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A strategic session on the development of a professional qualifications system in the construction industry was held at St. Petersburg State University of Architecture and Civil Engineering.

Translation. Region: Russian Federation –

Source: Saint Petersburg State University of Architecture and Civil Engineering –

An important disclaimer is at the bottom of this article.

Strategic session

On March 19, the St. Petersburg State University of Architecture and Civil Engineering hosted a strategic session entitled "Developing a System of Professional Qualifications within the Framework of Improving the Higher Education System." The event brought together representatives of government agencies, professional associations, educational organizations, and the expert community.

The strategic session was attended by representatives of the Committee for State Control, Use, and Protection of Historical and Cultural Monuments (KGIOP) of the Government of St. Petersburg, the National Association of Designers and Surveyors (NOPRIZ), the National Agency for Qualification Development, the Federal State Budgetary Institution "All-Russian Research Institute of Labor" of the Ministry of Labor of Russia, professional associations of restorers, educational organizations, as well as the leaders and faculty of SPbGASU.

The key goal of the meeting was to develop coordinated solutions for the development of a professional qualifications system and the creation of modern educational pathways for staffing the construction industry.

Svetlana Golovina, First Vice-Rector of SPbGASU, addressed the participants with a welcoming speech, emphasizing the importance of systemic interaction between education, the state, and the professional community.

New professional standard: restoration engineer

The central topic of the session was the initiative to develop a new professional standard for "Building and Structure Restoration Specialist (Restoration Engineer)." During the discussion, it was noted that the current qualification system lacks a codified standard for engineering specialists in the field of cultural heritage conservation.

KGIOP Chairman Alexey Mikhailov emphasized the high state demand for training specialists in this field: "One of the key problems today is the lack of specialists who understand how to work with cultural heritage sites. This directly impacts both the timeframe and cost of work. Therefore, we consider the initiative to create a restoration engineer standard extremely relevant, and we are ready to provide it with our full support."

Svetlana Golovina presented the educational community's position, confirming the university's commitment to systematic work in this area: "Today, the country lacks training for restoration engineers as a separate category of specialists. Yet, the need for them is obvious: in St. Petersburg alone, there are over 9,000 cultural heritage sites, each requiring a professional approach. We are convinced that it is necessary to establish a separate specialty and train engineers with both fundamental knowledge and expertise in restoration technologies."

Representatives of the professional community and industry associations also participated in the discussion. Participants agreed on the need for a consolidated approach to developing the new standard.

Following the discussion, a decision was made to create a working group with the participation of representatives of KGIOP, NOPRIZ, professional associations, and SPbGASU.

Synchronizing Education and Market Demands: The GIA-NOC Mechanism

The second block of the session was devoted to issues of synchronizing educational programs with the requirements of professional standards through mechanisms for combining the state final certification and independent assessment of qualifications (GIA-NOK).

Alla Faktorovich, Deputy Director General of the National Agency for Qualifications Development, presented methodological approaches to integrating these procedures. Representatives of NOPRIZ and educational organizations discussed industry requirements for graduates and the potential for introducing new assessment mechanisms.

SPbGASU has announced its readiness to participate in a pilot project to combine the State Final Attestation (GFA) and the National Assessment (NAC) in the Architecture program. The university has already established the necessary infrastructure and expertise.

Launch of a new DPO program

At the conclusion of the strategic session, the opening of a new additional educational program for professional retraining, "Self-Regulation in Urban Development," was announced.

The program was developed in collaboration with the professional community and with the participation of national associations and the Russian Union of Builders. It is aimed at training specialists for the self-regulatory system in the construction industry.

Participants noted the high demand for such personnel and the importance of a practice-oriented approach to training.

Results and decisions

Following the strategic session, a resolution will be signed, enshrining key agreements:

Support for the development of a professional standard for "restoration engineer" and the formation of a working group; approval of SPbGASU's participation in a pilot project to combine the State Final Attestation (GFA) and the National Assessment (NAC); recognition of the relevance of launching a new continuing education program; recommendations for developing networking between educational organizations and employers.

Participants emphasized that the decisions taken are aimed at improving the quality of specialist training and ensuring personnel sovereignty in the Russian construction industry.

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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Rosneft planted 46 million trees in five years.

Translation. Region: Russian Federation –

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

Between 2021 and 2025, Rosneft enterprises made a significant contribution to the conservation of nature and biodiversity, planting a total of approximately 46 million tree seedlings and saplings.

Every year on March 21, the International Day of Forests is celebrated, which was established by the UN General Assembly to draw attention to the issues of forest conservation and sustainable use of forest resources.

In 2025, employees of Rosneft subsidiaries planted 8.1 million tree saplings of various species during reforestation activities. RN-Yuganskneftegaz, Verkhnechonskneftegaz, East Siberian Oil and Gas Company, RN-Nyaganneftegaz, and RN-Uvatneftegaz made the largest contributions to reforestation.

RN-Yuganskneftegaz employees planted 3.1 million conifer seedlings across an area of over 830 hectares in forestry areas of the Khanty-Mansi Autonomous Okrug – Yugra. Reforestation was carried out in areas damaged by wildfires in the Agansky, Uraisky, Samarovsky, Nefteyugansky, and Yugansky forestry areas. The Siberian spruce, Scots pine, and Siberian cedar seedlings were adapted to local climate conditions, increasing the survival rate of the young trees.

Verkhnechonskneftegaz planted 1.1 million Siberian pine seedlings across 540 hectares in the Irkutsk and Kirov forestries, which are included within the boundaries of the Baikal Natural Territory, as well as in the Kuytun forestry in the Irkutsk Region.

Environmentalists from the East Siberian Oil and Gas Company have planted approximately 1 million conifer seedlings across an area of over 310 hectares in Siberia. To improve the survival rate of the young trees, the oil company also implemented agronomic management. Clearing the plantings of weeds and improving the soil will facilitate the successful establishment of a forest. Furthermore, the company has been supporting scientific research aimed at preserving the fragile ecosystem of Evenkia for over 10 years.

RN-Nyaganneftegaz planted over 838,000 Siberian and Scots pine seedlings over 240 hectares. RN-Uvatneftegaz planted 744,000 pine seedlings over 200 hectares in the Tyumen Region and provided agronomic maintenance for previously planted forest trees.

In Yamal, RN-Purneftegaz employees planted 443,000 pine saplings over 78 hectares, Sevkomneftegaz planted 83,000 over 26 hectares, and Kharampurneftegaz planted 24,000 over 208 hectares. Environmental specialists from the companies also carried out agronomic maintenance.

Bashneft activists planted 255,000 coniferous trees in the Republic of Bashkortostan and the Tyumen Region, establishing a young forest covering 73 hectares. A key project for 2025 is the planting of 24,000 trees on the shores of Lake Aslikul, the largest lake in Bashkortostan. This initiative aims to address the environmental problem of shallowing and swamping of the lake's coastal zone.

Samotlorneftegaz has planted over 200,000 conifer seedlings in the Ural Federal District. Within a few years, a full-fledged pine forest will form on these greened areas, covering a total area of over 60 hectares.

In 2025, Samaraneftegaz volunteers planted 15,500 pine seedlings and 4,000 other forest trees in the Samara Region.

Slavneft-Krasnoyarskneftegaz planted more than 700,000 coniferous saplings in the Karatuz, Tyukhtet, and Uzhur forestry districts of Krasnoyarsk Krai, covering an area of 268 hectares.

RN-Vankor carried out agricultural work on an area of almost 400 hectares in Krasnoyarsk Krai and the Yamalo-Nenets Autonomous Okrug, caring for 800,000 previously planted pine and Siberian spruce seedlings.

Rosneft employees and their family members regularly participate in various environmental initiatives, including landscaping and beautification of city and park areas, and in national campaigns such as Green Spring, Forest Planting Day, and Save the Forest.

For example, as part of the international "Garden of Memory" campaign dedicated to the 80th anniversary of the Great Victory, Udmurtneft activists planted over 24,000 young spruce trees. Samaraneftegaz volunteers joined the initiative and landscaped 7 hectares of land with over 33,000 pine seedlings. Orenburgneft employees, together with activists from the "Movement of the First," planted over 10,000 pine seedlings in the 4.5 hectare Buzuluk pine forest, which had been damaged by a wildfire. As part of the campaign, the Syzran Oil Refinery planted 3,000 pine and birch saplings in the Racheyskoye forestry. The young forest will serve as a reminder of the immortal heroism of the Soviet people in the Great Patriotic War.

Preserving the environment for future generations is an integral part of Rosneft's corporate culture and social policy. The company implements large-scale environmental programs aimed at minimizing its environmental impact, improving the sustainability of its production, and preserving and replenishing natural ecosystems.

Department of Information and Advertising of PJSC NK Rosneft March 20, 2026

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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SPbGASU signed a cooperation agreement in the field of unmanned systems and digital technologies.

Translation. Region: Russian Federation –

Source: Saint Petersburg State University of Architecture and Civil Engineering –

An important disclaimer is at the bottom of this article.

Signing of the agreement at the Military Institute (Engineering and Technical)

The Saint Petersburg State University of Architecture and Civil Engineering is expanding its interuniversity and interdepartmental collaboration. Following a working meeting, a cooperation agreement was signed with the Military Institute (Engineering and Technical) of the Federal State Treasury Military Educational Institution of Higher Education "Military Academy of Logistics named after General of the Army A.V. Khrulyov" of the Russian Ministry of Defense. The document aims to develop educational and scientific initiatives in the fields of unmanned systems, information modeling, artificial intelligence, and joint applied research.

On behalf of SPbGASU, the signing ceremony was attended by First Vice-Rector Svetlana Golovina, Vice-Rector for Academic Affairs Sergei Mikhailov, Vice-Rector for Continuing Education Victoria Vinogradova, and Dean of the Faculty of Civil Engineering Andrei Nikulin.

A key area of collaboration will be developing competencies in the field of unmanned systems management. Furthermore, the partners are interested in training specialists in modern information modeling software, participating in joint research projects, seminars, conferences, and forums, and implementing solutions using artificial intelligence technologies.

As Andrey Nikulin, Dean of the Faculty of Civil Engineering at SPbGASU, noted, the cooperation is mutually beneficial: "We are interested in developing the field of unmanned systems and their control. At the same time, our partners require support in training in information modeling and artificial intelligence. This forms the basis for sustainable and complementary collaboration."

One of the first practical steps under the agreement could be the creation of a joint training center. It is expected to operate on the premises of the partner organization, using its facilities and technical infrastructure, and SPbGASU students will be able to undergo regular training there, including training for additional military specialties.

The agreement also provides for advanced training for teaching staff, participation in the development of programs and projects for socioeconomic development, support for talented youth, and the dissemination of information on new scientific research and developments. This collaboration is free of charge and does not imply any financial obligations for the parties: each organization bears its own costs for the implementation of these activities.

Furthermore, the collaboration opens up additional opportunities for engaging students in applied projects and facilitates the partner's human resources needs. The university notes that developing collaboration in digital technologies, information modeling, and unmanned systems meets modern engineering training requirements and will contribute to the increased competitiveness of SPbGASU graduates.

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 students talked about their favorite poets

Translation. Region: Russian Federation –

Source: Peoples'Friendship University of Russia

An important disclaimer is at the bottom of this article.

"A poet in Russia is more than just a poet. Poets are destined to be born here…"—we chose lines from Yevgeny Yevtushenko's poem for a reason. March 21st marks World Poetry Day. On the eve of the holiday, we decided to talk to RUDN University international students about their favorite poets—Russian or their own—and find out what it is about these authors' works that has touched their hearts.

"I met you—and everything bygone came alive in my moribund heart; I remembered a golden time—and my heart felt so warm." Fyodor Ivanovich Tyutchev is more than poetry. He possesses the ability to hear the soul of the world. Profound, passionate, philosophical—timeless! I admire his tragic yet profound view of life, where love is always a "fatal duel" and a dramatic combination of tenderness and passion, and nature is a living force. A brilliant thinker and a subtle lyricist, he remains one of the most piercing voices in Russian poetry," said Dinara Maksetova (Uzbekistan), a second-year master's student in the Faculty of Philology majoring in Literary Studies.

“Nadezhda Mandelstam said: the best Russian prose is only a distant echo of the psychological and lexical sophistication that Russian poetry showed in the first quarter of the century. Anna Akhmatova clarified: Dostoevsky’s heroes are “aged Pushkin characters, aged Onegin.” In this land, poetry has always been a source. And Brodsky is a direct heir to this source. He called himself “a poet not from a greenhouse.” He left school at the age of 15, wandered around geological parties and boiler rooms, was convicted of “parasitism” – these circumstances are not just the background of his poems, but the soil into which his words grew. He treated classical Chinese poetry with gratitude and curiosity, perhaps because ancient lines were also born from the earth and knew how to remain silent. Brodsky was in awe of the structure of the verse, but at the same time insisted: the stanzas should be connected not by logic, but by “the movement of the soul.” Reading it, you don’t follow the conclusions – you are picked up by an underground current, carrying you deeper or higher. Here is my favorite: “I entered a cage instead of a wild animal, burned out my sentence and cry with a nail in the barracks…” This is his self-portrait. Camp, exile, drowned three times, was cut to pieces twice – in 12 lines he lists the fragments of his shattered life. And at the end he writes: “But until my mouth is filled with clay, only gratitude will come out of it.” This is how Brodsky is remembered. He does not accuse, he does not moan. He chooses not curse, but gratitude. This is not an embellishment of suffering, but an affirmation of life itself: I’m alive, I can still speak—thank you for that already. From Auden he adopted stylistic restraint, from Akhmatova – moral strength. But his “morality” never turns into a sermon: it is in this ability not to break, not to turn away. He doesn’t care about politics – he cares about the broader concept of good and evil: how a person maintains dignity under the pressure of time. The Nobel Prize was not a wedding, but a belated recognition. Throughout his life he proved: poetry is not a hothouse flower, but words that have sprouted through the frozen ground. With scars. But with gratitude. Before his mouth is filled with clay, he chooses to give thanks. This gratitude is not reconciliation. This is his last freedom,” said Bai Jingjing (China), a second-year master’s student at the Faculty of Philology in the direction of “Literary Studies.”

"I want to tell you about Li Qingzhao, a Chinese poetess of the Song Dynasty, the author of lyrical songs in the ci genre. She is one of the few women whose name is inscribed in the golden fund of Chinese literature. I admire this poetess for several reasons. First, she was a rare female writer in ancient China, which in itself is admirable. Second, Li Qingzhao created a unique style of yianti, becoming the founder of its own school, which was imitated by her descendants. Third, her horizons were not limited to the domestic hearth. Her poems reflect the depth of a woman's soul: in her youth, they are light and graceful, but when the country faced tragedy, she revealed to the world these courageous lines: "Living among people, be a hero; having become death, be the leader of spirits." “Her breadth of views and greatness of spirit amaze me,” shared Zhou Zhiqian (China), a second-year Master’s student in the Faculty of Philology in Literary Studies.

Happy holiday to everyone involved in the world of poetry and literature! We wish you endless inspiration, vibrant images, precise rhymes, and grateful readers!

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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An IRGC-IDF official was killed in a nighttime strike on Tehran.

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

JERUSALEM, March 20 (Xinhua) — The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) said on Friday that its air force, acting on intelligence, killed Ali Mohammad Naini, spokesman and head of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) public relations department, in an overnight strike in Tehran.

In a statement, the military said the IRGC official had served as the IRGC's "chief propagandist" for the past two years and accused him of "spreading the regime's terrorist propaganda throughout the Middle East to influence and facilitate attacks on Israel on multiple fronts."

Iranian state media confirmed the death of A. M. Naini. The semi-official Tasnim news agency reported that he had served as the IRGC spokesman since 2024 and "died as a martyr" as a result of US and Israeli strikes.

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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China is taking comprehensive measures to stimulate the employment of graduates.

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, March 20 (Xinhua) — Chinese authorities have unveiled a set of measures to promote employment for university graduates and other youth groups. The Ministry of Finance and the Ministry of Human Resources and Social Security announced this on Friday.

According to a circular jointly issued by the aforementioned agencies, a program to promote employment in non-state-owned enterprises should be implemented, with a particular focus on sectors such as advanced manufacturing and modern services, unlocking the potential of leading companies in these sectors, as well as small and medium-sized enterprises specializing in innovative and high-tech products. Furthermore, labor and employment specialists should conduct site visits to expand job openings and create more suitable positions for university graduates and other young people.

The circular notes that policy measures such as social security subsidies and tax and fee reductions should be used more effectively to encourage businesses to hire more university graduates.

The document emphasizes the need to intensify vocational training and implement a plan to attract trainees, and also calls for the development of training programs in new areas related to the formation of new productive forces, such as artificial intelligence (AI), alternative energy vehicles, and the low-altitude economy.

According to the circular, support will be strengthened for key population groups, including households receiving the minimum guaranteed benefit, families of the unemployed, families at risk of falling back into poverty, and graduates with disabilities who will be unemployed in 2026.

China aims to keep urban unemployment at around 5.5 percent and create more than 12 million new urban jobs this year, according to a recently released government work report. -0-

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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Russia plans to build a nuclear power plant on the Moon in 5-7 years, according to the president of the Kurchatov Institute National Research Center.

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

St. Petersburg, March 20 /Xinhua/ — A Russian nuclear power plant is planned to be deployed to the Moon in 5-7 years. Mikhail Kovalchuk, President of the Kurchatov Institute National Research Center, announced this at a meeting of the Leningrad Region government on Thursday, RIA Novosti reports.

In his presentation, he presented possible options for nuclear power plants to be installed on the Moon.

As Alexey Likhachev, Director General of the Rosatom State Corporation, stated at the seminar "Electric Power: The Basis for National Development," a nuclear power plant on the Moon would have a capacity of at least 5 kW and an operating life of up to 10 years.

According to A. Likhachev, Rosatom, together with the Kurchatov Institute and Roscosmos, are currently working together to determine the design of a future nuclear power station on the Moon. –0–

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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The Central Bank of the Russian Federation lowered the key rate to 15 percent.

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

Moscow, March 20 /Xinhua/ — The Bank of Russia's Board of Directors on Friday lowered its key rate for the second time in a row since the beginning of the year by 50 basis points, to 15 percent per annum.

"The economy is approaching a balanced growth trajectory. In February, price growth slowed, as expected, after a temporary acceleration in January. According to the Bank of Russia, sustainable price growth rates remain in the range of 4-5 percent on an annualized basis. At the same time, uncertainty regarding external conditions has increased significantly," the Central Bank of Russia's press release explains.

"The Bank of Russia will assess the advisability of further key rate reductions at its upcoming meetings, depending on the sustainability of the inflation slowdown, the dynamics of inflation expectations, and the assessment of risks from external and internal conditions," the regulator stated.

According to the Bank of Russia's forecast, given the current monetary policy, annual inflation will decline to 4.5-5.5 percent in 2026.

"Sustainable inflation will reach around 4 percent in the second half of 2026. In 2027 and beyond, annual inflation will remain on target," the Central Bank of the Russian Federation predicts.

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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The IDF announced strikes in southwestern Syria to protect the Druze population.

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

JERUSALEM, March 20 (Xinhua) — The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) said Friday it struck military infrastructure targets in southwestern Syria overnight to protect the country's Druze population.

The statement also noted that the strikes were carried out in response to attacks on residents of the Druze town of As-Suwayda.

The Israeli army said it had struck a command center and weapons depots at military installations belonging to the Syrian regime.

“The IDF will not tolerate harm to the Druze population in Syria and will continue to take measures to protect them,” the statement said.

“The IDF continues to monitor developments in southern Syria and will act in accordance with the decisions of the political leadership,” the military said. –0–

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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A passenger train between Vladivostok and Suifenhe is being prepared for launch.

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

Vladivostok, March 20 /Xinhua/ — Authorities in Russia's Primorsky Krai expect Russian Railways to launch a passenger train between Vladivostok and Suifenhe this year, PrimaMedia news agency reported on Friday.

"We have one passenger train operating between Suifenhe and Pogranichny. This year, we plan to launch a train between Suifenhe and Vladivostok in collaboration with Russian Railways. The project is quite complex, but I'm confident we can handle it," said Konstantin Sidorenko, Minister of International and Foreign Economic Relations of Primorsky Krai, in Khabarovsk at an interregional strategic session on developing a unified tourism offer and promoting it in the Chinese market.

The route will reportedly be launched by JSC Federal Passenger Company, a division of JSC Russian Railways. –0–

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.