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Category: DJF

  • India gears up for IYD 2025 with theme: ‘Yoga for One Earth, One Health’

    Source: Government of India

    Source: Government of India (4)

    As India prepares to celebrate the 11th International Day of Yoga on June 21, the government is rolling out a wide range of events across the country under this year’s theme — “Yoga for One Earth, One Health.”

    The main event, Yoga Sangam, will feature a synchronised mass yoga demonstration based on the Common Yoga Protocol (CYP) at over one lakh locations across India. The nationwide event is scheduled for June 21, from 6:30 AM to 7:45 AM.

    Prime Minister Narendra Modi will lead the national celebration from Visakhapatnam, where over 2.5 lakh participants are expected to perform yoga together — an attempt to set a new world record. This collective celebration underscores India’s continued commitment to yoga as a timeless tool for well-being and sustainability.

    Yoga, an invaluable gift of ancient Indian tradition, has become one of the most trusted practices to enhance both physical and mental health. Derived from the Sanskrit root “yuj,” meaning “to join,” “to yoke,” or “to unite,” yoga symbolises the unity of mind and body, thought and action, discipline and fulfilment, and harmony between humans and nature.

    Recognising yoga’s universal appeal, the United Nations declared June 21 as the International Day of Yoga through Resolution 69/131 on December 11, 2014. The draft resolution was introduced by India and endorsed by a record 175 member states.

    Prime Minister Modi first proposed the idea in his address at the opening of the 69th session of the UN General Assembly on September 27, 2014. The date, June 21, marks the Summer Solstice, the longest day of the year in the Northern Hemisphere, symbolising balance between nature and wellness — a concept rooted in many cultures worldwide.

    The first International Yoga Day was celebrated in 2015, and since then, the event has grown into a global wellness movement. According to the Ministry of AYUSH, participation has risen exponentially — from 9.59 crore people in 2018 to an estimated 24.53 crore in 2024, demonstrating its massive global appeal.

    This year’s theme, “Yoga for One Earth, One Health,” resonates deeply with India’s G20 presidency vision — One Earth, One Family, One Future. It highlights the interconnectedness of individual health, planetary sustainability, and collective well-being.

    Elaborating on the symbolism of the International Yoga Day logo, the Ministry of AYUSH explained that the folded hands represent the union of individual and universal consciousness, regarded as the core principle of yoga.

    Each element of the logo carries deeper meaning: the brown leaves signify the Earth element, green represents Nature, blue denotes Water, brightness symbolizes Fire, and the Sun stands for the ultimate source of energy and inspiration.

    Together, the logo embodies the values of harmony, peace, and holistic well-being for all of humanity.

    As part of the celebrations, the PM Yoga Awards will be conferred to individuals and organisations that have demonstrated outstanding contributions in promoting and practising yoga. The awards aim to honour excellence and encourage the widespread adoption of yoga as a daily practice.

    (With inputs from ANI)

  • Uttarakhand aims to be global yoga hub, says CM Dhami ahead of International Yoga Day

    Source: Government of India

    Source: Government of India (4)

    Ahead of the International Day of Yoga on June 21, Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami on Thursday hailed the state as the land of yoga and sages, while highlighting the government’s efforts to promote yoga at the grassroots level.

    Joined by officers and staff, Dhami performed yoga at his residence and urged the people of Uttarakhand to incorporate the ancient practice into their daily lives.

    “Yoga is not just a physical exercise but a journey towards inner peace and self-realisation. It is a means to calm the mind and reach the depths of consciousness,” the Chief Minister said.

    Emphasising yoga’s deep roots in Indian culture, Dhami described it as a fundamental pillar of Sanatan Dharma, which has long prioritised human values and holistic well-being.

    “This is why yoga has become an integral part of the lives of crores of people across the world, establishing the Indian way of life on the global stage,” he added.

    The Chief Minister also recalled Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s proposal at the United Nations General Assembly in 2014 to designate an International Day of Yoga. The resolution received support from 177 countries and led to the annual observance of Yoga Day on June 21.

    Dhami noted that yoga has also become a source of livelihood, generating employment opportunities in India and abroad. To strengthen this momentum, the state government has introduced a Yoga Policy aimed at establishing Uttarakhand as the global capital of yoga and wellness.

    (With ANI inputs)

  • Finnish parliament votes to withdraw from landmines treaty

    Source: Government of India

    Source: Government of India (4)

    Finland’s parliament voted on Thursday in favour of withdrawing the country from the Ottawa Convention that bans the use of anti-personnel landmines amid concerns over a military threat posed by neighbouring Russia.

    Finland joins other European Union and NATO members bordering Russia – Lithuania, Latvia, Estonia and Poland – in exiting or planning to exit the treaty, as fears grow about their much larger neighbour.

    President Alexander Stubb, who leads Finland’s foreign and security policy, on Tuesday defended the move.

    “The reality in the endgame is that we have as our neighbouring country an aggressive, imperialist state called Russia, which itself is not a member of the Ottawa Treaty and which itself uses landmines ruthlessly,” he said.

    Russia has used landmines in its invasion of Ukraine.

    The Finnish decision follows similar votes in Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania, where parliaments have already approved the withdrawal.

    (Reuters)

  • PM Modi hails India’s rise in QS World University Rankings 2026

    Source: Government of India

    Source: Government of India (4)

    Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday welcomed India’s significant improvement in the QS World University Rankings 2026, calling it a reflection of the country’s growing stature in global education.

    Responding to a post on X by Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan, PM Modi said, “The QS World University 2026 Rankings bring great news for our education sector. Our government is committed to furthering research and innovation ecosystems for the benefit of India’s youth.”

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

    The education minister said the improvement was the result of education reforms introduced over the past decade, particularly the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020.

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

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

  • SAIL supplies entire special steel requirement for Indian Navy’s INS Arnala

    Source: Government of India

    Source: Government of India (4)

    In a significant boost to India’s defence self-reliance efforts, Steel Authority of India Limited (SAIL) has supplied the complete requirement of special steel for the Indian Navy’s first indigenously designed and built Anti-Submarine Warfare Shallow Water Craft (ASW-SWC), INS Arnala. The vessel was commissioned into the Indian Navy on Wednesday.

    The steel supplied by SAIL has been used entirely in the construction of INS Arnala, reflecting a major stride in the country’s journey towards indigenisation and reduced import dependency in the defence manufacturing sector.

    INS Arnala is the lead ship in a series of eight ASW-SWC corvettes being constructed by Garden Reach Shipbuilders and Engineers (GRSE), Kolkata. SAIL has provided the complete special-grade steel requirement for all eight vessels under this project.

    As a Maharatna Public Sector Undertaking and the largest steel producer in India, SAIL has consistently supported the nation’s defence infrastructure. The company has played a vital role in several indigenous defence projects. In addition to INS Arnala, SAIL has previously supplied special steel for notable naval platforms such as INS Vikrant, INS Vindhyagiri, INS Nilgiri, and INS Surat.

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Peter Kyle’s speech at Giant Ideas

    Source: United Kingdom – Executive Government & Departments

    Speech

    Peter Kyle’s speech at Giant Ideas

    Secretary of State for Science, Innovation, and Technology, Peter Kyle, delivered a speech at the Giant Ideas event on Monday 16 June 2025.

    I speak to you having just wrapped up what was, in my department, one of the biggest weeks of the year.

    It was the outcome of the Spending Review.

    The Data Bill, after months, passed into law. And it was also London Tech Week.

    If you haven’t been before, think of it like Coachella. But swap Lady Gaga for tech founders in leather jackets, blue jeans and Britney mics.

    This was my 2nd Tech Week, but this year felt different.

    Not just because it was my first as Tech Secretary.

    But because the atmosphere had changed.

    The optimism was more tangible. The energy more urgent.

    The atmosphere in Olympia more excited and exciting.

    Nowhere was that excitement more obvious than when it came to securing the UK’s stake in a future shaped by AI.

    You had the Prime Minister announcing a £1 billion investment, to make our computing power 20x greater by 2030.

    You had buzz from international investors. Who have poured £45 billion into AI here since July.

    And you had Jensen Huang, CEO of Nvidia, declaring that the UK had reached a ‘Goldilocks’ moment: When our combination of world-class universities, AI start-ups and sheer ambition makes Britain ‘Just right’ as an investment destination.

    It won’t surprise you to know that I agree.

    We will turn our country into an AI superpower. But our ambition alone won’t define us.

    What will define us is how we achieve that ambition. Last week, I was reminded of the question in my mind the day I came into office:

    How do we shape the future of AI in a way that is progressive? In a way that leaves no one behind?

    Because we tend to talk about AI as an unstoppable force.

    But progress is never inevitable. It can be halted in its tracks.

    Fourteen years of slow or no growth, declining family incomes and a decaying public realm prove that. How change happens – and who benefits – is up to us.

    We have agency over what the age of AI looks like.

    It could be a Wild West Story, where the strongest and boldest make most – and the rest make do.

    Or it could be a story about opportunity and security. Where we all benefit from the scope and scale, health and wealth of the progressive change it brings.

    The way I see it, we can use our agency to shape 3 things:

    • Where we build.

    • Who does the building.

    • And what products come out the other side.

    Let me take each in turn.

    First, where we build.

    Where we build

    Technology has always promised to be the great equaliser.

    But that promise has proved elusive. For decades, the way we have invested in technology has been a tale of 2 Britains:

    Growth concentrated in the wealthiest parts of our country.

    With communities elsewhere left dependent on traditional industries.

    This time, we can do things differently.

    The unique geography of AI turns our country’s economic map on its head.

    The places that languished in the wake of 1980s de-industrialisation make prime locations for AI infrastructure. Because they’re often the only places that can supply enough power. And enough space to exploit it.

    These are the areas we’ll be looking to prioritise as we create AI Growth Zones: Hotspots of infrastructure that will crowd in private investment.

    When we asked communities to put themselves forward, over 200 places enthusiastically responded. The hunger for AI is not just coming from government and big businesses. But from across Britain.

    For the places that qualify, the results will be transformative. Because I’m not talking about a data centre as an anonymous black box by the side of the motorway. An economic island cut off from the surrounding area, with very few jobs and opportunities for working people.

    But as a hub that attracts AI start-ups and scale-ups.

    Creates new campuses for training and knowledge-transfer.

    And starts a ripple effect of good, future-proofed jobs, with all the economic security that brings.

    Where the excess heat from that data centre is not wasted. But used to power local homes, boost agricultural production, warm community swimming pools.

    For that vision to work, local people must be at the core.

    That takes me to who does the building.

    Who does the building

    A progressive approach to AI is impossible without a population with the skills to be part of it.

    We have to equip people with what they need to seize the extraordinary opportunities this technology brings.

    A few days ago, the Prime Minister kick-started a national AI skills drive. It will upskill people at every age, every stage of education, across the country.

    From new funding for TechFirst, giving students in every secondary school in Britain the chance to start a career in tech. To a partnership with industry, equipping 7.5 million UK workers with essential AI skills by 2030.

    These are exciting, decent jobs in the industries of tomorrow, for Britain’s prosperous communities of the future. If we can show people that, we will persuade them that it pays to be shapers of AI.

    I want to show them that it pays to be consumers of it, too.

    That takes us to what we build.

    What we build

    We sometimes talk about AI in a way that’s removed from real life.

    Abstract headlines about ‘growth’ or ‘revolution’ don’t give people much to hold on to.

    I want to show people that AI isn’t just an idea for the newsroom or the boardroom. But a reality in the classroom, the doctor’s office, the operating theatre. Because across the UK, there are researchers and companies using AI for the public good.

    Last week, I announced a project called OpenBind.

    At the Harwell Science Campus in Oxford, our best scientists will come together. To build the world’s biggest set of data on how drugs interact with the proteins in our bodies. Better data means better AI models. Models that can predict which compounds will turn into cures. As Demis Hassabis said himself, this is a brilliant initiative for UK science.

    Breakthroughs we make here could cut the cost of developing treatments by up to £100 billion. And see us not just treating disease. But beating it for good.

    I began by arguing that the state has agency over how we build AI.

    Perhaps the ultimate way to use it is by not only by backing others who build it. But by building it ourselves. With a smarter, smaller state that works better for the people we’re here to serve. Take the AI-powered chatbot we’ve built for GOV.UK.

    Soon, you won’t have to trawl through 500,000 pages to apply for Universal Credit or work out your tax code. The answer will come to you. Giving people more time to do the things they like with the people they love.

    It isn’t always easy to explain to people what AI means for them.

    With tools like this, we don’t need to tell them.

    We can let them discover the power of AI for themselves.

    As we find ourselves in the ‘Goldilocks’ moment, there is no time to waste.

    We have a small window to decide how this revolution will differ from those which came before.

    To make sure this isn’t the same tale of 2 Britains.

    By building in the places that have been left behind for too long. By giving everyone in the country the opportunity to do well, for themselves and their families, in the digital age.

    And by building things that make their lives easier, healthier, happier.

    The agency to do all of those things sits with us. We’ve just got to have the courage and the conviction to use it, positively and progressively.

    To create opportunity and security for all.

    For me, that really is the Giant Idea.

    Updates to this page

    Published 19 June 2025

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Vulnerable people given greater access to social housing

    Source: United Kingdom – Executive Government & Departments

    Press release

    Vulnerable people given greater access to social housing

    New changes to remove local connection rules for young care leavers and victims of domestic abuse to access social housing.

    • Care leavers under 25 and victims of domestic abuse to benefit from removal of local connection rules
    • Follows £39 billion investment in affordable and social housing to deliver biggest expansion in a generation 
    • Delivers on the government’s Plan for Change, providing people with safe and secure housing and raising living standards

    Young people leaving care and domestic abuse survivors will now have better access to social housing, as the government delivers on its promise to remove a local connection requirement for these groups.

    New changes, which come into force next month, will exempt them from rules that restrict access to social housing for those that do not have a connection to the local area – making sure the most vulnerable in society can access the housing support they need.  

    This change applies to all councils in England, nearly 90% of which currently use local connection criteria to determine who qualifies for social housing. It follows reforms last year to remove barriers for all former UK Armed Forces Veterans, as pledged by the Prime Minister.

    Under the new rules, care leavers under the age of 25 and domestic abuse survivors will no longer be unfairly penalised for not having a local connection; recognising the unique challenges they can face, such as transitioning out of care or fleeing an unsafe home to seek safety.

    It comes as the government committed £39 billion for a new ten-year Affordable Homes Programme, supporting the Plan for Change to build 1.5 million homes and tackle housing waiting lists for families and young people across the country.

    Deputy Prime Minister and Housing Secretary, Angela Rayner said:

    “It breaks my heart to hear countless stories of people leaving the care system or fleeing an abusive relationship and not having a place they can truly call home. We’re rewriting the rules to help get them a roof over their heads and the security they deserve.

    “Our changes will make sure these vulnerable groups do not face unfair barriers to safe and secure housing. This is backed by our commitment to secure the biggest boost to social and affordable housing in a generation, and through our Plan for Change we are going further and faster to make this a reality.”

    Last year the Deputy Prime Minister wrote to local councils reminding them of their obligations to prioritise vulnerable groups for social housing. Government guidance will be updated to reflect these changes.  

    Additional support includes:

    • £160 million for councils to help provide safe accommodation and support for domestic abuse survivors and meet their statutory duty to help victims and their children when they need it the most – increased by £30 million this year.
    • New legislation proposed to ensure young care leavers in scope of the council’s corporate parenting duty have access to housing and cannot be considered ‘intentionally homeless’.
    • An £800 million top-up for the current Affordable Homes Programme to ramp up the delivery of new social homes.  
    • Proposed Right to Buy reforms to protect council housing stock and a new ten-year social rent settlement to give the sector the certainty it needs to build more social homes.

    CEO of Become, Katharine Sacks-Jones said:

    “We welcome these new regulations that will allow more care leavers to access social housing where they are. Too many children in care are moved away from the people and places that matter to them and then made to move back to their local authority area once they turn 18 to access social housing support.  

    “Removing the local connection test will prevent forced moves, could help reduce homelessness and give care leavers a more positive start to adulthood.”

    Director of Policy and Prevention at Centrepoint, Balbir Kaur Chatrik said:

    “Removing this barrier will reduce homelessness and rough sleeping amongst care leavers and help them to thrive. 

    “Care leavers are often extremely vulnerable young people and lack the support networks that many of us take for granted. Despite this they often find it a real struggle to access the stable housing they need to thrive because they lack a local connection. The government’s change will hopefully stop this practice and ensure young people can get the stable and affordable homes they deserve. 

    “It’s also an important step towards ending youth homelessness and protecting the most vulnerable. Taken together with funding for prevention and housebuilding, this brings us a bit closer over the short- and long-term towards ensuring young people are getting the support they need.”

    Further information

    The government will publish a written ministerial statement today setting out new changes for young care leavers and domestic abuse survivors. The regulations will come into force on Thursday 10 July.  

    On 24 September, the Prime Minister set out his ambition to improve access to social housing for former UK Armed Forces Veterans, young care leavers and victims of domestic abuse.  

    While the changes remove a specific barrier for these vulnerable groups, the allocation of social housing is still at the discretion of the local housing authority.

    Updates to this page

    Published 19 June 2025

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Tax gap estimated at 5.3%

    Source: United Kingdom – Executive Government & Departments

    Press release

    Tax gap estimated at 5.3%

    The estimated tax gap for the 2023 to 2024 tax year is £46.8 billion.

    • The government has announced plans to raise a further £7.5 billion through its measures to close the tax gap.
    • The largest share of the gap is from small business non-compliance.

    The tax gap estimate – the difference between what tax is expected to be paid and actually paid – was 5.3% for the 2023 to 2024 tax year, figures published today (19 June 2025) show.

    While £46.8 billion was unpaid in the 2023 to 2024 tax year, HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) collected £829.2 billion, representing 94.7% of all tax due.

    Every year, HMRC estimates the tax gap using the most up to date information available, though figures may be revised as more data becomes available. In line with standard practice, previous years’ tax gap estimates have been amended as part of today’s announcement, including the tax gap for the 2022 to 2023 tax year, which has been revised upwards from 4.8% (£39.8 billion) to 5.6% (£46.4 billion). This is due to improvements in data quality, the availability of more up-to-date information and methodology changes.

    Some of the key findings from this year’s calculations show:

    • small businesses represent the largest proportion of the tax gap (60%)
    • Corporation Tax accounts for 40% of the total tax gap
    • failure to take reasonable care (31%), error (15%) and evasion (14%) are among the main behavioural reasons for the overall tax gap

    Exchequer Secretary to the Treasury, James Murray MP, has set out his three priorities for HMRC: closing the tax gap, improving customer services, and modernising and reforming the tax and customs system.

    Mr Murray said:

    Every pound of tax uncollected puts a greater burden on honest taxpayers and deprives our public services of vital funding.

    In our first year in office, we have set out plans to raise an extra £7.5 billion through the most ambitious ever package to close the tax gap. We are determined to go further and faster to make sure everyone pays their fair share, and help to deliver our Government’s Plan for Change.

    HMRC’s Making Tax Digital (MTD) programme is helping to reduce the element of the tax gap caused by error and failure to take reasonable care. Up to the end of the 2029 to 2030 tax year, MTD for VAT is predicted to deliver more than £4 billion in tax revenue by reducing errors. MTD for Income Tax will be introduced from April 2026 and is expected to generate £1.95 billion in additional tax revenue by the end of the 2029 to 2030 tax year.

    As announced at Spending Review 2025, £1.7 billion will be provided to HMRC over four years to fund an additional 5,500 compliance and 2,400 debt management staff – to ensure more of the tax due is paid, to fund public services. Measures to close the tax gap announced by the Chancellor at Autumn Budget 2024 and Spring Statement 2025 will raise an extra £7.5 billion in revenue.

    Further Information

    The Measuring Tax Gaps 2025 report was published today, 19 June 2025.

    HMRC’s tax gap estimates are official statistics produced in accordance with the Code of Practice for Statistics, which assures objectivity and integrity. Tax gap estimates are reviewed each year to reflect updated data and methodologies.

    Updates to this page

    Published 19 June 2025

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Compensation for Post Office Capture victims

    Source: United Kingdom – Executive Government & Departments

    Press release

    Compensation for Post Office Capture victims

    Postmasters who suffered financial shortfalls due to the Capture software today have certainty about the structure, scope and eligibility criteria for redress.

    • Over £1bn paid out in financial redress to thousands of postmasters across the UK affected by the Horizon IT Scandal as part of our Plan for Change
    • Details of the Capture Redress Scheme announced today, marking ongoing commitment to right past wrongs for those affected.
    • Scheme to provide fair redress and a common sense approach, with claims reviewed by independent panel.

    Postmasters who suffered financial shortfalls due to the Capture software today have certainty about the structure, scope and eligibility criteria for redress.

    Capture was a faulty computer system used by postmasters in the 1990s, before the Horizon scandal.

    In a move to right the wrongs of the past, the government has set out the details for the Capture Redress Scheme, designed to provide fair compensation for those who suffered financial shortfalls due to the Capture software between 1992 and 2000.

    This follows the government’s acceptance of findings from the independent investigation by Kroll Associates, which concluded there was a reasonable likelihood that Capture created financial shortfalls for postmasters.

    The scheme is expected to open for applications in Autumn 2025, with an initial phased rollout for 150 claimants to ensure the process is fair, proportionate and accessible before wider implementation.

    This announcement follows on the footsteps of the government confirming that £1 billion has paid out in compensation to over 7,300 postmasters affected by the Horizon IT Scandal, and the opening of the Horizon Shortfalls Scheme Appeals process for all eligible postmasters in May.  

    Post Office Minister Gareth Thomas said:

    “We are committed to delivering fair and swift redress for all postmasters affected by Post Office software failures as part of our Plan for Change. Today’s announcement represents another important step in righting the wrongs of the past and rebuilding trust in the Post Office.”

    A fair and accessible approach

    The Capture Redress Scheme has been specifically designed to address the unique challenges of cases dating back over two decades, where documentation may be limited. The Government will set out funding to cover postmasters’ legal costs in the coming weeks.  

    The scheme features:

    • A straightforward two-stage process: an initial eligibility review followed by an independent panel assessment
    • Prompt preliminary payments for eligible claimants, ensuring early acknowledgement of loss
    • A holistic assessment approach that considers both financial losses and wider personal impact
    • A guided scoring and banding model for consistency in awards while maintaining flexibility

    Who can apply

    Postmasters are eligible to apply if they:

    • Were a postmaster between 1992 and 2000
    • Used the Capture system in their branch
    • Suffered a financial shortfall as a result of a Capture software error

    Applications from relatives of deceased postmasters or those needing additional support will also be accepted.

    Independent assessment

    All eligible claims will be reviewed by an independent panel of experts operating entirely separately from government. The panel will:

    • Take a holistic view of each claim, avoiding drawn out legal processes and providing fair redress even where evidence is low.
    • Use a balance of probabilities standard of proof
    • Recommend appropriate payment levels
    • Provide claimants the right to appeal in certain circumstances

    Notes to editors

    1. The Capture system was used in Post Office branches between 1992 and 2000, predating the better-known Horizon system.
    2. Those with criminal convictions related to Capture should pursue their cases through the Criminal Cases Review Commission (CCRC) or its Scottish equivalent.
    3. Further details on applying to the Capture Redress Scheme will be published in the coming months.

    Updates to this page

    Published 19 June 2025

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: expert reaction to UKHSA announcement of a rabies case in individual from UK following contact with animal in Morocco

    Source: United Kingdom – Executive Government & Departments

    Scientists comment on UKHSA announcing a rabies case in an individual that had contact with an animal in Morocco. 

    Dr Chris Smith, Clinical Associate Professor, London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine (LSHTM), said:

    “Rabies is a fatal but preventable disease. Although cases in UK travellers are very rare, this recent tragic case underscores the importance of awareness and timely treatment.

    “Rabies is endemic in many parts of the world, including popular holiday destinations such as Morocco, Turkey, India, Thailand, the Philippines, and Indonesia. All human rabies cases reported in the UK since 1902 have been acquired abroad: typically through dog bites. Since 1946, 26 imported cases have been reported, with the most recent prior to this being in 2018, following a bite from a cat in Morocco.

    “Travellers to countries where rabies is present should seek pre-travel advice regarding vaccination.

    “Rabies is usually transmitted to humans through the bite or scratch of an infected animal, most often dogs, but also cats and bats. Even a minor scratch or lick on broken skin can pose a risk. If exposed, immediate first aid is essential: the wound should be thoroughly washed with soap and water, and prompt post-exposure prophylaxis (PEP) – including a course of rabies vaccinations and, in some cases, rabies immunoglobulin – should be sought. These interventions are highly effective when started early.”

    “The key public health messages are:

    • Rabies is a deadly but preventable disease
    • Seek pre-travel advice regarding vaccination when visiting high-risk countries
    • Avoid contact with animals abroad; if bitten or scratched, seek medical care immediately — don’t wait for symptoms to appear”

     

    Further information

    https://www.gov.uk/guidance/rabies-epidemiology-transmission-and-prevention

    https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/rabies-risks-by-country/rabies-risks-in-terrestrial-animals-by-country

    Declared interests

    Dr Chris Smith: No conflicts to declare.

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: expert reaction to a meta-analysis looking at the effect of Rapamycin, Metformin, and dietary restriction on lifespan in vertebrates

    Source: United Kingdom – Executive Government & Departments

    A meta-analysis published in Aging Cell looks at the effect of Rapamycin, Metformin, and Dietary Restriction on non-human vertebrate lifespan.

    Dr David Clancy, Lecturer in Biogerontology, Lancaster University, said:

    “Diet restriction seems to extend lifespan significantly but is hard to do, and certainly no fun. So Ivimey-Cook et al decided to look at hundreds of datasets across 8 species of vertebrate which examined lifespan effects of diet restriction (DR), the immune suppressant drug rapamycin and the diabetes drug metformin. Both drugs have been extensively tested for lifespan extension. The closest species to humans were rhesus monkeys (4 studies) and the furthest from humans were fish (4 studies). The most common were mice and rats (210 studies).

    “This well-done study showed DR and rapamycin extending lifespan with significant consistency across studies, in both sexes, DR probably a little greater than rapamycin. However metformin did not. That is a pity for the many people now taking off-label metformin for lifespan extension. Let’s hope it doesn’t have any or many adverse effects.

    “Rapamycin is used mainly as an immune suppressant in kidney transplant. Oddly it may be slightly toxic to kidneys in humans but has not been tested in non-renal patients, and not over the long term as in these lifespan studies. Early experiments in flies and worms show that it needs the cell process known as autophagy to exert its lifespan extension. This is the process whereby cells ‘clean’ themselves of damaged and misfolded proteins and other damaged biomolecules and cell components and recycle them. Unsurprisingly research is looking for stimulators of autophagy (which DR achieves, and exercise), and is searching for ‘rapalogues’ – molecules similar in action to rapamycin but ideally smaller, less complex molecules with no immune system or other ‘off-target’ effects.”

     

    Prof Dame Linda Partridge, Professorial Fellow, UCL, said:

    “This meta-analysis of published studies of the effects on vertebrate animals of dietary restriction (DR) and two licensed drugs, metformin and rapamycin, finds that only DR and rapamycin consistently extend lifespan. They do so to about the same extent and with similar effects in males and females. Dietary restriction is long established as ameliorating many of the adverse effects of ageing, The discovery of lifespan extension from rapamycin is more recent. In mice irapamycin also holds back several ageing-related pathologies. The finding that DR and rapamycin have effects of similar magnitude on lifespan across species implies that rapamycin is a candidate for repurposing for prevention of ageing-related pathologies in humans. Other licensed drugs may be similarly geroprotective, and more work is needed to investigate their potential to prevent deterioration of health in older people. Given that many of the candidate drugs are off patent, public and charity funding may be needed to investigate the potential of these drugs for prevention of age-related diseases.”

     

    Prof Lynne Cox, Associate Professor of Biochemistry, University of Oxford, said:

    “Research into ageing understandably attracts a lot of public interest. For most people, retaining their health is more important than the exact length of time they live, but it is also the case that increased lifespan usually reflects better health, and in the scientific laboratory, lifespan (time from birth to death) is clear and easy to measure.

    “Dietary restriction (DR, i.e. cutting down on overall food intake, reducing calories or undertaking periods of fasting) has been widely reported to increase lifespan in experimental animals. But it is very hard for people to achieve DR for long periods, and in fact research suggests that it is actually harmful for older adults to cut down on how much they eat.

    “Scientists have therefore looked for ways of achieving lifespan extension without having to stick to a highly restrictive diet, using drugs that might mimic DR, particularly rapamycin and metformin. Each drug has been reported to increase lifespan in multiple scientific reports. In this new study, the researchers compare results from 167 scientific papers studying the effect on lifespan of dietary restriction, metformin or rapamycin. They conclude that DR and rapamycin (but not metformin) increase lifespan in all vertebrate species analysed, and that males and females equally benefit.

    “The difficulties these researchers encountered when trying to find original raw data highlights a major problem in the ageing field – the lack of transparency and accessibility of lifespan data so that others can cross check and carry out further analysis. They also report far fewer studies on females compared with males – again a major issue with biomedical research.

    “The paper is an interesting first-pass analysis, but it doesn’t take into account the really important aspect of drug dosing or duration, which can have huge impacts on healthspan and lifespan; a very high dose of a drug might be toxic, while much lower doses of the drug could be beneficial. Dosing is particularly important with rapamycin which is immunosuppressive at high doses but immunosupportive at low doses. Similarly, metformin either increases or decreases lifespan in mice according to dose. It is therefore vital that the drug dose, duration of treatment, and the age of the individual at which the drug is administered, are all taken into account when analysing lifespan effects.  By drawing together results from so many studies across different vertebrate species, this paper is a step in the right direction but highlights the need for even more studies that provide important information on age, dose and treatment duration, as well as correlations with detailed health measures.”

     

    Prof Neil Mabbott, Personal Chair of Immunopathology, Roslin Institute & Royal (Dick) School of Veterinary Sciences, University of Edinburgh, said:

    “Many studies have described how interventions such as dietary restriction can extend lifespans in experimental settings.  However, the impact that some of these approaches have on lifespans has occasionally been inconsistent, or not observed, when repeated in different animal species or laboratories. To address these concerns the authors have analysed over 900 effect sizes across 167 studies to compare the reported effects of three interventions on their ability to extend lifespan.  Their analysis revealed that dietary restriction or treatment with the immunosuppressant drug rapamycin were equally effective in extending lifespans in the animal species used in those studies. 

    “This is an interesting and useful study, but more research is now required to uncover how these treatments extend lifespans.  Furthermore, none of the studies the authors compared described effects in humans.  So it is uncertain whether the effects described in animals such as laboratory mice, rats, dogs, macaques, fish and mouse lemurs, are also applicable to humans.

    “With advances in health care etc. lifespans across the world are forecast to steadily increase.  While this is obviously to be welcomed, an increased elderly population does bring with it challenges, especially to health care providers.  In this study the authors compared how effective the different interventions were on extending lifespan.  However, rather than simply focusing on lifespan duration, we should also focus our efforts on extending the health-span.  This is the period of our lives in which we live healthily and disease-free.  While this study found consistent effects on lifespan, it is uncertain whether these interventions have a similar impact on the health-span.  Living a lot longer but with the multiple morbidities that can accompany aging is perhaps not the best thing.  Treatments that can improve the duration of those healthy years, will themselves feedback into increased lifespans.”

    Prof Ilaria Bellantuono, Co-director of the Healthy Lifespan Institute, University of Sheffield, said:

    “This meta-analysis compiles existing data on the effects of dietary restriction (DR), metformin, and rapamycin on lifespan across multiple species, but its findings—particularly regarding DR and rapamycin—should be interpreted with caution. While the authors report no significant differences between these two interventions or between sexes, this may reflect limitations in the underlying data, and its heterogeneity, rather than a true absence of effect. Both rapamycin and DR have demonstrated sex-specific and context-dependent effects on longevity in numerous experimental models, especially in mice. Moreover, the analysis cannot address key translational questions, such as dose dependency and timing of intervention—factors that are particularly important given rapamycin’s known side effects. Perhaps more critically, the study focuses on lifespan rather than healthspan, and it is well established that longer life does not necessarily mean more years in good health. Although the study reinforces general principles about the influence of these interventions on longevity, its relevance to human ageing and therapeutic translation is limited, and claims of equivalence should be treated with caution.”

    Dr Laura Sinclair, Postdoctoral Research Associate, University of Exeter, said:

    “The team made use of the powerful tool of meta-analysis to look at how dietary restriction, metformin and rapamycin affect longevity across published experimental research studies.

    “As one might expect, a drug’s effect on lifespan can be quite difficult to assess in humans, so research often uses model organisms for assessing lifespan, while human studies focus more on age-related diseases. For example, the Targeting Ageing with Metformin (TAME) Trial in the US will use mortality and a combination of age-related disease indications to examine metformin’s effects on ageing and lifespan.

    “The team analysed data from lots of experiments from other studies. Most of the experiments that the team studied will have involved giving an animal a treatment and measuring their lifespan compared to a control group of animals not given the treatment. The dietary restriction treatment may have consisted of giving the animal less food, less time to eat and/or less nutrition in their food.

    Dietary restriction is well known to increase longevity across many studies in animals, but its effects are difficult to replicate in people in the real world for many reasons.

    “When you eat less, lots of nutrition-sensing pathways are affected in your cells. These pathways overlap a lot with cell-controlling pathways that are associated with living longer. It is important to study these pathways as targeting them might help us be able to live healthier in older age. It is also important to consider sex differences as some differences in response between sexes have been observed in other studies.

    ‘Rapamycin, not metformin, mirrors dietary restriction-2driven lifespan extension in vertebrates: a meta-analysis’ by Ivimey-Cook et al. will be published in Aging Cell at 00:01 UK time on Thursday 19th June, which is when the embargo will lift.

    Declared interests

    Prof Neil Mabbott “I have no conflicts of interest to declare”

    Prof Ilaria Bellantuono “I am consulting for Holland and Barrett.”

    Dr Laura Sinclair “My project is currently funded by the charity, Animal-Free Research UK”

    Prof Lynne Cox “Lynne Cox is a biochemist at the university of Oxford. She runs the Lab of Ageing and Cell Senescence in Oxford, and has strong research interest in rapamycin and drugs that act in similar ways to preserve healthspan. She has served for the past 3 years as co-director of the UK Ageing research Networks (UKAN) and is currently Program Director of Dynamic Resilience, a $60m global healthspan program co-funded by Wellcome Leap and Temasek Trust.”

    Dr David Clancy “No interested to declare”

    For all other experts no reply to our request for COIs was receive.

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  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Latest community grant scheme launches 19 June 2025 Island projects making a difference in their community could be eligible for a funding boost.

    Source: Aisle of Wight

    Island projects making a difference in their community could be eligible for a funding boost.

    New and existing schemes supporting Isle of Wight residents who are struggling with food, utility-related items or wider essentials are being invited to apply for a community grant.

    The scheme is being administered by the Isle of Wight Council using its allocation from the Household Support Fund (HSF), granted by the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP).

    Around 250 grants have been awarded to local organisations by the scheme since October 2021.

    The total amount available for grants this time round will be £530,000.

    As well as supporting people in financial crisis with support around food, utility costs and wider essentials, the council is also looking for projects that help prevent households from falling into, or further into crisis. This could include things like teaching cooking skills, providing community kitchens, or offering joined-up advice and support. The council is also interested in new and creative ideas that could receive seed funding to help people live free from poverty and inequality, in line with the Isle of Wight Poverty Reduction Strategy. 

    Ian Lloyd, Strategic Manager for Partnerships and Support Services, Isle of Wight Council, said: “Grants like these play a vital role in supporting the Island’s many community-led projects, helping them grow and continue delivering essential services—particularly to those who need them most. I’d really encourage more local groups and organisations to explore what this funding could offer their communities.”

    The council would welcome applications from community and voluntary groups, charities, faith groups, schools, colleges and early years settings as well as town, parish and community councils.

    The deadline for applications is Wednesday, 2 July. Further application windows will be open in September and January so groups and organisations will have other opportunities to apply.

    The community grants scheme is just one of the ways the council is supporting Island residents via the HSF.

    Further information on how organisations can apply for a community grant is available on the council’s Household Support Fund web pages: community grants 

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  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Oxford City Council wins prestigious national award

    Source: City of Oxford

    Thursday, 19 June 2025

    Oxford City Council is proud to announce that its Housing Needs Team has been named Housing Team of the Year at the LGC Awards 2025, held on 11 June in London.

    The LGC (Local Government Chronicle) Awards, now in their 29th year, are the premier event in the local government calendar, celebrating excellence and innovation across the UK. With over 1,200 attendees and more than 100 expert judges, the ceremony recognised the very best in council achievements from across the country. 

    Oxford’s Housing Needs Team stood out in an incredibly competitive field, impressing judges with its multi-pronged and data-driven strategy to prevent homelessness, its commitment to the Housing First approach, and its strong partnerships with health and other services across the county. The team was praised for its innovative prevention efforts, tangible success in reducing rough sleeping, and its compassionate, long-term focus on improving outcomes for people in temporary accommodation. 

    This was a very impressive, multi-pronged strategy with an innovative approach to preventing homelessness and improving outcomes for people already in temporary accommodation. The award is a real acknowledgment of many years of hard graft, difficult decision-making and delivery. 

    Comment 

    “I’m absolutely thrilled that our Housing Needs Team has received this national recognition.  

    “Their commitment, creativity and relentless focus on reducing homelessness in incredibly challenging circumstances is nothing short of inspirational. This award is a testament to years of hard work, strong partnerships and a shared belief that everyone deserves a safe and stable home. I could not be prouder of the team.” 
    Councillor Linda Smith, Cabinet Member for Housing 

    The LGC Awards underwent a rigorous judging process, with teams presenting their work to panels of senior local government leaders. In a year with a record number of entries, being shortlisted was an achievement in itself – and to win is a powerful endorsement of Oxford’s approach to tackling homelessness and housing insecurity. 

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  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Overcrowded jails fuel prisoner violence

    Source: United Kingdom – Executive Government & Departments 3

    Press release

    Overcrowded jails fuel prisoner violence

    Violence is rife in overcrowded, unsafe prisons, with offenders nearly twenty per cent more likely to be involved in assaults in too full jails, new research published today (19 June) reveals.

    • Direct link drawn between overcrowded conditions and increased violence for first time
    • Landmark sentencing reforms mean offenders who behave badly can be held in prison for longer, part of the Government’s Plan for Change
    • New £40 million investment this year to tackle violence, contraband and drones

    The rate of prisoner-on-prisoner assaults in men’s prisons increased by 11 per cent in 2024 compared to the previous year as they operated at over 99% capacity. The rate of assaults on hard-working prison staff rose by 13 per cent during the same period.  

    This is the first time a direct link has been drawn between increased violence behind bars and the capacity crisis inherited by the Government that put the public at risk. 

    It reinforces the need for the 14,000 more prison places and landmark sentencing reforms set out by Lord Chancellor Shabana Mahmood last month which will ensure prisons never run out of space again. The changes will help to cut reoffending and keep our streets safe, part of the Government’s Plan for Change.

    Under these reforms, release from prison will be earned. Offenders who behave badly will be held in prison for longer – helping to reduce violence and drug use. It will mean staff can focus more time on rehabilitating prisoners to reduce the chance of them reoffending on release. 

    The Government has also announced today a £40 million investment in new security measures this year to clamp down on the contraband that fuels violence behind bars. This includes £10 million on anti-drone measures such as exterior netting and reinforced windows.  

    Minister for Prisons, Probation and Reducing Reoffending, James Timpson, said:   

    These stark findings confirm what we’ve already seen – dangerously full prisons lead to more crime and more violence. This not only risks the safety of our hardworking staff but means our prisons are failing one of their most important functions – cutting crime. 

    We must end this chaos. That is why as part of our Plan for Change we are reforming sentencing and building 14,000 extra prison places by 2031. Our £40 million new investment will also help combat the flow of contraband which creates unsafe environments in our jails.

    The research found that over a one-year period, crowded environments increase the likelihood of an offender being involved in a violent incident by 19 per cent.  

    The £40 million will fund a range of security enhancements this financial year including window replacements, CCTV and control room upgrades, vehicle gates, biometrics and floodlighting. These improved measures will boost safety, combat the influx of drone activity and clamp down on suspected wrongdoing behind bars.  

    It comes as the National Crime Agency – in conjunction with HM Prisons and Probation Service, the National Police Chiefs’ Council and Regional Organised Crime Units – has launched a new initiative stepping up efforts to thwart criminals attempting to smuggle contraband into jails via drones. 

    Two senior police leads will also be embedded into the Corruption and Crime Unit within the Prison and Probation Service to enhance cooperation in tackling key areas like corruption and organised crime in prisons.  

    The investment builds on action the Government has already taken to protect staff from violence, including the rollout of protective body armour for prison officers working within high-security settings and a trial of tasers beginning later this summer. 

    The Government has set aside £7 billion to fund 14,000 extra places by 2031 to deliver the prison capacity needed to keep the public safe. 

    Background information

    Updates to this page

    Published 19 June 2025

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  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: First ever Entrepreneurship Advisor appointed to the Treasury

    Source: United Kingdom – Executive Government & Departments

    Press release

    First ever Entrepreneurship Advisor appointed to the Treasury

    Alex Depledge MBE appointed by the Chancellor as first ever Entrepreneurship Advisor appointed to Treasury to address barriers for high growth businesses.

    • New appointment to support growth in build up to Autumn Budget
    • This is on top of the significant steps the government has already taken to support entrepreneurs through increased R&D funding and extending the Enterprise Investment Scheme and Venture Capital Trust schemes, delivering on our Plan for Change

    Entrepreneurs will now have a direct line to government and will benefit from additional expertise within the Treasury as the Chancellor has appointed Alex Depledge MBE as her Entrepreneurship Adviser.

    Over the coming months, Alex will advise the Chancellor on the government’s entrepreneurship landscape, focusing on addressing the key barriers faced by businesses seeking to start up and scale up in the UK.

    Reducing barriers for business, entrepreneurs and investors is key to boosting economic growth and delivering the government’s Plan for Change.

    Alex brings with her extensive entrepreneurship experience, having successfully built several businesses from the ground up, including Resi and Helpling, formerly known as Hassle.com. She knows what it takes to build a successful business and will be in a position to offer invaluable advice to boost growth for the businesses of the future.

    The government has already taken significant steps to support start-ups since taking office. We have extended the Enterprise Investment Scheme and Venture Capital Trust schemes to 2035 and increased R&D funding to £22.6 billion per year by 2029/30 to support the growth even more innovative businesses of the future, this support will allow them to invest and take on new staff, putting more money into working people’s pocket.

    Chancellor of the Exchequer, Rachel Reeves, said:

    Start-ups, scale-ups and other small businesses drive the innovation that keeps Britain growing, delivering our Plan for Change.

    We have a long list of successful start ups, scale ups and small businesses across the UK – with the greatest density of scale ups among the seven major industrial countries in the G7.

    Having Alex on the team will bring invaluable expertise with her experience building successful businesses from the ground up, and I look forward to working with her.

    Alex Depledge MBE, said:

    I’m honoured to be appointed as the Chancellor’s first-ever Entrepreneurship Advisor, a ground-breaking move that puts high-growth businesses at the heart of economic thinking.

    It’s the first time an entrepreneur has held this role, and it signals a bold commitment from government to back the scale-ups and innovators powering the UK forward.

    There are over 34,000 scale-ups in the UK — just 0.6% of SMEs — yet they generate a staggering £1.4 trillion in turnover, contributing 55% of all SME revenues.

    This is a chance to rewrite the playbook on how we support entrepreneurs, and I’m here to make sure we take full advantage of it.

    The Terms of Reference for this appointment can be found here. Direct Ministerial Appointment Terms of Reference (PDF, 37 KB, 1 page)

    Updates to this page

    Published 19 June 2025

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  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Boosting Scotland’s maritime sector

    Source: Scottish Government

    More than £9 million to create 300 jobs.

    Funding of £9.22 million to support a training and skills academy has been awarded to BAE Systems.

    The Scottish Enterprise support will form part of a project to modernise its shipyards on the Clyde, creating around 300 new jobs and securing over a thousand more.

    Deputy First Minister Kate Forbes announced the funding during a visit to BAE Systems’ Applied Shipbuilding Academy, which provides training to help grow a skilled workforce across Scotland.

    It is part of a wider £300 million investment by BAE Systems which includes a new shipbuilding facility and the adoption of pioneering manufacturing technologies to improve productivity.

    The Deputy First Minister said:

    “BAE Systems’ investment, supported by Scottish Enterprise, will radically transform shipbuilding on the Clyde – bringing state-of-the-art, globally competitive training and skills facilities, creating up to 300 new jobs and contributing wider economic benefits to Scotland.

    “Projects like this will shape Scotland’s future workforce, developing the next generation of skilled professionals and supporting high-quality apprenticeship programmes.

    “I am confident that this funding will help to secure the future of shipbuilding on the Clyde.”

    Managing Director of BAE Systems’ Naval Ships business Simon Lister said:

    “We welcome the additional funding from Scottish Enterprise that will help secure shipbuilding in Glasgow for generations to come.

    “The funding supports our ambition to attract and retain the workforce of the future, providing people with the necessary skills to work in a highly specialised industry. This will also provide ongoing value and significant contribution to the Scottish economy.”

    Scottish Enterprise Chief Executive Adrian Gillespie said:

    “This significant strategic capital investment by BAE Systems in cutting-edge technologies and its commitment to helping upskill the shipbuilding industry and the broader maritime sector is exactly the kind of ambitious, transformative project we want to support through our mission-based approach to growing and strengthening Scotland’s economy.

    “Not only will the project create hundreds of highly skilled jobs and protect many more, but it will also establish some of the most advanced and productive manufacturing facilities in the UK, helping to reduce the time it takes to build ships on the Clyde and open the door to global export opportunities.”

    Scottish Enterprise has worked with BAE Systems for more than 10 years to encourage investment in its Govan and Scotstoun shipyards.

    The Applied Shipbuilding Academy collaborates with schools, colleges and universities, suppliers, customers and local authorities to provide training and skills development across Scotland. It also partners with the National Manufacturing Institute for Scotland and the Clyde Maritime Industry Forum to share knowledge in advanced manufacturing across the Scottish maritime sector.

    Background

    The Scottish Enterprise funding includes a Research and Development grant of £7.4 million and a Training Aid grant of £1.8 million to maximise skills as well as providing a collegiate training facility, offering access to the broader industry via the Applied Shipbuilding Academy, overseen by BAE Systems as custodians of the Glasgow shipyards.

    The BAE Systems project has a potential value to the economy (Gross Value Added) of £255 million over five years, rising to £1.1 billion over 10 years. It aligns with Scottish Enterprise’s mission-based approach to transforming Scotland’s economy, including increasing productivity through strategic capital investments.

    The Academy in Glasgow is one of three dedicated BAE Systems training facilities, providing bespoke learning for just under 50,000 BAE employees across the UK.

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  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Future farming Investment Scheme

    Source: Scottish Government

    Applications for £14 million fund to open in July.

    A new flexible grants scheme offering farmers and crofters capital investment will open next month, Rural Affairs Secretary Mairi Gougeon has announced.

    The £14 million Future Farming Investment Scheme offers flexible capital grants to support investments in efficiency, nature and climate friendly farming.  It will provide priority support in a number of areas, including for new entrants, and young farmers, small farms and tenants.

    The Rural Affairs Secretary also confirmed that a three-year programme of national LiDAR scanning is underway to provide a detailed three dimensional baseline map of Scotland to help better understand the landscape and plan for the future.

    A new Code of Practice on Sustainable and Regenerative Agriculture has also been published.

    Speaking at the Royal Highland Show in Edinburgh, Ms Gougeon said:

    “Scotland invests more than £600 million a year in agriculture through reformed direct payments, Voluntary Coupled Support and Less Favoured Area Support Scheme – all in stark contrast to elsewhere in the UK.

    “I am pleased to be able to confirm that, having worked with so many partners in its development, the Future Farming Investment Scheme will open on 14 July. The scheme will provide upfront payments of up to £20,000 at up to 100% grant rate and give people the freedom to choose the most appropriate capital investment to improve their business.

    “The Scottish Government recognises the importance of small suckler cow herds in some of our most remote and fragile areas. These cows deliver for biodiversity, landscapes, they help to sustain people and deliver socio-economic benefits, so from the 2026 scheme, farms claiming for 10 calves or fewer will receive a derogation from the calving-interval condition.

    “By working together we have secured a flexible support policy through the Agriculture and Rural Communities Act, ensuring the industry continues to benefit from reformed direct support. We are driving down emissions, improving productivity and supporting the next generation.

    “We do not have all the powers to protect the Scottish agricultural industry, but where we do, we have shown that long term policy made in Scotland for Scotland can serve this great industry well.”

    Background

    The Code of Practice on Sustainable and Regenerative Agriculture (ruralpayments.org)

    Future Farming Investment Scheme (ruralpayments.org)

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  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: City trader prosecuted by council for underage vape sales

    Source: City of Wolverhampton

    Abdul Qadir Davoodi, owner of Wardak Supermarket in Lea Road, made the illegal sales during 2 test purchases.

    He pleaded guilty to 4 charges under Tobacco and Related Products Regulations 2016, one charge under the Nicotine Inhaling Products (Age of sale and Proxy Purchasing) Regulations 2015 and one charge under the Consumer Protection from Unfair Trading Regulations 2008.

    Davoodi was fined £2,500 and ordered to pay court costs of £4,500 and a victim surcharge of £1,000.

    Dudley Magistrates Court also made a forfeiture and destruction order against the items seized.

    Trading Standards officers at the council originally received a complaint that Wardak Supermarket, also known as Lifestyle Express, was selling single cigarettes of foreign origin to children.

    A covert test purchase was organised and in July 2023, a 17 year old volunteer was illegally sold a disposable e-cigarette/vape by Davoodi.

    A second covert test purchase was carried out a year later when another 17 year old volunteer was again illegally sold an e-cigarette/vape.

    A follow-up inspection of the store by Trading Standards officers in August 2024 found 69 non compliant e-cigarettes/vapes under the counter. These products were seized.

    Since 1 June, 2025, sales of disposable vapes have been banned across the UK.

    During the court hearing on 13 June, Davoodi told Dudley Magistrates that he had now put a new training regime in place for his staff, had installed CCTV and had put a refusals book system in place.

    Councillor Bhupinder Gakhal, City of Wolverhampton Council’s cabinet member for resident services, said: “This prosecution is the latest successful step in our efforts to protect city residents.

    “Our Trading Standards officers are taking firm action against shops that put young people at risk, we will not tolerate this type of behaviour in Wolverhampton.

    “As this prosecution shows, businesses need to be aware that selling age restricted products to underage customers can have serious consequences.

    “If you break the law, you will be held accountable. We will not hesitate to take action against those who put people at risk and undermine the hard work of legitimate businesses.”

    Anyone who thinks they may have been sold illegal goods or suspect someone is selling them, is asked to email trading.standards@wolverhampton.gov.uk or contact Citizens Advice consumer helpline on 0808 223 1133.
     

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  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Night bus services to return in time for Tall Ships

    Source: Scotland – City of Aberdeen

    Night buses to key destinations across Aberdeen and Aberdeenshire are to be reintroduced next weekend – in plenty of time for the Tall Ships arriving.

    After a tendering process, Aberdeen City Council has contracted the five routes out to First Bus which will operate them from the city centre on weekends from the evening of Friday 27 June for the next three years.

    The provision of the night bus services will be funded from bus lane enforcement revenue. First Aberdeen’s single fares will apply on the service and allow the use of both Concessionary and Under 22’s National Entitlement Cards.

    Aberdeen City Council Co-Leader Councillor Ian Yuill said: “The night bus service over Christmas and New Year was popular. I am delighted the City Council is bringing night bus services back year-round. These services being in place in time for the Tall Ships arriving in the city is a real bonus.

    “Over the Tall Ships weekend, many more people than normal are expected to be enjoying the cafes, restaurants, and pubs in the city centre. The night buses will provide safe and efficient transport for visitors to our city centre. I hope as many people as possible take advantage of this cost-effective and safe transport to get home.”

    Aberdeen City Council Co-Leader Councillor Christian Allard said: “The return of the night buses will be welcomed by businesses in the city centre and are part of our Purple Flag status for city centre safety and vibrancy.

    “The Aberdeen City Council move will help to support businesses by giving people another transport option for getting home.”

    All services will operate on Friday night/Saturday morning and Saturday night/Sunday morning only, from 12midnight to approximately 3.30am.

    David Adam, Head of Operations at First Bus Aberdeen, said: “We are delighted to be working with Aberdeen City Council to launch this night bus service in Aberdeen, making it easier for people to get home later in the night, while continuing to support local businesses in the city.

    “It’s important people have the confidence they will be able to get home safely and affordably when going to enjoy a meal, some drinks or a night out at one of the fantastic venues in the city centre. We hope the introduction of the new night bus routes will do just that.”

    Aberdeen Inspired will also be promoting the Council-funded night buses.

    Adrian Watson, chief executive of Aberdeen Inspired, said: “The return of weekend night buses to Aberdeen all year round is a huge boost for the city’s evening and night-time economy, one that will be particularly welcomed by bars and restaurants. We know many people avoid coming into the city centre for a night out because of uncertainty over getting home at the end of the evening. The weekend night bus service will now give people reassurance they can get home easily, affordably and safely.  The same goes for those who work in our vital night-time economy.

    “I would urge people to come into town and make the most of Aberdeen’s superb night-time offering, safe in the knowledge a night bus will get them home. I’m sure the city’s bars and restaurants will be promoting that same message to their customers and visitors. The more people use the night bus service, the more sustainable it will become and more likely to be a permanent and key part of the city’s transport solutions.”

    The services are

    •           N1, City Centre (Alford Place) – Danestone, via Seaton; Dubford and Ashwood;

    •           N17, City Centre (Union Terrace) – Inverurie, via Great Northern Road, Bucksburn & Dyce;

    •           N23, City Centre (Bridge Street) – Kingswells, via Summerhill and Sheddocksley;

    •           N201, City Centre (Bridge Street) – Banchory, via Mannofield; Cults; Bieldside; Milltimber;  and Peterculter;

    •           N18, City Centre (Bridge Street) – Cove/Charleston via Kincorth.

    The re-introduction of the night bus services follows on from the successful night bus service over the 2024 festive season.

    Full route and timetable information is at Weekend Night Bus Services | Aberdeen City Council. Passenger should be aware there will be a commercial night bus service going to Westhill and Stonehaven by another operator, starting next month.

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  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Sunderland to honour service personnel with flag raising ceremony for Armed Forces Day

    Source: City of Sunderland

    Sunderland will mark Armed Forces Day with a special civic reception and flag raising ceremony at City Hall on Friday 27 June.

    The event is being held to recognise and thank those in the Armed Forces community for their dedication and sacrifice.

    The Mayor of Sunderland, Councillor Ehthesham Haque, will be joined by Councillor Harry Trueman, the city’s Armed Forces Champion, who will speak on behalf of Sunderland City Council. The Deputy Lieutenant for Tyne and Wear, Colonel Christopher Tearney will also be invited to say a few words.

    This will be followed by the Mayor’s Chaplain, Canon Clare MacLaren, Provost of Sunderland Minster, leading a short prayer and blessing the Armed Forces flag once it has been raised on the balcony of the Mayor’s Parlour. The ceremony will conclude with a short opportunity for networking and photographs, finishing at approximately 11am.

    The Mayor of Sunderland, Councillor Ehthesham Haque, said: “Armed Forces Day is a moment to show our deep appreciation for those who serve, or have served, in the Armed Forces. Here in Sunderland, we are proud of our long-standing military connections and strong sense of community support.

    “This flag-raising is a small but meaningful way of showing our gratitude and respect, and I invite all residents to join us in reflecting on the bravery and sacrifice of our service personnel.”

    Armed Forces Day is celebrated nationally each year to honour the contribution of the Armed Forces and raise public awareness of the work they do, both at home and overseas.

    The event will begin at 10am, with those planning to attend asked to arrive at City Hall by 9.45am.

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  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Green light given for customer service transformation

    Source: City of Leeds

    Customers of Leeds City Council will soon benefit from faster, more convenient access to services, after senior councillors gave the nod for work to begin on a new customer services transformation programme.

    At yesterday’s meeting of the executive board, councillors approved an investment of £12 million over three and a half years, to transform the channels and mechanisms available to everyone who needs to contact the council.  This includes residents, businesses, visitors and partner organisations – anyone who might need contact the council to pay, book, tell, register, apply or check.

    The initiative is designed to improve how people interact with the council—offering more online self-service options, reducing wait times, and making it easier for customers to get the support they need, when they need it and in a way which suits them. These changes will give residents greater control and flexibility, while maintaining access to telephone and in-person services for those who prefer them.

    Councillor Mary Harland, Leeds City Council executive member for communities, customer services and community safety, said: “The council currently receives around 276,000 contacts per month from customers, so it is vital that we offer a modern and efficient service which meets the standards our customers expect.

    “This is about improving our services, not replacing them. By giving people more control over how and when they contact us, we can reduce waiting times and deliver a faster, more efficient service – all while saving public money.”

    Among the anticipated benefits of the programme are:

    • Quicker resolution of queries, with 60–80% of contacts expected to be resolved at first point.
    • Reduced need for follow-up contact, thanks to improved staff access to a single customer view.
    • Shorter call handling times and a stronger connection between staff and customers.
    • Empowered staff who are better equipped to intervene earlier and improve outcomes.

    The initiative will also deliver significant cost savings for the council by reducing avoidable demand, reducing manual processes through increased automation, and increasing digital self-service options.

    Ultimately, the Customer Transformation Programme aims to build a sustainable, customer-first culture within the council, underpinned by continuous improvement and smarter use of technology.

    By simplifying processes and embracing innovation, Leeds City Council is investing in a better future for customers—one where every interaction is quicker, easier, and more effective.

    ENDS

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI Russia: Several embankments in the center of Moscow will be closed on the night of June 21-22

    Translation. Region: Russian Federal

    Source: Moscow Government – Government of Moscow –

    On the night of June 21-22, Moscow will host the Night Run, in connection with which several embankments in the city center will be closed. From 00:01 on June 21 until the end of the event, parking will also be prohibited in all restricted areas.

    Thus, on June 21 from 20:00 to 23:59 it will be impossible to drive along the section of Testovskaya Street from 1st Krasnogvardeysky Proezd to Presnenskaya Embankment. At the same time, sections of Presnenskaya Embankment from Testovskaya Street to Krasnopresnenskaya Embankment and Krasnopresnenskaya Embankment from Presnenskaya Embankment to Novoarbatsky Bridge will be inaccessible.

    From 21:00 on June 21 to 00:15 on June 22, traffic will be closed along Smolenskaya Embankment from Novoarbatsky Bridge to Borodinsky Bridge. And from 21:00 on June 21 to 00:30 on June 22, traffic will be restricted along Rostovskaya Embankment from Borodinsky Bridge to 1st Vrazhsky Lane, as well as along Savvinskaya Embankment from 1st Vrazhsky Lane to Novodevichy Proezd.

    From 21:00 on June 21 to 01:00 on June 22, it will be impossible to drive along Novodevichy Embankment from Novodevichy Proezd to Luzhnetskaya Embankment, along Khamovnichesky Val Street from Novodevichy Embankment to Luzhnetsky Proezd, along Luzhniki Street from house 24, building 48 to house 9, building 6 in Novoluzhnetsky Proezd. In addition, traffic will be restricted along the Alley of Glory from Luzhniki Street to Luzhnetskaya Embankment and along Luzhnetskaya Embankment from Novodevichy Embankment to the Alley of Glory.

    Drivers are advised to plan their route in advance. Detailed information can be found on the official website Traffic Management Center.

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

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  • MIL-OSI Economics: Secretary-General of ASEAN receives Deputy Secretary General of the Secretariat of House Representatives of Thailand

    Source: ASEAN

    Secretary-General of ASEAN, Dr. Kao Kim Hourn, today received Deputy Secretary General of the Secretariat of the House of Representatives of the Kingdom of Thailand, Nattakrit Vongjarean, at the ASEAN Headquarters/ASEAN Secretariat. Dr. Kao congratulated Deputy Secretary General Nattakrit on his recent appointment and acknowledged Thailand’s active role in enhancing parliamentary engagement within ASEAN. Both sides exchanged views on strengthening collaboration between ASEAN and the ASEAN Inter-Parliamentary Assembly (AIPA), particularly in support of the ASEAN Community Vision 2045 and the promotion of regional awareness.

    The post Secretary-General of ASEAN receives Deputy Secretary General of the Secretariat of House Representatives of Thailand appeared first on ASEAN Main Portal.

    MIL OSI Economics –

  • MIL-OSI Russia: Polytechnic University is the leader among Russian universities in THE Impact Rankings 2025

    Translation. Region: Russian Federal

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

    The Times Higher Education (THE) rating agency has published the results of the international TНE University Impact Rankings 2025. It measures the contribution of universities to socio-economic development through the prism of 17 UN global goals. This year, the ranking included 2,526 universities from 130 countries, including 80 Russian ones. Polytechnic University demonstrated high results, taking first place among Russian universities and entering the group of 301-400 best universities in the world.

    THE Impact Rankings is an opportunity to assess the scale of achievements of such multidisciplinary universities as ours. Due to our polytechnic nature, we make a significant contribution to the development of a wide range of areas. I am proud of the social responsibility of polytechnics, their concern and desire for positive changes. Therefore, even focusing on technological leadership, Polytechnic does not lose sight of the importance of social and economic development of Russia and the world, – noted the rector of SPbPU Andrey Rudskoy.

    This year’s ranking showed a significant improvement in Polytechnic University’s positions on eight sustainable development goals. Particularly impressive is the progress in the area of “Partnerships for Sustainable Development Goals” (SDG17), where the university moved up 11 positions among Russian universities and 200 positions in the world ranking. Indicators for the goal “Preservation of Marine Ecosystems” (SDG14) also increased significantly: plus seven positions in Russia and plus one hundred in the world. Significant progress was noted for the goals “Climate Action” (SDG13) and “Good Health and Well-Being” (SDG3), where SPbPU moved up six and five positions, respectively, among Russian universities. Polytechnic University maintains its leading position in Russia for the goal “Responsible Production and Consumption” (SDG12).

    In addition to its significant impact on the economic development of the region and the country, Polytechnic University makes a significant social contribution. Our university provides access to quality education to more than 30 thousand Russian and foreign students, is a major employer, providing jobs for more than six thousand people, including people with disabilities. In addition, the university organizes many free socially significant events for the local community, and this is only part of our social activities. Evaluation of this kind of contribution is no less important, and this is the great value of such ratings, – commented Vice-Rector for Human Resources Policy Maria Vrublevskaya.

    The assessment is based on information provided by universities and confirmed by Elsevier bibliometric data. The analysis covers three important areas: research activities (development of science to solve global problems), management efficiency (resource management and educational activities) and social work (implementation of social programs within the university).

    You can find more detailed results follow the link.

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  • MIL-OSI Russia: Polytechnicians create the basis for digital twins of cities

    Translation. Region: Russian Federal

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

    The MetaCampus Polytech project, which is being implemented by the team of the Civil Engineering Institute, has become one of the key initiatives within the framework of the digital transformation of SPbPU. It is a digital campus ecosystem based on an information model that unites more than 300,000 square meters of area, 30 academic buildings and about 10,000 rooms.

    The uniqueness of the project is that MetaCampus Polytech is the first and only example of creating a digital twin of a university campus in the country. This makes it not only a platform for internal digital transformation, but also a pilot solution that can be used by other Russian universities.

    The project is interdisciplinary in nature and is being implemented jointly with the Institute of Computer Science and Cybersecurity. More than 2,000 undergraduate, specialist and master’s students are participating in its development. Eight project groups have been organized, nine new work programs of disciplines and practices have been developed, such as “Digital Modeling of Buildings”, “Geoinformation Technologies”, “Energy Audit”, “Project Practice” and others. At the moment, work is underway on interdisciplinary final qualification works.

    Digital services intended for various user groups of the university are being actively created and developed. One of them, “Property Management”, is aimed at automating analytics and visual management of the university’s material and property complex. The service allows you to track the parameters of premises online and generate their digital passports.

    At the moment, specialists are developing a technology for converting multimodal campus infrastructure data into a single information presentation format for subsequent analysis and processing using machine learning and artificial intelligence algorithms. The goal is to combine heterogeneous data collected over two years (PDF documents, images, BIM models, point clouds, tables and other file types) into a single structured system associated with specific campus objects and premises.

    Based on these unified data, the digital service for managing the property complex will be expanded, which will allow for the prompt generation of analytical reports and graphical representations of indicators at the user’s request using an AI assistant. This approach will ensure not only the integrity of information, but also high speed of decision-making on managing the university’s resources.

    During the project implementation, a video presentation was created, which presents a historical retrospective of the formation of the SPbPU campus. The basis for creating the video were digital models of the university buildings.

    The experience gained during the implementation of the MetaCampus Polytech project became the basis for new international cooperation. Representatives of the Civil Engineering Institute and partners from Cuba agreed to launch a joint project on the digitalization of cultural heritage sites. Cuban colleagues shared their experience in the digitalization of architectural monuments, including joint research with universities in Spain and Colombia, and expressed interest in developing cooperation.

    In addition, the Institute of Historical and Cultural Heritage has concluded an agreement with the Committee for State Control, Use and Protection of Historical and Cultural Monuments of St. Petersburg (KGIOP) on developing a digital passport of cultural heritage sites based on the approaches of the MetaCampus Polytech project. This will create a unified format for digital information about cultural sites and may become the basis for the formation of digital twins of historical cities both in Russia and abroad.

    The significance of the project was confirmed by its victory in the nomination “Best Campus Management Practice” in the competition organized by the “Sociocenter” jointly with the Ministry of Education and Science of Russia as part of the strategic academic leadership program “Priority-2030”.

    In the future, MetaCampus Polytech will be able to become the basis for creating a digital twin of St. Petersburg. At the moment, the territory of the university campus, which is contained in the form of an information model, is a serious digital asset. Using its example, we could replicate this practice in order to transfer our entire city to a digital model, – noted the director of ISI Marina Petrochenko.

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  • MIL-OSI Russia: Electric buses in the capital already operate on 210 routes

    Translation. Region: Russian Federal

    Source: Moscow Government – Government of Moscow –

    Since the beginning of the year, eco-friendly transport in the capital has appeared on 32 more routes. And in total, there are already 210 electric bus routes in Moscow. This was reported by the Deputy Mayor of Moscow for Transport and Industry Maxim Liksutov.

    “On the instructions of Sergei Sobyanin, we are purchasing the most modern Russian equipment. Residents of the capital are the first in the country to start using innovative transport for daily trips. Moscow’s order for the creation of new models of electric buses stimulates the development and localization of the most important technologies in the country. We plan to purchase another 700 electric buses for Moscow with delivery in 2026-2027,” said Maxim Liksutov.

    New generation transport

    Moscow is constantly updating its transport to improve the comfort and safety of passenger travel. Modern Russian electric buses have been operating in the capital since 2018, and every few years, improved models arrive in the city. Moscow is among the world leaders in the development and use of electric transport and ranks first in Europe in the number of electric buses.

    Since 2022, the capital has been supplied with improved equipment. These vehicles have adaptive interior lighting, which changes from a cold shade to a warm one for passenger comfort. The front route indicator, increased by 18 percent, makes it easy to see the number from afar. The interior has an electric heater, which minimizes the impact on the environment and maintains an optimal temperature. The range of electric buses has increased from 40-50 to 80 kilometers. At the same time, the weight has remained the same.

    In 2024, KAMAZ and LiAZ electric buses with an updated design hit the city streets. And in 2025, new generation electric buses appeared on the routes. They became even more comfortable thanks to an improved interior layout, a 15 percent larger storage area, places for hand luggage and a modified door design. The climate control system became more efficient, and light strips with opening and closing indicators appeared on the doors. The appearance of the innovative vehicles is even more in line with modern trends in global industrial design.

    The new technology increases the comfort of travel and reduces the impact on the environment. There are chargers for phones in the cabin, and the names of the nearest stops are displayed on media screens. For passengers with limited mobility, there are buttons to call the driver, who will help them get in or out of the cabin if necessary, and a folding ramp. Strollers and bicycles can be conveniently stored on the storage area.

    Under the contract with PJSC KAMAZ, 400 new-generation electric buses are planned to be delivered this year. They are being created based on the operating experience of earlier models and passenger feedback. Moscow’s order for the creation of new equipment supports employment in the regions and stimulates the development of domestic industry.

    Replacing one bus with an electric bus reduces carbon dioxide emissions into the environment by more than 60 tons per year. Thanks to environmentally friendly transport, from 2018 to 2024, it was possible to avoid about 190 thousand tons of carbon dioxide emissions into the atmosphere, and pollutant emissions over these years were reduced by 930 tons.

    The capital has begun testing a new extra-large electric bus20 ultra-fast charging stations for electric buses in TiNAO connected to power grids

    Electric bus maintenance

    Electric buses are serviced at 12 sites of the State Unitary Enterprise Mosgortrans, whose fleet already includes more than 2,350 electric buses. More than four thousand drivers provide operation of 210 routes.

    Moscow was the first in Russia to start building modern electric bus depots. In 2022, the first in the country and the largest in Europe electric bus depot “Krasnaya Pakhra” opened in TiNAO. Eco-friendly vehicles first went on routes in the Novomoskovsky and Troitsky administrative districts. In the summer of 2023, the Mitino electric bus depot opened in the northwest of the capital. At the end of 2023, the third innovative electric bus depot, “Saltykovka”, opened. It serves routes in the east of the city.

    Electric buses are purchased under life cycle contracts. For 15 years after the vehicles are transferred to the Mosgortrans State Unitary Enterprise fleet, the manufacturers independently ensure the serviceability of the equipment on the routes.

    In 2024, electric buses began to serve another 71 capital routes. This is twice as many as in 2023. More than 800 electric buses from PJSC KAMAZ and the LiAZ plant were delivered to the fleets of the State Unitary Enterprise Mosgortrans, including 600 vehicles in a new, even more modern design.

    It is planned that by 2035 almost the entire fleet of the State Unitary Enterprise Mosgortrans will operate on electric traction.

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

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  • MIL-OSI Russia: The third tent of the Summer in Moscow project will open in Yuzhnoye Butovo

    Translation. Region: Russian Federal

    Source: Moscow Government – Government of Moscow –

    On June 20, the third tent will open in the Yuzhnoye Butovo landscape park as part of the project “Summer in Moscow”The show program will present a palette of circus genres – from performances by gymnasts and acrobats to numbers involving clowns and jugglers.

    On June 1, the first performances were given in the tents in Izmailovsky Park and the Moskino cinema park. They gathered full halls. The tents have already given 29 performances, which were seen by about 20 thousand spectators.

    “This Friday we will hold a free circus show in honor of the opening of the third circus tent in the Yuzhnoye Butovo Park. Artists from the Bolshoi Moscow Circus under the direction of the Zapashny brothers will take part in the show,” said the Minister of the Moscow Government, head of the capital’s Department of Culture

    Alexey Fursin.

    The show’s main elements include an aerial pylon act featuring Maria Bakalkina, winner of the gold crown of the International Circus Arts Festival “Circus Princess”, and a trampoline performance by acrobats led by Mansur Salakhetdinov. The program may be subject to change.

    The tent is located in the Yuzhnoye Butovo landscape park opposite house 63, building 2 on Admirala Lazareva Street. Performances will be given on Fridays at 19:00 and on weekends at 14:00 and 18:00. They will be interesting for viewers of all ages.

    Register onfirst show and buy tickets forsubsequent representations You can find it on the Mosbilet website.

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

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

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  • MIL-OSI Russia: Outdoor training sessions are held at the Summer in Moscow project sites

    Translation. Region: Russian Federal

    Source: Moscow Government – Government of Moscow –

    Residents and guests of Moscow can attend free functional training classes at almost 50 addresses. Classes are held in parks, at the Summer in Moscow project sites, at the Northern and Southern river terminals and in other places within the framework of the project “Sports Weekend”. It is organized Moscow City Sports Department and government service centers “My Documents”.

    Functional training consists of cardio and strength exercises using your own body weight. During the training, all muscles are involved, which helps to strengthen and harmoniously develop the body’s muscles and increase endurance. In addition, athletes’ metabolism speeds up, which allows them to burn more calories at rest.

    You can choose suitable sites and sign up for functional training atofficial website project.

    In addition, Muscovites can prepare to meet the strength standards of the Ready for Labor and Defense (GTO) complex with the project “GTO in parks” in 10 parks of the capital. The project was created for those who like to do sports in the fresh air and want to test their physical fitness with the help of complex tests.

    “GTO in Parks” is training with professional instructors, as well as meeting standards in 10 park areas of the capital. You can find out the schedule, locations of classes and tests, and sign up for them atproject website. Free training is held every weekend throughout the summer for participants over 18 years old. Both adults and children from six years old can complete the standards.

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

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

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  • MIL-OSI Russia: The Yakut national holiday Ysyakh will be celebrated at the interregional fair in Otradny

    Translation. Region: Russian Federal

    Source: Moscow Government – Government of Moscow –

    On June 21 at 12:00, a participant of the interregional fair in the square on Khachaturyan Street will hold an event dedicated to the traditional Yakut holiday Ysyakh.

    Winter in Yakutia is very long and cold, so the change of seasons has great everyday and cultural significance. During this summer solstice holiday, games, dances, and national treats are usually organized.

    Thus, visitors to the interregional fair in the North-Eastern Administrative District will be able to get acquainted with the art of cutting fresh frozen fish — stroganina. They will also be offered to take part in a tasting of various types of smoked whitefish caught in the Lena River. You can buy any product you like. In addition to fish, the fair participant brings other products from the north for sale — on the shelves there are meat products made from venison, roe deer, wild boar, herbal teas, jam and much more.

    The event will allow residents of the capital to learn not only the gastronomic but also the cultural traditions of Yakutia. It is planned to feature a performance by artists in national Yakut costumes and a spectacular blessing ceremony, Algys.

    Capital fairs are a place where city dwellers traditionally come for high-quality and fresh farm products brought from more than 40 regions of Russia. Each supplier guarantees the quality and freshness of the goods, and specialists Veterinary Committee of the City of Moscow they check it immediately before sending it to the shelves.

    How to Get a Place at a Weekend Market

    The fair pavilions are located near metro stations and other crowded places, equipped with heating, ventilation, air conditioning and video surveillance systems, as well as commercial and refrigeration equipment, which makes them comfortable to visit.

    More information about the activity Department of Trade and Services can be found in official telegram channel.

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

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  • MIL-OSI Russia: /Economic Review/ China’s Commercial Aerospace Sector Reaches New Heights

    Translation. Region: Russian Federal

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

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

    BEIJING, June 19 (Xinhua) — A rocket left a glittering trail in the sky as it flew over waters off east China’s Shandong Province.

    The launch, organized by Chinese aerospace company Galactic Energy, successfully placed four satellites into orbit, marking the company’s fifth consecutive successful space launch from a sea-based platform.

    The flight, which took place on May 19, was a shining example of the rapid development of China’s commercial space industry.

    From coastal launch sites to orbital bases, a new generation of private Chinese aerospace enterprises is redefining the country’s access to space, characterized by greater launch frequency, precision and innovation.

    Building on this momentum, China’s commercial aerospace sector is now entering an era of rapid development driven by technological breakthroughs, expanded launch capabilities and accelerated construction of space infrastructure.

    Rockets, satellites and launch sites are the three main components of the commercial division of China’s space industry. Last year, China opened its first launch site for commercial flights, giving the country the final link in the commercial space ecosystem and paving the way for fully integrated development.

    China plans to launch several reusable rockets in 2025. As for satellites, large constellations like Spacesail Constellation (China’s commercial low-orbit satellite network) continue to launch, while demand for small satellites is growing rapidly.

    China’s commercial space market is expected to exceed 2.5 trillion yuan (about $348 billion) this year.

    “Space is an important resource that we have yet to tap, and we are very optimistic about the commercial space sector,” said Galactic Energy Executive President Xia Dongkun.

    In 2024, the country’s government work report called commercial space a “new driver of economic growth.” Authorities in Beijing, Shanghai, and other cities soon after rolled out targeted support measures and action plans to improve the structure of the commercial aerospace industry.

    The Beijing Economic and Technological Development Zone, also known as Beijing E-Town, is home to more than 160 aerospace enterprises that have formed a growing cluster, accounting for 75 percent of the country’s commercial rocket development and assembly operations.

    As China’s commercial aerospace ecosystem continues to evolve, coordination between market forces and government support measures lays a solid foundation for sustainable growth.

    Today, the number of commercial space companies in China has exceeded 500, and the number of satellites in orbit continues to grow steadily.

    With the development of low-orbit satellite internet, some commercial satellite companies are moving towards mass production and increased profitability.

    At Geespace’s satellite factory in Taizhou City, east China’s Zhejiang Province, an intelligent network system coordinates all stages of design, R&D, production, testing and operation.

    After more than 60 general assembly operations, the components are transformed into a satellite, thereby reducing the production cycle to 28 days. The production speed has increased by 10 times, and production costs have been significantly reduced.

    “In the satellite manufacturing industry, the advantages of commercial aerospace companies in low-cost mass production are becoming increasingly clear,” said Zhang Shijie, chief scientist at GalaxySpace.

    “The industry is moving from small-scale custom development to large-scale production. The ability to assemble satellites like computers is no longer a dream, but a reality,” he added.

    China’s commercial rockets are not only crossing the skies from sea to space, but also opening a new era of innovation and industrial transformation. -0-

    MIL OSI Russia News –