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Category: DJF

  • MIL-OSI Africa: Empowering Women, Enhancing Lives: The Digital Shift in Liberia’s Agriculture


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    “In the past, we used to keep our money in metal boxes. Now, with support from UN Women, the Central Bank of Liberia, and the Orange Foundation, we manage our money through Orange Money. This has made it easier for us to save, access credit, and grow our businesses,” shares Musu Nana, a Buy from Women Champion from Gbartala, Bong County.

    In 2022, UN Women Liberia, in partnership with the Orange Foundation, launched the ‘Digital Inclusion for Women’s Economic Empowerment (D4WEE)’ project. The initiative partnered with the Central Bank of Liberia (CBL) and the National Disaster Management Agency (NDMA) to empower rural women farmers in Bong and Nimba Counties by linking them to the formal financial system and improving access to disaster risk reduction resources.

    Since its launch, significant progress has been made. Through collaboration with CBL, 15 women-led Village Savings and Loan Associations (VSLAs) have been integrated into the formal financial system, benefiting 400 rural women farmers who now have mobile phones and formal bank accounts at the Liberian Bank for Development and Investment (LBDI). Plans are in progress to connect these accounts to their Orange Money mobile wallets, providing these women with the financial services they need to grow their businesses and improve their livelihoods.

    The project also introduced a social protection scheme, enabling VSLA members to save, borrow, and invest using digital platforms, which has promoted financial security among rural women. As a result, women now have greater control over their finances and can make informed decisions for their economic well-being.

    “We are pleased with this new way of handling our Village Savings and Loan Association group. Going digital with our savings and loans has made things simpler and safer for us. Now, we can keep an eye on our money and loans using our phones. It’s made everything clearer and smoother for us,” says Diana Davis, Community-based Facilitator at Liberia Rural Women Network Empowerment Incorporated.

    In early August 2024, UN Women Liberia, in partnership with CBL and Orange Foundation Liberia, conducted a four-day Training of Trainers (TOT) workshop in Monrovia for 22 women-led farming cooperatives and agribusiness owners from Bong, Nimba, and Lofa Counties.

    The training aimed to strengthen women’s capacities by providing digital literacy skills and access to employment opportunities. Participants were introduced to the Buy from Women platform and Orange Money services, helping them connect with broader markets and access financial resources.

    “By enabling these women to become community-based facilitators, we’re enhancing their income-generating activities through both traditional and digital innovations,” explained Ms. Aisha Kolubah, National Program Officer for Women Economic Empowerment at UN Women Liberia.

    The workshop covered digital marketing strategies, effective use of social media, and financial management using digital tools. Participants learned how to create engaging content, leverage platforms like Facebook and WhatsApp for business promotion, and streamline financial transactions through mobile banking.

    Ms. Alana Pradhan, UN Women Liberia’s Knowledge Management Specialist, served as a facilitator, providing insights on leveraging social media for business growth. “Regular and strategic use of social media not only allows you to engage with a broader audience but also empowers you to position your products and services competitively in the market,” Ms. Pradhan emphasized.

    The participants responded enthusiastically to the training, recognizing the potential for expanding their businesses and improving their livelihoods. The Liberia Rural Women Network for Employment expressed their excitement on social media:

    “We are excited to learn how digital marketing can transform our businesses. This training has opened new avenues for growth and development. We now see the potential to reach larger markets and strengthen our financial independence through digital tools.”

    The success of the TOT workshop and the broader initiative underscores the importance of digital and financial literacy in empowering rural women and fostering economic development. By equipping women with the necessary skills and tools, UN Women Liberia, alongside its partners, is paving the way for sustainable growth and gender equality in the agricultural sector.

    Caption: UN Women and partners conducted TOT workshop at the Central Bank in Monrovia for 22 women-led farming agribusiness owners.

    “This training has not only taught us how to use digital tools but has also connected us to bigger markets and financial services we never had access to before,” reflects Musu Nana. “We are now more confident and equipped to grow our businesses and support our families.”

    As these empowered women return to their communities, they carry with them the knowledge and skills to train others, creating a ripple effect of empowerment and economic advancement across Liberia’s rural regions. The continued collaboration between UN Women, CBL, and Orange Foundation hopes to further expand these opportunities, ensuring that more women can harness the power of digital technology to transform their lives and communities.

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

    MIL OSI Africa –

  • MIL-OSI Africa: South African National Taxi Council (SANTACO) Announced as Association Partner for Smarter Mobility Africa Summit 2025

    The South African National Taxi Council (SANTACO) has been announced as an official Association Partner for the Smarter Mobility Africa (SMA) summit 2025, taking place from 30 September to 3 October 2025 at the Sandton Convention Centre in Johannesburg.

    This strategic partnership positions SANTACO at the forefront of continental discussions on smarter mobility solutions, with a particular focus on advancing public transport and accelerating the transition to new energy vehicles (NEVs) across South Africa and the broader African continent.

    As the largest mover of people in South Africa, the taxi industry plays a pivotal role in the country’s transport ecosystem. SANTACO’s participation in SMA 2025 underscores the organisation’s commitment to mobility leadership, industry transformation, and innovative transport solutions that serve millions of South Africans daily.

    Leading the Conversation on Smarter Mobility

    SANTACO President Motlhabane Abnar Tsebe will deliver a keynote address on 1 October 2025, representing the voice of the public transport sector and outlining the organisation’s vision for a cleaner, more efficient mobility future. President Tsebe will also participate in key roundtable discussions alongside government officials, NEV experts, and global mobility innovators.

    Secretary General Daki Qumbu will join President Tsebe as part of SANTACO’s VIP delegation, engaging with stakeholders to build trust and cooperation between government, operators, and the private sector.

    Driving Policy and Innovation

    The partnership enables SANTACO to actively influence NEV policy frameworks and funding mechanisms, ensuring that the taxi industry’s unique needs and challenges are considered in South Africa’s transition to sustainable transport. This collaborative approach is essential for creating inclusive mobility solutions that work for all South Africans.

    Speaking about the industry’s transformation potential, President Tsebe emphasised the importance of changing perceptions through action. “If we formalise, professionalise, and invest in our people,” he says, “then this industry can finally be seen for what it already is: the backbone of South Africa’s mobility system.”

    “We are proud to welcome SANTACO as our Association Partner for SMA 2025,” said Olivia Modisakeng, Event Manager. “Their leadership in transforming public transport is essential to building an inclusive and sustainable mobility future for Africa.”

    About the Partnership

    SANTACO’s involvement in SMA 2025 demonstrates the organisation’s progressive stance on cleaner mobility and infrastructure development. The partnership creates opportunities for meaningful dialogue between industry leaders, policymakers, and technology innovators, fostering the collaborative relationships necessary to drive meaningful change in Africa’s transport sector.

    The Smarter Mobility Africa summit 2025 brings together key stakeholders from across the continent to address the most pressing challenges and opportunities in mobility, with SANTACO’s participation ensuring that the voice of South Africa’s public transport sector remains central to these critical conversations.

    Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Vuka Group.

    Additional information:
    Full article on SANTACO: https://apo-opa.co/4kdpje1
    Official event page: https://apo-opa.co/44qTyrX

    For more information about SANTACO’s participation in SMA 2025, please contact:
    General Media Enquiries
    mobilitymarketing@wearevuka.com

    About SANTACO:
    The South African National Taxi Council (SANTACO) is the leading representative body for the taxi industry in South Africa, serving millions of passengers daily and playing a crucial role in the country’s public transport system.

    About Smarter Mobility Africa Summit 2025:
    The Smarter Mobility Africa summit is the continent’s premier gathering for advancing public transport and transitioning to new energy vehicles (NEVs), bringing together government officials, industry leaders, and technology innovators to shape the future of African mobility.

    MIL OSI Africa –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: UKSPF programmes to help Prestonians

    Source: City of Preston

    1 July 2025

    Activities to help and support Prestonians across a range of programmes is being funded via UK Government’s Shared Prosperity Fund (UKSPF).

    The Government announced in December 2024 there would be £900m available across the UK as transitional funding for an extra year of activities for 2025/26 after the 2022/2025 funding programme closed.

    Our goal is to deliver a wide-reaching and impactful programme of activities that will build pride of place in Preston and increase life chances in the city, in line with the overall goals of the UKSPF. This will be delivered via three investment priorities, as defined by Government:

    1. Communities and Place
    2. Supporting local business
    3. People and skills

    Councillor Matthew Brown, Leader at Preston City Council, said:

    “Thanks to UKSPF funding, we’ve equipped people and local businesses across Preston with essential support and skills that have a huge impact on all our communities.

    “This extra funding will enable us to invest in the future of the city despite other financial challenges the Council faces.

    “It’s about giving people the tools they need to succeed, building a fairer and more democratic Preston economy, and revitalising our communities to build a more inclusive, connected, and resilient Preston for the future.”

    More information

    A table of 2025/26 programme activity for Preston is provided at the end of this article.

    • The fund aims to support local communities and businesses across the UK, and will contribute to the delivery of the government’s Five Missions:
    • Mission 1 (M1): Kickstart economic growth  
    • Mission 2 (M2): Make Britain a clean energy superpower 
    • Mission 3 (M3): Take back our streets 
    • Mission 4 (M4): Break down barriers to opportunity 
    • Mission 5 (M5): Build an NHS fit for the future

    About UKSPF

    The UK Shared Prosperity Fund (UKSPF) is a fund allocated by the UK Government and managed by local authorities in partnership with local stakeholders.

    Lancashire Combined County Authority (LCCA) was awarded a total of £21,748,007 for 2025/6 enabling projects and initiatives to continue for another year across the county. Preston City Council’s allocation was £2,462,651.

    UKSPF programme 2025/26 under revised themes and sub-themes

    Priority 1 – Communities and Place

    Sub-theme – Health and Wellbeing Programme and Inclusivity

    1. Community Programme, including:

    • Volunteering and community grants
    • Youth Strategy
    • Sport
    • Tree planting
    • Digital Connectivity

    Sub-theme – Development of visitor economy

    2. City Events Programme

    Sub-theme – Reduce crime and fear of crime

    3. City Safety

    • City centre lighting
    • Community safety initiatives
    • Parks enhancements

    Priority 2 – Supporting local businesses

    Theme – Support for Businesses

    Sub-theme – Advice and support to business

    1. Preston Business Support programme, including:

    • Innovation & Technology business support
    • Kickstart and Pre-Start up support

    2. Innovation Programme

    • Business research & development programme
    • Decarbonisation support

    3. Community Business support

    • Sustainable Transport
    • Green Energy
    • Supporting Preston Democratic Economy

    Priority 3 – People and Skills

    Theme – Employability

    Sub-theme – Supporting people in and towards employment

    1. Preston Employability Programme

    • Support for those not in education, employment or training (NEET)
    • Breaking down barriers to employment
    • Improving Life Chances learning and skills

    Theme – Skills

    Sub-theme – Employment related skills

    1. Preston Skills Programme

    • Green energy skills
    • Numeracy skills

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Independent Public Advocate candidate selected

    Source: United Kingdom – Executive Government & Departments 3

    Press release

    Independent Public Advocate candidate selected

    Victims of major incidents will be better supported following Cindy Butts’ selection as preferred candidate for the Independent Public Advocate (IPA).

    • Cindy Butts named as Government’s preferred candidate for Independent Public Advocate
    • Role will ensure victims of major incidents better supported and heard
    • Delivering justice for victims vital to Government’s Plan for Change

    Ms Butts has a comprehensive track record of supporting victims and working with vulnerable people – specialising in putting their needs first.

    Having dedicated her career to public service, Ms Butts brings decades of experience handling high-profile and sensitive issues. 

    This includes as Commissioner at the Independent Police Complaints Commission whilst they investigated the police response to the Hillsborough disaster. Remarkably, she also oversaw the significant transformation of the Metropolitan Police Service in the aftermath of the Stephen Lawrence Inquiry – this was prompted by the tragic murder of Stephen Lawrence and a true turning point for justice and equality for victims of crime.

    In her role as IPA, Ms Butts will ensure victims of major incidents understand their rights and can access vital emotional and practical support from the get-go.

    Lord Chancellor, Shabana Mahmood, said:

    The Independent Public Advocate will transform our response to major disasters, ensuring victims’ voices are heard above all else.

    Cindy’s experience overseeing system reform following some of the most prolific cases of injustice in modern memory more than qualifies her for this role. I have every faith that she will provide victims the support they deserve.

    The IPA will also be able to advise the Government on the type of review that should take place following a major incident. This will help relay victims’ views directly into the heart of Government when deciding whether answers need to be sought, lessons need to be learned, and authorities held to account.   

    Cindy Butts said:

    I am deeply honoured to be named the Government’s preferred candidate for the Independent Public Advocate role.

    Throughout my career, I have been steadfastly committed to championing fairness and ensuring that the voices of those who have experienced profound loss or injustice are heard, respected, and placed at the heart of our efforts for truth and accountability.

    I look forward to working diligently to uphold the vital principles of care and support, ensuring that individuals and families receive the dedicated support and advocacy they deserve during their most challenging times. This role is a profound responsibility, and I am ready to begin the work of making a tangible difference in people’s lives.

    Nabil Choucair, Grenfell Tower Trust, said:

    As someone who lost loved ones in the Grenfell Tower fire, I welcome the appointment of the new Independent Public Advocate.

    For families like mine, the pain of loss has been compounded by years of being dismissed, ignored, and silenced. We know all too well what it means to have our truths buried and our calls for justice delayed. Cindy’s appointment offers a glimmer of hope—but hope alone is not enough.

    We are watching closely to see whether this government will match words with action, and give her the independence, resources, and authority needed to make a real difference. Anything less would be another betrayal.

     Yvette Williams MBE, Justice 4 Grenfell Campaign, said:

    It is powerful and necessary to see someone with a proven track record and deep commitment to justice taking on this vital role. But this appointment must be more than symbolic.

    With Cindy’s experience and integrity, she has the potential to amplify the voices of those who have suffered, hold failing systems to account, and confront institutional indifference head-on.

    To achieve this, she must be allowed to act with genuine independence—free from interference or political pressure—so she can earn and retain the trust of victims, survivors, bereaved families, and communities during the most painful moments of their lives.

    Further information

    • The IPA was established by the Victims and Prisoners Act 2024
    • The candidate will be appointed for a five-year term.
    • The role is subject to pre-appointment hearing by the Justice Select Committee. Ministers consider the Committee’s views before deciding whether to proceed with the appointment.
    • Alongside the IPA, the Government can appoint additional advocates with relevant experience to each individual incident to support the IPA’s efforts.
    • In this role, the IPA will also have the power to produce reports on a major incident for which they have been appointed without a direct request from the Lord Chancellor, providing an independent and invaluable assessment of lessons learned and recommendations to the Government and other public authorities.
    • The IPA will support victims throughout the aftermath of the incident, this may include helping victims to navigate the investigations which may follow such as statutory inquiries under the Inquiries Act 2005 and inquests under the Coroner Justice Act 2009.
    • The IPA will not act as a legal representative to victims.
    • The definition of a major incident for the IPA is an event that occurs in England or Wales and is declared in writing by the Secretary of State to have caused the death of or serious harm to a significant number of individuals. This would cover major incidents similar to the Grenfell Tower fire, the Hillsborough disaster, and the Manchester Arena bombing.

    Updates to this page

    Published 1 July 2025

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Quarterly Coal Distribution Report—First Quarter 2025

    Source: US Energy Information Administration

    The Quarterly Coal Distribution Report provides detailed U.S. domestic coal distribution data by coal-origin state, coal-destination state, mode of transportation, and consuming sector. All quarterly data are preliminary and will be updated in the Annual Coal Distribution Report.

    Highlights for the first quarter of 2025

    • Total domestic coal distribution was an estimated 97.7 million short tons (MMst) in the first quarter of 2025. This value is 3.8% (3.8 MMst) lower than the previous quarter and 1.1% (1 MMst) higher than the first quarter of 2024.
    • Wyoming was the leading coal-origin state, accounting for about 49.1 MMst of shipments delivered to 27 states. Texas was the leading coal-destination state, receiving about 10.9 MMst of domestic coal.
    • An estimated 72.1% of total coal shipments were sent by railroad, 11.1% were sent by river, and 7.3% were sent by truck. Tramway and conveyor deliveries, which are traditionally associated with minemouth power plants, accounted for about 9.4% of total coal shipments.
    • Electric utilities and independent power producers received about 90.9% of the total coal shipments.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Quarterly Coal Report—First-Quarter 2025

    Source: US Energy Information Administration

    The Quarterly Coal Report provides detailed quarterly data on U.S. coal production, exports, imports, receipts, prices, consumption, quality, and stocks. The report also provides data on U.S. coke production, consumption, stocks, imports, and exports. All data for 2023 and previous years are final. All data for 2024 and 2025 are preliminary.

    Highlights for the first quarter of 2025

    • U.S. coal production during the first quarter of 2025 totaled 132.3 million short tons (MMst), which was 3.4% higher than the previous quarter and 1.9% higher than the first quarter of 2024. Production in the Western region, which represented about 52.6% of total U.S. coal production in the first quarter of 2025, totaled about 69.7 MMst (2.3% higher than the first quarter of 2024).
    • U.S. coal exports for the first quarter of 2025 (24.4 MMst) decreased 11.8% from the fourth quarter of 2024. The average price of U.S. coal exports during the first quarter of 2025 was $109.62 per short ton.
    • The United States continued to import coal primarily from Colombia (60.9%) and Canada (17.3). No imports from Australia or Indonesia were recorded for the first quarter of 2025. U.S. coal imports in the first quarter of 2025 totaled 0.6 MMst. The average price of U.S. coal imports during the first quarter of 2025 was $141.20 per short ton.
    • Steam coal exports totaled 11.7 MMst (5.5% lower than the fourth quarter of 2024). Metallurgical coal exports totaled 12.7 MMst (17% lower than the fourth quarter of 2024).
    • U.S. coal consumption totaled 118.3 MMst in the first quarter of 2025, which was 19.1% higher than the 99.3 MMst reported in the fourth quarter of 2024 and 17.9% higher than the 100.3 MMst reported in the first quarter of 2024. The electric power sector accounted for about 92.2% of the total U.S. coal consumption in the first quarter of 2025.
    • In the first quarter of 2025, coal stocks dropped to 133.3 MMst from 149 MMst at the end of the fourth quarter of 2024 (a 10.5% decrease). Stocks in the electric power sector decreased to 111.8 MMst from 127.9 MMst at the end of the fourth quarter of 2024.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI Economics: Ukraine: Eighth Review Under the Extended Arrangement Under the Extended Fund Facility, Requests for Modification of Performance Criteria, Rephasing of Access, and Financing Assurances Review-Press Release; Staff Report; and Statement by the Alternate Executive Director for Ukraine

    Source: International Monetary Fund

    Summary

    Over three years of Russia’s war in Ukraine have taken a staggering social, humanitarian, and economic toll. Despite efforts for a ceasefire, the evolution of the war remains subject to exceptionally high uncertainty. Nevertheless, the authorities’ commitment to reforms and fulfillment of all necessary Fund policies support completion of the review. First, despite some structural reform delays, the authorities have met all quantitative conditionality for this review and remain committed to the overall program objectives of restoring sustainability. Second, the program remains fully financed. Looking ahead, despite the authorities’ program implementation and the large-scale external support, the program has limited space to absorb any further shocks, including from a more prolonged and intense war, while achieving the restoration of external viability by the end of the program.

    MIL OSI Economics –

  • MIL-OSI NGOs: Greenpeace welcomes new global initiative to advance tax reform on the super-rich

    Source: Greenpeace Statement –

    Sevilla, Spain – Spain,  Brazil and South Africa today launched a coalition to advance work on taxing the super-rich at the 4th International Conference on Financing for Development in Sevilla. The coalition reaffirmed political commitments to pursue effective taxation of the super-rich. They also signalled growing support for international tax negotiations at the UN that are gaining momentum.

    In response, Fred Njehu, Global Political Lead for Greenpeace’s Fair Share campaign, said[1]: “Financing is urgently needed for climate action and public services, not for polluting space travel and luxury weddings. This new coalition of governments working to tax the super-rich adds to the growing global momentum to make the world’s wealthiest pay their fair share. People are fed up with billionaires’ greed eroding the environment and communities we depend on. It’s time for world leaders to listen and act.”

    Last week Greenpeace Italy together with UK Action group Everyone hates Elon unfolded a banner reading ‘If you can rent Venice for your wedding, you can pay more tax’ on Piazza San Marco, ahead of Jeff Bezos’s reportedly multi-million dollar wedding in Venice.

    In a survey commissioned by Greenpeace International and Oxfam International across 13 countries, 86% of respondents want governments to close tax loopholes that benefit the super-rich and international corporations, and to use the increased revenue for public services.[2] 

    “Ultimately, we urge world leaders to support the on-going UN Tax Convention process as a global multilateral platform that will shape and determine the future of taxation, one rooted in equity and justice,” added Njehu.

    ENDS

    Notes:

    [1] Fred Njehu is with Greenpeace Africa, based in Nairobi, Kenya.

    [2] The research was conducted by first-party data company Dynata in May-June, 2025, in Brazil, Canada, France, Germany, Kenya, Italy, India, Mexico, the Philippines, South Africa, Spain, the UK and the US, with approximately 1200 respondents in each country and a theoretical margin of error of approximately 2.83%. Together, these countries represent close to half the world’s population. Greenpeace / Oxfam – PPP survey results. 

    Contacts:

    Tal Harris, Global Media Lead – Stop Drilling Start Paying campaign, Greenpeace International. +41-782530550, [email protected]  

    Lee Kuen, Global Comms Lead – Fair Share campaign, Greenpeace International. +601112527489, [email protected]

    Greenpeace International Press Desk, +31 (0)20 718 2470 (available 24 hours), [email protected]

    MIL OSI NGO –

  • MIL-OSI Australia: What’s on this winter school holidays

    Source: Northern Territory Police and Fire Services

    Our CBR is the ACT Government’s key channel to connect with Canberrans and keep you up-to-date with what’s happening in the city. Our CBR includes a monthly print edition, email newsletter and website.

    You can easily opt in or out of the newsletter subscription at any time.

    MIL OSI News –

  • President Murmu inaugurates Mahayogi Guru Gorakhnath AYUSH University

    Source: Government of India

    Source: Government of India (4)

    President Droupadi Murmu inaugurated the Mahayogi Guru Gorakhnath AYUSH University in Gorakhpur, Uttar Pradesh, on Tuesday, marking a significant milestone in the advancement of traditional medicine and medical education in India.

    Addressing the gathering, President Murmu described the university as a modern embodiment of India’s rich ancient healing traditions. She emphasized that the institution would greatly enhance access to quality healthcare through AYUSH systems, benefiting over 100 affiliated colleges and the broader public. The President also lauded the state-of-the-art facilities developed at the university, calling them a step forward in holistic healthcare.

    Reflecting on her own journey in public life, the President spoke of the importance of selfless service and praised Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath for his efforts in improving health, education, and agricultural infrastructure in the region. She urged healthcare professionals to uphold their responsibilities and remain true to their commitments of public welfare.

    Underscoring the significance of preventive care and healthy living, President Murmu advocated the regular practice of yoga, especially for those leading sedentary lifestyles. She stressed that embracing wellness through ancient Indian systems like Ayurveda, Yoga, Naturopathy, and Siddha was essential for building a healthier nation and contributing to India’s goal of becoming a developed country by 2047.

    Highlighting India’s natural wealth of medicinal plants and herbs, she called AYUSH a “precious gift” to the world. She expressed confidence that institutions like the Mahayogi Guru Gorakhnath AYUSH University would play a vital role in increasing the scientific validation and global popularity of traditional medicine systems.

  • President Murmu inaugurates Mahayogi Guru Gorakhnath AYUSH University

    Source: Government of India

    Source: Government of India (4)

    President Droupadi Murmu inaugurated the Mahayogi Guru Gorakhnath AYUSH University in Gorakhpur, Uttar Pradesh, on Tuesday, marking a significant milestone in the advancement of traditional medicine and medical education in India.

    Addressing the gathering, President Murmu described the university as a modern embodiment of India’s rich ancient healing traditions. She emphasized that the institution would greatly enhance access to quality healthcare through AYUSH systems, benefiting over 100 affiliated colleges and the broader public. The President also lauded the state-of-the-art facilities developed at the university, calling them a step forward in holistic healthcare.

    Reflecting on her own journey in public life, the President spoke of the importance of selfless service and praised Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath for his efforts in improving health, education, and agricultural infrastructure in the region. She urged healthcare professionals to uphold their responsibilities and remain true to their commitments of public welfare.

    Underscoring the significance of preventive care and healthy living, President Murmu advocated the regular practice of yoga, especially for those leading sedentary lifestyles. She stressed that embracing wellness through ancient Indian systems like Ayurveda, Yoga, Naturopathy, and Siddha was essential for building a healthier nation and contributing to India’s goal of becoming a developed country by 2047.

    Highlighting India’s natural wealth of medicinal plants and herbs, she called AYUSH a “precious gift” to the world. She expressed confidence that institutions like the Mahayogi Guru Gorakhnath AYUSH University would play a vital role in increasing the scientific validation and global popularity of traditional medicine systems.

  • Cabinet clears ₹1 lakh crore RDI Scheme to boost private sector-led innovation

    Source: Government of India

    Source: Government of India (4)

    In a move aimed at strengthening India’s research and innovation ecosystem, the Union Cabinet on Tuesday approved the Research Development and Innovation (RDI) Scheme, with a total outlay of ₹1 lakh crore. The scheme is designed to encourage greater private sector participation in research and innovation, particularly in strategic and sunrise sectors.

    The RDI Scheme seeks to provide long-term financing or refinancing to private companies at low or nil interest rates. Officials said the scheme addresses the persistent funding constraints faced by the private sector in taking up research projects, and aims to provide growth and risk capital for critical and emerging technologies. The government hopes this will promote technological adoption, enhance global competitiveness, and contribute to economic security and self-reliance.

    Under the scheme, projects at higher levels of Technology Readiness Levels (TRL) will receive funding, and support will also be extended for the acquisition of critical or strategically important technologies. The scheme will also facilitate the creation of a Deep-Tech Fund of Funds to back technology-focused ventures.

    The Research Development and Innovation Scheme will operate through a two-tier funding structure. At the first level, a Special Purpose Fund (SPF) will be set up within the Anusandhan National Research Foundation (ANRF), which will act as the custodian of the corpus. Funds from the SPF will then be allocated to various second-level fund managers, which will provide long-term concessional loans or, in some cases, equity funding—particularly for startups.

    The overarching strategic direction of the scheme will be provided by the Governing Board of the ANRF, chaired by the Prime Minister. The Executive Council of the ANRF will be responsible for approving guidelines and identifying second-level fund managers and projects in sunrise sectors. An Empowered Group of Secretaries, headed by the Cabinet Secretary, will oversee the scheme’s implementation, review its performance, and make decisions on sectors, project types, and fund managers. The Department of Science and Technology will serve as the nodal department for executing the scheme.

     

  • Cabinet clears ₹1 lakh crore RDI Scheme to boost private sector-led innovation

    Source: Government of India

    Source: Government of India (4)

    In a move aimed at strengthening India’s research and innovation ecosystem, the Union Cabinet on Tuesday approved the Research Development and Innovation (RDI) Scheme, with a total outlay of ₹1 lakh crore. The scheme is designed to encourage greater private sector participation in research and innovation, particularly in strategic and sunrise sectors.

    The RDI Scheme seeks to provide long-term financing or refinancing to private companies at low or nil interest rates. Officials said the scheme addresses the persistent funding constraints faced by the private sector in taking up research projects, and aims to provide growth and risk capital for critical and emerging technologies. The government hopes this will promote technological adoption, enhance global competitiveness, and contribute to economic security and self-reliance.

    Under the scheme, projects at higher levels of Technology Readiness Levels (TRL) will receive funding, and support will also be extended for the acquisition of critical or strategically important technologies. The scheme will also facilitate the creation of a Deep-Tech Fund of Funds to back technology-focused ventures.

    The Research Development and Innovation Scheme will operate through a two-tier funding structure. At the first level, a Special Purpose Fund (SPF) will be set up within the Anusandhan National Research Foundation (ANRF), which will act as the custodian of the corpus. Funds from the SPF will then be allocated to various second-level fund managers, which will provide long-term concessional loans or, in some cases, equity funding—particularly for startups.

    The overarching strategic direction of the scheme will be provided by the Governing Board of the ANRF, chaired by the Prime Minister. The Executive Council of the ANRF will be responsible for approving guidelines and identifying second-level fund managers and projects in sunrise sectors. An Empowered Group of Secretaries, headed by the Cabinet Secretary, will oversee the scheme’s implementation, review its performance, and make decisions on sectors, project types, and fund managers. The Department of Science and Technology will serve as the nodal department for executing the scheme.

     

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Immigration Advice Authority unveils new Customer Service Charter

    Source: United Kingdom – Executive Government & Departments

    News story

    Immigration Advice Authority unveils new Customer Service Charter

    The charter sets out what you can expect from us and what we ask of you in return.

    The Immigration Advice Authority (IAA) has launched a new Customer Service Charter, reinforcing its commitment to fair, professional, and accessible services. As the UK’s regulator for immigration advice, the IAA ensures that advisers meet high professional standards while providing clear guidance to the public. The charter outlines what individuals can expect when engaging with the IAA and also sets out the responsibilities expected of those using the IAA’s services and iterating with staff.

    A key focus of the charter is efficient complaint handling, with a commitment to acknowledging complaints, conducting thorough investigations, and keeping individuals informed throughout the process. The charter highlights the IAA’s role in enforcing standards, taking action against unlawful practices, and promoting public trust in immigration services.

    Transparency and accountability remain at the heart of the IAA’s mission. The organisation is dedicated to providing timely responses, publishing information about its policies and decisions, and continuously improving its services based on public feedback. The IAA encourages individuals to share their experiences and suggestions, reinforcing its commitment to a fair and supportive immigration advice system.

    Download the Charter to learn more about its details and how to engage with the IAA.

    Updates to this page

    Published 1 July 2025

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Roadmap unveiled to boost rights for half of all UK workers and provide certainty to employers

    Source: United Kingdom – Executive Government & Departments

    Press release

    Roadmap unveiled to boost rights for half of all UK workers and provide certainty to employers

    Government publishes the Employment Rights Bill Implementation Roadmap, setting out timelines for measures in the Bill coming into effect.

    ·       Comprehensive roadmap for Employment Rights Bill to raise living standards across the country whilst giving employers and workers the time to adapt.    

    ·       Sets out timelines for new landmark rights with 15 million, or half of all, workers set to start benefitting from later this year.  

    ·       Government will continue to consult with employers, workers and trade unions to ensure the best deal for growth and boosting living standards in line with the Plan for Change.     

    The Government has today (Tuesday 1 July) unveiled its comprehensive roadmap setting out how it will deliver its new package of workers’ rights through the plan to Make Work Pay.    

    Landmark changes delivered through the Employment Rights Bill including sick pay for 1.3 million of the lowest earners and day one rights to parental and paternity leave will be introduced for the first time from early next year, demonstrating the government’s determination to boost living standards and protections for millions, whilst giving employers the certainty they need to plan for future changes.  

    It also announces that the new Fair Work Agency will launch from early next year, creating a level-playing field so rogue employers cannot undercut good businesses who comply with the law.  

    Informed by more than 190 pieces of engagement with businesses and other crucial stakeholders over the last 12 months, a phased approach was taken to give workers clarity and employers time to prepare. Key measures in the Bill will come into effect in 2026 and 2027, whilst further consultations are planned from this year into next.  

    The reforms are a key part of the Government’s Plan for Change – the mission to make the country fit for the future by kick-starting economic growth and boosting productivity.    

    Deputy Prime Minister Angela Rayner said:     

    We’re working fast to deliver our promise of better living standards and more money in the pockets of working people as part of our Plan for Change.  

    These landmark reforms will kick in within months, demonstrating our commitment to making work pay for millions of workers across the country and delivering real change.

    Business Secretary Jonathan Reynolds said:     

    The Employment Rights Bill is a core part of the Plan for Change, directly benefiting half of all workers and boosting living standards across the country.     

     Since the beginning, we have been working with businesses big and small to ensure this Bill works for them, and this roadmap will now give them the clarity and certainty they need to plan, invest and grow.      

     By phasing implementation, our collaborative approach balances meaningful worker protections with the practical realities of running a successful business, creating more productive workplaces where both employees and employers can thrive. 

    Whether you’re a worker, an employer in the public or private sector, a trade union, a representative organisation, or from civil society, a wide range of voices have helped shape this Bill.     

    Delivering change that works for everyone remains a priority, which is why the Government will continue to consult with business groups, employers, workers and trade unions in phases on the detail of the measures, beginning this summer and continuing into the new year.      

    The rollout of all measures will follow a structured timeline, so that stakeholders can plan their time and resources to make sure they are ready when the changes come into effect. Highlights of the roadmap include:     

    After the bill is passed: 

    • Immediate repeal of the strikes (minimum service levels) act 2023 and the majority of the trade union act 2016 to create a better relationship with unions that will prevent the need for strikes. 

    • Protections against dismissal for taking industrial action to ensure workers can defend their rights without fear of losing their jobs. 

    April 2026: 

    • Collective redundancy protective award – doubling the maximum period of the protective award to provide stronger financial security for workers facing mass redundancies. 

    • ‘Day one’ paternity leave and unpaid parental leave to support working families from the very start of employment. 

    • Whistleblowing protections to encourage reporting of wrongdoing without fear of retaliation. 

    • Fair work agency established to enforce labour rights and promote fairness in the workplace. 

    • Statutory sick pay – removing the lower earnings limit and waiting period to ensure all workers can afford to recover from illness without financial hardship. 

    • A package of trade union measures including simplifying trade union recognition process and electronic and workplace balloting to strengthen democracy and participation in the workplace. 

    October 2026: 

    • Ending unscrupulous fire and rehire practices to protect workers from being forced into worse terms under threat of dismissal. 

    • Regulations to establish the fair pay agreement adult social care negotiating body in England to raise standards and pay in the social care sector.  

    • Tightening tipping law – strengthen the law on tipping by mandating consultation with workers to ensure fairer tip allocation. 

    • Requiring employers to take “all reasonable steps” to prevent sexual harassment of their employees to create safer, more respectful workplaces. 

    • Introducing an obligation on employers not to permit the harassment of their employees by third parties to extend protections to all work environments, including public-facing roles. 

    • A package of trade union measures including new rights and protections for trade union representatives, extending protections against detriments for taking industrial action and strengthening trade unions’ right of access. 

    2027: 

    • Gender pay gap and menopause action plans (introduced on a voluntary basis in April 2026) to promote gender equality and support women’s health in the workplace. 

    • Enhanced dismissal protections for pregnant women and new mothers to safeguard job security during pregnancy, maternity leave and a return-to-work period. 

    • Further harassment protections, specifying reasonable steps which will help determine whether an employer has taken all reasonable steps to prevent sexual harassment to provide clearer guidance and stronger enforcement against harassment. 

    • Creating a modern framework for industrial relations to build a fairer, more collaborative approach to workplace relations. 

    • Bereavement leave to give workers time to grieve with job security. 

    • Ending the exploitative use of zero hours contracts to provide workers with stable hours and predictable income. 

    • ‘Day 1’ right to protection from unfair dismissal to ensure all workers are treated fairly from the start of employment. 

    • Improving access to flexible working to help people balance work with family, health, and other responsibilities. 

    To ensure employers and workers are in the best possible position when these measures come into effect, the Government will produce clear and comprehensive guidance to help organisations navigate the changes. This guidance will be made available in advance of implementation deadlines to allow time for familiarisation and preparation.     

    The Government will also work closely with Acas which will play a crucial role in both implementation of the new measures and continuing to provide support to employers and workers moving forward.      

    By taking a phased and measured approach to implementation, the Government aims to create lasting positive change to employment rights in the UK that works for both workers and businesses.    

    Peter Cheese, chief executive of the CIPD, the professional body for HR and people development, commented:  

    We asked for a clear plan from the government, so we’re pleased to see this roadmap launched today, which will give employers some more clarity to prepare for the biggest set of workplace reforms in decades.   

    We’re pleased to see that the measures are being phased in gradually over many months. This will give more time for further consultation on key points of detail, and organisations more time to update their policies and practices.   

    It’s positive to see the recognition of the critical role for Acas in supporting employers to comply with the new measures. We will work with the government to help provide the guidance the HR profession and managers need to implement the upcoming changes. Small businesses in particular will need clear advice and guidance to help them comply.

    TUC general secretary Paul Nowak said: 

    After the failed era of insecure work and squeezed living standards, the Employment Rights Bill is badly needed. Banning exploitative zero hours contracts, giving workers a stronger voice and ending fire and rehire are all common-sense and popular reforms. 

    It’s welcome that workers will start to benefit from these long overdue changes from later this year – but this timetable must be a backstop. We need to see these new rights in action as soon as possible. Decent employers don’t need to wait for the law to change. They should be working with staff and unions right now to introduce these changes as quickly as possible.  

    It’s time to level up Britain’s workplaces and end the scourge of insecure work.

    Co-op Group CEO Shirine Khoury-Haq said: 

    The Co-op is supportive of the Government’s ambitions to strengthen rights for workers through the Employment Rights Bill – as the world’s oldest and UK’s largest consumer co-operative, doing right by our 54,000 colleagues is core to our approach to doing good business. 

    We are convinced that treating employees well promotes productivity – it helps employers recruit, develop and retain the talent they need.  Working in partnership with Government we believe this Bill is a once in a generation opportunity to ensure all workers are treated fairly whoever their employer might be.

    Neil Carberry, Recruitment and Employment Confederation (REC) Chief Executive, said:  

    This clear timeline on the Employment Rights Bill gives room for full and frank consultation on how the new rules will be structured. It also gives businesses important time to plan.  

    Now we have the roadmap, ongoing and meaningful engagement will be critical to ensuring new regulations allow the flexibility workers and companies value to remain. That’s what gives workers freedom and choice, and helps businesses adjust in changeable markets. A clear process which addresses reasonable business concerns about the new rules is essential.  

    The Bill is a real opportunity to update workplace protections in a way that reflects how people work today, but getting the balance right will be crucial to supporting the government’s growth ambitions.

    Acas Chief Executive Niall Mackenzie said:   

    We welcome the publication of the Employment Relations Bill Roadmap, giving clarity to employers and workers on the timescale for these important changes to employment law. At Acas, we know that good workplace relations is at the heart of resilient, successful organisations and good business. It is encouraging to see the government place employment relations at the heart of its plan to grow the economy.  

    Acas will continue to work with the Department for Business and Trade, employers, trades unions and others to support employers and workers. We are proud to be the go-to organisation to help navigate changes to workplace relations through our expert Codes, guidance and freely available advice.

    Kate Nicholls, Chief Executive of UKHospitality, said:  

    Clear and precise timelines on when aspects of this legislation, and the processes to deliver them, will come into force is essential, and it was important that the Government embark on providing clarity. 

    There are substantial changes for businesses in the Employment Rights Bill and it’s right that the Government is using the appropriate implementation periods for the most complex issues for hospitality, in order to get the details right for both businesses and workers.

    Prospect General Secretary Mike Clancy said:  

    With such an important and technical piece of legislation, there is always a balance to be struck between speed and precision, and this sensible timetable ensures that there is sufficient time to make sure the legislation is robust and works as intended.    

    The Bill rightly involves a significant rebalancing of workplace power in favour of employees, and this must lead to improved industrial relations based on constructive working between unions and employers.  

    Ultimately, the big change we need in the labour market is an increase in trade union membership and density in the private sector, and it is welcome that next year will see the lifting of many of the restrictions that have constrained the growth of unions and our ability to represent workers across the economy.

    Community Assistant General Secretary Alasdair McDiarmid said:  

    It’s great that we now have a comprehensive roadmap in place for the Employment Rights Bill.  

    The government has engaged diligently with unions and businesses during the development of the bill, and we are proud to have played a role in shaping what we believe will be a transformative piece of legislation for working people across the UK.  

    We will continue to work closely with the Department for Business and Trade to ensure that the bill is successful, and we would encourage other stakeholders to do the same.

    Gary Smith, GMB General Secretary, said:  

    It is good to see that this Government is matching words with action on trade union rights. There’s always more that can be done, but the Employment Rights Bill represents the biggest improvement in workers’ rights for a generation.  

    GMB members now know when these much-needed improvements will happen – we urge good employers not to wait; do the right thing and make these changes a reality today.

    Notes to editors:     

    ·       Full details of the implementation roadmap are available here.    

    ·       Employment Rights Bill to be implemented in phases, giving employers the time and certainty they need to adapt.    

    ·       Roadmap outlines timelines for delivery, ranging from soon after the Bill is passed to April 2026, October 2026 and 2027.      

    ·       Government will continue to consult with employers, workers and trade unions to ensure the best deal for growth and boosting living standards in line with the Plan for Change.     

    ·       The 15 million workers figure is based on analysis of the Labour Force Survey (October to December 2024) to avoid double counting, and includes workers that will benefit from Unfair Dismissal, Zero Hour Contracts, Statutory Sick Pay, Trade Union changes and Fair Pay Agreements.

    Updates to this page

    Published 1 July 2025

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI Russia: Freight trains connect China’s Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area with Central Asia

    Translation. Region: Russian Federal

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

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

    BEIJING, July 1 (Xinhua) — A freight train carrying goods from the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area departed from Zengcheng Railway Station in Guangzhou City, capital of south China’s Guangdong Province, on Thursday, and will cross the border at Horgos Port in northwest China’s Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region to Kazakhstan. The goods on board mainly include dishwashers, refrigerators and clothing, worth about 15.3 million yuan, the Guangzhou Daily reported, citing local customs information.

    In recent years, the pace of urbanization in Central Asian countries has accelerated, and local consumers’ demand for various goods has increased significantly. A wide range of goods produced in the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area, including household appliances, clothing and footwear, are popular in the Central Asian market.

    “The trains to Central Asian countries mainly carry consumer goods produced in the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area. The return trains carry agricultural and food products from Central Asia,” said Li Siqiang, an official with the International Freight Train Management Company of Guangzhou Transport Investment Corporation.

    “China-Central Asia train services are highly efficient, low-cost and flexible. The transportation time is about 10-15 days, more than twice as fast as sea transportation. It is suitable for transporting goods such as electronic products and auto parts,” said Xiao Shuailun, a manager at a local supply chain company.

    Since May 2021, when China-Central Asia freight train services from Guangzhou were first launched, there have been 126 departures of such trains, carrying goods worth more than RMB 1.6 billion. -0-

    MIL OSI Russia News –

  • MIL-OSI Russia: Chinese and Russian musicians jointly give a concert in Beijing in honor of peace

    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, July 1 (Xinhua) — The Central Folk Instrument Orchestra of China recently gave a gala concert “Ode to Peace” in Beijing under the direction of conductor Vyacheslav Valeev.

    The Russian conductor was specially invited to the musical event, which took place on the stage of the National Centre for the Performing Arts (NCPA) of China. The orchestra’s programs also featured pianist Elena Endeberya.

    The concert, dedicated to the theme “Peace,” featured four Chinese and Russian classical works, namely the Fantasy-Symphony for Folk Orchestra in F major, Fantasy on Themes by Ryabinin for Piano and Orchestra, as well as “Ode to the Yellow River” and “Ode to Peace” from the second part of the Chinese folk orchestral music work “The Yellow River.” -0-

    MIL OSI Russia News –

  • MIL-OSI Russia: China’s Jiangsu Province and Central Asia Welcome ‘Golden Period’ of Cooperation Together

    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, July 1 (Xinhua) — The roar of container ships in the port of Lianyungang (Jiasu Province, east China) and the hoot of China-Europe freight trains sound in unison. “Steel caravans” loaded with photovoltaic panels and precision instruments set off from the banks of the Yangtze River to the deserts of Central Asia. And on the shelves of Jiangsu stores, dried fruits from Central Asia look tempting, spreading a subtle aroma; cotton yarn from Central Asia dances briskly between the machines of textile factories, adding a special flavor to the “Made in Jiangsu” brand… According to the latest data from Nanjing Customs, in the first five months of 2025, Jiangsu Province’s export volume to five Central Asian countries amounted to 8.9 billion yuan, up 21.4 percent year on year.

    As part of the high-quality construction of the Belt and Road, Jiangsu and Central Asia are entering a “golden period” of cooperation together, local newspaper Xinhua Daily reported.

    Engineering projects are like a “steel frame”, trade flows are like “digital channels”, and high-level mutual visits and the implementation of policies and initiatives are “bridge pillars”, which are all involved in building the “Golden Bridge of the Silk Road” between Jiangsu and Central Asia. Despite the thousands of mountains and rivers separating them, thanks to the close industrial ties, Jiangsu and the Central Asian region have achieved deep integration. With unprecedented depth and breadth, the two sides continue to strengthen the foundation of mutually beneficial cooperation.

    Uzbekistan, the most populous country in Central Asia and a key hub on the ancient Silk Road, has been accelerating its industrialization in recent years and has been actively working with Jiangsu to develop practical cooperation.

    From the construction of a new district in Samarkand to the processing plant of the Almalyk Mining and Metallurgical Plant… The equipment of the Chinese engineering giant – Xuzhou Construction Machinery Group Co., Ltd. (XCMG) – has become the “standard equipment” for infrastructure construction for industrialization in Central Asia. “In Uzbekistan, XCMG equipment is present at almost all large construction sites,” said Sun Si, the responsible project manager of XCMG Corporation. Over the past three years, XCMG equipment exports to Uzbekistan have exceeded 2 billion yuan, and the current stock of such equipment in the country exceeds 8,000 units. Close partnerships have been formed with many local large construction companies, equipment rental companies and mining companies.

    As the e-commerce data and platform services of SOHO Holding intersect in the Central Asian digital space, the “Golden Bridge of the Silk Road” between Jiangsu and Central Asia will build more industrial highways. In January this year, SOHO Holding opened a representative office in Kazakhstan. This trading platform, located in the hinterland of Central Asia, will help enterprises in Jiangsu Province and other parts of the country to develop the Central Asian market.

    “We are creating not only a trading platform, but also a high-speed channel for industrial integration,” explained the project manager in charge. The main areas of cooperation were the creation of B2C e-commerce and car trade platforms, as well as the construction of foreign warehouses in Kazakhstan. According to the set goals, this cooperation will allow SOHO Holding to achieve a bilateral trade volume of USD 1 billion with Central Asia in 5 years.

    “Good products from Jiangsu” appear one after another on the market of Central Asian countries, and high-quality products from Central Asia continuously fill the shelves of stores in Jiangsu Province. “Last year, 14,800 tons of barley and 2,700 tons of feed wheat flour from Kazakhstan arrived in China on 11 China-Europe freight trains,” said a responsible executive of SUMEC International Technology Co., Ltd., which signed a framework agreement on cooperation in the field of agricultural products for 2024 with Kazakhstan’s Fort LLP worth about 500 million yuan. The company uses the direct purchase model from the manufacturer to reduce costs. In the future, it also plans to actively build a complete supply system for agricultural products within the framework of the Belt and Road Initiative, using Kazakhstan’s breadbasket.

    Crossing deserts and seas, linking the East and Central Asia, China-Europe freight trains, like racing “steel dragons,” carry hopes for cooperation and development opportunities. Since the launch of China-Europe freight train services, a total of more than 14,000 trains have been sent from Jiangsu to Central Asia with wagons loaded at 100 percent. Jiangsu Province has firmly held its position as the main transit corridor to Central Asia. -0-

    MIL OSI Russia News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: UConn Students Combat Opioid Crisis in CT through Adopt a Health District Program

    Source: US State of Connecticut

    The Adopt a Health District (ADOPHD) Program provides students with internship experiences that directly support Connecticut communities fighting the opioid epidemic.

    “It empowers the students to feel like they count, that they can make a difference in the world,” says Peaches Udoma, ADOPHD program coordinator and adjunct professor of pharmacy practice.

    The program’s design began in 2021, when Nathaniel Rickles, project director and associate dean for admissions and student affairs in the School of Pharmacy, received a grant from the Connecticut Department of Mental Health and Addiction Services (DMHAS), funded through the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA).

    Since the first year, when the program included just two interns, it has grown substantially. During the 2024-25 academic year, 10 students participated. Next year, the program will expand to include the Stamford Health District, the Housatonic Valley Health District, and a total of 14 interns.

    “The program is a great example of life-transformative education, as it bridges classroom learning with real-world application that can change the lives of those in our communities with the greatest needs for support and care,” says Rickles.

    Students participate in a variety of activities related to the opioid crisis, including receiving and providing training to use Narcan, a medicine that can rapidly reverse an overdose, providing information about recognizing fake pills and general information about opioids, and assisting in the safe disposal of medication.

    Two interns work in collaboration at each health district. Interns have worked in districts which include the towns of New London, Groton, East Hartford, West Hartford, Stratford, Bristol, Burlington, Cheshire, Prospect, and Wolcott.

    “The health districts get new ideas from people who are reading the research, who are on the cutting edge, who are excited and idealistic about changing the world,” Udoma says. “The benefits of the relationship are endless, on both sides.”

    While the program is administered through the School of Pharmacy, students have also come from the UConn MPH program, and more MPH students are applying this year. The majority of the interns, however, have come from the allied health sciences (AHS) program in the College of Agriculture, Health and Natural Resources.

    “Our students are really trying to get experience in different areas of healthcare and health promotion, so this is a perfect opportunity for them to get out into the community and put their knowledge to use,” says Jill Skowrenski, AHS administrative lead for student placement and engagement. “It’s so vital for the students to experiment in different paths in healthcare. It’s a great mix, this program led by the School of Pharmacy connecting with allied health students.”

    Eva-LaRue Barber ‘25 (CAHNR) was one of the AHS students who participated in the program last year.

    Barber works as an EMT and firefighter in New Haven, and already had experience administering Narcan.

    “I was really curious about how larger prevention techniques could be employed by a community,” Barber says.

    Barber interned in the Chesprocott Health District, which includes Cheshire, Prospect, and Wolcott.

    There, she and the other intern assigned to the district analyzed data to identify what groups were experiencing overdoses and how that compared to the district’s demographics.

    Because the population in the Chesprocott district is older, the interns went to senior centers and provided information about pill sorting and how to prevent accidental overdoses.

    They also hosted Narcan trainings at a school and participated in Drug Takeback Day.

    Barber made a video for the program’s YouTube channel, based on the in-person trainings.

    “I thought that was a really accessible way for people who couldn’t make it in for the trainings, and also to share with their friends and families,” Barber says.

    Barber will be working as a researcher at the Yale School of Medicine’s Department of Dermatology in the fall, before eventually attending medical school. She will continue to work with ADOPHD as a student coordinator.

    “I’m really interested in communities and how you can educate communities, especially with targeted approaches for their specific challenges,” Barber says. “For me, that’s something that was really important – recognizing communities and creating things for them.”

    Baber says she appreciates how she was able to tailor the experience to fit her interests.

    “You can really customize it to fulfill your needs,” Barber says. “You get out of it what you put into it.”

    Throughout the year-long program, students also collaborate on different teams to organize the program’s marketing, data, resources, and social events.

    “It’s not just academics, it’s not just what you learn in the classroom that is crucial to your success out in the world, it’s also your ability to work with others effectively and consider other opinions,” Udoma says. “So that’s why we put so much focus on the team-based approach.”

    Udoma says she and Rickles hope the program can become a national model.

    “If we could get students as boots on the ground all over the country bringing their ideas, their passion, and their openness to learning, we could really make a difference in the opioid crisis,” Udoma says.

    This work relates to CAHNR’s Strategic Vision area focused on Enhancing Health and Well-Being Locally, Nationally, and Globally.

    Follow UConn CAHNR on social media

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: ‘The Ability to Give and Receive Love’: Researchers Look at Effects of Acceptance, Rejection

    Source: US State of Connecticut

    Even at 90 years old, Ronald P. Rohner still works 365 days a year.

    That’s holidays, weekends, sick days, and everything in between, he says. But the professor emeritus and director of the Center for the Study of Interpersonal Acceptance and Rejection knows he’s not going to be able to keep pace forever – no matter how much he wants.

    He’s picked Sumbleen Ali ’21 Ph.D., a research scientist at the Center and an assistant professor at SUNY Oneonta, to carry on the Center’s global mission, as they seek to advance research on Interpersonal Acceptance-Rejection Theory, known as IPARTheory, and continue to expand its reach worldwide.

    It’s part of what the two have put into their latest book, “Global Perspectives on Parental Acceptance and Rejection: Lessons Learned from IPARTheory,” published this spring.

    Rohner and Ali sat with UConn Today recently to talk about interpersonal acceptance and rejection, what started Rohner’s study of it, and what their advice is for lay people.

    IPARTheory, short for Interpersonal Acceptance-Rejection Theory, has a global reach with thousands of downloads from people worldwide. This map from late May shows the latest reach. (Contributed art)

    How did you get started with this research?

    Rohner: It all came from a passage in this 1956 book that was my favorite textbook when I was an undergraduate. The author said that, in general, rejected children tend to be fearful, insecure, attention seeking, jealous, hostile, and lonely. Because of some previous experiences I’d had working in Morocco, I thought that wouldn’t be true. That may be true for Americans, but that’s not true for people all over the world – especially the people I’d encountered in Morocco in the 1950s. One of my first assignments in graduate school was to use the cross-cultural survey method, that’s when you draw a sample of societies from around the world and code them in a certain way to see what’s true and not true for people worldwide. When I did the analysis, I discovered that some of what was said in my undergraduate book was true and some of it wasn’t. That completely captured my attention. Every class thereafter during my graduate career if I could possibly fit it in, I built on that initial cross-cultural study, and when I came to UConn in 1964, I continued doing these kinds of cross-cultural studies to find out what we’re really like as human beings.

    What are some of the things you’ve found?

     
    Rohner: We’ve worked with several hundred thousand people over the past 60-some-odd years on every continent except Antarctica, and while doing that, we’ve learned many lessons about what we’re like and not like as human beings. The beauty of the work we do is that we can now empirically document three things, among others. First, humans everywhere – in any place in the world that we’ve found so far – understand themselves to be cared about or not cared about in the same four ways. So far, no exceptions. Second, if you feel the person or people who are most important to you – these are usually parents when we’re kids and intimate partners when we’re adults, but there could be others like teachers or coaches – if you feel that person doesn’t really want you, appreciate you, care about you, love you, if you feel rejected by that person, most people will respond in exactly the same way. A cluster of 10 things start to happen. We get anxious, insecure. We have anger problems. Our self-esteem is impaired. Children can have issues of cognitive distortions, in which they start to think about themselves in distorted ways. The third important lesson comes from Sumbleen’s work.

    Ali: I came to UConn as a psychology student and enjoyed working with Ron so much that I decided to pursue a graduate degree in human development and family sciences. In conversations about IPARTheory, we developed an argument that parental acceptance and rejection might be rooted in our shared biocultural evolution, and I wanted to investigate how that shows up in the brain. This became the focus of my dissertation – the first in affective neuroscience at UConn – under the guidance of my Ph.D. advisors, Preston Britner and Ron Rohner. The research examined how early parental experiences shape emotional regulation. We scanned the brains of students who reported either parental acceptance or rejection while they played a simulated ball-tossing game designed to mimic social exclusion. Those with rejection histories showed more activity in areas linked to emotion and memory, suggesting they were re-experiencing past rejection. Participants who felt loved showed more activation in regions tied to rational thinking, possibly reframing the experience. Now, we’re analyzing resting-state brain data to see whether differences in brain connectivity appear even without an external task.

    Why is this research so important?

     
    Rohner: If you bang your thumb, it’s going to hurt. Two weeks from now you’re going to remember that when you did that, it hurt – but you’re probably not going to feel the pain. With rejection, though, every time you think about it for the rest of your life, it can light up your brain in the same way it did when it was happening. I sometimes say the childhood of rejected kids can bully them for the rest of their lives. A rejected child who as an adult gets into an intimate relationship with a partner who is patient and has other supportive traits can help the rejected person to start feeling cared about, maybe for the first time in her or his life. That can go a long way, but we haven’t found anything yet that completely erases those experiences of early childhood.

    Really, there aren’t any exceptions?

     
    Ali: IPARTheory does identify a group of people we call ‘affective copers.’ These are individuals who might have experienced rejection from their parents or one parent, but they don’t show psychological maladjustment to the same degree that other rejected individuals do because they had a buffer in their life, like a grandparent, an intimate partner, a friend, or a sibling who provided them with love and shelter and protection.

    Rohner: We’re exploring this theory of ‘affective copers’ because if we can find out what helps some people then maybe clinicians and other professionals can use that information with their clients to help them overcome their feelings of rejection. We have clinical partners all over the world – in the courts, schools, clinical settings. IPARTheory is being applied everywhere to help people with custody issues, parental alienation, etcetera. The reason this has become so widespread around the world is because it works for people everywhere.

    People experience rejection all the time. How do how do some get through these situations better than others?

     
    Rohner: Someone like a bus driver, for instance, you don’t really care about them, so if they’re snotty to you, you’re going to get irritated, but it will roll off easier. If you’re ostracized from a peer group, that hurts too, and it’ll light up the brain but it’s not going to have the same long-term effects as being hurt by an attachment figure. We have an adage in IPARTheory that we call the ‘emotional moon phenomenon’ that says: ‘Sometimes I’m happy, sometimes I’m blue. My mood all day depends on my relationship with you.’ An attachment figure for us in IPARTheory is someone with whom your feelings of happiness and welfare are to some extent dependent on your relationship with that other person. When things are going well between you and them, times are great. When things start going out of whack, you get upset and stay that way. That’s an attachment figure. The bus driver is not an attachment figure. The breakup of even a bad intimate relationship is painful and will have an enduring effect for many people for a long time, but if you come from a loving family when that relationship ends there will be a period of upset, but you’ll tap the resilience from your prior background to get you through the hard times.

    Do you have any advice for lay people?

    Rohner: There’s no single experience in human life that’s more important, that has greater impact over the entire course of your life than the experience of being cared about by the people who are most important to you. That’s the fundamental lesson behind all of this. I don’t care what somebody says about what’s going on in a relationship, it’s what you feel is going on that makes the difference in your life.

    Ali: Early experiences of parental love, acceptance, or rejection leave children with far more than just memories. They fundamentally shape how children, and the adults they become, perceive themselves, relate to others, and make sense of the world. To that end, we have to keep working to understand why some parents love their children versus why others don’t, the ability to give and receive love. Our goal is for people to better understand themselves and understand those around them. Through our research and advocacy, we want to build a better community and foster healthy interpersonal relationships by improving our understanding of one another.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Neag School of Education Hosts “Why Teach, Why Now” Contest for Early College Experience Students

    Source: US State of Connecticut

    On June 26, the Neag School of Education celebrated the winners of its “Why Teach, Why Now” contest, which encouraged high school students enrolled in its education Early College Experience courses to share why they wish to become educators in urban settings. The three winners of the contest were Aiden Tetreault from Enfield, who came in first place; Madelyn Heitmann of Milford, who came in second; and Keira Beck of Milford, who came in third.

    The Neag School had 924 students enrolled in its ECE courses across 45 Connecticut high schools during the 2024-2025 academic year, and all were invited to submit for the contest. Submissions had to be either 250-500-word essays or 5-minute videos describing why they want to be urban educators and why now. A committee of faculty from the Neag School’s Office of Teacher Education — including Alyssa Hadley Dunn, Austina Lee, and Kathryn Nagrotsky — judged the submissions and selected the winners.

    “At a time when teachers and teaching are often under attack, it was a true privilege to review the submissions of future urban educators who are committed to the profession,” says Dunn, who is the director of teacher education for the Neag School.

    On Thursday evening, Tetreault, Heitmann, and Beck, along with their families and teachers, were invited to a celebratory reception at UConn Hartford. All three students read their winning submissions for the group before receiving small award plaques.

    “Aiden, Madelyn, and Keira’s essays illustrated the importance of working for justice and equity for all children,” Dunn says. “Their ECE teachers had clearly done a great job of helping them understand the power of teachers in today’s world, and their writings beautifully linked their personal experiences with their future profession.”

    Expanding its ECE course offerings and enrollment has been a priority for the Neag School for the past few years. When the School piloted two ECE courses in 2021-2022, only five school districts participated. Since then, the Neag School has expanded to offer four courses and has steadily increased its enrollment every year. The ECE courses it currently offers include: EDCI 1100: If You Love It, Teach It; EDLR 1162: Health and Education in Urban Communities; EDLR 2001: Contemporary Social Issues in Sport; and EPSY 1100: Introduction to Special Education.

    “Not only do these courses allow students to earn UConn credits while still in high school, but they also offer the chance to explore careers in education,” said Neag School Dean Jason G. Irizarry during his welcome remarks at the event. “We need passionate future educators more than ever, and I’m thrilled that we’re recognizing three of them tonight.”

    The event was supported by the John and Carla Klein Endowment for Urban Education through the UConn Foundation.

    “The Neag School of Education has a longstanding commitment to preparing educators to work in the schools that need them the most,” Irizarry said. “We are lucky that multiple donors – most notably, Carla Klein – are also invested in that vision. We are grateful for their generosity.”

    To learn more about UConn’s Early College Experience, visit ece.uconn.edu.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI Africa: Government reaffirms commitment to support agricultural extension services

    Source: South Africa News Agency

    Agriculture Minister John Steenhuisen has reaffirmed government’s unwavering commitment to agricultural extension services, highlighting their pivotal role in fostering inclusive rural development, ensuring food security, and facilitating vital knowledge transfer.

    Steenhuisen made the commitment at the centenary celebration of the establishment of formal agricultural extension services in the country.

    The Minister also officially opened the 58th annual conference of the South African Society for Agricultural Extension (SASAE) and Agricultural Extension Week, currently underway in Kempton Park, Johannesburg.

    This historic centenary coincides with the inaugural South African Agricultural Extension Week and the 58 Conference of the South African Society for Agricultural Extension.

    The annual conference of SASAE aims to address critical issues in agricultural extension and development.

    This year’s conference is held under the theme: “Leveraging innovation and technology to enhance Extension and Advisory Services for sustainable agriculture, improved livelihoods and food security.”

    The week-long event includes field visits to eight diverse agricultural projects, ranging from rooftop urban farming at Morningside Mall, to hemp farming, egg production, and both crop and livestock farming, amongst others.

    During the conference, delegates will also engage with scientific presentations delivered by extension practitioners, professors, and doctoral researchers from top South African universities, to further enhance agricultural production and intensify the national fight against hunger and food insecurity.

    In his keynote address on Monday, Steenhuisen said the centenary marks not only a historic achievement since the establishment of formal extension services in South Africa in 1925, but also a “renewed commitment to ensuring that agricultural extension remains at the heart of inclusive rural development, food security, and knowledge transfer in our country.”.”

    “Agriculture is the bedrock of South Africa’s economy and society. It ensures food security, supports rural livelihoods, and drives employment. However, it is the work of our extension practitioners that truly unlocks the potential of our producers, particularly smallholders who depend on support, advice, and innovation,” Steenhuisen said.

    He also emphasised that extension practitioners provide practical, tailored advice that helps producers improve productivity, adopt sustainable practices, manage risks, and access markets.

    The Minister underscored the critical role extension practitioners play in providing practical, tailored advice that helps producers improve productivity, adopt sustainable practices, manage risks, and access markets.

    “Their role underpins the entire agricultural value chain, which contributes about 12% to the national gross domestic product (GDP). Notably, the agricultural sector grew by 15,8% in the first quarter of 2025 – a growth driven in no small part by the work done by extension practitioners.”

    Support for smallholders

    To enhance support for producers, particularly smallholders, Steenhuisen announced the rollout of the Smallholder Horticulture Empowerment and Promotion (SHEP) approach, implemented in partnership with the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA).

    “This “market-oriented agriculture” model is already bearing fruit, with 18 extension officers trained in Japan last year and another 20 scheduled to depart this October. The department will also prioritise assistance to women, youth, and persons with disabilities in the agricultural sector as these groups often face the greatest barriers.

    “To support this, the department will employ 260 assistant agricultural practitioners this year, strengthening its capacity to deliver extension services. The department’s Farmer Field School (FFS) initiative, supported by the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), is also being expanded from its current base in Limpopo, Mpumalanga, and Northern Cape,” the Minister said.

    He further emphasised the need to make agriculture a career of choice for young people by showing them its breadth, “from agritech and agro-processing to entrepreneurship and policy.” – SAnews.gov.za

    MIL OSI Africa –

  • Cabinet nod for ELI scheme to create over 3.5 crore jobs

    Source: Government of India

    Source: Government of India (4)

    The Union Cabinet on Tuesday gave its nod to the Employment Linked Incentive (ELI) Scheme aimed at encouraging large-scale job creation and strengthening social security for the country’s workforce.

    The ELI Scheme, which was announced in the Union Budget 2024–25 as part of the Prime Minister’s package of five schemes for youth employment and skilling, has a total budget outlay of Rs 99,446 crore. It targets the creation of over 3.5 crore jobs within two years, with benefits applicable for employment generated between August 1, 2025, and July 31, 2027. Of the total employment target, 1.92 crore beneficiaries are expected to be first-time entrants into the workforce.

    The scheme comprises two key components. Under the first component, first-time employees registered with the Employees’ Provident Fund Organisation (EPFO) will receive a direct incentive equivalent to one month’s wage, capped at Rs 15,000, paid in two instalments. Eligible employees with monthly salaries up to Rs 1 lakh will receive the first instalment after six months of continuous service and the second instalment after twelve months, subject to completion of a financial literacy programme. To encourage saving habits, a part of the incentive will be held in a fixed deposit or savings instrument, which can be accessed by the employee at a later stage.

    The second component focuses on incentivising employers to create additional jobs across sectors, with added benefits for the manufacturing industry. Employers registered with the EPFO will receive up to Rs 3,000 per month for each new employee retained for at least six months. The incentive varies according to the wage slab, with employers receiving Rs 1,000 per month for employees earning up to Rs 10,000, Rs 2,000 for those earning between Rs 10,000 and Rs 20,000, and Rs 3,000 for those with wages above Rs 20,000 but within the Rs 1 lakh limit. For establishments with fewer than 50 employees, at least two new hires must be made to qualify for the incentive, while larger establishments must hire at least five. In the case of the manufacturing sector, the benefits for employers will extend up to four years.

    Payments to first-time employees will be made through Direct Benefit Transfer using the Aadhaar Bridge Payment System, while payments to employers will be credited directly to their PAN-linked bank accounts.

    The ELI Scheme is part of the government’s broader push to facilitate employment and skill development for 4.1 crore young people under the budgeted allocation of Rs 2 lakh crore. Apart from boosting job opportunities, the scheme is expected to advance the formalisation of the workforce by extending social security cover to millions of youth entering the organised sector for the first time.

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: UN Human Rights Council 59: UK Statement for Fiji’s UPR Outcomes Session

    Source: United Kingdom – Executive Government & Departments

    World news story

    UN Human Rights Council 59: UK Statement for Fiji’s UPR Outcomes Session

    UK Statement for Fiji’s Universal Periodic Review Outcomes Session. Delivered at the 59th session of the HRC in Geneva.

    Thank You Mr Vice President,

    We commend Fiji’s engagement with the UPR process.

    We welcome Fiji’s establishment of a Truth and Reconciliation Commission to promote healing, truth telling and national unity. The UK is pleased to have provided legal and communications assistance to support these efforts.

    The UK recognises the emphasis Fiji places on freedom of expression and assembly. We encourage Fiji to go further, to ensure a safe civic space for all Fijians to challenge and protest, strengthening democratic accountability. 

    We welcome Fiji’s openness to engage with the UN Special Rapporteur on the Independence of Judges and Lawyers and hope they will be able to visit soon.

    We also welcome Fiji’s commitment to countering gender-based and domestic violence. Fiji’s Action Plan and the police’s enhanced policies in this regard are reassuring. We encourage Fiji to continue monitoring this issue and to ensure the process delivers from investigation through to sentencing.

    We note the measures in place to counter human-trafficking, and encourage Fiji to build on these, in particular to ensure an effective enforcement mechanism.

    We look forward to Fiji’s continued progress through subsequent reviews.

    Thank you.

    Updates to this page

    Published 1 July 2025

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Council continues to back grass roots sport with new cricket pitch investment

    Source: City of Stoke-on-Trent

    Published: Tuesday, 1st July 2025

    The cricket pitch at Hanley Park is set to be refurbished as part of the city council’s commitment to improving outdoor sports facilities.

    The artificial cricket wicket will be upgraded – with a brand new surface and pitch – helping to improve the quality of cricket provision in Stoke-on-Trent and encouraging more people to take up the sport.

    The work is being carried out thanks to a £12,000 grant from the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) and support from Staffordshire Cricket, the local county cricket board.

    Work will take place from Wednesday 2 July to Friday 4 July. The pitch will be out of use during this time.

    Councillor Jane Ashworth, leader of Stoke-on-Trent City Council, said: “Sports like cricket are great not only for our physical and mental health, but also for connecting with local residents and fostering a sense of community.

    “That’s why it’s so important to invest in our sports facilities and make sure they remain fit for purpose – and I’m pleased we’re working with the ECB to help carry out this mission.

    “I hope that by improving the cricket facilities in Hanley Park, we can continue to grow the game within the city.”

    Staffordshire Cricket’s Development Director, Jason Britton commented: “Part of our focus in trying to grow the game is to facilitate more play alongside our strong traditional cricket club network.

    “Stoke-on-Trent boasts a number of public cricket facilities and we’ve previously helped with the refurbishment of a non-turf pitch in Cobridge Park and we’re delighted to help bring the Hanley Park facility back to top standard. The city is a hotbed of cricket interest and talent and we look forward to the local community benefitting from the investment.”

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Illegal encampments cleared to reduce anti-social behaviour

    Source: City of Stoke-on-Trent

    The city council and its partners took swift action against the encampments – in Hartshill and Shelton – after the public raised concerns.

    Three unauthorised encampments in Stoke-on-Trent have been cleared as part of a crackdown on anti-social behaviour and criminality.

    The city council and its partners took swift action against the encampments – in Hartshill and Shelton – after the public raised concerns.

    As part of the operation, nine community protection warnings were issued in response to anti-social behaviour.

    Staffordshire Police made one arrest for criminal damage and threatening behaviour, and recovered goods stolen in a recent burglary in Stoke.

    The council’s Environmental Crime Unit also cleared a large amount of dumped waste.

    Targeted locations included Pyenest Street, Shelton, Hartshill Road, Hartshill, and Stoke Minster.

    The city council is committed to reducing homelessness and is currently leading a major multi-agency programme of support. That includes providing more help with access to housing, jobs and training, as well as support for substance addiction and mental health conditions linked to homelessness.

    At the same time, the council has a zero-tolerance approach to criminal and anti-social behaviour.

    As part of this approach – tackling both causes and consequences – the Rough Sleeper Team visited the sites ahead of the action to assess individual needs and offer tailored support.

    Four people were signposted to further help through The Hub.

    The Hub – based in Hanley – offers emotional and practical support to those who are currently experiencing, or are at risk of, homelessness. Support available includes access to a hot meal, showers, laundry facilities and healthcare. Financial guidance, mental health support, drug and alcohol support and accommodation advice can also be found at The Hub.

    The council is working closely with key partners, including Staffordshire Police, Changing Lives, CDAS (Community Drug & Alcohol Service) and other local support networks to deliver both the help and the enforcement needed to keep communities safe and ensure no one is left behind.

    Councillor Majid Khan, cabinet member for community resilience and safety at Stoke-on-Trent City Council, said: “Our priority is to support those who are struggling, but we must also make it clear that we will not tolerate behaviour that puts others at risk or damages our communities.

    “We all have a responsibility to each other.

    “There’s incredible support available in Stoke-on-Trent for those ready to accept help. This work shows how we’re addressing both the causes and the consequences of rough sleeping and anti-social behaviour.

    “We’re committed to supporting our most vulnerable residents but everyone has a responsibility to contribute to safe, respectful communities.”  

    Councillor Chris Robinson, cabinet member for housing and planning at Stoke-on-Trent City Council, said: “Homelessness is a complex issue which we know has been exacerbated over the last few years due to things like the cost of living crisis and housing pressures.

    “Locally, there are simply not enough affordable homes available to those on the lowest incomes. But we’re committed to doing everything we can to ensure everyone – including our most vulnerable residents – have a decent place to call home. And we want to make sure that they are being given the support they need to live independently.”

    Staffordshire Police Inspector Rebecca Price, from the Stoke South local policing team, said: “We continue to combat crime and anti-social behaviour across the city through our Making Great Places project.

    “This includes working closely with partner agencies to help vulnerable residents in our communities and ensure those who need assistance are receiving it.

    “I’m pleased we have been able to work alongside the city council to tackle this issue and hopefully allow local residents to feel safer in their neighbourhood.”

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Help shape the future of local government in Oxfordshire

    Source: City of Oxford

    Residents, businesses and community groups are being invited to have their say on proposals to reorganise local government and create a Greater Oxford Council.

    The government has asked councils across England for proposals on simplifying the structure of local government in their regions. 

    In March, Oxford City Council put forward outline proposals that would see Oxfordshire’s six councils abolished and replaced with three new councils:  

    • Greater Oxford Council – covering Oxford and its Green Belt  
    • Northern Oxfordshire Council – covering most of the existing Cherwell and West Oxfordshire districts  
    • Ridgeway Council – covering most of the existing South Oxfordshire and Vale of White Horse districts combined with existing West Berkshire unitary (based on the proposals being developed by those councils, but with those villages within the Green Belt closest to the city becoming part of Greater Oxford)  

    All three councils would have natural geographic and demographic connections, local accountability to residents, and would be viable under the government’s plans. 

    Today (1 July), Oxford City Council launched an online survey and a series of drop-in events across Oxfordshire to hear from residents across the whole area on key issues in the proposals. 

    They are an opportunity to help shape the final proposals for local government reorganisation, which will be submitted to the government in November. 

    Survey 

    The online survey can be found on Oxford City Council’s consultation portal. 

    Anyone in Oxfordshire and West Berkshire with an interest in how local government works – including residents, business and community groups – is invited to take part. 

    The survey will take about 10 minutes to complete. 

    Drop-in events 

    The drop-in events will take place across Oxfordshire and West Berkshire: 

    • Oxford Town Hall in Oxford between 12pm and 3pm on 8 July  
    • Newbury Market in Newbury between 11am and 2pm on 10 July  
    • The Merry Bells in Wheatley between 10am and 1pm on 11 July  
    • Kennington Village Hall in Kennington between 12pm and 3pm on 15 July  
    • The Berin Centre in Berinsfield between 10am and 1pm on 16 July  
    • Marriotts Walk Shopping Centre in Witney between 12pm and 3pm on 18 July  
    • Seacourt Hall in Botley between 3pm and 6pm on 22 July 
    • Market Place in Abingdon between 4pm and 7pm on 24 July  
    • Exeter Hall in Kidlington between 4pm and 7pm on 28 July  
    • Berro Lounge in Didcot between 4pm and 7pm on 29 July  
    • Castle Quay in Banbury between 3pm and 6pm on 31 July 

    Greater Oxford proposals 

    Oxford City Council is proposing to form a new council to serve Oxford and its immediate surroundings. 

    The council – known as Greater Oxford Council – would be responsible for all services currently provided by Oxford City Council and Oxfordshire County Council. 

    The proposal would bring local decisions under one roof and closer to the people they affect. 

    This would help the new council build more affordable homes, provide new bus connections, protect green spaces and enhance biodiversity, and create new, secure jobs for our children and grandchildren. 

    Oxford City Council carried out an initial survey on the proposals in February, which found 82% think the current two-tier local government arrangements could be improved, and 67% think councils should not be too large, so they can better meet the needs of local residents. 

    You can find out more about the Greater Oxford proposals by visiting greateroxford.org. 

    Other proposals 

    There are three proposals being developed for how local government in Oxfordshire should be reorganised. 

    Alongside the Greater Oxford proposals, there are also proposals to replace Oxfordshire’s six councils with: 

    • Two Councils: 
      • Oxford and Shires Council – comprising all of the existing district areas of Cherwell, Oxford City and West Oxfordshire. 
      • Ridgeway Council – comprising all of the existing district areas of South Oxfordshire and the Vale of White Horse, and the whole of West Berkshire Council’s area 
    • One council covering Oxfordshire County Council’s current boundaries 

    An online survey and a series of drop-in events have been launched for residents, businesses and community groups to have their say on the Two Councils proposals. 

    Oxfordshire County Council has launched a survey to ask local people for thoughts about its proposal for a single unitary council for Oxfordshire. 

    Next steps 

    Following the public engagement, Oxford City Council will draw up its final Greater Oxford proposals, which will be submitted to the Government in November.  

    The final decision on local government reorganisation across England, including in Oxford and Oxfordshire, will be made by the Government in 2026.  

    New councils are expected to be created in 2028.  

    Comment 

    “This is a once-in-a-generation opportunity to simplify the way local government works in Oxfordshire. The last time this happened was in 1974. 

    “We think our three unitary proposal is the best option for the whole area. This would bring local decisions under one roof and closer to the people they affect. 

    “It would also enable us to build more affordable homes, provide new bus connections, protect green spaces, and create new, secure jobs for our children and grandchildren. 

    “But proposals can always be improved with new ideas and voices, so please have your say by visiting our drop-in sessions or taking part in our online survey.” 

    Councillor Susan Brown, Leader of Oxford City Council 

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Eco-schools celebrate in Heaton Park after making their communities cleaner and greener

    Source: City of Manchester

    School pupils gathered in their hundreds in Heaton Park (27 June) to celebrate their hard work and dedication in making their school communities eco-friendly.

    Over 200 pupils from across 14 schools in Manchester took part in the celebrations with their teachers and community leaders to officially recognise their schools as being one of many that has led the way in making their communities cleaner and greener for everyone. Colleges and nurseries have also taken part with 19, 607 participants across the city taking the initiative to protect the environment by being involved in the Eco-Schools programme and gaining their prestigious Green Flag accreditation.  

    The momentous day was packed with engaging workshops and hands-on activities such as Biodiversity workshops with the RHS Nature Park Team, Sow the City and Lancashire Wildlife Trust, exploring the rich ecosystems in Heaton Park. Read Manchester and Literacy Champions led an inspiring poetry session and Plastic Shed shared innovative ways to reduce waste.

    It was followed by guided historical walks hosted by Bike It, Walk It (In Our Nature) and planting stations and sports-themed eco games in collaboration with Keep Manchester Tidy, promoting active and sustainable lifestyles. Pupils also shared their feedback about the programme as part of supporting Manchester becoming a Child Friendly City before sharing a “Big Picnic Lunch” with other pupils and staff.  

    Eco-journalist and documentary-maker, Sarah Roberts, delivered a captivating keynote, sharing her journey and encouraging young people to become environmental storytellers and changemakers not just in the UK, but like her own efforts in Iceland and Namibia.  

    Known as Eco-Schools, the event gets its name from a steadfast programme since 1994, empowering young people to take several actionable steps in improving the environment for their schools and local communities as part of Keep Britain Tidy. 

    Out of the seven-step framework, it calls for schools to focus on topics; from healthy living, biodiversity, waste, energy, global citizenship and litter. Following a period of evaluation and monitoring, schools can then apply for Eco-School accreditation, or Green Flag status, to formally recognise their hard-earned achievements. Manchester currently has 30 provisions who have proudly accomplished Green Flag status – with 10 at Distinction level.  

    The programme has seen 2,984 pupils have gardening lessons, organise 150 litter picks and have collected 211 litter bags, and one school even initiated a total ban on single use plastic in 2023/24. Keep Manchester Tidy are ensuring that these incredible outcomes continue by helping to fund the various schools that choose to participate in the Eco-Schools programme.  

    Eco-Schools are just one part of environmental action that the Clean and Green MCR campaign has encouraged across the city. Through multi-million-pound investments, the campaign has already rolled out replacement litter bins, improved green spaces and implemented new road safety measures near schools. 

    As Manchester continues to make its mark as a an officially recognised Child Friendly City by UNICEF, the Eco-Schools programme is a significant milestone in the city’s journey toward sustainability and youth-led environmental action. 

    The celebration brought together schools from across Manchester, including Prospect House Specialist Support Primary, Bowker Vale Primary, Old Moat Primary to Included Learning, Claremont Primary, Divine Mercy, and Withington Girls School. Each school has worked tirelessly to achieve Eco-Schools status, embedding sustainability into their curriculum, school culture, and community outreach. 

    Find out more about Eco-Schools and how they are championing cleaner, greener communities and how to take part in the programme to achieve Green Flag status.  

    Councillor Lee-Ann Igbon, Executive Member for Vibrant Neighbourhoods, said: “This celebration of Eco-Schools is a testament to the power of young people to lead the way in environmental change. Their creativity, commitment, and collaboration are shaping a greener, more sustainable Manchester. We must continue to support and encourage them as we champion our city as a Child Friendly City for every child and as the new generation eco-friendly champions.” 

    Fabiola Cotton, Head of Design Technology and Eco Society Lead at Withington Girls’ School, said: “We are very proud to have such a dedicated group of pupils actively involved in our Eco Society. The group champions sustainability and environmental awareness across the school, helping to organise whole school events with a strong eco focus. Just this month, for example, all pupils took part in a giving activity that include making jewellery from recycled plastic and running a ‘swap shop’ to share clothes, toys and books. 

    “A real strength of our school is recognising our role as global citizens – understanding our impact and proactively contributing to both local and international communities. Our 20 years of partnership with social development projects in The Gambia, alongside regular pupil-led fundraising for a range of charities, exemplifies this commitment. Our school community, consistently demonstrate compassion, respect and a strong sense of personal responsibility, reflecting the very ethos of Withington.” 

    Shay Smith, 10, from Prospect House Primary School, said: “It was good taking part in the Eco-Schools programme. It was fun, because we fed pigs and we learned to plant and grow vegetables. We also got the chance to visit London and won an award as part of the Jamie Oliver Good Food Awards for sustainability.  

    “We also did recycling at school and we all supported each other by helping the school every day. My family is proud of all the hard work I’ve done.” 

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Charity lends hand to tackle student move-out waste

    Source: City of Leicester

    STUDENTS preparing to move out of their term-time homes for the summer are being given a helping hand to dispose of preloved items and do their bit for charity.

    Leicester City Council has teamed up with British Heart Foundation (BHF) to bring the charity’s ‘Pack for Good’ scheme to some of the city’s most popular student areas. Temporary reuse banks have been installed across twelve sites on streets close to the city’s two universities to encourage students to donate any items they no longer want and help the charity generate vital stock for their local shops and stores.

    BHF shops are always in need of clothing, shoes, accessories, CDs, vinyl and Blu-rays, books, kitchenware, furniture and electricals.

    Daniel Ward at the BHF, said: “We’re looking forward to working alongside Leicester City Council to encourage students to donate their preloved items to us. This will be a huge help to our shops in Leicester and I’d hope as many students as possible get involved and support the scheme.

    The money raised by these donations helps the BHF fund lifesaving research into heart and circulatory diseases. In a year, the BHF saves over 57,000 tonnes of goods going to waste, including 13,000 tonnes of clothing. Through the reuse and recycling of donated items this helps prevent 130,000 tonnes of CO2 emissions being released into the atmosphere.

    Deputy city mayor Cllr Elly Cutkelvin, who leads on neighbourhoods, said: “As students prepare to move out of their rented accommodation for the summer, they can face a bit of a challenge getting rid of the stuff they don’t want to take with them. The BHF’s Pack for Good scheme gives them the chance to donate any items that could be used again.

    “It’s a really good way for students to get rid of their preloved items responsibly and charitably.”

    Donation points for the BHF’s Pack for Good scheme will be in place from late May until early September. They will be located at Queens Road, Thurlow Road, Cradock Road, Putney Road, and on the corner of London Road and St Albans Road in Clarendon Park; at Westcotes library, Briton Street, Western Boulevard and Eastern Boulevard in Westcotes; and at Jarron Street, The Newarke and Bath Lane.

    The council will also be supporting students by encouraging them to use the free bulky waste collection service to have any large items and additional bags of household waste removed.

    For more information about the BHF Donation points or how to book a free bulky waste collection visit www.leicester.gov.uk/recycling

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI Africa: African Development Bank Approves $474.6 Million Loan to support South Africa’s Infrastructure Governance and Green Growth

    The Board of Directors of the African Development Bank Group (www.AfDB.org) has approved a $474.6 million loan for South Africa’s Infrastructure Governance and Green Growth Programme (IGGGP). This financing marks a significant milestone in the country’s transition toward a sustainable, low-carbon economy.

    This IGGGP is the second phase of the Bank’s strategic support for South Africa’s Just Energy Transition. It builds on the success of the $300 million Energy Governance and Climate Resilience Programme, approved in 2023, which delivered key reforms that bolstered financial stability and increased renewable energy capacity.

    Structured around three interconnected pillars: enhancing energy security through power sector restructuring, supporting a low-carbon and just transition, and improving transport efficiency – the IGGGP is designed to accelerate South Africa’s green transformation and promote inclusive, resilient growth. South Africa’s Minister of Finance, Enoch Godongwana,  described the Bank’s support as valuable. 

    “Our country faces the significant challenge of energy shortages, leading to loadshedding, as well as significant transport bottlenecks, which have been detrimental to growing our economy and achieving our developmental aspirations. With your partnership, our government has committed itself to stay the course and implement these critical reforms in the energy and transport sectors, while endeavoring to achieve our international commitments on climate change and our JET objectives,” he said.

    The IGGGP also places strong emphasis on green industrialization, skills development, and job creation, including support for electric vehicle manufacturing and green hydrogen production. Recent estimates from the IMF show that South Africa’s Just Energy Transition could boost the country’s GDP growth by 0.2 to 0.4 percentage points annually between 2025 and 2030.

    “This approval represents more than financing — it’s a blueprint for Africa’s energy future,” said Kennedy Mbekeani, African Development Bank Group’s Director General for Southern Africa. “South Africa’s success in building a just, green, and inclusive energy system demonstrates that sustainable development and economic growth can go hand in hand.”

    This financing includes targeted grant components to promote energy efficiency initiatives and advance rail sector reforms. Key priorities include accelerating vertical separation and establishing an investment framework to revitalize South Africa’s freight and logistics systems. These efforts are expected to strengthen competitiveness of the transport sector and contribute to regional integration and economic growth across the Southern African Development Community.

    As an advanced economy in Africa and a regional power hub, South Africa’s success in its energy transition could catalyze similar transformations across the continent. Its experience integrating renewable energy, modernizing its grid, and implementing just transition policies will provide valuable lessons for other African nations pursuing sustainable development goals.

    The initiative incorporates comprehensive environmental and social safeguards, with a particular focus on gender and youth empowerment. Women will constitute 70% of the beneficiaries of the expanded Social Employment Fund, and dedicated youth skills programmes will equip the next generation for emerging opportunities in the green economy.

    The success of the IGGGP will contribute to several United Nations Sustainable Development Goals, including affordable and clean energy (SDG 7), decent work and economic growth (SDG 8), industry, innovation, and infrastructure (SDG 9), and climate action (SDG 13).

    The African Development Bank’s support forms part of a historic $2.78 billion international financing package that includes $1.5 billion from the World Bank, €500 million from Germany’s KfW, up to $200 million from Japan’s JICA, and an expected $150 million from the OPEC Fund. This coordinated financing underscores the global significance of South Africa’s energy transition, particularly under its G20 presidency. The programme aligns with South Africa’s updated Nationally Determined Contributions under the Paris Agreement, which targets reducing greenhouse gas emissions to 398–510 million tons of CO₂ equivalent by 2025 and 350–420 million tons by 2030.

    Distributed by APO Group on behalf of African Development Bank Group (AfDB).

    Additional Image: https://apo-opa.co/3G4EecH

    Media contact:
    Emeka Anuforo,
    Communication and External Relations Department,
    media@afdb.org

    About the African Development Bank Group:
    The African Development Bank Group is Africa’s premier development finance institution. It comprises three distinct entities: the African Development Bank (AfDB), the African Development Fund (ADF) and the Nigeria Trust Fund (NTF). On the ground in 41 African countries with an external office in Japan, the Bank contributes to the economic development and the social progress of its 54 regional member states. For more information: www.AfDB.org

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