NewzIntel.com

Category: Education

  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: Young persons in custody at Lai King Correctional Institution attain good examination results (with photos)

    Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

    Young persons in custody at Lai King Correctional Institution attain good examination results (with photos)
    Young persons in custody at Lai King Correctional Institution attain good examination results (with photos)
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         Young persons in custody (PICs) at Lai King Correctional Institution (LKCI) of the Correctional Services Department (CSD) were presented with certificates at a ceremony today (September 25) in recognition of their efforts and achievements in studies and vocational examinations.     In the past year, a total of 42 PICs of the institution sat for various academic and vocational examinations including the Hong Kong Diploma of Secondary Education Examination (HKDSE), the Aptis – British Council English Assessment Test and the General Aptitude Putonghua Shuiping Kaoshi, and obtained vocational certificates covering Food Safety and Hygiene, Food and Beverage Services, Coffee Making and Latte Art Training, Bakery and Pastry Making, Cantonese Cooking as well as Beauty Care organised by the Christian Action and the Vocational Training Council. During the year, the PICs attained 66 merits out of 182 certificates obtained. In the ceremony today, 20 PICs were presented with 116 certificates, of which 41 were marked with merits.      Officiating at the ceremony, the Chairman of Tung Sin Tan (TST), Mr Ha Tak-kin, said that TST has been highly supportive of the rehabilitation work of the CSD, and has set up the Tung Sin Education Fund to provide education and vocational training subsidies to PICs with financial difficulties to enable further studies. He encouraged the young PICs to equip themselves well and adopt a proactive learning attitude to prepare for reintegration into society.     During the ceremony, the young PICs delivered a music performance with Chinese drums and western musical instruments, and a traditional Chinese dance performance to demonstrate their learning outcomes and show gratitude to their families and correctional officers for their unwavering support. Through the performance, the PICs expressed their aspirations for pursuing a new beginning, allowing participants of the ceremony to witness their determination to change.           In the sharing session, a young PIC expressed thanks to her family members for their encouragement, which has enabled her to return to study and optimise her time to study hard, thus attaining satisfactory results in the HKDSE. Her mother shared the joy of witnessing positive changes of her daughter and she appreciated the dedication of correctional officers which have made her realise the importance of rehabilitation work.     Also attending the ceremony were representatives of non-governmental and community organisations, community leaders and family members of the certificate recipients.     LKCI accommodates young female PICs aged from 14 to under 21. The Department provides half-day education programmes and half-day vocational training for PICs to help them rehabilitate and prepare for their reintegration into society.

     
    Ends/Wednesday, September 25, 2024Issued at HKT 15:06

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    MIL OSI Asia Pacific News –

  • MIL-OSI Australia: Transcript – doorstop – Western Sydney University

    Source: Australian Ministers 1

    ANDY MARKS [PRO VICE-CHANCELLOR WSU]: Morning, everybody. My name is Andy Marks from Western Sydney University. I want to acknowledge the traditional owners of the land on which we’re meeting today and pay my respects to elders past, present and emerging. This is a fantastic next stage on a journey that we’ve been on in [the] Hawkesbury that goes back more than a hundred years, in fact, when this facility was one of Australia’s first in pioneering the education and research of agriculture in Australia. What we see today with the announcement of stage one funding for the Agri Tech Hub is something that takes that to another level. It’s about an array of infrastructure investments in Western Sydney on the part of the Federal Government, and how they can do the main game for [the] Hawkesbury, which is generating jobs and jobs of the future. So I won’t say any more today other than to introduce our distinguished guests. First of all, the most distinguished, our local member, Susan Templeman. Susan, please.

    SUSAN TEMPLEMAN [FEDERAL MEMBER FOR MACQUARIE]: Thanks, Andy.

    ANDY MARKS: No offence, guys.

    SUSAN TEMPLEMAN: Yeah. Susan Templeman, Member for Macquarie. It is such a pleasure to be here to bring to fruition a conversation that started several years ago and followed with an election commitment of $16.7 million, and to now be at this point knowing that the investment that we are making as a federal government is going to have long term benefits economically for this community, and importantly, for agriculture across not just New South Wales, but Australia – and, we hope, the world. What we’re able to bring here and what we’ll see grow over time is an agritech precinct that is really going to, as Andy has said, take that story of agriculture in the Hawkesbury, which began when colonial settlers saw how fertile this area was. This is the area that fed Sydney when it was in famine, and these are really significant things in the settlement of Australia. And of course, we looked at how [the] First Nations used this land – they also found it was bountiful. So, this is an exciting next step to take agriculture for the Hawkesbury region and Western Sydney into the 21st century. I’m very pleased to have the Minister for Infrastructure, Catherine King, who has supported this project from the start and was key to it being an election commitment and being able to announce that. And I’m so delighted that she’s here to take this next step.

    CATHERINE KING [MINISTER]: Thanks.

    [Applause]

    Thanks very much. It’s great to be here. Susan, and also with George as well. And it’s my first opportunity to actually come on site to see the delivery. Now we’re releasing- the stage one funding is being released for this project, and an important project it is, not just for the Hawkesbury but for Western Sydney overall, making sure that we are investing in new technology for agriculture. Agriculture we want to grow to a much more significant level in this country than we have currently. It’s incredibly important, and being able to have the sorts of technology, the research and development here, I’m looking forward to being able to look at some of the research that’s being done on vanilla bean producing, barramundi producing out on this site, but also looking at what that means for the future.

    With only sort of 40 minutes to the new Western Sydney International Airport, this university will also be an incredibly important way that our agriculture sector can look at how it can preserve goods to getting them to market much more quickly. That over $5 billion investment we’re investing in building the airport actually is very critical to this university here as well in making sure that we’ve got the technology, the research into the future. So I do want to commend Western Sydney University for the foresight on actually developing this site in the way in which they have. And really, the investment- we’re going to be looking forward to seeing not only lots of students here involved and being part of this site, but very much the research that is to come out of Western Sydney University for agriculture into the future. Making sure we’ve got a sustainable, good and healthy food supply is pretty critical to not just our nation, but the world. So I do want to commend them and very pleased to be here on site today. I might hand over to George.

    GEORGE WILLIAMS [VICE-CHANCELLOR AND PRESIDENT WSU]: Thank you minister, and thank you to the local member for their [sic] steadfast support of this project. This is something special for Western Sydney and Hawkesbury. It’s special because it’s bringing AI to agriculture in a way that’s going to transform jobs in this area. We expect there’ll be 240 jobs supporting this facility. And it’s a really great example of taking Western Sydney to the world. This is a world-leading facility that is going to be looking at how we have sustainable, effective agriculture from the beginning to the end of the food chain, and it’ll be doing that in ways that will be of enormous international interest. In our case, we’ve already got great interest from India, for example, who want to work with us because of this facility to bring the technology, the expertise not only to India, but to Asia and the Middle East. And that will be a great initiative for us to lead in this area with our researchers and partners, to actually deal something quite special that will be transformative here and more broadly.

    It’s also a particularly special investment because of Western Sydney. And of course, it’s not just an investment in agritech we’re seeing, it’s agritech plus the airport, plus the enormous growth in infrastructure, plus all of the great developments we’re seeing in people around this region. And this is the sort of investment that goes back not only to 1891 when the Hawkesbury College was first established, but of course much further back to colonial times. And it’s expression of that now in a world class, high tech way that will not only drive jobs, but actually drive that investment through the airport and the like, to bring this to the world and to do something that we think not just for Western Sydney University, but more importantly for our students, for our staff, but also the community is going to deliver enormous benefits, not just next year, but over the coming decades. So thank you. We appreciate the support and we believe with this, this is going to be a game changer for agriculture and technology in this region.

    MIL OSI News –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Association sings praises of Music Service at awards

    Source: City of Wolverhampton

    It was one of 15 teams and organisations from across the region to be showcased at the annual event, which celebrates and enables councils to share best practice.

    Wolverhampton Music Service provides high quality tuition and musical opportunities for youngsters from schools across the city, including the chance to perform with its flagship groups, Wolverhampton Youth Orchestra and Wolverhampton Youth Wind Orchestra.

    Last year, it delivered around 500 hours of tuition to nearly 7,000 children in 82 schools across the city every week, and runs 15 free ensembles enjoyed by over 500 children and young people on a weekly basis.

    Staff performed concerts to 54 primary schools in May during its #LiveMusicWton week and curated 4 large scale events at The University of Wolverhampton at The Halls enjoyed by over 7,000 pupils. Meanwhile, 66 students took part in a successful tour to Europe this summer where they performed 3 concerts in Italy.

    The Music Service also works with partners to deliver additional Youth Theatre shows, rock and pop projects, inclusive music making sessions for special schools, Indian music provision and continued professional development for school staff.

    Councillor Jacqui Coogan, the City of Wolverhampton Council’s Cabinet Member for Children, Young People and Education, said: “Music is an incredibly important part of a child’s education.

    “It helps pupils develop their concentration and memory, improves their confidence and – in an era when you can get everything at a touch of a button – teaches them about perseverance, because learning to sing or play an instrument takes a great deal of time and commitment.

    “Our Music Service does a fantastic job, inspiring and educating thousands of children and young people every week, and I am delighted that it has been recognised for its work by the West Midlands Association for Directors of Children’s Services.”

    Jo Britton, Chair of West Midlands ADCS Network, said: “This year we have a real variety of disciplines represented, including those working in the fields of youth justice, early help and education.

    “For me, this cuts to the core of what we do, and what we do is the best for our children, young people and their families. It doesn’t matter if we are working with a child who may be on the edge of criminality, or supporting another who has a passion to play a musical instrument, because when it comes to it, working holistically means we support each child in the right way and at the right time.”

    To find out more visit Wolverhampton Music Service. 

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI Australia: Joint press conference, Brisbane

    Source: Australian Treasurer

    JIM CHALMERS:

    Thanks, everyone, for coming. I’m going to say a few things about the inflation number. Katy’s going to talk about inflation and the Final Budget Outcome. Then I wanted to preview my trip to China this week, and then obviously happy to take your questions.

    The new inflation numbers for August showed that headline and underlying inflation both went down substantially. Headline inflation went down from 3.5 to 2.7 per cent. This is less than half the 6.1 per cent we inherited, and it’s now less than a third of its peak.

    Trimmed mean inflation went down from 3.8 to 3.4 per cent. That is the lowest in more than 30 months. If you exclude volatile items, it went down from 3.7 to 3. Non‑tradeable inflation, which is what others call homegrown inflation, went down from 4.5 to 3.8 per cent. And services inflation went down as well.

    These are very welcome, very encouraging and very heartening numbers. We expected headline inflation to come down. We’ve also seen underlying inflation come down considerably. That’s a very good thing.

    Our policies are a factor here, but they’re not the only factor. If you look at rents, they went up 6.8 per cent in the year to August, but without our increases to rent assistance, they would have increased by 8.6 per cent. Electricity prices fell 17.9 per cent in the year to August, but without the energy rebates they would have decreased 2.7 per cent.

    But the story here goes beyond the government’s policies, which are helping in the fight against inflation. Whether it’s rent, whether it’s energy rebates, our cost‑of‑living policies are an important part of the story, but they’re not the whole story here. We’re seeing right across a number of measures of inflation, including underlying inflation, that it is has come off considerably in the new numbers that we see today.

    These are heartening numbers, encouraging numbers, they’re welcome numbers. But we’re not getting carried away because we know that the monthly numbers can be volatile. We know that inflation doesn’t always moderate in a straight line and we know that people are still under pressure. That’s why our cost‑of‑living help is so important, and it’s also why our responsible economic management is so important, and Katy’s going to say a few things about that.

    KATY GALLAGHER:

    Thanks, very much, Jim. It’s lovely to be here in your home city today.

    CHALMERS:

    You’re always welcome, Katy.

    GALLAGHER:

    It’s glorious to be here. Thanks, Jim.

    What we’re seeing is our responsible economic management is helping in the fight against inflation, and you’re seeing that in those numbers today.

    That budget management, particularly our returning revenue to the budget, findings savings in the budget and reprioritising spending, has helped us with our budget improvements that we’re seeing.

    On Monday we’ll be releasing the Final Budget Outcome. That will show our second surplus and it will be an improvement on the number that we released during the Budget. That improvement in the budget outcome is not related to increased revenue but is related to less spending on the spending side of the budget. We know from the comments that the RBA Governor has made in the past that surplus budgeting is helping in the fight against inflation. You’ll see that reflected in the FBO that we do on Monday.

    That’s really our approach to budgeting, Jim and mine – find savings, return revenue, deliver budget surpluses when the inflation challenge has been what it has. That’s helping overall in that fight against inflation.

    CHALMERS:

    I’ll just say a few things to preview meetings in China, and then we’re happy to take some questions.

    The key influences on our economy right now are the inflation that we’ve been talking about today combined with global economic uncertainty and the impact of the rate rises which are already in the system. Those 3 things are combining to slow our economy substantially.

    Particularly when it comes to the Chinese economy, we’ve seen a weakness in the Chinese economy which obviously has consequences for us. We’re not immune from weakness in the Chinese economy. That’s why it’s so important that over the next 2 days I’ll be meeting with key Chinese counterparts in Beijing.

    This is another really important step towards stabilising our economic relationship with China. This will be the first visit to China by an Australian Treasurer in 7 years. It will be part of the Albanese Government’s methodical and coordinated efforts to re‑establish dialogue with China, Australia’s largest trading partner.

    The main purpose of this visit is to co‑chair the Australian‑China Strategic Economic Dialogue with the Chairman of the National Development and Reform Commission. That will happen tomorrow.

    Our relationship with China is full of complexity and it’s full of opportunity. We recognise that a more stable economic relationship between Australia and China is a good thing for Australian workers and businesses, investors and our country more broadly. That’s why just in the last week in the context of these meetings in China I’ve consulted directly with the chairs, CEOs and senior executives of major China‑facing Australian employers, including Rio Tinto, Wesfarmers, BHP, Woodside, Fortescue, Macquarie, BlueScope, HSBC, King & Wood Mallesons, Port of Newcastle, Sydney Airport, Cochlear, University of NSW and GrainCorp, and I’ve also been consulting with the Business Council of Australia.

    We believe that dialogue and engagement give us the best chance to properly manage and maximise these really important links.

    Our approach to China has been to cooperate where we can, disagree where we must, but always engage in Australia’s national interest.

    The Strategic Economic Dialogue hasn’t been convened since 2017, but our government has agreed with Chinese counterparts to restart it, and I’ll be meeting with other counterparts from the Chinese government during my 2 days of engagements as well.

    We recognise that there’s a lot at stake and a lot to gain from a more stable economic relationship with China.

    We’ve got a big opportunity to make sure that both countries benefit from the complementarity of our economies while always advancing and protecting Australia’s national interests.

    With that, I’m happy to take some questions.

    JOURNALIST:

    Will the Treasury be looking at negative gearing and capital gains tax?

    CHALMERS:

    First of all, the real story today is inflation. The story today is about a substantial moderation in headline and underlying inflation in our economy. We’ve got a housing policy, and that’s not in it. We’ve made that clear today.

    JOURNALIST:

    Did you direct Treasury, though, to look into negative gearing policy changes, perhaps to take to the election?

    CHALMERS:

    Treasury looks at all kinds of policy options all of the time. It’s not unusual for the public service – and in my case, my department, and I’m sure Katy’s department is the same – to examine issues that are being speculated about in the public or in the parliament. That’s how a good public service operates.

    JOURNALIST:

    But you’ve basically agreed with the argument that reining in negative gearing will have a negative impact on rental supplies?

    CHALMERS:

    I’m not going to engage in hypothetical impacts of hypothetical policies when we’ve already got a housing policy. We’ve got a housing policy which is about building more homes for Australians. It’s about making it easier to rent and to buy.

    We know from today’s inflation figures that we’ve taken some of the sting out of rents. But rents are still too high, and that’s because we don’t have enough homes. Our motivation throughout this has been to build more homes for Australians. That’s what our $32 billion of investment, including $6 billion in the last Budget, is all about.

    If our political opponents cared about housing, they would vote for our policies in the Senate. Instead, in their usual, characteristically destructive way, both the Greens and the Coalition are teaming up to prevent more homes being built. Building more homes is the best way to ensure that people can find a home to rent or buy.

    JOURNALIST:

    On the Stage 3 tax cuts you argued several times that the circumstances have changed and that the government has formed a different view. Can voters expect you to make that same argument on negative gearing in the lead‑up to the next federal election?

    CHALMERS:

    I’m very proud of the changes that we made to the Stage 3 tax cuts because it meant that every Australian taxpayer gets a tax cut, not just some. We explained our rationale and our reasoning for that at the time, and you referenced that in your question. The changes to Stage 3 at the beginning of this year meant that more people got a bigger tax cut to help with the cost of living. We’re proud of what we did. We were upfront and we explained that changes that we made. I think the public has recognised that we’re trying to do the right thing.

    JOURNALIST:

    Would your government consider a legitimate use of tax laws and not [indistinct] current negative gearing figures?

    CHALMERS:

    We’ve made it clear that our housing policy is all about building more homes. More homes for Australians, making it easier to rent or buy a home at a time when there aren’t enough homes. That’s what’s pushing rents up, even with our efforts, with Commonwealth Rent Assistance.

    When it comes to tax changes, our priorities have been the PRRT, the biggest balances in superannuation, tax incentives for build‑to‑rent and other tax policies that we’ve already announced.

    JOURNALIST:

    Polling does show the public is open to negative gearing changes, so why not do that?

    CHALMERS:

    We’ve got a housing policy and that’s not in it.

    Our housing policy, I’ve explained answering some of these other questions, is to build more homes for Australians – $32 billion across 20 different policies now. We’ve made it clear what our housing policy is, and we want to see it pass through the Senate. If our political opponents to the left of us and to the right of us really cared about housing, they’d support our policies in the Senate.

    JOURNALIST:

    But I guess policy‑making is dynamic, right? Why not look at negative gearing? Are you insisting that – was it either you or Minister Gallagher that asked Treasury to have a specific [indistinct] negative gearing?

    CHALMERS:

    Treasury looks at all kinds of different policies from time to time. It’s not unusual for us to get advice from departments on issues that are being speculated about in the public or in the Parliament. That’s not an especially unusual thing.

    I couldn’t haven clearer today – we’ve got a housing policy. It’s costing the budget $32 billion. We’ve found room for that even in the context of turning 2 big Liberal deficits into 2 big Labor surpluses for the reasons that Katy outlined a moment ago. We’ve got a housing policy and that’s not in it.

    It’s not unusual for governments to get advice from time to time from departments on issues which are in the public domain.

    JOURNALIST:

    Just going back to inflation, looking at that 3.4 per cent rate, do you think Michelle Bullock needs to look at cuts a bit sooner?

    CHALMERS:

    I’m not going to give free advice to the Governor of the Reserve Bank. I don’t tell Michelle Bullock how to do her job and she doesn’t tell me how to do my job, and that suits us both just fine.

    Underlying inflation has come off substantially in these new numbers today – from 3.8 to 3.4 is very encouraging, very welcome, very heartening when it comes to underlying inflation.

    I refer you back to our political opponents and critics who said that today’s numbers would only reflect the energy bill rebates, which we are proud to be delivering for every Australian household. I wanted to make a couple of points about that.

    They say that that is artificially lowering inflation. There is nothing artificial about helping people with their power bills. We know that the Liberals and Nationals don’t support that, but we’re proud to be helping people with their power bills because we know that people are under pressure. Same when it comes to Commonwealth Rent Assistance, cheaper medicines, getting wages moving again and the tax cuts.

    The other point that I would make about headline versus underlying is you may recall a couple of years ago in the former government’s last Budget they had changes to the fuel excise which had the same impact when it comes to temporarily modifying the headline inflation rate. I don’t remember them making these points then.

    We’re proud to be helping people with the cost of living. We’re proud to be doing that in the context of a responsible budget and a couple of surpluses, which our opponents were incapable of delivering after 9 attempts. We’ve gone 2 from 2.

    So we’re providing cost‑of‑living help. We’re not just seeing headline inflation coming off, we’re seeing underlying inflation coming off as well. Not just the main measure of underlying inflation, headline is down, trimmed mean is down, excluding volatile items is down, non‑tradables is down and services is down as well.

    Across the board, across the main measures, in this data today we’re seeing very welcome, very encouraging progress. We’re not getting carried away because we know that people are still under pressure. That’s why our cost‑of‑living help is so important.

    JOURNALIST:

    When do you expect to receive the Treasury advice on that negative gearing policy?

    CHALMERS:

    As I said a couple of different ways now, we get advice all of the time on different kinds of issues which are in the public domain and before the Parliament. It’s not especially unusual for the public service to be doing that. We’re not expecting one piece of work, which is implied in your question. We get briefed regularly on all sorts of policies and all kinds of issues, and that’s as it should be.

    JOURNALIST:

    I’ll just try one more time: when will Australians know if your government is going to make changes to negative gearing or capital gains reductions?

    CHALMERS:

    I’ll say the same thing I said in response to all of the other questions – and I understand why you’re asking it, I’ve got no problem with you asking these questions – but we’ve got a housing policy and that’s not in it.

    For all of the reasons I’ve gone through a few times today, we think that the highest priority needs to be building more homes. Housing supply is our big priority as a government. It’s not easy to find $32 billion in one policy area, but the fact that we’ve done that, working closely with Julie Collins and now Clare O’Neil, that demonstrates to Australians how serious we are about fixing the issue that we have with housing supply.

    You can’t click your fingers and overnight build the 1.2 million homes that we need over the next 5 years. You need to come at it in a responsible way, a considered, methodical way across a range of different policies.

    We’ve announced our policies on housing. We want to see them pass through the Parliament. We want to see the money flowing, and we want to see the houses being built, because that’s the best way we can make housing more affordable for more Australians.

    JOURNALIST:

    Is it still frustrating to see that the RBA is not taking into account the fact that electricity and fuel is coming down, but they are not enforcing these rate cuts?

    CHALMERS:

    I don’t see it that way, and for the same reasons as in my answer to your earlier question.

    I don’t second guess the decisions taken by the independent Reserve Bank or the commentary that they make about those decisions.

    It’s a good thing that Governor Bullock makes herself available and senior officials make themselves available to talk with the Australian public about how they’re seeing the economy and what that means for inflation and interest rates. That’s a good thing that they take those opportunities to do that. I don’t second guess that. I don’t parse every word that the governor says.

    We’re focused on our, and our job has been to deliver 2 big Labor surpluses, to roll out cost‑of‑living help, to be helpful in the fight against inflation.

    What we see in these numbers today – in these very welcome and encouraging numbers today – is that our policies are helping in the fight against inflation.

    That is a big part of the story but it’s not the only story. That’s why underlying inflation is coming off as well. We’re managing the economy responsibly. The Governor of the Reserve Bank has her own job to do, and it is good and welcome that Governor Bullock takes the opportunity to explain her part of it in the same way that we’ve been explaining our part of it here today.

    Thanks very much.

    MIL OSI News –

  • MIL-OSI Russia: The new school building in Yuzhny Chertanovo opened in September

    MIL OSI Translation. Region: Russian Federation –

    Source: Moscow Government – Government of Moscow –

    The new educational building of the comprehensive school in the Yuzhnoye Chertanovo district opened in September. This was reported by the Minister of the Moscow Government, the head of the capital’s Department of City Property Maxim Gaman.

    “The city transferred a three-story building with an area of over 11.2 thousand square meters to the operational management of the State Budgetary Educational Institution “School No. 629″. The educational building consists of two blocks: a school block for 550 students and a preschool block designed for 70 students. Children have already started classes in the new building at the beginning of September,” said Maxim Gaman.

    The general education institution building is located at 12 Marshal Batitsky Street. It has three separate entrances: for primary school students, middle school students, and kindergarten students.

    During the construction of the building, the needs of children of different ages were taken into account, including children with special needs.

    In the first half of the year, the city transferred 22 real estate properties designed for 6.4 thousand places to the operational management of educational organizations. New school and kindergarten buildings appeared in 10 administrative districts.

    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.

    Please note; This information is raw content directly from the information source. It is accurate to what the source is stating and does not reflect the position of MIL-OSI or its clients.

    http://vvv.mos.ru/nevs/item/144419073/

    EDITOR’S NOTE: This article is a translation. Apologies should the grammar and or sentence structure not be perfect.

    MIL OSI Russia News –

  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: New “Cross-boundary Health Record” and “Personal Folder” functions of eHealth to be extended to three additional medical institutions under Elderly Health Care Voucher Greater Bay Area Pilot Scheme starting next Monday

    Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

         The Health Bureau (HHB) announced today (September 25) that the new functions of the “Cross-boundary Health Record” and “Personal Folder” in the eHealth mobile application (eHealth App) will be extended to the Nansha Division of The First Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University (FAH-NS), Dongguan Tungwah Hospital (Tungwah Hospital) and Shenzhen New Frontier United Family Hospital (NFUFH) under the Elderly Health Care Voucher Greater Bay Area Pilot Scheme (Pilot Scheme) starting from next Monday (September 30) to enhance the continuity of medical care for Hong Kong citizens through facilitating their secure use of electronic health records (eHRs) across the boundary.
     
         Starting from next Monday, eligible elderly persons who use Elderly Health Care Vouchers at the three aforementioned hospitals can apply for their eHRs deposited in eHealth over the past three years through the “Cross-boundary Health Record” function in advance. Upon verification of an elderly person’s authorisation, a “File QR Code” and “Password QR Code” will be sent to the elderly person via the eHealth App. Healthcare professionals can then access and browse the relevant eHRs by scanning the two QR codes presented by the elderly person at the time of consultation at designated medical institutions to assist in diagnoses and treatment. Following system enhancements, the time required for verification of applications and preparation for eHRs has already been reduced to no more than 24 hours. Elderly persons should submit their applications one day prior to their consultations at the designated medical institutions to ensure that their eHRs will be ready for use at the time of the consultations.
     
         Moreover, elderly persons can deposit medical-related records obtained during consultations received in medical institutions outside Hong Kong into their eHealth personal accounts through the “Personal Folder” function to facilitate storage and use of personal medical-related records obtained in and outside Hong Kong, including access by authorised healthcare providers in Hong Kong through eHealth during follow-up consultations.
     
         The HHB has already set up support stations at the FAH-NS, Tungwah Hospital and NFUFH to assist Hong Kong citizens to get a better grasp of how to use the relevant functions. Citizens may visit the eHealth thematic website for more information.
     
         The Government piloted the new “Cross-boundary Health Record” and “Personal Folder” functions of the eHealth App at the University of Hong Kong-Shenzhen Hospital in July this year and extended the functions to the First Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University and Zhongshan Chen Xinghai Hospital of Integrated Traditional Chinese and Western Medicine under the Pilot Scheme on September 6. The feedback has been positive. Taking into account the implementation experience, the Government will further streamline the workflow and enhance the user experience in a bid to better support citizens’ cross-boundary healthcare needs.

    MIL OSI Asia Pacific News –

  • MIL-OSI Russia: NSU postgraduate student develops catalyst for converting diesel fuel into synthesis gas

    MIL OSI Translation. Region: Russian Federation –

    Source: Novosibirsk State University – Novosibirsk State University –

    4th year postgraduate student Faculty of Natural Sciences of NSU Vladislav Shilov has developed a structured catalyst for converting diesel fuel into synthesis gas, which currently has no industrial analogues. In 2023, the results of his work on this topic were awarded a scholarship from the Novosibirsk Region government. The researcher developed this device as part of his dissertation work under the scientific supervision of the head of the heterogeneous analysis department of the Boreskov Institute of Catalysis of the Siberian Branch of the Russian Academy of Sciences, Doctor of Chemical Sciences Pavel Valerievich Snytnikov.

    This year, the department’s research team, with the participation of Vladislav Shilov, is creating a fuel processor for obtaining synthesis gas that runs on commercial diesel fuel. It integrates the developed catalyst for converting diesel fuel to obtain synthesis gas from diesel. In the future, in cooperation with consortium members within the framework of the NTI project “Hydrogen as the Basis of a Low-Carbon Economy”, it is planned to create a power plant based on planar solid oxide fuel cells, combined with a diesel fuel processor for generating electricity.

    — We were the first to achieve complete conversion of commercial diesel fuel into hydrogen-containing gas suitable for fuel cells. When creating the catalyst, we encountered a serious difficulty: the conversion of diesel fuel into synthesis gas is a high-temperature process (about 700 – 1000 °C), as a result of which the active component of the catalyst quickly sinters. Therefore, for these applications, we were the first to use a metal substrate made of FeCrAl alloy as a structured carrier, which has good heat and mass transfer properties. This is what makes the system we developed unique. The method of applying layers of catalytic coating to a metal mesh is quite complex and was developed over several years. This was not an easy task — the coating of the active component peeled off or cracked. We needed to increase the adhesive (i.e., “bonding”) properties of the substrate surface so that each layer of the catalytic coating would reliably adhere to it. We found a technological solution to this problem. Now we have reached the level where we can carry out small-scale production of structured catalysts for various catalytic applications, said Vladislav Shilov.

    When creating the diesel fuel conversion catalyst, experiments were conducted in a laboratory setup. Now the researchers are faced with the task of creating a model of the fuel processor into which it will be integrated. Diesel fuel, water and air will enter the system, which as a result of the catalytic reaction will be converted into synthesis gas suitable for use in solid oxide fuel cells. Now this work is in the active stage and is nearing completion. Next, scientists will have to evaluate the operation of the entire power plant in order to begin industrial implementation.

    — The structured catalyst we developed also turned out to be highly active in converting light hydrocarbon fuels into synthesis gas, which interested our industrial partner, the InEnergy group of companies, which is engaged in the creation of power plants based on fuel cells. This year, the Boreskov Institute of Catalysis of the Siberian Branch of the Russian Academy of Sciences, together with InEnergy, launched small-scale production (about 600 units) of compact power plants TOPAZ-GAMMA M, operating on natural gas and propane-butane, where our development was used. One such power plant was presented by our research group at the International Forum of Technological Development “Technoprom”, where it aroused great interest, — said Vladislav Shilov.

    Electrochemical generators running on diesel fuel can be used as a stationary, backup or auxiliary source of electric power, since it is a more convenient carrier of hydrogen. Compared to other alternative carriers, diesel fuel has the largest amount of hydrogen per unit volume, and its long-term storage is carried out at ambient temperature and pressure. In this regard, natural gas transported through gas pipelines and propane-butane are significantly inferior to this type of fuel. Electrochemical generators running on diesel fuel can be used as a stationary, backup or auxiliary source of electric power.

    According to Vladislav Shilov, this technology will find application in remote northern regions, in the conditions of the Far North and in the development of the Arctic, as well as at other sites where diesel fuel is the main energy source. It is possible that this development will be of interest to the Russian Ministry of Defense, where most of the equipment also runs on this type of fuel. But in order to launch small-scale production of diesel electrochemical generators, it is necessary to complete work on creating a prototype in laboratory conditions and contact companies interested in launching these devices into small-scale production. The developers have no doubt that such investors will certainly be found.

    — Such devices have a much higher efficiency compared to internal combustion engines. They are environmentally friendly — their emissions are carbon dioxide and water vapor. They are distinguished by silent operation, a long service life and do not require frequent maintenance. And the use of fuel cells to generate electricity allows it to be extracted from energy sources by directly converting the energy of chemical bonds into electrical energy. The efficiency of this process is higher than when using standard diesel generators, in which the energy of chemical bonds is first converted into heat, then into mechanical energy and only then into electrical energy. Increasing the efficiency of power plants will reduce the volume of resource-intensive delivery of diesel fuel to remote, Arctic regions. In addition, the use of the developed power plants will be more environmentally friendly due to the reduction in the volume of diesel fuel consumption, — explained Vladislav Shilov.

    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.

    Please note; This information is raw content directly from the information source. It is accurate to what the source is stating and does not reflect the position of MIL-OSI or its clients.

    http://vvv.nsu.ru/n/media/nevs/science/postgraduate-student-nnsu-developed-a-catalyst-for-conversion-of-diesel-fuel-into-synthesis-gas/

    EDITOR’S NOTE: This article is a translation. Apologies should the grammar and or sentence structure not be perfect.

    MIL OSI Russia News –

  • MIL-OSI Russia: We invite you to the Student Clubs Day

    MIL OSI Translation. Region: Russian Federation –

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

    On September 27, 2024, the State University of Management’s Student Clubs Day will be held in the CUVP gallery.

    Want a bright and memorable student life? Join the student clubs of the State University of Management!

    From 11:30 to 15:30, the CUVP gallery will host presentations of student associations. You will get to know the teams and participants:

    — KVN League of the State University of Management; — Creative team “StuDos”; — International Friendship Club; — Musical club “Instrumental”; — Case club Garnet; — Historical and patriotic club “Zvezda”; — Board games club “Mind Games”; — Student parliamentary club; — Media club General Press SUM (GPS); — EcoClub named after V.I. Vernadsky.

    The Student Council and the Psychological Service will also give their presentations. And at 1:15 p.m. in the lobby of the Central Office of the Vocational School there will be a concert by the creative group “StuDos”, the club “Instrumental” and the KVN League.

    New friends, unforgettable events and an atmosphere of creativity await you! And we are waiting for you, come!

    Subscribe to the tg channel “Our State University” Announcement date: 09/25/2024

    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.

    Please note; This information is raw content directly from the information source. It is accurate to what the source is stating and does not reflect the position of MIL-OSI or its clients.

    We invite you to the Student Clubs Day

    EDITOR’S NOTE: This article is a translation. Apologies should the grammar and or sentence structure not be perfect.

    MIL OSI Russia News –

  • MIL-OSI Global: Business confidence in South Africa: how a 70-year-old survey has given early signals of the economy’s pulse

    Source: The Conversation – Africa – By Johann Kirsten, Director of the Bureau for Economic Research, Stellenbosch University

    Business tendency surveys provide very useful indicators of trends within an economy. The information is available well before the official statistics, such as GDP growth, and provides insights into business dynamics that cannot be found elsewhere.

    For 70 years the Bureau for Economic Research at South Africa’s Stellenbosch University has been conducting business tendency surveys. Indeed, South Africa remains one of the few countries where these surveys are conducted by a non-state agency.

    The surveys cover a range of questions, tracking everything from activity to demand, selling prices to inventories, investment and also the constraints holding back investment. But the most important question is very simple: are you satisfied with prevailing business conditions? Respondents can only respond with a yes or a no. There is no scale, no maybe, no but. It is a pure gut feeling. This is the only true measure of business sentiment in South Africa.

    While it can be argued that at times of fast production growth sentiment is more upbeat (and vice versa during a recession), sentiment typically turns before you see production growth. Respondents to Bureau for Economic Research surveys know their business like the palm of their hand. They sense when something starts changing and know when they can turn cautiously optimistic about conditions even though activity is not there (yet). As illustrated in the figure below, confidence often turns before the business cycle phase changes from an upward to a downward phase (and the other way around).

    Changes in sentiment tell us a lot about investment intentions, as well as the potential for faster economic growth and job creation in the economy. If business people in South Africa are downbeat about business conditions, it is near impossible to see growth accelerate. Why build a new factory or employ workers if you are not, at the very least, satisfied with the environment you have to operate in today?

    While the survey process has changed over the past seven decades, the value of the insights has not. South Africa’s new government of national unity has promised to tackle the country’s structural constraints, with reforms aimed at improving electricity, infrastructure, water and logistics. By providing a reliable measure of sentiment, the survey will go a long way in assessing whether they are successful.

    Business confidence ahead of economic shifts

    While we survey a range of sectors, only the responses of a specific set of sectors are compiled into the so-called composite Business Confidence Index. This index is sponsored by Rand Merchant Bank (RMB) and is known as the RMB/BER BCI.

    The index looks at the responses of manufacturers, retailers, wholesalers, new vehicle dealers and main building contractors. These sectors represent the productive sectors of the economy and tend to lead the rest of the economy.

    So, if something changes here, one can be fairly sure that it will soon start changing in the rest of the economy. Manufacturers, for example, have a feel for both domestic and export demand conditions, which later trickle through the rest of the economy. New vehicle dealers will be the first to know when local consumers start holding their purse strings.

    In most sectors the survey also asks respondents about constraints to business conditions. We ask the same set of questions each quarter and have been doing so for decades. This gives us a very powerful, long-term time series of data. For example, over the last ten years, manufacturers have almost consistently seen the general political climate as the most serious constraint on business conditions.

    The Absa Manufacturing Survey shows that it’s a more serious constraint than insufficient demand or the short-term interest rate, despite the latter being at the highest level in 15 years. Interestingly, the political climate constraint fell sharply in the third quarter of 2024, following the formation of the government of national unity. The disruptions at local ports were also picked up by our surveys, with load-shedding top of mind for many respondents in 2023 (and before).

    The graph below shows a long-term series of business confidence. A reading of 100 would signal extreme optimism with every respondent satisfied with business conditions – this has never happened before. A reading of zero means not a single respondent is satisfied with business conditions. This, too, has not happened before, but we did see confidence fall to just 5 index points in the second quarter of 2020, the worst of the COVID-19 lockdowns, with many businesses forced to close temporarily. The BER surveys provided invaluable information about business dynamics in the formal economy during the pandemic and the recovery.

    Figure 1: RMB/BER Business Confidence Index (BCI)

    The RMB/BER BCI edged up by three index points to 38 in the third quarter of 2024. This was the first survey after the formation of the new government, and some may have hoped for a bigger boost to sentiment. Still, underlying results suggest respondents are turning cautiously more optimistic about the future. For the first time since early 2022, most respondents across the different sectors expect business conditions to improve in 12 months’ time, instead of deteriorating (further).

    Current demand conditions, however, remained tough, which held back a bigger recovery in sentiment.

    A firm commitment by the new government of national unity to continue with structural reform aimed at alleviating the constraints on the South African economy and an effort to bring down the cost of doing business (by lowering the administrative burden, for example) would go a long way in supporting a more pronounced recovery in business confidence.

    Higher confidence will translate into faster economic growth over time.

    How the index is compiled

    Taking a step back, in 1954, and for many decades after that, everything at the BER was done by hand. The surveys were sent by post, and indices were painstakingly calculated as the responses trickled in. Some graphs were even drawn up by hand. Over time, more electronics became involved. South African postal services deteriorated to such an extent that relying on them was no longer feasible.

    The little pigeonholes for the postal letters at the BER offices were removed earlier this year and all survey responses are now received via email. Responses are weighted for firm and sector size, and we try to keep the survey as representative of the sectors as possible.

    It is becoming increasingly difficult to expand our panel in a world where inboxes are flooded with fly-by-night surveys and spam. Our close relationship with international bodies such as the Centre for International Research on Economic Tendency Surveys and our academic footing as a university research institute ensures that we continue to follow global best practices.

    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. Business confidence in South Africa: how a 70-year-old survey has given early signals of the economy’s pulse – https://theconversation.com/business-confidence-in-south-africa-how-a-70-year-old-survey-has-given-early-signals-of-the-economys-pulse-237773

    MIL OSI – Global Reports –

  • MIL-OSI Africa: Business confidence in South Africa: how a 70-year-old survey has given early signals of the economy’s pulse

    Source: The Conversation – Africa – By Johann Kirsten, Director of the Bureau for Economic Research, Stellenbosch University

    Business tendency surveys provide very useful indicators of trends within an economy. The information is available well before the official statistics, such as GDP growth, and provides insights into business dynamics that cannot be found elsewhere.

    For 70 years the Bureau for Economic Research at South Africa’s Stellenbosch University has been conducting business tendency surveys. Indeed, South Africa remains one of the few countries where these surveys are conducted by a non-state agency.

    The surveys cover a range of questions, tracking everything from activity to demand, selling prices to inventories, investment and also the constraints holding back investment. But the most important question is very simple: are you satisfied with prevailing business conditions? Respondents can only respond with a yes or a no. There is no scale, no maybe, no but. It is a pure gut feeling. This is the only true measure of business sentiment in South Africa.

    While it can be argued that at times of fast production growth sentiment is more upbeat (and vice versa during a recession), sentiment typically turns before you see production growth. Respondents to Bureau for Economic Research surveys know their business like the palm of their hand. They sense when something starts changing and know when they can turn cautiously optimistic about conditions even though activity is not there (yet). As illustrated in the figure below, confidence often turns before the business cycle phase changes from an upward to a downward phase (and the other way around).

    Changes in sentiment tell us a lot about investment intentions, as well as the potential for faster economic growth and job creation in the economy. If business people in South Africa are downbeat about business conditions, it is near impossible to see growth accelerate. Why build a new factory or employ workers if you are not, at the very least, satisfied with the environment you have to operate in today?

    While the survey process has changed over the past seven decades, the value of the insights has not. South Africa’s new government of national unity has promised to tackle the country’s structural constraints, with reforms aimed at improving electricity, infrastructure, water and logistics. By providing a reliable measure of sentiment, the survey will go a long way in assessing whether they are successful.

    Business confidence ahead of economic shifts

    While we survey a range of sectors, only the responses of a specific set of sectors are compiled into the so-called composite Business Confidence Index. This index is sponsored by Rand Merchant Bank (RMB) and is known as the RMB/BER BCI.

    The index looks at the responses of manufacturers, retailers, wholesalers, new vehicle dealers and main building contractors. These sectors represent the productive sectors of the economy and tend to lead the rest of the economy.

    So, if something changes here, one can be fairly sure that it will soon start changing in the rest of the economy. Manufacturers, for example, have a feel for both domestic and export demand conditions, which later trickle through the rest of the economy. New vehicle dealers will be the first to know when local consumers start holding their purse strings.

    In most sectors the survey also asks respondents about constraints to business conditions. We ask the same set of questions each quarter and have been doing so for decades. This gives us a very powerful, long-term time series of data. For example, over the last ten years, manufacturers have almost consistently seen the general political climate as the most serious constraint on business conditions.

    The Absa Manufacturing Survey shows that it’s a more serious constraint than insufficient demand or the short-term interest rate, despite the latter being at the highest level in 15 years. Interestingly, the political climate constraint fell sharply in the third quarter of 2024, following the formation of the government of national unity. The disruptions at local ports were also picked up by our surveys, with load-shedding top of mind for many respondents in 2023 (and before).

    The graph below shows a long-term series of business confidence. A reading of 100 would signal extreme optimism with every respondent satisfied with business conditions – this has never happened before. A reading of zero means not a single respondent is satisfied with business conditions. This, too, has not happened before, but we did see confidence fall to just 5 index points in the second quarter of 2020, the worst of the COVID-19 lockdowns, with many businesses forced to close temporarily. The BER surveys provided invaluable information about business dynamics in the formal economy during the pandemic and the recovery.

    Figure 1: RMB/BER Business Confidence Index (BCI)

    Source: BER. Note, business cycle downswing phases as determined by the South African Reserve Bank are shaded.

    The RMB/BER BCI edged up by three index points to 38 in the third quarter of 2024. This was the first survey after the formation of the new government, and some may have hoped for a bigger boost to sentiment. Still, underlying results suggest respondents are turning cautiously more optimistic about the future. For the first time since early 2022, most respondents across the different sectors expect business conditions to improve in 12 months’ time, instead of deteriorating (further).

    Current demand conditions, however, remained tough, which held back a bigger recovery in sentiment.

    A firm commitment by the new government of national unity to continue with structural reform aimed at alleviating the constraints on the South African economy and an effort to bring down the cost of doing business (by lowering the administrative burden, for example) would go a long way in supporting a more pronounced recovery in business confidence.

    Higher confidence will translate into faster economic growth over time.

    How the index is compiled

    Taking a step back, in 1954, and for many decades after that, everything at the BER was done by hand. The surveys were sent by post, and indices were painstakingly calculated as the responses trickled in. Some graphs were even drawn up by hand. Over time, more electronics became involved. South African postal services deteriorated to such an extent that relying on them was no longer feasible.

    A copy of the 1955 business confidence survey results. Source: Bureau for Economic Research

    The little pigeonholes for the postal letters at the BER offices were removed earlier this year and all survey responses are now received via email. Responses are weighted for firm and sector size, and we try to keep the survey as representative of the sectors as possible.

    It is becoming increasingly difficult to expand our panel in a world where inboxes are flooded with fly-by-night surveys and spam. Our close relationship with international bodies such as the Centre for International Research on Economic Tendency Surveys and our academic footing as a university research institute ensures that we continue to follow global best practices.

    – Business confidence in South Africa: how a 70-year-old survey has given early signals of the economy’s pulse
    – https://theconversation.com/business-confidence-in-south-africa-how-a-70-year-old-survey-has-given-early-signals-of-the-economys-pulse-237773

    MIL OSI Africa –

  • MIL-Evening Report: Politics with Michelle Grattan: Richard Holden says no interest rate fall likely for 12 months

    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Michelle Grattan, Professorial Fellow, University of Canberra

    For many Australians, the COVID-19 pandemic has become a fading memory as the world has moved away from lockdowns and masks. However, its lasting impacts, including persistent inflation, remain.

    Academic economists Steven Hamilton and Richard Holden, in their just-published book, Australia’s Pandemic Exceptionalism, examine how Australia fared in handling the COVID crisis in its economic and health policies.

    We’re joined on the podcast by Holden to talk about the book and also Australia’s economic outlook, during what has been a big week for economic news.

    On COVID, Hamilton and Holden found a mixed picture: Australia scored highly in its economic response but fell down on its vaccine procurement and provision of RATs.

    I think Treasury gave excellent advice to the Treasurer [Josh Frydenberg]  and he not only […] took that advice but was able to sell it to a sometimes sceptical cabinet. […] So I think it was good advice and strong leadership on the economic front. On the health front, I think the advice was really quite poor at times. I mean we make quite a point of Scott Morrison’s use of the phrase when it comes to vaccines “It’s not a race” when clearly it was a race. It was a race against the virus. It was a race to get vaccinated. It was a race to be able to reopen our economy.

    On the RBA and inflation, Holden agrees with this week’s decision to hold rates but believes they should have risen earlier at least once more:

    I have argued […] that late last year or early this year, the Reserve Bank should have raised rates at least one more time to get us closer to what happened in peer jurisdictions overseas, to try and beat inflation faster. The Reserve Bank has taken a different approach. They want to have interest rates peak, maybe a full percentage point lower than in places like the US, and they’re willing to tolerate inflation for longer.

    At least they’re not caving into political pressure from people like Jim Chalmers and Wayne Swan to precipitously cut interest rates and I give the governor, Michele Bullock, great credit for standing firm on that, including in her press conference remarks [on Tuesday].

    On when interest rates will start moving down, Holden gives a grim assessment:

    My view is the most likely case is very late in 2025, somewhere about 12 months from today. Again, it’s going to depend on the inflation numbers and I’d like nothing more [than] for us to be well inside the target band and for interest rates to be able to be moderated.

    I think it’s a real shame that we took a different strategy in Australia to what peer jurisdictions overseas did, which was raise rates more aggressively, take our medicine, have tamed inflation and now be cutting rates. That’s the story in the US and several other jurisdictions.

    Holden warns against RBA Governor Michele Bullock making predictions of future rate moves:

    Governor Bullock, I think, is at risk of repeating, albeit a milder version of, the mistake that Philip Lowe made in providing forward guidance. Now it’s not as dramatic as saying interest rates are not going to rise until 2024, which was sort of three years of forward guidance or thereabouts. Governor Bullock has fallen into, I think, a little bit of a trap by saying over six weeks ago that she and her colleagues on the board didn’t think that interest rates would be cut this calendar year.

    I don’t really understand what the virtue of her doing that was. I think that was probably, in hindsight, something that she may regret. [Although] I don’t think it will do any real damage because I think it’s a prediction that’s incredibly likely to come true.  

    On the government potentially making changes to negative gearing, Holden outlines why it could be a good idea:

    Getting rid of negative gearing would put potential owner-occupiers on a level playing field with investors at an auction. I think it’ll be very good news for people trying to move from the rental market into being owner-occupiers; I think it’ll be good news for the classic Australian dream. To be fair about it, the existence of negative gearing is something that puts downward pressure on rents. So negative gearing, in a funny way, is good for renters who are always going to rent but bad for renters who want to buy. So there are pros and cons.

    It was a good idea eight or nine years ago. I think it’s still a good idea today and I think it’s interesting that the government seems to be at least floating the test balloon.

    Michelle Grattan does not work for, consult, own shares in or receive funding from any company or organisation that would benefit from this article, and has disclosed no relevant affiliations beyond their academic appointment.

    – ref. Politics with Michelle Grattan: Richard Holden says no interest rate fall likely for 12 months – https://theconversation.com/politics-with-michelle-grattan-richard-holden-says-no-interest-rate-fall-likely-for-12-months-239820

    MIL OSI Analysis – EveningReport.nz –

  • MIL-OSI Economics: Secretary-General of ASEAN delivers lecture at Guangxi University

    Source: ASEAN

    Secretary-General of ASEAN, Dr. Kao Kim Hourn, today delivered a lecture at Guangxi University in Nanning, China. The lecture was titled “Fostering Friendship and Cooperation: The Role of People-to-People Connections and Exchanges in ASEAN-China Relations” and was attended by hundreds of college students from multidisciplinary backgrounds. During the lecture, Dr. Kao shared various achievements that both ASEAN and China have made in realizing people-to-people connections, particularly in the areas of culture, education, youth, and the digital economy.

    The post Secretary-General of ASEAN delivers lecture at Guangxi University appeared first on ASEAN Main Portal.

    MIL OSI Economics –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Preston Pride 2024 Returns to Celebrate Diversity and Inclusivity

    Source: City of Preston

    Preston Pride is set to return in 2024, bringing together people from all walks of life to celebrate diversity, inclusivity, and equality.

    This year’s event will take place on Saturday 28 September in the heart of Preston, offering a day filled with activities, performances, and opportunities to show your support for the LGBTQIA+ community.

    Building on the success of previous years, Preston Pride will feature a wide range of entertainment, including live music, drag performances, and local artists.

    The event aims to create a welcoming space for everyone, regardless of sexual orientation, gender identity, or background. Attendees can expect to see a variety of stalls from local organisations, charities, and businesses that support the LGBTQIA+ community.

    There will be road closures between 10:15am – 11:15am for the Pride Parade beginning at Kendal Street on the city’s Adelphi Square at the University of Central Lancashire campus and then runs down Friargate to the Flag Market.

    Councillor Hindle, Cabinet Member for Culture and Arts at Preston City Council said:

    “Preston Pride is a cornerstone event for our city, showcasing our commitment to equality, diversity, and inclusion. 

    It is vital that we continue to support and celebrate the LGBTQIA+ community, not just during Pride but every day of the year. Preston Pride is an opportunity for us all to stand together, demonstrate our solidarity, and foster a city where everyone feels welcome and valued. I encourage everyone in Preston and beyond to join us for this important day and feel welcome to show our solidarity.”

    Preston Pride is more than just a celebration, it is a statement of solidarity and support. It is an opportunity for the community to come together and promote a message of acceptance.

    The event also serves as an important platform to raise awareness of the ongoing challenges faced by LGBTQIA+ individuals and to encourage dialogue and education.

    Preston Pride is expected to draw a large crowd, as it has in previous years, and preparations are well underway to ensure a safe and enjoyable experience for all attendees. The family-friendly environment will also include activities for children, ensuring the event is accessible to all ages.

    To learn more about Preston Pride 2024 visit the website Visit Preston – Preston Pride 2024, or follow Visit Preston on social media.

    Additional Information

    Preston City Council actively applies and prioritises the principles of Community Wealth Building wherever applicable and appropriate. Community Wealth Building is an approach which aims to ensure the economic system builds wealth and prosperity for everyone.

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Making public ownership of rail work for London

    Source: Mayor of London

    With the Government promising to bring Britain’s railways back into public ownership, how should that look in practice and implementation in London?

    Tomorrow, the Transport Committee will ask guests what needs to be done to ensure that new arrangements result in a better experience for passengers, and what role the Mayor should have in any further devolution of services.
     
    The Committee will also ask the Deputy Mayor for Transport and Transport for London (TfL) for an update on the impact on passengers of the ongoing cyber incident at TfL.
     
    Panel 1 (10am – 10.40am)

    • Prof Iain Docherty, Dean of the Institute for Advanced Studies, University of Stirling

    Panel 2 (10.45am – 1pm)

    • Seb Dance, Deputy Mayor for Transport, Greater London Authority 
    • Geoff Hobbs, Director of Public Transport Service Planning, Transport for London

    From 12.30 pm, the Committee will hear how TfL is trying to help passengers affected by the impact of the recent cyber attack.
     
    The ongoing impacts of the attack include passengers being unable to apply for or renew discounted Oyster passes, and delays to the rollout of contactless payments to 47 stations.
     
    The meeting will take place on Thursday 26 September from 10am, in the Chamber at City Hall, Kamal Chunchie Way, E16 1ZE.
     
    Media and members of the public are invited to attend.
     
    The meeting can also be viewed LIVE or later via webcast or YouTube.
     
    Follow us @LondonAssembly.
     

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Groundbreaking study revises the origins of biodiversity An international team of scientists has made a groundbreaking discovery that could reshape our understanding of how global biodiversity evolved.

    Source: University of Aberdeen

    The findings of the study could revolutionise the way we think about the evolution of biodiversityAn international team of scientists has made a groundbreaking discovery that could reshape our understanding of how global biodiversity evolved.
    By reconstructing the evolution of species over the past 45 million years, researchers found that the geographic origins of many plants, insects and mammals are more closely linked than previously thought.
    Led by the University of Aberdeen in collaboration with Bangor University in Wales, Lakehead University in Canada, and several Indonesian institutes including IPB University in Bogor, the team used Southeast Asia – one of the world’s most biodiversity-rich regions – as a natural laboratory to trace the geographic origins of a wide range of species.
    Their findings challenge long-standing theories that groups of flora and fauna evolved separately on different landmasses before diversifying across the region.
    Central to this research is a new evolutionary model, developed at the University of Aberdeen, which enabled the team to include extinct species in their analysis for the first time.
    This innovative approach has not only provided a more complete evolutionary picture but has paved the way for a fresh understanding of how biodiversity arose and spread across landmasses. The model is now being used in international collaborations to revisit the evolutionary history of other continents, promising to reshape our understanding of global biodiversity.
    “We wondered whether several groups of plants and animals could have the same geographic origin as new geological evidence contrasted with current reconstructions of species’ origin and spread,” said Dr Leonel Herrera Alsina, Research Fellow at the University of Aberdeen’s School of Biological Sciences. “However, the ongoing extinction of species throughout evolution takes away key information to reconstruct the past.”
    The inclusion of extinct species in the modelling process allowed researchers to trace evolutionary patterns further back in time, revealing that many groups of species in Southeast Asia spread across the entire region earlier than previously thought.
    This result reinforces the idea that land bridges existed and acted as stepping stones in the spread of species out of Borneo and Continental Asia.
    “Previous methods ignored the impact of extinct species but, by incorporating them, we’ve been able to create a more accurate and comprehensive picture of how the incredible biodiversity of this region evolved,” said Professor Lesley Lancaster, Personal Chair at the University of Aberdeen.
    “This new understanding aligns with recent geological findings and could transform how we view the origins and spread of species globally.”
    Professor David Burslem, Director of the Interdisciplinary Institute at the University of Aberdeen, emphasised the broader significance of the study: “This research underscores the importance of studying ecological and geological processes in unison. The evolutionary patterns we see today are deeply intertwined with the region’s geological history. Integrating these disciplines allows us to better understand the origins of biodiversity and how it has developed over millions of years.”
    The study, published this week by the Royal Society, sheds new light on the evolutionary history of life on Earth and offers valuable insights into how evolutionary processes can be integrated into conservation prioritisation, helping to safeguard biodiversity as ecosystems face increasing pressures from climate change.
    “Our findings revolutionise the way we think about the evolution of biodiversity, not just in Southeast Asia but globally,” added Professor Justin Travis, Personal Chair at the University of Aberdeen. “This model, now being used in collaborations around the world, opens the door to revisiting long-held theories about evolution on other continents as well.
    “The work sets the stage for future research that will revise our understanding of how species have adapted and diversified over millions of years.”
    The research was funded by UKRI’s Natural Environment Research Council (NERC). The paper is published in the journal, Proceedings of the Royal Society, Series B.

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI China: Lebanon rolls out measures to shelter displaced

    Source: China State Council Information Office 3

    People fleeing from Lebanon are seen at the Jdeidat Yabous border crossing in the countryside of Damascus, Syria, on Sept. 24, 2024. [Photo/Xinhua]

    Lebanese ministers announced on Tuesday measures to shelter 27,000 displaced persons from southern Lebanon and suspension of educational activities until the end of the week due to ongoing Israeli raids.

    The 27,000 displaced were seeking refuge in 252 shelters, according to Lebanese Environment Minister Nasser Yassin.

    Yassin said in a press conference for the Ministerial Emergency Committee that “the national operations room and the Higher Relief Commission have been activated to secure the basic needs of the displaced.”

    For his part, Minister of Education and Higher Education Abbas Halabi suspended educational activities in the country until the end of this week while demanding that public schools be opened to receive the displaced.

    He said that in current circumstances, the closure of educational and vocational institutions in the governorates of the south, Nabatieh, Bekaa, Baalbek-Hermel, and the southern suburbs will be extended until the end of this week. The suspension of classes in schools and universities in the governorates of Beirut, Mount Lebanon, and North will also be extended, the minister added.

    Worries about food security and fuel shortages have prompted local citizens to stockpile food and fuel products, alarming officials about a potential rapid depletion of the country’s reserve stock.

    In this regard, Minister of Economy and Trade Amin Salam called on the public to rationalize the storage of food and vital commodities.

    “Let the goods be stored for a week or two or even a month and not more, to ensure that the rest of the citizens obtain their need for basic commodities under the current circumstances,” Salam said.

    He noted that the current wheat stock in the local market is adequate for at least two months and assured the public that supplies are being consistently secured.

    Fuel stations also witnessed a great demand in light of the escalation of Israeli raids, prompting Minister of Energy and Water Walid Fayyad to reassure citizens that “the necessary reserves of petroleum derivatives are available in the medium term.”

    Hezbollah and the Israeli army have been exchanging fire across the Lebanon-Israel border since Oct. 8, 2023.

    On Monday, Israel began its most extensive bombardment of Lebanon since 2006, resulting in more than 550 deaths, including civilians, and over 1,800 injuries across the country. The casualty tolls and the intensity of the attacks have caused panic among Lebanese people.

    MIL OSI China News –

  • MIL-OSI Russia: GUU took part in the Russian-Arab Business Forum

    MIL OSI Translation. Region: Russian Federation –

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

    On September 24, 2024, the Russian-Arab Business Forum was held in Moscow: new connections, new opportunities.

    The State University of Management was represented at the Forum by the Rector’s Advisor Sergei Karseka.

    The event program included discussions of a wide range of current issues and problems of organizing and conducting business in the Persian Gulf countries, as well as the resolution of cross-border disputes involving Russian companies, including those under sanctions.

    Among the most interesting topics for discussion are the following: business dialogue between Russia and the Gulf countries – using mutual potential; development programs for the Gulf: openness to cooperation; cross-border trade and settlements; creation of business structures in the Gulf countries; judicial protection and dispute resolution in the Gulf countries.

    The Forum was attended by the Director of the Department of the Middle East and North Africa of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Russian Federation Alexander Kinshchak, representatives of the embassies of the Persian Gulf countries in the Russian Federation, professor of the Department of International Private Law of the S.S. Alekseev Research Center for Private Law, Deputy Chairman of the Arbitration Center at the Russian Union of Industrialists and Entrepreneurs Mikhail Savransky, business owners, top managers, heads of legal departments of large Russian and Arab companies.

    Advisor to the rector’s office of the State University of Management Sergey Karseka discussed with the participants of the discussion the possibility of using the experience of opening and running a business in the Persian Gulf countries in the educational program at the State University of Management, the prospects for cooperation between the State University of Management and Russian and Arab companies in a wide range of areas and topics of mutual interest.

    The event was held by the law firm Lidings in cooperation with the Russian Union of Industrialists and Entrepreneurs with the support of leading legal consultants from Bahrain, Oman and Saudi Arabia.

    Subscribe to the TG channel “Our GUU” Date of publication: 09/25/2024

    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.

    Please note; This information is raw content directly from the information source. It is accurate to what the source is stating and does not reflect the position of MIL-OSI or its clients.

    GUU took part in the Russian-Arab Business Forum

    EDITOR’S NOTE: This article is a translation. Apologies should the grammar and or sentence structure not be perfect.

    MIL OSI Russia News –

  • MIL-OSI Russia: Protecting the digital “I” and “we”: HSE’s new course on information security

    MIL OSI Translation. Region: Russian Federation –

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

    Prepared Moscow Institute of Electronics and Mathematics named after A.N. Tikhonov (MIEM) HSE University continuing professional education program “Corporate information security” will enable students to acquire skills in searching for vulnerabilities in digital products and eliminating potential gaps in the security systems of electronic networks of corporations, universities and their own pages in open sources using specific examples and with the support of leading cybersecurity experts. Students will learn how to work with digital assets, resist the psychological tricks of fraudsters and pass on the acquired knowledge and skills to colleagues.

    MIEM HSE presented the additional education program “Corporate information security“, prepared jointly with leading experts in the field of cybersecurity.

    The head and author of the program idea, MIEM Director’s Advisor Elena Kabaeva, noted that now attention to the digital “I” is no less important than to the real one: “We actually have a full-fledged digital citizenship, the safe functioning of which determines our professional and life success.” Training in the program is designed to prevent corporate and personal losses in the digital space. “This is the first and so far the only training program in Russia aimed at developing practical skills to counter cyber threats. It is focused on the corporate sector, confident and active users of digital systems and equipment, as well as owners of digital assets,” said the MIEM Director’s Advisor.

    The theoretical component of the program includes master classes from experts, including the company InfoWatch — a leader in countering threats in the digital space.

    The program consists of three consecutive modules. The first module, “Digital Security,” involves mastering tools for identifying vulnerabilities in digital products and accounts. The developers of the practical content, Amir Atigaev, a methodologist at the Novosibirsk Institute of Modern Education, and Yulia Glukhikh, a curator of digital projects in the field of education, noted that the content has an increasing level of complexity — from analyzing one’s own digital footprint and creating secure authentication tools to creating a secure digital user environment. The program works through real cases of corporations and government agencies, as well as cases of specific users. “We will conduct several business games and offer digital simulators that will give listeners a sufficient arsenal of skills in the field of digital hygiene,” Amir Atigaev concluded.

    The second module, “Digital Projects and Psychological Safety,” immerses students in intensive work in various digital environments, reveals the possibilities of safe project implementation, and concludes with a topic dedicated to critical thinking. The developers of the second module, led by Associate Professor of the Nizhny Novgorod State Linguistic University named after N.A. Dobrolyubov and HSE University in Nizhny Novgorod Natalia Frolova emphasizes that students will become familiar with programming and acquire skills in identifying genuine and fake sites, and develop critical thinking skills. “We will teach you how to organize a digital detox and not drown in a sea of information,” noted Natalia Frolova. One of the aspects of this module is dedicated to the free online master class “Critical Thinking in a Digital World» October 9.

    The third module, “Legal Aspects,” expands on the understanding of digital assets, protected and open content, virtual property, and allows students to take into account important legal subtleties when designing their own digital projects.

    The program also includes a cross-cutting module that involves participants designing a secure digital project and profile. “We encourage it if a participant leads a specific project. The program will allow us to analyze it for vulnerabilities and prevent cyber risks. Listeners, interacting with the program’s experts, receive invaluable feedback, which enhances the positive effect of the program,” said Elena Kabaeva.

    It is expected that the audience will include cybersecurity specialists, HR and corporate university staff, teachers of higher and secondary specialized education, heads of functional departments, including those supervising digitalization, corporate lawyers, as well as students and postgraduates who will be able to use this course to expand their educational opportunities within the framework of the main educational programs.

    The Corporate Information Security program can also be implemented in a corporate format for groups of 20 people or more.

    The program, which will last 104 academic hours (including 72 contact – interactive hours), is expected to be completed over 9 weeks, starting on October 21, 2024. Classes will be held online, primarily in the evenings, twice a week. The cost of training is 42,000 rubles.

    Those who complete the program will receive a certificate of advanced training in the established format.

    “We hope that the program will develop sustainable skills in the students and that they will not return to the usual behavioral models in relation to digital assets, environments and projects and will pay due attention to the external and internal digital contour. This is essentially a program for the safe professional management of our second digital citizenship. We invite you!” – Elena Kabaeva summed up.

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

    Please note; This information is raw content directly from the information source. It is accurate to what the source is stating and does not reflect the position of MIL-OSI or its clients.

    http://vvv.hse.ru/nevs/edu/966071373.html

    EDITOR’S NOTE: This article is a translation. Apologies should the grammar and or sentence structure not be perfect.

    MIL OSI Russia News –

  • MIL-OSI Russia: Safety first: Polytechnic junior students explained how to avoid problems

    MIL OSI Translation. Region: Russian Federation –

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

    A safety lesson for first- and second-year students was held in the White Hall of SPbPU. The event, organized by the Civil Security Department of SPbPU, was also attended by representatives of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Russia for the Kalininsky District of St. Petersburg, the Main Directorate of the Federal Service of the National Guard Troops of the Russian Federation for St. Petersburg and the Leningrad Region, the Kalininsky and Vyborgsky District Directorates of the Main Directorate of the Ministry of Emergency Situations of Russia for St. Petersburg, and the private educational institution of additional professional education “Fire Safety”.

    Head of the Department for Ensuring Anti-Terrorist Security and Safety at SPbPU Facilities Aleksandr Fedorov reported that the peace of the Polytechnics is protected by employees of the organization “Kvadrat”. 98 people are on duty at 65 stationary posts, another seven groups periodically drive around the territory by car and two mini-scooters. In addition, the university campus is patrolled around the clock by the Russian National Guard.

    All entrances and exits of the university are equipped with access control and management systems, students and staff use electronic passes. In the academic buildings and dormitories, 45 panic buttons are installed – the call goes to the centralized security point of the Russian Guard. Order is also monitored by 3.5 thousand video surveillance cameras.

    The University Security Center operates 24/7. You can call it in case of danger at the following numbers: 7 (812) 534-61-18, 7 921 940-66-75.

    To practice the actions of employees and students in emergency situations, the Civil Security Department regularly conducts exercises and training.

    Alexander Fyodorov reminded that smoking is prohibited on the entire territory of the Polytechnic University – not only indoors, but also outdoors, including in the park. This applies to both regular cigarettes and electronic ones. Smoking areas are located behind the fence.

    Deputy Head of the Supervisory and Preventive Work Department of the Vyborg District Pavel Proshkin spoke about the operation of fire protection systems, which fire extinguishers are best to use in what conditions, and answered questions.

    “It is important for you to know that when the fire alarm goes off, you must immediately leave the building,” Pavel Aleksandrovich emphasized. “You can only start putting out a fire yourself when the fire is small and you understand that you can cope with it. If the fire has developed, then there is no need to be a hero. It is better to help get people out and notify the fire department. The 112 telephone number accepts all calls, and professionals will be sent to help you immediately.”

    Deputy Director of the Center for Professional Education “Fire Safety” Alexander Salabutin spoke in detail about compliance with fire safety rules at the university and dormitories. He said that recently the number of fires of devices with lithium-ion batteries, in particular, electric scooters, has increased. There are special fire extinguishers for them. Alexander Nikolaevich noted that the use of electric scooters is prohibited on the territory of the university.

    The students were also addressed by the Deputy Chief of Police of the Kalininsky District Alexey Amosyonok and the Chairman of the Council of Veterans of the OMON “Baltika” (on transport), a member of the St. Petersburg city branch of “Combat Brotherhood” Vadim Matveyev. They warned about the danger and consequences of thoughtless actions that young people can commit at the very beginning of their independent life. They explained in what situations one should be vigilant and careful so as not to harm their future.

    At the end of the lesson, youth workers from the Harmony Volunteer Projects Center, rescuers and first aid instructors Violetta Lee and Tatyana Plekhanova talked about what volunteering in the Emergencies Ministry is, and invited people to join their work and participate in collecting humanitarian aid.

    Arina Puchkova, head of the student fire and rescue squad “Pyotr Velikiy”, also spoke. She reported that the squad is part of the All-Russian Student Rescue Corps, whose main activity is assistance in eliminating emergency situations, and announced that a new recruitment will soon be taking place: those who wish can join.

    Photo archive

    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.

    Please note; This information is raw content directly from the information source. It is accurate to what the source is stating and does not reflect the position of MIL-OSI or its clients.

    http://www.spbstu.ru/media/nevs/student_life/safety-above-all-junior-year-students-of-Polytechnic-explained-how-to-avoid-problems/

    EDITOR’S NOTE: This article is a translation. Apologies should the grammar and or sentence structure not be perfect.

    MIL OSI Russia News –

  • MIL-OSI Russia: Polytechnic University to host all-Russian competition “Best Welder 2024”

    MIL OSI Translation. Region: Russian Federation –

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

    Peter the Great St. Petersburg Polytechnic University was visited by the Director General of the self-regulatory organization of the Association “National Agency for Welding Control” (NAKS) Andrey Prilutsky and the Director of the Regional North-West Interindustry Certification Center LLC Alexey Levchenko. The talks focused on popularizing and enhancing the prestige of the welding profession, as well as organizing the All-Russian competition of professional skills “Best Welder 2024”.

    At a meeting with the rector of the Polytechnic University Andrey Rudskoy and the director of the Institute of Mechanical Engineering, Materials and Transport Anatoly Popovich, the partners agreed to hold the opening and draw of the Best Welder 2024 competition on November 25, 2024, at the university.

    The competition will be held in four nominations.

    Arc welding with a consumable coated electrode (RD/111). Arc welding with a consumable electrode in a protective gas (MP/135). Arc welding with a non-consumable electrode in a protective gas (RAD/141). Welding with a heated tool (NI).

    Discussing the upcoming events, Alexey Prilutsky noted the high level of training of SPbPU students in the Metallurgy department, and also appreciated the development of breakthrough technologies in the field of welding.

    At the end of the meeting, Andrei Rudskoy proposed using the university’s scientific potential to create joint educational programs for training highly qualified personnel.

    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.

    Please note; This information is raw content directly from the information source. It is accurate to what the source is stating and does not reflect the position of MIL-OSI or its clients.

    https://vvv.spbstu.ru/media/nevs/partnership/polytech-will-accept-all-Russian-competition-best-welder-2024/

    EDITOR’S NOTE: This article is a translation. Apologies should the grammar and or sentence structure not be perfect.

    MIL OSI Russia News –

  • MIL-OSI Economics: Secretary-General of ASEAN engages in a Roundtable Dialogue with Guangxi University

    Source: ASEAN

    Secretary-General of ASEAN, Dr. Kao Kim Hourn, today held a roundtable dialogue with officials and academics from Guangxi University, in Nanning, China. The Guangxi University delegation was led by Vice President of Guangxi University Mr. Xiao Jianzhuang. Both sides exchanged views on ASEAN-China cooperation in education, human resource development, and the important role of universities and research institutions in advancing regional economic and social development.

    The post Secretary-General of ASEAN engages in a Roundtable Dialogue with Guangxi University appeared first on ASEAN Main Portal.

    MIL OSI Economics –

  • MIL-OSI Russia: Come to the anniversary final of the KVN League of the State University of Management for the mood

    MIL OSI Translation. Region: Russian Federation –

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

    On September 27, 2024 at 17:00 in the Assembly Hall of the State University of Management, the grand finale of the season of the GUU KVN League will take place.

    The strongest and most talented teams that have gone through many challenges and proven that they are worthy of fighting for Olympic gold in the 25th anniversary season of the University League have reached the final.

    The finalists: “Minimum”, GUU; “Fildepersovye”, GUU; “Kontora”, RosNOU; “Charodeyki”, RosNOU; “Nastroika”, MGPPU/Synergy; “Vtoraya seria”, Synergy.

    This game will be a real triumph of humor, intelligence and resourcefulness. Don’t miss your chance to become part of the history of the KVN GUU League.

    Fellow spectators not from the State University of Management must register.

    For those who want to try their hand on stage next season, we recommend joining a special chat.

    Don’t boycott the Games, come to the KVN GUU League final!

    Subscribe to the tg channel “Our State University” Announcement date: 09/25/2024

    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.

    Please note; This information is raw content directly from the information source. It is accurate to what the source is stating and does not reflect the position of MIL-OSI or its clients.

    Come to the anniversary final of the KVN League of the State University of Management for the mood

    EDITOR’S NOTE: This article is a translation. Apologies should the grammar and or sentence structure not be perfect.

    MIL OSI Russia News –

  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: PM to visit Maharashtra on 26 September

    Source: Government of India

    PM to visit Maharashtra on 26 September

    PM to lay foundation stone and dedicate to nation various projects worth over Rs. 22,600 crore

    PM to dedicate to nation three PARAM Rudra Supercomputers

    PM to launch and dedicate to nation various initiatives of petroleum and natural gas sector worth Rs. 10,400 crore

    PM to inaugurate Solapur Airport

    PM to dedicate to nation Bidkin Industrial Area

    Posted On: 25 SEP 2024 2:28PM by PIB Delhi

    Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi will visit Pune, Maharashtra on 26th September. At around 6 PM, from District Court Metro Station, he will flag off the Metro train scheduled to run from District court to Swargate, Pune. Thereafter at around 6:30 PM, he will inaugurate, lay the foundation stone and dedicate to the nation various projects worth over Rs. 22,600 crore.

    The inauguration of Pune Metro section of District Court to Swargate will mark the completion of Pune Metro Rail Project (Phase-1). The cost of the underground section between District Court to Swargate is around Rs 1,810 crore.

    Further, Prime Minister will also lay the foundation stone for Swargate-Katraj Extension of Pune Metro Phase-1 to be developed at the cost of around Rs 2,950 crore. This southern extension of around 5.46 km is completely underground with three stations namely Market Yard, Padmavati and Katraj.

    Prime Minister will lay the foundation stone for the Memorial for Krantijyoti Savitribai Phule’s First Girls’ School at Bhidewada.

    In line with his commitment to make India self-reliant in the field of Supercomputing technology, Prime Minister will dedicate to the nation three PARAM Rudra Supercomputers worth around Rs. 130 crore, developed indigenously under the National Supercomputing Mission (NSM). These supercomputers have been deployed in Pune, Delhi and Kolkata to facilitate pioneering scientific research. Giant Metre Radio Telescope (GMRT) in Pune will leverage the supercomputer to explore Fast Radio Bursts (FRBs) and other astronomical phenomena. Inter University Accelerator Centre (IUAC) in Delhi will enhance research in fields like material science and atomic physics. S.N. Bose Centre in Kolkata will drive advanced research in areas such as physics, cosmology, and earth sciences.

    Prime Minister will also inaugurate a High-Performance Computing (HPC) system tailored for weather and climate research. This project represents an investment of Rs. 850 crore, marking a significant leap in India’s computational capabilities for meteorological applications.  Located at two key sites, the Indian Institute of Tropical Meteorology (IITM) in Pune and the National Center for Medium Range Weather Forecast (NCMRWF) in Noida, this HPC system has extraordinary computing power. The new HPC systems are named ‘Arka’ and ‘Arunika,’ reflecting their connection to the Sun. These high-resolution models will significantly enhance the accuracy and lead time of predictions related to tropical cyclones, heavy precipitation, thunderstorms, hailstorms, heat waves, droughts, and other critical weather phenomena.

    Prime Minister will launch and dedicate to the nation various initiatives of petroleum and natural gas sector worth Rs. 10,400 crore. These initiatives will focus on energy, infrastructure, safety and convenience of truck and cab drivers, cleaner mobility and a sustainable future.

    To enable ease of driving, Prime Minister will launch the Way Side Amenities for truck drivers at Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar, Maharashtra; Fatehgarh Sahib, Punjab; Songadh, Gujarat; Belagavi and Bangalore Rural, Karnataka. With the objective of developing modern facilities for the comfortable journey break at one place designed to cater to the needs of truckers and cab drivers during their long journeys, way side amenities such as affordable boarding and lodging facilities, clean toilets, safe parking space, cooking area, WiFi, Gym, etc. are being developed at a cost of around Rs. 2,170 crore at 1,000 retail outlets.

    To develop multiple energy choices like petrol, diesel, CNG, EV, CBG, Ethanol blended petrol (EBP), etc. at one retail outlet, Prime Minister will launch Energy Stations. Nearly 4,000 energy stations would be developed over Golden Quadrilateral, East-West and North-South Corridors and other major highways over next  5 years at a cost of around Rs. 6000 crore. Energy stations will help in providing seamless mobility through provision of alternate fuels under one roof to the energy seeking customers.

    To facilitate smooth transition to Green Energy, De-carbonization and Net Zero Emission and reducing the range anxiety of Electric Vehicle drivers, Prime Minister will dedicate to the nation 500 EV charging facilities. Further, 10,000 EV Charging stations (EVCS) are being targeted to be developed by FY 2025 at an estimated cost of Rs. 1,500 crore.

    Prime Minister will dedicate to the nation 20 Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) stations across the country including 3 in Maharashtra. To promote the adoption of clean fuel such as LNG for long distance transportation, 50 LNG Fuel Stations will be developed in various states of the country by Oil and Gas companies at a cost of around Rs. 500 crore.

    Prime Minister will also dedicate to the nation 1500 E20 (20% ethanol blended) petrol retail outlets worth around Rs 225 crore.

    Prime Minister will inaugurate the Solapur Airport which would significantly improve connectivity, making Solapur more accessible to tourists, business travellers and investors. The existing terminal Building of Solapur has been revamped to serve around 4.1 lakh passengers annually.

    Prime Minister will dedicate to the nation Bidkin Industrial Area, a transformative project covering an expansive 7,855 acres under the National Industrial Corridor Development Program of Govt. of India, situated 20 kms south of Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar in Maharashtra. The project developed under Delhi Mumbai Industrial Corridor holds immense potential as a vibrant economic hub in the Marathwada region. Central Government has approved this project with an overall project cost of over Rs. 6,400 crore for development in 3 phases.

    ***

    MJPS/ST/SKS

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    MIL OSI Asia Pacific News –

  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: Department of Space and Technology launched Women in Space Leadership Programme in Collaboration with British Council

    Source: Government of India

    Posted On: 25 SEP 2024 1:29PM by PIB Delhi

    A Women in Space Leadership Programme (WiSLP) was launched by Department of Science and Technology (DST) in collaboration with the British Council as part of the UK-India Education and Research Initiative (UKIERI) on September 24, 2024.

    The initiative focuses on supporting institutions in strengthening gender-inclusive practices to foster women’s leadership in space sciences by developing a strategic leadership framework. Coventry University is the delivery partner in this initiative.

    “This programme is a significant step towards creating a gender-inclusive environment in space sciences. By building a robust leadership framework, we can empower women to contribute meaningfully to scientific research and innovation,” said Dr. Vandana Singh, Head of the Women in Science and Engineering (WISE)-KIRAN division at DST.

    Michael Houlgate, Deputy Director of the British Council India, emphasized the importance of collaboration in solving global challenges and called for increased representation of women in STEM fields.

    Dr. Elena Gaura from Coventry University, UK, emphasized the importance of looking for women who can transform the culture rather than simply reproduce it. The programme aims to build the leadership capacity of 250 early career researchers, equipping them with the tools to navigate gender biases and build a sustainable support network. 

    Prof. Annapurni Subramaniyam, Director of the Indian Institute of Astrophysics (IIA), encouraged women to engage early in the growing field of space science, which is expanding into diverse areas such as engineering and social sciences.

    Participants in the workshop, including academics and policymakers, discussed the national and global contexts for promoting gender equity in space sciences.

    The programme would involve building sustainable mentoring networks and enhancing scientific innovation by integrating a gender perspective into critical areas such as astrophysics and telecommunications.

    ***

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    (Release ID: 2058528) Visitor Counter : 50

    MIL OSI Asia Pacific News –

  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: Union Parliamentary Affairs Minister, Shri Kiren Rijiju highlights significant achievements of Ministry of Parliamentary Affairs in the first 100 days of new Government

    Source: Government of India (2)

    Posted On: 25 SEP 2024 3:11PM by PIB Delhi

    Union Minister of Parliamentary Affairs and Minority Affairs,Shri Kiren Rijiju  today addressed a press conference at CGO Complex,New Delhi  on 100 days’ achievements of the Ministry of Parliamentary  Affairs and Minority Affairs .The Minister spoke of the following initiatives while highlighting the achievements of Ministry of Parliamentary Affairs:-

    1. National eVidhan Application – NeVA2.0
    2. NeVA Mobile App Version 2.0
    3. National Youth Parliament Scheme (NYPS) Portal 2.0
    4. National Youth Parliament Competition for Eklavya Model Residential Schools
    5. Subordinate Legislation Management System (SLMS)
    6. Consultative Committees Management System (CCMS)

    Minister gave details of key features of the above initiatives:

     National e-Vidhan Application (NeVA) 2.0 Portal- for ‘Digital State Legislatures’

    NeVA, a  Mission Mode Project based on the theme ‘One Nation- One Application’  for Digital Legislatures was launched in March, 2020 to transform all State Legislatures into ‘Digital House’, thereby enabling them to transact their entire parliamentary work on digital platform in paperless mode. So far, 25 State Legislatures have signed MoU to implement the project. Funds have been released to 22 Legislatures out of which 14 Houses have already implemented the project and have gone Live on NeVA platform. During last 3 months, Ministry of Parliamentary Affairs has taken many new initiatives on this project like Content translation from one language to other in 13 languages using Bhashini API, Modification in Members interface and New design, look and feel of the software etc. Assam Vidhan Sabha has also been onboarded NeVA on 12th August, 2024. It was inaugurated by CM, Assam. Further the projects for two new States-Rajasthan and MP have been sanctioned.  Search Engine Optimization (SEO) for NeVA has also been developed for increasing its visibility. During this period NeVA Cloud Infrastructure has also been augmented for ensuring glitch free Sessions of Assemblies and Councils.

    Neva 2.0 Mobile App

    Dashboard count for Notices, Questions, Bills, Committee Reports and Members etc. has been created. Detailed Bio profile of Members has also been introduced besides new feature of Agenda with provision of Today, Previous and Upcoming items.

    National Youth Parliament Scheme 2.0

    Ministry is organizing Youth Parliaments Competitions in various educational institutions of the country since 1966 with a view to strengthen the roots of democracy, inculcate healthy habits of discipline, develop tolerance of divergent views and to familiarize the students with the parliamentary functioning and procedures.  This covers Delhi Schools, KVs, JNVs and Colleges/ Universities. On 26th November, 2019, to enhance the outreach, NYPS portal- a completely digital initiative was launched by Hon’ble President. It was opened to all educational institutions to participate and get certificate. Now Revamped  NYPS 2.0 portal has been launched on 11th September, 2024 permits, apart from all educational institutions, groups/ individuals also to participate in the programme and get certificate. Now any one can participate in this program and get certificate.

    National Youth Parliament Competition for Eklavya Model Residential Schools (EMRSs)

    Earlier EMRSs were not included under National Youth Parliament Competition. A new Scheme exclusively for EMRSs has been launched on 11th September, 2024.This new scheme of National Youth Parliament Competition for Eklavya Model Residential Schools in collaboration with National Education Society for Tribal Students (NESTS) has been introduced with a view to strengthen the roots of democracy in the tribal areas of the country, to develop tolerance of divergent views and inculcate healthy habits of discipline among tribal students and familiarize them with the parliamentary functioning and procedures. Entire tribal students’ community will be the beneficiaries of the scheme

    Committee on Subordinate Legislation Management System

    This new initiative has been launched on 11th September, 2024. Earlier it was an offline process. It is Digital mechanism to deal with framing and laying, monitoring and review of Subordinate Legislation.This will impact Govt. Depts., Legislators and public at large.

    Consultative Committees Management System

    Digital mechanism to automate all processes and procedures relating to meetings of consultative committees was also launched on 11th September, 2024. This will impact Govt. Depts., Legislators and ultimately the public at large.

     Minister also stated that under Swachhta Hi Seva Abhiyan 2024, Ministry of Parliamentary Affairs, besides undertaking different activities, organized Mass Cleanliness Drive on 23 September, 2024 with Shramdaan for Swachhata under Swachhata Hi Seva (SHS) Jan Andolan to achieve the objective of clean India. To imbibe the spirit of Swachhata amongst students, an Essay writing competition was held in the Kerala Education Society Sr. Sec. School, R. K. Puram, New Delhi on the theme of SHS 2024 “Swabhaav Swachhata, Sanskar Swachhata” wherein around 120 students from different classes participated and winners were awarded with cash prizes and certificates. In line with the campaign, a tree plantation drive was also undertaken under ‘Ek Ped Maa Ke Naam Abhiyan’ in the same school premises. A mass Cleanliness drive was also undertaken in the same school, besides its park and on the road in front of the school. Students of the School also participated in the drive with full enthusiasm.

    ***

    SS/KC/PRK

    (Release ID: 2058580) Visitor Counter : 45

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  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: School-based nurseries funding round to launch next month

    Source: United Kingdom – Executive Government & Departments

    The first stage of the government’s plan to deliver 3,000 nurseries by upgrading spare spaces in primary schools will begin next month.

    The first stage of the government’s plan to deliver 3,000 nurseries by upgrading spare spaces in primary schools will begin next month, Education Secretary Bridget Phillipson announced today. 

    From next month, schools will be invited to bid for a share of £15 million capital funding, with capacity in the programme to deliver up to 300 new or expanded nurseries in this first round.

    Schools will need to demonstrate how their proposals will respond to need in their local area, supporting the 2025 expansion of government-funded hours of childcare and early education for working parents to 30 hours a week.

    Funding will be allocated to successful schools in Spring 2025 to support delivery for the first cohort of places.

    This is the first step to delivering the government’s ambition for 3,000 new nurseries in primary schools, and long-term plan to make early years education and childcare more widely available, accessible, and high quality.

    Currently, availability of early years provision is not evenly distributed across the country, with the most disadvantaged areas often experiencing the lowest access to provision.

    To ensure the programme is delivered in a way that will benefit all parents and children, the department will use the first phase to take learnings for future years and better understand how we can best support underserved and poorer areas.

    Schools will be able to express interest for future phases of the programme to help assess demand in different parts of the country, and the department will engage with the sector on the most appropriate model to extend the programme across the country in its second phase. 

    The government has urged schools interested in bidding for the first round to start discussing with their local authorities, governing organisations and wider stakeholders to consider pupil place planning, local childcare sufficiency and next steps for setting up and running new or expanded nurseries. 

    Guidance to support schools will be issued at the date of launch.

    DfE media enquiries

    Central newsdesk – for journalists 020 7783 8300

    Updates to this page

    Published 25 September 2024

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  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: Union MoS for Health and Family Welfare, Shri Prataprao Jadhav Presides over 69th Foundation Day Celebrations of AIIMS New Delhi

    Source: Government of India

    Union MoS for Health and Family Welfare, Shri Prataprao Jadhav Presides over 69th Foundation Day Celebrations of AIIMS New Delhi

    AIIMS New Delhi is a pioneer in the field of medical education, research and healthcare in India whose legacy of excellence continues to inspire medical institutions worldwide: Shri Jadhav

    “AIIMS continuous unchallenged status of being ranked number one among medical institutions of India for the seventh consecutive year is a remarkable achievement”

    AIIMS New Delhi now serves as the National Resource Centre of the National Medical College Network of the Union Health Ministry

    In the last 2 years, inpatient beds in AIIMS have increased by more than 30%, Intensive care and operation theatre services by nearly 40%

    Posted On: 25 SEP 2024 2:49PM by PIB Delhi

    “AIIMS New Delhi is a pioneer in the field of medical education, research and healthcare in India whose legacy of excellence continues to inspire medical institutions worldwide.” This was stated by Union Minister of State for Health and Family Welfare, Shri Prataprao Ganpatrao Jadhav as he presided over the 69th Foundation Day ceremony of the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS), New Delhi, today.

    Speaking on the occasion, Shri Jadhav said, “AIIMS New Delhi has achieved remarkable milestones and is determined to achieve its goal of being one of the top-ranked medical institutions in the world.” Highlighting that for the seventh consecutive year since the National Institute Ranking Framework (NIRF), AIIMS New Delhi has been ranked number one among medical institutions of India, the Union Minister said, “this Institute’s continuous unchallenged status is a remarkable achievement.”

     

    He informed that AIIMS New Delhi now serves as the National Resource Centre of the National Medical College Network (NMCN) of the Ministry of Health and Family welfare. This has enabled linkages with more than 100 medical colleges for enhancing undergraduate, postgraduate and continuing medical education. “This objective is being facilitated by the creation of a National Learning Management & Information System, SAKSHYAM, which was launched last year”, he said.

     

     

    Shri Jadhav highlighted that AIIMS New Delhi has established a Centre of Excellence for development of artificial intelligence in healthcare. Created by MOHFW, this centre is expected to deliver AI based solutions for evaluation of chest x-rays, early detection of diabetic retinopathy, and identification of skin lesions, among other tools, for enhancing national programs. He noted that “AIIMS is set to be the biggest robotic surgery skill training centre with 2 state-of-the-art robotic surgery equipment dedicated for training of surgeons.”

     

    It was informed that over 900 extramural research projects are being funded by national and international agencies, amounting to a total grant of nearly Rs. 200 crores while AIIMS itself has funded over 240 intramural research projects apart from providing travel fellowships to students, residents, PhD scholars, and staff to participate in national and international conferences. AIIMS Delhi has also started the Centre for Medical Innovation & Entrepreneurship as a Bio-Incubator under the BIRAC – BioNEST Scheme.

    Shri Jadhav said that AIIMS has planned for building a new hostel complex with 2200 rooms, with an estimated cost of approximately Rs 900 crores. He also highlighted new academic facilities that were added recently such as the Mother and Child Block, Surgery Block and the National Centre of Ageing which are fully functional now. Over the last 2 years, the inpatient beds have increased by more than 30%, Intensive care and operation theatre services by nearly 40%. These new facilities will improve the ability of AIIMS to cater to the huge clinical demand. AIIMS has also been entrusted with the responsibility to operationalize the Central Armed Police Forces Institute of Medical Sciences (CAPFIMS) at Maidangarhi.

    The Union Minister kicked off the Foundation Day celebration by officially inaugurating an exhibition showcasing the innovative research and projects undertaken by various departments at AIIMS. He also took a tour of the exhibition.

    The Union Minister also inaugurated the awards ceremony, recognizing the achievements of students and staff with medals and book prizes. Awards were also given for outstanding contributions to the Institute Day Exhibition, celebrating excellence in research and innovation.

    AIIMS New Delhi has undertaken various IT initiatives and has developed various softwares in-house for a wide range of services. The SANTUSHT portal enables patients to register their grievances online, track the status, and provide feedback regarding the resolution. To increase transparency and to maintain the trust that the patients have in AIIMS, realtime dashboards have been developed and made available to the public. The management of IT infrastructure and network has also been digitized for prompt resolution of any hardware or network issues. Triage Register for Emergency Department is a web application which helps to keep the record of patient’s Disease Condition, Medical Examination and improves patient safety by ensuring timely cross-consultation by various departments. The Union Minister launched these digital initiatives during the event. He also inaugurated a fire station at AIIMS which will have a manpower of 6 men. It is the first such station exclusively for any medical institute.

    Prof. M Srinivas, Director, AIIMS New Delhi said “AIIMS has already received NABH certification for some of its blocks and centers and is in the process of NABH certification of all the centers including the main hospital. He highlighted that NABL accreditation of all laboratories in a phased manner is under process. He also informed that AIIMS has also been the forerunner in the implementation of Ayushman Bharat Digital Mission (ABDM). “It has overcome various challenges and has been a role model for the country by creating more than 7 lakh ABHA IDs and more than 20 lakh scan and share tokens”, he said.

     

    Background:

    Established in 1956, AIIMS was created with the vision of providing high-quality medical education and comprehensive healthcare services. The institute was established as part of a larger effort to address the critical need for well-trained healthcare professionals in India. Recognizing the challenges in healthcare access and quality, the Indian government aimed to create an institution that would set benchmarks in medical training and patient care.

    From its inception, AIIMS has been a pioneer in developing innovative medical practices and cutting-edge research. Its comprehensive approach includes a focus on preventive, curative, and rehabilitative care, making it a model for medical institutions across the country. Over the decades, AIIMS has evolved to become not just a premier medical college, but also a leading research center, contributing significantly to advances in various fields of medicine.

    Importance of AIIMS in National Healthcare

    AIIMS, New Delhi, has played a pivotal role in shaping India’s healthcare landscape. Here are some key aspects of its importance:

    1. Quality Medical Education: AIIMS has been instrumental in training thousands of medical professionals who have gone on to serve in various capacities across the country. Its rigorous academic programs ensure that students receive not only theoretical knowledge but also practical training, enabling them to provide high-quality care to patients.
    2. Research and Innovation: The institute is known for its cutting-edge research in various fields, including cardiology, oncology, and neuroscience. AIIMS researchers have made significant contributions to medical science, often translating their findings into real-world applications that benefit patients.
    3. Public Health Initiatives: AIIMS has actively engaged in public health outreach programs, focusing on preventive care and health education. These initiatives aim to improve healthcare access for marginalized communities, aligning with the government’s goals to promote health equity.
    4. National Health Policies: AIIMS has served as an advisory body to the government on various health policies and programs. Its research findings and expert recommendations have influenced health policy decisions, ensuring that they are evidence-based and aligned with the needs of the population.
    5. Response to Health Crises: During health emergencies, such as the COVID-19 pandemic, AIIMS played a crucial role in managing care, conducting research, and providing guidance on best practices. Its leadership in crisis management has been vital in safeguarding public health.

    ***

    MV

    HFW/MoS AIIMS Foundation Day/25th September 2024/2

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  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: Seva Se Seekhen Program Empowering Youth and Fostering Culture of Compassion and Service in Community

    Source: Government of India

    Seva Se Seekhen Program Empowering Youth and Fostering Culture of Compassion and Service in Community

    MY Bharat’s “Seva Se Seekhen” Initiative Gains Momentum in 24 States; Over 1700 MY Bharat Volunteers Engage in Healthcare Support across 319 Hospitals

    “Through Seva se Seekhen program, our young MY Bharat volunteers are gaining invaluable experience while contributing to the well-being of our nation” – Dr. Mansukh Mandaviya

    Posted On: 25 SEP 2024 2:54PM by PIB Delhi

    In a significant move to engage India’s youth and bolster healthcare services, the Department of Youth Affairs, Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports has launched the “Seva Se Seekhen” program under the MY Bharat initiative. Launched on September 17, 2024, this nationwide volunteering initiative aims to provide hands-on learning experiences for young people while offering crucial assistance to patients in hospitals.


    (Chhattisgarh)

    Talking about the program, Union Minister of Youth Affairs & Sports and Labour & Employment, Dr. Mansukh Mandaviya, commented, “This program exemplifies our commitment to nurturing a culture of seva while addressing the needs of patients across India. Through this program, our young MY Bharat volunteers are gaining invaluable experience while contributing to the well-being of our nation.”


    (Rajasthan)

    As part of the program, MY Bharat volunteers are being deployed across 700 locations, including both government hospitals and those empanelled under the Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (PM-JAY). With each hospital hosting 10-20 volunteers, the initiative targets not only to improve patient services but also to raise awareness of the Ayushman Bharat Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (AB-PMJAY). Volunteers assist with a variety of tasks, from helping patients access basic healthcare services to managing outpatient department (OPD) counters, operating information desks, and supporting PM-JAY documentation.


    (Gujarat)

    The “Seva Se Seekhen” program has seen swift progress since its launch, with 861 hospitals already onboarded on the MY Bharat portal. These facilities have generated 304 Experiential Learning Programmes and 2,649 volunteering opportunities.

    Currently, 1732 volunteers are active across 319 hospitals in 24 states and union territories. Leading the charge, Gujarat has deployed 273 volunteers across 33 hospitals, followed closely by Rajasthan, Haryana, Tamil Nadu, and Uttar Pradesh, with a strong presence of volunteers supporting critical healthcare services.


    (Odisha)

    By engaging youth in such meaningful work, the “Seva Se Seekhen” program is expected to promote a culture of service and responsibility. It also seeks to boost the utilization of PM-JAY services, thereby enhancing healthcare accessibility for underprivileged communities. The success of this initiative will have long-lasting impacts, fostering a new generation of socially responsible leaders and reinforcing the importance of public service.

    As MY Bharat continues to expand its reach and the “Seva Se Seekhen” program grows, the initiative promises to bring a transformative shift in both healthcare support and youth empowerment across India.

    *****

    Himanshu Pathak

    (Release ID: 2058571) Visitor Counter : 136

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  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: ‘National conversation’ on curriculum begins

    Source: United Kingdom – Executive Government & Departments

    Professor Becky Francis has launched a call for evidence seeking views on the current curriculum and assessment system to help shape the future of education.

    Professor Becky Francis

    Young people, parents, employers and education staff, leaders and experts are being invited to take part in a ‘national conversation’ about how the curriculum and assessment system can better prepare young people for life and work, as a call for evidence is launched today (25 September). 

    The eight-week consultation aims to bring everyone into the conversation about what’s working well and what could work better in the curriculum and marks the next step in the government’s independent review. 

    Responses will be invaluable in shaping the direction of the review and pivotal to the recommendations Professor Becky Francis and her expert panel put forward in 2025.  

    Today’s call for evidence covers a range of specific areas, including how best to provide an excellent foundation in English and maths, support for children from socioeconomically disadvantaged backgrounds, and access to a broad and balanced curriculum.  

    The review will also take written and oral evidence from key stakeholders, alongside a series of regional engagement events from mid-October to meet and take input from young people and staff on the frontline.  

    Spanning from Key Stage 1 through to Key Stage 5, the review will look closely at the key challenges to attainment for young people, and the barriers which hold children back from the opportunities and life chances they deserve – in particular those who are socioeconomically disadvantaged, or with special educational needs or disabilities (SEND).   

    Professor Becky Francis said: 

    “The curriculum belongs to the nation. And especially, it must work for the young people who follow it, and the teachers and lecturers that communicate it. 

    “As such, it’s imperative that we hear perspectives and evidence from as wide a range of people as possible including children, young people, parents, education professionals and other stakeholders. 

    “The launch of our Call for Evidence today enables that. And we have sought to keep questions broad and wide-ranging, to enable people to have their say.  

    “There is much that is working in the present curriculum, but this is a chance to refresh, to address areas which aren’t working well, and to ensure excellence for all. I hope as many as possible will respond and I look forward to reading the responses.” 

    The review will look at ensuring all young people aged 16-19 have access to rigorous and high-value qualifications and training that will give them the skills they need to seize opportunity, as well as ensuring they are ready for the changing workplace.     

    It will also look at whether the current assessment system can be improved for both young people and staff, while protecting the important role of examinations.   

    Following the review, all state schools – including academies which currently do not have to follow the national curriculum – will be required by law to teach the national curriculum up to age 16, giving parents certainty over their children’s education. 

    The call for evidence runs from 25 September to 22 November 2024 and can be accessed here.

    DfE media enquiries

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    Published 25 September 2024

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  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: Creative Life Industry Asia-Pacific Forum Collaborates with Industries to Co-create a Sustainable Value Chain

    Source: Republic Of China Taiwan 2

    The Industrial Development Administration, Ministry of Economic Affairs, hosted the “2024 Creative Life Industry Asia-Pacific Forum” on 12th at National Chung Hsing University. Experts from Thailand and Singapore, along with representatives from Taiwan’s Creative Life Industry, gathered under the theme “Co-Creating a Sustainable Value Chain” to share international creative trends, brainstorm strategies for sustainable development in the creative life sector, and foster cross-sector collaboration opportunities. The forum attracted over 200 participants and encouraged more quality enterprises to join the Creative Life Industry.

    Keynote speakers at the forum included Duangrit Bunnag from a renowned Thai architectural firm, and Ben Liu, CEO of Taiwan’s The One Nanyuan Humanity Inn, who shared how architectural and cultural aesthetics inspire unique cultural values and lifestyles. Somsak Boonkam, founder of Thailand’s Local Alike, and James Cho, general manager of Taiwan’s Joye Cottage, discussed business models that promote local economic development by combining sustainable environments, natural landscapes, rich cultural crafts, and warm human interaction. Singaporean designer Jackson Tan and Taiwan’s Yoshantea Executive Vice President Andy Chen shared their journeys in aesthetic and sustainable brand design. Furthermore, EBC News weather anchor Rita Wang offered insights from a media perspective, sharing her observations on how businesses can preserve culture and promote sustainable development amid global changes.

    In response to changing lifestyles and consumption patterns, the Industrial Development Administration, Ministry of Economic Affairs, has been promoting the Creative Life Industry since 2003. Through expert evaluations, it has identified high-quality lifestyle enterprises that embody core knowledge, deep experiences, and aesthetic excellence. To date, there are 166 such businesses in Taiwan, offering diverse lifestyle experiences ranging from food culture, fashion, craftsmanship, education, and ecology to cultural heritage.

    The Industrial Development Administration is committed to leading Taiwan’s industries toward upgrading, transformation, and enhanced competitiveness. It also supports the Creative Life Industry in developing sustainable business practices by integrating culture and aesthetics with industrial innovation. Through international exchanges and collaborations, the aim is to create a future that combines economic value with sustainability.

    For more information, please visit the Creative Life website: https://www.creativelife.org.tw/.

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