Category: 27-7

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China warns of Japan's military buildup /more details/

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. 18 (Xinhua) — Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Guo Jiakun on Thursday called for attention to whether Japan is deliberately trying to stir up trouble and provoke others to justify its military buildup and overseas missions.

A Chinese diplomat made the statement while commenting on reports that Japan's Defense Ministry signed a land lease agreement to deploy a mobile radar station on the easternmost island of Okinawa Prefecture to monitor Chinese aircraft carriers and aircraft in the waters and airspace between Okinawa and Miyako Islands.

"It must be emphasized that countries enjoy freedom of navigation and overflight in their respective waters and airspace in accordance with international law," Guo Jiakun said at a daily briefing for journalists.

He pointed out that due to the history of Japanese militaristic aggression and other reasons, Japan's military and security actions are under close scrutiny by its Asian neighbors and the entire international community.

Japan continues to build up its targeted military presence near the Chinese region of Taiwan, even announcing the deployment of medium-range missiles. "This time, it has gone even further, deploying a radar installation and troops to covertly monitor its neighbor," Guo Jiakun stated.

"Considering Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi's erroneous and dangerous statements on the Taiwan issue, one must ask: Is Japan trying to stir up trouble and provoke others to find a pretext for building up its military power and conducting missions abroad? Is Japan planning to once again embark on the disastrous and dead-end path of militarism charted by right-wing forces? We urge Japan to learn from history," the Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson added.

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.

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The World Russian Language Championship was held in Moscow.

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 18 (Xinhua) — The World Russian Language Championship for Foreigners was held in Moscow. The Chinese team was among the finalists. This was announced at a press conference on Thursday at the Rossiya Segodnya news agency press center, dedicated to the championship's results.

In 2025, the competition attracted over 4,500 participants from more than 60 countries. The championship participants were young people aged 16 to 22 who consciously chose Russian as their language of study and communication. Teams were divided into five divisions: Asia and Oceania, the Near Abroad, Latin America, Africa, and Europe. Five teams advanced to the final round—one from each division. The winner was a team from Lithuania.

The Chinese team, "Masters of Beijing Foreign Studies University," won the Asia and Oceania division and took fourth place overall.

Jury chairman Alexander Korotyshev particularly praised the Chinese team's performance: "I want to point out that the Beijing International Studies University team performed brilliantly. The Chinese students' resilience, integrity, and hard work were absolutely incredible. It must be said that this team's Russian language skills were also very high."

"We launched this project last year and received a great response. It was truly an important launch, demonstrating that interest in the Russian language continues to grow globally, and that it's significant among young people," emphasized Olga Molovtseva, a representative of the Russian Ministry of Science and Higher Education.

The World Russian Language Championship is a significant event in the promotion of the Russian language and culture abroad. The project is implemented by the Federal State Budgetary Institution "Interobrazovanie" with the support of the Ministry of Science and Higher Education of the Russian Federation.

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.

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China calls on Cambodia and Thailand to exercise restraint and ceasefire – Chinese Defense Ministry

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. 18 (Xinhua) — China on Thursday called on Cambodia and Thailand to remain calm, exercise restraint and reach a ceasefire as soon as possible, while rejecting speculation over reports of Chinese weapons being used.

As Jiang Bin, spokesman for the Chinese Ministry of Defense, noted in response to a question, China has long been engaged in defense cooperation with both Cambodia and Thailand, including in the area of military trade. Such cooperation is not directed against any third parties, is fully consistent with international law and international practice, and has no connection to the Cambodian-Thai border conflict.

He expressed hope that the parties concerned would refrain from subjective speculation and malicious hype.

China, as a friendly neighbor of Cambodia and Thailand, is closely monitoring the development of the border conflict and is deeply saddened by the loss of life suffered by the peoples of the two countries, noted the official representative of the PRC Ministry of Defense.

Jiang Bin expressed hope that the two sides will strive to maintain peace and stability along the border and proceed from the common interests of the peoples of the two countries, exercise maximum restraint and forbearance, cease fire as soon as possible, and return to resolving differences through dialogue and consultation.

China will continue to make efforts to promote peace talks, play a constructive role in promoting a ceasefire and ending the war, and restoring peace between Cambodia and Thailand, the official representative concluded.

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.

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The world's longest expressway tunnel will open to traffic in Xinjiang by the end of this year.

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

URUMQI, December 18 (Xinhua) — The Tianshan Shengli Tunnel, the world's longest expressway tunnel, will open to traffic by the end of this year, creating a new shortcut connecting the southern and northern parts of northwest China's Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region (XUAR).

Speaking at a press conference Thursday organized by the Information Office of the Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region People's Government, Guo Sheng, deputy head of the regional transport department, said that the opening of the Urumqi-Yuli Expressway, which runs through the Tianshan Mountains via this tunnel, should resolve transportation problems that have long hindered the coordinated development of the northern and southern regions of Xinjiang.

The new 22.13 km tunnel will reduce travel time through the middle section of the Tianshan Mountains from several hours to approximately 20 minutes.

Once operational, the travel time from Urumqi, the capital of the Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, located north of the Tianshan Mountains, to the city of Korla, which is located south of this mountain range, will be reduced from 7 to approximately 3 hours. –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.

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Chinese-Russian relations have become a model of good-neighborliness, strategic interaction, and mutually beneficial cooperation, according to Chinese Ambassador to the Russian Federation Zhang Hanhui.

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 18 (Xinhua) — The China-Russia comprehensive strategic partnership of coordination in the new era is developing steadily and yielding practical results. It has become a model for relations between major countries. This was stated by Chinese Ambassador to Russia Zhang Hanhui, speaking at a New Year's reception for Russian and Chinese business circles held in Moscow on Wednesday.

"Under the strategic guidance of the two leaders, the comprehensive partnership of strategic coordination between China and Russia in the new era has been steadily developing at a high level, acquiring new meaning and producing practical results. Over the past 76 years, Sino-Russian relations, having overcome serious international challenges, have become a model of good-neighborliness, friendship, comprehensive strategic interaction, and mutually beneficial cooperation between major countries," Zhang Hanhui noted in his welcoming remarks.

He recalled that this year, the two heads of state successfully exchanged visits, jointly participated in commemorative events dedicated to the 80th anniversary of Victory in the World Anti-Fascist War, and outlined new plans for developing bilateral relations. An updated agreement on the promotion and mutual protection of investments was signed, and a visa-free regime was introduced.

"These important steps in implementing the agreements between the leaders of the two countries have expanded the space for cooperation and given a powerful impetus to interaction in various areas," Zhang Hanhui emphasized.

China has remained Russia's largest trading partner for 15 years in a row, the ambassador noted. Furthermore, investment cooperation is deepening: major strategic projects in energy, chemicals, aerospace, and communications are being successfully implemented, while promising areas such as the digital economy, green and low-carbon development, and biomedicine are actively developing. Exchanges at the regional and corporate levels are constantly expanding.

The Chinese Ambassador to the Russian Federation expressed hope that the business communities of China and Russia will be “pioneers” in deepening cooperation, “an example” of mutually beneficial cooperation, and “a driving force” in optimizing the business environment. –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.

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Gaza crisis: UN agencies urge Israel to lift restrictions on humanitarian NGOs

Translation. Region: Russian Federation –

Source: United Nations – United Nations –

An important disclaimer is at the bottom of this article.

December 17, 2025 Humanitarian aid

Aid operations in Gaza could be on the brink of collapse unless Israel immediately lifts restrictions blocking the activities of international non-governmental organizations (NGOs), UN humanitarian agencies working in the occupied Palestinian territories (OPT) have warned.

In a statement released Tuesday, a humanitarian group representing UN agencies and more than 200 local and international organizations called on the international community to lift measures that hinder their work in the OPT, particularly in the Gaza Strip.

We are talking about registration system for international non-governmental organizations, introduced earlier this year.

Imperfect system

According to the statement, the registration process is politicized, poorly defined, and impossible to implement without violating humanitarian principles. Dozens of organizations risk losing their registration by the end of December and could then be forced to close within weeks.

The work of these institutions is vital for the people of Gaza, humanitarian agencies emphasize. International NGOs, working with the UN and local partners, provide approximately $1 billion in aid annually throughout the OPT.

Loss of important functions

Humanitarian organizations stressed that the impact of the closure of international NGOs cannot be mitigated by the UN or local groups, especially in the context of Israeli restrictions imposed on the UN Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA).

According to the humanitarian group, international NGOs support much of Gaza's basic infrastructure. They operate field hospitals and medical centers, provide clean water and sanitation, provide emergency shelter, and treat children suffering from severe malnutrition.

Medical facilities will be closed

If international NGOs leave the Strip, almost every third medical facility in Gaza will close immediately, leaving tens of thousands of patients without care.

Humanitarian officials stated that they had repeatedly raised these concerns with Israeli authorities and sought viable solutions to maintain operations. However, the situation has not changed, and the NGO's closure now appears inevitable.

The agencies stressed that humanitarian access is an obligation under international law, not a political choice.

Humanitarian leaders called on Israel to facilitate the rapid and unimpeded delivery of aid and ensure independent and safe conditions for operations. Without swift action, they warned, the consequences for Gaza's civilians would be catastrophic. "Vital aid must be made available to Palestinians without further delay," the statement read.

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.

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New UN cargo agreement will make global trade more flexible

Translation. Region: Russian Federation –

Source: United Nations – United Nations –

An important disclaimer is at the bottom of this article.

Polina Kubyak

December 17, 2025 Economic development

Shipping goods around the world could soon become cheaper, faster, and significantly more flexible thanks to the adoption of a new UN-sponsored agreement. It aims to streamline documentation for international shipping.

UN Convention on Negotiable Cargo Documents For the first time, it introduces a single standard that can be used for rail, road and air transport and allows for logistical changes to be made to cargo already in transit.

This means that valuable cargo can be sold, redirected, or used to obtain financing during the long haul, not just before loading.

"This is a real breakthrough for international trade," said Anne Joubin-Bret, Secretary-General of the United Nations Commission on International Trade Law (UNCITRAL), who has been coordinating the negotiations for three years.

From Brazil to Azerbaijan

Today, negotiable transport documents are mainly used in maritime transport, which can last for weeks. Commodities such as oil or cocoa are often resold several times right at sea, as prices fluctuate.

At the same time, cargo transported by road, rail, or air is typically issued to a single buyer and with a single destination, which limits the range of possible solutions and access to financial instruments.

James Hookham, director of the Global Shippers Forum, gave a hypothetical example of the movement of commodities from a supplier in Brazil to a subsidiary in Paraguay.

"Market conditions change," he explained. "While goods are in transit, which can take several days, a buyer may appear who is willing to pay a higher price elsewhere."

According to him, under the new system, such cargo could be sold, for example, to a buyer in Azerbaijan, with the destination changed during transportation.

"It's almost like crossing out the address on an envelope after the letter has been sent," Hookham added.

Goods destined for Paraguay by sea could be flown to Istanbul and then sent on to Azerbaijan – something that is impossible under the current restrictions.

A wide range of benefits

Such flexibility is becoming increasingly necessary as new trade corridors open – through Central Asia, between China and Europe, and across Africa – often with routes serving landlocked countries.

The new Convention, according to Hookham, "means cargo isn't rejected simply because the transaction period has expired," especially in the face of a growing number of factors disrupting international trade. He noted the negative impact recent instability, related to tariffs, unexpected extreme weather events – such as the recent outages in the Caribbean due to Hurricane Melissa, – as well as with the seizure of cargo in the Red Sea.

The Convention aims to reduce risks for banks and carriers by establishing clear legal rules determining who owns cargo at any given time. This certainty makes banks more willing to finance transactions and helps carriers avoid disputes related to cargo being delivered to the wrong party.

"If Plan A doesn't work for you or is too expensive, this is an alternative," Hookham emphasized.

Who will sign the agreement?

The Convention will be particularly important for developing countries and landlocked states, and will help them integrate more deeply into the global trading system and reduce costs.

African and Central Asian countries, as well as major trading powers, have already expressed interest in the agreement, including China, which initiated the process at the UN back in 2019. The negotiations, which included extensive consultations, are an example of "effective multilateral cooperation," Anna Joubin-Bret emphasized.

The UN General Assembly adopted a resolution supporting the Convention on December 15. The signing ceremony is scheduled for the second half of 2026 in Accra, Ghana. The treaty will enter into force once it is ratified by ten states.

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.

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Ukraine: Multi-day power outages, water and heat supply disruptions

Translation. Region: Russian Federation –

Source: United Nations – United Nations –

An important disclaimer is at the bottom of this article.

December 17, 2025 Humanitarian aid

Imagine living in a war zone and unable to cook or heat your home. For tens of thousands of Ukrainians, this is the reality today: UN Humanitarian Coordinator Matthias Schmale reported that half of the city of Kherson's population – 30,000 or more people – have been without electricity for several days.

Kherson isn't the only city without power, he said in an interview with the UN News Service on Wednesday during his trip to southern Ukraine. "The main problem is how to support people when the power is out for several days in a row, or even more than a week, as is currently happening, for example, in Odesa," he noted.

"The authorities are fairly confident they can handle a power outage lasting a few hours or even a couple of days. But outages lasting more than a week pose significant challenges," Shmale added.

© UKGV

Matthias Schmale with an elderly resident of Kherson.

According to the UN Coordinator, to overcome the energy crisis, it is necessary to provide schools and health facilities with generators and sufficient fuel supplies so that people can gather there in the event of a crisis.

"Almost everything is destroyed"

On Wednesday, Matthias Schmale visited frontline Kherson and met with residents at the UN humanitarian hub where people come to seek aid. One woman, a power plant employee, told him she was afraid to go to work because of the shelling of energy facilities.

She says there are only five houses left on her street where people still live, and "almost everything is destroyed." But she has no plans to leave.

© UKGV

A woman came to the UN humanitarian hub for help.

"I don't even think about it. My house, my dogs, my cats. The neighbors left after their houses were damaged. They left their dog for a week. They've been gone for three years," she said.

Another woman the Humanitarian Coordinator met with said she was from the island district of Kherson and lived without gas—she had no way to heat her home or cook. Ten days ago, her mother died in the hospital after stepping on a mine. Six months earlier, her husband was killed in Mykolaiv while riding public transportation during a drone attack.

Remembering everyone she had lost, the woman burst into tears and said she was afraid she would never be able to return home.

"I prefer to smile than to cry."

"Kherson used to be a very industrial city, but that's no longer the case," said another retiree. In her youth, she worked manufacturing meteorological instruments for marine vessels.

Matthias Schmale noted her sense of humor, despite the difficult circumstances. "I prefer smiling to crying. I've had enough time to cry," she replied.

“I just want to go home and die,” the woman added with bitterness in her voice.

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.

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Top Stories Wednesday: Yemen, Sudan, Flu, Sri Lanka

Translation. Region: Russian Federation –

Source: United Nations – United Nations –

An important disclaimer is at the bottom of this article.

December 17, 2025 UN

The top news of the day at the UN and around the world: the Secretary-General warned of the risks of escalating conflict in Yemen, fighting in Sudan, a new strain of the flu virus, and the consequences of Cyclone Ditwa in Sri Lanka.

The situation in Yemen

Tensions in Yemen: António Guterres, speaking to journalists in New York after his briefing on the situation in the country for the Security Council, said unilateral actions, such as the recent advance of forces affiliated with the Southern Transitional Council in the eastern provinces, "increase the risk of wider escalation and further fragmentation." The UN chief recalled that the parties to the conflict had already come close to peace in 2022 and 2023, but subsequent events "have seriously complicated the situation." Nevertheless, he emphasized, "peace is possible."

Crisis in Sudan

The Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs is warning of growing humanitarian needs in Sudan as civilians continue to flee fighting in the Kordofan region. The International Organization for Migration estimates that more than 9.3 million people remain internally displaced in 18 states across the country. Many are at risk of starvation. Furthermore, the World Health Organization has expressed concern that more than 70 health workers and approximately 5,000 civilians have reportedly been forcibly detained in Nyala, the capital of South Darfur state.

Flu season

The flu season in Europe and Central Asia has started much earlier than usual, with the spread of the infection being facilitated by the emergence of new dominant strain of the virusA number of countries are experiencing significant strain on their healthcare systems. Vaccination remains the most important measure to prevent severe influenza, especially for high-risk groups such as the elderly, people with chronic illnesses, children, pregnant women, and healthcare workers. The WHO recommends staying home if you feel unwell, wearing a mask in public places if you have respiratory symptoms, covering your mouth and nose when coughing and sneezing, washing your hands regularly, and ventilating your indoor spaces more frequently.

Cyclone in Sri Lanka

The International Organization for Migration (IOM) today appealed for $7.3 million to support more than 100,000 people affected by Cyclone Ditwa in Sri Lanka. The storm forced more than 280,000 people from their homes, damaging or destroying more than 81,000 shelters. The UN agency is calling for urgent support for families facing continued displacement and disrupted access to essential services.

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.

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On December 18, 2025, "Blood Type" opened the Russian Film Festival in France.

Translation. Region: Russian Federation –

Source: Gazprom – An important disclaimer is at the bottom of this article.

This poignant story, dedicated to the 80th anniversary of Victory Day, tells the story of the child prisoners of the Vyritsa concentration camp. The Nazis used the orphans as blood donors for wounded soldiers. Hunger, cold, fear—and a choice: surrender or rally and flee. They chose freedom.

The film was produced by Triix Media with the support of Gazprom-Media Holding, the Cinema Fund, the Russian Military Historical Society, and the Movement of the First.

The Festival will also feature a number of films produced by the Holding's companies:

"The Prophet: The Story of Alexander Pushkin" is a musical biography about a vibrant, daring genius: from high school and duels to exile and love. History and music blend seamlessly. "North Pole" is an action drama about the maiden voyage of the Soviet nuclear submarine K-3 under the Arctic ice in 1962. The Cold War and fateful decisions.

The festival will run in Paris until December 21. Organized by ROSKINO with the support of the Russian Ministry of Culture, the festival will also feature interviews with filmmakers and actors, questions, and behind-the-scenes insights into the filming process.

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.