KILLEEN, Texas, July 25, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Centex Technologies is proud to announce that John Sharp, former Chancellor of the Texas A&M University System, has joined the company as a Strategic Advisor. In this role, Mr. Sharp will support the company’s strategic expansion across cybersecurity, digital forensics, artificial intelligence, and managed IT services.
With nearly two decades of experience, Centex Technologies provides secure, scalable, and transformative IT solutions for clients across both public and private sectors. The company’s expertise includes cybersecurity, IT modernization, cloud infrastructure, application development, digital forensics, and managed services. With teams in five states, Centex Technologies maintains a strong nationwide presence and serves as a trusted partner to federal agencies, state and local governments, higher education institutions, and commercial enterprises.
“We are honored to welcome John Sharp to the Centex Technologies team,” said Abdul Subhani, CEO of Centex Technologies. “His distinguished record of service, visionary leadership, and deep understanding of state and federal systems make him an ideal strategic partner as we continue to scale our impact and expand our advanced IT solutions nationwide.”
Mr. Sharp brings a wealth of experience to Centex Technologies. As Chancellor of the Texas A&M University System from 2011 to 2025, he oversaw one of the nation’s largest university systems and championed major initiatives in education, research, and technology. His previous roles in Texas state government including Texas Comptroller of Public Accounts, Railroad Commissioner, and member of both the Texas House and Senate further cement his reputation as a bold and effective leader.
“After nearly 15 years leading the Texas A&M University System, I’m excited to begin this next chapter with Centex Technologies,” said Sharp. “Their reputation for innovation, national security work, and commitment to excellence – particularly in cybersecurity, artificial intelligence, and digital forensics reflects the kind of forward-thinking leadership our country needs. I look forward to helping Centex expand its reach and deepen its impact across both the public and private sectors”
ABOUTCENTEXTECHNOLOGIES
Founded in 2006, Centex Technologies is an IT consulting firm specializing in cybersecurity, digital forensics, AI integration, and managed IT solutions. The firm is ISO 9001:2015 certified, SBA 8(a) certified, and serves a wide range of clients across the federal government, state agencies, education systems, and commercial sectors through contract vehicles including GSA MAS, SeaPort NxG, TIPS, and Texas DIR and HUB programs.
Inquiries about this press release can be sent to: Hailey Hunter, Media Coordinator – press@centextech.com
overnor Kathy Hochul visited Suffolk County Community College as part of her efforts to highlight the SUNY Reconnect program to provide free community college for adult learners, ages 25-55, who don’t already have a college degree and who are pursuing an associate degree in a high-demand field. The SUNY Reconnect program, which will begin in fall 2025, is part of Governor Hochul’s ongoing efforts to empower New Yorkers to pursue good jobs, and to ensure employers have access to a well-educated workforce to help the state’s economy thrive.
“In every corner of our state, adult New Yorkers will have access to free community college so they will be able to realize their dreams of better jobs in high-demand industries,” Governor Hochul said. “Through SUNY Reconnect, community colleges like Suffolk County Community College will offer a world-class education to New Yorkers, for free, and will help empower these future leaders to turbo-charge our state economy and pursue paths to upward mobility.”
Launched in mid-May following passage of the 2025-26 State Budget, SUNY Reconnect will make it possible for eligible adult students, ages 25-55, to pursue degrees in high-demand fields for free at SUNY community colleges throughout the state. To help prospective students learn more, SUNY community colleges are holding informational sessions and recruitment events. An updated listing can be found at: https://www.suny.edu/communitycollege/free-cc/sessions/.
Governor Hochul was joined by SUNY Chancellor John B. King Jr. as they visited Suffolk County Community College where they highlighted the school’s Heating, Ventilation, Air Conditioning and Refrigeration (HVAC/R) program, which is an eligible associate degree program under the free community college initiative. To support adult learner success through SUNY Reconnect, Suffolk County Community College will utilize online and hybrid options for students that need to work while attending classes. Students will also have access to personal support specifically for adult learners, including on-campus childcare centers.
SUNY Chancellor Kingsaid, “Thanks to Governor Hochul’s leadership, SUNY is on the move and our community colleges are stepping up to help New Yorkers around the state earn a degree in high-need fields. SUNY community colleges are pathways to upward mobility, and with the support of Governor Hochul and state leaders, Suffolk County Community College and all SUNY community colleges are ensuring that every eligible New Yorker interested in a degree in a high-need field will be able to unleash their full potential.”
The SUNY Board of Trustees said, “SUNY has been New Yorkers’ engine of upward mobility and access to a world-class, affordable higher education for 77 years, and with the support of Governor Hochul SUNY Reconnect represents a bold new chapter in our history of service. By offering a community college education free of charge for adult learners seeking degrees in high-need fields, Governor Hochul and state leaders made a bold investment in the future of our state economy and workforce.”
New York State Department of Labor Commissioner Roberta Reardon said, “Free community college for adult learners opens new doors for New Yorkers and ensures skilled and knowledgeable workers in sectors that communities statewide rely on, including education, healthcare, and technology. I thank Governor Hochul for advancing workforce development initiatives through SUNY programs that not only set up adult students for success but also help make the state an affordable place to live, work, and raise a family.”
State Senator Toby Ann Stavisky said, “Everyone’s educational journey is different. Sometimes the path has hurdles and challenges. This initiative will enable students between the ages of 25 to 55 to complete their journey. It also expands workforce development in high demand fields. As a result, everyone benefits.”
To support the launch of SUNY Reconnect, SUNY has:
Allocated $4 million to community colleges to support SUNY Reconnect programmatic implementation through advising, enrollment, outreach, award of credit for prior learning, and other student services, supports, and campus operations.
Provided an additional $1 million to cover equipment, materials, supplies, and other one-time needs to increase student enrollment capacity in high-demand programs that are part of SUNY Reconnect.
Announced $1.1 million in grant funding for the SUNY Adult Learner Leadership Initiative to help community colleges increase access and ensure degree completion for adult learners.
SUNY Reconnect will fund degrees in high-demand fields including:
Advanced manufacturing
Artificial Intelligence
Cybersecurity
Engineering
Technology
Nursing and allied health fields
Green and renewable energy
Pathways to teaching in shortage areas
In addition to SUNY Reconnect, the FY25-26 Enacted State Budget provides $8 million in increased operating aid to community colleges – the first back-to-back operating aid increases in decades for these institutions – and maintains the 100% community college funding floor, which protects community colleges from $75 million lost direct state tax support.
The budget also provides significant funding toward New York’s longstanding Educational Opportunity Program, which has served more than 85,000 students, and increased support for ASAP|ACE, which will make these proven retention and completion programs permanent at SUNY and allow for a significant expansion.
Assemblymember Tommy John Schiavoni said, “As an educator for 30 years, I know firsthand how transformative access to higher education can be for individuals and entire communities. Governor Hochul’s SUNY Reconnect initiative will open doors for thousands of adult learners across New York, giving them the opportunity to build careers in high-demand fields while strengthening our state’s workforce and economy. I am proud to support this bold investment in New Yorkers’ futures.”
Suffolk County Community College President Dr. Edward Bonahue said, “Suffolk County Community College is dedicated to the value of lifelong learning, and SUNY Reconnect is a major step forward in helping us fulfill that mission. With this support from the state, we are proud to welcome adult learners preparing for careers in the high-demand fields critical to growing Long Island’s workforce.”
New York State United Teachers President Melinda Person said, “From Niagara to Suffolk and every community in between, SUNY Reconnect is an historic step toward making higher education truly accessible. By removing financial barriers, it gives thousands of adult learners the chance to return to school, build new careers in high-demand fields, and strengthen their families. NYSUT is proud to stand with Gov. Hochul and Chancellor King to support a future where every New Yorker has the opportunity to thrive.”
New York State Association of Counties Executive Director Stephen Acquario said, “Community colleges are at the heart of local communities across New York State, offering accessible and affordable education while also serving as critical engines of workforce development. By removing financial barriers for adults to return to college and pursue degrees in high-demand fields, this initiative will help employers fill job openings and enable more New Yorkers to build fulfilling careers right in their communities. We commend Governor Hochul for her leadership in expanding educational access and creating meaningful opportunities for working-age adults across the state.”
New York Community College Association of Presidents and SUNY Orange President Dr. Kristine Young said, “Access and affordability have long been the hallmarks of New York’s community colleges. Governor Hochul’s support of SUNY Reconnect brings degrees in high-demand fields into reach for adult learners by further removing costs as a barrier. Students will gain access on our campuses to academic excellence and robust support systems, while being able to take advantage of the meaningful connections we’ve built with local and state employers in these critical sectors where skilled employees are needed. My colleagues at each of our 30 SUNY community colleges are more than ready to welcome new and returning adult learners throughout the state and to help them achieve their academic, career and personal goals.”
About The State University of New York The State University of New York is the largest comprehensive system of higher education in the United States, and more than 95 percent of all New Yorkers live within 30 miles of any one of SUNY’s 64 colleges and universities. Across the system, SUNY has four academic health centers, five hospitals, four medical schools, two dental schools, a law school, the country’s oldest school of maritime, the state’s only college of optometry, and manages one US Department of Energy National Laboratory. In total, SUNY serves about 1.4 million students amongst its entire portfolio of credit- and non-credit-bearing courses and programs, continuing education, and community outreach programs. SUNY oversees nearly a quarter of academic research in New York. Research expenditures system-wide are nearly $1.16 billion in fiscal year 2024, including significant contributions from students and faculty. There are more than three million SUNY alumni worldwide, and one in three New Yorkers with a college degree is a SUNY alum. To learn more about how SUNY creates opportunities, visit www.suny.edu.
As a scholar who examines the history of U.S. immigration law and enforcement, I believe that it remains far from clear whether the Trump White House will significantly reduce the undocumented population. But even if the administration’s efforts fail, the fear and damage to the U.S. immigrant community will remain.
Presidents Bush and Obama
To increase deportations, in 2006 President George W. Bush began using workplace raids. Among these sweeps was the then-largest immigration workplace operation in U.S. history at a meat processing plant in Postville, Iowa in 2008.
U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement deployed 900 agents in Postville and arrested 398 employees, 98% of whom were Latino. They were chained together and arraigned in groups of 10 for felony criminal charges of aggravated identity theft, document fraud and use of stolen Social Security numbers. Some 300 were convicted, and 297 of them served jail sentences before being deported.
In 2008, Bush also initiated Secure Communities, a policy that sought to deport noncitizens – both lawful permanent residents as well as undocumented immigrants – who had been arrested for crimes. Some 2 million immigrants were deported during Bush’s two terms in office.
The Obama administration limited Secure Communities to focus on the removal of noncitizens convicted of felonies. It deported a record 400,000 noncitizens in fiscal year 2013, which led detractors to refer to President Barack Obama as the “Deporter in Chief.”
Trump’s first administration broke new immigration enforcement ground in several ways.
He began his presidency by issuing what was called a “Muslim ban” to restrict the entry into the U.S. of noncitizens from predominantly Muslim nations.
Early in Trump’s first administration, federal agents expanded immigration operations to include raids at courthouses, which previously had been off-limits.
In 2019, Trump implemented the Remain in Mexico policy that for the first time forced noncitizens who came to the U.S. border seeking asylum to wait in Mexico while their claims were being decided. He also invoked Title 42 in 2020 to close U.S. borders during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Immigration-rights activists stage a rally outside President Barack Obama’s Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee fundraiser in Los Angeles, after the president signed a bill that tightened security at the Mexico border in August 2010. Mark Ralston/AFP via Getty Images
In January 2025, he announced an expanded, expedited removal process for any noncitizen apprehended anywhere in the country – not just the border region, as had been U.S. practice since 1996.
These issues have not been seriously addressed by any modern U.S. president. Until it is, we can expect the undocumented population to remain in the millions.
Kevin Johnson does not work for, consult, own shares in or receive funding from any company or organization that would benefit from this article, and has disclosed no relevant affiliations beyond their academic appointment.
Demographers generally gauge births in a population with a measure called the total fertility rate. The total fertility rate for a given year is an estimate of the average number of children that women would have in their lifetime if they experienced current birth rates throughout their childbearing years.
Fertility rates are not fixed – in fact, they have changed considerably over the past century. In the U.S., the total fertility rate rose from about 2 births per woman in the 1930s to a high of 3.7 births per woman around 1960. The rate then dipped below 2 births per woman in the late 1970s and 1980s before returning to 2 births in the 1990s and early 2000s.
But while the total fertility rate offers a snapshot of the fertility landscape, it is not a perfect indicator of how many children a woman will eventually have if fertility patterns are in flux – for example, if people are delaying having children.
Picture a 20-year-old woman today, in 2025. The total fertility rate assumes she will have the same birth rate as today’s 40-year-olds when she reaches 40. That’s not likely to be the case, because birth rates 20 years from now for 40-year-olds will almost certainly be higher than they are today, as more births occur at older ages and more people are able to overcome infertility through medically assisted reproduction.
A more nuanced picture of childbearing
These problems with the total fertility rate are why demographers also measure how many total births women have had by the end of their reproductive years. In contrast to the total fertility rate, the average number of children ever born to women ages 40 to 44 has remained fairly stable over time, hovering around two.
In other words, it doesn’t seem to be the case that birth rates are low because people are uninterested in having children; rather, it’s because they don’t feel it’s feasible for them to become parents or to have as many children as they would like.
The challenge of predicting future population size
Standard demographic projections do not support the idea that population size is set to shrink dramatically.
One billion people lived on Earth 250 years ago. Today there are over 8 billion, and by 2100 the United Nations predicts there will be over 10 billion. That’s 2 billion more, not fewer, people in the foreseeable future. Admittedly, that projection is plus or minus 4 billion. But this range highlights another key point: Population projections get more uncertain the further into the future they extend.
Predicting the population level five years from now is far more reliable than 50 years from now – and beyond 100 years, forget about it. Most population scientists avoid making such long-term projections, for the simple reason that they are usually wrong. That’s because fertility and mortality rates change over time in unpredictable ways.
The U.S. population size is also not declining. Currently, despite fertility below the replacement level of 2.1 children per woman, there are still more births than deaths. The U.S. population is expected to grow by 22.6 million by 2050 and by 27.5 million by 2100, with immigration playing an important role.
Despite a drop in fertility rates, there are still more births than deaths in the U.S. andresr/E+ via Getty Images
Will low fertility cause an economic crisis?
A common rationale for concern about low fertility is that it leads to a host of economic and labor market problems. Specifically, pronatalists argue that there will be too few workers to sustain the economy and too many older people for those workers to support. However, that is not necessarily true – and even if it were, increasing birth rates wouldn’t fix the problem.
As fertility rates fall, the age structure of the population shifts. But a higher proportion of older adults does not necessarily mean the proportion of workers to nonworkers falls.
For one thing, the proportion of children under age 18 in the population also declines, so the number of working-age adults – usually defined as ages 18 to 64 – often changes relatively little. And as older adults stay healthier and more active, a growing number of them are contributing to the economy. Labor force participation among Americans ages 65 to 74 increased from 21.4% in 2003 to 26.9% in 2023 — and is expected to increase to 30.4% by 2033. Modest changes in the average age of retirement or in how Social Security is funded would further reduce strains on support programs for older adults.
What’s more, pronatalists’ core argument that a higher birth rate would increase the size of the labor force overlooks some short-term consequences. More babies means more dependents, at least until those children become old enough to enter the labor force. Children not only require expensive services such as education, but also reduce labor force participation, particularly for women. As fertility rates have fallen, women’s labor force participation rates have risen dramatically – from 34% in 1950 to 58% in 2024. Pronatalist policies that discourage women’s employment are at odds with concerns about a diminishing number of workers.
Research shows that economic policies and labor market conditions, not demographic age structures, play the most important role in determining economic growth in advanced economies. And with rapidly changing technologies like automation and artificial intelligence, it is unclear what demand there will be for workers in the future. Moreover, immigration is a powerful – and immediate – tool for addressing labor market needs and concerns over the proportion of workers.
Overall, there’s no evidence for Elon Musk’s assertion that “humanity is dying.” While the changes in population structure that accompany low birth rates are real, in our view the impact of these changes has been dramatically overstated. Strong investments in education and sensible economic policies can help countries successfully adapt to a new demographic reality.
Leslie Root receives funding from the Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Development (NICHD) for work on fertility rates.
Karen Benjamin Guzzo has received funding from the Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development in the United States.
Shelley Clark receives funding from the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council of Canada.
Source: The Conversation – USA (2) – By Wilfredo José Burgos Matos, Adjunct Assistant Professor of Latin American and Latino Studies, Lehman College, CUNY
What began as songs about heartbreak in the brothels and barrios of the Dominican Republic in the 1960s has become a worldwide sensation.
Even the Bee Gees have gotten a bachata spin. Prince Royce’s bilingual take on the 1977 hit “How Deep Is Your Love” has topped the Latin music charts this summer and proves bachata is no longer chasing the mainstream but reimagining the pop canon.
I’m a scholar of Dominican culture and the senior researcher for the History of Dominican Music in the U.S. project at the City University of New York’s Dominican Studies Institute. I see bachata as a revealing window into modern post-1960s Dominican history – and one that spotlights the emotional truths and everyday experiences of poor and Black Dominicans in particular.
Music from the margins
Bachata was born in the Dominican countryside and later developed in the shantytowns of Santo Domingo, the capital. In most Latin American dictionaries, the word “bachata” is loosely defined as “revelry” or “a spree.”
The distinctive sound is formed from guitars, bongos, bass and the güira – a percussion instrument also used in merengue music – and accompanied by typically romantic or bittersweet lyrics.
The genre’s first recording came in 1962, just over a year after Rafael Leónidas Trujillo, a brutal dictator who ruled the island for 31 years, was assassinated. Trujillo’s death marked the beginning of a new cultural and political era in the Dominican Republic, although democratic hopes were soon shattered by a military coup, civil war and a second U.S. intervention following an earlier one between 1916-1924.
Urban and middle-class Dominicans looked down on bachata as the music played in brothels and favored by poor, rural people who started to migrate to urban areas in large numbers in the 1960s. It was played almost exclusively on Radio Guarachita, a Santo Domingo station run by Radhamés Aracena, a key promoter of the genre.
Amid a country reeling from political upheaval, bachata emerged as a soundtrack to working-class survival. The guitar-based rhythms were shaped by Cuban bolero and son and Mexican ranchera music, while the lyrics chronicled daily struggles, grief and marginalization.
In most Latin American dictionaries, the word ‘bachata’ is loosely defined as ‘revelry’ or ‘a spree.’ This reflects its early development in informal social spaces where friends gathered to sing their hearts out, share drinks and escape daily hardships. CUNY Dominican Studies Institute Library, The Deborah Pacini Hernández Bachata Music Collection
Bachata’s shifting language
In the 1960s, bachata lyrics centered on heartache and were often directed at a romantic partner.
“Understand me, you know I love only you. Don’t deny me the hope of kissing you again,” Rafael Encarnación sang in Spanish in his 1964 song “Muero Contigo,” or “I Die With You.”
“I gave you everything you ever wanted, but it was all useless because you went looking for another man,” Blas Durán sang in 1985. “I was left like the orange vendor – peeling so someone else could suck the fruit.”
To reclaim respect for bachata, some artists, such as Luis Segura and Leonardo Paniagua, in the mid-1980s began calling their music música de amargue, or “music of romantic bitterness.”
What began as a genre label gradually transformed into a sensibility. “Amargue” came to name a feeling marked by longing, loss and quiet introspection – akin to “feeling the blues” in the U.S.
American blues similarly emerged from the hardships faced by Black Americans in the South and expressed themes of sorrow, resilience and reflection.
As acceptance of the genre grew, traditional bachateros in the Dominican Republic continued releasing bachata albums. However, Dominican pop, rock and other artists also began recording bachatas – such as 1990’s “Yo Quiero Andar” by Sonia Silvestre and 1998’s “Bufeo” by Luis “El Terror” Días.
Migration to the U.S. is a pivotal chapter in Dominican history after the 1960s. The U.S. Immigration Act of 1965 functioned as a de facto immigration policy and encouraged a large-scale exodus from the Dominican Republic.
By the mid-1990s, a strong and vibrant Dominican diaspora was firmly established in New York City. The Bronx became the birthplace of Grupo Aventura, a group that revolutionized bachata by blending its traditional rhythms with urban genres such as hip-hop.
“Obsesión,” released in 2002, was an international hit.
Their music reflected the bicultural diaspora, often torn between nostalgia for their homeland and everyday challenges of urban American life. Against the backdrop of city life, bachata found a new voice that mirrored the immigrant experience. The genre shifted from a shared feeling of loss and longing to a celebration of cultural community.
In 2002, the song “Obsesión” by Aventura and featuring Judy Santos topped music charts in France, Germany, Italy, the U.S. and elsewhere. The group Aventura and, later, lead singer Romeo Santos as a solo artist sold out Madison Square Garden and Yankee Stadium, respectively.
As they rose in fame, Aventura became global ambassadors for Dominican culture and made bachata mainstream.
Puerto Rican bachatero Toby Love performs during an event held by Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Clinton on April 9, 2016, in New York City. Andrew Renneisen via Getty Images
Global spin on bachata
Bachata’s popularity has also spread to other countries in Latin America, and especially among working-class and Afro-descendant communities in Central America that see their own realities reflected in the music.
At the same time, Dominican diasporic communities in countries such as Spain and Italy carried the genre with them, where it continued to evolve.
In Spain, for example, bachata experienced a creative transformation. By the mid-2000s, bachata sensual had emerged as a dance style influenced by zouk and tango, emphasizing smooth, body-led movements and close partner connection.
Around the same time, modern bachata also developed between Spain and New York City. This style is a departure from traditional bachata, which focuses on the box step and fast footwork, and incorporates more turns and other elements from salsa.
Today, bachata’s influence is truly global. International conferences dedicated to the genre attract dancers, musicians and scholars from around the world. Puerto Rican, Colombian and other artists from diverse cultural and racial backgrounds continue to nurture and reinvent bachata.
At the same time, more women, such as Andre Veloz, Judy Santos and Leslie Grace, are building careers as bachata performers and challenging a traditionally male-dominated genre.
Natti Natasha performs at an album release party for ‘En Amargue,’ her 2025 album produced by bachata icon and former Aventura singer Romeo Santos. John Parra/WireImage via Getty Images
Bachata holds a place not only on the world stage but in the hearts of Latino, Black, Asian and many other communities in the U.S. that recognize the genre’s power to tell stories of love, loss, migration and resilience.
Wilfredo José Burgos Matos does not work for, consult, own shares in or receive funding from any company or organization that would benefit from this article, and has disclosed no relevant affiliations beyond their academic appointment.
The U.S. has an important choice to make regarding agriculture.
It can import more people to pick crops and do other kinds of agricultural labor, it can raise wages enough to lure more U.S. citizens and immigrants with legal status to take these jobs, or it can import more food. All three options contradict key Trump administration priorities: reducing immigration, keeping prices low and importing fewer goods and services.
As a professor of Latin American politics and U.S.-Latin American relations, I teach my students to consider the difficult trade-offs that governments face. If the Trump administration removes a significant share of the immigrants living in the U.S. without legal permission from the agricultural labor force to try to meet its deportation goals, farm owners will have few options.
Few options available
First, farm owners could raise wages and improve working conditions enough to attract U.S. citizens and immigrants who are legal permanent residents or otherwise in the U.S. with legal status.
Second, farm owners could employ fewer people. That would require either growing different crops that require less labor or becoming more reliant on machinery to plant and harvest. But that would mean the U.S. could have to import more food. And automation for some crops is very expensive. For others, such as for berries, it’s currently impossible.
It’s also possible that some farm owners could put their land to other uses, ceasing production, but that would also necessitate more imported food.
Trump administration’s suggested fixes
U.S. Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins has predicted that farm owners will soon find plenty of U.S. citizens to employ.
She declared on July 8 that the new Medicaid work requirements included in the same legislative package as the immigration enforcement funds would encourage huge numbers of U.S. citizens to start working in the fields instead of losing their health insurance through that government program.
Few people enrolled in Medicaid live close enough to a farm to work at one, and even those who do aren’t capable of doing farmwork. When farm owners tried putting people enrolled in a welfare program to work in the fields in the 1990s, it failed. Another experiment in the 1960s, which deployed teenagers, didn’t pan out either because the teens found the work too hard.
It seems more likely that farm owners will try to hire many more foreign farmworkers to do temporary but legal jobs through the H-2A program.
In June, for example, Trump said his administration was working on “some kind of a temporary pass” for immigrants lacking authorization to be in the U.S. who are working on farms and in hotels.
Farmworkers with H-2A visas spend time in their employer-provided dormitory on April 28, 2020, in King City, Calif. Brent Stirton/Getty Images
Established in 1952, numbers now rising quickly
The guest worker system, established in 1952 and revised significantly in 1986, has become a mainstay of U.S. agriculture because it offers important benefits to both the farm owners who need workers and the foreign workers they hire.
There is no cap on the number of potential workers. The number of H-2A visas issued is based only on how many employers request them. Farm owners may apply for visas after verifying that they are unable to locate enough workers who are U.S. citizens or present in the U.S. with authorization.
To protect U.S. workers, the government mandates that H-2A workers earn an “adverse effect wage rate.” The Labor Department sets that hourly wage, which ranges from $10.36 in Puerto Rico to about $15 in several southern states, to more than $20 in California, Alaska and Hawaii. These wages are set at relatively high levels to avoid putting downward pressure on what other U.S. workers are paid for the same jobs.
After certification, farm owners recruit workers in a foreign country who are offered a contract that includes transportation from their home country and a trip back – assuming they complete the contract.
The program provides farm owners with a short-term labor force. It guarantees the foreign workers who obtain H-2A visas relatively high wages, as well as housing in the U.S. That combination has proven increasingly popular in recent years: The annual number of H-2A visas rose to 310,700 in 2023, a more than fivefold increase since 2010.
Possible downsides
Boosting the number of agricultural guest workers would help fill some gaps in the agricultural labor force and reduce the risk of crops going unharvested. But it seems clear to me that a sudden change would pose risks for workers and farm owners alike.
Relying even more on guest farmworkers than the U.S. does today would also swap workers who have built lives and families north of the border with people who are in the U.S. on a temporary basis. Immigration opponents are unlikely to object to this trade-off, but to immigrant rights groups, this arrangement would be cruel and unfair to workers with years of service behind them.
The U.S. Government Accountability Office has researched the H-2A visa program and observed many problems it recommends be fixed.
For farm owners, the downside of ramping up guest worker programs is that it could increase costs and make production less efficient and more costly. That’s because transporting Mexican farmworkers back and forth each year is complicated and expensive. Farm groups say that compliance with H-2A visa requirements is cumbersome. It can be particularly difficult for small farms to participate in this program.
To be sure, these problems aren’t limited to agriculture. Hotels, restaurants and other hospitality businesses, which rely heavily on undocumented workers, can also temporarily employ some foreigners through the H-2B visa program – which is smaller than the H-2A program, limits the number of visas issued and is available only for jobs considered seasonal.
If the U.S. does deport millions of workers, the price of tomatoes, elder care, restaurant meals and roof repairs would probably rise substantially. A vast increase in the number of guest workers is a potential but partial solution, but it would multiply problems that are inherent in these temporary visa programs.
Scott Morgenstern does not work for, consult, own shares in or receive funding from any company or organization that would benefit from this article, and has disclosed no relevant affiliations beyond their academic appointment.
Theo Hanson on the day of his ARU graduation ceremony
Theo Hanson, an Anglia Ruskin University (ARU) student who suffers from a rare genetic disorder, is celebrating his graduation after first beginning his degree in 2016.
Theo, 28, has lived with hereditary sensory neuropathy (HSN) all his life, leaving him unable to feel pain or touch. This lack of feeling in his body puts him at risk of accidental injury or infections.
Despite the risks associated with his condition, his parents encouraged him to try and live independently, and he joined ARU in 2016 through Clearing.
Theo, who lives in Cambridge, initially found that living away from home threw up challenges he had not anticipated. In 2018, his tutors encouraged him to take a year out and he flourished on rejoining ARU.
He became a course representative and even took on a “parental” role to students during the Covid pandemic, helping students who were struggling with the restrictions.
There were further personal and health challenges to overcome. The death of someone who helped look after him when he was young impacted Theo’s studies, and he needed to have his toes amputated due to a severe bone infection.
However, Theo has now finally crossed the stage to formally receive his BA (Hons) degree in Computer Games Design – and he did so on the very same day his younger brother graduated from his degree in History at ARU.
“Most people with HSN don’t even get to enter higher education, let alone to complete it. The main reason for that is that, by my age, they are usually too injured or impaired. Luckily, my version of the condition has manifested itself in a way that my brain function and level of injury is not as impaired or as severe as some others that have the condition.
“There are two ways of dealing with someone like me, you either coddle them completely or, as my parents did, treat me like the rest of my brothers and I was encouraged to live independently. University seemed a natural step.
“Finally finishing my degree feels incredible – I didn’t think I would ever get here. I have seen friends go on to become lecturers and I have had other friends come back to do a Masters.
“Socially I have learned a lot. I lived in student accommodation and so I met new people every year, and the course was amazing. The lecturers were really helpful and always on hand to provide advice, and all the support staff too who helped me with submissions were lovely.”
ARU Computer Games Design graduate Theo Hanson
Theo has already had some of his work highlighted in PC Gamer magazine and following graduation, he’s keen to pursue work to improve accessibility in gaming.
Two teams of Hong Kong students achieved outstanding results in the 55th International Physics Olympiad (IPhO 2025) and the 66th International Mathematical Olympiad (IMO 2025) by winning six gold medals, four silver and one bronze.
The IPhO 2025, hosted by France, was held from July 18 to 24, with 415 students from 89 countries or regions taking part.
The four gold medallists were Bill Fu from Inno Secondary School (Kowloon Tong), Edison Fu from Queen’s College, Lincoln Liu from Sha Tin College and Qiao Lok-hei from St Paul’s Co-educational College, while Garfield Leung from Evangel College took home silver.
Meanwhile, the IMO 2025 was held in Australia from July 10 to 20. Among the 630 participating students from 110 countries or regions, the Hong Kong team won two gold medals, three silver medals and one bronze medal.
Kwan Yung-ho from Diocesan Boys’ School and Lincoln Liu from Sha Tin College clinched the gold medal.
The silver medal went to Chan Kwan-yu and Sze Long from St Paul’s Co-educational College and Jerry Xu from Victoria Shanghai Academy, while Chong Tsz-sing from Diocesan Boys’ School bagged a bronze medal.
Secretary for Education Choi Yuk-lin congratulated the Hong Kong teams on their outstanding performance.
Ms Choi said: “The impressive results achieved by the Hong Kong teams bear testament to the concerted efforts of the Government and various stakeholders in promoting STEAM (science, technology, engineering, the arts, and mathematics) and gifted education.”
The Education Bureau will continue to strengthen the promotion of STEAM and gifted education in primary and secondary schools, and encourage the effective use of the school-based student talent pool to identify and nurture more students with talent, she added.
While conflict persists across much of Sudan, pockets of relative safety have emerged, and to date over 1 million internally displaced Sudanese have made their way home. A further 320,000 people have crossed back into Sudan since last year, mainly from Egypt and South Sudan, some to assess the current situation in the country before deciding to return.
People are mainly going back to Khartoum, Sennar and Al Jazirah States, where the impact of more than two years of war is immense.
Regional Directors from UNHCR and IOM recently visited Khartoum and witnessed widespread devastation and a chronic lack of services for its remaining inhabitants. These include thousands of internally displaced Sudanese, as well as refugees and asylum-seekers hosted in Sudan, many of whom had been completely cut off from assistance since the war began. The visits followed an earlier mission to Sudan in February by the UNDP Regional Director aimed at developing long-term solutions for internally displaced people and refugees to secure livelihoods and basic services.
With humanitarian operations massively underfunded both inside Sudan and across neighbouring countries hosting those who fled, an urgent increase in financial support is needed. Humanitarian partners stress that recovery efforts must begin in areas that are becoming accessible and relatively safer. At the same time, funds are desperately needed to improve conditions for refugees in host countries.
“More than evidence of people’s desire to return to their homeland, these returns are a desperate call for an end to the war so that people can come back and rebuild their lives,” said Mamadou Dian Balde, Regional Refugee Coordinator for the Sudan crisis, who has just returned from Khartoum and Wadi Halfa at the border with Egypt. “Not only do they mark a hopeful but fragile shift, they also indicate already stretched host countries under increasing strain. We urge stronger international solidarity with the Sudanese people uprooted by this horrifying war and with the countries that have opened their doors to them.”
While fighting has subsided in the areas to which people are returning, conditions remain perilous. Public infrastructure – power supply lines, roads and drainage systems – have been completely destroyed. Schools and hospitals have been ruined or turned into collective shelters hosting displaced families. Lost or destroyed civil documents and the inability to replace them means people cannot access existing services. In addition to the dangers posed by unexploded ordnances, sexual violence and child rights violations are widespread.
Speaking from Port Sudan immediately after his visit to Khartoum, IOM Regional Director Othman Belbeisi underlined the need to support returnees in their voluntary choice to return:
“Those heading home are not passive survivors, they are vital to Sudan’s recovery. Yes, the humanitarian situation is dire, but with the right support, returnees can revive local economies, restore community life, and foster hope where it’s needed most. But they cannot do it alone. We must work alongside local partners to ensure that people return not to shattered systems, but to the foundations of peace, dignity, and opportunity. The thousands of people seeking to return home are driven by hope, resilience, and an enduring connection to their country. However, it is essential to emphasize that return must remain a voluntary, informed, and dignified choice.”
“Anyone who’s been forced from home knows the overwhelming urge to return,” said UNDP Director of the Regional Bureau for Arab States, Abdallah Al Dardari. “But without urgent action, people will be coming back to cities that are in ruins. We are in a race against time to clear the rubble and provide water, power, and health care. We also need to offer longer-term support for jobs and businesses and to address the unseen damage of war, including with counselling and legal aid for women victims of violence.”
Despite these returns, hundreds continue to flee both within Sudan and across its borders daily, due to ongoing conflict particularly in the Darfur and Kordofan regions. More than two years in, the people of Sudan have suffered enough and deserve an end to the fighting. A political solution to the crisis in Sudan must be found for a lasting peace that will allow people to fully return and rebuild their lives.
– on behalf of United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR).
Source: Peter the Great St. Petersburg Polytechnic University –
An important disclaimer is at the bottom of this article.
On July 25, at 08:54 Moscow time, the Soyuz-2.1b launch vehicle with the Fregat upper stage was launched from the Vostochny Cosmodrome, which delivered two heliogeophysical spacecraft Ionosfera-M No. 3 and No. 4, as well as a group of 18 small space satellites, to their calculated orbits.
The launch of the Ionosfera-M series satellites completed the formation of a group of four devices of the Ionozond space complex, which will monitor the geophysical environment to conduct fundamental scientific research and solve applied problems.
The complex was created in the interests of the Russian Academy of Sciences and the Federal Service of Russia for Hydrometeorology and Environmental Monitoring. The Ionosfera-M satellites are designed for a comprehensive study of the upper layers of the Earth’s atmosphere. They will observe various physical processes in the ionosphere, including natural and man-made impacts, changes in electromagnetic fields, atmospheric composition, and ozone distribution. The data obtained will be used by Roshydromet in combination with ground-based observations. The Russian Academy of Sciences plans to conduct ground-space experiments to study the ionosphere’s response to natural phenomena such as hurricanes and volcanic eruptions.
Also, 18 small satellites have been launched into orbit. Nine of them were created by Geoscan and will be engaged in photographing the Earth, tracking the movement of ships and aircraft, exploring near space and much more. Some of the devices are intended for educational purposes.
Ivan Bortnik, Advisor to the General Director of the Foundation for Assistance to Innovations, highly appreciated the significance of today’s launch: “This is a great achievement for Roscosmos – the completion of the formation of the Ionosfera-M satellite group for research by our scientists, representatives of fundamental science. Also in this launch are many devices from private satellite-building companies. One of the devices from the Geoscan company is included inSpace Pi project, this is important for the Innovation Promotion Fund and for the Polytechnic University as the founder and leader of the project. This is the first of a series of satellites with which schoolchildren will be able to hunt for supernovae. We, as the Innovation Promotion Fund, held a competition and determined the winners who will begin to manufacture such devices; I hope that they will fly next year.”
According to Ivan Bortnik, the nanosatellite “239Alferov” of the Presidential Physics and Mathematics Lyceum No. 239 and the Lyceum “Physics and Technology School named after Zh. I. Alferov” will open a new direction of the Space Pi project – the launch of target devices. This is the first of a series of satellites equipped with X-ray sensors that will hunt for supernovae. This will be possible thanks to the network of ground stations created by the company “Geoscan”, covering almost the entire territory of Russia.
Please note: This information is raw content obtained directly from the source of the information. It is an accurate report of what the source claims and does not necessarily reflect the position of MIL-OSI or its clients.
Source: Peter the Great St. Petersburg Polytechnic University –
An important disclaimer is at the bottom of this article.
The Polytechnic University received a delegation from the regional branch of the Young Industrialists Club in St. Petersburg. The visit included a rich program aimed at developing sustainable professional ties between the university and representatives of the industrial sphere.
The key event was the signing of a cooperation agreement, which secured the course for long-term cooperation between the Polytechnic University and the club.
“Today, it is especially important not only to maintain ties between the university and industry, but also to translate them into a format of real joint action. Signing an agreement with the Young Industrialists Club is a step towards strengthening mutual understanding, sharing experience and project cooperation. We view this cooperation as long-term and strategically important for both parties,” shared SPbPU First Vice-Rector Vitaly Sergeev.
“Cooperation with the Polytechnic University is an important stage in the implementation of our ambitious goals. I am confident that live interaction with the engineering and scientific community of SPbPU will become a solid foundation for further development,” said Ilya Vinogradov, head of the regional branch of the Young Industrialists Club in St. Petersburg, co-founder of ZD Vision Distribution, and a Polytechnic University graduate.
The guests visited the Institute of Mechanical Engineering, Materials and Transport, including the laboratory of lightweight materials and structures and the laboratory of “Design of materials and additive manufacturing”. The delegates also inspected the site of the research laboratory “Laser and additive technologies” (NRL “LiAT” IMMiT).
During the tour, the polytechnicians paid special attention to technological solutions in the field of additive manufacturing and laser welding, which are actively developing at the university.
“We see the club not just as partners, but as allies in the implementation of advanced technological solutions in the real sector of the economy. Such cooperation is a resource that strengthens both sides,” emphasized Mikhail Kuznetsov, head of the Research Laboratory “LiAT” of IMMiT.
At the end of the visit, the parties discussed areas of future cooperation, including the implementation of joint projects and the integration of scientific solutions into business practice.
Please note: This information is raw content obtained directly from the source of the information. It is an accurate report of what the source claims and does not necessarily reflect the position of MIL-OSI or its clients.
Source: International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) –
As of 2025, the IAEA has trained close to 2,500 professionals from 137 countries through the PGEC. (Photo: L. Grindrod/IAEA)
Dozens of participants have completed the latest IAEA post-graduate courses in radiation protection, enabling them to help safely expand the use of nuclear science and technology in 31 participating countries.
The latest participants completed intensive, six-month Postgraduate Educational Courses in Radiation Protection and the Safety of Radiation Sources (PGEC) in either Greece or Ghana, designed to prepare them for work as radiation protection experts, regulators and nuclear safety professionals.
“For close to 45 years, PGEC has continuously trained new generations of experts in Europe and Central Asia for work in the field of radiation protection,” explained Emina Alic, IAEA Programme Management Officer. “Today, former PGEC graduates are helping to shape the future of their country’s engagement with nuclear applications as national operators, regulators and policymakers.”
“With the increased use of radiation sources in Africa, radiation safety has become one of the main priority areas of the IAEA’s regional technical cooperation programme for Africa,” explained IAEA Programme Management Officer Felix Omonya. “The IAEA has provided substantial support in the form of equipment and expert guidance, but in terms of training, the PGEC represents a cornerstone of our capacity building efforts.”
Radioactive sources are manufactured in research reactors. As they decay through their lifetime, the radiation they emit can be used to diagnose or treat cancers, measure pollution or monitor industrial processes. When they reach the end of their life, the radioactive sources are interred safely in waste storage or disposal facilities. X ray machines on the other hand, generate radiation on demand, offering a predictable and reliable source of radiation that can be made safe as soon as its work is done.
The use of these radiation sources and technologies requires a comprehensive framework of national legislation and regulations and relies on the availability of sufficiently trained and motivated safety professionals. The IAEA’s PGEC responds to this need by helping to develop a cohort of radiation protection professionals through a combination of theoretical, classroom instruction and hands-on training.
“While some regulatory frameworks are in place in my country, there is still a pressing need to update existing regulations in line with international standards,” explained Blinda Mutuzo of the Rwanda Atomic Energy Board. “The PGEC covered many of the areas where we most need support and offered practical knowledge on regulatory frameworks, authorization and inspection processes, source management and more.”
“The course helped me grow professionally by expanding my knowledge and confidence in radiation protection. It also allowed me to connect with experts and peers from other countries. These connections may lead to future collaborations in training, technical assistance or policy development,” said Mutuzo.
“Emergency preparedness and the improvement of the established early warning system are among Lithuania’s priorities at the moment,” said Kornelija Dacytė, Chief Specialist of Lithuania’s Radiation Protection Centre. “Not only did PGEC respond to these national needs, I am now hoping to adjust my career trajectory to focus more on emergency preparedness and I hope to support decision-making through atmospheric dispersion modelling.” The IAEA supports countries to use atmospheric dispersion modelling to simulate the spread of air pollutants, including radioactive substances.
As of 2025, the IAEA has trained close to 2,500 professionals from 137 countries through the PGEC. (Photo: L. Grindrod/IAEA)
Dozens of participants have completed the latest IAEA post-graduate courses in radiation protection, enabling them to help safely expand the use of nuclear science and technology in 31 participating countries.
The latest participants completed intensive, six-month Postgraduate Educational Courses in Radiation Protection and the Safety of Radiation Sources (PGEC) in either Greece or Ghana, designed to prepare them for work as radiation protection experts, regulators and nuclear safety professionals.
“For close to 45 years, PGEC has continuously trained new generations of experts in Europe and Central Asia for work in the field of radiation protection,” explained Emina Alic, IAEA Programme Management Officer. “Today, former PGEC graduates are helping to shape the future of their country’s engagement with nuclear applications as national operators, regulators and policymakers.”
“With the increased use of radiation sources in Africa, radiation safety has become one of the main priority areas of the IAEA’s regional technical cooperation programme for Africa,” explained IAEA Programme Management Officer Felix Omonya. “The IAEA has provided substantial support in the form of equipment and expert guidance, but in terms of training, the PGEC represents a cornerstone of our capacity building efforts.”
Radioactive sources are manufactured in research reactors. As they decay through their lifetime, the radiation they emit can be used to diagnose or treat cancers, measure pollution or monitor industrial processes. When they reach the end of their life, the radioactive sources are interred safely in waste storage or disposal facilities. X ray machines on the other hand, generate radiation on demand, offering a predictable and reliable source of radiation that can be made safe as soon as its work is done.
The use of these radiation sources and technologies requires a comprehensive framework of national legislation and regulations and relies on the availability of sufficiently trained and motivated safety professionals. The IAEA’s PGEC responds to this need by helping to develop a cohort of radiation protection professionals through a combination of theoretical, classroom instruction and hands-on training.
“While some regulatory frameworks are in place in my country, there is still a pressing need to update existing regulations in line with international standards,” explained Blinda Mutuzo of the Rwanda Atomic Energy Board. “The PGEC covered many of the areas where we most need support and offered practical knowledge on regulatory frameworks, authorization and inspection processes, source management and more.”
“The course helped me grow professionally by expanding my knowledge and confidence in radiation protection. It also allowed me to connect with experts and peers from other countries. These connections may lead to future collaborations in training, technical assistance or policy development,” said Mutuzo.
“Emergency preparedness and the improvement of the established early warning system are among Lithuania’s priorities at the moment,” said Kornelija Dacytė, Chief Specialist of Lithuania’s Radiation Protection Centre. “Not only did PGEC respond to these national needs, I am now hoping to adjust my career trajectory to focus more on emergency preparedness and I hope to support decision-making through atmospheric dispersion modelling.” The IAEA supports countries to use atmospheric dispersion modelling to simulate the spread of air pollutants, including radioactive substances.
Source: Peter the Great St. Petersburg Polytechnic University –
An important disclaimer is at the bottom of this article.
The third episode of the video digest “Polytech in Priority” is dedicated to the key scientific and technological direction “Artificial Intelligence for Solving Cross-Industry Problems”. Its host was the chief designer of KNTN-3, Vice-Rector for Research at SPbPU Yuri Fomin.
In the episode, Yuri Fomin talked about what tasks are solved with the help of AI and in what areas the Polytechnic teams work. Yuri Fomin presented the latest data on the progress of five projects included in the KNTN-3 and shared plans for the future. The projects cover various areas of activity: the transport sector, pharmacology, enterprise management and other areas.
The video digest series was created by the Office of Technology Leadership of the St. Petersburg Polytechnic University to provide information on key scientific and technical areas (KNTA) and projects supported by the Priority 2030 program. Thanks to this, employees and interested people receive comprehensive information on the program areas, funded projects and their implementation.
Please note: This information is raw content obtained directly from the source of the information. It is an accurate report of what the source claims and does not necessarily reflect the position of MIL-OSI or its clients.
Dozens of participants have completed the latest IAEA post-graduate courses in radiation protection, enabling them to help safely expand the use of nuclear science and technology in 31 participating countries.
The latest participants completed intensive, six-month Postgraduate Educational Courses in Radiation Protection and the Safety of Radiation Sources (PGEC) in either Greece or Ghana, designed to prepare them for work as radiation protection experts, regulators and nuclear safety professionals.
“For close to 45 years, PGEC has continuously trained new generations of experts in Europe and Central Asia for work in the field of radiation protection,” explained Emina Alic, IAEA Programme Management Officer. “Today, former PGEC graduates are helping to shape the future of their country’s engagement with nuclear applications as national operators, regulators and policymakers.”
“With the increased use of radiation sources in Africa, radiation safety has become one of the main priority areas of the IAEA’s regional technical cooperation programme for Africa,” explained IAEA Programme Management Officer Felix Omonya. “The IAEA has provided substantial support in the form of equipment and expert guidance, but in terms of training, the PGEC represents a cornerstone of our capacity building efforts.”
Radioactive sources are manufactured in research reactors. As they decay through their lifetime, the radiation they emit can be used to diagnose or treat cancers, measure pollution or monitor industrial processes. When they reach the end of their life, the radioactive sources are interred safely in waste storage or disposal facilities. X ray machines on the other hand, generate radiation on demand, offering a predictable and reliable source of radiation that can be made safe as soon as its work is done.
The use of these radiation sources and technologies requires a comprehensive framework of national legislation and regulations and relies on the availability of sufficiently trained and motivated safety professionals. The IAEA’s PGEC responds to this need by helping to develop a cohort of radiation protection professionals through a combination of theoretical, classroom instruction and hands-on training.
“While some regulatory frameworks are in place in my country, there is still a pressing need to update existing regulations in line with international standards,” explained Blinda Mutuzo of the Rwanda Atomic Energy Board. “The PGEC covered many of the areas where we most need support and offered practical knowledge on regulatory frameworks, authorization and inspection processes, source management and more.”
“The course helped me grow professionally by expanding my knowledge and confidence in radiation protection. It also allowed me to connect with experts and peers from other countries. These connections may lead to future collaborations in training, technical assistance or policy development,” said Mutuzo.
“Emergency preparedness and the improvement of the established early warning system are among Lithuania’s priorities at the moment,” said Kornelija Dacytė, Chief Specialist of Lithuania’s Radiation Protection Centre. “Not only did PGEC respond to these national needs, I am now hoping to adjust my career trajectory to focus more on emergency preparedness and I hope to support decision-making through atmospheric dispersion modelling.” The IAEA supports countries to use atmospheric dispersion modelling to simulate the spread of air pollutants, including radioactive substances.
China has long maintained that it does not supply arms to any party at war – a central tenet of its “noninterference” foreign policy. But in recent years, Beijing has repeatedly faced accusations of doing the opposite: providing direct military assistanceto nations engaged in conflict, while publicly denying doing so and even adopting a position of diplomatic neutrality.
That has seemingly been the case for two of China’s closest allies: Russia in its war against Ukraine and Pakistan during its recent armed standoff with India in May.
Now, Beijing is facing scrutiny over alleged military links to Iran – a country engaged in a long-running shadow conflict with Israel that recently tipped into a short-lived hot war.
After the ceasefire that followed the 12-day war in the Middle East, China reportedly supplied batteries for surface-to-air missiles to Iran in exchange for oil. Such parts are a critical military need for Tehran after its air defense network was severely damaged by Israeli missiles.
The Chinese Embassy in Israel denied the reports, stating that China firmly opposes the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction and does not export arms to countries at war. But China’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs has yet to issue an official statement on the alleged transfer.
As an expert specializing in China’s grand strategy, I think it is highly possible that China would offer Iran military support while denying it publicly. Such plausible deniability would allow Beijing to assert military influence and showcase some of its hardware, while deflecting international criticism and preserving diplomatic flexibility.
But the tactic works only so far. As indirect evidence accumulates, as many suggest it is, such covert action may gradually develop into an open secret – leading to what scholars term “implausible deniability,” where denial is no longer credible even if it is still officially maintained.
An air-to-air missile on display at the 15th China International Aviation and Aerospace Exhibition in November 2024. Shen Ling/VCG via Getty Images
China’s support for Russia’s war
Although Beijing has consistently said it is neutral in the Russia-Ukraine war that broke out in 2022, China has, in practice, quietly supported Russia. In part, that is because China shares the same strategic goal of challenging the Western-led international order.
Recently, Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi reportedly told European Union foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas that Beijing cannot afford to see Russia lose the war in Ukraine. He was said to have warned that a Russian defeat would likely bring the full force of U.S. strategic pressure to bear on China.
From Beijing’s perspective, Moscow plays a vital role in keeping the West preoccupied, offering China valuable strategic breathing room by diverting American attention and resources away from the Asia-Pacific region.
Beyond deepening trade relations that have become a lifeline for Moscow’s economy under Western sanctions, China has reportedly supplied Russia with large quantities of dual-use goods – goods that can be used for civilian and military purposes – to enhance both Moscow’s offensive and defensive capabilities, as well as to boost China’s military-industrial production. Beijing has also allegedly provided satellite imagery to assist Russia on the battlefield.
While the U.S. and Europe have repeatedly tried to call out China for aiding Russia militarily, Beijing has consistently denied such claims.
Most recently, on April 18, 2025, Ukraine formally accused China of directly supporting Russia and slapped sanctions on three Chinese-based firms that Kyiv said was involved in weapons production for the Russian war effort.
In what has become a common refrain, China’s Foreign Ministry rejected the Ukrainian accusation, reaffirming that China has never provided lethal weapons to any party in the conflict and reiterating its official stance of promoting a ceasefire and peace negotiations.
A Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson gestures for questions during a daily briefing in Beijing in 2020. AP Photo/Ng Han Guan
China’s quiet backing of Pakistan
Beijing has long presented itself as a neutral party in the India-Pakistan conflict, too, and has called for restraint on both sides and urged peaceful dialogue.
But in practice, China is allied with Pakistan. And the direct military support it has provided to Lahore appears driven by China’s desire to curb India’s regional influence, counterbalance the growing U.S.–India strategic partnership and protect the China–Pakistan Economic Corridor, a massive bilateral infrastructure project.
In the latest flare-up between India and Pakistan in May, Pakistan deployed Chinese-made J-10C fighter jets in combat for the first time, reportedly downing five Indian aircraft.
Pakistan’s air defense relied heavily on Chinese equipment during the short conflict, deploying Chinese-made surface-to-air missile systems, air-to-air missiles, advanced radar systems and drones for reconnaissance and strike operations. Overall, more than 80% of Pakistan’s military imports have come from China in the past five years.
In what would be a far more stark example of military support if proven true, the deputy chief of India’s army alleged that China had provided Pakistan with real-time intelligence on Indian troop movements during the conflict.
When asked to respond, a spokesperson for China’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs said they had no knowledge of the matter. They reaffirmed that China’s ties with Pakistan are not directed against any third party and reiterated Beijing’s long-standing position in favor of a peaceful resolution to any India–Pakistan dispute.
Extending ‘deniability’ to Iran?
Like with Russia and Pakistan, Iran has increasingly been seen as a partner to China.
In 2021, China and Iran signed a 25-year, US$400 billion comprehensive cooperation agreement that covered trade, energy and security, signaling the depth of their strategic relationship.
The accord was indicative of the strategic value Beijing places on Iran. From Beijing’s perspective, Tehran presents a counterbalance to the influence of the U.S. and its allies – especially Israel and Saudi Arabia – in the region and helps divert Western resources and attention away from China.
But recently, Tehran’s position in the region has become far weaker. Not only has its air defense infrastructure suffered badly in the confrontations with Israel, but its regional proxies and allies – Hamas, Hezbollah and the Assad regime in Syria – have either been devastated by Israel or collapsed altogether.
If China does do this, I believe it is likely to follow the same playbook it has used elsewhere by denying involvement publicly while covertly providing assistance.
Doing so allows China to maintain diplomatic ties with Iran’s regional rivals, such as Israel and Saudi Arabia, while simultaneously benefiting from a turbulent Middle East that distracts Washington and grants Beijing strategic breathing room.
China’s use of plausible deniability reflects a broader strategic ambition. Namely, it wants to assert influence in key regional conflicts without triggering open backlash. By quietly supporting partners while maintaining a facade of neutrality, Beijing aims to undermine Western dominance, stretch U.S. strategic focus and secure its own interests – and all while avoiding the risks and responsibilities of open military alignment.
Linggong Kong does not work for, consult, own shares in or receive funding from any company or organization that would benefit from this article, and has disclosed no relevant affiliations beyond their academic appointment.
New Phygital Infrastructure EmpowersU.S. Universities to Expand Globally ThroughAI-powered Hybrid Classrooms
CUPERTINO, Calif., July 25, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Ambow Education Holding Ltd. (NYSE American: AMBO), a U.S.-based innovator of AI-powered phygital (physical + digital) solutions for education, corporate collaboration and live events, today announced the launch of its HybriU Global Learning Network (HGLN), a two-pronged initiative designed to help U.S. universities scale international enrollment and deliver immersive, borderless education.
Ambow’s HGLN initiative integrates two core components: the HybriU University Alliance and a network of HybriU Global Learning Centers. Together, these form a comprehensive system that allows U.S. institutions to extend in-person classroom experiences to international students while providing localized academic and enrollment support to preserve the quality and rigor of individual institutions’ on-campus instruction.
Through the HybriU University Alliance, U.S. universities can enroll international students who can begin earning credit immediately, without requiring travel or visas, by using Ambow’s HybriU phygital (physical + digital) learning platform. This next-generation system delivers an immersive remote classroom experience that bridges the gap between in-person and online instruction. Students engage in real-time with U.S. faculty through AI-powered digital classrooms featuring live instruction, adaptive learning tools, immersive 3D environments, and automatic real-time translation.
HybriU Global Learning Centers support the University Alliance with tech-enabled international hubs. On-site teams staff each center, providing hybrid learning support, academic services, and regional enrollment infrastructure. These centers help universities maintain visibility and continuity across borders while extending their global reach.
“The future of education is one without boundaries—no boundaries between online and on-site, no boundaries between languages and regions, no boundaries between academia and industry,” said Dr. Jin Huang, CEO of Ambow Education. “Why should students keep chasing campuses when campuses can reach students anywhere? Why let visas, geography or cost block access to world-class education? HybriU and our HGLN initiative are changing the face of global education. We’re redefining what international learning looks like––it’s flexible, inclusive and built to scale. We envision a world where every university has a teaching presence wherever its students are. HGLN offers a future-ready model for global enrollment that institutions need to lead in the next era of education.”
As part of Ambow’s long-term vision, HGLN aims to create a truly global learning ecosystem—seamlessly linking students, universities and regional hubs through the HybriU platform to unlock worldwide access to higher education. By removing physical and bureaucratic barriers to international learning, HGLN enables universities to preserve growth momentum, deepen global collaboration and reach students in new and accessible ways.
The HGLN’s partner-driven model enables universities to scale globally without building new infrastructure. Institutions can license the HybriU platform or enter revenue-sharing partnerships, while Ambow’s regional operators handle implementation and on-ground support. Initial HybriU Global Learning Centers are being established in Singapore and China, key strategic regions for U.S. higher education growth.
Ambow invites accredited U.S. universities to join its HybriU University Alliance and establish a presence through its Global Learning Center network. HGLN is built to scale, with local support teams, shared infrastructure and a growing footprint across Asia and beyond.
If your institution is interested in joining the HybriU University Alliance to expand international enrollment and global reach, we invite you to contact us at UPartner@HybriU.com .
For global organizations exploring partnership opportunities to establish a HybriU Global Learning Center, we welcome your inquiries at GLC@HybriU.com.
To learn more about HybriU, please visit www.HybriU.com.
About Ambow
Ambow Education Holding Ltd. is a U.S.-based, AI-driven technology company offering phygital (physical + digital) solutions for education, corporate conferencing and live events. Through its flagship platform, HybriU, Ambow is shaping the future of learning, collaboration and communication—delivering immersive, intelligent, real-time experiences across industries. For more information, visit Ambow’s corporate website at https://www.ambow.com/.
This press release contains statements of a forward-looking nature. These statements are made under the “safe harbor” provisions of the U.S. Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. You can identify these forward-looking statements by terminology such as “will,” “expects,” “believes,” “anticipates,” “intends,” “estimates” and similar statements. These forward-looking statements involve known and unknown risks and uncertainties and are based on current expectations, assumptions, estimates and projections about Ambow and the industry. All information provided in this press release is as of the date hereof, and Ambow undertakes no obligation to update any forward-looking statements to reflect subsequent occurring events or circumstances, or changes in its expectations, except as may be required by law. Although Ambow believes that the expectations expressed in these forward-looking statements are reasonable, it cannot assure you that its expectations will turn out to be correct, and investors are cautioned that actual results may differ materially from the anticipated results.
New Phygital Infrastructure EmpowersU.S. Universities to Expand Globally ThroughAI-powered Hybrid Classrooms
CUPERTINO, Calif., July 25, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Ambow Education Holding Ltd. (NYSE American: AMBO), a U.S.-based innovator of AI-powered phygital (physical + digital) solutions for education, corporate collaboration and live events, today announced the launch of its HybriU Global Learning Network (HGLN), a two-pronged initiative designed to help U.S. universities scale international enrollment and deliver immersive, borderless education.
Ambow’s HGLN initiative integrates two core components: the HybriU University Alliance and a network of HybriU Global Learning Centers. Together, these form a comprehensive system that allows U.S. institutions to extend in-person classroom experiences to international students while providing localized academic and enrollment support to preserve the quality and rigor of individual institutions’ on-campus instruction.
Through the HybriU University Alliance, U.S. universities can enroll international students who can begin earning credit immediately, without requiring travel or visas, by using Ambow’s HybriU phygital (physical + digital) learning platform. This next-generation system delivers an immersive remote classroom experience that bridges the gap between in-person and online instruction. Students engage in real-time with U.S. faculty through AI-powered digital classrooms featuring live instruction, adaptive learning tools, immersive 3D environments, and automatic real-time translation.
HybriU Global Learning Centers support the University Alliance with tech-enabled international hubs. On-site teams staff each center, providing hybrid learning support, academic services, and regional enrollment infrastructure. These centers help universities maintain visibility and continuity across borders while extending their global reach.
“The future of education is one without boundaries—no boundaries between online and on-site, no boundaries between languages and regions, no boundaries between academia and industry,” said Dr. Jin Huang, CEO of Ambow Education. “Why should students keep chasing campuses when campuses can reach students anywhere? Why let visas, geography or cost block access to world-class education? HybriU and our HGLN initiative are changing the face of global education. We’re redefining what international learning looks like––it’s flexible, inclusive and built to scale. We envision a world where every university has a teaching presence wherever its students are. HGLN offers a future-ready model for global enrollment that institutions need to lead in the next era of education.”
As part of Ambow’s long-term vision, HGLN aims to create a truly global learning ecosystem—seamlessly linking students, universities and regional hubs through the HybriU platform to unlock worldwide access to higher education. By removing physical and bureaucratic barriers to international learning, HGLN enables universities to preserve growth momentum, deepen global collaboration and reach students in new and accessible ways.
The HGLN’s partner-driven model enables universities to scale globally without building new infrastructure. Institutions can license the HybriU platform or enter revenue-sharing partnerships, while Ambow’s regional operators handle implementation and on-ground support. Initial HybriU Global Learning Centers are being established in Singapore and China, key strategic regions for U.S. higher education growth.
Ambow invites accredited U.S. universities to join its HybriU University Alliance and establish a presence through its Global Learning Center network. HGLN is built to scale, with local support teams, shared infrastructure and a growing footprint across Asia and beyond.
If your institution is interested in joining the HybriU University Alliance to expand international enrollment and global reach, we invite you to contact us at UPartner@HybriU.com .
For global organizations exploring partnership opportunities to establish a HybriU Global Learning Center, we welcome your inquiries at GLC@HybriU.com.
To learn more about HybriU, please visit www.HybriU.com.
About Ambow
Ambow Education Holding Ltd. is a U.S.-based, AI-driven technology company offering phygital (physical + digital) solutions for education, corporate conferencing and live events. Through its flagship platform, HybriU, Ambow is shaping the future of learning, collaboration and communication—delivering immersive, intelligent, real-time experiences across industries. For more information, visit Ambow’s corporate website at https://www.ambow.com/.
This press release contains statements of a forward-looking nature. These statements are made under the “safe harbor” provisions of the U.S. Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. You can identify these forward-looking statements by terminology such as “will,” “expects,” “believes,” “anticipates,” “intends,” “estimates” and similar statements. These forward-looking statements involve known and unknown risks and uncertainties and are based on current expectations, assumptions, estimates and projections about Ambow and the industry. All information provided in this press release is as of the date hereof, and Ambow undertakes no obligation to update any forward-looking statements to reflect subsequent occurring events or circumstances, or changes in its expectations, except as may be required by law. Although Ambow believes that the expectations expressed in these forward-looking statements are reasonable, it cannot assure you that its expectations will turn out to be correct, and investors are cautioned that actual results may differ materially from the anticipated results.
Did you know that around one in two women in the UK will experience symptoms of pelvic floor dysfunction at some point in their lives? And for women who engage in high-intensity exercise, that figure rises to 63%.
The female pelvic floor is a remarkable yet often overlooked structure: a complex “hammock” of muscles and ligaments that stretches from the front of the pelvis to the tailbone.
These muscles support the bladder, bowel and uterus, wrap around the openings of the urethra, vagina and anus, and work in sync with your diaphragm, abdominal and back muscles to maintain posture, continence and core stability. It’s not an exaggeration to say your pelvic floor is the foundation of your body’s core.
Throughout a woman’s life, various events can challenge the pelvic floor. Pregnancy, for example, increases the weight of the uterus, placing added pressure on these muscles. The growing baby can cause the abdominal muscles to stretch and separate, naturally increasing the load on the pelvic floor. Childbirth, particularly vaginal delivery, may result in perineal trauma, directly injuring pelvic floor tissues.
However, contrary to popular belief, pelvic floor problems aren’t only caused by pregnancy and childbirth. In fact, research shows that intense physical activity, even in women who have never been pregnant or given birth, can contribute to dysfunction.
Exercise is essential for overall health and is often recommended to ease symptoms of menopause and menstruation. But one side effect that’s not talked about enough is the effect that repeated strain, such as heavy lifting or high impact movement, can have on the pelvic floor. The increased intra-abdominal pressure during these activities can gradually weaken the pelvic floor muscles, especially if they’re not trained to cope.
Pelvic floor dysfunction often results when these muscles aren’t strong enough to match the workload demanded of them, whether from daily life, exercise, or other core muscles. And it’s a growing issue, affecting more women than ever before.
Common symptoms include leaking urine or faeces when coughing, sneezing or exercising, a dragging or heavy sensation in the lower abdomen or vaginal area, painful sex, changes in bowel habits, and visible bulging in the vaginal area (a sign of prolapse). The emotional toll can also be significant, leading to embarrassment, anxiety, low confidence and a reluctance to stay active – all of which affect quality of life.
Prevention
The good news? Help is available and, better yet, pelvic floor dysfunction is often preventable.
If you’re experiencing symptoms, speak to your GP. You may be referred to a women’s health physiotherapist, available through both the NHS and private services. But whether you’re managing symptoms or hoping to avoid them in the first place, there are practical steps you can take:
Most importantly, build strength with regular pelvic floor exercises. Here’s how to do a basic pelvic floor contraction:
Imagine you’re trying to stop yourself passing wind – squeeze and lift the muscles around your back passage.
Then, imagine stopping the flow of urine mid-stream – engage those muscles too.
Now, lift both sets of muscles upwards inside your body, as if pulling them into the vagina.
Hold the contraction for a few seconds, then fully relax. Repeat.
If you’re just starting, it may be easier to practise while sitting. With time and consistency, you’ll be able to hold contractions for longer and incorporate them into your daily routine, like brushing your teeth or waiting for the kettle to boil.
Like any muscle, the pelvic floor gets stronger with training, making it more resilient to strain from childbirth, ageing, or strenuous activity. Research shows that a well-conditioned pelvic floor recovers faster from injury.
So be proud of your pelvic floor. Support it, strengthen it – and don’t forget to do those squeezes.
Holly Ingram, Midwifery Lecturer, Anglia Ruskin University
Source: Ministry of Economic Development (Russia) – Ministry of Economic Development (Russia) –
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The competitive selection of participants in the Presidential Management Training Program has been completed. The training will begin in September 2025 and will help strengthen the human resources potential of the regions of Russia.
“The presidential program is aimed at training highly qualified personnel for the real sector of the economy in order to solve key problems of the country’s socio-economic development. During the competitive selection, about 2.5 thousand applications were received from 62 subjects of the Russian Federation. More than 1.7 thousand specialists will undergo the educational program,” noted Deputy Minister of Economic Development of Russia Tatyana Ilyushnikova.
The Presidential Program studies various aspects of enterprise development: financial management, strategic management, marketing, logistics. Participants apply the knowledge they gain when developing their own project, which they defend at the end of their studies.
This year, 78 leading educational organizations of the country are participating in the implementation of the program. The largest number of participants will be hosted by RANEPA, as well as the Southern Federal University, St. Petersburg State University of Economics, Penza State University and Siberian Federal University.
The program participants represent 21 sectors of the economy, among which the most widely represented are manufacturing, professional, scientific and technical activities, wholesale and retail trade, and construction.
Upon successful completion of their studies, graduates will have the opportunity to undergo internships in friendly countries, including China, Egypt, India, Belarus, Turkey, Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan.
Please note: This information is raw content obtained directly from the source of the information. It is an accurate report of what the source claims and does not necessarily reflect the position of MIL-OSI or its clients.
Source: Government of the Russian Federation – Government of the Russian Federation –
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Kamchatka Krai will present its exposition at the exhibition “Far East Street”, which will be held from September 3 to 9 as part of the tenth, anniversary Eastern Economic Forum. The exhibition is organized by the Roscongress Foundation with the support of the Office of the Plenipotentiary Representative of the President in the Far Eastern Federal District.
The central zone of the space – “The Will of Man” – will be dedicated to the 80th anniversary of the victory over Japan, and in particular to the legendary Kuril landing operation. It will act as an interactive museum of Kamchatka military glory, and will harmoniously weave in stories about the Great Patriotic War and the special military operation.
“We are celebrating the 80th anniversary of the Great Victory. I believe that it is impossible not to touch upon the topic of the victory of the Soviet people in the Great Patriotic War. Kamchatka made a significant contribution to the victory. This is not only the supply of products, but also the mobilization of human resources, the heroic defense of borders and preparation for strategically important operations. It is important to always remember and honor the heroic and selfless feat of home front workers, soldiers and officers, indigenous peoples – all who gave their lives for the freedom and independence of the Motherland. It is necessary to show what heroic feats and efforts were needed to create the victory,” said Deputy Prime Minister – Presidential Plenipotentiary Envoy to the Far Eastern Federal District, Chairman of the Organizing Committee of the Eastern Economic Forum Yuri Trutnev.
“80 years ago, ordinary residents of the Kamchatka Region played a decisive role in ending World War II by conquering, as it seemed then, the impregnable islands of the Kuril Ridge. Then 306 Kamchatka residents gave their lives in the fight against Japanese militarism. We will never forget the price of this victory. And the main task that we set for ourselves is not to allow the events of those years to be distorted: every young resident of our region and the country as a whole should know and honor the pages of history that turned the tide of the war. That is why, on the instructions of the President of the Russian Federation, an open-air museum will be opened on Shumshu Island, and young people from all over the country, including Kamchatka guys, will go on a search expedition to the places of glory of our soldiers. The play “Ballad of the Kuril Landing” will be staged in Kamchatka, which will be presented to viewers on August 18,” said Vladimir Solodov, Governor of the Kamchatka Region.
The exhibition will introduce guests and participants of the EEF-2025 to the unique features of Kamchatka, including its natural beauty.
“Kamchatka is a unique region, the pearl of our country. It is truly a land of fire and ice. Active volcanoes, geysers, thermal springs form a unique landscape. This is one of the most promising territories of our country for tourism development. New hotels open every year. Thanks to the implementation of the master plan, the urban environment of Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky is gradually changing. A new modern airport welcomes guests of the peninsula,” concluded Yuri Trutnev.
The pavilion will feature a “Traveler’s Passport” zone, designed in the style of a travel agency. At the entrance to the pavilion, visitors will receive a personal traveler’s passport with information about tours, discounts from Kamchatka operators, and gifts from restaurants and shops.
A separate zone, “The Power of the Ocean”, will be dedicated to demonstrating the natural and economic potential of Kamchatka as a unique oceanic territory. The big screen will systematize and present such areas as marine logistics, the fishing industry, scientific ocean research, tourism, sea cruises and yachting, and Pacific cuisine.
In the “Volcano Energy” space, visitors will be able to get acquainted with the region’s potential for implementing projects in the fields of tourism, construction, agriculture, education and science. In the “New Kamchatka Facilities in 360” zone, it will be possible to take a full 3D tour of the Kamchatka Regional Hospital, airport and greenhouse complex.
The “Specially Protected Natural Areas” area will feature the heroes of the documentary “Fire Fox”. Visitors to the stand will also be able to familiarize themselves with information about the “Far East – Land of Adventure” competition and learn about new tourist routes in the region. In addition, the area will display images from street cameras, supplemented with elements of wild nature.
A souvenir pavilion and a stage will be opened next to the main exposition of the Kamchatka Territory. In addition, the Falcon House will be open, where the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment of Russia will prepare its own exposition.
The 10th Eastern Economic Forum will be held on September 3–6 at the campus of the Far Eastern Federal University in Vladivostok. During these days, the exhibition will be available to forum participants, and on September 7, 8, and 9, it will be open to everyone. The EEF is organized by the Roscongress Foundation.
Please note: This information is raw content obtained directly from the source of the information. It is an accurate report of what the source claims and does not necessarily reflect the position of MIL-OSI or its clients.
Source: Government of the Russian Federation – Government of the Russian Federation –
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The summer health campaign continues in the regions of Russia. In the Year of Children’s Leisure, the education system has prepared various leisure formats for schoolchildren: sports and creative events, environmental campaigns, hiking trips, as well as scientific, educational and patriotic projects.
Deputy Prime Minister Dmitry Chernyshenko and Minister of Education Sergey Kravtsov summed up the results of the work of children’s health camps in June.
“President Vladimir Putin instructed to pay special attention to the quality and safety of children’s recreation. It is important to provide comfortable and educational recreation to everyone, and, of course, to the children of our heroes – participants of the special military operation. In June 2025, about 40 thousand children’s recreation and health organizations have already accepted about 3 million children, including almost 126 thousand children of SVO participants. In the Year of the Defender of the Fatherland and the 80th anniversary of the Great Victory, children’s camps hold patriotic shifts, where children learn about the history of the country and participate in thematic events. The key task is to continue the modernization of the recreation and health infrastructure, including the International Children’s Center “Artek”, which is celebrating its 100th anniversary this year,” the Deputy Prime Minister emphasized.
In June, more than 800 thousand children who found themselves in difficult life situations and about 28 thousand schoolchildren from the reunited regions rested in children’s camps. At the same time, about 73 thousand students from different regions of Russia rested on the coast of the Black and Azov Seas alone.
“In the Year of Children’s Recreation in the Education System, dedicated to the anniversaries of the federal children’s centers “Artek”, “Orlyonok” and “Smena”, the summer health campaign will cover about 6 million schoolchildren across the country. To ensure a high level of quality in organizing recreation and health improvement for children, a unified system for training camp counselors has been introduced and a federal program of educational work for all children’s camps has been approved. This allows us to build a holistic approach to raising children in camps, which complements the educational work carried out with children in schools,” said Minister of Education Sergey Kravtsov.
Summer shifts are also actively held in other children’s health camps. In Crimea, for example, there are 370 children’s camps. Particular attention is paid to organizing recreation for children from the Donetsk and Lugansk People’s Republics, Zaporizhia, Kherson, Kursk and Belgorod regions. It is planned to accept 1.8 thousand children from these regions at the expense of the reserve fund of the Republic of Crimea.
In addition, in July, shifts with the participation of children from different countries were held in children’s centers subordinate to the Ministry of Education. Thus, the eighth international shift “Artek Gathers Friends” is taking place in the International Children’s Center “Artek”, which united more than 3 thousand children from all regions of Russia and from 66 foreign countries. The shift program includes key topics: the 80th anniversary of Victory, the Year of the Defender of the Fatherland and the 100th anniversary of “Artek”.
For the first time in 30 years, the All-Russian Children’s Center “Orlyonok” is hosting a group of 25 Cuban schoolchildren and their mentors. The opening ceremony of the international program “Children of the World” was held at the All-Russian Children’s Center “Ocean”. It is attended by children from Russia and 5 friendly countries: the People’s Republic of China, Tajikistan, Mongolia, Laos and Belarus. As part of this program, participants will study the culture of different peoples, the basics of public diplomacy, exchange experiences and work on joint creative projects.
Please note: This information is raw content obtained directly from the source of the information. It is an accurate report of what the source claims and does not necessarily reflect the position of MIL-OSI or its clients.
Source: Government of the Russian Federation – Government of the Russian Federation –
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Prime Minister Mikhail Mishustin has appointed Vladimir Komarov as head of the Department of Expertise and Planning of the Government of Russia. The order to this effect has been signed.
Vladimir Komarov was born in 1985. In 2008 he graduated from the Lomonosov Moscow State University, PhD in Economics.
He worked in various positions at the Russian Presidential Academy of National Economy and Public Administration and the Ministry of Economic Development. He participated in the development of the Russia Development Strategy 2018–2024, the Strategy for Innovative Development of Russia until 2020, the Strategy for the Development of Small and Medium-Sized Entrepreneurship until 2030, the preparation of state programs, national and federal projects, as well as initiatives for the socio-economic development of Russia until 2030.
Until now, he held the position of head of the strategic group of the Center for National Projects of the ANO “Analytical Center under the Government of the Russian Federation”.
Please note: This information is raw content obtained directly from the source of the information. It is an accurate report of what the source claims and does not necessarily reflect the position of MIL-OSI or its clients.
The Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports, through its youth platform MY Bharat (Mera Yuva Bharat), will organise a Kargil Vijay Diwas Padyatra in Drass, Kargil on July 26 to mark the 26th anniversary of India’s victory in the 1999 Kargil War. The event is intended as a heartfelt tribute to the bravery and sacrifice of Indian soldiers and a powerful display of national unity and gratitude.
Union Minister for Youth Affairs & Sports and Labour & Employment, Dr. Mansukh Mandaviya, will lead the padyatra alongside Union Minister of State for Defence, Sanjay Seth. More than 1,000 participants—including youth volunteers, members of the armed forces, war veterans, families of fallen soldiers, and civil society representatives—are expected to take part in the tribute walk.
The 1.5-kilometre padyatra will begin in the morning from Himabass Public High School and conclude at Government Higher Secondary School in Bhimbet. Following the walk, the ministers and a contingent of 100 youth volunteers will proceed to the Kargil War Memorial to lay wreaths and honour the memory of the soldiers who gave their lives in the conflict.
As part of the event, 26 women bikers from the Shakti Udgosh Foundation will be felicitated upon their arrival at the War Memorial. The bikers are completing a long-distance rally in tribute to the Kargil martyrs, adding a powerful dimension to the commemorative activities.
The padyatra will also include a tree plantation drive under the “Ek Ped Maa Ke Naam” campaign. This symbolic gesture combines patriotic homage with environmental consciousness, reflecting the government’s larger commitment to sustainability under the vision of Viksit Bharat @2047.
In the lead-up to the event, MY Bharat has been actively engaging young people and local communities through a series of activities such as essay competitions, painting, elocution, and Yuva Samvads (youth dialogues). These initiatives are designed to foster civic awareness, highlight stories of courage from the Kargil War, and deepen the emotional bond between the youth and the armed forces.
The Kargil Vijay Diwas Padyatra is part of the broader Viksit Bharat Padyatras campaign, aimed at promoting national pride, youth participation, and the spirit of collective remembrance. In line with the PM vision of Jan Bhagidari in Rashtranirman, the initiative seeks to involve every citizen—especially the youth—in the shared mission of nation-building and preserving the legacy of service and sacrifice.
Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region
​Invest Hong Kong (InvestHK) completed a fruitful visit to the United Kingdom (UK) from July 13 to 20, championing Hong Kong as a premier international green technology hub for UK companies seeking growth and collaboration opportunities in Asia and beyond.
During the visit, the Senior Vice President (Sustainability) for Technology, Innovation and Entrepreneurship at InvestHK, Ms Olivia To, engaged with key stakeholders in London and Cambridge to foster two-way business opportunities and deepen co-operation in sustainability and green tech innovation.
In London, Ms To held extensive discussions with leading UK’s new energy, new materials and digital companies, as well as UK Research and Innovation, the national funding agency investing in science and research, Sustainable Ventures, a leading green tech hub and ecosystem provider, Generation Investment Management, a sustainable investment management firm, London & Partners, London’s business growth and destination agency, and London GreenCity, a clean technology entrepreneurs accelerator providing prototyping lab and collaborative community.
In Cambridge, Ms To spoke at the event titled “Powering Tomorrow: Deep Tech Innovations for a Sustainable Energy Future”, co-organised by the University of Cambridge Institute for Sustainability Leadership and Full Vision Capital, highlighting the competitive advantages Hong Kong offers energy and technology companies to grow and thrive across the region. The conference featured dynamic keynotes on growth strategies for clean energy start-ups, panel discussions on disruptive energy innovations, and a start-up demo where over 30 start-ups showcased their cutting-edge solutions. The event culminated in the announcement of the 4th TERA-Award Winner receiving a prize of US$1 million and a celebratory Gala Dinner, fostering further global networking and collaboration opportunities.
Ms To said, “Hong Kong’s unparalleled status as a global financial powerhouse connects the East and West markets, bolstered by its dynamic green tech ecosystem and visionary government initiatives like the Green Tech Fund, the Innovation and Technology Fund and the Hong Kong Science and Technology Parks Corporation’s GreenTech Hub, and positions it as the premier gateway for UK companies to amplify green innovations across Asia. This visit underscores our dedication to fostering collaboration in sustainability and green technology between Hong Kong and the UK. We look forward to supporting more UK companies in establishing and expanding their presence in Hong Kong, utilising our robust financial infrastructure to facilitate financing and IPO listings that attract international capital.”
The Executive Chairman of the TERA-Award, Mr Alan Chan, stated, “It was our pleasure to have InvestHK’s participation in our TERA-Award event. Together, we are building a stronger global innovation ecosystem that connects investors, start-ups, and green organisations, fostering groundbreaking solutions in smart energy. We look forward to working closely with InvestHK to further expand our promotion of the TERA-Award to the global market and establish a bridge between the international energy contexts.”
The Chief Innovation Officer from the Cambridge Institute for Sustainability Leadership, Mr James Cole, said, “We are delighted to welcome InvestHK’s participation in our event, enhancing the collaboration between the UK and Hong Kong economies, supporting sustainability start-ups and strengthening the ecosystem. This collaboration ignites our commitment to forge global partnerships that will propel deep tech innovations, fostering a greener and more resilient future. Together, we anticipate to deepen our collaboration to accelerate the transition to a sustainable future and empower the next generation of innovators.”
Co-Founder of London GreenCity Mr Laith Anezi said, “Both Hong Kong and the UK share a strong commitment to driving innovation in green technology. InvestHK’s visit has forged a robust foundation for strengthening ties between Hong Kong and British sustainability and green tech companies. We are excited to deepen our partnership with InvestHK, driving innovation to shape a sustainable world together.”
Hong Kong, as the world’s third-largest financial hub, is well positioned to be the global leader in green tech and finance. The city is transitioning to cleaner energy sources, targeting carbon neutrality by 2050, supported by the Strategy of Hydrogen Development in Hong Kong and significant investments in the Hetao Shenzhen-Hong Kong Science and Technology Innovation Co-operation Zone.
In green mobility, Hong Kong’s roadmap for electric vehicles has seen 70 per cent of newly registered private cars in 2024 be electric, with plans to establish the city as a green maritime fuel bunkering centre.
This visit to the UK is a testament to Hong Kong’s dedication to fostering international collaboration and driving the global transition to a sustainable future. By attracting more UK companies in sustainable technology and innovation, Hong Kong aims to accelerate the adoption of innovative solutions that address the world’s most pressing environmental challenges.
Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region
Two Hong Kong teams shine at International Physics and Mathematical Olympiads
Gold medal:The IMO 2025, hosted by Australia, was held from July 10 to 20, with the participation of 630 students from 110 countries or regions. The Hong Kong team won two gold medals, three silver medals and one bronze medal. The six awardees are as follows:
Gold medal: The Secretary for Education, Dr Choi Yuk-lin, congratulated the Hong Kong teams today (July 25) on their outstanding performances. “The impressive results achieved by the Hong Kong teams bear testament to the concerted efforts of the Government and various stakeholders in promoting STEAM (science, technology, engineering, the arts, and mathematics) and gifted education. The Education Bureau (EDB) will continue to strengthen the promotion of STEAM and gifted education in primary and secondary schools, and encourage the effective use of the school-based student talent pool to identify and nurture more students with talent,” Dr Choi said.
The EDB has been attaching great importance to the grooming of gifted students and continues to collaborate with the Hong Kong Academy for Gifted Education (HKAGE) to provide more diversified and high-quality off-school gifted education services and, in particular, arrange for students with potential in STEAM to participate in systematic training and competitions of a reasonable scale to nurture future innovation and technology talent for Hong Kong.Issued at HKT 17:13
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At the facilities of the educational and scientific center Institute of Medicine and Medical Technologies (UNC IMMT) and the Scientific Research Center (SRC) of NSU, which belong to the second stage new campus of NSU, which is being built within the framework of the national project “Youth and Children”, began to improve the territory. They are laying paving slabs, asphalt concrete pavement, and also decorating lawns. The improvement will be completed by the start of the winter season.
In addition, the installation of stained glass windows has been completed at the second stage facilities, and the façade installation work is almost complete. The installation of external utility networks, including sewerage and water supply, is one third complete, and the finishing of the premises is also actively underway – plastering, cladding work, etc. In general, the construction readiness of the NSU IMMT UNC is 50%, and that of the NSU NRC is 45%.
— The new NSU campus will become a center of attraction for innovations. The premises of the NSU IMMT URC will house modern laboratories, the new building will accommodate up to 700 students. Also, based on the infrastructure of the new campus, we will develop network educational programs, such as Medical Cybernetics and Industrial Pharmacy. This will become the basis for transforming medical education and bringing it to a new level. At the NSU NRC, we will develop promising research areas, such as biotechnology and biomedical research, artificial intelligence and big data processing, space and special instrumentation, etc., — commented NSU Rector, Academician of the Russian Academy of Sciences Mikhail Fedoruk.
Work is also being completed on equipping the new building of flow classrooms with furniture and technical equipment, permission for commissioning of which was received at the end of 2024. The educational process in the building will begin in September 2025.
Please note: This information is raw content obtained directly from the source of the information. It is an accurate report of what the source claims and does not necessarily reflect the position of MIL-OSI or its clients.
An important disclaimer is at the bottom of this article.
At the facilities of the educational and scientific center Institute of Medicine and Medical Technologies (UNC IMMT) and the Scientific Research Center (SRC) of NSU, which belong to the second stage new campus of NSU, which is being built within the framework of the national project “Youth and Children”, began to improve the territory. They are laying paving slabs, asphalt concrete pavement, and also decorating lawns. The improvement will be completed by the start of the winter season.
In addition, the installation of stained glass windows has been completed at the second stage facilities, and the façade installation work is almost complete. The installation of external utility networks, including sewerage and water supply, is one third complete, and the finishing of the premises is also actively underway – plastering, cladding work, etc. In general, the construction readiness of the NSU IMMT UNC is 50%, and that of the NSU NRC is 45%.
— The new NSU campus will become a center of attraction for innovations. The premises of the NSU IMMT URC will house modern laboratories, the new building will accommodate up to 700 students. Also, based on the infrastructure of the new campus, we will develop network educational programs, such as Medical Cybernetics and Industrial Pharmacy. This will become the basis for transforming medical education and bringing it to a new level. At the NSU NRC, we will develop promising research areas, such as biotechnology and biomedical research, artificial intelligence and big data processing, space and special instrumentation, etc., — commented NSU Rector, Academician of the Russian Academy of Sciences Mikhail Fedoruk.
Work is also being completed on equipping the new building of flow classrooms with furniture and technical equipment, permission for commissioning of which was received at the end of 2024. The educational process in the building will begin in September 2025.
Please note: This information is raw content obtained directly from the source of the information. It is an accurate report of what the source claims and does not necessarily reflect the position of MIL-OSI or its clients.
Source: People’s Republic of China in Russian – People’s Republic of China in Russian –
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Source: People’s Republic of China – State Council News
NEW DELHI, July 25 (Xinhua) — At least four children were killed and about 20 others injured when part of a government school collapsed in the western Indian state of Rajasthan on Friday morning, local officials said.
The Piplodi school is located in Manohar Thana area of Jhalawar district. It is reported that 32 children have been pulled out from the rubble and several more may be trapped under the debris.
The incident occurred at around 08:30 local time, with more than 40 children, as well as several teachers and staff members, at the scene.
Rajasthan Chief Minister Bhajanlal Sharma has directed local officials to ensure proper treatment of the injured children. –0–
Please note: This information is raw content obtained directly from the source of the information. It is an accurate report of what the source claims and does not necessarily reflect the position of MIL-OSI or its clients.
Source: People’s Republic of China in Russian – People’s Republic of China in Russian –
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Source: People’s Republic of China – State Council News
On July 21, Huang Yi, a student at China Agricultural University (CAU), operates an agricultural drone to carry out precision fertilization of corn at the Science and Technology Backyard (STB) experimental field in Lishu County, Siping City, Jilin Province. She explained that creating a precision fertilization scenario using a drone involves several steps, including collecting spectral data and dividing into cells for trajectory planning. After data processing, flexible adjustments are also required based on actual soil moisture. During the summer holidays, Huang Yi and her classmates will be busy working in the fields, learning about agricultural technology and helping farmers reduce costs and increase yields. China Agricultural University, Jilin Agricultural University, and Lishu County government jointly developed the STB in 2009. And for more than ten years now, many students studying in agricultural specialties have come here to conduct field research, experiments and popularize advanced agricultural technologies.
Zhao Gang (center), chairman of Xinyuan Professional Agricultural Production Cooperative, talks to students about the current growth status of corn at the STB experimental field in Lishu County, Siping City, Jilin Province, July 21. Photo: Xinhua News Agency/Zhang Nan
Huang Yi, a student at China Agricultural University, adjusts the parameters of an agricultural drone at an STB experimental field in Lishu County, Siping City, Jilin Province, July 21. Photo: Xinhua News Agency/Zhang Nan
An agrodron applies fertilizer to corn with high precision at an STB experimental field in Lishu County, Siping City, Jilin Province, July 21 (photo by drone). Photo: Xinhua News Agency/Zhang Nan
Huang Yi, a student at China Agricultural University, operates an agricultural drone to carry out precision fertilization of corn at an STB experimental field in Lishu County, Siping City, Jilin Province, July 21. Photo: Xinhua News Agency/Zhang Nan
An agrodron applies fertilizer to corn with high precision at an STB experimental field in Lishu County, Siping City, Jilin Province, July 21 (photo by drone). Photo: Xinhua News Agency/Zhang Nan
Please note: This information is raw content obtained directly from the source of the information. It is an accurate report of what the source claims and does not necessarily reflect the position of MIL-OSI or its clients.
