BEIJING -- Chinese President Xi Jinping on Wednesday exchanged New Year greetings with Russian President Vladimir Putin.
In his message, Xi extended his sincere congratulations and best wishes to Putin and the Russian people on behalf of the Chinese government and the Chinese people.
Noting that 2025 marks the 80th anniversary of the United Nations, Xi said China and Russia have solemnly commemorated the 80th anniversary of the victory in the Chinese People's War of Resistance against Japanese Aggression, the Soviet Union's Great Patriotic War and the World Anti-Fascist War, sending a powerful message that peace will prevail, justice will prevail, and the people will prevail. (Xi-Putin-New Year Greetings)
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WASHINGTON -- The Trump administration announced on Tuesday that it is halting child care funding to the northern state of Minnesota after a series of alleged fraud schemes in recent years.
"We have frozen all child care payments to the state of Minnesota. You have probably read the serious allegations that the state of Minnesota has funneled millions of taxpayer dollars to fraudulent daycares across Minnesota over the past decade," Deputy Secretary of Health and Human Services Jim O'Neill said on social media platform X.
Starting Tuesday, all Administration for Children and Families payments across America "will require a justification and a receipt or photo evidence before we send money to a state," the statement said. (US-Child Care-Minnesota)
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CONAKRY -- Guinea's transitional President Mamady Doumbouya won the presidential election held on Dec. 28, according to provisional results released Tuesday by the General Directorate of Elections.
Provisional results indicated that Doumbouya secured 86.72 percent of the first-round votes, winning by a wide margin over the other eight candidates.
Abdoulaye Yero Balde, leader of the Democratic Front of Guinea, came a distant second with 6.59 percent of the votes.
According to the electoral authority, about 6.8 million voters were registered for the poll, with a turnout of 80.95 percent. No major security incidents were reported during the election. Political actors, electoral authorities, as well as domestic and international observers generally agreed that the voting process was calm and orderly. (Guinea-Election)
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LISBON -- Portugal announced Tuesday that it will suspend the use of the European Union's Entry/Exit System (EES) for non-EU citizens for three months at Lisbon Airport, citing severe congestion at border control upon passenger arrivals.
The Ministry of Internal Administration said it has immediately deployed additional personnel and decided to increase the capacity of electronic and physical equipment for external border control by about 30 percent, up to the maximum supported by the current airport infrastructure, in order to improve clearance efficiency and ease the backlog of incoming passengers. (Portugal-Airport-EES Suspension) ■
