Category: 27-7

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China has begun issuing general export licenses for rare earth element-related products, according to the Ministry of Commerce.

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's Ministry of Commerce said Thursday it has received and approved applications from some Chinese exporters for general export licenses for rare earth element-related items.

The agency's official representative, He Yadong, made the corresponding statement at a regular press conference when he was asked to confirm information that China had begun issuing longer-term rare earth element export licenses.

He Yadong noted that since the introduction of export controls on rare earth element-related items, China's competent authorities have organized briefings for domestic exporters to keep them informed of the policy.

As exporters gain experience exporting and operating under the new rule, some have reached a level where they meet the basic requirements to apply for general licenses, the official said. -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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The economies of seven Eurasian countries will grow by 2.3 percent in 2026, according to the EDB.

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

Almaty, December 18 /Xinhua/ — The economies of seven Eurasian countries will grow by 2.3 percent in 2026, according to the Eurasian Development Bank's (EDB) macroeconomic forecast for 2026-2028, published Thursday at a press conference.

According to the forecast, among the seven countries that are also members of the bank, Kyrgyzstan will be the leader in terms of gross domestic product (GDP) growth in 2026 – 9.3%.

The bank's report says inflation in the region will continue to slow to 6.4 percent in 2026 thanks to prudent monetary policy.

Commodity markets will move in mixed directions: oil prices will fall slightly, while metals and gold will remain high. The dollar is gradually losing its share of central bank reserves, but its role in settlements remains stable, according to EDB analysts.

The countries of Central Asia are demonstrating the highest growth rates in decades—EDB analysts expect growth of 6.6 percent in the region by the end of 2025 and approximately 6.1 percent in 2026. The combined GDP of these countries will exceed USD 600 billion thanks to active investment and strong consumer demand.

The global economy is projected to grow at a slightly slower pace than in 2024-2025 and gradually adjust to new trade restrictions.

The Eurasian Development Bank (EDB) is an international multilateral financial institution founded in 2006 and headquartered in Almaty. Its mission is to promote economic growth in its member countries, which include Armenia, Belarus, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Russia, Tajikistan, and Uzbekistan, as well as expand trade and economic ties between them and develop integration processes in the Eurasian region through investment activities.

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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Two people were killed in a drone attack on a tanker in Russia's Rostov region.

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) — Two people were killed on board a cargo ship in the port of Rostov-on-Don due to a drone attack, Rostov Region Governor Yuri Slyusar announced on his Telegram channel on Thursday.

According to him, the attack caused a fire on the vessel covering an area of 20 square meters. Two crew members on board were killed and three others were injured. A fuel spill on the tanker was prevented, Rostov-on-Don Mayor Alexander Skryabin previously reported.

On Thursday night, drone attacks in the Rostov region targeted Rostov-on-Don, Bataysk, and Taganrog, reported Yury Slyusar. Seven people were injured in Bataysk, one of whom died in the hospital.

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 Harbin International Snow and Ice Economy Fair will be held in January 2026.

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) — The 2026 Harbin International Ice and Snow Economy Expo will be held from January 6 to 8 next year in Harbin, capital of Northeast China's Heilongjiang Province, the Zhongxinwang news website reported.

More than 300 leading Chinese and international enterprises are expected to participate in the upcoming fair. The Finnish city of Rovaniemi will be the event's honorary guest city.

The fair will consist of one central and six thematic exhibition zones. The central zone will showcase achievements in the development of the ice and snow economy, policy guidelines and measures, and strategic plans for the sector's development. The thematic exhibition zones will cover areas such as winter sports and equipment, ice and snow culture, winter tourism, services for winter sports enthusiasts, and more.

"The upcoming fair promises to be an international event that will bring together industry, science and technology, culture, and tourism, all focused on winter, and will also provide a unique opportunity to explore new models, scenarios, and development paths for the snow and ice economy," noted Harbin Vice Mayor Jiang Jun.

The fair will feature a number of supporting events, including the World Ice Sculpture Competition, the International Student Snow Sculpture Competition, hockey matches, figure skating performances, and ice fishing. -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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Lottery ticket sales in China increased by 1.7 percent in January-November 2025.

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) — Lottery ticket sales in China rose 1.7 percent year-on-year to 575.62 billion yuan (about 81.55 billion U.S. dollars) in the first 11 months of 2025, according to data from the Ministry of Finance.

During the reporting period, charity lottery ticket sales totaled 191.28 billion yuan, up 1.3 percent year-on-year. Lottery ticket sales supporting the country's sports sector reached 384.34 billion yuan, up 1.9 percent year-on-year.

Last month, lottery tickets of both categories were sold for a total of 52.59 billion yuan, down 0.2 percent from November 2024. -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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An international conference dedicated to strengthening the strategic partnership between China and Armenia was held in Yerevan.

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

Yerevan, December 18 /Xinhua/ — An international conference entitled "Strengthening China-Armenia Strategic Partnership: Dialogue on Governance Experience Exchange" was held in the Armenian capital on Wednesday.

The event, organized at the initiative of the Confucius Institute at Bryusov State University, was attended by diplomats, experts, and representatives of scientific and academic circles.

Chinese Ambassador to Armenia Li Xinwei stated at the conference that Chinese-Armenian relations have reached a new level of development. He stated that China and Armenia are partners in pursuing peaceful development and global governance. "China is ready to share its development experience. We are hopeful of witnessing Armenia's bright future," he noted.

Speaking via video link, Armenian Ambassador to China Vahe Gevorgyan emphasized that the establishment of a strategic partnership between Armenia and China reflects the consensus of both countries on the principles, agenda, and vision of cooperation. The diplomat noted that Armenia and China mutually support their respective Belt and Road and Crossroads of the World initiatives.

Rector of Bryusov State University David Gyurjinyan called the conference's theme relevant, given China's Global Governance Initiative, which calls on all countries to pursue shared development and harmonious coexistence.

Khachatur Gazeyan, Rector of the Public Administration Academy of the Republic of Armenia, noted that strengthening and deepening Armenian-Chinese strategic cooperation has become a key topic on Armenia's development agenda. He stated that this conference is not only a platform for exchanging ideas but also an opportunity to jointly reflect on how to strengthen the scientific foundation of public service and develop a culture of managerial thinking in government agencies, educational institutions, and society at large.

Gohar Iskandaryan, Director of the Institute of Oriental Studies of the National Academy of Sciences of Armenia, believes that Armenian-Chinese relations have entered a qualitatively new stage of development, characterized by the intensification of political dialogue, the expansion of economic ties, as well as the deepening of educational, scientific, and cultural cooperation. –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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Rosneft won three awards at the AZS of Russia competition.

Translation. Region: Russian Federation –

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

Rosneft won the national "AZS of Russia" award, taking home three nominations: "Best Coffee at a Gas Station," "Best Fuel Quality Monitoring System," and "Best Gas Station Communications Campaign." The awards ceremony took place on December 17 in Moscow.

The "AZS Rossii" award is one of the most prestigious industry awards. It is awarded based on a popular vote and expert assessments from the professional community.

In the "Best Fuel Quality Control System" category, the jury recognized the Company's comprehensive approach, including a risk-based Quality Management System across all stages—from production to sales. This system includes regular sampling and analysis in stationary laboratories, rapid inspections using mobile laboratories, and continuous monitoring of vehicles and gas station operations. This ensures impeccable fuel quality, ensures safety and cost-effectiveness, and maintains customer trust.

Rosneft won the "Best Gas Station Coffee" award for selling exclusive Venezuelan coffee in its retail network. Since 2023, Rosneft has been supplying Venezuelan coffee beans, and today, this unique drink with its soft notes of vanilla, chocolate, and ripe fruit is available to customers at gas station cafes in Moscow and the Moscow region, Sochi, St. Petersburg, and the Leningrad region, as well as in city parks and at concert and festival venues through a mobile cafe under the "Zerno" brand. The coffee can also be purchased on the marketplace for home brewing.

The "Best Communications Campaign" award was given for Rosneft's systematic efforts to develop domestic automobile tourism. In 2025, the Company introduced 19 new auto routes that pass through Rosneft gas stations. Since 2023, 52 routes have been launched in collaboration with regional authorities, covering 24 regions of the Russian Federation.

Route information is published on the Company's website, partner platforms, and its own digital platform, "Horizons of Russia." This platform not only offers pre-designed routes but also allows users to plan their own trips based on Rosneft's road infrastructure.

Winning awards in the national "AZS Rossii" award categories confirms Rosneft's comprehensive approach to retail network development, which places equal emphasis on fuel quality, expanding service offerings, and creating unique customer solutions.

Reference:

Rosneft's retail network is the largest in the Russian Federation in terms of geographic coverage and quantity, spanning 62 regions and comprising nearly 3,000 stations. The Rosneft gas station brand is one of the leaders in Russia in terms of recognition and fuel quality.

The All-Russian "Gas Stations of Russia" competition is held annually and aims to foster competition, improve customer service, and create an accessible and convenient refueling infrastructure. The competition is organized by the "Reliable Partner" association and has been supported by the Federation Council Committee on Economic Policy since 2023.

Department of Information and Advertising of PJSC NK Rosneft December 18, 2025

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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From 34th to 6th place: Polytechnic University strengthened its position in the "TOP 1000 University Startups" ranking.

Translation. Region: Russian Federation –

Source: Peter the Great St. Petersburg Polytechnic University –

An important disclaimer is at the bottom of this article.

Peter the Great St. Petersburg Polytechnic University was ranked among the top universities in the 2025 annual "TOP 1000 University Startups" ranking, which is conducted as part of the University Technological Entrepreneurship Platform of the federal "Technologies" project of the national "Efficient and Competitive Economy" project.

Startups from students, employees, and graduates of higher education institutions in the last three years are eligible to participate in the competition.

In terms of the number of projects among the top 35 universities, Polytechnic University ranks sixth with 21 projects. In 2024, the university ranked 34th (nine projects).

The winners included students from various SPbPU institutes: PISh "Digital Engineering" (13 projects), IMMiT (3 projects), IBSiB (2 projects), IKNK (1 project), ISI (1 project), IPMET (1 project).

Maxim Gorbuk, a student at the Higher School of Computer Technology and Information Systems at the Institute of Computer Science and Culture (IKNSC), scored the highest score among polytechnic students—78.59. His project, "MedAI: A Mobile App for Vaccinating Children Receiving Immunosuppressive Therapy," placed 57th among the competition's winners.

Three projects by Elina Goricheva and two by Georgy Shkolnik made it into the rankings. Both participants are students from the Higher School of Technological Entrepreneurship (PSTE) at St. Petersburg Polytechnic University. A total of 40 projects were submitted to the competition by the HSTE.

SPbPU's high ranking is the result of systematic efforts to develop and promote student entrepreneurship (the Polytechnic University's Technological Entrepreneurship Model was among the top three at the Startup Summit Awards — Ed.), which aligns with the Concept of Technological Development of the Russian Federation until 2030.

Winners of the competition from Polytechnic

Advanced Engineering School "Digital Engineering":

Elina Goricheva, DeepSelf, SmartMatch Assist, and Movent projects; Georgy Shkolnik, "Integration of a Set of Artificial Intelligence Technologies into the Educational and Career Guidance Process" and "All-Russian Engineering Day" projects; Yaroslav Nikitin, "Cherdak" project; Denis Romanovsky, "Yoy-Kod" project; Anton Zykov, "Development of a Composite Ceramic Composition for 3D Printing of Casting Molds" project; Anton Aitov, "Embedded Wearable IoT System for Smart Clothing with Adaptive Functions" project; Nikita Korobov, "Embedded Onboard Module of Autonomous and Energy-Efficient Navigation for Aircraft-Type UAVs" project; Timofey Sokolov, "RavNer – a Digital Twin for Creating a Highly Efficient Domestic Hydrogen Cell" project; Daria Kuzmenkova, "AR Projector for Teaching and Entertaining Children on the Road in a Car" project; postgraduate student Anastasia Tsytsyna, "Embedded Wearable IoT System for Smart Clothing with Adaptive Functions" project; "Software for optimizing the performance of graphic editors (accelerating calculations when performing rendering and real-time tasks)."

Institute of Mechanical Engineering, Materials and Transport:

Mikhail Gnibeda, "E-Cigarette Sensor" project — a system for monitoring air quality in public places; Artem Yurikov, "Autonomous Vessel for Cleaning the Surface of Water Bodies from Microplastics and Cyanobacteria" project; Semyon Zimin, "Morf.VisionAI" project.

Institute of Biomedical Systems and Biotechnologies:

Hayk Akopyan, project "Development of a platform for preliminary assessment of the economic benefits of a construction tender", Alexander Barashkov, project "Perimeter protection system for the IGLA facility".

Institute of Computer Science and Cybersecurity:

Maxim Gorbuk, project "MedAI – a mobile application for vaccinating children receiving immunosuppressive therapy."

Civil Engineering Institute:

Arina Mokhireva, project "Normastroy – IT service for digital assessment of building projects."

Institute of Industrial Management, Economics and Trade:

Ilya Bodrov, project "Development of a medical service with gamification elements aimed at preventing atherosclerosis and its complications."

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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Rosneft awarded winners of a large-scale IT competition marathon

Translation. Region: Russian Federation –

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

Rosneft has announced the results of its large-scale IT Marathon, a series of high-tech competitions in which participants compete to solve production problems.

In 2025, the Ufa Research Institute and the Center for the Development and Implementation of Science-Intensive Technologies (CIT) organized seven competitions under the auspices of the IT Marathon: information modeling competitions, the Additive Technology and Reverse Engineering Cup, the Student Hackathon, the Academic Tournament, and the Geosteering League. The intellectual competitions brought together over 900 participants from 71 cities, 80 companies, and 92 universities, demonstrating the high interest of the professional and student community in the technological challenges of the oil and gas industry. The winners of all IT Marathon competitions met at the grand finale in Moscow.

Information modeling competitions were held in May among Rosneft's research and development institutes and production facilities. Teams developed information models and presented best practices for applying existing models in production.

Participants in the Additive Manufacturing Cup who passed the online qualifying round competed in September at the TNF Industrial and Energy Forum. The students designed an impeller for a centrifugal pump used in oil refineries: they scanned the sample, created a digital model, and 3D-printed the parts from plastic. Based on the results of bench tests, the jury selected the Cup winners. The winners were participants from St. Petersburg, Tyumen, and Ufa.

A student hackathon in November brought together over 340 participants from 45 Russian cities. In 48 hours, teams developed computer vision models to automatically highlight areas with different oil well placement patterns on a map. The authors of the 10 best solutions presented their projects to the hackathon jury. The top three winners included students from Moscow State University, Central University, and ITMO National Research University.

The Academic Tournament broke its own record for the number of participants in its three years of existence. A total of 154 representatives from 62 organizations in 25 cities participated in the scientific relay race. Teams developed algorithms and programs to accelerate the solution of systems of linear equations of a special type. The task has practical application in modeling fluid filtration processes in porous media, taking into account changes in the properties of an oil-saturated formation. Based on the results of the preliminary testing, 10 teams advanced to the competition finals. Following the testing and presentation of their results, the jury determined the winners of the Academic Tournament: Team Testv took first place, Yars took second place, and RESHALA took third place. The tournament's best solutions will be integrated into Rosneft's science-intensive software: RN-SIGMA, RN-KIM, and RN-GRID.

This year's Geosteering League brought together over 300 professionals and students from over 100 universities and organizations. The virtual horizontal well drilling championship was held using the RN-HORIZON corporate software suite. Following online qualifying rounds, 23 professional and 22 student finalists were determined. For the first time, the final qualifying round for professionals was held live. The top participants met at the finals in Moscow. In real time, they analyzed the geological situation based on incoming data, assessed risks, and plotted a well trajectory in a corporate simulator, promptly responding to unforeseen situations. The top three student winners were: Eldar Nigmatullin (Tyumen State University), Kirill Kosarev (Irkutsk State University), and Egor Nikitin (Tyumen Industrial University). Among the professionals, the best results were demonstrated by: Leonid Sivkov, Nikolai Kruglov, Lenar Sabirov (all from IGiRGI).

Representatives from leading universities and major Russian companies spoke at the IT Marathon finals. The speakers focused on breakthrough technologies, artificial intelligence trends, and aspects of information modeling in the oil and gas industry.

Over the past seven years, the Company's IT Competition Marathon has become a significant platform for identifying and supporting talented specialists, implementing innovative solutions in production processes, and strengthening partnerships between educational, industrial, and scientific organizations. Since 2019, Rosneft has held 24 competitions, attracting over 7,500 participants from 13 countries and 140 cities.

Department of Information and Advertising of PJSC NK Rosneft December 18, 2025

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 to tighten regulations on photovoltaic production capacity in 2026

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, December 18 (Xinhua) — In 2026, regulation of photovoltaic (PV) power generation capacity will be strengthened to ensure the orderly decommissioning of outdated capacity and achieve a dynamic balance between supply and demand in the sector through market-based and legal measures, Yang Xudong, director of the Electronic Information Department of the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology, announced at an annual industry meeting on Thursday.

The official described 2026 as a period of addressing the most complex challenges for project management in the photovoltaic sector, outlining several key tasks for the coming year: improving price monitoring mechanisms, strengthening product quality control, stimulating innovative development, increasing self-discipline in the industry, and promoting deeper international cooperation. -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.