NewzIntel.com

Category: Asia Pacific

  • Apple eyes using AI to design its chips, technology executive says

    Source: Government of India

    Source: Government of India (4)

    Apple AAPL.O is interested in tapping generative artificial intelligence to help speed up the design of the custom chips at the heart of its devices, its top hardware technology executive said in private remarks last month.

    Johny Srouji, Apple’s senior vice president of hardware technologies, made the remarks in a speech in Belgium, where he was receiving an award from Imec, an independent semiconductor research and development group that works closely with most of the world’s biggest chipmakers.

    In the speech, a recording of which was reviewed by Reuters, Srouji outlined Apple’s development of custom chips from the first A4 chip in an iPhone in 2010 to the most recent chips that power Mac desktop computers and the Vision Pro headset.

    He said one of the key lessons Apple learned was that it needed to use the most cutting-edge tools available to design its chips, including the latest chip design software from electronic design automation (EDA) firms.

    The two biggest players in that industry – Cadence Design Systems CDNS.O and Synopsys SNPS.O – have been racing to add artificial intelligence to their offerings.

    “EDA companies are super critical in supporting our chip design complexities,” Srouji said in his remarks. “Generative AI techniques have a high potential in getting more design work in less time, and it can be a huge productivity boost.”

    Srouji said another key lesson Apple learned in designing its own chips was to make big bets and not look back.

    When Apple transitioned its Mac computers – its oldest active product line – from Intel’s chips to its own chips in 2020, it made no contingency plans in case the switch did not work.

    “Moving the Mac to Apple Silicon was a huge bet for us. There was no backup plan, no split-the lineup plan, so we went all in, including a monumental software effort,” Srouji said.

    (Reuters)

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: New climate targets set

    Source: Scottish Government

    Carbon budgets to tackle climate change.

    Limits on the amount of greenhouse gases Scotland will emit over the coming decades have been announced as part of action to tackle climate change.

    The Carbon Budgets propose five-year, statutory limits on emissions from 2026 to 2045. The proposed budgets are in line with the advice from the independent Climate Change Committee (CCC) and the Scottish Government’s own assessments.

    The average level of emissions for Scotland over each five-year period are:

    • 57% lower than 1990 levels for 2026 – 2030
    • 69% lower than 1990 levels for 2031- 2035
    • 80% lower than 1990 levels for 2036 – 2040
    • 94% lower than 1990 levels for 2041 – 2045

    The proposals will be scrutinised by Parliament before being voted on in the autumn.

    Once the Carbon Budgets have been agreed, the Scottish Government will publish and consult on a new draft Climate Change Plan outlining the specific actions required to reduce emissions so as to meet each of the first three carbon budget targets, as well as setting out the associated costs and benefits.

    Cabinet Secretary for Climate Action and Energy Gillian Martin said:

    “Scotland is now halfway to our 2045 climate change target and is ahead of the UK as a whole in reducing long term emissions.

    “These Carbon Budgets will set clear limits on emissions for the coming decades in line with the independent advice of the UK Climate Change Committee.

    “When we publish our draft Climate Change Plan later this year, it will set out the policies needed to continue to reduce our emissions and meet our first three carbon budget targets.

    “It will not ask the impossible of people. We will not sacrifice people’s health or wealth.

    “While we welcome the UK CCC’s advice on how to stay within these limits, as they make clear, it is always for Scotland to decide whether those policies are right for us.

    “This means, for example, that we will chart our own path on forestry, going further than the CCC suggest. And, to ensure we protect rural communities and have a thriving rural economy, we will not adopt all their recommendations on agriculture and peatland and will instead meet our targets in a way which works for rural Scotland, including supporting and protecting our iconic livestock industries.  

    “These Carbon Budgets keep Scotland at the forefront of efforts to protect the planet and our Climate Change Plan will ensure the action we take is fair, ambitious and capable of rising to the emergency before us.”

    Background

    Carbon budgets provide a reliable and consistent framework to measure progress to net zero and are used by other countries including Japan, France, England and Wales. They are less prone to fluctuations than the Scottish Government’s previous approach of interim and annual targets, which could be affected by annual variations such as unseasonable weather or a global pandemic.

    Each carbon budget period will run from 1 January of the start year to 31 December of the final year.

    The budgets would continue to include emissions from international aviation and shipping, and there are no provisions to ‘carry over’ emissions from one carbon budget period to the next.

    Carbon budget breakdown totals:

    • 175  mega tonne 2026 – 2030
    • 126  mega tonne 2031- 2035
    • 81  mega tonne 2036 – 2040
    • 24  mega tonne 2040 – 2045

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI Russia: Chinese and Uzbek archaeologists discover ancient Iron Age city in Central Asia

    Translation. Region: Russian Federal

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

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

    BEIJING, June 19 (Xinhua) — A joint Chinese-Uzbek archaeological team made significant progress in excavating the early Iron Age Bandikhon 2 site in the Surkhandarya River basin in June 2025, providing key evidence to uncover the historical appearance of ancient city-states in southern Central Asia during the early Iron Age, CCTV reported on June 17, citing the Silk Road Joint Archaeological Research Center of Northwest China University (Shaanxi Province, northwest China).

    Since 2023, the Institute of Cultural Heritage of the North-West University, together with Termez State University and the Termez Archaeological Museum of Uzbekistan, formed a joint archaeological group. They conducted interdisciplinary research in the Surkhandarya River basin, examining 47 sites. It was established that the Bandikhon-2 settlement is an important city-state of the ancient Bactria period. This is of great scientific importance for filling the gaps in the regional historical and cultural chronology.

    In 2024-2025, the Chinese-Uzbek joint archaeological team conducted three archaeological seasons at the Bandikhon-2 settlement. Well-preserved reinforced adobe walls 7 m wide and 2 m high were discovered. A large room was excavated inside the settlement. In the center of the room, there were two square earthen columns standing vertically. In the corner of the room, there was a adobe bed, and a stone door groove was located under the door axis. A large number of household ceramics, stone grain grinders, and other stone tools for processing grain crops, as well as bronze knives, arrowheads, and other bronze tools were discovered at the site.

    Based on systematic scientific dating and typological analysis of the discovered ceramics, the archaeological team confirmed that the Bandikhon 2 settlement was founded in the 9th century BC and abandoned in the 6th century BC. The excavations of this site provided key evidence for understanding the building structure and functional layout of the city-states of the early Iron Age.

    It should be noted that Chinese and Uzbek archaeologists at all stages of excavations consistently adhered to the principle of “preservation above all else.” Considering the serious damage caused to earthen monuments by the local scorching sun and highly alkaline soil, archaeologists used original technologies for constructing the settlement. They used the method of laying clay layers and adobe bricks to strengthen the walls and other objects, maximally preserving and presenting the authentic appearance of the object. -0-

    MIL OSI Russia News –

  • MIL-OSI Russia: Shanghai and Almaty Established Sister City Relations

    Translation. Region: Russian Federal

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

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

    BEIJING, June 19 (Xinhua) — The Chinese metropolis of Shanghai and Kazakhstan’s largest city Almaty have officially established sister city relations.

    The agreement on establishing sister city relations between the cities of Shanghai and Almaty was concluded within the framework of the 2nd China-Central Asia Summit, which took place on June 16-18, 2025 in the capital of Kazakhstan, Astana, according to the official website of the Shanghai city government.

    Thus, the number of cities in China and Central Asian countries that have established sister city relations has exceeded 100 pairs.

    In accordance with the agreement, in order to promote the joint prosperity and development of the cities of Shanghai and Almaty, contacts will be strengthened and cooperation will be intensified in such areas as economics and trade, science and technology, education, healthcare and tourism.

    The parties also agreed to open a direct flight from Shanghai to Almaty in July of this year.

    The establishment of sister city relations between Shanghai and Almaty will undoubtedly contribute to improving the quality and level of practical cooperation between the two cities and create a new incentive for ensuring high-quality development of relations between China and Kazakhstan and the formation of an even closer community of shared destiny between China and Central Asia, the city’s press service added. -0-

    MIL OSI Russia News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Miller, Gonzales, Yakym, and Miller Reintroduce the United States-Republic of Korea Digital Trade Enforcement Act

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Congresswoman Carol Miller (R-WV)

    Washington, D.C. – In May, Congresswoman Carol Miller (R-WV) and Congressmen Vicente Gonzales (D-TX), Rudy Yakym (R-IN), and Max Miller (R-OH) re-introduced the United States-Republic of Korea Digital Trade Enforcement Act. This legislation protects American digital companies operating in Korea from discriminatory treatment.
     
    “With foreign trade at the forefront of President Trump’s focus, the importance of protecting American companies abroad has never been greater. Newly elected South Korean President Lee Jae-Myung’s digital regulatory legislation would disproportionately impact U.S. companies and threaten their ability to operate overseas. I reintroduced the United States-Republic of Korea Digital Trade Enforcement Act this Congress to maintain a level playing field for our companies operating abroad and ensure an environment that allows both of our nations’ digital companies to thrive remains intact. It is the United States’ responsibility to regulate our digital companies, not a foreign government’s. I thank my colleagues for joining me in the re-introduction of this legislation and look forward to working with House leadership to get it passed,” said Rep. Carol Miller.
     

    “With the victory of President Lee, the US – ROK Digital Trade Enforcement Act is imperative. His promise to pass PCPA would unduly burden U.S. platforms while benefiting Chinese digital companies. As our trade deficit with South Korea continues to increase, we must ensure free digital trade between our nations is upheld,” said Rep. Max Miller. 

    The United States-Republic of Korea Digital Trade Enforcement Act is supported by the Computer and Communications Industry Association (CCIA), the Coalition of Service Industries (CSI), and the Information Technology & Innovation Foundation (ITIF):

    “We are pleased to see members focus on investigating discriminatory policies that disproportionately target U.S. companies in the digital space. Guaranteeing fair access to the Korean market for U.S. digital services is the foundation of a strong and durable economic and security partnership between the United States and Korea that benefits both countries,” said Jonathan McHale, Vice President of Digital Trade at the Computer and Communications Industry Association (CCIA).
     
    “The Coalition of Services Industries supports bipartisan efforts to address discriminatory digital barriers emanating from Korea, a vital trade and economic security partner. We remain concerned about the disproportionate impact of Korea’s proposed online platform measures on U.S. digital services providers, which risks undermining Korea’s obligations under our bilateral trade agreements and could set troubling precedents that invite similar actions in other key markets,” said Christine Bliss, President of the Coalition of Service Industries.
     
    “The Information Technology and Innovation Foundation commends Congresswoman Miller’s leadership in standing up for American digital innovation in the face of growing regulatory threats abroad. Korea’s pending platform bills would significantly dampen innovation and disproportionately burden U.S. companies, while leaving Chinese firms untouched. These proposals not only risk undermining the digital competitiveness of a key ally, but play into China’s strategic interests by sidelining U.S. tech leadership. The U.S.-ROK Digital Trade Enforcement Act sends a clear signal that the United States will defend its innovators and push back against foreign regulations that violate trade agreements and jeopardize our shared economic and strategic goals,” said the Information Technology & Innovation Foundation (ITIF).

    Click HERE for bill text. 

    Background: 

    • The Platform Competition Promotion Act (PCPA), and similar legislation introduced in the Korean legislature is framed as an anti-monopoly bill but would end up directly targeting U.S. firms and subjecting them to office raids, fines, and disclosing private information.
    • This bill states that if the ROK passes the PCPA or any other legislation that attacks a U.S. digital company, the United States Trade Representative (USTR) will report to Congress on the impacts to the platform, whether the action is in violation of a trade agreement, and impacts to U.S. commerce as a whole.
    • Following the report, the United States Trade Representative is instructed to take action to protect U.S. trade which may include a case within the World Trade Organization (WTO) dispute settlement body, a Section 301 investigation, a dispute under the US-Korea Free Trade Agreement (FTA), or entering into an agreement with Korea to mitigate all impacts.
    • President Lee Jae-Myung, who was elected on June 3, 2025, has repeatedly advocated for the PCPA and promised a swift passage.
    • President Donald Trump and USTR Jamieson Greer have continuously voiced concern about Korea passing this legislation and stated that this issue will come up in negotiations.
    • On June 10, 2025, Congresswoman Miller spoke about the bill at the Coalition of Service Industry’s (CSI) 2025 Global Services Summit. Video can be found here.

    ###

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • Nearby Sculptor galaxy revealed in ultra-detailed galactic image

    Source: Government of India

    Source: Government of India (4)

    The Sculptor galaxy is similar in many respects to our Milky Way. It is about the same size and mass, with a similar spiral structure. But while it is impossible to get a full view of the Milky Way from the vantage point of Earth because we are inside the galaxy, Sculptor is perfectly positioned for a good look.

    Astronomers have done just that, releasing an ultra-detailed image of the Sculptor galaxy on Wednesday obtained with 50 hours of observations using one of the world’s biggest telescopes, the European Southern Observatory’s Chile-based Very Large Telescope.

    The image shows Sculptor, also called NGC 253, in around 4,000 different colors, each corresponding to a specific wavelength in the optical spectrum.

    Because various galactic components emit light differently across the spectrum, the observations are providing information at unprecedented detail on the inner workings of an entire galaxy, from star formation to the motion of interstellar gas on large scales. Conventional images in astronomy offer only a handful of colors, providing less information.

    The researchers used the telescope’s Multi Unit Spectroscopic Explorer, or MUSE, instrument.

    “NGC 253 is close enough that we can observe it in remarkable detail with MUSE, yet far enough that we can still see the entire galaxy in a single field of view,” said astronomer Enrico Congiu, a fellow at the European Southern Observatory in Santiago, and lead author of research being published in the journal Astronomy & Astrophysics.

    “In the Milky Way, we can achieve extremely high resolution, but we lack a global view since we’re inside it. For more distant galaxies, we can get a global view, but not the fine detail. That’s why NGC 253 is such a perfect target: it acts as a bridge between the ultra-detailed studies of the Milky Way and the large-scale studies of more distant galaxies. It gives us a rare opportunity to connect the small-scale physics with the big-picture view,” Congiu said.

    Sculptor is about 11 million light-years from Earth, making it one of the closest big galaxies to the Milky Way. A light-year is the distance light travels in a year, 5.9 trillion miles (9.5 trillion km).

    Like the Milky Way, it is a barred spiral galaxy, meaning it has an elongated structure extending from its nucleus, with spiral arms extending from the ends of the bar. Its diameter of about 88,000 light-years is similar to the Milky Way’s, as is its total mass. One major difference is Sculptor’s rate of new star formation, estimated to be two to three times greater than that of the Milky Way.

    Nearly 30% of this star formation is happening near the galaxy’s nucleus in what is called a starburst region, as revealed in colorful emissions shown in the new image.

    The observations have given information on a wide range of properties such as the motion, age and chemical composition of stars and the movement of interstellar gas, an important component of any galaxy.

    “Since the light from stars is typically bluer if the stars are young or redder if the stars are old, having thousands of colors lets us learn a lot about what stars and populations of stars exist in the galaxy,” said astronomer Kathryn Kreckel of Heidelberg University in Germany, a study co-author.

    “Similarly for the gas, it glows in specific bright emission lines at very specific colors, and tells us about the different elements that exist in the gas, and what is causing it to glow,” Kreckel said.

    The initial research being published from the observations involves planetary nebulae, which are luminous clouds of gas and dust expelled by certain dying stars. Despite their name, they have nothing to do with planets. These nebulae can help astronomers measure the precise distances of faraway galaxies.

    The researchers marveled at the scientific and aesthetic value of the new view of Sculptor.

    “I personally find these images amazing,” Congiu said. “What amazes me the most is that every time I look at them, I notice something new – another nebula, a splash of unexpected color or some subtle structure that hints at the incredible physics behind it all.”

    (Reuters)

  • MIL-OSI Banking: Secretary-General of ASEAN Receives CEO of China Renewable Energy Engineering Institute (CREEI)

    Source: ASEAN

    Secretary-General of ASEAN, Dr. Kao Kim Hourn, today received Mr. Yi Yuechun, Chief Executive Officer and Executive Deputy Director General of the China Renewable Energy Engineering Institute (CREEI), at the ASEAN Headquarters/ASEAN Secretariat. Both sides discussed existing cooperation as well as potential collaboration on clean energy development, highlighting shared commitments to advancing renewable energy initiatives under the ASEAN-China energy partnership.

    The post Secretary-General of ASEAN Receives CEO of China Renewable Energy Engineering Institute (CREEI) appeared first on ASEAN Main Portal.

    MIL OSI Global Banks –

  • MIL-OSI New Zealand: State Highway 58, Paremata closed following crash

    Source: New Zealand Police

    State Highway 58/Paremata Road is closed following a crash.

    The two-vehicle crash was reported just before 7:35pm.

    One person has been seriously injured.

    State Highway 58 is currently closed between James Cook Drive and Joseph Banks Drive.

    Motorists are advised to avoid the area and expect delays.

    ENDS

    Issued by Police Media Centre

    MIL OSI New Zealand News –

  • MIL-OSI New Zealand: Matariki – Matariki Message from HM King Charles III

    Matariki Message from HM King Charles III
    Source: New Zealand Government House – for  HM King Charles III
    E mihi ana ki a Matariki mā Puanga.
    My wife and I send our warmest greetings to all those in Aotearoa New Zealand celebrating Matariki, the Māori New Year. This year, I particularly acknowledge those iwi and regions that look to the star Puanga, or Rigel, to signal the New Year.
    The rising of Matariki and Puanga on the Eastern horizon heralds a time to reflect on the past, to remember absent loved ones and to prepare for a prosperous future. It also marks a time where many different peoples and communities come together in celebration, united under the same night sky.
    Regardless of how, or whether, one marks the lunar calendar, this moment offers an opportunity to learn and share knowledge, and to embrace the diverse traditions that shape Aotearoa New Zealand’s unique identity.
    I wish you all a bright year ahead. Mānawatia a Matariki.
    CHARLES R.

    MIL OSI New Zealand News –

  • Israel establishes air corridor to Tehran as Iranian missile hits major hospital

    Source: Government of India

    Source: Government of India (4)

    An Iranian missile struck the main hospital in southern Israel early Thursday, inflicting extensive damage and wounding multiple individuals as the Israel-Iran conflict entered a dangerously escalated phase. The strike on Soroka Medical Center, one of Israel’s largest hospitals, marked a significant shift in targeting civilian medical infrastructure. Israeli media aired images of shattered windows, damaged wards, and thick black smoke engulfing the hospital complex.

    In response, Israel has intensified its military campaign, gaining what officials describe as decisive air superiority over Iranian territory. The Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) reported neutralizing dozens of Iranian missile launchers—accounting for more than a third of Iran’s overall arsenal—often striking them as they were being prepared for launch. This operational advantage has allowed Israel to establish a direct air corridor to Tehran, enabling a new wave of raids on Iranian military targets in and around the capital. Authorities in Iran have urged residents of the villages of Arak and Khondab to evacuate ahead of expected airstrikes on local military infrastructure.

    The conflict reached new heights overnight as Israeli aircraft launched another assault on Iran’s Natanz nuclear facility. The Israeli military claims the site is being used for nuclear weapons development. This marks the second such strike on Natanz within the week. Earlier attacks are believed to have destroyed underground uranium enrichment centrifuges, a claim partially corroborated by the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA). Additional reports indicate Israeli forces also targeted Iran’s Arak heavy water reactor, escalating concerns over regional nuclear security.

    Iran responded by launching its 14th wave of missile attacks on Israel early Thursday morning. Over 25 missiles were fired in the latest barrage, targeting key strategic sites. According to Iranian sources, the Revolutionary Guard Corps successfully struck the Israeli army’s cyber command headquarters and an intelligence center in Gav Yam. Another missile reportedly hit a high-rise and several residential buildings near Tel Aviv.

    Israel’s national rescue service confirmed that at least 40 people were injured in the latest round of Iranian strikes. Among the damaged sites was the Israeli stock exchange building. Authorities now confirm at least 24 fatalities from Iranian missile attacks since the onset of this phase of the conflict. The hit on Soroka hospital remains the most severe blow to medical infrastructure since hostilities began.

    Despite Israeli air dominance, Iran continues to conduct more selective and targeted missile strikes. Analysts suggest that the declining frequency of Iranian launches is the result of Israel’s successful campaign to destroy missile platforms and storage sites before deployment.

    Meanwhile, U.S. President Donald Trump is reported to be evaluating military intervention options, with the crisis threatening to spill over into a broader West Asian confrontation. In a stern warning, Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei declared that any American strikes on Iranian soil would provoke “serious, irreparable consequences,” increasing the stakes of potential U.S. involvement.

  • Monsoon arrives early in Rajasthan; rainfall in most places of the state

    Source: Government of India

    Source: Government of India (4)

    Monsoon made an early arrival in Rajasthan on Wednesday – seven days ahead of its expected schedule. Traditionally, the monsoon reaches the state around June 25, but this year it arrived on June 18 – marking the first early arrival in the last three years.

    The last time the monsoon hit the state this early was on June 18 in 2021.

    In recent years, the onset of monsoon occurred on June 30 in 2022 and June 25 in both 2023 and 2024, said officials.

    Over the past 25 years, the earliest recorded monsoon arrival in Rajasthan was on June 13, 2001. It arrived on June 15 in 2013, June 17 in 2004, and June 18 in 2021.

    Other notable dates include June 19 (2003), June 22 (2011 and 2016), June 23 (2015), June 24 (2020), June 25 (2023 and 2024), June 26 (2002, 2005, and 2018), June 27 (2017), June 29 (2006), and June 30 (2022).

    On the other hand, the latest arrival occurred on July 15 in both 2007 and 2019.

    Delayed arrivals were also recorded on July 10 (2008), July 5 (2012), and July 3 (2009, 2010, and 2014).

    In 2019, the monsoon reached on July 2. This year, the monsoon has already covered more than half of Rajasthan on the first day itself.

    According to Radheshyam Sharma, Director of the Meteorological Center in Jaipur, the monsoon has advanced into all districts of Udaipur and Kota divisions and into parts of Jodhpur, Ajmer, Jaipur, and Bharatpur divisions.

    In the last 24 hours, moderate to heavy rainfall has been recorded across various regions, with some places experiencing very heavy showers.

    The highest rainfall in eastern Rajasthan was recorded in Kaman (Bharatpur) with 101 mm, while Raniwada (Jalore) in western Rajasthan recorded 84 mm.

    A low-pressure area has also formed over central Rajasthan, which is expected to boost monsoon activity, especially in the eastern parts of the state over the next two days.

    The Meteorological Department has predicted a good monsoon this year, raising hopes for above-normal rainfall that could greatly benefit agriculture and help improve water reserves across the state.

    (IANS)

  • MIL-OSI Russia: SPIEF-2025: Traditional business breakfast at the Polytechnic dedicated to technological leadership

    Translation. Region: Russian Federal

    Source: Peter the Great St Petersburg Polytechnic University – Peter the Great St Petersburg Polytechnic University –

    On the first day of the XXVIII St. Petersburg International Economic Forum, the Polytechnic University hosted a traditional business breakfast with the participation of SPbPU experts and partners. This year, the theme of the meeting was “Strategy for Russia’s Economic Development: from Technological Sovereignty to Technological Leadership.”

    At the beginning of the meeting, the guests were greeted by the rector of SPbPU, chairman of the St. Petersburg branch of the Russian Academy of Sciences Andrey Rudskoy. He noted that over the past two decades, one of the main directions of Russia’s state policy has been achieving technological independence through import substitution. This strategy was considered a key element in ensuring the country’s intellectual, economic and political sovereignty, as well as the most important component of national security.

    Although the world economy was moving towards globalization and the creation of global production chains, dependence on imports remained a serious risk for national economies. Under this development model, advantages were always received by countries that controlled key technologies and were customers of final products.

    Due to the change in the foreign policy situation, the Russian government has adjusted its priorities for scientific and technological development. State support programs, previously aimed at import substitution, have received a new strategic direction.

    According to the Concept of Technological Development of Russia until 2030, approved in 2023, the main goal was to achieve technological leadership, that is, to create products that surpass foreign analogues in key parameters. It is planned to allocate about three trillion rubles from the federal budget for the implementation of eight national projects in this area, while comparable co-financing is expected from the regions and businesses.

    “We have gathered here an economic, spiritual, educational and production-financial micro-forum to discuss how these changes will affect the structure of the Russian economy and the global technology market; what roles industrial enterprises, universities, research institutions, development institutes and government bodies will play in implementing the strategy; how the new strategy relates to the concept of a multipolar world; what risks and opportunities it creates for all participants in the economic system,” said Andrey Rudskoy. “The theme of this year’s St. Petersburg International Economic Forum — the slogan ‘Common Values — the Basis for Growth in a Multipolar World’ — brings us to the question of how, while creating a multipolar world, to create economic structures that would allow each state to develop freely. The solution to this complex problem depends on the political situation throughout the world, but I believe that mutual assistance, reliable cooperation, and faith in the ideals of equality and brotherhood will help us with this.”

    On behalf of the Governor and the Government of St. Petersburg, the meeting participants were welcomed by Vice Governor Vladimir Knyaginin.

    It is very pleasant to see the intellectual elite here at the Polytechnic University, and I hope that today’s business breakfast will make an important contribution to understanding what is happening with science in our country,” he noted.

    The keynote speech “Scientific and technological complex of Russia. In search of a new development model” was given by the chief economist of the state development corporation VEB.RF, honorary doctor of SPbPU Andrey Klepach. He focused on the fact that almost all developed countries by 2020 began to increase their R&D spending, the competition of knowledge and technological development has intensified. But in Russia, spending has remained below 1% of GDP, that is, we are not participating in this race.

    “We have declared that the main goal is technological and economic sovereignty, but the results are still quite modest,” says Andrey Klepach. “What needs to be done to ensure that sovereignty is truly formed and strengthened? The issue of structural restructuring of the economy is quite acute, without which it will not be competitive. It is not only a matter of how much money to allocate to science, mechanical engineering, and IT, but also what the result will be in terms of added value and how the overall structure of our entire economy will change.”

    According to the expert, with all the importance of fundamental science, today it is necessary to rely on the advanced development of applied research. It is also necessary to interact with business, the real sector of the economy. Unlike other countries, in Russia, the share of business in financing science is not very large, but recently I began to grow. Many enterprises began to develop their own applied research centers. In this regard, Andrei Klepach proposed to consider the new management system of the scientific and technological complex. He said that in leading universities with strong fundamental science there are positive examples of the development of applied scientific centers and experimental industries (including in St. Petersburg). However, orientation exclusively on universities as the main drivers of technology development, according to the Western model of the development of science, did not justify hopes. In Russia, the main function of the university remains educational. The scientific and infrastructural potentials of most universities do not allow them to be considered as leading integrators of fundamental and applied science. Traditionally, the development of advanced through technologies is launched by the new needs of the defense sector and at the expense of budget funds, but the current format of the state defense order does not ensure this. It is advisable to form on the basis of leading state scientific centers, NICs and centers of the NTI of the head intersectoral and interdisciplinary national research centers of applied science in the format of national laboratories for individual priorities. Such a structure can ensure the transition of research and the results of the Russian Academy of Sciences to the stage of development and harmonize the rewind of technologies between civil and defense sectors.

    The economist also emphasized that no matter what the sovereignty, it is still impossible to develop without partnership, without scientific interaction.

    It is impossible to create all the technologies ourselves, even the Soviet Union could not do that. We need specific partnership contacts in Malaysia, India, China, and maintaining ties in the scientific community with European countries and the USA is extremely important, Andrey Klepach is sure.

    In her speech, Natalia Tretyak, General Director of JSC Prosveshchenie, said that in order to solve the problems of popularizing science and scientists, in 2023 the Foundation for the Development of Scientific and Cultural Relations of Universities established the Vyzov Prize and thanked the Polytechnic University for holding it. application campaign for this year’s award.

    The fact that we are discussing the problems of technological leadership today within the framework of the St. Petersburg International Economic Forum allows us to hope that science and technology will become attractive to young people. A technological breakthrough is probably impossible if this area of activity is not fashionable, is not a role model. If we ask people on the street to name famous modern Russian scientists, I am afraid that many will not answer. Therefore, it is important that in the thoughts of the younger generation, the image of a scientist is formed as the image of a national hero. So that the value of science is recognized as one of the most important not only for the state and society, but also for an individual, – emphasized Natalia Tretyak.

    The scientific director of the Concern “TsNII Elektropribor”, academician of the Russian Academy of Sciences, honorary doctor of SPbPU, Hero of Labor of the Russian Federation Vladimir Peshekhonov, the rector of the Moscow Theological Academy, Bishop of Sergiev Posad and Dmitrov Kirill (graduate of the Polytechnic University), chairman of the All-Russian Society for Nature Conservation Vyacheslav Fetisov, and the head of the ANO “Russian Quality System” (Roskachestvo) Maxim Protasov also shared their vision of the problem.

    The closing remarks were made by the Vice President of the Russian Academy of Sciences, Chairman of the Siberian Branch of the Russian Academy of Sciences Valentin Parmon.

    Forbes magazine claims that the first real result of public-private partnership was what Academician Vladimir Ipatyev did in 1915, when he made the military chemical industry in Russia completely independent in a year, with almost no funds. And in 1921, when he was creating the chemical industry already in Soviet Russia, he formulated what technological sovereignty is. According to him, production can only be independent when it relies entirely on its own raw materials and technical personnel.

    After the official part, the guests exchanged opinions on the issues raised at the meeting in an informal setting. Thus, Deputy Director General of the presidential platform “Russia – Country of Opportunities” Dmitry Guzhelya noted that today Russia is confidently moving along the path of sustainable development, strengthening technological independence and competitiveness. This is not just a response to external challenges, but a long-term strategy that unites the efforts of the state, business, science and education.

    “The technological sovereignty and leadership of the country begin with the capabilities of each person,” said Dmitry Guzhelya. “Through the competitions and Olympiads of the presidential platform “Russia – the Country of Opportunities”, we open the doors to talents from all over the country. These are more than just projects. Here, the boundaries between regions and industries are erased: anyone who is ready to act can declare themselves, find a team of like-minded people and implement their ideas in order to make a significant contribution to the development of the country. Thus, we not only create an environment for growth, but also form a powerful personnel reserve for a technological breakthrough, linking talented specialists, business, science and the state.”

    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 Asia-Pac: SFST attends Lujiazui Forum to foster collaborative development of Shanghai and Hong Kong (with photos)

    Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

    The Secretary for Financial Services and the Treasury, Mr Christopher Hui, attended the 2025 Lujiazui Forum and related events in Shanghai yesterday (June 18) and today (June 19). Addressing a seminar titled “Collaborative Development of Shanghai and Hong Kong International Financial Centres” today (June 19), he said that Hong Kong and Shanghai are unlocking many more new opportunities for collaborative development with their positions as the country’s “dual engine” financial centres, providing strong support for the country’s “dual circulation” strategy. Mr Hui also met with relevant heads of financial institutions during his stay in Shanghai.
     
    This year’s Lujiazui Forum is themed “Financial Opening-up and Cooperation for High-Quality Development in a Changing Global Economy”. Mr Hui attended the opening ceremony and plenary session of the Forum yesterday and addressed today’s seminar where the Hong Kong Financial Services Development Council and the Shanghai Research Center for Financial Stability and Development jointly released a research report on the “Synergistic Development of Shanghai and Hong Kong as International Financial Centres in the New Era”.
     
    Speaking at the Plenary Session IV titled “Deepening the Cooperation between Shanghai and Hong Kong as International Financial Centers” yesterday, Mr Hui said, “Riding on the solid foundation of Stock Connect, mutual-market access between financial markets on the Mainland and Hong Kong has been expanding in scope and capacity. Programmes such as Bond Connect, the inclusion of Exchange Traded Funds into Stock Connect, and Swap Connect have been implemented. These programmes enhance not only the product offering for domestic and foreign investors but also the attraction for more capital influx into the capital markets of the two places, promoting long-term development of the markets.
     
    “At the same time, Hong Kong needs to further enrich the offerings of its offshore Renminbi (RMB) market to facilitate the adoption of RMB by global market participants. To this end, we will step up efforts in four areas, namely enhancing offshore RMB liquidity, increasing products, improving infrastructure, and expanding new markets.”
     
    When talking about stablecoins and central bank digital currencies (CBDCs), Mr Hui pointed out that by utilising the innovative capabilities of private institutions, stablecoins are meant to create and implement new use cases for the digital economy with the integration of the financial system with the real economy. Hong Kong’s stablecoin regulatory framework takes into account both innovation and systemic risk prevention, covering the establishment of a transparent reserve asset system, the introduction of independent third-party institutions for regular audits, and the establishment of risk assessment mechanisms. Separately, the Hong Kong Monetary Authority is currently engaging the industry to carry out initial exploration on wholesale CBDCs.
     
    “In future, we anticipate closer collaboration with Shanghai in areas such as financial innovation and green finance to achieve synergy effects.”
     
    Yesterday morning, Mr Hui signed the Action Plan for Collaborative Development of Shanghai and Hong Kong International Financial Centres on behalf of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government with Shanghai to promote collaborative development, with a view to further forming a “dual hub” landscape of the two financial centres of Shanghai and Hong Kong, for better promotion of the internationalisation of RMB, thus contributing to a joint effort to building the country into a financial powerhouse. The Action Plan covers a number of measures, including supporting the Shanghai Clearing House (SHCH) to strengthen co-operation with Hong Kong banks and offshore Chinese banks in Hong Kong, supporting Mainland banks and financial institutions headquartered in Shanghai to set up regional headquarters in Hong Kong, and pressing ahead with the linkage of the Faster Payment System in Hong Kong with the Internet Banking Payment System on the Mainland.
     
    During his stay in Shanghai, Mr Hui also visited several financial institutions, including the Shanghai Gold Exchange, the SHCH, and the Shanghai Futures Exchange, and met with Deputy Chief Executive of the Bank of China (Hong Kong) Mr Wang Huabin, and the President of Bank of Communications, Mr Zhang Baojiang, to discuss and exchange views to explore opportunities and models for co-operation regarding matters such as promoting gold market development in Hong Kong, enhancement to the offerings of the offshore RMB centre, and fostering collaborative development with the Mainland in financial derivatives and futures markets.
     
    Mr Hui will return to Hong Kong this afternoon.

    MIL OSI Asia Pacific News –

  • MIL-OSI Australia: Australia targets green economy opportunities in Southeast Asia with trade mission to Malaysia

    Source: Australian Attorney General’s Agencies

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

    MIL OSI News –

  • MIL-OSI Australia: NSW residents urged to act as COVID levels rise on top of influenza

    Source: Australian Green Party

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

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

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

    MIL OSI News –

  • MIL-OSI Africa: Safe spaces transform lives of displaced women in war torn Sudan


    Download logo

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

    MIL OSI Africa –

  • Air India to cut international flights on widebody aircraft by 15%

    Source: Government of India

    Source: Government of India (4)

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

    (Reuters)

  • MIL-OSI New Zealand: Appeal for witnesses following crash, SH60, Mapua

    Source: New Zealand Police

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

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

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

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

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

    Please reference file number 250619/4692.

    ENDS

    MIL OSI New Zealand News –

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

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

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

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

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

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

    Zombis, revenants and the returning dead

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

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

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

    A perfect setting for a ‘zombie’ film

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

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

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

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

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

    Early accounts of the medieval dead

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

    A threat to be dealt with

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

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

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

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

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

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

    The undead, further north

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

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

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

    The dead live on

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

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

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

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

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

    MIL OSI Analysis – EveningReport.nz –

  • Record 54 Indian institutes in QS Rankings 2026; IIT Delhi tops national list

    Source: Government of India

    Source: Government of India (4)

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

    IANS

  • Govt to ensure that consumers benefit from edible oil import duty cuts

    Source: Government of India

    Source: Government of India (4)

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

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

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

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

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

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

  • Yassine Bounou’s PK save helps Al Hilal tie Real Madrid in Club World Cup

    Source: Government of India

    Source: Government of India (4)

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

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

    Gonzalo Garcia had a goal for Real Madrid.

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

    The match was the Group H opener for both teams.

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

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

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

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

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

    Reuters

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

    Translation. Region: Russian Federal

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

    MIL OSI Russia News –

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

    Source: Republic of China Taiwan

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

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

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

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

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

    MIL OSI Asia Pacific News –

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

    Source: Huawei

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

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

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

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

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

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

    MIL OSI Economics –

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

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

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

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

    She wrote on Instagram:

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

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

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

    First, how about dancing during pregnancy?

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

    What about dancing to induce labour, and during labour?

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

    So, did Meghan induce her labour with dance?

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

    MIL OSI – Global Reports –

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

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

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

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

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

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

    Zombis, revenants and the returning dead

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

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

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

    A perfect setting for a ‘zombie’ film

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

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

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

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

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

    Early accounts of the medieval dead

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

    A threat to be dealt with

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

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

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

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

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

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

    The undead, further north

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

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

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

    The dead live on

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

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

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

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

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

    MIL OSI – Global Reports –

  • Air India crash: Centre issues draft rules to tighten control over physical obstructions

    Source: Government of India

    Source: Government of India (4)

    In a significant move following the tragic crash of an Air India Boeing 787 Dreamliner, the Ministry of Civil Aviation has released new draft rules aimed at tightening control over physical structures that could pose risks to aircraft safety.

    Titled ‘Aircraft (Demolition of Obstructions) Rules, 2025’, the draft regulations will come into effect upon their publication in the Official Gazette. The rules are designed to empower authorities to take prompt and decisive action against buildings, trees, and other structures that exceed permissible height limits in designated aerodrome zones.

    The initiative is being seen as a proactive step to enhance aviation safety and prevent future accidents caused by obstructions in aircraft flight paths.

    Under the proposed rules, any structure exceeding the height restrictions around notified aerodromes will be served a notice by the officer-in-charge. Property owners will be required to submit key details — including site plans, ownership documents, and structural dimensions — within 60 days of receiving the notice.

    Failure to comply may result in enforcement action, including the demolition or trimming of the structure.

    If the Director General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) or an authorised officer determines the structure to be in violation, a formal order may be issued mandating height reduction or demolition. Property owners will be given up to 60 days to comply, with the possibility of a one-time extension of an additional 60 days, subject to valid justification.

    The draft also grants officials the authority to conduct physical site inspections during daylight hours after informing the property owner. If the owner refuses to cooperate, the officer may proceed based on available information and escalate the matter to the DGCA.
    Appeals and Compensation

    The draft rules outline a two-tier appeals process, allowing affected property owners to challenge demolition or trimming orders by filing an appeal with the First or Second Appellate Officer. Appeals must include the prescribed form, relevant documents, and a fee of Rs 1,000.

    Importantly, the rules state that only those who comply with official orders will be eligible for compensation under Section 22 of the Bharatiya Vayuyan Adhiniyam, 2024. Structures erected in violation of the rules after the notification date will not qualify for any compensation.

    The Ministry has invited public objections and suggestions within 20 days of the draft’s publication.

    The regulations follow the June 12 crash of an Air India Dreamliner, which was en route from Ahmedabad to London’s Gatwick Airport. Shortly after takeoff, the aircraft slammed into the B.J. Medical College Hostel and burst into flames, killing 241 of the 242 people on board and several others on the ground.

    (With inputs from IANS)

  • PM Modi extends birthday wishes to Rahul Gandhi, wishes him long and healthy life

    Source: Government of India

    Source: Government of India (4)

    Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday extended his greetings to Congress leader and Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha, Rahul Gandhi, on the occasion of his 55th birthday.

    “Birthday greetings to the Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha, Shri Rahul Gandhi. May he be blessed with a long and healthy life,” the Prime Minister wrote on X.

    Rahul Gandhi, born on June 19, 1970, at Delhi’s Holy Family Hospital, is the elder son of former Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi and Congress Parliamentary Party Chairperson Sonia Gandhi. He belongs to a distinguished political lineage that includes India’s first Prime Minister, Jawaharlal Nehru, and former Prime Minister Indira Gandhi.

    Union Ministers Rajnath Singh and Nitin Gadkari also conveyed their wishes on social media. “Greetings to the Leader of Opposition in Lok Sabha Shri Rahul Gandhi on his birthday. May he be blessed with good health and a long life,” Defence Minister Rajnath Singh posted.

    Union Minister for Road Transport and Highways, Nitin Gadkari, said: “Extending my heartfelt birthday wishes to the Leader of the Opposition in Lok Sabha and Lok Sabha MP from Rae Bareli, Uttar Pradesh Shri Rahul Gandhi ji. May this occasion bring joy, and the year ahead be filled with health and prosperity.”

    To mark the occasion, the Indian Youth Congress (IYC) is organising a large-scale job fair at Talkatora Stadium in New Delhi. The event, coinciding with Gandhi’s birthday, is expected to host over 100 companies and multinational corporations, offering more than 5,000 job opportunities across various sectors.

    -IANS

  • MIL-OSI Russia: About fifty yoga masters will conduct free open-air classes at VDNKh

    Translation. Region: Russian Federal

    Source: Moscow Government – Government of Moscow –

    The capital will host a celebration on June 21 International Day of Yoga as part of the Summer in Moscow project. Joint practices, creative workshops and an introduction to Indian culture will be organized for city residents and tourists at the site near the Michurinsky Garden at VDNKh.

    From 09:00 to 19:00, guests will enjoy a rich program that will begin with a welcome from the Ambassador of India to Russia Vinay Kumar. Participation is free, but pre-registration is required at digital tourism service Ruspass.

    Open-air classes will be held by about fifty masters. Those interested will get acquainted with various exercise complexes: yoga for joint health and recovery from injuries, for young mothers and stress relief. TV presenter Nikolai Drozdov will talk about the benefits of such classes for longevity, and Australian singer Peruqua, who practices vocal yoga, will perform musical compositions.

    The event is organized by the Government of Moscow and the Embassy of the Republic of India.

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

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

    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/nevs/ite/155440073/

    MIL OSI Russia News –