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  • Piyush Goyal urges youth to lead the journey towards a Viksit Bharat by 2047

    Source: Government of India

    Source: Government of India (4)

    Union Minister of Commerce and Industry Piyush Goyal on Friday inaugurated the India’s International Movement to Unite Nations (IIMUN) Conference 2025 in Noida, where he called upon youth to take the lead in building a Viksit Bharat (Developed India) by 2047, in line with Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s vision under the ‘Panch Pran’ for Amrit Kaal.

    Addressing a gathering of students and young leaders, Goyal said the next 25 years represent a defining era for India, and that the youth will be the primary drivers of the country’s transformation. He highlighted the five pledges outlined by the Prime Minister on Independence Day 2022 – developing India, shedding colonial mindsets, taking pride in heritage, fostering unity, and fulfilling collective responsibility – as guiding principles for the nation’s progress.

    Goyal emphasized the importance of inclusive and sustainable growth, calling on the youth to approach nation-building as both a duty and a privilege. He also encouraged them to consider roles in public service and politics, echoing the Prime Minister’s appeal for one lakh youth to join public life and become agents of change.

    “There is a need for capable and committed individuals to contribute to policymaking with compassion, dedication, and a spirit of service,” he said.

    Paying tribute to teachers and mentors, Goyal said their guidance plays a crucial role in shaping both individuals and the future of the country. Concluding his address, he urged the youth to become “changemakers and nation-builders,” committed to leading India toward greater heights.

  • MIL-Evening Report: Connie Francis was the voice of a generation and the soundtrack of post-war America

    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Leigh Carriage, Senior Lecturer in Music, Southern Cross University

    Hulton Archive/Getty Images

    Connie Francis dominated the music charts in the late 1950s and early 1960s with hits like Stupid Cupid, Pretty Little Baby and Don’t Break the Heart That Loves You.

    The pop star, author and actor has died at 87, and will be remembered for recording the soundtrack songs of post-World War II America.

    Francis photographed around 1963.
    Silver Screen Collection/Getty Images

    An early life of music

    Francis was born Concetta Rosa Maria Franconero in Newark, New Jersey, to Italian immigrant parents. At a very early age, Francis was encouraged to take accordion and singing lessons, compete in talent shows, and later she would perform occasionally on the children’s production Star Time Kids on NBC, remaining there until she was 17.

    Within these early recordings you can hear her style begin to develop: her tone, great pitching, her versatility in vocal range. Her vocal delivery is technically controlled and stylistically structured, often nuanced – and even at this early stage demonstrating such power coupled with an adaptability for a broad range of repertoire.

    At 17, Francis signed a contract with MGM Records.

    One of her early recordings was the song Who’s Sorry Now?, written by Ted Snyder with lyrics by Bert Kalmar and Harry Ruby in 1923. Her version was released in 1957 and struggled to get noticed.

    The following year, Francis appeared with the ballad on American Bandstand. This performance exposed Francis’ talent for interpretation and her ability to bridge the teen and adult fanbase.

    The song would become a hit.

    It’s useful to listen to the original version to gain more insight into Francis’ vocal approach and styling. The original is an instrumental song of its time, with light whimsical call and response motives in a foxtrot feel.

    But in Francis’ version, she demonstrates her ability to revitalise a late 1950s pop music aesthetic. In an emotional delivery she croons her own rendition, with the country styling elements of Patsy Cline.

    Connie Francis performing in Milan in 1961.
    Universal Archive/Universal Images Group via Getty Images

    The voice of a generation

    Following Who’s Sorry Now?, Stupid Cupid (1958), Where The Boys Are (1960, the titular song of a feature film starring Francis) and Lipstick on Your Collar (1959) became the soundtrack songs of post-war America.

    Francis was supported with songs penned by the some of the best songwriters from the Brill Building, a creative collective in Manhattan that housed professional songwriters, working with staff writers Edna Lewis and George Goehring.

    In 1960, Francis released her hit Everybody’s Somebody’s Fool written by Jack Keller and Howard Greenfield. It was a teeny-bopper classic, and she became the first women to top the Billboard Hot 100.

    Francis records in the studio with Freddy Quinn at MGM in 1963 in New York.
    PoPsie Randolph/Michael Ochs Archives/Getty Images

    Styled after some of the other greats of the time – such as Frank Sinatra (1915–98), Dean Martin (1917–95) and Louis Prima (1910–70) – Francis’ performance on the Ed Sullivan show highlighted her connection to her Italian heritage and ability to draw from a broad repertoire.

    On the show, she performed Mama and La Paloma. Each performance is very carefully styled, a thoughtful approach to dynamics, sung in both English and Italian.

    Don’t Break the Heart That Loves You, a number one hit from 1962, features Francis’ gorgeous crooning harmonies. Then, the song breaks down into an earnest spoken part and finishes with a powerful belted vocal part of long notes.

    The song is full of confidence and hope.

    Away from the microphone

    Francis had two key roles in films, starring in Where the Boys Are (1960) and the comedy Follow the Boys (1963).

    She was an author of two books. The second, Who’s Sorry Now?, became a New York Times bestseller.

    Francis was involved with humanitarian causes. She was particularly involved with Women Against Rape, following her own violent rape in 1974, and the Valour Victims Assistance Legal Organisation, dedicated to supporting the legal rights of crime victims. A lesser known song in her repertoire, fitting to include here, is her version of Born Free from 1968.

    As a singer, Francis worked at her craft and transitioned effortlessly from one genre to another, performing for over five decades. She will be remembered as a trailblazing solo artist, leaving a strong legacy in popular music culture.

    She was the voice of one generation when she was a star. And in her final year she became the voice of a new generation as Pretty Little Baby, released in 1962, went viral on TikTok, with more than 1.4 million videos using her voice to share stories of their lives.

    Francis performs in Atlantic City, New Jersey, in 2009.
    Bobby Bank/WireImage

    Leigh Carriage 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. Connie Francis was the voice of a generation and the soundtrack of post-war America – https://theconversation.com/connie-francis-was-the-voice-of-a-generation-and-the-soundtrack-of-post-war-america-261467

    MIL OSI Analysis – EveningReport.nz –

  • MIL-Evening Report: Mark Latham’s portrait may come off federal caucus wall

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

    The Labor caucus tolerates having the odd “rat” among the photos of ALP leaders on the party room wall, but Mark Latham may have now pushed it too far.

    After the latest bizarre scandal surrounding the one-time federal Labor leader, who is an independent in the NSW upper house, there is a push to remove his image from the federal caucus gallery.

    Discussions are underway within Labor. No comment could be obtained from Prime Minister Anthony Albanese who was on his way back from China. But if the caucus women want to see the Latham photo go, that’s likely to be what happens.

    Social Services Minister Tanya Plibersek said on Friday, “I’m sure that there are plenty of people scratching their heads about his portrait being up in the caucus room and giving consideration to whether it’s appropriate or not”.

    Latham has a long record of scandal and offensive behaviour. In the most recent episode, his former partner, Nathalie Matthews, has accused him of a “sustained pattern” of domestic abuse, in a civil court application for an apprehended violence order. Among other things, she alleged he pressured her to take part in “degrading” sex acts.

    Text messages between the two have also been published this week in which Latham sent Matthews photos of and disparaging comments about female members of the state parliament.

    Latham has denied the Matthews’ allegations of domestic abuse and basically shrugged off a barrage of criticism of his photographing female politicians in the chamber without their consent (although he has apologised to at least one of them).

    Plibersek said Latham’s behaviour would see him sacked from any other workplace.

    Latham was federal Labor leader from December 2003 to January 2005. As the new leader he was considered to have a prospect of winning the 2004 election, although in the event the Coalition increased its majority. At the end of that campaign he attracted negative publicity for an aggressive handshake with then prime minister John Howard, when they crossed paths.

    Latham was initially elected to the NSW parliament under the banner of One Nation but fell out with Pauline Hanson.

    In 2024 he lost a defamation case brought by NSW crossbencher Alex Greenwich after Latham targeted him in a homophobic post on social media. Recently Latham revealed details, under parliamentary privilege, of a confidential psychologist report regarding Greenwich.

    Plibersek said it was “extraordinary that he was elected to the New South Wales parliament in the first place with his sort of track record.

    “The voters who put him there I’m sure would be really experiencing a bit of buyer’s remorse when they look at his behaviour; the way that he is spending his time in parliament certainly is not delivering value for taxpayers’ dollars.”

    Plibersek said when Latham became opposition leader she had “a little cry after work”. Latham beat Kim Beazley for the post after the leadership of Simon Crean collapsed.

    “I didn’t see evidence of this sort of behaviour back in the day, but I always had my doubts about him as a political figure, and I think those doubts have only increased in recent decades as his behaviour has become worse and more extreme.”

    Latham was a protege of Gough Whitlam, for whom he worked as a researcher. He held Whitlam’s former seat of Werriwa.

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

    – ref. Mark Latham’s portrait may come off federal caucus wall – https://theconversation.com/mark-lathams-portrait-may-come-off-federal-caucus-wall-261093

    MIL OSI Analysis – EveningReport.nz –

  • MIL-OSI Africa: The United Nations (UN) rights chief condemns recent killing of scores of civilians in Sudan

    Source: APO


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    Since 10 July, the UN human rights office, OHCHR, has verified that the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) have killed at least 60 civilians in North Kordofan’s Bara locality, while civil society groups have reported that up to 300 were killed.

    The Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) also hit two villages in West Kordofan from 10 to 14 July, killing at least 23 civilians and causing more than 30 injuries.

    Most recently, on Thursday, an SAF airstrike in Bara killed at least 11 civilians who were all members of a single family.

    According to the High Commissioner’s statement, these deaths come amid worrying reports that the RSF is mobilising for an offensive on the capital of North Kordofan state, El Obeid.  

    Continued concern for El Fasher  

    At another major hotspot in the Sudan conflict, the besieged city of El Fasher in North Darfur state, the RSF has conducted multiple attacks recently. They include a ground attack on 11 and 12 July, which reportedly resulted in civilian casualties.  

    The High Commissioner subsequently “expressed continued concern for the safety of civilians in El Fasher.”

    “Callous disregard for civilians’ lives and safety”

    The statement stressed that the High Commissioner “deplored the killing of dozens of civilians by both parties.”

    “It is distressing that more than two years since the conflict began parties to the conflict in Sudan continue to demonstrate callous disregard for civilians’ lives and safety,” he said.  

    “An escalation of hostilities in North Darfur and Kordofan will only further aggravate the already severe risks to civilians and the dire humanitarian situation in a conflict that has already wrought untold suffering on the Sudanese people,”  

    Mr. Türk urged those with influence to prevent further escalation and ensure parties uphold their obligations under international law, including the protection of civilians.  

    The High Commissioner renewed his calls for the warring parties to ensure safe and unimpeded access to humanitarian aid and to prevent violations of international law.  

    “All alleged violations must be fully and independently investigated and those responsible brought to justice,” he concluded. 

    Heavy rains and attacks on civilians

    At the daily briefing in New York on Thursday, Associate Spokesperson for the Secretary-General, Stephanie Tremblay, relayed reports from the Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs on the worsening humanitarian situation in North Darfur.

    Heavy rains and flooding on 14 and 15 July displaced more than 400 people and destroyed dozens of homes in North Darfur’s Dar As Salam locality. Displaced families are now sheltering with host communities already struggling to cope.

    Ms. Tremblay also reported on additional attacks on civilians in recent days, with shelling killing five children in El Fasher on 16 July and six people at the Naivasha market in the famine-stricken Abu Shouk camp 15 July.

    The El Fasher Maternity Hospital, the only major hospital still operating in the area, is overwhelmed, critically short-staffed and severely under-resourced.    

    Additionally, the lean season from now until October is compounding the food insecurity crisis by disrupting markets, limiting incomes and raising food prices.  

    Noting the High Commissioner’s statement, Ms. Tremblay said that “we call for an immediate cessation of hostilities, the protection of civilians and humanitarian personnel, unimpeded access across both borders and conflict lines, and increased international funding to respond to this escalating crisis.”

    Distributed by APO Group on behalf of UN News.

    MIL OSI Africa –

  • MIL-OSI Africa: Parliament Statement on the Mandela Day

    Source: APO


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    The Presiding Officers of Parliament, Speaker of the National Assembly Ms Thoko Didiza and Chairperson of the National Council of Provinces Ms Refilwe Mtshweni-Tsipane, call on all South Africans to honour the enduring legacy of our founding democratic President, Tata Nelson Mandela, by actively working to change the world around them—on Mandela Day and beyond.

    This year’s Mandela Day theme, “It’s still in our hands to combat poverty and inequality,” serves as a powerful reminder that the struggle for justice, dignity, and equality continues—and that meaningful change requires collective action from institutions, communities, and individuals alike.

    Mandela Day encourages each of us to dedicate 67 minutes of service to others, symbolising the 67 years Madiba spent fighting for justice and freedom. But these 67 minutes are not just symbolic; they are an invitation to ignite a deeper, daily commitment to nation-building and solidarity.

    As the country marks 31 years of democracy and commemorates the 70th anniversary of the Freedom Charter, Parliament reaffirms its constitutional obligation to lead in the transformation of society. Through progressive legislation, effective oversight, and vibrant public participation, Parliament continues to strive for a South Africa that reflects the ideals for which Madiba lived and sacrificed.

    While Parliament carries the responsibility to enact change through its democratic mandate, every citizen also has a role to play.

    Parliament acknowledges that although significant strides have been made through laws and policies that have improved the lives of millions, the journey toward a more just and equitable society must continue with urgency and resolve. Parliament will remain unwavering in promoting accountability, transparency, and people-centred governance to realise the better life Madiba envisioned for all.

    To honour Mandela’s legacy of compassion and service, the Presiding Officers of Parliament are leading outreach activities throughout this month and beyond in support vulnerable communities across the country.

    This morning, the Presiding Officers of Parliament, joined by National Assembly Deputy Speaker Dr Annelie Lotriet, NCOP Deputy Chairperson Mr. Les Govender and Secretary to Parliament Mr Xolile George will lead an outreach initiative by personally serving meals to homeless individuals at the Gama Parking Lot adjacent to Parliament from 10h00. Through this symbolic gesture, Parliament seeks to encourage all South Africans to embody the spirit of Ubuntu by engaging in daily acts of kindness and community upliftment.

    Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Republic of South Africa: The Parliament.

    MIL OSI Africa –

  • MIL-OSI Africa: Health leaders to convene in Mozambique for innovation and action for immunization and child survival forum 2025

    Source: APO

    Global health leaders, policymakers, philanthropists, researchers, and advocates will gather in Maputo from 22–24 July 2025 for the Innovation and Action for Immunization and Child Survival Forum 2025 (https://www.ChildHealthForum2025.com/). This is a high-level convening aimed at accelerating progress toward expanding access to life-saving immunization and ending preventable child deaths across sub-Saharan Africa.

    Download document: https://apo-opa.co/3TJOhqP

    Hosted by the Governments of Mozambique and Sierra Leone, and in partnership with the Government of Spain, “la Caixa” Foundation, the Gates Foundation and UNICEF, the forum comes just five years to the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) 2030 deadline.

    “Mozambique is proud to host this critical gathering, at a time when the world is at a crossroads,” said Hon. Dr. Ussene Isse, Minister of Health of Mozambique. “Despite the unacceptable reality that we lose millions of children globally to preventable diseases each year, the rate of progress in reducing these deaths has slowed in the past 10 years, precisely when we need to accelerate. The decisions we make now will determine whether we keep our promise to every child to survive, to thrive, and to reach their fifth birthday. We must act boldly, together, and without delay.”

    A Defining Moment for Child Survival

    Incredible progress has reduced the number of deaths of children under the age of five by half since 2000. Yet today, almost five million children are still dying from preventable causes each year—58% of them in Sub-Saharan Africa. Preventable infectious diseases like pneumonia, malaria, diarrhea, and meningitis remain the global leading causes of death among children under five, while malnutrition contributes to 45% of all child deaths globally.

    “We cannot afford to let progress stall. We have a golden opportunity to dramatically expand our impact through bold leadership, sustainable financing, and coordinated strategies and alignment to reach the most vulnerable populations,” said Hon. Dr. Austin Demby, Minister of Health, Sierra Leone. “Breakthrough innovations like malaria vaccines, point of care tests, and ready-to-use therapeutic foods formulated to address malnutrition are improving our capacity to save young lives and prevent childhood deaths. At the same time, by weaving these innovations into our Life Stages Approach, we make sure every child receives the right intervention at the right time, whether it is a vaccine at birth, nutrition support during a growth setback, or follow-up care through the continuum of care as they grow; ensuring no child or opportunity is missed.”

    The convening will spotlight ongoing record levels of global funding cuts to public health programmes, including immunization. With increasing budgetary pressure within low- and middle-income countries and little room to immediately raise domestic and philanthropic funding to plug these gaps, the impact of these cuts is even more acute, especially in fragile and conflict-affected settings where children are nearly three times more likely to die before reaching age five.

    “This forum will be another milestone in our collective effort to build a world where every child gets to grow up and thrive. It’s a unique opportunity to continue fighting inequalities for the most vulnerable populations, always aligned with the Sustainable Development Goals and the Agenda 2030,” said H.R.H. Infanta Cristina, Director of the International Area at the “la Caixa” Foundation.

    Mapping a Clear Path Forward

    The forum will offer a platform for stakeholders to share best practices, explore how to scale up innovations, diagnostic tools and nutrition solutions to reach all children, especially the most vulnerable in conflict-afflicted and climate-impacted settings. Speakers will also emphasize strengthening service delivery through integrated child health platforms, community health worker programs and digital tools, as well as building sustainable financing by mobilizing domestic resources, pooling international aid, and exploring innovative financing mechanisms.

    “Every child deserves the chance to grow up healthy and thrive. Thanks to proven solutions and innovative care, we’ve made remarkable progress in helping more children survive their earliest, most vulnerable years. By investing in strong, integrated primary health-care systems and reaching every child with life-saving care—no matter who they are or where they live—we can save millions more young lives and build stronger families, communities, and futures,” said Dr. Yasmin Ali Haque, Director of Health, UNICEF.

    The convening will build on the momentum of the 2020 and 2023 Global Fora on Childhood Pneumonia (https://apo-opa.co/44UxUg0) to foster impactful partnerships, strengthen political will and mobilize Africa’s political and public health leaders to ensure all children are protected against the leading threats to their survival.

    “Despite remarkable progress, millions of children remain unreached, lacking access to vaccines or treatments for preventable diseases. This forum is a rallying cry for Africa and the world, because the final chapter in the global fight for child survival will be written on this continent. We must protect our children with the tools we have, invest in the innovations we need, and ensure no child is left behind,” said Keith Klugman, Director, Pneumonia and Pandemic Preparedness, Gates Foundation.

    Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Innovation and Action for Immunization and Child Survival Forum 2025.

    For interview requests, please contact:

    About the Innovation and Action for Immunization and Child Survival Forum 2025:
    The Innovation and Action for Immunization and Child Survival Forum 2025 will bring together stakeholders across selected countries in sub-Saharan Africa and other regions including senior health ministry officials, development agencies, donors, academia, civil society, and the private sector. Accordingly, it will focus on new and underutilized tools to deliver progress on child survival, more effective infectious disease risk mitigation and surveillance strategies, more efficient models of service delivery, the need for robust prioritization exercises including for routine immunization systems and new vaccine introductions, and innovative child survival financing options.

    For more information on the forum agenda, visit: https://www.ChildHealthForum2025.com/

    Media files

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    MIL OSI Africa –

  • MIL-OSI China: Renovation of Tianma tourism block completed in China’s Xinjiang

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

    Renovation of Tianma tourism block completed in China’s Xinjiang

    Updated: July 18, 2025 16:23 Xinhua
    A drone photo taken on July 10, 2025 shows a night view of the Tianma tourism block in Zhaosu County of Ili Kazak Autonomous Prefecture, northwest China’s Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region. The renovation of the Tianma tourism block in Zhaosu County is a key project in the pairing assistance program of east China’s Jiangsu Province for Yili Prefecture. Kicked off on March 11, 2025, the project is now fundamentally completed. In addition to offering better experience to tourists, the renovation work also brings more job opportunities to the locals. [Photo/Xinhua]
    An aerial drone photo taken on July 11, 2025 shows local artists performing for tourists at the Tianma tourism block in Zhaosu County of Ili Kazak Autonomous Prefecture, northwest China’s Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region. [Photo/Xinhua]

    MIL OSI China News –

  • MIL-OSI Australia: Statement on the proposed WWVP volunteer registration fee

    Source: Northern Territory Police and Fire Services

    As part of ACT Government’s ‘One Government, One Voice’ program, we are transitioning this website across to our . You can access everything you need through this website while it’s happening.

    Released 18/07/2025

    The ACT Government values the contribution of volunteers to the ACT community and recognises that a Working with Vulnerable People (WWVP) registration is a requirement for many volunteering activities. The ACT Government also wants to ensure the ongoing sustainability of our nation-leading scheme so that it continues to serve our community as a mechanism to protect vulnerable people.

    After feedback from the community and in close collaboration with both VolunteeringACT and ACTCOSS, the ACT Government will not introduce the $11 fee for WWVP volunteer registrations, which had been due to begin in September. Minister for City and Government Services Tara Cheyne said the Government’s decision was informed by community feedback and stakeholder engagement.

    “The intent of the fee was to offset some of the costs associated with administering a scheme which has been identified as far exceeding original modelling and projections since the first review of it in 2017,” Minister Cheyne said.

    “Many of the 160,000 card holders are not necessarily required to be registered under the law, and while there may be benefits from a wider list of card holders in volunteer roles, this has placed unsustainable pressure on the scheme.”

    “We are also anticipating that there will be additional requirements under the scheme as part of national responses to concerns in both the early childhood education and care sector and the aged care sector.”

    “The Government has invested more than $5 million in this year’s Budget to support the continued delivery of the WWVP scheme and will continue to explore further policy improvements to ensure the scheme remains fair, effective and sustainable, while continuing to protect our community’s most vulnerable members,” said Minister Cheyne.

    The Government is planning to review the scheme in partnership with VolunteeringACT and ACTCOSS. This review will consider how the scheme can sustainably maintain the support it provides to sectors of the community who engage with vulnerable people.

    Minister for Disability, Carers and Community Services Suzanne Orr said that the Territory will be involved in the national conversation relating to working with vulnerable people checks in key sectors.

    “It is timely to look more broadly at the scheme. This step has been taken in response to the changing national environment relating to checks like the WWVP and other schemes in other jurisdictions.”

    “The ACT Government will work with local organisations and community partners to ensure appropriate safeguards remain in place and we continue to operate a nation-leading scheme that is sustainable into the future.”

    “The ACT Government values the contribution of each and every person who volunteers their time to support our community, whether it be as part of the State Emergency Service (SES), planting trees with their local environment group, coaching the local sports team or helping with services for those in our community who benefit most from them”.

    Quote attributable to Jean Giese CEO, VolunteeringACT

    “VolunteeringACT wants to acknowledge the ACT Government’s open and collaborative response on this issue. This is a win for the 279,000 volunteers in our city: your voices have been heard. Our joint advocacy with volunteers, community organisations and Government has demonstrated the power of collective action and the value that community places on volunteering.

    “VolunteeringACT now renews its focus on delivering the ACT Volunteering Strategy – a roadmap to deliver safe, ethical and sustainable volunteering for all Canberrans. A key component of the strategy is to ensure the appropriate safeguards are in place for volunteering to occur. We are committed to productive conversations with Government, ACTCOSS and other partners to find solutions to the systemic issues within the Scheme. The ACT has a strong volunteering legacy, and this is a clear signal that volunteering will continue to thrive now, and into the future.”

    Quote attributable to Dr Devin Bowles, CEO of the ACT Council of Social Services (ACTCOSS)

    “Volunteers are critical to making our city a genuine community, and help alleviate the impacts of poverty and disadvantage. The Government’s decision demonstrates the value that they place on volunteers.

    “ACTCOSS is grateful for the community’s strong support for volunteering. We appreciate the Government’s willingness to listen deeply to the community and its considered engagement on this issue.

    “ACTCOSS looks forward to continuing to work with the Government and Volunteering ACT to ensure that the future of volunteering in the ACT remains bright.”

    – Statement ends –

    Tara Cheyne, MLA | Suzanne Orr, MLA | Media Releases

    «ACT Government Media Releases | «Minister Media Releases

    MIL OSI News –

  • MIL-OSI Australia: Death – Maningrida

    Source: Northern Territory Police and Fire Services

    The Northern Territory Police Force is investigating following the death of a 47-year-old male in Maningrida this afternoon.

    Around 12:55pm, the Joint Emergency Services Communication Centre received reports that a male had been located unresponsive in his residence in the community.

    Police and clinic staff attended; however, the male was pronounced deceased and crime scene was established.

    His cause of death currently remains unknown. 

    Further investigation identified that on Thursday 17 July 2025, the male had allegedly been involved in a domestic violence disturbance between himself and a male and female known to him.

    Investigations remain ongoing.

    Police urge anyone with information about the incident make contact on 131 444. Please quote reference number P25191987. Anonymous reports can be made through Crime Stoppers 1800 333 000 or via https://crimestoppersnt.com.au/.

    MIL OSI News –

  • MIL-OSI: XRP Surges 15% to $3.5 as PFMCrypto Launches Free XRP Mining Contracts, Attracting a Flood of XRP Holders

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    New York, NY, July 18, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — The recent upswing in XRP’s price follows a series of bullish catalysts, including the launch of futures exchange-traded funds (ETFs), the resolution of Ripple’s legal dispute with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), and expanding institutional involvement in digital assets. Although XRP prices may be facing a minor pullback, PFMCrypto analysts believe that the upward momentum may be far from over.
    With retail and institutional interest at a multi-year high, PFMCrypto’s zero-hardware, AI-optimized mining platform now makes it easier than ever for users to earn XRP passively—without needing specialized equipment or prior experience.
    Explore PFMCrypto XRP Mining Platform: https://pfmcrypto.net 

    XRP Cloud Mining Is Here—Simple, Smart, and Rewarding
    Historically known for powering cross-border payments, XRP now enters a new era of accessibility and utility through PFMCrypto’s latest innovation: fully remote cloud mining. Users can earn XRP daily via short-term mining contracts or use PFMCrypto’s AI engine to automatically switch between the most profitable assets—including BTC, ETH, DOGE, and USDC—to ensure maximum returns regardless of market volatility.

    Available via both mobile and web, the platform supports global access and is designed to serve first-time users as well as professional crypto investors.
    Explore the PFMCrypto website or download the app today.

    Key Features of PFMCrypto’s XRP Cloud Mining Contracts:
    –  Full XRP Integration: Deposit, mine, and withdraw XRP all in one seamless interface.
    –  Multi-Coin Mining Support: Earn in BTC, ETH, DOGE, USDC, USDT, SOL, LTC, or BCH as preferred.
    –  AI Revenue Optimization: Intelligent algorithms reallocate mining power to the highest-yielding assets.
    –  100% Remote Access: Cloud-based platform—no rigs, no noise, no electricity bills.
    –  Capital Protection: Principal is fully returned at contract maturity, helping reduce risk exposure.

    Mining Contracts for Every Budget and Strategy
    To welcome new users during this market upswing, PFMCrypto is offering a wide range of accessible contracts:
    $10 Contract – 1 Day – Earn $0.66 (Free with sign-up bonus)
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    $500 Contract – 5 Days – Earn $6.15/day
    $5,000 Contract – 30 Days – Earn $78.50/day
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    Whether testing the platform or building a robust mining portfolio, users can enjoy consistent, low-risk earnings in XRP or other digital assets.
    Explore more XRP cloud contracts at: https://pfmcrypto.net 

    Why PFMCrypto’s XRP Mining Stands Out?
    –  No Hardware Required: Anyone can start mining XRP—no tech skills or setup needed.
    –  All-in-One Ecosystem: From deposit to withdrawal, everything happens within PFMCrypto.
    –  Stable Income, Dynamic Strategy: Daily payouts with AI-powered rebalancing to maximize returns.
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    Get Started in 3 Simple Steps:
    1.  Sign Up – Create an account and claim a $10 free mining contract.
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    3.  Start Earning – Monitor profits daily and withdraw in the token of your choice.

    XRP Mining for a Digital Future:
    Since 2018, PFMCrypto has empowered millions worldwide to earn passive income through secure, cloud-based mining. With the introduction of XRP contracts—paired with AI-powered optimization—users can now mine one of the most in-demand assets without barriers.
    “XRP has always been fast and efficient,” said a PFMCrypto spokesperson. “Now, it’s also mineable—securely, remotely, and profitably. With the crypto market heating up, we’re making sure everyday users can ride the next wave of growth without complexity.”
    As XRP approaches new price milestones, PFMCrypto offers a stable, smart path to daily crypto income—no matter where markets move next.
    Start mining XRP today at: https://pfmcrypto.net 

    Or download the PFMCrypto app (iOS & Android)

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI Europe: Day of International Criminal Justice (17.07.25)

    Source: Republic of France in English
    The Republic of France has issued the following statement:

    On this Day of International Criminal Justice, which marks the anniversary of the adoption of the treaty that established the International Criminal Court, France reaffirms its staunch commitment to the worldwide fight against impunity.

    France reiterates its commitment to promoting and protecting international law, of which the ICC – the only permanent, universal international court – is a linchpin. It has pledged to promote this Court’s impendence, impartiality, effectiveness and universality.

    We commend the work carried out by the International Residual Mechanism for Criminal Tribunals, which has made it possible to prosecute and judge the perpetrators of genocide, crimes against humanity, and serious violations of international humanitarian law in Rwanda and the former Yugoslavia. We recognize the vital contribution of hybrid courts and tribunals – among them the Kosovo Specialist Chambers, the Special Criminal Court in the Central African Republic and their predecessors – to the fight against impunity. These international courts, which work alongside national courts, help meet our shared goal of obtaining justice for the victims of the most serious crimes, preventing those crimes and supporting the reconciliation process.

    MIL OSI Europe News –

  • MIL-OSI Africa: Call to address widening insurance protection gap

    Source: Government of South Africa

    With the surge in natural disasters in the last decade, the Governor of the South African Reserve Bank (SARB), Lesetja Kganyago, has called on leaders in the Group of Twenty (G20) to bridge the gap in the natural catastrophe insurance protection gap.

    The gap refers to the difference between total economic losses and insured losses caused by natural catastrophe (NatCat) events.

    “Addressing the Natural Catastrophe Insurance protection gap is both urgent and consequential for both developed and emerging market economies.

    “The frequency and intensity of natural disasters are increasing, causing significant damage to property and infrastructure, impacting lives and livelihoods, and resulting in tremendous loss of life. The risks are global, but the burden is deeply unequal,” Kganyago explained.

    The Governor was speaking during the G20 Finance Ministers and Central Bank Governors (FMCBG) meetings in Durban on Thursday. 

    He was addressing senior leaders from governments, central banks and supervisors,  the private sector, and international organisations at a side event that discussed strategies and solutions for addressing  the widening insurance protection gap.

    NatCat protection gaps present a global challenge, affecting both advanced and emerging market and developing economies (EMDEs), and therefore require global responses. 

    In recent decades, damages and losses from NatCat events have surged due to the growing frequency and severity of extreme weather events, exacerbated by climate change.

    While insurance markets play a crucial role in mitigating the financial impacts stemming from these damages, their ability to offer adequate coverage is increasingly being challenged, leading to a widening insurance protection gap against NatCat events.

    “In many emerging and developing economies, the costs of these disasters are magnified by limited financial and significant lack of insurance protection.

    “Globally, it is estimated that over half of natural disaster losses remain uninsured. In EMDEs, that figure often exceeds 70%. South Africa, for example, is estimated at 71% and India at around 91%. This leaves households, businesses and governments dangerously exposed, compounding economic shock and slowing development for years or even decades,” the Governor said.

    Emerging market and developing economies face disproportionately higher protection gaps due to low insurance penetration, affordability challenges, underdeveloped insurance markets, and insufficient access to risk models and data.

    Significant insurance protection gaps are also observed in advanced economies, including Europe. In recent years, promoting insurance protection against NatCat events has become an important priority for policymakers and the international community.

    “From a central banking perspective and financial stability perspective, this is not a peripheral issue but a core issue. Uninsured losses from natural disasters can undermine economic stability, threaten the solvency of financial institutions and disrupt credit flows.

    “Moreover, when governments must step in with emergency funds or debt finance reconstruction, it places additional strain on already limited fiscal space,” he said.

    For central banks, policymakers and supervisors, bridging this protection gap is part of building macro financial resilience, the Governor said.

    Call for improved mechanisms

    “It calls for stronger risk sharing mechanisms, improved data and modelling of climate related risks and innovative insurance solutions such as parametric instruments, catastrophe bonds and regional risk pools.

    “More importantly, it requires a coordinated and collaborative effort across governments, insurance supervisors, the private sector, international organisations, multilateral development institutions and local communities to embed financial resilience into our climate and development strategies,” Kganyago said.

    He encouraged the global leaders to recognise that resilience is not built in the aftermath of disasters but in the deliberate and proactive planning and actions before they occur.

    “Insurance is not a luxury; it is a foundational and critical tool for sustainable development. Let’s think boldly about how we can address this protection gap beyond innovative products to include appropriate policies and regulations that are inclusive, accessible and tailored to jurisdictional instances, especially considering the realities of EMDEs,” the Governor said.

    The G20 South African Presidency, in collaboration with the International Association of Insurance Supervisors (IAIS) and the World Bank Group (WBG), hosted this side event during the G20 Finance Ministers and Central Bank Governors (FMCBG) meetings.

    The event focused on improving financial resilience and enhancing broader disaster risk mitigation strategies by identifying and addressing insurance protection gaps.

    Input paper 

    South Africa assumed the G20 Presidency on 1 December 2024 until 30 November 2025 under the theme: “Solidarity, Equality and Sustainability”.

    This initiative forms part of the G20 Sustainable Finance Working Group (SFWG) priority of scaling up finance for adaptation and just transitions, as discussed in an IAIS-WBG input paper, which will be published next week.

    The paper serves as a ‘guide for action’ to help jurisdictions narrow NatCat insurance protection gaps. The paper outlines practical and implementable actions that governments, supervisors, and the insurance industry can take, with a particular focus on EMDEs. 

    From 21 July 2025, the input paper can be accessed on the G20 SFWG website: https://g20sfwg.org/document-repository/.
    – SAnews.gov.za

    MIL OSI Africa –

  • MIL-OSI Africa: Public warned of fake Chief Justice social media profiles

    Source: Government of South Africa

    Friday, July 18, 2025

    The Office of the Chief Justice (OCJ) has warned the public of fake social media accounts falsely claiming to be that of Chief Justice Mandisa Maya.

    “We wish to categorically state that Chief Justice Maya does not have any personal or official social media accounts on platforms such as Facebook, Twitter/X or TikTok.

    “It is not advisable to engage with any social media accounts/profiles claiming to be that of Chief Justice Maya,” the OCJ said in a short statement.

    The public is urged to report the fake profiles.

    “If any communication is received, purported to be from the Chief Justice, the authenticity of which seems questionable, the legitimacy thereof may be confirmed by contacting the email address mediaenquiries@judiciary.org.za,” the statement read.

    Meanwhile, candidates vying for appointment to the Electoral Commission will be interviewed from next week.

    “A panel chaired by the Chief Justice of the Republic of South Africa, comprising the Public Protector, the chairperson of the Commission for Gender Equality and the chairperson of the South African Human Rights Commission, established in terms of section 6 of the Electoral Commission Act, 1996, will, on 21 and 22 July 2025, interview shortlisted candidates for three vacancies in the Electoral Commission.

    “Members of the media and the public are encouraged to follow the interviews on the Judiciary YouTube channel which will live stream the interviews,” the OCJ said. – SAnews.gov.za

    MIL OSI Africa –

  • MIL-OSI Africa: Eskom commits to working closely with Majakaneng community

    Source: Government of South Africa

    Eskom has reiterated its commitment to working with the community of Majakaneng, in the North West, following a protest against power outages in the area.

    The protest resulted in the closure of the N4 road.

    “In response, the Eskom North West team engaged with community members to listen to their concerns and provide clarity on the electricity supply issues. The primary cause of the outages is the overloading of the local electricity network, which has necessitated the implementation of load reduction measures to prevent system failure.

    “These measures are essential to protect the infrastructure.

    “Eskom remains committed to constructive and peaceful engagement with the Majakaneng community and its leadership. Through continued dialogue and cooperation, we aim to address the root causes of the electricity disruptions and work toward sustainable solutions,” the power utility said.

    Eskom highlighted that the engagement follows several other meetings held with community leaders and emphasised that it will continue working closely with these leaders to address network overloading, accelerate the rollout of smart meters, and explore ways to expand electricity capacity in Majakaneng.

    Furthermore, the power utility noted that although there are more than 3 500 registered customers in the area, a mere 697 are actively purchasing electricity. 

    “Additionally, illegal connections have placed further strain on the network, contributing to the overload and resulting in outages. To safeguard the system from a complete shutdown, Eskom is forced to implement load reduction.

    “We also emphasise that for services to be sustained and improved, they must be paid for. Eskom urges all residents to use electricity legally and responsibly, and to support efforts aimed at restoring and maintaining a reliable supply.

    “Eskom remains committed to transparency, safety, and service delivery, and will continue to provide updates as progress is made,” the power utility said. – SAnews.gov.za

    MIL OSI Africa –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Annual Report 2024-25 reveals progress in digital transformation and improving speed of service

    Source: United Kingdom – Executive Government & Departments

    News story

    Annual Report 2024-25 reveals progress in digital transformation and improving speed of service

    Better serving our customers and the property market, our Annual Report and Accounts 2024-25, is published today (18 July 2025).

    HM Land Registry has today (18 July 2025) published its Annual Report and Accounts for 2024-25, highlighting significant achievements in improving service delivery and digital capabilities.

    The report reveals how the organisation has made substantial progress in building services to meet customer needs while maintaining the security and integrity of property ownership records that underpin approximately £9 trillion worth of property assets across England and Wales.

    Simon Hayes, Chief Executive and Chief Land Registrar, said:

    We know how important it is that everyone can rely on HM Land Registry to ensure their property ownership records are secure and accurate. This is fundamental in helping people to buy homes, develop land and secure mortgages. Our role in maintaining the guaranteed record of property ownership in England and Wales is of huge economic importance to the country, supporting and enabling more than £1 billion of property market activities every day.

    Our investment in digital services and focus on efficiency has allowed us to process registrations faster, although we will continue to reduce the time it takes for us to process certain applications.

    Our focus on improving the speed of registration has yielded tangible results. By March 2025 we had surpassed our target to process 95% of all applications within 12 months of submission. However, we remain committed to further improving the service we provide to our customers and the industry, both by harnessing technology and through the dedication of our people.

    Key highlights

    • HM Land Registry’s data assets continued to provide transparency, accuracy and reliability in property transactions. As part of critical national infrastructure, they underpin a nearly £9 trillion property market and enable the UK House Price Index, which is used for fiscal forecasting. Over 3,000 data users now download our datasets monthly, with uses ranging from asset management to risk analysis of potential development sites.
    • By March 2025, a total of 110 local authorities had successfully transferred more than 7.2 million local land charges to our digital Local Land Charges Register. The time taken to receive search results in migrated areas has reduced from days or weeks to instant availability online. Having this information earlier in the transaction process helps to speed up homebuying and planning decisions.
    • HM Land Registry was recognised at the 2024 AI awards for its pioneering use of artificial intelligence in document comparison. This automates the complex task of comparing application documents, significantly improving accuracy, reducing processing time and freeing up caseworkers for more complex work.
    • Our counter fraud group prevented more than £59 million worth of fraudulent property applications in 2024-25. They achieved this through a combination of reviewing and updating HM Land Registry’s methods for detecting fraud, working in partnership with other agencies across government and the property sector and encouraging the public to be on their guard and sign up for our free Property Alert service.

    The full Annual Report and Accounts 2024-25 is available on GOV.UK.

    We will publish our Strategy 2025+ in the autumn to outline how we will continue to safeguard property rights, enable growth and deliver modern digital public services that meet the needs of our customers and the property market.

    Updates to this page

    Published 18 July 2025

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Stages is coming: Music. Art. Tech. All over Sunderland.

    Source: City of Sunderland

    A major new festival is set to transform Sunderland this autumn – bringing together electronic music, digital art and cutting-edge technology for a week of unforgettable performances, talks and experiences. Celebrating Sunderland’s growing reputation as a music city, the festival will shine a spotlight on the city’s thriving cultural scene.

    Stages, running from Saturday 26 September to Saturday 1 November, will turn the city into a vibrant hub of sound, light and innovation. The festival is a landmark moment in Sunderland’s cultural and economic regeneration, celebrating how music, creativity and technology are shaping the city’s future – and putting Sunderland firmly on the map as a destination for cultural tourism.

    At the heart of the festival is a spectacular headline show at Keel Square, the centrepiece of Sunderland’s ambitious Riverside regeneration, where a line-up of renowned DJs, emerging local talent and digital artists will perform live. The show will feature a 360° stage, immersive visuals on the 20-metre semi-transparent screen at the Expo Sunderland Pavilion – one of the most advanced digital installations in the UK.

    The lineup includes BILLY GILLIES, BASSHUNTER, N-TRANCE, ULTRABEAT, LOVE INC, KLUBFILLER, IAN VAN DAHL, MDDLTTN, JAY STONE plus more to be announced.

    Beyond Keel Square, venues across Sunderland city centre will also come alive with a diverse programme of gigs, exhibitions and events – spanning everything from underground electronic sets to experimental audiovisual performances. Whether you’re into underground club nights, techno beats, or cutting-edge digital art, there’s something for everyone giving music fans of all tastes something to enjoy. Full line-up details will be announced soon.

    Alongside the live On the Square performance, Stages will feature a packed programme of secret gigs, online streaming events, workshops, seminars and industry-led panel discussions exploring the future of music, digital creativity and smart city innovation.

    As one of the UK’S leading smart cities Sunderland is pioneering the use of next- generation digital infrastructure, Stages will showcase how this technology is being used to enhance cultural experiences, support creative industries and power a more connected, inclusive city.

    “Stages is more than just a music festival,” said Councillor Beth Jones, Cabinet Member for Communities, Culture and Tourism at Sunderland City Council.

    Cllr Jones added: “Stages is about showing how our city is growing, changing, and leading the way in creativity and technology. I’d like to invite all our residents to get involved and come support this new event.”

    Ultrabeat, part of the Keel Square line-up, said: “It’s brilliant to see a city like Sunderland putting music at the heart of its future. I can’t wait to perform at Stages’ On The Square – it’s going to be something really special.”

    Local DJ & Producer Nath Brown of Translate Records added: “As someone who has lived in Sunderland for all of my life, it’s amazing to see such change happening around the city. There are going to be so many opportunities for artists in the music industry that I wish I had when I was younger. It’s a really interesting time to work in a creative industry in the city.”

    The economic benefits are expected to be significant, with visitors from across the UK boosting local businesses, hospitality and tourism.

    Tickets start from £20 and are available from 10am today (Friday 18 July). For booking details, full lineup announcements and the latest updates, visit https://www.stages-festival.co.uk.

    This project has received funding from the UK Government through the UK Shared Prosperity Fund and North East Combined Authority.

    For more information, please visit the website https://www.stages-festival.co.uk/, or follow Stages Festival at https://www.facebook.com/stagessunderland/ and https://www.instagram.com/stagessunderland.

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Norwich set to become a “Nature City” thanks to major funding boost

    Source: City of Norwich

    An ambitious new project that will transform how nature is protected, connected and celebrated across the city has been given the green light.

    Norwich City Council has been awarded more than £750,000 in funding from The National Lottery Heritage Fund to deliver “NatureCityNorwich”, working in partnership with Norfolk Wildlife Trust, Broadland District Council, South Norfolk Council and Norfolk County Council.

    NatureCityNorwich is one of several projects across the UK supported through the Nature Towns and Cities programme, which helps urban areas protect and enhance their natural heritage.

    Thanks to money raised by National Lottery players, the project will co-create a community-led urban nature recovery action plan, placing nature and people at the heart of Norwich’s future. It will map and address the city’s ‘nature gaps’, improve access to green and blue spaces, and empower communities to shape a more resilient, biodiverse and inclusive city.

    This partnership work will build on other collaborations which exemplify how urban nature recovery can deliver both ecological and community benefits, such as Norfolk Wildlife Trust’s Sweet Briar Marshes nature reserve and their work enabling nearby communities to enjoy and help their local wildlife. NatureCityNorwich will extend this approach citywide, connecting sites like Sweet Briar Marshes into a coherent Urban Nature Recovery Network and scaling up the principles of inclusion, innovation and long-term stewardship.

    The three-year project will also establish a new Nature Commission for Norwich, develop innovative funding and land management models, and support the city’s journey toward Nature Towns and Cities Advanced Accreditation.

    Councillor Emma Hampton, Norwich City Council’s cabinet member for climate and environment, said: “This is a landmark moment for Norwich. NatureCityNorwich will bring together communities, experts and decision-makers to create a greener, healthier and more connected city.

    “This money accelerates our mission to bring people closer to nature, from the city’s rural fringes into the city centre, ensuring that both our environment and communities thrive together.”

    Natalie Bailey, Engagement Director at Norfolk Wildlife Trust, said: ‘We’re delighted to be able to build on our work at Sweet Briar Marshes – a place that nurtures wildlife and people in the heart of Norwich that was created by, and for, its local communities. 

    ‘We know just how important it is to create wild spaces in our urban environments, and we are looking forward to working with Norwich City Council to realise our shared ambition to make Norwich a city whose nature and people are thriving.’

    Visit Norwich City Council’s website for updates on this project as it progresses.

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Get beach ready as the seaside comes to Leeds for summer holidays

    Source: City of Leeds

    Leeds is getting its own seaside resort this summer, complete with beach huts, a pier and a fairground.

    Lotherton’s grounds have been transformed for the summer holidays with their new installation which will run from 19 July until 31 August.

    A Lotherton Summer Holiday invites the entire family to come and enjoy the beach and pier display and a full entertainment programme including live music, dance class pop ups, hilarious magic and sublime science shows. 

    The Lotherton beach boasts a giant deck chair and traditional seaside shop, and beach dwellers can also visit the fortune teller display or the games room for the quintessential British seaside pier experience.

    Rowing boats that were used on Waterloo Lake in Roundhay Park in the 1980s have also been donated to the installation. The park’s boat hire started in the early 1900s and Lotherton’s visitors can now experience what it was like on summer afternoons 40 years ago.

    Families can also take part in arts and crafts activities and search for picnic items in a trail around the impressive Edwardian house, Lotherton Hall.

    By popular demand, last year’s deer park tractor tours will be returning for the holidays, taking visitors out among the estate’s deer herd to get close to the magnificent animals. Running every weekday at 11am and 1pm each tour can take up to 30 people who will get to learn all about Britain’s biggest native mammal.

    Councillor Mohammed Rafique, Leeds City Council’s executive member for climate, energy, environment and green space, said: “It’s great to see summer return to Lotherton, with this year’s display being bigger and better than before.

    “They’ve got everything that is unique about a British seaside resort right here in Leeds and there are plenty of activities to take part in.

    “Lotherton is also home to a spectacular variety of wildlife species including emus, cranes, Arthur the tapir and critically endangered Visayan warty pigs, so it is the perfect day out for the whole family.”

    A Lotherton Summer Holiday runs from 19 July until 31 August. The fairground will finish on the 25 August. Full entertainment programme can be found at A Lotherton Summer Holiday | Leeds Museums and Galleries.

    The deer park tours run on weekdays and can be booked as an add-on to ticket admission (at an additional cost) at Deer Tractor Tours | Leeds Museums and Galleries.

    ENDS

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • PM Modi unveils infrastructure projects worth ₹7,200 crore in Bihar

    Source: Government of India

    Source: Government of India (4)

    Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday inaugurated a series of infrastructure projects worth ₹7,200 crore in Bihar, urging the transformation of the state into a hub of growth and opportunities and an integral part of the Viksit Bharat mission.

    Addressing a large public gathering in Motihari, PM Modi said that just as several Eastern nations have emerged as key centres of global growth, Bihar too should become the driving force behind India’s development.

    “I congratulate everyone on receiving a slew of developmental projects worth ₹7,200 crore,” the Prime Minister said.

    He emphasised that the NDA government under Chief Minister Nitish Kumar is committed to the welfare of Bihar’s people and is focused on bringing equitable development to the state, comparable to more developed regions across India.

    “Our aim is to bring Bihar’s cities on par with other developed urban centres – equating Gaya with Gurugram, Pune with Patna, Jaipur with Jalpaiguri, and Bengaluru with Birbhum,” he said.

    PM Modi criticised the previous UPA government for giving Bihar “step-motherly treatment,” stating that it had allocated only ₹2 lakh crore to the state over a decade. In contrast, he said, the BJP-led government has significantly increased that allocation over the past 10 years. He added that those who practiced “revengeful politics” have now been shown the door.

    He also pointed out that Bihar has been a major beneficiary of the Centre’s public welfare schemes. “In Motihari alone, more than three lakh families have received pucca houses under our schemes,” the Prime Minister said.

    Earlier in the day, PM Modi was given a grand reception, with thousands of people lining the streets of Motihari, waving and chanting slogans as his convoy passed by.

    -IANS

  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: Business expectations for the third quarter of 2025

    Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

    Business expectations for the third quarter of 2025 
    Business Situation
     
    For all surveyed sectors taken together, the proportion of respondents expecting their business situation to be better (10%) in Q3 2025 over the preceding quarter is lower than that expecting it to be worse (18%).
     
    When compared with the results of the Q2 2025 survey round, the proportion of respondents expecting a better business situation in Q3 2025 is 10%, slightly higher than the corresponding proportion in Q2 2025 (9%). On the other hand, the proportion of respondents expecting a worse business situation in Q3 2025 is broadly the same as the corresponding proportion in Q2 2025 (18%).
     
    Analysed by sector, respondents in quite a number of the surveyed sectors expect their business situation to decrease on balance in Q3 2025 as compared with Q2 2025. In particular, significantly more respondents in the transportation, storage and courier services sector expect their business situation to be worse in Q3 2025 as compared with Q2 2025.
     
    The results of the survey should be interpreted with care. In this type of survey on expectations, the views collected in the survey are affected by the events in the community occurring around the time of enumeration, and it is difficult to establish precisely the extent to which respondents’ perception of the future accords with the underlying trends. The enumeration period for this survey round was from June 3, 2025 to July 7, 2025.
     
    Volume of Business / Output
     
    Respondents in quite a number of the surveyed sectors expect their volume of business / output to decrease on balance in Q3 2025 as compared with Q2 2025. In particular, more respondents in the construction; transportation, storage and courier services; import/export trade and wholesale; accommodation and food services; and retail sectors expect their volume of construction output / business / sales to decrease in Q3 2025 over Q2 2025.
     
    Employment
     
    Respondents in quite a number of the surveyed sectors expect their employment to remain broadly unchanged in Q3 2025 as compared with Q2 2025. However, more respondents in the information and communications sector expect their employment to decrease in Q3 2025 over Q2 2025. In the real estate sector, on the other hand, more respondents expect their employment to increase, as compared to those expecting it to decrease.
     
    Selling Price / Service Charge
     
    Respondents in most of the surveyed sectors expect their selling prices / service charges to remain broadly unchanged in Q3 2025 as compared with Q2 2025. However, significantly more respondents in the construction sector expect their tender prices to go down in Q3 2025 over Q2 2025.
     
    Commentary
     
    A Government spokesman said that the overall near-term business outlook among large enterprises for the third quarter of 2025 was slightly better than the expectation for the previous quarter, while the hiring appetite remained stable.
     
    Looking forward, the spokesman said that the ongoing uncertainty in the external environment would continue to affect the local business sentiment. Nonetheless, the resilient local economy and sustained steady growth in the Mainland economy should provide support. The Government will continue to monitor the situation closely.
     
    Further Information
     
    The survey gathers views on short-term business performance from the senior management of about 560 prominent establishments in various sectors in Hong Kong with a view to providing a quick reference, with minimum time lag, for predicting the short-term future economic performance of the local economy.
     
    The survey covers 10 major sectors in Hong Kong, namely manufacturing; construction; import / export trade and wholesale; retail; accommodation and food services (mainly covering services rendered by hotels and restaurants); transportation, storage and courier services; information and communications; financing and insurance; real estate; and professional and business services sectors.
     
    Views collected in the survey refer only to those of respondents on their own establishments rather than those on the respective sectors they are engaged in, and are limited to the expected direction of quarter-to-quarter change (e.g. “up”, “same” or “down”) but not the magnitude of change. In collecting views on the quarter-to-quarter changes, if the variable in question is subject to seasonal variations, respondents are asked to provide the expected changes after excluding the normal seasonal variations.
     
    Survey results are generally presented as “net balance”, i.e. the difference between the percentage of respondents choosing “up” and that choosing “down”. The percentage distribution of respondents among various response categories (e.g. “up”, “same” and “down”) reflects how varied their business expectations are. The “net balance”, with its appropriate sign, indicates the direction of expected change in the variable concerned. A positive sign indicates a likely upward trend while a negative sign indicates a likely downward trend. However, the magnitude of the “net balance” reflects only the prevalence of optimism or pessimism, but not the magnitude of expected change, since information relating to such magnitude is not collected in the survey.
     
    Furthermore, owing to sample size constraint, care should be taken in interpreting survey results involving a small percentage (e.g. less than 10%) of respondents in individual sectors.
     
    Chart 1 shows the views on expected changes in business situation for the period Q3 2024 to Q3 2025.
     
    Table 1 shows the net balances of views on expectations in respect of different variables for Q3 2025.
     
    The survey results are published in greater detail in the “Report on Quarterly Business Tendency Survey, Q3 2025”. Users can browse and download the publication at the website of the C&SD (www.censtatd.gov.hk/en/EIndexbySubject.html?pcode=B1110008&scode=300  
    Users who have enquiries about the survey results may contact the Business Expectation Statistics Section of the C&SD (Tel: 3903 7263; E-mail:     business-prospects@censtatd.gov.hkIssued at HKT 16:30

    NNNN

    MIL OSI Asia Pacific News –

  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: Composite Interest Rate: End of June 2025

    Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

    Composite Interest Rate: End of June 2025 
    The composite interest rate, which is a measure of the average cost of funds of banks, decreased by 35 basis points to 1.26 per cent at the end of June 2025, from 1.61 per cent at the end of May 2025 (see Chart 1 in the Annex). The decrease in composite interest rate reflected the decreases in the weighted funding cost for deposits during the month (see Chart 2 in the Annex) (Note 2). 
     
    The HKMA publishes the composite interest rate on a monthly basis. Beginning with the end-July 2025 statistics, the monthly publication will only be released in the Monthly Statistical Bulletin on the HKMA website (www.hkma.gov.hk/media/eng/doc/market-data-and-statistics/monthly-statistical-bulletin/T0605.xls 
    Note 1: The composite interest rate is a weighted average interest rate of all Hong Kong dollar interest-rate-sensitive liabilities, which include deposits from customers, amounts due to banks, negotiable certificates of deposit and other debt instruments, and all other liabilities that do not involve any formal payment of interest but the values of which are sensitive to interest rate movements (such as Hong Kong dollar non-interest bearing demand deposits) on the books of banks. Data from retail banks, which account for about 90 per cent of the total customers’ deposits in the banking sector, are used in the calculation. It should be noted that the composite interest rate represents only average interest expenses. There are various other costs involved in the making of a loan, such as operating costs (e.g. staff and rental expenses), credit cost and hedging cost, which are not covered by the composite interest rate.Issued at HKT 16:30

    NNNN

    MIL OSI Asia Pacific News –

  • MIL-OSI Europe: President Meloni’s statement on establishment of a national day in memory of journalists killed because of their work

    Source: Government of Italy (English)

    It is with great satisfaction that I welcome Parliament’s unanimous approval of the bill establishing a national day in memory of journalists killed because of their work.

    From now on, 3 May will be a solemn occasion to honour those who have put their passion, professionalism and courage at the service of us all, guaranteeing citizens the right to be informed. Men and women whose precious work has allowed our eyes to see things we otherwise wouldn’t have seen. In Italy and abroad. From crisis zones to forgotten conflicts, from areas plagued by organised crime to all those physical and non-physical places that are invisible to the public. 

    I am thinking of people such as Cosimo Cristina, Mauro De Mauro, Giovanni Spampinato, Peppino Impastato, Mario Francese, Giuseppe Fava, Mauro Rostagno, Beppe Alfano, Giancarlo Siani, Walter Tobagi, Ilaria Alpi and Miran Hrovatin, Marco Luchetta, Alessandro Saša Ota, Dario D’Angelo, Antonio Russo, Enzo Baldoni, Andrea Rocchelli, Maria Grazia Cutuli, Almerigo Grilz.

    Paying tribute to these journalists is a duty, which has today become enshrined in State law and which we are committed to honouring. 

    [Courtesy translation]

    MIL OSI Europe News –

  • MIL-OSI: Mint Miner Launches Cloud Mining™: Free Bonuses and Guaranteed Crypto Returns for Everyone

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    New York City, NY, July 18, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Mint Miner, a leading global digital asset infrastructure provider, today officially launched its next-generation Cloud Mining™ platform, making it easy to earn cryptocurrencies without technical expertise.

    Offering a $15 sign-up bonus, fixed daily income, and zero maintenance fees, Mint Miner Cloud Mining™ opens the door for retail and institutional investors to participate in sustainable, transparent cryptocurrency mining—all from their smartphones.

    Whether you’re a newbie looking for risk-free or an experienced crypto holder seeking reliable returns, Mint Miner Cloud Mining™ offers a fast and easy path to passive income through Bitcoin (BTC), Ethereum (ETH), Dogecoin (DOGE), and other cryptocurrencies.

    Mint Miner main features and advantages:
    Platform-friendly interface: Provide users with a clear and visible dashboard panel to view mining data in real time.

    ●New users can get $15 after registration and get a free trial contract with a daily reward of $0.6, without any prepayment.

    ●Fixed-rate mining contract
    A variety of contract packages are available with flexible terms. Each contract clearly lists the daily income and total income at maturity.

    ●No hidden fees, worry-free and labor-saving
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    All contracts are supported by globally distributed mining farms that are powered by renewable energy and provide 24/7 multilingual support to ensure a seamless experience.

    Joining Mint Miner and starting cloud mining is very simple:
    1. Start registration – Open the Mint Miner official website and fill in your username, email, and password to complete the registration.
    2. Choose a contract – Choose a contract that fits your budget, and multiple types of contracts are available
    Here is a partial list of contracts:
    [New User Experience Contract]: Investment amount: $100, contract period: 2 days, maturity income: $100 + $10
    [Avalon Miner A13]: Investment amount: $500, contract period: 5 days, maturity income: $500 + $30.5
    [Bitcoin Miner S19 XP+ Hyd]: Investment amount: $1,500, contract period: 9 days, maturity income: $1,500 + $178.2
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    For more contracts, please log in to the Mint Miner official website

    1.  Start mining – View daily income growth in the dashboard and withdraw or reinvest at any time.

    Mint Miner’s mission is clear: to democratize cryptocurrency mining and make it accessible to everyday users. With Mint Miner CloudMining™, the future way to earn cryptocurrency income is accessible, automated, and powered by green energy.

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    Media Contact:
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    Official Website: https://mintminer.com/

    Attachment

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI Banking: Secretary-General of ASEAN hosts working lunch for Ambassador of China to ASEAN

    Source: ASEAN

    Secretary-General of ASEAN, Dr. Kao Kim Hourn, today hosted a working lunch for Ambassador of the People’s Republic of China to ASEAN, H.E. Hou Yanqi. Both sides discussed preparations for SG’s upcoming visit to China, on 23-26 July 2025, including his participation in the 2025 World AI Conference (WAIC) in Shanghai. They also took the opportunity to exchange views on the ASEAN-China relations and deliverables to support the ASEAN Chair’s priorities this year.

    The post Secretary-General of ASEAN hosts working lunch for Ambassador of China to ASEAN appeared first on ASEAN Main Portal.

    MIL OSI Global Banks –

  • MIL-OSI Europe: Euro area monthly balance of payments: May 2025

    Source: European Central Bank

    18 July 2025

    • Current account recorded €32 billion surplus in May 2025, up from €19 billion in previous month
    • Current account surplus amounted to €333 billion (2.1% of euro area GDP) in the 12 months to May 2025, down from €364 billion (2.5%) one year earlier
    • In financial account, euro area residents’ net acquisitions of non-euro area portfolio investment securities totalled €758 billion and non-residents’ net acquisitions of euro area portfolio investment securities totalled €744 billion in the 12 months to May 2025

    Chart 1

    Euro area current account balance

    (EUR billions unless otherwise indicated; working day and seasonally adjusted data)

    Source: ECB.

    The current account of the euro area recorded a surplus of €32 billion in May 2025, an increase of €13 billion from the previous month (Chart 1 and Table 1). Surpluses were recorded for goods (€33 billion), services (€13 billion) and primary income (€2 billion). These were partly offset by a deficit for secondary income (€16 billion).

    Table 1

    Current account of the euro area

    Source: ECB.

    Note: Discrepancies between totals and their components may be due to rounding.

    Data for the current account of the euro area

    In the 12 months to May 2025, the current account recorded a surplus of €333 billion (2.1% of euro area GDP), compared with a surplus of €364 billion (2.5% of euro area GDP) one year earlier. This decrease was mainly driven by a shift from a surplus to a deficit for primary income (from a €34 billion surplus to a €5 billion deficit), but also by a larger deficit for secondary income (up from €169 billion to €185 billion) and a reduction in the surplus for services (down from €153 billion to €146 billion). These developments were partly offset by a larger surplus for goods (up from €346 billion to €378 billion).

    Chart 2

    Selected items of the euro area financial account

    (EUR billions; 12-month cumulated data)

    Source: ECB.

    Notes: For assets, a positive (negative) number indicates net purchases (sales) of non-euro area instruments by euro area investors. For liabilities, a positive (negative) number indicates net sales (purchases) of euro area instruments by non-euro area investors.

    In direct investment, euro area residents made net investments of €200 billion in non-euro area assets in the 12 months to May 2025, following net disinvestments of €215 billion one year earlier (Chart 2 and Table 2). Non-residents invested €126 billion in net terms in euro area assets in the 12 months to May 2025, following net disinvestments of €398 billion one year earlier.

    In portfolio investment, euro area residents’ net purchases of non-euro area equity increased to €203 billion in the 12 months to May 2025, up from €84 billion one year earlier. Over the same period, net purchases of non-euro area debt securities by euro-area residents increased to €555 billion, up from €490 billion one year earlier. Non-residents’ net purchases of euro area equity increased to €395 billion in the 12 months to May 2025, up from €275 billion one year earlier. Over the same period, non-residents made net purchases of euro area debt securities amounting to €349 billion, declining from €426 billion one year earlier.

    Table 2

    Financial account of the euro area

    Source: ECB.

    Notes: Decreases in assets and liabilities are shown with a minus sign. Net financial derivatives are reported under assets. “MFIs” stands for monetary financial institutions. Discrepancies between totals and their components may be due to rounding.

    Data for the financial account of the euro area

    In other investment, euro area residents recorded net acquisitions of non-euro area assets amounting to €518 billion in the 12 months to May 2025 (following net acquisitions of €212 billion one year earlier), while their net incurrence of liabilities was €172 billion (following disposals of €104 billion one year earlier).

    Chart 3

    Monetary presentation of the balance of payments

    (EUR billions; 12-month cumulated data)

    Source: ECB.

    Notes: “MFI net external assets (enhanced)” incorporates an adjustment to the MFI net external assets (as reported in the consolidated MFI balance sheet items statistics) based on information on MFI long-term liabilities held by non-residents, available in b.o.p. statistics. B.o.p. transactions refer only to transactions of non-MFI residents of the euro area. Financial transactions are shown as liabilities net of assets. “Other” includes financial derivatives and statistical discrepancies.

    The monetary presentation of the balance of payments (Chart 3) shows that the net external assets (enhanced) of euro area MFIs increased by €417 billion in the 12 months to May 2025. This increase was mainly driven by the current and capital accounts surplus and, to a lesser extent, euro area non-MFIs’ net inflows in other investment, and portfolio investment equity and debt. These developments were partly offset by euro area non-MFIs’ net outflows in direct investment.

    In May 2025 the Eurosystem’s stock of reserve assets increased to €1,507.7 billion up from €1,496.9 billion in the previous month (Table 3). This increase was mostly driven by positive price changes (€6.5 billion) and, to a lesser extent, by net acquisitions of assets (€2.3 billion) and positive exchange rate changes (€2.0 billion).

    Table 3

    Reserve assets of the euro area

    (EUR billions; amounts outstanding at the end of the period, flows during the period; non-working day and non-seasonally adjusted data)

    Source: ECB.

    Notes: “Other reserve assets” comprises currency and deposits, securities, financial derivatives (net) and other claims. Discrepancies between totals and their components may be due to rounding.

    Data for the reserve assets of the euro area

    Data revisions

    This press release incorporates revisions to the data for April 2025. These revisions did not significantly alter the figures previously published.

    MIL OSI Europe News –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: London to Essex c2c services return to public control in step towards Great British Railways

    Source: United Kingdom – Executive Government & Departments

    Press release

    London to Essex c2c services return to public control in step towards Great British Railways

    c2c’s rail services to be brought into public ownership.

    • trains services across London and Essex will be publicly-owned from this Sunday
    • this marks another move towards Great British Railways, doing away with decades of fragmentation and private profiteering, while rebuilding a world class service for passengers
    • key step in rail reset to boost reliability, increase passenger numbers and drive economic growth under the Plan for Change

    Passengers across London and Essex will be travelling on publicly-owned train services from this Sunday (20 July 2025), as c2c’s services become the next to be brought into public ownership through government plans to restore pride in the railways.

    From Sunday, c2c services operating from Fenchurch Street to Shoeburyness will be placed in public hands, marking the second operator’s services to be brought into public ownership under new legislation, and the sixth operator run by the Department for Transport Operator (DFTO) – meaning around 4 in 10 passenger journeys will be run under public ownership. c2c will be joining Northern, TransPennine Express, Southeastern, LNER and South Western Railway currently operated by DFTO.

    The move marks another step forwards toward Great British Railways, which will unite track and train under a complete reset that will mark the high standard of service and delivery the public should expect to receive, encouraging more people to take the train, driving growth and opportunity as part of the government’s Plan for Change.

    c2c is consistently rated one of the best performing operators in the country, recently achieving high customer satisfaction ratings of 89%, supporting thousands of jobs, and driving economic growth from London to Essex. Under public ownership it will continue to thrive – engaging closely with local communities, sharing best practices across other operators and working towards a more efficient railway with passengers at its heart.

    Public ownership puts passengers back at the heart of the rail network. Passengers can use their tickets on another publicly owned operator at no extra cost during disruption, and passengers in the north are now making journeys across Northern and TransPennine Express with just one booking, with over 15,000 journeys estimated to be booked this way since June 2024. Through working with Network Rail, Southeastern has increased capacity to popular seaside spots in the summer months allowing more passengers to take the train to beaches like Margate, Whitstable and Herne Bay.

    Two-thirds of Britons have already expressed their support for public ownership, which will save the taxpayer up to £150 million a year in fees alone and ensure every penny can be spent for the benefit of passengers.

    Transport Secretary Heidi Alexander said:

    Whether you’re shopping in Lakeside or walking along the beach in Southend-on-Sea, from this Sunday you will be able to get there on a train service run by the public, for the public.

    Public ownership is already tackling deep-rooted problems we see on the railway that’s led to spiralling costs, fragmentation and waste. A unified network under Great British Railways will take this further with one railway under one brand with one mission – delivering excellent services for passengers wherever they travel.

    This follows the passing of the Public Ownership Act in November 2024 which will enable passenger services operating under contracts with the department to be brought into public ownership.

    Rob Mullen, Managing Director of c2c said:

    At c2c, we are proud of the reliable and high level of service we offer our passengers, consistently being rated as one of the best performing operators in the country.

    We now have a golden opportunity to collaborate with the wider family of publicly owned operators, sharing our successes and best practice, but also learning from a wide range of different and diverse operators who have already benefited from public ownership, to drive even more improvements for the people and places we all serve.

    A unified and focused railway can deliver more for our communities, including better growth, jobs and houses. If we are thriving as a train operator it helps our communities to thrive. This is the positive feedback loop we are excited to deliver, supported by better and closer collaboration with our partners in the lead up to GBR.

    Earlier in May, South Western Railway’s services became the first to come into public ownership under new legislation, c2c’s will follow as the second this Sunday, and Greater Anglia’s services will be next to be brought in on 12 October. The Railways Bill, which will be introduced to Parliament later this year, will enable the establishment of Great British Railways. This means passengers will travel on GBR trains, running on GBR tracks, working to a GBR timetable.

    In the meantime, public sector operators will have to meet rigorous performance standards and earn the right to be called ‘Great British Railways’. Public sector operators will be set bespoke standards on things like punctuality, cancellation and passenger experience, so we can rebuild a world class public service. These will be set out in due course.

    Rail media enquiries

    Media enquiries 0300 7777878

    Switchboard 0300 330 3000

    Updates to this page

    Published 18 July 2025

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: GCA publishes 2024/25 annual report

    Source: United Kingdom – Executive Government & Departments

    News story

    GCA publishes 2024/25 annual report

    Read the GCA’s latest annual report.

    The GCA has published GCA Annual Report and Accounts 2024-25 (PDF, 10.3 MB, 82 pages)

    During the year covered by the report, Code compliance across the sector improved. According to the GCA’s 2025 annual survey, suppliers experienced fewer Code issues and the large retailers’ average Code compliance also increased. Eight of the retailers improved perceptions of their compliance, including each of the five lowest scoring retailers from 2024.

    The report covers the GCA’s work during 2024/25 to prevent potential Code breaches and ensure that the 14 retailers treated their suppliers fairly and lawfully. The issues that the GCA tackled included ensuring:

    • Suppliers are paid on time including by challenging issues with the retailers’ goods-in processes. The proportion of suppliers reporting having experienced a delay in payments fell from 14% to 11% in the 2025 survey.
    • Cost price increases and decreases are negotiated fairly. There was a drop from 16% to 14% in the proportion of suppliers highlighting issues with a retailer’s handling of a request for a cost price increase.
    • The large retailers are clearly communicating to suppliers about their change programmes, such as the introduction of new systems to provide more accurate forecasts or improve goods-in processes.

    The annual report fulfils the GCA’s statutory reporting requirements, providing an update on its financial position.

    Further information

    Provide evidence confidentially to the GCA’s investigation into Amazon

    Register to attend the GCA annual conference on 30 September 2025

    See the GCA’s 2025 annual survey results

    Sign up to the GCA newsletter

    Follow the GCA on LinkedIn and X

    Updates to this page

    Published 18 July 2025

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI Russia: A student of SPbGASU will take part in the All-Russian student graduation ceremony “Your graduation”

    Translation. Region: Russian Federal

    Source: Saint Petersburg State University of Architecture and Civil Engineering –

    An important disclaimer is at the bottom of this article.

    The best university graduates, winners of all-Russian projects, foreign students with outstanding achievements in the field of youth policy and educational activities, representatives of the teaching staff and vice-rectors responsible for the implementation of youth policy in universities will gather on July 19 at the National Center “Russia” in Moscow for the All-Russian Student Graduation. Representatives of the Russian presidential administration and the government will take part in the event.

    Our university will be represented by Marina Erdneyeva, a graduate of the construction faculty of SPbGASU, and Anna Tsarenko, deputy dean for educational work of this faculty.

    “Marina Erdneeva is a member of the dance group “BACKSHOTCREW” of SPbGASU, but she also actively participates in the development and implementation of projects in the field of youth policy, promoting the development of student creativity. Under the leadership of Maria Lyubetskaya, the BACKSHOTcrew team, in which Marina succeeded as a dancer, became a first-degree laureate of the Regional Festival of National Cultures “Northern Lights”, the XII Open Festival-Competition of Choreographic Groups of Modern Dance “POWER OF MOVEMENT”, the Open Youth Patriotic Festival-Competition “Music. Spring. Victory”, a first-degree diploma winner of the Interethnic Student Festival “Golden Autumn-2024”, the Open Dance Competition “Street Show Battle”, the Festival of Creativity “Youth Wave”, – said Anna Tsarenko.

    The All-Russian Student Graduation Program includes educational and cultural blocks, including online ones. A teleconference with universities and a live award ceremony for honors diplomas are expected. Universities will be offered a ready-made script package and technical support for holding their own events within the framework of the All-Russian Student Graduation with the participation of regional coordinators of the Tvoy Khod project. At the site of the National Center “Russia”, participants will meet with mentors and speakers, master classes, sessions, the “Letter to a First-Year Student” campaign from a graduate, educational and motivational blocks with the support of the Tavrida Art Cluster, the Association of Student Sports Clubs of Russia, the SHUM Center, the student media center of the Ministry of Education and Science of Russia “NOS” and the Russian Youth Union. Graduates who graduated with honors and have outstanding achievements in scientific, social, creative, and sports activities will be awarded on the main stage of the National Center “Russia”.

    An important part of the event will be the grand opening of the art object “Russian Students in Faces”.

    The event was organized by the Ministry of Science and Higher Education of the Russian Federation, the Presidential Platform “Russia – Land of Opportunities”, the Federal Agency for Youth Affairs “Rosmolodezh”, the All-Russian student project “Your Move”, with the support of the Russian Society “Knowledge” – the main educational organization of the country, the National Center “Russia” and the All-Russian public and state movement of children and youth “Movement of the First”.

    The opening ceremony of the event will take place at 11:00 on July 19, 2025 at the site of the National Center “Russia” (Moscow, Krasnopresnenskaya Embankment, 14).

    Official website

    VKontakte

    Telegram channel

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

    .

    MIL OSI Russia News –

  • MIL-OSI Russia: A student of SPbGASU will take part in the All-Russian student graduation ceremony “Your graduation”

    Translation. Region: Russian Federal

    Source: Saint Petersburg State University of Architecture and Civil Engineering –

    An important disclaimer is at the bottom of this article.

    The best university graduates, winners of all-Russian projects, foreign students with outstanding achievements in the field of youth policy and educational activities, representatives of the teaching staff and vice-rectors responsible for the implementation of youth policy in universities will gather on July 19 at the National Center “Russia” in Moscow for the All-Russian Student Graduation. Representatives of the Russian presidential administration and the government will take part in the event.

    Our university will be represented by Marina Erdneyeva, a graduate of the construction faculty of SPbGASU, and Anna Tsarenko, deputy dean for educational work of this faculty.

    “Marina Erdneeva is a member of the dance group “BACKSHOTCREW” of SPbGASU, but she also actively participates in the development and implementation of projects in the field of youth policy, promoting the development of student creativity. Under the leadership of Maria Lyubetskaya, the BACKSHOTcrew team, in which Marina succeeded as a dancer, became a first-degree laureate of the Regional Festival of National Cultures “Northern Lights”, the XII Open Festival-Competition of Choreographic Groups of Modern Dance “POWER OF MOVEMENT”, the Open Youth Patriotic Festival-Competition “Music. Spring. Victory”, a first-degree diploma winner of the Interethnic Student Festival “Golden Autumn-2024”, the Open Dance Competition “Street Show Battle”, the Festival of Creativity “Youth Wave”, – said Anna Tsarenko.

    The All-Russian Student Graduation Program includes educational and cultural blocks, including online ones. A teleconference with universities and a live award ceremony for honors diplomas are expected. Universities will be offered a ready-made script package and technical support for holding their own events within the framework of the All-Russian Student Graduation with the participation of regional coordinators of the Tvoy Khod project. At the site of the National Center “Russia”, participants will meet with mentors and speakers, master classes, sessions, the “Letter to a First-Year Student” campaign from a graduate, educational and motivational blocks with the support of the Tavrida Art Cluster, the Association of Student Sports Clubs of Russia, the SHUM Center, the student media center of the Ministry of Education and Science of Russia “NOS” and the Russian Youth Union. Graduates who graduated with honors and have outstanding achievements in scientific, social, creative, and sports activities will be awarded on the main stage of the National Center “Russia”.

    An important part of the event will be the grand opening of the art object “Russian Students in Faces”.

    The event was organized by the Ministry of Science and Higher Education of the Russian Federation, the Presidential Platform “Russia – Land of Opportunities”, the Federal Agency for Youth Affairs “Rosmolodezh”, the All-Russian student project “Your Move”, with the support of the Russian Society “Knowledge” – the main educational organization of the country, the National Center “Russia” and the All-Russian public and state movement of children and youth “Movement of the First”.

    The opening ceremony of the event will take place at 11:00 on July 19, 2025 at the site of the National Center “Russia” (Moscow, Krasnopresnenskaya Embankment, 14).

    Official website

    VKontakte

    Telegram channel

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

    .

    MIL OSI Russia News –

  • MIL-OSI Russia: SPbGASU has proven that the aesthetics of solid waste facilities increases their efficiency

    Translation. Region: Russian Federal

    Source: Saint Petersburg State University of Architecture and Civil Engineering –

    An important disclaimer is at the bottom of this article.

    Valeria Supranovich, Arina Safronova

    SPbGASU has proven that the aesthetics of a solid municipal waste (MSW) handling facility increases its energy efficiency, energy conservation and environmental friendliness throughout its entire service life.

    During her five-year research, Valeria Supranovich, PhD in Architecture and Associate Professor of the Department of Architectural Design at SPbGASU, identified a number of possible high-quality architectural solutions that, in conjunction with technological systems for self-sufficiency of buildings and facade elements, will allow them to organically fit into the urban system. The Associate Professor also developed ways to integrate additional public functions into these objects at various economic costs. All this will allow the implementation of sustainable development goals in the architecture of solid waste management facilities. Valeria Supranovich completed this research work, “Methods of Functional Planning Organization of Solid Waste Management Facilities in Russia,” within the framework of the grant of scientific and pedagogical workers of SPbGASU 2025.

    Since March 2024, amendments to Federal Law No. 451 “On Production and Consumption Waste” have come into force, which have completely updated the waste management system and the regulatory process in terms of extended responsibility of the manufacturer of goods. Moreover, within the framework of the programs of the XXIV International Forum “Ecology of the Big City” and the St. Petersburg International Economic Forum, held in St. Petersburg in 2025, agreements were signed to finance projects for the construction of waste disposal facilities, the creation of the necessary infrastructure to reduce the percentage of waste disposal and the country’s transition to a “closed loop” economy (a production and consumption model that involves reuse, recovery and recycling of existing materials and products for as long as possible) to achieve the goals of sustainable development of the country. This is a powerful impetus for the active implementation of solid waste management facilities in the existing urban system.

    “Today, approaches to the design of solid waste facilities and the facilities themselves do not meet the goals of sustainable development, as they are considered economically inexpedient. However, in the course of scientific research conducted from 2020 to 2025, I was able to identify the opportunity to revise the existing methods of project activities. One example of waste management facilities that meet the goals of sustainable development is the world’s largest W2E plant “Shenzhen Energy Ring” (Shenzhen, China). The new plant is designed to process 5,000 tons of waste per day and simultaneously produce 600 million kilowatt-hours per year. The facility has a round shape, uncharacteristic for manufacturing enterprises, to combine all production units into a single structure and simultaneously reduce the area of the plant, includes zones for the formation and popularization of waste disposal procedures, and photovoltaic panels are provided for on the roof. The architecture of the facility is not utilitarian, it corresponds to the context of the environment,” explained Valeria Supranovich.

    In the course of the current scientific research, she studied the theoretical components of the concept of “sustainable architecture” and proposed a system of their interaction. It was established that the aesthetic qualities of the object allow not only to humanize the appearance of the enterprise, but also to ensure high energy efficiency, environmental friendliness and energy saving of the building throughout the expected service life. The goals of sustainable development in the architecture of waste management facilities should be implemented taking into account their typological affiliation, Valeria Supranovich clarified.

    Some theoretical results of this study were implemented in her diploma work “Technopark complex with waste processing function, Saint Petersburg, Yuntolovo district” by Arina Safronova, a graduate of the master’s program of the Department of Architectural Design of SPbGASU (supervisor – Valeria Supranovich).

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

    .

    MIL OSI Russia News –