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Category: AM-NC

  • MIL-OSI USA: Curiosity Blog, Sols 4575-4576: Perfect Parking Spot

    Source: NASA

    Written by Lucy Thompson, APXS Collaborator and Senior Research Scientist at the University of New Brunswick
    Earth planning date: Wednesday, June 18,  2025
    Not only did our drive execute perfectly, Curiosity ended up in one of the safest, most stable parking spots of the whole mission. We often come into the start of planning hoping that all the wheels are safely on the ground, but the terrain on Mars is not always very cooperative. As the APXS strategic planner I was really hoping that the rover was stable enough to unstow the arm and place APXS on a rock — which it was! We are acquiring APXS and ChemCam compositional analyses and accompanying Mastcam and MAHLI imaging of a brushed, flat, typical bedrock target, “Tarija.” This allows us to track the chemistry of the bedrock that hosts the potential boxwork features that we are driving towards. 
    As well as composition, we continue to image the terrain around us to better understand the local and regional context. Mastcam will acquire mosaics of some linear ridges off to the north of our current location, as well as of a potential fracture fill just out in front of our current parking spot, “Laguna del Bayo.” ChemCam will image part of an interesting outcrop (“Mishe Mokwa”) that we have already observed (see the image associated with this blog).
    Thanks to the relatively benign terrain, the engineers have planned a 54-meter drive (about 177 feet) to our next location. After that drive (hopefully) executes successfully, we have a series of untargeted science observations. MARDI will image the terrain beneath the wheels and ChemCam will pick a rock target autonomously from our new workspace and analyze its chemistry. 
    To track atmospheric and environmental fluctuations, we are acquiring a Mastcam tau to measure dust in the sky as well as a Navcam large dust-devil survey and suprahorizon movie. The plan is rounded, as always, with standard DAN, REMS, and RAD activities.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: NASA Tech to Use Moonlight to Enhance Measurements from Space

    Source: NASA

    NASA will soon launch a one-of-a-kind instrument, called Arcstone, to improve the quality of data from Earth-viewing sensors in orbit. In this technology demonstration, the mission will measure sunlight reflected from the Moon— a technique called lunar calibration. Such measurements of lunar spectral reflectance can ultimately be used to set a high-accuracy, universal standard for use across the international scientific community and commercial space industry.  
    To ensure satellite and airborne sensors are working properly, researchers calibrate them by comparing the sensor measurements against a known standard measurement. Arcstone will be the first mission exclusively dedicated to measuring lunar reflectance from space as a way to calibrate and improve science data collected by Earth-viewing, in-orbit instruments. 

    “One of the most challenging tasks in remote sensing from space is achieving required instrument calibration accuracy on-orbit,” said Constantine Lukashin, principal investigator for the Arcstone mission and physical scientist at NASA’s Langley Research Center in Hampton, Virginia. “The Moon is an excellent and available calibration source beyond Earth’s atmosphere. The light reflected off the Moon is extremely stable and measurable at a very high level of detail. Arcstone’s goal is to improve the accuracy of lunar calibration to increase the quality of spaceborne remote sensing data products for generations to come.” 
    Across its planned six-month mission, Arcstone will use a spectrometer — a scientific instrument that measures and analyzes light by separating it into its constituent wavelengths, or spectrum — to measure lunar spectral reflectance. Expected to launch in late June as a rideshare on a small CubeSat, Arcstone will begin collecting data, a milestone called first light, approximately three weeks after reaching orbit. 
    “The mission demonstrates a new, more cost-efficient instrument design, hardware performance, operations, and data processing to achieve high-accuracy reference measurements of lunar spectral reflectance,” said Lukashin.  

    Measurements of lunar reflectance taken from Earth’s surface can be affected by interference from the atmosphere, which can complicate calibration efforts. Researchers already use the Sun and Moon to calibrate spaceborne instruments, but not at a level of precision and agreement that could come from having a universal standard.   
    Lukashin and colleagues want to increase calibration accuracy by getting above the atmosphere to measure reflected solar wavelengths in a way that provides a stable and universal calibration source. Another recent NASA mission, called the Airborne Lunar Spectral Irradiance mission also used sensors mounted on high-altitude aircraft to improve lunar irradiance measurements from planes. 
    There is not an internationally accepted standard (SI-traceable) calibration for lunar reflectance from space across the scientific community or the commercial space industry. 
    “Dedicated radiometric characterization measurements of the Moon have never been acquired from a space-based platform,” said Thomas Stone, co-investigator for Arcstone and scientist at the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS). “A high-accuracy, SI-traceable lunar calibration system enables several important capabilities for space-based Earth observing missions such as calibrating datasets against a common reference – the Moon, calibrating sensors on-orbit, and the ability to bridge gaps in past datasets.” 

    If the initial Arcstone technology demonstration is successful, a longer Arcstone mission could allow scientists to make the Moon the preferred reference standard for many other satellites. The new calibration standard could also be applied retroactively to previous Earth data records to improve their accuracy or fill in data gaps for data fields. It could also improve high-precision sensor performance on-orbit, which is critical for calibrating instruments that may be sensitive to degradation or hardware breakdown over time in space. 
    “Earth observations from space play a critical role in monitoring the environmental health of our planet,” said Stone. “Lunar calibration is a robust and cost-effective way to achieve high accuracy and inter-consistency of Earth observation datasets, enabling more accurate assessments of Earth’s current state and more reliable predictions of future trends.”  
    The Arcstone technology demonstration project is funded by NASA’s Earth Science Technology Office’s In-space Validation of Earth Science Technologies. Arcstone is led by NASA’s Langley Research Center in partnership with Colorado University Boulder’s Laboratory for Atmospheric and Space Physics, USGS,  NASA Goddard Space Flight Center in Greenbelt, Maryland, Resonon Inc., Blue Canyon Technologies, and Quartus Engineering.  
    For more information on NASA’s Arcstone mission visit: 
    https://science.larc.nasa.gov/arcstone/about/

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Governor Newsom announces appointments 6.20.25

    Source: US State of California 2

    Jun 20, 2025

    SACRAMENTO – Governor Gavin Newsom today announced the following appointments:

    Soon-Sik Lee, of Bellevue, Washington, has been appointed Chief of Planning and Engineering at the California High Speed Rail Authority. Lee has been a Vice President – Senior Program Manager at AECOM since 2021. He was Director of Engineering at Etihad Rail from 2020 to 2021. Lee was a Principal Investment Operations Specialist at Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank from 2016 to 2020. He was the Engineering and Construction Director at Etihad Rail from 2011 to 2016. Lee was an Assistant Vice President – Project Manager at Union Railway 2009 to 2011. He was a Project Manager at Parsons from 2006 to 2008. Lee was a Senior Bridge Engineer URS 2002 to 2006. He held multiple positions at University of Michigan from 1999 to 2002, including Post Doctoral Research Fellow and Research Assistant. Lee was a Structural Engineer at Won-Jong Engineering from 1996 to 1997. He earned a Doctor of Philosophy degree in Civil Engineering from University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, a Master of Business Administration degree from University of Chicago, a Master of Science degree in Civil Engineering from University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, and a Bachelor of Science degree in Civil Engineering from Kyung Hee University. This position does not require Senate confirmation, and the compensation is $280,008. Lee is registered without party preference. 

    Lilian Coral, of San Marino, has been appointed to the California Community Colleges Board of Governors. Coral has been Vice President of Technology and Democracy Programs and Head of the Open Technology Institute at New America and an Adjunct Instructor at the University of Southern California since 2022. She was Director of National Strategy and Technology Innovation at the Knight Foundation from 2017 to 2022. Coral was Chief Data Officer at the Office of Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti from 2015 to 2017. She was a Nonprofit Consultant and Principal at Adaptive Muse from 2008 to 2015. Coral was Founding Director of 2-1-1 California from 2010 to 2014. She was Policy Manager at the Los Angeles County Children’s Planning Council from 2007 to 2008. Coral was a Research and Policy Associate at Service Employees International Union, Local 721 from 2004 to 2007. She is a Board Member at Next City. She earned a Master of Public Policy degree from University of California, Los Angeles and a Bachelor of Arts degree in International Studies from University of California, Irvine. This position requires Senate confirmation, and the compensation is $100 per diem. Coral is a Democrat. 

    Carson Fajardo, of Rancho Cucamonga, has been appointed to the California State University Board of Trustees. Fajardo held several roles at California State University, San Bernardino from 2022 to 2025, including President and Chief Executive Officer and Member of the Board of Directors at Associated Students, Inc., and Programming Coordinator at the Residence Halls Association. He earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in Business Administration from California State University, San Bernardino. This position does not require Senate confirmation, and the compensation is $100 per diem. Fajardo is a Republican. 

    Press releases, Recent news

    Recent news

    Jun 19, 2025

    News What you need to know: The Ninth Circuit rejected Trump’s sweeping claim that he can federalize the National Guard for any reason and avoid judicial scrutiny, even as it stayed an emergency district court order. This is a critical check on presidential overreach…

    Jun 19, 2025

    News Sacramento, California – Governor Gavin Newsom today issued a proclamation declaring “Juneteenth National Freedom Day: A Day of Observance” in the State of California.The text of the proclamation and a copy can be found below: PROCLAMATIONJuly 4 is not the only…

    Jun 18, 2025

    News What you need to know: The Trump administration announced today that is has directed the national suicide prevention hotline to stop offering specialized support to LGBTQ callers. California continues to support this population.  SACRAMENTO – Governor Gavin…

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI NGOs: USA: MAHMOUD KHALIL RELEASED 

    Source: Amnesty International –

    In response to a U.S. District Court Judge ordering Mahmoud Khalil to be released on bail, Amnesty International’s Americas Regional Director Ana Piquer said: 

    “After more than three months of unjust detention, Mahmoud Khalil has finally been granted his freedom to return home, embrace his wife, and hold his child.  His detention was not only unnecessary, but emblematic of a broader effort by the Trump administration to suppress solidarity with Palestinian people and weaponize the immigration system. Mahmoud was targeted for exercising his human rights to freedom of expression and peaceful assembly. All of these rights must be respected in the United States and around the world, without exception. 

    After more than three months of unjust detention, Mahmoud Khalil has finally been granted his freedom to return home, embrace his wife, and hold his child.  His detention was not only unnecessary, but emblematic of a broader effort by the Trump administration to suppress solidarity with Palestinian people and weaponize the immigration system.

    Ana Piquer, Amnesty International’s Americas Regional Director.

    We remain deeply concerned by the escalating use of detention, intimidation, deportation, and disregard to right of due process, to silence protest and chill public debate in the United States. This is not just about one student, it is about the growing pattern of authoritarian practices by the Trump administration that undermine human rights. We urge the U.S. government to end the political targeting of students and other individuals based on their beliefs and to respect freedom of speech. Mahmoud’s detention is a stark reminder of the human rights that are at stake in the country, and we will continue to monitor his case.” 

    We urge the U.S. government to end the political targeting of students and other individuals based on their beliefs and to respect freedom of speech. Mahmoud’s detention is a stark reminder of the human rights that are at stake in the country, and we will continue to monitor his case.” 

    Ana Piquer, Amnesty International’s Americas Regional Director.

    Contact: [email protected]

    MIL OSI NGO –

  • MIL-OSI Europe: Pope Leo celebrates Corpus Christi: “It is wonderful to be in the presence of Jesus”

    Source: Agenzia Fides – MIL OSI

    VaticanMedia

    Rome (Agenzia Fides) – “Dear brothers and sisters, it is wonderful to be in the presence of Jesus.” With these words, Pope Leo XIV began his homily this afternoon as he celebrated the Eucharistic Liturgy for the Solemnity of Corpus Christi in the forecourt of the Basilica of St. John Lateran, the cathedral of Rome.The Gospel reading from Luke, recounting the miracle of the multiplication of the loaves and fishes, narrated the multitudes who “spent long hours listening to him speak about the Kingdom of God and seeing him heal the sick.” On Corpus Christi, a similar crowd gathered around the Successor of Peter for Holy Mass and the subsequent procession from the Lateran Basilica to the Basilica of Santa Maria Maggiore. That Eucharistic bread, said Pope Leo in his homily, quoting St. Augustine, is “bread that restores and does not run short; bread that can be eaten but not exhausted.”In the deserted place where they had listened to Jesus’ words and wished to remain near Him – the Bishop of Rome emphasized, referring to the Gospel passage – “evening fell and there was nothing to eat. The hunger of the people and the setting of the sun speak to us of a limit that looms over the world and every creature: the day ends, as does the life of every human being. At that hour of need and of gathering shadows, Jesus remains present in our midst.”Jesus multiplies the loaves and fishes for the hungry multitude, even though the disciples had advised him to dismiss the crowds. A suggestion, the Pope noted, “which reveal their lack of faith. For where the Lord is present, we find all that we need to give strength and meaning to our lives.” Jesus responds, “to the appeal of hunger with the sign of sharing: he raises his eyes, recites the blessing, breaks the bread, and feeds all present.”Today, in place of the crowds mentioned in the Gospel – the Pope continued, referring to the present day – “entire peoples are suffering more as a result of the greed of others than from their own hunger.” And faced with the misery of so many, he added, “the amassing of wealth by a few is the sign of an arrogant indifference that produces pain and injustice. Rather than sharing, it squanders the fruits of the earth and human labour. Especially in this Jubilee Year, the Lord’s example is a yardstick that should guide our actions and our service: we are called to share our bread, to multiply hope and to proclaim the coming of God’s Kingdom.”The hunger of the crowd, satisfied by Jesus’ miracle – the Pope continued, linking the Gospel story to the mystery of the Eucharist – is a sign of the hunger for salvation present in every human heart. In saving the crowds from hunger, “Jesus proclaims that he will save everyone from death. That is the mystery of faith, which we celebrate in the sacrament of the Eucharist. For just as hunger is a sign of our radical needs in this life, so breaking bread is a sign of God’s gift of salvation.” And “our hungry nature bears the mark of a need that is satisfied by the grace of the Eucharist.”The Eucharist – the Successor of Peter added, quoting the Catechism of the Catholic Church – is “the true, real, and substantial presence of the Savior, who transforms the bread into Himself, so that He may transform us into Himself. Living and life-giving, the Corpus Christi makes us – the Church itself – the Body of the Lord.”Even the Eucharistic procession, “which we are about to undertake,” Pope Leo emphasized at the end of his homily, “is a sign of that journey. Together, as shepherds and flock, we will feed on the Blessed Sacrament, adore him and carry him through the streets. In doing so, we will present him before the eyes, the consciences and the hearts of the people. To the hearts of those who believe, so that they may believe more firmly; to the hearts of those who do not believe, so that they may reflect on the hunger present within them and the bread that alone can satisfy it.” (GV) (Agenzia Fides, 22/6/2025)
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    MIL OSI Europe News –

  • MIL-OSI Europe: Hearings – REGI Public Hearing on cohesion policy for the equality of the regions – 25-06-2025 – Committee on Regional Development – Committee on Civil Liberties, Justice and Home Affairs

    Source: European Parliament

    Abstract_design © Image used under license from Adobe Stock

    …

    Dr Attila Dabis © European Union (2025) – European Parliament

    …

    Balázs Izsák © European Union (2025) – European Parliament

    …

    The Committee on Regional Development will hold a public hearing on the European Citizens’ Initiative (ECI) “Cohesion policy for the equality of the regions and sustainability of the regional cultures” with the participation of the Committee on Civil Liberties, Justice and Home Affairs, the Committee on Culture and Education and the Committee on Petitions on Wednesday 25 June 2025.

    MIL OSI Europe News –

  • MIL-OSI Europe: Briefing – EU–NATO cooperation – 23-06-2025

    Source: European Parliament

    The cooperation between the EU and the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) has deepened significantly in response to Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine, which has reshaped Europe’s security environment and highlighted the complementary roles of both organisations. NATO remains the cornerstone of collective defence, backed by United States (US) capabilities, while the EU has emerged as a key actor in financial aid, military assistance and sanctions. Both institutions have formalised their partnership through joint declarations and strategic documents, including NATO’s Strategic Concept, the EU’s Strategic Compass and White Paper for European Defence – Readiness 2030. Practical cooperation now spans a wide range of areas including cyber defence, countering hybrid threats, military mobility, critical infrastructure protection, and joint crisis preparedness. Regular staff-level coordination, shared exercises, and technical arrangements – such as the NATO–EU task force on critical infrastructure – have improved resilience and interoperability. The EU has also significantly ramped up its defence role. It has delivered €50.8 billion in military aid to Ukraine (EU plus Member State contributions). It has introduced industrial policies such as EDIRPA, ASAP, and the ReArm Europe/Readiness 2030 plan to reinforce the European defence industrial base. Despite progress, persistent challenges remain. Political tensions – in particular between Cyprus and Türkiye – continue to block intelligence sharing and formal joint planning. The EU still relies heavily on NATO, particularly US assets, for operational capabilities. Growing uncertainty over US commitments under the second Trump Presidency has reinforced the EU’s drive to strengthen strategic autonomy and ensure greater burden-sharing within NATO. The European Parliament supports stronger, complementary EU–NATO ties focused on interoperability, resilience and avoiding duplication, while stressing the need for Europe to take greater responsibility for its own security. At the NATO summit on 24-25 June in The Hague (the Netherlands), key challenges include agreeing on higher defence spending targets, maintaining alliance unity, managing the Russia threat, and rapidly scaling up Europe’s defence capabilities.

    MIL OSI Europe News –

  • MIL-OSI Europe: Latest news – 23 June – 26 June: Work in Parliamentary Committees

    Source: European Parliament

    In the week of 23 June, most Members’ work will be in Parliamentary Committees. DEVE will exchange views with Bill Gates on “ODA and Innovation: Key Drivers for Health and Living Standards in the Global South” and hear the draft report on “Humanitarian aid in a time of polycrisis.” ECON will debate the Solvency II Review Directive and hold a monetary dialogue with ECB President Christine Lagarde. ECON and BUDG will vote on the Commission proposal to enhance InvestEU and simplify EU rules. IMCO will discuss ongoing investigations into Shein’s alleged breaches of EU consumer law. TRAN will vote on draft reports from the Passengers Rights Package. ITRE will exchange views with Commissioner Jorgensen on a RePowerEU legislative proposal. AFCO will present its draft report on the “Institutional consequences of the EU enlargement negotiations.” Follow the links below to discover this week’s highlights.

    MIL OSI Europe News –

  • MIL-OSI Europe: At a Glance – 2025 G7 Summit in Kananaskis, Canada – 23-06-2025

    Source: European Parliament

    G7 leaders gathered under this year’s Canadian Presidency in Kananaskis, Canada, from 15 to 17 June 2025. The 51st leaders’ summit was overshadowed by the escalating conflict between Israel and Iran (which forced United States (US) President Donald Trump to leave the summit earlier), trade tensions between the US and the G7 nations, Russia’s ongoing war against Ukraine, and the Israel–Hamas war and the situation in Gaza. While the G7 issued several joint statements, for instance on the Israel–Iran crisis, no final G7 leaders’ communiqué was adopted, contrary to previous summits. The EU and other G7 members did not achieve a breakthrough in the trade talks with the US.

    MIL OSI Europe News –

  • MIL-OSI Europe: MOTION FOR A RESOLUTION on the problematic influence of the European Court of Human Rights in the field of asylum and migration policy – B10-0272/2025

    Source: European Parliament

    B10‑0272/2025

    Motion for a resolution on the problematic influence of the European Court of Human Rights in the field of asylum and migration policy

    The European Parliament,

    – having regard to Rule 149 of its Rules of Procedure,

    A. whereas the European Court of Human Rights (ECtHR) has, through its consistent pro-migration interpretation of the European Convention on Human Rights (ECHR), left little leeway for returns and made it impossible to effectively combat mass immigration;

    B. whereas the ECtHR has confirmed[1] that expelled third-country nationals have an unconditional right of return and that this right also applies to expelled drug traffickers;

    C. whereas Denmark and Italy accuse the ECtHR of affording too much importance to the ECHR when interpreting migration issues, going beyond the original intention of the signatory states;

    1. is concerned that the ECtHR is increasingly undermining the sovereign right of European states to decide whether foreigners may reside on their territory and that the ECtHR is placing the individual needs of deportees above public safety and the common good;

    2. Considers that states have the right to refuse foreign drug traffickers entry into their territory in the fight against illegal drug trafficking;

    3. Rejects the EU’s accession to the ECHR;

    4. Calls on the EU institutions to support Denmark and Italy in their criticism and to take it as an opportunity to reinterpret international legal frameworks in the field of asylum and migration in a manner respecting the sovereignty of European states.

    MIL OSI Europe News –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Developer appointed for 51 affordable homes in Littlemore

    Source: City of Oxford

    Oxford City Council’s housing company, OX Place, will work with Equans to build 51 sustainable council and shared ownership homes off Sandy Lane West in Littlemore. 

    This includes 27 flats let at social rent for people on the housing register, and 24 flats for shared ownership. 

    Social rent levels mean council tenants will typically pay around 40% of the rent a private landlord would charge for the same home. Shared ownership is a flexible option which helps a range of people onto the housing ladder in one of the UK’s most unaffordable cities.    

    OX Place and Equans working together for sustainable homes 

    The new partnership allows enabling works to begin on the site of the former Northfield Hostel, a SEND school that closed in 2014 and was demolished last year. It is expected that groundbreaking will happen later this summer. 

    In addition to the 51 homes already planned, the Council is exploring planning permission for a further 10 homes on the hostel’s adjacent sports field, which has been boarded up since the school closed. These would be built once the 51 flats are completed.  

    Equans has extensive experience working with local authorities to deliver vibrant, efficient and sustainable communities, using integrated energy and decarbonisation measures that make a real difference to people’s lives. 

    Comment 

    “Oxford needs homes, and this partnership marks the first step towards over 50 new affordable and sustainable ones for the people of Oxford. 

    “It is good that after a decade when it has been underused, we are exploiting this site for a development where the majority of homes will be much needed social housing. 

    “I look forward to work getting underway and new homes being delivered.” 

    Councillor Nigel Chapman, Cabinet Member for Citizen Focused Services and Council Companies

    “OX Place and Equans are both experts at delivering great, sustainable developments and I’m confident this partnership will do just that.” 

    Kevin Lowry, Interim Managing Director at OX Place

    “We are thrilled to be underway with the Northfield project for our valued client, OX Place, on behalf of Oxford City Council.

    “Delivering 53 much-needed, sustainable homes in Littlemore presents a fantastic opportunity to make a real difference in one of the UK’s most challenging housing markets. This marks an exciting new chapter in our strong, trusted partnership with OX Place, built over the past three years.

    “We’re proud to play a part in creating high-quality homes that meet both community needs and environmental goals.” 

    Rob Young, Regional Managing Director, Equans

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Beaney in the running for yet another Kids in Museums Award 

    Source: City of Canterbury

    Home  »  Latest News   »   Beaney in the running for yet another Kids in Museums Award 

    The Beaney House of Art and Knowledge is in the running for yet another prestigious national award in recognition of its quality as a family attraction.

    Having won in the best medium museum category in the Kids in Museums Family Friendly Museum Awards back in 2023, The Beaney, in High Street, Canterbury, has been shortlisted in the ‘best accessible museum’ category.

    It is up against Eureka! The National Children’s Museum in Halifax and Worsbrough Mill Museum and Country Park in Barnsley.

    The Kids in Museums Family Friendly Museum Award celebrates the most family-friendly heritage sites in the UK and is the only museum award to be judged by families.

    From February to late April, families across the UK voted for their favourite heritage attraction on the Kids in Museums website.

    A panel of museum experts, children and young people then whittled down hundreds of nominations to a shortlist of 18 heritage attractions.

    Lots of comments were submitted about The Beaney during the voting period earlier this year, with many praising its provision for visitors with accessibility needs.

    One family wrote: “We so often feel excluded from society. We are a neurodivergent family of three, our son is six and has numerous SEN conditions.

    “We visited the museum and were blown away by the lengths that they went to in order to ensure that it is accessible to all. The staff were wonderful.

    “I am 45 and my mum used to take me to the museum as a child. It was wonderful to be able to take my own son, an opportunity that we are frequently denied with other experiences and museums.”

    The museum will be visited by undercover family judges who will assess the shortlisted museums against the Kids in Museums Manifesto, a set of guidelines on what makes a great museum visit for all ages.

    Their experiences will decide a winner for each award category and an overall winner of the Family Friendly Museum Award 2025.

    The winners will be announced at an awards ceremony in October.

    Cllr Charlotte Cornell, Cabinet Member for Heritage, said: “Being nominated for yet another one of these awards just shows how valued The Beaney is in our community.

    “I know how hard the museum team works to break down barriers that might stop someone from visiting The Beaney, whether it’s sensory bags for children with special educational needs and disabilities, accessible versions of their family trails, creative workshops for blind and partially-sighted visitors, audio descriptions of collection highlights or online information to help those with accessibility needs plan their visit.

    “We’ll be eagerly awaiting the results following the secret family visit this summer, and I’ll have everything crossed that it goes just as well as it did last time!”

    Notes to Editors

    About Kids in Museums

    We are an award-winning charity dedicated to making museums open and welcoming to all children, young people and families. We support and champion family friendly organisations through wide-ranging initiatives, including the Family Friendly Museum Award and Takeover Day. We invite heritage organisations to sign up to our Manifesto, which sets out simple guidelines for making museums easy to reach for all ages. www.kidsinmuseums.org.uk Find us on LinkedIn, Instagram and Facebook.

    About the Family Friendly Museum Award

    Kids in Museums began the Family Friendly Museum Award in 2004 to recognise heritage sites that are the most welcoming, fun and accessible for families.

    Previous winners of the Family Friendly Museum Award include Young V&A (2024), Craven Museum (2023), the National Emergency Services Museum in Sheffield (2022), Bailiffgate Museum & Gallery in Alnwick (2021), Andrew Carnegie Birthplace Museum in Dunfermline (2019) and Leeds City Museum (2018).

    Published: 23 June 2025

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI Russia: LADA Sport ROSNEFT won 2 victories at the Russian Circuit Racing Series stage near St. Petersburg

    Translation. Region: Russian Federal

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

    The LADA Sport ROSNEFT racing team took two victories on the first day of the second stage of the Russian Circuit Racing Series. The event is taking place this weekend on the Igora Drive track near St. Petersburg.

    In the most powerful class of SMP TCR Russia, LADA Sport ROSNEFT pilot Ivan Chubarov won a convincing victory, finishing with an advantage of more than 30 seconds over his pursuers. Even stronger results were shown by the team’s pilots in the Super-Production class – Leonid Panfilov and Andrey Petukhov won the first two places and the team cup following the results of the race.

    The second stage of the RCRS racing series will continue on June 22.

    Rosneft has been the general sponsor of LADA Sport ROSNEFT since 2015. During this time, the team has achieved impressive results in all classes of circuit racing, classic rally and karting, winning 45 championship titles. Thanks to this cooperation, the market received a number of innovative products: high-octane gasoline Pulsar-100 and sports racing oil Rosneft Magnum Racing. Since 2021, the LADA Sport ROSNEFT team has been using this engine oil, which provides increased engine protection in extreme competition conditions. Technologies tested on race tracks are available to motorists. Pulsar fuel and Magnum Racing oil can be purchased at Rosneft filling stations

    Department of Information and Advertising of PJSC NK Rosneft June 21, 2025

    Please note: This information is raw content directly from the source of the information. It is exactly what the source states and does not reflect the position of MIL-OSI or its clients.

    MIL OSI Russia News –

  • President Murmu attends National Students’ Convocation of ICMAI in New Delhi

    Source: Government of India

    Source: Government of India (4)

    President Droupadi Murmu, on Monday, graced the National Students’ Convocation of the Institute of Cost Accountants of India (ICMAI) in New Delhi, where she underlined the importance of cost and management accountants in shaping India’s economic and sustainable future.

    In her address, the President said that accountants have traditionally enjoyed high regard in society owing to their intrinsic link to accountability. “Throughout our history, accountants have enjoyed high esteem in our society. The reason for that is that accounting and accountability are deeply connected. We value accountability; therefore, we attach special significance to accounting,” she said.

    Founded in 1944, the ICMAI has been a pivotal institution in the evolution of India’s post-Independence economy, she said, adding that its work often goes unrecognised in the public sphere but remains vital behind the scenes.

    “The ICMAI was founded in 1944 for the regulation and development of the profession of cost and management accountants in the country. That makes it a witness to the saga of India’s economic transformation after Independence. Not only a witness, in fact, it has been a very crucial player in making the Indian economy one of the strongest in the world today,” she added.

    President Murmu said that cost and management accountants today serve not only in factories, but also in corporate boardrooms. Their expertise, she noted, contributes directly to policymaking and the development of cost-efficient systems for both government and private institutions.

    Highlighting the growing responsibilities of the profession, the President observed that sustainability has become an unavoidable imperative in contemporary corporate life. “The world is facing the crisis of climate change. Sustainability is no longer a slogan; it has become a necessity. That time is over when corporate organisations worked solely with the profit motive. Now they have to keep the environmental costs in mind. And this is where CMAs, with their skills, can bring about a great change in the future of the planet,” she said.

    Addressing the graduating students, President Murmu urged them to view their careers through the lens of national service and development. “As cost accountants, you are uniquely positioned to contribute to India’s transformation into a Viksit Bharat by 2047,” she said.

  • MIL-OSI Security: New INTERPOL report warns of sharp rise in cybercrime in Africa

    Source: Interpol (news and events)

    Two-thirds of African member countries said cyber-related offences accounted for a medium-to-high share of all crimes

    • Cybercrime accounts for more than 30 per cent of all reported crime in Western and Eastern Africa.
    • Online scams, ransomware, business email compromise and digital sextortion are the most reported cyberthreats.
    • 90 per cent of African countries report needing ‘significant improvement’ in law enforcement or prosecution capacity.

    LYON, France: A growing share of reported crimes in Africa is cyber-related, according to INTERPOL’s 2025 Africa Cyberthreat Assessment Report.

    Two-thirds of the Organization’s African member countries surveyed said that cyber-related crimes accounted for a medium-to-high share of all crimes, rising to 30 per cent in Western and Eastern Africa.

    Online scams, particularly through phishing, were the most frequently reported cybercrimes in Africa, while ransomware, business email compromise (BEC) and digital sextortion also remain widespread.

    Neal Jetton, INTERPOL Cybercrime Director, said:

    “This fourth edition of the INTERPOL African Cyberthreat Assessment provides a vital snapshot of the current situation, informed by operational intelligence, extensive law enforcement engagement and strategic private-sector collaboration. It paints a clear picture of a threat landscape in flux, with emerging dangers like AI-driven fraud that demand urgent attention. No single agency or country can face these challenges alone.”

    Ambassador Jalel Chelba, Acting Executive Director of AFRIPOL, said:

    “Cybersecurity is not merely a technical issue; it has become a fundamental pillar of stability, peace, and sustainable development in Africa. It directly concerns the digital sovereignty of states, the resilience of our institutions, citizen trust and the proper functioning of our economies.”

    Africa’s top cyberthreats

    In the past year, suspected scam notifications rose by up to 3,000 per cent in some African countries, according to data from Kaspersky – one of several private sector partners that works with INTERPOL’s cybercrime directorate.

    Ransomware detections in Africa also rose in 2024, with South Africa and Egypt suffering the highest number, at 17,849 and 12,281 detections respectively according to data from Trend Micro, followed by other highly digitized economies such as Nigeria (3,459) and Kenya (3,030).

    Incidents included attacks on critical infrastructure, such as a breach at Kenya’s Urban Roads Authority (KURA), and on government databases, such as hacks of Nigeria’s National Bureau of Statistics (NBS).

    BEC-related incidents also rose significantly, with 11 African nations accounting for the majority of BEC activity originating on the continent. In West Africa, BEC fraud has driven highly organized, multi-million-dollar criminal enterprises, such as transnational syndicate Black Axe.

    Sixty per cent of African member countries reported an increase in reports of digital sextortion, where threat actors use sexually explicit images to blackmail their targets. The images can be authentic – shared voluntarily or obtained through coercion or deception – or they can be generated by artificial intelligence.

    Law enforcement challenges

    Cybercrime continues to outpace the legal systems designed to stop it, according to African law enforcement. Seventy-five per cent of countries surveyed said their legal frameworks and prosecution capacity needed improvement.

    At the same time, countries also reported struggling to enforce the existing laws on cybercrime, with 95 per cent of respondents reported inadequate training, resource constraints and a lack of access to specialized tools.

    Despite rising caseloads, most African member countries surveyed still lack essential IT infrastructure to combat cybercrime. Just 30 per cent of countries reported having an incident reporting system, 29 per cent a digital evidence repository and 19 per cent a cyberthreat intelligence database.

    While cybercrime routinely crosses national borders, 86 per cent of African member countries surveyed said their international cooperation capacity needs improvement due to slow, formal processes, a lack of operational networks, and limited access to platforms and foreign-hosted data.

    Cybercrime investigations increasingly rely on cooperation from private sector partners, yet 89 per cent of African countries said their cooperation with the private sector needed ‘significant’ or ‘some’ improvement due to unclear channels for engagement, low institutional readiness and other barriers.

    Strengthening cyber resilience

    Nevertheless, the INTERPOL report also details positive steps that many African member countries have made to strengthen their cyber resilience.

    Several African countries advanced their legal frameworks, harmonizing cybersecurity laws with international standards. Many countries also enhanced their cybercrime response capabilities, investing in specialized units and digital forensics infrastructure.

    This increased operational capacity was demonstrated in two high-impact international cybercrime operations coordinated by INTERPOL – Operation Serengeti and Operation Red Card – which collectively led to more than 1,000 arrests and the dismantling of hundreds of thousands of malicious networks.

    To further improve Africa’s cybercrime response capabilities, the INTERPOL report proposes six strategic recommendations, including improving regional and international cooperation, expanding prevention and public awareness, and leveraging emerging technologies.

    INTERPOL’s Africa Cyberthreat Assessment is part of the Organization’s African Joint Operation against Cybercrime (AFJOC) initiative, which is aimed at strengthening the capability of African law enforcement to prevent, detect, investigate and disrupt cybercrime. The AFJOC initiative is supported by the United Kingdom’s Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office.

    In addition to information gathered from INTERPOL member countries in Africa, the Assessment benefits from data contributed by private sector partners Bi.Zone, Group-IB, Kaspersky and Trend Micro.

    Download the INTERPOL’s 2025 Africa Cyberthreat Assessment Report via the link below.

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Economics: Samsung Odyssey 3D Brings Display Innovation to Life with Smarter, Sharper, Crosstalk-Free 3D Gaming

    Source: Samsung

     
    Samsung Electronics is revolutionizing 3D gaming with the launch of the Odyssey 3D (G90XF), a glasses-free 3D gaming monitor that eliminates the inconvenience and discomfort traditionally associated with 3D content.
     
    3D displays create a sense of dimension using binocular disparity, in which the brain perceives depth by processing the slightly different images seen by each eye. Leveraging this principle, the Odyssey 3D delivers a glasses-free 3D experience by precisely presenting different images to each eye without the need for external equipment. The eye-tracking technology is designed to recognize users’ eyes even when they are wearing glasses.
     
    The Three Core Technologies Behind Odyssey 3D
     
    The Odyssey 3D monitor leverages three core technologies—eye tracking, view mapping, and a lenticular lens—to deliver immersive 3D experiences.
     
    Eye tracking is enabled by a stereo camera mounted at the top of the monitor, detecting and tracking the user’s eye movements in real time.
     
    The two cameras capture different images, much like human eyes, they can determine the exact position of the user’s eyes and distance between the eyes and the monitor in real time. This real-time eye position detection allows Odyssey 3D to deliver a precise 3D image, even when the user moves.
     

     
    Based on this data, the system calculates the correct pixel positioning for each eye and reconstructs a single image through a process called view mapping. The final mapped images are then separately delivered to each eye through the lenticular lens, allowing the images from the display panels to be visible to each eye by utilizing light refraction.
     
    Beyond its 3D capabilities, the Odyssey 3D excels as a high-performance gaming monitor, offering exceptional picture quality and fast response times for 2D gameplay. The lenticular lens activates only when 3D mode is enabled by Odyssey 3D Hub, ensuring optimal performance in all scenarios.
     
    Minimizing Crosstalk with Samsung’s Advanced Display Technology
     
    To address common issues like crosstalk—where misaligned images cause visual discomfort—Samsung employs advanced techniques such as post-assembly calibration, hardware-specific data storage, and a deep learning-based eye-tracking algorithm. Additionally, a specially engineered display cell coating reduces light distortion and glare, further enhancing image clarity.
     
    The Odyssey 3D represents Samsung’s commitment to pushing the boundaries of display innovation, offering gamers a smarter, sharper, and crosstalk-free 3D experience while maintaining top-tier performance for 2D content. This groundbreaking monitor not only redefines immersive gaming but also solidifies Samsung’s leadership in the gaming monitor market.

    MIL OSI Economics –

  • MIL-OSI NGOs: ‘Everyone Hates Elon’ and Greenpeace unfold giant banner on Piazza San Marco ahead of Bezos’ wedding 

    Source: Greenpeace Statement –

    Venice, Italy – Activists from the UK action group Everyone hates Elon and Greenpeace Italy unfolded a giant 20x20m banner reading “If you can rent Venice for your wedding, you can pay more tax” on Piazza San Marco, as Jeff Bezos is due to celebrate his reportedly multi-million wedding in the lagoon city this week.

    A spokesperson from Everyone Hates Elon said: “As governments talk about hard choices and struggle to fund public services, Jeff Bezos can afford to shut down half a city for days on end just to get married. Just weeks ago he spent millions on an 11 minute space trip. If there was ever a sign billionaires like Bezos should pay wealth taxes, it’s this.” 

    Clara Thompson, Greenpeace campaigner, said: “While Venice is sinking under the weight of the climate crisis, billionaires are partying like there is no tomorrow on their mega yachts. This isn’t just about one person — it’s about changing the rules so no billionaire can dodge responsibility, anywhere. The real issue is a broken system that lets billionaires skip out on their fair share of taxes while everyone else is left to foot the bill. That’s why we need fair, inclusive tax rules, and they must be written at the UN.”

    A tax on the super-rich would help to fund the necessary transition to a green and just future, fund affordable housing, cheaper public transport or home insulation. Greenpeace’s ship, the Arctic Sunrise, was anchored at the port of Venice last week-end to promote this transition and expose the damage the fossil fuel industry causes to the people and the planet.

    ENDS

    Photos and Videos can be downloaded via Greenpeace Media Library.

    Contacts: 

    Clara Thompson, EU Lead Campaigner People over Greed project, part of the Global Fair Share campaign, based at Greenpeace Germany, +49 1758530226, [email protected]

    Christine Gebeneter, EU Communication Lead, People over Greed project, part of the Global Fair Share campaign, based at Greenpeace Central-and Eastern Europe, +43 664 8403807, [email protected]

    Greenpeace International Press Desk: +31 (0) 20 718 2470 (available 24 hours), [email protected]

    MIL OSI NGO –

  • MIL-OSI China: China launches major herb component database to boost TCM innovation

    Source: People’s Republic of China – State Council News

    China launches major herb component database to boost TCM innovation

    Xinhua | June 23, 2025

    China has officially launched a major medical herb component database in central China’s Hubei Province, which marked significant progress in technological innovation in the Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) sector.

    Developed by the Hubei Shizhen Laboratory-led team, the pan-Shennongjia Herbs Multi-Omics Components Database (SHMC) is the largest of its kind in central China.

    The SHMC transitioned herb studies “from experience-driven practice to science-led innovation” by creating a precise “digital portrait” for central China’s medicinal resources, said Wang Qi, director of Hubei Shizhen Laboratory, at the launch event on Sunday in Wuhan, provincial capital of Hubei.

    The project fills regional research gaps while “injecting new momentum into global TCM advancement,” he added.

    Liu Yifei, head of the SHMC development team at Hubei Shizhen Laboratory, detailed the database’s scale and capabilities.

    The SHMC, containing over 20 million entries, integrates information from ancient texts such as Shennong’s Classic of Materia Medica and Compendium of Materia Medica, as well as current authoritative compendiums of traditional Chinese medicine, incorporating multi-omics data encompassing genomics, transcriptomics, metabolomics, and proteomics, said Liu.

    It systematically catalogs commonly used medicinal resources in central China, compiling a comprehensive collection of species’ natural components.

    “This establishes a foundation for developing new TCM drugs and health products,” Liu said. 

    MIL OSI China News –

  • Recycled plastics pose risks to hormone systems and metabolism: study

    Source: Government of India

    Source: Government of India (4)

    A new international study has raised concerns about the health risks posed by recycled plastic, revealing that a single pellet of recycled polyethylene plastic can contain more than 80 different chemicals. The research highlights the potential for these chemicals to leach into water and interfere with hormone systems and metabolic functions.
     
    Conducted by researchers from the University of Gothenburg and Leipzig, the study was published in the Journal of Hazardous Materials. It underscores that while recycling is often promoted as a solution to the global plastic pollution crisis, it can also inadvertently introduce toxic substances into the environment and consumer products.
     
    In the experiment, researchers obtained recycled polyethylene plastic pellets from various parts of the world and soaked them in water for 48 hours. Zebrafish larvae were then exposed to the water for five days. The results showed notable changes in gene expression related to lipid metabolism, adipogenesis (the formation of fat cells), and endocrine regulation in the fish.
     
    “These short leaching times and exposure times are yet another indicator of the risks that chemicals in plastics pose to living organisms,” said lead author Azora Konig Kardgar, a researcher in ecotoxicology at the University of Gothenburg. “The impacts that we measured show that these exposures have the potential to change the physiology and health of the fish.”
     
    The findings echo previous research suggesting that exposure to toxic plastic chemicals may also affect human health, contributing to reproductive issues, hormonal imbalances, obesity, diabetes, and even certain cancers.
     
    Professor Bethanie Carney Almroth, principal investigator of the study, noted: “This is the main obstacle with the idea of recycling plastic. We never have full knowledge of what chemicals will end up in an item made of recycled plastic. And there is also a significant risk of chemical mixing events occurring, which render the recycled plastic toxic.”
     
    The study comes ahead of a crucial meeting of the Intergovernmental Negotiating Committee under the United Nations Environment Program. Nations will gather in Geneva this August to finalize negotiations on a Global Plastics Treaty aimed at curbing plastic pollution and addressing the associated health risks.
     
    -ians

  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: Cultural and Creative Industries Development Agency leads industry delegation to participate in Beijing International Book Fair (with photos)

    Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region – 4

    The Cultural and Creative Industries Development Agency (CCIDA) of the Culture, Sports and Tourism Bureau led an industry delegation to participate in the 31st edition of the Beijing International Book Fair (BIBF) and organised the Hong Kong Pavilion themed “Strolling through Hong Kong: Intangible Cultural Heritage and Urban Memories”. Through showcasing a wide range of Hong Kong intangible cultural heritage (ICH) and diverse Hong Kong cultural and creative works as well as publications and printed matters, the Hong Kong Pavilion presented profound Chinese culture and its inheritance and innovation in Hong Kong, at the same time exhibited the charms of literary excellence of Hong Kong, enhancing the reach of Hong Kong publishing and printing industries in market development and further promoting Hong Kong as an East-meets-West centre for international cultural exchange. The Hong Kong Pavilion was successfully held from June 18 to 22, with enthusiastic responses and a total of about 120 000 visitors recorded in the pavilion over the five-day fair period.
     
    The Commissioner for Cultural and Creative Industries, Mr Victor Tsang, said that the Hong Kong Pavilion demonstrated the continuous strengthened collaborative efforts of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government (HKSARG) and the publishing industry, with the aim of showcasing the power of profound Chinese culture by highlighting the substantial achievements among Hong Kong publications. The Hong Kong Pavilion also unveiled the logo of the World Chinese Literature Festival and marked the launching in Beijing for the eight wordless illustration books published under the Hong Kong Picture Book Publishing Support Programme.
     
    The Hong Kong Pavilion comprised four zones, among which the themed exhibition zone, the zone “A Glimpse of Hong Kong Writers” and the Hong Kong Illustration Zone exhibited over 500 items of Hong Kong publications, printed works and other cultural and creative products, attracting the attention of substantial audiences and publishers in the Mainland; while the zone for business negotiation had more than 50 Hong Kong publishers and printing companies exhibiting their latest creations and engaging in business discussions with potential business partners from around the world. Picture book illustrators sponsored to participate in the fair also visited various publishers during the fair period to broaden their business network and open up more business opportunities.
     
    A number of Hong Kong ICH bearers were invited to the fairground in Beijing to host a series of workshops and demonstrations, so as to enable audiences to gain an in-depth understanding and experience of the ICH. Two printing industry seminars were also conducted at the Hong Kong Pavilion to promote the latest printing product control practices and discuss industry developments.
     
    The Hong Kong Pavilion was presented by the CCIDA, with the Hong Kong Publishing Federation and the Hong Kong Printers Association as joint implementation organisations, the Beijing Office of the HKSARG, the Innovative Entrepreneur Association, the World Chinese Literature Foundation, the Hong Kong Professionals (Beijing) Association and the Advanced Printing Technology Centre as supporting organisations. Upon completion of the exhibition, the CCIDA donated part of the books exhibited to the Capital Library to sustain the cultural exchange between Beijing and Hong Kong.
     
    A virtual version of the 31st edition of the BIBF Hong Kong Pavilion is also available online (Website: 2025bookfair.hkbibf.com) until the end of 2025 and beyond, allowing more potential business partners and readers to access outstanding Hong Kong publications and printed works. All members of the public are welcome to visit the website.

    MIL OSI Asia Pacific News –

  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: Judiciary rolls out integrated Court Case Management System for civil appeal cases in High Court

    Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

    The following is issued on behalf of the Judiciary:

         The Judiciary today (June 23) announced that starting from June 30, the integrated Court Case Management System (iCMS) will be extended to the High Court, beginning with civil appeal cases.

         To prepare for the rollout of the iCMS in the High Court, the Judiciary has been proactively reaching out to law firms handling a relatively high volume of civil appeal cases in the past year to offer dedicated technical support, with a view to facilitating their early migration to the iCMS during the initial period. The Judiciary also welcomes any law firms to approach it early for assistance in this regard.

         The iCMS is an integral part of the Judiciary’s Information Technology Strategy Plan. It aims to facilitate the handling of court-related documents and payments electronically across various court levels. Major electronic services under the iCMS include sending case-specific court documents to the courts, receiving such documents from the courts, inspecting or searching filed documents and other case-related information held by the courts, searching cause books, and making payments for court services.

         The iCMS is being progressively implemented across various court levels. It currently covers personal injury actions, tax claim proceedings, civil action proceedings and employees’ compensation cases in the District Court, summons cases in the Magistrates’ Courts, as well as bulk claims in the Small Claims Tribunal. 

         For the High Court, the iCMS will initially be rolled out to civil appeal cases in the Court of Appeal on June 30, and will then incrementally cover 10 additional case types, including commercial actions, intellectual property cases, construction and arbitration proceedings, personal injuries actions, civil actions, probate actions, miscellaneous proceedings of the Court of Appeal, Magistracy appeals, miscellaneous proceedings (criminal) and intended actions. 

         The Judiciary aims to mandate the use of the iCMS for all legally represented litigants for case types where the electronic mode has been made available, starting in 2026. 

         Some new enhancement features will be introduced in the iCMS in the High Court:

         (a) “Generate Originating Document”
         This requires all iCMS users to create standard originating documents through e-fillable forms (instead of uploading scanned image of such documents) to facilitate the capturing of structured data.
     
         (b) “Judiciary Cloud”
         This seeks to progressively provide organisation users of the iCMS (starting from 20GB of storage space per organisation) with a temporary storage area to support the submission of documents exceeding the file size limit of 50MB when performing electronic filing.
     
         (c) “Deposit Account”
         This is an additional electronic payment option that allows organisation users to make non-interest-bearing prepayments for settling subsequent payments for transactions without the hassle of paying for each individual transaction. The Deposit Account will be available for use upon payment of an initial deposit of at least $3,000, which should be maintained (through top-ups where necessary) as the minimum account balance in the Deposit Account for each organisation.

         Details will be available on the dedicated webpage on e-Courts at the Judiciary website.
     
         Upon the rollout of the iCMS in the High Court, any party choosing to file or submit a document in paper format for an iCMS-enabled case type must also provide an electronic copy of the document to facilitate the creation and maintenance of a complete set of e-filing records for e-inspection. Litigants-in-persons (LiPs) can use the self-service kiosks located at the Resource Centre for Unrepresented Litigants in the High Court Building to scan and upload their documents to the iCMS. Non-LiPs, including law firms, are required to prepare the electronic copy of their documents on their own (outside the court building) and then use the kiosks solely for uploading the scanned documents to the iCMS. Parties may refer to guidance leaflets on using the self-service kiosks to upload documents. For law firms, this is the final transitional arrangement before the mandatory use of the iCMS.
          
         Case parties, particularly law firms, are strongly advised to register and start using the iCMS to avoid the hassle of paper filing and to enjoy the convenience of digital filing and payment anytime, anywhere. To encourage migration to the iCMS, a 20 per cent concession is offered to iCMS users for three years on fee items of the High Court that are primarily or directly related to electronic handling of court documents.
     
         Eligible users need to register for a user account to access the full range of services under the iCMS. Eligible users include parties of ongoing or new e-proceedings and their legal representatives (if any), the Hong Kong Bar Association, the Law Society of Hong Kong, law firms, government departments, law enforcement agencies and statutory bodies. Registration is free of charge.
     
         Unregistered members of the public may also use certain types of iCMS services, mainly related to searching for electronic documents that are open to public inspection.
          
         Regarding technical requirements, the iCMS can be accessed using personal computers or mobile devices with an Internet connection, commonly used operating systems and browsers.
     
         The iCMS operates around the clock, except during system maintenance. Any e-filing and e-payment received under the iCMS after the registry and the accounts office are normally closed to the public (i.e. after 5.30pm on a working day) will be deemed to be received at the start of the normal opening hours of the registry and the accounts office on the following working day.
     
         For more details about the iCMS, including its enhancement features and technical requirements, please visit the dedicated webpage on e-Courts of the Judiciary website at www.judiciary.hk/en/e_courts/index.html upon the rollout of the iCMS in the High Court on June 30.
     
         For enquiries, please call the general enquiry hotline at 2477 1002 or the technical helpline at 2886 6474, email to enquiry@judiciary.hk or visit the Help Centre at 5/F, Wanchai Tower, 12 Harbour Road, Wan Chai.

    MIL OSI Asia Pacific News –

  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: Director of Hong Kong and Macao Work Office of CPC Central Committee and Hong Kong and Macao Affairs Office of State Council Mr Xia Baolong meets district leaders and visits Community Living Room in Hong Kong

    Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region – 4

    ​The Director of the Hong Kong and Macao Work Office of the Communist Party of China Central Committee and the Hong Kong and Macao Affairs Office of the State Council, Mr Xia Baolong, today (June 22) had an engagement session with district leaders and visited a Community Living Room (CLR) in Hong Kong.

    In the morning, Mr Xia, together with the Chief Executive, Mr John Lee, and the Secretary for Home and Youth Affairs, Miss Alice Mak, met with the chairmen and representatives of the 18 District Councils at the engagement session. Mr Xia received briefings on their district work.

    Accompanied by Mr Lee and the Secretary for Labour and Welfare, Mr Chris Sun, Mr Xia inspected the facilities of the To Kwa Wan CLR to learn about the execution of the CLR Pilot Programme by the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government. He also took the opportunity to interact with users.

    Mr Xia concluded his visit and left Hong Kong at night.

    MIL OSI Asia Pacific News –

  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: Hong Kong Customs introduces E-form Submission for Passenger Information (Currency and Bearer Negotiable Instruments)

    Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

    Hong Kong Customs introduced today (June 23) the E-form Submission for Passenger Information (Currency and Bearer Negotiable Instruments) (E-form) service that enables incoming and outgoing travellers to pre-fill information of a large quantity of currency and bearer negotiable instruments (CBNIs) (i.e. with a total value of more than HK$120,000) in their possession via an easy and convenient electronic means.
     
    After the launch of the service, travellers can pre-fill information of a large quantity of CBNIs in accordance with the provisions of the Cross-boundary Movement of Physical Currency and Bearer Negotiable Instruments Ordinance (Cap. 629) and obtain a QR code before arriving in or just before leaving Hong Kong. They can then present the QR code to Customs officers for declaration when they enter or leave Hong Kong.
     
    The E-form provides a variety of features, including enquiring about and amending the saved information prior to declaration, downloading completed declaration forms, autofilling personal information and digital signing with “iAM Smart+”. All these enable travellers to fill out information more conveniently and effectively, expedite the process of on-site declarations, and reduce overall clearance time.
     
    Regarding the declaration and disclosure requirements of CBNIs, please visit the Customs website. For details on how to use the E-form, please read the User Manual of the E-form.
     
    Hong Kong Customs will continue to leverage technology to optimise its systems and services with a view to providing quality clearance services to the public.

    MIL OSI Asia Pacific News –

  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: HKSAR Government organises 5th Anniversary of Promulgation & Implementation of Hong Kong National Security Law Forum

    Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region – 4

         This year marks the 5th anniversary of the promulgation and implementation of the Hong Kong National Security Law (HKNSL). The law complements and integrates seamlessly with the Safeguarding National Security Ordinance which was enacted last year, collectively forming a legal great wall to safeguard national security in the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR). At this significant moment in time, the HKSAR Government has organised the 5th Anniversary of Promulgation & Implementation of Hong Kong National Security Law Forum to look back and ahead to the development of the HKSAR’s legal system in safeguarding national security, with a view to enhancing the understanding of the laws on safeguarding national security among various sectors and raising public awareness on national security. 
     
         The Opening Ceremony of the Forum was held this morning. ​The Director of the Hong Kong and Macao Work Office of the Communist Party of China Central Committee and the Hong Kong and Macao Affairs Office of the State Council, Mr Xia Baolong, was invited to officiate at the ceremony and deliver a keynote speech. The Chief Executive of the HKSAR and the Chairman of the Hong Kong National Security Committee, Mr John Lee, also delivered a keynote speech at the ceremony.
     
         The Director of the Liaison Office of the Central People’s Government in the HKSAR and National Security Adviser to the Committee for Safeguarding National Security of the HKSAR, Mr Zhou Ji; Vice-Chairperson of the HKSAR Basic Law Committee of the Standing Committee of the National People’s Congress and Deputy Director of the Legislative Affairs Commission of the Standing Committee of the National People’s Congress, Mr Zhang Yong; the Head of the Office for Safeguarding National Security of the Central People’s Government in the HKSAR, Mr Dong Jingwei; the Commissioner of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in the HKSAR, Mr Cui Jianchun; and the Commander-in-Chief of the Chinese People’s Liberation Army Hong Kong Garrison, Major General Peng Jingtang, also delivered speeches at the ceremony.
     
         Mr Xia said in his speech that the implementation of the HKNSL over the past five years has proven the law to be a “guardian” in defending the “one country, two systems” principle and in safeguarding the prosperity and stability of Hong Kong. It is a good law of great historical significance and immediate importance, he said, stressing that the situation facing Hong Kong in safeguarding national security is still complex and grave, and that it is necessary to grasp the requirements of safeguarding national security under the “one country, two systems” principle to maintain and consolidate the hard-won situation that Hong Kong is now enjoying. Profound changes are taking place in the internal and external environments of Hong Kong. Hong Kong must safeguard national security in the full process of implementing the “one country, two systems” principle; ensure that the governance of the HKSAR is firmly in the hands of the patriots; be steadfast in safeguarding security and promoting development; effectively protect the human rights and freedoms of Hong Kong people, and maintain Hong Kong’s unique position and advantages.
     
         Mr Xia said that the HKSAR Government and all sectors of society must unite and take responsibility to give full play to the institutional advantages of the “one country, two systems” principle, and grasp four key points: first, fully implement a holistic approach to national security to safeguard high-quality development with high-level security; second, leverage Hong Kong’s unique advantages in connecting the Mainland and the world to promote high-quality development through openness; third, utilise Hong Kong’s “golden reputation” vis-à-vis the rule of law to safeguard high-quality development; and fourth, uphold Hong Kong’s executive-led system to improve governance of the SAR and promote high-quality development through reform.

         Mr Xia concluded by saying that the enactment and implementation of the HKNSL is a major event in the implementation of the “one country, two systems” principle and has already made its mark in history. Looking to the future, the HKNSL will surely safeguard the steady and far-reaching journey of the “one country, two systems” principle, enabling Hong Kong to achieve new and greater accomplishments in the grand endeavor of building a strong nation and realising national rejuvenation.
     
         In his speech, Mr Lee thanked Mr Xia for his heartfelt review of the positive significance of the HKNSL in restoring Hong Kong’s stability and implementing the “one country, two systems” principle in the past five years, and for providing direction for Hong Kong’s future security and development. Mr Lee put forward four main points, stressing that the HKSAR must fully and accurately implement the “one country, two systems” principle and thoroughly adopt a holistic approach to national security; adhere to the solid foundation of the rule of law and leverage Hong Kong’s international advantages; cherish the stable situation and seize development opportunities; and enhance traditional advantages, focusing on reform and innovation. He said that the HKSAR should continue to safeguard national security and make good use of the stable situation to focus its efforts on developing a vibrant economy, achieving prosperous development and improving people’s livelihoods to realise people-centered development.
     
         Mr Lee said that under the institutional protection of the “one country, two systems” principle and the safeguarding of the HKNSL, which complements and integrates seamlessly with the Safeguarding National Security Ordinance, Hong Kong’s development and reform will surely continue to advance steadily, thereby making greater contributions to the nation in the building of a great country and advancing toward national rejuvenation.
     
         The young generation plays an important role in passing down the sense of mission and self-awareness on safeguarding national security for it to be deeply rooted and realised. One of the sessions of the forum was a performance with the theme of “Five Years of a New Horizon – Our Commitment to Safeguarding National Security”, which was performed by more than 180 students of different ages. The HKSAR Government has been committed to promoting national security education. The Department of Justice, the Security Bureau and the Education Bureau have organised various activities to raise awareness of national security among the young generation. The awards presentation ceremonies for the Security Bureau Youth Uniformed Groups National Security Quiz Competition, the Territory-wide Inter-school National Security Knowledge Challenge 2024/25, and the “Hong Kong National Security Law – Safeguards and Hopes” Social Media Post Competition were held at the forum to commend the young awardees.
     
         After the award presentation ceremonies, Mr Xia, together with Mr Lee, Mr Zhou, Mr Zhang, Mr Dong, Mr Cui, Major General Peng, and Mr Lam, officiated at the Hong Kong National Security Law – Guarding Every Voyage and Forging a Brighter Future Kick-off Ceremony, symbolising that Hong Kong has embarked on a new journey of advancement from stability to prosperity under the protection of the HKNSL.

    MIL OSI Asia Pacific News –

  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: Chinese Culture Festival 2025’s “Encountering Chinese Culture” Carnival held today

    Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

    Chinese Culture Festival 2025’s “Encountering Chinese Culture” Carnival held today

    The Chinese Culture Festival (CCF) 2025, organised by the Leisure and Cultural Services Department (LCSD), will hold the “Encountering Chinese Culture” Carnival on June 22 (Sunday) at Sha Tin Town Hall and New Town Plaza. Through stage performances rich in Chinese cultural characteristics, “Vibrant ICH” performances, booth activities and more, the Carnival will bring fine traditional Chinese culture and intangible cultural heritage (ICH) items into the community for public enjoyment and raise people’s awareness of and interest in Chinese culture as well as ICH. Members of the public are invited to join for free. “Vibrant ICH” performances and booth activities are also programmes of Hong Kong ICH Month 2025.

    The Carnival will kick off with a fire dragon dance by the Pok Fu Lam Village Fire Dragon Association at 2pm at the Entrance Arena at L1, Phase 1 of New Town Plaza, followed by a number of performances by outstanding arts groups and ICH practitioners from the Mainland and Hong Kong. Audience members can preview highlighted excerpts from some of this year’s CCF programmes, including the Museum Series: “The Sounds from Cultural Relics”, the “Ancient Styles ‧ Modern Chants” Classical Literature × Contemporary Dance and the “Taisheng and Huayin Lao Qiang: Big Uncle, Second Uncle are All His Uncles” Concert with collaboration from the China Federation of Literary and Art Circles Hong Kong Member Association.

    Coinciding with the Hong Kong ICH Month organised by the LCSD’s Intangible Cultural Heritage Office (ICHO) is held in June, a series of “Vibrant ICH” song and dance performances as well as a puppetry show will be presented in the Carnival at the Entrance Arena of New Town Plaza. The Gannan Art and Creative Institute of Jiangxi Province will present multiple ICH performances, including Xingguo folk songs, a Gannan tea-plucking opera as well as Hakka folk songs and dances. Hong Kong puppeteer Wong Fai will perform the puppet show “Journey to the West – Flaming Mountain”, while two members of the Sai Kung Hakka Folk Song Group will present local Hakka songs.

    The Carnival specially features multiple “Vibrant ICH” interactive experiential booth activities at the Exhibition Gallery and Foyer of Sha Tin Town Hall as well as the West Wing at L1, Phase 1 of New Town Plaza, showcasing various ICH-related craftsmanship, including Chinese brush making, Hong Kong cheongsam making, puppetry, fishing net plaiting, movable-type printing, patterned band weaving and gold leaf decoration. Members of the public can watch demonstrations and participate in workshops to explore the essence of ICH.

    The “Mobile ICH” vehicle from the ICHO and a “Library-on-Wheels” from the Hong Kong Public Libraries will arrive at the Plaza of Sha Tin Town Hall on that day. The “Mobile ICH” will introduce Hong Kong’s ICH items through on-board exhibitions and interactive devices, while the “Library-on-Wheels” will offer a selection of Chinese culture-themed collections for the public to borrow on-site. Story ambassadors will host engaging storytelling sessions at the West Wing at L1, Phase 1 of New Town Plaza to promote reading. The Carnival will also hold “ICH Story-telling” sessions at the Foyer of Sha Tin Town Hall, using illustrated books on ICH to help participants of all ages learn about ICH items in Hong Kong.

    A trainee’s ensemble from the Music Office of the LCSD will perform on pipa, erhu and dizi at the Entrance Arena of New Town Plaza. The ensemble will also stage Chinese instrumental performances at the Foyer of Sha Tin Town Hall.

    In addition, the “Mystery of Chinese Writing” Roving Exhibition will be held on the same day at the Exhibition Gallery of Sha Tin Town Hall. The exhibition will use simple writings and images of artefacts to showcase the development and cultural connotations of Chinese characters. The Ganzhou Municipal Bureau of Culture, Media and Tourism will also set up Jiangxi ICH booths and a photo exhibition at the Plaza and Exhibition Gallery of Sha Tin Town Hall, introducing the “Genesis and Spirit – Treasures of Nature · Extraordinary Hakka: Intangible Cultural Heritage Exhibition of Jiangxi” currently being held in Hong Kong Central Library along with other aspects of Jiangxi culture.

    For the venue and time of each carnival activity, please visit www.ccf.gov.hk/en/programme/encountering-chinese-culture/.

    The CCF, presented by the Culture, Sports and Tourism Bureau (CSTB) and organised by the Chinese Culture Promotion Office under the LCSD, aims to promote Chinese culture and enhance the public’s national identity and cultural confidence. It also aims to attract top-notch artists and arts groups from the Mainland and other parts of the world for exchanges in Chinese arts and culture. The CCF 2025 is held from June to September. Through over 280 performing arts programmes in various forms and related extension activities, the festival provides members of the public and visitors with more opportunities to enjoy distinctive programmes that showcase fine traditional Chinese culture, thereby facilitating patriotic education and contributing to the inheritance, transformation and development of traditional Chinese culture in Hong Kong. For details, please visit www.ccf.gov.hk.

    Hong Kong ICH Month 2025 is presented by the CSTB and organised by the ICHO of the LCSD with ICH June as the strategic partner. Delightful programmes include 80 ICH performances, 60 interactive experiential booths and 20 “ICH Highlight Tours”, covering over 100 ICH items and bringing together over 50 ICH practitioners, including representative bearers of the national ICH. For details, please visit www.icho.hk/en/web/icho/hk_ich_month_2025.html.

    Ends/Tuesday, June 17, 2025
    Issued at HKT 14:30

    MIL OSI Asia Pacific News –

  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: Yan Chai Hospital announces sentinel event of suspected inpatient suicide

    Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

    Yan Chai Hospital announces sentinel event of suspected inpatient suicide

    The following is issued on behalf of the Hospital Authority: The spokesperson for Yan Chai Hospital (YCH) announced a sentinel event of suspected inpatient suicide today (June 22): A 79-year-old male patient was admitted to a medical ward of YCH on June 17 due to bilateral lower limb oedema. The patient had underlying chronic diseases. The patient was not at risk of suicide during admission screening, and his clinical condition was stable along. The patient was last seen by healthcare staff resting in bed at 11.30pm on June 21 in the cubicle. At 11.40pm, the patient was found with suspected suicide. He was found unconscious, hanging his neck with a rope connected with his own bed hanger. Healthcare staff performed resuscitation for the patient immediately, informed the patient’s family and reported the incident to the Police. The patient was certified dead at 12.34am today. The hospital was saddened by the incident and expressed deep condolences to the family of the patient. The hospital will provide assistance to the family as required and will fully co-operate with the Police in the investigation. The hospital is very concerned about the incident which was classified as a sentinel event. The incident has been reported to the Hospital Authority Head Office via the Advance Incident Reporting System. A root cause analysis panel will be 23/06/2025, 10:43 Yan Chai Hospital announces sentinel event of suspected inpatient suicide https://www.info.gov.hk/gia/general/202506/22/P2025062200663p.htm 1/2 formed to investigate the incident. The incident has been reported to the coroner. Ends/Sunday, June 22, 2025

    Issued at HKT 19:03 NNNN

    MIL OSI Asia Pacific News –

  • MIL-OSI Economics: Huawei OceanStor Dorado All-Flash Storage Named One of DCIG TOP 5 Cybersecure NAS Solutions

    Source: Huawei

    Headline: Huawei OceanStor Dorado All-Flash Storage Named One of DCIG TOP 5 Cybersecure NAS Solutions

    [Shenzhen, China, June 23, 2025] The Data Center Intelligence Group (DCIG), a leading global technology research and analysis firm, has listed Huawei OceanStor Dorado All-Flash Storage in its 2025-26 DCIG TOP 5 Cybersecure 10PB+ NAS Solutions report. The Huawei OceanStor Dorado All-Flash Storage has earned a number of plaudits for its leading data resilience and NAS capabilities.

    Huawei OceanStor Dorado All-Flash Storage named a 2025-26 DCIG TOP 5 Cybersecure 10PB+ NAS Solution

    In the report, DCIG predicts the global NAS market will nearly triple in the next seven years, but this widespread adoption also brings escalating challenges to resilience, especially from the growing threat of ransomware. As a result, enterprises are placing greater emphasis on data resilience when selecting NAS storage.
    The report indicates that enterprises should prioritize data resilience when purchasing NAS storage—focusing on key features such as ransomware detection, at-rest encryption, secure snapshots, and permission management and control. To support this, DCIG evaluated the storage services and data resilience capabilities of 24 mainstream NAS solutions for its report, looking at multiple dimensions, including reliability, performance, and resilience. The report provides valuable insights for enterprises looking to purchase NAS storage.
    The report marked Huawei OceanStor Dorado All-Flash NAS Storage as a standout product in a number of areas:

    All-round ransomware protection: The solution’s built-in pre-event, in-event, and post-event ransomware detection capabilities enable faster, more accurate detection, and a ransomware detection rate of up to 99.99%. It also proactively protects data using cutting-edge technologies such as built-in honeyfiles and Air Gap.
    Stable and reliable: The solution uses a SmartMatrix Full-Mesh Architecture, along with the unique NAS active-active solution, to deliver 99.99999% reliability. It also supports seamless upgrades from a single device to multi-site disaster recovery (DR) solutions, such as active-active, 3DC, and 4DC DR, to ensure always-on services.
    Efficient and agile: The innovative scale-out file system OceanFS can improve the system processing capability, while its intelligent metadata layout and directory balancing algorithm significantly boost file access performance, delivering 30% better access performance for massive small files compared to the industry’s next best.

    Huawei OceanStor Dorado All-Flash Storage has been named one of DCIG TOP 5 cybersecure storage solutions for multiple consecutive years. Huawei has committed itself to prioritizing innovation and investment to elevate storage performance, reliability, and resilience, aiming to establish itself as the number one choice for customers across a vast range of industries.
    For more details about the 2025-26 DCIG TOP 5 Cybersecure 10PB+ NAS Solutions report, please visit: https://e.huawei.com/en/material/enterprise/55b136cea83242b7978145891e9aadb3

    MIL OSI Economics –

  • MIL-OSI Africa: Cold front in the Eastern Cape brings strong winds

    Source: South Africa News Agency

    Monday, June 23, 2025

    The South African Weather Service (SAWS) says a cold front is expected to pass the south of the country on Monday, resulting in gale force winds of 60 to 70 km/h along the coast between Plettenberg Bay and East London.

    This will result in very rough to high seas with wave heights of between 5m to 7m, reaching 8m offshore.

    These weather conditions, said SAWS, will make navigation for vessels at sea difficult; small vessels are at risk of taking on water and capsizing within a locality; disruption of harbours and/or ports; disruption to beachfront activities and danger to life. 

    The extended weather forecast for Tuesday and Wednesday shows fine and cold to cool, becoming cloudy and very cold in the South West of the country on Wednesday, with 60% – 80% showers and rain.

    “Snow is possible over the mountains in the Western Cape and the Southern parts of the Northern Cape on Wednesday,” SAWS said.

    An intense cold front is expected to affect the Western and Northern Cape provinces from Wednesday into Thursday. 

    The weather service has warned the public and small stock farmers that the following can be expected:

    • Very cold, wet and windy conditions (with maximum temperatures below 10 °C) over the high-lying areas.
    • Heavy rainfall (40 to 60 mm), predominantly over the western parts of the Western Cape.
    • Strong interior winds and gale force coastal winds.
    • Very rough to high seas (reaching 5.0 to 8.0 m in places).
    • Light snowfall on the high ground. – SAnews.gov.za

    MIL OSI Africa –

  • MIL-OSI Africa: SA signs US$1.5 billion loan with World Bank

    Source: South Africa News Agency

    Monday, June 23, 2025

    The South African government and the World Bank have signed a US$1.5 billion Development Policy Loan Agreement that will assist in unlocking key infrastructure bottlenecks, particularly in the energy and freight transport sectors.

    In a statement on Monday, the National Treasury explained that the loan is aimed at supporting critical structural reforms to enhance the efficiency, resilience, and sustainability of the country’s infrastructure services.

    The loan support is anchored on three key pillars of structural reform: improving energy security, enhancing the efficiency and competitiveness of freight transport services, and supporting South Africa’s transition toward a low carbon economy. 

    These reforms are critical enablers of inclusive growth and job creation.

    “This partnership marks a significant step towards addressing South Africa’s pressing economic challenges of low growth and high unemployment. 

    “The financing forms part of the government’s broader efforts to implement structural reforms that strengthen public institutions, crowd in private investment, and improve service delivery across priority sectors of the economy,” National Treasury said.

    The financing terms of the loan are in line with National Treasury’s financing strategy. 

    Specifically, the loan offers both favourable interest rates and flexible repayment terms, contributing to minimising increase in debt service costs.

    The financing terms of the World Bank loan are as follows:

    • Nominal value: US$1.5 billion,
    • Maturity: 16 years with a 3 year-grace period,
    • Interest rate: 6-month Secured Overnight Financing Rate (SOFR) plus 1.49%.

    “The National Treasury wishes to express its appreciation to the World Bank for its continued partnership and support in advancing South Africa’s development objectives. This agreement reinforces the strong and constructive collaboration between the World Bank and the government of South Africa.” – SAnews.gov.za

    MIL OSI Africa –

  • MIL-OSI Africa: A toolkit for financial wellbeing, one rand, one habit, one goal at a time

    Source: South Africa News Agency

    By Thamsanqa Cele

    As Youth Month draws to a close for 2025, let us continue to keep in our minds, hearts and behaviours the courage the young people of the 1976 Soweto uprising, where they protested apartheid’s oppressive education policies, sparking a movement for
    equality. 

    Today, South Africa’s youth, 34.3% of the 60.6 million population, face significant economic challenges, including an over 60% unemployment rate. Rising living costs further strain budgets, making financial wellbeing critical. In honouring the 107 heroes, who were brave young people then, the young people of today face different kinds of challenges. Among them, financial well-being. Put differently, their own personal economic freedom. It is not an easy and straightforward world. Especially when considering the macro-economic environment. That said, it remains a personal journey that does not need to be tackled alone. We present a few of the many tools that young people may want to consider as they fight their way to financial well-being.

    The economic landscape

    South Africa’s youth face daunting economic hurdles. The unemployment rate for those aged 15–24 reached 62.4% in Q1 2025, while 40.4% of those aged 25–34 remain jobless. According to StatsSA, approximately 3.8 million young people are not in
    education, employment, or training (NEET), fostering a sense of hopelessness. Millions of young people are currently dependent on the lifeline of the Social Relief of Distress R370 grant. The high cost of living, driven by inflation, makes essentials like food,
    transport, and housing increasingly unaffordable. According to the South African Depression and Anxiety Group, financial stress affects ~60% of South Africans, contributing to anxiety and depression.

    Despite these lived challenges across the board, opportunities exist. Government initiatives like the National Youth Development Agency (NYDA) and Youth Employment Services (YES) program provides funding, training, and work experience. By combining these resources with sound financial habits, the youth stand a better chance of achieving financial well-being, managing money to meet needs, handling emergencies, achieving goals, and improving their lives. This fosters economic stability and enhances mental health, reducing stress and boosting happiness.

    Why money management matters

    Financial stress is often the root of broader challenges. A large-scale study found that greater financial worries, especially among unemployed and low-income individuals, significantly increase psychological distress. Money is tightly linked with mental and
    even physical health. Financial strain can cause anxiety, poor sleep, and strained relationships, but learning to manage money may reverse these ills. Think of financial wellness as preventive healthcare. Like nutrition or exercise, sound financial habits help guard against crisis. As behavioural finance and mental health experts note, emergency savings build control and agency, two essential buffers for mental well-being. There are many helpful tools to engage in a journey to financial well-being. Some of these are:

    Tool #1: Start Budgeting – Know Where Every Rand Goes 

    A simple budget rule is: Essentials (50%), Life (30%), Savings (20%). The 50/30/20 rule is proven to improve emotional wellness by instilling spending control. It is a simple approach: allocate 50% of income to necessities (rent, food, transport), 30% to wants (entertainment, dining out), and 20% to savings or debt repayment. The 20% for savings and debts must be treated as a holy grail of securing a bright financial future, especially if it is skewed towards Savings.

    Tool #2: Build an Emergency Fund – Your First Safety Net 

    Saving, even small amounts, is crucial for financial security. An emergency fund covering 3 – 6 months of expenses (e.g. R15 000–R30 000 for R5 000 monthly costs) protects against unexpected costs like medical bills or job loss. Start with R100 monthly; over time this builds a significant buffer. With competitive interest rates, Postbank’s Smart Save account helps savings grow. Our customers use this account as a stash away from their main accounts in other banks. Because if you can see it, you will be tempted to use it. Multiple global studies have shown that an emergency fund reduces financial stress, lowers anxiety and reduces the risk of depression.

    Tool #3: Embrace Psychological Resilience Through Discipline

    Financial resilience builds mental resilience. Psychology research defines resilience as adapting successfully under stress when you feel in control. Ability and optimism follow. Money habits support coping in crisis, improve mood, and encourage growth.
    Holistic benefits include:
    * Reduced anxiety and stress
    * Better sleep, which improves physical health
    * Better relationships and social connections
    * Increased ability to seize new opportunities (jobs, entrepreneurship)
    * Mental clarity to focus on education, personal development, and productivity at
    work

    Tool #4: Side Hustles and Entrepreneurship

    Relying on one income source is risky in South Africa’s economy. Additional income streams provide security and accelerate financial goals. Some of the possible side hustles:
    * Freelancing: use what you are good at or that you understand better to freelance
    in areas like writing, designing, teaching, dancing, djaying, babysitting, etc.
    * Selling products: Create and sell handmade goods.
    * Small business: With NYDA support, you can start a low-cost venture like a car wash
    or food stall. The agency offers grants up to R50 000 and training.
    * YES placements, PYEI learnerships, SETA internships, and NYDA entrepreneurship
    support offer stipends, work experience, and business training.
    * Self-employment through grants and youth schemes – e.g. creative sector
    assistance, can seed small enterprises.

    Self-empower by taking advantage of the government-provided WiFi hotspots so you can use data at low costs, if not for free. South Africa’s public WiFi hotspot network, driven by SA Connect, a government program under the Department of Communications and Digital Technologies, provincial initiatives, and NGOs like Project Isizwe and Think WiFi, is opening doors for youth across the country. These hotspots are more than data points – they are gateways to education, jobs, civic engagement, and digital inclusion. By embracing these opportunities, young South Africans can transform their futures— accessing knowledge, growing skills, and connecting to their communities.

    Tool #5: Self-Control – Curbing your enthusiasm

    Many fall prey to the impulse to use spending as therapy. Yes, it may be for some who can afford to. Many others, already living beyond their means, tend to fall even deeper into the trap due to impulse-buying, falling foul of peer pressure and a show-
    off mentality. Before you buy it, ask yourself, does it have to be bought now? Can it be saved up for? Can it wait a little longer?

    A final call: Youth Month as a financial rebirth 

    Youth Month 2025 should mark a shift in the narrative:
    * From scrambling to survive, to building resilience through structured money habits.
    * From job-seeking alone to leveraging free government opportunities and saving
    on the payoff.
    * From worrying in silence to growing confidence, emotional control, and direction.

    Postbank is the national savings bank, ready to support every young South African who earns, learns, or aspires—with practical tools and accessible accounts. Postbank is trusted by millions of customers who have saved billions of rands with us. We are here
    to support young people with products that suit their needs. Products like the Smart Saver Account – accessible, competitive and needing as little as you can afford to save When youth learn to manage money, with buffers, budgets, and purpose, they don’t
    just survive, they thrive.

    Let this Youth Month ignite a movement, fuelled by practical habits, economic inclusion, and holistic well-being. We invite every young person to begin with building a savings buffer and continue toward a life of stability and possibilities. Partnering with the youth can help us enable their destiny, one rand, one habit, one goal at a time.

    *Thamsanqa Cele is the Chief Commercial Executive at PostBank

    MIL OSI Africa –