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On July 2, 2025, the Government of Russia included bananas in the list of agricultural products, the production and processing of which is carried out by agricultural producers. This gives their producers the opportunity to receive state support. Several banana growing projects are currently being implemented in Russia. In 2024, according to the Ministry of Health, the increase in obesity among children by the time they graduate from school was 1.6 times. The total number of such schoolchildren is 480 thousand. The proportion of obese children aged 7-10 years - 1.67%, 11-14 years - 2.79%, 15-17 years - 2.82%. In total, about 40% of the population in Russia is overweight. As of 2024, according to Rosstat, 18.7% of people in Russia smoke, mainly aged 35-44. In 2018, 24.2% smoked. 43.5% of men and 86.3% of women have never tried smoking. The highest rates: Jewish Oblast (30.4%), Buryatia (25.6%), Amur Oblast (24.6%), Altai (24.4%), Komi (23.6%). The lowest: Chechnya (0.1%), Ingushetia (2.3%), Dagestan (7.2%), Kabardino-Balkaria (8.4%), Mordovia (9.2%). Moscow - 18.3%, St. Petersburg - 11.9%. The poor harvest (17.8M tons, 11.9% less than in 2023) led to a reduction in potato reserves in Russia. Wholesale prices have increased by more than 85% since the beginning of 2025, by 4.4 times compared to last spring. Retail prices have increased by 2.8 times year-on-year and amount to about 85 rubles per kg (1 USD). The Russian Finance Ministry has increased the expected 2025 budget deficit from 1.17 trillion (0.5% of GDP) to 3.79T rubles (1.7%). Expected oil and natural gas revenues have decreased from 10.93T to 8.3T, and the oil price forecast has been lowered from $69.7 to $56 per barrel. The inflation estimate has increased to 7.6%. More notes from Russia »
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Emily asks: Is it possible to cross to Blagoveshchensk from Heihe without a visa on a day tour if you're not Chinese?
Expert's answer:

Foreigners holding a Chinese visa or residents of China cannot visit Blagoveshchensk, Russia, from Heihe, China, without a Russian visa. A specific visa-free agreement exists between Russia and China, allowing Russian citizens to visit Heihe without a Chinese visa for up to 30 days, primarily for tourism or trade, using only a passport. However, this arrangement is not reciprocal for non-Russian foreigners, and no equivalent visa-free policy applies for entering Russia from Heihe.

To enter Blagoveshchensk, foreign nationals (excluding Russian citizens under the Heihe agreement) require a valid Russian visa, regardless of possessing a Chinese visa/residence permit. The Russian e-visa, available for citizens of certain countries for short visits (up to 16 days) for tourism, business, or humanitarian purposes, could be an option, but it must be obtained in advance. Additionally, crossing the border, typically via ferry or the new Heihe-Blagoveshchensk bridge (open for tourists in 2025), involves strict customs and immigration checks.

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