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Category: Europe

  • MIL-OSI China: Xi, Slovak PM meet in Beijing, agreeing to elevate ties

    Source: China State Council Information Office

    Chinese President Xi Jinping meets with Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico, who is on an official visit to China, at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, capital of China, Nov. 1, 2024. (Xinhua/Rao Aimin)

    Chinese President Xi Jinping met with Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico in Beijing on Friday.

    Noting that this year marks the 75th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between China and Slovakia, Xi said that after three-quarters of a century of development, the traditional friendship between the two countries is full of vitality, and the cooperation in various fields has yielded fruitful results, bringing tangible benefits to the people of both countries.

    “We have decided to elevate China-Slovakia relations to a strategic partnership, which meets the future development needs of both countries and will inject new and powerful momentum into bilateral cooperation,” Xi said, adding that China is willing to work together with Slovakia to open a new chapter in bilateral relations and lift their ties to a higher level.

    Xi said the two countries need to deepen political mutual trust, calling on both sides to maintain high-level exchanges, strengthen strategic communication, adhere to mutual respect, equality and mutual benefit, and accommodate each other’s core interests and major concerns.

    In order to expand pragmatic cooperation, Xi said the two countries should make good use of the newly established inter-governmental cooperation committee to strengthen synergy in new energy, transportation and logistics, infrastructure construction and water resources management. China encourages its enterprises to invest in Slovakia and welcomes Slovak enterprises to explore the market in China, he said.

    Xi said the two countries should promote cultural and people-to-people exchanges. He called on both sides to carry out communication and dialogue among political parties, local governments, youth, think tanks, and the media, and make good use of platforms such as the Confucius Institutes to consolidate the foundation of public opinion for China-Slovakia friendship across generations.

    China has decided to grant 15-day visa-free entry to Slovak citizens, Xi added.

    Xi noted that the two countries need to strengthen international cooperation. In a complex and rapidly changing world, Xi said, both sides should uphold true multilateralism, firmly safeguard the international system with the United Nations at its core and the international order based on international law, advocate for an equal and orderly multipolar world and universally beneficial and inclusive economic globalization, embrace a vision of global governance featuring extensive consultation, joint contribution and shared benefits, and promote the building of a community with a shared future for humanity.

    China attaches great importance to China-EU relations, Xi said, adding that next year marks the 50th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between China and the EU, and China-EU relations should demonstrate due maturity and stability.

    Xi expressed the hope that the new EU institutions will adhere to the orientation of the China-EU partnership, adopt a positive and pragmatic approach, properly manage differences, and refrain from politicizing economic and trade issues.

    Fico said Slovakia firmly adheres to the one-China policy and recognizes the government of the People’s Republic of China as the only legitimate government representing all of China. Slovakia opposes any interference in other countries’ internal affairs and advocates for respecting each country’s choice of development path.

    Slovakia appreciates China’s decision to grant Slovak citizens the 15-day visa-free treatment, Fico said. Slovakia supports facilitating people-to-people exchanges between the two countries, and welcomes more Chinese enterprises to invest in the country and strengthen cooperation in areas such as new energy and infrastructure, he added.

    Slovakia appreciates the three major global initiatives put forward by President Xi, and is willing to strengthen exchanges with China on state governance experience and actively promote the EU’s commitment to handling differences through dialogue and consultations, Fico said.

    The two sides also exchanged views on the Ukraine crisis. Xi expounded on China’s consistent principle and position, commending Slovakia for adopting an objective, rational and impartial stance. He welcomed Slovakia, as well as more like-minded countries, to play a positive role in promoting peace talks.

    Fico stated that China’s position on the Ukraine crisis is fair, objective and constructive. Slovakia is willing to join the group of Friends for Peace on the Ukraine crisis and work with China to contribute to the political settlement of the crisis.

    Following the meeting, the two sides issued a joint statement on the establishment of a strategic partnership. 

    MIL OSI China News –

  • MIL-OSI China: Spanish floods kill at least 205, PM pledges comprehensive support

    Source: China State Council Information Office

    Spain remains deeply shaken by the deadly flash floods that have left 205 people confirmed dead and wrecked havoc across the regions of Valencia, Castilla-La Mancha and Andalusia in the east and southeast parts of the country. As of Friday, many more are still unaccounted for.

    With the ground too dry to absorb the intense rainfall, which exceeded 400 liters per square meter in many areas and reached up to 600 liters in some, the torrential overnight downpours on Tuesday led to devastating flash floods.

    Videos posted on social media have shown torrents up to three meters high sweeping cars down the streets to pile them up as if they were toys. Bridges were swept away, railway tunnels collapsed and fields were swamped as people climbed onto roofs of their homes and cars to seek refuge, but not all survived.

    The official death toll, initially 12 on Wednesday morning according to the Center for Coordinated and Integrated Operations, has now soared to 205, with 202 fatalities in the region of Valencia, two in Castilla-La Mancha and one in Andalusia.

    The Feria de Valencia exhibition center has had to be used as a temporary mortuary. With many people still missing, the number of fatalities is expected to climb further.

    The Spanish newspaper Eldiario.es reported on Friday that 1,900 people are still missing. Witnesses in the affected areas said many people had gone into underground garages to save their cars, only to be trapped by the extreme deluge. The media outlets are filled with heart wrenching stories, with loved ones making final calls from vehicles trapped in rising waters.

    Moreover, over 130,000 homes lost power during the floods, and by Friday, power company Iberdrola confirmed that 23,000 homes still remained without electricity.

    The floods left the Valencia region in eastern Spain almost isolated, with the high-speed rail link between the capital city of Madrid and Valencia closed for up to three weeks following the collapse of two tunnels.

    Around 80 km of local rail lines and 100 roads were damaged, prompting the government to allocate 25 million euros (27 million U.S. dollars) on Friday for emergency repairs.

    Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez visited the affected areas on Thursday and pledged comprehensive aid for recovery efforts. The government declared three days of official mourning as sporting events in the Valencia region were all postponed.

    Meanwhile, nearly 2,000 military personnel, supported by 400 vehicles and 15 helicopters, have been deployed to assist in rescue and recovery operations. Hundreds of mud-caked Valencia volunteers were seen helping clear streets and homes with shovels and brooms.

    However, police also reported that approximately 60 people have been detained for looting in the wake of the floods.

    Relief support has poured in from across Spain, with funds being set up by the Red Cross and other agencies to aid rescue and recovery. Additionally, the international community, including the European Union, has offered assistance.

    Three days after the deadliest floods in decades, Valencia remains under alert for further downpours, with high warnings issued for Huelva, Castellon, Mallorca, and Catalonia. 

    MIL OSI China News –

  • MIL-OSI China: 6th Friends of Paris Agreement High-level Dialogue held in Paris

    Source: China State Council Information Office 3

    Participants pose for a group photo during the sixth Friends of the Paris Agreement High-Level Dialogue in Paris, France, on Oct. 28, 2024. The sixth Friends of the Paris Agreement High-Level Dialogue was held in Paris on Oct. 28-29. Organized by the European Climate Foundation and co-organized by the Institute of Climate Change and Sustainable Development of Tsinghua University, the dialogue has drawn over 20 high-level officials from signatory countries. (the European Climate Foundation/Handout via Xinhua)

    The sixth Friends of the Paris Agreement High-Level Dialogue was held in Paris on Oct. 28-29, where global leaders and stakeholders gathered to review both the significant progress and ongoing challenges faced by the international community in addressing climate-related crises since the Paris Agreement’s enactment.

    The dialogue was co-chaired by Xie Zhenhua, former China’s special envoy for climate change, and Laurence Tubiana, former France’s climate change ambassador and special representative for COP21.

    Organized by the European Climate Foundation and co-organized by the Institute of Climate Change and Sustainable Development of Tsinghua University, the dialogue has drawn over 20 high-level officials from signatory countries.

    Among the attendees are Laurent Fabius, president of the French Constitutional Council and former French prime minister, John Kerry, former U.S. Secretary of State, Teresa Ribera, European Commission’s first executive vice-president, Luiz Alberto Figueiredo Machado, former Brazilian minister of External Relations, Catherine McKenna, former Canadian minister of environment and climate change, Selwin Hart, special adviser to the UN Secretary-General and Assistant Secretary-General of the Climate Action Team, and Liu Zhenmin, China’s special envoy for climate change.

    As next year marks the 10th anniversary of the Paris Agreement, participants reached a consensus on the need for all countries to embody the spirit of the United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP21) amid the current complex global challenges.

    They also emphasized a strong commitment to defending and upholding multilateralism, advancing the global process for climate action, and adhering to the principle of common but differentiated responsibilities.

    The attendees also agreed that countries must continue advancing climate actions under the framework of the Paris Agreement, adopt faster and larger-scale international cooperation to ensure the timely achievement of global climate goals, and accelerate the global transition toward green, low-carbon, and climate-resilient development.

    The participants also held in-depth discussions on various climate-related issues, such as the Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs), climate finance, energy transition, and technological innovation.

    They all agreed to further strengthen the role of the “Friends of the Paris Agreement,” supporting and advancing the success of this year’s UN Climate Change Conference in Baku (COP29) and laying the foundation for next year’s UN Climate Change Conference in Belem (COP30) in line with the goals and principles established by the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change and the Paris Agreement.

    The Friends of the Paris Agreement High-level Dialogue was initiated in 2019. It is hosted annually on a rotating basis by the European Climate Foundation and the Institute of Climate Change and Sustainable Development of Tsinghua University.

    The dialogue, gathering high-level representatives who have played key roles in the formulation and implementation of the Paris Agreement, serves as a platform for them to provide recommendations to the United Nations, the host countries of the Climate Conference and the secretariat of the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change, to promote the multilateral process. 

    MIL OSI China News –

  • MIL-OSI China: Flights between Xi’an and Paris resume

    Source: People’s Republic of China – State Council News

    Flights between China’s Xi’an and Paris, France, resumed on Wednesday, strengthening travel links between China and Europe. The new schedule for the Xi’an-Paris route includes flights every Wednesday, with a one-way flight time of approximately 11 and a half hours. The Xi’an-Paris route is served by a Boeing 787-9 wide-body aircraft with a seating capacity of 290.

    The route is the fifth direct flight from Xi’an to Europe and the second direct intercontinental flight from northwest China to France.

    MIL OSI China News –

  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: President Lai meets delegation from Estonian parliamentary Foreign Affairs Committee  

    Source: Republic of China Taiwan

    President Lai meets delegation from Estonian parliamentary Foreign Affairs Committee  
    President Lai meets delegation from Estonian parliamentary Foreign Affairs Committee  
    2024-11-01

    On the afternoon of November 1, President Lai Ching-te met with a delegation from the Foreign Affairs Committee of the Riigikogu (Parliament of Estonia). In remarks, President Lai thanked Estonia for staunchly supporting Taiwan’s international participation and said that Taiwan has the responsibility, the ability, and the willingness to contribute even more to the international community in every domain. The president expressed his hope that we can work together to continue deepening the partnership between Taiwan and Estonia, and that by strengthening cooperation with European Union member states across many areas, we can jointly respond to the challenges posed by expanding authoritarianism, thereby safeguarding global peace, stability, and prosperity. 
    A translation of President Lai’s remarks follows:
    I extend a warm welcome to our good friends from the Foreign Affairs Committee of the Riigikogu. This is Chairman Marko Mihkelson’s second visit to Taiwan. He visited last August with a delegation of parliamentary foreign affairs committee chairs from the Baltic states. Members of the Riigikogu Ester Karuse and Luisa Rõivas are also visiting again, having been part of a delegation led by Estonia-Taiwan Support Group Chairman Kristo Enn Vaga in March.
    Your presence here demonstrates that Taiwan-Estonia relations are growing closer. I believe that with your support and assistance, our alliance, based on the shared values of freedom and democracy, and our economic and trade partnership are sure to grow even stronger. For this, I express my sincere gratitude.
    The international landscape and geopolitical environment are changing rapidly. Expanding authoritarianism is challenging the universal values of freedom and democracy as well as the rules-based international order. At this critical juncture, it is even more imperative that like-minded nations unite and work together to safeguard global peace, stability, and prosperity.
    In addition to strengthening cooperation with other nations to defend the values of freedom and democracy, Taiwan has actively sought inclusion in such international organizations and mechanisms as the World Health Organization, the International Civil Aviation Organization, and the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change. More than just a matter of the fundamental human rights of the 23 million people of Taiwan, it demonstrates that Taiwan has the responsibility, the ability, and the willingness to contribute even more to the international community in every domain.
    I want to take this opportunity to thank Estonia for staunchly supporting Taiwan’s international participation. In particular, Health Minister Riina Sikkut once again spoke out for Taiwan’s meaningful engagement at this year’s World Health Assembly. We sincerely appreciate Estonia for holding Taiwan in such high regard and for taking this stand. I would also like to congratulate former Estonian Prime Minister Kaja Kallas on her appointment as High Representative of the European Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy. This attests to the crucial role that Estonia plays in uniting the strengths of the EU and like-minded nations around the world.
    Looking ahead, we hope that, with your assistance, we will continue to deepen the partnership between Taiwan and Estonia. And by strengthening cooperation with EU member states in such areas as the economy, trade, and security, we can jointly respond to the challenges posed by expanding authoritarianism. In closing, I wish you a smooth and productive visit.
    Chairman Mihkelson then delivered remarks, saying that he is honored to lead the first-ever delegation from the Estonian parliamentary Foreign Affairs Committee to Taiwan. Mentioning that yesterday they had witnessed Typhoon Kong-rey, he said that not even typhoons can break the very good relations between Estonia and Taiwan. 
    Chairman Mihkelson expressed his gratitude for the opportunity to meet with President Lai today and discuss very important topics, such as how to improve relations between our nations. Noting that we are living in a very turbulent world, he said that Taiwan and Estonia are like-minded nations whose relations have changed dramatically in a very positive direction from several years ago to today. The chairman observed that we have had numerous reciprocal visits and expressed his hope that one day we can mutually establish representative offices between Taiwan and Estonia.
    Chairman Mihkelson emphasized that Taiwan and Estonia are strong democracies, and that we see today both in East Asia and also in Europe that democracies are under attack. In Estonia and Europe, he said, they are worried about Russia’s ongoing invasion of Ukraine. He said that the aim of both Russia and its supporters is not only Ukraine, but also to change the world order. And the recent news that North Korean troops are to participate in the aggression against Ukraine, he added, makes this conflict global.
    Chairman Mihkelson stated that the reason they are here, besides strengthening our bilateral relations, is to find ways democracies can together support Ukraine, because the outcome of this war is similarly important for their own security as well as for Taiwan’s security. He said that Estonia lost its freedom for 50 years and that ever since it regained independence in 1991, there has been a very strong political consensus, but also support within society, that Estonia should never be alone again when it comes to its security and international relations. This is why, he explained, they are seeking very good partnerships with like-minded countries like Taiwan.  
    In closing, Chairman Mihkelson emphasized that we should do whatever it takes in our cooperation as democracies to never be challenged by autocracies. He then once again expressed his thanks for hosting them here today.
    The delegation also included Deputy Chairman of the Foreign Affairs Committee Henn Põlluaas and Deputy Chair of the Anti-Corruption Select Committee Eerik-Niiles Kross.

    MIL OSI Asia Pacific News –

  • MIL-OSI China: China hopes talks with EU on EV anti-subsidy probe will bring agreement: MOC

    Source: China State Council Information Office

    People experience a BYD Han electric car during a media preview of the 100th Brussels Motor Show in Brussels, Belgium, Jan. 13, 2023. [Photo/Xinhua]

    China’s Ministry of Commerce (MOC) said on Friday that it hoped the new phase of talks on price commitment with the European Union (EU) regarding the latter’s anti-subsidy probe into China-made electric vehicles (EV) will reach a mutually acceptable solution.

    In a statement, the MOC said that the technical teams of China and the EU have immediately launched a new phase of consultations on price commitment following a discussion held via video link on Oct. 25 between Chinese Commerce Minister Wang Wentao and European Commission Executive Vice President and Trade Commissioner Valdis Dombrovskis.

    After intensive communication, the EU side indicated that it will be in China to continue consultations on the specific contents of the plan, the MOC said.

    “China welcomes this and hopes that the next phase of consultations will follow the principle of pragmatism and balance to reach a solution acceptable to both sides,” the MOC said.

    On Oct. 29, the EU said it had decided to impose definitive countervailing duties of up to 35.3 percent on EVs from China for a period of five years.

    MIL OSI China News –

  • MIL-OSI China: China to give visa-free treatment to another 9 countries

    Source: China State Council Information Office

    Travelers pass through customs at Beijing Daxing International Airport in Beijing, capital of China, July 18, 2024. [Photo/Xinhua]

    Beijing decided to give visa-free treatment to another nine countries to further encourage cross-border travel, Foreign Ministry spokesman Lin Jian said on Friday.

    China will extend the visa-free policy to ordinary passport holders from Slovakia, Norway, Finland, Denmark, Iceland, Andorra, Monaco, Liechtenstein and the Republic of Korea on a trial basis, Lin said.

    According to Lin, from November 8, 2024, to December 31, 2025, ordinary passport holders from these nine countries will be exempt from visas to enter China and can stay for no more than 15 days for business, tourism, family visits and transit purposes.

    MIL OSI China News –

  • MIL-OSI China: Finnish trade minister to attend China CIIE in Shanghai

    Source: China State Council Information Office 3

    This photo shows a view of the National Exhibition and Convention Center (Shanghai), the main venue for the upcoming 7th China International Import Expo (CIIE), in east China’s Shanghai, Oct. 22, 2024. [Photo/Xinhua]

    Finland’s government announced on Friday that Minister for Foreign Trade and Development Ville Tavio will attend the upcoming China International Import Expo (CIIE) in Shanghai.

    “China is an important trading partner for Finland, so it is useful to support export promotion and trade in sectors that benefit Finnish businesses. This is the fourth time that Finland has a national pavilion at the CIIE,” Tavio stated in a press release.

    The release also noted that Shanghai hosts the largest cluster of Finnish businesses in China.

    According to the release, Tavio will lead a Finnish trade delegation in China from Nov. 4 to 8. Following engagements in Shanghai, he and the delegation will travel to Shenzhen in southern China, with the visit ending in the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region.

    The seventh China International Import Expo is scheduled in Shanghai from Nov. 5 to 10.

    MIL OSI China News –

  • MIL-OSI China: Chinese carmaker BYD launches premium brand DENZA in Thailand

    Source: China State Council Information Office

    Workers operate at an assembly line of BYD’s new plant in Rayong province, Thailand on July 4, 2024. [Photo/Xinhua]

    Chinese carmaker BYD officially launched its premium brand DENZA in Thailand on Friday in a move to expand its presence in the Southeast Asian country’s upscale automotive market.

    Narit Therdsteerasukdi, secretary general of the Thailand Board of Investment, emphasized in his opening speech the importance of the entry of the DENZA brand into the Thai market, which marks a milestone in the development of Thailand’s electric vehicle (EV) industry.

    Narit noted that the debut of the DENZA brand not only reflects the confidence of international brands in the Thai market, but will also inject new impetus into Thailand’s economic development. Thailand will continue to support the development of the EV industry and provide a good investment environment for enterprises.

    Thailand has long been a regional automotive manufacturing and export hub. With the government’s investment promotion efforts, the nation aims to convert 30 percent of its annual auto production into EVs by 2030.

    Liu Xueliang, general manager of BYD Asia Pacific auto sales division, said BYD has currently sold 56,000 EVs in the Thai market, adding that the introduction of the DENZA brand is another important strategic plan for BYD after it opened its Thailand factory this year.

    As an automotive industry center in Southeast Asia, Thailand has a mature luxury car market. Liu believed that the DENZA brand which combines luxury and sustainable technology will be recognized by Thai consumers.

    As a world-leading automobile manufacturer and a pioneer in China’s EV industry, BYD has vigorously expanded overseas markets in recent years.

    BYD’s EVs are currently sold in 88 countries and regions around the world. In addition to Thailand, BYD also has production bases in Brazil, Hungary, Uzbekistan and other countries.

    MIL OSI China News –

  • MIL-OSI Russia: NSU campus to be equipped with smart system for monitoring and managing infrastructure facilities

    Translation. Region: Russian Federation –

    Source: Novosibirsk State University – Novosibirsk State University –

    The campus territory of Novosibirsk State University, including newly constructed facilities, will be equipped with a complex of systems implementing the functions of automated control, dispatching and management of the operation of engineering infrastructure. This will be implemented within the framework of the cooperation agreement signed between NSU and Albacor IIR LLC (Moscow) on scientific and production forum “Golden Valley-2024”.

    — Our solutions are a digital ecosystem that ensures the digitalization of real estate management — from individual buildings to urban agglomerations. Our solutions allow us to not only carry out detailed monitoring of the operation of the facility’s life support systems, but also manage their operation, preventing emergency situations and optimizing the operation of the engineering infrastructure in order to reduce operating costs, — emphasized Dmitry Karpov, Product Director of Albacor IIR.

    The cooperation between the university and the company will not be limited to the modernization of campus infrastructure. Since the end of last year, NSU has been working Research Center in the Field of Artificial Intelligence (CRI NSU), specializing in solutions in the field of construction and urban management (the so-called “smart city”).

    — We are ready to offer the company our software solutions using artificial intelligence, which can be integrated into the software and hardware systems it produces, thereby expanding the list of tasks that can be solved with their help. Pilot joint projects can be implemented on the territory of the university campus, including facilities that are being built within the framework of the federal project “Creation of a network of modern campuses”, and in case of successful testing, we hope that the company “Albacor IIR” will become another industrial partner of the university and our joint projects will cover the entire territory of the country, — noted the director of the NSU Center for Information Technologies Alexander Lyulko.

    The parties agreed that work on installing the company’s equipment on campus will begin this fall. At the same time, a package of proposals will be formed for their additional equipment with software using artificial intelligence technologies developed by the employees of the NSU Center for Information Technologies.

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

    MIL OSI Russia News –

  • MIL-OSI Russia: To the participants, organizers and guests of the XVI Assembly of the Russian World

    Translation. Region: Russian Federation –

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

    The Assembly takes place from November 1–4 in Moscow.

    Dear friends!

    I congratulate you on the opening of the XVI Assembly of the Russian World, which is traditionally held on the eve of the holiday – National Unity Day.

    Representatives of the clergy, youth and public organizations, figures of science and culture, university professors, journalists, compatriots living abroad have gathered in Moscow. There is one thing that unites all of you – love for Russia, our national culture, history, and the Russian language. And of course, the desire to do everything to support the supporters of the great Russian world, to strengthen the positions of our native language.

    For many years, the Russkiy Mir Foundation has been consolidating like-minded people in different countries, implementing significant initiatives aimed at preserving spiritual and moral values and countering the falsification of history. It also implements educational, cultural, and social projects. Thanks to this, interest in studying the Russian language is growing, and the quality of its teaching is improving. This is especially important now, when Russia is experiencing strong sanctions and external pressure.

    I am convinced that the forum will contribute to the further preservation of the Russian language and the strengthening of ties between compatriots who maintain an unbreakable connection with Russia.

    I wish you interesting discussions, new successes and achievements.

    M. Mishustin

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

    MIL OSI Russia News –

  • MIL-OSI Russia: The Scientific Library of the State University of Management will become the organizer of the Interuniversity Festival of Book Clubs “Living Hat” for the second time

    Translation. Region: Russian Federation –

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

    On November 28, 2024, the II Interuniversity Festival of Book Clubs “Living Hat” will be held in the Scientific Library of the State University of Management.

    The festival is aimed at attracting the attention of young people to reading, supporting the creativity of talented young authors, and also forming patriotism and culture among young people. One of the key objectives of the festival is to unite reading youth.

    “We strive to create a space where young readers can exchange opinions, discuss what they have read, share their impressions and find like-minded people. Such interaction contributes to the formation of an active community that supports the values of culture,” commented on this event the adviser to the rector’s office of the State University of Management, member of the Union of Writers of Russia Sergey Chuev.

    The festival will become a platform for discussing the importance of literature as a means of transmitting cultural values and patriotic ideals.

    “We are confident that this project will contribute to the development of literary interest among young people and provide an opportunity for the implementation of ideas of aspiring writers,” noted the head of the Museum and Library Complex of the State University of Management, Mikhail Polyakov.

    This year’s meetings will be dedicated to the theme of happiness. Everything around us, from books to music, from nature to human relationships, can give this important feeling. Books can bring happiness not only through the pleasure of reading, but also through the opportunity for self-knowledge, satisfying curiosity.

    Traditionally, our University will be represented at the festival by two clubs: the GUU Book Club “Let’s Discuss?” and the Literary and Theatre Club “GUUMANIST” and the Director of the GUU Scientific Library Olga Kharlamova.

    “Feeling part of something bigger, helping others and making them happy are important components of our own happiness. When we interact with people, sharing our time and care, we not only create a positive atmosphere around us that can change the mood of others, but we change our own perception of the world. The pursuit of happiness unites us and gives our lives deep meaning,” Olga Kharlamova noted.

    We are waiting for everyone on November 28 at 10:00 in the Scientific Library of the State University of Management.

    Registration is required to participate.

    Detailed information about the meeting can be found on the project website, or by calling 8 (495) 377-77-88, ext. 36-85 (Valentina Pavlovna), ext. 36-86 (Evgenia and Artem) or by email at oa_harlamova@guu.ru.

    Subscribe to the tg channel “Our State University” Announcement date: 11/28/2024

    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.

    MIL OSI Russia News –

  • MIL-OSI Russia: Polytechnicians win prizes at robotics Olympiad

    Translation. Region: Russian Federation –

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

    The Polytechnic University hosted a regional robotics Olympiad for students of St. Petersburg universities. The team of the Higher School of Automation and Robotics (HSAiR) of the Institute of Mechanical Engineering, Materials and Transport took an honorable second place in the team championship.

    The organizer of the annual robotics Olympiad is the Committee for Science and Higher Education of the Government of St. Petersburg together with the St. Petersburg State Electrotechnical University “LETI” named after V. I. Ulyanov. The Higher School of Automation and Robotics acted as the operator of the event in partnership with Omega LLC.

    The subject Olympiad has been held since 2008, its goal is to identify talented youth, stimulate students’ scientific activity, and improve the quality of training of university graduates, said the host of the event, Konstantin Mashyanov, an engineer at the Mechatronics educational laboratory of the Higher School of Aviation and Radio Engineering.

    This year, a record number of teams applied — 16 from nine universities of St. Petersburg. The parting words were given by the Vice-Rector for Youth Policy and Communication Technologies of SPbPU Maxim Pasholikov, Deputy Director of IMMiT for Educational Activities Pavel Kovalev, Director of HSAI Olga Matsko, as well as the Head of the Education and Science Directorate of Omega LLC Vladislav Vasiliev and the honorary guest, Director of the Scientific and Educational Center Concern VKO Almaz-Antey Sergey Baushev.

    The jury included representatives of the participating universities. Technical support for the teams was provided by students of the Higher School of Architecture and Russian Engineering from the PoliRoboTech student engineering association.

    Participants completed various tasks. They programmed Omegabot to move along a closed curved trajectory and carry an object from point A to point B, thought about the possibilities in the field of robotics, and much more.

    According to the results of the team competition, the students of BSTU “Voenmekh” won. The team of polytechnics, which included 3rd year students of the Higher School of Architecture and Rural Affairs Zakhar Vcherashny, Vladimir Yulik, Egor Meshkov, Vadim Berko, Alexander Timofeev and Alexander Travin, took the honorable second place. The team of ITMO University came in third.

    In the individual championship, the gold medalist was BSTU “Voenmekh” student Maxim Smirnov, second place went to Pavel Myznikov (GUAP) and Yaroslav Petrov (GUAP), third place was shared by BSTU “Voenmekh” students Alexander Galkin, Timofey Skrykov and SPbGUAP Olga Timofeeva.

    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.

    MIL OSI Russia News –

  • MIL-OSI Russia: Transferring experience beyond the Urals: welders trained in laser technologies at the Polytechnic

    Translation. Region: Russian Federation –

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

    Welders from the Trans-Urals and Krasnoyarsk region became the first students in the additional professional education program at the Research Laboratory “Laser and Additive Technologies” of the Institute of Mechanical Engineering of Materials and Transport of SPbPU. Specialists from various branches of the ISO company came to St. Petersburg to study laser welding and additive technologies.

    Transfer of knowledge in the field of innovative laser technologies to representatives of the regions is important for meeting the needs of the national economy and state security. Training specialists of enterprises of the real sector of the economy at the Institute of Mechanical Engineering, Materials and Transport contributes to strengthening the technological sovereignty of Russia, – emphasized the director of IMMiT SPbPU Anatoly Popovich.

    Five specialists completed a course in the direction of “Technological Fundamentals of Surface Restoration and Modification”. The advanced training program included theoretical intensives in the lecture hall and practical classes on equipment provided by the laboratory.

    The ISO company is an important strategic partner for us. During the work on joint projects in the field of laser welding technologies, we found common ground in science, production and training. Such interaction helps to transfer the technological experience accumulated by the laboratory staff to the regions of Russia. We hope that cooperation between the university and the industrial partner will develop even more actively, – noted the head of the Scientific Research Laboratory “LiAT” of the IMMiT SPbPU Mikhail Kuznetsov.

    The material and technical base of the Scientific and Research Laboratory “LiAT” is represented by unique equipment, including our own development, for laser and hybrid laser-arc welding, direct laser deposition, laser cladding and laser surface hardening. This makes it possible to solve a wide range of scientific and applied problems and to train specialists in laser welding and additive technologies in practice.

    The classes were conducted by the employees of the Scientific and Research Laboratory “LiAT”. Experienced specialists shared their knowledge with representatives of industrial enterprises of the Ural Federal District and Krasnoyarsk Krai. A visit by the General Director of “ISO” Alexander Baranchikov was a pleasant surprise for the students. Alexander Nikolaevich familiarized himself with the program, asked his colleagues about the opinion of the training and discussed with the head of the laboratory the possibilities of further cooperation between the company and the university.

    The practical development of laser welding technologies helped to reveal that the hybrid laser-arc method is more suitable for the needs of our enterprise. Therefore, we decided to train our employees in innovative welding methods. The optimal number is five to six people. As in art – in small groups, where talents absorb the basics. During their training at the Polytechnic, our specialists learned to program industrial robots, were engaged in welding and heat treatment. Returning to their workplaces, they will become flagships of innovations and lead their colleagues. Such continuity will contribute to the sustainable development of the technology industry and will become a support for import substitution in our country, – said Alexander Baranchikov.

    After successful completion of the training, the students received state certificates of completion of the course and took additional knowledge and skills to the regions, which will help them improve their professional activities and apply new technologies in their work.

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

    MIL OSI Russia News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: New Jersey Resident Pleads Guilty to Helping Russia’s Defense Sector Evade U.S. Export Controls

    Source: US State of North Dakota

    Defendant Facilitated Russia’s Acquisition of Millions of Dollars of U.S.-Made Dual-Use Electronics Used in Radar, Surveillance, and Military Research and Development

    Vadim Yermolenko, 43, a dual U.S.-Russian national and resident of New Jersey, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to violate the Export Control Reform Act, conspiracy to commit bank fraud, and conspiracy to defraud the United States for his role in a transnational procurement and money laundering network that sought to acquire sensitive dual-use electronics for Russian military and intelligence services.

    “This defendant joins the nearly two dozen other criminals that our Task Force KleptoCapture has brought to justice in American courtrooms over the past two and a half years for enabling Russia’s military aggression,” said Attorney General Merrick B. Garland. “This defendant admitted to playing a central role in a now-disrupted scheme with Russian intelligence services to smuggle sniper rifle ammunition and U.S. military grade equipment into Russia. The Justice Department will never stop working to aggressively disrupt and prosecute both the criminal networks and the individuals responsible for bolstering the Russian war machine.”

    “The illegal export of sensitive, dual-use technologies in support of Russia’s war effort poses a significant threat to the United States and its allies and must not be tolerated,” said FBI Director Christopher Wray. “The defendant in this case played a key role in exporting U.S. technology that in the hands of our adversaries could pose great danger to our national security. The FBI and its partners will continue to focus on protecting strategic innovation at home and hold accountable anyone who facilitates illegal transfers to hostile nations like Russia.”

    “To facilitate the Russian war machine, the defendant played a critical role in exporting sensitive, dual-use technologies to Russia, facilitating shipping and the movement of millions of dollars through U.S. financial institutions,” said U.S. Attorney Breon Peace for the Eastern District of New York. “This plea highlights my Office and our law enforcement partners continued commitment to use all tools available to prosecute those who unlawfully procure U.S. technology to send to Russia.”

    According to court documents, the defendant was affiliated with Serniya Engineering and Sertal LLC, Moscow-based companies that operate under the direction of Russian intelligence services to procure advanced electronics and sophisticated testing equipment for Russia’s military industrial complex and research and development sector. Serniya and Sertal operated a vast network of shell companies and bank accounts throughout the world, including the United States, that were used in furtherance of the scheme to conceal the involvement of the Russian government and the true Russian end users of U.S.-origin equipment.

    The defendant and his co-conspirators unlawfully purchased and exported highly sensitive, export controlled electronic components, some of which can be used in the development of nuclear and hypersonic weapons, quantum computing and other military applications. Following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, the U.S. Department of the Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) and the U.S. Department of Commerce (DOC) Bureau of Industry and Security (BIS) levied sanctions and imposed additional export restrictions on Serniya, Sertal, and several individuals and companies used in the scheme, calling them “instrumental to the Russian Federation’s war machine.”

    Sertal was licensed to conduct highly sensitive and classified procurement activities by Russia’s Federal Security Service (FSB), Russia’s principal security agency and the main successor agency to the Soviet Union’s KGB. The Serniya network’s Russian clients included State Corporation Rostec, the state-owned defense conglomerate; State Atomic Energy Corporation Rosatom (Rosatom); the Ministry of Defense; the Foreign Intelligence Service (SVR); and various components of the FSB, including the Department of Military Counterintelligence and the Directorate for Scientific and Technological Intelligence, commonly known as “Directorate T.”

    To carry out the scheme, the defendant helped set up numerous shell companies and dozens of bank accounts in the U.S. to illicitly move money and export-controlled goods. During the period charged in the indictment, more than $12 million passed through accounts owned or controlled by the defendant. These funds were used in part to purchase sensitive equipment used in radar, surveillance and military research and development. In one instance, money from one of the defendant’s accounts was used to purchase export-controlled sniper bullets, which were intercepted in Estonia before they could be smuggled into Russia.

    Co-defendant Alexey Brayman previously pleaded guilty to conspiracy to defraud the United States and is awaiting sentence. The case against co-defendant Vadim Konoshchenok, a suspected FSB operative, was dismissed after Konoshchenok was removed from the United States as part of a prisoner exchange negotiated between the United States and Russia. Defendant Nikolaos Bogonikolos’ case remains pending. Defendants Boris Livshits, Alexey Ippolitov, Svetlana Skvortsova, and Yevgeniy Grinin remain at large.        

    The FBI, BIS, and IRS are investigating the case.

    The U.S. Customs and Border Protection, Department of Justice’s Office of International Affairs, and Estonian authorities provided valuable assistance.

    Assistant U.S. Attorneys Artie McConnell, Andrew D. Reich, and Matthew Skurnik for the Eastern District of New York are prosecuting the case, with assistance from Trial Attorney Scott A. Claffee of the National Security Division’s Counterintelligence and Export Control Section.

    Today’s actions were coordinated through the Justice Department’s Task Force KleptoCapture and the Justice and Commerce Departments’ Disruptive Technology Strike Force. Task Force KleptoCapture is an interagency law enforcement task force dedicated to enforcing the sweeping sanctions, export restrictions and economic countermeasures that the United States has imposed, along with its allies and partners, in response to Russia’s unprovoked military invasion of Ukraine. The Disruptive Technology Strike Force is an interagency law enforcement strike force co-led by the Departments of Justice and Commerce designed to target illicit actors, protect supply chains and prevent critical technology from being acquired by authoritarian regimes and hostile nation states.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Georgia CPA Sentenced in Syndicated Conservation Easement Tax Scheme

    Source: US State of North Dakota

    Defendant Helped Clients File Tax Returns Claiming $14M in False Deductions, Causing Nearly $5M in Loss to the IRS

    A Georgia accountant was sentenced today to 28 months in prison for his role in the promotion and sale of abusive syndicated conservation easement tax shelters.

    According to court documents and statements made in court, Herbert Lewis was a CPA and return preparer at an Atlanta-based accounting firm. Beginning at least in 2014 and through at least 2019, Lewis promoted and sold tax deductions to his wealthy clients in the form of units in illegal syndicated conservation easement tax shelters organized and created by co-defendants Jack Fisher, James Sinnott and others.

    According to court documents and statements made in court, Lewis also knew that, contrary to law, the transactions related to these illegal tax shelters lacked economic substance, that his wealthy clients participated only to obtain a tax deduction and that his clients received only a tax benefit for their participation in the shelters. For example, the scheme entailed the creation of partnerships that would purchase land and land-owning companies and then donate conservation easements over that land or the land itself. A client who purchased units in one of these partnerships had a “vote” ostensibly on what to do with the land the partnership owned. However, Lewis knew that the vote held by the partnership each year was just for optics and that the land invariably would be donated largely as a conservation easement.

    In some cases, in order to make it appear that his clients had joined the partnerships before the date of the conservation easement donation, which was necessary to claim the tax benefits, Lewis also instructed and caused his clients to falsely backdate documents — such as subscription agreements and checks — related to the partnerships. In 2019 alone, Lewis assisted 15 clients with claiming false deductions on their 2018 returns.

    In total, Lewis assisted in the preparation of tax returns that claimed nearly $14 million in false deductions based on backdated documents, causing a tax loss to the IRS of nearly $5 million.   

    Lewis earned over $1 million in commissions for his role in promoting and selling the illegal tax shelters to clients. Lewis also concealed the amount of commissions he had earned from selling units in these shelters by not fully reporting the commissions on his personal returns and instead fraudulently reporting commission income he had earned as income on the tax returns of nominee entities in his children’s names.

    In addition to his prison sentence, U.S. District Court Judge Timothy C. Batten Sr. for the Northern District of Georgia ordered Lewis to serve three years of supervised release and to pay $4,878,990.90 in restitution.

    Nine additional defendants have previously pleaded guilty to criminal conduct related to the syndicated conservation easement tax shelter scheme. These other defendants include appraiser Walter Douglas “Terry” Roberts, accountant Stein Agee, CPA Corey Agee, CPA Ralph Anderson, CPA James Benkoil, CPA Victor Smith, CPA William Tomasello, CPA and attorney Randall Lenz and attorney Vi Bui.

    Acting Deputy Assistant Attorney General Stuart M. Goldberg of the Justice Department’s Tax Division, U.S. Attorney Ryan K. Buchanan for the Northern District of Georgia and IRS Criminal Investigation Chief Guy Ficco made the announcement. They also thanked U.S. Attorney Dena J. King for the Western District of North Carolina for her office’s assistance.

    IRS Criminal Investigation and the U.S. Postal Inspection Service investigated the case.

    Trial Attorneys Richard M. Rolwing, Parker Tobin, Jessica Kraft and Nicholas J. Schilling Jr. of the Justice Department’s Tax Division and Assistant U.S. Attorney Christopher Huber, Deputy Chief of the Complex Frauds Section of the Northern District of Georgia, are prosecuting the case.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Justice Department to Monitor Polls in 27 States for Compliance with Federal Voting Rights Laws

    Source: US State of California

    Civil Rights Division Staff Available to Receive Nationwide Reports Throughout Election Day

    The Justice Department announced today that it plans to monitor compliance with federal voting rights laws in 86 jurisdictions in 27 states for the Nov. 5 general election.

    The Justice Department enforces federal voting rights laws that protect the rights of all eligible citizens to access the ballot. The department regularly deploys its staff to monitor for compliance with federal civil rights laws in elections in communities all across the country.

    For the general election, the department will monitor for compliance with federal voting rights laws on Election Day in 86 jurisdictions, including:

    • Bethel Census Area, Alaska;
    • Dillingham Census Area, Alaska;
    • Kusilvak Census Area, Alaska;
    • North Slope Borough, Alaska;
    • Northwest Arctic Borough, Alaska;
    • Apache County, Arizona;
    • Maricopa County, Arizona;
    • Pima County, Arizona;
    • Yuma County, Arizona;
    • San Joaquin County, California;
    • Broward County, Florida;
    • Miami-Dade County, Florida;
    • Orange County, Florida;
    • Osceola County, Florida;
    • Cobb County, Georgia;
    • DeKalb County, Georgia;
    • Fulton County, Georgia;
    • Gwinnett County, Georgia;
    • Macon-Bibb County, Georgia;
    • Jefferson County, Kentucky;
    • Kenton County, Kentucky;
    • City of Everett, Massachusetts;
    • City of Fitchburg, Massachusetts;
    • City of Leominster, Massachusetts;
    • City of Lowell, Massachusetts;
    • City of Malden, Massachusetts;
    • City of Methuen, Massachusetts;
    • City of Quincy, Massachusetts;
    • City of Salem, Massachusetts;
    • Prince George’s County, Maryland;
    • City of Ann Arbor, Michigan;
    • City of Detroit, Michigan;
    • City of Flint, Michigan;
    • City of Grand Rapids, Michigan;
    • City of Hamtramck, Michigan;
    • City of Warren, Michigan;
    • Hennepin County, Minnesota;
    • City of Minneapolis, Minnesota;
    • Ramsey County, Minnesota;
    • Covington County, Mississippi;
    • Scott County, Mississippi;
    • Warren County, Mississippi;
    • City of St. Louis, Missouri;
    • Blaine County, Montana;
    • Alamance County, North Carolina;
    • Mecklenburg County, North Carolina;
    • Wake County, North Carolina;
    • Bergen County, New Jersey;
    • Middlesex County, New Jersey;
    • Union County, New Jersey;
    • Bernalillo County, New Mexico;
    • Cibola County, New Mexico;
    • Clark County, Nevada;
    • Queens, New York;
    • Cuyahoga County, Ohio;
    • Portage County, Ohio;
    • Allegheny County, Pennsylvania;
    • Luzerne County, Pennsylvania;
    • Philadelphia County, Pennsylvania;
    • City of Pawtucket, Rhode Island;
    • City of Providence, Rhode Island;
    • City of Woonsocket, Rhode Island;
    • Charleston County, South Carolina;
    • Bennett County, South Dakota;
    • Jackson County, South Dakota;
    • Minnehaha County, South Dakota;
    • Oglala Lakota County, South Dakota;
    • Atascosa County, Texas;
    • Bexar County, Texas;
    • Dallas County, Texas;
    • Frio County, Texas;
    • Harris County, Texas;
    • Hays County, Texas;
    • Palo Pinto County, Texas;
    • Waller County, Texas;
    • San Juan County, Utah;
    • Hanover County, Virginia;
    • Henrico County, Virginia;
    • Loudoun County, Virginia;
    • City of Manassas, Virginia;
    • City of Manassas Park, Virginia;
    • Prince William County, Virginia;
    • Town of Lawrence (Rusk County), Wisconsin;
    • City of Milwaukee, Wisconsin;
    • Town of Thornapple, Wisconsin; and
    • City of Wausau, Wisconsin.

    The Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division will coordinate the effort. Monitors will include personnel from the Civil Rights Division, other department divisions, U.S. Attorney’s Offices and federal observers from the Office of Personnel Management. Throughout Election Day, division personnel will maintain contact with state and local election officials.

    The Civil Rights Division’s Voting Section enforces the civil provisions of federal statutes that protect the right to vote, including the Voting Rights Act, National Voter Registration Act, Help America Vote Act, Uniformed and Overseas Citizens Absentee Voting Act and Civil Rights Acts. The division’s Disability Rights Section enforces the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) to ensure that persons with disabilities have a full and equal opportunity to vote. The division’s Criminal Section enforces federal criminal statutes that prohibit voter intimidation and voter suppression based on race, color, national origin or religion.

    On Election Day, Civil Rights Division personnel will be available all day to receive questions and complaints from the public related to possible violations of federal voting rights laws. Reports may be made through the department’s website www.civilrights.justice.gov or by calling toll-free at 800-253-3931.

    Individuals with questions or complaints related to the ADA may call the department’s toll-free ADA information hotline at 800-514-0301 or 833-610-1264 (TTY) or submit a complaint through a link on the department’s ADA website at www.ada.gov.

    Complaints related to any disruptions at a polling place should always be reported to local election officials (including officials based in the polling place). Complaints related to violence, threats of violence or intimidation at a polling place should be reported immediately to local police authorities by calling 911. These complaints should also be reported to the department after local authorities have been contacted.

    More information about voting and elections, including guidance documents and other resources, is available at www.justice.gov/voting. Learn more about the Voting Rights Act and other federal voting laws at www.justice.gov/crt/voting-section.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Justice Department to Monitor Polls in 27 States for Compliance with Federal Voting Rights Laws

    Source: United States Attorneys General 7

    Civil Rights Division Staff Available to Receive Nationwide Reports Throughout Election Day

    The Justice Department announced today that it plans to monitor compliance with federal voting rights laws in 86 jurisdictions in 27 states for the Nov. 5 general election.

    The Justice Department enforces federal voting rights laws that protect the rights of all eligible citizens to access the ballot. The department regularly deploys its staff to monitor for compliance with federal civil rights laws in elections in communities all across the country.

    For the general election, the department will monitor for compliance with federal voting rights laws on Election Day in 86 jurisdictions, including:

    • Bethel Census Area, Alaska;
    • Dillingham Census Area, Alaska;
    • Kusilvak Census Area, Alaska;
    • North Slope Borough, Alaska;
    • Northwest Arctic Borough, Alaska;
    • Apache County, Arizona;
    • Maricopa County, Arizona;
    • Pima County, Arizona;
    • Yuma County, Arizona;
    • San Joaquin County, California;
    • Broward County, Florida;
    • Miami-Dade County, Florida;
    • Orange County, Florida;
    • Osceola County, Florida;
    • Cobb County, Georgia;
    • DeKalb County, Georgia;
    • Fulton County, Georgia;
    • Gwinnett County, Georgia;
    • Macon-Bibb County, Georgia;
    • Jefferson County, Kentucky;
    • Kenton County, Kentucky;
    • City of Everett, Massachusetts;
    • City of Fitchburg, Massachusetts;
    • City of Leominster, Massachusetts;
    • City of Lowell, Massachusetts;
    • City of Malden, Massachusetts;
    • City of Methuen, Massachusetts;
    • City of Quincy, Massachusetts;
    • City of Salem, Massachusetts;
    • Prince George’s County, Maryland;
    • City of Ann Arbor, Michigan;
    • City of Detroit, Michigan;
    • City of Flint, Michigan;
    • City of Grand Rapids, Michigan;
    • City of Hamtramck, Michigan;
    • City of Warren, Michigan;
    • Hennepin County, Minnesota;
    • City of Minneapolis, Minnesota;
    • Ramsey County, Minnesota;
    • Covington County, Mississippi;
    • Scott County, Mississippi;
    • Warren County, Mississippi;
    • City of St. Louis, Missouri;
    • Blaine County, Montana;
    • Alamance County, North Carolina;
    • Mecklenburg County, North Carolina;
    • Wake County, North Carolina;
    • Bergen County, New Jersey;
    • Middlesex County, New Jersey;
    • Union County, New Jersey;
    • Bernalillo County, New Mexico;
    • Cibola County, New Mexico;
    • Clark County, Nevada;
    • Queens, New York;
    • Cuyahoga County, Ohio;
    • Portage County, Ohio;
    • Allegheny County, Pennsylvania;
    • Luzerne County, Pennsylvania;
    • Philadelphia County, Pennsylvania;
    • City of Pawtucket, Rhode Island;
    • City of Providence, Rhode Island;
    • City of Woonsocket, Rhode Island;
    • Charleston County, South Carolina;
    • Bennett County, South Dakota;
    • Jackson County, South Dakota;
    • Minnehaha County, South Dakota;
    • Oglala Lakota County, South Dakota;
    • Atascosa County, Texas;
    • Bexar County, Texas;
    • Dallas County, Texas;
    • Frio County, Texas;
    • Harris County, Texas;
    • Hays County, Texas;
    • Palo Pinto County, Texas;
    • Waller County, Texas;
    • San Juan County, Utah;
    • Hanover County, Virginia;
    • Henrico County, Virginia;
    • Loudoun County, Virginia;
    • City of Manassas, Virginia;
    • City of Manassas Park, Virginia;
    • Prince William County, Virginia;
    • Town of Lawrence (Rusk County), Wisconsin;
    • City of Milwaukee, Wisconsin;
    • Town of Thornapple, Wisconsin; and
    • City of Wausau, Wisconsin.

    The Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division will coordinate the effort. Monitors will include personnel from the Civil Rights Division, other department divisions, U.S. Attorney’s Offices and federal observers from the Office of Personnel Management. Throughout Election Day, division personnel will maintain contact with state and local election officials.

    The Civil Rights Division’s Voting Section enforces the civil provisions of federal statutes that protect the right to vote, including the Voting Rights Act, National Voter Registration Act, Help America Vote Act, Uniformed and Overseas Citizens Absentee Voting Act and Civil Rights Acts. The division’s Disability Rights Section enforces the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) to ensure that persons with disabilities have a full and equal opportunity to vote. The division’s Criminal Section enforces federal criminal statutes that prohibit voter intimidation and voter suppression based on race, color, national origin or religion.

    On Election Day, Civil Rights Division personnel will be available all day to receive questions and complaints from the public related to possible violations of federal voting rights laws. Reports may be made through the department’s website www.civilrights.justice.gov or by calling toll-free at 800-253-3931.

    Individuals with questions or complaints related to the ADA may call the department’s toll-free ADA information hotline at 800-514-0301 or 833-610-1264 (TTY) or submit a complaint through a link on the department’s ADA website at www.ada.gov.

    Complaints related to any disruptions at a polling place should always be reported to local election officials (including officials based in the polling place). Complaints related to violence, threats of violence or intimidation at a polling place should be reported immediately to local police authorities by calling 911. These complaints should also be reported to the department after local authorities have been contacted.

    More information about voting and elections, including guidance documents and other resources, is available at www.justice.gov/voting. Learn more about the Voting Rights Act and other federal voting laws at www.justice.gov/crt/voting-section.

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Georgia CPA Sentenced in Syndicated Conservation Easement Tax Scheme

    Source: United States Attorneys General 7

    Defendant Helped Clients File Tax Returns Claiming $14M in False Deductions, Causing Nearly $5M in Loss to the IRS

    A Georgia accountant was sentenced today to 28 months in prison for his role in the promotion and sale of abusive syndicated conservation easement tax shelters.

    According to court documents and statements made in court, Herbert Lewis was a CPA and return preparer at an Atlanta-based accounting firm. Beginning at least in 2014 and through at least 2019, Lewis promoted and sold tax deductions to his wealthy clients in the form of units in illegal syndicated conservation easement tax shelters organized and created by co-defendants Jack Fisher, James Sinnott and others.

    According to court documents and statements made in court, Lewis also knew that, contrary to law, the transactions related to these illegal tax shelters lacked economic substance, that his wealthy clients participated only to obtain a tax deduction and that his clients received only a tax benefit for their participation in the shelters. For example, the scheme entailed the creation of partnerships that would purchase land and land-owning companies and then donate conservation easements over that land or the land itself. A client who purchased units in one of these partnerships had a “vote” ostensibly on what to do with the land the partnership owned. However, Lewis knew that the vote held by the partnership each year was just for optics and that the land invariably would be donated largely as a conservation easement.

    In some cases, in order to make it appear that his clients had joined the partnerships before the date of the conservation easement donation, which was necessary to claim the tax benefits, Lewis also instructed and caused his clients to falsely backdate documents — such as subscription agreements and checks — related to the partnerships. In 2019 alone, Lewis assisted 15 clients with claiming false deductions on their 2018 returns.

    In total, Lewis assisted in the preparation of tax returns that claimed nearly $14 million in false deductions based on backdated documents, causing a tax loss to the IRS of nearly $5 million.   

    Lewis earned over $1 million in commissions for his role in promoting and selling the illegal tax shelters to clients. Lewis also concealed the amount of commissions he had earned from selling units in these shelters by not fully reporting the commissions on his personal returns and instead fraudulently reporting commission income he had earned as income on the tax returns of nominee entities in his children’s names.

    In addition to his prison sentence, U.S. District Court Judge Timothy C. Batten Sr. for the Northern District of Georgia ordered Lewis to serve three years of supervised release and to pay $4,878,990.90 in restitution.

    Nine additional defendants have previously pleaded guilty to criminal conduct related to the syndicated conservation easement tax shelter scheme. These other defendants include appraiser Walter Douglas “Terry” Roberts, accountant Stein Agee, CPA Corey Agee, CPA Ralph Anderson, CPA James Benkoil, CPA Victor Smith, CPA William Tomasello, CPA and attorney Randall Lenz and attorney Vi Bui.

    Acting Deputy Assistant Attorney General Stuart M. Goldberg of the Justice Department’s Tax Division, U.S. Attorney Ryan K. Buchanan for the Northern District of Georgia and IRS Criminal Investigation Chief Guy Ficco made the announcement. They also thanked U.S. Attorney Dena J. King for the Western District of North Carolina for her office’s assistance.

    IRS Criminal Investigation and the U.S. Postal Inspection Service investigated the case.

    Trial Attorneys Richard M. Rolwing, Parker Tobin, Jessica Kraft and Nicholas J. Schilling Jr. of the Justice Department’s Tax Division and Assistant U.S. Attorney Christopher Huber, Deputy Chief of the Complex Frauds Section of the Northern District of Georgia, are prosecuting the case.

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Global: I research sexual perversions and paraphilas – here’s what we’ve learned about them

    Source: The Conversation – UK – By Mark Griffiths, Director of the International Gaming Research Unit and Professor of Behavioural Addiction, Nottingham Trent University

    Hollywood actor Armie Hammer was accused of sending messages detailing cannibalistic fantasies in 2021. DFree/Shutterstock

    After allegedly sending messages detailing cannibalistic fetishes, Hollywood actor Armie Hammer hopes to relaunch his career with a new podcast and movie.

    Following the 2021 social media cannibal scandal, Hammer was also accused of rape and abuse by various women, but consistently denied any criminal behaviour and was not charged.

    Now, it seems, Hammer is laughing off the cannibalism allegations. Speaking to his first podcast guest, Tom Arnold, Hammer says, “I’m not gonna lie. I’m just like, Hey, I’m a cannibal!”

    But being sexually aroused by the fantasy – or reality – of cannibalism is real. I should know, as it’s one of the subjects I discuss in my latest book Sexual Perversions and Paraphilias: An A-Z

    Paraphilias are uncommon types of sexual expression often described as sexual deviations, sexual perversions or disorders of sexual preference.

    They are typically accompanied by intense sexual arousal to unconventional or non-sexual stimuli such as enemas (klismaphilia), statues (agalmatophilia), teeth (odontophilia) and vomit (emetophilia).

    To many people paraphilias may seem bizarre or socially unacceptable, representing the extreme end of the sexual continuum – and in some cases, such as zoophilia (having sex with animals) and necrophilia (having sex with dead people), may be illegal.

    Paraphilias may be laughed off, dismissed or leave some people disgusted, but there’s a pressing need for more research into uncommon sexual behaviour given how little we know.

    Sexual fantasies and behaviour are a fundamental part of the human experience. What is considered immoral or even illegal changes according to the social and temporal context. But whatever sexual desires are considered illicit or depraved in a particular time and place are also stigmatised.

    Researching paraphilias, even the most distasteful or criminal, is essential to help safeguard vulnerable groups. Research can also help minimise the discrimination faced by those with uncommon sexual interests, helping ensure their access to sexual health care and psychological support, which can be lacking.

    Vorarephilia

    Vorarephilia – or “vore” – refers to being sexually aroused by the idea of being eaten, eating another person or observing this process for sexual gratification.

    Most of the fantasies of vorarephiliacs involve being the ones eaten. Devouring someone could be viewed as the ultimate act of dominance by a predator and the ultimate act of submission by the prey.

    The most infamous vorarephiliac is arguably Armin Meiwes from Germany.

    Meiwes had allegedly been fantasising about cannibalism since his childhood and frequented cannibal fetish websites. He posted around 60 online adverts asking if anyone would like to be eaten by him.

    In March 2002, Bernd Jürgen Brandes responded to Meiwes. They met up only once. Meiwes bit off Brandes’ penis, which the two of them cooked and ate.

    Brandes was videotaped being stabbed to death by Meiwes in his bath. The body was then stored for Meiwes to eat.

    Meiwes was eventually convicted of murder and imprisoned for life. However, it’s worth nothing that although some paraphilias are illegal, most cause no psychological or behavioural problems when they are engaged by consenting adults.

    Dacryphilia

    Dacryphilia is getting sexual arousal from seeing someone cry.

    I have published a number of studies on dacryphilia. One involved interviews with eight dacryphiles: six women and two men, from the US, UK, Romania and Belgium.

    It showed there were sub-types of dacryphilia, even among such a small group. Based on the interviews, I identified three types of dacryphile.

    Compassionate dacryphiles are sexually aroused by the compassion of comforting a crier.

    Dominant or submissive dacryphiles are sexually aroused by either causing tears in a consenting submissive partner or by being made to cry by a consenting dominant partner.

    “Curled lip” dacryphiles are sexually aroused by the curling of a protruded bottom lip during crying.

    Eproctophilia

    Eproctophilia involves being sexually aroused by flatulence.

    In 2013, I published the first case study of an eproctophile. The case concerned a 22-year-old single man, Brad*, an American from Illinois.

    Brad recalled that in middle school he had a crush on a girl who had farted in the class. Brad said:

    This blew my mind [I] knew by simple biology that girls farted, but hearing that the girl I had been fawning over was capable of such a thing sparked a strange interest in me.

    Brad first engaged in an eproctophilic act with a male friend in his mid-teens. Up to that point he had considered himself heterosexual. However, this changed when he heard his male friend fart.

    Brad said it was “appealing in sound” and that he began fixating on it. He set up a bet with the wager being the right to fart in the loser’s face for a week. He continued to lose such bets once every few weeks for about two years.

    Apotemnophilia

    Apotemnophilia refers to being sexually aroused by the fantasy or reality of being an amputee.

    Some apotemnophiles may pretend to be amputees but, for a minority, the behaviour involves obsessive scheming to convince a surgeon to perform a medically unnecessary amputation.

    To most people, this might seem like a type of masochism, but case studies suggest that there is no erotisation of pain – only of the healed amputated stump.

    Salirophilia

    Salirophilia is sexual arousal from soiling or dishevelling someone attractive, which can include tearing or damaging the desired person’s clothing, covering them in mud or filth or messing up their hair or make-up.

    My 2019 case study involved Jeff*, a 58-year-old Australian heterosexual. Jeff recounted that when he was young he wanted to masturbate in strange places such as lying under a cabinet in a dirty garage.

    Jeff said that he engaged in solitary salirophilic practices regularly but very infrequently with female partners because it was difficult to find like-minded women.

    He was also a fan of the television show Fear Factor in which contestants perform revolting tasks for prize money, such as eating rotting food or being submerged in foul fluids. These were a source of sexual arousal for Jeff. He told me: “I just find the defilement of an attractive woman’s body erotic.”

    *The names of case study participants in this article have been changed.

    Dr. Mark Griffiths has received research funding from a wide range of organizations including the Economic and Social Research Council, the British Academy and the Responsibility in Gambling Trust. He has also carried out consultancy for numerous gambling companies in the area of player protection, social responsibility and responsible gaming.. Views expressed here are his own and not those of these funding bodies.

    – ref. I research sexual perversions and paraphilas – here’s what we’ve learned about them – https://theconversation.com/i-research-sexual-perversions-and-paraphilas-heres-what-weve-learned-about-them-238446

    MIL OSI – Global Reports –

  • MIL-OSI Russia: Raisa Maximova, People’s Artist of Russia

    Translation. Region: Russian Federation –

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

    Mikhail Mishustin congratulated the theater and film actress on her anniversary.

    The telegram states, in particular:

    “You dedicated your life to dramatic art, the famous Moscow Art Theatre stage, and gave the audience heroines from different eras, characters, and temperaments.

    For many years, any production or film with your participation gives people a meeting with real talent, leaving a bright mark in their hearts.

    I wish you good luck, health, prosperity and all the best.”

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

    MIL OSI Russia News –

  • MIL-OSI Russia: With the support of Rosneft, a school and kindergarten were built in Yugra

    Translation. Region: Russian Federation –

    Source: Rosneft – Rosneft – An important disclaimer is at the bottom of this article.

    With the support of NK Kondaneft (part of Rosneft), a new school and kindergarten for 120 children was built in the village of Ushya in the Kondinsky District. The school was built within the framework of a cooperation agreement between PJSC NK Rosneft and the government of the Khanty-Mansiysk Autonomous Okrug – Yugra.

    The project is aimed at supporting the education sector in the region, which corresponds to the tasks and national development goals defined by the President of Russia in his Address to the Federal Assembly. Rosneft implements social projects aimed at creating favorable living conditions in the regions of its presence. In particular, it supports the development of educational institutions and initiatives in the field of education of the younger generation.

    The new building in Ushye was erected taking into account modern requirements for children’s educational institutions and the level of comfort. The school-kindergarten is designed for 80 school students and 40 preschoolers. Classrooms are equipped with interactive boards and computers. The school has a spacious assembly hall. The canteen equipment provides a full cycle of hot food preparation.

    All premises are accessible to visitors with limited mobility – the entrance is equipped with ramps, an elevator is installed, and the sanitary rooms are equipped with specialized equipment.

    In the physical education and sports zone in the school yard, verandas and a playground have been built. Schoolchildren can exercise outdoors on a climbing wall and a multifunctional sports complex.

    The implementation of the social project in Ushye made it possible to create conditions for improving the quality of education, as well as comfortable conditions for children and teachers.

    Reference:

    JSC NK Kondaneft, a subsidiary of NK Rosneft, is developing the Kondinsky group of fields – the Kondinsky, Zapadno-Erginsky, Chaprovsky, and Novoendyrsky license areas in the Khanty-Mansiysk Autonomous Okrug – Yugra.

    Department of Information and Advertising of PJSC NK Rosneft November 2, 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.

    MIL OSI Russia News –

  • MIL-OSI China: Xi extends sympathy to Spanish king over heavy floods

    Source: China State Council Information Office

    Chinese President Xi Jinping sent a message of sympathy to Spanish King Felipe VI on Saturday over heavy rainstorms and floods in Spain.

    Xi said he was shocked to learn that severe rainstorms and floods have hit many parts in Spain, causing heavy casualties and property losses.

    The Chinese president, on behalf of the Chinese government and people, expressed deep condolences to the victims and sincere sympathy to the bereaved families and the injured.

    Xi also said it is believed that under the leadership of the king and the Spanish government, the people in the flood-hit areas will overcome the disaster and rebuild their homes at an early date. 

    MIL OSI China News –

  • MIL-OSI China: Chinese President Xi extends sympathy to Spanish king over heavy floods

    Source: People’s Republic of China – State Council News

    BEIJING, Nov. 2 — Chinese President Xi Jinping sent a message of sympathy to Spanish King Felipe VI on Saturday over heavy rainstorms and floods in Spain.

    Xi said he was shocked to learn that severe rainstorms and floods have hit many parts in Spain, causing heavy casualties and property losses.

    The Chinese president, on behalf of the Chinese government and people, expressed deep condolences to the victims and sincere sympathy to the bereaved families and the injured.

    Xi also said it is believed that under the leadership of the king and the Spanish government, the people in the flood-hit areas will overcome the disaster and rebuild their homes at an early date.

    MIL OSI China News –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Scottish Greens call for automatic voter registration in schools 

    Source: Scottish Greens

    02 Nov 2024 Education

    Automatically enrolling young people to vote will get them invested in the future of Scotland, says Ross Greer MSP. 

    More in Education

    As the Scottish Greens spokesperson for Education, Mr Greer has lodged an amendment to the upcoming Elections Bill ahead of its Stage 2 proceedings next week, encouraging the Scottish Government to fund projects which would automatically register high school, college and university students to vote.

    Having led on the Scottish Youth Parliament’s work on lowering the voting age to 16 ahead of the 2014 independence referendum, the Green MSP believes that automatic registration of students would boost engagement with the democratic process and empower young people to help shape Scotland’s future.

    Ross says: “The debates and mock referendums we held in high schools are some of my favourite memories of the independence referendum. 

    “Giving sixteen and seventeen year olds the right to vote in 2014 didn’t automatically mean they were going to use it, so schools across the country stepped up to help students make their voices heard. Teachers and council staff organised registration events, debates and mock votes.

    “As a result, turnout amongst young people was incredibly high and the experience of lowering the voting age was judged so successful that it was made permanent for Scottish Parliament and council elections.

    “Some schools have repeated those efforts in the decade since, as have colleges and universities. That hasn’t been a consistent experience though, and young people’s participation in politics has slipped back from that referendum-era high water mark.”

    “My amendment to the Elections bill would give the Scottish Government and local councils a strong steer towards making similar efforts to those trialled with so much success a decade ago. 

    “Automatic voter registration, for example at the point a young person receives their SQA candidate number, would be far better value for money than just encouraging them to register themselves in their own time.

    “There is also plenty of international evidence that automatic registration boosts participation in elections. Education institutions are an obvious location for these kinds of efforts to take place, so I hope MSPs on the committee next week will see the value of this amendment.”

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI Russia: Rosneft organized a career guidance excursion for young people from the Movement of the First

    Translation. Region: Russian Federation –

    Source: Rosneft – Rosneft – An important disclaimer is at the bottom of this article.

    Orenburgneft (part of Rosneft) held a tour of the enterprise’s production facilities for activists of the all-Russian “Movement of the First”. The event was organized as part of the federal project “Visiting a Scientist”.

    Oil workers provided 25 students from Buzuluk colleges – future operators of oil and gas wells and laboratory technicians of chemical analysis – with the opportunity to immerse themselves in the profession and become familiar with technological processes in real production.

    In the corporate museum of Orenburgneft, the children were told about the history of the industry, the discoveries of pioneering oil workers, and modern technologies used at the enterprise. At the Savelyevskoye field, future oil workers learned about the main stages of oil production, learned how salts, water, associated petroleum gas, and other impurities are removed from well output.

    In the chemical analysis laboratory, students learned methods for determining the density of oil and its water content to confirm the quality of the finished product.

    Orenburgneft is implementing a set of measures to develop the human resources potential of its employees and train future specialists in the oil industry. Last year alone, more than 500 schoolchildren and students visited the company’s production facilities.

    As part of Rosneft’s continuous education program “school – college/university – enterprise”, with the support of Orenburgneft, “Rosneft classes” with in-depth study of mathematics, physics, chemistry and computer science have been created in the region.

    Students from partner colleges and universities, including Samara State Technical University, Orenburg State University, Ufa State Oil University and others, undergo practical training at the oil production facility.

    In addition, Orenburgneft became one of the initiators of the creation of a new educational and production center in the region based on the Buguruslan Oil College within the framework of the federal project “Professionality”.

    Reference:

    JSC Orenburgneft, a subsidiary of Rosneft, is the largest oil producing enterprise in the Orenburg region. Cumulative production exceeds 460 million tons of oil.

    Department of Information and Advertising of PJSC NK Rosneft November 2, 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.

    MIL OSI Russia News –

  • MIL-OSI Russia: Marat Khusnullin: More than 5 thousand public and courtyard areas have been improved in Russia since the beginning of the year

    Translation. Region: Russian Federation –

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

    Since the beginning of 2024, 2,746 public and 2,417 courtyard areas have been improved in the regions of Russia. This work is being carried out under the federal project “Formation of a comfortable urban environment” as part of the national project “Housing and urban environment”, Deputy Prime Minister Marat Khusnullin reported.

    “This year, the national project “Housing and Urban Environment” will end, but the improvement program will be continued in the new national project “Infrastructure for Life”. It will also address the task set by the President in the decree on the national development goals of the country, to put at least 30 thousand spaces in order. We have already achieved significant results in this work. Since the beginning of this year, 5,163 public and courtyard areas have been renovated in the country. Such places not only have a positive effect on the appearance of cities, but also become new points of attraction for local residents, making settlements more attractive for tourism. In addition, it is worth noting that every year the involvement of Russian citizens in the development of their settlements is growing,” said Marat Khusnullin.

    In 2024, 26.9% of Russians from the total number of citizens aged 14 and over living in municipalities where projects are being implemented took part in the development of a comfortable urban environment. Thus, the number of Russians involved in resolving improvement issues reached 24.8 million people. Among them, 17.2 million people voted for improvement projects during the all-Russian vote. Citizens also participated in questionnaires, surveys, design games, forums and other events.

    “As part of the implementation of the federal project “Formation of a comfortable urban environment”, since 2019, more than 30 thousand public and more than 39 thousand courtyard areas in 84 regions of our country have been improved. At the same time, the quality of the urban environment in the country has increased by an average of 20%,” said Minister of Construction and Housing and Public Utilities Irek Faizullin.

    Active work is also underway to implement projects that won the All-Russian competition to create a comfortable urban environment, including in the Republic of Dagestan, Ryazan Oblast and Donetsk People’s Republic.

    In particular, thanks to the federal project, the historical part of the village of Richa in the Republic of Dagestan has been improved. Convenient pedestrian zones, viewing platforms and places for holding festive events have been organized there.

    In addition, the appearance of the historical center of the city of Kasimov in the Ryazan region has been improved, where the Cathedral Square has been improved. The Young Guard Park in the city of Krasnodon in the Lugansk People’s Republic has also been reconstructed.

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

    MIL OSI Russia News –

  • MIL-OSI Russia: Physics Day for Teachers Held at Polytechnic University

    Translation. Region: Russian Federation –

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

    During the autumn school holidays, Saint Petersburg hosts the city physics week. The organizers are the Saint Petersburg Academy of Postgraduate Pedagogical Education named after K. D. Ushinsky, the Peter the Great Saint Petersburg Polytechnic University and the city methodological association of Saint Petersburg physics teachers and lecturers.

    The event is held for teachers and lecturers of physics, teachers of additional education for the development of subject, methodological and general cultural competencies, the exchange of successful pedagogical practices and professional communication of like-minded people.

    More than 100 teachers from general education institutions attended the Physics Day at the Polytechnic University. The event was opened by Pavel Zakharov, Director of the Institute of Physics and Mathematics at SPbPU. Pavel Vasilyevich spoke about the university’s successes in training qualified personnel, and also shared plans for the further development of educational programs and scientific research.

    Professor of the Institute of Physics and Mathematics Vadim Ivanov, demonstrator Elena Petrova and engineer Natalia Akhiyarova spoke about how to make studying physics interesting and understandable for schoolchildren. Participants were able to see and even participate in various experiments demonstrating the laws of physics.

    The lecture “Modern Challenges for Physics, Electronics and Telecommunications” by Vadim Panevin, senior lecturer at the Higher School of Engineering Physics, also touched upon current issues facing modern science and technology.

    This event allows not only to popularize physics among teachers, but also to inspire to teach one of the most important subjects of the school curriculum in a more interesting and creative format. We are very proud of our cooperation with APPO and are glad to be one of the venues for holding the city week of physics, where teachers can get acquainted with the future alma mater of their graduates, – noted the director of the Center for Work with Educational Organizations of SPbPU Georgy Shkolnik.

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

    MIL OSI Russia News –

  • MIL-OSI Russia: The scientific conference “Marine Research and Education” was held with the support of Rosneft

    Translation. Region: Russian Federation –

    Source: Rosneft – Rosneft – An important disclaimer is at the bottom of this article.

    With the support of Rosneft, the XIII International Scientific and Practical Conference “Marine Research and Education: MARESEDU-2024” was held in Moscow from October 28 to November 1. The event was organized by the Marine Research Center of Moscow State University named after M.V. Lomonosov, as well as the UNESCO-MSU Educational and Scientific Center for Marine Biology and Biophysics. The main events of the conference were held at the sites of the P.P. Shirshov Institute of Oceanology of the Russian Academy of Sciences.

    At the conference, Rosneft specialists presented a report on the Company’s new project – the creation of a genomic database of living organisms in the Russian Arctic, which is necessary for long-term planning of the region’s sustainable development and the preservation of its fragile ecosystems. The project is being implemented jointly with the non-governmental development institute Innopraktika and the Center for Full Genome Sequencing. Among the priority works is the assembly of the polar bear’s full genome.

    In addition, as part of the thematic sessions, specialists from the A.N. Severtsev Institute of Ecology and Evolution Problems of the Russian Academy of Sciences presented a report on the study of birds as part of Rosneft’s new biodiversity conservation program, called Tamura. Scientists from Lomonosov Moscow State University told conference participants about a large-scale environmental project in the White Sea, implemented by Rosneft jointly with Innopraktika. As part of the expeditions, the scientists repeated the route of the famous Soviet hydrobiologist Konstantin Deryugin, who studied the White Sea in 1922-1926. The goal of the project is to obtain data on the current state of the White Sea biota and assess the changes in the region’s ecosystems that have occurred over the past 100 years. Rosneft representatives also took part in a round table discussion at the N.A. Pertsov White Sea Biological Station (MSBS). The MSU BBS is a research site for a number of the Company’s geological and environmental projects.

    In total, more than 1,200 specialists took part in the scientific and practical conference. More than 500 reports were presented at sessions on oceanology, ecology, biology, rational use of natural resources, and marine geology. Along with experienced scientists, future specialists – students and schoolchildren – also presented their work. According to established tradition, the best presentations were awarded prizes from Rosneft – ecological atlases of the Company.

    Reference:

    Rosneft pays special attention to environmental issues and the preservation of biodiversity. Caring for the environment is an integral part of the Company’s corporate culture and social responsibility. The protection and preservation of ecosystems and biodiversity is one of Rosneft’s main environmental goals until 2035. Rosneft is implementing the largest Arctic region study program since Soviet times. Over 50 expeditions have been conducted over 12 years, during which scientists have studied the hydrometeorological, geological and biological features of the region. This has allowed us to collect a unique array of information on the climatic features, nature and fauna of the Arctic.

    Department of Information and Advertising of PJSC NK Rosneft November 2, 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.

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  • MIL-OSI Russia: NSU hosted the 3rd School of Young Scientists on Synchrotron Research Methods in Materials Science

    Translation. Region: Russian Federation –

    Source: Novosibirsk State University – Novosibirsk State University –

    On October 28-30, 2024, the 3rd School of Young Scientists on Synchrotron Research Methods in Materials Science was held at NSU. This year, the school was organized as an independent event for the first time. In previous years, it was a satellite conference “Using synchrotron radiation for studying catalysts and functional materials”, which is taking place in Tomsk this year. The School of Young Scientists is being held Faculty of Physics And Faculty of Natural Sciences, NSU.

    The school was attended by over 85 young scientists from Novosibirsk, Moscow, St. Petersburg, Krasnoyarsk, Kemerovo, Tomsk, Kirov and Biysk. They represented such leading Russian universities as Lomonosov Moscow State University, St. Petersburg State University, Institute of Problems of Chemical and Energy Technologies SB RAS (Biysk, Altai Krai), Skolkovo Institute of Science and Technology (Moscow), FRC Krasnoyarsk Scientific Center SB RAS, Vyatka State University (Kirov), Institute of High-Current Electronics SB RAS (Tomsk), L.V. Kirensky Institute of Physics SB RAS (Krasnoyarsk), A.F. Ioffe Physical-Technical Institute RAS (St. Petersburg), Kuzbass State Technical University named after T.F. Gorbacheva (Kemerovo), MISiS University of Science and Technology (Moscow), Siberian Federal University (Krasnoyarsk), Federal Research Center of Coal and Coal Chemistry of the Siberian Branch of the Russian Academy of Sciences (Kemerovo).

    This year, lectures and presentations with oral and poster presentations were held in NSU buildings. The school program included six plenary lectures, oral and poster presentations of participants — 43 in total, as well as four master classes. Master classes first appeared in the school program last year, and they are very popular. This time, master classes were held on small-angle X-ray scattering, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy and diffraction methods.

    — We try to change the topics of plenary lectures every year. The lectures of the employees of the SKIF Collective Use Center Ya. V. Zubavichus and D. V. Dorokhova on synchrotron radiation sources and the basics of their use were of great interest. Also this year, for the first time, a round table on the use of artificial intelligence in scientific research activities was held within the framework of the school. This topic is relevant, artificial intelligence is beginning to be used in various areas of human activity, including science, and this year the Nobel Prizes in Physics and Chemistry were awarded to works that used artificial intelligence, — commented Christina Shefer, senior lecturer of the Faculty of Natural Sciences of NSU, a representative of the organizing committee of the school.

    Four plenary lectures were devoted to research methods: two to diffraction methods, indispensable in the study of the structure of materials, one lecture to the application of synchrotron methods for in situ/operando studies of functional materials, and another lecture to the application of electron microscopy in combination with synchrotron methods.

    In addition to lectures, reports and master classes, excursions to scientific organizations of the Novosibirsk Akademgorodok were organized for the participants.

    — Summing up the results of the past school, we are already thinking about what will happen next year. When forming the program, we, of course, take into account the feedback from the participants. We know for sure that there will be presentations, both oral and poster presentations. Participation with reports is useful for presenting and discussing the results of your work, forming new scientific connections and developing cooperation in the field of synchrotron research. We will definitely hold master classes. Moreover, it is especially useful when the master class is preceded by a lecture on a similar topic. There is a desire to continue discussing the topic of artificial intelligence in a round table format, — said Christina Schaefer.

    The school turned out to be rich in its program, there were many interesting reports and many questions for the speakers. Based on the results of the school, the report evaluation committee selected the best of the poster and oral presentations.

    Poster presentations:

    1st place: Konstantin Sergeevich Nechaev, MISIS University of Science and Technology, Moscow. Authors: K.S. Nechaev, N.M. Vazhinsky, M.V. Gorshenkov, A.S. Fortuna. Topic: Study of thermodynamic stability and magnetic properties of the ferromagnetic phase of the Mn-Al-Ga ternary alloy depending on the grinding time.

    2nd place: Ksenia Sergeevna Kuzmina, Novosibirsk State University, Novosibirsk. Authors: Kuzmina K.S., Kasatova A.I., Kasatov D.A., Nazimov V.P., Moskalensky A.E., Korobeynikov M.V., Petrichenkov M.V., Uvarov M.N., Taskaev S.Yu. Topic: Creation of a Fricke dosimeter for boron neutron capture therapy

    Oral presentations:

    1st place: Nikita Dmitrievich Luchinin, Skolkovo Institute of Science and Technology, Moscow. Authors: Luchinin N.D., Fedotov S.S. Topic: Application of synchrotron radiation to study phase transformations of Na/K-ion battery materials.

    2nd place: Dmitry Anatolyevich Ulybin, Novosibirsk State University, Novosibirsk. Author: Ulybin D.A. Topic: Software library for calculating the strategy of X-ray diffraction single-crystal experiment.

    3rd place:

    Anastasia Sergeevna Mikaeva, Rzhanov Institute of Semiconductor Physics SB RAS, Novosibirsk. Authors: Mikaeva A.S., Golyashov V.A. Subject: Study of the electronic structure of the (111) surface of PbSnTe:In films using angle-resolved photoelectron spectroscopy.

    Artem Vyacheslavovich Tarasov, Saint Petersburg State University, Saint Petersburg. Authors: Tarasov A.V., Rybkin A.G., Shikin A.M. Topic: Electron spin structure of quasi-two-dimensional systems with a combination of spin-orbit and exchange interactions.

    The project is part of the events Priority-2030 programs, implemented with the aim of training personnel in areas related to X-ray, synchrotron, and neutron methods of diagnosing materials and devices, including personnel for the specialized center for synchrotron research, the Siberian Ring Photon Source (SKIF), which is being created in the Novosibirsk Region.

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

    MIL OSI Russia News –