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Category: Education

  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: Special Observance of International Women’s Day at Department of Legal Affairs

    Source: Government of India (2)

    Posted On: 24 MAR 2025 3:52PM by PIB Delhi

    The Department of Legal Affairs, Ministry of Law and Justice, marked International Women’s Day with a special event at the Conference Hall of Shastri Bhawan, New Delhi. The event was both enlightening and inspiring, serving as a powerful call for gender equality, women’s empowerment, and recognition of their invaluable role in society and the future.

    The occasion was graced by Dr. Anju Rathi Rana, Law Secretary, along with other distinguished women from various fields who addressed issues related to women’s rights and empowerment. The esteemed panel included Ms. Tripti Gurha, Additional Secretary, Ministry of Women and Child Development; Dr. Vageshwari Deswal, Professor, Faculty of Law, University of Delhi; and Ms. Monika Arora, Advocate, Supreme Court of India and Delhi High Court.

    Smt. Sunita Moorti Anand, Additional Secretary, delivered the welcome address, emphasizing that women—comprising nearly half the population—now have equal opportunities to actively contribute across social, economic, and political spheres of society.

    Dr. Vageshwari Deswal highlighted society’s collective responsibility in championing the cause of women’s rights and equality. She traced the historical evolution of the movement, which ultimately led to the establishment of International Women’s Day as a global celebration of women’s achievements. Ms. Monika Arora captivated the audience with a compelling real-life narrative, illustrating how the law serves as a powerful tool for advancing women’s rights and providing legal protection.

    Ms. Tripti Gurha reaffirmed the government’s commitment to women’s welfare, emphasizing the various initiatives and schemes available for women’s empowerment. Building on this discussion, Dr. Anju Rathi Rana provided a nuanced perspective, stressing that rights must be accompanied by corresponding duties. She encouraged women to step forward, take initiative, and embrace leadership roles in all aspects of life. Her exhilarating keynote address resonated with the entire audience, inspiring a renewed commitment to action.

    A highlight of the event was an award ceremony recognizing the winners of an essay competition organized by Department of Legal Affairs. Dr. Anju Rathi Rana, Law Secretary, felicitated the winners and presented them with awards in the presence of esteemed guests, adding a memorable touch to the occasion.

    The event concluded with thought-provoking discussions on leadership, inclusivity, and the evolving role of women in shaping society. It reinforced the need for collective action to create a future where women are not only recognized for their contributions but also seen as architects of progress. More than just a celebration, the gathering served as a reminder that true equality is achieved through continuous effort, shared responsibility, and unwavering commitment.

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    Samrat/Allen

    (Release ID: 2114392) Visitor Counter : 68

    MIL OSI Asia Pacific News –

  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: PARLIAMENT QUESTION: CURRENT STATUS OF JAL JEEVAN MISSION

    Source: Government of India

    Posted On: 24 MAR 2025 12:13PM by PIB Delhi

    Since August 2019, Government of India in partnership with States is implementing Jal Jeevan Mission (JJM) – Har Ghar Jal to make provision of potable water to every rural household of the country, through functional tap water connection i.e. at a service level of 55 litre per capita per day (lpcd), of prescribed quality (BIS:10500), on regular and long-term basis.

    At the start the Mission, only 3.23 Crore (16.7%) rural households were reported to have tap water connections. So far, as reported by States/ UTs as on 17.03.2025, under Jal Jeevan Mission (JJM) – Har Ghar Jal around 12.30 Crore additional rural households have been provided with tap water connections. Thus, as on 17.03.2025, out of 19.36 Crore rural households in the country, more than 15.53 Crore (80.20%) households are reported to have tap water supply in their homes and works for the remaining 3.83 Crore households are at various stages of completion as per saturation plan of the respective State/ UT.

    The initial estimated outlay of the Mission was Rs. 3.60 lakh Crore, out of which Central share was Rs. 2.08 lakh Crore. Almost entire Central share approved by the Cabinet has been utilized. Further, Hon’ble Finance Minister during her budget speech 2025- 26 has announced extension of Jal Jeevan Mission until 2028 with an enhanced total outlay.

    Water being a State subject, the responsibility of planning, approval, implementation, operation, and maintenance of drinking water supply schemes, lies with State/ UT Governments. States/ UTs have been advised, through numerous review meetings, field visits, etc., to ensure functionality of tap water connections provided inter alia including quality of water supplied as per JJM standards (BIS:10500).

    In addition, up to 2% of the allocation to States/ UTs for Water Quality Monitoring and Surveillance (WQM&S) activities which inter-alia includes setting up of and upgrading existing water quality laboratories at various levels, providing chemicals and consumables to laboratories, procurement of equipment’s, instruments, chemicals/ reagents, glassware, consumables, procurement of Field Test Kits (FTKs)/ H2S vials for chemical (including chloride) and bacteriological water quality surveillance at grass root level and NABL accreditation/ recognition  of laboratories,  etc.

    States have been advised to conduct water quality tests using FTKs/ bacteriological vials for common parameters along with area specific parameters including Arsenic and Fluoride at Schools, anganwadis and Gram Panchayat (GP) level for early identification of water borne risks. State to identify and train 5 women from local community to conduct water quality tests using FTKs/ bacteriological vials at Gram Panchayat (GP) level.

    Moreover, States/ UTs have also been advised to undertake testing of water quality on a periodic basis and take remedial action wherever necessary, to ensure that the water supplied to households is of prescribed quality.

    Year-wise reported details of drinking water samples tested in labs and using FTKs by the States/ UTs in last year and current year (till 17.03.2025) are as under:

    Year

    No. of samples tested

    Total no. of Samples Tested

    in labs

    using FTKs

    2023-24

    75,00,041

    1,08,54,196

    1,83,54,237

    2024-25

    77,40,369

    90,52,382

    1,67,92,751

     

    This information was provided by THE MINISTER OF STATE FOR JAL SHAKTI SHRI V. SOMANNA in a written reply to a question in Lok Sabha today.

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    DHANYA SANAL K

    (Lok Sabha US Q3287)

    (Release ID: 2114280) Visitor Counter : 93

    MIL OSI Asia Pacific News –

  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: NITI Aayog organized a National Workshop on ‘Building Synergies in Indian Innovation Ecosystem’ held in GIFT City, Gandhinagar, Gujarat

    Source: Government of India (2)

    Posted On: 24 MAR 2025 11:52AM by PIB Delhi

    In a landmark initiative to strengthen India’s innovation landscape, the National Workshop on “Building Synergies in Indian Innovation Ecosystem” was organized at GIFT City, Gandhinagar, Gujarat, on 22nd March 2025. The National Conference was organized by NITI Aayog and hosted by the Gujarat Council on Science & Technology (GUJCOST), DST, Government of Gujarat.

    The workshop aimed to facilitate dialogue and knowledge-sharing among key stakeholders, including government officials, academic leaders, industrial experts, startup founders, and international representatives. With an agenda designed to foster synergy across sectors, the workshop addressed crucial topics like R&D investments, state policies on innovation, global innovation trends, and grassroots entrepreneurship.

    The workshop was graced by Dr. V. K. Saraswat, Member (Science & Technology), NITI Aayog, and Smt. Mona Khandhar, IAS, Principal Secretary, Department of Science and Technology, Government of Gujarat. Their presence highlighted the significance of the workshop and reinforced the government’s commitment to fostering an environment conducive to innovation, entrepreneurship, and technological advancements.

    In his inaugural address, Dr. V.K. Saraswat emphasized the vital role of collaboration between government bodies, academia, and industry in driving India’s innovation landscape forward. He called for a greater focus on translational research that fosters meaningful innovation and creates impactful startups, reflecting the global shift toward innovation. Dr. Saraswat also highlighted the importance of supporting DeepTech startups and stressed the need for India to transition from a service-based to a product-based industry model. Additionally, Dr. Saraswat shared valuable insights into key government initiatives designed to enhance research, innovation, and entrepreneurship across the country.

    Smt. Mona Khandhar, IAS, spoke about Gujarat’s commitment to fostering a strong innovation ecosystem, driven by policy initiatives. She highlighted the state government’s dedication to promoting the startup and innovation landscape through various strategic policies, including the Science, Technology, and Innovation Policy, Gujarat Semiconductor Policy, Gujarat Electronics Policy, and the Gujarat Global Capability Center (GCC) Policy.

    Dr. Sacha Wunsch-Vincent from World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) outlined the action points for next 10 years for unique developmental journey of India. IP profile of India is small but has increased in last few years, Indian Origin patent filing has increased, and the country will add more S&T clusters in the near future, he added.

    The workshop featured several interactive discussions led by eminent leaders in the field of innovation and technology. The session on “Bharat Innovates: Overview of the National Innovation Ecosystem” explored strategies for building an innovation-friendly India, moderated by Dr. R Ramanan, Former MD, Atal Innovation Mission. This was followed by a session on “Navachar Niti aur Rajya Yojnaayein: Learning from the Best,” which highlighted state-level initiatives and best practices in fostering innovation, chaired by Dr. Rashmi Sharma, Head, NCSTC, Department of Science and Technology, Govt. of India.

    Another insightful session, “Navachar Ke Sarathi: Pioneering Innovations,” discussed the inspiring stories of grassroots innovators and start-ups were discussed, was moderated by Dr. Arvind Ranade, Director, National Innovation Foundation (NIF). Additionally, “Vishwa Mein Ubharta Bharat: Strengthening India’s Global Innovation Footprint” focused on India’s rising presence in the global innovation landscape, with key contributions from international experts specially Dr. Sacha Wunsch-Vincent from World Intellectual Property Organisation and Dr. Rajul Gajjar, Vice Chancellor, Gujarat Technological University.

    The conference concluded with an insightful discussion on future action plans, led by member Dr. V.K. Saraswat, alongside senior officials from NITI Aayog, senior representatives from the Gujarat State Government, and the Former DG of CSIR & Secretary of the Department of Scientific and Industrial Research. The closing session underscored Gujarat’s pivotal role in driving innovation, emphasizing the state’s progressive policies, investment in research, and commitment to fostering a startup-friendly ecosystem.

     

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    MJPS/SR

    (Release ID: 2114268) Visitor Counter : 133

    MIL OSI Asia Pacific News –

  • MIL-OSI Russia: VSKS and Katyusha held master classes on safety for children and people with disabilities at the State University of Management

    Translartion. Region: Russians Fedetion –

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

    On March 21 and 22, the State University of Management hosted master classes by the All-Russian Student Rescue Corps and the Regional Public Organization “Society for Support of Parents with Disabilities and Members of Their Families “Katyusha”. Volunteers and instructors of the VSKS held master classes on first aid and fire safety for people with disabilities.

    The program included classes adapted to different age groups and characteristics of the participants: – first aid classes for people with disabilities and children aged 8–10 and 14–16; – fire safety classes, including practicing algorithms for action in an emergency and familiarization with protective equipment.

    The project is being implemented with the participation of VSKS instructors – trained volunteers and professional rescuers who provide training in basic skills that can save lives, and with the support of the State University of Management, which helps create an inclusive environment.

    Since 2010, the regional public organization “Katyusha” has been supporting parents with disabilities and their family members, and also works to create an accessible environment and involve people with disabilities in public life.

    VSKS and ROO PRI “Katyusha”, by combining efforts, contribute to the formation of an inclusive safety culture and expand opportunities for personal and professional self-realization of all program participants.

    Let us recall that the first part of the joint events of VSKS and Katyusha took place at the State University of Management from March 11 to 13.

    Subscribe to the TG channel “Our GUU” Date of publication: 03/24/2025

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

    MIL OSI Russia News –

  • MIL-OSI Africa: The Gift of Water: How the Lesotho Rural Water Supply and Sanitation Project is Transforming Lives

    Source: Africa Press Organisation – English (2) – Report:

    ABIDJAN, Ivory Coast, March 24, 2025/APO Group/ —

    “Water is life; when there is no water, it is as if there are no people living.”

    These profound words from ‘Masechefo Sechefo, a Community Councilor at Ha Sekete village, capture the essence of existence in rural Lesotho before the African Development Bank’s transformative intervention.

    In a country where water ironically constitutes 30% of the nation’s GDP, many rural Basotho paradoxically lived without access to clean water. This stark contradiction defined daily life until the Lesotho Rural Water Supply and Sanitation Project began changing the narrative in the communities.

    The Long Walk For Water

    Before the project, women and girls in villages across Maseru and Berea districts would wake before dawn to begin their daily ‘pilgrimage’ to distant springs and unprotected wells. The journey often stretched more than a kilometer each way, with women carrying heavy containers while navigating challenging mountain terrain.

    “Where we used to fetch water, it was so far that there could have been challenges, perhaps the risk of being attacked or harmed by criminals,” recalls ‘Masechefo.

    At Sekete Primary School, the situation was equally dire. Headteacher Sello Matlali remembers: “We had to send children to fetch water from the unprotected wells around our communities. It was about one and a half kilometers walk from the school.”

    This daily expedition meant losing children’s classroom time and productive hours for women. Worse still, the unprotected water sources harbored pathogens causing diarrheal diseases that disproportionately affected the community’s most vulnerable members.

    A Project That Flows Like Life Itself

    When the African Development Bank’s initiative reached these communities, it didn’t merely install infrastructure – it unleashed potential.

    The project, set to conclude in March 2025 after more than a decade of implementation, has delivered remarkable results: 190 kilometers of pipeline to distribution networks, water storage reservoirs with a total capacity of 3.48 million liters, and 166 public water points serving approximately 28,266 people across eight zones in Maseru and Berea districts.

    The numbers tell only part of the story. Moses Tembo, the project’s task manager at the African Development Bank, highlights the impact: “From the data collected through the project, you could see that many people’s lives have been changed. Most people were drawing water from springs and unprotected wells, and the incidence of diarrheal diseases was quite high.”

    Beyond water supply, the project expanded sanitation infrastructure, – constructing 266 sanitation facilities for vulnerable households and 284 toilets at schools and healthcare facilities.

    “It Was Like Our Birthday”

    At Sekete Primary School, the transformation has been profound. “When water was supplied, it was like our birthday,” Sello Maltali exclaims, his eyes bright with emotion. “The African Development Bank came to our rescue when we were in serious problem.”

    The school now boasts eight water taps and proper sanitation facilities – eight toilets for boys, seven for girls, and a dedicated facility for children with disabilities. This thoughtful design has created an inclusive learning environment where all 500 students can focus on education rather than basic survival needs.

    “We live the life we never lived before,” Matlali reflects. “We forget the past. We talk of it as history.”

    The impact extends beyond convenience. The school has witnessed increased enrollment and reduced disease transmission. Students can now pursue agricultural education, which teaches them self-reliance and food production skills.

    Women Liberated, Communities Transformed

    For women like ‘Masechefo, the project has delivered more than water – it has brought dignity and safety. “This project has brought a big change in our lives and our families. There is cleanliness in our homes and on our bodies.”

    The transformation has touched every aspect of community life. Residents found employment during construction— collecting stones, laying bricks, mixing cement, and completing roofing work. This approach ensured that the community benefited from the completed infrastructure and the process itself.

    Mamosili Kikine, the project’s technical adviser, explains: “The beneficiaries are using water for different purposes, like cooking and washing. The schools and clinics in these zones are also benefiting.”

    Climate Resilience: Protecting the Future

    As the base project nears completion, an additional component introduced in 2019 focuses on climate resilience. This component educates communities about preserving watersheds and forests to ensure sustainable water resources.

    “Lesotho is very much dependent on water for its economy and the wellbeing of people,” task manager Tembo explains. “The water reserves 10 years ago, 20 years ago, are not the same at the moment.”

    By protecting water sources through this education, the project aims to secure these life-giving resources for future generations.

    Water: A Celebration of Life

    As the African Development Bank joined in celebrating World Water Day on March 22, the communities served by this project understand its significance profoundly. They have experienced life with and without clean water –and know which they prefer.

    “Without water, there is no life,” declares headteacher Sello Matlali. “Water shortage is death. We cannot have food. We cannot bathe. We cannot wash our hands. We are vulnerable to disease.”

    The project’s legacy extends beyond pipes and reservoirs. It has fundamentally altered the relationship between communities and water – creating not just consumers but stewards of this precious resource.

    For the people of Lesotho’s rural communities, water is no longer just a substance—it’s the embodiment of possibility, dignity, and future prosperity. In a country blessed with abundant water resources that benefit neighboring nations, the African Development Bank has ensured that Lesotho’s citizens can finally share in this natural wealth.

    And for that, as Sello Matlali puts it, “It is very joyous.”

    A Nurse’s Story

    Mots’elisi Makhele, the only community health nurse serving approximately 2,000 people in her rural community, has witnessed a remarkable transformation thanks to the African Development Bank’s water supply and sanitation project.

    “We used to have a small community tap where 2,000 people would queue, and because of the drought, we wouldn’t have enough water some days,” Makhele recalls, adding that this single tap served everyone—elderly women, small children, and her clinic.

    The health consequences were severe. “I couldn’t do normal birth deliveries because there was no water,” said Makhele. “There was an increased rate of waterborne infections, and I had many babies with malnutrition because the water was not clean.”

    The African Development Bank project transformed the community by providing individual household taps and proper sanitation facilities. The clinic received two proper toilets and a washing station where patients can wash their hands.

    The impact has been profound. “After initiating this project, the incidence rate of diarrheal diseases and malnutrition has decreased,” Makhele said excitedly.

    MIL OSI Africa –

  • MIL-OSI Russia: Priorities of International Education. Strategic Session of the Ministry of Education and Science of Russia

    Translartion. Region: Russians Fedetion –

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

    A strategic session of the Ministry of Science and Higher Education dedicated to strengthening Russia’s position in the international educational space was held in Moscow. The event was attended by rectors of major universities, vice-rectors responsible for international cooperation, representatives of a number of ministries that founded universities, the Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Ministry of Internal Affairs, the Ministry of Agriculture, Rossotrudnichestvo, Rosobrnadzor, other government bodies, and companies with interests abroad. The Polytechnic University was represented by Rector and Academician of the Russian Academy of Sciences Andrey Rudskoy and Vice-Rector for International Affairs Dmitry Arsenyev.

    Minister of Education and Science Valery Falkov focused on Russia’s strategic priorities in international education. He stressed the need to increase the number of foreign students to 500,000 by 2030 while simultaneously improving the quality of their training. Today, about 395,000 foreigners are studying in Russia. However, it is important not only to increase the number, but also to form a motivated contingent. It is better not to meet the indicators, but to take those who are truly striving for knowledge, the minister said. Valery Nikolaevich noted that some students from the CIS countries use educational visas to solve personal problems, which requires increased control.

    The Minister also touched upon the issue of creating a barrier-free system for foreign students, including simplifying migration procedures and developing employment programs. According to him, up to 10% of foreign graduates remain in Russia, and given the shortage of personnel, this potential must be used. Particular attention was paid to expanding cooperation with new markets – the BRICS countries, Africa, Latin America and Southeast Asia. Valery Falkov noted the importance of synchronizing educational programs with industry demands, citing as an example projects with Rosatom and Rusal corporations, which train foreign specialists for their enterprises.

    Speaking about foreign branches, the minister highlighted three conditions for their success: political support from the state, a clear definition of a niche for graduates, and partnership with large companies. Valery Falkov separately mentioned the project of Advanced Engineering Schools, which are already being replicated abroad. For example, two such schools have been opened in Uzbekistan at the request of local authorities.

    The minister announced the creation of a single digital profile for foreign students, a platform that will support students from enrollment to employment. In addition, by 2028, it is planned to increase the number of grants for talented foreign students from 2,000 to 5,000.

    Andrey Rudskoy, participating in the work of the group on new formats for promoting Russian universities, shared the experience of SPbPU. He noted that network structures such as the Slavic Universities in Armenia, Belarus and Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, as well as the Russian-African Network University (RAFU), have become drivers of education export. Over three years, RAFU has trained 535 students from 33 African countries. Andrey Ivanovich also spoke about projects with China, including joint institutes with Jiangsu Normal University and Xi’an University of Technology, where specialists are trained in the areas of automation of technological machines and equipment, materials science and materials technology, electric power engineering and electrical engineering.

    The rector of SPbPU spoke in favor of legislative changes, including the allocation of target quotas for network programs and the simplification of financial mechanisms for international cooperation.

    The 2023 methodological recommendations do not take into account work with foreign universities. This requires adjustments, he emphasized.

    Andrey Rudskoy also suggested focusing on representative offices and joint institutes instead of branches, citing the SPbPU Representative Office in Shanghai as an example. Its work has expanded partnerships and enabled communication with industry and government agencies using the “long arm” principle. Thanks to the work of the representative offices, the number of students from China at the Polytechnic has increased many times over, and the number of internships and short-term programs has increased.

    Speaking about the adaptation of foreign students, Andrei Ivanovich supported the idea of a single digital profile and the need to develop pre-university training centers abroad.

    The participants of the strategy session discussed issues related to strengthening effective international cooperation. The result of the two-day work of the expert university community was the presentation of proposals to strengthen Russia’s position in the international educational space.

    Photo: website of the Ministry of Science and Higher Education of the Russian Federation.

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

    MIL OSI Russia News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Ash plume heights, hazards, and ashfall projections, oh my! What do volcanologists learn from ashfall maps?

    Source: US Geological Survey

    Yellowstone Caldera Chronicles is a weekly column written by scientists and collaborators of the Yellowstone Volcano Observatory. This week’s contribution is from Dr. Madison Myers, Associate Professor of Earth Sciences at Montana State University, Stacy Henderson, PhD student at Montana State University, and Dr. Colin Wilson, Professor at the Victoria University of Wellington, NZ. 

    Map demonstrating the extent that ashfall has been found around the United States, including the 1980 eruption of Mount St. Helens, and three large-volume caldera-forming eruptions, including two from the Yellowstone area (the Huckleberry Ridge Tuff, which is 2.1 million years old, and Lava Creek Tuff, which erupted 631,000 years ago) and one from eastern California (the Bishop Tuff, which is 767,000 years old).

    If you are a fan of Yellowstone’s volcanic history, you have probably seen the simplistic ashfall map that highlights how, during its largest eruptions, ash is distributed (and mostly preserved) across the United States. However, you might not know how these maps are created, or how volcanologists use these data to determine the height of the eruption plume produced during a caldera-forming eruption. To explore this question, we’ll discuss how volcanologists study ash deposits and take a short field trip to a sedimentary basin in central Wyoming, where geologists have found something remarkable.

    First off, what is an ash plume? In volcanic systems, these are mixtures of gas, ash, rocks, and crystals that are released from an eruptive vent at speeds that approach or exceed the speed of sound (343 meters per second, or 767 miles per hour). For smaller plumes, the wind controls the ash plume’s pathway, resulting in ash that falls in an elongated zone downwind of the volcano, like that of the 1980 Mount St. Helens eruption. However, as the eruption size grows, often so does the plume height, leading to plumes that are able to spread-out like an umbrella and deposit ash over broader areas. A recent example of a powerful umbrella-like plume was the 2022 eruption of Hunga Tonga in the south Pacific—an event that could be seen clearly from space.

    Although caldera-forming explosive eruptions are amongst the most devastating natural events on Earth, they are not common. Thus, the tools available to determine the height of the ash plumes of past eruptions rely on measuring the thicknesses of their ash-fall deposits and sizes of their particles. Essentially, if a plume is larger, it will leave thicker deposits at greater distances from the source vent, with pumice (shattered magma) and lithics (rocks torn from the vent) that become gradually smaller with distance. By measuring these parameters in the field at numerous locations around the vent, scientists can estimate the height of the eruption plume.

    If there are discrete layers in the ash deposits, this technique can even be used to tell if the plume height changed through time! For instance, scientists can see that the major eruption that occurred about 3,600 years ago from Santorini Volcano, Greece, started with a 10 km (6 mi) high plume that grew to 30 km (19 mi)—for reference, the cruising altitude of most airplanes is 9–12 km (30,000–40,000 feet). This is why calculating plume heights from past eruptions is important for understanding the potential impacts of future eruptions on aviation. For a volcanic eruption the size of Yellowstone’s largest caldera-forming events, the plume likely reached the top of the stratosphere, which is 50 km (31 mi) above the Earth’s surface! 

    Simplified schematic of a volcanic plume ejecting ash, crystals and fragments of rock from a vent. This rising plume will eventually hit a zone of neutral buoyancy in the atmosphere, where it is then carried by the wind. Material is ejected from both the upward moving jet and falls from the umbrellaing plume. Modified from Wilson and Houghton (2000), Encyclopedia of Volcanology first edition.

    In the 1960s, geologists Ray Wilcox and Glen Izett created ashfall maps for past Yellowstone eruptions by driving around the western United States, identifying Yellowstone eruption deposits based on their chemistry, and measuring characteristics like thicknesses. These maps were instrumental in understanding the characteristics of eruption plumes from Yellowstone’s major explosive eruptions. If you live in any of the many states covered by these deposits, you can visit these locations by looking them up on the map that Wilcox and Izett created, which includes coordinates and field descriptions (https://pubs.usgs.gov/publication/i1325). 

    Professor C.J.N. Wilson, FRS, pays due homage to the Lava Creek Tuff ashfall bed in a basin just east of Shell, Wyoming. Photo by Madison Myers, Montana State University, August 9, 2024.

    A group of geologists from Montana State University and Victoria University of Wellington (New Zealand) recently visited one such location near Shell, Wyoming. At this site, two ash fall deposits associated with the two defined ash flow units of the Lava Creek Tuff, which resulted from the formation of Yellowstone Caldera about 631,000 years ago, have been reported. But the geologists found something else as well. Not only did this basin, tucked against the Bighorn Mountains, contain the deposits in question, but beneath the Lava Creek Tuff deposit, and therefore older in age, were two additional ash fall deposits that are not in Wilcox and Izett’s maps! 

    What are some possible sources of thick additional ash in the middle of Wyoming? Could they be the ashfall deposits from the Mesa Falls Tuff (1.3 million years old) or Huckleberry Ridge Tuff (2.1 million years old), also from Yellowstone? Or could it even be ash from farther away, for instance, the Bishop Tuff eruption, which formed Long Valley Caldera, California, about 767,000 years ago? The presence of crystals of the mineral biotite in the one of the mystery deposits points toward the Bishop ash as a likely suspect, as this mineral is not associated with any of Yellowstone’s major eruptions. But what about the older ash? To settle the debate, geologists sent samples of the mineral sanidine from each of these deposits to the US Geological Survey at Moffett Field, California, for dating using the argon geochronology technique. The results will give the ages of the eruptions that fueled these ash deposits, thus telling geologists the likely sources. We don’t yet have the answer, but will report back once the results are in.

    Although the mystery regarding the source of the unknown ash beds will soon be solved, another mystery will remain: how did this basin in central Wyoming preserve so much volcanic ash, both from Yellowstone and perhaps beyond?

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI: A USD$25 billion public-private Ghana climate futures and socio-economic initiative is agreed

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    The Ghana Green Guard USD$25 billion climate futures initiative agreement commits to deliver a series of diversified regenerative solutions to drive a healthier and more sustainable future for all Ghanaians. The agreement is a public-private collaborative partnership between the developer CarbonPura Africa, the Environmental Protection Authority (EPA) representing the government of Ghana and PSPH (Private Sector Participation in Health). Leveraging carbon financing, and carbon and biodiversity monetisation, the agreement will drive environmental restoration, clean water access, and community-based social programmes in Ghana.

    ACCRA, Republic of Ghana, March 24, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — CarbonPura pioneers Ghana Green Guard, a transformative series of privately funded environmental protection, restoration, and climate-smart projects and initiatives bespoke to the landscape of Ghana. The Ghana Green Guard Agreement harnesses the power of leveraging a climate futures ecosystem combined with flows unlocked from carbon finance to address critical climate and sustainability challenges while advancing Ghana’s environmental restoration and socio-economic development goals.

    Chief Executive Officer of the EPA of Ghana, Prof. Nana Ama Browne Klutse says “the Ghana Green Guard Agreement is a significant milestone in Ghana’s environmental journey and marks the beginning of a new era in public-private stakeholder engagement to implement development practices and leverage international carbon markets to achieve sustainability, protect our water bodies and secure a healthier and more prosperous future for all Ghanaians.”

    • One of the most significant nature-based project methodology solutions globally it will generate over 305 million high-quality, investment-grade carbon credits across 12 million hectares of diverse landscapes with a projected cumulative revenue of $10.4 billion over 25 years.
    • Each project supports Ghana’s socio-economic and community enhancement programmes and initiatives to empower women, children, and the most vulnerable farmers and communities.
    • Aligns international and local partners, government support, NGO and University Collaboration, all 17 UN Sustainable Development Goals, and Ghana’s net-zero and global climate commitments.
    • Immediate intervention to enhance Ghana’s water security using the most effective and sustainable solutions and technologies that ensure long-term protection and safeguarding for the provision of clean water and the restoration of polluted water sources caused by illegal mining.

    Ghana Green Guard combines the relationship driven socio-economic benefits of a public–private partnership to deliver projects that align seamlessly with President Mahama’s Policies for the Future of Ghana, Ghana’s net-zero and global climate commitments and all 17 UN Sustainable Development Goals. The agreement will utilise restorative and ecosystem vision – not only in project execution but from new relationship driven economic models fuelled by investment grade biodiversity and carbon credit projects.

    Dr. Fred Bedzrah, the Vice President of Operations for CarbonPura Africa, stated that “the Green Guard Ghana Agreement sets a new benchmark for environmental and socio-economic impact and is a bold step forward toward positioning Ghana as a leader in sustainable carbon finance by integrating transparent governance, investment grade carbon credit generation, and inclusive community engagement. CarbonPura is proud to deliver a framework that enhances global climate action and ensures tangible benefits for healthier local communities and ecosystems. Ghana demonstrates how high-integrity restorative biodiversity and climate smart projects can drive sustainability and long-term investment confidence.”

    The Ghana Green Guard Project leverages 12 million hectares of risk assessed eligible land across various regions of Ghana, strategically and with scientific rigour, chosen for their ecological, biodiversity and socio-economic potential. The expansive project ensures scalable investment-grade carbon credit generation goals and sustained environmental improvement by carefully integrating targeted activities such as reforestation, regenerative agriculture, illegal mining restoration and coastal environment restoration.

    The Executive Director of PSPH Dr. Francis Adjei adds that “True sustainability is not just about restoring the environment—it’s about restoring hope, dignity, and opportunity for the most vulnerable. Through the Ghana Green Guard initiatives, we are ensuring that climate action translates into better healthcare, stronger communities, and a future where no one is left behind.”

    Cath Thrupp, the Chief Executive Officer of Carbon Planet, says that “Ghana is leading the way in terms of showcasing a sustainable future for their country and the world. They are actively originating large-scale decarbonisation and landscape restoration programmes that will support their country to transition to net zero. In working with the global carbon markets to support this transition, Ghana is actively creating new jobs and opportunities for local communities. As a company, Carbon Planet is honoured to work with the Government and people of Ghana to create a sustainable future, with no one left behind”.

    Each project methodology activity is designed to deliver long-term environmental and socio-economic benefits, creating a positive feedback loop where ecological improvements—such as increased biodiversity, improved soil fertility, and enhanced coastal resilience—foster sustainable community development, employment creation, strengthen food security, provide clean water, eliminate species extinction, and drive long-term economic resilience across regions dependent on agricultural and coastal livelihoods.

    Mark Phillips, the Chief Executive Officer of Carbon Capital Corporation, says that “through strategic collaboration with Carbon Planet we lead the Ghana Green Guard project origination and ensure that all credits are investment ready, meet the highest standards of regulatory compliance and financial integrity and achieve long term environmental and social impact. This initiative exemplifies how carbon finance can drive real change, protecting ecosystems, empowering communities, and supporting Ghana’s climate commitments. Through Ghana Green Guard, we demonstrate that carbon markets can be a force for equitable and sustainable development.”

    The Parties to the Ghana Green Guard Agreement

    About the EPA

    The EPA is the leading statutory body for protecting and improving the environment in Ghana and is led by its Chief Executive Officer, Prof. Nana Ama Browne Klutse. Recognising the need for stronger oversight, the Environmental Protection Act 2025 (Act 1124) was enacted. Effective from January 6, 2025, this Act elevated the EPA to an Authority, expanding its mandate to regulate, protect, coordinate, and oversee all matters pertaining to the environment. This new legislation marks a pivotal moment in the EPA’s evolution towards greater environmental stewardship and governance.

    For further information on Ghana EPA, please visit: www.epa.gov.gh/new/
    For media enquiries, please contact: info@epa.gov.gh 

    About CarbonPura
    CarbonPura Africa is the Ghana Green Guard lead developer and is committed to advancing global sustainability through large-scale innovative carbon management and stewardship initiatives that transform environmental goals into impactful realities.

    CarbonPura is dedicated to pioneering projects that meet the UN Sustainable Development Goals and propelling the world towards a greener and more prosperous future.

    CarbonPura provides end-to-end expertise in net-zero advisory and bespoke solutions that ensure each project contributes to carbon reduction and enhances ecological and social value. CarbonPura integrates top-tier methodologies with community-based conservation efforts for land, forestry wetland and marine ecosystems protection and restoration with scalable carbon solutions.

    The social capital and ecological model demand the highest degree of team expertise, including ecologists and environmental auditors, trusted partners and strategic alliances, to enhance the capabilities for CarbonPura in carbon-backed funding, project development, and community reinvestment. CarbonPura navigate market complexities with data-driven precision, ensuring each project maximises value and supports global sustainability.

    For more information, visit: www.carbonpura.com/greenguard
    For media enquiries, please contact:
    Melanie Budden
    melanie.budden@therealizationgroup.com

    About Private Sector Participation in Health
    Private Sector Participation in Health (PSPH) is a leading not-for-profit organisation driving transformative healthcare and social development in Ghana’s most vulnerable communities. As a key partner in the Ghana Green Guard Agreement, PSPH integrates healthcare, education, and social empowerment into climate resilience efforts. Through innovative public-private partnerships, PSPH expands access to essential healthcare, empowers women and youth, and fosters alternative livelihoods, creating lasting socio-economic impact. By bridging corporate Ghana with grassroots needs, PSPH ensures that sustainability, health, and development go hand in hand; building stronger, healthier, and more resilient communities for generations to come.

    For further information on PSPH, please visit: www.psphghana.com
    For media enquiries, please contact: DrFred@carbonpura.com

    About Carbon Capital Corporation [CCC]
    CCC is an Australian registered company that operates under an Australian Authorised Financial Services License [278530]. CCC is part of the GBC Group and stands out in global carbon markets offering unique and specialised feasibility, origination, procurement, trading and advisory services for both the buy and sell side. With operations across Africa, Europe, Asia, Australia and the Pacific CCC facilitates large scale carbon projects with stackable value methodologies that allow projects to generate multiple environmental and social co-benefits.

    CCC utilises an integrated approach that combines financial structuring, technical expertise, and advanced technology, delivering unmatched value in carbon markets. By optimising carbon and biodiversity credits to meet the high standards demanded by institutional buyers, CCC achieve both financial returns and measured sustainability impact.

    For more information, visit: www.carboncapitalcorporation.com
    For media enquiries, please contact: markphillips@greenbondcorporation.com

    About Carbon Planet
    Carbon Planet is an Australian registered ecological company globally leading project feasibility, origination and technical development, bringing extensive expertise in carbon project execution and innovation. Carbon Planet picture a world where natural capital has value, investments are transparent, landholders can feed their families, and local communities can create new jobs and regenerative industries. This requires creating a world where trees and natural capital are valued.

    For further information on CarbonPlanet, please visit: www.carbonplanet.io/
    For media enquiries, please contact: cath@carbonplanet.io

    Professor Nana Ama Browne Klutse, CEO of the Ghana Environmental Protection Agency with Dr Fred Bezrah, Vice President of CarbonPura Africa

    Aerial photo in Ghana showing the decimated landscape and River Pra waterway caused by illegal mining (“galamsey”) that is a focus of Ghana Green Guard restorative initiatives.

    Photos accompanying this announcement are available at

    https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/2bde12b4-932a-4a25-a144-dc2edc0cb373

    https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/d0bb5dd6-e886-4d71-89d4-ddb793c08a70

    https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/8ad39039-d081-4987-862b-aae74c12cebf

    https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/fb7393fb-aab6-4276-aa2b-757084c3764f

    https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/b1c55422-8468-4acc-ab59-282b4e076a3b

    https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/21dffd0d-14f2-45af-afca-f3659132ba7a

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Councillors to consider Highland Investment Plan update

    Source: Scotland – Highland Council

    Highland Councillors will be asked to consider a new approach on the future of the Highland Investment Plan (HIP). 

    Approval is being sought for the allocation of funding for the first phase of proposed projects for 2024/25 to 2029/30 which will help improve local public facilities and sustain local communities and population. 

    The Highland Investment Plan commits to the establishment of a new generation of integrated community facilities (PODs) which will be complimented by a refreshed operating model for services across Highland Council and with key partners, such as NHS Highland. 

    A report to the meeting of The Highland Council on 27 March will provide Councillors with an update on the progress of the Council’s ambitious Highland Investment Plan. The report outlines that the establishment of Community PODs is linked to plans to modernise service delivery and are a key driver for the future operating model of the Highland Community Planning Partnership.  

    The HIP commits £2.1 billion of capital funding over a twenty-year period based on the ring fencing of 2% council tax per annum, or an equivalent revenue stream. 

    The Plan will be used to tackle the major challenges that Highland Council faces with transport and roads; schools and community facilities; depots and public offices across Highland communities.   

    Highland Council Leader Cllr Raymond Bremner said: “Included in the recommendations to Council, will be that Hub North Scotland Ltd be taken forward as the chosen Highland Investment Plan delivery partner; and that a Commissioning Approval Board be set up and chaired by the Assistant Chief Executive – Place. He added: “The wider context of the HIP is to establish a prospectus of investible developments that can attract private sector partners and gain more leverage for public sector investment in local communities.” 

    The Committee will also be asked to agree the allocation of capital funding to the first group of Phase 1 projects at Beauly, Charleston, Dingwall, Dunvegan, Fortrose, Inverness High and Thurso and the proposed project delivery timescales. Councillors will also be asked to agree an option to move to a Community POD development for St Clement’s and Dingwall Primary schools, on the basis that this provides the greatest educational benefits for both schools, and the maximum economic benefit for the wider community. 

    The report to Councillors invites them to note that ‘the relocation of St Clement’s School will require a statutory consultation to locate a replacement building for St Clement’s School on the new Dingwall Community POD site. If approved, the new Community POD development is prioritised for the earliest possible delivery, with construction commencing early in 2027 and the new building being operational by the end of 2028/29. 

    Convener of the Council, Cllr Bill Lobban added: “All work to date by the Council on the Highland Investment Plan has taken into account the views of local people and local issues and priorities. Members will have the opportunity to discuss the report on Thursday and if the recommendations regarding St Clement’s and Dingwall Primary schools are agreed, the Council will immediately commence an informal consultation period of engagement with relevant stakeholders from both schools. In addition, if agreed by Council, work will also start on a Strategic Outline Case for Lochaber Adult Care Provision.” 

    Members will also be updated on the Thurso Place-Based review which will determine a preferred model for a Thurso Community POD. If agreed, this project’s recommendation is that it should be prioritised for the earliest possible delivery with an estimated operational timescale in 2029/30. 

    In addition to the ongoing development of the Tain Campus, Nairn Academy, Broadford and Tornagrain projects, five previously prioritised Phase 1 projects are being progress with the following earliest operational dates at: Beauly Primary (2027/28); Charleston Academy (2029/30); Dunvegan Primary (2027/28); Fortrose Academy (2029/30); Inverness High (2029/30). 

    Funding of the Highland Investment Plan formed part of the Council Tax and budget decisions on 6 March 2025 when Council agreed its revenue budget for 2025/26, within which 2% of council tax income was agreed to support the HIP. 

    The full report can be found here (Item 5).   

    More information on the Highland Investment Plan can be found on the Council’s website:  

    https://www.highland.gov.uk/highlandinvestmentplan 

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI Russia: The qualifying round of the XVIII youth patriotic competition “Spring of 1945” was held at the State University of Management

    Translartion. Region: Russians Fedetion –

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

    Last week, the State University of Management held the qualifying round of the 18th youth patriotic competition “Spring of 1945” in the “Patriotic Song” category.

    The main goal of the event is to revive the ideals of spiritual, moral and cultural traditions of centuries-old Rus’ among young people, to preserve the memory of the heroes of the multinational people who survived and won the Great Patriotic War. Amateur performers, youth student groups from Moscow, the Moscow region and all regions of Russia take part in the competition.

    The Director of the Institute of Distance Education of the State University of Management Sergey Lenshin addressed the participants of the competition with a welcoming speech, thanking the organizers and all participants of the competition on behalf of the university management for their active participation in preserving historical traditions, developing aesthetic taste in young people, and introducing them to cultural and historical heritage.

    The competition committee included teachers, professional performers, costume designers, fashion designers, directors, writers, heads of specialized universities and foundations, heads of historical clubs of Moscow, representatives of veterans’ councils, and the founding organizations of the Competition.

    The State University of Management held a selection in the nomination “Patriotic Song”, which includes four sub-nominations: – a song with patriotic content; – favorite songs of veterans; – an original song; – a song with a guitar.

    The following represent the State University of Management at the competition: the creative team “StuDos”, Alexandra Morozova and Ekaterina Mironova – students of the Institute of Correspondence Education.

    The Grand Prix winners, laureates and diploma winners in the nominations will be awarded diplomas of the Youth Patriotic Competition “Spring of ’45”. The winners will be awarded at the Gala Concert on April 16, 2025. The performance of the Grand Prix winner and laureates of the Competition will take place on May 9, 2025, as part of the annual citywide festive program “Victory Ball “At Six O’Clock in the Evening…”.

    We wish all our participants bright performances and, of course, victory!

    Subscribe to the TG channel “Our GUU” Date of publication: 03/24/2025

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

    MIL OSI Russia News –

  • MIL-OSI Russia: New recruitment to the driving school of the State University of Management

    Translartion. Region: Russians Fedetion –

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

    The GUU-Auto training center announces new recruitment for groups under the program “Professional training of drivers of category “B” vehicles”.

    The training starts on April 14. Classes are held on Mondays and Wednesdays from 19:00.

    Hurry, there are still places left!

    Additional information by phone 8 (495) 377 6446, 8 (916) 760 1014 (WhatsApp, Telegram), as well as in the educational department of the UC GUU Auto (room A-219) and on the official page of the UC GUU-Auto

    The GUU-Auto training center is a structural division of the State University of Management, providing paid educational services in professional training programs for drivers of vehicles.

    Subscribe to the TG channel “Our GUU” Date of publication: 03/24/2025

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

    MIL OSI Russia News –

  • MIL-OSI United Nations: UNECE advances implementation of digital data exchange along SPECA corridors

    Source: United Nations Economic Commission for Europe

    Increased use of digital solutions developed by UNECE’s subsidiary, intergovernmental body – the United Nations Centre for Trade Facilitation and Electronic Business (UN/CEFACT) – can enhance the sustainability and resilience of supply chains and strengthen global connectivity. Data mapping and alignment to the UN/CEFACT standards allow for a common semantic foundation for data exchange among the different port or railway information systems and other modes of transport.

    The benefits include reducing economic costs, enabling seamless data interchange among modes of transport and sectors in the supply chain, using the UN standards as a common semantic foundation for cross-border, multimodal, and cross-sectoral interoperability, simplification and automation of business processes, and raising business competitiveness.

    As part of the implementation the roadmap for digitalization of the Trans-Caspian Transport Corridor, which was adopted by States participating in the United Nations Special Programme for the Economies of Central Asia (SPECA) in November 2023, UNECE recently organized two capacity-building seminars in Turkmenistan to streamline efforts to digitalize transport and supply chains along the Trans-Caspian and other corridors in the region. 

    In 2023, the total cargo transported via the Trans-Caspian Transport Corridor increased by 86% in 2023, reaching 2.8 million tons, up from 1.5 million tons in 2022. According to a World Bank study, with targeted investments and policy reforms, the Middle Corridor has the potential to triple its trade volumes by 2030, reaching 11 million tons, and to reduce travel time by half. ​

    The first seminar focused on port-to-port data exchange in the Trans-Caspian Corridor, notably in Baku-Aktau and Baku-Turkmenbashi, to align this data exchange to the UN/CEFACT standards and Multimodal Transport Reference Data Model (MMT RDM). Baku and Aktau ports are already exchanging data on cargo, and the ports of Baku and Turkmenbashi have an agreement to exchange data.                       

    The seminar participants requested UNECE, the Governments of Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan, and Turkmenistan and the development partners to support the effort to align the data exchange to the UN/CEFACT standards in the context of the Trans-Caspian Digitalization Roadmap. In addition to supporting the digital exchange of information among the Caspian ports of Baku, Aktau, and Turkmenbashi, one of the recommendations of the seminar was to invite other ports along the Trans-Caspian Corridor – Kuryk, Poti, Batumi, Odessa, Constanta, Varna, Burgas, and Istanbul – to align to the UN/CEFACT standards.

    Under the SPECA Chairmanship of Turkmenistan in 2025, and with participation of the Economic Cooperation Organization (ECO), the Organisation for Cooperation of Railways (OSJD), the railway agencies of Kazakhstan, Turkmenistan and Iran, the Islamic Development Bank (IsDB), and Eurasian Development Bank, the second seminar focused on a pilot project to develop and use an electronic equivalent of the SMGS railway consignment note along the Kazakhstan–Turkmenistan–Iran (KTI) railway corridor.

    This pilot project would serve as a foundation for further development of a digital corridor along the KTI railway corridor, using the semantic standards and Multimodal Transport Reference Data Model (MMT RDM) of UN/CEFACT as a key reference for intermodal interoperability of data and document exchange.

    Representatives of UNECE, UNESCAP, and the railway agencies of Kazakhstan, Turkmenistan and Iran discussed the possibilities for such a project in cooperation with the three governments and various stakeholders, including ECO, the Permanent Secretariat of the Intergovernmental Commission of the Transport Corridor Europe-Caucasus-Central Asia (PS IGC TRACECA) and other development partners.

    The participants recommended that the railways and business community of the KTI and SPECA participating States promote the digital transformation of documents accompanying goods in the KTI corridor, in alignment with the UN/CEFACT standards to digitalize railway documents accompanying goods.

    Finally, the 20th session of the SPECA Working Group on Trade held in Ashgabat reviewed national and regional plans and strategies of the SPECA participating States for trade facilitation and sustainable development.

    The participants aimed to identify priority actions on which the SPECA Working Group on Trade could work in the coming several years and focused on deliverables, such as: 

    • Collaboration among SPECA participating States in the WTO process
    • Progress in the implementation of the SPECA Trade Facilitation Strategy and related roadmap
    • Progress in the implementation of the Principles for Sustainable Trade in the subregion
    • Studies and recommendations on regulatory and procedural non-tariff barriers to trade, and
    • Digitalization of data and document exchange in multimodal transport and trade using UN standards.

    MIL OSI United Nations News –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Easier to apply, speedier processing and fewer hearings: how we made immigration appeals simpler, faster and more accessible

    Source: United Kingdom – Executive Government & Departments

    Case study

    Easier to apply, speedier processing and fewer hearings: how we made immigration appeals simpler, faster and more accessible

    The First-tier Tribunal Immigration and Asylum service handles approximately 50,000 appeals every year.

    These appeals come from people challenging Home Office decisions about: 

    • their immigration status 

    • permissions to stay in the UK 

    • deportation 

    • entry clearance 

    Before the Reform Programme, appellants and staff faced significant barriers.  

    • Paper forms were complex for appellants, especially if English wasn’t their first language 

    • Language barriers made it harder for applicants to fully understand how their appeal was progressing or robustly present their case 

    • Our people spent lots of time manually reviewing and handling paper forms, slowing processes down 

    Our aim, through the Reform Programme was to build a trusted service for users, maintaining fairness and increasing transparency and accessibility.  

    Benefits of the digital service 

    Our modernised service has transformed the appeals process, making it simpler, more accessible and delivering substantial improvements for those appealing decisions: 

    • Simplified applications with less form fields to complete 

    • Faster processing times through our streamlined digital system 

    • Plain English throughout the service, making it more accessible and less daunting 

    • Seamless integration with Home Office systems for better case management 

    • Reduced administrative burden on HMCTS by eliminating paper-based processes 

    • Centralised and consistent support through our new Service Centres 

    • Improved flexibility and transparency – users can track their appeal’s progress online at any time 

    • Reduced need for hearings through a new Home Office review stage 

    • Fewer postponed or adjourned hearings due to better evidence management 

    Our Digital Transformation 

    We started transforming the service in January 2019 with a carefully planned launch of our digital service at two hearing centres. We worked closely with legal representatives to test and refine the service. Survey feedback and engagement with users helped us improve the service. New features were also added before it was rolled out to other hearing centres. 

    The full digital service launched in February 2020, making the appeal process simpler, faster and more accessible for all of those using the service.  

    For Appellants 

    For an appellant in person the service is designed to be simple and accessible. During the design stage, we worked closely with charities throughout the UK including Justice, Migrant Help and the Refugee Council where we learnt more about the experience of appellants, including vulnerable users, which helped us to create a better service.  

    Improvements include: 

    • User-friendly online application system 

    • Clear communication at every stage 

    • Real-time case tracking 

    • Integrated fee processing 

    • Streamlined document management 

    • Automated notifications and reminders 

    Our efforts are working. By enabling people to use the digital service it has freed up more judicial time and resource for the most complex cases.   

    Learning Lessons 

    We also encountered and overcame several challenges: 

    • Initial more limited functions required temporary workarounds 

    • Users required additional support to adapt to new processes 

    • Deadlines and direction orders not being met needed to be resolved 

    Getting Support 

    We’re committed to ensuring access to justice for everyone in several ways, including: 

    • retaining and improving the paper process for appellants unable or less confident to use the digital service 

    • dedicated support at the Service Centre for the Immigration and Asylum service 

    • help with handling fees, listing appeal hearings and processing applications for permission to appeal to the upper tribunal  

    Feedback and Insights 

    Our transformation has received strong endorsement from senior leaders, including the former Senior President of Tribunals for England and Wales, who commented:  

    I see this as the model for all remaining tribunals. 

    Users report significantly improved experiences, particularly noting the simplified forms and clearer communication. Legal representatives have said that the digital service allows more time to speak with clients about issues about their case, making it easier to prepare an appeal in more detail. 

    Future Plans 

    We’re building on our success with ambitious plans. We will: 

    • expand the digital appeals service to include appeals where the appellant is either in prison or an immigration removal centre 

    • develop a new process for managing applications made on paper allowing these cases to mirror the new digital journey  

    • move all cases onto the digital platform 

    • continue to make service improvements based on user feedback 

    Stay Updated 

    For the latest guidance on appealing a benefits decision, visit: Appeal against a visa or immigration decision: Overview – GOV.UK 

    Keep up to date with the latest Tribunals news and information by subscribing to our e-alerts and newsletters.

    Updates to this page

    Published 24 March 2025

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI Russia: Not Child’s Play. Polytechnic University Talks About Financial Security

    Translartion. Region: Russians Fedetion –

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

    At Peter the Great St. Petersburg Polytechnic University, as part of the V International Financial Security Olympiad, a thematic lesson “NOT Child’s Play: 2.0. Drop Willy-nilly” was held, dedicated to issues of financial security and counteracting fraud. The event was held in a mixed format, which allowed more than 3,000 participants to unite: students and teachers from various SPbPU institutes, teachers and schoolchildren from St. Petersburg and the Donetsk People’s Republic.

    At the event, Deputy Head of the Interregional Department of Rosfinmonitoring for the Northwestern Federal District Daniil Sharippo presented the activities of the structure and spoke about various fraud schemes. He explained who droppers are, as well as the methods used by criminals to deceive citizens.

    The expert spoke in detail about the forms of telephone fraud and demonstrated how fake video and audio recordings are used. Particular attention was paid to current types of crimes.

    During the discussion, participants shared personal stories about encounters with scammers and discussed how to properly respond to such situations. The lesson was not only educational, but also practical, as students learned the basic rules of security in financial matters.

    “We will continue to hold such events. This is a very important topic that needs to be covered,” stressed SPbPU Vice-Rector for Security Alexander Airapetyan. “Today you were told about the main methods and ways to combat fraudsters. Use them, help the older and younger generations, as they are most susceptible to negative influence. Critical thinking is very important in the modern world.”

    At the end of the event, the participants received an invitation to the international Olympiad on financial security, the winners and prize winners of which have priority when entering the bachelor’s, specialist’s and master’s programs of SPbPU. This became an additional incentive for in-depth study of this topic. Detailed information on the procedure for holding the Olympiad can be found atwebsite.

    The Higher School of Public Administration of IPMEiT is an active participant in the Olympiad movement on financial security. Students participate and win prizes in this competition every year.

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

    MIL OSI Russia News –

  • MIL-OSI Russia: Polytechnic football players win Turchak tournament

    Translartion. Region: Russians Fedetion –

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

    The 11th tournament of the association of football federations “North-West” among youth teams named after Anatoly Turchak has ended in Saint Petersburg. Eight U-21 teams from professional clubs and sports schools, as well as two student teams, participated in the event. The fate of the final was decided by a penalty shootout, in which the team of the Polytechnic University beat “Leningradets”.

    The final match was tense. In the 24th minute, with the score 1:1, the SPbPU team was left in the minority after a dismissal. At the end of the first half, Leningradets took the lead. But the Polytechnicians showed character, leveling the score — 2:2. In the penalty shootout, SPbPU goalkeeper Nikita Maksimov repelled three shots from the opponents and brought the team victory.

    The Polytechnic team finally broke its losing streak: in 2023 and 2024, our footballers missed out on bronze, losing on penalties. The first medals of the Turchak tournament turned out to be gold for the Black Bears. Captain Dmitry Gultyaev was recognized as the best player of the tournament.

    The Polytechnicians were awarded an exclusive trophy, which bears the logos of the football federations that are part of the North-West OFF, and the signature of Anatoly Turchak with his quote: I have loved, love and will love football.

    We had two goals for this tournament: to win and to prepare for the first stage of the National Student Football League. For us, it starts in mid-April in Astrakhan. All the matches were tough, the score did not always reflect what was happening on the field. When we lost 0:4 to Leningradets in the group stage, I thought that perhaps this was the key moment of the tournament for us with a plus sign. I knew that the team would shake itself up and win in the decisive matches, and so it turned out. Many thanks to all our players who did not let us down, came to all the matches. We also thank the administrative staff and fans who supported us in the stands and watched the broadcasts, – shared the head coach of the Polytechnic national football team Stepan Verbitsky.

    Photos provided by OFF “North-West”.

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

    MIL OSI Russia News –

  • MIL-OSI Russia: Students of the State University of Management won medals at intellectual games of logisticians

    Translartion. Region: Russians Fedetion –

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

    Last week, the first Logistics Debates and the III Elective Intellectual Game were held at the Plekhanov Russian University of Economics, in which students from the State University of Management took part.

    In the first Logistics Debates, teams of three competed in the persuasiveness of their arguments for prizes in the form of certificates for the Art of Speech course. GUU was represented by 4th-year students: 1. Fink Daniil; 2. Molchanova Elizaveta; 3. Kozhokar Andrey.

    Our glorious trio won bronze medals, congratulations!

    In the III Elective Intellectual Game on Logistics, the team of the 2nd year students of the State University of Management competed for the crystal owl and the title of the smartest and most resourceful: 1. Pirozhnikov Alexander; 2. Rezvov Anton; 3. Glyzina Ekaterina; 4. Antonova Kristina; 5. Pashayeva Sayat; 6. Nikolaev Igor.

    Our students showed their worth and received certificates.

    Subscribe to the TG channel “Our GUU” Date of publication: 03/24/2025

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

    MIL OSI Russia News –

  • MIL-OSI Russia: Experts of the State University of Management awarded the winners of the International Competition “PRO-tourism”

    Translartion. Region: Russians Fedetion –

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

    On March 20, 2025, at the 31st International Exhibition of Tourism and Hospitality Industry MITT, the Award Ceremony for the winners of the III International Competition “Tourism Code of My Country, City, Town, Region – PRO-tourism” took place.

    A total of 770 participants and scientific supervisors from 85 regions of Russia and foreign countries came to Moscow for the in-person stage. Contestants from Serbia, Bulgaria, Belarus, Tajikistan, Kazakhstan, and Kyrgyzstan participated for the first time and presented their works in a foreign language, where they considered tourism within the framework of their cultural, ethnographic, and national values.

    The day before, within the walls of the State University of Management, more than 400 participants of the competition defended their works before an expert jury, and 200 scientific supervisors completed the educational program “Methods and technologies for developing the tourism potential of municipalities of the Russian Federation.”

    The children presented their works in 4 age categories and 47 different nominations. The most popular nominations in 2025 were: “History of the country, history of peoples – ethnographic tourism”, “Excursion tourism”, “PRO-tourism video”.

    The winners and prize-winners were 350 participants of the competition, including the winner in the age category of 14-17 years old, the team from Bulgaria, and the second place in the category of 36 years and older was taken by a representative of Serbia. Five winners of the competition in the category of 14-17 years old were awarded vouchers to the International Children’s Center “ARTEK” for the thematic shift “Territory of Development – Urban Environment – Home of Your Dreams”.

    On behalf of the State University of Management, awards and gifts with the university emblem were presented by Associate Professor of the Department of Public and Municipal Administration of the State University of Management, General Director of the ANO “Institute for Local Communities Development” Sergey Kochnev, Associate Professor of the Department of Management in International Business and Tourism Industry, Deputy Director of the Institute for Local Communities Development for Educational Work, Chairperson of the Expert Council of the Competition Svetlana Grishaeva and Head of the Project and Educational Laboratory of Urban Development, Associate Professor of the Department of Public and Municipal Administration Irina Milkina.

    Associate professors of the Department of Public and Municipal Administration of the State University of Management Yulia Lebedeva, Olga Petrina, Mikhail Stadolin, Tatyana Shushunova also acted as experts of the competition, and students of the State University of Management of the first to fourth years helped in organizing and holding the competition.

    Subscribe to the TG channel “Our GUU” Date of publication: 03/24/2025

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

    MIL OSI Russia News –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Schools accredited ‘ADHD friendly’ as part of citywide support

    Source: City of York

    8 York schools have been accredited as ‘ADHD friendly’ as part of a citywide commitment to support neurodiverse children and young people.

    Awarded by the ADHD Foundation, the schools were accredited as ADHD friendly because they committed to making their schools safe, nurturing, welcoming and exciting places, in which all learners with ADHD can achieve their academic potential.

    Schools also had to work with the foundation to achieve six ADHD school friendly pledges, including training school staff, providing opportunities for learners to get access to physical activity, exercise and self-calming strategies throughout the school day and providing information and support to families.

    Funded by City of York Council, as part of its wider Neurodiversity support Programme, Copmanthorpe Primary, Dunnington Church of England Primary School, Lakeside Primary Academy, Haxby Road Enhanced Resource Provision, Millthorpe School, Tang Hall Primary, Wigginton Primary, and York High School have all achieved the ADHD Friendly School Award.

    Cllr Bob Webb, the council’s Executive Member for Children, Young People and Education, said:

    Supporting neurodiverse students, their families, and teaching staff, is a key part of our strategy to ensure York is a great place to live and learn for all young people.

    “We want to see inclusion at the heart of Education in York and I’m really pleased that schools have committed their time and energy to promote inclusion and the needs of all learners.

    I’m delighted that eight schools in York have now received official ADHD accreditation and hope that they will share their expertise and knowledge with others across the city.

    Luke Dancer, headteacher at Copmanthorpe Primary School, said:

    We are incredibly proud to be recognised as an ADHD Friendly School.

    “At Copmanthorpe Primary, we strive to create an inclusive and supportive environment where all children can thrive. This accreditation is a testament to the ongoing dedication and hard work of the staff in creating a school where learners with ADHD feel valued, understood, and empowered to reach their full potential. Since joining the school in January, it has been clear to me that the whole team is deeply committed to ensuring that every child receives the support they need to succeed. Working alongside the ADHD Foundation and City of York Council has helped us implement meaningful strategies that benefit all of our pupils.”

    Colin Foley from the ADHD Foundation said:

    It has been a pleasure to work with a range of schools across the City of York.

    “In each school, there is a commitment to understanding and nurturing children and young people with ADHD. Thank you to all of the professionals involved, these awards are very well deserved.”

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI Russia: “Continuity and the spirit of an IT company”: what will the SHIFT of the St. Petersburg HSE be like?

    Translartion. Region: Russians Fedetion –

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

    The School of Physics, Mathematics and Computer Science at the HSE in St. Petersburg has started 2025 with big changes: it is being transformed into SHIFT — the School of Informatics, Physics and Technology. VK is the key partner of the educational project. How students will study, what advantages does cooperation with a large technology company provide, and what awaits graduates of the new school — we tell you in our article.

    What is SHIFT?

    The School of Informatics, Physics and Technology is the successor to the Faculty of Physics, Mathematics and Computer Science at the National Research University Higher School of Economics in St. Petersburg. “The launch of the School of Informatics, Physics and Technology is a transition to a globally new concept. We are starting to build the faculty according to the model of an IT company: training will take place in conditions as close as possible to work in big tech. This approach will ensure seamless integration of graduates into the industry,” emphasizes Mikhail Mukhin, Dean of SHIFT.

    During the training, the role of practical training will increase significantly. The educational process will be built jointly with VK experts and other industrial partners of the School, while maintaining a strong academic base. As a result, students will receive a relevant set of skills and competencies, and bigtech will become a familiar environment for them.

    What specialties will SHIFT students master?

    SHIFT is five bachelor’s degree programs and the same number of master’s degree programs: four in IT and one in physics.

    Bachelor’s degree

    Applied data analysis and artificial intelligence Applied mathematics and informatics Computer technologies, systems and networks Programming and engineering of computer games Physics

    Master’s degree

    Machine learning and data analysis Design and development of high-load information systems UX analytics and information systems design Computational biology and bioinformatics Physics

    The flagship bachelor’s degree programs include new tracks: “Applied Data Analysis and Artificial Intelligence” — RS (recommender systems), CV (computer vision), NLP (natural language processing), “Applied Mathematics and Computer Science” — high-load systems, industrial programming, tool development. The tracks are available in the third and fourth years.

    The master’s programs include elective tracks: “Machine learning and data analysis” – ML, advanced ML, “Design and development of high-load information systems” – software architecture, systems engineering, development management.

    At the end of the second year of the bachelor’s degree, students choose one of three tracks to study. Each semester has two or three fixed courses, and they choose the same number as part of the variable program.

    In the Master’s program, students also master compulsory basic disciplines, and half of the curriculum consists of elective subjects.

    “The technologies, knowledge and practical experience that we give to students will be in demand, no matter how the trends in the IT industry change. We give them both a strong base that allows them to develop in different directions, and practical skills that can be applied for further development in other areas,” explains Mikhail Mukhin.

    How will VK participate in the training of SHIFT students?

    VK is involved in creating educational programs in the field of artificial intelligence: recommender systems, computer vision, NLP (natural language processing). Students will be able to learn from the company’s cases, prove themselves in group projects, receive advice from experts, and (importantly) receive personalized scholarships.

    “We have big plans with VK not only to transform existing educational programs, but also to open project workshops. This is an important strategic partnership with a focus on the challenges facing businesses,” Mikhail Mukhin shares.

    What partners does SHIFT have besides VK?

    SHIFT develops cooperation with industry leaders. Among the latest important events: in September 2024, the HSE in St. Petersburg launched the educational program “Computer Technologies, Systems and Networks” with YADRO. In September 2025, a program on computer game development will start with “Lesta Igra”. Among the School’s important partners are 1C, BIOCAD, Gazprom Neft, Yandex and others. Experts conduct specializations and special courses, and also provide relevant cases, projects and tasks on which students learn.

    How is SHIFT similar to an IT company?

    Studying at SHIFT will be closer to the realities of a real IT company. For this purpose, it is planned to use different formats and approaches.

    Balance between academic completeness and practical orientation. Programs are created together with IT companies, leading experts in their field, and projects are close to real tasks.

    Organization of educational processes. During training, the Continuous Integration and Continuous Education approaches will be used. That is, all the knowledge that students receive in lectures is immediately applied in classes or projects. We will also integrate the Agile approach into training – when regular meetings are held, plans and tasks are discussed. Managers, curators and program directors will regularly communicate with students, and senior students will become mentors for first-year students and adapt them to life at the faculty, help them get involved in the educational process.

    Technologies in education: remote access and online broadcasting of all classes. Thanks to the project management system, students will work in an IT infrastructure that meets bigtech. The LCMS system will provide convenient access to educational content.

    Training takes place on real business problems in various laboratories: in the Engineering and Mathematics School of the Higher School of Economics and VK, the Laboratory of the Internet of Things and Cyber-Physical Systems YADRO, the 1C Project Center, the Laboratory of Bio- and Chemoinformatics, the HSE-Yandex Natural Language Laboratory, the Center for Machine Learning and Data Analysis, collaborating with Gazprom Neft, and the International Laboratory of Quantum Optoelectronics of the Russian Academy of Sciences.

    Where will SHIFT students study?

    SHIFT will occupy part of the space of the new building of the Saint Petersburg Higher School of Economics — the Rope Workshop on Vasilievsky Island, a five-minute walk from the metro station. High-quality coworking spaces and comfortable seminar rooms will be set up here. Students from the first year will be able not only to work on cases of leading bigtech companies, but also to immerse themselves in the corporate culture of partners in branded spaces.

    Who is expected at SHIFT?

    SHIFT identifies personal characteristics that will indicate that undergraduate programs are suitable for an applicant:

    desire not just to learn how to apply technologies, but to understand the principles underlying the technologies; desire to develop. Students will have to study hard, and also devote a lot of time to homework and independent work. You need to be ready to constantly develop and grow; desire to achieve super results. Readiness to perceive training at SHIFT not as a process, but as a project with a high result; personal responsibility. SHIFT, like an IT company, has its own corporate culture, which is built on mutual respect and responsibility to students and colleagues.

    Graduates from non-core fields are also welcome to apply for Master’s programs. The main requirement is the readiness to master a new subject area and have high-quality basic training in mathematics and programming. During the studies, adaptation disciplines are provided to make up for non-core bachelor’s degrees. So the main personal characteristic here is motivation.

    What does studying at SHIFT give you?

    SHIFT graduates will have many advantages and skills:

    a relevant set of knowledge and competencies that allow you to be in demand on the labor market and successful in your career. All programs are developed with the participation of the School’s industrial partners, primarily VK; practical work in the infrastructure of IT companies and in the project approach paradigm; relevant work experience in big tech: projects, teachers, mentors, internships; mastering fundamental disciplines – deep knowledge in mathematics and programming; networking. The best graduates apply for middle, middle positions and in a short time become leading experts in the strongest leading IT companies in the country.

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

    MIL OSI Russia News –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Joy as academy rated Good for the first time in its history

    Source: City of Wolverhampton

    The Lichfield Road school was found to require improvement when it was last inspected in November 2022. Two months later the school joined Matrix Academy Trust, with Ofsted inspectors recognising how much Wednesfield Academy had improved since then.

    In their report, published today (Monday 24 March, 2025), they found the school ‘has undergone a significant period of change and development’, ‘rapidly raised expectations around learning and behaviour’ and ‘developed a highly ambitious and well sequenced curriculum for all pupils’, including those with special educational needs or disabilities (SEND). As a result, ‘pupils achieve well and are well prepared for the next stage of their lives’.

    The school is also continuing to expand its ‘ambitious curriculum’ in the sixth form, with students ‘positive about their learning experiences and the wider opportunities the school provides’.

    Wednesfield Academy ‘is a highly inclusive school where everyone is valued and where expectations for pupils to achieve well are high’. Relationships between pupils and staff are ‘warm and respectful’, with pupils speaking positively to inspectors about the support they receive from staff and how they enjoy their learning. There is a ‘purposeful atmosphere around the school’, and ‘pupils focus on their learning well’.

    The school ‘identifies and supports pupils with SEND well’, with teachers effectively adapting their teaching to meet their needs well, ensuring that pupils with SEND are able to access the same ambitious curriculum as their peers.

    Inspectors also found that pupils’ wellbeing is ‘at the forefront of leaders’ vision, including promoting pupils’ positive mental health’.

    Inspectors concluded that the quality of education, behaviour and attitudes, personal development, leadership and management, and sixth form provision at Wednesfield Academy are all Good.

    Headteacher Joe Phillips said: “I am immensely proud to be Headteacher at Wednesfield Academy and this Ofsted report illustrates the rapid improvement the school has made in just over 2 years.

    “We have so many committed staff and the pupils, as they always are, were a credit to themselves and the academy over the 2 days when Ofsted visited. We want to thank our parents and carers for their ongoing support, and we now look forward to what the future brings as we continue to strive towards excellence.”
     
    Matrix CEO Lynsey Draycott added: “Everyone has put their heart and soul into Wednesfield Academy to make it a school the community can be proud of. Not many schools go from Requires Improvement to Good in just over 2 years. We are so happy that Ofsted recognised everyone’s hard work and the school will only continue to improve.” 

    Councillor Jacqui Coogan, the City of Wolverhampton Council’s Cabinet Member for Children, Young People and Education, said: “This is a fabulous report which demonstrates the great progress that everyone at Wednesfield Academy has made over the last few years.

    “The school’s clear and decisive leadership, coupled with a pupil centred approach, has ensured it has been able to improve both rapidly and sustainably, and I look forward to seeing Wednesfield Academy continue on its upward trajectory over the coming months and years.”

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI China: Revised rules aim to boost China auto market

    Source: China State Council Information Office

    China’s push to encourage the automotive industry is taking shape through measures including the expansion of trade-in policies, strengthening the used car market and easing purchasing restrictions, boosting confidence among automakers, dealers and consumers.

    An injection of long-term special treasury bonds amounting to 300 billion yuan ($41.4 billion) will be issued in 2025 to support the expansion of consumer goods trade-in programs, notably automobiles, which was outlined in an action plan revealed by the central government in mid-March.

    Compared to 2024’s 150 billion yuan in treasury bonds, it is expected to invigorate market activity, said Lang Xuehong, deputy secretary-general of the China Automobile Dealers Association.

    Driven by these trade-in policies, domestic passenger vehicle retail sales reached 22.89 million units in 2024, a 5.5 percent year-on-year increase, with rapid growth in new energy vehicles penetration.

    In early 2025, China expanded the scope of vehicle scrapping and replacement while improving subsidy standards for trade-ins. With new trade-in policies rolling out regionally, the China Passenger Car Association estimates that 5 million vehicles will be scrapped and 10 million vehicles will be replaced this year.

    Consequently, domestic car retail sales are projected to reach 23.4 million units, a 2 percent year-on-year increase, while NEV retail sales are expected to hit 13.3 million units, growing 20 percent to capture a 57 percent market share, the CPCA predicted.

    The auto consumption chain is set to be extended through pilot reforms in car distribution and an increased focus on the automotive aftermarket, encompassing car modifications, leasing and recreational vehicle camping.

    Lang noted that the action plan emphasizes service-oriented consumption, which aligns with the current state of the auto industry where car supply exceeds demand, yet the need for high-quality services remains unmet.

    While 4S stores still dominate China’s auto aftermarket, third-party brands are growing rapidly, said Xu Haidong, vice-chief engineer of the China Association of Automobile Manufacturers.

    As the market becomes more standardized and diverse in demand, the value of the auto aftermarket will increase, emerging as a key growth area for China’s auto industry, Xu added.

    The rising popularity of RV camping exemplifies this trend. However, challenges such as inadequate facilities, unstable water and electricity supply as well as insufficient sewerage at campsites hinder the development of this sector.

    Addressing these issues and improving infrastructure could significantly boost consumption and promote automotive culture in China.

    The used car market will also receive a boost through enhanced cross-regional transaction measures and the development of third-party platforms to assist secure and convenient trade, according to the action plan.

    According to CADA statistics, there were 19.61 million used cars transacted in 2024, a 6.52 percent year-on-year increase, with a total transaction value of 1.29 trillion yuan. Notably, the transaction volume of secondhand NEVs exceeded 1 million units for the first time, reaching 1.13 million units, an increase of 47.97 percent.

    Zhang Xiang, an auto industry researcher at the Beijing-based North China University of Technology, noted that China’s used car market is still small compared to Europe and the United States. Expanding this market could benefit both used and new car sales by increasing car turnover.

    He suggested establishing an industry database to collect information on each used car, allowing consumers to transparently purchase secondhand vehicles.

    It is noteworthy that the action plan mentioned reducing consumption limits and removing unreasonable restrictions to ensure that long-term non-plate households can purchase cars.

    Guosen Securities stated that gradually easing purchase restrictions will release new car demand, leading to sales growth, with first-time buyers creating an incremental market.

    A report by China Merchants Securities pointed out that relaxing these restrictions is a low-cost, quick-acting stimulus measure.

    Traffic expert Xu Kangming said that the lottery-based vehicle plate application was initially intended as a short-term measure. However, in some major cities it has lasted for over a decade. This policy is increasingly seen as unfair to households without cars and long-term non-plate applicants. As the number of vehicles grows, the restriction’s effectiveness in alleviating traffic congestion diminishes.

    In recent years, various regions have gradually eased car purchase restrictions. Except for Guizhou and Hainan provinces, which have lifted all restrictions on NEVs, cities such as Shenzhen, Hangzhou and Tianjin have relaxed limits by increasing quotas or optimizing rules.

    An expert noted that for megacities like Beijing and Shanghai, lifting all car purchase restrictions is unlikely. Given the severe traffic congestion, completely removing limits would worsen road conditions.

    According to the Ministry of Public Security, by the end of 2024, Beijing and Shanghai had more than 7 million and 5 million vehicles on their roads, respectively.

    MIL OSI China News –

  • MIL-Evening Report: 4 key changes you may have missed in the new school funding agreement

    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Rachel Wilson, Professor of Social Impact, University of Technology Sydney

    Queensland and the federal government have reached an agreement on school funding. This means all Australian states and territories are now signed up to new arrangements, which officially began at the start of 2025.

    The agreement follows more than a year of negotiations between the federal and state governments.

    The agreements mean government schools will receive 25% of funding from the federal government, up from 20%. Cash-strapped state and territory governments now only have to find 75% (down from 80%).

    In some good news for schools, it also means there is now a firm plan to “fully fund” public schools by 2034. This means they will get 100% of the funding recommended by the schooling resource standard (or school funding mechanism) – albeit more than a decade after it was first recommended by the Gonski review in 2011.

    Much of the debate about the agreements has understandably focused on the funding split between federal and state governments.

    But the agreements also tie vital funding for schools to specific targets and reforms for the next ten years. There is plenty of fine print.

    Here are four major changes we can expect to see in schools and classrooms around Australia.



    Read more:
    Underfunded? Overfunded? How school funding works in Australia

    1. A ‘unique’ identifier for all students

    The new agreement will see all students receive a “unique student identifier” as part of a national system.

    This is a number all students will have from the time they start school. It would follow them through school to tertiary education or any other further study or training.

    The idea was first agreed to by the former Council of Australian Governments in 2009 and is already in place for university and vocational education students.

    A long time in the planning, it was included in the last school funding agreement, which expired at the end of 2024, despite little progress.

    At the moment, education systems can easily lose track of students. For example, pre-COVID an estimated 50,000 children and young people were not officially tracked by education authorities.

    The identifier number means governments will be able to track students across school systems. For example, if they move from the public system to the private system. Or if they move states or begin homeschooling.

    The identifier will also provide a greater understanding of the pathways taken by young people after school and potentially make it easier to link senior high schooling with TAFE and other vocational studies.

    Introducing a bill to set up architecture for the indentifier last year, federal Education Minister Jason Clare said it would have “robust privacy measures”, including protection under the Privacy Act.



    Read more:
    NSW has finally struck a school funding deal. What does this mean for schools and students?

    2. A new numeracy check

    Along with rolling out a well-publicised national phonics check for Year 1 (which some states are already doing), the new agreements include a numeracy check for young students.

    While numeracy is checked as part of NAPLAN in Year 3, the test was not designed to provide diagnostic data on individual students.

    The new checks will be used to identify students and schools in need of extra support.

    So far, we have few details on the design or time frames. The checks may also need significant research and development to work effectively. But existing programs (such as in South Australia) show screening checks have the potential to provide better monitoring and resourcing for student needs.

    3. A review of how school funding is calculated

    The new agreement also flags two more significant reviews.

    One will be on the way school funding is calculated – the first review since the current system was devised in 2011.

    The schooling resource standard is an estimate of how much total public funding a school needs to meet its students’ educational needs.

    In 2025, the base rates are A$13,977 for primary students and $17,565 for high school students. On top of these, there are six loadings to provide extra funding for students and schools with additional needs. This includes students with disability, Indigenous students and students in remote areas.

    But as a 2023 Productivity Commission review noted, some individual students qualify under multiple categories, and “the effects can be compounding”. This means this level of disadvantage needs more understanding and policy adjustment.

    The review will examine the methodology behind the base rate and loadings. As part of this, it will hopefully look at transparency around school funding arrangements. The Australian National Audit Office identified this as an issue as far back as 2017.

    4. A review of how schools are measured

    There will also be a review of the national Measurement Framework for Schooling in Australia. This details key performance measures for schooling, such as attendance, NAPLAN results and school completion.

    This framework usually has just minor adjustments about every couple of years. But a more significant overhaul is now in the works, with states agreeing a review will look at “possible new and updated measures”.

    These could include indicators for students’ engagement and learning growth, as well as outcomes for students with disability and the teaching workforce.

    An improved national data set holds enormous potential for addressing educational challenges, like declining participation rates, school refusal and teacher shortages.

    Elsewhere in the new agreement, states and territories also agreed to “better understand” how socioeconomic diversity and school attendance are impacting student learning. This can be seen as high-level acknowledgement the current reporting mechanisms and data on students need to improve.

    Now we need to see progress

    The new schools agreement contains some promising new measures to improve outcomes for students and teachers. But we now need to see them implemented.

    As the Productivity Commission and National Audit Office have previously noted, just because something is included in a school funding agreement, does not necessarily mean it will happen on time or as planned.

    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.

    – ref. 4 key changes you may have missed in the new school funding agreement – https://theconversation.com/4-key-changes-you-may-have-missed-in-the-new-school-funding-agreement-252291

    MIL OSI Analysis – EveningReport.nz –

  • MIL-OSI United Nations: IOM Chief Unveils New Partnership with LALIGA FOUNDATION to Strengthen Migrant Integration in Peru

    Source: International Organization for Migration (IOM)

    Lima, 24 March 2025 – International Organization for Migration (IOM) Director General Amy Pope concluded her first official visit to Peru last Friday, kicking off a strategic partnership between IOM Peru and the premier Spanish football league LALIGA FOUNDATION to promote social cohesion and healthy living among migrant and host community children and teens.

    “The integration of migrants here in Peru is not just a humanitarian effort, it is an opportunity to build stronger, more cohesive societies,” DG Pope said. “Sport unites people across cultures, and no sport is more global than soccer. Through this partnership we are creating spaces where young people – both migrants and Peruvians – can learn teamwork and leadership, as well as fostering connections that go beyond the game.”

    This collaboration, supported by the Korea International Cooperation Agency (KOICA), builds upon the achievements of El Balón No Tiene Fronteras (Soccer Has No Borders), a similar programme implemented by IOM in Peru since 2019, which reached over 1,600 children and youth across Peru, fostering social inclusion and strengthening community ties.

    Through soccer clinics, leadership workshops, and community-building events, LALIGA’s coaches will work directly with students and local leaders to promote key values such as respect, sportsmanship, and solidarity. IOM will collaborate closely with the national Ministry of Education to ensure this initiative’s sustainability and broad impact across public schools in Lima with a significant number of migrant students.

    During her visit, DG Pope held meetings with President Dina Boluarte and the Prime Minister, Gustavo Adrianzén, and participated in the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to boost joint efforts to enhance national development through programmes that support migrants in Peru, Peruvians abroad, and Peruvians returning home.

    DG Pope also met with government officials, donors, private sector representatives, and UN partners; and visited the Central Orientation and Assistance Point (PAO), an IOM-supported site in southern Lima where over 7,000 migrants have received information on basic services and access to documentation, primary health care, and psychosocial support since August 2024.

    For more information, please contact:  

    In Peru: Leesly León, leleon@iom.int  

    In Panama: Jorge Gallo, jgallo@iom.int  

    In Geneva: Daniela Rovina, drovina@iom.int  

    MIL OSI United Nations News –

  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: Choi Yuk-lin bound for Iceland

    Source: Hong Kong Information Services

    Secretary for Education Choi Yuk-lin will lead a delegation of Hong Kong principals and educationalists in attending the International Summit on the Teaching Profession 2025 in Reykjavík, Iceland, from tomorrow.

    After visiting Iceland, Ms Choi and her delegation will visit India. Their itinerary is aimed at promoting Hong Kong’s advantages as an international post-secondary education hub.

    Besides discussing trends in global education with education ministers from around the world at the Reykjavík forum, Ms Choi will also visit local schools and meet Icelandic educationalists.

    The education chief will fly to Delhi on Thursday to attend the Asia-Pacific Association for International Education 2025 Conference & Exhibition.

    She will be accompanied by representatives from the University Grants Committee (UGC) and UGC-funded universities, and will give a speech at the Delhi event about studying in Hong Kong.

    Ms Choi will return to Hong Kong on Friday. During her absence, Under Secretary for Education Sze Chun-fai will be Acting Secretary.

    MIL OSI Asia Pacific News –

  • MIL-OSI: Andrius Načajus will become the CEO of INVL Asset Management

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    The new CEO of INVL Asset Management, the leading alternative asset manager in the Baltics, as of 1 April will be Andrius Načajus, a finance executive with many years of experience. He is replacing interim CEO Audrius Matikiūnas, the company’s Head of Business Development.  

    Andrius Načajus will also be a member of the board of INVL Financial Advisors, the financial brokerage company operating under the brand name INVL Family Office. The Bank of Lithuania’s permission for him to serve in both roles has been obtained. In the near future, subject to approval by Latvia’s supervisory authority, he should become a member of the supervisory board of INVL Asset Management in Latvia as well. 

    “We value Andrius’s managerial experience, multifaceted financial market competence and openness to innovation. We believe that he will contribute actively to rapid business growth, operational efficiency and outstanding results for our investors,” says Darius Šulnis, the CEO of Invalda INVL and Chairman of the Board of INVL Asset Management. 

    “It is a great honour to join the private equity market leader with the strongest team of investment professionals in the Baltics. INVL Asset Management demonstrates an exceptional ability to select assets with growth potential and generate superior returns for its clients. I believe those skills are particularly relevant in these times of extraordinary change,” Andrius Načajus remarks.  

    The new CEO has more than 20 years of management experience in the financial sector in the Baltic countries. Prior to joining INVL Asset Management, he was the chief financial officer at Achema Group. Before that, he worked for 6 years at Luminor Bank, where he was a member of the group management board, head of corporate banking in the Baltics, and country head for Lithuania. He had previously led the corporate banking, markets and investment banking units at DNB Bank in Lithuania.  

    A. Načajus graduated from the Stockholm School of Economics and Business in Riga and Stockholm, where he obtained a master’s degree in international business. 

    INVL Asset Management is a part of Invalda INVL, the leading Baltic asset management group, which currently employs more than 150 employees. The Invalda INVL group manage or have under supervision more than EUR 1.6 billion of assets across multiple asset classes including private equity, forests and agricultural land, renewable energy, real estate as well as private debt. The group’s scope of activities also includes family office services in Lithuania, Latvia and Estonia, management of pension funds in Latvia, and investments in global third-party funds. 

    Additional information:
    Darius Šulnis
    darius.sulnis@invl.com

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Tony Juniper CBE reappointed to continue protecting nature and boosting growth as Natural England Chair

    Source: United Kingdom – Executive Government & Departments 2

    Press release

    Tony Juniper CBE reappointed to continue protecting nature and boosting growth as Natural England Chair

    His reappointment comes as Environment Secretary, Steve Reed, is rewiring and reforming Defra and its arm’s-length bodies to unlock growth under the Plan for Change

    Tony Juniper CBE (Photo credit: Jason Bye)

    The Environment Secretary, Steve Reed, has today (Monday 24 March) confirmed that Tony Juniper CBE has been reappointed as Chair of Natural England for a third term.

    Tony’s continued leadership comes as Mr. Reed is rewiring Defra and its arm’s-length bodies to embark on an ambitious programme of reforming regulation and delivery to unleash economic growth across the country, with Natural England playing a major role.

    Planning reforms and a new Nature Restoration Fund under the Secretary of State’s leadership will unblock much needed housing and development whilst supporting nature recovery at scale. It will help developers meet their environmental obligations more efficiently, making it easier to build vital infrastructure like wind farms, railways and roads, gigafactories and data centres.

    Chair of Natural England, Tony Juniper said:

    “It is truly an honour to be reappointed Chair of Natural England. Our role in protecting and restoring the natural environment is vital for the country’s economy, health and security and I am looking forward to two more years supporting government in delivering Nature-positive change.

    “From creating the King’s Series of National Nature Reserves and the King Charles III England Coast Path, launching 12 new landscape-scale Nature Recovery Projects and bringing the iconic beaver back to Britain’s waterways, our work over the past six years is helping turn the tide toward Nature’s recovery.

    “I’m immensely proud of the Natural England team and excited to lead the organisation as we ensure development, growth and nature restoration go forward hand-in-hand – delivering a brighter future for everyone.”

    Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, Steve Reed said:

    “Tony brings a wealth of passion, experience and expertise to the role, which we will need more than ever as we grow the economy and restore our natural world. 

    “Tony and I are fully committed to infrastructure, to housing, to growth. 

    “Our reforms will fast-track development to boost economic growth while funding large-scale environmental improvements across whole landscapes as part of the Government’s Plan for Change.”

    First appointed in 2019, Tony Juniper will become the longest serving chair of Natural England, the government’s statutory adviser on nature. He will continue in the role for two years from 23 April 2025 to 22 April 2027. 

    Natural England is working with the government to deliver the shared ambition to grow nature and the economy for the benefit of everybody. This includes ensuring guidance is fit for purpose and moving toward better strategic planning to secure environmental improvements while development takes place.

    Nature in Britain is in decline. That is why this Government has launched a rapid review to deliver on our legally binding environment targets, including halting the decline of species by 2030. Under his extended chairmanship, Tony will be at the forefront of the Government’s drive to meet these targets.

    Tony Juniper’s reappointment has been made in accordance with the Governance Code on Public Appointments. All appointments are made on merit and political activity plays no part in the selection process.

    There is a requirement for appointees’ political activity (if significant) to be made public. Tony has declared that he has not taken part in any significant political activity in the past five years.

    Tony Juniper biography

    • Tony Juniper CBE has been Chair of Natural England since 2019.
    • Prior to joining Natural England, Tony was Director of Advocacy and Campaigns at WWF-UK and President of the Royal Society of Wildlife Trusts.
    • He is a Fellow of the University of Cambridge Institute for Sustainability Leadership and former advisor to the Prince of Wales (now King Charles).
    • He began his career as an ornithologist, working with Birdlife International and for many years worked with Friends of the Earth, most recently as Executive Director and Vice Chair of Friends of the Earth International.
    • He is a prolific author publishing many books, including ‘Just Earth: How a Fairer World Will Save the Planet’ and the multi-award-winning bestseller ‘What has Nature ever done for us?’
    • In 2017, Tony was recognised for his services to conservation with a CBE in the Queen’s birthday honours.

    Natural England

    • Natural England is the government’s statutory adviser for the natural environment in England.
    • Natural England’s purpose is to help conserve, enhance and manage the natural environment for the benefit of present and future generations, thereby contributing to sustainable development.

    Updates to this page

    Published 24 March 2025

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI: Jeito Capital co-leads the oversubscribed €78 million financing in Augustine Therapeutics to develop novel therapies for neuromuscular, cardio-metabolic and neurodegenerative diseases

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    Jeito Capital co-leads the oversubscribed €78 million financing in Augustine Therapeutics to develop novel therapies for neuromuscular, cardio-metabolic and neurodegenerative diseases

    • Proceeds from the financing will advance Augustine’s lead candidate, AGT-100216, through a Phase 2 proof-of-concept clinical trial in Charcot-Marie-Tooth and support significant pipeline expansion into cardio-metabolic and neurodegenerative diseases
    • This investment reinforces Jeito’s expertise and interest to breakthrough innovations in neurological diseases that affect large patient populations with high unmet medical needs and limited treatment options

    Paris, France, March 24, 2025 – Jeito Capital (“Jeito”), a global leading independent Private Equity fund dedicated to biopharma, announced today it is co-leading an oversubscribed €77.7 million (USD 84.8 million) Series A financing round in Augustine Therapeutics (“Augustine”), a biotechnology company focused on developing new therapies for neuromuscular, neurodegenerative and cardio-metabolic diseases through the inhibition of the cytosolic Histone DeACetylase 6 (HDAC6) enzyme.

    Jeito and Novo Holdings, new investors, co-led the oversubscribed total financing, joined by existing investors Asabys Partners, who led an initial €17,5 million closing in 2024, Eli Lilly and Company, AdBio Partners, V-Bio Ventures, PMV, VIB and Gemma Frisius Fund, the US-based Charcot-Marie-Tooth (CMT) Research Foundation, and Newton Biocapital. Augustine was initially formed and seed-funded by V-Bio Ventures, AdBio Partners, VIB, PMV, and Gemma Frisius Fund.

    Mehdi Ainouche, Senior Principal, and Annette Clancy, Operational Investor at Jeito Capital, will also join Augustine’s Board of Directors respectively as Board member and observer.

    Founded in 2019 in Belgium, as a spin-off from the European-based excellence center VIB-KU Leuven (University of Leuven), Augustine has identified HDAC6 inhibition as a promising approach for the treatment of neuropathies and particularly Charcot-Marie-Tooth (CMT) disease – a motor and sensory neuropathy that affects the peripheral nervous system, leading to progressive muscle weakness, sensory loss, deformities, and walking difficulties.
    HDAC6 plays a key role in cellular processes related to tissue aging, and its pharmacological inhibition is a promising approach in a number of diseases. Augustine Therapeutics has developed a next-generation approach to selectively inhibit HDAC6 while preserving its beneficial non-catalytic functions.

    Proceeds from the investment will advance Augustine’s lead candidate, AGT-100216, through a Phase 1/2 proof-of-concept clinical trial in CMT, expected to begin in 2025. The financing will also support pipeline expansion for two other programs in undisclosed neurodegenerative and cardio-metabolic indications.

    Through this investment, Jeito leverages its expertise in neurology, a therapeutic area with strong potential for innovation and significant unmet needs. The quality of Augustine’s assets and team – led by Gerhard Koenig who brings more than 30 years of experience in drug development and track-record in biopharma successes – aligns with Jeito’s investment thesis of accelerating the development of groundbreaking medical innovations and unlocking companies’ potential to become future global market leaders.

    Dr. Rafaèle Tordjman, MD, PhD, Founder and CEO of Jeito Capital, said:
    “Through this new investment, Jeito reaffirms its interest in a cutting-edge therapeutic field, where innovation can bring transformative benefits for patients still heavily impacted by the disease. This commitment to the patients is at the core of our mission, and takes on its full meaning through this funding. We are delighted to support Augustine and share our knowledge and experience with its talented teams, to advance novel therapeutics and contribute to the development of future innovative treatments.”

    Mehdi Ainouche, Senior Principal at Jeito Capital, added:
    “This investment illustrates Augustine’s potential for innovation in a therapeutic area where patients have limited to no treatment options. We are therefore happy to co-lead this financing to realize Augustine’s potential, which stands out for both the quality of its research and the expertise of Gerhard and his team. We look forward to our future collaboration, which shares a common ambition: to accelerate clinical development to go faster to patients.”

    Gerhard Koenig, CEO Augustine Therapeutics, concluded:
    “This significant financing is a testament to the innovative medicinal chemistry that Augustine was founded on, which acts via a unique mechanism of action. The therapeutic potential of HDAC6 is widely recognized in our industry, but previous drug approaches have been sub-optimal, particularly for chronic diseases. At Augustine, we believe we have solved these challenges with a novel non-hydroxamate, non-hydrazide producing chemotype which is highly selective and avoids the typical liabilities of prior chemotypes, unlocking HDAC6 inhibition as a therapeutic approach. We now look forward to rapidly advancing our lead candidate into clinical trials for the treatment of CMT, while broadening the potential for our candidates to change treatment paradigms for neurological and cardio-metabolic diseases. I would like to thank our new and existing investors for their unwavering support as we continue to advance into clinical development.”

    About Jeito Capital
    Jeito Capital is a global leading Private Equity fund with a patient benefit driven approach that finances and accelerates the development and growth of ground-breaking medical innovation. Jeito empowers and supports managers through its expert, integrated, multi-talented team and through the investment of significant capital to ensure the growth of companies, building market leaders in their respective therapeutic areas with accelerated patients’ access globally, especially in Europe and the United States. Jeito has built a diversified portfolio of clinical biopharmas with cutting-edge innovations addressing high unmet needs. Jeito Capital is based in Paris with a presence in Europe and the United States.
    For more information, please visit www.jeito.life or follow us on LinkedIn or X.

    About Augustine Therapeutics

    Augustine Therapeutics is a biotechnology company focused on the treatment of neuromuscular, neurodegenerative and cardio-metabolic diseases through its next-generation approach to selectively inhibit HDAC6. Augustine’s HDAC6 inhibitors has been purposefully designed to selectively inhibit HDAC6 while preserving its beneficial non-catalytic functions. Augustine’s lead program, AGT-100216, is the first selective HDAC6 inhibitor for long-term treatment of Charcot-Marie-Tooth (CMT) disease. With its novel non-hydroxamate, non-hydrazide producing chemotype, Augustine’s HDAC6 approach is selective, avoids the limitations of other chemotypes, and built for chronic diseases. With this novel approach, the Company will also be targeting diseases beyond CMT, including neurodegenerative and cardio-metabolic diseases. Augustine Therapeutics was founded on the ground-breaking research of Prof. Ludo Van Den Bosch from the VIB-KU Leuven in Belgium.
    For more information visit www.augustinetx.com.

    Contacts:

    Jeito Capital                                        
    Rafaèle Tordjman, Founder & CEO
    Jessica Fadel, EA
    Tel: +33 6 33 44 25 47

    Maior                                                ICR Healthcare
    Stéphanie Elbaz                                Mary-Jane Elliott / Davide Salvi / Kris Lam
    Tel: +33 6 46 05 08 07                        Jeito@icrhealthcare.com
    Tel: +44 (0) 20 3709 5700

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI Russia: Marat Khusnullin discussed in the DPR the implementation of the national project “Infrastructure for Life”

    Translartion. Region: Russians Fedetion –

    Source: Government of the Russian Federation – An important disclaimer is at the bottom of this article.

    Marat Khusnullin held a meeting on the program of socio-economic development of the region and the integration of its activities into the national project “Infrastructure for Life”

    March 23, 2025

    Marat Khusnullin visited the Donetsk People’s Republic and inspected a number of facilities

    March 23, 2025

    Marat Khusnullin visited the Donetsk People’s Republic and inspected a number of facilities

    March 23, 2025

    Previous news Next news

    Marat Khusnullin held a meeting on the program of socio-economic development of the region and the integration of its activities into the national project “Infrastructure for Life”

    Deputy Prime Minister Marat Khusnullin visited the Donetsk People’s Republic, where he held a meeting on the program for the socio-economic development of the region and the integration of its activities into the national project “Infrastructure for Life”, and also inspected a number of facilities.

    “We discussed the housing restoration program at the meeting, discussed the implementation of the national project “Infrastructure for Life”. We also looked closely at the road renovation program, which the region has worked out very well: a detailed plan is outlined up to 2030 and concerns federal, regional and municipal roads. The main emphasis this year is on repairing the street and road network. I would like to note that we are now preparing to restore four districts of Donetsk that have been under fire for a long time,” the Deputy Prime Minister said.

    As part of his tour of Mariupol, Marat Khusnullin visited the stadium, the infrastructure of which was completely modernized, and the Institute of Secondary Vocational Education of PSTU.

    “In September 2023, after a large-scale restoration, the Priazovsky State Technical University opened its doors. Today I visited another of its institutions and talked to students. The building from the late 19th century was originally planned for training, and to this day it is an alma mater that trains specialists in 21 areas. Including builders and metallurgists. The plans for the 2025 academic year include accepting more than 1.5 thousand people. The buildings with a total area of about 15 thousand square meters were half-destroyed, they were on fire. They were restored by specialists from the Leningrad Region, and during the work they also discovered a painting from the Soviet period, which depicts builders,” the Deputy Prime Minister said.

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

    MIL OSI Russia News –

  • MIL-OSI Russia: Marat Khusnullin made working trips to Zaporizhia Oblast and Sevastopol

    Translartion. Region: Russians Fedetion –

    Source: Government of the Russian Federation – An important disclaimer is at the bottom of this article.

    Marat Khusnullin visited Zaporizhia region and the city of Sevastopol on working trips

    March 22, 2025

    Marat Khusnullin visited Zaporizhia region and the city of Sevastopol on working trips

    March 22, 2025

    In Melitopol, Marat Khusnullin inspected the construction of a multidisciplinary pediatric medical center

    March 22, 2025

    In Melitopol, Marat Khusnullin got acquainted with the current and completed work at the largest university in the Zaporizhia region – Melitopol State University

    March 22, 2025

    Marat Khusnullin held a meeting on the socio-economic development of the region

    March 22, 2025

    In Melitopol, Marat Khusnullin held a meeting on the socio-economic development of the region

    March 22, 2025

    Previous news Next news

    Marat Khusnullin visited Zaporizhia region and the city of Sevastopol on working trips

    Deputy Prime Minister Marat Khusnullin visited Zaporizhia Oblast and Sevastopol on working trips. In Melitopol, he checked the progress of construction of a multidisciplinary pediatric medical center, familiarized himself with the current and completed work at the largest university in Zaporizhia Oblast – Melitopol State University, and held a meeting on the socio-economic development of the region.

    “During the meeting, they said that in order to attract people to the Melitopol and Berdyansk agglomerations, it is important to create a modern infrastructure, increasing the volume of housing construction, upgrading housing and communal services facilities, and social facilities. What is encouraging is that positive dynamics are visible in these areas. For example, they are actively working with long-term construction projects. I stopped by one of three such sites on Belyaeva Street in Melitopol. The first house was completed in December last year, and the second is planned to be commissioned in August. In total, there will be about 140 apartments. On my next visit, I hope to see that the construction of investment housing has also begun. They also talked about industrial development, interaction with the Free Economic Zone Territory Development Fund. I looked at how an enterprise producing parts for railway locomotives, motor cars, and rolling stock is working. They are planning to expand the sales market, but they are already sending their products to Penza and Kolomna,” the Deputy Prime Minister said.

    In the multidisciplinary pediatric medical center with an infectious diseases department under the control of the “Single Customer”, work is currently underway on reinforcing and concreting the foundation slab, reinforcing the columns and basement walls, and the construction of internal walls and partitions has already begun in the infectious diseases building. And at the Melitopol State University, builders are repairing academic buildings, dormitories, gyms, canteens, a library, boiler houses and other facilities located on the territory of the university. As a result, a comfortable educational environment will be created for more than 12 thousand students.

    During a working visit to Sevastopol, Marat Khusnullin met with the region’s governor, Mikhail Razvozhaev, and discussed the development of the region with him.

    “Sevastopol is among the leaders of the Southern Federal District in implementing national and federal projects. I consider it extremely promising in terms of housing development, investment attraction, and, of course, tourism. We will continue our comprehensive work within the framework of the national project “Infrastructure for Life”, – the Deputy Prime Minister noted.

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

    MIL OSI Russia News –

  • MIL-OSI Banking: ADB’s Partnership with Canada

    Source: Asia Development Bank

    • ADB and Canada have been working together for nearly six decades to tackle some of the most pressing development challenges in Asia and the Pacific.

    Article | 24 March 2025

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    •  A founding member of ADB, Canada has contributed $245 million to sovereign projects, matched by $868 million of ADB’s resources, and $530 million to ADB-managed trust funds.
    •  Canada’s Indo-Pacific Strategy’s investment of about Can$2.3 billion over the next five years focuses on sustainable infrastructure, gender equality, climate change, and inclusive development.
    •  ADB and FinDev, Canada’s development finance institution, signed a memorandum of understanding in May 2023 to cooperate on sustainable and inclusive private sector investments that promote development in Asia and the Pacific.

    For nearly six decades, the Asian Development Bank (ADB) and Canada have collaborated to tackle some of the most pressing development challenges in Asia and the Pacific. From advancing gender equality to addressing the climate crisis, environmental degradation, and poverty and inequality, the partnership has played an important role in the region’s sustainable development.

    A founding member of ADB, Canada has contributed $245 million to sovereign projects, matched by $868 million of ADB’s resources, and $530 million to ADB-managed trust funds. Canada-based private entities have also committed $383 million to nonsovereign operations.

    In 2023, Canada’s cofinancing commitments amounted to $6.9 million. In the same year, ADB’s Trade and Supply Chain Finance Program supported five Canadian exports and/or imports valued at $2.1 million.

    Advancing shared priorities

    Canada’s Indo-Pacific Strategy, launched in November 2022, identifies Asia and the Pacific as a region of immense opportunity. With an investment of about Can$2.3 billion over the next five years, the strategy signals Canada’s commitment to the region. It focuses on sustainable infrastructure, gender equality, climate change, and inclusive development. It also aligns efforts with global initiatives such as the G7 Partnership for Global Infrastructure Investment.

    Collaborating with FinDev Canada

    ADB and FinDev, Canada’s development finance institution, signed a memorandum of understanding in May 2023 to cooperate on sustainable and inclusive private sector investments that promote development in Asia and the Pacific. They will jointly support private sector growth and investments in emerging and developing markets that advance women’s economic empowerment, climate action, and local market development.

    Driving results through trust funds

    ADB’s trust funds are essential to mobilize private financing and accelerate private sector participation in development. Canada has supported 6 ADB-managed trust funds, including:

    Asia Pacific Project Preparation Facility. Enhancing infrastructure development with $63.3 million in collective contributions alongside Australia, Japan, and the Republic of Korea. It supports the preparation and structuring of infrastructure projects, with private sector participation, and bringing them to the global market.

    Canadian Climate and Nature Fund for the Private Sector in Asia. Supporting private sector projects in the region focused on climate and nature-based solutions, with $255 million in commitments.

    Canadian Climate Fund for the Private Sector in Asia. Catalyzing private investment in climate change mitigation and adaptation in Asia and the Pacific. It is ADB’s first concessional debt cofinancing facility focused on private sector climate actions, with $77.3 million in commitments.

    Canadian Climate Fund for the Private Sector in Asia II. Supporting private sector participation in climate change mitigation and adaptation in low- and lower-middle-income countries and upper-middle-income small island developing states, with $149.5 million in commitments.

    Stories of ADB-Canada partnerships

    Bangladesh: Keeping the Kids in Primary School. Bangladesh’s Primary Education Development Program, cofinanced by ADB and Canada, and other partners, introduced innovative approaches that changed the face of basic education in the country, such as the adoption of multimedia, teacher training, and reward schemes to encourage kids to stay in school.

    Lao People’s Democratic Republic: Southeast Asia’s Biggest Wind Power Plant. The Monsoon Wind Power Company is building a wind power plant in the Lao PDR. ADB and Canada, along with other partners, are cofinancing what is poised to become the largest wind power facility in Southeast Asia.

    Maldives: Boosting Small Businesses and the Blue Economy. ADB and Canada, along with other partners, are providing the Bank of Maldives with a financing package to boost small businesses and investments in sustainable blue economy projects.

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    Subjects
    • ADB funds and products

    MIL OSI Global Banks –