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Category: AM-NC

  • MIL-OSI USA: UConn Health Recognized for Responsible Antibiotic Use

    Source: US State of Connecticut

    A commitment to responsible use of antibiotics earns UConn Health’s John Dempsey Hospital the designation of “Antimicrobial Stewardship Center of Excellence” from the Infectious Diseases Society of America.

    Certificate from the Infectious Diseases Society of America

    With this designation, the IDSA recognizes institutions that have established stewardship programs, led by infectious diseases physicians and pharmacists, to advance science in antimicrobial resistance, and that have surpassed high standards aligned with evidence-based national guidelines.

    “Evolving antimicrobial resistance patterns and the introduction of new therapeutics have made antibiotic prescribing more challenging than ever,” says Kevin Chamberlin, UConn Health’s chief pharmacy officer. “This Center of Excellence designation is a testament to the sound antimicrobial stewardship we practice that protects our limited options for our most vulnerable patients.”

    John Dempsey Hospital is one of four hospitals in Connecticut designated as an Antimicrobial Stewardship Center of Excellence, and among fewer than 200 hospitals in the world that have earned the distinction since the ISDA started this program in 2017.

    Core criteria include implementation of stewardship protocols by integrating best practices to slow the emergency of resistance, optimize the treatment of infections, reduce adverse events associated with antibiotic use, and address other challenging areas of antimicrobial stewardship.

    “This shows that we are using multidisciplinary collaboration to ensure that we’re using antibiotics in the most quality way and optimizing those antibiotics across care, both on the inpatient and outpatient side,” says Gillian Kuszewski ’03 (PHARM), ’05 Pharm.D., university director of UConn Health’s pharmacy residency programs.

    Kuszewski co-leads UConn Health’s antibiotic stewardship program with Dr. David Banach ’06 MD, MPH, infectious diseases physician and UConn Health’s hospital epidemiologist, and Jeffrey Aeschlimann ’93 (PHARM), a UConn School of Pharmacy faculty member and clinician in UConn Health’s pharmacy practice.

    From left: Dr. David Banach, Gillian Kuszewski, and Jeffrey Aeschlimann lead UConn Health’s antibiotic stewardship program. (Photo by Chris DeFrancesco, UConn Health)

    “Antibiotic stewardship is a global health priority,” Banach says. “The goal of using the right antibiotic for the right patient at the right time for the right duration is really becoming recognized as a key public health measure, both for reducing resistance and also reducing antibiotic-associated side effects and adverse events like C. diff.”

    C. diff, or Clostridioides difficile infection, is one of the most common health care-associated infections. It is highly contagious and difficult to treat.

    “One of the important things the stewardship program does is minimize unnecessary use of broad-spectrum antibiotics, which has been shown to also decrease C. diff rates in hospitals and health care settings,” Aeschlimann says.

    While this is the first time UConn Health has applied for this ISDA designation, antimicrobial stewardship has been a priority going back more than a decade, predating regulatory requirements. Aeschlimann and Dr. Kevin Dieckhaus, who today is chief of UConn Health’s Division of Infectious Diseases, started the antibiotic stewardship committee in 2013. Since then, it has grown to include representation from throughout the institution, including microbiology lab professionals, nurses, pharmacists, physicians, informatics specialists, infection preventionists, and students, residents and fellows.

    “We’ve always been doing these things along the way, and we felt now was the right time to sit down and formally submit an application,” Kuszewski says. “We’ve always done extremely well with our program when regulatory bodies like the Joint Commission come to visit. From a regulatory perspective, we’ve consistently received really good feedback from them on our antimicrobial stewardship activities.”

    She says the committee has established protocols, policies, and workflows to guide and support front-line providers in making the best choices.

    “We’ve supported, for example, processes to make sure that even after the patient leaves the emergency department, they’re on the right antibiotic based on follow-up information that we get from cultures,” Kuszewski says.

    “We have the collaborations between those who prescribe antibiotics and those who have expertise to offer and help support optimal prescribing,” Banach says.

    And the committee’s guidance has made its way into the electronic health record system to provide an additional resource for prescribers.

    “We try to develop either order sets or clinical pathways or popups, whatever we think might work best, to guide clinicians to pick the right antibiotic choice,” Aeschlimann says.

    Another strategy is to prioritize documentation of allergies to help inform prescribing decisions.

    “They can choose an antibiotic with the least risk of a negative outcome,” Kuszewski says. “Penicillin allergy documentation often leads to unnecessary use of certain antibiotics that come with greater risks. Perhaps a penicillin might cause some temporary stomach upset for a patient and is not really a true allergy. Clarifying this documentation in a patient’s medical record can help providers determine which antibiotic carries the least risk in treating an infection.”

    Kuszewski notes that UConn Health leadership has been supportive of the antimicrobial stewardship efforts since the beginning.

    “Not only are we following standards, but we’re also seeing better outcomes,” she says. “We also have results that show that we’re using less broad-spectrum antibiotics than what we’re expected to use, and our C. diff rates are down. The outcomes are actually tangible. It’s not just what we say we’re doing, but we’re seeing good results.”

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Making Electronic Devices Faster, More Powerful, and Better at Staying Cool

    Source: US State of Connecticut

    When electronic devices overheat, they can slow down, malfunction, or stop working altogether. This heat is mainly caused by energy lost as electrons move through a material—similar to friction in a moving machine.

    Most devices today use silicon (Si) as their semiconductor material. However, engineers are increasingly turning to alternatives like gallium nitride (GaN) for longer lifetime use and higher performance. This includes products such as LEDs, compact laptop chargers, and 5G phone networks. For even more extreme applications—such as high-voltage systems or harsh environments—researchers are exploring ultrawide bandgap (UWBG) materials like gallium oxide (Ga2O3), aluminum gallium nitride (AlGaN), and even diamond.

    Pictured in center, Georges Pavlidis, assistant professor of mechanical engineering, and School of Mechanical, Aerospace, and Manufacturing Engineering Ph.D. candidates Francis Vásquez, at left, and Dominic Myren, are co-authors of a “Perspectives” paper published in Applied Physics Letters. Together, they’re exploring thermal management strategies in ultra side bandgap semiconductor devices. (Sarah Richmond/UConn Photo)

    The key difference between these materials lies in their electronic bandgap—the energy needed to get electrons to flow through the material. Wider bandgaps allow companies to reduce the size of their electronics and make them more electrically efficient.

    “UWBG materials can resist up to 8,000 volts and can operate at temperatures over 200 °C (392°F), making them promising for the next generation of electronics in the energy, health, and communication sectors,” explains Georges Pavlidis, assistant professor of mechanical engineering.

    While these materials offer promising advantages, they also come with challenges. They’re currently expensive, difficult to manufacture, and their thermal behavior is hard to measure precisely. As electronics become more powerful and in smaller dimensions, the heating in the device becomes more localized and can generate a heat flux greater than the sun, Pavlidis explains.

    “Chip manufacturers need new methods to measure temperature in smaller dimensions,” he says.

    Pavlidis, along with UConn’s School of Mechanical, Aerospace, and Manufacturing Engineering Ph.D. candidates Dominic Myren and Francis Vásquez, collaborated with colleagues from the U.S. Naval Research Laboratory over the past year to tackle the challenge of measuring the heat output. Their work resulted in a “Perspectives” paper published in Applied Physics Letters.

    “A ‘Perspectives’ paper is intended to be an outline of what’s coming soon, get people excited about what’s coming, and encourage other researchers to start looking into similar topics,” says Myren, a National Defense Science and Engineering Graduate Fellow who has seven years of industrial R&D experience in fuel systems, internal combustion, and engine controls and holds patents related to electromagnetic actuators and engine controls. “The push right now is for the development of thermal management strategies in wide and ultra-wide bandgap semiconductor devices. We have a lot of open questions, and we’re working hard on them over in Dr. Pavlidis’ lab, but the cross pollination of ideas is how academic circles thrive.”

    Titled “Emerging Thermal Metrology for Ultrawide Bandgap Semiconductor Devices,” the co-authors discuss the pros and cons of using UWBG material for semiconductors, and outline several innovative techniques for measuring temperature at the microscale. These methods could help engineers design faster, more powerful electronic devices—without the risk of overheating.

    After the paper ran online in late May, the co-authors received an unexpected note from the editors at Applied Physics Letters. “[We] felt that your article is noteworthy, and have chosen it to be promoted as an Editor’s Pick. It will be posted on the journal homepage, and a badge will be displayed next to the title.”

    “It is no small feat for a publication to be chosen as an Editor’s Pick in the highly regarded Applied Physics Letters that publishes more than 2,000 articles a year,” says JC Zhao, dean of the UConn College of Engineering. “I congratulate Professor Pavlidis and his group on this recognition and I am very proud of their accomplishment.”

    Members of the Pavlidis Lab prepare to measure the heat produced by a GaN-on-diamond transistor. This advanced semiconductor technology combines gallium nitride (GaN) with a diamond substrate to improve thermal management in electronic devices. “We shine light through the microscope and it reflects off the sample and travels up to the camera. That’s how we measure temperature,” Pavlidis explains. (Sarah Richmond/UConn Photo)

    Vásquez’s particular research interests are thermal management for high-power and radio-frequency (RF) power electronics. In Pavlidis’s lab, he enjoys the combination of research and meaningful application where the group solves real challenges in electronics and photonics that directly impact energy efficiency, reliability, and performance.

    “What makes the experience truly special is the lab culture,” Vásquez says. “Professor Pavlidis is incredibly supportive and patient, especially when we hit difficult knowledge to explain, and he always encourages us to stay curious. His approach pushes us to explore new ideas, test them rigorously, and think about how our work can translate into real-world innovations. It’s that mix of intellectual freedom and high standards to make an impact that keeps me excited every day in the lab.”

    In the paper, the researchers explore several options to measure temperature in UWBG devices. They suggest using optical methods like Raman spectroscopy and thermoreflectance, which use light to measure temperature dependent properties. Electrical methods use electric signals to detect temperature, and scanning probe methods, like scanning thermal microscopy, touch the surface to feel the heat.

    The researchers also describe exciting new ideas, like combining thermal images created from different colors of light to see heat in nitride-based devices, or measuring how light is absorbed in material defects to calculate the temperature in gallium oxide electronics. They’re even working on a new kind of microscope that can see very tiny heat patterns using deep ultraviolet light.

    “These proposed methods provide a solution to measuring the peak temperature in future electronics which is the primary indicator of when the device will fail. Providing the industry with accurate metrology will lower the barrier to commercialization and enable engineers to develop new thermal management strategies,” Pavlidis says.

    The group’s research is supported by Microelectronics Commons, a program specifically created to commercialize UWBG devices for power electronics. The Commons program established the Northeast Microelectronics Coalition Hub, a network of more than 200 organizations, academic institutions, commercial and defense companies, and federally funded centers concentrated in eight northeast states. The idea for the paper stemmed from a project Pavlidis worked on last summer as an Office of Naval Research Fellow.

    Moving forward, Pavlidis—who was promoted to a Senior Member of Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE) this month—aims to work with semiconductor partners in developing affordable strategies to reduce the temperature in power electronics. By pushing the resolution limits of temperature measurements, the lab plans to extend their methods to improve other technologies such as quantum computing and photonic circuits. They’ve already worked with colleagues at the University of Maryland to design photonic hardware for next-generation data storage. (View the study in this May 2025 Nature Conversations paper.)

    “We hope our work has laid the foundation for the thermal design of the next generation of UWBG devices,” Pavlidis says.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Science in Seconds: Eating Away at Disease

    Source: US State of Connecticut

    Groups of cells called phagocytes are like the clean-up crews of our body – eating and clearing away debris or foreign particles. UConn Health immunologist Kai Li has developed a unique system called PhagoPL to capture and study how phagocytes feel, taste, digest and respond to their “meal.” Understanding this process is relevant to developing treatments for many diseases, such as lupus, sepsis or cancer.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI Economics: RBI imposes monetary penalty on The Karimnagar District Co-operative Central Bank Ltd., Telangana

    Source: Reserve Bank of India

    The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has, by an order dated June 23, 2025, imposed a monetary penalty of ₹1 lakh (Rupees One Lakh only) on The Karimnagar District Co-operative Central Bank Ltd., Telangana (the bank) for contravention of provisions of Section 20 read with Section 56 of the Banking Regulation Act, 1949 (BR Act). This penalty has been imposed in exercise of powers conferred on RBI under the provisions of Section 47A(1)(c) read with Sections 46(4)(i) and 56 of the BR Act.

    The statutory inspection of the bank was conducted by National Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development (NABARD) with reference to its financial position as on March 31, 2024. Based on supervisory findings of contravention of statutory provisions and related correspondence in that regard, a notice was issued to the bank advising it to show cause as to why penalty should not be imposed on it for its failure to comply with the said provisions. After considering the bank’s reply to the notice and oral submissions made during the personal hearing, RBI found, inter alia, that the following charge against the bank was sustained, warranting imposition of monetary penalty:

    The bank had sanctioned loans to its directors.

    This action is based on deficiencies in statutory compliance and is not intended to pronounce upon the validity of any transaction or agreement entered into by the bank with its customers. Further, imposition of this monetary penalty is without prejudice to any other action that may be initiated by RBI against the bank.

    (Puneet Pancholy)  
    Chief General Manager

    Press Release: 2025-2026/598

    MIL OSI Economics –

  • MIL-OSI Economics: RBI imposes monetary penalty on The Chittoor Co-operative Town Bank Ltd., Andhra Pradesh

    Source: Reserve Bank of India

    The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has, by an order dated June 23, 2025, imposed a monetary penalty of ₹1 lakh (Rupees One Lakh only) on The Chittoor Co-operative Town Bank Ltd., Andhra Pradesh (the bank) for non-compliance with certain directions issued by RBI on ‘Exposure Norms and Statutory / Other Restrictions – UCBs’ and ‘Know Your Customer (KYC)’. This penalty has been imposed in exercise of powers conferred on RBI under the provisions of Section 47A(1)(c) read with Sections 46(4)(i) and 56 of the Banking Regulation Act, 1949.

    The statutory inspection of the bank was conducted by RBI with reference to its financial position as on March 31, 2024. Based on supervisory findings of non-compliance with RBI directions and related correspondence in that regard, a notice was issued to the bank advising it to show cause as to why penalty should not be imposed on it for its failure to comply with the said directions. After considering the bank’s reply to the notice and oral submissions made during the personal hearing, RBI found, inter alia, that the following charges against the bank were sustained, warranting imposition of monetary penalty:

    The bank had:

    1. breached the prudential inter-bank (gross) and counterparty exposure limits; and

    2. failed to upload the KYC records of customers onto Central KYC Records Registry within the prescribed timeline.

    This action is based on deficiencies in regulatory compliance and is not intended to pronounce upon the validity of any transaction or agreement entered into by the bank with its customers. Further, imposition of this monetary penalty is without prejudice to any other action that may be initiated by RBI against the bank.

    (Puneet Pancholy)  
    Chief General Manager

    Press Release: 2025-2026/599

    MIL OSI Economics –

  • MIL-OSI Russia: GUU and GGNTU discussed the development prospects of the RosGeoTech PISh

    Translation. Region: Russian Federal

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

    A meeting with colleagues from the M.D. Millionshchikov State Petroleum Technical University on the development of the RosGeoTech PIS took place at the State University of Management.

    The meeting was attended by: Head of the PIS Andrey Luzhetsky, Vice-Rector of the State University of Management Maria Karelina, Vice-Rector for Research at GGNTU Magomed Saidumov, Head of the Department for Coordination of Scientific Research at the State University of Management Maxim Pletnev and Deputy Director of the Center for Management of Engineering Projects Dmitry Nikitin.

    The participants discussed the opening of the joint laboratory of digital innovations in industry “ABRIS” at the State University of Management, which is scheduled for August 2025. The laboratory will carry out work on the project “Autonomous unmanned and robotic innovative systems for monitoring oil and gas facilities and geophysical surveys” of the Advanced Engineering School.

    The parties also reviewed the progress of the implementation of scientific and educational projects within the framework of the development program of the RosGeoTech Scientific and Educational School.

    Thus, in 2025, GUU and GGNTU will participate in the implementation of two scientific projects – GeoMap and ABRIS – and four educational projects on additional professional education, including a network of additional professional education in reverse engineering.

    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 –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Gross Domestic Product, 1st Quarter 2025 (Third Estimate), GDP by Industry, and Corporate Profits (Revised)

    Source: US Bureau of Economic Analysis

    Real gross domestic product (GDP) decreased at an annual rate of 0.5 percent in the first quarter of 2025 (January, February, and March), according to the third estimate released by the U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis. In the fourth quarter of 2024, real GDP increased 2.4 percent.

    The decrease in real GDP in the first quarter primarily reflected an increase in imports, which are a subtraction in the calculation of GDP, and a decrease in government spending. These movements were partly offset by increases in investment and consumer spending.

    Real GDP was revised down 0.3 percentage point from the second estimate, primarily reflecting downward revisions to consumer spending and exports that were partly offset by a downward revision to imports. For more information, refer to the “Technical Notes” below.

    Compared to the fourth quarter, the downturn in real GDP in the first quarter primarily reflected an upturn in imports, a deceleration in consumer spending, and a downturn in government spending that were partly offset by an upturn in investment.

    Real final sales to private domestic purchasers, the sum of consumer spending and gross private fixed investment, increased 1.9 percent in the first quarter, revised down 0.6 percentage point from the previous estimate.

    From an industry perspective, the decrease in real GDP reflected decreases of 2.8 percent in real value added for private goods-producing industries and 0.3 percent for private services-producing industries that were partly offset by an increase of 2.0 percent in real value added for government.

    Real gross output increased 0.6 percent in the first quarter, reflecting an increase of 1.1 percent for private services-producing industries that was partly offset by decreases of 0.6 percent for private goods-producing industries and 0.6 percent for government.

    The price index for gross domestic purchases increased 3.4 percent in the first quarter, revised up 0.1 percentage point from the previous estimate. The personal consumption expenditures (PCE) price index increased 3.7 percent, and the PCE price index excluding food and energy increased 3.5 percent, both 0.1 percentage point higher than previously estimated.

    Real gross domestic income (GDI) increased 0.2 percent in the first quarter, revised up 0.4 percentage point from the previous estimate.

    Profits from current production (corporate profits with inventory valuation and capital consumption adjustments) decreased $90.6 billion in the first quarter, an upward revision of $27.5 billion.

    Real GDP and Related Measures
    [Percent change from Q4 2024 to Q1 2025]
      Advance Estimate Second Estimate Third Estimate
    Real GDP -0.3 -0.2 -0.5
    Current-dollar GDP 3.5 3.4 3.2
    Real final sales to private domestic purchasers 3.0 2.5 1.9
    Real GDI … -0.2 0.2
    Average of Real GDP and Real GDI … -0.2 -0.1
    Gross domestic purchases price index 3.4 3.3 3.4
    PCE price index 3.6 3.6 3.7
    PCE price index excluding food and energy 3.5 3.4 3.5
    For definitions, statistical conventions, updates to GDP, and more, visit “Additional Information.”

    Next release: July 30, 2025, at 8:30 a.m. EDT
    Gross Domestic Product (Advance Estimate)
    2nd Quarter 2025

    Technical Notes

    Sources of revisions to real GDP in the third estimate

    Real GDP decreased at an annual rate of 0.5 percent (0.1 percent at a quarterly rate1) in the first quarter, a downward revision of 0.3 percentage point from the previous estimate, primarily reflecting downward revisions to consumer spending and exports that were partly offset by a downward revision to imports.

    • Within consumer spending, the largest contributor to the revision was services, led by recreation services and transportation services, based on new and revised first-quarter data from the Census Bureau Quarterly Services Survey, as well as other services (led by international travel), based on revised data from BEA’s International Transactions Accounts (ITAs).
    • For both exports and imports, the revised estimates primarily reflected updated data from BEA’s ITAs.
      • Within exports, the downward revision was to services, led by other business services and charges for the use of intellectual property.
      • Within imports, the revision reflected downward revisions to both services (led by other business services) and goods (led by industrial supplies and materials as well as by capital goods, except automotive).

    More information on the source data and BEA assumptions that underlie the first-quarter estimate is shown in the key source data and assumptions table.

    1Percent changes in quarterly seasonally adjusted series are displayed at annual rates, unless otherwise specified. For more information, refer to the FAQ “Why does BEA publish percent changes in quarterly series at annual rates?“. 

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI Africa: R378 million secured for water security in eThekwini

    Source: South Africa News Agency

    R378 million secured for water security in eThekwini

    A funding package of R378 million has been secured to assist the City of eThekwini with reducing significant water loss.

    This is part of the work of the Presidential eThekwini Working Group (PeWG), Minister in The Presidency Khumbudzo Ntshavheni announced on Thursday at a post Cabinet media briefing.

    This stride coincides with a 30% reduction in sewer and water repair backlogs in the city.

    Addressing members of the media in Cape Town, the Minister said Cabinet was updated on the workings of the PeWG during its meeting on Wednesday.

    The PeWG is a multi-stakeholder mechanism to address critical service delivery, infrastructure, and socio-economic challenges within the eThekwini Metropolitan Municipality, with the goal of positioning the city as an investment and tourism hub.

    “Domestic travel to eThekwini is also on the rebound, increasing by 33% year-on-year and contributing over R17.4 billion in economic value. International tourist arrivals also rose by 9.8%, bringing in R3.3 billion,” Ntshavheni said.

    The working group was established by President Cyril Ramaphosa in April 2024 to respond to the challenges of the municipality and to accelerate support from national and provincial government to rebuild the municipality.

    It operates across three spheres of government and includes representatives from the private sector and labour. – SAnews.gov.za

    nosihle

    MIL OSI Africa –

  • MIL-OSI Africa: Cabinet briefed on ongoing recovery efforts in the EC

    Source: South Africa News Agency

    Cabinet briefed on ongoing recovery efforts in the EC

    Cabinet was, at its ordinary meeting on Wednesday, updated on ongoing recovery efforts in the Eastern Cape and KwaZulu-Natal, following the recent devastating floods. 

    At a national level, the National Joint Flood Coordination Committee, as well as the Interministerial Committee of Disaster Management have been activated and have met on several occasions to assess the situation and decide on how to support the affected provinces.

    Briefing the media on Thursday in Cape Town, Minister in the Presidency Khumbudzo Ntshavheni said the National Disaster Management Centre and respective provincial and municipal disaster management centres continue to provide reports on assessments and response measures.

    “The immediate priority remains to provide emergency shelter and relief materials needed by affected communities to stabilise the situation,” Ntshavheni said. 

    She said work also continues to restore basic services such as water, sanitation and electricity. “This includes ensuring that those affected obtain identity (ID) documents and temporary ID certificates to access essential services”.

    “An assessment of damage to homes and infrastructure and a plan for reconstruction is under way. Once completed, it will allow for the preparation of a comprehensive rehabilitation programme,” Ntshavheni said.

    The Eastern Cape Provincial Government has confirmed that the official death toll from the recent floods has risen to 101, following additional recoveries by search teams.

    The numbers are likely to increase, as there are still individuals who have been reported missing by their families and search operations continue in the affected areas.

     The provincial government has extended heartfelt condolences to the families who have lost their loved ones and “are now left with a profound and multifaceted impact on their lives”. – SAnews.gov.za

    Edwin

    MIL OSI Africa –

  • MIL-OSI Africa: Government welcomes progress made in the fight against crime

    Source: South Africa News Agency

    Government welcomes progress made in the fight against crime

    Government has welcomed the progress being made in the fight against crime through initiatives such as Operation Shanela and Operation Vala Umgodi. 

    “About 239 suspects were arrested across the country between 1 and 15 June 2025 through Operation Vala Umgodi,” Minister in the Presidency Khumbudzo Ntshavheni said.

    Briefing media in Cape Town on Thursday, on the outcomes of the Cabinet meeting, Ntshavheni said the suspects were arrested for illegal mining-related offences and various other crimes, including attempted murder, possession of unlicensed firearms, possession of unpolished diamonds, unlawful possession of explosives and contravention of the Immigration Act of 2002.

    “Operation Vala Umgodi has, since its inception in December 2023, led to the arrest of more than 27 000 suspects and the seizure of more than 600 firearms that included imitation firearms (toy guns) and 16 000 rounds of ammunition,” Ntshavheni said.

    Ntshavheni said between 16 June to 22 June 2025, the South African Police Service (SAPS), through Operation Shanela, arrested 15 372 suspects. 

    “Some of the key arrests include 2 400 wanted individuals linked to serious and violent crimes (murder, attempted murder, rape and robbery), 159 arrested for murder, 100 arrests for rape, 1 173 arrests for assault with intent to cause grievous bodily harm, 2 602 for drug possession and 64 for hijacked or stolen vehicles,” the Minister said.

    According to SAPS, these successes stem from proactive policing tactics, including high-visibility patrols, roadblocks, stop-and-search initiatives and intelligence-led suspect tracing.

    “SAPS remains committed to relentless, multidisciplinary crime prevention through Operation Shanela and related initiatives. The National Commissioner of Police, General Fannie Masemola, applauds the dedication of all police officers and partners who collaborated with the police,” the South African Police Service said in a statement earlier this week. – SAnews.gov.za

    Edwin

    MIL OSI Africa –

  • MIL-OSI Africa: Lamola warns of rising global tensions and urges diplomatic solutions

    Source: South Africa News Agency

    Lamola warns of rising global tensions and urges diplomatic solutions

    International Relations and Cooperation Minister Ronald Lamola has issued a stark warning about escalating global tensions, stressing the critical need for diplomatic intervention and multilateral cooperation.

    ”We find ourselves in an evolving global disorder that brings with it many perils for the weak and vulnerable,” Lamola said of the geopolitical challenges facing the world.

    The Minister highlighted several flashpoints threatening international stability, including the conflicts in Sudan, which he called “not only a crisis but also a moral issue that demands our collective consciousness and humanity”.

    The Minister was addressing a high-level session attended by the world’s largest economies and organisations during the third Group of 20 (G20) Sherpa meeting at Sun City Resort, in the North West.

    Lamola told delegates that over 12 million people were displaced in Sudan’s humanitarian crisis, with armed conflicts increasing globally.

    Lamola stressed the urgent need for global collaboration and fair development, inspired by the country’s historic Freedom Charter, adopted 70 years ago today.

    He warned that the current global dynamics and State rivalries are fuelling fragmentation, with economic decoupling and proxy conflicts undermining global stability. 

    “These international competition dynamics are exacerbating fragility in vulnerable regions, while also weakening multilateral institutions that underpin the rules-based international order.” 

    He told the G20 Sherpas that South Africa has adopted an anti-war stance. 

    “This is because we know too well that war offers no victors, only victims. Double standards in diplomacy and the paralysis at the United Nations Security Council have crippled conflict resolution, mediation and peace efforts. 

    ”These systemic challenges must be addressed to reclaim a global rationality that builds on stability, peace, certainty, and sustainability.” 

    Global economic environment

    Lamola noted the role of diplomacy in maintaining global stability, and the necessity for collective action to tackle economic and technological challenges.

    “The current and troubling global economic environment signifies a major trend towards economic nationalism; some States are distancing themselves from the globalised trade framework that has prevailed for many decades and underpinned this rules-based system of non-discrimination and shared values,” he said. 

    “We must avoid this path, as we all know well that trade is an engine for economic development and improvement in the standards of living across nations,” the Minister said. 

    Critical minerals

    On the exploitation of critical minerals, Lamola highlighted the deep-rooted economic injustices in this domain. 

    “While the world runs on our resources, the value does not stay here. The minerals leave raw. The batteries, the solar panels, and the cancer treatments are made elsewhere. We export wealth but import back its transformed value,” Lamola said, pointing out that this is a phenomenon seen across Africa. 

    The Minister used the platform to call for a transformative approach to resource management, proposing a “critical minerals framework that will rewrite peace and humanity, and revitalise our industrial strategies”.

    He stated that the mission of South Africa’s G20 Presidency is clear, and that is to transform these “buried treasures“ into local jobs, factories and sovereignty.

    “Equally, the value we will create will still empower the world, as we will seek to continuously export and strengthen global commerce, and our role in it.  This is not just economics; it is Solidarity, Equality, and Sustainability – the theme of our Presidency.” 

    Developmental goals

    In addition, Lamola touched on the challenges facing international institutions, noting that “diplomacy and peace mediation and the United Nations Security Council have been crippled”.

    With only 17% of Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) on track, he stated that multilateral cooperation is not just desirable, but essential.

    He concluded his talk by reminding the delegates that as global tensions rise, the intergovernmental forum represents a crucial opportunity to reimagine international cooperation and tackle the systemic challenges threatening global stability.

    “The G20 can lead in a moment of crisis. The G20 can help address the weaknesses of the multilateral system. The G20 can ensure that our collective humanity is not abandoned. Our deliberations can no longer be hollow; our shared prosperity, now more than ever, demands collaboration that pursues solutions that address some of the most pressing global challenges confronting humanity and impacting global growth and development.

    “The G20 is a persuasive body that holds great influence in the world,” he urged.  – SAnews.gov.za

    Gabisile

    MIL OSI Africa –

  • MIL-OSI Africa: IMC to ensure prudence on the funding of the National Dialogue

    Source: South Africa News Agency

    IMC to ensure prudence on the funding of the National Dialogue

    Cabinet has directed the Inter-Ministerial Committee (IMC) on the National Dialogue to ensure prudence with the funding of the initiative, following concerns raised by the public on how much government would spend on it.

    “Cabinet has noted public concerns about the estimate Budget for the National Dialogue and wishes to clarify that the proposed Budget has not yet been taken through the established government budgeting processes or considered by the IMC that is chaired by the Deputy President. 

    “Cabinet is fully cognisant of the current fiscal constraints and has directed the IMC to ensure prudence on the funding of the National Dialogue,” Minister in the Presidency Khumbudzo Ntshavheni said on Thursday, in Cape Town.

    Earlier this month, President Cyril Ramaphosa announced that government would host a National Dialogue that will enable South Africans to participate in engagements that will confront the country’s challenges and forge a path into a better future.

    An Inter-Ministerial Committee has been established under the chairpersonship of the Deputy President, Paul Mashatile, to coordinate government’s contribution to the National Dialogue.

    “On this day, 70 years ago, 26 of June 1955, more than 3 000 delegates from various racial and social backgrounds, gathered in Kliptown, Johannesburg, to envision the South Africa, they want, that is democratic, and non-racial and which is based on the principles of equality, social justice, human rights and shared economic prosperity,” the Minister said.

    This gathering culminated in the adoption of the Freedom Charter, which is a document outlining the aspirational principles of freedom and democracy in South Africa. 

    “The Freedom Charter is the foundational document to the Constitution of the post-Apartheid South Africa, and it is still relevant in directing the redress of outstanding social and economic inequalities.

    “The Freedom Charter was a result of a massive grassroots campaign involving various anti-Apartheid organisations and ordinary citizens, organised under the banner of the African National Congress, reflecting on their collective aspirations for a free and just South Africa.

    “Seventy years after the adoption of the Freedom Charter and acknowledging that the challenges still facing our country require meaningful input from all of us, South Africans from all walks of life are invited to participate in a National Dialogue that will determine the future of the South Africa we want.

    “Like the adoption of the Freedom Charter, the national dialogue will follow an extensive consultation process including at district and provincial levels,” Ntshavheni said. 

    The Minister was addressing a media briefing on the outcomes of the Cabinet meeting, held on Wednesday. – SAnews.gov.za

    nosihle

    MIL OSI Africa –

  • India wanted concerns on terrorism reflected in document: MEA on no adoption of Joint Statement at SCO meet

    Source: Government of India

    Source: Government of India (4)

    The Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) Defence Ministers’ Meeting, held in Qingdao, China, concluded on Thursday without the adoption of a joint statement. The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) said that India wanted concerns on terrorism reflected in the final document, which was not acceptable to one particular country, therefore the statement was not adopted.

    At the SCO meeting, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh called for united global action against terrorism, radicalisation, and extremism, citing them as the biggest threats to regional peace and trust.

    MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal told reporters at the weekly media briefing: “I understand that the Defence Ministers could not adopt a joint statement. Certain member countries could not reach consensus on specific issues, and hence the document could not be finalised. India wanted concerns on terrorism to be reflected in the statement, which was not acceptable to one particular country.”

    He added that Rajnath Singh, in his address, urged all SCO member states to unite against terrorism in all its forms and manifestations.

    “Raksha Mantri reiterated the importance of holding perpetrators, organisers, financers, and sponsors of terrorism—especially cross-border terrorism—accountable and bringing them to justice. He called on all SCO nations to act in unison to strengthen regional stability and security,” Jaiswal said.

    During his speech, Singh also referred to the recent April 22 terror attack in Pahalgam, which claimed the lives of 26 civilians, including a Nepali national. He said India had exercised its right to self-defence through Operation Sindoor, which targeted and dismantled cross-border terrorist infrastructure.

    Reiterating India’s firm stance, Singh said that “epicentres of terrorism are no longer safe” and urged SCO nations to reject double standards and hold state sponsors of terrorism accountable.

    “We must be in lockstep in our efforts to strengthen stability and security in our neighbourhood,” he asserted.

    The two-day SCO meeting, hosted by China, concluded on Thursday and saw the participation of Defence Ministers from member countries including Russia, Iran, Pakistan, Belarus, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, and Uzbekistan.

    Singh’s visit to China came just over a month after Operation Sindoor, further underlining India’s security concerns and its zero-tolerance policy towards terrorism.

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Ofsted to strengthen inspections through new team structures

    Source: United Kingdom – Executive Government & Departments

    Press release

    Ofsted to strengthen inspections through new team structures

    Following feedback from last year’s Big Listen and the recent consultation on inspection reform, Ofsted has today announced a new structure for inspection teams in schools and further education, focused on improving consistency.

    The new team structure will make the best use of the complementary skills and expertise of Ofsted’s employed His Majesty’s Inspectors (HMI) and its contracted Ofsted inspectors (OIs) – who are often serving practitioners in schools and colleges.  

    The changes mean that following the introduction of the renewed education inspection framework in November 2025:  

    • all schools and further education inspections will be led by current His Majesty’s Inspectors, or OIs with recent HMI experience, drawing on their more in-depth inspection expertise and training  

    • Ofsted will make the best use of OI’s current sector knowledge and experience by deploying them as team inspectors, placing greater emphasis on matching their expertise to specific types of provision to complement the inspection expertise brought by His Majesty’s Inspectors

    This change recognises the value Ofsted places on the unique strengths and expertise of His Majesty’s Inspectors and OIs. By more deliberately and strategically combining the different expertise of His Majesty’s Inspectors and OIs on inspection teams, Ofsted will be able to deliver its renewed approach to education inspection with more insightful, context-aware inspections that will better serve children, learners and education providers.  

    During the Big Listen, Ofsted heard that inspectors do not always have the necessary expertise or experience in the specific types of provision they inspect (for example, primary or special schools, or apprenticeship providers), which makes it harder for them to understand the context the provider is working in. Therefore, from November, most school and further education and skills inspections will have at least one inspector on the team with previous experience of working in a similar type of provision.   

    These changes build on the many improvements Ofsted has already made to make sure inspections are consistent; for example, Fridays are now used to gather teams of His Majesty’s Inspectors for reflection and training, and senior staff hold regular meetings to review inspection outcomes and provide oversight of the most complex cases. 

    Ofsted’s Chief Inspector, Sir Martyn Oliver, said:  

    We want to make sure our inspections are as consistent as possible, from Cornwall to Northumberland. We have already put stronger quality assurance measures in place, and utilising the expertise of our workforce as effectively as we can is another significant step forward.  

    All inspection teams will have the right blend of inspection expertise and current sector insight. This will help us better understand the context of the schools and colleges we inspect, to provide a fair and accurate report for parents.

    Steve Rollett, Deputy Chief Executive Officer of the Confederation of School Trusts (CST), said:

    It is welcome that Ofsted are taking the issue of consistency seriously. Having the most experienced inspectors lead inspections should support consistency, which would be a positive step.

    We know Ofsted has also committed to making improvements to its proposed toolkits and methodology, and we hope these changes will provide further reassurance on consistency.

    Notes to editors

    • Because of its unique contexts and requirements, our early years inspection model works differently. In early years, inspections are typically conducted by individual inspectors rather than teams.

    Press office

    8.30am to 6pm Monday to Friday 0300 013 0415

    Updates to this page

    Published 26 June 2025

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI Russia: Moscow introduces artificial intelligence to detect hip osteoarthritis on X-rays.

    Translation. Region: Russian Federal

    Moscow has introduced a new artificial intelligence service to its healthcare system to detect signs of hip osteoarthritis in medical images, making it the 41st modality in which neural networks are helping radiologists, said Anastasia Rakova, Deputy Mayor of Moscow for Social Development.

    The artificial intelligence algorithm developed by specialists at the Center for Diagnostics and Telemedicine has undergone thorough testing and is now integrated into the Unified Radiological Information Service (ERIS). “The algorithm automatically identifies potential signs of osteoarthritis – narrowing of the joint space, thickening of the bone, bone spurs, highlighting the affected areas and taking precise measurements,” she said.

    “Currently, artificial intelligence is used in 40 clinical modalities in Moscow. These innovations speed up diagnostics, increase accuracy and reduce the workload of radiologists.”

    Osteoarthritis (OA) is a chronic joint disease characterized by progressive cartilage degradation and bone remodeling. It is common among older people, but can occur at any age. A new artificial intelligence service deployed in Moscow helps radiologists identify key signs of hip OA, including joint space narrowing, subchondral sclerosis (bone thickening), and osteophyte formation. Such automation reduces the time it takes to interpret images, improves diagnostic accuracy, and allows for earlier therapeutic intervention.

    “The AI service improves the efficiency of early detection of hip arthrosis, which allows for timely initiation of treatment and improved patient outcomes.”

    Yuri Vasiliev, chief consultant in radiology at the Moscow Department of Health, emphasized the clinical effect: “Accurate imaging assessment of hip osteoarthritis allows us to accurately determine the stage of hip OA and justify treatment strategies, such as recommendations for activity and pharmacotherapy. The main clinical signs of osteoarthritis include pain when moving and decreased range of motion in the affected joints.”

    The introduction of AI is the result of Moscow’s five-year efforts to introduce computer vision into healthcare. More than 200 AI services have been tested, and about 100 algorithms have been included in the URIS UMIAS system. Currently, about 50 AI tools analyze medical images in real time, increasing the speed and quality of diagnostics in 40 clinical areas.

    The project is a joint effort between the Moscow Social Development Complex, the Center for Diagnostics and Telemedicine, and the city’s Department of Information Technology, highlighting Moscow’s commitment to using artificial intelligence to improve healthcare.

    MIL OSI Russia News –

  • MIL-OSI Russia: Sobyanin: 18 thousand Muscovites became owners of apartments under the renovation program this year

    Translation. Region: Russian Federal

    Source: Moscow Government – Government of Moscow –

    More than 18 thousand Muscovites received new housing under the renovation program in 2025. Sergei Sobyanin spoke about this in his telegram channel.

    “From January to June, over 20 residential complexes were completed in Moscow – twice as many as in the same period last year. One of them is a new building at 5 Ilimskaya Street. There are 230 apartments with a total area of over 13 thousand square meters, including apartments for people with disabilities,” the Moscow Mayor specified.

    Source: Sergei Sobyanin’s Telegram channel @mos_sobyanin 

    The house with glazed balconies and loggias has baskets for air conditioners. The facades are decorated in natural shades. The spacious entrance hall has a stroller room and a concierge room.

    The courtyard underwent comprehensive landscaping, CCTV cameras were installed, sports and children’s playgrounds were equipped, as well as a recreation area.

    Since the beginning of 2025, almost all new buildings in the city have been built with the help of prefab technologies. The method allows to reduce construction time by 30-50 percent. The service life of such buildings is 100 years or more. The houses meet all the standards of modern and high-quality housing.

    The first floors of new buildings are designed as non-residential — pharmacies, shops, leisure centers and other social and household facilities are opened there. All residential complexes under the renovation program are built taking into account the criteria of a barrier-free environment. Wide passages in entrances, vestibules and elevator halls are located on the same level, without high steps, and pedestrian passages in the courtyard are designed so that it is comfortable for both parents with strollers and people with disabilities to move around.

    The service is available for participants in the renovation program “Moving Assistance”. City residents are provided with free services of movers and a car for transporting things. Since the beginning of the year, more than 4.5 thousand families have used the service.

    “In total, this year we plan to build about two million square meters of housing under the renovation program. This will allow us to provide new apartments to about 70 thousand city residents,” the Moscow Mayor added.

    Renovation program approved in August 2017. It concerns about a million Muscovites and provides for the resettlement of 5,176 houses. Sergei Sobyanin instructed increase the pace implementation of the program twice.

    Moscow is one of the leaders among regions in terms of construction volumes. High rates of housing construction correspond to the goals and initiatives of the national project “Infrastructure for life”.

    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.

    Please Note; This Information is Raw Content Directly from the Information Source. It is access to What the Source Is Stating and Does Not Reflect

    https: //vv.mos.ru/mayor/tkhemes/12998050/

    MIL OSI Russia News –

  • MIL-OSI Russia: Vocabulary that came out of the office: what has the rise in popularity of psychology led to

    Translation. Region: Russian Federal

    Source: State University Higher School of Economics – State University Higher School of Economics –

    © Higher School of Economics

    The Higher School of Economics hosted a round table entitled “Psychotherapeutic Lexicon in the Public Space,” which brought together psychologists, linguists, sociologists, and cultural scientists. They discussed the role of psychotherapy and psychotherapeutic terms in the life of a modern person, as well as the influence of AI on this area.

    There is a disturbing tendency in society to turn psychological vocabulary into an instrument of aggression, noted the head of the department, opening the round table “Psychotherapeutic vocabulary in the public space”. Scientific and educational laboratory of linguistic conflictology and modern communication practices, Research Professor Schools of Philological Sciences Faculty of Humanities HSE Maxim Krongauz.

    Words intended to help in therapy, such as “devaluation,” “abuse,” “bullying,” “victim blaming,” “gaslighting,” and “toxic,” are increasingly used to scapegoat, creating an atmosphere of “invitation to execution.”

    “This aggressiveness of words, which seem to come from such a noble area, where, perhaps, in a figurative sense, they treat people, is suspicious. Why do they treat with such aggressive words?” Krongauz asked. Referring to psychotherapist Daniil Ostrovsky, he pointed out the danger of transferring therapeutic principles to public ethics.

    Fyodor Konorov, a teacher and supervisor at the Moscow Gestalt Institute, noted the explosive growth of the therapeutic field, which has led to the fact that “anyone can now call themselves a psychologist,” creating risks of incorrect use of terminology. He also drew attention to the fact that vocabulary “coming out of psychologists’ offices” is not new, but now, along with it, words that are pseudo-diagnoses (“bipolar,” “anxiety”) are actively used. He concluded that this deprives a person of the opportunity to deal with their feelings differently.

    Research Fellow Department of Psychology Faculty of Social Sciences HSE Irina Bulanova presented the results of a study on how young people use psychotherapeutic vocabulary. She identified four main functions.

    The first is overcoming experiences. Young people use terms to make it easier to understand their inner world and communicate with others.

    The second is the normative function, when vocabulary defines social norms related to psychological health, but can lead to the marginalization of those who do not meet these norms.

    The third is the function of social identity: young people identify themselves as representatives of a certain group, distinct from the older generation.

    The fourth is the instrumental function. Here, vocabulary is used to regulate social interactions, especially in situations of emotional tension.

    “Naming itself, to a certain extent, helps to facilitate… And the most important thing is that they develop a language with which they can communicate with each other about the contents of their inner world, and it seems that this has an even greater coping effect,” noted Irina Bulanova.

    She believes that such vocabulary may contain social norms related to psychological health. Despite the benefits in overcoming difficulties and normalizing experiences, excessive use of vocabulary may lead to the formation of rigid social norms and potential conflicts between generations.

    “It seems to me that this is a subject for a separate study, but, in truth, it is very interesting not only the content, but also the structure of these norms, how strict they are, and how much we thereby contribute to some marginalization of those who do not fit into this norm,” she concluded.

    Associate Professor Department of Analysis of Social Institutions Oksana Mikhailova, a professor at the Faculty of Social Sciences at the National Research University Higher School of Economics, spoke about the “therapeutic turn” in culture, when psychology is becoming increasingly popular and influential. She noted that the media plays a dual role, both in disseminating knowledge about psychology and in simplifying and distorting it.

    “Media managers and media culture producers realized that if they take into account some rules transmitted by psychology, they will be able to attract more attention from the audience. And so, in fact, they began to involve them in content production,” Oksana Mikhailova explained.

    She also noted that individualization associated with therapeutic culture can lead to ignoring social problems: “We don’t notice some problems that actually have social prerequisites when we use this therapeutic language. That is, we begin to think that everything depends only on us.”

    The sociologist identified such negative aspects of this process as individualization of problems, excessive interest in oneself, pathologizing of the normal, increased anxiety, cognitivism, self-discipline (in the context of social order) and increased inequality. At the same time, she also noted positive trends: drawing attention to problems, democratization of gender roles, use of terms in social movements.

    Oksana Moroz, a cultural scientist and associate professor at the British Higher School of Art and Design and Tyumen State University, analyzed how the concept of boundaries is discussed in various online contexts — from quality press to brand media and social networks. She pointed out that the appropriation of therapeutic vocabulary occurs not only at the level of individual words, but also at the level of the therapeutic plot. At the same time, there is a tendency toward universalization, in which the construction of boundaries occurs based on one signal of discomfort.

    She also emphasized that the use of psychological vocabulary can be a way to form an emotional community, but often becomes a tool for commodification and obtaining social capital. This tendency, the expert believes, leads to difficulties in defining the boundaries of what is permitted, erasing the line between constructive criticism and bullying. “The best way to protect your own boundaries is to say that I know how to protect my own boundaries. And if you ask me questions about how I do it wrong, you will, of course, violate them,” the expert noted.

    Researcher at the Research and Educational Laboratory of Linguistic Conflictology and Modern Communicative Practices of the Faculty of Humanities at the National Research University Higher School of Economics Elizaveta Gromenko presented a linguistic analysis of psychotherapeutic vocabulary in the Russian language of the 21st century. She noted that in recent years there has been an increase in the use of words such as “abuse”, “trauma”, “mindfulness”, and that these words are acquiring new meanings, especially borrowings.

    “All these words have long been present in the Russian language, but in the 21st century they acquire a new meaning under the influence of psychological practice, when a person turns to categorizing some of his internal processes,” Gromenko explained.

    She also noted that “trauma” and “mindfulness” have become key concepts in psychotherapeutic vocabulary and that the entire beginning of the 21st century is taking place under their auspices. Many words that appeared in the early 2000s have begun to actively adapt since 2015 and generate derivatives, such as “abuser,” “gaslighter,” and “toxic.”

    Irina Fufaeva, a research fellow at the Research and Educational Laboratory of Linguistic Conflictology and Modern Communication Practices, shared her experience of interacting with AI as a psychotherapist, noting a change in the trend in patients’ self-designations. While game designations (“bipolar,” “borderline”) were popular before, now there is a refusal to build identity through illness. She noted that AI in support mode (without censure and moralization) is met with acceptance and gives coaching advice. She emphasized that interaction with artificial intelligence as a psychotherapist can create the illusion of support for employees, but the lack of empathy and contextuality can lead to undesirable consequences.

    Leading researcher at the Research and Educational Laboratory of Linguistic Conflictology and Modern Communicative Practices Valery Shulginov conducted an experiment to test how language models understand the concept of abuse. He found that models often tend to agree with users, which can lead to false positive diagnostics. To improve efficiency, it is necessary to use non-standard role-playing situations, but the training of AI can create traps for users.

    The participants of the seminar agreed that further development of methods of teaching and educating the population in the field of correct use of psychological terminology is necessary. It is advisable to create interdisciplinary teams of scientists who will be able to thoroughly study and systematize existing trends. A proposal was also made to organize regular seminars and forums aimed at further studying the features of the transformation of Russian speech under the influence of psychological concepts and methods.

    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 –

  • MIL-OSI Russia: Moscow introduces artificial intelligence to detect hip arthrosis on X-rays.

    Moscow has integrated a new artificial intelligence service into its healthcare system to identify signs of hip osteoarthritis in medical images, marking the 41st modality where neural networks assist radiologists. This advancement was announced by Anastasia Rakova, Deputy Mayor of Moscow for Social Development.

    Developed and tested by specialists at the Center for Diagnostics and Telemedicine, the AI algorithm has completed rigorous testing and is now integrated into the Unified Radiological Information Service (URIS). “The algorithm automatically identifies potential osteoarthritis indicators – such as joint space narrowing, bone thickening, and bone spur highlighting affected areas and performing precise measurements”, she stated.

    “Moscow now utilizes AI across 40 clinical modalities. These innovations accelerate diagnosis, improve accuracy, and reduce the workload for radiologists”.

    Osteoarthritis (OA) is a chronic joint disorder characterized by progressive cartilage degradation and bone remodeling. While prevalent among older adults, it can occur at any age. A new AI service deployed in Moscow assists radiologists in identifying key indicators of hip OA, including joint space narrowing, subchondral sclerosis (bone thickening), and osteophyte formation. This automation reduces image interpretation time, enhances diagnostic accuracy, and enables earlier therapeutic intervention.

    “The AI service enhances early detection of hip arthrosis, enabling timely treatment and better patient outcomes.”

    Yuri Vasilev, Moscow’s Chief Consultant for Radiology of the Moscow Healthcare Department, emphasized the clinical impact: “Accurate imaging assessment of hip osteoarthritis allows precise staging of hip OA, informing treatment strategies such as activity recommendations and pharmacotherapy. Key clinical signs of osteoarthritis include pain during ambulation and reduced range of motion in affected joints.”

    This AI deployment builds on five years of Moscow’s pioneering efforts to integrate computer vision in healthcare. Over 200 AI services have been tested, with approximately 100 algorithms incorporated into the URIS UMIAS system. Currently, around 50 AI tools analyze medical images in real-time, improving diagnostic speed and quality across 40 clinical modalities.

    The project is a collaboration between the Moscow Social Development Complex, the Center for Diagnostics and Telemedicine, and the city Department of Information Technology, underscoring Moscow’s commitment to leveraging AI for enhanced medical care.

    MIL OSI Russia News –

  • MIL-OSI Russia: Results of SPIEF-2025.

    As Maksim Liksutov reported, the Moscow Government signed 61 agreements at the forum. A dedicated stand highlighted the city’s transport and industrial sectors.

    Forum guests:

    Learned about the development of the rail framework, unmanned technologies, and an AI-powered video analytics system as part of Moscow Transport’s strategy through 2030

    Explored a model of the innovative Moskva-2026 train

    Saw how batteries for electric transport will be manufactured at the Krasnaya Pakhra site in the city’s Special Economic Zone

    Studied metro maps in Arabic and Chinese

    Examined a prototype of the new ticket vending machine

    Received gifts from Moscow Transport — around 2,000 souvenir sets were distributed in total

    During SPIEF-2025, Moscow Mayor Sergey Sobyanin launched the third route of the city’s regular river electric transport, connecting Novospassky and ZIL and linking four city districts. In addition, Moscow signed a long-term lease agreement for Yaroslavsky Railway Station with Russian Railways (RZD) — a key step toward its comprehensive renovation and integration into the unified Moscow Transport system. An agreement was also signed with Transmashholding for the delivery of one of the largest batches of metro cars for the city’s subway. All these initiatives will make trips for Muscovites even more comfortable, reliable, and safe, — noted Maksim Liksutov.

    MIL OSI Russia News –

  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: Belt-Road commissioner promotes HK

    Source: Hong Kong Information Services

    Commissioner for Belt & Road Nicholas Ho this week led a delegation to Indonesia and Malaysia to promote Hong Kong’s professional services in the fields of infrastructure and construction and to explore opportunities for co-operation.

    The delegates visited Jakarta, Indonesia on Monday and Tuesday, then proceeded to Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, yesterday and today. They met government officials, business leaders and representatives of professional organisations and enterprises in both places. The trip concluded today.

    Mr Ho and his delegation visited the Daya Anagata Nusantara Investment Management Agency and the Investment Coordinating Board in Indonesia, as well as the Public Private Partnership Unit of the Prime Minister’s Department and the Malaysian Investment Development Authority in Malaysia, to learn about economic and infrastructural developments in the two places.

    While in Malaysia, they also met the country’s Minister of Transport Loke Siew Fook to learn about the planning and development of Malaysia’s transportation system, with a view to exploring opportunities for Hong Kong’s professional services to participate and contribute.

    In addition, they attended presentations on signature projects in both countries, directly connecting with representatives of local enterprises to explore opportunities for investment and co-operation.

    They also attended business lunch events to promote Hong Kong’s business advantages to local business leaders.

    During the visits, Hong Kong representatives signed 21 Memoranda of Understanding with partners in Indonesia and Malaysia, covering such areas as business collaboration and professional services exchanges.

    While in Jakarta, Mr Ho also visited a data centre, an investment development project led by a Hong Kong company, and heard about the centre’s contribution to the development of the Digital Silk Road.

    Mr Ho highlighted that the Association of Southeast Asian Nations is Hong Kong’s second-largest trading partner and a key link in the Belt & Road Initiative.

    “Indonesia and Malaysia are both undergoing rapid infrastructure development, and there is huge demand for professional services in large-scale projects such as the new capital city of Nusantara in Indonesia and the mass rapid transit system in Malaysia.”

    He stressed that Hong Kong, as a super connector and a super value-adder, upholds international standards in fields such as financing, law, construction engineering, project management, logistics, transportation, and technological innovation.

    “We also have a deep pool of professionals with experience especially in taking forward public-private partnerships in infrastructure projects, presenting extensive room for collaboration with Indonesia and Malaysia to seize the opportunities brought by the Belt & Road Initiative.”

    MIL OSI Asia Pacific News –

  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: FS attends AIIB meeting in Beijing

    Source: Hong Kong Information Services

    Financial Secretary Paul Chan attended the 10th Annual Meeting of the Board of Governors of the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB) in Beijing today. He also held separate meetings with Minister of Finance Lan Fo’an and AIIB President Jin Liqun.

    Mr Chan participated in the opening ceremony of the annual meeting and joined the subsequent Governors’ Official Session.

    During the meeting, he witnessed the signing of a strategic partnership agreement between the Hong Kong Monetary Authority (HKMA) and the AIIB. Under the partnership agreement, the HKMA will collaborate closely with the AIIB to support venture capital in emerging Asia to jointly support the emerging economies in the region to drive green transformation and development of infrastructure through scientific and commercial innovation.

    Speaking about the agreement, Mr Chan said that this collaboration combines and leverages the knowledge, experience, networks and strengths of the HKMA and the AIIB.

    He said: “It supports emerging Asian economies in accelerating their development towards more prosperous and inclusive growth through innovation and technology. Additionally, it aids in building a more vibrant venture capital and innovation ecosystem within the region and further reinforces Hong Kong’s status as an international financial, innovation and technology centre.”

    Mr Chan later met AIIB President Jin Liqun. He expressed Hong Kong’s willingness to further enhance collaboration with the AIIB amid the ongoing reshaping of the global economic landscape and the development challenges faced by emerging economies.

    Such initiatives can include issuing bonds in more currencies and of various tenors, advancing investment co-operation in infrastructure loan securitisation and catastrophe bonds, and mobilising private capital to support Asia’s green and sustainable development projects and relevant technological proposals.

    The Financial Secretary also reiterated Hong Kong’s support for the AIIB to establish an office in Hong Kong and said he looks forward to the proposal’s early implementation.

    He also called on Minister of Finance Lan Fo’an, where both parties exchanged in-depth views on the economic and social development of the Mainland and Hong Kong.

    Mr Chan highlighted that the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government will continue to fully support the issuance of renminbi (RMB) sovereign bonds in Hong Kong. Efforts will also be made to enrich investment products and risk management tools, enhance RMB liquidity, and improve financial infrastructure to build a more prosperous offshore RMB business ecosystem.

    MIL OSI Asia Pacific News –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Two drug kingpins jailed for life following Met EncroChat investigation

    Source: United Kingdom London Metropolitan Police

    Two men have been jailed for life for importing and dealing a tonne of cocaine and plotting a murder.

    The Met’s investigation uncovered the two men’s plan to commit a murder, as well as their role in delivering millions of pounds worth of drugs across the capital and beyond.

    The evidence of the offences were identified after officers trawled through thousands of messages on encrypted communication service EncroChat.

    Thought to be impenetrable by law enforcement, Met officers accessed chats between James Harding and Jayes Kharouti.

    It was identified that James Harding, 34 (01.01.1991), of Alton, Hampshire, was the head of a sophisticated organised drug dealing network, turning over an estimated £5 million profit in just 10 weeks. Harding resided in Dubai at the time of his arrest.

    Detective Chief Inspector Jim Casey, who led the investigation, said:

    “This sentencing shows the severity of the crimes the duo committed.

    “Following one of the largest EncroChat investigations in the Met’s history, I am pleased that both criminals are serving the time they deserve.

    “Not only did they have a detailed plan to kill, their conspiracy to import and deal drugs harmed a number of our communities in London and across the country.

    “This sends a clear message to other potential offenders: we will investigate and we will put you before the courts.”

    Harding was found guilty by the jury of conspiracy to supply Class A drugs and conspiracy to commit murder on Tuesday, 24 June at The Old Bailey, following a seven-week trial.

    He was sentenced to life at The Old Bailey on Thursday, 26 June, and will have to serve a minimum of 32 years’ imprisonment.

    Kharouti, 39, (09.02.1986) of Depot Road, Epsom, previously admitted to his role in supplying drugs on Friday, 8 November 2024 at The Old Bailey. He was also found guilty of conspiracy to commit murder alongside Harding on Tuesday, 24 June at the same court.

    He was sentenced to life at The Old Bailey on Thursday, 26 June, and will have to serve a minimum of 26 years’ imprisonment.

    Chats on the encrypted messaging site unveiled they both spoke, in detail, about their plan to kill a suspected drug courier from a ‘rival crime network’.

    This case is part of a wider operation to take down those who utilised EncroChat, after the National Crime Agency (NCA) passed information onto the Met after European agencies cracked the encrypted communications platform.

    So far, Met investigations have led to more than 5,000 years-worth of prison sentences for criminals on the site.

    The investigation

    Following the thorough investigation into a series of conversations on EncroChat, the Met discovered Harding used the handle “thetopsking”, while Kharouti used “besttops”. They used the platform to confidently communicate with each other about their vast criminal enterprise.

    The Met spent hundreds of hours reviewing and analysing these messages. Among them were clear conspiracies to carry out a murder of a rival drug gang member with detailed plans, involving recruiting paid hitmen, arranging firearms and getaway vehicles. They had also discussed times, dates and locations.

    This was on top of plans to coordinate deliveries of hundreds of kilograms of cocaine across the country, manage their vast finances and discuss security threats.

    The court heard that approximately 50 importations were made into the UK, with a total weight of one tonne, between April and June 2020.

    This allowed Harding to live a lavish lifestyle in the United Arab Emirates, where he conducted his criminal enterprise.

    The arrests

    Harding was arrested on Monday, 27 December 2021 at Geneva Airport, Switzerland. On Friday, 27 May 2022, he was extradited from Switzerland to the UK when he was arrested by Met officers.

    Kharouti’s home was searched in 2020 after he was linked to the messages. Police found a handset with the same number he gave to Harding. He fled the country shortly after this, before being found in Turkey and extradited back to the UK.

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Africa: Kaspersky: ChatGPT-mimicking cyberthreats surge 115% in early 2025, Small and Medium-Sized Businesses (SMBs) increasingly targeted

    In 2025, nearly 8,500 users from small and medium-sized businesses (SMBs) globally faced cyberattacks where malicious or unwanted software was disguised as popular online productivity tools, Kaspersky reports (www.Kaspersky.co.za). Based on the unique malicious and unwanted files observed, the most common lures included Zoom and Microsoft Office, with newer AI-based services like ChatGPT and DeepSeek being increasingly exploited by attackers. Kaspersky has released threat analysis and mitigation strategies to help SMBs respond. 

    Kaspersky analysts explored how frequently malicious and unwanted software are disguised as legitimate applications commonly used by SMBs, using a sample of 12 online productivity apps. In total, Kaspersky observed more than 4,000 unique malicious and unwanted files disguised as popular apps in 2025. With the growing popularity of AI services, cybercriminals are increasingly disguising malware as AI tools. The number of cyberthreats mimicking ChatGPT increased by 115% in the first four months of 2025 compared to the same period last year, reaching 177 unique malicious and unwanted files. Another popular AI tool, DeepSeek, accounted for 83 files. This large language model launched in 2025 immediately appeared on the list of impersonated tools. 

    “Interestingly, threat actors are rather picky in choosing an AI tool as bait. For example, no malicious files mimicking Perplexity were observed. The likelihood that an attacker will use a tool as a disguise for malware or other types of unwanted software directly depends on the service’s popularity and hype around it. The more publicity and conversation there is around a tool, the more likely a user will come across a fake package on the Internet. To be on the safe side, SMB employees – as well as regular users – should exercise caution when looking for software on the Internet or coming across too-good-to-be-true subscription deals. Always check the correct spelling of the website and links in suspicious emails. In many cases these links may turn out to be phishing or a link that downloads malicious or potentially unwanted software,” says Vasily Kolesnikov, security expert at Kaspersky.  

    Another cybercriminal tactic to look for in 2025 is the growing use of collaboration platform brands to trick users into downloading or launching malware. The number of malicious and unwanted software files disguised as Zoom increased by nearly 13% in 2025, reaching 1,652, while such names as “Microsoft Teams” and “Google Drive” saw increases of 100% and 12%, respectively, with 206 and 132 cases. This pattern likely reflects the normalisation of remote work and geographically distributed teams, which has made these platforms integral to business operations across industries. 

    Among the analysed sample, the highest number of files mimicked Zoom, accounting for nearly 41% of all unique files detected. Microsoft Office applications remained frequent targets for impersonation: Outlook and PowerPoint each accounted for 16%, Excel for nearly 12%, while Word and Teams made up 9% and 5%, respectively. 

    The top threats targeting small and medium businesses in 2025 included downloaders, trojans and adware. 

    Phishing and spam 

    Apart from malware threats, Kaspersky continues to observe a wide range of phishing and scam schemes targeting SMBs. Attackers aim to steal login credentials for various services — from delivery platforms to banking systems — or manipulate victims into sending them money through deceptive tactics. One example is a phishing attempt targeting Google Accounts. Attackers promise potential victims to increase sales by advertising their company on X, with the ultimate goal being to steal their credentials.  

    Beyond phishing, SMBs are flooded with spam emails. Not surprisingly, AI has also made its way into the spam folder — for example, with offers for automating various business processes. 

    In general, Kaspersky observes phishing and spam offers crafted to reflect the typical needs of small businesses, promising attractive deals on email marketing or loans, offering services such as reputation management, content creation, or lead generation, and more. 

    Learn more about the cyber threat landscape for SMBs on Securelist (https://apo-opa.co/3I0itLw). To mitigate threats targeting businesses, their owners and employees are advised to implement the following measures:  

    • Use specialised cybersecurity solutions that provide visibility and control over cloud services (e.g., Kaspersky Next (https://apo-opa.co/4nzvzQm)). 
    • Define access rules for corporate resources such as email accounts, shared folders, and online documents. 
    • Regularly backup important data. 
    • Establish clear guidelines for using external services. Create well-defined procedures for implementing new software with the involvement of IT and other responsible managers. 

    Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Kaspersky.

    For further information please contact: 
    Nicole Allman 
    nicole@inkandco.co.za  

    Social Media:
    Facebook: https://apo-opa.co/4lnbavE
    X: https://apo-opa.co/3TvWkaF
    YouTube: https://apo-opa.co/4nfAq8Z
    Instagram: https://apo-opa.co/4kYTZRl
    Blog: https://apo-opa.co/4emf9q1

    About Kaspersky: 
    Kaspersky is a global cybersecurity and digital privacy company founded in 1997. With over a billion devices protected to date from emerging cyberthreats and targeted attacks, Kaspersky’s deep threat intelligence and security expertise is constantly transforming into innovative solutions and services to protect individuals, businesses, critical infrastructure, and governments around the globe. The company’s comprehensive security portfolio includes leading digital life protection for personal devices, specialized security products and services for companies, as well as Cyber Immune solutions to fight sophisticated and evolving digital threats. We help millions of individuals and over 200,000 corporate clients protect what matters most to them. Learn more at www.Kaspersky.co.za.  

    MIL OSI Africa –

  • MIL-OSI Africa: Courtesy Call on Minister Radegonde by Captain Vikas Guleria


    Download logo

    Captain Vikas Guleria, Commanding Officer of INS TEG paid a courtesy call on Mr. Sylvestre Radegonde, Minister for Foreign Affairs and Tourism, at Maison Quéau de Quinssy on Thursday, 26 June 2025.

    During the meeting, discussions centered on the enduring tradition of the Indian Armed Forces’ involvement in Seychelles’ National Day celebrations as well as this year’s National Day Parade. Captain Vikas Guleria, who participated in the national day festivities in Seychelles in 2017, is keen to enhance cultural and people to people relationships to foster regional partnerships during his visit.

    They also highlighted ongoing capacity-building efforts through the Indian Technical and Economic Cooperation (ITEC) programme for Seychelles Defence Forces personnel and the joint surveillance of Seychelles’ Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) being conducted in partnership with the Seychelles Coast Guard during INS TEG’s visit.

    Recognizing India as a key maritime security partner, Minister Radegonde underlined the importance of continued naval cooperation in addressing regional threats such as piracy off the Somali coast and other illicit maritime activities such, as Illegal, Unreported, and Unregulated fishing, in the Western Indian Ocean.

    Minister Radegonde expressed appreciation for India’s enduring support and reaffirmed Seychelles’ commitment to strengthening bilateral ties. He welcomed the continued presence of Indian naval vessels in Seychelles as a testament to the deepening military cooperation between the two nations.

    Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Tourism, Republic of Seychelles.

    MIL OSI Africa –

  • MIL-OSI Economics: Performance of Private Corporate Business Sector during 2024-25

    Source: Reserve Bank of India

    Today, the Reserve Bank released data on the performance of the private corporate sector during 2024-25 drawn from abridged financial results of 3,902 listed non-government non-financial (NGNF) companies. Corresponding data pertaining to 2023-24 are also presented in the tables to enable comparison. The data can be accessed at the web-link https://data.rbi.org.in/DBIE/#/dbie/reports/Statistics/Corporate%20Sector/Listed%20Non-Government%20Non-Financial%20Companies.

    Highlights

    Sales

    • During 2024-25, sales growth of listed private non-financial companies improved to 7.2 per cent from a low of 4.7 per cent during the previous year (Tables 1A).

    • Sales of manufacturing sector companies rose by 6.0 per cent during 2024-25 as compared to 3.5 per cent growth in the previous year, mainly led by automobiles, electrical machinery, food & beverages and pharmaceuticals industries. On the other hand, among the major industries, petroleum and iron & steel industries recorded contraction in their sales during 2024-25 (Tables 2A and 5A, Chart 1).

    • Despite global headwinds, sales growth of IT companies improved to 7.1 per cent during 2024-25 from 5.5 per cent in the previous year. Non-IT services companies recorded double digit sales growth during 2024-25, led by healthy performance of telecommunication, transport & storage services and wholesale & retail trade industries.

    Expenditure

    • In line with acceleration in sales, manufacturing companies’ expenses on raw material rose by 6.6 per cent during 2024-25; raw material to sales ratio increased to 55.7 per cent in 2024-25 from 54.2 per cent a year ago, pointing to input cost pressure (Table 2A and 2B).

    • Staff cost rose by 10.0 per cent, 4.4 per cent and 12.0 per cent during 2024-25 for manufacturing, IT and non-IT services companies, respectively; staff cost to sales ratio broadly remained stable for manufacturing companies while it moderated for services companies.

    Pricing power

    • With increase in the input costs, operating profit growth of manufacturing companies moderated to 6.0 per cent during 2024-25 from 12.4 per cent in the previous year; within services sector, profit growth moderated to 15.9 per cent in 2024-25 for the non-IT services companies, while it inched up to 6.1 per cent for IT companies (Table 2A).

    • During 2024-25, operating profit margin moderated by 20 basis points (bps), 80 bps and 30 bps to 14.2 per cent, 21.9 per cent and 22.1 per cent, respectively, for manufacturing, IT and non-IT services companies (Table 2B, Chart 2).

    Interest expenses

    List of Tables
    Table No. Title
    1 A Performance of Listed Non – Government Non-Financial Companies Growth Rates
    B Select Ratios
    2 A Performance of Listed Non-Government Non-Financial Companies – Sector – wise Growth Rates
    B Select Ratios
    3 A Performance of Listed Non-Government Non-Financial Companies according to Size of Paid-up-Capital Growth Rates
    B Select Ratios
    4 A Performance of Listed Non-Government Non-Financial Companies according to Size of Sales Growth Rates
    B Select Ratios
    5 A Performance of Listed Non-Government Non-Financial Companies according to Industry Growth Rates
    B Select Ratios
    Explanatory Notes
    Glossary of Terms

    Notes:

    (Puneet Pancholy)  
    Chief General Manager

    Press Release: 2025-2026/596

    MIL OSI Economics –

  • MIL-OSI Economics: AGNICO EAGLE PROVIDES NOTICE OF RELEASE OF SECOND QUARTER 2025 RESULTS AND CONFERENCE CALL

    Source: Agnico Eagle Mines

    Stock Symbol: AEM (NYSE and TSX)

    TORONTO, June 26, 2025 /CNW/ – Agnico Eagle Mines Limited (NYSE: AEM) (TSX: AEM) (“Agnico Eagle” or the “Company“) today announced that it will release its second quarter 2025 results on Wednesday, July 30, 2025, after normal trading hours.

    Second Quarter 2025 Results Conference Call and Webcast

    Agnico Eagle’s senior management will host a conference call on Thursday, July 31, 2025, at 11:00 AM (E.D.T.) to discuss the Company’s financial and operating results.

    Via Webcast:

    To listen to the live webcast of the conference call, you may register on the Company website at www.agnicoeagle.com, or directly via the link here.

    Via Phone:

    To join the conference call by phone, please dial 416.945.7677 or toll-free 1.888.699.1199 to be entered into the call by an operator. To ensure your participation, please call approximately five minutes prior to the scheduled start of the call.

    To join the conference call without operator assistance, you may register your phone number here 30 minutes prior to the scheduled start of the call to receive an instant automated call back.

    Replay Archive:

    Please dial 289.819.1450 or toll-free 1.888.660.6345, access code 68663 #. The conference call replay will expire on August 31, 2025.

    The webcast, along with presentation slides, will be archived for 180 days on the Company’s website.

    About Agnico Eagle

    Agnico Eagle is a Canadian based and led senior gold mining company and the third largest gold producer in the world, producing precious metals from operations in Canada, Australia, Finland and Mexico, with a pipeline of high-quality exploration and development projects. Agnico Eagle is a partner of choice within the mining industry, recognized globally for its leading sustainability practices. Agnico Eagle was founded in 1957 and has consistently created value for its shareholders, declaring a cash dividend every year since 1983.

    View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/agnico-eagle-provides-notice-of-release-of-second-quarter-2025-results-and-conference-call-302491697.html

    SOURCE Agnico Eagle Mines Limited

    MIL OSI Economics –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Operating in the Future Electromagnetic Environment symposium 2025

    Source: United Kingdom – Executive Government & Departments

    News story

    Operating in the Future Electromagnetic Environment symposium 2025

    Representatives from industry, academia and government are invited to join the OFEME symposium to work alongside Dstl’s scientists and shape future thinking.

    The Defence Science and Technology Laboratory (Dstl) hosts its sixth Operating in the Future Electromagnetic Environment (OFEME) symposium from 18 to 20 November 2025 in Newport, Wales.

    The event, supported by the Electromagnetic Environment (EME) Hub, is designed as an in-person event, but there will be options to join virtually if you are unable to join us in Wales.

    Importance of the electromagnetic environment

    The EME is crucial for many sectors including healthcare and mobility (moving people, goods and services), and for a connected society. In defence, spectrum dependent systems are present across land, maritime, air and space. Their uses include communications, sensing, weapons systems and more.

    As demand grows, reliable access to the electromagnetic spectrum becomes more difficult, creating a challenge for UK information advantage and maintaining situational awareness.

    From a defence perspective, adversaries will actively contest access, such as through electromagnetic warfare, to deliberately deny or degrade access. Maintaining freedom of action and delivering effects in and through the congested and contested electromagnetic environment is therefore an essential and growing challenge.

    Symposium details

    The symposium this year will continue to expand its scope included in the previous events.

    The event will cover:

    • shared challenges for operating within the future electromagnetic environment, emerging sensing and PNT technologies, both inside and outside of defence
    • how research and development investment can be harnessed in future approaches

    The event will feature:

    • a range of keynote speakers
    • technical presentations
    • panel discussions
    • poster sessions
    • interactive workshops
    • networking sessions

    These activities will cover advances and implications of a variety of technical topics including:

    • space
    • metamaterials
    • semiconductors
    • electro-optics (to include photonics)
    • quantum advantage (position, navigation and timing (PNT))
    • filamentation
    • filters
    • artificial intelligence
    • semantic communications

    Who can attend

    Academics, industry partners (including small and medium-sized enterprises and non-traditional defence suppliers), PhD students and colleagues from the Ministry of Defence (MOD) and across government are all invited to attend the symposium.

    The event will provide space to network and discuss collaboration opportunities with Dstl scientists to shape future thinking on how to address sensing challenges.

    Pre-register for this event

    You must pre-register your interest online if you would like to attend this symposium, by Friday 3 October 2025.

    You will then receive a link to complete the symposium delegate registration process.

    Submit your poster

    If you would like to create a poster abstract highlighting the themes of the symposium, please complete our online form with a PDF of your poster by 5pm on Friday 12 September 2025.

    We will let you know the outcome of your submission by Friday 19 September 2025.

    Posters will be presented across both of the 2 conference days. Some authors will also be invited to give lightning talks based on their poster abstracts.

    We are also looking for sponsors to support this year’s symposium. Specifically funding towards a 90-minute reception at the end of day 2, which will help promote networking and knowledge sharing. Sponsorship would cover the costs of holding this reception.

    Please let us know if you’re interested in sponsoring by emailing: OFEME_Symposium@dstl.gov.uk by 5pm on Friday 12 September 2025.

    Any information that is to be presented by any party at this symposium and further that is detailed within this event will be deemed to be in the public domain and therefore will not require further approval for its use by the receiving parties not withstanding any rights of ownership of information set in law. We will ask for a PDF copy of your presentation to be sent to us.

    Please email the EME Hub emehub@mailbox.lboro.ac.uk  for any further information.

    Updates to this page

    Published 26 June 2025

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI Russia: SCO Member States Arts Festival to Be Held in Qingdao in July

    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 26 (Xinhua) — The Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) Arts Festival will open on July 7 this year in Qingdao, east China’s Shandong Province, local authorities said.

    As it became known at the city government press conference held on Wednesday, the opening ceremony of the festival will take place on July 7 in the format of a youth song evening and will be dedicated to demonstrating the charm of the diverse cultures of the SCO member states.

    By now, delegations from Russia, Belarus, Kazakhstan and other countries have been invited to the opening ceremony, the organizer said. Young artists from SCO member states will perform in such vocal and instrumental genres as popular music, jazz, string music, opera, etc.

    On the Chinese side, the opening ceremony will be attended by the China Opera and Dance Theater, the China Oriental Performing Arts Group, the Central Academy of Drama, the Qingdao Song and Dance Theater, and others.

    The scenography of the opening ceremony will be unique and inventive, embodying the unique urban character of Qingdao. The magnificent light show in Fushan Bay will serve as the natural backdrop for the stage, further enhancing the artistic atmosphere and fully demonstrating the international charm and style of Qingdao.

    In early July 2024, China assumed the rotating presidency of the SCO for 2024-2025. It was previously announced that the organization’s next summit would be held this fall in the Chinese city of Tianjin. -0-

    MIL OSI Russia News –

  • MIL-OSI Russia: GCRR PRC: China has confidence and potential to maximally cushion external economic shocks

    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 26 (Xinhua) — China has the confidence and capacity to maximally cushion the negative impact of external shocks on its economy and promote sustainable and healthy economic development, Li Chao, an official with the National Development and Reform Commission (NDRC), said at a press conference on Thursday.

    The external environment is becoming increasingly complex, severe and unpredictable, posing challenges to the stable growth of the global economy and trade, she said. All of this could affect the sustainable functioning of China’s economy, she added.

    Recall that in the first quarter of 2025, China’s GDP grew by 5.4 percent year-on-year, accelerating from the 5 percent growth rate recorded for the whole of 2024. China has set a target of 5 percent economic growth this year.

    She also noted that existing support measures continue to operate, and new measures are being introduced. In particular, large-scale equipment modernization and the program of replacing old consumer goods with new ones under the trade-in scheme are playing an increasingly significant role in the country in stabilizing investments, stimulating consumption, promoting economic transformation and raising people’s living standards, she noted.

    According to her, thanks to this program, sales of home appliances, furniture and communication devices have grown rapidly, and this year the sales volume of goods under the program exceeded 1.4 trillion yuan (about 195.48 billion US dollars).

    The Chinese government has earmarked 300 billion yuan to issue ultra-long-term special government bonds to support the consumer goods trade-in program in 2025, with the first two tranches of funds totaling 162 billion yuan issued in January and April, Li Chao said, adding that the third batch of funding will be released in July. -0-

    MIL OSI Russia News –

  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: DH holds first briefing session for industry on regulatory regime for clinics and small practice clinics (with photo)

    Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

    The provisions of the Private Healthcare Facilities Ordinance (Cap. 633) regulating clinics and small practice clinics (SPCs), where registered medical practitioners and/or registered dentists practise, will come into effect on October 13. Operators of clinics and SPCs must obtain a clinic licence or a letter of exemption to continue their operations. Starting from that day, the Department of Health (DH) will begin accepting applications for clinic licences as well as requests for letters of exemption for SPCs. To help the industry fully understand the legal requirements, the DH today (June 26) held the first in-person briefing session, which was well attended by nearly 200 participants.
     
    The Ordinance provides for transitional arrangements for clinics that were already in operation on or before November 30, 2018. Operators of such clinics must submit applications for clinic licences to the Director of Health (DoH) between October 13, 2025, and April 13, 2026. Depending on the circumstances, the DH may issue a provisional licence to allow these clinics to continue their operation before a full licence is issued. This allows operators to make the necessary modifications to their clinics for complying with licensing requirements. The provisional licence will expire on any of the following: the date specified by the Secretary for Health for the expiry of provisions pertaining to provisional licences; the issuance of a full licence to the licensee; or the withdrawal or rejection of the full licence application.
     
    For clinics that commenced operation after November 30, 2018 (including new establishments or those relocated to new premises), operators may apply directly to the DoH for a full licence from October 13 onwards.
     
    For SPCs (i.e. clinics with no more than five registered medical practitioners and/or registered dentists that meet specific conditions under the Ordinance), operators may submit request for a letter of exemption to the DoH starting from October 13 for continued operation without obtaining a licence. The DH will issue letters of exemption to those meeting the requirements of the Ordinance.
     
    To help the industry fully understand the regulations, the DH has launched a publicity campaign on its website since the first quarter of this year and will progressively step up these efforts through various channels, including professional organisations, press releases, television announcements, and radio broadcasts. The DH will also arrange multiple briefing sessions for stakeholders from July to September to explain the application details and points to note. Please visit the website of the Office for Regulation of Private Healthcare Facilities (www.orphf.gov.hk) for details.

    MIL OSI Asia Pacific News –