Special customs operations begin in China's island province of Hainan

The mascots drew inspiration from how horses were depicted in different periods throughout Chinese history, and symbolize success.

A two-tier customs system will facilitate freer trade between Hainan and overseas markets, while maintaining standard customs controls and tariffs on goods moving between the island and the rest of China.

The U.S. embassy in Quito said it is a short-term joint effort, as Ecuador confirmed the arrival of U.S. planes loaded with military material.

China's central bank says it has completed the financial preparations for the start of island-wide special customs operations at the Hainan Free Trade Port on Thursday.

Australian police have charged one of the alleged perpetrators of the fatal mass shooting at Sydney's Bondi Beach with 59 offenses. The charges include 15 counts of murder and one count of committing a terrorist act.

Naveed Akram, who carried out the attack with his father, has emerged from a coma after being shot by the police. Police said investigators expect to question the son once medication wears off and legal counsel is present.

Countries including Burkina Faso, Mali and Syria were added to the expanded list under the Trump administration's travel ban. This move is part of the efforts to tighten U.S. entry standards, after the arrest of an Afghan national in the shooting of two National Guard troops.

The freight volume of China-Europe freight trains passing through the largest land port between China and Mongolia has exceeded 5 million metric tons this year.

China's railway operator says the country's rail network handled nearly 4.3 billion passenger trips nationwide during the first 11 months of the year, up 6.6 percent.

The U.S. military claims the three vessels were transiting along drug-trafficking routes in the eastern Pacific.