Category: Russia

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Dialogue for Salvation: The UN Alliance of Civilizations Turns 20

Translation. Region: Russian Federation –

Source: United Nations – United Nations –

An important disclaimer is at the bottom of this article.

December 11, 2025 UN

In recent years, the world has been confronted with deepening geopolitical rifts – between North and South, East and West. Against this backdrop, the UN Alliance of Civilizations is celebrating its twentieth anniversary by holding an international forum in Riyadh dedicated to combating intolerance, incitement to hatred, and strengthening mutual respect in a multipolar world.

The capital of Saudi Arabia will host the 11th Global Forum of the UN Alliance of Civilizations on December 14–15. The summit will bring together representatives of national governments and civil society, youth and women's leaders, and media professionals and executives.

Mission of unification

The reason this event is of global significance is clear: intolerance and xenophobia are on the rise worldwide. Cultural and religious differences are increasingly being used to justify violence and oppression. A wave of hate speech, particularly in the digital space, is fueling mistrust and undermining social cohesion. In this climate, the Alliance's mission—promoting mutual respect and understanding between cultures and religions—is more relevant than ever.

History of the Alliance

The Alliance's history dates back to the early 21st century. This organization was born in the shadow of tragedy: after the September 11 attacks in the United States and subsequent terrorist attacks in Bali, Madrid, London, and Istanbul.

Against this backdrop, Spain and Turkey proposed an initiative to overcome the rapidly deepening geopolitical rifts. The alliance was officially launched in 2005 with the support of UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan – with the goal of preventing conflicts and transforming cultural, ethnic, and religious diversity into a source of strength rather than a pretext for violence.

"Diversity of Cultures. One Humanity."

Since then, guided by the motto "Diversity of Cultures. One Humanity," the Alliance of Civilizations has become the UN's leading platform for intercultural dialogue. Its activities span education, media literacy, migration, and countering hate speech. The Alliance launches projects that challenge stereotypes, prevent extremism, and promote inclusivity—from supporting women as mediators in peace processes to using sports and art as a unifying force. Today, its alumni network comprises hundreds of experts working across the globe.

Forum program

The Riyadh Forum will host a meeting of the Alliance's Friends Group, which comprises 161 members. The Saudi capital will also host a Youth Forum, where alumni will share the changes they have initiated in their communities.

Thematic sessions will address the most pressing issues of our time: disinformation generated by artificial intelligence, the role of women in peacebuilding, migration and human dignity, and the fight against hate speech. The forum's cultural program will feature a special place in the youth video festival PLURAL, which celebrates creative voices that confront xenophobia and promote diversity.

The forum is expected to result in the adoption of the Riyadh Declaration, which will define the next stage of the Alliance's development. New partnerships and agreements for 2026 will be announced, as well as recommendations for the 2027–2031 Action Plan.

Twenty years later, the message of the UN Alliance of Civilizations remains unchanged: dialogue is the vital foundation for humanity in an increasingly fragmented world.

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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About a hundred British troops are participating in combat operations against Russia, according to Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov.

Translation. Region: Russian Federation –

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, December 11 (Xinhua) – Around a hundred British troops are participating in combat operations against Russia in Ukraine, and following the death of one of them, the British government can no longer conceal this. Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov stated this during an embassy roundtable on the Ukrainian settlement.

"We have now been forced to acknowledge the direct participation of British military personnel and special forces in the war against Russia. After one of them died, the British government could no longer conceal these circumstances. It has been stated that at least 100 British citizens are among those fighting against the Russian Federation," Lavrov noted.

Russian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Maria Zakharova also noted that London has begun "preparing public opinion" for military losses in Ukraine. She drew attention to a speech by British Prime Minister Keir Starmer, in which he "openly confirmed the death of British serviceman Lance Corporal George Hooley of the Parachute Regiment, which occurred on December 9."

According to M. Zakharova, this is far from the first loss among the British military in Ukraine, and their presence in the special military operation “should be no secret to anyone.” –0–

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China has declared a Level 4 emergency response following an earthquake in the Xizang Autonomous Region.

Translation. Region: Russian Federation –

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

BEIJING, Dec. 11 (Xinhua) — The China Earthquake Administration on Thursday issued a Level 4 emergency response after a magnitude 5.0 earthquake struck Shuanghu County, Nagchu City, southwest China's Xizang Autonomous Region.

According to the China Earthquake Networks Center (CENC), the earthquake occurred on Thursday at 7:59 PM Beijing time. The hypocenter was located at a depth of 10 km.

Following the earthquake, the China Earthquake Administration instructed CENC and the Xizang Regional Earthquake Administration to conduct joint consultations and strengthen seismic monitoring and post-earthquake assessment measures. –0–

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The Japanese Prime Minister's erroneous statements about Taiwan have sparked a growing wave of opposition and criticism within the country, according to the Chinese Foreign Ministry.

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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 11 (Xinhua) — Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi's erroneous statements on the Taiwan issue have not only sparked strong outrage among the Chinese people but also a growing wave of opposition and criticism from objective, rational forces within Japan itself, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Guo Jiakun said on Thursday.

The Chinese diplomat made the statement at a regular briefing for journalists.

As Guo Jiakun, former editor-in-chief of the Japanese magazine Sekai, and former president of the Iwanami Shoten publishing house, Atsushi Okamoto, recently noted, Sanae Takaichi has repeatedly mentioned “dialogues” with China, but true dialogue should be based on mutual respect, equality, and a desire to understand the other side, while the Japanese Prime Minister’s current approach “does not meet the conditions for dialogue.”

“These comments point to the essence of the problem,” the official representative of the Chinese Foreign Ministry stated. –0–

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Brunei supports the great cause of China's national reunification, says Brunei's second foreign minister.

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 11 (Xinhua) — Brunei recognizes that Taiwan is an inalienable part of the People's Republic of China. Brunei will firmly adhere to the one-China policy and support the great cause of national reunification of China. This was announced in Beijing on Thursday by Brunei's Second Foreign Minister, Erivan Yusuf.

As the Brunei diplomat noted during talks with Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi, China remains the most important force promoting cohesion and stability in the region.

Wang Yi, for his part, outlined in detail China's principled position on the Taiwan issue and also explained the serious harm caused by the current Japanese leader's erroneous statements regarding Taiwan.

The Chinese Foreign Minister praised Brunei's strict adherence to the one-China principle over many years and expressed hope and confidence that the Brunei side will fully understand China's position and continue to resolutely support the Chinese people's just cause of safeguarding national sovereignty and territorial integrity.

Wang Yi called on both sides to jointly defend the international order established after World War II, as well as human conscience and justice. –0–

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Ukraine: Prolonged power outages continue to threaten nuclear safety

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Source: United Nations – United Nations –

An important disclaimer is at the bottom of this article.

December 11, 2025 Peace and security

Energy supply instability continues to pose serious risks to the safety of Ukraine's nuclear power plants amid the armed conflict, International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) Director General Rafael Mariano Grossi stated on Thursday.

According to the agency's head, early in the morning of December 6, the Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant (ZNPP) once again lost all external power—for the eleventh time since the full-scale invasion began. The two remaining operational power lines went down within 20 minutes of each other, leaving the plant without access to the grid.

"While the emergency generators performed as planned, repeated loss of off-site power increases operational stress and highlights the importance of reliable power supply," Grossi said.

One of the 330 kV lines was restored within 29 minutes, while the main 750 kV line remained without power for about nine hours. Earlier in the fall, Zaporizhzhya NPP spent a whole month without external power supply.

The situation at other nuclear power plants

The IAEA reports that large-scale attacks last Saturday disrupted the power grid in many regions of Ukraine. As a result, three operating nuclear power plants were forced to reduce reactor power.

"These outages resulted in power fluctuations, temporary outages, and forced shutdowns of power units. At a number of stations, power was reduced to maintain grid balance and prevent equipment damage," Grossi noted.

The agency's head reiterated that power grid instability remains one of the most serious challenges in terms of nuclear safety. One of the seven key safety principles, he said, is a guaranteed off-site power supply for all nuclear facilities.

Support for Ukraine

IAEA teams stationed at all Ukrainian nuclear power plants continue to monitor the situation around the clock. In early December, experts visited more than 10 substations damaged in recent attacks to assess repair needs and propose measures to support the energy infrastructure.

Agency experts were present during testing of a diesel generator at the Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant on December 5. During the test, a flame erupted from the exhaust pipe—as plant staff explained, due to soot ignition after the generator had been running for an extended period without external power. Following the test, the unit was returned to standby mode, and the team found no nuclear safety violations.

Grossi also reported that the IAEA, with financial support from the United Kingdom, provided four SUVs to the physical protection unit of the Central Enterprise for Radioactive Waste Management of Ukraine.

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PhosAgro entered the top group of the "Leaders of Corporate Philanthropy – 2025" rating on December 11, 2025.

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

Moscow. December 11, 2025. PhosAgro entered the top group of the "Corporate Philanthropy Leaders – 2025" rating, ranking companies with the most effective social programs. The "Corporate Philanthropy Leaders" project includes a rating of companies' social and charitable activities and a competition for corporate programs in specific categories. It has been implemented since 2006 by the Donors Forum association and its partners, including the Ministry of Economic Development, the Accounts Chamber of the Russian Federation, the Presidential Grants Fund, and the Russian Union of Industrialists and Entrepreneurs. The project's goal is to support, develop, and promote corporate philanthropy and social investment.

"The project has been running for 20 years and has become somewhat of a tradition. I know that participation is truly important for many companies as a sign of the quality of their social investment activities. We are very proud of our partners, who allow us to objectively assess the state of corporate philanthropy in a particular topic (in the nomination competition) and overall (in the company performance rankings). The competition nominations always reflect what we want to highlight and see relevant examples and interesting practices," noted Alexandra Boldyreva, Executive Director of the Association of Grant-Giving Organizations "Donors Forum."

In 2025, 78 companies participated in the "Corporate Philanthropy Leaders" project. A distinguished jury analyzed the businesses' approaches to social and charitable activities, their organizational aspects, and stakeholder engagement. The experts also examined the methods companies use to evaluate the effectiveness of social programs and identify ways to improve their efficiency.

The "A Leaders" group included 17 Russian companies that demonstrated the highest effectiveness of their charitable activities, including PhosAgro, Biocad, Kept, FESCO Transportation Group, AFK Sistema, Gazprom Neft, Metalloinvest, Norilsk Nickel, Protek Group, Rosatom, VTB Bank, and others. The scores earned by the leading companies for each assessed aspect amounted to at least 75% of the maximum. The corporate social programs competition determined winners in ten categories.

PhosAgro's "Promoting Improved Quality and Accessibility of Medical Care in the Murmansk Region" program won the "Best Program (Project) Implemented with the Support of Government Institutions" category. With its support, the company significantly upgraded the facilities of the Apatity-Kirov Central District Hospital. Today, it is a large medical complex, comprising two children's and two adult clinics, two women's clinics, a dental clinic, an emergency and urgent care department, paramedic and obstetric stations in the villages of Koashva and Titan, day hospitals, and numerous auxiliary units and services. Highly qualified specialists provide diagnosis and treatment here. More than 1,300 employees work across all departments of the clinic. PhosAgro funds the purchase of state-of-the-art medical equipment and allocates additional funds to attract medical personnel to the Arctic cities of Kirovsk and Apatity.

Apatit JSC (part of the PhosAgro Group) was also awarded a special diploma in the category "Best Corporate Social Investment Program in Territories in the Context of Sustainable Development and Business Strategy" for creating modern urban and tourist infrastructure in the Far North.

PhosAgro CEO Alexander Gilgenberg thanked the expert jury of the "Corporate Philanthropy Leaders – 2025" rating for their thorough and comprehensive analysis of the company's social and charitable activities.

"Caring for our workforce and all residents of the regions where we operate has been a strategic and consistent priority for PhosAgro since its inception. Over the past three years alone, the company has invested a total of 40 billion rubles in supporting our social and charitable projects, including creating a comfortable urban environment in the regions. To this end, we make anchor investments that serve as a launchpad for small businesses and the service sector. The best example is the development of the Khibiny mountain tourism cluster in the Arctic city of Kirovsk. This is one of the key projects in the comprehensive socioeconomic partnership between the company and the Government of the Murmansk Region, in which we have already invested 25 billion rubles.

"The high praise for this work by the Donor Forum experts is a reputable endorsement of the company's direction, effectiveness, and relevance of its social projects supporting education, healthcare, sports, and the creation of a comfortable urban environment," noted Alexander Gilgenberg.

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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Bulgaria's Prime Minister announced the resignation of his government following mass public protests.

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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

Sofia, December 11 (Xinhua) — Bulgaria's coalition government led by Prime Minister Rosen Zhelyazkov resigned on Thursday after thousands of Bulgarians took to the streets in nationwide protests a day earlier.

R. Zhelyazkov announced his decision just minutes before the sixth parliamentary vote of no confidence in the government. The motion, put forward by opposition parties who accused the cabinet of economic policy miscalculations, garnered only 106 votes in the 240-seat parliament, significantly short of the majority required for its passage.

"Our desire is to meet public expectations. Currently, as the constitution stipulates, all state power emanates from the people. We hear the voices of citizens protesting against the government," stated R. Zhelyazkov.

On December 10, tens of thousands of people protested across Bulgaria. They accused the government of failing economic policies, particularly in relation to the 2026 budget proposal, which was withdrawn. Similar protests have been ongoing for several weeks.

R. Zhelyazkov has not yet officially submitted his resignation. His government was sworn in on January 16 following snap elections in October 2024—Bulgaria's seventh parliamentary election in three and a half years.

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The legendary GUU mini-football cup remained at home

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Source: Official website of the State –

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On December 10, a memorial mini-football tournament was held at the GUU sports complex. It was dedicated to the memory of renowned alumni athletes, multiple champions of Russia and Moscow university tournaments: Sergei Granilshchikov, Igor Pis'mak, Sergei Bedretdinov, Valery Khidiyatullin, and many others.

The tournament's first competitions took place back in the 1980s. The main inspiration and organizer was Yuri Komionko, an associate professor in the Physical Education Department at the State University of Management, a Master of Sports in football, and a top-category referee. Under his leadership, the student men's team became five-time Moscow student champions and won the national championship.

The teams that competed for the Sergei Granilshchikov Cup included the "Management and Staff of the State University of Management," the "University Graduates," the "Veterans of the Dmitry Alenichev Academy," and the veterans' team of the "Torpedo-Lyubertsy" sports society.

For the second year in a row, the head referee of the competition was experienced referee, senior lecturer of the Department of Physical Education and a leading figure in the university veterans' football movement, Sergei Khromov.

This year, the tournament was won again by the "GUU Management and Staff" team, who defeated the "Veterans of the Dmitry Alenichev Academy" in the final match with a score of 3:1.

We congratulate the participants on an interesting game and wish them good luck in the coming year!

Subscribe to the "Our GUU" Telegram channel. Publication date: December 11, 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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RUDN University held its anniversary Gathering of Excellent Students

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Source: Peoples'Friendship University of Russia

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Excitement, smiles, anticipation… For the 50th anniversary, the most persistent, disciplined, and multi-tasking students of RUDN University—participants in the Honors Rally—gathered in the assembly hall of the main building.

There are 1,290 students with straight A's this year, 93 of whom are foreigners.

The leaders among the faculties were:

Faculty of Philology – 228 excellent students; Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences – 226 excellent students; Engineering Academy – 170 excellent students.

The numbers were distributed by semester as follows:

2 semesters — 668 students; 4 semesters — 271; 6 semesters — 210; 8 semesters — 95; 10 semesters — 46.

The gala evening opened with a video debunking the myths about top students. They're not boring, nerdy, or stuffy! They're goal-oriented kids with busy lives, juggling studies, science, creativity, sports, and even work. Then, our university's rector, Oleg Yastrebov, delivered a welcoming speech.

"Getting straight A's is a testament to perseverance, determination, and willpower! When a student gets straight A's, it speaks volumes about their attitude toward themselves, their work, and those around them: they do everything perfectly and don't allow the "good enough" attitude. "A-level students, congratulations to each and every one of you!" — Oleg Yastrebov, Rector of RUDN University.

The hall was filled with talented and hardworking RUDN students! The rector presented certificates and diplomas to students who received scholarships:

Eight students received a scholarship named after the first rector of RUDN University, Sergei Rumyantsev; eight students received a scholarship named after the second rector of RUDN University, Vladimir Stanis.

In addition, the Primary Trade Union Organization and the Scientific Department of RUDN University each awarded 12 people with certificates.

Quiz break

Following the initial awards ceremony, the hosts of the celebration and RUDN University Vice-Rector for Student Affairs Mikhail Katsarsky held a quiz with prizes for everyone in the hall. The five fastest and most knowledgeable students answered questions such as: "Who first proposed the idea of the World Wide Web?", "Which element on the periodic table is named after the Moon?", "Which fruit was considered a symbol of immortality in ancient China?", "Which literary work begins with the words, 'All happy families are alike'?", and "Which geographical discovery by Vasco da Gama marked the beginning of the Age of Discovery?"

If you answered: selenium, Leo Tolstoy's Anna Karenina, peach, and the sea route to India around Africa, then you're probably an excellent student too. The first drawing at the event was conducted by Ivan Kornev, Deputy Director of the Federal Service for Financial Monitoring, and Yegor Litvinenko, Deputy Head of the Federal Agency for Youth Affairs. The distinguished guests addressed the excellent students with parting words.

"A specialist knows how the system works, while a professional understands why it works the way it does, sees its limits, and is able to expand them. These are the kind of people we are currently focusing on, and these are the kind of professionals RUDN produces. I wish all the top students to continue to move forward," says Ivan Kornev.

"This room is filled with truly brilliant minds, sparkling eyes, eager for new knowledge and achievements. Do everything to realize your dreams and be just as friendly and vibrant," said Yegor Litvinenko.

Ivan Alexandrovich and Yegor Vasilyevich drew the name of the new tablet's winner from the lottery machine. It turned out to be Sergei Kovtunov, an eighth-semester honors student in the Artificial Intelligence department.

The moment for the main raffle—a Geely Coolray—was drawing near. Beforehand, the RUDN University rector presented gifts to all ten-semester top students. One of them, Yulia Taralina, a student in the Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences, delivered a touching speech to the guests present at the celebration.

"I look around the room, and I can see people with some kind of superpower. Because the top students are the ones who can get up when they're exhausted, the ones who sit at their laptop all night, and then smile in the morning and turn in their project. They're the ones who have a storm inside them, yet they still support their classmates. They're the ones who set goals higher than themselves and still jump in, unafraid. But we weren't born this way. RUDN University gave us all of this, because it's not just a place where you learn. It's a place where we learn endurance, true friendship, and the ability to understand someone who speaks another language. A place where you become a citizen of the world without ceasing to be yourself," says Yulia Taralina.

"Today's event is dedicated to you, the top students—those people who are sometimes disliked. But why? Because you're different? It's true: you're distinguished by your diligence, and you have excellent communication skills. Because sometimes it's not what you say, but how you say it, even how to charm. Your achievements speak for themselves. I envy you, in a good-natured way, because all paths, all roads, are open to you," Anastasia Bondarenko.

Do everything to the maximum

By chance (or "Boris Chernyshov's good graces"), the car's owner was Sofia Paplauskas, a master's student majoring in Construction at the Engineering Academy. This is the second year in a row that luck has been on the academy's side.

"I never aimed for straight A's, I just always tried to do my best in everything I did. I strove for something better, something greater. I always thought: if I have the opportunity to achieve my best, why not do it?" — Sofia Paplauskas.

According to the girl, for a long time the possibility of winning a car seemed unrealistic to her, until last year, when a representative of the engineering academy became the owner of the car.

"When my name was announced today, at first I thought I was imagining things. But no! This victory is a sign to me that all the effort invested in development, work, and study always pays off, and everything we do in life is not just for nothing. I want to thank RUDN University for becoming a home and a meaningful place in my life over the years, giving me so much more than just education and knowledge," says Sofia Paplauskas.

And although the car went to just one person, all the excellent students, starting from the fourth semester, received scholarships:

4 semesters — 20 thousand rubles; 6 semesters — 40 thousand rubles; 8 semesters — 50 thousand rubles; 10 semesters — 60 thousand rubles.

The holiday is over, but the pleasant aftertaste from it will remain with the excellent students for a long time.

An interview with Sofia Paplauskas will be published on the website soon: she will share the secret to her success, what it's like to spend 10 semesters getting straight A's, and whether she finds time to relax.

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.