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Pushkiniana

Translation. Region: Russian Federation –

Source: Moscow Government – Moscow Government –

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Vsevolod Ivanov Library No. 25 invites you to a calligraphy workshop, "Pushkiniana," dedicated to Alexander Pushkin Memorial Day. Participants will learn about the poet's life and work, and recall his works.

Having mastered the basics of calligraphy, under the guidance of the moderator, they will write a verse letter in the style of the 19th century, using pen, ink, and thin paper. The second part of the workshop will be devoted to creating an illustration for it in the style of Pushkin's images.

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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What is an atom?

Translation. Region: Russian Federation –

Source: International Atomic Energy Agency –

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What is an atom?

What's what in the nuclear sphere?

Atoms are the fundamental building blocks of matter. Everything that surrounds us—air, water, rocks, plants, and animals—as well as ourselves and our bodies, is made up of atoms.

January 21, 2026

Emma Midgley, Public Information and Communications Bureau

An atom is the smallest particle of a chemical element, containing all of its chemical properties. It consists of protons, neutrons, and electrons.

Atoms are extremely tiny; they are the smallest particles of a chemical element that retain all of its chemical properties. The ancient Greeks believed them to be the smallest particles in existence—the word "atom" itself means "indivisible" in Greek. The thickness of a human hair contains approximately 500,000 carbon atoms.

A single strontium atom becomes visible because it absorbs laser light and then re-emits it. The distance between the electrodes in the photograph is 2 millimeters. Photo: David Nadlinger / University of Oxford

Atoms cannot be seen with the naked eye or even with a standard optical microscope, as they are too small to deflect visible light waves. However, atoms can be viewed with an electron microscope, which generates electron waves capable of interacting with atoms. In the photograph above, the atom became "visible" because it absorbed and then re-emitted laser light.

What do atoms look like? Scientists have changed their minds over the centuries.

What are atoms made of?

Every atom consists of three types of particles: protons, neutrons, and electrons. At the center of the atom is a dense nucleus containing protons and neutrons, yet it is significantly smaller than the atom as a whole. If the nucleus of an atom were the size of a dice, the atom itself would be the size of a sports stadium.

Protons have a positive electrical charge, while neutrons are electrically neutral. The nucleus does not decay due to nuclear forces of attraction. These forces bind protons and neutrons at distances close to the size of the nucleus. At such distances, the nuclear force is significantly stronger than the electrical repulsion between protons (otherwise, due to their equal charges, they would repel each other). At greater distances, the nuclear force quickly weakens to negligible strength.

The number of protons in an atom's nucleus determines what element it is. For example, an atom with one proton is hydrogen, while an atom with eight protons is oxygen.

The nucleus of an atom is surrounded by a cloud of electrons—negatively charged particles. The nucleus and electrons are bound together by the Coulomb force—a force in physics that determines the repulsion or attraction between similarly charged particles. However, if an electron receives sufficient energy, it can separate from the atom, turning the atom into a positively charged ion.

The atom in the center of the IAEA logo contains four electrons—it is a neutral, non-ionic beryllium atom.

What are ions?

Atoms with an equal number of negatively charged electrons and positively charged protons are neutral because their charges cancel each other out. If an atom gains or loses electrons, it becomes an ion.

The electric field of a neutral atom is weak, while an electrically charged or ionized atom has a strong electric field—because of this, it is strongly attracted to oppositely charged ions and molecules. Atoms can become ionized through collisions with other atoms, ions, and subatomic particles. They can also be ionized by exposure to gamma or X-ray radiation. Ionizing radiation is radiation with sufficient energy to separate an electron from an atom. Furthermore, exposure to such radiation can alter the chemical composition of a substance, which can lead, for example, to DNA damage in living tissue.

Most atoms on Earth are stable primarily because of the balanced composition of particles (neutrons and protons) in their nuclei.

However, in some types of unstable atoms, the number of protons and neutrons in their nuclei prevents them from holding together. This "decay" of the atom releases energy in the form of radiation (e.g., alpha particles, beta particles, gamma rays, or neutrons), which—under controlled conditions and with appropriate safety precautions—can be used for a variety of purposes.

Ernest Rutherford: Inventor of the First Nuclear Fission Device

In 1917, scientist Ernest Rutherford discovered that when beams of radioactive alpha particles collide with nitrogen gas, the nitrogen atom splits into oxygen and a hydrogen nucleus. This subatomic particle (the hydrogen nucleus) was later renamed the proton.

Rutherford's discovery led to the creation of the first particle accelerator, initially called an "atom smasher." This powerful device could use an electric field to accelerate charged particles to high energies along a specific trajectory and, using strong magnets, to create beams of single charged particles. When these fast-moving particles, whose speeds can approach the speed of light, hit a target, the atoms in the target were disintegrated.

Additionally, particle accelerators can be used to create radioactive material – atoms are bombarded with charged particles to turn them into other, unstable atoms, such as technetium-99m, used for medical imaging, or radioisotopes for targeted cancer therapy.

Today, particle accelerators are also used to sterilize medical equipment, study the origins of the universe (for example, at the Large Hadron Collider), analyze air samples, and refine materials and increase their resistance to damage. There are many types of particle accelerators, including ion implanters, electron beam accelerators, cyclotrons, synchrotrons, linear accelerators (linacs), and electrostatic accelerators.

Splitting an atom: nuclear fission reaction

In the 1930s, scientists discovered that when certain uranium atoms are bombarded with neutrons—uncharged subatomic particles—they can split into two fragments and emit a number of neutrons, releasing a huge amount of energy. This process is called fission.

Of all the naturally occurring elements on Earth, uranium has the highest atomic number, with a nucleus containing 92 protons. Uranium-235 fissiles more easily than other isotopes because its nucleus is relatively unstable and readily absorbs neutrons, causing it to split into two lighter atoms. However, only 0.7% of the uranium in the Earth's crust is of this fissile type.

The fission process can initiate a nuclear chain reaction. Each splitting of a uranium-235 atom releases an average of 2.5 neutrons. These neutrons, in turn, can split other fissile uranium nuclei, releasing even more neutrons. However, these "fast" neutrons initially propagate with too much energy, making them ineffective in initiating fission. The use of "moderators," such as water or graphite, can reduce the speed of neutrons. Upon collision with hydrogen or carbon atoms, neutrons lose most of their energy, becoming "thermal" or "slow" neutrons, which are much more likely to split other uranium nuclei.

Nuclear fission technology currently accounts for 10% of the world's carbon-free energy generation because the reaction does not produce carbon dioxide.

What happens to atoms during nuclear fusion?

Nuclear fusion is a process in which two light atomic nuclei combine to form a single heavier nucleus, releasing a massive amount of energy. This theory was first formulated in the 1920s.

Thermonuclear reactions occur in matter in a plasma state—a hot, charged gas composed of positive ions and freely moving electrons that has unique properties distinct from those of solids, liquids, or gases.

It is this reaction that provides the energy for the Sun and all other stars. To achieve fusion on the Sun, nuclei must collide at extremely high temperatures—around one hundred million degrees Celsius. This high temperature provides them with enough energy to overcome their mutual electrical repulsion. Once the nuclei overcome this repulsion and are very close to each other, the nuclear forces of attraction between them become stronger than the electrical repulsion, allowing them to fuse.

For this to occur, the nuclei must be confined to a confined space, which increases the likelihood of their collision. On the Sun, the conditions for thermonuclear fusion are created by the colossal pressure generated by its powerful gravity.

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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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Breaking: D. Trump said that Europe is “moving in the wrong direction”

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

Davos, Switzerland, January 21 (Xinhua) — US President Donald Trump said on Wednesday that Europe is heading in the wrong direction, noting that the continent has become "unrecognizable" in a "very negative" sense.

D. Trump indicated that he “loves Europe” and wants to see it prosper, but stressed that “it is moving in the wrong direction.”

The President of the United States made the relevant statements in his special speech at the 2026 Annual Session of the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, which is taking place from January 19 to 23. –0–

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The Chinese Foreign Ministry expressed serious concern over the EU's new cybersecurity measures, which are allegedly aimed at 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, January 21 (Xinhua) — Chinese Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Guo Jiakun on Wednesday expressed serious concern over a new cybersecurity package unveiled by the European Commission (EC). The package calls for mandatory risk mitigation in mobile network supply chains and, according to some assessments, is aimed at China.

As Guo Jiakun noted, Chinese companies have long operated in Europe in accordance with laws and regulations, and have never threatened the national security of European countries. On the contrary, these companies make a significant contribution to the development of Europe's telecommunications and digital industries, providing high-quality products and services to the continent's population.

According to the Chinese diplomat, using non-technical criteria to forcibly restrict or even ban companies from entering the market without any factual basis “seriously violates market principles and the rules of fair competition.”

This blatant act of protectionism is a typical example of the politicization and securitization of normal cooperation, Guo Jiakun continued, emphasizing that attempts to arbitrarily interfere with market mechanisms and violate economic laws not only fail to ensure so-called security, but also entail enormous costs.

"Facts have already shown that individual countries, by forcibly removing high-quality and secure equipment from Chinese telecommunications companies, have suffered enormous economic losses and seriously hindered the development of their digital network industries," stated a Chinese Foreign Ministry official.

According to Guo Jiakun, the European Commission ignores the basic fact that Chinese companies provide safe and high-quality products and that China and the EU have a solid foundation and potential for cooperation in the digital network industry. The Chinese diplomat pointed out that the EC is using security as a pretext for political manipulation.

"This not only seriously hinders technological progress and economic development in the European Union itself, but also significantly damages the EU's image as an open market and undermines the confidence of businesses from various countries to invest in Europe. We urge the EU not to continue down the wrong path of protectionism," said a Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson.

China will take all necessary measures to protect the legitimate rights and interests of Chinese companies, Guo Jiakun added. –0–

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EU to increase investment in Greenland – U. von der Leyen

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

STRASBOURG, France, January 21 (Xinhua) — European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said on Wednesday that the European Union will increase investment in Greenland.

Speaking in the European Parliament, U. von der Leyen said the EU would ensure a “significant increase in investment” in Greenland, in particular to support the local economy and infrastructure.

As the President of the European Commission noted, the European Union also intends to work with the United States and other partners to protect the security of the Arctic region.

U. von der Leyen added that the threat of introducing additional customs duties by the United States is “wrong.” –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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Breaking: Death toll from Karachi mall fire rises to 60, police say

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

Islamabad, January 21 (Xinhua) — The death toll from a fire at a shopping mall in the southern Pakistani port city of Karachi has risen to 60 after rescuers pulled more bodies from the rubble, police said on Wednesday.

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Chinese company UBTECH has signed an agreement with Airbus to introduce humanoid robots to the aviation industry.

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

Guangzhou, January 21 (Xinhua) — Chinese humanoid robot developer UBTECH has signed a deal to supply Airbus with robots for use on the European aerospace giant's production lines. The startup, headquartered in Shenzhen, Guangdong Province, announced this on Wednesday.

Airbus has acquired the Walker S2 industrial humanoid robot as part of a joint effort to explore the potential of humanoid robots in aerospace manufacturing, UBTECH reported.

The collaboration with Airbus means that UBTECH, which established a strategic partnership with American semiconductor giant Texas Instruments in 2025, has gradually expanded the application scenarios of humanoid robots in five major sectors overseas: aerospace, automotive, consumer electronics, smart logistics, and semiconductor manufacturing.

The company's total orders for humanoid robots in 2025 reached 1.4 billion yuan (about $200 million), and its production capacity for industrial humanoid robots is expected to exceed 10,000 units in 2026, UBTECH reported.

UBTECH, a leading Chinese robotics company, said it will step up efforts to expand into overseas manufacturing markets, including Europe and the United States, in addition to its domestic market.

In November 2025, UBTECH began mass production of the full-size Walker S2 industrial humanoid robot. The robot stands 1.76 meters tall and is capable of independently changing batteries.

An industry report has found that Chinese robotics companies will become the world's largest producers of humanoid robots by 2025, highlighting the country's rapid growth in this emerging manufacturing sector.

Shanghai-headquartered AgiBot achieved annual shipments of over 5,100 units last year, securing a 39 percent share of the global humanoid robot market and ranking first globally in both shipments and market share. It was followed by Unitree and UBTECH, which recorded shipments of 4,200 and 1,000 units, respectively, according to a report published by London-based technology consultancy Omdia.

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Breaking: The European Parliament voted to refer the free trade agreement between the EU and Mercosur to the Court of Justice of the European Union.

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

Brussels, Jan. 21 (Xinhua) — The European Parliament on Wednesday voted to refer the free trade agreement between the EU and the South American Common Market (Mercosur) to the Court of Justice of the EU for review, a move that could slow its ratification process and increase uncertainty over the agreement's implementation.

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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Lightning: Death toll from fire at shopping mall in Karachi, Pakistan, rises to 60 – police

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

Xinhua | January 21, 2026

Keywords: Pakistan

Source: Xinhua

Lightning: The death toll from a fire at a shopping mall in Karachi, Pakistan, has risen to 60, police say. Lightning: The death toll from a fire at a shopping mall in Karachi, Pakistan, has risen to 60, police say.

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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Bon voyage! Information for the Class of 2026

Translation. Region: Russian Federation –

Source: Peoples'Friendship University of Russia

An important disclaimer is at the bottom of this article.

BACHELOR'S DEGREE, SPECIALIST (full-time and part-time): Agronomy, Landscape Architecture, Land Management and Cadastres, Veterinary and Sanitary Expertise, Standardization and Metrology, Veterinary Science.

February 17 – 16:00-18:00 Hall of the Academic Council of the State Corporation

BACHELOR'S, MASTER'S, SPECIALIST (correspondence): Landscape architecture, Land management and cadastres, Veterinary and sanitary examination, Standardization and metrology, Economics, Veterinary science.

March 10 – 16:00-18:00 Hall of the Academic Council of the State Corporation

MASTER'S DEGREE (full-time): Agronomy, Landscape Architecture.

June 26 – 12:00-14:00 EF Conference Hall

BACHELOR'S, MASTER'S, SPECIALIST (full-time): Agronomy, Landscape architecture, Land management and cadastres, Veterinary and sanitary examination, Standardization and metrology, Veterinary science.

July 7 – 13:00-16:00 Assembly Hall of the State Corporation

BACHELOR'S DEGREE (full-time and part-time): Hotel Management, Tourism

January 31 — 5:00 PM–6:00 PM, EGF Building, room 714

BACHELOR'S, MASTER'S (full-time): Management, Hotel Business, Tourism / Management, Hotel Business, Tourism, Economics, Management in Technical Systems

July 3 – 10:00-21:00 Assembly Hall of the State Corporation

BACHELOR'S DEGREE, MASTER'S DEGREE (full-time, part-time, correspondence): Architecture, Construction, Oil and Gas Engineering.

February 10 – 11:00-13:30 Ordzhonikidze St., Building 3, Room 700

BACHELOR'S, MASTER'S (full-time, part-time, correspondence): Applied Mathematics and Computer Science, Architecture, Reconstruction and Restoration of Architectural Heritage, Architectural Environmental Design, Construction, Power Engineering, Design and Technological Support for Mechanical Engineering Production, Oil and Gas Engineering, Operation of Transport and Technological Machines and Complexes, Management in Technical Systems, Innovation, Nanoengineering, Applied Geology, Mining.

July 1 – 09:00-20:00 Assembly Hall of the State Corporation

MASTER'S DEGREE (full-time, part-time, correspondence): Chemistry, Industrial Pharmacy.

March 11 – 12:00-14:30 EF Conference Hall

MASTER'S DEGREE (full-time): Nanotechnology and microsystems engineering, Chemistry, Industrial pharmacy.

July 3 – 11:00-13:30 EF Conference Hall

SPECIALTY (full-time)

June 25 – 13:30-14:50 EF Conference Hall

BACHELOR'S, MASTER'S, POSTGRADUATE (full-time and part-time)

February 20 – 16:00-21:00 Assembly Hall of the State Corporation

BACHELOR'S, MASTER'S, POSTGRADUATE

June 27 – 15:00-19:00 Assembly Hall of the State Corporation

MASTER'S DEGREE (correspondence)

April 17 – 12:00-14:00 IRYA building, room 107

BACHELOR'S DEGREE (full-time)

June 19 – 12:00-15:00 Hall of the Academic Council of the State Corporation

MASTER'S DEGREE (full-time)

June 29 – 12:00-15:00 Hall of the Academic Council of the State Corporation

BACHELOR'S DEGREE, MASTER'S DEGREE (full-time, part-time, correspondence)

March 9 – 15:00-18:00 EF Conference Hall

BACHELOR'S, MASTER'S (full-time)

June 30 – 15:00-19:00 EF Conference Hall

SPECIALTY (DENTISTRY)

June 25 – 11:00-14:00 Assembly Hall of the State Corporation

BACHELOR'S DEGREE (NURSING)

June 26 – 12:00-14:00 EF Conference Hall

SPECIALTY (MEDICAL MEDICINE)

June 26 – 11:00-14:00 Assembly Hall of the State Corporation

SPECIALTY (PHARMACY)

June 29 – 11:00-14:00 EF Conference Hall

MASTER'S DEGREE (correspondence)

February 17 — 15:00-18:00 Rector's Hall

MASTER'S DEGREE (full-time and part-time)

February 24 – 10:00-12:00 EGF, room 415

BACHELOR'S DEGREE (full-time and part-time)

June 23 – 10:00-12:00 EGF, room 415

BACHELOR'S, MASTER'S (full-time)

June 24 – 10:00-18:00 Assembly Hall of the State Corporation

MASTER'S DEGREE (full-time)

June 30 – 11:00-14:30 EF Conference Hall

BACHELOR'S DEGREE (full-time, part-time)

June 30 – 11:00-13:30 Assembly Hall of the State Corporation

MASTER'S DEGREE

June 30 – 14:00-16:00 Assembly Hall of the State Corporation

BACHELOR'S/MASTER'S DEGREE (full-time/part-time)

February 20 – 1:30 PM – 3:30 PM EHF Conference Hall

BACHELOR'S DEGREE (full-time)

June 8 – 11:00-14:00 Assembly Hall of the State Corporation

BACHELOR'S DEGREE (full-time)

June 8 – 16:00-19:00 Assembly Hall of the State Corporation

MASTER'S DEGREE (full-time)

June 10 – 12:00-15:00 Assembly Hall of the State Corporation

BACHELOR'S DEGREE (correspondence)

June 23 – 15:00-17:00 EHF Conference Hall

MASTER'S DEGREE (full-time, part-time, correspondence)

February 12 – 12:00-14:00 Assembly Hall of the State Corporation

BACHELOR'S, MASTER'S (full-time)

June 29 – 10:00-21:00 EF Conference Hall

BACHELOR'S DEGREE (full-time and part-time)

July 9 – 12:00-15:00 Assembly Hall of the State Corporation

BACHELOR'S DEGREE, MASTER'S DEGREE (full-time, part-time, correspondence)

January 21 – 13:00-15:30 Assembly Hall of the State Corporation

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.