Category: 27-7

Posted on

Three people were killed and six were injured in an attack in Taipei.

Translation. Region: Russian Federation –

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

An important disclaimer is at the bottom of this article.

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

TAIPEI, Dec. 19 (Xinhua) — At least three people were killed in a knife and smoke bomb attack in Taipei City, Taiwan Province, China, on Friday.

According to media reports, the attacker was among the dead. Six others were injured.

The attack occurred around 5:30 PM. CCTV footage showed the suspect, wearing a gas mask, throwing smoke bombs near the entrance to the Taipei Railway Station subway station. One passerby suffered smoke inhalation injuries as a result of the smoke bomb explosion.

According to media reports citing a medical facility, the suspect attacked a man who later died from his serious injuries.

The suspect then fled the scene into another busy business district and attacked several more bystanders, injuring six, one of whom died from his serious injuries.

The suspect has been identified as a 27-year-old man who died after falling from a window. The cause of the incident is under investigation.

Please note: This information is raw content obtained directly from the source. It represents an accurate account of the source's assertions and does not necessarily reflect the position of MIL-OSI or its clients.

Posted on

Update 328 – Statement by the IAEA Director General on the situation in Ukraine (EN)

Translation. Region: Russian Federation –

Source: International Atomic Energy Agency –

An important disclaimer is at the bottom of this article.

Two Ukrainian nuclear power plants (NPPs) have been operating at reduced capacity for the past ten days after a military attack damaged an electrical substation critical for nuclear safety and security, Director General Rafael Mariano Grossi of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) said today.

Substations are critical nodes in a country's electrical grid, serving as facilities where voltage levels are transformed and controlled to ensure reliable power transmission. For nuclear power plants (NPPs), they are indispensable for maintaining off-site power supplies that support safety systems and cooling functions, making their integrity vital for nuclear safety and security.

Following the latest military activity targeting a substance, during the night of November 7, the Khmelnitskyy and Rivne NPPs were each disconnected from one of their two 750 kilovolt (kV) power lines. In addition, the grid operator ordered a reduction in electricity output of some of their reactors.

Today, although one of the affected lines has since been restored, the other remains out of service. Three reactors continue to operate at limited power, at the request of the grid operator.

"Reliable off-site power is vital for the maintenance and operation of nuclear safety functions. To this end, Agency experts will, through dedicated expert missions, continue to assess the functionality of substances critical for nuclear safety and security," Director General Grossi said.

The Zaporizhzhya Nuclear Power Plant (ZNPP) remains connected to the grid after repairs carried out under the protection of IAEA-brokered localized ceasefires in late October and ten days ago.

Ending a month-long outage of off-site power, this has allowed the resumption of maintenance of the plant's safety systems.

However, one of the two off-site power lines that were re-connected thanks to the recent repairs – the 750 kilovolt (kV) Dniprovska line – was again disconnected on Friday evening after the actuation of a protection system. The cause is still being investigated. The IAEA is engaging with both sides to assist in the timely restoration of the line, Director General Grossi said.

The IAEA continues to implement its comprehensive program of assistance to Ukraine in nuclear safety and security.

As part of the program, the IAEA completed partial deliveries of items to the Joint Stock Company Mykolaivoblenergo consisting of electrical cabinets, circuit breakers surge arresters and similar items needed to maintain a reliable power supply for the safe operation of Ukraine's NPPs. Additional items, that are still in production, will be delivered in the coming months. These deliveries were possible with the support from Austria, France, Germany, Italy and the European Union.

In addition, the South Ukraine NPP received 12 gamma dose rate monitoring stations intended to enhance its radiation monitoring capability. The stations, once in operation, will feed also the IAEA's International Radiation Monitoring Information System (IRMIS) with monitoring data, providing information on the radiological situation on the ground in the plant's normal operation and during an accident. The delivery was supported by the European Union.

Ukraine's Central Enterprise for the Management of Radioactive Waste received IT equipment and the Chornobyl NPP received an off-road vehicle. Both deliveries were funded by the United Kingdom and aimed at enhancing nuclear security measures at the two sites.

These deliveries brought the total organized during the conflict by the IAEA to 174, amounting to over €20.5 million.

Please note: This information is raw content obtained directly from the source. It represents an accurate account of the source's assertions and does not necessarily reflect the position of MIL-OSI or its clients.

Posted on

Mobile phone restrictions minimize the risk of drone strikes, says Russian President Vladimir Putin.

Translation. Region: Russian Federation –

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

An important disclaimer is at the bottom of this article.

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

Moscow, December 19 (Xinhua) — Mobile phone restrictions in Russian regions are related to security and aimed at mitigating the risk of drone strikes. Russian President Vladimir Putin announced this at the "Year in Review" event on Friday.

"We understand that the restrictions are related to the need to ensure security and minimize the danger from air raids and drone strikes," said Vladimir Putin.

The Russian President noted that this problem could be solved in two ways. "The first is to switch to domestic software and our own hardware. The second is to leverage the capabilities of existing foreign manufacturers, but we would need to negotiate with them to transfer these services to the Russian Federation," Putin emphasized, adding that in any case, "work will need to be done" on both fronts.

The "Year in Review with Vladimir Putin" program, which combines the head of state's major press conference and a live Q&A session, aired live on Friday.

Please note: This information is raw content obtained directly from the source. It represents an accurate account of the source's assertions and does not necessarily reflect the position of MIL-OSI or its clients.

Posted on

Taiwanese opposition lawmakers have announced their intention to impeach Taiwan's Chief Executive Lai Qingde.

Translation. Region: Russian Federation –

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

An important disclaimer is at the bottom of this article.

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

TAIPEI, Dec. 19 (Xinhua) — Taiwanese opposition lawmakers from the Kuomintang (KMT) and the Taiwan People's Party (TPP) announced their intention to impeach Taiwan's Chief Executive Lai Qing-te at a press conference in Taipei on Friday.

Earlier, Lai Qingde expressed support for Taiwan's chief executive, Zhuo Rongtai, who refused to sign amendments to the administrative revenue allocation law previously adopted by the island's legislature.

Fu Kunqi, the organizer of the Kuomintang faction in the Legislative Assembly, noted at a press conference that since Lai Qingde took office as Taiwan's chief executive last May, he has continuously trampled on democracy and caused devastating damage to the interests of the island's people.

Fu Kun-qi stated that all Kuomintang and PNT legislators have decided to speak out on behalf of Taiwan's 23 million people. "Lai Qing-de's tyranny must be overthrown," the lawmaker added.

“We will officially submit a motion to impeach Lai Qingde,” announced Huang Guochang, the organizer of the NPT faction, at the same press conference.

He said the opposition would also hold public hearings across the island to explain why impeachment is necessary and how Lai Qingde's actions have stalled the amendments to the law and thus deprived the people of Taiwan of financial resources that should have been used for construction and care for the people.

A motion to impeach a Chief Executive or Vice Chief Executive of Taiwan must first be proposed by at least half of the total number of members of the legislature and approved by a two-thirds majority vote, and then submitted to the judiciary for consideration.

In the January 2024 legislative elections, the Kuomintang and PNT parties won 52 and 8 seats, respectively, in the island's 113-seat legislature, while the Democratic Progressive Party won 51 seats. –0–

Please note: This information is raw content obtained directly from the source. It represents an accurate account of the source's assertions and does not necessarily reflect the position of MIL-OSI or its clients.

Posted on

RUDN University awarded the best student volunteers of the year.

Translation. Region: Russian Federation –

Source: Peoples'Friendship University of Russia

An important disclaimer is at the bottom of this article.

The university announced the results of its main volunteer competition, "RUDN Volunteer of the Year." Seventeen people won in five categories. The Grand Prix went to Elza Shaimukhametova, a student majoring in Veterinary Science at the Agrarian and Technological Institute.

"For me, being a volunteer means dedicating myself entirely to a cause, to people, and to being useful. The reward is the motivation to work harder and longer, and, of course, it's a sign that my work is bearing fruit, that it's not just for nothing," noted Elsa Shaimukhametova.

Desire to help

We'll tell you more about Elsa and her accomplishments in a separate article. The RUDN University volunteer movement currently comprises over 3,000 people from 50 countries. They visit orphanages, help organize major international events, participate in patriotic campaigns, donate blood, and care for the environment and homeless animals.

A total of 50 applications were submitted for the competition, with the leading participants coming from the Faculty of Philology, the Institute of Medicine, and the Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences. Incidentally, students from the Faculty of Social Sciences and Humanities represented the largest number of RUDN University volunteers, for which the department received an award in the competition among the main educational departments (OUP). The Faculty of Artificial Intelligence also received an award in this category. Although the faculty was founded only a few years ago, its students have already participated in numerous volunteer events and distinguished themselves.

The winners in the "Event Volunteer" category were:

Adelina Abdulkarimova (Faculty of Philology, 3rd year, Journalism); Polina Shmidt (Faculty of Physics, Mathematics and Natural Sciences, 2nd year, Chemistry); Ainur Sadykova (Institute of Foreign Languages, 1st year Master's student, Psychological and Pedagogical Education); Ksenia Verbitskaya (Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences, 3rd year, Foreign Regional Studies); Alexandra Kozhevnikova (Faculty of Philology, 1st year, Psychology).

"For me, volunteering is an activity that gives my life meaning; it's the people I've helped. My openness and strong desire to help others help me. The most rewarding part of volunteering for me is the people's emotions. People often cried when we parted ways, which is a sign that I've done my job well," says Ksenia Verbitskaya.

The title of the best "Ecological Volunteers" was earned by:

Victoria Lotnik (Institute of Ecology, 2nd year student, Ecology and Nature Management); Ekaterina Aleksandrova (Assistant Professor, Department of Psychology and Pedagogy, Faculty of Philology, RUDN University).

"I was raised in an eco-friendly lifestyle from childhood. I participated in many environmental campaigns and events, which is why I enrolled in the RUDN University Institute of Ecology. If I had to describe volunteering in one word, it would be kindness," noted Victoria Lotnik.

Opportunity to prove yourself

In the “Social Volunteer” category, the victory went to:

Elza Shaimukhametova (Agrarian-Technological Institute, 2nd year, "Veterinary Science"); Gulchehrabuna Khaitova (Faculty of Philology, 2nd year, "Psychology"); Yana Basel Alshebli (Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences, 2nd year Master's student, "International Relations"); Alena Konovalova (Faculty of Philology, 2nd year, "Journalism"); Valeria Popova (Medical Institute, 2nd year, "Dentistry").

"Volunteering is a unique opportunity to express yourself, realize your desire to help people, and develop social skills. It's also an opportunity to connect with people from all over the world and participate in events, including international ones. For example, I recently volunteered at the major forum "MYVMESTE" and helped foreign participants navigate the "Russia" national center," said Valeria Popova.

The best "Volunteer Medics" were:

Anastasia Bogoyavlenskaya (Medical Institute, 6th year, General Medicine); Nadezhda Bryksina (Faculty of Philology, 3rd year Master's student, Psychology); Yulia Ivanova (Medical Institute, 4th year, General Medicine).

And finally, the title of the best “Patriotic Volunteers” was awarded to:

Anastasia Banakhovich (Institute of World Economy and Business, 1st year, Management); Mohamed Saleh (Medical Institute, 1st year of residency, Ophthalmology).

"It's a great honor for me to receive an award in this category. In Belgorod, where I returned three months ago, I participated in events as a Victory Day volunteer and a People's Front activist, helping collect humanitarian aid for the SVO soldiers. When they came to pick up their things and saw me, a foreigner (I'm from Egypt), they asked, 'Why are you helping here?' To which I replied that Russia, especially the Belgorod region, is my second home. And I'm grateful to the soldiers for defending the city," Mohamed Saleh shared.

About the history of the RUDN University Volunteer Center

The RUDN University Volunteer Center has been in existence for 17 years. In 2008, the student volunteer group "Wind of Change" was established within the RUDN University Center for Youth Student Teams. Its members began assisting with the socialization and adaptation of orphans by arranging their interactions with RUDN University students, motivating orphanage residents to apply to universities, fostering the development of youth creativity, creating successful youth images, and instilling tolerance and mutual respect in children.

In 2017, by order of the RUDN University rector, the "Wind of Change" volunteer group was transformed into the RUDN University Volunteer Center. The center's name, "Volunteers of the World," reflects the public organization's main goals. First, to maintain peace, help those in need, and promote volunteerism. Second, to unite all students interested in volunteering, regardless of race, nationality, gender, or language. Since 2024, the Volunteer Center has been providing verified volunteer hours, which are recorded in their electronic workbooks on the platform. DOBRO.RFThe center is developing in several areas: social, event-based, environmental, patriotic, and sports volunteering.

In addition, the center regularly implements educational programs to enhance the volunteer competencies and leadership skills of university volunteers. With the support of the Federal Agency for Youth Affairs, it organized two intensive training schools for volunteers: one on working with people with disabilities and one on social project management.

You can join the center by contacting its specialists at the address: Miklukho-Maklaya St., Building 9, Office 153, or by writing to the email address volunteer@rudn.ru.

Please note: This information is raw content obtained directly from the source. It represents an accurate account of the source's assertions and does not necessarily reflect the position of MIL-OSI or its clients.

Posted on

IAEA study finds benefits of AI-based contouring for cancer patients

Translation. Region: Russian Federation –

Source: International Atomic Energy Agency –

An important disclaimer is at the bottom of this article.

Home
News
IAEA study finds benefits of AI-based contouring for cancer patients

An IAEA coordinated research project has demonstrated how AI can expand access to radiotherapy worldwide.

December 19, 2025

Peter Lee, IAEA Department of Nuclear Sciences and Applications

Lisbeth Cordero Mendes, IAEA Department of Nuclear Sciences and Applications

A radiation oncologist contours a patient's head and neck tumors. Photo: G. Ferraris

A 23-country study demonstrates the safety and benefits of using artificial intelligence in a key and often most labor-intensive step of the cancer treatment process: mapping organs at risk. By adding unique data from low- and middle-income countries to the growing body of scientific evidence, the IAEA Coordinated Research Project (ELAISA study) shows how this technology can expand access to radiotherapy worldwide.

Contouring tumors and surrounding healthy tissue (organs at risk) is essential for the optimal, safe, and effective use of radiation therapy for cancer treatment. However, differences in how different specialists perform contouring (i.e., interobserver variability) can impact both the accuracy and consistency of radiation therapy planning. Previous studies have suggested that instructor-led training workshops can reduce interobserver variability.

Nearly half of cancer patients require radiation therapy at some point, yet access to this type of treatment is underutilized worldwide, in part due to a shortage of clinically trained specialists. According to Lancet Oncology Commission on Radiation Therapy and Theranostics, led by the IAEA, more than 84,000 radiation oncologists will be needed to meet the global demand for cancer treatment, which will be 35.2 million new cases by 2050. “This figure includes an increase of more than 60% in the number of radiation oncologists in 2022,” says the director of IAEA Division of Human Health and commission co-chair May Abdel-Wahab. "As cancer incidence and treatment complexity increase, radiation oncologists will have to dedicate even more time to delineating cancerous tissue and surrounding healthy tissue in settings where their capabilities are already limited."

AI is being considered as an adjunct in the treatment of head and neck cancer

To address these challenges in radiation oncology, the IAEA has explored how artificial intelligence (AI) can assist in head and neck cancer delineation in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs).

AI-based algorithms have shown promising results in automatic structure delineation (autosegmentation), but this has primarily been observed in retrospective studies. Until recently, the actual clinical benefit in the context of LMICs and in terms of interobserver variability remained largely unexplored.

"Using AI to assist with contouring could be an important tool to improve the efficiency of radiation oncologists," Abdel-Wahab notes.

With the participation of radiation oncologists from 22 countries

The IAEA study involved approximately 100 radiation oncologists from 22 different radiotherapy centres in Azerbaijan, Albania, Argentina, Bangladesh, Belarus, Costa Rica, Georgia, India, Indonesia, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Kenya, Kyrgyzstan, Malaysia, Moldova, Mongolia, Nepal, Pakistan, North Macedonia, Sudan, Tunisia and Uganda, while Aarhus University Hospital in Denmark provided data on 16 head and neck cancer cases.

During the study, radiation oncologists were randomly divided into two groups: one group used AI to delineate organs at risk, while the other used manual methods. Following an IAEA online workshop on AI-assisted delineation, both groups continued tumor delineation, first using their original approach and then using AI. Six months later, the final phase of the study, using AI, took place.

Improving the quality of contouring using AI

Results from the IAEA Coordinated Research Project demonstrated that AI can not only improve the quality of contouring by significantly reducing interobserver variability, but also reduce the time it takes to complete the contouring process, even without prior instruction. Instruction only improved the quality of contouring for two at-risk organs, but it significantly enhanced the time savings associated with AI-based contouring. This effect was also observed over time during short- and long-term studies of the instructor-led workshop.

“ELAISA study "This study shows that training combined with AI-assisted contouring was the most effective strategy for reducing the time it takes to contour," explains Jesper Grau Eriksen, Professor of Clinical Medicine at Aarhus University and one of the lead researchers on the project. "When used appropriately, the safe implementation of AI-based contouring tools could save resources and enable more radiation oncologists, particularly those in LMIC settings, to care for even more patients."

The results of the study were published in the journal "Global Oncology" and presented at annual meetings European Society of Radiotherapy and Oncology.

Related news

Related resources

Read more

Please note: This information is raw content obtained directly from the source. It represents an accurate account of the source's assertions and does not necessarily reflect the position of MIL-OSI or its clients.

Posted on

Russia is ready to immediately cease hostilities if security conditions are met, says Vladimir Putin.

Translation. Region: Russian Federation –

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

An important disclaimer is at the bottom of this article.

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

Moscow, December 19 (Xinhua) – Russia is ready to immediately cease hostilities if Moscow's conditions for security guarantees are met. Russian President Vladimir Putin stated this on Friday during a direct line-up and press conference.

"We are ready to cease these military actions immediately, while ensuring Russia's security in the medium and long term," Vladimir Putin emphasized.

The Russian President stated that Western politicians continue to escalate tensions by talking about preparing for war with Russia. "Western politicians created the current situation with their own hands and continue to escalate tensions, constantly talking about preparing for war with Russia," he said.

The Russian leader noted that there would be no new special military operations if the West respected Russia. "You said there would be new special military operations? There won't be any operations if you respect us. You'll respect our interests just as we've always tried to respect yours," Putin added.

According to him, Russia was promised that NATO would not expand eastward, but Russia's security interests were ignored. "They said NATO would not move eastward even one inch—that's a direct quote. So what? As they say, they screwed us over, they disregarded our security interests," Putin said.

At the same time, the president indicated that Russia is ready to work with Great Britain, Europe, and the United States, but on an equal footing, with respect for each other. –0–

Please note: This information is raw content obtained directly from the source. It represents an accurate account of the source's assertions and does not necessarily reflect the position of MIL-OSI or its clients.

Posted on

The launch of the fourth season of the Russian Ministry of Education and Science's "Russian Civil Service Intern" project has been announced.

Translation. Region: Russian Federation –

Source: Peoples'Friendship University of Russia

An important disclaimer is at the bottom of this article.

Russian citizens aged 18 to 35 are invited to participate in the Russian Ministry of Education and Science's "Russian Civil Service Intern" project. "Russian Civil Service Intern" aims to expand the horizons of professional mobility and enhance the role of internships as a tool for early entry of young professionals into the public administration system.

The project's main goal is to provide young professionals with the opportunity to complete a paid internship at a federal agency and receive a job offer.

All project winners will complete the "Public and Municipal Administration in Science and Higher Education" program. As part of their training, interns will prepare and present a study on improving the work of a department within the ministry. This study will be included in the intern's portfolio and will be considered by the Ministry's department.

Given that a significant portion of government tasks are implemented at the intersection of science, higher education, human resources policy, and social agendas, this season will see the formation of interdisciplinary teams of interns. This format will allow interns to comprehensively develop project solutions that span the competencies of several agencies and enhance the practical value of their proposals for the public administration system.

Before being accepted for the internship, candidates must complete several online selection stages and participate in a team business game. Based on the results of all competitive processes and the participant's overall rating score, the organizers will select 30 project winners. They will complete an internship in one of 22 departments of the Ministry of Science and Higher Education of the Russian Federation, and some of the winners will be assigned to a specialized track—another innovation the organizers will announce this year. Additionally, the winners will receive a stipend of 30,000 rubles per month and accommodation for the duration of their internship. The work schedule is structured so that interns work at the Ministry from Monday to Thursday, and on Fridays they participate in external acceleration, cultural, and patriotic events.

You can submit an application for participation until January 31, 2026 inclusive.official portal of the project.

The results of the program will be summarized and the list of winners will be compiled at the end of March 2026.

Please note: This information is raw content obtained directly from the source. It represents an accurate account of the source's assertions and does not necessarily reflect the position of MIL-OSI or its clients.

Posted on

China has issued a stern warning to the United States regarding its arms sales plan to Taiwan.

Translation. Region: Russian Federation –

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

An important disclaimer is at the bottom of this article.

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

BEIJING, Dec. 19 (Xinhua) — China has made stern representations to the United States over its large-scale arms sales plan to the Chinese region of Taiwan, Defense Ministry spokesperson Jiang Bin said Friday.

Journalists asked him to comment on the US military's announced plan to sell weapons to Taiwan worth more than $11.1 billion.

This move by the American side seriously violates the one-China principle and the three joint Sino-American communiqués, and undermines China's sovereignty and security interests, Jiang Bin emphasized.

The decision also seriously undermines strategic mutual trust between the two countries and sends a very wrong signal to separatist forces seeking "Taiwan independence," the official said, adding that the Chinese side is deeply outraged by the arms sale plan and firmly opposes it.

The forces seeking "Taiwan independence" have squandered the hard-earned money of ordinary Taiwanese residents to fatten American arms dealers. However, their attempts to achieve "Taiwan independence" by force will lead to nothing but their own destruction, Jiang Bin noted.

Jiang Bin also warned the American side that condoning and supporting Taiwanese separatists would only invite disaster. He also called on the US to duly fulfill its promise not to support "Taiwan independence" and to immediately cease arms sales to the island.

The PLA will continue to strengthen its military training and combat readiness, and take decisive measures to protect the country's national sovereignty and territorial integrity, Jiang Bin emphasized. -0-

Please note: This information is raw content obtained directly from the source. It represents an accurate account of the source's assertions and does not necessarily reflect the position of MIL-OSI or its clients.

Posted on

Senior Chinese officials swore allegiance to the Constitution of the People's Republic of China.

Translation. Region: Russian Federation –

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

An important disclaimer is at the bottom of this article.

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

BEIJING, Dec. 19 (Xinhua) — Forty-seven senior officials from 35 departments and institutions under the State Council of China took an oath of allegiance to the Constitution in a ceremony on Friday.

These officials were recently appointed to their current positions.

The ceremony was presided over by Premier Li Qiang of the State Council of the People's Republic of China, who called on officials to maintain a high degree of unity with the CPC Central Committee in thinking, political stance and actions, and to practically implement the plans and orders issued by the CPC Central Committee, adhering to higher standards.

The head of the Chinese government also called on them to firmly establish and put into practice the correct approach to evaluating achievements, focus on high-quality development, enhance the ability to cope with changes and overcome difficulties, and strengthen the innovative consciousness.

It is necessary to maintain an incorruptible political image, uphold the authority of the Constitution, and adhere to governance in accordance with the law, Li Qiang added. –0–

Please note: This information is raw content obtained directly from the source. It represents an accurate account of the source's assertions and does not necessarily reflect the position of MIL-OSI or its clients.