Source: Switzerland – Department of Foreign Affairs in English
The State Secretariat for Migration (SEM) and swissuniversities, the Swiss Conference of Rectors of Higher Education Institutions, want to facilitate access to higher education in Switzerland for refugees with academic potential and thereby ease the shortage of skilled labour. The first phase of the pilot programme will focus on five projects from institutions including the Universities of Basel, Lausanne and Lucerne, the University of Applied Sciences and Arts Northwestern Switzerland and the Lucerne University of Teacher Education.
On March 13, an expansive upper-level trough moved into the U.S. High Plains, Upper Midwest, and Midwest and began colliding with warm, moist air over the Mississippi Valley. The interaction helped fuel a major storm system that spread severe thunderstorms across several states. Many of these were supercells, a type of long-lived storm with a powerful rotating updraft. These storms often generate destructive tornadoes, hail, and damaging winds. Among the hardest-hit states was Mississippi, where 18 tornadoes touched down during the outbreak. These included one EF-4, one EF-3, seven EF-2, seven EF-1, and two EF-0 rated events. The onslaught damaged nearly 1,000 homes and dozens of businesses and farms, according to the Mississippi Emergency Management Agency. In some areas, damage was even visible to the Landsat 8 satellite. The images above, captured by the OLI (Operational Land Imager) on March 22, 2025, show a lengthy damage track extending roughly 55 miles (90 kilometers), from near Progress in the southwestern part of the state toward Williamsburg. Assessments of the damage by the National Weather Service led them to assign the event an EF-4 rating, making this one of the strongest tornadoes of the outbreak. They estimated peak winds of 170 miles (274 kilometers) per hour in some areas.
Photographs taken from the ground show how fierce winds lopped off trees, flipped cars and trucks, and tore homes from their foundations. The photograph above, from NOAA’s Damage Assessment Toolkit, shows a grove of trees with their tops sheared off and damaged cabins near Paradise Ranch RV Resort, in one of several areas in Mississippi that experienced widespread destruction. Three other smaller tornado tracks are also visible in the Landsat images: an EF-3 track from Tylertown to Goss, an EF-2 track from Melba to Moscos, and an EF-2 track from Bassfield to Williamsburg. In a rare occurrence, the Bassfield tornado even crossed paths with the EF-4 track, about 41 minutes after the first tornado passed, leaving an X-shaped pattern of damage in a forested area in Covington County (see below).
One location in western Covington County just north of Spring Hill School Road was struck twice by tornadoes just 41 minutes apart this past Saturday afternoon.The first tornado was more narrow as it approached the end of its path. The next storm that followed was wider. pic.twitter.com/mzzaJZAzRw — NWS Jackson MS (@NWSJacksonMS) March 21, 2025
The severe weather brought destruction to other states as well. According to news reports, the weather system produced at least 112 tornadoes that touched down in 14 states between March 14 and 16, taking dozens of lives, flattening scores of homes, and disrupting power supplies. Of those, at least 44 were classified as “strong” tornadoes, meaning they produced at least EF-2 damage on the Enhanced Fujita scale. For comparison, the United States typically sees 95 tornadoes in all of March. In the wake of these storms, the NASA Disasters Program provided multiple types of satellite imagery to the Southern Region of the National Weather Service to support their damage assessment process. National Weather Service damage assessments serve as the official record of the path and strength of each tornado and are used to inform state and federal disaster declarations, help emergency responders prioritize aid, and validate and improve early warning systems. Identifying damaged areas and tornado tracks can be challenging in rural areas with limited road access, but satellite data helps provide a more complete picture. At NASA’s Langley Research Center (LaRC), researchers are also harnessing satellite data to identify atmospheric patterns that can indicate severe weather on the ground. The NASA team is developing an open-source machine learning model that uses geostationary satellite data to identify potential overshooting cloud tops and above-anvil cirrus plumes, features that often appear at the tops of storms roughly 10 minutes before the most severe weather hits. According to Kristopher Bedka, an atmospheric scientist at LaRC, tracking the features can provide valuable lead time that saves lives and property. NASA Earth Observatory images by Wanmei Liang, using Landsat data from the U.S. Geological Survey. Photograph from NOAA’s Damage Assessment Toolkit, taken by a member of a National Weather Service storm survey team. Story by Adam Voiland.
As part of NASA’s SpaceX Crew-11 mission, four crew members from three space agencies will launch in the coming months to the International Space Station for a long-duration science expedition aboard the orbiting laboratory. NASA astronauts Commander Zena Cardman and Pilot Mike Fincke, JAXA (Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency) astronaut Mission Specialist Kimiya Yui, and Roscosmos cosmonaut Mission Specialist Oleg Platonov will join crew members aboard the space station no earlier than July 2025. The flight is the 11th crew rotation with SpaceX to the station as part of NASA’s Commercial Crew Program. The crew will conduct scientific investigations and technology demonstrations to help prepare humans for future missions to the Moon, as well as benefit people on Earth. Cardman previously was assigned to NASA’s SpaceX Crew-9 mission, and Fincke previously was assigned to NASA’s Boeing Starliner-1 mission. NASA decided to reassign the astronauts to Crew-11 in overall support of planned activities aboard the International Space Station. Cardman carries her experience training as a commander on Dragon spacecraft, and Fincke brings long-duration spaceflight experience to this crew complement. Selected as a NASA astronaut in 2017, Cardman will conduct her first spaceflight. The Williamsburg, Virginia, native holds a bachelor’s degree in Biology and a master’s in Marine Sciences from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. At the time of selection, she had begun pursuing a doctorate in Geosciences. Cardman’s research in geobiology and geochemical cycling focused on subsurface environments, from caves to deep sea sediments. Since completing initial training, Cardman has supported real-time station operations and lunar surface exploration planning. This will be Fincke’s fourth trip to the space station, having logged 382 days in space and nine spacewalks during Expedition 9 in 2004, Expedition 18 in 2008, and STS-134 in 2011, the final flight of space shuttle Endeavour. Throughout the past decade, Fincke has applied his expertise to NASA’s Commercial Crew Program, advancing the development and testing of the SpaceX Dragon and Boeing Starliner toward operational certification. The Emsworth, Pennsylvania, native is a distinguished graduate of the United States Air Force Test Pilot School and holds bachelors’ degrees from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, in both Aeronautics and Astronautics, as well as Earth, Atmospheric and Planetary Sciences. He also has a master’s degree in Aeronautics and Astronautics from Stanford University in California. Fincke is a retired U.S. Air Force colonel with more than 2,000 flight hours in more than 30 different aircraft. With 142 days in space, this will be Yui’s second trip to the space station. After his selection as a JAXA astronaut in 2009, Yui flew as a flight engineer for Expedition 44/45 and became the first Japanese astronaut to capture JAXA’s H-II Transfer Vehicle. In addition to constructing a new experimental environment aboard Kibo, he conducted a total of 21 experiments for JAXA. In November 2016, Yui was assigned as chief of the JAXA Astronaut Group. He graduated from the School of Science and Engineering at the National Defense Academy of Japan in 1992. He later joined the Air Self-Defense Force at the Japan Defense Agency (currently Ministry of Defense). In 2008, Yui joined the Air Staff Office at the Ministry of Defense as a lieutenant colonel. The Crew-11 mission will be Platonov’s first spaceflight. Before his selection as a cosmonaut in 2018, Platonov earned a degree in Engineering from Krasnodar Air Force Academy in Aircraft Operations and Air Traffic Management. He also earned a bachelor’s degree in State and Municipal Management in 2016 from the Far Eastern Federal University in Vladivostok, Russia. Assigned as a test cosmonaut in 2021, he has experience in piloting aircraft, zero gravity training, scuba diving, and wilderness survival. For more than two decades, people have lived and worked continuously aboard the International Space Station, advancing scientific knowledge and demonstrating new technologies, making research breakthroughs not possible on Earth. The station is a critical testbed for NASA to understand and overcome the challenges of long-duration spaceflight and to expand commercial opportunities in low Earth orbit. As commercial companies focus on providing human space transportation services and destinations as part of a robust low Earth orbit economy, NASA’s Artemis campaign is underway at the Moon, where the agency is preparing for future human exploration of Mars. Learn more about NASA’s Commercial Crew Program at: https://www.nasa.gov/commercialcrew -end- Joshua Finch / Jimi RussellHeadquarters, Washington202-358-1100joshua.a.finch@nasa.gov / james.j.russell@nasa.gov Courtney Beasley / Chelsey BallarteJohnson Space Center, Houston281-483-5111courtney.m.beasley@nasa.gov / chelsey.n.ballarte@nasa.gov
Today, Governor Joe Lombardo announced his appointment of Steve Canavero as the Interim Superintendent of Public Instruction for the Nevada Department of Education. Canavero will officially begin on April 14, 2025.
“It’s a privilege to appoint Steve Canavero as our interim Superintendent of Public Instruction. With decades of experience, Steve brings a wealth of knowledge and a unique perspective to guide our education system through this vital transition,” said Governor Joe Lombardo.
“I look forward to supporting Governor Lombardo, Nevada Department of Education, and State Board during this important time,” said Steve Canavero,Interim Superintendent of Public Instruction.
Canavero previously served as the Nevada Superintendent of Public Instruction from 2016 to 2019 under former Governor Brian Sandoval. Prior to his appointment in 2016, Canavero served as the Deputy Superintendent for Student Achievement for two years. Additionally, Canavero served as the Founding Executive Director of the State Public School Charter Authority, where he led Nevada’s efforts to expand student access to quality charter schools.
Canavero’s career in education began as a teacher and administrator, before earning a PhD in Education Leadership at the University of Nevada, Reno. Canavero earned his MEd in Educational Leadership from the University of Nevada, Reno and his undergraduate degree from Cal Poly San Luis Obispo.
Source: Africa Press Organisation – English (2) – Report:
ABIDJAN, Ivory Coast, March 28, 2025/APO Group/ —
The Board of Directors of the African Development Bank (www.AfDB.org) approved the establishment of a fund to help put an end to hunger and malnutrition amongst school age-children in Africa.
The End School-Age Hunger Fund (ESAH) was approved on 20 March with the aim of bolstering school meal programmes in targeted African countries by expanding existing initiatives and creating new ones so that more children in Africa have access to nutritious food while attending school while simultaneously boosing rural economies through agricultural productivity.
The implementation of the Fund, which will be run in conjunction with the African Development Fund (https://apo-opa.co/4hO6ZXT), the concessional window of the African Development Bank Group, includes the participation of the Children’s Investment Fund Foundation, which has already demonstrated its commitment by signing a $50 million letter of commitment to establish the Fund.
In September 2024, Children’s Investment Fund Foundation and the Bank signed a letter of intent (https://apo-opa.co/4hNsjMT) in which the CIFF undertook to provide up to $50 million for the creation of the End School-Age Hunger Fund , witnessed by African Leaders for Nutrition Champion and African Union Nutrition Champion, His Majesty King Letsie III of Lesotho. In addition, the Foundation indicated that it was fully prepared to contribute a further $50 million to the Fund, once the Bank had made its initial contribution. The Foundation is committed to supporting broader resource leveraging efforts to attract more donors to the Fund. At the same time, the African Development Bank is seeking to engage other philanthropic organisations, such as the Aliko Dangote Foundation, to strengthen the Fund’s donor base.
The End School-Age Hunger Fund will support activities that contribute directly to school food initiatives within the continent, ensuring the provision of nutritious meals to children while promoting the development of small and medium-sized enterprises that provide services related to these programmes. Where appropriate, it is expected to provide essential technical assistance to governments, encouraging them to prioritise nutritious school feeding programmes as a vital mechanism for enhancing socio-economic development, ensuring student retention in schools, and improving learning outcomes and social protection.
“The End School-Age Hunger Fundwill work to secure a five-year commitment from the targeted countries, which is the standard implementation period for the Bank’s investment projects,” said Dr. Beth Dunford, the African Development Bank Group’s Vice President for Agriculture, Human and Social Development. “The implementation period is long enough to establish a solid proof of concept to ensure the continuation of the initiative beyond the initial funding phase.”
The Children’s Investment Fund Foundation is the world’s largest philanthropic organisation dedicated specifically to improving the lives of children. Since 2004, the Foundation has received voluntary contributions and donations totalling over $2.4 billion. Over the past ten years, its endowment has grown to a value of $6 billion (2020), which highlights the potential opportunity it offers in terms of harnessing resources.
Source: State University of Management – Official website of the State –
On March 26, 2025, the 10th meeting of the Coordination Council of the scientific and educational consortium “Eurasian Network University” (ENU) was held in a mixed format, in which the rector of the State University of Management Vladimir Stroyev and the vice-rector Dmitry Bryukhanov took part.
The meeting was attended by representatives of the Ministry of Science and Higher Education of the Russian Federation, the Ministry of Economic Development of Russia, the State University of Management, the National Research University “MPEI”, the Moscow State Technological University “STANKIN”, the Almaty Technological University, the Kyrgyz State Technical University named after I. Razzakov, the Kyrgyz University of Economics, the University under the Interparliamentary Assembly of the Eurasian Economic Community, the Higher School of Economics, the Financial University under the Government of the Russian Federation, the Moscow State Law Academy named after O.E. Kutafin and others.
Chairman of the Coordination Council of the Eurasian Network University, Rector of the National Research University “MPEI” Nikolay Rogalev delivered a welcoming speech, familiarizing the participants with the agenda of the meeting. The main topics for discussion were issues of interaction between the Eurasian Network University and the Ministry of Science and Higher Education of the Russian Federation and the Ministry of Economic Development of the Russian Federation.
Alexey Poyda, Head of the Department of Bilateral Cooperation with Near Abroad Countries, the CIS and the Union State of the Department of International Cooperation of the Ministry of Education and Science, spoke about the key tasks of the ESU, including the training of qualified personnel and the development of educational programs for additional professional education. Particular attention was also paid to candidates from member states and observer states of the Eurasian Economic Union who are taking part in the ESU Olympiad.
Representative of the Ministry of Economic Development of the Russian Federation O.V. Prosvirina reported on the six main main directions of development of the EAEU, laid down in the declaration on the further development of economic processes within the Eurasian Economic Union. During the meeting, issues of providing the common market with key goods and resources, energy security, the formation of a common space for cooperation and collaboration in the field of technological development, as well as the training of qualified specialists in these industries were discussed.
The issues of creating a Eurasian Rating Agency and concluding free trade agreements with other countries were also discussed.
At the initiative of the universities participating in the ESU, a decision was made on the need to amend the regulations on the ESU Secretariat and return to the previous version of the Regulation, which provided for the division of powers between the chairman of the Coordination Council and the head of the ESU Secretariat.
At the end of the meeting, an open vote was held, following which it was decided to: return to the original version of the Regulation on the ESU Secretariat, appoint the Vice-Rector of the State University of Management Dmitry Bryukhanov to the position of head of the ESU Secretariat, approve the list of joint programs of additional professional education for foreign specialists in Russian, approve the work plan of the ESU scientific and educational consortium for 2025, include the Kyzylorda University “Bolashak” in the ESU.
The next meeting of the Coordination Council will be held on May 15-16 at the Volgograd State Technical University.
Subscribe to the TG channel “Our GUU” Date of publication: 03/28/2025
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A major funding boost is coming to Norwich, with £750,000 set to strengthen community initiatives, improve housing stability, and enhance street cleanliness across the city.
Awarded by Norwich City Council through central government’s UK Shared Prosperity Fund (UKSPF), this funding builds on the success of the £1.6 million already allocated between 2022 and 2025. The new funding will support fourteen carefully selected projects that align with the government’s latest UKSPF priorities: strengthening communities and places, supporting local businesses, and enhancing people’s skills.
Extending successful community-led projects
Two established projects will receive extended funding to continue their impactful work:
Brighter Futures (run by Future Projects): Having already helped 105 unemployed individuals into work, training, or volunteering, this programme will now expand its reach to support even more people facing employment barriers.
Daniel Childerhouse chief executive of Future Projects, said:
“We’re absolutely thrilled to continue this work, offering flexible, creative support where it’s needed most—and changing lives in the process.”
MENTA (in collaboration with FUSE): Offering essential start-up advice, training, and mentoring for businesses, social enterprises, and entrepreneurs, this initiative has already equipped over 250 individuals and start-ups with crucial skills to launch and grow their ventures.
Willow Farrell, chief executive of FUSE, said:“We are delighted to be working with FUSE and to see the extension of UKSPF funding for enterprise support within Norwich. This vital investment ensures that new, emerging, and existing microbusinesses—alongside those exploring social enterprise—continue to receive the guidance and resources they need to thrive.”
Supporting a diverse range of community initiatives
The funding will also boost several other key initiatives, including:
BITC (Business in the Community): Business Encounter Schools in East Earlham, working with education providers to bridge the gap between business and education and enhance social mobility.
INTERACT: A multi-agency intervention supporting those at risk of falls.
Clean streets: Additional resources dedicated to improving the cleanliness of the city and its neighbourhoods.
Community safety: Increased capacity to tackle anti-social behaviour and respond to safety concerns.
Homelessness prevention: Early intervention, tenancy support, and mediation services to reduce the risk of homelessness.
Let NCC: Incentives designed to increase the availability of affordable rental properties in Norwich.
Housing estate enhancements: Improvements to estates to support ongoing clean street initiatives.
Reducing inequality: Strengthening neighbourhood networks in target areas to foster a more inclusive community.
NoW: Project management support to streamline services, making it easier for residents to access the help they need.
A track record of success
Previous rounds of UKSPF funding have already delivered significant community benefits across Norwich, from upgrading public spaces and facilities to supporting local engagement. Alongside training and skills programmes, the fund has helped deliver community-led improvements, refurbished public buildings, and established a popular skill-sharing hub in Mile Cross.
Initiatives such as the Love Norwich grants have contributed to the creation of new community gardens and murals, while increased support for events, volunteering, and social enterprises has strengthened local participation. Neighbourhood cleanliness efforts have also led to improved waste management and enforcement.
A Fairer Norwich for all
Davina Howes, Norwich City Council’s executive director overseeing communities, welcomed the additional funding, stating: “Norwich is home to many fantastic community groups and initiatives, and we are proud to support them as part of our commitment to A Fairer Norwich.
“The additional UKSPF funding is a testament to the achievements of these projects, which continue to make a real difference in our city.
“Investing in these projects will enable us to further support our residents, improve quality of life, and foster a stronger, more vibrant Norwich.”
Since its inception, the UKSPF has enabled Norwich City Council to deliver a broad range of impactful initiatives:
Love Norwich grants: 39 grants awarded for community-led improvements to public outdoor spaces, including community gardens, wildflower areas, murals, and park improvements.
Community building improvements: 60 small capital grants for upgrades to public buildings, enhancing facilities and energy efficiency.
New Community facility: A skill-sharing hub, 185, opened in Mile Cross, offering activities focused on creativity and wellbeing, with 4,000 visitors since September 2023.
Green Hearts in Mile Cross: Partnership creating seven new community gardens, improving biodiversity, reducing fly-tipping, and fostering community action.
Community insights: Insights from community connectors have informed various initiatives, including employment support and age-friendly city work.
Community action: 131 events held and 35 people supported into regular volunteering.
Support for social enterprises: Workshops and one-to-one support delivered by FUSE, bringing an additional £137k into the city’s social enterprises.
Business support: Startup and growth support provided to 189 businesses and 74 entrepreneurs.
Employment support: 21 long-term unemployed individuals helped into employment, with 66 receiving training or volunteering support through the Brighter Futures project.
Neighbourhood cleanliness: Improved 52 communal bin facilities and piloted CCTV enforcement to reduce fly-tipping, with 57 new street bins being installed.
Excellent international scientists who want to continue their work in the Netherlands are welcome in our country. That is the message that Minister of Education, Culture and Science Eppo Bruins is eager to communicate with the world. He has asked the Dutch Research Council (NWO) to set up a programme to attract the best scientists to the Netherlands as soon as possible. Today, Mr Bruins formally stated his intentions in a letter to the House of Representatives.
Leading scientists
Minister Bruins: “The world is changing. Tensions are on the rise. We are seeing an increase in the number of scientists looking for another place to continue their work. I want more top international scientists to do so here in the Netherlands. After all, leading scientists are of immense value to the Netherlands and to Europe as a whole.”
A new NWO fund
Mr Bruins has asked the Dutch Research Council to establish a new fund as soon as possible to encourage outstanding researchers and talented scientists to come to the Netherlands to pursue their ambitions. For example, a financial package could be made available in the form of a grant. The aim is to ensure that scientists have the resources to live and work in the Netherlands and continue their research at a Dutch knowledge institution.
Details of the fund have yet to take shape, but the minister is eager to announce it at this early stage to scientists who are currently considering the next step in their career. It is important that they include the Netherlands in their deliberations. Other European countries such as France, Germany, Spain and Belgium are also taking initiatives to bring leading international scientists into the fold.
Truly international
A number of guiding principles of the fund have already been made clear. Eligibility is not restricted to Dutch nationals working abroad. Mr Bruins wants to open up the scheme to the full spectrum of top international talent, regardless of nationality. He also wants the fund to launch as soon as possible, sending a strong signal that leading researchers are welcome in the Netherlands. The ambition is that the fund will bring several dozen top scientists to the Netherlands. In close consultation with the Dutch Research Council, the minister expects to clarify the financial details in the coming weeks, along with the start date for the fund and the exact conditions that candidates will have to meet.
One of the driving forces behind this phenomenon is something scholars call “authoritarian learning,” a process by which autocratic leaders study each other and adapt tactics based on what appears to work, and how to proceed when they encounter resistance.
The Georgian Dream progression in power has mirrored that of Putin in Russia. In 2012, Putin signed a “foreign agents” law that originally targeted NGOs receiving foreign funding and alleged to be engaged in political activity.
The Kremlin equated this law to the 1938 Foreign Agents Registration Act, or FARA, in the United States, and justified it as a means to increase transparency around foreign involvement in Russia’s internal affairs.
Unlike FARA, however, Russia’s version of the law neither required establishing a connection between foreign funding and political activity nor provided a clear definition of political activity.
This vagueness allowed for a wide range of NGOs deemed undesirable by the Kremlin to be labeled as “foreign agents.” The result was the suppression of NGO activities through financial, administrative and legal burdens that led to their liquidation or departure from the country.
Over the years, this law has reduced Russian civil society’s ability to independently voice and address issues that its population faces.
Yearlong slide into autocracy
Georgian Dream passed a very similar foreign agent law on May 28, 2024, after overcoming a presidential veto. It forced NGOs receiving more than 20% of their funding from abroad to register with the Ministry of Justice as “serving the interests of a foreign power.”
Activists opposing the law have been physically assaulted, and the law has been utilized against what the ruling party has described as “LGBT propaganda.”
Three critical factors played a role in allowing for the foreign agent law in Russia to expand its reach: the power imbalance between the Russian government and NGOs, limited action by international authorities, and delayed media attention to the issue.
At the time the law was passed, civil society inside Russia itself was split. Some foresaw the dangers of the law and engaged in collective action to oppose it, while others chose to wait and see.
As it happened, the law and the accompanying repressive apparatus spread to a broader range of targets. In 2015, Putin signed a law that designated an “undesirable” status to foreign organizations “on national security grounds”; in 2017, an amendment expanded the targets of the law from NGOs to mass media outlets; and at the end of 2019, the law allowed the classification of individuals and unregistered public associations – that is, groups of individuals – as mass media acting as foreign agents. By July 2022, the foreign funding criterion was excluded and a status of a foreign agent could be designated to anyone whom the Russian authorities deemed to be “under foreign influence.”
Russia’s experience highlights the process of early stages of authoritarian consolidation, when state power quashes independent sources of power, and political groups and citizens either rally around the government or go silent. The foreign agent law in Russia was passed only after the protests that accompanied the 2012 elections, which returned Putin to the presidency for the third term.
In Georgia, the ruling government borrowed from Russia’s lead – after backing down from its first attempt to pass a foreign agent law in the face of massive protests, it pushed it through before the elections.
In the wake of President Donald Trump’s suspension of USAID assistance in February 2025, Georgian Dream has seized the opportunity to expand its war on civil society, echoing Russian, Chinese and American far-right conspiracy rhetoric that foreign-funded NGOs were fomenting revolution. To combat such phantoms, Georgian Dream has passed new legislation that criminalizes assembly and protest.
A springboard for repression
The foreign agent law has been a springboard for repressive activities in both Russia and Georgia, but while it took Russia a decade to effectively use the law to crush any opposition, Georgian Dream is working on an expedited timetable.
Georgia’s experience, following the Russian playbook, illustrates how authoritarians are learning from each other, utilizing the rule of law itself against democracy.
Christopher A. Hartwell has received funding from the Institute for Humane Studies and the Swiss National Science Foundation.
Anastasiya Zavyalova does not work for, consult, own shares in or receive funding from any company or organization that would benefit from this article, and has disclosed no relevant affiliations beyond their academic appointment.
On March 4, 2025, the commander in chief and leader of Myanmar, Min Aung Hlaing, visited Russia. It was his fourth official visit since a coup in 2021 saw the military seize power.
That coup ended a decade-long power-sharing arrangement between the army and the democratically elected government in Myanmar, sparking peaceful protests that soon developed into a nationwide armed resistance known as the Spring Revolution and an ensuing government crackdown.
The resulting civil war – now into its fourth year – has seen 6,000-plus people killed, 29,000 arrested and more than 3.3 million displaced, according to estimates from the human rights group Assistance Association for Political Prisoners. The conflict pits the country’s military, which has had a stranglehold on Myanmar’s politics for much of the past six decades, against a broad-based opposition that includes ethnic minority groups like the Karen National Union, Kachin Independence Army, Arakan Army, Ta’ang National Liberation Army, Myanmar National Democratic Alliance Army, People’s Defense Force and Bamar People’s Liberation Army.
With seemingly no immediate end to the fighting in sight, all sides are becoming increasingly reliant on foreign suppliers of weapons and fuel.
And this prompts an important question: Could the shifting policies and alignments of global powers – notably China, Russia and the U.S. – tip the balance of Myanmar’s civil war?
Russian President Vladimir Putin greets Myanmar Prime Minister Min Aung Hlaing on March 4, 2025, in Moscow, Russia. Getty Images
In his latest visit to Moscow, Min Aung Hlaing granted Russia rights to extract minerals in Myanmar’s conflict zones and build an oil refinery and a port in the coastal city Dawei.
This mutual arrangement also extends to defense and security matters. Myanmar and Russia engage in joint naval exercises, and Moscow is a top supplier of weapons to Myanmar’s generals and trains personnel for the military government.
But any diplomatic benefit from having Russia as a sponsor has been blunted due to Moscow’s loss of international support over the war in Ukraine. Should that change, as the new U.S. administration seems keen on, then it could benefit Myanmar’s military by giving the generals a stronger ally on the international stage.
As such, warming relations between Russia and the U.S. could be to the detriment of Myanmar’s myriad opposition groups. Already, the Trump administration’s policies mean that the resistance can no longer rely on the same level of support from Washington, and it’s no guarantee that European Union countries – already facing the prospect of withdrawn U.S. support for Ukraine – would step in to fill the gap.
US pivots away from Myanmar
Washington has nominally supported the Spring Revolution.
But that support has been largely symbolic. The U.S. still has not officially recognized the NUG as the legitimate government of Myanmar – a decision that prevents Washington from releasing US$1 billion held at the Federal Reserve to the democratic representatives. That money could be used both to bolster the resistance and deliver much-needed aid to the country’s people.
U.S. foreign policy as it evolves under the Trump administration is having further ripples in Myanmar.
The Trump White House has gutted the U.S. Agency for International Development, the department tasked with funding Myanmar through 2023’s Burma Act, which authorized sanctions on the military, support for those opposing the junta and assistance for Myanmar’s people.
Services such as Voice of America and Radio Free Asia have been suspended amid the recent U.S. cutbacks. As a result, people in Myanmar have more-limited access to reliable information and, more importantly, fewer media to represent and amplify their voices.
U.S. President Barack Obama encouraged Myanmar opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi to take part in elections. Soe Than Win/AFP via Getty Images
Myanmar has witnessed such a U.S. reversal before.
For a long period, Washington supported the opposition’s boycott of elections that guaranteed the power to the military. But in 2009, the U.S. administration under Barack Obama sent a message to the National League for Democracy (NLD), which at the time was under the leadership of now-imprisoned Nobel laureate Aung San Suu Kyi, that Washington would recognize the military’s elections as part of a policy of “pragmatic engagement” with the then-ruling junta.
Although the NLD won a sweeping victory – and went on to win the 2015 national vote – it meant giving legitimacy to a system rigged in favor of the military, with a quarter of parliamentary seats reserved for officers. Given that 75% approval was needed for any constitutional reform, it meant that the NLD could form a government but could only make decisions with the consent of the still-powerful generals.
The political situation now is different from 2012. The yearslong resistance has weakened the military significantly. And even if the NUG, which consists of member of the NLD and other political parties, does feel compelled to participate in elections, the various other resistance groups and ethnic armies will likely choose otherwise. Regional autonomy has become a reality as a result of the decentralized nature of the resistance movement; elections will not satisfy the various demands for autonomy.
Chinese push for stability
The U.S. administration’s reduction in aid and, potentially, support for Myanmar’s opposition could lead the way to China taking a greater role in shaping the course of the civil war.
China’s main concern is spillover from the war. For that reason, Beijing became concerned when an alliance of armed ethnic groups launched a major anti-military push in October 2023, fearing the spread of instability across the China-Myanmar border.
Since the civil war broke out, Chinese investments in Myanmar have stalled. Meanwhile, lawlessness inside Myanmar has led to the growth of mostly Chinese-run online scam centers – victims of which include Chinese citizens who have been kidnapped, trafficked and forced to work as scammers.
What China wants most is a stable Myanmar. Yet its chosen strategy to try to bring this about – forcing warring parties to sign ceasefire agreements – hasn’t worked so far.
This could change. The reduction of U.S. aid in Myanmar places an additional burden on ethnic resistance groups – they now have to shoulder more of the burden of providing for the people while fighting for autonomy. As such, resistance groups might be under greater urgency to accept China’s role as a mediator. And with that changed calculus, the imperative to find a negotiated solution may increase.
But a rushed ceasefire born of necessity does not equate to a lasting solution. As such, the shifting geopolitics of Russia, the U.S. and China may impact Myanmar’s civil war – but it will do little to encourage democracy in the country, nor put it on a path to lasting peace.
Tharaphi Than does not work for, consult, own shares in or receive funding from any company or organization that would benefit from this article, and has disclosed no relevant affiliations beyond their academic appointment.
Alderney Community & Leisure Facilities proposals available to the public
A comprehensive report delivered to the States of Alderney reveals how the Island’s community and leisure facilities could be elevated across three sites to benefit the working population, the elderly and young families.
The report by consultants Avison Young with partners Maccreanor Lavington leveraged the onsite interaction and background of the Braye Opportunity Area study and sought to meet objectives in the Island Plan. The report provides a costing exercise which used both UK benchmarks and estimates of escalation factors for Alderney (indicative funding requirements of £12 million) and potential income that could be generated at the States-owned sites.
Numerous key stakeholders and residents were consulted and in all, eight locations considered, including the Glacis at Braye which is a key location in the Braye Opportunity Area plan delivered earlier this year.
The executive summary of the report is being submitted to the States meeting of the 14th May and is available, together with the full report, on the States website which can be found on the following link Alderney Community & Leisure Feasibility Study.
The States is expected to discuss the opportunities and affordability for three possible developments:
· A Community Hub at a modernised, upgraded Butes Centre with a multi-purpose hall, spaces for studios, health and wellness, café and kitchenette, accommodation pods and storage.
· An Indoor Sports Facility with a four-court sports hall and indoor swimming pool situated either at the Glacis or the school, although the Butes may also be an option.
· A Cultural Hub with theatre hall, space for events and exhibitions based at the Island Hall which could be upgraded and expanded to broaden and improve its use.
Mr Abel said: “The recommendations of the report are that these facilities would benefit everyone in our community and enhance our reputation as a great place to live and work for families and all age groups.”
The States will consider suggestions from relevant groups, organisations or businesses of how they would manage the delivery of these projects from a preliminary business case through to final site selection, design, costing, funding, implementation, management and operation, maintenance and usage fees (a normal project delivery process). Proposals would be welcomed by the 30th June 2025 and meetings can be arranged for further clarification.
For further information and submissions of proposals please contact the Chief Executives office ceo@alderney.gov.gg
Source: State University of Management – Official website of the State –
The project of the Advanced Engineering School “RosGeoTech”, implemented by the State University of Management together with the Grozny State Oil Technological University named after Academician M.D. Millionshchikov, was approved by the Council of the Advanced Engineering School in early March and received a grant for further development.
Grants for 2025 were received by 20 advanced engineering schools of the second wave, which were divided into three groups depending on the amount of financial support. Based on the results of the work carried out over the year and the defense of the project before the Council of the PIS, RosGeoTech was transferred from the third group to the second and will receive a grant of 210.1 million rubles.
“Development of engineering education is a top priority. In the next five years, our industries will need 1.5 million qualified engineers,” Mikhail Mishustin said during his annual report to the State Duma on the work of the Government of the Russian Federation.
Let us recall that the following projects are being implemented directly at the State University of Management within the framework of the RosGeoTech PISh: ABRIS (Autonomous unmanned and robotic innovative systems in oil and gas, energy and construction engineering, as well as in ensuring the safety of facilities in various industries) and GeoMap (Formation of an interactive map of Russia’s geothermal resources).
We congratulate our scientists and colleagues from the M.D. Millionshchikov State Petroleum Technological University on the successful implementation of the first stage of the planned work and wish them to successfully achieve the final goal of the project, which promotes the most important national priorities of our time.
Subscribe to the TG channel “Our GUU” Date of publication: 03/28/2025
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March saw Derby Arena Velodrome play host to two national cycling events. This is the first time both these events have been hosted in Derby.
British University and Colleague Sports (BUCS) Track Championships
Between Fri 28 Feb and Mon 3 Mar over 100 students from across the UK descended on Derby Arena Velodrome for the BUCS Cycling and Para-Cycling Track Championships.
In total 28 University teams attended the event, with teams from as far away as Glasgow, Strathclyde, Bath, Exeter and Southampton joining cyclists from local institutions such as Derby Loughborough and Nottingham.
The event was also livestreamed on YouTube to over a thousand live viewers from around the world.
BUCS Event Organiser Joe O’Loughlin said:
The Track Championships was a huge success. Moving to Derby Arena this year and introducing the additional Friday session on top of the weekend was a first for BUCS, but both changes have received amazing feedback with members experiences overwhelmingly positive. The whole event, from the planning into the set up leading to the delivery, was made far easier by working with Daniel and his wonderful team. We look forward to making next year even bigger and better and continuing to provide a platform where student riders can display their immense talent.
Derby Arena Velodrome hosted Round 1 of the of the National Youth Omnium Series on Sun 9 Mar.
The Youth Omnium series is an important part of the British Cycling track calendar, with approximately 150 young cyclists ages 12-16 from across the country competing for places in the National final in June.
The Omnium has five different events: 1km Time Trial, 500m Sprint, Elimination Race, Scratch Race and Points Race, with points awarded for each race and totalled up at the end for with an overall winner from each age group for boys and girls. Whilst most of the cyclists and their families came from the Midlands area, there were cyclists from further afield such as Southampton, London, Newport and Devon.
Adult riders also took park in support races, providing further entertainment with exciting bunch racing and keirin racing.
Our next national cycle event is the British Cycling National Track Series – Round 1 in October 2025.
Source: State University Higher School of Economics – State University Higher School of Economics –
The development and implementation of the project took almost a year. Several layout options were proposed, but the optimal one was found quite quickly. The main tasks that needed to be solved in this space were various usage scenarios, acoustic comfort, and modern multimedia equipment.
The coworking space provides 32 workstations at common tables, 6 acoustic booths for individual work and 20 free seating places in the recreation area. The negotiation area, designed for 10 people, is separated from the main volume by a glass partition. There are also 15 poufs to increase the number of seats in case of large events. The project turned out to be bright and dynamic. The final touch was a neon sign, the design of which was chosen based on the results of a student vote. All this became possible thanks to the joint efforts of HSE employees and students and colleagues from VTB Bank, who co-authored the project.
“Perhaps we should have a karaoke night here,” jokes Vice-Rector Irina Martusevich, drawing attention to the good acoustics. The coworking space is designed for a large number of students to work simultaneously, which means that zoning and movement of sound in the space are extremely important. “At HSE, we strive to ensure that students communicate with each other as actively as possible, since the ability to communicate is one of the soft skills in demand among Russian employers. Our graduates have this skill, which distinguishes them from those who are used to working alone,” Irina Martusevich emphasized.
Vice-Rector Salambek Dombaev is confident that the coworking space “will become a place of inspiration for students, teachers and scientists.” “I hope that this is not the last facility on our large university campus that we will make so beautiful and multifunctional together with our partners from VTB,” he added.
“It is important to create classrooms that will not only be comfortable, but also useful for students, so that they receive a high-quality education, enter life and build a successful career,” emphasized Irina Kuzmina, VTB’s Corporate Social Responsibility Project Manager. She also recalled that the bank has long been cooperating with the Higher School of Economics and such partnerships make it possible, among other things, to find new young personnel among students.
The project and author’s supervision of implementation was carried out HSE Design Laboratory. The coworking space’s special feature is a mobile partition wall that can divide the space into two independent spaces. The coworking space’s use scenarios are limited by the imagination of students and employees: it’s equally comfortable to hold a hackathon, lecture, round table, film screening or a small board game championship.
Another feature is the presence of a screen with a schedule. Everyone can see when the coworking space is occupied and when it is free. As Deputy Vice-Rector Dmitry Shminke noted, this is a guarantee that students studying in the coworking space will always be able to plan their work in it and no one will ask them to vacate the space prematurely, as happened before the renovation.
The first symbolic event in the updated coworking space was a round table with representatives of student organizations. Students discussed the possibilities of using the spaces for student events and tested the already popular acoustics.
You can book a coworking space for your event right now. The booking form is available on the website Center for Support of Student InitiativesAt the same time, the space remains a place where you can come and work out in your free time.
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: Rosneft – Rosneft – An important disclaimer is at the bottom of this article.
As part of the grant program of the East Siberian Oil and Gas Company, a subsidiary of Rosneft Oil Company, scientists from the Siberian Federal University (SFU) have launched an online course, “Evenki Language and Culture.” The course is designed for schoolchildren from remote settlements and boarding schools in the Evenki Municipal District and will help students learn the Evenki language and introduce them to the culture and way of life of the indigenous people.
The course is aimed at developing knowledge about the basics of the Evenki language and the unique worldview preserved in the Evenki culture. The course includes 18 modules, navigation through the material depends on the student’s results.
The course developers tested the teaching materials at the Baikitskaya Secondary School. The scientists conducted discussion lessons, lectures, and career guidance games for students in grades 4–11. The students learned about the main modules and technical capabilities of the course.
At the beginning of the school year, all those who wish will be able to start learning. The program allows for a personalized approach for more effective mastery of the material by each student, and also includes weekly monitoring, which allows for identifying and eliminating gaps in knowledge.
Thanks to the VSNK grant program, cultural and linguistic projects have previously been successfully implemented. In 2022, scientists developed and published a manual for schoolchildren on studying the culture and language of the unique Keto people. This manual is widely used in educational institutions, promoting a deeper understanding of the linguistic heritage and the formation of respect for cultural diversity. In addition, the manual includes interactive tasks and materials that make the learning process more fun and effective. Earlier, an electronic version of the Evenki-Russian dictionary “Evedy-Luchady Tureruk”, a collection of works by Evenki masters and a unique alphabet “Evenkia: from A to Z”, created by children from the village of Baikit, Evenki District, Krasnoyarsk Territory, were released.
Preservation of the national culture of the indigenous peoples of the North and their traditional way of life is one of the key areas of the Company’s social policy. Rosneft enterprises implement many social, charitable and grant programs in support of scientific and applied projects.
Reference:
The East Siberian Oil and Gas Company, a subsidiary of Rosneft, is developing the Yurubcheno-Tokhomskoye oil and gas condensate field in the Evenki municipal district of Krasnoyarsk Krai. Over the years of its work in the region, VSNK has implemented many social, charitable and grant programs that have practical significance for Evenkia.
The VSNK grant program has been in effect since 2014. During this time, oil workers have supported 29 scientific works, including projects to preserve the Evenki language, reconstruct the Ethnopedagogical Center in the village of Tura, develop the first Red Book of Evenkia, revive the endangered breed of the Evenki aboriginal Laika, and others. The implementation of grant programs helps preserve the unique national culture, traditional way of life, and identity of the indigenous population of Evenkia.
Department of Information and Advertising of PJSC NK Rosneft March 28, 2025
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Source: United Kingdom – Executive Government & Departments
Scientists comment on a 7.7 magnitude earthquake that has hit central Myanmar.
Prof Bill McGuire, Professor Emeritus of Geophysical & Climate Hazards, University College London (UCL), said:
“Myanmar is one of the most seismically active countries in the world, so this quake is not a surprise. It looks to have occurred on the major Sagaing Fault, which marks the boundary between two tectonic plates, and which runs north – south close to a number of large population centres.
“This is probably the biggest earthquake on the Myanmar mainland in three quarters of a century, and a combination of size and very shallow depth will maximise the chances of damage. It is highly likely that build quality will generally not be high enough to survive this level of shaking, and casualty numbers will almost certainly climb significantly as more becomes known of the scale of the disaster.
“There has already been one sizeable aftershock and more can be expected. This will threaten the collapse of weakened buildings and make the jobs of rescue workers that much more challenging”
Prof Joanna Faure Walker, Professor of Earthquake Geology and Disaster Risk Reduction, University College London (UCL), said:
“Myanmar is no stranger to earthquakes. The plate boundary between the India Plate and Eurasia Plate runs approximately north-south, cutting through the middle of the country. These two plates move past each other as they are moving at different rates along a transform plate boundary (a bit like the San Andreas Fault in the south west of the United States). Although such strike slip earthquakes are of smaller magnitude than the largest earthquakes seen in subduction zones, like to the south in Sumatra, they can still reach magnitudes 7 to 8 and cause severe destruction, as we are seeing in the March 2025 earthquake.”
Dr Roger Musson, Honorary Research Fellow, British Geological Survey (BGS), said:
“Large earthquakes in this region are rare but not unknown, the last similar event being in 1956, more or less beyond living memory. This means that buildings are unlikely to be designed against seismic forces, and therefore are more vulnerable when an earthquake like this occurs, resulting in more damage and higher casualties. The ultimate cause of the earthquake is the northward movement of the Indian Plate, which produces a tearing effect along N-S trending vertical faults.”
Prof Ilan Kelman, Professor of Disasters and Health, Institute for Risk and Disaster Reduction (IRDR), University College London (UCL), said:
“Getting humanitarian relief into the worst-affected areas of Burma / Myanmar might not be politically easy. In 2008, Cyclone Nargis killed over 130,000 people in the country. The government took days to accept significant aid and then inhibited its delivery.
“For ‘disaster diplomacy’ to work – supporting disaster-affected people in areas with violent or political conflict – the world and the disaster-struck authorities must cooperate. Many governments running Burma / Myanmar have been highly controlling, including since the February 2021 military coup. Helping people in need without helping an oppressive government is a tricky situation for aid donors to navigate, not helped by the reported damage to transportation and communication systems.
“The usual mantra is that ‘Earthquakes don’t kill people; collapsing infrastructure does’. Governments are responsible for planning regulations and building codes. This disaster exposes what governments of Burma / Myanmar failed to do long before the earthquake which would have saved lives during the shaking.”
Declared interests
Prof Bill McGuire “No interests to declare”
Prof Joanna Faure Walker “None to declare”
Prof Ilan Kelman “Ilan has been researching disaster diplomacy since 1999.”
For all other experts, no reply to our request for DOIs was received.
Source: Peter the Great St Petersburg Polytechnic University – Peter the Great St Petersburg Polytechnic University –
Pavel Lazarevich Kalantarov, a 1920 graduate of the Polytechnic Institute, played a significant role in the development of theoretical electrical engineering and became one of the founders of higher electrical engineering education in the country. He received a doctorate in technical sciences and was awarded the title of Honored Scientist of the RSFSR, as well as the Order of Lenin. Pavel Lazarevich linked his professional activities with his alma mater, where he held the positions of professor, head of departments, dean and rector. His great-great-grandson Pyotr Yatsenko is currently a first-year student at the Civil Engineering Institute. He shared unique facts from the life of his outstanding ancestor and spoke about other representatives of the Polytechnic dynasty. Read about this in our traditional “Dynasty” column.
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: Peter the Great St Petersburg Polytechnic University – Peter the Great St Petersburg Polytechnic University –
This year, the Polytechnic Preparatory Department celebrates its anniversary. 60 years ago, the first foreign students arrived on the banks of the Neva and began their studies at the Leningrad Polytechnic Institute named after M. I. Kalinin. In honor of this event, a trip to Veliky Novgorod, a city with an ancient history, was organized for current students.
Children from Algeria, Pakistan, China, Turkey, Chad and other countries saw how Russian culture was born. They walked around the Novgorod Kremlin (Detinets) — the oldest fortress in Russia, where they learned about the defense of cities in ancient times. At the monument “Millennium of Russia” the students examined the figures of great rulers: Yaroslav the Wise, Alexander Nevsky, Ivan III and learned their history.
Everyone was especially impressed by the Saint Sophia Cathedral. It is huge and very beautiful! Such buildings show how much history means to your country, – shared Ok Berk from Turkey.
The students also visited the Vitoslavlitsy Museum, where they saw old wooden houses, churches and a windmill.
I liked how the museum preserved the peasants’ way of life. It seemed as if I had gone back in time! – said Ahmad Md Nawab from India.
After the excursion, the group went to an old village, where they tried traditional dishes and heard folk legends.
Novgorod is a city that everyone should see! There is so much history, nature and kind people here, the guys shared their impressions.
The trip was not only a vacation, but also a lesson in Russian culture. The students returned with bright photos, new knowledge and a desire to learn even more about Russia.
The preparatory faculty continues its festive events – meetings with graduates, conferences and a gala concert are ahead.
The preparatory faculty of SPbPU has more than half a century of successful training of foreign citizens. Our students were very lucky to come to the preparatory faculty of the Polytechnic in this anniversary year. I am sure many guys will take part in the ceremonial events and will continue their education at the Polytechnic, – noted assistant to the vice-rector Pavel Nedelko.
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Patricia Rimbi, Professor Karen Scott and Dr Silvia GratzCan “good bacteria” be used to maintain good health as we grow older? Scottish biotech company NCIMB has teamed-up with the pioneering Rowett Institute at the University of Aberdeen, to address this question in a new research project, funded by Innovate UK.
Scientists have been exploring the role of gut bacteria in human health for many years and it has now been established that microbes within our gut not only aid the digestion of food, but also play an important role in protecting us from disease and promoting health. Good gut health requires a diverse community of microbes, but as we age, the diversity within our gut microbiota changes, and this change has been associated with increased susceptibility to disease in the elderly, and other health conditions such as low-grade chronic inflammation.
Increased awareness of the links between the gut microbiome and human health has led to increased demand for supplements and foods containing species of bacteria known to be present in a healthy gut, and a better understanding of the mechanisms involved is allowing scientists to focus on the creation of more tailored products with specific health-related properties.
Julie MacKinnon, microbiome services manager at NCIMB explains more: “The bacteria in our gut play an important role in our ability to fight disease, and the mix of bacteria present is a key factor in maintaining a strong immune system. Different species of bacteria perform different functions within the gut – for example an important group of bacteria are those that produce a metabolite called butyrate. This is a short chain fatty acid, produced from digestion of dietary fibre, that is both anti-inflammatory and anti-infective. These butyrate-producing bacteria thrive best in a mixed community with other bacterial species in close proximity.
“This project will focus on elevating the production of butyrate in the gut using a bacterial consortia approach. We plan to screen panels of different bacterial species, already proven to be beneficial, and blend into a cocktail for superior performance. The goal is to be able to colonise the gut and restore gut health in the elderly with an associated improvement in longevity and quality of life”.
Development of a safe and low-cost supplement that can restore or retain a healthy gut microbiome in elderly people would provide healthier ageing for individuals and have huge societal benefits.” Professor Karen Scott
The research project will draw on the extensive resources and expertise of the two organisations to evaluate and characterise strains for their therapeutic potential. NCIMB has been supporting the probiotic and microbial therapeutic research community for many years through supply, storage and characterisation of bacteria. The Rowett Institute, which played a major role in establishing the link between diet and health, and is renowned for its pioneering work on the gut microbiome, has built a large collection of beneficial gut bacteria that will be screened during the project.
Commenting on the project, Professor Karen Scott from the Rowett Institute said: “The changes in our microbiome that occur with ageing can have a significant impact on quality of life, and associated health complications are putting healthcare and social care services under increasing pressure. Development of a safe and low-cost supplement that can restore or retain a healthy gut microbiome in elderly people would provide healthier ageing for individuals and have huge societal benefits.”
Source: Peter the Great St Petersburg Polytechnic University – Peter the Great St Petersburg Polytechnic University –
The youth choir “Polyhymnia” of SPbPU received the Grand Prix of the All-Russian open choral festival-competition “Raduga” named after I.V. Roganova.
Every choir strives to get into this prestigious choral competition every year, since the performances take place at the best acoustic concert venues in St. Petersburg, and the jury consists of leading specialists in choral art.
The youth choir “Polyhymnia” of SPbPU successfully passed the auditions in its category and was nominated by the jury for the Grand Prix of the entire competition. In the Concert Hall of the Mariinsky Theatre, the Polytechnicians performed the Latvian folk song “Father Thunder” so well that they were unconditionally awarded the highest prize of the competition, in which more than 50 children’s, youth and adult choirs competed, including groups from music schools in Russia and neighboring countries.
And the second main award went to the Polytechnicians – the artistic director of “Polyhymnia” Anna Podgornova received the title of “Best Conductor”. Anna herself began singing in “Polyhymnia”, graduated from the IPMET SPbPU, then the N. A. Rimsky-Korsakov Music College in the specialty “Choral Conducting”, and is now studying at the St. Petersburg State University of Culture.
“I am delighted that our students and graduates who chose a profession not related to music are able to devote themselves to it so much and show high results,” shared Anna Podgornova. “The guys put so much work, time, and emotion into this victory that for me they would have been winners even without the Grand Prix. I am incredibly happy that our future will be built by these goal-oriented, strong, talented, and caring people!”
These victories are very significant for the university. It is no coincidence that SPbPU is gathering its student community for the ninth time for the choir competition “Blagovest”. Choirs and ensembles from 15 Russian universities will gather at the Polytechnic University on April 4-6 to demonstrate the unifying power of music.
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Source: United Kingdom – Executive Government & Departments
News story
Natural England board member reappointed
Clare Fitzsimmons has rejoined the board for a second term
Clare Fitzsimmons has today (Friday 28 March) been reappointed to the board of Natural England.
Her second term will run for three years from 12 March 2025 until 11 March 2028.
This appointment has been made in accordance with the Governance Code on Public Appointments published by the Cabinet Office.
Natural England is the government’s statutory adviser for the natural environment in England. Its purpose is to help conserve, enhance and manage the natural environment for the benefit of present and future generations, thereby contributing to sustainable development.
Biography:
Clare Fitzsimmons is Professor of Marine Ecosystems and Governance at Newcastle University. She is Director of Business, Innovation and Skills in the School of Natural and Environmental Sciences and chairs the External Advisory Board, gaining commercial experience in defence and consultancy sectors.
Clare is also a Marine Management Organisation-appointed member of the North Eastern Inshore Fisheries and Conservation Authority. She is co-chair of Natural England’s Science Advisory Committee, multi-disciplinary experts to ensure the best available scientific advice is used to underpin decision-making for nature recovery.
Source: Peter the Great St Petersburg Polytechnic University – Peter the Great St Petersburg Polytechnic University –
The Potanin Foundation has summed up the results of the 2024/2025 scholarship competition. This prestigious scholarship is a recognition of the outstanding achievements of master’s students in their studies, leadership and public activities. This year, 750 people became winners of the competition. Among the lucky ones are 27 talented students of SPbPU, who will now receive a scholarship of 25,000 rubles until the end of their studies.
The result of the Advanced Engineering School “Digital Engineering” was especially successful – five students of the SPbPU PISh were among the winners. They demonstrated not only deep academic knowledge, but also the ability to turn theory into practice, which is especially valuable for modern engineering education.
We are proud of our students, who have once again proven that SPbPU PISh is a forge of talents and innovations. Their victory is not only a personal achievement, but also recognition of the high level of training, – noted the Vice-Rector for Digital Transformation of SPbPU, the head of SPbPU PISh Alexey Borovkov.
Ksenia Grigorieva: Participation in the competition was not only an opportunity for me to demonstrate my knowledge and skills, but also an important stage in my personal and professional growth. This is not just a competition, but a unique platform for exchanging ideas, finding inspiration and meeting talented people from all over the country. I would like to express special gratitude to the teachers of the Advanced Engineering School, my mentors.
During her years of bachelor’s degree at the Polytechnic University in the specialty “General Biotechnology”, Ksenia actively demonstrated herself in scientific, educational and creative activities. She considers her participation in the project on the synthesis of human parathyroid hormone and work in the biochemistry department of the “Institute of Experimental Medicine”, the main goal of which was to identify antibodies to modified low-density lipoproteins and study the effect of these antibodies on the development of atherosclerotic lesions, to be some of her main achievements. In addition to scientific activities, last year Ksenia successfully graduated with honors not only from her bachelor’s degree, but also from the additional education program “Digital Departments”. Ksenia’s interests are not limited to study and science – for the fifth year now, the girl has been singing in the youth choir “Polyhymnia”.
Artem Shcherbak: The purpose of my participation in the Vladimir Potanin scholarship competition was to establish contacts in the professional sphere and meet proactive young people for the potential construction of new projects and work on joint events. I have friends who have previously become laureates of this award, their experience inspired me.
Artem was an organizer of major events at the Saint Petersburg Mining University of Empress Catherine II, a delegate to the Student Council of Saint Petersburg under the Committee on Youth Policy, a volunteer and organizer of events “Volunteer Company of Combat Brotherhood”, a member of the youth council of the Central District of Saint Petersburg, a laureate of the city award “Best Youth Project 2022”, the owner of a letter of gratitude “For personal contribution to the implementation of socially significant projects and the development of volunteer activities in 2023” from the Committee on Youth Policy under the Government of Saint Petersburg.
Stepan Akimov: I am very glad that I was able to take part in the scholarship competition. The main thing here is initiative. I realized that if I approach the matter not half-heartedly, show a little interest and turn on creativity, then my approach will pay off. And so it happened! At the end of the final competition day, I felt great pleasure from everything that had been done, I was happy with the stunning victory of my team in the main test and that I was able to play an important role in this.
Alexey Plyushch has been actively working in the Trade Union of Students of the Polytechnic University for five years now, was the first deputy chairman, head of the sports department, and acts as the main organizer in most projects. Alexey is a trainer and mentor of the inter-institutional training of “Adapters of SPbPU”, the best graduate of the “management” department of IPMET.
Sergey Gaurgov graduated from the Institute of Mechanical Engineering, Materials and Transport of SPbPU with a bachelor’s degree in “Automation of Technological Processes and Production” in 2024. He is a versatile engineer who can work with both pneumatic and hydropneumatic devices, and is well versed in electrical engineering, circuit design and the development of electronic devices.
For his master’s degree, Sergey chose the Advanced Engineering School: It seemed to me that studying at PISH would be a logical continuation of the direction of production automation, which I studied in my bachelor’s degree. Here I can specialize in robotics under the guidance of my teacher, an expert in autonomous unmanned systems Georgy Vasilyanov.
Sergey is currently undergoing an internship at the Saint Petersburg Automobile Plant (formerly Nissan), where he is engaged in optimizing the logistics of unmanned robots in the automation department.
Also among the winners of the scholarship program are master’s students: Irina Smirnova, Angelina Rubleva, Aelita Maslova and Viktor Sorokin (headquartered in Statistics), Egor Vinokurov and Vitalina Furman (headquartered in Biotechnical Systems and Technologies), Olga Obraztsova and Veronika Chernova (headquartered in Biotechnology), Denis Mametyev and Sergey Sudnishchikov (Construction), Sofia Ivanova (Business Informatics), Alexandra Voziyan (Software Engineering), Gennady Zyabkin (Automation of Technological Processes and Production), Nikita Izbyakov (Power Engineering), Konstantin Mashyanov (Mechatronics and Robotics), Anastasia Mikulenko (Materials Science and Materials Technology), Anastasia Murashova (Sociology), Nikita Oparin (Metallurgy), Zinaida Pavlenkova (Design), Daria Ryzhova (Foreign Regional Studies), Alexey Filatchev (Economics), Anastasia Yarkova (Information Systems and Technologies).
The winners of the Potanin scholarship receive not only monthly financial support, but also the opportunity to participate in the foundation’s educational and social projects aimed at developing leadership and professional skills.
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: Saint Petersburg State University of Architecture and Civil Engineering – Saint Petersburg State University of Architecture and Civil Engineering –
The All-Russian School TIM Championship of SPbGASU has ended: on March 26 for its participants, on the 27th – for the jury. The works have been checked, the results have been summed up.
As Denis Nizhegorodtsev, Deputy Director of the Educational Center for Digital Competencies at SPbGASU, explained, the students solved two problems: creating a digital information model and drawing up drawings based on it.
“Of course, the level of their work with drawings is lower than with the modeling functionality. Nevertheless, if we consider that the tasks were completed by students in grades eight through eleven, the quality of the work performed can be considered very good. Participants from all regions demonstrated a decent level of proficiency in building information modeling tools. Having received the appropriate professional knowledge in the construction industry, they would be able to successfully complete tasks in real design,” Denis Nizhegorodtsev noted.
Evgeny Alimpiev was declared the winner of the TIM Championship. Sergey Alshevsky took second place, and Roman Andrievsky took third place.
Sergey Alshevsky, a student at School No. 347 in the Nevsky District of St. Petersburg, believes that participation in the TIM-Classes project is good preparation for this Olympiad; in addition, experience helped – Sergey participated for the second time.
“Last year, the tasks seemed easy because all the formulas and calculations were given. This time, I had to calculate the area of the premises myself, including the walls and doors, and it was difficult. But I like participating in these kinds of competitions: it develops skills and prepares for further activities. True, I have not yet decided on a profession, but I think that I will go to college or university with the aim of obtaining a working specialty – where you need to work with your hands, on the road, so as not to sit at the computer,” explained Sergey.
Participants of the TIM Championship talk about it
In preparation for the TIM Championship, tenth-grader of the Surgut Scientific Lyceum Maria Nikitenko took a preparatory week-long course in Khanty-Mansiysk, where she learned to work in two programs: Renga and QGIS. After that, she continued to prepare independently, including using educational videos.
“There were tasks at the qualifying stage of the TIM Championship that I easily completed. But when I saw the three-dimensional drawings at the final stage, I was even scared at first. In about fifteen minutes I figured out the process and realized: you don’t need to panic, but just look closely at every detail of the projects and build systematically. I like doing this so much that I plan to enroll in the architecture department of St. Petersburg State University of Architecture and Civil Engineering. For this purpose, I will continue to participate in such competitions in order to seriously immerse myself in the topic,” said Maria.
Valery Selivanov, a tenth-grader at School No. 20 in the Nevsky District of St. Petersburg, is a participant in the TIM-Classes project, so he contacted his supervisor, a student at St. Petersburg State University of Architecture and Civil Engineering, to clarify some questions about participating in the TIM Championship. He also completed the university’s educational video courses.
“In the TIM class, we also make a project of an individual residential house, but it is much easier there, because you choose the house yourself, build it according to the prescribed requirements and declared parameters. Here I saw a huge drawing, which was quite difficult to navigate. For example, to clarify each criterion, it was necessary to turn over many pages, the task was voluminous. But I am happy, although at first it seemed that I did not have time. It was nice to meet the guys: I came alone and was worried about how I would be in an unfamiliar place with strangers, but I immediately joined the general company of interesting participants from different cities. Most likely, after finishing school, I will choose a technical specialty, but I will think about the profile for now: perhaps it will be innovative technologies,” concluded Valery.
Karim Khalitov, an eighth-grade student at the Specialized Educational and Scientific Center “IT Lyceum of Kazan Federal University”, admits that two months ago he had not even heard of information modeling technologies. A friend introduced him to this field.
“A friend is keen on architecture, plans to enter SPbGASU, but unfortunately couldn’t come. He suggested that I study TIM and take a three-week preparatory course at the Kazan University of Architecture and Civil Engineering. After that, I took part in my first TIM competition among professionals and took third place at the regional stage. The result inspired me to participate in the TIM Championship of SPbGASU. The most difficult moment was reading the drawings. I read such drawings on paper, and their electronic format was unusual for me. I managed to do something, but I tried to do everything. At the same time, reading these drawings and interpreting them into a 3D model is very interesting. The process itself is fascinating!” – shared Karim.
He does not yet plan to connect his future profession with architecture, but he considers participation in the TIM Championship important for self-development and finding his own direction of activity.
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 official Aberdeen anthem for this summer’s much-anticipated Tall Ships spectacular was given its premiere yesterday (Thursday 27 March) to great acclaim.
In another first for The Tall Ships Races, the event’s official mascot – Dorry the Dolphin – made a debut appearance at the special lunchtime concert in Aberdeen Art Gallery’s Cowdray Hall.
Primary 4 pupils from Abbotswell School sang ‘The Sea Journey’ l to an audience of 150, including composer Clara-Jane Maunder who wrote the piece for the Aberdeen City Council Music Service pupils to celebrate the Tall Ships return to the city.
Clara-Jane, a former Music Service pupil who went on to study at Aberdeen University and is now an emerging professional composer was delighted with her composition’s public debut which named familiar Aberdeen landmarks.
She said: “It has been a real delight to work on this commission for Aberdeen City Music service over the past couple of months, and it has been even more wonderful to hear it performed in such a beautiful and enthusiastic way by pupils from Abbotswell Primary School.”
I benefitted hugely from the Music Service’s instrumental tuition, ensembles, and orchestras as a young person, so this has been an absolute full-circle moment. It has been truly wonderful to have the opportunity to write for the next generation of young creatives, inspired by the city I grew up in.
“‘A Sea Journey’ follows the journey of a sailor (maybe from this century, or maybe from long ago) as they return to Aberdeen after a long time at sea, continuing with them past familiar parts of Aberdeen’s coastline until they arrive home to the Granite City.).
Clara-Jane’s delight was shared by Councillor Martin Greig, Chair of the Tall Ships Organising Committee, who said: “It was a pleasure to be here today on such a joyful occasion.
“The pupils gave a wonderful performance of Clara-Jane’s stirring composition which will be a real symbol of the Tall Ships and our great maritime city. The song will be a splendid long lasting legacy of this year’s Tall Ships experience. Joining in with the words and music is a great way to share in the celebrations and the fun.”
The piece has been written as a flexi score which means that it can be performed by different combinations of musicians such as a full orchestra and choir, or sung by a soloist and string quartet. This allows the piece to be used as much as possible in different settings including not only the Tall Ships festival but also the forthcoming Big Sing 2025.
Also among the captivated audience were Bob Sanguinetti, CEO, Port of Aberdeen and Adrian Watson, Chief Executive of Aberdeen Inspired. Mr Sanguinetti said: “I’m thrilled to have been part of this memorable occasion today. The students showcased an outstanding performance of Clara-Jane’s captivating composition, which perfectly embodies the essence of the Tall Ships and reflects the rich maritime spirit of our city. This remarkable piece will leave a lasting impression, serving as a wonderful reminder of this year’s Tall Ships event.”
Mr Watson said was also charmed by the pupil’s performance, saying: “It was a magical moment to hear the talented pupils of Abbotswell School give this moving piece of music its premiere.
“This might be the first time we have heard Clara-Jane’s soaring work, The Sea Journey, but it won’t be the last. I am sure this enchanting composition will become a much-loved and oft-performed anthem for The Tall Ships Races Aberdeen.
“Today was very much about firsts for The Tall Ships Races, with Dorry the Dolphin’s debut appearance making a splash at the concert. Such a fun and loveable mascot for the Tall Ships, Dorry will become a familiar sight on city streets in the weeks to come.”
Aberdeen Sinfonietta is premiering Clara-Jane’s second Tall Ships piece “The Coast” on 18 May at The Music Hall concert on maritime-related orchestral music.
Meanwhile, Dorry will be popping up around the city over the coming weeks at the Bucksburn Community Council Event, Peterculter Gala, Big Belmont Bash and Aberdeen Highland Games.
Photograph shows Abbotswell P4 pupils and Tall Ships mascot Dorry theDolphin flanked by Cllr Martin Greig (left) and composer Clara-Jane Maunder (right)
Source: Peter the Great St Petersburg Polytechnic University – Peter the Great St Petersburg Polytechnic University –
The Peter the Great St. Petersburg Polytechnic University celebrated the holiday of Navruz, a festive welcome to spring filled with cultural exchange, friendship and hospitality.
Navruz is one of the oldest holidays, symbolizing the arrival of spring and the renewal of nature. On this day, Polytechnic students from Uzbekistan, Turkmenistan, Azerbaijan and Kyrgyzstan presented the traditions of their peoples.
Navruz at the Polytechnic University was a special event for me – this is my first experience as an organizer, and I am glad that I was able to make my contribution. It was incredibly pleasant to see how students from different countries unite, share their traditions and create an atmosphere of real spring renewal. This experience gave me not only new knowledge, but also confidence that together we can create even more bright and significant events! – said Begench Mukhammedov, a second-year student in the Jurisprudence program.
Guests of the festival saw national performances, heard poetry and musical numbers, enjoyed live performances of folk songs. Enchanting traditional dances conveyed the atmosphere of spring, and the exhibition of national culture allowed to get to know the traditions of different countries better. The evening ended with a heartfelt tea party, where participants were able to communicate and exchange impressions.
The organizers express their sincere gratitude to the Director of the Humanitarian Institute Natalia Chicherina and the Assistant Vice-Rector for International Affairs Pavel Nedelko for their support and contribution to the celebration.
Navruz at the Polytechnic is not just an event, but a good tradition that unites students of different nationalities and creates an atmosphere of friendship, respect and cultural exchange.
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.
Guests mingle at “The Night of Lights” cultural exchange event in Beijing, March 23, 2025. [Photo by Liao Jiaxin/China.org.cn] A vibrant cultural exchange event titled “The Night of Lights” was hosted in a Beijing cultural space on March 23, bringing together diplomats, students and business professionals from Pakistan, Tunisia, Morocco, Türkiye and other countries. The gathering, centered on themes of “unity and inclusion,” created a warm atmosphere for cross-cultural dialogue through culinary delights, traditional attire and artistic performances. The evening buzzed with intercultural energy as participants sampled international delicacies like Pakistani samosas, Moroccan harira soup and Argentine madeleine cakes. Many of the attendees dressed in colorful national costumes, exchanging stories about their home countries and sharing their experiences of living in China. Safaa Merzane, a Moroccan student at Capital University of Economics and Business, has developed a deep appreciation for Chinese cuisine during her year and a half in the country. When asked about her most memorable cultural experience in China, she enthused: “The first idea that comes to my mind is the Chinese food. When I try spicy food, I think it’s so delicious!”
Moroccan student Safaa Merzane shares her impressions of Chinese cuisine during the cultural event, March 23, 2025. [Photo by Liao Jiaxin/China.org.cn] Hina Shaikh, a teacher at the Pakistan Embassy College in Beijing, expressed her delight in participating. “There are many different foods, culture traditions and cultural performances I see today,” Shaikh remarked. “That has really amused me how people interact with each other, how they respect each other’s culture. And I feel very happy when I’m a part of such an event.” She particularly noted the eagerness of the young performers to showcase their cultural heritage through dance, music and traditional dress. Shaikh, who regularly participates in cultural activities through her work, added: “The students of the college are normally taking part in many cultural programs. Even in our college, there are lots of Chinese students come to perform. And we have culture programs.” In her opinion, these events act as vital bridges fostering international understanding and friendship. Tunisian students Sirin Jridi and Khaoula Louhichi from Minzu University of China enthusiastically shared their perspectives on China’s inclusive cultural environment. “I came to this event at my friend’s invitation,” Jridi explained. “We try to showcase our traditional clothes and some of our food and introduce them to a lot of nationalities. Of course, we have tried other people’s food and we really like it. We are willing to have more of this kind of events to participate in.”
Tunisian exchange students Khaoula Louhichi and Sirin Jridi showcase their traditional attire at the cultural gathering in Beijing, March 23, 2025. [Photo by Liao Jiaxin/China.org.cn] Louhichi also described how her understanding of Chinese society has transformed: “I used to think that Chinese people are cold. But when I came here, I just figured out it was totally wrong. I felt like really welcomed here.” She expressed admiration for China’s social harmony, where 56 ethnic groups coexist peacefully. “They’re all living in peace here, and Chinese culture is really immense. I really like it here. Chinese people are also very proud of their culture.” Louhichi credited Chinese government scholarships for enabling international students to experience the country firsthand. “Thanks to the scholarship that the Chinese government gives to other students, many people can come to China and experience the real China,” she said. She also praised China’s academic initiatives promoting cultural exchange. “Many universities host ‘cultural days’ during which students from all over the world will have stands and they will share with others their culture. I think in China, it’s so convenient to know other people’s culture,” she said.
Attendees sample international delicacies at the cultural event in Beijing, March 23, 2025. [Photo by Liao Jiaxin/China.org.cn] The event ended on a hopeful note, as participants called for more cultural exchanges. The lively gathering showcased how such initiatives celebrate diversity while creating genuine international bonds. As a reflection of China’s vibrant multiculturalism, it highlighted the country’s growing role in fostering cross-cultural understanding through openness and mutual respect.
The Boao Forum for Asia International Conference Center in Boao, Hainan province, March 26, 2025. [Photo by Xu Xiaoxuan/China.org.cn]
Over the past two decades, Global South countries have contributed nearly 80% of world economic growth, solidifying their role as a key driver of global development. Their growing influence has made them a focal point at the 2025 Boao Forum for Asia Annual Conference, held from March 25 to 28 in Boao, south China’s Hainan province.
At a panel discussion during the forum on March 26, experts explored the diverse paths to modernization for the Global South, emphasizing collaboration, self-reliance and inclusive development.
Xiaojun Grace Wang, trust fund director at the U.N. Office for South-South Cooperation (UNOSSC), highlighted the varied modernization trajectories of these nations. “Each country has distinct concerns and priorities. Least developed nations and small island states, for instance, have unique considerations,” Wang noted. “We must listen to their collective voices, recognize their varying stages of development, and acknowledge that real strength comes from unity amid diversity.”
She emphasized that cooperation should extend beyond the traditional North-South divide. “We must leverage the expertise and technology of developed nations,” she said, stressing that collaboration in diversity is key.
Kirill Babaev, director of the Institute of China and Contemporary Asia of the Russian Academy of Sciences, underscored the shared aspirations of Global South nations despite their regional differences. “From the Eurasian Economic Union and Shanghai Cooperation Organization to ASEAN and the Gulf Cooperation Council, these nations share common values in globalization, forming the foundation for a broader global economic mainstream,” he said.
Zheng Yongnian, dean of the School of Public Policy at the Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shenzhen, identified two major challenges facing the Global South. The first is internal: “These countries often express concerns but struggle to translate them into concrete actions,” he observed. The second challenge is external, particularly disruptions to the global trade system initiated by U.S. President Donald Trump’s administration. “If globalization is hindered, poverty will deepen, leading to instability,” he warned.
Zheng also criticized Western-style modernization for its exclusiveness and lack of inclusiveness. He argued that while Western nations have achieved prosperity, they have not actively helped poorer countries develop. “Economic disparity is detrimental to human rights,” he stated.
Citing a Chinese proverb — “in adversity, perfect oneself; in success, perfect all under heaven” — Zheng said that this philosophy is reflected in China’s modernization approach. China worked hard to develop when it was poor and now seeks to assist other nations through initiatives like the Belt and Road Initiative and the New Development Bank, he explained.
Danny Quah, dean of the Lee Kuan Yew School of Public Policy at the National University of Singapore, stressed the importance of self-reliance. “Global South countries must demonstrate leadership in their own development,” he said.
Quah underlined that economic growth and capacity building are essential for ensuring these nations control their own destinies. True development, he added, involves creating value — building infrastructure, improving public health, and unlocking the creativity and potential of people.
Source: Peter the Great St Petersburg Polytechnic University – Peter the Great St Petersburg Polytechnic University –
Did you want to know more about the Polytechnic University Master’s program? And you will find out about it! The SPbPU Public Relations Department and educational departments have launched a new project
The idea is to make it easier for bachelor’s degree graduates to choose a program to continue their education at the Polytechnic University. The university currently has 166 master’s programs. And new ones open every year, including in collaboration with the university’s industrial partners. So that students can understand this diversity, evaluate the advantages of each direction and choose the right one for themselves, videos about master’s programs are now released on the Polytechnic University’s social networks every week.
In these video business cards, the head of the educational program or its curator from the industrial partner briefly and succinctly explains what the student will be taught, what specialty he will receive, who and where he will be able to work after completing his master’s degree.
Bachelor’s degree graduates often face the question: is it worth continuing their education in a master’s degree program, what can it give them in terms of professional growth and what additional competitive advantages will they receive in the labor market? An equally important problem is the choice of a master’s program. Project
In the future, video presentations will be integrated into the official program descriptions on the university website, which will make choosing a master’s degree even more transparent and convenient.
“With this project, we wanted to show that a master’s degree is not only a path to science, but also employment in a large company,” said Marianna Dyakova, Head of the Public Relations Department. “We launched the project in the spring, which is an important time for fourth-year students when they make a choice whether to leave the university or continue their education. To begin with, we selected several outstanding master’s programs that were implemented jointly with Gazprom Neft, Power Machines, and other partners. In the future, we will add outstanding, interesting master’s programs from each institute. We invite directors to cooperate!”
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 – Julia Brownley (D-CA)
Washington, DC – Today, Congresswoman Julia Brownley (D-CA) announced the reintroduction of the Biliteracy Education Seal and Teaching (BEST) Act, a bill that establishes a federal grant program at the U.S. Department of Education to recognize high-level student proficiency in speaking, reading, and writing in both English and a second language. Under this program, states would be able to establish or improve their own Biliteracy Seal programs to award seals to K-12 students.
This recognition not only boosts students’ global workforce competitiveness but also helps employers, colleges, and universities identify candidates with valuable bilingual skills. The initiative is also vital for U.S. diplomacy, intelligence, and military readiness by ensuring a workforce proficient in critical languages.
“Being proficient in two or more languages can be a critical advantage in today’s globalized, competitive economy. By supporting Seal of Biliteracy programs, we can better equip students with essential language skills that enhance their future opportunities and strengthen our national security,” said Congresswoman Brownley. “I have seen firsthand the benefits of this program across California, especially in my district, where bilingualism is very prominent. Preparing our students with multilingualism will open doors to success in both their academic and professional futures.”
“Proficiency in more than one language is a skill of great importance to our nation’s economy and businesses,” said Amanda Seewald, Executive Director of the Joint National Committee for Languages and the National Council for Languages and International Studies (JNCL-NCLIS). “The BEST Act will help implement and scale Seal of Biliteracy programs that provide this credential to American students. We thank Congresswoman Brownley for her continued leadership on this legislation and for furthering language education nationwide.”
Background
California’s State Seal of Biliteracy program was first established in 2011 when legislation sponsored by then-Assemblywoman Brownley was signed into law. Since then, over 500,000 high school students have graduated with this seal in California. In the 2023-2024 school year, 490 districts in California participated in the program. Since then, all 50 states and the District of Columbia have established their own statewide Seal of Biliteracy programs.
The BEST Act is endorsed by the National Council for Languages and International Studies, National Education Association, California Language Teachers’ Association, and Association of Latino Administrators and Superintendents.
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Fei Gao, Lecturer in Taxation, Discipline of Accounting, Governance & Regulation, The University of Sydney, University of Sydney
Tuesday night’s federal budget revealed a sharp drop in what was once a major source of revenue for the government – the tobacco excise.
This financial year, the government expects to earn revenue from the tobacco excise of A$7.4 billion. That’s down sharply from $12.6 billion in 2022–23, and an earlier peak of $16.3 billion in 2019–20.
The government expects this downward trend to continue. Australia’s heavy tobacco taxation has driven many consumers towards illicit cigarettes.
But this is more than just a problem for government coffers accustomed to revenue from the tobacco tax.
It presents a major challenge for a public health policy that has long relied on increasing tobacco excise duty as its primary tool to reduce smoking.
If government revenue from tobacco is falling, it isn’t because we aren’t trying to tax it. Cigarette prices in Australia are among the highest in the world, with taxes making up a substantial chunk of the price.
About $1.40 of the cost of each cigarette represents excise duty. GST is payable on top of that.
Australia’s tobacco excise is indexed every March and September, in line with average weekly ordinary-time earnings.
On top of indexation, the excise rate is currently being increased by an additional 5% each year, for a period of three years that began in September 2023.
This policy is grounded in the principle that higher costs deter smoking.
And smoking rates have fallen in recent decades. About 8% of Australians aged 14 and over still smoke daily, down from almost 20% in 2001.
Some of that fall has been offset by the rapid ascent of vaping. About 7% of Australians use e-cigarettes – about half of whom vape daily.
But while legal cigarette prices are prohibitively high for some, illegal alternatives are widely available and significantly cheaper. That’s because these unregulated products bypass excise and GST entirely.
The estimated value of illicit tobacco entering the Australian market has soared, from $980 million in 2016–17 to more than $6 billion in 2022–23. Of this $6 billion, almost $3 billion entered the market undetected.
The actual decline in tobacco excise revenue, as exposed in the latest budget papers, has been much more significant than previously forecast.
To make things worse, the cost of enforcement is rising. The 2025–26 federal budget allocates an additional $156 million over the next two years to combat illicit tobacco — on top of the $188 million committed in the previous budget.
There are other broader impacts on overall tax revenue. Convenience stores lose legitimate sales to illegal tobacco vendors, resulting in less corporate tax income.
Holding back broader public health efforts
On other measures, Australia has long been a global leader in tobacco control. The first health warnings on cigarette packets appeared in 1973.
In 2006, graphic health warnings were introduced. And in 2011, Australia pioneered plain packaging laws.
Such public health measures are set to get even stronger this year, with new requirements for every individual cigarette sold to have an “on-product” health warning such as “causes 16 cancers” or “shortens your life”.
These new regulations come into effect on April 1 2025, but retailers will have a three-month transition period to phase out existing stock.
The tight transition period may prove challenging for the legitimate cigarette trade.
But it is unlikely those who ply the unlawful trade in illegal tobacco – or their customers – will be particularly bothered by this latest attempt to wean the public off the habit.
No easy solution
The increasing heavy tobacco excise and the new law requiring warning messages on individual cigarettes have the potential to reduce tobacco consumption among those who purchase the product legally.
However, suppliers of black-market cigarettes – who now comprise an estimated 18% of market share – are unlikely to allow this initiative to affect their illegal trade.
The widespread move to vaping, with poor regulation, has further fuelled the black market for both products.
It is going too far to draw parallels with the prohibition era in the United States, when the manufacture, transportation and sale of alcohol was illegal. This was a brief but disastrous experiment in social engineering with unfortunate and, in retrospect, arguably predictable consequences.
But there are some unfortunate similarities when it comes to Australia’s tobacco tax policy, which has inadvertently encouraged black markets, criminality and organised crime.
Yet for the government, lowering the excise tax to encourage smokers back to legal cigarettes would be completely out of step with its public health objectives. Legal or illegal, black-market cigarettes and vapes still contribute to health risks, undermining the public health goals behind regulatory controls.
The authors do not work for, consult, own shares in or receive funding from any company or organisation that would benefit from this article, and have disclosed no relevant affiliations beyond their academic appointment.
