The United Kingdom (UK)'s consumer price index (CPI) rose sharply in January to its highest level in 10 months, according to data released by the Office for National Statistics (ONS) on Wednesday.
January's CPI rose by 3 percent in the 12 months to January 2025, with the higher-than-expected increase being driven by factors like rising energy prices, the ONS said.
The Bank of England said earlier that the country will remain under inflationary pressure this year and the UK's CPI is likely to rise to an estimated 3.7 percent in the third quarter.
UK inflation hits 10-month high in January
The Global Mayors Dialogue opened in Harbin, capital of northeast China's Heilongjiang Province on Tuesday, bringing together mayors and senior city officials from across Europe, Asia, and North America to have in-depth exchanges on practical approaches to developing the ice and snow economy.
Held under the theme "Connecting the World with Ice and Snow, Win-Win Cooperation for a Shared Future", the three-day event gathered mayors, deputy mayors, and mayoral representatives from cities across the globe, including Canada, Finland, Germany, Greece, the Republic of Korea, Thailand, and Türkiye, focusing on the ice and snow economy, cultural integration, smart city development, heritage preservation, and urban governance.
The event featured a main dialogue and a scenario-based dialogue salon to foster in-depth exchanges and spark new ideas. Guests are invited to visit iconic sites such as the Harbin Ice and Snow World and attend the opening ceremony and trade events of the Harbin Ice and Snow Economy Expo, which are showcasing Harbin's achievements in building an ice and snow economy brand, strengthening international exchanges and cooperation, and inheriting ice and snow culture.
Harbin, called China's "ice city", has turned its long, cold winters into a major tourist attraction. Last winter, it welcomed a record 90.36 million visitors, generating 137.22 billion yuan (about 19.44 billion U.S. dollars) in revenue, a year-on-year increase of 16.6 percent.
International mayors gather in Harbin to explore ice and snow economy
