Source: Rosneft – Rosneft – An important disclaimer is at the bottom of this article.
With the support of Rosneft, Tatyana Navka’s ice show “The Love Story of Scheherazade” toured in the Indian city of Ahmedabad (Gujarat) from December 18 to 20. Ice shows were held in India for the first time.
Musical performances based on Arabian tales and the novels “A Thousand and One Nights” took place at the sports stadium EKA ARENA. An ice rink was installed at the stadium especially for the show, for the creation of which more than 100 tons of real ice were used.
The audience had a unique opportunity to feel the atmosphere of several Eastern cultures at once: India, Egypt, Ancient Babylon and Persia, and also to see unique special effects and costumes, to appreciate the skills of famous Russian figure skaters. The show was attended by stars of world figure skating, multiple champions of Russia, Europe and the world, Olympic champions. Among them were the author of the idea, director and general producer of the project Tatyana Navka, as well as Victoria Sinitsina, Nikita Katsalapov, Povilas Vanagas, Ivan Righini, Egor Murashov and many others.
The show aroused great interest among the people of India. Spectators travelled from New Delhi, Mumbai and other cities of the country to see the ice show in Ahmedabad. The show was also attended by Indian politicians and representatives of the business community.
All five performances of the ice show were sold out. Most of the viewers saw ice for the first time. And the highest skill of the skaters and unique special effects caused thunderous applause throughout the show. At the same time, after the performance, the viewers were in no hurry to leave and thanked the artists for the unique performance.
Rosneft actively supports significant cultural projects and contributes to the development of cultural ties between Russia and other countries. Thanks to the Company, large-scale projects aimed at reviving spiritual and national values are being implemented. Among such projects are support for the Sretensky Monastery Choir, the State Hermitage Museum, the White Steamship project, and much more. Earlier, with the participation of Rosneft, Tatyana Navka’s ice show Evenings on a Farm based on the works of N.V. Gogol was shown in Moscow.
Department of Information and Advertising of PJSC NK Rosneft October 21, 2024
Please note: This information is raw content directly from the source of the information. It is exactly what the source states and does not reflect the position of MIL-OSI or its clients.
Please note; This information is raw content directly from the information source. It is accurate to what the source is stating and does not reflect the position of MIL-OSI or its clients.
The following is a guest post by Jai-Len Williams, a foreign law intern in theGlobal Legal Research Directorate of the Law Library of Congress.
On July 1, 2024, category four Hurricane Beryl devastated the multi-island state of Saint Vincent and the Grenadines. The livelihood of the Vincentian people, especially in the Southern Grenadines islands of Union Island, Mayreau, and Canouan, was severely impacted. Today, families are still displaced and recovery efforts are ongoing.
Union Island Gecko, photo by the Union Island Environment Alliance (UIEA) photographer Jeremy Holden. Used with UIEA permission
The impact on the ecosystem is also of concern. On the Grenadine island of Union Island, there lives a rare, bejeweled, and beautiful lizard called the Union Island Gecko (Gonatodes daudini), also known as the Grenadines clawed gecko. It was described as “wholly irreplaceable” by the Caribbean Natural Resources Institute in their report titled “The Caribbean Islands Biodiversity Hotspot.” From its discovery in 2005, the Union Island Gecko was so named because it is only known to live in about 123 acres (50 hectares) of the Chatham Bay Forest area of Union Island. It is not only unique but also tiny, as it is considered to be about the size of a paperclip. It is listed as “Critically Endangered” by the IUN Red List. The Wildlife Protection Act of 1987 protects wildlife from being removed from St Vincent and the Grenadines. However, there was no protection on the gecko under international law. In 2019, at the 18 Meeting of the Conference of the Parties in Geneva Switzerland, a decision was taken for the endemic lizard to be added to Appendix 1 of the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES) to protect its survival, prevent over-harvesting for the international pet trade, and destruction of its habitat.
Over the years, with assistance from residents and local, regional and international organizations, including the Saint Vincent and the Grenadines Forestry Department, the Saint Vincent and the Grenadines Environmental Fund, the Union Island Environment Alliance, the Caribbean Biodiversity Fund, Fauna & Floral, Virginia Zoo, Re:Wild, the BBC, National Geographic, Disney Conservation Fund, the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), and the United States Agency for International Development (USAID), the conservatory efforts reaped the reward of an increase in the gecko population. According to a 2022 survey, there was an 80% increase in the population of the Union Island Gecko.
However, due to the devastating impacts of the recent passage of Hurricane Beryl on Union Island, as of July 2024, according to the Director of Forestry, Fitzgerald Providence, the Chatham Bay Forest area was seen to have total defoliation and the status of the Union Island gecko population is unknown. After the recent assessment carried out by the forestry department, Wildlife supervisor Glenroy Gaymes stated that with the forest destruction, the gecko is impacted, as it has shown signs of distress and habitat disruption. As a result, the forestry department is looking at the way forward, which is to mitigate the impact by restoring the gecko’s habitat, community engagement and monitoring programs.
Another endemic specie, the Amazona Guildingii—the national bird of Saint Vincent and the Grenadines has also had its fate tested by natural disasters affecting its habitat on mainland Saint Vincent. Most recently, it has suffered from the April 2021 series of explosive eruptions of the La Soufriere volcano. The Amazona Guildingii is an exotic multicolored parrot whose habitat includes the northern forest of the island, near the slopes of the volcano.
The Amazona Guildingii is also listed in Appendix 1 of CITES. According to the Director of Saint Vincent and the Grenadines Forestry Department, their assessment showed that while in 2021, there was an Amazona Guildingiiparrot that suffered and later died due to ash inhalation, many of the parrots managed to survive by migrating from the Red Zones to the safer zones.
Long live the Union Island Gecko and the Amazona Guildingii!
For more information on CITES and endangered species protection on a national and international level, please consult the following selected In Custodia Legis resources:
Elin Hofverberg, Can you Legally Import a Toucan? No, you Probably Cannot (guest post by Elizabeth Boomer, September 20, 2021)
Jenny Gesley, Grizzly Bears and the Endangered Species Act ( July 28, 2021)
Hanibal Goitom, Law Library of Congress Report on Regulations Concerning the Private Possession of Big Cats (guest post by Laney Zhang, October 21, 2013)
Hanibal Goitom, Law Library Report on Wildlife Trafficking and Poaching (April 9, 2013)
Laney Zhang, Baby Pandas and the Law: In Memory of Mei Xiang’s Cub (September 27, 2012)
Subscribe to In Custodia Legis – it’s free! – to receive interesting posts drawn from the Law Library of Congress’s vast collections and our staff’s expertise in U.S., foreign, and international law.
I wish to thank the Guardia di Finanza [Italian Finance Police] in Crotone, the SCICO [Central Organised Crime Investigation Service] and the DDA [District Anti-Mafia Directorate] of Catanzaro for their outstanding operation which has led to the dismantling of an international criminal organisation engaged in human trafficking and money laundering.
It is a top priority to combat those who exploit people’s legitimate desire to find better living conditions in order to make huge profits for themselves. The Government is determined to take down these criminal networks and to stamp out the illegal trafficking of human beings, which feeds the interests of the slave traders of the third millennium.
Our commitment continues. We will keep working tirelessly to defend our borders and to reassert a fundamental principle: you can only enter Italy legally, by following the established rules and procedures.
Banks and car dealerships often impose additional paid services on the client, and at inflated prices. At the same time, contracts are drawn up in such a way that it is impossible to refuse the services and return the money. This violates the rights and interests of consumers.
For example, clients are offered expensive insurance consulting services, although such consultations are usually free, or a discount on a car, but only if it is purchased on credit or additional paid services are purchased. In addition, there are cases where borrowers are deliberately poorly informed about the terms of the transaction. As a result, clients incur additional costs by purchasing unnecessary goods or services and cannot be fully protected by current regulations.
The Bank of Russia recommended that creditors refrain from using the funds specified inreview of practices. Explanations have also been prepared for consumers on how to avoid falling for the tricks of unscrupulous creditors or sellers and where to go if they become their victims.
Preview photo: Take Photo / Shutterstock / Fotodom
Please note: This information is raw content directly from the source of the information. It is exactly what the source states and does not reflect the position of MIL-OSI or its clients.
Please note; This information is raw content directly from the information source. It is accurate to what the source is stating and does not reflect the position of MIL-OSI or its clients.
The Bank of Russia has sent proposals to the Russian Ministry of Finance to change legislation concerning the use of QR codes when paying for purchases and services. According to them, banks will have to use only a universal QR code based on the solution of the National Payment Card System (NSPK).
The universal QR code of the NSPK will allow accepting all types of payments, including payment solutions of banks (pay services), SBP, and in the future — the digital ruble. It will also provide support for bank loyalty programs and cashbacks. The implementation of this solution will minimize the costs of banks and trading companies for connecting various payment instruments.
Such a step will also promote the development of competition in this area and will provide all banks, both large and small, with equal conditions for connecting to the NSPK infrastructure and interacting with it.
The document assumes that all IT systems of banks and technical devices (trading terminals and others) that are associated with accepting payments must support payment using the universal NSPK QR code.
Please note: This information is raw content directly from the source of the information. It is exactly what the source states and does not reflect the position of MIL-OSI or its clients.
Please note; This information is raw content directly from the information source. It is accurate to what the source is stating and does not reflect the position of MIL-OSI or its clients.
Capt. Timothy Poe presented the award to Washington’s crew on behalf of the President during the submarine’s change of command ceremony July 19 at Naval Station Norfolk.
“The award of the Presidential Unit Citation to the USS Washington is a profound honor, signifying the crew’s exceptional dedication and strategic impact,” said Vice Adm. Rob Gaucher, commander, Submarine Forces. “Their work in challenging, high risk environments completing vital national level missions demonstrates the key role our submarines play in ensuring maritime security and global stability.”
The PUC is awarded to any U.S. military unit that has distinguished itself by outstanding performance and heroism in action against enemy forces and is the highest unit award in the Department of the Defense.
During Washington’s deployment, the submarine, also known as the Blackfish, completed three demanding missions vital to national security that resulted in obtaining sensitive and unique intelligence information, where it executed the Chief of Naval Operations’ maritime strategy by supporting national security interests and maritime security operations.
“The men and women onboard BLACKFISH are justifiably proud of this award and of joining the distinguished list of previous recipients,” said Cmdr. Keith Turnbull, Washington’s commanding officer. “It goes without saying that the crew could not have accomplished what they did without the immense efforts of our support staffs ashore, including the training staff in Norfolk and several other organizations.”
The crew’s superb planning, discipline, and material management ensured the submarine remained on task through long periods without readily accessible support.
“The crew spent countless hours on training, maintenance, and certification to ensure BLACKFISH was ready to execute all tasking,” said Senior Chief Machinist’s Mate (Auxiliary) Austin Gilbert, Washington’s chief of the boat. “While deployed, their resiliency was crucial to their success and the shipmates fully embody the meaning of true undersea warriors. Fear the BLACKFISH!”
Additionally, Washington garnered more days on station than any east coast deployment on record, had the first chief Intelligence Specialist to earn the submarine warfare qualification, known as ‘dolphins’, and had the most women ever deployed on a fast-attack submarine, including one chief petty officer.
Washington steamed more than 37,000 nautical miles with the crew supporting diplomatic relationships by conducting port visits in Faslane, Scotland, and Grotsund, Norway. In recognition of the Blackfish’s exceptional service and dedication during operations in the strategic Arctic region, the Washington was awarded the newly announced Arctic Service Medal.
Forty-four enlisted Sailors and five officers earned their submarine warfare qualification, and 10 officers promoted to their next rank.
Fast-attack submarines are multi-mission platforms enabling five of the six Navy maritime strategy core capabilities – sea control, power projection, forward presence, maritime security, and deterrence. They are designed to excel in anti-submarine warfare, anti-ship warfare, strike warfare, special operations, intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance, irregular warfare and mine warfare. Fast-attack submarines project power ashore with special operations forces and Tomahawk cruise missiles in the prevention or preparation of regional crises.
The Virginia-class submarine is 377 feet long and 34 feet wide, and weighs about 7,900 tons when submerged. Underwater, it can reach speeds in excess of 25 knots.
After acquiring its own shares on 21 October 2024, Šiaulių Bankas AB (hereinafter – the Bank) pursuant to Article 19(2) of the Law on Securities of the Republic of Lithuania provides information on the total number of voting rights granted by the shares issued by it and the amount of the authorized capital, the number of shares and their nominal value:
Type of shares
Ordinary registered shares
ISIN code
LT0000102253
Bank’s LEI code
549300TK038P6EV4YU51
Nominal value of 1 share, EUR
0.29
Number of shares, units
662 996 646
Authorised capital, EUR
192 269 027,34
Number of votes granted by all issued shares, units
662 996 646
Number of votes calculating the quorum of the General Meeting of Shareholders
Source: Switzerland – Department of Defence, Civil Protection and Sport
On 21 and 22 October 2024, Thomas Rothacher, Head of armasuisse Science and Technology, will take part with a delegation in a meeting of the research directors from Germany, Austria and Switzerland. The meeting will be characterised by increased international cooperation with the focus on robotics, drone defence and systems for the soldiers.
Nobel Peace Prize winner Jane Addams, who never had children of her own, concentrated much of her activism on enriching the lives of American youth.Chicago History Museum/Getty Images
In August 2024, Arkansas Gov. Sarah Huckabee Sanders, also a Republican, piled on, saying Democratic presidential candidate Kamala Harris has no children to “keep her humble,” even though she’s stepmother to two children who call her “Mamala.”
My research offers a broader perspective on women’s experiences of mothering and a deeper understanding of how women without biological children contribute to the nation and its future.
‘Mothers of all children’
One such woman was Katharine Bement Davis, the subject of my current research.
Born in Buffalo, New York, in 1860, Davis was a member of a generation of “new women” who pursued higher education, built professional careers and fought for political rights.
Of this group, only Roosevelt had children of her own. But all of them saw themselves as “mothers of all children,” as one historian has described juvenile justice advocates. Accepting responsibility for the nation’s welfare, they used their identity as public mothers to shape American politics.
“First, I am still an old maid; therefore, I cannot write interesting things about my husband and children, (and) how I have treated him and how I have raised them. First and last, however, I have had a good deal to do in the way of looking after other people’s husbands and children.”
Indeed, Davis’ life illustrated the many meanings of motherhood.
Like many ostensibly childless women, Davis was a doting aunt. With her unmarried sisters, Helen and Charlotte, she helped care for her only niece, Frances, whose mother died when she was just a toddler. In the mid-1920s, Frances lived with all three aunts while attending school in New York City.
Black feminist scholars call this sort of arrangement, long practiced in African American communities, “othermothering.”
Davis and other white women of her generation also engaged in the practice of caring for children, whether through formal adoption or informal caregiving. For instance, Breckinridge helped raise her nieces and nephews, while Van Waters legally adopted a daughter.
‘Maternalism the coming great force in government’
Throughout her life, Davis used what she called “the methods of motherhood” to promote public welfare.
Only months into her term, male inmates at Blackwell’s Island Penitentiary staged a major riot. Davis quelled the rebellion and established her own authority by addressing the refractory prisoners like wayward children. “You fellows must behave,” she pronounced. “I’ll have it no other way.”
Social reformer Katharine Bement Davis, right, wrote that she ‘had a good deal to do in the way of looking after other people’s husbands and children.’ Heritage Art/Heritage Images via Getty Images
After successfully using “motherly methods” to regain control of “the bad boys of Blackwell’s Island,” Davis proclaimed that “maternalism” was “the coming great force in government.”
While she promoted public welfare and demanded political rights, Davis also advocated for what she and her contemporaries called “voluntary motherhood” – the idea that women should be able to control their reproductive lives.
Davis supported efforts to overturn the Comstock Act of 1873, which defined contraception and abortion as obscene and made distributing birth control information or devices through the U.S. postal service a federal crime.
States followed federal precedent by adopting “mini-Comstock Laws” criminalizing birth control. By the 1920s, however, some states permitted physicians to prescribe contraceptives – such as diaphragms and spermicides – to protect the health of their female patients.
When she surveyed 1,000 married women for a study of female sexuality in the 1920s, Davis found that most of her study subjects used contraceptives. In addition, nearly 1 in 10 reported having had at least one abortion, even though the procedure was illegal in every state.
And when Davis asked the women about their views on contraception – or as the survey put it, “the use of means to render parenthood voluntary instead of accidental” – she found that about three-quarters of them approved of it.
When the childless take charge
So-called childless women like Davis have shown that they have a stake in children’s welfare, women’s welfare and the nation’s welfare.
Davis cuddles a kitten in a photograph taken while she was a college student. Life and Labor, Volume 4
But today, it seems that Republican politicians are attempting to drive a wedge between mothers and others. As a recent New York Times article put it, “the politics of motherhood” have become a “campaign-trail cudgel.”
However, as Davis understood, many issues that affect mothers are important to all women. Moreover, Davis believed that everyone – not just biological mothers – shares the responsibility for the health and welfare of future generations. Finally, she insisted that women should control their own destinies.
Anya Jabour does not work for, consult, own shares in or receive funding from any company or organization that would benefit from this article, and has disclosed no relevant affiliations beyond their academic appointment.
Source: United Kingdom – Executive Government & Departments
Public safety will be at the heart of an independent review into sentencing, as the government pledges to end the crisis in our prisons.
review into sentencing launched to end prison crisis and ensure no government forced into emergency release of prisoners again
the first principle of the Review will be to protect the public and make sure prisons punish serious offenders
this forms part of the government’s pledge to always have the prison places needed to lock up the most dangerous offenders, alongside its commitment to build 14,000 prison spaces
review will also look at tough alternatives to custody
Chaired by former Lord Chancellor David Gauke, the review will make sure the most serious offenders can be sent to prison to protect the public, and that the country always has the space needed to keep dangerous criminals locked up.
Launched on the day more prisoners will be leaving jail under an emergency release scheme due to chronic overcrowding, the review will make sure no government is ever placed in this position again.
The prison population has roughly doubled in the last 30 years – but in the last 14 of those years, just 500 places were added to the country’s stock of jail cells.
The government has committed to creating 14,000 extra prison places and outlining a 10-year capacity strategy later this year. Alongside this, the Sentencing Review will follow 3 core principles to ensure a sustainable justice system:
make sure prison sentences punish serious offenders and protect the public, and there is always the space in prison for the most dangerous offenders
look at what more can be done to encourage offenders to turn their backs on a life of crime, and keep the public safe by reducing reoffending
explore tougher punishments outside of prison to make sure these sentences cut crime while making the best use of taxpayers’ money
The review will also specifically consider whether current sentencing for crimes committed against women and girls fits the severity of the act, and ask whether there is more can be done to tackle prolific offending.
Lord Chancellor and Justice Secretary Shabana Mahmood, said:
This government inherited prisons in crisis, within days of collapse.
This review, along with our prison building programme, will ensure we never again have more prisoners than prison spaces.
I believe in punishment. I believe in prison, but I also believe that we must increase the range of punishments we use. And that those prisoners who earn the right to turn their lives around should be encouraged to do so.
The Sentencing Review will make sure prison and punishment work – and that there is always a cell waiting for dangerous offenders.
The review will examine the tough alternatives to custody, such as using technology to place criminals in a ‘prison outside prison’ and forcing offenders to do hard work in the community that gives back to society.
In developing their recommendations, the independent chair and panel will look at evidence in this country and also from overseas jurisdictions, such as the US, to explore alternative approaches to criminal justice.
Independent Reviewer David Gauke said:
Clearly, our prisons are not working. The prison population is increasing by around 4,500 every year, and nearly 90% of those sentenced to custody are reoffenders.
This review will explore what punishment and rehabilitation should look like in the 21st century, and how we can move our justice system out of crisis and towards a long-term, sustainable future.
The review will submit its findings in full to the Lord Chancellor by Spring 2025.
The Review will provide long-term solutions for our justice system by:
examining the use and composition of non-custodial sentences, including robust community alternatives to prison and the use of fines
looking at the role of incentives in sentence management and the powers of the probation service in the administration of sentences in the community
exploring the use and impact of short custodial sentences
reviewing the framework around longer custodial sentences, including the use of minimum sentences, and the range of sentences and maximum penalties available for different offences
looking at the administration of sentences, including the point at which offenders are released from prison, how long they are supervised in the community on licence, recall to prison, and how technology can support this
considering whether the sentencing framework should be amended to take into account the specific needs or vulnerabilities of specific cohorts such as young adult offenders, older offenders, and women
considering the approach to sentencing in cases of prolific offenders
considering specifically sentencing for offences primarily committed against women and girls
The review will not consider:
the Imprisonment for Public Protection (IPP) sentence or the administration of it
GraniteShares Financial Plc 21 October 2024 LEI: 635400MFOIY6BX1JUC92
GRANITESHARES FINANCIAL PLC (the “Issuer”) NOTICE OF DELISTING
THIS DOCUMENT IS IMPORTANT AND REQUIRES YOUR IMMEDIATE ATTENTION. If you are in any doubt about what action you should take, you are recommended to consult your independent financial adviser.
NOTICE is hereby given by the Issuer to the holders of the ETP Securities listed in Schedule 1 thereto (the “Affected Series”), that with effect from open of trading on 28 October 2024, the Relevant Series will be delisted from the exchange set out in Schedule 1 hereto. The Relevant Series will continue to trade on all other exchanges on which they are listed, as set out in Schedule 2 hereto (the “Remaining Trading Lines”).
Capitalised terms not defined herein shall have the meaning given to them in the Issue Deed relating to the ETP Securities.
This Notice is given by the Issuer.
GRANITESHARES FINANCIAL PLC
By: ______/s/ Aileen Mannion_________________
Name: ___ Aileen Mannion ___________________
Title: Director
Ground Floor, Two Dockland Central Guild Street North Dock Dublin 1 Ireland
Schedule 1 – Affected Series
ETP Securities
Ticker
ISIN
SEDOL
Last trading day
GraniteShares 3x Long Airbus Daily ETP Securities
3LAR
XS2376933375
BMW5LG9
25 Oct 2024
GraniteShares 3x Short Airbus Daily ETP Securities
3SAR
XS2376937442
BMW5LH0
25 Oct 2024
GraniteShares 3x Long Volkswagen Daily ETP Securities
3LVW
XS2376990417
BMW5M99
25 Oct 2024
GraniteShares 3x Short Volkswagen Daily ETP Securities
3SVW
XS2376991142
BMW5MB1
25 Oct 2024
GraniteShares 3x Long AMD Daily ETP Securities
3LAM
XS2377112110
BMW5LB4
25 Oct 2024
GraniteShares 3x Long NIO Daily ETP Securities
3LNI
XS2600249812
BN91F32
25 Oct 2024
GraniteShares 3x Long Moderna Daily ETP Securities
3LMO
XS2613356620
BRT42Q1
25 Oct 2024
GraniteShares 3x Short UBER Daily ETP Securities
3SUB
XS2626290238
BNDTBW3
25 Oct 2024
GraniteShares 3x Short NIO Daily ETP Securities
3SNI
XS2626290311
BNDTCJ7
25 Oct 2024
GraniteShares 3x Long Facebook Daily ETP Securities
3LFB
XS2656469561
BPLW388
25 Oct 2024
GraniteShares 3x Short Tesla Daily ETP Securities
3STS
XS2656471039
BP83M32
25 Oct 2024
GraniteShares 3x Long Tesla Daily ETP Securities
3LTS
XS2656472193
BP83LQ8
25 Oct 2024
GraniteShares 3x Long Microsoft Daily ETP Securities
3LMS
XS2662640627
BNYJ8J8
25 Oct 2024
GraniteShares 3x Long UBER Daily ETP Securities
3LUB
XS2662640973
BNYK9D2
25 Oct 2024
GraniteShares 3x Short Apple Daily ETP Securities
3SAP
XS2662641195
BNYKBB4
25 Oct 2024
GraniteShares 3x Short Alphabet Daily ETP Securities
3SAL
XS2671672223
BQ2L1X2
25 Oct 2024
GraniteShares 3x Short Facebook Daily ETP Securities
3SFB
XS2671672819
BQ2L217
25 Oct 2024
GraniteShares 3x Short Amazon Daily ETP Securities
3SZN
XS2671672900
BQ2L251
25 Oct 2024
GraniteShares 3x Short Netflix Daily ETP Securities
3SNF
XS2675292135
BMZ8DH0
25 Oct 2024
GraniteShares 3x Long Amazon Daily ETP Securities
3LZN
XS2675292218
BMZ8DN6
25 Oct 2024
GraniteShares 3x Long Alphabet Daily ETP Securities
3LAL
XS2675292309
BMZ8DT2
25 Oct 2024
GraniteShares FAANG ETP Securities
FANG
XS2679084603
BNT9FS1
25 Oct 2024
GraniteShares 1x Short FAANG Daily ETP Securities
SFNG
XS2679090162
BNT9V49
25 Oct 2024
GraniteShares 3x Long FAANG Daily ETP Securities
3FNG
XS2679091996
BNT9VF0
25 Oct 2024
GraniteShares 3x Short FAANG Daily ETP Securities
3SFG
XS2684011211
BP6LNX5
25 Oct 2024
GraniteShares GAFAM ETP Securities
GFAM
XS2684011641
BQBBD59
25 Oct 2024
GraniteShares 1x Short GAFAM Daily ETP Securities
SGFM
XS2684011997
BQBBDF9
25 Oct 2024
ETP Securities
Ticker
ISIN
SEDOL
Last trading day
GraniteShares 3x Long GAFAM Daily ETP Securities
3GFM
XS2693059839
BKPLWL2
25 Oct 2024
GraniteShares 3x Short GAFAM Daily ETP Securities
3SGF
XS2693061819
BKPLWT0
25 Oct 2024
GraniteShares FATANG ETP Securities
FTNG
XS2693061900
BLDC6C3
25 Oct 2024
GraniteShares 1x Short FATANG Daily ETP Securities
SFTG
XS2696137772
BMX7LB9
25 Oct 2024
GraniteShares 3x Long FATANG Daily ETP Securities
3FTG
XS2696138077
BMX7LL9
25 Oct 2024
GraniteShares 3x Short FATANG Daily ETP Securities
3SFT
XS2696138150
BMX7LW0
25 Oct 2024
GraniteShares 3x Short Microsoft Daily ETP Securities
3SMS
XS2722160707
BNDSDD5
25 Oct 2024
GraniteShares 3x Long Apple Daily ETP Securities
3LAP
XS2722161424
BNDSDJ1
25 Oct 2024
GraniteShares 3x Long NVIDIA Daily ETP Securities
3LNV
XS2734938835
BNDQT31
25 Oct 2024
GraniteShares 3x Short Palantir Daily ETP Securities
3SPA
XS2836484787
BQGD0Q0
25 Oct 2024
GraniteShares 3x Short AMD Daily ETP Securities
3SAM
XS2838543457
BSMMMN6
25 Oct 2024
GraniteShares 3x Short Moderna Daily ETP Securities
3SMO
XS2838543614
BSMMN00
25 Oct 2024
GraniteShares 3x Short NVIDIA Daily ETP Securities
3SNV
XS2842095676
BS4DNR8
25 Oct 2024
GraniteShares 3x Long Palantir Daily ETP Securities
3LPA
XS2856105833
BMY3FT2
25 Oct 2024
GraniteShares 3x Long Netflix Daily ETP Securities
3LNF
XS2856106302
BMY3FX6
25 Oct 2024
Schedule 2 – Remaining Trading Lines
ETP Securities
ISIN
Listing venues
Ticker
SEDOL
Trading currency
GraniteShares 3x Long Airbus Daily ETP Securities
XS2376933375
London Stock Exchange
LAR3
BMHWFM9
GBX
GraniteShares 3x Short Airbus Daily ETP Securities
XS2376937442
London Stock Exchange
SAR3
BMHWFP2
GBX
GraniteShares 3x Long Volkswagen Daily ETP Securities
XS2376990417
London Stock Exchange
LVW3
BMHWFJ6
GBX
GraniteShares 3x Short Volkswagen Daily ETP Securities
XS2376991142
London Stock Exchange
SVW3
BMHWFK7
GBX
GraniteShares 3x Long AMD Daily ETP Securities
XS2377112110
Borsa Italiana – ETF Plus
3LAM
BP9MTV5
EUR
London Stock Exchange
3LAM
BMHW8T7
USD
London Stock Exchange
LAM3
BMHWF07
GBP
GraniteShares 3x Long NIO Daily ETP Securities
XS2600249812
Borsa Italiana – ETF Plus
3LNI
BN91F21
EUR
London Stock Exchange
3LIE
BN91F09
EUR
London Stock Exchange
3LNI
BN91DY9
USD
London Stock Exchange
3LIP
BN91F10
GBX
GraniteShares 3x Long Moderna Daily ETP Securities
XS2613356620
Borsa Italiana – ETF Plus
3LMO
BL54928
EUR
London Stock Exchange
3LMO
BL54939
USD
London Stock Exchange
MOL3
BL54940
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A 38-year-old man who operated as a loan shark in Coventry has been sentenced to 31 months in prison and handed a Criminal Behaviour Order in a first for the national Illegal Money Lending Team.
James Ringrose lent thousands of pounds to people, including workmates, charging ‘exorbitant’ interest rates and putting pressure on them to make them pay, Warwick Crown Court heard. He left borrowers feeling distraught and even suicidal as they struggled to pay him back.
Ringrose admitted two charges of illegal money lending and money laundering following an investigation by the England Illegal Money Lending Team (IMLT) and appeared before the court to be sentenced on Friday. (October 18)
The case was prosecuted by the IMLT in partnership with Coventry Trading Standards and West Midlands Police.
Mr Jonathan Barker, prosecuting on behalf of the IMLT, told the court Ringrose was operating as a loan shark between 2016 and July 2024 and used some of the proceeds to fund a house extension and cosmetic procedures in Turkey.
Ringrose was not authorised by the Financial Condict Authority to lend money, which meant he could charge whatever he wanted and did not have to abide by the rules that protect borrowers.
Mr Barker said one of Ringrose’s borrowers was a workmate who needed some cash but could not get a loan through a mainstream lender. He borrowed £40 and repaid £60. A few weeks later borrowed a further £100 and told to repay £140. The borrowing continued and by 2019 he was repaying Ringrose £400 a month.
Mr Barker said the borrower would go to a cashpoint and meet Ringrose, who had a clipboard and crossed his name off when he handed over cash. He said Ringrose also asked this borrower to withdraw using debit cards belonging to other people.
Mr Barker said the borrowing ‘spiralled out of control’. He was never given any paperwork and never knew exactly how much he owed.
Another colleague who needed money to repair a vehicle, borrowed £200 and was told she would have to repay £280 by the end of the month. She later took another loan on the same terms and when she struggled to repay, they came to an agreement where she was repaying £80 a month. Mr Barker said she was so scared of repercussions she continued to make payments for three years, significantly more than the original sum.
After an initial investigation by the IMLT, Ringrose was arrested at an address in Barons Croft, Nuneaton.
Analysis of his accounts showed that since November 2016 there were 317 third party credits totalling more than £80,000, 29 cash credits of over £17,000, 63 third party debits totalling just over £4,500 and 626 cash withdrawals worth over £90,000. There were at least 20 names associated with the transactions.
He was bailed but the court heard he continued to provide and collect on unauthorised loans to around 10 people, for more than £15,000.
In July 2024, he was arrested again following a warrant at an address in The Barley Lea, Coventry. During a search of property IMLT officers recovered loan records hidden under the carpet of the bottom stair in a folder.
New analysis of his bank accounts showed that since May 2023, there were 39 third party credits of just under £3,500, 94 third party debits of over £5,700 and 22 cash withdrawals worth just over £1,000.
Mr Barker said this showed part of the picture as the defendant would have conducted loan activity in cash.
The court heard another borrower borrowed £1,000 in various instalments and was charged double interest on anything over £100, which led her into a cycle of debt.
Mr Barker said: “She estimates that over the years she has borrowed a total of £5,000 and has already paid over £50,000 back, but the defendant had stated she still owes him over £60,000. She states for years she endured constant harassment from the defendant. This includes him persistently contacting her via phone, turning up outside her work address, forcing her to provide bank statements and wage slips to show what funds she has, entering her home without her permission following her and taking her to cash machines to withdraw funds.”
He said on one occasion Ringrose followed her around Coventry, shouted at her in the street and threatened her partner in order to get her to pay.
He said another workmate borrowed £3,000, adding: “He states that the defendant never kept his illegal money lending business a secret and was actually quite boastful about it. Ringrose told him that he would operate like a ‘payday loan lender’ and after collecting payments from people, they would have to borrow again from him immediately. He boasted that he had a constant stream of income.”
Mr Barker added: “The prosecution case is that the loan business was lucrative. The defendant would brag to others about how lucrative it was. It helped him fund an extension to his property and pay for cosmetic treatments in Turkey.”
Mr Barker also said when Ringrose found out that the IMLT had begun an investigation he tried to persuade borrowers not to speak to officers, offering money as an incentive.
Mr Gerard Cullen, defending, told the court there was a lack of sophistication in the offending and Ringrose did not realise he was acting illegally at first.
The judge, Mr Recorder Tom Restall, said despite coming to the attention of the authorities, Ringrose continued to lend money, charging ‘exorbitant’ levels of interest.
He said borrowers’ mental health suffered badly and one reported feeling suicidal.
For the first count of illegal money lending, Ringrose was sentenced to 16 months in jail to run concurrently with a three-month sentence for money laundering.
For the second offence of illegal lending, he was handed a 12-month sentence together with one month for money laundering, to run concurrently, but consecutive to the first set of offences.
He was also handed three months’ custody for breach of a suspended sentence for an earlier unrelated offence, bringing his total sentence to 31 months.
Ringrose was also made subject to a 10-year restraining order in relation to one borrower and handed a Criminal Behaviour order for five years, which means he must not enter the Stoke Aldemoor area of Coventry and not provide or collect unauthorised loans, directly or indirectly. If he breaches either order he could face a further jail term. A POCA timetable was set.
Councillor Abdul Salam Khan, chair of Coventry’s Police and Crime Board, added: “It is really disturbing how the culprits operate and that’s why I’m pleased about the action that has been taken to deal with this case. It shows the importance and effectiveness of partnership working between the Council’s trading standards officers and the Illegal Money Lending Team. I’d encourage anyone who has been affected by illegal money lending to get in touch on the Stop Loan Sharks helpline or via their online support.”
Dave Benbow, acting head of the IMLT, a national organisation hosted by Birmingham City Council, which investigates and prosecutes loan sharks, said: “This case is the first time we have used a Criminal Behaviour Order, which means that not only has Ringrose been punished for his illegal money lending activities, he will also be subject to strict rules that stop him acting as an illegal lender in the future.
“Even when illegal lenders are convicted and sentenced, that is not the end of it. We will do whatever we can to ensure they are not free to continue to blight communities in any way.
“Once again, we are grateful to all the witnesses who came forward in this case. We realise it’s not easy, but this shows that we can and will continue to take the strongest possible action against illegal lenders to make our communities safer.”
Anyone who has been affected by illegal money lending should call the Stop Loan Sharks 24/7 Helpline on 0300 555 2222 or access support online at http://www.stoploansharks.co.uk. Live Chat is available on the website from 9am to 5pm, Monday to Friday.
The Taliban, an ultraconservative Islamic political group, retook control of Kabul a little more than three years ago, dashing many Afghans’ hopes for a tolerant, democratic government.
As U.S. troops withdrew from Afghanistan days after the Taliban’s resurgence in 2021, hundreds of thousands of Afghans flocked to the Kabul airport, desperate to be evacuated. Among them were Afghans who worked for U.S. military and NATO forces as interpreters and in other roles – in addition to other people who were afraid of the Taliban.
Many of the Afghans who fled their country in 2021 went to Iran, Pakistan and other nearby countries. To offer a lifeline to the Afghans who came to the U.S., the Biden administration announced on Aug. 29, 2021, that evacuated Afghans could legally – but temporarily – stay in the U.S.
As a scholar of civil conflict and refugee migration, I have been following the Afghan evacuation and policy responses in Washington since 2021. While President Joe Biden renewed humanitarian parole for approximately 70,000 Afghans in 2023, these people remain in legal limbo, unable to fully move forward in their lives.
The upcoming election will likely be decisive in resolving Afghans’ legal status or not.
An Afghan couple, including a man who worked as an interpreter for the U.S. military, walk in Charlestown, Mass. in February 2022. Joseph Prezioso/AFP via Getty Images
Understanding humanitarian parole
The U.S. admitted Afghans into the country through what’s called humanitarian parole, a federal program that the president can authorize to give protection to people in other countries facing extreme emergency circumstances.
Humanitarian parole must be renewed by a presidential administration every two years, unlike the U.S. refugee admission policy, which gives foreigners who face legitimate fears of returning home the right to get permanent residency in the U.S.
The Afghan parole program enabled people like Mina Bakhshi – a female rock climber who had no future under the Taliban because of her gender – to enter the U.S. and attend college.
It also helped people like Qasim Rahimi, a journalist in Afghanistan, to flee to safety with his family and settle in Kansas City, Missouri.
Yet humanitarian parole is not a permanent solution.
While these Afghan people can legally work and attend school in the U.S., they often face obstacles with getting stable work or even finding a home to rent because they are not permanent residents and do not have Social Security numbers.
A long history of parole in the US
Typically, the U.S. government has used humanitarian parole to rescue people from conflicts in which U.S. armed forces are involved, like Vietnam and Ukraine.
People who face serious danger because of conflict or other reasons can also enter the U.S. by applying for and receiving refugee status, but it can take more than a year for it to be granted. Humanitarian parole lets the U.S. government act quickly when it wants to help foreigners come to the country during an emergency.
At the end of the Vietnam War in 1975, for example, the U.S. admitted thousands of Vietnamese, Cambodian and Laotian migrants fleeing their countries.
The U.S. also issued humanitarian parole to Hungarian and Cuban refugees who fled communist dictatorships in the 1950s.
More recently, the U.S. granted parole to a group of Haitian orphans following a major earthquake in 2010, and to children from Central America who illegally crossed the border without their parents during the Obama administration.
While Biden issued temporary humanitarian parole to Afghans in 2021 and renewed it in 2023, only Congress has the power to pass an act that would ensure they can legally stay in the country permanently. Yet, a deadlocked Congress has failed to pass legislation to adjust the status of Afghans.
Yet, a handful of Republican lawmakers, led by Sen. Chuck Grassley, have opposed the act on national security grounds. They say that vetting procedures for newcomers are not sufficient, which could lead to security risks. Some want a more targeted program that focuses only on Afghans who worked with U.S. troops.
An Afghan evacuee living in Charlestown, Mass., in February 2022 shows a photo of himself working in Afghanistan as a translator. Joseph Prezioso/AFP via Getty Images
The election factor
The fate of Afghan parolees will likely be determined by the results of the upcoming election. Should Democratic presidential nominee Kamala Harris win office, I believe she is likely to renew parole for Afghans for at least two more years, as Biden did in 2023. Congress may be more likely to pass the Afghan Adjustment Act after the election, since it is rare to pass major legislation during an election period.
What Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump might do about Afghans living temporarily in the U.S. is an open question. During Trump’s previous presidential term, his administration focused in part on curbing immigration. This included slashing refugee admissions and making it harder to issue U.S. visas to Afghans and Iraqis who worked with the U.S. military.
On the campaign trail, Trump has promised to renew his travel ban on Muslims and to continue to limit immigration to the U.S.
In the meantime, Afghans who fled the Taliban continue to face uncertainty about their future in the U.S.
Idean Salehyan is affiliated with the Niskanen Center in Washington, D.C.
MONTREAL, Oct. 21, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Boralex inc. (“Boralex” or the “Company”) (TSX: BLX) announces that the release of the 2024 third quarter results will take place on Thursday, November 14, 2024, at 11 a.m.
Financial analysts and investors are invited to attend a conference call during which the financial results will be presented.
To attend the event by phone:Click here to register for the earnings call. Once you have completed your registration, you will receive a confirmation email containing the link and your personal PIN to connect to the call. If you lose this link and your PIN, you will be able to register again. You must register if you wish to attend the call by phone.
Media and other interested individuals are invited to listen to the conference and view a presentation which will be broadcasted live and on a deferred basis on Boralex’s website at http://www.boralex.com. A full replay will also be available on Boralex’s website until November 14, 2025.
The financial information will be released through a press release and on Boralex’s website on November 14, 2024, at 7 a.m.
About Boralex
At Boralex, we have been providing affordable renewable energy accessible to everyone for over 30 years. As a leader in the Canadian market and France’s largest independent producer of onshore wind power, we also have facilities in the United States and development projects in the United Kingdom. Over the past five years, our installed capacity has more than doubled to over 3 GW. We are developing a portfolio of more than 6.8 GW in wind, solar and storage projects, guided by our values and our corporate social responsibility (CSR) approach. Through profitable and sustainable growth, Boralex is actively participating in the fight against global warming. Thanks to our fearlessness, our discipline, our expertise and our diversity, we continue to be an industry leader. Boralex’s shares are listed on the Toronto Stock Exchange under the ticker symbol BLX.
Source: The Conversation – USA – By Trirupa Chakraborty, Ph.D. Candidate in Integrative Systems Biology, University of Pittsburgh
Blood samples of patients infected with a parasitic worm that causes schistosomiasis contain hidden information that marks different stages of the disease. In our recently published research, our team used machine learning to uncover that hidden information and improve early detection and diagnosis of infection.
The parasite that causes schistosomiasis completes its life cycle in two hosts – first in snails and then in mammals such as people, dogs and mice. Freshwater worm eggs enter human hosts through the skin and circulate throughout the body, damaging multiple organs, including the liver, intestine, bladder and urethra. When these larvae reach blood vessels connecting the intestines to the liver, they mature into adult worms. They then release eggs that are excreted when the infected person defecates, continuing the transmission cycle.
Since diagnosis currently relies on detecting eggs in feces, doctors usually miss the early stages of infection. By the time eggs are detected, patients have already reached an advanced stage of the disease. Because diagnosis rates are poor, public health officials typically mass-administer the drug praziquantel to populations in affected regions. However, praziquantel cannot clear juvenile worms in early stages of infection, nor can it prevent reinfection.
Schistosomiasis isn’t usually diagnosed until the late stages of the disease. DPDx/CDC
Our study provides a clear path forward to improving early detection and diagnosis by identifying the hidden information in blood that signals active, early stage infection.
Your body responds to a schistosomiasis infection by mounting an immune response involving several types of immune cells, as well as antibodies specifically targeting molecules secreted by or present on the worm and eggs. Our study introduces two ways to screen for certain characteristics of antibodies that signal early infection.
The first is an assay that captures a quantitative and qualitative profile of immune response, including various classes of antibodies and characteristics that dictate how they communicate with other immune cells. This allowed us to identify specific facets of the immune response that distinguish uninfected patients from patients with early and late-stage disease.
Second, we developed a new machine learning approach that analyzes antibodies to identify latent characteristics of the immune response linked to disease stage and severity. We trained the model on immune profile data from infected and uninfected patients and tested the model on data that wasn’t used for training and data from a different geographical location. We identified not only biomarkers for the disease but also the potential mechanism that underlies infection.
Why it matters
Schistosomiasis is a neglected tropical disease that affects over 200 million people worldwide, causing 280,000 deaths annually. Early diagnosis can improve treatment effectiveness and prevent severe disease.
In addition, unlike many machine learning methods that are black boxes, our approach is also interpretable. This means it can provide insights into why and how the disease develops beyond simply identifying markers of disease, guiding future strategies for early diagnosis and treatment.
Clusters of Schistosoma haematobium eggs surrounded by immune cells in bladder tissue. CDC/Dr. Edwin P. Ewing Jr.
What still isn’t known
The schistosomiasis infection signatures we identified remain stable across two geographical regions across two continents. Future research could explore how well these biomarkers apply to additional populations.
Further, our work identifies a potential mechanism behind disease progression. We found that a particular immune response against a specific protein on the surface of the worm signals an intermediate stage of infection. Understanding how the immune system responds to this understudied antigen could improve diagnosis and treatment.
What’s next
Besides improving our understanding of how the immune system responds to different stages of infection, our findings identify key antigens that could pave the way for designing cost-effective and efficient approaches to diagnosis and treatments. Our next steps will include actually deploying these strategies in the field for early detection and management of disease.
The Research Brief is a short take about interesting academic work.
Trirupa Chakraborty is affiliated with Light Up non-profit organisation, based in India. The organisation does not have any connection with or benefits from this article.
Aniruddh Sarkar has received grant funding from the NIAID, BARDA, Task Force for Global Health (TFGH), Atlanta Center for Point-of-Care Technologies (ACME POCT), Center for Childhood Infections & Vaccines (CCIV) and the Bernie Marcus Early Career Professorship at Georgia Tech
Jishnu Das has research grant funding from the NIH (NIAID, NHGRI, NIAMS, NEI, NCI, NHLBI, NIMH), DoD and the Rainin Foundation. He consults for Seromyx on a case-by-case basis and receives corresponding financial compensation including stock options. Seromyx has no direct connection to (including benefitting from financially or otherwise) this article.
Andres Kitter, Chief Technology Officer and a member of the executive committee and board of LHV Bank Limited, a subsidiary of LHV Group operating in the United Kingdom, will step down from his position at the end of this year.
Andres Kitter joined LHV in 2013 as a member of the management board of LHV Bank and Head of Retail Banking. Under his leadership, the retail banking offering in Estonia was developed, the business line for international financial intermediaries was launched, and LHV was established in the UK. In his role as Chief Technology Officer, Andres Kitter built one of the most modern banking platforms and assembled a strong team.
“The profitable business line of servicing financial intermediaries, developed under Andres’ initiative and leadership, has helped expand both LHV’s mental and operating landscape. It can be considered, this led the way to the subsequent creation of LHV Bank. At the same time, Andres has been involved in the development of the entire business line of financial intermediaries, including customer relations, technology and risk management,” said Madis Toomsalu, CEO of LHV Group.
“After 11 remarkable years at LHV, I’ve decided it’s time for a new direction in my career. During my time here, I’ve had the privilege of helping to develop several key business areas and have built a highly capable and inspiring team. Now, I feel the time is right to step outside the company and focus on businesses in their earlier stages of development,” commented Andres Kitter.
LHV Group is the largest domestic financial group and capital provider in Estonia. LHV Group’s key subsidiaries are LHV Pank, LHV Varahaldus, LHV Kindlustus, and LHV Bank Limited. The Group employs over 1,100 people. As at the end of July, LHV’s banking services are being used by 437,000 clients, the pension funds managed by LHV have 118,000 active clients, and LHV Kindlustus protects a total of 167,000 clients. LHV Bank Limited, a subsidiary of the Group, holds a banking licence in the UK and provides banking services to international financial technology companies, as well as loans to small and medium-sized enterprises.
Priit Rum Communications Manager Phone: +372 502 0786 Email: priit.rum@lhv.ee
Source: United Kingdom – Executive Government & Departments
The UK will be the first country in the world to introduce a tailored framework for the regulation of innovative products manufactured at or close to the location where a patient receives care.
A Statutory Instrument (SI) laid in Parliament today, 21 October, will provide a new regulatory framework meaning that medicines with a very short shelf life and highly personalised medicines can more easily be made in or near a hospital setting and can get to the patients who need them safely and much more quickly.
The regulation will also allow for manufacture of innovative medicines in small, portable units that can be set up close to patients who may be too sick to travel or whose reduced immunity precludes travel or where rapid medicine availability is best served.
This novel UK regulatory framework will transform patient treatment by enabling the safe development of innovative, personalised products such as cell or gene therapy that need to be manufactured close to the individual patient.
It will help relieve pressures on hospitals by enabling delivery of care where it is most appropriate for the patient, in community settings or even in their homes, supporting the ambition to expand ‘hospital at home’ services such as virtual wards.
IIan Rees, Point of Care lead at the MHRA, said:
“Enabling patients to safely access innovative treatments and medicines is a top priority for the MHRA, which is why we have developed this novel regulatory framework.
“This will enable new and innovative ways of manufacturing medicines closer to the patients who need them whilst ensuring their quality, safety and efficacy, with the consequent benefits both to patients and the healthcare system.
“This totally new framework, the first of its kind in the world, supports the MHRA’s drive to deliver for patients; making it possible to safely manufacture breakthrough medicines closer to where care is delivered and increasing the attractiveness of the UK as a destination to market new life-saving medicines.”
The legislation proposes a six-month implementation period once Parliamentary processes have been concluded. This regulation could, therefore, become law in Summer 2025.
The regulation follows a consultation with stakeholders in 2021, which showed a high level of support for proposals for a regulatory framework for point of care and modular manufacture of medicinal products.
These changes will ensure that our regulations are proportionate, flexible and adaptable for the implementation of these innovative manufacturing processes, increasing the attractiveness of the UK as a destination to market new life-saving medicines.
The MHRA is developing detailed, supporting guidance and will engage with industry, academia and healthcare institutions to ensure that the necessary interpretation and procedural support is in place to support the implementation of the new regulations ahead of the date that the legislation will come into force.
ENDS
Notes to Editors
The SI, and associated explanatory memorandum and impact assessments, are now live on legislation.gov.uk
This instrument amends the Human Medicines Regulations 2012 (S.I.2012/1916) (“the HMRs”) and the Medicines for Human Use (Clinical Trials) Regulations 2004 (S.I. 2014/1031) (“the 2004 Regulations”) to provide a new regulatory framework for medicines manufactured at the point of care, and also for modular manufacturing, where products are manufactured in modular, relocatable units.
The Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) is responsible for regulating all medicines and medical devices in the UK by ensuring they work and are acceptably safe. All our work is underpinned by robust and fact-based judgements to ensure that the benefits justify any risks.
The MHRA announced the introduction of this framework in January 2023 through this press release.
The MHRA is an executive agency of the Department of Health and Social Care.
Products manufactured at the POC are eligible for support through the MHRA ILAP pathway, which is in place to accelerate time to market and facilitate patient access.
For media enquiries, please contact the newscentre@mhra.gov.uk, or call on 020 3080 7651.
Source: Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe – OSCE
Headline: Roundtable on sustainable supply chains marks EU Anti-Trafficking Day in Croatia
Boris Topic, National Anti-Trafficking Officer, OSCE Mission to Bosnia and Herzegovina, and Julia Schellhaas, Senior Advisor, Office of the Special Representative and Co-ordinator for Combating Trafficking in Human Beings, speaking at a roundtable on business & human rights and supply chain issues in Croatia, October 2024 (OSCE) Photo details
On 18 October, the Office for Human Rights and Rights of National Minorities of Croatia, the OSCE Office of the Special Representative and Co-operation for Combating Trafficking in Human Beings, and the UN Global Compact Network Croatia marked EU Anti-Trafficking Day with a pivotal roundtable discussion in Zagreb on supply chains and human rights. The event, titled ‘Sustainable Supply Chains: Promoting Human Rights and Social Responsibility’, was a landmark occasion that brought together the public and private sectors to discuss human rights in global supply chains, with a particular focus on combating human trafficking for labour exploitation in the context of the new EU Corporate Sustainability Due Diligence Directive (CSDDD).
Convening 30 participants from diverse backgrounds, including representatives from businesses, government agencies, international organizations, academia, and civil society, the roundtable was a testament to the widespread interest in the topic. Their collective engagement in discussions on preventing human rights abuses and ensuring environmental sustainability in supply chains underscored the broad commitment to this critical issue.
“In order to enhance awareness of the phenomenon of labour exploitation and to formulate an appropriate response to the emerging situation, the Government of the Republic of Croatia is committed to strengthening the collaboration between the private and public sectors through joint initiatives and the involvement of the private sector in shaping public policies,” said Alen Tahiri, National Anti-Trafficking Coordinator of Croatia. “Public-private partnerships are crucial for identifying and mitigating the risks of labour exploitation.”
Additionally, the CSDDD requires the Croatian government to amend several national laws, making this event a timely opportunity to discuss the challenges faced not only by businesses required to comply, but also by governments that must implement these changes.
According to the UN Global Compact Croatia Network, the roundtable discussion is just the beginning, serving as a platform for ongoing co-operation between the public and private sectors on human rights issues.
Vali Marszalek, Board Chair of the UN Global Compact Network Croatia and ESG Director for the Adria Region at Forvis Mazars, emphasized that while companies are currently focused on sustainability reporting, a crucial shift towards evaluating business behaviour is needed. “With the new directive in effect, businesses must scrutinize their operations and entire chains of activity, recognizing that they cannot distance themselves from negative impacts,” she said.
Boris Topić, National Anti-Trafficking Officer at the OSCE Mission to Bosnia and Herzegovina, underscored that “the OSCE is walking the talk when it comes to ethical supply chains and has implemented several measures in its own operations and procurement processes. We are excited to see the next steps that Croatia will take as a joint effort from the public and private sectors toward the implementation of the CSDDD, and we stand ready to support Croatia in this endeavor.”
Discussions underscored Croatia’s ongoing commitment to high human rights standards, including efforts against trafficking and labour exploitation. By sharing insights and best practices, the roundtable fostered collaborative efforts to enhance compliance and enforcement of due diligence legislation, reinforcing the importance of responsible business conduct for the benefit of all employees in the country.
The President of the Council of Ministers, Giorgia Meloni, received His Highness the Emir of Qatar, Sheikh Tamim Bin Hamad Al Thani, at Villa Doria Pamphilj in Rome today, as part of the Emir’s State Visit to Italy.
Their discussions focused on the situation in the Middle East. President Meloni shared the outcomes of her recent trips to Jordan and Lebanon with her guest, confirming Italy’s support for the mediation being carried out by Qatar, together with Egypt and the United States, to reach an agreement in Gaza. The two leaders also discussed the humanitarian situation in the Gaza Strip and the serious crisis of displaced persons in Lebanon.
The meeting also provided an opportunity to reiterate common, firm support for UNIFIL and the need to guarantee the safety of its personnel at all times, working towards full implementation of Resolution 1701 also through the necessary international support for the Lebanese armed forces.
With regard to bilateral relations, President Meloni and the Emir reaffirmed their shared desire to boost cooperation between Rome and Doha, also with reference to the African continent as part of the Mattei Plan for Africa. This desire was expressed in a joint declaration that was adopted at the end of the meeting, in addition to which several agreements in various areas of mutual interest were also signed.
Source: Republic of France in English The Republic of France has issued the following statement:
After carrying out the consultations required by the Statute of the International Court of Justice, on October 14, the French national group in the Permanent Court of Arbitration designated François Alabrune as the French candidate in the election for judges of the International Court of Justice, which will take place in November 2026.
France supports François Alabrune’s candidacy. A former legal advisor at the Ministry for Europe and Foreign Affairs who is currently serving as France’s ambassador to the Netherlands, he has recognized expertise in international law and meets all the criteria of rigor, independence, impartiality and integrity required to carry out the duties of a judge of the International Court of Justice.
France’s commitment to the International Court of Justice is longstanding and unwavering. The ICJ’s contribution to international peacekeeping and security is more vital than ever. Established by the UN Charter, the ICJ is the UN’s most important judicial body; its duty is to settle, in accordance with international law, legal disputes submitted to it by States and to give advisory opinions on legal questions referred to it by authorized UN bodies and specialized agencies.
Fleet Readiness Center Southeast (FRCSE) Detachment Jacksonville has completed certification to become the first intermediate-level (I-level) fiber optics Naval Air Systems Command (NAVAIR) maintenance facility in the Navy.
Currently, the detachment supports the P-8 Poseidon maritime patrol aircraft. However, the certification underscores an opportunity for FRCSE to enhance operational readiness throughout the NAVAIR domain.
The Miniature/Micro-miniature Electronics Repair and Module Test and Repair (2M/MTR) fiber optics work center is now equipped with a high-resolution optical time domain reflectometer (HROTDR) to test and analyze fiber optics cables. The HROTDR uses a laser to determine bends, breaks and other faults in a fiber cable. The team uses the HROTDR to find issues and fabricate new cables to meet engineering drawings and specifications.
The certification process began approximately two years ago after FRCSE’s P-8 Fleet Support Team (FST) noticed a correlation between damaged fiber optic network cables, decreased mission-capable aircraft and expensive, timely turnaround times using contracted repair organizations.
“Many P-8 aircraft were down because of simple and straightforward fiber optics repairs,” said Alex Garcia, an FRCSE P-8A FST electrical engineer. “With the right training and certification, the team knew that we could do much quicker and cost-effective work.”
Recognizing the need to conduct this work internally, engineers mapped the process and established local engineering specifications, a required document that authorizes I-level work and provides instructions on fiber optic cable fabrication, support, and required consumables.
“Given that NAVAIR didn’t have an established fiber optic program, certification agents were not an option,” said Aviation Electronics Technician 1st Class Michael Parker. “During our discussions on possible certification avenues, we learned that NAVSEA (Naval Sea Systems Command) had an existing program. The team recognized that the most effective way forward was to seek support from NAVSEA for site certification.”
Though NAVSEA couldn’t provide aviation-specific fiber optics repair capability, the groundwork could still be tailored to a NAVAIR program. After the 2M/MTR team contacted NAVSEA, representatives from the fiber optic test and repair (FOTR) program from Naval Surface Warfare Center (NSWC) responded by traveling to Naval Air Station (NAS) Jacksonville to conduct the certification process, which took only a few days.
“We confirmed an adequate amount of appropriately trained fiber optic technicians, the required NAVAIR authorized test equipment and tooling essential to repair or manufacture 95 percent of the potential fiber optic issues across various aircraft frames,” said Richard Scott, the FOTR certification agent with NSWC, Dahlgren division. “This effort resulted in FRSCE becoming the first NAVAIR activity to obtain its FOTR certification.”
After completing certification, KITCO Fiber Optics, a civilian company, provided two weeks of hands-on training, which took place aboard NAS Jacksonville.
During the two-year timeline, from establishment to certification and training, the team has streamlined repairs, reducing fiber optics turnaround times from six months to just a few days.
The work center at Detachment Jacksonville is also helping to establish fiber optics work centers globally with footprints in Whidbey Island, Wash.; Misawa, Japan; Sigonella, Sicily; Bahrain and afloat on aircraft intermediate maintenance departments worldwide. The current workload is helping support readiness throughout the fleet and prepares FRCSE to meet advancing technological requirements.
About Fleet Readiness Center Southeast
Fleet Readiness Center Southeast (FRCSE) is Northeast Florida and Southeast Georgia’s largest maintenance, repair, overhaul and technical services provider, employing approximately 5,000 civilian, military and contract workers. With annual revenue exceeding $1 billion, the organization serves as an integral part of the greater U.S. Navy, Naval Air Systems Command, and Commander, Fleet Readiness Centers by maintaining the combat airpower for America’s military forces.
A review has been launched in Stoke-on-Trent to help identify what more needs to be done to support the city’s most vulnerable residents.
The city council is carrying out the important piece of work to help it understand the current and likely future state of homelessness in the city and identify the prevention measures which need to be in place for residents who may become homeless.
The review forms part of the council’s ongoing commitment to support the city’s most in-need residents and ensuring everybody has a decent place to call home.
Councillor Chris Robinson, cabinet member for housing and planning, said: “We have made some really positive progress, so much so that we are actually the best performing local authority in the West Midlands for preventing and relieving homelessness, for the fifth year in a row.
“Despite all of our hard work, and the support from our partners, homelessness and rough sleeping have increased in the city over the years, in line with the national picture.
“Through this review we want to develop new and innovative approaches to preventing and relieving homelessness in the city, especially focusing on residents who are at risk of experiencing the most harmful outcomes.
“So, whether you have personal experience, know someone who has or are just interested in helping us to improve things, we would like to hear from you.”
The Homelessness Act 2002 requires all local housing authorities to carry out a review of homelessness every five years, and use the findings to publish a strategy setting out how it will prevent and reduce homelessness and provide support to those affected by it.
During the lifetime of the 2020-2025 Homelessness and Rough Sleeping Strategy, the city council has achieved many positive outcomes including;
the launch of a new Homelessness Hub in Hanley;
the creation of 74-new bed spaces through various rough sleeping programmes;
the implementation of the Changing Futures programme for people with complex needs;
a range of new measures to improve access to the private-rented sector;
the introduction of a Pre-Eviction Protocol within supported housing providers;
the commission of the new Homeless Healthcare Service which provides medical provision to the homeless community;
the recruitment of several new specialist members of staff;
and the award of around £20 million of funding for new rough sleeping initiatives.
Residents are now being invited to submit their views about homelessness and rough sleeping in the city by Sunday 24 November by visiting http://www.stoke.gov.uk/homelessreview and filling in the online form.
All of the feedback gathered from the Homelessness and Rough Sleeping Review will be considered in the development of the city council’s next Homelessness and Rough Sleeping Strategy which will be launched next year.
We are pleased to say several schools can open tomorrow or on other days this week. Where available we are providing information for the rest of this week to help parents and carers with their plans.
However, please note the situation at each school may change on a daily basis. We intend to provide updates at 1pm each day for parents and carers on social media and through our website. Our School closures page will also be updated every day.
Fairview School is closed. Intensive Support Provision (ISP) is also closed unless otherwise stated. Connections is closed but Navigate will be open.
On Tuesday October 22 all secondaries will be open but St John’s Academy (Secondary) and Community School of Auchterarder are only open to pupils in S4 and S6.
Crieff High School will be able to offer ISP for senior phase pupils only.
Breadalbane is able to provide ISP to primary and secondary pupils but ELC is only open to three and four-year-olds.
Primary Schools – OPEN
Abernyte
Blair Atholl
Collace
Dunning
Forgandenny
Glendelvine
Glenlyon
Kinloch Rannoch
Portmoak
Ruthvenfield
St Dominic’s
Primary Schools PARTIALLY OPEN
Abernethy – primary open, ELC closed
Aberuthven – closed Monday and Fridays but open Tuesday to Thursday
Alyth -primary open, ELC closed
Arngask – primary open, ELC closed
Auchtergaven – primary open, ELC closed
Blackford – open to P6 and P7 only. Open to P4 and P5 on Wednesdays.
Braco – primary open, ELC closed
Comrie – primary open, ELC closed
Craigie – primary open, ELC closed
Fossoway – open Tuesday and Wednesday only
Guildtown – primary open, ELC closed
Invergowrie – closed Tuesday but open Wednesday, Thursday and Friday. ELC will remain closed all week.
Kenmore – open Wednesday only
Kinnoull – closed Tuesday, open Wednesday, Thursday and Friday
Source: Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe – OSCE
Headline: OSCE strengthens inter-regional co-operation between women professionals from Central Asia and South-Eastern Europe addressing violent extremism and terrorism
OSCE strengthens inter-regional co-operation between women professionals from Central Asia and South-Eastern Europe addressing violent extremism and terrorism | OSCE
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WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Joni Ernst (R-Iowa) joined Chairman John Moolenaar (R-Mich.) of the House Select Committee on the Chinese Communist Party and U.S. Senator Marco Rubio (R-Fla.) in exposing new evidence of an American consulting firm working for the Chinese military and Chinese Communist Party and calling on Attorney General Merrick Garland and Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin to initiate a criminal investigation and debar McKinsey & Company from receiving Department of Defense (DoD) contracts.
The lawmakers reveal how McKinsey failed to disclose consulting work for the Chinese government and lied about working for the Chinese government under oath, all while receiving over $480 million to consult for the U.S. military since 2008. In their letter, the lawmakers outline the details of McKinsey’s work to advance the Chinese Communist Party and Chinese military, its work to shape the Chinese Communist Party’s five-year plans to surpass the United States, and its failure to report its China work, as required by U.S. law.
McKinsey’s work on sensitive U.S. national security matters occurred as the company failed to disclose its similar work for China – while it is seeking to capably threaten the U.S. military and American troops. The risk that McKinsey leveraged sensitive American programs and secrets to benefit the Chinese state is grave and merits an investigation and future consequences.
“It is deeply disturbing that McKinsey, which has a history of undermining the interests of the U.S. government in favor of another client, engaged in sensitive government contracts with DoD while failing to disclose its work with the PRC [People’s Republic of China] government and its state-owned enterprises on issues of national importance,” the lawmakers wrote.
“McKinsey not only failed to make necessary disclosures but actively concealed its sensitive work for the PRC government in sworn testimony before Congress. In describing McKinsey’s Chinese contracts, McKinsey’s Global Managing Partner testified under oath before Congress this year that the company never worked for the central government of the PRC,” they continued.
The lawmakers also highlighted the massive discrepancies in McKinsey’s Managing Partner’s testimony before Congress in February 2024. They concluded by requiring a briefing from both Attorney General Garland and Defense Secretary Austin by Dec. 1 about McKinsey’s criminal implications and its status as a DoD contractor.
Background:
Ernst has led the bipartisan CONSULT Act to prohibit DoD from contracting with consulting firms like McKinsey for national security matters when those firms also provide consulting services for sanctioned entities or foreign adversaries, like China, Russia, or Iran.
The Council has been completing work to demolish an empty block of low-rise flats at 1 to 15 Jasmine Court, Stoke Aldermoor.
The building should be completely removed over the coming weeks and the site cleared for future redevelopment.
It follows a long period of legal efforts by the Council officers.
The Council is increasing its efforts to tackle issues around empty properties in the city – especially with a high demand for good quality housing in the city.
It is continuing to use all legal powers to remove any further obstacles to the redevelopment of the site.
Cllr Naeem Akhtar, Cabinet Member for Housing and Communities, said: “I’m delighted that our efforts are paying off to bring empty homes back into use.
“Jasmine Court has been a real eyesore, and I know that local people will feel a real sense of relief that something positive is going to happen.
“We are hopeful that eventually suitable social housing, providing family homes, will replace the demolished flats.”
Cllr Abdul Khan, Deputy Leader of Coventry City Council, added: “I know that a number of council services have been working hard to remove this property.
“There are often a number of legal steps that need to be addressed to deal with housing that has been left empty and in poor disrepair, and I’m pleased to see a positive outcome for people living around Jasmine Court.”
ARU gardening expert will discuss if plants could, or should, grow on the Red Planet
A talk at the Chelmsford Science Festival will explore research into new farming methods that could potentially grow plants on Mars – and the moral question of whether humans should cultivate another planet even if they could.
In the 2015 film The Martian, stranded astronaut, Mark Watney, managed to grow potatoes. Recently SpaceX owner Elon Musk has spoken of a desire to set foot on Mars, and potentially colonise the Red Planet. However, the colonisation of Mars would depend on the ability to grow plants.
During the free talk at Anglia Ruskin University’s Chelmsford campus, ARU horticulture expert Mick Lavelle will discuss some modern farming techniques, drawing on research into vertical farming being carried out at ARU Writtle, and how these could make it possible to cultivate life in hostile environments such as Mars.
The talk, A Practical Guide to Gardening on Mars, explores the difficulties this poses and the ways it may be achieved, as well as the ethics of taking organic matter to another planet.
Research published in peer-reviewed journals earlier this year by ARU Writtle showed the success of vertical farming systems, using LED lighting, in stimulating growth in strawberries and in lavender, a valuable plant for essential oil production.
These new studies show that vertical farming using artificial light is not only feasible, but can actually be more productive than traditional farming techniques.
The research into lavender, to be published in the November edition of the journal Industrial Crops and Products, shows that plants grown in these conditions had greater root emergence, root biomass, chlorophyll content, flower bud emergence, and a higher root-to-shoot ratio compared to lavender crops growing in glasshouses under normal lighting conditions.
Another study, published in June, found that certain LED lighting conditions stimulated flower bud emergence in strawberries more than four times more effectively than a control group. LED lighting also appeared to stimulate more chlorophyll content – a crucial element in plant growth because it enables plants to absorb the energy from light.
Mick will also examine whether the desire of wealthy individuals to create life on another planet, and the willingness to strive for it, should be a cue to being better at solving sustainability issues and food production on Earth.
Mick, Senior Lecturer in Landscape Management at ARU Writtle, said:
“Mars has an allure to the super-rich due to the hostility of the planet and its reputation through films and science, not to mention the challenge of achieving something that was previously thought impossible – bringing life to Mars.
“Some new farming techniques do mean this is theoretically possible, and I will draw on our research here at ARU Writtle during the talk.
“Whether we could grow plants on Mars is a seductive question, but the bigger one is, should we? With climate change already ravaging the developing world and millions of people going hungry, perhaps our desire and willingness to use new scientific techniques to cultivate another planet could be better put to use closer to home.”
The drilling of boreholes in the Leeson Road area of Bonchurch is designed to help protect the future of the area but fossils discovered during the work are also giving a fascinating glimpse back into its distant past.
Ammonites, bivalves and other fossils dating back more than 100 million years have been extracted from the boreholes.
Though the three boreholes are drilled to depths of up to 130 metres, most of the fossils are being recovered between 30 and 90 metres deep.
Sophie Powell, an engineering geologist working for AtkinsRéalis on behalf of Island Roads and the Isle of Wight Council, said the Upper Greensand and Gault Clay layers being examined contained fossils from the Lower Cretaceous Period — 100-112 million years ago.
The fossilised creatures would have lived in an offshore marine environment that over millions of years has transformed into a landmass, albeit an unstable one.
Sophie said: “We have found a mixture of bivalves, brachiopods and ammonites. When a fossil is well preserved it is possible to identify the scientific name of the fossil, we have managed this for a few.
“What we have found so far matches previous investigations in the area.”
Sophie said that because the boreholes were 102mm diameter most of the fossils weren’t complete but they had found some intact specimens. While the geological profile of the area meant the finds were to be expected, it was still interesting to pull out these specimens.
Though interesting in their own right, the fossils also provide useful markers and reference points that can help comparison with the new boreholes and others already sunk in the area.
The ground investigation takes core samples of the rock layers which are being assessed and recorded by geotechnical engineers to confirm changes following the landslide.
The process is also allowing monitoring equipment to be installed to record any small deep ground movements and changes in groundwater pressures at different depths, which might contribute to larger scale ground movements.
The boreholes are thought to be some of the deepest ever sunk on the Island.
All this information will help work by the council and Island Roads to develop and maintain an early warning system that will allow re-opening of the road when safe but shut immediately if significant movement is detected.
SIXTEEN THOUSAND festive lights will start going up in Leicester this week as the countdown to Christmas begins.
Ahead of this year’sbig switch-on eventon Wednesday 20 November, the city council’s lighting team will be dressing the city centre with 16,000 low-energy lamps to illuminate the city throughout the festive season.
Town Hall Square and around 20 city centre streets will be decorated, in a process taking about four weeks, with work being carried out early in the morning and at weekends to minimise disruption.
The lights going up are just the first sign of the Christmas treats ahead. In the second week of November, a mighty 15m Christmas tree will be delivered from the Kielder Forest in Northumberland, to take pride of place at the Clock Tower.
A flurry of Christmas trees and the traditional nativity scene will be installed in Town Hall Square. Plus, new for 2024 will be a new Christmas lighting installation to animate the square.
The huge 35m-high Wheel of Light will also return to illuminate Jubilee Square, from Friday 8 November until the new year – alongside the city’s popular all-weather real ice rink, which will arrive at Jubilee Square from Thursday 5 December.
Another new addition for 2024, on Gallowtree Gate, is the introduction of a Christmas Market – the perfect place for treats, gifts and warming festive food. The market will run from 14 November until 29 December.
Leicester’s Christmas lights switch-on kicks off from 5pm on Wednesday 20 November, with activities taking place at key locations across the city.
On the Haymarket balcony, BBC Radio Leicester presenter Ady Dayman will be hosting proceedings with The Apprentice star and DJ, Virdi Singh Mazaria. And at switch-on moment – around 6.30pm – they will be joined for the countdown by Divina De Campo, runner-up of RuPaul’s Drag Race and Wicked Queen of this year’s panto, Snow White, at De Montfort Hall, plus Jack Ballard, the panto dame!
Further attractions on the night will include a funfair on Humberstone Gate, plus a 15-piece nutcracker marching band that will lead a trail through the city to switch-on events at the Haymarket Shopping Centre, Highcross and St Martins.
If you’re watching from Town Hall Square – a quieter space from which to watch the lights go on – you’ll be the first to see the new illuminations in the square, plus you can listen to traditional brass bands and choirs, which will perform from 5pm–8pm.
Assistant city mayor for culture, Cllr Vi Dempster, said: “Our lighting team is working hard to make sure that Leicester looks magical in time for our big switch-on. It’s always a great event, with thousands of people flocking into the city centre and lots going on to help everyone get into the festive spirit.
“Leicester has so much to offer, so whether you want to get your shopping done, celebrate with family and friends, or enjoy festive attractions like our ice rink, there’s something for everyone to enjoy this Christmas.”
Source: Peter the Great St Petersburg Polytechnic University – Peter the Great St Petersburg Polytechnic University –
The final round of the 43rd All-Russian Student Olympiad on Strength of Materials with International Participation was held at the Polytechnic University. The event was held as part of the 125th anniversary of SPbPU. The Physics and Mechanics Institute was the organizer.
At the opening, the Vice-Rector for Educational Activities of SPbPU Lyudmila Pankova noted that in 1976, the Department of Material Strength of the Leningrad Polytechnic Institute was one of the initiators of organizing city Olympiads in Strength of Materials. Later, such events began to be held at the Polytechnic Institute annually. In 1981, the USSR Ministry of Education decided to hold an annual All-Union Olympiad in Material Strength to improve the level of student training. Since 1991, the event has received All-Russian status with international participation. In different years, representatives of Belarus, Kyrgyzstan, Mongolia, Ukraine, and Turkmenistan have participated in the Olympiad. Teams from universities in different regions of Russia, from Kaliningrad to Vladivostok, come annually.
In 2002, the event was first held at the Polytechnic University. In the year of its 125th anniversary, SPbPU again welcomed guests from leading Russian universities. This time, the participants included a team from the Kyrgyz-Russian Slavic University named after B. N. Yeltsin.
“Polytech is expanding its boundaries for the exchange of international academic experience and the establishment of partnerships, as well as for the development of cooperation between universities,” emphasized Lyudmila Pankova.
Professor of the Higher School of Mechanics and Control Processes (HSMCP) Artem Semenov noted that 63 students from St. Petersburg, Moscow, Novosibirsk, Surgut, Kaliningrad, Belgorod, Tula, Perm, Vladimir, Arkhangelsk, Samara, Tver, Ivanovo, Bishkek (team of the Kyrgyz Republic) registered to participate in the competitive tests.
“The Olympiad is taking place in St. Petersburg, the city where Pushkin and Dostoevsky lived and worked, and where Euler and Lame wrote their immortal formulas. The book “Who’s Who in Strength of Materials” by N. N. Malinin shows that of the 110 engineers and scientists from all over the world who influenced the development of this discipline, 25 studied or worked in St. Petersburg, and nine are directly related to our university,” said Artem Semenovich.
He wished the participants to achieve maximum results in the competition, to effectively use their knowledge, and to make new friends.
Professor of the Higher School of Advanced Digital Technologies of the Advanced Engineering School of SPbPU “Digital Engineering” Irina Krasyuk noted the development of the Olympiad movement, which creates conditions for the formation of engineering potential and lays the foundations for mastering science-intensive engineering and technical disciplines in the future.
“Strength of materials is a fundamental discipline that studies the features of deformation of the simplest structures and the mechanical stresses that arise in them. The format of the work presented at the Olympiad is aimed at forming advanced professional competencies of a modern engineer,” says Irina Anatolyevna.
She presented the interaction of the Physics and Mechanics Institute and the Advanced Engineering School “Digital Engineering” in the organization and work of the Olympiad. This contributes to further internal university integration and external cooperation with leading Russian technical universities.
Irina Anatolyevna focused on how the scientific and educational process takes place at the Physics and Mechanical Institute and the Advanced Engineering School “Digital Engineering” of SPbPU, where they provide a unique set of professional competencies in solving complex multidisciplinary industrial problems that meet the world level and the needs of high-tech industries of the Russian Federation.
The organizing committee included the chairman — director of PhysMech Aleksey Filimonov, deputy chairman — chief specialist of the Directorate of Educational Programs of PhysMech Daria Afonskaya, adviser to the rector’s office Vitaly Drobchik, professor of GSOMPU Artem Semenov, associate professor of GSOMPU Daria Kitaeva, associate professor of GSOMPU Elena Yakovleva and assistant of GSOMPU Aleksey Grishchenko. The chairman of the jury was professor of Bauman Moscow State Technical University Aleksey Pokrovsky.
The first place was taken by the team of the Moscow State Technical University named after N.E. Bauman, the second place went to the Moscow Polytechnic University, and the third place went to the Samara National Research University named after Academician S.P. Korolev. Three participants won in the nomination “Miss Olympiad”, and the prize for the originality of the solution was won by a student of the Moscow Automobile and Road State Technical University. All winners and prize winners received diplomas, memorable gifts, souvenirs of the Polytechnic, letters of thanks and certificates.
The KRSU team was awarded a 1st degree diploma as winners among foreign participants. The head of the university, Denis Fomin-Nilov, was thanked.
“Thank you very much for your hospitality and cordiality. Our trip to you exceeded all my expectations, which I am very happy about,” shared the head of the KRSU team Azamat Dzhamankulov, head of the Department of Mechanics and Instrumentation named after Ya. I. Rudayev.
A cultural program was prepared for the Olympiad participants, which included a visit to the Polytechnic History Museum, the A. G. Gagarin Laboratory of Strength of Materials in the Mechanical Building, laboratories of the Higher School of Theoretical Mechanics and Computational Physics, and a walk around the campus.
The closing ceremony of the Olympiad was attended by the Vice-Rector for Digital Transformation of SPbPU, the Head of the Advanced Engineering School of SPbPU “Digital Engineering” Alexey Borovkov. He noted that the strength of materials, like theoretical mechanics, are an integral fundamental element of high-quality engineering education. Strength of materials or mechanics of materials and structural elements is the most important element of the culture of engineers around the world. The priority goal of the development of systems engineering education is to train engineering special forces with fundamental physical, mathematical, computational and engineering training. Conditions for training such specialists have been created in the Master’s program of the Advanced Engineering School “Digital Engineering” of SPbPU. The uniqueness of the educational process lies in the training of personnel for orders from leading high-tech companies, which allows developing modern multidisciplinary competencies to solve frontier engineering problems put forward by the high-tech industry of Russia.
Alexey Ivanovich emphasized the importance of acquiring and consolidating knowledge, developing skills and abilities to solve problems within the discipline “Strength of Materials” for the further development of advanced digital and production technologies. This multidisciplinary knowledge and competencies are necessary for the application of advanced technology of the 21st century – the development of digital twins of high-tech products, materials, physical and mechanical, technological and operational processes. The development of system digital engineering requires fundamental principles of physical and mathematical and physical and mechanical education, within which the strength of materials plays an important role.
In conclusion, Alexey Ivanovich congratulated the participants on their results and invited them to apply for master’s programs at PISh SPbPU, where the educational process is built on the principle of “Come to study where you can work! Come to work where you can study! Which guarantees an invitation to work in a leading high-tech company during your master’s degree!”
Please note: This information is raw content directly from the source of the information. It is exactly what the source states and does not reflect the position of MIL-OSI or its clients.
Please note; This information is raw content directly from the information source. It is accurate to what the source is stating and does not reflect the position of MIL-OSI or its clients.
