China will optimize the implementation of export controls on rare earth metals and promote legitimate trade, according to the Ministry of Commerce.

Translation. Region: Russian Federation –

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

Beijing, October 16 (Xinhua) — China will consistently streamline permitting procedures and reduce application review times as part of its latest measures to control rare earth metal exports, and will actively consider simplifying relevant procedures to effectively facilitate legitimate trade, Ministry of Commerce spokesperson He Yongqian announced at a press conference on Thursday.

She said the current export measures are the Chinese government's normal steps to improve its domestic export control system in accordance with laws and regulations and are not aimed at any specific country or region.

“All eligible applications for export of goods intended for civilian use will be approved,” He Yongqian said.

She noted that export control measures are a legitimate practice designed to prevent the illegal use of rare earth metals, such as for weapons of mass destruction, and thereby better ensure China's national security and overall global security.

China has notified relevant countries and regions before announcing the introduction of export control measures and is currently in contact with relevant parties to facilitate their implementation, the spokesperson said.

Furthermore, He Yongqian stated that China expresses its deep dissatisfaction and firmly opposes a number of restrictive measures taken by the United States, including the recent expansion of the list of economic entities subject to export restrictions and the imposition of additional port charges on Chinese vessels following an investigation under Section 301 of the U.S. Trade Act. China calls on the American side to immediately correct its erroneous actions, the official spokesperson added.

She pointed out that the Section 301 investigation and restrictive measures, specifically targeting China's shipbuilding sector, are typical examples of unilateralism and protectionism. According to her, these actions not only harm the interests of the relevant Chinese industries but also contribute to domestic inflation in the United States, undermine the competitiveness of American ports, and harm employment in the United States.

Such measures disrupt the stability of global supply chains and create chaos in the international shipping industry, He Yongqian said, emphasizing that China's countermeasures are defensive actions taken out of necessity and aimed at ensuring a level playing field in global shipping and shipbuilding markets.

As the official representative noted, following the trade and economic negotiations between China and the United States held in Madrid, the American side, ignoring repeated admonitions from the Chinese side, introduced 20 measures to suppress China in just over 20 days, which caused serious damage to China's interests and destroyed the atmosphere of trade and economic negotiations between the two sides.

He Yongqian emphasized that China is extremely dissatisfied with the measures taken by the American side and firmly opposes them. She expressed hope that the American side will cherish the achievements of the trade and economic negotiations and immediately correct its missteps. China hopes to work with the American side to properly address each other's concerns through equal dialogue based on mutual respect, the official spokesperson of the Chinese Ministry of Commerce 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.

China to introduce visa-free travel for Swedish citizens – Chinese Foreign Minister

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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

Beijing, October 16 (Xinhua) — To encourage and support travel to China and the discovery of the real China, China is prepared to introduce a visa-free entry regime for Swedish citizens, which will further enhance cultural and humanitarian exchanges between the two countries. This was announced in Beijing on Thursday by Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi.

Wang Yi, also a member of the Politburo of the CPC Central Committee, made the statement during a meeting with Swedish Foreign Minister Maria Malmør Stenergård.

China also hopes that Sweden will play a constructive role in promoting the healthy development of China-EU relations, the Chinese Foreign Minister added. –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 meeting of the secretaries of the security councils of Central Asian states and India took place in Bishkek.

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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

Bishkek, October 16 (Xinhua) — The third meeting of national security advisers (NSA) in the Central Asia-India format took place on Thursday in Bishkek, the capital of Kyrgyzstan. The press service of the President of Kyrgyzstan reported this.

This multilateral format is reportedly a continuation of broad regional cooperation in the interests of peace and strengthening stability, and also serves as a unique platform for exchanging views on key security issues.

In his speech, Secretary of the Security Council of Kyrgyzstan Baktybek Bekbolotov noted that the most valuable aspect of this meeting was the similarity in assessments of the situation and the degree of impact of challenges and threats on regional and national security.

According to him, the current international political situation is in many ways the main restraining factor for effective interaction and fruitful cooperation.

B. Bekbolotov emphasized that cooperation should include not only military and law enforcement components, but also cultural interaction, humanitarian exchanges, the expansion of educational programs, and joint initiatives in science and technology.

Earlier, the Central Asian Security Council Secretaries and the National Security Advisor to the Prime Minister of India met with Kyrgyz President Sadyr Japarov. During the meeting, issues of ensuring regional security and countering current threats and challenges were discussed.

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 UN welcomes the ceasefire between Afghanistan and Pakistan.

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Source: United Nations – United Nations –

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October 16, 2025 Peace and security

The United Nations on Thursday called on Afghanistan and Pakistan to completely end armed clashes and ensure the protection of civilians.

The United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA) issued a statement welcoming a ceasefire announced Wednesday after a week of violent border clashes and airstrikes in the Afghan capital, Kabul.

Afghanistan has been under Taliban rule since 2021, and relations between the neighboring countries have deteriorated since then. Pakistan accuses Afghanistan of harboring militants who carry out attacks on its territory, something the de facto authorities deny.

Stop the violence

UNAMA reported that it had received credible reports of significant civilian casualties, including women and children, as a result of the violence.

The highest death toll was recorded in the Spin Boldak district of Kandahar province in southern Afghanistan, where fierce fighting took place between Taliban security forces and Pakistani troops on Wednesday.

While the UN mission is still confirming the exact number of casualties, preliminary information indicates that at least 17 people have been killed and another 346 injured in the area.

At least one civilian was killed and 15 others injured in earlier border clashes in Paktika, Paktia, Kunar and Helmand provinces.

"UNAMA calls on all parties to fully cease hostilities to protect civilians and prevent further casualties," the statement said.

The parties were also reminded of their obligations to respect the fundamental principles of distinction between targets of attack, proportionality and precautions to prevent civilian casualties in accordance with international law.

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.

Afghanistan earthquake aftermath: Children at risk of preventable diseases

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Source: United Nations – United Nations –

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October 16, 2025 Humanitarian aid

More than 212,000 children in Afghanistan are at risk of contracting acute watery diarrhea and other dangerous waterborne diseases, according to the United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF). The increased risk of infection outbreaks is linked to consequences of the earthquake, which occurred on August 31 in eastern Afghanistan, near the border with Pakistan.

The tremors destroyed water, sanitation and hygiene infrastructure in the affected areas.

"The earthquake destroyed homes and claimed many lives, and now threatens to take even more through disease," said UNICEF Representative in Afghanistan Tajudeen Oyewale.

He noted that children in the affected areas live in overcrowded camps or temporary shelters without access to toilets and safe water.

"These are 'perfect' conditions for an impending health disaster," Oyewale stressed.

Diseases that can be prevented

According to the World Health Organization (WHO), acute watery diarrhea is one of the three leading causes of death among children under five years of age, claiming the lives of more than 400,000 children each year.

At the same time, as the WHO notes, the disease can be prevented with clean water, proper sanitation and hygiene products – these are the basic conditions now thousands of families in Afghanistan are displaced.

According to UNICEF, the earthquake destroyed 132 water sources, leaving many families without access to handwashing or safe water. In 80 percent of communities, people are forced to relieve themselves outdoors, as most toilets were also destroyed. The lack of soap and other hygiene products increases the risk of infection.

Health facilities are already reporting an increase in cases of dehydration and skin diseases, UNICEF warns.

Funding is urgently needed

UNICEF supports communities in over 60 countries, helping prevent diseases and improve sanitation. In affected areas of Afghanistan, the agency installs temporary latrines, distributes hygiene kits, and delivers drinking water by tanker truck, while simultaneously rebuilding damaged water systems.

However, according to the organization, donors have only provided half of the $21.6 million needed for the emergency response. UNICEF is calling on international partners to provide funds quickly.

The World Food Programme (WFP) also is experiencing a funding shortage – amounting to $622 million over the next six months. WFP operations are at risk not only in Afghanistan, but also in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Haiti, Somalia, South Sudan, and Sudan.

Currently, less than 10 percent of the millions of Afghans in need receive WFP food assistance.

UNICEF and its partners warn that without urgent investment, efforts to prevent a humanitarian catastrophe will be on the brink of collapse.

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.

13 people were killed in armed attacks in Nigeria.

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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

Abuja, October 16 (Xinhua) — At least 13 people were killed in coordinated attacks by armed groups on two villages in Plateau State in central Nigeria, a local official said on Thursday.

Stephen Gyang Pwadjok, head of the Barkin Ladi local government area, where the attacks on the villages of Rachas and Ravuru took place on the evening of October 14, told Xinhua by telephone that a mass funeral for the victims took place on October 15.

Describing the incident as "deeply unfortunate and unprovoked," he noted that others were injured as they tried to flee and hide, including in nearby bushes, while gunmen, suspected to be herdsmen, fired at them.

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 European Commission has presented a roadmap for achieving EU defence readiness by 2030.

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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

Brussels, Oct. 16 (Xinhua) — The European Union on Thursday unveiled a defense roadmap aimed at achieving full defense readiness by 2030.

The Roadmap for Safeguarding Peace – Defence Readiness 2030 was jointly presented by the European Commission and the High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy.

The document sets out objectives to close capability gaps, accelerate Member States' defence investments and ensure the EU's full defence readiness by 2030.

According to the roadmap, achieving full defence readiness means ensuring the ability of the armed forces of EU Member States to anticipate, prepare for and respond effectively to any defence-related crises, including high-intensity conflicts.

Four flagship projects are designed to contribute to achieving this goal: the Counter-Drone Defense Initiative, Eastern Flank Sentinel, European Air Shield, and European Space Shield. These projects aim to strengthen deterrence and defense on land, at sea, in the air, in cyberspace, and in space.

The document calls on member states to form “coalitions of capabilities” in nine critical areas, including air and missile defense; strategic enablers; military mobility; artillery systems; cyberspace, artificial intelligence, and electronic warfare; missiles and munitions; drones and counter-drones; and land and maritime forces. –0–

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China is taking active steps to protect global food security, according to the Chinese Foreign Ministry.

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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

BEIJING, October 16 (Xinhua) — China is taking active steps to protect global food security and will continue to make unremitting efforts to accelerate the implementation of the UN 2030 Sustainable Development Goals, Foreign Ministry spokesperson Lin Jian said on Thursday.

Lin Jian made the announcement while commenting on the 2025 State of Food Security and Nutrition in the World report, published by the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO). The report states that despite the decline in global hunger in recent years, approximately 673 million people will still face hunger in 2024.

The official representative recalled that China is the world's largest grain producer and, with less than 9 percent of the world's arable land, feeds over 1.4 billion people. In recent years, the country's comprehensive grain production capacity has been steadily improving, making a significant contribution to global food security.

Lin Jian noted that China has been making continuous efforts to improve global food security and promote global poverty reduction through international cooperation.

According to the diplomat, through its own efforts, China has transformed itself from a recipient of FAO technical assistance into one of the organization's key donors. Among developing countries, China provides the largest amount of financial assistance through FAO's South-South Cooperation programme, deploys the largest number of experts, and implements the largest number of projects.

As Lin Jian noted, China has conducted agricultural cooperation with more than 140 countries and regions, has transferred more than 1,000 agricultural technologies to developing countries, and has trained over 14,000 specialists in hybrid rice technology.

China is taking concrete actions to help alleviate food shortages in the Global South, contributing to the gradual realization of the global vision of ending hunger and poverty, the Chinese Foreign Ministry official 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.

Kazakhstan is introducing a moratorium on price increases for AI-92 gasoline and diesel fuel.

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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

Almaty, October 16 (Xinhua) — Kazakhstan will introduce a moratorium on price increases for AI-92 gasoline and diesel fuel starting October 16 of this year until inflation stabilizes. This was reported on Thursday by the Kazinform news agency, citing the government press service.

As reported, on the instructions of the head of state, the cabinet of ministers is taking measures to ensure macroeconomic stability and mitigate the negative consequences of economic reforms.

Starting October 16, utility tariff increases for all consumer groups will also be suspended until the end of the first quarter of 2026. Tariff increases will be contained through the optimization of operating expenses for natural monopolies.

In addition, in order to reduce the negative impact of the new Tax Code on the activities of small and medium-sized businesses, a decision was made to lift unnecessary restrictions on the application of the special tax regime based on the simplified declaration.

According to the National Bank of Kazakhstan, annual and monthly inflation in the country exceeded expectations in September, with price growth accelerating in the food, service, and non-food segments. –0–

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On October 16, 2025, the Rosatom State Corporation and the Zapovednoye Embassy Foundation made a statement on international cooperation at the IUCN Congress in Abu Dhabi.

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Source: Preserved Embassy Foundation

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Rosatom State Corporation and the Nature Embassy Charitable Educational Foundation announced the creation of an online platform that will consolidate global business research and best corporate practices in biodiversity conservation and environmental education. The announcements were made at a press conference held by the Nature Embassy Foundation jointly with Rosatom State Corporation at the IUCN (International Union for Conservation of Nature) World Conservation Congress, which took place in Abu Dhabi from October 9 to 15.

Both organizations also presented their research. "Zapovednoye Polost" (Protected Embassy) announced the results of a big-data study on public attitudes toward protected areas. Rosatom announced the launch of a biodiversity study in areas where nuclear industry organizations operate in at least 32 Russian cities, and potentially abroad.

"We have launched a systematic research project to study biodiversity in areas where the nuclear industry operates. The study will be conducted jointly with the Ecology Research Institute and will examine endangered species that inhabit areas where the nuclear industry operates, including 10 natural areas located in close proximity to Rosatom cities. We are confident that we will not only identify the problems but also find solutions, including technological ones. For example, many of the interesting practices discussed at the IUCN World Conservation Congress in Abu Dhabi can be applied in Russia. Researching the biodiversity conservation agendas of corporate sectors in various countries is also a major, ambitious undertaking. This is a key component of our research, and following these findings, we believe it is important to share the findings with the professional community and young people," noted Olga Shkabardnya, Director General of ANO Energy of Development and Head of Corporate Social Responsibility and Internal Communications at Rosatom State Corporation.

Olga Shkabardnya explained that the results of the large-scale study will be presented on a new online platform, which Rosatom will launch in partnership with the Nature Conservation Embassy Foundation. It will consolidate best practices in biodiversity conservation. "Together with the Nature Conservation Embassy Foundation, we initiated the creation of a unified international platform where, in addition to best corporate practices and research in biodiversity conservation from around the world, we will also feature announcements of key biodiversity-related events, opportunities for exchanging best practices, and opportunities for networking between scientists, young people, and entrepreneurs. The platform should become a space for communication and information exchange between science, NGOs, government, and business to most effectively address biodiversity conservation challenges and replicate best practices." The speaker emphasized that the demand for the popularization of effective biodiversity conservation solutions on a single resource was voiced at the Congress.

Natalia Danilina, President of the Nature Conservation Embassy Foundation and Director of the Zapovedniki Ecocenter, a leading nonprofit organization with nearly 30 years of experience working with protected areas, emphasized the importance of business collaboration with environmental organizations and protected areas. Specifically, she mentioned projects implemented in partnership with the Nature Conservation Embassy Foundation by Norilsk Nickel, JTI Russia, SIBUR, MTS, and others. "We are confident that the formula for effective cooperation for nature conservation is a three-pronged partnership: protected areas, which are directly responsible for nature conservation, and businesses and nonprofits, which organize joint project development and jointly find innovative solutions to address conservation issues as effectively as possible," noted Natalia Danilina.

Yulia Vereshchak, Director of International Projects at the Nature Embassy Foundation, shared information about a large-scale study conducted by the Foundation in collaboration with Tomsk State University and the Cyberia Lab. "Using lingua-markers, we trained a program that helped analyze local population attitudes toward protected areas across all federal districts of Russia, including national parks, nature reserves, inspectors, science departments, and volunteer organizations. Our big data study covered over 3.5 million data points over a year. The goal of the study was to understand local population attitudes toward protected areas. Do Russians know what activities are conducted in protected areas, what biodiversity is, have they ever seen an inspector, have they participated in environmental festivals, are they willing to volunteer, and do they understand that it's possible to visit a protected area as a tourist while adhering to ecotourism standards? We intend to dedicate the second part of the study to transboundary territories. We are confident that the results of this study will help to more effectively manage protected areas and develop international cooperation in the field of biodiversity conservation."

REFERENCE:

The IUCN (International Union for Conservation of Nature) World Conservation Congress is held every four years and sets development priorities and cooperation formats for nature conservation and biodiversity preservation for years to come. The Congress is the largest platform for exchanging experiences in environmental protection and sustainable development. In 2025, the IUCN Congress welcomed over 1,400 IUCN member organizations from 160 countries and was attended by 10,000 participants. Scientists, experts, representatives of businesses, NGOs, and natural areas from around the world shared experiences, innovations, and work results at several hundred events.

Russia is an active member of IUCN. The Zapovednoye Polostvo Foundation and the Zapovedniki Ecocenter organized business and public events as part of the congress, together with representatives of Rosatom and SIBUR.

Congress website: https://yuchncongress2025.org/

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