China, US reach consensus on extending suspension of 24% additional tariff

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

BEIJING, Aug. 12 (Xinhua) — China and the United States on Tuesday issued a joint statement following trade and economic talks in Stockholm.

According to the joint statement, the United States will continue to adjust the application of the additional ad valorem tariff on goods from China (including goods from the Hong Kong and Macao Special Administrative Regions), suspending the imposition of the 24 percent tariff for an additional 90 days from August 12.

The joint statement also said China would continue to suspend the 24 percent additional tariff on U.S. goods for another 90 days from August 12, while maintaining the 10 percent tariff on those goods.

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Foreign trade turnover via Manzhouli Port hits new high in first half of 2025

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

BEIJING, Aug. 12 (Xinhua) — The volume of exports and imports through Manzhouli Highway Port in north China's Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region increased 31.4 percent year on year to 47.14 billion yuan (about 6.6 billion U.S. dollars) in January-June 2025, hitting a new all-time high on an annual basis at the port, the Manzhouli city government website reported, citing local customs data.

Achieving such an impressive figure not only demonstrates a significant improvement in customs clearance efficiency at the port and the growth in trade volumes through it, but also demonstrates the powerful driving force behind the development of the port, which is considered an important platform for China's opening up to the north.

The statement, posted on the website of the Manzhouli City Hall, noted that in recent years, the active promotion of the Belt and Road Initiative and the construction of the China-Mongolia-Russia Economic Corridor have opened up unprecedented opportunities for the development of the Manzhouli Highway Checkpoint.

Against this background, the local customs has been actively innovating the supervision model to better serve foreign trade enterprises and promote the rapid growth of trade through the said checkpoint. On the one hand, it ensures the effective implementation of the “three mechanisms” of information sharing, emergency response, comprehensive analysis and reporting to prevent the risk of “jam” and “congestion” at the checkpoint. On the other hand, the customs has been stepping up efforts to simplify customs procedures to promote the stable export of agricultural products and electromechanical products.

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China's special envoy denies US accusations over maritime security

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

UNITED NATIONS, Aug. 12 (Xinhua) — China's permanent representative to the United Nations Fu Cong on Monday refuted U.S. accusations against China over maritime security, including China's alleged influence in the Panama Canal area.

He said the US delegation had made unfounded accusations against China in recent times. “We are strongly against this,” he said.

China has always respected Panama's sovereignty over the canal and recognizes the permanent neutrality of the canal as an international waterway, he said at a high-level open debate of the Security Council on maritime security.

"The US lies and baseless attacks on China are nothing more than a pretext to gain control of the channel. China firmly opposes the practice of economic coercion and bullying and urges the US to stop making up lies and making trouble," Fu Cong said.

Acting US Ambassador to the UN Dorothy Shea spoke of “China’s enormous influence in the Panama Canal area” and “China’s vast and unlawful maritime claims and aggressive actions,” hinting at the situation around the South China Sea.

Fu Cong noted that the United States is the biggest violator of peace and stability in the South China Sea.

The United States has deployed offensive weapons in the region, including land-based intermediate-range missiles. It has repeatedly sent large naval and air forces to conduct reconnaissance and military exercises in the South China Sea, demonstrating its military power and committing outrages near the borders of other states. The goal is to create instability in the region to advance its own geopolitical agenda, he noted.

According to him, the United States has not yet acceded to the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea and refuses to fulfill its obligations. It ignores international law and the warnings of the International Seabed Authority, unilaterally deciding to exploit international seabed resources, thereby appropriating the common heritage of mankind.

“We urge the United States to do serious soul-searching and take responsibility as a major country,” he said. –0–

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Australian PM Accuses Netanyahu of 'Denial' of Suffering in Gaza

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

CANBERRA, Aug. 12 (Xinhua) — Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has accused his Israeli counterpart Benjamin Netanyahu of "denying" the suffering of civilians in Gaza.

Speaking a day after Australia announced it would formally recognise a Palestinian state at the 80th session of the UN General Assembly in September, Mr Albanese agreed on Tuesday that disappointment with the actions of the Netanyahu government contributed to the historic decision.

On Tuesday, E. Albanese told the Australian broadcaster ABC that he had a telephone conversation with B. Netanyahu on Thursday to inform him of Australia's decision to recognize the State of Palestine.

"He repeated to me again what he had already said publicly, namely, the denial of the consequences that are happening to innocent people," E. Albanese said of the Israeli prime minister's reaction.

Speaking at Parliament House on Monday alongside Foreign Minister Penny Wong, Mr Albanese described his government's decision to recognise Palestine as part of a coordinated global effort to promote the two-state solution. -0-

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Iran's President Warns of 'Serious' Water Crisis

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

TEHRAN, Aug. 12 (Xinhua) — Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian on Sunday warned that some parts of the country, including the capital Tehran, were facing a "serious" water crisis.

According to the semi-official Fars news agency, the head of state made the statement at a meeting with heads of some Iranian media outlets in Tehran, outlining the measures his administration is taking to overcome the crisis.

Pezeshkian said round-the-clock efforts are underway to transfer water from the nearby Talakan Dam to Tehran to ensure the province has enough water during the fall. He said it was unclear whether the move would help resolve the capital's water crisis, as rainfall in the province had dropped by 45 percent.

Water reserves in Iran's dams account for only 42 percent of their total capacity, state news agency IRIB reported on Sunday.

The report said that since the beginning of the current water year, which began on September 22, 2024, only 23.56 billion cubic meters of water have entered the country's reservoirs, which is 42 percent less than the figure for the same period last year, which was 40.55 billion cubic meters.

Speaking at a press conference in Tehran on Saturday, Mohammad Taqi Hosseinzaden, director general of Tehran's Fifth District Water and Sewerage Company, said that water reserves in Tehran's dams will last until the end of September, calling on citizens to control their water consumption.

According to Iran's Water Resources Authority, the water shortage is mainly due to the "unprecedented" drought that has hit the country since the start of the current water year.

To address the problem, Iranian authorities have resorted to closing offices and cutting working hours in affected cities as short-term solutions. –0–

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More than 250 polytechnicians have undergone military training in Leningrad Military District units

Translation. Region: Russian Federal

Source: Peter the Great St. Petersburg Polytechnic University –

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From June 23 to August 5, training sessions were held in military units of the Leningrad Military District with the participation of more than 250 students of the SPbPU Military Training Center.

The training began, as always, with the taking of the military oath. During the training sessions, the polytechnicians worked in the field as part of the crews of equipment and communication stations, control points and calculations of anti-aircraft missile troops, learned how to deploy the engineering equipment of the command post, learned the rules for the operation and repair of armored vehicles, and mastered the basics of tactical medicine.

During the training, students also gained experience in serving on daily duty, acquired skills in commanding units of the communications troops, anti-aircraft missile forces, armored units, and mastered the operation of complex modern weapons and military equipment.

Along with their combat training activities, the boys helped with the repair and improvement of military units, for which, after completing the training and final certification, they received certificates and gratitude from their commanders and the head of the Polytechnic Military Training Center.

From August 2 to 5, traditional ceremonial events were held with the carrying out of the national flag of the Russian Federation and the flag of SPbPU, during which students who completed their studies in military training programs at the Military Training Center at SPbPU were issued completed registration certificates. Vice-Rector for Additional and Pre-University Education Dmitry Tikhonov and Head of the Military Training Center Viktor Ozaruk congratulated the students on the completion of the training camp and successfully passed certification.

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Cars are already unpopular – car loan issuance collapsed in Russia

Translation. Region: Russian Federal

Source: Mainfin Bank –

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How was the situation on the car loan market in June?

Demand for cars traditionally increases in late spring and early summer, which also affects popularity car loansHowever, in June of this year, the issuance of this type of targeted loans collapsed, the NKBI recorded:

a 41% drop in the number of car loans issued compared to June 2024; a 7.8% increase compared to May in the number of loans issued – to almost 90 thousand units; a 47% decrease in the annual volume of loans issued – to 116 billion rubles; an 11% increase in the total amount of car loans issued compared to May 2025.

The leaders in the number of loans provided for the purchase of a car were the largest regions of the country – Moscow Region, Moscow, Tatarstan, St. Petersburg, Krasnodar Region.

What happened with the issuance of other types of loans in the first month of summer?

Another credit bureau (OKB) has revealed the behavior of borrowers at the end of June across the entire retail lending segment: Russians took out loans in banks 2.8 million loans for 820 billion rubles. Statistics show that:

Number of issued per month credits increased by 1%, the amount by 7%; in annual terms, on the contrary, a decrease in the number of loans received by 55%, the volume by 59% was recorded; the most popular among Russians were mortgage loans – 35% of the total number, cash loans – 31%, car loans And credit cards – 16% each; Moscow and the region, St. Petersburg, Krasnodar and Tatarstan were also leaders in the number of loans issued.

“Russians were reluctant to take out loans in June due to high interest rates and the expectation of a decision by the Central Bank of the Russian Federation: this position turned out to be justified, since already in July the regulator reduced the key rate by 2 percentage points, which led to banks revising their terms,” the expert shared.

However, experts agree that mortgages and car loans will become maximally accessible to Russians no earlier than spring 2026. There is no point in expecting a sharp reduction in rates – banks will act cautiously, trying to both support demand and mitigate the risks caused by the low solvency of the population.

09:00 12.08.2025

Source:

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On August 14, Mikhail Mishustin will take part in Russian-Kyrgyz negotiations as part of an official visit to the Kyrgyz Republic

Translation. Region: Russian Federal

Source: Government of the Russian Federation – Government of the Russian Federation –

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On August 14, as part of an official visit to the Kyrgyz Republic (Cholpon-Ata), Chairman of the Government of the Russian Federation Mikhail Mishustin will take part in Russian-Kyrgyz negotiations.

During the negotiations, the heads of government of Russia and Kyrgyzstan plan to discuss prospects for further strengthening trade, economic, cultural and humanitarian cooperation. Special attention will be paid to the development of practical cooperation in energy, industry, transport infrastructure, agriculture and other sectors.

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Heatwave warning issued for much of England

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

LONDON, Aug. 12 (Xinhua) — Britain's Health Safety Agency (UKHSA) and the Met Office on Monday issued an amber heat alert for five regions of England from Tuesday.

The Amber Warning covers the West Midlands, East Midlands, South East England, London and East Anglia.

In addition, a yellow alert has been issued for the North West and North East of England for the same period. South West England and Yorkshire and the Humber had previously been at that level.

The Met Office said a combination of high air pressure and southerly winds would push temperatures up across much of England and Wales in the first half of the week, with some areas reaching above 30C on Monday. London is likely to peak at around 35C on Tuesday.

Met Office deputy chief executive Tom Crabtree said heat would dominate the first half of the week but temperatures would remain above average in the second half, particularly in the south-east of England.

Forecasters said much of southern and central England was likely to meet official heatwave criteria by Wednesday, with three consecutive days of exceeding thresholds.

The UKHSA has warned that high temperatures will significantly increase the pressure on health and social care services. UKHSA public health adviser Paul Coleman said the heatwave could cause serious health problems, particularly among vulnerable groups such as the elderly and sick. He urged Britons to enjoy the sunshine while taking sensible precautions. –0–

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China and Brazil can set an example of unity and self-reliance among countries of the Global South – Xi Jinping

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

BEIJING, Aug. 12 (Xinhua) — Chinese President Xi Jinping said Tuesday that China is willing to work with Brazil to set an example of unity and self-reliance among major countries in the Global South and jointly build a fairer world and a more sustainable planet.

Xi Jinping made the statement during a telephone conversation with Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva.

According to the Chinese leader, Chinese-Brazilian relations are at the highest level of development in history, and the creation of a Chinese-Brazilian community with a common future and the alignment of the development strategies of the two countries has begun well and is developing smoothly.

The Chinese side is willing to work with Brazil to seize opportunities, strengthen coordination and achieve more mutually beneficial cooperation, he added.

Xi also said China supports the Brazilian people in safeguarding their national sovereignty and supports Brazil in safeguarding its legitimate rights and interests, calling on all countries to unite in resolutely opposing unilateralism and protectionism.

Noting that the BRICS mechanism is a key platform for achieving consensus among countries in the Global South, Xi Jinping congratulated Brazil on successfully hosting the recent BRICS summit.

Xi Jinping called on countries in the Global South to jointly uphold international justice and basic norms governing international relations and protect the legitimate rights and interests of developing countries.

China and Brazil should continue to address global issues, ensure the success of the upcoming UN climate change conference in the Brazilian city of Belem and promote the role of the Friends of Peace group in the political settlement of the crisis in Ukraine, he said. –0–

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