Source: State University of Management – Official website of the State –
At the IV National “Far Eastern Logistics Olympiad” that ended last week, students from the State University of Management won a brilliant victory.
The Olympiad is a significant competition for identifying talents and future leaders in the field of logistics. This year, the Olympiad was held at the Vladivostok State University in conditions of the highest competition, bringing together the best students from the country’s leading universities in an online format:
State University of Management; Vladivostok State University; Saint Petersburg State University of Economics; Siberian State University of Science and Technology named after Academician M.F. Reshetnev; Samara National Research University named after Academician S.P. Korolev; Maritime State University named after Admiral G.I. Nevelskoy; Far Eastern Federal University.
The Olympiad is not just a competition. It is an important stage in the professional development of future logisticians. Participants were asked to solve complex problems that require deep knowledge, analytical skills, a creative approach and the ability to work in a team. The Olympiad provided an opportunity to demonstrate their skills and exchange experiences with colleagues from other universities. The tasks covered a wide range of topics, including logistics chain optimization, inventory management, demand forecasting and development of transport routes.
We are proud to announce that 1st year student of SUM Ksenia Kudryavtseva became the winner of the Far Eastern Olympiad in Logistics! Ksenia demonstrated an outstanding level of knowledge, analytical thinking and the ability to find optimal solutions in difficult situations. Her success is a well-deserved result of hard work and talent, which we at SUM are very proud of.
Results by round: Round 1 (Testing): 1st place – GUU, Ksenia Kudryavtseva; Round 2 (Quest, team competition): 1st place – team #1, GUU, Georgy Ermoshin; Round 3 (Case solution, team competition): 1st place – team #4, GUU, Ksenia Kudryavtseva.
To learn more about Ksenia Kudryavtseva’s path to victory and impressions, we took a short interview with her:
How did you learn about the Olympiad and what motivated you to take part?— I learned about the Olympiad from my academic advisor, who suggested that I try my hand. I was motivated by the desire to test my knowledge, gain new experience and meet like-minded people who are passionate about logistics.
Which stages of the Olympiad were the most difficult for you and why? — The third round was the most difficult – team execution of the case, because it required not only deep knowledge, but also coordinated teamwork, a creative approach and the ability to make quick decisions – only 24 hours were given for execution. For example, we had to develop an optimal logistics scheme for cargo delivery taking into account various restrictions and factors, such as seasonality of demand, transportation costs and delivery time requirements.
Which tasks did you find most interesting? – I liked the testing the most – it had quite interesting questions that allowed me to assess my level of theoretical knowledge in logistics.
Did you have mentors or a support team? How did they help? – My scientific supervisor, Dmitry Olegovich Rogov, supported me a lot. He helped me understand complex issues, gave useful advice and shared his experience. My family and friends also supported me, which was very important.
Why did you choose logistics? What attracts you to it? – Logistics is a dynamic and multifaceted field where analytical thinking, the ability to optimize processes and see the system as a whole are important. I am attracted by its practical significance and impact on business efficiency.
What areas of logistics are you most interested in? – I am especially interested in supply chain management and transport logistics, as they require a strategic approach and work with large volumes of data.
What emotions did you experience when you found out you were the winner? – Surprise and joy – the Olympiad was difficult, and I did not immediately believe in my result. But it gave me confidence in my abilities.
Do you plan to participate in other logistics Olympiads? – Yes, definitely! This is a great way to develop, find new ideas and expand your professional horizons.
We sincerely congratulate Ksenia Kudryavtseva and her supervisor, assistant of the Department of Transport Complex Management Dmitry Rogov on their well-deserved victory! We also congratulate Georgy Ermoshin and his supervisor, senior lecturer Denis Pustokhin on their victory in the team competition! GUU is proud of its students and teachers who demonstrate high results and aspiration for professional growth. We wish you all further success, new achievements and implementation of the most ambitious plans in the field of logistics.
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.
Fire and Emergency New Zealand Board Chair Rebecca Keoghan has congratulated four Fire and Emergency personnel from Oxford, Fox Glacier, Matatā and Taihape who have been recognised in the 2025 King’s Birthday Honours List released today.
“These awards recognise the outstanding contributions that our people have made to Fire and Emergency, Search and Rescue and their local communities over many years,” Rebecca Keoghan says.
The recipients are:
Ronald (Ron) Ealam(Oxford) – Member of the New Zealand Order of Merit (MNZM) for services to Search and Rescue
Marius Bron(Fox Glacier) – King’s Service Medal (KSM) for services to Search and Rescue and the community
Gavin Dennis(Matatā) – King’s Service Medal (KSM) for services to Fire and Emergency New Zealand and the community
Alan (Curly) Troon(Taihape) – King’s Service Medal (KSM) for services to Fire and Emergency New Zealand.
‘We are all incredibly proud of this fantastic achievement,” Rebecca Keoghan says.
“On behalf of Fire and Emergency, thank you for your ongoing dedication to our organisation and your communities.”
Additional information:
Member of the New Zealand Order of Merit (MNZM)
Ronald Bruce (Ron) Ealam
Member of the New Zealand Order of Merit (MNZM) for services to Search and Rescue
Mr Ron Ealam has been contributing to Land Search and Rescue for more than 50 years.
Mr Ealam has been a member of the Oxford Fire Brigade since 1996. He has contributed 25 years of service to the New Zealand Land Search and Rescue Dogs, helping train dogs. He has been a qualified national trainer and assessor for Search Dogs for more than ten years, specialising in border collies, attending several annual dog training camps each year. He helped develop the official New Zealand Land Search and Rescue Search Dogs Training Pathway and Assessments in 2009, which forms the basis of the Search Dogs pathways today. He has been a member of the Oxford Land Search and Rescue, contributing to local search and rescue meetings and training nights, and training dogs, which takes at least two years before they become operational. During the 2011 Canterbury earthquakes, he was part of the initial response in the first three days in the Redcliff area and helped with welfare and house checks. He has been the elected Group Chair for Oxford Land Search and Rescue for more than 10 years. Mr Ealam received the New Zealand Search and Rescue Excellence award in 2023 for his contributions.
King’s Service Medal (KSM)
Marius Jean Bron
King’s Service Medal (KSM) for services to Search and Rescue and the community
Mr Marius Bron has served the Fox Glacier community in various volunteer emergency service roles since 1999.
On a voluntary basis Mr Bron leads the local branches of South Westland Land Search and Rescue Group, the Civil Defence service and the Community Committee. He also volunteers for the Department of Conservation, assisting in the management of alpine huts in the area. He works to ensure these huts are fit for use by both domestic and international visitors. He is also a local volunteer firefighter for Fire and Emergency New Zealand and a St John Ambulance first responder. The skills he has gained from these various roles make him a central figure in the Fox Glacier community. He and his team have received national recognition for their search and rescue efforts, including the successful rescue of two climbers on Mt Rolleston and the successful overnight rescue of an injured person on a glacier. He was involved in the creation of important facilities for the Fox Glacier community, including the Emergency Services Centre and the Community Centre. His efforts included driving the concept stage, fundraising and project managing. In addition to his volunteer work, Mr Bron is Operations Manager at Fox Glacier Guiding, which brings tourist business to the community.
Gavin Lloyd Dennis, JP
King’s Service Medal (KSM) for services to Fire and Emergency New Zealand and the community
Mr Gavin Dennis has served the Matatā community for close to 40 years.
Mr Dennis is currently Chief Fire Officer of the Matatā Volunteer Fire Brigade, having held various ranks since joining in 1987. While Deputy Chief Fire Officer, he played a key role in the response to major flood events in 2005, with the town cut off for several days. He instigated the Matatā Volunteer Fire Brigade’s Cadet Programme in 2014, for young people aged 15 to 16 to join the brigade to gain experience and life skills. The programme has been successful in recruiting these young people as volunteer recruit firefighters when eligible, forming a large part of the brigade’s membership over the past 10 years. He was a member of the Rangitaiki Community Board from 2007 to 2019, serving four years as Deputy Chairperson, and helped oversee the town’s recovery efforts following the 2017 Edgecumbe flood event. He has served on the Boards of Trustees of Matatā Public School and Trident High School, including holding several offices across the period 1993 to 2010. He has chaired the Matatā Residents Association and the Matatā Community Resource Centre. Mr Dennis was elected to the Whakatāne District Council in 2019.
Alan Rex (Curly) Troon
King’s Service Medal (KSM) for services to Fire and Emergency New Zealand
Mr Alan “Curly” Troon is a Life Member of the Taihape Volunteer Fire Brigade and has helped to promoteTaihapethrough gumboot throwing.
Mr Troon joined the Taihape Volunteer Fire Brigade in 1991 and has been Chief Fire Officer since 2009, being awarded Life Membership in 2022. He oversaw the rebuild of the new Taihape Fire Station which opened in 2022. He has worked for Rangitikei County Council and has held many volunteer roles within the community, including past President of the Taihape Tennis Association and Taihape Kindergarten Committee and is the current President of the New Zealand Boot Throwing Association (NZBTA). In the mid-1980s, he became a champion thrower in Taihape’s annual Gumboot Day and has since promoted the sport with his wife. They have taken Taihape to world competitions. In 2021 he won the Toyota Lifetime Legacy Award from NZBTA as part of the Norwood Rural Sports Award. He is a past member of the Taihape St John Area Committee and has driven the Taihape ambulance when the team is short staffed. Mr Troon has been coaching young people at the Taihape Badminton Club since 2023.
Convening of extraordinary general meeting of Nykredit Realkredit A/S
Nykredit Realkredit A/S will hold its extraordinary general meeting on Tuesday 24 June 2025 at 15:30 at the Company’s offices at Sundkrogsgade 25, DK-2150 Nordhavn.
-o0o-
Agenda:
Election of member of the Board of Directors.
Any other business.
The agenda of the Company’s general meeting and the complete proposals have been submitted to Nykredit A/S, which owns all the shares of the Company.
Item 1 on the agenda proposes election of Lasse Nyby to the Board of Directors. Information about Lasse Nyby’s education, professional experience, independence and other directorships and executive positions is provided in Appendix 1.
Admittance to the general meeting is subject to collection of an admission card at least three days prior to the general meeting.
Copenhagen, 2 June 2025
Nykredit Realkredit A/S Board of Directors
Contact: Questions may be addressed to Press Relations, tel +4531 21 06 39.
Appendix 1 – CV of Lasse Nyby
Lasse Nyby Year of birth: 1960 Non-independent
Professional experience
2000-
Chief Executive Officer, Spar Nord Bank A/S
1995
Joined the Executive Board of Spar Nord Bank A/S
1986 – 1995
Various positions at Spar Nord Bank A/S
Education
Financial services background
B. Com. (Management Accounting)
Executive education from Insead
Directorships and other positions (current)
Aktieselskabet Skelagervej 15 (Chair)
AP Pension Livsforsikringsaktieselskab (Deputy Chair)
Source: Peter the Great St Petersburg Polytechnic University – Peter the Great St Petersburg Polytechnic University –
The V international industry conference “Materials and Technologies in the Oil and Gas Industry” was held at the Advanced Engineering School of SPbPU “Digital Engineering” (AES SPbPU). Leading experts in the field of materials and technologies, corrosion, metal science, mechanical engineering, additive technologies, digitalization, and the oil and gas industry discussed current issues in the industry. The Scientific and Technological Complex (STC) “New Technologies and Materials” of AES SPbPU organized the event. Partners were Gazprom 335 and VNIKTIneftekhimoborudovanie.
This year, the business program included an expanded list of areas, including digital materials science, polymer composite materials for the oil and gas industry, hydrogen energy, issues of construction and industrial safety of oil and gas infrastructure, personnel training, and others. More than a hundred reports were presented at 15 thematic sections and round tables. Experts demonstrated developments in the field of materials and technologies as part of the exhibition.
The event was attended by industry leaders and high-tech companies such as Gazprom, Gazpromneft NTC, Gazpromneft, Gazprom VNIIGAZ, Gazprom 335, Gazpromneft – Service Technologies, Rosneft, Lukoil, Transneft, Irkutsk Oil Company, Tatneft-Presskomposit, Sibir, RN-BashNIPIneft, Sibur Holding, Severstal, VNIKTIneftekhimoborudovanie, IC TMK, Kolskaya GMK, OMK, UMATEX, PM-Composite and others.
Representatives of scientific centers and leading technical universities of the country spoke in thematic discussions. At the plenary session “Materials and technologies in the oil and gas industry – paths to technological leadership” scientists, government officials and heads of high-tech enterprises in the metallurgy and oil and gas sector presented reports.
This is our fifth conference, we are celebrating a small anniversary. This year, more than 334 participants have registered, representing 150 organizations. I am sure that we will have fruitful work, which is divided into 15 sections and round tables. You will be able to share experiences, discuss current issues on the scientific and technological agenda and find useful business contacts, – Alexey Borovkov, Vice-Rector for Digital Transformation of SPbPU, greeted the participants.
Alexey Borovkov spoke about the competencies of the SPbPU PISh in solving the problems of technological leadership, noted the extensive project activities in the interests of the industrial partners of the SPbPU PISh at a unique Digital platform for the development and application of digital twins CML-Bench®Alexey Ivanovich presented the main provisions of digital twin technology and emphasized its advantages as a driver for the development of industries, which contributes to the digitalization of production and the revision of traditional practices of product design and testing.
Gazprom Neft Science Director Mars Khasanov emphasized the importance of engineering artificial intelligence for the application and development of digital engineering technologies. He noted the importance of integrated modeling, complex processing of large volumes of data, reduction of timeframes and success of modeling. Mars Khasanov spoke about the role of artificial intelligence in decision generation, multivariate modeling and impact analysis.
All intelligent agents that make up engineering artificial intelligence solve certain engineering problems that are common to system engineering, and neurosymbolic technologies are used. The best environment for implementing engineering artificial intelligence is what Alexey Borovkov talked about. This is model-oriented system engineering, approaches and this entire huge system that was created, for example, at SPbPU. I think it would be great to implement all elements of engineering artificial intelligence into this system, Mars Khasanov emphasized.
Ayar Suleimanov, Chief Operating Officer of Gazpromneft — Service Technologies, shared his experience in implementing new approaches to integrity and reliability management. He noted the development of projects on predictive failure analytics, online corrosion monitoring, and the development of self-cleaning devices for oil wells. They are aimed at ensuring technological independence, digitalization, and sustainable development of the enterprise. Ayar Suleimanov concluded that the implemented measures have significantly improved efficiency and reduced accidents. In the near future, it is planned to reduce diagnostic costs by 40-50%.
The strategic session “Modern Materials in Equipment and Technologies for the Development of Oil and Gas Resources on the Russian Continental Shelf” was attended by Grigory Kuropatkin, Head of the Gazprom Department, Kirill Frolov, Chief Engineer and Deputy General Director of Gazprom 335, Yaroslav Kosmatsky, Deputy General Director for Research at the TMK Research Center, and Andrey Drinberg, Professor at the Hero of the Russian Federation, General of the Army E. N. Zinichev, St. Petersburg University of the State Fire Service of the Russian Emergencies Ministry. The moderator was Maxim Korobchuk, Chief Specialist of the Scientific and Technical Directorate of Gazprom 335.
The experts discussed the prospects for developing offshore deposits in the Russian Arctic zone, the achievements and current challenges of creating domestic equipment for underwater production, problems in materials science, training professional personnel for the emerging new industry, and the possibilities of using modern digital technologies and artificial intelligence.
The issues raised at the strategic session were examined in more detail by the participants at the relevant thematic sessions:
“RF SHELF: Steels and alloys for equipment of underwater hydrocarbon production systems”; “RF SHELF: Modern polymeric materials in equipment and technology of underwater hydrocarbon production”; “RF SHELF: Protective and functional coatings for equipment of underwater production complexes of offshore hydrocarbon fields”.
At the section “Corrosion Management in Oil Refining and Petrochemical Industries”, participants discussed the problems and achievements of oil refining and petrochemical enterprises, as well as specialized institutes and organizations in combating and controlling corrosion of process equipment. Experts considered the causes of equipment and pipeline failures due to corrosion, assessed various mechanisms of corrosion wear and corrosion monitoring, and also conducted a risk assessment in this area.
Materials and technologies for hydrogen energy were discussed at the round table of the same name. The discussion was moderated by Yuri Aristovich, an expert of the Scientific and Educational Center for Digital Engineering of the Main Equipment of Chemical-Engineering Systems at the St. Petersburg Polytechnical School, Viktor Bolobov, a professor at the Empress Catherine II St. Petersburg Mining University, and Gleb Semernin, head of the department for the development of new product categories at the United Metallurgical Company.
Hydrogen energy is not a short-term trend, but a conscious choice in favor of the future, where environmental safety and economic efficiency go hand in hand. This is an opportunity to diversify energy sources, reduce dependence on fossil fuels and create new jobs in high-tech industries. Hydrogen energy can become a catalyst for technological progress, stimulating the development of related industries, such as mechanical engineering, chemical industry, energy and transport. This is a chance for Russia to take a leading position in the global market of hydrogen technologies, exporting not only raw materials, but also advanced solutions. For the successful development of this area, comprehensive government support is needed, including the creation of a favorable investment climate, the development of a regulatory framework, stimulating demand for hydrogen and supporting scientific research, – noted Yuri Aristovich.
Timofey Sokolov, an engineer at the Digital Engineering of the Main Equipment of Chemical-Engineering Systems Research and Education Center at the SPbPU PIS, presented a report on the analysis and development prospects of modern burner devices as a new industry standard. His colleague Andrey Efremov spoke about a critical analysis of the characteristics of internal combustion engines and hydrogen fuel cells. Anton Tsvetkov, a senior lecturer at the Higher School of Advanced Digital Technologies at the SPbPU PIS, presented the results of a study on the resistance of steel to hydrogen in aqueous and gaseous environments. Sergey Dagayev, a research engineer at the testing laboratory at the SPbPU PIS, spoke about hydrogen embrittlement of pipeline steels in a high-pressure hydrogen gas environment. The participants of the round table developed optimal solutions in terms of the emerging regulatory framework and the introduction of materials and technologies for hydrogen energy.
Director of the Higher School of Advanced Digital Technologies PISH SPbPU Valery Leventsov presented the educational model of the Advanced Engineering School of SPbPU “Digital Engineering” and approaches to organizing the educational process, in which representatives of industrial partners, along with the school’s teachers, act as mentors for master’s students.
Director of the Center for Continuing Professional Education of the SPbPU Advanced Engineering School Sergey Salkutsan spoke about the experience of developing and implementing training programs for managers and engineering personnel of high-tech companies on the topic of organizing advanced production. Students of the Advanced Engineering School of SPbPU “Digital Engineering”, engineers of the Scientific and Technical Complex “New Technologies and Materials” of the SPbPU Advanced Engineering School Ksenia Grigorieva and Rodion Ermolaev demonstrated tools and approaches that help future engineers maintain efficiency, involvement and sustainability in the educational and professional environment.
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.
Yellowstone Caldera Chronicles is a weekly column written by scientists and collaborators of the Yellowstone Volcano Observatory. This week’s contribution is from Michael Poland, geophysicist with the U.S. Geological Survey and Scientist-in-Charge of the Yellowstone Volcano Observatory.
Dr. Jamie Farrell, seismologist from the University of Utah, installs an infrasound microphone at Norris Geyser Basin on September 6, 2023. The microphone is located in the white pipe at the base of the tree. The sensor is installed in at treed area to reduce noise from wind. Work done under Yellowstone National Park research permit YELL-2023-SCI-0114. U.S. Geological Survey photograph by Mike Poland.
Infrasound refers to low frequency acoustic energy. For the audio enthusiasts out there, the specific frequency range of interest is 0.1–20 Hz, which is below the range of human hearing (typically 20–20,000 Hz). Even though infrasound is not something humans can hear; this sound energy can be important for monitoring processes that occur within Earth’s atmosphere.
Infrasound travels efficiently through the atmosphere, experiencing very little atmospheric absorption or scattering compared to higher-frequency energy. This means that infrasound can travel great distances and still be detectable. As a result, infrasound is an important component of the International Monitoring System (IMS), which is intended to detect nuclear tests. Nuclear explosions, even underground, create significant low-frequency sound waves that can be detected even thousands of miles away from the explosion source.
If infrasound is great at detecting nuclear explosions, you might expect that it is also exceptional for detecting volcanic explosions. And you would be correct! Infrasound monitoring is widely used to monitor volcanoes. Because infrasound energy travels easily through the atmosphere, monitoring systems don’t have to be right at the volcano of interest. In fact, in Alaska there are just a few infrasound monitoring stations that track activity along the entire chain of volcanoes in the Aleutian Islands, which stretches about 1,100 miles (1,800 kilometers) across the North Pacific!
Ideally, infrasound monitoring is done by arrays of 3 or more instruments that are located in close proximity to one another. By installing at least three instruments in a triangle-shaped array, it is possible to measure the direction from which infrasound signals originate. This is because sound waves travel at a relatively slow speed of 761 miles (1225 kilometers) per hour. That might seem fast, but compare that to seismic waves, which travel through the Earth at up to 3–5 miles (5–8 kilometers) per second! At these slower speeds, infrasound waves arrive at each station in an array at slightly different times. By comparing the arrival times between stations, it is possible to tell the direction from which the sound originated. If the infrasound energy is recorded on more than one array, the actual location of the sound’s source can be triangulated.
Prior to 2023, infrasound recordings in Yellowstone were either temporary deployments designed to study specific geysers or were single microphones that could not measure the direction from which the sound originated. In September 2023, however, the first continuous, permanent, 3-sensor infrasound array was installed in Yellowstone—in Norris Geyser Basin, specifically. The station paid immediate dividends, tracking activity at Steamboat Geyser. Infrasound energy from those eruptions is detectable continuously for several hours, indicating a very energetic source.
Infrasound-array processing for the newly installed station YNB, at Norris Geyser Basin. Top panel shows the pressure waveform from one of the three elements that comprise the array, filtered between 1 and 15 Hz. Bottom panel shows the backazimuth from the station to the source. The direction from the station to Steamboat Geyser is indicated by the black horizontal dashed line. The colors represent how well the 3 elements in the array agree (Median Cross-Correlation Maxima, MdCCM), where values closer to 1.0 (red) indicate highly correlated and strong signals.
The new infrasound station also recorded a powerful “boom” sound that lasted nearly 1 minute on the afternoon of April 15, 2024. This event was associated with a small hydrothermal explosion in the area between Porcelain Basin and Nuphar Lake. The explosion was unwitnessed, but it left a small crater about 10 feet (about 3 meters) across surrounded by an area of warped and disturbed ground. Infrasound therefore provides a powerful means of detecting hydrothermal explosions that might otherwise go unnoticed; this is why the technique is an important component to the Yellowstone Volcano Observatory’s monitoring plan for the Yellowstone region.
The Norris infrasound station did not detect any sound from the impressive hydrothermal explosion at Biscuit Basin on July 23, 2024, which was 18 miles (29 kilometers) from the station. The sound from this event seems to have been muted, indicating that in Yellowstone we can’t count on just one or two infrasound stations to cover the entire region. Instead, multiple infrasound arrays might be needed to track activity across the numerous geyser basins in Yellowstone National Park, including those in remote backcountry areas.
Even though infrasound is below the frequency of human hearing, the data can be “sonified”—meaning that data are converted to audible sound. By doing that to the May 3 bolide signal, you can “hear” the explosion (or, at least, the infrasound associated with the explosion) even if you weren’t in Yellowstone that night!
The Yellowstone Volcano Observatory hopes to deploy additional infrasound stations in the region in the coming years. Stay tuned as we make use of this monitoring technique to better “hear” geyser eruptions, hydrothermal explosions, and the occasional exploding meteor!
This audio clip is the infrasound recorded during 1 minute on May 3, 2025, at 9:33 p.m. MDT. The audio is the “sonified” (data converted to sound) version of the infrasound, which is a frequency below that detectable by humans. Time is sped up by a factor of 10. The “boom” that occurs at about the 34-second mark is a bolide—a meteor that exploded in the atmosphere. The video that corresponds to the audio is the infrasound waveform recorded by a station in Norris Geyser Basin over that minute.
These changes will have huge impacts on coastal ecosystems around the world, including coral reefs. To understand these future impacts, it can be useful to understand similar events from history.
Our new research, published today in Nature Communications, does just that. It reveals how the Great Barrier Reef in northern Australia responded to a dramatic rise in sea level some 13,000 to 10,000 years ago.
A hotly debated event
Several “meltwater pulse events” have been documented in the past. These occur when ice sheets disintegrate in a catastrophic fashion, resulting in a rapid surge in global sea levels.
One of these events, known as “meltwater pulse 1B”, remains hotly debated. It occurred roughly 11,500 years ago.
Early evidence from reef cores in Barbados suggested a sharp sea-level rise of approximately 14 metres between 11,450 and 11,100 years ago, with rates of roughly 40 millimetres per year.
Remarkably, this rate is about ten times faster than the current global rise.
However, this record conflicts with others, including from Tahiti and now from the Great Barrier Reef, which suggests a more gradual rise in sea levels.
Learning from geological archives
Somewhat paradoxically shallow-water reef systems can “drown” because corals, and other reef organisms, depend on light for photosynthesis. If the water gets too deep too fast, the reef will no longer keep up with the rise and it will drown.
But drowning can also occur due to other factors, such as increased temperature, sediment and nutrients, which can also add extra environmental stress to the reef – again making it more difficult to grow vertically and keep up with sea level rise.
Cores gathered from drowned fossil coral reefs preserved along the continental shelf edge of the Great Barrier Reef contain crucial information about historic corals, coralline algae and microbial reef structures known as microbialites. They offer a unique geologic time machine to better understand how past periods of rapid global sea level rise affected reef growth.
These geological archives also provide important clues about how ice sheets behaved in response to rapid global warming.
In 2010, an expedition of the Integrated Ocean Drilling Program used a geotechnical drill ship to sample below the seafloor and reconstruct the growth and demise of the Great Barrier Reef over the past roughly 30,000 years. Five distinct stages were identified in response to major global climatic and oceanographic disturbances.
In this new study, we focused on a key reef stage called Reef 4. It formed between 13,000 and 10,000 years ago, just prior to the start of the modern reef as we know it.
We refer to this reef as the “proto-Great Barrier Reef”. Once a shallow-water barrier reef system, it now exists in a fossilised form at roughly 50 metres water depth and is now the home to deeper reef communtites in the mesophotic zone 30 to 150 metres below the surface.
The RV Great Ship Maya was used to recover fossil reef samples from the Great Barrier Reef in 2010. G.Tulloch/European Consortium for Ocean Research Drilling/Integrated Ocean Drilling Program
An impressive ability to keep pace
Our study shows the Great Barrier Reef didn’t drown during meltwater pulse 1B. In fact, it continued to thrive with clear evidence of healthy, shallow-water reef assemblages (living in waters less than ten metres deep) persisting right through the rise in sea levels.
The reef not only survived but continued to grow upwards at rates between 4–6 millimetres per year. This rate of growth is comparable to modern healthy reef growth rates, demonstrating an impressive ability to keep pace.
We also calculated that the maximum possible sea-level rise during meltwater pulse 1B was between 7.7 and 10.2 metres over roughly 350 years. This equates to between 23 and 30 millimetres per year, but was likely less.
This is less than the Barbados estimate, and more consistent with observations from Tahiti where no sharp sea-level jump was found.
Importantly, this indicates that even the upper sea level rise bounds are within the survival limits of resilient reef systems such as the Great Barrier Reef – especially when environmental stressors, such as ocean warming, ocean acidification and sedimentation are low.
UNESCO’s World Heritage Committee recently expressed utmost concern about the current state of the Great Barrier Reef. Darkydoors/Shutterstock
Limits to a reef’s resilience
Although the Great Barrier Reef survived sea level rise roughly 11,000 years ago, the world was very different back then.
Coral reefs faced less stress from human impacts. And ocean temperatures were rising more slowly.
But today’s reefs are already struggling, with UNESCO’s World Heritage Committee recently expressing “utmost concern” about the state of the Great Barrier Reef in particular.
This is due to warming, acidification and pollution. And these additional challenges decrease reefs’ ability to cope with rapid sea-level rise.
Our findings suggest abrupt sea-level jumps of more than 11 metres are unlikely to occur without major instabilities in ice sheets. The fact that such collapses likely didn’t happen during meltwater pulse 1B offers some reassurance. But we’re in uncharted territory now, particularly with the Antarctic ice sheet displaying early signs of instability.
Our study also shows the Great Barrier Reef has been remarkably resilient, adapting to changing sea levels and continuing to grow even as the ocean rose rapidly. This resilience, however, had limits. Ultimately, the reef we examined drowned roughly 10,000 years ago, likely due to a combination of environmental stressors, including increased sediment flux. At this time the shallow water reef ecosystem migrated landward to form the modern Great Barrier, leaving behind only deeper, mesophotic reef communities.
The lessons from the past are clear: reefs can adapt to environmental changes but there are limits.
Protecting modern reefs will require more than understanding their past. It means reducing emissions and limiting other environmental stresses such as sediment and nutrient runoff where possible.
Jody Webster receives funding from the Australian Research Council and ANZIC IODP.
Juan Carlos Braga receives funding from the Australian Research Council and Spanish Government.
Marc Humblet receives funding from the Japan Society for the Promotion of Science.
Stewart Fallon receives funding from the Australian Research Council and ANZIC IODP.
Yusuke Yokoyama receives funding from the Japan Society for the Promotion of Science and Japan Science and Technology Agency.
Source: United States House of Representatives – Representative Jesús Chuy García (IL-04)
CHICAGO – Today, Congressman Jesús “Chuy” García (IL-04) announced that the winner of the 2025 Congressional Art Competition for Illinois’ 4th Congressional District is Carmen Casillas, a senior at Reavis High School and resident of Burbank, Illinois. Carmen’s mixed media piece, titled “La Artista,” will be displayed in the U.S. Capitol for one year alongside winning students’ artwork from across the country.
“La Artista” uses thick acrylic paint to create a textured, clay-like surface, inviting viewers to feel the joy and creativity that come from making art. The woman in the piece is depicted with colorfully painted skin, symbolizing how art transforms us both inside and out. A traditional, stylized apron in the painting pays tribute to the artist’s Mexican heritage, underscoring how culture and creativity shape identity and expression over time.
“I never cease to be amazed by the talented young artists in our community who submit their work for the Congressional Art Competition,” said Congressman García. “Carmen’s piece,La Artista, is vibrant and deeply personal—it honors her heritage, celebrates the creative spirit, and reminds us that art has the power to shape who we are. I’ll be very proud to see it every time I walk to vote in the Capitol.”
“What inspired me to create this was exploring the artist within, and showing how colors and feelings collide while making my artworks in clay or paint,” said Carmen C. “This piece is also inspired by my family’s Mexican heritage, which has had a significant impact in my life, while celebrating its traditional culture and artworks.”
To view pictures of Carmen and her winning piece, clickhere.
About the Competition
Each spring, theCongressional Institutesponsors a nationwide high school visual art competition to recognize and encourage artistic talent in congressional districts nationwide. Since the Artistic Discovery competition began in 1982, more than 650,000 high school students have participated. Winners are honored locally and at a national awards ceremony in Washington, D.C. Their artwork is displayed in the U.S. Capitol for one year.
Source: People’s Republic of China – State Council News
Muhammad Shahab has been living with his sister at the Islamabad China-Pakistan Youth One Heart Step and Cure Home (ICOSH), a compassionate shelter made possible through the generous support of the Chinese people, and has found strength, comfort and courage to dream of a brighter future.
An orphan with no relatives, Shahab lost his mother, who bravely fought oral cancer. In her final days, she entrusted ICOSH with her children, a gesture that speaks volumes about the trust and love she felt for this place.
“This home means everything to us. The Pakistani staff treats us with kindness and care, and Chinese friends visit us every week to see how we are doing. They ensure we have access to quality education, nutritious meals, and a safe, loving environment. ICOSH is more than a home, it is our protection, our hope, and our family,” the 11-year-old, who has been living in the home for about a year, told Xinhua.
Established in 2023 by the Beijing One Heart Sphere Charity Foundation and the China-Pakistan Youth Exchange Community (CPYEC), ICOSH began with the mission of assisting critically ill Pakistani patients seeking treatment in the capital. Today, it has grown into a haven offering temporary shelter for disabled and seriously ill children, as well as full-time residence for 21 orphans, including Shahab.
Shahab’s late mother, who stayed at the compassionate home for several months, deeply appreciated the care she received and asked the center’s administration to look after her children after her passing, according to Sobia Adnan, the Pakistani director of ICOSH.
“She was a seriously ill patient who entrusted her children to us based on her own experience here,” Sobia said. “It reflects the deep trust that people have in ICOSH.”
She added that all orphans at the center have experienced some form of trauma in their lives, like Shahab and his sister, who witnessed their mother’s passing after a battle with cancer. Beyond meeting their basic needs, ICOSH places strong emphasis on the emotional well-being of the children.
To support this, volunteer teachers visit the children in their rooms, fostering a nurturing and understanding environment where they can heal and thrive, she added.
Since its establishment, ICOSH has provided care and assistance to 130 children who stayed temporarily while receiving treatment for various illnesses, before leaving once cured, Sobia said.
The resident orphans attend local schools, with their education fully funded by Chinese support. In the future, based on their interests and talents, these children may be sent to China for higher education after completing their college education in Pakistan.
“The center is a ray of hope for poor, underprivileged children who would have faced life’s hardships alone if the Chinese people had not extended their hand and offered them warmth,” she added.
Speaking to Xinhua, Ma Bin, the head of the CPYEC, said the center embodies the deep friendship between the Pakistani and Chinese peoples.
Since its inception, ICOSH has upheld the principle of “people-to-people communication,” offering shelter, medical care, and educational support to impoverished families and orphans.
“Every recovered child and every smiling face tell the heartfelt story of China-Pakistan friendship. Love knows no borders, and good deeds have no boundaries. To support these beloved Pakistani children, many Chinese enterprises in Pakistan, with the backing of the Chinese embassy, have joined forces in this public welfare initiative, creating a strong relay of charitable efforts,” he said.
“This collaboration not only empowers the development of vulnerable families but also helps the Belt and Road Initiative’s vision of people-to-people connectivity take root. We believe that even more social forces will join this caring mission in the future,” Ma added.
As the partnership between Pakistan and China continues to strengthen, initiatives like this shelter stand as powerful symbols of solidarity and hope, Shiffa Butt, a volunteer at the home, told Xinhua.
“Through sustained support and shared commitment, countless vulnerable children are being given the chance to rebuild their lives, pursue education, and dream of a brighter tomorrow, demonstrating the enduring impact of friendship beyond borders,” she added.
For governments, a credit rating is more than a financial signal. It is a verdict that can influence the cost of borrowing, access to markets and, ultimately, the ability to provide for their citizens.
Rating decisions are made behind closed doors in a private process that isn’t open to assessment or scrutiny.
For African countries, this opacity can be especially damaging. When rating decisions lack transparency, it’s impossible to challenge potential biases or inconsistencies in methodology that put developing economies at a disadvantage. The result is higher borrowing costs that drain resources from healthcare, education and infrastructure investment.
Africa’s new credit rating agency has the chance to change this. The African Credit Rating Agency is an initiative under development by the African Union and its partners. It is more than a new entrant; it is an attempt to rethink how financial authority is earned, exercised and scrutinised. The new agency plans to introduce transparent governance structures that could revolutionise rating methodology.
As a researcher who has looked closely at the working of rating agencies, I believe this opportunity to bring transparency to financial governance isn’t just about better ratings. It’s a step towards economic sovereignty.
Success for the African Credit Rating Agency shouldn’t be measured by whether it displaces the “big three” rating agencies (Standard & Poor’s, Moody’s and Fitch). The real question isn’t whether an African agency can compete, but rather whether it can show the world how to rate credit differently.
A flawed process
The three big agencies do publish their methodologies – their criteria and risk models. This creates an illusion of transparency. Yet the final judgments emerge from committee meetings that produce no public record, no accountability, and no right of meaningful appeal.
These rating committees typically comprise five to 10 analysts who meet in closed sessions to make each sovereign rating decision. S&P, Moody’s and Fitch each operate internal rating committees for every sovereign rating decision. The deliberations, dissenting views, and specific reasoning behind final votes remain confidential. Only a brief summary is provided with a rating decision.
Research has shown that credit rating agencies are more accurate at assessing the creditworthiness of advanced economies than developing economies. There have also been studies on the discrepancy between what is expected when the public methodologies are applied and what the agencies actually rate. These studies have been done for economies like Hong Kong and China, but no equivalent research has yet been undertaken for African sovereigns.
This discrepancy exposes an accountability void. When methodology-based predictions miss the mark, we must question what happens in those committee rooms. Especially when African nations are being assessed by analysts stationed continents away, with limited understanding of local economic and political realities.
The African Credit Rating Agency could make three changes to the way ratings are done:
through public deliberations
by forming hybrid committees
with technological intervention.
First, it could release committee transcripts within 30 days of each decision. This would give markets and governments unprecedented insight into rating rationales. This isn’t radical – central banks already publish meeting minutes, and courts publish opinions with dissenting views.
Second, it could pioneer panels that include not only rating analysts, but regional economists, sectoral specialists, and even civil society observers. All with recorded votes. This diversified expertise would disrupt “group think” while capturing nuances of African economies that traditional agencies overlook.
Third, the agency could use artificial intelligence to analyse patterns across committee discussions, flagging potential regional biases or inconsistent methodology application. It might be able to use secure digital ledgers to create unchangeable records of decisions.
Why the big three keep it closed
The industry thrives on privacy – protecting proprietary methodologies and shielding decisions from external challenge. And the natural oligopoly (a market dominated by a few large players due to high entry barriers, reinforced by market preference for predictability) helps it stay that way.
The sovereign credit ratings of the three big agencies are built on quantitative and qualitative factors. But research shows that sovereign ratings are subjected to qualitative understandings. This puts developing economies at a disadvantage when agencies demonstrate pro-western biases because they lack data or knowledge.
Investors prefer fewer, stronger signals rather than many competing views. So there’s little incentive for established players to change. The African Credit Rating Agency, as a new entrant, can offer something the incumbents won’t: governance innovation that serves both markets and nations.
Radical openness will shake markets, at least at first. Committee members might face political pressure. Transparency alone doesn’t guarantee fair outcomes.
But the world already demands transparency from central banks and constitutional courts. Why accept anything less from institutions that shape sovereign destiny?
Opening the rating committee to view represents more than technical reform – it’s about shifting who holds power in global finance. If it does this, the African agency won’t just deliver better ratings; it will model how global finance can be governed more justly.
– Africa’s new credit rating agency could change the rules of the game. Here’s how – https://theconversation.com/africas-new-credit-rating-agency-could-change-the-rules-of-the-game-heres-how-257138
Source: Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe – OSCE
Headline: OSCE Enhances Ammunition Safety Skills of Kyrgyz Defence Personnel through Study Visit to Austria
Participant involved in the study on mobile lab usage. Vienna, 20 May 2025. (OSCE) Photo details
From 19 to 23 May 2025, four technical specialists from the Ministry of Defence of the Kyrgyz Republic took part in a study visit to Austria, focused on the use of mobile laboratory equipment for the chemical analysis of ammunition propellants. The visit was organized by the OSCE Programme Office in Bishkek, in co-operation with the Ministry of Defence of the Kyrgyz Republic and with the support of the Austrian Armed Forces.
During the visit, participants received both theoretical and hands-on training on operating Level 1 chemical laboratories equipped with QPAK (Qualitative Propellant Analysis Kit) systems, widely used by the Austrian Federal Ministry of Defence. They also visited the Division for Explosives, Materials, Petrols, Oils, and Lubricants (POL) Technology within the Defence Technology Agency of the Austrian Armed Forces Logistics School.
The programme included guided tours of specialized laboratories in explosives, chemicals, materials testing, and POL, where participants learned about testing procedures, safety protocols, and modern analytical tools. Daily practical exercises allowed participants to apply their knowledge and improve their technical competence in chemical testing of ammunition components.
This initiative builds on the OSCE’s earlier support to the Kyrgyz Ministry of Defence through the donation of QPAK equipment. With the newly acquired skills, Kyrgyz defence specialists are now better equipped to conduct safe and effective chemical testing of ammunition, contributing to improved stockpile management and enhanced national security.
The study visit is part of the OSCE’s ongoing efforts to support risk reduction and promote safe and secure ammunition storage practices in line with international standards.
**This initiative is part of an ongoing series of activities within the extra-budgetary project “Improvement of SALW and CA Life-Cycle Management Capacity of the Ministry of Defense of the Kyrgyz Republic,” supported by Austria, France, Germany, Norway, and Switzerland.
Source: Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe – OSCE
Headline: Strengthening Personal Data Protection Across Kyrgyzstan: Over 1,000 Officials Trained with OSCE Support
Participants during the training on Enhancing Personal Data Protection. (OSCE) Photo details
The OSCE Programme Office in Bishkek, in close partnership with the State Agency for Personal Data Protection under the Cabinet of Ministers of the Kyrgyz Republic, has helped raise national awareness and improve institutional knowledge in the field of personal data protection.
Over the past three years, more than 1,000 public and municipal officials across the country have taken part in these efforts. Participants included representatives of local governments, district administrations, mayor’s offices, healthcare and education institutions, and school management bodies.
The training sessions focused on:
Understanding national laws on personal data protection
Learning practical methods for secure data management
Preventing data leaks and cyber threats
As Kyrgyzstan continues to expand digital services, protecting sensitive information has become more important than ever. The rise of cybercrime and digital fraud means that both institutions and citizens face greater risks. That’s why building the capacity of public officials to handle data responsibly is essential for protecting privacy, increasing trust in digital tools, and boosting the country’s digital resilience.
Participants also learned about:
The national Register of Personal Data Holders (developed with OSCE support)
Safe internet use and basic cyber hygiene
Privacy protection in public service delivery
Key elements of the draft Digital Code of the Kyrgyz Republic
Importantly, the initiative promoted inclusive participation — with more than 50% of trainees being women, reflecting the OSCE’s commitment to gender equality in all its capacity-building efforts.
This work forms part of the OSCE’s wider support to good governance, digital security, and the protection of individual rights in the Kyrgyz Republic.
A letter from Rt Hon Bridget Phillipson, Secretary of State for Education, to the joint chief executives of Skills England, setting the priorities for Skills England for 2025 to 2026.
Source: State University of Management – Official website of the State –
A scientific team of scientists from the State University of Management, headed by Doctor of Technical Sciences, Professor Alexey Terentyev, has developed unique predictive models designed for intelligent data analysis. Their use allows forecasting future events in the interaction of complex commercial and production structures with the external environment. For example, for the distribution of resources between system objects for its effective development.
A special feature of the developed models is the ability to find solutions aimed at the effective development of multi-level systems and independent of the subjectivity characteristic of methods based on expert assessments.
The uniqueness of the methodology – the analytical determination of weighting coefficients and, as a result, obtaining a more objective solution – is critically important for systems with contradictory goal setting, which includes transport and logistics production.
Today, the models are used in research by SMU scientists in the field of logistics in the development of a rating system for transport and logistics enterprises, which has made it possible to increase system efficiency compared to the Laplace criteria and Fishburne estimates by 16% and 26%, respectively.
“The predictive modeling methodology developed at the State University of Management also formed the basis for the methodology for assessing the quality of passenger service in the logistics system of interaction between modes of transport. This allows us to solve the problems of determining the vector assessment of increasing the efficiency of the system based on a significant set of indicators of the quality of public transport services,” notes Maxim Pletnev, Head of the Department for Coordination of Scientific Research at the State University of Management.
The above advantages allow the developed models to be used not only in logistics, but also in other areas of scientific research, including machine learning technologies and neural network modeling methods. This enables researchers to obtain the most accurate scenarios and forecasts of the states of the systems under study in conditions of uncertainty in the external environment.
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: Novosibirsk State University – Novosibirsk State University –
Today, June 2, NSU hosted the grand opening of the InteRussia 2025 internship program for foreign specialists. This is the second internship of this kind that is taking place at Novosibirsk State University. This time, 17 students from 14 countries, such as Chile, Jordan, India, Pakistan, Brazil, Albania, Serbia, Bangladesh, Turkmenistan, Belarus, Indonesia, Ecuador, Uzbekistan and Tanzania, came to NSU.
The internship is conducted by the Gorchakov Fund, the Siberian Branch of the Russian Academy of Sciences, and the ANO “Mezhdunarodniki” with the support of the Directorate of the World Youth Festival and the Presidential Grants Fund.
For a month — from June 2 to June 29 — young researchers will be trained at the university in the promising areas of “Artificial Intelligence and Medicine” and “Modern Quantum and Information Technologies in Electronics and Photonics”. The school participants will work in one of two groups in accordance with the chosen area. The event will result in the preparation and presentation of their own scientific project.
— We are organizing the internship for the second time, but we already see that our program is in great demand — this year, more than 160 applications were submitted, so the competition was almost 10 people per place. As a result, the best students who passed a tough and competitive selection came here. This year, we decided to make only two directions, and not three, as it was a year ago. We left the direction “Artificial Intelligence and Medicine”, since the 2024 internship showed that this topic is very interesting and in demand. We also added a new promising direction related to quantum mechanics. Among other innovations, we increased the duration of the internship from three to four weeks, — said Evgeny Sagaydak, Head of the Education Export Department at NSU.
Artur Pogosov, Professor of the Department of Semiconductor Physics, Faculty of Physics, NSU, Head of the Department of General Physics Physics Department of NSU, in his welcoming speech to the participants, he spoke a little about the specifics of Akademgorodok and the special atmosphere that characterizes this unique place. He also spoke in more detail about the program of the direction that he supervises – “Modern quantum and information technologies in electronics and photonics”. It will include both lectures from scientists of the SB RAS Research Institute and NSU teachers, and practical computer sessions, during which, using special computational and modeling methods, listeners will be able to delve deeper into quantum mechanics, explore new crystals and new compounds, and model the processes occurring in them.
Evgeny Pavlovsky, Head of the Laboratory of Streaming Data Analytics and Machine Learning Faculty of Mechanics and Mathematics of NSU and head of the Artificial Intelligence and Medicine department, noted that the students will have the opportunity not only to expand their knowledge, but also to present their projects, since one of the school’s goals is to ensure that the participants continue their research after completing their internship.
The audience of the program was greeted by the leading specialist of the A.M. Gorchakov Public Diplomacy Support Fund Ilya Demkin. He thanked the partners for their cooperation, spoke about the activities of the Fund and about the internship program for foreign specialists in various fields of InteRussia. In addition, he noted that for the audience, participation in this event is an excellent opportunity to gain new knowledge in one of the best Russian universities, take thematic courses from leading experts, take part in innovative professional master classes in one of two areas, and exchange experience with colleagues from different countries.
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: {United States House of Representatives – Congressman Bobby Scott (3rd District of Virginia)
Headline: Scott Statement on the Passing of Judge Jerrauld C. Jones
NEWPORT NEWS, VA – Congressman Robert C. “Bobby” Scott (VA-03) issued the following statement on the passing of former Delegate and retired Norfolk Circuit Court Judge Jerrauld Jones:
“I am deeply saddened by the passing of my longtime friend, Judge Jerrauld Jones of Norfolk. Jerrauld and I have known each other for many years. We served together in the Virginia General Assembly and shared the same commitment to justice and equality. That commitment to justice was inherited from our fathers, who served on the school boards of Newport News and Norfolk respectively during the public school integration controversies following the Brown v. Board of Education Supreme Court decision in 1954. Our families have remained friends from that time.
“Jerrauld was a brilliant jurist and dedicated public servant. A proud graduate of Princeton University and Washington and Lee University School of Law, he used his talents in service of others. He broke barriers and opened doors for those who came after him, not just as a legislator and judge, but as a community leader whose moral compass never wavered.
“Whether in the courtroom or the State Capitol, Jerrauld brought intellect, compassion, and a fierce commitment to fairness and fidelity to the law. He was never afraid to speak out for what was right, and he always carried himself with dignity, humility and grace.
“My thoughts and prayers go out to his wife Lyn, his son Jay, and to all who knew and loved Jerrauld. His passing is a profound loss for the Commonwealth, but his legacy will continue to inspire all who believe in the power of public service to make a positive impact for all.”
Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Brendan Boyle (13th District of Pennsylvania)
PHILADELPHIA, PA – Today, Congressman Brendan F. Boyle (PA-02) joined the Temple University and New Castle County Police Departments to announce the arrest of a burglary suspect who was wanted by authorities in PA, NJ, and DE.
This arrest was made possible by Congressman Boyle’s community project funding for the Temple University Police Department, which enabled the deployment of Flock license plate reading cameras. Boyle was joined at the press conference by Jennifer Griffin, Chief of Police and Vice President for Public Safety at Temple University, and Richard Chambers, Master Corporal and PIO at the New Castle County Police Department.
“Not been too long before we had tragically lost Temple Police University Officer Christopher Fitzgerald,” said Congressman Boyle. “And so I wanted to secure funds that would help the public safety effort in and around Temple University. To see the fruits of that labor actually lead to an arrest is incredibly exciting. I thank again everyone who was involved in public safety in and around Temple University, and I thank all of the officers behind me. It’s never lost on me just what an enormously difficult job each and every one of you have in terms of keeping us safe.”
“I am very proud of our diligent police officers and detectives who made this arrest happen quickly,” said Jennifer Griffin, Chief of Police and Vice President for Public Safety at Temple University. “Temple’s license plate reading cameras were purchased through a grant that was secured by Congressman Brennan Boyle. We are so grateful and thankful for his continued support to make Philadelphia safer.”
“Detective Arnold from the Newcastle County Police was able to obtain a possible vehicle description,” said Richard Chambers, Master Corporal and PIO at the New Castle County Police Department. “Using the cameras, Detective Arnold quickly contacted the Temple University Police Department, and the Temple University Police Department quickly located the vehicle with the suspect in it.
Temple University was the first university in Pennsylvania to deploy the Flock license plate reader system. The system was used to locate a suspect wanted by the New Castle County Police Department for burglary and theft. New Castle County Police worked with the Temple University Police Department to quickly arrest him on Temple’s campus. He was extradited to Delaware, where he pled guilty to one felony and one misdemeanor charge.
Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Mark DeSaulnier Representing the 11th District of California
Washington, D.C. – Today, Congressman Mark DeSaulnier (CA-10) announced that he advanced 15 projects totaling over $35 million to benefit Contra Costa and Alameda Counties for consideration by the U.S. House Committee on Appropriations as part of the Fiscal Year 2026 appropriations process. These projects would help to support public health and safety, transportation accessibility and community development, and environmental protection and sustainability in California’s 10th Congressional District. Each year Congress provides Member-directed federal funding to a select number of Community Projects through the appropriations process. Under this process, each House member is allowed to submit 15 project requests on behalf of their Congressional District to the Appropriations Committee that meet the criteria set forth by the Committee.
“I am proud to again advance over $35 million in funding that would directly benefit communities in Contra Costa and Alameda Counties by making our roads safer and more accessible, improving our outdoor spaces, providing cost-savings and environmental benefits through sustainability, and bolstering protection from crime and natural disasters,” said Congressman DeSaulnier. “I appreciate the effort of and collaboration with our local governments and organizations in submitting these projects, and I will continue to fight to see them through this legislative process and get the funding delivered to our district.”
“We are grateful for Congressman DeSaulnier’s leadership in advancing five projects that will improve safety, emergency response, and transportation infrastructure in Contra Costa County. These critical investments will ensure that Contra Costa continues to be a safe and welcoming place for residents and businesses to thrive. We appreciate the Congressman’s foresight in selecting these projects, which offer regional benefits to our community,” said Candace Andersen, Chair of the Contra Costa County Board of Supervisors.
“Central San wishes to express our sincere gratitude to Congressman DeSaulnier for championing our Ultraviolet (UV) Disinfection Replacement Project. This critical project will provide direct community benefits by improving the resiliency of Central San’s wastewater operations during extreme weather events and significantly reducing its energy footprint. This federal funding will support the transition to a state-of-the-art UV system that will make the wastewater treatment plant more sustainable and energy efficient because it will decrease energy use and meaningfully reduce greenhouse gases produced annually,” said Roger Bailey, General Manager of Central Contra Costa Sanitary District.
“For truly safe and stable communities, we must make robust investments in public safety, including preventing and prosecuting organized retail theft and fighting labor trafficking. Efforts like the Healing and Justice for Survivors of Labor Trafficking program are designed to significantly increase funding for the number of Victim Witness Unit staff, allowing them to better provide education, outreach, and support for survivors. Congressman Mark DeSaulnier’s success in securing this crucial funding demonstrates his deep understanding of these fundamental needs,” said Diana Becton, District Attorney, Contra Costa County.
“We appreciate the support from Congressman DeSaulnier in advancing our Community Project Funding request to provide resilient and modern emergency power infrastructure to support the East Bay Regional Communications System. This project will have a direct impact on improving the public safety radio infrastructure for our firefighters, ambulance crews, and all first responders throughout Contra Costa County and northern Alameda County. Congressman DeSaulnier is helping us to keep our communities and our first responders safe with this critical infrastructure investment,” said Lewis Broschard, Fire Chief, Contra Costa County Fire Protection District.
“Investing in energy-efficient storage infrastructure ensures County Connection can power our future fleet with greater reliability and lower costs. This system strengthens our ability to deliver vital transit service during emergencies and supports a cleaner, more resilient future for our community. We’re grateful that Congressman DeSaulnier shares our commitment to sustainability and smart investment in local transit,” said Bill Churchill, General Manager, Central Contra Costa County Transit Authority.
“We are extremely grateful to be included for consideration; upgrading our officer’s body worn cameras is an important public safety project for our residents and our police department,” said Cindy Darling, Mayor of Walnut Creek.
“The Contra Costa Transportation Authority (CCTA) sincerely appreciates Congressman DeSaulnier’s continued support in advancing innovative transportation solutions in our county. This critical funding will allow CCTA to implement smart signal technology in the Cities of Antioch and Oakley, enabling signal synchronization, enhanced traffic flow, and smooth congestion. The upgraded system will also prioritize transit and emergency vehicles and support countywide efforts to achieve Vision Zero goals,” said Tim Haile, Executive Director, Contra Costa Transportation Authority.
“The City of Dublin is proud to have Congressman DeSaulnier’s support for our Community Project Funding Request for the Village Parkway Reconstruction and Complete Streets Project. This important project will address critical infrastructure needs by resurfacing roads, improving bicycle access, enhancing safety, and upgrading sidewalks near Dublin High School. Once complete, Village Parkway will be a significantly safer and more accessible corridor for all who live, work, and travel in Dublin,” said Sherry Hu, Mayor of Dublin.
“We are grateful for Congressman DeSaulnier’s vital support of this critical project. Upgrading our emergency generators will significantly enhance the resilience of the communication systems our first responders rely on during emergencies and disasters,” said Jon King, Board Chair, East Bay Regional Communications System Authority.
“Thanks to Congressman DeSaulnier’s support, the Marsh Drive Class I Bikeway Project will close a 1.3-mile gap in Contra Costa County’s expansive bicycle network, providing the residents of Pacheco and Martinez a low-stress and multi-use bicycle and pedestrian facility that connects to the 32-mile Iron Horse Regional Trail, improving connectivity to neighboring jurisdictions such as the City of Concord and City of Pleasant Hill, while also improving access to recreational areas such as the lower Walnut Creek channel and Pacheco Marsh. The project will help Contra Costa County achieve its ambitious “Vision Zero” safety goal of having zero fatalities or severe injuries along its road network,” said Warren Lai, Director, Contra Costa County Public Works.
“We greatly appreciate Congressman DeSaulnier championing the Treat Boulevard Corridor Improvements Project, a multi-modal project that will construct bicycle lanes and enhanced pedestrian infrastructure along Treat Boulevard in the Contra Costa Centre Transit Village of Walnut Creek. The Treat Boulevard Corridor Improvements will provide a critical connection to the region’s 32-mile Iron Horse Regional Trail and active transportation options for commuters and residents of Walnut Creek. This project will transform the road corridor into a model example of complete streets design, improving connectivity to light rail transit (Bay Area Rapid Transit, or BART, Pleasant Hill/Contra Costa Centre Station), high-density housing, and thousands of jobs, further supporting economic, health, and transportation benefits for the Contra Costa Centre and Walnut Creek areas,” said Warren Lai, Director, Contra Costa County Public Works.
“This is more than a park project – it’s about honoring history, creating access, and supporting public spaces which will serve generations to come. The South of Bailey Road Community Development Project will open 890 acres of land to the public at Thurgood Marshall Regional Park – Home of the Port Chicago 50, laying the foundation for a regional destination rooted in community and remembrance. We deeply appreciate Representative DeSaulnier’s leadership in moving this vision forward,” said Sabrina Landreth, General Manager, East Bay Regional Park District.
“We are deeply grateful that Congressman DeSaulnier has again selected our Ocean Ambassadors educational program for consideration for Community Project Funding through the Appropriations Committee,” said Cecily Majerus, Chief Executive Officer, The Marine Mammal Center. “Environmental literacy is crucial. This critical funding support would allow the Center to expand our Ocean Ambassadors in Contra Costa County—bringing high-impact, standards-aligned marine science learning to more classrooms through educator training, coaching, and peer mentoring.”
“The Danville Townwide Fiber project is a transformative step toward a more connected and resilient community. By expanding our fiber infrastructure, we are ensuring that Danville’s traffic systems are smarter, safer, and prepared for the future,” said Renee Morgan, Mayor of Danville.
“We are grateful for Congressman DeSaulnier’s continued support and unwavering commitment to help Diablo Water District build a resilient water system capable of withstanding potential seismic risks to our underground transmission lines and above-ground steel reservoirs,” said Dan Muelrath, General Manager, Diablo Water District.
“On behalf of the City of Concord, I extend our sincere thanks to Congressman DeSaulnier for championing the effort to improve our Emergency Operations Center. His support is vital to addressing critical infrastructure needs that impact our emergency response and community safety. This funding will help transform the EOC into a modern, resilient facility that strengthens regional preparedness and protects lives. We deeply appreciate his leadership and commitment to public safety,” said Carlyn Obringer, Mayor or Concord.
Transportation Accessibility and Community Development Projects:
$3,900,000 for the Town of Danville to install fiber optic cables and construct new conduit and junction boxes for 54 traffic signals in Danville to enable real-time traffic signal optimization to reduce traffic congestion and improve safety, and allow for future implementation of smart city technologies.
$3,000,000 for the City of Dublin to improve safety and accessibility of Village Parkway by narrowing vehicle lanes, adding lighting, and constructing buffered bike lanes, wider sidewalks, and protected intersections.
$2,000,000 for the Contra Costa County Public Works Department to create a separate bike path to fill a gap in the County-wide bicycle network along Marsh Drive in unincorporated Pacheco, which will improve safety for all road users and access to local commercial centers, recreational centers, and additional connections to the local mass transit system.
$2,000,000 for the East Bay Regional Park District to construct visitor facilities such as restrooms, drinking fountains, public parking areas, and a turnout lane on Bailey Road to allow for the Thurgood Marshall Regional Park to be opened up to the public.
$1,970,010 for the Contra Costa Transportation Authority (CCTA) to upgrade and develop a network of smart traffic signals between Antioch and Oakley to improve commute times, reduce delays, and ease congestion.
$1,500,000 for the Contra Costa County Public Works Department to construct bicycle and pedestrian facilities on Treat Boulevard in the Contra Costa Centre Transit Village in Walnut Creek to close a critical gap along the Iron Horse Regional Trail, which would improve safety for non-motorized road users and improve connectivity for first and last mile connections to public transit and local commercial establishments.
Public Health and Safety Projects:
$4,875,000 to the Diablo Water District to provide structural and foundational reinforcements to water infrastructure to mitigate risks associated with major seismic events, safeguard water supply, and contribute to the region’s overall disaster preparedness strategy.
$3,649,671 to the City of Concord to make improvements to the Emergency Operations Center in Concord to ensure its longevity, efficiency, and resilience as it serves as a critical hub for bolstering regional preparedness, response, and recovery efforts during emergencies and disasters.
$1,915,000 for the Contra Costa County Fire Protection District (Con Fire) to replace and install equipment, including backup generators, shore power plugs, and automatic transfer switches, at radio towers across Contra Costa County that are used for communication between law enforcement, fire, and emergency medical services to improve system reliability during emergencies and disasters that result in the loss of power.
$1,000,000 to the City of Walnut Creek to purchase 120 body worn cameras, charging docks, and equipment to promote transparency, accountability, and public trust in the police department.
$600,000 for the Contra Costa County District Attorney’s Office to create an Organized Retail Theft (ORT) Prevention and Prosecution Unit with the goal of addressing increased levels of retail theft crimes, helping local law enforcement better confront these types of crimes, and improving public safety.
$500,000 for the Contra Costa County District Attorney’s Office to enhance the identification and referral of survivors of labor trafficking and cases of labor trafficking occurring in the County, increase the capacity of the District Attorney’s Office to investigate cases of labor exploitation and trafficking, and improve the quality and scope of services provided to underserved and marginalized victims of human trafficking.
Environmental Protection and Sustainability Projects:
$4,000,000 to the Central Conta Costa Sanitary District (Central San) to upgrade the water treatment facility’s ultraviolet (UV) technology to reduce the energy footprint of water treatment and protect public health and water quality in the region.
$4,000,000 to the Central Contra Costa Transit Authority (County Connection) to construct a battery system to allow the agency to charge its zero emission buses overnight, and provide a source of power to maintain operations during emergencies.
$272,918 for the Marine Mammal Center to help build scientific literacy and environmental stewardship of the coastal zone for 2,7000 students and their teachers and to develop a pipeline for the future STEM workforce.
Selection and submission of projects to the Appropriations Committee is the first stage of the process for Community Project Funding. The projects are subject to a strict transparency and accountability process, which is detailed hereby the Appropriations Committee. Examples of this vetting include certifying that Members have no financial interest in these projects, an audit of a sampling of these projects by the Government Accountability Office, and a requirement for demonstrated community support and engagement for each submission. More information on each project and the certifications of no financial interest can be found here.
Source: Peter the Great St Petersburg Polytechnic University – Peter the Great St Petersburg Polytechnic University –
At the general meeting of members of the Russian Academy of Sciences, corresponding members and academicians of the RAS were elected. About 1,800 people took part in the elections. As a result of the voting, 84 academicians and 165 corresponding members were included in the RAS, including 17 from St. Petersburg. Two of them represent the Polytechnic University.
The current elected representatives won a difficult fight: on average, there were 4 people competing for one academician’s seat, and 8 for one corresponding member’s seat. Among the new academicians, there were 8 women, and among the corresponding members, there were 27. The average age of the elected scientists was 64 years, and among the corresponding members, 58 years.
Let us recall that the rector of Peter the Great St. Petersburg Polytechnic University, head of the St. Petersburg branch of the Russian Academy of Sciences, academician Andrei Rudskoy elected Vice President of the Russian Academy of SciencesAccording to him, he feels a sense of pride for the St. Petersburg scientific school.
Academicians of the Russian Academy of Sciences (St. Petersburg)
Bryukhanov Aleksandr Yuryevich, Director of the Institute of Agroengineering and Environmental Problems of Agricultural Production. Bykov Andrey Mikhailovich, Head of the Department of Plasma Physics, Atomic Physics and Astrophysics of the Ioffe Physical-Technical Institute of the Russian Academy of Sciences. Golovnev Andrey Vladimirovich, Director of the Peter the Great Museum of Anthropology and Ethnography of the Russian Academy of Sciences. Panin Ivan Aleksandrovich, Chief Researcher of the POMI RAS. Petrov Yury Viktorovich, Head of Department of the Institute of Problems of Mechanical Engineering of the Russian Academy of Sciences. Silnikov Mikhail Vladimirovich, General Director and General Designer of NPO Spetsmaterialov. Mikhail Vladimirovich is a famous physicist, specialist in the field of combustion and explosion mechanics. He is a Doctor of Technical Sciences and a professor. He graduated from the Leningrad Polytechnic Institute. In 2011, he was elected a Corresponding Member of the Russian Academy of Sciences. He headed the Institute of Military-Technical Training and Security of the Polytechnic Institute.
Corresponding Members of the Russian Academy of Sciences (St. Petersburg)
Almyasheva Oksana Vladimirovna, Head of the Department of Physical Chemistry, ETU “LETI”. Untitled Ilya Borisovich, head of the Laboratory of Molecular Neurodegeneration at SPbPU. Ilya Borisovich is a world-famous scientist and a graduate of our university. Doctor of Biological Sciences, professor at the Higher School of Biomedical Systems and Technology at the Polytechnic University. Vershovsky Anton Konstantinovich, leading researcher at the Ioffe Physical-Technical Institute of the Russian Academy of Sciences. Gordeev Mikhail Leonidovich, chief researcher at the Cardiothoracic Surgery Research Institute of the Almazov National Medical Research Center of the Russian Ministry of Health. Dolzhenko Tatyana Vasilievna, professor at the department at St. Petersburg State Agrarian University. Zaporozhets Dmitry Nikolaevich, deputy director for research at the Podolsk Medical Institute of the Russian Academy of Sciences. Kuzin Alexander Alexandrovich, head of the department of general and military epidemiology at the Kirov Military Medical Academy of the Russian Ministry of Defense. Safronov Alexey Anatolyevich, head of the department at the Institute of Electrophysics and Electric Power Engineering of the Russian Academy of Sciences. Elena Konstantinovna Khlestkina, Director of the Federal State Budgetary Scientific Institution VIR. Vladimir Vasilievich Khominets, Head of the Department of Military Traumatology and Orthopedics of the S. M. Kirov Military Medical Academy of the Ministry of Defense of the Russian Federation. Sergey Viktorovich Chepur, Head of the State Research Institute of Military Medicine of the Ministry of Defense of the Russian Federation.
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.
The Department of Commerce Office of Space Commerce and NIST welcomes Dr. Antonino Salmeri, Director, Lunar Policy Platform, for a seminar and discussion on Lunar Policy for a Thriving Lunar Economy.
This seminar will focus on the role of lunar policy for a thriving lunar economy. The seminar will begin with an overview of the legal and policy framework, present priorities and policies for peaceful, safe, and sustainable lunar activities, and conclude with a case study on lunar information sharing. The seminar will be delivered by Dr. Antonino Salmeri, space lawyer specialized in the governance of space resources and lunar activities and Director of the Lunar Policy Platform.
Participants and attendees can expect the following outcomes:
gain a foundational understanding of the main legal framework and key policy developments applicable to lunar activities;
discover policy priorities and policy deliverables for peace, safety and sustainability on the Moon, supported by over 35 stakeholders;
learn about ongoing multilateral and multi-stakeholder efforts to streamline lunar information sharing, and how to participate.
Dr. Antonino Salmeri is a space lawyer specialized in the governance of lunar and space resource activities. He holds four advanced degrees in law and currently works as Director of the Lunar Policy Platform (LPP). Dr. Salmeri regularly advises governments and companies on international space law, policy, and diplomacy. In this capacity, he recently served as special advisor on lunar governance to the UN Office for Outer Space Affairs, contributing to the organization of the first UN Conference on Sustainable Lunar Activities and to the establishment of the Action Team on Lunar Activities Consultations (ATLAC) within the UN Committee on the Peaceful Uses of Outer Space.
Dr. Salmeri is the author of leading publications shaping the evolution of international space law and policy, including a book on the Multi Level Governance of Space Mining, the Lunar Policy Priorities Report, the Lunar Policy Handbook, the EAGLE Report, and The Hague Building Blocks. Dr. Salmeri’s contributions to the advancement of space law and astronautics have been recognized through several prestigious awards, such as the Young Space Leader Award of the International Astronautical Federation (IAF) and the Diederiks-Verschoor Award of the International Institute of Space Law (IISL).
Dr. Salmeri possess an extensive network in the space sector through his voluntary roles at major entities, such as Chair of the Space Generation Advisory Council (SGAC, period 2023 – 2025), Governing Member of the International Space University (ISU), member of the International Institute of Space Law (IISL), member of several technical and administrative committees of the International Astronautical Federation (IAF), and regular speaker at high level multilateral gatherings and major international events.
Source: Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe – OSCE
Headline: OSCE continues to promote green mobility through VI Cycling Marathon in Djizak
The OSCE Project Co-ordinator in Uzbekistan (PCUz) organized the VI Cycling Marathon for preschool children on 30 May 2025 in Djizak, marking another step in its ongoing efforts to promote environmental awareness, sustainable mobility and healthy lifestyles.
This annual initiative brought together 100 children and their families, highlighting the importance of early environmental education and active living.
“The Cycling Marathon takes place on the eve of International Children’s Day. This reminds us that we have to work against climate change now. We must not steal the right to a clean and safe environment from our children,” said Ambassador Antti Karttunen, Head of Office of PCUz.
Earlier this year, the PCUz donated 500 balance bicycles to preschool educational institutions in the Djizak region. In addition, instructors and educators were coached to provide cycling training in accordance with international practices, ensuring children develop essential motor and co-ordination skills through fun and safe eco-friendly activities.
By encouraging the use of green transport and raising awareness about environmental protection, the PCUz supports Uzbekistan’s transition to a green economy and promotes sustainable development values from an early age. This sixth edition of the cycling marathon follows successful events held in Tashkent, Samarkand, Khiva, Nukus and Namangan.
The marathon was opened jointly by Ambassador Karttunen; Sherzod Karimov, Deputy Minister of Preschool and School Education; and Akmal Savurbaev, Deputy Governor of the Djizak region.
Poland’s presidential election runoff will be a bitter pill for pro-European Union democrats to swallow.
The nationalist, Trumpian, historian Karol Nawrocki has narrowly defeated the liberal, pro-EU mayor of Warsaw, Rafał Trzaskowski, 50.89 to 49.11%.
The Polish president has few executive powers, though the office holder is able to veto legislation. This means the consequences of a Nawrocki victory will be felt keenly, both in Poland and across Europe.
With this power, Nawrocki, backed by the conservative Law and Justice party, will no doubt stymie the ability of Prime Minister Donald Tusk and his Civic Platform-led coalition to enact democratic political reforms.
This legislative gridlock could well see Law and Justice return to government in the 2027 general elections, which would lock in the anti-democratic changes the party made during their last term in office from 2015–2023. This included eroding Poland’s judicial independence by effectively taking control of judicial appointments and the supreme court.
Nawrocki’s win has given pro-Donald Trump, anti-liberal, anti-EU forces across the continent a shot in the arm. It’s bad news for the EU, Ukraine and women.
A rising Poland
For much of the post-second world war era, Poland has had limited European influence.
This is no longer the case. Poland’s economy has boomed since it joined the EU in 2004. It spends almost 5% of its gross domestic product on defence, almost double what it spent in 2022 at the time of Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine.
Poland now has a bigger army than the United Kingdom, France and Germany. And living standards, adjusted for purchasing power, are about to eclipse Japan’s.
Along with Brexit, these changes have resulted in the EU’s centre of gravity shifting eastwards towards Poland. As a rising military and economic power of 37 million people, what happens in Poland will help shape Europe’s future.
Impacts on Ukraine
Poland’s new position in Europe is most clearly demonstrated by its central role in the fight to defend Ukraine against Russia.
This centrality was clearly demonstrated during the recent “Coalition of the Willing” summit in Kyiv, where Tusk joined the leaders of Europe’s major powers – France, Germany and the UK – to bolster support for Ukraine and its president, Volodymyr Zelensky.
However, Poland’s unqualified support for Ukraine will now be at risk because Nawrocki has demonised Ukrainian refugees in his country and opposed Ukrainian integration into European-oriented bodies, such as the EU and NATO.
Nawrocki was also backed during his campaign by the Trump administration. Kristi Noem, the US secretary of homeland security, said at the recent Conservative Political Action Conference in Poland:
Donald Trump is a strong leader for us, but you have an opportunity to have just as strong of a leader in Karol if you make him the leader of this country.
Trump also hosted Nawrocki in the Oval Office when he was merely a candidate for office. This was a significant deviation from standard US diplomatic protocol to stay out of foreign elections.
Nawrocki has not been as pro-Russia as some other global, MAGA-style politicians, but this is largely due to Poland’s geography and its difficult history with Russia. It has been repeatedly invaded across its eastern plains by Russian or Soviet troops. And along with Ukraine, Poland shares borders with the Russian client state of Belarus and Russia itself in Kaliningrad, the heavily militarised enclave on the Baltic Sea.
I experienced the proximity of these borders during fieldwork in Poland in 2023 when I travelled by car from Warsaw to Vilnius, the Lithuanian capital, via the Suwalki Gap.
This is the strategically important, 100-kilometre-long border between Poland and Lithuania, which connects the Baltic states to the rest of NATO and the EU to the south. It’s seen as a potential flashpoint if Russia were ever to close the gap and isolate the Baltic states.
Poland’s conservative nationalist politicians are therefore less Russia-friendly than those in Hungary or Slovakia. Nawrocki, for instance, does not support cutting off weapons to Ukraine.
However, a Nawrocki presidency will still be more hostile to Ukraine and its interests. During the campaign, Nawrocki said Zelensky “treats Poland badly”, echoing the type of language used by Trump himself.
Poland divided
The high stakes in the election resulted in a record turnout of almost 73%.
There was a stark choice in the election between Nawrocki and Trzaskowski.
Trzaskowski supported the liberalisation of Poland’s harsh abortion laws – abortion was effectively banned in Poland under the Law and Justice government – and the introduction of civil partnerships for LGBTQ+ couples.
Nawrocki opposed these changes and will likely veto any attempt to implement them.
While the polls for the presidential runoff election had consistently shown a tight race, an Ipsos exit poll published during the vote count demonstrated the social divisions now facing the country.
As in other recent global elections, women and those with higher formal education voted for the progressive candidate (Trzaskowski), while men and those with less formal education voted for the conservative (Nawrocki).
After the surprise success of the liberal, pro-EU presidential candidate in the Romanian elections a fortnight ago, pro-EU forces were hoping for a similar result in Poland, as well.
That, for now, is a pipe dream and liberals across the continent will now need to negotiate a difficult relationship with a right-wing, Trumpian leader in the new beating heart of Europe.
Adam Simpson 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: Saint Petersburg State University of Architecture and Civil Engineering – Saint Petersburg State University of Architecture and Civil Engineering –
Lidiya Nikitovna Kondratieva, Doctor of Technical Sciences, Professor of the Department of Geotechnics at SPbGASU, was elected as an Honorary Professor of Henan University of Urban Development (HUUC) in Pingdingshan, China, where she currently teaches.
Lidiya Nikitovna has been working at SPbGASU since 2004. From 2004 to 2006, she was the vice-rector for educational work, from 2008 to 2015 – the head of the department of structural mechanics, then she became a professor of the department of geotechnics. From 2006 to 2014, she served as the academic secretary of the University Academic Council.
She is a member of two dissertation councils: the first one is on structural mechanics, building structures, buildings and constructions; the second one is on foundations and bases, underground structures. She worked for a long time in the dissertation council on architecture. She was the scientific secretary of the first of the three named councils.
Published more than 70 scientific and educational works.
For her conscientious work, she has been repeatedly awarded university certificates. In 2005, she received gratitude from the Vice-Governor of St. Petersburg for many years of conscientious work and personal contribution to the development of the city’s construction industry, and was awarded the Certificate of Honor of the Ministry of Education and Science of the Russian Federation. In 2012, she was awarded the title of “Honorary Worker of Higher Professional Education of the Russian Federation”.
Henan University of Civil Engineering is one of the top 500 universities in China (according to the Shanghai Ranking). The university was founded in 1983. It is the only university in the field of civil engineering and urban development in Henan Province and one of two Chinese universities that train specialists in the field of urban engineering. In 2022, a cooperation agreement was signed between SPbGASU and Henan University of Civil Engineering.
We wish Lidiya Nikitovna further creative and pedagogical 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.
Speaking at the event, Shah said the government under Prime Minister Narendra Modi is committed to establishing a secure, transparent, and evidence-based criminal justice system. “This laboratory will serve as a crucial pillar in realizing that vision and aid in the implementation of the new criminal laws,” he said.
The Union Minister emphasized the role of forensic science in securing convictions and ensuring justice, stating that a national network of FSLs is being established through a cluster approach, where 3–4 states will share facilities and resources. Beginning January 2026, the government plans to launch a campaign to integrate forensic practices down to the police station level, aiming to move from a system based on argument to one rooted in evidence.
Shah also formally launched Narcotics Version 2.0 and Explosives Version 2.0, digital tools designed to simplify forensic processes. He noted that crimes are evolving in the digital age and that law enforcement must stay ahead through the adoption of science and technology.
He highlighted the government’s commitment to reforms through the newly introduced Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS), and Bharatiya Sakshya Adhiniyam (BSA), which replace colonial-era laws. Shah said these laws empower investigators with clear legal backing for using technology and make forensic visits mandatory in cases involving sentences of more than seven years.
The Home Minister also underlined progress in justice delivery, stating that 60% of chargesheets are now filed within 60 days and that provisions such as trial in absentia will help prosecute absconders using international mechanisms.
To support this infrastructure, the government has approved 16 campuses of the National Forensic Science University (NFSU), with 7 already operational. Plans are in place to train 36,000 forensic professionals annually through these institutions, exceeding the country’s current estimated need of 30,000 trained experts per year.
Additionally, 9 more NFSU campuses and 7 new CFSLs are being set up in states including Uttar Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Odisha, Rajasthan, Tamil Nadu, Kerala, and Bihar, at a combined investment of over ₹2,100 crore. A National Forensic Data Centre, with an allocation of ₹200 crore, will also be established.
Amit Shah said the modernization of India’s forensic infrastructure will help ensure that even the most marginalized citizen can approach the justice system with confidence. “It is our responsibility to create a system where justice is swift, science-based, and accessible to all,” he concluded.
Source: United States House of Representatives – Representative Joe Wilson (2nd District of South Carolina)
Washington, D.C. – Congressman Joe Wilson (R-SC) is pleased to announce Kinsleigh Ringus of Lexington High School, as the Second District of South Carolina’s 2025 Congressional Art Competition winner.
“The Congressional Art Competition is a way to recognize the talent of young artists in the Second Congressional District of South Carolina and across the nation. I congratulate Kinsleigh for her wonderful submission. The piece, entitled ‘Under the Palmetto Sky,’ is a talented and colorful use of watercolor, pencil, and acrylics to convey a South Carolina theme. A special thank you goes to her parents, Adrian and Ashleigh, as well as her art teacher, Anna Degtyareva. I look forward to showing her artwork to all of our visitors in the U.S. Capitol over the coming year,” said Congressman Wilson.
For more information about the Congressional Art Competition, please visit Congressman Wilson’s website here.
Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Jason Crow (CO-06)
CENTENNIAL — Last night, Congressman Jason Crow (D-CO-06) and Senator Michael Bennet (D-CO) hosted a town hall at Arapahoe High School in Centennial, where they spoke directly with Coloradans about how they’re fighting to lower costs and pushing back against Republicans attacks on Medicaid. This is Congressman Crow’s third town hall this year.
“One of the most important parts of my job is listening to constituents. It was great to talk with hundreds of Coloradans and hear about the issues that matter most to them. As Republicans vote to kick millions off their health care to give the wealthiest Americans a massive tax cut, Senator Bennet and I are doing everything we can to fight back,” said Congressman Crow.
“This is an extraordinary time in our country’s history, a profoundly reactionary time in our nation’s history,” Senator Bennet said at the town hall.“But I have no doubt that if we do what we’re required to do, when we consider what our responsibilities are to this democracy, that we will not just get through this – that there will be something on other side that is very important to the kids, for instance, that graduated this week from Arapahoe High School. That is who is on my mind when I’m on the Senate floor.”
Congressman Crow is dedicated to hearing directly from his constituents on the issues that matter most to them. He most recently hosted a town hall in Aurora and a telephone town hall with thousands of constituents. He has hosted regular in-person and telephone town halls throughout his time in Congress, and regularly hosts student town halls to hear from youth in the community.
Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Jason Crow (CO-06)
AURORA — Congressman Jason Crow (D-CO-06), Lieutenant Governor Dianne Primavera, representatives from Serve Colorado, and local non-profits held a roundtable to discuss the impact of the Trump administration’s drastic cuts to AmeriCorps.
Since its founding in 1993, AmeriCorps has provided more than 1 million Americans with the opportunity to address challenges in their communities, especially in the areas of education, economic opportunity, veterans and military family services, health, the environment, and disaster services. In 2024, more than 6,600 AmeriCorps members and AmeriCorps Seniors served at over 700 local sites across Colorado. However, the Trump administration abruptly ended more than $400 million in AmeriCorps grants and laid off most of the full-time workforce, requiring more than 32,000 members to stop their critical work in communities nationwide.
“Service makes our nation better, and AmeriCorps enables Coloradans to serve their community directly. Their service makes Colorado a better, safer place to call home. Trump’s cuts to AmeriCorps are narrow-minded, short-sighted, and will leave Colorado worse off. I’ll continue speaking out and fighting back,” said Congressman Crow.
“I’ve seen firsthand how national service changes lives — not just for those who serve, but for the individuals and families they support,” said Lt. Governor Dianne Primavera.“This isn’t just a budget issue — it’s about what’s at stake for students, patients, and neighbors who rely on AmeriCorps programs daily. When you cut AmeriCorps, you don’t just shrink a program — you take away mentors from classrooms, hands from food banks, and care from underserved communities. We’re standing up to stop that from happening.”
“AmeriCorps is a proven pipeline into Colorado’s most critical industries, from education and public health to climate resilience. These cuts don’t just threaten AmeriCorps service across the state – they undermine our future workforce and the communities that depend on it,” said John Kelly, Executive Director of Serve Colorado.
Participants included: Lieutenant Governor Dianne Primavera; John Kelly, Executive Director of Serve Colorado; Manuel Aragon, Senior Director of Programs of Corps for a Change; Hannah Chung, Member of Corps for a Change serving at Vista Peak in APS; Barb Knapp, Manager of Spark Health Corps; Katie Navin, Executive Director of Colorado Alliance for Environmental Education; and Brittany Pimental, Senior Director of Operations for Denver Urban Gardens.
Congressman Crow strongly opposes the Trump administration’s efforts to gut AmeriCorps, and has supported bipartisan efforts to block these cuts. He has been vocal about balancing the federal budget in a way that does not take a sledgehammer to critical programs that working Americans rely on for their families and communities.
Source: People’s Republic of China – State Council News
A student takes online course at home in Beijing, capital of China, Feb. 17, 2020. [Photo/Xinhua]
As intelligent digital transformation has dramatically reshaped higher education globally, universities must strengthen students’ competencies in critical thinking, creativity and ethical judgment to harness technological opportunities while addressing the risks, university presidents, professors and scholars said at a forum on Sunday.
They made the remarks at the Global University Presidents Forum held at Southwestern University of Finance and Economics in Chengdu, Sichuan province.
The forum, part of the university’s 100th anniversary celebrations, attracted presidents of over 100 universities from home and abroad. More than 30 experts delivered speeches on topics including intelligent digital transformation, innovation in global higher education and talent cultivation.
Philip H. Dybvig, a professor at Washington University in St. Louis and 2022 Nobel Laureate in Economic Sciences, said reacting to AI is a challenge for universities at the moment, and it is a good example why students need to acquire both knowledge and critical thinking.
Dybvig said, “Large language models such as ChatGPT and DeepSeek make a lot of tasks easier. However, to use LLMs most effectively, it will be essential to have knowledge of programming in general and knowledge of how they work in particular.”
He emphasized that it will also be essential to use critical thinking to anticipate, identify and correct problems. “LLMs lack a moral filter and this must be provided by our students,” he added.
Mary Gorman, vice-president for enrollment management and strategic academic initiatives at Baruch College, City University of New York, said that universities must prepare their students for a world that is not only rapidly changing but also increasingly reliant on AI-driven technologies.
“To truly prepare our students for the digital era, we must weave AI into the fabric of our academic programs,” Gorman said, adding that the integration of AI into higher education must be guided by a strong ethical foundation.
“We must teach students to critically evaluate when and how to use AI, and, crucially, when not to use it,” she said.
To prepare students for workplace expectations, Gorman suggested universities adopt a phased approach to AI integration.
“Early in their academic journey, students should focus on foundational skills — critical thinking, quantitative reasoning and ethical analysis,” she said. “Once these competencies are solidified, we can introduce AI as a tool for problem-solving and innovation.”
Li Yongqiang, president of Southwestern University of Finance and Economics, emphasized that universities must adapt to the rapid evolution of intelligent science and technology by optimizing academic discipline structures.
“We should place greater emphasis on cultivating AI literacy, deep learning capabilities, and future-oriented adaptability and creativity in students,” Li said, adding that universities should accelerate digital infrastructure development centered on data, computing power, disciplinary AI models and intelligent services.
Universities must also be ready for the impact of intelligent digital transformation in fields including knowledge innovation, social interactions and institutional governance, he said.
Source: People’s Republic of China – State Council News
An undated photo shows nannies learning how to take care of babies at a training center in Jimo, Shandong province. [Photo/Xinhua]
Stella Tian, a 33-year-old office worker in Beijing, has two toddlers — a 1-year-old and a 3-year-old — and employs two nannies to help look after the children and simplify her life, as she and her husband have hectic work lives.
“I have changed my nannies a few times. Some were not professional enough and didn’t get along well with my family members, and some had other plans that came up. It’s not easy to find a suitable nanny for the long term,” Tian said.
Like Tian, demand for homemaking services among Chinese urban families is surging, and trained domestic helpers, nannies and nurses for the elderly are in great demand, promising to incubate a market expected to reach 1.3 trillion yuan ($181.1 billion) in 2026.
The forecast, made by the Ministry of Commerce’s Department of Trade in Services and Commercial Services, together with data analysis provider iiMedia Research, said China’s household services sector has maintained rapid growth.
Millions of middle-income Chinese families, especially those with young children and aging family members, are seeking professional helpers to ease life’s burdens, while it has sometimes been difficult for them to find satisfactory professional homemakers. Compared with diversified and high-quality demand, there are still problems such as a shortage of professional supply and nonstandard industry development.
It is estimated that there is a shortage of over 20 million domestic workers in China, according to the Ministry of Human Resources and Social Security. Demand for household services is no longer limited to daily chores, as online shopping and food deliveries have made it increasingly convenient for consumers, and they have indicated demand for higher-level specialized services, industry insiders said.
To address such issues and further boost consumption, China has published a guideline to further promote the development of its home-based services sector, such as housekeeping, eldercare and childcare services, by expanding the scale and upgrading service quality. Such efforts aim to cultivate new growth points for the country’s services consumption, according to the document released by the Ministry of Commerce and eight other entities in late April.
A series of measures have been proposed to improve the quality of household services supply, promote convenient consumption and optimize the consumption environment of the sector, according to the guideline.
For example, the government will encourage household service enterprises to expand into emerging service areas such as professional deep cleaning, indoor air treatment and nutritional consulting, and strengthen integrated development with sectors such as home furnishings and interior decorating, the guideline said.
In addition, social capital is encouraged to flow into the household services sector, and local governments may include homemaking occupations into local shortage directories. It is also suggested that more employment-oriented domestic service training should be offered, the guideline said.
“Household services are an important sector that helps promote consumption, benefits people’s lives and stabilizes employment,” said Kong Dejun, director of the Department of Trade in Services and Commercial Services at the commerce ministry.
“China will continue to expand domestic demand, strengthen supply-side structural reform, give full play to the country’s human resources advantages and cultivate new growth points of service consumption,” Kong said.
Currently, China has over 30 million household service providers such as nannies and housekeepers. Last year, total revenue of the sector stood at 1.23 trillion yuan, up 6 percent year-on-year, the ministry said.
Women are the main practitioners in the household services industry. The All-China Women’s Federation said the sector is showing a growing trend that practitioners are becoming younger and more professional, and it would continue to help promote the digitalization of the sector.
On the demand side, the need for babysitters and caregivers for the elderly is huge. The number of those aged 60 and above has exceeded 300 million, and the over-65 population has topped 220 million. In addition, China has some 30 million youngsters aged below three, according to the National Bureau of Statistics.
China will cultivate a group of distinctive brands in the homemaking sector and foster more platform-based companies to help match supply and demand.
“We will guide various regions to implement employment and entrepreneurship policies, and homemaking personnel should enjoy tax incentives and social security subsidies upon laws and regulations,” said Luo Shoufeng, deputy head of the department of migrant workers’ jobs at the Ministry of Human Resources and Social Security.
Catering to such demand, a number of platform-based homemaking service companies such as 58.com and Ayibang have continued to develop their business to raise the efficiency of supply-demand matching.
Beijing-based life services platform 58.com said some 2.6 million homemakers have registered on the platform, and all of them will undergo pre-work training to ensure the provision of standardized and professional services.
It has launched more than 200 training bases nationwide, integrating online teaching and offline training sessions, and the company became the first in the sector to introduce VIP membership services for consumers.
“For emerging household services demand such as deep cleaning, clutter control and storage, pest management and home management services, we have launched more than 10 professional courses. Those include courses that we developed with entities in Japan and Hong Kong together, in an aim to foster more high-quality household service providers,” said Li Zijian, president of 58.com’s domestic business.
In densely populated first-tier cities such as Beijing, Shanghai and Guangzhou, Guangdong province, demand for homemaking services has been the highest, 58.com found.
Among different types of services, demand for household cleaning, home appliance cleaning, nannies and maternity matrons — or yuesao, who mainly care for newborns — has been the highest, the company said.
Most consumers choose to hire day-shift nannies and part-time workers to assist with household chores and cooking. Demand for eldercare and childcare has continued to grow. In May, demand for nannies and eldercare service providers jumped 83 percent and 48 percent on a yearly basis, respectively.
For deep cleaning of homes, consumers pay more attention to the thorough cleaning of kitchen oil stains, bathroom tiles and hard-to-clean corners and under spaces. For home appliances, cleaning demand for air-conditioners, range hoods and washing machines has been the highest. In May, demand for air-conditioning cleaning climbed by 76 percent month-on-month and 26 percent year-on-year.
“Urbanites have shown an increasingly higher health awareness, and a growing number of consumers choose to clean their airconditioners before the arrival of summer to reduce respiratory diseases,” Li said.
Meanwhile, China’s high-net-worth families are becoming younger, and they are showing a growing demand for hiring private butlers as they embrace such a trend in Western countries, and more college graduates, including those who have studied abroad, are looking to butlers as career choices.
Private butlers usually act as senior life consultants for their employers’ core family management issues. Unlike ordinary housekeeping service personnel, private butlers usually need to understand advanced family affairs.
They usually speak one or two foreign languages, understand children’s educational planning, and have knowledge about issues such as nutrition, luxury products and ironing. They also cook multiple cuisines and are skillful at safeguarding and risk management, according to Meiyinghui Family Service Co Ltd, a Beijing-based butler management company.
The average salary of a private butler is about 200,000 yuan to 400,000 yuan annually for those who have one or two years of work experience, and the salary grows as they master more skills, thus attracting many people to engage in this profession.
“Employers would like to hire young butlers, including college graduates. The demand has become higher, as more families have a growing awareness of hiring butlers. Besides, many families have been quite busy with business matters after the COVID-19 pandemic, and they need to hire someone for household management,” said Zhang Ran, founder and president of Meiyinghui Family Service.
“Now, 70 percent of butlers in China are females. A lot of graduates and qualified people are still hesitating about engaging in this profession, and the supply of butlers is seeing a shortage. We plan to host a session to introduce the career path of the profession and attract more graduates,” Zhang said.
Besides major cities such as Beijing and Shanghai, some families in second-tier cities such as Qingdao in Shandong province and Shijiazhuang, Hebei province have also indicated high demand for hiring butlers, the company found.
Butlers usually need to take a few months of training classes before they start working. Li Siwen is a teacher who conducts training sessions for butlers, earning a master’s degree in hotel management from the University of Manchester.
“I’m quite interested in this sector. I used to work in the human resources management department of a company, and this job is similar. I mainly teach students psychology, color matching, sorting and organization of items, and business etiquette,” Li said.
Source: Traditional Unionist Voice – Northern Ireland
Statement by TUV MLA Timothy Gaston:
“For some weeks I have been collecting data on the spend of the different Executive departments on travel outside the British Isles since devolution returned. To say I am appalled at the scale and extravagance of ministerial and departmental spending on foreign travel is an understatement.
“When collated, the responses reveal an astonishing total of £470,000 spent on international travel by Stormont departments in just over a year — and more than £52,000 of that squandered by Ministers themselves.
“Luxury long-haul flights and costly hotel stays seem to be the norm for the Executive.
“No department has flown further or spent more widely than the Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs. In total, the department spent nearly £78,000, with trips ranging from Brussels to New Zealand, Germany to New York.
“Three individuals, including the Minister, few to New York Climate Week at a cost of £11,134 — supposedly to discuss sustainability of all things, while burning jet fuel and public money.
“Officials also attended climate-linked events in Sweden, Spain, and Germany — clocking up thousands more in expenses — with little to no clarity on what outcomes, if any, these junkets delivered for the Northern Ireland public.
“The Department of Finance racked up over £32,700 in international travel — including a single trip to Brussels by 16 officials from the Departmental Solicitor’s Office, costing the public £17,066. We’re told this was a “bespoke study visit” linked to the Windsor Framework.
“Can a 16-person legal trip to Brussels be justified? Ministers must explain why such a large group needed to attend, and what real value was achieved.
“The Minister for Education himself spent over £8,000 on overseas travel in a single year — including trips to Washington DC and Reykjavik, Iceland. Minister Givan’s personal travel and accommodation expenses account for nearly 25% of the total expenses by the Department on foreign travel.
Among the more concerning examples in the Department of Education are: • Two officials who travelled to Paris and racked up costs of over £2,100 and • A trip to Tokyo which cost £3,366, with no listed outcomes.
“With education budgets under severe strain, with SEN services stretched to breaking point people working in education will be asking questions.
“The biggest spenders though are of course the Executive Office. Michelle O’Neill and Emma Little Pengelly’s department has managed to spend over £126,000 on international travel.
“When people see Ministers parading on the world stage while hospital waiting lists grow at home, it’s not hard to understand the anger. Spending more on a single trip than many people earn in a year is shameful.
“Across the Executive, this pattern of waste repeats. Ministers and officials racking up air miles while local services go without.
“When we ask the public to tighten their belts, the very least they should expect is that Ministers do the same.
“Climate change conferences abroad are no substitute for sound governance at home.
“Ministerial egos should not be subsidised by people struggling to make ends meet.
“With many already questioning the value of Stormont, these figures will do nothing to restore public confidence.”
Note to editors
You can read the full set of questions and answers online here.
A New Zealand-born Niuean educator says being recognised in the King’s Birthday honours list reflects the importance of connecting young tagata Niue in Aotearoa to their roots.
Mele Ikiua, who hails from the village of Hakupu Atua in Niue, has been named a member of the New Zealand Order of Merit for services to vagahau Niue language and education.
She told RNZ Pacific the most significant achievement in her career to date had been the promotion of vagahau Niue in the NCEA system.
The change in 2023 enabled vagahau Niue learners to earn literacy credits in the subject, and receive recognition beyond “achieved” in the NCEA system. That, Ikiua said, was about continuing to increase learning opportunities for young Niue people in Aotearoa.
“Because if you look at it, the work that we do — and I say ‘we’ because there’s a lot of people other than myself — we’re here to try and maintain, and try and hold onto, our language because they say our language is very, very endangered.
“The bigger picture for young Niue learners who haven’t connected, or haven’t been able to learn about their vagahau or where they come from [is that] it’s a safe place for them to come and learn . . . There’s no judgement, and they learn the basic foundations before they can delve deeper.”
Her work and advocacy for Niuean culture and vagahau Niue has also extended beyond the formal education system.
Niue stage at Polyfest Since 2014, Ikiua had been the co-ordinator of the Niue stage at Polyfest, a role she took up after being involved in the festival as a tutor. She also established Three Star Nation, a network which provides leadership, educational and cultural programmes for young people.
Last year, Ikiua also set up the Tokiofa Arts Academy, the world’s first Niue Performing Arts Academy. And in February this year, Three Star Nation held Hologa Niue — the first ever Niuean arts and culture festival in Auckland.
Niuean community members in Auckland . . . Mele Ikiua with Derrick Manuela Jackson (left) and her brother Ron Viviani. Image: RNZ Pacific
She said being recognised in the King’s Birthday honours list was a shared achievement.
“This award is not only mine. It belongs to the family. It belongs to the village. And my colleagues have been amazing too. It’s for us all.”
She is one of several Pasifika honoured in this weekend’s list.
Cook Islander, Berry Rangi has been awarded a King’s Service Medal for services to the community, particularly Pacific peoples.
Berry Rangi has been awarded a King’s Service Medal for services to the community, particularly Pacific peoples. Image: Berry Rangi/RNZ Pacific
Lifted breast screening rates She has been instrumental in lifting the coverage rates of breast and cervical screening for Pacific women in Hawke’s Bay.
“When you grow up in the islands, you’re not for yourself – you’re for everybody,” she said.
“You’re for the village, for your island.”
She said when she moved to Napier there were very few Pasifika in the city — there were more in Hastings, the nearby city to the south.
“I did things because I knew there was a need for our people, and I’d just go out and do it without having to be asked.”
Berry Rangi also co-founded Tiare Ahuriri, the Napier branch of the national Pacific women’s organisation, PACIFICA.
She has been a Meals on Wheels volunteer with the Red Cross in Napier since 1990 and has been recognised for her 34 years of service in this role.
Maintaining a heritage craft She also contributes to maintaining the heritage craft of tivaevae (quilting) by delivering workshops to people of all ages and communities across Hawke’s Bay.
Another honours recipient is Uili Galo, who has been made a Member of the New Zealand Order of Merit for services to the Tokelau community.
Galo, of the Tokelau Aotearoa Leaders Council, said it is very gratifying to see his community’s efforts acknolwedged at the highest level.
“I’ve got a lot of people behind me, my elders that I need to acknowledge and thank . . . my kainga,” he said.
“While the award has been given against my name, it’s them that have been doing all the hard work.”
He said his community came to Aotearoa in the 1970s.
“Right through they’ve been trying to capture their culture and who they are as a people. But obviously as new generations are born here, they assimilate into the pa’alangi world, and somehow lose a sense of who they are.
“A lot of our youth are not quite sure who they are. They know obviously the pa’alangi world they live in, but the challenge of them is to know their identity, that’s really important.”
Pasifika sports duo say recognition is for everyone Two sporting recipients named as Members of the New Zealand Order of Merit in the King’s Birthday Honours say the honour is for all those who have worked with them.
Pauline-Jean Henrietta Luyten with Eroni Clarke of the Pasifika Rugby Advisory group. Image: RNZ Pacific
Pauline-Jean Henrietta Luyten, who is of Tongan heritage, has been involved with rugby at different levels over the years, and is currently a co-chair of New Zealand Rugby’s Pacific Advisory Group.
Annie Burma Teina Tangata Esita Scoon, of Cook Islands heritage, has been involved with softball since she played the sport in school years ago.
While they have been “committed” to their sports loves, their contribution to the different Pasifika communities they serve is being recognised.
Luyten told RNZ Pacific she was humbled and shocked that people took the time to actually put a nomination through.
“You know, all the work we do, it’s in service of all of our communities and our families, and you don’t really look for recognition,” she said.
“The family, the community, everyone who have worked with me and encouraged me they all deserve this recognition.”
Luyten, who has links in Ha’apai, Tonga, said she has loved being involved in rugby, starting off as a junior player and went through the school competition.
Community and provincial rugby After moving down to Timaru, she was involved with community and provincial rugby, before she got pulled into New Zealand Rugby Pacific Advisory Group.
Luyten made New Zealand rugby history as the first woman of Pacific Island descent to be appointed to a provincial union board in 2019.
She was a board member of the South Canterbury Rugby Football Union and played fullback at Timaru Girls’ High School back in 1997, when rugby competition was first introduced .
Her mother Ailine was one of the first Tongan women to take up residence in Timaru. That was back in the early 1970s.
As well as a law degree at Otago University Luyten completed a Bachelor of Science in 2005 and then went on to complete post-graduate studies in sports medicine in 2009.
Pauline-Jean Henrietta Luyten with Sina Latu of the Tonga Society in South Canterbury. Image: RNZ Pacific
She is also a founding member of the Tongan Society South Canterbury which was established in 2016.
Opportunities for Pasifika families On her rugby involvement, she said the game provides opportunities for Pasifika families and she is happy to be contributing as an administrator.
“Where I know I can contribute has been in that non-playing space and sort of understanding the rugby system, because it’s so big, so complex and kind of challenging.”
Fighting the stereotypes that “Pasifika can’t be directors” has been a major one.
“Some people think there’s not enough of us out there. But for me, I’m like, nah we’ve got people,” she stated.
“We’ve got heaps of people all over the show that can actually step into these roles.
“They may be experienced in different sectors, like the health sector, social sector, financial, but maybe haven’t quite crossed hard enough into the rugby space. So I feel it’s my duty to to do everything I can to create those spaces for our kids, for the future.”
Call for two rugby votes Earlier this month the group registered the New Zealand Pasifika Rugby Council, which moved a motion, with the support of some local unions, that Pasifika be given two votes within New Zealand Rugby.
“So this was an opportunity too for us to actually be fully embedded into the New Zealand Rugby system.
“But unfortunately, the magic number was 61.3 [percent] and we literally got 61, so it was 0.3 percent less voting, and that was disappointing.”
Luyten said she and the Pacific advisory team will keep working and fighting to get what they have set their mind on.
For Scoon, the acknowledgement was recognition of everyone else who are behind the scenes, doing the work.
Annie Scoon, of Cook Islands heritage, has been involved with softball since she played the sport in school years ago. Image: RNZ Pacific
She said the award was for the Pasifika people in her community in the Palmerston North area.
Voice is for ‘them’ “To me what stands out is that our Pasifika people will be recognized that they’ve had a voice out there,” she said.
“So, it’s for them really; it’s not me, it’s them. They get the recognition that’s due to them. I love my Pacific people down here.”
Scoon is a name well known among the Palmerston North Pasifika and softball communities.
The 78-year-old has played, officiated, coached and now administers the game of softball.
She was born in the Cook Islands and moved with her family to New Zealand in 1948. Her first involvement with softball was in school, as a nine-year-old in Auckland.
Then she helped her children as a coach.
“And then that sort of lead on to learning how to score the game, then coaching the game, yes, and then to just being an administrator of the game,” she said.
Passion for the game “I’ve gone through softball – I’ve been the chief scorer at national tournaments, I’ve selected at tournaments, and it’s been good because I’d like to think that what I taught my children is a passion for the game, because a lot of them are still involved.”
A car accident years ago has left her wheelchair-bound.
She has also competed as at the Paraplegic Games where she said she proved that “although disabled, there were things that we could do if you just manipulate your body a wee bit and try and think it may not pan out as much as possible, but it does work”.
“All you need to do is just try get out there, but also encourage other people to come out.”
She has kept passing on her softball knowledge to school children.
In her community work, Scoon said she just keeps encouraging people to keep working on what they want to achieve and not to shy away from speaking their mind.
Setting a goal “I told everybody that they set a goal and work on achieving that goal,” she said.
“And also encouraged alot of them to not be shy and don’t back off if you want something.”
She said one of the challenging experiences, in working with the Pasifika community, is the belief by some that they may not be good enough.
Her advice to many is to learn what they can and try to improve, so that they can get better in life.
“I wasn’t born like this,” she said, referring to her disability.
“You pick out what suits you but because our island people — we’re very shy people and we’re proud. We’re very proud people. Rather than make a fuss, we’d rather step back.
“They shouldn’t and they need to stand up and they want to be recognised.”
This article is republished under a community partnership agreement with RNZ.
