV models approach the end of their lifespan due to reduced capacity, the number of batteries being written off is increasing significantly, according to ministry statistics.

Experts believe this move is timely, given that the country is entering a phase of large-scale battery decommissioning. More than 1 million tons of electric vehicle batteries are expected to be scrapped by 2030.

The aforementioned temporary measures include the creation of a nationwide information platform for tracking NEV batteries and a digital ID management system, the ministry said.

Last June, China launched a three-year special campaign against the illegal storage and disposal of solid municipal waste, including decommissioned cars, electronics, used batteries, and more. -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.

Chinese Foreign Ministry: Cooperation between countries should not harm the interests of third parties

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 16 (Xinhua) — China always believes that cooperation between countries should not be directed against any third party or harm its interests. Furthermore, it should not undermine regional peace and stability, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Guo Jiakun said at a regular press conference on Friday.

He made this statement while commenting at a journalist's request on the information about the signing of a defense pact between Japan and the Philippines aimed at strengthening mutual assistance in the area of logistical support for the armed forces. -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.