The finals of the All-Russian School Olympiad in Chinese and Italian were held at RUDN University.

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Source: Peoples'Friendship University of Russia

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The final stages of the All-Russian School Olympiad in Chinese and Italian took place at RUDN University from March 22 to 27. 149 students from 37 regions of the country participated in the Italian language finals. Following the competition rounds, 12 students emerged victorious, and 57 were runners-up. 267 students from 65 regions of Russia competed in the Chinese language finals. 21 students emerged victorious, and 100 were runners-up.

The best results were shown by students from Moscow, St. Petersburg, Moscow, Kaluga, Tver, Sverdlovsk, Ryazan, Ivanovo, Irkutsk, Murmansk regions, as well as from the Republic of Bashkortostan and the Republic of Buryatia.

Tests and public speaking skills

In the written round, participants completed a written creative assignment, a vocabulary and grammar test, listening, reading, and writing exercises, and also demonstrated their knowledge of linguistics and regional studies. In the oral round, they demonstrated their speaking skills, including their ability to spontaneously interact with others in groups, their communicative readiness, and their public speaking skills.

The closing ceremony was attended by Sergey Vladimirovich Pepeliaev, Head of the Regulatory and Methodological Department of the Lednev Institute of Teaching Content and Methods; Li Yanyi and Zhang Zongnan, Third Secretaries of the Embassy of the People's Republic of China in the Russian Federation; Anastasia Vadimovna Frantsuzova, Director of Partnership Development at China Campus Network and Head of the CCN Specialized Classes project; and Yulia Nikolaevna Ebzeeva, First Vice-Rector and Vice-Rector for Academic Affairs at RUDN University.

"Dear finalists of the All-Russian School Olympiad! Life sometimes presents unexpected twists, and what seems like an obstacle can become a stepping stone to something greater. Think about it: what if you were standing on this stage right now? Perhaps a new door is opening for you—the very one that would have remained closed if you were anywhere else at this moment. Time will put everything in its place, and one day you will understand why everything happened the way it did. Trust life—there are no random events. A special thank you to parents, chaperones, and coaches: your support is the foundation on which victories are built and strong-willed individuals grow," said Yulia Ebzeeva.

Impressions of the winners and prize-winners

"I often think about my future profession, and I'm sure it will be related to languages. I'd like to choose a field where I can apply my knowledge of Italian and Russian, communicate with people from different countries, and participate in international projects. I believe that knowing languages isn't just a profession, but also an opportunity to make the world a better place, to help people understand each other and find common ground despite differences," said Anna Tagliaferri, winner of the 2026 All-Russian School Olympiad in Italian.

"The fifth and final round—and the first overall winner! I was absolutely trembling when I saw the results: the scoring format changed significantly this year, with fractional numbers being introduced. It was nerve-wracking, but now I'm incredibly happy. I wish all future participants good luck. Everything will definitely work out!" shared Liu Xinran, overall winner of the 2026 All-Russian School Olympiad in Chinese.

The competition finalists were given a tour of the Victory Museum and various master classes, including one on working in a simultaneous translation booth.

About the All-Russian School Olympiad

Every year, approximately 7 million students from all regions of Russia participate in the All-Russian School Olympiad. It consists of four stages: school, municipal, regional, and final. Olympiad winners and runners-up, valid for four years, qualify for admission to RUDN University without entrance examinations. Winners and runners-up of the All-Russian School Olympiad also receive a scholarship of up to 25,000 rubles from RUDN University, free tuition in the "Translator" program, a dormitory place for the entire duration of their studies, and original RUDN University merchandise. Ozon was the official partner of the Olympiad this year, presenting scholarship certificates to the 11th-grade winners. The scholarship program provides monthly payments of 15,000 rubles from October 2026 to July 2027.

Sberbank also presented the winners with smart night lights. China Campus Network, in turn, provided certificates for scholarships to study in CCN's specialized classes for the runners-up, winners, and overall winners among students in grades 8–10. Each participant will receive a 25% discount on tuition, and based on the results of the admissions interview, the grant amount may be increased to 50% or cover 100% of the tuition.

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.

RUDN University students won prizes at the 1st Student Medical Congress in Istanbul

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Source: Peoples'Friendship University of Russia

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How is atrial fibrillation related to renal failure? Why is the mortality rate from ischemic stroke higher in northern European countries? Presentations on these topics were presented in Turkey at the 1st Student Medical Congress with International Participation, organized by Istanbul's Aydın University.

The RUDN University delegation included students majoring in General Medicine:

Yulia Ivanova (RF), 4th year Parsa Saedi, 4th year Abdi Ima, 5th year Mobin Alibafgi, 5th year Parnian Hemati, 5th year Roxana Nakhai, 5th year Ashkan Sadeghbayan, 5th year

The head of the delegation and the students' scientific supervisor is Elena Valerievna Kaverina, associate professor of the Department of Public Health, Healthcare and Hygiene of the RUDN Medical Institute.

All students are members of the "Healthcare Organizers and Leaders" Council of the Medical Institute. Shahin Ibrahim Emre also participated in the congress. He has been a student at Istanbul Aydın University since 2025, and previously attended our university.

Gifts, lectures and winners

At the opening of the event, Elena Valeryevna delivered a welcoming address on behalf of RUDN University and presented commemorative medals and souvenirs to Mustafa Aydin, Rector of Istanbul Aydin University; Halil Alis, Dean of the Faculty of Medicine; and Hakki Dalçik, head of the organizing committee. In return, the university rector presented a representative of our university with a commemorative plaque for his contribution to the congress's preparation. Elena Valeryevna also gave a lecture on "Training Medical Specialists for National Healthcare Systems: The Russian Healthcare Model and RUDN University's Educational Approach."

Regarding student research, over 200 papers were submitted to the congress. The organizers selected 70 research teams, which presented their papers in 14 sections. The congress's final event was a medical ball dedicated to Medical Workers' Day (celebrated in Turkey on March 13). The authors of the best papers were announced at the ball. Three papers in English and three in Turkish received awards.

A RUDN University student paper, "Cardiac Symptom Trajectories Following Stimulant Exposure: A Cross-Country Hybrid Cohort Study in Young Adults," took second place overall and first in the English language category. The paper's authors, Parnian Hemati and Shahin Ibrahim Emre, were awarded the prize.

In addition, our Turkish colleagues recognized the rest of our students with special awards:

Parsa Saedi and Yulia Ivanova for their work "Contrasting Epidemics Of COPD And Lung Cancer In Turkey and Russia"; Abdi Ima and Mobin Alibafgi for their report "An epidemiological comparison of ischemic stroke between the Russian Federation and other European countries: a statistical analysis"; Roxana Nahai and Ashkan Sadegbayan for their report "Hemodynamic and neurohormonal mechanisms of renal dysfunction in atrial fibrillation among patients with chronic heart failure".

Heart vs. Energy Drinks

"Our study highlights the increasing impact of energy drink consumption on cardiovascular health among young adults, particularly in settings of high academic stress. Unlike many previous studies that focus on specific populations, our study takes a cross-cultural approach, including respondents from Turkey, Iran, the United States, and Russia. This approach allows for a broader understanding of global consumption patterns and demonstrates that stimulant-related cardiac symptoms may represent a persistent and underrecognized risk across diverse populations," said Parnian Hemati and Shahin Ibrahim Emre.

The students noted that the topic is extremely relevant, as energy drink consumption is rapidly increasing, especially among students. The study was conducted using a structured online questionnaire and a retrospective analysis of over 400 scientific publications. The results showed a significant association between the frequency of energy drink consumption and the occurrence of cardiovascular symptoms. Frequent energy drinkers experienced elevated heart rates, and a significant proportion of participants reported chest pain and pre-syncope. Moreover, many of them had never undergone a cardiac examination.

According to the researchers, the main challenges in developing the study were ensuring sufficient participant engagement and obtaining reliable self-reported data, as well as maintaining sample balance across different countries. In the future, the authors plan to expand the sample and supplement the report with clinical assessment methods, such as electrocardiography.

Fibrillation and the kidneys

Roxana Nahai and Ashkan Sadeghbayan said they studied how atrial fibrillation contributes to renal dysfunction in patients with chronic heart failure.

"Our hypothesis is that atrial fibrillation is not only a rhythm disorder but also a factor that increases renal vulnerability due to hemodynamic instability and neurohormonal activation," Roxana Nahai and Ashkan Sadegbayan.

The authors explained that the novelty of their study lies in its presentation of atrial fibrillation as a marker of a "renal vulnerability phenotype." The relevance of the study stems from the fact that atrial fibrillation and chronic heart failure often coexist (up to 50% in advanced stages), and both conditions are associated with deteriorating kidney function and increased mortality.

The study included 40 patients with chronic heart failure (NYHA II-III), divided into two groups: 20 patients with atrial fibrillation and 20 patients with sinus rhythm. Renal function parameters (creatinine, glomerular filtration rate, history of acute renal failure) and neurohormonal markers (renin, aldosterone) were analyzed.

The results showed that patients with atrial fibrillation had worse kidney function, higher renin and aldosterone levels, and increased signs of renal stress.

Not enough sun

In their study, Abdi Ima and Mobin Alibafgi examined the prevalence and mortality of ischemic stroke in 25 European countries using the most recent global health data.

"We looked at 23 different risk factors and tested a new hypothesis: that very little sunlight in winter—and the resulting disruption of the body's internal biological clock—may play a role in stroke risk," said Abdi Ima and Mobin Alibafgi.

The students reported that their results reveal significant differences across Europe. In 2021, the stroke mortality rate in Russia was almost four times higher than in Western Europe. Although stroke mortality has declined in most European countries over the past 30 years, a much slower decline was observed in Eastern Europe. The main risk factors were cold weather and smoking, but each country showed its own pattern.

According to the researchers, even after accounting for income, smoking, diet, and cold, low sunlight exposure was still associated with higher stroke mortality rates. In countries with the least amount of winter sun—such as Russia, Finland, and the Baltic states—stroke mortality was higher than expected based on traditional risk factors alone. These findings suggest that low sunlight exposure and its impact on the body's natural rhythms may be an underappreciated risk factor for stroke in northern countries, pointing to potential new avenues for stroke prevention in high-latitude regions.

Lung diseases in Turkey and Russia

"Our research focused on chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and lung cancer in Russia and Turkey. We thought this would be an interesting topic because we were traveling from Russia to a Turkish university, and during our research, we discovered many similarities between the two countries, particularly in the area of lung and respiratory diseases. As we know, the two countries have very similar smoking rates, and this attracted our attention to this topic. Frankly, we believe this was the best decision for both sides," said Parsa Saedi and Yulia Ivanova.

The students expressed their immense gratitude to RUDN University, which provided them with the opportunity to travel to Turkey to present their work calmly and stress-free. They also expressed their sincere thanks to Aydın University in Istanbul, Turkey, which accepted their work and invited them, noting that the university provided them with everything they needed, so they had no worries. They also expressed special gratitude to their academic advisor, Elena Kaverina, who supported them throughout the process and provided the necessary motivation. The students look forward to new opportunities that will allow them, as representatives of an international university, to present their knowledge to the world.

Meetings and further cooperation

In addition to speaking at the congress, the RUDN delegation met with representatives of the Istanbul Aydın University medical student research community and the university's international service during their trip, outlining avenues for further collaboration.

At the ceremony, the delegation also awarded Shahin Ibrahim Emre, the winner of the RUDN University competition "Countries of the World: Partnership for Sustainable Development," for his work "Ensuring Access to Life-Saving Medicines under Sanctions: Assessing the Efficacy and Patient Confidence in Regionally Supplied Disease-Modifying Therapies (DMDTs) for Multiple Sclerosis in Russia and Iran, and the Role of Turkish Logistics in Ensuring Access (SDG 3)." The work was completed jointly with our university's students, Parnian Hemati, Roxana Nahai, and Ashkan Sadegbayan.

Upon returning from their trip, the RUDN delegation was solemnly congratulated at the university's academic council for their excellent representation of the university and medical institute in Istanbul.

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Indonesia has called on the UN to convene an emergency Security Council meeting over the deaths of peacekeepers in Lebanon.

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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

JAKARTA, March 31 (Xinhua) — Indonesia has called on the United Nations to convene an emergency meeting of the Security Council over the deaths of three Indonesian peacekeepers in Lebanon, officials said.

Indonesian Foreign Minister Sugiono conveyed the request to UN Secretary-General António Guterres in a phone call on Monday, stressing the need for a prompt, transparent and comprehensive investigation into the incident.

“We demand an emergency meeting of the Security Council and a prompt, thorough and transparent investigation,” Sugiono said in a statement posted on his social media account.

He also spoke by phone with Lebanese Foreign Minister Youssef Raji, expressing Indonesia's deep concern over the attacks. Both sides agreed to maintain close coordination in their response to the situation, while supporting efforts to de-escalate tensions and maintain stability in the region.

Indonesia strongly condemned the attacks, stressing that UN peacekeepers must be protected in accordance with international law.

An Indonesian peacekeeper serving with the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) was killed by artillery fire in southern Lebanon on Sunday. On Monday, two more Indonesian soldiers were confirmed dead as fighting intensified in the area.

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By the end of March 2026, more than 70 million passenger trips had been made on the China-Laos railway.

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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

KUNMING, March 31 (Xinhua) — The China-Laos Railway has carried over 70 million passengers since its launch, the Kunming branch of China Railways (CR) said on Tuesday.

This landmark project, a flagship of China-Laos cooperation, links several renowned tourist destinations, including Kunming, Xishuangbanna, Luang Prabang, and Vientiane. Connecting over 560 tourist attractions, the China-Laos railway serves as a key route for cross-border travel.

In response to growing demand, railway authorities in both countries have stepped up coordination to optimize services. The average daily number of passenger trains on the Chinese section increased from 8 in the first days of operation to 86, while on the Lao section, this figure increased from 4 to a maximum of 18.

According to the above-mentioned department, to date, more than 780,000 passengers from more than 120 countries and regions have crossed the border on the China-Laos railway.

The 1,035-km China-Laos Railway, connecting Kunming in Southwest China's Yunnan Province and Vientiane, the capital of Laos, opened for operation on December 3, 2021. To meet the growing demand for cross-border travel, international passenger rail service between Kunming and Vientiane was launched on April 13, 2023. -0-

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Eight women died in a stampede in India.

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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

NEW DELHI, March 31 (Xinhua) — At least eight women were killed and about 10 people were injured when a stampede broke out at a temple in India's eastern Bihar state on Tuesday, a local police officer confirmed by telephone.

According to him, the stampede occurred at the Sheetla temple in Nalanda district of Bihar state at around 10:00 am local time.

Video footage circulating on social media shows injured women being rushed to a local hospital. There are fears the death toll will rise, as some of the injured are reportedly in critical condition.

An investigation has been launched to look into the circumstances of the incident. –0–

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Myanmar's parliament has elected two vice presidents.

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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

NAYPYI TAW, March 31 (Xinhua) — Groups of lawmakers from the House of Representatives (lower house) and the House of Nationalities (upper house) of the Assembly of the Union (parliament) of Myanmar on Tuesday elected Min Aung Hlaing and Nan Ni Ni Ei as vice presidents of the country.

In the lower house vote, Min Aung Hlaing received 247 votes, beating Kyaw Swe, who received 10. In the upper house vote, Nan Ni Ni Ei won with 117 votes, beating Manam Tu Ja, who received 38.

According to the election procedure, a group of military representatives from both houses of the Union Assembly will elect another vice president.

The Presidential Electoral College, consisting of all the representatives of the Assembly of the Union, will then choose the President from among the three Vice Presidents. –0–

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China has confirmed that three Chinese vessels have passed through the Strait of Hormuz in recent days.

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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, March 31 (Xinhua) — Three Chinese vessels recently passed through the Strait of Hormuz with the assistance and coordination of relevant parties, Foreign Ministry spokesperson Mao Ning said on Tuesday.

The diplomat made this statement at a regular press conference in response to a question about whether China had received additional guarantees from Iran to ensure the safety of shipping and free passage through the Strait of Hormuz.

“We express our gratitude to the relevant parties for their assistance,” Mao Ning said, adding that the Strait of Hormuz and its surrounding waters are an important international maritime route for trade in goods and energy resources.

China calls for an immediate ceasefire to restore peace and stability in the Persian Gulf region, she concluded. -0-

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The foreign ministers of China and Pakistan will discuss the situation in Iran.

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

BEIJING, March 31 (Xinhua) — The foreign ministers of China and Pakistan will strengthen strategic communication and coordination on the situation in Iran and other international and regional issues of common concern, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Mao Ning said on Tuesday.

Both sides will make renewed efforts to promote peace, end the conflict, and ensure peace and stability in the region, Mao Ning said at a regular departmental press conference, answering a media question about the arrival of Pakistani Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Muhammad Ishaq Dar in China, which is scheduled for Tuesday. -0-

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Xi Jinping's article on the correct understanding of official merit will be published in the journal "Qiushi"

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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, March 31 (Xinhua) — An article by Xi Jinping, general secretary of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee, on establishing and implementing the correct understanding of official merit will be published on Wednesday.

The article by Xi Jinping, also the President of the People's Republic of China and Chairman of the Central Military Commission, will be published in the 7th issue of the leading journal of the CPC Central Committee, Qiushi, in 2026.

The article, titled “Establishing and Implementing the Correct Understanding of Official Merit,” is a collection of excerpts from relevant discourses by Xi Jinping, dating from December 2012 to February 2026. -0-

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Visiting Shijiazhuang International Dry Port: Improved logistics efficiency boosts enterprises' confidence in entering overseas markets

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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

Impressive data demonstrates the rapid development of the Shijiazhuang International Dry Port in Gaoyi County, Hebei Province. From four trains in 2018 to 1,282 trains in 2025, the number of China-Europe freight trains departing from the port has grown from single digits to four digits. Currently, the Shijiazhuang International Dry Port serves 18 stable international routes, covering over 50 countries and regions.

The smooth operation of the logistics artery stimulates the development of local industry, facilitating the entry of "Made in Hebei" products into the global market. Liu Yinpeng, general manager of Hebei International Land Port Co., Ltd., explained that the company has established logistics hubs directly at the doorstep of industrial clusters. Cross-border warehouses have already been opened in several counties in Hebei Province, home to specialized industrial clusters, offering a full range of services—from space reservation and cargo consolidation to warehousing and customs clearance. This allows for a "cargo collection in the county, shipment from the dry port, and access to global markets" scheme.

"The cross-border warehouse model has not only helped us improve efficiency but also reduced export costs," said Wang Bailin, general manager of Hebei Fulande Industrial Co., Ltd. He noted that seamless logistics has strengthened the company's confidence in expanding into overseas markets.

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.