EU leaders agreed to provide Ukraine with a €90 billion loan.

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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

Brussels, Dec. 19 (Xinhua) — EU leaders agreed on Friday to provide Ukraine with a 90 billion euro loan in 2026-27 to help plug a looming budget deficit, but failed to reach a consensus on using frozen Russian assets to finance the package.

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Three people were killed and one was injured in a knife attack in southern China.

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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

NANNING, Dec. 19 (Xinhua) — Three people were killed and one was injured in a stabbing attack that occurred at a residential complex in south China's Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region on Friday morning, local police confirmed.

The tragedy occurred around 7:00 a.m. in Xincheng County, Laibin City. The suspect was detained by police. The victim was taken to the hospital.

An investigation is currently underway. -0-

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The first digital archaeology training course for Central Asia opened in Xi'an.

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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 19 (Xinhua) — The First Digital Archaeology Specialist Training Course for Central Asia officially opened at Northwest University (NWU) in Xi'an, Northwest China's Shaanxi Province, aiming to help students from Central Asian countries improve their digital literacy, innovative thinking, and practical skills in areas such as data collection, 3D recording, and spatial analysis, the Zhongxinwang news website reported.

Sun Qingwei, Rector of SZU, stated that in recent years, the university, by actively promoting the cross-integration of related disciplines, has successfully established an international cooperation platform in the field of Silk Road archaeology and made significant progress in independently developing new technologies, methods, and equipment to promote the digital and intelligent revitalization of cultural heritage.

He hopes that the current course will become a favorable opportunity for continuously deepening exchanges and cooperation between universities and research institutes in the fields of joint archaeology, cultural heritage protection and specialist training, thereby contributing to the protection and inheritance of the historical and cultural heritage of the Silk Road.

Digital technologies are fundamentally changing the way archaeological finds are discovered, studied, protected, and displayed. Digitization of cultural heritage has become an important means of protecting and preserving human civilization, noted Wang Runlu, Deputy Director of the Shaanxi Provincial Cultural Heritage Protection Bureau, adding that Shaanxi Province has always maintained close cooperation with relevant Central Asian countries in the field of digitization of archaeological and cultural heritage.

The course, which started on December 16 and will last for 10 days, was jointly organized by the Silk Road Archaeology Cooperation Research Center and the Xi'an Branch of the UNESCO International Center for Space Technology for the Protection of Natural and Cultural Heritage (HIST) under the leadership of the aforementioned department, the SZU and HIST. -0-

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In the first ten months of 2025, agricultural production in Russia grew by 2.8 percent, the minister said.

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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 19 /Xinhua/ — Russian agriculture is showing positive growth momentum in 2025, with agricultural production growing by 2.8 percent in the first ten months. This was announced by Russian Agriculture Minister Oksana Lut at a government meeting on Thursday.

Despite the extreme weather conditions faced by Russian farmers in 2025, the industry has generally met its targets, according to the Ministry of Agriculture's press service. Fieldwork is currently in its final stages. Grains and legumes have been threshed on 97.5 percent of the area, with over 147 million tons harvested. Record soybean and rapeseed harvests, as well as a record harvest of fruits and berries, are expected.

The minister noted that the primary mechanism for financing seasonal fieldwork in the country is concessional lending. In 2025, the total amount of approved concessional loans for these purposes exceeded 485 billion rubles (over $6 billion).

“The current system of state support allows us to maintain the financial stability of the industry and increase production volumes. The Russian Ministry of Agriculture expects agricultural production growth rates to continue in 2025 and 2026,” said O. Lut. –0–

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Novosibirsk and Abkhazian State Universities discussed cooperation in science and education.

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Source: Novosibirsk State University –

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In the first half of December, a delegation from Novosibirsk State University (NSU) visited Abkhazia at the invitation of the Center for Public Diplomacy. A meeting was held at Abkhaz State University (ASU) between Yevgeny Sagaydak, Head of the NSU Education Export Department, and ASU Rector and Academician of the Russian Academy of Natural Sciences Aleko Alekseevich Gvaramia.

During the visit, prospects for further cooperation in science and education were discussed, including the creation of joint laboratories, the organization of joint educational programs, the holding of Olympiads for schoolchildren and students in physics and mathematics, and the creation of international classes in schools in Abkhazia.

NSU and ASU are historically linked by the personality of the outstanding mathematician, academician of the USSR Academy of Sciences and the first rector of Novosibirsk State University Ilya Nestorovich Vekua, who was born in the village of Shesheleta (currently located in the Ochamchira district of the Republic of Abkhazia).

The meeting featured reminiscing about the legendary scientist and renowned NSU faculty members of that era. The meeting was held in a warm and touching atmosphere. Evgeny Sagaydak presented NSU with an album of photographs by Ilya Nestorovich Vekua, capturing his life and work in Akademgorodok, as well as a book about Novosibirsk State University with an inscription from NSU Rector and RAS Academician Mikhail Petrovich Fedoruk.

Evgeniy Sagaydak, together with representatives of the Center for Public Diplomacy and the Gal City Hall, honored the memory of Ilya Nestorovich Vekua by laying flowers at his monument in the center of Gal.

Evgeny Sagaydak noted that the name of the outstanding scientist, I.N. Vekua, the first rector of NSU, is forever inscribed in the university's history, and the task of the administration, as well as the mayor's office of the city of Gal, where the monument stands, is to preserve the memory of this outstanding figure for students and staff. NSU is ready to participate in all events dedicated to the life and work of I.N. Vekua.

At the end of the event, the ASU delegation received an invitation to visit Novosibirsk State University and continue the dialogue on cooperation.

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Seven people died in a business jet crash at an airport in the US state of North Carolina.

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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 York, December 18 (Xinhua) — Seven people were killed Thursday in the crash of a light business jet at Statesville Airport in North Carolina, local police said.

According to her, the victims include former National Association of Stock Car Auto Racing (NASCAR) participant Gregory Biffle, his wife and two children.

The Cessna C550 crashed while landing around 10:20 a.m. ET, sparking a massive fire, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) said.

According to the US website FlightAware, the plane took off from the airport shortly after 10:00 a.m., but then returned and attempted to land.

Video footage from the scene shows emergency services rushing to the burning wreckage of the plane.

The FAA and the National Transportation Safety Board have launched an investigation into the crash.

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Changxing County, Zhejiang Province: Developing specialized agriculture promotes rural revitalization

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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

In recent years, Heping, located in Changxing County, Huzhou City, Zhejiang Province, has been promoting the modernization, standardization, specialization, and digitalization of the agricultural industry, covering all stages: planting, production, marketing, and more. This has enabled the effective improvement of the quality of agricultural products.

Currently, the village has over 8,000 mu (15 mu = 1 hectare) of land devoted to growing high-quality fruits. The main crops are grapes, honey peaches, pears, citrus fruits, and strawberries. Relying on modern agricultural resources, Heping is developing year-round agritourism with harvesting opportunities, facilitating the development of specialized rural tourism. Photo by a Xinhua News Agency correspondent.

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NSU students and students from the Specialized Scientific Center and the Higher Institute of Culture have received scholarships from the Governor and the Government of the Novosibirsk Region.

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Source: Novosibirsk State University –

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On December 10, a diploma presentation ceremony was held in the Great Hall of the Novosibirsk Region Government to award scholarships from the Governor and the Government of the Novosibirsk Region, as well as recipients of targeted financial support. Among the recipients were 22 students from Novosibirsk State University, two students from the Specialized Scientific Center of Novosibirsk State University, and two students from the Higher Scientific Institute of Novosibirsk State University, who demonstrated outstanding results in their studies, research, and project work.

This year, nearly two hundred talented students from regional universities received certificates. Congratulating the scholarship recipients, Novosibirsk Region Governor Andrey Travnikov emphasized that such awards are more than just a measure of support, but rather recognition of the tangible contributions of young people to the development of science, education, culture, and technology in the region.

"You entered adulthood with the right attitude: to persistently achieve results in whatever you undertake. I hope that today's award will be one of many in your success," the regional governor remarked, addressing the ceremony participants.

The Governor and Government of the Novosibirsk Region have been awarding scholarships to the best students for over 20 years, since 2004. During this time, hundreds of young people have received them, many of whom now work at the country's leading companies, implement scientific and technological projects, and contribute to the region's development. The scholarships are named after outstanding Novosibirsk residents—Academicians Mikhail Lavrentyev, Ilya Vekua, Sergei Sobolev, Valentin Koptyug, scientist and educator Yuri Sharov, Air Marshal Alexander Pokryshkin, and others.

Certificates were also presented to the students by Deputy Governor Valentina Dudnikova, Deputy Chairman of the Novosibirsk Region Government and Minister of Agriculture Andrei Shindelov, and members of the regional government. They emphasized that each award represents the extensive collaborative work of the students and their mentors.

NSU students shared their impressions of receiving the award.

Boris Kondrashov, third-year student Faculty of Natural Sciences (FNS) of NSU, the winner of the competitive selection for targeted financial support in the "NTI Markets. Technological Challenge" category, noted that the competition was fierce:

Students from research teams across the Novosibirsk region participated in the selection process, so it was especially gratifying to be among the winners. This support was a significant recognition of my professional work and a serious motivation to move forward. I plan to use the funds received to develop the project and participate in the international conference.

NSU Faculty of Natural Sciences Master's student Anna Artemchenko emphasized the importance of recognition at the regional level:

"I felt genuine joy and pride. It's confirmation that my efforts in my studies and research have been noticed. Such support builds confidence and opens up new opportunities, including participation in conferences and additional professional training."

For first-year master's students Faculty of Information Technology of NSU Ruslana Kardasha's ceremony became an important and emotional event:

Receiving my diploma in the Great Hall of the Government, I felt immense joy and gratitude—to the university, the faculty, and the regional leadership. This is a significant achievement for my portfolio and a powerful incentive to continue my research. I plan to use the funds I receive for scientific literature and a trip to a conference.

The students note that the support of their supervisors, the university environment, and their own commitment to research played a key role in their success. The awards they received served not only as recognition of their work but also as a catalyst for new scientific and professional achievements.

Full list of scholarship recipients:

Scholarships from the Governor of the Novosibirsk Region named after M.A. Lavrentiev, named after I.N. Vekua, named after S.A. Khristianovich, named after V.A. Koptyug, named after S.L. Sobolev, named after A.A. Lyapunov awarded:

Angelina Elgujaevna Arkania

Anna Sergeevna Artemchenko

Ruslan Dmitrievich Kardash

Elizaveta Vladimirovna Koroleva

Denis Alekseevich Kostornov

Yesenia Shamilevna Morozova

Olga Vladimirovna Somov

Alina Artemovna Sycheva

Ivan Andreevich Frolov

Sofya Andreevna Chiffon

Anna Artemovna Shuklina

The Novosibirsk Region Governor's A.I. Pokryshkin Scholarship was awarded to:

Tatyana Maksimovna Ershova

The S.A. Chaplygin Scholarship of the Governor of the Novosibirsk Region was awarded to:

Elizaveta Arifovna Bulgakova

The following students received a scholarship from the Governor of the Novosibirsk Region from among the winners (prize-winners) of the final round of the All-Russian School Olympiad in general secondary education programs who entered higher education institutions in the Novosibirsk Region:

Roman Valerievich Boluts

Sergei Vadimovich Kalitvyansky

Lyubov Ivanovna Kutyreva

Vladislav Maksimovich Makarov

The following students received a scholarship from the Government of the Novosibirsk Region:

Anna Dmitrievna Kanalina

The following were awarded diplomas of winners of targeted financial support:

Igor Alexandrovich Betke

Anton Alexandrovich Vlasenko

Alexey Mikhailovich Ivanov

Boris Sergeevich Kondrashov

Among the awardees were two students from the NSU Specialized Educational and Scientific Center:

Ivan Vasilyevich Kiyashko and Andrey Evgenievich Markov were awarded a scholarship from the Governor of the Novosibirsk Region named after M.A. Lavrentiev, named after I.N. Vekua, named after S.A. Khristianovich, named after V.A. Koptyug, named after S.L. Sobolev, named after A.A. Lyapunova

Among the awardees were two students from the NSU VKI:

Artyom Alekseevich Divinov and Ksenia Sergeevna Istomina were awarded a scholarship from the Governor of the Novosibirsk Region named after M.A. Lavrentiev, named after I.N. Vekua, named after S.A. Khristianovich, named after V.A. Koptyug, named after S.L. Sobolev, named after A.A. Lyapunova

On behalf of the university, we congratulate the students on their victory and wish them continued success in their studies and research!

The material was prepared by: Yulia Dankova, NSU press service

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An NSU graduate student developed software for an X-ray detector and synchronization system for the SKIF station.

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Source: Novosibirsk State University –

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A second-year Master's student from the Department of Physics and Engineering Computer Science developed software for the synchronization system and detector of the experimental station at the synchrotron radiation source.Faculty of Physics of Novosibirsk State University Maria Yartseva. These devices will be installed at one of the stations of the Siberian Ring Photon Source (SKIF). She conducted her work as part of a research team at the Budker Institute of Nuclear Physics SB RAS laboratory, which specializes in developing detectors for experiments using synchrotron radiation. The scientific supervision was provided by Lev Shekhtman, Chief Researcher at the INP SB RAS and Doctor of Physics and Mathematics, and Vasily Kudryavtsev, Researcher at the INP SB RAS. This work was carried out as part of the strategic technology project "Center for the Integration of Personalized Biomedicine, Pharmacy, and Synchrotron and Binary Technologies." Priority 2030 program.

"My task was to create specialized software for the direct photon counting detector, which would allow for control of the device—taking data, configuring and calibrating it—as well as for the synchronization unit—to generate control signals depending on events occurring during the experiment at the station," said Maria Yartseva.

User programs were developed in C using the Qt framework in the Qt Creator development environment, and the FPGA code was developed using SystemVerilog in the Quartus Prime environment. The ModelSim simulation environment was used to debug the developed modules. All programs were developed under the Linux operating system.

The SciCODE single-axis semiconductor direct photon counting detector has no Russian equivalent. It was developed to replace the OD-3M gas detector, developed at the INP SB RAS in the late 1990s. The new device features faster response times and high spatial resolution and is designed for research using diffraction methods. Similar detectors are available from Switzerland, but the SciCODE direct photon counting detector differs from them in its ability to more accurately measure photon energy.

In addition to this detector, a whole line of detectors is currently being developed at the INP SB RAS, which will also be used at one of the SKIF stations. Individual parts and modules of the code have already been written or borrowed from existing detector software previously developed by INP SB RAS researchers.

"The SciCODE single-coordinate direct photon counting detector is a highly versatile development. It can be used to study physical processes and chemical reactions using diffraction methods, for example, in pharmaceutical development experiments or in studying the behavior of complex molecules. The detector consists of a semiconductor sensor based on silicon or gallium arsenide. It is mounted on a recording board, which was also developed at the INP SB RAS. Data obtained during experiments is recorded by specialized chips. These chips are controlled by a programmable logic integrated circuit (FPGA) installed on the control board, and data is exchanged with a computer via an Ethernet interface," explained Maria Yartseva.

The software prototype for this detector is currently undergoing refinement of certain functionality and is undergoing laboratory testing.

The synchronization unit will be installed at the same SKIF station as the detectors. It will coordinate the operation of SKIF, the station, and the recording devices. Its manufacture and installation are complete. The device has been tested under experimental conditions at the experimental station at the Siberian Synchrotron and Terahertz Radiation Center of the INP SB RAS.

"The main work is complete; further development of this project involves creating a unified system that would control both the synchronization unit and the detector system during experiments. The synchronization unit also includes a board with an FPGA, and interaction with the software is provided in the same way as with the detectors. This device can be installed at any research station where synchronization of multiple devices is required," said Maria Yartseva.

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Former Iraqi President elected as new UN High Commissioner for Refugees

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Source: United Nations – United Nations –

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December 18, 2025 Refugees and migrants

The UN General Assembly today elected Barham Ahmed Saleh of Iraq as the next United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees. He will lead the UN Refugee Agency (UNHCR) for a five-year term beginning January 1, 2026. UN Secretary-General António Guterres welcomed the decision.

Saleh will replace Filippo Grandi of Italy, to whom the UN chief expressed "deepest gratitude for his leadership and tireless efforts to protect refugees, displaced persons and stateless people."

The new High Commissioner has over thirty years of public service experience in Iraq and the Kurdistan Region. He served as President of Iraq from 2018 to 2022, twice as Prime Minister of the Kurdistan Regional Government (2001–2004 and 2009–2012), and as Deputy Prime Minister of Iraq from 2004 to 2009, a position he also held as Minister of Planning.

The UN Secretary-General emphasizes that Saleh has extensive experience in diplomatic, political, and administrative leadership, as well as a deep understanding of human rights and humanitarian issues. His track record includes participation in international and regional processes, experience in crisis negotiations, and national reform. He played a key role in Iraq's post-war reconstruction after 2003.

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