MOSCOW, Dec 4 (Sputnik/APP) : Russia’s 2025 grain harvest is shaping up to be one of the largest in the country’s modern history, Deputy Prime Minister Nikolai Patrushev said during a meeting on the progress of this year’s seasonal field work.
The current grain harvest bunker weight has already exceeded 145 million tonnes, although weather conditions could lead to notable adjustments.
“Nevertheless, we can confidently say that the 2025 grain harvest will be one of the most substantial in recent history,” Patrushev stated.
The grain harvest across the country is nearing completion, Patrushev, who is in charge of national agricultural policies, said.
Russia set for near-record grain yield in 2025: Deputy PM
Tashkent hosts an International Conference “Artificial Intelligence and International Law”
TASHKENT, Dec 4 (UzA/APP) : The Second International Scientific and Practical Conference “Artificial Intelligence and International Law” was held at the University of World Economy and Diplomacy.
Representatives of the United Nations, government agencies, foreign and domestic higher education institutions, and research centers attended the conference.
During the meeting, the sides exchanged views on trends in the legal regulation of artificial intelligence, international standards, and mechanisms for information exchange. Participants were also informed about Uzbekistan’s national strategy and practical initiatives in this area.
The issue of establishing a special center at the University of World Economy and Diplomacy to research artificial intelligence in politics, law, and economics was considered following the event. The possibilities of introducing AI into healthcare, agriculture, banking and finance, taxation, and customs were also discussed.
Kyrgyz President Zhaparov accorded guard of honour at PM House
ISLAMABAD, Dec 4 (APP): President of the Kyrgyz Republic Sadyr Nurgozhoevich Zhaparov on Thursday was accorded a guard of honour as he arrived at the Prime Minister’s House for one-on-one meeting and delegation-level talks with Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif.
Prime Minister Shehbaz received the Kyrgyz leader at the PM House’s entrance where the formal reception ceremony took place.
The national anthems of Kyrgyzstan and Pakistan were played while both leaders stood on the saluting dais.
A smartly turned-out contingent of the three services of the Pakistan armed forces presented the guard of honour, which President Zhaparov reviewed.
The two leaders introduced their respective delegations to each other before proceeding for a one-on-one meeting, followed by talks at the delegation level.
Later, the Kyrgyz leader also planted a sapling in the lawn of the PM House.
President Zhaparov, who arrived here on Wednesday on a two-day state visit – the first by a Kyrgyz head of state in two decades – was received at Nur Khan Airbase by President Asif Ali Zardari and Prime Minister Shehbaz.
He is accompanied by a high-powered delegation comprising cabinet ministers, senior officials and leading business personalities.
The route of the Kyrgyz leader’s motorcade and main avenues of the federal capital were decorated with Pakistani and Kyrgyz flags as well as the large portraits of President Sadyr Zhaparov.
During the visit, President Zhaparov will also meet with President Zardari and address the Pakistan-Kyrgyzstan Business Forum.
The two sides will review the full spectrum of bilateral relations and explore new avenues to further deepen cooperation across diverse sectors, including trade, energy, defence, education, people-to-people exchanges, and regional connectivity.
Football: Tanaka scores 1st Premier League goal as Leeds batter Chelsea
LONDON, Dec 4 (Kyodo/APP): Japan international Ao Tanaka netted his first English Premier League goal in emphatic style Wednesday as Leeds United earned a much-needed 3-1 win against high-flying Chelsea.
Looking to snap a four-game losing streak that placed them in the relegation zone, Leeds got off to a strong start when Slovenian defender Jaka Bijol headed in from a corner in the sixth minute at Elland Road.
The hosts dominated the first half but were unable to add to the lead until Tanaka, who missed two earlier attempts, found the target from long range in the 43rd minute.
After receiving the ball 20 meters out, the Samurai Blue midfielder turned and unleashed a shot that rocketed past Chelsea keeper Robert Sanchez into the top right of the net.
A jubilant Tanaka slid on his knees to celebrate a long-awaited maiden English top-flight goal after playing an instrumental role in Leeds winning promotion last season.
Chelsea pulled one back through Pedro Neto early in the second half before Dominic Calvert-Lewin restored the hosts’ two-goal buffer in the 72nd minute.
In the Scottish Premiership, Japan forward Daizen Maeda bagged the only goal in the 11th minute as Celtic defeated Dundee 1-0 to go level on points with leaders Hearts with a game in hand.
State Minister for Foreign Affairs meets European Parliament Member
Brussels, Dec 4 (SPA/APP): Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, Cabinet Member, and Climate Envoy Adel Al-Jubeir met in Brussels with Member of the European Parliament Abir Al-Sahlani, during his official visit to the Kingdom of Belgium.
The meeting discussed issues of mutual interest.
The meeting was attended by Saudi Ambassador to European Union and European Atomic Energy Community Haifa bint Abdulrahman Al-Jedea.
Saudi Arabia participates in drafting UN AI capacity-building network framework
Riyadh, Dec 4 (SPA/APP): The Saudi Data and AI Authority (SDAIA) highlighted the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia’s efforts to advance the United Nations’ recommendation to establish a global network for artificial-intelligence (AI) capacity development.
SDAIA delivered remarks during a dedicated session on Saudi Arabia’s initiatives and contributions to AI capability-building. The session was held as part of an Indian-organized network meeting, conducted virtually with the support of the UN Office for Digital and Emerging Technologies (ODET).
The meeting aimed to align the work of AI capacity-building centers, exchange perspectives on roles and contributions within the global network, and collaborate on drafting its charter.
During the session, SDAIA underscored Saudi Arabia’s pivotal role in a previous side event on AI capacity development held at the UN in partnership with Kenya and the International Center for Artificial Intelligence Research and Ethics (ICAIRE). The initiative received strong support from the United Nations, which stressed its importance for establishing the network and shaping its future outputs.
SDAIA Deputy Chief Officer for Strategy, Dr. Abdulrahman Habib, highlighted the authority’s initiatives, including national programs to develop human capabilities, as well as its international contributions to achieving the UN Sustainable Development Goals for 2030.
Lukashenko’s foreign trip to continue in Oman
MINSK, Dec 4 (BelTA/APP): The foreign business trip of Belarus President Aleksandr Lukashenko will continue in Oman, the press service of the Belarusian leader told BelTA.
“Later on the president’s work program will continue in Oman,” the press service clarified.
A series of meetings has been scheduled for the next few days to discuss practical aspects of the most important projects concerning Belarus-Oman cooperation. This work will proceed in furtherance of the top-level negotiations held on Monday, 1 December.
Another meeting of the Belarus president with the Sultan of Oman has also been scheduled. It will take place on 6 December and will sum up all the negotiations that have been held.
Belarus expands opportunities to sell its goods to Mongolia, UAE
MINSK, Dec 4 (BelTA/APP): Belarus is expanding opportunities to sell its goods to Mongolia and the United Arab Emirates. This pertains to draft laws that were ratified during a regular meeting of the third session of the House of Representatives of the National Assembly of Belarus of the eighth convocation on 3 December, BelTA has learned.
The head of state has set the task of boosting exports and strengthening efforts in both main markets and far-away countries. There is significant potential in this regard through joint, coordinated work within integration associations. A prime example is the two international agreements in the trade and economic sector considered by the Belarusian parliament today. As noted during the session, their ratification will help Belarus, as a member of the Eurasian Economic Union, to expand its opportunities for selling goods to Mongolia and the UAE.
Belarusian MPs were presented with two draft laws: on the ratification of the Interim Trade Agreement between the Eurasian Economic Union and its Member States, on the one hand, and Mongolia, on the other; and on the ratification of the Economic Partnership Agreement between the Eurasian Economic Union and its Member States, on the one hand, and the United Arab Emirates, on the other.
Regarding cooperation with Mongolia, Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Pavel Utyupin stated that the bill has been prepared to express Belarus’ consent to be bound by the Interim Trade Agreement and for its subsequent entry into force. According to the document, import customs duties in mutual trade will be reduced or eliminated for a limited range of goods.
According to the deputy minister, the Interim Trade Agreement with Mongolia is concluded for three years, and its term is subsequently extended for another three years unless the parties agree otherwise. Within one year after the initial three-year period, the parties will begin revising the international treaty to establish a full-fledged free trade zone between the EAEU and Mongolia.
Eismont describes mutual benefit as Belarus’ key approach to cooperation with partners
ALGIERS, Dec 4 (BelTA/APP): The key approach to developing bilateral cooperation with foreign partners is mutual benefit, press secretary of the Belarusian president Natayia Eismont said in an interview with the Frist News TV channel, BelTA has learned.
“I would like to focus on another key tenet, one that perhaps received slightly less attention in the coverage of all the president’s recent visits. This applies to Myanmar, Oman, and Algeria. There are many good topics. Many points of intersection.We truly have complementary economies with many countries, and we operate precisely on a mutually beneficial basis, never a one-sided one, under any circumstances. We only work this way: it must be advantageous for both sides,” Natalya Eismont said.
She explained that following all negotiations, the president works in this format, he immediately gives specific instructions to members of the Belarusian delegation: “Literally, these are brief, on-the-spot operational meetings right after the talks conclude in Myanmar. The same happened after the president’s meeting with the prime minister of Algeria, literally right away, the president gathered all responsible officials, including the minister of foreign affairs and the trade minister responsible for Algeria, and they immediately went through specific points.”
Chinese FM meets with French FM
BEIJING, Dec 4 (Xinhua/APP): Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi met with French Foreign Minister Jean-Noel Barrot on Wednesday in Beijing.
Wang, also a member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, mentioned French President Emmanuel Macron’s fourth state visit to China. Every meeting between the two heads of state is not only a major event in China-France relations but also attracts close attention from the international community, he said.
In the face of the current intricate global challenges, it is necessary for China and France to enhance communication and cooperation and shoulder their common responsibility as major countries and permanent members of the United Nations Security Council, Wang said, noting that it is believed that through the joint efforts of both sides, this visit will further enhance strategic mutual trust, deepen strategic cooperation, and inject new impetus into the development of the China-France comprehensive strategic partnership.
Wang expounded on the nature and serious dangers of the erroneous remarks on Taiwan made by the current Japanese leader, articulating China’s principle and stance.
“China hopes and believes that France will continue to understand and support its legitimate position,” Wang added.