Category: Education

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Demolition of former school to start next week

    Source: Scotland – City of Aberdeen

    The demolition of a former school building in Dyce is to start on Monday.

    The former Carden School was last used as a school in 2010 and although it has been used on occasion since then, the building has been declared surplus to requirements and needs to come down due to health and safety requirements.

    The Library and Community hub will be operating as normal during the works. Pedestrian access from Gordon Terrace to Central Park through the school site will be restricted during the works.

    Access to the car park off Gordon Terrace will be limited for the duration of the works while the car parks on the other side of the site will be unaffected.  

    Working hours for the demolition will be Monday to Friday, from 8am to 4.30pm. There will be no works carried out at the weekends or on public holidays.

    The site is included within the Local Development Plan which will allow the potential for future use of the site to be considered.

    MIL OSI United Kingdom

  • MIL-OSI Russia: Young HSE scientist receives RAS gold medal

    Translation. Region: Russian Federal

    Source: State University Higher School of Economics – State University Higher School of Economics –

    The Russian Academy of Sciences (RAS) has summed up the results of the annual competition for young scientists. Gold medals are awarded to research and inventions that are of great importance for the development of science. One of the winners of the award was Denis Bodrov, a postgraduate student at the International Laboratory of Condensed Matter Physics and a research fellow International Laboratory of Elementary Particle Physics MIEM HSE University. Denis Bodrov told Vyshka.Glavnoe about his work, the competition, and his victory.

    About the project

    – Our work is devoted to the study of the properties of weak interaction, in particular, responsible for violation of symmetry, which was necessary for the appearance of an excess of matter, which allowed us to appear with you. The most thoroughly the structure of weak interaction has been studied in the decay of Muon. According to the existing generally accepted theory, the standard model (cm), this particle is identical to the electron, but it is harder and decays. Muon and Electron have an even heavier counterpart-Tau-Rlepton. In our work, we conduct a study of its collapse into Muon to obtain new information about the structure of weak interaction. In cm, this structure should be the same in the decays of Muon and Tau-Reton, and our task was to check if this was really so. To do this, we have developed a method that allows you to measure the polarization of the subsidiary of Muon. In specialized installations on the study of the decay of Muon, this was done before us, but the methods used there do not work in accelerating experiments on electron-poster colliders, where information about the polarization of Muon allows you to study other particles that decay on it, such as Tau-Rettleon. According to our estimates, in the already working experiment Belle II and in the experiments of the future it will be possible to achieve a high accuracy comparable to the work received in the work of studying the decay of Muon. In addition, we have applied the developed method for analyzing the data of the already completed Belle experiment and first measured one of the parameters of interest to us, albeit with the still insufficient accuracy, which is associated with the technical restrictions on the experiment of the past.

    The target audience of our work is primarily the scientific community, as is usually the case in studies of fundamental issues of the structure of the universe. The goal of all elementary particle physics in recent decades is to search for new physics (NP), which will be beyond the Standard Model. One can search for its obvious manifestation by detecting new particles, or one can accurately measure the parameters of the SM, where any deviation from the predicted values serves as an indication of NP. The second option is the general goal of our work.

    About the RAS competition and victory

    — A work or a series of works is nominated for participation in this competition; this can be done by members of the Russian Academy of Sciences, scientific organizations, councils, etc. In our case, the work was nominated by the National Research University Higher School of Economics. I believe that the merit of our victory is primarily due to my scientific supervisor Pavel Nikolaevich Pakhlov. I am generally lucky to work under his supervision. Participation in the competition was his initiative.

    We submitted a series of works to the competition that took more than five years to complete and included the development of a new method, an assessment of its sensitivity for several present and future experiments, and its implementation on already selected experimental data. This is a very large amount of work, and it was quite difficult to win.

    About HSE postgraduate studies

    — When I was still a master’s student at MIPT, our research team at HSE opened the International Laboratory of Elementary Particle Physics, so it was logical to go here for graduate school. Fortunately, before that, the Higher School of Economics had opened Faculty of Physics, many of whose teachers also lecture or lectured at the Phystech, so there were no questions about the quality of education. An additional motivation was the “Academic Postgraduate Studies” program. Unfortunately, at the time of my admission, our laboratory did not have its own postgraduate program, and the Physics Department did not have our direction, so I had to go to theoretical physics as the closest direction. Yes, I had to study subjects that were, to put it mildly, distant from the main topic of my research. Nevertheless, many of them turned out to be interesting and expanded my horizons in other areas of physics. In general, my studies in the HSE postgraduate program are going quite smoothly. Now our laboratory already has several HSE postgraduate students, and recently our own postgraduate program was opened, so in the future everything should get even better.

    Please note: This information is raw content directly from the source of the information. It is exactly what the source states and does not reflect the position of MIL-OSI or its clients.

    MIL OSI Russia News

  • MIL-OSI Africa: Study Validates Impact of International Teams in Africa’s Outbreak Response

    Source: APO


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    A new study carried out by the Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC) and the UK Public Health Rapid Support Team (UK-PHRST) confirms the critical role international health teams have played in strengthening outbreak response across the African continent. The study also highlights the need for more strategic and locally tailored support models to ensure long-term sustainability and effectiveness.

    Presented and validated during a high-level virtual workshop held from 23 to 24 June 2025, the study offers one of the most comprehensive assessments to date of international technical deployments and their impact on national outbreak preparedness and response systems in African Union (AU) Member States between 2020 and 2023.

    The findings show that international teams provided crucial short-term surge capacity across several public health domains, including surveillance, laboratory systems, epidemiology, infection prevention and control, clinical care, and risk communication. Notably, nearly half of all deployments supported two or more of these areas, underscoring their value in addressing multifaceted outbreak challenges.

    Beyond emergency response, the study details how international teams supported countries through the provision of equipment and infrastructure, the development of operational systems and protocols, the transfer of skills through training, the enhancement of coordination structures, and rapid deployment of human resources during critical capacity gaps.

    “These deployments have delivered vital expertise, resources, and rapid response capacity at crucial moments,” said Dr Radjabu Bigirimana, Programme Lead for Africa CDC’s African Volunteers Health Corps (AVoHC). “However, they also raise important questions about sustainability, coordination, and how we strengthen long-term national preparedness systems.”

    While national stakeholders widely appreciated the contributions of international teams, the study also captured reflections from international partners on the importance of aligning deployments with local needs, existing national capacities, and longer-term health security goals. Effectiveness, the study found, often depended on the expertise of deployed personnel and their integration into existing national response systems.

    “This workshop reinforces the need for global partnerships to evolve—where international deployments are not just reactive measures, but deliberate investments in national systems, tailored to local realities and long-term goals,” said Dr Edmund Newman, Director of the UK-PHRST.

    “Evidence-informed learning must guide how we improve emergency public health deployments,” added Dr Femi Nzegwu, Assistant Professor at the London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine and Monitoring, Evaluation and Learning lead at UK-PHRST. “The findings of the report validate experiences across Africa but also point to what must change to ensure deployments are more effective, context-specific, equitable, and empowering for Member States.”

    The workshop resulted in the collaborative development of a roadmap to operationalise the report’s recommendations, serving as a good practice guide on how to enable sustainable solutions in outbreak management among AU Member States. In turn, the report lays a foundation for reducing long-term reliance on external surge capacity by strengthening national health systems.

    Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC).

    MIL OSI Africa

  • MIL-OSI Africa: Merck Foundation Chief Executive Officer (CEO) meets Mauritius President to share the Impact of their 100 Scholarships for Mauritian Doctors in partnership with Ministry of Health

    Source: APO

    Senator, Dr. Rasha Kelej, CEO of Merck Foundation (www.Merck-Foundation.com), the philanthropic arm of Merck KGaA Germany met HIS EXCELLENCY MR. DHARAMBEER GOKHOOL, The President of Republic of Mauritius, during a high-level meeting, to share the impact of their programs and underscore their long-term commitment to transform public healthcare in Mauritius.  

    Senator, Dr. Rasha Kelej, CEO of Merck Foundation and President of “More Than a Mother” Campaign emphasized, “It was a great honor to meet H.E. MR. DHARAMBEER GOKHOOL, The President of Mauritius and share with him the impact of our partnership and programs since 2017 that aim to transform patient care, build healthcare and media capacity, to empower women in STEM, support girl education and raise awareness about social and health issues in Mauritius and the rest of Africa. 

    I am proud to share that we have provided 100 scholarships for Mauritian doctors in 42 critical and under-served specialties. During our meeting, we also discussed the possibility of providing specialized training for Mauritian doctors in innovative and emerging fields such as Stem Cell Therapy in pathology, CAR T-cell treatment, AI in Radiology, Radiotherapy and Medical Oncology, Robotic Surgical Oncology, Neurology, Nephrology, Urology, and Neurosurgery.” 

    She further added, “We are strongly committed to work closely with Ministry of Health to improve access to innovative and equitable healthcare solutions.” 

    The 100 scholarships for local Mauritian Doctors have been provided for One-Year PG Diploma and Two-year Master Degrees in many critical specialties including Fertility, Embryology, Sexual & Reproductive Care, Oncology, Preventative Cardiovascular, Diabetes, Endocrinology, Acute Medicine, Respiratory, Gastroenterology, Dermatology, Neuroimaging for Research, Sexual & Reproductive Care, Clinical Microbiology and infectious diseases, Internal Medicine, Pediatric Emergency Medicine, Ophthalmology, Laparoscopic Surgical Skills, Critical Care, Neonatal Medicine, Psychiatry, Family Medicine, Advanced Cytopathology and many more.

    Merck Foundation has so far provided more than 2280 scholarships for young doctors from 52 countries in 44 critical and underserved specialties, with many of them becoming the first specialists in their countries.

    During her visit, Merck Foundation CEO also met the Hon’ble Ms. Marie Arianne Navarre-Marie, Minister of Gender Equality and Family Welfare,  and senior officials from the Office of Hon’ble Minister of Health, Mauritius. 

    Merck Foundation also conducted the 4th Edition of their Health Media Training for the Mauritian Media Representatives in partnership with Ministry of Gender Equality and Family Welfare, Mauritius. The training session was conducted to emphasize on the important role that media plays to influence society to create a cultural shift with the aim to address wide range of social and health issues such as: Breaking Infertility Stigma, Supporting Girl Education, Women Empowerment, Ending Child Marriage, Ending FGM, Stopping GBV, Diabetes and Hypertension awareness. It was co-chaired by Merck Foundation CEO and Minister of Gender Equality and Family Welfare, Mauritius.  

    During the training session, the Call for Application for 8 important Merck Foundation Awards were announced for Media, Musicians, Fashion Designers, Filmmakers, students, and new potential talents in these fields.  

    The award announced are: 

    1. Merck Foundation Africa Media Recognition Awards “More Than a Mother” 2025, in partnership with Media Trust Board, Mauritius: Media representatives and media students are invited to showcase their work to raise awareness about one or more of the following social issues such as: Breaking Infertility Stigma, Supporting Girl Education, Women Empowerment, Ending Child Marriage, Ending FGM, and/ or Stopping GBV at all levels. 

    Submission deadline: 30th September 2025.  

    2. Merck Foundation Fashion Awards “More Than a Mother” 2025, in partnership with Academy of Design and Innovation, Mauritius: All African Fashion Students and Designers are invited to create and share designs to deliver strong and influential messages to raise awareness about one or more of the following social issues such as: Breaking Infertility Stigma, Supporting Girl Education, Women Empowerment, Ending Child Marriage, Ending FGM, and/ or Stopping GBV at all levels. 

    Submission deadline: 30th September 2025.  

    3. Merck Foundation Film Awards “More Than a Mother” 2025: All African Filmmakers, Students of Film Making Training Institutions, or Young Talents of Africa are invited to create and share a long or short FILMS, either drama, documentary, or docudrama to deliver strong and influential messages to address one or more of the following social issues such as: Breaking Infertility Stigma, Supporting Girl Education, Women Empowerment, Ending Child Marriage, Ending FGM, and/ or Stopping GBV at all levels. 

    Submission deadline: 30th September 2025.  

    4. Merck Foundation Song Awards “More Than a Mother” 2025: All African Singers and Musical Artists are invited to create and share a SONG with the aim to address one or more of the following social issues such as: Breaking Infertility Stigma, Supporting Girl Education, Women Empowerment, Ending Child Marriage, Ending FGM, and/ or Stopping GBV at all levels. 

    Submission deadline: 30th September 2025.  

    5. Merck Foundation Media Recognition Awards 2025 “Diabetes & Hypertension”, in partnership with Media Trust Board, Mauritius: Media representatives are invited to showcase their work through strong and influential messages to promote a healthy lifestyle and raise awareness about the prevention and early detection of Diabetes and Hypertension. 

    Submission deadline: 30th October 2025.  

    6. Merck Foundation Fashion Awards 2025 “Diabetes & Hypertension”, in partnership with Academy of Design and Innovation, Mauritius: All African Fashion Students and Designers are invited to create and share designs to deliver strong and influential messages to promote a healthy lifestyle and raise awareness about the prevention and early detection of Diabetes and Hypertension. 

    Submission deadline: 30th October 2025.  

    7. Merck Foundation Film Awards 2025 “Diabetes & Hypertension: All African Filmmakers, Students of Film Making Training Institutions, or Young Talents of Africa are invited to create and share a long or short FILMS, either drama, documentary, or docudrama to deliver strong and influential messages to promote a healthy lifestyle raise awareness about prevention and early detection of Diabetes and Hypertension. 

    Submission deadline: 30th October 2025.  

    8. Merck Foundation Song Awards 2025 “Diabetes & Hypertension”: All African Singers and Musical Artists are invited to create and share a SONG with the aim to promote a healthy lifestyle and raise awareness about the prevention and early detection of Diabetes and Hypertension. 

    Submission deadline: 30th October 2025.  

    Entries for the above awards can be submitted to us at: submit@merck-foundation.com 

    For information on the above awards, please visit our website: www.Merck-Foundation.com 

    Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Merck Foundation.

    Contact:
    Mehak Handa
    Community Awareness Program Manager
    +91 9310087613
    +91 9319606669
    mehak.handa@external.merckgroup.com

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    Website: www.Merck-Foundation.com

    About Merck Foundation:  
    The Merck Foundation, established in 2017, is the philanthropic arm of Merck KGaA Germany, aims to improve the health and wellbeing of people and advance their lives through science and technology. Our efforts are primarily focused on improving access to quality & equitable healthcare solutions in underserved communities, building healthcare & scientific research capacity, empowering girls in education and empowering people in STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics) with a special focus on women and youth. All Merck Foundation press releases are distributed by e-mail at the same time they become available on the Merck Foundation Website.  Please visit www.Merck-Foundation.com to read more. Follow the social media of Merck Foundation: Facebook (https://apo-opa.co/45OYtFD), X (https://apo-opa.co/4la7sWx), Instagram (https://apo-opa.co/4nxsBM9), YouTube (https://apo-opa.co/3Ib03rE), Threads (https://apo-opa.co/44tqLDg) and Flickr (https://apo-opa.co/45VKr5e). 

    The Merck Foundation is dedicated to improving social and health outcomes for communities in need. While it collaborates with various partners, including governments to achieve its humanitarian goals, the foundation remains strictly neutral in political matters. It does not engage in or support any political activities, elections, or regimes, focusing solely on its mission to elevate humanity and enhance well-being while maintaining a strict non-political stance in all of its endeavors. 

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    MIL OSI Africa

  • MIL-OSI USA: Proclamation Issued for Independence Day

    Source: US State of New York

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    July 4, 2025

    Albany, NY

    State Landmarks to be Illuminated Red, White and Blue

    Read Proclamation Here

    Governor Kathy Hochul today issued a proclamation declaring July 4 as Independence Day in the State of New York. The Governor also announced that on Friday, July 4, State landmarks will be illuminated red, white and blue.

    “Today we remember the principles that this great country was founded on — justice for all, equality and freedom,” Governor Hochul said. “As families and loved ones gather together to celebrate the July 4th holiday, we should also recognize the leaders who fought for those principles.”

    The landmarks to be lit in celebration of Independence Day include:

    • 1WTC
    • Governor Mario M. Cuomo Bridge
    • Kosciuszko Bridge
    • The H. Carl McCall SUNY Building
    • State Education Building
    • Alfred E. Smith State Office Building
    • Empire State Plaza
    • State Fairgrounds – Main Gate & Expo Center
    • Niagara Falls
    • The “Franklin D. Roosevelt” Mid-Hudson Bridge
    • Grand Central Terminal – Pershing Square Viaduct
    • Albany International Airport Gateway
    • Lake Placid Olympic Center
    • MTA LIRR – East End Gateway at Penn Station
    • Fairport Lift Bridge over the Erie Canal
    • Moynihan Train Hall

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    The State of New York does not imply approval of the listed destinations, warrant the accuracy of any information set out in those destinations, or endorse any opinions expressed therein. External web sites operate at the direction of their respective owners who should be contacted directly with questions regarding the content of these sites.

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    MIL OSI USA News

  • MIL-OSI Russia: Pride of the University: The Polytechnic University awarded its best graduates

    Translation. Region: Russian Federal

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

    At the beginning of July, the atmosphere at the Polytechnic University is especially enthusiastic, happy and at the same time a little sad. Graduates walk around the campus in their robes, celebrate the end of exams and defenses, say goodbye to their beloved university and teachers, proudly receive their diplomas and prepare for a new wonderful life. One of the most solemn events in the series of graduation ceremonies is the honoring of gold medalists, those who have studied only excellently all these years and have distinguished themselves in scientific and social activities.

    This year, the award ceremony for the best graduates of the Master’s and Specialist’s programs of 2025 was held in the meeting room of the Academic Council. The medals “Peter the Great St. Petersburg Polytechnic University” were presented to the students by the rector of SPbPU, academician of the Russian Academy of Sciences Andrey Rudskoy and the president and chairman of the board of directors of the RBI Group, a graduate of the Faculty of Economics in 1994, Honorary Professor of SPbPU Eduard Tiktinsky.

    Before the ceremony, Andrey Rudskoy thanked the directors of the institutes and the parents of the graduates and said a few parting words: Dear guys! I sincerely wish that you honorably bear the high title of the engineering special forces of our university. You cannot waste a second now, you need to continue to study, deepen your knowledge. This will be repaid a hundredfold later. I want all future great achievements to bear your names. Of course, you are entering graduate school without competition, this happens once in a lifetime, you cannot lose the pace of learning. It is very important for each of you to make the right settings in your head now. An internal trigger must be triggered – the desire to study and achieve something in this life. Stay with us, we will be happy to see you with your graduate student certificates. Honor, dignity, pride in the fact that you studied here, for the fact that you are members of the Polytechnic family, you must carry throughout your life and prove every day your right to be a member of this great family.

    Eduard Tiktinsky thanked for the honor of speaking at the award ceremony for the golden graduates and supported the words of the SPbPU rector in his parting words: The education that the Polytechnic University provides is not just knowledge of scientific principles, it is the development of the convolutions of the brain. The world is changing rapidly, and you will have to constantly learn. And the fact that you were able to pass the most difficult course of the Polytechnic University at the highest level gives you great opportunities. Communication, outlook, and various experiences that you received at the university will give you a lot in life. Follow your dream, you have talent and opportunities. Do not be afraid to try, the main thing is not to stand still. There is really a huge demand for you. The country needs technological startups, it needs innovative activity. You are engineers, on the one hand, and on the other hand, people with great potential and energy, capable of achieving results. I believe that you will remember this day for the rest of your life, and our wishes will become the foundation for the next breakthrough. I believe that each of you has the opportunity to succeed and I urge you not to miss your chance.

    And here is the culmination of the ceremony — the presentation of medals, commemorative plaques, gifts and flowers. Based on the results of successful defenses of final qualification works in June 2025, in accordance with the recommendations of the directorates of the institutes and based on the decision of the Academic Council of SPbPU, 23 graduates — straight A students are nominated for awards, including eight people from the Institute of Industrial Management, Economics and Trade, four from the Institute of Power Engineering, three from the Civil Engineering Institute, two from the Institute of Biomedical Systems and Biotechnology and the Institute of Electronics and Telecommunications, one from the Institute of Mechanical Engineering, Materials and Transport, the Humanitarian Institute, the Institute of Computer Science and Cybersecurity, the Physics and Mechanical Engineering Institute.

    Among the 23 best graduates of 2025, 20 people completed their master’s degree and three completed their specialist’s degree; three graduates entered the 1st year of the bachelor’s degree at SPbPU in 2019 after graduating from the Natural Science Lyceum of the Polytechnic University (Svyatoslav Drozdov, PhysMech, Andrey Klinovitsky, IMMiT and Kristina Rodionova, IBSiB); 16 people graduated from high school or gymnasium with a medal, receiving a certificate of secondary education “with honors”.

    The first award was presented to a graduate of the Institute of Energy Alexander Abubakirov, which represented Polytechnic on June 25 in the Peter and Paul Fortress at the XXIII ceremonial honoring the best graduates of St. Petersburg universities. It was Alexander who was given the honorary right to fire the midday shot from the cannon of the Naryshkin Bastion.

    Also at the Institute of Energy, Pavel Volkov was awarded gold medals, Mikhail Chuprynenko and Andrey Florinsky.

    The best graduate of IMMiT was Andrey Klinovitsky, who came to the Polytechnic in 2019 after successfully graduating from the Natural Sciences Lyceum. Andrey shared that he chose the Lyceum at the time because he considered it one of the strongest schools in St. Petersburg with in-depth training in technical disciplines, and also closely connected with the Polytechnic University, which helped him immerse himself in the university environment in advance.

    “After graduating from the Lyceum, choosing the Polytechnic was easy — I already knew what to prepare for at the university and saw further opportunities for development,” Andrey said. “At ENL, we had electives in engineering creativity, where we designed and assembled robots, so I enrolled in the Mechatronics and Robotics program. It was not easy to study excellently for all six years, but the main thing for this is discipline and meeting deadlines. It is important to distribute the workload and not put off tasks until the last minute. At the same time, I had time for student activities and hobbies. For example, my friends and I founded a student association in robotics, participated in and won more than ten all-Russian competitions and competitions in robotics.”

    Yes, Andrey is well known to our readerspublications about the activities of the student association he leads “PolyRoboTech” and about the successes of his team in competitions. In addition, in 2023, he, like Alexander Abubakirov, was gold medalist of the “I am a professional” Olympiad.

    The best graduate of IBSiB Kristina Rodionova also came to the Polytechnic after the Natural Science Lyceum. In 2019, she graduated with a gold medal and, having now received a gold medal from SPbPU, confirmed the high quality of training of ENL graduates.

    “Most of all, in the natural-scientific lyceum, I was attracted to the fact that the training format there is not at all school, but student: instead of lessons-couples, at the end of each semester, oral exams in physics and mathematics are passed, there is even a division into lecture and practical classes, just like at a university,” Christina shared her memories. – Many of my classmates after the end of the Lyceum went to Polytech. I entered the direction of “Biotechnical Systems and Technologies” by the Institute of Biomedical Systems and Biotechnology. And my expectations were justified: I was lucky to study in the direction that brings pleasure. Although studying was very hard, especially in the first semester: in addition to the basic physics, higher mathematics and chemistry for all students, we also had medical subjects – anatomy, physiology, and histology. All this was very difficult to combine. How many tears were spilled over a textbook on anatomy! But after the second year it became much easier. Then in summer practice I began research work in the scientific laboratory. From that moment I have been in love with science: for four years, students managed to work in three laboratories, take part in writing articles, in conferences, in grants. My involvement in scientific life, as well as the mentoring of colleagues, in many ways helped to easily master academic disciplines. I am still very grateful to my first scientific mentor Anton Sergeyevich Shabunin, also once a graduate of the Polytechnic, for help in taking the first steps in a scientific career and transferred invaluable experience. Now I work in my specialty simultaneously in two laboratories, since I have not yet decided what is more interesting to me: tissue engineering or virology and immunology. ”

    We have already talked about the second best graduate of IBSiB, Daria Melentyeva we talked about this in detail in our special project “Persona”By the way, it was Dasha who gave a speech and took the oath on behalf of all the first-year students six years ago. at the ceremonial assembly in honor of SPbPU Knowledge Day.

    The best graduate of the IKNK, Alexander Khrustalev, in 2019 was also one of those first-year students who scored the highest number of points for the entrance exams.

    “Then I was glad that I managed to enter the university, now I am glad that I managed to graduate,” Alexander shared. “The first years were difficult, then grades stopped worrying me so much, and studying in specialized subjects became much easier. The patience and professionalism of our teachers helped me in my studies. Fortunately, all our teachers taught their courses wonderfully, thank you very much to them.”

    PhysMech graduate Svyatoslav Drozdov successfully graduated from the Polytechnic University’s Natural Sciences Lyceum in 2019 and says that his studies at ENL left him with “exceptionally positive impressions.”

    “And since I had a very good opinion of the Lyceum, I chose the Polytechnic as an organization associated with it,” Svyatoslav explained the reason for entering SPbPU. When asked whether it was difficult to study for six years with excellent grades, he answered scientifically: “The main difficulty in studying for 5.0 is precisely that you need to pay attention to everything, maximizing the probability of a specific outcome of the session (all A’s). With the same expenditure of resources, it would be much easier to count on an average score of 4.9. Therefore, sometimes there was a feeling of playing roulette, when you understand that any exam and an unsuccessful question on it can ruin a series of previously received grades. In my studies, the desire to understand what I do not understand, interest and sports excitement helped – will I be able to pass everything with excellent marks?”

    The Civil Engineering Institute was represented at the award ceremony by Daria Denisenko, Yulia Matveeva and Lyudmila Morshchakova.

    IPMEiT has been producing the most gold medalists for several years now. In 2025, these are Eldar Asadullaev, Anastasia Maykova, Marina Malashenko, Vadim Savekin, Daniil Tyurin, Ekaterina Fedorakhina, Nikita Sharikov, Maria Odesskaya.

    Adelina Borozdina became the best graduate at the Humanitarian Institute.

    At the Institute of Electronics and Telecommunications, Nikita Ivanov and The Manh Do from Vietnam received gold medals.

    From 2003 to 2025, 970 best graduates of the Polytechnic University were awarded SPbPU gold medals based on the results of winter and summer defenses of their final qualifying works. The largest number of gold medalists graduated from SPbPU in 2013 — 68 graduates. The smallest number — 19 graduates — in 2016 and 2023.

    Please note: This information is raw content directly from the source of the information. It is exactly what the source states and does not reflect the position of MIL-OSI or its clients.

    MIL OSI Russia News

  • MIL-OSI Russia: Graduation of Master’s students in urban planning: from Yakutia to Afghanistan

    Translation. Region: Russian Federal

    Source: Saint Petersburg State University of Architecture and Civil Engineering – Saint Petersburg State University of Architecture and Civil Engineering – Master’s students-graduates

    The composition of graduates of the Department of Urban Development, who presented their master’s theses for defense on June 10, turned out to be surprisingly broad in geographical terms. On this day, 15 master’s students defended their theses, including several foreigners – Akbarmirzo Soliev and Aliye Ganieva (Uzbekistan), Akhmad Oryakhel (Afghanistan), Gantuya Batbold (Mongolia), as well as representatives of various regions of Russia: for example, Kazbek Tkhvostov – from North Ossetia, Timir Solovyov – from Yakutia, Leyla Dadaeva – from St. Petersburg, and Anzhelika Gasparyan – a native of Kuzbass.

    All of them prepared diploma projects on topics that were interesting and relevant for their countries and regions. The exception was Akbarmirzo Soliev, who took on the landscape and urban development modernization of the Green Belt of Glory memorial complex – a system of monuments to the defenders of Leningrad, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Akbarmirzo chose this topic at the suggestion of his academic supervisor, Associate Professor Svetlana Levoshko, and defended his project with excellent marks.

    Gantuya Batbold defended her thesis on the topic of “Urban development of transboundary territories of Siberia and Mongolia”. According to her bachelor’s degree in her native Mongolia, Gantuya is an environmental engineer, so she had to master a lot of new disciplines in her master’s program. Afghan Ahmad Oryakhel himself formulated the topic of the thesis “Urban development of the territories of the Khashmatkhan transport corridor in Kabul”. In addition to its relevant and deeply developed content, the work is distinguished by a high level of architectural graphics. The academic supervisor of both master’s students is Associate Professor Pavel Skryabin. According to the master’s students, the most difficult thing was to master the Russian language.

    “I am returning to my native Darkhan, the second largest city in Mongolia, known as an important industrial and educational center. I want to establish myself as a professional in the Darkhan municipality. It seems to me to be a key institution of urban governance, directly influencing the life and well-being of every citizen. My work will focus on issues of urban development and improvement of the urban environment. I will try to actively participate in the development and implementation of projects aimed at improving the quality of life of citizens, modernizing infrastructure and creating comfortable public spaces, contributing to the harmonious development of Darkhan, helping to transform it into an even more attractive and functional urban center for all its residents,” said Gantuya Batbold.

    Ahmad Oryakhel also plans to return to his homeland and pursue a career in the Kabul Municipality in his area of expertise. “I intend to work in the Urban Development Department, where architects participate in planning new districts, rebuilding urban infrastructure, and developing design solutions aimed at improving the urban environment. I believe that my knowledge and skills can be especially useful in the process of rebuilding and developing the city. The municipality is interested in young professionals with international education, and I hope to contribute to the implementation of projects related to sustainable development and modern architecture in Kabul,” Ahmad shared.

    Kazbek Tkhvostov, who completed his master’s degree with honors, received the highest mark for his work “Formation of a system of multifunctional public spaces in small towns and rural settlements of the Republic of North Ossetia – Alania”. His supervisor is Associate Professor Marina Kook. In addition, the state examination committee recommended Kazbek’s work for participation in the XXXIV Review-competition of diploma works of the Interregional Public Organization for the Promotion of Architectural Education (MOOSAO) and for implementation. Graduates of the Department of Urban Planning of 2024, his classmates and fellow countrymen Artur Ramonov and Zara Khadartseva came to support the master’s student at his defense. For now, Kazbek plans to stay in St. Petersburg, but does not rule out professional activity in North Ossetia.

    It is gratifying that the Department of Urban Planning trains highly professional specialists who work all over the world.

    Presentation by Kazbek Tkhostov

    Presentation by Ahmad Oryakhel

    Please note: This information is raw content directly from the source of the information. It is exactly what the source states and does not reflect the position of MIL-OSI or its clients.

    MIL OSI Russia News

  • MIL-OSI Africa: Central African Republic: Activists Arrested at Memorial Event

    Source: APO


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    Central African Republic authorities arrested activists holding a memorial event for students who died in a high school explosion, Human Rights Watch said today.

    On June 27, 2025, civil society activists organized a vigil in memory of the students who died in the explosion on June 25 at Barthelemy Boganda High School in Bangui, the capital, where they were taking year-end exams. The death toll was reported in the media to be 29, with at least 250 others injured. The authorities arrested seven people at the memorial event, including three of the organizers, although all have since been released.

    “Students should not fear death or injury when they are attending school and have a right to full public accountability,” said Lewis Mudge, Central Africa director at Human Rights Watch. “The government should follow through on its obligation to conduct transparent and effective investigations and not target those calling for accountability.”

    The government issued a statement on July 1 saying that 20 students died and 65 others were hospitalized. The government has promised an investigation into the cause of the explosion.

    The explosion at the school, which occurred when power was being restored to an electrical transformer on the premises, caused a stampede of 5,000 students who were taking exams, according to witnesses and media reports. One student told Human Rights Watch that it took a long time for ambulances to arrive, and that bystanders had to transport the injured to hospitals by motorcycle taxis.

    “My daughter had jumped out of a second story window,” the father of a 21-year-old victim, who was not at the scene, told Human Rights Watch. “Her friends and classmates waited for over an hour for an ambulance and decided to take her on a motorcycle, but she died on the way to the hospital. This was her baccalaureate exam, and she was excited for her future. We buried her yesterday and we are still in shock.”

    Journalists who covered the incident told Human Rights Watch that the number of dead is 29 and that the number of injured, including those seriously injured, is also higher than the official number. The government should carry out an effective, transparent, and public investigation into both the cause and the extent of the damage immediately, Human Rights Watch said.

    The president announced three days of national mourning, which took place from June 27 to 29. Civil society activists from an umbrella group, the Civil Society Working Group (Groupe de Travail de la Société Civile, GTSC), organized a vigil on June 27 to commemorate the victims, call for safer schools, and demand an investigation.

    One of the activists told Human Rights Watch the organizers tried to hold the memorial ceremony at the school but were denied access by the Education Ministry because investigations were underway. Understanding this reason, they selected a different location, but the security minister said the vigil was not authorized, citing a 2022 ban on protests in public spaces.

    The organizers along with the students and their families started to hold the vigil anyway, but police broke it up and arrested seven people including the three organizers, Gervais Lakosso, Fernand Mandéndjapou, and Paul Crescent Beninga, the activists said.

    Photos showing police beating vigil participants, seen by Human Rights Watch, circulated on social media. Human Rights Watch was also sent photos from one of the vigil organizers showing wounds from when he was thrown in a police truck.

    “We were trying to light candles and put down flowers in memory of those we lost,” Beninga said. “Where is the security risk in that? We were trying to mourn our young people that were studying for their future and the police came, beat, and arrested us and took us away.”

    During their interrogation, three civil society activists were informally accused by the police of “association with criminals” and of having ties to the Republican Bloc for the Defense of the Constitution (Bloc Républicain pour la Défense de la Constitution, BRDC), a coalition of opposition parties. People close to the government often disparage the coalition and accuse it of supporting armed groups.

    “We were treated like criminals and traitors,” Mandéndjapou said.

    The Internal Security Ministry posted its rejection of the activists’ request to hold the memorial event on its Facebook page, along with photos of the three activists in handcuffs. The post says that the “detained,” while free, will “be subject to close police surveillance.”

    Authorities took Lakosso and Mandéndjapou to a cell at the National Security Unit and Beninga to a cell at the Central Office for the Repression of Banditry (Office Central de Répression du Banditisme, OCRB), a police unit in Bangui notorious for abuses, where they spent the night. Sending an activist detained for organizing a memorial for dead students to a facility run by a unit known for torture, executions, and shooting suspects on sight can only be designed to intimidate and send a threatening message to activists.

    The three activists, as well as the four others arrested with them, were released after President Faustin-Archange Touadéra intervened, according to the activists and the ministry’s Facebook page.

    Since 2022, Central African authorities have cracked down on civil society, media, and opposition political parties. The police have prevented opposition political protests and government officials have made unfounded accusations that civil society activists are collaborating with armed groups.

    Repression increased ahead of local and national elections in 2023, and a referendum in 2023 led to a new constitution that removed term limits and allows Touadéra to run for a third term, which had not been permitted under the 2016 constitution.

    “When tragedies like this occur, civil society should be able to commemorate, call for accountability, and support people in their grief,” Mudge said. “The government’s crackdown on this memorial event shows how much it relies on repression and assumes the worst from civil society.”

    Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Human Rights Watch (HRW).

    MIL OSI Africa

  • MIL-OSI Russia: Water potential, climate adaptation and student mobility: HSE projects at the forum of strong ideas

    Translation. Region: Russian Federal

    Source: State University Higher School of Economics – State University Higher School of Economics –

    Photo: Igor Rodin / Roscongress Foundation

    The forum “Strong Ideas for a New Time” has concluded in Moscow. HSE researchers presented their projects in various fields. One of them, “Water Potential of Russia,” was among the top 10 and was presented by the head of the Scientific and educational laboratory of climate change economics HSE University Igor Makarov at a plenary session with the participation of President Vladimir Putin.

    The forum “Strong Ideas for a New Time” was organized by the Agency for Strategic Initiatives (ASI) and the Roscongress Foundation, co-organized by VEB.RF. This year, the forum received more than 35 thousand initiatives, including from employees of the Higher School of Economics. The authors of the best ideas, Russian President Vladimir Putin, ASI head Svetlana Chupsheva and VEB.RF chairman, chairman of the ASI expert council Igor Shuvalov took part in the plenary session on July 3 at the Russia National Center.

    At the plenary session, Igor Makarov, Head of the Scientific and Educational Laboratory of Climate Change Economics at the National Research University Higher School of Economics, spoke about his idea, which will allow Russia to become a water superpower.

    More than one billion people in the world live in areas that suffer from water shortages, and by the middle of the 21st century this will be two-thirds of the population, Igor Makarov noted in his speech. “Russia has 20% of the world’s reserves of this strategic asset and has every opportunity to become a water superpower of the 21st century,” he believes. But for this, according to the scientist, a comprehensive strategy for using competitive advantages associated with the availability of fresh water and its rational use is needed. The strategy may consist of four points. First, the development of a mechanism for assessing the real cost of water and the introduction of an assessment of the “water footprint” of products.

    “We must know how much water we spend on the production of a particular product,” says Igor Makarov. Secondly, creating incentives for rational water use, introducing water consumption standards. Thirdly, developing new developments and technologies in the field of water conservation and water purification. “Technologies are already appearing that not only use water without harming its quality, but even improve it: they return water to the reservoir cleaner than it was when it was taken,” explains Igor Makarov. The fourth point of the strategy could be the creation of mechanisms for joint investment in water management by the state, enterprises and citizens. “Such an approach could become the basis for water to become a new investment-attractive segment of the economy,” says Igor Makarov.

    Vladimir Putin supported the HSE project, noting that although, according to international experts, Russia is one of the countries that has more water than it consumes, it is necessary to approach its use rationally. According to the president, when implementing the programs that will arise on the basis of the proposals made by the scientist, it is necessary to take into account the balance of water consumption.

    “Because if we use this resource for industrial development, this is what we are talking about, then we must proceed from the fact that 50% of the total volume of water consumption goes specifically to industry. If we take these 50% as 100, 75% is energy. We just have to keep this in mind. For agriculture, let’s say, in my opinion, only 2%,” Vladimir Putin noted. He also emphasized that “we must be very careful when making any large-scale decisions.”

    “We have huge amounts of fresh water, and the coastal zone creates unique opportunities for development… Together with the agency and the expert council, we will try to formulate this topic so that it sounds like an economy around water. There is currently a great demand for such questions – these are completely new aspects that have not been considered before, especially in terms of supporting and developing family businesses, which is certainly important and in demand,” said Igor Shuvalov.

    Another HSE project, the creation of the National Climate Adaptation System, was included in the top 100 of the forum. The authors of the idea are employees Faculty of Geography and Geoinformation Technologies HSE University: Dean of the Faculty, Director Center for Digital Technologies for Natural and Climate Projects Nikolay Kurichev, who presented the idea at the forum, and Tatyana Aniskina, director Geodata Center.

    Geographers from the National Research University Higher School of Economics propose creating an integrated national system for managing adaptation to climate change based on microdata. It is possible to launch such a system on the basis of the multi-level digital platform “Natural and Climate Risks and Adaptation to Climate Change”. HSE.Glavnoe will tell more about this project in one of its next publications.

    The top 300 included the initiative of students of the GosVyshka platform, “A comprehensive program of academic and project-based student mobility for regional development.” “Today, it is sometimes easier for a student to go on an exchange to another country than to a Russian region,” says Maria Matveeva, head of the project “GosVyshka”, who presented the idea at the forum. “In Russia, there are formats for short-term student trips, such as expeditions and student tourism. But to get a full-fledged transformative experience, a student must stay in another region for at least 4-6 months, and, unfortunately, at the moment this is quite difficult.”

    In order to form a unified educational space in Russia, the authors of the idea proposed a program with four tracks: academic (a student from an average regional university goes to a highly selective university to gain knowledge), scientific (theoretical research due to the specifics of the host region, for example, studying volcanoes in Kamchatka), social (in combination with the service learning program, work on NPO projects), and managerial (work on the tasks of executive authorities and senior officials of the regions in the format of workshops based at the State Higher School of Economics).

    “We thank ASI for supporting our project and hope for further assistance in its implementation. In addition, we are looking for regional partners to receive project assignments for students within the framework of mobility programs,” said Maria Matveeva.

    Please note: This information is raw content directly from the source of the information. It is exactly what the source states and does not reflect the position of MIL-OSI or its clients.

    MIL OSI Russia News

  • MIL-OSI Russia: Alexander Abubakirov: “I fell in love with Polytechnic University from the first lecture”

    Translation. Region: Russian Federal

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

    The best graduate of the Polytechnic University Aleksandr Abubakirov decided back in school that he would connect his life with engineering. This path led him to the Polytechnic, the Institute of Power Engineering. Now Aleksandr is choosing which scientific field of power engineering he will study in graduate school. Over the years of study, the Polytechnic student has achieved significant success, winning many awards at specialized Olympiads and receiving various grants. In an interview, Alexander said, why he chose the electric power industry, what difficulties he faced and how he sees his future.

    Please note: This information is raw content directly from the source of the information. It is exactly what the source states and does not reflect the position of MIL-OSI or its clients.

    MIL OSI Russia News

  • MIL-OSI Russia: Eduard Tiktinsky became an Honorary Professor of SPbPU

    Translation. Region: Russian Federal

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

    On July 4, a solemn ceremony of awarding the diploma and mantle of the Honorary Professor of SPbPU to the founder, president and chairman of the board of directors of the RBI Group Eduard Tiktinsky took place at Peter the Great St. Petersburg Polytechnic University. The assignment of this title is the highest form of recognition of merits in educational and scientific activities. The event took place during the honoring of the best graduates of the Polytechnic.

    The honorary title was awarded to Eduard Tiktinsky, a graduate of the Economics Department of the Leningrad Polytechnic Institute, by the decision of the Academic Council of SPbPU on December 2, 2024.

    Eduard Saulevich founded the RBI Group at the age of 21. Having graduated from the Polytechnic, the higher courses in economics and privatization of the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development, and having gained experience in real estate, Eduard Tiktinsky created and headed a development company, which today is one of the largest holdings in St. Petersburg in the residential and commercial construction market. During this time, the company has implemented more than 80 projects, with a total area of more than two million square meters.

    Today, Eduard Tiktinsky is an Honorary Builder of Russia, holder of the Order of Merit in Construction, member of the Board of Trustees of the World Club of Petersburgers, initiator and ideological inspirer of the social project for talented youth “School of Leaders of the Future”. In addition, Eduard Saulevich is a multiple leader of professional and business ratings, recognized at various times by expert communities as “Person of the Year”, “Expert of the Year” in the field of business, innovation, education, as well as one of the most effective managers who made the greatest personal contribution to the development of the industry over the past decade.

    Eduard Saulevich is, first and foremost, a polytechnician, an engineer and economist, who has proven with his success story how business provides opportunities for self-realization, and personal motivation, efficiency and talent help to achieve goals. For several years now, the university has been hosting meetings with polytechnicians, where Eduard Saulevich shares his experience, helps students believe in themselves and encourages them to “know their craft”, because success is the result of work, accepted risks and conviction in the correctness of the chosen path, – noted the scientific secretary of the university Dmitry Karpov, reading out the presentation.

    So, Eduard Tiktinsky became a guest discussion club “You have the floor!”, answered questions from polytechnicians.

    In conclusion, Dmitry Anatolyevich cited Eduard Saulevich’s “rules of success”, voiced by him in one of his interviews.

    I want to thank you for the great honor of speaking at an important event – the awarding of golden graduates. Remembering my studies, I want to note that after creating my company, I did not come to the Polytechnic very often. But nevertheless, it gave me the opportunity to accept the challenge both in work and in studies, without any discounts and adjustments to pass all exams on time, clearly and with normal grades. The activity that I conduct, meeting with students and entrepreneurs, gives a lot not only to people, as I hope, but also to me, – said Eduard Tiktinsky in his response.

    Eduard Saulevich visited the SPbPU History Museum, where he learned interesting facts about the history of the university and saw key exhibits. The honorary professor climbed the spiral staircase to the Polytech Tower, where he was able to enjoy the view of the university and the city from a height of more than 40 meters.

    The tower is one of the symbols of the Polytechnic University, this year it turns 120 years old. It is interesting that it is now used as a youth cluster for startups and development. Of course, it is very symbolic when a historical building is given a new life. I believe this is a very important task for the city. It is good when such projects “throw” a kind of bridge between history and modernity. The Polytechnic University Tower, as I see it, fully embodies the functions and meanings that a cultural heritage site can carry, – noted Eduard Tiktinsky.

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    MIL OSI Russia News

  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: “Love Our Home, Treasure Our Country” Joint School Gala showcases atmosphere of patriotism

    Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

    ​The Education Bureau (EDB) today (July 4) held the Celebration of the 5th Anniversary of the Implementation of the Hong Kong National Security Law cum the 28th Anniversary of Hong Kong’s Return to the Motherland “Love Our Home, Treasure Our Country” Joint School National Education Activities Gala to showcase the fruitful achievements of the school year.

    The Deputy Chief Secretary for Administration, Mr Cheuk Wing-hing, and the Secretary for Education, Dr Choi Yuk-lin, officiated at the event. Around 2 000 representatives from school sponsoring bodies, school councils, school head associations, schools and parent-teacher associations attended.

    MIL OSI Asia Pacific News

  • MIL-OSI Africa: World Health Organization (WHO) and UK Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO) standby partners strengthen cholera response in South Sudan

    Source: APO


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    Amidst the ongoing cholera outbreak in South Sudan, the World Health Organization (WHO) expressed gratitude for the critical support provided by the UK Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO) and WHO’s Standby Partners (SBPs). Their timely and coordinated assistance has significantly enhanced WHO’s capacity to support the government of South Sudan’s efforts to contain the outbreak.

    South Sudan declared a cholera outbreak in October 2024, since then, the Ministry of Health with support from World Health Organization (WHO) and other partners, has mounted a comprehensive response, designating the outbreak as a highest-priority emergency. This designation has enabled deployment of rapid response teams, prepositioning medical supplies and coordination efforts across all levels to protect communities and safe lives. This is the longest cholera outbreak in the country’s history since independence in September 2011.

    With funding from the UK FCDO, five technical experts were deployed between January and February 2025 through WHO’s Standby Partners, – CANADEM, RedR Australia and UK-Med for six months. This multidisciplinary surge team brought together expertise across key response pillars: case management, epidemiology, water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH), health logistics, and coordination. This coordinated deployment formed a dedicated surge team, enabling WHO to support the government of South Sudan respond swiftly and comprehensively across all key pillars of the cholera response.

    The deployment of these five technical experts played a pivotal role in strengthening the response. Each position was strategically selected to enhance the speed, reach, and effectiveness of WHO’s operations. This integrated, multi-disciplinary deployment model serves as a best-practice example of how surge capacity can be optimized to deliver high-impact results during public health emergencies.

    Together, this team bolstered WHO’s operational capacity, accelerated outbreak containment, and supported broader emergency health systems in South Sudan. Their unified presence and complementary expertise underscore the strategic value of well-coordinated international surge deployments in complex public health emergencies. All efforts were carried out in close coordination with national counterparts and in direct support of the Government of South Sudan’s leadership in managing the outbreak.

    “This team, supported by FCDO, came at a very critical time and has provided a significant boost to our response efforts to contain the cholera outbreak,” said Dr Humphrey Karamagi, WHO Representative for South Sudan, “WHO South Sudan expresses its sincere gratitude to the UK FCDO and our Standby Partners for making this level of response possible. Their extraordinary commitment has directly contributed to saving lives and strengthening resilience in some of the country’s most vulnerable communities.”

    • Mr. Mukasa Kabiri, Cholera Response Coordination Officer, led the successful rollout of oral cholera vaccination (OCV) campaigns, ensuring timely and targeted vaccination coverage where in high- risk areas.

    • Dr. Brendan Patrick Dineen, Epidemiologist, supported the strengthening of real-time surveillance and outbreak mapping, enabling evidence-based decision making in the Upper Nile State and other hard-to-reach areas.

    • Dr. Fuad Said Abdulrahman, Case Management Specialist, provided clinical guidance and training for frontline health workers, improving treatment outcomes and response readiness in affected facilities.

    • Mr. Tai Ring Teh, WASH Officer, supported water quality assessments and hygiene practices at cholera treatment centers in affected communities.

    • Mr. Navjuvon Mazabshoev, Health Logistics Officer, supported logistics operations including the establishing a new treatment center in Tharqueng and improved supply chain management at Juba Teaching Hospital

    Distributed by APO Group on behalf of World Health Organization (WHO) – South Sudan.

    MIL OSI Africa

  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: Outstanding teachers lauded

    Source: Hong Kong Information Services

    Chief Executive John Lee today presented the Award for Teaching Excellence to 12 teachers, while 12 other teachers received the Certificate of Merit from Secretary for Education Choi Yuk-lin.

     

    Additionally, Mr Lee presented the Award for Budding Teachers to two teachers, and the Award for Education Innovation to three teachers.

     

    There were 239 nominations received for such recognition, with themes covering Chinese language education, mathematics education, values education, etc.

     

    The award’s themes in the coming year will be Physical Education Key Learning Area, STEAM Education, Curriculum Leadership, Award for Budding Teachers, and Award for Education Innovation.

     

    Nominations will be accepted from July 7 to October 3.

    MIL OSI Asia Pacific News

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Elizabeth Emblem Recognises Scottish Public Servants

    Source: United Kingdom – Government Statements

    News story

    Elizabeth Emblem Recognises Scottish Public Servants

    Eight Scottish public servants who died in service recognised in the second ever Elizabeth Emblem List.

    Eight Scottish public servants who died in the line of duty have been recognised with the Elizabeth Emblem.

    The Elizabeth Emblem is a mark of recognition to the next of kin of public servants who have lost their lives as a result of their duty. It is the civilian equivalent of the Elizabeth Cross, which recognises members of the UK Armed Forces who died in action or as a result of a terrorist attack. 

    106 public servants who died in service from across the United Kingdom are being recognised in this second published List.

    Those recognised from Scotland include Gwen Mayor, a teacher who was killed by a gunman at Dunblane Primary School in March 1996, and Rodney Moore, a retired paramedic who rejoined the Scottish Ambulance Service to support its Covid-19 response and later died of the illness.

    The Secretary of State for Scotland, Ian Murray said:

    “I pay tribute to all of those Scots who have been recognised today. Every one of these brave public servants gave their life to protect others. They are people who stepped forward when most of us would step back, and they paid the ultimate price.

    “I am particularly pleased that Dunblane teacher Gwen Mayor has been recognised. No-one will ever forget the horror of the shooting at Dunblane Primary School in 1996, when Mrs Mayor was killed trying to protect her pupils.

    “I hope that the families of all those recognised will take some comfort in knowing that their loved ones, and their service, has not been forgotten.” 

    The full list of Scottish public servants recognised are:

    Gwen Mayor, a teacher at Dunblane Primary School. Mrs Mayor was killed alongside 16 of her pupils on 13 March 1996. 

    Roderick Nicolson, Tayside Fire and Rescue Service. Mr Nicolson, from Perth, died attempting to rescue two workmen from a silo of chemical dust at Perth Harbour. Whilst trying to free the workers Fireman Nicolson became trapped amid five tonnes of sodium carbonate ash. He died on 4 December 1995.

    Ewan Williamson, Lothian and Borders Fire and Rescue Service. Firefighter Williamson was responding to a fire at the Balmoral Bar public house on Dalry Road in Edinburgh when he became trapped in the basement level with the fire. He was unable to escape and fellow firefighters were unable to locate him for a significant period of time. Firefighter Williamson died on 12 July 2009.

    Richard Paul North, Tayside Police. Constable North was killed when on duty as a result of a collision with another vehicle, while driving near Perth in a marked police car. The other vehicle had crossed from the other carriageway into the oncoming traffic, and the driver was found to be under the influence of drink and drugs. PC North died on 17 March 1987.

    William Oliver, of the Glasgow Salvage Corps. Mr Oliver died in the Cheapside Street Disaster, a fire in a whisky bond. The warehouse contained more than a million gallons of whisky and 30,000 gallons of rum. As the temperature of the fire increased, some of the casks ruptured, causing a huge boiling liquid vapour explosion. This instantly killed Mr Oliver and 18 others. Mr Oliver died on 28 March 1960.

    Joseph Stewart Drake, Stirling and Clackmannan Constabulary. Constable Drake was killed when a stolen lorry being pursued by other officers intentionally struck his car as he tried to intercept it at Dennyloanhead near Falkirk.  PC Drake died on 11 August 1967.

    Rodney (Rod) Moore, of the Scottish Ambulance Service. A retired ambulance paramedic of 40 years’ service, Mr Moore, from Falkirk, returned to work with the Scottish Ambulance Service to assist with the Covid-19 pandemic response. Mr Moore contracted Covid-19 in October 2020 and died on 21 November 2020.

    Alistair Soutar, HM Customs & Excise. Mr Soutar was crushed between a HM Customs and Excise vessel ‘The Sentinel’ and a smugglers’ vessel the ‘Ocean Jubilee’. Mr Souter, from Dundee, was taking part in Operation Balvenie off the Caithness coast to apprehend drug smugglers. Mr Soutar was airlifted to Raigmore Hospital in Inverness but died of his injuries on 29 July 1996.

    The Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster, Pat McFadden said:

    “We owe an enduring debt to the public servants who give their lives to protect others.

    “The Elizabeth Emblem is a reminder not just of the ultimate price their loved ones have paid in service of our communities, it is a lasting symbol of our national gratitude for their incredible sacrifice.”

    The Elizabeth Emblem was established last year as a national form of recognition. 

    The design of the Emblem incorporates a rosemary wreath, a traditional symbol of remembrance, which surrounds the Tudor Crown. It is inscribed with ‘For A Life Given In Service’, and will have the name of the person for whom it is in memoriam inscribed on the reverse of the Emblem. It will include a pin to allow the award to be worn on clothing by the next of kin of the deceased.

    Families and next of kin of those who have died in public service are encouraged to apply for an Elizabeth Emblem via gov.uk.

    Updates to this page

    Published 4 July 2025

    MIL OSI United Kingdom

  • Amit Shah to lay foundation stone of India’s first national cooperative university in Gujarat

    Source: Government of India

    Source: Government of India (4)

    Union Home Minister and Minister of Cooperation Amit Shah on Saturday will lay the foundation stone of the country’s first national-level cooperative university, Tribhuvan Sahkari University (TSU) in Anand, Gujarat . The event marks a historic step toward institutionalising education and research in the cooperative space.

    Gujarat Chief Minister Bhupendrabhai Patel, Assembly Speaker Shankar Chaudhary, Union Ministers of State for Cooperation Krishan Pal Gurjar and Muralidhar Mohol, as well as Gujarat’s Education and Cooperation Ministers Rishikesh Patel and Jagdish Vishwakarma, will be present at the foundation-laying ceremony.

    The establishment of Tribhuvan Sahkari University (TSU) is being hailed as a forward-looking initiative aimed at transforming India’s cooperative landscape. Designed to meet the growing educational and training demands of the country’s expansive and varied cooperative sector, the university is expected to play a pivotal role in driving cooperation, fostering innovation, and creating employment opportunities — an integrated vision referred to as the “Triveni” of progress.

    Shah will also take part in the “Ek Ped Maa Ke Naam” tree plantation drive, a national campaign that encourages environmental consciousness and cultural values. Shah will also unveil an educational module developed by NCERT, designed to introduce school students to cooperative principles and highlight the contributions of the cooperative movement in India.

    Tribhuvan Sahkari University is envisioned as a national hub for capacity building in areas such as cooperative management, finance, law, and rural development. With a focus on skilling the workforce and improving grassroots governance, the university will offer a range of academic programs tailored to meet the sector’s evolving demands.

    Aligned with the National Education Policy 2020, TSU will offer flexible and multidisciplinary academic options — including PhDs, degree programs at the managerial level, diplomas at the supervisory level, and certificate courses for operational staff. It will also establish specialised schools on campus and expand to other states, creating a nationwide academic network for cooperative education and training.

    Over the next four years, the university aims to collaborate with more than 200 existing cooperative institutions across the country. In a bid to enhance sectoral capacity, it has set an ambitious target of training around 20 lakh cooperative personnel within five years—catering to the growing needs of approximately 40 lakh workers and 80 lakh board members involved in cooperative societies spanning agriculture, dairy, fisheries, and other sectors.

    To overcome the shortage of skilled faculty in cooperative education, TSU will actively promote PhD programs in cooperative studies, helping to build a strong cadre of qualified educators. Additionally, the university will establish a dedicated Research and Development Council focused on driving innovation and developing cost-effective technological solutions tailored for rural cooperatives. This council will work in close partnership with national and international academic institutions to introduce global best practices into India’s cooperative framework.

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: New free walking guides launched for summer holidays

    Source: Scotland – City of Aberdeen

    Three new free walking guides for popular sister parks, a musical tour of Aberdeen, and the city centre were today launched for the school summer holidays along with three specially-rebranded Tall Ships Races trails.

    The new family-friendly trails produced by Aberdeen City Council cover Victoria and Westburn Parks and the city’s past and present musical connections with printed copies available from selected venues and libraries in the city centre and Rosemount areas. The bonus third trail – Aberdeen City Centre – is available online only.

    The existing Maritime, Coastal, and Best of Aberdeen trails have also been given a Tall Ships makeover to complement the existing Maritime Stories Mini Trail and Union Street Secrets Mini Trail which were specially-produced for the 19-22 July event.

    The Lord Provost of Aberdeen Dr David Cameron said: “All of the free trail guides are designed to encourage people discover places full of history and heritage and these two new publications certainly do that.

    “Victoria and Westburn Parks are much-loved areas of peace and tranquillity with a surprising amount of history and features. The Music Trail will be a popular addition to the trail guides family with lots of music history and lore as interpreted through venues mostly in the city centre.

    “We live in a beautiful city with a rich history so it’s great the two new trail guides show people what there is while highlighting many little interesting quirks and oddities along the way.”

    The Victoria and Westburn Park trail covers the history, nature, and attractions of the neighbouring parks with an additional tree trail. Features include a well believed by children to have been inhabited by Tom Thumb, a magnificent fountain constructed of granite from 14 local quarries, and mini roads perfect for youngsters to practice their cycling skills.

    The Aberdeen Music Trail covers the multiple players and places which have contributed towards the rich musical heritage in the city including traditional Scots, classical, ballet, opera, musical theatre, rap, pop and rock, and places range from pubs to formal venues both old and current.

    The contents of the city centre trail, which was researched and written by two Robert Gordon University students, includes landmarks, highlights, and quirky details in the area in a handy walkable format.

    The new walking guides mean there is now a total of 31 full trails and two mini trails in the Council trail guide series covering many historical and natural gems around the city. There free downloadable walking trail guides are available online at the City Council’s website at Free walks and trails in Aberdeen | Aberdeen City Council.

    The mini trails is a new format designed especially for the Tall Ships with a smaller footprint than existing trail guides to make them easily walkable in the city centre for both locals and visitors to the event, which is Europe’s biggest family-friendly festival and taking place from 19 to 22 July 2025.

    Printed copies of the mini trail booklets are available from most shops, cafes, pubs and restaurants in Union Street Central and The Green areas, as part of work to encourage people to explore the city on foot and show that businesses in these areas remain open for business while major building works are being carried out in these areas. Printed copies of the three rebranded Tall Ships trail guides are also available from many city centre businesses.

    The new mini trails also complement other Tall Ships Races guides produced by Aberdeen Line 200 Committee. More information about the Tall Ships event is at The Tall Ships Races | Aberdeen | 19-22 July 2025 | Tall Ships Aberdeen

    The major building works are being carried out as part of the £150million City Centre and Beach Masterplan which includes Union Street Central, the new market building, and at the city’s beach area. They will create vibrant and accessible areas to help make the city a destination of choice for the benefit of residents, visitors, and businesses and more information about the works is available at Generation Aberdeen | Our City of Opportunity

    MIL OSI United Kingdom

  • MIL-OSI Africa: Somalia at 65: what’s needed to address its dismal social development indicators

    Source: The Conversation – Africa – By Ali A. Abdi, Professor, University of British Columbia

    Somalia ranks among the lowest scoring countries in the United Nations Human Development Index. The index of 195 countries is a summary measure of average achievement in key dimensions of human development: a long and healthy life, years of schooling, and access to a decent standard of living. Ali A. Abdi, a scholar of social development education, examines Somalia’s failure to advance social development programmes.

    What is socio-economic development and how does Somalia stack up?

    Somalia is celebrating its 65th year of independence. This was marked officially on 1 July 2025.

    Despite the pomp and circumstance, though, the country’s social development indicators are dismal.

    Social development generally means visible improvements in the quality of life. People’s well-being is based on aspects of national progress like:

    • universally available good quality education and adequate healthcare

    • employment opportunities that generate liveable incomes and upward socioeconomic mobility

    • governance structures that protect people’s rights to security.

    Somalia has failed to meet these human development targets.

    Its low score in the UN index can be understood by looking at the statistics relating to education and health. In any society these act as foundational blocks for social development. But in Somalia:

    • children can expect to get an average of 1.72 years of education (the continental African average is 7.7 years)

    • there are 0.23 doctors per 10,000 people, and many doctors serve in fee-based private clinics which are out of reach for ordinary citizens in a country with US$600 GDP per capita income

    • the capital city, Mogadishu, with a population of 2.8 million, has only two fully public hospitals and they lack specialist services; patients who require specialist care must go to private hospitals

    • the youth unemployment rate is just below 70%.

    With these social development liabilities, it’s no wonder that the country is the biggest per capita producer of both global refugees and internally displaced persons.

    How did Somalia come to this?

    The Somali state collapsed as a cohesive national entity in 1991. The military government that had been in power since 1969 was overthrown by armed opposition forces. The country slowly fragmented into quasi-self-governing regions. Transitional national governments have come and gone.

    The current federal political structure came into being in August 2012. The Federal Republic of Somalia comprised five founding member states (there are now six).

    The depressed social development situation is not the only obstacle facing Somalia. Other complexities include:

    A governance system built on cronyism and political loyalty: Somalia’s national political leadership entrenched cronyism. In fairness, the same selectively applies to sub-national, federal member states leadership. This corrupt system has found traction in a country where professionals, young graduates and traditional leaders lack legitimate sources of income. This undermines good governance while creating discord within and among the federal government and federal member states.

    Discord at national level and between national and sub-national leaders: The most recent example of this revolves around the national leadership’s 2024 attempt to change the interim constitution. The unilaterally proposed one-person-one-vote proposal runs counter to the 2012 framework through which the current federal system was created. This has fuelled yet another national controversy with less than a year to the next presidential election.

    Externally constructed political and economic interventions: Somalia receives significant international aid to address political and developmental challenges. But the strings attached include the management of these funds by external entities. These donor priorities can be detached from immediate social development needs. And aid creates and sustains dependency and entrenches poverty.

    What should the government prioritise and why?

    The political class always says fighting terrorism is the top policy priority. This thinking, while viable for the current situation, ignores the potential to minimise terrorism by putting the basic needs of the public first, and especially the youth.

    Somali leaders are duty-bound to shift focus. A good place to start is the basis of social development: security, education and healthcare. It falls upon them to marshal the country’s resources and capacities to improve the well-being of its citizens.

    The national leadership also needs to restructure its relationship with federal member states. Distribution of development resources (including foreign aid) must be fair, not based on political alliances.

    Somalia also needs to reform the government’s policy on public appointments. People must get jobs based on their educational background, professional experience, incorruptible character and institutional accountability.

    The country has impressive natural resources. There’s huge untapped potential for fisheries and agriculture, which is the country’s economic backbone. The country also has untapped minerals and hydrocarbons wealth.

    The above observations are not to say that the federal government should lose sight of the fight against the terrorist organisations. But the welfare of people, including job creation for young people, must be equally prioritised. That will surely advance much needed social development while also reducing the appeal of terrorism among the youth.

    – Somalia at 65: what’s needed to address its dismal social development indicators
    – https://theconversation.com/somalia-at-65-whats-needed-to-address-its-dismal-social-development-indicators-258307

    MIL OSI Africa

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Energy Superhub Oxford continues to rise as project marks third anniversary

    Source: City of Oxford

    Three years since its launch, Energy Superhub Oxford has charged over 137,000 electric vehicles and continues to reduce carbon emissions across Oxford. 

    Since opening in July 2022, the charging hub at Redbridge Park & Ride has powered 137,278 vehicles (an average of 135 per day), delivering nearly 15 million electric vehicle miles and saving 3,584 tonnes of carbon

    The “transformational” £41m Energy Superhub Oxford project, was a collaboration between Oxford City Council, EDF Renewables UK, Habitat Energy, Invinity Energy Systems, Kensa, and Oxford University. 

    The project saw the opening of Europe’s most powerful electric vehicle charging hub at Redbridge Park & Ride, where charge point operators Fastned, Tesla and Wenea provide fast and ultra-rapid charging for 42 vehicles at once. 

    Since launching in July 2022, the Redbridge superhub has: 

    • Charged 137,278 vehicles – roughly 135 vehicles a day
    • Provided 4,266,388 kWh of electricity to vehicles
    • Charged 14,932,358 electric vehicle miles
    • Saved 3,584 tonnes of carbon 

    Unlike any other UK charging hub, the site is directly connected to National Grid’s high voltage transmission network via a four-mile underground cable, which delivers 10 MW of power without putting additional strain on the local electricity network or requiring costly upgrades. 

    This underground cable was key for the success of Oxfordshire’s application to the Zero Emission Bus Regional Areas (ZEBRA) scheme. The private wire powers the bus depot’s substation. Through this, 159 electric buses have been delivered in Oxford completing 69% of the entire bus mileage in the city reducing the contribution of buses to total NOx emissions from road transport in the city from 32% to 4%. 

    In addition, the project helped fund the electrification of ODS’ fleet which is now 35% electric with 30% of all fleet trips in 2024 completed by EVs, reducing CO2 emissions by 98 tonnes. 

    The project saw the creation of the world’s largest hybrid energy battery storage system delivered by Invinity, as well as the installation of 57 ground source heat pumps in social houses in Blackbird Leys and a further five ground source heat pumps with heat-batteries being trialled in Sonning Common. Three years on and all heat pumps are still in place providing low-cost, low-carbon heating. 

    See more information about the Energy Superhub project

    Comment 

    “It is great news that three years on, Energy Superhub Oxford is continuing to show what is possible when innovation, collaboration, and climate ambition come together.  

    Each year the number of electric vehicles using our Redbridge superhub continues to grow, and the project has helped to power Oxford’s new zero-emission buses fleet that is improving air quality in the city. I look forward to seeing how this project continues to reduce emissions across Oxford.” 

    Councillor Anna Railton, Deputy Leader, and Cabinet Member for a Zero Carbon Oxford

    MIL OSI United Kingdom

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Top apprenticeship employers celebrated for 2025

    Source: United Kingdom – Executive Government & Departments

    Press release

    Top apprenticeship employers celebrated for 2025

    Large and small companies recognised for their apprenticeship programmes, creating opportunities and driving growth.

    Employers across the country have been recognised by the government for their outstanding commitment to apprenticeships.

    The Top 100 Apprenticeship Employers and Top 50 SME Apprenticeship Employers tables for 2025 showcase the very best apprenticeship programmes over the past 12 months.

    The Department for Education has partnered with RateMyApprenticeship to deliver the Top 100 Apprenticeship Employers 2025 rankings. The 2025 rankings recognise and celebrate England’s leading apprenticeship employers for their overall commitment to employing apprentices, the diversity of their apprentices, whether their apprentices achieve and for the first time in 2025 – the apprentices’ own feedback on their employer’s programme.

    Education Secretary Bridget Phillipson said:

    Congratulations to all the employers recognised for their outstanding apprenticeship programmes. They are delivering the skilled workforce we need to deliver our number one mission to grow the economy, and breaking down barriers for young people across the country.

    For the first time, the voices of apprentices themselves were front and centre in showcasing where employers are raising the bar in quality and experience. These rankings are a testament to what can be achieved when businesses invest in people, and the transformative power of apprenticeships in delivering our Plan for Change.

    The Top 10 Apprenticeship Employers for 2025 are:

    1. Mitchells & Butlers
    2. BAE Systems
    3. Amazon
    4. John Lewis Partnership
    5. Busy Bees Childcare
    6. Department for Work and Pensions
    7. GXO Logistics
    8. Whitbread
    9. McDonald’s
    10. PwC

    Catering and hospitality company Mitchells & Butlers has been named the country’s number one apprenticeship employer for 2025, while maintenance services provider MCFT has been named this year’s top SME apprenticeship employer.

    The Top 5 SME Apprenticeship Employers for 2025 are:

    1. MCFT
    2. Smailes Goldie
    3. MDS Ltd
    4. PM+M Solutions for Business LLP
    5. Forbury Gardens Day Nursery

    Susan Martindale, Group HR Director at Mitchells & Butlers, said:

    We are incredibly honoured to be recognised as the UK’s number one apprenticeship employer for 2025. At Mitchells & Butlers, our apprentices aren’t just part of our business – they are the future of our business.

    Through our apprenticeship programmes, we’ve created pathways for people to earn while they learn, gaining valuable skills and confidence that benefit them throughout their hospitality careers. Our commitment to developing talent at all levels has created a thriving culture where skills and potential can flourish. This recognition reflects the dedication of our entire team in creating meaningful career opportunities across our brands.

    Chris Craggs, MCFT Founder said:

    Being named the number one SME employer of apprentices is a tremendous honour and reflects our commitment to tackling the current and future skills shortage in commercial catering and refrigeration engineering.

    Being an employer-provider was the only clear path to solving the issues, ensuring we were providing the best place where people wanted to come and learn, giving them hands on skills and experience to be the best in the industry, and the chance to earn-and-learn, leading to a long-term career. We’ve invested heavily in a national state of the art training facility, quality and compliance staff, and a team of in-house technical trainers who we support in developing as educators.

    Our apprentices—whether field-based or office-based—gain real-world, hands-on experience from day one. We’re committed to building a diverse workforce, with local teams serving local customers and targeted initiatives to increase the number of female technicians. This recognition reinforces our belief in investing in long-term talent, not just meeting the needs of today. We couldn’t be prouder of all our apprentices and the positive impact they continue to make.

    Defence and security specialist BAE Systems secured the second spot in the Top 100 rankings.

    Richard Hamer, HR Director, Education & Skills at BAE Systems, said:

    We’re delighted to be ranked second in the Top 100.  Apprenticeships are critical to the future skills needs of BAE Systems. We are proud to have a record 4,600 apprentices currently in learning with us providing a diverse pipeline of talented young people underpinning our future success.

    Our STEM skill requirements range from welding and pipefitting at the advanced apprenticeship level to software, cyber and nuclear engineering at the degree apprenticeship level. These apprenticeships create pathways to highly valuable life-long careers for young people from all backgrounds whilst supporting economic growth across the UK.

    The rankings attracted strong entries from across a wide range of industries including hospitality, retail, professional services, logistics, childcare and manufacturing across the private, public and charitable sectors.

    For the full list of Top 100 Apprenticeship Employers and the Top 50 SME Apprenticeship Employers visit https://www.top-apprenticeshipemployers.co.uk/2025-winners

    DfE media enquiries

    Central newsdesk – for journalists 020 7783 8300

    Updates to this page

    Published 4 July 2025

    MIL OSI United Kingdom

  • MIL-OSI USA: Office of the Governor – News Release – Gov. Green Signs Bills to Enhance Water Safety and Kūpuna Care

    Source: US State of Hawaii

    HONOLULU – Governor Josh Green, M.D., signed four measures into law today to strengthen Hawai‘i’s public safety through the enactment of safety measures and protocols surrounding retention and detention ponds, as well as legislation that implements education and safeguards for pressing kūpuna issues. These bills reflect the state’s ongoing priorities to protect the most vulnerable in our communities by fostering awareness and launching educational initiatives to better understand and proactively address the impacts surrounding these concerns.

    “This is about the safety and well-being of our ‘ohana and setting a chain of positive intention to uplift those in our community,” said Governor Green. “These newly enacted laws will provide members of our communities with tools to secure housing, better understand Alzheimer’s disease, and prevent drowning incidents. I am grateful for the community leaders and advocates who identified critical needs and helped bring these quality of life measures to fruition.”

    SB 1221: RELATING TO STORMWATER MANAGEMENT SYSTEMS
    Senate Bill 1221 (Act 281): Due to high drowning rates in the state and the cultural significance of water in the islands, improving water safety and education remains a priority for lawmakers and advocacy groups such as Hawai‘i Water Safety Coalition (HWSC). To make Hawai‘i a safer water state, Act 281 establishes safety measures and regulations for retention and detention ponds.

    Under the new law, counties will now regulate retention and detention ponds within county jurisdiction to require a permitting process for construction and proper maintenance and submission of maintenance plans to ensure compliance with safety regulations. In addition to permitting, safety measures will be mandatory, such as enclosed and secured fencing around pond perimeters, “no swimming” signage and accessible emergency buoys. While these regulations do not apply to retention and detention ponds on private property, managing entities must submit sufficient proof of safety compliance to counties. Lastly, a survey of the ponds will be conducted by counties to be submitted to the Legislature.

    “This is more than just a water safety bill. Act 281 is a legacy enactment in memory of Charlotte ‘Sharkey’ Schaefers, a brave 5-year-old hero who risked her life to save a friend stuck in a detention pond in 2004,” said Governor Green. “The life of such a young girl should have never been taken that day, and now we can hope that it will never happen again.”

    “SB 1221 represents a significant step forward in improving water safety and protecting Hawai‘i’s keiki and families from preventable drowning tragedies,” said Representative Jeanne Kapela (District 5 – Portions of Kea‘au and Kurtistown, Mountain View, Glenwood, Fern Forest, Volcano, Pāhala, Punalu‘u, Nā‘ālehu, Wai‘ōhinu, Hawaiian Ocean View, Ho‘okena). “By regulating retention and detention ponds and requiring clear safety protocols, we are creating safer environments and honoring the memory of Charlotte ‘Sharkey’ Schaefers. No family should have to experience such a loss, and this legislation brings us closer to a future where tragedies like this are prevented, allowing every ‘ohana to feel safer in their community.”

    “The HWSC thanks Governor Green and our legislators for recognizing the need to protect Hawai‘i residents, especially our children, from the hidden hazards of retention and detention ponds,” said Allison Schaefers, Charlotte’s mother. “We must never forget Sharkey’s act of heroism, and this law, which is her legacy, is going to save lives in our state. It’s my hope that Hawai‘i will become the model for a national detention and retention pond safety program.”

    Schaefers was the lead writer of the coalition’s Hawai‘i Water Safety Plan, “I Palekana Kākou Ka Wai: Let Us Be Safe in the Water,” released in February as a roadmap to diminishing Hawaiʻi’s drowning crisis by ensuring that everyone is safe on, in and around the water.

    Kalani Vierra, Chief of Kaua‘i Ocean Safety and president of the Hawaiian Lifeguard Association, which is the umbrella organization for the HWSC, said, “I’m truly speechless to witness the fruits of our dedicated collaboration over the past few years. The recent launch and publication of the Hawai‘i Water Safety Plan is a significant step forward, aiding our efforts to encourage Hawai‘i’s legislation to prioritize the health and safety of our communities, especially during heavy storms. The monitoring and inspection of detention and retention ponds play a crucial role in mitigating risks.”

    HB 703: RELATING TO KŪPUNA HOUSING
    House Bill 703 (Act 282) extends the sunset date for the state’s kūpuna rent supplement program. Under this program, kūpuna who are 62 years of age or older who are homeless or at risk of becoming homeless, can qualify for access to the rent supplement program. The program that originally was scheduled to sunset in 2026, will extend to 2028 to continue providing kūpuna support through rent supplement assistance, housing counseling and landlord assistance, in addition to mental health services and other support care services.

    SB 1252: RELATING TO DEMENTIA
    Senate Bill 1252 (Act 283): To better understand and coordinate care for kūpuna in our communities who are living with Alzheimer’s disease or other forms of dementia, Act 283 appropriates funds for training and educational programs within the University of Hawai‘i at Mānoa John A. Burns School of Medicine. Positions will be established within the University’s Department of Geriatric Medicine to develop and update the curriculum and carry out training to lay the foundation for comprehensive programs to pioneer dementia and Alzheimer’s-informed care. These initiatives will provide better support and nurturing for kūpuna across the state, while also strengthening the state’s workforce to better address these diseases. This bill appropriates $525,000 for both fiscal years 2026 and 2027.

    “The work of the Legislative Kūpuna Caucus has proven yet again the importance of caring for our aging community in Hawai‘i,” said Governor Green. “Housing is healthcare, and by extending the sunset date of the kūpuna housing program, we can continue to provide dignity and access to healthy living. Advancements in our state’s healthcare system to acknowledge Alzheimer’s provides critical care for our kūpuna, helping them get more specialized support so they can remain in the islands they call home.”

    “Hawaiʻi’s aging population is growing rapidly and we must prepare our healthcare workforce to meet its unique needs,” said Senator Stanley Chang (District 9 – Hawai‘i Kai, Kuli‘ou‘ou, Niu, ‘Āina Haina, Wai‘alae-Kāhala, Diamond Head, Kaimukī, Kapahulu). “Investing in JABSOM’s dementia education and training supports our kūpuna and strengthens the future of healthcare in our state. Act 283 helps build a local, informed workforce that can provide compassionate, expert care for individuals living with Alzheimer’s and other forms of dementia. As someone whose father suffered from dementia, this bill is very personally meaningful to me.”

    “This program has been essential for our kūpuna, significantly helping them secure and maintain affordable housing,” said Representative Cory M. Chun (District 35 – Portions of Pearl City and Waipahu, Crestview). “Extending it means we can continue providing not only rent assistance but also the services and support necessary to keep them safe and healthy. As part of our Kūpuna Caucus legislative package, this bill reflects our shared commitment to caring for Hawai‘i’s aging population.”

    “Hawai‘i House Bill 703 and Senate Bill 1252 demonstrate the Legislature and the Governor’s commitment to caring for kūpuna. HB 703 ensures continued access to rent supplement assistance, helping older adults on fixed incomes avoid homelessness and maintain stable housing,” said AARP Hawaii Advocacy Associate Director Audrey Suga-Nakagawa. “SB 1252 strengthens our healthcare system by investing in dementia education and workforce development. AARP Hawaii commends the Governor and the Legislature for their efforts to ensure that kūpuna can choose how they live as they age.”

    The complete list of bills signed include the following. Click the link to see full details of the bill enacted into law.

    HB 320 (ACT 284) RELATING TO SUPPORTED DECISION-MAKING AGREEMENTS

    Video of the water safety bill signing can be seen here.
    Video of the kūpuna bill signing can be seen here.
    Photos of the bill signing ceremony, courtesy Office of the Governor, will be uploaded here.
    The slide deck presented at today’s water safety bill signing can be found here.
    The slide deck presented at today’s kūpuna bill signing can be found here.

    MIL OSI USA News

  • MIL-OSI Europe: Written question – State of As Conchas reservoir and Galician government’s failure to comply with the obligations reported in the CJEU – E-002600/2025

    Source: European Parliament

    Question for written answer  E-002600/2025
    to the Commission
    Rule 144
    Ana Miranda Paz (Verts/ALE)

    The cyanobacteria contamination from pig farms in the As Conchas reservoir in southern Ourense (Galicia) has been the subject of several requests made to the EU, including petitions submitted before the European Parliament’s Committee on Petitions (e.g. Petition No 1057/2018). The BNG, the political party I represent, strongly condemns the situation, which has once again found itself in the news for all the wrong reasons. Studies presented by As Conchas Residents’ Association before Galicia’s judicial authorities against the Galician government warn that cancer rates in the district exceed the rates found in other Galician districts. The water currently being discharged from large-scale farms into the Lima River contains at least 97 million dangerous cyanobacteria per litre of water.

    The Spanish state and Galician government, which has jurisdiction in this area, have both failed to fulfil their duty to tackle the contamination, which is why the case is now before the European Court of Justice. How will the Commission respond to the Galician government’s failure to comply with its obligations and to take appropriate action, which has negatively impacted many individuals, their health and the environment in Baixa Limia?

    Submitted: 27.6.2025

    Last updated: 4 July 2025

    MIL OSI Europe News

  • MIL-OSI Europe: Written question – State of As Conchas reservoir and Galician government’s failure to comply with the obligations reported in the CJEU – E-002600/2025

    Source: European Parliament

    Question for written answer  E-002600/2025
    to the Commission
    Rule 144
    Ana Miranda Paz (Verts/ALE)

    The cyanobacteria contamination from pig farms in the As Conchas reservoir in southern Ourense (Galicia) has been the subject of several requests made to the EU, including petitions submitted before the European Parliament’s Committee on Petitions (e.g. Petition No 1057/2018). The BNG, the political party I represent, strongly condemns the situation, which has once again found itself in the news for all the wrong reasons. Studies presented by As Conchas Residents’ Association before Galicia’s judicial authorities against the Galician government warn that cancer rates in the district exceed the rates found in other Galician districts. The water currently being discharged from large-scale farms into the Lima River contains at least 97 million dangerous cyanobacteria per litre of water.

    The Spanish state and Galician government, which has jurisdiction in this area, have both failed to fulfil their duty to tackle the contamination, which is why the case is now before the European Court of Justice. How will the Commission respond to the Galician government’s failure to comply with its obligations and to take appropriate action, which has negatively impacted many individuals, their health and the environment in Baixa Limia?

    Submitted: 27.6.2025

    Last updated: 4 July 2025

    MIL OSI Europe News

  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: Invest Hong Kong strengthens Web3 and fintech ties between Hong Kong and Japan (with photos)

    Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region – 4

    Invest Hong Kong (InvestHK) has successfully concluded an impactful visit to Japan, deepening business ties between the two places. The delegation’s primary objectives were to promote two-way business opportunities in Web3 and fintech, and to facilitate strategic technology investments that benefit bothplaces.

    From June 30 to July 4, Senior Vice President of Fintech at InvestHK Ms Pauline Fan led a delegation of 16 Hong Kong companies, organisations, universities and a family office to Japan. These included Hong Kong Baptist University, the Hong Kong University of Science and Technology and Web3 Harbour. Meetings and events were held in Osaka and Kyoto together with partners in Japan, including HashPort, Headline Asia, and IVC.

    In Osaka on June 30 and July 1, delegates engaged with key players in innovation and digital transformation. They met with members of the Osaka Prefectural Government, the Osaka Digital Exchange, the Japan External Trade Organization, SBI Corporation, Plug and Play Japan, the NTT West Corporate Innovation Center and more. These meetings facilitated meaningful exchanges and explorations of new business partnerships and investments. The momentum continued in Kyoto from July 2 to 4 at IVS 2025, the largest start-up conference in Japan, organised by Headline Asia and IVC. Industry leaders and emerging start-ups exchanged insights on fundraising, business partnerships, and breakthrough trends in Web3 and more.

    Associate Director-General of Investment Promotion at InvestHK Mr Arnold Lau said “This delegation marks a significant milestone in solidifying the collaboration between Hong Kong and Japan in innovation and technology. With a strong influx of innovative ideas and investment flows between both sides, we are entering a pioneering era where groundbreaking technologies in Web3 and fintech are poised to redefine the future of digital economies.”

    This delegation visit came at a perfect time following the Policy Statement 2.0 on the Development of Digital Assets in Hong Kong, issued by the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) Government on June 26. It reinforces the HKSAR Government’s commitment to establishing Hong Kong as a global hub for innovation in the digital asset (DA) field. The statement introduces the “LEAP” framework: Legal and regulatory streamlining, expanding the suite of tokenised products, advancing use cases and cross-sectoral collaboration, and people and partnership development. It sets out a vision for a trusted and innovative DA ecosystem that prioritises risk management and investor protection, while delivering concrete benefits to the real economy and financial markets.

    “Our dedicated team at InvestHK is ready to support players in the DA ecosystem, connecting prospective DA service providers with banks and professional services to facilitate their business setup and expansion in Hong Kong,” Mr Lau added.

    Two-way business success driving the agenda forward

    Japanese firm Zaiko was the first company to establish a presence in Hong Kong through a similar delegation to Japan in 2024, facilitated by InvestHK. As a key portfolio company of Headline Asia, Zaiko serves as a platform that connects creators directly with people through digital events, video streaming, and data analytics. This inward investment exemplifies the potential for Japanese technology expertise to seamlessly merge with the vibrant economic sectors of Hong Kong, such as creative and event industries.

    Waffo established a Hong Kong office in 2023 as its strategic hub for Asia and immediately joined the 2024 InvestHK Japan delegation. The company uncovered new opportunities and successfully entered the Japanese market by opening representative offices, collaborating with multiple Japanese clients and launching innovative cross-border payment and risk-management solutions. Leveraging Hong Kong as its launch pad, Waffo once again participated in this year’s delegation to further accelerate its growth in Japan.

    The Goldian Group is a diversified conglomerate headquartered in Hong Kong with a strong background in real estate development. In recent years, its family office has strategically pivoted towards the fast-evolving field of digital assets. With the support and facilitation from InvestHK, the Group has gained access to cutting-edge market intelligence, advanced fintech applications and high-potential business opportunities in Hong Kong’s financial ecosystem. Leveraging these advantages, the Goldian Group joined this year’s delegation and formally launched a real estate tokenisation initiative in Japan, marking a key step in cross-border digital asset innovation and regional collaboration.

    With these achievements, InvestHK’s latest delegation clearly illustrates the rising synergy between Hong Kong and Japan’s Web3 and fintech industries, a collaboration that promises a new chapter of ingenuity, growth, and mutual prosperity. As both markets continue to harness innovation and investment, the future looks brighter than ever for such two-way partnerships in the digital economy.

    MIL OSI Asia Pacific News

  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: Invest Hong Kong strengthens Web3 and fintech ties between Hong Kong and Japan (with photos)

    Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region – 4

    Invest Hong Kong (InvestHK) has successfully concluded an impactful visit to Japan, deepening business ties between the two places. The delegation’s primary objectives were to promote two-way business opportunities in Web3 and fintech, and to facilitate strategic technology investments that benefit bothplaces.

    From June 30 to July 4, Senior Vice President of Fintech at InvestHK Ms Pauline Fan led a delegation of 16 Hong Kong companies, organisations, universities and a family office to Japan. These included Hong Kong Baptist University, the Hong Kong University of Science and Technology and Web3 Harbour. Meetings and events were held in Osaka and Kyoto together with partners in Japan, including HashPort, Headline Asia, and IVC.

    In Osaka on June 30 and July 1, delegates engaged with key players in innovation and digital transformation. They met with members of the Osaka Prefectural Government, the Osaka Digital Exchange, the Japan External Trade Organization, SBI Corporation, Plug and Play Japan, the NTT West Corporate Innovation Center and more. These meetings facilitated meaningful exchanges and explorations of new business partnerships and investments. The momentum continued in Kyoto from July 2 to 4 at IVS 2025, the largest start-up conference in Japan, organised by Headline Asia and IVC. Industry leaders and emerging start-ups exchanged insights on fundraising, business partnerships, and breakthrough trends in Web3 and more.

    Associate Director-General of Investment Promotion at InvestHK Mr Arnold Lau said “This delegation marks a significant milestone in solidifying the collaboration between Hong Kong and Japan in innovation and technology. With a strong influx of innovative ideas and investment flows between both sides, we are entering a pioneering era where groundbreaking technologies in Web3 and fintech are poised to redefine the future of digital economies.”

    This delegation visit came at a perfect time following the Policy Statement 2.0 on the Development of Digital Assets in Hong Kong, issued by the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) Government on June 26. It reinforces the HKSAR Government’s commitment to establishing Hong Kong as a global hub for innovation in the digital asset (DA) field. The statement introduces the “LEAP” framework: Legal and regulatory streamlining, expanding the suite of tokenised products, advancing use cases and cross-sectoral collaboration, and people and partnership development. It sets out a vision for a trusted and innovative DA ecosystem that prioritises risk management and investor protection, while delivering concrete benefits to the real economy and financial markets.

    “Our dedicated team at InvestHK is ready to support players in the DA ecosystem, connecting prospective DA service providers with banks and professional services to facilitate their business setup and expansion in Hong Kong,” Mr Lau added.

    Two-way business success driving the agenda forward

    Japanese firm Zaiko was the first company to establish a presence in Hong Kong through a similar delegation to Japan in 2024, facilitated by InvestHK. As a key portfolio company of Headline Asia, Zaiko serves as a platform that connects creators directly with people through digital events, video streaming, and data analytics. This inward investment exemplifies the potential for Japanese technology expertise to seamlessly merge with the vibrant economic sectors of Hong Kong, such as creative and event industries.

    Waffo established a Hong Kong office in 2023 as its strategic hub for Asia and immediately joined the 2024 InvestHK Japan delegation. The company uncovered new opportunities and successfully entered the Japanese market by opening representative offices, collaborating with multiple Japanese clients and launching innovative cross-border payment and risk-management solutions. Leveraging Hong Kong as its launch pad, Waffo once again participated in this year’s delegation to further accelerate its growth in Japan.

    The Goldian Group is a diversified conglomerate headquartered in Hong Kong with a strong background in real estate development. In recent years, its family office has strategically pivoted towards the fast-evolving field of digital assets. With the support and facilitation from InvestHK, the Group has gained access to cutting-edge market intelligence, advanced fintech applications and high-potential business opportunities in Hong Kong’s financial ecosystem. Leveraging these advantages, the Goldian Group joined this year’s delegation and formally launched a real estate tokenisation initiative in Japan, marking a key step in cross-border digital asset innovation and regional collaboration.

    With these achievements, InvestHK’s latest delegation clearly illustrates the rising synergy between Hong Kong and Japan’s Web3 and fintech industries, a collaboration that promises a new chapter of ingenuity, growth, and mutual prosperity. As both markets continue to harness innovation and investment, the future looks brighter than ever for such two-way partnerships in the digital economy.

    MIL OSI Asia Pacific News

  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: Smart Tips for Buying Textbooks for the New School Year; “Smart Parent Net” Recommendation: 放手不放棄︰成為孩子最堅強的後盾(Chinese version only)

    Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region – 3

    Summer is approaching. When you receive your children’s textbook lists for the new school year, do you start to worry about buying textbooks? The Education Bureau (EDB) has prepared three smart tips to help you save time, money and hassle when buying textbooks, allowing you to spend more quality time with your children as they prepare for the new school year.Pay close attention to the title, edition and publisher information on the textbook list to avoid buying the wrong items. Textbooks marked as “Reprinted” or “Reprinted with Minor Amendments” generally contain only minor amendments or updates, meaning you may choose new textbooks or second-hand copies of the previous edition, depending on your needs.Buying textbooks collectively through schools can often help you save money. If your children already own learning materials on the textbook list which can still be used, such as dictionaries, atlases, or religious texts, there is no need to repurchase them. If you opt for second-hand textbooks, you only have to buy new supplementary learning materials on the textbook list, such as e-learning accounts, workbooks or worksheets. For details on buying these supplementary materials, you may contact the school, bookstores or publishers.The EDB has been encouraging parents to purchase or pre-order textbooks for their children as early as possible to avoid last-minute rushes. Before purchasing, you may visit the EDB’s Textbook Information webpage (https://www.edb.gov.hk/textbook“Textbook Information” Webpage“Tips for Purchasing Textbooks”e-leaflet (2025 Version)

    MIL OSI Asia Pacific News

  • MIL-Evening Report: Palestine protesters target NZ businesses ‘complicit’ with Israel’s Gaza genocide

    Asia Pacific Report

    Protesters against the Israeli genocide in Gaza and occupied West Bank targeted three business sites accused of being “complicit” in Aotearoa New Zealand today.

    The Palestine Solidarity Network Aotearoa’s “End Rocket Lab Genocide Complicity” themed protest picketed Rocket Lab’s New Zealand head office in Mt Wellington.

    Simultaneously, protesters also picketed a site in Warkworth where Rocket Lab equipment is built and Mahia peninsula where satellites are launched.

    In a statement on the PSNA website, it was revealed this week that the advocacy group’s lawyers have prepared a 103-page “indictment” against two business leaders, including the head of Rocket Lab, along with four politicians, including Prime Minister Christopher Luxon.

    They have been referred to the International Criminal Court (ICC) in The Hague for investigation on an accusation of complicity with Israel’s genocide in Gaza.

    Rocket Lab chief executive Sir Peter Beck is one of the six people named in the legal brief.

    “Rocket Lab has recently launched geospatial intelligence satellites for BlackSky Technology,” said PSNA co-chair John Minto in a statement.

    High resolution images
    “These satellites provide high resolution images to Israel which are very likely used to assist with striking civilians in Gaza. Sir Peter has proceeded with these launches in full knowledge of these circumstances”

    A “Genocide Lab” protest against Rocket Lab in Mt Wellington today. Image: PSNA

    “When governments and business leaders can’t even condemn a genocide then civil society groups must act.”

    The other business leader named is Rakon Limited chief executive officer Dr Sinan Altug.

    “Despite vast weapons transfers from the United States to Israel since the beginning of its war on Gaza, Rakon has continued with its longstanding supply of crystal oscillators to US arms manufacturers for use in guided missiles which are then available to Israel for the bombing of Gaza, as well as Lebanon, Syria, Yemen and Iran with consequential massive loss of life,” Minto said.

    “Rakon’s claims that it has no responsibility over how these ‘dual-use’ technologies are used are not credible.”

    Rocket Lab and Rakon have in the past rejected claims over their responsibility.

    Speakers at Mount Wellington included the Green Party spokesperson for foreign affairs Teanau Tuiono; Dr Arama Rata, a researcher and lecturer from Victoria University; and Sam Vincent, the legal team leader for the ICC referral.

    Law academic Professor Jane Kelsey spoke at the Warkworth picket.

    Amnesty International, Human Rights Watch, leading international scholars and the UN Special Committee to investigate Israel’s practices have all condemned Israel’s actions as genocide.

    Protesters against Rocket Lab’s alleged complicity with Israel’s genocide in Gaza today. Image: Del Abcede/APR

    MIL OSI AnalysisEveningReport.nz

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Local schools achieve ‘School of Sanctuary’ status

    Source: City of Plymouth

    Head of KS4 and Assistant Headteacher, Millbay Academy with Councillor Sally Cresswell

    Two local schools have been recognised nationally for their efforts to create a culture of welcome and belonging for children from families seeking asylum and refuge in Plymouth.  

    Mount Street Primary and Millbay Academy are the first schools in the city to gain the national School of Sanctuary accreditation.  

    In each school pupils, parents, staff and governors have worked together, supported by the Plymouth Ethnic Minority Achievement (EMA) Team at the council to create caring communities in which children learn positive messages about equality and diversity.  

    This week, at the EMA Team Hub, hosted by Plymouth Teacher and Schools Alliance, Councillor Sally Cresswell, Cabinet Member for Education, Skills and Apprenticeships, presented certificates to the two successful schools, and other schools keen to gain this award, joined the celebration.  

    She said: “We are working hard to make Plymouth a welcoming city, and it is great to see how our schools are going even further by achieving this excellent recognition of Schools of Sanctuary.    

    “We are really keen to encourage more of our schools to get involved.  This acknowledgement and presentation will hopefully create even more interest and awareness.  We know our schools do so much in this area, and this is the opportunity to celebrate that work.  Mount Street Primary and Millbay Academy are true pioneers. 

    Headteacher and Deputy, Mount Street Primary School with Councillor Sally Cresswell

    “It is important that schools provide the very best learning opportunities for the children while they settle in – this is why the council are working with the Schools of Sanctuary to guide schools through the whole process towards accreditation.  

    “I would like to say a huge congratulations to the schools for achieving this award, and for all their hard work.” 

    Matthew Bisco, Senior Deputy Head at Millbay Academy, said: “Millbay Academy are incredibly proud to be recognised for our continuous work in this area.  

    “The School of Sanctuary values are those we live and breathe. I hope that this accreditation gives further confidence to our city’s refugee, asylum seeker and migrant families, demonstrating our commitment to them, and recognising the gift of having such a rich and diverse set of lived experiences within our community.  

    “Congratulations and full gratitude to all the staff, students and parents who are so committed and learn so much from this work together.”

    The Headteacher from Mount Street Primary added: “We are delighted to be re-accredited as a School of Sanctuary. This recognition reflects the values we live by every day of inclusion, compassion and community. It’s a journey we began years ago and one we are committed to continuing.” 

    We hope that many more schools will engage with this project. You can learn more about the School of Sanctuary awards at: https://schools.cityofsanctuary.org/    

    MIL OSI United Kingdom

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Just one week to go until new city centre cinema opens in Wolverhampton

    Source: City of Wolverhampton

    The newly refurbished four-screen venue, inside the historic Grade II-listed Chubb Building, will be showing its first films from Friday 11 July.

    Keep an eye on the Lockworks Cinema website to find out when the first tickets will go on sale.

    Experienced independent commercial operator, PDJ, has converted the 8,000sqft council-owned space from an out-dated two-screen venue to a state-of-the-art facility.

    They have recruited locally for the three permanent and 20 part-time jobs created.

    PDJ already run successful cinemas in Worthing (The Dome Cinema), Kings Lynn (The Majestic Cinema) and Lytham St Annes (Island Cinema), and recently reopened the former Empire Cinemas in Walthamstow (Forest Cinemas) and Sutton Coldfield (Royal Cinema).

    They and the council have made a £2million joint investment in the critical refurbishment and fit-out programme of the Lockworks Cinema and have entered into a 30-year lease.

    The new-look venue is predicted to attract up to 130,000 visitors a year to the city centre at full flow and boost the local economy by half-a-million-pounds annually.

    James Jervis, Director at PDJ Management, said: “We’re incredibly excited to welcome film lovers back to Wolverhampton city centre from next week. We’re just adding the final touches as we prepare for lift-off with the opening of Superman on Friday 11th July.

    “Throughout the summer, we’ll be showing all the major releases – and plenty more besides – so there really will be something for everyone. We’re confident audiences will love what we’ve done with the cinema, and we’re committed to delivering the very best experience for our customers. Follow us on social media and sign up on our website to be the first to know when tickets go on sale next week.”

    Councillor Stephen Simkins, City of Wolverhampton Council Leader, said: “PDJ have delivered an exciting, affordable luxury offer in our city centre that will bring joy to thousands and thousands of movie-goers, young and old.

    “It is all part of a transformation creating new destinations, better public spaces and inner-city living opportunities, coupled to a broader entertainment and events programme, to attract more visitors – helping both existing and new businesses to thrive and grow.”

    Councillor Chris Burden, City of Wolverhampton Council Cabinet Member for City Development, Jobs and Skills, added: “This is a massive investment by the council and PDJ in our city centre that puts Wolverhampton back at the heart of the cultural map.

    “Alongside the new cinema, the city centre has also recently been boosted by the opening of a new leisure hub at the Mander Centre – anchored by Superbowl UK.

    “Working alongside popular venues like the art gallery, Grand Theatre and University of Wolverhampton at The Halls, this will all drive footfall to support local businesses.”

    The council has also worked closely with the Chubb Building landlord, Midlands Industrial Association (MIA), who oversee a range of businesses already within the buildings, on the scheme.

    Andy Munro, Chairman of Midlands Industrial Association said: “Midland Industrial Association are proud to be the landlords of this iconic Wolverhampton building and it is fitting that amongst the many creative businesses who are based at Chubb, the addition of a flagship cinema now forms an integral part of our Chubb community.”

    Check out Lockworks Cinemas on Facebook and @lockworkscinemas on Instagram.

    MIL OSI United Kingdom

  • MIL-OSI Russia: Become part of the virtual museum of GUU graduates

    Translation. Region: Russian Federal

    Source: State University of Management – Official website of the State –

    On July 4, on the day of the graduation of the students of the State University of Management, everyone can take a 3D photo for the SUM graduates museum.

    Special equipment is located on the 1st and 8th floors of the academic building.

    There are also themed photo zones on the main square and in the Information Technology Center, a red carpet awaits graduates near the dormitories, and refreshments can be obtained near the Sports Complex.

    The graduation program can be viewed here, as well as on a special TG channel.

    Please note: This information is raw content directly from the source of the information. It is exactly what the source states and does not reflect the position of MIL-OSI or its clients.

    MIL OSI Russia News