952 telecom fraud suspects returned to China from Myanmar

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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

BEIJING, December 25 (Xinhua) — A total of 952 Chinese nationals suspected of telecom fraud were returned to China following a recent joint operation by law enforcement agencies from China, Myanmar, and Thailand in Myanmar's Myawaddy Prefecture, the Ministry of Public Security (MPS) announced Thursday.

Criminal groups in Myawaddy have long been engaged in telecommunications and online fraud, targeting Chinese citizens and causing serious losses. Earlier this year, China, Myanmar, and Thailand established a trilateral coordination mechanism to combat such crimes and subsequently conducted a series of operations to disrupt the activities of these criminal groups.

According to the ISS statistics, over 7,600 Chinese citizens suspected of organizing online gambling and telecommunications fraud have been returned from Myawaddy to China since the beginning of this year.

The Ministry of Defense emphasized that it will strengthen cross-border cooperation between law enforcement agencies to combat telecommunications and online fraud in order to effectively protect the safety of people's lives and property.

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The rector of the State University of Management at a meeting of the State Council chaired by the President of Russia

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Source: Official website of the State –

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Vladimir Stroyev, Rector of the State University of Management, took part in the final meeting of the State Council, chaired by Vladimir Putin in the Kremlin on December 25.

The President discussed with members of the State Council the training of personnel for the economy, paying particular attention to the modernization of the education system in the context of the development of artificial intelligence.

In his speech, Vladimir Putin recalled that 19 national projects with specific targets were launched in 2025, eight of which are aimed at ensuring Russia's technological leadership. The success of each project depends on the professionalism and competence of the people involved. At the same time, there is currently a high demand for skilled workers: unemployment has dropped to 2.2% overall and to 3.8% among young people.

The head of state emphasized that the next 10-15 years will see the largest technological breakthrough in world history, and we must approach it with full readiness:

"The very principles of training specialists and their subsequent career advancement are being radically transformed. The traditional trajectory of step-by-step career development—from education, to junior position, and on to management—will undoubtedly change… The entire paradigm of personnel training needs to be changed."

Accordingly, it is necessary to revise existing programs and teaching methods, develop new ones, and conduct mass retraining of teachers who will not only be oriented toward new technologies but also preserve the fundamental foundations of the education system, developing independent creative thinking in students and the ability to critically evaluate the proposals of artificial intelligence.

The President also recalled the national ranking of graduate employment prepared by the Ministry (recall that GUU took a leading position in it), based on which he proposed annually identifying the 100 educational institutions that demonstrated the worst results and working with them to improve their performance.

In addition, tasks were outlined to overcome imbalances in the labor market, optimize the sectoral structure of employment, and develop an infrastructure for career guidance for young people and additional vocational education.

Regarding higher education, the President called for attention to be paid to the development of universities that train personnel for key sectors: energy, transport, agriculture, construction, culture, and healthcare. New development programs for such universities should be discussed and developed in close collaboration between the Ministry of Education and Science, industry ministries, relevant enterprises, and businesses.

Subscribe to the "Our GUU" Telegram channel. Publication date: December 25, 2025.

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Top Stories of the Day | Wednesday: Ukraine, Central African Republic, Democratic Republic of Congo, Palestine

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Source: United Nations – United Nations –

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December 24, 2025

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The global forest industry is showing signs of recovery.

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Source: United Nations – United Nations –

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December 24, 2025 Economic development

The global forest products sector began to recover in 2024 after a sharp decline the year before, according to a new report released Wednesday by the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO).

FAO statistics cover 77 product categories, 27 commodity groups, and more than 245 countries and territories. The report presents current trends in trade and production of major forest products.

According to the UN agency, international trade in wood and paper products has regained momentum, with most major commodity groups reporting moderate growth. This recovery follows a 14 percent decline in overall trade in wood and paper products in 2023.

Industrial timber harvesting volumes increased by two percent in 2024, although global trade volumes declined by one percent. Global production volumes of sawn timber—boards, beams, and other processed wood products—remained virtually unchanged. Trade in sawn timber also remained at 2023 levels.

Wood panel production grew for the second consecutive year, increasing by five percent. Wood pulp supply increased by three percent to 189 million tonnes, while international trade in this product grew by two percent, reaching a record 73 million tonnes. Wood pellet production, which has rapidly increased in recent decades thanks to the development of bioenergy in Europe, the Republic of Korea, and Japan, returned to 48 million tonnes in 2024, the same level as in 2022, after a slight decline in 2023.

“Forests provide livelihoods for millions of people around the world, and this number will grow as forests offer increasing economic opportunities in various sectors, including sustainable timber production,” said FAO Director-General Qu Dongyu.

A recent FAO Forest Resources Assessment report found that net forest area loss has more than halved since the 1990s, with more than 90 percent of forests regenerating naturally.

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China strongly opposes additional US tariffs on Chinese semiconductors /more details/

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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

BEIJING, December 25 (Xinhua) — China rejects the so-called findings of the U.S. investigation under Section 301 of the U.S. Trade Act and firmly opposes the imposition of additional customs duties under this section on Chinese semiconductor products, Ministry of Commerce spokesperson He Yongqian said on Thursday.

The Office of the U.S. Trade Representative recently released the results of its Section 301 investigation into China's semiconductor policies, announcing plans to impose new tariff measures under this section on some Chinese semiconductor products. The tariff rate will initially be zero, and will be increased within 18 months to a level announced no less than 30 days before June 23, 2027.

As He Yongqian noted at a regular press briefing, China has taken note of the current situation and made a serious representation to the American side through the mechanism of China-US trade and economic consultations.

Unilateral US tariffs violate World Trade Organization rules, undermine the international trade and economic order, disrupt global supply chains, and harm the interests of American companies and consumers, a spokesperson for the Department of Commerce stated, calling on the United States to promptly correct its erroneous actions and reverse the measures.

China is prepared to resolve mutual concerns with the United States through equal dialogue and consultation based on the principles of mutual respect, peaceful coexistence, and win-win cooperation, He Yongqian emphasized. She added that if the United States persists in undermining China's rights and interests, China will take the necessary measures to resolutely protect its own rights and interests.

Asked whether China's Ministry of Commerce plans to ease restrictions on rare earth magnet exports to the United States, a spokeswoman said: "China is committed to protecting the security and stability of global supply chains and actively promoting and facilitating qualified trade." –0–

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Three terrorists were killed in Tajikistan on the border with Afghanistan.

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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

Dushanbe, December 25 (Xinhua) — Three terrorists from Afghanistan were neutralized in Tajikistan following a clash on the border between the two countries, killing two Tajik border guards. This was reported on Thursday by the Khovar news agency, citing a statement released by the border troops of the State Committee for National Security (GKNB).

According to the statement, on December 23 at 11:30 PM, three militants from a terrorist organization from Afghanistan entered Tajikistan in the Shamsiddin Shokhin district. The perpetrators intended to carry out an armed attack on a border guard post of the State Committee for National Security of Tajikistan.

As a result of operational and investigative measures, the terrorists' location in Tajikistan was established on December 24. The terrorists refused to comply with Tajik border guards' demands to surrender and offered armed resistance. As a result of the operation, all three terrorists were neutralized, and two Tajik border service members were killed.

Firearms, ammunition and other military equipment were seized from the scene.

The Tajik State Committee for National Security (GKNB) border troops noted that the Tajik side called on the Afghan authorities to take additional effective measures to strengthen border security.

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The Yasukuni Shrine is an odious symbol of Japanese militarism, according to the Russian Foreign Ministry.

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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

Moscow, December 25 (Xinhua) — The Yasukuni Shrine in Tokyo is a controversial symbol of Japanese militarism. Russia calls on Japan to fully recognize the results of World War II. This was stated by Russian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Maria Zakharova at a briefing on Thursday, responding to a Xinhua reporter's question about a possible upcoming visit to the shrine by Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi.

"I would like to broadly echo Russia's approach to this issue. The Yasukuni Shrine is an odious symbol of Japanese militarism, where, as is well known, Class A war criminals sentenced to death by the International Tribunal for the Far East are venerated, among others," the Russian diplomat noted.

M. Zakharova recalled that on April 21 of this year, a large group of Japanese politicians, led by Shigeru Ishiba, Sanae Takaichi's predecessor as Prime Minister, sent a sacrificial offering to the Yasukuni Shrine. According to her, the entire event was not without pomp and even ceremony. "We once again call on Japan to cease its attempts to whitewash the inhumane suffering in its own history and to fully recognize the results of World War II," the official spokesperson for the Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs stated.

She shared the idea that a temple dedicated to the victims of Japanese militarism should be built in Japan. "And once a year, or even more often, sacrificial offerings could be sent there to atone for our own crimes. Because it's hard to even imagine how many people Japanese militarism killed and how it killed civilians," Zakharova emphasized, pointing out that all these facts are historically documented.

"How do they view this idea in Tokyo?" the Russian diplomat asked rhetorically, expressing confidence that even if Japanese journalists don't write about it, Chinese journalists will certainly convey the proposal to the region. –0–

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St. Petersburg is preparing to welcome over 1.2 million tourists during the New Year holidays.

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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

St. Petersburg, December 25 /Xinhua/ — According to preliminary estimates, approximately 1.25 million tourists will visit Russia's "Northern Capital" during the upcoming New Year holidays, the city's tourism development committee press service told TASS.

During the same period last year, 1.22 million tourists visited St. Petersburg.

The largest number of bookings for St. Petersburg hotels is observed in the first days after the New Year.

Earlier, the press service of St. Petersburg Governor Alexander Beglov reported that in 2025, out-of-town and foreign tourists made 12.4 million trips to St. Petersburg. This is 7 percent more than the previous year. Tourists' contribution to the city's economy reached 843.1 billion rubles (more than $10.7 billion), 15 percent more than last year's figure.

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The Soyuz-2.1a rocket launched from the Plesetsk Cosmodrome, according to the Russian Ministry of Defense.

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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

Moscow, December 25 /Xinhua/ — The Russian Space Forces successfully launched a Soyuz-2.1a launch vehicle carrying a spacecraft from the Plesetsk Cosmodrome. The Russian Defense Ministry announced this on Thursday.

“On December 25 at 5:11 p.m., from the State Test Cosmodrome of the Ministry of Defense of the Russian Federation (the Plesetsk Cosmodrome) in the Arkhangelsk Region, a combat crew of the space forces of the Aerospace Forces successfully launched the Soyuz-2.1a medium-class launch vehicle with a spacecraft on board,” the statement reads. –0–

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China will continue to work with other countries to promote global sustainable development, 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 –

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

Beijing, December 25 (Xinhua) — Amid a lack of action on global climate governance, China will continue to take a responsible approach and work with other countries to address challenges, overcome difficulties, and promote global sustainable development, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Lin Jian said on Thursday.

According to media reports, the American journal Science recently published its list of the top 10 scientific breakthroughs of 2025. "The seemingly unstoppable growth of renewable energy" topped the list, and this breakthrough was largely driven by China. As Lin Jian noted, China holds leading positions in areas such as solar panel production, wind turbines, and lithium batteries.

“This once again proves that China’s contribution to the global green energy transition is obvious to everyone,” the diplomat stated.

Pointing out that green development is a distinctive feature of Chinese-style modernization, the Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson pointed out that among all countries, China has created the most complete policy system for reducing carbon emissions and the largest renewable energy system.

According to Lin Jian, the installed capacity of new-generation energy storage systems in China has exceeded 100 million kW, accounting for over 40 percent of the global total. China has become one of the countries with one of the fastest rates of energy intensity reduction in the world.

Lin Jian noted that during the 14th Five-Year Plan period (2021-2025), China's wind power and photovoltaic products helped other countries reduce carbon emissions by approximately 4.1 billion tons. China is actively sharing the fruits of its green development and providing assistance to countries in the Global South, the diplomat emphasized.

As of October this year, China has signed 55 memorandums of understanding on climate change with 43 developing countries, implemented more than 300 capacity-building programs, and trained over 10,000 people from over 120 developing countries, a Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson added.

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