NewzIntel.com

Category: Russia

  • MIL-OSI Russia: Russian and US Foreign Ministers Discuss Istanbul Talks by Phone — Russian Foreign Ministry

    Translation. Region: Russian Federal

    Source: People’s Republic of China in Russian – People’s Republic of China in Russian –

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

    Moscow, May 17 /Xinhua/ — Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov and US Secretary of State Marco Rubio discussed the results of the talks in Istanbul in a telephone conversation on Saturday, according to a statement on the Russian Foreign Ministry’s website.

    “On May 17, at the initiative of the American side, a telephone conversation took place between the Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Russian Federation S. V. Lavrov and the US Secretary of State M. Rubio,” the diplomatic department reported. “The heads of the foreign policy departments exchanged opinions on the results of the Russian-Ukrainian negotiations held the day before in Istanbul.”

    As indicated on Smolenskaya Square, M. Rubio “welcomed the agreements on the exchange of prisoners of war and on the preparation by each side of its vision of the conditions necessary for reaching a truce, and emphasized Washington’s readiness to continue to facilitate the search for a settlement.”

    S. Lavrov, in turn, “noted the positive role of the United States, which contributed to Kyiv ultimately accepting the proposal of Russian President V.V. Putin to resume the Istanbul negotiations,” and also confirmed Moscow’s readiness to continue working together with American colleagues in this context.

    “During the conversation, some other international and regional issues were also touched upon. The interlocutors exchanged opinions on the continuation of Russian-American contacts,” the Russian Foreign Ministry concluded.

    The talks between representatives of Russia and Ukraine that took place on Friday lasted almost two hours. Russian presidential aide Vladimir Medinsky, who heads the Russian delegation, announced a large-scale prisoner exchange — 1,000 for 1,000 — with Ukraine. According to him, the parties agreed to present their vision of a possible future ceasefire. During the talks, the Ukrainian side requested a meeting of the heads of state, and Russia took this into account. V. Medinsky also stated Russia’s readiness to continue negotiations with Ukraine. –0–

    MIL OSI Russia News –

  • MIL-OSI Russia: 3 dead, 1 missing after flash floods in southern China

    Translation. Region: Russian Federal

    Source: People’s Republic of China in Russian – People’s Republic of China in Russian –

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

    NANNING, May 17 (Xinhua) — Three people were killed and one was missing after flash floods triggered by heavy rains in south China’s Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, local authorities said Saturday.

    Heavy rains hit Longlin County on Friday and Saturday, causing flash flooding in Yancha Township, leaving four people missing after the temporary shelter they were using on a hillside was washed away.

    Local emergency services, public safety, fire and medical services immediately launched a search and rescue operation after receiving a report of the incident on Saturday. The three missing people were later found in a ravine near a mountain stream, all of them deceased.

    The search for another missing person continues. –0–

    MIL OSI Russia News –

  • MIL-OSI Russia: Heavy rains hit Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region in southern China

    Translation. Region: Russian Federal

    Source: People’s Republic of China in Russian – People’s Republic of China in Russian –

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

    NANNING, May 17 (Xinhua) — Heavy rains hit south China’s Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region on Friday and Saturday, prompting emergency response measures, local authorities said.

    In Beiliu County, a city in eastern Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, heavy rains killed one person and forced the evacuation of more than 1,700 residents.

    The regional meteorological administration predicts continued heavy or torrential rainfall in northern and central Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region until May 18.

    At 11:00 a.m. on Saturday, the agency issued a blue warning for heavy rainfall and activated a level 4 weather disaster alert.

    China has a four-tier weather warning system, with red representing the highest level of danger, followed by orange, yellow and blue. The emergency response system also has four levels, with level 1 being the most serious. –0–

    MIL OSI Russia News –

  • MIL-OSI Russia: The Presidents of Uzbekistan and Kazakhstan held a telephone conversation

    Translation. Region: Russian Federal

    Source: People’s Republic of China in Russian – People’s Republic of China in Russian –

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

    Tashkent, May 17 (Xinhua) — Uzbek President Shavkat Mirziyoyev and Kazakh President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev held a telephone conversation on Saturday, the press service of the Uzbek president reported on Saturday.

    “Current issues of further development and strengthening of Uzbek-Kazakh relations of good neighborliness, strategic partnership and alliance were discussed,” the statement said.

    The presidents paid special attention to continuing work on forming a new agenda for bilateral practical cooperation, covering such priority areas as trade, industrial cooperation, efficient logistics, agriculture, tourism, education, and cultural exchange. –0–

    MIL OSI Russia News –

  • MIL-OSI Russia: Member of the Standing Committee of the Politburo of the CPC Central Committee called for a problem-oriented approach in the Party-wide educational campaign on the observance of the “Eight-Point Rules”

    Translation. Region: Russian Federal

    Source: People’s Republic of China in Russian – People’s Republic of China in Russian –

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

    SHIJIAZHUANG, May 17 (Xinhua) — Cai Qi, a member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee and a member of the Secretariat of the CPC Central Committee, has stressed the importance of following an issue-oriented approach and strict standards in the ongoing Party-wide education campaign to strictly implement the “Eight-Point Rules” issued by the CPC Central Committee to improve the behavior style of Party cadres and civil servants.

    Cai Qi made the announcement during an inspection tour of Tangshan City, Hebei Province, north China.

    During the trip, Cai Qi visited a number of towns, villages, neighborhoods and micro-districts, and also visited local enterprises and grassroots party organizations.

    He said the campaign should comprehensively promote study, verification and correction. He also called for targeted recommendations to be developed for different levels, regions, sectors and industries to ensure the depth and impact of the campaign.

    Cai Qi stressed that as this publicity campaign spreads to the grassroots level, it should be closely connected with reality, and Party members and grassroots cadres should integrate their efforts with key tasks such as advancing all-round rural revitalization and strengthening grassroots governance, while further enhancing their sense of responsibility and willingness to take action.

    According to the member of the Standing Committee of the Politburo of the CPC Central Committee, the educational campaign at enterprises should be closely linked with production and business activities in order to achieve coordinated progress in both directions.

    Noting the importance of involving public opinion in solving problems, Cai called for decisive and tough actions in solving them, stressing that problems should be solved as they are discovered, with special attention to be paid to the most pressing issues.

    The educational campaign started in mid-March of this year and will last until the end of July. –0–

    MIL OSI Russia News –

  • MIL-OSI Russia: The number of users of the Chinese intelligent online educational platform Smart Education of China has exceeded 164 million

    Translation. Region: Russian Federal

    Source: People’s Republic of China in Russian –

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

    WUHAN, May 17 (Xinhua) — The number of registered users of Smart Education of China, an online platform for providing digital education services to the government, has exceeded 164 million as of April 2025, according to a white paper on smart education in China.

    As of April, the platform had recorded more than 61.3 billion page views, with visitors from more than 220 countries and regions, according to a white paper released Friday at the 2025 Global Digital Education Conference held from May 14 to 16 in Wuhan, capital of central China’s Hubei Province.

    The document says that the platform continues to collect high-quality digital educational resources, including more than 110,000 resources for primary and secondary schools, as well as more than 11,300 online courses for vocational education, 31,000 for higher education, and more than 2,000 for lifelong learning.

    According to the white paper, the platform integrates 51 services, such as employment services and examination services, into eight main categories, and features deep integration of artificial intelligence and education.

    China is building a modern digital education system that is fairer, higher quality, smarter, more accessible to all, and enables lifelong learning.

    Launched in March 2022, the Smart Education of China platform focuses on areas such as learning, teaching, school management, and educational innovation. It has become one of the world’s largest repositories of educational and pedagogical resources. –0–

    MIL OSI Russia News –

  • MIL-OSI Russia: 34th Arab League summit held in Iraq with focus on Palestinian issue

    Translation. Region: Russian Federal

    Source: People’s Republic of China in Russian – People’s Republic of China in Russian –

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

    BAGHDAD, May 17 (Xinhua) — The 34th Arab League (LAS) summit opened in the Iraqi capital Baghdad on Saturday with the participation of 22 member countries of the league, as well as a number of regional and international organizations. The main topic was the key challenges facing the Arab world, in particular the ongoing crisis in Palestine.

    Iraqi President Abdel Latif Rashid, who took over the rotating presidency from Bahrain, highlighted the grave threats facing the region in his speech. He condemned Israel for its “systematic killing” of Palestinians since October 2023, calling it an attempt to “erase their presence from their land.”

    “We strongly condemn these actions, which violate human rights and international law,” said A. L. Rashid, reiterating Iraq’s continued support for the right of the Palestinian people to live on their land and opposition to any attempt to forcibly displace them.

    He also stressed that Iraq supports the security and stability of Arab countries and opposes external interference in the internal affairs of Arab states.

    Speaking at the opening of the summit, Iraqi Prime Minister Mohammed al-Sudani presented 18 initiatives to intensify joint action by Arab countries, the main one of which was the creation of an Arab fund to support the region’s recovery from crises.

    M. al-Sudani stated that the Iraqi vision for resolving conflicts in the region “begins with the Palestinian people receiving the full right to live freely and with dignity on their land and ending the ongoing aggression /against their territory/.”

    “We have rejected and continue to reject the forced displacement of Palestinians, calling for an immediate end to attacks on the Gaza Strip, the West Bank and other occupied Palestinian territories, as well as unimpeded humanitarian access,” the Iraqi prime minister said, announcing Iraq’s pledge of $20 million for the reconstruction of Gaza and another $20 million for Lebanon. –0–

    MIL OSI Russia News –

  • MIL-OSI Russia: Hamas Resumes Indirect Talks with Israel: Hamas Official

    Translation. Region: Russian Federal

    Source: People’s Republic of China in Russian – People’s Republic of China in Russian –

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

    GAZA, May 17 (Xinhua) — Mediated talks between Hamas and Israel resumed in Qatar’s capital Doha on Saturday, senior Palestinian official Mahmoud Mardawi said.

    As M. Mardavi noted, the negotiations are being conducted with the mediation of Qatar and the United States in an attempt to achieve a ceasefire in the Gaza Strip and conclude an agreement on the exchange of hostages without preconditions.

    A source close to Hamas told Xinhua on condition of anonymity that the talks are based on a proposal presented by US Special Envoy for the Middle East Steven Witkoff, to which Hamas has made significant changes.

    The guarantees provided by the United States in the current round of Gaza ceasefire talks appear to be “more serious” and include clear commitments to implement the terms of any potential agreement, the source said.

    Meanwhile, Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz on Saturday confirmed the resumption of talks with Hamas, saying the Palestinian movement’s return to the negotiating table marks a departure from the intransigent stance it has taken so far.

    According to I. Katz, Hamas changed its position after the launch of a new Israeli military operation, codenamed “Gideon’s Chariots,” which aims to expand the scale of hostilities in Gaza and achieve key military goals of the Jewish state, including the release of hostages and the elimination of Hamas.

    The Israeli military on Friday evening announced an escalation of operations in the Palestinian enclave, launching a series of airstrikes and deploying additional ground forces, saying the stepped-up offensive marks the start of Operation Gideon’s Chariots.

    The current proposal being discussed in Doha would see the release of some 10 or more hostages in exchange for a limited ceasefire, Israeli state radio Kan reported. Israel estimates the number of hostages still alive in Gaza at 20.

    Despite renewed efforts to achieve peace, Hamas has expressed doubts about continuing negotiations while Israel’s blockade of Gaza, imposed since March 2, remains in place. –0–

    MIL OSI Russia News –

  • MIL-OSI Russia: Xi Jinping sends congratulatory message to 34th Arab League summit

    Translation. Region: Russian Federal

    Source: People’s Republic of China in Russian – People’s Republic of China in Russian –

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

    BEIJING, May 17 (Xinhua) — Chinese President Xi Jinping on Saturday sent a congratulatory message to Iraqi President Abdel Latif Rashid to congratulate him on the convening of the 34th Arab League (ALS) summit in the Iraqi capital Baghdad.

    Xi Jinping noted that over the 80 years since its founding, the Arab League has consistently made efforts to promote the unity and self-strengthening of the Arab world, and has actively acted as a united voice of Arab states, promoting peace, stability and prosperity in the Middle East.

    According to him, the world is currently undergoing rapid changes unseen in the last century, and the situation in the Middle East is developing in a complex way.

    The Chinese leader stressed that the fact that Arab countries adhere to independence and self-reliance, promote development and growth, and uphold fairness and justice plays an active role in enhancing the influence of the Global South.

    Xi Jinping noted that the dynamic development of relations between China and Arab countries in recent years serves as a model of solidarity and cooperation among developing countries.

    Recalling that at the first China-Arab States Summit in December 2022, he and Arab leaders reached an agreement to make efforts to build a China-Arab community with a shared future in the new era, the Chinese president expressed confidence that the second summit to be held in China in 2026 will be another important milestone in the history of China-Arab relations.

    Noting that China and Arab countries have always viewed their relations from a strategic height and a long-term perspective, Xi said that China will remain a reliable friend and partner to them in the future, firmly standing by the just cause of Arab countries.

    China is ready to work with Arab states to deepen political mutual trust, promote mutually beneficial cooperation, expand cultural and humanitarian exchanges, jointly advance along the path of modernization in their countries and build a China-Arab community with a shared future at a higher level, the Chinese president said. –0–

    MIL OSI Russia News –

  • MIL-OSI Russia: Press Secretary of the Russian President D. Peskov on the next round of negotiations between Russia and Ukraine: for now, the talk is about fulfilling the agreements that were discussed during the meeting in Istanbul

    Translation. Region: Russian Federal

    Source: People’s Republic of China in Russian –

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

    Moscow, May 17 /Xinhua/ — For now, the talk is about fulfilling the agreements that were discussed during the meeting on Friday, Russian presidential press secretary Dmitry Peskov said at a briefing on Saturday, speaking about the next round of talks between Russia and Ukraine.

    “For now, we need to do what the delegations were able to agree on yesterday. This, of course, first of all, is to carry out a 1000 for 1000 exchange, and exchange those basic lists of conditions that were discussed yesterday, and that my colleague Vladimir Medinsky spoke about yesterday,” D. Peskov told journalists, answering a question about when the next round of negotiations between Russia and Ukraine is planned.

    “Indeed, we agreed to exchange lists of conditions for a ceasefire. The work continues, it is being done. The Russian side will prepare and hand over such a list, and will exchange it with the Ukrainian side,” D. Peskov noted, adding that “the negotiations are underway and should be held behind closed doors.”

    On Friday, Russian presidential aide Vladimir Medinsky said that Moscow and Kyiv had agreed to detail their proposals for establishing a ceasefire during talks in Istanbul.

    Answering the question about whether the composition of the Russian delegation at the negotiations with Ukraine could be changed, D. Peskov stated that there is no talk of changing the composition of the Russian delegation at the negotiations with Ukraine, “the work has only just begun, it will continue.” In addition, he emphasized that “when signing documents that the delegation is to agree upon, the main and fundamental issue for us remains who exactly will sign these documents from the Ukrainian side.”

    Commenting on the possibility of a meeting between the presidents of Russia and Ukraine, Vladimir Putin and Vladimir Zelensky, the Kremlin spokesman told journalists that “many questions have been received on the topic of a possible meeting between the presidents of the two countries, Ukraine and Russia, Zelensky and Putin… Such a meeting as a result of the work of the delegations of the two sides upon reaching certain agreements between these delegations is possible. We consider it possible.”

    In conclusion, the Russian leader’s press secretary confirmed that there have been no contacts between the leaders of the Russian Federation and the United States, V. Putin and Donald Trump, since the talks in Istanbul. “If Presidents Putin and Trump deem it appropriate to hold a conversation, we will inform you,” D. Peskov said at a press conference. –0–

    MIL OSI Russia News –

  • MIL-OSI Russia: Turkish President vows to continue efforts to advance Russian-Ukrainian peace talks

    Translation. Region: Russian Federal

    Source: People’s Republic of China in Russian – People’s Republic of China in Russian –

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

    ISTANBUL, May 17 (Xinhua) — Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said Ankara will continue its efforts to ensure the continuation of talks aimed at ending the Russia-Ukraine conflict, according to a statement released by Turkey’s state-run Anadolu Agency on Saturday.

    R.T. Erdogan made the statement on Friday during his return flight from Albania, where he participated in the European Political Community summit.

    He stressed that Türkiye “will make every effort to maintain channels of dialogue between the parties” and will continue mediation efforts to achieve peace between Russia and Ukraine.

    “We count on the support of all interested parties, including the European Union, in the sensitive process we are advancing with the aim of establishing peace as soon as possible,” added R. T. Erdogan.

    On Friday, Russian and Ukrainian delegations held their first direct talks in Istanbul in three years. After a two-hour discussion, the parties agreed to continue the talks and conduct a large-scale prisoner exchange according to the “1,000 for 1,000” formula. –0–

    MIL OSI Russia News –

  • MIL-OSI Russia: China-Russia Sports Exchange Week Kicks Off in Harbin

    Translation. Region: Russian Federal

    Source: People’s Republic of China in Russian – People’s Republic of China in Russian –

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

    BEIJING, May 17 (Xinhua) — The 2025 China-Russia Sports Exchange Week kicked off in Harbin, capital of northeast China’s Heilongjiang Province, on Friday, the provincial administration of physical culture and sports, which is organizing the event, said Saturday.

    The week-long event will feature a number of sporting events, including Chinese-Russian hockey, rugby and youth billiards tournaments. More than 100 athletes from Heilongjiang Province and Amur Region, the Republic of Buryatia, Primorsky Krai, Krasnoyarsk Krai and Irkutsk Region of the Russian Federation are taking part.

    The China-Russia Sports Exchange Week is a concrete step to implement the Belt and Road Initiative and boost sports and cultural exchanges between the two countries. Heilongjiang Province and relevant regions in Russia are actively exploring innovative models such as “sports plus cultural tourism”, “sports plus industry” together to promote pragmatic cooperation between the two countries at the local level and enhance mutual understanding through sports. -0-

    MIL OSI Russia News –

  • MIL-OSI Russia: Israeli army claims to have killed one of Hezbollah commanders in Lebanon

    Translation. Region: Russian Federal

    Source: People’s Republic of China in Russian –

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

    JERUSALEM, May 17 (Xinhua) — The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) on Saturday reported the killing of a Hezbollah commander in southern Lebanon.

    The commander, who was not named, was killed in the village of Mazraat Jemjim, north of the city of Tyre, the military said.

    Several Israeli media outlets reported that the car the man was in was hit by a drone.

    In a statement, the IDF accused the slain man of “participating in the rebuilding of Hezbollah terrorist infrastructure in the area” and called such activity “a flagrant violation of the agreements between Israel and Lebanon.”

    The strike came despite a ceasefire agreement between Israel and Hezbollah in Lebanon, signed on November 27, 2024, aimed at ending hostilities related to the war in the Gaza Strip. –0–

    MIL OSI Russia News –

  • MIL-OSI Russia: Total number of confirmed measles cases in Mongolia rises to 2,076

    Translation. Region: Russian Federal

    Source: People’s Republic of China in Russian – People’s Republic of China in Russian –

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

    ULAN BATOR, May 17 (Xinhua) — Mongolia recorded 112 new measles cases over the past 24 hours, bringing the total number of confirmed infections to 2,076, the country’s National Research Center for Infectious Diseases said Saturday.

    Over the past day, 69 patients recovered, bringing the total number of recovered cases in Mongolia to 1,459, the official statement said.

    More than half of the confirmed cases have been among school-age children who have only received one measles vaccine, doctors said. The National Center for Infectious Diseases has recommended that Mongolian parents vaccinate their children against measles in two doses.

    Measles is an acute viral disease with high contagiousness. Its symptoms include fever, dry cough, runny nose, sore throat and inflammation of the mucous membrane of the eyes.

    Measles can only be prevented through vaccination, Mongolian doctors say. –0–

    MIL OSI Russia News –

  • MIL-OSI Russia: Magnitude 6.1 earthquake hits central Peru – GFZ

    Translation. Region: Russian Federal

    Source: People’s Republic of China in Russian – People’s Republic of China in Russian –

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

    BEIJING, May 17 (Xinhua) — An earthquake with a magnitude of 6.1 jolted central Peru at 10:22:06 GMT on Saturday, the German Research Center for Geosciences (GFZ) said.

    According to initial data, the epicenter of the earthquake was located at a point with coordinates of 14.67 degrees south latitude and 74.04 degrees west longitude. The epicenter was located at a depth of 10 km. –0–

    MIL OSI Russia News –

  • MIL-OSI Russia: Lightning strikes kill 14 in eastern India

    Translation. Region: Russian Federal

    Source: People’s Republic of China in Russian – People’s Republic of China in Russian –

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

    NEW DELHI, May 17 (Xinhua) — At least 14 people were killed and several others injured by lightning strikes in India’s eastern Odisha state on Friday, officials said Saturday.

    Heavy rains and thunderstorms accompanied by lightning strikes lashed the state on Friday afternoon, affecting several districts including Koraput, Jajpur, Dhenkanal, Mayurbhanj, Ganjam and Gajapati.

    The India Meteorological Department has issued a warning of rain, thunderstorm and lightning in the state.

    Every year during the monsoon season, hundreds of people become victims of lightning in India. –0–

    MIL OSI Russia News –

  • MIL-OSI Russia: Mongolia’s GDP grew by 2.4 percent in Q1 2025

    Translation. Region: Russian Federal

    Source: People’s Republic of China in Russian – People’s Republic of China in Russian –

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

    ULAN BATOR, May 17 (Xinhua) — Mongolia’s GDP grew 2.4 percent in the first quarter of 2025 compared to the same period last year, the country’s National Statistical Committee said Saturday.

    This figure was directly influenced by the increase in added value in the agricultural and service sectors, the official statement said.

    According to the latest forecast of the Asian Development Bank (ADB), Mongolia’s economy will grow by 6.6 percent in 2025. ADB experts note that economic growth will be ensured by increasing mineral production, in particular by increasing the production of copper concentrate at the Oyu Tolgoi deposit.

    According to the National Statistics Committee, Mongolia’s GDP grew by 4.9 percent in 2024. –0–

    MIL OSI Russia News –

  • MIL-OSI Russia: Three killed, 12 injured in two road accidents in eastern Afghanistan

    Translation. Region: Russian Federal

    Source: People’s Republic of China in Russian – People’s Republic of China in Russian –

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

    KABUL, May 17 (Xinhua) — Three people were killed and 12 others were injured in two road accidents in Afghanistan’s eastern Logar province on Friday, regional police spokesman Mawlawi Ahmadullah Anas told Xinhua on Saturday.

    According to him, the first incident occurred on Friday evening in the city of Puli Alam, the provincial capital. Two cars collided, as a result of which two women and a child died on the spot, and eight people were injured.

    The second incident occurred on May 16 in the Mohammad Agha area. A motorcyclist was speeding, lost control and hit several pedestrians. At least four people were injured.

    The accidents were caused by careless driving, a police spokesman said. All the injured were taken to nearby medical centres, with several in critical condition, he added. –0–

    MIL OSI Russia News –

  • MIL-OSI Russia: Flower exports from China’s Yunnan province to Russia and Central Asian countries are growing

    Translation. Region: Russian Federal

    Source: People’s Republic of China in Russian – People’s Republic of China in Russian –

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

    KUNMING, May 17 (Xinhua) — Russian businesswoman Ekaterina Savelyeva recently signed a contract to supply 240,000 carnations to Russia at the Deruyer flower base in Kunming, capital of Yunnan Province.

    “Yunnan flowers are popular in the Russian market due to their excellent quality and rich variety of varieties,” said E. Savelyeva. During her nearly month-long stay in Yunnan Province, she systematically familiarized herself with more than 100 varieties of flowers, which laid the foundation for long-term cooperation in the future.

    Yunnan Province, a major flower supplier in southwest China, is experiencing a boom in flower exports. In the first four months of this year, the province’s total export value of fresh-cut flowers reached 360 million yuan (about $50.04 million), up 51.4 percent year on year, according to Kunming Customs data.

    Among them, Dounan Flower Market, located in Chenggong District, Kunming, is the largest fresh-cut flower market in Asia and the second largest in the world. Flowers from this bustling market are shipped to more than 50 countries and regions around the world, including Russia, Kazakhstan, Australia, Singapore, etc.

    Since 2024, Russia and Kazakhstan’s demand for China’s fresh cut flowers has continued to grow. Zhou Tianyi, a representative of the aforementioned base, said that in addition to the Russian market, 60,000 fresh cut flowers are currently sent to Kazakhstan every week, and demand in the Central Asian market is also increasing significantly.

    In order to facilitate the export of flowers from Yunnan Province, Kunming Customs has been continuously optimizing its services, improving the efficiency of customs clearance and reducing customs costs for enterprises. -0-

    MIL OSI Russia News –

  • MIL-OSI Russia: North Korean Supreme Leader Leads Air Force Exercises

    Translation. Region: Russian Federal

    Source: People’s Republic of China in Russian – People’s Republic of China in Russian –

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

    Pyongyang, May 17 (Xinhua) — Kim Jong Un, general secretary of the Workers’ Party of Korea (WPK) and chairman of the State Affairs Commission of the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (DPRK), visited the 1st Guards Air Force Division of the Korean People’s Army (KPA) on Thursday and oversaw air defense and air attack drills, the Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) reported Saturday.

    Kim Jong-un said it was important to evaluate the air defense forces’ ability to carry out real combat missions and take necessary measures. Such training is very useful to give pilots experience in modern air combat methods, he added.

    The statement said the exercises were intended to give flight personnel, as well as representatives of anti-aircraft missile forces, radar systems and electronic warfare (EW) units, experience in performing tasks to detect, track and destroy enemy cruise missiles and drones.

    The DPRK leader also set important tasks in such aspects as the development of aircraft weapons systems, air defense systems, an integrated detection and electronic warfare system, as well as an integrated counter-drone system, KCNA reports. –0–

    MIL OSI Russia News –

  • MIL-OSI Russia: China extends yellow alert over dense fog

    Translation. Region: Russian Federal

    Source: People’s Republic of China in Russian – People’s Republic of China in Russian –

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

    BEIJING, May 17 (Xinhua) — China’s National Meteorological Center (NMC) on Saturday morning extended a yellow alert for dense fog in some parts of the country.

    Heavy fog with visibility less than 1 km is expected to cover parts of the East China Sea, coastal areas of Jiangsu and Zhejiang provinces and the port of Shanghai from Saturday morning to midday, the report said.

    Visibility in some places in the provinces of Shandong, Jiangsu, Zhejiang, Anhui, Jiangxi, Hunan, Guizhou and Chongqing will drop to less than 200 meters, the center reported.

    Drivers have been urged to obey speed limits to ensure road safety, while airports, highways and ports have been ordered to ensure transport security.

    The NMC also extended the blue alert for strong winds expected to hit parts of Hebei Province, Liaoning Province, Beijing City, Tianjin City and Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region from 08:00 Saturday morning to 08:00 Sunday morning, with gusts reaching 28.4 m/s.

    Let us recall that China has adopted a four-level warning system for adverse weather conditions, in which the highest level of danger is indicated by red, followed by orange, yellow and blue. -0-

    MIL OSI Russia News –

  • MIL-OSI Russia: Strengthening connectivity between China and Russia’s border regions promotes bilateral people-to-people exchanges and trade

    Translation. Region: Russian Federal

    Source: People’s Republic of China in Russian – People’s Republic of China in Russian –

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

    HARBIN, May 17 (Xinhua) — Sergei Mikhailov from the Far East has just returned from Suifenhe City, northeast China’s Heilongjiang Province, where he went for a medical checkup and traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) treatment.

    “I came here on the recommendation of a Chinese friend. After a medical examination, the doctor explained to me where I had problems in my body. Then they prescribed me medication,” the Russian said.

    In recent years, the number of Russians seeking TCM treatment at the Suifenhe People’s Hospital has been steadily growing. Hospital employee Liu Simin noted that many Russians come as part of group tours to undergo medical examinations. “At the hospital, foreigners receive the same quality treatment and at the same prices as the Chinese,” he explained.

    Sergey said he did not have a language barrier because the clinic provides professional medical translators for the convenience of foreign patients, which made it easier for him to communicate with doctors. After visiting the hospital, he enjoyed shopping and trying Chinese cuisine.

    Trucks and tourist buses ply between the busy Suifenhe and Pogranichny checkpoints. Russian travelers love shopping: in Suifenhe they can often be seen with suitcases and bags.

    Meanwhile, Russian goods are also popular in Suifenhe. “Rossa Empire”, the largest Russian commodity distribution center in Suifenhe, has become a landmark of the city with its rich collection of Russian goods and food products.

    “More than 220 foreign trade enterprises are based in the center, where they import more than 5,000 items into China,” said Zhang Jiaqiang, director of the company that runs the center, adding that the center has a live streaming facility to promote international online sales.

    The Suifenhe Bonded Zone has also played an important role as an economic driver for the promotion of cross-border trade.

    Li Wei, CEO of Heilongjiang Zinnbach Biotechnology Co., Ltd., said his company is the first domestic brewery to set up production in the Suifenhe Bonded Zone. The company, which enjoys a tax-favored policy of “customs import and VAT refund,” enjoys zero tariffs on all imported raw materials such as malt, hops and yeast.

    According to statistics from Suifenhe Customs, in 2024, the volume of cargo passing through the local automobile checkpoint exceeded 1 million tons for the first time, reaching 1.225 million tons. This year, the average daily number of vehicles passing through the automobile checkpoint was about 300 vehicles, 50 units more than in 2024.

    In addition, Suifenhe is also an important stop on the China-Europe rail freight route, with nearly 9,000 freight trains carrying around 88,000 TEU (20-foot container equivalent units) passing through every year.

    The local road and rail checkpoints in Suifenhe are among 19 border crossings on the China-Russia border in Heilongjiang Province, according to the provincial government website.

    On May 7, after the ice on the Heilongjiang River completely melted, seasonal river traffic resumed between the three ports along the China-Russia border river, namely Heihe, Tongjiang and Fuyuan, and the three corresponding ports on the Russian side.

    “The annual river service has resumed. The speed of customs clearance has become particularly fast, which is convenient for those of us who frequently travel between China and Russia,” said Jiang Haibo, a resident of Jiamusi City, Heilongjiang Province, who took the river ferry service at Tongjiang Port.

    Situated just 1 km from the Russian river port of Nizhneleninskoye in the Jewish Autonomous Region, Tongjiang has become an important trade route between China and Russia, with an annual throughput of 500,000 people and 600,000 tons of cargo.

    “I am from the village of Nizhneleninskoye. It takes no more than half an hour to get from Tongjiang to my home by ferry, and here you can quickly and easily go through customs,” said Russian tourist Victoria Figol.

    Tongjiang’s rail network is connected to the Trans-Siberian Railway in Russia. Goods exported from Tongjiang via Khabarovsk in Russia can directly reach the interior of Russia and even further afield, to European countries such as Germany. This crossing is 800 km shorter than via the port of Suifenhe. -0-

    MIL OSI Russia News –

  • MIL-OSI Russia: China Launches 6 Satellites Using Commercial Launch Vehicle

    Translation. Region: Russian Federal

    Source: People’s Republic of China in Russian – People’s Republic of China in Russian –

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

    JIUQUAN, May 17 (Xinhua) — China’s commercial carrier rocket ZQ-2E Y2 successfully launched into space on Saturday, sending six satellites into their planned orbit.

    The launch of the carrier rocket with six satellites on board took place at 12:12 p.m. Beijing time from the Dongfeng Commercial Space Innovation Pilot Zone near the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center in northwest China. -0-

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  • MIL-OSI Russia: Former South Korean President Yoon Seok-yel quits party ahead of presidential election

    Translation. Region: Russian Federal

    Source: People’s Republic of China in Russian – People’s Republic of China in Russian –

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

    SEOUL, May 17 (Xinhua) — Former South Korean President Yun Seok-yeol on Saturday announced his withdrawal from the ruling conservative Citizens’ Power Party ahead of the June 3 presidential election.

    “Today I am leaving the Civil Power party. I bow to my comrades who believed in me and stayed with me for a long time,” he said in an online statement.

    Yun Seok-yul said he believes his resignation from the party is the best way to ensure the victory of its candidate in the early presidential election and protect liberal democracy in the country.

    There have been recent calls for Yun Seok-yul to leave the Civil Force in order to attract undecided voters in the upcoming elections. The ruling party’s ratings have fallen following the former president’s declaration of martial law, his subsequent impeachment and eventual removal from office.

    Yun Seok-yeol called on the public to join forces with Kim Moon-soo, the presidential candidate of the Civil Power Party, and vote in the June 3 election to protect freedom, sovereignty and prosperity. –0–

    MIL OSI Russia News –

  • MIL-OSI Russia: Protests Break Out in Tripoli, Senior Officials Resign

    Translation. Region: Russian Federal

    Source: People’s Republic of China in Russian – People’s Republic of China in Russian –

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

    TRIPOLI, May 17 (Xinhua) — Mass protests against the Government of National Accord (GNA) erupted here on Friday amid the resignation of several senior government officials, local media reported.

    According to local TV channel Alwasat, protesters are demanding the resignation of the GNA led by Prime Minister Abdel Hamid Dbeibah following recent violent clashes in Tripoli.

    Senior officials of the NUP have officially announced their resignation, including the deputy prime minister, local government minister, trade and industry minister, higher education minister, housing minister and water minister, Alwasat reports.

    However, the PNE denied this information, stating that all employees “are working as usual.”

    The PNE called for peaceful protests “with full freedom within the law and with respect for state institutions,” the statement said. –0–

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  • MIL-OSI Russia: The NSU team took first place in the intellectual game “Puzzles of state and municipal service”

    Translation. Region: Russian Federal

    Source: Novosibirsk State University – Novosibirsk State University –

    The intellectual game “Puzzles of the state and municipal service” took place within the walls of the Corporate University of the Government of the Novosibirsk Region. The game was held for the fifth time and gathered a record number of participants and universities, including: SIU RANEPA, NSUEM, NSAU, SUSPS, NUIL (f) TSU, SibUPK, NSU, SSUGIT and NSPU.

    Eleven teams of talented students competed in a tense battle for the title of the best, striving to prove themselves and win.

    — We quickly decided to participate because this year our entire team will be applying, some for master’s degree, and some for postgraduate studies. We all needed achievements. We also liked the format — we decided to try ourselves in this. In addition, all team members are interested in public service, since we are lawyers, — said Yusub Ozmanyan, the team captain.

    The game participants were asked a variety of questions covering key aspects of the activities of state and municipal employees. The questions concerned the structure and functions of government bodies, historical aspects of state development and the specifics of local self-government.

    The Quiz “Puzzles of the State and Municipal Service” included three rounds: the first – “Quiz”, the second – “Own Game”, the third – “True or False”. In the “Quiz” round, all teams had to answer 10 questions in a row. In the “Own Game” round, each team independently chose the category and difficulty of the question, answering one after the other in turn. In the final round “True or False”, one representative from each team participated, who answered 5 questions in a row one after the other.

    – We prepared very carefully, besides, we have been studying in for many years Institute of Philosophy and Law of NSU, so the base is serious. The third round was the most exciting, because only one participant from the team answered. We were confident in it, but worried. In the end, Danila Isaev did an excellent job! We were very happy to win, because initially we came only for the first place! Everything went great, we are satisfied and happy, – Yusub shared his emotions.

    At the end of the game, the places between the teams were distributed as follows:

    1st place – NSU team “ResPublica” (consisting of: Yusub Ozmanyan, Vladislav Cherenkov, Vitaly Kamorny, Denis Kostornov, Danila Isaev);

    2nd place – the team “Law Faculty” of NSUEM;

    3rd place – the team “Managers” of SSUPS.

    We congratulate the winners and wish them further success!

    Please note: This information is raw content directly from the source of the information. It is exactly what the source states and does not reflect the position of MIL-OSI or its clients.

    MIL OSI Russia News –

  • MIL-OSI Russia: Winners of the World Competition “Chinese Language Bridge” Awarded in Minsk

    Translation. Region: Russian Federal

    Source: People’s Republic of China in Russian – People’s Republic of China in Russian –

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

    MINSK, May 17 (Xinhua) — The winners of the worldwide competition “Chinese Language Bridge” among students and pupils of senior and junior grades of schools of Belarus were awarded in Minsk on Friday. The ceremony was held at the Belarusian State University of Physical Education.

    Speaking at the ceremony, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the People’s Republic of China to Belarus Zhang Wenchuan noted that this event had become a real holiday for all lovers of the Chinese language in Belarus. “I was deeply impressed by the sincere love of the Belarusian participants for the Chinese language and their brilliant performance at the competition. The “Chinese Language Bridge” has been held for 24 years and has become an important platform for learning the Chinese language, getting to know the Chinese civilization, strengthening mutual understanding and friendship among young people abroad. It has become a kind of calling card of humanitarian exchanges between China and other countries of the world,” Zhang Wenchuan noted.

    He also wished the three winners, who will represent Belarus at the final of the “Chinese Language Bridge” competition in China this year, to achieve new successes.

    First Deputy Minister of Education of Belarus Alexander Bakhanovich drew attention to the fact that the country has been attaching special importance to popularizing the study of the Chinese language for almost 20 years. “Today, more than 6,000 students in 48 schools and 15 universities study Chinese as a subject. Another 60 schools study Chinese in optional classes,” he said.

    According to him, Belarusian schools and universities are provided with all the necessary textbooks for studying the Chinese language. “This year, the Minsk State Linguistic University will have its tenth graduation of Chinese language teachers. For eight years, the Confucius Republican Institute of Chinese Studies of the Belarusian State University has been successfully retraining teachers of comprehensive schools in Chinese. This allows us to provide our schools with highly qualified specialists,” A. Bakhanovich noted.

    He recalled that in October 2024, the seventh Confucius Institute in Belarus was opened at the A.A. Kuleshov Mogilev State University. “In the near future, the eighth Confucius Institute is expected to open at the Yanka Kupala State University of Grodno,” A. Bakhanovich said. –0–

    MIL OSI Russia News –

  • MIL-OSI Russia: Moody’s Downgrades US Credit Rating Due to Government Debt

    Translation. Region: Russian Federal

    Source: People’s Republic of China in Russian – People’s Republic of China in Russian –

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

    NEW YORK, May 16 (Xinhua) — International rating agency Moody’s on Friday downgraded the United States’ credit rating to Aa1 from Aaa, citing rising government debt and interest rate ratios.

    The agency also changed the outlook on the US sovereign rating from negative to stable.

    “This one-notch downgrade on our 21-notch rating scale reflects the increase over more than a decade in government debt and interest-payout ratios to levels well above similar sovereign ratings,” Moody’s said in a press release.

    In November 2023, the agency changed the outlook on the US sovereign rating from stable to negative. –0–

    MIL OSI Russia News –

  • MIL-OSI Russia: Five killed in landslide at hydroelectric power plant construction site in northern Vietnam

    Translation. Region: Russian Federal

    Source: People’s Republic of China in Russian – People’s Republic of China in Russian –

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

    HANOI, May 17 (Xinhua) — At least five workers were killed and three others injured on Friday when a landslide occurred at a hydroelectric power station construction site in northern Vietnam’s mountainous Lai Chau province, the Vietnam News Agency reported.

    The incident occurred at around 10:30 /03:30 GMT/ at the Ta Pao Ho 1A hydroelectric power station in Phong To district during excavation work on the foundation of the dam, which caused a section of the road embankment to collapse. Soil and rocks slid down, burying several workers.

    Local authorities have launched an investigation into the causes of the incident. –0–

    MIL OSI Russia News –

  • MIL-OSI Russia: China’s banking and insurance sectors saw robust asset growth in January-March 2025

    Translation. Region: Russian Federal

    Source: People’s Republic of China in Russian – People’s Republic of China in Russian –

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

    BEIJING, May 17 (Xinhua) — Chinese banks and insurers saw solid asset growth in the first quarter of this year, official data showed Friday.

    The assets of financial institutions in the country’s banking sector in national and foreign currencies at the end of March amounted to 458.3 trillion yuan (about 63.71 trillion US dollars), which is 6.7 percent more than a year earlier, according to data from the State Administration of Financial Supervision and Supervision (SAFSSC) of China.

    From the beginning of the year to the end of March, the total assets of financial institutions in the insurance sector increased by 5.4 percent to 37.8 trillion yuan.

    The country’s commercial banks posted a combined net profit of 656.8 billion yuan from January to March. The bad-loan ratio of these banks stood at 1.51 percent at the end of March, up from 1.5 percent at the beginning of the year.

    According to the State Administration of the Federal Tax Service, the income of insurance companies from insurance premiums in the first quarter amounted to 2.2 trillion yuan, and their expenses on compensation and payments reached 827.4 billion yuan. -0-

    MIL OSI Russia News –