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Category: AM-NC

  • MIL-OSI Russia: Capital products strengthen their position in the global market of healthy food products

    Translation. Region: Russian Federal

    Source: Moscow Government – Government of Moscow –

    An important disclaimer is at the bottom of this article.

    Moscow entrepreneurs are strengthening their positions in the global market of healthy food products. With the support of the Moscow Export Center (MEC), protein and fruit bars, muesli, cereals, breads and other capital products are supplied to more than 20 countries, including China, the UAE, India, Brazil and the CIS countries.

    In 2024 and the first half of 2025, the volume of healthy food exports from Moscow supported by the MEC exceeded 1.3 billion rubles.

    “There is a growing demand among consumers for healthy food products. In a highly competitive market, not only the natural composition is important, but also the overall compliance of the product with the expectations of the target audience. The wide geography of Moscow healthy food products exports speaks of the trust of foreign consumers in goods produced in Moscow,” she noted.

    Kristina Kostroma, Head of the Department of Entrepreneurship and Innovative Development of Moscow.

    As part of the implementation of export support programs, the Moscow company Snaksi received the opportunity to enter the international online trading platform 1688.com. As a result of the placement, a contract was concluded for the supply of protein bars and healthy chocolate to China.

    The Melas company took advantage of the support service of a representative of the Moscow Export Center in China, ultimately concluding a contract for the supply of Dr. Körner crispbreads, already well known to Russian consumers, to China.

    SVD-Group successfully presented its products at the Gulfood 2024 international exhibition. The result was a contract for the supply of muesli, crispbread, bran and freeze-dried berries to the UAE.

    As part of the promotion of products of capital exporters with the support of the MEC, Moscow producers of healthy food take part in international festivals and fairs “Made in Russia” in friendly countries. These events are held jointly with the Russian Export Center. Products of Moscow companies were presented at four major fairs in China and the UAE, which were held from November 2024 to May 2025.

    The Moscow Export Center was established by the Moscow Government in 2017 to provide financial and non-financial support measures to Moscow entrepreneurs in order to promote Moscow goods and services on foreign markets. The Moscow Export Center is a subordinate organization Department of Entrepreneurship and Innovative DevelopmentOne of its key tasks is to increase the number of Moscow exporters and grow their export revenue.

    Today, the MEC provides the capital’s business with comprehensive support at all stages of the export route – from preparation and training in foreign economic activity (FEA) to promotion abroad, assistance in increasing sales of financial incentives for FEA after concluding export contracts. Currently, the MEC’s toolkit includes more than 30 support measures.

    Sergei Sobyanin told how Moscow helps the capital’s business develop

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

    Please note: This information is raw content obtained directly from the source of the information. It is an accurate report of what the source claims and does not necessarily reflect the position of MIL-OSI or its clients.

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    MIL OSI Russia News –

  • MIL-OSI Russia: The territories of two parks will be improved in the Aeroport and Khovrino districts

    Translation. Region: Russian Federal

    Source: Moscow Government – Government of Moscow –

    An important disclaimer is at the bottom of this article.

    In the Aeroport area, the Golovanovskiy Park area will be landscaped, and in Khovrin, the public park will be put in order. This was reported by the city economy complex. Playgrounds, swings, carousels and other infrastructure will appear there.

    The playground in Golovanovsky Park will have its surface replaced and two play complexes with a slide, ladder and other elements will be installed. There will also be a sandbox, carousels, swings, a trampoline and spring swings. A developmental tactile panel will be installed for the little ones.

    The sports area will have its table tennis tables replaced, and park swings and benches will be installed for a quiet rest. Specialists will tidy up the lawn, plant trees, and renew the pavement of the pedestrian paths.

    In addition, in the Aeroport district, eight courtyard areas will be put in order this year on 1st Ambulatory Drive, Leningradsky Prospekt, Krasnoarmeyskaya Street, and Chernyakhovsky Street.

    A large play area for children of different ages will appear in the central part of the Khovrino public park. It will house multi-level complexes in the form of houses and a steam locomotive with slides, trampolines, balance beams, swings and carousels. Parents will be able to relax or read a book on semi-circular benches and comfortable round benches.

    In the play area near the entrance to the park from Festivalnaya Street, large swings, a labyrinth complex and multi-coloured trampolines will be installed. Nearby, a multi-level amphitheater and recreation islands with umbrella awnings, round benches under them and park swings will be set up. Nearby, a fenced modern area for walking dogs will be built. Barriers, a slide, a tunnel and a balance beam will be installed for the animals.

    The sports area on the side of Lyapidevskogo Street will be put in order, a universal playground for playing football and basketball will be set up there. Visitors will be able to work out on weight training machines, do workout training and play ping-pong. Cubes with climbing holds will be installed for children and teenagers.

    A jogging track will be laid across the park. It will be located next to the sports and children’s playgrounds. In addition, bicycle parking will be installed.

    Trees will be planted in the park, several rockeries (landscape compositions of stones and plants) will be created, and modern lighting fixtures will be installed.

    In 2023, the area near the Church of the Sign of the Icon of the Mother of God on Festivalnaya Street was tidied up. Modern playgrounds and sports grounds, recreation areas, picnic spots and new lights appeared here.

    Earlier about plans forimprovement Sergei Sobyanin reported in the Northern Administrative District.

    The park improvement works correspond to the goals and objectives of the national project “Infrastructure for life”.

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

    Please note: This information is raw content obtained directly from the source of the information. It is an accurate report of what the source claims and does not necessarily reflect the position of MIL-OSI or its clients.

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    MIL OSI Russia News –

  • MIL-OSI Europe: ESAs publish guide on DORA Oversight activities

    Source: European Banking Authority

    The European Supervisory Authorities (EBA, EIOPA, ESMA – the ESAs) today published a guide on oversight activities under the Digital Operational Resilience Act (DORA). The aim of this guide is to provide an overview of the processes used by the ESAs through the Joint Examination Teams (JET) to oversee critical Information and communication technology (ICT) third party service providers (CTPPs).

    This guide provides high-level explanations to external stakeholders regarding the CTPP Oversight framework. Furthermore, it provides an overview of the governance structure, the oversight processes, the founding principles and the tools available to the overseers.

    However, the guide is not a legally binding document and does not replace the legal requirements laid down in the relevant applicable EU law.

    The ESAs invite the public, financial entities and, crucially, third-party providers to use this document to prepare for the oversight implementation.

    Additional information on the oversight implementation

    For more information on the implementation of the DORA Oversight framework, please refer to this presentation.

    MIL OSI Europe News –

  • MIL-OSI Russia: Moscow to Present Art Platform Award for Contribution to Theatre Arts

    Translation. Region: Russian Federal

    Source: Moscow Government – Government of Moscow –

    An important disclaimer is at the bottom of this article.

    The application process for the second Moscow Art Platform Performing Arts Award has begun. It is organized by the Agency for Creative Industries (AKI) of the capital Department of CultureArtistic director – Dmitry Bikbaev.

    “The Art Platform Award is designed to support private theatre companies that make a significant contribution to the city’s culture: they create performances, jobs, and attract audiences. The competition is aimed at identifying and supporting strong theatre projects,” said the Minister of the Moscow Government, Head of the Moscow Department of Culture

    Alexey Fursin.

    In total, 13 main and two special nominations are planned for this year, including:

    — “Private Theatre Project” — awards private theatres in Moscow;

    — “Event” — celebrates festivals and other major events of the year that took place in the capital;

    — “Collaboration” — awarded for a joint creative project of private theaters, cultural figures and/or organizations;

    — “Startup” — awards private theaters or projects that opened this year;

    — “Promotion” — recognizes the most spectacular and effective marketing strategies in the performing arts;

    — “Backstage” — awards to teams of theatre projects;

    — “Multimedia” — awarded for outstanding shows using multimedia technologies;

    — “Producer” — rewards the best producers in the world of art;

    — “Ensemble” — is what the capital’s acting ensembles celebrate.

    In addition, four new nominations have been established:

    — “Workshops” — awards private companies that produce stage design, props, stage props, and also develop innovative solutions;

    — “Soldout” — awarded to ticket services for effective solutions in ticket sales;

    — “Kulturtreger” — awarded to cultural figures for educational initiatives;

    — “Region” — marks cultural phenomena or projects created and implemented outside of Moscow.

    A special nomination is provided by the Agency for Creative Industries. Another award will be presented to private projects in the field of performing arts by the award partners.

    The winners will be awarded at the open theatre space “Art Platform” in the New Manezh in October of this year. Individuals and legal entities working in the field of performing arts in Moscow, as well as independent theatre companies from other cities of Russia (in the nomination “Region”) can apply for the award.

    In 2024, the shortlist for the award included more than 30 nominees in 12 nominations. Among the winners are the Moscow Musical Theatre under the direction of Mikhail Shvydkoy, the musical “Don’t be afraid of anything, I’m with you”, the show “Antigravity”, Konstantin Bogomolov’s private educational project “Voices of the Country” and the company Yellow, Black and White. In total, more than 200 applications were submitted in 2024.

    With the help of the Agency for Creative Industries, favorable conditions are created in the capital for the development of representatives of various fields, including cinema, fashion, design, contemporary art, video games, music and publishing. In addition, the ACI promotes products on international markets and forms a positive image of the capital as an international center of creative industries.

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

    Please note: This information is raw content obtained directly from the source of the information. It is an accurate report of what the source claims and does not necessarily reflect the position of MIL-OSI or its clients.

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    MIL OSI Russia News –

  • MIL-OSI Russia: HSE researchers teach neural networks to distinguish origins from genetically close populations

    Translation. Region: Russian Federal

    Source: State University “Higher School of Economics” –

    An important disclaimer is at the bottom of this article.

    INInstitute of Artificial Intelligence and Digital Sciences FKN HSE University has proposed a new approach based on modern machine learning methods to determine a person’s genetic origin. Graph neural networks make it possible to distinguish even very close populations with high accuracy.

    Genetic analysis is a service that has become popular in the last 10-15 years not only as a medical diagnostic tool, but also as an opportunity to learn more about one’s origins. DNA analysis allows one to assess ethnic composition, determine where ancestors lived and moved, and find the number of Neanderthal mutations in the genome.

    This has become possible thanks to the development of modern technologies – genotyping, data storage and processing systems, machine learning – and a significant reduction in their cost. But at the same time, existing testing methods do not allow us to separate genetically close, related populations that have lived in adjacent territories for a long time.

    Researchers at the HSE Institute of AI and Digital Sciences have developed a method that allows one to distinguish the origins of people from closely related populations. The technology is based on graph neural networks. The algorithm relies not on the DNA sequence itself, but on graphs that indicate genetic connections between people with common sections of the genome. Such sections reflect the degree of kinship between people and indicate how many generations ago they had common ancestors. The more matches, the closer the people are in origin. The vertices in the model correspond to a person, and the edges reflect the degree of kinship.

    The method was tested on data from different regions. The results for the population of the East European Plain, for which a large database has already been collected, were especially interesting. The graph neural network was able to accurately determine the population affiliation of representatives of genetically very close peoples.

    “Existing methods of genetic analysis solve a different problem: they determine belonging to large isolated populations, for example, they determine who had French, who had Germans, who had English in their ancestry. Our method allows us to work with closely related populations, which is especially relevant for Russia, a historically multinational country,” says Alexey Shmelev, one of the authors of the work, a research intern.International Laboratory of Statistical and Computational GenomicsInstitute of AI and Digital Sciences, Faculty of Computer Science, National Research University Higher School of Economics.

    In the future, the researchers plan to teach the neural network to predict the percentage of different populations in the genome.

    The researchers registered theirdevelopmentcalled AncestryGNN — “Neural Network Prediction of Population Belonging from Common Genome Segments.”

    As Vladimir Shchur, head of the International Laboratory of Statistical and Computational Genomics at the Institute of AI and Digital Sciences of the Faculty of Computer Science at the National Research University Higher School of Economics, noted, the proposed method opens up new prospects for more accurately determining the population history of people and can be used in genealogical research and anthropology.

    Please note: This information is raw content obtained directly from the source of the information. It is an accurate report of what the source claims and does not necessarily reflect the position of MIL-OSI or its clients.

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    MIL OSI Russia News –

  • MIL-OSI United Nations: 15 July 2025 Turkmenistan strengthens its influenza vaccination programme

    Source: World Health Organisation

    Building pandemic response capacities through seasonal vaccination 

    Strong national influenza vaccination programmes are the foundation for the vaccination component of the pandemic response. With support from the World Health Organization (WHO) Pandemic Influenza Preparedness (PIP) Framework’s Partnership Contribution (PC), Turkmenistan is enhancing its national seasonal influenza vaccination programme and through this, is strengthening its preparedness for future pandemics. This collaboration is part of a broader effort to build resilient health systems capable of responding to influenza epidemics and pandemics. 

    Over the past eight years, the Ministry of Health has expanded access to influenza vaccines for WHO-recommended priority groups, including health workers, older adults, people with chronic conditions, and pregnant women. The annual influenza vaccination programme not only protects vulnerable populations but also serves as a foundation for pandemic response.

    Reviewing the influenza vaccination programme  

    In May 2025, Turkmenistan became the first country in the WHO European Region to use the Facilitated Assessment of Influenza Vaccination Programme Review (FAIR) tool. During the review and an interactive workshop, WHO technical experts collaborated with the Ministry of Health to evaluate best practices and identify priority actions to strengthen the national vaccination programme. 

    Using the FAIR tool, WHO experts conducted informational interviews with national stakeholders responsible for policy development, evidence generation, cold chain and supply management, risk communication, community engagement, integrated service delivery, and data management. In addition, WHO experts and national counterparts visited Turkmenistan’s main vaccine storage facilities and a local polyclinic administering influenza vaccines.

    From assessment to action 

    During the workshop, WHO experts presented FAIR findings and facilitated group discussions with national focal points. Together, they developed a list of priority actions, including:

    • Developing a national seasonal influenza vaccination policy aligned with WHO guidance 
    • Reviewing and updating coverage data 
    • Conducting studies to assess the impact of influenza vaccination

    The workshop also emphasized the role of seasonal influenza vaccination as a platform for broader pandemic preparedness. In this context, WHO and national focal points conducted a simulation exercise focused on planning and deploying pandemic vaccines, drawing on lessons from the COVID-19 response. Participants from emergency vaccination, logistics, regulatory affairs, and communications identified areas for improvement in the national deployment and vaccination plan (NDVP). 

    Commitment to resilience 

    Turkmenistan is committed to advancing its national influenza preparedness and strengthening its health system’s resilience. By addressing both seasonal and pandemic influenza, the country is taking important steps to protect its population and enhance its capacity to respond to emergencies.

    MIL OSI United Nations News –

  • MIL-OSI United Nations: 15 July 2025 News release Senegal joins growing list of countries that have eliminated trachoma

    Source: World Health Organisation

    The World Health Organization (WHO) has validated Senegal as having eliminated trachoma as a public health problem. Senegal becomes the ninth country in WHO’s African Region to have achieved this feat.

    “I commend Senegal for freeing its population from this disease”, said Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, WHO Director-General. “This milestone is yet another sign of the remarkable progress being made against neglected tropical diseases globally, and offers hope to other countries still working to eliminate trachoma.”

    Trachoma has been known in Senegal since the early 1900s and was confirmed as a major cause of blindness through surveys in the 1980s and 1990s. Senegal joined the WHO Alliance for the Global Elimination of Trachoma in 1998, conducted its first national survey in 2000, and completed full disease mapping by 2017 with support from the Global Trachoma Mapping Project and Tropical Data. Trachoma control was consistently integrated into national eye health programmed, first under the National Program for Blindness Prevention (PNLC) and later through the National Program for the Promotion of Eye Health (PNPSO) – maintaining its commitment to trachoma elimination.

    “Today we celebrate our victory against trachoma, 21 years after the one against dracunculiasis” said Dr Ibrahima Sy, Senegal’s Minister of Health and Social Action. “This new milestone reminds us that our overarching goal remains a Senegal free from neglected tropical diseases. We are fully committed to this, and we are making good progress, notably against human African trypanosomiasis (sleeping sickness) and onchocerciasis”.

    Senegal implemented the WHO-recommended SAFE strategy to eliminate trachoma with the support of partners, reaching 2.8 million people who needed them across 24 districts. These activities included provision of surgery to treat the late blinding stage of the disease, conducting antibiotic mass drug administration of azithromycin donated by Pfizer through the International Trachoma Initiative, carrying out public awareness campaigns to promote facial cleanliness, and improvement in access to water supply and sanitation.

    Trachoma is the second neglected tropical disease to be eliminated in Senegal. In 2004, the country was certified free of dracunculiasis (Guinea-worm disease) transmission. Globally, Senegal joins 24 other countries that have been validated by WHO for having eliminated trachoma as a public health problem. These are Benin, Burundi, Cambodia, China, Gambia, Islamic Republic of Iran, Lao People’s Democratic Republic, Ghana, India, Iraq, Malawi, Mali, Mauritania, Mexico, Morocco, Myanmar, Nepal, Oman, Pakistan, Papua New Guinea, Saudi Arabia, Togo, Vanuatu and Viet Nam. These countries are part of a wider of group of 57 countries that have eliminated one or more neglected tropical diseases.

    WHO is supporting Senegal’s health authorities to closely monitor communities in which trachoma was previously endemic to ensure there is no resurgence of the disease.

    “Trachoma has cast a shadow over communities in Senegal for more than a century. This long-awaited validation is not only a milestone for public health but a powerful tribute to the tireless dedication of frontline health workers, communities, government leaders, and partners who never gave up,” said Dr Jean-Marie Vianny Yameogo, WHO Representative in Senegal. “Today, we close a chapter that began over a hundred years ago, united with pride, gratitude and resolve. WHO remains committed to supporting Senegal as the country continues to lead in sustaining this hard-earned achievement.”

    Disease prevalence

    Trachoma remains a public health problem in 32 countries, with an estimated 103 million people living in areas requiring interventions against the disease. Trachoma is found mainly in the poorest and most rural areas of Africa, Central and South America, Asia, the Western Pacific and the Middle East. WHO’s African Region is disproportionately affected by trachoma, with 93 million people living in at-risk areas in April 2024, representing 90% of the global trachoma burden.

    Significant progress has been made in the fight against trachoma over the past few years and the number of people requiring antibiotic treatment for trachoma in the African Region fell by 96 million from 189 million in 2014 to 93 million as of April 2024, representing a 51% reduction.

    There are currently 20 countries (Algeria, Angola, Burkina Faso, Cameroon, Central Africa Republic, Chad, Côte d’Ivoire, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Guinea, Kenya, Mozambique, Niger, Nigeria, South Sudan, United Republic of Tanzania, Uganda, Zambia and Zimbabwe) in WHO’s African Region that are known to require intervention for trachoma elimination. A further 3 countries in the Region (Botswana, Guinea-Bissau and Namibia) claim to have achieved the prevalence targets for elimination.
     

    Editor’s note

    Trachoma is a neglected tropical disease. It is caused by infection with the bacterium Chlamydia trachomatis, which spreads from person to person through contaminated surfaces , fomites and flies that have come into contact with discharge from the eyes or nose of an infected person.

    Environmental risk factors for trachoma transmission include poor hygiene, overcrowded households, and inadequate access to water and sanitation.

    To eliminate trachoma as a public health problem, WHO recommends the SAFE strategy: a comprehensive approach to reduce transmission of the causative organism, clear existing infections and deal with their effects. The SAFE strategy consists of surgery to treat the blinding complication (trachomatous trichiasis); antibiotics to clear the infection, particularly mass drug administration of the antibiotic azithromycin (which has been donated by the manufacturer, Pfizer, to elimination programmes through the International Trachoma Initiative); facial cleanliness; and environmental improvement, particularly improving access to water and sanitation.

    The road map for neglected tropical diseases 2021–2030 targets the prevention, control, elimination and eradication of 20 diseases and disease groups by 2030. Progress against trachoma and other neglected tropical diseases alleviates the human and economic burden that they impose on the world’s most disadvantaged communities.

    MIL OSI United Nations News –

  • MIL-OSI United Nations: 15 July 2025 Departmental update New digital tool to support self-monitoring of blood pressure in pregnancy

    Source: World Health Organisation

    A new digital adaptation kit for self-monitoring blood pressure during pregnancy was released today by WHO and the United Nations’ Special Programme in Human Reproduction (HRP) to enable countries to better help pregnant women manage hypertensive disorders. These disorders, if not properly treated, can lead to serious health consequences for women and their babies. The release of the kit has been timed to coincide with Self-Care Month, which runs from 24 June to 24 July.

    Hypertensive disorders during pregnancy such as pre-eclampsia account for an estimated 16% of all maternal deaths worldwide. Potential complications include eclampsia, stroke, kidney failure, and placental abruption, as well as preterm birth and even stillbirth. Prevention, early detection and timely treatment of hypertensive disorders are key to improving the immediate and long-term health of mothers and their babies.

    Self-monitoring blood pressure is an important self-care option to help those affected reduce risks. It can be done at home – either to complement the antenatal care being received via a health facility or in instances where travel is not feasible, alongside community-based care.

    How the Digital adaptation kit works

    Written WHO guidance on self-monitoring of blood pressure during pregnancy already exists in the WHO Guideline for self-care interventions for health and well-being, and the Digital adaptation kit translates that guidance into a digital format that can then be used within the health sector. The kit is the first for self-care during pregnancy.

    I am delighted to announce the release of this digital adaptation kit, the first in a person-centred self-care series.

    Pascale Allotey / Director of HRP and SRHR at WHO

    The kit provides a common language and understanding of the health information content and standards required to enable self-monitoring of blood pressure, alongside the necessary digital information to develop personal health tracking systems that enable any needed follow-up care.

    “I am delighted to announce the release of this digital adaptation kit, the first in a person-centred self-care series,” said Pascale Allotey, Director of HRP and the Department of Sexual and Reproductive Health and Research (SRHR) at WHO.

    “The kit will help Ministries of Health adopt the WHO recommendation on self-monitoring of blood pressure during pregnancy, and in turn help more women stay healthy through the antenatal period and beyond, while promoting the quality assurance of emerging digital tools”.

    The kit sits alongside the health and care worker-facing Digital adaptation kit for antenatal care.

    Self-care and digital transformation of health systems

    WHO defines self-care as the ability of individuals, families, and communities to promote health, prevent disease, maintain health and to cope with illness with or without the support of a health or care worker. WHO recommends evidence-based self-care interventions for all to advance autonomy, health and well-being. Digital health platforms and tools can facilitate access to self-care interventions and support informed decision-making by individuals and health systems.

    This digital adaptation kit is the first in a series that aims at giving people wider access to self-care interventions through digital systems, in line with WHO SMART (Standards-based, Machine-readable, Adaptive, Requirements-based, and Testable) Guidelines. Digital adaptation kits translate WHO guidance into an accessible digital format to assist countries integrate evidence-based clinical recommendations into health systems helping them, and in turn, individuals, benefit from evidence-based clinical and data practices.

    Funding for the kit was received from the Children’s Investment Fund Foundation, The Gates Foundation and HRP.

    MIL OSI United Nations News –

  • MIL-Evening Report: President Xi Jinping tells Albanese China ready to ‘push the bilateral relationship further’

    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Michelle Grattan, Professorial Fellow, University of Canberra

    Chinese President Xi Jinping has told Anthony Albanese China stands ready to work with Australia “to push the bilateral relationship further”, in their meeting in Beijing on Tuesday.

    During the meeting, Albanese raised Australia’s concern about China’s lack of proper notice about its warships’ live fire exercise early this year.

    The prime minister later told journalists Xi had responded that “China engaged in exercises, just as Australia engages in exercises”.

    The government’s proposed sale of the lease of the Port of Darwin, now in the hands of a Chinese company, was not raised in the discussion.

    On Taiwan, Albanese said he had “reaffirmed […] the position of Australia in support for the status quo”.

    This was the fourth meeting between Xi and Albanese. The prime minister is on a six-day trip to China, accompanied by a business delegation. He is emphasising expanding trade opportunities with our biggest trading partner and attracting more Chinese tourists, whose numbers are not back to pre-pandemic levels.

    Albanese has come under some domestic criticism because this trip comes before he has been able to secure a meeting with United States President Donald Trump.

    In his opening remarks, while the media were present, Xi said the China-Australia relationship had risen “from the setback and turned around, bringing tangible benefits to the Chinese and Australian peoples”.

    “The most important thing we can learn from this is that a commitment to equal treatment, to seeking common ground while sharing differences, pursuing mutually beneficial cooperation, serves the fundamental interests of our two countries and two peoples.

    “No matter how the international landscape may evolve, we should uphold this overall direction unswervingly,” he said.

    “The Chinese side is ready to work with the Australian side to push the bilateral relationship further and make greater progress so as to bring better benefits to our two peoples.”

    Responding, Albanese noted Xi’s comments “about seeking common ground while sharing differences. That approach has indeed produced very positive benefits for both Australia and for China.

    “The Australian government welcomes progress on cooperation under the China-Australia Free Trade Agreement, which has its 10th anniversary year. As a direct result, trade is now flowing freely to the benefit of both countries and to people and businesses on both sides, and Australia will remain a strong supporter of free and fair trade.”

    Albanese told the media after the meeting his government’s approach to the relationship was “patient, calibrated and deliberate”.

    “Given that one out of four Australian jobs depends on trade and given that China is overwhelmingly by far the largest trading partner that Australia has, it is very much in the interest of Australian jobs, and the Australian economy, to have a positive and constructive relationship with China.

    “Dialogue is how we advance our interests, how we manage our differences, and we guard against misunderstanding.

    “President Xi Jinping and I agreed dialogue must be at the centre of our relationship. We also discussed our economic relationship, which is critical to Australia. We spoke about the potential for new engagement in areas such as decarbonisation”.

    Xi did not bring up China’s complaints about Australia’s foreign investment regime.

    Albanese said he raised the issue of Australian writer Yang Jun, who is incarcerated on allegations of espionage, which are denied.

    Premier Li Qiang was hosting a banquet for Albanese on Tuesday night.

    An editorial in the state-owned China Daily praised the Albanese visit, saying it showed “the Australian side has a clearer judgement and understanding of China than it had under previous Scott Morrison government”.

    “The current momentum in the development of bilateral relations between China and Australia shows that if differences are well managed, the steady development of ties can be guaranteed , even at a time when the political landscape of the world is becoming increasingly uncertain and volatile,” the editorial said.

    Australian journalists had a brush with Chinese security, when they were taking shots of local sights in Beijing. Security guards surrounded them and told them to hand over their footage. The incident was resolved by Australian officials.

    Michelle Grattan 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. President Xi Jinping tells Albanese China ready to ‘push the bilateral relationship further’ – https://theconversation.com/president-xi-jinping-tells-albanese-china-ready-to-push-the-bilateral-relationship-further-261094

    MIL OSI Analysis – EveningReport.nz –

  • MIL-OSI Banking: BOBC Auction Results – 15 July 2025

    Source: Bank of Botswana

    The Monetary Policy Rate (MoPR) was unchanged at 1.9 percent of the previous week, for a paper maturing on 23 July 2025. The summarised results of the auction held on 15 July 2025, are attached below:

    BOBC Auction Results – 15 July 2025.pdf

    MIL OSI Global Banks –

  • DRDO and AIIMS Bibinagar unveil India’s first indigenous low-cost carbon fibre foot prosthesis

    Source: Government of India

    Source: Government of India (4)

    Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) and AIIMS Bibinagar on Monday jointly unveiled India’s first indigenously designed and developed cost-effective advanced carbon fibre foot prosthesis.

    The prosthetic device, named AIIMS Bibinagar – DRDL, DRDO Indigenously Developed Optimised Carbon Foot Prosthesis (ADIDOC), was officially launched at a ceremony held at AIIMS Bibinagar. The unveiling was led by Dr. GA Srinivasa Murthy, Scientist and Director of DRDO’s Defence Research & Development Laboratory (DRDL), along with Dr. Ahanthem Santa Singh, Executive Director of AIIMS Bibinagar.

    Developed under the Aatmanirbhar Bharat initiative, ADIDOC represents a major technological and humanitarian breakthrough. The prosthesis has been biomechanically tested to endure loads of up to 125 kg, with a strong factor of safety. It comes in three variants tailored for patients of different body weights, making it versatile and inclusive.

    What makes ADIDOC particularly significant is its cost-efficiency. While similar international carbon fibre foot prosthetics currently cost around ₹2 lakh, the production cost of ADIDOC is projected to be under ₹20,000. This dramatic reduction in cost is expected to revolutionize access to high-performance prosthetics for low-income amputees across India.

    “The development of ADIDOC is not just a technological achievement but also a meaningful step toward greater social inclusion for people with disabilities,” said Dr. Srinivasa Murthy at the launch. “It will reduce India’s dependency on expensive imported prosthetics and make high-quality mobility solutions more accessible.”

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Kenya: Call for bids for the provision of water testing services

    Source: United Kingdom – Executive Government & Departments

    World news story

    Kenya: Call for bids for the provision of water testing services

    The British High Commission Nairobi is inviting bids for the provision of water testing services.

    On behalf of the Secretary of State for the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office, the British High Commission (BHC) in Nairobi is seeking the services of a supplier that has the relevant professional skills, experience, technical resources and financial capability to provide water testing services at the British High Commission Nairobi.

    Full details on the requirements, including instructions for interested bidders and registration are available via the FCDO’s e-Procurement portal, which requires registration. Registering is quick, easy, free and is the only way to review the tender documents.

    Competent and financially stable suppliers are invited to access the invitation to tender documents by following these steps:

    1. Open the https://fco.bravosolution.co.uk website, register and sign in
    2. Navigate to provision of water testing at the British High Commission Nairobi.
    3. CPG/12476/2025. ITT 7169, Project 12476

    Contact the Regional Procurement Manager; Thabang.Mokoena@fcdo.gov.uk for any queries. Kindly note that the responses are required to be in English.

    Deadlines

    Please note that the invitation to tender documents should be completed and uploaded on the BRAVOSolution e-Procurement Portal by 15:00 EAT on 08 August 2025.

    Disclaimer

    The BHC reserves the right not to select any service provider and will only reply to the best-suited organisation.

    The BHC will not meet any expenses incurred in preparing your invitation to tender documents.

    Updates to this page

    Published 15 July 2025

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI Russia: Polytechnic University’s breakthrough projects received grant support from the Russian Science Foundation

    Translation. Region: Russian Federal

    Source: Peter the Great St. Petersburg Polytechnic University –

    An important disclaimer is at the bottom of this article.

    The Russian Science Foundation has summed up the results of three competitions for 2025, including one for the extension of ongoing projects.

    Following the results of the Russian Science Foundation’s competition for grant support for fundamental and exploratory scientific research in 2025–2028, 211 projects were supported. They are being carried out by research groups led by young candidates and doctors of science under the age of 35. Including three developments of the Polytechnic University, support was provided.

    According to the results of the examination, the following Polytechnic projects will receive from 3 to 6 million rubles annually:

    “Synaptic dysfunction in hippocampal neurons in Alzheimer’s disease and methods of their correction: the influence of the endoplasmic reticulum structure and ryanodine receptors” under the supervision of Ekaterina Pchitskaya, Institute of Coronary Heart Diseases and Bone Health; “Molecular mechanisms of the influence of recombinant interferon-lambda on the course and outcome of secondary bacterial pneumonia developing against the background of influenza infection” under the supervision of Alexey Lozhkov, Institute of Coronary Heart Diseases and Bone Health; “Modeling and optimization of thermochemical technology for hydrogen production based on the sulfur-iodine cycle” under the supervision of Ekaterina Sokolova, Institute of Economics.

    Following the results of the RSF competition for conducting initiative fundamental and exploratory scientific research by young scientists and candidates of science under the age of 33 in 2025–2027, 327 projects were supported. Including five SPbPU projects:

    “Innovative Alkaline Electrolytes Based on Nanofluids for Highly Efficient Hydrogen Production by Water Electrolysis”, Supervised by Sadeghi Khashayar, Institute of Economics; “Development of a Lingvodidactic Model of Sustainable Learning Using Artificial Intelligence”, Supervised by Ekaterina Shostak, Institute of Economics; “Development of Scientific and Technological Foundations for the Formation of Biomedical Materials with a Given Gradient of Properties by Selective Laser Melting for Personalized Implantology”, Supervised by Igor Polozov, Institute of Mathematics and Electronics; “Development of a System for Predicting the Failure of the Strength of Load-Bearing Metal Structures at Sub-zero Temperatures Using Digital Twin Technology”, Supervised by Ivan Vasiliev, Institute of Mathematics and Electronics; “Multimode Fiber Bragg Gratings with Optimal Spectral Response”, Supervised by Alexander Markvart, Institute of Economics and Electronics.

    The grant amount will be up to 1.5 million rubles annually.

    Based on the results of the competition for the extension of the deadlines for projects implemented under the supervision of young scientists in 2025–2027, the SPbPU project “Study of the antiviral activity of small interfering RNAs against rotavirus infection when administered orally in complexes with hybrid microcarriers” was supported, led by Alexandra Brodskaya, IBSiB.

    The annual grant amount will be from 3 to 6 million rubles.

    “I congratulate our young scientists who generate ideas and demonstrate scientific achievements. Eight applications is a good result, higher than last year. To make it even better, we will set more global tasks. We, for our part, intend to help this within the framework of the Grant Readings seminar series,” said Yuri Fomin, Vice-Rector for Research at SPbPU.

    Please note: This information is raw content obtained directly from the source of the information. It is an accurate report of what the source claims and does not necessarily reflect the position of MIL-OSI or its clients.

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    MIL OSI Russia News –

  • MIL-OSI Russia: Xi Jinping Meets with Russian Foreign Minister /detailed version-1/

    Translation. Region: Russian Federal

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

    An important disclaimer is at the bottom of this article.

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

    BEIJING, July 15 (Xinhua) — Chinese President Xi Jinping said Tuesday that China and Russia should strengthen mutual support in multilateral forums, effectively safeguard the development and security interests of the two countries, unite countries in the Global South, and push the development of the international order in a more just and rational direction.

    Xi Jinping made the remarks during a meeting with Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov in Beijing. He called on both sides to support each other, maintain the correct course of development of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO), continuously give new impetus to its development, making this strategic platform more meaningful and stronger. -0-

    Please note: This information is raw content obtained directly from the source of the information. It is an accurate report of what the source claims and does not necessarily reflect the position of MIL-OSI or its clients.

    .

    MIL OSI Russia News –

  • MIL-OSI Russia: Xi Jinping’s article on steadily advancing high-level opening-up to the outside world will be published in Qiushi magazine

    Translation. Region: Russian Federal

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

    An important disclaimer is at the bottom of this article.

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

    BEIJING, July 15 (Xinhua) — An article by Xi Jinping, general secretary of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, on steadily advancing opening up to the outside world at a high level will be published on Wednesday.

    The article by Xi Jinping, who is also the president of China and chairman of the Central Military Commission, will be published in the 14th issue of this year’s leading journal of the CPC Central Committee, Qiushi. -0-

    Please note: This information is raw content obtained directly from the source of the information. It is an accurate report of what the source claims and does not necessarily reflect the position of MIL-OSI or its clients.

    .

    MIL OSI Russia News –

  • MIL-OSI Russia: What motivates Russians to travel to the Chinese resort city of Qinhuangdao by rail

    Translation. Region: Russian Federal

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

    An important disclaimer is at the bottom of this article.

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

    BEIJING, July 15 (Xinhua) — Who doesn’t want to vacation at a seaside resort during the peak summer season? With beautiful scenery, well-maintained beaches, a variety of cultural and entertainment events and modern service infrastructure, China’s Qinhuangdao has everything to attract tourists looking to escape the summer heat.

    The summer resort of Qinhuangdao in Hebei Province in northern China is popular not only among Chinese, but also among foreigners. According to statistics, last year Beidaihe, one of the districts of Qinhuangdao, was visited by about 30.9 thousand foreign tourists, including 24.5 thousand Russians.

    As for Russians, especially residents of the Far East and Siberia, one more advantage of the Chinese resort city for them should be added – geographical proximity. The flight time from Vladivostok to Qinhuangdao is about two and a half hours.

    Russians have another option to get to Qinhuangdao. Since the beginning of last month, about 3,000 Russian tourists have entered China through the Manzhouli checkpoint and have gone on train tours from there.

    The Manzhouli checkpoint is located in the city of the same name in the Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region, which borders on Russia’s Zabaikalsky Krai. According to the press service of the city’s government, 180 foreigners recently traveled from Manzhouli to the city of Qinhuangdao on the K1302 high-speed passenger train.

    Train K1302 Manzhouli-Beijing departs at 09:07 and arrives in Qinhuangdao the following day.

    Compared with air travel, rail travel does not save time, but it does save on ticket costs. The cost of a reserved seat train ticket on the Manzhouli-Qinhuangdao route starts from 363 yuan /about 4,000 rubles/, and in a compartment – 572 yuan /6,000 rubles/.

    The 24-hour train journey can be quite impressive for passengers who have never visited China before. During the day, the train offers idyllic views of blue skies and the vast Hulunbuir steppe with its flocks of sheep, while in the evening, when the train stops at Qiqihar and Daqing in Heilongjiang Province, passengers can admire the views of modern, densely populated cities.

    As the number of foreign travelers continues to increase, railway staff in Manzhouli are doing their utmost to assist them.

    A “green corridor” is opened for foreigners at the railway station. English- and Russian-speaking staff are on duty in the waiting room and on the platform. Passengers are also provided with free drinks, chargers and emergency medications.

    “We will continue to optimize service measures and improve service quality to ensure that passengers feel at home when traveling in China,” said Liu Ying, a station attendant. -0-

    Please note: This information is raw content obtained directly from the source of the information. It is an accurate report of what the source claims and does not necessarily reflect the position of MIL-OSI or its clients.

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  • MIL-OSI Russia: China’s Shandong Province Ready to Deepen Cooperation with Central Asia in Industrial and Supply Chains

    Translation. Region: Russian Federal

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

    An important disclaimer is at the bottom of this article.

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

    BEIJING, July 15 (Xinhua) — A special session on Central Asia was held on Monday at the Conference on International Cooperation in Industrial and Supply Chains of East China’s Shandong Province in Jinan, the provincial capital, local daily Dazhong Ribao reported.

    The event was organized by the Shandong Provincial Bureau of Commerce with the support of the Shandong Alliance for Overseas Investment and Cooperation. More than 160 people from 16 cities in the province attended.

    The special session aims to create a platform for exchanges and interactions between enterprises, and thereby further deepen cooperation between Shandong Province and Central Asia in industrial and supply chains through formats such as policy clarification, experience sharing, project presentation and B2B sessions.

    As an economically developed province in China, Shandong has a complete production base and a developed supply chain system. It demonstrates high complementarity and significant potential for cooperation with Central Asian countries in energy, agriculture, manufacturing, etc.

    According to statistics, in the first half of 2025, Shandong Province’s actual investment in the five Central Asian countries reached 19.91 million US dollars, an increase of 62.1 percent year on year. This figure for the whole of 2024 was 20.836 million US dollars, an increase of 62.7 percent.

    Please note: This information is raw content obtained directly from the source of the information. It is an accurate report of what the source claims and does not necessarily reflect the position of MIL-OSI or its clients.

    .

    MIL OSI Russia News –

  • MIL-OSI Russia: 11 missing after speedboat crashes off Indonesia coast

    Translation. Region: Russian Federal

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

    An important disclaimer is at the bottom of this article.

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

    JAKARTA, July 15 (Xinhua) — Eleven people are missing and seven others survived after a speedboat capsized off the Mentawai Islands in Indonesia’s West Sumatra province on Monday, Diyo Ulwi Finanda, head of the local search and rescue agency’s disaster department, told Xinhua on Tuesday.

    According to him, the speedboat was heading from Sikakap Island to Sipora Island, both parts of the Mentawai Islands.

    He said the incident occurred at around 11:00 a.m. local time. Seven of the passengers managed to swim to shore at around 5:00 p.m.

    When rescuers arrived at the scene, the boat could not be found.

    D. W. Finanda said a search was underway for debris and other passengers. No one has been found yet.

    The cause of the incident remains unknown. –0–

    Please note: This information is raw content obtained directly from the source of the information. It is an accurate report of what the source claims and does not necessarily reflect the position of MIL-OSI or its clients.

    .

    MIL OSI Russia News –

  • MIL-OSI Russia: Direct flights to connect capitals of Russia and North Korea — media

    Translation. Region: Russian Federal

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

    An important disclaimer is at the bottom of this article.

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

    Moscow, July 15 /Xinhua/ – The first flight from Moscow to the capital of the DPRK Pyongyang is scheduled for July 27, RIA Novosti reports, citing the Russian Ministry of Transport.

    The report says that the flight time on this route will be about eight hours. Flights will be operated once a month. In early July, Rosaviatsiya issued Nordwind permission to fly to the DPRK.

    Currently, North Korean airline Air Koryo operates direct flights between Vladivostok and Pyongyang. Direct flights between the two countries resumed in August 2023 after being interrupted due to the COVID-19 pandemic. –0–

    Please note: This information is raw content obtained directly from the source of the information. It is an accurate report of what the source claims and does not necessarily reflect the position of MIL-OSI or its clients.

    .

    MIL OSI Russia News –

  • MIL-OSI Russia: Seven killed after truck plunges into ravine in eastern Indonesia

    Translation. Region: Russian Federal

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

    An important disclaimer is at the bottom of this article.

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

    JAKARTA, July 15 (Xinhua) — Seven people were killed after a pickup truck carrying 20 people fell into a ravine in a hilly area in Indonesia’s South Sulawesi province on Saturday, local media reported Tuesday.

    The truck was carrying people who were attending a funeral ceremony nearby when it reportedly overturned on a sharp turn in Lembang Sereale area of Tikal County, North Toraja province.

    Local traffic police are investigating the incident, suspecting that driver fatigue was the cause of the accident.

    The Southeast Asian country is plagued by fatal traffic accidents due to overloading, poor road conditions and careless driving. –0–

    Please note: This information is raw content obtained directly from the source of the information. It is an accurate report of what the source claims and does not necessarily reflect the position of MIL-OSI or its clients.

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    MIL OSI Russia News –

  • MIL-OSI Russia: Gunmen shoot dead five family members in eastern Afghanistan

    Translation. Region: Russian Federal

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

    An important disclaimer is at the bottom of this article.

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

    KABUL, July 15 (Xinhua) — Unidentified gunmen shot dead five civilians, all members of one family, in Afghanistan’s eastern Ghazni province, provincial governor’s spokesman Ezatullah Saeedi confirmed on Monday evening.

    According to him, the tragic incident took place in Tolakhail area of Kara Bagh district when armed assailants entered a residential house and opened fire. Five members of a family were killed on the spot and another was injured.

    Several suspects have been arrested in connection with the case and are currently under investigation, Saidi added.

    The official promised to bring the perpetrators to justice. –0–

    Please note: This information is raw content obtained directly from the source of the information. It is an accurate report of what the source claims and does not necessarily reflect the position of MIL-OSI or its clients.

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  • MIL-OSI China: Monsoon rains, flash floods leave 111 dead, 212 injured across Pakistan

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

    Torrential rains and flash floods have claimed at least 111 lives and left 212 others injured across Pakistan between June 26 and July 14, the National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) said on Monday.

    Seven people were dead and 12 others injured in rain-related accidents in the past 48 hours, the NDMA said in its latest situation report.

    The eastern Punjab province recorded the highest number of fatalities with 40, followed by the northwestern Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province with 37, the southern Sindh province with 17, and the southwestern Balochistan province with 16.

    One death was reported in Pakistan-controlled Kashmir, while no casualties were recorded in northern Gilgit-Baltistan and the Islamabad Capital Territory, the NDMA said.

    Authorities have issued warnings for further rainfall in the coming days and urged residents, particularly those in low-lying and vulnerable areas, to take precautionary measures. Rescue and relief operations remain underway in the worst-affected regions. 

    MIL OSI China News –

  • MIL-OSI China: Nvidia CEO lauds China’s AI development

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

    Jensen Huang, CEO of U.S. tech giant Nvidia, on Tuesday praised China’s rapid advancements in artificial intelligence (AI) during his visit to Beijing, describing the Chinese market as both “large” and “dynamic.”

    “AI is moving very fast in China,” Huang said in an interview here, highlighting the thriving AI ecosystem in China and pointing to the abundance of startups and major cloud service providers.

    Huang emphasized China’s strong talent pool, noting that China is home to 50 percent of the world’s AI researchers.

    “AI is being applied to everything from consumer applications, internet shopping, grocery delivery to self-driving cars and all these incredible applications” in China, Huang said.

    He said he is “very happy” to see the development of AI in the country, attributing it to the country’s robust education in science and mathematics.

    Nvidia’s H20 chips will soon be available in the Chinese market again as the U.S. government has approved for the company filing licenses to start shipping H20s to China, Huang said.

    “I’m looking forward to shipping H20s very soon. So I’m very happy with that very, very good news,” he said.

    This is Huang’s third visit to China since the start of 2025. Huang will attend the opening ceremony of the third China International Supply Chain Expo on Wednesday and participate in related activities.

    MIL OSI China News –

  • MIL-OSI China: Upcoming expo in Beijing to foster global supply chain stability, resilience

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

    This photo taken on July 14, 2025 shows the booth of Apple at the digital technology section of the upcoming third China International Supply Chain Expo (CISCE) in Beijing, capital of China. The third China International Supply Chain Expo (CISCE), scheduled on July 16-20 in Beijing, is expected to focus on supply chains of advanced manufacturing, clean energy, smart vehicles, digital technology, healthy life and green agriculture. [Photo/Xinhua]

    China will open the third China International Supply Chain Expo (CISCE) in Beijing on Wednesday, rallying multinational giants including Nvidia, Apple, and Airbus to showcase industrial resilience and cross-border collaboration.

    With 651 enterprises and institutions from 75 countries, regions and international organizations participating –including a notable 15 percent year-on-year increase in U.S. exhibitors — the event signals robust international commitment to stabilizing supply chains.

    Global giants are actively engaging. U.S. tech giant Nvidia is expected to make its debut at the expo, presenting cutting-edge robots featuring Nvidia chips. Airbus will also make its inaugural appearance, bringing its global supply chain collaborators to present the comprehensive ecosystem of the large aircraft industry.

    Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang will attend the opening ceremony of the expo on Wednesday and participate in related activities, according to the China Council for the Promotion of International Trade (CCPIT), the event’s organizer.

    In a meeting on Tuesday with Ren Hongbin, chairman of CCPIT, Huang said that the Chinese market is large and dynamic, and the development of artificial intelligence (AI) in China is advancing rapidly.

    “Multinational companies are realizing that maintaining their position in global supply chains necessitates a strong presence in China,” said Wang Yiwei, director of the Institute of International Affairs at Renmin University of China.

    Unlike traditional trade fairs focusing on goods or services, CISCE pioneers a unique “chain-centric” model that visualizes end-to-end industrial collaboration. In each exhibition hall, upstream, midstream and downstream companies cluster in adjacent booths, visually demonstrating their interdependence and synergy.

    Many companies across the supply chain will set up collaborative displays. For example, Apple is teaming up with Chinese suppliers for the third consecutive year to showcase cutting-edge technologies in smart manufacturing and green production.

    “Multinational corporations serve as anchor companies in global industries, thriving together with upstream and downstream partners worldwide. While advancing their own growth, these corporations strengthen global industrial and supply chain resilience,” Ren said.

    The third CISCE features nearly 100 high-level events, surpassing previous editions in scale and participation, according to Xu Liang, deputy secretary-general of the China Chamber of International Commerce.

    A key innovation for this edition is the “Debut Zone,” dedicated to the global premieres of new products, technologies, and ecosystems, showcasing breakthrough innovations that drive industrial collaboration, Xu noted.

    As the host, China will bring together a diverse group of leading state-owned and private enterprises showcasing the country’s green and digital transition. Among them, Zhejiang-based AI industry chain companies, such as Unitree Robotics, BrainCo, and Hikvision, will participate.

    “Through tangible examples of global supply chains at the expo, China demonstrates its firm resolve to advance globalization towards a more open, inclusive, balanced, and win-win future. It vividly embodies the concept of building a community with a shared future, where nations are interdependent,” Wang said.

    As the world’s first national-level exhibition focusing on supply chains, the expo is an internationally shared public product. First held in 2023, the expo has contributed to building more secure, stable, open and inclusive global industrial and supply chains, according to the CCPIT.

    The previous editions have seen fruitful outcomes, with the 2024 session catalyzing more than 200 cooperation deals worth 152 billion yuan (about 21.26 billion U.S. dollars), a 1.3 percent increase from its inaugural run in 2023.

    The expo will run from Wednesday to Sunday in Beijing, with public days commencing on Saturday.

    MIL OSI China News –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Reappointment of a Ministry of Justice non-executive board member

    Source: United Kingdom – Executive Government & Departments

    News story

    Reappointment of a Ministry of Justice non-executive board member

    The Lord Chancellor has approved the reappointment of Mark Beaton, as a non-executive board member of the Ministry of Justice, for 3 years from 15 July 2025.

    The Lord Chancellor has approved the reappointment of Mark Beaton, as a non-executive board member of the Ministry of Justice, for 3 years from 15 July 2025.   

    MOJ non-executive board members exercise their role through influence and advice, supporting as well as challenging the executive, and covering such issues as:

    • Support, guidance and challenge on the progress and implementation of the Outcome Delivery Plan.
    • Performance, operational issues, adherence to relevant standards and on the effective management of the Department.
    • The recruitment, appraisal, and suitable success planning of senior executives.

    The appointment and reappointments of MOJ departmental board non-executive board members are regulated by the Commissioner for Public Appointments and reappointment process comply with the Cabinet Office Governance Code on Public Appointments.

    Biography

    Prior to joining the Ministry of Justice, Mark Beaton worked for 27 years for Accenture; one of the World’s leading Technology, Consulting and Outsourcing organisations.  During this time, he served on the Board of Accenture Operations and was a Global Leader in the Outsourcing business. He also led the Cloud and Security businesses for Europe. Mark spent 10 years working in the Technology, Digital and Consulting businesses as a consultant, including many years in Public Service for clients such as DWP.

    Mark was also the Executive Global Sponsor for Equality, Inclusion and Diversity for 187,000 people in Accenture Operations. After retiring from Accenture, Mark has worked for the past three and a half years as a Non-Executive Director in the NHS.

    Updates to this page

    Published 15 July 2025

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Updates on the move to eVisas

    Source: United Kingdom – Executive Government & Departments

    Correspondence

    Updates on the move to eVisas

    Information on the the move from physical immigration documents to eVisas.

    Documents

    Updates on the move to eVisas

    HTML

    Details

    UK Visas and Immigration (UKVI) are replacing physical immigration documents with a digital immigration status, known as an eVisa.

    This explains the transition and updates will be available as the transition takes place.

    Further information

    Updates to this page

    Published 15 July 2025

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    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Changes to citywide parking charges imminent

    Source: City of York

    Published Monday, 14 July 2025

    Some changes to parking charges, based on feedback from local communities and businesses, will come into effect from this Thursday (17 July) in York.

    After attending consultative meetings with traders and listening to representations from local communities at a public Executive meeting last month (3 June), Executive Members agreed to several changes to car parking charges in the city, including a new pricing model. 

    The new pricing model introduces a price of £3 per hour (or £2.10 per hour for residents with a Minster discount badge) for a maximum of 3 hours in community car parks and residential areas outside the inner ring road, whilst maintaining previously approved charges in the heart of the city. This forms part of an evidence led approach to tackle traffic congestion and improve travel options for everybody.

    Councillor Kate Ravilious, Executive Member for Transport: 

    “Following the introduction of new charges across the city earlier in the year, we listened to what people were telling us and made some adjustments. These changes are now being put in place.

    “We’re grateful for those who’ve worked with us in reaching these decisions.

    “While we remain committed to tackling congestion and making it easier for everyone to get around, we recognise some of the uplift in charges in areas where they were previously very low has felt too much in one go. 

    “Alongside the changes to parking charges aimed at supporting residents and local businesses, we will continue to invest in improving bus services, including extending Park and Ride hours from the 20 July; and developing walking and cycling provision in York to provide alternative travel options in York.”

    Different car-parking charges will be applied depending on the area the parking is located in, with lower rates in community car parks and on-street areas serving residential and local high streets outside of the inner ring road. These car parks include: 

    Bishopthorpe Road car park; East Parade car park and Rowntree Park car park.

    Other changes that will come into effect, include:

    • On-street parking charges in areas outside of the inner ring road will move to the £3 per hour rate 
    • an increase in the discount for the Minster Badge to 30% of the standard parking charge, from the current 24% to reduce the impact of increased parking charges on residents
    • no Friday, Saturday, event uplift or evening charge at Community car parks or on-street parking areas outside of the inner ring road.
    • adjustment to charges in the Micklegate and Priory Street area to the ‘outside the inner ring road’ on-street parking rate. City centre evening parking rates for this area will still apply
    • removing the proposed charges for dedicated motorcycle bays, recognising that the motorcycle bays are generally in locations where a car space is not possible
    • increase the discount for Low Emission vehicle permits to 20%, from the current 16% discount to set a discount that better reflects the contribution of all types of vehicles to congestion and takes into account the land-use impact of vehicle parking 
    • Contract Parking permits will no longer be linked to Season Tickets, and will be set at last year’s prices, plus circa 5% increase, with a 20% discount for low emission vehicles
    • Coppergate car park will also be implementing cashless parking from 17 July, cash payments will still be accepted in Bootham Row and Castle Car Park

    These new charges will be reviewed to monitor their impact and to ensure they’ve been set at the right level.

    For more information on the parking charges review and the changes about to be implemented, visit our website: https://www.york.gov.uk/ParkingChargesReview 

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Director’s public health report draws parallels with Leicester’s past

    Source: City of Leicester

    LEICESTER’S public health journey since the Victorian era is captured in a powerful new report by the city’s director of public health.

    In his annual report for 2024-2025, Rob Howard looks back at the challenges of the last 12 months within the context of the city’s past, from deadly outbreaks of smallpox in the 19th century to the slum clearance programme of the 20th century and the COVID-19 pandemic of 2020.

    Using records from the city council’s archives, he highlights how issues faced by the public health pioneers of the past – such as vaccine resistance, housing quality, fuel poverty and inequality – remain challenges today.

    “The past holds vital clues to the present,” said Mr Howard.

    “By drawing lessons from history, we can see that effective public health depends not just on medical advances, but on earning the trust of the people we serve.

    “Resistance to the smallpox vaccination in the 1850s, for example, echoes the public debates of today – but thanks to good communication and an approach that’s culturally sensitive, we are now getting our message across, encouraging the take-up of vaccines and helping to reduce the spread of infectious disease.”

    Other key themes in the report include the ongoing impact of poverty and poor housing on health outcomes, and the resurgence of diseases such as tuberculosis (TB) and measles.

    A significant measles outbreak in 2024 and the highest TB notification rate in England highlight Leicester’s persistent public health challenges.

    “Over the past year, Leicester’s health landscape has been shaped by a combination of enduring inequalities, a resurgence of infectious diseases and the continuing impacts of deprivation,” said Mr Howard.

    “Life expectancy remains below the national average, with residents living more years in ill health – particularly in the most deprived communities.

    “Fuel poverty continues to affect a large proportion of households, contributing to poor physical and mental health outcomes.

    “But despite these pressures, the city has demonstrated the strength of community-led responses – from mobile vaccination campaigns to energy advice outreach – and continues to invest in tackling health disparities through targeted, culturally sensitive public health strategies.”

    As well as looking to the past, the 40-page report also looks ahead, with a vision for public health in Leicester that blends evidence, compassion and collaboration. Those reading the report to its conclusion will find a twist in the final chapter, providing – perhaps – a hint of the future ahead.

    The History, Present and Future of Public Health in Leicester City is now available to download.

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Ideal choice for shoppers as new businesses open at Leeds Kirkgate Market

    Source: City of Leeds

    New businesses are making Leeds Kirkgate Market an even better choice for shoppers as its multi-million pound improvements programme continues to deliver the goods.

    An impressive total of 18 indoor businesses have opened at the historic and much-loved retail destination over the course of the last 12 months.

    And although the market’s food offer remains as strong as ever, the range of other products being sold by its latest arrivals are a reminder that this is a shopping spot with something for everyone.

    One of the recently-opened businesses, Zen & Pops, is based in the 1904 Hall and specialises in autism-friendly sensory and educational toys.

    Toys Shop, another newcomer that is sure to be a hit with younger customers, can be found in the 1981 Hall.

    Luggage retailer Bargain Bags has opened in the 1981 Hall while a furniture business, Buy Direct UK, that was already trading at the market has expanded its presence there by moving into a large previously-vacant unit, again in the 1981 Hall.

    The recent flurry of openings has come as work continues on Leeds City Council’s £10m refurbishment of the market’s 19th-century ‘blockshops’ area.

    The first phase of the scheme saw a total of 24 units renovated and improved with features such as new canopy fronts, electric roller shutters, extraction ducting, LED lighting and extra storage space.

    Another 16 units were completed earlier this year, with one of the new businesses in this section – Hellenic Delicacies & More, a delicatessen selling Greek grocery products and pastries – set to open shortly.

    Work on the renovation of the remaining 12 blockshop units is due to finish next year.

    Footfall figures for 2024, meanwhile, show the market received more than 5.9m visits over the year, four per cent up on the total for 2023.

    Those figures were in part driven by a packed summer schedule of free family-friendly activities.

    And visitors to the market can look forward to more of the same in 2025, with a free children’s activities programme running there from July 21 to August 29.

    The What’s on at Kirkgate webpage will be updated through the summer with details about this year’s programme, which will include fun sessions featuring everything from circus skills to real-life arcade-style games.

    Councillor Jonathan Pryor, Leeds City Council’s deputy leader and executive member for economy, transport and sustainable development, said:

    “Leeds Kirkgate Market is rightly renowned for the quality and value of the produce served up by its butchers, greengrocers, fishmongers, bakers and array of other food retailers.

    “That’s not all the market has to offer, though, as shown by the range of exciting new businesses that have opened there over the last year.

    “I’m delighted that our substantial investment in this important local landmark is making it even more attractive for traders and customers alike.

    “The support of everyone who works or shops at the market is very much appreciated as we continue our efforts to ensure its future is just as bright as its long and storied past.”

    Dating back to 1875, the blockshops are the oldest surviving structures at the market and comprise eight two-storey buildings linked by an infill glazed roof.

    The ongoing transformation of the area’s trading units has been complemented by wider structural work which has seen roofing repaired, walkways brightened up with new glazing, new guttering installed and floors lowered to enhance accessibility.

    For more information about trading opportunities in both the blockshops and the market as a whole, click here.

    ENDS

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: Hospital Road land grant approved

    Source: Hong Kong Information Services

    The Government announced today that the Chief Executive-in-Council approved granting a piece of government land together with the existing historical buildings at No. 4 Hospital Road to the GX Foundation for office use by private treaty at a nominal premium of $1,000.

    The site has an area of about 1,046.8 sq m. Constructed in 1921, the existing buildings, with Grade 2 historic building status, include mainly a five-storey main building and a single-storey annex building.

    The GX Foundation is an international humanitarian assistance organisation in Hong Kong, which aims to provide international medical and public health humanitarian assistance to Belt & Road countries. It also actively promotes international exchanges and co-operation, and provides internship opportunities for young people in humanitarian work.

    The Government remarked that the land grant will help the foundation meet its operational needs and demand for further expansion.

    It added that the land grant will not give rise to greater development intensity.

    Apart from internal fitting-out and repair of the existing buildings and structures, no other works will be carried out by the foundation. Furthermore, the foundation is required to submit a conservation management plan to the Antiquities & Monuments Office for approval before commencing any works in the existing historical buildings.

    MIL OSI Asia Pacific News –