Ukraine and Russia are currently negotiating only humanitarian issues, according to the head of the National Security and Defense Council.

Translation. Region: Russian Federal

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

Kyiv, September 20 (Xinhua) — Ukraine and Russia are currently negotiating only on humanitarian issues, specifically the return of Ukrainian prisoners of war. This was stated by Rustem Umerov, Secretary of the Ukrainian National Security and Defense Council (NSDC), as reported by RBC-Ukraine on Friday.

He also added that following Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy's visit to Washington, Kyiv expects the agreements reached there to organize peace talks between the leaders of Ukraine, the United States, and Russia to be implemented.

On August 18, V. Zelenskyy held talks with U.S. President Donald Trump in Washington. European leaders later joined them. The meeting discussed further steps to end the Russian-Ukrainian armed conflict.

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 International Photo Festival in the ancient Chinese town of Pingyao has collected over 20,000 entries.

Translation. Region: Russian Federal

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

TAIYUAN, Sept. 20 (Xinhua) — The 25th Pingyao International Photography Festival kicked off Friday in Pingyao, an ancient town in north China's Shanxi Province, which has been listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site and is famous for its well-preserved ancient architecture.

The 5-day event, titled “Breaking Boundaries, Intellectually Looking to the Future,” features over 20,000 works by over 5,000 photographers from 34 countries and regions, as well as 25 provincial-level administrative units in China.

The highlight of this year's festival was a display of photographs taken with a Polaroid camera. Belgian photographer Carmen De Vos and British photographer Claire Marie Bailey are participating in person, and the work of German photographer Stefanie Schneider is also on display.

The festival also launched a training program that offers participants both theoretical and practical classes in Pingyao and the German city of Bottrop to enhance their curatorial skills.

Over the past 25 years, the Pingyao International Photography Festival has collected more than 300,000 photographs from over 100 countries and regions, attracting millions of visitors from home and abroad to this ancient city. -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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Summary: The Russian Ministry of Defense has denied Estonia's claim that Russian fighter jets violated its airspace.

Translation. Region: Russian Federal

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, September 20 (Xinhua) — The Russian Ministry of Defense has denied Estonia's claim that Russian fighter jets violated its airspace. Following the incident, the Baltic country requested NATO consultations.

The Russian MiG-31 fighter jets did not violate Estonian airspace; the flight took place more than three kilometers from Vaindlo Island, RIA Novosti reports, citing a statement from the Russian Ministry of Defense.

"During the flight, the Russian aircraft did not deviate from the agreed-upon air route and did not violate Estonian airspace. The aircraft's flight route lay over neutral waters of the Baltic Sea, more than three kilometers from Vaindlo Island," the statement reads.

According to the agency, three Russian MiG-31 fighter jets completed a scheduled flight from Karelia to an airfield in the Kaliningrad region on Friday.

On the other hand, Estonian Prime Minister Kristen Michal wrote the following on the social media platform X on Friday: "This morning, three Russian MiG-31 fighter jets entered Estonian airspace. NATO fighter jets responded, and the Russian aircraft were forced to retreat. This violation is completely unacceptable. The Estonian government has decided to request consultations with NATO in accordance with Article 4 [of the Alliance Charter]."

Earlier on Friday, the Estonian Foreign Ministry announced it had summoned Russia's Chargé d'Affaires to deliver a note of protest regarding the alleged violation of Estonian airspace by Russian MiG-31 fighter jets. According to the Estonian Foreign Ministry, three Russian fighter jets entered Estonian airspace over the Gulf of Finland and remained there for 12 minutes.

As RIA Novosti reported from Brussels, NATO spokesperson Alison Arth an hour later repeated the Estonian Foreign Ministry's unconfirmed accusations and added that the alliance had scrambled aircraft in response.

"Earlier today, Russian aircraft violated Estonian airspace. NATO responded immediately," NATO spokesperson X said in a social media post. It clarified that the aircraft were scrambled.

On October 1, the leaders of the European Union (EU) will discuss a collective response to Russia's alleged violations of EU airspace, European Council President António Costa announced on social media.

“We will discuss our collective response to Russia’s actions at an informal meeting of the European Council in Copenhagen on October 1,” the publication said.

According to a report from Washington, US President Donald Trump said he did not like reports of an incident involving alleged Russian fighter jets.

"I don't like it. I don't like it when that happens, it could get into big trouble, but I'll let you know later," Trump told reporters, adding that he would soon be briefed on the matter.

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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A senior Afghan official criticized Donald Trump's remarks about his intention to retake control of the Bagram Air Base.

Translation. Region: Russian Federal

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

Kabul, September 20 (Xinhua) — Senior Afghan Foreign Ministry diplomat Zakir Jalali criticized US President Donald Trump's recent statements about his intention to retake Afghanistan's Bagram Air Base, state-run Radio Television of Afghanistan (RTA) reported on Friday.

"Throughout their history, Afghans have never tolerated a foreign military presence on their soil. Afghanistan and America need to establish economic and political relations based on mutual respect and shared interests," state media quoted a senior Afghan official as saying.

D. Trump, who criticized his predecessor Joseph Biden for abandoning the Bagram Air Base during the US troop withdrawal in August 2021, told reporters in London on Thursday that he intends to regain control of it.

Bagram Air Base is located 50 kilometers north of Kabul. It served as the main military base for American troops in Afghanistan during the 20-year military presence of the US-led international coalition, which ended in August 2021, paving the way for the fall of the Western-backed regime and the rise of the current Afghan 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.

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Freight turnover through the Khorgos railway checkpoint since the beginning of 2025 has exceeded 10 million tons

Translation. Region: Russian Federal

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

URUMQI, Sept. 20 (Xinhua) — At noon Saturday, a China-Europe train loaded with 55 containers of daily necessities, electronic devices, and other goods passed through the Horgos railway border crossing in northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region (XUAR) and departed for Selyatino Station in Russia. This event marked the year-to-date increase of 17.6 percent in import and export cargo through the Horgos railway crossing.

The threshold was reportedly reached 43 days earlier than the 2024 target.

Currently, the Khorgos railway checkpoint handles the transshipment of China-Europe/Central Asia freight trains returning from abroad on average every two hours.

“Since the beginning of this year, our company has processed more than 2,000 China-Europe trains, which is 24 percent more than in the same period last year, and the volume of transportation has increased by 36 percent year-on-year,” noted Ma Meilian, director of a logistics company in Khorgos.

This year, the Khorgos checkpoint launched a reformed model of “Smart Railway Checkpoint Accelerated Customs Clearance at Destination”, which reduced the customs clearance time for imported goods from 2-3 days to less than 16 hours, while Khorgos Customs provides services on a 24/7 basis to ensure the efficient operation of such trains.

To date, more than 48,000 China-Europe/Central Asia freight trains have passed through the Khorgos railway checkpoint, operating on 90 relevant routes covering 46 cities and regions in 18 countries. -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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Hainan creates a new benchmark for scientific and educational cooperation between China and Belarus.

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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, Sept. 20 (Xinhua) — A student initiation ceremony for the Institute of Innovative Education (IIE) under the auspices of the Belarusian State University (BSU) was held on Friday at the Yazhouwan Technopolis in Sanya, Hainan Province, southern China.

The opening ceremony of the International Center for Scientific and Technical Cooperation and Transfer of BSU, the Foreign Contact Point for Science and Technology of BSU in Yazhouwan, and the Base for Industrial Internship and Employment in Science and Technology of BSU in Yazhouwan took place along with the celebration.

Yazhouwan Technopolis is one of the key industrial parks in the Hainan Free Trade Port. The technopolis is being actively developed here, facilitating the integration of manufacturing organizations, universities, and research institutes. In 2024, BSU and Yazhouwan established the IIE to pool the best educational resources and scientific potential of both parties, jointly promote the development of educational programs, faculty and student exchanges, and joint research to explore new models of international educational cooperation.

The new institute, a division of BSU, offers undergraduate programs with subsequent master's degrees, as well as master's programs. Successful completion of entrance exams qualifies students for admission to undergraduate and master's programs. BSU hosts some first-year courses at this institute.

"The opportunity to receive a high-quality education right in my hometown is what determined my decision to study here," noted IIO first-year student Wu Wangze. "Classes are held in small groups, and each student is actively involved in the learning process. Our first lesson was in Russian, even though I didn't speak it before, but thanks to the engaging teaching methods, I quickly mastered the new knowledge," he added.

Since admissions began in March last year, IIO has enrolled approximately 300 students in programs such as journalism, hydrometeorology, and aerospace engineering. Of these, approximately 100 have already completed their studies in Sanya and have gone to Belarus to continue their education.

BSU First Vice-Rector Dmitry Kurlovich noted that the Institute of Information Technologies has created excellent conditions, allowing students to gain a unique experience preparing for university entrance. BSU will further explore the possibility of establishing a branch here, which may happen next year.

Konstantin Golovko, Consul General of Belarus in Guangzhou, stated that relations between Belarus and China have been developing steadily in recent years and expressed confidence that cooperation in science, technology, and education between the two countries will only deepen. He noted that the implementation of the Years of Belarus-China Cooperation in Science, Technology, and Innovation in 2024-2025 has provided a particularly important impetus, creating a favorable platform for joint research, sharing experiences, and implementing innovations.

The most important thing is for the active exchange of experience and the expansion of research programs to develop into full-fledged joint projects—both in Belarus and China. Hainan Province, where innovative clusters are being created and a free economic zone operates, is of particular interest. This opens up extensive opportunities for hosting joint Belarusian-Chinese research centers, technology startups, and educational hubs where young scientists from both countries could work and study, the Consul General 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.

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The descent module of the Bion-M biosatellite No. 2 landed in the steppes of Russia's Orenburg region.

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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

Moscow, September 20 /Xinhua/ — The Bion-M No. 2 biological satellite's descent module, carrying living organisms, landed in the steppes of Russia's Orenburg region on Friday, TASS reported, citing Roscosmos.

According to the report, the spacecraft was launched from the Baikonur Cosmodrome on a Soyuz-2.1b rocket on August 20. The craft was delivered into a high-latitude orbit at an altitude of 370-380 kilometers. Thirty days later, it returned to Earth with living organisms on board. After landing, they will be sent to Moscow for further research.

The Bion-M No. 2 project is designed to study how living organisms cope with high-latitude orbit, where cosmic radiation levels are a third higher than those in orbit around the International Space Station. The 6.4-ton spacecraft carried 75 male mice, approximately 1,500 fruit flies, cell cultures, plants, and samples of grain, legumes, and industrial crops. Fungi, lichens, cellular materials, and plant seeds were also launched into space.

Bion is a series of Russian spacecraft for biological research. –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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D. Trump signed an executive order raising the fee for employers for H-1B visas to $100,000.

Translation. Region: Russian Federal

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

WASHINGTON, Sept. 20 (Xinhua) — U.S. President Donald Trump signed an executive order on Friday raising the fee for employers to sponsor H-1B visa applicants to $100,000, saying the move would attract only highly skilled workers who have no replacement in America.

“The massive displacement of American workers through the systematic abuse of this program has undermined both our economic and national security,” the document says.

According to the order, foreign nationals holding H-1B visas will be unable to enter the United States for work unless their employer pays a new six-figure fee. The restriction applies to foreign nationals entering or attempting to enter the United States after the order's enactment date, September 21.

Previously, companies typically paid only a few thousand dollars for H-1B visas. The new policy will significantly increase employers' costs of attracting foreign specialists. According to the US Citizenship and Immigration Services, no more than 85,000 new H-1B visas can be issued annually.

Signing the executive order at the White House, Trump said companies would prefer not to pay the new tax, and that this could be achieved by hiring Americans. "So there's an incentive to hire Americans," the president added.

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 US government faces a government shutdown after the Senate rejected a temporary funding bill.

Translation. Region: Russian Federal

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

Washington, September 20 (Xinhua) — The United States is heading toward a partial government shutdown after the Senate rejected a temporary federal government funding bill on Friday. It had been approved by the House of Representatives earlier that day.

The lower house of the US Congress approved a Republican-drafted plan to fund the government through the end of November, but the Senate blocked it hours later by a vote of 44 to 48, falling short of the required 60 votes. An alternative Democratic proposal, which included provisions for health care programs, also failed.

With both chambers deadlocked and the deadline to extend federal government funding expiring at midnight on September 30, the risk of a shutdown is increasing.

The shutdown will halt operations at many federal agencies, delay wages for hundreds of thousands of workers, and disrupt services across the board—from national parks to visa centers. However, essential programs like Social Security and Medicare will continue to operate.

The failure to reach consensus highlights the deep partisan divide in Washington. Democrats criticize the House bill for failing to address health care priorities, while Republicans argue a stopgap measure is needed to buy time for negotiations.

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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A state of emergency has been declared in the Tynda District of Russia's Amur Region following a train derailment, according to the head of the Russian Ministry of Emergency Situations for the region.

Translation. Region: Russian Federal

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

Vladivostok, September 20 (Xinhua) — A state of emergency has been declared in the Tynda District of Russia's Amur Region after two flatcars and a crane derailed, killing two people and injuring 12. This was reported by RIA Novosti on Saturday, citing the head of the Amur Region's Ministry of Emergency Situations.

According to the report, a state of emergency was declared on September 19, when a track-laying train derailed on the Belenkaya-Fedoseyev section of the Tynda region of the Far Eastern Railway in the Amur Region, traveling onto a section of dismantled track and collided with a bulldozer. At the time of the accident, 12 workers were on one of the train's platforms and two workers were on the track-laying crane. As a result of the accident, one person died at the scene, a second died in a medical facility, and the others sustained various injuries.

Currently, 12 victims are in the hospital. A criminal case has been opened into the incident. –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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