Editor's Notes: China raises electricity prices and stresses stable energy supply and energy security, how much change will it bring to people's future life? After the talks between the Taliban and a U.S. delegation, what will happen to the future of Afghan? Let's take a look at today's Global Focus.

1. China raises cap on electricity prices

China will relax the fluctuation range of the market price for electricity to 20 percent, the National Development and Reform Commission announced on Tuesday, Oct 12.

The range has been adjusted from the current ceiling of 10 percent and floor of 15 percent from the benchmark price.

All coal-fired power will be incorporated into the electricity market in an orderly manner, the commission said.

2. Chinese premier stresses stable energy supply, energy security

Chinese Premier Li Keqiang has stressed ensuring stable energy supply and energy security and boosting green development support.

Li, also a Standing Committee member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee and the head of the national energy committee, said at a Saturday meeting that the country should balance development and carbon reduction, deepen market-based reform in the energy sector, and promote green transformation, according to a press release issued on Monday, Oct 11.

Energy security bears on development security and national security, Li noted, stressing the country's need to build a modern energy system on the premise of ensuring security and strive to improve the capacity of independent energy supply.

3. Xinjiang government refutes Western lies about human rights

The government of Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region Monday, Oct 11 refuted the lies fabricated by the United States and some other Western countries about human rights in the region with evidence and facts.

At the recent 48th session of the United Nations Human Rights Council, some Western countries made groundless accusations against China over Xinjiang-related issues based on disinformation, rumors, and lies, said Xu Guixiang, a spokesperson with the regional government, at a press conference in Beijing.

They used "human rights in Xinjiang" as a pretext to wantonly interfere in China's domestic affairs, Xu said.

The so-called "mass violations of human rights" claim is built on false information, one-sided stories, and is intended to frame China, said Xu.

The press conference invited representatives from the general public in Xinjiang to present, via video link, strong evidence of human rights progress in the region.

4. Beijing finds coronavirus in imported pork, fruits

Beijing has reported a weak-positive coronavirus testing result in mixed samples of imported pork and fruits at a store in the city's Xicheng district, local health authorities said on Sunday, Oct 10. Emergency response was immediately launched, finding all related personnel and environment samples returning negative COVID-19 results. 

The samples include a piece of pork, longan, dragon fruit, navel orange, and kiwi fruit, which are all imported from overseas, according to the latest notice of the Xicheng district health authority. 

The district immediately launched an emergency response and carried out laboratory review, epidemiological investigation, sampling and testing of relevant items and the environment, personnel control, and environmental disinfection. 

Multiple batches of fruit and meat samples have since been collected, as well as samples from the store's environment and related personnel, all of which returned negative test results. 

5. Ice cream exhibition opens in Tianjin

Ice Cream China 2021 opened Monday, Oct 11 in north China's Tianjin Municipality, attracting more than 400 companies and nearly 10,000 buyers.

The three-day exhibition, covering an area of over 42,000 square meters, showcases a wide range of products in the ice cream industry, including finished products, machinery, raw materials, molds, and packaging.

6. Xi extends condolences to Putin over plane crash

Chinese President Xi Jinping on Monday, Oct 11 sent a message of condolence to his Russian counterpart, Vladimir Putin, over a plane crash in Russia.

In his message, Xi said he was shocked to hear about the tragedy in Russia's Republic of Tatarstan, which caused heavy casualties.

He expressed deep condolences over the fatalities and offered sincere sympathies to the bereaved families and the injured.

7. Taliban says talks with U.S. officials in Doha 'positive': report

The talks between the Taliban and a U.S. delegation in the Qatari capital Doha over the weekend were "positive," Al Jazeera reported, citing senior Taliban representatives.

The U.S. State Department said the talks were "candid and professional" and the U.S. side reiterated that the Taliban will be judged on their actions and not only words.

It was the first face-to-face meeting between the two sides since the Taliban took over Afghanistan on August 15.

The two sides covered various topics, including the implementation of the 2020 U.S.-Taliban agreement and U.S. humanitarian assistance.

8. Putin, Merkel, Macron discuss Ukraine issue over the phone

Russian President Vladimir Putin, German Chancellor Angela Merkel, and French President Emmanuel Macron discussed the Ukrainian issue during a phone conversation, the Kremlin said in a statement Monday, Oct 11. 

"The worrying stalemate in the effort to end the internal conflict in Ukraine was discussed in detail, with the three leaders noting the importance of implementing the 2015 Minsk agreements as the only possible basis for a settlement," the statement said. 

"Interest was also expressed in further coordinating efforts in the Normandy format of Russia, Germany, and France," it added.  

9. United Nations Peace and Development Trust Fund steering committee met on Monday

The sixth steering committee meeting of the United Nations Peace and Development Trust Fund (UNPDF) was held via video link on Monday, Oct 11.

Steering Committee members in attendance included Permanent Representative of China to the United Nations Ambassador Zhang Jun, Chef de Cabinet the Executive Office of the Secretary-General of the United Nations Maria Luiza Ribeiro Viotti, Under-Secretary-General for Economic and Social Affairs of the United Nations Liu Zhenmin, and Director-General of the Department of International Organizations and Conferences of the Foreign Ministry Yang Tao.

Chinese President Xi Jinping announced the establishment of the UNPDF at the summit meetings commemorating the U.N.’s 70th anniversary in September 2015 pledging $200 million over a 10-year period. It aims to support the work of the U.N. and promote multilateral cooperation.

During the 75th session of the U.N. General Assembly in 2020, Xi announced that the fund will be extended for five years after it expires in 2025.

The fund aims to support the work of the United Nations, promote multilateral cooperation, and make continuous contributions to world peace and development. Since the establishment of UNPDF, the fund has supported nearly 100 projects in Asia, Africa, Latin America and Oceania.

10. US urged to clarify details of the submarine collision

China reiterated on Monday, Oct 11 its accusation that the United States delayed the release of information about a nuclear submarine collision, and it urged Washington to clarify the incident, to give a satisfactory answer to regional countries and the international community.

The US Navy nuclear-powered submarine USS Connecticut was damaged on Thursday when it struck an unknown object while submerged in the waters of the South China Sea. It has arrived at the port in Guam, the US Navy said last week. However, the Navy gave no details about where the incident took place or the number of people hurt, saying only that the injuries were not "life-threatening".

Foreign Ministry spokesman Zhao Lijian said China was gravely concerned about the incident and said that the US, as a party involved, bore the responsibility to clearly state what happened in the reported collision.

Editor: Jin Weiduo