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Since the beginning of the year, more than five thousand new SMEs have emerged in the tourism sector in Russia.

Translation. Region: Russian Federal

Source: Ministry of Economic Development (Russia) – Ministry of Economic Development (Russia) –

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In the first half of 2025, more than five thousand new small and medium-sized businesses in the tourism sector were created in Russia. Thus, the total number of tourism SMEs in the country reached almost 76.5 thousand, and their revenue by the end of 2024 exceeded 1 trillion rubles.

"Over three years, the number of small and medium-sized enterprises in the tourism sector has grown by 12% and is now approaching 76.5 thousand. And the total employment in the SME segment in the tourism sector is 296 thousand people. The growth rate of domestic tourism and targeted government support provide opportunities for the development of small and medium-sized businesses. Moreover, this is a two-way street: the active involvement of SMEs in the creation of tourism infrastructure is not only a response to market demand, but also the creation of new points of attraction for the redistribution or increase of tourist flows," said Deputy Minister of Economic Development of the Russian Federation Dmitry Vakhrukov.

According to the SME Corporation, the growth rate of SMEs in tourism is 1.5 times higher than in other industries.

"The key feature of the growth of tourism SMEs was the high growth rate relative to SMEs in all industries – more than 1.5 times. Since the beginning of 2025, more than five thousand SMEs have been created in key areas of tourism with a reproduction rate (the ratio of opened and closed enterprises) of 1.7. In general, for all industries, this ratio is significantly lower and is 1.1. Another important trend is the interest in tourism on the part of young people. Every fifth SME is accounted for by young entrepreneurs under 35. At the same time, the average age of entrepreneurs in the tourism sector is 44 years old, which is a year higher than the average for the SME sector," said Alexander Isaevich, General Director of the SME Corporation.

About 45% of SMEs in the tourism sector have hired workers, their number is 234 thousand people. Another 62 thousand are self-employed citizens who work as guides and also provide temporary accommodation services.

The largest number of SMEs in tourism in 2025 opened in Moscow (537), Krasnodar Krai (465), St. Petersburg (282), Moscow Region (244), and the Altai Republic (225). In the ranking of cities, besides Moscow, the resort city of Sochi leads in this indicator (86 SMEs), followed by Krasnodar (83), Yekaterinburg (72), Ufa (60), and Kazan (53). The top 10 municipalities in terms of business growth in tourism also included Gelendzhik (48), Perm (48), municipalities of the city of Moscow (47), Anapa (45), and Novosibirsk (44).

Let us recall that in order to support the tourism business, the SME Corporation allocated a special limit of "umbrella" guarantees in 2025, which will allow small and medium businesses in this area to attract at least 25 billion rubles by the end of the year. A full range of financial and non-financial support measures for the creation and development of entrepreneurship in the tourism sector is presented on the SME.RF Digital Platform.

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Breaking: New ceasefire agreement between Syria's interim government and Druze leaders reached in Syria's As-Suwayda province

Translation. Region: Russian Federal

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

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

DAMASCUS, July 16 (Xinhua) — A new ceasefire agreement was reached between Syria's interim government and Druze leaders in the southern province of As-Suwayda on Wednesday, aiming to end days of deadly clashes and return the province to full government control, the Syrian government said. -0-

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Kremlin closely monitors situation with Western arms supplies to Ukraine – Russian presidential press secretary

Translation. Region: Russian Federal

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

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

Moscow, July 16 /Xinhua/ — Russia is very attentive to the issue of long-range weapons supplies to Ukraine and is monitoring the relevant reports, Russian presidential press secretary Dmitry Peskov said on Wednesday.

"The topic is, of course, high on the news agenda. Of course, we are very closely monitoring all relevant reports," he told reporters.

Answering the question of how the Kremlin feels about the decision of US President Donald Trump to sell NATO weapons for further deliveries to Ukraine, D. Peskov pointed out that the US has supplied and will continue to supply weapons to Ukraine, for them “it’s business.”

"It's just a question of who pays for them. Now some Europeans will pay for them," the Kremlin spokesman noted. At the same time, he drew attention to the fact that there will be disagreements among European countries on paying for weapons for Ukraine. "You heard that the French will not pay, the Czechs will not pay. That is, there will be disagreements there too, because there is so much to pay, so much money. There will be nothing left for the citizens," the Russian president's press secretary emphasized.

D. Peskov noted that “the Europeans are displaying a completely unbridled militaristic attitude and are declaring their intention to spend countless amounts of money on purchasing weapons” in order to further provoke a continuation of the war. “Of course, against the backdrop of such an emotional state, bordering on inadequacy, it is very difficult to predict anything on the European continent,” he stated.

D. Peskov also confirmed that all provisions of the Russian Federation’s nuclear doctrine, including the responsibility of nuclear countries for “inciting” non-nuclear ones, are in effect.

In this regard, Moscow calls on all interested parties to provide assistance in continuing direct Russian-Ukrainian negotiations, the Kremlin representative emphasized.

In the fall of 2024, an updated nuclear doctrine of Russia was adopted in connection with the emergence of new military risks. The new version, in particular, expanded the list of states against which nuclear deterrence is carried out and supplemented the list of military threats. It contains a clause stating that aggression by a non-nuclear state with the support or participation of a country possessing nuclear weapons is considered a joint attack on the Russian Federation. At the same time, the basic principle of the use of nuclear weapons remains the same: it is an extreme and forced measure to protect Russia's sovereignty.

On July 14, D. Trump announced that Ukraine would receive weapons from the United States, and that European countries would fully pay for them. “We are talking about military equipment worth billions of dollars, which will be purchased from the United States, transferred to NATO and very quickly put on the battlefield. Ukraine will receive it,” he explained. In particular, the American president announced the delivery of 17 Patriot air and missile defense systems to Ukraine. –0–

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Armenian Prime Minister Does Not Rule Out Country's Withdrawal from CSTO

Translation. Region: Russian Federal

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

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

Yerevan, July 16 (Xinhua) — Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan believes that the country's withdrawal from the Collective Security Treaty Organization (CSTO) is likely. The head of the Armenian government said this at a press conference on Wednesday.

“Armenia’s withdrawal from the CSTO is more likely than freezing its membership in this organization,” N. Pashinyan said.

Answering another question on the same topic, he confirmed that the problem in relations with the CSTO arose in the fall of 2022, when Armenia, during another escalation of the situation on the border with Azerbaijan, turned to its partners in this bloc for help, but did not receive support. Then, according to N. Pashinyan, the CSTO stated that the Armenian-Azerbaijani border was not defined and therefore the bloc could not provide support to Armenia.

Since February of last year, Armenia has practically not participated in events held under the auspices of the CSTO and does not pay membership fees to this organization. –0–

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The Verkhovna Rada approved the resignation of the Prime Minister of Ukraine

Translation. Region: Russian Federal

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

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

Kyiv, July 16 /Xinhua/ — The Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine on Wednesday accepted the resignation of the country's Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal, parliamentarian Yaroslav Zheleznyak reported on Telegram.

The corresponding decision was supported by 261 deputies, with the required minimum being 226 votes.

D. Shmyhal resigned the day before. Before that, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky proposed that the First Deputy Prime Minister, Minister of Economy of the country Yulia Svyrydenko head the Ukrainian government. According to Y. Zheleznyak, the parliament will consider her candidacy on July 17.

According to Ukrainian law, the dismissal of the prime minister entails the resignation of all members of the government. However, they will continue to exercise their powers until the newly formed cabinet begins work.

D. Shmyhal has served as Prime Minister of Ukraine since March 4, 2020. According to media reports, he may become Minister of Defense in the new government. –0–

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Russia to Start Mass Implementation of Digital Ruble in 2026

Translation. Region: Russian Federal

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, July 16 /Xinhua/ — The mass introduction of the digital ruble will begin in Russia on September 1, 2026. This was reported on Tuesday by the press service of the Bank of Russia /Central Bank/.

From now on, the largest Russian banks will have to provide customers with the opportunity to open digital wallets, as well as pay for goods and services, make transfers and carry out other transactions in digital rubles. Such transactions will become mandatory for trading companies with revenues of more than 120 million rubles, if they are serviced by the largest banks.

From September 1, 2027, these rules will become mandatory for other banks with a universal license and their clients from among trading companies with annual revenue over 30 million rubles. Other banks and sellers with revenue from 5 million to 30 million rubles per year must implement operations with the digital ruble by September 1, 2028.

The digital ruble is being created to become another means of payment and transfer that will not depend on bank restrictions in the form of commissions and limits. People will be able to open a digital wallet through the applications of banks connected to the digital ruble platform of the Bank of Russia. –0–

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HSE and NEFU graduate first bachelors in the double degree program "Economics and Data Analysis"

Translation. Region: Russian Federal

Source: State University “Higher School of Economics” –

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Collection of Xi Jinping's articles on education, two other books presented in Hong Kong

Translation. Region: Russian Federal

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

HONG KONG, July 16 (Xinhua) — A collection of articles by Chinese President Xi Jinping on education and two other books printed in traditional Chinese characters were unveiled on Wednesday, the first day of the Hong Kong Book Fair in the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (SAR).

The three books, “On Education,” “Thesis for Studying Xi Jinping Thought on Culture,” and “Xi Jinping Among the People: Warm Moments,” were published by Sino United Publishing (Holdings) Limited in Hong Kong. They aim to help readers in Hong Kong and Macao gain a deeper understanding of Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era and strengthen their national cultural identity.

Hong Kong SAR Chief Executive Lee Jiachao /John Lee/ attended the presentation of these publications. -0-

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Chinese FM: SCO Can Play Bigger Role in Ensuring Regional Peace and Stability

Translation. Region: Russian Federal

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

TIANJIN, July 16 (Xinhua) — Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi on Wednesday said the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) can play a bigger role in maintaining regional peace and stability and promoting development and revival.

Wang Yi, also a member of the Politburo of the CPC Central Committee, made the statement in the northern Chinese city of Tianjin during a meeting with SCO Secretary-General Nurlan Yermekbayev.

Expressing gratitude to the SCO Secretary General for his dedication since taking office, Wang Yi noted that Nurlan Yermekbayev has made an active contribution to promoting the implementation of the consensus reached by the leaders of the SCO member states, and has also established good working relations with various departments of China.

Wang Yi said that the SCO, which is the largest comprehensive regional organization in terms of population and geographic coverage and has great potential, has attracted more and more attention from the international community and can play a more important role in maintaining regional peace and stability and promoting development and revival.

The SCO can contribute to the formation of a new type of international relations and the building of a community of shared destiny for humanity, he added.

Wang Yi noted that the Secretariat is the most important permanent body of the SCO. According to him, under the leadership of the SCO Secretary General, the Secretariat will play a more significant role in ensuring the effective functioning of the organization, coordinating the actions of all parties and enhancing the authority of the organization.

China will continue to support and facilitate the work of the SCO Secretariat, he added.

Wang Yi said that China has hosted more than 90 events during its presidency. He called on the SCO Secretary-General to continue to support China's work during its SCO presidency and help China hold a friendly, united and fruitful summit.

Nurlan Yermekbayev stated that China has put forward and implemented a meaningful program of events, raising the level of cooperation between all parties to a new height.

The SCO Secretary-General said the Secretariat will continue to provide comprehensive support to China's chairmanship and work with China to prepare for the SCO Tianjin Summit to ensure fruitful results from the event. -0-

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In the world of books and artifacts: participants of the SPbPU library forum visited a rare excursion

Translation. Region: Russian Federal

Source: Peter the Great St. Petersburg Polytechnic University –

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A library forum was recently held at the Polytechnic University "KorFor-2025"A special gift for the forum guests was a tour of rare and often closed to the general public libraries of St. Petersburg.

For example, the tour participants got acquainted with the oldest military library in Russia, which is located in the historical building of the General Staff on Palace Square. Over 210 years, the Military Historical Library of the General Staff of the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation has collected a unique collection on military history and military art from ancient times to the present day. A special pride is the richest collection of maps of military operations for more than 200 years of history. The employees talked about their work, about new technologies used in the library, which carefully stores not only documents, but also the memory of great events in the history of our Motherland.

The history of the Scientific Library of the Russian Academy of Arts begins at the time of the founding of the Academy of Arts in 1757. The basis of the library's collection was a gift from the founder of the Academy of Arts, Ivan Ivanovich Shuvalov. Currently, the library collection contains more than half a million printed publications, engravings, photographs, reproductions, illustrations, revealing the entire diversity of world artistic culture.

The excursionists walked through the unique halls of the library, learned about the history of its creation and development. And what awe and admiration were caused by the rare editions of the 15th-18th centuries, offsets, engravings, lithographs! The time spent in a warm, welcoming atmosphere flew by in an instant and left unforgettable impressions on all the excursion participants.

During the visit to the Scientific Library of the Russian Geographical Society, the specialists got acquainted with a rare collection of books, maps and documents. These materials reflect almost all expeditions in Russia and other countries that took place under the auspices of the Russian Geographical Society. The reports on Arctic expeditions and the history of the discovery of the Northern Sea Route deserve special attention. The guests had the opportunity to get acquainted with rare editions of the 17th-19th centuries, representing historical and cultural significance.

Head of the library Maria Bystrova told the guests in detail about the unique collections and modern methods of cataloguing and storing valuable materials.

The librarians also got a glimpse into the inner life of the St. Petersburg Theological Academy of the Russian Orthodox Church: they walked along the rector's corridor, visited the museum and classrooms, looked into the cozy reading room and, of course, into the library, the largest in the Orthodox world. Currently, its collection contains about 315,000 books, periodicals and musical editions. The library collection contains books mainly of theological and church-historical content. The excursionists were especially impressed by the academic temple in the name of the Apostle and Evangelist John the Theologian, which houses the revered icon of the Mother of God "The Sign" of Tsarskoye Selo and other holy relics.

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