NewzIntel.com

Category: CTF

  • MIL-OSI Russia: A record number of applications were received for the competition “Best MFC of Russia”.

    Translation. Region: Russian Federal

    Source: Ministry of Economic Development (Russia) – Ministry of Economic Development (Russia) –

    An important disclaimer is at the bottom of this article.

    For the All-Russian competition “Best MFC of Russia” in 2024, the subjects of the Russian Federation submitted 186 applications – a record number in the entire history of the competition. Their number increased by 17% compared to the previous year. This became possible due to the expansion of categories within the nomination “Best MFC Specialist”.

    Traditionally, the competition is held in three nominations: “Best MFC Project”, “Best Regional MFC Network” and “Best MFC Specialist”.

    In the nomination “Best MFC Project” 42 applications were submitted: the best projects on work with both internal and external clients are presented. In the nomination “Best Regional MFC Network” MFCs of 41 subjects are presented. As always, the most popular nomination was “Best MFC Specialist”: 103 applications were submitted. Universal specialists of the centers, mentors and specialists of the user support sectors will compete for this title.

    At the next stage, the contestants will have a public defense of their projects (nomination “Best MFC Project”), professional and psychological testing, an interview with members of the central competition committee (nomination “Best MFC Specialist”) and an assessment of their questionnaire data (nomination “Best Regional MFC Network”).

    “Today, there are more than 11.5 thousand My Documents offices operating in Russia, 96% of the population is covered by the network. In 2024, more than 165 million requests were recorded – an annual increase in the number of requests to State Service Centers by 10% confirms the importance of the MFC as the main channel of communication between citizens and the state. Therefore, it is doubly gratifying to note that the interest of colleagues in the competition is increasing every year, they are ready to present and defend their best practices,” commented Kirill Albychev, Director of the Department for Ensuring the Quality of Public Services to the Population and the Performance of State Functions of the Ministry of Economic Development of Russia.

    The results of the competition will be announced in the fall at the All-Russian MFC Forum.

    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: Simplifying financial requirements for tour operators will make travel to friendly countries more accessible and safer

    Translation. Region: Russian Federal

    Source: Ministry of Economic Development (Russia) – Ministry of Economic Development (Russia) –

    An important disclaimer is at the bottom of this article.

    The state continues to support the tourism industry, paying special attention to the development of organized tourism to countries with favorable conditions for Russian travelers. The Federation Council approved changes to the legislation that will reduce the financial burden on tour operators working with neighboring friendly states. The list of such countries that meet safety requirements and are popular with Russian tourists will soon be approved by the Russian Government.

    According to the new regulations, tour operators that specialize exclusively in trips to neighboring friendly states will be able to form financial security for liability in the amount of 500 thousand rubles – just like companies working in the field of domestic tourism. The new regulations also stipulate that tour operators will be able to ignore the total cost of tours to these countries when calculating contributions to mandatory funds for tour operators in the field of outbound tourism. This approach will preserve the mandatory nature of these funds aimed at reimbursing tourists and returning Russian tourists from abroad, and will also significantly reduce the costs of tour operators, which will ultimately have a positive effect on the price of tours.

    “Simplifying financial requirements will allow tour operators to more actively develop new routes, offer more vacation options at affordable prices, and most importantly, provide additional protection for tourists. Travel will become more accessible, while the level of protection of travelers’ rights will remain high. It is important to remember that organized tours are safer than independent trips, as they include insurance, emergency support, and a guaranteed return home if necessary,” said Deputy Minister of Economic Development Dmitry Vakhrukov.

    For tourists, these changes mean several important advantages. The cost of tours to friendly countries may decrease, as tour operators will be able to optimize their expenses. In addition, reducing the financial burden will help legalize part of the tourism business, which currently operates in the gray zone.

    An increase in the number of companies offering organized vacations will provide greater protection for tourists compared to independent travel: in the event of flight cancellations or other force majeure circumstances, the tour operator is obliged to provide alternative services or organize a return to the home country. Each tourist will be insured by the financial security of the tour operator’s liability and funds of such tour operators, and information about their trip will be recorded in the state system, which will allow prompt assistance if necessary. The transfer of independent travelers to the organized tourist flow will allow better control over the movement of citizens and promptly respond to any crisis situations abroad.

    “This is an important and timely measure. It promotes travel to friendly countries, opens up opportunities for the formation of interesting, competitive price offers. For tour operators working in other outbound destinations, this is an opportunity to minimize the total cost of the tourism product, from which the amount of contributions to the FPO is calculated, and therefore reduce the burden on business,” said Deputy General Director for Government Relations and Communications of the tour operator FUN

    The federal law will come into force on September 1, 2025 – this is another step towards strengthening tourism cooperation with friendly countries and developing mutually beneficial economic ties.

    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: Alexander Novak held the 39th meeting of the Federal Headquarters for Gasification.

    Translation. Region: Russian Federal

    Source: Government of the Russian Federation – Government of the Russian Federation –

    An important disclaimer is at the bottom of this article.

    Deputy Prime Minister Alexander Novak held the 39th meeting of the Federal Headquarters for Gasification. It was attended by representatives of the Ministry of Energy, Gazprom, Gazprom Mezhregiongaz, the Government Coordination Center, the Federal Antimonopoly Service, and regional authorities.

    During the meeting of the federal headquarters, they discussed the progress of implementing the instructions of the President of Russia on connecting households to gas, including those in the territory of gardening non-profit partnerships (SNT) located in populated areas, and social facilities in the first half of 2025, and also determined a work plan for the second half of the year.

    “The President has ordered that natural gas be supplied to 1.6 million households by 2030. An additional task has been set to supply additional gas to gardening associations,” recalled Alexander Novak, opening the headquarters meeting.

    In total, over 1.5 million gas connection contracts have been concluded since the start of the pre-gasification program in 2021. Technical connection capability has been created for over 1.6 million households. Over 1.3 million contracts have been executed up to the boundaries of consumers’ land plots. 1,047 contracts have been concluded with medical and educational institutions.

    According to the Ministry of Energy, the number of households that received the technical capability to conduct gas supply in 2025 increased by 223 thousand. The schedule for additional gasification of SNT includes more than 200 thousand houses, 43 thousand contracts have already been concluded, more than 8650 of them have been executed up to the boundaries of the plots, more than 3.7 thousand gas connections to houses have been made. The process of inventorying SNT and registering residential buildings as property continues, which is a mandatory condition for obtaining the ability to conduct gas supply to them.

    The head of the Mari El Republic, Yuri Zaitsev, and the acting head of the Tambov Region, Evgeny Pervyshov, reported on the progress of additional gasification in the regions. They reported on the fulfillment of planned indicators for gas supply to households, the continuation of work on additional gasification of SNTs, and measures to support preferential categories of citizens when gas is supplied to homes.

    The Deputy Prime Minister instructed the regional authorities to pay attention to the need to increase the number of gas supplies to residential buildings. The heads of regional gasification headquarters were instructed to assess the level of use of funds allocated to support preferential categories of citizens for gas supply.

    Alexander Novak also drew special attention to the need to intensify work on additional gasification of SNT, taking into account the high potential for additional gasification of garden associations located within the boundaries of populated areas.

    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: BRICS Media and Think Tanks Discuss Advancing BRICS Cooperation and New Vision for the Global South

    Translation. Region: Russian Federal

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

    An important disclaimer is at the bottom of this article.

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

    RIO DE JANEIRO, July 17 (Xinhua) — More than 250 representatives from nearly 150 media outlets, think tanks, government agencies and regional organizations from 36 countries gathered in Rio de Janeiro on Wednesday for the BRICS Media and Think Tank Forum. The event focused on advancing BRICS cooperation and strengthening solidarity among countries in the Global South.

    In his keynote speech, the forum’s chairman and Xinhua News Agency Director General Fu Hua said that cooperation within the “greater BRICS” plays a key role in uniting countries of the Global South, strengthening their influence on world affairs and advancing global governance reform.

    The forum is entering its second decade, Fu Hua said, stressing that Xinhua intends to work with its BRICS counterparts to better cover developments in the Global South, promote joint research on key issues and deepen professional cooperation.

    In a congratulatory letter, Chinese Ambassador to Brazil Zhu Qingqiao praised the inclusion of discussions on artificial intelligence in the forum’s program and emphasized its role in implementing the results of the 17th BRICS Leaders’ Meeting.

    The diplomat expressed hope that the forum would strengthen BRICS’ position as a platform for South-South cooperation and as a voice in support of global governance reform.

    Other speakers echoed these calls. Central American Parliament President Carlos Hernandez said global governance was in dire need of new models and new voices.

    “The countries represented here today are showing the way forward – a path based on equitable development, dignity and multilateralism,” stressed C. Hernandez.

    First Deputy Director General of the Russian news agency TASS Mikhail Gusman noted that the BRICS countries reflect the diversity of emerging economies.

    According to him, against the backdrop of growing global challenges in the media sphere, cooperation between the media of the BRICS countries plays an important role in protecting truth, justice and peace.

    Rio de Janeiro State Legislative Assembly Vice President Tia Zhu praised China’s efforts to bring together countries in the Global South and pointed to the need for media cooperation to increase BRICS’ international visibility and influence.

    Eidkol Polevnsky Hurwitz, Chair of the Mexican Senate Committee on Asia-Pacific Relations, said Mexico shares with BRICS the vision of inclusive growth and fair trade.

    “We cannot allow external interference in our development paths. Together we must build a multipolar world,” she stressed, referring to the Chinese concept of building a community with a shared future for mankind.

    At the end of the forum, an analytical report “BRICS Cooperation: Promoting Collective Progress in the Global South” was published. In addition, two major initiatives were launched – the Joint Communication Partnership Programme of the Global South and the content collaboration project “Connecting BRICS: Voices from the South”.

    The forum, titled “One BRICS: Opening a New Chapter for the Global South,” was the first full-scale meeting of the BRICS media mechanism since the historic expansion of the group and was co-hosted by China’s Xinhua News Agency and the Brazilian Communications Company. –0–

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

    .

    MIL OSI Russia News –

  • MIL-OSI United Nations: Pakistan reels under monsoon deluge as death toll climbs

    Source: United Nations 2

    Punjab, Pakistan’s most populous province, reported at least 63 casualties and 290 injuries in the past 24 hours, pushing the nationwide toll since the seasonal rains began on 26 June to over 120 fatalities, according to the National Disaster Management Authority.

    The unfolding crisis – rising rivers, forecasts of further downpours, fragile rural homes collapsing and transport links severed – has revived stark memories of the catastrophic 2022 floods that submerged a third of the country and affected more than 33 million people.

    More intense rainfall is forecast over parts of central and northern Pakistan in the next 72 hours. Weather forecasters have warned of “exceptional high” flood levels of up to 450,000 cusecs at some locations along the Jhelum River. One cusec equals one cubic foot of water – equivalent to 28.4 litres or 7.5 gallons – per second.

    There are also fears of glacier lake outburst floods in the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Gilgit Baltistan regions.

    Wider UN contingency – major stock gaps

    Managed by the Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA), the UN presence in Pakistan released an inter‑agency monsoon contingency plan earlier this month.

    The plan lays out response triggers, sector roles and arrangements for floods, storms and landslides – under the leadership of the Government.

    However, pre-positioned aid supplies remain far below projected need, with key sectors such as protection, nutrition, and shelter and non-food items, facing severe gaps.

    These shortfalls underscore the urgency of pre‑positioning relief items and securing rapid financing if the rains intensify.

    Building resilience

    Amid the emergency, the UN World Food Programme (WFP) and the Government of Pakistan this week launched a climate-risk project in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa’s Buner and Shangla districts.

    The initiative will establish early warning systems, train communities in safe evacuation and strengthen local capacity for disaster response.

    “Recurring climate shocks are a driver of hunger and malnutrition, threatening lives, livelihoods and entire food systems,” said WFP Country Director Coco Ushiyama.

    “This project represents a multi-layered investment in early warning systems and action.”

    Flashbacks of 2022 devastation

    The escalating disaster once again reveals Pakistan’s vulnerability to climate shocks.

    In 2022, unprecedented monsoon floods killed more than 1,700 people, displaced millions and devastated water systems, leaving millions more in desperate need. The disaster also inflicted immense economic damage estimated at nearly $40 billion, and reversed years of development efforts.

    Experts warn that erratic monsoon patterns, amplified by climate change, are hitting the country – and others across the southern Asian – harder each year.

    MIL OSI United Nations News –

  • MIL-OSI United Nations: Indigenous youth meet trailblazers ahead of Nelson Mandela Day

    Source: United Nations 2

    Accompanied by their parents and mentors from the midwestern state of Wisconsin, the group wore handmade ribbon skirts and vests featuring seven coloured bands, each symbolizing a Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) of personal significance, such as good health and gender equality.

    Also visiting the UN in New York for the first time that day was Brenda Reynolds, a social worker from Canada and a member of the Fishing Lake First Nation. She was joined by her husband, Robert Buckle, and 12-year-old granddaughter Lillian, and wore one of her own ribbon skirts for the occasion.

    Ms. Reynolds will be awarded the 2025 United Nations Nelson Rolihlahla Mandela Prize on 18 July. The Prize, presented every five years, recognizes two individuals whose life work exemplifies service to humanity. Ms. Reynolds will receive the award alongside Kennedy Odede, a social entrepreneur from Kenya.

    UN News/Paulina Greer

    Mirian Masaquiza Jerez, a UN Social Affairs Officer, and Brenda Reynolds, a recipient of the 2025 United Nations Nelson Rolihlahla Mandela Prize ), brief Indigenous youth visiting UN Headquarters in New York.

    Agents of change

    After a UN tour (unanimously enjoyed) and a quick stop for lunch and souvenirs at the UN Bookshop (where one plushie hummingbird was traded for a green turtle named “Coral”), the group settled into a briefing room.

    Onstage, Ms. Reynolds was joined by Mirian Masaquiza Jerez, a Kichwa woman from Ecuador and a Social Affairs Officer at the UN Department of Economic and Social Affairs (UNDESA), easily recognized in the UN corridors for always wearing traditional regalia from her Indigenous community of Salasaka,

    “Wherever you go to public spaces, wear who you are,” she said.  “The UN is the place to raise your voice. Be free to be who you are.”

    Encouraging them to speak their languages and honour their cultures, Ms. Masaquiza urged the young students to see themselves as agents of change.

    “You didn’t come by invitation. You came because you belong,” she said. “You are the future. You are the present. As Indigenous, we have the space. Use it.”

    A painful past

    Ms. Reynolds shared her personal story with the group, reflecting on her early career as a counsellor at Gordon’s Indian Residential School in Saskatchewan, the last federally funded residential school to close in Canada.

    She described seeing children as young as five separated from their families for a year at a time and issued shirts with numbers instead of their names written inside: “The only other time I had seen people identified that way was when Jewish people had numbers tattooed on them.”

    During her first year at Gordon’s in 1988, a young girl confided that she had been abused. By the next morning, 17 would come forward, launching what would become the province’s first major residential school abuse case.

    Ms. Reynolds, then labeled a “troublemaker,” went on to help shape the Indian Residential Schools Settlement Agreement and advise the Truth and Reconciliation Commission. Her work has impacted hundreds of thousands of Indigenous People across Canada.

    The room echoed with laughter, knowing nods and tears, and phrases from Ojibwe and other languages represented by the Indigenous Peoples in the room, including Potawatomi, Ho-Chunk, Ojibwe, Menomonee, Oneida, Navajo, Hawaiian, Pacific Islander, and Afro-Indigenous communities.

    UN News/Paulina Greer

    Brenda Reynolds, a recipient of the 2025 United Nations Nelson Rolihlahla Mandela Prize, poses with a statute of the late South African President at UN Headquarters in New York.

    Coming full circle

    The youth came from the Daughters of Tradition and the Sons of Tradition, part of a long-running healing initiative by Milwaukee’s Healing Intergenerational Roots (HIR) Wellness Institute, which supports Indigenous communities with no-cost, comprehensive mental healthcare and other services.

    The founder, Lea S. Denny, wants Indigenous youth to see themselves in positions of power. This particular group has been together for eight years, with some heading off to college in the fall.

    One father, attending with his three daughters, reflected on raising Indigenous youth in the digital age. “We want them to access the world out there,” he said, “but also protect the inside world we want to hold dear.” He said he also offered the advice that “if you don’t see yourself on the screen, sometimes you have to be the first.”

    The day finished with hugs and exchanges of handmade leis as a symbol of the breath of life and sharing a good life source.

    They will reunite on 18 July to see Ms. Reynolds accept the Mandela Prize in the General Assembly Hall.

    Before then, a planned detour to visit Times Square.

    Meanwhile, Ms. Reynolds and her family discussed their plans for a Broadway show. On the way out, she paused to hug a life-sized bronze statue of Nelson Mandela, a gift from the South African Government to the UN.

    “I started my work with children,” she said. “And today, I spoke to children. This feels full circle for me.”

    MIL OSI United Nations News –

  • MIL-OSI United Nations: SECURITY COUNCIL LIVE: Emergency meeting on rising tensions in Syria

    Source: United Nations 2

    The Security Council meets this afternoon for an emergency session on Syria after a wave of Israeli airstrikes reportedly hit military sites and key locations in Damascus, killing and injuring civilians and soldiers. The meeting was requested by Syria and backed by Council members Algeria and Somalia. A senior UN political affairs official is expected to brief ambassadors, with regional countries also participating. Stay with us for live updates, in coordination with UN Meetings Coverage. UN News App users can follow here.

    MIL OSI United Nations News –

  • MIL-OSI United Nations: Human Rights Committee Closes One Hundred and Forty-Fourth Session

    Source: United Nations – Geneva

    The Human Rights Committee this afternoon closed its one hundred and forty-fourth session in Geneva after adopting its concluding observations on the reports of Guinea-Bissau, Haiti, Kazakhstan, Latvia, North Macedonia, Spain and Viet Nam, which were reviewed during the session.

    Changrok Soh, Committee Chairperson, said the Committee had come to the end of a productive session and commended the Committee members for their commitment and professionalism.  The Committee had held constructive dialogues with Guinea-Bissau, Haiti, Kazakhstan, Latvia, North Macedonia, Spain and Viet Nam.   The concluding observations would be issued on the Committee’s webpage later today. 

    Mr. Soh said also during the session, the Committee adopted nine lists of issues prior to reporting related to Argentina, Australia, Bahamas, Denmark, Ghana, Liechtenstein, Morocco, Sweden and Switzerland.

    On individual communications, the Committee considered 22 drafts, including one draft decision prepared in accordance with the simplified format adopted by the Committee at its one hundred and fortieth session. The drafts related to 51 communications: 26 were decided on the merits, 12 communications were declared inadmissible, and 13 communications were discontinued.  Regarding the communications decided on the merits, the Committee found violations in 25 of them.

    The Committee also adopted the follow up report on concluding observations of Armenia and Germany. 

    Mr. Soh said the Committee’s one hundred and forty-fifth session was scheduled to take place in March 2026, instead of October 2025 as originally planned, due to the financial crisis.  The Committee greatly regretted the cancellation of the October session, which was unprecedented in the Committee’s 50-year history.  As a result, the Committee had convened an emergency meeting with States parties at this session and he expressed appreciation for the 60 States that had attended and were committed to finding solutions which enabled the Committee to fulfil its mandate.   

    At its next session from 2 to 19 March 2026, the Committee is scheduled to review the periodic reports of Andorra, Canada, Chad, Republic of Moldova and Slovakia, and adopt lists of issues prior to reporting on Belgium, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Cabo Verde, Czechia, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Hungary, Mexico and Senegal, as well as the list of issues on Rwanda.

    In closing, Mr. Soh expressed appreciation to members of the bureau as well as the members of the Secretariat, the Petitions Section, United Nations entities, civil society and all those who made the session possible. 

    Before the meeting closed, several Committee Members took the floor, discussing the unique and challenging situation which the Committee had found itself in, and the impact that the financial crisis had on the work of the Committee.  Despite the constraints, the current session had still been productive, and the Committee would continue to strive to ensure the human rights of people all around the world.  Experts thanked all those responsible for the success of the current session.  It was hoped Member States could come together to solve the current challenges, and that all sessions could take place next year as planned. 

    The Committee’s next session is scheduled to be held from 2 to 19 March 2026, during which it will review the reports of Andorra, Canada, Chad, Republic of Moldova and Slovakia.

    ___________

    Produced by the United Nations Information Service in Geneva for use of the media; 
    not an official record. English and French versions of our releases are different as they are the product of two separate coverage teams that work independently.

     

    CCPR25.019E

    MIL OSI United Nations News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Representatives Norma Torres and Pete Aguilar Lead Call to Reopen Inland Empire Job Corps Center Following Abrupt Closure and Court Orders

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Congresswoman Norma Torres (35th District of California)

    July 17, 2025

    Washington, D.C. – Today, Inland Empire Representatives Norma Torres and Pete Aguilar, joined by Reps. Raul Ruiz, Judy Chu, and Mark Takano, sent a letter demanding immediate action from the Department of Labor (DOL), Secretary Lori Chavez-DeRemer to fully reopen the Inland Empire Job Corps Center in San Bernardino, California. The letter also calls on DOL to follow recent federal court orders to keep the Job Corps Centers open and for the Trump Administration to reverse its reckless May 29 announcement to shut down the Job Corps program, which provides at-risk youth career pathways in business and industry.

    The Job Corps is a national program with over 120 centers across the country offering tuition-free education and job training to low-income youth ages 16-24. The center in San Bernardino has served the Inland Empire community for decades. On May 29, the Trump Administration started shutting down Job Corps Centers, forcing hundreds of students, many of whom live in the Inland Empire Job Corps Center, to leave the campus with just a few days’ notice and limited support.

    Congress appropriated nearly $1.8 billion to Job Corps programs in Fiscal Year 2024, with funding continuing at that same level in Fiscal Year 2025. The Trump Administration’s decision to shut down the program contradicts its own stated goals of putting American workers first and will take away opportunities for young people in the Inland Empire, especially at a time when many industries, such as construction and manufacturing, are facing labor shortages.

    “As Members of the Inland Empire Congressional Delegation, we express our extreme concerns regarding your announcement to implement a nationwide “phased pause” in the Job Corps program. This led to the abrupt changes for the Inland Empire Job Corps Center at 3173 Kerry St. in San Bernardino that serves our communities, forcing more than 120 students to leave,” said the members. “The Job Corps program has, for over 50 years, offered tuition-free education for low-income young people ages 16 through 24 to help complete their high school education, train them for good-paying careers, and help them get jobs. As such, we demand you strictly follow the federal court’s June 4, 2025, temporary restraining order and June 25, 2025, preliminary injunction.”

    “The Job Corps program currently serves around 25,000 young Americans nationwide, offering them a lifeline and the opportunity to learn critical vocational and technical job skills to enter the workforce. Since 2023, more than 6,200 Californians have enrolled in Job Corps, with more than 2,400 of them coming from the counties of Riverside, San Bernardino, and Los Angeles. Until the abrupt and chaotic changes, the Inland Empire Job Corps Center served 340 students, teaching them much-needed skills to work in careers and trades industries, such as automotive, construction, homeland security, manufacturing, transportation, health care.”

    “We demand that DOL take swift action to reopen the Inland Empire Job Corps Center and allow students to return and resume their program. Thank you for your attention to this matter, and we look forward to a prompt response,” the members continued. 

    Representatives Torres and Aguilar are committed to working with local partners to protect the futures of Job Corps students and the economic health of the Inland Empire.

    Full letter text

    ###

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Public Invited to Review Flood Maps in Seneca County, New York

    Source: US Federal Emergency Management Agency

    Headline: Public Invited to Review Flood Maps in Seneca County, New York

    Public Invited to Review Flood Maps in Seneca County, New York

    Seneca County, N

    Y

    – FEMA is proposing updates to the Flood Insurance Rate Map (FIRM) for Seneca County, New York

    Community partners are invited to participate in a 90-day appeal and comment period

     The updated maps were produced in coordination with local, state and FEMA officials

    Significant community review of the maps has already taken place, but before the maps become final, community partners can identify any corrections or questions about the information provided and submit appeals or comments

     The 90-day appeal period will begin July 23, 2025

    Residents, business owners and other community partners are encouraged to review the updated maps to learn about local flood risks and potential future flood insurance requirements

    They may submit an appeal if they perceive that modeling or data used to create the map is technically or scientifically incorrect

    An appeal must include technical information, such as hydraulic or hydrologic data, to support the claim

    Appeals cannot be based on the effects of proposed projects or projects started after the study is in progress

    If property owners see incorrect information that does not change the flood hazard information—such as a missing or misspelled road name in the Special Flood Hazard Area or an incorrect corporate boundary—they can submit a written comment

    The next step in the mapping process is the resolution of all comments and appeals

    Once they are resolved, FEMA will notify communities of the effective date of the final maps

    Submit appeals and comments by contacting your local floodplain administrator

    The preliminary maps may be viewed online at the FEMA Flood Map Changes Viewer: http://msc

    fema

    gov/fmcv

    For more information about the flood maps:Use a live chat service about flood maps at http://go

    usa

    gov/r6C (just click on the “Live Chat” icon)

    Contact a FEMA Map Specialist by telephone; toll free, at 1-877-FEMA-MAP (1-877-336-2627) or by email at FEMA-FMIX@fema

    dhs

    gov

     Most homeowner’s insurance policies do not cover flooding

    There are cost-saving options available for those newly mapped into a high-risk flood zone

    Learn more about your flood insurance options by talking with your insurance agent and visiting https://www

    floodsmart

    gov

    Seneca County, NY Flood Mapping MilestonesJuly 23, 2024 — Flood Risk Review Meeting to review draft flood hazard data

    December 5, 2024 — Preliminary Flood Insurance Rate Map released

    January 6, 2025 — Community Coordination and Outreach Meeting to review Preliminary Flood Insurance Rate Map and discuss updates to local floodplain management ordinance and flood insurance

    February 12, 2025, and June 4, 2025 — Open House Meetings with public to review Preliminary Flood Insurance Rate Map

    July 23, 2025 — Appeal Period starts

    Winter 2026* — New Flood Insurance Rate Map becomes effective and flood insurance requirements take effect

    (*Timeline subject to change pending completion of the appeal review process

    )If you have any questions, please contact FEMA Region 2 Office of External Affairs at (212) 680-3699 or at FEMA-R2-ExternalAffairs@fema

    dhs

    gov

     
    kate

    macedo
    Thu, 07/17/2025 – 18:38

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: NASA to Launch SNIFS, Sun’s Next Trailblazing Spectator

    Source: NASA

    July will see the launch of the groundbreaking Solar EruptioN Integral Field Spectrograph mission, or SNIFS. Delivered to space via a Black Brant IX sounding rocket, SNIFS will explore the energy and dynamics of the chromosphere, one of the most complex regions of the Sun’s atmosphere. The SNIFS mission’s launch window at the White Sands Missile Range in New Mexico opens on Friday, July 18. 
    The chromosphere is located between the Sun’s visible surface, or photosphere, and its outer layer, the corona. The different layers of the Sun’s atmosphere have been researched at length, but many questions persist about the chromosphere. “There’s still a lot of unknowns,” said Phillip Chamberlin, a research scientist at the University of Colorado Boulder and principal investigator for the SNIFS mission.  

    The chromosphere lies just below the corona, where powerful solar flares and massive coronal mass ejections are observed. These solar eruptions are the main drivers of space weather, the hazardous conditions in near-Earth space that threaten satellites and endanger astronauts. The SNIFS mission aims to learn more about how energy is converted and moves through the chromosphere, where it can ultimately power these massive explosions.  
    “To make sure the Earth is safe from space weather, we really would like to be able to model things,” said Vicki Herde, a doctoral graduate of CU Boulder who worked with Chamberlin to develop SNIFS.  

    The SNIFS mission is the first ever solar ultraviolet integral field spectrograph, an advanced technology combining an imager and a spectrograph. Imagers capture photos and videos, which are good for seeing the combined light from a large field of view all at once. Spectrographs dissect light into its various wavelengths, revealing which elements are present in the light source, their temperature, and how they’re moving — but only from a single location at a time. 
    The SNIFS mission combines these two technologies into one instrument.  
    “It’s the best of both worlds,” said Chamberlin. “You’re pushing the limit of what technology allows us to do.” 
    By focusing on specific wavelengths, known as spectral lines, the SNIFS mission will help scientists to learn about the chromosphere. These wavelengths include a spectral line of hydrogen that is the brightest line in the Sun’s ultraviolet (UV) spectrum, and two spectral lines from the elements silicon and oxygen. Together, data from these spectral lines will help reveal how the chromosphere connects with upper atmosphere by tracing how solar material and energy move through it. 
    The SNIFS mission will be carried into space by a sounding rocket. These rockets are effective tools for launching and carrying space experiments and offer a valuable opportunity for hands-on experience, particularly for students and early-career researchers.

    “You can really try some wild things,” Herde said. “It gives the opportunity to allow students to touch the hardware.” 
    Chamberlin emphasized how beneficial these types of missions can be for science and engineering students like Herde, or the next generation of space scientists, who “come with a lot of enthusiasm, a lot of new ideas, new techniques,” he said. 
    The entirety of the SNIFS mission will likely last up to 15 minutes. After launch, the sounding rocket is expected to take 90 seconds to make it to space and point toward the Sun, seven to eight minutes to perform the experiment on the chromosphere, and three to five minutes to return to Earth’s surface.  

    [embedded content]
    A previous sounding rocket launch from the White Sands Missile Range in New Mexico. This mission carried a copy of the Extreme Ultraviolet Variability Experiment (EVE).Credit: NASA/University of Colorado Boulder, Laboratory for Atmospheric and Space Physics/James Mason

    The rocket will drift around 70 to 80 miles (112 to 128 kilometers) from the launchpad before its return, so mission contributors must ensure it will have a safe place to land. White Sands, a largely empty desert, is ideal. 
    Herde, who spent four years working on the rocket, expressed her immense excitement for the launch. “This has been my baby.” 

    By Harper LawsonNASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center, Greenbelt, Md.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Space Station Crew Celebrates Milestone

    Source: NASA

    In this June 13, 2025, photo, NASA astronaut Anne McClain shows off a hamburger-shaped cake to celebrate 200 cumulative days in space for JAXA (Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency) astronaut Takuya Onishi since his first spaceflight as an Expedition 48-49 Flight Engineer in 2016.
    Onishi and McClain launched to the International Space Station along with NASA astronaut Nichole Ayers and Roscosmos cosmonaut Kirill Peskov on March 14, 2025, as part of the Crew-10 mission. Aboard the orbital laboratory, the Crew-10 members conduct scientific research to prepare for human exploration beyond low Earth orbit and benefit humanity on Earth. McClain and Ayers also performed a spacewalk on May 1, 2025 – McClain’s third and Ayers’ first.
    Check out the International Space Station blog to follow the crew’s research and other activities.
    Image credit: NASA/Jonny Kim

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI: Donegal Group Inc. Announces Quarterly Dividend

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    MARIETTA, Pa., July 17, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Donegal Group Inc. (NASDAQ:DGICA) and (NASDAQ:DGICB) reported today that its board of directors declared a regular quarterly cash dividend of $0.1825 per share of the Company’s Class A common stock and $0.165 per share of the Company’s Class B common stock. The dividends are payable on August 15, 2025 to stockholders of record as of the close of business on August 1, 2025.

    About Donegal Group Inc.

    Donegal Group Inc. is an insurance holding company whose insurance subsidiaries and affiliates offer property and casualty lines of insurance in 21 Mid-Atlantic, Midwestern, Southern and Southwestern states. Donegal Mutual Insurance Company and its insurance subsidiaries conduct business together with the insurance subsidiaries of Donegal Group Inc. as the Donegal Insurance Group. The Donegal Insurance Group has an A.M. Best rating of A (Excellent).

    The Class A common stock and Class B common stock of Donegal Group Inc. trade on the NASDAQ Global Select Market under the symbols DGICA and DGICB, respectively. The Company is focused on several primary strategies, including achieving sustained excellent financial performance, strategically modernizing its operations and processes to transform its business, capitalizing on opportunities to grow profitably and providing superior experiences to its agents, customers and employees.

    Investor Relations Contact

    Karin Daly
    Vice President, The Equity Group Inc.
    Phone: (212) 836-9623
    E-mail: kdaly@theequitygroup.com 

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI Africa: Sierra Leone moves closer to Universal Health Coverage with high-level engagement on draft Sierra Leone Agency for Universal Health Coverage (SLAUHC) Bill

    Source: APO


    .

    Sierra Leone has taken a critical step toward advancing Universal Health Coverage (UHC) with the convening of a high-level policy dialogue on the draft Sierra Leone Agency for Universal Health Coverage (SLAUHC) Bill. Organized on 6 May 2025 by the Ministry of Health with support from the World Health Organization (WHO), the one-day engagement brought together over 60 senior leaders in Freetown, including ministers, directors, and technical heads from across the health sector.

    The proposed SLAUHC Bill outlines the establishment of a dedicated agency that will integrate and manage two major national health financing mechanisms, the Free Healthcare Initiative (FHCI) and the Sierra Leone Social Health Insurance Scheme (SLeSHI). The unified governance structure aims to address current fragmentation, improve the efficiency of health financing, and accelerate the country’s progress toward achieving UHC.

    “This Bill is a transformative step in Sierra Leone’s journey toward sustainable health financing,” said Dr. Ibrahim F. Kamara, speaking on behalf of the WHO Country Representative. “It will strengthen institutional capacity, enhance accountability, and ensure equitable access to health services, particularly for the most vulnerable populations.”

    The engagement served three key objectives: a comprehensive review of the draft legislation, consensus-building among stakeholders, and alignment with the Ministry of Health’s UHC Roadmap and SLeSHI implementation framework. The outcome is a consolidated and informed policy position ahead of the bill’s submission to the Inter-Ministerial Committee (IMC). 

    Chief Medical Officer Dr Sartie Kenneh emphasized the importance of a comprehensive and inclusive approach to UHC: “the name and scope of the bill must reflect the broader dimensions required to achieve UHC. While health financing is a critical pillar, it is only one part of the equation. No healthcare service is truly free, while it may be free at the point of delivery, someone ultimately bears the cost. Therefore, we must collectively design a sustainable health financing model that ensures long-term viability. It is also prudent to allow the Free Healthcare Initiative and the Social Health Insurance Scheme to operate in tandem, to optimize coverage and ensure the full spectrum of healthcare costs is addressed.”

    The proposed SLAUHC Agency responds to longstanding structural challenges in the health financing landscape. Currently, out-of-pocket payments account for 56% of total health expenditure, well above the sub-Saharan Africa average of 30%. Less than 1% of Sierra Leone’s population is covered by any social health protection scheme, exposing many to catastrophic health spending and pushing households further into poverty. Moreover, with 75% of health financing reliant on donor contributions, ensuring coherence with national priorities remains a pressing issue.

    The draft bill is grounded in the Ministry’s Health Financing Strategy 2021–2025, which calls for the creation of a Universal Health Coverage Fund, integration with SLeSHI, and the development of operational and regulatory systems to support long-term health sector sustainability.

    WHO has reaffirmed its full technical support to the Ministry in the finalization and operationalization of the SLAUHC Bill. This includes support for institutional design, capacity strengthening, cost-containment mechanisms, and the establishment of care quality and priority-setting frameworks.

    Once enacted, the SLAUHC Agency will serve as a central institution for resource mobilization, regulation of financial flows, and oversight of major health benefit programs. It is expected to play a pivotal role in improving efficiency, transparency, and equity in health service delivery.

    This high-level dialogue marks a significant milestone in Sierra Leone’s health sector reform agenda. It paves the way for the establishment of a National Health Insurance Scheme and reinforces the country’s commitment to achieving health for all, leaving no one behind.

    Distributed by APO Group on behalf of WHO Regional Office for Africa.

    MIL OSI Africa –

  • MIL-OSI Russia: Marat Khusnullin held a meeting of the Presidium of the Government Commission on Regional Development

    Translation. Region: Russian Federal

    Source: Government of the Russian Federation – Government of the Russian Federation –

    An important disclaimer is at the bottom of this article.

    Deputy Prime Minister Marat Khusnullin held a meeting of the presidium (headquarters) of the Government Commission on Regional Development, where they discussed the preliminary results of the work and the implementation of indicators within the framework of the national project “Infrastructure for Life”.

    “On the instructions of the President, we continue to monitor housing construction as a key driver of regional development. This is important for improving the lives of citizens, stimulating the development of related industries and creating conditions for the comprehensive renewal of settlements. Despite the fact that the urban development potential is more than 463 million square meters, which is slightly higher than last year, we still see a cooling of the market. I ask all heads of regions to take personal control of this issue, to work on increasing the urban development potential, and also to work manually with each developer so that all houses are necessarily delivered on time,” said Marat Khusnullin.

    In terms of the implementation of key indicators, Marat Khusnullin noted the Ryazan, Saratov, Lipetsk regions, the republics of Buryatia, Bashkortostan, Tatarstan, and Perm Krai for their high results. Reports were made by the governor of the Ryazan region Pavel Malkov, the head of the Kabardino-Balkarian Republic Kazbek Kokov.

    Marat Khusnullin also congratulated the headquarters participants on the extension of the federal highway M-12 “Vostok” to Yekaterinburg. On July 16, 2025, Russian President Vladimir Putin launched traffic on the new section of the federal highway M-12 “Vostok” from the city of Dyurtyuli to the village of Achit. Now the route between St. Petersburg and Yekaterinburg can be covered in an average of 22 hours – almost twice as fast, and the road from Yekaterinburg to Moscow has become 198 km shorter.

    “The new section allowed us to form a high-speed corridor without a single traffic light from St. Petersburg to Yekaterinburg. Travel time to Moscow will be less than 16 hours. At the same time, residents of not only the Urals, but also Siberia will feel a significant acceleration in travel. For Tyumen, Omsk, and Novosibirsk, this entire corridor will also be significant in increasing mobility and saving time. Many thanks to the builders for the excellent facility and to everyone who took part in its implementation,” said Marat Khusnullin.

    The issue of road safety was discussed at the headquarters. The Deputy Prime Minister noted that it is necessary to strengthen cooperation with relevant departments, take all measures that will help reduce road accidents, and pay special attention to pedestrian infrastructure and the prevention of road accidents involving children.

    During the meeting, preliminary results of the application campaign for financing projects within the framework of treasury infrastructure loans (TIL), which are being launched this year as a continuation of the mechanism of infrastructure budget loans (IBL), were summed up. The curator of the TIL is the Ministry of Construction of Russia, and the operator is the public-law company “Territorial Development Fund”. TILs will serve the same purpose – improving the quality of life of people.

    In his report, Minister of Construction and Housing and Public Utilities Irek Fayzullin spoke about the current status of reviewing regional applications for infrastructure projects planned for implementation using treasury infrastructure loans. “The use of treasury infrastructure loans opens up additional opportunities for implementing housing and public utilities projects and socially significant infrastructure projects in the regions. The activity of 89 regions of the country in the application campaign for the provision of treasury infrastructure loans clearly demonstrates the demand and effectiveness of this mechanism in solving problems of improving the quality of life of Russian citizens, including within the framework of the national project “Infrastructure for Life”, – said Irek Fayzullin.

    77 regions submitted applications for housing and communal services limits for a total of 183.99 billion.

    “The Territorial Development Fund is actively accepting applications for financing infrastructure projects within the framework of the CIC. The regions mainly plan to use these funds for the modernization of housing and communal services, as well as the implementation of social, road transport, and tourism infrastructure projects. The total volume of treasury infrastructure loans for housing and communal services is 292.79 billion rubles. CICs are a continuation of the infrastructure budget loan program, which has already proven its effectiveness and demand among the regions. To date, thanks to the IBC, 507 objects and events have been completed since 2022,” commented Vasily Kupyzin, General Director of the Territorial Development Fund.

    As reported by Marat Khusnullin, members of the government commission approved a number of applications for the implementation of projects within the framework of the CIC: the construction of the Bolshoy Smolensky Bridge in St. Petersburg with a CIC volume of 15 billion rubles, the purchase of public transport (buses) in the Kirov region with a CIC volume of 1.4 billion rubles, the reconstruction of the Smolensk-Severny airfield and the renewal of the housing and utilities infrastructure in the Smolensk region with a CIC volume of 3.335 billion rubles.

    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: Marat Khusnullin: About 4 million trips have been recorded on the Tver bypass on the M-11 Neva highway since its opening

    Translation. Region: Russian Federal

    Source: Government of the Russian Federation – Government of the Russian Federation –

    An important disclaimer is at the bottom of this article.

    The federal highway M-11 “Neva” not only provides seamless communication between Moscow and St. Petersburg, but is also part of the high-speed transport corridors “North-South” and “West-East”. The Northern Bypass of Tver, which Russian President Vladimir Putin opened in July last year, became the final stage of the construction of M-11. To date, since the launch of traffic on this section, about 4 million trips have been recorded. This was reported by Deputy Prime Minister Marat Khusnullin.

    “The opening of the northern bypass of Tver made it possible to connect the two capitals with a seamless high-speed connection, take transit transport outside the populated areas and significantly increase the comfort for drivers and passengers. In addition, the new section, which became the last link necessary for the formation of high-speed routes from north to south and from west to east of the country, gave a powerful impetus to the development of the regional economy, logistics, and auto tourism. We see that the section is deservedly popular among motorists. Since the launch of traffic on it, users have made about 4 million trips. Largely due to the opening of the northern bypass of Tver, the average daily traffic intensity along the entire M-11 Neva highway has increased by 5% since the beginning of this year. This road is under the trust management of the state company Avtodor, which celebrated its 16th anniversary since its creation. It pays special attention to the creation and development of roadside infrastructure designed to provide comfortable conditions for drivers and passengers on the road. The total length of Avtodor’s high-speed roads today is about 5.5 thousand km. They give a powerful impetus to the socio-economic development of Russian regions and form important international transport corridors,” said Marat Khusnullin.

    The Deputy Prime Minister added that the two largest multifunctional road service zones (MFS) in the country operate on the northern bypass of Tver. The area of each of them exceeds 1.5 thousand square meters. All necessary types of services for long-distance and short-distance trips are provided here.

    According to Vyacheslav Petushenko, Chairman of the Board of the state company Avtodor, the MFPs are an important part of the development of the country’s transport infrastructure. In addition, thanks to a full rest on the road, drivers will be able to be more attentive behind the wheel, and this directly affects road safety.

    “We are creating a comprehensive infrastructure on our road network that provides motorists with everything they need for comfortable and safe travel. Multifunctional road service zones give a powerful impetus to the development of auto tourism, become centers of economic growth in regions and points of attraction for businesses, which contributes to the creation of new jobs and affects the improvement of the quality of life of Russians. Thus, today, as part of the corridor from St. Petersburg to Yekaterinburg, 39 MFS are already operating on our highways. When traveling on our high-speed highways, motorists can rest, eat, refuel, use all the necessary services along the way and receive the necessary assistance in case of unforeseen situations,” noted Vyacheslav Petushenko.

    The length of the northern bypass of Tver is just over 62 km. This is a section of the road of the highest technical category with four traffic lanes, separated by traffic flows and lighting along the entire length. The permitted speed on the bypass in the summer is 130 km/h.

    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: Alexander Novak held a meeting on the issue of energy supply for mining activities

    Translation. Region: Russian Federal

    Source: Government of the Russian Federation – Government of the Russian Federation –

    An important disclaimer is at the bottom of this article.

    Deputy Prime Minister Alexander Novak held a meeting on the issue of energy supply to consumers engaged in mining activities. It was attended by representatives of federal authorities, energy companies, public business associations and industry associations, and State Duma deputies.

    The representative of the Ministry of Energy reported on the current state of regulation of energy supply for mining activities in Russia, including issues of identifying and preventing electricity consumption by miners in regions where this activity is prohibited. A number of amendments to the current legislation were proposed in order to further improve energy supply for mining. This concerns the procedure for using capacity temporarily unclaimed by miners during the period of the ban on their work, increasing liability for violating the requirements for mining cryptocurrency, and a proposal to label and certify foreign equipment for mining cryptocurrency imported into Russia. In addition, the representative of the Ministry of Energy reported on the status of the preparation of regulatory legal acts providing for the creation of a fourth category of reliability of energy supply to consumers, which takes into account the introduction of remote restriction of the consumption mode during peak loads and the threat of energy and power shortages in the region.

    The head of the Federal Service for Supervision of Communications, Information Technology and Mass Media Andrey Lipov spoke about tools for identifying individuals mining cryptocurrencies by analyzing Internet traffic and electricity consumption patterns.

    A representative of the Federal Tax Service reported on the number of persons registered in the relevant mining registries. This refers to entities or companies mining cryptocurrencies and to mining infrastructure operators.

    Alexander Novak instructed the Ministry of Energy to finalize proposals for the introduction of the fourth category of reliability of energy consumers, and in close cooperation with regional authorities and energy companies to prepare a final proposal on the mechanism for the redistribution of released capacity when limiting mining activities in the region in order to connect socially significant consumers to power grids. The Deputy Prime Minister instructed to work out proposals to increase liability for illegal connection to power grids, theft of electricity, and violation of the ban on limiting mining activities in terms of electricity supply.

    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: Russia and Thailand held a meeting of the subcommittee on trade and economic cooperation

    Translation. Region: Russian Federal

    Source: Ministry of Economic Development (Russia) – Ministry of Economic Development (Russia) –

    An important disclaimer is at the bottom of this article.

    The fifth meeting of the Russian-Thai Subcommission on Trade and Economic Cooperation (PTEC) after a five-year break was held on July 15-16 in Bangkok. The Russian delegation was headed by Deputy Minister of Economic Development Vladimir Ilyichev, and the Thai delegation was headed by Deputy Minister of Trade of the Kingdom of Thailand Chanthavit Thanthasit. The subcommission was attended by 60 representatives of Russian and Thai authorities, industry associations and companies.

    During the meeting, the parties discussed the current state of bilateral trade and economic relations and proposed new areas for implementing joint projects.

    “We are seeing positive dynamics in bilateral trade. In particular, according to the results of the first five months of 2025, the trade turnover between Russia and Thailand has grown by almost 10%, and the export of Russian products to Thailand has grown by 50%. At the same time, we see potential for the export of low-carbon energy resources, agricultural and pharmaceutical products, and oil and gas equipment to Thailand. In addition, we note the mutual interest of companies in developing investment cooperation,” Vladimir Ilyichev noted in his speech.

    The Thai side confirmed its interest in developing partnership with Russia.

    “Thailand seeks to develop trade and economic relations with its key partners, and Russia is such a partner for us. We consider trade in agricultural products, green energy, IT and infrastructure development to be priority areas of cooperation with Russia,” Chanthavit Thanthasit emphasized.

    Russian companies and agencies drew the attention of the Thai side to the prospects for joint work in the areas of logistics, medicine, and IT technologies. Deputy Commercial Director for Business Development in Asian Countries of FESCO Integrated Transport LLC Alexander Priskoka suggested that Thai businesses use the company’s regular services for cargo delivery from the port of Bangkok to the ports of Vladivostok (delivery time was reduced to 20 days), as well as to the ports of Novorossiysk and St. Petersburg (delivery time was reduced to 40 days). In addition, the Chairman of the Russian-Thai Business Council Ivan Demchenko announced the imminent launch of a direct line from the port of Novorossiysk to the port of Bangkok.

    Vice President for International Cooperation of AFK Sistema Artem Zasursky revealed the prospects for joint work in the areas of river transport, electronics and forestry industry, IT projects. He placed emphasis on the development of cooperation in the tourism sector.

    “The companies in our portfolio, namely travel booking services, are ready to develop cooperation with interested partners in the hospitality industry. We also inform you about the interest of the Russian operator in developing resort projects in the regions of Thailand that are popular with Russian tourists,” said Artem Zasursky.

    Vice President of the Federation of Thai Industries Thansathit Asi and Vice Chairman of the Thai-Russian Business Council Hemmontharop Wiwat confirmed the Thai side’s interest in business cooperation. Thai businessmen noted the prospects for developing cooperation with Russia in the field of medicine, as well as in the field of cybersecurity and decarbonization of production.

    During the meeting of the PTES, special attention was paid to cooperation in the creative economy.

    “In February, we signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the Agency for Creative Industries of Thailand. We are developing a roadmap for cooperation in the creative industries. We also invite specialized Thai associations to join the joint work and take part in the first International Conference on Creative Economy, which will be held on October 8-9 in St. Petersburg,” said Ekaterina Cherkes-Zade, Director of the Center for Creative Economy Development at the Agency for Strategic Initiatives, in her speech.

    To develop business contacts between Russian and Thai businesses, Ivan Demchenko invited the PTEC participants to take part in the Russian-Thai Business Forum, which the Russian-Thai Business Council is holding on November 26–28 in Phuket.

    “I hope that we will see concrete results of our joint work in the near future. We count on the support of the Thai side in expanding the bilateral economic dialogue between our countries,” Vladimir Ilyichev summed up following the meeting.

    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: Russia maintains its leading position in foreign trade with the CIS countries.

    Translation. Region: Russian Federal

    Source: Ministry of Economic Development (Russia) – Ministry of Economic Development (Russia) –

    An important disclaimer is at the bottom of this article.

    Russia remains one of the key trade and economic partners of the CIS member states. According to the results of January-April 2025, it ranks first in the foreign trade turnover of Belarus and Armenia, second in Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Uzbekistan and Tajikistan, and third in Azerbaijan.

    This was stated by Deputy Minister of Economic Development of Russia Vladimir Ilyichev, commenting on the results of the 106th meeting of the CIS Economic Council, which took place in Moscow. The Russian delegation at the event was headed by Deputy Prime Minister of Russia Alexey Overchuk.

    The meeting participants discussed a wide range of issues, including cooperation in energy security, the peaceful use of nuclear energy, the development of forestry, the construction industry, as well as measures to combat dangerous animal and bird diseases. Particular attention was paid to the macroeconomic indicators of the CIS countries for 2024.

    According to preliminary estimates, the combined GDP of the Commonwealth states grew by 4.5% in 2024. The unemployment rate fell by 14% and amounted to more than 3% of the workforce. “All these economic indicators indicate that the Commonwealth of Independent States is a strong and sustainable integration entity,” Vladimir Ilyichev emphasized.

    According to the Ministry of Economic Development of Russia, in January-May 2025, the growth of Russia’s GDP and agricultural production amounted to 1.5% each, industrial production – 1.3%. At the same time, the economies of the CIS partners are also demonstrating positive dynamics.

    The meeting participants approved a number of documents aimed at further developing cooperation, including the Declaration on Regional Energy Security, the Action Plan for the Use of Nuclear Energy until 2030, and the Concept of Pricing in Construction. These initiatives will be considered in September at a meeting of the CIS Council of Heads of Government.

    The successful implementation of the program for the reclamation of uranium sites in Tajikistan and Kyrgyzstan was also noted. In addition, the Russian Research Institute of the Bakery Industry received the status of a basic organization of the CIS for training personnel for this industry.

    The parties reviewed information on the progress of the Action Plan for the implementation of the first stage of the CIS Economic Development Strategy until 2030.

    The next meeting of the CIS Economic Council is scheduled to be held in September 2025 in Dushanbe, the capital of Tajikistan, which holds the CIS presidency this year.

    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 Europe: Draft agenda – Monday, 8 September 2025 – Strasbourg

    Source: European Parliament

    60 Public procurement
    Piotr Müller
        – Amendments Wednesday, 3 September 2025, 13:00
    63 Governance of the internet – renewal of the mandate of the Internet Governance Forum
        – Motion for a resolution Wednesday, 3 September 2025, 13:00
        – Amendments to motions for resolutions; joint motions for resolutions Friday, 5 September 2025, 12:00
        – Amendments to joint motions for resolutions Friday, 5 September 2025, 13:00
    Texts put to the vote on Tuesday Friday, 5 September 2025, 12:00
    Texts put to the vote on Wednesday Monday, 8 September 2025, 19:00
    Texts put to the vote on Thursday Tuesday, 9 September 2025, 19:00
    Motions for resolutions concerning debates on cases of breaches of human rights, democracy and the rule of law (Rule 150) Wednesday, 10 September 2025, 19:00

    MIL OSI Europe News –

  • MIL-OSI Europe: Written question – Age verification when accessing pornographic material within the EU – E-002830/2025

    Source: European Parliament

    Question for written answer  E-002830/2025
    to the Commission
    Rule 144
    Tom Vandendriessche (PfE)

    Recently, MindGeek, owner of, inter alia, Pornhub, announced that it will introduce mandatory age verification in the United Kingdom as of July 2025 to deny minors access to pornographic material. This is a result of UK regulations requiring platforms to adopt stricter control measures.

    However, similar measures have yet to be adopted within the European Union. Minors still have unhindered access to explicit pornographic content in many Member States, often without any form of age check. While the Digital Services Act obliges platforms to take measures to protect minors, their compliance in practice appears to be extremely lacking.

    In view of this:

    • 1.How does the Commission view the fact that large pornographic platforms such as Pornhub are introducing effective age verification in the UK without doing so in the EU?
    • 2.Does the Commission consider the protection of minors against explicit online content within the EU to be currently sufficient in light of the obligations under the Digital Services Act?
    • 3.What is the state of play regarding the development and planned implementation of the announced EU age verification app?

    Submitted: 10.7.2025

    Last updated: 17 July 2025

    MIL OSI Europe News –

  • MIL-OSI Europe: Written question – Intervention in relation to cultural goods and works of art looted during the Second World War and conflict between provisions of German national law and EU objectives – E-002808/2025

    Source: European Parliament

    Question for written answer  E-002808/2025/rev.1
    to the Commission
    Rule 144
    Arkadiusz Mularczyk (ECR)

    Despite the EU’s repeatedly stated commitment to protecting cultural heritage, many cultural goods stolen from Poland, Greece and other countries during the Second World War have not yet been returned and remain in the possession of German citizens and German national institutions illegally. The loss of cultural goods from Poland is particularly substantial – official data shows that the country lost around 516 000 identified works of art to German war-time looting. The situation is made worse by provisions in German national law, such as a ten-year acquisitive prescription period, which are directly at odds with the spirit of Directive 2014/60 EU that aims to facilitate the return of cultural items that were taken illegally during the Second World War.

    Given that higher courts such as the European Court of Human Rights apply rules and the same reasoning in their case law to ensure fairness and respect for legal frameworks:

    • 1.What is the Commission’s position on the fact that these national provisions are at odds with EU objectives on protecting cultural heritage?
    • 2.What specific action will the Commission take to require Germany to change provisions of its national laws that hinder restitution?
    • 3.Will the Commission present an update on the report on ‘Cross-border restitution claims of works of art and cultural goods looted in armed conflicts and wars’ by rapporteur Pavel Svoboda and provide information on the actions that will be taken to speed up the return of cultural items stolen from Poland and other countries?

    Submitted: 9.7.2025

    Last updated: 17 July 2025

    MIL OSI Europe News –

  • MIL-OSI Europe: Written question – Scrapping of the Canadian digital tax and US pressure – E-002829/2025

    Source: European Parliament

    Question for written answer  E-002829/2025
    to the Commission
    Rule 144
    Tom Vandendriessche (PfE)

    The Canadian government recently announced the suspension of its planned digital tax to avoid tensions with the United States and relaunch trade talks. This decision was taken under direct diplomatic pressure from Washington, despite previous Canadian pledges on fair taxation of digital technology companies.

    Within the EU, effective measures against tax avoidance by large digital platforms have also failed to materialise as yet. Initiatives are often postponed or weakened under the influence of international pressure.

    In view of this:

    • 1.What is the Commission’s assessment of Canada’s decision to scrap its digital tax under pressure from the United States?
    • 2.Does the Commission face similar pressures from third countries, in particular the US, regarding its own proposals for a digital tax?
    • 3.What is the state of play regarding European plans to tax digital services in a fair way, both within and outside the OECD framework?

    Submitted: 10.7.2025

    Last updated: 17 July 2025

    MIL OSI Europe News –

  • MIL-OSI Europe: Draft agenda – Thursday, 11 September 2025 – Strasbourg

    Source: European Parliament

    24 A new vision for the European Universities alliances
    Laurence Farreng (A10-0135/2025)      – Alternative motion for a resolution Wednesday, 3 September 2025, 13:00     – Joint alternative motions for resolutions Thursday, 4 September 2025, 12:00 26 Stock-taking of the European elections 2024
    Ľubica Karvašová     – Alternative motion for a resolution Wednesday, 3 September 2025, 13:00     – Joint alternative motions for resolutions Thursday, 4 September 2025, 12:00 21 Implementation and streamlining of EU internal market rules to strengthen the single market
    Anna-Maja Henriksson     – (if requested) Alternative motion for a resolution Wednesday, 3 September 2025, 13:00     – (if requested) Joint alternative motions for resolutions Thursday, 4 September 2025, 12:00 Separate votes – Split votes – Roll-call votes Texts put to the vote on Tuesday Friday, 5 September 2025, 12:00 Texts put to the vote on Wednesday Monday, 8 September 2025, 19:00 Texts put to the vote on Thursday Tuesday, 9 September 2025, 19:00 Motions for resolutions concerning debates on cases of breaches of human rights, democracy and the rule of law (Rule 150) Wednesday, 10 September 2025, 19:00

    MIL OSI Europe News –

  • MIL-OSI Europe: Written question – Protection of pollinators: authorisation of pesticide substances – E-002821/2025

    Source: European Parliament

    Question for written answer  E-002821/2025
    to the Commission
    Rule 144
    Martin Hojsík (Renew), Tomislav Sokol (PPE), Christophe Clergeau (S&D)

    In its resolution on the revised Pollinators Initiative – A new deal for pollinators[1] Parliament reminded the Commission and the Member States of its objection to the implementing act[2] and of the need to increase pollinator protection in the pesticide authorisation process.

    • 1.Can the Commission confirm that, together with the members of the Standing Committee on Plants, Animals, Food and Feed, it takes a scientific approach to the protection of individual species, including possible risk extrapolation between species?
    • 2.How will the Commission address the higher sensitivity and protection needs of wild pollinators, in comparison to Apis mellifera?
    • 3.Can the Commission share its updated timeline for the approval of the Bee Guidance Document?

    Submitted: 10.7.2025

    • [1] https://www.europarl.europa.eu/doceo/document/TA-9-2023-0441_EN.html.
    • [2] https://www.europarl.europa.eu/doceo/document/TA-9-2019-0041_EN.html.
    Last updated: 17 July 2025

    MIL OSI Europe News –

  • MIL-OSI Europe: Draft agenda – Tuesday, 9 September 2025 – Strasbourg

    Source: European Parliament

    68 Waste Framework Directive: textiles and food waste
    Anna Zalewska (A10-0144/2025)      – Amendments; rejection Wednesday, 3 September 2025, 13:00 51 Package travel and linked travel arrangements: make the protection of travellers more effective and simplify and clarify certain aspects
    Alex Agius Saliba (A10-0140/2025)      – (if requested) Amendments; rejection Wednesday, 3 September 2025, 13:00 22 Circularity requirements for vehicle design and management of end-of-life vehicles
    Jens Gieseke, Paulius Saudargas     – Amendments; rejection Wednesday, 3 September 2025, 13:00 66 EU-Kyrgyz Republic Enhanced Partnership and Cooperation Agreement (Resolution)
    Nacho Sánchez Amor (A10-0111/2025)      – Amendments Wednesday, 3 September 2025, 13:00 19 Role of cohesion policy in supporting the just transition
    Ciaran Mullooly (A10-0137/2025)      – Alternative motion for a resolution Wednesday, 3 September 2025, 13:00     – Joint alternative motions for resolutions Thursday, 4 September 2025, 12:00 16 Role of cohesion policy investment in resolving the current housing crisis
    Marcos Ros Sempere (A10-0139/2025)      – Alternative motion for a resolution Wednesday, 3 September 2025, 13:00     – Joint alternative motions for resolutions Thursday, 4 September 2025, 12:00 28 Possibilities for simplification of cohesion funds
    Vladimir Prebilič (A10-0138/2025)      – Alternative motion for a resolution Wednesday, 3 September 2025, 13:00     – Joint alternative motions for resolutions Thursday, 4 September 2025, 12:00 25 2023 and 2024 reports on Ukraine
    Michael Gahler     – Amendments Wednesday, 3 September 2025, 13:00 70 Strengthening Moldova’s resilience against Russian hybrid threats and malign interference     – Motion for a resolution Wednesday, 3 September 2025, 13:00     – Amendments to motions for resolutions; joint motions for resolutions Friday, 5 September 2025, 12:00     – Amendments to joint motions for resolutions Friday, 5 September 2025, 13:00 Separate votes – Split votes – Roll-call votes Texts put to the vote on Tuesday Friday, 5 September 2025, 12:00 Texts put to the vote on Wednesday Monday, 8 September 2025, 19:00 Texts put to the vote on Thursday Tuesday, 9 September 2025, 19:00 Motions for resolutions concerning debates on cases of breaches of human rights, democracy and the rule of law (Rule 150) Wednesday, 10 September 2025, 19:00

    MIL OSI Europe News –

  • MIL-OSI Europe: Written question – Need for a review of IPRED in the light of the automatic granting of patent injunctions and the activity of patent assertion entities – P-002859/2025

    Source: European Parliament

    Priority question for written answer  P-002859/2025
    to the Commission
    Rule 144
    Marion Walsmann (PPE)

    The Directorate-General for Internal Market, Industry, Entrepreneurship and SMEs has launched a study to evaluate the effectiveness of the Intellectual Property Rights Enforcement Directive 2004/48/EC[1] (IPRED), with a particular focus on the application of the principle of proportionality and the impact of patent assertion entities (PAEs) in Europe. According to data from the Darts-ip database, European courts grant injunctions automatically in 99 % of patent cases, without conducting any proportionality assessment – despite IPRED explicitly requiring that enforcement measures be proportionate. This lack of proportionality allows PAEs to demand excessive settlements and creates disincentives for investment in vital technologies such as 5G, artificial intelligence and semiconductors.

    In light of the mission letter, which calls for ensuring that intellectual property policy both incentivises innovation and strengthens enforcement:

    • 1.When will the study on IPRED’s effectiveness be published?
    • 2.Given that the principle of proportionality is not being applied in practice, when does the Commission plan to update the 20-year-old IPRED to better align with the EU’s competitiveness goals?

    Submitted: 14.7.2025

    • [1] Directive 2004/48/EC of 29 April 2004 on the enforcement of intellectual property rights, OJ L 157, 30.4.2004, p. 45, ELI: http://data.europa.eu/eli/dir/2004/48/oj.
    Last updated: 17 July 2025

    MIL OSI Europe News –

  • MIL-OSI Europe: Draft agenda – Wednesday, 10 September 2025 – Strasbourg

    Source: European Parliament

    52 Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism: simplification and strengthening
    Antonio Decaro (A10-0085/2025)      – Amendments; rejection Wednesday, 3 September 2025, 13:00 53 Securities settlement in the EU and central securities depositories (CSDs): shorter settlement cycle in the Union
    Johan Van Overtveldt (A10-0095/2025)      – Amendments; rejection Wednesday, 3 September 2025, 13:00 44 Insolvency proceedings: replacing Annexes A and B
    Ilhan Kyuchyuk (A10-0127/2025)      – (if requested) Amendments; rejection Wednesday, 3 September 2025, 13:00 59 Extension of the timeframe for the establishment of the Eurojust case management system
    Javier Zarzalejos     – (if requested) Amendments; rejection Wednesday, 3 September 2025, 13:00 23 Future of agriculture and the post-2027 common agricultural policy
    Carmen Crespo Díaz (A10-0143/2025)      – Alternative motion for a resolution Wednesday, 3 September 2025, 13:00     – Joint alternative motions for resolutions Thursday, 4 September 2025, 12:00 11 Debates on cases of breaches of human rights, democracy and the rule of law (Rule 150)     – Motions for resolutions Monday, 8 September 2025, 20:00     – Amendments to motions for resolutions; joint motions for resolutions Wednesday, 10 September 2025, 13:00     – Amendments to joint motions for resolutions Wednesday, 10 September 2025, 14:00 Separate votes – Split votes – Roll-call votes Texts put to the vote on Tuesday Friday, 5 September 2025, 12:00 Texts put to the vote on Wednesday Monday, 8 September 2025, 19:00 Texts put to the vote on Thursday Tuesday, 9 September 2025, 19:00 Motions for resolutions concerning debates on cases of breaches of human rights, democracy and the rule of law (Rule 150) Wednesday, 10 September 2025, 19:00

    MIL OSI Europe News –

  • MIL-OSI Europe: Briefing – Tackling discrimination against LGBTIQ communities in EU cities and regions – 17-07-2025

    Source: European Parliament

    Initiatives at regional and local level frequently complement or reinforce those at European and national level, as well as being better tailored to their specific characteristics. This briefing provides examples of initiatives from regions and cities combating discrimination against and promoting equality of lesbian, gay, bisexual, trans, non-binary, intersex and queer (LGBTIQ) people.

    MIL OSI Europe News –

  • MIL-OSI Europe: Written question – Renewed EU strategy for vaccination and to tackle vaccine hesitancy – E-002818/2025

    Source: European Parliament

    Question for written answer  E-002818/2025
    to the Commission
    Rule 144
    Michalis Hadjipantela (PPE)

    The COVID-19 pandemic has led to a significant decline in vaccination rates and a resurgence of vaccine-preventable diseases in Europe and globally. This is exacerbated by increased vaccine hesitancy, misinformation and the influence of populist and anti-vaccination movements, including in major partner countries, which further erode public trust in science and institutions.

    In the light of these developments and the calls for a new EU immunisation strategy, can the Commission clarify:

    • 1.What steps it can take to develop and implement a renewed, comprehensive EU plan to increase vaccination coverage, set EU-wide life-course immunisation targets and restore public trust in immunisation?
    • 2.How it will support Member States in countering misinformation and vaccine hesitancy, including through targeted communication and behavioural science approaches?
    • 3.How can it ensure equitable access to vaccines across all Member States?

    Submitted: 10.7.2025

    Last updated: 17 July 2025

    MIL OSI Europe News –