Members of the Education and Children’s Services Committee were today (Tuesday 24 June) updated on the significant strides made by Aberdeen schools in educating young people about Climate Change, Biodiversity and the city’s Net Zero ambitions during the 2024-25 school session.
The report, which detailed a wide range of impactful events and initiatives delivered across schools, as well as the continued efforts of the Youth Climate Change Group, was approved by committee with the exception of recommendation 2.3. The full report can be viewed here.
Councillor Martin Greig, convener, of the Education and Children’s Services Committee, said: “Our schools are playing a vital role in preparing young people to meet the challenges of the climate emergency. Through innovative learning and strong partnerships, we are empowering the next generation to lead the way towards a more sustainable and equitable future for Aberdeen and beyond.”
Councillor Jessica Mennie, vice-convener of the Education and Children Services Committee, said: “The enthusiasm and creativity shown by our young people in tackling climate change is truly inspiring. By embedding sustainability into everyday learning and supporting youth-lead initiatives, we are not only educating but also encouraging future leaders to help shape a greener Aberdeen.”
Aberdeen’s schools continue to embrace the Learning for Sustainability (LfS) agenda, integrating sustainable development, biodiversity, climate change, outdoor learning, and global citizenship into the Curriculum for Excellence.
These themes are explored through interdisciplinary learning, project-based learning, science, social studies, and outdoor education, empowering young people to take meaningful action for a better future. Aberdeen now has 11 schools that are recognised as Eco Schools and awarded Green Flag status by Keep Scotland Beautiful.
St Joseph’s RC School won the Scottish Fair Trade ‘In the Bag’ award in recognition of its 10-year commitment to fair and ethical trade, including being the first school in Scotland to commit to supporting and working with communities in India.
The Youth Climate Change Group remains a vital platform for pupil voice and leadership and the committee thanked pupils for their significant efforts in promoting and actioning environmental work in school and citywide.
Committee members agreed that this important area of focused activity should continue and instructed the Chief Officer for Education and Lifelong Learning to support the Youth Climate Change Group to collate and share a yearly summary of the most impactful projects in their schools, through means to be determined by the group, to inspire other young people across the city.
The committee agreed that representatives from the Youth Climate Change Group should be invited to present the Climate Change report to committee in subsequent years.
In partnership with the City Development and Regeneration Service, the Education Service will launch the ABZ Pipeline – a new initiative designed to create curriculum-linked pathways into the renewable sector. This programme will connect learners with employers, offering real-world experiences and helping pupils align their career planning with Aberdeen’s green economy.
Aberdeen for a Fairer World (AFW) continues to play a key role in supporting schools with climate-related activities. Their work includes developing projects with local authorities, ETZ, and employers, identifying skills and employment opportunities, and assessing the impact of in-school activities.
A comprehensive record of school participation during Climate Week North East 2025 will be published in the summer term.
Beyond the classroom, pupils are engaging in film screenings, workshops, barista events, and Fair Trade initiatives – demonstrating their commitment to sustainability and community action. These efforts also contribute to wider achievement and support National Qualifications.
These initiatives also align with the Local Outcome Improvement Plan (LOIP) Stretch Outcome 13, which aims to reduce Aberdeen’s carbon emissions by at least 61% by 2026. As the city works towards Net Zero by 2045, the continued focus on climate education and youth engagement is essential to building a resilient, sustainable future.
The committee instructed the Chief Officer of Education and Lifelong Learning to provide a progress update within one calendar year.
Primary 7 pupils heading to Greenfield Academy have taken part in a special transition day at the Regional Performance Centre for Sport.
With Greenfield Academy set to open in August for the new school year, pupils from the feeder primary schools have gathered at the Regional Performance Centre (RPC) to mark this important step in their journey.
Over 300 new s1 pupils took part in a range of indoor and outdoor activities and had the opportunity to meet their new classmates and teachers. The activities were organised by the school in partnership with Dundee Active Schools, Community Learning and Development East Youth Team, and the Dundee Battalion Army Cadet Force.
Greenfield Academy is part of the new £100 millionDrumgeithCommunity Campus, which is the largest investment in education, sport and community provision in the city and will deliver state-of-the-art facilities and services to the area.
Children, Families and Communities Convener Stewart Hunter said: “This isa really excitingtime for our young people who will be attending the new Greenfield Academy.
“It’s great that even though they can’t go and do this at the school, they are still able to come together, get to know each other, and meet their future teachers.
“I know a lot of work has gone into making this possible, and I would like to thank everyone involved.”
Greenfield Academy Headteacher, Johnny Lothian said: “Our students are looking forward to taking the step to their new Secondary School and in August will become Greenfield Academy first-ever S1 intake. Already they are showing themselves to be a superb year group with great potential.”
The feeder primary schools areClaypottsCastle, Rowantree, Fintry,Ballumbie, Mill of Mains, andLonghaugh.
Source: People’s Republic of China in Russian – People’s Republic of China in Russian –
Source: People’s Republic of China – State Council News
BEIJING, June 25 (Xinhua) — All the conditions for opening the second Lu Ban workshop in Kazakhstan, located in the compass of the L.N. Gumilyov Eurasian National University, will be ready by October this year, the Tianjin Ribao (Tianjin daily) newspaper reported.
Lu Ban’s workshop is a vocational education brand pioneered by Tianjin-based educational institutions. The decision to open a second workshop in Kazakhstan was announced in July 2024.
According to the agreement signed between China and Kazakhstan, the Lu Ban Workshop, established by the Tianjin Vocational Institute and the Eurasian National University, will be designed to train specialists in the field of digital technologies.
From June 23 to July 16, Tianjin Vocational Institute is holding a training course for teachers for the aforementioned workshop.
At the same time, as reported in the Tianjin Ribao newspaper, the reconstruction work of the workshop premises is nearing completion. The first batch of training equipment was delivered to Kazakhstan and will be officially handed over to the Kazakh side in July of this year.
Lu Ban’s first workshop in Kazakhstan opened in December 2023 at the East Kazakhstan Technical University. To date, more than 400 students in transport specialties have been trained there. -0-
Source: State University of Management – Official website of the State –
A student from the State University of Management took third place in the youth award at the largest marketing and advertising festival Silver Mercury.
The competition brought together 144 projects from participants from 15 cities in Russia and other countries, since all defenses took place online, this allowed us to go beyond geographical boundaries.
As part of the competition, talented students and creators solved real business cases and received expert assessment. The tasks for the participants were set by Magnit, SIBUR, Avito, Samolet, the TV channel “Friday!” and GPM Reklama, whose representatives closely followed the progress of the competition, participated in the discussions and already at the early stage of voting began to discuss the possible implementation of ideas.
The project of 3rd year student of the State University of Management Dmitry Trofimov took third place in solving a case from Avito on attracting subscribers to the company’s social networks using a digital project.
“I suggested creating a clicker game based on Telegram and came up with a bright character for the brand – the parrot Otiv. The application provided a system of motivation, bonuses and internal competitions aimed at engaging and retaining players. In addition to the game, an outreach strategy was thought out. The jury appreciated the boldness of the approach and creativity, and also noted that Otiv has every right to become a full-fledged Avito mascot,” Dmitry shared.
We congratulate our student on his award and wish him inspiration, new ideas and further success!
Please note: This information is raw content directly from the source of the information. It is exactly what the source states and does not reflect the position of MIL-OSI or its clients.
Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region
LCSD to hold Sport For All Day 2025 and invite public to join
To promote “Sport for All”, the Leisure and Cultural Services Department (LCSD) will hold the Sport For All Day (SFAD) 2025 on August 3 (Sunday). The public is welcome to join. The LCSD promotes “Stay Active, Healthy and Happy!” encouraging people of different ages and abilities to participate in regular sports and physical activities. With Hong Kong cohosting the 15th National Games (NG), the 12th National Games for Persons with Disabilities (NGD) and the 9th National Special Olympic Games (NSOG) with the Guangdong Province and the Macao Special Administrative Region for the first time, SFAD 2025’s theme, “Coalescing together for the National Games”, echoes these national sports events together with members of the public. On August 3, the LCSD will open a number of leisure facilities for public use free of charge, including indoor badminton courts, volleyball courts, basketball courts, squash courts, table tennis tables, fitness rooms, activity rooms, dance rooms, etc; outdoor tennis courts, bowling greens, archery ranges, golf facilities, etc; and public swimming pools and water sports centres (craft hiring). On the same day (from 2pm to 6pm), a series of free recreation and sports programmes promoting the items of the 15th NG, the 12th NGD and the 9th NSOG (such as golf, fencing, rugby sevens and triathlon) will be conducted at designated sports centres across the 18 districts. Activities will cover fitness items, health talks, sports demonstrations and a fun day for families, children, 25/06/2025, 11:04 LCSD to hold Sport For All Day 2025 and invite public to join https://www.info.gov.hk/gia/general/202506/25/P2025062400251p.htm#:~:text=LCSD to hold Sport For All Day 2025 and invite public to join&text=To promot… 1/2 youngsters, the elderly and persons with disabilities. The arrangements for booking leisure facilities and distributing free activity coupons will be announced in midJuly. To further promote “Sport for All” in the community, the LCSD continues to collaborate with the Sports Federation & Olympic Committee of Hong Kong, China (SF&OC), and is joining hands with the China Hong Kong Paralympic Committee (HKPC) to launch various activities at the SFAD 2025 prime venue. Many organisations will also open up their facilities or roll out recreation and sports programmes on August 3 for the public free of charge. The latest SFAD 2025 information will be provided on the dedicated website (www.lcsd.gov.hk/en/sfad). SFAD 2025 is co-organised by the SF&OC, the HKPC, Department of Health, the Sports Medicine Team of the Chinese University of Hong Kong, the Sports Medicine and Health Science Alumni Association of the Chinese University of Hong Kong, and the Physical Fitness Association of Hong Kong, China. Ends/Wednesday, June 25, 2025 Issued at HKT 11:05 NNNN
Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region
Following is a question by Professor the Hon Chow Man-kong and a reply by the Secretary for Home and Youth Affairs, Miss Alice Mak, in the Legislative Council today (June 25):
Question:
There are views that the Government should optimise the Capacity Building Mileage Programme (CBMP) to enhance women’s personal development skills and competitiveness. In this connection, will the Government inform this Council:
(1) of the numbers of persons enrolling in CBMP courses and the amounts of bursary approved in each of the past three years, together with a breakdown by the five learning domains (i.e. Personal Development, Health and Care, Applied Science and Technology, Wisdom of Life, and Arts and Culture);
(2) as it was stated at the meeting of the Panel on Home Affairs, Culture and Sports of this Council on May 28 last year that the Women’s Commission would explore and study how to keep CBMP abreast of the times and benefit more women, of the concrete progress and proposed direction of the relevant work at present; and
(3) whether it will consider exploring with the organisers of CBMP courses to refine the curriculum by incorporating more knowledge in areas such as e-commerce, community services, and public relations, and consolidating related courses for inclusion into the Qualifications Register, as well as providing more flexible funding arrangements, with a view to elevating women’s workplace skills and overall competitiveness; if so, of the details; if not, the reasons for that?
Reply:
President,
The Capacity Building Mileage Programme (CBMP) was launched by the Women’s Commission (WoC) in 2004 with the aim of encouraging women of different backgrounds and education levels to pursue self-development and lifelong learning by offering courses under different domains.
My consolidated reply, in consultation with the Education Bureau, to the question raised by Professor the Hon Chow Man-kong is as follows:
(1) In the past three programme years (i.e. 2021/22, 2022/23 and 2023/24), the number of participants of the CBMP were approximately 4 000, 5 000, and 6 000 respectively. The amounts of bursary approved in each of the three programme years were approximately $120,000, $140,000 and $260,000 respectively. Detailed figures are at Annex.
Regarding the five learning domains, since participants could enrol in more than one course within the same programme year, we are unable to provide the number of participants and the approved bursary amounts for each learning domain. In this regard, the breakdown of enrolment by the five learning domains of CBMP (i.e., Personal Development, Health and Care, Applied Science and Technology, Wisdom of Life and Arts and Culture) over the past 3 programme years are at Annex.
(2) & (3) The Government attaches great importance to women’s contribution to the community and the work of supporting women. Through various initiatives, we aim to empower women and help them to excel in different arenas, including the workplace.
At its inception, the CBMP was designed, in respond to the societal learning and employment landscape at that time, to enable women to enhance their personal capabilities by enroling in various types of courses during their spare time. The CBMP has been implemented for over 20 years and several developments have emerged across society, economy, workplace, education, technology, etc, such as artificial intelligence and mobile payments. As such, the Home and Youth Affairs Bureau (HYAB) and the WoC launched the Women Empowerment Fund (WEF) in June 2023. With an annual funding of $20 million, WEF subsidises women’s groups and non-governmental organisations for implementing projects that promote women’s development. To date, the WEF approved over 280 projects, involving over $43 million in funding and engaging more than 170 organisations. Apart from courses, projects funded under WEF also include workshops, placement opportunities and community serving projects. This allows the funded organisations to flexibly utilise the funding and implement suitable activities based on social needs for women from different backgrounds and social strata. Since its establishment, the WEF has also supported projects related to workplace skills, e-commerce and communication skills. These include, for example, training programmes on job seeking skills for women looking for employment, courses on digital marketing and personal image enhancement. The WEF also runs the Programme on Women’s Participation in Community Services, which encourages women to plan and implement community service projects based on actual societal needs, such as preparing soft meals for the elderly, visiting residential care homes for persons with disabilities, and organising day camps for children with special educational needs, thereby promoting community care and inclusion.
On the other hand, to promote women’s workplace development, we also launched the “She Inspires” Mentorship Programme this year. Under the programme, local female university students who aspire to pursue a career in the professional or business sectors will be matched with women leader mentors, and provided with relevant training and activities to help young women enhance their workplace skills and prepare them for entering the workforce, thereby improving women’s overall competitiveness in the long term.
To better utilise government resources in promoting women’s development and training, the HYAB and the WoC are reviewing the future direction of the CBMP and related arrangements. This is to ensure the effective use of the Government’s financial resources and keep up with the times in promoting women’s development in all aspects. During the review, our principle is to maintain the usage of the existing resources while enhancing the synergy between various projects and societal sectors. We will announce the review results in due course.
Qualifications Framework (QF) is a clear and well-defined seven-level hierarchy that serves to define clear and objective standards applicable to qualifications in the academic, vocational and professional as well as continuing education sectors; assure the quality of qualifications and the associated learning programmes available to learners; and assure relevancy of learning to industry needs. The Qualifications Register (QR) under the QF is a free-of-charge, open, centralised online database of quality assured qualifications recognised under the QF to facilitate the public search of the relevant qualifications. The Government welcomes course providers to register their accredited courses or qualifications on the QR in accordance with the Accreditation of Academic and Vocational Qualifications Ordinance (Cap. 592) and related quality assurance mechanism. Currently, there are 17 courses under the CBMP listed at Level 2 of the QF.
The HYAB will continue to review various measures aimed at women’s development and, through collaboration with different stakeholders, flexibly utilise resources to continue promoting women’s development in all aspects.
VICTORIA, Seychelles, June 25, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — MEXC IgniteX, successfully concluded its Silver Partnership sponsorship of Taiwan’s premier Blockchain Hackathon series with Demo Day on June 22, 2025.
Four-Week Innovation Program
The comprehensive hackathon program brought together Taiwan’s brightest blockchain developers across four sessions from June 8-22. The series included an opening ceremony on June 8th, intensive development sessions on June 10th and 18th, and concluded with Demo Day and expert panel discussion on June 22.
Strategic Partnership Impact
As a Silver Sponsor, IgniteX achieved significant brand visibility throughout the event series. The partnership included strategic booth presence and comprehensive integration across university blockchain communities, local DAOs, and social channels. Leo, MEXC Traditional Chinese Market Business Head, delivered a keynote presentation introducing IgniteX services and participated as a featured panelist during Demo Day. His engagement included sharing insights on blockchain innovation trends and facilitating discussions with finalist teams and industry experts about the future of decentralized technologies.
Expanding Educational Partnerships in Taiwan
This hackathon sponsorship builds upon MEXC’s broader commitment to Taiwan’s blockchain education ecosystem. MEXC has established collaborative partnerships with leading Taiwanese universities, including National Taipei University of Technology (NTUT), to foster fintech and blockchain education innovation. The company’s educational initiatives extend beyond traditional sponsorship to include direct industry mentorship and curriculum development support.
Fostering Web3 Innovation and Strategic Vision
“This hackathon represents IgniteX’s commitment to fostering blockchain innovation in Taiwan’s vibrant tech ecosystem,” said Leo, MEXC Traditional Chinese Market Business Head. “By supporting these talented developers and entrepreneurs, we’re helping build the foundation for the next generation of Web3 applications and services.”
IgniteX’s educational investment reinforces its commitment to integrating blockchain education with hands-on development experience. The company provides participants with exposure to development tools, industry best practices, and direct feedback from experienced practitioners within the MEXC ecosystem.
This sponsorship has sparked discussions about establishing regular blockchain innovation events in Taiwan and potentially creating ongoing partnership programs with academic institutions. MEXC’s investment in Taiwan’s blockchain community contributes to the region’s growing reputation as a blockchain-friendly jurisdiction with strong technical talent, supporting the company’s broader goals of expanding its presence in Asia while identifying and nurturing emerging blockchain talent.
About MEXC IgniteX MEXC IgniteX is a comprehensive Web3 innovation platform providing cutting-edge services for blockchain developers, entrepreneurs, and enterprises. Through strategic partnerships and community engagement, MEXC IgniteX drives adoption and innovation across the global blockchain ecosystem.
Risk Disclaimer: The information provided in this article regarding cryptocurrencies does not constitute investment advice. Given the highly volatile nature of the cryptocurrency market, investors are encouraged to carefully assess market fluctuations, the fundamentals of projects, and potential financial risks before making any trading decisions.
Forum committed to ending corruption at immigration, border management systems
The Border Management and Immigration Anti-Corruption Forum (BMIACF) has reaffirmed its commitment to combating corruption within the country’s immigration and border management systems.
Launched officially on 25 March 2025, the forum serves as a critical platform for collaboration among key law enforcement, civil society, government and business to address systemic corruption and illicit activities in the sector.
Chaired by Advocate Andy Mothibi, the Head of the Special Investigating Unit (SIU), the forum held its quarterly meeting recently, which brought together high-level stakeholders, including Michael Masiapato, the Commissioner of the Border Management Authority (BMA), as well as representatives from the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) and the Directorate for Priority Crime Investigation (DPCI).
The forum reviewed progress in the ongoing investigations and corruption prevention strategies in the sector to eradicate corruption.
The forum received a progress report on the fraudulent and corruption investigations related to the issuance of the following permits and visas: – Permanent residence permits – Corporate visas – Business visas – Critical/exceptional skills work visas – Study visas – Retired persons’ visas – Work visas – Citizenship by naturalisation
The forum noted the recommendations made to revoke all irregularly awarded visas and deportation of persons involved, as they have violated the South African laws. Criminal referrals were made to the NPA to prosecute all those who were identified in the investigations to have violated the law.
The forum also noted with concerns the abuse of the Traffic Register Numbers (TRNs) that are issued in terms of the National Road Traffic Act, 1996.
The preliminary investigations’ findings in the SIU Proclamation 191 of 2024 revealed the abuse and irregularities in the issuing of TRNs, which involves undocumented immigrants in South Africa.
The forum resolved to intensify investigations in this space to root out fraud and corruption in the issuing of TRNs.
The forum also identified the spread of foot and mouth disease as an emerging risk that required increased scrutiny at ports of entry. Strengthening border controls to prevent illegal movement of livestock and contaminated products will be a priority in upcoming discussions.
The forum noted the corruption prevention initiatives undertaken in some of the border posts. The latest corruption prevention campaign was conducted on 16 April 2025 at the Lebombo Border Post in Komatipoort, Mpumalanga.
The objective was to promote whistleblowing and raise awareness about corruption in borders. The theme of the campaign was: “If You See Something, Say Something.”
The forum noted other corruption prevention initiatives that are planned in the coming quarters, in particular the corruption risk assessments that will be conducted at the border posts.
Advocate Mothibi emphasised that the forum’s work was part of an intensified, multi-agency effort to combat corruption, ensuring transparency and accountability in immigration processes.
“This collaboration is vital to safeguarding South Africa’s borders and maintaining the integrity of our immigration system,” he said.
The BMIACF will continue to meet quarterly and progress reports will be shared with relevant oversight bodies and the public when appropriate. – SAnews.gov.za
Source: The Conversation – UK – By John Barrett, Professor of Energy and Climate Policy, Deputy Director of the Priestly Centre for Climate Futures, Theme Lead for the UKRI Energy Demand Research Centre, University of Leeds
Each year, the Climate Change Committee – the UK’s independent advisory body tasked with monitoring the country’s movement toward its legally binding climate goals – gives a report on the government’s progress over the last year.
The Climate Change Committee’s new 2025 progress report is a mix of good and bad news about whether the UK is on track to meet its greenhouse gas emissions targets. These include a 68% reduction by 2030 and an 81% reduction by 2035, relative to 1990 levels.
Meeting these targets requires long lead times. It takes years to develop and deploy low-carbon technologies, change social practices and align industrial and economic policy with net zero ambitions. The Climate Change Committee’s analysis goes beyond simply measuring emissions — it also evaluates whether the right policies are in place across sectors such as transport, buildings, energy and industry.
So how is the UK doing? Between 1990 and 2024, the UK halved its greenhouse gas emissions, primarily by decarbonising the power sector, improving energy efficiency and shifts in the UK’s industrial base. This equates to an average annual reduction of 0.7%.
Since the committee was established in 2008, the rate of reduction has more than doubled. In the last decade, since the Paris agreement was signed in 2015, the UK has decarbonised at around 3.4% per year. To meet the 2030 and 2035 targets, the pace of reduction has to continue at this level, but from a wider set of sectors.
However, the analysis in the CCC report suggests that even this may not be fast enough. A major scientific review recently warned the world has just three years left in its global carbon budget if we are to stay within the 1.5°C temperature limit agreed in the Paris agreement.
A mixed picture
We are both involved with the committee and its work. Piers Forster, a climate scientist, has served on the committee since 2018 and is currently its chair. John Barrett provides key data on imported emissions and regularly provides analysis into the committee’s work.
On the positive side, the UK continues to expand renewable energy capacity, which not only cuts emissions but lowers energy bills and improves energy security. Emissions from the energy supply sector decreased 17% last year.
A fifth of new vehicles sold are now electric. For the first time, evidence shows that electric cars are causing transport emissions to decline, even as people are travelling more. Tree planting rates also increased by 56% last year, mainly in Scotland.
However, this report highlights serious gaps. With only five years left until 2030, the Climate Change Committee estimates that 39% of the required emissions reductions are not adequately backed by government policy.
Growing demand in high-carbon sectors like aviation is offsetting gains made in electricity generation. Aviation emissions are now scarily largely than those from electricity generation and rising fast.
Although nearly 100,000 heat pumps were installed last year, emissions from buildings are still rising. In road transport, while electric vehicle adoption is growing, there’s been little shift towards shared public transport options such as buses and trains. In industry, policies around resource efficiency and consumption remain underdeveloped.
Critically, the Climate Change Committee notes that electricity currently accounts for just 18% of the UK’s total energy demand, and suggests that 80% of required emissions reductions must come from sectors beyond energy supply. The rates of decarbonisation need to more than double in these other sectors.
Yet, policy to reduce overall energy demand remains weak. This is a broader agenda than reducing household energy bills but a more fundamental appreciation of how the UK’s energy demand can be shaped in the future.
The UK cannot rely on technology alone. The climate transition can benefit from changes in how we live, move, consume and produce. Making such changes would make us less dependent on fossil fuel imports, put more money in our pockets from efficiency savings and make us healthier by improving air quality, increase exercise levels through more active travel such as walking and cycling and make our homes more comfortable in both hot and cold conditions.
A truly credible response to the climate crisis demands a whole-system approach. That means aligning climate goals with economic and social policy, and recognising the broader benefits — from improved health to reduced inequality — that come with reducing energy demand.
The window to act is closing. The UK has made progress, but without more ambitious and integrated action, it risks falling short when it matters most.
According to the Climate Change Committee report, the UK can deliver both its legislated targets and its internationally-committed emission reduction targets if it takes decisive policy action. And with the right political will that’s possible in a cost-effective way that improves the lives of its citizens.
Don’t have time to read about climate change as much as you’d like?
Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region – 4
The Government welcomed the passage of the Post Secondary Colleges (Amendment) Bill 2025 by the Legislative Council today (June 25), which aims to enhance the regulatory and quality assurance mechanisms of self-financing post-secondary institutions, with a view to facilitating the healthy and sustainable development of the self-financing post-secondary education sector.
The Bill amends the Post Secondary Colleges Ordinance (Cap. 320). Its three key features are: (i) reforming the regulatory regime for the self-financing post-secondary education sector to improve governance, ensuring the quality, transparency and accountability of self-financing institutions; (ii) removing barriers suitably, including rationalising the arrangements for self-financing institutions to award degrees, to enhance efficiency and effectiveness; and (iii) forging a unified regulatory framework to promote coherence in quality assurance, governance, positioning and overall co-ordination.
The Secretary for Education, Dr Choi Yuk-lin, said, “Self-financing post-secondary institutions form an integral part of the post-secondary education sector in Hong Kong. The Government has long supported the parallel development of the self-financing and publicly funded post-secondary education sectors. The passage of the Bill signifies an important milestone for the development of the self-financing sector. We envisage that the enhanced regulatory framework can further support the capacity expansion and quality enhancement of the self-financing sector, with a view to harnessing its advantages in terms of flexibility and diversity to cultivate talent for the country and Hong Kong, and make more proactive contributions towards Hong Kong’s development into an international post-secondary education hub and building China into a leading country in education.”
The Post Secondary Colleges (Amendment) Ordinance 2025 will be gazetted on July 4. Save for clauses relating to the delegation of authority to approve the award of degrees from the Chief Executive in Council to the Secretary for Education, which will come into operation on August 1, 2025, the commencement date of the other major provisions will be August 1, 2026. For relevant institutions that are not currently registered under Cap. 320, there will be a transitional period of around three years, until July 31, 2028, to complete the registration procedures.
The Education Bureau, in collaboration with the Hong Kong Council for Accreditation of Academic and Vocational Qualifications, will continue to maintain close liaison with self-financing institutions to ensure the smooth implementation of the enhanced regulatory framework and relevant transitional arrangements.
Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region
LCQ21: Enhancing Cantonese proficiency of non-ethnic Chinese Question:
It has been learnt that with the continuous increase in the Cantonese proficiency requirements for job seekers in various trades and industries in Hong Kong, quite a number of non-ethnic Chinese people face difficulties in securing employment due to the language barrier, and in particular, the limited availability of Cantonese courses is further restricting their learning channels. Some self-financing programmes offered by higher education institutions have been cancelled one after another due to under-enrolment, hindering non-ethnic Chinese people from enhancing their language proficiency and integrating into the community. In this connection, will the Government inform this Council:
(1) whether it will communicate with the universities funded by the University Grants Committee to encourage them to offer more Cantonese courses (such as those similar to the courses offered by the Yale-China Chinese Language Academy of the Chinese University of Hong Kong), particularly those designed specifically for non-ethnic Chinese people; if so, of the details (e.g. the estimated cost of the courses); if not, the reasons for that;
(2) whether it has plans to collaborate with self-financing institutions and other educational institutions to offer more Cantonese learning courses targeting non-ethnic Chinese people, so as to enhance their language proficiency and employment competitiveness; if so, of the details; if not, the reasons for that;
(3) whether it will consider setting up dedicated scholarships or subsidy schemes to encourage and assist non-ethnic Chinese people in enrolling in the relevant courses offered by various major Cantonese learning centres in Hong Kong; if so, of the details; if not, the reasons for that;
(4) whether it will consider launching summer Cantonese courses for non-ethnic Chinese youths, with a tailored design for the contents and mode of teaching and learning of such courses, so as to enhance their language proficiency and social confidence; if so, of the details; if not, the reasons for that; and
(5) whether the Government has conducted any study or assessment in the past five years to analyse the actual Cantonese proficiency levels required by different industries in Hong Kong of their employees, as well as the impact on the employment of non-ethnic Chinese people; if so, of the findings of the relevant studies or assessments; if not, whether it will consider conducting relevant studies, so as to facilitate the formulation of corresponding policies?
Reply:
President,
The Government has all along been committed to building a harmonious, inclusive and caring society for ethnic minorities and non-Chinese speakers to enjoy equal opportunities and integrate into the community. Different bureaux and departments of the Government all encourage and support non-Chinese young people to equip themselves for future employment. Regarding the question raised by the Hon Dominic Lee, the consolidated reply after consultation with relevant bureaux and departments is as follows:
Support for non-Chinese speaking (NCS) students
The Education Bureau (EDB) actively assists NCS students in adapting to the local education system at an early stage, encouraging them to make full use of their studies in primary and secondary schools to learn Chinese and integrate into the community. The EDB is committed to enhancing students’ proficiency in biliteracy and trilingualism (written Chinese and English; spoken Cantonese, Putonghua, and English) at both the primary and secondary levels. All eligible children (including NCS students) enjoy equal access to publicly-funded kindergartens, primary and secondary schools. The EDB also encourages parents of NCS students to arrange for their children to study in local kindergartens for early exposure to and learning of the Chinese language. In the 2024/25 academic year, more than 70 per cent of publicly-funded kindergartens, primary and secondary schools admitted NCS students. The EDB has also adopted a multi-pronged approach in providing NCS students with all-encompassing learning support from pre-primary to secondary levels.
At the post-secondary education level, to develop more internationalised campuses and promote cultural integration on campuses, the EDB encourages the University Grants Committee-funded universities to step up their support for students from different backgrounds, including offering appropriate courses and workshops to non-local students who wish to learn Chinese/Cantonese. Additionally, the Vocational Training Council is committed to supporting NCS students in pursuing its vocational and professional education and training programmes, helping them enhance their Chinese language skills in listening, speaking, reading, and writing for both daily communication and workplace contexts.
Support for school leavers and working individuals
The Government promotes lifelong learning and is committed to enhancing the overall quality of the manpower. At present, many operators in Hong Kong offer a wide range of self-financing programmes to meet the continuing education needs of different individuals. As at June 2025, on the Qualifications Register under the Hong Kong Qualifications Framework (QF), based on registered course titles searches, there are around 100 Cantonese language educational courses targeting non-Chinese speakers, involving 22 course providers, covering QF Levels 1 to 4. Among them, there are part-time certificate courses on vocational Cantonese offered by the Employees Retraining Board (ERB) for non-Chinese speakers. NCS school leavers and working individuals may pursue relevant courses based on their personal interests and circumstances.
Moreover, the Home Affairs Department (HAD) provides subsidies for non-school-attending ethnic minorities enrolled in dedicated language courses of the ERB, targetting members of low-income families with an attendance rate of 80 per cent or above. The HAD also provides funding to non-governmental organisations to organise language classes at the Support Service Centres for Ethnic Minorities and in the community to help ethnic minorities meet their basic daily needs.
On the other hand, the Standing Committee on Language Education and Research has launched the Vocational Chinese Language Programme for NCS School Leavers initiative, inviting post-secondary institutions/training providers to develop and deliver vocational Chinese courses that are recognised under the QF. Upon completing the courses and meeting the attendance or assessment requirements, learners may receive up to 85 per cent tuition fee reimbursement. Over the past five years, an average of 200 NCS school leavers have benefited annually.
The Government will continue to review the implementation of the different measures to better support the employment and learning needs of ethnic minorities and facilitate their integration into the community. Issued at HKT 14:45
Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region
LCQ1: Eradicating youth consumption of “space oil drug” Question:
The Government statistics show that 128 young people aged under 21 were reported to have consumed “space oil drug” in the first quarter of this year, accounting for over 67 per cent of all reported cases. The youngest among them was just 12 years old. In this connection, will the Government inform this Council:
(1) of the respective numbers of cases of young people possessing and consuming “space oil drug” received by the authorities in the past three years; the specific measures in place to assist them in drug treatment and rehabilitation, and the total number of young people who have quit “space oil drug” with such assistance to date;
(2) whether it will establish a regular mechanism for primary and secondary schools in Hong Kong to handle cases of young people consuming “space oil drug”, while strengthening training for frontline personnel, including teachers and social workers, in order to enhance their ability to identify, handle, and prevent cases of students consuming “space oil drug”; and
(3) given that the Government launched the Healthy School Programme some years ago to establish a healthy and drug-free culture in schools by organising personal growth activities and voluntary school drug testing, whether the authorities will step up the promotion of this programme in primary and secondary schools in Hong Kong, so that teachers and social workers can have opportunities to identify those young people who consume “space oil drug” at an early stage and provide them with immediate and appropriate assistance?
Reply:
President,
The Government attaches great importance to combating the emerging “space oil drug” problem. A number of targeted measures have been launched on multiple fronts to curb the use of “space oil drug”, which often illegally contains the anesthetic etomidate. Among these measures, we have already listed etomidate and its three analogues as dangerous drugs through legislation, and have recently proposed listing other analogues as dangerous drugs as well. Since the listing of etomidate as a dangerous drug on February 14, 2025, law enforcement agencies (LEAs) have successfully stopped the supply of more than 220 000 drug-filled cartridges by the end of last month with a total of 405 persons arrested. Among those arrested, 153 were involved in trafficking dangerous drugs, accounting for nearly 40 per cent of the arrests. Apart from legislation and law enforcement, the Government has also launched a number of publicity programmes to educate the public to stay away from “space oil drug” and raise awareness among young people of its serious harm.
In consultation with the Education Bureau (EDB), replies to each of the Member’s questions are as follows:
(1) The “space oil drug” has been gradually on the rise since 2023. From 2023 to May 31, 2025, the LEAs arrested a total of 566 persons for unlawful possession of etomidate, and among them, 134 persons or about 20 per cent were young people aged below 21. Regarding the number of abusers, data from the Central Registry of Drug Abuse show that from 2023 to May 31, 2025, there were 493 recorded “space oil drug” abusers, of whom 356 persons, or about 70 per cent, were young people aged below 21. These young people are being followed up by relevant drug treatment institutions or outreaching social work teams with a view to helping them to quit drugs. Indeed, drug treatment and rehabilitation services are an integral part of the Government’s anti-drug strategy. For young people addicted to “space oil drug”, drug treatment and rehabilitation agencies (e.g. Counselling Centres for Psychotropic Substance Abusers (CCPSAs)) provide education programmes, vocational training, and counselling on careers and studies, tailored to their personal growth stages, learning needs and interests. Anti-drug workers also provide young people with essential emotional support and mental health counselling.
(2) Schools are key partners in the Government’s anti-drug efforts. The Narcotics Division (ND) of the Security Bureau (SB), in collaboration with the EDB, has established a regular mechanism for all primary and secondary schools in Hong Kong to handle drug-related incidents, including cases involving the use of “space oil drug”. The EDB has also issued guidelines to schools in this regard. To assist schools in handling such cases, the ND of the SB has been working with non-governmental organisations to provide anti-drug professional training for frontline staff, including teachers and social workers, to enhance their capacity in identifying, handling and preventing “space oil drug” abuse cases among students.
(3) After years of implementation, the Healthy School Programme spearheaded by the ND has been proven capable of strengthening students’ resolve to stay away from drugs, thereby fostering an anti-drug culture in schools. In light of the latest drug scene, the ND plans to include etomidate testing in its voluntary school drug testing, targeting its introduction within the next school year. The ND has also required schools to incorporate knowledge on the prevention of “space oil drug” into the activities organised under the Programme, including understanding the harm of “space oil drug”, the serious consequences of committing relevant offences, and the skills to refuse “space oil drug”. While promoting the Healthy School Programme, the ND is also implementing the Beat Drugs with Sports Programme to help young people stay away from “space oil drug” and other drugs through sports activities. About 60 per cent of all secondary schools in Hong Kong have participated in these two anti-drug programmes.
Apart from the Healthy School Programme and the Beat Drugs with Sports Programme just mentioned, the ND has been promoting a healthy and drug‑free school culture through enhanced cross‑disciplinary and cross‑sectoral collaboration with various anti-drug service units and welfare service units. This collaboration provides teachers and social workers with opportunities to identify young people who have taken “space oil drug” at an early stage, and offer timely and appropriate assistance. In this regard, the ND arranges for the CCPSAs to reach out to schools and organise anti-drug school talks, including providing training for teachers and social workers, and educating students about the harm of “space oil drug”. Since 2024, over 170 schools with a total of 38 000 students, teachers and social workers have participated in these talks. The Hong Kong Jockey Club Drug InfoCentre will also organise a new round of interactive activities in July 2025 for candidates of the Hong Kong Diploma of Secondary Education Examination and senior secondary school students. These activities aim to provide students with a stress-relieving occasion and reinforce their resistance against “space oil drug”. The ND also conducts free drama tours for schools to educate upper primary students in an interactive manner on the harm of “space oil drug”. Meanwhile, the Hong Kong Police Force has staged a new play, “Interactive Anti-Drug Theatre – A Space Study Adventure”, to safeguard schools from the emerging “space oil drug”. Finally, on parental education, the ND works closely with the Committee on Home-School Co-operation and the Federations of Parent-Teacher Associations in various districts to provide parents and young people with timely and appropriate assistance related to “space oil drug”.
President, the Government has taken various measures to curb “space oil drug”. We have strategies in place to address the situation, ranging from legislation and law enforcement to treatment and rehabilitation. We will humbly listen to the views of the community, adjust our strategies as situation changes, and proactively adopt innovative and targeted approaches to combat drug harm together with the public.
Source: United Kingdom – Executive Government & Departments
A study published in NPJ Vaccines looks at adjuvants in vaccines and their association with a lower risk of dementia.
Dr Julia Dudley, Head of Research at Alzheimer’s Research UK, said:
“Dementia is not an inevitable part of ageing. Identifying ways to reduce dementia risk is a priority for research, and vaccination offers an intriguing area of exploration. There have been an increasing number of studies suggesting a link between people who receive certain vaccinations, like the Shingrix vaccine, and a decreased risk of dementia. This study offers a potentially different perspective on what might be linked to this finding.
“In this latest large US-based observational study, researchers are proposing that it might be the adjuvant that is providing a protective effect, rather than the disease the vaccine is seeking to protect against. This study looked at dementia diagnoses in people who had received vaccines with the AS01 adjuvant and those who had a flu vaccine, which doesn’t contain this component.
“An adjuvant is a substance in the vaccine used to create a boosted immune response, designed to give more effective protection upon exposure to the virus.AS01 is in the shingles vaccine Shingrix, and Arexvy, the vaccine to protect against respiratory syncytial virus (RSV).
“They found people who had Shingrix, Arexvy or both of these vaccines were less likely to get a dementia diagnosis within 18 months. They found no difference between the Shingrix or Arexvy in terms of reducing dementia risk.
“One of the strengths of the study is that it adjusted for factors that could influence risk, such as underlying health conditions and some lifestyle and environmental factors. However, as the study is observational and examined past health data, the researchers cannot conclude how the Shingrix and Arexvy vaccines may protect against dementia. We also cannot rule out that the link between vaccine and dementia risk is due to other factors not captured in this study, such as social and lifestyle factors.
“One of the limitations highlighted by the authors was around people not having a dementia diagnosis when they could be living with the condition, which could skew the findings. We do not know if the adjuvant is reducing the risk of dementia or delaying its onset. The follow-up period was only 18 months, so more research is needed to determine the potential long-term effects of the vaccines.
“As we understand more about the biological mechanisms behind any protective effects seen with vaccines, we may be able to investigate new treatment approaches.”
Prof Kevin McConway, Emeritus Professor of Applied Statistics, Open University, said:
“This is an interesting, worthwhile and statistically competent piece of work, but a lot more research needs to be done to make good sense of its possible implications for health care. In fact it’s a good example of how scientific and medical knowledge has to be built up through a series of studies, not just a single piece of work.
“Previous research has provided pretty convincing evidence that vaccination against shingles, in older people, can reduce dementia risk. A recent study (published 2024), by the same research team responsible for the new study, found that the reduction in dementia risk is greater in people who had the shingles vaccine now in most widespread use, including in the UK (it’s called Shingrix), than with the previous vaccine (Zostavax).
“However, that study could not provide direct evidence on the reason for the risk difference between the two shingles vaccines. One possibility is that having shingles might increase dementia risk, and that the new vaccine provides better protection against shingles than the old one did, so reducing dementia risk. Another is that there’s some component in the new vaccine that reduces dementia risk. Or it could be some combination of these possibilities.
“The new Shingrix vaccine differs from the old Zostavax vaccine in several ways, but one difference is Shingrix vaccine contain a substance called AS01, while Zostavax does not. Some previous research has indicated that it’s possible that AS01 somehow provides in itself a reduction in dementia risk. AS01 is not the ingredient of the vaccine that directly incites the immune system to develop immunity against shingles. Instead it is an adjuvant – a substance that is intended to help the immune system to respond to the vaccination.
“AS01 is also used as an adjuvant in another vaccination offered to older people; the vaccination against the respiratory virus infection RSV (respiratory syncytial virus), which is now recommended for people in the UK aged 75-79. One of the vaccines in use against RSV also contains AS01. (There’s another available vaccine that does not contain it.) So the research team responsible for the new study used data from a large set of American electronic health records, to compare dementia risk over a period of 18 months after vaccination for older people who had had various different vaccinations containing AS01 (just the RSV vaccine, just the shingles vaccine, or both). These people were compared with older people who had had a flu vaccine, not containing AS01.
“The researchers found that those who had had either of the two AS01-containing vaccines (against RSV or shingles) had a lower risk of being diagnosed with dementia in the 18 months after vaccination than those who had had the flu vaccine. This pattern of lower risk showed up in people who had had just one of the AS01 vaccines, or both, though there were some relatively small (and statistically uncertain) differences in the average size of the risk reduction, compared to the flu vaccine, for different groups.
“What’s still not known from this study is exactly why these risk differences occur. The researchers mention that, in some way, they could occur because having either RSV or shingles might in itself increase dementia risk, so that having a vaccine that makes it less likely to have one or both of those diseases might reduce dementia risk. Or it could be because of some protective effect of the AS01 adjuvant, which is in these vaccines but not in the flu vaccine. (Or some combination of these possible effects.)
“The researchers give some arguments why they feel AS01 itself is likely to play a protective role against dementia. I don’t have expertise in virology so can’t comment directly on those arguments. But it’s at least a possibility, from all the existing evidence, that AS01 could have a protective effect. This study also doesn’t provide direct evidence on how AS01 might work to reduce dementia risk, but the researchers give some suggestions based on other studies as to what could be happening. Again I can’t comment on those.
“It’s because of this inevitable lack of knowledge about exactly how AS01 might be involved in reducing dementia risk that the researchers are asking for more studies, some of them using other research methods, to find out more. I agree with this recommendation, because in my view the results of this study provide a clear justification for looking further. But we’re not yet anywhere near the stage of using the results of the new study to change clinical practice. Also, the new study can’t make the timescale of risk reduction very clear, because the follow-up period to look for dementia diagnoses was relatively short at 18 months.
“This was an observational study – the people weren’t assigned at random to receive a particular pattern of vaccinations, but just did what they would have done anyway in consultation with health professionals. In any observational study, there can be issues about what is causing what. The basic problem is that people who receive different vaccinations will also differ in terms of many other factors – age, sex, what diseases they have previously had or still have, and many more. Some of these factors may be potential confounders, as they are called – that is, there’s a possibility that they are the cause of differences in dementia risk, and not the actual vaccinations at all.
“The researchers did a very thorough job of allowing for potential confounders, by doing something called propensity score matching. This involves setting up a statistical model that predicts people’s chances of having a dementia outcome, regardless of what vaccines they had had, and then matching people who (for example) had had the RSV vaccine but not the shingles vaccine with people who had had the flu vaccine. In this research the statistical model for the matching involves a very wide range of potential confounders. Then direct comparisons are based on these matched pairs of people. That means one can get a lot closer to comparing like with like groups, who don’t differ (on average) in terms of potential confounding factors.
“The process can’t entirely avoid the possibility that there are confounding factors that couldn’t be dealt with in this way, and that’s why the research paper says clearly that unmeasured confounding can’t be entirely ruled out. So there has to remain doubt about whether the risk differences are caused by the different vaccines. This is in addition to the inevitable doubts about which aspects of the vaccines (AS01 or something else as well) might be causes of the risk differences – if indeed it’s the vaccines that do turn out to cause the differences. These are yet more reasons why this research is nowhere near being the last word.”
Prof Sir Andrew Pollard FMedSci, Ashall Professor of Paediatric Infection and Immunity and Director of the Oxford Vaccine Group, University of Oxford, said:
“There are now a number of studies which have shown an association between shingles vaccination in older adults and a reduced rate of dementia in the vaccinated population. The fact that two different vaccine platforms (both live attenuated shingles vaccines and the adjuvanted shingles subcomponent vaccine) saw similar associations supported the idea that the mechanism was as a result of vaccine-prevention of reactivation of the usually dormant shingles virus in the brain. Another virus from the same family, herpes simplex virus (the cold sore virus) has also been associated with dementia raising the possibility that both of these viruses (shingles and herpes simplex) could cause infection, possibly silently and recurrently, in the brain that led eventually to dementia. Unfortunately, there is no licensed vaccine for herpes simplex at this time. However, this latest study published in npj vaccines shows that another vaccine, against the completely unrelated respiratory virus, RSV, is also associated with a reduced rate of dementia. The authors argue that this is because of a non-specific effect of these vaccines on the immune system which generates an environment in our bodies which is somehow protective against dementia, though further studies are needed to confirm this. Such a mechanism could account for the effects driven by both shingles and RSV vaccines. The various studies of the impact of vaccination on dementia are all observational studies which could have a risk of bias, as it can be challenging to adequately control for differences between those who seek vaccination and those who don’t, but the consistent finding across multiple studies makes the observation more convincing. It is premature to be too certain about the mechanism by which vaccines might reduce dementia risk, but these observations provide further incentive for those eligible to turn up for their scheduled vaccination visits to prevent the unpleasant and potentially serious and life-threatening infections for which they were designed, but with the added possible benefit of a longer dementia-free life-span. What’s not to like?”
‘Lower risk of dementia with AS01- adjuvanted vaccination against shingles and respiratory syncytial virus infections’ by Maxime Taquet et al. was published in npj vaccines at 10:00 UK time Wednesday June 25th 2025.
DOI: 10.1038/s41541-025-01172-3
Declared interests
Prof Kevin McConway: No conflicts.
For all other experts, no reply to our request for DOIs was received.
Over 5,000 schoolchildren will continue to enjoy free literary events from the Edinburgh International Book Festival over the next three years, thanks to a £300,000 grant from the Scottish Government.
The one-off funding will support the festival’s acclaimed schools programme with more than 60 in-person and livestreamed events, including author talks with How to Train Your Dragon author Cressida Cowell and award-winning storyteller Frank Cottrell-Boyce.
The grant will also maintain travel cost support and free tickets for pupils whose families are unable to cover the cost of ticketed events, ensuring young people of all backgrounds across Edinburgh have an opportunity to participate in the internationally renowned festival. Children attending will receive a free book through the philanthropy of Book Festival donors as well.
This investment comes as part of a record £34 million increase in Scotland’s Culture budget for 2025-26, which includes an increase of £4 million for Scottish Festivals, towards the government’s commitment to invest an additional £100 million annually in the arts and culture by 2028-29.
Creative Scotland has already awarded the Edinburgh International Book Festival £1,880,000 in public multi-year funding for the next three years, more than doubling previous support.
Minister for Business and Employment Richard Lochhead said:
“The Edinburgh International Book Festival is one the country’s most significant cultural institutions. Its schools programme has been crucial in fostering literacy and cultural engagement among young people, with thousands of pupils benefiting annually from free events and resources.
“This funding secures those benefits for young readers across Edinburgh, helping schools that might otherwise struggle with travel costs, and ensuring they have the same opportunity to take part in one of the world’s leading literary festivals.”
Jenny Niven, Festival Director & CEO of Edinburgh International Book Festival said:
“The work the Book Festival does for children and young people is a cornerstone of what we do. Publishing for children and young people has never been more vibrant, and the benefits of reading never better evidenced.
“The Festival is perfectly positioned to help children engage with the amazing range and breadth of stories around them, to support teachers to use books imaginatively and creatively in learning, and to supply older kids with the tools to think critically, and learn to evaluate the deluge of info around them. This aspect of what we do is vital, and we’re delighted to have specific public funding support to develop this work further in the coming years.
“We’ve identified the cost of transport as a key barrier to a wider cohort of schools joining us in August, and are committed to maintaining free access for as many children as possible. We’re delighted that the Scottish Government’s increased support for festivals has delivered public funding to develop this work further in the coming years and we look forward to widening our reach across Scotland and exploring further the digital potential of what we do.”
A recent review of Additional Support Needs (ASN) spaces across Aberdeen City Council’s School Estate has highlighted a range of good practices, with schools demonstrating creativity and flexibility in how they use space to support pupils with ASN.
The findings were presented today (Tuesday 24 June) to the Education and Children’s Services Committee, where members heard that while many schools are making effective use of available space, there are also significant challenges – both in existing buildings and in the planning and design of future school infrastructure. The full report can be viewed here.
Councillor Martin Greig, convener of the Education and Children’s Services Committee, said: “This review highlights the dedication and creativity of our schools in supporting pupils with additional needs. It’s encouraging to see so many examples of good practice across the city. At the same time, we must acknowledge the challenges that exist and ensure our planning and investment in school buildings reflect the evolving needs of all learners.”
Councillor Jessica Mennie, vice-convener of Education and Children’s Services Committee, said: “Providing inclusive and supportive learning environments is a key priority. This review gives us valuable insight into how we can better design and adapt our school spaces to meet the needs of pupils with ASN. I am grateful to all the staff who contributed to this work and who continue to make a difference every day in our schools.”
The review was carried out collaboratively by officers in the Corporate Landlord cluster and colleagues in Education and Lifelong Learning, who assessed current usage of ASN spaces and identified examples of innovative and effective practice.
The work also drew on the Exploration of Learners’ Needs conducted by the Educational Psychology Service (EPS) in November 2024, and considered the findings of Audit Scotland’s February 2025 report on Additional Support for Learning.
While some of the challenges identified may require national-level policy decisions, the committee agreed that there are important local considerations for how the Council plans and manages its school estate moving forward.
As a result, the committee noted the current provision of spaces offered across the whole school estate and instructed the Chief Officer – Corporate Landlord to:
identify any opportunities for sharing good practice in order to develop support for ASN for the benefit of pupils and school communities;
bring back a report as soon as possible based on the adequacy or otherwise of spaces for ASN within each school across the city, in order to truly understand the actual requirements for each school.
Council Leader Jane Meagher writes in the Evening News today to welcome positive news for Edinburgh’s economy.
Edinburgh has long been Scotland’s economic powerhouse and we’re now ahead of London for the first time.
The value of goods and services produced here in Edinburgh per person has now surpassed London’s. That’s according to economic data recently published by the Office for National Statistics.
The figures reveal gross domestic product per head of £69,809 in Edinburgh, compared to £69,077 in London. This steady growth of Edinburgh’s economy to outperform that of London’s is no small feat. Twenty-five years ago, this same data put London 19% ahead of Edinburgh, highlighting just how well we perform as a city.
This is good news for our local businesses, and it shows that Edinburgh is an environment in which small, local enterprises can thrive. It also demonstrates the confidence global investors have in Edinburgh. In the last year alone, we’ve welcomed 27 instances of foreign direct investment, from shops like Søstrene Grene and MINISO to major renewable energy consultants PSC.
This is impressive and is in part thanks to the city’s resilient business community and strong employment opportunities. The economy in the city has been driven forward by a combination of relying on established sectors such as, financial services and our universities, as well as embracing new and emerging opportunities in areas such as life sciences and technology.
Linked to this, we’ve seen the UK Chancellor commit up to £750 million for the city and the region for a next generation ‘Exascale super-computer’ at the University of Edinburgh. This will be a national asset supporting jobs and investment and reaffirms the region’s role as an economic powerhouse. This is in keeping with the eight growth-driving sectors identified in the new Industrial Strategy, placing Edinburgh and the region in a strong position to continue to receive investment and grow the local economy.
On top of this, £410 million will be shared across the devolved nations for a Local Innovation Partnership Fund and it makes great sense for our City Region to lead on this in Scotland. From artificial intelligence to data and robotics, this money could unlock a huge amount of investment, building on the successful projects we’ve already delivered, including the National Robotarium, the Usher Institute and Easter Bush which is now the global location of ‘Agritech’ excellence.
Given Edinburgh’s longstanding innovation capabilities it is fantastic that we will be able to reap the associated economic, social and environmental benefits. That said, our challenge is to manage Edinburgh’s success and growth, and ensure it is fair and sustainable. To keep thriving, we need to manage the pressures placed on our housing, environment and our residents. This is the fastest growing city in Scotland, with the population expected to increase by 60,000 over the next 20 years and over four million visitors every year.
Everyone should be able to benefit from Edinburgh’s continued economic success. We are clearly contributing more than our share to the Scottish and UK economies and both governments should continue to take note.
Source: People’s Republic of China in Russian – People’s Republic of China in Russian –
Source: People’s Republic of China – State Council News
Tashkent, June 25 /Xinhua/ — The meeting of the leaders of Uzbekistan and China, as well as the successful holding of the China-Central Asia summit, clearly demonstrated the high level and quality of current regional cooperation, Professor of the Nordic International University in Uzbekistan, Doctor of Economics Akram Khashimov said in an exclusive interview with Xinhua about relations between China and Central Asian countries.
According to him, based on the statements of the heads of state, it can be concluded that the countries of Central Asia, including Uzbekistan, highly appreciate the responsibility and constructive position of China in promoting regional cooperation. As the expert emphasized, the meeting was not only an important milestone in the political dialogue, but also another confirmation of strategic trust between the parties.
A. Khashimov noted that following the talks, the leaders of Uzbekistan and China reached a number of key agreements covering a wide range of areas – from economics and trade to transport, green energy, education and humanitarian exchanges. “For Uzbekistan, China is not only an important trade and economic partner, but also a key ally on the path to modernization of the country,” the expert emphasized, adding that the meeting gave additional confidence and outlined clear guidelines for further cooperation.
At the regional level, according to the Uzbek analyst, the China-Central Asia summit clearly demonstrated to the world that cooperation between the countries of the region and China is based on the principles of equality, mutual trust and mutual benefit. The very creation of a mechanism of this format, according to the expert, testifies to the growing commitment of the Central Asian countries to the principles of sovereignty and strategic autonomy, as well as their readiness to jointly respond to challenges and share development opportunities on a fair basis.
Particular attention was paid to the concept of a community with a common destiny put forward by China. A. Khashimov noted that this initiative is fully consistent with Uzbekistan’s foreign policy priorities: good neighborliness, pragmatic partnership and mutual benefit. In the context of an increasingly complex international situation, in his opinion, cooperation mechanisms between Uzbekistan, China and the Central Asian countries are becoming the most important source of peace, development and stability, representing a sustainable and future-oriented model of regional governance.
The expert expressed confidence that in the future, the China-Central Asia summit mechanism will become a central platform for coordinating regional cooperation. Uzbekistan, he stressed, is ready to continue to act as an active participant, consistently implementing the agreements reached at the highest level, deepening practical cooperation and contributing to the formation of a closer community with a common future between China and Central Asia for the sake of sustainable peace and common prosperity. –0–
Source: State University Higher School of Economics – State University Higher School of Economics –
Festival jury
Darya Chernova is an editor of the samizdat “K!”, a curator of film programs, and a lecturer. Polina Pribytkova is a producer, film curator, and author of texts about cinema. Nikita Spiridonov is a director, curator, and composer. Yana Rot is an artist. Dima Makhno is an artist, designer, and co-founder of the samizdat “FLEXUS))”.
“Student cinema is always an experiment, a chance and audacity. These are films that do not seek approval, but want to be seen by the audience. We will share such works at the festival,” says Maria Dantsis, a teacher of the Video Art option at the HSE School of Design and curator of SmallShorts.
The festival program aims to capture the movement of contemporary student cinema, its optics, doubts and interests, combining expert assessments and intuitive approaches.
Nominations and Winners
Screen I — Feature and documentary films
plemya, directed by Sasha Kozma “To Each His Own Sky”, directed by Mira Erkenova “The Researcher”, directed by Mikhail Romanov
Screen II — Experimental Video and Video Art
“I Dreamed That I Found a Flower That Fulfills Wishes,” directed by Mila Afanasyeva “GARAGE 7-11,” directed by Ulyana Petrovskaya “A Kitchen Gadget Led to a Sweet and Sour Ending,” directed by Vasily Zamyatin
Screen III — Animation and Generative Graphics
Totally secret, dir. Elizaveta Gorskaya “Grisha Lyoshechkin and Dreammashina”, dir. Tonya Komarova, Eliz Bozalp “Genesis”, dir. Alena Filippova
Special Jury Mentions:
“Zomia – the land of gardens”, directed by Vladimir Kondrashov “DAO – a parable about blockchain technologies”, directed by Nikita Sevastyanov Get me another tie, directed by Anastasia Indeykina
Where and when: June 28, 16:00 — round table of young film critics, GES-2. Address: Bolotnaya Embankment, 15 (floor 1). June 29, 17:00 — screening of the competition program, Zotov Center. Address: Khodynskaya St., 2, building 1 (Presnya City residential complex).
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LONDON, June 25, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Rising political polarisation is associated with increased political violence and unpredictable oscillations in government policies, according to the latest Political Risk Index by Willis (NASDAQ: WTW), a leading global advisory, broking, and solutions company. This edition of the Index focusses on political polarisation in countries worldwide and its main drivers and consequences.
Findings from the index reveal affective polarisation* is at a historic high, on a global average basis. This suggests that people are increasingly likely to perceive supporters of opposing political parties as hostile. Countries enduring violent political conflicts tend to be the most polarised, but on average, affective polarisation is rising fastest in democracies like the US, Germany, India, Brazil and Bulgaria.
The index also covers ideological polarisation** (the degree to which people agree on core policy issues) and elite polarisation*** (the degree to which political rivals consider each other as legitimate). The US is the only country globally where affective, ideological and elite polarisation have all increased at a rapid pace over the past 15 years.
After reviewing over a century’s worth of data from more than 200 countries, Willis found that in democracies, surges in polarisation tended to follow economic crises or corruption scandals, which appeared to discredit traditional political leaders. These surges were often accompanied by the growth of populist political movements and an increased frequency of political violence events.
Other key findings include:
The highest levels of affective polarisation globally are in countries where political competition happens along ethnic or religious lines.
Long-serving political leaders and controversial populists are a polarising force in several countries.
Geopolitical and foreign policy divides can also lead to polarisation of societies.
Polarisation and populism are rising both in the US and Europe and in the emerging world.
The research also identifies some hopeful trends. Truth and reconciliation processes, cross-party coalitions, and open and transparent investigations in cases of corruption or other crises have been accompanied by rapid reductions in political polarisation in the past. There is reason to believe that lessons from these examples could be applied to current challenges.
Sam Wilkin, director of political risk analytics at Willis, said: “There is a well-established correlation between polarisation and political violence. But polarisation is also being felt on a more personal basis, such as how we perceive our friends and colleagues. Businesses face growing challenges from operating in increasingly polarised societies.”
*Affective polarisation refers to the phenomenon of individuals developing strong positive feelings toward members of their own group (in-group) and negative feelings towards members of opposing groups (out-groups), particularly in a political context. It involves a difference between how people feel about their own party or group and how they feel about those who support opposing parties or groups. This can lead to increased hostility, reduced willingness to compromise, and a lack of empathy for those with different political views.
**Ideological polarisation refers to the extent to which political attitudes become more divided and extreme, often along partisan lines. This can manifest as individuals and groups holding increasingly divergent views on issues, and a greater emphasis on partisan identity over shared values or common ground.
***Elite polarisation refers to the ideological divide and political disagreement among elites—such as elected officials, party leaders, policymakers, and influential media figures—typically along partisan lines.
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The Chairperson of the Select Committee on Education, Sciences and the Creative Industries, Mr Makhi Feni, has called on the Department of Higher Education to be proactive in plugging the gap left by the US cuts in grant funding that occurred earlier in 2025.
Mr Feni said a deliberate drive is needed, even if it means going on tour abroad to mobilise resources for research purposes. “The grant funding impact was massive and at a time when South Africa found itself operating in a fiscally constrained environment. We must not allow a situation where community-based research programmes suffer and get aborted due to this decision,” he said.
The Minister of Higher Education, Dr Nobuhle Nkabane, had informed the committee that work to address this issue is being done. In addition, the government had opted for a collaborative approach, as cuts affected programmes administer by the departments of Health and of Science and Technology. Minister Nkabane said a technical team has been set up to coordinate and collate the affected programmes.
Mr Feni said the committee welcomes the news that the Minister of International Relations and Cooperation is contributing to resource mobilisation. “We would appreciate if all these efforts yield results. Our institutions are research intensive and that is one area we excel in and could not lose momentum. The committee is looking forward to receiving the report on the sector-wide impact of the funding cuts,” Mr Feni said.
Minister Nkabane led a strong departmental delegation to present the department’s annual performance and strategic plans.
Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Republic of South Africa: The Parliament.
President Cyril Ramaphosa has lauded the state-of-the-art Steve Biko Academic Hospital as a model public health facility and a blueprint for the future of the National Health Insurance (NHI).
The President described the hospital as a shining example of what quality public healthcare should look like.
He said this during his oversight visit to the Nuclear Medicine Research Infrastructure (NuMeRI) facility housed at the hospital in Pretoria on Tuesday.
He was accompanied by Ministers and Deputy Ministers including the Minister of Health, Dr Aaron Motsoaledi, Gauteng Premier, Panyaza Lesufi and Gauteng Health and Wellness MEC, Nomantu Nkomo-Ralehoko.
WATCH | President’s visit to Steve Biko hospital
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He highlighted how the Minister of Health had told him that private hospitals are often referring patients to this public hospital. “It shows that this public hospital is a model for all the good things, and this is the future of what the National Health Insurance (NHI) is all about, because they would not be coming here if Steve Biko Academic hospital was not as good as it is.
“I leave this place very impressed. When I went to some of the areas, I just saw [a] world-class type of facility that has been built, and even as one goes around the world, I don’t remember seeing many of such, and I’m usually impressed by technology most of the time. And when we say that we have the best on the continent and possibly in the world, this is what we have seen here,” the President said.
The Nuclear Medicine Research Infrastructure (NuMeRI) facility is the only one of its kind on the continent, dedicated to cancer and TB drug development, advanced imaging, and clinical research.
It reflects a successful collaboration between the Department of Health, Department of Science and Innovation, the University of Pretoria, and private sector partners.
Walking through the hospital’s departments, including the cardiac catheterisation laboratory and radiology units, President Ramaphosa commended the level of professionalism and excellence.
He praised the diversity and competence of the staff, from cleaners to researchers as well as the facility’s cutting-edge equipment and cleanliness.
“I have seen the future of the NHI. It is here. And more importantly, as I’ve been going around talking to the doctors, scientists, and nurses, they are the ones saying to me: ‘we are ready for NHI.’ Those campaigning against it need to come here and see how it’s going to work,” the President said.
Women in health
He also took time to applaud the high representation of women and young professionals in senior and technical roles at the hospital, calling it a powerful example of inclusivity and transformation in action.
“Women run this facility. They are researchers, professors, doctors, and nurses – delivering top-class healthcare. And I saw so many young people here; the future of our country,” the President said.
Leadership recognition
The President also singled out Professor Mike Sathekge, who heads the Nuclear Medicine Unit, for his outstanding leadership and global recognition.
“Let’s give Professor Sathekge a round of applause for being recognised globally as well. It isn’t often that you meet a guy who is black, who is from Limpopo, who is recognised in the way that he is,” the President said.
Innovation
He expressed admiration for the hospital’s homegrown innovation, highlighting the cardiology department, which has developed sophisticated medical equipment showcasing South Africa’s engineering and scientific capabilities.
He also lavished praise on Professor Andrew Sarkin who is an academic and clinical head at University of Pretoria and the hospital. “The diversity of the talent that we have from various parts of our country makes this facility, this hospital, what it is.
“I also applaud Professor Sarkin and his staff for the excellent work that they do. In here resides the talent, the engineering knowledge, and capability to be able to produce some of the best technologies that the medical world has ever seen. I really applaud the cardiology department,” he said.
Upholding high standards
The President further praised the hospital’s cleanliness and organisation, crediting management and support staff for upholding high standards.
He called for the Steve Biko Academic Hospital model to be replicated across the country.
“This is how a hospital should be run. This is how a hospital should be managed. And this is what the NHI must look like,” he said. The President’s visit to Steve Biko Academic Hospital served not only to showcase a leading healthcare institution, but also to reaffirm government’s commitment to building a future where all South Africans have access to high-quality public healthcare. – SAnews.gov.za
Imagine itching, burning, swelling, or even struggling to breathe just moments after sex. For a small but growing number of women, that’s not an awkward anecdote – it’s a medical condition. It’s called seminal plasma hypersensitivity (SPH) – an allergy to semen.
This rare but underdiagnosed allergy isn’t triggered by sperm cells, but by proteins in the seminal plasma — the fluid that carries sperm. First documented in 1967, when a woman was hospitalised after a “violent allergic reaction” to sex, SPH is now recognised as a type 1 hypersensitivity, the same category as hay fever, peanut allergy and cat dander.
Symptoms range from mild to severe. Some women experience local reactions: burning, itching, redness and swelling of the vulva or vagina. Others develop full-body symptoms: hives, wheezing, dizziness, runny nose and even anaphylaxis, a potentially life-threatening immune response.
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Until 1997, SPH was thought to affect fewer than 100 women globally. But a study led by allergist Jonathan Bernstein found that among women reporting postcoital symptoms, nearly 12% could be classified as having probable SPH.
I conducted a small, unpublished survey in 2013 and found a similar 12% rate. The true figure may be higher still. Many cases go unreported, misdiagnosed, or dismissed as STIs, yeast infections, or general “sensitivity”. One revealing clue: symptoms disappear when condoms are used.
A 2024 study reinforced this finding, suggesting that SPH is both more common and more commonly misdiagnosed than previously believed.
The problem isn’t the sperm
The main allergen appears to be prostate-specific antigen (PSA): a protein found in all seminal plasma, not just that of a particular partner. In other words, women can develop a reaction to any man’s semen, not just their regular partner’s.
There’s also evidence of cross-reactivity. For example, Can f 5, a protein found in dog dander, is structurally similar to human PSA. So women allergic to dogs may find themselves reacting to semen too. In one unusual case, a woman with a Brazil nut allergy broke out in hives after sex, probably due to trace nut proteins in her partner’s semen.
Diagnosis begins with a detailed sexual and medical history, often followed by skin prick testing with the partner’s semen or blood tests for PSA-specific antibodies (IgE).
In my own research involving symptomatic women, we demonstrated that testing with washed spermatozoa, free from seminal plasma, can help confirm that the allergic trigger is not the sperm cells themselves, but proteins in the seminal fluid.
And it’s not just women. It’s possible some men may be allergic to their own semen.
This condition, known as post-orgasmic illness syndrome (POIS), causes flu-like symptoms, such as fatigue, brain fog and muscle aches, immediately after ejaculation. It’s believed to be an autoimmune or allergic reaction. Diagnosis is tricky, but skin testing with a man’s own semen can yield a positive reaction.
What about fertility?
Seminal plasma hypersensitivity doesn’t cause infertility directly, but it can complicate conception. Avoiding the allergen – usually the most effective treatment for allergies – isn’t feasible for couples trying to conceive.
Treatments include prophylactic antihistamines (antihistamine medications taken in advance of anticipated exposure to an allergen, or before allergy symptoms are expected to appear to prevent or reduce the severity of allergic reactions), anti-inflammatories and desensitisation using diluted seminal plasma. In more severe cases, couples may choose IVF with washed sperm, bypassing the allergic trigger altogether.
It’s important to note: SPH is not a form of infertility. Many women with SPH have conceived successfully – some naturally, others with medical support.
So why don’t more people know about this?
Because sex-related symptoms often go unspoken. Embarrassment, stigma and a lack of awareness among doctors mean that many women suffer in silence. In Bernstein’s 1997 study, almost half of the women who had symptoms after sex had never been checked for SPH, and many had spent years being misdiagnosed and getting the wrong treatment.
If sex routinely leaves you itchy, sore or unwell – and condoms help – you might be allergic to semen.
It’s time to bring this hidden condition out of the shadows and into the consultation room.
Michael Carroll does not work for, consult, own shares in or receive funding from any company or organisation that would benefit from this article, and has disclosed no relevant affiliations beyond their academic appointment.
Source: State University of Management – Official website of the State –
On June 24, a meeting of the Academic Council of the State University of Management was held, the main topic of which was the 2025 admissions campaign.
At the traditional ceremonial part, the rector of the State University of Management Vladimir Stroyev presented certificates of associate professors to Kristina Arzhanova, Lyudmila Akhmaeva and Anastasia Eremeeva and congratulated the birthday boys of the month on their birthday.
Director of the Department of Digital Development and Admission of Applicants Vadim Dikikh reported on the progress of the admissions campaign for students for the 2025/2026 academic year in bachelor’s and master’s degree programs.
“Over 1,500 applications were received in the first three days, including 12 applications from families of SVO participants. We are trying to help each applicant prepare documents for correct submission to the Unified State Public Services Portal. The Admissions Committee does not accept documents in person until July 1, now we are providing consultations on how to submit an application on public services and what documents are needed, and we are also collecting feedback on the admissions process. Thanks to the institutes for actively helping to consult applicants. We are expecting a large volume of applications next week, the very wave that we must catch and help all applicants submit documents without errors,” said Vadim Dikikh.
Those gathered also approved, through a secret vote that was conducted electronically, the awarding of the academic titles of associate professors to GUU teachers Maria Dyakonova and Andrey Metzger.
In addition, working issues were considered regarding changes in the organizational structure of individual departments, approval of additional education programs, general education programs for schoolchildren with implementation at the Pre-University Training and Additional Education Center “Az”, as well as on the basis of its Preparatory Department.
At the end of the meeting, Vladimir Stroyev recalled that the next meeting of the council will take place at the end of August, and wished everyone a successful admissions campaign.
“The admissions campaign has begun – the most turbulent time for all universities. Given the upcoming changes that will take place from September 1 this year, it is not time for us to rest, but to start preparing options for further development, suggesting how to transform existing programs or develop new ones so that we have something to enter the next admissions campaign with. The National Ranking of Graduate Employment was recently released, in which SUM took 11th place in the direction of “Sciences about Society”, which once again shows the effectiveness of our work,” the rector of SUM summed up.
Please note: This information is raw content directly from the source of the information. It is exactly what the source states and does not reflect the position of MIL-OSI or its clients.
Source: State University of Management – Official website of the State –
On June 24, 2025, the State University of Management Assembly Hall hosted a solemn awards ceremony for the winners of the International Patriotic Competition “Family History. Immortal Memory”.
Opening the award ceremony, the rector of the State University of Management Vladimir Stroyev reported that 745 applications from 1,443 people from 66 regions of Russia and 5 regions of Belarus were received for the competition.
“Our university initiated the competition, which we have been working on for six months. GUU is closely connected with the Great Patriotic War, because in 1941 many of our students, teachers and even representatives of the university administration voluntarily went to defend the Motherland. Many of them, even the majority, died in the battles for Moscow, to which the memorial in our yard is dedicated. That is why the theme of the competition is so important for us, because every family in one sense or another took part in that war, if not in direct combat, then in providing the front with everything necessary. This was not only our war, it was a fight for the life and freedom of all mankind,” said Vladimir Stroyev.
The Chairperson of the Coordination Council of the League of Higher Education Teachers, Elena Lyapuntsova, admitted that it was difficult, sensitive and responsible to evaluate the competition entries.
“All the participants are great, but a competition is a competition, let the losers not be upset, because the main thing is that you were able to tell the whole country about your relatives. If we do not know history, then we will have no future, so it is doubly important to pass on to the next generations not only the information from textbooks, but also your family, personal stories,” noted the Chairperson of the Coordination Council of the League of Higher Education Teachers.
Elena Lyapuntsova also thanked the State University of Management for its cooperation and invited everyone to the All-Russian Forum of Higher Education Teachers, the first day of which, like last year, will be held at the State University of Management, and also announced free advanced training courses for teachers, including on project activities.
A welcoming letter from State Duma deputy Biysultan Khamzaev was read by his assistant Natalya Belova. In it, the deputy emphasized the importance of patriotic initiatives for the 80th anniversary of the Great Victory and noted that such competitions inspire young people to study history, and also wished further creative success to the participants and organizers.
Competition results
Nomination: “Best Video” (students aged 18 to 25): 1st place – “A Soldier’s Feat”, team of Kuzma Dashchenko, Belarusian State University of Informatics and Radioelectronics; 2nd place – “There Are Twenty Million of Us Unforgotten”, Ksenia Kovalenko, N.M. Fedorovsky Polar State University; 3rd place – “When the Poppies Bloom”, team of Victoria Spanake, Kazan branch of the All-Russian State University of Justice (RPA of the Ministry of Justice of Russia).
Nomination: “Best Video” (young teachers aged 18 to 35): 1st place – “Until the Next Waltz”, Grigory Sotnikov’s team, Siberian Federal University; 2nd place – “Letter from a Peer”, Maria Brokar’s team, Maxim Tank Belarusian State Pedagogical University; 3rd place – “The Holy Name of My Great-Grandfather”, Sofia Atrokhova, Moscow Finance and Law University MFUA.
Nomination: “Best Video” (young teachers aged 35 and above): 1st place – “Generation of the Unconquered”, Anna Bychkova, A.S. Pushkin State Institute of the Russian Language; 2nd place – “1941. Evacuation. Memories of E.A. Kosyreva”, Lyubov Belyaeva’s team, N.V. Vereshchagin Vologda State Dairy Farming Academy; 3rd place – “Turning the Pages of Memory”, Yulia Morudenko, N.F. Katanov Khakass State University.
Nomination: “Best Literary Work” (students aged 18 to 25): 1st place – “The Last Letter”, Aleksey Zemsky, Ural Federal University named after the first President of Russia B. N. Yeltsin; 2nd place – “From My Grandmother’s Wartime Childhood”, Olesya Taras, Ural Federal University named after the first President of Russia B. N. Yeltsin; 3rd place – “A Letter from Grandmother Hannah”, Maria Karabun and Sofia Antonova, Belarusian State University.
Nomination: “Best Literary Work” (young teachers aged 18 to 35): 1st place – “Step, Step, Another Step!”, Ekaterina Bugrysheva, Russian State University for the Humanities; 2nd place – “Frontline Album of My Family”, Natalia Bogoslovskaya, Lipetsk State Pedagogical University named after P. P. Semenov-Tyan-Shansky; 3rd place – “Where the Steel Was Tempered”, Maxim Sokolov, National Research Nuclear University MEPhI.
Nomination: “Best Literary Work” (young teachers aged 35 and above): 1st place – “Childhood Scorched by War”, Elena Fayzieva, Elektrostal branch of Moscow Polytechnic University; 2nd place – “Petka’s Childhood”, Iya Suslova, International Innovation University; 3rd place – “The Last Battle of Red Army Soldier Bogdan”, Marina Borisova, Yaroslav the Wise Novgorod State University.
The competition was organized by the State University of Management and the Moscow City Branch of the Russian Military Historical Society with the support of the Ministry of Science and Higher Education of the Russian Federation under the auspices of the activities of the Association of Student Patriotic Clubs “I am proud”.
Please note: This information is raw content directly from the source of the information. It is exactly what the source states and does not reflect the position of MIL-OSI or its clients.
Legislation strengthening independent monitoring and oversight of the children’s system will help better protect young New Zealanders.
The Oversight of Oranga Tamariki System Legislation passed its third reading in Parliament tonight and also gives visibility to the advocacy role of a single Children’s Commissioner.
“By returning to a single Children’s Commissioner, the Bill also makes it crystal clear to children and young people who their advocate is.
“These changes intend to build public trust in independent monitoring and advocacy and improve governance of the oversight of the children’s system by clarifying the roles and responsibilities of the agencies that oversee it.” Social Development and Employment Minister Louise Upston says.
The Oversight of Oranga Tamariki System Legislation Amendment Bill amends the Oversight of Oranga Tamariki System Act 2022 and Children and Young People’s Commission Act 2022, specifically to transition:
the Monitor from a departmental agency to an independent Crown entity with a small multi-member board; and
the Children and Young People’s Commission from an independent Crown entity led by a multi-member board to an independent Crown entity led by a single Children’s Commissioner.
“This Bill fulfils a commitment from the ACT-National Coalition agreement and responds to feedback on previous reforms to the oversight of the children’s system in 2022. There is significant public support to strengthen the oversight of the Oranga Tamariki system, and these changes will contribute to that,” Louise Upston says.
“The changes will take effect from 1 August 2025, making it clear to children, young people and their families that the Monitor is independent and separate from government, and that the Children’s Commissioner will advocate effectively for all children and young people.”
The Monitor’s current Chief Executive, Arran Jones, will remain in his role from 1 August 2025 to 31 July 2026 to oversee and support the organisation’s transition.
Current Chief Commissioner of the Children and Young People’s Commission Board, Dr Claire Achmad, also will continue in her role for one year from 1 August 2025.
“Dr Achmad is a respected voice for children and young people. I am confident that she will ensure the interests and concerns of children and young people will continue to be heard in this role,” Louise Upston says.
“During the Committee stage, an important addition to the Bill was made to strengthen accountability for agencies that are the subject of specific reports by the Monitor, by requiring additional reporting measures.
“This additional reporting will give Ministers the ability to take decisive action earlier to ensure relevant agencies are improving compliance and enhancing the wellbeing of children and young people in care.”
Notes to editors:
Under the Oversight of Oranga Tamariki System Act 2022, the Oranga Tamariki system includes several government agencies and their contracted partners that are responsible for providing services or support to children, young people, and their families and whānau.
This includes Oranga Tamariki – Ministry for Children, Police, the Ministries of Health, Social Development, Education, and Justice, and the Department of Corrections.
The Children and Young People’s Commission Act 2022 established the Children and Young People’s Commission, equipping it with the functions, duties, and powers to protect and advocate for the interests and wellbeing of all children under 18 years old and young people over 18 and under 25 years old who are in care or have been in care or custody.
The Oversight of Oranga Tamariki System Act 2022 established the Independent Children’s Monitor as the monitoring agency of the Oranga Tamariki system and appointed the Ombudsman to investigate issues and handle complaints that relate to services of support delivered by Oranga Tamariki or other care and/or custody providers.
The Bill does not propose any changes to the roles and responsibilities of the Independent Children’s Monitor, the Children’s Commissioner, or the Ombudsman (in relation to complaints that relate to the Oranga Tamariki system).
The cost of implementing these changes will be met by reallocating existing funding.
LONDON and MONTREAL, June 25, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Oxford Economics, the leading independent global forecasting and economics consultancy, has acquired a majority stake in Alpine Macro, a prominent global investment research firm based in Montreal, Quebec, Canada.
Founded in 2017, Alpine Macro provides forward-looking financial market forecasts and investment strategy to institutional clients across more than 60 countries. The firm is widely recognized for its provocative financial market insights, bold investment ideas, and out-of-consensus forecasts.
“The acquisition brings together Oxford Economics’ world class macroeconomic analysis with Alpine Macro’s deep financial market expertise, allowing us to deliver even more comprehensive and well-rounded advice, not only to our existing clients but also to a broader spectrum of asset managers, hedge funds, investment banks, and pension funds,” said Adrian Cooper, Chief Executive Officer of Oxford Economics.
“This strategic acquisition will accelerate Oxford Economics’ global expansion and strengthen our service offering. It builds on our proven track record of robust global modelling, extensive country and industry knowledge, and accurate economic forecasting,” Cooper added.
“I am thrilled that Alpine Macro is joining forces with Oxford Economics, a firm renowned for its high-quality macroeconomic and market research,” said Arun Kumar, Chief Executive Officer of Alpine Macro.
“This transaction will enable us to dramatically deepen our research capabilities, enrich our client experience and deliver cutting-edge research via an AI enabled platform. Together we become the largest, most comprehensive privately held independent research firm in the world,” added Kumar.
“Oxford Economics sets the gold standard in global macroeconomic research, and Alpine Macro has always aspired to become the gold standard in top-down investment strategy,” said Chen Zhao, Chief Global Strategist and founder of Alpine Macro. “Tapping into Oxford Economics’ depth, breadth, and analytical rigor in macro research, Alpine Macro will achieve that goal sooner.”
Blake, Cassels & Graydon provided legal counsel to Oxford Economics. Raymond James served as exclusive financial advisor and Fasken Martineau DuMoulin provided legal counsel to Alpine Macro. Financial terms of the transaction were not disclosed.
About Oxford Economics: Founded in 1981 as a commercial initiative with Oxford University’s business college, Oxford Economics began by providing economic forecasting and modelling services to UK companies and financial institutions expanding internationally. Today, we are one of the world’s leading independent global advisory firms, delivering high-quality forecasts, reports, and analytical tools covering over 200 countries, 100 industries, and 7,000 cities and regions. Our best-in-class economic and industry models give us a unique ability to anticipate market trends and evaluate their economic, social, and business impacts.
For media inquiries please contact:
Julio C. Urdaneta Global Head of Media Relations, Oxford Economics. Email: jurdaneta@oxfordeconomics.com Phone: +1.646.503.3069 www.oxfordeconomics.com
LONDON and MONTREAL, June 25, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Oxford Economics, the leading independent global forecasting and economics consultancy, has acquired a majority stake in Alpine Macro, a prominent global investment research firm based in Montreal, Quebec, Canada.
Founded in 2017, Alpine Macro provides forward-looking financial market forecasts and investment strategy to institutional clients across more than 60 countries. The firm is widely recognized for its provocative financial market insights, bold investment ideas, and out-of-consensus forecasts.
“The acquisition brings together Oxford Economics’ world class macroeconomic analysis with Alpine Macro’s deep financial market expertise, allowing us to deliver even more comprehensive and well-rounded advice, not only to our existing clients but also to a broader spectrum of asset managers, hedge funds, investment banks, and pension funds,” said Adrian Cooper, Chief Executive Officer of Oxford Economics.
“This strategic acquisition will accelerate Oxford Economics’ global expansion and strengthen our service offering. It builds on our proven track record of robust global modelling, extensive country and industry knowledge, and accurate economic forecasting,” Cooper added.
“I am thrilled that Alpine Macro is joining forces with Oxford Economics, a firm renowned for its high-quality macroeconomic and market research,” said Arun Kumar, Chief Executive Officer of Alpine Macro.
“This transaction will enable us to dramatically deepen our research capabilities, enrich our client experience and deliver cutting-edge research via an AI enabled platform. Together we become the largest, most comprehensive privately held independent research firm in the world,” added Kumar.
“Oxford Economics sets the gold standard in global macroeconomic research, and Alpine Macro has always aspired to become the gold standard in top-down investment strategy,” said Chen Zhao, Chief Global Strategist and founder of Alpine Macro. “Tapping into Oxford Economics’ depth, breadth, and analytical rigor in macro research, Alpine Macro will achieve that goal sooner.”
Blake, Cassels & Graydon provided legal counsel to Oxford Economics. Raymond James served as exclusive financial advisor and Fasken Martineau DuMoulin provided legal counsel to Alpine Macro. Financial terms of the transaction were not disclosed.
About Oxford Economics: Founded in 1981 as a commercial initiative with Oxford University’s business college, Oxford Economics began by providing economic forecasting and modelling services to UK companies and financial institutions expanding internationally. Today, we are one of the world’s leading independent global advisory firms, delivering high-quality forecasts, reports, and analytical tools covering over 200 countries, 100 industries, and 7,000 cities and regions. Our best-in-class economic and industry models give us a unique ability to anticipate market trends and evaluate their economic, social, and business impacts.
For media inquiries please contact:
Julio C. Urdaneta Global Head of Media Relations, Oxford Economics. Email: jurdaneta@oxfordeconomics.com Phone: +1.646.503.3069 www.oxfordeconomics.com
The study confirmed that the boost in chicks per hen was directly linked to a higher chance that a hen had a brood at all, indicating that diversionary feeding reduces catastrophic brood failure often caused, by nest predation.
A study focused on protecting Scotland’s capercaillie population by managing predators through non-lethal means has seen brood numbers double in target areas.
The capercaillie is a ground-nesting bird that, with just over 500 left in the wild, is in danger of extinction in the UK. One contributor to its decline is the eating of eggs and chicks by predators, including another protected species, the pine marten.
Diversionary feeding is a conservation technique designed to reduce predator impacts on vulnerable species without harming the predators themselves. By providing an alternative, easy meal – deer carrion in this study – it gives predators a readily accessible food source so they don’t need to search for rarer food like capercaillie nests in the same area.
Conducted over three years in the Cairngorms, the research is the result of a partnership between the University of Aberdeen, the University of St Andrews, Forestry and Land Scotland, RSPB Scotland, NatureScot and Wildland Ltd working under the umbrella of the Cairngorms Connect Predator Project.
It used camera traps to monitor capercaillie broods in locations where diversionary feeding was in place. Researchers found that in areas where alternative food was available, 85% of capercaillie hens detected had chicks, compared to just 37% in unfed sites.
This resulted in an increase in the number of predicted chicks per hen, more than doubling, rising from 0.82 chicks per hen without feeding to 1.90 with feeding – an increase in capercaillie productivity by 130%.
The study confirmed that the boost in chicks per hen was directly linked to a higher chance that a hen had a brood at all, indicating that diversionary feeding reduces catastrophic brood failure often caused, by nest predation.
These findings build on earlier results from an artificial-nest study published in 2024 that found a nearly 83% increase in artificial nest survival from a 50% reduction in pine marten predation, with diversionary feeding.
The latest research shows the results translate to real-life breeding outcomes.
“This study provides compelling, robust, landscape-scale evidence that diversionary feeding can reduce the impact of recovering predators, without killing them, aligning with shifting ethical and ecological goals for conservation management in the UK,” said Dr Jack Bamber, lecturer in Ecology and Conservation at the University of Aberdeen’s School of Biological Sciences, who led the research project.
“The combination of rigorous experimentation and innovative monitoring indicates that this method is worth exploration for other species vulnerable to predation, with land managers concerned with other rare prey, and land managers aiming to help capercaillie elsewhere in Europe already considering this tool as an option for them to trial and apply in future.”
This exemplary research has yielded a management technique that changes the foraging behaviour of pine martens and doubles the breeding success of the rapidly declining capercaillie – it has the potential to reverse the fortunes of this amazing bird.” Kenny Kortland, lead for the Cairngorms Connect Predator Project
The new research, which has been published in the journal Proceedings of the Royal Society B, also outlines how deer carrion was offered only during a focussed eight week window when capercaillie were nesting and chicks hatching, ensuring it reduced nest predation at the most critical time.
“This short-term feeding period is carefully selected to reduce the chance of increasing predator populations. Using waste products from ongoing deer culling makes it a sustainable and ethical approach for protecting endangered species,” added Jack.
Diversionary feeding is now a key element of the Capercaillie Emergency Plan with 15 sites already deploying the tool as part of the plan. This is set to increase with the aim for diversionary feeding to be delivered on all sites with recent hen records in the Cairngorms National Park by 2026.
Dr Chris Sutherland from the Centre for Research into Ecology and Environmental Modelling at the University of St Andrews said: “This project is an excellent example of how the impact of research can be maximised when it is co-designed in close collaboration with the wildlife managers and policy makers. Doing so enabled us to deliver timely decision-ready evidence underpinned by scientific and statistical rigour.”
Colin Leslie, Forestry Land Scotland Environment Advisor, said: “Over the past 20 years, we have implemented a range of conservation measures to try to boost capercaillie numbers, including fence removal, habitat improvements and, more recently, diversionary feeding to reduce predator impacts on breeding capercaillie. Diversionary feeding enables FLS to continue to avoid using legal forms of predator control, which have not proven to be effective in the past.
“This combination of techniques has seen an increase in capercaillie breeding success even as the number and diversity of predators was increasing and balancing itself out to the levels that the habitat can naturally sustain. This research will very helpfully inform and shape conservation action for years to come and we are pleased to see it being adopted widely by managers of other capercaillie forests.”
Kenny Kortland, lead for the Cairngorms Connect Predator Project, said: “This exemplary research has yielded a management technique that changes the foraging behaviour of pine martens and doubles the breeding success of the rapidly declining capercaillie – it has the potential to reverse the fortunes of this amazing bird.”
Carolyn Robertson, Cairngorms Nature Manager at the Cairngorms National Park Authority, said: “These findings are very encouraging for the Capercaillie Emergency Plan, which aims to improve capercaillie survival across the Cairngorms National Park, the last stronghold for the species in the UK. We look forward to supporting more land managers in capercaillie areas to deploy this technique to reduce the impact of predation during the breeding season.”
Richard Mason, site manager at RSPB Scotland Abernethy, said: “Capercaillie are still struggling in Scotland, but there is renewed hope thanks to innovative research and delivery projects like diversionary feeding.
“At RSPB Scotland Abernethy we have embedded diversionary feeding in our annual work programme and alongside other large-scale projects such as cattle grazing, heather cutting, bog woodland restoration and reducing human disturbance, we have seen the Capercaillie population at Abernethy slowly increase for the last five years. It is exciting that many land holdings are deploying diversionary feeding, and we hope that together we can save this special species in Scotland.”
This project was funded through a NERC Scottish Universities Partnership for Environmental Research Doctoral Training Partnership (SUPER DTP) studentship (grant reference number NE/S007342/1). Additional funding was provided by the University of Aberdeen and Forestry and Land Scotland.
Source: Peter the Great St Petersburg Polytechnic University – Peter the Great St Petersburg Polytechnic University –
A joint event for students and teachers of FADIS, ETF and the Faculty of Economics was held at the Kyrgyz-Russian Slavic University. The Polytechnic University held a seminar on the experience of implementing the mass course “Fundamentals of Project Activities” and the prospects for its replication at KRSU. Everything ended with a quiz on the basics of project management. The seminar was held by Anton Ambrazhey, Senior Researcher of the International Academic Competence Center “Technologies of an Intelligent Enterprise” of the SPbPU Digital Engineering School. This event is the first step towards another joint educational project between SPbPU and KRSU, planned for implementation within the framework of the “Roadmap” for the development of cooperation between the two universities.
The seminar examined the methodology of project-based learning, the experience of introducing a project-based approach into the educational process, with an emphasis on developing students’ skills in teamwork, critical thinking and independent solution of practical problems in combination with the use of project tools in professional activities.
At the quiz, teams of teachers competed against students. Participants demonstrated their knowledge in the field of project activities and creative thinking.
The event generated great interest, the participants noted the importance of the knowledge they had gained. It all ended with a constructive conversation with potential mentors of student projects and the development of specific steps to introduce the new course into the educational process at KRSU already in the 2025-26 academic year.
We believe that today’s meeting is only the beginning of a long journey. If our course finds a response, and a team of like-minded people appears at KRSU, then next spring we will launch a pilot project together, opening new horizons for project activities at KRSU, – Anton Ambrazhey summed up the work.
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The opposition is commencing the challenging task of framing a new energy policy, including deciding whether to stick by its commitment to net zero emissions by 2050.
Liberal leader Sussan Ley, appearing at the National Press Club, announced a Coalition working group on energy and emissions reduction policy. It will report to her and Nationals leader David Littleproud.
Led by energy spokesman Dan Tehan, the group will include shadow treasurer Ted O’Brien, resources spokeswoman Susan McDonald, industry spokesman Alex Hawke, environment spokeswoman Angie Bell and shadow assistant ministers Dean Smith and Andrew Willcox.
The work comes against the background of a significant number of the Nationals and some Liberals wanting to drop the commitment to 2050 net zero. The Coalition signed up to net zero under then Prime Minister Scott Morrison.
Ley said over the course of the term the Coaltion’s task would be to develop a plan with two goals
a stable energy grid producing affordable and reliable power for households and businesses, and
reducing emissions so Australia was playing its part in the global effort.
“Our approach must be practical and principled as we address both these goals,” she said.
Ley said every member of both Coalition parties would have the opportunity to engage with the work.
She said crippling power price increases had been taking small businesses and factories to the brink.
The opposition this week is having meetings of its frontbenchers and party room, as it ponders on the election disaster. Ley declared bluntly in her speech that the Liberals didn’t just lose – they were “totally smashed”.
The Liberal party has already set up a review of the election defeat but Ley said more was needed.
“This is why our federal executive will soon discuss a more broad-ranging and wider review process of the fundamentals of the Liberal party.
“I believe there is a need for the party as a whole to have a deeper look at the existential issues we face, how our divisional constitutions operate and how we can better serve, support and most importantly grow our membership.
“This will not be an academic exercise. My parliamentary team and I will stay in close touch with out state and territory divisions to ensure success in this important area.”
Queensland Liberal senator James McGrath “will play an integral role in bringing this longer term body of work together”.
“It will be a crucial part of our efforts to better respect, reflect and represent modern Australia.”
Ley stressed she was highly committed to getting more women into the Liberal ranks, without being wedded to a particular way of doing it.
“I’m agnostic on specific methods to make it happen, but I am a zealot that it does actually happen.
“Current approaches have clearly not worked, so I am open to any approach that will.
“The Liberal Party operates as a federated model, meaning each state division determines its own preselection rules.
“If some state divisions choose to implement quotas, that is fine. If others don’t, that is also fine.
“But what is not fine is not having enough women.
“As the first woman leader of our federal party, let me send the clearest possible message: we need to do better, recruit better, retain better and support better.
“That is why I will work with every division, as will my parliamentary team, to ensure we preselect more women for the 2028 election.”
Michelle Grattan does not work for, consult, own shares in or receive funding from any company or organisation that would benefit from this article, and has disclosed no relevant affiliations beyond their academic appointment.
