Source: Saint Petersburg State University of Architecture and Civil Engineering – Saint Petersburg State University of Architecture and Civil Engineering –
Congratulations to Anatoly Ivanovich Osokin, Head of the Department of Geotechnics at SPbGASU, on the successful defense of his dissertation for the degree of Doctor of Technical Sciences.
Scientific consultant – Rashid Abdullovich Mangushev, Doctor of Technical Sciences, Professor, Professor of the Department of Geotechnics at St. Petersburg State University of Architecture and Civil Engineering.
Dissertation topic: “Conceptual foundations and practical application of principles of scientific and technical justification and support of underground construction in soft soils”. Scientific specialty – 2.1.2. Foundations and bases, underground structures.
The defense took place on June 18 in the dissertation council 24.2.380.04, created on the basis of our university.
Please note: This information is raw content directly from the source of the information. It is exactly what the source states and does not reflect the position of MIL-OSI or its clients.
Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region
The Census and Statistics Department (C&SD) released today (June 19) the preliminary figures of chain volume measures of Gross Domestic Product (GDP) by economic activity for the first quarter of 2025.
GDP figures by economic activity show the value of production in respect of individual economic activities. The value of production is measured by value added or net output, which is calculated by deducting intermediate input consumed in the process of production from the gross value of output. Volume measures of GDP by economic activity, expressed in terms of chain volume measures net of the effect of price changes, enable analysis of the output growth profiles of individual economic sectors in real terms.
According to the preliminary figures, overall GDP increased by 3.1% in real terms in the first quarter of 2025 over a year earlier, compared with the 2.5% increase in the fourth quarter of 2024.
Analysed by constituent services sector and on a year-on-year comparison, value added in respect of all the services activities taken together increased by 2.6% in real terms in the first quarter of 2025 over a year earlier, compared with the growth of 1.7% in the fourth quarter of 2024.
Value added in the import and export, wholesale and retail trades sector increased by 4.2% in real terms in the first quarter of 2025 over a year earlier, as against the decrease of 0.2% in the fourth quarter of 2024.
Value added in the accommodation and food services sector decreased by 1.8% in real terms in the first quarter of 2025 from a year earlier, as against the growth of 2.6% in the fourth quarter of 2024.
Value added in the transportation, storage, postal and courier services sector increased by 2.9% in real terms in the first quarter of 2025 over a year earlier, compared with the increase of 6.8% in the fourth quarter of 2024.
Value added in the information and communications sector increased by 1.3% in real terms in the first quarter of 2025 over a year earlier, compared with the rise of 1.5% in the fourth quarter of 2024.
Value added in the financing and insurance sector increased by 4.4% in real terms in the first quarter of 2025 over a year earlier, compared with the increase of 1.9% in the fourth quarter of 2024.
Value added in the real estate, professional and business services sector registered a decrease of 0.3% in real terms in the first quarter of 2025 from a year earlier, as against the rise of 1.7% in the fourth quarter of 2024.
Value added in the public administration, social and personal services sector rose by 1.7% in real terms in the first quarter of 2025 over a year earlier, compared with the increase of 3.0% the fourth quarter of 2024.
As for sectors other than the services sectors, value added in the local manufacturing sector increased by 0.7% in real terms in the first quarter of 2025 over a year earlier, compared with the increase of 1.0% in the fourth quarter 2024.
Value added in the electricity, gas and water supply, and waste management sector decreased by 1.4% in real terms in the first quarter of 2025 from a year earlier, as against the increase of 3.0% in the fourth quarter of 2024.
Value added in the construction sector decreased by 1.9% in real terms in the first quarter of 2025 from a year earlier, after the decrease of 4.7% in the fourth quarter of 2024.
Further information
The year-on-year percentage changes of GDP by economic activity in real terms from the first quarter of 2024 to the first quarter of 2025 are shown in Table 1. More detailed statistics are given in the report “Gross Domestic Product by Economic Activity”. Users can browse and download this publication at the website of the C&SD (www.censtatd.gov.hk/en/EIndexbySubject.html?pcode=B1030004&scode=250). For enquiries about statistics on GDP by economic activity, please call the National Income Branch (2) of the C&SD at 3903 7005.
Figures of chain volume measures of GDP by economic activity for the first quarter of 2025 are only preliminary at this stage. When more data become available, the preliminary figures will be revised accordingly and can be found at the C&SD website (www.censtatd.gov.hk/en/scode250.html).
regon Department of Human Services (ODHS) and community partners joined together to spotlight the importance of preventing and reporting abuse of older adults in recognition of World Elder Abuse Awareness Day (WEAAD). This observance serves as a critical reminder of our shared responsibility to protect the safety, dignity and rights of older adults across Oregon.
Every year, thousands of older Oregonians are subjected to various forms of abuse, including physical, emotional, financial and neglect. In Oregon in 2024, there were 18,535 alleged victims, according to data collected by the Adult Protective Services (APS) unit within ODHS. However, many cases go unreported due to fear, isolation, or lack of awareness. Education and community engagement are essential to ensure people know what to do if they are being harmed or suspect someone they know could be at risk.
“Anyone can be a victim of abuse. Understanding the many forms that abuse takes and what to do about it is everyone’s responsibility,” said Nakeshia Knight-Coyle, Ph.D., Director of ODHS Office of Aging and People with Disabilities (APD). “World Elder Abuse Awareness Day is a time to strengthen our commitment to educate ourselves, check in on neighbors and relatives, and speak up when we see or suspect harm.”
In recognition of World Elder Abuse Awareness Day, which is on June 15 each year, communities across Oregon held events this month, sharing educational materials and connecting with local organizations to help foster a safer environment for older adults.
In Klamath County, APD partnered with the Klamath & Lake Counties Council on Aging, the Klamath Basin Senior Citizens’ Center, and other local agencies to host a community resource fair on June 10. The event featured guest speakers, educational booths, engaging activities, giveaways, and a free lunch. A similar event was held the following day in Lake County at The Center (formerly the Lake County Senior Citizens Center). Hundreds of community members participated in the two events, showing strong local support for older adult abuse awareness and prevention. Events were also hosted virtually. Several APD leaders gave an informational presentation on June 12 at the Oregon Health Care Association’s Elder Abuse Prevention Summit 2025. The presentation focused on best practices facilities can implement to prevent abuse. Other topics covered at the summit included long-term care facility resident rights, effective abuse report investigations and navigating conflict.
Resources:
Anyone who suspects elder abuse is encouraged to call Oregon’s SafeLine at 1-855-503-SAFE (7233). Reports are confidential and can be made twenty-four hours a day.
Warning signs of abuse can include:
Physical: Unexplained injuries or physical signs of punishment or restraint.
Emotional: Anxiety, depression, or behavior changes
Neglect: Poor hygiene, bedsores, weight loss or unsafe living conditions.
Abandonment: A dependent person left alone.
Sexual: Withdrawal, distress or physical symptoms.
Financial: Unexplained bank transactions, late bill payments or missing assets.
For more information on how to help spot, prevent and report abuse, visit https://www.oregon.gov/odhs/report-abuse/pages/default.aspx
SPECIAL REPORT:By Saige England in Ōtautahi and Ava Mulla in Cairo
Hope for freedom for Palestinians remains high among a group of trauma-struck New Zealanders in Cairo.
In spite of extensive planning, the Global March To Gaza (GMTG) delegation of about 4000 international aid volunteers was thwarted in its mission to walk from Cairo to Gaza to lend support.
The land of oranges and pyramids became the land of autocracy last week as peace aid volunteers — young, middle-aged, and elderly — were herded like cattle and cordoned behind fences.
Their passports were initially seized — and later returned. Several New Zealanders were among those dragged and beaten.
While ordinary Egyptians showed “huge support” for the GMTG, the militant Egyptian regime showed its hand in supporting Israel rather than Palestine.
A member of the delegation, Natasha*, said she and other members pursued every available diplomatic channel to ensure that the peaceful, humanitarian, march would reach Gaza.
Moved by love, they were met with hate.
Violently attacked “When I stepped toward the crowd’s edge and began instinctually with heart break to chant, ‘Free Palestine,’ I was violently attacked by five plainclothes men.
“They screamed, grabbed, shoved, and even spat on me,” she said.
Tackled, she was dragged to an unmarked van. She did not resist, posed no threat, yet the violence escalated instantly.
“I saw hatred in their eyes.”
Egyptian state security forces and embedded provocateurs were intent on dismantling and discrediting the Global March activists. Image: GMTG
Another GMTG member, a woman who tried to intervene was also “viciously assaulted”. She witnessed at least three other women and two men being attacked.
The peacemakers escaped from the unmarked van the aggressors were distracted, seemingly confused about their destination, she said.
It is now clear that from the beginning Egyptian State forces and embedded provocateurs were intent on dismantling and discrediting the GMTG.
Authorities as provocateurs The peace participants witnessed plainclothed authorities act as provacateurs, “shoving people, stepping on them, throwing objects” to create a false image for media.
New Zealand actor Will Alexander . . . “This is only a fraction of what Palestinians experience every day.” GMTG
New Zealand actor Will Alexander said the experience had inflated rather than deflated his passion for human rights, and compassion for Palestinians.
“This is only a fraction of what Palestinians experience everyday. Palestinians pushed into smaller and smaller areas are murdered for wanting to stand on their own land,” he said.
“The reason that ordinary New Zealanders like us need to put our bodies on the line is because our government has failed to uphold its obligations under the Genocide Convention.
“Israel has blatantly breached international law for decades with total impunity.”
While the New Zealanders are all safe, a small number of people in the wider movement had been forcibly ‘disappeared’,” said GMTG New Zealand member Sam Leason.
Their whereabouts was still unknown, he said.
Arab members targeted “It must be emphasised that it is primarily — and possibly strictly — Arab members of the March who are the targets of the most dramatic and violent excesses committed by the Egyptian authorities, including all forced disappearances.”
Global March to Gaza activists being attacked . . . the genocide cannot be sustained when people from around the world push against the Israeli regime and support the people on the ground with food and healthcare. Image: GMTG screenshot APR
This did, however, continuously add to the mounting sense of stress, tension, anxiety and fear, felt by the contingent, he said.
“Especially given the Egyptian authorities’ disregard to their own legal system, which leaves us blindsided and in a thick fog of uncertainty.”
Moving swiftly through the streets of Cairo in the pitch of night, from hotel to hotel and safehouse to safehouse, was a “surreal and dystopian” experience for the New Zealanders and other GMTG members.
The group says that the genocide cannot be sustained when people from around the world push against the Israeli regime and support the people on the ground with food and healthcare.
“For 20 months our hearts have raced and our eyes have filled in unison with the elderly, men, women, and children, and the babies in Palestine,” said Billie*, a participant who preferred, for safety reasons, not to reveal their surname.
“If we do not react to the carnage, suffering and complete injustice and recognise our shared need for sane governance and a liveable planet what is the point?”
Experienced despair Aqua*, another New Zealand GMTG member, had experienced despair seeing the suffering of Palestinians, but she said it was important to nurture hope, as that was the only way to stop the genocide.
“We cling to every glimmer of hope that presents itself. Like an oasis in a desert devoid of human emotion we chase any potential igniter of the flame of change.”
Activist Eva Mulla . . . inspired by the courage of the Palestinians. Image: GMTG screenshot APR
Ava Mulla, said from Cairo, that the group was inspired by the courage of the Palestinians.
“They’ve been fighting for freedom and justice for decades against the world’s strongest powers. They are courageous and steadfast.”
Mulla referred to the “We Were Seeds” saying inspired by Greek poet Dinos Christianopoulos.
“We are millions of seeds. Every act of injustice fuels our growth,” she said.
Helplessness an illusion The GMTG members agreed that “impotence and helplessness was an illusion” that led to inaction but such inaction allowed “unspeakable atrocities” to take place.
“This is the holocaust of our age,” said Sam Leason.
“We need the world to leave the rhetorical and symbolic field of discourse and move promptly towards the camp of concrete action to protect the people of Palestine from a clear campaign of extermination.”
Saige England is an Aotearoa New Zealand journalist, author, and poet, member of the Palestinian Solidarity Network of Aotearoa (PSNA), and a contributor to Asia Pacific Report.
*Several protesters quoted in this article requested that their family names not be reported for security reasons. Ava Mulla was born in Germany and lives in Aotearoa with her partner, actor Will Alexander. She studied industrial engineering and is passionate about innovative housing solutions for developing countries. She is a member of the Palestine Solidarity Network Aotearoa (PSNA).
New Zealand and other activists with Tino Rangatiratanga and Palestine flags taking part in the Global March To Gaza. Will Alexander (far left) is in the back row and Ava Mulla (pink tee shirt) is in the front row. Image: GMTG screenshot APR
SPECIAL REPORT:By Saige England in Ōtautahi and Ava Mulla in Cairo
Hope for freedom for Palestinians remains high among a group of trauma-struck New Zealanders in Cairo.
In spite of extensive planning, the Global March To Gaza (GMTG) delegation of about 4000 international aid volunteers was thwarted in its mission to walk from Cairo to Gaza to lend support.
The land of oranges and pyramids became the land of autocracy last week as peace aid volunteers — young, middle-aged, and elderly — were herded like cattle and cordoned behind fences.
Their passports were initially seized — and later returned. Several New Zealanders were among those dragged and beaten.
While ordinary Egyptians showed “huge support” for the GMTG, the militant Egyptian regime showed its hand in supporting Israel rather than Palestine.
A member of the delegation, Natasha*, said she and other members pursued every available diplomatic channel to ensure that the peaceful, humanitarian, march would reach Gaza.
Moved by love, they were met with hate.
Violently attacked “When I stepped toward the crowd’s edge and began instinctually with heart break to chant, ‘Free Palestine,’ I was violently attacked by five plainclothes men.
“They screamed, grabbed, shoved, and even spat on me,” she said.
Tackled, she was dragged to an unmarked van. She did not resist, posed no threat, yet the violence escalated instantly.
“I saw hatred in their eyes.”
Egyptian state security forces and embedded provocateurs were intent on dismantling and discrediting the Global March activists. Image: GMTG
Another GMTG member, a woman who tried to intervene was also “viciously assaulted”. She witnessed at least three other women and two men being attacked.
The peacemakers escaped from the unmarked van the aggressors were distracted, seemingly confused about their destination, she said.
It is now clear that from the beginning Egyptian State forces and embedded provocateurs were intent on dismantling and discrediting the GMTG.
Authorities as provocateurs The peace participants witnessed plainclothed authorities act as provacateurs, “shoving people, stepping on them, throwing objects” to create a false image for media.
New Zealand actor Will Alexander . . . “This is only a fraction of what Palestinians experience every day.” GMTG
New Zealand actor Will Alexander said the experience had inflated rather than deflated his passion for human rights, and compassion for Palestinians.
“This is only a fraction of what Palestinians experience everyday. Palestinians pushed into smaller and smaller areas are murdered for wanting to stand on their own land,” he said.
“The reason that ordinary New Zealanders like us need to put our bodies on the line is because our government has failed to uphold its obligations under the Genocide Convention.
“Israel has blatantly breached international law for decades with total impunity.”
While the New Zealanders are all safe, a small number of people in the wider movement had been forcibly ‘disappeared’,” said GMTG New Zealand member Sam Leason.
Their whereabouts was still unknown, he said.
Arab members targeted “It must be emphasised that it is primarily — and possibly strictly — Arab members of the March who are the targets of the most dramatic and violent excesses committed by the Egyptian authorities, including all forced disappearances.”
Global March to Gaza activists being attacked . . . the genocide cannot be sustained when people from around the world push against the Israeli regime and support the people on the ground with food and healthcare. Image: GMTG screenshot APR
This did, however, continuously add to the mounting sense of stress, tension, anxiety and fear, felt by the contingent, he said.
“Especially given the Egyptian authorities’ disregard to their own legal system, which leaves us blindsided and in a thick fog of uncertainty.”
Moving swiftly through the streets of Cairo in the pitch of night, from hotel to hotel and safehouse to safehouse, was a “surreal and dystopian” experience for the New Zealanders and other GMTG members.
The group says that the genocide cannot be sustained when people from around the world push against the Israeli regime and support the people on the ground with food and healthcare.
“For 20 months our hearts have raced and our eyes have filled in unison with the elderly, men, women, and children, and the babies in Palestine,” said Billie*, a participant who preferred, for safety reasons, not to reveal their surname.
“If we do not react to the carnage, suffering and complete injustice and recognise our shared need for sane governance and a liveable planet what is the point?”
Experienced despair Aqua*, another New Zealand GMTG member, had experienced despair seeing the suffering of Palestinians, but she said it was important to nurture hope, as that was the only way to stop the genocide.
“We cling to every glimmer of hope that presents itself. Like an oasis in a desert devoid of human emotion we chase any potential igniter of the flame of change.”
Activist Eva Mulla . . . inspired by the courage of the Palestinians. Image: GMTG screenshot APR
Ava Mulla, said from Cairo, that the group was inspired by the courage of the Palestinians.
“They’ve been fighting for freedom and justice for decades against the world’s strongest powers. They are courageous and steadfast.”
Mulla referred to the “We Were Seeds” saying inspired by Greek poet Dinos Christianopoulos.
“We are millions of seeds. Every act of injustice fuels our growth,” she said.
Helplessness an illusion The GMTG members agreed that “impotence and helplessness was an illusion” that led to inaction but such inaction allowed “unspeakable atrocities” to take place.
“This is the holocaust of our age,” said Sam Leason.
“We need the world to leave the rhetorical and symbolic field of discourse and move promptly towards the camp of concrete action to protect the people of Palestine from a clear campaign of extermination.”
Saige England is an Aotearoa New Zealand journalist, author, and poet, member of the Palestinian Solidarity Network of Aotearoa (PSNA), and a contributor to Asia Pacific Report.
*Several protesters quoted in this article requested that their family names not be reported for security reasons. Ava Mulla was born in Germany and lives in Aotearoa with her partner, actor Will Alexander. She studied industrial engineering and is passionate about innovative housing solutions for developing countries. She is a member of the Palestine Solidarity Network Aotearoa (PSNA).
New Zealand and other activists with Tino Rangatiratanga and Palestine flags taking part in the Global March To Gaza. Will Alexander (far left) is in the back row and Ava Mulla (pink tee shirt) is in the front row. Image: GMTG screenshot APR
Faced with the choice in their daily lives, their work or their politics, why do some people decide to keep quiet, to censor themselves in anticipatory obedience, even if they’re not ordered to do so?
In this episode of The Conversation Weekly, we talk to self-censorship expert Daniel Bar-Tal about what drives people to censor themselves, and its consequences for society.
It was Daniel Bar-Tal’s experiences serving in the Israeli army that prompted him to begin studying self-censorship. “ I was observing all kind of phenomenon that are going on within a country that is engaged in intractable conflict,” he told us.
Bar-Tal, an emeritus professor in the school of education at Tel Aviv University, began to notice that self-censorship was essential in societies, like Israel, living in conflict. He explains:
There are all kind of directives which develop censorship, in the army, in school, teachers are told what they should do and say. But self-censorship is going beyond this. So it means that nobody tells you that you must say A or B or C, but you feel an obligation by yourself to say certain things without any order from above.
Bar-Tal assembled a team of researchers from different disciplines to examine how self-censorship plays out across different sectors of a society, from politics to academia to journalism. They found three main motivations why people self-censor: as a defence mechanism for their in-group; out of fear; and to win rewards.
Listen to Bar-Tal talk about his research into self-censorship on the latest episode of The Conversation Weekly podcast, which includes an introduction from Beth Daley, executive editor at The Conversation U.S. about self-censorship currently happening in parts of American academia.
This episode of The Conversation Weekly was written and produced by Katie Flood with assistance from Mend Mariwany. Gemma Ware is the executive producer. Mixing and sound design by Eloise Stevens and theme music by Neeta Sarl.
Listen to The Conversation Weekly via any of the apps listed above, download it directly via our RSS feed or find out how else to listen here. A transcript of this episode is available on Apple Podcasts or Spotify.
Daniel Bar-Tal does not work for, consult, own shares in or receive funding from any company or organisation that would benefit from this article, and has disclosed no relevant affiliations beyond their academic appointment.
For centuries, humans have searched for ways to extend life. Alchemists never found the philosopher’s stone, but scientists have consistently shown that a longer life can be attained by eating less – at least in certain lab animals. But can we find a way to live longer while still enjoying our food?
Compounds that mimic the biological effects of dieting could be the answer, and the two most popular diet-mimicking drugs are rapamycin and metformin. In a new study, my colleagues and I found that rapamycin prolongs life almost as consistently as eating less, whereas metformin does not.
Eating less, or dietary restriction, has been the gold standard for achieving a longer life ever since a study nearly a century ago in which laboratory rats that ate less surprised scientists by outliving their well-fed lab mates.
But for many people, sticking to a permanent diet is hard and far from enjoyable. Also, if taken to extremes, it can even be bad for health. That is why we wanted to know whether drugs that are dieting mimics could bring the same benefit of eating less without the unwanted side-effects.
Rapamycin was first discovered in bacteria living in Easter Island soil in the 1970s, and medical professionals now use it to prevent organ-transplant rejection, as it is a powerful immunosuppressant. It works by blocking a molecular switch that tells cells when nutrients are abundant.
Metformin, meanwhile, is a synthetic descendant of a compound found in French lilac (also known as goat’s rue) and is widely prescribed to control blood sugar in type 2 diabetes. Both drugs are involved in the body’s ability to sense nutrients and energy, so biologists like us hoped they might copy the mechanisms activated by eating less.
To find out, we pooled the results of many studies to see if there were any overall patterns. We carefully examined thousands of scientific papers to finally home in on 167 studies on eight vertebrate species, from fish to monkeys, that provided sufficient details on survival and how the study was done. Then we compared three longevity strategies: eating less, taking rapamycin and taking metformin.
We found that eating less still came out on top as the most consistent way to prolong life in all animals but rapamycin was close behind. Metformin, in contrast, showed no clear benefit. The life-extension effect of eating less was the same in both sexes, and it didn’t matter whether the diet plan involved eating smaller portions or intermittent fasting.
That makes rapamycin one of the most exciting leads for new anti-ageing therapies. Ageing might not be considered a disease, but it is a risk factor behind many diseases from cancer to dementia. If we slow that underlying process, the benefit will be extra years of quality life and lower healthcare bills as the world’s population grows older.
Rapamycin was first isolated from bacteria found in the soil on Easter Island. JHVEPhoto/Shutterstock.com
Encouraging early signs, but we’re not quite there yet
However, there are some important points to consider. First, we discovered considerable variation from experiment to experiment with some studies even showing that eating less or taking rapamycin reduced lifespan.
Also, most of the evidence originates from mice and rats that have many of our genes but are clearly not exactly like us.
Finally, rapamycin may have side-effects such as repressing immunity and reproduction. Researchers are now investigating milder doses of rapamycin to see if they provide the advantages without the side-effects.
The preliminary signs are encouraging. In an ongoing human rapamycin trial, volunteers given low, intermittent doses of rapamycin have experienced positive effects on indicators of healthspan. For metformin, the human trial is still in progress and the findings are expected to be out in a few years time.
For now, nobody should run to their doctor asking for prescriptions of rapamycin to live longer. But this drug, extracted from obscure soil bacteria, shows us that interfering with a single molecular pathway can be enough to mimic the benefits of eating less. The challenge is to use this discovery to produce therapies that make us healthier for longer without compromising our quality of life – or our taste for the occasional slice of chocolate cake.
Dr. Zahida Sultanova works for the University of East Anglia and is funded by the Leverhulme Trust. She is a member of European Society of Evolutionary Biology (ESEB) and Ecology and Evolutionary Biology Society of Turkey (EkoEvo).
The BRICS Competition Law and Policy Centre (www.BRICSCompetition.org), in collaboration with mathematicians, programmers, ecologists and biologists from the International Institute for Applied Systems Analysis (IIASA, Vienna), has developed a systemic approach to deepen the understanding of how digital ecosystems function. The research group proposes applying mathematical models and biological theories from the natural sciences to describe processes in the digital economy. Their comprehensive approach to analysing and regulating ecosystems is built on analogies between natural and digital ecosystems—both are complex adaptive systems that share structural and functional characteristics. The results have been published in the interdisciplinary journal npj Complexity in the open-access article “An ecological perspective to master the complexities of the digital economy” (Elena Rovenskaya, Alexey Ivanov, Sarah Hathiari, Daria Kotova, Ursula M. Scharler, Gergely Boza) (www.nature.com) and in the Springer Nature Research Communities “Behind the Paper” post “Taming the Digital Giants: Why Regulators Need an Ecological Lens on Platform Power” (Elena Rovenskaya, Alexey Ivanov, Sarah Hathiari, Daria Kotova, Ursula M. Scharler, Gergely Boza) (www.communities.springernature.com).
The scientists formulated this idea as the 5M System (5M Framework), which describes the digital realm in ecological terms and draws analogies between natural and digital phenomena across five levels: Micro (“genes”) — elements of technology, knowledge, and business strategy (including user behaviour data); Meso (“species”) — products; Macro (“ecosystems”) — digital platform ecosystems; Mega (“biomes”) — wider societies hosting platform ecosystems; Meta — interactions among the four previous levels occur here.
For example, optimal foraging theory can explain why Uber avoids sparsely populated areas: like an animal that leaves a food-poor patch because the energy gained per unit of search time is too low, Uber steers clear of rural zones where ride requests are infrequent, driver utilisation drops, and the “return” on each kilometre driven fails to justify the effort. The flexibility of digital-product boundaries is akin to the blurred definition of biological species, within which finer subspecies are often distinguished: LinkedIn can be viewed either as a Microsoft service or as a set of related products—job marketplace, professional social network, advertising platform, and so on.
Elena Rovenkaya, the IIASA Advancing Systems Analysis (ASA) Program Director and Principal Research Scholar:
“Digital ecosystems are an entirely new economic object, fundamentally different from the standard economic agents regulators are used to dealing with. The analogy we propose between natural and digital ecosystems will allow antitrust authorities to look at digital ecosystems from a new angle and obtain intuitive explanations for business strategies that often seem complex. Moreover, applying well-established mathematical and ecological approaches may be more effective than designing new methods from scratch.”
Aleksey Ivanov, Director of the BRICS Competition Law and Policy Centre:
“The published article is expected to be the first in a series of interdisciplinary publications devoted to new antitrust approaches for regulating the digital environment. In the AI sector and adjacent fields, the number of partnerships and investment agreements resembling mergers is growing, yet companies often evade antitrust scrutiny by sidestepping formal filing thresholds. A systemic-analysis response—particularly mathematical modelling and the systems-mapping method that the BRICS Centre is developing with partners—can depict a complex phenomenon in a model of all its cause-and-effect links. This will significantly accelerate research and make antitrust analysis more precise.”
In the future, the researchers also plan to create a digital tool using AI for BRICS antitrust coordination — the “Merger Radar.” This system will detect economic-concentration deals and shape preliminary positions on such transactions.
The article forms part of the BRICS Centre’s research track on the antitrust challenges created by digitalisation. The project was launched in 2018 to provide expert and methodological support to antitrust agencies in the BRICS Working Group for Research on Competition Issues in Digital Markets; in 2019 the Centre first highlighted the threats posed by digital platforms and the need for special oversight; from 2020 the Working Group shifted its focus to ecosystem regulation — today the most advanced debate in antitrust law. At the 7th BRICS Competition Conference (China, 2021) the Centre publicly presented the “eco-antitrust” concept; in 2022, in Brazil, it organised the first BRICS Digital Competition Forum, which has since been held annually. At the latest forum, in autumn 2024, representatives of Brazil’s antitrust authority CADE announced the drafting of a new bill to regulate ecosystems, which is now before the Brazilian parliament. The experts are currently analysing the impact of AI on competition and preparing a new report.
Distributed by APO Group on behalf of BRICS Competition Law and Policy Centre.
As Nigeria advances its mining ambitions through high-impact deals and project milestones, African Mining Week (AMW) – Africa’s premier mining gathering, taking place October 1–3, 2025, in Cape Town – will feature a dedicated session on the country. The session will showcase current projects and opportunities, reinforcing Nigeria’s position as an emerging mining hub.
Public and private stakeholders are working to harness Nigeria’s vast mineral wealth to diversify the economy and boost GDP. In April 2025, Nigeria signed a cooperation agreement (http://apo-opa.co/449iMLC) with South Africa – the continent’s leading mining nation – to promote investment, technology transfer and knowledge sharing. This partnership is expected to accelerate Nigeria’s mining growth by drawing on South Africa’s expertise and mature sector.
On the ground, Titan Minerals Limited (https://apo-opa.co/44872Zw) is leading exploration for phosphate in Sokoto, bitumen in Edo and Ondo and gold along the Schist Belt, while seeking partners to advance new gold, base metals and PGM deposits toward feasibility. Meanwhile, Thor Explorations (http://apo-opa.co/3TAhEvi) launched underground drilling at its Segilola Gold Mine – Nigeria’s first industrial gold operation – aiming to scale production to 85,000–95,000 ounces in 2025.
Additionally, Nigeria resumed gold, lithium and copper exploration in Zamfara in early 2025, underscoring its drive to attract fresh investment. The country’s mineral resources (http://apo-opa.co/4e6dpRM) include 42.5 billion tons of probable bitumen (sixth-largest globally), 10.6 billion tons of limestone, 2.75 billion tons of coal, over 3 billion tons of iron ore and 21.4 metric tons of gold – offering significant investor opportunities. Together, these resources position Nigeria as a potential mining powerhouse capable of driving industrialization, creating jobs and delivering long-term economic growth.
Against this backdrop, AMW 2025 provides an ideal platform for Nigeria to showcase its progress and engage investors to secure its role in Africa’s mining future. The event will not only highlight key projects, but also foster dialogue on policy, infrastructure and partnerships needed to unlock the sector’s full potential. With growing international interest, Nigeria is poised to position itself as a leading destination for sustainable mineral development.
African Mining Week serves as a premier platform for exploring the full spectrum of mining opportunities across Africa. The event is held alongside the African Energy Week: Invest in African Energies 2025 conference from October 1-3 in Cape Town. Sponsors, exhibitors and delegates can learn more by contacting sales@energycapitalpower.com.
Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Energy Capital & Power.
The award-winning VUKA Group (www.WeareVuka.com) has officially launched the Carbon Markets Africa Summit (CMAS), a purpose-driven, high-level continental gathering that will take place from 21 to 23 October 2025 in Johannesburg. Designed as Africa’s flagship platform for carbon finance, CMAS brings together policymakers, investors, standards bodies, developers and corporates to drive practical, inclusive climate action and unlock Africa’s carbon value at scale.
Carbon markets are quickly becoming one of Africa’s most promising opportunities for climate finance and sustainable development. Yet the complexity of validation, verification, regulation and monetisation continues to challenge project developers, financiers and governments alike.
“This isn’t mining or retail. The returns, timelines and requirements are different,” says Olivia Tuchten, Principal Climate Change Advisor at Promethium Carbon. “There’s money to be made and good to be done – but only if stakeholders upskill and understand the process.”
CMAS is Africa’s response – a strategic event focused on building confidence, closing knowledge gaps and accelerating real transactions.
Strategic Moment: Africa’s Carbon Future and the Global Agenda
The timing of CMAS is particularly significant. With growing global momentum around carbon pricing and the operationalisation of Article 6, the outcomes of the upcoming G20 Leaders’ Summit in November are expected to influence the future architecture of global carbon markets.
As the G20 debates issues like carbon border adjustment mechanisms and international credit standards, Africa must be ready to respond with a united, informed voice. CMAS provides a platform for African stakeholders to strategically align, share technical insights, and sharpen positions – not only for G20, but also in preparation for COP30, where climate finance and carbon market governance will again take centre stage.
“We are in the right place and at the right time today to ensure that Africa benefits from carbon markets,” says Prof Anthony Nyong, Director of Climate Change and Green Growth at the African Development Bank.
A Unique Value Proposition: What Sets CMAS Apart
Pan-African Focus with Global Reach: Prioritising African leadership while connecting to international buyers, standards and financiers.
Ministerial Roundtable(21 October): A closed-door session convening African environment, climate and finance ministers to align policy priorities and amplify Africa’s voice at COP30 and G20.
Deal-Making Platforms: Investor roundtables, project showcases, deep-dive workshops and curated networking designed to convert conversations into transactions.
Integrity & Compliance: Navigate voluntary and compliance carbon markets with rigor, exploring Article 6, regional frameworks and global best practice.
Project Visibility: Spotlight on investable, Africa-based carbon projects with real climate and community impact.
Pre-COP30 Momentum: CMAS will help unify African market positions and technical readiness in the lead-up to multilateral climate finance negotiations.
Advisory Board: A Multi-Sectoral Powerhouse
To ensure CMAS reflects Africa’s diverse needs and opportunities in carbon markets, an influential advisory board has been convened, including:
Andrew Gilder – Director, Climate Legal, South Africa
Andrew Ocama – Eastern Africa Alliance on Carbon Markets and Climate Finance, Uganda
Bianca Gichangi – Regional Lead – Africa, VCMI, Kenya
Brett Stacey – Director, Carbon Zero Verification, United Kingdom
Dr Olufunso Somorin – Regional Principal Officer, AfDB, Kenya
Heather McEwan – Regional Representative, Verra, South Africa
Javier Mazanares – CEO, Allen Manza, Panama
Lawrence Cole-Morgan – Carbon Credit Trading Lead, Standard Bank, South Africa
Mathis Granjon – Trader, Green Steps, Netherlands
Maxime Bayen – Operating Partner, Catalyst Fund, Spain
Olivia Tuchten – Promethium Carbon, South Africa
Reshma Shah – Lead, Carbon Markets, FSD Africa, Kenya
Bernardin Uzayisaba, Carbon Market Programme Specialist, UNDP, South Africa
Ibrahim Shelleng, Senior Special Assistant to the President, Government of Nigeria
A Pathway to African Ownership
“Africa is still not maximising its potential. We need to do things differently,” says Olufunso Somorin, AfDB. “One of the challenges is that there are many good project developers who have very good ideas, but they don’t have the resource to jumpstart their idea into an investable project.” Somorin continues: “The AfDB has created the African Carbon Support Facility, and we are hoping to start off with a $100 million capitalisation.” Among the goals are supporting countries towards market-creating policy shifts, and the bulk of the funds will provide resources to project developers and assist in validation costs. “The AfDB wants to increase the number of African-owned, African-based and African-led project developments on the ground,” he adds.
According to Lawrence Cole-Morgan, Standard Bank, “the carbon markets provide Africa with the ability to monetise its significant carbon sequestration potential to fund socio-economic development and badly needed adaptation, while making a meaningful contribution to combatting climate change.”
Meanwhile, Andrew Ocama, Eastern Africa Alliance on Carbon Markets and Climate Finance, is of the opinion that “each country is at a different level of readiness to actively participate in the carbon markets. To the seven Alliance countries, these markets are an important avenue for finance owing to their accountability and the measurability of their outcomes.”
Event Details
21 October – Pre-Summit Day
Carbon 101 seminar
High-impact dialogue by the Global Trust Project
22–23 October – Main Summit
Plenaries
Ministerial Roundtable
Investor roundtables
Hands-on workshops
Sector-focused dialogues
Deal-making and networking
Location: Johannesburg, South Africa
Organised by VUKA Group
With more than 20 years of experience delivering high-impact B2B events across Africa, VUKA Group is the independent, B-BBEE-compliant force behind platforms like Africa’s Green Economy Summit, Enlit Africa, Smarter Mobility Africa, and DRC Mining Week.
19 JUNE 2025 – Production has commenced at the 65 MW Ingerslev Å solar plant located in Jutland, Denmark. The facility is operated by BeGreen, a wholly owned subsidiary of Equinor.
Anders Bade, senior vice president for onshore and markets within Renewables at Equinor.
“This is another step in our ambition to establish a profitable onshore renewables business in select markets across Europe and the Americas. Currently, we have around 1.2 GW of onshore capacity in production and under construction ,” says Anders Bade, senior vice president for onshore and markets within Renewables at Equinor.
Ingerslev Å marks an important milestone as BeGreen’s first project to reach production since Equinor acquired the company in 2023. With the launch of Ingerslev Å, all four Equinor subsidiaries that specialize in onshore renewables and battery storage now have assets in operation.
“Our ownership of local companies provides a strong foundation for value creation by leveraging their on-the-ground expertise and maximizing synergies with our trading house, Danske Commodities,” says Bade.
Danske Commodities will sell the power generated from Ingerslev Å on merchant terms in the DK1 power market in western Denmark. The annual production is estimated at 68 GWh.
The construction of Ingerslev Å was completed in under a year, showcasing the rapid project cycles typical of onshore renewables. The facility features over 100,000 solar panels and six transformer stations installed on site.
19 JUNE 2025 – Production has commenced at the 65 MW Ingerslev Å solar plant located in Jutland, Denmark. The facility is operated by BeGreen, a wholly owned subsidiary of Equinor.
Anders Bade, senior vice president for onshore and markets within Renewables at Equinor.
“This is another step in our ambition to establish a profitable onshore renewables business in select markets across Europe and the Americas. Currently, we have around 1.2 GW of onshore capacity in production and under construction ,” says Anders Bade, senior vice president for onshore and markets within Renewables at Equinor.
Ingerslev Å marks an important milestone as BeGreen’s first project to reach production since Equinor acquired the company in 2023. With the launch of Ingerslev Å, all four Equinor subsidiaries that specialize in onshore renewables and battery storage now have assets in operation.
“Our ownership of local companies provides a strong foundation for value creation by leveraging their on-the-ground expertise and maximizing synergies with our trading house, Danske Commodities,” says Bade.
Danske Commodities will sell the power generated from Ingerslev Å on merchant terms in the DK1 power market in western Denmark. The annual production is estimated at 68 GWh.
The construction of Ingerslev Å was completed in under a year, showcasing the rapid project cycles typical of onshore renewables. The facility features over 100,000 solar panels and six transformer stations installed on site.
What exactly are tariffs? Who ends up paying them? And why is the European Commission—not individual EU countries—handling trade negotiations?
In this video, we explain how tariffs work using simple examples, such as imported shoes and a real-life “Chicken War” between the EU and the US.
You’ll learn:
00:16 What tariffs are and how they function
01:05 Who actually bears the cost (spoiler: it’s not always who you think)
01:21: What is the essence of tariffs? Chickens vs. cars
01:47 Why the European Commission negotiates trade deals on behalf of all 27 EU Member States
02:52 How trade agreements impact consumers, businesses, the environment, and international relations
From taxes on chicken in the 1960s to today’s powerful EU single market, this explainer shows why trade policy matters — and how it affects you as an EU citizen.
Watch on the Audiovisual Portal of the European Commission: https://audiovisual.ec.europa.eu/en/video/ I-274087
Follow us on:
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-Medium: https://medium.com/@EuropeanCommission
Apple AAPL.O is interested in tapping generative artificial intelligence to help speed up the design of the custom chips at the heart of its devices, its top hardware technology executive said in private remarks last month.
Johny Srouji, Apple’s senior vice president of hardware technologies, made the remarks in a speech in Belgium, where he was receiving an award from Imec, an independent semiconductor research and development group that works closely with most of the world’s biggest chipmakers.
In the speech, a recording of which was reviewed by Reuters, Srouji outlined Apple’s development of custom chips from the first A4 chip in an iPhone in 2010 to the most recent chips that power Mac desktop computers and the Vision Pro headset.
He said one of the key lessons Apple learned was that it needed to use the most cutting-edge tools available to design its chips, including the latest chip design software from electronic design automation (EDA) firms.
The two biggest players in that industry – Cadence Design Systems CDNS.O and Synopsys SNPS.O – have been racing to add artificial intelligence to their offerings.
“EDA companies are super critical in supporting our chip design complexities,” Srouji said in his remarks. “Generative AI techniques have a high potential in getting more design work in less time, and it can be a huge productivity boost.”
Srouji said another key lesson Apple learned in designing its own chips was to make big bets and not look back.
When Apple transitioned its Mac computers – its oldest active product line – from Intel’s chips to its own chips in 2020, it made no contingency plans in case the switch did not work.
“Moving the Mac to Apple Silicon was a huge bet for us. There was no backup plan, no split-the lineup plan, so we went all in, including a monumental software effort,” Srouji said.
Limits on the amount of greenhouse gases Scotland will emit over the coming decades have been announced as part of action to tackle climate change.
The Carbon Budgets propose five-year, statutory limits on emissions from 2026 to 2045. The proposed budgets are in line with the advice from the independent Climate Change Committee (CCC) and the Scottish Government’s own assessments.
The average level of emissions for Scotland over each five-year period are:
57% lower than 1990 levels for 2026 – 2030
69% lower than 1990 levels for 2031- 2035
80% lower than 1990 levels for 2036 – 2040
94% lower than 1990 levels for 2041 – 2045
The proposals will be scrutinised by Parliament before being voted on in the autumn.
Once the Carbon Budgets have been agreed, the Scottish Government will publish and consult on a new draft Climate Change Plan outlining the specific actions required to reduce emissions so as to meet each of the first three carbon budget targets, as well as setting out the associated costs and benefits.
Cabinet Secretary for Climate Action and Energy Gillian Martin said:
“Scotland is now halfway to our 2045 climate change target and is ahead of the UK as a whole in reducing long term emissions.
“These Carbon Budgets will set clear limits on emissions for the coming decades in line with the independent advice of the UK Climate Change Committee.
“When we publish our draft Climate Change Plan later this year, it will set out the policies needed to continue to reduce our emissions and meet our first three carbon budget targets.
“It will not ask the impossible of people. We will not sacrifice people’s health or wealth.
“While we welcome the UK CCC’s advice on how to stay within these limits, as they make clear, it is always for Scotland to decide whether those policies are right for us.
“This means, for example, that we will chart our own path on forestry, going further than the CCC suggest. And, to ensure we protect rural communities and have a thriving rural economy, we will not adopt all their recommendations on agriculture and peatland and will instead meet our targets in a way which works for rural Scotland, including supporting and protecting our iconic livestock industries.
“These Carbon Budgets keep Scotland at the forefront of efforts to protect the planet and our Climate Change Plan will ensure the action we take is fair, ambitious and capable of rising to the emergency before us.”
Background
Carbon budgets provide a reliable and consistent framework to measure progress to net zero and are used by other countries including Japan, France, England and Wales. They are less prone to fluctuations than the Scottish Government’s previous approach of interim and annual targets, which could be affected by annual variations such as unseasonable weather or a global pandemic.
Each carbon budget period will run from 1 January of the start year to 31 December of the final year.
The budgets would continue to include emissions from international aviation and shipping, and there are no provisions to ‘carry over’ emissions from one carbon budget period to the next.
Historic and archaeological materials from a collapsed Listed Winchester wall are currently being assessed.
Winchester City Council has arranged for the assessment of fabric from the collapsed wall, which is located alongside the mill stream in Hyde and contains material from the medieval monastery of Hyde Abbey. The collapsed material includes fine architectural fragments as well as plain worked blocks.
Hyde Abbey was demolished in 1539 following the Reformation. It is likely that the wall formed part of a boundary wall from a large mansion and grounds built on the abbey site in the late 1540s.
The assessment, which is being carried out by local company Pre-Construct Archaeology (PCA) and independent specialist Kevin Heywood, is part of advance work to inform a Listed Building application for the wall’s reinstatement.
Volunteers from the local Hyde900 community project have also been involved in helping the PCA team on site.
Winchester City Council’s Cabinet Member for Business and Culture, Councillor Lucille Thompson, said: “These are important works and a key step in the proposed repair of this historic wall, which forms a valuable part in the heritage of our district. We’re grateful for the input of the local community as we undertake this work ahead of proposed restoration.”
The Policy & Finance Committee welcomes the announcement from Aurigny that it has been awarded a multi-year extension to its Public Service Obligation by the States of Guernsey.
The announcement, which includes confirmation of Aurigny teaming up with Skybus, the airline of the Isles of Scilly Steamship Company, who will provide aircraft, maintenance, crew training and insurance to Aurigny.
From 1 November 2025, two DHC6-300 Twin Otter aircraft will operate in Aurigny colours to and from the island of Alderney. The aircraft will also play an integral role in delivering air ambulance, mail, freight, and pet travel services to and from Alderney.
Skybus will also provide replacement aircraft from within its fleet to cover periods of maintenance as part of the agreement, and Aurigny will continue to provide Dornier 228 capacity until the end of the year, to ensure a smooth transition. These steps will be important factors in delivering a high level of resilience for Alderney’s air links.
Nico Bezuidenhout, Chief Executive at Aurigny, said:
“The new air service model is a win-win for the Bailiwick – it strengthens Alderney’s vital air links with more resilience in the fleet while also delivering better long-term value – helping to secure the future of these vital air services for our communities.
Skybus have an in-depth understanding of the importance and complexity involved in delivering air services to small island communities, operating in challenging environments very similar to our own. Their proven expertise makes them an excellent fit to support Aurigny in delivering safe, reliable and resilient services for Alderney.”
Bill Abel, Chair of the Policy & Finance Committee said:
“This is fantastic news for our Island community. There are several positives for us – the high level of resilience of this service; the increased flexibility that Twin Otters will bring; and the overall reduction in risk associated with our ‘aging’ runway.
Nico Bezuidenhout and the Aurigny Board and Team are to be thanked for their hard work in achieving these results and we look forward to working with Aurigny on options to contain costs and develop alternative schedules.
Lyndon Trott (OBE), his Committee, the STSB, and their teams are to be thanked for making this possible. This decision is of significant benefit to Alderney and will do much to improve the image of the Island and reduce the potential risks associated with our runway.
We look forward to continuing our working relationship with Guernsey”.
The results of an extensive engagement focusing on multiple strategies will be used to shape plans to support communities across the city.
The results of the “Your Place, Your Plans, Your Future” engagement were presented to the Community Planning Aberdeen board yesterday (18 June) and saw 2087 participants share their insights to help Community Planning Partners set their priorities for the years ahead.
Aberdeen City Council Co-Leader Councillor Christian Allard said: “My thanks go out to everyone who gave us their views. Your feedback is invaluable in helping us to focus on the things that matter most to those living in our communities.
The engagement ran from 24 March to 18 May, with citizens able to contribute via an online survey for adults, a survey designed for children and young people and drop-in sessions where assistance was available with support from third sector organisations.
The engagement focused on the Local Housing Strategy, Health and Social Care Strategic Plan, Community Learning and Development Plan, Visitor Levy, and the next Local Outcome Improvement Plan, Locality Plans, Children’s Services Plan, and Local Development Plan.
The engagement used the Place Standard tool, a nationally-approved tool to assist with long-term planning that promotes conversations about how to improve people’s health, wellbeing and quality of life.
The results are being used to inform the finalised Local Housing Strategy, Health and Social Care Strategic Plan, Community Learning and Development Plan and Visitor Levy proposal before submission for approval.
Community Planning Aberdeen, the Locality Empowerment Groups and Priority Neighbourhood Partnerships, are analysing the results to support the development of the Local Outcome Improvement Plan and Locality Plans 2026-36 which are to be consulted on in early 2026.
It’s all about babies this week (16 – 21 June) in Manchester as parents, carers and tiny tots are invited to join in with a whole host of baby and toddler friendly activities, designed to educate and entertain parents, carers, and little ones alike.
Activities are happening every day this week in a packed programme of free, fun-filled stuff for parents, carers and their babies to enjoy right across the city – all aimed at supporting a child’s development from birth and before, to two years old.
The week kicked off on Monday with a day of activities at Central Library and Manchester Art Gallery that saw mums, dads and babies take part in everything from Baby DJing sessions, Dance Like a Mother (or dad) workouts, to have-a-go sessions playing musical instruments and singing with the Hallé Musical Stars.
The day also included plenty of opportunities for toddlers and their carers to get messy together with creative play sessions, as well baby massage and yoga classes – showing carers how to enjoy moments of calm and connection with their babies in what can sometimes seem like a busy and noisy world.
The rest of the week sees many of the same activities and more taking place across the city, in cultural venues, leisure centres, libraries, local Family Hubs, children’s centres, and also in the city’s parks – which will host free family fun days for all on Saturday 21 June.
With family splash and swim sessions, pool parties, sensory play, mini-me fitness and fun sessions for toddlers and their grown-ups, plus groovy dance classes, as well as walk and talk rambles round local areas and healthy child drop-ins with Health Visitors, there are plenty of free activities of all kinds for families to get involved in.
There’s also plenty of practical advice on offer through the week for parents and carers – from preventing common accidents in the home and first aid taster sessions, to Tiny Talk Baby Signing sessions to help teach even the youngest babies to begin to communicate long before they’re able to speak, helping parents and their babies to understand each other from the earliest of days together.
Manchester’s annual Baby Week takes place at an important time for Manchester as the city journeys towards being recognised by UNICEF as a Child Friendly City – the best possible place for a child to grow up in, a place where children’s rights are understood and the voices of children and young people matter.
Councillor Julie Reid, Executive Member for Early Years, Children and Young People, Manchester City Council, said: “As any parent or carer will tell you, parenting or caring for a baby or toddler can be both the most joyous and the most challenging of experiences – and sometimes even both these things in the space of a minute!
“Having people around you to share these experiences with and help you navigate the hard things whilst enjoying all the great stuff is really important. And that’s where Manchester Baby Week comes in.
“We want to make sure that Manchester is the very best place it can be for all our babies and children to grow up in. The week provides a brilliant platform for parents, carers and babies to meet each other, learn from each other, and really enjoy themselves as they explore what’s available for tiny tots and their grown-ups in the city.”
Source: Moscow Government – Government of Moscow –
On Cynologist Day, June 21, a festival will be held in the cynological park on Timurovskaya Street (building 5) “A dog is a friend in the service of the Fatherland”. It will bring together professional dog handlers, rescue dogs and pet owners. Starts at 11:00.
Representatives of canine services of law enforcement agencies, leading training centers, search and rescue teams and social projects in which dogs have become true partners and heroes will gather at the site in Tsaritsyno. The meeting is part of the “Friend, Rescuer, Defender” series of events of the “Pets in Moscow” and “Summer in Moscow” projects.
Elite of service dog breeding
Visitors will see demonstration performances by four-legged dogs assisting specialists from various departments, including the Canine Service Center of the Main Directorate of the Ministry of Internal Affairs for the city of Moscow, the Federal Customs Service of Russia, the Russian National Guard, and Emergency Rescue Squad No. 6 of the Moscow Fire and Rescue Center.
You can also see dogs from the legendary school of service dog breeding – the “Red Star” kennel. It is rightfully considered the pride of the country. During the Great Patriotic War, more than 16 thousand handlers were trained here and 33 thousand dogs were trained, which were sent to the front line as part of regiments and battalions. The four-legged ones searched for mines, destroyed enemy equipment, pulled the wounded from the battlefield and served as messengers. Now the kennel continues to train the best service dogs of the country.
Visitors will see how the service’s tailed employees instantly carry out the dog handler’s commands, find the necessary items in a matter of seconds, and demonstrate iron restraint even in the presence of loud music among a large number of people.
Faithful friend and helper
A special part of the program is a demonstration of service dogs. Such animals connect a person with the outside world. The Center for the Development of Mobility, Inclusion, Rehabilitation and Activity of People with Disabilities “MIRA” will show unique pairs – mentors with disabilities and their faithful dogs. Dogs not only help their owners in everyday life, but also perform in sports competitions and even participate in dance shows together with people.
Detective dogs
The dogs of the LizaAlert search team will demonstrate their skills. They have participated in the most difficult operations to find missing people and know how to not be distracted by noise, remember complex smells, walk tens of kilometers, and navigate the city and the countryside.
The team’s specialists will tell you how to join the ranks of volunteers, which breeds are best suited for search work, what skills dogs are taught, and how to supervise the work of a four-legged partner. In addition, at the meeting you can learn more about the important mission of saving human lives.
A program for the whole family
Guests of the canine park will be able to visit the veterinary mobile and receive advice from a veterinarian on the health of pets, their proper nutrition, vaccinations and prevention. There will be a platform where you can use the services of professional groomers. Cynologists will explain to everyone who wants to where to start training, how to properly communicate with a dog in everyday life and what to do if a tailed friend stubbornly does not follow commands.
Thematic activities have been prepared for children. Games, master classes, competitions, quizzes and unusual photo zones await the children.
“Pets in Moscow”— a project of the “My District” program, within the framework of which modern dog walking areas are being created in the capital. Today, there are already 79 such spaces in the city, including two dog parks. They are suitable not only for free walks with pets and their effective training, but also for large dog competitions and exhibitions.
“My area”— a comprehensive program of the Mayor of Moscow for the development of the urban environment. Its goal is to create comfortable living conditions in all areas of the capital. Important components are the arrangement of convenient courtyards, parks and modern social infrastructure facilities near houses.
Cycle of events “Friend, savior, protector” covers more than 200 meetings for communication between professional dog handlers, veterinarians, groomers, zoopsychologists with dog owners and those who are just planning to get a four-legged friend. The cycle is aimed at popularizing a responsible attitude towards animals and increasing the level of knowledge of city residents about the maintenance, upbringing and role of dogs in society.
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.
Please note: This information is raw content directly from the source of the information. It is exactly what the source states and does not reflect the position of MIL-OSI or its clients.
Please Note; This Information is Raw Content Directly from the Information Source. It is access to What the Source Is Stating and Does Not Reflect
Source: Moscow Government – Government of Moscow –
From June 21 to 24, the Red Square will be open immersive museum in the open air. The large-scale exhibition is dedicated to the 80th anniversary of the Victory Parade.
The museum will tell about the events of the Great Patriotic War. Several thematic zones are envisaged, including “Moscow Meets Victory”, the Victory Train “We Are from Berlin”, the Park of the Victors, and a theater stage. For the first time, the historical Fountain of the Victors will be recreated on the museum site, which will take you back to the distant June of 1945. The appearance of the structure will be the same as it was 80 years ago.
“The exhibition will occupy more than 16 thousand square meters. Residents and guests of the capital will be shown how Moscow greeted the victors and celebrated the Victory. The museum will also introduce many historical facts. A unique part of the exhibition will be a copy of the historical fountain of the Victors. Such patriotic events are important for every person, they cultivate both a sense of love for the Motherland and respect for its history and culture,” shared
Ekaterina Dragunova, Chairman of the capital’s Committee for Public Relations and Youth Policy.
The exhibition “Moscow Greets Victory” will be divided into thematic blocks, each of which will reveal one of the spheres of the capital’s life at that time – from cinema and sports to transport, trade and festive events. The illustrations will show a vivid transition from war to peace. Guests will study modules with display cases and artifacts, graphic material, maps, infographics, as well as authentic items of the Victory’s commanders.
The “Shell” stage and flower kiosk will become a symbol of a peaceful and happy life. Musicians will perform on the traditional Moscow park stage. Here, everyone will be able to join the Victory Waltz accompanied by a military orchestra.
The Victory train “We are from Berlin” will also be located on Red Square. It consists of two carriages and an open platform. Soldiers-actors will perform songs and show scenes from military life.
As part of the exhibition, guests will be able to see 20 units of military and civilian equipment of those times from the Vadim Zadorozhny Museum of Technology. Immersive performances will be held on stage. Guests and residents of the capital will be treated to musical and poetic sketches, as well as productions.
More than 300 Moscow volunteers will help visitors find their way around.
Please note: This information is raw content directly from the source of the information. It is exactly what the source states and does not reflect the position of MIL-OSI or its clients.
Please Note; This Information is Raw Content Directly from the Information Source. It is access to What the Source Is Stating and Does Not Reflect
Source: People’s Republic of China in Russian – People’s Republic of China in Russian –
Source: People’s Republic of China – State Council News
BEIJING, June 19 (Xinhua) — A joint Chinese-Uzbek archaeological team made significant progress in excavating the early Iron Age Bandikhon 2 site in the Surkhandarya River basin in June 2025, providing key evidence to uncover the historical appearance of ancient city-states in southern Central Asia during the early Iron Age, CCTV reported on June 17, citing the Silk Road Joint Archaeological Research Center of Northwest China University (Shaanxi Province, northwest China).
Since 2023, the Institute of Cultural Heritage of the North-West University, together with Termez State University and the Termez Archaeological Museum of Uzbekistan, formed a joint archaeological group. They conducted interdisciplinary research in the Surkhandarya River basin, examining 47 sites. It was established that the Bandikhon-2 settlement is an important city-state of the ancient Bactria period. This is of great scientific importance for filling the gaps in the regional historical and cultural chronology.
In 2024-2025, the Chinese-Uzbek joint archaeological team conducted three archaeological seasons at the Bandikhon-2 settlement. Well-preserved reinforced adobe walls 7 m wide and 2 m high were discovered. A large room was excavated inside the settlement. In the center of the room, there were two square earthen columns standing vertically. In the corner of the room, there was a adobe bed, and a stone door groove was located under the door axis. A large number of household ceramics, stone grain grinders, and other stone tools for processing grain crops, as well as bronze knives, arrowheads, and other bronze tools were discovered at the site.
Based on systematic scientific dating and typological analysis of the discovered ceramics, the archaeological team confirmed that the Bandikhon 2 settlement was founded in the 9th century BC and abandoned in the 6th century BC. The excavations of this site provided key evidence for understanding the building structure and functional layout of the city-states of the early Iron Age.
It should be noted that Chinese and Uzbek archaeologists at all stages of excavations consistently adhered to the principle of “preservation above all else.” Considering the serious damage caused to earthen monuments by the local scorching sun and highly alkaline soil, archaeologists used original technologies for constructing the settlement. They used the method of laying clay layers and adobe bricks to strengthen the walls and other objects, maximally preserving and presenting the authentic appearance of the object. -0-
Source: People’s Republic of China in Russian – People’s Republic of China in Russian –
Source: People’s Republic of China – State Council News
BEIJING, June 19 (Xinhua) — The Chinese metropolis of Shanghai and Kazakhstan’s largest city Almaty have officially established sister city relations.
The agreement on establishing sister city relations between the cities of Shanghai and Almaty was concluded within the framework of the 2nd China-Central Asia Summit, which took place on June 16-18, 2025 in the capital of Kazakhstan, Astana, according to the official website of the Shanghai city government.
Thus, the number of cities in China and Central Asian countries that have established sister city relations has exceeded 100 pairs.
In accordance with the agreement, in order to promote the joint prosperity and development of the cities of Shanghai and Almaty, contacts will be strengthened and cooperation will be intensified in such areas as economics and trade, science and technology, education, healthcare and tourism.
The parties also agreed to open a direct flight from Shanghai to Almaty in July of this year.
The establishment of sister city relations between Shanghai and Almaty will undoubtedly contribute to improving the quality and level of practical cooperation between the two cities and create a new incentive for ensuring high-quality development of relations between China and Kazakhstan and the formation of an even closer community of shared destiny between China and Central Asia, the city’s press service added. -0-
Source: People’s Republic of China in Russian – People’s Republic of China in Russian –
Source: People’s Republic of China – State Council News
Moscow, June 19 /Xinhua/ — The Angara-A5 heavy-class rocket has launched from the Plesetsk Cosmodrome with spacecraft, RIA Novosti reported on Tuesday, citing the Russian Defense Ministry.
“On June 19, 2025, the Angara-A5 launch vehicle with spacecraft on board was launched from the Plesetsk Cosmodrome in the Arkhangelsk Region in the interests of the Russian Ministry of Defense,” the statement said.
Angara is a family of Russian launch vehicles, ranging from light to heavy. This launch was the tenth in the history of the Angara rocket. Since 2014, five launches of the light-class version Angara-1.2 and three of the heavy Angara-A5 have been conducted from the Plesetsk Cosmodrome. In addition, one heavy rocket was launched in April 2024 from the Vostochny Cosmodrome in Russia’s Amur Region. –0–
Source: People’s Republic of China in Russian – People’s Republic of China in Russian –
Source: People’s Republic of China – State Council News
TEHRAN, June 19 (Xinhua) — Iran launched an airstrike on military intelligence facilities in southern Israel on Thursday morning, state news agency IRNA reported.
IRNA denied reports that the hospital was hit earlier in the day, saying it was aimed at the Israeli army’s C4I headquarters and an intelligence center. The hospital was reportedly hit by a blast wave.
An Iranian missile hit the Soroka Medical Center in the southern Israeli city of Be’er Sheva, with officials reporting “significant damage,” according to several media reports. –0–
Source: United States House of Representatives – Congresswoman Carol Miller (R-WV)
Washington, D.C. – In May, Congresswoman Carol Miller (R-WV) and Congressmen Vicente Gonzales (D-TX), Rudy Yakym (R-IN), and Max Miller (R-OH) re-introduced the United States-Republic of Korea Digital Trade Enforcement Act. This legislation protects American digital companies operating in Korea from discriminatory treatment. “With foreign trade at the forefront of President Trump’s focus, the importance of protecting American companies abroad has never been greater. Newly elected South Korean President Lee Jae-Myung’s digital regulatory legislation would disproportionately impact U.S. companies and threaten their ability to operate overseas. I reintroduced the United States-Republic of Korea Digital Trade Enforcement Act this Congress to maintain a level playing field for our companies operating abroad and ensure an environment that allows both of our nations’ digital companies to thrive remains intact. It is the United States’ responsibility to regulate our digital companies, not a foreign government’s. I thank my colleagues for joining me in the re-introduction of this legislation and look forward to working with House leadership to get it passed,” said Rep. Carol Miller.
“With the victory of President Lee, the US – ROK Digital Trade Enforcement Act is imperative. His promise to pass PCPA would unduly burden U.S. platforms while benefiting Chinese digital companies. As our trade deficit with South Korea continues to increase, we must ensure free digital trade between our nations is upheld,” said Rep. Max Miller.
The United States-Republic of Korea Digital Trade Enforcement Act is supported by the Computer and Communications Industry Association (CCIA), the Coalition of Service Industries (CSI), and the Information Technology & Innovation Foundation (ITIF):
“We are pleased to see members focus on investigating discriminatory policies that disproportionately target U.S. companies in the digital space. Guaranteeing fair access to the Korean market for U.S. digital services is the foundation of a strong and durable economic and security partnership between the United States and Korea that benefits both countries,” said Jonathan McHale, Vice President of Digital Trade at the Computer and Communications Industry Association (CCIA). “The Coalition of Services Industries supports bipartisan efforts to address discriminatory digital barriers emanating from Korea, a vital trade and economic security partner. We remain concerned about the disproportionate impact of Korea’s proposed online platform measures on U.S. digital services providers, which risks undermining Korea’s obligations under our bilateral trade agreements and could set troubling precedents that invite similar actions in other key markets,” said Christine Bliss, President of the Coalition of Service Industries. “The Information Technology and Innovation Foundation commends Congresswoman Miller’s leadership in standing up for American digital innovation in the face of growing regulatory threats abroad. Korea’s pending platform bills would significantly dampen innovation and disproportionately burden U.S. companies, while leaving Chinese firms untouched. These proposals not only risk undermining the digital competitiveness of a key ally, but play into China’s strategic interests by sidelining U.S. tech leadership. The U.S.-ROK Digital Trade Enforcement Act sends a clear signal that the United States will defend its innovators and push back against foreign regulations that violate trade agreements and jeopardize our shared economic and strategic goals,” said the Information Technology & Innovation Foundation (ITIF).
Click HEREfor bill text.
Background:
The Platform Competition Promotion Act (PCPA), and similar legislation introduced in the Korean legislature is framed as an anti-monopoly bill but would end up directly targeting U.S. firms and subjecting them to office raids, fines, and disclosing private information.
This bill states that if the ROK passes the PCPA or any other legislation that attacks a U.S. digital company, the United States Trade Representative (USTR) will report to Congress on the impacts to the platform, whether the action is in violation of a trade agreement, and impacts to U.S. commerce as a whole.
Following the report, the United States Trade Representative is instructed to take action to protect U.S. trade which may include a case within the World Trade Organization (WTO) dispute settlement body, a Section 301 investigation, a dispute under the US-Korea Free Trade Agreement (FTA), or entering into an agreement with Korea to mitigate all impacts.
President Lee Jae-Myung, who was elected on June 3, 2025, has repeatedly advocated for the PCPA and promised a swift passage.
President Donald Trump and USTR Jamieson Greer have continuously voiced concern about Korea passing this legislation and stated that this issue will come up in negotiations.
On June 10, 2025, Congresswoman Miller spoke about the bill at the Coalition of Service Industry’s (CSI) 2025 Global Services Summit. Video can be found here.
The Sculptor galaxy is similar in many respects to our Milky Way. It is about the same size and mass, with a similar spiral structure. But while it is impossible to get a full view of the Milky Way from the vantage point of Earth because we are inside the galaxy, Sculptor is perfectly positioned for a good look.
Astronomers have done just that, releasing an ultra-detailed image of the Sculptor galaxy on Wednesday obtained with 50 hours of observations using one of the world’s biggest telescopes, the European Southern Observatory’s Chile-based Very Large Telescope.
The image shows Sculptor, also called NGC 253, in around 4,000 different colors, each corresponding to a specific wavelength in the optical spectrum.
Because various galactic components emit light differently across the spectrum, the observations are providing information at unprecedented detail on the inner workings of an entire galaxy, from star formation to the motion of interstellar gas on large scales. Conventional images in astronomy offer only a handful of colors, providing less information.
The researchers used the telescope’s Multi Unit Spectroscopic Explorer, or MUSE, instrument.
“NGC 253 is close enough that we can observe it in remarkable detail with MUSE, yet far enough that we can still see the entire galaxy in a single field of view,” said astronomer Enrico Congiu, a fellow at the European Southern Observatory in Santiago, and lead author of research being published in the journal Astronomy & Astrophysics.
“In the Milky Way, we can achieve extremely high resolution, but we lack a global view since we’re inside it. For more distant galaxies, we can get a global view, but not the fine detail. That’s why NGC 253 is such a perfect target: it acts as a bridge between the ultra-detailed studies of the Milky Way and the large-scale studies of more distant galaxies. It gives us a rare opportunity to connect the small-scale physics with the big-picture view,” Congiu said.
Sculptor is about 11 million light-years from Earth, making it one of the closest big galaxies to the Milky Way. A light-year is the distance light travels in a year, 5.9 trillion miles (9.5 trillion km).
Like the Milky Way, it is a barred spiral galaxy, meaning it has an elongated structure extending from its nucleus, with spiral arms extending from the ends of the bar. Its diameter of about 88,000 light-years is similar to the Milky Way’s, as is its total mass. One major difference is Sculptor’s rate of new star formation, estimated to be two to three times greater than that of the Milky Way.
Nearly 30% of this star formation is happening near the galaxy’s nucleus in what is called a starburst region, as revealed in colorful emissions shown in the new image.
The observations have given information on a wide range of properties such as the motion, age and chemical composition of stars and the movement of interstellar gas, an important component of any galaxy.
“Since the light from stars is typically bluer if the stars are young or redder if the stars are old, having thousands of colors lets us learn a lot about what stars and populations of stars exist in the galaxy,” said astronomer Kathryn Kreckel of Heidelberg University in Germany, a study co-author.
“Similarly for the gas, it glows in specific bright emission lines at very specific colors, and tells us about the different elements that exist in the gas, and what is causing it to glow,” Kreckel said.
The initial research being published from the observations involves planetary nebulae, which are luminous clouds of gas and dust expelled by certain dying stars. Despite their name, they have nothing to do with planets. These nebulae can help astronomers measure the precise distances of faraway galaxies.
The researchers marveled at the scientific and aesthetic value of the new view of Sculptor.
“I personally find these images amazing,” Congiu said. “What amazes me the most is that every time I look at them, I notice something new – another nebula, a splash of unexpected color or some subtle structure that hints at the incredible physics behind it all.”
Secretary-General of ASEAN, Dr. Kao Kim Hourn, today received Mr. Yi Yuechun, Chief Executive Officer and Executive Deputy Director General of the China Renewable Energy Engineering Institute (CREEI), at the ASEAN Headquarters/ASEAN Secretariat. Both sides discussed existing cooperation as well as potential collaboration on clean energy development, highlighting shared commitments to advancing renewable energy initiatives under the ASEAN-China energy partnership.
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Home » Latest News » External transformation of Poor Priests’ Hospital complete
Work is now complete on a dramatic external transformation of one of Canterbury’s most historic buildings.
Poor Priests’ Hospital in Stour Street, which is owned by the city council and dates back to the 1200s, has been under scaffolding for the past 11 months, but is now once again on show in all its glory to the public following extensive repairs to the building’s external fabric.
The key element of the project has seen the reroofing of the Kent Peg roofs and lead roofs.
The existing Kent Peg roofs were stripped back to the roof structure in their entirety, with salvageable tiles consolidated on selected roof slopes, ,mainly the later parts of the building.
The most significant parts of the Poor Priests’ Hospital – the main hall, solar and chapel – and some connected roofs were then completely recovered and carefully detailed to match the existing roofs using new, handmade Kent Peg tiles, including ridge tiles, bonnet hip tiles and valley tiles.
The tiles used were selected through careful and extensive consultation with Historic England and other expert organisations.
And the roofs to historic parts of the building where the roof structure can be seen internally have been insulated using a fully breathable build up using wood fibre products and natural lime hemp plasters, which significantly improves the thermal performance of these roofs.
Other aspects of the project include repair and renewal of lead valley gutters and lead flashings, as well as joinery repairs and redecoration, including windows, soffits and facias with replacements provided where needed.
Stone repairs, replacement and cleaning, including flintwork and repointing, and brick repairs, cleaning and repointing, have also taken place.
And there has also been a complete rebuild of the chimney stack and structural brickwork repairs to the building’s bay window area.
All work has been carried out by highly skilled conservation contractors in accordance with Listed Building Consent and Historic England approvals, with the stonework carried out by the Cathedral Masons.
The repairs, costing a total of £1.6 million, have been paid for using government money as part of the council’s Connected Canterbury: Unlocking the Tales of England project.
Cabinet member for heritage, Cllr Charlotte Cornell, said: “This has been an absolutely fantastic project with stunning results. I am so pleased to see Poor Priests’ Hospital back on full show and enhancing the appearance of Stour Street once more.
“As you would expect with such an historic building, it has not been without its challenges. When you get right into the fabric of something like we have, it throws up all sorts of things you were not anticipating.
“But looking at it now, we can be proud of doing an exceptional and sensitive job, leaving the Poor Priests’ Hospital in a much improved condition and far better insulated to stand the test of time for many, many more years to come.
“I would like to thank all the highly-skilled craftsmen, masons, roofers, lead workers, scaffolders and carpenters who have joined us on this journey. Everybody has wanted to do right by this building and that has been excellent to see.”
Alongside many companies who have worked on the building, the council also acknowledges the excellent external consultants it worked with, Purcell and the Moreton Partnership, as well as the support provided by Canterbury Archaeological Trust.
