China continued to expand its optical fiber network in the first quarter of 2025, with the total length of national optical fiber cables exceeding 74 million kilometers, according to the latest data from the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology.
By the end of March, the total length of optical cable lines in the country had reached 74.54 million kilometers, marking a 13.7 percent increase compared to the same period last year.
The number of 5G mobile phone users also surged to 1.068 billion, while mobile internet traffic maintained double-digit growth.
China expands optical fiber network in Q1
Russia has largely expanded the blacklist of European Union (EU) officials banned from entering the country in response to Brussels' 20th sanctions package against Moscow, the Russian Foreign Ministry said on Monday.
The EU continues its attempts to pressure Russia by scaling up unilateral restrictive measures, the ministry said in a statement, adding that Brussels' destructive actions grossly violate the norms of international law.
"We have also imposed restrictive measures against civil society activists and academics in European countries who hold hostile positions toward Russia, as well as members of national parliaments of EU member states and the European Parliament who voted in favor of anti-Russian resolutions and bills," said the statement.
Russia has also barred entry to representatives of European institutions and EU member states involved in decisions on providing military aid to Ukraine, it added.
European Council President Antonio Costa said on Thursday that the EU has approved a 90-billion-euro loan package for Ukraine, along with a 20th round of sanctions against Russia.
Russia expands blacklist of EU members in response to latest sanctions
Russia expands blacklist of EU members in response to latest sanctions
