Category: AM-NC

MIL-OSI Europe: Christine Lagarde: Strengthening economies in a stormy and fragmenting world

Source: European Central Bank

Speech by Christine Lagarde, President of the ECB, at the ninth Annual Research Conference “Economic and financial integration in a stormy and fragmenting world” organised by the National Bank of Ukraine and Narodowy Bank Polski in Kyiv, Ukraine

Kyiv, 19 June 2025

It is an honour to be here in Kyiv – a city that has come to symbolise resilience, dignity and the enduring spirit of freedom. Kyiv stands not only as the heart of Ukraine, but as a beacon of what it means to hold fast to democratic values in the face of immense challenge.

As the great Ukrainian poet Taras Shevchenko once wrote, “In your own house – your own truth. Your own strength and freedom.” Ukraine’s fight today reminds all of Europe of this powerful truth: our security and prosperity rely on unity, on integration with our neighbours.

In the face of Russia’s unjustified war of aggression, Ukrainians have demonstrated extraordinary courage and resilience in defence of their country.

In my remarks today, and in keeping with the theme of this conference, I would like to reflect on the historical lessons we have learned about strengthening and integrating economies in an increasingly stormy and fragmented world.

Experience shows that closer ties with the European neighbourhood can provide a strong foundation for Ukraine to rebuild and emerge stronger. And as geopolitical tensions rise and global supply chains fragment, the case for deeper regional cooperation has never been clearer.

Europe’s own long history of integration offers valuable insights that can help guide Ukraine’s path forwards. Two key lessons stand out.

First, while deeper integration increases the potential rewards, it also raises the risks if not managed wisely. Sound domestic policy frameworks are essential to maximise growth and safeguard stability.

Second, the benefits of integration are neither automatic nor permanent. Maintaining them depends on continuous reform – but reforms must also deliver tangible improvements for people’s lives, and do so relatively quickly.

The benefits of integration in a fragmenting world

During the Cold War, the Iron Curtain fractured the European economy. Trade between East and West fell by half. This division was like imposing a 48% tariff – leading to immense welfare losses and isolating the Eastern bloc from global markets.^[1]

But the transformation since Europe’s eastern enlargement has been nothing short of remarkable. On average, countries that joined the EU in 2004 have nearly doubled their GDP per capita over the past two decades.

Critically, this was not just about catching up from a low base. Between 2004 and 2019, the EU’s new Member States saw their GDP per capita grow 32% more than comparable non-EU countries.^[2] The difference was deeper economic integration – and those that were already highly embedded in the regional economy gained the most.

While all new members experienced gains, countries with stronger integration into regional value chains recorded nearly 10 percentage points higher GDP per capita growth compared with less integrated peers – regardless of geographic proximity.^[3]

This difference was driven mainly by technology and productivity spillovers. ECB research shows that a 10% increase in productivity among western EU firms translated into a 5% productivity gain for central and eastern European firms linked to their supply chains.^[4]

The case for regional integration is therefore clear – and in today’s increasingly fragmented geopolitical landscape, it has become even more compelling.

First, regional integration underpins growth.

European economies are highly open, which means a world splintering into rival trading blocs poses clear risks to prosperity. Yet Europe’s most important trading partner is Europe itself: around 65% of euro area exports go to other European countries, including the United Kingdom, Switzerland and Norway. For Ukraine too, Europe is the principal trading partner, accounting for over 50% of its goods trade in 2024.

By deepening economic ties – more closely linking neighbouring economies – we can reduce our exposure to external shocks. Rising trade within our region can help offset losses in global markets.

Second, regional integration strengthens resilience.

One consequence of geopolitical fragmentation is the realignment of supply chains toward trusted partners. Nearly half of firms involved in external trade have already revised their strategies – or intend to do so – including relocating parts of their operations closer to home.^[5] While this trend reduces strategic dependencies, it can also raise costs.

Yet large integrated regions can mitigate these costs by replicating many of the benefits of globalisation at the regional level. Supply chains can be reorganised regionally, allowing each country to specialise based on its comparative advantage within regional value chains.

Ukraine stands to benefit significantly from expanding these networks across the region – and the EU stands to benefit, too, from having Ukraine as a partner.^[6]

In the automotive sector, for example, Ukrainian firms already produce around 7% of all wire harnesses used in EU vehicles.^[7] As the industry shifts towards electric vehicles, which require more complex wiring systems, Ukraine’s manufacturing base is well positioned to scale up and play a larger role in the EU value chain.

Equally transformative is Ukraine’s drone industry, which has become one of the most advanced in the region. Drones are not only a critical component of modern warfare, but also a technology with substantial spillover effects and far-reaching dual-use applications.

Indeed, the country’s ambitious goal of producing 4.5 million drones by 2025 has accelerated innovation in materials science, battery technology and 3D printing. These advances are already finding civilian applications in sectors such as logistics, agriculture and emergency response.

In short, for both existing EU members and neighbouring countries like Ukraine, regional integration is both a path to prosperity and a strategic anchor in an increasingly fragmented world.

Managing the risks of integration

But examining the experience of countries that have used regional integration as a platform for growth and reform reveals two important lessons.

The first is that if integration is not accompanied by appropriate reforms, it can create new vulnerabilities – especially in the financial sphere.

Financial integration often brings volatile capital inflows, which can make it difficult to distinguish sustainable growth from unsustainable excesses in real time.

One way this can happen is when productivity gains in tradable sectors, such as manufacturing, drive up wages in those sectors, which then spill over into higher wages in non-tradable sectors and push up overall inflation.^[8]

While this effect is a normal feature of catching-up, it can make it easy to mistake genuine convergence for economic overheating. If foreign capital is in fact driving financial imbalances – such as unsustainable real estate booms – countries may exhibit the same patterns of rising wages and inflation, masking underlying vulnerabilities.

Another potential distortion is that capital inflows can significantly affect government fiscal positions by boosting tax revenues and creating the illusion of permanently greater fiscal space. This often leads to procyclical fiscal policies, with governments increasing spending or cutting taxes during boom periods – only to face fiscal stress when inflows reverse or growth slows.

Both dynamics have been visible during Europe’s recent experience with regional integration.

After the eastern enlargement, financial integration accelerated rapidly. Between 2003 and 2008, the new Member States experienced an extraordinary surge in capital inflows, averaging over 12% of GDP annually – twice the typical level for emerging markets globally.^[9]

Initially, this rapid financial integration brought clear benefits: it expanded access to credit, fuelled growth and enabled much-needed development. However, in many countries, foreign capital was disproportionately channelled into consumption and construction booms, while tax revenues rose sharply on the back of property transactions and buoyant domestic demand.^[10] This led to widespread misallocation of private capital and inefficient public spending.

Capital flows then reversed sharply when the global financial crisis struck, exposing these imbalances. Between December 2008 and May 2013, external bank liabilities in non-euro area central and eastern European countries declined by an average of 27% – with some countries experiencing drops of more than 50%.^[11]

Yet the risks associated with financial integration can be avoided. Not all countries in the region were affected equally. Those that performed better typically shared two key features.

First, they had clear policies to channel foreign investment into productive sectors. Strong industrial strategies, a skilled workforce and integration into global supply chains helped direct capital towards manufacturing and tradable services – sectors that drive export growth and are less prone to unsustainable booms and asset bubbles.^[12]

Second, they maintained robust financial policy frameworks. Tighter capital requirements, active macroprudential measures and countercyclical buffers strengthened domestic banking sectors and curbed excessive mortgage lending. These tools enabled those countries to absorb large capital inflows without creating destabilising imbalances.^[13]

The lesson is clear: as countries integrate into the region, strong domestic policy frameworks are critical to ensuring that capital inflows support long-term growth rather than generating financial instability or inefficient allocation.

This insight is especially relevant for Ukraine today as it charts its path towards recovery. If reconstruction proceeds as planned, the country could attract significant capital inflows over the next decade. But without the right safeguards, that capital risks being misallocated – undermining long-term productivity instead of strengthening it.

There are encouraging signs. The EU–Ukraine Association Agreement and Deep and Comprehensive Free Trade Area have already driven significant reforms in the financial sector. Ukraine’s banking regulation now aligns with more than 75% of EU standards, covering critical areas such as capital adequacy, governance and auditing.^[14]

The National Bank of Ukraine has adopted a risk-based supervisory model inspired by the Single Supervisory Mechanism – the system of banking supervision in Europe – markedly improving oversight. Despite extremely challenging circumstances, Ukraine is also modernising its capital markets – consolidating exchanges, upgrading settlement systems and strengthening regulatory enforcement to attract long-term investors.

These reforms are already delivering results: in 2023, Ukraine’s banking sector remained profitable and well capitalised despite the ongoing war – an outcome that would have been unthinkable a decade ago.

Still, further progress is essential, especially in fiscal governance. Strengthening public investment management will be critical to ensure that reconstruction funds are allocated transparently and efficiently.

This is not just about meeting external standards. It is about ensuring that every euro, and every hryvnia, delivers real returns for the Ukrainian people.^[15]

Making integration sustainable

However, reforms cannot be treated as a one-time effort.

So, the second key lesson is that the benefits of regional integration are neither automatic nor permanent. Sustaining them requires continuous reform – and, just as importantly, it requires citizens to see visible, tangible improvements in their daily lives.

In this context, there are two risks to watch out for.

The first is that institutional reform momentum can fade if economic benefits do not follow quickly.

Deeper regional integration typically begins with aligning framework conditions, such as legal systems, regulation and public administration. These areas often improve rapidly. But for the economic gains to materialise, domestic entrepreneurs and foreign investors must respond to the new incentives created – and this takes time.

In the long run, evidence shows that countries with initially weaker institutions benefit the most from adopting higher standards.^[16] But in the short run, if people only see the effort and not the payoff, public support for further reforms can weaken, putting long-term convergence at risk.

The second risk is that structural shifts in the economy may weaken the link between integration and economic convergence over time.

The integration of goods markets has traditionally driven convergence almost automatically, as foreign direct investment flows to countries with lower land and labour costs, supply chains relocate and lower-income countries benefit from technology transfers.

As I mentioned earlier, this will remain an important mechanism even in an era of supply chain reshoring. But countries cannot rely on it as heavily as in the past. Future growth in intra-EU trade is expected to depend increasingly on services – particularly digital services.

However, research shows that services sector activity tends to concentrate in larger, more affluent urban areas that exhibit the hallmarks of a knowledge economy: high tertiary education rates, strong technology and science sectors and robust digital infrastructure.^[17]

This means that deeper integration alone will not guarantee broad-based convergence across all regions. Over time, countries will need to invest more in education, skills and digitalisation to ensure they can build high levels of human capital.

Maintaining the path of convergence is therefore not easy. But slowing down reform efforts is not the answer – especially in the shock-prone world we face today.

There is a clear link between strong institutions and economic resilience. ECB research indicates that, during the pandemic, regions with lower institutional quality experienced – all else equal – an additional decline of around 4 percentage points in GDP per capita compared with the ten regions with the highest quality of government.^[18]

As our economies are increasingly buffeted by global turbulence, institutional backsliding therefore risks creating a vicious circle: repeated shocks can undermine economic convergence and further erode public confidence in the reform process.

The best way for countries to sustain reform momentum is to recognise the importance of maintaining public support and, as far as possible, pair governance improvements with a focus on sectors where they have a clear competitive edge – and where deeper integration with the region can unlock significant and rapid growth opportunities.

This way, the benefits of reforms will be felt more quickly and more widely.

Ukraine is well positioned to put this into practice. Its IT sector is already relatively strong: IT services exports reached nearly USD 7 billion in 2023, making it one of the country’s leading export sectors despite the war.^[19]

Ukraine also produces around 130,000 STEM graduates each year – exceeding Germany and France^[20] – and it ranks among the top five countries globally for certified IT professionals.^[21] Successful IT clusters are active in several cities, and major foreign firms – including Apple, Microsoft, Boeing and Siemens – have established R&D operations in the country.

A dynamic defence tech ecosystem is also taking shape^[22], with Ukrainian start-ups attracting almost half a billion US dollars in funding in 2024 – surpassing many of their peers across central and eastern Europe.^[23] Experience from countries like Israel suggests that such a foundation can enable the country to emerge as a broader technology hub in the years ahead.

If Ukraine stays the course on institutional reform and continues to adapt its economy to new opportunities, despite the stormy environment, it can emerge as a vital engine of growth and a key contributor to the region’s future.

Conclusion

Let me conclude.

Ukraine stands at a pivotal moment – facing the hardships of war, the challenge of reconstruction and the opportunity of deeper regional integration.

In a world marked by shifting geopolitical realities, such integration offers a clear path to recovery and lasting prosperity.

The recent history of regional integration shows not only its immense benefits, but also the importance of managing transitional risks through robust policy frameworks. It also underlines the need to sustain reform over time by ensuring that people feel its benefits.

I am confident that Ukraine will be able to fully realise its economic potential, turning the upheaval of today into the foundation for a dynamic future.

As Ivan Franko, one of Ukraine’s greatest poets, once wrote: “even though life is but a moment and made up of moments, we carry eternity in our souls.”

This enduring spirit captures the resilience and potential of Ukraine’s people and its economy – a spirit that will continue to drive advancement and renewal in the years ahead.

MIL OSI Europe News –

June 19, 2025
MIL-OSI Australia: Australia targets green economy opportunities in Southeast Asia with trade mission to Malaysia

Source: Australian Attorney General’s Agencies

With Southeast Asia on track to become the world’s fourth-largest economy by 2040, Australia is working to tap this huge potential, including with a trade and investment mission to Malaysia this week.

Led by Austrade, an Australian delegation of 30 representatives from 21 organisations is in Malaysia to identify new opportunities, particularly in the green economy.

This mission is part of the Albanese Labor Government’s efforts to help Australian businesses create new trade opportunities in priority markets.

Malaysia is rapidly positioning itself as a renewable energy hub, with major investments in solar, hydrogen, and waste-to-energy. This mission will set the foundation for long-term collaboration, with Australia home to leading expertise, cutting-edge technology, and a strong education and training sector.

The delegation, who are participating in an Austrade organised program, will attend the 2025 Energy Asia Conference in Kuala Lumpur, which features events including the Australian Energy Innovation Showcase, university partnerships for energy literacy, and tailored business-matching sessions.

The Albanese Government is working to boost engagement with Southeast Asia through practical, business-focused initiatives. In the past year alone, we delivered a record $1 billion in trade outcomes for Australian businesses, launched the $2 billion Southeast Asia Investment Financing Facility, and upgraded the ASEAN-Australia-New Zealand Free Trade Agreement.

Southeast Asia Investment Deal Teams are also working to increase Australian investment in the region’s green energy infrastructure.

MIL OSI News –

June 19, 2025
MIL-OSI Australia: North Motton man charged with murder

Source: New South Wales Community and Justice

North Motton man charged with murder

Thursday, 19 June 2025 – 4:57 pm.

Police have this afternoon charged a 46-year-old man with murder, attempted murder and aggravated assault after a police officer was fatally shot in Tasmania’s North West on Monday.
The North Motton man recently appeared in a bedside court sitting. He will reappear in court at a later date.
The man remains under guard in hospital where he is receiving medical attention for non-life-threatening injuries.
Tasmania Police Commissioner Donna Adams thanked those involved in the ongoing investigation for their dedication and professionalism.
“I want to sincerely thank all those who have played a part in this investigation,” she said.
“Their diligent work in such difficult circumstances is to be commended.
“The support our members have shown for Constable Keith Smith’s family and loved ones, and each other, is testament to the strength of our blue family.
“I would also like to thank community members for the outpouring of support they have shown Keith’s family and friends, and Tasmania Police more broadly.”

Picture: Members of the Tasmania Police investigation team on scene at the property on Allison Road, North Motton, this week.

MIL OSI News –

June 19, 2025
MIL-OSI Australia: NSW residents urged to act as COVID levels rise on top of influenza

Source: Australian Green Party

NSW Health is urging the community to do everything they can to protect themselves from COVID, including getting vaccinated, as cases rise across the state.
The latest NSW Respiratory Surveillance Report shows 3,475 people in NSW testing positive for COVID in the week ending 14 June, an increase of more than 10 per cent compared with the previous week.
The upswing in COVID has come at the same time as influenza is on the rise and at moderate levels in NSW.
Most people with COVID do not test for the virus, so the latest figures represent a small proportion of all people who have the virus.
Rates of COVID notifications have increased since early May 2025 and concerningly, the rate with the largest increase is in people aged 90 and over.
Health Protection NSW Executive Director Dr Jeremy McAnulty said COVID is now circulating at moderate levels in the community and is likely to increase, but there are things people can do to reduce the risk of becoming very sick.
“While most people have already received their primary course of COVID vaccinations, we’re urging people, especially those aged 65 and over, to get a booster to protect themselves,” Dr McAnulty said.
“Boosters are recommended for people 75 years and older every 6 months, and those 65 and older at least every 12 months.
“COVID is a serious illness and can cause hospitalisation and death, especially in people who are older, have other risk factors, or are immunocompromised.
“People aged 70 and older, or those with other risk factors, who have COVID are eligible for a course of antivirals, which can prevent serious illness if they seek care early enough. These people should make a plan with their doctor about what to do if they do get sick, including what test to take, and how to access antivirals quickly.
“Importantly if you do fall ill, you can always call healthdirect on 1800 022 222 for free, instant health advice and for access to antivirals if you are eligible.”
Dr McAnulty said in addition to vaccination, there are other ways that people can help prevent the spread of COVID.
“The impact that COVID and other respiratory illnesses like influenza and RSV will have on NSW will be determined by the actions all of us take this winter,” he said.
“While vaccination is the best protection, if we all do the right things, like staying home if we’re sick, wearing a mask if you do need to go out when unwell, and avoiding crowded spaces for gatherings, we can protect each other from these nasty viruses.”
NSW Health also continues to remind the community there are a few simple steps they can take to protect themselves and others from respiratory illness, including:

Staying up to date with their vaccinations
Staying home if they’re sick and wearing a mask if they need to go out
Avoiding crowded spaces and getting together in well-ventilated spaces
Considering doing a rapid antigen test before visiting those more vulnerable
Making a plan with their doctor if they’re at higher risk of severe illness from COVID-19 or influenza about what to do if they get sick, including what test to take, and discussing if they are eligible for antiviral medicine
Practicing good general hygiene, like regular handwashing.

For more information on eligibility for COVID vaccination, visit the Commonwealth Government’s website.
You can find a vaccine provider using the healthdirect Service Finder.
All COVID-19 vaccinations are free to all people in Australia, including those without a Medicare card.
If an illness or injury is not serious or life-threatening, we encourage the community to call healthdirect on 1800 022 222, for free, instant health advice anywhere, anytime, across NSW. A registered nurse will answer your call, ask some questions and connect you with the right care.

MIL OSI News –

June 19, 2025
MIL-OSI Africa: Safe spaces transform lives of displaced women in war torn Sudan

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Since the outbreak of conflict on 15 April 2023, Sudan has witnessed one of the world’s fastest-growing displacement crises. Over 12 million people have been forced to flee their homes as of 16 June 2025, including more than 2 million women and girls, many of whom are now living in overcrowded shelters or with host communities across the country. In Gadaref State, hundreds of thousands have sought refuge, placing immense pressure on services and resources—particularly for women facing heightened protection risks.

When the war broke out, 35-year-old Marwa—not her real name—left Khartoum to seek refuge and safety. Like many internally displaced persons (IDPs), she found herself in Hay Al-Malik, a densely populated neighborhood in the heart of Gadaref State, sheltering thousands of displaced people by the ongoing conflict. Here, IDPs and host community members live side-by-side, often sharing houses due to soaring rents and limited resources.

Marwa’s early days were marked by intense psychological stress. Living with more than ten people in a small house without privacy, especially for women, left her feeling isolated and overwhelmed. Cultural differences deepened her sense of displacement, and she struggled to adapt. “I rarely left the house or spoke to other women,” she shared. “I didn’t know how to adjust or where to turn.”

A turning point came when Marwa heard about a new women’s safe space established by Hope and Friendship for Development Organization (HOPE), in partnership with UN Women, and supported by the Government of Japan. Encouraged by outreach efforts in the community, she visited the Al-Malik Safe Space and immediately felt a sense of belonging. It was a space created by and for women—a place to talk, share, heal, and grow.

With each visit, Marwa’s confidence grew. She joined a life skills training and received psychosocial support that helped her regain emotional balance. She also participated in awareness sessions on harmful traditional practices, gaining tools to inform and uplift others. Over time, she became actively involved in managing activities alongside social workers, transforming herself from a participant into a leader.

“From the first day, I felt that this space belonged to us,” she said. “It’s our duty to protect it and keep it going.”

Now, Marwa supports other displaced women and girls in accessing the safe space and envisions expanding it further. She emphasizes the need to include children, especially those with special needs, in future programming. She also expresses a strong desire to help sustain the space beyond the program’s timeline, working with other women to preserve what they’ve built together.

Marwa’s story illustrates how access to a safe, inclusive space—combined with psychosocial and life skills support—can plant the seeds for long-term empowerment and resilience. With continued support from the Government of Japan and implementing partners, women like Marwa are not only rebuilding their own lives but helping others do the same.

*Marwa’s name has been changed to protect her privacy

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of UN Women – Africa.

MIL OSI Africa –

June 19, 2025
MIL-OSI Africa: Liberia to Host Major Trade and Investment Conference in Monrovia

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The Ministry of Foreign Affairs, in collaboration with the National Investment Commission (NIC) and the Liberia Chamber of Commerce (LCC), is proud to announce the upcoming Liberia Trade and Investment Conference under the theme “Bridge to Prosperity.” Scheduled to take place from June 17 to 21, 2025 in Monrovia, the five-day event will bring together a delegation of prominent U.S. investors and business leaders to explore trade and investment opportunities across Liberia’s key economic sectors. This flagship initiative is a hallmark of the Ministry’s economic diplomacy agenda, under the leadership of H.E. Sara Beysolow Nyanti, and is closely aligned with the Trump Administration’s renewed commercial diplomacy efforts in Africa. The five-day conference will welcome a delegation of prominent U.S. investors and business leaders, targeting companies with interest in key sectors across Liberia’s economy.

A special reception will be hosted in their honor by the U.S. Ambassador to Liberia, underscoring the significance of this bilateral investment initiative. As part of the U.S. business delegation’s visit, participating companies will engage in sector specific site visits, project briefings, and one-on-one meetings with public and private sector leaders. The event will feature a dynamic lineup of panel discussions, business-to-business networking sessions, site visits, and government briefings, all designed to provide U.S. investors with comprehensive insights into Liberia’s economic potential and investment friendly climate. This conference underscores Liberia’s commitment to expanding its economic frontiers by leveraging international partnerships to drive sustainable development, job creation, and infrastructure growth. Key sectors to be showcased include agriculture, energy, infrastructure, tourism, mining, and digital economy, among others.

The “Bridge to Prosperity” conference is also a strategic pillar of the ARREST Agenda for Inclusive Development (AAID), Liberia’s national development framework. The event underscores the government’s commitment to mobilizing international investment as a means to accelerate job creation, infrastructure development, and economic transformation. Participants will include senior government officials, international development partners, private sector leaders, U.S. trade delegations, and representatives from multilateral institutions. The event aims to generate concrete commitments that will translate into job creation, technology transfer, and inclusive development. With this initiative, Liberia continues to chart a forward looking path in economic diplomacy, positioning itself as a gateway for U.S. investors into West Africa.

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Liberia.

MIL OSI Africa –

June 19, 2025
MIL-OSI Africa: CityBlue Hotels opens its first Beach Property in Kenya – Kilua Residences by CityBlue, Marking Second Property in Mombasa and Expanding Coastal Presence

CityBlue Hotels (www.CityBlueHotels.com), Africa’s fastest-growing local hotel chain, today announced the unveiling of Kilua Residences by CityBlue in Mombasa, Kenya. This significant milestone marks CityBlue Hotels’ second property in the vibrant coastal city, further solidifying its commitment to expanding its footprint in key East African destinations and offering diverse accommodation options to travelers.

The opening of Kilua Residences by CityBlue, nestled along the pristine shores of Shanzu, offers an exquisite blend of luxury and comfort for both short- and long-term stays. This 4-star beachfront aparthotel features elegantly furnished 1 and 2-bedroom apartments, designed to provide guests with a serene and upscale coastal retreat. Each residence is meticulously crafted to international standards, ensuring a premium living experience.

Guests at Kilua Residences by CityBlue will have access to an extensive array of world-class amenities, including a sparkling outdoor swimming pool, a rejuvenating full-service spa, a state-of-the-art gym, and a dedicated playground for families. The property boasts stunning sea views and a tranquil terrace, perfect for unwinding. With its prime location, Kilua Residences by CityBlue offers convenient access to Mombasa’s popular attractions, making it an ideal choice for leisure and business travelers seeking an unforgettable stay.

“The announcement of Kilua Residences by CityBlue marks a proud moment for us, further strengthening our presence in the dynamic city of Mombasa,” said Jameel Verjee, CEO of CityBlue Hotels. “Following the success of CityBlue Creekside Hotel & Suites, our first property in Mombasa, Kilua Residences represents our continued commitment to providing diverse and high-quality accommodation options in key African markets. This new property embodies our dedication to delivering exceptional hospitality experiences, combining luxurious living with the unparalleled beauty of Kenya’s coast.”

“We are incredibly proud to see Kilua Residences by CityBlue come to fruition, a project that embodies our commitment to developing high-quality, desirable properties in prime locations,” said Samir Shahbal, Director of Gulf Homes Management Limited. “Our partnership with CityBlue Hotels has been instrumental in bringing this vision to life, combining our development expertise with their renowned hospitality management. Kilua Residences by CityBlue offers a unique blend of luxury, comfort, and convenience, and we are confident it will become a cherished destination for residents and visitors alike in Mombasa.”

CityBlue Creekside Hotel & Suites, located on the tidal Tudor creek, has been a cornerstone of CityBlue Hotels’ operations in Mombasa since its opening in December 2017. With 100 rooms and suites, a bar, restaurant, fitness center, and pool, it has consistently provided a superior experience for guests. The addition of Kilua Residences by CityBlue, with its focus on serviced apartments and beachfront living, complements CityBlue Hotels’ existing offerings, catering to a broader range of traveler preferences and solidifying its position as a leading hospitality provider in Mombasa.

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of CityBlue Hotels.

About CityBlue Hotels:
CityBlue Hotels is Africa’s fastest-growing customer-centric hotel chain, renowned for its commitment to providing world-class hospitality across Eastern and Southern Africa’s major cities. With a focus on seamless, tech-supported experiences, CityBlue Hotels aims to redefine comfort and convenience for business and leisure travelers alike. The brand is dedicated to expanding its footprint and diversifying its offerings to meet the evolving demands of the African hospitality market.

MIL OSI Africa –

June 19, 2025
MIL-OSI Africa: United Nations Institute for Training and Research (UNITAR) and Foreign Service Institute (FSI) Sign Landmark Memorandum of Understanding (MOU)

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The Gabriel L. Dennis Foreign Service Institute (FSI) of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Liberia, in partnership with the United Nations Institute for Training and Research (UNITAR), have formally entered into a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) to advance diplomatic training and institutional collaboration. The signing ceremony was held at UNITAR Headquarters in Geneva, Switzerland, May 13, 2025. The agreement was signed by Amb. Reginald B. Goodridge, Sr. Director General of the Foreign Service Institute, and Ms. Michelle Gyles-McDonnough, United Nations Assistant Secretary General and Executive Director of UNITAR.

In his remarks, Director General Goodridge highlighted the mission of the FSI and outlined several flagship programs of the Institute, including: The foundational academic curriculum for prospective diplomats; A 6-week refresher program for foreign service officers and newly appointed ambassadors designated by the President of Liberia; The 10-month All-Female Diplomatic Training Program, the first of its kind in Africa, aimed at promoting women’s leadership in diplomacy. Director General Goodridge further noted that the dialogue leading to this partnership between the FSI and UNITAR was initiated by Mr. Charles Allen, whose efforts were instrumental in establishing this collaboration. He also shared that he is reviewing a number of agreements signed by his predecessors—including those with Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Cameroon, Morocco, Guinea and Egypt—with a view to developing a distinctly African framework for diplomacy rooted in inter-African cooperation.

Speaking on behalf of UNITAR, Ms. Michelle Gyles-McDonnough, Assistant UN Secretary General and Executive Director of UNITAR, welcomed the partnership and reaffirmed UNITAR’s commitment to a robust and impactful collaboration with the FSI, particularly in co-developing relevant and responsive foreign service training programs tailored to Liberia’s needs. Mr. Philippe Aubert, Senior Program Specialist in the Division for Multilateral Diplomacy, presented an overview of UNITAR’s offerings, including: An 18-month Master’s Program delivered in hybrid and online formats for diplomats; Targeted training linked to the national priorities of host countries; and Various fellowship opportunities, some open to all applicants and others coordinated with academic institutions. He also highlighted UNITAR’s long-standing relationships with countries such as Qatar and Saudi Arabia, and mentioned Qatar’s recent proposal to establish a UNITAR Academy. Also forming part of the Liberian delegation were Permanent Representative (Amb.) Paul Wolokollie Tate and Counselor Abraham Kamara, representatives of the Permanent Mission of Liberia to the United Nations Office and other International Organizations in Geneva. This landmark MOU represents a critical step forward in enhancing the professional development of Liberian diplomats and reaffirms Liberia’s commitment to global standards in foreign service training and diplomacy.

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Liberia.

MIL OSI Africa –

June 19, 2025
MIL-OSI Africa: Seychelles Celebrates 32nd Constitution Day with Ceremonial Flag Hoisting Across Three Islands

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The Republic of Seychelles marked the 32nd anniversary of Constitution Day with dignified flag hoisting ceremonies held consecutively on Mahé, Praslin, and La Digue. Leading the nation in this significant commemoration was President Wavel Ramkalawan, accompanied by First Lady Linda Ramkalawan, as Seychellois from across the archipelago reflected on the adoption of the Constitution of the Third Republic, a landmark moment in the country’s democratic evolution.

Constitution Day honours a pivotal chapter in Seychelles’ history, when the nation collectively embraced a constitution that charted a new democratic course. The document enshrines the fundamental rights to life, liberty, and dignity, while establishing the shared duty of all Seychellois to uphold these core principles.

This year’s official proceedings began with a march by the Guard of Honour, featuring distinguished units from the Seychelles Defence Forces, Police Force, Air Force, Coast Guard, and Special Operations Unit. The symbolic highlight was the hoisting of the National Flag, followed by a stirring performance of the National Anthem—a moment that echoed the solemn pride of the occasion.

The Seychelles National Flag, with its five striking oblique bands radiating from the base, captures the nation’s dynamic spirit and progressive vision. Each colour holds deep meaning: blue for the ocean and sky, yellow for the sun as the source of life, red for the unity and passion of the people, white for peace and social justice, and green for the natural environment that sustains the islands.

The programme also featured cultural performances by youth, celebrating Seychellois heritage and patriotism. Readings from the Constitution underscored the enduring relevance of the nation’s legal framework, while patriotic songs performed by young talents from each island added a vibrant cultural dimension to the day’s events.

Among the attendees were Vice-President Ahmed Afif, the Cabinet of Ministers, numerous high-level government officials, and other distinguished guests.

The 32nd Constitution Day celebrations successfully united citizens across the islands in a shared reflection on the values, rights, and responsibilities that form the bedrock of Seychelles’ democratic society. The annual observance continues to serve as a powerful reminder of the nation’s constitutional journey, and reaffirms the collective commitment to building a prosperous, inclusive, and harmonious future.

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of State House Seychelles.

MIL OSI Africa –

June 19, 2025
Air India to cut international flights on widebody aircraft by 15%

Source: Government of India

Source: Government of India (4)

Air India said on Wednesday it will cut international operations on its widebody aircraft by 15% for the next few weeks, citing ongoing safety inspections and operational disruptions following last week’s deadly crash of one of its Boeing 787 Dreamliners.

Authorities continue to investigate the crash of flight AI171, which killed 241 people and marked the world’s deadliest aviation disaster in a decade.

The airline said in a statement that inspections had been completed on 26 of its 33 Boeing 787-8 and 787-9 aircraft, and those 26 have been cleared for service.

The cuts, effective until at least mid-July, were being implemented “to ensure stability of operations, better efficiency and minimise inconvenience to passengers,” the Tata Group-owned airline said.

The remaining planes will be checked in the coming days and additional checks are also planned for its Boeing 777 fleet, Air India added.

Flight AI171, bound for London’s Gatwick Airport, crashed shortly after takeoff from Ahmedabad, killing all but one on board and about 30 people on the ground.

Earlier on Wednesday, Air India Chairman N. Chandrasekaran said the flight that crashed had a clean engine history.

In an interview with Indian broadcaster Times Now, Chandrasekaran said Air India flight 171’s right engine was new and installed in March 2025, and that the left engine was last serviced in 2023.

The Dreamliner was fitted with GE Aerospace’s GE.N GEnx engines.

Air India also cited geopolitical tensions in the Middle East and “night curfews in many European and East Asian airspaces” as contributing factors behind flight cancellations, which have totaled 83 over the past six days.

(Reuters)

June 19, 2025
MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Millions more families to get £150 off energy bills this winter
Source: United Kingdom – Government Statements

Press release

Millions more families to get £150 off energy bills this winter

The Warm Home Discount will be expanded meaning 6 million households will receive £150 off their energy bills this winter.
2.7 million extra households will receive £150 off their energy bills next winter as the Warm Home Discount is expanded – putting money directly into people’s pockets

this increases the number of households who are eligible to over 6 million in total – including 900,000 families with children and a total of 1.8 million households in fuel poverty

latest intervention follows a raft of cost of living support for those who need it most – from expanding free school meals to childcare support – which is only possible after government stabilised the economy and fixed the foundations through the Plan for Change

Millions of households will see their energy bills cut by £150 this winter, as the government delivers another major package of support to ease the cost of living for working families through the Plan for Change.

Over 6 million households will benefit this year – an increase of 2.7 million households, including 900,000 more families with children and a total of 1.8 million households in fuel poverty. Every billpayer on means-tested benefits will now qualify, removing restrictions that previously excluded many who needed help and providing peace of mind to millions more families.

This major expansion of support for working families is the latest in a raft of cost of living support made possible because the government has stabilised the economy, fixed the foundations and repaired the public finances – deliberate choices which are helping provide security and more money in the pockets of working families through the Plan for Change.

Since last summer, interest rates have been cut 4 times, lowering mortgage costs, free school meals have been rolled out for over half a million more children so that kids can focus on learning rather than hungry bellies, free breakfast clubs are being expanded to every child in the country, school uniform costs have been cut, the 30 hours of free childcare scheme has been extended to more working parents.

Prime Minister Keir Starmer said:

I know families are still struggling with the cost of living, and I know the fear that comes with not being able to afford your next bill.

Providing security and peace of mind for working people is deeply personal to me as Prime Minister and foundational for the Plan for Change. I have no doubt that, like rolling out free school meals, breakfast clubs and childcare support, extending this £150 energy bills support to millions more families will make a real difference.

Energy Secretary Ed Miliband said:

Millions of families will get vital support with the cost of living this coming winter, demonstrating this government’s commitment to put money in people’s pockets through our Plan for Change.

The energy price cap is also falling in July and today’s announcement adds a further £150 in direct support for millions.

This expansion of the Warm Homes Discount means families can plan for winter in the knowledge that they will receive support, giving them certainty and peace of mind before summer.

The government has also protected working people’s payslips from higher taxes, frozen fuel duty and are increasing the minimum wage to give pay rises of up to £1,400 a year to millions of low-income workers. Everyone over the State Pension age in England and Wales with an income of, or below, £35,000 a year will benefit from a Winter Fuel Payment this winter, bringing the total to 9 million pensioners.

Today’s announcement goes even further than cutting energy bills by helping those who racked up debts during the energy crisis of 2022-2024. Backing Ofgem’s proposed debt strategy will cut consumers’ energy bills by reducing the cost of paying for energy debt, alongside other reforms.

The expansion of the Warm Home Discount will be offset by new efficiency savings across the energy system. For example, Ofgem have confirmed a decrease in the operating cost allowance of the price cap for the average billpayer which will take money off bills.

Ofgem’s plans to reduce the overall stock of consumer debt, which is currently recouped via a levy on all bills, will also produce savings that help to fund the Warm Homes Discount.

These reforms complement the government’s drive to bring down bills in the long term by replacing the UK’s dependence on fossil fuel markets controlled by petrostates and dictators with clean homegrown power.

This is the Plan for Change in action – combining short-term help with a proper long-term strategy for change that lowers people’s energy bills and puts more money in their pockets.

Notes to editors

Today we have confirmed that following consultation, the Warm Home Discount scheme will be expanded to remove the high-cost-to-heat threshold in the current Warm Home Discount (England & Wales) Regulations 2022 (for winter 2025/2026) and increasing the level of spend available in Scotland for suppliers to allocate through the Broader Group.

The change will mean that all households where the means-tested benefit recipient (or their partner or legal appointee) is named on the energy bill will now be eligible to receive the £150 electricity bill rebate.

The number of families who will receive the discount for the first time, broken down by region, include:

North East England: 100,000

North West England: 280,000

Yorkshire and the Humber: 210,000

East Midlands: 160,000

West Midlands: 270,000

East of England: 250,000

London: 570,000

South East England: 350,000

South West England: 220,000

Wales: 110,000

Scotland: 240,000

The number of additional households supported under the expanded scheme in each region is calculated by applying the regional proportion of qualifying benefit recipients from DWP’s statxplore tool to the total additional 6.1 million households estimated in the Warm Home Discount Expansion consultation document.

For the North West, for example, the proportion of qualifying benefit recipients is 13%, thereby 13% x 6.1m = 780,000 recipient households. Of these, 500,000 are already in receipt according to the most recent Warm Home Discount statistics (2023/2024), so around 280,000 are estimated to be additional.

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Published 19 June 2025
MIL OSI United Kingdom –
June 19, 2025
MIL-OSI Russia: The second stage of the new NSU campus has reached the finishing line in terms of façade and stained glass installation

Translation. Region: Russian Federal

Source: Novosibirsk State University – Novosibirsk State University –

In the educational and scientific center Institute of Medicine and Medical Technologies (UNC IMMT) NSU has completed more than 90% of the work on installing stained glass windows and installing a curtain wall façade; in the NSU Research Center (R&C), the percentage of readiness for these types of work is 80%. The buildings are second-stage facilities. new campus of NSU, being built within the framework of the national project “Youth and Children”.

In the building of the NSU IMMT UNC, the work on laying walls and partitions is almost complete (90%), rough finishing work is underway on all floors, floor screeding has been completed, the floor is being covered with porcelain stoneware, and work is underway on installing internal utility networks.

In addition, approval of the specified boundaries of the connection point to the central heating system has already been received from the Federal State Unitary Enterprise UEV, and work on the installation of on-site heating networks will begin in the near future.

In the building of the NSU NRC, after the approval of new architectural and planning solutions, work is being carried out at an accelerated pace on laying internal partitions and installing the heating system. In the NSU IMMT UNC, more than 30% of the roofing work has been completed.

Work is also underway to install external water supply and sewerage networks, and work has begun to improve the territory in accordance with the general plan.

Completion of construction of these second-stage facilities is scheduled for the first quarter of 2026. The general contractor is the company “MONOTEK STROY”.

On the instructions of President Vladimir Putin, a network of modern campuses is being created in Russia. By 2030, a constellation of 25 campuses should appear in the country. Work in this area is being carried out by the Government of the Russian Federation and the Ministry of Education and Science of Russia. Currently, 24 such campuses are being designed and built with the support of the national project “Youth and Children”. By 2036, the number of campuses will increase to 40. The project is being financed by federal and regional budgets, as well as by extra-budgetary sources.

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 –

June 19, 2025
MIL-OSI Russia: Theater and film actors voiced audio guides for the “Moscow Estates” project

Translation. Region: Russian Federal

Source: Moscow Government – Government of Moscow –

New season of the festival “Moscow Estates” united three estate clusters located in the districts Basmanny, Arbat AndKhamovniki. Walking past old mansions, city residents and visitors can now listen to original audio guides voiced by famous artists. They are available for free on the service Ruspass.

An audio guide will help you stroll along Arbat and look at it through the eyes of Alexander Pushkin “The Cultural Memory of Arbat: Five Epochs on One Street”The audio tour, voiced by theater and film actor Vyacheslav Chepurchenko, will take listeners through five historical periods of the region, and tell about its culture, architecture, and poetry dedicated to these places.

Lovers of living human stories will be able to walk through Khamovniki accompanied by the voice of theater and film actor Grigory Vernik. He will tell about one of the most interesting areas of Moscow, where every house is connected with the memory of great dynasties, in the audio guide “Khamovniki: Family Chronicles”.

Stories and secrets await listeners in Basmanny District eight estates, narrated by the voice of actor Sergei Chonishvili. In addition, residents and guests of the capital have access to podcasts about the Basmanny cluster and thematic audio performances “Pages of Memory” and “The Legend of the Fog”, voiced by Elizaveta Arzamasova and Maxim Averyin.

The Moscow Estates Festival is held at more than 50 historical sites. Among the 11 new locations are the L. N. Tolstoy Estate Museum in Khamovniki, the A. V. Shchusev State Research Museum of Architecture, and the Trubetskoy Estate Park in Khamovniki. The program includes more than two thousand events.

Project “Summer in Moscow”— the main event of the season. It brings together the most vibrant events of the capital. Every day, charity, cultural and sports events are held in all districts of the city, most of which are free. The Summer in Moscow project is being held for the second time, and the new season will be more eventful: new, original and colorful festivals and events will be added to the traditional ones.

Get the latest news quicklythe city’s official telegram channel Moscow.

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MIL OSI Russia News –

June 19, 2025
MIL-OSI Russia: The capital presented a media cube with achievements in urban development at SPIEF-2025

Translation. Region: Russian Federal

Source: Moscow Government – Government of Moscow –

Moscow presented a unique digital installation — the multimedia media cube “City of Deeds” at the XXVIII St. Petersburg International Economic Forum (SPIEF). The project demonstrates key achievements in the field of urban development, infrastructure and the social sphere, said the Minister of the Moscow Government, Head of the Department of Urban Development Policy of the capital Vladislav Ovchinsky.

The installation in the format of a three-sided media cube consistently reveals the main directions of the capital’s development: the growth of residential and commercial real estate, the creation of social and sports infrastructure, the modernization of the healthcare system, the creation of new jobs, as well as the implementation of a housing renovation program.

“The media cube has become not just an exhibit, but a vivid testimony of Moscow’s development as a modern metropolis, where innovative technologies, a comfortable urban environment and concern for the quality of people’s lives are harmoniously combined. “City of Deeds” clearly demonstrates how a systematic approach to urban development policy allows for the implementation of large-scale projects, turning strategic plans into specific results. A special feature of the installation was the combination of dynamic visualization with specific indicators: the number of social facilities built, the volume of housing put into operation within the framework of the renovation program and other data,” said Vladislav Ovchinsky.

The visualization of the digital installation is structured as follows: at first, the viewer sees an abstract scene in which lines, particles and light are collected into a complex architectural form, and at the end, a recognizable object and specific statistics appear – from the area of housing to the number of jobs.

Such initiatives contribute to the formation of a new image of the capital as a city of opportunities, where comfortable conditions for living, working and creative expression are created.

Get the latest news quicklythe city’s official telegram channel Moscow.

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MIL OSI Russia News –

June 19, 2025
MIL-OSI Russia: Moscow to Introduce Artificial Intelligence into Urban Development

Translation. Region: Russian Federal

Source: Moscow Government – Government of Moscow –

As part of the XXVIII St. Petersburg International Economic Forum, the Moscow Government and the Skolkovo Institute of Science and Technology (Skoltech) signed an Agreement on cooperation in the field of introducing artificial intelligence technologies into urban development. This was reported by Deputy Mayor of Moscow for Urban Development Policy and Construction Vladimir Efimov.

The agreement provides for cooperation in the field of information modeling and automated design using artificial intelligence.

“The introduction of artificial intelligence in urban development helps to optimize processes, improve the quality and transparency of work in this area. This is part of a large-scale transformation of the construction industry. The implementation of this agreement will allow the introduction of artificial intelligence technologies in the processes of urban planning and the provision of services in the construction sector. Joint work with Skoltech will strengthen the scientific and technical potential of the capital and ensure its sustainable development through the integration of education, science and urban planning practices,” said Vladimir Efimov.

The Center for Artificial Intelligence in Urban Development, subordinate to the capital’s Department of Urban Development Policy. Since 2024, it has been studying the needs of all participants in the construction process and city residents, developing and implementing innovative solutions for various tasks in this area. During this time, its specialists have created six services to optimize the construction process, including “Kvartirography”, which automatically generates planning solutions for new housing, as well as “Digital Norm Control”, which doubles the speed of checking design and working documentation.

“The immediate plans include launching a new development and scaling specialized services based on artificial intelligence. This includes, in particular, checking the correctness of filling in the Moscow construction system of classifiers based on data from the digital information model and automatic verification of attribute data of elements of the digital information model with current regulatory requirements,” added the Minister of the Moscow Government, Head of the Department of Urban Development Policy

Vladislav Ovchinsky.

The introduction of artificial intelligence in urban planning will speed up design and control processes and increase the accuracy of decisions. Thanks to cooperation with leading research centers, the capital continues to strengthen its position in the field of digitalization of urban planning and construction.

Rector of the Skolkovo Institute of Science and Technology and academician of the Russian Academy of Sciences Alexander Kuleshov noted that the institution’s specialists have extensive experience in successfully implementing services based on artificial intelligence. Particular attention in this work is paid to combining fundamental research and applied tasks.

Earlier, Sergei Sobyanin said that the city is implementing about 100 projects using artificial intelligence in transport, healthcare, education, construction and other areas of urban economy.

The development of electronic services is being implemented within the framework of the national project “Data Economy”.

Get the latest news quickly official telegram channel the city of Moscow.

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MIL OSI Russia News –

June 19, 2025
MIL-OSI Russia: “Summer in Moscow” invites you to play skittles and remember iconic consoles

Translation. Region: Russian Federal

Source: Moscow Government – Government of Moscow –

As part of the project “Summer in Moscow” on Tverskoy Boulevard is open daily Summer Club “Moscow”. Spaces for active and board games have been prepared for children and their parents. Young guests will be introduced to traditions, helped to develop agility and meet real friends.

Childhood classics on a new wave

One of the main innovations of the club is the open-air play areas. Here you can try your hand at the old Russian game of gorodki. The main task is to knock out figures made of wooden cylinders using wooden bats. The game not only develops coordination, but also teaches honesty, respect for the opponent and patience. In the 19th century, gorodki courts were part of any large courtyard, and today the summer club “Moscow” is bringing back this tradition – in a modern format.

Nearby is a petanque court, a game that is rapidly gaining popularity in Russia. On fine gravel, children compete with passion to see who can roll a metal ball more accurately to a small wooden jack. The rules are simple, but the game requires precision, well-thought-out tactics, and team spirit. And most importantly, it is ideal for any age and level of training.

In addition, young guests enjoy spending time playing table tennis. This dynamic game, requiring precision and quick reaction, has not lost its popularity for more than 100 years. In the summer club “Moscow” you can play with friends, parents or try your hand at an impromptu tournament.

Consoles that take you back to childhood…

The Summer Club is not only about movement, but also about real gaming nostalgia. In the retrogaming zone, guests are greeted by eight iconic consoles, including Dendy, Sega and others. Each is connected to a tube TV – just like in the 1990s. Here you can play Super Mario, Battle City, remember pixel melodies and share your favorite games with your children.

For many adults, this will be a journey back to childhood, and for young guests, an opportunity to get acquainted with an era when games did not require millions of pixels, but only a simple “Start” button.

…And fashion shops

The program of the summer club “Moscow” is constantly updated, in just a couple of days you can discover a lot of new and interesting things here. For example, in a separate zone there are pop-up shops introducing visitors to current Russian and capital brands – flagships in the field of fashion and beauty. And while parents get acquainted with design solutions, children play, communicate and move.

Entry to all events is free.

Yoga, chess and sim racing: the Moscow summer club will open in the capital

Project “Summer in Moscow” — the main event of the season. It brings together the most vibrant events of the capital. Every day, charity, cultural and sports events are held in all districts of the city, most of which are free. The Summer in Moscow project is being held for the second time, and this season will be more eventful: new, original and colorful festivals and events will be added to the traditional ones.

Quickly find out the main news of the capital in official telegram channel the city of Moscow.

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MIL OSI Russia News –

June 19, 2025
MIL-OSI Russia: Ground transport routes in Zelenograd will change from June 21

Translation. Region: Russian Federal

Source: Moscow Government – Government of Moscow –

Three bus routes in Zelenograd will be adjusted from June 21. Transport will go through the Alabushevo site of the Technopolis Moscow special economic zone (SEZ). The new route will connect the SEZ with the nearest Zelenograd-Kryukovo station of the third Moscow Central Diameter (MCD-3), said Deputy Mayor of Moscow for Transport and Industry Maxim Liksutov.

“Sergey Sobyanin instructed to provide comfortable ground transportation within walking distance from the rail frame stations, work clusters and residential areas. From June 21, we will improve transport accessibility for more than five thousand employees of the Technopolis Moscow special economic zone in Alabushevo. Buses will go straight through the Technopolis and will stop in close proximity to work clusters, and will also connect the site with nearby areas and the Zelenograd-Kryukovo MCD station,” said Maxim Liksutov.

Thus, route No. 3, instead of Alabushevskaya Street and section of Projected Passage No. 684, will run along Konstruktora Lukina Street and General Alekseev Avenue.

Bus No. 24 will travel along Konstruktora Lukina Street and General Alekseev Avenue instead of the section of Projected Drive No. 684.

Bus #27 from Zapadnaya Street will go along Alabushevskaya Street and Projected Drive #684 to Alabushevskoye Cemetery.

In addition, they will add the stop “Seligerskaya Street” in the direction of the metro station “Seligerskaya” for routes No. 191, 215k, 656 and 672 and the stop “City Farm” in the direction of the metro station “Botanichesky Sad” for route No. 522.

In accordance with the objectives of the national project “Infrastructure for life” In Moscow, much attention is paid to the modernization of social and municipal infrastructure, including increasing the number of convenient public transport routes and updating the rolling stock. In addition, within the framework of the national project, the capital has begun developing the Central Transport Hub. It will become a single circuit with predictable suburban rail transport for more than 30 million residents of 11 regions of Russia.

Why the routes are changing, their numbers and what color they are marked with, you can find out on website.

Get the latest news quicklyofficial telegram channel the city of Moscow.

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MIL OSI Russia News –

June 19, 2025
MIL-OSI New Zealand: Appeal for witnesses following crash, SH60, Mapua

Source: New Zealand Police

Tasman Police investigating a serious crash on State Highway 60, near Mapua Drive, are seeking witnesses to the incident.

At about 2pm on Thursday 19 June, Police were called to a two vehicle crash.

Two people were transported to hospital with injuries, one of whom is in a critical condition.

Police are appealing for witnesses to the crash, as well as any dashcam or CCTV footage.

If you have any information, please contact Police via 105, either over the phone or online.

Please reference file number 250619/4692.

ENDS

MIL OSI New Zealand News –

June 19, 2025
MIL-Evening Report: The 28 Days Later franchise redefined zombie films. But the undead have an old, rich and varied history

Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Christopher White, Historian, The University of Queensland

The history of the dead – or, more precisely, the history of the living’s fascination with the dead – is an intriguing one.

As a researcher of the supernatural, I’m often pulled aside at conferences or at the school gate, and told in furtive whispers about people’s encounters with the dead.

The dead haunt our imagination in a number of different forms, whether as “cold spots”, or the walking dead popularised in zombie franchises such as 28 Days Later.

The franchise’s latest release, 28 Years Later, brings back the Hollywood zombie in all its glory – but these archetypal creatures have a much wider and varied history.

Zombis, revenants and the returning dead

A zombie is typically a reanimated corpse: a category of the returning dead. Scholars refer to them as “revenants”, and continue to argue over their exact characteristics.

In the Haitian Vodou religion, the zombi is not the same as the Hollywood zombie. Instead, zombi are people who, as a religious punishment, are drugged, buried alive, then dug out and forced into slavery.

The Hollywood zombie, however, draws more from medieval European stories about the returning dead than from Vodou.

A perfect setting for a ‘zombie’ film

In 28 Years Later, the latest entry in Danny Boyle’s blockbuster horror franchise, the monsters technically aren’t zombies because they aren’t dead. Instead, they are infected by a “rage virus”, accidentally released by a group of animal rights activists in the beginning of the first film.

This third film focuses on events almost three decades after the first film. The British Isles is quarantined, and the young protagonist Spike (Alfie Williams) and his family live in a village on Lindisfarne Island. This island, one of the most important sites in early medieval British Christianity, is isolated and protected by a tidal causeway that links it to the mainland.

Aaron Taylor-Johnson and Alfie Williams star in the new film, out in Australian cinemas today.
Sony Pictures

The film leans heavily on how we imagine the medieval world, with scenes showing silhouetted fletchers at work making arrows, children training with bows, towering ossuaries and various memento mori. There’s also footage from earlier depictions of medieval warfare. And at one point, the characters seek sanctuary in the ruins of Fountains Abbey, in Yorkshire, which was built in 1132.

The medieval locations and imagery of 28 Years Later evoke the long history of revenants, and the returned dead who once roved medieval England.

Early accounts of the medieval dead

In the medieval world, or at least the parts that wrote in Latin, the returning dead were usually called spiritus (“spirit”), but they weren’t limited to the non-corporeal like today’s ghosts are.

Medieval Latin Christians from as early as the 3rd century saw the dead as part of a parallel society that mirrored the world of the living, where each group relied on the other to aid them through the afterlife.

Depiction of the undead from a medieval manuscript.
British Library, Yates Thompson MS 13

While some medieval ghosts would warn the living about what awaited sinners in the afterlife, or lead their relatives to treasure, or prophesise the future, some also returned to terrorise the living.

And like the “zombies” affected by the rage virus in 28 Years Later, these revenants could go into a frenzy in the presence of the living.

Thietmar, the Prince-Bishop of Merseburg, Germany, wrote the Chronicon Thietmari (Thietmar’s Chronicle) between 1012 and 1018, and included a number of ghost stories that featured revenants.

Although not all of them framed the dead as terrifying, they certainly didn’t paint them as friendly, either. In one story, a congregation of the dead at a church set the priest upon the altar, before burning him to ashes – intended to be read as a mirror of pagan sacrifice.

These dead were physical beings, capable of seizing a man and sacrificing him in his own church.

A threat to be dealt with

The English monastic historian William of Newburgh (1136–98) wrote revenants were so common in his day that recording them all would be exhausting. According to him, the returned dead were frequently seen in 12th century England.

So, instead of providing a exhausting list, he offered some choice examples which, like most medieval ghost stories, had a good Christian moral attached to them.

William’s revenants mostly killed the people of the towns they lived, returning to the grave between their escapades. But the medieval English had a method for dealing with these monsters; they dug them up, tore out the heart and then burned the body.

Other revenants were dealt with less harshly, William explained. In one case, all it took was the Bishop of Lincoln writing a letter of absolution to stop a dead man returning to his widow’s bed.

These medieval dead were also thought to spread disease – much like those infected with the rage virus – and were capable of physically killing someone.

Depiction of the undead from a medieval manuscript.
British Library, Arundel MS 83.

The undead, further north

In medieval Scandinavia and Iceland, the undead draugr were extremely strong, hideous to look at and stunk of decomposition. Some were immune to human weapons and often killed animals near their tombs before building up to kill humans. Like their English counterparts, they also spread disease.

But according to the Eyrbyggja saga, an anonymous 13th or 14th century text written in Iceland, all it took was a type of community court and the threat of legal action to drive off these returned dead.

It’s a method the survivors in 28 Years Later didn’t try.

The dead live on

The first-hand zombie stories that were common during the medieval period started to dwindle in the 16th century with the Protestant Reformation, which focused more on individuals’ behaviours and salvation.

Nonetheless, their influence can still be felt in Catholic ritual practices today, such as in prayers offered for the dead, and the lighting of votive candles.

We still tell ghost stories, and we still worry about things that go bump in the night. And of course, we continue to explore the undead in all its forms on the big screen.

Christopher White does not work for, consult, own shares in or receive funding from any company or organisation that would benefit from this article, and has disclosed no relevant affiliations beyond their academic appointment.

– ref. The 28 Days Later franchise redefined zombie films. But the undead have an old, rich and varied history – https://theconversation.com/the-28-days-later-franchise-redefined-zombie-films-but-the-undead-have-an-old-rich-and-varied-history-247900

MIL OSI Analysis – EveningReport.nz –

June 19, 2025
Record 54 Indian institutes in QS Rankings 2026; IIT Delhi tops national list

Source: Government of India

Source: Government of India (4)

A record 54 Indian institutions have been featured in the QS World University Rankings 2026, released on Thursday, with the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Delhi emerging as the top-ranked Indian institution nationally.

IIT Delhi climbed from 150th position last year to 123rd this year—its best performance to date in the global rankings. The institute has overtaken IIT Bombay, which was India’s highest-ranked institution in 2025 but slipped from 118th to 129th this year.

IIT Madras recorded one of the biggest jumps, rising 47 places to reach 180th position, up from 227th in 2025.

According to the Ministry of Education, India has seen an “unprecedented rise” in representation, with more universities than ever earning a place in the global rankings. The ministry stated that India is now the fastest-growing G20 country in the QS rankings, recording a 390 per cent increase in the number of ranked institutions over the past decade.

“This five-fold jump—from just 11 institutions in 2014 to 54 in 2026—is a testament to the transformative reforms brought in by the Modi government over the last ten years,” Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan said in a post on X. “The National Education Policy (NEP) 2020 is not just changing our education system; it is revolutionising it.”

This year, eight Indian institutions entered the QS rankings for the first time—the highest number of new entrants from any single country. With this, India now stands as the fourth most represented country in the list, behind the United States, the United Kingdom, and China.

Nearly 48 per cent of Indian institutions already on the list improved their global positions this year, according to QS. Additionally, five Indian universities made it to the global top 100 in terms of employer reputation.

Among other top-ranked Indian institutions are IIT Kharagpur (215th), the Indian Institute of Science (IISc) Bangalore (219th), and Delhi University (328th).

Private institutions also made their presence felt, with BITS Pilani placed at 668th and OP Jindal Global University in the 851–900 band.

Globally, the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) retained the top position for the 14th consecutive year.

IANS

June 19, 2025
Govt to ensure that consumers benefit from edible oil import duty cuts

Source: Government of India

Source: Government of India (4)

In a move aimed at ensuring consumers benefit from recent import duty reductions on edible oils, the Department of Food and Public Distribution (DoFPD) has launched a nationwide inspection drive across major edible oil refining and processing facilities.

Over the past few days, officials inspected key port-based refineries and inland processing units in states including Maharashtra, Andhra Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, and Gujarat—regions where a significant share of the country’s edible oil processing units are located. The inspections focused on reviewing reductions in Maximum Retail Price (MRP) and Price to Distributor (PTD) of refined oils such as sunflower, soybean, and palmolein.

According to the department, a majority of inspected units have already reduced prices in line with the drop in landed costs of crude edible oils, made possible by recent duty rationalisations. Several processors have also committed to further price cuts in the coming days as lower-cost imports continue to arrive.

The initiative has contributed to stabilising edible oil prices in the market, with early signs indicating that consumers are beginning to see lower prices at retail outlets. The Department acknowledged the proactive support of the industry in implementing price adjustments aligned with government policy.

Earlier this month, the Department held a meeting with major edible oil industry associations and issued advisories urging them to immediately pass on the benefits of duty cuts. Industry stakeholders were asked to submit updated brand-wise MRP sheets on a weekly basis, using a format shared by the Department.

The government reiterated its commitment to transparency in the edible oil supply chain and affirmed that it will continue to monitor price trends closely. Regulatory action will be taken, if necessary, to ensure timely transmission of price benefits to consumers.

June 19, 2025
Yassine Bounou’s PK save helps Al Hilal tie Real Madrid in Club World Cup

Source: Government of India

Source: Government of India (4)

Yassine Bounou stopped a penalty kick by Real Madrid’s Federico Valverde in the second minute of second-half stoppage time to allow Al Hilal to earn a 1-1 tie in Club World Cup Group H play in Miami.

Ruben Neves scored on a penalty kick for Al Hilal, a Saudi Arabian team.

Gonzalo Garcia had a goal for Real Madrid.

Bounou went down to his left to stop Valverde’s right-footed penalty kick to keep the score tied.

The match was the Group H opener for both teams.

Real Madrid had a big opportunity to move ahead in the opening minute of the second half.

Arda Guler struck a left-footer that hit the crossbar. Al Hilal couldn’t clear the ball out of the area and Garcia’s close-range header was slapped away by Bounou.

Real Madrid took a 1-0 lead in the 34th minute when Rodrygo slid a pass from the right side to Garcia, who knocked a right-footed shot into the net.

Al Hilal knotted the score in the 41st minute when Neves took a penalty kick and sent it high into the net. The kick was awarded after Real Madrid’s Raul Asencio fouled Al Hilal’s Marcos Leonardo in the box.

Earlier, Al Hilal’s Renan Lodi put the ball in the net in the 19th minute but he was clearly offsides and the goal was nullified.

Reuters

June 19, 2025
MIL-OSI Russia: Denisovans inhabited vast areas of Asia at least 146,000 years ago – scientists

Translation. Region: Russian Federal

Source: People’s Republic of China in Russian – People’s Republic of China in Russian –

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

BEIJING, June 19 (Xinhua) — Denisovans inhabited vast areas of Asia at least 146,000 years ago, Chinese paleoanthropologists have concluded based on a study of the skull of the so-called Harbin man, an early Denisovan.

Denisovans are an extinct human subspecies or species whose remains were first discovered in 2008 in Denisova Cave in what is now Russia’s Altai Krai. Later, teeth, bone fragments, and an incomplete jaw were found on the Tibetan Plateau, the Penghu Islands, and elsewhere in China, suggesting that Denisovans may have been widespread in Asia.

However, the lack of fossil specimens with complete morphological characteristics and convincing molecular evidence has seriously hampered our understanding of the morphology, distribution, and role of Denisovans in the evolution of ancient humans in East Asia.

A research team led by Fu Qiaomei from the Institute of Vertebrate Paleontology and Paleoanthropology of the Chinese Academy of Sciences conducted research on the well-preserved skull of the so-called Harbin Man, aged 146,000 years. Using molecular paleontology methods, the scientists were able to isolate DNA from the dental calculus of the Harbin Man and find out that he belonged to one of the early groups of Denisovans.

The results of the study were published on Wednesday on the websites of the prestigious international scientific journals Science and Cell.

Recent research provides key insights into the group affiliation of Harbin Man and a more complete picture of the morphology and genetic lineages of Denisovans.

As scientists have acknowledged, many questions related to the Harbin man remain open. For example, did he spread further to the south of modern China, did he interact with other species of people, etc. -0-

MIL OSI Russia News –

June 19, 2025
MIL-OSI Russia: US imposes sanctions on CJNG leaders as global terrorists

Translation. Region: Russian Federal

Source: People’s Republic of China in Russian – People’s Republic of China in Russian –

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

NEW YORK, June 19 (Xinhua) — The United States has imposed sanctions on five Mexico-based leaders of the Cartel of Jalisco New Generation (CJNG) as especially dangerous international terrorists.

In a statement posted on the U.S. State Department website Wednesday, State Department spokesperson Tammy Bruce blamed the CJNG for trafficking fentanyl, methamphetamine, cocaine and other illicit drugs into the United States.

The sanctions list includes CJNG leader Ruben Oseguera Cervantes, also known as “El Mencho,” as well as Audi Flores Silva, who controls clandestine laboratories used to produce methamphetamine and other illegal drugs shipped to the United States.

On January 20, US President Donald Trump signed an executive order designating the CJNG as a Foreign Terrorist Organization and Specially Designated Global Terrorist.

In the United States, fentanyl is the leading cause of death and related violence among people aged 18 to 49. –0–

MIL OSI Russia News –

June 19, 2025
MIL-OSI Russia: Mexico Proposes Broad Security, Immigration, Trade Agreement with US

Translation. Region: Russian Federal

Source: People’s Republic of China in Russian – People’s Republic of China in Russian –

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

MEXICO CITY, June 19 (Xinhua) — Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum said on Wednesday that she spoke with U.S. President Donald Trump and proposed a broad agreement covering security, immigration and trade.

At a daily press conference at the National Palace, K. Sheinbaum said the conversation took place on Tuesday, after D. Trump interrupted his participation in the G7 summit in Canada due to the crisis in the Middle East.

Given the size of the Mexican community in the United States, she stressed the need to create a formal and comprehensive framework for bilateral cooperation.

“I proposed a general agreement that would cover security, immigration and trade,” she said. “I also emphasized the importance of recognizing Mexicans in the United States, families who have lived there for years and contributed to the country’s economy.”

K. Sheinbaum pointed to progress on border security and immigration, citing a “much more secure” border and a “significant reduction” in the number of migrants crossing the border.

She added that Economy Minister Marcelo Ebrard would visit the United States on Friday to discuss outstanding trade issues, while security and immigration issues would be handled through the US State Department.

Calling the phone call with Trump — the seventh since the start of his second presidential term — “good,” K. Sheinbaum said Trump apologized for canceling their meeting at the G7 summit and invited her to Washington for talks. –0–

MIL OSI Russia News –

June 19, 2025
MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: Taisugar Holds 2025 Annual Shareholders’ Meeting, Approves NT$0.9 Cash Dividend per Share

Source: Republic of China Taiwan

Taiwan Sugar Corporation (Taisugar) convened its 2025 Annual Shareholders’ Meeting at 10 a.m. today (June 12) at the Tainan Head Office. According to reports presented at the meeting, Taisugar recorded NT$31.435 billion in operating revenue and NT$2.941 billion in operating profit for 2024, exceeding budgeted figures by NT$1.641 billion and NT$1.363 billion, respectively. Taisugar successfully achieved its financial targets and approved a cash dividend of NT$0.9 per share for the fiscal year.

Taisugar stated that in response to changes in the market environment, it continued to refine its business operations and implement goal-oriented management, resulting in steady growth in revenue and profit. In support of the government’s net-zero carbon policy, Taisugar had installed a total of 543.64 MW in solar photovoltaic facilities by the end of 2024. Additional initiatives include forest carbon sink projects, international smallholder carbon farming projects, conversion of factory boilers to natural gas (reducing annual carbon emissions by more than 20,000 tCO2e), and a sugar mill biomass carbon capture and utilization project. Taisugar is also accelerating the modernization of eco-friendly pig farms to advance its low-carbon transformation goals. Moreover, Taisugar continues to make land available to support the development of social housing and long-term care services in line with government policies. Six educational campuses under its administration have been converted into social housing units, addressing the housing needs of youth and underprivileged groups.

Taisugar also reported strong performance over the past year in both sustainability and product and service excellence. The company received numerous honors, including the Taiwan Top 100 Sustainability Exemplary Enterprises Award, the TSAA Sustainability Action Award, the National Enterprise Environmental Protection Silver Award, an award at the Taiwan International Orchid Show, the Eco-Friendly Hotel Certification, the ITI Superior Taste Award-often referred to as the “Michelin Guide of the food industry”-and the Gold Award for Excellence in Occupational Safety and Health Engineering. In terms of innovation, Taisugar received the Agri-Tech Startups Award. In collaboration with the National Kaohsiung. University of Hospitality and Tourism, the company developed terroir-inspired rhum agricole using fresh sugarcane juice . After winning recognition at the World Spirits Competition in both 2023 and 2024, the rum once again shone this year, receiving two Grand Gold Medals at the Vinalies Internationales Competition in France. Taisugar also teamed up with Michelin-starred restaurants to launch curated food and rum pairing events, fully showcasing the achievements of local food and beverage innovation through industry-academia collaboration.

Taisugar stated that these awards are not only a form of recognition but also a source of motivation. Looking ahead, the company will continue to strengthen corporate governance, fulfill its corporate social responsibilities, and stay committed to its sustainable net-zero goals. This year, under the theme of “Safe to Eat, Fun to Explore, and Green Living, ” Taisugar has thoughtfully curated a set of shareholder gifts that are both practical and aligned with sustainability values. The gift set includes one pack each of Taisugar’s “Tang Gan Mi Tian” organic white rice and brown rice (900g per pack), two one-way 50% discount coupons for the Chiayi Suantou Sugar Factory Cultural Park’s vintage narrow-gauge train ride to the Southern Branch of the National Palace Museum, and a reusable canvas tote bag featuring the “Xun Mi Narrow-Gauge Train” as its key visual. This well-rounded and distinctive selection reflects Taisugar’s corporate culture and brand philosophy. With these gifts, shareholders can enjoy premium, safe, and chemical-free organic rice; experience a nostalgic journey on the vintage narrow-gauge train celebrating a century of sugar history and millennia of cultural heritage; and embrace eco-friendly habits by using the canvas tote bag in daily life-collectively supporting a greener and more sustainable lifestyle.

TSC News Contact Person:
Chang Mu-Jung
Public Relations, Department of Secretariat, TSC
Contact Number: 886-6-337-8819 / 886-920-636-951
Email:a63449@taisugar.com.tw

MIL OSI Asia Pacific News –

June 19, 2025
MIL-OSI Economics: Build a Prosperous F5.5G All-Optical Network Industry for New Growth in the AI Era

Source: Huawei

Headline: Build a Prosperous F5.5G All-Optical Network Industry for New Growth in the AI Era

[Shanghai, China, June 18, 2025] During MWC Shanghai 2025, the F5.5G All-Optical Industry Summit was successfully held with the theme of “10 Gbps Broadband and All-Optical Premium Transmission for a Win-Win AI Era.” At the summit, the booming F5.5G industry was a key topic of discussion among the Information and Communication Technology Committee of the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology (MIIT), China Academy of Information and Communications Technology (CAICT), China Telecom, China Mobile, China Unicom, Maxis of Malaysia, and CTM. In particular, they shared the latest commercial practices of global carriers in 10 Gbps all-optical broadband as well as all-optical premium transmission. Huawei also shed light on its latest innovations in F5.5G all-optical networks from four aspects. These innovations help carriers develop four-in-one high-value packages to provide users with optimal AI application experience.
In recent years, as the industry has come to a consensus and successful pilots emerge, F5.5G all-optical networks have seen accelerated commercial deployment. In optical access, more than 70 carriers worldwide have launched 10 Gbps packages, and the large-scale commercial use of 10 Gbps all-optical broadband has paved the way for new AItoH services. In optical transmission, more than 240 networks, each operating at 400G, have been deployed worldwide. Meanwhile, the industry is exploring the construction of 1 ms latency metro networks for ensuring that end users can quickly access computing power over the cloud, enabling AItoB application innovation. Han Xia, Executive Deputy Director & Secretary-general of Information and Communication Technology Committee of MIIT, China, noted in his opening speech, “Accelerating the upgrade of 10 Gbps all-optical broadband and all-optical premium transmission and the development of the technology industry are of great significance to promote the integration of digital economy and real economy, drive information consumption and effective investment, and improve people’s livelihood and well-being.”
Deep cloud-intelligence-network-device collaboration drives new growth in the AI era
With AI poised to become the core driving force of the global digital economy and reshape life and production, global carriers are also actively embracing AI. In particular, frontrunners are transforming from connection service providers to connection + computing + application service providers. When expanding intelligent services based on their connectivity advantages, carriers also face challenges such as insufficient application ecosystems, non-unified terminal interconnection ecosystems, and lack of differentiated network assurance.

Li Peng, Huawei’s Senior Vice President and President of ICT Sales & Service, delivering a speech

Li Peng, Huawei’s Senior Vice President and President of ICT Sales & Service said in his speech, “Homes and enterprises will become the most valuable scenarios in carriers’ AI strategic transformation. Huawei hopes to work with the industry to promote the development of F5.5G all-optical networks, support deep cloud-intelligence-network-device collaboration, and drive the application of AI to households and industries, achieving win-win growth in the AI era.”
Continuous Innovation of AI-Centric F5.5G All-Optical Networks Stimulates New Growth of Home Broadband Services in the AI Era
In the AI era, the key to the growth of carriers’ home broadband services is to provide end users with new values and sense of worthiness. Bob Chen, President of Huawei Optical Business Product Line, shared Huawei’s latest innovations in F5.5G all-optical networks from four dimensions. He pointed out that, “To fully improve the sense of worthiness for home broadband users, and make bandwidth upgrades visible, differentiated experience assurance sensible, new home devices attainable, and new services more popular, Huawei has continuously innovated to help carriers build four-in-one high-value packages and provide users with ultimate AI application experiences.”

Bob Chen, President of Huawei Optical Business Product Line, delivering a keynote speech

Huawei’s solution is fully upgraded in bandwidth upgrade, differentiated experience, new terminals, and rich home applications. The innovative 50G PON solution supports upgrade to ultra-gigabit and 10 Gigabit. Besides, Huawei’ solution improves the end-to-end network capabilities to provide high-value users with differentiated experience assurance. In addition, Huawei’s new terminal — AI home hub — as a smart home hub for users and offers rich intelligent applications based on home AI interaction entry. Meanwhile, Huawei and carriers are jointly exploring the construction of 1 ms latency all-optical metro networks, allowing users to access cloud computing resources and AI applications through deterministic low-latency networks.
MWC Shanghai 2025 will be held from June 18 to June 20 in Shanghai, China. During the event, Huawei will showcase its latest products and solutions in Hall N1 of the Shanghai New International Expo Center (SNIEC).
The commercial adoption of 5G-Advanced is accelerating in 2025. Huawei collaborates with global carriers, industry experts, and opinion leaders to explore how innovations in AI can be used to reshape telecom services, infrastructure, and operations to generate new revenue sources and accelerate the transition towards an intelligent world.
For more information, please visit: https://carrier.huawei.com/en/events/mwcs2025

MIL OSI Economics –

June 19, 2025
MIL-OSI Global: Is Meghan, Duchess of Sussex, right? Can dancing or twerking really bring on labour?

Source: The Conversation – Global Perspectives – By Hannah Dahlen, Professor of Midwifery, Associate Dean Research and HDR, Midwifery Discipline Leader, Western Sydney University

Meghan, Duchess of Sussex is back in the news this week in a podcast discussing her viral “baby mama” video.

The video was made four years ago when she gave birth to daughter Lilibet, but only released recently. It shows the duchess in hospital, heavily pregnant, dancing and twerking to bring on labour. Her husband, Prince Harry, dances too.

She wrote on Instagram:

Both of our children were a week past their due dates […] so when spicy food, all that walking, and acupuncture didn’t work – there was only one thing left to do!

The video follows the trend of other celebrities sharing similar videos of themselves dancing while heavily pregnant.

So does the Duchess of Sussex have a point? Can dancing really bring on labour?

First, how about dancing during pregnancy?

Exercise is recommended during pregnancy, and while some higher-impact exercises may need to be moderated, it carries minimal risk for healthy women and their babies. In fact, evidence shows regular exercise during pregnancy is associated with a variety of benefits.

Exercise can lead to a lower risk of gestational diabetes, caesarean section, the use of forceps and vacuum during birth and perinatal mental health problems, as well as quicker postpartum recovery.

While pregnant women might more often gravitate towards a brisk walk, some laps in the pool, or a group exercise class, dancing is a good option too. The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists has even listed dance as one of the forms of exercise found to be safe and beneficial during pregnancy.

The movements of dance involve the hips and pelvic area (especially twerking) which may help the baby get into a more optimal position and tone the pelvic floor, though the evidence for this is lacking.

Choose any form of dancing you like – even belly dancing. In a small qualitative study with two pregnant women, belly dancing was found to be joyful and empowering, boosting feelings of wellbeing.

You can dance any time during pregnancy but you may need to adapt your dance moves as the pregnancy advances and your growing belly gets in the way.

If you have risk factors such as bleeding it’s best to be cautious and discuss any planned dancing with your health-care provider.

Music can also play an important role in mental health, as well as reducing pain, blood pressure and heart rate. So the combination of exercise with music, in the form of dance, could have added benefits.

Exercise is recommended during pregnancy – so why not try dancing?
sandsun/Shutterstock

What about dancing to induce labour, and during labour?

Meghan is not the first woman to report dancing to induce their labour, but this is all anecdotal. There’s no scientific evidence to show dancing is an effective way to bring on labour.

There is perhaps slightly more evidence suggesting benefits once labour has started.

Many women seek non-pharmacological options (not involving medications) during labour. Especially early in labour, dancing may decrease the intensity of pain and lead women to feel more satisfied and in control of their labour.

In one study, 60 women were randomly allocated to either dance during labour, or not. The dancing group had significantly lower pain scores and higher satisfaction than the control group.

And again, music can lower levels of pain in early labour. So combining relaxing music with some movement could be a good thing.

Dancing to your comfort levels during labour could be helpful due to the combination of pelvic movements, being upright, moving the body rhythmically and changing the position of the body frequently.

Evidence shows being upright and moving during labour is beneficial as it enables the pelvis to open up fully to let the baby through and reduces the length of labour.

Being upright and moving could also help transfer some pressure from the baby’s head onto the cervix, which can stimulate prostaglandin, a key chemical involved in progressing labour.

It’s been suggested dancing during labour could help get the baby into a better position for delivery and therefore help labour to proceed more smoothly and quickly. But ultimately we don’t have reliable evidence to substantiate these hypotheses.

So, did Meghan induce her labour with dance?

It’s unclear if dancing helped to induce the duchess’ labour as she was in hospital and may have later had a medical or surgical induction.

Labour can be medically induced with hormones, by using a balloon-shaped catheter placed in the woman’s cervix to open it up, or by breaking the bag of water around the baby.

Alternatively, Meghan’s labour may have eventually begun naturally without her dancing having played a role if she chose to wait another few days.

However, the joy on her face and connection and support of her husband Prince Harry is a good way to increase oxytocin, a hormone that stimulates contractions. This could have helped too.

Meghan may have been on the right track, but we need more research before we can confidently recommend dancing to bring on or during labour.

In the meantime, while there’s no evidence to show dancing is effective for inducing labour, it’s highly unlikely to have any downsides – and it may contribute to a more positive childbirth experience. So, if you feel inclined, I say dance away.

Hannah Dahlen receives funding from the Australian Research Council and the National Health and Medical Research Council.

– ref. Is Meghan, Duchess of Sussex, right? Can dancing or twerking really bring on labour? – https://theconversation.com/is-meghan-duchess-of-sussex-right-can-dancing-or-twerking-really-bring-on-labour-259257

MIL OSI – Global Reports –

June 19, 2025
MIL-OSI Global: The 28 Days Later franchise redefined zombie films. But the undead have an old, rich and varied history

Source: The Conversation – Global Perspectives – By Christopher White, Historian, The University of Queensland

The history of the dead – or, more precisely, the history of the living’s fascination with the dead – is an intriguing one.

As a researcher of the supernatural, I’m often pulled aside at conferences or at the school gate, and told in furtive whispers about people’s encounters with the dead.

The dead haunt our imagination in a number of different forms, whether as “cold spots”, or the walking dead popularised in zombie franchises such as 28 Days Later.

The franchise’s latest release, 28 Years Later, brings back the Hollywood zombie in all its glory – but these archetypal creatures have a much wider and varied history.

Zombis, revenants and the returning dead

A zombie is typically a reanimated corpse: a category of the returning dead. Scholars refer to them as “revenants”, and continue to argue over their exact characteristics.

In the Haitian Vodou religion, the zombi is not the same as the Hollywood zombie. Instead, zombi are people who, as a religious punishment, are drugged, buried alive, then dug out and forced into slavery.

The Hollywood zombie, however, draws more from medieval European stories about the returning dead than from Vodou.

A perfect setting for a ‘zombie’ film

In 28 Years Later, the latest entry in Danny Boyle’s blockbuster horror franchise, the monsters technically aren’t zombies because they aren’t dead. Instead, they are infected by a “rage virus”, accidentally released by a group of animal rights activists in the beginning of the first film.

This third film focuses on events almost three decades after the first film. The British Isles is quarantined, and the young protagonist Spike (Alfie Williams) and his family live in a village on Lindisfarne Island. This island, one of the most important sites in early medieval British Christianity, is isolated and protected by a tidal causeway that links it to the mainland.

Aaron Taylor-Johnson and Alfie Williams star in the new film, out in Australian cinemas today.
Sony Pictures

The film leans heavily on how we imagine the medieval world, with scenes showing silhouetted fletchers at work making arrows, children training with bows, towering ossuaries and various memento mori. There’s also footage from earlier depictions of medieval warfare. And at one point, the characters seek sanctuary in the ruins of Fountains Abbey, in Yorkshire, which was built in 1132.

The medieval locations and imagery of 28 Years Later evoke the long history of revenants, and the returned dead who once roved medieval England.

Early accounts of the medieval dead

In the medieval world, or at least the parts that wrote in Latin, the returning dead were usually called spiritus (“spirit”), but they weren’t limited to the non-corporeal like today’s ghosts are.

Medieval Latin Christians from as early as the 3rd century saw the dead as part of a parallel society that mirrored the world of the living, where each group relied on the other to aid them through the afterlife.

Depiction of the undead from a medieval manuscript.
British Library, Yates Thompson MS 13

While some medieval ghosts would warn the living about what awaited sinners in the afterlife, or lead their relatives to treasure, or prophesise the future, some also returned to terrorise the living.

And like the “zombies” affected by the rage virus in 28 Years Later, these revenants could go into a frenzy in the presence of the living.

Thietmar, the Prince-Bishop of Merseburg, Germany, wrote the Chronicon Thietmari (Thietmar’s Chronicle) between 1012 and 1018, and included a number of ghost stories that featured revenants.

Although not all of them framed the dead as terrifying, they certainly didn’t paint them as friendly, either. In one story, a congregation of the dead at a church set the priest upon the altar, before burning him to ashes – intended to be read as a mirror of pagan sacrifice.

These dead were physical beings, capable of seizing a man and sacrificing him in his own church.

A threat to be dealt with

The English monastic historian William of Newburgh (1136–98) wrote revenants were so common in his day that recording them all would be exhausting. According to him, the returned dead were frequently seen in 12th century England.

So, instead of providing a exhausting list, he offered some choice examples which, like most medieval ghost stories, had a good Christian moral attached to them.

William’s revenants mostly killed the people of the towns they lived, returning to the grave between their escapades. But the medieval English had a method for dealing with these monsters; they dug them up, tore out the heart and then burned the body.

Other revenants were dealt with less harshly, William explained. In one case, all it took was the Bishop of Lincoln writing a letter of absolution to stop a dead man returning to his widow’s bed.

These medieval dead were also thought to spread disease – much like those infected with the rage virus – and were capable of physically killing someone.

Depiction of the undead from a medieval manuscript.
British Library, Arundel MS 83.

The undead, further north

In medieval Scandinavia and Iceland, the undead draugr were extremely strong, hideous to look at and stunk of decomposition. Some were immune to human weapons and often killed animals near their tombs before building up to kill humans. Like their English counterparts, they also spread disease.

But according to the Eyrbyggja saga, an anonymous 13th or 14th century text written in Iceland, all it took was a type of community court and the threat of legal action to drive off these returned dead.

It’s a method the survivors in 28 Years Later didn’t try.

The dead live on

The first-hand zombie stories that were common during the medieval period started to dwindle in the 16th century with the Protestant Reformation, which focused more on individuals’ behaviours and salvation.

Nonetheless, their influence can still be felt in Catholic ritual practices today, such as in prayers offered for the dead, and the lighting of votive candles.

We still tell ghost stories, and we still worry about things that go bump in the night. And of course, we continue to explore the undead in all its forms on the big screen.

Christopher White does not work for, consult, own shares in or receive funding from any company or organisation that would benefit from this article, and has disclosed no relevant affiliations beyond their academic appointment.

– ref. The 28 Days Later franchise redefined zombie films. But the undead have an old, rich and varied history – https://theconversation.com/the-28-days-later-franchise-redefined-zombie-films-but-the-undead-have-an-old-rich-and-varied-history-247900

MIL OSI – Global Reports –

June 19, 2025
MIL-OSI Russia: SPIEF-2025: GUU and the Fatherland Defenders Foundation signed a cooperation agreement

Translation. Region: Russian Federal

Source: State University of Management – Official website of the State –

On June 18, at the St. Petersburg International Economic Forum, the State University of Management and the Fatherland Defenders Foundation signed a cooperation agreement.

The document was signed by the rector of the State University of Management Vladimir Stroyev and the State Secretary – Deputy Minister of Defense of Russia, Chairperson of the “Defenders of the Fatherland” Foundation Anna Tsivileva.

Within the framework of the agreement, representatives of both organizations will prepare basic and additional educational programs and outreach activities for veterans of the special military operation and their family members, including those aimed at promoting employment and professional reintegration, and will also hold joint scientific and practical conferences, seminars, and round tables.

The rector of the State University of Management reminded that the university regularly collects and sends humanitarian aid, holds meetings with participants in military operations and events for the families of defenders.

“The tasks of universities include, in addition to education, the upbringing of young people. And the State University of Management is at the forefront of solving this problem. Thus, during this time, students and employees have made and sent to the SVO zone thousands of dry showers, trench candles, survival bracelets and camouflage nets, and are also purchasing other necessary things and household items. Members of the All-Russian Student Rescue Corps, the Moscow branch of which is based on the territory of the State University of Management, help eliminate the consequences of terrorist attacks in the border regions, restore the infrastructure of new entities,” Vladimir Stroyev emphasized.

Anna Tsivileva noted that the signed agreement will expand the capabilities of the Fatherland Defenders Foundation in one of the priority areas of work on training, retraining and further employment of veterans of the SVO.

“We help heroes undergo professional training and retraining at universities and institutions of secondary vocational education. Almost 5,000 defenders are already studying with our partners – the country’s leading educational organizations. As part of cooperation with the State University of Management, we will provide heroes with another opportunity to master new professions. It is important that after returning from a special operation they can work, be useful to their family and the state,” said Anna Tsivileva.

Let us recall that at the beginning of June, another humanitarian aid was transferred to the area of the special military operation as part of the “GUU-SVOim” campaign, and in February of this year, VSKS specialists held master classes for children of SVO veterans at the GUU.

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 –

June 19, 2025